Author Note
Hello there and welcome to another chapter of Avalon Bond.
It's time for the Firth Singularity – North America, more precisely, the United States of America. I have written down a few nice ideas to use in this singularity, some will be revealed in this chapter, others will be later on, throughout the singularity. Furthermore, I shall reveal one important fact about one of the servants that I believe no one has ever thought about using, not even Nasu for that matter (only in one interlude). That being said, I'm gathering enough material to be used later on in the Solomon fight…it's going to be epic (at least, in my mind, that is). You guys shall be the judge.
Okay, let's first answer some of the reviews from last chapter.
NotSpecialDude – About Shirou's comment that Solomon and Gilgamesh tend to share similar mindsets…my intention was to point out that both had decided to turn against humanity. Gilgamesh wanted to use the power of the Grail to kill everyone who was worthless in his mind. Solomon's goal, although wider in intention, wanted to rid the world of everyone. However, both attempted to use the power for misguided purposes, in the end. Even if their mindsets somewhat differ, the end goal is similar. Of course, the Gilgamesh of FGO won't be like his Archer counterpart in FSN.
Mythic Imagination – Commenting on this would be like a spoiler alert. I don't know if all the readers knows about it, yet.
Spiderwitch2211 – She looks like Artoria Lancer.
KaneGehabite – 1) The story will go up to the fight against Solomon, as I stated before. But I won't cover the Lostbelts. 2) They will, but not the ones from the story. But only Rin and Taiga…Sakura's pseudo-servants does not participate in any of the main singularities. 3) Mordred's fate at the end shall only be revealed at the end. I won't spoil everyone ahead of time. However, it's not like whatever I have planned is set in stone…they are a few alternatives in my mind. However, I'm open to suggestions.
Now, let us proceed with the chapter.
Please enjoy!
Avalon Bond
Part II – Fate Grand Order
Chapter 36 – North America Part I
Beta: Axel Emiya
No sooner had Mash and Ritsuka emerged from the coffins, an entire crew of medics and physicians rushed to attend to them, but more particularly Mash.
This singularity pushed her over the edge on multiple occasions and in Solomon's battle, she had hurt herself trying to block his heat beams. Arturia, Shirou, Mordred, and Boudica were immediately attended by Jeanne and Da Vinci. Shirou, despite being hurt all over, used Avalon to help heal Arturia and Mordred, thus requiring less attention. Romani and Olga just stood by and the latter was transfixed, almost petrified, still not believing the identity of the true culprit behind the incineration of humankind. In essence, Chaldea as it exists today was due to her father's actions and his servant, after winning their Grail War.
Sitting in her wheelchair and observing the wounded, she couldn't help but feel responsibility weighing down her shoulders.
"It's no use taking responsibility for this." Olga turned abruptly to Archer as he just stood there next to her, with his arms crossed and observing his stupid younger self, working diligently next to Jeanne to heal everyone.
"Archer…!" Olga snarled and Archer felt some reminiscing in the way Olga had said his name…similar to the way that Rin did when he was her servant. "Solomon being alive is my family's fault…my…"
"Such conclusion is based on what, exactly?" Olga looked at him, in surprise, realizing that she was still due to share just that her father's servant and their arch-enemies are one and the same. The Counter-Guardian looked at her, while she explained it to her. Archer heard it all…processed it all, but his answer was still the same as before. One Tohsaka Rin shared similar burdens to Olga Animusphere. With Rin being responsible for Fuyuki's well-being and the occurrences in their Grail War and now here is Olga Animusphere taking responsibility for actions taken by her father and his servant, apparently.
Still, something doesn't add up in his counter-guardian experienced mind and direct, albeit still blurry, access to Alaya's ramblings from time to time.
"We are still due to know if the King Solomon that appeared in this singularity is the same as your father's servant, Olga. A servant is a copy of the Heroic Spirit from the Throne of Heroes." The Director looked pensive at that.
"Still, you saw it, right Archer…our heavy hitters didn't stand a chance against him…and he wasn't even trying. What chance do we have of restoring humankind?"
Archer checked the new addition to their team in Mordred, as well as Arturia, Shirou, and the rest of the Chaldea servants. He knew that Shirou and Arturia to pack more punch than what they used against Solomon. For whatever reason that Archer practically knew and wanted to punch them for it, they chose not to use it…at least, for now. His younger self used the Reality Marble against him in their Grail War and also against Gilgamesh. For certain, with Muramasa's spirit, he is certainly many times stronger than before.
