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He rode across the sands, his beloved steed Bucephalus carrying him without fail ever towards his dream. He didn't need to look behind him to know his comrades were right behind him, these fine men who had sworn loyalty to him and his dream.

Together, they had defeated armies of the greatest numbers, knocked down walls claimed to be impregnable, and marched up to thrones where the occupants trembled before them.

King Gordius and his unsolvable knot and very fine bulls, gifts from Zeus himself! Darius III and the immortal, indestructible Athanaton Ten Thousand, a fearsome enemy unlike any other he could hope to face. Yet still he challenged him and ultimately prevailed! Thus, Persia was absorbed into his ever-growing empire. Even with Darius returning to face him again and again, much to his delight.

But the thrones or the battles and conquests that had delivered them to him were not what he wanted. Not in his heart. No, for that, he would keep heading east. Even the kingdoms he conquered he left behind, to be ruled by others in his stead. He simply couldn't find it in him to be tied down by governing and endless politics, not when his dream continued to beckon in the distance.

Was this irresponsible? Perhaps. But he had been open with his treasured followers from the start. They knew what his innermost desire was, the destination he sought to reach. He had told them so, and anyone else who had questioned his decisions.

These men who had ridden or walked alongside him through battles with brigands, enemy nations, the elements themselves… whom he'd shared massive banquets with, spanning entire days sometimes, for those were in celebration of the greatest victories… He'd shared bread, wine, women, sweat, wounds, and tears for those who had fallen… and still they'd all chosen to march on with him on this great adventure. He was a King and a blessed man.

Now they all slowly came to a unified stop before the crashing waves, a symphony of the only sounds present. The sands, originally steady and untouched, were shaped by their steps. The scent of salt was carried by the winds into his waiting nostrils. The morning mists curled about each other, obstructing the horizon for now. But the water was still visible. So mighty, so beautiful… it was everything he could have conceived in his fantasies. And getting the chance to witness it with his own eyes, to share this experience with these magnificent men who'd chosen to stand with him through all the battles up to this single point in their lives…

He drew in a deep breath, his mouth shifting in an eased, almost thankful smile. Then he uttered the name of the place he and his friends had reached. His dream.

"Oceanus…"

He slumped on top of a rock, taking a short breather. He'd get up in a minute and head on soon enough. Where he was going, he had no fucking idea, but hey, better than sitting around. The seventy-ninth district Kusajishi wasn't all that exciting…

Then his ears picked up something he wouldn't expected from this forest: A happy little giggle.

His eyes glanced around in search of the source and found it right in front of him. "How'd you get here, little one?" He rumbled a little softer than his usual growl.

The tiny girl with hair pinker than her robes only made more happy sounds as she crawled closer to him. No, not specifically to him, but what rested on his shoulder. "Why are you interested in my sword?" Something weird flickered inside him as she lifted her hand towards its blade. "It's not a toy," he warned her, "it's something used for killing." The many corpses scattered about in these woods and their broken weapons proof of his words.

But she wasn't scared of them. Or of their blood splattered across his body and his sword. Instead, the giggling tyke actually touched the blade. He frowned, this time realizing the worry inside him for her, but her giggles only got louder as she waved her bloodstained hand at him.

For some reason, he felt more relaxed now than he had in a good long while. "What's your name, kid?"

The twerp only made a confused sound before pawing for his sword again. "Don't have one, huh?" he muttered, his thoughts drifting to those times he'd be walking through crowds in one district or another. Everybody chatting with each other… Nobody with him. Like he was invisible. "…Me neither." No wonder he preferred fighting over talking, but even that wasn't much fun nowadays. He just didn't feel challenged, like if his life were ever on the line.

Not since that one battle. The one that made the scar over his eye tingle with excitement even now-

And just like that, he had an idea. A fuckin' crazy one, but it sounded like fun. "Here, kid," he scraped the tip of his sword, the nameless thing he'd carried with him all this time, through the dirt. Slowly, he spelled out certain letters that sent a shiver through his body even now. "This is how you write 'Yachiru.' The name of the one person I ever admired. It's yours now."

"Ya…" the little one said as though to test it, "chi… ru…"

Hearing her say that name struck a new spark in his spirit, invigorating him to what he had in mind. "And from now on, I shall carry the name 'Kenpachi.' The title belonging to the strongest Soul Reaper." The title she had carried.

He vowed then and there he'd grow stronger. Strong enough to fight her again. Strong enough to feel that elation once more…

Thwack! "Ow!" He rubbed the bandaged spot on his arm. "What was that for, sis?!"

"You're not supposed to poke at it, dummy!" Crimson eyes glared at him beneath a mane of long, unkempt black hair. She huffed in aggravation. "I don't care how much it itches, let your Aura heal it."

A snicker next to them in the elevator drew both twins' attention. "Oh, like you're a model of super-calm when you need patching up, Rae?" The blond shot her a teasing smile. "Like, say, that time after the Alpha Beowolf-"

She snagged the hem of his tan shirt and reeled him in with a steely glare. "Finish that sentence, Xiaolong, and I will launch you into the Emerald Forest head-first." The young man, no longer a student, pantomimed pulling a zipper closed over his still-smirking mouth, making the young Huntress' eyebrow twitch.

He in turn sighed loudly into the car. "Really, you two? I'm not saying this spot isn't perfect, but can't you save the lovey dovey stuff for when you're alone?"

Tai's smirk crumbling into a sputtering mess? Awesome. Raven, his dear twin sister, lifelong partner and the only member of their cutthroat tribe who hadn't condemned him as just a jinx, rounding on him with cheeks redder than her blazing eyes? Priceless.

Then his leader, the best Huntress he would ever know and an even better friend, stepped between them all with a giggle on her lips. "C'mon, guys, we're about to see Professor Ozpin for the first time after our graduation!" She said while pulling her designated BFF into a one-armed hug. The other one pumped high before her red-haired head. "Let's show him that Team STRQ's still going strong!"

And just like always, that weird enthusiasm of hers washed over them, cooling down tempers and making them just want to hug this little silver-eyed ball of sunshine. He exchanged an easygoing smile and a fistbump with Taiyang while Raven actually relaxed into the embrace.

Not that it stopped her from flashing the boys one last "You know I'm gonna get you for this" look.

Summer for her part stayed her usual perky self even while watching the numbers pass. Just before they hit the top floor, she turned to him with that sweet smile that would always warm his heart and said, "Thanks for the save."

He smiled back, the pain in his arm fading even quicker now. "Anytime, fearless leader."

The elevator chimed, and the doors opened for the quartet to step into the office of a smiling Professor Ozpin. The man who had seen past his Semblance and given him a life. A life where he could be more than just another bandit. A life he could spend together with these three quirky, amazing people and not always wonder if he might be the death of them.

For that, he owed Oz everything.

Their old headmaster traded small talk for some time, then came the moment where he made to explain why he'd called Team STRQ in. The moment that would change his whole world.

And it all started with a weird question: "Tell me… what is your favorite fairy tale?"

"-Wheeeeeeeeeee!" The car rounded a corner, tires squealing in protest, as it tried to stay ahead of the man chasing them.

"Come on, come on!" The robber in the passenger seat yelled at the driver. "Step on it, the crazy bastard's gaining on us!"

Sure enough, their pursuer charged relentlessly after the vehicle, his powerful legs showing no sign of needing to stop anytime soon. His arms hung loosely to the side, and a smile broad as that of a crocodile was stretched across his face.

It was only slightly bigger than the one his passenger carried. "Get them, Kenny!" The teenaged girl cheered with a sunny laugh, one hand holding onto his leather-coated shoulder, the other snapping her shinai forward again and again to urge her steed. Ponytailed brown hair flapped about in the winds-

Waver Velvet jolted awake into a sitting position with a yelp of shock. He sucked in mouthfuls of air as quickly as he could, cold sweat pouring down his face. Just when he'd gotten used to seeing three separate lives full of adventure and violence every time he went to sleep, now there were new memories to haunt his dreams: his own.

How could running into a middle-school girl late at night turn into something so crazy?

Then he saw the three snoring men sprawled out in the room and thought sardonically, Oh yeah. That's how. It was only thanks to a low-level Bounded Field cast over the room (A real magus could've made it better, a part of Waver noted out of reflex) that the chorus of their sleeping noises hadn't kept the entire house awake.

As for Waver himself, he'd been too tired to let said chorus stopping him from sleeping through what was left of the night and -he glanced at the alarm clock- half the day. The boy sighed while pulling himself free of his blanket with more effort than usual. Every single one of his Magic Circuits was practically groaning throughout his body, the cost of fueling three Heroic Spirits. Two of which were particularly mana-exorbitant, but even one as efficient as Saber X, slumped against the wall with an empty sake bottle, needed to be sustained.

Waver's left foot got stuck in a knot from his blanket, causing him to almost faceplant on the floor before he caught himself. It said something about the level of his exhaustion that he didn't even bother casting a stink-eye at the (possible) perpetrator for his lousy luck.

But the fatigue wasn't merely physical or spiritual. Ever since Saber had told them of Lord El-Melloi's death, Waver had felt… well, he wasn't sure what he felt.

The magus in him, the one that had convinced him to join this crazy Holy Grail War in the first place, said he should be proud. That arrogant bastard was the first Master to die in this conflict, putting Waver Velvet, the student he'd mocked, ahead of him. And Waver hadn't been betrayed by his own Servants, either.

But the student in him was disappointed. The Grail War was supposed to have been his chance to prove himself against Kayneth El-Melloi Archibald, his teacher who had dismissed him and his ideas. And their first meeting on the battlefield had been one of Waver's own Servants standing up for him when he should've himself. And now Lord El-Melloi was dead, making any second chance for Waver to prove himself to the man impossible.

And a tiny human part of him… felt sorry for his teacher's fate. He'd wanted to show up the pompous jerk, sure, bruise his ego the same way that had happened to him. But killing him? Would he really have gone that far?

…The Waver Velvet who'd jumped recklessly into this whole mess would've given an affirmative answer full of bluster to that question. Now though, after seeing with his own eyes the horrors of true battle and war… of the depravities others could sink to… the boy couldn't say for sure.

…But at the very least, he was certain he wouldn't have gunned down Lord El-Melloi like a helpless dog. After all, I don't know the first thing about guns. A smirk crawled onto Waver's face before he could catch himself. This time, he did glare at a groaning Qrow Branwen who was starting to wake up. Great, I really have picked up his sarcasm. If I end up with Misfortune too, I swear to God…

Speak of the devil, the Servant began to awaken with a grumble, followed by his companions. Though Rider accidentally kicked Berserker X, causing the Soul Reaper to deck him and knock the larger Servant onto Saber X. "Hey, watch it, ya meatheads!" As the situation devolved into a lighthearted brawl, one participant cackling like the maniac he was, Waver just sighed and made for the bathroom. Idiots…

But something deep inside the young Master looked back on the lives he had witnessed through his dreams and pondered just what it was that drew him in.

Lancer stood in spirit form atop the Hyatt Hotel, eyes slowly trailing from one direction to the next. He and his Master had returned half an hour ago from another tracking mission earlier that day, but Sola-Ui had shown little enthusiasm throughout that time. In fact, she'd kept leading them towards clothing stores, restaurants and other places of entertainment. He had almost needed to plead with her not to turn the expedition into a shopping run. All the good that had done, not a trace of Archer X or her possible conspirators.

To be honest, though, the knight's thoughts hadn't been quite as on-point as usual. Here he was, supposedly keeping a lookout for the potential sighting of his former partner, someone clearly well-versed in cloak-and-dagger. Lancer himself knew it was a completely stupid idea, and in hindsight, standing out here was just an excuse for him to be alone for a while.

His mind just wouldn't rest after the banquet. So many different things others had said kept echoing inside him, washing over each other.

First, there was, "Your adherence to your honor is commendable. But do not it let hinder your ability to think. Or to learn." Caster X had urged him to stay instead of chasing after Archer X, and Lancer certainly didn't doubt the foreigner's wisdom or kindness, but now he had so many questions. Think about what? What precisely was he supposed to learn? That his honor shouldn't be restored?

Diarmuid Ua Duibhne had initially been elated in the first moments of his summoning. Sure, he wasn't blind to the… confidence his Master had exhibited, and Archer X's presence had been a surprise, but he had thought it good news at the time. A new lord to serve, a fellow warrior standing side-by-side with him… A chance to undo so much shame he had done.

And then came the first battle in the dockyards. The excitement at crossing blades with a rival knight, revealed to be the King of Knights herself! The achievement of injuring her with his Gáe Buidhe, the vow of a righteous, noble duel between them; Lancer's spirit had soared.

