THIS CHAPTER HAS A BLOOD WARNING! PROCEED WITH CAUTION!
Yu-Gi-Oh! X Fate: Stay Night Crossover
Episode 2
A loud explosion pierced the otherwise quiet twilight hour, clouds of smoke rising from the topmost skyscraper as flashes of light forked like lightning. "You honestly dink that you can defeat me, Heir Kaiba?" a thick German accent called out in a mocking tone as a man dressed in a mahogany suit smirked. "As they say, every rose has it's thorn." His servant twirled her lance, effectively blocking the attack spell that was thrown their way, her long blonde hair as gold as the armor she wore.
"You're naïve to think that your Lancer Class Valkyrie can stand up to my abilities." Seto huffed, crossing his arms over his chest. "Calling for my servant would be a waste of time and mana since I will have this all wrapped up before they even show themselves." Two crimson stones appeared in his hand as he deftly dodged the stabs of her lance while counting them down in his head. One to the left…Two, from above…Another from the left makes three…A fourth from below…Now! He released one stone into her face with a fast chant that caused it to explode, giving him the opportunity to slip past the Norse legend, a smirk raising his lips when he effectively cornered his longtime business rival with the remaining stone in his hand flashing dangerously. "Out of all the Holy Grail Wars, your servant was the most predictable. A Von Schroeder had used a Valkyrie for the last several hundred years and as one of tradition you of course couldn't pass up summoning your own little winged warrior Girl Scout." His sapphire eyes widened slightly as the opposing master suddenly grinned, holding up their hand that held the command spells. "Are you insane? You'll completely destroy this building and those around it!"
"If it's to bring you down, I'm willing to take dat chance! Now, my divine maidens personified into one being, Valkyrie, release your Noble Phantasm: Ragnarok Lifplrasir!"
. . . .
The final bell had rung nearly ten minutes ago yet she was still stuck within the school's entrance. She could clearly see her friend waiting for her just outside of the gate, smiling and chatting with his two guy friends she had seen him around with several times, but her feet felt as though they were made of lead. There was only one way to get out of the school grounds. Taking a deep breath through her nose, she straightened her shoulders and forced her foot to rise.
"Ah, Miss Mazaki." A figure came up behind her, causing her to pause. The school's secretary and Head of Staff, Ms Chono, came to a stop next to the lockers, earning several whistles from the nearby male students when she clearly posed in a provocative manner. A woman of society, every hair upon her head and thread that made her designer outfit was perfectly in place all the way down to her perfectly drawn eyeliner that gave her honey hued eyes an alluring affect whenever she blinked. Most of the male students were beyond themselves whoever she would look their way and even a few of the teachers had found themselves swooning before the goddess of a woman when she passed by. The girls however weren't fooled by the sickly-sweet act the nearly thirty year old succubus attempted to pull and had nicknamed the truly nasty woman as "The Wicked Witch of Expel" for the sheer jealousy that was directed towards the female population. Even Anzu had to stifle a sound of disgust when the older woman came closer, every pore still visible despite the thick layers of makeup that surely cost more than her father's businesses that caked the teacher's face. "Would you kindly come with me? I'm afraid there was an issue with the last assignment you turned in." Without hesitation, she nodded and quickly followed her back up the stairs.
A figure materialized when his master turned away from the entrance where their supposed ally was waiting, his amethyst eyes widening as every rune within the surrounding field of the school evaporated and was replaced by a more intricate script-style that caused alarm to fill him. Those were specifically used when one was laying a trap and had no intention of allowing their unknowing prey walk away alive. Angry lime green sparks pierced his being when he touched one, earning a hiss between his lips. His eyes steadily grew more crimson as each second passed that he couldn't accurately locate his master or move past the new barrier. It was as if the blood in his veins stalled when the barrier rippled like water when a commotion came from somewhere. Was someone attempted to infiltrate it? He caught sight of the young mage from earlier at the back of the school, his servant beside him looking thoroughly entertained. "Your word is true, when referring to the truce," he called, causing them both to look up at him. "It speaks measures to the mage that you are."
