CHAPTER 6:
THE NEXT SUMMONINGS
Over the next week, the Masters and their Servants went through training. Scathach's training was harsh, but fair enough to be tailored to people who weren't superhuman. Arturia Pendragon also helped train them in weaponry, with Mash being the greatest beneficiary of them. True, Barghest and Melusine didn't need much training in terms of skill, but they also were trying to regain their lost strength.
Scathach also knew when to allow her pupils to rest and recover. She did have a somewhat sadistic nature to her as a teacher, but not needlessly so. And outside of training, the seemingly aloof warrior queen was surprisingly approachable.
However, Chaldea had begun to zero in on the exact time period of the first Singularity. Which was why a break was called. Another magical reactor had been brought back online, and that meant they could summon more Servants.
Aside from Hinako, the Masters were to summon one new Servant each. Unlike the previous summonings, they had no guarantee of getting a Servant (save for Hinako, as it was her first time summoning with FATE), and so the Saint Quartz crystals that they had were divvied up equally between each Master. Once they got a Servant, they would then give the crystals back to Da Vinci for storage.
Harry, as the de facto leader of the Master team, went first. He'd put the crystals into the receptacle, and started the summoning process. He was surprised at how many weird items turned up during what Delphi impishly called his '10-roll'. Bowls of what Arturia Pendragon identified as Mapo Tofu, the Black Keys favoured by the Executors of the Vatican, even a couple of stuffed lion toys that both Arturias promptly claimed for their own, to the amusement of everyone else.
But then, the now-familiar triptych of rings appeared after clearing the platform for the nth time, it felt like. And a humanoid form coalesced in the resulting flare of mana. Harry felt his heart skip a beat when he saw familiar features, albeit changed somewhat. He tensed, as did those who had been present in the Fuyuki Singularity.
The woman was dressed in a short black dress with violet trimming, clinging to her tall and sexy body in really distracting ways. Long violet hair framed elegantly beautiful features. Her eyes were concealed by a rigid blindfold, and a strange occult symbol was on her forehead.
However, Harry was sure of it. This was an alternate version of the Lancer Servant they had fought in Fuyuki. Which meant her true identity was…
"Servant Rider," she said, in a sultry and sibilant voice. No malice was apparent in it, but they were still cautious. "I have answered your summons. Hmm?" She seemed to look to Arturia Pendragon. "Saber? But you don't feel corrupted."
"Excuse me?" Arturia Pendragon asked. "Do you mean my other self in the Singularity? The one where we fought your Lancer self and my corrupted counterpart?"
"…Singularity…no," Rider said, shaking her head. "FATE has told me of what they are."
"Then tell me something…your true Master was Sakura Matou, correct? But I never learned that. I thought your Master was Shinji Matou. I saw you die, your neck broken by an attack from the Master of Caster, his strength enhanced by his Servant."
"But I did not die. I lived to see the end of the Holy Grail War, and I saw your former Master kill you to save you from yourself," Rider said, bemused. "It pained Shirou to do so, but I helped him to save Sakura."
After a tense moment, Arturia Fae spoke up. "Maybe it's something to do with parallel timelines?" As the two Servants looked to her, she said, "Maybe you two fought through different versions of the same Grail War, and not the one we saw the aftermath of in the Singularity."
Understanding passed over the two Servants' faces, before Arturia Pendragon gazed at Rider. "If I was corrupted in your timeline, you have my thanks for putting me down. I met a variant of that corrupted self, and it was far from pleasant. We were adversaries, Rider, but this current situation dictates that we be allies. If you were truly Shirou's ally in your timeline, then I believe I can begin to trust you, as long as we clear the air about your actions in my timeline."
"Of course, Saber," Rider said. "That rapist who pretended to be my Master was most unpleasant, and made me do unpleasant things to others. Only Sakura's orders and the Mystic Code that monster of a grandfather gave him had me obeying him. It seems we share the same Master now, Saber. I hope to get along this time."
"Arturia. My name is Arturia Pendragon."