And then he had met Saber's partner, an Assassin unlike any warrior he had encountered before; clever, sneaky, full of surprises, yet honorable and loyal as well. Rider, another King, and his Saber appeared to interrupt their duel, followed by that counterpart, a metallic monster he knew at first sight needed to be stopped. More Servants had made their presences known afterwards, the Berserkers in particular having potential as challenging opponents. His hopes had never been higher; this was everything he could've hoped for in a second chance.

Then Lord Kayneth ordered him via Command Seal to finish off Berserker X. Looking back, Lancer wondered if that might've been the moment everything began to go so wrong.

Archer X… he didn't even know her True Name, she always avoided telling it to him. It may've been simple caution, but Diarmuid could've tried asking harder. He could've kept a closer eye on his partner, but he'd decided to give her the benefit of the doubt. He could've, he could've, he could've…

But he'd done nothing. And now, Lord Kayneth was dead, Lady Sola-Ui was his Master solely out of affection, and Archer X had joined forces with the evilest Servants in this War.

His blood boiled within his veins. Why?! Lancer had trusted her! Wasn't that enough? How could she prefer siding with a vile madman like Caster or a tyrannical monster like Rider X?

Well. Archer X had said so herself. "I'm in this Grail War because I've got a wish, a real one, and if it means I gotta get my hands dirty to win that damn cup, then I'm fine with that." And apparently, her wish was so important to her that siding with literal devils fell within "getting her hands dirty." And if it tarnished her partner's pride in the process? An acceptable loss. His fists clenched so tightly blood began to trickle from them.

Before this Holy Grail War is finished, Lancer vowed, I will make you regret not killing me when you had the chance, Archer X.

Then he suddenly heard the voice of that wise old wizard. One single word:

Think.

It didn't wash away the fury that blazed within the Heroic Spirit of the Spear, but something did stir within him. He closed his eyes, drew in a breath, released it, and tried to think.

And almost instantly, he paused at the latest renewal of his vow. Why didn't Archer X try to kill me? He replayed that scene two nights ago: they stood opposing one another, Lancer having both spears at the ready, Archer X training a rifle at his head.

But… her index finger hadn't touched the trigger.

She was quick on the draw, Lancer had seen her proficiency with all those firearms plenty of times by now. And that close to one another, it would've been tricky even for him to evade or block her scattershot. But her hand had been shaking, too. And instead of pulling the trigger, Archer X had decided to blind him and escape. Even the bomb she'd left in her wake had been aimed at Lady Sola-Ui, not him.

Had victory seemed too far out of reach for her? No, it wasn't in her character to back away from a fight even when the odds were uncertain. Lancer had learned that much upon witnessing Archer X's temper so many times. But… she had ceded in arguments to him, even if it was just a "whatever" or the like. Like she didn't… want… to fight… with… him…

Lancer's right hand unclenched, the fingers slowly reaching up. To that little black spot beneath his right eye. Don't tell me… But his mind kept traveling back to all their interactions on and off the battlefield. How she was always so aggressive, so outspoken, yet there was always this strange… gentleness when she conversed with him. Not unlike that of… Sola-Ui. Archer X is female, yes… but neither Saber nor Lancer X show any hint of attraction towards me. Of course, they both likely have strong Magic Resistance, and Lord Kayneth once complained about Archer X not having that Skill at all despite being a knight class…

Diarmuid Ua Duibhne cast his gaze up towards the blue sky with a mirthless chuckle. So… even a foulmouthed, short-tempered "soldier" from another world isn't immune to this blasted face of mine. I don't know why I'm surprised, it's just my luck.

Luck… that last word triggered a new memory to pierce through his musings. This one from a different foreigner, one who carried a power more a curse than a blessing. "…I don't expect you chivalrous types to understand what it's like to wonder every second of every day if. Every. Single. Bad thing happening around you was your damn fault."

He scoffed to himself. You'd be surprised, Qrow Branwen. Gráinne may've been displeased with her arranged marriage to Fionn, but would she have developed such love for Diarmuid if it hadn't been for the enchanted Love Spot he bore? She hadn't been the first woman to "love" him, either. Nor, it seemed, the last.

Others call me a romantic, but I've honestly lost any hope of romance for me. Could it be that my curse affected Archer X's judgement? Did I somehow make her decide to betray Lord Kayneth and myself? …No. She bears the responsibility for her own decisions.

…But this accursed spot on my face likely hasn't helped the situation. Saber X appeared in Lancer's mind again, a gruff, sardonic warrior who had mastered that interesting hybrid weapon of his. In fact, he'd needed to master it; this "Semblance" everyone of his world carried brought him and everyone around him only bad luck. Qrow Branwen had no doubt been forced to fight tooth and claw his whole life with that perpetual disadvantage. The results spoke for themselves, yet the man still sought to be released from Misfortune.

Can I really judge him for that? The first knight of Fianna asked himself. He'd never blamed the woman he'd loved or the king who'd sought his head in jealous revenge. But that didn't mean he couldn't wonder. What would my life have been like without the Love Spot? Would Gráinne still have fallen for me? Or would she have sought a different man? Would my friendship with Fionn have remained intact? Could I have retained my honor as a knight?

There was a way to find out. The Holy Grail could surely give him a second chance to live his life, only this time without the Love Spot. All he needed to do… was wish for it. But can I do that? Lancer frowned. The victorious Master and their Servants each may only make one wish upon the Grail. And I must restore Lord Kayneth to life, my honor demands it!

Then his female counterpart's words echoed within his mind. "…do not confuse obedience for loyalty." Obedience… was not loyalty? What did that mean? Was she encouraging him to consider another option? Archer X herself had said similar things to him. "If you want to keep kissing his pompous shoes and call it loyalty, then be my guest, pretty boy..." Was that what they thought of him? That he was just a fool blindly following the will of another?

…Wasn't that exactly what he had been doing with Lord Kayneth?

Lancer then felt a telepathic call for him, a beckoning from Lady Sola-Ui to join her. And his legs were already carrying him towards the door to the inside. Obedient. Stop thinking like that, you fool. It is simply proper chivalry for a knight to answer a lady's call. And regardless of the circumstances, Archer X was your partner. Whatever her reasons were for her betrayal, they do not justify her actions. She is my responsibility. I have to stop her.

And what came afterward… should he win his duel with Saber… should he be the last Servant standing… well, that remained to be seen.

The Shadow Clone of Assassin X scanned the collection of photos he'd received before slowly lowering them. "…You're sure about this?" he finally asked, wincing at his skeptical tone. The last thing he wanted to do was question an ally's competence.

Thankfully, Maiya wasn't insulted. "I'm positive," she answered in her usual dutiful manner. "After we narrowed the search down to her time, I checked as many books revolving around those legends as possible and made copies of what I thought was relevant." She frowned briefly in memory of that weird feeling she'd gotten in the library, then brushed it aside to continue. "This," she pointed at a particular picture she'd taken, "is almost the same as what you showed me." Her finger travelled to the sketch the Servant had made two nights ago. "It's him, I'd stake my life on it."

"No need for that," the Servant's clone sighed while shifting at his leaning spot by the wall. This motel room was even smaller than the one they'd first met in, but it sufficed as a temporary base of operations. It had only been a little while the two had presented Saber and Irisviel the residence in Miyama Town that would be their new home field, and they had just about packed everything up here. But whatever happiness Assassin X had felt upon watching Irisviel's excitement of the place was gone now. "I believe you, Maiya, it's just a bit much to process." He glanced towards the covered window. "Rather not think about how Saber's going to react…" Even if she might already have a hunch…

The woman watched him with just a trace of concern before Assassin X shook his head and said, "Can't be helped, though. We should tell her and Kiritsugu right away." Hearing a silent crunch managed to make him smile a little. "Enjoying the cookies?"

Maiya cleared her throat to swallow with a bit more color in her cheeks. "…As you can probably tell," she murmured while setting aside the chocolate chip cookie. "Where did you find them? How did you know I prefer Western sweets to Eastern ones, for that matter?"

He scratched his silver head. "I happened to see a sweets shop in Miyama Town while scouting yesterday and, seeing as I noticed you having a slight fondness for sweet food, I figured I could bring some along today." He shrugged. "As for the preference, that was luck, in all honesty. The shop was American themed, and I swiped what looked good but wouldn't be missed."

Maiya processed the words before accepting it with a (mostly) professional nod; she made a mental note to inspect that shop later given a chance. "You didn't have to do that, Assassin X." She then noted with rare humor two unopened bags like the one next to her. "And you definitely didn't have to take three bags, I'm not that voracious with cookies."

"Oh, the other two are meant for Irisviel and Saber. Well, mostly Saber, I figure she won't be satisfied with just one."

"She does have an appetite," Maiya recalled the female Servant being the first to finish her ramen bowl long before others (even with needing to learn how to use chopsticks!). "Hopefully, Saber will remember to let Ma'am have a taste." She briefly noted how pleasant the masked man's laugh sounded before focusing again. "Still, it wasn't necessary in my case. I have plenty of supplies for sustenance stocked at our bases."

"I know," Assassin X conceded with another shrug. "Just spur of the moment, I guess."

As always, the Heroic Spirit's hidden face made it difficult to discern his moods, but Maiya Hisau had been watching him long enough over the last few days to recognize when he was being sincere. It puzzled her a bit, to be honest, this level of familiarity she'd developed with him. Like how he'd noticed her tastes; it wasn't like she snacked all the time, especially not in front of just anybody. The only other person she could read and be read by so easily was Kiritsugu. She gave a mental shrug. Well, he's proven to be reliable. No trouble, I suppose.

So, the assassin settled for thanking her colleague. Then she noticed his shoulders tensing ever so slightly. "I can meet up with Saber while you notify Kiritsugu."

Assassin X was silently impressed with her observational skill but shook his head. "It's fine. I was going to deliver these anyway." He picked up the two cookie bags with one hand and collected his copies of the pictures with the other. "Maybe they can soften the blow a little…" he murmured to himself.

Besides, a real friend didn't shirk on telling bad news or pass the burden to someone else.

But as he made for the door, his old defense mechanism, humor, surfaced for just a moment again, making him spontaneously give Maiya a teasing look as she reached for another cookie. "I hope you don't slack off on your Substitution Jutsu training while I'm away."

The woman shot him an obviously fake glare. "Get a move on before I hurt you, Kakashi." She only allowed herself to smirk after he left the building chuckling. Sneaky slavedriver…

But it was only after she finished her cookie and made to dial Kiritsugu's number that Maiya wondered why she had called him by his True Name.

"Why exactly are we out here again?" Saber X grumbled while adjusting the sunglasses Glenn had lent him. "After all the fun last night, I figured you'd want to take it easy."

"A fair question." Hands behind his head, Rider peered down at his Master. "Why do you wish to go into the city?" The quartet was walking through Miyama at a relaxed pace, Shinto's buildings growing more visible with step.

Waver simply kept walking, not looking at either. "What does it matter? I just changed my mind, I guess." He shifted just a bit to glance back. "Besides, you've been pestering me for days to let you walk around."

"True." The King of Conquerors had indeed been the most vocal for taking in the sights among the three Heroic Spirits; only Saber X had the boy's approval to leave regularly as he was best suited for reconnaissance. But for once, this excursion hadn't been Rider's idea. Not that he was complaining. "Surveying foreign markets are just as exciting as the heat of battle."

Berserker X clicked his tongue while trudging next to him. "For you, maybe." He shrugged. "But what the hell, I don't mind a chance to stretch my legs, and if I'm lucky, we'll run into someone to fight."

"No fighting between Servants until nightfall," Waver reminded him. "Those are the rules." He ignored the grumble from the jingling man while continuing to walk and talk. "And I pity those countries that are overrun for no other reason than for bloodlust and curiosity."

That remark earned him strange looks from all of the Servants, even Saber X in his hungover state. "…Pretty deep thoughts there, pipsqueak. Finally starting to see just what you signed up for?"

Waver paused in mid-step and turned around to stare at the three for the longest time. Then he continued to lead the way towards the city. "It's nothing. Forget I said anything."

The Servants exchanged confused glances but chose to follow him all the same. Kenpachi shrugged again. "Least he's not moping so much anymore…" Iskandar nodded in agreement.

