DISCLAIMER: I do not take credit from the Fate universe and its characters. The rights and credits go to the original authors.
Read the notes in the first chapter if you haven't done it already.
This is my very first story. I'm confident in my grammar, but if there are any mistakes, then let me know and I'll try to figure out how to fix them as soon as I have time.
Hope you enjoy.
FATE/Oppression
-Arc I-
Chapter 3
Planet: Earth
Date: May 14 2020
Location: Alaska Highway (Canada)
(======)
The car sprinted on the highway in the middle of nowhere at maximum speed.
Shirou wore a deadpan on his face as he stared outside the small car window, staring at the empty view. Even if he seemed calm and collected on the outside, he was deeply conflicted on the inside. After discovering the situation the world had plunged into, his concerns had increased to quite a considerable extent, and there was nothing he could do to keep them at bay. He couldn't help it. The world was on the verge of collapse, and mankind was already suffering heavy damages because of this Holy Grail War all around the globe. The fighting had started a little over two days ago. At this rate… the whole planet would risk a heavy threat. He couldn't allow it. He couldn't allow it any longer.
Fortunately for him, his 'companions' managed to brighten his gloomy thoughts.
"I must say, this car is truly magnificent!" Iskandar exclaimed in a mighty voice, his trademark laugh echoing despite the noise of the insane speed at which they were going. "I never imagined the human mind could invent such a miracle! This is great news! I shall gather an army of cars during my conquest!"
For once, even Mordred grinned and nodded emphatically at the King's words. While Iskandar drove their newly rented car on the front seat and Shirou sat on the passenger seat next to him, the female Knight sat on the back seat with her arms crossed and a clearly excited expression on her face. She seemed to be happy about the current situation as well.
"We shall conquer the world with this car!" the Rider shouted outside the open window, the red car drifting along the highway with a speed no small rally car should by no rights be able to attain. Any racing team would surely have been shamed by the muscular redhead's speed as he drove toward their next destination at top speed.
Shirou sighed at the enthusiasm of his companions. Their excitement was amusing, indeed, but at times extremely exaggerated. They were always, ALWAYS, shouting and laughing for every little thing and acting overly exciteded for anything; and his ears were starting to ring by now because of their incessant chatting. He almost felt like he was taking a couple of children on a school trip. Children with toned muscles and very dangerous and uncommon powers, but children nonetheless.
They had left Whitehorse in the morning. Before leaving the city for good, Shirou and his companions had prepared themselves properly. They made preparations, and purchased some items to prepare for the next trip, deciding to move to a more central location inland and set out in search of other Servants in order to prevent yet another 'accident' to the world. They had bought a supply of food, water and a little set of accessories, along with a map of the world to decide their destination and track their position. It had been necessary. Despite the knowledge of the modern era and their basic understanding of customs and traditions of the current society – they had gained them after the summoning thanks to the Grail and, in Shirou's case, Gaia – they still had little knowledge of the land.
And, of course, since they couldn't always travel on Iskandar's chariot, Shirou had been forced to rent a car.
A red 1983 Toyota Sprinter Trueno GT-APEX. It was definitely not a modern car, but Mordred and Iskandar fell in love with it as soon as they saw it. Shirou assumed that their choice had something to do with the red color, but he didn't care that much. Traveling by car was the fastest way to get inland quickly without arousing suspicion, and it was the most logical choice. Although the car was a bit too small and low-roofed for his liking. Iskandar's head literally touched the roof as he drove the vehicle, but he didn't seem to care. His enthusiasm far exceeded the norm. And if both he and Mordred were okay with it, he had no reason to complain.
But Shirou was genuinely amazed right now. He had underestimated Iskandar's driving skills. His A+ Rank Riding skill was quite something. Thanks to his powers and his status as a Rider, the car had been imbued with power and could now travel at an almost unprecedented speed. That was quite the surprise. Shirou could admit it now. The Rider class had some useful advantages.
"Hey, Rider! Switch with me at the next station! I wanna drive too!" Mordred exclaimed from the back, jumping a little on the back seat in excitement. She almost looked like a kid.
"No way," Shirou cut her off immediately. The Knight looked at him with shock and disbelief at his immediate rebuke. "Kid, you may be a Servant and a homunculus, but you still look like a fifteen-years old teen. If someone sees you drive, we'll get in trouble. I'm not gonna deal with that."
Iskandar laughed with a sly grin, his eyes glancing between the road and Mordred's sulking face. "I can't help you there, Saber. Maybe you should grow a few inches taller to look older," he joked with his usual boastful behaviour.
"Who cares about that! We're Servants! Laws and common sense do not apply for us!" she protested loudly, her face almost pouting. She looked at Shirou with an irritated scowl. "And besides, I have a B Rank Riding Skill too, you know! I could easily drive this junk of metal like nothing!"
