Third Singularity, Part 7: The Corrupted Princess
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"That redheaded Bitch was supposed to be dead! Medea!" he turned to face the Princess, her face looking all too sweet for him. "And that Kraken, should not be having so much trouble! Medea!"
"I'm sorry, Lord Jason!" the smile was still on her face, even as she apologized. "It seems that the Chaldeans have something that could rival the Kraken in the seas!"
"That's not good enough!" he pointed his sword at her in a fit of anger. "Where is Herakles?! He should be back by now, with the Ark! Medea! Get the Minotaur out here, now!"
"Yes, Lord Jason! Minotaur!" she slammed her staff on the deck. "You are nee-"
"Aw no ya don't!" Jason spun back, his sword blocking the hook that came down on him. "Ya sorry sack! Mary!"
A shorter Servant appeared on the Pirate's side, swinging her sword sideways, only managing to clip his armor as he backed away. "You're as ugly as I thought."
"How dare you!" he tried to swing his sword at them, but his form was lackluster, barely even scratching them. "Medea!"
"▂▂▃▃▃▃▃▃▄▄▄▄▅▅▅▅▅▅!"
The Minotaur finally emerged, shattering the doors that lead to the lower deck. He was different. His form had been changed. Corrupted. He stood slightly taller, his left arm bulging to an even more monstrous visage, and his mask was sealed onto his face. His roar pushed the Pirates back, sending them to the edge of the ship. The deck was shook by his enraged madness, as he charged towards the Pirates, swinging both of his longaxes down onto them.
The both of them dodged the attack, though Blackbeard was still clipped by the weapon, causing him to wince in pain as he lost a chunk of his arm. "Yer a fuckin' monster, ya prissy little bitch!" he called out in disgust, sending glares to the Princess as she primed a spell to fire upon them.
"All is fair, in love and war." Medea declared, firing out a blast towards him, sending him off into the ocean, leaving Mary alone amongst the Argonauts.
The small Rider could only deflect the first attack that came after her, but had to retreat when the second came down on her head, narrowly escaping her death. The Minotaur was about to bring both his weapons in for the kill, but a well-placed shot to his head sent him back a few steps. The stone ammunition clattered on the deck, shattering to dust the moment it stopped moving. Mary took the opportunity to strike at the Minotaur, before she backs away again the moment he got aggressive. And like clockwork, another stone struck, though this time he managed to block it with his weapon.
"Stones?! The Israeli King is here?!" Jason cried out in anger. "He should be dead, by the hands of Herakles!"
"Herakles might have come across trouble, Lord Jason!" Medea responded, even as she sent beam after beam to the Pirate that was still in the waters, keeping him pinned below.
"That's impossible! He's Herakles! Nothing is too much for him!" he waved his sword at her general direction in anger, and an emotion he wasn't willing to admit. "He is the strongest Hero! Nothing can stop him!"
"I beg to differ." Those four words were what he heard, before heavy steel struck his abdomen, sending him careening into the wall that lead to his quarters.
"Lord Jason!" Medea called out, before she pointed her staff at the Servant that had appeared, leaving a small crater on the deck from where she landed. "Minotaur, attack!" she ordered, firing upon the Servant with a fury.
The spell that she casted found its mark on the Servant, but its effects simply dissipated on her body. "You'll have to try harder than that, dear." The Ruler Class Servant said with a slight air of smugness.
"▂▂▃▃▃▃▃▃▄▄▄▄▅▅▅▅▅▅!"
A roar was the only indication that the Minotaur had diverted his attention from the small Pirate, swinging both his axes onto the Ruler. She closed the distance, getting into the Minotaur's personal space, leaving his attack to miss and hit the deck. She then brought her arms around his right, bringing it into a tight hold. Another heavy thud signaled the arrival of the next Servant; a heavily armored Black Knight, holding his corrupted sword in his hand, with a certain Gorgon goddess clinging to his back.
"Sir Lancelot! Help me hold him, if you would?" the Saint asked of him, keeping the Minotaur from moving.
"AAAAAAHHHHHH!" he rushed the Minotaur, leaving Euryale on the bow of the ship, taking the Berserker's left side.
"▂▂▃▃▃▃▃▃▄▄▄▄▅▅▅▅▅▅!"
"Asterios…" horror flashed in Euryale's eyes, as she saw what had happened to him, before it shifted into rage, with her bow appearing in her hand. "How dare you, Witch?! How dare you!" she drew back the invisible string, and fired a rainbow of arrows at the Princess.