"What are you doing out here? Why aren't you in there helping her?" Yugi shouted, mana gathering around his being in the form of a white light that was wispy like smoke. He was not a trained mage but he knew enough spells from the old books his grandfather kept around. "I sensed Castor's field being overrun by something else, something malicious, and when Anzu didn't come out I was sure that she was in trouble. My gut said that there was someone else at school that was possibly a master but of course I didn't listen and now my friend is in trouble while I'm stuck out here unable to help her with a clown-toon magician toy maker and a theater reject from The Mummy who looks like my doppelgänger!" His chest rose and fell with half breaths as the pharaoh regarded him with a frown while his own servant clapped their hands softly in a "round of applause" that made him feel no taller than a mouse. He hadn't even bothered to ask for either of their help but had instead shouted at them as if this entire thing was their fault, his mana nearly completely exhausted by his rant and wasteful use of spells that hadn't even caused a dent in the force field that kept them at bay.
The Toon Magician levitated slightly, slowly approaching his young mage. "Splendid performance, Master, as always," he praised, bowing lowly then adjusting into a lounging position that made it look as though he was seated in an invisible chair. "truly a magnificent showcase of the struggle between hormone driven teenager versus magical skill that threatens the one he loves."
The pharaoh's upper lip twitched when Yugi fumbled for words as his cheeks became stained with red. Just the thought of his master with someone such as this young unskilled mage left a bad taste in his mouth. His master was truly one of a kind; her smile could brighten the darkest of nights, her eyes purer than a fresh water mountain spring, even the way she carried herself was graceful in a way that made her presence more pronounced. His amethyst eyes blinked several times when the words he just thought of replayed in his mind. Odd, the way that they sounded was almost as if he was growing attached to his master. The bond between Master and Servant needed to be strong, unshakable if they were to be victorious, a foundation of trust at the minimum, but why did it feel as though the one forming between himself and his own master felt different? A hand rose to his forehead as a long forgotten memory flickered before his eyes, the image of a young woman with tanned skin smiling up at him with a simple sapphire diadem atop of her head, and felt his breath catch as the image faded. Servants were not supposed to have memories of earlier summonings so what was that? His gaze snapped back to the barrier as what felt like ice slipped down his spine. "Another Servant is here!" He barely managed to dodge as a giant of a man came barreling through the force field, their equally large weapon nearly hitting him square in the shoulder if it weren't for Castor's quick intervention that caused the tip to point up at the sky.
Yugi blinked, taking a hesitant step backward as the new servant glanced his way. "That's the Spiral Rainbow Sword, no doubt about it. You're Fergus mac Róich! Whose your master and why are they targeting my school?"
The servant faced him fully, the large muscles covering his being spasming slightly as he laughed. "Well met, young mage!" He didn't even break eye contact as he continued his attack, causing them all to be light on their feet in order to dodge each of his weapon's swings. "My Master is currently busy at the moment but she said that I must do everything I can so that she can thoroughly enjoy having her fun with a few of the students. She said there was an exception today of her boy's only rule, that there was a female who had caught her eye earlier so she wanted to take her time with the young lady."
A loud snap could be heard and all eyes turned to rest upon the servant who had caught the weapon in his hand just as it was about to be swung again. Castor immediately drew his master a short distance away as power gathered around the Ruler's being, almost forming a circling vortex of raw mana that promised to slice through even the thickest of steel as the opposing Servant faltered. The pharaoh's wild hair stood upright in an even more untamable fashion as his blazing crimson eyes filled with anger. "Your master, Saber, who is it?" His voice was almost drowned out by the sudden roar that shook the ground beneath their feet as his shadow grew in size and rose from the earth as his power grew tenfold when the servant refused to answer, the weapon still within his hand cracking as he tightened his grip. "I will ask you this once before I take my turn to attack," his growl earning shivers from all who heard. "What does you master intend to do with my ow master?"
. . . .
Marik fell heavily to his knees as he hurried to cast a spell that would heal his servant, their opponent howling shrilly with laughter when the wound remained. "N-no way," he croaked hoarsely, his throat raw from shouting incantations. "I can't be out of mana yet."
"As if a child such as yourself could even hold a candle to one such as myself!" The incredibly dark skinned servant leered, the red striped cloak he wore billowing as pitch black clouds billowed from his being that reeked for poison and rotting meat.