"Hmmm…right now, the goal is to fix the Singularities…Solomon said so himself. Afterward, he will appear before us once more, but right now, the goal is the rest of the three Singularities."
Olga deflated at the Everest-like hill that was still in front of them.
"That is supposed to make me feel better, Archer? The singularities are only getting tougher at this point and after that, we still have to face Solomon and his 72 Demon Gods!" She turned the wheelchair and stared at him. Archer sweat dropped slightly at the stare and for a second, Archer saw a brunette twin-tailed magus placing both hands on her side stomach, demanding answers, narrowing her eyebrows. Composing himself and clearing his throat with his eyes closed, Archer answered it, before turning and walking away.
"You can trust the idiot and Saber to handle the other singularities." Olga looked at the man's back and then back at the servants in question, wondering if he is right.
===Next Day===
Once everyone managed to catch a night's rest, things sort of settled down in Chaldea.
Olga was busy at the command center, demanding extra working hours from the engineers in order to anticipate the singularities, so as to see which possible servant they would be up against. Mash's health was attended to personally by Romani and Da Vinci, with Fujimaru accompanying, while the other servants felt free to go about their lives inside the base. With their new servant addition, things became quite hectic for the lot. On their first night together alone as a couple, Shirou and Arturia just couldn't do anything, because Mordred had chosen to sleep on the base of their bed, together with her father and mother.
Arturia really wished to kick her out, but Shirou at least urged her not to on Mordred's first day in Chaldea.
Jeanne and Boudica kept on laughing at Arturia's cranky behavior the next day, because of Mordred kicking both her and Shirou in her sleep, not to mention her heavy snoring.
The knight of Treachery then chose another servant to annoy, this time, as she kept on staring at Archer, while he was performing his duties in the kitchen and making breakfast for everyone. In the beginning, Archer was having fun seeing Arturia's son only hanging out with the idiot and Saber, but right now, she had apparently chosen him to annoy, and frankly, his patience was at a limit. It just so happened that Shirou and Arturia had seen Mordred's interest lying elsewhere and ran to their room for some alone time.
"Why are you looking at me like that, Mordred?" The Knight of Treachery just pointed her finger at him and asked.
"Do I need to call you mother as well?" Archer's eyebrows twitched uncontrollably while trying to ignore the ongoing laughter in Boudica, Jeanne, and the rest of the staff in Chaldea.
Archer was cursing whoever told Mordred that he was a different Emiya Shirou from another world and another timeline.
"No." Mordred indignantly replied and Archer truly could see no end in his annoyance.
"Haaaa…but you're just like mother aren't you? The saggy-breasted lady said so…" Archer came to know that Mordred referred to Boudica like that…so the Queen of Promised Victory was the one responsible for this hell.
"While I am also Emiya Shirou and shared the same role as a master for your father in another timeline, I am not the same as the idiot you call mother. Now, I ask one more time, how do you like your eggs?" While Archer made Mordred's English-style breakfast, she kept on asking him questions, that he had simply chosen to ignore for his own sanity. It didn't mean that she stopped pestering him for answers, though. Rin, in Zelretch's dimension, was simply having too much fun observing her old servant's angered state.
===In Romani's Room===
Away from the servants in the dining area, in Romani's room, the man himself was checking on Mash's vitals while Fujimaru just stood on the sidelines. Fuu stood on his shoulders as they observed the consultation between the patient and the doctor. Last night, he had dreamed about a conversation that Mash had with Romani, probably before he ever arrived here in Chaldea. The dream made him feel saddened to realize that Mash's only ever dream was to be able to see the outside world and not even that was something that she could have, according to Romani's words.
"How are you feeling, Mash? You've been fighting too often in the front lines." The shielder servant, now dressed in her usual Analyst in Chaldea, nodded with a smile.
"I am fine, doctor…nothing to worry about." Romani released a sigh and turned to Fujimaru.
"She insists she's fine, but she needs to take a break." Fujimaru was still under the effect of the dream to offer much of an answer.