"Euryale, we can't hold him for long!" the Saint called out, as both she and the Berserker pulled the Minotaur from both sides.
"UuggghhhhAAAHHHHH!" the Gorgon shifted her attention back onto the Minotaur, dread filling her entire being upon seeing his face, sealed behind his mask. "Damn you, Witch! Asterios! Wake up!"
"▂▂▃▃▃▃▃▃▄▄▄▄▅▅▅▅▅▅!"
"Euryale?! That's impossible!" Jason was slowly losing his mental footing, pushing himself out of the wooden planks of his walls. "Where is Herakles?!"
"The walkin' statue's dirt, Jason!" Blackbeard said as he pulled himself out of the sea, helped to his feet by Mary. "Why don'cha go an' eat it too? Mary! I'll cover ya!"
"Maybe we can finally end this and go home, already." She said bitterly, her brandished cutlass back in her hand. As one, the Pirates rushed the Argonaut Captain, with Blackbeard using his considerable height to block any attacks that would come for Mary from the Princess.
While Blackbeard's body was bombarded by blast after blast, Mary closed the distance, swinging her sword down onto Jason, with the Argonaut barely able to hold it back. Then she struck, again, and again, and again, and again. And every time, every attack, pushed him further inside the Argo. The clanging of steel against steel echoed in the quarters, turned to a mess of a wreck, Jason incapable of even creating a single opportunity for himself, let alone find one from a much more experienced warrior.
And the moment the cutlass struck through his chest, piercing his heart, the only thing he could do, was gasp. At the absurdity of it. At the incredulity of it. At the insanity of it. Herakles lost to these fools?! And now, here he was, inside his quarters, sharing the same fate as his friend.
No.
No!
NO!
"Medea!" he cried in pain, even as Mary pushed her cutlass deeper into him.
The Pirate froze, as the effects of a spell took hold of her, before she was flung into the wall. There she was, the Princess, bloodied though unharmed. Behind her, the notorious Pirate was on his knees, bereft of his hands thanks to her.
"Lord Jason, you are unwell." She said, with that same smile she's had. It was… starting to get unnerving.
"Heal me, woman! I'm dying here, she got my Spirit Core!" and how true that was, he certainly felt his body growing weaker, and weaker.
Her smile, somehow, grew a bit wider. "Don't worry, Lord Jason. I called the Kraken here as well."
"The Kraken? Why?!" the tentacles began wrapping around the Argo, all damaged and destroyed by the Child of Leviathan. "That thing is losing to a damned turtle!" he complained, even as he lay there, dying.
"A combined effort, to finally finish this, as you said." She said, as she held an empty hand close to him. A glow of light appeared, and disappeared just as quickly. His eyes widened at what he saw.
"The Holy Grail?! Since when did you have one?!" he demanded, trying to push himself up off the floor.
Her smile, unnerving as it was, was always beautiful. At that moment, he saw her true face, as the smile turned utterly sinister, her blue eyes glowing in the dim light. "I've always had this, Lord Jason."
Oh no… he realized all too late, how he was played like a puppet in her hands. "No, no! No! NO!" he tried backing away, but his strength had all but diminished. "Medea!"
She plunged the Chalice inside of him, through the wound the cutlass had created. He gurgled in pain, as an effect all too unknown to him, began working itself on his body. "Thank you, Lord Jason. He, will gratefully appreciate, your sacrifice."
As his body began morphing, changing into an unspeakable visage, there was only one thing that flashed through his mind, as his entire being ceased to exist. Only one. It wasn't absolute rage and disgust, at the woman that had betrayed him once more. It wasn't at the ridiculousness and audacity, of the Heroes that did not understand his dream. It was not the pain and anguish, of knowing that not only did his friend failed, but that he had fell in trying to help Jason once more to achieve said dream.
It was at his own failure, for once again losing everything just as he had it all in his grasp. This, was the end of his story, then. This, was the end of his story, now.
Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it. That fact, had never been truer, than now.
"Mary."
"What, Captain?"
"I don' getta say this often, but it's been an honor."
"…"
"Mary?"
"Likewise, Captain. You weren't half bad yourself. I just wished Anne wouldn't be left alone like this."
"Yeah, I'm gonna miss that rack of hers."
"… Why'd you have to ruin it?"
