Fate 1961 – Part 7
A Fate/ series fanfiction
Antartica, site of the first battle
Calladius, having revealed his objective, showed his satisfaction in front of the shock that appeared on the faces of those he faced.
Not was the only one who had managed to keep her façade intact. Saber himself had frowned at the words pronounced by the man who had orchestrated this entire war, and Lancer looked as lost as if he had been told that they were actually on the Moon. As for Cecil, she was trying to grasp the implications of the other's plan.
Trying to travel through time was a feat that both humans and mages had tried to accomplish many times throughout the course of History. Mages had come close, and some technologies were still studied as part of the recently created Modern Magecraft Theory, but the general consensus was that it was impossible to simply travel at one's will.
Things became different with Servants, however. If one such Servant came from the distant future and you could ensure their summoning, then gaining access to their time period was not absurd. It still required some form of time machine, but the key here was the procedure that was followed.
Even if the prototype designed by her father and Calladius was destroyed, it was a certainty that there was an offshoot of history where it wasn't, and such a Heroic Spirit, not only predicted but shaped the desired way, would appear. It was flawless.
"Then, what is the War for ?
-I don't think you realize just how much energy a gate to the future requires, miss Die, but it won't open with just the weak crest of your father. I gained interest in this ritual not only for summoning Rider, but also for its mana collecting properties.
-What about the Grail ?
-What about it ? It simply doesn't compare."
With those words, Not finally snapped.
Saber.
Understood.
Rushing to the cloaked man, Saber brandished his rapier and tried to land a hit.
"Avenger : Bend."
With those words, Calladius' Servant dislocated and turned at incredible speed into a winged sword. Clashing with the rapier, Saber's blow was thwarted and his arm ejected away.
"Hm. So impolite of you to interrupt our conversation like this. But it's fine, I'll start with you."
Calladius extended the arm holding the Servant sword, and with a twist it expanded into a whip, surrounding Saber's own weapon. In a whisper, which seemed to cut all sound for a second, the sword took fire and Saber's rapier melted.
"What ? Ok, this is worst than I thought...
-Admire the powers of the greatest Tool made for Divinity !"
With that shout, Calladius reformed his sword and slashed through the air, creating a pressure wave that returned Saber to its original position. At the same time, Not ewtended her amrs and unfolded them into meters of string, forcing Cecil and Lancer to fall back.
"Don't think I'm done with you, old man !
-Hah ! As if a bug like you could do anything now !"
Not starightened her strings into a web and sent it flying relentlessly towards Calladius. He, on the other hand, cut them before they reached him, using his air manipulation at his advantage. Saber took the opportunity to approach again, but this time unarmed.
"What are you doing ? Do you so desperately try to die ?
-Don't sell me short because I'm without a sword."
Calladius, busy fighting the strings, did not see Saber's kick coming for his stomach. His breath taken away, he retaliated with more anger than before.
"Avenger : Bend."
The sword dislocated once again, this time adopting the shape of a rounded shield. With another twist, it expanded, protecting his user against the attacks from Not.
In the meantime, Cecil and Lancer had reched Father Wilde. While Lancer was removing his chains, Cecil tried to shake Shun around.
"Hey, boy, now's the time to help us, I think !
-Give it up. He hasn't been responding to anything."
Wilde stood up, holding the pole that supported Rider for assistance.
"Father, what exactly happened to you ?
-I was tricked and captured. I know as much as you, now that everything has been explained.
-Okay, then, do you know how this pole was set up ?
-This Calladius has been using his "Words of Power" a lot.
-They're not his, they were my father's... Well, no matter. If that's the case, getting him down shouldn't be too difficult, but I might take some time.
-I have an alternative to propose."
Cecil turned to the priest, letting go of Shun who returned to his apathetic state.
"Oh yeah ?
-The easy way out. If Rider is the centerpiece of his ritual, then we get rid of Rider.
-You... Are you serious right now ?
-Actually, he and I talked about it under cover of some cryptic conversation."
