Hey there fans. New chapter and new stories. I think that for a first story this isn't going too bad.
This may seem like a chapter of talking, but it's got real impressive stuff at the end. This takes over for the Einzbern Castle drinking scene from the anime.
Enjoy.
Chapter 8: Peace and War
(7:00pm, Hyatt Establishment)
It had taken a bit of effort, but under Kayneth's directions Caster managed to hypnotise all the waiters in the restaurant. He didn't like doing it, but it was either that or wipe their minds afterwards and this was easier. Soon, all the servants had arrived, even the mysterious Avenger. The masters too had arrived, given how the church had arranged for this meeting. A glazed-over Matrie d' led them to a private room, with their finest wine and menus. After ordering their meals and settling down, they finally got down to business.
"Right then." Risei began from the head of the table. "I'm sure you're all aware of the recent kidnappings and the… meteor that fell." Avenger gave a girlish giggle at the vein throbbing on his forehead. "Unusual Servants, outside of the seven, have been summoned into this war. As Avenger here was one of these Servants, I leave it to her to answer our questions." Everyone turned to look at the Servant, who had removed her hood to reveal a glowing purple face.
"Thank you Sir." She began. "I'm afraid I can't answer all your questions, as there are thing even I don't know. I was summoned inside a house with dead people inside."
"Was one a red-haired man missing a hand?" Caster asked, suddenly serious.
Avenger nodded. "I have no need for a master, as Fate itself sustains me. I was exploring the city when I found a young Magus girl travelling through the streets last night. I remembered the news about kidnappings, and I followed her to protect her. She tracked down someone she knew to the sewers, where she came across a monster."
Tokiomi stood up and faced her. "The little girl was my daughter, Rin. She was looking for her friend." He bowed to her. "I thank you for protecting her last night."
"We hacked into the Police databanks and found a sketch of the beast." Waver added. "Since it had three heads, we decided to call it Cerberus."
"I originally pegged it for another Master-less Servant, feasting on the people to survive. That was until I was ambushed by dozens of monsters, led by a blob thing. They were too numerous to be an accident, making me think a master summoned one or all. I killed them, before chasing the blob outside. I tried to interrogate it and it refused. So I killed it before it could escape."
"One of Berserker's familiars spotted Rin entering the sewers, and fetched us." Kariya continued. "It was a good thing we did, as some must've escaped from your assault. We got the children out, and led them to the local police."
Berserker stood up. "I managed to get some of their knowledge before they faded." He shape-shifted into a man in a black robe. "Unfortunately, I only have what they saw and heard to work on." He spoke in a raspy voice that had originally been weedy, like he smoked a lot.
"I recognise his voice." Kayneth added. "Viggato Soulstein. A seventh-generation Magus, He's even more arrogant than I am." Lancer snorted. "I am arrogant because I am the strongest Magus Master here. Viggato is weaker, but acts like he surpasses me. He would know about the Holy Grail, and see not being chosen as a Master as the gravest of insults."
"But what can he do about it?" Irisviel asked. "The Grail wouldn't just choose another master because he threw a tantrum."
"The Blob kept referring to how it was their fate to win. It could be that he was meant to be a master, and I messed everything up."
"But how?" Waver asked. "If he was fated to enter, then Fate should've known about you."
Avenger shook her head. "I am Fateless. When I was alive, Fates set in stone for generations were undone by my presence alone. A friend who foretold he would die leading me to an important treasure was terrified when he survived with my help. An immortal army fated to destroy the world fell before me. I even killed the source of Fate itself, a cruel monster who used me to free herself."
Everyone was shocked. She had actually killed Fate itself? How was that possible? Waver even said that out loud.
"Fateweavers could see the fate of things around me, but I could subvert those fates. Tirnoch used the fate of my actions to free herself, but she couldn't see if she could win against me. She was so used to making fates true, that she never considered that she could die."
"So your presence has changed the War completely." Saber summed things up. "We have an arrogant Magus who has gone insane with rejection, who would let the world burn if it meant he would win. He is supposedly fated to win outright, but you just being in the War means he could just as easily lose."
"Pretty much."
"Hmph. I've never really placed much in fates. I'd rather make my own."
Tokiomi interrupted them. "Father Risei. Given that Soulstein shows a blatant disregard for the rules of secrecy, I propose that we have a cease-fire until the crisis is averted."
"What's the matter?" Berserker smirked. "Afraid of getting knocked off by a nobody?" Tokiomi didn't rise to the bait.
