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 6
Planet: Earth
Date: May 15 2020
Location: Woolworth Building (New York - U.S.A.)
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Shirou watched the skyscraper with an impassive eye. Next to him, Mordred, Iskandar and Arjuna followed him with a quick step, looking around carefully as they walked though the streets of the gigantic metropolis, one of the largest and most famous in the world. After their previous meeting with Olga Marie Animusphere a couple of hours earlier, the young girl had convinced them to follow her and her Servants back to their organization's main base, flying on a helicopter directly to the destination that the God of War wanted to reach before their plane was forced to an emergency landing: New York city. The passengers and the plane itself had been reached by the rescue forces a few hours ago, so Shirou and his companions had decided to comply with her request. It had allowed them to save a lot of time and efforts.
New York was a huge city, too big and chaotic to be described with but a few words. Shirou wasn't even sure of what he felt as he watched it. Sure, he'd seen something like this since he came back on the Real Side, but even now he still struggled to realize how much the world had changed from his time. It was like being on a completely different planet. A planet unfamiliar and distant, and yet painfully familiar at the same time. He assumed it was normal, though. Mordred and Iskandar looked astonished and excited as never before as they watched the metropolis with curious eyes, even more amazed than him. Only Arjuna remained calm and impassive as always. Shirou almost sighed at his poker face. Honestly, that guy needed to relax once in a while.
Olga Marie led them in front of the skyscraper: a gigantic palace built in the previous century. The tall building was located in Manhattan's Tribeca neighborhood, bounded by Broadway and City Hall Park to its east, Park Place to its north, and Barclay Street to its south. It consisted of a 30-story base topped by a 30-story tower. Its facade was mostly decorated with terracotta, though the lower portions were made of limestone, and it featured thousands of windows. The ornate lobby contained various sculptures, mosaics, and architectural touches. It was, in all respects, a different view from the rest of the city.
"This is the place," Marie said, sparing them a fleeting glance as she advanced towards the tall building's entrance, beckoning them to follow with a haughty, aloof air around her. Once inside, Shirou widened his eyes and held back the urge to whistle in amazement, while Mordred held her breath with shock. Iskandar merely grinned while Arjuna raised an eyebrow.
They found themselves inside an ornate, cruciform lobby that could only be described as "cathedral-like". It consisted of two, two-story-high passageways with barrel-vaulted ceilings. One passageway ran between the arcade's west wing at the building's staircase hall and the east wing at Broadway. The other ran between the north wing at Park Place and the south wing at Barclay Street. A mezzanine crossed the arcade's north and south wings. Where the passageways intersected perpendicularly, there was a vaulted ceiling. The walls of this intersection vault were laid out in an octagonal shape, with mailboxes at the four corners. Veined marble covered the lobby. Patterned glass mosaics that contain blue, green, and gold tiling with red accents decorated the ceilings. There were other Gothic-style decorations, including on the cornice and the bronze fittings. Several grotesques depicting twelve people with a major role in the building's construction were located at the intersection of the arcade and the mezzanine.
"Welcome to Woolworth Building," Marie said causally, lazily waving a hand to indicate the pomp and elegance that made up the giant lobby. "This building is the Atlas Institute's main base here in America. This is where the branch of the Mage's Association specialized in Alchemy division presides over the world and manages its operations. It is also known as the Titan's Pit," she explained mechanically.
Shirou and his companions remained silent, deciding not to comment. Only Iskandar looked around with an excited grin, intrigued by the elegance of the structure. Marie ushered them inside an elevator decorated with gold and brass, leading them to the fiftieth floor of the building. Once there, they found themselves inside a gigantic office similar to a research laboratory, with tables, gigantic computers, different types of machines and strange mechanical devices that they did not know of. Edison and Geronimo were already here, waiting impatiently for them. The former was fumbling with a series of keyboards and his eyes fixed on screens as he studied something, while the latter sat in stoic silence at an empty table with arms crossed and eyes closed.
The lion-headed Servant glaced at them with a solemn expression. "Hmpf. You're here, at last," he said, nodding in satisfaction. "Very good. It's about time we talk business."
Iskandar looked around the spacious room with intrigue. "You have quite the base here," he commented, scratching his beard as he looked at the various computers and screens that filled each wall with curious eyes. If it wasn't for the windows, the entire room would have looked like a secret laboratory in all respects.
Geronimo smiled, shrugging. "Edison and I were brought here two days ago. Since then, my fellow Caster has turned this office into his private laboratory. He wants to conduct a series of experiments here, from what I understood," he explained slowly.
Marie nodded as Edison laughed across the room. "This floor was originally empty and used for experiments on Alchemy. We recently gave it to these two." Then, the white-haired girl pointed to a large screen to the right: a gigantic computer resembling some kind of wide-frequency radar. "This is how we managed to track you earlier. This sensor was built by the Engineering Department of the Clock Tower, and it has the capacity and the function of detecting every kind of anomaly on the land and every sudden bursts of energy within a radius of over 100 kilometers. Caster has upgraded it yesterday, and that allowed us to sense your prana signature and reach you."
Shirou whistled in amazement. "You did this? You're quite skilled with technology, Caster."
"Bwahahah! Of course! I'm America's greatest genius. Nobody can compare to my mind! My inventions are the best! After all, don't you think the strongest genius is worthy of the strongest nation?"
Mordred scoffed. 'Strongest my ass,' she inwardly thought with a shake of the head.
Olga Marie sat down at the big table at the center of the room with a sigh, motioning them to do the same. Shirou and the others exchanged a silent glance, before taking their seats next to each other and sitting down at the table with her. Geronimo moved quickly, handing a cup of coffee to the young woman with a graceful smile. Marie took it with a swift, habitual movement, without even opening her eyes. Then, the muscular Servant turned to them with that creepy smile of his. "Would you like something to drink? Coffee? Tea? Water?" he offered them with his soft voice, a pure contrast from his towering and threatening appearance.