Truth be told, Qrow's inquiry had hit a little too close to what had been going through his Master's mind that morning. These last few days had been a never-ending series of adrenaline-filled moments and terrifying scenes. Waver Velvet was finally beginning to understand what the Holy Grail War truly was and how incredible the supernatural beings participating in it were. He thought about the banquet last night, where nine Heroic Spirits of different lands and times had laid themselves bare to judge and be judged. From simple goals like honor for Lancer and battle for Berserker X… or different circumstances for Saber X… to massive dreams like the Riders. The clash of Kings' ideals, tempered by the wisdom of a man who was probably a million times the magic-wielder Waver could ever hope to be…

And an ever-growing sense of dread from one Servant so similar and yet completely different to the one he had summoned.

Add that to the adventurous lives he would have a front-row seat to every time he went to sleep… and Waver realized he just wanted a quiet afternoon. A few hours of normality before Rider would lead Saber X and Berserker X back into the insanity of the Holy Grail and he'd be dragged along right behind them.

Right behind them… that thought rankled him for some reason.

Either way, the team continued on their stroll, Rider leading the other two Servants in some small talk that Waver barely registered, caught up in his own musing as he was. Questions about these men rattled about in his head, but he could learn more about at least one of them. They then headed through the Shinto district until coming across a shopping mall of decent size. People old and young were ambulating through its stores, but it wasn't too crowded to discourage Waver. He checked to confirm it held a certain store, then led his Servants in.

Once in the main square, the magus student addressed his familiars. "I've got to take care of something in the bookstore."

"Uh huh," was the collective answer he received.

"You can all look around here in the meantime but stick together and don't leave the mall." At another chorus of affirming grunts, he continued. "It might be day, but just in case I get attacked, return to my side immediately." For the third time, all Waver received were grunts as answers. He eyed dully the two big Servants glancing about and the shorter one drawing out his flask yet again and added deadpan, "No conquering, plundering, fighting or drinking in public."

Three now very attentive Heroic Spirits turned to him with one collective, "Huh?"

"Don't 'Huh' me!" Waver could've sworn something snapped in the back of his head, but he shoved it aside to pull his wallet from his pocket and slam it into a blinking Rider's palm. "I don't want you morons to steal or dine-and-dash or any other nonsense! If you see something you like, then you bloody pay for it!" He then snapped his finger at a grumpier Huntsman. "And I don't care if it's technically okay for you to guzzle your brain away in this country, I need all of you to stay sharp! Or do I have to drill these restrictions into your heads with Command Seals?"

"…Nice to see you're not so stingy about money or Seals anymore," Qrow muttered but put away his flask all the same.

Iskandar on the other hand just laughed off his Master's concerns, wallet in hand. "Who do you take me for? Macedonian etiquette is equal to that of any country." Though he did cast a gimlet eye alongside two others at the final member of their group.

Berserker X just snorted back at them. "Relax, there's probably not a single soul in this whole block besides Kandy and Qrow who could entertain me. I'm not some bully who likes to beat up those weaker than me."

His fellow Servants nodded in concession to that fact, but Waver still eyed the lot warily. "Saber X, you're in charge of these two. Don't let them do anything too stupid."

As he'd expected, Rider grew affronted at this. "Now hold on, aren't I, the King of Conquerors, the leader of our group?"

"You can be leader of all the Servants in this Grail War for all I care, but Qrow's the most likely to keep the three of you out of trouble." Inwardly, the teenager mused how sad it was when in a trio with a legendary monarch and the captain of a martial division, a sarcastic, periodically womanizing souse was the most responsible- well, least irresponsible one.

Not that said souse seemed happy with his new obligations, sliding down his sunglasses to give his Master a stink-eye. "Who do you take me for, their nanny?"

"More of a chaperone, I'd say," Waver replied as he turned his back to them and began to walk towards the bookstore. Then on a whim, he peered back with a smirk and some parting words. "But if you want to wash their nappies and tuck them in for bedtime too, that's your business."

And the Master sauntered off with his hands in his pockets and a strange sense of accomplishment at the stares the Heroic Spirits were giving him.

Iskandar was the first to start laughing, followed by Kenpachi and Qrow. Normal people paused in their shopping to stare befuddled at the guffawing men, then just shrugged and went on with their own lives. Just a couple of drunks, they thought. "Little twerp's picked up a mouth while we weren't looking," the Soul Reaper finally cackled out.

Finally gaining himself under control (good thing, too, any longer and security would've shown up), the Macedonian tyrant King wrapped his broad arms around his comrades and led them down one route. "Come, let's celebrate the growth of our Master. I'm not sure which newfound quality of his impresses me more, his cheek or his spine."

"The better question is where the hell did he pick those up…" Qrow Branwen gave one last chuckle, no longer trying to wriggle free of his partner's iron grip. It was a waste of effort, and…

Ever since last night, since his confession about Misfortune and these muttonheads accepting him despite the new knowledge, he found himself a bit more at ease. Heck, not even the pipsqueak had grilled him about keeping it under wraps. The Servant wouldn't have begrudged any of them for ostracizing him, he was used to that. But that didn't happen once. No matter how many streetlamps blew out or car tires spontaneously deflated while they walked by or even whenever the kid would stumble over a can or the like.

It felt… refreshing. And kinda nostalgic for the former member of Team STRQ.

-90:01:40

Just as Assassin X's clone had expected, Saber was very pleased with the cookies he'd brought. She had already downed half a bag in three seconds before coughing into her fist and going at a slower pace with slightly red cheeks. Her copy comrade chose not to voice how adorable the King of Knights looked right now, though. He wasn't suicidal.

The duo sat on the veranda in front of the main garden. An unkempt mess, but the sun was shining, and a cool breeze was blowing, providing them a nice spot to have a bite while keeping an eye open. A pot of freshly brewed tea and two cups stood behind them, steam wafting amidst stray air currents.

"Thank you, my friend," Artoria said with equal grace and pleasure. The benefits of slower bites meant could savor the sweetness even more. But she couldn't remember the last time she could enjoy a meal in company without needing to maintain decorum befitting her title. She wasn't devouring the cookies like an animal, of course; Saber remembered her manners.

She had even shown enough grace to offer him some of her treat, but Assassin X had declined politely. "Never had much of a sweet tooth," he'd said. Still, taking a moment to snack next to a friend and equal was… relaxing.

Besides… "I needed this," she finally admitted quietly.

That drew Assassin X's attention. He paused in watching the perimeter of their new base (he found the house's theme pleasingly nostalgic) to turn to her. "Is something the matter?" he asked tentatively. "If you're still conflicted about the argument with Rider last night, you can talk to me."

"No, it's," Saber paused while retrieving a new cookie before sighing, "…nothing as simple as that." She nodded towards the storehouse, a bit of a sore thumb in their Japanese-style surroundings. "Irisviel isn't doing quite so well right now." Assassin X's attention focused ever more on his comrade as she continued. "Remember when you and Maiya led us to this residence? I was the one driving, not Irisviel."

Assassin X nodded but with some confusion. "I remember, but I thought you just wanted to try driving an automobile yourself." Honestly, he was slightly curious about what that might be like. That level of technology hadn't existed in his time, and he didn't exactly have a Riding Skill like Saber. Expert of Many Specializations might not be enough, but given a chance, the shinobi wouldn't mind trying.

Then again, Pakkun and Guruko had grown strangely anxious about cars ever since they'd escorted the women to the Einzbern castle. Even Saber had seemed shaken.

Her speaking again pulled him back to the present. "I did find the experience exhilarating," the positive kind, not the one where she drives, the Servant of the Sword added to herself, "but it was Irisviel who said I should drive this morning. And she asked me to take the keys when Maiya handed them over." Assassin X nodded slowly, prompting her to go on. "She even asked me to aid her in drawing a Magic Circle in the storehouse."

Sure enough, that made him pause. Both Servants knew that Saber only had a basic knowledge of the magical arts, and Irisviel was more learned in the magecraft of this period than any other member of their team. Her asking for help in performing a spell was like Saber requesting aid to swing her sword.

With that in mind, Kakashi's clone lifted his forehead protector up to let his Sharingan see unobstructed. He trained it towards the large shed and immediately grew concerned.

Irisviel was lying in roughly the middle of the room, a circle of Magical Energy surrounding her. The supernatural flow could clearly be made out despite the structure's thick walls. But the troubling thing was the woman's own energy was… flickering. Even with her seemingly doing nothing but lie on the stone floor, the level of od she emanated ebbed and flowed erratically. The circle's energy helped to stabilize, but it didn't look like a permanent fix. Assassin X could tell; Irisviel was slowly, perhaps at a snail's pace, but steadily growing weaker. "Did she give you any explanation, Saber?"

"Only after I asked her." The knight was only nibbling on her cookie, now, her appetite ebbing as well. "Irisviel said that she was experiencing some sort of… sickness unique to homunculi. That ruled out calling a regular doctor for help. She told me she'd shut down her sense of touch to mitigate this spiritual condition, hence her having me drive and carry things for her." Saber gave him a concerned look. "She took my hand and said she'd be squeezing it as hard as possible, Kakashi, and I didn't feel a whisper of pressure from her fingers."

"What about Avalon? From what you told me, it can heal any wounds aside from brain damage so long as it receives your mana."

"When I asked her about that, Irisviel told me this weakness isn't from some injury she'd sustained. She assured me Avalon is helping her, but it can't stop her sickness." She paused to take a sip from her tea, steady her nerves, then continued. "Lying in the Magic Circle would help… stabilize her so we can head out tonight."

Assassin X re-covered his Sharingan and closed his other eye upon picking up the sub-meaning in that last sentence. "And she insists on heading out with you, doesn't she? Irisviel doesn't want us to think of her as a burden." Saber only sighed to confirm it. He drank some tea himself before asking, "Have you told Kiritsugu about this?"

"Not yet. I don't fully understand how to work a cell phone," the corner of her mouth twitched slightly before it fell into a sad frown, "and… I'm not sure if Irisviel wants him to know."

Truth be told, Saber didn't know how he would react to this news. The cold-blooded killer Kiritsugu Emiya presented himself as, the dishonorable man she first considered him to be, wouldn't bat an eye. But the man Assassin X had shown her that night, the one who'd confessed to his wife and her alone how frightened he was of failing…

She sighed to herself. Saber could be considered an accomplished expert on the subject of inflicting injuries, but she only knew the bare minimum of treating them, and most of her knowledge was outdated for a thousand years. And this metaphysical fatigue of Irisviel's… The King of Knights didn't like not being able to help.

A loud sip made her look to see the clone of her friend put down his empty mug. "Sorry, but Irisviel's condition is a bit heavy to process. And unfortunately," he pulled out a small folder before passing it to her, "I'm afraid the reason I visited wasn't just to see how you ladies were doing." Saber accepted the folder and opened it, her eyes widening at its contents. "As you most likely noticed, I've been working with Maiya to uncover the identities of this world's Servants yet unknown to us." The ninja kept a level and soft tone throughout his explanation. "We're still working on Archer, but… we have a theory on who Berserker could be."

His shoulders slumped upon noticing her hands trembling. "…And it's probably the same theory you have, Saber."

She couldn't answer him. Her eyes were glued to the pictures before her. One a copy of Assassin X's drawing she had seen that night, others legible excerpts of a version of the Arthurian tale -her tale…

And finally, an image likely taken from an old book. It depicted a man in a splendid suit of armor, helmet removed and held in the left hand while the right rested on the pommel of a magnificent sword planted in the ground. A handsome face with long hair plain as day.

The armor looked nearly exactly like the one her friend had drawn. Like the one in her memories. That outfit inspiring and elegant in its simplicity, those tassels hanging from his back like slender wings, that sleek helmet like the face of a predatory avian, that sword that was the counterpart to the one she wielded, that face that had captivated many women…

"Sir… Lancelot…"

The pictures before her blurred- no, they simply appeared to blur because her hands kept shaking. And because of the moisture gathering within her eyes.

That black knight… can't be him, she tried to tell herself. It just can't be… But the pictures, the fixation on her, the sheer brilliance he displayed in wielding anything he touched as a deadly weapon… that snarl he always directed at her… "Ar… Ur…"

Saber then registered something on her left shoulder. A squeezing, firm but gentle, pulling her back to reality. She blinked away her tears to see a hand wearing a fingerless glove on her shoulder, then lifted her head to find Kakashi leaning over, a sad look in his single eye. "…I'm sorry," was all he said.

Saber gently slipped her shoulder free of his grip and flicked away the water from her eyes. Then she cleared her throat before replying. "Please don't apologize when you're right, Kakashi. I suspected who Berserker could be the moment I took a glimpse of your drawing." She took another look at the folder on her lap, then closed it and pushed it to the side along with the cookie bags. "Maybe the signs were already there. Since the moment we first encountered him at the docks. But I simply chose not to see them." Shame crept into her heart. "Nor did I choose to tell you or Kiritsugu. I let my personal feelings cloud my judgement and complicate our mission." She hung her head in guilt at the lies she had told. "I'm the one who should be saying sorry."

