MORE NASUVERSE TEASERS
So, here's something I hope will get you excited. Before I start, I'd like to thank Praxus84 for giving me permission for this...
We see the septet of Servant class cards, the Main Classes, anyway, spinning in a circle.
RISEI KOTOMINE (vo): Seven Servants for seven Masters. That is how the Holy Grail War has been carried out in the past.
The cards then seem to split into two, a pair of cards for each class.
RISEI (vo): But no longer. We now have two Servants for each Master. And the Holy Grail War has just become far more complicated.
The darkened outline of a a duster-wearing man holding a revolver appears.
ARCHER X (vo): Heh. Not my first time getting my hands dirty. I'll show these so-called heroes why they call me...'Revolver'.
The darkened outline becomes fully visible, showing an older moustached man in a duster, holding up a revolver.
REVOLVER OCELOT IS
ARCHER X
Then, the figure of a woman in a kimono, her hand in an unusual position, hovering over her chest.
LANCER X (vo): Foolish Magi, thinking in your arrogance that to grasp Eternity is simplicity itself. I will show you the folly of their ways.
The purple-haired woman is revealed in a flash of purple lightning, pulling an electrified katana from her cleavage.
EI, THE RAIDEN SHOGUN IS
LANCER X
A silhouette with a hooded cloak appears, wielding a scythe with a transparent blade.
ASSASSIN X (vo): Non timetis messor. Don't fear the reaper. My family's words, dating back to when my grandfather took on my father as an apprentice. I'm no warrior, but maybe this Grail War could do with some common sense.
The silhouette lights up, revealing a young woman's features under the hood, sternly beautiful, with white hair that has a black streak in it. One side of her face briefly fades to reveal a skull with a pinpoint of blue light instead of an eye.
SUSAN STO HELIT IS
ASSASSIN X
Another silhouette, of a dumpy, knobbly armour.
BERSERKER X (vo): Heheheh...have you ever felt it? A curse, a pox on life itself? My new friends...they know, or at least they will...
The silhouette lights up, to reveal the armour is rust-coloured, or perhaps dried blood, and the knobbly bits are like warts.
THE DUNG EATER IS
BERSERKER X
A silhouette of a tricorned figure wielding twin blades appears next.
SABER X (vo): A corpse should be left well alone, and so should secrets best left uncovered. Tell me, why should I let these Magi dig where they should not?
The silhouette lights up, to reveal a pale woman in a tricorn hat and heavy leather coat.
LADY MARIA OF CAINHURST IS
SABER X
A silhouette of a man in a hooded coat, wielding a sword with a flamboyant stance.
CASTER X (vo): Heheheheheh...hahahahahaha! A battle between mages, hidden in the shadows...what a perfect stage for me!
The silhouette lights up, revealing a dark-haired teenager with crimson eyes, his expression twisted with maddened glee.
CID KAGENOU IS
CASTER X
And then, instead of a silhouette, we hear the sound of a car driving up. A yellow Edwardian roadster then drives up.
RIDER X (vo): What a curious timeline I have been brought to, and by such strange means. I'm at nobody's beck and call, though. I had enough of that from my people. The Magi remind me too much of them.
We watch from the ground as the car brakes, and the legs of a man step out.
RIDER X (vo): Still, with so many heroes from across time and space, many of whom I've never met, for better or for worse, I must admit, I'm excited. And if I can do some good...well, this world, I say...
The camera pans up to reveal an aquiline face with a shock of greying hair. The man is tall, dressed in a velvet smoking jacket with a ruffled cravat.
RIDER X: It may need a Doctor.
THE THIRD DOCTOR IS
RIDER X
IN FATE/ZERO: COLLISION COURSE (tentative title)
COMING SOON...
WE HOPE
TEASER ANNOTATIONS:
So, just to be clear, here are the Servants...
SABER X: Maria from Bloodborne.
ARCHER X: Ocelot from the Metal Gear Solid series.
LANCER X: Ei, the Raiden Shogun from Genshin Impact.
BERSERKER X: The Dung Eater from Elden Ring.
ASSASSIN X: Susan Sto Helit (aka the granddaughter of Death) from the Discworld novels.
CASTER X: Cid Kagenou from The Eminence in Shadow.
RIDER X: The Third Doctor from Doctor Who.
Keep in mind, none of the above Servants are definite. While I would love to have the Third Doctor as Rider X and Ei as Lancer X, even they are not set in stone. I also deliberately chose to go for more characters from Western media where I could, as anime characters are overrepresented in crossovers like this. Of course, I may choose to use more characters from anime and Japanese games in the final story.
So, for those of you puzzled, let me clear things up. This fic, if and when I write it, is basically my own take on Fate/Zero Paradox by Praxus84, as well as the sequel Fate/Stay Night: Paradoxical Blade Works. These fics, unlike a lot of the 'Servants from other franchises substituted for the canon ones' Nasuverse fics in the mould of Fate: Zero Sense by The Infamous Man, actually do better, in that you have the canon Servants preserved, but you get new Servants, the 'X' Servants, joining the existing Master-Servant pairs in new and interesting interactions. I wholeheartedly recommend Praxus84's two fics, so give them a read. And Praxus84 was very kind enough to give me permission in correspondence to do my own take on Fate/Zero Paradox.
A couple of these Servants I discussed with Iskander Mandoreakon in correspondence, after they posted initial chapters of a possible similar fic to Zero Sense in their compilation of potential stories. But Praxus84's works allow for the original Servants to have their interactions, but the new ones to also cause new interactions, and potentially shift things off the rails.