"'Cause I'm Blackbeard! Gahahahahahaha!"
"Euryale…"
"Asterios?" the Gorgon looked up, seeing his masked visage and his body relaxed. Or, as relaxed as it could be, with a monstrous entity growing from atop the Argo, where they all stood. "You're back! Oh, thank the Gods you're back! We need to get out of here quickly!"
"No…" a cold dread crawled up her spine, when she heard his answer. "You… go… Asterios will, stay."
"No no no! What are you talking about, you big buffoon?!" she tugged his large arms, trying to pull him along. "We need to leave, now! And I'm not going without you!"
"No, Euryale. Asterios can't… leave…" the large Berserker turned to the ever growing Pillar, the sight of it absorbing the Kraken into its entire being. "Asterios, must…"
"No, you mustn't! We can leave, now, Asterios! Let's go!" she felt arms wrap around her, cold steel, thanks to the rain. "Let go of me! I will not leave him alone!"
"He's giving us a chance to run, Euryale!" the Saint said, helping the Knight pull her away from Asterios. "We don't want to be here!"
"No, I'm not! Leaving! Him!" her protests were falling on deaf ears, as the giant Berserker turned back around and wrapped his arms around the three Servants. "Asterios?"
"Euryale, must, leave!" and he threw them off the ship, sending them far away from the madness that would have encapsulated them.
"Nooooooooooooooooooooooo!"
"Tarrasque, to me!" The Saint called out, holding the Knight and Euryale close to her. The Phantasmal Beast broke the surface, just in time to catch their landing. "Alright, let's go, go, go!"
"Let go of me! Let GO of ME!" Euryale tried to free herself from the Chaldean Berserker, but the Black Knight's hold on her was unrelenting.
The last thing she saw of Asterios, was his large back, as he brandished longaxes with both of his hands.
"▂▂▃▃▃▃▃▃▄▄▄▄▅▅▅▅▅▅!"
And the last thing she heard, was his roar of indignation, and rage, at the Pillar that only rose, and rose. He was the first to strike at the thing, even if it lead to his death.
Only this time, he will not be remembered as a monster.
He will be remembered, as a Hero.
"Of course it's another Demonic Pillar. Why wouldn't it be?" Ayako's sarcastic comment was punctuated with a sigh. There was a part of her that felt like things were going too smoothly.
"And it looks infinitely more disgusting than the previous one." Kagiso added, standing beside her. There was also no doubt in his words, as they all saw the amalgamation of a Demonic Pillar, and the Kraken.
It was using its newly acquired tentacles to drag itself across the water, atop the remains of the Argo, where Medea's counterpart stood. They couldn't see her clearly, without reinforcing their eyes, but no doubt, she must have that smile on her face.
"Blackbeard's ship is also disappearing." Mash noted, glancing to their side, where the Noble Phantasm was slowly dissipating into motes of golden light. "It looks like he's gone."
"And so is Mary." Anne said as she joined them on the Golden Hind. The usual calm smile on her face was gone, replaced by a frown that wouldn't so easily leave. "Normally, we're two peas in a pod. Two people, registered as a single Servant."
"Because your legends are so intertwined." Koleen commented with a knowing nod.
"That's right." The tall woman sighed. "Someway, somehow, we were separate Classes here, and I don't know why."
"I'm still wonderin' if I'm gonna miss the bastard or not." Captain Drake commented with a light smirk.
That managed to get a chuckle from the last Pirate. "The answer to that, is not." Lighthearted laughter was shared between the two.
"Will he be alright?" Ritsuka asked, turning to the man that was sprawled on the floor, his back to the railing, with his lance laying on his lap.
"He's lost the will to fight." EMIYA said, his bow back in his hands. "He will not be a problem to us."
"Then can you fight with us?" Ayako asked, moving herself closer to him, crouching down to his level. "We're gonna need every able bodied Servant available to take down this thing."
He shook his head, grunting and wincing in pain. "I, can't. I'm far too weak, I'm dying." He coughed out blood, so dark with a tint of blue to it. "Medea's enchantments did me in."
"That's unfortunate." She held back the curse that threatened to slip.
"Just kill me already. I am of no use to you." He said with a defeated shake of his head.
"Then offer us your Noble Phantasm." Atalante said, approaching them with her masked self.
He pushed himself up straighter. "I'll die if I do that."
