Fate/Kyon's Order: Alter Egos in Chaldea
A Haruhi Suzumiya & Fate/Grand Order Crossover
by Derald Snyder
Part 5: Kingprotea (Part 1)
"...Okay, would you mind explaining to me just what's going on here?" Da Vinci asked BB.
"Simple! Protea here has only manifested her inner core, which is as human-sized as you and me," the moon cancer replied. "She can't fight in this form, but that's no problem in a place like this, right?"
"Huh... well, that's convenient," Kyon muttered.
"Ah, then I assume this lady's true form is much larger?" Koizumi guessed.
"Try thirty meters tall," Haruhi deadpanned.
"Oh my! Are you serious?!" the esper gasped.
"Oh yeah. In fact, she's probably the strongest of the Sakura Five as far as raw strength is concerned!" BB nodded. "Heck, I couldn't even control her back when she was first born! I had no choice but to put her in suspended animation and throw her into the Cage of the Fallen!"
"Mou, why couldn't you have just done this to me in the first place?!" Protea said, shooting an annoyed look at her 'mother'.
"Because you wouldn't listen! You were literally a crying, thrashing baby! What choice did I have?!" BB shot back. "Buuuut, that was then, this is now! You should be grateful that you have a chance to interact with others without squashing them by accident!"
"Blossom-san is correct," Yuki nodded. "As long as you behave yourself, you will be treated fairly by most people here."
"Um, so do you know who I am?" Haruhi asked as she stepped forward.
"Ummm..." Protea's brow furrowed. "I dunno... I almost think I've seen you before, but I don't know where..."
"So, you don't have any desire to kill me then?" Haruhi pressed.
"Kill you?! Why would I do that?! We only just met!" the Alter Ego gasped in disbelief.
"See, Master? It worked. Her brain-washing, as you call it, is completely gone," Kuyou Suou stated.
"Huh? What's brain-washing?" Kingprotea asked curiously.
"You were being controlled by that mega thot Kiara Sessyoin," BB answered for Kuyou.
"Kiara?! I know her! She's bad, evil, rotten to the core!" Protea exclaimed angrily. "Imma squash her flat if I ever see her again!"
"Too late, she's already dead," Haruhi shrugged. "But at least you can take solace that one of your sisters avenged you!"
"Really? Which one?"
"Ah, how about we take you to see Vio and Lip first," BB cut in. "This is gonna be a long story, after all..."
"Vio and Lip are here? Yay! Imma get to see my sisters!" Protea cheered. "Oh, but who are all of you, anyway?"
"Guess introductions are in order," Kyon said. "Chief, why don't you go first..."
*Later, in Violet and Passionlip's room...*
"NOOOOOOO! Oh, poor Meeelllt!" Kingprotea wailed in sorrow and dismay, falling to her knees. "M-my poor sister! I'll never see her agaaaaaaiiinn! Boo-hoo-hooooo!" Violet swiftly knelt before her, letting Protea cry into her bosom...
"D-don't cry, Protea...!" Passionlip said, at the edge of tears herself.
"...you know, she's not gone forever," BB sighed once Protea's sobs had abated somewhat. "I saved her data before she perished, so now she can be summoned like a normal servant!"
"R-really...?" Protea sniffled.
"Right, but she won't know any of us," Da Vinci said. "She probably will remember you and the other Alter Egos, however... Of course, we have no idea when she will arrive..."
"Oh... I hope it's not too long," Kingprotea sighed. "But... what about Hakuno-senpai? Is he here?"
"Uh..." BB's face suddenly went pale. "Um, Protea, this is a different timeline from the Mooncell, you know..."
"So why are you so defensive all of a sudden?" Da Vinci inquired smugly. "You can't fool a genius, you know... Something you'd like to tell us~?"
"We were planning to inform you soon," Yuki cut in. "I did some research, and Hakuno Kishinami-san does exist in this timeline, albeit currently in a medical coma."
"Really?!" Kingprotea jumped to her feet. "Um, can you help him?"
"I can... but we cannot simply separate him from his family," the interface stated firmly. "We will discuss the appropriate course of action to take after further research is conducted."
"Well, if nothing else, we could at least go out to him and say 'hi' once he's cured," BB said with a frown. "I'd really like to hire him as a staff member here, but I'm not about to fight with Miss Alien AI here over it..."
"You would lose," Yuki stated matter-of-factly.
