Fate/Hijacked

Chapter 16

The morning light filtered through the thin curtains of Shirou's bedroom, casting a soft glow on the futon as he slowly stirred awake. His body felt unusually warm in a way that had nothing to do with the gentle morning sun, and it didn't take long for him to realize why. Wrapped around him, with a satisfied and peaceful expression, was Lady Avalon—his Pretender class Servant. The pretentious half-succubus was draped over him like a comfortable, albeit mischievous, blanket.

She clung to him as if he were a giant pillow, head resting on his shoulder with one arm draped across his chest and a leg entwined with his own. Her breathing was slow and steady, clearly content in her position whilst pinning him down as effectively as any binding spell. Shirou sighed, trying not to think too much about how comfortable she looked, or how much he enjoyed such a sight, and carefully began to wriggle his way out of her grasp. However, even in sleep, her grip remained firm. Every time he tried to move, she would tighten her hold on him, mumbling something incoherent yet clearly pleased.

After what felt like a full-blown operation, Shirou managed to free himself and slip out of bed, his face flushed as he tried to push away any embarrassing thoughts. Lady Avalon only smiled in her sleep, as if she had won some sort of victory. Once he was finally up, he took a quick glance at her, only to be met with the sight of her sprawled across the futon, her blanket carelessly tossed to one side. She was a picture of serene, mischievous beauty, but Shirou couldn't let himself be distracted. There were more pressing matters at hand—like breakfast.

He quickly got dressed and headed downstairs to the kitchen to begin preparing the meal. It wasn't long before the sound of footsteps and hushed conversations reached him, signalling that everyone else was waking up. It wasn't long before Illya appeared in the doorway, her silver hair slightly dishevelled from sleep. Moments later, Rin joined them, her expression still a bit bleary as she had yet to fully acclimate to being awake. And then there was Lady Avalon, who sauntered in with a casual grace, a sparkle of amusement dancing in her eyes. She looked entirely too pleased with herself, her smirk suggesting she was well aware of the discomfort she had caused him that morning.

Once everything was ready, they gathered around the dining table. The previous day's events still somewhat weighed on them. But for now, they focused on the simple act of eating together. Illya sat next to Shirou, looking far more relaxed than she had the night before. Rin, though quiet, seemed focused, clearly turning ideas over in her mind. Lady Avalon was, of course, her usual self—playfully sneaking a bite from Shirou's plate, despite having her own food right in front of her.

Once the plates were cleared and the morning routine settled, the discussion turned serious.

"We have two main threats right now," Rin began, tapping her fingers against the table in thought. "Caster has fortified herself at Ryuudouji Temple, and she also has Assassin under her command to guard the entrance. Then there's Gilgamesh. He's a far greater threat than any of us can handle right now, and if he decides to come after us again…"

Shirou nodded, his expression serious. "We'd have to deal with Assassin first if we want any chance of reaching Caster."

Rin nodded. "Exactly. Not to mention Caster's probably had enough time to set up more than just one layer of defence, and I don't think it'll be possible to reach the top unless we take the main entrance pathway. Direct assaults aren't going to work unless we have a solid plan. We could try attacking from multiple directions, but with Assassin guarding the entrance, we'll be on the back foot from the start."

"I could take out Assassin," Lady Avalon chimed in with a breezy confidence, casually tracing patterns on the table with her finger. "But it's Caster who's the real problem. She's smart enough to have accounted for various scenarios. We'll need more firepower."

Rin sighed. "If only we could recruit Lancer to help us. He's strong enough to pose a real challenge to both Caster and Assassin, but we don't even know who his Master is, let alone how to contact him."

Shirou scratched the back of his head. "And even if we did manage to find him, there's no guarantee he'd be willing to work with us."

As if on cue, Lady Avalon suddenly stiffened. Her expression changed, her playful demeanour replaced by an alertness. She raised a hand, signalling for everyone's attention. "Someone just entered the bounded field around the estate," she said in a firm tone, her eyes narrowing in concentration. "A Servant is in the backyard."

They all tensed, immediately on high alert. Without a word, the group quickly and quietly made their way to the back of the house. Shirou stepped out cautiously, ready to defend the others if necessary. To their surprise, standing casually in the backyard, his signature red spear resting lazily over his shoulder, was none other than Lancer. He wore a roguish grin, clearly unbothered by the tension, clearly unbothered by the tension in the air.

