Ark turned a corner and leaned against the building. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Once again Artoria ruins his plans on being a troll, but that won't stop him, he has so much to do, and so little time.
The Mage got off the wall and left the ally he was hiding in. Right now Ark didn't feel like trolling at the moment, he needs to find Gray first. With that in mind Ark started walking down the sidewalk in silence.
As he walked, Ark was thinking about what he could do while at the same time troll everyone. Suddenly a thought struck Ark and the smile growing on his face was nowhere near friendly. The Mage took off and started heading towards Gray's location thanks to Kit telling him where they are.
Ark walked for a few minutes and reached a abandoned looking building. He found a entrance and slipped inside. The Mage used a Life Force spell and spotted two signatures inside the next room. Peaking inside the room Ark smiled when he spotted Gray playing with Kit who was enjoying the attention he was receiving.
"He has some soft fur right?" Ark said making Gray jump and look to see her Servant leaning against the doorframe smiling at her. "A little tip from me. He really likes it when you pet his tail." The male walked up to the duo and crouched down. He reached out and gently strokes Kit's tail making the Fox curl into a ball, looking ready to fall asleep.
"What's his name?" Gray asked while Ark pulled away and sat down beside her. The Mage had a feeling she didn't want to move right now, which was fine by him.
"Kit, When I first summoned him, I wanted to give the little guy a name and he really liked the name." Ark explained as he watched Kit slowly dissappearing from sight since he was returning to Oblivion. Creatures that he summons can stay for as long as they want, unless of course their Summoner tells them to leave or they take too much damage.
Gray made a disappointed sound when Kit vanished from her grip. Ark chuckled and pat her on the head. She looked up at Ark who was now focused on the doorframe leading out of this room.
"Ark, who were those people." Merlin's Apprentice blinked and looked at his Master for a second thinking about what he should say. "And that girl with blond hair, she almost looks exactly like me..." Ark nudge her shoulder catching her attention.
"Two of them were Masters like you, and the blond haired girl was a servant like me, along with that white haired guy." Gray looked alarmed as she recalled being shielded by Ark cause something was trying to hit her, but she didn't know what.
"So the one with white hair was trying to kill me?" Grey guessed since she didn't see the group do any thing. Ark nodded while Gray looked down at the ground and pulled her knees towards her chest. "How close was I to dying?"
"Pretty close, at little to close to be honest, but you stayed close to me which was good so I was able to keep you safe." Ark explained while he watched Gray carefully. He noticed how her body was shaking slightly making the Mage sigh as he placed his hand on her head and casted one of his more weaker spells, but it was perfect for this situation.
Calm.
Gray's body glowed a light green as she stopped shaking and her breathing was becoming more even as the seconds blew by. She looked up at Ark who was giving her a neutral look.
"You clam now?" Gray nodded as she leaned into Ark's side feeling much more safe when the Mage was nearby. "Good, don't need you panicking right now." Ark silently casted a spell which was a simple Magelight.
The tiny ball of light hovered above them lighting up the area slightly. Ark closed his eyes as he went over what just happened, he expected Artoria to come and try to find him, but what he didn't account for was how quickly the King wanted to find him.
And they way she looked at him was like she was staring at a ghost. It was an odd expression to see on her face and it annoyed him. Why was Artoria so surprised to see him? The Mage shook his head clearing the thoughts from his head.
"Ark?" The Servant turned to face his Master seeing the curious look In her eyes. "Who was that girl and why did she call you 'Son' is that your mother?" Caster held back a chuckle and knew exactly what reaction he was getting.
"No, actually, that is my quote on quote 'father' who is also known as King Arthur..." Ark looked at Gray and can actually see her brain stop functioning as she tried to process what she just heard... Caster chuckled and waited for the Master's brain to reboot.
"That girl... was King Arthur?" Gray looked beyond lost, it was as if her whole reality just shattered. Actually, Ark can remember this look well enough since in his old life he had this same reaction with his sister when he accidentally told her Santa wasn't real... never again.
"Yep." Gray glared at Ark who just smirked at her. He really enjoyed messing with people, it was always entertaining to watch them squirm or get frustrated, like Merlin with him trying to figure out about his bullshit Magic... good times.
"Don't you start..." Gray looked ahead while Caster started at the Magelight. "So... now what do we do?" Ark shrugged, he wasn't one to plan ahead, he was more of a person that improvises with what he has and goes from there.
So right now, both him and Gray have no clue what the fuck is going to happen, cause one simple thing can change the whole timeline and Ark being there was enough to change something.