On a particular note, I chose the Third Doctor as Rider X for a number of reasons. This incarnation was stranded on Earth as a form of exile by the Time Lords, for a little over half of his incarnation's tenure. However, while he does not have the TARDIS, he has a number of vehicles, chief amongst them the yellow Edwardian Roadster named Bessie. This is partly because Jon Pertwee loved gadgets and vehicles, and an extended chase sequence involving Bessie, a flying car dubbed the Whomobile, a Gyrocopter, and a hovercraft, was written into Pertwee's final story Planet of the Spiders as a farewell gift of sorts.
And now, for a bonus teaser...
We open on a snowbound castle, the von Einzbern castle, like something out of a fairytale. We zoom in on a window, to find it is the bedroom of Illyasviel von Einzbern, playing with toys. However, there's a few differences to her appearance. A black streak through her hair, like that of Susan from the Discworld novels, and said hair seems messier. And by this point, she actually looks her age, about eight years old. We only see her from behind, as she plays with figurines out of some fantasy franchise. And then, a knock on the door.
IRISVIEL (oov): Illya, sweetie? It's time. You wanted to see the summoning of the Servant, right?
Illya leaps up eagerly, opening the door to reveal Irisviel von Einzbern, smiling at her gently as only a mother can do.
ILLYA: Is it true? Is Daddy going to summon King Arthur?
IRI: Well, we have Avalon as a catalyst. Come on, let's head down.
Iri leads Illya through the castle in a montage of scenes. Some of the denizens simply bow to Iri out of respect, and others seem to be delighted by her presence. However, more than a few glare at Illya and Iri, and words like 'halfbreed', 'usurper bitch', and 'Jubstacheit's killer'. Afterwards, they make it to a chapel, where a figure with messy dark hair, and a long coat, is tending to a summoning circle. It's not Kiritsugu Emiya, but we don't see his face just yet. We focus on Iri letting go of Illya's hand as daughter and father embrace. Iri walks over to the altar, the camera following her as she does so, where a familiar wedge of blue and gold is sitting: Avalon.
? (oov): Hey, Illya. How's my little angel doing? Ready to meet King Arthur?
ILLYA (oov): Yep!
Iri comes back over, and stands by her husband and daughter's side. We haven't seen either's face clearly yet, nor do we, throughout this ritual.
?: Okay, time to get started.
The figure holds out a hand, and the circle begins to glow.
?: Heed my words. My will creates your body, and your sword creates my destiny. If you heed the Grail's call, and obey my will and reason, then answer my summoning! I hereby swear that I shall be all the good in the world, that I shall defeat all the evil in the world! Seventh Heaven-clad, and the Great Words of Power, come forth from the circle of binding, Guardian of the Scales!
The circle vanishes in a blast of light, sending the silhouettes of Iri, Illya, and the summoner reeling. When the circle fades back into vision, surrounded by smoke, there's an elegant, armoured form standing on it: Arturia Pendragon, aka Saber. Her hard, emerald eyes open as we zoom in.
SABER: Servant Saber has answered your summons. I ask of you...are you my Master?
? (oov, confused): Uhh, what? Sorry, I was expecting to summon King Arthur.
SABER (irritated but resigned): Then you have summoned whom you wished for. I am Arturia Pendragon, King of the Britons, known to history's page as King Arthur. If you believe me to be lacking as a warrior due to my gender...
? (oov, hurriedly): No, no, I mean, if you're telling the truth, I was just wondering how you kept it secret. If anything, if you really are King Arthur, it's a very great honour to meet you.
Saber blinks as her summoner comes over and shakes her by the hand, with her avoiding hurting him with the invisible Excalibur. Her earlier irritation gives way to wary satisfaction.
? (oov): Now, once we get through the meet and greet, we'll need to make plans, discuss strategies. But would you like a meal first, or maybe some tea? I know Servants gain sustenance through their Master's magic, but while I'm not going to be bowing and scraping, a bit of hospitality doesn't hurt anyone. And it's been over fifteen hundred years since you had a good meal, I wager. How does that sound?
Saber is clearly bemused at first, debating with herself mentally, before she nods, her wary satisfaction becoming just satisfaction. This could be a Master she is fine with.
SABER: Your offer is generous, even if it isn't needed. But thank you, I will avail myself of that offer, of the tea. But first, may I know who my Master is?
The camera angles around to show Iri standing next to an awestruck Illya, whose extra oddity is now revealed: heterochromia. One eye is her usual ruby, the other emerald. And the reason why is standing between them both. A young man, yet with an old soul, with emerald eyes and a faded scar on his forehead, yet clearly beloved by his new family, and loving them in turn.
?: The name's Harry Potter.
EVERYTHING FOR MY FAMILY
COMING SOON...MAYBE...
Yes, it's another Potterverse crossover, and based on one of Gabriel Herrol's challenges. In fact, it's based on a revamp on one of their older challenges, both called 'Everything for My Family!', which has been turned into at least one full story, as well as a few chapters in Iskander Mandoreakon's compilation of potential stories. I actually used the original challenge for a Final Fantasy IX crossover rather than a Potterverse one.
I'm substituting Harry for Kiritsugu entirely. As much as I like Kiritsugu as an awesome character, he's also a wilfully callous and pessimistic monster who is, at best, the villain protagonist of Fate/Zero, and adding him to the lineup of Masters will complicate matters, IMO. Harry, while he will be as ruthless as Kiritsugu at times, will still be on better terms with Arturia than Kiritsugu.
Normally, I'm fairly strict about pairing ages, but where artificial beings like Irisviel or, say, Albedo from Overlord are concerned, as long as they look and act (at least most of the time) adult, age is indeed just a number.
Of course, as mentioned before, there's no guarantee I will write either of these fics, or that the Servants in the Praxus84-inspired fic will be those mentioned above. But maybe they may eventually come out.
No numbered annotations this time.