The Crown of Life

by Not A Wise Man

The World is in danger by the action of a mage that tried to destroy the Holy Grail Wars and create a dimension of his design. Experience a fan made singularity from someone who never read a single thing about the lore but is forced to play the game.

1. Chapter 1

"Under, next to incomprehensible conditions, the will of three people, three beings who's wills should have never intertwined somehow got mixed up leading to a devastating situation. Reality itself is, bound to be destroyed. Through the actions of a single Master, a mage that participated in not one, not two but three Holy Grail wars and was also the reason behind two of the three, the world is bound to end. Reality still has it's ways to correct itself however and a plan was already placed in motion to return the world back to it's chaotic yet sustainable state.

-Rise, if you will. Three voices, esoteric in nature, unbound by this world call out to the pure energy that is cling together as a response to the end of the world. A hand reaches out of the light, slowly pulling itself out giving form to the one who will oversee this war.

-Upon you we lay the foundation for the salvation of the world. Rise ruler, unbound by the ties and knots of servanthood. Repeat your mission so that we may rest assure the plan for the salvation of humanity will be completed.

-I shall oversee the last holy grail war for the salvation of reality. I shall bring seven sacred relics to seven chosen mages that will fight to the death through seven worlds to save ours.

-Then take the holster of relics, bring forth seven heroes unbound by restrictions and save this world. And so, ruler took the box that was placed in front of him and headed out to seek the seven chosen mages that will fight in the last holy grail war for the salvation of reality."

-These were the informations given to us as we've started picking up an anomaly. Rest assured, if we don't stop this holy grail war from happening the world would end for good.

-To think that an even in another parallel world would bring such devastating effects. It is unfathomable to think how many dangers lurk outside our reality that could put an end to it, don't you think so Master.

-Yes, the threat we face is as one we've never seen before. Seven servants unbound by any rules... "Remember well, unbound servants are not to be engaged. Their powers are not only uninhibited but powered up by this, object the people from the other world keep referring to as The Crown of Life. If I have to make a comparison, it would be like fighting Gilgamesh but all his weapons have been replaced by a fully powered EA ready to destroy the earth"

-Were you thinking again about the warning master?

-Yeah. I wonder what kind of world has such terrifying servants.

-A servant we can't even begin to think about defeating. What are the plans if we encounter such a servant master?

-Well our choices are "Between dying running away or dying standing", or at least that's what she told us.

-Hopefully Da Vinci's plan will work.

-Right, however we must make our way out of this jungle. Master and Servant; and pet, the iconic duo desperate for powerful allies devised a make or break plan that will aid them in the struggles to come. The ruler of this, cosmic event, has in his possession, granted by higher powers a box which holds the relics necessary to summon any servant ever eligible. Thanks to Da Vinci's genius, the two received special "life energy" manipulators making them virtually undetectable, if not by simple sense, to anyone. The only way for someone to acknowledge their existence is by solely gazing upon them and recognizing them as enemies. Thus, to avoid suspicion a secondary special device was created, with no expenses spared, in order to better camouflage them as locals to the area. Unless mana is directly poured into the device, their equipment will be stored into a dimensional marble and it will reappear only when desired.

Although safe from direct danger, as long as they are mistaken for locals the masters and servants won't target them directly, they aren't safe from the inherent dangers of the world they travel through. The two, three if you count Fou, are lost in the middle of a jungle in a mountain area. There's the constant danger of a wild predator jumping at them as well as various venomous entities and the locals. For the few hours they've been in this new world the three located a small group of violent locals. Besides not wanting to draw attention to themselves these people were quite abnormal. Besides their weird dresses and weapons they displayed demi-servant levels of power. Enhanced physical capability, a low capability of controlling fire and so forth. As much as Fujimaru and Mash would have wanted to intervene they were unable to stop the weirdly dressed warriors as they attacked a group of sailors.

-Master, don't you think their weapons look weirdly familiar? I could swear I've seen them before.

-It looks... like the weapon Quetzalcoatl used when fighting us at the grand temple in Babylonia.

-And those men are European sailors. Do you perhaps think we are in central America during the first encounters between the locals and the conquistadors?

-It looks like it, though it seems like the indigenous are a lot more violent than in the past. History says that the Aztecs greeted the first explorers as gods, not hunt them down and slaughter them to the last.

-Da Vinci!?

-I've managed to re-establish connection. You'll have me buzzing in your ears from now on.

-What have you discovered?

-There's a huge amount of energy coming out from north west. By overlapping maps the location seems to be where the city of Tenochtitlan used to exist.

-Then that's were we will be headed to.

-Don't you dare do that! You will just get yourself killed. There are so many demi servants surrounding the are it is impossible for you to pass through without a proper boundless servant. Luckily for you, trusty old me managed to locate where Ruler is, and he gives off the energy signals of having the chest of relics with him. His location is not to far south from where you stand now. The really unfortunate thing is that two servants are battling very close to Ruler's location. On top of all that, a vast concentration of demi-servants is moving towards that same location.

-We'll have to do it. If the two servants are fighting or at least distracting Ruler we might have a chance to steal the box from him, or at least summon a servant to aid us. Thus the two, three, travelled through the jungle, heading south towards Ruler.

At a certain point in time something very unusual, nay, completely unnatural happened. The sky turned completely dark and howling voices started spreading through the jungle. In the far distance, far beyond the mountains a giant being, one that could crush mountains in his hand, shaped like a stone skeleton rises from the ground. The continental sized skeleton rises his hand and from the ground hoards of skeletons start bursting forth, grasping to reach the surface.

-What do we do, Master?

-They are too many to engage! Let's get to some place high and get away from them.

-Understood. As seconds pass and the skeletons fully reach out of the ground their hands managed to grab Fujimaru by the ankle, however, once their head was completely out of the ground they let go without trying to attack him any further. The same couldn't be said about Mash. Once she summoned her shield the skeletons targeted her. Quickly realising what was going on, Fujimaru reactivates the cloaking mechanism turning them back into locals.

-They do not attack the locals. It also seems like they can't understand who we are. If we stay like this they'll leave us be. In the distance the giant skeleton speaks in an incomprehensible language.

-Can you translate what he's saying Da Vinci?

-For some reason our tech doesn't do it automatically. It's reciting something, like a chant... "Onto you I pass judgement, be eliminated from this world Bartholomew Roberts!" The skeleton lowers his hand in a quick motion and the world returns to normal. The sky is blue again and all the skeletons that rose from the ground are gone.

-Fujimaru!

-What's going on Da Vinci? Da Vinci was staring at her screen. A skull shaped symbol covers it's centre.

-He... is... gone... Death to all... Riders.

-The skulls spoke! Death to all riders? What is going on here?

-Your orders master? Mash asks.

-We focus on our current objective. Even if we move towards the giant skeleton now nothing can be done.

-Right behind you. They go further into the jungle moving on for several hours.

-It's common to get dark very fast in jungles. The trees block off residual light, hurry up and make a fire before it's too late. The two start gathering fire for the night as the sky turns all dark one more time. Skeletons rise from the ground once more but this time, instead of being idle the skeletons around their position started moving towards a single target. An explosion in the distance warns them of danger.

-Get ready, there can be danger coming our way. Another explosion, a tree falls to ground.

-This energy signature! A servant is heading your way!

-What!? A boundless servant?

-No... this one is a regular servant...

-That voice. I recognize it. Heading towards them, screaming leaving explosions and flying bones behind was... A figure jumps over a bunch of bushes.

-You'll never catch me alive you creeps!

-Teach!? Black Beard of all people jumps out of the shrubs followed by a dozen skeletons.

-Master! Mash! What are you two doing here? Is Euryale here too? Black Beard asks as Mash jumps behind him and hits one of the skeletons that were following him with her Shield.

-Right. Now that people see me I can't get my reputation tarnished. A pirate has his pride you know.

-You weren't so prideful running away just a little while ago.

-What's that, what's that? I couldn't hear you over the sound of the explosions. Teach says, although he threw his bombs after Fujimaru finished his phrase. The three prepare for battle as more skeletons rise from the ground. However, as they were prepared to fight the giant skeleton lowers his hand again and the world returns to normal. The skeletons yet to have left the ground return to dust, leaving only those already standing to fight. They are surprisingly weak and brittle for their sturdy look, as sturdy as a skeleton can be... One punch, one swing, one kick, one blow... all that it took to eliminated was one singular blow for each. Once things calmed down the three can talk as they light up a fire in a safe area.

-So, Euryale isn't here...

-Why are you here?

-Well, I was running away. All I've been doing since I got here was running away.

-How did you got here?

-Well. I don't understand much of it; but: I heard this strange, scary voice calling onto my name and suddenly I find myself tied to a rock in the middle of a strange city. In front, to the side, actually he was so huge he was all around me, this giant of a creature who's head reached the clouds was calling my name. When I moved my head to the left there was this tall, scrawny blue guy approaching me with a knife in his hand. Right when he was about to get close to me something lightning fast struck him and I was free to move. Whatever was fighting me told me to run as far away as possible if I want to live and that's what I've been doing for the past two days. Every now and then the giant skeleton rises from the city and skeletons start attacking me but after a few minutes everything is back to normal. Oh, there was also two occasion when this beams of light were coming of of the centre of the city hitting the nearby mountains. One beam of light flew all the way over the horizon making a huge explosion. So... what are you doing out here?

-We are trying to fight the end of the world.

-Oh, that sounds serious. But fear not for I am here to help you.

-You couldn't help even if you want to.

-Oh, Da Vinci, how cute your new form is, a far better design if I may say so myself.

