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: Sword and Shield
Emilya sat beside the unknown girl as she slept. There was never an instance where something human/humanoid was summoned. She wondered if she summoned a Heroic Spirit, but never did Heroic Spirits pass out when summoned. Could it be that she somehow summoned someone living?
"Headmaster Osmond, and Professor Atlan are requesting your presence in his office," said Karin as she entered the infirmary.
"She might wake up any minute," Emilya said, gesturing at the sleeping girl.
"And the Academy Doctor will be here when she does." Karin replied. "If you go now, she might still be sleeping by the time you're done."
Emilya stared at Karin, while she also stared back. Emilya let out a sigh, Karin did point out that the girl she summoned will be in the infirmary when she is done with her meeting with the headmaster. She stood up and approached the doctor, their Water Magic Instructor that she will leave the girl in his care. She made one final glance at the sleeping girl, before proceeding to the headmaster's office.
"Ah Miss Mailliart," Sir Lance greeted as she entered the office. "Headmaster Osmond and Sir Atlan are waiting for you."
She nodded and entered the other room where the headmaster is.
"Greetings Headmaster, Sir Atlan." Emilya greeted.
"Take a seat Miss Mailliart," Osmond gestured to a vacant chair.
Emilya sat down and immediately was asked about the girl she summoned.
"Has the girl woken up?" Osmond asked. "Has there been a hint of her background?"
"None Headmaster." Emilya answered. "She is yet to wake up."
"I see," Osmond nodded. "Very peculiar indeed."
"Why didn't you bind her?" Atlan asked. "You are aware of the proper procedure regarding the Springtime Summoning Ritual yes?"
"I am Sir Atlan," Emilya answered. "But unlike the other students who summoned wild beast, I managed to summon a person."
"And you did not bind her, why?"
"She should be given a choice," Emilya said. "It would be more in line with slavery if I bound her while she was unconscious."
"Regarding your summon," Osmond then said. "In my years as both an instructor, and headmaster, I have yet to encounter a human summoned by the ritual."
"Neither have I." Atlan added. "But Miss Mailliart, if you truly intend to give the girl a choice regarding to her circumstance. What would you do if she refuses? And if she does refuse, I have no choice but to mark you as the first student to fail the ritual."
"I summoned something right?" Emilya asked.
"Yes Miss Mailiart," Atan confirmed. "But the ritual has to be completed with binding the familiar, it is a sacred rite, and to purposely leave yours unfinished will have consequences."
"What consequences?" Emilya asked.
"You might be branded as a heretic by the church," Atlan stated. "And, you will not be promoted to the second year and will be asked to leave the academy. Not to mention returning the girl to her family should they look for her."
There was silence after Sir Atlan's words. Once again, fate decided to screw with her and made her summon what looked like a Heroic Spirit.
"Something must have gone wrong during the summoning," Emilya thought. "Heroic Spirits are never summoned unconscious, but if she was a living person..."
"Very well," Emilya replied. "I will take responsibility and accept the consequences should she refuse."
Mashu felt strange, she often wonder if death was painless. But she didn't even feel it happen. All she remembered was her hand wanting to hold her Senpai one last time. But when darkness came for her, she soon opened her eyes to an unfamiliar ceiling.
"Hey," a voice called out. "You're finally awake. I heard from the staff that you were summoned, quite strange I must say."
The voice sounded French to her. Was she back on France? Was her master also here?
"Where?" she managed to ask.
"Careful now, you are still weak," the man said. "For some reason, your summoning was unprecedented, and your summoner was called to the headmaster's office."
"Senpai?" she asked.
"Excuse me?"
"Was there another girl?" she asked.
"Other girl?" the man asked. "Or are you referring to your summoner?"
Mashu nodded at the second question.
"Well your summoner will be back soon," the man explained. "It has been a while now since the headmaster has called for her. I'm surprised you noticed that your summoner was a girl, quite strange hearing that she summoned you unconscious."
Mashu sat there watching the man tend to his desk. She saw him hold out what looked like a wand, and conjured water for the flower that was on his desk. She then feared that she must have been recovered by other Magi. Mustering her some strength left in her, she carefully stood up and silently tried to walk out. She didn't reach the door when it opened and revealed a familiar looking face.
"Chloe-san?"
When Emilya was done with her meeting with Headmaster Osmond and Professor Atlan, she immediately went straight to the infirmary to check on the girl she summoned. No doubt that the rumor mill of the Academy had already spread the news that a human was summoned, and that a letter about her decision will soon reach Laurence and Eileen about what transpired inside the headmaster's office.
She opened the door of the infirmary to find the girl standing on the other side, and from the way she fidgeted, she must have tried to sneak out while the doctor was tending to a plant on his desk.
"Chloe-san?" the girl asked.
