Disclaimer: I do not own the Fate franchise it belongs to Kinoko Nasu and Type-Moon.

Cerberus

Part III

"My lord, what…?"

"Did you not hear me, Lancer?" Kayneth repeated, a note of anger filling his voice. "I command you to bring Cerberus to me. So stop dithering about, and do it now!"

"But, my lord," Lancer protested. "The one called Cerberus came forth with neither drawn blade nor raised arms, and indeed, bared her head in peace to deliver a message. By all rights, she has invoked the truce of parley. By ancient law and custom, those who invoked parley are granted leave to come and go freely, so long as they do so in peace. To go against such…I beg you, my lord! Do not do this!"

"…by the power of my command spell…"

"That's enough, Master of Lancer." Rider interrupted, his rumbling voice filled with underlying menace. At the same time, lightning began to crackle and arc back and forth from his chariot's wheels to the ground. "I will not allow you to stain Lancer's honor by forcing him to break truce. I grant you this: retreat in peace, or I will do what I must, crushing Lancer and with it your chances to win the Grail. Choose swiftly!"

There was a moment of silence, at least between them. Nearby, Saber and Berserker continued to fight, lightning blazing bright and arcing out from Berserker's Noble Phantasm, tearing up their surroundings as she crossed blades with the King of Knights. And then there was a sound of disgust in the night.

"Retreat, Lancer!"

Lancer closed his eyes and breathed out heavily before giving a curt bow to Rider. "My thanks," he said. "King of Conquerors."

"What?" Rider said with a laugh, his previous joviality returning. "I just wanted to keep the flowers of the battlefield from being crushed in such an unseemly way, that's all."

Lancer smiled and chuckled, and then vanished into astral form. "You alright there, little lady?" Rider asked, turning back to Saber and Berserker.

"…I am." Cerberus answered, jumping out from the shadows. She still hadn't replaced her helmet, and her chin was streaked with blood. "I had it covered."

"Really now?"

Cerberus smiled but did not elaborate. And then just as abruptly as she came, Berserker disengaged, jumping back from Saber and holding her mace protectively before her. She stared at Saber for a few more moments, and then with an unhappy grunt, faded into astral form.

"Seems like Berserker's Master has decided to disengage as well." Rider observed.

"He had incentive." Cerberus said, wiping at her chin. "I have a Servant of my own, after all."

"Caster or Assassin?" Rider asked, and Cerberus smiled wider.

"Nice try…" she said. "But I think I shall keep it secret for now."

"Hmm…in any case, how about it, Cerberus?" Rider asked. "Would you care to join my army? From the sound of things, you've got quite the tale to tell, between that little exchange earlier and that title of yours. Cerberus…the guardian of the underworld…or perhaps, are you already sworn to Archer?"

Cerberus shrugged. "I do have a tale to tell." She said with a small smile. "Lots of them, and very interesting too. Tohsaka and El-Melloi are obviously very interested, otherwise they wouldn't have sent their Servants to take me into their custody."

"Tohsaka?" Waver asked.

"Isn't Archer Tohsaka's Servant?" Irisviel asked. "He did mention the name 'Tokiomi', after all, and if I remember right, that's Tohsaka's first name."

"Unless Berserker is allied with Tohsaka, of course." Rider said.

"She is." Cerberus said, briefly closing her eyes while replacing her helmet. "Or rather her Master is. After all, Kirei Kotomine is Tokiomi Tohsaka's apprentice. Surprising, isn't it?"

There were gasps and exclamations of surprise all around, and Rider raised an eyebrow. "You know a surprising amount of things." He observed.

"I do." Cerberus admitted. "Maybe one day I can tell you all about them. As to your earlier question though, no, I'm not sworn to Archer, even back home. I just do odd jobs for him every now and then."