"That's not necessary doctor, Arturia and Shirou-taichou have been tutoring me on how to be a better servant to senpai. I know I am getting stronger in each of the singularities, it's just a matter of time until I reach my full potential." Romani hummed as he observed the chart in his hands. Indeed, Mash has improved greatly after training with them, but she still had a frail composition and he worried that she wouldn't be able to withstand the strain. "Furthermore, as long as Senpai is fighting, I can't find any reason for me to rest, doctor." Romani sighed since Mash didn't appear to hear what he had to say.
Still, like Olga, Romani realized that from here on out, the singularities will only be harder to handle.
"Either way, I shall talk to Arturia and Shirou about better protecting you, Mash." Before Mash could retort against Romani's coddling, another voice interrupted them.
"You will do no such thing, weirdo!" Mordred quickly opened the door to Romani's room, having heard the conversation. "If anything, Mash should be pushed even further." Fujimaru jumped in surprise, being close to the Knight of Treachery, by the door. Mash and Romani looked at her in surprise, before the good doctor frowned at what Mordred said. Mordred understood that that shield bastard Galahad must have some trial test in order for Mash to unleash her full potential. That righteous bastard is so full of it, even after death.
"Mordred, you don't know about her health…pushing her would only…" Mordred waved him off once more.
"Save it, healing mage…now, Mash needs to come with me."
Quickly grabbing Mash's hand, Mordred dragged her towards the training facility where Arturia stood in her full armory.
Romani and Fujimaru stood inside the computer room to see Shirou there as well. The redhead servant greeted Fujimaru and the pensive Romani.
"Shirou, are you in this with Mordred? She needs her rest." Emiya looked at Romani with a smile on his face, before everyone focused on the white field to see Mordred, Arturia, and Mash, now in her servant mode.
"I understand your concern, Dr. Romani. Despite Mordred's crude methods, she is focused on Mash's best interest." Romani looked dubious at that, so Shirou continued. "The reason she is struggling in the singularities is that she's still due to reach her full noble phantasm. Her shield relic can't protect herself and Fujimaru without it." The doctor understood that logic, alright. However, he was concerned that pushing Mash too much would only accelerate her frail composition. "Don't worry…if Mordred takes it too far, Arturia is there to keep her in check." No sooner had Shirou said that Mordred wielded Clarent and charged, forcing Mash to wield her shield and defend.
Her feet skidded a bit, but when Mordred next followed, Mash focused prana through her limbs like Shirou taught her and it soon became a fight of equal grounds.
Arturia acknowledged the growth in Mash's skills and smiled as the shielder servant kept her ground with Mordred, even if the knight of Treachery held her swings a bit.
She knew for certain that Sir Galahad's spirit wasn't long in fully revealing himself to Mash and this training will help Mash reach that finish line much faster. Plus, it seemed that Mordred was enjoying herself as well.
"Nice one Mash, keep up the defensive and shift on me when you feel an opening!" Mordred screamed as she slammed Clarent on Mash's shield relic.
"Right…!" Mash attempted to slam her shield on Mordred, but she evaded and attacked Mash to the side, only for Mash to better position her shield to block the sword strike. As soon as Mash focused prana through her shield to better block the red-glowing Clarent, everyone could see the white glow in Mash's hand that enveloped the shield relic. The energy expanded from the shield in record speed, and at a rapid pace, to instantly repel Mordred, sending her backward. The confident smile on Mash was palpable and Arturia approved.
'Sir Galahad, Mash is about ready…ready to see you.'
"Nicely done, Mash! Now, let's take this up a notch." Clarent glowed in full bright red and Romani looked at Shirou in surprise and concern, while Mash focused on her own incomplete Noble Phantasm just as the red beam erupted from Mordred. The brick wall appeared in front of Mash and blocked Clarent Blood Arthur in mid-strength. Once both energies dwindled, Mash and Mordred looked at one another and Mordred smirked, before giving Mash the thumbs up. Mash smiled at that and nodded. Obviously, a full-out fight was out of the question, despite Mordred really wanting it to happen.
===Command Center===
After a couple of days of rest, recovery, and training, it was time once more for another singularity.
This time, the third servant would be Jeanne D'Arc. The reasoning for that was for Mash's benefit.