His father's journals and research spoke of nearly every possible Servant Class that was known to man but the amount of sheer power that this one possessed far surpassed that even the strongest record of the Berserker Class paled in comparison. Just what was this being? Marik cried out in pain as the servant marched past his wounded one, earning a shout of warning, and was grabbed by the throat. He still had two command spells that he hadn't used yet but if he did then it would sever the contract that tied The First Hassan's existence to the young Ishtar. He'd had to use the first earlier when the strange servant had caught them both off guard in order for them to escape from his clutches but had quickly caught up much to their surprise. A thought occurred to Marik, one he didn't like one bit, and struggled against the servant's hold. "Where…is your…Master?"
"Unfortunately for you, he deemed you unworthy to face with his presence." The servant cackled, tightening his hold. He effortlessly dodged when the fallen servant attempted to retrieve his gasping master. "Ah-ah-ah, not so fast Assassin. Then again I guess I should just call you by your name, Old Man of the Mountain. It is said that you reside within the Holy Shrine of Azrael and that any who lay eyes upon your skull mask were introduced to death. Yet here I am, not yet alive and not quite dead, and you are on your knees before me like a lowly peasant groveling for his next meal!"
. . . .
"Which assignment was it that had a problem?" Anzu asked, stepping into the teacher's lounge and took the seat across from Ms Chono's desk as she rummaged around in her bag for her trusty planner. Every assignment was recorded within it so she could easily reference anything she had questions or difficulty with the next day when the teachers were available. "I could have sworn that I handed in every one that I had for your class on time…" Her words came to a halt as manicured fingers grasped her chin and raised it while the other hand removed the bag, the older woman invading her personal space as she all but plopped her much larger form upon her lap. "U-um, Ms Chono?" A shiver raised the fine hairs on her body when the secretary licked her lips.
The painted nails that were more like claws unbuttoned the front of her uniform, causing alarm to fill her as the colder temperature from the room met her skin that was overrun by a sharp twinge of pain when the nails pierced her. "Imagine my surprise," the woman purred, dragging a fingernail along Anzu's jawline. "When I felt mana flowing through you this afternoon when I was conducting my staff evaluations." Ms Chono bent her head and inhaled deeply, earning a grimace from the young teen. "I've never sensed or smelled something so delectable." A shriek slipped between her lips when the chair suddenly fell backwards, effectively causing her to tumble to the floor unceremoniously. Anzu's fingers fumbled as she attempted to fix her uniform, eyes wide as the adult recovered quickly and advanced slowly as if she were a jungle feline hunting a mouse. She made a dash for the door and felt panic fill her when she found it locked. "As if I would let you escape," the older woman chuckled darkly. "I never allow my prey to slip through my fingers."
One of the doors leading to a side room flew open with a snap of her fingers, Anzu's eyes widening as a handful of male students that she recognized wandered in looking like zombies with their skin such a sickly shade of green that reminded her of several movies and TV series she had once watched. "W-what did you do to them?" The horror within her grew when the woman explained that she had sucked every last drop of mana that each of them possessed then replaced it with her own that contained toxins that ensured their absolute obedience. That was twice "mana" had been mentioned, which meant one thing. "You're a Master."
"Now that's a surprise," Ms Chono purred lowly, chuckling with amusement as the young woman did her best to fight off the underlings that managed to corner her. "But regardless of how you know what I am, you may as well give up now, Miss Mazaki, accept your fate and give into the pleasure I'm about to shower you with."
"Like hell I will! Touch me again and I swear I will file charges!" Anzu's anger flared as she was forced to her knees, fear piercing her chest as the male students she once conversed with prevented her from moving away as their mistress approached. A cry slipped between her lips as the front of her uniform was torn to shreds by nails that scratched her sensitive skin, digging much deeper than earlier and causing her heart to give a violent thump of fear when the woman loomed over her. Tears flooded her vision as the same nails grasped a handful of her hair and forced her head back with a yank. Everything was growing black as silence filled her ears, both her own doing. There was nothing more she wanted to see or hear. She was powerless, weak, everything that she couldn't stand and had tried her upmost to prevent becoming but her own strength wasn't helping her. A whisper so soft that she thought it was fictional caused the darkness closing in to slow its advance, her breath catching when her mother's unmistakable voice tickled her ear.
