The Web of Strife Part 3

Shirou Emiya was no stranger to Miyama Town's Mount Miyama shopping district. He had come here countless times over the eighteen years of his life. Though after the Grail War, he had begun to see everything that was once familiar to him with new eyes.

People and places he knew for years suddenly changed, as if he was seeing them for the first time. Shinji Matou, his one time friend, had turned out to be an utter bastard. Tohsaka, the girl that all of Homurahara Academy looks up to is actually a magus of no small talent. Sakura, the sweet girl who helped him around the house, was Tohsaka's sister.

He had discovered a great many things over the course of the Grail War. And he discovers more every day he spends time with Fuyuki's magus community.

So he was only partly surprised when one of the infamous Four Horseman of the Apocalypse turned out to not only be real, but he was essentially a enforcer of a "Balance" that kept all of Creation spinning.

If anything, Shirou was more surprised that Strife (the name that the Horseman called himself) wanted to meet them, them being Shirou, Tohsaka, Saber, Rider (Saber in civilian clothing and Rider invisible), Sakura and Illya, at Mount Miyama, at 4:00 in the morning, still dark and foggy, and where there were few people about, in front of an empty store with a big "For Rent" sign in both Kanji and English attached to it's chain gate.

As far as anyone knew, this space had been empty for years. No one knew what it was before it closed, or why no one had bothered to open up a new store. They did know one thing however:

It was leaking magecraft.

There was just a hint of magical energy coming from inside the store, barely detectable to even an experienced magus, Shirou and his friends only noticed because they had been standing there for a few minutes.

"It's not that I didn't know this was here." Tohsaka said, talking to the rest of them, "I've known about this place for years. It's just that there's nothing in there; ground level wise at least. I thought that a basment was the source of the energy, but I never had a chance to investigate further. There's a bounded field that always keeps me out."

"I know." Shirou and the others looked up to see Strife standing on the balcony above the empty store. It's designed to keep away the riff raff."

In one smooth motion the Horseman jumped off the balcony, landed on both feet, and walked up to the chain gate before squatting down, shoving his fingers underneath the gate and lifting it up.

"Only certain people can come in." he continued.

The Horseman then walked into the empty space before stopping a few paces away from the back wall.

Illya spoke up in a skeptical tone, "And just what sort of people can get inside Mr. Horseman?"

Strife reached into the folds of his scarf/cloak and produced a thin item, reminiscent of a token or coin and about the size of his fist.

"People who have these of course." he answered.

Without another word, the Horseman pressed it against the wall. For a few seconds, nothing happened.

Then the wall started shifting, opening up around the area Strife had pressed his token against the wall and folding in on itself.

Saber and Rider tensed as soon as the wall started to change, but relaxed at the sight of what was on the other side of the disappearing masonry.

It was a long hallway with a low ceiling, covered in blackish brown bricks, with Gothic torches lighting the way. It led to a giant brass door.

Strife motioned with his hand, "Follow me. We have a stop to make before we hunt the Spider. With luck, it won't take long, and it will make our job easier."

The Fuyuki magi did as they were beckoned, following the Horseman down the hall. Shirou tried not to be unnerved by all this. The magical energy which had been faint before Strife had made the wall go away was now almost overpowering. It felt wrong on several levels, and Shirou could swear that he smelled brimstone up ahead.

When they reached it, Shirou noticed that the door was decorated with a demon's face. It looked very lifelike, and Shirou knew then that no human hands had shaped this gate.

"You have a Boatman Coin." a low raspy voice, coming from the mouth of the demon face said slowly, "What is it that you want stranger?"

The Horseman did the talking, "I am Strife, Rider of the White Horse... and I am here to do business."

The door started to raise into the ceiling, a low malicious chuckle coming from it as it did so, revealing a large room, about the length and width of Verde's (Fuyuki's largest shopping center) ground floor, and twice as tall. It was packed wall to wall with stands, upon which rested thousands of items of various shapes and sizes. The large room was also packed with hundreds of individuals of dozens of different races. Some looked human, others... didn't.