They shook their heads. "We're good," Mordred snorted, straightforward as always. "Cut the unnecessary formalities and start talking already. Why are we here?"
"You're pretty direct for a Heroic Spirit," Olga Marie commented, narrowing her eyes with barely veiled irritation. "Shouldn't you try to be more accommodating during a talk?"
"Diplomacy and chatting have never been my forte. Got a problem with that?" she asked back, her face blatantly hostile.
Shirou put a hand on her shoulder one second later. "Come on, don't be like that. We were able to reach the city thanks to them. We should at least return their generosity with a little gratitude. Don't you agree?" he asked, looking at her with a strange smile. Behind that smile there were other words... words much less calm and reassuring than those he just spoke.
Mordred swallowed audibly. "...right," she relented in the end, glaring at the ground with a nervous scowl. Iskandar laughed openly with his trademark laugh, and Arjuna shook his head in obvious disappointment. Mordred felt her cheeks burn with embarrassment. Damned over-powered Ruler class.
Marie nodded with an impassive face. "Why don't you start by introducing yourselves? You already know who we are, after all," she began to say, raising a thin eyebrow with the tiniest smile on her lips.
Iskandar grinned, leaning on the table with confidence. "I suppose it's only fair. Very well, as the leader of our group, I shall begin first: I'm the King of Conquerors, Iskandar, summoned as a Rider class Servant," he declared, bold and decisive as always. His smile widened when he saw Marie's face fill with stupor and shock, along with the others. His eyes gleamed with pride. "I see that you heard of me. That's even better! I'm one of the strongest Servants around, and me and my companions are travelling together to explore the world and win the Holy Grail War!" he stated, speaking as if he was the one leading them.
"Hey! Since when did you become the leader, Rider?" Mordred protested loudly, glaring at him. The King just laughed at her complaints while Shirou chuckled and Arjuna closed his eyes. Then, the female Knight sighed and looked at the white-haired girl straight into the eyes. "I'm Mordred Pendragon, Saber class," she simply said, her voice low and filled with decision.
Arjuna sighed a little when the others glanced at him. "Arjuna, Archer. I'm the Endowed Hero of India, son of Indra and the King of Kuru, third of the Pandava brothers," he stated, crossing his arms.
The others stared at the group with obvious stupor after those revelations. The King of Conquerors, the Knight of Treachery and an Indian Demi-God; all united in one group and traveling together? This was something they didn't expect to see. It was a surprise. A gigantic one.
Edison grinned, baring his fangs. "Incredible…to join an united front with the King of Conquerors, the Knight of Treachery and a Hero of Indian myths…" he laughed, crossing his arms with amused decision. "Yes! What a surprise! The world is way bigger than I expected!" he then blinked all of a sudden, musing to himself with furrowed brows. "No, wait… should I say it's a small world?"
Olga Marie recoiled from shock after a few seconds. "I-I see..." was all she said, clearing her throat. She then stared at a certain red-haired warrior with a raised brow. "What about you? What's your name?"
Shirou smiled a little. "My name is Shirou Emiya. Unlike my companions here, I'm not a legendary figure or a great hero from history. I'm not a normal Servant either, but a Pseudo-Servant instead. I was summoned in this war as a Ruler," he replied, offering them his patented Shirou smile: eyes closed and head tilted to the side.
The others' reaction was exactly the one he was expecting.
"Shirou Emiya? A Ruler?" Marie repeated, furrowing her brows in confusion and suspicion. "What's that?"
Geronimo stared at him with wide eyes. "I... I think he's saying the truth," he suddenly said, grabbing everyone's attention. "I don't know why, but... my knowledge as a Servant is making me remember something. Something about a Ruler that oversees the Holy Grail War," he said, studying the unknown Servant with wide eyes.
The young woman, Marie, glanced at her Servants with confusion. "What?"
"...I feel the same," Edison agreed after him. "I remember something similar to this. A Ruler is sent to oversee the war, right?"
Shirou smiled. He was expecting this. "Not exactly. Ruler-class Servants are brought forth for the purpose of presiding over a battle and ensure humanity's safety. We are but a neutral entity, one that does not care about the Holy Grail War or the Grail itself, because our duty is to ensure the safety and the correct unfolding of the fights. We're simply sent to make sure everything goes smoothly, without major problems," he explained, using his little white lie.
The woman and the two Servants watched him closely. Finally, after about ten seconds of silence, Geronimo ventured to speak again. "That's... quite unexpected," he admitted with an incredulous chuckle. His muscular arms crossed slowly on his chest, as if trying to hold back his thoughts. "Not only did we meet such famous Servants at the same time, but also a Ruler with them... you're quite the strange group of warriors, aren't you?"
Iskandar smirked as Mordred and Arjuna snorted in amusement. Shirou merely smiled in an innocent way. "'I can't deny that. But I have to say that we didn't expect to end up in such a situation either. And to hear that the famous leader of the Apaches and one of America's most brilliant inventors have joined the Mage's Association... I would have never guessed something like this," he said sincerely after that.
Edison let out a broad, loud laugh. The others still found it strange to hear a human voice coming from the face of a lion. "A man must not fear the unexpected, not even the strangest turn of events in life. We must move forward towards glory and victory. My looks say it all!" he solemnly declared, raising his arms in a theatrical manner. Everyone in the room sweat-dropped at his antics.
Except one. Iskandar simply looked at him with a raised eyebrow and a nod of approval. "Say, King of Inventors... aren't you worried about your appearance? Why did you gain this look? I doubt you were like this during your life, right?"
The Caster nodded his head slowly, his white mane shaking at its every movement. "Indeed. Unfortunately, I have no answer to that. When I was summoned, I was already like this," he explained, his voice pensive. Then, all of a sudden, he grinned and bared his fangs. "But worry not! As long as my mind is still here, there's no problem!" he laughed, pointing at his temple with a mighty grin.