-You may not.

-Oh, come on though. Do you think so lowly of me that I can't even help. I'm sure I'm not grand servant but.

-No, those won't do us any good either. Black Beard looks in shock as he hears that even grand servants wouldn't be capable to help in this situation.

-Alright Master, it was nice seeing you. Have fun, I'll be on my way...

-Sit back down. Da Vinci orders.

-In this world, there are a group of servants that don't follow the same rules as our world. Whatever is powering them makes it so that gods are summoned with their full divinity regardless of location or restrictions, servant statistics are so through the roof that a simple sneeze from one of them could destroy you in a single hit.

-Are you exaggerating perhaps?

-No, I've been monitoring your targets for a while. From what I can see they are doing something similar in trying to lay low not revealing their position or power. Even in that hidden state they release such high levels of power it is hard for me to even measure it.

-Wouldn't they be very easy to find if that's true?

-I guess when you're as hot as the sun, a few degrees more or a few less don't make that much of a difference. The good thing is however, that you are so weak, even if you go full power they won't even notice you. So don't be afraid to fight back if necessary.

The night passes without incidents only for the morning to come and bring more waves of skeletons.

-Da Vinci, what does the giant keep on saying? From what we can hear, every time he repeats the same things, changing only the last few words.

-It's... it's quite weird. He keeps calling onto Rider class servants, however we can't be sure of what is going on at the moment. He's passing judgement onto them, could he be doing some kind of weird ritual.

-I though that was a given. Teach replies.

-Yes, but for what? He summons then kills rider servants but why?

-Hey Master who's that? Teach derails the conversation as he sees a man dressed in shorts with a flowery shirt, sunglasses on his head, hiking gloves and boots and a huge backpack on his shoulders passing them by.

-A stereotypical American tourist here? The man stops then reappears to their left walking towards them again.

-Hm... So that's what YOU see me as... If you don't see me like the others then... you're not from these parts. No, you aren't even from this world. What are you doing here?

-We could ask you the same thing you weirdo.

-Black Beard, that coming from you...

-What are you saying master? I'm a weirdo? Fujimaru and Mash look away not willing to answer.

-Pick yourself up, weirdos have a reputation to keep. The man replies to Black Beard crying.

-You understand me, so you're a weirdo too?

-He... he just admitted to being a weirdo.

-No! I'm not a weird. I'm a mage! Grand Caster candidate: Laurie Theodore Thorne.

-Grand Caster? Fujimaru and Mash ask.

-...Candidate? Teach finishes.

-Well, it's kind of a long story and I'm sure you have better things to do, so I'll let you be on your way. Have a nice day doing whatever you're doing.

-Aren't you even going to ask us what we are doing? Teach asks in anger.

-Something weird I presume! Laurie responds.

-Wait a minute! Fujimaru stops him in his tracks.

-Could you be, by any chance trying to stop the end of the world.

-By force of circumstances, yes. Laurie looks around himself then continues:

-This right here is called an Andean road. The Incas invented such kind of roads but, in this world the Aztecs are ten thousand years old and incorporated most of the Meso-America and south American cultures into their own. Technically they invented them this time around. I'm telling you all that because these roads are heavily trafficked, especially in this time and age when the empire is at it's maximum splendour. This is just a very round about way of telling you, get in the bushes and I'm going to explain you most of what's happening. The group leaves the road and hides in some bushes where they won't be easily discovered. Laurie summons from the ground roots and they all sit on them.

-So... where and when we are I guess are your first questions.

-We kind of guessed those two, what is going on is more important.

-Well you've ruined my boasting. Alright. Here's what's going on. My world was at a cross-road. Some events lead to it splitting in two. One copy is I think similar to yours, the second copy is this one and it's fighting for supremacy. The one behind all this desires to eliminate all other possible timelines, turning the world from a tree with infinite branches into a straight line. He's kind of succeeding with a scary amount of ease. I have no idea how many world have already been set up in flames.

-Wait! So our world can be destroyed any moment?

-No, not really. It may not look like it but I've studied your "world signature" if I may call it that. Your world is just as valid as the split world that created this whole situation. Pretty much, it will disappear only when the one behind all of this manages to eliminate all others. I'd say you have a few weeks, maybe a month.

-So if we defeat whoever is behind all this everything will be solved?

-Well, first off, easier said than done, second off, there's... a secondary source of world destruction. You see, the other half of this world, the one where everything started from was far faster at sending a team to intervene, however their approach was, different. They started a holy grail war, but instead of using a grail they used an item made from several fragments of numerous grails stitched together. Their plan worked, however... The war will lead to an all mighty wish that will solve all of their problems, however, if they don't actually fight this war to the end the world will be destroyed and the energy released from their catalyst is overflowing and it has the same effects as the world being set on fire.

-You seem awfully calm from all this.

-Well, it's not like my world is going to burn, I'm more native than you to this world!

-What are you going to do to stop all this.

-Well, I was planing on getting to Tenochtitlan, getting myself a servant, kicking some ass then getting back home.

-We are trying to get ourselves a servant too! Perhaps we can hit two birds with one stone! The Ruler of this holy grail war has a box in which are held all the relics necessary to summon any servant from history! If we get our hands on those relics we can summon servants to stop all this!

-Well, that cursed item.

-It's cursed?

-Cursed as in giving really bad luck. I remember studying it once, its horrible. Yes, it has the potential of summoning any servant from any place and time but the selection is completely random with a slight bias in giving you servants you are going to have a hard time controlling.

-It's still worth a chance. Fujimaru replies. Laurie scratches his face pondering what to do for a second.

-Well, I really could use some help knowing what I'm about to face so I guess I could give you a helping hand. Our goals are similar if nothing else. The group decided to start travelling together towards where Ruler was.

-Master... Teach approaches Fujimaru and asks:

-Can we really trust this guy? He is sketchy as hell. I have a bad feeling about him.

-I can hear you! Laurie shouts from further in front of them. No, you can't think without me hearing you!

-Is that true? Mash asks slightly embarrassed.

-No, but that's what people usually ask when I can hear them whispering around me. I was born with a very sensible nose and ears, I can smell and hear a whole lot better than what people think I can so I overhear many things to the point where people think I can read minds. I also can't prove that so you'll have to take me on my word.

-Way to sketchy. Teach repeats before picking up the pace. After a few hours of walking the sky turns black again.

-Don't worry. As long as you are with me they won't attack you. Keep on walking, there's nothing to stop us now!

-Speaking about walking. Master, how are you keeping up? We've been walking for hours without stopping.

-Actually, I'm not tired at all surprisingly.

-It's nice isn't it? Being able to shape the world around you with magic. For some reason you can't see me as I truly am but next to my right hand there's a staff floating in the air. Through it I cast an aura of rest and healing, everyone in a radius of ten meters around me will be full, well rested and energetic. You can't get sick either but I still don't recommend poisoning yourself with a dart frog, if you get out of the area while the poison is still active it will hurt you. It takes around ten to twenty minutes to heal once poisoned so be careful. Going even further south they reach an area covered by the jungle, filled with small settlements around various cenotes. The populations however has been driven out by the presence of the servants fighting.

-Isn't it fitting. For all purposes this place looks more and more like what people think it should be. A cenote is considered the gate to the underworld, it's only fitting to have ghost towns around them. It only irks me a little that the fight had such an impact on the population. Tell me, what do you think when you go to another world. How do you see it's people in it?

-There is no difference, people in this world are just as much humans as they are in my world.

-Yet this is a simulacrum. This world should not exist after all, a separation from the true timeline, toppled by the fact that the grail should have brought them into a manufactured world to let loose. These servants are world class destroyers, each and every one of them, yet the pounce around without any consideration for the surrounding world as if their actions have no consequences. I am a lover of humanity, as a concept as much as a concrete thing. That's why, standing idly by watching them destroy this place while they should be somewhere else, off into a world created for them to destroy aggravates me to no end. The sky is turning dark and the skeleton rises from beyond the mountains again.

-I spoke too much didn't I and time is wasting. The place where Ruler is shouldn't be too much far off. The cenotes start releasing a terrible sound and giant hands crawl out of the wells grasping at the air.

-Get yourself caught by one of those and even I can't get you out. They'll drag you straight to the underworld they will.

-It wouldn't be the first time.

-I don't know what you are talking about but trust me, the Mexica underworld you don't want to visit. It takes four years, sixteen if you are like me to cross it and if Mictlantecuhtli finds you he's certainly going to devour you out of spite. As they were getting closer a beam of light bursts out of one of the cenotes and two people, a man dressed in full armour covered by the pelt of a jaguar riding a weightless iron horse and a teenage girl, burst out. As soon as the light died down and the horse came down to earth, for it was running up the walls of the cave, high above the trees

walking on the top of the leaves on the highest branches, a few arrows hit the Rider and the horse.

-Rider! The young girl shouted as he took the arrows protecting her from the enemy fire. The arrows hit him and he falls off his horse.

-Don't worry master. I've fought under fire from a twenty thousand enemy guns, a few arrows won't even damage me. As two servants were preparing to fight the group decided to sneak around and find Ruler.

-If two servants start fighting around here, Ruler will certainly be distracted and we'll manage to steal the box from him.

-I wouldn't count that much on that. Raider just came out running from a cenote, he must have been inside of it when Mictlantecuhtli appeared, this means the gates to the underworld opened with them just on the threshold. Somehow he got out, but I can sense his power has taken a beating. Comparing him to the other servant I feel not far away from here, he's at about one tenth of his whole power. The girl jumps off the horse and reaches towards Rider.

