Wrought Iron Cross
A tale written by Bubbajack, sustained by the mad ramblings of Nix's Warden, Eternal Nothingness, and the fine people on the Court of the Devil Kings forum; and Currently UN-betaed.
Disclaimer: I don't own FSN or Campione last time I checked...nope still I don't, damn...
Small AN: I've decided to post the "rough" unbetaed versions of my chapters and will post the beta'd versions once my beta finished umm "betaing" them. That is all.
Ch.6: The Abduction pt2: The Duty of Kings and the taking of Servants...
It was a full twelve hour round trip flight from japan to England. For the Miko of the Sword; it was an awkward flight. She felt awful for betraying both her best friend and her sworn oath to her lord but what was she to do in the face of another Campione, refuse his "request"? Then there was how he delt with her Aunts betrayal.
'To rip out her tongue so quickly, and so callously, and then cauterize it without even batting an eyelash; what horrors must he have seen...what must he have done to become so callous?' Ena thought as she silently followed him outside the waiting airport terminal.
Waiting just outside the airport doors was a thin man in a chauffeur's outfit standing in front of a stretch limo holding up a sign saying "Kusanagi and Seishuuin" on it.
Archer quirked an eyebrow then walked over to the man and asked "Can we help you?"
"Well that depends on two things sir; are you the newest child of Pandora and is that Ena Seishuuin as well?"
"Well I could say yes but then again, who are you?" Archer asked as he narrowed his eyes at the man in suspicion.
"I was sent on the behalf of Lady Alice Louise Goddodin to see you to her. Barnaby Smalls is the name and I'll be your driver while you're here in jolly ole England, by your leave of course your highness?" Barnaby asked.
"Hmm, do you have any proof you're from the Witenagemot?"
"Of course sir; Lady Goddodin gave me a letter to hand you, if I may reach into my breast pocket?"
Giving a nod of quittance Archer was soon handed a formal letter closed with a wax seal. He broke the seal and quickly scanned over the letter before turning his piercing silver gaze back onto the chauffeur and saying "Alright, everything seems legitimate. Please take us to Miss Goddodin as so as possible."
"Yes sir, right away your highness."
"And just call me Kusanagi for goodness sakes, or people might get the wrong idea." He said as he let out a sigh of frustration.
"Of course sir my apologies; anyway hop in while I stow your things in the boot and then we'll be off." Smalls said.
The man's two passengers' did as bidden and made themselves comfortable in the back of the leather interior of the vehicle. The same oppressive silence the hung over Ena on the flight over the pond settled over her once again as the two sat across from each other, with Ena staring at her liege while he stared out the window. The Miko of the Sword opened her mouth several times intent on saying something, Archer noticed out of the corner of his eye; yet she failed to speak each time.
Getting tired of seeing her imitate a goldfish he asked "Something on your mind Seishuuin?"
"Kusanagi-sama Ena would like to know a few things, even though you probably feel I am in no right to ask you any questions at the moment."
"Such as?"
"I betrayed you why was I not punished along with my Aunt, also why weren't my Aunt not killed?"
"Ena, I am bringing you into a possible life threatening situation, and forcing you to reveal to your childhood friend that you basically sold her out; which even if she forgives you is something you're going to have to live with the fact that you did for the rest of your life. Believe me; sometimes the memory of one's own actions is worse than any type punishment that can be afflicted upon a person."
He responded in tone that spoke of personal experience on the subject. This made Ena even more curious about her liege lord and yet, she dare not pry into his personal life at the moment. So, she just nodded and let sleeping dogs lie. She then decided to change topics saying "Kusanagi-sama, I just want you to know that I never wanted any of this to happen. I just wanted to keep my Aunt safe, that's all."
"Then you should've told me the moment you knew Voban had come to Japan. You should've told me the moment you got the phone call in the Blue Note. If you had; maybe this whole mess could've been avoided." He said a little bit harsher than he'd meant to.
"How did you know-"He cut her off, saying "For the longest time, I couldn't figure out why you had been acting so jittery since the phone call. It wasn't exactly hard to put two and two together once you confessed."
"Oh..."
"Yes, now I need you to promise me something? Next time you or someone close to you decides to do something stupid or borderline suicidal like pissing me off; come tell me first. I have a knack for getting out of nearly impossible situations, and if you had just come and talked to me, we might not be in this mess right now."
Ena sighed sadly before saying "You are right Kusanagi-sama; Ena should've come to you but she was afraid. For her Aunt, for herself, and needlessly for you it seems. Don't worry though; Ena has learnt her lesson, she promises to come to you for help from now on if something bad happens."
"That's all I ask, well that; and to wake up in bed with a different girl every day of the month."
"That could be arranged Kusanagi-sama, afterall you are a Devil King so you can have as many women as you want. You merely need ask for Ena, Kaoru, Hana, Yuri, and possibly Pandora-sama to warm your bed at night; and I'm sure you could easily capture the hearts of other-why are you looking at Ena like that?"
"I was joking Ena." He said giving her a deadpan look that matched his tone.
"Oh, Ena apologizes if she said anything...Foolish." she said looking at her feet in embarrassment.
Before he could respond, the car came to a stop and Barnaby's voice came over the interior intercom "Sir, madam, we have arrived at the Greenwich Assembly building Lady Goddodin awaits within. Feel free to head on up, I'll take care of your bags."
"Thank you Barnaby."
The two then exited the car and found themselves in front of a rather large castle that Archer couldn't help but compare to Hogwarts from Harry Potter. As a matter of fact, the more he looked around the more the Witenagemot building reminded him of a certain school of witchcraft and wizardry. It had the long driveway, with the small almost postcard worthy village and train station at the other end, large oak doors covering the entrance, huge spiraling turrets...Yeah, it fit Hogwarts to a tee.
"I don't see a Threstal anywhere do you Ena?" He said partially quoting a famous American movie line.
"A Threstal,Kusanagi-sama, what do you mean?"
"Never mind; let's just get inside. I need to ask Alice some questions." He said leading the way inside.