The current Academy Doctor turned around, surprised that the girl is standing, and immediately tried to make the girl lie back down. The girl turned towards her, silently asking her what to do.
"Professor, can we be alone?" Emilya asked. "I would like this to be private."
The doctor looked between them, before sighing. He was used to stubborn students, specially the higher years who come in after a duel.
"I will grant you one hour," the Professor said. "I will be at the gardens to check on the plants, but do not leave this room, the girl needs to rest."
With that the Academy Doctor left them, and closed the door behind him. Emilya then helped the girl lay down again, and immediately asked her questions.
"Chloe-san?" Emilya asked.
"Uhm, you reminded me of a friend I met" the girl replied. "She had the same hair and eyes like you."
"Was she a Servant?" Emilya asked.
Mashu looked surprised by the question. Emilya hit a mark with that question.
"It's okay," Emilya said. "My name is Emilya de l'acier de Mailliart, formerly Emiya Shirou."
"Emiya?" Mashu asked. "Like Archer-san? But does that mean you're Chloe-san in an alternate reality?"
"You know of the Kaleidoscope?" Emilya asked.
Mashu nodded. "I am from Chaldea Security Organization, founded by the Animusphere Family, our job is to fix Singularities, Historic Anomalies, that may cause the extinction of Humanity."
"Are you connected to the Clock Tower in London?" Emilya asked.
"I don't think so," Mashu answered. "The founder's theory was regarded as impractical according to Lady Olga, but she said the founder joined the a war in the year 2004 and won, she used her wish for prosperity. They then used their new resources to prove her previous theory."
"Impossible," Emilya said. "There was no Animusphere that participated in Fuyuki, I was there as a participant."
"I have been in different variations of history," Mashu explained. "It is never is the same."
"Were you a Magician during your life?" Emilya asked.
"No," Mashu answered. "I am a designer baby, bound with the Heroic Spirit of Galahad, I remember the people who I worked with saying that I may have only less than a year since constantly using Galahad's power causes too much strain."
"I guess we have something in common then," Emilya smiled, before shifting to a more serious voice. "But, we can talk about that later."
Emilya wondered if there would be any eavesdroppers so she spoke in Japanese. She asked Mashu if she understood Japanese and she nodded.
"This place is called Halkegina," Emilya said. "It is akin to medieval Europe, and the country you are in is called Tristain, which would be Belgium if we were to compare maps."
She explained how she ended up in Halkegina, how long she had been here, and her purpose for being in here. She also explained of how she summoned her using this land's Summoning Ritual, and how it affected the summoned familiar. She finished with giving Mashu the choice of what to do next. In return Mashu told her of her time in Chaldea and her Master Gudako.
Emilya was surprised when Mashu told her a version of Arthuria, Goddess Rhongomyniad, and what transpired in Camelot.
"I have heard enough to know that you have already been through a lot, and if you want live in peace, I will talk to Arthur if he can help you," Emilya finished. "Sadly, I do not know if there is a way to reverse the summoning as there was never a need because this land considers it Sacred and no one bothered to research for a reversal spell."
"I would like to think about it Shirou-san," Mashu replied.
"Call me Emilya," Emilya said. "I may have gotten used to that name already."
"Okay senpai," Mashu nodded. "I mean Emilya-san."
Emilya froze upon hearing that word.
"... senpai."
"I'm sorry senpai."
She saw a figure overlap with Mashu, another girl with long violet hair, but her face was still hidden from her. But her thoughts were interrupted by the door opening and the Academy Doctor entered the room.
"Sorry for cutting the time short," the doctor said. "But the headmaster asked me about the girls condition, and I forgot my notes."
The following day, Mashu was already well rested, and was given an okay for her to move around the academy. Many other students wondered who she was as her clothes resembled a school's uniform of sorts.
"Supposedly, today is the day familiars and their masters get to know each other." Emilya said as they walked towards the open field. "But you are a special case."
(...)
Earlier that day, Mashu gave her answer to Emilya. Before she slept for the night, she thought about her choices, and decided to go with Emilya for now. Emilya reminded her that she doesn't know if the binding ritual would work, and how it will affect her, but Mashu was okay with that.
"I'll use the remainder of my time to help you." Mashu answered.
Emilya prepared Medea's [Rule Breaker] in case something goes wrong, remembering that it can nullify contracts. With the witnesses being the Headmaster and Professor Atlan, she finished the ritual and Mashu was now her familiar. Headmaster Osmond then reminded her that today was the day familiars and masters bond, and both proceed to the fields.
(...)
Mashu was surprised that there were many students at the fields with various animals next to them. Emilya was next to her as they roamed around looking for someone.
"There she is," Emilya said.