Like for example Ark was summoned as a Caster so that means the original Caster for the holy grail isn't here... or maybe they are and Ark is just a random anomaly. Only time will tell with what might happen.
"Ark..." The Caster blinked and looked down at the little Master curiously.
"What is it Gray?" Gray looked sheepish making Ark grimace slightly at how similar her and Artoria looked, sure there were some obvious differences, but that's besides the point.
"I'm hungry." Ark started at her for a good while as if he was trying to figure out cast the world's hardest spell.
"Didn't we just eat an hour ago, I'm not going to complain about more food, but you on the other hand just ate..." Gray looked down with a blush growing on her face making Ark roll his eyes as he placed his on Gray's head making her look up. "Fine, we can get some more food, but If you vomit, that's all on you." Ark said with a deadpan look as he remembered the first time he cooked and got Mordred to eat some... she just kept eating... and eating.
It was a scary sight to watch and after she finished eating, a few minutes later, she ran out of the house puking her guts out. Ark scolded her for wasting food and tell her to eat only what she could. Mordred was quick to listen since Ark threatened to not make her anything next time.
Ah, the Art of threatening someone has yet to fail, especially when the Mage can figure out the person's weaknesses then it becomes very easy.
Ark got off the floor along with Gray. They both left the room just as the Magelight vanished. Caster walked through the hole in the wall leading to the outside, Gray was quick to do the same.
"Ok, so I decided to cook us some dinner." Ark said making Gray look up at her Servant giving him a curious look.
"You can cook?" Gray asked curiously and slightly intrigued. Ark gave her a deadpan look.
"Didn't we discuss this before?" Ark asked looking at Gray slightly annoyed with being questioned about him knowing how to cook. "Or did I ever mention that I can cook to you?" Gray shrugged at Caster who sighed.
"Well whatever, let's go get something and I'll whip up something quick." Ark lead Gray towards a grocery that was conveniently nearby. "Also, were not paying for any of it." Ark said out loud making Gray pause.
"What?"
LineBreakLineBreakLineBreak
Ark and Gray walked back towards the hotel with Caster carrying two bags. One was filled with uncooked chicken while the other bag has a few different seasonings.
Caster obviously stole it all with completely ease, thanks to his illusion spells. Bullshit all the way folks! Ark had a smile on his face as he started to hum a song which caught Grey's attention since Caster was humming it pretty loud.
It wasn't anything crazy, just a normal song that sounded pretty soothing. Was it a song from his time? They continued to walk towards the hotel with Grey listening closely to Ark with great interest.
"What are you humming?" Gray asked making Ark jump slightly since he was caught up in his own little world.
"You heard me?" Ark asked glancing at Grey with a neutral look on his face.
"I did, if anybody was close enough they would have heard you too since you were humming pretty loudly." Ark grunts slightly before he looked at Grey. "So are you going to tell me what you were humming?"
"No." Ark said simply as they continued walking. Grey looked at him before continuing to follow Caster. So Gray let her mind wander and when she continued to think her brain came to a halt at someone.
"Ark." The Mage sighed, he will admit that Gray was getting a bit to nosey for his liking, sure she was young and that was too be expected, but he still can't help but be annoyed by all these questions.
"Ya?" He turned towards her and saw the very curious look on her face, she also looked very uncomfortable to ask this question.
"If King Arthur was a girl then how did you and Mordred came to be?" Ark actually paused and can feel the sinister smile growing on his face... oh this was going to be Interesting. The Mage slowly turned around to face Gray who grew worried at the sight of Ark smiling. It was the face of someone about to do something awful or tell something awful.
"Gray, let me tell you a story about a certain wizard and what his thought process was... it's time I tell you the story about how the Great and Mighty Merlin became... Dick Wizard.
The horror that stretched across Gray's face made Ark only grin even further. If he could, Ark would spread the word about the Great Dick Wizard and probably humiliate Merlin for all its fucking worth.
And what better way to do that is by telling his Master about the so called Great Merlin.
"Actually, you don't have to tell me, I much rather not know." Gray picked up her pace however Ark slapped a hand on her shoulder stopping her from moving. It was as if death himself placed his hand on Gray's shoulder.
She slowly turned her head and Gray's face became more pale then it already was. The grin on Ark's face was downright sinister making Gray think that the Mage was actually a evil villian hidden under a friendly mask.
"Now, now Master~" Gray shivered as wanted nothing more then too run away screaming bloody murder. "You wanted to learn how I came to be, so I will gladly tell you." Ark said with a smile.
