Introit

Percy - 12 months before

"Mr. Jackson? Your office is ready. Follow me."

Stepping carefully over the white sidewalk filled with leaves, Percy made his way through the ivory white doors of the Apple Campus. It was the beginning of fall, when the leaves began to make their descent from a bright green to murky oranges and vivid yellows. No longer did the sun fill the air with sweat and exhaustion, and the breezes brought chills instead of relief. The sunlight, however, still shined bright, turning the young attendant's blonde hair in front of him into a web of gold.

Percy walked through the building, holding up his card when necessary to pass the security doors. He walked with a weariness in his step. The once raven black suit he had on had turned into a faded gray, and his boots no longer shone but instead looked dull and somber. Gone was the excited teenager who had once defeated hydras and minotaurs and saved Olympus – in its place was a tired man who looked sad and wistful. "The years haven't been so good for me," Percy thought ruefully.

Within a few minutes, they arrived at his office. Percy smiled at the young attendant and stepped inside, noting the beautiful view that his new office provided. It was both spacious and luxurious, holding an executive desk with a projector aimed at the side wall. Yet it seemed like it lacked furnishings, and so when the attendant left, he unpacked his suitcase and brought out a few treasured relics of the past, treasured memories that he held dear. A conch horn that reminded him of the sea. A blue ribbon that reminded him of his mother. A golden pen by the name of Riptide. And as he slowly placed objects here and there, Percy felt the pangs of nostalgia that threatened to drag him into memories long buried and forgotten. Glancing at his watch, he noticed it was eleven. Stretching out his back, he sat down in his chair and booted up the computer and got to work.

Seven hours later, he emerged out of the Apple building. Hopping into his car, a luxurious blue BMW, he drove slowly back to his apartment flat, a mere five minutes away from his workplace. As he drove, he thought about all the things at work he would have to do tomorrow – finish the report on the budget allotted for projects, talk with his manager regarding an issue plaguing his computer, and so many things that were boring and time-consuming. Letting out a long sigh, he slowly decelerated to a stop at a red light. And as he sat there, his mind began to reminisce…

He thought of himself, at the age of 25, happily proposing to Annabeth. It was on the day of her birthday, July 23rd, when he had the most brilliant idea ever – to invite her to Manhattan, to the restaurant she loved the most – Daedalus – the restaurant she designed herself, and after a romantic dinner and a boat ride along the Hudson River he decided to surprise her with a wedding ring. Being the son of Poseidon, he had the idea of having a dolphin swim up to the boat and present the ring to her, but being the awkward klutz he was, it ended up backfiring badly when the dolphin jumped over the boat and caused the boat to collapse. But it all worked out in the end, and in a mere three months afterwards, Percy Jackson and Annabeth were married in a fantastic ceremony at Camp Half-Blood with the blessing of Chiron. Those were happier times…

HONK! Brought to the real world by an angry driver behind him, Percy Jackson hurriedly pressed the gas. The car rocketed forward, and he arrived at his apartment – a sparse, quaint 6 room apartment with little extras. Making his way up the rickety stairs, he made his way up to the fourth floor. At the fourth floor, there was only one resident – him – who lived there. There used to be other residents, but they had gradually moved out in search of better living conditions. Percy however had stayed due to the pleasant memories he had of this place, and had instead used his money to renovate the apartment despite it being cheaper to simply buy a new home.

He inserted his key in and opened the door. "I'm back!" Percy said. Closing the door, he walked in to his home and dropped his suitcase along the wall, making a crackling sound. It was no surprise. The walls were a brownish blue and the paint had begun to crack, clearly displaying their age. A layer of dust coated the countertop, clinging like gnats on a dog. Cobwebs littered the corners and the sound of the little pattering of mice and cockroaches were faint but noticeable. Percy, however, paid all of this no mind. Turning on the lights, he plopped down onto a chair and twiddled his thumbs before going over to the fridge. It came unstuck slowly revealing a bunch of microwaveable foods, some bagels with blue cream cheese, and a few bottles of beer. He took a bottle of beer and popped the microwaveable noodles into the microwave. After a minute, Percy got to work on his dinner and slowly consumed the entire meal. He did the dishes, pushed the chair into the table and walked over to his room like a man walking to his execution. It had been two hours.

