14.1
[Fate/Grand Order]
Silver Bullet Marathon
Ritsuka adjusted her helmet, making sure the strap was on tight as her partner, Altria, was adjusting her own. Altria had managed to talk Ritsuka into participating in the Ishtar cup alongside her, which was quite a bit different than normal.
For one, Rin was Awake, so she'd decided to mix up the Ishtar Cup a bit, and with assistance from the Logos React Generic, she'd altered the Ishtar Cup's normal set-up from a mere race around Ireland into a European cross country epic, running all the way from Spain to Russia. Fittingly making the event much larger than normal, and thanks to having the L.R.G distorted Space-Time within its created Singularities, they wouldn't have to worry too much about how long this one went on for, so long as they resolved it within a reasonable amount of time.
Which was to say 'Rin had stolen the grail and made it the prize of the race like Ishtar did'. If things actually got unstable, the event was canceled.
"So you ready for this Rits?" Altria asked, rubbing the mane of Llamrei, the black steed shaking at her touch, but ready to ride as Ritsuka smirked.
"Always have to be Altria," Ritsuka retorted, sitting on the back of Llamrei and facing backwards. One of Rin's various rules for the Ishtar Cup apparently, something she'd said she'd explain further at the starting line. Simplest rules were that you could have two or three people on a team, but you only had one mount. Similarly, you had to be using a single horse or beast of burden for your mount. "After all, Rin or Ishtar had to be prepared for anything from either of them. They're as mercurial as each other."
Altria chuckled at that as the pair rode towards the starting line, taking their position early to wait for the other racers. Ritsuka waved to Rin, who was up in the commentator's box with Mash. Both of the girls waved back, Rin more half-heartedly than Mash. Mash looked incredibly excited for this.
Two of the teams were the same as usual. Desert Beauty, consisting of Nitocris and Scheherazade riding a Sphinx as their mount of choice. The other familiar team was Public Decency, headed by Raikou and Sanzang, who were usually jockeys anyway, with the White Dragon Horse as their mount. However the other teams weren't normal competitors of the Ishtar Cup.
"You've got to be kidding me. WHAT IS THIS BOLLOCKS!?" Altria complained, nearly smacking Llamrei as the first of the team rode up.
"It's not against the rules~" Medea sang, the Caster laughing as Sasaki was holding the reins connected to their mount. Pulling a ship-like chariot… a gigantic swallow, who turned its head towards the other races, and cooed in confusion.
"That has to be cheating," Ritsuka complained as Sasaki gave a two-fingered salute.
"We checked with Rin, it wasn't against the rules. Too late to change anything now," The Assassin gave with a cheeky smirk. "Team Ryuudouji is gonna win this one," he boasted as Medea pulled out a jockey helmet, putting it on and giving one to Sasaki as the next racing team pulled up.
"Hi everyone!" Sakura called out as she was sitting on the back of the Pegasus with Medusa holding the reins.
"Team Heaven is good to ride," Medusa declared, pulling back on the reins of Pegasus, another laugh, a high pitched one coming up to the starting line.
Iskandar, who had been summoned as his child self (and also was Awake), rode his mighty steed Bucephalus. And the massive horse was pulling the Gordius Wheel, Waver smirking as he leaned against the rim of the massiver chariot with a smirk. "Hey everyone!" Iskandar waved.
"Is everyone cheating!?" Altria complained as Waver spoke up.
"It's not cheating if it ain't in the rules," the young man said, holding up a small booklet and waving it with a smug grin. "Okeanos Awaits!"
As he said that, Ritsuka shook her head, shouting ensuing as more jockeys started to arrive. "Put your backs into it you sea dogs!"
Medea almost fell out of her chariot laughing as Francis Drake, standing in a pirate longboat, rode up to the starting line. The Pirate woman laughing as her 'mount', Edward Teach, was carrying the front of the boat on his shoulder. Her partner, Bartholomew Roberts, had the back of it, the two men carrying the boat together. "Oi! I thunk all a yous might be eating our dust!" she declared, waving a bottle of rum in one hand, the other randomly spinning the ship's wheel. This was of course causing the rudder to smack Roberts in the face.
"...I'm not sure if this is the worst mount or the best," Waver muttered, looking over the three pirates and noting that all of them had a very notable drunken blush on their faces. "Ah… that explains it."
"Camelot Rising coming through!" Artoria declared as she and her team rode up… which was herself, Shirou and EMIYA all riding on Dun Stallion. The poor horse having three riders all crammed onto it as Shirou waved to Rin. EMIYA pulled down his shades to look at the competition with a smug grin.
