Fate/Hijacked

Chapter 11

The day had started off with a flurry of activity as the group prepared for their journey to the Einzbern Castle. Lady Avalon, as always, was more than ready for action, albeit with her usual mischievous twist. While Shirou finished his preparations, she stood off to the side, quietly musing over an idea that had been forming in her mind for some time now.

Shirou's reality marble, Unlimited Blade Works, was gradually developing, and she had a unique interest in seeing him reach the point where he could actively manifest it without the crippling strain it would place on his body. As someone who excelled in the art of magecraft, and boasting a high-level "Item Construction" skill at Rank A, she could certainly craft something to aid him. Perhaps a magic crest, or even a conceptual Mystic Code that could serve as an external reservoir of mana for Shirou, thus allowing him to sustain his reality marble's existence in the world. She smiled at the thought. Yes, that would certainly be a gift to consider in the near future.

But for now, they had more pressing matters to attend to.

Before leaving, Lady Avalon insisted on enchanting Shirou's clothes for extra protection, waving her hands playfully as she imbued the fabric with defensive magic. "There you go," she said with a pleased grin, her eyes sparkling with mirth. "Now I won't have to worry about you as much. I'd much rather you stay in one piece."

Shirou, though grateful, couldn't hide the slight flush on his face. He still wasn't used to the playful affection Lady Avalon regularly showered him with, and she certainly didn't make it easy to keep his composure. "Thanks," he mumbled, trying to focus on zipping up his jacket.

Rin, standing nearby and rolling her eyes at the whole scene, crossed her arms and huffed. "If you're handing out enchanted clothing, Pretender, you could at least do the same for the rest of us."

Lady Avalon turned to Rin with an exaggerated sigh, her eyes gleaming with amusement. "Oh, Rin, sweetie... it doesn't work that way. You see, I've poured so much of my immense love into Shirou's enchantment that I've exhausted all my magical energy. Truly, love knows no bounds!" She dramatically placed a hand on her chest, feigning an exhausted swoon.

Rin's eyebrow twitched. "You're full of it, you know that?"

Pretender gave a coy smile, completely unbothered by Rin's irritation. "Oh, but wouldn't you agree, Shirou? You feel it, don't you?" She winked at him, watching in delight as his face turned a deeper shade of red.

Rin's patience was running thin. "That's the most transparent lie I've ever heard."

What truly pushed her over the edge, however, was when Lady Avalon then sauntered over to Archer, casually placing her hand on his shoulder and using her "Succubus Ridge" skill to buff his defences and survivability. "There you go, Archer," she purred, "a little extra protection for you as well. Can't leave you vulnerable, now can I?"

Archer blinked, visibly taken aback by the sudden magical boost. "...Right. Thanks, I guess."

Lady Avalon giggled mischievously, while Rin stared daggers at her. The Tohsaka heiress's expression was a mixture of disbelief and annoyance, and she could barely suppress the urge to strangle the half-succubus.

"Unbelievable," Rin muttered under her breath.

Archer, for his part, merely sighed, realising he was caught in the middle of this bizarre dynamic. "Why am I involved in this now...?"

With the group's defences bolstered—well, Shirou and Archer's at least—they began their trek towards, then through, the dense forest surrounding the Einzbern Castle. Rin led the way, trying to guide them through the most secure path while avoiding the traps likely hidden throughout the area.

"Isn't sneaking through the forest like this going to make us seem suspicious?" Shirou asked, glancing around nervously as they moved deeper into the woods.

"She already knows we're here," Rin replied matter-of-factly. "Illyasviel's bounded field would have alerted her the moment we crossed into her territory. Moving through the forest at least gives us some cover in case she decides to attack outright."

Shirou couldn't argue with that, but it didn't make him any less uneasy.

After what felt like hours of walking, they finally arrived at the grand gates of the Einzbern Castle. Two similar yet contrasting homunculus maids stood at the entrance, their impassive faces giving nothing away as they observed the newcomers. Without a word, they opened the heavy doors, allowing the group to step inside.

"Lady Illyasviel is waiting for you," one of the maids said, her tone polite but devoid of warmth.

The interior of the castle was just as imposing as Shirou had expected, and it wasn't long before they found themselves standing in the vast entrance hall, with Illya waiting regally at the far end. Berserker stood at her side like an impenetrable wall of muscle, his massive frame casting a long shadow across the marble floor.

"Welcome," Illya said, her voice carrying an unsettling mix of cheer and menace. "I must say, I'm curious as to why you've decided to visit me here in my castle, especially after everything that's happened." Her crimson eyes gleamed with a hint of amusement.

