"Ah, my King." Kotomine Kirei greeted with a calm smile despite the presence of the Strongest Servant by his side, "Whatever is on your mind?"
From the outside perspective, it was like Kotomine was talking about the weather.
The person in question doesn't even pay attention to the Evil Priest's pointless quip and merely moves to stand directly before all of them.
"Kotomine..." Slitted red eyes scrutinized them one by one as if dissecting them. Finally, his penetrating gaze fell on the sole redhead of the group, "...an Ishtar look-like, a pathetic imitation of the lesser grail and Faker." He spat the last word as if after eating something disgusting.
The Golden Servant, though his True Name was Gilgamesh of Uruk. The King of Heroes in the future (or past?), also to be known as The One Who Saw Everything.
He looks intimidating. Shirou thinks, meeting this Heroic Spirit for the first time.
At least that's what his legend and title indicated, excerpts of which were given to them by Saber. It seemed that Gilgamesh liked to brag about it to her.
Although Shirou couldn't imagine meeting him wearing swim trunks and sunglasses on his nose. One could still see some of his pristine hair hadn't fully dried.
And was there actually a slide pontoon in his hand? Why was it gold-themed?
Clearly, Gilgamesh was preoccupied with something more important than the Holy Gral War. Even the hot summer air didn't stop him from going all out.
And they disturbed him in doing so.
"Who of you mongrels is responsible?"
Because none wanted to provoke a fight, Saber stopped them from saying anything. Warning that any word could lead him to resent them.
But Shirou thought it was rude to keep a person waiting.
"Well—" Before he could say anything, Shirou felt Rin's hand covering his mouth.
Her eyes screamed at him to try something.
Try to say something idiot, and you're dead! That's what they were relaying, probably. Scary. Reluctantly he refrained from saying more, choosing to remain quiet.
Shirou didn't want to know what abilities the King of Heroes wielded; being targeted by him sounded like a death sentence.
Instead, Shirou saw out of the corner of his eye Kotomine Kirei who outright smirked when he saw the redhead staring.
Oh no.
"My King it seems that Emiya Shirou is the answer to the issue at hand." This servant of the Devil! He couldn't help himself, could he?! "An unnamed force took him here, and us along as well. Through our connection, I dare say you were dragged against your will."
The King of Uruk was visibly displeased with this answer, "I see—"
"AS IF YOU FAKE PRIEST!"
"Nee-san!" Sakura shook from her frozen state, "Stop casting curse spells on everyone we meet!"
"Rin!" Saber is radiating anger, taking the black-haired magus out of the way before the golden weapons pierce her, "For you to attack next to the opposing Servant!? What were you thinking?!"
"You dare to interrupt the King!? With this foolish attempt!" Gilgamesh sounds enraged, golden portals moments before forming, "Seeing your face is already insulting to myself. To think I would be summoned to the era when Ishtar clone is walking Earth."
"Stop calling me that!" Rin shouts back, even more agitated than before, "You killed father!"
To see the same man through whom her mother and father ended up like this! She couldn't leave it at that!
This statement seemed to satisfy Gilgamesh as he raised a brow arrogantly, "Hoh? Is that why you hold such animosity towards your King? Because of Tokiomi?"
Golden Bastard! Rin shouts in her mind.
Jewels began to glow. The air around jeweled magus cracked.
This finally seemed to make Rin snap, a very chilling expression set on the girl's face. Only, rather than experiencing fear, Gilgamesh appeared amused.
Seeing her like that, Shirou couldn't help it, "STOP!"
"Senpai, please don't do anything reckless." Sakura pleaded with watery eyes. He noticed she was hurting as well. Most likely worried about his well-being.
However, his sudden movement didn't escape Gilgamesh's gaze, and Shirou found himself facing it with a flinch.
"So Faker can speak?" The pressure increased, "I'd have believed you to continue to imitate a mute."
"I..." Faced with such a powerful presence of the Servant, Shirou managed to barely manage find activate his voice accords, " Are you going to call me a Faker every time I say something?" What had he done to earn such a name in the first place? Was it because of his Projections? "Your Majesty, please hear out my words."
Shirou declared, trying to fake at least some noble courtesy.
"Very well, a subject, even a mongrel like you shall remain heard by his King. Your request for an audience has been granted. Speak, Faker."
