AN; Enjoy the chapter. Spoilers to anyone who didn't play through the Olympus or Altanis Lostbelts
Ch 14 A Terrifying Encounter
The limo drove on the path that Robin laid out for them back to the Outpost. Ritsuka stared at the window watching the passing trees pass by his sight. He sighs thinking of the future.
Mashu took note of this and spoke up. "Senpai, are you alright?"
Ritsuka didn't hear her as he was deep in thought. "Senpai!" Mashu called out again this time she got his attention.
"S-sorry, what was that Mashu?" Ritsuka apologies, coming out of his train of thought.
Mashu sighs "I asked if you're alright?" she asked him again.
Ritsuka smiles at her "I'm fine Mashu, it's just the stress."
"If it's stress then you must rest when we get back to master," Agravain informs him.
"Agravain, I will be fine. Plus someone wanted to see me back at the outpost." Ritsuka said.
"I wonder who the person that BB has mentioned," Gareth wonders who this person is.
"Probably that Magus," Gawain answered his little sister. "He did say that he's going to play an important role in this mission."
"Try not to depend on that scoundrel too much." Agravain huffs. "He'd always have something planned."
"Don't worry, I have a vague idea who this person might be," Ritsuka said dreading the thought of the person.
After a while of driving in the Forbidden Forest, they arrived at the outpost where Amakusa and Semiramis were waiting for them. The Outpost was splattered in paint even on the flowers on the front lawn. They got out of the limo and looked around at the mess.
"Amakusa? Semiramis? What happened?" Ritsuka asked the two closing their eyes.
"B-Best to see for yourself, master," Semiramis stammers with her lips twitching, they lead them inside the outpost.
Inside the outpost, it was worse. The floor was cover in scorched marks and furniture covered in paint. The paintings on the walls have graffiti on them and vandalized. Ritsuka looked to see Anastasia wiping some paint off her doll as she spoke to it. "Just look at what the old man did to you Viy, don't worry I'll clean you up, and then we can have our regular teatime with Abigail." She said cooing the strange doll.
A white-haired woman in a white dress floated down the stairs. "Darling, where are you?" she cried looking around the mess. "MMMMPFH, I swear if that Dead Apostle didn't come here then I would be snuggling with Orion right about now." The Goddess huffed.
"Artemis, are you okay?" Ritsuka asked the Goddess of the Moon.
She looks down the steps and saw her precious master. "Ah, master everything is fine. Since that Dead Apostle showed up, I lost track of Orion." Artemis smiles before it dropped. "Geez if I knew that he would be here I would let him back to his Grand Archer title, so he won't be lost."
Ritsuka gave a weak smile remembering that when he summoned the Grand Servant, Artemis appeared which also cause his Spirit Origins to be rewritten again like in Okeanos. But this time when he needs the Grand Archer, Artemis releases him and turns him back. To do this Artemis turns into her Terminal form back in the Olympus and Atlantis Lostbelts in a form of a Noble Phantasm called Aletheia Program.
Ritsuka sigh looking at the Knights. "Can you guys help Artemis finding Orion? I'm a bit worried seeing he's in his plushy state."
"Yes, master." They said as they went off to separate directions.
The Goddess inclines her head to him. "Thank you, master, I'm truly grateful." She heads for the outside to search for her love.
Ritsuka turns to the Ruler and Assassin, they look like they've been through hell once they got inside. "Can you tell me where he is?"
"He's in the living room," Amakusa points to the living room.
Ritsuka nodded, moving to the side letting the maintenance crew clean up the mess. "Damn that prankster, a week in and he has to mess everything up." the maintenance staff said as he starts mopping the floor from the ashes.
"Out of all the things he could do, he has to use a paint gun and bombs." Another one said scrubbing the walls.
Mashu feels bad for the crew as they were cleaning the room and the outside of the paint splatter. "Senpai, I think I know who would do this sort of thing." She said to him.
Ritsuka chuckles slightly before heading into the living room. "It's pretty obvious, I mean his work can speak for themselves of you is capable of this." (Insert Fate/Apocrypha OST #4: Everything is a Story).
He opens the door where the person that Ritsuka dreads the most was sitting on the couch twirling a paint gun on his finger while holding Fou in his other hand. "Ah, my old apprentice how are you doing this fine day?" the old man smiles at the Magus.
"Mentor," Ritsuka said annoyed by him just being here.
"Zelretch-sama, it's good to see you." Mashu smiles at the Dead Apostle, Fou kicks his face and rushing over to Mashu's shoulder.
"Fou, Fou!" the Beast growls at the old man.
"Damn Beast," Zelretch rubs his face where the small creature kicked him. He looked at the former Demi-servant. "Mashu, how are faring?" he asked Mashu.
"I'm fine, sir." Mashu smiles at him. "Thank you for asking,"
'How come when it comes to Mashu, you cat like an entirely different person.' Ritsuka sighs. He went over to sit down on the couch in front of his old mentor. Mashu joins him placing Fou in her lap. The two Servants stood behind their master shooting death glares at the Dead Apostle.