"Being a mercenary doesn't seem to suit a pretty woman like you." Rider said lightly. "But if that's your chosen path…"

"Hmm…maybe…" Cerberus said, before beginning to walk away. "See you around, Rider, Saber, Einzbern, and Lord Waver El-Melloi II."

"…what?" Waver squeaked out, but Cerberus just laughed before shimmering into invisibility.

"Huh…I didn't know you were related to that guy." Rider mused. "Talk about difficult relatives."

"But I'm not!"

"Don't be so hard on Lancer, Kayneth." Sola-Ui Nuada-Re Sophia-Ri chided, walking into their shared suite's living room. "He is a knight, and he thinks and acts like a knight. And yes, questioning their lord is also part of their duty, especially when it appears their lord is about to make a mistake, if only to be certain their lord knows and understands the risks they are about to run."

"Are you saying attempting to apprehend Cerberus was a mistake?" Kayneth snapped.

"Then and there?" Sola-Ui asked. "Yes, of course it was. I too was watching, albeit via a familiar and not in person. I understand what Cerberus' actions implied, in particular that…message."

"It was no recording." Kayneth darkly remarked, sitting back in his armchair. "I could sense an active connection going…somewhere else. That was a real-time communication, and with Archer's…mirror image?"

"Taking events at face value, it would seem that Cerberus has access to the Second Magic, or at least elements of it." Sola-Ui said. "Do you see now why it was foolish to apprehend her without preparation beforehand? True Magic is not something to face lightly. Do not forget: she managed to block a direct hit from Berserker's Noble Phantasm."

"For which she paid dearly." Kayneth countered. "A second blow would have broken her defense, and even without that, she is weakened enough that Lancer could have defeated and brought her into our custody."

"True," Sola-Ui conceded. "And the Noble Phantasm's name and thus its true power, was admittedly not invoked. But…what if she had invoked True Magic had Lancer moved to apprehend her? There's no evidence to suggest that…barrier, of hers was her only defense, or if it's even based on True Magic. If she had other defenses, and we lose Lancer, then we lose everything. All our efforts until now would be for naught, and the name of Archibald would bear the stain of being defeated so early in the war. Were you truly prepared to take such a risk, Lord El-Melloi?"

Kayneth hummed unhappily. "Yes," he finally admitted with a grudging tone. "Perhaps I was too reckless in attempting to apprehend Cerberus at the time. We need to know more about what she can do, and then we can apprehend her."

"As you say, Lord El-Melloi." Sola-Ui said. "Be patient, and you will have what you want. Victory in this contest, the Grail, recognition for such achievements, and of course, Cerberus' secrets."

"Patience is a virtue indeed."

"My lord," Lancer hesitantly began. "If I may, what exactly is the nature of Archer's mirror image? I am a knight, and not a magus. I understand magic is at work, but what kind and how is beyond me."

"Understandable," Kayneth said with a nod, his mood lightening at the opportunity to play the role of a teacher, at least for a time, if only to explain things to Lancer. "You are from before the Age of Gods ended, and as such ideas such as the difference between Thaumaturgy and True Magic would be unknown to you. Archer's mirror image said at one point that a gateway exists in this city, which leads from one world to countless others, and back again. That falls under the domain of the Second Magic, also known as the Kaleidoscope."

"The Kaleidoscope propounds the idea that there are multiple universes," Sola-Ui explained. "Each diverging from others due to different decisions, choices, events, and the like happening at various points in time, but are otherwise identical to each other."

"Something of an oversimplification," Kayneth said with another nod. "But it functions as a basic description of the Kaleidoscope. Going back to the point however, as I said earlier, it was no recording. That was a real-time communication, between Archer and his mirror image. And no Servant can be summoned more than once in the same Heaven's Feel ritual."

"Barring extreme affinity, of course." Sola-Ui added. "During the previous Heaven's Feel ritual, a pair of Edelfelt twins summoned two versions of the same Servant, due to their Sorcery Trait Ore Scales affecting the summoning ritual."