Sheer silence greeted thet declaration.
Arjuna raised an eyebrow. "I must say, this war is becoming more and more crazy by the day," he admitted with an imperceptible sigh. "First a Servant Ruler appears out of the blue, and then an inventor who becomes a lion without a reason... the Grail shouldn't have allowed this kind of things to happen. To think that this war was so messed up..."
"My point exactly," Mordred agreed with crossed arms.
Geronimo smiled at their frustration. "It is strange, I agree. But maybe some brilliant mind will be able to reveal what lies behind this situation. A mind like Edison, perhaps, or even Tesla if he was summo-"
"NO!"
The others gasped as Edison slammed his fist on the table all of a sudden. Mordred, Iskandar, and Arjuna stared in amazement and confusion at the Caster, utterly flabbergasted by that reaction, while Shirou just blinked confusedly at Edison's sudden outburst of anger. Marie was running a hand over her temple with a tired grimance, and Geronimo had assumed a contrite expression for some reason, as if he had just realized that he made a terrible mistake. It didn't take long for the others to connect the dots.
It was clearly not the first time such a thing happened.
"Don't compare me to that dimwit!" Thomas Edison roared, glaring at Geronimo with barely suppressed anger. "Actually, do not talk about Nikola Tesla in front of me! EVER!" he roared, slamming his fist on the table once again. The whole room seemed to tremble under his furious explosion of anger.
The leader of the Apaches nodded slowly. "Point taken. Sorry, Caster," he apologized.
Marie sighed, massaging her temples in irritation. "Enough, guys. We're digressing too much. That's not why we're here." Once she said those words, the young woman stared at Shirou once again. "Ruler, if what you said before is true... does that mean that you have no interest in the war?" she questioned him, narrowing her eyes.
He simply nodded at her sudden question. "That's right. My one and only goal is to make sure humanity remains safe, and that the War is not revealed to those who do not know of Magic. I was sent here to ensure their safety and survival. That's all I care about," he stated, deadly serious.
A few seconds of silence passed. Then, Marie broke into a wide smile.
"That's it. That's perfect. That's exactly what we're looking for!" she exclaimed with a relieved tone, louder and louder, nodding to herself with crossed arms while Edison and Geronimo sweat-dropped.
Shirou and the others watched her carefully as she cheered in silence. "What does that mean?" Mordred asked, her face as serious as it could be. "Don't waste our time and get to the point already."
Marie lost all her previous euphoria. Her face returned serious and – above all – full of irritation. "As expected from a treacherous Knight. Always looking down on others, huh?" she mused with a cold tone of voice filled with contempt.
"I don't want to hear that from a Magus," Mordred replied, her lips curling in a smile of disdain. "In case you haven't noticed, we're in the middle of a War. We don't have time to waste on useless talks."
"This doesn't justify your attitu-"
Shirou coughed forcefully, grabbing everyone's attention. He chose to put and end to that discussion before the situation could escalate further. He shot a warning glance at Mordred – who paled and shifted uncomfortably in her seat – before relaxing and turning his attention to the white-haired girl. "I apologize for my companion's attitude, but she has a point," he spoke in a calm, collected voice, his face betraying no emotion but cold detachment. "We are in a grim situation. Right now, the entire world is collapsing because of the Holy Grail War. You brought us here, hinting about an offer you would like to give us. Let's not waste time and get on with it."
Marie furrowed her brows. "...so you know about the current situation," she noted, her face more serious than before.
Mordred scoffed again. "Of course we do. It's on every news," she said, as if it was obvious.
"Then you can already guess what this meeting is about," the girl replied, her voice firm and collected. She unfolded her arms, clicking something on a small tablet in her hands. Soon after that, a large screen was suddenly projected in the middle of the table, showing a series of news of calamities and disasters all around the world. New York, London, Hong Kong... and many, many other places were suffering a lot of casualities and mysterious incidents. All of them related to the Holy Grail War. They were more or less the same news that Shirou and the others had seen previously on their journey.
Olga Marie Animusphere stared at the four Servants with a solemn gaze as they read the news. "As you can see, the world is in danger. The Mage's Association cannot and will not stand this. We won't stand aside and watch as more and more people around the world are being targeted by Servants because of their sudden summoning and their quest for the Grail. Neither Atlas nor the other branches of the Mage's Association can tolerate such a thing," she stated with absolute convinction.
Shirou nodded. "And what do you propose?" he asked, impassive.
She narrowed her eyes. The projection disappeared with another click on the tablet. "Given the circumstances, the Mage's Association has tasked us with our current mission: to create a special force of Magi and Servants. This special force must be used to protect humanity and prevent the Servant's presence and that of Magic from being revealed due to the War. For this purpose, some of us – myself included – made contact with some Servants during the last few days and hours, and agreed on an alliance with them in order to protect the world and save as many lives as possible. This goes not just for the three of us here. Other members of our association have already made contact and forged an alliance with various Servants in different parts of the world. England, Russia, Germany and America are the most fitting examples."
The unknown God nodded again in understanding. "That's a noble purpose," he agreed, nodding slightly.
Iskandar looked at Geronimo and Edison with a raised eyebrow. "Then I assume you two are some of the Servants who agreed to form an alliance with the humans," he stated. He wasn't making a question, but simply stating a fact.
Edison nodded. "Indeed, we are," he replied promptly, nodding his lion head. "The young lady is right. As you can imagine, not all of us are so immersed in our desire to fight and win to forget the lives of the innocent. So, we decided to step away from the War and concentrate on other tasks."
Mordred narrowed her eyes. "Step away from the War?" she repeated, incredulous.
