The sun's rays filtered through the window. A mess of limbs and sheets were on a bed, presumably holding a couple. Soft pale skin and black hair that went down to their back was the features of one, presumably female. The other body was similarly pale, though their skin was irregularly tanned in some spots, and their hair was short, unruly, and a mismatched red and white. The male sat up, scratching his chest through the pajama top, which was really just a simple white tee.
Oh, did you think they were naked? No, the poor people were incapable of escalating anywhere near that far, as much as they've been through together.
The girl sat up, stretching. Her own robe falls loosely around her waist, which revealed her own tank top to the warm expanse of their shared room. The names of these people? Tohsaka Rin, and Shirou Emiya. They were just friends, of course. Friends with... benefits, yeah. Doing the dirty once when they were young, sharing their room and board, shopping for each other, and cooking for one another, and nearly dying for each other does not make them a couple. Not at all.
That is beside the point. Poor Shirou rolled over, flopping out of bed. He still somehow landed on his feet. He looked back at the girl, Rin, a small, tired grin on his face. "Whatcha want for breakfast?"
"Well, I don't know." She grinned right back, just as sleep deprived. "What's on today's menu for the Emiya family, eh?" This joke was one common amongst the two. Yes, they were as close as family, why wouldn't they be? They've gone through hell and back together, they'd be no less.
Shirou adjusted the tie on his sweatpants, heading to the kitchen of their shared abode. Today was just a regular old day for Shirou Emiya, nothing more, nothing less. It has been ages since he'd ever had to deal with something as bizarre as Fuyuki, though that is not to say he hasn't been involved in supernatural incidents. He was a mage, after all. Not a magician, no; that was something beyond his current level of skill. He's nothing like those religious magicians capable of something just below true magic.
He was, however, good with a bow
He was, however, a fool who still wished to be a hero of justice. Deep down, anyway. The lingering words of that Archer still resided in his mind, and he didn't dare try to follow that dream as blindly as before.
But enough about that, breakfast remained to be cooked.
Rin Tohsaka is a girl one could only refer to as talented. Born into a prestigious mage family, with exceptional magecraft talent, and last but not least? The (debatably) worst part of all. She was so talented and unique that her body was able to wield the power of the divine.
She didn't just hold the power of the divine, no.
There existed two separate divine entities within her mind. Both of them tie to not only her physicality and talent, but they also apparently shared a resemblance to her in their past lives. It's crazy, because in an odd twist of fate, they're sisters. Ereshkigal and Ishtar, the two gods Rin had placed within. Sisters, that apparently were part of the same being. The Goddess of Love (Sex) and War, and Goddess of Death, two halves of a whole. It was a responsibility that the damned head of their current branch of the Mage Association forced upon her.
It was unfortunate, really. Why, may you ask? Well, since her affinity with them is so strong, they can come through and overtake her own personality, and even her appearance has undergone a permanent change. Simply put, Tohsaka Rin is prone to saying or doing things she does not wish to because of this. It was manageable though, and did not happen often.
As Shirou stewed about in the kitchen, Rin scrolled through her cellular device. Yes, her phone. Tons of messages from her superior at the Mage Association, seems there's some business happening...
Across the globe.
"Eh?" Rin was surely seeing things, it was the morning after all.
7 masters are being chosen from 4 places across the world. Let me break it down for you:
7 masters. From four different locations. Not total, no. 7 masters each.
7 from Academy City
7 from Russia
7 from America
7 from Japan
It's as if those are separate grail wars that will formulate into one large one with a total of... four masters left. No, that's... Odd. It shouldn't work like that. Maybe that's what they have to investigate. She continued looking at her phone, before stopping in her tracks.
"Wait a damn-" Something wasn't right. "Shirou! We've got work!" That's what they have to investigate. That's what's wrong. Of course, it was so damn obvious. Why didn't she notice from the start?
Why the hell was Academy City host to a Grail War?
