Contingency War (Arc 4 Start)

(Kojirou)

Weapons were immediately drawn.

"I would not recommend that," the newcomer said calmly, now showing herself fully. Saber's eyes immediately went to her long cruciform-topped polearm, thoughtfully paired with a pair of plate gauntlets. On the other hand, her only other visible armor was plate greaves and a pair of mail sleeves, leaving the neck, chest, torso, thighs all viable targets.

"What, we're not going to fight?" Caster asked quizzically. Unsurprisingly, no one let down their guard or arms.

"That's entirely up to you," was the confident reply. "I'm only here to deliver a message, so your potential violence will only weaken you before the actual battle. Will you let me finish... Emiya?"

"Sasaku isn't actually my sister, you know," Shirou commented, as she glanced in his direction and shrugged.

"Ruler, isn't it?" Illya spoke up, having realized something from the exchange. "Your Class Skill (True Name Discernment) just malfunctioned, didn't it? You must have been affected by the corruption."

"Eh, Ruler? Is that her name?" Rin asked from the side.

"Class." Ruler shook her head and proceeded to deliver the message crisply. "True Names don't follow a single format across all Heroic Spirits. Anyway since you have obviously made common cause, a contingency Grail War ritual has been triggered. In short, a team War. The Grail System has already started the process. Since you are already gathered here, I will now confirm the members of the, let's see, Home Faction."

Everyone present took a moment to consider the situation. "Aren't you going to explain the rules of this War?" Illya prodded.

"It's quite simple. While your contracts can continue, Command Spells will be withdrawn by the Grail System to cover used energy and provide several days reserve for the War. Surviving Servants will receive their usual Grail support, with the total amount for each Faction being equal. If the Grail System runs out of energy reserves, the War ends by default, alternatively one Faction wins when the other has no survivors remaining. The winners can collectively submit wishes to the Grail, which are together granted, or not depending on what is available."

"What does collectively mean?" Shirou asked after Ruler paused.

"Everyone agrees on the request or list of requests. Of course, if there's not enough energy then you can re-submit, similarly if there would be some left over. You number four Servants and four Masters, yes?"

"Yes." Sakura said firmly, before Illya could respond. Most likely to ensure her co-operation, Saber thought.

"I suppose we should expect the 'Away Faction' to drop on our heads the moment we walk out of this park," Sasaku commented pointedly.

"That would be convenient for you, with the local advantage, I'm sure," Ruler nodded to herself. "There will be a ceasefire ending on the sunset after next. So about thirty-six hours. Scout and maneuver if you wish, but no fighting unless you want to risk being disqualified."

"One last thing," Kojirou added. "What happens if the winning team can't agree on what they want?"

Ruler raised an eyebrow. "Everyone still alive has to agree. Otherwise the System's reserves will continue to drain until the victory is only a technicality."

The group walked back in silence. At some point when no one was paying attention to her, Caster changed clothes into the white dress from Shirou's mother, much to Kuro's amusement when she did notice.

"How is Rider?" Sasaku asked, ignoring the Archer with practiced ease. Or perhaps she was just distracted by the thought. "We still have thirty-six hours, but obviously we shouldn't expect to be able to rely on it."

"About that," Sakura began nervously, as a small cloaked and hooded figure stepped out from next to the door to the Emiya house, not hiding its Servant-level signature. "There she is."

The much-shorter Medusa pulled back her hood to reveal purple eyes which while hypnotizing in their own way, were apparently not literally petrifying anymore. "I have to thank your... er, Gilgamesh," she said with a higher voice than either of her earlier forms and also one with hardly-repressed cheer in it. "His guess, or foresight, was quite accurate."

"Is that your younger self?" Illya asked, remembering how her father had summoned a Princess Knight Artoria instead of a King of Knights one. "What were you doing at that point?"

Rider didn't answer, so as Kuro ran over to look at their companion with some excitement. Or, she wanted to see if she was taller. She wasn't. Shirou took the time to quickly usher everyone inside before someone stumbled upon their rather odd gathering outside his home. Once they were in the living room, Sakura took up the explanation. "That's the form the Gorgon sisters were born as. Hm, the classical Greek idea of the perfect idol that men long for."

"I can see their point!" Kuro exclaimed approvingly, as Medusa pushed her away, taking out a long weapon with a wicked forward-curving blade. "I can still fight," she asserted firmly.

"Is that a falx?" Sasaku asked in astonishment. "How- I mean yes, the Thracians made use of those and the one-handed rhomphaia, but that's quite a leap to goddess using falxes."

"It's an immortal-slaying weapon," Rider said while hefting it. "And that's what comes to mind when they think of something capable of beheading even a monster."

"I'd say," Caster muttered to herself. "Facing those without being behind a wall of sarissas must be quickly fatal."

"Is that more effective than a normal two-handed sword?" Saber asked, looking at the design with some interest once everyone was back inside the Emiya house. "This type is useful as a type of hook, except that with its mass and the inside of the curve being sharpened, snagging an arm or neck and pulling will dismember someone unless they have some good protection."

"Can I take a look?" Kuro reached out a hand, carefully, until Medusa handed her the weapon. "A hooking action, I see. Or you could go low and take off someone's leg at the knee."

Rin retreated quickly, perhaps not expecting her Servant to happily discuss maiming people so directly. Sasaku made to return to her room before Medusa quickly reclaimed her weapon and followed her. "What is it?" Caster asked.

Rider looked at Sakura almost unconsciously for a cue before simply wordlessly pushing the other girl to her room.

"What was that about?" Kuro asked rhetorically before shifting her attention to Kojirou, already thinking of the next activity. "Maybe she needs a check-up?" Sakura answered a bit too readily, though no one present seemed to pick up on that.

(Sasaku)

The Caster sitting on her room's bed didn't waste a moment once the door closed. "What's on your mind?"

"Not me, it's about Sakura's condition," Medusa replied with a jarring seriousness. "We should act before Ruler's ceasefire ends, while the coast is clear."

"Her condition?"

Medusa nodded, sitting down next to Sasaku and turning to face her. "You did remove a... worm from where you transplanted your magic circuit, right?"

Caster froze. "I did..."

"You can probably understand the situation if I say that it wasn't hers, and it was only one of many like that."

Sasaku's eyes narrowed. "Are you saying that someone else's familiars - how many?"

"She doesn't know, but we have a plan. Let me run this by you quickly -"

l

Notes:

Small Medusa is 134 cm (same as her sisters) while Kuro is 133 cm, and thus a bit shorter. Sasaku is taller then them both, being apparently fifteen compared to Kuro at (self-proclaimed) twelve.