Chapter 12: American Dreams
"Let's not be hasty now, Lady Nightingale. I'm sure if we were to look at this rationally—"
"And so you would confine me here, locked away, while others die out on the field. The enemy stands before us. Death and injury runs rampant like the spread of an incurable illness, and here we sit, idle and neglectful."
"Lady Nightingale, please understand that your safety is of the utmost concern of mine. It would be devastating for us if any danger were to come to you. I simply can't allow that to happen."
"No, I'm leaving. Tell your robots to let me through." Her rebuttal was swift and concise, her stance unmoving in the face of Edison's concerns.
The President releases an exhausted sigh, "You know it's not that simple, my dear angel. This nation means everything to me, and you mean everything to this nation. A slip-up is exactly what the enemy anticipates; those savages won't hesitate to tear us apart for our mistakes. What could be a greater error than the loss of our angelic nurse? It's for this reason that we must have the wits and patience to combat those fiends. I assure you that this war will be won and the lives of this nation will be saved!"
With fierce ruby pupils glaring at Edison, the nurse's gloved hand moves to rest upon the pepperbox gun holstered at her hip. Not bothering to hide the hand movement or of her intentions; the threat was made abundantly clear.
"Let. Me. Go."
Feline eyes nervously flick between the firearm and its user's agitated face. His speech has failed once again; his words having not reached the ears of the Servant and the notion of patience failed to register within her mind. Edison turns his pleading gaze to Madame Blavatsky, silently begging for aid with a strained look.
She discreetly nods back. "Oh, that's right! Thomas, earlier I received a report of some soldiers returning from the frontlines. It would seem that their brigade took some serious casualties and they were forced to retreat with several grievous wounds."
The effect was immediate, Nightingale's intense stare was instantly fixed on Madame Blavatsky milliseconds after she spoke. Her frustration with Edison was immediately tossed away as madness stirred within her thoughts, reflected by the dangerous glint shining within her eyes.
"Where are they? What are their conditions? Have they been treated?"
Nightingale stalked closer with every urgent question. Like a predator approaching prey, there was a certain hunger to her gaze as she sought for answers. Now it was Madame Blavatsky's turn to be nervous; gently leaning back as the maddened nurse invaded her personal space.
"They've been sent to Edison Hospital to receive treatment. Though I'm sure they wouldn't mind a visit from the Angel of Crimea herself. After all, who better to heal away their afflictions other than—huh? Hey!"
With an iron grip clenched around Madame Blavatsky's small wrist, Nightingale sprinted to the exit while dragging the petite Caster along behind her. "Show me the way! The sick and injured cannot wait! I must treat them now!"
"Let go! Let go! I'll just tell youuuuuuuuuu—"
The rest of her panicked sentence was cut off as the great oak doors slammed shut with their exit, leaving muffled shouting that fades with distance. As sudden as the introduction to Florence Nightingale had been, her departure was just as abrupt—returning the situation to normal, minus one unfortunate Caster.
The confused silence was broken by Edison's breath of relief. "I'll have to thank Helena later for that. Lady Nightingale has become far more insistent on her demands lately and her temper has grown to an extreme. It truly is a shame for such a hero of renown to be blinded by the madness forced upon them."
"Florence Nightingale, The Lady With the Lamp, who pioneered the medical world and saved countless lives. That was her?" Mash said in surprise.
"The proud Edison, cowering beneath the glare of his subordinate like some scared kitty cat! Bwahahaha! Where did your pride go, o' fearless lion? Bwahahaha!"
Edison did not react with the expected anger or outburst, instead he leveled his rival with a deadpan stare. He then scoffed, "Such words only display the ignorance on your end. You have not seen her in action, you do not understand the words you speak. For the brimming beauty and kindness she possesses, there lies the fierce might that only could be given to that of a true angel…especially when gazing down the barrel of her gun."
"Florence Nightingale, the Lady of Grace, a Berserker. How unexpected. To be capable of speech, even to the extent of speaking coherently, her madness enhancement must be considerably weak. But even then, she's quite scary." Romani noted.
Edison took the comment in pride. "Of course! Lady Nightingale is one of my great commanders and a pillar of this beautiful nation! Something as trivial as a teeny bit of madness couldn't possibly burden her down! She's a savior beyond imagination! A nurse of iron will! A healer of all! She's a proud AMERICAN!"
No one bothered to point out that Florence Nightingale was, in fact, British.