"Enough." Risei said. "Tohsaka is right. Soulstein seems willing to win no matter the cost. His Servants alone killed scores of people. And if the War causes too much collateral damage, then they will step in and stop everyone. It is in all our best interests to put a stop to him before things get worse."
"I can get my people and familiars watching all forms of passage in and out of the city." Berserker volunteered.
"My systems have hacked the local satellites and cameras." Rider stated. "We can watch him that way."
"My Djinn can keep an eye out too." Caster said. "If I can stop a monster like him, I'll do anything."
Risei nodded. "Berserker, could your people be bought off?"
Berserker laughed. "My men are completely loyal to me. For them, my gratitude is all the currency they need."
"How soon can you organise them?"
Berserker seemed to concentrate, while Caster's Djinn appeared and floated out the windows. "Done." They said in unison. Rider merely nodded. By now, the food they had ordered had finally arrived. Those who wore helmets removed them to eat. Assassin hadn't ordered anything, and so stayed by the wall he was standing by.
Saber and Rider looked strange without their helmets, both young and old, and skin so pale it was white. But Archer's appearance was the strangest. He was definitely some kind of cat-person, with yellow fur and brown stripes. His green eyes were huge, giving a rather cute look.
"Aww." Irisviel squealed. "Archer looks adorable."
Archer blushed through his fur. "Thank you ma'am." The servants and masters were soon tucking into their well-made meals before they started talking again.
"Right then." Caster said. "As I mentioned when I gathered you all together, we will also be talking about what our wish is, and see if we can accomplish it non-violently." Everyone rolled their eyes at his naivety. "Saber, do you want to start?"
Saber took a bite out of what was now frozen steak, before speaking. "My world is constantly at war. As soon as one war is finished, another takes its place. Just recently in the Human Alliance, a lord who despised the Orcs has begun working towards peace with them, while a Mage who had always asked for peace now wants them dead. There is constant infighting amongst the empires, as every species places themselves first."
"The only truly unified empire is The Scourge. Because they are all undead, they completely obey their king." He pointed his thumb at himself, as if there was any doubt who that was. "True, years ago a large group broke free while my predecessor was weakened, but I will bring them back into the fold just like all the others."
"Given that you're here, I'm guessing someone didn't like your empire." Berserker said.
"They didn't. But they still have to keep my empire alive. For without a Lich King to command them, The Scourge would start a rampage that would slaughter the world."
"So your wish is to return to reclaim your empire?" Archer asked him. Saber nodded, while Caster, Archer and Rider looked at him suspiciously. "And what if they don't want to join your Empire of Undead?"
"They will all join. One way, or another."
"Well." Lancer said as she ripped a chunk out of her leg-of-lamb. "Guess I'm next. And I want to be back with Vanille. And my friends."
"Were you guys close?" Caster asked.
"Very. We worked together through thick and thin to tell the Fal'Cie what they could do with their plan. In the end, me and Vanille gave our lives to save everyone else. We weren't really dead, but we weren't alive."
Caster smiled. He remembered all the adventures he got up to with his friends. How they too save the world from disaster. "That is a very noble goal, Lancer."
"Noble, but selfish." Berserker added.
Lancer gave him a glare. "Yeah? And what's your wish?"
"I don't have one. I can do all my work as a Servant."
"And your work is?"
"Improve the human race. Unite them into a hive mind. Pretty much what Saber's doing, but everyone will be alive."
"Perhaps we could work together." Saber said, approval written all over his face. Berserker raised his glass in acknowledgement.
"What do you wish for, Archer?" Irisviel asked the alien.
"Well, I want to go back home. See, I never died." Everyone stared at him in shock. Heroic Spirits had to be dead to be summoned. It was a fundamental rule of the War. "Clank and I were investigating a strange energy source with the Great Clock. The Clock was made to help stabilise time after it was broken. I guess the energy was the summoning ritual and it must've mixed with the Clock's energy, cause we ended up about ten years before we left."
"So even if you could find your home, you'd be arriving early." Irisviel summed up. Her heart ached for him. He might actually die in this war, and he hadn't even wanted to be here.
"If the Great Clock controls time," Rider asked. "Couldn't you just find it and return to your time?"
Archer shook his head. "The Clock doesn't control time. It just stabilises it. It's like a stich in time, keeping it working right. Any attempt to use it to travel through time could unmake everything."
Everyone was silent for a time, until Rider spoke up. "My wish is to become a guardian of Humanity."
"A guardian?" Waver asked.
"Whenever something threatens Mankind, I want to be there to protect it. That was my duty in the UNSC, and it's what I'm best at."