"However, Archer's Master is not an Edelfelt." Kayneth said. "Nor does he possess the Sorcery Trait, and even if he did, he lacks siblings to fulfill the requirements for that exception."

"Of course, the reflection could have been falsified but…" Sola-Ui began only to trail off.

"We would have noticed." Lancer said with a nod. "Servants would recognize other Servants, with the exception perhaps of Assassin, thanks to presence concealment. That…communication, with Archer's mirror image…it cannot be doubted. It was a fellow Servant."

"Therefore," Sola-Ui said with a nod of her own. "Archer's mirror image was without a doubt who he appeared to be. And since he could not have been summoned twice within the contest, his implicit claim to be Archer summoned in a different universe or rather timeline, and may have won the contest there considering it's implied he somehow is able to operate independently on his own, no doubt thanks to his wish being granted by the Grail, is to be taken at face value. Given Cerberus appears to be affiliated with him, she too must also be from the same world as him."

"Speaking of Assassin though," Kayneth suddenly and thoughtfully said. "While we cannot deny the image was that of Archer and was without a doubt a Servant, perhaps we are overthinking this and are falling into a trap."

"What do you mean?" Sola-Ui said, before Lancer gasped in realization.

"Could it be?" he asked. "A deception crafted by Assassin using presence concealment or some other skill or Noble Phantasm, to make themselves more…threatening, than they seem? And to manipulate Archer as well?"

"It is possible…and more probable as well." Kayneth said with flinty eyes. "True Magic is after all, virtually impossible to achieve. And the Second Magic is currently possessed by Wizard Marshal Zelretch."

"She could be an apprentice." Sola-Ui skeptically observed.

"No apprentice of the Wizard Marshal as a sorcerer has survived with their sanity intact." Kayneth said. "Apprentices as magi though…and even then, she would not possess the ability to travel between worlds. That jewel-based mystic code of hers though…"

"Alternatively," Lancer began. "Could she be plotting with Tohsaka? An ally even?"

"It is also possible." Kayneth said with another nod. "Tohsaka is among the lineages which were influenced by the Wizard Marshal at one point or another, and it would explain Archer's quick acceptance of his seeming mirror image. We could be meant to think she possesses True Magic, and that Archer and Cerberus have agendas beyond the contest, and to consider the latter as more…formidable, than she truly is."

"It's a complicated plot." Sola-Ui said. "Why go so far?"

"Likely as a decoy," Kayneth said. "We focus on Cerberus, and leave our backs open to Tohsaka and Archer."

Kayneth paused and chuckled. "A complicated plot indeed," he said. "Though like all other examples of such, too much complexity causes the whole affair to fall apart when looked into seriously. The simplest answer is usually the correct one after all…between possession of True Magic against a deception woven by Assassin with Archer's complicity, which is ultimately more likely?"

"The latter of course," Sola-Ui said. "Though, I still think we should be careful, just in case. That mystic code of Cerberus, it did lead to somewhere or someone else other than her…"

Kayneth waved her off. "No doubt," he said. "It would have led to Tohsaka."

"Perhaps…but then there is Archer's true identity to still be wary of."

"True," Kayneth conceded. "Gilgamesh…the King of Heroes of Ancient Uruk…Tohsaka might be an upstart greenhorn of a lineage, but they've certainly chosen a first-class Servant. Even the Greek legend of Heracles was ultimately rooted in that of Gilgamesh of Uruk."

Kayneth paused to look at Sola-Ui. "Now that we know his identity," he said. "Perhaps we might find clues into what Noble Phantasms he might possess, as well as any weaknesses?"

"The legend of Gilgamesh is fairly obscure," Sola-Ui thoughtfully said. "Partly because of how old it is, and because the Sumerians weren't as…enduring, as the Egyptians and other ancient cultures were. I'll have to look into the details of the Epic of Gilgamesh to see what he might possess, as well as any weaknesses."

"Do so." Kayneth said with a nod.

