Fate/Clusterfuck (Fate/Stay Night)

[Try and find Rin]
If this is her servant, then she should be nearby.

—

Recap

In the forest,

Shirou, Circe, Sakura, Ritsuka and Medea

They are being attacked by Saber.

Archer and Mata Hari are in the city, Mordred is at the mansion. Taiga is at school. Ayako is somewhere.

Annatar is plotting in England, to what end is currently unknown. There are two unknown servants, one is a frothing monster. One is an archer, their masters are unknown.

Illya is in her castle, with her servant Rider. Shirou and the rest were heading that way when they were waylaid. They are heading that way due to Shirou believing Illya may know the location of Ritsuka's missing servant.

Medea is very confused about her feelings.

Sakura is very confused about her feelings.

Mata Hari is teasing Taiga about… something.

Shirou is doing his best.

And Circe is having far too much fun.

Yep, sounds like a Clusterfuck.

—


View: https://youtu.be/LPXSWK4xNww?si=uC01tfc4k-fB1WKL

—

You felt it again then, the clawing, the sickening malaise demanding your obedience. Fujimaru staggers for a moment, then plants her foot into the ground, staring at the servant. Sakura, for her part, stumbles down onto her knees, one hand sinking into the snow. You reach down to steady her, and in that moment the servant, sword raised, moves.

She crosses the distance quickly, too quickly, a black light following her as she disappears from one spot to appear in another. She was mere feet away from you now, her sword swinging with a baleful black trail that left no light behind.

Then there was a flash.

And the light returned.

A brilliant wall of purple appeared between you and the swordswoman, pulsating and flexing. The sigils upon it you recognized, some of the same marks Medea used. You wanted to look for her, to see exactly where she was, but you didn't have the chance. The wall flexed, the magic screaming like tearing metal as the Swordswoman's swing wouldn't be denied. The wall cracked, unable to flex further. And half on instinct, half on sheer panic you yanked Sakura, pulling the woman to the side as the barrier exploded with the sound of breaking glass. The sword continued its movement, carving through the air with the sound akin to a jet screaming overhead before it sliced clean through the tree that had been just behind your head.

Then the knight turns, golden eye glinting beautifully. But there was no emotion there, no… anything, really. It was cold, passionless, you weren't even sure if she was breathing. You open your mouth to call for Caster, but don't get the chance. The ground explodes beneath the black knight, dirt erupting a dozen feet in the air.

*BANG*

The ground in front of her explodes with a barrage of magical energy, forcing her to the side. Then a lance of green light pierces the air, inches away from her breastplate and filling the scene with the scent of something acrid and dead. The knight turns, and you chance a glance to see Medea and Circe standing side by side, both with their staffs raised. Then they blast as one, magic shooting out to slam into the knight with sound akin to a thunderclap. You watched, transfixed by the magic as it screams through the air.

The knight doesn't try to dodge.

It slams into her, forcing her back, her feet digging into the earth. The magic forces her back a good ten feet, then it halts, and the woman stands there, sword held in one hand, smoking rising from her chest. She looks down, one hand moving to the breastplate. Then, with the sound of metal scraping against metal… scrapes at it, the smoke dissipates and reveals nothing but a black soot mark a moment later. Then her expression changes, for the first time since you had seen her. She smiled. "Is that all?"

"To suddenly attack without the slightest introduction is quite rude, I have half a mind to curse you." Circe says. Stepping to the right as she does so.

Medea, for her part, steps left, making her way closer to you.

"Pathetic." The swordswoman says slowly. Then she was gone again. The only warning you got was a rush of air between you and Caster.

You leapt back on instinct, magic circuits activating.

You weren't fast enough, not even slightly. The swordswoman appeared in your midst, blade swinging through the air. You yank your arm up, gritting your teeth as you strengthen the material of your jacket. The blade slams into your arm, rocking your entire body and sending you flying back, your grip on Sakura lost as you tumble over the snow and crash into a tree. A horrific pain shoots up your arm, your fingers spasming. But you don't let yourself become distracted, you can't.

"Caster! We need to get to the city!"

The swordswoman moves again, blade dragging through the snow before she raises it above her head.

"Gandr!" Sakura screams.

A beam of black light crashes into the side of the knight, and to your horror she doesn't even stumble. You raise your own arm, the spell releasing just as the blade comes down. "Αερο!"

The blast of wind slams into the knight, but she doesn't slow, she doesn't stop, she doesn't trip or stumble. The blade swings down, and you begin to move, to scramble, but a hand snatches you to the side instead. Wind whistles by your ears as you find yourself flying back towards the edge of the forest, a tight arm wrapped around your chest as the tree you were laying against utterly ceases to exist. You look back to see Caster grimacing, her staff swinging around to point at the knight.

Beams of purple light erupt from it, blanketing the ground in rippling explosions. Then Caster turns, removing the battlefield from view, and allowing you to see that Circe is just ahead, Sakura held in one arm, Ritsuka in another. "Master, this is a Saber class, we must flee." Caster says. "Where is our destination?"

