Sea of Monsters Chapter 1:
The Start of a Long Voyage
The woman opened the door to the taverna, and kept her hood up. No one bothered to look her way, not even acknowledging her presence. The woman sat down and waved to one of the servers.
"Some wine and food." She said. "Chicken and bread, to be precise."
The man nodded and walked away, leaving the woman alone with her thoughts. She looked around the room, watching as everyone laughed and cursing the name that's been going around for the past few years. The woman said nothing, nor did she seethe in anger. If this was a few years ago, she would have tried to silence them. However, she has accepted it. They hate the person, and why should she care anymore. They don't understand what happened, not like they would believe it anyway. They'll just continue to curse their name.
The server returned with the woman's food and drink, and gave a small nod as he walked away to serve one of the other guests. The woman did not acknowledge him. She simply turned her focus onto the food and wine in front of her, and began to slowly feast on her meal. The woman clicked her tongue in annoyance as she tasted the food. It was absolutely subpar to her standards, and the wine was barely any better. But she had no real choice, this was the best she could do for now. She didn't take long to finish her wine and food, and left some coin on the table. The woman rose from her seat and made her way towards the door.
"Okay, everyone, lend us your ears!" One of the patrons said. "We are about to hear the city's most popular song!"
The woman stopped in her tracks and gritted her teeth as she heard the familiar humming of the singers. Of all the songs to be played, it had to be this one….
~Beware, beware, the devil of the sea~
August 10th, 2015
It's been a peaceful day within the halls in Chaldea. Ritsuka and Tatsuko were chatting amongst themselves while Mashu was with the rest of the Photography Club, only for two unlikely Servants to appear before them, Kriemhild and Caesar. The two of them joined the two Masters as they walked together.
"So, how are you two getting along?" Tatsuko asked. "Sorry, it's just that after what happened in Rome, I wasn't expecting the two of you to be on speaking terms."
"Caesar and I get along just fine." Kriemhild said. "We both acknowledged that it was just nasty business, and moved on. Now Cleopatra, on the other hand, still has some lingering opinions on the matter."
"I'm still trying to get my love to move on past that….." Caesar said.
"Well at least you're trying to smooth things over." Ritsuka said. "And how are things going between you and Siegfried, Kriemhild?"
Kriemhild huffed. "He's the same heroic fool he's always been. Always helping others without thinking, even when it inconveniences him."
"So you don't like him anymore?" Tatsuko asked.
"I do not!" Kriemhild said. "I don't want to infect Mr. goody-two-shoes with my bloodied hands…."
Caesar chuckled. "Now that is a bold-faced lie right there. I saw how you were looking at him yesterday, and you were absolutely lovestruck."
Kriemhild huffed in defiance, causing the others to chuckle in amusement.
"Okay, I think we should change the subject." Ritsuka said. "Oh, I've been meaning to ask! Tatsuko, how did-"
The sound of the alarm going off stopped the conversation from going any further. The four of them began to run towards the Command Room as they saw the door to the Photography Club immediately open up, with everyone running alongside them. Mashu took her place by the Masters sides and opened the door alongside them. The entire group walked in and saw everyone taking their positions.
"Doctor Roman, is it what we think it is?" Mashu asked.
Roman nodded. "It's one of the Seven Singularities."
Everyone went silent from the revelation. The third main Singularity finally revealed itself, and everyone was anxious as to where it could be.
"So where is it located?" Tatsuko asked.
"That's where things get weird." Roman said. "You see, the location is out in the ocean."
"Then how in the world are we going to be getting around?!" Okita asked.
"Well, there's a few islands scattered throughout, so we're going to make sure you all land on one of those." Roman answered.
"That doesn't solve the main issue." Caesar countered. "How will we be moving from island to island without a ship?"
"That's why we are having a Caster join the roster." Roman said.
"What is going on?"
Everyone turned to see Medea frowning as she walked into the room. The Caster folded her arms across her chest and tapped her finger. "Is there a new Singularity?"
"Yes." Mashu said. "It is in the ocean with only a few islands scattered about. So we might need your help to be able to hop from island to island."
"I see."
"Can you please help us?" Tatsuko asked.
"Well, if you're asking me in such a nice way, I don't see the issue." Medea answered.
"Oh, then let me come along too!" Okita said.
"Great idea." Ritsuka said. "As long as you don't submerge yourself in seawater, the ocean breeze should be good for your health."
Okita's eyes widened as she smiled. "Really?! YAY! Okita-san Daishouri!"
"Well, looks like all of us walked in at the right time."
Everyone turned to see Medusa, Alexander, Nobunaga, Liz, and Ushiwakamaru by the doorway. The five of them walked in just as Ritsuka opened his mouth to tell them of the situation.
"No need to explain." Medusa said. "We overheard everything."
"I see. Well in any case I doubt we will be able to field a larger team like last time." Ritsuka said.
"You're right." Davinci replied. "I suggest no more than five Servants and the Chaldean Trio go this time."
"That's not a lot of people…." Saint Georgios replied.
"No, but considering how the Singularity is made, we really can't send as many people this time." Roman said. "But like always, we are looking for volunteers. So, since Medea and Okita are the first ones to volunteer, who would like to take the next three spots?"
"I'll go." Medusa said.
"Good to have you aboard." Ritsuka said. "I was hoping we'd work together again sometime."
Medusa smiled as she made her way to the Trio, stopping near Mashu as she playfully punched Ritsuka's shoulder.