Shirou sighed. "Alright, alright... next time we'll use a car we'll let you drive. Are you satisfied?"
"But I want to try now!"
"..."
"...fine. Damn you, Ruler. You're no fun. And that smile is creepy."
"I'm glad you like it so much," he winked at her.
Iskandar laughed, turning the wheel with precision at the intersection and drifting around at a pace that would put a professional rally racer to shame. "By the way, boy, where are we now on the map?" he casually asked, turing to Shirou with his trademark grin.
The red-haired God flipped through the map, pointing at their location on it with a finger. They were located approximately near the southern border of Canada. They would reach the US border shortly. "We're here," he replied, showing them their location. "I think."
"Hmm? This is extremely far from Macedonia and Persia," he noted, arching a brow.
Shirou nodded. "Yeah. We're in another continent entirely. On the other side of the planet, actually," he explained, looking at the whole map of the world.
"I see, I see!" the gigantic man exclaimed with a loud laugh. "To think that the world was so big! I spent my whole life conquering lands to create an Empire, and yet it was nothing but a small part of the world! Hahaha!" His grin widened further. "Very well! I can't wait to to conquer all of it this time!"
Mordred snorted in amusement. "You seem pretty happy after learning that your accomplishments in life were so trivial," she noted with a sly smile and arms crossed.
The King of Conquerors grinned even wider. "Of course. Those are pleasing news indeed. And they will guide us for the incoming battles as well!" he replied, nodding in confidence and decision.
Both Shirou and Mordred blinked at his words. "Incoming battles?" they repeated.
"First we jouney to the other side of the world!" the taller man declared, raising an arm outside of the car window and pointing at a certain direction. "We go West! Due West! We shall conquer every land we pass through, and subdue or defeat any Servant who dares to stand in our path! Then, I shall return to Macedonia in triumph, and my people will hold a festival in honor of my revival!" he said, nodding to himself with a mighty chuckle.
Mordred grinned after his explanation. "Heh! That's not a bad plan. I like the idea of fighting and conquering everything that stands in my way. I could second your idea, Rider," she admitted with an excited grin, shrugging a little.
"Hah! I knew you would see reason sooner or later, Saber!"
Shirou sighed in amusement at their antics. "Yeah, but to actually do that we'd need to leave the American continent," he cut in immediately after, looking at the map. "And we can't exactly leave the continent and cross the whole ocean with a car or your chariot alone, Rider. Using a ship isn't an option either, since it would take too long to reach the land. So, we need to take a plane. And in order to do that… we must reach this city here," he said, pointing at the map. "Seattle."
Mordred nodded in acceptance and agreement. Iskandar, on the other hand, widened his eyes in trepidation. "Hoh? You mean those black and white things that fly into the sky? Those we saw on the TV?" His smile widened when the red-haired warrior nodded in response. "That's great! That's great indeed! They shall be a useful addition to my army! I'm thinking about buying ten of them! What do you say?"
The God of War laughed. "I can't project that much money, you know… but I can still buy us a few tickets," he relented with a shake of his head.
"And where do you plan on going after we get on a plane?" Mordred asked him, raising an eyebrow.
Shirou's expression turned cold and serious. "That's easy: to one of the many places we heard about yesterday," he explained, looking at the map and the places he had previously marked with red circles. Both the Rider and the Saber grew serious as well after that reminder. "New York, Las Vegas, Paris, Hong Kong… there are too many places to count. But something happened there, something that's obviously related to the War and – possibly – other Servants. If we go there, we might learn something useful and actually stop whatever's happening and causing so much destruction. Don't you agree, sir Mordred?"
The Knight hesitated for a moment, before sharing a slow nod with Iskandar. "Makes sense."
"And how long it's gonna take to reach this city?" Iskandar questioned.
Shirou shrugged. "Given the distance, I think it would usually take a few days for normal people to reach it. But we're not exactly normal people, are we?"
Iskandar and Mordred grinned when they realized what he was implying.
"Hoh? Is that a challenge, boy?"
Shirou merely smirked in response. "What do you say?" was all he asked.
Mordred felt a wave of excitement flood her body. "You heard him! Hit that accelerator, Rider! We must hurry!" she exclaimed with a wide grin and gleaming eyes.
The King of Conquerors grinned. "Very well, then! Hold on tight! From now on we shall be fast as lightning and swift as the wind!" he declared with a bellowing roar, pressing the pedal and forcing the car to reach a speed that was usually unattainable thanks to his prana and his A+ Riding skill. Then, all of a sudden, the vehicle accelerated dramatically.
"To the conquest!"
The car sprinted on the highway faster than a bolt of lightning.
Mordred laughed with a whistle and grin.
Shirou merely shook his head with an amused chuckle.