"Hi Shirou!" Sakura waved to him.
"Hey Sakura," he waved back as the next team rode up…
Nero and Mordred riding a surfboard, which for some damned reason was actually surfing on the dirt.
"Mordred," Artoria started, just… staring at this. "How?"
"Don't look at me dad," Mordred said, the Saber pointing over her shoulder at Nero. "She's the one doing this."
"Umu! The Emperor declares we shall surf the dirt!" Nero said with a hearty laugh, hanging onto Mordred's back. "Jeanne leant us her shark for the board to ride!"
As she said that, everyone saw said massive shark, Reese, peek up out of the dirt. "Play with me." He then popped back into the dirt.
"...Let us never speak of this again," Shirou very quickly declared, to everyone, even the drunk pirates, unanimous agreement.
"Hello everyone!" another team pulled up next to Mordred and Nero… Arthur Pendragon, who was for some reason pulling the Unit Lion, which was being ridden by… another Artoria wearing a lion costume and Okita Souji, who looked utterly confused.
"Hang on, we didn't summon Arthur…" Ritsuka noted in confusion. "Where did he come from?"
"He's what you're concerned about?" Altria questioned, looking around the sphinx to spot the lion suit wearing Artoria, and then looking back towards the team riding Dun Stallion. "There's two of her."
"I noticed that, but that's normal," Ritsuka muttered.
"Okay, fair, but why the lion costume?" Altria questioned.
"Oi! Ya stole arr idea!" Edward declared, raising his fist in the air and shaking it towards Arthur. "Git yer own!"
"I'm pulling, not carrying," the King of Knights pointed out.
"Aye, his gotta point," Drake mumbled, swaying atop the longboat with a grin plastered across her face still.
"Make way! The Queen of Victory has arrived!" Boudica declared, wearing her brand new swimsuit for all the world to see… and standing one foot on either of her two horses with her arms crossed, cape flared out behind her, and a pair of star shaped shades on her face. "And I will not lose this!"
"Hi Artoria!" Gareth waved from the chariot being pulled by Boudica's horses, still wearing her bulky armor.
The rest of the remaining teams continued to file in… and by the time they were all assembled, Ritsuka noted that every last one of them was, in some way, cheating. "Hey… uh?"
"If they're going to cheat I'm going as well."
"Ah, good, we're on the same page then," Ritsuka muttered, stealthily pulling out Exagryph from her Pocket and hiding it behind her back. It quickly unfolded into a… familiar looking sniper rifle.
Altria nodded, pulling out her Rider-self's Anti-Material rifle. "Good idea. I was going going to-"
"NP them when the countdown finishes?" Ritsuka asked with a smirk.
"Yes," Altria said bluntly.
"We're still doing that."
"Well, I asked for this," Rin said with a massive grin, looking at the absolutely bizarre set of racers, and the clusterfuck waiting to happen the moment she fired the starting pistol.
"You expected everyone to cheat?"
"Mash, I didn't even really define rules aside from two or three to a team, and the mount has to be a living thing, this is not only exactly what I expected, it's better than I could have hoped!" Rin burst out laughing. "Normally it's just the other Loopers who do insane stuff! But look at this mess! Not only is every single Servant participating, they all got something different, and they're all ready to shoot each other at the word go!"
"I don't think that's safe?"
"Ah don't worry, when we made the Singularity I had Da Vinci help me enforce some rules here. No one's dying permanently. Probably…" she put a hand to her chin. "I think."
"Filling me with confidence here Rin," Mash actually snarked.
"It'll be fine!" Rin stated, before putting her hand on Mash's shoulder. "I'm just gonna make sure we don't get blasted."
A quick snap of her fingers, and she and Mash were apparated to a much higher, and safer vantage point, Rin grabbing her microphone and tapping it. "Alright everyone! Are you all ready for the Ishtar Cup EX!?"
Even from their position up there, the roar was deafening. "Good! The rules are simple! You've just gotta make it to the end! And thanks to this singularity, if you 'die' you're just gonna be out for like five seconds and get resummoned at the last checkpoint, unless you're Rits. Rits don't die. This race is expected to take a while, so good luck!" she put a hand over the mic. "Mash get the revolver."
"I have it right here," Mash started, before realizing something. "Wait! Senpai isn't-!?"
Rin-Ishtar snatched the gun from Mash's hand. "THREE TWO ONE GO!" She fired the starting pistol, teleported herself and Mash away, and less than two seconds later utter madness erupted below them.
And thus, the currently craziest edition of the Ishtar Cup began with several hundred bangs, a couple hundred scars, and somehow no Loop Crash.