-That's it Archer. Pay them back for our last meeting. Kill Rider before his powers return to him.

-That would be the only fair way to do it. Archer answers back to his master. The insulting position in which he finds himself now is making Archer very angry. The previous time the two fought, in a previous world created by grail, the two servants found themselves to be evenly matched, both choosing to fall back as the only way t win was to kill each other's master. Rider however had the forethought of hiding his master away. The young girl Yuna, had been hidden while Cyrus, Archer's master was very close to their previous battlefield. If they wouldn't have chosen to stop the fight, Rider could have easily killed off Cyrus winning the battle, but the two decided to take it honourably and leave. The fact that Archer made a choice against his plans angered Cyrus very much, to the point where he used a command spell to force Archer into doing whatever is possible to kill Rider if he is ever to see him again. And the situation was ripe. Rider's powers has just been decimated, literally and archer had a clean shot on him.

-Do it, kill him, kill him now.

-Master... Archer says without moving a muscle. On one hand he didn't wanted to win in such an unworthy way, on the other hand he wanted to fire his arrow. Rider has been clutching the golden cross he has attached to his armour for the whole time. There was a reason why even while weakened Rider wasn't taken out by Archer's arrows, two of his talents kept him alive. His Iron Will made him close to impervious to damage for a short while and although his power was diminished ten folds so was the damage taken from Archer's attack. Now, his faith was powering him up allowing him to stand on his own two feet. Rider's horse in one movement allowed him and Yuna to get on. The horse and his rider were in perfect synthony to the point where they were two separate beings with a single will.

-Is this a bloody joke? Laurie shouts as he looks at the sky.

-I command you Archer, with the power of my second command spell, eliminate Rider from the face of he earth. Use your noble phantasm and wipe him and everything else off, out of existence. Archer stands tall, no longer pointing his arrow towards Rider. He pulls his bow back to the maximum of his power and launches a single arrow into the sky.

-It's now or never Rider. This is the true power of the man that challenged the world devourer! My name is my weapon! My army shall swallow the earth! The arrow started freezing and increasing in size until it stopped moving upwards remaining stationary into the air, increasing in size until it reached the same volume and shape as mount Everest itself. The tip of the upside-down mountain points straight towards Rider.

-Show me the will to push through! Rider sits on his horse, immovable as a wall.

-Master; what do we do in moments like this? Rider asks with a full teeth grin on his face. Yuna half afraid to answer leans and points forward.

-That's right. That's the only thing a man can do in moments like this. The only thing to be done, to provide a miracle. Master!? Are you ready to see something incredible? Rider shouts at the top of his lungs.

-Listen Archer! My name is John Sobiesky the 3rd and you shall witness the might of the proud polish people. Arrows were raining from the sky but each missed. The ground starts to shake. Birds and animals are running from the forest. Suddenly the sound of drums and horses can be heard from a distance then the whole horizon was covered by red eyed horsemen ready to charge. Their horses were black as pitch and their eyes were burning with rage. They all came charging down at once with Rider in front of them.

-Forged in the fires of the Ottoman army. Chunks of ice start falling over the horsemen but no one was hurt, they just dodged it or started charging over the falling ice.

-Strengthen by the winters of our lands. The horsemen starts running one on top of the other towards the mountain of ice.

-United in action and purpose! They were charging upwards into the ice starting to pierce it with their lances.

-WE ARE THE POLES! Rider was laughing out of control as his army smashes into the giant ice block. Slowly it started to crack under the pressure of all the charging, raging horsemen bellow until it shattered. Once the ice mountain was broken Archer realises what is about to happen. Archer calls for his own horse, picks up his master and starts running.

-What's gotten into you Archer. Cyrus angrily asks.

-Raging poles falling from the sky master. Sobiesky's army was not done, now it was falling from the sky all over the rainforest. It was a devastating mix of ice and winged hussars that was falling over Archer. Every time a winged hussar hit the ground he turns to pitch. Archer leaves the strains of the horse to his master as he turns around and starts shooting the hussars. They were overwhelming.

-Archer, if you have any idea of how to get out of this then do it fast.

-Only one master. Well Sobiesky, if you have the courage to announce your name before using your noble phantasm then let's fight on equal ground. Archer's commands spells start to glow on his master's hand turning from the symbol of an Archer to that of a Rider. SOBRIESKY! Archer shouts. I am ready to face you on equal ground! The now Rider servant blows his horn and the whole mongol army arrives shooting arrows at the winged hussars. The horse Archer was previously riding now turned into a Himalayan yak dressed in ceremonial attire. The two armies of horsemen clash with Sobiesky's laughter and Archer's war horn in the background. Everything turns to dust and ice. There is only silence now. From beneath the pitch and ice Archer comes out with his Yak. No sign of life for kilometres.

-Do you think you've done it Archer I mean...Rider?

-Hopefully, but now having faced that stubborn bastard twice I'm... Archer stops. Through the fog and ice he sees the shape of a man. Then there is a horse walking next to him with another person riding it. Sobiesky is still laughing. In his right hand he holds his golden cross.

-Could I call you Rider, my enemy? I gave you my name, you should give me yours! Sobiesky points his cross at him.

-I'm Jebe! The man that shot dead the great Khan's horse from the other side of the battlefield!

-Well Jebe... the mongols are dead. His cross creates a green light that turns into a very large polish sabre. Sobiesky rest the blade on his shoulder and charges on foot towards Jebe. Jebe's yak stops the blow with his horns. When the green blade hits the yak it starts moving and the edge of the blade turns into a chainsaw. Jebe holds on as Sobiesky and his yak are trading blows. Out of nowhere Sobiesky coughs out blood. He falls back a few steps than takes a breath. Jebe shots a few arrows at him. The first two he deflect but the third hits Sobiesky right in his left shoulder. Jebe's yak charges Sobiesky. He falls on his back holding onto the yaks horns otherwise he would be pierced by them. The yak screams as his horns are nearly piercing through Sobiesky's armour. Yuna on the iron horse save him though. The horse charges at Jebe, turns around and kicks the yak with his hind legs, Yuna pulls Sobiesky on the horse, grabs his cross then attempts to run away.

-My cross, give it to me girl! Yuna hands over his cross to Sobiesky. Jebe is above them. His bow is fully drawn and all the arrows are pointing at the two.

-God, my people, see me through! In one last push Sobiesky jumps towards Jebe and attacks him with his sword. They both fall on the ground, Jebe next to Sobieksy. Yuna and Cyrus rush to help their servants.

-Damn you... polish king... your horsemen were stronger...

-You've made a huge mistake Archer... You've got too close where I had the advantage. Archers always lose to Sabers.

-Stop lying you bastard...Darn it, we should have bout changed to Rider. That would have been the only fair way to end it.

-Right... well, if you can get back on your feet we can try it again.

-No way I can do that. You have a monstrous noble phantasm... I used bout my Archer and Rider noble phantasms to fight it and I still got hit worst than you did...

-He... if only I could I would have shown you my Saber noble phantasm. I bet you mongol would have loved it... you and your... sieges.

-Keep it a secret, I'll see it next time we meet, in the next war... Jebe starts disappearing.

-Fool, this is the last one.

After the struggle, when the snow has stopped falling and there were no more knights roaming the tops of the buried jungle a hand pops out of the snow.

-I thought I was about to die! Teach shouts as he manages to get his head out of the snow. Fou tries to help him out followed by Mash.

-Where is master? Is he buried underneath the snow?

-Hew. A little more and we would have been done for. Laurie says approaching the two with Fujimaru following him.

-Master, are you alright? Mash rushes towards him leaving Teach behind.

-Hey, help me out of here would you? Laurie approaches Black Beard and pulls him out of the snow.

-Sorry, sorry. I underestimated their power, my illusion didn't worked perfectly.

-Illusion you say. Da Vinci intervenes... Hm...

-Is there a problem?

-No, you just reminded me of... someone.

-That's right. Even his skills are the same, no matter how you look at this he's just like him. Fujimaru and Mash say looking with a hint of disgust on their faces towards Laurie.

-I feel like I did something that I shouldn't have.

-How are we still alive though? We had a mountain fall on our heads.

-Oh, that was just my special talent. It's something I came up with... a while back. I create a copy of our own image in front of us to be hit by whatever attack. When the copy is struck it sends our physical bodies away from harm and creates a second copy continuing the cycle until the threat is gone. It is a bit mana intensive so Black Beard here got the short end and his last copy didn't manifested.

-It's not like much of valour would have been wasted.

-Thanks for your support everyone! Teach says frustrated.

-Unforgivable! Cyrus shouts while climbing over the snow.

-You were a failure Archer, look where your honour got you! And you, a master with such little skill made a mockery out of me. Cyrus rushes towards Yuna, who was standing next to Rider.

-If one thing goes my way today, your servant won't be able to lift even a finger as I drive my blade through your throat! Cyrus shouts as he's about to stab Yuna.

-That's enough! Fujimaru shouts.

-You've lost the fight. Even if you hurt her now nothing will change.

-I won't be the bigger man. I'll have the satisfaction of knowing she won't be the one to claim the Crown of Life for herself.

-If you don't back down I'll have to hurt you.

-Neither of you will do such a thing. A voice calls from the sky. It was Ruler! A man dressed all in red with a big hat over his hand and a black overcoat having a cleaver, hidden smile on his face as if plotting something.

-Cyrus, master of Archer. You have lost your right to compete for the Crown of Life, thus you can no longer interfere with the war. Following the rules of the tournament, since you have not been eliminated you shall be offered mercy and sent back to your world. Since the one who defeated you is still here, she has the right to decide whether you are to be granted this mercy or not.