"I pity the Servants who work under your incompentent leadership. To labor under your tyrannical methods, much less being governed by you, is a hell I wouldn't wish even on my worst enemies."
The Presi-King growled, "It's much better than conversing with the man whose bloated ego can lift him into the stratosphere!"
( ( ◉ ) )
Wyatt was trying to wrap his head around the current situation.
The scene before him was that of Thomas Edison sneering at an irked Tesla trying to make his way towards the Presi-King, only to be held back by Mash clinging onto the edge of his cloak while her Master tried to calm the agitated Archer. And once again, Gudako was cheering her Servant on.
Partially hidden by his figure, Gogh watches with him as the strange scene unfolds before them. The Foreigner was once more rapidly muttering something under her breath, too quiet for Wyatt to make out, all the while holding her shaky smile.
Nearby, the two Servants of the resistance group stood beside each other, witnessing as Tesla struggled against the Shielder's superior strength. Isabel sported a bored expression on her face, having grown the look sometime during Edison's speech. Her eyes wandered the room, having stopped on the sight of Tesla being overwhelmed by the brawn of a young girl, to which she grew a small amused grin.
In contrast, Geronimo stood tense and alert, having done so ever since they approached the borders of the city, and only having temporarily relaxed when Edison's attention had shortly shifted onto him. Geronimo had a calm and collected look on his face, but constantly kept his gaze focused on everything within the room, occasionally shifting to stare at the President. Even now, Wyatt could see wariness in the Caster Servant's posture, readying him to spring into action whenever needed.
Caution is good, caution saves lives. Anticipate for the worst and you shall always perform at your best; advice told to him eons ago, taken to the heart. One can't afford to be careless in the face of disaster, and this still rings true for the case of Singularities.
But no amount of caution would have prepared him for…whatever this was.
Thomas Edison being an anthropomorphic was unexpected, but not out of line when compared to the many bizarre things he's seen. The dispute between the two notorious inventor rivals was easily foreseen, but the fight that followed it seemed almost comical. That, plus all the sudden events that took place within the recent time frame made the situation seem…silly.
However, he's learned long ago that silly does not equate to harmless.
"Your Majesty, the greatest CEO! The arrival of our commanders have been confirmed! They are now here!"
Edison and Tesla paused as the mechanized infantry loudly relayed the information, both of their hands being wrapped around each other's throat. At some point, Tesla had forgone the coat draped over his shoulders to escape the grasp of Mash, making his way over to the Presi-King, where they began to throttle each other while simultaneously trading insults.
Pushing his rival away, Edison pats the stray dust off of his spandex suit and clears his throat. "Very good, let our next conference begin. Members of Chaldea! Feast your eyes upon the glory of our leadership! The anchors of this steadfast nation! The generals of our mighty forces!"
Mechanical arms rose into triumphant salutes as the doors of the throne room were flung open for the third time. Valiant music played once again on the entry of four figures strolling in from the hall.
All eyes were drawn to the four Servants as they made their way across the room to the side of the Presi-King. Some eyes were scrutinizing, trying to discern the name and character of the newly arrived. Others held a curious gaze, intrigued and excited by the President's boisterous hype.
However, it was in Wyatt's gaze that familiarity and surprise resided.
The first to introduce himself was the white-haired young man who stood beside the Presi-King. A suit of black clung to the Servant's body like a second set of skin, covering all but his face and chest, where a gem of fiery red was buried into flesh. His gaze was sharp as steel, but not unkind, and his presence created an air of lustrous strength that was further accentuated by the golden armor that adorned his body.
"Greetings, my true name is Karna."
Following the short introduction, the next one to speak came from the President's other side. A bald man who fidgeted slightly, he wore an unbuttoned lab coat with a formal vest of white underneath, complemented by black slacks of similar fashion. However, the most prominent things by far were the exposed mechanical joints on the man's hands and the metallic mask that he wore over his face. Sleek and angular, the silver comedy mask grins down upon their group, obscuring the face of the mechanical man.
"Vincent Anderson. It's, uh, nice to meet you."
"Oh, it's our turn now! I'm cutesy-wootsy Lil' Lollipop!"
The young woman twirled about, long auburn pigtails flying freely behind her. She wore a dress of purple and striped stockings of mismatched colors, and her lithe form swayed as she giggled and laughed. Her skin was that of porcelain white, unnaturally pale with bright red paint coloring her face in the fashion of clowns. She had a red button nose, sharp red lines running vertically across her eyes, and a red glasgow smile stretching from mouth to ear.