Rin, playing the important role of negotiator, stepped forward and took a deep breath. "We've come to propose an alliance. We're all fighting in the Holy Grail War, and it's in our best interests to team up against Caster and her Servant, Assassin. They've fortified themselves in Ryuudouji Temple, and taking them down will require more than just our individual efforts."

Illya listened carefully, tapping her chin thoughtfully as Rin spoke. For a moment, she seemed to seriously consider the proposal. Then, a sly smile crept across her face.

"I see. An alliance, is it?" Illya's gaze flickered toward Shirou, and the playful glint in her eyes turned predatory. "I'll agree to your terms on one condition: you hand over Shirou to me. He'll come with me to stay here in the Einzbern Castle, and he'll agree to become obedient to me. Only then will I join your little team."

Shirou's eyes widened in shock, his mouth opening and closing as he struggled to find the words to respond. Before he could say anything, however, Lady Avalon, with all her playful spirit, stepped forward with a theatrical sigh.

"I'm afraid I can't agree to those terms, Illyasviel," she said, her voice lilting with amusement. "You see, Shirou already belongs to me."

Shirou nearly choked on air, whipping his head toward Lady Avalon with an expression of utter bewilderment. "W-What?!"

Lady Avalon ignored his flustered reaction and continued with a dazzling smile. "I've grown far too fond of him to just hand him over to another woman, you understand. I'm afraid you'll have to find another bargaining chip."

She winked at Shirou, who was still trying to process what was happening, and then added, "Besides, we already share a special, intimate bond, don't we, darling?"

The room fell into an awkward silence as Shirou's face turned beet red. He opened his mouth to protest, but no words came out. Memories of some particular nights briefly flashing through his mind.

Illya's playful smile turned into a sharp scowl. "So, he's yours, is he?" she said, her voice cold and dangerous. "How interesting… Berserker!"

The massive giant stirred beside her, his muscles tensing as he prepared to carry out her command.

"Attack."

Omake

Throne of Heroes: Artoria's Wrath, Part 11

Back in the Throne of Heroes, Artoria Pendragon had had just about enough. The once and future King of Knights paced back and forth in her ethereal domain, her fists clenched and her expression dark with anger.

The moment Proto-Merlin—no, that infuriating half-succubus—had made that outrageous claim, Artoria had practically seen red. It was bad enough that the woman had hijacked her summoning and stolen Shirou's innocence, but now she was boldly declaring that Shirou was hers? And saying it right in front of Illya, no less!

"That—that harlot! No-good, thieving charlatan!" Artoria fumed, her usually composed expression twisting into something rarely seen—a look of pure, unbridled indignation. "How dare she claim that Shirou belongs to her? Does she not know that Shirou was my sheath before she ever laid eyes on him?"

Her loyal Knights of the Round Table stood around her awkwardly, exchanging nervous glances. Lancelot, arms crossed, tried to maintain his usual stoic demeanour, though beads of sweat formed on his forehead. Gawain opened his mouth as if to speak, but quickly thought better of it and kept silent. Bedivere shifted uncomfortably, trying to think of something soothing to say, though words eluded him. Meanwhile, at the far end of the area, Mordred had her arms folded across her chest, an amused smirk tugging at her lips, clearly enjoying the rare sight of her ever-calm father losing her composure.

"I mean, how does she even get away with it?!" Artoria demanded, throwing her hands in the air. "She hijacked my summoning! She interfered with the Grail's call, waltzed in, stole my contract—and then—oh, and then, she has the gall to not only steal Shirou's chastity, but even go on to proclaim that she and Shirou share an 'intimate bond'!"

Artoria's face flushed at the mere thought of it, and she spun around to face her knights with fiery determination in her emerald eyes. "Shirou was my sheath—long before that... half-breed ever slithered into his life!"

Lancelot, deciding that silence was no longer an option, cleared his throat. "My king," he began hesitantly, "I understand your frustrations, but perhaps this... situation with Sir Shirou is not quite as—"

"Lancelot," Artoria cut him off with a glare that could have shattered Excalibur itself, "I swear upon my sword, if you finish that sentence, I'll send you back to the Lake."

Lancelot promptly decided that maybe silence was the better option after all.

Gawain, ever the stalwart knight, was the next who tried to comfort his king. "Your Majesty, perhaps this Lady Avalon is only jesting? Surely Sir Shirou—"

"Jesting?" Artoria whirled around, her piercing gaze locking onto Gawain with such intensity that he took an involuntary step back. "This is no jest, Gawain! This is a direct assault on my honour as his fated Servant, his protector!"