-Do it Ruler, kill him! Sobiesky shouts but Yuna stops him.

-No, this man shall see mercy.

-Master. Even if this battle stops here, he's the kind of person that holds grudges. He might come and stab you in the back when you least expect him.

-And that's just fine. Ruler, I've made my choice, send him back to our world.

-Very well. You have been given mercy, Cyrus. As for you, interlopers, you shall not hurt any of the participants, least you want to test my anger... And you, don't you dare do anything. We shall take our leave as soon as everyone gathers to the... Never mind that. Master of Rider, you know what you have to do. Ruler says before taking Cyrus and leaving.

-Come master. We have to reach the gateway to our next destination. Rider says as he struggles to get up.

-We might not be allowed to intervene but we aren't stopped from giving you aid. Fujimaru says as he approaches the two trying to help them out.

-It's not needed.

-Rider... take their aid, you know I can't help you... much.

-Fine, master.

-My name is Fujimaru Ritsuka.

-I am Mash Kyrielight, a pleasure to meet you.

-Fou, Fou.

-And this is Fou. This right here is... our guide of sorts, Laurie and this is... Edward Teach.

-Eh? Did I sense a note of sadness in your voice right now master? It was sadness right, are you sad that I cannot summon a whole mountain and destroy half a forest? Are you.

-Nice to meet you. My name is Yuna and this is my servant Rider. I presume you've heard him scream out his name before.

-Rider class servant, John Sobiesky.

-You know, you know. I'm a rider too. Teach tried to grab the attention of the conversation but everyone was already on their way.

-So, what was all that about reaching a gateway? Laurie asks.

-The powers of the Crown of Life are unstable. It has to create parallel words where to release it's energy in order to allow our servants to sustain themselves in the material world. Whenever a servant is defeated the Crown has to do a hard reset by purging the world where we are and create a new one. This is already the second world we've been to.

-The second? What was the first?

-We've been to Jerusalem, during the years of the Roman Empire. It was pretty chaotic, Archer picked a fight with Berserker, a giant Dog with a spear going through the roof of his mouth all the way through his skull as if he has a horn on his head. The two fought and somehow, Assassin got killed in the process. We've fought Archer too but our battle had to be postponed. Once a servant has been defeated there can be no more battles as the Crown would get overcharged and everything could blow up.

-Hm, I wonder how did you got here then? This world hasn't been created by the Crown and for sure the Crown has no effect over it. Once you leave this world will stand.

-It was an incident. While in the previous world two servants got in a fight with a local figure. If we travel to a place and a certain point in time when a servant lived, we could meet that servant going around his business without intervening into our battle. However, it seems that one such servants got in a fight with two participants leading to quite a violent display which damaged the Crown. Because it had to repair itself, the crown took us to the nearest world it could find.

-And you had to come here and destroy everything. Tlaloc is going to have a stroke when he's gonna have to deal with all the melted water... Ah, I can't see this any more! Laurie shouts as he takes everyone and teleports them over the nearest mountain.

-This... is... good.

-How did you do that? Everyone asks.

-Hm, I've heard such kind of magic can be used by high tier mages but I've never seen it myself, nor do I dream of using it. Yuna says.

-Eh? Is this not normal in your world?

-No, teleportation is a thing, however, I've never seen people do it like this without any preparation.

-I told you I was a contestant for the role of Grand Caster. Too bad I'm still alive so I can't become a servant.

-That's nice... Rider says before falling to the ground again.

-What's wrong with him?

-It's not him, is me. I'm a very bad mage, I don't know how to feed him my mana properly and he has to sustain himself by taking small sips of my energy instead of having a constant stream of power. He is having a hard time gathering his strength.

-What can we do to help?

-Unless you are able to make a contract with him, nothing. And I can assure you, making a contract with an unbound servant will lead to your death. These command spells we have on our hands, they are a special seal that converts our mana into the energy needed to feed our servants, without the seal, we would have all our life energy drained in an instant. The seals cannot be, exchanged, not even if the servant chooses another master.

-Can't you teach her how to do that Laurie? You are a grand Caster candidate...

-Sure! Sure, I can totally do that. Just, give me some time and space. Laurie sits down and starts looking through his backpack.

-You know, you might have seen me pulling a backpack down from my shoulder and looking through it while in reality I cast a spell that leads to a pocket dimension. When I'll find out why that happens I'll tell you. Anyhow... Ah, here it is. Laurie turns around holding a thick book in his hand.

-This is the book containing some basic informations about magic. I'm going to give you the advanced, intensive course, is that alright with you.

-Sure, I'm ready to learn.

-Clench your teeth.

-Ah? Laurie slams Yuna's head with the book making her fall to the ground. Rider suddenly jumps on his feet angry.

-What do you think you're doing?

-I can do it! Yuna shouts.

-I know how to give you energy, Rider!

-A slap? You transferred knowledge by slamming her head with a book? Fujimaru asks slightly disturbed.

-I have to memorise all the actions, words and materials needed for each spell I cast. Wasting brain power giving words to spells with such simple effects would be horrible. So, in order to transfer all the knowledge from a book to one person through magic I decided the best way is to slap them over the head with the book. Laurie also gives Yuna some tissues. It is not, necessarily from the slap, but her nose might start bleeding a little if a lot of knowledge is forced into her head too fast.

-You are a walking mockery of magic! Rider calls Laurie out.

-Funny that you say that. Mockery is my speciality.

-It's getting dark again. Is the giant skeleton going to come up from the ground once more?

-Nope, it's just the sun setting over the jungle. Let's shuffle away and find some shelter before it get really dark. Wandering through the jungle they come about some abandoned houses where they decided to set up camp. While everyone is busy lighting a fire and cleaning things around the house Laurie was planting seed in the ground.

-What are you doing over there?

-We're going to need to borrow some of the vegetables for supper tonight. I'm just investing into paying them back once they return. Careful around the edge of the garden, we're on a small island.

-Doesn't this remind of Babylon master? The houses look somehow similar.

-Do they now? Laurie asks with a hint of aggression. Noticing it Mash replies in a more compromising tone.

-The architecture certainly is different and the shape is wider too. This house is far more comfortable.

-Indeed. Rider says. I was expecting... Laurie gives him a quick glare as to signal "careful what you are about to say".

-... I was expecting a more austere life style fore farmers in the middle of the jungle, not such... finesse.

-The Mexica were influenced greatly by the presence of their gods. Tenochtitlan, the city of endless wonders puts this whole world to shame. Once you have a house made of gold just around a corner a house of marble looks poor in comparison. It's a sing of prosperity when peasants dine on expensive food and live in comfort. Alright. I'm done stealing from the garden, let's go ahead and cook something.

-Wait, are those carrots? Did the Europeans already made so much contact with the natives? When we saw a few ships on a beach they looked like they just arrived and the locals were certainly not friendly with them.

-"Long ago, one of the gods left Aztlan and travelled the world, returning with many gifts and knowledge" it's what the story says. Good for nothing god of knowledge I'd say, forgot to learn how to make gunpowder and iron, came back with carrots and watermelons. Everyone went inside and Laurie started cooking.

-This, peculiar animal. Is it common in your world? I've never seen something like this. It urges me to pet it. Rider says while staring at Fou.

-No, he's not common at all. He was a Beast but lost all his power and became this small creature you see before him.

-A Beast?

-You've never had to deal with such beings? They are creatures of enormous powers that even the stronger of servants have a hard time dealing with them.

-I miss the people we've met in Babylonia. Thinking about it, aren't we in South America, we might meet Jaguar man and Quetzalcoatl again.

-Son of a … Laurie starts shouting while holding his left hand.

-Obsidian knives, don't play around with them. You'll cut off your whole hand before realising.

-You are bleeding. Let me take a look at the wound.

-There's no need. My hands are perfectly healthy.

-Yet your glove is stained red with blood. Please remove it and let me have a look. Pushed further and further by Mash and Yuna's requests Laurie is forced to remove his glove, knowing all to well the awkward situation that is going to create.

-There's a hole in it. No matter how you look at it there's a hole in Laurie's hand.

-Yet the hand is perfectly fine, how can one move his fingers with a hole through his hand.

-Well, you see... I've had this accident once and I got hurt and I didn't knew how to properly heal my hand so now it has a hole in it but it works just fine, it's a totally normal hand with a hole in it. Rider approaches him from the back and grabs Laurie by his head.

-What kind of games are you playing, remove the other... Are you so blasphemous that you take His resemblance or am I the one that should fall to my knees in penance? There was a burnt circle around his forehead, normally covered by hair it was revealed when Rider pulled him.

-Remove you're other glove.

-Fine. I have two holes, but I don't have a hole in my ribs if that was your next question. For my legs and feet I got impaled once through them. As for my head, I was having my hair done once for a wedding and there was this other customer that accidentally hit the hair dryer, it lowered itself and because of the water in my hair it had a short circuit and burnt my forehead, really badly I may add.

-Your wound already closed!

-I'm a mage, that's part for the course with me you know. Laurie returned to his cooking while trying to give as many and just as vague informations about his wounds. Little did anyone knew, that the place on the table where his hand was, the knife cut all the way through the stone. Before going to bed however the group takes a few moments to discuss their next plan.

-So Ruler knows about our existence already. How are we to steal his box of relics now.

-Reliquary.

-What?

-A box where you store relics is called a reliquary. Rider says.

-Don't mind him, he always wants to boss people around. Yuna replies.

