A/N: This fic was inspired by a series of fan comics here. They deserve the credit for the...
Little Ritsuka and her Loving Family (Fate/Grand Order)
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Chapter 1
kamenhero25
The Masked Writer
- Location
- United States
A/N: This fic was inspired by a series of fan comics here. They deserve the credit for the initial idea, though the rest of this comes from my slightly off-kilter mind. I will endeavor to have a few more bits out to entertain in the near future.
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Olga Marie Animusphere was in her element. Giving orders, making things happen, and generally reminding the new Master candidates who was in charge at Chaldea. At least she was until she saw who was sitting in the middle of the front row. "I'm sorry, but who let a child in here." A small girl, one who couldn't have been more than ten, was indeed sitting directly in the middle of the first row of candidates. She looked up at Marie with firm, icy blue eyes.
"Mama was working on something and then there was an explosion and I ended up at the Association," the little girl said. "They sent me here to get me out of the way."
Marie felt a shiver run down her spine as she remembered another little girl sent to Chaldea against her will. "I see. Why don't you go down the hall and look for a woman in fancy red and blue clothes? She'll keep an eye on you while we have our meeting."
The little girl looked up at her then shrugged. "Alright. It has to be more interesting than sitting here." Marie fought the urge to reply as the girl skipped out.
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Olga Marie was wondering how the hell she'd gotten in to this mess. Being stuck inside a singularity without proper preparations or resources was bad enough. Having her only possible master left alive as a surly ten year old seemed like a bad joke. "Your parents were magi, right?" she asked the child.
"Mama was a first class magus," the girl said proudly. "Papa was a total failure, but he could do some fun tricks."
Olga elected not to ask. "Good. Then I hope you have a basic understanding of ritual magic. I'm afraid you might be our only hope of getting out of this alive." She turned to their only other resource of value. "Kyrielight, is the summoning matrix established?"
"Ah," Mash jumped and looked up from her work. "I think so Director. We're tapped into the local leyline enough to communicate with headquarters again."
There was a moment of static and then the image of Dr. Roman appeared in the air. "You're alive!" he shouted. "Oh thank God, I was starting to think you weren't going to make it." He smiled a huge, genuine smile. "And you have little Ritsuka with you. I hope you're keeping her safe, Mash."
"Yes, Doctor," Mash said, standing up a little straighter. "I'll be sure to protect senpai. It's my duty as a Servant."
"That's our reliable kohai." The doctor sighed with relief. "But I'm afraid we don't have time to play around. The singularity you're in is slowly destabilizing. You're going to have to resolve the distortion before we can bring you home."
Olga Marie sighed. "I was afraid of that. Is the summoning system ready for activation?"
"Ah, yes it is. We don't have enough power for much, but it should allow you to summon one Servant. But Ritsuka as the Master..."
"She's our only option," Marie interrupted. "I lack the compatibility to summon a useful Servant. We'll have to rely on her natural talents."
"I hope you know what you're doing," Roman sighed. "Alright, we're establishing the connection now. Ritsuka-chan, I need you to focus your magical energy and connect to the ritual circle. Chaldea's systems will pick up the slack and make sure the Servant is powered sufficiently, but you need to anchor them."
"I know how a summoning system works," Ritsuka said, turning up her nose and raising her hand. Her circuits began to glow and the air blasted away from the connection point as she initiated the ritual. Marie threw up a hand to shield her eyes from the dust and light. She was really starting to wonder where this girl was from. A top class mage, with an abnormally high compatibility as a Master, who already knew about Servant summoning systems wasn't someone who came out of nowhere.
"Whoa, that's quite the reaction," Roman called over the sound of the ritual. "Servant coming through in three... two... one..."
There was another flash and a man appeared in the middle of the circle. His skin was tanned incredibly dark and his hair bleached white. A long red coat blew around his body, covering a suit of closely fitted black armor. "I am Servant Archer. I have answered you call to..."
"Papa!" Marie and the new Servant both stopped dead as Ritsuka threw her arms around his waist.
The Servant looked very confused for a moment. Then comprehension dawned on his face and he put a hand on her shoulder. "Ah. I see. In life I was the hero of justice whose name was never known. But before that I was known as Shirou Emiya. You were my daughter?"
Ritsuka looked up at him and nodded quickly. "I was waiting for you and mama to come get me."
EMIYA looked nervous for a moment. "Ah. Who exactly was your mama?"
Suddenly there was a loud beeping sound and Roman appeared again. "We've got a problem! There's a chain summoning phenomenon occurring! Be prepared for possible hostilities. It might not be as friendly as our new ally." There was a second eruption of light and another figure appeared from the summoning circle. Her dark hair hung down to her waist and bright red eyes peered at the others. A very skimpy white bikini edged in gold covered her light skin a little, along with a single deep blue stocking.
"Hmmm?" She looked around, clearly confused. "Oh, it seems you're all struck dumb by my appearance. I am the amazing goddess of beauty and war..."
"Mama!" The second Servant was cut off as Ritsuka practically tackled her in her haste to give her a hug too.
"What?" The goddess looked down at her baffled for a few seconds, then yelped as her own left hand came up and punched her in the jaw. "Ow!"
"Stupid goddess!" The words came from her own lips, but the tone changed entirely, losing the formal edge and sounding extremely annoyed. "She's my daughter, so this is my problem! Get out of my head and let me handle it!"
