Normal text is for regular speech and descriptions

Italicized text is for internal thoughts, emphasis, flashbacks, radio transmissions, and/or telepathic messages

Underlined text is for Noble Phantasms, Skills, and chanted spells and special techniques

Bold text is for shouting and/or dark speech

Bold italicized text is for Angra Mainyu

The Holy Grail… An object of omnipotent potential, coveted by many. Any wish one carried within their core, this blessed chalice would grant, in theory. Some desire it to attain godhood, others to learn the ultimate truths of this world, and others more for their personal, selfish wishes. And a select few would be willing to give everything for the sake of it granting their hearts' desires. Even fewer of these were worthy of such power.

And to obtain this power, three magus families, two-hundred years ago, set the crucible for a legacy of heavy and terrible battles in a humble little city of Japan.

The Holy Grail Wars.

Once every sixty years, the leyline of Fuyuki City would generate enough magical energy for the Grail to manifest, then seven people would be chosen as Masters; candidates determined by fate to battle for the right of this treasure's power. And as for weapons, these Masters would wield Heroic Spirits as their Servants.

Heroic Spirits: legendary characters of history (said history not limited to that of our world) whose stories had allowed them to transcend the natural orders and enter the Throne of Heroes. Even those deemed "weak" stood in terms of power far beyond any regular human. Real or not, historical or fictional, these beings were formed and empowered by their own legends, and once sufficient mana was accumulated, they could be called forth into the world. As the Holy Grail summoned them, each one would be bound to one of the Masters by powerful Command Seals, fulling establishing them as Servants.

Saber, Lancer, Archer, Rider, Caster, Assassin, and Berserker: seven classes, one for each Servant. Each class had its own strengths and weaknesses, and as in any war, the Servant's own nature, as well as their relationship with their Master, played no small part in deciding the outcome of the mighty battles fought. The War would end when only one team remained standing, the other Servants having been recalled into the Grail to fuel its power, and then Master and Servant would each possess the right to make their wish.

In theory, simple. Yet no war is ever simple. The Einzberns, Tohsakas, and Makiris, now the Matous, turned on each other for the sake of this single wish, and the presence of outsider magi only increased the strife. Three times now, the Grail had the possibility of manifesting, and three times, none succeeded in reaching it. The first one couldn't even be called a proper War, but a small "quarrel," ending before it had even begun. The second had been a bloody disaster, necessitating proper rules to be established (though one certain Servant still remains on Earth to this day). The third occurred in the 1930s, where the wider world was on the precipice of its Second World War. Even with the Imperial Army and the "Nationalsozialisten" involving themselves, the ritual failed yet again with Jubstacheit von Einzbern barely managing to salvage the Lesser Grail, an important key for obtaining the treasure, for future plans. Only this time, the results were even worse than anyone knew.

In an attempt to gain a unique advantage, the Einzberns had changed the game and summoned a different sort of Servant: Angra Mainyu of Avenger class, All the World's Evil. This supposed devil god of Zoroastrian culture turned out to be a weakling among Servants, dispatched quickly in the War's early stages. His true danger emerged when he returned to the Holy Grail, a blank slate that truly turned him into what his legends depicted him as. And inadvertently corrupting itself in the process.

Now unknown to nearly all, Angra Mainyu slumbers within the Grail, gathering mana, waiting for seven Masters to call upon his home and fight for the fulfillment of their deepest desires. Not realizing that the victor would then bring forth a power darker than this world had ever known before.

The year is 1994. The Fourth Holy Grail War is soon to commence in Fuyuki City. Most of the Masters have registered to the Church's overseer, himself secretly sworn of loyalty to one of them, and begun preparations to maximize the odds of victory in their favors.

In the prime timeline, seven Servants would answer the call. In alternate timelines, Angra Mainyu would grow bored and choose to mix things up a little.

This timeline… is a little different. For another one with great power has taken an interest in the flow of the Fourth Grail War, and how it may end, few may anticipate...