-We take our chances around the gateway. I throw some dust in his eyes, you steal his box and go on your merry way no longer destroying this world.

-If it would be that simple.

-Well, it could be that simple. If we get to Tenochtitlan I might be able to pull some strings, get some favours and maybe have some people help us out on this one. I knew this one guy once, had the courage to steal a piece of... you know what. Never mind that story. It's getting too late for that. The house has a bathroom inside, pretty nice I know for the time and location, use that if needed. If for some reason you have to absolutely go outside, don't... and if you won't listen to my warning at least wake me up if you have to. The night passed without any incidents, nothing special at all so in the morning they could leave for Tenochtitlan without any delay.

-Step lively, one, two, one two, Rider! Why don't we make a chariot and have your horse pull it.

-It's a war horse, he's not meant to pull chariots, it would destroy his war forget physique.

-This is going to be a long, boring road. Laurie stops, pulls his bag in front of him and starts searching though it. After a little while he pulls out a handful of brightly coloured pieces of paper and scatters them all around.

-What are you doing Laurie? Mash asks.

-Increasing our luck a little. The confetti burrow into the ground without any direct effect. After a few minutes however, travelling down the road to Tenochtitlan they could hear some animals. "Moo, Moo" Something was humming down the road.

-A cow? Around the corner peeks out the massive head of a bison, then another. Two giant bison were pulling a cart behind them. They were huge. Only their heads were the size of a human. Laurie approached the driver and asked for a lift. The driver cheerfully agreed and everyone jumped in.

-I've never seen bison so huge! Yuna says.

-These are my family's greatest prize. I live on a farm where we rise such animals as livestock and for war.

-Az...

-No, no, no. Don't use that word. These are Mexica, that's how they like to call themselves.

-Right. Still, I've never heard of bison being used in the Mexica empire.

-If not for the fact that you are obvious outsiders I would have called you mad! The driver says.

-Long ago, thousand of years in the past, the gods lead the Mexica and made them spread all over the continent. In the south we united with the Inca and the Maya creating one unified nation. In the north, we've hunted down those savages for sport. Ha, I can't wait for the day my sons are all grown up so I can take them on their first man hunt. To think they had these amazing beasts at their disposal and did nothing with them, just ate them. Listen well. The bison is a majestic beast, it can pull things, it can push things, you can ride wan into battle and nothing will stand against you. Head me, one day there will be a bison god! The man was going on about his stories while Laurie was cheerfully listening to him, all others were terrified hearing about going north with his children to hunt people for sport. Teach, who was a little slow and didn't caught up on that detail is more interested however, on how you ride a bison into battle.

-So, how would you even fight riding one of these?

-You don't ride these kind of bison, you ride one of the bigger ones, those breed for war. They are even bigger! You saddle them up, cover their front and back in armour and use either a long spear, a bow or an atlatl to shot at the enemy while holding onto the bison for dear life. The war breed is far more aggressive with massive horns. Sometimes they would bite off the head of the enemy in the mist of battle or they will rise on their hind legs and crush a man into dust. You should listen to my old man talking about how once he lead a charge of bison through the stone walls of a city and broke them down.

-A charge of such beasts? Rider interrupts.

-It can't be very effective, how fast are they?

-Twice as fast as a man, three times if they are really going at it. But speed is not a factor, they are like a living wall. You dress their front in plaid armour and no arrow will be able to pierce them. You put sharp blades on their horns and hooves and hold on as they form a line and mow down everything in their path. One of them can easily break down a gate if it goes at full power but it's more dangerous for the rider as he could be thrown even ten meters off the bison. If not for them and for the Coatlus. Giant, enormous flying beats that could swoop down from the sky and tear a bison to pieces. They are huge, five times larger than a human and their beaks are so sharp no hide or armour can resist them.

-Aren't flying cavalry weak to arrows though? Wouldn't their huge wings be an easy target?

-Well yes. That's why we have two kind of Coatlus. One type flies really high into the sky and drops stones over the enemy. Those aren't armoured at all. What's going to attack them that high into the sky? Those who fly a lot lower do wear armour and their tactics is more rushing towards the enemy killing as many as possible then run away. You'd be surprised how hard it is to hit a flying Coatlus in the middle of a battle. Besides, if a group of Coatlus is about to be sent into battle you can be sure a priest of Quetzalcoatl is going to bless them with the protection of the wind deflecting all enemy arrows.

-Quetzalcoatl goes to war? That isn't something I can easily see her do.

-Well, the thing is. Our empire is great, the greatest there is, this world is meant for us, literally designed to make us prosper. However, people are jealous and greedy, they cannot allows things to happen as they normally should so they tried to invade us. Not just our empire, our whole world. Gods from other worlds send their minions to attack us so our own Gods defend us from evil. How could we show our gratitude in any lesser way than fighting alongside them willingly throwing our lives against the enemies. Truly, a man cannot call himself such if he didn't fought at least once against the outside forces. But all is good in the end. No god is stronger than our four Tezcatlipoca so we are all safe. We used to have five but when the midnight wind sided against us the other four Tezcatlipoca had to hunt him down and imprison him in Mictlan.

-I think Coalt spoke about this once. There was... Huitzilopochtli, Tlaloc, Tezcatlipoca... but I don't remember a fifth one.

-Well, that's, normal. The fifth Tezcatlipoca is an outsider god. His name is Iztlacatini, the central Tezcatlipoca. He arrived to this world before the sixth cycle began witnessing the very birth of the two primordial beings. Wait! Did you said you've meet with Quetzalcoatl? Well, judging from your company you really must have met a lot of interesting people but to think Quetzalcoatl to be one of them too. I never got around asking, what are you planning in Tenochtitlan? Do you wish to speak with Huitzilopochtli?

-Perhaps. We need to find the cause of our worlds imminent destruction which lies within Tenochtitlan.

-You've really got a bad time to do that though. Quetzalcoatl and Huitzilopochtli have been having a feud for a few days by now and they've been fighting without end above the skies of Tenochtitlan. There's no harm in siblings not agreeing with one another every now and then.

-What are they fighting over?

-Oh well. Huitzilopochtli started killing off something called "Riders" from history and Quetzalcoatl didn't agreed with that so they started fighting.

-Huitzilopochtli has been killing off Riders?

-I've... Laurie shouts Teach up before he could finish his sentence. The driver didn't needed to know that Teach was one of the riders summoned to be eliminated.

-Fujimaru!

-Da Vinci? What is going on.

-I've... I've been looking through the saint graphs we've gathered throughout our missions... Most of them are blackened out.

-What?

-Drake, Marry Read, Columbus, Bartholomew, there's more. One that just appeared to be destroyed! Magellan, Amerigo Vespucci, Marco Polo... Most great explorers through history, sailors and travellers were eliminated. Teach's face goes completely dark, his silly expression knowing he escaped death turned sour and grim.

-I'm the last one left. Can't this cart go any faster?

-Calm down Teach! Getting angry won't fix anything.

-You don't have to hear this. Laurie says casting a spell of silence over the driver rendering him oblivious to what was going on.

-I'll murder him. I'll murder that piece of trash that killed them all! Teach shouts standing up. For a second he made everyone flinch at his anger, for only a second though as the cart's wheel passed over a rock he lost balance and bit his tongue.

-Faster then. Let's... Two beams of light meet in the air above their heads, both crashing into one another followed by an object falling from the sky.

-There she goes... Laurie says, with quite a bored tone, realising one of the two beams of light was Quetzalcoatl flying through the air, hit by one of Huitzilopochtli's attacks.

-Let's go check the crash site! Fujimaru says as the rest follow suit.

-Careful master. Whatever was hit mid air could be dangerous. The group rush towards the fallen object. Alas!

-It is the box!

-Quick Fujimaru! Grab onto it, pull out a servant and let's straighten things up! Fujimaru nearly dives towards the box. He opens it up and starts looking for a servant, but what an unlucky turn of events! Ruler was just around the corner searching for his box!

-I'll deal with him. Laurie says as he jumps over some bushes to intercept Ruler.

-Hey, hey, sup hommie. How's a going my dude? Are you shiggy diggy in the jungle.

-Oh, God forgive me for my sins. There's more than one that speak like that.

-Whacha all talking smak about?

-Nothing, you just reminded me of a person I hate from the bottom of my heart. What are you doing here anyhow? Hopefully you aren't trying to interfere with our battle.

-No, I quite want you to get as far away from here as soon as possible. Quite if capable I'd send you all away right now.

-Then help me find the item I've lost and I'll be on my way. Ruler says as he was heading towards the bushes behind which Fujimaru and the rest are using the box.

-What are they doing? Laurie thinks to himself. He closes one eye and is capable of seeing a vision of Teach pulling out of the box a piece of machinery.

-Is something the matter? Ruler asks noticing how Laurie wasn't pleased about him going that way.

-Ah... It's Teach! One of my friends, he has a terrible belly ache and told me to stand guard for him to... relieve himself. Hey, you B. Beard! How's it going.

-I'm doing my best. Teach responds struggling to pull out the thing from the box.

-It just... won't come out. He says as he struggles.

-Oh my god. Ruler says.

-Wait Black Bear, we'll give you a hand. Mash says.

-Oh my god! Ruler repeats.

-Master, you grab on that end and I'll hold onto the other. Ruler turns towards Laurie.

-Oh, both of you are useless, let me. I'll pull it out by force. Rider intervenes.

-Alright. Ruler jumps over the bushes too, curious, confused, afraid?