But all he did was shake his head. "All I had was a drawing, and I could have been mistaken. I still might be. Like I said, this is only a theory. Berserker could just be another knight from a later period, wearing an imitation of your friend's armor-"

"Don't." Artoria cut him off while looking him in the eye. "Don't deny the truth when it grows more apparent with each passing second. And don't downplay or rationalize my deception." Megatron would probably laughing his head off if he saw me now.

No matter how much pain she was feeling right now, she didn't waver or flee. She made the effort to acknowledge her own culpability, or at least what she thought was culpability. Truly a valiant King, the shinobi thought. "Artoria-"

"How can you be so calm, Kakashi?!" The sudden anger in her voice surprised him. Artoria slammed her fist against the wooden floor, splintering part of it. The teapot would've spilled over hadn't he caught it. "I kept vital information from our Master, from you! I lied to you! Berserker is targeting me, why, I'm not sure, but I've seen the way he glares at me, the way he growls my name in such hatred! His hounding me could've jeopardized our mission! He attacked you merely for standing in his way! He could have killed you!"

He took in her shaking form, the fresh tears gathering, and understood. This state of raw emotion was likely the culmination of her beliefs being put into question during last night's banquet, her own feeling of uselessness at Irisviel's weakening health, and the revelation he'd just slapped in her face. One or two old mental wounds had likely also been opened. Everyone had a breaking point, even the King of Knights, and she had reached it.

"You have every reason to be angry!" That single eye of Kakashi Hatake shined with such an emotion that her last restraints as a "perfect King" were worn away. "So, after everything I've failed to do, why would you show me any sympathy?!" She all but yelled at him.

"Because I probably wouldn't have acted any better in your position."

That blunt statement pierced through the cloud of anger before her thoughts, and she stared crying in shock at the man before her. "It's easy to talk about suppressing emotions to get the job done," He continued softly, "but when the obstacles in your path, the sacrifices you have to perform, have such… personal connections to you… it turns out to be harder than you thought. Trust me, I learned that lesson the hard way." It may've been a Shadow Clone, but he was every bit a copy of her partner, so she knew that she was hearing Kakashi Hatake's sincerity now. "So, how can I condemn you, Artoria, without sounding like a hypocrite?

"Facing an unknown enemy on the battlefield, only to discover he was a former comrade, a dear friend of yours… I can't imagine what that's like."

She continued to gaze at him, slowly processing what he had said, as the tension in her body began to subside. She breathed slowly to expedite the process and wiped away her tears, hoping they wouldn't return so quickly. "…And I hope you never have to find out, my friend," Saber finally replied in a significantly calmer tone. She hesitated before casting a glance. "I still find it hard to believe … I can see the evidence, but I don't want to believe Berserker is… him." She hung her head, shame still clutching her core. "I'm a fool, I know."

"Maybe you are," Assassin X replied. "Or maybe you're not as inhuman as you strove to be. Foolishness tends to be a prominent trait of humanity." That made a tiny smile crack across her face. "As for Berserker…" It slipped away, much to his own shame. "If it really is Lancelot of the Lake, well…" he winced before continuing, "knowing Kiritsugu, he'll advocate for letting Kariya Matou continue to throw Berserker and Caster X at Tokiomi Tohsaka. Assuming he survives more run-ins with Archer, we'll still have some time to strategize. And from a logical standpoint, you probably know Lancelot better than anyone else in this War. Could you think of anything that might help us?"

Saber knew he was deliberately dancing around the obvious: former friend or not, Berserker was an enemy combatant in this Grail War. That meant she would likely have to face him sooner or later. And she was no longer sure she knew Lancelot. How could the man who had been praised by many as the perfect knight, a man she had trusted, fought beside on battlefields, and even forgiven when he had betrayed her, now stand as a madman on the opposite side of the Holy Grail War? Is this my fault as well? Did I drive him to madness?

The Heroic Spirit of the Sword gave herself a mental shake and returned to the current matter. "Do not underestimate him, Assassin X." Her warning was spoken gently. "Though you did well in matching him the first time, and your Lightning Blade severing his arm is all the more impressive now in hindsight, you have yet to see his full strength."

Assassin X's clone nodded at the words. "I believe you." He gestured to the copies of the Arthurian tale he had brought. "From what I've read, Sir Lancelot was hailed as the strongest Knight of the Round Table. Did he really defeat his enemy with just a tree branch after being disarmed of his sword?" He then tilted his head in thought; was that maybe the secret behind his Noble Phantasm?

"Those tales are no exaggeration," the King of Britain confirmed his worries. She remained certain (and proud) of her knights' prowess if nothing else. "If he truly is Berserker, Lancelot's physical might will only have increased, and he seems to retain his peerless martial mastery. A devastating combination, moreso with having someone like Caster X to temper his rage." Her gaze travelled to the book picture of the Knight of the Lake. Specifically, the sword depicted. "And I'm not sure because of his current class, but… he may carry a weapon equal in rank to mine." Saber paused; in her anguish, she had overlooked another concern. "Does… Kiritsugu know, Assassin X?" she asked tentatively.

The Copy Ninja's copy picked up on her unspoken question and answered truthfully, "Maiya is likely bringing him up to date on what she and I have hypothesized right now." He noticed her relaxing just a tad; she'd picked up on his choice in words. "We can postpone this discussion until the next time we meet up with him, if you're alright with that."

Saber eyed him carefully before nodding. "That's for the best." Her distaste in their Master's tactics aside, he had to be kept within the loop about these plans. Kiritsugu had shown her trust in telling her about his intentions for Avalon, it was only fair she returned the favor. Not to mention Kakashi's presence would help keep them from being at each other's throats.

Not unlike a certain wizard who served as Berserker's partner. Perhaps…

"For the record, though," she returned her attention to the Shadow Clone seated next to her, "you needn't be so pessimistic about our chances, I think. There have been a few close calls, but we're still here and going strong. And I have a few more tricks up my sleeve." The shinobi closed his visible eye in that smiling way and tapped the plate over his other. "This War hasn't been decided yet, let alone whether I'd survive another fight with Berserker."

He also had a hunch that said Servant's own partner had something helpful in mind. Gandalf the Gray wasn't just reining him like a leashed animal, he appeared to be on genuinely good terms with Berserker. He certainly wouldn't leave the knight in his maddened state; it just wasn't in that man's character.

Saber surprised herself by returning her friend's smile. The tension within her core was easing again, slowly but surely. It wouldn't fade, it couldn't fade with the knowledge of what opponents awaited her, but at least now she could think clearly. Because Kakashi Hatake was right; the Holy Grail War was far from over, and aside from her out-of-commission left thumb, the two were still in tiptop shape. Even the injury could be remedied, either by destroying Lancer's spear or with Saber's own Noble Phantasm.

Still… she couldn't shake the unease around who that Servant almost certainly was. Nor could she escape the feeling that sooner or later, she would have to face him. The Gray Wizard had delayed it so far (something she felt ashamed to be grateful for), and Kakashi would most likely try stepping in to spare her any pain, but she vowed then and there not to let that happen.

No matter how these thoughts of him plagued her, the King of Knights would face her greatest champion and learn how he'd succumbed to this insanity.

Besides, a real friend didn't force her comrade to fight her battles for her.

Saber noticed Assassin X's clone eyeing the sun's position in the sky: only a couple hours of daylight left. He was probably considering leaving. "You can head back to Kiritsugu and Maiya, Assassin X," she assured him. "Irisviel and I will head out when the sun goes-"

Her ears picked up a rustling from him. The knight glanced down on instinct… and saw the ninja's arm pulling that infernal filth out of his pouch.

He quickly made to put the novel back, but too late. Saber rose stiffly to a standing position, right hand curling around her summoned invisible blade. Emerald eyes slowly narrowed to the slits of an irate lioness, and a growling mouth opened. "YOU DARE…"

Sweat pouring down his face, the Shadow Clone of the Man of One Thousand Techniques spoke hastily. "MylookatthetimebeseeingyousayhitoIrisvielforme!" He then released himself with a Poof! Just as Saber swung her sword. It cut only through smoke.

The King of Knights stood there for a little longer, trembling in feminine indignation, realizing that he'd played a little joke on her just now. His way of helping her release some tension and having a little fun at her expense. "Devious little blackguard…" she grumbled under her breath while relaxing her stance, hand dissipating her sword to retrieve a cookie. It's like having to deal with Merlin all over again. One day, I am going to vaporize that-

She took a bite barely noting her mutinous mouth had contorted into an amused smile.

"Saber?" The door of the storehouse opened up, and out stepped Irisviel before her. She was looking better now, stronger, but Saber noticed a slight tremor in her body language. "I've been sleeping for a while in the circle now, but I thought I heard shouting." She took on a concerned expression. "Are you alright?"

Saber returned her gaze… and smiled peacefully. "I wasn't," she admitted, "but I am now." She then held up the unopened bag of cookies, drawing a curious eye and a smile from her friend. "Greetings from Kakashi."

Heavy footsteps sounding and bells jingling close by stirred Waver from his reading, then a thick tome slipped out of the shelf he'd been standing next to and landed smack-dab on his cranium.

Ergo, the boy's Servants were inside the bookstore.

Shaking his head to regain his senses, he quickly made to hide the book he'd been reading when a familiar shape loomed over him. "There you are," Berserker X rumbled down at his Master. He straightened a bit to call, "Hey guys, he's over here."

"Not so loud, you spikey blockhead!" Waver hissed while succeeding in his endeavor.

But it went ignored due to another's arrival. "Ah, you found him, Kenpachi!" Rider came up to his partner's right with his usual smile. "You're so tiny, boy, it's hard picking you out amidst these bookshelves. It took us a while to find you."

Waver glared up at the two men, each standing over 200 centimeters tall. "Normal humans are shorter than bookshelves, Kandy-" he quickly cleared his throat, "Idiot." Judging by their teasing grins, though, he hadn't been fast enough from using Saber X's nickname. Lucky for the embarrassed boy, he noticed something to change the subject: a gift bag Rider was holding. "Please tell me you guys haven't bought another dozen bottles of sake."

"I would've," a particular voice rasped behind him, "but something else caught our resident royalty's eye." Waver looked quickly behind him to see Saber X leaning against the shelf.

(Further away from the quartet, a book wagon suddenly lost two wheels and crashed into a reading table.)

"Look!" The King of Conquerors fished triumphantly from his bag a video game with the same logo his t-shirt bore. "Admirable Tactics IV just came out today, and I managed to acquire the special edition!" He chuckled in delight. "My lucky stars are shining brightly!"

Waver opened his mouth… shut it and turned around with a confused/accusing look. Qrow shrugged incredulously before answering. "Hey, I was with these muscleheads the whole time, and Kandy didn't so much as slip over a banana peel!"

The Master stared at him, then back at Rider, before something clicked in his mind. "He's got A+ Luck, Saber X," he sighed. "It probably makes him immune to Misfortune."

The Huntsman stared straight ahead for the longest time before smacking the back of his head against the bookshelf, rattling it. Some novels fell out of their spot while he grumbled, "Now you tell me."

Berserker X had a similarly irritated demeanor. "That explains why that stupid escalator only started acting up after he got off it…"

Two Heroic Spirits and one human glared in grudging envy at an unrepentantly pleased King of Conquerors until the human finally got his mind back on track. "You do realize you need a game console in order to play that game, right?"

Rider hefted his sizable bag while replying. "Don't worry, I thought of that, too! I even bought extra controllers so all of us can play it together, boy!" He then added in a pouty grumble, "Well, I even picked out a fighting game to try and appease a certain party-pooper."

Kenpachi just huffed in boredom. "Why the hell would I play some strategy game on a box full of junk when I have more fun scrapping with others in real life?"

The Servant of the Mount turned his seemingly larger eyes to Saber X, who only sighed. "Yeah, yeah, I'll give the game a shot, now cut it out with the puppy-dog routine!" He then sighed into his open palm. "It's like I'm babysitting Ruby and Yang all over again…"

The image of two frighteningly adorable little girls popping before Waver's eyes thankfully shielded him from that same assault. That allowed him to say dismissively, "If you want to play your little games, fine, but don't bother me with it."

"Oh come on," the King sighed. "Why do you keep focusing on trivialities, boy? What's stopping you from living a little?"