Knowing that he was going to have to wake up early tomorrow at six like usual, Percy settled in for bed. But before he slept, he glanced over at a picture. The picture that he and Annabeth had when they got married. He looked into it, seeing the bright cheerful face of Annabeth, the blonde curls framing her gray eyes and lips puckered up in a smile, and the grinning face of himself, confident and happy, with his arms tucked protectively around her. Looking at the picture sadly, Percy felt tears come to his eyes. But he bravely brushed them away and whispered, "Night Annabeth." He tucked himself in and was asleep soon afterwards.

Iseult – 10 months before

"Dr. Uthwe?"

Iseult looked up to find the docent staring at her with a confused expression. Oh my. Judging by that expression, she probably had been whispering out loud to herself again. She hated it when that happened. "Yes?"

"You've got quite the crowd here. Are you ready? Do you need any more time?"

Iseult forced a smile on her face. "No, I don't need any more time. I'm ready for my presentation." Inside, however, her mind was racing with nervousness and anticipation. It was her do-or-die moment, where she would finally unveil the research she had done over the past few years. She was convinced – firmly convinced, that her theory was correct and that she would finally gain the respect she deserved. Her father had finally managed to secure her an audience with one of the most prestigious colleges – the Massachusetts's Institute of Technology – and she was determined to make a name for herself here.

"I assume many of you are familiar with the Greek Gods and Goddesses," the headmaster announced. "This presentation here today involves one of the leading authorities on the subject – Iseult Uthwe. Although considered a nonsensical subject by some, she has taken her work extremely seriously and I believe she will be an inspiration for some of those out there. I've yet to see anyone else who brings the same level of dedication and passion to her work that others bring to theirs. Please welcome – Dr. Uthwe!"

Iseult strode nervously to the stage, darting glances at the sizeable crowd. Probably a thousand people had gathered to watch her speech regarding the subject of the Greek Gods. It was a beautiful autumn day, and in the atrium of the college, the sun's bright rays shone down the glass ceiling framing her and the audience in light. Leaves fell from the trees sending multicolored light scattering in all directions. Truly, she could not have wished for better conditions. "Now if my speech is as good…" she thought to herself.

"Many of you have heard of the Greek Gods. Zeus, Poseidon, Hades, Apollo, Artemis, Hades, Hermes, Athena, Aphrodite, and the others. Legendary Gods that wielded tremendous powers and took an active role in dictating the way of the world. They were written about and worshipped excessively by the Greeks three thousand years ago, before the Romans adopted their religion. However, gradually, they faded out of existence along with the decline of the Roman Empire, and modern day historians all agree that the Greek Gods never existed."

"However, the Greek Gods never faded away. They were alive, and they're still alive."

At this bold proclamation, many in the audience laughed. More than a few eyebrows were raised, and snickers could be heard throughout the crowd. "They think I'm a fool!" Iseult raged inwardly, her eyebrows knitting into slants.

Hurriedly, she continued, "I know many of you find yourselves in disbelief. I was in disbelief as well. But then, I went to locations where supernatural activity have occurred and acquired evidence myself. Did anyone not find it strange that everyone in the entire city of Manhattan reported feeling as if they had lost five hours from the day? I have talked to residents of the city and they swear that they thought time suddenly sped up!" Iseult exclaimed. "In other instances people have said they have actually seen the Gods in person! They exist, and they are among us!"

Her loud outburst echoed throughout the hall, silencing the crowd. As Iseult looked across, she could see many emotions, but one struck out at her the most. Pity. After a long pause, the silence was broken by a handsome young man who stood up and asked, "If these Gods really do exist…how come we can't see them? Why have they hidden themselves away from society instead of revealing themselves to us? If they are the influential omniscient beings legends have talked about, why is it that they changed from meddling into the affairs of men to withdrawing into seclusion?"