-What kind of sin against God is going on around here? It was unexpected, but instead of witnessing one of the most unholy scenes in the world he saw Teach and Rider pulling onto the box while they struggle to get an engine out of it. With one last push they managed to break it free and the engine is sent flying high in the air by Rider's strength.

-My box! Ruler shouts in anger. He's about to pull up his sword when a flaming arrow falls from the sky hitting the box square in the middle breaking it in several pieces.

-Fujimaru! Take as many as you can, you can still use the pieces as catalysts! The servants will be random but you'll still be able to summon them. Laurie shouts as he rushes before Ruler to stop him from killing everyone. He didn't had the chance as three things were happening in the sky at that very moment. A giant storm lead by Quetzalcoatl was protecting a flock of Coaltus flying towards Tenochtitlan. Huitzilopochtli summoned his army of eagle warriors riding on giant hummingbirds to fight back and amidst all of that the sky started to shatter. Literally shattering as if it was glass and an eye was opening through shattered sky.

-Witness the evil of the stars. Don't look for they'll hunt your soul and eat your dream, but can you? Can your curiosity be satiated without looking? A mad man was shouting at the top of his lungs flying through the sky held up by malicious powers.

-You shall not interfere! Huitzilopochtli orders as he pushes Mictlantecuhtli to attack the flying mad man. As the enormous, mountain sized skeleton rises to hit the flying stranger the eye in the sky closes and a drawing eerily similar to the Nazca lines appears beneath the clouds. An enormous bird with wings large enough to cause typhoons descends from above the clouds. Without moving it remains stationary in the air and Mictlantecuhtli's bounces right back. The bird was motionless and terrifying, it's body made out of some life like metal of a blackened colour nearly hides bellow the dark stormy sky. It's eyes do not more nor blink but it is stalking it's prey. The mad man disappears as the Nazca bird starts driving the people insane. Mictlantecuhtli, the one closest in contact with the bird has his mind completely warped and he starts attacking Huitzilopochtli with great fury. The sun god is hit out of the sky all the way through the great temple in the middle of Tenochtitlan.

-Be you a blood brother to me, which you are not! I'll rip out your heart for rising your hand against me and my city. Huitzilopochtli shouts as he gets back on his feet and starts battling Mictlantecuhtli. The god of death however is not the only victim of the madness and soon enough the Eagle warriors a top their hummingbirds start going mad, mutating into nefarious, inhuman creatures. Their skin turns into a sickly green, their eyes explode and tentacles start coming out of their orifices. The giant hummingbirds too become smaller variants of the terrifying immobile bird floating through the sky as their riders start shooting flaming arrows and magic towards the civilians. In the confusion Ruler disappears with some of the box fragments.

-They are firing over the civilians!

-We've got to stop them at once! Fujimaru says.

-We'll aid as much as we can.

-Mash, as long as the bulk of the fighting is done on the outskirts of the city, can you use your noble phantasm to protect the edge of Tenochtitlan?

-I'll do my best. Mash uses her Noble Phantasm but the overwhelming amount of fire power created by the magical bows and spells of the opponents makes it very hard for her to sustain the shield up.

-We've got to do something! Fujimaru says.

-Don't worry master. As long as you need sky superiority there is no other man suited better than me. A voice says as a plane descends from the sky.

-Berserker type servant, Manfred von Richthofen, better known as the Red Baron ready to rule the skies.

-A Berserker? The Red Baron under normal circumstances would have been summoned as a Rider but, because of the rituals Huitzilopochtli was doing in the centre of the city summoning riders and killing them off, Manfred's nature as a rider was, killed of if so to say, so his second nature as a berserker had to take control as he was being summoned.

-Master! I... can't hold them... any longer. Mash says as she's heavily struggling to keep the walls up.

-Do not falter! Laurie says as he approaches her and puts a hand over her shoulder.

-Are you ready to see the calibre of a Grand Caster's Noble Phantasm? Laurie for the first time shows himself as he truly is before everyone else, dressed in his unusual clothes, hands and arms covered in gold with an elaborated cloak over his shoulders. His whole body was painted and sections of it was revealed through the two piece costume he wore, very similar to that of Quetzalcoatl and Huitzilopochtli, only different in colour. A staff appears from thin air, floating by his side just as he told them. He grabs onto the staff and releases his power mimicking Mash's noble phantasm creating a variation of it. Giant Mexica walls start rising from the ground slowly turning into a glass like panel, inscribed and covered with precious gems and metals, that protects the city.

-This is it, my noble phantasm, God Like Forgery! It is capable of reproducing the effects of any other's servant Noble Phantasm adding my own strength to them. It allows me to mimic any Noble Phantasm I've ever seen. Pretty neat huh? There's a reason I'm a Grand Caster candidate! After Laurie rises the shield to protect the city, Quetzalcoatl's forces start clashing with the transformed Eagle warriors. Birds and reptiles start biting into one another, killing, ripping, tearing, burning, destroying. It was a storm of lightning, wind, feathers and blood.

-Order's master. My engine is calling me to battle!

-Right, we'll go aid Quetzalcoatl's forces at once.

-Then jump on master! This bird is big and strong she'll take us into the air. The Red Baron says as his plane transforms having enough seats for Fujimaru, Mash and Teach.

-Eh? Me too? What could I be helpful for?

-If nothing else, catch a bullet if needed. Master has to be kept safe and there's no safer place than next to me, the young girl can protect us with that shield of hers. These enemies are barely strong enough to scratch it. While I'll shoot from the front I need someone to shoot from the back and, until I grow a second body you'll have to do. Now get... Manfred is stopped as a bolt of lightning and fire hits the metal bird only for it to retaliate and send Quetzalcoatl flying straight towards them.

-Good thing teleportation is my speciality, or else everyone else would have been dead. Am I right? Come one, someone validate me. Laurie was fishing for compliments after he took everyone away from the centre of the impact.

-If you were that good at it, why didn't you stopped me from hitting the ground? Quetzalcoatl asks as she gets back on her feet out of the crater.

-Coatl!

-Oh! If it isn't young Fujimaru! Has your world been prospering since we've last met?

-Coatl, is good to see you again.

-Same to you Mash. So, what are you two doing... with such distasteful company?

-You are hurting me Quetzal.

-No I'm not and you deserve it. Finally decided to put yourself into motion and do something about this mess?

-I've always been in motion, just following it my own pace.

-That's no good! In lucha you have to keep up with your allies and be careful about your opponent's pace otherwise you'll be overwhelmed.

-She's lost her accent yet she still talks about lucha libre, master.

-Some things never change do they?

-So, do you have a plan, forgetful goddess of watermelons?

-I can't destroy it, even at my strongest, there is a barrier defending it from my attacks. Have you seen it too? The small birds all around act as amplifiers, increasing it's strength ten fold for each one. We must first destroy the birds then hit it with all our powers, Huitzilopochtli's too!

-If killing birds is all it takes then leave it to me!

-We'll help too! Yuna says.

-My horse can run on anything. Lady, as long as you can keep the rain going I can run on the drops of water.

-Of course! Quetzalcoatl says with a happy voice.

-Lets go then everyone. Time to take down that ugly thing from the sky! Be careful Fujimaru, now that we've got the chance to meet again I'll treat you to some cocoa and a few nuggets of wisdom.

-Don't drink anything she's gonna offer you! Trust me, is for the safety of all of us! Laurie says as he, half forcefully jumps on Quetzalcoatl's mount and head into the sky. The Red Baron follows suit as well as Rider galloping over the raindrops.

-Hey Rider! It would be pretty neat if you could show off that Noble Phantasm of yours so that I may copy it, don't you think.

-I'd love to, if not for the fact that I can't just throw them out like it's nothing. If I use it now the most I'd get out of it is maybe ten hussars. Can you use that?

-No! I need the whole Noble Phantasm or I'll be limited to what you use. As Laurie was shouting he was about to fly off if not for Quetzalcoatl that caught him by the belt and threw him back in saddle. Flaming arrow,s falling birds and reptiles make the skies a hazardous place to be but the Red Baron is in his element. Roaring engines and the sound of bullets leaving the two mounted machine-guns overpower even the sound of the storm.

-Higher! Higher! Manfred was shouting as he was bolting through the sky, dodging arrows and shooting down hummingbirds. Because of his skill the giant metal bird commands his army to focus on him more, throwing an endless volley of arrows and magic at him.

-Ah, she can take it. She's one sturdy bird. Manfred says as one of his wings gets slightly damaged by a flaming arrow.

-I'll go! Mash says as she rises upright and places her shield in front of her. Teach was giving his best, using both his Noble Phantasm as well as the back cannons of the modified plane to strike as many enemies as possible.

-Incoming! Teach shouts as one hummingbird dives right into the back of the plane. The suicidal attack takes the end of the plane down with it, Teach still standing on the plane thanks to quick reflexes and a lot of luck. When the bird hit the plane he jumped backwards out of his seat and Manfred rose the haul of the plane to make him land on it without rolling off. While the bird died in the impact the Eagle warrior jumped on the back of the plane trying to strike down Teach with his spiked mace. One square strike in the face from Teach does next to nothing.

-Damn it! Punches don't work against these bastard and I can't just throw a bomb at him at point blank range. While stabilizing the plane to compensate for the damage Manfred throws a hand axe, fashioned from a wrench and an axe head at Teach. He grabs it mid air and starts fighting back against the Eagle warrior.

-Man, this thing really packs a punch! Teach shouts as with one strike he broke through the shield of the Eagle warrior and managed to throw him off the plane.

-The whole plane is part of my Noble Phantasm, the axe is too!

-Man, I really got to get myself unbounded too! Teach shouts as he summons his Noble Phantasm again trying to shoot the incoming hummingbirds down.

