Fate/Kyon's Order: Alter Egos in Chaldea
A Haruhi Suzumiya & Fate/Grand Order Crossover
by Derald Snyder
Part 2: Tiamat
*Da Vinci's Workshop*
"Wait, you're saying the oil rig became a singularity, and a Beast was involved?!" the genius caster known as Leonardo Da Vinci gasped. It wasn't often the image of Mona Lisa lost her ever-present smile, but this was one of those times as the implications hit her.
"Yes, specifically half of Beast III, who was once the therapist on board Seraphix," Yuki explained. "However, a demon god pillar possessed and corrupted her, only for Kiara Sessyoin to become something far worse. By the way, were you aware of the experiments being conducted there?"
"I only know that experiments were conducted, but not what type or kind," Da Vinci demurred. "I assume it has something to do with the Beast's manifestation?"
"Yes, but I will go into more detail later. For now, there is a more pressing concern..."
"And what would that be?" Da Vinci raised an eyebrow. In response, Yuki raised a hand, a puddle of black mud materializing in a data spiral. "What the... i-is this- Chaos Tide?!"
"Impressive that you deduced such from only a glance," Yuki observed. "You see, as part of the plan to defeat Beast III/R, Suzumiya-san used the catalyst she obtained from Babylonia to summon Tiamat herself as a distraction. This is what remains after Kiara defeated her in battle."
"...I see. Yes, using one Beast to fight another... I suppose that's a viable strategy, albeit a quite risky one," Da Vinci mused. "But why show this to me now?"
"I am... conflicted," Yuki said after a moment. "Logically speaking, I should simply destroy what remains of Tiamat to ensure she does not become a threat to humanity as she was before. However, Suzumiya-san feels sorry for her, and would wish to restore her."
"And you don't want to just ignore your friend's wishes," Da Vinci summarized.
"Yes. That is why I sought your opinion on this matter. Allow me to say, that by analyzing the Alter Egos that have recently joined us, I have improvised a way to manifest Tiamat as an Alter Ego herself, instead of her original Beast-class, which would limit her power considerably."
"Hmmm..." Da Vinci bit her lip as she pondered. "Oh, Roman, I wish you were still here, you'd know what to do..."
"Do you require another opinion?"
"I think so. This isn't a decision I am comfortable making on my own," the caster deferred.
"In that case, perhaps we should ask Enkidu? Since it absorbed the fragment of Kingu into itself, it should have access to his memories and feelings, in order to gain additional insight into Tiamat," Yuki suggested.
"That's not a bad idea," Da Vinci nodded...
*Gaming Room*
Gilgamesh furrowed his brow as he looked over the chess board, El-Melloi II sitting opposed to him while Enkidu observed from the side. After carefully considering his options, he moved his remaining bishop piece.
"I thought you might do that," El-Melloi chuckled, promptly moving his queen through the opening created, and gently tapping Gil's king to knock it over. "Checkmate." The King of Heroes promptly slammed his fist on the table in frustration.
"Easy, Gil, it's just a game," Enkidu said in a soothing tone.
"That does not make losing sting any less!" Gilgamesh growled.
"Chess is a hard game to master," El-Melloi pointed out. "I can hardly claim to be an expert, myself... you gave me a run for my money this time."
Just then, the intercom clicked on. "Excuse me, would Enkidu please report to my workshop? Enkidu, please report to my workshop, alone if you would. Thank you~!"
"What would Da Vinci want with you alone?" Gil wondered.
"I'm sure it's nothing major," Enkidu said, standing up. "You'll be fine without me for a bit, won't you?"
The King of Heroes just snorted in response. "As if I use you like a security blanket. El-Melloi, let us have another match."
"As you wish," the Clock Tower Lord sighed, rearranging the pieces on the board.
"Good luck, and keep your temper," Enkidu advised before leaving.
*A short time later...*
"I am here," Enkidu announced, entering the workshop and closing the door. "What is it you needed?"
"Your opinion," Da Vinci said flatly, indicating the puddle of Chaos Tide, before explaining the situation...