Despite some advocating for her to take more risks, in the end, Romani's concern was the deciding factor. Mordred and Archer were more attack-oriented servants and Boudica went in the last one. Jeanne's noble phantasm, aside from boosting the other servants' prana, had more defensive capabilities which would alleviate Mash's concern for Fujimaru's protection. This more defensive-oriented line-up, however, would force Shirou and Arturia into being more offensive, leaving Mash to protect Fujimaru and Jeanne to protect Mash. However, neither of the let's say senior servants cared much about the extra load. To this day, Shirou had yet to fully reveal all of what he could do.
Furthermore, Arturia realized that she needed to fully unleash the potential of her Excalibur, if they wish to face Solomon, later on. It was something she had discussed with Shirou, while resting. Her sword's power, its true power, is restricted by thirteen seals. To this day, even in her legend, she has never once used it in its full power and Shirou was actually surprised and a bit scared to know that. Remembering how powerful her Noble Phantasm is already, to believe that it is still to this day restricted was something he couldn't wrap his mind in.
Of course, a weapon made by fairies, whose very purpose was to be used by the Planet against external threats.
Against a mighty enemy such as Solomon, whose very intention was to rid the world of humankind, Arturia felt her sword resonate, while in their brief entanglement. As such, she had no doubt that at least some if not most of the restraints shall be revoked, once they engage again, by the end of the singularities. The only problem was that using it would wipe most of her prana…so she had to make it count, of course, with Shirou by her side with Avalon inside of him, to refuel her if needed be.
Right now, the group stood at the command center. Fujmaru, Mash, Shirou, Arturia, Jeanne, Olga and Da Vinci were all lined up as they heard Romani's report.
"Alright everyone, listen up…" A bit of a pause as the room quieted down to hear him, including the staff analysts. "After the battle in London, we now know our enemy is the King of Mages, Solomon. We are lucky to have obtained the amount of information, though it was likely on purpose. The most important one is that at least Solomon won't bother with us, at least until we correct the other three singularities. Which is off-putting in a way, to me at least." That was stating the obvious, but the Grand Caster wanted to impart this feeling of hopelessness in Chaldea.
"Well, at least, we don't have to worry about him for now, right." Fujimaru's attempt of easing up the situation wasn't shared by the rest, though Olga was the first to correct the young master.
"That's not good news, Ritsuka…it's an embarrassment to this organization, one that my father built and it's trampled on and by my father's former servant, no less!" Olga closed her fist and snarled, still making her unease show.
"In a war, it's pointless to worry about the final bridge, while they are others yet due to be crossed, Ms. Olga. Right now, we can only focus our energies in fixing the singularities." The pragmatism in Arturia made the director release a sigh. However, Arturia wasn't yet finished. "The pattern thus far indicates that each singularity will be much more daunting than the last, with Solomon excluded…as such, we can't take our minds away from the job at hand." The King of Knight's natural leader charisma was at play here and everyone paid rapid attention to her words.
Jeanne nudged Shirou and the redhead turned to see utmost admiration in her eyes concerning Arturia's, despite her being British and King of the country at one point.
"Right, well, our first mission remains untouched…to restore human history back to its proper course. The only problem is…" Romani resumed but…
"How to deal with Solomon, afterward, right? He stands above all mages." Da Vinci finished Romani's line of thought, earning a snort from Arturia. "I apologize King Arthur but I don't like the fact that there's a Caster who ranks higher than me, but I suppose I can't be helped. Inserting the reincarnated Demon Gods into each era. That's not something an ordinary person would think of. As a genius myself, I must admit…we currently have no idea how to track him, let alone defeat him." Arturia crossed her arms and placed one final comment, before zipping her lip.
"If there's a Grand Caster, then there is also a Grand servant for other types of servants, Da Vinci. Every enemy has a weakness, it's just a matter of knowing how to find it and how to exploit it."
"Indeed for one experienced in warfare such as yourself, Miss Arturia, that seems like a reasonable assumption, but we are dealing with someone that tramples with our limit of imagination. An edge is needed in our favor and we need to find one by the end of the singularities." Arturia then looked at Shirou and they started a conversation of their own…they both had advantages in this fight, that no one knew much or anything about, with the obvious exception of Archer, but he was even more mysterious than her and Shirou combined.
"Okay Romani, continue." The doctor cleared his throat and resumed as per Olga's orders.
"Right…we shall deal with Solomon when the time comes…now, let's proceed with the fifth singularity…our next destination happens to be the United States of America. Certainly, one can't exclude this nation from History. While insignificant in terms of magecraft, its historical importance is the same as Rome's." Shirou and Arturia would have to disagree with Romani's notion, since they went many times to North America under Bazzett's employment and even Ciel on an occasional dead apostle hunt or two.