Kamijou Touma was at a loss. He'd been attacked by a random headless thing, a random English woman toting guns appeared and she's calling him Master, and now apparently (after a very long explanation) his home is host to an ancient ritual for a cup Jesus drank out of that grants wishes called a Grail War!
On his bucket list of things to do, fighting in a magical war was not one of the items on it. Apparently, the woman was none other than a famous knight from Camelot referred to as Mordred Pendragon. Y'know, son of the king! Or rather, daughter. Because. Y'know. But he was worried, how the hell was he followed?!
"Take off your shirt."
At those words exiting the mouth of the (admittedly) very... handsome woman, Kamijou blanched. "Wh-what?" His confusion was understandable, why wouldn't he be confused? There are people here too! He can't just-
"Do you really need me to explain it to you, idiot master? They tracked you with your uniform shirt. I'm unsure when, but there lies a magic energy within and it is allowing us to be tracked." She was very no-nonsense, and it seemed Kamijou's novice status made it no better.
Touma wasn't keen on vaporizing his shirt, and he didn't have an undershirt on (it was in the wash). Hell, his shirt wasn't vaporized when his right hand touched it, so how could she be so sure? "There's gotta be a different way to go about this, right?"
The look on the treacherous knight's face signified that she had no intention of entertaining his idea.
Kamijou removed his shirt, tossing it onto the ground. Mordred, as straightforward as she was, aimed her Clarent at it, and blew it to smithereens. Misaka, Index, and the peanut gallery were concerned at the sight of Kamijou's upper body. It was covered in many scars and other healed injuries and- What is that large red symbol on his back? Looks like a dragon head...
"Hey, ape. Students aren't allowed to have tattoos, y'know?" Kuroko was the first to speak up. Her eyebrow was raised, an unamused look on her face. She tapped the boys back, rather aggressively. "So what's this? I guess you really are some kind of delinquent."
Kamijou let out a yelp of surprise, just as confused as they were. "Huh?!" He ran to the bathroom, and looked at the mirror. "Hey! I don't remember this being here! The hell is this?" Too many strange things were happening today, he's had enough.
Mordred was unsurprised. "Seems you weren't listening, idiot Master. Those are command seals. Now I'm unsure as to why it isn't on your left hand, but as things stand, you're my Master, so you'd best get familiar with them." She looked him over, thinking hard. "But I have another question for you. How could you possibly have hurt that servant, huh?"
Touma stopped his panicking, looking over at her. "Oh, that's easy. It was my right hand, and the power within it. It's called Imagine Breaker. It negates any and all things supernatural. Which is why this is really confusing, actually. How could I have summoned you if I have this?"
Morded shrugged. "You summoned me unknowingly, meaning you didn't go out of your way to do it yourself. Which leaves multiple theories. But once again, we have no time for this. We oughta plan our next course of attack. That Avenger will be back." She stretched a bit, tapping her boot on the ground impatiently.
Touma was busy putting a brand new shirt on, grumbling about how she didn't have to blow up his other one. Index, the library of over 100,000 grimoires was lost in thought, before suddenly proposing an idea. "I think I might know. Before, Touma let out a scary dragon at Buckingham Castle when he was fighting against himself! Maybe that's what it was? Maybe a dragon from inside his right arm, like the one at the castle, summoned you for him? Like, maybe it sensed he was endangered?"
Mordred nodded, seemingly agreeing. "Makes enough sense. I don't really care about the method all that much, what matters is that we're here now. Welcome to a bloody, nasty battle for a wish granting cup, Master." Mordred eyed the people in attendance, before focusing back on Kamijou.
"Master, I don't know what kind of foes you've faced, but mages are a bit different than the average. You're more familiar with magicians, those who use intense rituals, incantations and other assorted techniques." She explained quickly, crossing her arms. "Mages are those who were able to simplify such powerful techniques, modernizing them essentially. Not to say those who've taken up magecraft can't perform magic, but it is much harder to learn since they were taught the lesser rather than the greater."