"You're the King of Heroes aren't you?" Shirou said uncertainly, not wanting to offend someone who could potentially end his life faster than the boy could take a breath, "I read about you after Saber told us of the previous war. The ancient King of Mesopotamia."
For a moment, it honestly seemed as though the Servant was surprised hearing said words.
Sakura noticed what he was trying to do, judging by the way a lamp lit over her head, "That's right! The Gilgamesh, who is later known as the Wise King!"
Sakura! Shirou silently thanked her for help. She truly is a fellow Ally of Justice!
"Your attempts at flattery are adorable at best." The Servant formed an entertained expression before saying, "I will forgive your attempts to come under my good side. It's natural, after all, for mongrels such as you sought to receive this King's favor."
We won't fight today. Was what he tried to say - Shirou finally breathed in relief.
Shirou turned his gaze to his companion who until now had stood like a statue, finding her movement unlocked after her Master addressed her.
"Saber?" The redhead addressed her, worried more than ever, "Is something wrong?"
"You..." Saber said with Excalibur already in her hands and a grip of steel, "You are alive." She was obviously referring to Gilgamesh.
"Humpf," The Golden King merely huffed smugly in response, his eyes sparkling with unknown intent, "I see that time has not affected your beauty Saber." However, after a moment, any sign of satisfaction faded from his face, "I wish we could speak under different circumstances."
"How? Why didn't you show up even once in the war? Where have you been?" She gritted her teeth and searched for openings, "And why are you dressed in these revealing... outfit?"
"A King like me has to look finest under all. You should know that as well." It's natural after all, "I used to entertain myself with the few things that mankind has invented."
"Do not jest with me!" Saber called out heatedly, one wrong word and she would have his head, "I'd be happy to cut my own throat sooner than believe that you had no purpose in any of this!"
"I will amuse you. The Grail never held any interest for me, why should I fight for something that already belongs to me? Whatever work I put into getting it no longer matters, I have found what I was looking for. It's a pity, however, that we were on different sides."
"Surely you lie!"
At this, Gilgamesh loses all humor, and a flash of raw anger enters his piercing orbs, "You would dare to label me a liar? Why would I lie? I haven't interfered in your little game of self-assurance since the war began. And yet here I am, feeling more disrespected than ever."
"You have..." The Servant of Sword says slowly. Saber stares in disbelief. If not for the possible threat of him attacking out of nowhere, she would try to rub her eyes, "...changed."
This was the same Servant who repeatedly wanted to inflict suffering on her for his amusement and pleasure. It almost seemed as if Gilgamesh... grown... up?
"You mistake my mercy for change," The Golden Archer replies in return to her statement. Unbeknownst to even him, Gilgamesh, in fact, had changed. He no longer was as prone to unnecessary wrath as before.
Ten years was enough to tone down his temper. What they mistook is that he wasn't precisely Gilgamesh the Wise King of Uruk. Whereas he was far from his Caster version, there was no denying that he had gained in maturity. His Archer Version was during half of his full journey, not long after the death of Enkidu.
Could a Servant, despite the determined Spirit Origin, have altered? That was the question posed.
"So..." Shirou breaks the moment, not quite getting the point, "...peace?"
Sakura wants to cry. While she loves her Senpai, he is so clueless about the mood most of the time.
"..."
"Kuhuhuhuhuhuhu..
AHA HA HA HA HA HA HA!" A burst of laughter comes from no one else than the Golden King, presumably hearing the best joke since appearing here, "You would make a splendid jokester in Uruk!"
"Thanks?"
"Senpai..."
"Master, he is calling you jester." Saber sighed, feeling an itching need to slash at something before ultimately shifting her sword to face all of them, "At any rate, I suggest we should speak about our role here."
"May the Lord show us the way." Kirei Kotomine agrees with her reasoning and proceeds to take out his backup mapu tofu, "And divine food."
"Where did you hide this?" Shirou asks more than bewildered. Did the Priest's vestments have some hidden pockets for bowls? How does that even work?
"The dark side of the—"
Shirou stopped him with his hand high in the air, already knowing the answer.
"This is getting old," Sakura commented somehow dryly despite her soft-spoken nature. It was true though.
Before anyone could say something, a forgotten but still present person growls.
"Is this some joke?" Hisses the black-haired girl.
Tohsaka Rin's voice brings everyone back that the jewel in her hand is still pulsating with a prepared witchcraft.
Peace was never an option.
