Chapter 15: Conflict and Desire
AN: Sorry bout the delay, some RL stuff was going on.
"Are you sure about this?"
"Yeah, absolutely!"
"This is a terrible idea".
"Is not".
"...fine...just, choose a good song at least".
Toko and Rune were currently in a Kareoke room. At the moment, they were trying to choose a song. However, they had yet to agree on one, and Toko thought this was also a terrible idea.
"I mean, there are not enough escape paths in the first place..."
"Oh, would you shut up about that? I have laced the room with protection and stealth Runes, so no one is going to surprise attack us or even find us probably. Well, I suppose those two might, but they are too busy competing with each other".
"Is it safe to let Horus and Set do that?"
"Despite their hatred for each other, I think they actually get along subconsciously. I mean, think about it. If in their hearts, they seriously wanted each other dead, wouldn't they have done so a long time ago?"
"So, their whole trying to kill each other is just a brother's quarrel?"
"Pretty much".
"I think I need more vodka".
"Now you see, I do have to argue with you there. Whiskey is way better".
"You have not tried the vodka our school makes".
"You know, that line would concern so many people once they heard it. And I already tried the Whiskey".
"Oi oi! Dont choose that one!"
"Why not?"
"It a girl's song!"
"Oh. How about..."
"Oh, that one that one!"
"Alright..."
"Oh, they have this one too?"
"...you are actually really into this, huh?"
"What? I just want to make sure whatever we do is actually tasteful and a good fit".
"Huh...alright then..."
Meanwhile, elsewhere...
"Huh...they really have created fantastic hotsprings here" Terry Blood said as he tried out the student built Hot Springs. "Though, as I showed you, there are structural improvements you should make. Like patching in those holes, dont you agree?"
He then looked towards a few tied up students who he had caught peeping.
"Well, I guess I will just let you think that over. Its nice to finally have a day off".
"Indeed, it is nice" a female voice spoke out as she entered the hotsprings. He turned around, and saw that the person joining him was the one who they believed to be the leader of the Black Faction, Suzuki Subaru.
"How bold of you, to appear here".
"Well, when were we going to get a chance to meet each other peacefully?"
Although they both said that, anyone who was still around to look at this scene might hallucinate the images of a dragon and a snake behind the two, glaring at each other and clashing auras.
"I must admit, you have done quite the job to get this far. I am guessing you used the leylines to alter the geography of the area, in order to open up these hotsprings?"
"You know your leylines well, Mr. Blood. As expected of the one known to the association as 'The Fist'. I suppose you do have the muscles for it".
"Speak for yourself. YOu may have kept the appearance of being slender and womanly, but how much magic have you used to pack muscles and strength into that form? Isn't that right, Suzuki Subaru?"
"Oh, so you know my name".
Terry Blood smirked as he shrugged.
"I know your fake name. After all, until you and that homunculus appeared at the school, neither of your names never officially existed. And I am betting the Greater Grail has been around for the same amount of time. But I wonder if thats the only thing that is changed...the only thing you are hiding. Isn't that right...Doctor?"
Suzuki's dark grin intensified as a bit of a glare was expressed.
"Aren't I a bit young for a doctor? I think you may have your facts confused".
"The lab was an expert on the development and manipulation of human bodies. And you would need to know how the homunculus was developed to properly maintain it. And finally, that scientist has somehow managed to elude us to this day. It makes one wonder, how far could they go to change their appearance? How far do the lies go? And would they be willing to make an entire school their pawns, involve children in a game of death?"
"Maybe its because the simple fact is, only children possess the power to save this world. And may I remind you, the Grail is outside of everyone's power. It appears where it wants to, and no one can change that. The Mages Association is just afraid of change, but change is what we need. We have to change, or the world itself will end up burning".
"Burning? That is oddly specific..." Blood mentioned. "I wonder, just how much do you really know?"