"Please let me accompany you, my lord!" Ushiwakamaru said.
"I think she would be perfect, Senpai." Mashu said. "If we are to be in a naval battle, Ushiwakamaru would be an excellent candidate to help us overcome any challenge."
"Thank you, Lady Mashu." Ushiwakamaru said.
"Fou! Fou!"
Davinci couldn't help but giggle. "It seems Fou wants to come along again."
Mashu blushed. "W-well I just feel better whenever Fou comes along. He always manages to make me feel calm."
"Well, he was there for the other Singularities." Roman said. "I don't see a reason why he should stay behind now."
"Fou!"
Fou took the opportunity to land upon Mashu's shoulder and licked her cheek. Kriemhild cleared her throat and took a step forward.
"I think I should go as-"
"Lady Kriemhild, let me go instead." Alexander said.
Kriemhild raised an eyebrow and stared at the red-haired Rider. "And why would I do that?"
"I have my reasons." Alexander replied.
"I don't know…." Tatsuko muttered. "That's not really a good argument, Alexander."
"I…."
"Well, if you don't have a reason, then I will resume my place with the team." Kriemhild said. The Berserker made her way towards the team, when Alexander took a deep breath.
"I always wanted to see the ocean."
Kriemhild stopped in her tracks, and alongside everyone else, stared at Alexander with shock on their faces. The red haired Rider clenched his fists as he stared not only at the Trio, but Kriemhild.
"If I let this opportunity slip by, I may never get another chance to see it with my own eyes." Alexander continued. "So please, let me come…"
Caesar turned to Kriemhild with a sympathetic look in his eyes. "I think you should let him have this."
"Are you sure about this?" Kriemhild asked.
"Well, why do you want to go?" Caesar asked.
Kriemhild opened her mouth to counter him, but her eyes widened in realization. She never thought of why she wanted to go. The Berserker simply sighed and walked back to the others. "Fine, he can go."
"Wohooo!" Alexander pumped his fist in the air and ran towards the rest of the outgoing team. Davinci giggled at the enthusiasm as she walked towards the two Masters.
"Here, I made some adjustments to your combat Mystic codes." She said. "How about you two go to your rooms, get changed and get anything you need while the rest of us discuss the minor details of the mission."
The two Masters nodded, took their Mystic codes and left the room after thanking the Caster. After they left, some of the people that rushed in, including the Servants not picked aside from Liz and Nobunaga, left the room or sat at their desks to prepare for the mission. Everyone waited and talked for a few minutes when the Masters returned not long later. Ritsuka carried a small bag across his shoulders, while Tatsuko had nothing but her plugsuit, and some small items in her pockets.
"Soooo, what's in the bag, Ritsuka?" Iris asked.
"It's a secret." Ritsuka said playfully. "So, what did we miss?"
"Only who's going to be the Servant team leader for the mission." Davinci answered. "In the end, Medusa was chosen to be that person. Ushiwakamaru will be her second."
"That's an interesting pick." Ritsuka said.
"Well, Lady Medusa and I were discussing who it should be between us." Ushiwakamaru said. "I was a little skeptical, but when she mentioned some possible tactics we could employ, I immediately knew she was the best choice."
"Well you definitely look like a badass leader!" Tatsuko said.
Medusa smiled in amusement. "Thanks."
Roman cleared his throat. "Okay, I think it's time to get ready to Rayshift."
The team nodded and walked towards the coffins.
"Wait, hang on!"
The group turned to see Liz and Nobu walking towards them. The two Servants made their way to Okita and Medusa with smiles on their faces.
"Don't embarrass yourself out there, Okita!" Nobunaga said.
"Hey! I can handle myself!"
The black haired Servant laughed as Liz grinned at Medusa.
"Congrats on becoming the Servant leader." The Lancer said. "I know you'll kick ass!"
Medusa smiled and ruffled Liz's hair. "Thanks. I'll be sure to not disappoint."
Not a second later, the Rider and Saber walked back to the others, and entered the coffins. Everyone closed their eyes as the lights shimmered, and the process for their Rayshift began.
Day 1
The group opened their eyes, and looked around. The Rayshift placed them on an island, just as Roman had hoped. Mashu smiled as she looked at the sea, and the sand beneath her feet. The Shielder slowly took off her boots, causing everyone to raise their eyebrows.
"What're you doing there, Mashu?" Medusa asked.
Mashu looked back at Medusa, her smile never leaving her face. "I never went to a beach, nor did I ever see the ocean before. I always wanted to, so now that I'm here, I want to feel the sand beneath my feet, and etch it into my soul."
"I know exactly what you mean." Alexander said. Everyone turned to look at him, and noted that he was also barefoot. "Mashu and I seemed to be on the same page, I guess."
Alexander looked to the sea, and sniffed the air with a satisfied sigh. "I heard stories about the ocean, you know. I meant what I said back in the Command Room. I wanted to see this with my own eyes, and take it all in. And now that I've seen it up close, I can easily say that the real thing is much more beautiful than the stories I've been told."
"I'm glad that you're happy." Okita said. "Actually, why don't I join you for a bit."
The Saber proceeded to take off her shoes, and curled her toes in the sand. "Ohhhh, that feels really nice."
"Oh, Senpai, Tatsuko, would you like to join us?" Mashu asked.