They found everyone in the dining hall most of the group sitting on four long wooden benches while a slightly smaller group sat at table on a raised dais. In the center of the group sat a vaguely familiar face.
He was an older man with blonde slicked back hair and blue eyes wearing a three piece suit. It took Archer a moment to realize that this man was likely Alices' father. Deciding to introduce himself and establish the fact that he will not be trampled on by petty politics; Archer strode boldly in-between the wooden tables heading directly towards the dais. Once he stood facing the man he cleared his throat and asked "Are you by any chance related to Alice Louise Goddodin?"
"Why yes, yes I'm her father and who are you young man?"
"Me, I'm no one important, just someone who cooked dinner for her when she was in japan about a year ago."
"Japan...a year ago, but the only time Alice was in Japan was; The Feast of Three Gods!"
"Is that what they are calling it? I mean I knew my cooking was good; considering it could please three gods and all, but-"The man then interrupted saying "You cooked the food?! Then you are?!" Lord Goddodin said as his eyes bulged out of their sockets.
"Kusanagi Godou Japan's Campione and my Vassal Ena Seishuuin here to see your daughter Lord Goddodin." He replied with a bit of a chuckle flecked in his tone.
"I-I see, right this way please Kusanagi-sama." Lord Goddodin said moving aside a tapestry to reveal a hidden staircase.
The two foreigners followed their guide up the spiraling stairway to an ornate solid oak door wrapping on it twice, Lord Goddodin waited until her heard a subdued voice say "Come in father, I've been expecting you three."
In response; the man opened the door revealing what lay within. On the other side of the door was a room that practically screamed sterile. The inside of the room was like a hospital ward; it was stark white, with those annoying lights that can only be found in hospital and classrooms, its floor was tiled white, and lastly it smelled strongly of antiseptic. What completed the picture however was a young woman who was hooked up to numerous machines.
She had a nimbus of flaxen golden hair covering her head, a breathing mask on her face, and a simple patient gown covering her thin frame. The only signs of life she showed were the faint beeping of the EKG machine and the barely noticeable rise and fall of her bosom as she breathed in and out. Archer stared at the young woman who seemingly was being kept alive by machinery, and asked "How long has she been like this?"
Lord Goddodin shifted uncomfortably for a moment before saying "My daughter has always been of frail health Lord Kusanagi; however it was not until she used one of her projections a year ago that she ended up this bad, as the further away she casts the projection, the higher the strain on her body."
"So it's my fault she's like this then." Archer said sounding bitter.
"No not at all Lord Kusanagi she should've listened to me when I told her not to-"Lord Goddodin became silent when Archer raised a hand.
"I know where the blame lies in this matter, and it lies at my feet. Thus it is my responsibility to see that she gets better...and I have just the thing I believe."
"What, truly?!"
"I believe so yes...though the method will be a bit...unorthodox it should work."
"Is it an Authority or..."
"No, it's a magic sword that is incapable of killing what it cuts. Instead it heals whatever maladies the 'victim' has be they physical or mental."
"I-I see, well if you truly think this can help my little girl than do what you must Lord Kusanagi."
"Very well then, Trace On." He said before he chanted and aria he rarely used "Whose flesh the Sword of Mercy hurts has drawn no breath, Whose soul it heals has wandered in the night, Has paid the summing of all debts in death, Has turned to see returning light."
There was a flash of light and when it cleared the youngest Campione was holding a bright, double-edged blade a meter long, that is a centimeter at its thickest, and it had a simple black hilt with straight crossbar. The steel of the blade is mottled, with a subtle translucent pattern that seems to extend to impossible depths. The hilt was covered in an unknown black material, hard but also comfortable. In the crossbar was a white open palmed hand.
This was a sword that could not kill, it was one of twelve incredibly powerful Mystic Codes he'd had crafted for his use during his lifetime using the money Kiritsugu left him; this was Woundhealer. Taking the Sword of Mercy, he raised it up and plunged in into her chest. Three more copies of the blade quickly followed it. He then stood back and glanced at his work for a moment before saying "Now all we have to do is wait and hope for the best."
And so they did.
Aoko was becoming annoyed they had been coming to Zelretch's office every day for the past week only to be told he'd found nothing. She wanted her husband back; she wanted answers that only he could give, she was of two minds on whether or not to beat him within an inch of his life once she found him, or ravage him in the bedroom till neither of them have the ability to move. Either one would make her happy, honestly.
But first, she had to find him. She stomped into the Old Man of the Jewels office destroying the door and part of the wall this time and, without even looking back as she cast the Fifth magic to fix it asked "Have you found him yet Old Man?"
"Well, someone's a little testy I see. As it just so happens; I believe I have found something." The Dead Apostle Ancestor responded.
"What do you mean by 'something'?"
"Exactly what I said, I think I found something not Emiya himself, but something relating to him."
"Show me."
"Would it kill you to show me some respect?" he grumbled.
"No but it might kill you if you don't get off you decaying ass and show me what you've found!" Aoko spat her temper finally boiling over.
The room was suddenly filled with a large amount of bloodlust as Zelretch glared at Aoko with glowing crimson eyes and stated "Listen here girl, I understand your upset about your husband of nine years basically deciding to leave you without so much as a Dear Jane letter, but the next time you threaten me, you had best be prepared to make good on it understand?"
"What makes you think I wasn't ready to make good on your ass kicking you rotting sack of flesh?" Aoko said taking a threatening step closer to the ancient vampire.
"Ok that's enough you two." Rin said coming in between them before they could come to blows which if that happened she and Sakura would likely die in the crossfire.
"Please don't fight Sempais'." Sakura asked.
The two magicians glared at each other for a moment longer before they both turned away childishly.
"Now, I do believe you were saying you found something Master Zelretch?" Rin inquired of the Magician of Kaleidoscope.
"Indeed, the ring stopped in a universe but I've checked and Emiya isn't there."
"But the ring stopped?" Aoko asked.
"Yes, so that means, whatever is causing the ring to stop has a strong connection to Emiya." He surmised.
"Open up a portal please, I'm going to go check it out." Aoko requested.
"Are you sure about that girl?"
"Just open up a portal Old Man, at least if I die; you won't have to keep looking for my husband."
