It wasn't supposed to turn out like this. It was supposed to go smoothly. But ever since she had been born, she had realized that life was never that fair.

From being denied going outside to being restricted to only viewing certain kinds of videos. Mash Kyrielight had always been sheltered and that continued even after being chosen for Team A. She had the credentials to be a Master and had been selected to be part of the expedition to the Singularity of Fuyuki. This is despite only being through a few simulations, none of which were very difficult due to how much she was coddled.

And now, she was paying for it. Her cushy life was going to get her killed. Because here she was, running through the burning ruins of Fuyuki all by herself. The command center had been bombed when she had stepped out to grab a drink of water. And despite her best efforts, she was unable to save anyone. Before she knew it, she'd been dragged to the Singularity and was being forced to rely on her wits and basic Magecraft knowledge to survive.

She had been luckily taught the basics. For without Reinforcement, those skeletons would have ended her long ago. She jumped over a fallen pillar and hid behind a wall, breathing heavily. Sweat dripped down her brow as she desperately tried to compose herself. She knew what she had to do. Orientation had been drilled into her. She had to find a leyline and summon a servant. It was the only way she'd be able to survive.

Oh, she knew. She knew there was technically one sealed inside her. But they were choosing to keep silent, refusing to lend her their aid. It made her angry. And she rarely got angry. But right now, her nerves were completely frayed.

That's when her comm went off, nearly causing her to jump.

"What?!" she hissed, her tone more venomous than intended.

"Oh, thank goodness! It's great to hear your voice, Mash" the voice of Doctor Roman replied and instantly Mash felt a huge pressure leave her shoulders. Roman was alive. He was alive. She wasn't alone.

"Y-Yes" she said shakily. "I've been rayshifted to Fuyuki. I'm currently attempting to locate a leyline."

"Good thinking. There should be one not too far from your location. The FATE system, while damaged, has been repaired enough to allow you to summon one Servant."

She nodded. "Thank you. I'll get back in contact when I reach the leyline."

"If I wasn't running on pure adrenaline right now, I'd be worried sick about you. So, make sure to stay safe, Mash."

"You too, Da- Doctor" she said, flushing red at her slip there. She cut off the communication and steeled her nerves. She had someone in her corner now. It wasn't just her. She could do this. No, she would do this.

If there was any blessing about the leyline she'd discovered, it was that it was hidden inside a building and away from prying eyes. The last thing she'd want to be is taken unaware while trying to summon an ally.

She leaned down to prepare a summoning circle and noticed that her right hand was shaking. Hard.

A-Ah. I didn't realize how terrified I was until now.

She really wished she could curl into a ball and cry. But she had to keep going. There was no choice.

She finished drawing up the circle and connected to Chaldea's systems. The servant given to her would be completely random, as she had no catalyst. But right now, any ally would do.

And as the magic circle flared to life, Mash did something she'd never done before.

She prayed. Prayed for a strong and kind ally. Someone who would give her the courage she currently lacked. Someone who wouldn't waver even in the face of the greatest of foes.

A pillar of light exploded into the sky and a new figure made himself known. Silver armor with golden trim. A long blue cape. Spiky purple hair and matching purple eyes. In his right hand was a sword of immense power. One that she somehow recognized, yet she didn't know why.

She also had the urge to punch him in the face.

"Servant Saber," he said as he gazed down at her. He was quite tall. "You may call me Lancelot du Lac."

The name sent a pang of powerful emotions through her for reasons she couldn't comprehend, but she quelled them. But there was one emotion that still remained. Awe. She had managed to summon one of the Knights of the Round. One of the most powerful Knights of all time, Lancelot. Suddenly, she felt a lot more confident in her chances. "I'm Mash Kyrielight" she said. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Lancelot-san."

The Knight simply chuckled. "The pleasure is all mine. Now then" he looked around. "Would my young Master mind filling me in?"

To think that time travel had a role to play in all this. It was certainly a bit difficult for the Saber to wrap his head around. But then again, he was a copy of a Heroic Spirit who resided outside of Time and Space. He probably shouldn't be surprised that things like this were possible.

"In that case, Master" he said as he stood up from the spot he'd taken a seat at. "Resolving this Singularity should be our utmost priority."

She nodded. "Right. Let me just make contact with Chaldea real quick. I need to update the Doctor on my current status."

He watched as she wandered off and decided to ponder on his first impressions of her.

And the most recurring thought was how familiar she felt. But why? He'd never met her until now.

Something strange was going on and he was going to get to the bottom of it.

Mash didn't think they'd run into an enemy servant this soon, but Lancelot didn't seem to be worried as he casually parried the Lancer's scythe with his blade.

"You're powerful, Lancer. But with that corruption, I'm afraid you're no match for me."

The purple haired girl watched as her Servant easily turned the tables on the enemy Lancer. She watched, mesmerized.

For as much as I hate him, I can't help but always feel impressed when I see him fight.

She blinked. Where had that thought come from?

She didn't have much time to ponder that as the Lancer screamed in pain after Lancelot had quite literally ripped her scythe out of her hands and impaled her with his blade.

"I'm afraid our fight had to end like this, Lancer. I'd love to fight you at your full power someday."

To Mash's surprise, the Lancer simply gave them a somber smile. "Protect your Master, Saber. I failed Sakura . . . but perhaps you won't fail yours."

The corrupted Lancer faded away and Mash realized she didn't feel happy about this victory. And from the look on his face, neither did Lancelot.

"A fight ending like that is always a bummer, right?"