"There once lived a prince who lived amongst the scorching sands of what is now known as Egypt. His people were starving, their crops rendered to dust as the blazing sun bore down. Though they cried and offered sacrifices, their gods paid not a mind to their tears for they only answered the call of one individual, the mighty pharaoh who sat upon a throne of gold fabled to be the Nile's source. His father, the mighty Pharaoh himself, did his best to provide for his people. However despite his efforts the tired king was met with demand after demand as famine and pandemic swept across his kingdom. The years of reign had not been kind to his father, the Pharaoh, rendering his once black hair gray and tanned skin plagued with wrinkles that spoke of hidden laments never voiced. With an ailing father not much longer for the world and a kingdom in peril, the prince alone ventured to the sacred temple of their gods. There he knelt in prayer for three nights, never breaking concentration as the gods stuck him thrice; a band of seven scorpions who pinched his skin, a strike from the poisonous King Cobra snake, and seven spikes that protruded from his very own spine as punishment for entering the sacred place before ascending the throne. On the seventh day clouds heavy with rain ascended from the sky. The prince who had not been dubbed king had earned their respect and combined with his own latent power the land once again revived, relieving the people of their woes. The prince, though, paid the ultimate price to ensure his father's kingdom's survival by sacrificing his very being for the kingdom and people he loved dearly. The mighty Pharaoh wept for fourteen days when he found his son still kneeling before the sacred altar, his eyes closed as though he was still in prayer. To this day no record holds the young prince's name but they do mention that he had been bestowed the title of 'Pharaoh' in honor of his deeds for the good of the kingdom."
A tear trickled down her cheek. What a sad story, what a horrible fate to befall anyone, and yet the prince hadn't hesitated to sacrifice himself for his father or people. Her vision cleared as the cold metal of the cartouche fell from its hiding place within her now ruined clothing to brush against her chest. Was it possible that he was the prince? As a child she had picked a name for him, for he had been her inspiration ever since she had originally heard the story, but was it the right one? Doubt slipped down her spine as Ms Chono's face came into view, even if she were to call out to him now would he even hear? She swallowed the lump in her throat as long nails pierced the skin of her neck, causing her whisper to be nearly cutoff. The hands holding her in place vanished as a golden light flooded the room and chased away the lingering darkness around her vision in time for her to wrestle free of the woman still holding onto her throat, earning a shout as a few of her long nails snapped. Even if she wasn't right, she still had to try! "Come forth, Nameless Pharaoh, your Master calls you forth!" Her hand rose to the ceiling, the command spells upon it glowing brightly.
"You're a Master?!" Ms Chono hissed, retreating several steps as the golden light began to burn her skin. Her expression became one of horror as her protective shields shattered like glass when a large bulky figure came crashing through the wall and collided heavily with a few of the desks then collapsing in a heap. "Fergus, no!"
Anzu staggered as her newly found strength waned. She had to end this quickly if she still planned on walking away on her own two legs. "Unleash your wrath upon she who harms your Master!" The room tilted as her strength finally gave out, a pair of warm hands collecting her as she fell.
"I have come, my Master." His deep baritone voice filled her being as she slowly fell into the waiting darkness, her hands clinging to his tunic as one of his arms wrapped around her protectively as she slipped into unconsciousness. Amethyst eyes blazed crimson as he set his sights upon the woman in front of them. The Saber Servant had not moved since he had landed upon the ground and the only other person near who reeked of toxic dark mana was coming from the woman he recognized as one of his master's teachers. He had instantly noticed his master's ruined uniform and had quickly wrapped her in his cape to preserve her dignity. His motions froze as her lips moved, the ghost of a whisper reaching his ear that was no more than a few inches from them as he held her close, and fought the urge to tighten his hold upon her. "Master, I shall tend to you momentarily, but first I must deal with the one who has caused you harm. My Noble Phantasm is far too great for one so lowly but I shall see to it that they are dealt with accordingly."
Ms Chono couldn't believe her eyes as the student was effortlessly cradled within just one of his arms while he stood. He looked oddly familiar but quickly cleared her mind when his gaze landed upon her unconscious servant. Donning her best flirtatious smile, she swayed her hips sensually while taking a few steps towards them. "Servant, you don't need to tie yourself to such a disappointing master. Sigh a new contract with me and you will never run out of mana nor will you be starving of physical affection." The hand that had multiple broken nails remained behind her back, only showcasing the left hand. "As you can see, I still have all of my command spells and am capable of sustaining my Saber Class Servant with ease."