Zelretch just sighed and did as she asked.
Aoko stepped through the portal and found two men in their early twenties attempting to kill each other. Both had white hair, and impressive physiques. The first wore a red longcoat and swung around an ornate skull adorned claymore as if it were a toy and flailing it around with near reckless wild abandon; his snow shite locks covering his face. The other man wore a blue longcoat and his hair was slicked back on his head while he use both a white handled katana and a sword that looked like a mixture of flesh, steel, and bone with as much skill and grace as he opponent apparently lacked.
The Fifth Magician watched the apparent death-match for a moment, before she remembered why she came here in the first place and decided to see what was causing her ring to malfunction. Following that line of thought she took off her wedding band and let it follow its impulse to be reunited with its twin...only for it to stop the moment it made contact with the cleaver-like sword of flesh and metal.
'Huh, well that's odd; I suppose I should get to the bottom of this.' She thought with a sigh before she charged headlong into the fray, chanting an aria as she went.
"Hear me, Lord of Creation"
"I tell thee" "In my name representing order (blue), I tell thee"
(Not sane) "All is right" (five timeless words) "The order has fallen"
With those words the Fifth Magic activated and Aoko shifted through time, her form becoming a blur of motion and managing to snatch the cleaver blade out of the Blue Coats hand without him even noticing.
"What the- The Sparda, where did it go?!"...ok maybe he noticed.
"Behind you Vergil; a smoking hot redhead has it." The man in the red coat said pointing at Aoko.
The man in blue; Vergil, turned and found a human woman holding something he had worked so hard to attain. The power of his father the Devil Knight Sparda sealed into his blade. Vergil was not happy.
"Woman, I do not know who you are or why you are here, but if you return that blade to me now; your death will be painless."
"Oh, and if I refuse?" she queried.
"Then I'll take it back, and I'll make sure you suffer for making me waste my time on you."
"Hmm...I think I'm gonna go with option three."
"Option three?" the redcoat asked.
"Yeah that's the one where I kick his ass for threatening me, and then I get the answers I came here for!"
"You foolish woman." Vergil said in annoyance before he 'tricked' behind her intent on taking her head; only for her not to be there.
Instead, he needed to roll out of the way of a strike from the Sparda that nearly cleaved him in two. As Vergil got back to his feet he eyed the woman with newfound respect. He then charged at her again with blinding speed when he noticed an opening in her defense. He slashed at it with Yamato in a blur of motion, only for the attack to be parried and for the woman to take a step back. Vergil becomes even more annoyed with this woman and again slashes at a clear opening he sees in her defenses...only to once again have it swiftly blocked and this time counterattacked by the mysterious redhead leaving a bloody gash in the sword arm of his coat and a wound that quickly healed.
Vergil disengaged and studied the woman in front of him with a curious expression on his face. "I see, so that's your game." He said after a moment.
"Umm, not to sound rude or anything, but just who are you lady?" the man in the redcoat who watched the fight on edge the whole time asked.
"Me, I'm just a woman looking for her missing husband. My name is Aoko Emiya." She responded never taking her eyes off of Vergil.
"I'm Dante Sparda, and the idiot you're fighting is my brother, Vergil." Dante offered.
"Charmed I'm sure."
"If you are looking for your husband woman, then what are you doing here?" Vergil questioned.
"This sword or whatever it is; is getting in the way of the tracking equipment I was using to find him. This ring-"She said holding a cloudy white ring with a huge ruby on top "Is supposed to be attracted to its mate no matter the distance. However, once it touched this sword it stopped moving and I want to know why."
Suddenly as if in answer, the sword of Sparta began to glow ominously, and then; in a brilliant flash of light, he appeared. He was in his forties with slicked back white hair, wearing an all purple suit, a pair of white gloves, an amulet around his neck, and a monocle in his right eye. He gave off an air of regality and power, like that of a King or a Knight.
Everyone stared at the figure. One stared in confusion, while the other two stared in complete and utter shock. After a moment, Aoko said "Ok I'll bite who are you supposed to be? Robin Hood's out because you're not wearing green tights or leading a band of Merry Men...hmm lemme guess, you're the Joker?"
"Why you insolent little-"Vergils' rant was cut off by the man in purple bursting out into laughter.
"Ahh, it's been a long time since I've heard a good joke. But where are my manors? I am Sparda and you are young lady?" he asked courteously.
"Aoko Emiya." She responded.
"I see, I also see it has been quite a while hasn't it Dante, Vergil? Yet I cannot help but wonder why I have been called forth, as this message should only have played when all three of my sons were present and I only see two of them."
"Three, you mean we have a younger brother?" Dante asked.
"No, older actually; but I thought he died years ago along with my first wife in a terrible fire...this makes no sense..."
"Woah, woah, woah, hold up; stop the party! Now, first things first, how the hell are you here?" Dante asked.
"I am an imprint, a copy if you will, of Sparda's soul which he via a spell he cast on his blade during the sealing; left on his blade as he knew he would die eventually being cut off from Infernal Energy for so long. I possess all of the original Sparda's memories from he was born, to the day he died. I was only supposed to activate if I detected all three infernal signatures of my sons as I had a message for each of you and a limited amount of time to speak. But now it seems as though I will not get to see my eldest again."
"I wouldn't be too sure of that." Aoko said as she finished tracing a runic circle in the dirt around Sparda, with him in its center.
"What are you doing Mrs. Emiya?" Sparda asked.
"You'll see in a minute just follow my lead ok?" she said before she began to chant an aria.
"Silver and iron to the origin. Ebbing and flowing of the contracts to the cornerstone. The ancestor is yet to be.
The alighted wind becomes a wall. The gates in the four directions close, coming from the crown, the three-forked road that leads to the kingdom circulate.
Shut (fill). Shut (fill). Shut (fill). Shut (fill). Shut (fill).
Repeat every five times.
Simply, shatter once filled.
I announce.
Yourself is under me, my fate (doom) is in your sword.
In accordance with the resort of the Fifth Magic, if you abide by this feeling, this reason, then answer.