Planet: Earth
Date: May 14 2020
Location: River Avon (Bristol - England)
(======)
The woman stared at the water with cold, determined eyes.
She wasn't sure who she was more angry at: herself for not being able to avoid this situation, the voice she heard before for putting her in such a dangerous and strange situation, or the whole, wide world who'd nearly succeeded in making her fall into despair. As a matter of fact, she wasn't quite sure when was the last time she'd ever felt a rage like this, or if she'd ever felt it at all. Anger and relief and sadness, those three emotions mixed together as she stared at the soothing water of the river. A river she had watched countless times during her time, in the exact same place she was standing right now.
Bristol.
Her lips curled into a sad smile. Bristol was one of the few places she had considered home, back when she was alive. A town she had visited countless times during her childhood. A place where she grew up and learned so many things, before drawing the Sword from the stone. A place linked to those few, indistinct memories of her innocent childhood that still miraculously lingered in her mind. Fond, happy memories of her life with Sir Ector and Kay, her family in all but blood, and their constant training in order to make her a Knight and a King. This place, this river, this air; despite the changes, everything was all too familiar to her. Familiar, and nostalgic. Even for someone like her. For a King like her. And this thing, this realization in itself, was a surprise.
After all, King Arthur wasn't supposed to feel emotions.
A sardonic, humiliated laugh died in her throat. She supposed it didn't matter now. After her death, after everything that had happened, after her failure and the realization that she had never been worthy of being King, she no longer cared about this matter or her surging emotions. She was no longer a King. She was no longer King Arthur.
She was just Saber now, a Servant of the Holy Grail War.
And she had a duty to uphold.
She had come so dangerously close to the breaking point, that now nothing mattered but this one, single thing.
She had been given a chance. A second chance. An opportunity do undo her rule, her mistakes, her misguided dream that brought nothing but death and despair on her people and friends and comrades. And in order to do that, in order to change the past and put someone more worthy and capable than her on the throne, she needed to do one thing: win this war and obtain the Holy Grail. And she had every intention of doing it.
Failure was not an option anymore.
Her fist clenched in decision. The word failure had never bore such a heavy weight to it than it did at that moment. Overwhelmed by it, King Arthur reached out to the sky with one hand, her gauntlet shining under the sun. She couldn't lose. She coulnd't fail now. Not again, not anymore. Not now that the chance to undo her mistakes was so desperately, painfully close to reach. She couldn't back down, she couldn't give up on this.
King Arthur – no, Artoria Pendragon – had to win the Holy Grail.
'One day,' she swore, staring at the sky with a solemn gaze. 'One day, I will get the Grail. I will change this. I will put an end to this. I swear.'
Her mind was made up.
She was on the verge of turning and walking away from the city, when her body stiffened immediately at the sudden feeling of dread.
Servant.
The woman turned quickly, her emerald green eyes narrowing instantly with apprehension and a growing determination. There was no mistake. She was sensing the presence of a Servant coming closer and closer. No, not one. Two of them. Two Servants, near each other. Engaged in combat, perhaps.
And if there were some Servants nearby, then a fight would most likely be bound to occur. But this was something she couldn't afford to do. Not here, not now. Not when she was this close to the city. Bristol towered ahead of her, just a dozen of yards away, on the other side of the river. And fighting other Servants near civilians and ordinary people was not a good idea. Someone could see the fight, or worse, get involved in it. Servants had to stay hidden. She already had enough troubles escaping from Glastonbury and that accursed abby after being suddenly summoned on her burial site right in front of the eyes of a dozen tourists. She was not going to deal with that kind of mess again.
Artoria turned in the direction of the looming threat.
And yet, to her surprise, it was not a Servant the one who welcomed her vision.
A man, accompanied by a young woman and a short girl. They were humans. But, at the same time, there was something off about them. Definitely off. Something she couldn't quite see yet.
The man was tall, slender, with long black hair. He was wearing a dark blazer and red scarf around his neck. The young woman next to him had aqua eyes, and long wavy black hair in a two-side-up hairstyle, which consisted in a pair of twin tails tied with black ribbons, while the majority of the hair hanged loose. She wore a long red jacket, a white polo neck jumper, a black mini skirt and long leather boots.
The other girl looked looked more like a teenager, from stature. She was wearing black boots, followed by black legging up to her thighs. Gray skirt and dark sweater. Her gray hair was covered by a dark hood. But the main detail was that her face bore too many resemblances to Arturia's own, albeit younger in appereance.
Her eyes narrowed in suspicion when she saw them move to approach her with a slow pace. They were definitively strange. Who were they? And what did they want from her?
"State thy business," she spoke once they were a few feet away from her, her voice cold and blank while she stared at them with suspicion.
The man's lips twitched in a small, covered smile. "Worry not, we're not here to cause harm or engage in any form of hostility towards you. We just want to talk with you for a bit... Servant."