"So, mentor what brings you here to the outpost?" Ritsuka asked him. "Surely it's not just to see me," questioning him on what he's planning.
Zelretch gave him an innocent smile (If you call it that) to his former apprentice. Ritsuka rubs his forehead as he felt a headache coming. "You're serious? THAT'S ALL YOU CAME HERE FOR!" he screams at him.
Zelretch nodded as he ignores his apprentice's screams and rants about him. "AND WHAT ABOUT THE MESS YOU MADE! I HAVE BEEN YOUR APPRENTICE TO KNOW WHAT YOUR PRANKS LOOK LIKE!"
"Oh, Ritsuka it's just a harmless prank." The Dead Apostle reasons with him still twirling the gun.
Amakusa leans over Ritsuka's shoulder to his ear. "(Master, he came in holding two paint guns and a satchel of paint bombs saying, 'This is a stick-up,' and start shooting." The Ruler whispers.
"What about the ashes on the floor?" Ritsuka asked him pointing outside where golems were heading to assist the maintenance crew in the clean-up.
"Oh that, I have to know idea how that happened?" Zelretch jokes pretending he doesn't know what he means.
Semiramis took in a deep breath "H-He brought firecrackers that went off when he threw it." She shutters of the thought of the past event.
Ritsuka runs his hands through his hair at the details he was given to him. "Why can't you just be like a normal mentor like the ones in the Clocktower." He whines.
"Senpai," Mashu smiles, feeling bad for him, (End Song)
"Anyways, I had my fun for today. Now to the real reason that I'm here." Zelretch said looking serious.
"And what's that?"
Zelretch sighs. "Ritsuka, I know I don't seem like it; but I do worry about you." He stated to his apprentice. "I know that facing your past isn't easy, especially what that old goat has done with your magical core when you were young."
Ritsuka remains silent remembering when Dumbledore took his magical core in his dreams. Mashu looks at him as his hair covers his eyes as she worries about him.
"I'm here to support you as your mentor." The Dead Apostle comforts his pupil.
Ritsuka smiles slightly "Thank you, mentor." he was glad he has at least a heart somewhere in his body.
"And to be the Judge for Chaldea seeing that the tournament has three judges for each school. It's only right to be one of them seeing I'm your mentor." Zelretch smiles
Ritsuka's face paled once he said the last part. He knew that they are all doom once he appears.
Forbidden Forest
James, Lily, and Dawlish were standing in front of the edge of the Forbidden Forest where the tire tracks from Harry's limousine were left behind. Lily gulp at the dark shadows that the trees cast over blocking the sunlight. The Forest scared for her since her first year and tries to avoid it, but this time this is for her family.
"Lily, you're okay with this?" Her husband asked.
She nodded "Yes after all this is for our family," Lily replied.
"Then let's go," Dawlish looks at the forest as the three wizards went inside the darkness.
They walk through the dense forest as the sunlight begins to fade away the more they go in. It was so dark that they can barely see what's in front of them.
"How did Harry's car manages to get past here?" James asked being on guard.
"Don't forget in Muggle Studies that Muggle cars have lights in front of them," Lily answers her husband.
"Screw this," Dawlish cursed lifting his wand in the air. "Lumos!" a ball of light was produced at the tip of his wand and shot up in the air. The ball of light brightens the area around the three wizards making them see better.
"Quick thinking John," James complimented him.
"Just doing my job sir," John replied to the Auror captain.
They walk further following the tracks on the forest's floor when a rustling sound from a nearby bush caught the wizard's attention.
"James! Something is in the bush!" Lily screams pointing at the greenery. James moves her behind him and aims his wand at the bush ready to attack whoever is making the rustling.
"Come on out!" Dawlish orders moving in to inspect the bush for enemies. Soon two people came out with their hands up in the air. They were all surprised at who these people were.
"Charles Sirius Potter and Ronald Weasley! What do you think you're doing here!" Lily scolded the two boys.
"Mum? Dad? I thought you were at Dumbledore's office!" Charles retorted back.
"That does not explain why you're here!" James scolded his son.
"Mr. Potter, I beg Charles to come with me to find out where Harry lived! So don't get mad at him, just at me!" Ron taking the blame coving that Charles was the one who asked him to come.
James rubs his forehead at the stress that these boys are giving him. "Ron, you know better not to go the Forbidden Forest, it's forbidden for students to go in without supervision from a teacher or an adult." He scolded him.
"Yes, sir." Ron apologies as Charles didn't receive a lecture from his father.
"Dad, should we go and follow the-" Charles stopped when a distorted howl echoed in the dense forest.
"AGGGGGRRRRROOOOOHHHHHH!"
"W-W-What was that?" Ron started to quiver in fear.
James and Dawlish remain quiet, they were trying to pinpoint where that howl came from. "Was that a werewolf's howl?" John asked.
James shook his head "I heard what a werewolf's howl before. This one sounds like it's processed by a demon." He said, the same howl erupts; this time it's closer.
"AGGGGGRRRROOOOHHHHH!"
"It sounds like it's coming closer," Lily's instincts kick in taking the boys close to her. "James we should just leave," she suggested to her husband.