Here is my oath. I am the one who becomes all the good of the world of the dead; I am the one who lays out all the evil of the world of the dead.
You, seven heavens clad in three words of power, arrive from the ring of deterrence, O keeper of the balance!"
Sparda then felt a sense of heaviness and solidness settle onto his form; he felt like more than just a copy and more than just a memory now. He could feel it; the Dark Knight Sparda was alive once again! A wild grin spread across his face at this realization. He wanted to thank her, to kiss her, to swear his undying loyalty to this woman who just gave him a second chance at life! But what came out of his mouth was not any of those things.
Instead he said "I am Servant Saber in accordance with the summoning I have come to thee, now I ask of you, are you my Mistress?"
"Oh, what hit me, and why does it feel so good?" Alice moaned as she opened her eyes...to find four swords sticking out of her chest.
She blinked once, then twice, and then she reached out and laid a hand on one of the blades...it felt real enough...which means...
Lady Alice Louise Goddodin, Highest Witch of the Heavens, and de facto leader of the Witenagemot; let out an ear piercing shriek of sheer undignified terror.
"EEEEEEK~!"
This shriek had the unintended side effect of waking up Archer, who was asleep in a nearby chair, causing him to bolt to his feet and trace Kanshou and Bakuya in the process. When he saw who was screaming he let out a sigh and said "Ah, nice to see your finally awake Miss Goddodin, even though you nearly gave me a heart attack in the process."
"Kusanagi-sama, what are you doing in my private chambers and more importantly...COULD YOU PLEASE EXPLAIN TO ME WHY I HAVE FOUR SWORDS STICKING OUT OF MY CHEST?!" She yelled at him becoming frantic.
"Alice, ALICE CALM DOWN! Now, as to why you have swords sprouting out of you is because you are currently undergoing treatment for your...magic caused illness."
"T-treatment, how on earth is this treatment?" she asked.
"The swords I implanted in you-"Only for Alice to interrupt by her yelling "YOU DID THIS?!"
"YES BECAUSE I CAUSED YOU TO BECOME LIKE THIS IN THE FIRST PLACE ACCORDING TO YOUR FATHER SO IT'S MY RESPONIBILITY TO SEE YOU GET BETTER! NOW BE QUIET AND LET ME FINISH SPEAKING!"
Archer then took a deep breath after his mini-rant and continued in a much calmer tone "As I was saying; the swords in your chest are four copies of a blade I had commissioned some time ago. It cannot kill; it can however heal any injury be it physical or mental in nature upon breaking the skin of the target. That is why this blade is called Woundhealer." He explained.
"Are you done now Kusanagi-sama?"
"Yes."
"May I speak freely?"
"Certainly."
"Ok, first I would like to apologize for my earlier outburst. It was uncalled for."
"That's putting it mildly, but then again, it's not every day one wakes up with swords embedded in their torso."
"Indeed it isn't; but I still feel the need to apologize. Secondly, please do not blame yourself for my condition; as it was one I had since birth and also it had been my choice to send a projection halfway around the world to speak with you no one else's. Now, why are you here?"
"Louise, you mean to tell me you don't remember ordering a limo to come pick both myself and Ena up?" Archer asked.
"No I'm afraid I don't..."
"Does the name Barnaby Smalls ring any bells?"
"Mr. Smalls? Yes he is the most pleasant chauffeur in the organizations employ a very honest man. Why do you ask?"
"He was waiting for us at the airport with a letter supposedly written by you saying that you knew we were coming and sent him to pick us up. As for why I'm here personally? I'm here to ask for your help Miss Alice, I'm looking into the current whereabouts of Sasha Voban and I was told you might be able to help me."
"Sasha Voban, the Demon of the Balkans? Whatever do you need to find him for?" Alice said worriedly.
"He kidnapped Mariya Yuri from my home in Japan; I will not rest until I see her returned to me."
"Miss Yuri has been kidnapped? Oh my, this isn't good! Yes, I'll do everything I can to help you Kusanagi-sama in light of what you have done for me today I owe you that much at least...though I do wish you had a different method to facilitate my recovery."
"Well..."
"Well what Kusanagi-sama?"
"I technically do have access to another healing object but using it on you would be rather...risky."
"Ho, ho, ho, risky how may I ask?"
"Well you see when I fought my first Heretic God, or in my case Goddess she said she recognized the sheathe belonging to the Strongest of Steel residing in my body...understand that what I tell you next must remain a secret."
Alice looked at Archer long and hard before saying "I swear."
"Alright then, I have within my body Avalon the holy sheathe belonging to King Arthur. It has impressive healing abilities and I more than likely could've just charged it up and stuck it inside of you and let it heal you. I didn't however for several reasons."
"Oh, and what might those reasons be Kusanagi-sama?" Alice asked with a pleasant smile on her face.
It was a smile Archer recognized; it was the same smile Rin wore whenever he did something that royally pissed her off and he knew he was in deep shit the moment he saw it. Not that he was concerned; from what he'd gleaned from Pandora only Authorities or magic administered directly to his body could now affect him. But still, that smile unnerved him, though he suspected on someone else's face it could do more than just that... the face of his former wife suddenly came to mind.
Seeing as this person wasn't his wife who could and likely would kill him if she ever got ahold of him, Archer calmly said "Well if I had left it inside you, chances are at some point Murphy's Law would kick in and either the Strongest of Steel or one of his subordinates would come for the sheathe; leaving you vulnerable to kidnapping or worse by a Heretic God. I didn't want you getting hurt so I went for the second, slightly creepier option."
Alice closed her eyes in contemplation for a moment before she said sagely "I see, that makes perfect sense; Kusanagi-sama may I ask you a favor?" Alice whispered before her face turned scarlet and she turned away.
"What's wrong kid?"
"I'm twenty-three! I-I need you to help me to the restroom, please?" she asked shyly.
"Sure no problem." With that, Emiya picked the blonde Sage Princess up bridal style. She let out another "Eep!" as he carried her to the restroom nearby before sitting her down on the toilet seat lid.
Just gimmie a holler when you're done ok?" he said before he walked out and shut the door behind him.