It was a very good question. Despite her years of research on that very question, Iseult had never been able to find the answer to this. Based on the sheer amount of literature written about the Gods during the age of Greece, Iseult was absolutely convinced that they had existed at the time…but for some strange reason, the Gods simply dissipated and lost their influence on the world in the years afterward. However, still stinging with bitterness, Iseult quickly retaliated with,

"We've never seen the Christian God nor heard nor felt his presence in the world. Yet through the world, billions worship him daily. Does that mean the Christian God doesn't exist either?" Yet as soon as these words left her lips, she felt regret immediately and wished she could take them back.

To her consternation, it was not the student who replied, but rather the headmaster who was standing right next to her. "God exists in the hearts of good people, not in the hearts of charlatans and liars," the Headmaster admonished like a teacher talking to a child. "I wouldn't expect a foolish young lady like you to understand."

Iseult felt heat rise to her cheeks, but before she could reply, the Headmaster continued. "This is the end of the discussion. Let this be a lesson to all. Thank you, Dr. Uthwe, for coming." Yet his sharp, acrid tone suggested anything but that.

Furious and humiliated once again, Iseult stormed out of the atrium, wondering what she was to accomplish in life, if anything.

Kirei – 6 months before

The streets descending Vatican Hill were unique in that they did not follow a straight path down, instead radiating out like petals of a golden flower. Shops and businesses littered the street; despite the Vatican City having a low official population, thousands of merchants crowded the famed city looking to sell their wares to important clergy men. Immense ramparts framed the city, nearly thirty paces deep and the same in height, ensuring that the only the welcome were allowed in the esteemed Christian town of the Vatican City. And deep in the Vatican City, a clergyman by the name of Kirei Kotomine walked alongside with a black, hooded figure in a beautiful, secluded cathedral not shown to the general public.

"This mark on my hand…you say this is proof that I have been entered in this Holy Grail War?" Kirei asked the hooded man.

"There can be no doubt," The man replied. "You have been selected as a participant of the Holy Grail War. It is exceptional that someone like you – a priest, with no clear affiliation with any of the Gods or with any miraculous magical talent – has been selected."

"What is this Holy Grail War?" Kirei asked, still unconvinced.

The hooded man sighed. Kirei Kotomine, an elderly man in his fifties, was a black man of the church who carried out his roles as an executor, an expert assassin. He was unremarkable in his appearance, with brown hair surrounding a slightly tanned face and a hooked nose. The only offsetting thing was his eyes, a stormy, mercurial gray color that was most unusual. In fact, the only other time he had ever seen such eyes was in descendants of Athena…

"We have long awaited the Holy Grail War, a magical war that was established nearly 3000 years ago by the Greek Gods," The hooded man said, knitting his hands together as they walked along the cathedral. "The Holy Grail selects seven people – seven representatives of each God – and grants them a servant, a mythical hero from the past to do battle in the present."

"Seven servants?" Kirei asked.

"Seven familiars essentially. These seven are great people that left their mark in history and are willing to represent each God in the Holy Grail War. They are 'Heroic Spirits' and they are on a completely different level than the usual spirits talented mages summon. In order to summon a Heroic Spirit, you will need a relic of the hero and a summoning ritual. Summoning a heroic spirit who contradicts your personality or is against your God will result in an incomplete summoning."

Kirei sighed. It sounded very particular and specific to him. "And I don't even know if what he's saying is true yet!" He thought. "However, if what he's been saying is true, then I need as much information as possible…"

"So how do you win and obtain the Holy Grail?" At this question, the hooded man smiled. With evident relish, he replied,

"You must be the last man standing. The only way to completely win the war is to either eliminate every single other master or make them voluntarily forfeit. Forfeiting the war will result in those markings on your hand, those command seals, to transfer to me. I am not a participant of this war – I am the mediator, the envoy that the Gods have sent below in order to ensure that the war runs smoothly."