The Native American Caster nodded. "Yes. We do not intend to obtain the Grail and make a wish. We decided to fight in order to protect mankind from the threat, instead of fighting to get the Grail," Geronimo explained seriously, his face a mask of stoic calm.
Arjuna visibly stiffened upon hearing this. His eyes narrowed slightly. "Are you implying that you're not interested in participating in the War ever again?" he asked, sounding skeptical and suspicious. "This can't be true. It goes against the very same purpose of our summoning. Every Servants is summoned precisely because it has a wish it needs to fulfill."
Geronimo sighed with a shake of his head. "And yet, here we are," he replied.
Edison nodded, pointing at his chest him with a broad animal smile. "Believe it or not, the Holy Grail doesn't interest me, Archer. All I care about is expanding my knowledge, and making sure that everyone can use and make the most of their life with my ingenious inventions. I want my inventions to reach as many people as possible, all around the world. I don't need to fight to achieve this goal," he declared, laughing loudly.
The Indian Archer looked at them suspiciously.
Marie sighed. "They're not lying," she said, voicing for them. "Edison has been fundamental in the last few hours to increase our network of contacts around the globe. His inventions are brilliant and efficient, and he intends to expand our current technologies to help our research in Alchemy. And Geronimo has proved to be an indispensable asset during a major fight against a Saber class Servant who threatened the peace here in New York City two days ago." Her crimson eyes looked at the four Servants defiantly. "As you can see, an alliance between humans and Servants can be achieved. Mutual trust as well. It's more than plausible."
Iskandar studied them for a few seconds. "Even if this is true, I believe this sort of 'truce' and 'alliance' won't last forever. Servants are Servants. We are meant to fight. Not all of us would agree to join together, cease the conflict, and abandon our ambitions. I, as a King, am no exception to this. I have my own wish to fulfill, and if it can truly be granted after the War, then I'm more than willing and prepared to fight for it," he declared, smirking a little with unyielding pride under the cold, stunned expressions of Olga Marie and her Servants.
Olga Marie glared at him. "Are you really that selfish?" she questioned with a strong voice, her irritation clearly visible on her face.
The King of Conquerors merely widened his smirk under her inquisitive gaze. "I am the King of Conquerors. Being greedy and taking what I want it's my style. Humans are selfish in nature, and Servants do not differ from them in this. As long as we can reach our personal goal, we will always fight for it," he stated without batting an eye.
The girl seethed in anger. "And so you'd prefer to endanger the whole planet and its entire population just to fulfill your selfish wish?" she raged, almost screaming in anger as she raised from her seat and glared at the Rider.
The reaction was immediate. Iskandar suddenly glared at her, with a gaze that was cold, and inquisitive, and solemn like no other. Marie flinched instantly, holding her breath, her whole body trembling under his oppressive gaze. The tall, powerful Rider didn't move a muscle, simply glaring at her with his strong eyes and overwhelming presence. The air grew suddenly cold, and not even Edison or Geronimo were able to react for a few seconds, watching their human friend sweat profusely and shake in terror in front of Iskandar's silent stare. No one, not even a poweful magus like her or some low class Servants like the others could remain stoic and impassive under the King of Conquerors' cold gaze. His A Rank Charisma and his renonwed legend made Iskandar a Servant more powerful and imposing than many others, after all.
Mordred smirked and Shirou crossed his arms with a sigh as Marie sat back on her seat with trembling legs.
"Do not jump to conclusions, little girl," he intoned slowly, his voice for once serious and imposing as never before, carrying all his power and decision. "I never said I agree with the way this War is unfolding. Wreaking havoc on the world, involving civilians in the fights, and indiscriminately killing thousands of people for our whims are not things I can tolerate either. You would do better to not forget that, if you wish to continue this discussion in a peaceful manner," he spoke, hardening his red eyes with narrowed brows.
Marie didn't answer. She was unable to answer. She just swallowed nervously while she continued to sweat. Finally, she nodded with a trembling head, desperately clenching her fists as she tried to calm down.
Iskandar nodded in turn, relaxing slightly but keeping a frown on his chiseled features.
Geronimo smiled nervously. "C-Come on, now. Let's calm down, ok? We're here to peacefully discuss on an alliance, not to make enemies out of each other. Isn't that right?" he tried to say, trying to ease the tension that lingered in the room.
"R-R-Right," Marie agreed, clearing her throat and trying to regain her composure with a deep breath. She clenched a fist, mentally cursing herself for ruining her image with that previous outburst. This was not what she was supposed to show in front of other people. Especially if said people were strong Servants like these four.
Shirou decided to get a move on. "So... if my assumptions are correct, you want us to join your ranks and help you with your mission?" he asked with a serious voice, his golden-brown eyes never leaving the girl's face.
She nodded. "Thats' right."
"And the mission is?"
The girl stared back. "To protect humanity."
Shirou narrowed his eyes slightly. There was something off about her. Something about the way she said that sentence that made him think she wasn't being honest. And he wasn't the only one who caught that impression either.
"…What if she's lying?" Mordred suddenly said. She wasn't accusing the young woman with her words, but simply stating a doubt. "What if they have another reason for recruiting Servants?"
"We don't," Olga Marie retorted, her face struggling to keep her growing irritation from showing on her expression. "All the Mage's Association cares about is-"
"-not the safety of the planet," Shirou promptly cut her off, curling his lips into a smile. Marie gasped at his statement. His expression grew colder in front of the girl's shock and disbelief. "Don't try fool me, girl. I know extremely well how corrupt the world of Magi is. I've been there before. I know about the Clock Tower too. From the outside, it may appear to be an appealing and welcoming place, but the truth is not so bright. The inner workings of the place are ruled by the power struggles between several factions of Magi. Due this elitist background, preconceived and discriminatory behavior is somewhat widespread inside the Association. Discrimination against other branches is common, too. And I even suspect that some of the higher ranks are interested on using Servants in this war for their own benefit," he stated, smirking under her stunned face. Even the others were looking at him with wide eyes. "Am I right?"