'She's so light and thin because of her illness. I thought she was a teenager, but she's into her early twenties. I suppose I could use Avalon on her for a little bit if only to return the health the illness took from her.' Archer argued in his thoughts.
"Lord Kusanagi I'm finished in here."
"Alright, I'll be right in."
Once again, Archer picked up Alice bridal style and by some twist of fate, Alice's paper nightgown snagged on a jutting piece of rusted metal causing an audible ripping noise and causing Archer to lose his balance due to being thrown off kilter. He instinctually rolled with the fall, to protect the woman in his arms, and ended up landing on top of a now fully nude Alice his hands on either side of her head, with him on his knees with the young woman lying provocatively prone beneath him.
Green eyes met silver and Archer couldn't help but comment "If you wanted to spend some quality time with me Alice, all you had to do was ask."
"K-Kusanangi-sama! Please don't make fun of me like that...I...I'm well aware that men only want me for my power."
"Huh, what are you talking about?"
"Lord Kusanagi, do you not find it odd that I am not married at my age?" Alice queried.
"No not really, I mean assuming who you are I bet you have high standards in men."
"Ho, ho, ho, is that an insult or a compliment I wonder?"
"Take it how you will...so are you going to make a move on me or can we get up?"
"Hmm..."
"Alice?"
"I'm trying to decide whether or not to "make a move" as you put it or not."
"C'mon princess; up you get." Archer said with a chuckle before standing up and offering Alice his jacket, before helping her to her feet and back to the bed.
"Thank you for your assistance Lord Kusanagi...but don't think I didn't notice when you touched my bum helping me up." She said with a bit of reproach.
"Sorry but it's a force of habit my grandfather drilled into me; that damn playboy pervert."
"Truly, I never would've pinned him as the playboy type in all honesty...about what I said about marriage earlier..."
"Don't worry about it."
"No, I want to tell you about it if you'll listen that is?"
"Go ahead Princess."
"Alright, from a very young age; I had an immense amount of spiritual power. So much so, that the use of my powers actually corroded my physical health. Then when it became apparent that I was so powerful suitors lined up at my door hoping to win the "Princess Sage's" hand in marriage." She said with no small amount of bitterness in her voice.
"No wait, don't tell me; they wanted the prestige of being married to the Sage Princess Witch of the Heavens' and not Alice Louise Goddodin, correct?"
"Oh yes you hit the proverbial nail on the head Lord Kusanagi. I could see it in each time I looked into one of my courters eyes. They all held nothing but utter disgust at my disabled form, and greedy ambitions for the powers within me. They wanted a trophy wife; someone who sat there, looked pretty, and did as she was told. A man's trophy and child bearer is something I refuse to be!" She said with a bit of force at the end.
"I honestly don't blame you. If I was in your position, I likely would've killed a few of them to get the point across; speaking of which did you..."
Whether or not Alice did or did not kill any of her suitors Archer didn't find out, as at that moment an arc of black lightning streaked through her open balcony window and then took the shape of a man. Before it even finished taking shape; Archer formed his black bow and traced a Broken Hrunting and trained it onto the figure.
The lightning figure ending up taking the shape of a young dark haired man in his late twenties, with a haughty look on his face, wear three piece black and white suit. He took one look at the situation around him and remarked "Did I interrupt a heated moment of passion, Sage Princess?"
Aoko was staring at the Command Seals on her right hand the seals taking the shape of a stylized demonic head; two horns making two seals and the 'face' making the last one. She watched as her "Servant" effortlessly fought off the second oldest of his children to protect her from his wrath after he called himself her servant. Apparently Vergil thought she had somehow bent Sparda's mind to her will which was not exactly the case.
"That's enough Sparda."
"Ma'am?" Sparda said as he had his massive blade, now devoid of flesh and in the form of a more normal looking claymore at his middle child.
"I believe Vergil is just confused by what the term Servant means in this case. I think if I explain it-"
"I am well aware of what a Servant means woman! You have ensnared my father's soul and you will die for this!" Vergil spat angrily.
"No I haven't; not really. While it's true he is now something called a Servant; A Servant in this case is defined by Spirit, usually a Heroic Spirit given a physical form made out of magical energy called prana. Your father is a bastardized version of a Servant as that was the only way I could think to solidify and stabilize his form. He is bound to me; as he is dependent on me to keep his form solid. And in return, I expect him to follow any seriously given order."
"So he is your slave then!"
"Foolish boy, do you honestly think she could bind me to her will without me allowing her to do so? Give me more credit than that son."
"So let me get this straight, he's got a physical body now?" Dante asked speaking for the first time in a while.
"Yeah that's right." Aoko confirmed.
"Alright then." Dante said before he marched up to his reincarnated father and punched him square in the mouth before saying "That was for dying on mom you asshole!"
After spitting out a bit of blood from a rapidly healing split lip Sparta said morosely "That is probably the first swing someone's taken at me that I've actually deserved."
"Tch, damn right it is." Dante muttered under his breath.
"Now, if Vergil is through trying to shorten you by a head; I would like to ask you some questions Mrs. Emiya."
"Can it wait till we get back to my place Sparda? We just need to go through that portal there." Aoko said pointing at a green glowing portal floating in midair with the real version of the Sparda, which she still had in her possession.
"Certainly, come along boys." Sparda said before he made his way towards the portal.
"Oi, why should I go anywhere you say old man?" Dante asked belligerently as he crossed his arms over his chest.
"Well, here's how I see it son; you can come willingly...or I can toss your ass through the portal!" Sparda said, his voice taking on a demonic tinge at the end as his eyes flashed crimson.
"Bring it on Old Man!" Dante said raising Ebony and Ivory in challenge.
"Boy..." Suddenly Sparda disappeared from his current position; only to reappear behind Dante as he sheathed his version of his sword on his back saying "You're a few millennia too young to even think about taking me on."
Then Dante's body was littered in a mass of cuts, and blood practically exploded outward from his form before he fell to his knees, his eye widened in shock. The one thought running through his head before he passed out being 'I didn't even see him move!'