Both Mash and Lancelot whirled around and beheld the blue haired man in a robe. A wooden staff in his right hand.

Lancelot immediately pointed his blade at the newcomer.

"Relax" he said with an easygoing smile. "I'm on your side. Call me Caster. I'm probably the one Servant aside from you that isn't corrupted."

Mash stepped forward. "Corrupted. Is that what was wrong with her? You know something, don't you, Caster?"

Caster chuckled. "I do indeed. Let's just say that this Holy Grail War has gone tit's up and not in any of the fun ways. It all started when Saber went mad and started killing the other Servants. Before long, I was the only one left that wasn't all yucky looking. Managed to take down Assassin and Rider before you got here and with you taking out Lancer, that just leaves Saber, Archer and Berserker. Berserker shouldn't be a problem. He's off over yonder. Archer's the one we have to worry about. He's like Saber's loyal guard dog."

"So Saber is the cause of this Singularity?" Roman asked, popping up in hologram form.

"I suppose. I'm not all hip to the fancy terms like you folks clearly are. But I'll admit that things definitely aren't right" Caster said as he leaned on his staff.

"Then if we stop Saber, we fix the Singularity" Mash said as she rubbed her chin.

"Got it in one, sweetheart. Take down Saber, this shit is over with."

"Then as a Saber myself" Lancelot said as he prepared himself. "It is only right that I duel with her."

"You sure, hot stuff? I haven't even told you who she is yet."

Lancelot's eyes narrowed. "Elaborate."

Caster sighed. "We ain't up against any ol' Saber. We're up against King Arthur herself."

Ever since he'd learned the identity of their enemy, Lancelot had been eerily silent and was content to walk in silence. Mash didn't blame him. She knew those two had a complicated history and for some reason, she felt like comforting him for the first time. Namely because she too had felt shock, and oddly, betrayal, at learning the name of their foe.

At the very least, they had a new ally now. Caster had chosen to come along, forming a contract with Mash. He said he had a bone to pick with that Archer and to leave that bastard to him while they went on to fight Saber.

"Word of warning, lass," Caster said as he walked beside her. "Saber will definitely target you since you're a Master. So I recommend standing far away."

Mash glanced over at him. "Because I'm my Saber's weak link, right?"

He nodded. "You're a perceptive one. That Saber fights dirty. If it gives her an easy win, she'll take it. Which is honestly a total contrast to how she used to be."

For some reason, Mash agreed with his assessment there, despite never meeting the enemy Saber before.

"Honestly. I'm surprised I'm still functioning" Mash said. "This entire time I've been terrified."

Caster chuckled. "The fact that you're still pushing forward is proof of your courage. Plenty of strong warriors feel fear. They just charge onward anyways."

"Even you?"

The blue haired Caster stared at her. "No. There's only one thing I fear and she ain't here."

"Oh."

Before they could continue with their conversation, Lancelot held his hand up. "Stop."

And that's when a projectile tore through the air, only being blocked by Lancelot at the last second. Steel met steel and for a moment, it looked like the Saber might be overpowered, but he managed to deflect it with a surge of strength.

"That Archer . . . he's strong."

"More like bullshit," Caster said as he strode forward. "Leave him to me. I'll make it so he can't chase after you."

Archer had been about to fire another projectile when he was forced to dodge an orb of fire from the shadows. He clicked his tongue as he recognized the origin.

"Come here to interfere, dog?"

"That's my line," Caster said with a smirk. "Now then, why don't we finish this once and for all?"

Archer projected his signature weapons. "You won't survive."

Caster's smirk widened. "I love it when my enemies flirt with me!"

Steel met Magecraft as their duel commenced.

"Of all the people to stand against me," Saber, no, Artoria said as she beheld him. "It would be you. It seems history shall repeat itself."

Seeing his beloved King like this made his heart ache. This tyrant. This tortured soul. It was what could have been. A possibility. Just as he knew it was possible for an older variant of him to be summoned as a Berserker.

Lancelot steeled his nerves and gripped Arondight. With Artoria as she was now, his weapon would be twice as effective. She felt weaker than the Artoria he knew and still had the Dragon attribute. Which meant he held the advantage.

He glanced back at his Master. "Mash, please get behind cover."

She nodded and retreated. But before she could get far, Artoria launched herself at his Master, only for him to intercept, blocking her blade with his own.

"Have you no honor left, my King?!"

Artoria snarled. "Honor will not serve a Kingdom!"

He pushed her back. "Then you are truly lost!"

They exchanged a few blows. An overhead slash here. A horizontal slash there. Each time steel met steel. Neither was giving ground. And then Artoria began to play dirty. She began to fire energy projectiles from her blade, attempting to bury his Master under rubble.

With his attention toward, she began to slip a few attacks past his defenses. She truly had changed. The only thing she cared about was victory.

He stepped backward and grit his teeth.

And then.

"What the hell are you doing, you shitty old man?!" Mash yelled at him. "I know you're better than this! By the power of my Command Seal, crush this wannabe Arthur already!"

Lancelot felt a huge surge of power fill his body as he allowed the nature of the Command Seal to take over him. He would figure out why Mash's speech pattern sounded so familiar later. For now, he had a corrupt King to defeat.

He held his blade aloft, just as Artoria did the same.

"Like the glimmer from the surface of water/Vortigern, Hammer of the Vile King, reverse the rising sun."

They both began to chant as their auras exploded forth.

"...burn bright and dazzling, my sacred sword/Swallow the light!"

They swung at the same time.

"Arondight Overload/Excalibur Morgan!"