She looked up to Rider, muted but still aware of their presence, who was shaking his head from left to right vehemently.
"He doesn't agree.
-Actually, Master, I second that plan. It's easier, and since there is no Grail to be won anyway, all Servants will disappear eventually."
Cecil bit her lip and groaned. She knew that they were right, but it didn't sit right with her. She turned back to look at Shun...
"...Where is he ?
-Where is who- oh."
The three of them turned towards the battlefield, where the sound of strings had suddenly gotten interrupted. Through the light of dusk, they saw Not's body fall to its knees and next to her was Shun, a bloody knife in his hands.
"Tch. Finally I can catch a break...
-Oi, oi. That's twice already you attack me from behind."
Destabilized, Shun dropped by reflex the knife. Saber, on the other hand, wasn't in his best condition.
His chest pierced from front to back by the sword, Saber looked at Calladius.
"You... How did you...?
-Saber ! Use your Noble Phantasm !"
As Lancer urged his partner to heal himself, Saber shook his head.
"Can't... That's the end.
-Glad to see you've understood that."
Calladius removed Avenger from the wound, letting blood spill onto his cloak. Catching his breath, the mage raised his weapon in front of his eyes.
"Your mistake was to think that I was weaker than you.
-Yes, I realize that now...
-You'd have stood a chance in a fair fight, if you had you rapier with you... But fairness was never my strong suit."
With a swing, Saber's head fell from its body. After a few seconds, his body dissipated in golden light.
Cecil could not believe that Saber had just lost against the enemy. She had fought alongside him, and he had even prevailed against a mage before. That Calladius, who was not even a real one, had managed to kill him...
Master, get a hold of yourself. This isn't over yet.
Right... Alright. Then we'll go with the priest's plan.
"Oh, no no no, that won't do. Can't have you ruin everything at the last minute... Avenger : Bend."
Avenger reformed itself once more, this time adopting the shape of a paintbrush.
"You see, miss Die, I have to applaud your talent. And since I'm the one who pushed forth this talent, I thought I'd answer your most secret wishes myself, instead of that stupid cup.
-What ?
-I'm sure you have an idea what this is, hm ?"
Unwilling to concede to him,she was unable to refrain from examining the paintbrush. It was in reality Avenger, which Calladius had described as a Tool for Divinity...
She choked, eyes wide open.
"Impossible...!
-Oh, but it is. The ultimate paintbrush that you theorized as the most powerful creation tool in existence... Now that there are only three Servants remaining, I can finally make use of it.
-Does that mean..."
Master, be careful !
Pushing her aside, Lancer got in the way of the ray that had exited the paintbrush, letting his armor absorb the damage.
Calladius spared him a disappointed look.
"Magic Resistance, huh... What an annoying skill. But it doesn't matter anymore ; Avenger, this is your cue. Paint the gate to the future by my command, paint it on Rider's Noble Phantasm."
Shun, still hypnotized, activated another Command Spell. At this time, a clock materialized around Rider, who had been debating whether or not he should try anyway. The needles ticking clockwise towards the top, Calladius pointed the paintbrush in its direction. Another ray of light, much more powerful, hit Rider directly, allowing him to let out a scream after being reduced to silence for so long.
"This is not the last you hear of me, you demon ! I'll be back ! And there's nothing you will be able to do against me, the great Don Quicho-"
His shout was cut short, as he disappeared, leving in his place a portal of circular shape, behind which they could see a reddish sky streaked by an unnatural lightning.
Calladius laughed, and laughed again.
"Finally ! Finally, I have achieved my ultimate goal !"
Cecil didn't know how to react. Only Lancer was left. Shun, his Servant missing seemed to regain his senses.
"Huh... What is happening ?
-Way late for that, kid."
Not's talking head at his feet made him jump.
"What now, Calladius ?
-Now, it's my cue to leave."
Just as he said that, a red light came from a few kilometers away, followed by a roar that made the ice crack and the air vibrate. The portal wavered.