"I could say the same of you. You seem so certain you know who I am, you have not even considered other options in case you were wrong".
"I am more curious on if that boy has any actual free will" Blood countered.
"You really are stubborn. Toko's will is entirely his own".
"Does he know about the Command Code though? I am sure you have one, I way to make him obey if you need to".
"I don't know what you are talking about. Besides, you are the one working for a corrupt, power hungry, and oppressive organization".
"Who is trying to keep the world safe. You cant honestly think that Toko's wish is a good idea".
"Its change. A change the world needs. It will stop the apocalypse and save the future".
"Or it will be the cause of the apocalypse and doom the future".
"You seem to have a lot of accusations, but very little actual knowledge of the Truth".
"Is that The World's Truth, or Chaldea's Truth? Or is it just the Truth you want to believe? You are playing a very dangerous game, doctor".
"Except I am not playing. I am doing what needs to be done".
"Then I suppose, I will have to stop your idealistic drive towards destruction".
As the tension could be felt reaching its max, the two just laughed it off and dropped it suddenly.
"Looks like that person is finally making their move".
"Still, I cant believe you are going through all this trouble, impersonating multiple people, just to get this wish. Even for Servants, you are going over the top".
"It cant be helped. His wish should have been that, his wish. Instead he was forced to use it..."
"Yeah yeah, you told me all this already. But it does make me wonder..."
Rider of Red, or rather Mordrid, stopped in her tracks as she and Sabre of Black, Joan of Arc, were walking down a path.
"...how did you make the Greater Grail appear here?"
Joan just turned around and gave a puzzled look.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, you are the only person who could have possibly manipulated events like this and brought the Grail here. After what happened with Assassin of Black, carrying that weight around...you chose this place for a reason. To help children, am I right?"
Sabre of Black only looked on with silence.
"You wont deny or admit it?"
"I was summoned after the Grail appeared here, so I am wondering how you got it into your head that I am the one responsible for moving the Grail here?"
"Its the location. I can think of only one person who might have the means to determine where the Greater Grail will appear, the will to make it appear around children, and the desire of a wish to do so. You intend to give power to children, to ensure that they wont end up like that. But you want to use your wish on Sieg, so this was the only way to ensure both. This is your plan to beat the system, and get both of your wishes".
"You seem to be confused about something. Ruler does not hold that power, and I cant move the Grail when I am not even summoned".
"Hmmmm".
That was when the two of them felt something off, and stopped in their tracks.
"What was that?"
"I...am not sure...but it feels really off".
"It might be Grail. We better go and stop him!"
"So, is it really okay?" Mika asked Billy.
"Yeah. It seems that they accidentally caused a weird reaction, but...it should be safe. Well, safe for us anyways" Billy replied, as he looked around. "Now come on, let me win you a prize at this shooting stall here".
"Okay...but are you sure it will be fine?"
"Yeah, probably...also, I dont want to get close to that maelstrom".
"Its coming from behind here!" Inuzuka said, sensing an abhorrent and disorderly conflict of energies. "Icarus?"
"Got it, kicking the door down!"
"HOld it, wait for us!" a few others said who had sensed the issue and came over. Such a disturbing array of mana, they were sure Grail was up to something. They could not think of any other option. And it was even trying to be hid, so they had no idea to the true nature of what was going on.
But once they were all in place, Icarus slammed the door open and...
"Ahh! My ears!"
"What is this trap?!"
"Runaway!"
"All the horror!"
It was actually Toko and Rune, singing off key in a kareoke booth. They were both so into it, none of them had noticed the door being swung open, though once they all saw what was going on, they quickly closed it.
A few people had run away already, while others had collapsed on the ground.
"What...was that..."
"Did they start pumping mana into their voices without realizing it?"
"...I dont think I have ever heard such terrible singing before".
Nearly everyone had been put into a mentally scarred state after being exposed to that noise.
