Ghastly yellow lights lit up Naomi's white Mustang in the large empty parking lot of Four Flags. The engine purred with a deafening growl as it idled near the entrance to the park. The sun had gone down some time ago and the flood lights were overcompensating enough to cash sharp shadows across the black asphalt. From the parking lot Naomi could see the shapes of a Farris wheel and the tips of rollercoasters standing lifeless above the trees. It wasn't just closing time. It was the off season. Not even security would be roaming around. It was the perfect place for a fight.

A silver glint shot down from the sky and landed in front of her car. The vehicle rocked softly on its shocks and Naomi fought the urge to gun her car into the people standing before her out of a sheer adrenaline spike. Gawain let Edward down and Naomi turned off the engine and exited the blissfully heated car to meet the cruel cold air.

Lancer materialized next to her, and she could feel his buzzing excitement like an electric current. Gawain and Lancer nodded at each other in acknowledgement.

Lancer crossed his arms and glanced her way. "Joan is already here. She's smack in the middle of the park sitting on a bench like she own's the place. I sensed a Servant but didn't see Assassin."

Naomi unconsciously mimicked his stance and gave Lancer a quick look. "Good job. Can you tell if they sensed you?"

"Nah. Couldn't tell. Probably. If Assassin was half paying attention. She would have sensed me."

It figured. They came early but Joan still beat them to the punch. Hopefully Assassin couldn't tell which Servant was snooping around.

Edward picked at his hair to flatten it after his airborne trip, but it kept sticking back up in a hopeless frizz. "I still don't know if I trust you. I still don't believe you didn't know your catalyst was stolen."

Naomi scowled and wanted to clock him. They had spent two hours fighting over this yesterday. 'Hi to you too.' She sarcastically thought and was sure Lancer heard her.

"I still don't know if they were. You're assuming it over a coincidence," she said.

"There can't possibly be another explanation. I will get those relics back."

"I'd like to see you try, buddy," Lancer flashed his canines and received a scowl from Edward.

Edward didn't seem to realize Naomi was wearing one of the relics despite its other half being worn on the Servant himself. Edward would take it over her dead body. Stolen or not. It was hers now. Gifted by the very person who was the original owner.

"You didn't tell her I was coming, right?" Naomi never text Joan back and she hoped her aunt wouldn't expect her to show.

"Of course not. Do you take me for a fool?"

"Fools are the ones who needle with dumb questions." Lancer looked down on Edward with a twinkle in his eyes. "You mirror probably broke a while ago. Try getting it fixed."

Edward pointedly didn't look at Lancer and grit his teeth at Naomi. "Would you put a stop to your familiar's flagrant remarks? Its tongue is too loose for a tool."

Her anger rose like the simmering belly of a volcano. Edward was not going to get away with talking about Lancer like he was an object. "I should learn that silencing spell. So I can use it on power hungry brats."

Edward grabbed his sleeved arm, a threatening gesture that made Naomi's heart jump into her throat. Lancer tensed at her side.

"Are you serious!" She leaned forward with uncrossed arms and barked in rage. "This has nothing to do with the Grail War!"

Edward sneered. "Lancer. Point your weapon at your Master's throat."

Lancer clenched his fists and his eyes turned hard. "Not a chance. Though if you wanted me to point my weapon at your throat, I would be happy to oblige. Command Spell compulsion or no."

Lancer tipped his head at Naomi but didn't look at her. His harsh eyes were locked on Edward. "Give me the command. Master. I'll take his heart and present it to you on a platter."

"Don't threaten me, you container. What-" Edward glanced at Naomi's hand and she immediately tried to hide it with her other hand.

She had warned Lancer to not provoke Edward into using Command Seals, but she almost done that herself. She could tell from that one look that Edward knew what had happened. He had connected the dots that Lancer was no longer under his control.

"Next time." She told Lancer while gritting her teeth. "Right now we're here for Joan." Naomi seriously considered letting Lancer loose on Edward and Gawain. She reluctantly reigned herself back in. If she didn't, there would be two Masters and Servants to deal with tonight.