"And?" the Huntress scoffed at him, no doubt a scowl must have been on her face. "How is that any different from you asking us to kill you? Make yourself useful."
The Masters winced at her choice of words, but they did not berate her for it. They were facing a Demon Pillar, they needed everyone available, no ifs, ands, or buts about it.
"Very well." Hektor conceded, putting all his effort in getting back on his feet. "Then I shall expend this life of mine for your cause."
"Then is everyone ready?" Ayako asked, as she stood back up herself. "Have Martha and Lancelot returned?"
"They're still in the waters, but they're here." Mash answered, making sure she was standing in front of everyone.
"And how is Euryale?" Koleen asked, trying to peer down onto the Dragon. "She seemed distraught, can she fight?"
"Yes I can!" her voice came from below. "I won't let Asterios' sacrifice be in vain!" she then appeared on the deck, helped up by Lancelot, still fully armored.
"Then it's settled." Ayako nodded, turning to the assembled Servants. "We'll wait until the Casters deal with Medea. And then, no hesitation, I want Noble Phantasms raining down on it."
"Yes Master."
"We're fortunate that no one else is melee, aside from Martha." Kagiso commented with a sigh. "Sir Lancelot can use one of the Golden Hind's cannons."
"He could, but I want him with Martha." The Masters turned to her, confused. "I want him make sure that nothing harms her. You got that, Lancelot?"
His answer was a silent nod, before he leapt back onto the Dragon below.
"Where are my niece, and grandniece, anyway?" Artemis asked the group, her arms wrapped around the Huntress lovingly. Said Huntress' ears were red from embarrassment. "I hope they are alright."
"They're waiting." Koleen replied, her pink eyes never once leaving the approaching Pillar.
"For what?" King David asked, his sling already spinning in his hand. "For her?"
"Yes." The Masters replied in unison. Ayako took a single step forward, standing closer to Ritsuka and Mash, pointing with her finger at the approaching mass. "Her."
The Servant in question, floating ahead of the Demonic Pillar, her cape aglow with a pattern that was not too dissimilar to their own. Her staff looked blackened by hellish mud, tainted by a corruption they knew nothing of. This younger Medea no longer looked like the Princess of Colchis. She didn't even look like the Witch of Betrayal. With her sinister smile, she looked like something far worse.
"Allow me, to introduce, one of my King's Demons. Forneus!" she gestured with a flourish, towards the disgusting Pillar.
The purple, tentacled Demon roared with what sounded like pain. Very noticeable, compared to Flauros's more intelligent words.
"But, I see we are missing a few people here." Medea said, looking over the assembled group. "Where is my Aunt? Where, am I?"
"I'm right here, dear Niece of mine." The Princess looked up, seeing the descending form of Circe, appearing from nowhere. Her staff was nowhere to be seen, giving a disarming air to her.
"Auntie!" Medea's smile was maddeningly sickening, approaching the older Servant with open arms. "Glad to see you're still alive! The same could not be said for my group." She glanced behind her, giving the Pillar a shake of her head. "Oh, Lord Jason."
"We're going to end this, Medea." Circe declared, her two toned eyes narrowing on the younger Servant.
"Of that, then we are on the same page, Auntie!" she brought her staff forward, holding it with both hands. "But where is your weapon? I don't want this to be too easy."
"Oh, trust me dear." A challenging smirk formed on the Enchantress' face. "I have my ways."
"And where is my dear counterpart? I would like this to be done quick and painless." Medea asked, looking around her.
Knowing what's to come, Circe closed her eyes, and sighed. "She's was always here."
The corrupted Princess turned to her Aunt, incredulous. "What?"
A blade, that was more akin to a longsword compared to the ceremonial dagger that was her Divinity, pierced through the younger Medea's Spiritual Core. Her movements were automatic, as her Fight or Flight responses kicked.
"Rule Breaker!"
"P-pain, Breaker!"
A featureless explosion erupted from the three Casters, before a wave of healing encapsulated them. The Chaldean Medea wrapped her free arm around her counterpart, keeping a hold of her. "Circe!"
"On it!" without a pause, Circe's staff returned to her hand, and with a quick chant, the space around the three of them folded into itself, before disappearing.
A single clap was their signal. As one, all four Masters channeled their Command Spells. "Everyone, activated your Noble Phantasms!"
