Dark Matter and Dark Love

A Fate/Grand Order Fan Fiction

by Derald Snyder

Section 2: Shooting Love (Down In Flames)

"Sure, you can borrow it for a while, as long as you promise to only take tasteful pictures. Just remember to bring it back when you're done..."

That gullible St. George... it had been too easy to get his camera for Kama's own use. A sinister grin spread over the goddess's face as she prepared to put her plan into action... (Now, where is Master at...?) She went this way and that, trying to sense her Master's meager magical energy... only to nearly collide with another servant as she rounded a corner- Kiyohime, the Berserker-class dragon girl.

"Oh, if it isn't the slutty love goddess," Kiyohime said with clear disdain. "Always showing all your skin, when a kimono makes you look just as beautiful... What are you doing with that camera? Taking pictures of other sluts?"

"Actually, I was looking for Master," Kama responded. "I thought I would take pictures of him hanging out with other women... maybe you could be the first subject?"

Upon hearing this, Kiyohime's mood lightened significantly. "Really...? Okay, let's go find him together!"

"Lead the way," Kama deferred, hiding an evil smirk as they went off together...

*Storm Border, Upper Deck*

(Figures he was up here on the roof,) Kama grumbled to herself, she and Kiyohime only having come here after looking literally everywhere, finally just asking da Vinci where he was. Standing with Master was Morgan le Fae, former queen of Faerie Britain, the two of them looking into the sky as a silver streak came in for a landing... a good breeze was generated as said streak touched down, resolving into the familiar form of Tam Lin Lancelot, AKA Melusine.

"How was that, Master? Was that a good landing?" Melusine asked expectantly.

"I suppose," Ritsuka Fujimaru shrugged. "At least you didn't run into anybody..."

"Yes, well done, Lancelot," Morgan nodded. "You were even able to compensate for two new arrivals..." Her gaze slid over to Kama and Kiyohime, Ritsuka following her lead.

"Oh! Kiyohime and... Kama?" the Master of Chaldea said in mild confusion. "Usually you two are like oil and water..."

"We are, but Kama says she wants to take pictures of us, Master," Kiyohime said with a smile. "And I get to go first! Isn't that wonderful?"

"Huh? What about me? Can't I have my picture taken with Master?" Melusine half-whined.

"You can go second," Kama replied. "Unless Her Majesty wants to go ahead of you, that is..."

"I can wait my turn," Morgan deferred. "And so can you, Lancelot. A Tam Lin must always exercise discipline..."

"...Yes, Your Majesty," Melusine bowed her head obediently.

"All right, first we need to find a spot where the lighting is good," Kama instructed. It took a little longer than she would have liked, but they eventually found a spot where the angle of the sunlight was perfect. "All right... say cheese!" Kiyohime clung to Ritsuka's arm as they both smiled for the camera, Kama taking the shot, then a few more for insurance. "Okay, next, Miss Lancelot!"

Kiyohime sighed as she reluctantly let go of Ritsuka, shooting a glare at Melusine as they passed by each other... "Just be grateful that your queen is here."

"YOU should be the grateful one," Melusine shot back, the two ladies turning their noses up as they went their separate ways. The Tam Lin promptly took her place at Ritsuka's side, leaning into him slightly as she smiled for Kama...

"So tell me," Morgan spoke up, "do you intend to take pictures of my husband with all the other women in Chaldea?"

"Husband?!" Kiyohime screeched, a flaming aura surrounding her.

"Wait, wait, she's joking, Kiyohime!" Ritsuka yelled in near panic.

"Huh? Why would Her Majesty joke about- Mmmph!"Melusine was cut off by her Master desperately covering her mouth.

"Tis no joke... but you really think you can overcome me in battle, little dragon girl?" Morgan said in a threatening tone.

"You might want to take the hint, Kiyohime," Kama said. "She wasn't the ruler of Faerie Britain for nothing..."

"Grrr..." Kiyohime hissed, even as her aura died out. "I will remember this slight, Your Majesty," she stated bluntly, before turning on her heel and storming off.

"Thanks, Kama," Ritsuka sighed in relief.

"Well, I just didn't want to waste energy trying to suppress her by force," the goddess said with a sigh. "Anyway, I believe it's Her Majesty's turn."

"...Are you intending to take pictures of Master with all the other women servants as well?" Morgan asked as she moved to Ritsuka's side, Melusine obediently moving aside and out of frame.