"And here I thought you were finally starting to be a little fun," Berserker X muttered.

"Shut up," Waver grumbled. "A magus like me doesn't have the time or the brain cells to waste on such mind-numbing nonsense. It's my duty to search for the truth."

"Uh huh." Berserker X's hand reached for the book Waver had been reading before he could stop it. "So, what kinda truth did you find in that book there? Should've put it in the right way." He pulled it out so everyone in the group could see, gaining a sly look. "Well, well…"

As Waver's cheeks slowly reddened, Rider made an interested sound at reading the title. "Is that my biography?"

Waver wished he could teleport himself back to the Mackenzie's house, to England, anywhere but in this blasted bookstore! "Aww…" The hand patting his head only turned up the heat in his cheeks. He could feel Qrow's teasing grin. "I think you've picked up a not-so-secret admirer, your majesty."

"Really?" Rider blinked. "You're pretty strange, boy. The man you admire stands in the flesh before you, but you look into a less reliable source? If you have a question about my life, you can always ask me."

The eleventh bearer of the name Kenpachi laughed. "He's probably too nervous to talk to his hero."

The young scholar felt like every blood vein in his head popped, and adrenaline raced through his body. "Shut the hell up, you crazy brute!" He snatched the book out of that leering demon's hand (not noticing the twinkle of satisfaction in that eye). "Fine, I'll ask you, Rider!" He turned through the pages of English print; the reason why he'd chosen this mall in the first place was because it was bound to have non-Japanese content. "Here," he held up two particular pages for his group to see, "you're supposed to have been very short in stature. So, how come you're the biggest and dumbest of us?"

Saber X walked around to read for himself, his earlier teasing forgotten. "Huh, the kid's right. Says here, when you beat Darius III and took Persia's throne, they had to swap its footstool for a full-sized table just so you could climb up onto the damn thing."

The foreigners also looked to the addressee curiously, but he only stared confused. "Me, short? Persia…" He scratched his head in confusion before slamming his fist into his palm. "Ah, of course! I must've looked quite short sitting in Darius' throne, but anyone would appear tiny compared to him!" He roared in laughter. "The man's physical stature was equal in size to his kingly qualities. A man worthy of the Persian Empire!"

Waver and Qrow shivered at the implications: Iskandar was a massive man by any metric, and he'd appeared tiny in comparison to another?! What kind of giant had Darius III been?!

Kenpachi of course was practically salivating. "I knew a guy back home, too, who was bigger than me. Wore a metal basket over his head, but I always wanted to fight him. Course, the old man never allowed it, but I bet it would've been fun." Then he chuckled. "Guess this is what happens when you let others tell your story, huh?"

Rider nodded jovially. "It appears so, look at King Arthur! I never thought he'd turn out to be a little girl, but life's just full of surprises! And you can only expect so much reliability from scribes who write of tales foreign to them."

Saber X, having regained his relaxed demeanor, added his own cents. "Yeah, and the more often a story's told, the more details tend to get warped. Sometimes, certain things are outright omitted or twisted beyond recognition." He remembered learning about the truth behind certain fairy tales from Remnant. And just how high the stakes truly were.

Waver looked between the three men before raising his voice. "Wouldn't any of you get angry at people writing wrong things about you?"

Rider returned his confused expression. "Why would I care about that?"

"You out of all of us should. Any ruler of any period would surely want to go down in history, and they wouldn't stand for falsehoods being spread about them." To Waver, this was simple logic. Something these simpletons ought to understand.

Rider cupped his chin at the thought. "Well, it's certainly nice to be remembered, that bestows some measure of immortality upon one." His eyes shined with memories of those wonderful days he'd lived in. "If your story continues to be told in books two thousand years later, then it makes what you've experienced a hundred times more worthful, I suppose."

Berserker X shrugged. "I've only ever cared about fighting. If others consider me an inspiring hero, a demon or a monster, that's their problem."

"Same here," Saber X admitted while scratching his stubble. "Sure, slander like calling me a rapist or something would piss me off," the other Servants nodded at that, "but I didn't pick this job for the fame." Then he smirked at a certain quote. "A former teacher and friend of mine once said, 'When the legend meets fact, print the legend.' That's just how it is."

"A wise quote," Rider hummed to himself, "and very true. We Heroic Spirits draw much of our strength from the legends told of us, after all." His mouth shifted into a bitter smile. "To be honest, though, I'd rather have lived another twenty years, added a little more to my legends then, than have been remembered for two millennia now."

That made Waver think about another detail he'd read of the King of Conquerors. "So, you really died at age thirty?"

"Yes, this is true," Rider confirmed without pride or shame. A simple fact.

"Really?" Saber X quirked an eyebrow at him. "I was in my mid-forties when I died, older than you. Go figure."

"I'd lived a couple of centuries before kicking the bucket…" The other two stared at a nonchalant Berserker X. "Hell of a ride…"

And while they chatted amongst themselves over their respective circumstances, Waver could eye each of these Heroic Spirits… these accomplished men who'd seen and done memorable things in their own times and worlds, who'd formed such legends that others had adapted for better and worse… and could only find himself lacking.

Caster stood (or at least appeared to stand) on the surface of the river, releasing an excited giggle. The time was nearly upon him; as the sun would set, so would he put on a show this world had never seen before.

He looked up towards the massive bridge before him, imagining dear young Ryuunosuke standing at the railing, cheering him on. The Demon Marshall's heart ached at the memory of losing him. I promise you, my dear boy, in your name, I shall give birth to the most cool thing you would have ever seen!

A snarl bubbled up from his throat upon remembering the faces of those who had caused him such grief in his time here: that wench in emerald robes and her infernal pole that had cut Ryuunosuke's life so short; the faceless demon commanding a pack of hellhounds, corrupting the mind of his pure Jeanne; and that despicable old priest with his false holiness and black monster. He was undoubtably the master of the rest, all the more reason he will pay the most for his transgressions!

Bluebeard opened Prelati's Spellbook and flipped through its pages; so engrossed in his work was he that he failed to notice the enchanted insects that had latched onto the fleshy Noble Phantasm and were now flying off to their master. No, he concentrated on the text until finding the right passage, then he began to read out loud.

And dark magic began to gather beneath the Servant's feet…

-85:47:11

The group of three Servants and one fledgling Master continued to spend a great deal of time in the mall; after enjoying the food court, Rider had spotted the arcade and dragged the rest along with him. He and Berserker developed a friendly, if spirited (and slightly destructive) rivalry over a zombie-shooting game while Saber X attracted a sizable crowd hitting all-time top scores at the dancing simulator. He proceeded to sign autographs with a hint of smugness even as Rider faceplanted four times in a row trying to beat him. King of Conquerors, yes. Waver mused sardonically over an overpriced iced tea. King of Dancing, not so much.

But all fun has to come to an end. …And Qrow accidentally blew out all of the arcade's electrical circuits at the exact same time, so they promptly skedaddled before anyone would get suspicious.

The sun was beginning to set as they took the long route back to the Mackenzie residence. It might've been an added risk, but Waver wasn't worried about enemies attacking. He had the strongest team in the Holy Grail War: the "weakest" of his Servants was an obvious master of swordsmanship and scythe-wielding and had a few surprises to boot; the other swordsman possessed enough brute power to pulverize half the city if he ever fought seriously (Waver shuddered involuntarily at remembering that one moment last night where he'd swung a (practice) sword with both hands); and the King of Conquerors wielded a Noble Phantasm far greater than any other Servant that walked this Earth. The boy could still feel the warm sands beneath him, the bright sky illuminating the Reality Marble, roars washing over him from the masses of heroes all standing to attention, awaiting their King's command…

With the power of Ionioi Hetairoi and Qrow Branwen and Kenpachi Zaraki fighting at his side, Iskandar would surely claim victory over all other Servants. Waver had no doubt whatsoever that this outcome was inevitable.

No, his doubts were aimed solely at himself, the scrawny little student from Clock Tower who gotten in way over his head. This trio walking in front of him, chatting and laughing with each other like they didn't have a care in the world, the Holy Grail practically already in the palm of Rider's fat hand… and him, dragging his feet a few steps behind them. Waver hadn't done anything to contribute to their success thus far. All three of them had taken the initiative into their own hands, Saber X in scouting enemy movements, Rider convincing Berserker X to join the team… all Waver had done was provide them mana, help them find Caster's (his stomach lurched) "base," and cower like a rat.

Even right now, all he could do was stare at their backs. He might be the future last Master standing in the Fourth Holy Grail War, but it wasn't due to his own accomplishments. He'd simply be feeding off of the spoils from these three. No one amongst the magus community would ever respect a "victor" like that.

…So, what was even the point of Waver Velvet taking part in all this insanity?

"Something on your mind, pipsqueak?" Saber X had been one step from breaking away from the group. Fun though the day had been, it was high time for him to get back to work and find the rogues. He still owed Caster a carving up from Harbinger for that sight the kid had to witness. But then he'd noticed a familiar expression his Master was wearing. It had been one he'd seen in the mirror more than once.

"Good point." Rider turned around with a bored smile. "You've been awfully quiet for once."

Waver looked up at the trio eyeing him from their full heights. He almost made to scream his frustrations but averted his gaze instead. "It's nothing," he finally answered. "I guess I'm just bored having you three around."

That earned him a gimlet eye from Qrow. "Bored," the Corvid Reaper repeated. "You're the Master of three Heroic Spirits participating in a supernatural war, and you're bored?" He crossed his arms, deciding to play along. "What exactly qualifies as exciting in your mind?"

"It's not like anything exciting happened today," Berserker X cut in. "We didn't even run into one of the other Servants, let alone fight them. I'm feeling pretty bored, too…"

Rider lifted his shopping bag to chest level while contributing. "Which is why I've brought us so many games. I understand that Qrow wishes to go on patrol now, but the three of us can still have some fun-"

This casualness finally knocked something down in Waver's spirit. "None of you get it!" He blurted out before his voice lowered again. "It's just… the idea of me winning the Holy Grail only thanks to monster Servants like you…" he lowered his head in defeat. "What do I have to be proud of? Working with an Assassin would've at least made me earn my victories."

Rider gave him a scrutinizing look. "I doubt that would've worked well for you. Then again, if we were talking about that Kakashi fellow who's comrades with the King of Knights…"

Berserker X was more skeptical. "No offense to that guy, but you'd still be roadkill even with him, kid."

"I know!" The boy yelled in his frustration. "But I'm not afraid of dying for fighting my own battles. You're not the only one who thinks like that, 'Kenpachi!' It's the risk I took when I became a Master of the Holy Grail War!" He sighed, running out of steam. "I knew that."

That earned him a scoff. "Don't go getting all melodramatic on us, pipsqueak." Saber X snorted unimpressed at the scowl he received. "Of course, you're having a hard time keeping up while we've been doing things our way. You've still got a ways to go before you could put yourself at my level, let alone Spiky or Kandy Bar's." Waver's breath hitched; so, the drunkard had seen right through his whining. "All three of us have been fighting battles and living through crazy times before you were even born. That's just a fact. No use getting worked up about letting us take the reins."

Qrow's lip quirked. Time for a little fun. "But hey, if you've got some super-amazing wish that can impress the King of Conquerors, big bad Kenpachi and yours truly, we'd have no problem dancing to your tune." The teasing tone made Waver's body tremble. "What was it again?" He patted the shorter boy's head. "Oh yeah, you wanted the Holy Grail to make you a little taller, maybe buffer, too." Waver's fists tightened.

Rider snorted while continuing the joke. "Hold up, I thought his wish was to cure his soprano voice."

"Really? Why not try to go for both and see if you have enough left to swing for a bigger di-"

Waver's patience snapped in half at Berserker X's taunt. "THAT'S NOT IT, YOU IDIOTS!" He instinctively swung his fist before realizing what he was doing. No way a puny strike from him would so much as tickle any of them.

Sure enough, Saber X caught the appendage effortlessly. He then rolled his eyes at it before grumbling, "Oh, for the love of… You really are hopeless, kid." He shifted his grip on the fist so the others could see. "This little dipstick can't even throw a half-decent punch."

Two more Servants grumbling affirmatives at that made Waver hang his head in despair. Couldn't he do anyth-Puick! He yelped at the pain rippling from his forehead. Not again.

"Pay attention, pipsqueak," Qrow scolded him while retracting his finger. "How are you gonna learn anything if you just curl up in a ball and cry every time you mess up?" A snarl escaped his lips. "Did that asshat of a professor ever teach, or was he too busy putting you down?"