"...I see. So you are trying to determine whether it's a good idea to revive Tiamat," Enkidu said after the caster was finished. "But do you seek the opinion of Enkidu, or Kingu?"
"Both," Da Vinci responded.
"Very well..." Enkidu's eyes closed in thought for a moment. Upon opening, they flashed purple briefly. "Speaking as Kingu, he would not want Mother to remain in such a pitiful state, but would also hope she does not go on a rampage upon revival, as she did before..."
"That is a concern of ours as well," Yuki concurred.
"Now speaking as Enkidu..." the lancer trailed off for a moment. "Well, if you decide to go through with this, I would fear what Gil's reaction would be upon realizing she has returned. After all, she did wreak devastation on his kingdom..."
"That is why I asked for your opinion instead of his, for his emotions would cloud his judgement," Yuki stated.
"So what do you think? Should we revive her, or not?" Da Vinci pressed.
"...If you are confident that altering her class would restrain her power, then proceed," Enkidu said to Yuki. "We should at least give her a chance and see if she can assimilate into our community here at Chaldea..."
"Understood," Yuki nodded. "Then let us begin." With that, she knelt down beside the puddle of Chaos Tide, positioning her hand over it, before emitting a strange warbling sound, like speech sped up several times... the puddle shifted, then began to rise up, forming a small tower... then it shifted to a female shape, a pair of familiar double-curved horns growing from the head, followed by long silver hair going down to her ankles... then the body solidified into Tiamat's Femme Fatale form, the face being the last thing to form. the eyes then opened, pink with X-shaped pupils...
"Ah... Ahhhhhhhh!" Tiamat sang out, before looking around, her eyes locking on Enkidu. "Kingu...?"
"Not quite," Enkidu smiled. "However, Kingu is part of me now. Welcome back, Mother."
"Ahhh...!" Tiamat cried happily, enveloping Enkidu in an affectionate embrace.
"How sweet," Da Vinci's smile returned. "I wonder if she still has memories of the Babylonia singularity?" But then, a rumbling was felt in the area. "What the... someone's magical energy is spiking...?!"
"Oh no," Enkidu realized. "He must have sensed her presence..."
"FOOLISH MONGRELLLL!" cried the unmistakable voice of Gilgamesh.
"Everyone, behind me!" Enkidu ordered... not a minute later, the door to the workshop was shredded by weapons from the Gate of Babylon, Enkidu deflecting them away from the party with the Chains of Heaven! The gold-plated King of Heroes floated through a moment later, his face one of pure rage!
"AAAAAAAHHHHHH!" Tiamat screeched, diving behind Yuki, curling up and quaking in mortal fear.
"Gil, stop!" Enkidu gripped his friend by the shoulders. "Calm down and listen to reason!"
Had it been anyone else grabbing Gilgamesh in his current state, they would have been dead on the spot. But because it was his one friend, he partially snapped out of his anger to stare Enkidu in the eye. "Enkidu...! You... how could you have permitted something like this to happen?! Or has Kingu influenced you to do this?!"
"You do not know the circumstances!" Enkidu insisted.
"King of Heroes," Yuki spoke up, "this was not a decision made lightly, I assure you. We asked Enkidu for advice before proceeding with this..." Unseen by him, her hand pulled out a mobile device...
"Then you should have refused!" Gilgamesh retorted. "You were not there, Enkidu! You do not understand the extent of devastation this Beast wrought upon my kingdom! And to revive her here risks the destruction of Chaldea itself! I cannot permit such a thing, especially now that you and I have finally been reunited...!"
"All right, what's going on here?!" a flash of light, and Haruhi Suzumiya was standing in the workshop. "I got your SOS, Yuki-chan..." She looked around, seeing Gilgamesh and Enkidu, then glimpsing the form of Tiamat curled up behind the interface. "Oh. Ohhh. NOW I get it..."
"Suzumiya! Do you see what your alien friend has done behind your back?!" Gilgamesh exclaimed. "You must destroy the Beast and then administer appropriate punishment, lest I do so in your place!"
"No one's destroying anyone!" Haruhi insisted. "Dammit... I knew this was coming sooner or later..." Waving a hand, she conjured several padded stools, one for each person in the room. "How about we all sit down, so I can explain what exactly happened... and why I had no choice but to go back on my word."