"Ow, ow, ow." The entire group from Chaldea watched as the goddess's hands beat her own skull.
For a fleeting instant, the new arrival's hair flashed gold and her tone changed again, shifting like someone trying to speak in a lower range than was natural for them. "Just let her out, I can feel that too you know!"
The goddess yelped and tried to shield her head from her own hands without much success. "Alright already! Spoilsport..."
The new Servant settled down and when she opened her eyes again, they were a familiar bright blue and her hair settled back to deep raven black. "My apologies for that. I am a Servant of the Archer class. My name is Rin Tohsaka. I'm currently renting a portion of my brain to the goddess Ishtar in exchange for borrowing her abilities so I can manifest in this vessel."
"Apparently you're borrowing her wardrobe too," EMIYA teased.
Rin very slowly looked down at her own outfit. For a very long moment, there was no reaction. Then she very gently untangled herself from Ritsuka's arms as she rapidly began to turn red. "Emiya! Give me your clothes!"
EMIYA had just enough time to look afraid before Rin full body tackled him to the ground. "Good lord woman! Don't start tearing my clothes off when other people can see it!"
"Stop talking and give me that jacket." Finally, Rin emerged from the struggle with Emiya's jacket covering her much more than her original outfit had. "Ritsuka!" She reached down and grabbed the girl in a massive hug. "I was looking for you! Then everything started exploding and I had to cut a deal with this idiot to come find you. I'm so glad you're okay sweetie."
"I missed you too mama," the little red-head said, hugging her back.
Olga Marie was now absolutely certain that she really didn't want to have to deal with this crazy ass family. "What did I do to deserve this?"
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Olga Marie Animusphere was in her element. Giving orders, making things happen, and generally reminding the new Master candidates who was in charge at Chaldea. At least she was until she saw who was sitting in the middle of the front row. "I'm sorry, but who let a child in here." A small girl, one who couldn't have been more than ten, was indeed sitting directly in the middle of the first row of candidates. She looked up at Marie with firm, icy blue eyes.
"Mama was working on something and then there was an explosion and I ended up at the Association," the little girl said. "They sent me here to get me out of the way."
Marie felt a shiver run down her spine as she remembered another little girl sent to Chaldea against her will. "I see. Why don't you go down the hall and look for a woman in fancy red and blue clothes? She'll keep an eye on you while we have our meeting."
The little girl looked up at her then shrugged. "Alright. It has to be more interesting than sitting here." Marie fought the urge to reply as the girl skipped out.
------------------------------
Olga Marie was wondering how the hell she'd gotten in to this mess. Being stuck inside a singularity without proper preparations or resources was bad enough. Having her only possible master left alive as a surly ten year old seemed like a bad joke. "Your parents were magi, right?" she asked the child.
"Mama was a first class magus," the girl said proudly. "Papa was a total failure, but he could do some fun tricks."
Olga elected not to ask. "Good. Then I hope you have a basic understanding of ritual magic. I'm afraid you might be our only hope of getting out of this alive." She turned to their only other resource of value. "Kyrielight, is the summoning matrix established?"
"Ah," Mash jumped and looked up from her work. "I think so Director. We're tapped into the local leyline enough to communicate with headquarters again."
There was a moment of static and then the image of Dr. Roman appeared in the air. "You're alive!" he shouted. "Oh thank God, I was starting to think you weren't going to make it." He smiled a huge, genuine smile. "And you have little Ritsuka with you. I hope you're keeping her safe, Mash."
"Yes, Doctor," Mash said, standing up a little straighter. "I'll be sure to protect senpai. It's my duty as a Servant."
"That's our reliable kohai." The doctor sighed with relief. "But I'm afraid we don't have time to play around. The singularity you're in is slowly destabilizing. You're going to have to resolve the distortion before we can bring you home."
Olga Marie sighed. "I was afraid of that. Is the summoning system ready for activation?"
"Ah, yes it is. We don't have enough power for much, but it should allow you to summon one Servant. But Ritsuka as the Master..."
"She's our only option," Marie interrupted. "I lack the compatibility to summon a useful Servant. We'll have to rely on her natural talents."
"I hope you know what you're doing," Roman sighed. "Alright, we're establishing the connection now. Ritsuka-chan, I need you to focus your magical energy and connect to the ritual circle. Chaldea's systems will pick up the slack and make sure the Servant is powered sufficiently, but you need to anchor them."
"I know how a summoning system works," Ritsuka said, turning up her nose and raising her hand. Her circuits began to glow and the air blasted away from the connection point as she initiated the ritual. Marie threw up a hand to shield her eyes from the dust and light. She was really starting to wonder where this girl was from. A top class mage, with an abnormally high compatibility as a Master, who already knew about Servant summoning systems wasn't someone who came out of nowhere.
"Whoa, that's quite the reaction," Roman called over the sound of the ritual. "Servant coming through in three... two... one..."
There was another flash and a man appeared in the middle of the circle. His skin was tanned incredibly dark and his hair bleached white. A long red coat blew around his body, covering a suit of closely fitted black armor. "I am Servant Archer. I have answered you call to..."
"Papa!" Marie and the new Servant both stopped dead as Ritsuka threw her arms around his waist.
The Servant looked very confused for a moment. Then comprehension dawned on his face and he put a hand on her shoulder. "Ah. I see. In life I was the hero of justice whose name was never known. But before that I was known as Shirou Emiya. You were my daughter?"