Index, the resident magical expert, (Othinus not included as she's incognito in her hood), looked at Mordred curiously. "So, in simple terms, those who could not use the system for the talentless as efficiently simply dumbed it down for even more talentless folk to use?" It was genuinely odd for Index to try and wrap her head around. Why had she never learned of this? There was magic for the talentless, and esper powers for the talented. What would magecraft fall under? Civilian use?
"Don't think that mages are necessarily weaker, girl." Mordred warned, turning her gaze to Index. "Because of the simplicity, they can make more complex techniques by combining the different roots of other magics and such, all without too much chanting. Their versatility can make them much, much more dangerous than any average magician could hope to be. Hell, magecraft is what founded the basis of the Grail War ritual."
Mordred grinned at Index, the first emotion besides annoyance she's displayed since she got here. "I don't see you magic-using lot summoning heroic spirits, O List of Prohibited Books." Index frowned at Mordred, turning to Touma with a pout. "She's a meanie! Touma, beat her up!" He did no such thing, laughing to himself a bit.
Misaka, along with the other members of her friend group, were at a loss. Saten though, was ecstatic. "If magecraft is simplified magic, and magic usually hurts those that have undergone the esper program..." For once, she had a spark of hope! "Does that mean magecraft bypasses such a side effect?"
Mordred was a little surprised at the girl's question, shrugging. "Unsure. I'm not experienced in that esper nonsense." Yes, during that hour or so of explanation of magic before the current conversation, Mordred left all the magic/science intersecting complications to the silver sister and her caretaker. It wasn't her place, living during Camelot, and all.
"Anyhow, I don't know how since you lack training, Master, but you've been supplying me with such a nice amount of mana. For someone who doesn't have magical power according to the church, you're doing just fine." Once again, a shadow of a grin was on her face as she spoke. Perhaps she's warming up to him after all.
The woman who'd had the spirit origins of two divine beings jammed into her body, and the man who hadn't quite gave up on his dream of being a hero of justice stepped foot off of a supersonic jet, home to only one place on Earth: Academy City. Shirou was a little nervous, why wouldn't he be? They were tasked with stopping a grail war from happening in a place like Academy City. Which means they have to do the age old game of finding out which person in a city full of superpowers has a historical figure by their side and a stench of magic power.
"We should just enjoy the sights and figure out the complications later, Rin. It's a super advanced city, let's take our time." Shirou was a bit excited, he'd heard about Academy City when he was younger and always wanted an esper power so he could be a superhero. Of course, his turn of events was probably a bit better than what it would've been had he been shipped off to the city of science.
Rin was staring out at the expansive city, the cars, the machinery, the students everywhere. It was really something out of a light novel. A young girl, tea colored hair and eyes, ran past her. The guardian of said girl, an adult woman in a lab coat ran after her. "This place is real lively, ain't it?" Rin had a smile on her face as she turned to look at Shirou. "It's the kind of place that seems like it would be in some sci fi fantasy novel or something. But that's all the more reason we should stay focused. We should head to our hotel and wait until nightfall so we can get active."
Shirou sighed reluctantly. "Alright." The man was wearing a black turtleneck, a red overcoat, jeans, and boots. It wasn't completely winter, but it was a bit chilly. Rin herself was dressed a bit lax, only wearing her sweater, a black color with a red cross on the chest, along with a skirt and thigh highs. With that pigtail hair style she wore, it was truly reminiscent of that time in Fuyuki. Though Shirou was looking more and more like that Archer was time goes on...
And so, time passed. Night fell, and they began to move. Shirou Emiya and Rin Tohsaka finally stepped out of the hotel. Using a bit of reinforcement, Shirou leapt up to the nearest rooftop, motioning for Rin to follow. Rin leapt up herself, moving with ease. Time to survey the area. Find some masters, observe the scene, stop disaster from falling. Y'know, the works.
Arch- no, Shirou leapt from rooftop to rooftop, using his magecraft to search for any surges of mana or any notable mana signatures, for that matter. And he spotted one, a good strength, probably an adult woman, alongside a strong servant signature. Looks like they'll be getting busy.