"And this is Icky!"
She wildly gestures to the taller woman beside her with excited, flailing arms. The mentioned woman had a complexion similar to that of Lollipop's, but with violet makeup of lesser intensity. She wore a velvet crimson tailcoat with high heeled boots, accompanied by a crimson tophat sitting upon black hair that cascaded down her back. The woman smiles, gracefully waving at them with a slender hand.
"Pleased to meetcha."
( ( ◉ ) )
Nikola Tesla couldn't believe it.
"D-Did he say 'Karna'!? I didn't mishear that, right!? Unbelievable! The readings of his Spirit Origin are off the charts! It's real! It's really him!" Came the doctor's exclaimed shock.
The son of the Sun god, Suryu. The invincible hero of the Mahabharata. The famed Hero of Charity. One does not ascend to the Throne of Heros without recognizing the name of Karna. A mighty warrior of Indian mythology, and perhaps one of the strongest Heroic Spirits to have wandered the Earth. The strength of the demi-god is certainly undeniable.
Edison, that lucky bastard. Of all the Servants he could've attained as an ally, of course he managed to snag the one that's comparable to a walking nuke. To have such inconceivable fortune smiling down upon that despicable man, Tesla was fuming just at the very thought of it.
"Wowie, that man sounds real funny! Mmm, not the ha-ha kind, but more like the sad joke that no one chuckles at. Just kind of depressing and meh, ain't that right Icky?"
"Ah, I got insulted again…"
"Darling, don't be rude. Say the mean things behind their backs, when they're not listening." She chastises the younger clown. Her gaze roams over the gathered group, violet eyes capturing the face of each individual before coming to an abrupt stop. "Stars and wonders…is that a Dr. Isabel Wondertainment I spot?"
Isabel grins, stepping forth from the group and taking a light bow. "The one and only…Well no, technically there's more, but that's not the point. Anyhoo, Icky and Lolly, it's wonderful seeing you two."
Lolly gasps, dashing forward in a burst of speed, she clasps her hands with Isabel's while jumping in joy. "Oh it's good to see you again, doc!"
Tesla couldn't help but curiously observe the bizarre interaction between the three…no, two Servants. Strange, despite there being three commanders present, the genius could only sense the presence of three Spirit Origins. It would appear that the two colorful ladies both share a single Servant container. Another intriguing thought to add to the ever growing list of mysteries.
True names, as the words imply, are the very secrets to a Servant's identity—the title or existence they are known as to the World, forever recorded by the Throne. A Servant's true name is vital to their being, for knowing one's name is to know their accomplishments, their vices, their strengths, their weaknesses.
Perhaps the most confident—or the most careless—of heroes hold no care for the concealment of their true names. But generally, it's the most basic of understandings to every Heroic Spirit that veiling one's identity is advantageous, and that to learn of your enemies name is even more so. Regardless, it's for this very purpose that true names hold such an influence within regular grail wars, none wished for their fatal flaws to be aired to others, be it ordinary man or Heroic Spirit.
So it truly confounded him to no end that despite having been openly given their true names, he still couldn't place a face or identity to the trio of women before him.
It shouldn't be possible.
All Heroic Spirits recorded within the Throne of Heroes become aware of each other the moment they ascend. Should a name or title be recognized by an opposing Servant, then the information would only naturally come, provided by the Throne itself.
Yes, mysteries and Noble Phantasms capable of masking one's true name do exist. However, if one were to somehow bypass the function and glimpse into the identity of the Servant, then the effect itself would entirely be nullified. To continue concealing their name after exposure, one must be capable of manipulating the World or the Throne.
"You wouldn't believe how boooooring this place gets! Let's bounce this dumb meeting and get outta here, whaddya say?" Lolly eagerly proposes as Icky gradually makes her way over to the pair.
"Tempting, but—"
"I know somewhere that serves good desserts. Nothing as grand as the things you produce or what Ambrose offers, but they got cakes, muffins, cupcakes, ice-creams, and etc. Good for ordinary food."
Isabel didn't take all that much convincing, instantly changing her tune on the spot. "Let's go!"
Edison interrupted. "Ahem. Commanders, we are currently in the midst of an important negotiation. It's imperative that we stay—"
"They're, uh, already gone."
Indeed, the three Servants had already zipped out of the throne room in the blink of an eye, before Edison could even finish his sentence. To Tesla's great amusement, Edison blinked once in stupefaction before burying his head into his furry palms, letting out an annoyed growl.