"Morning," Lancer greeted them with a lazy wave and carefree manner. "I figured it'd be rude to just barge in, so I thought I'd wait out here and let you detect my presence."

Rin narrowed her eyes at him, immediately suspicious. "What are you doing here, Lancer? This isn't your usual style."

Lancer chuckled. "You're right, it's not. But I'm here to propose an alliance—against Caster."

Shirou blinked in surprise. Of all the possible developments, this was not what he had expected. "An alliance?" He exchanged a quick glance with Rin, who looked equally taken aback by the situation.

"Yeah," Lancer said, rubbing the back of his neck whilst shrugging nonchalantly. "Look, for the most part my Master doesn't really care what I do in this war," he explained. "I've got free reign to make my own decisions, and Caster's becoming more trouble than she's worth. She's got herself holed up in that temple, and if she stays there, things are only going to get worse for all of us. Figured it'd be easier to take her down if we worked together."

Rin crossed her arms, her eyes sharp and studying him carefully. "And your Master is fine with this?"

"Like I said, they don't care," Lancer replied, waving his hand dismissively. "Gave me the freedom to handle things however I want in this war. And right now, I'd rather not see Caster win. So, what do you say?"

The group exchanged glances. Rin was clearly weighing the pros and cons, but they all knew they didn't have many options. Finally, after a moment of silence, she nodded. "Alright, we'll work together. We'll launch the attack tonight."

A satisfied grin spread across Lancer's face. "Good. I'll be ready."

With the alliance settled, preparations for the night's battle began in earnest. Rin busied herself with gathering her precious gems, muttering plans and contingencies under her breath as she organised her resources. Every now and then, she would shoot an intense glance toward Lancer, as if still not entirely sure about him. Lancer, for his part, seemed to take her scrutiny in stride, giving her an occasional smirk as he watched her with a calm, almost amused demeanour.

Lady Avalon also had her own agenda. She leaned down to Illya, a soft, affectionate smile on her face. "Illya, my dear, I could use your assistance with something rather special. Will you come with me?"

Illya's eyes held a measure of curiosity and she nodded slowly, slipping her hand into Lady Avalon's. Together, they made their way to Lady Avalon's temporary workshop in the guest room.

That left Shirou with Lancer, who flashed him an amused smirk. "What do you say, kid? Want to get some practice in before tonight?"

Shirou blinked in surprise, but after a moment he nodded in agreement. This was an opportunity he couldn't pass up—Lancer was one of the strongest warriors in the Grail War, and any chance to train with him was a chance to get better before the next encounter. Taking a deep breath, Shirou readied himself as they faced off.

The backyard soon became a flurry of movement as Lancer launched into their sparring session, his wooden practice spear moving with precision and speed that forced Shirou to push himself to his limits just to keep up. He was even faster than Archer had been, and fought with a sense of ferocity as opposed to the stoic bowman's more calculating style. Shirou knew he still had a long way to go, but he was steadily improving and that's what mattered.

Tonight, they would face off against odds that were stacked against them. But together, with their unlikely alliance, they would at least have a fighting chance.

Omake

Throne of Heroes: Artoria's Wrath, Part 16

Somewhere beyond mortal sight, in the ethereal realm of the Throne of Heroes, Artoria Pendragon was not having a good day. Her eyes narrowed as she watched Lady Avalon shamelessly clinging to Shirou yet again, and an exasperated growl escaped her lips.

"Why is she always so… clingy?" Artoria fumed, pacing back and forth. "Does she have no sense of decency? Must she hang off him every moment of the day?!"

She threw her hands up in frustration, her exasperation growing with every second. "It's bad enough that she insists on performing her so-called 'mana transfers' every chance she gets, but now she's draped all over him, acting like some lovesick maiden!" She scowled at the thought of how Lady Avalon had practically wrapped herself around Shirou that morning. "Why can't she just be dignified?"

Across from her, Gawain, Bedivere, and Lancelot exchanged cautious glances, casting looks of wary sympathy toward each other. They just hoped that she didn't try doing anything drastic again. Like trying to forcefully breach the Throne and summon herself into the world.