"Ark... have Mercy." Gray whimpered knowing full well there was no escape, she was quick to learn that Ark loved to troll people even if it involved traumatizing them, not in a bad way of course, but in a way that will make them question reality and life at the same time.
"Sorry Gray, but I'm all out of Mercy." Ark dragged the girl towards the hotel as he started to tell the amazing story. "So it all started with Merlin telling Arthur that he need a Hair for the Crown."
"aaaaaaaaaaaaAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!" Gray started to screaming which slowly got louder the more Ark talked about Merlin's solution with a certain spell.
LineBreakLineBreakLineBreak
"And that is how Mordred and I came to be." Ark finished as he started to cook the chicken after seasoning it and making sure the pan was the correct temperature, it feels so good to be using modern technology again, even after so long with using steel pans and fire, the memory of him using stove and other kitchen utensils will always stick with him, especially his originals mother's teachings.
He turned to see Gray in the corner of the room rocking back and forth trying her hardest to forget about the tale of the oh so great Merlin...
Ark let out a dark chuckle which made him blink since he just realized how far he went in messing with Gray making him sigh in annoyance. He kind of forgot what he was doing and just wanted to troll someone... and Gray was in his trolling range.
The Mage shrugged, what's done is done, he can't change that... plus messing with Merlin's reputation just sounded to good to pass up. He already saw Gray's mental image of Merlin was shattered and turned into a pervy dick wizard. Caster knew his work here was done, all he needed to do now was help Gray survive this grail war... and kill anyone that gets in the way.
"Alright, food is ready." Ark said turning around and placing two plates on the mini table. The hotel room had a mini kitchen which was convenient. Ark made a simple Honey Garlic chicken breast with mashed potatoes on the side. The Mage made sure the mashed potatoes were fluffy and the right texture and that the chicken was cooked all the way through.
After that he grabbed two cups and poured some soda which he also stole. It was a brand he didn't know of, but it reminded him of Sprite so he grabbed it.
Gray peaked out of her corner since the smell of something delicious slapped her across the face. She saw a plate of tasty looking chicken and mashed potatoes just calling out to her. She looked to see Ark sitting at the table eating from another plate while taking the occasional sip from his cup.
Ark ate like a normal person, when Gray first meet him, she thought he would eat like a prince or cleanly, but instead he ate like a normal person and sometimes made a mess when the food was a bit more sloppy, like the hamburger they ate a few hours ago, Ark tore into that burger like a maniac get his face all dirty.
"You going to come over here and eat, or are you just going to sit there and wait for the food to get cold? I would like to say that food taste better when hot, not cold." Ark said as he tool another bite of mashed potatoes.
Grey quickly rushed over to her seat and looked down at the food with a bit of drool coming out of her mouth making Ark smirk slightly at the sight, it kind of reminded him of Mordred when she found out that Ark can cook.
He watched as Gray grabbed the fork and knife and sliced a piece of the chicken breast off, he also nodded in approval when she stabbed the chicken and scooped up a bit of mashed potatoes.
She took a bite and froze. Ark raised an eyebrow, he started to wonder if this was everyone's reaction when they take a bite of Shirou's food for the first time... it was very amusing.
Gray didn't know how to describe the food, it wasn't anything like she tasted before, the flavor was practically overwhelming her sense. The sweetness too from the sauce made her taste buds soar and do multiple backflips.
And mashed potatoes were perfect, it was extremely fluffy and just the right amount of salt, mixing it with the chicken made them both taste better since the different textures made it all the more pleasing.
This food was like eating something that you haven't had in a long time and when you finally get the chance to eat it again, it taste 10 times better then you remember.
Or maybe when you come over to your grandparents place and grandma decides to make your favorite food and anything made by grandma taste amazing.
Advance: I'm not exaggerating, my grandma makes some awesome food and whenever I come over she always wants to make me something and whatever she makes taste fucking amazing.
Gray took another bite of food while Ark has long since finished. He will admit the food was good, but it was missing something, maybe a bit more honey? Naw, it was sweet enough, maybe not enough spice... well whatever it was Ark will figure it out eventually.
Oh maybe he can make the sauce a bit more thick and turn into a type of gravy to pour over the chicken. Or he can make some rice next time and make it the way his old mom showed him...
Ark stood up and walked over to the bed, he sat down and started to think. That was a first, Merlin's Apprentice was actually coming up with a plan, but the question stands what kind of plan will it be?
The Mage frowned slightly as if he thought of something ba- no wait he was starting to smile and his eyed practically shined with mischief showing that he was up to no good. Nodding his head Ark stood up.
"Grey, I will be gone for a few hours hold down the fort." The girl looked at him slightly alarmed, but Ark didn't say anything, he simply threw down his arm and four portals appeared.