Sola-Ui looked miffed at being ordered around. "Unfortunately," she said. "There is one thing I remember that could have guaranteed his defeat, which we do not possess."

"And that is?"

"The only man to have ever defeat the King of Heroes in his legend." Sola-Ui said, making to leave. "His best friend, Enkidu. Had we known Gilgamesh would have been summoned in this war, we should have summoned him."

"…I see."

"In any case," Sola-Ui continued. "I will see what else I can find."

Kayneth nodded, and Sola-Ui walked off. "Don't worry, Lancer." He said after a moment. "I am not dissatisfied with you. Just making an observation, with regard to Archer's – potential – weaknesses. Your performance against Saber was without question."

"I am honored by your praise, my lord."

"Are you alright, Kirei?"

"I will survive, master." Kirei Kotomine said.

Tokiomi nodded, and turned to look with narrowed eyes at the sealed container holding Kirei's severed arm. Already, the flesh was visibly rotting, the sheer virulence of the poisons coating Assassin's blade simply overwhelming. If not for quick thinking on Kirei's part, severing his arm after Assassin carved a gash into his forearm, Tokiomi would have untimely lost his apprentice.

"As should be expected from Hassan-i Sabbah." Tokiomi murmured, before turning back to Kirei. "What can you tell me of Assassin?"

"As per the class' characteristics," Kirei began. "She appears to be one of the many incarnations of the legendary Hassan-i Sabbah. In our case, a lithe young woman in dark clothes and a silver half-mask, wielding poisoned daggers. Very fast, and very good in close combat. Quite a match for my skills."

"Again," Tokiomi said with a nod. "How very fitting and expected of the Old Man of the Mountain."

"Those poisoned daggers of her could also be thrown." Kirei said. "That was how she attacked me. Volley after volley of poisoned daggers to keep me from taking the initiative, until she could close and engage in hand-to-hand."

"And how did it go?" Tokiomi asked.

"I made a mistake." Kirei said with a sigh. "A single slip, and her dagger cut me across the arm. In an instant, I felt my hand and forearm go numb, and my upper arm start to do so. I did what I must, cutting off my arm and ordering Berserker to retreat and cover my escape. Assassin retreated upon hearing the latter command."

"I see." Tokiomi said with a nod. "Prudent of her."

"Pragmatic, I would say." Kirei remarked. "As should be expected of an assassin."

"Indeed."

Tokioki patted Kirei on a good shoulder. "Rest for now, my friend." He said. "It doesn't seem as though any poison has spread through your body, but losing an arm, as well as plenty of blood while retreating, will take its toll. Regain your strength, and in the meantime, I shall see to it that a replacement arm is provided for you."

"Yes, master. And thank you."

"There is one other thing concerning me." Sola-Ui observed while perusing her material with regard to the Epic of Gilgamesh.

"And that is?" Kayneth asked from nearby, performing checks on the magical defenses of their atelier atop the Fuyuki Grand Hyatt Hotel.

"After you departed," Sola-Ui began. "Our familiars continued to observe the battle. Before she departed, Cerberus addressed Waver Velvet as Lord El-Melloi II."

"…WHAT?" Kayneth exploded.

"If she is from an alternate timeline…"

"We'd already dismissed that possibility, did we not?" Kayneth interrupted, still seething.

Sola-Ui looked at him skeptically. "Then why would she drop such a title, and on that boy of all people?" she asked.

"No doubt to get under my skin." Kayneth hissed, beginning to pace. "I would not dismiss the idea that Tohsaka has spies in the Clock Tower, and who might have informed him of past…disagreements, between myself and Waver Velvet. They're probably taking advantage of that."

"If that's their goal, then they've certainly succeeded." Sola-Ui said, returning to her materials with a roll of her eyes.

Kayneth hissed, and then visibly reigned himself in with some effort. "Not anymore." He growled.