Olga Marie swallowed, growing more and more pale by the second. "W-W-Wha... How...?" she stuttered.
"How do I know? It's simple. I've dealt with Mages for all my life. Well, not exactly Mages, but some people that worked and planned in a very... similar way," he explained, crossing his arms. "So, I suggest you be honest with your words from now on. I'm not going to stand another lie."
The director of the Atlas Institute glared at him, clenching her fist in silent rage. "...you ...who are you?"
Shirou glared right back at her. "I want the truth, now," he repeated, the air around him growing colder and heavy all of a sudden.
His eyes and the eyes of the white-haired girl challenged each other with their gaze. Neither side said anything for several seconds filled with tension. The air got colder and colder by the second. Seconds passed, followed by minutes.
Then, finally, the girl gave in under the stronger opponent's stare.
"...I didn't lie," she said, her eyes obscured by her bangs. "Not exactly, at least. The survival and the safeguarding of humanity are a top priority for the Association. But..."
The others listened carefully.
"...they're also interested in this Holy Grail War and the power behind it," she admitted through gritted teeth. Her body was shaking as she tried to hide her sudden irritation. "They... wish to explore the truth behind it. To learn more about the Servants. And maybe... maybe even obtain the Grail. That's... That's all I know," she hissed in the end.
Shirou narrowed his eyes. It was amusing to see how predictable humans were. "And what about you?"
She blinked in confusion. "...me? "
"Yes. What are your intentions, Olga Marie Animusphere?" the red-haired God asked her with utmost seriousness. "Do you really wish to protect mankind and ensure its survival? Do you really want to be true to your words and work together with us to protect the planet; or are you just trying to deceive us? What is it?"
She hesitated for several seconds, her eyes downcast. But then, after some time of uncertainty, her gaze met that of the young man with an ardent decision burning in her crimson eyes. "I will stay true to my words," she stated, without a single trace of deceit and hesitation on her face.
Shirou waited. And waited. And waited.
Then, he smiled.
"Then my answer is no."
Marie staggered back as if she had been physically hit by a slap. Geronimo and Edison winced as well. Even Iskandar and Mordred looked at the red-haired warrior with evident astonishment. Only Arjuna remained stoic and impassive as ever. For some reason, he was already expecting this.
Geronimo blinked, confused. "...what?"
"I will not join the Atlas Institute," Shirou repeated once again. Seeing that the others were still as confused as ever, he exhaled a weary sigh. "It's nothing personal, really. It's just the most logical choice for me. I understand your intentions, I understand you want to protect humanity, and I approve that. It's essentially the same purpose and reason I was sent here. Your true goal is the same as mine, and I fully support your work because of this."
She did not understand. "B-But then... why?"
Shirou gave her a resigned smile. "Because I'm a neutral entity," he replied, as if it was obvious. "I cannot, in good faith, join the Mage's Association and fight for them. I am a Ruler. My role, my existence, are dictated to ensure the maximum efficiency in my mission to protect the human race. Joining you or any other faction would be disadvantageous. If I join you, I will inevitably have to obey your orders, and cooperate with you despite my own will or thoughts."
"T-that's not true! We have the same goal! We can coo-"
"Even if we have the same goal, what if our ideas will come at odds in the future?" he cut her off, gently. "What if you decide to send me somewhere I don't want to go? Or fight an enemy I don't want to fight? Or force my hand because of your plans? Rulers do not follow orderds, Marie. They Rule the battlefield, not join it," he declared sadly. His smile became more understanding as he watched the girl's face fill with disappointment after his explanation. "I must work on my own, not follow other people's commands. It's better to continue to work separately towards the same goal; rather than fight together and limit my range of action. For this reason, I cannot join you. I'm sorry."
"...you're forgetting an important fact, however," Olga Marie told him through gritted teeth. "One Ruler alone cannot handle a battle on a global scale! Your logic is flawed from the start."
Shirou closed his eyes, widening his smile. "Who ever said that I'm alone?" he countered, feeling his lips quirk in attempt to grin at her stunned expression. "I am the only Ruler here, of that I'm certain... but I have comrades. People I can trust and count on. People like them," he stated, pointing at Iskandar and Mordred. His eyes filled with decision after that statement.
The two Servants smiled a little at his words.
Shirou stared at Marie straight into the eyes. "So, as you can see, Marie, I'm not alone. And because of this, I will not join the Atlas Insitute," he repeated, unshakable in his determination. "Especially if the Mage's Association has other plans for the Servants and the War. I trust you, but I don't trust Mages. I'm sorry."
The girl clenched her fists, looking down at the ground with resignation. "…I understand."
The God of War smiled again.
"However, that doesn't mean I will leave you empty handed."
Marie's head snapped up in a swift – and, quite frankly – inhuman motion, her mouth agape and eyes as wide as plates.
"Even if I won't join you directly, we can always work together towards that common goal," he explained, widening his smile. "With your means and your help, I can go to a place where something bad is happening and take care of the problem for you. Or even share informations that I might discover during my missions. We can stay in touch, as they say, even if we act separately. There are a lot of options, as you see."
Marie hesitated for a couple of seconds, before giving a relieved smile. "That's... good. I would appreciate it," she said, her voice sincere about this matter.
Shirou nodded, sinking his back into the chair and crossing his arms with an amused grin.
"And more importantly, even if I can't join Atlas, that doesn't mean that my companions can't do it instead," he added quickly, shrugging with disarming randomness. "They're not bound to me and my duty. They're free to do whatever they want. And if they choose to stay and fight alongside you and your team, I won't force them to follow me. It's up to them, really."
His lips curled into a smirk.
"And I already know someone who might be interested in joining you guys... am I right?"
