Author's Notes: I own nothing. Familiar of Zero belongs to Noboru Yamaguchi while Fate/Stay Night - Heaven's Failure is a Doujinshi made by Limit Break.
Legend of the Sword Dancer: Of Knights and Missions
A party was held at the Mailliart Estate, and a significant number of Nobles were in attendance. One of the guests were the Valleries, Centurion was currently associating with Severus de Montmorency of the Knights of Round. The Knights were also invited by Arthur, though there was quite a divide due to some of the Knights being commoners by birth, and are never truly acknowledged by other Nobles. Many questioned why Arthur would invite commoners to the Knights of Round, but he would always have a reply.
"I prefer skill over heritage."
Arthur introduced them to Emilya one after the other as they seated differently due to their status. Currently there are ten knights present with five Nobles and Commoners each. All were dressed similarly with a blue and white uniforms, the only difference was the Nobles all had a cloak and with their family crest as pins.
On the Nobles side were:
Severus de Montmorency, a dark haired male, its color a side effect of a potion accident in his youth. He was scouted by Arthur after witnessing his skill as an alchemist and was given the title Knight of the Lake by his fellow knights due to his contract with the Water Spirit of Lagdorian Lake.
Diluc de Ragnvindr, red haired fire mage. His custom made swordwand took the form of a massive broadsword. He is called the Flame Knight, but Arthur gave him another title, Knight of the Sun.
Charles de Grober, another dark haired male, but with a white highlight. A square class mage with an almost line class mastery at each element. He is called Knight of the Rainbow as a reference to each color of the elements.
Edward of D'Angleterre, a long haired blonde man. He is a former researcher of Oriz Magic Academy before being scouted by Arthur for his skill in Metal Transmutation. He is called as the Knight of Metal by his peers.
And Laurence de Arbia, a white haired male who looked a few years older than Arthur. A mage of Earth and Wind, but focuses on Sand Manipulation. He is called as the Knight of the Desert because of this.
On the Commoners side were:
Piando of F'alma, a black haired man, often in a ponytail, with a foreign face. A master swordsman, and sword instructor of the soldiers serving the Knights of Round and other Knight Groups.
Ezra of L'otal, male with dark blue hair. A reformed thief and occasional source of trouble. He is an intelligence gatherer for the Knights of Round and is in charge of the groups financial resources.
Meru of L'otal, a muscular man with brown hair. A former mine worker, often tasked with identifying the quality of various Elemental Stones and Jewels that is traded to and from Tristain, or helping Ezra with his task of resource management.
Ana of S'ariac, a light blonde haired male and former Musketeer. A Musket User and expert marksman. Arthur commissioned a special type of Musket for him after he was impressed by his marksmanship and was offered a place among the Knights.
And Grizz of B'ear, another muscular man with brown hair, often mistaken for Meru when his back is turned. A former blacksmith's apprentice who takes charge in weapon maintenance for the Knights of Round and their soldiers.
Each member were of different reactions when introduced to Emilya. Severus and the other nobles only congratulated the two. Edward on the other had wanted to know about Emilya's "Transmutation" after being told of her supposed skill as an Earth Mage. The commoners were unsure as to why they were introduced but none the less, congratulated them. Piando overheard Arthur talk to Edward about Emilya's "Weapon Transmutation" and offered to teach her the way of the sword, something Emilya considered accepting.
When the party officially began, Arthur walked by Emilya and noticed something wrong. It was only subtle, but he could see that something was clearly bothering Emilya.
"Lady Mailliart, is something wrong?" Arthur asked.
"It's nothing Arthur, I mean, Lord Marcillac." Emilya replied.
"There it is." Arthur thought. Though her time here was less than his, Emilya always stuck with the proper greeting and name calling of other Nobles. Something her adopted mother Eileen must have drilled into her before her introduction to the world of Nobility.
"Why don't we talk privately Shirou." Arthur suggested. It was an unwritten rule between them that if one either calls the other Shirou/Saber, it is an urgent matter and needs privacy.
Since Emilya was dressed for the occasion, wearing a pink and white gown and heeled footwear, Emilya "asked permission" to have a change in footwear as it had a broken heel on one shoe. Something she subtly broke with a simple [Over Reinforcement]. Arthur then offered to assist her get a new pair and both went back into the manor, and had their conversation as they walked.
"You are troubled Shirou," Arthur began.
"I don't know," Emilya replied. "I feel like there is something missing, but every time I look into my memories I find nothing wrong."
"Is it Sakura?" Arthur asked.
"What about Sakura?" Emilya asked.
"Your relationship with her." Arthur answered.
"I have a relationship with Sakura? Isn't she just my underclassman?"