The two Masters stared at them reluctantly, but after seeing the three of them with their smiles on their faces, caved, and took off their shoes, and felt the sand beneath their feet. The two of them sighed in bliss as Fou wagged his tail. Medusa smiled at the sight. She couldn't help but feel some sort of relief, seeing the Chaldean Trio acting like normal kids. Not Masters, nor magi, but average, normal kids enjoying themselves. The Rider looked to Medea, and noted her calm, yet dismissive gaze. Medusa smirked as she saw a slight upshift in the Caster's eyes. She may try to hide it, but Medea was also glad they could have this moment.
Not a second later, the comms turned on, showing Roman and Davinci smiling at them sympathetically.
"Okay, I think it's time we get back to business guys." Davinci said.
"Oh come on, just a few more minutes?" Alexander protested.
"I know how you feel, but she's got a point." Ritsuka said. The red haired Rider sighed in defeat, and nodded. The four members of the team proceeded to put their shoes on and returned their attention back to the communicator.
"Okay so we're on an island and the Singularity is here on the sea." Tatsuko said. "But the real question is when."
"We just got the results, and they're really baffling." Roman said. "It seems that you are in the year 1573."
"Okay so now we know when, and kind of where we are." Ritsuka said. "Now all we need to do is make a plan to find the Grail."
"I think we should scour this island completely first, and if it isn't here, then Lady Medea can teleport us to the next one." Ushiwakamaru said.
"Then we would have to wait a few days after each attempt." Medea said.
"Why?" Davinci asked. "Shouldn't that be easy for you to do?"
"I can easily teleport us from island to island, but that is not the issue." Medea said. "The issue is our Masters reserves. This spell always has a high mana cost, so it isn't something we can use every day."
"How long would it take for you to use it again?" Mashu asked.
"About a day or two." Medea answered. "Since Casters don't take as much mana from their Masters unlike the others, it shouldn't take too long, but it is something we cannot use repeatedly without exhausting them."
"So once you teleport to a new island you'd need only a couple of days to recharge…." Roman muttered. "That doesn't sound too bad."
"Well we would be able to circumvent this issue with a Mystic Code or something." Medea said. "But theirs won't be able to do that."
"Why don't we just swim from island to island?" Alexander asked.
"That would be unwise." Ushiwakamaru said. "Roman mentioned that the Singularity shifts continuously, and we don't know exactly how far the next island would be."
"Then there is another problem." Mashu said. "I do not know how to swim…."
"Same here." Tatsuko said. "Never learned how, so I'd just drown."
Ritsuka raised an eyebrow. "Wait really, neither of you learned how to swim?"
"Can you, Fujimaru?" Medea asked.
"Yes, and I happen to be very good at it." Ritsuka answered. "In fact, swimming is one of the few things I can do with confidence."
Tatsuko grinned. "Well, well. Someone's getting pretty prideful."
"What in Davy Jones Locker is going on over there?!"
The Chaldeans turned around and saw a group of men coming out of the tree line. They wore simple shirts and pants of various colors. A couple of them wore bandanas upon their heads. But all of them had the same weaponry of flintlock pistols, cutlasses, daggers and axes upon their person.
These were no ordinary men, they were pirates. And they have spotted the Chaldeans. The pirates immediately glared at them and drew their pistols and took aim. The Chaldean Servants immediately prepared for a fight, but Ritsuka rushed in between them and shook his head. "Let me try to handle this first."
"Are you sure that is wise, my lord?" Ushiwakamaru asked.
"I'll take Alexander with me just in case." Ritsuka said. "I'd rather see if we can get information from these guys without the use of violence."
Alexander nodded and turned to the group. "Let's try it his way. I think he may be on to something here."
"Okay, but at the first sign of trouble, we're coming to help." Okita said.
"Thanks." Ritsuka said. The black haired teen bade Alexander to follow him, their hands raised up slightly to show no ill-intent. The moment the pirates noticed Alexander, their eyes widened.
"Bombe, they have a kid here!" One of the pirates shouted.
"Put down yer guns, boys!" The pirate named Bombe said. The pirates nodded and stared at the two Chaldeans approaching them.
"I'm a kid too you know…." Ritsuka muttered. "But regardless, thanks for not shooting us."
"Don't thank us yet." Bombe said. "I still want to know what yer doing here, and what're ya after."
"We just want information on exactly where we are, and if there is a way off this island." Ritsuka said.
"Ah, so all of ya are stuck here too?" Bombe asked.
"You could say that." Alexander answered. "But I'm sure if we work together, we can figure something out."
Bombe looked at the other pirates, and all of them nodded to each other. Bombe turned his attention back to the two Chaldeans and smiled. "Follow me and my friends, we might be able to help each other after all."
Ritsuka nodded and beckoned the others to come to them. The pirates then led the group into the forest, and towards their hideout.
"You can't be serious." Tatsuko said. "Did you guys really name this place Pirate Island?"
Bombe laughed. "Aye, we did."
"Sounds like you guys don't have much imagination." Okita muttered.
"Um, I do not mean to be rude, but why did you stay here instead of going to sea?" Mashu asked.
"We would have loved to," One of the pirates said. "But unfortunately for us, everything about the waters here are off. We can't use our navigation tools, nor can we read the stars properly."
"Then you must be poor pirates if you can't even do that much." Medea said.
"No, it's definitely this weird place." One of the pirates said. "We can't explain it, but something about this place feels…..off."
"And how long have you been here?" Medusa asked. "Not the island, but in this place."
"A couple of months at least." Bombe answered. "We only came to this island for some food and some supplies, but we also decided to set up camp and party!"
"Why are you celebrating?" Ushiwakamaru asked.