Calladius, not wasting a second, discarded the paintbrush and jumped through it, disappearing. Cecil, already down, hit the ground with her fist.
"No... We were so close ! All of those sacrifices...
-Master, we have other things to worry about."
Repressing her anger and frustration, she looked towards the source of the noise. After a short while, the horizon was masked by a gigantic mass of flesh, bones and gold, arranged in a ring maintained together by bands of white light, and pulsing at regular intervals.
"What is even this thing...
-I don't know, but I don't think it's friendly.
-Actually, I think I now."
Wilde reminded them of his presence. Still weak by lack of food for three days, he was looking grim.
"If I'm correct, it is the manifestation of a True Angel. It fits the description.
-A True Angel ? As in, one of those angels in the Bible ? What is it even doing here ?
-Maybe it fell dormant in Antartica, or it was fully summoned at some point during the war. The point is that it's a dangerous mechanism.
-Mechanism, not creature ?
-It is closer to an automaton, yes.
-Any idea how to get rid of it ?"
Lancer pressed them to reach a conclusion. Wilde shook his head.
Cecil looked around. The desert of ice had been blown away by the invocation, toppling the pole over and damaging the magic circle. The portal, still intact, was wavering with increased intensity as time passed.
Not was, right now, holding on to keep her body complete, fighting for consciousness. The only valid people left were herself, Lancer, Wilde and Shun. She breathed out, and focused. Wilde was too weak to fight, if he even was able to. She could use her Magecraft, but with so little knowledge on her enemy, there was nothing she could do... Lancer was not fit for a battle one-on one, either.
I can tell what you're thinking. You don't really value our chances, right ?
That's true, but, I have an idea.
Shun was fairly weak, but his Magecraft could prove useful. And, she had forgotten one last person.
She approached the ground where Calladius had been. Ignoring the costly clothes left behind by Saber upon his death, she kneeled to the last remaining asset they had.
"Avenger... Right ?
-..."
The paintbrush distorted itself, returning to its human self. He was looking at the portal.
"Your Master abandoned you.
-It's okay.
-You're soon going to run out of mana, once the portal closes.
-Yes.
-Will you help me ?"
Avenger's eyes crossed with hers. Unable to guess what he was thinking, she waited for a response. Finally, Oreste nodded.
"Okay."
Alleviated, she stood up again.
Lancer, I need your help.
You don't need to ask for it, that's what I'm here for.
Appreciating his warm response, she took a deep inspiration, and started giving out her orders.
"Lancer, I need you to assist Shun in order to lure that thing here. Father, what is this thing supposed to do in the first place ?
-According to the scriptures, True Angels were tasked to purify the world of its sinners and combat other beings opposed to God's rule.
-Okay. Not, I leave the strategy in your care for that part.
-Sure thing, but what about you ?
-I'll maintain the portal open. Once it's close enough, you'll have to send it through, and then I'll close it.
-Ooh, brilliant ! Just send it after the other guy, that's what I'm talking about. Okay, captain, I'm on it."
Not coughed, and looked at her hands.
"I guess it's time to say goodbye for now..."
She froze, and her body started unfolding, revealing her true form as she discarded the excess string. Climbing on the young japanese mage, who shivered from the contact, she settled on his head.
Lancer gave his approval and caught Shun before runing to the mountains. Cecil took Avenger's hand.
"I need you to revert to a paintbrush... If that's okay.
-...Yes."
Using his bending abilities, Avenger made himself into the desired tool. Regaining her concentration, she analyzed the portal's structure. Starting to draw in the air, symbols of light appeared in front of her and flashed to the portal, stablizing it. As she did so, she felt the presence of the Servant at her fingertips.
Are you holding on ?
Yes.
The laconic response caused her to smile for a second, and she kept on painting.
On the others' side, Not was whistling, looking at the impressive size of the Angel. Or she would have whistled, if she had any lips. Instead, she pointed the ring and made use of her string to connect the three of them, allowng for easier communication.
"I did say to Die that I'd take commandment, but to be frank I have no idea what to make of this.