Artoria's eyes narrowed further. "You know about Servants," she noted, her voice as cold as ever. "And yet you're humans. What's the meaning of this?"
"Did you really think no one would ever notice the sudden appearance of hundreds of Servants around the globe?" he asked back with his own narrowed gaze, sounding almost ironic. "Especially after all the sudden 'calamities' that are happening around the world because of them? It was obvious that some would connect the dots sooner or later. That's why we're here."
The blonde woman stared. "...you knew about my summoning. You're a Magus," she deduced seriously.
He nodded, confirming her suspicions. "Indeed. We sent some people to monitor Glastonbury and its surroundings ever since we learned what was happening. We knew it was the most likely place where you would be summoned. You're the most famous legend in Britain, after all," his smile disappeared as he stared at her with a scrutinizing gaze. "But still, to think that you were a woman... it seems that history chose to mask your real gender. Don't you agree, King Arthur?"
She merely straightened her back at his his sarcastic question. "I was raised and lived as man. It was necessary. But that's not what matters now. You know me, but I don't know you. And you didn't answer my question. Who are you and what do you want from me?"
The man sighed. Then, he reached into his pocket and took out a cigarette, lighting it with a quick, habitual movement. "I suppose you're right. I should introduce myself," he agreed, blowing a cloud of smoke from his lips. "My name is Lord El-Melloi II, formerly known as Waver Velvet. I'm a Magus of the Clock Tower, and a representative of the Mage's Association. Current Lord of the Department of Modern Magecraft Theory," he introduced himself with a casual nod, undaunted by the fact that he was speaking face to face with a legendary figure like King Arthur.
He then glanced at the woman and the girl next to him. "These two are my assistants: Rin Tohsaka and Gray. They're students of the Clock Tower and, like me, representatives from the Mage's Association. We have urgent matters to discuss with you, King Arthur."
When Gray's name was mentioned, Artoria briefly looked at her and crossed eyes with the girl. She blushed, hiding her face under her hood. The former King could see that this girl, whoever she was, while not only similar to a younger version of herself, had considerable mana as well, though nowhere near Arturia's level. But it didn't really matter right now.
"What kind of matters?" she questioned, turining her attention back to the man.
Lord El-Melloi II smiled. "We would like to make you an offer, oh famous King of Knights," he began to say. "You see, the Clock Tower cannot stand the sudden calamities that this... War, between you Servants has brought to the world. Usually, Servants were supposed to be nothing more than Familiars summoned briefly by a Master thanks to a catalist, or a Magical Artifact. Their purpose, as far as we knew, was to be used to fight and defend their summoner in a life-or-death situation."
Artoria remained silent as she listened to his words. She already knew this.
"But now, this is not the case anymore," the man continued. "Servants are being summoned all around the world, without human intervention, and a war between them has begun. Right as we speak, the entire planet is falling into chaos because of this, and the casualities are growing by the day. For this reason, as soon as they made contact with some Servants and learned the truth behind this, the higher ranks of the Clock Tower decided to implement a... countermeasure. A special force, basically, to limit the damage and prevent the Servants' presence and that of Magecraft from being revealed due to the fighting. And, of course, to understand more about this Holy Grail War."
Artoria stared. Then she nodded slowly. "That is understandable," she said. "But what does this have to do with me?"
The man's smile became more strange. "The Clock Tower has already made contact and recruited some Servants," he explained. "Thanks to me and a few other Mages, they've decided to join us to help protect humanity from the War. We'd like to ask you the same thing, given your famous legend and your renowned ideals."
The King of Knights hesitated. "...I respect your intentions and offer, but I challenge its necessity," she spoke in utmost seriousness. "Servants should not involve themselves with humans. We are but spirits, summoned to the world to fight. I can agree with the fact that we should not cause death and destruction over the planet. My whole life rounded on defending my people. But this is our battle. Joining another cause is pointless."
"You really think so?" Lord El-Melloi II asked her with a raised eyebrow.
"Yes. Servants won't be able to join together for a common cause. It goes against our very own purpose. We will always fight each other in order to win this War," she declared, as if it was a fact.
And yet, the man smirked. "Not quite," he countered promptly. "You see, not every Servant is interested in the War and its… what was it called? Grail? Yes, Holy Grail."
Artoria widened her eyes.
The young woman next to the man, the tall one with black hair and Japanese features, smiled a strange smile. "Among the five Servants who have joined our cause, two of them insisted to find you in order to ask you to join us," she explained with a pedantic tone. Her gaze was knowing and strangely irritant to see. "They were quite adamant about this, actually."
The blonde King's eyes narrowed again after hearing that. "Who are they?" she demanded.
Lord El-Melloi II smirked. "Follow us, and you'll find out," he merely said.
