"Okay," Ritsuka sighs, "Let's recap! Our alternate father is currently in a life-or-limb battle with our first summoned servant and general reliable standby, and the battle is probably going to end with
someone horribly maimed. And our recently-returned Godmother has been abducted by a crazy greek archmage who really likes cute things."
"Caster needs other hobbies," Kana nods resolutely. "And to top it all off I'm
pretty sure Attila was with her."
Ritsuka sighs and covers his face. "Fantastic, our mysterious new Saber is on Caster's side. There go, like,
all my Command Seals."
"Or we could just talk to them," Kana shrugs.
"They're to keep Aunt Saber from
murdering everyone."
A 2D image pops into existence right in front of the both of them, fizzling into existence.
"There the two of you are!" The face of Romani Archaman says at them.
"Report to the CIC quickly. We've got a breakthrough on finding the next Singularity!"
"...Doctor normally I'd be happy but right now
we're in a situation too."
"
Do we?" El Melloi II leans into frame, chomping significantly on a cigar.
"From what I understand of the situation, Caster abducted Saber with the help of our other Saber, almost certainly to have her play dressup to her heart's content."
Kana looks gobsmacked at her tutor, while Ritsuka tries and fails to make noises with his mouth. "I did
not know you have Clarivoyance," he finally says.
El Melloi II shakes his head.
"I looked at the cameras and made a few guesses. Regardless, it does not seem like a crisis, does it? Saber won't die."
"She might die on the inside," Ritsuka shudders.
"No she won't," Kana says. "She'll just be filled with apoplectic fury that she can now act on! But I imagine that's why Caster has Attila in her camp. And with the threat of destroying Chaldea if she uses Excalibur, Aunt Saber will be forced to comply!"
"...Why do you know all this?
How do you know all this?"
"It's what I'd do!"
"
Uh." Mashu pokes her head out from the bottom of the screen.
"If it's that much of a concern, senpai, I can go save her. I also have Magic Resistance A, remember?"
"...If you get caught in a dress I'm not apologising."
The girl returns with an immaculate smile.
"Well I'm sure you'd still look better than me, Ritsuka-senpai."
"...Well played. Please do. We'll be there shortly."
"I could get a wiiiiiiig~" Kana sing-songs.
"I SAID WE'LL BE THERE SHORTLY. GOOD DAY DR ROMAN."
----
The year is 2026. Chaldea is all that is left of that era.
And the only hope of rescuing the rest of mankind is an exceptionally fickle Random Number Generator
Damnation awaits in...
FATE/SUNNY ORDER
----
"Uh... Hi. I guess she caught you too?"
Arturia sighs as she looks at her fellow captive, visibly peeved. "A sneak attack, little more." She raises an eyebrow. "Do I know you?"
The peach-haired Saber frowns and claps her hands over her mouth. "I'm... not sure. Why?"
"I think I've seen your face before."
"...Weird, I feel the same way," she mumbles. "Oh, I almost forgot! Okita Souji, Captain of the Shinsengumi First Division, at your service!" She extends her hand cheerfully and quickly, like a knife thrusting for the kill. "I look forward to our Great Victory!"
"
The Okita Souji?" Arturia shakes her hand quickly. "I've seen many a drama about the Shinsengumi, and I've always wanted to test my skills against yours!"
"R-Really?" Okita laughs nervously to herself. "Eheh… You know, it's kind of embarrassing to be praised by a knight like this…"
"Legend says that you were a prodigy with the blade, and ever since I crossed blades with… a particular swallow, I've wanted to test myself against the finest swordsmen of Japan!" Arturia frowns. "But I thought you were a man..."
Okita shrugs. "History thought Nobu was a man too!"
"Nobu… As in Oda Nobunaga, Demon King of the Sixth Heaven?"
"Yeah, she's actually a pain in the ass." Okita looks furtively from left to right. "So... which Knight are you?"
"Oh!" The King of Knights coughs and composes herself. "I am King Arthur, Once and Future King of Britain. But please, call me Arturia."
"Ah, nice to meet you, Arturia-san~" Okita smiles brightly at her, holding it for roughly five seconds before she recoils. "K-K-KING ARTHUR?! YOU ARE A GIRL?!"
"My father wanted a son. Destiny had other ideas. Also please call me Arturia."
Okita does not hear it. She's too busy cupping her burning cheeks. "Ohmygodohmygodohmygod King Arthur thinks I'm a good swordswoman
this is the best day of my life." She looks down at the manacles clapped about her feet. "Second best day of my life." She looks over at Arturia again. "Still not sure why you look familiar, though."
"I'm sure that mystery will be resolved in time," Arturia says. She looks around, keen green eyes looking for anything they can use to escape. No such luck; their jail cell is entirely bare except for some mannikins and abandoned dresses. Not even a shawl or a toothpick. And, come to think of it, this isn't a jail cell at all. It's the inside of a closet. "How long have you been here, Okita Souji?"
"O-Okita's fine!" She says quickly. "S-Sakura Saber also! M-Man, I didn't ever expect to meet K-King Arthur!"
"It's been an interesting day," Arturia nods. Her expression turns bitter. "If only these were
better times."
"...A-Anyways, I've been here since morning. It's not the first time, either..."
"That vixen has abducted you multiple times?" Arturia gasps. "How do you escape each time?"
"Well actually she just makes me wear clothes, gushes, and then lets me go as long as I promise to keep wearing the dress." Okita glances back, noticing Arturia's dead look in her eye, and nods. "I know, it's so anticlimactic right? I thought she would be doing something evil but... Well, no, abducting people to make them wear cute clothes is actually kind of evil..."
"The last time she abducted me, Caster tried to bend me to her will," Arturia says flatly, her words dripping with bitterness. "And she made me wear a r-ridiculous white dress while she tried to break me! With a Command Seal!"
Okita frowns. "Caster has Command Seals?"
"Worse, she can steal them." Okita gasps and Arturia nods. "She is a danger to Chaldea, and must be stopped - or, failing that, kept in check." The King of Knights frowns momentarily. "I fear she may be collaborating with Kana."
"Oh, she does. The only reason Attila is helping Caster is because Kana brought her here for a makeover."
"...When we get out of here, Okita, I am going to give Kana a spanking all my Knights would flinch at."
Okita blinks. She gives her a strange look. "That seems... excessive, King Arthur."
"Nothing is excessive with that girl, Okita. And Arturia is fine."
The closet door creaks open slowly, and all the blood in Arturia's veins freeze up. Her instincts scream, telling her to run, hide, beg, or possibly get cut to bits by Clarent again and then tell Bedivere to toss Excalibur back into the lake. Because dying on that hill is
infinitely better than what is about to happen.
Attila pokes her head into the closet, her expression flat. "It's time for cute," she says evenly. She looks at the two Sabers. "Are you two cute?"
"Absolutely not," Arturia says immediately.
"The total opposite I swear," Okita squeaks.
"Hm." Attila tilts her head. She steps into the room, taking one slow agonising step at a time. "That's okay. You will be cute soon. Promise."