Disclaimer: I do not own Fate/Zero or any of the franchises that will be appearing here. The premise itself belongs to TIM, writer of the Fate/Zero Sense series and a huge inspiration for fics just like it. I, as well as many others, pay it homage with this small tale.
KingofBeasts Productions Present:
Fate/Zero Hour: A Fate/Zero Multi-Crossover Fanfiction
Chapter 3: Mayhem at Pier!
It was night time at Fuyuki Docks. The place was abandoned as abandoned can be, this realm of steel crates and flickering lamp posts a place where the average joe dare not roam.
Which happens to be good for them, as the 4th Grail War's participants were anything but average.
Neither Servants Saber nor Lancer moved an inch, displaying the discipline expected of a knight as each of them waited for the other to move. Both females held their stances, as if their were both coiled vipers waiting for the opportune moment to strike.
To the side stood Irisviel, anticipation building up as she was about to witness a duel between two Heroic Spirits. "The matter of armor she wears suggests that she originates from Medieval times, just like Saber." she deduced as she continued watching "Perhaps she's the Valkyrie Brunhilde from the Nibelungenlied? The wings would suggest so, but that blue spear... I haven't read of any legends about such a spear." she turned her gaze toward Lancer's weapon "Something about it unsettles me. Please be careful, Saber."
Near the battleground, there was one lamp post whose bulb flickered continuously.
Once.
Twice.
By the time it flickered thrice, Saber and Lancer sprung from where they stood, beginning their duel with a clash of steel. Irisviel looked on in awe as the two Servants conducted their dance of death. Saber was on the offensive, her sword slicing through the air in several rapid arcs both horizontal and vertical in an attempt to break through her opponent's guard.
Lancer, for her part, was holding her own against Saber splendidly. The reach of her spear was being used to her advantage, her graceful movements likening it to a painter's brush with every parry and block, the sparks that flew cascading the canvas of their duel.
The spearwoman saw an opening after she had swung the spear-tip with just enough force to deflect a side-ward swing from Saber's blade. Seeing this as her chance to deal significant damage, she spun on her heel and used the momentum to thrust at the small gap in her opponent's side where the breastplate did not cover her.
Fortunately for Saber, her instincts came through for her and allowed her to shift her body just enough so that the weapon's edge would scratch her armor instead. The King of Knights swung upward, but Lancer was quick enough to jump back when the sword was mere inches from cutting into her flesh. Utilizing her wings, she would float down for a rather soft landing, giving her more than enough time to get her bearings for the next clash.
"A pity that the rules declare we make our true names anonymous." Saber once again held her sword at ready with a rather content smile on her face "I would have liked to know the identity of one so skilled in the use of the spear, Lancer."
"'Tis an honor you would think so, Saber." Lancer returned the smile with one of her own "That exchange of blades was rather magnificent, and very few have your skill with the sword."
"Except, perhaps, my beloved Oswald." she was tempted to add, but chose not to.
"Let us speak no more," Saber declared with a proud smile, Irisviel noting that this was the first time she saw the King of Knights this happy since her summoning "And let our blades speak for us instead!"
As if to emphasize her point, Saber planted her feet firmly into the ground while resuming her battle stance. At that, Lancer could not help but feel her opponents enthusiasm and prepared her own spear in kind.
"Then come forth, Servant Saber!" She called in a loud clear voice as they both rushed at each other with the speed of a freight train "Let us see whose convictions will win out in the end!"
"So, it has begun."
From the shadows the night had provided, Kiritsugu Emiya was keeping an eye on the 'festivities', he and his assistant Maiya Hisau hiding in a nearby area in the dockyard to make their plan of attack.
Needless to say, the charade has been working splendidly; most of the Masters believed that Iri was Saber's Master, thus creating a smokescreen that he, as Saber's True Master and the infamous Magus Killer, would wade through as he eliminated the competition.
Still, though the only person who could possibly see through the ruse, Kirei Kotomine, was effectively taken out of the War with the death of Assassin, he still felt uneasy. After all, her death at the hands of Archer seemed too convenient.
Regardless, he had to put that in the back of his mind for now. He had more important matters to attend to right now.
"Someone has set up a Boundary Field."
"Lancer's Master, no doubt." Kiritsugu nodded as he watched Saber's duel. From what he has seen, She and Lancer have been matching each other blow for blow. The fact that they seem to be evenly matched in terms of battle prowess meant that it would come down to their Noble Phantasms. While he knew that Saber's was definitely a powerful one, he had to keep an eye on Lancer's spear regardless.