Kirei thought for a moment. "And if you win the war?"

The hooded man's response was swift. "Three wishes will be granted – one of your's, one of your servant's, and one of your God's."

"And if the servant wishes to cause me harm?"

"It cannot happen. In order to be a heroic spirit, the servant must have expressed regret during their death and wished dearly for one true desire – something that they want above all else. Ironically though, most famous heroes of the past have something they clearly regret, so let this not be a limitation in summoning your desired hero."

Kirei smiled. He was a man who never found pleasure in life no matter what he did. He couldn't understand how people lived their life with passion or had any desires. He had no sense of purpose, and Kirei knew it. Kirei was disgusted by himself daily, wishing deeply that he could find something, anything, to dedicate his life to. He lived each day hoping that God would show him the way. But inside, he knew. God wasn't going to grant him salvation.

However, this man, this suspicious hooded man, might have finally brought him what he was looking for.

Tristana – 5 months before

Tristana Grace, twelve years old, was a beautiful girl by any standard. Long, lush, chocolate hair cascaded down to her thighs, rippling in waves like a shaking waterfall. Her eyes were large and lidded, a beautiful blue color, and her slim body already helped emphasize who she was: a granddaughter of Aphrodite, the Goddess of Love.

Tristana didn't usually eavesdrop, but she couldn't resist after hearing her father raise his voice with her mother. Her father never raised his voice. Hunched over near her parent's bedroom, she pressed her ear against the smooth white wall and listened.

"I know you don't like it, Pipes, but that's what Zeus has decreed. I'm his only son! Zeus needs someone to represent him, and I'm the only man for the job," her father proclaimed.

"But what about the children? What about me? Are you just going to abandon us and go on another adventure?" Her mother sounded frantic, the melodious voice an octave higher than usual. "What if…you lose?"

Her father laughed. "Me? Lose? A son of Jupiter?" Judging by his tone of voice, her father felt that him losing was impossible. Deep down inside, Tristana suddenly felt proud of her father.

"Our adventures stopping Gaia were far more dangerous than this. How powerful can the other participants be? And Jupiter himself has assured me that he has located the most powerful servant for me to control." Fading to a whisper, her father murmured, "In fact, let me show you the relic. It's amazing."

Tristana heard a thump sound, as if something was thrown onto the ground. And then she heard the sound of a blade being pulled from its scabbard. Unable to resist, Tristana tiptoed her way over to the door and began to ease it open, slightly, before bringing her head across….

A golden blade, seemingly bursting with the light of the sun, lay lovingly in the hands of her father. Tristana's eyes widened. There was no mistaking it. Everyone knew the name of that famous blade, and the famous knight who wielded it. As she ran her eyes across, she knew that her father's enemies would have no chance.

For the blade's name was…

Excalibur.

A/N: Well, thank you for reading my first two chapters of The Second Holy Grail War! For those of you that are wondering, yes, this is loosely based off of the Fate series, but I'm adding my own take to it and adding in OC characters. If you liked this story, don't hesitate to review; if you hated this story, don't hesitate to review either – all feedback is appreciated. Thanks in advance!

Regarding Suggestions: I am highly open to suggestions. I have already the main plot structured with my idea of how the story is going to progress but any suggestions you have to making the characters better, the story more convincing, where you think I should progress will be taken into consideration.

Regarding Updates: I am notoriously bad with maintaining stories, but at the moment you can expect updates every 1-2 weeks. Reason being that it's winter break and I'm horribly bored.

Regarding Criticism: Go ahead and hit me with your worst.

Regarding Rating: There will be ample warning before chapters if any questionable content – sex, language, or disturbing plots – is ever inserted. Right now, I don't think I will be inserting any overly inflammatory content, hence the rating, but if it is ever inserted, I will change the rating and add the warnings.

Regarding Questions: There's never a bad question. Send any questions you have to me - preferably via review - and I will get back to you asap.