"Considering the era of this singularity, we have confirmed the presence of Heroic Spirits…deep-rooted legends of outlaws who would rebel against anything in that nation. Of course, we can't treat this as the other places and eras we've encountered before, plus we can't be sure about what types of anomalies you may find. The grail is known to mix things up quite thoroughly. Who knows what shifts in history may be occurring as we speak? So keep up your guard and proceed with caution at all times. That goes for you, Mash."
The shielder servant blushed once everyone's focus turned on her.
"Ah…why me…" Mash was already down, when Jeanne D'Arc was chosen to be their third servant. Of course, she didn't have anything against the holy maiden. It was because Jeanne was chosen for the main job of protecting her, instead.
Shirou laughed briefly and turned to Romani.
"Is there anything else you can share about the era and the possible enemies we can find…" Romani, though, negated.
"It's the year of 1783 A.D, I believe, the year of the American Revolutionary War's final steps. The United States, in that year, signed a treaty in Paris that would secure its independence from the United Kingdom. The Revolution of Independence began with George Washington's Declaration of Independence. I'm guessing that you all shall encounter western outlaws, Indians, and US militaries. Though like I said before, it's possible that a few anomalies from the Grail's presence make that explanation moot, hence why I didn't focus much…in the end, it's up to you all to fully figure out what's going on and how to fix it."
Shirou nodded, as he observed Mash and Ritsuka heading toward the pods so that the ray shift can begin.
Their action would only start once Mash established the communication link between Chaldea and the singularity.
So, for now, he, Arturia, and Jeanne would have to stay put and await for Mash.
Once the computer initiated the ray shift procedure, Mash and Ritsuka vanished.
===North America Singularity===
As soon as Ritsuka and Mash opened their eyes, they looked around to see that they landed in a secluded forest, somewhere in North America. Mash looked above and was reminded of Solomon instantly when she saw the giant ring in the sky.
"Considering the Doctor's explanation, then, this land can't be called the United States of America yet." Mash looked at Ritsuka, as he contemplated. "It will only happen once the Revolutionary War ends, right Mash?"
The shielder servant nodded, following up on the explanation.
"Right, senpai. After the war ends, this nation will turn into a monster-like mega power that dominates this World. Whether that's good or not, there's no doubt that this nation is absolutely essential for the proper course of history." Going through that notion, it stands to reason that their enemy would be whoever is against the end of the Revolutionary War, against the formal independence of the future United States of America, a.k.a., the United Kingdom. However, that alone didn't tell them much…and also considering the possibility of the Grail interfering, they could be up against something else entirely.
"Let's start the communication with Chaldea, before moving on Mash…" The shielder servant did as instructed, before Arturia, Shirou and Jeanne appeared next to the shield.
Jeanne looked at Shirou, Arturia, and Mash, since this is the first time she is participating as a servant in Chaldea's employ. She could feel her prana being fueled by her link with Chaldea and Fujimaru as their master.
The servants looked around, hoping to grasp the situation at hand when Romani's voice echoed in Ritsuka's communication device.
"Right, I know you've just arrived, but we have a bit of an issue right now. We have detected a large-scale battle just ahead…should be important to check it out."
Mash and Ritsuka looked at one another and marched straight ahead until the forest area was gone and a huge wasteland desert emerged.
The sight was too much for their eyes to bear witness. As Romani said, there was a massive battle going on…on one side, ordinary soldiers, and men using muskets. Mash gasped upon seeing mechanized soldiers, thinking them to be like the ones found in the London singularity, ones belonging to Mr. Babbage. The other side was strangely so composed of red-haired soldiers, wearing helmets and holding spears. Clearly, something was completely wrong in this picture as Shirou would expect soldiers using similar weapons and similar uniforms, battling it out for supremacy towards the country's independence.
One of the regular soldiers then screamed for everyone to hear.
"Stand your ground, elites of the glorious Mechanized Infantry Brigade! Protect this territory with your lives!" The mechanized soldier next to the man answered it.
"Yes! Domination Order! We're ready to keep firing till our barrels are empty!"
Then, they opened fire like machine guns, taking out a great load of the red-head spear-wielding army.