Ritsuka looked up at him and nodded quickly. "I was waiting for you and mama to come get me."
EMIYA looked nervous for a moment. "Ah. Who exactly was your mama?"
Suddenly there was a loud beeping sound and Roman appeared again. "We've got a problem! There's a chain summoning phenomenon occurring! Be prepared for possible hostilities. It might not be as friendly as our new ally." There was a second eruption of light and another figure appeared from the summoning circle. Her dark hair hung down to her waist and bright red eyes peered at the others. A very skimpy white bikini edged in gold covered her light skin a little, along with a single deep blue stocking.
"Hmmm?" She looked around, clearly confused. "Oh, it seems you're all struck dumb by my appearance. I am the amazing goddess of beauty and war..."
"Mama!" The second Servant was cut off as Ritsuka practically tackled her in her haste to give her a hug too.
"What?" The goddess looked down at her baffled for a few seconds, then yelped as her own left hand came up and punched her in the jaw. "Ow!"
"Stupid goddess!" The words came from her own lips, but the tone changed entirely, losing the formal edge and sounding extremely annoyed. "She's my daughter, so this is my problem! Get out of my head and let me handle it!"
"Ow, ow, ow." The entire group from Chaldea watched as the goddess's hands beat her own skull.
For a fleeting instant, the new arrival's hair flashed gold and her tone changed again, shifting like someone trying to speak in a lower range than was natural for them. "Just let her out, I can feel that too you know!"
The goddess yelped and tried to shield her head from her own hands without much success. "Alright already! Spoilsport..."
The new Servant settled down and when she opened her eyes again, they were a familiar bright blue and her hair settled back to deep raven black. "My apologies for that. I am a Servant of the Archer class. My name is Rin Tohsaka. I'm currently renting a portion of my brain to the goddess Ishtar in exchange for borrowing her abilities so I can manifest in this vessel."
"Apparently you're borrowing her wardrobe too," EMIYA teased.
Rin very slowly looked down at her own outfit. For a very long moment, there was no reaction. Then she very gently untangled herself from Ritsuka's arms as she rapidly began to turn red. "Emiya! Give me your clothes!"
EMIYA had just enough time to look afraid before Rin full body tackled him to the ground. "Good lord woman! Don't start tearing my clothes off when other people can see it!"
"Stop talking and give me that jacket." Finally, Rin emerged from the struggle with Emiya's jacket covering her much more than her original outfit had. "Ritsuka!" She reached down and grabbed the girl in a massive hug. "I was looking for you! Then everything started exploding and I had to cut a deal with this idiot to come find you. I'm so glad you're okay sweetie."
"I missed you too mama," the little red-head said, hugging her back.
Olga Marie was now absolutely certain that she really didn't want to have to deal with this crazy ass family. "What did I do to deserve this?"
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Theunderbolt
"Prepare for trouble..."
- Location
- USoA
But she already has an Assasin Grandpa...
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- Location
- Brazil
FOOL! A person can have more than one grandfather!
And think of the shenanigans that would be the battles between Kiritsugu and King Hassan for the position of Best Grandfather.
meganeshounen
*tips glasses*
- Location
- Far East Asia
Things will get extreeeeeeemely dicey once little Ritsuka starts summoning her Dad's acquaintances and family.
Irisviel (Dress of Heaven) = Granny
Kiritsugu = Gramps
Parvati = Auntie
Jaguarman = the other Auntie
Ilya/Kuro = the same age Aunties
OG Saber = Dad's previous lover (EMIYA: Who the hell taught her that?)
Jeanne = Dad's previous lover but with a bigger chest
Nero = Dad's previous lover but with a bigger chest and more noisy
Okita = Dad's previous lover but is very sick
Irisviel (Dress of Heaven) = Granny
Kiritsugu = Gramps
Parvati = Auntie
Jaguarman = the other Auntie
Ilya/Kuro = the same age Aunties
OG Saber = Dad's previous lover (EMIYA: Who the hell taught her that?)
Jeanne = Dad's previous lover but with a bigger chest
Nero = Dad's previous lover but with a bigger chest and more noisy
Okita = Dad's previous lover but is very sick
Syqadelic
That's not a mountain.
- Location
- Earth
There's also Muramasa AKA Rin's actual husband being possessed by Muramasa.
FTFY
FTFY
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no, its Dad and Mom's previous lover/second wife
Mordred: Big Sister! ("It's big Brother" *puppy eyes* "Okay, i'm your big sister")
meganeshounen
*tips glasses*
- Location
- Far East Asia
Yep, I can see Mo-san folding like a house of cards against smol Ritsu.
Chapter 2
kamenhero25
The Masked Writer
- Location
- United States
Olga Marie grumbled as she stepped over another pile of rubble as the team walked near the river. Whatever had happened to this city had certainly left its mark. Meanwhile, Ritsuka had steadfastly refused to let go of her mother's hand and was hopping across the piles of stones like a gymnast. Mash had started a brief chat on the nature of Servants with the other Archer and had fallen slightly behind. She was so focused on the… unusual companions with her that she ran straight into another chunk of stone. She grumbled a little as she picked herself up, looking up at the statue. Then her words died on her lips when she saw its face. The stone was worked into an expression of pure, unrelenting terror that was far too real.