Suzuki and Terry, who had been waiting in a distance in case anything went wrong though, just shook their heads.
"Did that really just happen?"
"I...think so..."
"He retreated the moment he got exposed, didn't he".
"...yeah. Even their mana was in a discord when they did that. So much so that when Grail tried to get to them first, while they were isolated and away from their Servants..."
"Well, that shows him for taking a human form with human ears. He was not used to it, so I guess it made him more sensitive".
"I guess the strange solutions are harder to anticipate and counter".
"The question is, who will he go after next?"
"I don't know, but we better prepare to respond".
"That was fantastic, don't you think?"
"I suppose they did well for filth. Still, we should meet back up with the others. It seems like something is going on".
Marco just went over, to the people who had been doing the puppet show.
"You two did really great! I liked it a whole lot!"
"Thanks. You can call me Serdtse-sensei".
That was when Castor of Red and Castor of Black got inbetween the two Masters.
"Careful about this one. He is the enemy".
"Even in a cease fire, one must continue to be wary".
As the four locked eyes with each other, that was when they suddenly noticed something. The light and air felt different, and suddenly no one was around.
"Well now. Looks like I found some interesting play things".
And near them, Grail appeared. Only rather then waiting to be noticed, he had already formed multiple magic circles and fired multiple flaming spears at the group.
"Get behind us!" Castor of Black said.
"Stay safe!" Castor of Red also added, as they formed a barrier out of pure magic to block the attack.
"Its time to take you both out of the equation! You will become mine!" Grail announced, as he raised his hand. Suddenly, the Command Seals on Marco and Serdtse began to feel like they were burning, and seemed to become unusuable. Additionally, the Servants seemed to freeze up. Serdtse was about to move in to try and attack Grail, to try and endure the pain, when suddenly someone appeared with a spear and attacked them. "Who are...what?"
"Oh, what?" Grail said in a taunting voice. "No thank you? But here I am, reuniting you with your last daughter. Although admittedly, her mind might not be all hers".
Indeed, the one in front of him was his last remaining daughter, Zoloto Serdtse the Vll. Only, she seemed way stronger by what he could sense.
"Indeed. Her rage for you was so great, it was easy to trick her into serving me to kill you, and anyone else I wanted dead. So if you want to stop me, you will have to kill your own daughter! Because she wont stop until she is dead!"
"Thats really mean!"
The Grail started to laugh.
"And for the record, I dragged us all inside a Reality Marble, so I do hope you are not expect help".
Serdtse however, just shot Grail a grin as he felt his body become harder to move.
"...except, we already have it".
And that was when, jumping over Serdtse and Marco, and the Castors...were the puppets from the puppet show! Only, they seemed to jump at high speed and shot themselves right into Grail, punching him and pushing him back, breaking his hold as the puppets began to fly around and strike at him.
"Quickly! Now, Castor!"
"Right! You seem to have forgotten Grail, that while you can control us, you cannot control our Mana! And our creations have been created from our Mana, so they are linked to us and can appear here as well!" Castor mocked as several vehicles drove into the Reality Marble. BUt instead of Transforming normally, these ones broke apart...and wrapped themselves around Serdtse-sensei and Castor of Black, Henry Ford, creating exo-suits that then camoflauged themselves to appear like nothing was there.
Additionally, music began to play. Specifically, the song Monster Without a Name as done by Amalee.
Castor was the first to change in, and brought his fist towards Grail. Grail attempted to use his power to restrain him, and it worked...but it didn't stop Castor.
Now that Castor was in the exo-suit, he could control the exo-suit to control himself. This allowed him to bypass Grail's control and freeze abilities, and continue to fight despite Grail's ability. Technically he had been frozen, but that no longer mattered because Grail could move himself using his mana.
"Castor! We cant let them show us up!"
"Indeed! We are the superior ones here! I wont be saved by them!" he announced, as he poured all of his magic into a new spell using the power of his riches. "Royal Battlegear!"