Gawain coughed, his usually steadfast gaze a little wary. "My King… I'm sure she has her reasons," he offered diplomatically. "Despite her behaviour, she has been helping Sir Shirou."

"Helping?" Artoria scoffed, crossing her arms. "More like meddling. And Shirou hardly needs that kind of help."

Gawain cleared his throat, attempting to redirect her attention diplomatically. "Perhaps, my liege, focusing on the situation at hand would be wise. It seems they've forged an alliance with Lancer to combat Caster—a commendable tactical decision."

"Yes!" added Bedivere, sensing an opportunity to sway her. "Lancer is a highly skilled warrior. Surely, he will prepare young Shirou well for battle, should they face Caster together."

Artoria shot them a scowl, her cheeks flushed with both embarrassment and vexation. "Lancer is a fine warrior, but I don't trust him not to leave Shirou in pieces after a 'sparring session.' He has no concept of restraint!"

"Oh, come now, my liege," came the smooth voice of Lancelot, his eyes glinting with mirth. "Lancer is quite accomplished with his spear. I'm sure Shirou will benefit greatly from his expertise."

Artoria's gaze softened, if only slightly. She imagined her former Master training earnestly under Lancer's harsh guidance, his focus unwavering as he took each blow, learned each move. But then… Lancer was a spearman, after all. Could he actually be attempting to influence Shirou's preference for swords? Artoria mulled over this reluctantly, tapping her fingers thoughtfully. It made logical sense. With his unique ability to understand the structure of various weapons, adding a spear to Shirou's repertoire wouldn't be all that far-fetched. And yet, an image crept into her mind, one that she couldn't quite banish. Shirou standing, spear in hand after having cast aside the usage of swords as a main weapon.

In her mind's eye, she imagined Shirou's spear style evolving under Lancer's influence. She saw Shirou reciting strange incantations, his once warm smile replaced by Lancer's signature roguish smirk, as he twirled a blood-red lance instead of a sword. She imagined him growing into being hailed as "Emiya the Spearman" as Lady Avalon hung off his arm, laughing with her irritatingly coy expressions.

"Absolutely not!" Artoria burst out, jarring the three knights. "Shirou will not turn into a spearman under my watch! No 'Emiya the Spearman' for him!"

"But… wouldn't you rather see him succeed, regardless of weapon choice?" Lancelot ventured carefully, though he looked slightly apprehensive. "It's… only a minor shift, after all."

"A minor shift?" Artoria replied, her voice an indignant whisper. "It's a slippery slope! Today it's sparring with Lancer, tomorrow it's abandoning swords altogether. How can a man known for practically being a sword simply toss it aside for a lance?"

"Think of it as a… learning experience for him, then," Gawain offered, seemingly enjoying his king's ire a little more than he should. "After all, Merlin always said there are more paths than one on the road of a hero."

Artoria shot him a glare, a spark of frustrated indignation in her eyes. "Merlin," she growled, "always was full of needless riddles." She heaved a sigh, shaking her head.

The knights exchanged a knowing glance, feeling the simmering tension dissipate just a bit.

"Fear not, my king," Lancelot said softly, his tone earnest. "Even if Sir Shirou wields a thousand different weapons, none shall surpass his heart—a heart that follows the ideals you so cherish."

Artoria sighed once more, her expression softening as she allowed herself a small, proud smile. "Very well," she conceded, casting one last glance through the Throne at the scene of Shirou and Lancer training.

Omake 2: Call forth the Saber

Rin had always been one to plan her moves meticulously, but this time, she was acting on pure instinct and desperation. The team was underpowered against Caster, even with Lancer's recent alliance. It was a wild thought she'd had; since no actual "Saber" class Servant had been summoned so far in this war, perhaps the slot was still available, through some obscure and overlooked loophole?

In the quiet of her temporary bedroom at the Emiya estate, Rin Tohsaka took a deep breath, checking her carefully drawn summoning circle one last time. Her usual self-confidence was tempered by a hint of nervousness—this was a bit of a gamble, after all.

"Alright, here goes nothing," Rin muttered, clutching her pendant as she began to chant. "Fill, fill, fill, fill, fill..."