"Enough!" His outburst caused even her underlings to shrink back in fear as the shadow behind him grew when bloodlust entered his blazing crimson eyes, his voice so low it was nearly warped by the sheer mana that flickered across his body in the form of golden sparks. "Your filthy words and empty promises will not tempt me. As Ruler, I hereby remove your Command Spells and effectively end your involvement with this Holy Grail War, but not before you receive your punishment for attacking my master." His hand rose to the ceiling as the woman prepared an attack spell. Of course his words had angered her but his own refused to be quelled until she had been dealt the proper punishment. "I call upon the Giant God-Soldier of Obelisk, here and now rain down your wrath upon the one who dares to defile my Master!"
. . . .
The doors of the church blew open as a figure staggered down the main aisle while cradling their wounded arm. "Overseer! Where the devil are you?! I demand sanctuary and protection until my servant has recovered!" Zigfried Van Schroeder spat, his wide eyes combing every inch of the holy place. A shadow moved behind the altar and he threw out his mutilated arm as a showcase of his need to be healed. "Just look! He not only dared to ruin my most favorite outfit but to also maim my servant and I without even summoning his own!"
Kirei Kotomine's eyes narrowed at the growing pool of blood that was growing beneath the master. As per his duty as Overseer, he should welcome and provide all necessary protection when a Master lost their Servant or if the rare occurrence presented itself that a Servant denying their Master would be paired with one who had lost their own; this Master still held one command spell, meaning that their contract to their Servant was still in affect. His emotionless gaze rose to lock on the ranting man as he cursed the one who was responsible. So even the infamous Seto Kaiba was once again involved. "Master of the Van Schroeder Clan, do you still intend to participate in the quest of the Holy Grail?" Extending his hand, he rolled up his sleeve. The entirety of his arm was covered with the leftover command spells that remained after the war waged no more than a few years ago that resulted in the incomplete grail. He had honestly never found it necessary to count them al, being as they literally covered nearly every inch of his skin. "Do so and you shall reenter the fray with two newly regenerated Command Spells under the condition that you complete what you have started."
"If it means that I have Heir Kaiba all to myself," the mage bowed his head. "Then it shall be done." His spine straightened as a spell was cast, the wounds covering his being healing over in the blink of an eye as the two spells upon his hand reappeared. A shower of sparkles behind him clustered together and became his beloved Lancer Servant whom he made to embrace if she hadn't been quick to dodge. He simply played the brush off as a purposeful flourish of welcome. "Come, my dear Valkyrie, we have a score to settle."
It wasn't until they had left that Kirei directed his attention towards the darkest of the shadows near the entrance that lead underground. "I must say, Master, your strategic skills and knowledge of the mind are proving to be quite advanced." Kirei simply sighed, smoothing out the sleeve of his robe then turned to face his own Servant as they emerged from the darkness. The tanned man's eyes flashed with amusement when questioned if he had been successful and held up his own hand. "You should never underestimate your own Servant." A snap of his fingers and the shadows within the church morphed, lips lifting into a sneer as his master surveyed his handy work. "You've already guessed it, I'm no ordinary Servant. My kind is especially rare with a unique ability that I think you will find most intriguing. With each Servant that I defeat," his arm lashed out as a figure rose from the shadows billowing behind him, a chain appearing in his hand that was connected to it. "My power grows and I gain their abilities while altering their very personas."
Kirei forced his breathing to remain steady as the Hassan slowly manifested. There had to be hundreds if not thousands of them but his gaze was locked on the largest of them all who was behind his Servant. "So you were able to defeat Assassin. A difficult feat?"
"As if," he tugged on the chain, earning a hiss from the surrounding Hassan when their First nearly stumbled. "This poor fool's master was no more than a mere child, almost too easy of a kill to be frank. Even the Old Man of the Mountain can't compare to the power I posses."
That earned a widening of his eyes. To think that his servant had not only succeeded in defeating the First Hassan but to also turn him into his own Alter Servant confirmed his suspicions; his servant was far too crafty to be a wild Berserker nor was he a one of the lesser known classes that he had only heard rumors about. "I see now," Kirei raised his chin while closing his eyes. "Yes, you have done well and have earned my gratitude."