"We got a large amount of treasure of course!" One of the pirates said. "The boss wanted to celebrate, and with the promise of rum and plunder, who were we to refuse?"
"Who is this boss of yours?" Mashu asked.
"Our cap'n!" Bombe said.
"Can you please tell us their name?" Mashu asked.
"Francis Drake, obviously."
"Seriously?" Ritsuka said. "Well, if Doc were here, she'd probably be grinning from ear to ear."
"Why's that?" Tatsuko asked.
"Doc had some fascination with him." Ritsuka answered. "She loved telling me stories about Francis Drake, and how impactful he was in history."
Bombe chuckled. "Sounds like this woman was quite the fan."
"Yeah, she definitely seemed like it." Ritsuka said.
The rest of the journey to the pirate camp went by smoothly, with both groups answering any safe questions as best they could for the others. The female members of the team also noted that the pirates didn't ogle them even once while they conversed, something they appreciated. Not only that, but when it came to the younger members like the Chaldean Trio and Alexander, the pirates seemed to be treating them more like peers and like normal kids.
It didn't take them long to finally reach the pirate camp. The camp itself was simple and minimalistic, but the ship anchored not far from them showed just how powerful they could be.
"If I was a betting man, I'd say that'd be the Golden Hind." Ritsuka said.
"Aye, lad!" Bombe said. "Now come on, I'll take ye all to the cap'n."
The other pirates separated from the group after waving their goodbyes, leaving the Chaldeans to follow Bombe into the camp. The group followed him towards the center of the camp when the pirate stopped and turned to face them. "Wait right here, I'll go find our captain, and then you can explain everything."
They didn't get a chance to nod before Bombe walked towards a large tent, and disappeared behind the curtain, leaving the Chaldeans alone with their thoughts.
"Okay, so what do you guys make of Francis Drake based on what we know?" Tatsuko asked.
"Judging from the behavior of the pirates we met, the odds are he is a good-for-nothing thug." Mashu said. "They are most likely a gluttonous, nefarious man who is able to grab a barrel in one hand and chug its contents."
Medusa raised an eyebrow. "You sure have a…..colorful imagination of them."
"Ah, you guys must be the ones Bombe told me about!"
Everyone turned around, only for their eyes to widen in shock at who they saw. Standing before them was an incredibly tall, attractive woman with long, dark pink hair and blue eyes, with a large scar that ran down her face. She wore a large black tricorn hat, a brown choker, a sleeveless red captain vest that showed off the cleavage of her large breasts, white pants, and long brown boots. On her hip was a cutlass and flintlock pistols were holstered on her waist.
"The name's Francis Drake, captain of the Golden Hind. And who are you?"
"We have got to stop assuming someone's gender….." Ritsuka muttered.
Roman appeared on the communicator and smiled at Drake. "Thank you for taking some time to speak to us."
"No need to be a kiss up." Drake said. "I can tell you're a good man, but something about you makes me think you're also a fraidy cat."
Roman cleared his throat, ignoring the comment. "We're from an organization called Chaldea, and we would like your help."
Drake raised an eyebrow. "What kind of help?"
"~That's my cue!~" Davinci said. "You probably already know this, but something is wrong with this era. The ocean that surrounds this island isn't the same ones we know."
"Yeah, I already knew that." Drake said. "Something is indeed strange about these waters."
"Then will you help us solve this problem?" Alexander asked.
"Not so fast." Drake said. "Just because I said it was strange, doesn't mean it's a bad thing!"
The Chaldeans raised their eyebrows as Drake pointed at the sea. "We pirates love our freedom. So to be frank, this is the most fun we've had in ages!"
The pirates cheered all around them. The Chaldeans felt a sense of unease as the cheers grew louder and louder as Drake turned to face them with a disarming smile.
"If you want me to help you, then you must pass a test." She said. "You must beat me in a fight!"
"You can't be serious!" Medea shouted.
"Oh I'm dead serious." Drake said. "Don't worry, I won't kill any of you. I just want to test your strength."
"Well if you care about your crew, then let's make this a one on one fight." Tatsuko said.
Drake grinned. "I like the way you think."
"So, how do you want to do this?" Ritsuka asked. "Do you want to choose which one fights you? Or would you rather one of us volunteer?"
"I'd rather one of you volunteer." Drake said. "Except for you or that orange haired girl. I can tell you're both not really fighters, so it wouldn't be a fair fight."
Not a second later, Ushiwakamaru rushed towards Drake, her sword drawn. Drake could only smile as she drew her pistols. "I really like your enthusiasm."
Ushiwakamaru swung her sword down upon Drake, but the pirate captain blocked it with her pistols. The black haired Rider disengaged from the lock and leapt over the pink haired woman, landing a few feet behind her. Drake was quicker, and shot at the Rider. Ushiwakamaru hissed in pain as the bullet passed by her cheek. The Rider's eyes widened alongside the Chaldeans as they saw what hit the ground.
It was blood.
"This is…..this shouldn't be possible." Okita said. "A normal human like her shouldn't be able to injure a Heroic Spirit!"
"You know, I had a feeling you guys were more powerful than normal people." Drake said. The pink haired woman reached into her coat pocket, and brought forth a shining object. The Chaldeans eyes widened further at what they were seeing.
Drake was holding a Holy Grail.
"Oh shit….." Tatsuko muttered. "If a human holds a Holy Grail, their power skyrockets to the point they're able to fight a Heroic Spirit!"