"We can survey the entire battlefield from that crane." Maiya stated as she pointed towards the aforementioned crane smack dab in the middle of the dockyard.
"Indeed. That would be the best vantage point." Kirtsugu nodded sagely "However, keep in mind that many others would also think the same way, especially Archer."
From what Kiritsugu gathered from what he saw last night, Archer was definitely one of the biggest threats out of the Servants right now. His diverse arsenal make him a troublesome foe any range. No doubt, he will make his appearance in response to Lancer's challenge.
"If that is the case, then I hope Saber will be able to protect Lady Irisviel."
"That I do not doubt." The gray eyed Magus Killer nodded in response to his assistant, then gave his orders "You are to approach from the eastern wharf, I'll take the west. That way we should be able to monitor both the battle and the crane."
"Understood." Maiya answered before making her stride towards her destination with assault rifle in hand. Kiritsugu took his time to glance at the battle, his lips curling to a light smirk.
"Let me see what you can do, my adorable King of Knights."
"Are you seeing this, Matt?"
"Crystal clear, Jim." the voice in Rider's ear buzzing through his earpiece as he looked through binoculars. From his vantage point atop Fuyuki Bridge (With quivering Master in tow) He managed to get a view of what was happening at the docks "The fighting's looking pretty intense."
"'Intense' is a poor way of putting it. They're insane!" Rider scowled as he watched Saber and Lancer battle furiously "Those two gals could probably give Kerrigan a run for her money!"
"The scary thing is that I find myself agreeing with you. We could've used them back on Char." Matt sighed "So, you're going to go charge in guns ablazing like usual?"
"That pretty much sums it up, yeah." The man affirmed, ignoring Waver's wails of "LET ME DOWN!" behind him.
"Not like I can stop you at this point." Matt sighed, knowing full well how his Commander approached these matters "Just don't hesitate to call me when things go south, alright?"
"Roger that. Raynor out."
After he cut off communications, he turned to see Waver, still shivering senseless due to fear, with a grin on his face "C'mon, kid. We have a brawl to get to."
"Are you k-kidding?!" Waver objected, his voice several decibels louder than it should be due to the fact that one false move, he'll turn into a stain on the ground after falling several stories high "Wh-why not let the S-Servants kill each other instead?!"
"Because the other three will no doubt be making their way there already." Rider answered, that grin never fading "If we're lucky, we can take'em all out in one go. Unless of course, you want to stay here while I go ahead..."
"F-FINE! TAKE ME WITH YOU!"
"Aww, this is boring..."
Assassin groaned in annoyance as she sat on her perch overlooking Saber and Lancer's battle. She was irritated not because she thought the match was boring; In fact, the two Servants rather intrigued her, and she was looking forward to killing such opponents.
No, she was irritated because Archer's boring Master told her Master to tell her to sit this one out. Damn, that was a mouthful.
"Stupid Tokiomi-kun..." The pink-clad blonde pouted. It sucked that she couldn't act right now. Oh well, at least the show was interesting.
If this keeps up, she just might jump in. Orders be damned.
The moment Lancer decided to use her wings offensively, it was Saber's turn to be put on the defensive.
Up until that point, Saber and Iri had thought that the wings on her skirt were ornamental and thus did not concern themselves with them. They soon saw their folly when Lancer began to use her wings to glide into the air. She would get in close for a few strikes and the jump away before the swordswoman could retaliate.
"No matter." Saber thought resolutely as she pressed on, rolling to the right to narrowly dodge a dive-bomb from the Servant of the Spear. "To one who has fought dragons, your flight is of little consequence."
After Lancer took to the air, Saber ran up the giant metal crates, then used Prana Burst to reinforce her legs for one powerful boost and leaped after Lancer, swinging her blade upward.
While this was certainly a surprise to Lancer, she did not lose her composure and thrust her spear towards her opponent. The result that both fighters' strikes were true; Lancer's spear left a cut on Saber's left arm whilst the King of Knights left a significant gash on the spearwoman's right side.
"Saber!" Iri called out as she cast a healing spell on the Servant as she landed. To the Servant's surprise, she found that the while the spell certainly had taken effect, the wound was not fully closed. The still visible mark was obviously a surprise to both Iri and Kiritsugu, the latter who was watching from his perch.
"Impossible..." Saber murmured under her breath "Unless..." It was at that point she turned to Lancer, who was gingerly holding the her side due to her own injuries "By any chance, would your spear have dragon-slaying qualities, Lancer?"