"No choice...? What could possibly justify-" Gil began.
"Does another Beast manifesting serve as sufficient grounds?!" Haruhi cut him off.
"Another Beast?!" Gil recoiled in shock. "Fool, why did you not call upon me instead?! I would have been far more reliable than resurrecting Tiamat!"
"Because we were completely cut off from Chaldea proper," Haruhi explained. "Now please sit down and let me tell you and Enkidu what happened from the beginning..."
"...Fine," Gilgamesh acquiesced, sitting on a nearby stool, Enkidu doing the same.
"I still haven't heard the full story, myself," Da Vinci said as she and Yuki also sat down, though Tiamat remained hunched up behind the latter.
"Well, before we begin..." Haruhi snapped her fingers, BB appearing in a flash, still bound and gagged. The brunette then reached over and undid the ball gag, allowing BB to speak.
"-Plah! About time!" BB gasped. "Honestly, Suzumiya, don't you think this was going a bit too far?!"
"Not really," Haruhi shrugged, conjuring another stool for the moon cancer to sit on. "I need you to help me explain what happened on the Seraphix oil rig to Mr. King of Heroes here..."
"Ehh? Gil-Gil Man is here?" BB sweat-dropped. "Great, juuuuust wonderful..."
"It seems my reputation precedes me, though I have no idea who you are," Gilgamesh muttered. "I assume she is the mastermind behind what happened?"
"Well... yes and no," Haruhi said, before starting to tell the story...
By the time she and BB had finished (with Yuki occasionally putting in her two cents), Gil's anger seemed to have mostly dissipated. "...I see. So the Beast had merged with this alien's rival... no wonder you decided to use Tiamat as a distraction. But to think you had the power to rend that Beast asunder in such a manner..."
"Yeah, well, being absorbed by Kiara like that..." Haruhi shuddered in disgust. "I was only able to avoid succumbing to pleasure by keeping Kyon at the forefront of my mind... NOT something I want to repeat. And if she was only Beast III... even I might have trouble with with subsequent ones. That's why we all have to stick together here..."
"Indeed," Da Vinci nodded in agreement.
"So then, do you agree with what your friend did?" Gilgamesh pressed.
"Hmm... well, I can see where she's coming from. I mean, you wanted to do this 'cause you knew I felt sorry for her, right Yuki?"
"Yes," Yuki nodded. "And might I remind you, Gilgamesh, that Tiamat had willingly bound herself before we destroyed her initial form, and had a skill that kept injuring herself as she tried to destroy humanity... insinuating that some part of her knew that what she was doing wasn't right."
"That is true," Gil admitted. "...against all better judgement... very well, I shall allow this for the time being."
"Well, if she goes on another rampage, I won't stop you from doing what has to be done," Haruhi allowed.
"As well you shouldn't, Suzumiya," the archer nodded as he stood up. "We're done here, then. Let's go, Enkidu."
"Very well," Enkidu nodded, standing and following her friend out the door. "I'm glad you were willing to listen..." Gilgamesh just hmph'ed in response as they left together.
"Maybe you could untie me now, too?" BB said.
"Mmmm... not yet. Let's see how Tiamat acclimates here, and then I'll think about releasing you. One potential threat at a time," Haruhi said with a knowing smirk.
"Who, me? Sweet, little inno-" That was as far as BB got before being teleported away.
"Innocent my butt. That's why Asagami-san is keeping an eye on you," Haruhi said as she stood up, walking over to where Tiamat was curled into a fetal position. "Tiamat... hey, come on, you can come out now, he's gone..."
"Ahhh...?" Tiamat uncurled, lifting her head and looking around... seeing no sign of Gilgamesh, she heaved a sigh of relief, letting Haruhi pull her back to a standing position.
"There, there..." Haruhi hugged her reassuringly, rubbing her back. "As long as you don't try to unbirth humanity again, I won't let him get you..."
"Ahhh... Haaa... ruuu... hiiii..." Tiamat grunted as she returned the embrace.