Suddenly, a horned being flew down from above, landing in front of them. He had wings, though they were covered in white bandages. His legs, if he even had any, were covered by a long skirt like cloth, and bluish black smoke spewed endlessly from beneath it's folds. He was covered head to waist in gaudy jewelry and other fetishes His head was covered in a purple head dress, and attached to his belt were a glowing blue orb and a large scroll covered in an unknown language. He had beady blue eyes that were full of greed, and his exposed fangs were formed into a lipless smile, full of cruelty.

"Welcome horseman." the thing said in a devious voice, "To my establishment." His inhuman eyes gazed upon the Fuyuki magi, "Ah... new customers welcome, welcome."

He mocked bowed, "I am the Merchant Vulgrim, and I look forward to doing business with you."

"It's not often that I get customers from the Third Kingdom. Few humans know know about me and my store, and even fewer come to do business. They're probably worried about me stealing their souls for all eternity. Ridiculous! As if I would let it go to waste that long..."

Rin raised an eyebrow at the last part. Tales of humans selling their souls to demons were older than the Clocktower. Upon collecting their price the demon would inflict all manner of horrible cruelties upon the soul. She didn't need to understand exactly what Vulgrim meant by "go to waste" to know it was nothing pleasant.

"I believe you." Strife said in a deadpan tone before producing a scroll in his left hand and holding it out to Vulgrim, "I've made a list of items that my compatriots and I require. Do you have them in stock?"

Vulgrim took the scroll, unfurling it, and proceeded to scan the list; his beady eyes going back and forth, nodding his head and muttering a few affirmative grunts every now and then. With an evil smile he rolled up the scroll.

"You're in luck Horseman, I have everything that you require!" The demon then snapped two jeweled fingers together, and a small winged imp of ugly features and of Illya's height flew over to Vulgrim.

"Here." Vulgrim said as he shoved the scroll into the imp's arms, "Round up a few of your brothers and break open the crates out back and get the illustrious Horsemen the armaments that he requires. Oh, and be quick about it. You take too long like last time and I'll have you working the beast pens again!"

The imp, scroll clutched to his chest, gave a hasty salute and flew off. Vulgrim turned back to his newest customers, "While Percival's taking care of that, I must know; how do you intend to pay for this?"

Strife reached into his scarf and pulled out a large bag about the size of three clenched fists.

"I was thinking about gilt." the Horseman said.

Vulgrim clasped his hand together, "Excellent. Gilt will do nicely for these items. Now then, while we wait, is there anything else I can do for you?"

He flew over to Rin, blue smoke trailing behind him, wrapping a bony arm over her shoulders, "A magus such as yourself must be in need of a quality spell book no?"

Faster than a blink of an eye, Saber drew her invisible sword and pointed it and Vulgrim's nose.

"Too close merchant." the Grail Servant warned. Vulgrim gingerly lifted his arm off of Rin, "Duly noted." he replied.

"There is something else you can do for me Vulgrim." Strife said, "I need information on Casses, formerly of Yselik."

Vulgrim raised a hand to stroke his chin, "What makes you think that I know anything about Casses?"

"Don't play coy with me Vulgrim. Casses came here to Earth somehow, most likely through the Serpent Hole network. Not many beings with access to it would just let one of the Spider Lords through... for free anyways."

Vulgrim let loose a low chuckle, "It would indeed be a fool to allow it for travel through the Network for free Horsemen. I do know of Casses. To be more specific, I know of her location... and the forces under her command. You can know this as well... for a price that is."

Strife sighed, "Fine, how much more gold do you want?"

Vulgrim wagged a finger, "No gold Horseman, not this time. You know that which I require."

For a few moments, Strife said nothing. Then he turned his head to the left, scanning the various denizens going about their business in the showroom floor. He finally rested his gaze on a tall purple being, with tendrils covering it's face as a sort of fleshy beard, admiring what appeared to be a statue made out of green crystal and a pink metal. To be more specific, Strife's eyes rested on a foot long blue canister grasped in the purple being's hand.

Wordlessly, Strife walked over to the being pulling out Redemption as he did so. Hearing the White Rider's approach, the purple being turned around and faced him, opening it's mouth to speak.

Strife shot it in both knees before it got the chance, violet blood spewing out of the wounds.