Mashu looked at the direction Emilya was facing and to her surprise, another pink haired girl was there, next to her was a beast of legend, a Manticore.
"That," Emilya said. "Is my sister."
Karin must have noticed them, and immediately went to mount the Manticore and went towards them. She dismounted, and had the Manticore sit next to her.
"You have been the talk of the Academy sister," Karin said. "Having another human for a familiar became a hot topic among the class and the higher years."
"I was also surprised by the outcome," Emilya replied. "Anyway, this is Matthew Kyrielight."
"Kyrielight?" Karin asked. "Is that a family name? It sounds familiar, and who names a girl 'Matthew'?"
"Yes it is a family name," Emilya answered. "Her name is indeed Matthew."
Karin turned towards Mashu. "It is a pleasure to meet you Matthew."
"Likewise Lady-" Mashu bowed.
"Karin Desiree de Mailliart."
Somewhere in the Void, a certain Rabbit kept watch of the events that are transpiring.
"No wonder the Old Man said he was busy," the rabbit though.
Rin entered the Void. Her skills regarding the [Kaleidoscope] are getting better, but she is yet to be allowed to cross between worlds. Zelretch made it a point that she must also have a solid image of where she wants her "door" to appear. Otherwise, she might end up between a wall, beneath an ocean, or even inside a person should an accident occur. The last one will haunt her nightmares since her esteemed master has shown her should it happen.
"Master Zelretch," Rin called out. "I have-"
She was unable to finish as the sight of a bipedal rabbit has caught her attention.
"Hey Doc, whatcha' looking for?" the rabbit asked.
Scratch that, a bipedal and talking rabbit. She could feel her sanity slowly committing suicide from trying to understand how such a being could exist withing the Kaleidoscope.
She shook her head, figuring that talking to the rabbit maybe better for her than trying to understand its existence.
"I'm looking for my mentor," Rin explained. "I don't suppose you met an old man?"
"Does he have long hair and beard like this?" the rabbit asked as for some reason a wig and beard similar to Zelretch's appeared on his face.
"Yes."
"Does he wear black clothes and a cape like this?" the rabbit asked, as he was now wearing clothes similar to Zelretch's.
"Yes."
"Can he move to one place and another like this?" the rabbit then asked, as he entered a small hole where he stood, and then reappear next to Rin.
"Yes!"
"Nope, never seen him." the rabbit then said, and the clothes, beard and wig disappeared as if they were never there.
Rin pinched the bridge of her nose, clearly this rabbit is her mentor using some sort of illusion spell to disguise himself as a rabbit, and is currently testing her humor again.
"Master if you are not going to take this seriously, I'll come here again." Rin said as she left the Void.
A few moments(?) later Zelretch came into the Void, holding a map.
"I must say Mister Bunny," Zelretch stated. "That marker of Albuquerque in your dimension has an active [Kaleidoscope] Spell cast over it."
"Call me Bugs Doc, Mister Bunny is my father, or I think so," the rabbit, Bugs, laughed. "No wonder I kept getting lost, I must have passed by that marker a hundred times now."
"Yes, but that was only because you met the requirements." Zelretch explained. "Since you travel underground, you kept activating a Ley Line. If you travel above ground, it is noting but a simple marker."
"I'll keep that in mind," Bugs said. "Oh and ahm, by the way Doc, a girl came here looking for you, you just missed her, said she'll come back though."
A hole opened up before Bugs. He then grabbed his suitcase, and map before walking towards the hole.
"See ya!" with that parting words, Bugs entered a hole and left the Void.
"Sayonara, King of Trolls." Zelretch laughed.
Bugs found himself standing before the road marker for Albuquerque, but the surrounding was covered in ice.
"I hope you realize that this means War."
POST CHAPTER NOTES:
To answer/reply to some recent reviews:
1. Yep, Mashu Kyrielight, Best Kouhai, the Cute Eggplant, Shielder Class, etc... is Emilya's summon.
2. I had a number of Servants considered, ranging from Heracles/Alcides to Chloe/Kuro to an Alter Ego Dark Sakura. Ultimately, I went with the Kouhai...
3. As for the when she was taken from, she technically died when Ars Nova hit her, and Fou revived her after Solomon's Sacrifice. Since the Temple of Time exist outside the Universe and Time, so "time inside the temple" is different from "time outside the temple". This is the best explanation I have...
4. I'm going with Gudako as my "Canon" F/GO. And no need for her to go "Ryo-Gudako" Mode, she has two Mashu's right? Although Bunyan did stomp on them... I just really like Gudako as Chaldea's Master, I have nothing against Gudao (Ritsuka Fujimaru), it's just that Gudako's shenanigans are really fun and chaotic. Look at what she did in Grand Carnival Phantasm...
Author's Ramblings:
Chapter 21... This has been quite a journey...