-Watch out! Mash shouts as she jumps in between Teach and a volley of arrows.

-Damn it! They are dodging all my attacks!

-Use this! It's far faster than a cannon. Manfred shouts while giving Teach one of his handguns.

-Yeah! Now that's what's all about! Teach shouts as he's shooting down the flying enemies.

-Another one! Mash!

-I'm on it. A second storm of arrows hit into the plane while Mash tried to block the attack. Half of the arrows were blocked but half of them hit the target.

-The engine has been hit! Fujimaru says as he sees fire and smoke coming out of the engine.

-Don't worry. She can take it, I hope I can too! Manfred activates one of his skills and his body starts bleeding as the plane starts recovering.

-Look at me you imitations! I am the veritable king of the skies! His engine roars, his wings catch fire and his machine-guns starts spewing and endless stream of bullets. Manfred starts making manoeuvrers, up and down, sideways. His body started steaming as he was exerting himself to the maximum.

-I'll aid you.

-Don't! Manfred shouts.

-Master, if you start streaming your mana reserves to me it will kill you. Your body is not strengthened by the grail, you would be drained of all your powers in seconds. Yo, Teach, what are you doing? Keep firing. Manfred shouts as Teach stopped.

-These bullets drain you as well don't they?

-Do you have any other way of killing the enemy?

-Fujimaru, hold onto this for me. Teach says as he hands him back the handgun.

-I'll keep this one with me for a little longer.

-What are you planing to do?

-I'll be the first pirate to conquer to skies! Teach shouts as he jumps off the plane on top of a hummingbird below them. With the hand axe he strikes down the Eagle warrior in one hit grabbing onto the head of the bird, punching it into the direction he wanted it to go. From the hummingbird to another, he punches it until he gets close enough to jump onto the next, all that while dodging arrows and spears shot by the enemy.

-It's charging up an attack! Manfred says as the giant metal bird is preparing to strike them down.

-Mash! Fujimaru shouts as he strengthens her Noble Phantasm. The beam of energy departs striking straight into their defences.

-We won't make it.

-Yes we will. Instead of trying to dodge the attack Manfred flies right into it.

-Next time summon me as a rider will you. I'll survive a whole lot longer. It was brief, I guess history repeats itself, but it was one hell of a ride master!

-What are you planning on doing?

-Embrace the flames! A Coatlus comes and grabs Fujimaru and Mash out of the plane as it engulfs in fire. Manfred rides through the beam of energy right into the giant bird. The impact from the plane hitting the body of the metal bird is enough to shake it as well as the air, sending a shock wave all the way to the ground.

-That's it! The shield is down! Laurie shouts as he stands upright again.

-Quetzal!

-Right!

-Through contract, take all my power! Laurie's right sleeve rips apart. His right arm nearly makes him float above the flying reptile as mana fluctuates through his body. Although both alive, Laurie made a master-servant contract with Quetzalcoatl allowing him to empower her as a master can do with a servant for her next attack. His whole arm is covered in magical symbols all of them pointing to only one things.

-The wing of Meso-America, the lightning and storms that hide the sun. All of them are my domain. No evil doer shall leave unpunished my domain. Feathered serpent, Quetzalcoatl! Lightning, and wind surround Quetzalcoatl as she lifts up into the air. The clouds move and twist twirling around creating numerous tornados. At the apex of the storm, from above the clouds, the streams of wind that reach all the way above the atmosphere come down like a hammer driving the metal bird into the ground. As the wind pushes it into the dirt a giant feathered snake smashes in to eat, nearly swallowing it whole with one bite. The serpent twits and turns tearing the bird to pieces, shredding the metal and throwing it over the horizon. Once the bird was defeated all the remaining ones fall to the ground from the sky motionless. Quetzalcoatl stands victorious at the top of what remains of the metal bird.

-That was...

-... Amazing. Fujimaru starts and Mash finishes. Even Yuna and Rider are amazed at the strength displayed by her. Laurie falls on his back exhausted.

-Phew. It's hard keeping up with a goddess. He says, nearly way to loud so that she may hear him. Once the bird was done the barrier protecting Tenochtitlan was lowered revealing Huitzilopochtli standing over the immobilised body of Mictlantecuhtli. At the base of the grand temple there were several people still standing, the remaining four masters and their servants. While everyone fought outside the transformed Eagle warriors they held back the hoards of undead rising from Mictlan commanded by the god of death. Lancer, Berserker, Caster and Saber. Unfortunately the four disappear before Yuna and Rider got a chance to look at them. Their reasoning is that, through the battle they've already showed too much to the enemy, leading to them possibly being discovered for their true selves.

-You will stop your madness now Huitzilopochtli!

-Is that so? Has Iztlacatini join you?

-Are you? Quetzalcoatl turns towards Laurie.

-You are the fifth Tezcatlipoca?

-Do not ask him questions for he can speak only lies! Iztlacatini, the god of lies and deceits also, our master.

-Have you not realised he is the man responsible for all of this? He is the creator of the Crown of Life. For him, long ago, millennia before this world was created, in our world he joined his first Holy Grail war summoning Huitzilopochtli by his side as an Archer. He broke the rules, no, he broke the grail himself. Somehow, through the vengeful powers of Archer he managed to summon Huitzilopochtli as a whole divine being into the world and forced him to unlock all the secrets of the grail so that he might bend it to his will. He succeeded, with the help of Huitzilopochtli he won the first war and allowed his servant to make his wish. Huitzilopochtli used the grail to uncover the forces behind his imprisonment while the Mexica were being slaughtered by the European explorers and their forces. While Huitzilopochtli was busy punishing the wrong doers and creating a new world, this man here broke the grail to pieces and summoned a second one to start a second war. He summoned Quetzalcoatl as a rider and defeated all his opponents now that he was capable of summoning fully divine servants into the world. When the second war was finished he granted the wish to Quetzalcoatl, whom desired a better world for her people. The two desires permeated one another and once Huitzilopochtli created a new cycle by becoming a new sun, the world split in half and this one was created. A world designed for the Mexica to prosper, for the gods to live among them as kings and rulers herding them into a prosperous future. I will tell you the truth, as cruel as you might see this world, there is no better one to live in for it was designed to fit it's people and not the other way around. Alas, it was time for him to make his wish thus requiring a third grail and a third war. For the second time Quetzalcoatl offered herself to aid him in his goals as a reward for his allegiance with the Aztec Gods. The third wish was never used, he broke the last grail and used the pieces to forge the Crown of life, the item that burnt his head with it's power. Through it he became as close to God as one possibly can be. By now stained by the influence and benevolence of the Aztec gods he was flung into this world at it's very beginning acting as a creator god! While mighty in this world, venerated as nothing less than the highest influence in the pantheon he left all the others to burn. His actions were devastating for our world. The destroyed grails would have cancelled it from existence if not for this emergency plan to release all the pent up power through this final battle. After this, our world will be left powerless, there will be no more magic in it. Ruler explains the whole story to them.

-He could have stopped it all, but he sees us as so, unimportant that he didn't intervened at all.

-Oh, you are hurting me now Ruler. I care, about my people. The outside worlds, don't really exist to me, my old one, the one that has proofs that I was once human, I wish I could burn it to the ground myself. Yet I'm benevolent and stop my violent tendencies. You should consider it... as a boon.

-Can you stop all of this? Can you stop the end of the world?

-I could, but not any more. Huitzilopochtli's intent to wipe out the other worlds, was something the other gods had to decide amongst themselves. Here I stand divided between my friends questioning who should I aid, the god that is more in line with my views or the goddess which will keep me humane. As for the mess you people created by starting a war... well. Fix it yourselves.

-So what's it going to be master? Huitzilopochtli asks.

-Have you kept your promise?

-All the pulque in the city has been removed.

-Well...

-You can't possibly side with him!

-You are the reason I'm siding with him!

-He's going to destroy all the other worlds and kill all the rider type servants.

-It's not like we need them, this world cannot have holy grail wars and people cannot summon servants.

-I'm a rider type servant.

-He didn't killed you did he? Can he?

-Master. What are we witnessing? Mash asks.

-Isn't this supposed to be a battle between gods? Teach asks.

-Yeah, their attitude definitely doesn't match that of the situation.

-Wait! Fujimaru shouts at them.

-Why do you fight?.

-Are you deaf? I want vengeance for what happened to my people and she won't let me have it.

-Haven't you gain enough? Huitzilopochtli appears in front of Fujimaru, swatting away Mash with one hand while grabbing her master by the collar with the other.

-I am the god of war boy and I was insulted. Heroic spirits? These beings that lead to the massacre of my people, that lead to the extermination of my empire?

-Hatred leads only to...

-Further conflict and bloodshed? Where do you think you are?

-Leave the boy go Huitzilopochtli, he's nothing but a naïve walking hero complex. Laurie says.

-Quetzalcoatl, you've met him before, have you not shared any of your wisdom with him?

-Humanity needs to prosper on it own, we do not feed them, just pluck away at them as they grow making sure the plant is healthy. Still, what kind of big sister I'd be if I'd let you have your way? Tezcatlipoca was bad and I punished him, doing that again is not a problem. Especially if master helps me.

-I am considering join Huitzilopochtli on this one.

-Why? Both Quetzalcoatl and Fujimaru ask. Laurie scratches his nose not wanting to answer.

-Is something about pulque.

-What's that.