"I just got back the scans." Roman said. "She can definitely go toe to toe with Ushiwakamaru."
Drake did not pay them any mind. Her focus was on the black haired Rider before her, the Chaldean Servant still shocked at the blood.
"Not used to seeing your own blood?" Drake asked.
Ushiwakamaru shook her head and started to grin. "I apologize, it was just that I was getting excited. It's been a while since anyone managed to wound me."
Drake grinned. "Then let me make this more interesting."
Everyone raised an eyebrow as Drake put away her pistols, and drew out her cutlass. "This should make it a fair fight."
"Okay, you're giving us a lot of leeway…" Alexander muttered.
"Well there's also the fact that I don't want to hit one of my men with a stray shot." Drake said. "This way it'll also be more controlled."
"It would seem that your crew have a fine captain in you." Ushiwakamaru said.
"Alright, I think we talked enough." Drake said. "Time to get back to fighting!"
Ushiwakamaru wasted no time, and charged at the pirate captain. The black haired girl swung her blade down towards Drake, but the pink haired woman dodged the strike. Drake took the opportunity to thrust her sword to Ushiwakamaru's exposed back, but the Rider swung her blade to block the attack. Drake swung her blade high to Ushiwakamaru's neck, but the Rider quickly deflected the strike. Drake tried swinging low to the girl's waist, but Ushiwakamaru blocked that as well. The pirate captain continued to keep on the offensive with masterful strikes and parries. Ushiwakamaru did all she could to defend herself against the empowered pirate, but it was proving more difficult with her quick and methodical onslaught.
"Wow, Captain Drake is pretty handy with a sword." Okita said.
"With how things are going, I do not know how Ushiwakamaru will be able to win this….." Mashu said.
"Don't worry about that, Mashu." Medusa said. "Everyone has a weakness, and Drake is no different."
"What do you mean?"
Medusa smiled. "Drake is about to make a mistake."
As the fight raged on, Ushiwakamaru continued to block and parry any strike that Drake made. In that time, the Rider tried finding anything she could exploit to win the fight. The black haired girl then noticed that Drake continued some familiar patterns in her attacks, causing Ushiwakamaru to realize something. While Drake is an excellent swordswoman, she was also predictable in her attacks. Ushiwakamaru blocked another strike, and immediately went on the offensive, striking high, the Rider aimed for Drake's neck, but the pirate deflected the attack, but only barely. Ushiwakamaru took the opportunity to go low towards Drake's thigh, forcing the pink haired woman to block the strike as fast as she could. Ushiwakamaru grinned, and swung her blade at Drake's sword arm, forcing the pirate to try and deflect the strike, only for the Rider to change the angle of her attack, aiming for her opponent's weapon. Ushiwakamaru manipulated both blades in a circular motion until she raised them up, and disarmed Drake. The Rider pointed her katana at the pirate as Drake's cutlass hit the ground next to her.
"I guess this is my victory." Ushiwakamaru said.
Drake laughed. "Aye! That was a fun fight there! Alright, I'll listen to what you have to say."
"Is it okay if we take a look at that cup you have?" Ritsuka asked. The pirate shrugged and tossed the Grail over to the male Master.
"You can keep it if you want." Drake said.
Roman began running tests on the Grail to check for any odd magical signatures. The red haired doctor continued to do so for a few moments before raising an eyebrow, only to widen his eyes. "This isn't the one we're looking for."
"Are you certain?" Tatsuko asked.
"I'm certain." Roman said. "It seems that this one is from Drake's time period."
"Then that means it must be on one of the other islands." Ritsuka said. The male Master turned to Drake with a calm gaze. "We're looking for a cup that looks exactly like this one, do you think you can help us find it?"
Drake nodded. "The truth is that the crew and I were planning on leaving tomorrow anyway. So if you need my help, then it's no problem."
"Why aren't you leaving now?" Medea asked.
"Because we want to celebrate!" Drake said.
"Seriously?" Tatsuko asked.
"Aye. We have other reasons, but I'll tell you all later." Drake said. "Come on, it'll be fun!"
The other pirates cheered as they brought out casks of rum and ale, paired with food and other delicacies. The pirates and their captain immediately began to party as if their lives depended on it. After seeing such mirth and festivities, the Chaldeans looked at each other and shrugged.
If they were invited to the party, what was the harm?
Day 2
"Are you sure it is wise for me to hold onto this Grail?" Mashu asked.
"Aye." Drake answered. "You guys won fair and square. So it's all yours."
Mashu looked at the Grail once more and then nodded. "If you believe that it should be this way, then I will keep it safe."
It was nearly noon, and the crew of the Golden Hind were nearly done packing for their next voyage. The only thing they were waiting on now were Medea and the two Masters. Last night's party went by smoothly, that is until a drunken Drake, not knowing what she was doing, spilled some powerful rum down Ritsuka's and Tatsuko's throats, thinking they were some of her crew members. Fortunately, they remained conscious throughout, and were saved by Medusa, who got them to lie down in a tent.
"Okay, are those two going to be okay?" Drake asked.
"Well considering the strength of that rum you made them drink, and the fact that they're still teenagers who never drank a single drop before, I'd say they won't be feeling well." Medusa said harshly.
Drake winced. "I knew I should've stopped drinking after the tenth mug….."
"They'll be here soon."
Everyone turned around to see Medea walking towards them with a calm, yet dismissive gaze.
"Are they okay?" Mashu asked.
"Those two actually surprised me." Medea said. "I checked up on them, and they were already up and about."