Suddenly, Marco became engulfed in Golden Armor as well as Castor, and included weapons. It was a bit of a drain, but it enhanced physical abilities as well.
"Alright! Golden Barrage!"
"Noble Phantasm: 4th Crusade!"
Marco shot multiple projections of Golden Swords at Grail while Doge utilized his Noble Phantasm to attack.
"Now, Rocket Enhanced Punch!"
"Missile Barrage!"
Grail used his ability to fly this time, and started to dodge all the attacks as his opponents got closer. He attempted to use his power to freeze Marco using the COmmand Seals, but it appeared that they had copied what the other two did. The Armor was controling their bodies, and they were controlling the armor through Mana.
"Tsk! Get them, Zoloto!"
Zoloto went to block them, but Serdtse deployed a sword and locked swords with her.
"Snap out of it! Break free of his control!"
"...you...deserve...to die! Its all your fault!"
"Haha! SHe is too blinded by rage now to be talked down! Either be killed by your daughter, or kill your daughter!"
"I dont think so!" Henry Ford announced as he moved around behind Grail and attempted to kick him. Grail flew back, and then deployed barriers as Marco and Doge tried to attack him with long range assaults.
"I know the truth you know. You cant keep up those forms forever. All I have to do is outlast you, and then you will become mine!"
"Like we will let you!"
"And how can you stop me? Without Command Seals, you have no power to defeat me!"
Suddenly, a massive roar of a beast seemed to be let out. It was taunting and disorienting, and very loud. But no one was quite sure where it came from, especially since they were inside of a Reality Marble. Not even Grail, who should be its master, knew.
However, that mysterious roar disrupted everything, including the limit on their Command Seals. And they knew they had to take the chance now.
""By this Command Seal, we order you two to destroy Grail!""
""Got it!""
The two charged in, the mana from the Command Seals allowing them to go on an overcharged all out assault. Zoloto tried to move back, to take the blows for Grail, but Serdtse managed to stop her. Grail itself created multiple powerful barriers to block the attacks.
And as the two forces clashed...
"By my own Command Seals...block the attacks and take out the masters!"
Someone appeared and helped block the attacks, as well as launching two projectiles right at their Masters. The two Castors quickly teleported back and blocked them with the power they had left, but they were shocked to what they saw...Lancer of Red.
"What, didn't you know? As I have many, many Command Seals thanks to this body, I am capable of taking possession of unclaimed Servants quite easily. Now, lets finish this. I will take you both out, and claim your servants for my own! Attack, Lancer!"
The moment the sides were about to attack again, cracks began to form in the Reality Marble.
"What? Where did...what Servant is this? A sixteenth Servant? Fine then, I suppose this will have to do for today".
Grail snapped his fingers, and with that he, Zoloto, and Lancer disappeared...and the moment he did, the Reality Marble shattered. Everyone returned to normal, and collapsed to the ground.
"This...is not good at all".
"What did he mean though, a sixteenth servant? What is going on exactly?"
"I am more concerned with how he got onto the grounds so easily..."
"So, what did you see Archer?" Mika asked, concerned.
"Its as suspected. Whether Grail realized it or not, someone created an opening for him to enter" Billy said. "There really is a third faction hidden in all this, aside from Grail. And they seem to want to fan the flames of conflict. Giving people ideas, causing problems. Mika-chan, you need to be careful".
"But...who would do something like this?"
"I have no clue...yet. But if they are trying to do this, they clearly mean you and all our friends harm Mika-chan. And I wont let that happen. So dont worry, because I promise I will protect your smile".
AN: A chapter focused on our Castors this time around! Hope everyone enjoyed the fight! Grail, you shifty little guy you, using someone's family against them! And you two, Suzuki and Terry! Stop conflicting with each other during the cease fire! Seriously! You better get things into gear! Anyways, hope you enjyoed, and sorry for the wait!