Chapter 3

Lancer dodged the mace when it smashed into the ground. He was not really worried, he defeated Frankenstein once, he was positive he could do it again, but that would go against the emperor's orders.

"I told you we should have left," Assassin had already turned invisible, "You're on your own."

"It's not like I need your help anyway," Lancer jumped to the roof of one of the castle's towers. Berserker growled in annoyance. She raised her mace, which released an electric charge. When she slammed it into the ground lightning shot from the sky towards lancer, but like before he dodged it. The tower broke into pieces.

"Okay, not what I was trying to do," Lancer looked at the ruined tower. Then he heard something being fired from a bow. His reflexes kicked in and he batted away three arrows that were aimed for his head. He looked up to see Archer on the roof, he looked angry. Lancer didn't know if it was because of the destroyed tower, or because Lancer being discovered had interrupted his… alone time with his master. He was willing to bet both.

"Lancer?" Hakuno's voice asked, "Berserker stand down." "

Berserker growled but complied, "What are you doing here?"

"Well," Lancer shrugged, "I heard you won the war. I thought I'd congratulate you."

"By sneaking into our castle?" Archer asked.

"Who's sneaking? I was lost," Lancer tried to sound innocent.

"If you're going to lie put a little more effort into it," Hakuno said, "I don't understand why you'd want to spy, we weren't enemies, we even saved your master. Rin is alive and on Earth."

"I haven't forgotten, and I really am grateful," Lancer explained, "But I am under orders, the emperor needed to know more about the winner of the war after all."

"You work for Nero Claudius?" Archer asked.

"It's nothing bad I promise," Lancer shrugged, "She just wants to know more about you."

"Then why would she…"

"I'll kill you," charging from no where was Mordred. Fully equipped in her armor and her sword above her head. Lancer looked annoyed, then vanished before Mordred could reach him. Mordred stomped on the ground, "Coward! Come back here and face me!"

"Mordred calm down," Hakuno demanded. Archer jumped to the ground and raised his left hand. He was wearing the regalia, a beam of light left the ring and turned into Hakuno. She looked at the damage down during the fight and sighed. They were going to spend all day fixing that tower.

Later

"You couldn't get through the sector?" Hakuno asked in disbelief. She was sitting in her throne listening to her servant's report.

"We couldn't," Rider said, "Sorry master."

"The attack programs had gotten stronger and more aggressive," Atalanta explained, "We had to withdraw."

"Any way, forget that," Astolfo cried, "The castle was attacked?"

"Yeah, some hedge knight came, and didn't even have the stomach to finish the fight," Mordred spat, "Lousy coward."

"Clearly if you want something done right you have to do it yourself," Archer stood up, "We'll have to go there ourselves and claim the territory if we have any hope of speaking with Nero Claudius."

Hakuno nodded, "Astolfo, Mordred you'll come with us. Rider, Berserker stay here and guard the castle."

"Finally, something to do," Mordred stated.

"Okay, we'll man the fort," Astolfo saluted. Every servant but Archer had left. He went to Hakuno. After the fight with Lancer he gave her back the regalia, now that they were going into battle he needed it again. Hakuno took it off and placed it onto Archer's left finger. The band grew to fit his finger. Every Hakuno gave him the regalia, it felt like she was placing a wedding ring on her husband's finger. She knew better than to say that out loud, Archer would tease her for it forever.

Then she became a beam of light and went inside the ring, every time she transferred into the ring. She felt safe and secure in Archer's presence. Almost like he was holding her in his arms.

Swords materialized in the air. They fell to the ground wiping out the last of the attack programs.

"This area is now clear," Archer announced.

"They were right," Hakuno said in the ring, "Every time we clear an area it seems like more just appear."

"Indeed, something is different about this area."

"Yes, but wh-…"

"Be quiet," Archer suddenly said.

"Excuse me?" Hakuno asked angrily, "Last time I checked I'm the master and I-…"

"Be quiet and listen," Archer repeated. Hakuno was mad but she did what Archer said. Then her eyes started to focus. With the area now quiet she could hear… Music? It sounded like pop music.

Archer began towards the source of the music. He jumped on a wall that blocked off an area. When he looked inside, he was not expecting this. It was some type of pop concert. Singing on the stage was a petite girl with pink hair, horns, and a tail. Obliviously not an A.I or attack program.

"Is that a servant or a pop star?" Hakuno asked, she'd never seen a servant enjoy something modern to this degree before.

"Whatever it is, it's tone deaf," Archer said. Hakuno wouldn't go that far. Sure, pop wasn't her favorite, but she was sure the servant was good at singing… she thought, "Regardless look, she's controlling the attack programs."

"So, if we want to secure this sector," Hakuno thought.

"At last you seem to realize," Archer said.

"I want to thank all you piggy's for coming to see my concert," the horned servant called out to the attack programs as if they were fans, "I know you'll just love my encore."

"Will you stop that senseless racket?" Archer landed with an explosion; swords fell from the sky destroying all the attack programs, "Your screeching is disturbing all of SE. RA. PH."

"Excuse me?" the servant shouted, "I am the top idol of the moon cell. Everyone loves me and worships my name."

"And what name is that?" Archer asked, "I don't think we've had the pleasure of fighting in the war."

"Have you been living under a rock?" The servant girl acted shocked, "I am the queen of idols. The top dragon, the one and only Elizabeth Bathory."

Archer… was not impressed, "You're the countess of blood?"

"Who?" Hakuno asked.

"Don't worry about it master," Archer sighed, "There's no point in wasting energy in remembering her name."

"What do you mean master?" Elizabeth asked, "The masters are gone, now it's time to party."