-An alcoholic beverage, but I do not know why he's so afraid of it. In order to fulfil both mine and Quetzalcoatl's wishes he eliminated the things that held us back before they even happened. In doing so those things never happened so we have no memories of the event itself. All I know is that someone stopped me from saving my people from the Spanish and that Quetzalcoatl got poisoned. How her getting poisoned relates to pulque is unknown to me, especially since that drink is not poisonous and all the reserves are kept under control.

-I wouldn't call it under control allowing everyone to make it as long as they've got the permit from a magistrate.

-The people would go mad without alcohol.

-Yeah, but I still would rather have it gone...

-Can't we help you with the alcohol problem?

-No, what you are going to do is leave this mess to me.

-Quetzalcoatl! I'll aid you. Fujimaru says as he tries to struggle away from Huitzilopochtli.

-You declare war on me, while I still have you by the neck?

-Yes. Fujimaru says with a confident voice.

-So be it then. Huitzilopochtli throws Fujimaru away and Quetzalcoatl joins his side.

-Let's do this! Fujimaru says but from behind Laurie appears and hits him over the head knocking him out.

-Don't be a fool you're going to get yourself killed.

-Oh, and here I was about to punch him in the gut. I was going to do it less painfully.

-He'll be fine, he's still within my aura of healing.

-Are you going to aid me then?

-Against my better judgement. While the two gods are equally matched in a one on one battle, being aided by Laurie and his powers is like having two cars race while only one of the two is allowed to use gas to function. Although fighting valorously, Huitzilopochtli simply cannot overcome by force nor with strategy the power of two divine beings combined.

-I'm not going to go easy on you. One move and you'll be reaching for the ropes. Here it is, the forbidden move that can make every god to cry out in pain like a child, Cobra Twist!

-A trip to the sun is what you need. Quetzalcoatl says as she kicks Huitzilopochtli all the way up to the top of the grand temple where the portal for the upper heavens lie.

-You'll join our brethren for a while brother. She shouts as she launches him through the portal forcing him into the realm of the gods. After two days of battle their dispute was over with Huitzilopochtli segregated to the realm of the gods for a while.

-Fifty two years shall suffice yes. You'll learn your lesson by the time you'll be allowed out again.

-Can we take her with us? Teach says. She could be really useful.

-I fear master cannot handle her any more. In the evening Fujimaru wakes up from the hit over the head.

-You've finally awake.

-What happened?

-Laurie saved you from fighting Huitzilopochtli and he helped Quetzalcoatl fight him off. Afterwards the two headed to Mictlan where they recovered the bones of the servants sacrificed by Mictlantecuhtli and restored them back to normal. Ruler disappeared during the fight and so did most of the other masters, only Yuna is still here. The portal that was about to open in order for them to leave was disrupted by all the fighting and it will take at least a day for it to reform.

-There's music in the distance.

-Yes. Quetzalcoatl and Huitzilopochtli usually fight over things. Once they finish fighting the people usually celebrate with a huge feast and dancing. Shall we join them too? We've been guaranteed... that there's no... human sacrifices for today... I want to leave, these people are scary.

-We'll continue our journey as soon as the portal is opened. We've stopped one threat but the war remains. We have to make sure everything goes as planed.

-That's true but for today let's enjoy ourselves. For the first time the sky was clear and the stars were shining bright.

-So, did humanity prospered after our meeting in Babylonia?

-Coatl? We've been... holding on. Rifts keep appearing, threats that have to be stopped keep coming up.

-Saving humanity is not an easy thing is it? Let me give you a little something that will ease your journey. Quetzalcoatl hands Fujimaru a golden necklace fashioned with a sea shell at the centre.

-As long as you wear it I'll be the one giving mana to the servants you'll summon in your journey not you. Divine mana is strong enough to sustain them without putting any strain on your body so they won't just run out of fighting spirit after a while.

-Can't you come with us?

-I wish I could. But there are things a goddess has to follow too. If I leave who's too keep the other Tezcatlipoca in check? Do you trust Iztlacatini or Huitzilopochtli to not interfere with the other worlds? If I leave they'll probably either try to invade or remove the other worlds from this one. Then there's the invaders that attack the borders of our civilisation. Being a divine entity does not excuse me to leave my duties behind, we Mexica divinities are kings and rulers as much as we are gods. Sometimes I wish I could join you in adventuring and battling around space and time for the sake of humanity. But that's enough doom and gloom for a lifetime wouldn't you agree master? Wouldn't it be better to celebrate and have fun for tonight? Singing and dancing is the best and then there's lucha libre of course! Though Iztlacatini disappeared and I cannot find him anywhere to ask him to join me for a match.

-Eh? He disappeared... I wonder if that's something to do with the prophecy that scares him so much.

-He might be a liar but he's a bad one at that. Whatever he's running away from he's doing for my sake, though I would prefer if he'd let me face my own problems head on. Quetzalcoatl lets out a big sigh before leaving in order to search for him. The two had to have a really serious talk about Laurie's incapacity to deal with problems regarding other people.

-I guess I'd better go look around as well. It's not always I get to see a Mexica city at the apex of it's glory. Later on, as the festivities continued and Fujimaru spent some time wondering around, trying out some of the food, he notices a glitter of light in the distance. There was someone sitting on the stairs leading to the top of the Grand Central temple dedicated to all the five Tezcatlipoca and the creator gods. Fujimaru heads that way thinking he would find Laurie there and he was right. He climbs all the stairs all the way up to Laurie.

-You shouldn't be here.

-The party is almost over anyhow.

-No, you misunderstood me, mortals literally aren't allowed on the... ah, never mid. Sit and stare at the sky with me.

-Quetzalcoatl was looking around for you.

-That she was.

-She wanted to tell you, that she wishes to face her problems head on.

-I know... Laurie says with a defeated voice.

-Are you familiar with what happened to her? In the previous cycle, what lead to her disappearing?

-Is it something to do with alcohol?

-Indeed. Quetzal was the ruler of a city, one in direct contrast with Tezcatlipoca. The two were responsible for creating the world once, she resurrected humanity by going all the way to Mictlan and facing Mictlantecuhtli with all her divine powers gone in order to take back the bones and give them life again. After humanity was brought to life a great beast, Cipactli, as large as life itself, the universe manifested in a single mindless entity started eating them. The two gods decided to hunt down the beast and Tezcatlipoca acted as bait. His left leg got eaten up but the beat was brought to the surface and slain. With the world created, there had to be a sun to lead the people forward. Tezcatlipoca decided to throw himself on the fire and became the first sun, but he was weak and incapable of heating up the world. Quetzalcoatl was the one that took his place. Her sun was burning brightly in the sky but Tezcatlipoca's influence over the people corrupted them to the point where they turned into monkeys. The third was Tlaloc, the god of rain and he was just as good a sun as Quetzalcoatl was before him, but Tezcatlipoca stole his wife and in anger Tlaloc started raining fire and destroyed the world once again. The fourth cycle was heated up by Tlaloc's sister, however her sun was struck down as Quetzalcoatl and Tezcatlipoca were fighting once again. In the fifth cycle, when Quetzalcoatl was ruling as a king over her own city, Tezcatlipoca dressed up as a merchant and tricked her into drinking poisoned pulque. The poison weakened her and Tezcatlipoca managed to defeat her, gained access to the city and conquered it. Unable to fight back Quetzalcoatl burnt down her own temple with all the treasures inside. Unable to take her city back she went on a journey in order to find a way to rid herself of the poison and defeat Tezcatlipoca. The conflict between the two is inevitable in every cycle and, if not for the fifth Quetzalcoatl always won. During her journey she met me and through the holy grail she, altered history a little. I became a god and unknowingly came to this world thinking of it as my own creation. Ages past and I recognized this as the sixth cycle, a union between Quetzal's, Huitzilopochtli's and my wish. To save Quetzalcoatl from the defeat, I hid away all the pulque there was, Tezcatlipoca never managed to poison her and she never had to leave her city. Everything was nice and perfect, until I learnt about the cyclical nature of the Mexica world. Her getting in trouble with pulque is inevitable, although instead of getting poisoned she's gonna do something far worst and I really don't want that to happen.

-So you're hiding rather than protecting her?

-Well, I fear in her madness, she'll make me, ME! Her victim.

-Are you gonna die?

-Inside... I know it is close to inevitable. Hiding all the pulque in the world away from her is impossible. People drink it on the streets, it's not like is hard to find, for anyone but her. Thus, I just have to come to terms with the fact that she'll drink it and my life is going to be ruined.

-If there's any way I could help. Laurie puts a hand on his shoulder, looks him dead in the eyes and tells Fujimaru with the most sincere voice he can muster.

-You'd die. While the two talk a light appears in the centre of the city. The portal that will lead to their next destination opened. As if magically, the other masters that participate in the war appear ready to leave this world behind. Yuna and Rider are ready to go as well and Fujimaru just has to gather his party before going forward. Luckily for the party goers, Laurie's aura of healing and energy, now that he showed off his true colours as the god Iztlacatini affected the whole city and everyone was fresh to start another journey.

-Take care Fujimaru, your world still relies on you and the next time there will be no gods to help you out. You'll do fine though.

-Are you lying again?

-Who knows maybe I am.

-Don't be so rough on him, he's doing his best. Quetzalcoatl swoops down from the sky as her flying reptile leaves towards the horizon. Fujimaru, Mash and Teach enter the portal.

-One last cheer for Fujimaru and his friends. Quetzalcoatl says as he reveals what she was holding in her right hand. She rises the cup into the air and downs it in one breath. The last thing Fujimaru sees before leaving Aztlan for good are the eyes of Laurie tearing up as he realises that Quetzalcoatl drank pulque.