"It's scary," Ritsuka murmured, hiding behind her mother's legs.
"It's certainly interesting," EMIYA said, opening his palms. "Trace on." There was a glow of mana around his hands and two swords, one white and one black, manifested in his hands.
Olga Marie felt slightly sick to her stomach as she back away from the screaming figure. "That's… not a statue. Kyrielight, battle positions."
Mash immediately leaped to the front of the group, her shield at the ready. "Ready for hostiles director. Master, please give me your orders."
"Protect mama so they don't get too close," Ritsuka said. "Papa can take care of himself."
Olga Marie was slightly impressed that the girl had put together a half decent strategy so fast, especially for a child. "I'm glad you have such faith in me," EMIYA said dryly. "I'll be counting on you to keep them safe Mash."
"How touching," a voice said from just above them. "I was going to ask what you were doing in my territory Archer, but you're not the Archer I know, are you?" A figure in a black cloak appeared in a cloud of darkness, a long polearm with a sickle-like blade in one hand.
"Oh great, so there's an evil version of me running around," EMIYA muttered. "Just what I needed today…"
"Focus on that later and her now," Rin said, a massive gold and blue bow taller than she was manifesting next to her.
"She looks like Auntie 'Dusa…" Ritsuka said softly. "That's really bad, isn't it?"
"Two Archers. How interesting." The black clad Servant vanished for an instant, reappearing in the middle of the group faster than the human eye could follow. "But I'm afraid you're at a disadvantage here." She whipped the blade around, aiming for Rin's neck, but EMIYA was there in an instant, intercepting the blow on the flat of his blades.
"You're a sneaky one, aren't you?" he muttered, barely holding the brute force of her strike back with both hands. The others all scrambled away, Rin keeping Ritsuka behind her while Mash covered the Director's retreat.
The enemy Servant just scoffed and kicked EMIYA in the stomach, sending him hurtling backwards. "You're definitely not the one I know. You're far too weak. At least this will be over quickly. And two people who can power three Servants between them will make a good meal for me. Better than these fools certainly."
"Now that's just rude."
Another male voice echoed through the air and both EMIYA and Rin groaned. Ritsuka looked around with more curiosity then fear. "Who's that mama?"
"A troublesome person," Rin said. "But a potentially friendly one."
The invisible voice laughed. "Troublesome? Man, you sound like my old teacher. I wasn't even going to come down here until I realized that you weren't acting like the Archer who's been giving me grief for the last day."
"How about you just come out already, Lancer?" EMIYA said, pushing himself back to his feet.
"Lancer?" There was a shower of blue light and a man in a sky blue robe lined with white fur appeared on the bank above the river. "I wish. Now I'm sure you're not from around here."
"Caster," the black clad Servant growled. "I'm amazed none of the others has managed to kill you off yet."
"Yeah about that… they're all kind of dead." Caster waves his hand and a series of runes glowed in midair. The black Servant screamed and threw herself clear, trying to avoid getting too scorched as a pillar of fire erupted from the ground. "I was trying to figure out how to come after you, but then these kind folks showed up and made things so much easier for me. That is, if they don't mind working with a troublesome guy."
EMIYA chuckled. "I guess I can tolerate you for a little while. If Ritsuka doesn't mind providing a little extra power."
Ritsuka's eyes shined with determination and she nodded. "I can do it papa. I'm a top-class mage."
"Papa, huh?" Caster slid down the hill and stopped next to Ritsuka and Rin. "Well, if your papa thinks so highly of you, it would be rude to deny such a cute little lady my services." He knelt down and offered her a hand. Ritsuka looked up at Rin for a moment then took his hand and her command seals flashed once. "Then I'll leave the orders up to you."
"Go help papa stop that mean lady. And don't let her turn anyone else to stone."
Caster smiled. "Well, I can't very well refuse an order like that, now can I?" He spun his staff and stepped forward next to EMIYA. "Think you can manage that, buddy?"
"Easily. And call me Archer." Then they two Servants leaped at their opponent.
Olga Marie wasn't quite sure what she was watching, but it looked like the single most unorthodox pair of Servants she'd ever seen: an Archer who fought with swords and a Caster who loved melee combat. The fact that it was working just made things baffling. Kyrielight had jumped in and started helping at some point, intercepting swipes from the evil Lancer's blade and keeping her back from the other Servants. Things came to a rather abrupt end when Caster finally blasted Lancer with a point blank fireball and Archer followed up by taking her head clean off.
"Yay! I knew you could do it papa!" Ritsuka jumped past Rin and threw her arms around EMIYA's waist.
"Not going to ask how a Heroic Spirit has a kid," Caster said, absently laying his staff across his shoulders. "But you're a lucky guy."
"And you're significantly less annoying when you're not a Lancer," EMIYA said. "I didn't think I'd actually be fighting with you this time."
Cu Chulainn laughed. "I think I'd rather have you as an ally than an enemy. You were a royal pain in my ass last time we met."
EMIYA's face hardened. "I have a feeling we're going to need all of the details about that one," he said. "Before we run into something that catches us off-guard."
Cu's cheerful expression vanished. "This place is serious fu…" He stopped for a second and looked down at the little girl. "Messed up. It starts with a corrupt Holy Grail and some really bad luck…"
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Olga Marie gasped for breath as she ran to keep up with the rest of the team. A ten year old being able to outlast her stung just a little bit and she swore to add some basic physical conditioning to her weekly practice schedule as soon as they made it back to Chaldea in one piece. Assuming that EMIYA and Cu didn't get themselves killed fighting the Archer's evil doppelganger.