Marie gaped, widening her eyes. Geronimo and Edison raised an eyebrow with stupor. Mordred and Iskandar blinked. Shirou merely grinned.
And a hand was lifted upward amidst the silence.
Everyone's eyes fell on a certain Archer from India.
Arjuna sighed heavily. "I'm going to regret this decision, am I not?"
Mordred's incredulous insults and Iskandar's bellowing laughter could be heard from several floors below.
Planet: Earth
Date: May 15 2020
Location: Main Street (New York - U.S.A.)
(======)
"I can't believe that guy just left without batting an eye!"
Shirou chuckled as Mordred hissed her complaints for the umpteenth time in a row. Even Iskandar was getting more and more fed up with her constant protests. Now that night had fallen, the God of War and his two companions were exploring the city in the open, strolling down Main Street while observing the metropolis with curios eyes. It had been several hours since they left the Atlas Institute and went back to acting on their own. They parted ways with Marie and the others in a friendly manner, agreeeing to cooperate with them if necessary, but without getting in the way of each other since thay had different priorities. So, all in all, it had been a worthwhile meeting in the end. Shirou was quite pleased with what he had learned in the last few hours.
Although, at the moment, they lacked one member of the group after the meeting.
Mordred glanced at the two red-haired Servants with an irritated expression. "Are you guys really ok with this?" she asked, visibly incredulous.
Shirou merely shrugged. "Mordred, it was his choice. There's nothing we can do about it," he replied, putting his hands in his pockets. His lips curled into a knowing smile as he walked along the crowded streets. "Besides, it was the most logical choice for him. Arjuna did say that he would join our ranks temporarily, and only because he wanted to find his brother. Joining the Mage's Association was the most logical option for him. It will allow him to explore the Country and fight other Servants in a much faster way than remaining with us. It's simply the shortest way for him to get what he wants," he concluded.
Iskandar nodded slowly from his right. "I agree. Acting on behalf of the humans will allow him to travel to far more places than staying with us. Our means are limited, Saber, compared to those of an entire association," he pointed out, smirking a little.
Shirou nodded. "Exactly. Besides, this situation could turn out to be advantageous for us too, in the future," he casually added with a smile.
Iskandar broke out into a laugh, startling Mordred with that sudden action. "Boy, you took the words out of my mouth! Say, you're quite good with strategy, huh? Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" he asked with a grin, complimenting him a little and patting him on the back with his considerable strength as he laughed loudly.
Shirou winced, but smiled despite everything with an amused smirk. "Of course. I always act with the benefit of our group in mind," he replied, as if it was obvious.
Mordred was completely lost. "What? Care to explain what you're talking about?"
Shirou smiled. "It's simple, kid. Arjuna is our ally. Even if he's joined the Mage's Association and left our group, he knows he can't defeat us in battle. He knows we're stronger. So, his presence in the Association will guarantee us a direct contact with them. We can use his presence there to our own advantage in case we need help or support in the future. We can use him from the inside to gather intel, for example, or force the Mage's Association to act when we need it. That's why I said I knew someone who was interested in joining Atlas during the meeting. I was making a silent bet with him," he explained simply.
The blonde girl gaped at his explanation. "Y-You mean that you deliberately induced him to join them?" she exclaimed, stunned.
"Arjuna was fully aware of my intentions. He's smarter than he lets on. But I didn't force him to join them. I just made a counter offer. One that could benefit him, given his goal. He accepted it out of his own accord," he retorted, shrugging his shoulders casually.
Mordred grumbled a little for a while. Then, after ten seconds, the female Knight sighed. "Figures. Well, no matter. One more, one less... I guess it doesn't make a difference," she finally relented.
Shirou shot her a curious look. "But still, I was surprised by your outburst, kid. I didn't know you were so fond of our little group," he said with a raised eyebrow and a tiny smile. His smirk widened when he saw her ears blush a little.
"I-It's not like that!" she protested loudly, rounding on him with a glare. Her lips growled as Iskandar laughed with a shake of his head. "I was just thinking in a strategic way for future battles!"
He simply chuckled, shaking his head with mirth. Even Iskandar could tell that she wasn't being honest with her words. 'Sure you were, kid…' he mused with a silent laugh.
Then, his amusement was gone. The God hesitated a couple of seconds, assuming a thoughtful expression. His footsteps slowed down as he and his companions walked through the crowd. It was only when they reached a small square complete with a gushing fountain at the center and trees all around it that Mordred and Iskandar realized that the red-haired warrior was slowing his pace while they continued to walk leisurely. The two Servants blinked in confusion.
They turned to him with raised eyebrows.
"Ruler?" Mordred asked, puzzled. "What's wrong?"
Shirou hesitated for some time, staring at the ground with confusion. Then, finally, he glanced up and looked into Iskandar's and Mordred's eyes. "I just... I was thinking," he admitted in the end, his voice lower and more serious than usual. The other two became immediately serious when they noticed his abrupt change in behavior. "Sir Mordred, King of Conquerors... why did you decide to stick with me?" he asked.
They blinked in confusion at his sudden question.
"I know I was the one who said that it would be better to stick together before... but now, things have changed. So, why?" he continued, sounding confused and serious at the same time. "We've reached the city already. We've learned what's happening in the world. We've also discovered this War is messed up. Therefore, you don't need to stay with me anymore. You can go wherever you want, do whatever you want. You guys have your own goals, right? You can go search for other Servants, or fight for the Grail and for conquest, or even hide from everyone and live as you please. There is no reason for you to join my mission anymore."
The silence became solemn and absolute even in the middle of the crowded street and the road teeming with cars.
Shirou stared at them, and they stared at Shirou.
"So... why? Why are you guys still following me?" he asked them, completely serious.
Mordred and Iskandar glanced at each other.
Shirou crossed his arms. "I thought tha-"
He was suddenly interrupted by a powerful slap on the shoulder.