Waver flinched at the memory of Lord El-Melloi's scathing him before the entire class for his ideas. He forced himself to calm down and change the subject. "I-it's not like I need to waste time with physical nonsense, not when I'm buy honing my magecraft-"

"Thinking like that's probably what got Ello-Mellow killed." Once again, he was bluntly cut off. But the look the Huntsman gave him had lost some of its sternness. "And even if you turn out to be a late bloomer genius at magic or something, knowing some practical stuff is always smart. Trust me, having a good right hook has gotten me out of plenty tight spots."

Saber X then pushed Waver's hand closer to in front of his face, then pried it open. "Iron rule, kid: never keep your thumb inside your fist. You're gonna break it that way." He gently made the boy's right fingers curl into his palm but tellingly kept the thumb out. Then that was placed on the outside. "See? Like that." The man then stepped around his Master while still holding the freshly made fist and took hold of his forearm as well. "And a good punch is all about speed. Throw it fast enough, and you can knock the other guy for a loop."

Waver gave no resistance as Qrow first moved his arm into a simulation of it, then snapped his own right fist forward. The air seemed to ripple when he "struck" it. The boy's mind drummed up memories of when this Servant of his had been disarmed, only to fight his opponents, even kill them in one Assassin's case, barehanded. As well as his own wonder at witnessing how fluid the change had been. Well, he did grow up in a bandit tribe surrounded by Grimm. He had to learn how to fight from a young age or he'd have died long ago.

Then all of a sudden, Iskandar was on his other side. "Make sure to move the muscles in your shoulder as well." Those massive fingers drifted over his tiny shoulders. "Not much there in your case, but your fist is connected to your arm, and your arm is connected to your shoulder. All three must work in harmony to bring out a blow's potential." His left shoulder was then pulled back while his right was pushed forward. "Shifting your upper body with the attack increases its potency even more. But be mindful you don't pull anything."

"And keep an eye on your stance," Even Kenpachi chimed in. He gave a light kick to Waver's right leg that still made him lurch. "If your footing's too rigid or unstable, you'll fall on your face from swinging too hard." He knelt down and pushed Waver's legs further apart, then made him bend his knees. "Keep them apart and make sure you've got a sturdy base. You might not weigh a whole lot, kid, but you can still break a guy's jaw if you put your mind to it. Still, it wouldn't hurt to put in a little fitness work in your case."

"I've always been more of an intellectual…" Waver defended himself with slightly red cheeks. Didn't stop himself from internalizing all of this advice. If there was one thing all three of these brutes surely knew how to do, it was fight.

Unlike him.

A familiar heavy hand thumped against his hair. "You really need to learn to loosen up, boy." Rider said cheerily next to him. "Another thing Qrow was trying to tell you was that the Holy Grail War doesn't have to be the defining moment in your life."

The streetlamps flickered on around them; the sun was slowly disappearing on the horizon. Waver barely noticed it in slapping away the hand. "What are you-"

"You weren't put on this Earth just to get your ass kicked in this Grail War." This time, it was Berserker X who interrupted him. "You don't really need the Grail for a wish like we do, it's just the prize for fighting in this thing." His smirk wasn't as terrifying as usual. "I can respect fighting for the sake of fighting, and all you need to do is fight for your own sake."

"And you can continue to search for your own battlefield after this one is complete," Rider concluded. Iskandar… the man who sought the Holy Grail only so he could reincarnate in this world and continue to conquer as he did long ago. It was an utterly ridiculous idea, total stupidity… but his drive in pursuing it, what Waver had read and seen with his own eyes… It made this Heroic Spirit command awe and respect in those around him. Even Saber X, a lone wolf, and Berserker X, a violent beast, were inadvertently drawn to him, the boy realized.

And it hurt his own pride all the more. "You cannot seriously tell me I'm the only one dissatisfied with this arrangement?" Rider looking confused, Berserker X clicking his tongue and Saber X rolling his eyes fanned his flames. "None of you are happy being contracted to me!" He slapped his own chest, his voice dripping in self-mockery. "Me, some useless brat who needs three teachers just to learn how to throw a good punch, is your Master? We all know that any of you would be able to go even further with a different, proper Master." He twitched at a snort from one among his audience. "That's right, laugh at me!"

"Take it easy, kid," Saber X wheezed out through his snickers. "It's just that this scene here is pretty familiar." He smirked at the way the boy flinched. "Yeah, I said plenty of stuff similar to what you just spouted off more than once when I was around your age, Waver. And my team didn't let me off the hook that easy either."

"I-it's not the same thing, Qrow!" Waver sputtered. "I wasn't ready for this War, you said so yourself! Besides, you have the least to worry about me stifling your potential, but what about Rider? He doesn't want some whiny brat following him around, spoiling his conquests! Or Berserker X? He threatened to kill me not long ago if I got in his way!"

"I made that threat to make you man up a little, kid," the spiky-haired man replied in a bored tone. "And like you said, I had a problem with you getting in the way of my fights. That doesn't mean I have a problem with you being my Master." He barked a laugh. "A wimpy guy like you with underdeveloped Magic Circuits is way more of a challenge to have as a Master than some stuck-up magic genius. And you're still better than my first one."

"Like that's an accomplishment…" Waver grumbled. But he should've expected this. A monster who regularly held back in half a dozen different ways to fight would probably be delighted having a weakling as his mana source.

But one Servant had yet to answer. The one who stood from him the furthest.

Said Servant suddenly got up in his face before reaching around to rummage in his backpack. A little fiddling, and Waver was released while Rider flipped through the pages of the atlas he'd swiped from the library. Then he turned around the book to show the depicted double-spread of the world. "Here, boy," he pointed at the image, "have a look. This is my true enemy I have sworn to fight." Waver stared at it despite himself. "Now, imagine lining all four of us up in scale to it. You, me, Qrow and Kenpachi as we are now."

Waver sighed at the idiocy. "How could I-"

"You can't, can you?" I just keep getting interrupted today, the boy grumbled internally as Rider continued. "You couldn't put us in scale to this enemy no matter how fine the pen's tip you use. We are all tiny points compared to the world we stand on, so why compare ourselves to each other in scale?"

Waver said nothing while grasping the surprising logic.

"But this tininess is precisely why I fight!" The King of Conquerors laughed. "Regardless of size or might to one another!" He rose to his full height, his words inadvertently drawing in the other Servants as well. "My body," he thumped his chest proudly, "is just another tiny dot on this world, but I want to rule it all the more! It excites me to no end…" he held his fist over his chest. "This right here is the beat of the King of Conquerors' heart!"

Sure enough, no matter where they stood, they could all hear a steady rhythm, like the thumping of a heavy drum. The sound beckoned their spirits to come closer.

Iskandar then swept his arm towards the sky. "And as my rival pointed out, this world is far from the only one in existence! Two others from two separate worlds stand before me, bearing clothes, armaments and abilities unlike anything I've ever seen! Megatron may be my sworn enemy, but I cede to him that my dream is small in scope to his if he truly seeks to conquer all worlds!" He laughed ferociously. "I admire and loathe him in the same breath! It makes me all the more eager to crush him in battle, to prove my title worthy!"

In the face of such optimism and vigor, Waver felt himself all the further away from the Servant. "In order words," he mumbled, "you don't care at all who you have for a Master? No matter how weak I am, you'll still beat Megatron and claim what you seek?"

An incredulous laugh escaped Saber X a second before Rider's did. "Okay, do you practice twisting everything into a way to put yourself down or are you my reincarnation from Remnant?" The foreigner shook his head. "Look, we weren't born the badasses you see before you. We've all felt inferior or helpless at some point in our lives, trust me." Waver made to say something when he gestured to himself. "I was born among nomadic bandits in a world full of soulless monsters that would've ripped you apart for this kind of negativity. Plus, I've got a Semblance that makes me a bad luck charm. By any standards, I should've been left in the woods to die.

"But others gave me chances, encouraged me to see if there was more to me than just my Semblance. So I did. I learned how to fight with the best, how to save lives instead of just endangering them, and most importantly, how to live." He shrugged. "Sure, I'm still pretty bent on finding out how my life might've turned out without Misfortune," even as, Qrow admitted to himself, this day had reminded him of the happier times with his team, his family, "but I don't regret taking those chances. And I'll never regret meeting the people who gave me a home on Remnant." His heart panged; he really wanted to see Ruby and Yang again.

Now it was Berserker X's turn. "I never had a family, hell, I never even had a name." He briefly summoned his sheathed nodachi. "I picked this sword off a corpse when I was… almost smaller than you because it somehow drew me in." He willed it away with a sigh. "But no matter what I cut with it, trees, animals, people, all it made me feel was bored. I might as well have been swinging in darkness." His mouth curled into a nostalgic smirk. "Then I fought her…"

A woman with long, raven-black hair, a curved sword and an eerie demeanor appeared before Waver's inner eye. He continued to hear Kenpachi's voice. "That was the first time I had to put in real effort. The first time I ever was unsure if I'd survive the fight. The first time I ever lost. She left me with my life and an understanding of feeling weak. Of wanting to grow stronger." Then they were back by the river. "I hold back because it's more challenging, but I don't stop looking for those who are stronger than me. I can't help but want to face them." Ah, how he longed to see Yachiru again…

"We are all like that," Rider nodded to his friend's words. He then patted Waver heavily on the back. "We've felt this sort of inferiority inside you, boy. And that is a fine quality for a ruler. You might complain a lot, but you are at least aware of your own shortcomings." He pulled Waver into a one-armed hug. "And you strive nevertheless to reach new heights!"

"…You're all just making fun of me, aren't you?"

"Of course we are, boy," Iskandar confirmed without shame. "You're an incorrigible fool, but you strive for a goal that is far too large for your abilities." He nudged him to look towards the water. "In my time, we believed that greatness lay on the horizon, and it pushed us all forward."

"Is that why you charged like a lunatic ever towards east?"

"Exactly. I wished to see Oceanus with my own eyes. But I sadly died before fulfilling my dream." Rider smiled even as Waver realized: that mass of water, waves rushing towards him and his followers… he hadn't actually seen it. That was just a representation of Iskandar's dream.

"Oceanus… remains the place I strive to reach," The King of Conquerors intoned. He was joined by his newest comrades. "Just as Qrow strives to define his life beyond his Semblance," the Corvid Reaper give him a two-fingered salute, "and Kenpachi strives to find ever-stronger opponents for him to test his strength against." "The Man Who Cannot Fall" smirked. "Our dreams which remain unfulfilled. Go ahead and laugh at us, but we continue to hold ourselves by these dreams, hopeless fools that we are."

They leaned over their Master in a way that strangely didn't intimidate him. "With that in mind, boy, I'd say we're all quite happy with being contracted to you."

"Besides," Qrow added, "it always feels better when you're doing something with others than if you go at it alone. So," he chuckled, "might as well keep moving forward as dreaming fools together."

Iskandar nodded with a laugh, and even Berserker X snorted. "Would be nice for a change."

Waver tried to find some distraction from the warm feeling these morons were stirring inside him-

When a supernatural tremor swept through him. His Magic Circuits reacting to something thaumaturgical. Something powerful. Something… monstrous.

The Servant trio continued to look towards the horizon, but with fierce glares now. Especially in Saber X's case. "Down by the river…" Rider murmured.

Berserker X rolled his shoulders. "I'd never forget that sensation…"

Saber X had already shifted into combat gear. "I'll see you guys there," he called back before jumping up. Then a large black crow was flying swiftly towards the sensation's source.

It was time to rejoin the War.

-84:34:58

The pen slipped from Kariya's fingers and clattered to the ground. He clutched his chest in pain from the Crest Worms' sudden frenzy, trying to understand. "What now…?"

Berserker was trembling where he stood next to his Master, the rattling of his armor melding with the growl directed skyward. Kariya wondered through his pain why this seemed so familiar, then he latched onto a memory. Five nights ago, when a great ripple of mana had washed out over the city, the Worms, the Servant and anyone else with magical knowledge reacting to it. And this nauseous feel to it, he recognized as well. "Caster…"

"Yes, he has finally stepped out of hiding." Beside them, Gandalf tapped his staff once against the ground. A pulse of light emanated from the crystal in its crown and flowed over his team. The light didn't last long, but Berserker relaxed and the Crest Worms stilled upon registering it. "And he is preparing something massive, otherwise we would not be feeling this power. No doubt everyone magic-affiliated within the city can sense it." The wizard glared outside their alley. "It must've come from the river."

"Then that's where we're headed." Kariya closed the notebook he'd been scribbling in and put it away. It hadn't been anything more than a way to pass the time while his friend had been walking about, and he'd stumbled upon a mental block. Writing stories is a lot harder than most people think.