"Seriously?" Okita asked. "No hangover, or anything?"
"None." Medea said. "I decided to check on their bodies through magic, and it seems that they have a high tolerance for alcohol. Tatsuko especially is incredibly resilient."
"That's strange." Ushiwakamaru said. "I wonder how they could have such a skill despite their youth."
"Hey guys! Sorry we're late!"
Everyone turned to see Ritsuka and Tatsuko running towards them at full speed. They stopped close to Medusa to catch their breath. The female Servants rushed to Ritsuka to help him steady himself, while Alexander helped Tatsuko. Drake looked on at the scene with great amusement.
"Well well, looks like someone's popular with the ladies."
Ritsuka shook his head. "It's not like that at all."
Drake raised an eyebrow. "Really? But they seem so fond of you."
Ritsuka raised an eyebrow at the statement, then turned to the female Chaldeans, barring Mashu, who was blushing crimson and mumbling to herself. Ritsuka looked at the girls aside from the Shielder knowingly. He knew the reasons why, but they had to clear the air for Drake.
"I don't think I'm really relationship material for anyone…." Okita said.
"I do not think it would be appropriate for us to have such a relationship." Ushiwakamaru said.
"No, just…no…." Medea said.
"Okay, I like him, but not in that way." Medusa said. "Besides, I think he should date girls around his age."
Drake stared at them in shock, only to look at Mashu, who was still blushing and muttering under her breath. The pink haired pirate widened her eyes and looked at Medusa, causing the Rider to grin and nod knowingly. The pirate grinned back and chuckled. "Sorry, I shouldn't have made any assumptions."
"It's fine." Ritsuka said as Mashu started to calm down. "Now, are we all ready to go?"
"Aye, we were just waiting for you." Drake said. The pink haired pirate stepped to the side and smiled. "Welcome to the Golden Hind. It's time to set sail!"
The Chaldeans nodded and stepped aboard the ship. Drake came in after them and whistled. "Alright, enough lazing about! Let's get moving!"
The crew of the Hind nodded and cheered as they unfurled the sails, and lifted the anchor. Not a second later, the Golden Hind was now sailing off from the island. A few minutes passed by, and the island was now a spec in the distance. Ritsuka smiled as he walked along the deck until he stopped dead center.
The male Master smelled the sea air and smiled. "You know what would go well with this? A sea shanty."
Tatsuko raised an eyebrow. "A sea shanty?"
Mashu gasped. "Oh that would be lovely. I believe singing one was a way to improve morale on a ship."
Drake laughed. "Aye, that's true. You know, how about you give us a request, then we sing it for you."
Ritsuka chuckled. "Sorry, but the one I was thinking of is probably one you never heard of."
Drake raised an eyebrow. "Are you saying there's something that even I never heard of?"
Ritsuka nodded and whispered in Drake's ear. The pirate captain looked at the boy with a confused stare and sighed. "Alright, you got me, I never even heard of that one."
"It's okay, it was a silly-"
"How about you sing it for us first, then we can sing it back." Drake said. "We have good memories so it shouldn't be too hard."
Ritsuka's eyes widened. "M-me?"
Drake laughed. "Aye!"
Ritsuka gulped. "I-I don't know, I'm not sure if I could do it justice…"
"What's the matter? It was you who wanted a sea shanty." Okita replied.
"I know…but I don't know if I'd be good enough to do it."
"As expected." Medea said. "The boy's getting cold feet the moment he's put on the spot."
"Medea, it's not that simple…." Ritsuka said. "I just….never sang in front of people before….."
"Please, Senpai?" Mashu asked. "It would be thrilling to see a side of you none of us have seen before."
Ritsuka gulped. "I-I-I…."
The male Master stared into Mashu's lavender eyes and her warm smile. He sighed and nodded. He just couldn't say no to her.
Ritsuka started tapping his foot on the deck of the ship and opened his mouth to sing.
~There once was a ship that put to sea~
~The name of the ship was the Billy of Tea~
~The winds blew up, her bow dipped down~
~Oh blow, my bully boys, blow ~
~Soon may the Wellerman come~
~To bring us sugar and tea and rum~
~One day, when the tonguing is done~
~We'll take our leave and go~
~She'd not been two weeks from shore~
~When down on her a right whale bore~
~The captain called all hands and swore~
~He'd take that whale in tow~
~Soon may the Wellerman come~
~To bring us sugar and tea and rum~
~One day, when the tonguing is done~
~We'll take our leave and go~
~Da-da-da-da-da~
~Da-da-da-da-da-da-da~
~Da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da~
~Before the boat had hit the water~
~The whale's tail came up and caught her~
~All hands to the side, harpooned and fought her~
~When she dived down low~
~Soon may the Wellerman come~
~To bring us sugar and tea and rum~
~One day, when the tonguing is done~
~We'll take our leave and go~
~No line was cut, no whale was freed~
~The captain's mind was not of greed~
~And he belonged to the Whaleman's creed~
~She took that ship in tow~
~Soon may the Wellerman come~
~To bring us sugar and tea and rum~
~One day, when the tonguing is done~
~We'll take our leave and go~
~Da-da-da-da-da~
~Da-da-da-da-da-da-da~
~Da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da~
~For forty days or even more~
~The line went slack then tight once more~
~All boats were lost, there were only four~
~But still that whale did go~
~Soon may the Wellerman come~
~To bring us sugar and tea and rum~
~One day, when the tonguing is done~
~We'll take our leave and go~
~As far as I've heard, the fight's still on~
~The line's not cut, and the whale's not gone~
~The Wellerman makes his regular call~
~To encourage the captain, crew and all~
~Soon may the Wellerman come~
~To bring us sugar and tea and rum~
~One day, when the tonguing is done~
~We'll take our leave and go~
~Soon may the Wellerman come~
~To bring us sugar and tea and rum~
~One day, when the tonguing is done~
~We'll take our leave and go~
The moment Ritsuka finished, he saw everyone's shocked faces. Their jaws were nearly on the floor, causing him to blush.