Then, without further ado, the man turned and casually began to head for a new destination with a slow pace. The hooded girl next to him followed suit without saying anything. Instead, the young woman, Rin, glanced at her with a smirk before starting to walk away as well.
Artoria stared at their backs for a couple of seconds, her face a mask of suspicion, seriousness and intrigue. She hesitated for a while, before clenching her fists and moving to follow those three people in order to clear and shed some light on the situation. She needed answers, and if her suspicions were true, the two Servants she was sensing from a short distance were the very same ones the young Magus woman had hinted at with her words. She couldn't simply ignore this.
The three of them led her to the top of a small hill next to a road leading to the city. There, Lord-El Melloi II and the two girls stopped, glancing at her with knowing smiles. Artoria's eyes fell on the two Servants who were already waiting for them. Two tall, muscular men who wore medieval armors, very similar to the one she also wore right now.
And as soon as she saw them, the King of Knights widened her eyes in shock.
The two men visibly lit up when they saw her as well. Their faces broke in broad smiles full of elation.
"My King!
"My liege!"
Artoria stared, her arms trembling and her face full of shock. A foreign feeling of relief and joy blossomed inside her chest as she stared at the two men's face. She knew their names. She knew who they were.
Her eyes filled with unshed tears as the knights bowed in respect in front of her.
Her closest friends.
"S-Sir Bedivere... Sir Gawain..."
Planet: Earth
Date: May 14 2020
Location: Seattle (Washington - U.S.A.)
(======)
They arrived at their destination in record time: seven hours. After seven hours of uncessant racing – a racing definitely faster than normal – the three warriors of times past widened their eyes when they finally exited the highway and reached the entrance to the immense metropolis that loomed before them.
Their mouths almost gaped at the sight.
Seattle was a breathtaking sight. Huge skyscrapers resembling insurmountable columns stood out towards the sky, thousands of richly lit buildings, incalculable structures of all shapes and sizes, and streets entirely filled with cars, buses and vehicles of a hundred shapes and sizes. The city was huge, too big to be entirely seen with the naked eye. It was built by the ocean, with a large harbor close to the water. Numerous ships, of both small and large size, glided on the water and departed for the most disparate destinations. And in the distance, high in the sky, the three Servants could clearly see the ticket to their next destination: a plane taking off into the sky.
And where there were planes, there was also an airport.
That was their destination.
But not before stopping to see that wonder for the eyes.
"...I'll admit, I'm impressed," Iskandar spoke after a long minute of silence, his eyes wide and his face lit up by amazement as he drove through the streets of the big city. "I knew that humanity achieved many great things during the last few centuries... but I would have never imagined to see something like this. This is incredible. It is incredible indeed!"
"Yeah! This city is definitely better than the last one!" Mordred agreed, glancing outside the windows with visible excitement.
Shirou nodded, slightly impressed as well. This was quite the sight for an ancient God like him. He never saw something like this. "This is quite impressive, indeed. But I'm sure we'll get used to this kind of things in time."
Mordred glanced at them with a face filled with trepidation. "Hey, what are we waiting for? Let's stop somewhere and explore this city at once!" she declared out of the blue. Her tone hinted that she would not accept a refusal, nor back down from this decision. Her mind was made up. "We MUST explore this place before we leave!"
The God of War was ready to argue, but Iskandar beat him to the punch.
"I agree. I wholeheartedly agree! We cannot miss such an opportunity. It would be an insult and an unacceptable mistake! Now that we are back on Earth, we must enjoy and learn everything there's to see and discover! Don't you agree, boy?"
Shirou sighed. There was no way to make them change their mind, right? Damn overly-sized kids.
"Fine," he relented in the end. "Let's stop somewhere for a bit. The sun is setting, so we can go eat somewhere before heading to the airport. Is that ok with you?"
"You bet it is!"
"Wonderful!"
Shirou shook his head with a sigh.
Iskandar drove for about ten minutes through the traffic of the gigantic city, before miraculously finding a parking lot near a park placed right in the middle of the city. Once they got out of the car, the three warriors began to walk slowly through the streets of Seattle, observing with amazement and wonder the immense metropolis and the gigantic buildings around them. They walked for at least half an hour, even taking a quick walk through the park near the parking lot, before finding a medium-sized fast-food restaurant along a crowded street to the right.
And, of course, under Mordred's insistence and Iskandar's endearing smirk, they decided to go eat there.
The fast-food was large, spacious, and definitely filled with people. There were at least thirty plastic tables scattered around the place, full of people and waitresses dressed in black and white uniforms passing by to collect orders, bring food and drinks and receive their tips. After a moment of hesitation, they decided to enter and had to wait in line to collect their number. Then, after a short wait accompanied by a couple of impatient curses from Mordred and a series of sighs from Shirou, the three of them finally managed to take their seats on a table placed directly next to a glass window, with a direct view of the streets and passers-by.