"You're approaching the location of the Greater Grail," Roman's voice said through their link. "I detect something extremely powerful up ahead. There's a major magical reaction going on, but there's definitely something else there too. It must be the Servant Caster warned us about."
Olga nodded as they emerged from the top of the mountain path. Ahead of them, a massive crater burned with blood red light and shot mana high into the swirling clouds. "I can't believe that something like this is the Holy Grail."
"It feels bad," Ritsuka said, looking up at the sky. "It's not supposed to be like that."
Rin clicked her tongue and scowled. "Another corrupt Grail… You'd think people would have learned by now." Then she suddenly manifested her bow again and narrowed her eyes. "But I don't think we have time to marvel over it. Ritsuka, get back."
Olga felt a shiver run down her spine as a figure in black armor stepped over the edge of the crater. Her eyes were hidden behind a black and red visor, but the Director had a feeling that she was staring right at them. "That's…"
"The system is identifying the Saint's Graph," Roman said, panic evident in his voice. "That's King Arthur." There was a long moment of silence. "King Arthur was a woman?" Olga very much wished that the scientist was actually there so she could glare at him. "Not really the issue here I suppose. Her form's been corrupted somehow, but she's still extremely powerful."
"Mama Saber," Ritsuka murmured. "No… No, that's not right. Why is she a bad guy too?"
"It's alright honey," Rin murmured, setting a hand on her daughter's shoulder. "It's not really her. She just looks like her. Just hold on a little longer and we'll beat her and go home."
Ritsuka took a moment to compose herself and nodded. "Stop her mama," she ordered, her voice firm.
"You have very unusual Servants," the armored Saber said as she drew a sword sheathed in swirling shadows from her hip.
"She's talking?" Mash said, looking a little startled. She raised her shield, ready to intercept any attacks from their opponent.
The corrupted swordswoman ignored the shield bearer. "That shield… yes, I see. It seems that I cannot allow any of you to leave this place alive."
"I guess we're done talking then," Rin muttered. "But if you think I'm going to let you hurt my daughter while you're wearing that face, you have another thing coming." She pointed her finger at the dark Servant. "Fire!" Then her bow drew back on its own and a massive arrow of mana launched straight at Saber Alter. There was a massive flash of blue and the ground all around the crater exploded. "Hmph, way too cocky. Don't underestimate me."
"Get down!" Mash leaped between the two, raising her shield just as a blast of black and red mana tore forward and nearly slammed straight into Rin.
"What? How did she…?" The dust around the impact of Rin's arrow cleared and Saber Alter stepped forward completely unharmed. Mana swirled so thick around her that it was visible in the air and ground at the earth around her feet, sending peddles and shard of rock flying around from her. "Damn, her Mana Burst blocked it."
"He would be unhappy if I didn't finish things now," Saber Alter said, raising her sword. "My only regret is that I must destroy you immediately. Ex-" The dark sword began to glow and the shadows grew longer and darker as her mana levels rose.
"Oh no. Ritsuka, run!" Rin conjured a second massive arrow and fired it at her opponent. Olga didn't hesitate. She just grabbed Ritsuka's hand and tried to drag her clear of the blast zone.
"-Calibur Morgan!" The blade came down and a massive wave of darkness burst forward, shattering the charged mana bolt in mid-flight and bearing down on the Chaldea team.
"Damn it, not like this," Rin muttered.
"No, not like this," Mash agreed. She slammed her shield into the ground. "For the future of humanity… we're not done here yet! Lord Chaldeas!" The shimmering magical barrier erupted between them and the blast and the wave of mana collided with it with a thundering roar. Ritsuka covered her ears and buried her face in Olga Marie's stomach as the massive attack battled with Mash's defense. Then the wave of darkness shattered, leaving only a few wisps of power hovering in the air. Even with the mask covering her face, Olga Marie could tell that the enemy Servant was baffled.
"That defense… it is…" Whatever Saber Alter was trying to say, she was cut off as a shower of golden arrows rained down on her and she was forced to throw up another mana barrier.
"Damn, she's too fast," Rin muttered. "I can't break her defenses without someone to force through her guard." She dodged left as another crescent of dark energy cut towards her, leaving a deep crevice in the ground.
Ritsuka closed her eyes and clenched her hand. "Mr. Roman, please, mama needs more help. I need to do something."
Roman sputtered a little trying to come up with an answer. "Ah, Ritsuka, this is something that is way beyond even a trained magus. A little girl like you would get hurt trying to get into the middle of that."
"Then help me call more help!" Ritsuka shouted, stomping her foot on the ground.
"A… another summoning? Now?" He quickly began tapping on a computer that only he could see. "It might just work. If I can maybe tap into the Grail's energy field…" He fiddled around with a few controls. "We're only going to have one shot, so make it count."
Ritsuka nodded and closed her eyes as Rin fired another barrage that was intercepted by Saber Alter's protective field. She folded her hands in front of her chest and her Command Seals began to glow. "Please, please someone come and help mama stop her. I need someone who can fight like Saber Mama."