"Can everyone please stop staring at me like-"
"Bruh, how come you never sang before?" Tatsuko asked. "You have an AMAZING singing voice!"
Ritsuka chuckled lightly as he scratched the back of his head. "It just didn't seem important?"
Drake finally lifted her jaw from the floor and cleared her throat. "I'm curious about something. Where'd you learn a sea shanty?"
"Well there was this old guy in my hometown. He used to be a sailor, so he sang to make money on the streets before he died of natural causes."
"Oh wow, he must've made a quick buck." Tatsuko replied.
"Not really. A lot of the people would just pass him by."
Mashu's eyes became crestfallen. "That is so sad….."
Ritsuka shrugged. "It is what it is."
"I must say, he taught you well." Medusa replied.
Ritsuka cocked his head to the side. "Huh?"
Medusa raised an eyebrow. "The sailor taught you to sing, did he not?"
"What makes you think he taught me?"
Everyone stared at him in absolute confusion. Ritsuka did the same.
"Let me get this straight," Alexander said.. "You learned all that…just by listening to him?"
"Yeah?"
Everyone's jaw fell to the floor again, causing Ritsuka to stare at them in confusion again. The male master could sing something….just by observation alone…..
"Senpai? Can you sing another one?"
"Yeah, we'd like to hear you sing again my lord!" Ushiwakamaru shouted.
"Fou, Fou!"
The crew of the Golden Hind cheered, causing Ritsuka to sigh and smile. "Alright, alright, I'll do it. Just give me a moment."
Ritsuka cleared his throat and opened his mouth to sing again.
("WE ARE" Plays in the background!)
Narrator: Tomi, Meisei, Chikara. Kono yo no subete o te ni ireta otoko kaizoku ou, Gorudo Rojyaa kare no shi ni kiwa ni hanatte hito koto wa hitobito o umi e kari tatte ta.
Gol. D. Roger: Ore no zaihou ka? Houshikerya kurete yaru. Sagase! Kono yo no subete o soko ni oite kita.
Narrator: Otokotachi wa Gurando Rain wo mezashi yume o oisuzukeru. Yo wa masa ni, Dai Kaizoku Jidai!
OC: Arittake no yume wo kaki atsume. Sagashi mono sagashi ni yuku no sa! ONE PIECE!~
CV: WRONG FRANCHISE!
(Record scratch)
OC: Oh….right. Sorry, I got carried away.
CV: Well ladies and gentlemen, this is it, the start of the 3rd Singularity: Okeanos.
OC: And what a way to start. Honestly this has been the most fun I've had writing a chapter, which is surprising considering how much fun I have writing them in general. Then again I've been having a good week since not only did I clear Sen's Fortress, but also just beat Ornstein and Smough a couple of days ago!
CV: Well we're diving into a totally different Singularity. The last 2 were mostly set on big open fields, mountains and forests. A collection of islands is definitely more interesting to me at least.
OC: Well for me it's mainly because this is the Singularity that made me start getting hooked on FGO, so I intend to do this one justice. However I know some people will be raising eyebrows at how quick the fight between Ushiwakamaru and Drake was, and be thinking that we didn't truly display Drake as a good fighter. We wanted to make the fight a little longer, but we had some issues on how to properly make it a fair fight between them, and the fact we didn't want the fight scene to take too much time away from everything else. So, Vlad and I decided to mainly make the fight end a little faster in order to not bog down the pacing. Do not worry, Drake will be showing off how strong she truly is, just not here.
CV: Well to be fair, Drake mainly fights at range with her guns, so fighting against someone who has the agility and the skill to close the gap and forc in melee range ain't exactly the best matchup.
OC: Let's just forget about the tomahawks she has in her animations, and the fact she can get in close in her combat animations…Anyway, the point is that even though she's great at close combat, she still makes mistakes. Now as for why we decided to give her a cutlass? Well we needed to give her a close range weapon in the event her pistols would be useless, so we decided to give her a cutlass alongside her axes to use.
CV: And it's also thematically fitting.
OC: That is also true. Almost as fitting as having sea shanties. And having Ritsuka sing one incredibly well is a very pleasant experience.
CV: The boy's having a fun time being a boy lol.
OC: As for why we had him sing a song, it's because we thought it would be nice for him to have a secret talent. Vlad came up with the idea of him being a great swimmer, which I absolutely loved, and I came up with singing because considering there's another person close to him that's a fantastic singer, it would give them something in common. And the moment Ritsuka smelled the sea air and began to sing? That was one of my rough drafts that I made about a year ago or so. And it was a fun one to write lol.
CV: I can imagine lol, it does look very fun.
OC: It was. Though we're also making an original song based on someone here, inspired by World of Warcraft. And it's going to be an interesting one to say the least.
CV: I have a feeling y'all are going to enjoy what we have in store for the next few chapters.
OC: One can only hope after that little incident with the girls, Ritsuka and Drake. Do you want me to explain this one? Or shall we do this one together?