"Dammit! Can't those two just listen to me for once?!" Edison took a deep breath, "It's fine, it's fine. I'm a kind and generous boss, I'll just reprimand them later for lazy work ethics and punish them with a written warning. For now, we'll address the important matters at hand."
The predatory eyes of the feline President sharpened as he refocused his glare back onto the Chaldean group, and a tense air fell upon the room. "Masters of Chaldea, you have come to my nation for an alliance, seeking the joining of our great forces. I have seen the merit in this idea, I have established my conditions, and in turn, I have accepted your wish for the grail. All that's left now is the final agreement. Together, with the might of my machines and the support of your Servants, the heinous enemy shall be defeated! Let the words spoken here be a testament to our union! Speak now and declare your intent, CHALDEA!"
Deafening silence follows the Presi-King's booming speech. The weight of the decision fell upon them as the President's commanding aura demanded an answer. This was more than an order from Edison, the inventor. It was more than Edison, the CEO. It was a demand from Edison, the Presi-King of the United States.
"Defeat the enemy. Secure the Holy Grail. Correct the Singularity. Those are the steps that must be taken to accomplish our goal. This alliance is certainly the best method of—"
"Sorry, but there's no need to correct the era. So kindly give up on that unnecessary idea."
"H-Huh?!"
"I'm no fool, I know of the existence of the second grail, I know that the Celts hold it, and I know of what could be done with it. As promised, I shall hand over the first grail to your organization. With the second grail, I shall raise this country to heights never before seen, I shall make the United States an eternal power on the planet."
Lighting crackles around Tesla's form and he glares at the President with suspicion. "And in doing so, you would willingly condemn all of human history for the existence of your own?"
Edison stood unfazed by the accusations, only granting Tesla a side glance. "If it has to be done."
'Bastard!'
"This era shall be remade, guided to a brighter future in which humanity prospers. I can grant all within your organization a spot in that future. This world shall be protected from all evil under my scrutiny. So choose, Chaldea. Where do you stand?"
"Hey, before that, I have a question to ask."
Shifting his gaze, Edison's eyes narrow at the female teen Master, whose fierce glare stares back. There was fire within the red-head's eyes, a contained fury on the verge of spilling. The Presi-King tilts his head. "What is your inquiry?"
"The people…what did you do to them."
"The people? Don't worry, they serve their roles as citizens of this prosperous nation. Some are enlisted in our military as brave soldiers fighting for their home. Others aid me in the creation of our troops, manufacturing our forces by the thousands. In fact, under my rule, production has gone up by seven hundred percent. Our proud citizens work day and night, hour to hour, month by month, to ensure the future of this glorious country."
Her hands clench into fists and her teeth grits in anger. "I see…you make this place out to be a haven of sorts, an utopia for your citizens. But from what I've seen, from what I've heard, from what I've felt, that is nothing but complete and utter bullshit!"
Edison's face curls into a snarl, teeth bared at the female Master. "Watch yourself little girl. You speak of nonsense."
"Maybe that lion head really does affect your intelligence! Are you blind!? Your own people fear you! You work the people to death for your own gains! You punish those who fail to meet your outrageous expectations! You're nothing but a tyrant!"
"It's for their own good! The people need to be united in the face of conflict! These are the necessary steps of building the greatest civilization! A country of unparalleled strength!"
"Your reasons don't justify your wrongs! I refuse to accept this and I refuse to accept you, Thomas Edison!"
"To choose a side between cooperation or rejection…with the grail at stake...Perhaps joining them for the time being is not the worst of ideas."
Mash snaps her head to the digital screen in shock, "Doctor! What are you saying!?"
"We can't afford to confront him now. We'll cooperate with him for a short period in eliminating the Celts and acquiring the Holy Grail. What occurs afterwards can be planned out later."
"A good choice. In all fairness, this little alliance is much more of a help to you than it is to me. With or without your aid, I have the means to eliminate the barbarians…using the greatest weapons made by human hands."
Tesla's eyes widened, his mind catching on the implications made. "Edison! You didn't—"
"I have and I will, by the hundreds, though I'd rather not. Consider it as wiping the slate clean for further advancement. Rest assured, they will remain as backups for dire circumstances. This city stands as the only retreat safe from their devastation, so I hope you make the right decision for your sakes."
"And what of the others who reside outside of this location? Regardless of this city's incredible size, not all human life is located here, correct? What of them?" Wyatt questioned, having caught on to threats made by the Presi-King.