And once they ordered and their food arrived to the table, they realized something. It had been worth the wait.
"I -munch- was born -munch- in the wrong -munch- era!"
Iskandar openly laughed and Shirou shook his head in mirth as they watched Mordred stutter those words while she was furiously chewing another series of burgers. It was the fourth one she had devoured in ten minutes – without taking into account some fries, a few chicken nuggets and some kind of strange food similar to meat that Shirou didn't recognize. And yet, she was still going. The two older men looked at her in wonder. How could she possibly eat that much? Food wasn't exactly needed for a Servant. They were basically spirits without a true body. But this girl… she was enjoying street food like it was some kind of irresitible treat. A dish worthy of a King. It was quite amusing to see. Even a waitress and some people from the nearest tables glanced at her with blatant confusion while she ate with such ferocity.
Mordred gulped down another hamburger as if it was nothing more than a little meatball. "Damn, that was good!" she smirked.
"…I didn't know you were so hungry, sir Mordred," Shirou commented, casually sipping a bit of beer.
Iskandar laughed, slapping his own leg in amusement. "Indeed. That's unexpected. You have quite the appetite, Saber. Not even I could eat that much, and I'm at least three times bigger than you!"
She glared at the taller man. "So what? Eating is my hobby. It keeps me fit. Got a problem with that?" she asked, narrowing her eyes.
Shirou shook his head and raised his hands in a reassuring gesture. It was best to keep her happy, especially when they were in the middle of civilization and right next to civilians and common people. He didn't want to cause a scene here. "Come on, now. It was a compliment. I'm sure Rider didn't mean anything by it, right?" he reassured her, laughing nervously while he shot a warning glance at the gigantic man.
"Tch. That's better."
The King of Conquerors smirked. "But you should at least eat something else beside those burgers, you know?" he still added, munching a couple of fries and sipping his own beer with a content expression.
"That's pretty much the main dish here, though," Shirou commented with a shrug.
"That's inconsequential, boy. I believe that trying different things is always the right thing. We should explore and enjoy all the different things and treasures the lands can offer us," he declared, widening his grin. "It'll be more fun! Food, sex, sleep, and war... whatever you do, you should always enjoy it to the fullest. That's the secret of life!"
He then waved one big hand in the air, motioning to a waitress to come at their table. "Maidens! Bring me your finest wine and drinks! My presence and that of my companions should always be celebrated with the best toast!" he exclaimed, laughing in total confidence under the whole room's incredulous stare.
"Yes! And I want more food!" Mordred quickly added as well, even if she still had a burger in her mouth.
Sheer silence followed the King's words. People stared in disbelief and confusion. Shirou donned a hand on his face.
The waitress laughed nervously, her face a mask of confusion. "S-Sir… we don't have any wine or other drinks beside beer. I'm sorry."
Iskandar blinked in confusion. "Hmm? Truly? That's a shame, indeed," he mused with a frown, grumbling a little in disappointment.
Shirou stared at him in total disbelief. "This is a fast food, Rider. What were you expecting? Wine and spices and roasted beef?"
"That's a shame. A feast is not the same without good wine and a joyous toast. It was a common custom in my time. A way to pray the gods so that their fortune might shine upon us before a battle or a glorious quest. Me and my faithful followers used to do it all the time back in the days," the King of Conquerors explained with a nostalgic smile.
Mordred smirked in curiosity. "Sounds like an interesting custom. Don't you agree, Ruler?"
He did not respond.
Both Mordred and Iskandar arched an eyebrow, glancing at the red-haired warrior after his unusual silence. As they did, they soon noticed that his focus was not on the current discussion, but elsewhere entirely. Their gaze moved towards the direction his golden-brown eyes were fixed with a cold, narrowed expression: a wide screen placed on the left wall of the room. A big TV.
- Latest news: another series of murders took place in London a few hours ago. -
The three Servants' eyes narrowed as they listened to the news.
- About the recent serial killings: according to the Police the casualities have multiplied. The first victim was found in Bloomsbury, near the British Museum, a day ago. The investigations are still… -
"Another serial murder case, huh?" Mordred mused with a frown.
The King of Conquerors crossed his arms. "This is bad. The casualities of the War are growing by the second," he realized, more serious than usual.
"These are not mere casualities, Rider," Shirou spoke seriously, his gaze as cold as it could be. "The timing it's too perfect. No, this is the intentional work of a Servant. There's a Heroic Spirit behind this."
Mordred growled, munching a few fries with a scowl. "Still, it's weird that these accidents are happening so quickly and all at the same time. Why are the Servants targeting the innocent instead of fighting each other with honor? This makes no sense."