Sparda sighed before he looked at his youngest son slumped over on the ground thinking 'Rebellion suits him perfectly.'
He then looked to his middle child and asked "Will you do as I ask, or must I knock you out as well?"
In response; Vergil walked over and picked up one of Dante's arms before making his way towards the portal muttering all the while "You really need to lay off the pizza brother..."
Meanwhile back in another part of the multiverse Archer couldn't help but watch tensely as Alice exchanged barbed comments with this unknown individual "Well if it isn't dear Alec, you never knock as usual."
"I'm a King; I don't need to knock Sage Princess. By the way; who is this and why is he pointing an arrow at me?" Alec asked raising an eyebrow and frowning.
"This would be Godou Kusanagi the newest Campione of Japan as for why he's pointing an arrow at you my dear Alec, that is likely because he saw someone he doesn't know form from lightning and come into someone else's bedchambers without even a by your leave!" Alice responded.
"So you're Godou Kusanagi..."
"Black Prince Alec I presume?"
Alec nodded in response.
"The Witch equaling Heaven seems more lively than usual; I can only assume that's your doing with your new Authority?"
"Your half right Prince Alec, honorable Lord Kusanagi did in fact heal me, but not with an Authority. He has in his possession a sword that heals whatever it cuts. It's quite a fascinating paradox really." Alice responded.
"Oh really...give it to me." Alec demanded.
"No."
"Why?"
"Simple because it's my sword. Why should I give it to you just because you tell me too? Or have you forgotten that I too am a Campione?"
"No, it's hard to forget the name of the man who held "The Feast of Three Gods" and played host to our mother Pandora without inviting the rest of us to his little party." Alec said coolly.
"Well excuse me all to hell for not knowing your mailing address and being unable to send you or the others an invite in time for the party."
"You're cocky for one so young, or did you forget that I've been a Campione longer than you, that I've been alive longer than you?"
"The phrase "Don't judge a book by its cover" comes to mind. Afterall, there was a reason Pandora took a particular interest in me out of all of the other Campione." Archer said teasingly.
"Are you saying your better than the rest of us?" Alec seethed.
"I dunno, has Pandora been coming to your house on the weekends on a regular basis for the past year since you became a Campione?" Archer nonchalantly asked, enjoying pushing this boy's buttons.
"Why you..."
"You don't know what it means to bear the title of King do you?" Archer asked abruptly switching tracks.
"What, what are you talking about now?"
"Pandora, she's quite knowledgeable about her "Children" when one first becomes a Campione, she peers into your very soul. She knows what drives each at every one of us, our hopes, our dreams, our goals, and our ideals. She can be quite talkative if asked. She told me all about you and the others Alec. How you inherited your father's will to find the Holy Grail, and how you are willing to do whatever it takes to possess it...yes I know all about you and your ideals. Let me tell you something from someone else who inherited his father's ideals...Stop."
"Stop?"
"Yes, stop following a deadmans' dream and forge your own path. I followed my father's ideals to the bitter end and...It nearly broke me. So ask yourself, is this Grail really worth everything? Others have gone mad seeking it before you; I've met and fought some of them myself in my time and I can tell you, nothing good comes of that blasted thing. It would probably be best if you just gave up on it. Its more trouble than it's worth I promise you, it always is." He said before he shot the Broken Hrunting out the open window, angled out towards space before dismissing his black bow and turning away.
...Only to be turned around by Alec and punched in the jaw.
"No I won't give up on the Grail! Not when it's already taken so much from me!" he said angrily.
"And that is why you're still a child! It is a kings duty to protect the people beneathe him, not go galavanting off after some damed cup!" Archer said delivering a punch of his own, which sent Alec flying out the balcony and falling several stories to the ground below.
He turned to Alice and said "I'll be right back, I just need to smack this kid around a bit." Before jumping off the balcony and allowing his Reinforced legs to absorb the impact.
He landed several feet away from Alec who had just gotten up from the human-sized crater his body formed on impact. The two Devil Kings stared at one another, neither saying anything; both knowing that words would be pointless now. Wanting to keep casualties to a minimum as well as give himself the advantage, Archer began chanting "I am the bone of my sword. Steel is my body and fire is my blood-" That was as far as he got before Alec went on the offensive.
Turning into black lightning, the man delivered as swift kick to his solar plexus that knocked the wind out of him, then proceeded to toss him into the nearby lake which he promptly filled with a million plus volts of electricity in an attempt to fry him.
'Ouch, that hurt.' Archer thought before he jumped out of the boiling lake his body covered in burn marks... only to now find himself in a gigantic labyrinth made of stone.
'This must be one of the boy's Authorities' more than likely he uses it to keep his enemies confused and disoriented while he comes up with a plan. Too bad it's useless against me.' Archer thought before he completed his aria.
"I have created over a thousand blades,
Unknown to Death, Nor known to Life,
Have withstood pain to create many weapons
Yet, those hands will never hold anything
So as I pray, Unlimited Blade Works!"
It was then that flames with no heat fanned out from his body consuming all in sight... summoning an even greater mystery which crushed the [Labyrinth] beneath it...
When they cleared, Archer and the British Campione stood amidst an infinite plane of swords, each one stuck into the cracked and burnt ground like a gravemarker as smog, sparks, and ash covered the air and gears turned constantly in the smoke blackened sky.
"What is this...?"
"This is the my one ability I possessed before becoming a Campione, the one spell I gained after a lifetime of hardship following my father's ideals...this is what is known as a Reality Marble or in laymen's terms, the inner world of the magician reflected upon the world within a given area. We are cut off from the real world in here, so feel free to go nuts." Archer said.
He then flung no less than fifty swords at his fellow Campione... only for all of them to shatter into shards of light when they struck his form.
"This is impressive, I'll give you that; but if you think to beat me with anything less than an Authority, then you're sadly mistaken!" Alec said before he picked up one of the numerous blades around him; one in the shape of a spiral shaped lance, and charged at Archer his black lightning arcing from the blade.
'Out of all the blades...he had to pick up... it had to be...Storm Ruler?' Archer thought as he avoided another arc of black lightening enhanced by the power of the blade he was holding.