"Really? Y-you're more powerful than BB...?" Protea took a step back in fear.
"Well, keep in mind that we're on the material plane, not cyberspace, so my powers are a little bit limited compared to what I could do in the Mooncell," BB pointed out.
"Don't worry about Nagato-san. I trust her with my life," Kyon spoke up. "As long as you don't act against her interests, you've got nothing to fear."
"Oh... okay," Kingprotea nodded. "But, um... how am I supposed to fight like this? Don't I have to serve my Master?"
"Leave that to me!" BB said confidently. "I'll make sure you're battle-ready when you're deployed, so don't worry!"
"In the meantime, let's show her around Chaldea," Kyon suggested. "I think Haruhi should take charge of that, I'm gonna help Koizumi move into a new room, and Nagato-san needs to stay with Kuyou."
"No problem!" Haruhi nodded. "Just make sure Koizumi-kun gets his nap in, 'kay?"
"Right, of course," Kyon nodded and smiled at his fiancee.
"And I'll discuss with BB here about hiring her old senpai~" Da Vinci teased, the moon cancer promptly covering her reddening face, causing both Passionlip and Kingprotea to giggle.
*Cafeteria*
"I thought we'd start here, Salon de Marie might be a bit too snazzy for you," Haruhi said as she, Violet, and Kingprotea sat around a table, Passionlip staying off to one side. "Servants don't need to eat, but I thought you might want to try some ramen at least..."
"Okay," Protea nodded, taking a lump of noodles on her fork and slowly sliding it into her mouth.
"Make sure you chew," Violet instructed. This her sister did, slowly chewing and swallowing.
"Mmm, that's wonderful~!" Protea sighed happily. "So much tastier than eating Hakuno-senpai!"
"Wh-what?!" Haruhi's pupils shrank to pinpricks in shock.
"It's okay, he survived," Passionlip giggled. "I-it's a long story..."
"...okay, well, no eating humans when you're giant! Or I'll spank you!" Haruhi warned.
"O-okay..." Protea winced, before taking another bite of ramen.
"Just so you know, Miss Suzumiya isn't the only Master here," Violet said. "There's also Riyo Gudako and Ritsuka Fujimaru, the latter having several feats to his name. Even Mother was impressed by him, which should tell you something."
"Oh wow... I'd love to meet him," Kingprotea said. "Maybe he can be my senpai, so Mother can have Hakuno-senpai all to herself!"
"Um..." Haruhi began but hesitated.
"You'll do no such thing!" a voice cried out, the group looking to see Tamamo-no-mae walking up. "Master already has a kouhai! Don't you start projecting your yandere fantasies on him!"
"Wahh! C-Caster?! Y-you're here, too?" Protea gasped, shrinking away a bit.
"I've been here for far longer than you have!" Tamamo stated. "I don't mind you taking orders from Master Ritsuka, but he's already spoken for! I had enough trouble trying to get Kiyohime to see that, so I want to nip this in the bud right here!"
"Kiyohime... she's your email pen-pal, right?" Violet queried. "I assume she's a Berserker-class, then?"
"She is indeed," the kitsune nodded. "She believes that Master is her beloved Anchin-sama from when she was alive, even though they were nothing alike! After all, Ritsuka didn't just run away and break her heart like that Anchin did, even if Kiyo-chan DID come on too strong!"
"I think she's a little better about it nowadays..." Ritsuka himself said as he joined the group. "Wait, Kingprotea?! You're small now?"
"Oh hello, Master!" the bandaged Alter Ego smiled widely. "Uh-huh, Mother made it so that I'm small here in Chaldea... but I can grow big when I go out to battle! So I'll squish anyone that tires to hurt you!"
"As long as you only squish the ones I tell you to squish," Ritsuka allowed.
"Of course, Master!" Kingprotea sighed happily.
"Be careful with this one, Master," Tamamo cut in, "She's almost as yandere as Kiyohime sometimes, and you know what that means..."
"Uh... right," the young Master's eyes went wide in realization. "I'll be careful."
"We'll do our best to keep her reined in," Violet assured him. "I'm the eldest sister, so she should listen to me..."
"Fine then, you can deploy with her next rayshift," Tamamo asserted. "As long as you've got things under control... well, if you'll excuse me, I have to get back to the kitchen. Can't let Cat show me up, after all!"
"Um, bye Caster!" Protea awkwardly waved as she left. "Phew, glad she didn't try to burn or freeze me..."