"As a matter of fact, it does." The spearwoman affirmed with a nod "Back in the land of Erion, Psyphers were weapons crafted using Phozon Crystals found in the Underworld and were fabled to have the power to slay dragons. This spear," she looked to her Noble Phantasm, the blue crystal tip brimming with light "Is one of those weapons."
"I see." Saber nodded with a smile "That would simply mean that I must be more careful around you now. A fine weapon you have for sure, Lancer."
"I believe it is high time you finished this, Lancer."
"Master?" the Servant gasped in surprise at the disembodied voice. Irisviel and Saber did the same, looking around in a vain effort to find the source.
Without warning, a healing spell had been cast on the Servant, closing her wound as if it never existed. "Use the full extent of your Noble Phantasm's power to finish Saber here and now."
"Of course, Master. You have my thanks." She nodded before turning to face Saber again. This time, her spear point (which was now pointed at the ground) was glowing more ominously than it did before. It was then Saber noticed that a vortex of wind had begun to build up at the tip.
"I see...so there is more to your spear than it's latent ability." Saber said with a confident smile as her own sword started to build up a vortex of it's own, the wind swirling around the blade like a tornado. While she couldn't use Excalibur's full power at this range, this particular attack should be more than enough to match Lancer's attack.
"Very well!" Saber declared confidently "I shall respond to this show of power in kind! Prepare yourself, Lancer!"
Both combatants took the time to prime their attacks, but when they came...
"Whirlwind!"
"Strike Air!"
Irisviel couldn't believe her eyes as a furious twister collided with a powerful gust of wind. The resulting backlash caused many of the said crates to fly into the air. Fortunately, none of the Masters were hurt from the collateral damage.
Neither Servant wasted any time as they renewed their clash of sword and spear.
"Maiya..." Kiritsugu whispered over the two-way radio "I have a visual on Lancer's Master. Northeast of where Saber and Iri are, on the roof of that warehouse. Do you see him?"
As he kept a trained eye on the man wearing a blue overcoat known as Kayneth El-Melloi, Lancer's Master, he couldn't help but think back to what he had seen so far. Lancer has a definite edge over Saber due to the nature of her Noble Phantasm. If possible, it would be best to kill her Master here and now.
"Negative." Maiya answered after a moment "Not from my position."
"Understood. I'll take him out from here." As he prepared to fire the killing blow, he managed to catch sight of a figure sitting on one of the cranes. The Magus Killer recognized the twindrill blonde in pink instantly. After, he just watched her the night before.
"I knew that it was too good to be true."
"I have visual on Assassin." Kiritsugu whispered
"So do I. Isn't she supposed to be dead?"
"It seemed that it was all a ruse then." The Magus Killer shook his head, but kept his cool even when Assassin looked straight into his scope and gave him a small wave "We'll see how this plays out for now."
"I can always attack Assassin to draw her attention while you eliminate Lancer's Master."
"Negative, Maiya." He answered back "We aren't equipped to deal with Servants right now, especially the ones present. That, and she seems to know we're here. Observe until further notice."
"Affirmative."
"HYAAH!"
The backlash of one powerful strike from their weapons caused both Saber and Lancer to skid along the ground due to the impact. Lancer had used what seemed to be a spell to enhance the power of her blows in an attempt to overwhelm Saber, who utilized Prana Burst in to augment her own swings in response. As a result, the two were locked in a stalemate.
"Saber is definitely a skilled swordsman." Lancer thought as she rested on her spear "Even with Overload, she has been able to hold a formidable defense. At this rate, I may have to utilize Shadow Ally..."
"That spear is definitely a problem." Saber, in turn, took stock of the situation as well "Not only do I have to deal with it's anti-dragon properties, it seems to be enable her to cast variety of spells as well. I may have to rely on Excalibur if this continues."
Irisviel took this moment to survey the battlefield; the docks certainly looked like a horrid mess, especially with the giant metal crates, which were perfectly aligned before, littered about the battlefield in complete disarray. At this moment, she pitied both the Magus Association and the Church as they were in charge of covering this up.
Saber and Lancer were about to charge once more when they both heard a loud, girlish scream echo in the night.
"Did you hear that?"
"Aye."
Both turned to the source of the noise, only for a loud explosion and the sight of more crate flying away to come from that direction. Out of the smoke leaped a strange vehicle. It seemed to have a streamlined front and had what could only be described two gigantic jet turbines attached to it's rear. It's driver was a man who looked to be in his late thirties looking like he was having the time of his life and a boy with a look of clear terror in his face.