"You undid the Command Seal. Stupid. I can just put it back in place." Edward snarled.

Naomi went ridged and building adrenaline was shaking its way up her limbs. Her fight or flight was seconds from taking over and she wasn't sure which half would decision her body would make.

"My lord." Gawain gave a light bow and flattened his hand over his chest. "We shouldn't fight with allies before a battle. It's bad for morale."

Edward rubbed his covered arm. "Yes, I know. You're right. I wasn't going to use a Command Seal if that's what you're worried about. If I abuse them then I will lose the privilege. They are only allowed under very specific circumstances."

She wanted to say he just threatened to use one but bit her tongue. Lancer didn't have the same restraint.

"Funny. From where I'm standing, you're abusing all of your privileges. Wielding them like a blade of fear. Just try a Command Seal again to harm my Master and see where that gets you. I'll kill you." He had gone so still from taught anger it was hard to tell if he was breathing. "I'll gut you before you can finish a sentence the next time you try."

The boiling anger dripping from Lancer shot through Naomi like a warm fire that wasn't unpleasant. He was serious and if she didn't de-escalate things someone was going to die.

"That's enough." She barked with authority. "Lancer is my Servant. Don't tell him what to do. If you keep being an ass to him, I will let him do whatever he wants to you."

Gawain's hand tightened around his sword hilt, but he didn't otherwise move.

Naomi gritted her teeth and spoke again before Edward could get a word in. "Are you sure you don't know who Assassin is?"

"Quite sure," Edward snipped. "However, I still say that phantasm fog can be blown away by an anti-army attack."

"That makes no sense but try it if you get the chance." Naomi didn't know what type of phantasm Gawain had, but she guessed this plan involved him and whatever counted as anti-army.

Edward gave one last final stare of 'I want to attack you but won't' then started toward the park entrance. Lancer vanished into spirit form and Naomi hung back. She would find a place to lie low and hope she had the advantage of surprise. It was uncertain if this would work. Assassin might not be by Joan's side and might be able to sniffer her out. That's why Lancer would stay near Naomi until they could assess where Joan was and what she was planning to do. Unfortunately, the moment they got there; Assassin would be able to sense there were two Servants instead of one.

It doubly didn't help that Naomi would be dead meat without magecraft. It was a pure gamble. She would have to sit out any fights and do her best to not get in the way. Speaking of…

"I still can't get my magecraft to work." She warned Lancer with a tinge of frustration.

"I know how much you hate it, but just stay back and let me fight this one for ya. Pick your battles and let me take care of this one."

He was getting to know her too well. She abhorred that she couldn't do a thing to help him except be in his proximity to offer mana. He already suggested she sit this one out and let him go in alone. She quickly shot that down. She wouldn't sit at home like a coward.

A large, chained gate barred the entrance. Gawain jumped over it like it was nothing. He was courteous enough to help them both her and Edward to the ground when they climbed up and over the top.

She thought Gawain himself wasn't too bad. So long as Edward didn't command him to attack. Gawain was safe enough until Edward set him loose. The Saber's presence was welcome. As much as Edward disrespected Servants, Gawain kept him somewhat balanced when he was starting to get unhinged. Though she reminded herself that Gawain was Edward's sword.

The ticket booths created an archway leading to the inner park. Further in, monolith rollercoasters presided over shops and darkened cafes. It was the perfect setting for zombies or ghost to jump out and start giving chase like in a Scooby-doo cartoon.

"This place is creepy," Naomi noted.

"Are you afraid of ghosts?" Edward asked with a smirk.

"I don't like how open it is." She said instead and again irritated that he thought he found something to scare her with. "I'm breaking off here. Try not to blow my cover"

"Oh I'll pretend you're not here," Edward quipped.

Naomi veered to the edge of the park and slinked around barricades and booths. She followed behind Edward and tried to make as little noise as possible.

"Go left," Lancer instructed.