The air around her grew heavy, and a spark of energy crackled at the centre of the circle. With a sudden flash, the room was filled with blinding light, and Rin had to shield her eyes. Standing before her, arms crossed and a smirk on her face, was a knight in armour that looked medieval. The helmet soon retracted to reveal a short, spiky blond haircut and an intense, challenging gaze. A red cape flared from her back, adding to her rebellious air. Rin's heart skipped a beat. This Servant for sure had the appearance and aura of a Saber class.

"Yo!" The Saber called out in a cocky tone, grinning at her. "So you're the one who summoned me, huh? Name's Mordred, I'm a Saber. Just point me in the direction of my enemies, and I'll tear them to pieces."

Rin blinked, trying to process what had just happened. Mordred? The rebellious knight of Camelot? She hummed in thought, but a small smile formed on her face. This could work. The knights of Arthurian legend, particularly the Knights of the Round Table, were famously formidable.

Lady Avalon had been lurking in the hallway, intrigued by the strange surge of mana from Rin's room. She opened the door and leaned against the doorframe, an amused smirk dancing on her lips as she took in the scene. "Well, well," she drawled, crossing her arms with exaggerated delight. "Rin, I didn't know you were into the… rebellious types. This is going to be very entertaining."

Mordred's eyes narrowed suspiciously at Lady Avalon, who was smiling in a way that was both playful and vaguely mysterious. "Oh, I know you. Pretender, right?" The Knight of Treachery then frowned in mild annoyance, with a hit of wariness. "What are you laughing at, huh?"

Before Lady Avalon could respond, the smell of cooking wafted through the hall, making Mordred's stomach rumble. The aroma seemed to melt her irritated expression into something almost… wistful. She cleared her throat, trying to maintain her tough façade.

"What's that smell?" she muttered, suddenly very interested in whatever was happening in the kitchen.

Rin sighed, rubbing her temples. "Come on, Saber," she said, leading the way. "If you're going to fight with us, you might as well meet everyone."

As they walked into the dining area, Mordred's gaze fell on Shirou, who was setting down plates with his usual easygoing smile. He looked up and blinked at the newcomer, a bit surprised but not entirely unprepared for the unexpected addition to their already eclectic group. He'd just have to set out another plate after all.

"Oh, you must be the Saber-class Rin just summoned," Shirou said, offering a friendly smile. "I made plenty for everyone, so feel free to help yourself."

For a moment, Mordred just stared at him, almost as if she were caught off guard. "Uh… right. Sure," she replied, not quite meeting his eyes. She slid into a seat and her expression softened slightly as she regarded the food before her.

The effect was immediate—her eyes widened, and a look of pure satisfaction crossed her face. It was clear that Mordred was rarely treated to such a warm, home-cooked meal, and she struggled to keep her usual bravado intact as she quickly devoured each bite.

Lady Avalon, who had also taken a seat, watched the scene with barely contained amusement. Every time Mordred stole a glance at Shirou, there was a flicker of something oddly familiar in her gaze. Lady Avalon knew that look all too well. With a sly smile, she leaned in and murmured just loud enough for Mordred to hear, "You know, you almost look like you're ready to call him 'Mama.'"

Mordred froze mid-chew, a faint blush creeping up her cheeks. "W-what?! As if!" she snapped, her voice flustered as she shot a death glare at Lady Avalon. "I don't… he's not… I wouldn't—"

"Of course not," Lady Avalon replied breezily, an unmistakable glint of amusement in her eyes. "It's just, you seem quite taken with his cooking. It's almost like… motherly care, isn't it?"

Mordred glared at her, her face beet-red as she continued to eat, each bite more determined than the last, as if to prove she was not enjoying it that much. Rin and Shirou exchanged glances, equally confused and entertained by the unusual dynamic developing between Lady Avalon and this new Saber.

After finishing her meal with slightly more restraint, Mordred wiped her mouth and turned to Shirou, still looking a little embarrassed. "Your cooking's not half bad," she muttered, crossing her arms and looking away. "But don't get used to me saying that."

Shirou, oblivious to her inner turmoil, simply smiled. "Thanks, Saber. I'll make sure there's plenty for you from now on."

"Yeah, yeah, whatever," Mordred grumbled, clearly trying to suppress a smile.

Lady Avalon chuckled softly to herself, leaning back and casting a smug look in Mordred's direction. "Oh, this is going to be fun."

None of them could hear it, but somewhere far away, Artoria screamed.