James agrees "Yes, let's get going."
John leads the way to the dark forest. Charles looked at his father "Dad, why are we running-WHAT THE BLOODY HELL IS THAT!" Charles screams looking at his side. (Insert Fate Grand Order OST Emergency - First Order)
They all look to see what the Boy-Who-Lived was pointing to and saw a large white wolf with a sickle in its mouth. The fur reminds them of a specter as it flows around it. It draws closer to them. " GGGRRR, " The wolf growls, blue flames coming out of its mouth staring at them as they stepped back further away from it.
"W-What is that thing?" Ron quivers, it came out of the shadows of the forest revealing something more terrifying was on top of that thing's back. That thing was the most terrifying thing they ever have seen; it might be as well above the Dark Lord himself.
"I-It's a-a h-headless m-m-man," Lily stammers seeing the headless man opens his arms with two sickles appeared in both.
"AGGGGRRRRROOOOOOHHHHH!" the wolf howled as blue flames cover the surrounding area burning away the greenery around them. The flames got on James's s sleeve burning the fabric away and onto his arm.
"MOTHER-Aguamenti!" James cast the water charm on his arm to extinguish the fire but it only made it worse as it grew bigger. Eventually, James took off his coat before the flames could spread to his shirt. He was lucky enough to only got a burn mark on his skin. He looks down at his jacket as the flames burst to engulf it as it turns to ash.
"We gotta get out of here!" James exclaims, they turn around and quickly left the area.
The Avenger looked at them running from him before a command from his master came up. 'Lobo, Hessian that Auror with them is a spy for Voldemort. Eliminate him." Ritsuka orders him.
Lobo lift's his head up and howled. "AGGGGRRRROOOOHHHHH!" the Avenger soon takes off running at a speed of a cheetah.
The wizards ran past the trees not looking back at the monster as its howls echos in the air. "Wait, is it following us?" John said, looking back. The creature burst through the trees as the blues flames follow suit.
"Merlin's baggy underpants! It's hunting us!" Ron cried wetting his pants from the fear he is experiencing.
"Just keep running! And don't look back!" Lily cried seeing Hagrid's hut is coming up from the distance.
"We're almost out of the forest! I see Hagrid's hut!" James cried out leaving the forest.
Hagrid walks out of his home with Fang as the dog growls at the forest. "What is it, Fang? What made yeh so jumpy?" he asked his companion. He looks over to where Fang is growling and saw James, Lily, Dawlish, Charles, and Ron running out of the forest.
"James! Lily! What goin' on her'?" the half-giant asked his two friends.
"HAGRID GET OUT OF HERE! IT'S DANGEROUS!" Charles cried out to him.
"What're talkin' abou', Charles?" Hagrid asked not before noticing the blue flames spreading from the forest.
"Fire! It's a Fire!" Hagrid screams grabbing a huge basin of water ready to douse it on the flames.
"HAGRID NO!" James exclaims as the half-giant threw the water as the flames grew bigger.
"What is this?" Hagrid gasps as James shouted at him.
"HAGRID! DUCK!"
He looks at his friend pointing behind him. Hagrid turns around and ducks his head as a white wolf jumps over him landing in front of them.
"I have never seen a beast like this one befor'" The Half-Giant gasps admiring the creature. Fang growls at the Servant for being in its territory.
"GGGRRRRR," Lobo growled back at the dog as it whimpers away behind the hut.
James and John stood up and face the creature "We take him together, I believe explosion charm will suffice." Dawlish motions the idea.
"Okay," James said a bit hesitant but now wasn't the time.
The wolf stared down at them before lunging at them as the headless man prepare his sickles. John and James join in. They said the spell. "Bombarda Maxima!" they cast the spell at the wolf and the headless man dead center at each one. Nothing came out of the smoke as they relaxed.
"We did it, we-" then it came out unscathed from the explosion ramming into James back to where his family was standing. It landed as it ran towards the Auror.
"Ahwooo!"
The creature ran towards him, sickles came out of the headless man's body as it ran.
"WHAT TH-" Dawlish was unable to finish his sentence. The sickles impale his body before jumping mid-air just above his body before decapitating his head from the rest of his body.
Lobo landed in front of them, Hessian reaches out his hand as the head of Dawlish landed on it just and his body shatters into millions of pieces.
They were all horrified at the sight of what happened to John Dawlish. Hessian threw the head in front of them as it was void of life. Ron threw up at the sight of it and Charles fainted in his mother's arms.
" W-W-hat is t-that thing," James stammers realizing spells are unaffected on that monstrosity.
The Servant turns around, staring at them as they took out their wands. Lobo huff as flames came out and ran back into the forest bring along the flames that were there. (End Song)
Hagrid snaps out of it and ran over to them. "Are yeh all alright?" he shouts at them.
James got up gripping his arm that was burnt. He looks at it as the skin blisters almost like it was cursed. "Yeah, we're fine." He said to his friend.
Lily came to them holding the boys by the hand still frighten at the creature. "I-I believe we should report this to Dumbledore." She motions.
"Agree," James said walking back to school.
AN; How do you like it? Please leave a review.