"It's unfortunate, but they will lay down their lives for a better future."
"Have you gone insane, you naive fool!?" Tesla roars in fury, taking a step forward with violent currents surging around his figure. He was stopped by Geronimo barring his way with an arm, who cautiously eyed the two Servants before them.
A majestic golden spear had manifested within Karna's grasp. The weapon radiated an unbelievable amount of power and heat, flooding the room with mana so thick that the pressure was staggering.
A ball of electricity sparked at the tip of Vincent's index finger, pointed straight at Tesla. Compared to the genius' output, the threat was pathetically weak and with Tesla's special abilities, there was almost no chance that he would suffer any form of injury. But to fight the mechanical Servant would also mean fighting the true threat within the room, something that Tesla grudgingly can't handle on his own.
Edison casts a cold look in Tesla's direction before snapping his gaze back onto the only Master having yet to speak. "Once more, Gudao Fujimaru. What do you think? Hurry up and make your choice."
"…"
The male Master felt helpless, caught in a box with no escape. Side with Edison for the Grail or oppose the President for the era. Could the wrong move doom humanity? Either one could be a deciding factor on whether they fail or not. Think! Think! Think! What does he do?! What's the correct choice?!
In desperation, he glanced at his best friend.
In her, he saw the fiery spirit that raged with unrelenting fury. He saw the heated glare she sent in the Presi-King's direction, the deep glower that encompassed her outrage. When she turned to face him, he expected the same, he expected a look of betrayal for his hesitance, he expected shouts of resentment for considering Edison's proposal, he expected disappointment and hurt.
He was wrong.
Instead, she gave him a small, encouraging smile.
Gudao Fujimaru came to a realization. He's human. A human tasked with fighting for humanity's future, to correct the past and return the present. Perhaps he can't choose between the right or wrong, if there were any to begin with. But he can choose what he believes is right, even if they might turn out wrong. Because he's human, and humans make mistakes.
"Mr. Edison, please give up on your dream."
Edison scowls. "Is that the decision you—no, all of you have made? To toss away the offered grail, because of these feelings?"
Gudao nods in affirmation, to which they all agree.
The Pres-King lets out a sigh. "Magus, such illogical creatures…That is an unexpected response indeed…I, Thomas Alva Edison, respect your honesty and sincerity. However, as Presi-King, you stand opposed to my nation and will unfortunately be condemned."
"Detain them!"
Author's Note:
A balance of compassion and ruthlessness on a knife's edge, plus the addition of extreme patriotism, equals the morally questionable furry.
Side note, what I have planned currently for the story as general guidelines are: Story Singularity, followed by a break interlude, followed by an event, then back into the story. Issue is, right now, I'm kinda iffy on what events should I write that doesn't take too much away from the main plot. I'd like to hear some feedback and advice on this, if there's any.
Anyway, you're probably here for this.
True Name: Icky/Veronica Mason and Lolly/Lil' Lollipop
Class: Caster
Parameters
Strength: C+
Endurance: C
Agility: C
Mana: A
Luck: B
Np: A
Class Skills
Item Construction: E
—Unreliable when left to their own devices, anything they attempt to create would certainly be bizarre and wack. Such items will almost always explode right in their faces afterwards.
Territory Creation: A
—The Circus follows the Ringmaster. Appearing at will and disappearing without a trace, anywhere and anyhow, such an area of highly condensed mystery serves as an immediate territory.
Personal Skills
The Clowns: B
—Once humans, Icky and Lolly have long ago become Clowns, granting them the peculiar biology of the race. Certain physical aspects have been heightened in some manner, as well as having attained magicks specific to the race, such as shapeshifting to an extent.
Thaumaturgy: B+
—Having learned and studied various magicks through tomes and under the study of Clowns, Icky is an accomplished Type-Blue capable of great feats.
Dual Loonies: A
—Wacky adventures or harrowing journeys (or both) are a consistent theme for the duo. Fighting together and loving each other, the two clowns are always synergized. Additionally, such a lifestyle grants minor resistances to mental attacks.
Noble Phantasm
Home of the Freaks
"The Clowns Have Come to Play" (Anti-Army): A
—The Circus of the Disquieting is a sanctuary for the abnormal, the gifted, the special, and the lost. A carnival laden with peculiarities and atmospheric magic, it's never without its performers, bringing them forth as summons of entertainment and show. So keep your eyes peeled for when the Big Top rolls into town, it's a sight you'll never forget.