14.2
[Fate/Grand Order] [Madoka Magica]
Confrontation
"This has been a long time coming," Kyubey raised his head, turning towards the voice. Stepping out of the shadows with a glare even demons would tremble under. "Creature."
"Edmond Dantes," Kyubey noted. This was his second trip through Chaldea, and once more he'd replaced that little creature known as 'Fou'. "What has been a long time coming? I have done nothing to deserve your ire."
Dantes' gaze didn't change, keeping his eyes completely focused on Kyubey. The time was a few weeks after Solomon had been defeated, and both Ritsuka and Mash were Awake, so they hadn't needed Kyubey's… assistance.
"You have done nothing to me. What you have done is something to the young man I've sworn to protect," Dantes revealed, Kyubey tilting his head.
"How so? I've been nothing but a neutral observer," Kyubey commented, even as mentally he did some quick checks. He knew exactly what the Count was referring to, but the question was 'how did he know?' Was he a Looper? Had he been Stealthing? Or was it simply a curious quirk of the man's relationship to the Anchor.
"Perhaps not this time, but certainly long before this," Dantes slowly began to approach Kyubey. "And I want answers."
"Answer me this then. How do you know?" Kyubey questioned, just to get confirmation on his theories. Either this man was a Looper, or he was just Loop Aware due to living inside Fujimaru's head.
"Every Loop, I am here. Every Loop, I live within him," the count's cape flared out behind him. "I know everything, because he lets me," he glared. "Of course, you should know what this means."
"You are Loop Aware, but not a Looper. Then you should also know how little of a chance you stand," Kyubey commented, already anticipating the Count outright attacking. It wouldn't matter, since he'd just make a new body and go find somewhere else to spend the rest of the Loop to perform some experiments.
"I am aware, but you assume that shall stop me from trying. But right now I am here to talk," the Count of Monte Cristo boasted before staring down Kyubey again, his eyes flaring with black flames. "Why."
"Why what?" Kyubey questioned.
"Why did you have her make that contract?" Edmond started. "Knowing how it would end?"
"She made the contract willingly," Kyubey pointed out. "She had no need to."
"She did make it willingly, but you and I both know she didn't have to. You were replacing Cath Paulg, you could have brought her back using those powers. It's because you refused to, she had to make that contract to avoid Mash's death and absence causing a later Crash. You and I both know this."
"You are correct, but you also assume that matters to me. I prefer avoiding having a Loop Crash, if only to avoid the consequences of doing so. Besides, I gave her the warnings, and she followed them. I merely didn't anticipate how despair-inducing Olympus was, but the data I gained from both her Witch and that man was intriguing."
The Count closed his eyes. "Everything is little more than an experiment to you,"
"You won't remember any of this anyway. What I tell you is of no consequence," Kyubey decided.
"Then humor me with this… What was that creature? The identity of my Master's Witch."
Kyubey sat up in the chair it had been lounging in. "At the moment, the most powerful Witch I have ever created, with only one other that eclipses it in sheer scale and power. Or at least, one possible Witch that surpasses it. And should it ever emerge anew, I expect it will continue to grow in strength and capability. I am uncertain of what its limit would have been," the creature mused. "But you asked for its identity. Its name was Philotes. The Witch of Friendship."
Dantes looked Kyubey up and down. "Second question. Do you know my Master's powers as a Puella?"
"Of course I do, I studied them extensively while she was in my presence. Her power is Healing, an excessively strong variant of it, but it is," Kyubey said. "Being able to bring back the dead from less than dust, and heal wounds that would have been otherwise impossible to fix. In effect her Puella ability is akin to the Third Magic, but not exactly," he further admitted. "It's a curious ability, one I've yet to identify all the facets of."
Edmond Dantes… smirked. "Ah, so that is what you know. Now, I also know of your capabilities, namely your method of avoiding permanent demise within a given Loop." he started walking forward. "Now, I know my Master will not take vengeance, you gave him something he sees as a gift. On the other hand, I am nowhere near as forgiving. As the embodiment of vengeance, of righting wrongdoings such as this? Ritsuka isn't one for revenge."
He grabbed Kyubey, who didn't express a thing as he was held up by the neck. "I am, however, not just for him, and for all of those you've wronged. I can feel it, the curses around you. All of those who hate you, who curse your very name and existence," his right eye lit up with black flames. "Tell me, you may be capable of surviving having your body immolated… but what about your very soul being burned away to nothing but cinders."