The ground cracked and mana poured out of the leylines into the little magus. Then there was an explosion of power that caused the entire battlefield to come to a deep stop. A pillar of blue light shot straight up and from within another figure in armor exploded outward, her blue dress whirling around her. "From across space I have heard your call," Arturia Pendragon said as she landed in front of her double, glowing golden blade already in hand. "The King of Knights await your orders Master."
"Saber Mama!" Ritsuka's eyes teared up and Olga had to grab her shoulder to keep her from running into the battlefield to hug the new Servant.
"Saber, stop that evil you!" Rin shouted as the Alter Servant shook off her sudden shock.
Arturia looked around in confusion for a moment. "I have no idea what's going on, but defeating evil is my sacred duty. Have at you!" She charged forward, her golden blade colliding with her double's blade blade and sending off dual bursts of power as their mana collided.
"Another fly to swat," Saber Alter growled, her strength evenly matched against her opponent. "I never thought I would have to face you again."
"Truly, I never believed I would face my own darkness in battle," Arturia countered. "But I will do what I must."
Saber Alter actually smiled. "You will certainly try." Their blades struck against each other again and again, their movements a near perfect mirror of each other as the twin Sabers clashed. Saber Alter gave first, leaping back and focusing her mana around her blade again. "No more of this. Ex-" Her cry was cut off as half a dozen arrows tore through her the instant her barrier vanished.
Rin lowered her hand, clenching it to try to stop it from trembling. "You let your guard down."
Saber Alter didn't respond for a moment as she swayed in place and blood dripped from the sudden wounds. "It seems that I was careless. Even though I was to defend the Grail to the end… it seems that I cannot complete that task."
Saber looked sad for a moment as she lowered her blade. "You fought well, but the fight is over. You can go in peace now."
"Rin!" EMIYA appeared up the path, followed closely the Cu. "You're alive. And…" his eyes widened slightly as he recognized the new Servant. "Oh boy…"
"Looks like your little girl called up some more back-up," Cu joked. "Another old girlfriend?"
"Technically yes," EMIYA said slowly.
Saber Alter laughed as the Servants gathered. "I couldn't even remove one of you. How foolish… But in the end this is only the beginning of the battle surrounding the Holy Grail. The Grand Order begins here, heroes of Chaldea… Be prepared…" And with that, the darkened Servant dissolved into nothingness.
Olga Marie froze in place. The Servants were all talking behind her, with EMIYA fussing over Rin and Cu congratulating Mash on mastering her Noble Phantasm, but she barely heard them. "Those names… where did she hear them?"
"Miss Marie?" Olga jolted out of her haze and Ritsuka looked up at her. "Are you okay?"
"Ah, no. I mean, yes, yes I'm fine." She shook herself. She smiled down at the girl, trying to look encouraging. "And it's thanks to you Ritsuka. We've managed to resolve this Singularity thanks to your… family." She didn't have a better way to put it than that. "It seems that you really were Chaldea's best Master."
"Ah, did the Director just compliment Rits-chan?" Roman suddenly cut in. "I think you've actually taken a liking to her." His image appeared in the air, smiling broadly.
Olga Marie immediately turned red and looked away. "She's done everything she had to and kept remarkably calm given her age. She deserves to be praised, doesn't she?"
"Really now, this has gone far beyond what I can stand. Really, I thought this child was some kind of bad joke from the Association, but to think that she would cause this much trouble for me…" Olga jumped again as a very familiar voice called out to them. She let go of Ritsuka and looked past her to see a familiar figure in a suit walking toward them.
"Professor Lev?!" Mash called out, completely baffled.
"Lev?" Roman said. "Professor Lev is alive?! He must have Reyshifted there as well. Somehow. Where on Earth has he been?"
"Romani?" the top hat wearing Professor said. "So you survived too. Blast, and even after I gave you direct orders. You always were good at ignoring directions."
"Ritsuka get back here," Rin suddenly called out. Her face was pale and one hand was clutched to her chest. "The spirit inside me… she's afraid of this man." Ritsuka looked at the man's off-kilter smile and run back to her parents, ducking behind her mother again. Mash firmly placed herself between the group and Lev, raising her shield as if expecting another attack.
"What kind of nonsense is this?" Olga Marie said. "Professor Lev is part of Chaldea. And he's…" She sniffled, rubbing her eyes as she felt tears well up. "He's still alive." She rushed forward. "Lev I was so… I was so afraid. I didn't know what to do anymore."
Lev's slightly bland smile didn't shift as the Director ran toward him. "Olga Marie. It must have been very hard on you. I'm honestly surprised that you're alive."
Olga Marie felt like the weight was lifting off her shoulders. She wasn't left alone as the head of Chaldea anymore. She hadn't lost everyone. "It was," she said, her voice barely loud enough to carry. "It really was. But you're here now, and you'll help, right? We'll still manage just fine."
"Considering I planted the bomb directly beneath your seat and all." Olga Marie stopped in place as Lev's smile suddenly seemed far less comforting.
"Wh…what? L…Lev, what are you talking about."
Arturia growled and immediately raised her blade. "You monster. I don't really know what's going on here, but I recognize a betrayal when I see one."
The Professor's grin spread until it was borderline demonic. "A betrayal? Yes, I suppose you could call it that. Though, the Director isn't quite alive anymore anyway. It's hard to betray someone who's already dead. Her body was destroyed just as I anticipated. It seems that Trismegistus was able to salvage her consciousness and shift it to this place as a spirit. How… unexpected. Still, it seems that returning to Chaldea would result in her spirit completely disappearing."