Tokiomi Tohsaka, head of the proud Tohsaka family and chosen Master for the War soon to come, stood within the basement of his family's mansion in Miyama Town, the suburban part of Fuyuki. Tall, dressed in an exquisitely tailored crimson suit, with blue eyes (and a meticulously groomed goatee) that displayed his intelligence and confidence for all that looked upon him. Said eyes now focused on a magical contraption as it scribbled down very important information. An incredibly delicate work of magic art involving his inherited jewel magecraft, yet magnificent in how it absorbed intel from across the globe and produced perfectly legible text with no errors whatsoever. Far superior to that "fox machine" or whatever the magic-less people used in Tokiomi's eyes.

As he cut away the paper from its roll before the ink had fully dried, footsteps approached him from behind. "To this day, I still think that device is unreliable," Kirei Kotomine muttered in his usual emotionless tone. He stood three inches taller than Tokiomi and wore the more conservative cloths of a priest. More specifically, if one noted the trained muscles and Black Keys hidden in his robes' sleeves, an Executor of the Church.

Tokiomi released a small hm in amusement as his eyes drifted from the report to look into the oddly dull eyes of his approaching secret apprentice; another asset to securing victory in this War. "It does not require external power, so there is no risk of a blackout depriving us of information, and it can't be intercepted like some machines and their transmissions, from what I've heard." Kirei made as if to elaborate on the (utterly useless and inferior) aspects of technology, but he continued. "This is a new report from Clock Tower. Lord El-Melloi apparently managed to acquire a second relic. This all but guarantees his participation."

"Two spaces are still open," Kirei pointed out as he stopped next to the large working table, "which concerns me." His posture did seem tense, though it seemed there was more than just the reason he had given.

Tokiomi remained confident. "Don't worry, the Grail will always choose seven candidates once the time is right, no matter how skilled they are. And the ones that fill the slots are almost always the weakest of the bunch. They could hardly trouble us." He began to walk to the other side of the table. "More importantly, Kirei. You made sure no one witnessed you entering the mansion, yes?"

"Of course," was Kirei's matter-of-fact reply. "There aren't any familiars or magical devices of any sort of concealment monitoring this mansion. Though…"

"Affirmative." A new voice echoed through the room. A cloud of black mist gathered next to Kirei, condensing into a solid shape; a thin, yet muscular man of dark skin. While his torso was uncovered, his legs wore black pants wrapped tight by a tattered strap of the same color around his waist. Black slipper-like shoes covered his feet, while the only color alternative came from the dark brown wrappings around his forearms and the white skull mask affixed to his face. "Whatever tricks one might try, none can fool my eyes, the eyes of Hassan, Heroic Spirit of subterfuge." Assassin rose his right fist to above his heart and bowed his head in respect to both his Master, who bore the Command Seals that confirmed their contract, and the one his Master answered to. "Rest assured."

"And if a foreign Servant were to be summoned, my father should know." Kirei added, referring to the fact that the allegedly neutral overseer provided by the Church was another secret ally to Tokiomi. Something about the choice of words caught the senior magus' attention, though.

And then he noticed a minute twitching in Assassin's limbs, a curling of his fingers. Something was off. "Is there a problem, Kirei?"

Kotomine seemed more relaxed than his Servant, ironically, but at second glance, his posture was stiffer than usual. He glanced towards the wraith-like being. "Assassin, you are dismissed. Continue guarding the surrounding area."

The Servant almost sounded relieved when he replied, "As you wish," and quickly dematerialized. Now Kirei and Tokiomi stood alone in the workshop.

For a while, the student said nothing, then when Tokiomi made to repeat his inquiry, his answer came. "…It is as Assassin and I said. No signs of enemy activity around the manor. And like you told me, it is doubtful that the other Masters would be on the move this early." Kirei turned to look him in the eyes. "But when I first summoned Assassin as you had instructed, there was an…" Something resembling an edge slipped into the priest's next words, piquing Tokiomi's interest. Even this level of emotion was rare for him. "Unexpected development."

Tokiomi now focused on him completely. "What do you mean?" A miniscule seed of concern blossomed inside his mind, though he kept it suppressed. This was his best chance, his only chance in his lifetime, to reach Akasha, the root of all knowledge. He'd prepared as much as he could, taken multiple precautions befitting a true mage, all for this opportunity to win the Holy Grail. For the honor and sake of his family. If he failed now, chances were Rin would have to…

A slight tremor, followed by another, shook Tokiomi from the mental image of his precious daughter. He glanced around his workshop to watch how loose items slightly bounced about on the shelves and tables, glass rattling, as these sounds drew closer. A second later, he realized they were footprints. Heavy footprints. And then their source came around the same corner Kirei had taken, ducking his silver head a bit lest it scrape against the stones of the ceiling. The Executor himself seemed to grow more tense as this newcomer stepped into the light.