"She seems to have mellowed a little since last time," Violet observed.
"Not when she fights with Tamamo Cat," Haruhi couldn't help but point out. "Hell, I had to get Asagami-san to separate them when they got in a fight right after Cat was summoned!"
"Uh-oh... I hope they can bury the hatchet like me and Melt did," Passionlip worried.
"It might take some time," Ritsuka mused, before hearing his stomach growl. "Oh, right. I came to get some lunch. Excuse me..." He promptly left to get some food.
"Oh, Senpai, there you are!" Mash said as she met him halfway, heading to the food counter together.
"Who is that?" Kingprotea asked, suddenly tense.
"Mash Kyrielight. She's been with Ritsuka since the very beginning," Haruhi replied. "They've been through thick and thin together... true companions, kinda like me and the rest of the SOS Brigade."
"Is that so..." Protea muttered, glaring at Mash, her grip on her metal fork tightening, the handle starting to bend...
(Uh-oh...) Both Violet and Passionlip thought to themselves. Glancing at each other, they nodded in agreement- they had to do something to distract their sister, and soon.
*And so...*
"Wow! So this is what the beach is like! It's so pretty!" Kingprotea gushed as she looked out over Fantasia Resort.
"Probably can't swim, though. At your big size, you probably sink like a rock!" Haruhi muttered.
"Nuh-uh! I'm a good swimmer!" Protea protested.
"At least you can walk on the beach now! I can't even do that!" Passionlip lamented.
"Why not?" Her sister asked.
"She's too heavy, unfortunately," Violet replied. "You should be fine in your current state, though."
"Okay... here I go," Protea said uncertainly, taking one step out onto the sand, then another... but after a few seconds, she cried out and fell on her butt! "Ow! It's too hot! My feet can't handle iiiiit!"
"You big baby," Haruhi sighed and rolled her eyes.
"Hark! I hear the sound of a damsel in distress!" With that, a well-built blond man ran up, wearing blue swim trunks with a towel draped over his shoulders like a cape. "Allow me to assist you, madam!" With that, he picked up the Alter Ego in a bridal carry!
"Oh! It's Sir Gawain!" Passionlip gasped.
"Well, well, if it isn't the Alter Ego who nearly did me in!" Gawain exclaimed, seeing Lip start to tear up, he quickly added, "Oh no no, I hold no grudge! I understand you were being controlled! Thank goodness for Master Suzumiya here!"
"So you remember what happened, huh?" Haruhi said. "Well, would you believe the lady you're carrying right now was the giant fighting with Tiamat?"
"What?! That was you?!" the Knight looked down at Protea in shock.
"I, um, I don't really remember..." Kingprotea stammered. "I'm sorry if I almost squished you..."
"No, I made sure Gawain was clear of the fight," Haruhi shook her head. "Oh, look, here comes the other knights..."
"Gawain! I thought we were having a swim race!" Lancelot complained as he and Tristan joined the group... only to double-take upon seeing Passionlip, or rather, her massive chest. "W-w-what in the-?!"
"Humongous chest... gigantic claws... it can't be...!" Tristan gasped. "I thought Sir Gawain had but dreamed it...!"
"As had I!" Lancelot concurred.
"Ha! As you can see, 'twas no dream!" Gawain laughed triumphantly. "It seems you two shall be eating crow for supper tonight!"
"Alas... the taste of crow is bitter, as is humble pie..." Tristan sighed, strumming at his ukulele.
"Umm... c-could you p-please stop staring at me, mister Lancelot?!" Lip squeaked uncomfortably.
"Yeah, or I'll tell Mash on you!" Haruhi taunted.
"GAH! No, anything but that!" Lancelot gasped, stumbling back and quickly turning to look at the sea. "My apologies for the loss of discipline! 'Twas unbecoming for a knight of my caliber!"
"Th-thank you..." Passionlip sighed. "Um, Sir Gawain, what are you going to do with my sister?"
"Oh, I was just going to take her to the shore, to cool her feet in the water!" the blond knight replied. "As any chivalrous knight would do!"
"B-but I don't know if I can swim in this form!" Kingprotea stammered.
"It doesn't drop off like a swimming pool, silly," Haruhi smirked at the Alter Ego's naïveté. "C'mon, I'll show you..." She began walking toward the shore, Gawain following close behind...