"Ah, senpai, is that Mr. Babbage's…!?" Mash turned to Ritsuka, who was still taking in the scene of killing and slaughter caused by the machine guns.
"No Mash, their shape and color appear to be different than the ones we found in London. The other side looks quite familiar to me…to my time, that is, which is quite strange." Arturia commented as she eyed the spear weapons. Before they could figure out what to do, the mechanized soldiers turned their focus on Chaldea and forced Mash and Jeanne to position themselves in front of Ritsuka, both of them lifting their defensive skills, while Shirou and Arturia vanished to destroy the machines. Arturia slashed through the machines in record time, while Shirou summoned twin katanas, before surging fire prana through the weapons for clean cuts.
The regular soldiers took their step back, observing in fright as the machines were being destroyed one by one.
Shirou would even summon a couple of swords in mid-air to keep up with the farthest ones from firing at Mash and Jeanne.
The leader soldier then realized that a retreat was in order, before ordering his troops to circle back. The servants observed as they retreated, but the other side remained. Arturia took a step forward and advanced on them. Each one of them had a good understanding of using the spear and the style was somewhat familiar, but she couldn't just place it. Mash lowered her shield, just as the bullets stopped smashing into her shield, while she observed the onslaught of metal and blood caused by Shirou and Arturia. The ones that battled against the robots were all hindered by Arturia's Excalibur, hitting in non-lethal points.
"Well, it seems both sides retreated for now…!" Mash turned to Jeanne and Ritsuka, while they saw Shirou and Arturia return to the group.
"Let's retreat for now as well, Mash," Ritsuka said and Mash agreed.
"Yes, senpai…we should hurry and retreat as well. If we continue to stay here, we'll get flanked by both..:." Mash was about to comment further, when one of the robots appeared behind them, ready to open a cannon fire. Shirou and Arturia were already moving in servant speeds, but none of them would be fast enough to stop a cannon bullet. Mash was closer and shifted her shield to block the incoming projectile. However, she also wasn't fast enough to fully block and it ricocheted on the ground, sending Ritsuka flying up in the air.
"SENPAI!"
Ritsuka was sent into unconsciousness before he realized what happened.
===Inside a Healing Tent===
"Patient no. 99, severely wounded. The wound on the right arm is serious. Amputation is recommended."
The feminine voice reached Ritsuka's ears, but it was different from the others. "Left femur also shattered, I don't think it can be saved."
"Ah miss, leave it to me, I can heal him." Ritsuka recognized Shirou's voice, despite his memory is foggy as to what exactly happened.
"I'm responsible for attending the wounded in this war, stranger…this is my job."
The feminine voice appeared to be arguing with Shirou before Ritsuka felt a bright warm energy fill his insides.
"I understand, but Ritsuka is our responsibility." Ritsuka's eyes slowly opened up as he eyed Shirou using his healing magecraft of him. Mash was by his side, holding his left hand, worried like hell. Arturia and Jeanne were nowhere to be seen and there was another person in the tent with them. A woman with silver pink hair, tied in a ponytail, red eyes, dressed in a red coat, with a black skirt and white boots and gloves. She appeared to be focusing on his wounds and at Shirou's miracle hands.
"Senpai! Oh, I'm so glad you're alright!" Mash was hovering over him, completely worried still.
"He's going to be fine, Mash...just a little more and he will be in full health." Mash turned to Shirou and was glad that her senior servant had knowledge in healing magecraft.
"That's quite amazing, sir…normally, this wound right here would demand amputation. You could use your ability to heal the others as well."
Shirou turned to the new girl and grunted while finishing Ritsuka's treatment. Still, the woman kept on going and Mash was already getting irritated. "We need to treat others as quickly and thoroughly as possible. In the field of medicine, there's no room for hesitation. Limbs, organs, and all that which no longer can be saved, must be removed in order to save the patient. Amputating the limbs would prevent the blood from reaching unnecessary areas…and by keeping those wounds clean, we can prevent them from getting infected." Mash was about to criticize her for trying to interrupt Shirou's concentration on fixing Senpai when the thought reached her.
"Hey…would you stop…wait…all that talk about medicine…cleanliness…you're a servant, aren't you?" Shirou stopped the flow of medicine mage craft as Ritsuka got up with Mash's help.