Kyubey didn't answer, just keeping that emotionless expression. "A pity, and here I thought you would have felt some fear. Or perhaps you believe I am bluffing?" Dantes smirked. "I, the King of the Cavern, am not. I also know that Cath Palug does not play any important role beyond observation until the Loop's end. So should I remove you, nothing will change… now begone. Enjoy whichever hell you end up in, if any at all."
Black flames engulfed Kyubey, but he didn't scream, merely staring down Edmond Dantes as his body continued to burn. Dantes himself retained his stoic smirk as the creature continued to burn in his black flames. He waited until the body burned to less than ashes. Kyubey didn't reappear.
He turned on his heel. "Of course, you likely have a method to save your soul. Or maybe you don't. All that matters is that, if I see you again, I will kill you until I've engraved these flames upon your soul. For what you have done to who I've sworn to protect, and for any others you've caused such pain." He let go of the ashes, walking away. "How little you know why he keeps that thing. Wait… and Hope."
14.3
[Fate/Grand Order]
Meido (Custodator Pacis)
"What's happening this time?" Artoria said, noticing the commotions around Chaldea as she sat down in its cafeteria in preparation for her breakfast.
"I think it's something to do with Ishtar this time," her Anchor Shirou, as a Servant Senji Muramasa, answered as he's putting down a lukewarm tea in front of the Saber. "Ritsuka told me that when Rin doesn't replace Ishtar the goddess herself will usually made schemes to enrich herself through events. This time it should be a racing event if what Ritsuka told me were accurate."
"Should I bring out the Lion?" Artoria asked.
"Please no, not this time, I doubt that I have enough QP to complete the circuit," Shirou answered, grimacing as if he could feel the pain from his wallet.
"The food should be here shortly, please wait a moment," the Anchor told her, then left for his kitchen duty.
If Artoria were still looking she may noticed a small mutual nod that Shirou made towards Edward Teach who brought up a video recorder, but as she's busy taking a sip from a warm cup of tea she completely missed it.
"Here's your order, Sir Artoria, would you like to order for more?" a voice that Artoria could recognize with a bitter clarity came from behind her as she's taking a mouthful of her tea.
Artoria turned around in her chair as she prepared for another verbal duel with her counterpart of Chaldea, expecting the same indifference coming from the Alter but a small part of her got confused by the way said Alter were speaking.
Then Artoria's brain came to a screeching halt mid-movement as she took in the appearance of the speaker.
Altria, who stood there while still wearing her hardened expression, was currently rocking a maid outfit like she were born for it.
"Would you like to order for more Sir Artoria?" the Alter in maid uniform asked again.
It was at this moment that Artoria's thought process could catch up to the reality. So she did a spinning spit-take as she fell down from her chair into a heap, screaming in confusion all the way down.
"Medea died!" Atalante shouted, while trying her best to stop both the mature and adolescent Medea from bleeding further from their nose.
"kawaiiiiiiii~" both Casters gave a simultaneous weak reply, their expression of utter serenity.
"YES!- I mean- Oh no, how cruel. We must prepare to cremate their remains as soon as possi-" was as far as Jason could made before Circe turned him into a little pig.
"Illya died!" Miyu shouted from another side of the cafeteria, clutching a weakened hand of her fellow magical girl Illyasviel.
"You monster!" Ruby roared, but still aiming her recording device at the majestic form of Rider Maid Altria for future reference.
"munyaa~ kawaiii~~" are all that the Magical Girl Illyasviel could manage before she passed out in a blissful expression.
"-and that should cover the expenses, good day doing business with you Teach," Shirou said to Blackbeard as they finish the transaction of blackmail material and bars of gold.
"I get to do my usual stuff while getting paid for it anyway so it's a win-win! Pleasure doing business with ya lad!" the pirate laughed heartily then departed with his hoard of gold, off to new adventures of his own fortune.
"Well, now I need to see Artoria if she need any help-" Shirou made for the front desk of kitchen.
Then he faced Gilgamesh Caster, with a glint of amusement on the face of the Wise King of Uruk.
"You woke up the beast that you should let it lie, good luck with your misfortune, O doomed older brother." Was the words that the Caster gave.
"Wait what?" Shirou spoke in confusion.
It only made the Wise King of Uruk laughed instead.
"...I'm a nurse, I don't cure madness," Nightingale made a comment as she stood by the beds of her new patient from blood loss, one may saw her twitching eyebrows if they knew where to look.
The head nurse finished her writing report before she departed, leaving Sitonai to recuperate from her loss of blood
"Heh heh heh~ Baeber with maid outfit goes kyaaa~~!" was what the Alter Ego said in her blissful delirium.