He was massive, easily eight feet tall and larger in "muscle" than any other person the head of the Tohsaka family had encountered in his life. Clad in shining silver armor with the upper arms in a darker gray and splashes of violet around his neck and his lower legs. The shoulders had additional pads with sharp spikes, while a large cylinder of silver and violet was affixed to his right arm, Tokiomi soon realizing that it was some kind of sleek cannon. The chest armor bared some symbol of the same dark purple, a sharp face without mouth that gave off a menacing air. Atop the titan's head rested a flat helmet with sleek sides and two blade-like protrusions that went alongside his cheeks. Tokiomi understood after another few seconds of analyzing his limbs and armor that this being was actually a machine, not a person of flesh and blood.

But as Tokiomi's eyes rose up to meet his, barely registering the scribbling of more information from the device behind him, he somehow knew this machine was sentient. Twin orbs of crimson leered down at him, alight with intelligence, ambition…, and malice.

Then the titan smiled, revealing rows of shark-like metal teeth, and spoke. "Unexpected development? Such an unflattering description, Master." The words were deep, rasped, sharp, giving the impression of a cross of a charismatic politician and a seasoned warrior. And more than a little bit self-assured.

Those unsettling red eyes glanced over towards Kirei, amusement flashing in them as one of the Executor's hands clenched. "If I am to be introduced to the Master of my Master as another tool in his arsenal, you could add a little more flair to my presentation."

"I've never been much of a showman." Kirei's voice was flat, as ever. Or from how the older mage noted his grip tightened, forced to remain flat. He was on edge.

And another glance at the lightly chuckling titan's body showed that, yes, this one was another Servant. As a proper Master chosen by the Holy Grail, Tokiomi possessed the special Clairvoyance that allowed him to see Servants' information. Parameters and Skills flashed around his silver body, easily readable to the seasoned magus. And from what he could tell, this one was a very powerful Servant. Most of his traits were B-rank at least, with few signs of any weaknesses.

Tokiomi then noticed a trickle of liquid rolling down the side of his face. Am I… afraid of this Servant? No, calm yourself. Even the strongest Servants are mere tools. There is no reason to fear them when you control them. He quickly straightened and recomposed himself. Panic would only dull his mind. Instead, he concentrated on the behemoth before him. "Another tool, you say?" He plastered a relaxed smile on his face and kept his voice steady even as those orbs bore down on him. A Tohsaka retains control, regardless of the situation. "Kirei, if you'd be so kind, elaborate."

The son of Risei Kotomine nodded but continued to watch the present Servant. "The summoning ritual was performed exactly as you had schooled me, and Assassin appeared within the Circle. However," Kirei then lifted both of his hands to show their backs to his teacher, "he was not alone."

Tokiomi stared at the Command Seals adorning both hands. One he was already familiar with, a swirling mixture of curves and sweeps, the other a red version of the face on the titan's chest. His thoughts raced. Two Servants under his command?! But… his mana output is higher than normal, but not above what a Master would regularly emanate with just one. And he doesn't seem so much as tired, whereas even a full-class mage would be exhausted from the energy of manifesting multiple Servants. What has happened?

"If I may continue, Master?" That rasp from interjected through his pondering. At a nod from his Master, the Servant lifted the iron stake-like fingers of his right hand to his chest and mimicked Assassin's earlier bow towards Tokiomi Tohsaka, though this one gave off less reassurance. Probably because of the predatory smile adorning his steel face. "I am Rider X, and it seems that contraption behind you is not the only one that brings important news for this Holy Grail War."

Close by or continents away, four other completely different Masters were making their own preparations over the next few days to summon their tools for war, for now still unaware of the altercations.