Naomi took a left around a roller coaster and around behind a souvenir shop.

"Stop there. She's around the corner."

Naomi stilled, then crept forward to look around the side of the shop. Between a gap in two-barrel trashcans, she could see Joan standing in the middle of a dirt pathway. Joan's eyes darted around the grounds, searching for something despite Edward walking down the middle path in plain view.

"Welcome, Edward of the Mage Association," Joan shouted. "You showed up." She said in surprise and saluted him with her drink clinched her free fist and braced her legs.

"Joan. Executor of the Church," Edward frigidly regarded Joan.

Naomi could feel the tension between them from where she was crouching. It was hard to guess who would come out on top. Between the Servants she was betting on Gawain. But if it were between Masters, the bet would begrudgingly be on Joan.

Naomi swiveled her head and searched the dim park. Assassin was still missing from the equation and had the upper hand until the fight started. Lancer might see an attack before Gawain and intervene. Maybe. Unless the fog rolled in.

Her heart was still hammering from adrenaline from her spat with Edward and it was not helping her nerves.

Joan sardonically laughed. "I can never get away from being a killer. No matter where or when. Even now I'm going to have to kill after I swore it off. I guess that was just a short fantasy."

Edward's shoulders were upright, and he was glancing around the field, likely in search of Assassin

"Is the Church after my head now? Is that why they so graciously let me stage at one of their facilities? I knew it wasn't just a goodwill offer." Edward's nervousness seeped into his shaking voice.

"I'm retired." Joan took another sip of her drink. "This is entirely personal."

Joan pointed at herself, "I'm a Master," then pointed at Edward. "You're a Master. We both want the same thing. And I hear you've been harassing my niece."

"Harassment?" Edward jerked his head to the left then right. "I lent her an opportunity on behalf of the Mage Association. Never mind that. Are you the one who stole your Servant's catalysts? Two catalysts?"

Joan shrugged unconvincingly. "I don't know what you mean."

That was damming evidence as any. After everything she had learned about Joan, Naomi wouldn't be surprised if she had admitted point blank to stealing Servant catalysts.

Gawain aimed his sword at Joan. "My lord. Your orders?"

"Attack her. She will be forced to call upon her Servant." Edward commanded.

Gawain took off on his quick feet, sword held down at his side with both hands on the hilt. He wasn't as fast as Lancer, but he could still cover significant ground in an inhuman amount of time.

Joan didn't move as Gawain raised his sword over her head. His weapon swiped downward, aimed at lopping off her head.

Naomi felt her breath catch in her throat. She thought she hated Joan but seeing her seconds from being killed bothered her.

A ripple of red and black fabric cut between Gawain and Joan. The Servant in red from Caster's basement performed a swift uppercut. Gawain stumbled back as the red Servant's upturned palm rushed past Gawain's chin. The force of the punch was so great, leaves on the ground rushed upward and flew well above their heads.

Gawain blocked the Servant's punches and kicks with his sword and retreated with each parry.

"Where's Assassin," Naomi hissed. And where was the white-haired Saber for that matter? If one false Servant was around, the other might not be far behind. This was bad. Her plan to be a support ambush might be a multi-point ambush. Multiple Servants fighting. A huge mess. Crap.

"I sense another Servant, but I don't see her. That guy just popped up out of nowhere. He used some kind of concealment spell to hide himself." Lancer's sharp focus put Naomi on alert.

Joan took advantage of Gawain being distracted and ran past the two Servants. She chanted and fire gathered around her fist that was aimed right at Edward. He dodged around her assault and was hit in the stomach with her other fist. He doubled over and rolled away from her. Edward began chanting a spell and water collected from the ground around his feet.

"You're my target," Joan announced. "I won't let you live till morning. On my honor, your end will be swift."

Water in the shape of a dragon rose around him and lashed at Joan. She punched the dragon in the face and her fist went right through it. The fire on her hand extinguished and the water dragon as it bit down on her arm. The dragon's head exploded in a ball of flames and steam hissed into the night air. Joan yanked her arm out of its grasp. She stumbled away with labored breaths and shook the boiling water off her hands. Her arm and hand were red from being scalded but she didn't so much as hiss at the pain.