"I don't see why that matters, girl…as long as I'm summoned here, I'll only think about how to follow my conviction. Now, you their redhead, are you going to help me heal the rest or not?" Shirou scratched the back of his head, wondering about this woman's insistence. Normally, he would attend to her request without thinking, but they were still due to understanding much of what was going on, right now. However, since he took too long in answering, she was eventually fed up with waiting.
"Okay, I don't have time to waste here, if you're not going to help, then begone. I have a next patient to tend to." The woman in red then left the tent they were in.
"Mash, where are we?" The shielder servant turned her attention from the nurse servant to Ritsuka.
"Ah, well, Arturia and Jeanne are outside the tent, keeping guard for us…as to where we are, I don't really know myself. But this is the rear base of the American Independence Army. In that battle we saw, the American side lost. Their forces retreated from the front line. After one of the robots shot us, they took us here to treat you. I don't know who's on the other side. Arturia-taichou mentioned that their fighting style is familiar, though she couldn't recall." Ritsuka grunted a bit but managed to get up from where he was sitting now.
"I think I recognize as well, but it's too soon to make an educated guess." Mash nodded at Shirou's remark and then turned to Ritsuka.
"At least, we're certain that it's not the British army. Another strange thing is that this army's flag is different than what I was expecting it to be…not to mention those strange robots."
"We can at least try to ask that nurse some questions, then, about what is going on?" Mash, though, only snorted in derision at that notion.
"Yeah, I tried that before…but she isn't exactly cooperative right now. Any talk besides healing patients and…amputating limbs…she just doesn't want to hear." Shirou chuckled at the last part. "Plus, from the way she talks and expresses herself, I think she was summoned as a berserker, which means that getting her to talk won't be an easy feat, senpai. Also, I can't be certain yet, but from the history books and the way she acts, I believe her true name is Florence Nightingale." Despite Mash's inclination to avoid talking with Nightingale, it was imperative that they established at least a connection with her, or else, they will still be in the dark about this singularity.
Shirou sighed, seeing as he would have to accept her behest for now. Upon hearing her name, the woman made herself known once more.
"Did someone speak my name? Begone from my tent, I have to tend to the patients." Shirou looked at Mash and both nodded before the redhead offered his services.
"Ms. Nightingale, if I offer my assistance in aiding the other patients, can you tell us what's going on right now?" The nurse's eyes focused on Shirou's for a while, saying nothing and betraying nothing. Like a sphynx and looking at the revolver strapped to her waist, Mash had no doubt that the woman wouldn't hesitate to use it if given the chance. Not that Shirou couldn't stop her in time, but causing a scene right now just wasn't advisable. Nightingale, for her chance, looked at the injured free Ritsuka and then turned to Shirou.
"Let's heal them all first and then I shall answer your questions. Your name is…" The redhead smiled and Mash felt the tension vanish.
At least, it was a start for them, seeing that senpai was almost killed and on her watch, no less.
"Shirou…Emiya Shirou, at your service."
Author Note
Please tell me your thoughts.
Not much to comment on, for now, the singularity shall run its course, with a few additions of my own, considering the servants that appear and their bonds with the servants from Chaldea.
Some familiar faces will of course return and one long-awaited encounter shall occur next chapter.
I don't know if I will be able to place another chapter before the year-end festivities, so I hereby wish to everyone an anticipated happy holidays and please take care of yourselves and your loved ones. Covid appears to make its face known once more, so please get vaccinated if you haven't already. Aside from that, stay safe…reach out to others as many times as you can…reach out to others who you know could use a comforting hug…let them know that whatever is going on in their lives shall one day pass and the pain will stop. Calling out for help as well is just as important as reaching out to others. Focus foremost on your mental health and seek every single opportunity available to get out and exercise. A simple walk, sometimes, towards any direction or no direction at all, can do wonders for the mind.
I know I don't talk about this much, but I feel nowadays is important.
There are many invisible hazards in the world that are invisible and sometimes, these harms are caused by our own actions or omissions and it hit us and our loved ones deeper, because of it.
Once again, happy holidays to everyone and may 2023 be better for everyone.
Lastly, I have recently created a P-atreon account for those who wish to follow my stories more personally, sending suggestions and occasional polls to help me.
Also, for those who wish to make a pledge there, it would be greatly appreciated.
P-atreon Account: Anime-Enthusiast
Next update: Cursed Eyes