"Is that what you want, Cortana?"
"Affirmative." She said, appearing on the table fully clothed. "As a smart AI, I am always at risk of going rampant. It's where I literally think myself to death. Normally I would only live for seven years before I die. By being a Guardian Spirit, I will always be around."
"I see." Berserker said. To an immortal like him, who becomes stronger the more he learned, such a thing seemed preposterous. He turned to Caster. "And what does our valianthero want with the Grail?"
Caster shrugged. "Nothing. I died of old age. I had everything I wanted. A loving family, a strong kid, a beautiful wife. If I had to wish for something it would be starting a new life in this world."
"I too, would wish to start a new life." Avenger said. "I wish to free this world from Fate. To have the ability to choose your future. That is my wish."
Everyone turned to look at Assassin, who seemed to squirm before them.
"Challenge accepted." He replied.
Saber chuckled. "So you wish to face a challenge? I'm certain you'll find one right here."
"So, Caster." Berserker said. "It seems that few of us can gain our wish without the Grail. The war will go on."
"I know." Caster said, looking very serious. "But I had hoped that we could've avoided it."
(8:00pm, Fuyuki River)
Viggato stood by the river, chanting an ancient spell and drawing in all the mana his Servants had harvested. Soon, his monsters will rampage through the city, seeking the false Masters and claiming the Grail for him. He chanted louder and louder, until all the sheep around him looked up at him in alarm. Dark circles formed in the river, and it bubble and boiled as the magic created the flesh of the monsters. His final lines enchanted them with the healing and shielding Fate had granted them. The circles glowed purple as the monsters sprung up. The sheep screamed.
And Viggato cackled.
(8:15pm, Hyatt Establishment)
Everyone heard people screaming outside. They rushed outside, helmets back on, weapons in hand. And stopped when they reached the edge of the river.
Standing before them were seven massive monsters, each one as large as a building. Many of them had tentacles flailing around, some had massive hands, and all had large gnashing teeth. They looked as though they were born from nightmares.
The Servants weren't impressed.
"Meh. I've seen bigger." Archer said.
"The Forgotten One was far more hideous than that." Saber noted.
"They look like the Gravemind. Permission to hit them with an orbital bombardment." Rider asked Waver.
"You call that a beastie?" Lancer scoffed. "Should've brought in an Adamantoise."
"Reminds me of my kids." Berserker said.
"The Doom Dragon was bigger." Said Caster.
"Destroyer worse." Assassin noted.
"Tirnoch was bigger." Avenger taunted. "And uglier."
"SILENCE" Viggato shouted, angry that they weren't cowering before his monsters. "You may laugh and taunt, but soon you will all be begging for forgiveness. All will be begging for forgiveness."
Assassin raised his rifle, and blasted a tentacle of one of the monsters. The tentacle regrew in moments. Viggato laughed.
"You see? Fate is shielding them. Your attacks are useless against them!"
"Translation, Fate-girl?" Archer asked Avenger.
"He is using the power of Fate to shield them." She replied. "Everyone, target one monster each. I will leave them vulnerable to your strikes."
Everyone nodded, then rushed off to face a monster. Avenger concentrated, ignoring Viggato's raving, and drew in the fate energy surrounding the beasts.
She hoped she could hold it long enough.
(Saber)
Saber rushed the beast on Invincible, freezing the river before them. The beast stopped glowing, and Saber knew he had to strike quickly.
"Death Coil" He roared, firing necromantic energy from his sword. It flew towards the creature, and struck it's right arm. Instantly, the arm rotted away, falling into the river as the rot and disease spread down its side. It swung its other hand at Saber, but Invincible dodged, and Saber caused ice to trap its hand. Before it could pull it free, he jumped and focused his energy into the sword.
"Frostmourne Hungers" He yelled as he stabbed the creature in the chest. Ice and rot spread up the beast like wildfire. It screamed as the mana keeping it alive was drawn into Saber. The beast fell apart around him, smashing through and against the ice. Invincible caught Saber as he fell, charging back towards the shore as the ice fell apart.
He smirked. This battle will help him greatly in the coming fights.
(Archer)
Tokiomi looked at the monster in disgust. Viggato was revealing magic to the entire world. There was no way the populace could ignore something like this.
"You have a weapon that can kill this… thing?" He asked Archer. Archer laughed before materialising a small golden pistol. Its barrel was made of glass, but it waved, like it was made of air.
"Abomination!" Archer shouted, the beast walking towards him. He smirked. "Meet Fred."