After a moment, Rider smiled softly. In a flare of light, her appearance changed. She wore trousers and a jumper, making her look more like a sexy librarian than the monster out of Greek myth. She wore glasses, revealing her eyes, greyish-pink orbs with square pupils. Her once sinister appearance became something gentle and benign. "And I am Medusa, the most infamous Gorgon. Well met, at long last."
"Those glasses are Mystic Eye Killers, aren't they?" Hermione asked.
"Yes. A gift from my timeline's Touko Aozaki, if that name means anything to you."
"It does, and Medusa?" Harry asked, realising that, whatever Arturia knew of Medusa, this version at least seemed to be a good person. On her looking at him, he said in Parseltongue, "Welcome to the team."
She seemed startled, before her smile returned. "Thank you, Master."
"Call me Harry," Harry said, returning to English.
The next one up was Barghest. As with Harry, a number of items coalesced before they finally got the sign of a Servant being summoned. An armoured figure faded into existence, and Harry felt Arturia Pendragon tense next to him. The armour was intimidating-looking, with horns and red elements here and there, holding a sword with crimson elements as well. Yet it was also a little short.
The armoured figure seemed to catch sight of Arturia Fae first, and seemed to do a double take. "Father? No…no way in Hell Father would be caught dead in gear like that." The voice was androgynous, that of either a teenaged boy or girl, a rough and yet cute rasp.
"…Excuse you?" Arturia Fae asked, thrown off-kilter.
Her counterpart and honorary sister cleared her throat pointedly. "Don't be rude to your aunt, Mordred. Whatever issues you have with me, she is a Fae counterpart to me, and deserves none of your ire."
The armoured figure turned to see Arturia Pendragon, before a growl came from the helmet. The other Servants tensed, ready to fight, until the growl became an abrupt sigh. "Fucking hell, what's the point? I mean, the world's one big barbecue, and we've gotta stop it. But…aunt?"
"Aunt…sister, depending on your viewpoint," Arturia Fae said. "I'm technically the successor to an alternate version of your mother."
"And I was formerly one of her sworn swords, Barghest, until her lack of care for her people drove me from her," Barghest said. "I presume you are Mordred Pendragon?"
"Yeah. Fuck me, I have a Fae for a Master," Mordred muttered, hopping off the summoning platform. "It sounds like a long story, so I want to hear it later."
Then, in a flare of crimson light, the armour seemed to dissolve off Mordred (along with her sword), revealing a girl in her mid-teens. She resembled both versions of Arturia, as well as what Harry saw of the Lostbelt Morgan in Barghest's memories. But her beauty was wild, her hair more unkempt even while done up in a ponytail. Her figure was even more slender and athletic than Arturia's. Oddly enough, she seemed to be dressed in modern clothing. Jean shorts, a tube top, and a leather jacket. When she noticed this, she smiled in delight. "Oh cool, my clothing from Trifas made it into my Spirit Origin." Then, her smile became solemn. "If only Old Man Sisigou was here to see it."
"Sisigou?" Harry asked. "As in…Kairi Sisigou?"
"Yeah. You know him?"
Harry nodded, before looking to Arturia. "He's basically Kiritsugu if he had more empathy, Arturia."
"I'll take your word for it, Harry," Arturia Pendragon said, before looking to Mordred. "We'll talk later, Mordred. And we have much to speak of."
"…Yeah, we do," Mordred said.
Delphi was next, and in a flare of actinic light, a new Servant was soon summoned. However, they weren't expecting a dandyish man of about fifty or so. He was tall, dressed in vaguely Victorian clothing. Glasses framed piercing, icy blue eyes, with neatly-groomed hair, as well as a moustache. He could have been a dapper academic, and yet, there was a dangerous air coming from him.
"Servant Caster has answered your summons," the older man said, his voice deep and rich. "Hmm, so my Master is a young lady? And yet to summon me…"
"And who are you?" Delphi asked.
"Just a rather ordinary middle-aged man, if a touch more crooked than most," the Caster said, stepping off the platform.
Harry interposed himself between the Caster and Delphi. "Oh no, you don't play games with my daughter like that. And we have True Names revealed, at least here in Chaldea."