"Of course. We can't be showing bias to anyone, now can we?" Kama pointed out.

"But that's gonna be a lot of photos..." Ritsuka pondered. "Are you sure your laziness won't get the better of you?"

"I suppose that is a valid concern," Kama averted her gaze. "But even if that does happen, I'll just give this camera back to Mr. George, and he can do the rest... alright, say cheese!" And so the shutter clicked again...

*Some time later...*

Kama was smirking to herself as she floated down the corridor, a folder full of photos carried under her arm. Even if she'd had to put in effort far beyond what she would usually put in, she figured the payoff would be well worth it. (Now to find that Space Beast...) Fortunately her Master had already told her where she was wanting to get a picture with her as well, though Kama had managed to convince him to hold off until tomorrow, pointing out that Space Ereshkigal was still getting settled in...

Sure enough, the Beast was in her quarters, in her blond-haired form, hanging an art piece depicting the Crab Nebula. Kama waited until she was finished adjusting the painting before clearing her throat to get her attention. "Oh, hello Kama! And here I was under the impression that you didn't wish to see me again so soon..."

"Normally you would be right, but there was something I wanted to show you," Kama said as she pulled out the folder and held it out. "Take a look at these, would you?"

"What is this, exactly?" Space Eresh asked as she took the folder in hand, opening it... "Photos of Master? Oh, you shouldn't have! But who is this with him?"

"That's Kiyohime. She was one of the first servants to be summoned by Master," Kama said in a neutral tone.

"Really?" Ereshkigal said as she flipped to the next photo. "Oh, this is one of those faerie knights..." Another flip. "And her queen..." Another flip. "Oh, and here's Mash!" She continued to flip through the collection... "My, is this Master posing with all the servants?"

"All the female servants, some of whom have been with Master for far longer than you... and even me, in some cases," Kama taunted with her eyes shadowed. "Now do you see, Space Beast? You aren't the only one who has eyes for Master... And he doesn't like to neglect any of them. He's just too kind for that..." Her smile widened. "How does it feel, realizing that your vapid love is not truly reciprocated? How one-sided your affection for him is...?" She waited for the anger, the rage, the justification to suppress her fellow Beast by force when she snapped from having her heart broken into so many pieces...

But instead... a chuckle emitted from the blonde's lips. "...Wait, why are you laughing? Shouldn't you be devastated by this revelation?!" Kama yelled in surprise and anger.

Space Ereshkigal only laughed louder. "Oh, my dear Kama... how utterly shortsighted you are. Did you really think showing me this would upset me? You really thought that I didn't know?"

"Wh- what do you mean, shortsighted?!" Kama sputtered in indignation.

"You said that you were incinerated for doing your job, correct? Meaning that, being one of the gods that died outright instead of fading away with the end of the Age of Gods, you lack the perspective of eternity that most gods have," Space Eresh elaborated.

"What does that have to do with anything?!" Kama demanded to know.

"...Do you know how I became a Beast in my universe?" Space Eresh began. "In the Servantverse, humanity discarded flesh and blood for Spirit Origins, meaning that their souls no longer went to my Underworld when they died, leaving me all alone. But Master here is still flesh and blood, so when he inevitably dies- preferably of old age, mind you- I shall take his soul back with me to my Underworld, where we shall be together forever and ever. So I don't mind if he spends time with the other women here, because I know I will win in the end. After all, they will all eventually return to the Throne of Heroes... but not I, with my Independent Manifestation skill."

Kama blinked a few times, as if trying to process what she'd just been told... "Huh... it seems that I may have misjudged you. And here I thought you were just another naive fool who was too blinded by your affection to see the truth... but it turns out that you're just biding your time." A sinister smile spread over her face. "Perhaps you are worthy of your title as an Evil of Humanity after all..."

"Hmhmhmmm... coming from you, I shall take that as a compliment," Space Ereshkigal said with a similar evil smirk.

"Just keep in mind, I'm still trying to tempt Master into decadence, myself," Kama warned. "Just because I was defeated as a Beast doesn't mean that I've given up on my goals. You would do well to remember that, my fellow Beast."

"Oh, of course," Space Ereshkigal nodded. "It wouldn't be any fun without some competition, after all..." She put out her hand. "And may the best Beast win."

"Agreed," Kama accepted the handshake, both sporting subtle evil grins.

And elsewhere on the Storm Border, Ritsuka felt a chill go down his spine...

The End...?