"So..." The man chortled as he turned to face the two other Servants "Am I late to the party?"
"Rider!" the boy finally snapped out of his catatonic state of terror "W-when I said I was going with you, I didn't mean grab me and jump off the bridge!"
"You're Servant Rider?" Both Irisviel, Saber and Lancer inquired with confusion on their faces
"Hey, it turned out all right didn't it?" The man known as Rider turned to his Master with a wry grin "My Vulture was there to catch us after all. A wonderful piece o' work, she is."
"BUT STILL-!"
"Ah, so it was you, then?"
All conversation was stopped when the disembodied voice echoed once more. It was at that point Waver's eyes widened, a torrent of fear washing down on him. He knew who that voice belonged to.
"I was wondering what madness compelled you to steal my relic," the voice known as Kayneth El-Melloi continued "I never imagined that you would enter the war...Waver Velvet."
Saber glanced at Lancer, who looked to ground stone-faced and feeling a hint of disappointment, but not at Waver.
"Perhaps some extra lessons are to be in order." As the elder magus spoke, Waver clutched onto Rider's leather jacket tightly, the man noticing that he was shivering in fear. "It will be about how Magi kill each other. I shall tutor you personally in all the fear and pain involved. Feel honored-"
"HEY! YOU!"
All turned to Rider, who stepped out of his Vulture in an outrage and glared at the open air "From what I've learned just now, you were suppose to be my Master, right?"
He let out a mirthless laugh at the thought "What a load of crap! You really think I want a commanding officer who hides in a corner while his soldiers are at war? This boy," He pointed at Waver, gave him a warm smile before turning to face the air once more "Showed more guts by joining me in battle than ten of you ever could!"
"R-Rider..." Waver looked at his Servant gratefully. Saber and Irisviel felt that Rider was a man of respect, while Lancer stood there in silence unable to say anything in her Master's defense.
Kayneth, clenching his teeth in anger, was about to give the order to engage Rider instead when-
"Ooh! This looks like fun! I think I'll join in now!"
"Huh?" All five on the floor turned to see a figure gracefully descend the crane she had been perched on the entire time. They were unable to believe their eyes at first, but it was unmistakable: That frilly pink dress, the blonde locks tied in twin-drill fashion, and that unique eye-patch, all those features and more only belonged to one Servant, the one they thought was killed.
"Heh," Rider chuckled softly at this new development while the other four gawked in disbelief "Looks like ya finally showed yerself. The rumors of your death were greatly exaggerated...Assassin."
"Damn that girl." Archer growled from his own hiding place, having intended to join the battle once the last two had appeared. The fact that Assassin revealed herself to the other competitors threw a monkey wrench into that plan.
"It seems that her impulsiveness has forced me to enter sooner than expected..."
Rider's inquiry was greeted by a girlish giggle from the Servant in question as she folded her hands behind her back "My Master told me to stay put, but I simply couldn't stay away from this game, so I'm gonna play too!"
"A game..." Saber growled, clenching the hilt of her weapon even tighter "You think the Holy Grail War, this war in which we risk our lives in, is a mere game?!"
"Ah, but it is, Saber-chan!" The Servant of the Sword felt a chill go down her spine as Assassin was suddenly behind her, her hand intimately grazing her cheek. She swung as if to swat her away, but the pink clad Servant jumped back before the blade could hit "A game has winners and losers, right? Well, this one is no exception!"
As she continued to speak, she reached deep into her blouse and pulled out a sword most strange; It was colored purple and it had the over-all look of half a scissor. "And one where everyone but the winner dies is my favorite kind of game to play!"
"Hah! I could not agree more!"
All turned to see green flames burst from atop a crate that Saber and Lancer dislodged during the initial clash. Out of it emerged what could only be described as a purple-skinned demon with a blindfold on his eyes, strange markings on his bare chest and hooves for feet.
"What in Odin's name..." Lancer whispered as she and the others gazed at the demon, who bared his gleaming fangs in a grin.
"A demon..." Saber grunted in discomfort, keeping her grip on Excalibur tight.
"Nay. I am no demon, or at least, I am as close to one as one can be." The horned man chuckled amicably "As for my identity, I am Caster of this Holy Grail War. If you are to be the finest heroes there is to offer...Hah, it seems that fools exist beyond the borders of the Twisting Nether."