Shirou almost stumbled forward from the force of the blow. The God blinked confusedly, observing with curious and wide eyes the towering form of Iskandar that moved to his side with a solemn expression. His red eyes were serious and full of confusion as he stared at him. "What are you talking about, boy? We said we would help you with your quest, didn't we? Why are you getting so doubtful out of nowhere?" he questioned, crossing his arms.
"B-But… I have a mission to carry out," he explained. "I'll probably have to travel to different parts of the world, alone and without anyone's help; in search of what caused all of this. Maybe I'll even have to face forces beyond mere Servants. Are you aware of this?"
Mordred sighed. "Ruler, we told you. We can't stay put when people are being targeted," she argued, sounding almost bored. "And besides, we were summoned into this mess too, right? That means we're involved. So, we'll just have to fight other Servants and stop this madness at the same time. What's so difficult to understand about this?"
He was skeptical. "That doesn't mean my quest is the same as yours," he pointed out.
"What are you saying?" Iskandar countered with a grin, patting his shoulder. "We are companions. We are friends," he stated, making him pause. Even Mordred glanced away, blushing a little at those words. "We must see to the end of this, Ruler."
Shirou blinked. "Friends?" he repeated, stunned. "Even if you guys still want to fight for the Grail? Even if you are willing to fight for your own wish?"
"That's right," the King of Conquerors declared, grinning with pride. "Besides, it was you the one who said it, boy: there's something wrong with this War. Something that goes beyond the Grail and our summoning. The massacres and disasters that are happening around the planet... as a King who shall rule everything in the world, I cannot tolerate them. So, before I embark on my own quest of conquest, I must help you with your mission."
"It's simply the right thing to do," Mordred grumbled as well, crossing her arms with a pout. She was still blushing after hearing the word friends, much to Shirou's amusement.
The Rider widened his grin. "See? Even our Saber agrees!"
"I'm not your Saber! I'm doing this because I have a code of honor to uphold!" she merely stated, turning away.
"Bwahahah! You're pretty soft despite your foul mouth, huh?"
"S-Shut up, Rider! I'm tough, not soft!"
Shirou stared at them with wide eyes for a couple of seconds. Watching that scene, he felt something warm, and nostalgic, and tender start to bloom inside his chest.
"Are you really sure?" he asked them again.
The two of them nodded without a single trace of hesitation.
Iskandar grinned again. "After all the places we've explored and the battles we've seen together, what are you saying? Up until now, have you not faced the same problems and enemies as we have? That means we are comrades, boy." His expression softened, watching both him and Mordred with a warm smile. "So hold your heads high, both of you, and consider yourselves my equals. That's what true comrades should do on a quest. A true conquest is no fun without companions by your side."
Shirou stared at them, his mind filled with emotions and warm feelings. Even Mordred smiled a bit, staring at the ground with a little blush.
In the end, there was only one thing he could do.
"Alright, then," Shirou agreed, hiding his own smile. "If that's what you guys want… let's do it. Let's stop this War together."
Mordred scoffed. "About time you made up your mind, Ruler."
Iskandar laughed, wrapping an arm around the warrior's neck. "That's the spirit!" His smile became more sly at that point. "Boy, it seems you finally begin to understand conquest, huh?"
Shirou merely smiked, looking at him with complicity.
The King of Conquerors widened his smile. Then, he turned his gaze to the sky, putting his hands on his hips. "Well, then! From now on, nothing shall stop us from saving the world! And once it'll be safe, then I will conquer it for myself! We shall defy both heaven and earth!" he exclaimed loudly without any hesitation. So loudly, in fact, that many people around the square turned to look at him with confusion and bewildered looks. Even a dog turned to look at the gigantic man with pricked ears and an alarmed expression on its face.
Shirou and Mordred sighed in resignation. There was no way to stop his boastful behavior, was it?
Then, Mordred glanced to the side. Her lips curled into an excited smirk soon after. "But first, have you guys ever tried Shawarma?" she asked, looking straight to a fast food restaurant called 'Shawarma' placed along a side street not far from there. "I have no idea what it is, but I'm hungry. Let's go eat something before we head out to our quest!"
"Hoho? I agree! I wholeheartedly agree! We should explore and enjoy all the different things and treasures the lands can offer us!" he replied, pointing at the fast food. Then, without wasting any more time, both the Rider and the Saber began sprinting towards it at maximum speed.
Shirou merely sighed as he followed the two laughing Servants to their destination. He already resigned himself to the idea of having to pay yet another meal for a gluttonous Knight and a King unable to restrain himself. However, if he was to be honest, he wasn't bothered by this now. This scene, this company... it wasn't bad. It wasn't bad at all. It was a nostagic scene. A scene that brought back memories of his past with his mother and his family. A scene that brought only fond memories and a dulled, omnipresent warmth inside his chest.
Shirou's lips curled into a small smile.
Once they were inside the fast food, seated around a table and occupied on eating; Mordred asked the fateful question. "So... where are we headed now?" she questioned with her mouth full.
Iskandar shrugged, shooting a questioning glance at the Ruler. Shirou smiled thinly. "Well, since Arjuna and the Mage's Association will take care of things here in America for us, I think we should leave the continent and go to other places..." he stated.
His smile grew more knowing as he observed a certain Knight with amused eyes.
"And given the recent news, I think it might be a good idea to pay a visit to a certain someone's homeland... don't you agree?"
Mordred blinked in confusion. Then, her eyes lit up with excitement and trepidation. "Really? We're going to Britain?" she exclaimed. The girl pumped a fist in the air with a proud smirk, and Shirou's face softened at her enthusiasm. "Woo yeah!"
"Hmm? Saber's homeland?" the King of Conquerors mused, nodding to himself in satisfaction. "That's a great idea. How amusing. It shall be interesting to see your Country, Saber. I am curious."