"Actually, we're not all gone," Hakuno emerged from the ring, to introduce herself. Elizabeth nearly fell over.

"Wait a minute. A squirrel?" she asked in shock.

"Did she just call me a squirrel?" Hakuno asked.

"Well your hair is rather squirrel like," Archer stroked her brown hair. Hakuno then jumped in surprise, causing Archer to smirk.

"What do you mean squirrel like?"

"Your hair can be… bushy and unruly like a squirrel's tail, when you first wake up in the morning," he jabbed.

"Oh, so I should just cut it short or something like that?" Hakuno became red in the face.

"Not at all, I like brushing unruly hair," Archer smirked as he took a lock of it to play with between his fingers, "It's like a morning workout, and I like helping to make you look more adorable than you usually are."

Hakuno's face was red, damn him and his teasing.

"Don't act like I'm not here," Elizabeth screeched, something that looked like a cross between a microphone stand and a spear appeared in her hands, "Getting a lovey-dovey on the battle field, you're worse than that emperor and her piggy!"

"I think she's a lancer," Hakuno said.

"Agreed." Archer pulled Hakuno into the ring and summoned his swords. The two servants traded blows. She was better than Archer had originally thought, but then again, she was still a servant, they didn't become legends for being slackers. Archer still had two advantages, his master; she supported him with code casts. The second was the power the regalia could give him, but he didn't feel like wasting it on Elizabeth; at least not yet.

"Archer," Hakuno used a code cast. He could feel it take effect, this one increased his speed. He managed to run around her delivering quick slashes. Then delivered a strong kick to her stomach.

"You've got some nerve kicking an idol, and you even scratched my face!" Now she was mad, "I'll kill you and use your little squirrels blood to fill my bath."

A castle rose from nowhere. It also looked like a giant amp. It must had been her Noble Phantasm. Archer was already about to activate the regalia's power, he was ready the second Elizabeth said she'd go after his master. He never cared about his life, but the countess of blood, was never going to have Hakuno.

When the amp released it's attack a bright light filled the area. When the dust cleared, the seven rings of heaven were revealed, protecting Archer. The bowman dismissed his shield and revealed his new form. His coat was now completely connected and lined with gold. Floating behind him like a second cape were a set of six swords. With a wave his hand the swords came to life and attacked. Elizabeth held up her spear to defend herself, but they didn't attack her. They stabbed into the ground around her. Elizabeth looked at the swords in confusion.

Archer snapped his fingers, then the swords ignited. The lancer was consumed in fire and smoke with a scream. When the smoke cleared Elizabeth was on the ground, covered in soot, "Ow, the amp was too high."

"She's sturdier than I thought," Archer's transformation came undone. Not that it mattered, the lancer could no longer put up a fight.

"Are you ready to surrender?" Hakuno asked from inside the ring.

"Oh please," she looked up glaring daggers at Archer, "I'll get you Archer, and your little squirrel too!" She then vanished from her spot.

"She got away," Archer sighed, that's what he'd get for pulling his punches, but he also didn't want another death to scar his master.

"She's gone though, that means we can finally claim this territory," Hakuno emerged from the ring. She then noticed a small wound on Archers arm, her face turned to worry, "You're hurt."

"It's just a scratch," Archer shrugged.

"Don't say that," Hakuno raised a hand and used a code cast. The wound healed over. Archer turned away to hide a blush.

"We still need to speak to Nero Claudius," Archer reminded.

"Who graces their lips with my true name!" Archer and Hakuno turned to the source of the voice. Approaching them was a petite woman in a red dress. Her blonde hair was pulled up in a braided bun and she had green eyes. What shocked Archer was how much she looked like another particular saber, who also pretended to be a man.

"I am the leader of Rome, the emperor of roses, muses have song my praises to the heavens and beyond, I am the great Nero Claudius," she posed, and a bunch of roses seemed to suddenly appear around her. Hakuno starred… This was the tyrant?

"Your description," Nero leaned forward, "You are master and servant that won the grail and have also won a regalia."

"And you are the emperor who sent a servant to spy on us," Archer said.

"You say that as though that is wrong," Nero said, tilting her head to the side, "When another kingdom rises you must see if they are enemy or foe."

Hakuno stepped forth, "I don't want there to be bloodshed," she might as well try to talk now, "I just want to live peacefully. It was my wish, it was what I fought for in the war, I just want to talk."

"I see," Nero said, "You have my respect master of Archer, seeking peace instead of war is the best way of the ruler."

"Were you not called a tyrant in your reign?" Archer asked.

"Archer," Hakuno reprimanded.

"I'll have you know it was my mothers fault," Nero cried like a child, "She placed chaos in my reign."

As she said that, Hakuno noticed something on the emperor's left ring finger, "That looks like the regalia… except the band is white." Hakuno couldn't help but glance at the one on Archer's finger. Both gems were red, but their band was black.

"That is because it is a regalia," Nero said proudly.

"That's a lie," Archer said, "The regalia goes to the winner of the holy grail war during the maintenance cycle."

"It does? I mean, of course it does," Nero said, "But I have proof this is indeed a regalia."

She turned behind her and lifted her left hand. A beam of light emerged from the ring. When the light died down, it revealed a boy who looked around Hakuno's age. He had brown hair and brown eyes and his white robe outfit was fitted with red trim.

"Meet my beloved praetor, my master, Hikari," Nero introduced.

There is an explanation for this. Which I will try to explain next time.

Archer's transformed self basically has a complete coat, not in pieces like normal, and trimmed with gold he also has swords that he controls with telekinesis… I'm not good with designing clothes for guys okay!