"Wow...so cool!" Assassin cooed in admiration, resting her head on the handle of her weapon whilst she leaned on the weapon.
"It seems I must show you peons..." Caster grinned malevolently as green felfire burst into life on the palms of his hands "The difference between our powers!"
"Oh? Is that so?"
Caster was barely able to react to the hail of blue swords flying toward him, to which he responded by launching his own flames to meet them. He was able to defend against all but one, which missed his head by inches and embedded itself onto the roof.
Irisviel looked up to the source of the blades, as did the others, to see a silver-haired man in a blue coat and a sheathed katana resting in his left hand looking down at Caster with disdain.
"That's Archer..." she murmured in disbelief "The one who 'killed' Assassin."
"Heeeeey Archer!" Assassin waved at the Servant of the Bow exuberhantly, who took the time to glare at the her in disdain.
"You weren't supposed to reveal yourself." He sighed in exasperation.
"And miss all this fun? I don't think so!" The Servant of the Shadows giggled as she stuck her tongue at him, which he ignored and turned to Caster instead.
"Geez, all these Servants are coming out of the woodwork." Rider muttered under his breath "All we need is for Berserker to show up..."
"So, Caster, you assume the form of a demon..."
"And what of it, Archer?" Caster answered back with a challenging grin.
"You are but a sham, a mockery of everything my father was and is. For that," To all who were observing, Archer vanished into thin air and reappeared next to Caster seconds later, his cobalt blue eyes giving him a death glare as he reached for his sword "You will die."
With blinding speed did Archer withdraw Yamato, his Noble Phantasm, only to find that it did not cut into Caster's skin. Instead, it found itself blocked by what seemed to be two curved warglaives, a dull green glow ominously emanating from them.
"Behold," Caster smirked as he pushed Archer back with a grin "The Warglaives of Azzinoth! A weapon I have acquired from defeating a demon general of the Burning Legion!"
"This Caster can fight?!" Saber and Irisviel thought in shock at what they had just witnessed.
"So, a blind Caster with martial prowess. How interesting, but I'm just getting started!" Archer growled as he lunged at the other Servant, who met him blow for blow as warglaive met katana in a furious clash not unlike Saber and Lancer, two watching in awe at the speed they were striking each other at.
Pity it was about to get cut short.
"Kill him, Berserker!"
Archer and Caster looked up to see a man clad in a red-coat with white hair emerge from the shadows. With the massive slab of a sword in his right hand, he thrust forward as if to dive down on his target: Archer.
"Belial Edge!"
Archer had only a split second to react, but made it count. He swung Yamato upwards to meet the giant blade and blocked it. The impact, however, caused the crate to give out beneath them, forcing Caster into flight and landing onto an adjacent crate.
"Me and my big mouth." Rider muttered under his breath as the red-clad man jumped back and landed next to where Saber and Lancer stood.
"So..." Archer sighed as he stepped out of the rubble while dusting off his coat relatively unscathed "You must be Berserker."
"And you must be Archer." Berserker answered back with a sarcastic tone "To be honest, you remind me of my annoying ass prick of a brother."
"Funny." The blue-clad Servant replied, the chilling tone in his voice never fading "You remind me of my own brother, who was just as impulsive and thoughtless."
"What was that?! I oughta smash your face in for that remark!"
"You are welcome to try, reckless oaf!"
The ongoing squabble caused all Master and Servants present (Kiritsugu and Maiya included) to facepalm at the sight in front of them. All but one anyway.
"Hahahaha!" Caster laughed boisterously as the Servants of the Bow and Madness glared at each other "This is most amusing, to see two great heroes (and one of them a sane Berserker at that) squabble like children!"
"DON'T YOU DARE INTERRUPT!" Both Archer and Berserker launched attacks at Caster, the former a quick series of slashes that cut through the air and the latter a wave of darkness that cut through the ground. Fortunately, Caster managed to propel himself from the ground before both attacks found their marks.
"Hm, it seems as if I overstayed my welcome." Caster chuckled as his wings kept him out of their reach "I shall withdraw for now, fellow Servants, but rest assured, I will prepared for each of you next time!"
With that, Caster flew into the night and made his exit, and as soon as he did, Berserker and Archer resumed wailing on each other.
In all that confusion, Saber did not notice that Assassin was casually walking towards her with her Scissor Blade facing it's keen edge. She was right behind her, ready to strike her down when...
"Saber, heads up!"
The Servant of the Sword barely reacted in time, jumping out of the way as an explosive projectile collided with Assassin, the resulting explosion sending her flying onto the crates. She turned to see Rider on his Vulture, grinning at her broadly.