Everything went into full gear. A storm of projectiles competed against the typhoon that surrounded the Demon Pillar. Arrows of wood, and steel; of light, and love. Bullets, and stones, keeping up with the pace to further blanket the sky. The Golden Hind, already enchanted and reinforced by the Casters, captained by a woman with her own personal Holy Grail, would not be shown up. Cannons fired with a fervor, as her human crew worked like a well-oiled machine, constantly making sure there was never a cannon that was empty. Even Hektor, with his lance in his hand, and the propellant on his gauntlet that was powering his attack, was readying his Noble Phantasm. On the seas, littered with the corpses of the Sea Monsters that assaulted them, Tarrasque surged forward, parting the water as if it were the Red Sea. Lancelot stood at his head, his sword blacking and deflecting the creatures that came upon them. And Martha, repeating what she did in Rome, was holding her staff with one hand, and praying with the other.
And with their fading Command Spells, the Masters all huddled behind Mash, hoping that whatever the Casters were doing…
That they would come out of this on top.
White.
An endless expanse.
A featureless abyss.
No sight.
No sound.
Nothing.
But white.
Somewhere in the abyss, space folded onto itself, before it expelled three figures. Women. Magi. All three, sprawled onto the featureless ground. A winged Caster immediately took to the air, brandishing her staff and aiming it at the mess below. The tallest Caster of the three untangled herself from the mess, still holding the shattering purple longsword in her hands, the hood on her head lowered. And finally, the youngest of the three, standing up in pain, using her staff as a crutch. Blood was pouring from the hole on her chest, also dripping out of her mouth.
The younger Medea looked to her Chaldean counterpart, disbelief written across her face. "You… you Broke, our Noble Phantasm…" she gasped for breath, feeling the effects of her own Noble Phantasm weakening.
The Chaldean Medea smirk proudly, holding the modified Rule Breaker in her hand, feeling its weight. "I didn't."
"You… didn't. What?" she muttered in confusion. She shook her head, trying to clear her mind. "And, how did you… I should've noticed…"
"Dear… we are all magi from the Age of Gods." Circe said, her tone condescending to the younger Servant. "Any one of us could turn the humans into fools. You think the two of us wouldn't be able to achieve something as trivial as this?"
"Many Assassins would envy what we could achieve." The older Medea said, pointing her sword at her younger counterpart. The sword was threatening to shatter like glass, held back only by her magecraft. "Now, hold yourself together. We are Medea, of Colchis. Even though you have thrown your dignity away."
"You would too, if you faced Him yourself." The manic smile slowly returned to her face. "You will know your place, just as I have!"
Six arrays emerged around her, shooting beams of magical light at the older Chaldean, who instantly erected a shield to block those attacks. The younger Medea attempted to fire another volley, before she was forced back a barrage from Circe herself, large spinning orbs that homed in on her like a missile. The older Medea took the chance to rush forward, once again stabbing the younger counterpart with the Broken Rule Breaker, though she missed and only got the left pec.
"Rule Breaker!"
The longsword surged with power upon its activation, the cracks on its surface becoming even more pronounced. The corrupted Princess once again tried to counter the Noble Phantasm with her own, her staff channeling with power.
"P-pa-… in… Bre-"
A blast from Circe stopped her from finishing the chant, leaving her at the mercy of the sword. It shattered like glass, a thunderous roar swallowed by the abyss, sending the older Medea back by its shockwave. The younger Princess suffered even greater damage, as the explosion took out half her chest, as well as sending her staff tumbling away from her. She collapsed in a heap, her eyes wide in disbelief. This should not be happening, she thought to herself, feeling the pain creep up inside her. She tried to chant, to utter a spell of healing. Anything, with her Noble Phantasm out of reach.
Another spell came instead, propelling herself away from the blast that came upon her down form. When she was a good distance away, she conjured her own shield; one that could withstand the onslaught that was thrown her way by the Chaldeans. She called back her staff, barely capable of holding it, but it was enough. She slammed it down on the white abyss.
"Pain Breaker!"
As if time itself had rewound back, so too were her wounds, as they slowly stitched back together. Unfortunately, no matter how much or how well she healed herself, it didn't change the one single important thing: that her Spiritual Core had been heavily damaged, twice over. She was living on borrowed time, and perhaps activating her Noble Phantasm might have been a mistake, as her magical reserves had almost plummeted.