"The boy does have some talent, Kayneth." Sola-Ui said, masking her smile by simply not looking at him. "He just needs to be shaken out of his foolish and baseless notions, and ground himself in reality, the way the Valueletas and their followers do. He'd do well as a mid-ranked Clock Tower functionary or administrator."

"The Valueletas…" Kayneth said with a note of distaste. "A worthy family with a respectable lineage…if not for their adherence to such…disappointing, philosophies."

"Regardless of what you think of their philosophies," Sola-Ui continued. "And there's no question the boy's thesis was complete garbage, but it was well-written."

Sola-Ui paused, and then burst out laughing. "Yes, well-written garbage indeed." She said with a cough. "As I said, properly-educated, he'd do well as a mid-ranking functionary or administrator. And you can't deny he did succeed in slipping into your workshop undetected, stole your catalyst, and succeeded in summoning a Servant. He might of moderate potential, but he's hardly untalented."

"…perhaps…" Kayneth said with a glare at Sola-Ui's back. "I shall take your words into consideration. In any case, as I have already told him, I fully intend to educate Waver Velvet into what it truly means to be involved in a battle to the death between magi. Should he show promise, then perhaps I might be inclined to give him a chance."

"I see."

Kayneth said nothing more, instead simply stalking away muttering about the presumptuousness of someone as low and mediocre as Waver Velvet ever becoming Lord El-Melloi II. Sola-Ui contemptuously sneered, and focused once more on her research.

"I am concerned, Your Majesty."

"Your concerns are of little import." Archer scoffed, reclining on Tokiomi's couch with a cup of wine in one hand.

"Pardon me for speaking out of turn," Tokiomi began. "But my objective in this war is to ensure Your Majesty obtaining what is rightfully yours: The Holy Grail. And exposure of your identity may prove detrimental to such."

"Indeed, you speak out of turn." Archer said with cool disdain. "And you presume much, to think my identity being revealed to the world would be of detriment to me. Do you not know to whom you speak, Tokiomi?"

"You are Gilgamesh, the King of Heroes."

"Indeed I am." Archer said with a smile. "I am Gilgamesh, the King of Heroes, Master of Mankind, Lord of the World and all its treasures. It was I who felled the trees of the Cedar Forest, who slew of the giant Humbaba and Bull of Heaven alike, who walked the wilderness and climbed the mountains, charting paths for my people to follow. I traversed the world from one end to the other, in pursuit of immortality."

Archer paused, and then chuckling, glared at Tokiomi. "Tell me, Tokiomi." He said. "Do you truly think any of those pretenders and mongrels would truly pose a challenge to me?"

"I would not presume to go so far." Tokiomi said with a deep bow of apology. "But it would make things difficult going forward…"

"I care little for difficulty." Archer said with a scoff. "Indeed, I accept them, the better to demonstrate the power and grandeur of the one true king!"

"I see." Tokiomi said with another bow. "If so, then I apologize for my…needless, worries."

"So you do." Archer said with another scoff.

For a while Master and Servant were silent, and then Archer's crimson eyes turned back to Tokiomi. "Was there something else?" he asked.

"Your pardon." Tokiomi said with another bow. "It concerns the one who calls herself Cerberus…"

Tokiomi broke off as Archer burst out laughing. "Now there's a worthy topic of conversation." He said. "Though a bit much for your station…suffice to say that she is infinitely more interesting than you are."

"I…see…" Tokiomi uncertainly said. "And your…reflection?

"The king's matters do not concern you," Archer said coldly. "Especially not when it comes to matters of judgment."

"Your pardon." Tokiomi said with a bow. Archer made a dismissive gesture, and with another bow Tokiomi left, his face troubled.

"How is she?"

"I've set her bones and repaired the torn muscle." Irisviel answered. "Though I suggest she rest and get some sleep tonight. I would also prefer she rest the whole day and night tomorrow, but since we are in a war, she can just rest during the day tomorrow, and then join you on the field in the evening."