In London, Kayneth El-Melloi Archibald was still bitter about the theft of his original catalyst, the verbal jabs of his fiancée, Sola-Ui Nuada-Re Sophia-Ri, not helping his mood, but he nevertheless kept his confidence. With the Lancer he intended to summon, Sola-Ui's contribution to their contract, and his own thaumaturgical brilliance, this game would be his.

Back in Fuyuki, a student he had publicly mocked, Waver Velvet, had just put the elderly couple he was staying with into a hypnotic slumber so they would not interfere with the ritual. Still giddy about the fresh Command Seals on his right hand, he knew this event would be the chance to prove to Kayneth and the entire mage world what he could do.

In the Matou residence, on the southern border of Miyama Town, Kariya Matou had just limped all the way down to the basement after making a promise to his "niece", Sakura that once this ridiculous War was over and that blasted cup rested in that monster's hands, he would take her and her true mother and sister away from this hell of a home. Even as the Crest Worms crept their paths throughout his body, hatred of the man that had cast his daughter into this evil, Tokiomi Tohsaka, fueled the crippled man's movements. No matter what pain he had to endure, he would personally crush that arrogant swine in the War.

Far away in Germany, where the Einzbern family resided among a seemingly perpetual winter, a black-suited man with empty eyes who had been welcomed into their home nine years ago strode alongside his beloved wife towards the chapel for the final step. Kiritsugu Emiya, known and despised among the magical communities as the heretical Mage Killer, glanced among his steps to the relic nestled within Irisviel's arms.

Avalon: "The Everdistant Utopia", scabbard of the hallowed sword, Excalibur. Both having been wielded by Arthur Pendragon, King of Knights. Soon to be summoned in the Saber class, thereby making him the strongest combatant in the Fourth Grail War (in theory). Once again, Kiritsugu couldn't help but gaze in awe at how even after fifteen hundred years, the piece of equipment did not have single scratch or blemish anywhere on its blue-and-gold glory.

And once again, that awe turned to scorn when he thought of what the thing and its true owner embodied.

Iri noticed the hardening of his features and looked to the man she loved in concern, prompting him to give her a soft smile, which she returned. This calmed Kiritsugu's mind and heart again, and he focused again on the path ahead. He couldn't allow himself to be distracted by bitterness towards the idealistic nonsense of "Heroic Spirits" or even his love for his family. For the war ahead, he needed to become the machine that is Kiritsugu Emiya once again.

Which is why he believed with all his soul the battle strategy he had recently devised would be the most optimal for this Master-Servant pair. While the ever-so-gallant Saber would move alongside Iri, creating the illusion of her being his Master, and confront the enemy head-on, Kiritsugu could then slip into the shadows and pick them off from behind, one-by-one. It played to everyone's respective strengths and minimized the chances of Kiritsugu and Saber's conflicting personalities clashing.

Still, the Mage Killer couldn't help but muse that a Caster or Assassin would be a more optimal partner for him. Oh well, old man Acht has the final word there.

He had let this slide, of course. Let the Einzberns continue to believe that he would retrieve the Holy Grail with which they could achieve their precious Third Magic, "Heaven's Feel." Kiritsugu would very well win the Grail, but the only wish it would fulfill was his own. To bring about a world of peace, free of injustice and violence. A true utopia.

His heart ached with the thought of how bringing about this utopia would require the sacrifice of Iri, his wonderful wife, the homunculus more human than Kiritsugu, and wonderful mother to their dear child, Ilyasviel. Kiritsugu allowed himself another few seconds to bear this agony, then he stepped inside the chapel together with his wife, as they had years ago on their wedding day. One of the happiest moments in the freelancer's life.

Now, as he approached the Magic Circle cast in a special blend of mercury instead of the usual blood (briefly explaining to Iri that the reason the ritual was so simple was thanks to the Grail and he merely needed to anchor the summoned Spirit to him), Kiritsugu prepared himself for this moment where fate would extend its hand.

Splashing a bit more blood into one spot, Waver cast aside the disemboweled rooster to two more behind him. Disgusting business, but a magus needed to get his hands dirty every now and then. The Magic Circle was painted out just as the book had depicted on the ground free of grass, the red cloth he would use as catalyst resting on a stone before it. The young boy stood on the opposite side and steeled himself. "Fill. Fill. Fill. Fill. Fill." He chanted the special words. "Repeat five times, but when each is filled, destroy it." The moon shined through the clouds down on him.