Before it fell to the floor, screaming bloody murder, Strife quickly holstered Redemption and grabbed the being's beard tentacles with his left hand and raised his right hand before repeatedly punching it in the face, more and more the creature's violet blood coating his gauntlet and spraying everywhere.

Then Strife pulled down on the tentacles and threw the pitiful creature onto the ground. As it tried to crawl away Strife pressed his right knee onto the small of it's back before grabbing it's head with both hands.

SNAPT

The creature's head was now at an unnatural angle. Strife pried the blue canister from the dead thing's hands before opening the lid on it.

A blue apparition emerged from the creature's body and was drawn into the canister. Strife closed the lid and, ignoring the stunned looks of the other customers, walked back over to the shocked Fuyuki Magi and an equally shocked Vulgrim.

"He was one of my most loyal customers..." Vulgrim said, "He had good credit (for a slaver that is), and he always paid his debts on time."

Then Vulgrim let loose a malicious chuckle before spreading his arms wide, "I'm sure he'll be delicious!"

Strife opened the lid one more time, and dozens of blue apparitions were released from the canister. They all flew into Vulgrim's mouth, and down his gullet.

A few seconds later, they were all gone, and Vulgrim closed his mouth.

"Mmm... mmm... I was right, he was!"

Vulgrim looked over at the other customers, "It's alright now, go back to shopping!" Amazingly, they did, as if nothing had happened.

Vulgrim then gave Strife a mock bow, "I am at your disposal Horseman.

"Tell me what you want to know."

"I think I speak for everyone else when I say that Strife can't be trusted not to turn on us when it suits him." Illya said.

Strife had left with Vulgrim to discuss the information in private. 'Too sensitive for the Showroom Floor.' Strife had explained, and that he would fill them in later. For the time being, the Fuyuki City Magic Community stood in the hall leading to the Showroom, away from prying eyes and ears to hold their own private discussion.

"I concur with Illya." Rider said, "Until he leaves Fuyuki one of us should be keeping a watchful eye on him at all times. I would volunteer, but I wear a blindfold most of the time."

Sakura rolled her eyes at the poor joke, "Like you need eyes to keep track of people." she muttered

"I volunteer then." Saber said, "Strife is a long ranged opponent. If I close the gap then he should prove to be no trouble at all."

"Aren't we jumping the gun here?" Shirou spoke up.

"What do you mean?" Illya asked, raising an eyebrow as she did so.

"He's allied, however temporarily, with us. He wasn't allied with the... whatever he killed. We need each other, and killing us would be detrimental."

"You're right about one thing Shirou," Rin said, "We do need each other. If it makes you all feel better though, I'll talk with our Horseman guest, see if I can guarantee that he won't snap our necks when we're not looking."

"And what are we supposed to while you 'talk it out' with the super old and super powerful homonculus anyway?" Illya asked in a slightly condescending tone.

Rin shrugged before gesturing at the Showroom floor;

"Window shop?" she then started to walk away again before she stopped in her tracks.

"What did you just call Strife?"

"Casses fled from Yselik almost an Earth decade ago. She relocated here on Earth two weeks ago. She set up shop beneath the forest that surround the city of Fuyuki. There she weaves her webs... and her plans."

"Beneath the forest?"

Strife and Vulgrim stood in a white room with only a single locked door. It was a privacy chamber, where Vulgrim conducted business with those customers who requested... sensitive items, away from prying eyes and ears.

In this case, it was information that Strife had bought.

"Yes," Vulgrim nodded, "beneath the forest. Before coming to Earth she acquired digging machines which she then used to excavate a labyrinth of tunnels and underground chambers."

"And the natives didn't notice? They're ignorant, not unobservant." Strife said, not entirely convinced.

Vulgrim grinned, "She also had in her possession several devices that masked her activities. State of the art demoncraft. The humans are none the wiser."

Strife brought a hand to his chin; that he could believe. He looked at Vulgrim again, "And how many of her household guard did she manage to bring with her from Yselik?"

"Three dozen spiderkin Horseman, almost all of them. Casses was no fool. While she supported Achidna in the war she fled as soon as the tide turned against her mistress. And her guard is not all that she took with her."

"Explain."