"Miss Marie is going to disappear?" Ritsuka asked, her eyes wide.
"This guy's one twisted piece of scum," Cu said pushing his hair back. "What the hell is he playing at?"
"Oh, you're still here, are you? Yes, I suppose you would be since they haven't deactivated this Singularity's Grail yet. I suppose I could clue you and the little Master in on what's going on here. It's only sporting after all." He waved his hand and the whole world shifted so that the group was suddenly standing back in the main room of Chaldea. It seemed to be entirely intact once again, but the glowing sphere in the center of the room was burning red rather than a peaceful blue.
Olga Marie felt her whole world collapsing around her. "No. No, it can't be."
"Oh, but it is. This is the final result of my mission. All signs of human life have vanished from this Earth. You mortals truly are fools. In the end, Chaldea's mission amounts to nothing more than the final failure in mankind's pitiful attempts to grasp at continued existence."
Olga collapsed to her knees, no longer able to keep herself standing. "No… No, this isn't right. This isn't my Chaldeas. I haven't failed. I'm not dead!" She gasped as she felt something tugging on her and her body began to be dragged forward. "What? Lev, what have you done?!"
"I did say that returning to Chaldea would mean your disappearance, didn't I?" the demonic man said. "I could have simply allowed you to fade away, but that seemed so cruel to have you just vanish like that. So I thought that I would reunite you with your family's legacy one last time."
Olga Marie's eyes widened and she grabbed for anything in vain. "No. No, Chaldeas is the space of a different dimensional territory. Being pulled in would…"
"Be like being dragged into a black hole," Lev agreed, his voice full of mirth. "So please, enjoy your death for all eternity."
"No, no please! Please, I don't want to die like this! I don't want to die like this. I don't want to die without accomplishing anything! Not before someone appreciates my efforts. Before anyone praised me. Please!"
"The hell you will!" Rin shot forward, one of her hands reaching out.
Lev just laughed. "Even a Servant lacks the strength to prevent a soul that has already passed on from departing this world. The best you can do is keep her from Chaldeas's grasp until her spirit dissipates and she passes on it peace. Such a boring struggle." He sighed and shook his head.
Rin gritted her teeth and for a moment it was like they were seeing double. A second Rin appeared superimposed over the first, her hair a brilliant gold and her clothes a mix of deep crimson and jet black. "Maybe not," she said, her voice echoing like several people were talking. "But we are not just a Servant. We are Divine Spirits and we do not allow this!" The blonde image of Rin surged forward, grabbing at Olga Marie's hand. The world seemed to freeze for a moment and Olga could feel something trying to enter her spirit. With nothing left to lose, she opened herself up and let it in. Everyone covered their eyes as a golden flash split the sky and when it cleared Olga Marie was no longer being dragged closer to the crimson sphere. She was standing tall, with a deep red cape swirling around her and a dark top covering her body. Her stark white hair now glowed radiant blonde and flowed down her back.
Lev looked utterly flabbergasted. "Inconceivable! You… you converted her soul into a Saint's Graph in order to anchor its existence? Utterly impossible! Such a feat is beyond any human's magecraft."
"Do you ever stop talking?" Rin said. She raised her hand and fired a blast straight into his legs, literally cutting the man off at the knees.
"For a mortal, yes," the new Olga agreed. "But I am Ereshkigal, the Queen of the Underworld. All things within the domain of souls are mine to command. And I will not allow this soul to depart before its time."
"Wow, you're being dramatic today sis," Rin chirped, her voice changing tones for a moment before Rin's scowl reappeared.
"Impossible, utterly impossible," Lev growled, struggling to regain his feet and failing. The world faded back into the rocky crater at the edge of Fuyuki City once again as his power faded. "A child magus like that… she couldn't possibly have summoned such a spirit. A person with so much potential in both magecraft and Servant compatibility would never have been able to go unnoticed by us."
"But she has and did," Ereshkigal said, a golden spear manifesting in her hands. "And now your plans have failed. I sense the calamity within you. So know that your brethren will also fail so long as we oppose you. Now begone from this world"
"You cannot do this! I am Flauros! I am…!" He was cut off as Ereshkigal kicked him against the side of the crater.
"You are a monster! Can you not see the pain you caused this girl? I can feel the heart that still beats within this vessel, and I can feel every unshed tear that she feels over the man she saw as a second father stabbing her in the back. You have no right to exist in the world of men or gods. Now begone!" She twirled her spear and rammed it through Lev's chest. The man screamed, his body twisting and warping before he disappeared, dissolving into a cloud of shadows.
Ereshkigal nodded with satisfaction as she turned around, only to find everyone else staring at her with open mouthed amazement. Save of Ritsuka who was hiding behind her father with wide eyes. "Oh no!" Eresh squeaked as she met the little girl's eyes. "I promise I'm not usually that scary! I mean, I'm a death goddess, so I'm kind of scary, but I'm only scary to bad people. You don't have to be scared of me Ritsuka."
Ritsuka carefully walked around EMIYA and looked Ereshkigal in the eyes. "You only hurt the bad guys?"
Eresh nodded quickly and tried to pose heroically, driving her spear into the dirt and crossing her arms. "That's right, that's what goddesses do."
"And you saved Miss Marie?"