"On the contrary, it's extremely logical," Shirou corrected her with a cold expression. The female Knight and the Macedonian Emperor watched him closely as his face grew more and more outraged while he watched the news. "Servants are familiars. They need a huge amount of magical energy to take physical form and fight this War."
- The casualities of this incident have been more than ten people, and the police have prioritized the case and conducted further investigations. -
His eyes narrowed in rage.
"And what better way to accumulate magical energy than stealing it from humans?"
Iskandar frowned further. "This is unacceptable. This is very much the opposite of what the Holy Grail War should aim for in terms of secrecy. Not to mention Honor!" he stated with crossed arms, clearly disgusted by the idea of killing innocent people in order to gain more power as a Servant.
Shirou nodded. "Exactly. Then I guess this is part of my job too. I must put an end to this," he said, both his voice and face cold as steel when he spoke those words.
The Rider took a deep breath. Then he nodded with a serious expression. "I will help you, boy," he suddenly declared, looking at Shirou straight into the eyes. "I cannot and will not stand this madness. I agreed to fight this War and spread my quest for conquest; but this," he glanced at the screen, disgust and outrage clearly visible on his face. "This is wrong. No honorable King should ever allow the innocent to die because of some Servant's mad foolery. I shall assist you in your quest, before starting my very own quest of conquest."
The red-haired God smiled in gratitude after his words. He was right. This man was truly worth of respect. He could admire a King like him. "Thank you, King of Conquerors," he said with a small bow, completely sincere on his feelings.
Iskandar nodded in acceptance. Then, he looked at the blonde girl on his left. "What about you, Saber? What are your intentions besides staying here and eating burgers?" he questioned her with an impassive face.
Mordred narrowed her eyes on him, but then she looked at the screen with a scowl. "Don't get the wrong idea, Rider. Hobbies are hobbies. But even I can't stay put if people are being targeted," she admitted with utmost seriousness, finishing her food quickly. She too looked at Shirou straight in the eyes, then. "I'm in. Let's kick some crazy Servant's ass. That's basically what we were summoned here for."
Both the Rider and the Ruler smirked at her words. Shirou watched her with a smile. Despite her foul mouth and her brash behaviour, this girl wasn't that bad. For a Knight renowned for her treachery and betrayal, she had quite the code of honor even now. Maybe she wasn't as bad and cruel as history remembered her, he mused. He could actually get along with her, after all.
Shirou widened his smile. "Then let's move. We cannot afford to waste any more ti-"
He stopped, his smile dropping instantly.
The three of them stiffened all of a sudden.
They felt it. They felt it at the exact, same time.
A magical source of energy.
A source of prana.
A signature of prana getting closer and closer.
Shirou, Iskandar and Mordred narrowed their eyes, looking at their right, beyond the window glass. Towards the direction of the approaching energy.
They knew what it was.
A Servant.
"…it seems we are in luck," Mordred stated with a low tone of voice, her lips parting in a grin that was both trepidant and excited. "We finally found another Servant."
Shirou nodded, raising from the table with a solemn gaze.
Iskandar bellowed with a mighty grin. "Alright then! Let's go see if we can find ourselves some invigorating entertainment outside!" he declared loudly, smirking towards the direction of the incoming Servant. "Both of you, prepare yourselves! We shall ride forth now!"
They walked out of the fast food in silence, hurriedly paying for their meal and heading outside the building at a fast pace. Their eyes narrowed again as they felt the distant source of prana getting closer and closer, moving rapidly towards their position with a speed that was quite frightening. Whoever this new Servant was, it was fast. It had sensed them and was willing to approach them head-on.
And if the Servant was willing to approach them, this meant one, single thing. There was only one thing it could want.
To fight.
Yet, it was still to early to decide that. And apart from this, all three of them knew that meeting a Servant here, inside a gigantic metropolis and, above all, in the middle of a crowded street wasn't exactly the best option. Nor it was advantageous for them. If a battle really broke out after the meeting, numerous civilians could be involved. It would create another 'accident' like the ones they heard before. And Shirou couldn't allow this to happen. It went against his very nature, as well as his current mission. And both Iskandar and Mordred could agree with him on this matter. Therefore, if they wanted to approach their opponent, they had to move from there and find an isolated place to meet.
It was the King of the Conquerors who solved this problem. Once they reached an isolated alley, Iskandar summoned his chariot with a snap of his fingers and used it to soar into the sky with his two companions. Thanks to it, they flew to the top of the tallest skyscraper in the city, unseen by the people thanks to the dark of the night, landing on the roof and preparing themselves to welcome their coming guest.
Mordred slammed a fist on the palm of her hand, summoning her armor with a burst of prana and a confident grin. Iskandar did the same, dissolving his more casual outfit and summoning his bronze armor and his elegant red cloak that waved on the wind. Shirou did the same as well, changing his clothes and remaining shirtless with his usual black pants and metallic sandals, and wrapping his white cloak around his shoulders with a causal movement.
