With inspiration comes an interesting twist on an old tale. Perhaps, a story can go one way, or perhaps it can go another? All it takes is a simple thought, and the stroke of a pen.
With that out of the way, here's an update to "A New Order" for you all. I was stuck on how to take this for a while. But some grand inspiration came in the form of Fate: Apocrypha. Given how much I've already borrowed from that show, I'm sure one more thing wouldn't hurt. Right?
There's an opinion poll on my profile if you won't mind answering it. All it's asking is who you think the best OC I've come up with so far is. If you wouldn't mind leaving your thoughts on that, I would greatly appreciate it.
I mentioned some time ago that I found an interesting piece of art which might provide inspiration for me. In case anyone might want to take a look at what it looks like, here is the link to it: /r/Animewallpaper/EXiSw7G
Disclaimer: I don't own the Fate Series, I only own My OC
Here's to chapter 5!
Edit: Changed the pistol to a revolver, will make sense later on.
(Fuyuki City)
Despite the answers I received from Kirei earlier in the day, there was one thing which still eluded me. It was in regards to the Holy Grail itself. More specifically, why it communicated with me of all people? Was it my lack of desire for it that allowed for something like that to occur? Or was it something else entirely?
Jeez, ever since I entered this Holy Grail war, I've had way too many questions than answers. Thankfully, some of the more pressing questions I had answers to.
Who's likely responsible for the mess Ruler and I find ourselves in? More than likely it was Caster. Casters are the ones who generally use underhanded methods to achieve victory.
"We're almost to Ryuudou Temple." I managed to break Jeanne from her concentration. "Strange, there seems to be a bounded field surrounding this place." Together the two of us tried to find a way in. While I could enter from any direction, it seemed that Jeanne was only able to enter through the front gate. A funnel perhaps, a way to force any servants who would attempt to raid this place into an area in which they can easily be picked off one by one until none remain.
"Based off of the two servants I sense here, I would assume they want us to force our way in?" Jeanne spoke up. In a sense, I had to agree with her. The only reasonable way to settle this would be to go in through the front gate. Although a part of me wished that we wouldn't fight any tonight. One night into this Grail war and I'm already sick of fighting like this.
Can I be honest about something? How did Lancer find us, and why did he fight? Servants should instinctually know that to fight a Ruler is off limits in regards to the rules of a normal Holy Grail war. So why, why did he willingly fight us like that?
"Yes, it would appear to be the case. What do you say, Ruler, shall we pay them a visit?" This feeling of confidence, this seems foreign yet oddly familiar. Unlike any other feelings of confidence beforehand.
"you seem to have a new burst of confidence Master." She was right to question this, something like what I was feeling now was completely unlike how I normally am.
"What can I say, I just feel very confident that we'll come out on top tonight." Hopefully, that was enough to placate her, at least for now anyway. I'm sure that when the night is over, she'll be sure to question me a lot more.
(Ryuudou temple)
"Greetings, you're the first visitors I've had tonight. How would I be able to help a beautiful flower such as yourself?" There towards the middle of the staircase, lay Assassin. It seems that he's our only hurdle in meeting with Caster as well as their master.
"Sasaki Kojirou, your presence here is nothing to be surprised about." Before I could get the chance to respond, Jeanne already addressed Assassin.
"Was it, oh mighty Ruler? Or were you expecting someone else to be standing before you this very night." His snarky remarks, I don't like them. With the way Assassin holds themselves, it obvious that he's probably underestimating us. Thinking us as nothing more than mere pests to be disposed of.
"Look, Sasaki, we need to see Caster. So, are you going to let us through or not?" the two of us are on the same page. The sooner we were finished with this place the sooner we could go home. And with all of the assignments I've missed, I can't afford to fall behind any more than I already am.
"Under normal situations, I would have allowed you two to go through without issue, but unfortunately it seems I'm under orders not to let anyone in." I had enough; there could be no more delays. We had to get through and stop this before things got too out of hand.
"Servant: Assassin. Under the authority of Ruler as well as my own, and using the power of a command spell. I order you to let us pass without incident or delay." That was the secret strength to the Ruler class of Servants, the command spells acquired when summoning them worked on any servant. No matter who their master was. It was a trump card only to be played when it was absolutely necessary. And because of that, I was now down to two command spells. Thankfully, Jeanne still had all of hers. Leaving us with 5 total command spells to use at our discretion.
With only the slightest of complaints from Sasaki, it was a rather peaceful walk up to the temple. There we could finally determine what exactly it was that caused us to come here. Jeanne said it was Caster's doing that brought us here.
(Ryuudou temple)
At the top of the temple, we were instantly greeted by Souichirou Kuzuki as well as Caster. For some reason, Souichirou gave me a look that screamed of disgust.
"I knew that look the moment I first saw it." He said the venom in his voice scared me. Whatever the reason behind it, he seemed to have something against me. "You can't hide from me no matter what disguise you wear, Claus Yggdmillennia." At that moment, it was like some sort of switch was pulled. Memories of my past, my true past came flooding back to me.
(Flashback)
"Claus, I'm sending you to Fuyuki." I could hear Darnic speak, he is the head of our clan. "Your mission will be to win this coming holy grail war." Yes, I had to win the grail war. It was my job to restore our clan back to the status it used to hold.