14.4
[Fate/Grand Order] [Death Note]
Execution Note
Sanson hummed as he walked down the streets of Tokyo, Japan. So far, it had been looking like another quiet Loop so far. He'd Pinged off earlier and only got three Pings back, two he knew were Abigail and Lavinia, meaning the third had been the local Anchor.
He'd yet to see either hide or hair of them, nor had they tried to make contact at all, so he just assumed they were leaving them to their own devices. Said devices being Abigail and Lavinia deciding to go study some normal school subjects in this pretty much near hub Loop.
Thus here he was, carrying back a bag of groceries from the store on a rather quiet evening. Abigail and Lavinia were probably back at the apartment by this point, so that left him just wandering out and about.
As he walked, something caught on his foot. A quick tap against his boot. Stopping, le looked down at what his foot had hit… and raised an eyebrow for a moment in confusion… before recognition took over.
He slowly stepped back and away from the object in fear… a single black book, engraved with a simple title. One that struck fear into the hearts of any Looper with its power.
Death Note.
"Well it's about time I found you," Sanson whipped around, his blade in his hand in an instant, only for it to completely phase through the being's neck as if it wasn't there. "Pfft. Nice reflexes, I'll give you that," the being said as Sanson took a deep breath, stepping backwards, and even onto the Death Note. He grit his teeth and quickly pulled his foot off, leaping back and putting the book between him and the creature before him.
The Anchor of this world.
"You seem scared," Ryuk noted the creature smirking as he tapped his fingers against his face. "And here after I went through the trouble of finding you, and even figuring out who you are. Charles Henri-Sanson. I must say, your work is quite impressive."
"What do you want," Sanson unsummoned his sword, glaring at Ryuk with his groceries still in his other hand. Ryuk merely gave a grin before pointing down at the ground.
"I think you can understand what I seek, Gentleman of Paris. Entertainment," Ryuk said, before slowly raising a second Death Note, tauntingly waving it with a grin.
"I'm not going to kill people, not here," Sanson started before Ryuk hummed.
"Oh? So perhaps I should take this and give it to someone else?" Ryuk questioned, slowly bending down.
Sanson took that moment to kick the book away from Ryuk's grasping hand, sending it spiraling into the empty street. Ryuk hummed as he looked at Sanson with a grin. "You're that willing to prevent me from just giving it to someone else, but unwilling to use it yourself. You should know what it was originally used for."
"I know what it was used for in this world. I've read your story," Sanson admitted, the wind picking up slowly as Ryuk pulled an apple out of his Pocket, chowing down on it slowly.
"Ah good, that makes things interesting," Ryuk chuckled. "I'll be watching Charles Henri-Sanson. I wonder… just what will you and those two girls do?"
Sanson froze as Ryuk vanished, the wind blowing at his coat as he slowly turned towards the Death Note still in the street. He was tempted to walk away… but then would Ryuk make good on his threat?
He wasn't willing to take that chance.
Slowly, after looking across the street both ways to make sure there were no cars coming. He ran into the street, grabbing the Death Note and getting on the sidewalk, looking around… he slowly dropped the Death Note into the bag of groceries, and continued his walk back to the apartment.
There was a feeling of great unease he just couldn't shake...and that bag he held felt so much heavier.
A few days later, Sanson was alone… he hadn't shared the existence of the Death Note with the girls. He was too scared to. Instead, he was sitting there, watching TV… kinda. The Television was on, but his focus was on the notebook in his hands.
He slowly opened it, hands trembling as he read the rules, before snapping the book shut. He did not need to think about those implications.
He looked at the television, watching the news… about a hostage situation in a Shinjuku daycare.
Sanson gulped, looking down at the book in his hands. Sweaty and trembling, and steeled himself, and continued watching the news. Slowly as the situation progressed… and nothing seemed to change. Sanson took a deep breath, a sigh of relief…
Of course letting such a man threaten innocent lives like that. When he had the power to save them at his fingertips.
'I could… it's just… one right? Innocent people could be killed. Innocent people have already been killed,' the executioner thought as he looked around. One name, only one. Then he was never using this book again.
He went for a pen, but as he flipped the notebook open… he watched the screen and gasped in shock, dropping the pen.
"The subject has been found dead inside!"
Sanson took a step back, looking at the blank notebook in his hands. "No… no no no…" he started as the report continued. That the suspect that collapsed suddenly… of a heart attack.
Sanson looked down at the book in his hands slowly. "Was… was it him? Or was it? Who did?" A thousand questions ran through his mind, but he knew one answer.
Ryuk had given someone else a Death Note.
And he currently had no idea who.
Sanson grit his teeth as he slowly picked up the pen on the ground. This was a mystery now. Ryuk could have given Light a Death Note… or anyone else. This was the first killing… One he'd very nearly done himself to save those people's lives.