"I won't be a target of the Church. I am a powerful mage in my own right. Don't underestimate me!" Edward shouted.

A shadow erupted under Gawain, and he stumbled back. His weapon swung at the red Servant to perry an attack, but it was blocked by a claymore sized scalpel. He took the full force of the red Servant's fist in his side and Gawain collapsed on one knee but remained upright. A creature shrouded in mist formed from nothing before their eyes. It opened its dark maw and roared with the scream of an enraged little girl.

Now was their que. "Lancer! Go help him," she hissed.

"Wait." Lancer's hard focus raced through their bond. "There's three signatures now."

A third Servant. It had to be the white-haired Saber.

Closing his eyes, Edward began chanting in the old magi language. Circuits lit up around his balled-up fists and climbed up his arms. With a shout he raised his arms and opened his hands towards Gawain. The air around Edward shifted and scattered. Gawain's sword began glowing. With a swing Gawain sliced the beast through and it vanished into smoke while screaming like a wounded child.

Naomi gaped. He'd used a Command Seal to power his Servant. Why hadn't she thought of doing that?

Gawain blocked the red Servant and pushed him back with a great swing of his sword. He was outnumbered, but he wasn't going down just yet. His heavy armor would protect him. Naomi doubted he, a Saber, would go down so quickly. They had a little bit of time.

The buzzing of air from behind caught Naomi's attention seconds before the earring she wore noticeably warmed. She snapped her head around and an arrow was suspended just inches from her head. It fell as it had been suspended from a string clanged to the ground. Within seconds, it vaporize into blue particles.

"An Archer?" Naomi guessed in pure confusion.

The Archer Servant hadn't shown themself yet, but here of all places? Why now? Was Caster here too? Panic was starting to rise in her chest.

She turned her thoughts to Lancer. "Can you find Archer and flush him out? We shouldn't leave him free to take pot shots."

Lancer's frustration was palpable. "I can't see where they are. The magical signature is there but-"

An arrow shot from the dark. Lancer materialized to stand in front of her and the arrow stopped dead in front of him, then dropped to the ground. Lancer's weapon formed in his hand, and he stood sentry in front of Naomi. His eyes red eyes shone as they darted around the darkness, trying to find his target.

Naomi tried to see into the dark woods bordering the park, but it was almost pitch black. Another whistling sound came from above and to their left. Lancer stared it down as the arrow behaved as the previous ones. It stopped short of hitting him then fell. Naomi chanced a look at the fight on the other side of the building.

Gawain was in a standstill fight with the two Servants, and Edward was using his water dragon to keep Joan at bay.

"There." Lancer zeroed in on a location in the dark where the arrow came from and took off so quickly Naomi put a hand on the building behind her to steady her against the rush of wind he left behind.

There was a spark in the distance. Then another. A loud crunch and a crash. Then the screeching of metal was the only warning she got before a roller coaster came crashing down in ear splitting shrieks and a shower of sparks.

Naomi choked down a scream and ditched her hiding spot to run full speed away from the falling structure. Someone with a stature smaller than her zipped past, then Naomi felt a harsh shove on her back.

"Pitch!" Assassin's gleefully shouted.

Naomi went flying and her stomach went right up into her throat. Then her ankle was caught midair.

"Go say hi to big brother!" Assassin had a harsh grip despite being so small. The little girl Servant easily flung Naomi even further.

Naomi hit a body that caught her and set on her feet. She dizzily looked up and both of her and Gawain's eyes locked in panic and surprise. He was in mid swing, aiming the person standing next to her, and now Naomi since she was in the way. The person who caught her wasn't Gawain, and that person she had been thrown into punched the sword away with such force she felt the wind and a concussion force. She was then shoved away by that same Servant. It was the red Servant.