"Darnic, I am honored by the task. But you honestly don't expect me to complete this task without a servant?" It was a legitimate question. A question which he seemed to have an answer to. An answer in the form of a slightly singed cross.
"Tell me, Claus, what are the requirements of a Ruler-class of Servant?" in his hands, was a replica of the Holy Grail.
"A ruler needs no desire for the Holy Grail, do they not? So, in order to summon one, the Mage must also have no desire for the Grail." Uncle Darnic had a smile, he had a plan to ensure my victory?
"That is true, however. There is another way, a less commonplace method of summoning a ruler." He was holding up that cross, something was important about it.
"I'm going to implant this cross within you, Claus. This should allow you to summon the legendary savior of France herself to this age, regardless of your true intentions for the grail. After all, this is the last cross she held before being burned at the stake. It's the perfect catalyst to summon the legendary Jeanne D'Arc."
(Third person)
There was a burst of laughter at Ryuudou temple. One which seemed to be heard across all of Fuyuki. the origin of it was the newly revealed Claus Yggdmillennia.
"Souichirou Kuzuki, why is it that you only feel comfortable revealing my true name here of all places. Why not in the classroom where I was most vulnerable?" Jeanne tried to but into the conversation, clearly just as shocked as Caster was with the sudden revelation. Where was Riyoshi, the one she'd come to view as a companion?
"Ri, this isn't funny. Snap out of it!" she cried, and with a hint of sadness and shock.
"My dear sweet Jeanne D'Arc," Claus said, wiping away some of the tears that threatened to fall from Jeanne's eyes. "There is nothing for me to snap out of, this is my true personality. The one you knew as Riyoshi was merely a disguise. Nothing more, nothing less." His gaze would shift back to Caster and Souichirou.
"Now then Caster, you know the rules of a Holy Grail War. A servant isn't allowed to summon another servant. But I would assume you used a noble phantasm to make it possible?" his gaze was cold, yet serious. The Mage Assassin said to be a rival to Kiritsugu Emiya was in Fuyuki. This time around, he would not stop until he accomplished his objective.
"Yes, it was through my Noble Phantasm by which Assassin was summoned," Caster Spoke truthfully, any lie would have been punished severely. which was something neither of them would want at the moment.
"Very well, you shall go without punishment for now. But I will expect a favor in return for my generosity. After all, I have to thank Souichirou for making this the most entertaining Grail War to date." He turned to walk away, at the top of the steps. He turned around, revolver drawn.
"However, there is something I must do first." There was not a second of delay until-
Bang
"Ruler is too pure of a soul to be of use to me as she is now." Claus' round struck Jeanne in the heart, right where her spirit core was.
'The Alter round I just fired is a personal modification of Kiritsugu Emiya's Origin round, the biggest change is that I enhanced it with my own origin.' He thought as he watched the collapsed form of his servant. Watching as Jeanne fought against the darkness consuming her. 'it corrupts the Spirit Origin of the servant it hits and darkens it. Causing that servant to lose any sense of who they once were and serve my goals without question. The perfect weapon for this war. Although, I don't have many of them left.'
Screams of pain and agony soon quieted. The servant that once was Jeanne D'Arc had changed. The blue that she once wore was now black. Her hair was now shortened and pale.
"Ruler, how do you feel?" Claus would ask, his face would show a slight concern for the servant he summoned.
"I feel fine, and a lot more powerful than I used to. I only have you to thank for that, Master." Claus extended a hand, offering it to Ruler.
"Now then Caster, Souichirou. It was a pleasure talking with you. I wish you the best in the coming Grail War." With that parting remark, Ruler (Alter) and Claus left the Temple. Leaving Souichirou to stand there, wondering just what he had unknowingly unleashed upon Fuyuki.
"Master." Caster would ask, hoping to get his attention. "What kind of magic was that."
"That wasn't a magic in the traditional sense. That was the true strength of his Origin at work. An origin I would not wish upon any mage."
(Claus' base)
The house that once served as his living quarters was now completely remodeled. Not only was it just a place of residence now, it served as his headquarters. Information along with pictures of every master within the fifth Holy Grail war was notated with thumbtacks.
"Souichirou Kuzuki is Caster's Master." He would say to himself. "Rin Tohsaka is Archer's, Assassin: Caster, Saber: Shirou Emiya." That last name was spoken with a degree of venom which would have made anyone quiver just by hearing it.
"Darnic says that you are my target. Therefore, I shall make your life hell. Worse than the Great Fuyuki Fire of ten years ago."
His gaze would shift over to Saber, a plan forming in his mind.
"Yes, yes that will do nicely. This Holy Grail War is effectively as good as won."
Jeanne would break him from his concentration. Having walked into the planning room while he was still focused on who the other masters were.
"What are we to do now, Master?" Much like her master, Jeanne was looking at the corkboard in front of her, trying to determine which master they should go after first.
"We stick to the shadows for now, observing the other masters before we make our own move for the grail. Until that moment, we will gather servants. And I'm thinking I know just who we should start with." Looking upon the picture of Saber, a plan already started to form in his mind. The perfect way to get another powerful servant.
I like to think that it's a nice little change of pace, takes the story in a completely new direction. Bringing the Yggdmillennia clan back into the Holy Grail War. Will definitely lead to some interesting confrontations in the future that's for sure.
Anyways, feel free to leave your thoughts and I'll see you all in the next chapter!