Storm Ruler was an ancient Mystic Code made by Aztec priests' in the honor of their god Xolotl, God of Death, Lightning, and the Underworld in Aztec mythology. Storm Ruler's function was simple; yet powerful. It took the human bodies bioelectric current, amplified it, and then fired it out as lightning bolts from the tip of the blade with enough oomph to stop a man's heart.
Archers' current problem was, it was not absorbing Alec's bioelectric current, but the black lightning his body was currently made out of, amplifying it a hundred fold and shooting it at him! If that wasn't enough, everytime Alec missed him, he destroyed a huge swath of his swords; depriving him of more of his weapons each time he moves. The only good news was, Archer noticed that everytime Alec attacked; He had the unintended side effect of forcing all of his Authority into Aztec Mystic Code each time he attacked with it, leaving him vulnerable to a counter attack.
'Alec is right, the Blade Works alone just won't cut it... but luckily, I'm not limited to just the Blade works anymore.'
"Come forth from the darkness, and charge from the shadows.
Carve a bloody swath through the night.
May heedless cries for mercy herald you're coming, and may silence mark you're passing.
Cover all I see before me in darkness.
Trample all under hoof, and sheathe your weapons in the bodies of the usurpers!
Rise up now and ride ten thousand strong, Army of Darkness!"
With those words, Archer's shadow stretched and lengthened, then it began to bubble upwards forming two dozen human sized oval shapes. They then shifted and molded themselves into Centaur-like demonic warriors each six feet tall. Their 'faces' were horse-like skulls with flesh stretched tightly over, with fangs protruding from their upper lips while manes of bristly white hair covered their heads. Their bodies were covered in black chintinous armor, seeming more natural than something forged. Their more animalistic half's looked more akin to a dragon as it was clawed and seemingly scaled, than hooved like a horse, plus instead of tails; each warrior possessed a six three foot long bulbous scorpion-like tail complete with a wicked looking stinger. Each of the warriors carried some kind of weapon in the form of a duel bladed lance-like sword, as well as a bow and a quiver full of arrows on their backs. As one they turned toward Archer and bowed at the waist and then the first one to form, one that seemed older and bore more scars than the rest asked "I am Ostadkhan-Arshad leader of these armies, what are your orders my lord?"
"See him?"
The demonic Centaur heard looked over and saw Alec who had stopped attacking to see what his Authority did.
"Aye my lord; what of him?" Arshad asked.
"I need you to distract him long enough for me to get the drop on him." Archer commanded.
"You heard our Lord! We are to subdue that wretch before us! If he resists show no mercy! Now, Army of Persia, marches onwards to glory and victory!"
Then the "Demontuarians" charged head long at Alec. In response, the Black Prince used another of his Authorities, having already lost the use of the [Labyrinth].
"Warp, pull, ensnare and twist,
I shall grab all I see before me,
For my greed knows no bounds!
Let nothing of interest escape my grasp!"
With his incantation complete, Alec summoned a miniature black hole which managed to suck all but Arshad and half a dozen archers were pulled into the hole. But Alec was not done; he then used yet another Authority.
"O' Queen of Rivers,
Hear my call,
Attend now to your King,
And bring forth a rain of iron upon my enemies!"
This Authority summoned forth a human sized mermaid-like entity with a veiled face, angelic wings on its back, and a fish-like tail. The summoned entity then proceeded to call forth a multitude of spears and threw them with great speed and accuracy at the demontuarian soldiers trapped in the gravitational pull of Alec's previously summoned black hole. It was like shooting fish in a barrel. And at least a dozen centaurs' fell, never to rise again within the first few seconds of the maidens' first volley.
This had the effect of enraging Arshad who, with a mighty bellow of defiance, rage, and vengeance, loosened a black barbed arrow at the creature that was slaughtering his troops...only for her to swerve out of the way of the attack and avoid it at the last moment...almost.
The edge of one of the arrow's barbs caught upon the mermaids' veil, tearing it off. It was this act that dispelled the creature, causing a roar of victory that also promised swift vengeance to reach Alec's ears.
'Damn, of all the rotten luck.' The Black Prince thought knowing he was unable to summon the Furies, the one thing that could turn this battle in his favor.
So, he attempted to destroy them all with lightening, but they were strong as well as fast; forcing him to focus his ill-gotten power on the Demontuarians on at a time in order to insure their demise. He sent a concentrated blast of power at Arshad only for the experienced demon captain to dodge to the side and charge in, swinging a vicious looking serrated sword, which the Black Prince managed to dodge but his pristine black suit jacket was torn in the process as well as his white undershirt; making him scowl as the demonic commander chuckled and held up the edge of his blade which was now lightly coated in his blood.
This only made Alec scowl deeper and redouble his efforts to kill the lead centurion, only to jump to the side as he avoided a hail of black arrows from some of the demons troops. Alec used his Lightning Form to dart next to one of the horsemen and swiftly stabbed him through with Storm Ruler letting the smell of burning flesh fill the air...yet as he tried to pull his stolen blade free, he found himself caught in a bear hug by the very same demon he'd impaled.
"Know this Devil King; Sir-Rostam-Son of-Amir is the name of the one who helped bring about your end! Strike now, my King!"
Alec turned just in time to see his junior taking a flying leap at him with a simple looking longsword in hand. Alec tried to move; but the demon held fast to him, despite the burns its body was acuminating hold the lightning imbued blade within his gut.
Archer soared through the air; his keen eyes trained on a single target, and with Alec being held in place, there was no way he could miss...
Alec watched as, if in slow motion, as Archer's sword arm swung towards him... 'No, wait; he's not aiming at me, he's aiming at...'
"SHIT!" Alec swore, as too, late he realized the red clad man's target was not him, but the blade he had lodged in the demonic centaur...a blade that currently had the black lightning of the Fallen Angel Ramiel running through its length...
Archer struck true; using another one of his Mystic Codes crafted through Kiritsugu's fortune; he shattered Storm Ruler on impact. This caused a massive outpour of divine energy in the form of engulfing black light...