But now was the time to fight again. And with Caster doing something this brazen, there was no doubt Tokiomi or his Servants would be making an appearance. Meaning, this was maybe his best chance to knock down two birds with one stone.

The Matou Master scowled at a particular misshapen fly circling a nearby streetlight. A bolt from Gandalf incinerated it, but Kariya had still seen it. Something that hideous could only come from Zouken, and if it had been fluttering about so noticeably, then it was surely meant as a taunt from that old bastard. A cruel reminder of what was at stake.

Not that Sakura ever left his mind. That sweet little girl, her eyes once full of life and wonder, but dulled into a sickening purple, like those of a broken doll after spending more than a year in that infernal house…

Because he had given her up. The crippled man drew himself to his feet with no small amount of anger. No matter what Gandalf said or how much Kariya appreciated the Servant he'd been blessed with, he couldn't forget the fact none of this mess he and Sakura were trapped in would've happened if Tokiomi Tohsaka hadn't handed over his daughter to Zouken Matou.

So, as he limped towards the Toyota they'd… acquisitioned, the Master addressed his Servant. "Gandalf." The elderly sage inclined his head towards him. "When we get there, and if Tokiomi himself shows up… promise me we'll confront him." He only received a stare, making him quickly continue. "I'm not blind to the threat Caster poses or those of whatever allies he may've picked up. But like you said, whatever spell he's cooked up is too big for any team of the Holy Grail War to ignore. We won't be the only one heading to his location." He swallowed and looked down at the pavement, hatred for that man and respect towards the one before him meshing inside his mouth. "I know I sound callous right now, but-"

"Very well."

Kariya snapped his eyes back up in surprise. "W-what?" He'd hadn't dared to hope to hear those words.

The Gray Wizard gave him a mysterious gaze before sighing. "I've been considering your grievances, Kariya, even if I have scolded you for being too obsessed with them. But you are correct about us not facing Caster or whatever else awaits us alone." He walked over to the car and opened a door, beckoning. "So, I concede it is time for you and Tokiomi to meet."

Relief flooded the man's heart as he walked with much less pain than usual towards the offering. He'd noticed Gandalf looking quite thoughtful ever since he'd returned from his walk two hours ago. Maybe he'd finally come around to Kariya's thinking. "Thank you," he said with the sincerest smile he had upon reaching the Toyota.

The Servant of Sorcery returned the smile. "I only hope if we survive this night that I may ask of you a favor later."

"Anything, my friend," Kariya promised without hesitation before slipping into the car.

Caster X closed the door and made for the driver's seat just as Berserker did as well. "I can get us there swiftly as well," he said with a twinkle in his eye. The black knight stepped away with what might've been mistaken for sulking. But before he could move for the passenger seat, a hand caught hold of his shoulder.

"I've come to some measure of understanding your pain, sir knight. And while your King will undoubtably step onto this battlefield…" the maddened Servant stilled, fists tight as stone, but the wizened man continued. "I ask you as your friend, do not let her presence blind you to greater dangers. Can you do that, Knight of the Lake?"

The visor of that dishonored hero stared at his partner, the wizard who had been an ally and friend better than he deserved… and tilted downwards. "Hvv… m… wwrrd."

And with that, the knight-wizard duo slipped briskly into their transport, driving straight towards the looming danger.

High atop the Fuyuki Center's roof, yet another team, currently the smallest, was beginning to assess the situation. The building was still under construction, assuring they wouldn't be disturbed. "Can you make out what's happening, Lancer?" The Master asked her Servant.

The knight's keen eyes pierced the distance between them and the Mion River. An unnatural mist had begun to gather around the water's surface, making observation difficult. Finally, he nodded. "It's Caster without a doubt. He's begun some kind of spell by the river." His eyes narrowed. "I can't make out any exact details, though. Nor do I see Rider X or Archer X anywhere."

Sola-Ui kept her face neutral despite wanting to twitch at that Servant's mentioning. Instead, she reminded herself that such a brazen use of magic before public eyes could never be sanctioned. Caster wasn't even bothering to hide his activities. The other teams were sure to be on their way. "Regardless, this would be the best opportunity to take him down."

"I agree. It would be best to stop him before he enacts whatever he has planned." Besides, Lancer added to himself, there's still the possibility that the other rogues are close by. He knew jumping recklessly after Caster could mean setting off a trap. But the first knight of Fianna had no doubts about the arrival of the other Servants or their providing aid.

And sometimes, risks simply had to be taken to achieve your goals. Or slay your enemies.

As for Sola-Ui, she was focusing on the crimson markings her fiancé had… entrusted to her. "Moreover, this is a chance to replenish a lost Command Seal." The prospect of having a full set of Lancer's contract filled the young woman's heart with ecstasy.

But the Servant was currently of a more practical mindset. "I'm taking the initiative. Please remain up here, Lady Sola-Ui, and bear witness."

"No," she protested immediately and with a hint of desperation. "I'm your Master now. I should stay close by to assist." Her hands went for the fashionable handbag she'd brought. "I'm prepared in case of an enemy strike, let me come with you."

Lancer shook his head. "I'm afraid not. Unlike Lord Kayneth, you lack experience in actual battle. Mystic Codes cannot compensate for that so easily, especially when you've had little time to understand how they work." He nodded towards his target. "There's bound to be a bloodbath by that river, and I can't fight to my fullest while worrying you may be in harm's way." His tone softened. "Please understand."

The argument was a tactically sound one, but Sola-Ui couldn't stand the thought of him being away from her even for something like this. Not to mention with so many Servants running about. Certain Servants in particular. She tried not to scowl while imagining Saber, Lancer X or Archer X…

Diarmuid wasn't blind to the lust within those eyes. He didn't want to get cross with a lady, but there was no time to waste. So, he added a little strictness to his next words. "Lady Sola-Ui, do you have any doubts about the keenness of my spears? Are you worried I may not be taking this battle seriously?" He wasn't really as affronted as he sounded.

But his words had their intended effect. Sola-Ui Nauda-Re Sophia-Ri shook her head before adopting a more professional tone. She didn't want to risk damaging whatever relationship they had. "Lancer, I trust your assessment of the battle completely. Go fight without concern or hesitation."

He placed his right hand before his chest and bowed his head to her. "You have my thanks." Then the Heroic Spirit of the Spear crouched at his spot before clearing part of the distance with a large leap. The natural swiftness of his class ensured he would reach the river before long.

Sola-Ui watched him go with a forlorn expression. Part of her wondered if she was being selfish, longing to share love with this wonderful being when they were to be fighting in this Grail War. But the life of a magus woman like her was rarely a happy one. Born second to her brother Bram, she had learned early on that she would never be the one to bear the Sophia-Ri family crest. And with her brother proving to be rather graceless in his work, she had been arranged to marry Kayneth El-Melloi Archibald, a man of prestige among the Magus Association. A loveless union, first and foremost out of obligation. Kayneth may've held affection for her, but all Sola-Ui ever saw in him was a reminder that she was merely a tool for her family. A fancy trophy for presentation. Such was the life of a magus.

And then with the Holy Grail War came the arrival of Lancer, a handsome, noble knight who had captivated her from the moment she'd first laid eyes on him. His gallantry when he conversed with her, his grace in every movement he made, his amber eyes amplified by that vexing little spot… her heart would skip a beat every time he'd smile.

Then, for once in her life, Sola-Ui was granted a chance to decide her own fate when Kayneth had gotten himself grievously injured. She had seized that chance with both hands, a decision she continued to have no regrets about. Then Archer X had finally grown sick of her Master and made her own decision, leaving Sola-Ui without a fiancé and making a sworn enemy out of Lancer.

It had seemed so… perfect back then. Sola-Ui would aid Lancer in ridding the Grail War of that uncouth traitor, thereby claiming his love in the process. If they won the Holy Grail, all the better, she could wish that they'd be together forever. Except… Lancer had shown her only his usual chivalry, there seemed to be something more than warriors' respect between him and that little Saber, and last night's revelation of his wish… worried her. If Kayneth truly were to be restored the way he had been, it would also mean the return of their marriage. Going back to what awaited her when she'd been blessed with a taste of something else…

Sola-Ui could surely be forgiven if that prospect garnered little enthusiasm from her. She had been considering during their earlier search if she may need to take certain steps to… convince Lancer of a better way. The current situation was a chance to replenish her supply of Command Seals, and those could always come in handy. Sola-Ui was reluctant to take any steps that may be considered drastic, but magi needed to make sacrifices for their goals.

But for now… "When you return victorious, Lancer," she whispered longingly to herself, "please present me your smile."

The tires of Irisviel's Mercedes-Benz squealed as they rounded another corner. Saber spun the steering wheel clockwise and stepped simultaneously on the brakes. Even as the car halted next to the riverside she sprang out of the driver's seat and sprinted up the grass. She saw her enemy immediately amidst the fog. 'As expected,' she dispatched to Assassin X, 'it's Caster.' The robed lunatic seemed to be standing on the river's surface, mana of a sickening violet pouring from that accursed tome pouring like liquid into the waters.

'I'll be there in thirty seconds,' her comrade reported. Meanwhile, Irisviel had reached her side slightly winded.

'Please make it twenty.' Saber said mentally while explaining out loud the situation to her friend. "He seems to be in the process of undertaking a spell of large proportions, based on the massive levels of mana emanating from him."

In that moment, one of Gilles de Rais' bulbous eyes opened to peer at her. He subsequently turned, the mana stream from his book ceasing in the process, and bowed his smiling head towards the women. "I bid you welcome, Holy Maiden! It brings my heart joy to see you once again."

"Incorrigible creature!" Saber only had a glare for this Servant. "What are you up to this time?"

"Forgive me, Jeanne, but tonight's performance is not dedicated to only you." Caster's teeth glinted eerily despite the fog increasing around him. "Nevertheless, you honor me as always with your presence."

He looked as though he had more to say, but a caw from above drew his and their attention. One second, there was a dark bird diving straight for the deranged Servant, the next, a glaring Saber X had taken its place, sword unfurled. "Here's another honor for you, Fisheyes!" he spat out in disgust while hurtling towards his target.

Simultaneously, Assassin X materialized behind Caster. Od glowed beneath his sandals, allowing him to stand atop the water, and his Lightning Blade crackled at the ready. "You're finished." Two Noble Phantasms sliced through the mist for Caster's midsection.

But his smile only widened. "Am I now?"

Two massive tentacles lashed out of the river, one batting Saber X out of the air, the other nearly slamming down on Assassin X hadn't his Sharingan alerted him. The shinobi sliced it in half with his charged hand, but more rose to join the appendage, forcing him to flip out of reach. He landed disappointed in front of Saber and Irisviel. "Fifteen seconds, still too late."

Qrow Branwen jumped back on his feet close by with a grumble. "Just my luck…"

Amidst the mist and writhing tentacles, the Demon Marshall continued to smile despite the increase in enemies. "How good of you to join us, warriors!" His eyes focused on Assassin X. "Particularly you, demon." They twitched furiously. "And if you're here, then that foul monk is not far. Wonderful! Please enjoy to the fullest this banquet of death and decay I, Gilles de Rais, have prepared tonight!"

More of those slimy things wrapped around their invoker's legs, then traveled higher as he spread his arms out. The three Servants readied themselves for whatever would come next. "Let us wave the flag of salvation anew!" Caster called out amidst these grotesque proceedings. Then an even larger mass of flesh arose beneath him, polluted waves splashing onto the coast.

Irisviel stared at all this in horrified shock. "Caster's being… absorbed?"

Indeed, the one who had brought about all this madness was pulled inside this new creature even as his voice could still be clearly heard. "Gather, ye condemned! I shall lead you! I shall command you!" It continued to rise out of the water, its size far greater than anyone could've anticipated. "The rage of us cast aside and held down will reach God without doubt!" His audience watched in mounting horror as this colossal abomination rose to its full height, its size dwarfing the Fuyuki bridge with ease. "Our Lord in Heaven, I praise you with condemnation and offer my own body!"

By now, it was clear that Caster's earlier use of his Noble Phantasm had only been the tip of this revolting iceberg. It was almost as if a crack in the sea floor had allowed a creature to escape from Hell and rise up to devastate the city. The Horror before them was far greater in size (and depravity) than any summoning Kakashi had seen in his life, for one. That provoked a worry in him. "Can he actually… control that thing?" He asked out loud.