Meanwhile, Mordred could barely contain herself, stifling giggles as she watched her father's rare emotional outburst. "This is gold," she muttered under her breath. "I always knew there was something funny about that whole scabbard business, but I never thought this would happen!"

Artoria shot her a withering look, but it only seemed to make Mordred's amusement grow. "You're enjoying this, aren't you?" she demanded.

"Oh, immensely," Mordred grinned. "I mean, it's not every day I get to see you ranting about some half-succubus stealing your boyfriend."

"Shirou is not my—!" Artoria's furiously blushing denial was cut short by the sudden appearance of an ethereal screen of flowers being conjured in front of the gathered knights. It swirled in the air like a ripple in a calm pond before an all-too-familiar chuckle echoed through the room. The sound made Artoria's already frayed temper snap completely.

"Ah, what a lovely display of passion, Artoria!" came the voice of none other than Merlin, the roguish half-incubus, all but conveying with it his cheeky grin. "It warms the heart, truly. I never thought I'd see you this... animated."

Artoria's eyes narrowed into dangerous slits. "Merlin. If you are responsible for this... Lady Avalon nonsense, I will—"

"Now, now," Merlin cut in smoothly, waving his hand as if to dismiss her anger. "No need to get all bent out of shape. I'm not the one who sent that little minx to Shirou's side. I did, however, come across something rather amusing that I thought you should see."

The floral screen flickered to life, showing a vision of another world. The Holy Grail War had just begun, and Shirou stood there, having just barely fended off Lancer's attack. But instead of summoning a Servant from the Saber class, or even the Pretender Lady Avalon, something far more peculiar unfolded. The golden scabbard Avalon itself appeared on the summoning circle. Artoria and the knights stared, baffled, as the scabbard began to glow brightly and transform—into a radiant woman with medium length golden hair containing blue streaks, deep blue eyes, ethereal armour that was both sleek and beautiful, and the unmistakable look of a Saberface.

With a determined frown, she quickly engaged Lancer in combat using, of all things, a large shield which resembled the legendary scabbard in design. The Shielder fought with a graceful defence-orientated style that emphasised blocks, parries and counters, pushing Lancer into using his Noble Phantasm, then cleanly defending against it using her shield. Lancer retreated soon after, at the command of his hidden Master.

"What in the world?!" Artoria gasped, horrified. "That... that's supposed to be my scabbard!"

On the screen, the woman—Avalon, now in human form—dismissed her shield into motes of light then gently embraced Shirou with a warm smile, like he was a beloved partner. Her tone was affectionate, almost intimate. "Thank you for summoning me, my dear Second Master. Though King Arthur is my First Master, I'm honoured to serve you." She looked at him with shimmering eyes. "I'll protect you just as I once protected my king."

Shirou, looking utterly confused but somehow reassured, allowed the woman—Avalon—to rest her head on his shoulder as she pulled him into a protective hug.

Artoria's mouth dropped open, her eye twitching violently. "SHE... SHE EVEN TRANSFORMED INTO A WOMAN?! WHY?! HOW?!"

Mordred, now doubled over with laughter, gasped for air. "Oh... my... god... She's a Saberface too! HAHAHAHA! This is the best thing I've ever seen!"

Tristan, strumming a melancholic chord on his harp, tried to avert his eyes from the ridiculous spectacle. "My liege, this is... an unusual situation."

"Unusual?" Artoria's voice was shrill with exasperation. "This is an abomination! Merlin! What trickery is this?!"

Merlin, appearing in the corner of the screen with a wide, amused grin, waved lazily. "Oh, just an alternate world where Shirou summoned the scabbard instead of the sword. Isn't it delightful? Avalon herself takes on human form to continue serving and protecting him. How truly romantic."

Artoria's face contorted in fury. "That's not the point! Avalon is supposed to be an object! An object doesn't get to turn into a woman and—!"

Merlin chuckled. "Now, now, Artoria. Let's not be too harsh. After all, I always said that Avalon was more than just a simple artifact. Perhaps she's just... finding herself?"

"Finding herself?! I'm going to find you and—"

Before Artoria could finish, Merlin cut the connection, his laughter echoing through the area.

Omake 2: Berser-CAR Unleashed!

The tension in the room reached a fever pitch as Illya's chilling command echoed through the castle hall.

"Berserker, attack!"

Shirou instinctively reached for his swords, tracing Kanshou and Bakuya into his awaiting grasp, ready to face the incoming behemoth. But instead of a bloodthirsty roar or a furious charge, something entirely unfathomable happened.