The older Servant looked surprised at Harry's actions and words, before he closed his eyes, and chuckled. "Very well. Call me…James. I'm a mathematician by trade."
Hermione and Waver stilled at that. It was Hermione who spoke up next. "Okay, James…would your most famous work be The Dynamics of an Asteroid?"
Once more, the new Caster looked surprised, before chuckling ruefully. "Ah…so you know who I am?"
"Professor James Moriarty," Waver said. "The nemesis of Sherlock Holmes, a mathematical genius moonlighting as a criminal consultant. The so-called Napoleon of Crime, though the successor to Jonathan Wild would be more apt(1)."
"Wild was an amateur compared to me, but I find him a better comparison than Napoleon," Moriarty said.
Harry was on the verge of ordering the infamous crime lord to be unsummoned, only for Delphi to speak up. "Okay, listen up, old man. At the moment, human history has been burnt to a crisp, and frankly, we need all the help we can get. Now, trusting you is a bit of a stretch, so let's put it this way: you get one chance. And just one. Because if you screw us over in any way, I will use as many Command Seals as it takes to force you to eat an entire truckload of deerstalkers, bugger yourself with a red-hot poker, and then beat yourself to death with a maths textbook. Now, do we or do we not have a sound basis for communication?"
Most of those present gaped at Delphi. Mordred, however, just whistled. "Damn, kid's got some serious stones."
After a moment, Moriarty laughed, long and hard. "Ah, what a fiendishly creative mind you have, Master. In truth, I am glad you did not trust me outright. That would've been folly. Besides, perhaps I could fill my rival's shoes and be a consulting detective rather than a consulting criminal. Oh, to one-up Holmes…what fun."
"Should we get on with it?" Barghest asked.
"Yes. My turn," Melusine said. Habetrot was currently in her own Workshop, creating Mystic Codes for the Masters, having consulted with Da Vinci about what might be needed.
A new Servant appeared far more quickly than usual, the form short and armoured, holding a lance. In fact, she looked something like Mordred, but more earnest, more enthusiastic, younger-looking or at least more child-like, though clearly in her mid-teens. Short, ragged blond hair framed earnest and cute features, though there were two stray tufts that were darker, and put Harry in mind of a puppy's ears, as did the rest of her. He noticed Barghest tensing next to him. However, he also noticed both Arturias and Mordred staring, along with Melusine.
"Servant Lancer has come at your summons," the girl said. "I…I…" Her eyes widened as she took in the aforementioned Servants.
"…Gareth?" Arturia Pendragon asked quietly. Mordred looked on with distinctly mixed feelings.
Eventually, the Lancer Servant knelt, going to one knee, her aqua eyes glistening with tears. "Your Majesty…I…I'm so sorry I could…could not be with you at the final battle, I…"
"Rise, Gareth," Arturia Pendragon said softly. "Do not abase yourself, especially as it was not your fault." She went over to Gareth on the summoning platform, though not before turning to Mordred and gesturing for her to come with her. After looking conflicted for a moment, Mordred joined her. "You and Gaheris were blameless, yet I…I hold some of the blame, for driving Lancelot and Guinevere together, and for forcing you and your sibling to guard my wife. You went unarmed and unarmoured out of protest, and I should have reassigned you then and there. Do not apologise for Lancelot, Guinevere, or even my own actions. In any case, you know what our mission is." She indicated Mordred. "If Mordred and I can put aside our differences to save history, then why would you be unwelcome?"
Gareth looked up to Arturia, who simply helped her to her feet. "…Thank you, Your Majesty. Though…I should confess something. I'm not just the Gareth you knew."
"…Impossible," Melusine hissed in realisation, her eyes wide.
Gareth looked to the remnant of Albion. "Just improbable. I, that is, the me from the Lostbelt, didn't foresee this happening. A fusion of my Lostbelt self and my Proper Human History self. Don't worry, I don't hold a grudge, especially under these circumstances."
"I don't understand," Arturia Pendragon said, even as Arturia Fae approached.
"She's a fusion of the version you knew, and the version of Gareth I knew," Arturia Fae explained, before her expression fell. "Our Gareth died defending Londinium from enemy forces."