And out stepped four familiar summons. Jean, Zack, Aether, and Kit. All four summons looked around before looking at Ark who smiled.
"My friends, I wish to look around by myself, but can't leave Gray unattended, so can you all help me by watching over her and making sure she stays safe."
The summons nodded without hesitation. Zack slowly lowered himself down to a sitting position while Jean glides over to Gray who looked up at her. Aether meanwhile just stood there for a second then slowly drift over to the the TV which Kit turned on by using the remote that was on the bed.
Ark nodded before he opened a portal and jumped through. He landed on the ground and looked around. The Mage saw his destination and nodded his head with an evil smirk returning with vengeance.
The Church was in sight and Ark was going to pay a certain Priest a visit. He might even call out Gil and see what he does, but Ark knew that was suicide since Gil was a shit ton more stronger even with his bullshit Magic.
Guess he'll do what he always did... wing it, and he loved to wing it.
Ark reached the entrance to the church and raised his foot. He suddenly shot his foot forward and sent the doors flying off the hinges. If Mordred saw this she would be proud of what Ark just did and what he is doing next.
The Mage walked inside like he owned the place. He glanced around the room and did a quick Life Force spell allowing him to spot Gil who was hidding, however his main focus was the Priest who stood there with no emotions.
Ark was quick to pull one of his many mask that he learned to master over that last two years of his life. This mask was his cocky and hot headed attitude one, which he copied from Mordred.
"So you're the Priest for this Holy grail war?" Ark asked with a smirk on his face as he continued walking towards the man. "I also heard that your some weirdo that has a hard on for ending humanity or something." Ark said making the Priest narrow his eyes, but the Servant just grinned.
"And who are you?" Kirei asked the male who chuckled slightly. With a snap of Ark's fingers his illusion dropped showing his armor to the Priest who eyed the armor closely. It was very similar to Saber, but at the same time it wasn't. Not only that but this Servant looked like Saber except Male... who is this Servant?
"I'm a servant obviously, and you see my Master is a bit... paranoid and they didn't want to show up. So I decided to come here myself... and I must say our guest must be getting bored of hiding thinking he can hide from the likes of me." Kirei narrowed his eyes before a flash of Gold happened beside him and another male appeared.
It was Gilgamash and he looked greatly annoyed.
"Oh? Gilgamash, the King of... what was it again? King of idiots?" Ark quickly casted EbonyFlesh as a sword flew right at his chest. He barely caught the sword making Gil growl. However Ark saw an opportunity. "You're about to say: You dare touch my treasure, you mongrel!"
"You dare touch my treasure you mongrel!" Gil for a moment paused and so did the Priest, but it only lasted a second before Gil became even more pissed off. Ark smirked while internally he was smacking himself silly, why did he have to keep talking? But I mean, come on, it was pretty obvious that Gil was going to say that line!
"Yes, I do dare, you're supposed to be an Archer, correct? Then where is your bow, oh wait, you don't use one." Ark quickly summoned a Bound Sword and blocked an incoming projectile. "Well besides you trying to take the grail for yourself, I just wanted to see what I'm dealing with, also for your information, I'm a Caster, so good luck trying to figure out who I am!"
Ark laughed as Gil while about to kill this pest before him, he dare speak agasint him! This Caster is nothing too the King!
Before Gil could open more gates Ark opened a portal behind him and jumped through it, however a small piece of paper flew towards Kirei. He caught it and looked it over. Gil huffed in annoyance and was tempted to find this Caster and put him In his place, but he knew better then that.
Kirei opened the piece of paper and went wide eyed at what he read.
"The Magus killer failed to kill you, me? I won't make the same mistake he did, that bullet will look like nothing after I burn you too a crips, or maybe I'll shock you silly until your eyes pop out, how about I freeze you and throw your ass at the bottom of the ocean? All sounds like good ideas, what about you?" The Note finished and the Priest had only one thing to say.
"How does this Servant know so much?" And a Caster? He already meet the Caster and it wasn't him...
"Wait there is more on this letter." Gil said still annoyed with what happened. Kirei opened the letter some more and felt his eyes twitch.
"P.S: You're next line will be: How does this Servant know so much?" BITCH, I can see the future and all I see is you dying by my hands!"
"This is a very big issue." Kirei muttered as Gil looked even more pissed then before. The Priest had to stop him from leaving and go hunting for that supposed Caster.
Ark meanwhile appeared in a familiar looking property. He looked at the door and knocked on it. The Mage waited for a few minutes before the door opened and showed the surprised face of Saber's Master...