Naomi planted her feet and took a second to take stock of what the heck just happened and orient where she was standing. Her head was spinning, and she swore here eyeballs were rattling around in her head. Joan was cataloging Naomi and Edward was gaping at the destroyed roller coaster that had crushed the souvenir shop and every other structure in its path. Archer and Lancer could be seen fighting over the rubble as they were now within the park's security lights.

"Naomi!" Joan shouted. "Stand back! Don't get in between Servants!"

Joan didn't give Edward time to be distracted and swung at him with a flash of metal. Edward's dragon whipped Joan with its neck and knocked the knife from her hand.

Joan cursed and stumbled, and Edward took the opportunity to have the dragon coil around her. It clamped down on her head, encasing Joan's face in water.

"You're rusty. Or getting old," Edward's gusto was bellied by his tinge of nervousness.

Naomi never felt so much like a sitting duck. Assassin and the red Servant were preoccupied with Gawain, and none of them were interested in her presence. She thanked her luck and put distance between her and the other Servants while trying to keep an eye on Lancer. Gawain would have to be on his own and Edward would have to take care of Joan.

It was near impossible to see Lancer's swift attacks. He was literally a blur whenever he moved. The other Servant was dressed in a dark green cloak, and he was doing his best to dodge a red and blue blur and was receiving numerous landing blows. Lancer was playing with the opponent and Naomi wished he wouldn't play with his food right now. There was no telling when the other Servants would gang up on him. He needed to take out Archer.

The already broken rollercoaster buckled under Lancer and Archer when they landed on an unstable mount of debris. Metal screeched and wood splintered in a deafening cacophony. Both Servants hastily jumped off so they wouldn't lose their footing.

The Servant in a dark green cloak with shaggy, dirty blond hair veered away from the debris and landed in front of Naomi. He stared down at her with droopy, callous eyes and Naomi immediately knew she was in trouble.

Blue orbs of light shone, and an arrow appeared the same way a Servant solidified from spirit form. It was pre-strung in his crossbow. Archer aimed with calculated eyes.

"Nothing personal. Your Servant is a bit much for me." he said as she stared down his pointed arrow. "You should have prayed to lady luck this morning."

Naomi desperately tried to pull prana into her runes and pain snapped at the base of her skull and ran down the length of her arm to the runes on her arms. Magecraft was her only out. She couldn't run from a Servant. Crap, crap.

She cringed from the pain and rotated her heel to make a break for it despite her chances of living being zero. Archer's head jerked up, then he tried to lurch forward. Naomi started, then Lancer blindsided Archer with a powerful roundhouse kick that sent Archer flying into a storage shed. Wood splintered and cracked in a loud bang under the Servant.

Lancer put himself between her and the destroyed shed. He spun Gáe Bolg in a circle to deflect an arrow whistling arrow toward them. Archer sprung out from the collapsed building and procured another arrow made of pure magic. Archer pulled a trigger under his wrists and the arrow fired, splitting into three as they flew.

Lancer swatted them aside with Gáe Bolg and the arrows clattered harmlessly on the dirt path where they vanished. He wasn't smiling. "Attacking bystanders is a dirty trick."

Archer grit his teeth as blood dripped from his arm. "Don't tell me you're one of the noble types."

Lancer spun his weapon over his shoulders to change his stance. "Nah, but I have some self-respect." He sprung forward like a fired bullet.

Now was Naoim's chance to put distance between them. She turned and ran a few feet. There was really nowhere to go.

Archer was forced back on the defensive. He rolled out of the way at the cost of having his side kicked by Lancer. Much like a toy being abused.

"You're helpless in a close-up one-on-one fight," Lancer taunted. "The last Archer I fought had no pride in his skills, but he was competent enough to put up some fight that wasn't near this cowardly."

"Pride is a fool's game for kings. I fight to survive." Archer looked around the park to reassess.

Archer dashed away, retreating into the park by jumping up an old wooden rollercoaster.

Lancer chased after him. "Get back here and fight me!"