"What do I do…" Sanson muttered softly, collapsing back on the sofa, and turning the television off. Looking down at the little black book and it's ominous writing.
"...I can't let this happen," Sanson muttered, gripping the Death Note tightly. "I can't let it happen."
The mystery was afoot. Charles Henri Sanson made his choice. He wasn't going to sit and cower in fear. Not when he could do something to stop the mass death of Kira, whoever they were going to be.
…
Oh what was he about to get himself into?
14.5
[Fate Grand Order]
A Little on the Magi-Science Side
"Alright, let's try a new spell formula," Da Vinci mumbled, adjusting her calculations. Adapting the Shadow Border formula and turning it into a new form of Magecraft… well this had been her project for a while now.
With a lack of Loops where she could actually pick up new things from 'out of Loop', Da Vinci had been forced to improvise. Not like she was complaining, making something new was much more rewarding than simply getting it.
"Let's see if I can't get this new barrier formula to work…" she muttered. Making a spell to adapt the Storm Border's adjustable barrier, which was normally handled by Nemo anyway, wasn't exactly a tough challenge, but replicating it in full without the use of a Holy Grail or any Kilironmia was.
But she always enjoyed a challenge. Grails were just a crutch, and Kilironmia was as well, in her opinion. The former were nice batteries of magical power, good for study, but actually using one herself was a bit out of the question. Kilironmia weren't exactly like that, they were powerful, and had been necessary boosts in Olympus for some. They'd saved Nemo's life afterall, and given them the power to fight the Gods themselves.
She wanted to be capable of doing that without the aid of either grails or another god's power. Through technology and magic, understanding the universe, and even thwarting it. Rules were meant to be broken, a fundamental part of Magecraft.
Of course it didn't help that said rules were constantly changing.
"Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't… sheesh how do all those visitors keep getting their stuff to work when it breaks our rules, and I have to keep adjusting everything…" Da Vinci complained, a little miffed she'd yet to figure out whatever trick that was.
"Hey Da Vinci!" Someone shouted, a high pitched voice. The door to her Workshop was kicked open, permitting the entry of one of Chaldea's premier troublemakers… one Nobunaga Oda. "What's going on in here!"
"I'm working Nobunaga," Da Vinci replied. "But it's a side project at the moment. What do you need?"
Nobunaga hummed as she crossed her arms, the Archer currently wearing a more modern jacket over a red t-shirt alongside white pants… of course topped off with that signature hat of hers. "Was looking to get my hands on some materials from the vault. And maybe one of the spare grails."
"What are you planning?" Da Vinci questioned as Nobunaga grinned. Even after thousands of Loops… Well, Nobunaga was an interesting person. She'd figured out quite a few Servants, the few that were always the same, never did anything different without prodding, and even then were rather boring individuals.
Oda Nobunaga was not like that. Even without being a Looper, the Demon King of the Sixth Heaven always found new and inventive ways to get creative with her crazy schemes. Sure, the 'GudaGuda' events happened every Loop, but if anything they only served to reinforce how wacky and unpredictable Nobunaga Oda was… because they were the only predictable thing about her.
New schemes, new bombs, new weapons, even just being a ball of crazy, the former warlord was one of Chaldea's highlights in Da Vinci's opinion. Something they just couldn't live without. "Oh you'll see," Nobunaga grinned, a smile that promised endless excitement and possibilities.
"Quick question," Da Vinci raised her hand. "Where's Rits?"
"Locked in her Room," Nobunaga said, still smirking. "With company."
"Ushiwaka and Osabake?"
Nobunaga blinked for a moment. "Nah, they're in there with that french knight."
Da Vinci sighed, shaking her head. "Oh Rits, what am I going to do with you," Da Vinci mused, recalling the… relationships that Ritsuka took care to maintain. Among them being the very recent addition of Charles-Geneviève-Louis-Auguste-André-Timothée d'Éon de Beaumont. Better known as Chevalier D'Eon. "Five Servants… not even counting the stalkers."
Nobunaga did some mental math. "More surprised it's only five actually," the Archer said with a shrug. "I mean not like there aren't a lot who try. Besides the stalkers that is."
"...Didn't you-" Da Vinci started, recalling Nobunaga's own attempts at such things.
"Oh yeah, Rits is very picky, I fuckin know," Nobunaga complained, "But that aside, let's have some fun! I got ideas!"
"Care to explain?" Da Vinci questioned, only for Nobunaga to pull out some blueprints from the bag she was wearing around her waist. Da Vinci smirked as they were unfurled. "Well then…"
"You dig it?" Nobunaga asked with a smirk.