"I injured her, grievously," Melusine said solemnly. "What perverse fate it is for me to summon her."
"As I said, I don't hold a grudge, especially as you're now fighting for Proper Human History," Gareth said. "I even saw something of your life prior to being summoned, how Aurora used and abused you. I think that was partly an outside force, and partly being Ainsel's successor."
Arturia Fae's eyes widened, as did Melusine's and Barghest's. "A survivor of the Mirror Clan," Barghest breathed.
Gareth blinked, before she sighed. Her tone was back to being the more energetic one that she had before. The difference, Harry noted, was subtle. Her Lostbelt self was a little more solemn and eloquent, while her standard self was more childish. "Sorry, it's weird having two sets of memories in my head, and almost another personality." She looked to Arturia and Mordred, before she turned back to Melusine. "Anyway, here I am. Sir Gareth, Knight of the Round Table, here to fight for humanity!"
As she and her fellow Knights of the Round Table clambered off the summoning platform, Hinako, Ritsuka, Hermione and Waver exchanged looks, before Hermione indicated for Hinako to go next. Hinako activated the initial summoning protocol, before beginning the summoning chant. The spinning ring turned rainbow colours, before expanding into the three rings, before snapping back into the usual burst of light.
The form thus revealed was a hulking giant of a man in old-fashioned Chinese armour, with dark hair, moustache, and a beard. There was a feeling of inhuman power radiating from the man, and yet a strange calm too. And judging by the delighted gasp of Hinako, they knew who it was before he even spoke.
"Servant, Berserker. True Name, Xiang Yu," the man said in a low, deep and calm voice, before he frowned. "A Berserker? How curious to be summoned in such a class."
Before he could say another word, Hinako spoke up, in what sounded like a dialect of Chinese. Xiang Yu's eyes snapped to Hinako, before his eyes widened, and a surprisingly gentle smile touched his lips. He stepped down from the platform, and the two embraced each other, Hinako weeping quietly, while Xiang Yu kept smiling his gentle smile. Whatever the fearsome reputation both of these figures from Chinese history had, it was clear (Hinako's own claims aside) that they loved each other.
Eventually, the two separated, and Xiang Yu looked over at them all. "You are all my beloved's allies, it seems. A motley group." His eyes narrowed on seeing Moriarty, for some reason, before he returned to looking at the group. "I am aware of my modern reputation. I will not apologise. However, my purpose is to restore the world. You have nothing to fear. Only our foes do."
"We'll hold you to that," Harry said. "Hinako, that's your consort's name these days, spoke highly of you, and explained why you did what you did. I don't agree with your methods, but if you can refrain from killing anyone but the enemy, then we're good."
"Understood," Xiang Yu said.
Hinako then undertook her second summoning. It took some time, but a silver-haired young man wearing an elaborate jewelled mask eventually appeared. At this, Hinako laughed in joy, and called out once more in Chinese before the young man could even introduce himself. The three Chinese present exchanged greetings, before the young man said, in a soft tone, "Forgive my rudeness. Servant Saber has answered the summons. I am Gao Changgong, the Prince of Lanling. May we work well together, everyone."
Hermione looked to Ritsuka. "Okay, your turn."
"Right," he said, before placing the Saint Quartz down. As before, many items appeared, before finally, a figure in a body-hugging blue suit appeared, with a familiar spear, and a familiar face for that matter.
"Hey," Cú Chulainn said casually. "Well, at least I'm not a Caster anymore. Oh, Saber! You're here! And…" The Irish hero suddenly noticed Scathach, and instantly, he looked a little nervous. "Teacher…you're here."
Scathach's smirk didn't bode well for her former student's future. "Indeed, Sétanta."
Hermione went next. And then, when the Servant was summoned, it was an athletic woman with dark grey skin, long purple hair, and wearing a skull-like mask. "Servant Assassin has heard your summons. I am one of the Hassan-i Sabbah, the Hundred-Faced Hassan. Command me, Master."