"Hi"
"_"
THUMP!
That ladies and gentlemen was the sound of Ark punching Shirou in the face. Why did the Mage do it, nobody knows, he just wanted to do it. But add to the fact Ark was still wearing his armor, he basically broke the male's nose and probably a good amount of his face thanks to his gauntlets. Saber's Master was now on the floor, unconscious, besides the bloody nose he had, Shirou was completely fine.
Ark quickly teleported away when the sound of someone approaching was heard and it was obviously Artoria. He was to mess with those two for a good while especially Artoria...
The Mage appeared inside a building this time and quickly dodged an arrow from piercing his head. He looked to see Archer glaring at him.
"Relaxe, I'm not here to kill your Master, I'm only here to prank her." Archer however didn't move and continued to glare at him.
"How do you know who I am, I don't remember meeting anyone like you before in my old life." Ark shrugged and only smirked while Archer grew annoyed with this Caster, he doesn't remember Casters being so annoying especially this one... no wait, every Caster was annoying, especially to him.
"Simple, bullshit." Ark said as if it was normal Archer blinked as he lowered his bow.
"Bullshit?" Archer said completely lost.
"Bullshit." Ark said nodding hid head before slipping past the male and walking towards Rin's room. "For clarification by what I mean by that, I'm Merlin's Apprentice." Archer went wide eyed and looked at the Mage who smirked at his reaction, he has been smirking a lot lately, but who wouldn't this is very entertaining. "Your next line will be: You're Merlin's Apprentice?"
"Your Merlin's app-" Archer glared at the Mage who chuckled at catching the man off guard.
"Yes I am, I'm only telling you this because even if I did tell you my true name, you still don't know my capabilities." Ark said with a shrug as he continued walking towards Rin's room, however Archer stopped him. "I'm also here to do some trolling so let me troll in peace."
"How do you even know what trolling is?" Archer asked with narrowed eyes. Merlin's Apprentice was a unknown student that the wizard took in during Arthur's rule, but Archer remember what Artoria said during the fight in the park, Merlin's Apprentice was her second son that nobody knew about.
"Magic." Ark said simply as he started to fill the whole house with harmless pranks. Archer couldn't help but smirk at what the Caster was doing, if Rin walked through the house, it was going to be very VERY messy. Also the pranks looked harmless, not only that Caster and his Master look to be someone that didn't care about the holy grail, if anything Caster was simply trying to protect his Master. "There done, now you don't tell Rin anything, only tell her when she sets off everything!" Ark said with an absolutely serious voice.
Archer only nodded since Caster was acting pretty harmless, he should just kill the Mage right here and now, but he had a feeling that the other male was more dangerous then he appeared, plus Rin won't be to happy to find her house destroyed...
"Also." Ark suddenly spun around and punched Archer across the face sending him flying into a wall. "That was for trying to kill my Master, you do that again and I will do much worse to your own Master, you won't want to see an old friend be burned alive now would you?" Ark smirked while Archer pulled himself off the wall and glared at the Caster. That Punch was pretty strong for a Caster, it was close to Saber Servant levels.
"Oh look at the time, it appears I must go..." A portal opened up behind Ark and he was about to step through, but he paused and looked at Archer. "Listen good EMIYA, if you or any other Servants dare lay a hand on my master..." Ark's body burst into three different elements. Fire, Ice, and Electric. "I'll burn this whole city to the ground, just like the Fire that nearly consumed this city."
And with that Ark walked through the portal leaving Archer all alone... this Caster was dangerous, much more dangerous then he anticipated, he will have to tell Rin about this encounter... but why go such great lengths for just a child?
Too many great warriors, a life was a life, it doesn't matter who or what they were, that is the same thing for Ark.
However he draws the line at children, you dare threaten a child's life the Mage will be your executioner not matter how much you ple for your life, killing an innocent child is where Ark will make sure you die a horrible death.
People asked why there were suddenly so many dead adults that looked to be burnt from the inside out after the fall of Camelot... nobody will ever know, nor will they figure it out. All is knows what that these adults greatly abused children to point of near death.
The children explained that they were saved by someone in armor, making everyone think it was a Knight stopping these adults, however it was shot down when the children then explained that the Knight suddenly thrusted his hand onto their chest and they suddenly burst into flames...
It was a mysterious that nobody could figure out, but only the children knew their savior for they are the ones that saw his face. He never once asked if they were OK, he only looked at them and left the house, leaving them with no family or just one parent.
Many called him a villian, others called him a hero... but nobody will know his name for he disappeared after two years and was never seen again.