The two older Servants knew of this, of course, as they took the opportunity to increase their attacks on the Princess. Pure energy; light; fire; ice; lightning; poison; skeletons; they were using anything, and everything within their magical arsenal, all but pinning the Princess in place. Her earlier bravado had all but been doused, by her seniors.
The Chaldean Caster, seeing her counterpart's shield gradually weakening under their barrage, saw the light at the end of the tunnel. There was no mistaking it, she will end this now, once and for all. The jagged dagger that was her actual Noble Phantasm appeared in her hand. With her feet on the featureless ground, she ran. She ran, towards the corruption of her being. The one who should have never existed in the first place. Her worst aspects, given form, and multiplied by a thousand.
She slammed her dagger onto the shield, cracks appearing on the force field. The younger Medea's eyes widened, before an uncharacteristic scowl made its way onto her face.
"You should have accepted your fate!" her yell was loud, almost a shrill, thanks to her young voice.
"And you should have fought harder." Medea said bemusedly, bringing her dagger up and back down again, the shield finally shattering under her pressure.
The younger Medea let her staff fall out of her hands, dropping it all to stop the older Medea's hands with her own, with the dagger barely touching her chest, where her heart was. Circe approached them, one hand holding onto the older Medea's shoulder.
"He will, bring ruin, upon those who stand in his way." She said, her voice carrying a slight waver. "The King of Magic will not stand for this."
"And we will fight back." The older Medea retorted, digging the dagger deeper into her younger self's hands. "Because that's who we are. We do not cave. For we. Are. Medea! Of! Colchis!"
The dagger plunged itself into the Princess' chest, her fingers cut by the jagged blade. She gasped in surprise, and pain, pushed to the ground by the older Caster. She didn't even activate her Noble Phantasm, simply choosing to use the ceremonial dagger as a weapon that it was never intended to be. She kept pushing, pinning the younger Caster down, making sure that she couldn't do anything, as she lay there with blood seeping out of her, and her form slowly dissipating.
"How… is this… possible?" her face was one of shock, her eyes looking down on the handle that stuck out of her chest.
"Because I, am Medea, of Colchis." Medea declared, standing back up, looking slightly disheveled throughout their encounter. "You thought that I would be the one down there? Don't be absurd." She said with a scoff, scowling down on her younger counterpart. "No wonder you lost to this King of yours. You are weak."
"I… I am… weak?" her voice sounded genuine, sounding as young as she looked for once, fear flashing in her eyes.
"Yes you are, Medea." Circe said, crouching down to move the hair out of Medea's eyes. "Especially as you are right now, too wholly inexperienced. That was why you lost."
"I… see…" her eyes slowly closed, her body becoming transparent. "Then, please… do not… fail…"
Rule Breaker clattered when the body it was lodged disappeared. Within this white abyss, that the Casters had created, the corrupted Princess, was no more.
"Feel better?" Circe asked, her wings folding around her shoulders.
Medea's gaze was downcast, her eyes not leaving her Noble Phantasm. She sighed, as her scowl relaxed. "I don't know."
"Then why don't we get back?" Circe said, patting Medea's shoulder. "I'm sure the Masters can help you sort out your feelings."
Medea chuckled, shaking her head in amusement. "No doubt they will. The whole lot of them are therapists in the making."
"Then let's get going." Circe said as she flashed her staff, with Medea crouching down to retrieve her dagger. "We shouldn't keep them waiting. Who knows how things are like outside?"
The storm had only arrived on the island two days ago. Yet, it felt like they had been pelted by the torrential downpour for weeks. It was why they were basking under the sun, as the dark clouds parted to greet them. And with clearer skies, they were able to see their surroundings more clearly. The surface of the sea was littered with aquatic corpses, with its dark blood caking the waters. The Golden Hind, showing signs of wearing and tearing, but otherwise in much better condition than any of them expected it to be. The ruins of the Argo, still hanging together but slowly disappearing, holding the remnants of Forneus atop it, with its tentacles floating around it.
"If I ever see my son again, I might just have to have a talk with him, regarding these Demons he came into contact with." King David commented, his feet hanging off the side of the Golden Hind, as he played his lyre for them.
"Really?" Koleen asked, looking at the man incredulously. "Didn't take you for the caring type."
"I feel that it is necessary." He replied with a smile on his face.
Koleen shook her head, before she made her way towards the bow of the ship, where Artemis and Atalante stood. "Are you feeling alright?" the Goddess asked, with Orion sitting atop her head.