"Can't hurt to give it a test, let's try it shall we?" Da Vinci said, motioning for Nobunaga to join her. "I'm sure we can make this work without requiring a Grail."
"Let's get to work!"
It was always good to have friends that kept life interesting. And Nobunaga was just one of many.
"You are ill," Florence Nightingale said, simple and plain. Blunt and straight to the point.
Da Vinci crossed her arms as she sat on the bed in one of Chaldea's various medical rooms in this Loop. The one that the Nurse of Steel had taken over.
The Angel of the Crimean War, another face that was always around Chaldea. Her ties to Ritsuka were as strong as those of Kintoki and Edmond. In a way… it felt that she was more aware of what was going on than she should be.
Da Vinci had previously theorized it had something to do with the fact that she had manifested in Ritsuka's Soul, the third prisoner of the Tower. Or perhaps it was just her understanding of people that made her capable of such diagnosis.
"What's the illness then?" Da Vinci questioned, leaning forward as Florence closed her eyes.
"Your condition is one I find hard to understand," Florence started, looking at Da Vinci's head. "It is a condition you share with Master, and with Edmond Dantes." Da Vinci remained silent as Florence Nightingale put a finger to her head. "A mental illness."
"It's not an illness you speak of Florence," Da Vinci started, thinking back on the Nurse throughout the Loops. Similar to Nobunaga, she was a consistent presence, and due to being Chaldea's self assigned head nurse every Loop, she was often right in the thick of things. Being in along for singularities, taking care of the many injuries everyone accumulated, generally dealing with everyone's antics, or just getting on Holmes' case for his constant substance abuse, the Nurse had a way of being predictable, but unpredictable. "It's something going on that you can't understand."
"You must give me all the details," Florence ordered. Da Vinci sighed, thankful that Goetia had already been dealt with this Loop. Florence was… testy, and had absolutely zero qualms about mouthing off to anyone. Even the feared Edmond Dantes, and servants like Karna and Arjuna heeded her.
"Alright… so this is gonna be a long story…"
A story that concluded several hours later, after Da Vinci had finished giving the explanation, as best she could, about the situation with 'Yggdrasil' and their own home Loop. To be quite honest, she'd expected Florence to snap and declare she would begin treatment by any means necessary.
"I see… so our world is sick… sick in such a way that all we can do is wait and hope for it to be repaired," Nightingale said quietly, far more… sedate than she usually was.
"Yeah," Da Vinci nodded. "Not exactly anything we can do about it, other than help by making sure we keep surviving to the end, before doing it all again."
Florence was silent for several moments, closing her eyes and taking a deep breath. "The situation is so dire, that our very reality is perhaps on the brink of collapse at any moment, kept alive only by the acts of those on high," Da Vinci nodded. "I see…" she repeated. "Then as a Nurse, I must do whatever I can to assist," the fire in her eyes relit again.
"What you can do is help us Florence. We've got to make it all the way to the end of the story for, practically, forever. In a way, it's probably a good thing you don't remember every Loop… Ritsuka, and I suppose Edmond, have to endure every Loop," Da Vinci mused.
"No. I cannot simply sit by idle. The world is ill, as are its people. If I must endure eternity to assist in creating the cure for this world, I will. No matter how little my help may amount to," she said before looking dead into Da Vinci's eyes. "You said that Ritsuka must endure it all."
"Yeah, that's what it means to be the Anchor,"
"Then I will help them. This world, this… Yggdrasil… all I can do is stick by Ritsuka's side, to provide them the care they need. She is jaded, injured, and ill. Her sanity hidden behind a thin veil. She must know that others stand with her."
"I'm surprised you're Madness Enhancement isn't screaming to heal her even if it kills her," Da Vinci joked lightly, even as the nurse adopted a heavy glare.
"This is not something to be made light of. If the tree dies, then we all do, forever gone, with nothing to replace it. She is an integral piece of that tree. Therefore the goal is to make sure she lives. The goal seems simple, but her care is far more complex than simple wounds. She requires the aid of people. She requires people to keep her sane." Nightingale's eyes glazed over. "Something I never had…"
"Florence…" Da Vinci muttered as the Berserker shook her head.
"I must help her! Come, we make things right!" Florence screamed, shooting out of her chair and going through the door.
"Florence, wait!" Da Vinci shouted, running after the Berserker as she blazed through Chaldea. Never a dull moment with the nurse of steel.
Especially when they caught Kiara trying to break into Ritsuka's room. One trip to the nurse's office for her.