"We have to find her master. You've seen her before back at the school!" you shout.

Caster turns her head towards you, but only for a moment. Then she looks towards the city. "She may be nearby, fighting in this forest will not avail us of anything."

You burst out of the woods and onto the street. You had hoped to never have to fight in the city, but if you were going to fight anywhere within it… the north end was the best. It was mostly old farm and smaller businesses here.

KNEEL.

Your body twitches, and you are thrown violently to the side by Medea as she twists around and lifts her staff with both hands. The same wall from before appears, and this was even less effective than the last. Medea only has but a moment to give a shout of exertion before the swordswoman's leg kicks out, metal boom slamming against Caster's side and sending her flying into a nearby shop.

"Yes yes, brute force. But do you have any finesse girl?!" Circe's voice calls out, and beams of twin light lance into the swordswoman.

The servant digs into the asphalt, black rock erupting around her as she takes the hit. Her black sword stabs down, digging into the earth. Then she stops, the magic dissipating, her eyes now glaring at Circe. The 'Grand Witch' was standing a good thirty feet away, just at the edge of the road. Fujimaru and Sakura both were running towards you, and away from the fight that was about to progress. Fujimaru, you couldn't help but note, seemed shockingly calm despite the circumstances.

Circe's staff twirls in her hand like a baton, then it snaps back behind her. "No more words? I have such patience for tyrants you know." Circe says, grinning.

The sword withdraws from the asphalt, "witch." The swordswoman growls.

"Two, actually." Circe replies, then she looks over to you and nods.

You shift, lifting yourself first off the ground, then sprint towards the store. Behind you the sound of battle erupts once more. You run through the entrance, skidding to a stop as you take in the scene. It was a convenience store, filled to the brim with shelves. Most at the moment however were knocked over, with Medea in the center of all of it, sprawled in the center of the mess with her robes splayed out all about her. She was in the process of raising herself off the ground when you entered, her eyes snapping onto you as the chime of the door alarm sounds out.

You start to move towards her, then pause.

Laying on the floor, under a pile of shelves, was an old woman. She was a small thing, frail, and going by the fact that she was wearing an apron, she probably owned the place. You stared at her, you stared at the large chunk missing from the back of her head from where a shelf had torn it off. You stared at the pool of blood on the floor.

Then you moved again.

Your hands grabbed the shelves and shoved, your shoes slipping in the blood. You weren't a real magus, you couldn't reinforce your body. But you had your own strength, and you pushed it over, can and snacks falling to the ground. You then fell to your knees, turning the woman over.
Glassy, blank eyes stared back up at you, unblinking.

…

…

…

More?

How many more deaths would be your fault in this war?

You felt a presence behind you, and you turned to find Medea standing there. "Master?"

Laying the woman down, you stand up. Your hands were covered in blood, as was your pants. But you couldn't focus on that at the moment. "We need to find Rin," you say.

You may be killing her.

Medea started to move out of the store, and you began to follow. Your mind racing. You hadn't seen much of Rin in this war, you had hardly known her. You had… liked her, as much as you liked anyone. You hadn't expected anything of it, you weren't exactly someone who deserved a relationship like that. It had come as a surprise to learn she was a Magus, about as much as it had shocked you to find Sakura was one as well. You had seen her fight that monster, but this?

Her servant, in the city, with no regards for what was around her.

This was the work of a Magus, with all that that entailed.

Your wish to find Rin had been a desperate gamble, a hope that you could speak to her, or drive her away.

…

You stepped back outside to find chaos. A car was overturned, burning in the street, Circe was bleeding, one arm hanging uselessly at her side, but going by the grin on her face she wasn't allowing it to slow her down. The Swordswoman for her part was… busy, but seemingly still unbothered. Either ignoring, walking through, or being tossed around by the two witch's magic with nothing to show for it.

You turned your head, searching for Rin, but beyond those around you. And the cars rapidly driving away from the scene of the battle. There was nothing. You drew in a breath, then you suddenly find yourself pulled to the side. Medea grabbing you by the arm as the Swordswoman looks towards you once more. Her sword swings out in a wide arm, cleaving through a streetlight, and then a car before finally coming to a stop. She turns her head towards you, a deep frown on her face.

"Master, this position is-"

"I know," you reply to Caster. "We need to find Rin."

The ground erupts again underneath the Saber, the blonde ducking underneath a beam of light launched by Circe. The black sword raises as she closes the distance between the two of you.

But then you find yourself with company. Twin figures appear between you and the charging servant, one a man, a thin sword held in one hand, the other hung at his side, glinting silver. Behind him was a woman, with deeply tanned skin and long purple hair. In her hands an ornate staff swung around to point at the charging beast. Neither were normal to look at, both were blackened and shadowed, transparent and clearly not fully there.

You heard Ritsuka's voice shout out, what she was saying you couldn't fully understand over the carnage. But the new swordsman's blade cleaved upwards, forcing the swordswoman black. Then the staff of the other erupted, a giant ball of purple light surging forward and carving through the street. The woman in black armor grit her teeth as it hit. Her sword raised in front to brace against the hit.