"...I suppose that answers whether she remembers Babylonia or not," Da Vinci noted. "Well, I'll leave her to you two. I really do hope this isn't something we come to regret..."
"That remains to be seen," Yuki said. "Suzumiya-san, I suggest we bring Tiamat to Fantasia Resort. She might feel more at home by the sea..."
"Good idea," Haruhi nodded. "Alright, Yuki, lead the way... with a route that steers clear of Gilgamesh."
"Understood," Yuki nodded back, turning and leaving, Haruhi and Tiamat following close behind.
*Fantasia Resort*
Tiamat was the recipient of quite a few stares as Haruhi and Yuki led her down the boardwalk, though the alien's presence precluded them from daring to speak out... Well, except for one.
"Why did you bring her back, of all people?!" Ishtar yelled vociferously, Tiamat recoiling slightly and hugging Haruhi a bit tighter. "Have you completely lost your mind, alien?!"
"I consulted with Director Da Vinci and Enkidu before reviving her," Yuki responded in her usual monotone. "Let me say that her class has been modified from Beast to Alter Ego, which limits her power considerably compared to before. She cannot transform to her larger forms, for example."
"Do you really think I'm supposed to be reassured by that?!" Ishtar shot back. "Just because she can't transform doesn't she can't spread her Chaos Tide around! You think I don't see that black puddle around her feet?!"
"She can only generate enough to move about on land," Yuki countered. "Humans will need to be cautious around her, but as long as they keep their distance they will be in no danger."
"Yeah, I don't count, because my power keeps her mud from changing or corrupting me or whatever," Haruhi supplied.
"What about once she hits the sea here?!" Ishtar pressed.
"That is what we are attempting to test now," the interface replied without missing a beat. "You may supervise us if you wish, Goddess Ishtar."
"I will then! And I'll be sure to blast her to pieces if she tries anything funny!" Ishtar asserted.
"Ahhh..." Tiamat shuddered as headed down the boardwalk together... Once they reached the shoreline, however, her fear lessened somewhat. "Ahh...?" she waved her hand at the water.
"Go ahead and jump in," Haruhi smiled. "Just don't, uh... turn the sea all black or something, okay?" Tiamat promptly entered the water, submersing out of sight, though a dark spot in the water showed her position.
"...It seems that the Chaos Tide is not expanding," Yuki observed.
"Well, I'm still keeping an eye on her, just in case," Ishtar muttered as she doffed her pink hoodie and handed it to Haruhi, flying over the sea in her white one-piece...
*Out on the sea...*
"What's wrong, Illya?" Chloe asked as she and her sister floated on the waves with their mother in the rowboat. "You seem a bit fidgety all of a sudden..."
"I don't know," Illya replied, the three ladies all wearing matching white one-pieces, though Chloe had a red t-shirt on over hers. "I feel like when the shark was approaching innocent victims in that movie..."
"Oh come now, Illya, you know there's no sharks in here," Irisviel shook her head with a smile. "All marine life in here is automatons created by Helena Blavatsky, you know that..."
"Doesn't mean a servant's trying to sneak up on us," Chloe pointed out, looking around. "Oh hey, there's Ishtar! Heeeeeey!" She waved to the approaching goddess.
"Oh, Rin's here? I know that Gilgamesh doesn't like her, but I don't think that's it..." Illya mused.
"What are you babbling about, Illya?" Ishtar said as she came to a stop, her feet not quite touching the water's surface.
"She's thinks a shark's gonna eat us or something," Chloe snarked.
"Kuro! That's not what I said!" Illya protested, rocking the boat a little. "I said it just feels like that movie, with the ominous violins...!"
"Illya, calm down," Irisviel gently ordered.
"What, do you think I'd topple your boat or something?" Ishtar sighed. "That would be utterly unbecoming of a goddess like myself! I don't do pranks!"
"No, you just get pranked!" Chloe ribbed. "Like the time that Gilgamesh tricked you into washing your cell phone?"
"Argh!" Ishtar's face colored as she recalled the memory. "I still have to get him back for tricking me like that!"
"You're still no good with technology, huh Rin-san?" Illya sighed. But then, something suddenly erupted from the water, grabbing the caster from behind!