Surging from all sides, fog rolled into the amusement park like a cloud of iconoclast spilling from a volcano. The fog was so thick that Naomi couldn't see anyone. Her heart rate quickened, and a haunting childish laugh sent her adrenaline pumping through her veins.

A scream, high pitched, full of fear, and male that sounded suspiciously like Edward rang through the fog. Naomi's muscles pulled tight, and she spun in circles to try and see anything. Her foot connected with something sitting on the ground that she nearly tripped over. A loud snap and a feeling of a raging fire gripped her leg.

She teetered and bent over to grip her jeans covering her leg and caught sight of a claw trap. It was small like a coyote trap. Just enough to smart and startle, but not break a leg. It had the teeth to scratch skin even through pants and it burned smartly.

"What's happening?" Lancer's panicked and urged question surged through her mind as if he were yelling right in her ear. "Master!"

He had somehow sensed her injury, or that something was very wrong.

"Assassin's fog. Can you still see Archer?" She feared Archer would get the upper hand in the fog and didn't want Lancer distracted. But Archer likely had just as much trouble seeing in this mess.

She hooked her fingers between her leg and the jaws and tried to pry the contraption apart. The metal bit painfully into her hands and barely moved. Naomi breathed heavily and glanced around the fog. It was still so thick she couldn't see anything. If she moved her hand too far away, it vanished from sight.

"I can't see a damned thing. Gawain better not try blasting at it blindly if they go for that trick they were talking about."

"Depends on how stupid Edward is."

"I don't like the odds of that bet." She swallowed hard and gave up on that idea of prying open the trap with brute force and tried putting downward pressure on the springs.

All that accomplished was making her leg hurt more. She jiggled the chain that vanished somewhere into the fog then pulled on it as hard as she could. It didn't want to budge.

Springing from the mist, a gleaming blue, pink, and green colored sword came inches from running Naomi through. The anxiety that had built up in her made Naomi scream and jump back. The chain pulled taught, letting the jaws dig in further with a burst of pain, and she fell backward. The sword grazed past her, and the owner's face came nose to nose with Naomi. The owner of the sowrd grabbed her hand and pulled her back upright before she could fall. Snow white hair fluttered across calm, soft rosy eyes. It was the false Saber. Not Assassin as Naomi had expected, but no less terrifying.

The false Saber dropped her sword and stood neutrally before Naomi. Naomi readied her fist and braced herself. She was a dead person walking if she tried fighting Saber, but there was nothing else she could do.

"I admired the way your Servant fought Berserker and you have my thanks for freeing me from that cellar."

"You gave me a freaking heart attack!" Naomi tried to calm her nerves. The Servant's nose was inches from hers. It was the only way they could see each other in the fog.

"Caster teleported us both outside and I chased him until I lost sight of him. He apparently gave up on using us once the shackles were broken," Saber explained. "I did not get the chance to speak with you before, but I would like to become your ally. By fighting on your behalf, I believe I can find what I'm looking for."

Naomi started and her mind churned with uncertainty. Her current semi-alliance wasn't working out so hot and an unrestrained Servant added on top of that might be too much.

It didn't help that her chest was starting to feel tight in a hyperventilating way. But she didn't think she was panicking, just short of breath since her mind was still clear.

"What are you looking for?" Naomi asked while keeping on high alert incase Saber did anything funny or Assassin suddenly showed her face.

"Nothing that would impede your quest for the Holy Grail. I'm looking for something of a spiritual nature. I would not mind discussing it with you in length, but the battlefield is not the place for chatter."

The clashing of swords, the haunting giggling of a little girl, and Gawain's battle cries carried through the mist.

Saber seemed to hold no malice. Her countenance reminded Naomi of a wise old matriarch despite her young appearance. Naomi would rather make a pact now instead of trying, and failing, to fight her off with her bare hands and no magic. There was no choice here. Now was really not the time to make an enemy of Saber.