Then the two shadowy figures dissipate, as does the attack. Leaving the Saber standing there, her armor smoking. She begins to turn towards Ritsuka and Sakura, the two women standing side by side. Before her head jerks up and she leaps back.

*BANG*

A shrill whistle sounds through the air for the briefest before a gargantuan twisted arrow crashes into the center of the street, and your vision is taken by an explosion. You raise your arm to shield yourself, and you feel yourself yanked back once more. Once you lower the arm again, you find yourself standing in front of both Medea and Circe.

Where once had been the center of the road, damaged as it was. Now there was little more than a crater. Dirt tumbled into it, joining a rapidly forming pile of mud caused by an utterly ruined water pipe that had been running down the road. Standing just before the crater was the swordswoman, her sword held at the ready. Across from her, standing at the other end, was Sakura's servant. He stood as still as a statue, bow held in one hand, the other empty. He stares at the Saber for a moment, a stricken look on his face, before he turns his focus on you. "Rin is ten blocks behind us, atop a skyscraper."

The swordswoman's eyes narrow, and she opens her mouth to speak. But the Archer moves, the bow dropping to the ground, twin blades, one black, one white forming in his hand as he crosses the crater in an instant. The blades crashing down to slam against the woman's own. "Go!"

You nod your head, then feel the world shift as Medea lifts you off the ground. You fly past Archer and the Saber. The man rapidly stepping back as the woman slams her blade against his like a battering ram. Sakura looked stricken, but did not fight as Circe grabbed her, and in a moment you were off, the sound of battle rapidly fading behind you.

—

The five of you landed on a rooftop, it wasn't a building you had ever paid much attention to in the past. Tall, easily a good fifty stories, with a flat foot apparently partially under construction going by the cranes. It wasn't anything special, but you weren't alone when you landed. A man was on the roof, an HVAC technician going by the fact that he was kneeling by a set of tools near said machine. You pay him only a brief moment of attention before you focus on the girl standing at the edge of the building, her hand clutching onto a railing as she looks out over the city.

As you free yourself from Medea she turns around, twintails swinging in the cold winter breeze, something that was only colder all the way up here. Her hands moved to her hips, her expression carefully neutral. "Shirou…" Her eyes then flit to the women sitting next to you. "And Sakura." She lingers on Ritsuka a moment, her expression briefly adopting confusion before she regains control.

"Tohsaka," you say, stepping forward, ignoring the hand of someone attempting to grab you. "What do you think you are doing with your servant?"

Rin stares at you for several moments, then she frowns. "What is necessary to win this war. Same as you Shirou."

"I'm not interested in winning this war." You reply. "I want to stop it."

"That's nice Shirou," Rin replies bitterly. "I'm going to fight until I win, are you going to kill me over it?"

You let out a breath, then take another step forward. "If I have to Tohsaka, yes."

Rin's eyes widen for a moment, an expression of shock replacing the mask she had put on. Then she closes them, letting out a low, controlled, slow breath. When she opens them again her gaze is passionless and cold. She looks over to Sakura for a moment, then shakes her head.

With a snap of magic her hand raises, "Gandr!"

A bolt of magic screams through the air directly towards you, and you watch it get within a foot before it violently darts off course. You jerk your head after it, watching as it slams against Circe's palm before dissipating.

You then turn your head back to se-

Rin leapt off the building. She sailed through the air for a second, before the Swordswoman appeared in midair, catching her before planting her feet against the side of it and leaping. The two of them flying off into the distance and almost immediately out of sight.

Then a second figure appears on the roof, crouched and panting. Archer, the man's clothes torn in several places, blood pouring out of open wounds. He sits there for a moment, then stands up as Sakura rushes over to him. A pained, if genuine smile was on his face as he speaks. "I'm… fine."

…

"Thank you, Archer."

The man nods, then looks down as Sakura begins to look him over.

"Your orders master?" Medea asks.

You frown. "I would say go after Rin, but I don't know where she is going."

"She's heading to the church," a new voice speaks up.

Everyone's head as one turns to the side, and you see Assassin standing up next to the air conditioner, the maintenance clothing dissipating into nothing to reveal her usual outfit. She turns her head off in the direction that the servant and master went. "I'm sure of it."

"And how do you know that?" Medea asks.

"Because that girl was talking to herself the entire time she was up here." Assassin replies. "She didn't even notice my arrival."

"You could have killed her, easily." Caster says, an accusation in her tone.

"Yes." Assassin agrees, then turns to look at you all with a small smile. "But I do not believe that would have been correct."

You draw in a breath, then think about what to do. Circe was injured, though given her magic it was likely something she could fix quickly. Archer you were less sure about. Rin was getting away, and she would likely attack again if she had the chance. You could deal with her here and now… or you could finish what you set out to do to begin with.

—

[] [Go After Rin]

[] [Find the Castle]

[] [Write-in]

—

I'm not too happy with this one, any feedback?

Also please, I can't stop her from jumping off buildings.