"For the elements silver and iron," Tokiomi chanted, his eyes closed, at the same time in his mansion's chamber, Kotomine father and son as an audience behind him. "The foundation of stone and the archduke of pacts, and for my great master Schweinorg."

And towering over the pair, Rider X watched the spectacle as well with an unnerving sort of eagerness. The unique circumstances to this War still confused the Tohsaka head, and something about that Servant in particular sent a chill down his spine, but he quenched it under the excitement. The fossilized snakeskin he had spent time and money searching for lay on the pedestal ahead, all but guaranteeing the oldest and greatest of all Heroes would appear. And with how the current system worked, he was confident that his magical prowess would bless him with an additional valuable asset.

"Raise a wall against the wind and close the gate of four directions. Come forth from the crown and follow the forked road leading to the kingdom." His Magic Circuits began to crackle with power.

"Heed my words. My will creates thine body, and thine sword creates my destiny." Kayneth proclaimed with pride, thrusting his right hand with the Seals forward inside the luxury suite where he and Sola-Ui, daughter of the Sophia-Ri family and soon-to-be key to his magnificent legacy, had set as base of operations. The Magic Circle in front of them began to glow, mana coursing through the air. No one in the rest of the hotel would notice, of course. Kayneth's first-class Bounded Field saw to that.

His blue eyes glinted in excitement at the preserved rose from Ireland. "If ye heed the grail's call, and accede to my will and reason, then answer my summoning!"

"I hereby swear that I shall be all the good in the world." Inside the Einzbern chamber, Kiritsugu clutched the wrist of his outstretched hand to steady it and continued even as the winds around the Circle accelerated. "And I shall be all that defeats evil in the world!" That much at least, I mean with all my heart.

"But let thine eyes be clouded by turmoil and chaos." Within his wretched basement, Zouken Matou smiled at the additional words he had taught Kariya, the ones that would bestow the summoned Servant with Mad Enhancement and make them the Berserker. The catalyst, a seemingly ordinary shard of wood, remained at its spot despite the increase of the winds' speed and power.

"Thou, trapped in a cage of madness." Tears welled up in Kariya's left, for a year now unseeing eye as the Crest Worms wriggled beneath the skin of his face. Blood trickled down his right, but he pressed on. For Sakura, he reminded himself.

"And I the summoner, holding thine chains!"

"Seventh Heaven clad in the great words of power." Tokiomi steadied his hand as well, the Command Seals on them glowing brightly, while the power surge reached its zenith.

And nearly at the exact same time, five Masters spoke the final part of the incantation.

"Come forth from the circle of binding, Guardian of the Heavenly Scales!"

In five different locations, a blinding flash of light erupted from the Magic Circle, obstructing the vision of those present. The Servants had answered the sacred call.

And at four of these five locations, when the light dimmed, the humans (and one homunculus) were utterly baffled at the result.

Once they could see properly again, Irisviel gasped at who stood inside the Circle. And Kiritsugu couldn't help but share her bewilderment. The newcomer was clad in clothes of gold, white, and blue of a royal shade. Strapped over these garments was silver armor befitting that of the knights extolled in tales of chivalry and heroism. Blonde hair adorned the head, one single strand sticking out at the front. Both hands rested on a European sword neither could even see; a localized windstorm seemed to cover every single detail. All of which should have been signs that he had indeed summoned Arthur Pendragon, the King of Knights.

And yet. "What is this…?"

As they looked down at the alleged Saber, neither could help but notice how the bottom clothing and armor formed into a dress, or the concealed signs of a bosom beneath the breastplate, or the softening of the cheekbones, or the blonde hair tied up in a white bun at the back of a head.

"I ask you…" And that voice, young but proper, dignified, yet pitched higher than what a grown man could utter, was the final proof that Kiritsugu had summoned a girl, "are you my Master?" Her eyes opened to reveal a startling green, alight with the determination of a noble lioness.

For nearly a minute, Kiritsugu could only stare in shock, nearly horror.

"Umm…"

Only then did the three realize that a fourth was present in the room.