"Just you wait, Rider! I can't wait to show and guide you through the most famous kingdom in the world! You will be amazed! You can bet on it!" she exclaimed with a proud smirk. Then, she blinked in confusion and scratched her chin in thought. "If it hasn't changed much from my time, of course..."
Shirou sighed softly at their antics. "But don't forget the mission," he reminded them patiently. "We know something's happening there. And the Clock Tower presides over the capital, London. We'll have to stay alert and keep our eyes open during the entirety of our visit. Is that clear?"
Iskandar dismissed his worries with a casual wave of his hand. "Heh. Worry not, boy. Whatever it's happening there, we'll handle it. We've done a pretty good job so far, right?"
"We did foil an assault on a flying plane," Mordred agreed.
"And besides, from now on we shall use these!" declared the Macedonian Emperor with a grin, pulling three small items made of metal out of his pocket. Shirou and Mordred blinked in confusion as they stared at the small objects with raised eyebrows.
It was a three pair of small earphones, tiny in size, made entirely of dark metal. They were so small that putting them in one ear was enough to make them disappear from sight. Once worn, they seemed invisible. The two Servants widened their eyes when they saw them. They immediately recognized what they were and where they had seen them before.
"T-These," Shirou whispered, stunned like in a daze. "These are Edison's modified earphones! The ones he showed us during the visit to the lab! How in the world did you get them?"
Mordred widened her eyes, her lips parting into a nervous grin. "Rider... you stole them?"
Iskandar frowned. "Of course not! Don't make me sound like a thief," he denied, crossing his arms with pride and a serious expression. "A cowardly thief sneaks away in the night. I took them right in front of the Caster before leaving. Even if he protested a little."
"That's basically the same thing!" Shirou pointed out with a twitch of his brow.
"Wrong. If you stride away after taking something, bursting with songs and pride, then you're not a thief but a Conquering King!" he replied, nodding with a grin. "I simply took something I wanted, like I always do. And besides, these technological bits are ours by right of conquest."
"Heh! I'll forgive you just this once!" Mordred chuckled, amused by Iskandar's priorities. Even if she wouldn't admit it out loud, his antics and his ideas of kingship sounded appealing to her, even more so with an A Rank Charisma backing up his oratory. And the fact that he even regarded her as a comrade and a friend only helped further in her mind.
Shirou, for his part, just ran a hand across his face with an expression mixed between exasperation and defeat. "You know what... nevermind," he sighed. There was no point in reprimanding him for this. "At least they'll allow us to communicate remotely with each other and could be useful to formulate a strategy during the future battles."
Iskandar grinned. "See? You're already thinking and planning something with them. Good. Very good, indeed! That's what a true King should do: always plan ahead!" he boasted with his trademark laugh, slapping the red-haired warrior's shoulder in approval.
Mordred looked at the God of War with a sly grin. "Already plotting something, aren't you?" she shook her head with both amusement and stupor. "You're a dangerous individual, Ruler."
Shirou crossed his arms, smiling a little.
"That I am."
FATE/Oppression
-Arc I-
End
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:
As I already mentioned previously in the notes, attepting to chronicle all the battles fought by the God of War during his life and his quest against the Gods is an impossible feat. However, there are some of them that have particularly marked the Planet and its destiny after their conclusion; and because of this they are noteworthy and must be mentioned here for further studying. The first three battles, in particular, have irreversibly changed both the Earth and its geography. I shall describe and list them in order:
The first recorded incident is Shirou's confrontation with the Supreme God Uranus, the First of the Gods. The battle lasted a full day, and had some indeterminate amounts of damage and several claims as to where it happened. But one major consensus is that Shirou's greatest weapon "Caledfwlch" was used to finish the fight and carved out the majority of what is now known as the Grand Canyon of Arizona. After the confrontation, Uranus was killed and his death marked the beginning of the War against the Gods.
The second recorded incident is the battle with the Titan Atlas. Unlike the previous battle, the [COUNTER FORCE] was able to record and observe this confrontation with particular attention. As it is widely known, Atlas was one of the Twelve Titans predating the Olympians, one of those who swore vengeance against the Gods. Consequentially, Shirou had no reason to fight such an opponent. However, given the unfortunate intervention of [ERROR – DATA CORRUPTED] the Titan was possessed and forced to fight against his will. Shirou killed him with a single attack, using a Divine Sword that would later be remembered in the world as the legendary "Kusanagi no Tachi". The Titan was severed in two with a single swing of the sword, and a great piece of land was cut off from the continent, creating an island. Said island is currently known as the country of Japan.
The third and final incident that I will record in these notes is Shirou's battle against Shiva, the God of Destruction and Creation. Very little is known about this particular confrontation. The [COUNTER FORCE] was unable to fully record such event, back then. What is known, however, is that the battle lasted two days, and that several volcanoes erupted and exploded during the battle, plaguing and destroying a large portion of land that was subsequently submerged by the ocean. The only remnants of this epochal clash that are currently visible are the Andaman Islands and, above all, the land known as Barren Island inside the Indian territory. After the confrontation, Shiva died and became the first God who went to the Reverse Side of the World.
These events were just the beginning of a long series of battles. Shirou's life has been a continuous succession of clashes, battles, fights and deaths; one after another. After all, it was inevitable. Being a God of War, he could not escape his Destiny. And even I, back then, couldn't help but agree with an expression widely used by humans during those days:
"Shirou Emiya is a monster."
A monster that the world needed, but a monster all the same.
I wanted to write a calm and quiet chapter for the ending of the first Arc. The reason? The next Arc will be quite eventful and filled with battles. I hope it may interest you.
Obviously, we will see Arjuna, Marie and the others again.
I'm looking forward to write the long-awaited meeting between Father and Son and – of course – Sword and Scabbard. The moment is getting closer and closer.
See you soon.