"Don't thank me yet, Master," the sneer grew as his eyes flashed. "The fun is just beginning."
. . . .
Her eyes fluttered open as a scream pulled her from the comfortable darkness. Whatever she was firmly pressed against had a lean figure that trembled with every breath that blew past her ear. There was a ringing in her ears as their hold adjusted, her head slightly lolling as it was pressed against a chest by a warm hand, the scent of cinnamon and sandalwood tickling her nose. Now she remembered; the Nameless Pharaoh, her Servant, had rescued her from the clutches of Ms Chono. A low growl rumbled beneath her ear as the scream came again. Her head bobbed slightly, vision slowly clearing as she blinked a few times, then felt herself grow cold. His hold upon her tightened as Ms Chono staggered towards them, her eyes alight with anger.
There was a large gaping hole in the side of the school, the teacher's lounge completely decimated and rendered to dust with the exception of a figure who looked to be on their last leg. It looked as though she had taken a meteor head on! "Look at what you've done! I've spent thousands to ensure I was the most beautiful across the world and you've ruined me!" Her hands shook as she raised them to grasp her hair, which was now matted and threatened to crumble to ash as her fingers raked through. Burns covered her from head to toe and her servant was nowhere to bee seen and only a few pieces of her clothing remained, doing little to conceal her otherwise naked figure. A rune appeared within her hand as she seethed, hissing with each wobbly step she took. "I'll have your heads!"
His amethyst eyes flashed in warning as she still came closer. He was still recovering from the attack, the mana he had used was beginning to replenish but it wasn't doing so fast enough that he could possible protect themselves from it. Even now after unleashing his strongest spell his anger hadn't been quenched. Anzu's breath caught as forks of gold appeared across her servant's tanned skin, ice slipping down her spine when the whites of his eyes darkened a few shades and became tinted with violet. Something was happening to him! The mana flowing beneath her fingertips felt different, it wasn't the calming warmth that she had come to know that filled her mind with glittering gold sand; no, this was white hot that boiled and bubbled as lava filled her mind's eye. Runes appeared within the hand he raised it but instead of the strange symbol glowing gold it was a sinister violet.
Adrenaline pounded through her veins as she broke his hold when Ms Chono unleashed her spell, earning a startled exclamation from him, and wrapped her arms around his neck as she used her own body to block the coming magic that never came. The mage had collapsed the moment the accumulated mana had left her being and lay unconscious upon the ground. "Stop," Anzu whimpered, tightening her hold as tears trickled down her cheeks.
The wrath within his chest swirled, demanded that blood be spilt, causing his figure to quake. His jaw remained locked as his being pulsated when he felt her tears upon his skin. The rune within his hand pulsating with every breath that the opposer took.
"I'm alright now, Pharoah, you saved me."
The pressure that threatened to crush his chest grew tenfold as the anger he attempted to swallow warped, it's dark whispers ghosting across his skin when the person responsible for attacking his master twitched. They must pay! A tremor wracked his body as more cracks of gold appeared across his being, each causing heat and another wave of power to radiate from him.
"Atem, that's enough."
It felt as though a dam had opened within his being, completely washing away every trace of the dark anger that threatened to consume him as she repeated his name over and over again, her voice soft yet heavy with emotion as she sobbed into his shoulder. The tainted power that had begun to swell within him simmered then calmed with each deep breath he took, eyes returning to their normal amethyst hue as the gold cracks in his skin disappeared as her tears grew. "I apologize if you were frightened," he whispered, arms wrapping around her as she clung to him as if her very existence depended on their embrace. "Forgive me for not answering your summons sooner." She shook her head, a wail coming from between her lips as their upper torsos met. His eyes widened in alarm when she violently shivered and spotted the dark stain growing upon his cloak. "Master?" He wasted no time in pulling the cape that he had wrapped around her and felt ice fill his chest when he spotted the wounds upon her chest as her eyes rolled back, the color draining from her face as more of her lifeblood spilled from the gashes. "Master!"
A little background note: Ms Chono was a teacher featured in the original Yu-Gi-Oh! manga Duel 7: The Face of Truth.