Saber(?) spun instantly, the sword her hands had rested on now wreathed in winds and slicing in a practiced motion, every one of her movements evidence of martial prowess.

Yet her blade met only air, as the one who had been standing behind her this entire time leaped over the hidden weapon. The jump turned into a perfect backflip that carried him onto the altar, where he landed into a graceful crouch. The man then rose both hands as a placating gesture. "Easy there," he spoke in a smooth, relaxed voice, as though having an invisible weapon wielded against him warranted little concern. "I didn't mean to startle you. No need for us to fight." The mask covering his lower face made it difficult to judge his words' sincerity.

Saber brought up her weapon's guard to chin level, the blade, were it visible, pointing at the newcomer. "What is your business here?" She inquired in a commanding tone. "Identify yourself."

"Well, um," the stranger closed his single visible eye and scratched the back of his silver hair with one hand while the other remained upraised. "I'm not really sure I can do that, miss. No offense meant, but we're supposed to keep our True Names on a need-to-know basis, right?"

"You're… a Servant, too, then?" Iri asked from behind her husband. The second Kiritsugu had registered the stranger's presence, he had pulled her to safety and drawn the handgun he kept on his person at all times. Like Saber's invisible sword, the barrel was trained at his torso.

"Indeed I am, confusing though this is. Weren't you attempting to summon me?"

Kiritsugu's mind ran through multiple battle scenarios, just as Natalia had taught him. Sure enough, he could read via "Master's Perspective" the abilities of both characters in front of them. Saber and the stranger's parameters appeared to him like the files he had compiled of targets for his missions, and from what he saw, if the two were to fight, determining the victor wouldn't be straightforward.

Under normal circumstances, an ordinary human wouldn't stand a prayer of a chance against a Servant, with or without magic. But if he managed to distract this newcomer at just the right moment, then maybe, just maybe, Saber could strike a vital blow.

Assuming this girl actually was what her legends made her out to be.

With so many variables unaccounted for, the Mage Killer chose to buy some time. "I performed the summon for a Servant," he finally answered, "but it was meant for King Arthur. And I'm still not sure it worked."

Saber's green eyes briefly shifted towards him. "It did, for I am here. And I am indeed the King of Knights and former leader of Britain." She certainly carried the authority, and Kiritsugu found himself believing it via her words, battle stance, and the intel he received on her via Clairvoyance. None of which improved his mood.

He exhaled to keep a level head before refocusing on the other Servant. "Get down from there. Keep your hands visible. I still have questions for you."

The man shrugged. "Not a problem." With a little hop, he landed casually onto the stone floor, his audience noting how Avalon remained undisturbed on the altar. He hadn't even touched it once. Kiritsugu's eyes drifted over the unknown Servant's features. He was a few centimeters taller than the Master himself, dressed in a long-sleeved shirt and pants, both dark blue. A red swirl had been sown onto both of his shirt's shoulders, likely a symbol for some organization. Strapped over the shirt was an olive-green flak jacket with a neck guard and three pouches on each side of the chest too small for grenades. His feet wore blue sandals, with the parts of his lower legs not covered by the pants wrapped in white bandages. Fingerless gloves with metal plates on the backhand covered his hands while another pouch was tied around his right leg.

The man's silver hair spiked out to his left side, and it was frankly the only noticeable feature of his head. Because most of the rest wasn't even visible. A mask the same color as his shirt and pants obscured everything from the nose on down, while a forehead protector had been pulled over his left eye. A metal plate had been affixed to the protector, with a symbol Kiritsugu didn't recognize engraved on it. It looked like a combination of a leaf and a swirling circle.

The Servant then opened his right eye partially, revealing it to be gray, almost black. Its gaze was calm, analytical, like that of a trained veteran. "Once again, I'm sorry for the disruption," the apology sounded sincere, but again, the mask made it difficult to tell. "All I know is that I heard your voice, mister," he tilted his head towards the other male present, "and then I found myself standing in this Circle, with my back to the young miss here."

"How do I know you weren't sent by one of the other Masters?" Kiritsugu hadn't lowered his pistol.

That one eye sharpened by a tiny fraction. "You're still alive, aren't you?"

Saber didn't seem to appreciate that fact. "Are you insinuating that you could have killed him at your leisure, stranger? While I stood in the same room? As a knight, I have no patience for such insults."