"Are you trying to cooperate with him of all people, Saber?" The young magus can't help but feel sheer aversion to the idea, "Weren't you fully against it before? I feel like I'm the only one here who is sane! With Goldie of all people?!"
"Onore!" Said Servant didn't take kindly to her words, "Do you have a death wish?!"
They glare hatefully at each other like two beasts about to be at their throats.
"Rin," Shirou purses his lips in displeasure, "Remember our conversation about second chances?" He reprimands with Sakura nodding by his side.
"Shut up you hero-wannabe!"
"Rin, while I understand your concerns. You should not underestimate Gilgamesh, he is still a powerful Servant. We don't know what dangers await us here, it's unwise to not take whatever information we have at hand."
She continues firmly, "As much as I dislike it, we have to grit our teeth and push through it. Together. Shirou and Sakura support my claim as well." The two found themselves nodding at her words like lost ducks. Truly, Charisma B rank is a fearsome ability, "I promise you as the Ruler of Camelot that your revenge on them shall not be forgotten."
Perhaps under everyone's eyes, or perhaps because of the influence Saber now had on her, Tohsaka Rin is finally putting her assault to rest, "I... fine!" Rin, quick with words before setting her eyes on Kirei, "But I will have your head to then dissect it." She declares with a cold smile.
"Be welcome to try." The Fake Priest responds and before he can anger her more a voice shatters this unfortunately.
Shirou tries to calm Rin down with a hand on her shoulder while Sakura hugs her. The girl reluctantly lets them do as they please.
"Now that your pitiful concerns have ended, we shall begin. If you wish to know enough then listen closely, mongrels," Gilgamesh announces loud and clear. All of sudden there is nothing but pure silence — no one knows why exactly, and yet all listen. So easily garnering all attention. Gilgamesh savors the effect it has on them.
The entire dark alley seems to light up at his presence alone. Shadows escaped from him in a hurry.
A grin sprouted on his flawlessly shaped face, "While you might think that our presence here is coincidental I shall lead you out of that mistake," He elaborates a moment later, "The creature that has gathered us here purely seeks to have us play by its rules, there is nothing more insulting to the King to be subservient to the other. To think that I will still be exploited in this time."
There is a genuine fury at the end of his speech, his hatred of the divine shows more than ever at this moment.
"Saber, have you noticed anything since we got here? Was someone attempting to alter your connection to Faker?"
Taking his question seriously and rightly so, "It's true. Someone tried to separate me and my contract with the Master." She recalls the sensation before everything went black, "However, I didn't let it last. My connection with Shirou won't be severed that easily."
"What?!" Rin exclaims in a flustered tone, "Why didn't you say anything?"
Was this why she felt Archer so far away?
Saber is a little embarrassed with her cheeks showing hints of pink dust, "I must admit that it was my fault. Initially, I thought it was a miscalculation on my part, so I didn't want to cause unnecessary distress."
"Saber is correct," The King of Heroes says, "However, you failed to notice the most important detail Saber. Can you sense it? That disgusting stench of filth that lingers around us? It seems that only myself, Saber, and her Master along with the purple-haired mongrel are without it."
"What did you say!?" Everyone looked at Rin, who stood horrified and insulted with her arms crossed. Was he saying that she wasn't showering properly?!
The Golden Servant sighs in exasperation upon sighting their expressions, "Do not think of brainless things mongrels. The sinful miasma of this creature sticks to you like a bee to honey. It has left its mark on her."
"Why me?" The black-haired magus is horrified at the thought of some possibly impacting her and worries that it could affect her magecraft.
It's so unfair!
"Why not Kirei too?!" That is a good question, "He is here as well!"
"That is an intriguing prospect," Surprisingly, Kotomine Kirei is also puzzled, "Am I also under the influence of this miasma?"
"No Kotomine, you are as rooten as ever." His King easily answers, "I do not see it." He said, simply not noticing the difference from the usual presence his subject gives.
"Once an evil priest, always an evil priest." Shirou deduces in short, and well, he is not exactly wrong.
None of them notices Sakura quietly standing motionless with her hands behind her back. Nor does anyone ask why she is untouched by the miasma. Some things are better left unknown.
"Then why is this different? King Gilgamesh?" Sakura asks the question haunting them, "Even if you are Servants, shouldn't your Spirit Core also be affected?
"I presume Saber was spared by the Noble Phantasm residing in her Master's body." Their dumbfounded expressions give great satisfaction to the Golden Servant, no doubt they were not expecting these words.