-U-Uhm, I don't, either, get what's happening... Where's Rider ?
-Rider's dead, or something. Sorry, but we don't have time to summarize everything right now.
-A-ah. Right, sorry..."
Looking down, Shun closed his mouth. Lancer placed a hand on his shoulder, but focused on the Angel.
"Can you move it with your powers ?
-W-well, it is too big for me... If it was smaller, or already moving, I could do something, but...
-If we make it move ?
-If it's going above a certain speed, I can shorten the distance and move it anywhere... I think.
-That's impressive, considering... Then, all I have to do is make him follow me.
-That's good and all, Lancer, but how do you plan on doing that ? It's more likely to send golems after you than moving itself.
-I know. Trust me with this."
Lancer cut the string and jumped, trying to get closer to the machine.
Its settings are dormant. It'll move only if you change them...
Thank you, Enide. Where are they ?
You need to damage the heart, at the center of the ring. Be careful.
I will.
Pushing his strength beyond its limits, Lancer reached the ring. Its shell was only four-meters wide, and he managed to peek at the center of the ring, which was still pulsing like a red sun. Grabbing onto a skull, he landed on the top of the ring. The flesh and bones around him started to animate, and complete skeletons appeared from the surface.
Behind you !
With a circular move of his spear, he fended off the golems that started attacking him. He started running on the side of the Angel while breaking through the animated creatures surging from it. Eventually, he found a good spot and jumped towards the center, scratching the sun with his spear, and fell to the ground far below.
The Angel stopped pulsating, and the outer ring started to rotate. Two additional rings of light appeared on the inside, spinning at random velocity and angles around the sun, which increased in size. The whole started to set off and moved towards Lancer with increasing speed.
Erec rushed to the mountains, as he was previously told by Cecil an Not. The Angel followed, slowly at first, then going as fast as he was.
"Not, you're on !
-I get it. Shun, tell me when it's good for you.
-A-alright.
-Then I'll take care of guiding you... Go to the next mountain, now.
-Y-yes !"
The four of them made their way back to the arena, bit by bit, until Shun exclaimed :
"There ! It's g-going fast enough !
-Okay, then you know what to do !"
Cecil saw the ring approach, following after Lancer. Keeping her focus on the portal, she watched as Shun suddenly cut the distance between the two, forcing the Angel into the portal at many kilometers a second, accompanied by a full-on rain of sparkling light. Somehow, though, the Angel was failing to enter.
"I-It's fighting back, it keeps going this way...!
-I'd do the same in his place, so obviously that's what happens. Keep pushing.
-I'm t-trying !"
Putting everything in this last effort, Cecil increased the size of the portal again.
Master.
Lancer ? What is it now ?
I have something to ask you.
Is now really the time ?
Could you look into it ? The way to make my wish come true... That's all I ask.
What ?
Without answering, Lancer placed himself above the Angel.
It's going after me. I have to go in as well.
Are you crazy ? Calladius said this was the end of the world behind that !
I'm a Servant. There's no other option... Cecil. Please tell me you'll look into it.
Swallowing her saliva, out of energy, Cecil knew she had no other options.
I'll do it, even if it takes my my entire life.
I wasn't asking for so much... Thank you. Stay alive, Master.
Diving into the Angel's opening, jumping his way around the spinning rings, Lancer entered the portal. Out of mana, Cecil let her arms fall back, dropping the paintbrush, and fell to the ground.
Above her, the Angel finally passed the portal, and after a few seconds, the rift closed itself.
5 days later. Clock Tower, siege of the Mage's Association
It had been five days. Shun, instructed by Not, had contacted the Mage's Association, who sent men to get them back.
What their men had found was a cold desert, covered in snow, and an arena surrounded by mountains, a strange pole of rock toppled over it, along with the remaining traces of a circle.
Specialists had had a crack at it. It was concluded that this spell was designed to open a gateway, corroborating Not and Shun's testimonies. Shuniji being from an independant family, he had been incarcerated, while Not had taken some time off to reconstruct her human appearance.