"No offense meant, I'm simply saying that you-" Then both Servants suddenly stiffened as though an electric current had passed through them. Their hands fell to their sides, eyes widened in shock, but otherwise no trace of movement from them as minutes passed.

Finally, the male slowly looked down to make contact with the female. "You received it, too?" She nodded dully.

"Received what?" An uncomprehending Kiritsugu asked. This was starting to look too convoluted to be a trap. Just as he made to lower his own weapon, he felt a tugging on his other arm.

"Kiritsugu…" The Mage Killer turned his head just enough to see his wife, who in turn was staring at his left hand. She tugged the arm sleeve again and whispered, "Look." Puzzled, he lifted the appendage a little higher, but only when turning around the hand did he see.

Baffled, Kiritsugu pulled away the gun to check his other hand- Yes, the right one still bore the same Command Seals shaped like a sword (or a cross) as they had for over eight years now. But now, a crimson larger version of the leaf symbol on the foreign Servant was on the left one as well. "What is this…?" he wondered aloud.

"Well, congratulations, Master." The other man's voice made him look sharply at the two Heroic Spirits, both of which still appeared a bit shaken. "Your summoning has now netted you both of us."

Irisviel was the most openly shocked of them all. "But… how?"

Saber shook her head in astonishment. "Just now… I received a special splash of information from the Grail, telling me as well as this one," she gestured with her left hand to the other Servant, "that special circumstances have been invoked." She drew in another breath to steady herself, released it, then continued.

"In this Holy Grail War, the seven Servant classes… each have two Servants participating."

"And while one of each class is a Heroic Spirit whose legends originate from this world's history," the other Servant continued in a similar tone, "the others all come from alternate universes."

Kiritsugu's mind reeled from all of the surprises he had received ever since he had stepped up to the Magic Circle; maybe the strain on his Magic Circuits had caused him to black out and hallucinate? How else could one explain this series of events that derailed every plan he had made? Fourteen Servants in one Grail War? Seven of which coming from other Earths and one amongst that number under his command as well as Saber? Who apparently is King Arthur, but King Arthur was a little girl?!

A clearing of the throat tore him from his jumbled thoughts. Everyone present looked towards the still unnamed Servant, who clapped his hands and closed his eye, what few facial parts that were visible indicating that he was smiling. "Well, then," he shrugged his shoulders high and took on a more jovial tone, "it appears that we're all on the same side, and it just occurred to me that I've yet to introduce myself. How rude of me.

He patted the right side of his chest. "For this War, you can refer to me as Assassin X. I have no desire to tell you my likes and dislikes right now… My wish for the Holy Grail… Hmm… As for my hobbies… I have lots of hobbies…"

At this point, Kiritsugu Emiya just turned away from this whole debacle and stormed out of the chamber.

"Huh… Not much of a sense of humor, I guess…"

Yes, I jumped onto the Fate bandwagon not even a year ago, and inspired in particular by the stories, "Fate: Zero Sanity", "RWBY Zero", "Fate Fantasy" and "The Illegal Grail War" from X the Reaper, TheMaster4444, AgntNevada and ArmoredCoreNineBall, respectively, I decided to try my own luck at a little crossover. Maybe I'm somewhat high off the relative successes of my prior fics, who knows?

Anyways, here's the drill: fourteen Servants summoned (for now, anways), two for each class. Seven are of course the canon ones, the other seven are all from different franchises. Oh, and each Servant requires only half as much mana as they usually would, due to a certain third party providing the Grail with a little extra juice. Certain Servants and/or Noble Phantasms are particularly consumptive, of course, but the proper Masters can handle two Servants contracted to them at the same time. To distinguish them from their regular counterparts, they are referred to by their classes with an X following (because they're "X-tra Servants" ;-)). Let's see who can figure out which is which. I'll make an effort to be descriptive and catch their personalities and badasseries as best as I can! As for the Fate/Zero side, I will be making use of both the anime and the original light novel via translations. I will also be borrowing aspects from an excellent fic named "Love Sprung From Winter" from adoranymph.

Wish me luck! (Constructive criticisms, please, no flames. I'm tender)