"You don't remember confessing to her? And for her to return your feelings?"
"I believe I can recall such events since I have a clear memory of the Holy Grail War."
They arrived at Emilya's room and the one of the maids approached them. "What may I be of service my Lord and Lady?"
"Can you fetch me another pair of footwear?" Emilya requested. "The heels on this one broke."
The maid went and procured another pair of footwear before changing Emilya. After thanking the maid, Emilya sent her on her way, and walked back with Arthur.
"I have a confession Shirou," Arthur stated. "I don't know how to feel about suddenly becoming your fiance. It feels wrong for me since you already confessed to Sakura long before we met again."
"Yeah, and the fact that we swapped genders somehow," Emilya replied, earning a small laugh from Arthur.
"True," Arthur said. "That would be awkward even for me."
"But how come I cannot remember any of that?" Emilya asked. "About my relationship with Sakura?"
"Someone must have sealed your memories about your relationship with Sakura." Arthur explained. "You mentioned a while back that you've met a man named Zelretch, a Vampire who can use [True Magic], maybe he has an idea of what you are missing."
"But how will I find him?" Emilya asked. "The last we've met was when I was adopted, and I have not encountered him since then."
"Maybe when you finish your mission here," Arthur replied. "Your mission about destroying a Fragment of an Ultimate One, and stopping the Will of this Planet from killing life, maybe you will meet him again."
"But who knows how long that will be?" Emilya said. "It might take years, since I have yet to encounter this Fragment he spoke of, or find proof that the Will of this Planet already killing life."
"If it takes that long, then why don't you play Guinevere?" Arthur suggested. "I know it might be better if we nullify the engagement, but as of now I cannot do anything until I become Lord."
"What? Why?"
"That way we can maintain image, and will give you the allowance you need to work in the shadows." Arthur explained. "And I will also be allowed to provide any assistance you will need without any repercussion since we are technically engaged."
Emilya was silent for a bit, taking things into consideration.
"Okay," Emilya said. "I'll play Guinevere, but I expect you to assist me from now on."
"I will." Arthur replied. "Now why don't we enjoy this party for now? It might teach you more about the customs of this world."
Somewhere in Gallia, the ship is now unearthed and brought out. It had the appearance of a Galleon without sails, with a strange looking guns peeking out of the sides. Joseph de Orleans, a man in his twenties, and his group began to look inside. The interior appears to be similar to the sea faring Galleons, and the guns were strange. A hooded cloaked figure walked around the deck towards the steering wheel. The figure placed a hand on the wheel, and from inside the hood something began to glow. Soon the ship began to rock and slowly float.
"So your runes affect this as well?" Joseph asked as he approached the figure. "I am impressed."
"I suppose it can." the figure replied.
"Can you use the strange canons?"
The figure did not reply, but instead placed two hands on the wheel, the glowing beneath the hood intensified showing the face of a woman. The guns on the left side began to glow before a beam of light fired from one gun, destroying one of the carriages.
"Magnificent." Joseph gasped.
The beam of light was unlike any spell known to them. The soldiers speculated that it was akin to a fire spell for the smoldering remains of the carriage. But Joseph knew better, he knew this power is the closest there is to the Void.
"We can use this weapon." Joseph said. "And maybe you will realize the true heir to the throne, Father..."
"You say that, yet you kept your Affinity for Void hidden from him?" the hooded figure asked.
"He does not believe that I am a worthy heir," Joseph answered. "I am a true heir to the throne, not Charles. And with this vessel under my command, I will conquer the desert and defeat the Elves for good even without Gallia's Army."
He then turned to his men. "Men prepare yourselves, and spread the word. The Conquerors have acquired an Artifact that will lead to the conquering of the Elves and their Cold Desert."
"Form this day on, we are Conquistadors!"
They called themselves Conquistadors, and began their campaign to gather men to fight for their cause. Messengers from the Conquistadors spread to the neighboring Kingdoms. A group of Nobles and their respective men from Romalia defected into them believing that this is an Artifact of Brimir. A number of Germanian Nobles, eager to take on the Cold Desert, gathered a large army and proceed to cross their borders towards the desert, wanting to be the first to conquer it. Only Albion and Tristain kept to themselves not believing of the power of Artifact to be true.
"Then so be it," Joseph said as his messengers returned with news. "Men prepare for battle, we shall show Albion and Tristain our new weapon."
They set course for Albion first, with a number of their own Airships behind the Galleon that lead them, an action that would be a declaration of war. Albion responded in kind with their own air-fleet and dragon riders outnumbering the group led by Joseph. But Conquistadors are not deterred, instead prepared for possible combat.