"I am." Atalante replied. "Why?"
"You are wearing a mask. It must be for a reason." The white haired woman commented.
Atalante sighed, turning her face away from her patron. "It is atonement."
"For Medea?"
The Huntress' ears bristled, not vocalizing her answer, even though it was enough for Artemis to know.
"'ey, it's the blonde! How you doin'?" Orion said upon noticing her arrival.
"I'm doing well." Koleen replied as Artemis's hand reached out for the teddy bear, holding it tightly.
"You all did amazing~." Artemis said, her grip on Orion getting even tighter than before. "I worry, for your adversaries in your future Singularities. What do you think of them, Atalante?"
"They have more than proven their worth as Masters." She replied, nodding to Koleen, who could only guess as to what expression the Huntress had on her face. "I am confident in our future endeavors."
"I'm glad you think so, Atalante." Koleen smiled with relief, before she moved closer to them. "We're going to need you, if we're going to see more of these Demon Pillars."
"And you will have it."
Closer to the wreckage of the Argo, before it could fully disappear, Ayako and Kagiso waded through it, searching for their main objective, with EMIYA and Lancelot helping them. Euryale was also there, standing separated from them, holding a freshly assembled crown of roses. After contemplating for so long, she threw it into the water, knowing that it will disappear when the Singularity breaks down.
"You will remember him, won't you?" she asked the Chaldeans, even though she wasn't facing him.
"Yes, we will." Kagiso replied, stopping briefly to turn to the Gorgon. "Don't worry, Euryale. He will forever be remembered."
"Especially since this Singularity is going to be archived." Ayako said with a light chuckle. "It will be remembered for all of eternity!"
"I wouldn't go so far to declare that, Master." EMIYA commented, earning a rare chuckle from Lancelot.
"And hey, if you ever decide to drop by Chaldea, then that's another person who's not going to forget." Ayako said to the Gorgon.
Euryale stood in silence for a few seconds, before she turned around to face them fully. "I'll think about it."
"Don't worry, Euryale. We'll welcome you with open arms." Kagiso said, opening his own arms as a welcoming gesture.
"Master, I have found it." Their eyes turned to the Berserker, kneeling in front of rubble with his hand inside of it. He pulled it out, revealing the pristine and immaculate Chalice of gold.
"So Jason really is dead." Ayako commented as the Knight approached her, handing her the Singularity's Holy Grail. She took the offered Chalice, holding it in her hand. "Medea must've really hated him."
"I wonder how yours is any different." Euryale commented with a scowl.
"She's not insane. At least, not as much as you'd fear." EMIYA said with a chuckle, though this time no one else joined him.
"Well, we got what we wanted, let's head back." The Puppeteer said to the group, carefully walking on the wreck. "Martha, we're ready."
"Okay, everyone get on." The Saint, who had been waiting atop Tarrasque, called out as she patted his head comfortingly. "Especially while Tarrasque's feeling generous."
"I'm always generous." The Dragon commented, grunting in pain when Martha's pats got a little too hard.
"See? He's being generous!"
Meanwhile, back on the shore, Ritsuka and Mash were waiting with Captain Drake and her crew, as they all celebrated after their biggest contract yet. Even Anne was among them, sharing a few drinks with the rowdy men, before her time in this world was up.
"Those mages of yours sure are taking their time." Drake commented, her Grail on one hand, and her pistol twirling in the other.
"Are you talking about the Casters, Captain?" Mash asked for clarification, with her hands petting Fou delicately, getting a nod back from the Privateer.
"They'll be here soon, I'm sure." Ritsuka said as he stifled a tired yawn with his hand. "I'm confident that they could deal with, Medea-san's younger self."
"She also had Circe with her!" Anne further added to the conversation. "There's no way in hell those two would lose!"
As if to reinforce her words, space itself folded around them, before it unfolded again, revealing the two Casters they were talking about.
"Medea-san! Circe! You guys did it!" Ritsuka's elation was shared by the rest, as even the crew cheer upon their return.
"Of course we did!" Circe proudly declared, her hands akimbo as her wings opened wide, revealing their colorful feathers. "There were many things we taught her, and many things we found out as well, that Medea will no doubt tell you."
"I'm sure the Director will be pleased to know of this." Mash said with a smile.