"Okay." Naomi held out her hand and forced a smile that badly hid her hesitation and pain. "If you can get my leg out of this trap I'll agree." She really didn't want to be allies with this Servant she didn't know or trust.

Saber looked down at the jaws clamped, or where it would be. The fog was so thick Naomi couldn't see her feet. In one motion Saber effortlessly pried the claw trap open and broke the springs.

Naomi moved her leg away and put all her weight on her good leg as the damage done by the trap stung. She was taking in deeper and deeper breaths and wondered if she really was about to panic. Saber stood up so they could see each other again.

"The trap complicates things. It is coated in poison by Archer. You should retreat for today and seek medical care. I will aid in your escape."

Naomi had a bad feeling that made her stomach twist queasily. Her short breath hadn't been in her head. "What kind of poison are we talking about?"

"You will die if you don't get care soon. If we find a quieter place I can extract the taint."

Naomi's lungs felt thick and swollen. Like something was constricting them. Now she was feeling it more acutely now that Saber was saying it was poison.

"How can you tell it's poisoned?" Naomi resisted clawing at her shirt that felt like it was impeding her ability to breathe.

A surge of magic stung her senses. Both Naomi and Saber looked through the fog toward the source. Power was gathering at a central point and rapidly building in strength. It was so potent it stung her nose.

Saber grabbed Naomi around the waist and threw Naomi over her shoulder. Saber jumped high enough to escape the fog just as a brilliant white light cut through the mist and parted it like the great waters with a piercing particle beam. It made a sound like a screaming jet engine racing by. Naomi's breath was stolen away by the wind and tightness in her lungs and all her organs felt like they tried to jump into her chest.

Gawain stood at the origin of the blast, his sword pointed toward the ground and his legs bent at his knees. Assassin stood in front of him and off to the side. Unscathed.

"Mean! Your phantasm is a meany! No fair!" Assassin stomped her small foot.

Edward was struggling to stand on his feet and Joan was nowhere in sight.

Saber flashed her sword and parried an open palm strike from the red Servant. Naomi had no idea where he had come from but suspected he had teamed up with Joan the same way Saber had just teamed up with her.

Naomi squirmed. Her stomach was draped over Saber's shoulder so all she could see was the white clothed Servant's backside. "Put me down," she gasped.

"Try to slip away from the battle," Saber advised as she let go and gripped her sword with both hands. "I will prevent this one from following."

Naomi squeaked as she slid forward. Her palms stung when they slapped the pebbled dirt and her side screamed in protest when she hit the hard ground. She looked up and saw the red Servant standing before Saber.

"It's interesting that we've both picked a Master to follow," The red Servant commented. "Though we have the choice to be free of such restraints."

Saber tilted her striped sword. "They are the only ones who understand our existence. It's natural to seek them out, Li Shuwen."

Li Shuwen raised his fists. "I agree."

Saber's eyes went blank as her eyelids narrowed in concentration, and she sprang forward.

Naomi tried to stand but it was too hard to breathe. She tripped over the puckered ground and into the path of destruction Gawain had carved all the way to the entrance of the park. She clutched her chest and clambered out of the trench. She scooted over to a locked-up concession stand and sat heavily against the metal surface.

The clanging and shrieking of weapons rang loud and clear from different places over the fair grounds. The metallic sounds grated on her ears.

Saber fought like a well-oiled machine. Her movements were calculated, swift and brutal. She only used what energy she needed and never overcompensated when blocking the red servant's flurry of fists.

Each breath was a difficult task, like her lungs resisted moving. The poison must have been some nasty stuff if a scratch was affecting her this much this quickly.

"Shit," she cursed under her breath.

A loud thud on the concession stand registered seconds after the fact. Her slowing senses from lack of oxygen were becoming an enemy to her survival. Archer jumped off the roof and landed before her.

You're still alive?" He asked rhetorically and held up a fist under his crossbow, ready to land the finishing blow. "How annoying. Sorry but you're easier to deal with than that Lancer."