"You have my thanks, Rider." The King of Knights bowed her head lightly at her fellow Servant.
"No problem. Kinda know what it's like to get ambushed Ain't a pleasant experience, that's for sure."
"Owwie..." Assassin emerged from the wreckage, covered in ash and rubbing her sore bum "That hurt, you know..."
"Serves you right for attacking a fellow warrior from behind." Lancer growled as her spear tip was pointed at Assassin's back.
"Aww, you're mad, Lancer-chan?" Assassin giggled as she took a step back, realizing that she was surrounded by three Servants who wasn't in the mood for her shit right now.
"And they have reason to be." Assassin's good eye blinked in surprise to see that Archer had disengaged Berserker just enough rush to her side and picked her up by the waist "For now, we have to go. Four Servants against two are not good odds."
"Huh? Wait! I'm not done yet!"
To Assassin's dismay, Archer chose to ignore her as he treated her like hand carry while sprinting until they were out of sight.
"Hey! I'm not done with you yet!" Berserker growled in an attempt to chase after Archer's retreating back, but was stopped by Rider.
"Leave him be." The man spoke "Looks like this crazy orientation's about to end anyway."
"I suppose you're right." The red-clad Servant sighed before turning to both Lancer and Saber "I was watching your fight earlier, and I gotta say; you're both good. Looks like this Grail War's not gonna be so boring after all."
"You have my thanks, Berserker." Saber nodded as she flashed him a small smile "I look forward to facing you was well, if your own battle with Archer and Caster is anything to go by." At that Lancer was inclined to agree.
"Lancer, we are withdrawing for now."
"Yes, Master." Lancer nodded before turning to Saber and giving her a light bow "I am honored to have duel you, Saber. May we meet again in battle in the coming future."
"Likewise, Lancer." Saber nodded as the Servant of the Lance dissipated into spirit form, leaving only her, Rider and Berserker left.
"Well, I gotta go as well." Rider sighed as he got into the driver's seat of his Vulture, only to find that Waver fainted from all the excitement "Ugh...Looks like I got to toughen this kid up more."
This earned laughs from Saber, Irisviel and Berserker. After adding his own chuckle into the mix, Rider revved up the engine and rode into the night.
"I'll see ya around, Saber." Berserker sighed as he turned on his heel, giving her a wave before going incorporeal as well "Try not to die until then, alright."
The King of Knights nodded with a smile on her face "I will make sure of that, Berserker."
"Thank you for protecting me, Saber." Irisviel smiled as she took the Servant's left hand, a gestured that surprised her greatly "I survived thanks to you."
"I was only able to focus on the battle because you were protecting my back." Saber answered with her own kind smile.
"Saber..."
"This was the first night in the war to come. Each of them are powerful adversaries not to be taken lightly."
"Indeed." Irisviel nodded in agreement. She first surveyed the wreckage from the battle, then she looked up to the sky with a forlorn expression.
"So...this is the Holy Grail War."
End Chapter 3
A/N: Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to another chapter of Fate/Zero Hour, where we replace every Servant but Saber and have a little fun with the Holy Grail War!
Ragna: *sarcastically cheers* Hooray.
Huh? Where's Saber?
Ragna: *shrugs* She's taking a break, so she put me up here to replace her for a while.
Oh, okay then. Anyway, here's a list of people I gotta thank. Without them, I would've been having a hard time with this fic right now:
First, thanks to Harosata for giving me the idea to use Nui as Assassin in the first place. Check out his fic "Threads of Fate", where I got the idea!
Next is CleverPervertedPriest for helping me decide who Rider should be! I was really having a hard time deciding until he recommended one of his omake Riders from his fic Fate Level Zero. If you haven't read it, do so. NOW!
Also to X the Reaper for clarifying if Lancer's spear was anti-dragon or not. Check out his Fate Zero Sanity fanfic and Fate: OSG after it! They're both good reads that must be read!
Lastly, thanks to The Infamous Man for being the first to put different Servants into a Holy Grail War. To those who haven't read his Fate/Zero Sense yet, you must! It is the wellspring from which many of these kinds of fics are spawned from!
Ragna: *groans* Are you done thanking people now?
Yes. Yes, I am. Oh, and leave a review after reading this as well! Fanfic writers thrive on 'em! Okay, NOW I'm done. Take it away, Rags!
Ragna: Next time on Fate/Zero Hour: It's Down Time!