When the flash of light died down, and the dust finally settled, a large scorch mark was shown where the epicenter of the blast took place. Several meters away, on either side of the explosion lay the two Devil Kings. Arshad led his remaining forces over to the two Kings and grinned wickedly at what he saw, as Alec was certainly worst for the wear of the two. His body was covered in severe burns, his right side in particular was charred the color of coal as that was the side facing the blast. His breathing was haggard and labored, and except for the left side of his skull his head was stripped bare of hair.
Arshad's new lord on the other hand escaped the blast fairly unscathed with nothing but a bad burn on the left side of his face and some singed hair for his trouble. As the lead Centaur helped his liege up he asked "That was an impressive tactical display surah, but how may I ask did you survive the blast nearly unharmed?"
"Well, the reason I am so much better off than Alec were two fold Arshad-"Archer said speaking in hushed tones as he slowly made his way towards his fallen fellow Devil King "Part of the reason I suspect, was because of my jacket. In truth; it isn't a jacket at all, but the shroud of a saint that possesses the mystical quality to negate external interference, but even that wouldn't do much if anything against a divine Authority, but what most probably took the brunt of the explosion was the sword I used." He said before he resummoned the very same blade.
It was as simple as it was elegant, not ornate or flashy. Its bright, double-edged blade was a meter long, which is a centimeter at its thickest, and had a simple black hilt with straight crossbar for a handguard. The steel of the blade was mottled, with a subtle translucent pattern that seems to extend to impossible depths. The hilt was covered in an unknown black material, hard but also comfortable in Archer's hand. Engraved on its guard in white enamel was a simple stylized hammer.
"This is Shieldbreaker, the Sword of Force. With it; I fought in many a war and defeated many foes. But now is not the time for Shieldbreaker but for its opposite-"Archer then summoned another almost identical sword to his other hand, the only difference between this sword and the Sword of Force was that this new blade had an engraved open palm on its guard.
Taking up Woundhealer for the second time today, Archer slashed at his fellow Devil King, healing his injuries along the path of the Sword's cut. Within moments the "King of Britain" was back to one hundred percent health. Nodding to himself before turning away from his fellow King, Archer turned to Arshad and said "I do believe our business is done here General Arshad. Thank you for your assistance."
"Not at all my liege, to fight, is to find honor, but to die on the battlefield, to die fighting; that is the greatest honor of all."
"I'll keep that in mind, good day general." Archer said with an accompanying nod.
"Till next time we meet on the field of honor my King." Arshad said with a bow before he and his remaining troops dissipated into mist.
Archer then dismissed the Blade Works...and found a large group of people staring at him in openmouthed awe. At the forefront of which was his own Vassal, Alice Goddodin herself, along with her father and numerous people he didn't recognize.
"What, do I have something on my face?"
"WHAT?!" The Devil raged, as his voice deepened with demonic undertones as he and his sons sat in chairs in Zelretch's office.
Everyone else stared at Aoko open mouthed, various states of shock and disbelief etched on their faces...Well everyone except Zelretch who was laughing uproariously, and Vergil who lived by the phrase "Never let em see you sweat."
"Calm down please, Sparda." Aoko requested of the Devil.
"Explain it to me again please, because you lost me." Dante requested.
Aoko sighed, and took it from the top.
"Sparda said he lost his son to a fire, correct?"
"Yeah?"
"And you all possess Sparda's white hair right?"
"Yeah, but according to him our brother had red hair from his mom's side."
"I'm getting to that, you see; I believe that the fire that supposedly took your wife and son was the end result of the Fourth Holy Grail War in Fuyuki City, a fire that claimed five hundred lives and left my husband with no memory of his life before that event...He told me about it once, how the flames seemed alive, and would literally seem to reach out and grab people consuming them. People screamed for help, but he ignored them and kept on walking if only to preserve his life a little longer, selfishly or so he thought. He finally collapsed, on the precipice of death; only to be saved by a man who fused a holy faerie forged artifact into his very soul, an object that would suppress and over time dilute the power of his demonic blood. His life was saved, but in the process he was broken, distorted, and reforged into someone who saw no value and self-worth in himself...and believed he could, for all intents and purposes save everyone without hurting anyone. Your son became a sword who protects others at the cost to himself. Your son was adopted by the very man who caused that fire taking on a new name...he became known as Emiya Shirou." Aoko finished.
"...But that's a one in a million chance kid!" Dante complained.
"How else do you explain the ring stopping when it touched the Sparda then?" the redheaded Magician asked.
"It makes sense. From what you've just spent the last three hours telling us about him it seems as though my personal spell, a pocket dimension that allows one to hold Devil Arms; has evolved within him and become something altogether more and at the same time, less. Mistress, if your theory is correct, then that would make you my daughter-in-law wouldn't it?"
"Yes I suppose it would wouldn't it, Father?" Aoko replied with a smirk.
Sparda just chuckled and said embraced Aoko before saying "Welcome to the family; now, let's find my idiot son. He has much to answer for."
"Indeed he does." Aoko cheerfully responded before she smacked Zelretch and told him to get back to work.
Chapter End
Rough draft Length: 10,123
AN: Well guys here we are again with yet another chapter of Wrought Iron Cross. I hope you all enjoyed the chap. Now, here's everybody's favorite...NIX!
NW: Didn't see this coming did ya?
BJ: As usual Nix, you ever cease to amaze me with your commentary. Eternal Nothingness, anything you wanna say?
EN: I'd like to thank everyone for their support thus far and hope we keep hearing from them in the future.
BJ: You heard him everyone! That said, I speak on behalf of everyone when I say we hope you all enjoyed this chapter and till next time, this is Team Wrought Iron Cross out! Oh and before I forget here are Sparda's Servant Stats:
Sparda the Dark Knight
Class: Any, though he leans more towards Saber, Archer, or Caster.
Parameters:
Strength: B++ Endurance: B Agility: C Mana: B Luck: B Noble Phantasm: ?
Skills:
Battle Continuation: A
Magic Resistance: A
Master of many Specializations: A
Projectiles (Guns): D (If under Archer class, A)
Imperial Privilege: EX
Noble Phantasm- ?