"I see." Kiritsugu said with a nod. "That's good to hear."

Irisviel nodded back, and then tilted her head. "Is something the matter?" she asked.

"No, it's nothing." Kiritsugu said with a shake of his head.

When you save someone's life, it means not saving someone else's.

"Where did she hear that from?" Kiritsugu thought. "And when and from who? How could she have known saying them would cause such a reaction from me? Just who is this 'Cerberus'? And where did she come from? Not to mention that stunt she pulled with Archer…"

Kiritsugu's thoughts broke off as he felt Irisviel's warm hands on his face. "Something's bothering you, isn't there?" she asked. "I can tell."

Kiritsugu stared at his wife, and then he sighed. Raising a hand, he placed it on hers. "Just…thinking, about everything that's happened tonight." He said. "Not just mine and Maiya's encounter with that Cerberus woman, but yours as well."

"Do you really think we can take everything about her at face value?" Irisviel asked. "If we do, it's…worrying, considering what it bodes."

"A woman from an alternate timeline," Kiritsugu murmured. "Wherein Archer appears to operate independently, implying he – and by extension Tohsaka – won the war in that timeline."

Kiritsugu's face fell at the thought of failure, of how he wouldn't succeed in using the Grail to bring lasting peace to the world. No…worse than that, should he fail in winning this war, then his daughter…Illya…

"It'll be alright." Irisviel said, her thoughts apparently the same as his. She embraced her husband, pressing her head against him, as Kiritsugu embraced her back. "It's all from a different life, a different world…what happened there need not happen here."

"Yes," Kiritsugu said while taking a deep breath. "That's right. We'll win this war, bring peace to the world, and live a happy life with our daughter."

It was a lie, a very happy lie, at least in part. Because they both knew, no matter which way the war went, Irisviel would never live past it. Such was her fate, as the vessel for the Holy Grail.

"And of course," Kiritsugu continued. "This assumes we take her at face value. Most likely, that message or whatnot is a deception woven by Assassin or Caster, and Archer was just playing along. If so, then Cerberus is probably allied with Tohsaka."

"Isn't that a problem though?" Irisviel asked. "If that's the case, then Tohsaka has Berserker and either Assassin or Caster backing Archer up, along with two specialists capable of taking you on: Kirei Kotomine, and Cerberus."

"It's a problem, alright." Kiritsugu said with a sigh. "I'll have to think of a way to neutralize them. Ironically, the easiest among them would probably be Tohsaka, who is purely a magus. Once we get him out of the Tohsaka property, we have the advantage. It'll be easy to dispose of him, and without a proper Master, the King of Heroes – assuming that really is his identity – who undoubtedly has high prana requirements, would be crippled and left easy prey for Saber."

Kiritsugu paused, and then sighed. "At least on paper." He said. "Kotomine and Cerberus will still have to be dealt with afterwards."

Irisviel smiled, and taking Kiritsugu's hand, squeezed. "It'll be alright." She said. "I have faith in you, and that you'll overcome all these challenges, no matter what."

Kiritsugu smiled, and again embracing his wife, kissed her on the forehead. "Thanks." He said. "That means a lot. Still…a lot of things exist only on paper, and have to be put into action. Starting with finding out who the hell is this Cerberus. Where did she come from? What's her past history? What can she do? And how to deal with her for good?"

Irisviel nodded. "Do your best, husband." She said.

"I will."

A/N

Well, the battle at the docks end similarly yet differently from canon (including Waver getting a bombshell from Cerberus).

As might be expected, the other Masters are skeptical of Cerberus apparently coming another timeline, and just assume it's an overly-complex deception. Understandably, of course: Archer is the exception, given he knows it's the truth, what with his Noble Phantasm Sha Naqba Imuru: The Omniscient and Omnipotent Star, allowing him to see everything including the series of events that led to the rise of the person entitled 'Cerberus' and how she came before him.