For Da Vinci, the Nurse of Steel was yet another companion that kept life interesting, and for a given value of it, sane.
"You wanted to speak to me, Da Vinci?"
Da Vinci, currently back in her little backup body, looked towards the child that walked up to her. Captain Nemo, the Servant who'd originally been Sion's, who's contract had since been transferred over to Chaldea… to Ritsuka.
The Servant she felt was, in some ways, after her own heart. "Yeah. I wanted to thank you for what you've done."
Nemo raised an eyebrow. "You can thank me when the job's done lady Da Vinci, we've still got rough seas ahead of us."
"Oh I'm well aware of that. What I wanted to thank you for was… well, for just being here." Da Vinci turned, look down at the dock. The Entrance to the Wandering Sea, where this Loop's interaction of the Storm Border was sitting. The ship that she and Nemo shared.
The ship that she felt was always missing something without him. She was it's computer, and he, its captain.
"...You're welcome. I suppose I have you, and the others of course, to thank for returning my will to fight, back in India," he smiled. "Seeing humanity burn so bright, everyone working so hard towards saving it. How could I call myself a hero if I didn't help? Even a patchwork such as myself couldn't help but be inspired."
"Hey, we've gotta rely on each other right? All of humanity, doing its best," Da Vinci said, hopping up onto the guard railing and looking down over the dock, where the pirates, and other science Servants were all going over the Storm Border. The Ship was built not just from Divine Klironomia, but their combined Noble Phantasms. The Shadow Border its core, and the Nautilus its keel. Of course, both their Noble Phantasms were physical objects, and so was the Storm Border itself. Every time a visitor came to claim it, she smiled and let it slide.
It would always come back to them, the next Loop. "You make a fair point. Even those of us who aren't exactly human are still trying our hardest," Nemo leaned forward, hanging partially over the guardrail down upon the dock, watching as the children all walked together, waving to the shipwrights. He could see the various Nemo Marines, as well as Nemo Engine, all scrambling about to assist in making sure the Storm Border would be ready for the next mission.
"So Nemo," Da Vinci smiled… "What would you do if you found your life on repeat, over and over again?"
"That's an interesting question to ask Da Vinci," Nemo admitted, looking at her with a frown. "Hmm… I don't know exactly," Nemo admitted.
"Not exactly a question one thinks about no?"
"Not really, but I know from experience that you have a reason for asking as such. After all, I read the Luluhawa report," he shrugged. "Let me guess, that's the reason you've wanted me alone?"
"Yeah kinda," Da Vinci said winking. "Wanted to hear what your opinion is."
Nemo hummed, nodding before resting his chin back against the guardrail. "Knowing that… Well, I guess I still don't know. Would I lose hope? Would I go crazy? I mean, I can theorize, but there's a distinct difference between thinking about something, and it actually happening. Something I'm sure you know well."
"Oh very," she said with a smile, looking down at her friend as he closed his eyes.
"...Do I always exist?" he asked softly "Am I me?"
"You are. You're our Nemo," Da Vinci closed her eyes and looked towards him. "You're my friend and partner."
"And are we always working towards saving the world?" he asked.
"We always do. It's not a job… It's our tale. Our beautiful journey we all share. Even though things change, that's what makes each and every journey special. The memories we share, the friends we make along the way," Da Vinci admitted. "And of course, all the opportunities to learn and do new things!"
Nemo chuckled before looking down at the Storm Border once more. "When you put it that way… I suppose there is only one thing I can say."
"And what's that Nemo?"
"That one day, we'll be able to share this beautiful journey together, my friend."
Da Vinci leapt down from the railing, and took Nemo by the hand, dragging him along with a laugh in her voice, and a smile on her face. The little captain yelped as they ran down the hallways, eventually matching pace with her.
The friends she shared, the memories she made. Da Vinci knew one thing about their tale that crossed all of time.
It was a beautiful journey, one they traveled with so many friends. Perhaps one day, their Chaldean odyssey would come to an end… on that day, she hoped that everyone she cared about, everything she loved, would be able to continue on a new journey.
Until that day, she was going to live, learn and love. Live for herself, learn all she could, and love her family that was Chaldea.
AN: That's yet another set compiled for your you all. I hope you continue to enjoy!
14.1: The wackiest race you ever gonna see! Even Dick Dastardly wouldn't need to stop to cheat.
14.2: Within the darkness, there is light. A story to be told. Wait and Hope, our newest Puella Magi
14.3: GOTHIC LOLITA MAID SIR stands above all
14.4: A Mystery afoot, a game of murder. Who could be such a killer?
14.5: Keeping up with Da Vinci-chan, and some other friends too.