"My Noble Phantasm... there is no way... A-avalon?" Saber looks shocked, hearing about it for the first time. It was the same with Shirou, Kiritsugu Emiya hid many things from them. Evident was to the King of Knights that her justice-oriented Master knew nothing judging by his stunned face.
But if it's true, it would explain why her Master is immune to foul influence despite coming in contact with it. No sin shall survive when Sheath of Avalon is active, "How do you know this?" Saber demands in a no-jokes manner.
The pair of slit eyes narrowed sharply. Gilgamesh doesn't appear intimidated in the slightest, "Do not think me blind Saber. Nothing escapes the eyes of the King, your fae artifact is no exception, especially one present in a human container."
"So what now?" Rin Tohsaka asks, no longer caring about anything, no mind-crushing revelation will move her at this point, "What, I should just accept that some creature has attached its stench to me and that's it?" She is crestfallen.
Just great, first her only Servant disappears, and now this.
Shirou is quick to improve her mood, "Don't worry Rin, I think you still smell just as always." His sensitive nose can't detect anything out of the norm, maybe miasma is impossible for a standard human to detect.
"Y-you." Rin feels heat traveling down her neck, "Allowing you to say something!" She promptly ignores the look Sakura throws her way, not wishing more of this madness to claim her.
Saber pretends not to hear it. For some things, it's better to be blissfully unaware. Turning to Gilgamesh, who by this time looks to be enjoying seeing the Ishtar clone in an uncomfortable position, she asks, "What are you planning to do, Gilgamesh? I can't imagine that you of all people stay idle. Do you wish to stay with us?"
The Servant of the Sword already knows enough about the King of Heroes, he is the last person who will allow himself to be caught up in any schemes laid out by an unknown variable, "Your assistance as well as combat prowess would be greatly appreciated in this unfamiliar land."
The Golden Servant glances at her as if expecting this. He smirks before replying, "It's expected that you wish for my presence. However, this King declines your invitation. I will not grace you. Being in the presence of Faker is already enough of an offense as it is." He speaks arrogantly as always. A foreboding glimmer shines in his eye.
In the end, he begins to unleash a murderous aura. Here he was, this was the Gilgamesh of the Fourth War who punished who he wished, "I was the last of you to get here." The king reveals, sparing no words.
Trying to anchor him to its will. This insolent creature.
Such a level of impudence will not be forgiven.
Imitating the Authority of the gods to infect him with its disgusting stench. Now that it has perceived its mistake. Continuing to hide in the shadows.
Whoever brought these mongrels here by no degree expected that of all people Gilgamesh would be one of them.
A very cold smile stretches on Gilgamesh's face, "It won't escape my judgment. Sooner or later I will find it and purge its filth." Everyone got shivers hearing his words.
Before they can take it, three shadows reveal themselves to the group.
"Oi! Give all of your money or get stabbed!" One of the thugs, the blue-haired one with purple streaks, points at Gilgamesh and sneers, "And you, pretty face without a shirt! You a noble, ain'tcha? Better empty your pockets or else things gonna get ugly!"
A vein threatening to explode appears on the King of Heroes' forehead.
A/N: And the prologue ended!
Thanks for reading through this chapter! Hope you enjoyed it!
When it comes to route, well, it is obvious that this is an AU where things happened and I won't be explaining them to you. But in short: Shirou doesn't know about his Reality Marble. Saber lives, Sakura lives, everyone lives!
Because why not?
As I have said, this is half-serious, so some things will be for humor and some serious 'cause it can't be full comedy all the time. There would be no plot at all and this isn't a Carnival Phantasm.
As for Gilgamesh and his behavior. I honestly changed a little bit of him I know, but that's because I can't imagine that after 10 years Gilgamesh remains fully the same asshole he is in Fate Zero. A person like Gilgamesh with such powerful abilities shouldn't be unchangeable and only see everything negative from what came out of humanity.
Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe I'm spouting nonsense, but that's how I feel.
This is at least my opinion. I'd love to hear your thoughts on this. The very character of Gilgamesh that he has towards others also depends heavily on the situation so that comes into account too.
Gilgamesh won't be staying long with them. I plan to separate him in the next chapter. It wouldn't make sense for him to stick around.
YES, I KNOW HOW OVERPOWERED HE IS. NO NEED TO POINT IT OUT! I will try to do it justice later in the story.
Well, that's it, Ciao~! More action in the next part.