Vulgrim rubbed his hands together, "She took her treasury with her. A vast fortune of gold, jewels, other material wealth, and not just her own treasury! She made off with Achidna's as well! What Casses lacked in an army, she more than made up for in wealth!"

"That explains how she was able to use someone else's Serpent Hole, and how she purchased the digging machines and the devices."

"That is not all she bought however." Vulgrim said. Strife raised an eyebrow, "What do you mean?"

"She bought three hundred construct soldiers, forged of brass and bronze. All armed with deadly weapons."

"What!" Strife shouted, "An army of constructs!?"

Vulgrim shrugged, "She bought it from an... intrepid demon merchant. I don't know what to tell you." he said in a mock innocent voice.

Strife said nothing. While an army of constructs were going to make this difficult, he had faced far worse odds before.

Besides, he had backup... as much as four underage magi and their pet ghosts constituted as backup that is.

"No matter. That's all I need to know Vulgrim."

"It is of no trouble Horseman." Vulgrim flew over to the door and opened it, motioning to Strife to go first, "Soon Percival will be here with your order, and you can be on your merry way."

Strife said nothing but walked back out onto the Showroom floor, while Vulgrim went to his storage rooms. While walking across the floor, the various customers trying to stay out of his way, he noticed the Tohsaka girl making a beeline to him.

He stopped walking and let her come to him.

"Something I can do for you Second Owner?" he asked.

"Yes, as a matter of fact, there is. Several of my colleagues and I are concerned about this alliance."

"Concerned how?"

"You killed a random person so you could feed it's soul to a demon. Whose to say that you won't sacrifice any of us to achieve your goals?"

"I need you and your followers alive Second Owner. I needed the F'xenwis' souls. There's a difference."

"So you say, however..."

Strife rolled his eyes. Obviously he needed to assure his human (and post human) allies to stay the course. Thankfully, he knew of one thing that always worked, no matter the race save the Angels.

"Casses has a veritable hoard of gold and jewels in her possession. When we kill her, it's all yours, and I'll even help you transfer it to the location of your choosing."

Tohsaka grabbed his right hand with both of hers, "I am one hundred percent dedicated to this alliance Horseman." and then she walked off, no doubt to inform her compatriots of her continued support of their alliance.

Strife raised an eyebrow. That worked better than he had hoped. He wasn't expecting her to agree so quickly.

"Ah, Horseman, there you are!"

Strife turned around. Just hovering above him was VUlgrim and a half dozen imps. The imps were all carrying several large and long crates between them.

"I have that which you require Horseman. Where are your humans so that we may begin?"

Strife waved his arm, "Follow me."

"I'm serious, he is one!"

"But how can you tell?"

"Hello, who do you think you're talking too?"

Shirou rolled his eyes. Illya had been going at it with Saber and Rider for the past five minutes all the while Sakura was trying to keep the peace (and failing). Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Rin walking back towards them.

"Save it for later you three. Rin's coming back."

They stopped, with Sakura walking over to Rin, "Well sister, how did it go?"

Rin placed one hand on Sakura's shoulder, "My dear sister, I have reinforced the bonds that hold this alliance together. Together with the Horseman, we shall keep our home free of otherworldly invaders who may or may not seek to do us harm."

Sakura was the textbook definition of confused, "O... kay? What did he say to you?"

"He didn't have to say anything! He is a Protector of the Balance! It is our duty to assist him in any-"

"He bribed you didn't he?" Shirou asked, completely deadpan.

"Maybe he did Shirou, but that doesn't make it not true!"

Before anyone could respond, Strife walked over, followed by Vulgrim and the imps.

"Alright then!" Vulgrim said, "Open the crates!"

The imps set the crates down and pried them open with crowbars. Vulgrim flew next to one, holding out a list.

"Gun Enhancements crafted by the Makers for the Horseman's weapons, check! High yield explosives from Angelic realms, check! Communication devices for the Horseman and his magus companions, check! Explosive ammunition, check! Dissolving ammunition, check! Three Dante Cannons, which draw their power directly from the burning plains of Hell, check! And lastly, special anti-venom for all of you, check!"

Vulgrim bowed, "Good hunting and Horseman... do be sure to commend me to the Charred Council."