"Rin, found something. Let's go take a look-see."
The woman nodded, and the two descended upon the mage in question.
Kamijou Touma was out past curfew. Why? Well, after the group split up, Kamijou was taken by Mordred to "strike first" and find a mage, that's right, mage not magician, to go and rough up. It was easier said than done, but it is what it is. The hedgehog haired boy yawned, walking alongside the gun-toting knight.
There was a deafening boom, a wall blowing open on a building not too far away. It was supposed to be a new research institute for biogenetics. So of course it was far too odd. Mordred and Kamijou picked up the pace, running toward the explosion. Inside, Mordred was a little too excited to fight.
As they arrived at the scene of the explosion, Kamijou saw a man in red fly out of the building, a person in black chasing after him. More booms erupted from the building, and a girl was tussling with a...
A headless figure. The Avenger from earlier!
But... There was something else crawling from the wall... Monsters? They lacked eyes, had thick tails, grey skin and claws. Humanoid in nature, but by no means human. Monsters is what they were. "Homunculi." That was the only word to leave Mordred's mouth before she fired off a shot in the direction of the freakish creatures.
"This isn't your expertise, Master. I suggest you back away and just watch." Mordred had a crazed grin on her face, befitting of a Berserker class servant. She gripped her guns tight, and ran toward the homunculi that had since turned their attention to her. A horde of freaks was no match for all her pent up rage.
She would enjoy this.
Shirou didn't know how it came to this. Rin and himself approached a black clad figure in a weird lab full of vats one moment, and the next they were facing an alchemical Master and their servant. Shirou had resorted to projection to defend himself, this Master had a weird magecraft that allows them to almost... Infect others? It was risky using just any old sword to fight against them.
He strained his body, focusing on a particular sword of legend. An impossible blade that could cut through anything. You see, Shirou had stayed up all night one night playing a certain game with a friend. He took a particular interest in it, and he soon learned that even fictional objects could be projected somewhat. Yes, Shirou Emiya copied a fictional blade and managed to put his own spin on it. Round of applause, please.
A long, red blade. A hilt and handguard as black as night. It sparked softly with red mana, and Shirou took up his stance against the alchemist. It took a lot out of him, admittedly. The more legendary (or in this case removed from reality) a weapon is, the more it takes it's toll. His body bore the effects of this strain, his arms darkening a bit more and his hair turning a smidgen whiter.
"The name of this weapon is Murasama. A high frequency blade that could cut through almost anything." Shirou explained simply to his opponent, a small grin on his face. "I put a bit of my own spin on it, though." He rushed toward the alchemist, who seemingly halted in their tracks. Why? That was weird. He was already attacking, so he simply swung his blade at the alchemist's arms.
That was his first mistake.
His attack connected, so why did it feel so wrong?
The alchemist simply grinned.
"I'll tell you who I am, young man." Shirou has a good look at their features now, their appearance clear. Cold, empty eyes. Messy white hair with black mixed in. Their outfit didn't exactly scream alchemist, a simple T-shirt, hoodie, jeans and sneakers, all black. But their magecraft was like a blend of the fantastical and the logical. "My name..."
"My name is Atolla." As Shirou lopped off their arm, they stated their name simply and casually, and there he found why. Sand. Black sand was what their arm was reduced to on the ground. Their arm socket was full of, or rather composed of black sand as well. Perhaps their entire body was made of this sandy material. "This is a simple puppet body, a homunculus that I can use to survey the land."
Atolla touched Shirou's arm, taking advantage of his stunned state, and grabbed at him hard. "I want you to see what I see." And it was there that Shirou Emiya was consumed by a sea of black sand, gone with the alchemist. Rin couldn't even bother to call out, busy fighting off the servant.
No one knew he was gone.
Kamijou Touma did not wish to sit on the sidelines. He ran forward toward the fight that Mordred was engaged in, right hand already directed at the creatures. Mordred was not a fan at all whatsoever. "Master, the hell are you doing?!"