"So I see everyone's here." They turned their eyes to the shore, seeing the massive Dragon rest itself on the sands, as Ayako and the rest joined them. She sighed tiredly, scratching her head with the Chalice in her hands. "Ah, we can finally go back home. I'm tired of this salty air."
"It's not so bad." Koleen responded, as she arrived on the beach with the other Archers following suit. "I'm sure there are worse conditions."
"Like the storm that we were pelted by earlier?" Kagiso said, eliciting laughter that was shared between them.
"I think we're done here, Ayako-san." Ritsuka said, as he looked around them. "Soon, this place will break apart, and everything will go back to normal."
"Yup. Mash, contact the Doctor, telling him to prep our trek home."
"Yes, Ayako." The Demi-Servant quickly handed the little mascot creature off to Ritsuka, before she stepped aside.
"I'd love to join Chaldea." Artemis said, her arms wrapped around a bittersweet Huntress. "I feel like your headquarters will be filled with family~."
"That sounds absurd." Euryale commented with furrowed brows.
"It sounds more like a triage center." Anne commented with a hearty laugh.
"With a name like Chaldea, then it must be an observatory, is it not?" King David said, an amused smile displayed on his face.
"Yes, that is what we are." Kagiso replied for them.
"I'm gonna miss the lot of ya." Captain Drake said, approaching the Masters, bringing them all into a tight hug. One that Artemis joined without hesitation, bringing Atalante along with her. "This was one hell of'a quest! Liz is gonna be ecstatic to hear all of this."
"I'm sure there's a way for you to answer our calls, Captain." Koleen said with a knowing look. "You're a very accomplished person in history, no doubt you'd be recognized as such."
"If that turns out to be the case, then you bet your ass I'll be there at the end of the world!"
"Masters! Rayshifts are prepping!" Mash called out as she joined them again.
"Thank you again, everyone. For helping us on our mission." Kagiso bowed to the Servants that had joined them.
"Eh, it was nice playing Hero for once." Anne said with a chuckle.
"Make room for me!" Circe said as her body, and the rest, began turning to motes of light. "You're gonna need my expertise as well!"
"We'll make room then!"
"'Dea?" the Chaldean Caster turned to the Puppeteer, seeing the redhead look at her with concern. "Is everything okay? You've been quite."
"I'm not sure yet, Ayako." Medea replied, her gloved hand combing through her hair, smiling at the modern Genius. She looked around her, at what was left of the battle, before history began correcting itself again.
She turned back to Ayako, though now the other Masters also had their eyes on her. "But, I think it will be."
AUTHOR'S NOTE
i did it! i got it out in time!
oh my god, i can finally go to fucking sleep now!
but damn dudes, here's the chapter to make up for the short hiatus! not as long as other finale chapters, but considering this was originally going to be part of the previous chapter, i think it sorta stacks up. so let's talk about it!
i'll be honest, i didn't start this Singularity with the intention of it being Medea's Singularity. but, things just fell into place, and the focus ended up being primarily on her. because of this, the other Servants didn't get much of a chance to shine, i realize that, and i apologize for it too. but i hope i at least made their supporting appearances notable enough!
timeline wise, this should all end up at around the end of November, 2017. we're gonna get quite the break here guys, before we tackle London next.
BUT!
i have a couple of ideas to fill in that gap. some of them might be the events. but chances are, they're going to be interludes! but again! the way i'm having it envisioned in my head, the interludes will most likely not be the same as the interludes from the game. you'll guys see when it first arrives.
so, with that out of the way, let's get to the reviews!
Chapter 39
C2M1: dude, i would so love a tvtropes page. no joke, i check it out to see if anyone's recommended the fic every couple of days. just to see it recommended would be so awesome.
ptl: because they tend to be more reckless with their lives.
Addicted2fanfics: i already got Rider Ishtar last time, but right now i'm trying to get Berserker Jalter, especially since i don't have her Avenger version.
King0fP0wers: America's going to be a bitch, because the team's gonna be speeding around the continent, and who knows how long that's gonna take.
Evowizard25: as disappointed Atalante would be upon finding out how Artemis was like in reality, i think she'd still very much appreciate her patron goddess.
TalonScythe: i'm trying real hard with the newest summer event, thank you!
Thekiller7: thank you!
Chapter 40
trexboy164: yeah, i've never experienced what JP FGO was like.
omegadramon2: thanks!
well, that was fun! hope you guys come back again!
drop a review if you don't mind, and i'll see you all next time!