Archer clicked his tongue in exasperation and dashed away as a red lance fell from the sky and bit into the earth between Naomi and Archer. Lancer balanced on the pole, one hand in front of the other running down the weapon. His legs were cycled into the air from him dropping out of the sky. He fell onto his feet and pulled Gáe Bolg from the dirt.

"That's it!" Lancer shouted. "I've had enough of your crap. No amount of beating you around will make you fight seriously."

Archer let loose an arrow and Lancer didn't flinch or look at the projectile. The arrow stilled then fell to the ground. Archer reloaded his weapon while Lancer pointed Gáe Bolg. "You keep trying the same thing over and over. It's not going to work you dimwit!"

Gáe Bolg began glowing, then magic accumulated around it and licked at its length like flames in the wind. Lancer was demanding mana for a Noble Phantasm. He surprisingly required very little extra mana for his attack, but it was enough to send Naomi reeling when prana was forcefully pulled from her to convert it to mana for Lancer.

It was all she could do to will her body to stay conscious. She squinted her eyes then closed them to focus on counting her breaths. Her body shivered feverously, and her heart pounded loudly in her ears. The scratches inflicted by the trap burned like a thousand bee stings and she could have sworn the wound was growing larger. That or she was going crazy. She didn't want to die like this. Not by suffocating in the middle of an amusement park with her lungs slowly becoming paralyzed.

"Who said I was." Archer glanced over at Naomi. "Are you sure you still have time to fight me now?'

Lancer glared hard at Archer, resisting the urge to follow his line of sight. "What are you getting at?"

"Your Master is suffering from some bad luck."

Lancer finally looked back, and Archer took the opportunity to disengaged. He quite literally vanished from sight. Not like turning into spirit form. One minute he was there, the next he was gone as if removed from physical space in a blink.

"Hey!" Lancer lurched toward where Archer had been, skidded to a stop and glanced behind him at Naomi, then after Archer. He was torn and a war wagged behind his eyes before quickly making up his mind. With gritted teeth he turned his back on his opponent and sprinted toward Naomi.

Lancer dropped on his knees and used his lance for support as he kneeled before her. He looked her over with a furrowed brow. "What's wrong? What did he do?"

She clutched desperately at her shirt. She took a desperate gulp of air and rasped, "Poisoned...trap." She was glad that it looked like Lancer hadn't been hit by one of those arrows in case they were also poisoned.

"Shit." Lancer glanced around as if looking for an answer to all their problems.

"Wait!" Joan ran up to them and Lancer sprang in-between them.

He pointed Gáe Bolg at her chest and Joan halted in her tracks.

"Let me through right now!" She commanded.

"Not a chance. I know how you are," Lancer fixed her with an angry glare that would have scared Naomi if she were on the receiving end.

Joan looked around him at Naomi, worry coloring her face. "Are you injured? Did one of the Assassins harm you?"

Naomi shook her head. "Archer." It took all of her effort to squeeze out one word while struggling to pull in air. The edges of her vision were starting to crackle.

Joan's face fell and her brows pinched. "How dare that stupid girl-" Joan glanced at Naomi's bleeding leg. "You were poisoned." She finally looked at Lancer. "Take her to a hospital. Now!"

"Your hospitals can't help. The poison is magical in nature. If we can leave here I can remove the taint." Saber landed from the sky before them and Li Shuwen appeared right behind her.

"Mommy is sister hurt? I didn't hurt her I promise. Just like you said. I was nice." Assassin materialized behind Joan.

Naomi's vision wavered and she lost all feeling in her body.

Huh? She fell on her side, unable to move.

"Move you stupid Servant!" Joan started toward Naomi but Lancer struck at her. Assassin and Li Shuwen moved in and blocked his attack.

"I won't let you." Lancer grit out.

"So you're going to let her die?!" Joan yelled.

Someone picked Naomi up. "I will take care of this. Do not worry," Saber said.

"Hey!" Lancer was locked with the two Assassin's and couldn't move as Saber whisked Naomi away.

"Where are you going with her?!" Joan shouted. "Get back here!"