*At the water's edge...*
"Ahhh, that's so much better!" Kingprotea sighed in relief as she waded in the ankle-deep water beside Haruhi.
"Indeed, sometimes it's more refreshing to simply wade in the shallow waters," Gawain concurred. "Perhaps once you and the others get settled in, we can give you some swimming lessons..."
"Really? Yay! Thank you, Mr. Gawain!" Protea exclaimed. Looking out over the water, she saw a horned silver-haired woman nearby, who stared back at her, the water up to her chest. "Who's that...? She seems kinda familiar, but I don't know why..."
"That would be Tiamat, one of the goddesses used to create your Spirit Origin," Haruhi answered. "Hey Tiamat, come on over here!"
"Ahh...?" The former Beast exited the water, her X-shaped pupils focusing on the bandaged Alter Ego.
"Um, hi! I'm Kingprotea, the Alter Ego of yearning! It's nice to meet you, Miss Tiamat!"
"Kingu...?" Tiamat' brow furrowed in confusion.
"No, not Kingu, King-pro-te-a!" Haruhi pronounced it slowly. "Or just Protea if that's too much for you..."
"Prooo... teeeeaaaahhh..." the Primordial Mother managed to get out.
"Does she have trouble speaking?" Protea asked Haruhi.
"Yeah, something like that. At least she can say people's names, for the most part..." Haruhi sighed. "Hopefully we can get her to start speaking normally at some point..."
"Ahhh...?" Tiamat curiously reached for the bandages covering Kingprotea's left eye...
"Ah! Don't touch that!" the Alter Ego grabbed Tiamat's hand. "I-I'm sorry, but please don't touch it, okay?"
"Ahh..." Tiamat's expression turned sad, before abruptly drawing Kingprotea into a gentle loving embrace. "Prooooteeaaaa..."
"She must think you got hurt," Haruhi deduced.
"Oh... no, I'm okay..." Protea gasped, even as she returned the hug. "This feels nice, though..."
"...Tis hard to believe that this one was an existential threat to humanity at one point," Gawain spoke up.
"Yeah, well, we don't know how much influence Goetia's grail had over her..." Haruhi pointed out.
"Ugh... my feet feel tingly..." Protea grunted, suddenly looking under the weather.
"Feet...? Shit! The Chaos Tide! Tiamat, let go!" Haruhi yelled, the ex-Beast promptly doing so, Haruhi quickly pulling Kingprotea back onto shore! "Dammit, I forgot about that! Gawain, go get Violet! I'll contact Yuki and BB!"
"At once, milady!" Gawain nodded, running off...
*Medical Wing*
Kingprotea was laid out on an operating table, Nightingale vigorously washing her feet while BB and Yuki held their hands over the stricken Alter Ego. "Nightingale, I think they're clean now," Da Vinci stated firmly.
"Yeah, you might hurt her feet worse by scrubbing like that," Haruhi pointed out.
"I must ensure that every bit of what infected her is gone!" the nurse retorted. "But, I suppose this will be enough for now."
"Okay, scan complete," BB said as she and Yuki straightened up. "Protea's going to be fine, she just needs a day or so."
"I agree. There was been some mutation of her Spirit Origin, but nothing near as drastic as what occurred to Ushiwakamaru in Babylonia," Yuki appended.
"What kind of mutation?" Da Vinci inquired.
"Keep it succinct, Yuki," Haruhi cautioned.
"Yes, Suzumiya-san. Put simply, Kingprotea will begin exhibiting more of Tiamat's traits in her true form, in a manner similar to Spirit Origin Ascension utilized here."
"An ascension? I see... Well, as long as she doesn't go out of control..." the genius caster mused.
"Don't worry! When she deploys, I'll be sure to go with her, so I can let the Masters know if she needs to be leashed up with a Command Spell!"
"Don't treat her like she's some sort of dog," Haruhi grumbled.
"Well, I would advise staying in bed for twenty-four hours, to ensure no negative symptoms are exacerbated if they show themselves!" Nightingale insisted.
"Well, she can watch movies with Lip and Vio in their room, then," BB suggested.
"Sounds good to me," Da Vinci nodded. "And Haruhi, I'm sure this goes without saying, but you need to make sure Tiamat understands that her Chaos Tide can still be dangerous to humans and some servants with low Magic Resistance..."
"Right... she seemed pretty sad when we left her," the reality warper nodded. "I'll do my best to communicate that to her."
"See that you do."
*To be continued...*