"Ok, we made it," Mordred spoke with a trepidant voice, hiding her face behind her horned helm but still glancing around with obvious impatience. "Now where the hell is this Servant?"
Shirou closed his eyes and expanded his senses. Although they had moved from their previous location at a rather enviable speed, he could still feel the enemy's energy signature getting closer and closer by the second. The Servant was reaching them. In fact, its movement seemed even faster than before. And this was strange. Definitely strange.
What kind of Servant would ever dare to approach head-on not one, not two, but three Servants at the same time?
Except for Iskandar, of course.
After over two minutes of waiting, the three warriors stiffened at the same time.
Shirou turned, staring at the opposite side of the roof where their invisible enemy was watching them as well. The First Hero of humanity schooled his features while a gust of wind blowed his hair and cloak. Iskandar and Mordred did the same after a moment.
"I know you're there," the red-haired God spoke with a calm, impassive voice. "Show yourself, Servant."
He didn't have to repeat it twice.
In a gust of prana, the newcomer appeared out of nowhere in a shower of white dust and energy, revealing himself to their eyes without fear and any hesitation. And as soon as he was visible, Shirou observed him with serious eyes and a growing feeling of discomfort in his chest.
A tall, slender man with a dark complexion and brown hair almost tending to black. He had eyes darker than the night, and a face steeled into a cold, serious expression; almost impassive in front of them. He wore a long, white robe with blue and purple trim, along with a white and blue cloak that swayed elegantly in the wind. But the major detail about him, more than anything else, was the fact that his body emitted a divine and oppressive presence and a strange aura like few others.
Shirou narrowed his eyes with suspicion and discomfort.
He knew what this meant.
"Servant Archer," the man spoke with a low, cold voice devoid of emotions. His cold eyes stared at the three of them as a golden longbow appeared in his hand. "By the rules of this war, I've come to fight for the right of obtaining the Holy Grail."
A Demi-God.
CODEX PLANETAE
[COUNTER FORCE] Database
Taken from the notes of Alaya
Subject: Tyr [-Shirou Emiya-], #1 among the Ancestral Heroes
Alias: God of War, Humanity's Liberator, Grand Hero, God-Slayer, First Hero of Humanity
Description:
There have been several speculations and conjectures about Shirou Emiya's actions prior to his war against the Gods. But the legends increased further after his disappearance from the world, in a literal sense. Countless have been his travels and his wanderings after he left the human tribe. In the past, I used to believe he left his own people out of his desire to explore the world and make a name for himself... but I was wrong. It was only thanks to the [COUNTER FORCE] and its constant monitoring of his actions that I came to learn the truth several years later. And what I discovered of his childhood… no. I shan't commit my personal feelings on these notes. I fear that my actions would be extreme and destructive if I do. I shan't alert my sister for this.
He didn't leave the tribe. He was the only one left.
The Gods wanted him dead. During his twelfth year of life, they sent [ERROR - DATA CORRUPTED] to the human tribe. He was nothing but a boy. He couldn't do anything. And his persecutors knew it all too well.
It was a massacre. No soul exept for him managed to escape or survive that day, and his miraculous survival was only due to [ERROR] who managed to hide him away during the fire. That day, Shirou watched with his very own eyes his home burn into ashes, and his adoptive mother die. His family was killed right in front of him. His friends reduced to bloody shreds. That's when it happened. That's when he changed forever. After that day, Shirou Emiya was never the same. The seeds of hatred and anger had been planted within him, and it was no longer possible to prevent them from blossoming.
That was the day that marked the beginning of the end for the Gods and their millennial reign.
Having set fire to his mother's pyre and buried her ashes, Shirou departed; in search of the one and only entity that could help him achieve his revenge. One of the only three entities that neither me nor Gaia were able to control and monitor back then. The first among the True Ancestors. The scariest and cruelest being before Tyr. The Second Ultimate One.
His master.
Brunestud of the Crimson Moon.
Guess who's the new Servant? It's pretty obvious.
If some were wondering: Yes, I intend to create some kind of 'factions' between different Servants in my story. What happened with Artoria in this chapter is just the beginning of this. We'll see more about this in future chapters. But things will be very different from what you might be imagining. Especially in regards to Shirou and his alignment. You'll see.
Thanks to all of those who left reviews and gave me support. If you have requests (for example if you want to see a certain Servant in my story) do not hesitate to let me know. If I can, I will do my best to insert them. I've already designed the story from start to finish and planned a complete plot, but there is room for a few additions.
Keep in mind that the story is mine, though. I will not and cannot accept too many requests. Especially if they are unreasonable or exaggerated. It would go against the very same purpose of the story.