A common rule, unspoken for the most part amongst mages is that you don't dare intefere in a fight your servant was engaged in. Kamijou, the novice he was, did not understand this rule. He socked one of the homunculus freaks, and was promptly beset upon by the entire horde. His infallible right hand proved worthless against the flesh of the genetic magecraft horrors. Mordred could only gun down so many. She did manage to save Kamijou from their ire, but now she was getting overwhelmed.
They came from all sides, clawing at her, biting at her. She would be eaten alive at this rate, two pistols weren't enough. She did not want to die. She could not die. She had a wish. A single wish that she needed to see through to the end She could not die. She could not die. She could not die. She could not die.
She would not die.
"Master!" Her call was simple. She had one goal. "Permit me the use of my Noble Phantasm!"
For servants, some of them had multiple Noble Phantasm, and Mordred was no exception. She had one in mind. One that was truly fitting for her class of Berserker. One that embodied her hate and rage. But she needed Kamijou's approval. She did not know how much mana she would drain from him, but she needed to live.
She would live.
"Uh?" Kamijou was panicked, and kind of shrugged. "If it'll help you any, go right ahead!"
He was truly a fool, but one could not blame him. He was thrust into territory unlike his usual. He could not analyze mindless freaks in battle, he could not figure out their ways. He could only watch. Like a civilian bystander. But Mordred heard his reply and she was ecstatic.
She let out a yell, blasting the freaks away, and stood alone in their midst. The monsters could not determine whether they felt fear or if they should acknowledge their base instincts and devour. Why? The answer was simple.
There stood a monster more freakish in nature than they.
Mordred was grinning, a sick kind of grin that betrayed a madness befitting her origin.
She spread her arms, a black armor fitting itself to her form. It was unlike that of a knight's, fitting her body more closely, less bulky and more slim. The hands and feet of the armor had claws instead of regular fingers. In fact, the armor had a more beastial look to it than any other. The helmet resembled a fearsome mythical beast in it's design.
Fully armored up, Mordred leaned back, looking up at the sky as if to howl. Her eyes were reddened, their glow visible through the helmet. The... mouth of the headgear opened wide, and one sound resounded through the area.
A roar, a loud beastial noise that no human could make shook the area. It sounded more like a dragon than a woman, but that sound did in fact leave her mouth.
Mordred bore no weapon, yet her hands were clenching and unclenching, claws sharp.
She leaned forward, looking directly at the freaks.
No sound from her could be heard beside a low growl.
Berserker has descended upon the battlefield.
Author's note time.
Okay before you all say it, I know Ishtar and Ereshkigal existed as separate servants entirely and all that, but I wanted to do something different. In fact, a lot of things will be a bit canon divergent.
As for the timeline, this is most definitely post UBW for the Fate side. As for Toaru? You can sort of surmise it yourself. Put it wherever, honestly. Just know it's post NT22R, other than that it's wherever on the timeline you want it to be. I don't want to acknowledge the ages too much for Rin and Shirou, they're most definitely adults but I don't want to set anything in stone either.
"Shirou pulled out a fictional weapon??!??" yes, i know, it's odd. I wanted to explore the idea of projection a bit more and i thought it would be cool.
"How was Mordred summoned???" that will be truly explained later. Index wasn't too off the mark, but it was no dragon that called out to summon Mordred.
The white/black haired people are similar but different. They aren't the same though, and they are integral to the plot, so you'll just have to see. They aren't exactly alter servants either, like that one reviewer thought, but they are interesting.
This'll probably be the last chapter for a few weeks, as I have to get a couple of things in order here and there, but I hope you enjoyed it as a whole.
Don't worry about the friend(ish) zone Shirou and Rin are in right now. They'll be together, don't worry.
Magecraft was explained a little oddly but even that will get cleared up eventually. I did have to tweak it a little so it made sense with the Toaru verse.
And that's all folks, see you next time.