Berserker's massive frame began to shift, his muscular form contorting in impossible ways. The sound of grinding metal filled the air, and his limbs, which moments ago were thick with raw strength, began to reshape into something almost resembling mechanical parts. Tires sprouted from his feet, his torso expanded into a bulky, armoured chassis, and his mighty arms morphed into what appeared to be large-calibre cannons. The transformation complete, there stood Berser-CAR—an indomitable tank-like vehicle, wheels screeching as it revved aggressively, steam hissing from its exhaust pipes.

"BEHOLD! BERSER-CAR!" Illya cackled with glee, crossing her arms as if this were the most normal thing in the world. "You didn't expect this, did you?"

"W-What the hell is that?!" Shirou yelped, his eyes wide as dinner plates. Rin was right beside him, her jaw nearly hitting the floor.

"Is he seriously a car now?" Rin screeched, staring at the vehicular monstrosity that was once Berserker. "This has to be a joke! What kind of Noble Phantasm is this?!"

Archer, typically stoic, was equally floored. His mouth twitched. "This… is beyond ridiculous." But his mind, tactical and opportunistic, quickly wandered. "Could I possibly project a motorbike? Or even a car… if it's shaped like a sword…?"

Meanwhile, Berser-CAR let out a mighty engine growl, his eyes flashing menacingly as it rolled forward, ready to bulldoze the group. The sheer absurdity of the situation had stunned everyone into silence, save for one person.

Lady Avalon's eyes sparkled with glee. "Shirou, darling!" she exclaimed, grabbing his hands with the enthusiasm of a child at a theme park. "We must make an attack vehicle of our own, immediately! Something flashy. Something with style—a mecha, preferably. A mecha that you can ride me—sorry, ride with me—in!"

Shirou blanched, his face quickly turning crimson. "W-Wait, what was that about riding with you? You mean—"

"Of course, I mean to pilot it with you," she clarified, though her tone and the mischievous glint in her eyes suggested otherwise. "But hurry! We can't let them have all the fun."

"Fun?!" Rin exploded, her patience threadbare as she turned on Lady Avalon. "Are you seriously suggesting we build a mecha right now? In the middle of a battle?! We have a tank—sorry, a Berser-CAR—charging at us!"

Lady Avalon gave a carefree shrug. "Why not? My darling and I can create anything when we're together. Don't underestimate the depth of our connection, or the power of our love!"

Shirou, red-faced and flustered, tried to stammer out a response. "T-This isn't the time for building giant robots! We need to—"

"Focus, Shirou!" Lady Avalon interrupted, gripping his shoulders with fervour. "Imagine it. You, me, piloting a magnificent machine of war, dominating the battlefield! We could call it… Exca-MECH!" She was clearly far too invested in the idea to let trivial things like reason or practicality get in the way.

Rin screamed in frustration, clutching her head. "This is insane! Am I the only sane person here?!"

Archer, still deep in thought, ignored the commotion. "A car with blades… hmm. If I imagine it as a 'Swordmobile'... that could work," he muttered under his breath. The bowman rubbed his chin thoughtfully, seemingly unfazed by the chaos. "A vehicle... forged from swords. Hm. If I use Unlimited Blade Works as a conceptual base, perhaps I could project something... something like a motorbike or a car, but with blades. Functional blades incorporated into the design." His eyes lit up, a rare moment of enthusiasm. "A Sword-bike, perhaps?"

Rin looked at Archer as if he'd lost his mind too. "Are you all completely insane? A Sword-bike?! Mechas?! We are about to be run over by Berserker-TANK, and you two are discussing vehicle designs?!"

Meanwhile, Berser-CAR revved again, charging up an attack. Cannons deployed, its massive frame casting an ominous shadow over the group.

Shirou gulped. "We need to focus on stopping that thing before we worry about mechas and sword-cars!"

Lady Avalon's eyes gleamed with playful determination. "I guess we'll have to improvise for now, darling." She grinned, her hands still firmly holding Shirou's. "Let's just make sure we survive. And after that—mecha cockpit riding time!"

As Berser-CAR's cannons locked onto them, Shirou's future was looking more chaotic than ever.

As the monstrous Berser-CAR revved its engine with a terrifying roar, Illya beamed, thoroughly entertained by the escalating absurdity. "Well, what are you waiting for? It's time to see whose ride is superior!"

Shirou, still being yanked around by Lady Avalon's excitement, gulped. "R-Rin, I think we might need to... um, go with the mecha idea..."

"Oh, for the love of—" Rin groaned, burying her face in her hands, "I'm surrounded by idiots."