CV: I'd say we should explain it together. Then, Owen, please start us off.
OC: Okay, here it goes. For those who noticed how the girls, aside from a certain someone, rejected the idea of being in love with Ritsuka, and are not interested in him romantically, it is as you all feared. Ritsuka does NOT have Harem Protag EX. He will not be having a harem whatsoever, meaning that the majority of the girls will only view him as a friend, or family member. He even stated before that he wants a monogamous relationship, and he will stick by that desire.
CV: I'm sorry to those that wanted Ritsuka to have a harem, but that was Owen's plan since the start and I respect that. I did make some jokes about it when we talk lol.
OC: I wouldn't say it was ALL my plan. You did agree it was a good idea lol. But yeah, we have some reasons for this. The first reason is mainly because there are simply TOO MANY women, and they all have their own preferences and needs. It just isn't realistically possible, and considering how many are incredibly possessive, it would not ever end well. The second reason is because a lot of these girls do have a lot of problems that come with them. Don't misunderstand, it's not that having emotional baggage disqualifies them from a relationship, it's just that some of these girls need a therapist, or even a doctor first, and not a lover. And third is simple, if Fragments of Chaldea can be successful with it, then why can't it be replicated? That Fanfic proved you can have a monogamous relationship for FGO, and still be successful.
CV: I know there are some people that won't like this change, but after talking with Owen and understanding the development that Ritsuka and his future love interest will have over the course of the story, I think you all will agree that it was for the best.
OC: Then there are another couple of facts. Just because some of these women are in love with him does NOT mean he HAS to reciprocate to all of them. And just because you're nice and accepting to someone doesn't mean they're going to be in love with you. Some of them may only see you as a very dear friend, or consider you a member of their family. But do not worry, some of these girls will get their happy ending, because we have some men (and women) lined up for quite a few of them in the future, and we get to make some interesting, and also cute pairings. We didn't want them all to be left high and dry, so we decided to give some of them love interests of their own to make it not only fair, but also breathe life into the story. We apologize for how long we're taking to talk about this, but we didn't think we would be forced to address this little issue early, but after seeing a certain comment regarding the monogamous relationship a couple of weeks ago, we thought it was time to finally come out and say it.
CV: However, don't think that the couples were made simply to not leave those characters single. One criticism I've seen thrown at Fragments is how many of the Servant pairings, either with other Servants or OCs felt either rushed or didn't make sense. That's something we won't be doing, as each relationship will be given time to develop from their start as friends to their eventual romantic bond.
OC: And some of them came from my old discussions with Mystech Master, while others were ones that Vlad and I came up with together, and Vlad even came up with some himself, or even had the opinion that we could do a random ship that I randomly came up with lol.
CV: If I can't ship them with Ritsu then I might as well have some fun with the characters.
OC: Though that isn't to say all relationships will be monogamous. We…..have some special surprises lying in wait. But not for Ritsuka.
CV: I'm personally very proud of some of the relationships we've come up with, both the serious ones and the ones that lean a bit into the meme side of things.
OC: I am as well. Especially for a certain couple that Vlad made, mainly because it started out as a joke, but then it became something we saw as genuinely sweet and wholesome. However, I hope you all can understand that this was something we had to address now, because we didn't want anyone to get the wrong idea. We apologize if this isn't something you guys wanted to hear, but we needed to make it known where both of us stand on this issue.
CV: However, there's still some time before we introduce the first couple (because one of the Servants isn't even in Chaldea yet) but we hope you give it a chance.
OC: And now let's move onto something else before the pitchforks and torches arrive. Some of you may be wondering about the whole thing in Scene one about team leaders for Servants. Well this was something we KINDA came up with in Septem but we never fully addressed until now. To put it simply, there is a chain of command now for the ground teams. To start, we have the ones in charge, which would be Ritsuka and Tatsuko. Both of them will generally switch or decide on who should lead which mission, but Ritsuka will tend to be the one who gets the leadership role more due to his skillset. Tatsuko will usually be the right hand, but is still the co-leader alongside him. The next position is the Servant team leader, which is filled by a Servant chosen by the team, or by Roman and Davinci. They are essentially the next person in charge after the Masters, and when those two are unavailable, the group will be under their leadership. There was no such thing for France because they were just starting out, so they didn't have such a command structure thought out yet. For Septem, the Servant team leader was Siegfried, with Nobunaga being his right hand, just like Ushi is for Medusa here in Okeanos.
CV: Each Singularity will switch things around, events as well, and we'll try to keep the roster diverse and avoid repetitions when we can, although specific Servants will be in two Singularities if the Servant in question fits with either the characters or the theme of that specific one.
OC: And this also begs the question as to why Mashu isn't the Servant team leader despite being a main character, and also being the one responsible for summoning others with her shield. The reason for that is because at this stage, she doesn't have the qualifications for such a role, and her inexperience and innocence would be poorly suited for the role. She still needs time to grow, and gain said experience. When she has enough experience and confidence, she will be able to become the Servant team leader, and be able to take charge whenever Ritsuka or Tatsuko are away.
CV: Right now Mashu is at the start of her development, starting to grow from just "The user of Galahad's powers" into "Mashu Kyrielight", and when that happens, she will achieve the same level as Ritsuka and Tatsuko.
OC: That is correct. Oh, look at the time! Thank you all for tuning in for this week's chapter of Chronicles. Please stay tuned next week, and have an awesome day! OwenChaser and CosmicVlad, signing off!