It was Irisviel who answered even as fear gripped her form. "I-I doubt it. Even for a Servant, there's sure to be limits on how much they can exert control over familiars. This isn't like your hounds who retain their autonomy but follow our instructions when you summon them. Caster lacks the mental faculties to command something like that, and even if he did, this ritual of his was merely an… invitation." The Servants turned to her in disgusted confusion. "Practicing magecraft means looking over evil works at times, but this… monster is unmistakable evil. It wasn't brought here to fight but simply to terrorize all around it."

"Oh, arrogant God! Merciless God! We shall unseat you from your splendid throne! Revel in the madness, rage and cries of despair with which we shall break down the gates of Heaven!" Caster's maddened proclamations continued to echo from the slimy, writhing mass of tentacles and flesh, punctuating the homunculus' observations.

"Likes the sound of his own voice, the crazy bastard…" Saber X grumbled, fingers drumming along Harbinger's handle. His ears then perked up as a familiar snap of lightning sounded behind him, and he turned back with a tight smile. "You guys stop at a drive-through?"

Rider spared him a quick laugh before raising a hand from the Gordius Wheel's reins to greet Saber. "Not a very pleasant night, King of Knights."

"We have little time for jokes right now, King of Conquerors," Saber replied, glancing between him and the Gigantic Horror.

Berserker X was the most excited about this development, hopping off his partner's mount to direct a bone-chilling smile at the river. "Caster… you've been holding out on me, you freaky son of a bitch!" No one was the least bit surprised at his lack of fear.

Assassin X stepped a bit closer. "I hope our truce still stands despite the circumstances."

"But of course, Kakashi!" Rider assured him. "You don't think I'd betray Mithrandir's trust because of a mere monster, do you?" He looked up before adding, "Granted, it's certainly not 'mere' in any way, but even if I hadn't agreed to his counsel, we wouldn't be able to conduct any Grail battles rightly with that thing fouling up the place. That is why we've been making rounds to strategize with the other Servants. Lancer is on board with fighting alongside us, of course. He'll be here any second now."

Saber didn't have any objections to fighting on the same side as the spearman again, but she remembered another ally and his Servant. "What of Gandalf and Berserker?" She silently commended herself for not hesitating this time at the latter.

Even if her trepidation at meeting him remained.

Rider pointed ahead. "We met Mithrandir and his Master on the other side of the river. He's promised us his aid and that of his partner's. Didn't see Berserker, but he's likely not far." Saber and Assassin X exchanged a glance; they could (hopefully) trust in the wisdom of the maddened knight's partner. "I haven't seen Lancer X or Archer, either, but well," the Macedonian Servant grimaced in the middle of his briefing, "none of us really expect any cooperation from the latter, do we?"

"We don't," everyone else present replied, Master, Servant or otherwise.

But back on track, Saber and Assassin X turned towards their supposed "Master" while telepathically bringing up their real one to speed. Irisviel nodded wordlessly and even Kiritsugu gave no objections given the circumstances. He most likely would be planning to capitalize on the situation, but the King of Knights chose not to dwell on those thoughts now. Her partner nodded to her as well, prompting her to place her hand before her chest. "I speak for my team when I agree with you. Let us put aside whatever grievances exist between us and end this threat together, King of Conquerors."

Berserker X's sword gave an almost predatory hiss as it left its scabbard. "Just nobody get between me and that hunk of meat," its wielder sneered, "not if you don't want me to kill you." He then crouched a bit at his spot, an excited shiver travelling through his body.

"Hold up just a second, Berserker X." He grunted but waited as his Master turned towards the pale-haired woman. Waver had zero objections to pooling resources for this battle, but he had a few questions left. "Einzbern Master, do you have a plan? Saber X told me that you and your team have the most experience in battling Caster. He's been targeting Saber, right?"

"That's correct," Irisviel replied. "It's due to a misunderstanding, but the important thing is that we can't afford to waste any time stopping this!" She directed their attention towards the river and its dangers. "Right now, that monster is still being fueled by the mana of Caster's Noble Phantasm, but if it discovers an external source and becomes self-sustaining, then the battle will be lost. We have to kill Caster before that happens!"

As always, Rider's brutish appearance belied his keen mind. "True, so we'll have to make sure Caster's pet doesn't reach the shore and begin its dinner."

Saber X frowned in distaste at the titanic mass. "But Caster's still its source, and he's dug himself in somewhere underneath all those levels of putrid crap. What do we do?"

A chuckle drew his attention to his friend. "Ain't it obvious?" Kenpachi grinned at him. "We chop that thing to pieces and drag the nutjob out of what's left." A simple solution; the King of Conquerors' favorite.

Same for Qrow. "I can get behind that." He hefted Harbinger onto his shoulder.

"So can I." Lancer's voice rang out as the green-armored Servant stepped out of spirit form before the others. He gripped both weapons as tightly as he smiled. "All I need is to stab his Noble Phantasm with my Gáe Daerg once," the red spear was brandished before him, "and I can shut down his witchcraft."

Assassin X crossed his arms while scanning their target. "Sounds good, but it's not going to be easy finding Caster." The Gigantic Horror and the dark power it radiated was reflected in his Sharingan. "That creature is so drenched in mana it'll take even me a good while to discern its creator amidst the tentacles. Especially if he has enough wit not to stay stationary." He shrugged. "So, I too agree with Berserker X about tearing it apart. Otherwise, we risk wasting too much time before it hits the city."

Saber considered her comrade's advice before speaking to her rival. "Lancer, could you reach Caster if you threw your spear from the shore?"

"All I need is a clear line of sight. I trust I can count on your help, Assassin X?" The shinobi nodded, sharing his silent confidence.

The ground rumbled and bells jingled as Berserker X finally launched himself towards the river. "Enough talking already!" The bloodthirsty Soul Reaper roared as he drew ever closer, propelled by the strength of his bound. A giant tentacle snapped like a whip, the Horror having registered its presence. But a single slash from Berserker X's nodachi sliced it in half.

He found a perch upon the writhing remnant and released a howling laughter. "HAHAHAHAHA! I HOPE THIS SIZE OF YOURS IS WORTH SOMETHING, CASTER, 'CAUSE I'M COMING UP TO SAY HELLO!" Another leap, and the Servant of Madness went even higher, laughing all the way.

Frankly, none of the onlookers were surprised, though Rider was the only one laughing in tune with his partner. Waver could only sigh at the night of exhaustion that awaited him…

Assassin X for his part focused more on something else their ally had done. "Interesting…" he pointed at the severed tentacle. "That limb should be regenerating by now." Three of the other Servants started at his words; Saber, Lancer and Saber X were familiar with how difficult it was to make Caster's Horrors down. A simple chop shouldn't have caused such damage without being restored.

Waver snapped his fingers in realization, making the other instinctively look to him. "I-it's part of his Divinity Skill," the boy stammered off-guard by the increase in attention towards him. "Berserker X has a special trait that increases his effectiveness against beings with demonic properties."

Saber capitalized on that knowledge to take the reins. "Another advantage to use against Caster. And Gandalf will have surely come to the same conclusions as the rest of us, so he and Berserker ought to be guarding the opposite side." she began to rally the rest. "Lancer, ready yourself for when the opportunity comes. Assassin X, provide support and keep searching for Caster. The sooner he's found, the sooner all this can be stopped." Both men nodded at receiving her orders. "Rider, Saber X and I will join Berserker X as the vanguard." She turned to her fellow monarch. "Any objections, King of Conquerors?"

Rider wasn't the only King in this War to carry the Charisma Skill. "None from me. My chariot needs no road to advance, and as you've noticed, Qrow has his own method of flight."

On cue, Saber X transformed into his namesake and back. He then gave a smirking Lancer a flat look. "I guarantee there's no joke you can make, Pretty Boy, that I haven't heard before."

Rider joined the spearman in chuckling before continuing. "But do you and Assassin X plan to battle in the middle of the river, Saber?"

The Copy Ninja simply sauntered towards the water, took a couple of steps onto its surface with his od-charged feet and didn't sink by so much as a millimeter. "I think I can manage," he drawled.

Saber followed her friend with a proud smirk. She, too, remained atop the water effortlessly. "As for me, my body has been blessed by the Lady of the Lake," she explained. "No body of water poses a hindrance to me."

Iskandar made a big "O" with his mouth. "Quite the interesting powers you have." He smiled at the duo. "Now I wish all the more the both of you would join my banner."

Saber's smirk faded as she gave a long stare. "I haven't forgotten the words you said to me, King of Conquerors." There was no anger in her tone, only a quiet determination. "After we've pried Caster free of that disgusting monstrosity's innards, there will come a time where I can properly address your accusations."

Irisviel and Kakashi weren't the only ones relieved to see their friend so calm about this subject.

Rider gave a happy laugh at the strength within her words. "I look forward to that." He leaned forward, gripping the reins to his bulls tightly. "But for now, Kenpachi has already claimed the first blow," he snapped the leather in his hands, prompting bolts to dance around his chariot, "and I refuse to fall behind anymore!" With that, the Gordius Wheel took off into the sky. A screaming Waver held on for dear life as it raced through the heavens and curved towards the Gigantic Horror currently trying to crush a certain Servant, cackling as he swung his sword.

Saber X rolled his shoulders before giving a tight smile of his own. "I might not be in the mood for seafood, but I'm still joining this buffet." He then leaped forward as well, his limbs shifting into black feathers that carried the crow towards the enemy.

Irisviel remained where she was. She knew this was the closest she could stand to such a battle. But it didn't stop her from calling down to the Servants she'd befriended. "Saber, Assassin X, good luck!"

"We'll need it," the latter quipped before sharing a confident nod with the former. He then summoned two Water Clones from the river (they required less od than Shadow Clones, something that would need to be used carefully), and one Assassin X returned next to Lancer and Irisviel.

Saber broke into a charge towards the center of the river, her two comrades right behind her. Her black suit flashed brightly before the armored dress she had worn in times of old and throughout this Holy Grail War took its place. The moon made her clothes shine silver, and her fabled sword appeared in her hand, wreathed as always in the "Barrier of the Wind King." Tentacles erupting from the water were cleaved apart as she passed them, allowing the shinobi to follow unimpeded with their own techniques at the ready. "It's time to settle this, Caster!"

And further away on the Miyama side, one particular Servant tracked the movements of his enemies from the ledge of a nearby rooftop. Especially those of two rivals of his. 'Archer X,' he called out mentally, 'what's your status?'

'In position,' the telepathic reply came a second later. 'Stand by for now?'

'As we discussed,' he confirmed. 'Let Caster have some fun first. But be ready to strike.'

'Roger that.' Then the link was silent as though radio comms had been shut off.

So, she does have a professional side, Rider X mused to himself with a smirk. That smirk widened into a bloodthirsty smile as the first sounds of battle reached him. And so the real Holy Grail War begins.

I imagine some of you may want to hang me for making Saber appear "weak" in this chapter, and I apologize if I gave you that impression. I wanted to present her as vulnerable, and yes, there is a difference. She's had a lot of stress to deal with these last few days: her left hand still being unusable, trying to be more patient with Kiritsugu's methods, Rider and Caster X's words provoking her to think about her stance as a King and ultimately her wish, Iri suddenly becoming sick (and Saber not knowing the reason why), and now Assassin X all but confirming her fears of a certain knight shrouded in black…

I mean, we all have moments where we break down in the presence of friends or family. It's happened to me plenty of times. And here, Saber has grown comfortable enough around her partner that she can lay her feelings bare like this. Better while they're having a peaceful, private chat, too, than if she breaks down during a battle.

A key aim I wanted to achieve with this story is to show that characters like Artoria Pendragon and Kiritsugu Emiya are ultimately human (or were human in the former's case). They can make mistakes, they can falter, they can be vulnerable. But I repeat, vulnerable is not the same as weak. The King of Knights remains a strong, admirable spirit in both Kakashi Hatake's eyes and in mine.

And who knows? Somewhere down the line, Saber and Assassin X's positions in this conversation may be reversed…

By the way, in case any of you were wondering why it took so long for Maiya and Assassin X to figure out who Berserker could be, keep in mind, the Fourth Holy Grail War, both in canon and my version, takes place in 1994. The Internet's search engines of that time could only do so much; Google, for example, was only launched four years later. Ergo, they couldn't just scan the picture Assassin X had drawn and check web hits like we can nowadays. Add that to monitoring the other teams' activities and jutsu training, and discerning who's underneath the blackness and insanity instantly just wasn't possible.

PS: I actually wasn't sure how strict Japan was about public drinking, so I looked it up. According to Wikipedia, there are no laws against it at all. Kinda surprised me, if I'm honest.