"Raise a flag of peace and send a messenger." Joseph commanded. "Tell them they have a choice. Join us in conquering the Elves and their Cold Desert, or fall here leaving Albion with no army."
They sent their fastest rider, a mage with a wind dragon for a familiar. The reply was never long, as the messenger came back after only a few hours with the King's decline. Instead, returned the threat, reminding Joseph that Albion outnumbers his small army.
"They have made their choice." Joseph stated. "Prepare for battle!"
A [Fireball] was sent skyward, a signal to begin their attack. Albion's Dragon Knights led charge planing to engage the leading ship. The soldiers aboard the Galleon prepared for boarding, but it was never needed to begin with. Up on the deck of the Galleon, a strange green projection appeared before Joseph and the hooded figure. This projection then showed the Albion Airship Fleet with red highlights. The ship's guns began to shift and target the enemy Airships before firing a beam of light at them destroying the most of the enemy fleet.
"Try as you might, you never stood a chance." Joseph smiled. "This is the power of a god!"
The damage was done, almost every Airship of Albion present was destroyed. And the Dragon Knights scattered to try and save who they can, and began their retreat. Satisfied on having shown enough of the power of the ship, the Conquistadors then began their descent back to Gallian Borders.
"Send a word to Tristain," Joseph told a soldier. "Tell them to either provide help in conquering the Cold Desert, or fall like the soldiers and knights of Albion."
From beyond the Boundary Between Worlds, Zelretch watched as the Conquistadors land the ship into Gallian Soil.
"Is that it?" asked a voice asked. "Is that the all important Fragment of an Ultimate One you want Shirou to destroy?"
"Yes my dear apprentice," Zelretch replied. "That Galleon is a Fragment of an Ultimate One."
"So what is so important about destroying it?" Rin asked.
"That ship has the capabilities to cross between worlds." Zelretch explained. "Should these Mages manage to use it to cross dimensions, the Ultimate One will be alerted of the Galleon's presence, thus increasing the possibilities of it sending other similar ships across other dimensions."
"What do these ships do anyway?" Rin asked. "Other than having the power to cross between worlds?"
"These ships carry with them humanoid beings with the ability to impart alien knowledge to mortals." Zelretch answered. "One such being came in contact with the human named Brimir le Reimir Yuru Viri Vee Varutori, that worlds founder of Magecraft some thousands of years ago. However because it imparted a very specific knowledge to him, Brimir discovered a way to kill this humanoid being, thus silencing the ship's connection with the Ultimate One."
"So we should be thankful that this man with a long name managed to kill this Humanoid Alien?" Rin asked. "But without the original owner, shouldn't the knowledge of the ship's inter-dimensional abilities be unknown to the mages there?"
"That is where this problem lies," Zelretch replied. "True the mages there should not be able to use the Galleon, but because of Brimir they have a way, Mjöðvitnir."
"Sounds Norse." Rin commented. "What's so special about this Mjöðvitnir?"
"It is one of the four Familiars of Brimir, sentient beings given runes that give them magical abilities," Zelretch explained. "The runes of Mjöðvitnir grants the familiar the ability to use any magical artifact and create any magical feat, and this Galleon, though alien in nature, stems from Magic thus making it a "Magical Artifact"."
"Wait, shouldn't this Mjöðvitnir be dead?" Rin asked. "Unless the previous one is immortal, this Mjöðvitnir shouldn't be the same one Brimir had right?"
"Brimir is long dead, and so was the previous Mjöðvitnir," Zelretch assured. "But because of the Unique Brand of Magecraft he gained from the Alien, his decendants are capable of giving the runes of Mjöðvitnir to another familiar. Should this new Mjöðvitnir discover the Galleon's secrets, it would spell trouble across dimensions."
"That should be enough for now," Zelretch then turned to his apprentice. "You are still getting used to crossing the Boundary Between Worlds. You should be returning, I believe your sister is waiting for you, it should be close to dinner time now."
POST CHAPTER NOTES:
To answer/reply to some recent reviews:
1. I cannot blame people for having the Thanos Meme in their heads whenever they hear that certain exchange. And frankly it ruined my re-watching of Infinity War, it was supposed to be en emotional moment, and they made a meme out of it.
Author's Ramblings:
There Multiple Parallel Universe Travelers across all Platforms. Fate/Verse has Zelretch, Marvel has Dr. Strange and Honkai has KEVIN and Durandal to name a few. Yes DuDu once traveled to a "Bubble Universe", hence Dea Anchora Battle Suit. On this note, I'm exited that Neon Genesis' Asuka joining Honkai Impact during the HI3 x Neon Genesis Collaboration Event.
Are there any other towns/areas mentioned in FoZ other than Tarbes and D'Angleterre? Because I have no clue about towns and what not...