Cecil had been left alone. After exhausting herself, she had remained unconscious for a few days, in the Clock Tower's hospital where she was now sitting on the side of the bed.
Her testimony was heard, and written off in a report. She knew, for having experienced it before, that this report would never get to anyone's ears.
That War, even though it was all a hoax, had done irreparable damage. From the mage's perspective, the worst part was the leyline redirection caused by Cocytus, which was estimated to take at least forty years to repair itself, as well as the apparition of a True Angel which left traces on the land. Making every possible effort to cover it as something else, the Mage's Association was anticipating a recrudescence in independant advances in magecraft.
As for the Cold War, which was used as a replacement for the Grail, it was now no more than a conflict of principle. The US had suffered greatly from Archer's death, retroactively giving the people "TV sickness", as they called it, and their industry was taking the blow with great pain.
On the other hand, the USSR had surprinsingly made no commentary on recent events, maybe because of their Magical Regulation unit trying to cover up the lack of actual results.
In both cases, Cecil didn't care. Asked about her father regarding the investigation around his death, her claims that he was betrayed by his associate was dismissed, his death undoubtedly accidental. When asked if she would inherit his class, she had refused. Pedagogy was not on her mind.
What was on her mind was the outcome of the War. She had to wonder whether or not Lancer was still alive or not. And if he wasn't, was it worth keeping her promise to him ? He wouldn't remember it even if that was the case.
Strangely, her Command Spells had not disappeared. Unable to contact him by telepathy, she was reduced to theorize that the Command Spells would only disappear at her death, or when reaching Lancer's death at the end of the world.
She smiled. She felt that they were a sign left for her by Erec to remind her of her promise.
"Fine, I'll do it.
-Oh, so talking to yourself, now ?"
She raised her head to see Not, her body returned to its former self, and dressed with new expensive clothes, enter the room with a quizzical smile. And following her, two teenagers followed.
The first was Shuniji. His appearance had been transformed, clearly to the taste of Not. It wasn't difficult to understand that she was the one to pull him out of his cell.
The other, she took a moment to recognize. When she did, her mouth gaped for a second. That 20 year-old man, with green hair and a serious expression, dropped a bouquet of flowers off the end of the bed, and hesitantly put forth a word.
"Hi, Cecil... Long time no see.
-Hello, Joan."
Cecil raised a suspicious eyebrow at Not, who answered with a shrug. Shun sememd to want to speak up, but stopped midway. Oronado, careful not to disturb anything, sat next to Cecil.
"How are you feeling ?
-Tired, but fine... I thought you wouldn't have come.
-Well... I was part of the rescue mission.
-Oh."
Slightly disappointed that he didn't come forward on his own, she chased these thoughts of regret and asked instead :
"How have you been these past years ?
-I've grown a bit, as you can see... Well, maybe not so much."
He laughed, dissipating the atmosphere of uneasiness. Not grabbed Shun's arm and dragged him outside in spite of his protests.
"Is she actively trying to restart the rumors ?
-Ahah, don't worry. It's not that important anyway. These days, there's rumors about everything.
-That's true, I guess... Anyway, is there something you wanted to talk to me about ?"
Oronado hesitated, blushing slightly. In the end, he shook his head.
"Just wanted to see how you were. Ah, and director Valueleta asked me if you were going to keep working for them.
-...Probably not. I'm done with espionage for a while. I think I'll just find a real job somewhere.
-You could try your hand at painting. The... non-magical one, I mean. I always thought you had talent there.
-You did use to say that..."
With a nostalgic smile, she thanked Joan. Both bid each other farewell as the nurse came into the room to check on her, and Oronado left.
Once he was out of the hospital, he returned to his serious expression, and looked up to the window of Cecil's room. A drizzle started pouring from the London sky.
"I hope you'll finally get to be happy, Cecil."
He walked away, soon joined by another teenage figure.
"Avenger, bend."
Oronado left the scene, deploying his newly acquired umbrella.
-TO BE CONTINUED-