"Ahhhh~!" Tiamat said with a wide smile.
"AHHHH-(blub!)" cried Illya as she was pulled into the water and vanished!
"ILLYAAAA!" Chloe cried in shock, looking over the side of the boat to no avail!
"My baby!" Iri immediately shifted to her battle attire, conjuring three swords! "You let her go this instant, you...!"
"Don't be an idiot, you'll hit your daughter too!" Ishtar yelled. "Argh, I take my eyes off her for one minute...!"
"Hold on, Illya! I'm coming!" Ruby the wand cried as it dove into the water... a few seconds later, a beam of pink light parted the waves, revealing Illya in her magical girl attire, coughing!
"Illya! Oh, thank goodness!" Iri dismissed her weapons, grabbing her daughter in a grateful hug. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a dark blob beneath the water rapidly retreating.
"(cough cough) What was that...?" Illya grunted.
"Tiamat," Ishtar said, shaking her head. "I don't think she meant any harm... she is the Mother of All Life, so she would like children..."
"So she was just giving her a hug cause she's cute?" Chloe said in disbelief.
"Talk about a beloved smother!" Ruby quipped. "Or does not realize Illya can't breathe underwater?"
"Mama, loosen up, I can't breathe now!" Illya gasped out, Iri promptly letting go, the two sitting down in the boat once more.
"Don't worry, I'll handle her punishment," Ishtar said, promptly turning and flying back to shore.
"...I think we've had enough time on the water today," Chloe deadpanned.
*Back on shore...*
By the time Ishtar caught up, Tiamat has already being reprimanded by Haruhi. "...so from now on, do NOT hug any children out at sea, got it?!"
"Ahhh..." Tiamat sighed, her head bowed with a sad, remorseful expression.
"I saw what happened," Yuki supplied. "It does not seem Tiamat meant any harm."
"Yeah, I figured as much," the goddess nodded, frowning. "Well, if this is the worst thing she does around here, we probably don't have too much to worry about..."
"Well, I can understand not being able to resist cute children!" a voice spoke up, the group turning to see Quetzalcoatl approach, alongside Medusa, Violet and Bazett. "But there's a proper time and place for that, yes?"
"Ahhh..." Tiamat locked eyes with the lucha libre goddess. "Quetzaaaalll..." She then saw Medusa. "Ahhh...? Gor...gon...?"
"Not quite," the rider shook her head. "I'm different from the one you lent your power to in Babylonia. Please, call me Medusa."
"So this is Tiamat, one of Kingprotea's components," Violet observed. "How very interesting. It seems she is an Alter Ego like us... I assume you did that, Miss Nagato?"
"Correct, to restrict her power and thus her potential threat level," Yuki nodded affirmatively. "Suzumiya-san was forced to summon her when she was cornered by Kingprotea..."
"I know, I was there when it happened," Violet nodded. "And Mother filled me in on the rest."
"Does the director know about this?" Bazett inquired.
"Yes, I discussed this with Da Vinci-san and Enkidu-san before reviving her," Yuki replied. "Do not touch the Chaos Tide at her feet, and you will be fine, McFremitz-san."
"Duly noted," the combat mage looked over at Tiamat with a wary eye.
"Ahhh..." Tiamat slowly approached Medusa, raising one hand uncertainly... after a moment, the rider went ahead and grasped said hand in her own, eliciting a smile from the Primordial Mother. "Meduuu... saaaahhh..."
"As long as you don't try to turn me into Gorgon again, we won't have any problems," Medusa asserted, Tiamat nodding in response.
"Hey Meduseless!" two voices called out, causing the rider to heave a sigh as Stheno and Euryale walked up. "How could you leave us at the mercy of this busty cow? We'll have to think of an appropriate punishment for y-"
"Aaaaaahhhh!" Tiamat squealed, swiftly scooping up the twins and hugging them in her arms. "Ah, ahhhh~!"
"Not again!" Stheno and Euryale cried in distress. "Do something, Meduseless!"
Medusa could only giggle in response, Violet and Haruhi chuckling as well...
*To be continued...*