And he fired the pistol.
A small black orb bounced through the air before heading above the beast. A massive portal opened up, before large tentacles reached through and grabbed it round the middle. It struggled before more reached down to it, and it made an 'uh-oh' noise before being pulled through the portal.
Archer blew out the barrel before holstering the pistol.
Tokiomi merely hoped he never saw 'Fred' again.
(Lancer)
Lancer laughed, before pulling out the crystal. "Come Forth, Master of the Rift" She shouted before throwing it into the air. A dark circle and runes appeared in the air, before Bahamut flew out of it. Lancer hopped on as he passed, before flying towards the beast. Tentacles lashed out at them, but Bahamut dodged them all, unleashing lightning at it. Tentacles fell off with each strike, leaving it angrier and angrier. As Bahamut slashed with his wings, Lancer decided to finish it.
"Megaflare" She told Bahamut, and he charged a dark orb from his mouth. The sky seemed to get darker from the orb, then it slammed into the beast before collapsing in on itself. Most of the beast was pulled through, leaving the rest to fade away in a burst of mana. Lancer laughed as she flew back to land.
(Rider)
Waver wanted to whimper. He wanted to cry. As insane as Viggato was, he was still stronger than him. He could kill him with ease.
But he had to be strong. To prove himself to Rider.
Rider had pulled out a weird pistol thing with a camera on top. Waver was going to ask what it does, when a red laser pointed at the beast.
"Target confirmed, Chief." Cortana said as a red ring of lasers closed in on it. "MAC blast ready. Firing in 3…2…1."
A massive blast fell from the sky right into the beast, causing burnt flesh to fly away from it. Those parts faded away as another blast slammed into the remains. Waver stood surprised as Rider spoke.
"Kill Confirmed."
(Berserker)
Viggato grounded his teeth in anger. How could things be going wrong? Four of his beasts were dead, and they hadn't even suffered a scratch. But he won't lose. He gave a forceful laugh.
"And what can a mere Berserker do against my Beasts of Destruction?"
Berserker smiled. "You have no idea what I can do. So let me educate you. Your beasts are made of biomass."
Tentacles fired out of Berserker, slamming into the beast as he started getting bigger and more inhuman.
"And I consume biomass."
The beast screamed as he got smaller. His arms shrunk as they became red-and-black tendrils. He tried to pull away, but Berserker had already hijacked its legs.
"I am a god among viruses." He literally growled. "I can make the Black Plague look like the common cold." There was nothing left of the beast. He turned back into his human form.
"And you are nothing compared to me."
(Caster)
Caster looked grim as he got to the riverbank. He could sense that they had more mana that they should. Viggato had killed all those people to power these things.
He will put a stop to him.
"Come Forth, Flint, Sap, Bane, Ground." He yelled. Four Venus Djinn appeared and headed for the beast. Three of them slammed into it, gouging out holes and cuts while the forth continued. When Ground hit it, the beast couldn't move a muscle.
"I Summon Thee, Judgment" A Reality Marble formed. Sola gasped when she saw the knight flying overhead. He wore majestic blue armour, with horns on his helmet and white wings behind him. One hand held a glowing sword, while the other held a golden shield shaped like a lion's face. The lion mouth opened and a blue orb formed. Judgment fired the orb at the beast, where the result was immense.
The orb expanded into a massive explosion. The ground shook and the wind thundered. The Reality Marble faded, taking the beast's remains with it.
"That was for the innocents you killed, you bastard." Caster growled, tears falling down his cheeks.
(Assassin)
Viggato was frothing with anger and fear. nonononoNO! He was supposed to win! Fate said he would win! How could they still be alive?
"No Assassin could beat my magnificent beast." He laughed, though everyone could hear the fear in it. The beast was close enough to slam his fist down on Assassin. Viggato laughed even more at that. Yes! He killed one! He laughed and laughed and laughed.
Until the beast's head exploded.
Everyone looked over to the right to see Assassin standing, his rifle smoking.
Viggato started screaming. He turned to run, but he was grabbed by Bahamut.
"Put me down, Servant!" He screamed. "I am a Magus! I am your Master!"
Lancer looked at everyone else to see them nodding. "Sure thing, Master."
What Viggato hadn't noticed, was that they were now a mile above the ground.
He fell, screaming all the way.
So much for Viggato. I made him up solely to have a massive fight with monsters and show how powerful the Servants were. If they seem weak, well then that's because these heroes have fought and killed massive creatures by themselves.
Next chapter, we get back to some good old fashioned Servant fights.