Hermione seemed shocked that she had summoned one of the notorious Old Men of the Mountains, but quickly recovered. "Well, for now, please get off the summoning platform, Assassin. And…could you remove your mask? I'm sorry, but that mask has unpleasant connotations for myself and Harry."
The woman nodded. "Of course," she said, removing it, revealing beautiful, if hard, features, her eyes violet. "Saber, Rider," she said, nodding to Arturia Pendragon and Iskandar, who returned the nod.
"And then, there was one," Waver said sardonically, before attempting his summonings. Eventually, another form appeared, a short, pale, dark-haired girl in Chinese robes, half of her face concealed by her hair. Hinako gaped in shock.
"I am an Alter-Ego Servant," the girl said. "My true name is Xu Fu. I…huh? WHAT?!" She yelped, staring at Hinako. "Lady Yu?!"
Harry sighed to himself. "Well, things are never boring with this, are they?"
Many of the gathered Masters and Servants merely nodded in reply. Interesting times lay ahead. In the cursed sense of the word, anyway…
CHAPTER 6 ANNOTATIONS:
Wow. This one kind of ran away on me. Sorry about that. So, allow me to explain my logic behind each summoning…
HARRY: I originally chose Arc, but I actually decided Arc, even in her Archetype EARTH form, was a bit too OP at this point. I wanted to vary the rarity of the Servants in this lot. I considered Mordred, but eventually decided on Medusa. I'd considered Medusa being summoned by Delphi or Hermione, but decided on Harry.
DELPHI: It was a toss-up between Mordred and Moriarty, but after the inspired suggestion for Moriarty in a PM from Acolyte of the Blood Moon, I thought I'd bring Moriarty in. I decided on a Caster rather than his Archer Phantom Spirit self because I'm not sure whether I'm going to do the Epic of Remnant arc.
BARGHEST: I very nearly brought in Baobhan Sith, but decided it was too soon. However, I think that now's the time to rip off that bandaid of Saber Arturia and Mordred's relationship. Saber Arturia has been through the events of Fate/Stay Night: Unlimited Blade Works, while Mordred has been through the events of Fate/Apocrypha. Thanks to that, plus Harry's frank talk with Saber Arturia, means that they're in a better position to talk it out. Barghest summoned Mordred because they're both knights who were once loyal to their monarchs, but were driven to betray them.
MELUSINE: I wanted to do another Lostbelt Servant, and I wanted to vary the in-game rarity. So having Gareth (as a hybrid of her PHH self and her Lostbelt self), I thought, was a good idea.
HINAKO: I think summoning her lover and one of her best friends is self-evident.
RITSUKA: I wanted him to have more typical gacha luck, though Cú Chulainn isn't a bad Servant to get. Our favourite Lancer has a hybrid of his memories from his Caster self, hence his comments, and his version from the Unlimited Blade Works route of Fate/Stay Night.
HERMIONE: I wanted another scholarly Servant for Hermione to get. Asako was an unusual choice, but remember, they have a personality with a specialty. One even learned how to sex baby chickens, as in learn their gender, an amazing feat in the medieval Middle East.
WAVER: I will tend to get support Servants for him, as well as Servants connected to him in other legs of the Trousers of Time, and I eventually decided on Xu Fu for the former, though I considered both his own Pseudo-Servant self as Zhuge Liang, and Asclepius. Xu Fu was chosen partly because she's a Magus (an alchemist to be precise), and partly because Hinako's physical presence influenced FATE as a catalyst. And for the comedy value of Hinako having a yandere stalker who is actually more interesting than Kiyohime.
Incidentally, this is the second chapter of a dual-chapter upload.
Review-answering time! MWkillkenny84: I don't know if that will happen. And aren't the Hakunos Moon Cancers?
1. Jonathan Wild was indeed cited as an influence on Moriarty, with Holmes explicitly comparing Moriarty to Wild in The Valley of Fear. Wild was a 'thief taker' who recovered stolen goods and handed over thieves to the police…though he was actually a fence and a blackmailer who commanded the very thieves he bought from, as well as sending those who opposed him to the gallows. One of said thieves turned the tables on Wild, who was later hung at Tyburn in 1725.