"She's right here inside me," Eresh said, putting a hand over her heart. "I'll let her out once we get back to Chaldea and its safe."
Ritsuka looked at her speculatively for a few seconds then she nodded, seemingly satisfied. Then she launched herself at Ereshkigal and threw her arms around her waist. Eresh squawked with shock and failed her arms, trying to maintain her balance as she was assault by the ballistic child. "Thankyouthankyouthankyou," she blubbered. "I didn't want Miss Marie to disappear!"
Eresh looked up at her sister's host with a pleading expression, but Rin just grinned and did nothing. The rest of the Servants continued to stare for a moment then began to chuckle one by one until the entire group was laughing. "Man, I needed that after the day I've had," Cu said, covering his mouth with his hand to try to stifle his laughter. "You guys are great. Think I can come back with you? I think I can hitch a ride with the contract."
EMIYA gave a long suffering sigh. "If Ritsuka wants to bring you along. Oh, and is Saber coming with us as well?"
"I think she should be fine," Roman said seemingly having recovered. "Her Saint's Graph is stable and she's contracted to Ritsuka, just like the rest of you. She should survive past the Singularity just fine."
"Then of course I will be accompanying you," Arturia said, sheathing her blade. "You always did get into trouble whenever I left you alone for too long. I can't very well let you try to save the world without my help."
"Saber Mama is coming back with us too!" Ritsuka immediately abandoned the goddess and jumped on Arturia, dragging yet another Servant into one of her hugs.
Roman let out a long sigh of relief and ran a hand through his hair. "That was... entirely too close. But I'm just glad that everyone made it through in the end. Hurry up and grab the Grail before the whole Singularity collapses and then I can get you back here. I'll have a chance to make sure everyone is in top shape after that ordeal."
"It's scary," Ritsuka murmured, hiding behind her mother's legs.
"It's certainly interesting," EMIYA said, opening his palms. "Trace on." There was a glow of mana around his hands and two swords, one white and one black, manifested in his hands.
Olga Marie felt slightly sick to her stomach as she back away from the screaming figure. "That's… not a statue. Kyrielight, battle positions."
Mash immediately leaped to the front of the group, her shield at the ready. "Ready for hostiles director. Master, please give me your orders."
"Protect mama so they don't get too close," Ritsuka said. "Papa can take care of himself."
Olga Marie was slightly impressed that the girl had put together a half decent strategy so fast, especially for a child. "I'm glad you have such faith in me," EMIYA said dryly. "I'll be counting on you to keep them safe Mash."
"How touching," a voice said from just above them. "I was going to ask what you were doing in my territory Archer, but you're not the Archer I know, are you?" A figure in a black cloak appeared in a cloud of darkness, a long polearm with a sickle-like blade in one hand.
"Oh great, so there's an evil version of me running around," EMIYA muttered. "Just what I needed today…"
"Focus on that later and her now," Rin said, a massive gold and blue bow taller than she was manifesting next to her.
"She looks like Auntie 'Dusa…" Ritsuka said softly. "That's really bad, isn't it?"
"Two Archers. How interesting." The black clad Servant vanished for an instant, reappearing in the middle of the group faster than the human eye could follow. "But I'm afraid you're at a disadvantage here." She whipped the blade around, aiming for Rin's neck, but EMIYA was there in an instant, intercepting the blow on the flat of his blades.
"You're a sneaky one, aren't you?" he muttered, barely holding the brute force of her strike back with both hands. The others all scrambled away, Rin keeping Ritsuka behind her while Mash covered the Director's retreat.
The enemy Servant just scoffed and kicked EMIYA in the stomach, sending him hurtling backwards. "You're definitely not the one I know. You're far too weak. At least this will be over quickly. And two people who can power three Servants between them will make a good meal for me. Better than these fools certainly."
"Now that's just rude."
Another male voice echoed through the air and both EMIYA and Rin groaned. Ritsuka looked around with more curiosity then fear. "Who's that mama?"
"A troublesome person," Rin said. "But a potentially friendly one."
The invisible voice laughed. "Troublesome? Man, you sound like my old teacher. I wasn't even going to come down here until I realized that you weren't acting like the Archer who's been giving me grief for the last day."
"How about you just come out already, Lancer?" EMIYA said, pushing himself back to his feet.
"Lancer?" There was a shower of blue light and a man in a sky blue robe lined with white fur appeared on the bank above the river. "I wish. Now I'm sure you're not from around here."
"Caster," the black clad Servant growled. "I'm amazed none of the others has managed to kill you off yet."
"Yeah about that… they're all kind of dead." Caster waves his hand and a series of runes glowed in midair. The black Servant screamed and threw herself clear, trying to avoid getting too scorched as a pillar of fire erupted from the ground. "I was trying to figure out how to come after you, but then these kind folks showed up and made things so much easier for me. That is, if they don't mind working with a troublesome guy."
EMIYA chuckled. "I guess I can tolerate you for a little while. If Ritsuka doesn't mind providing a little extra power."
Ritsuka's eyes shined with determination and she nodded. "I can do it papa. I'm a top-class mage."
"Papa, huh?" Caster slid down the hill and stopped next to Ritsuka and Rin. "Well, if your papa thinks so highly of you, it would be rude to deny such a cute little lady my services." He knelt down and offered her a hand. Ritsuka looked up at Rin for a moment then took his hand and her command seals flashed once. "Then I'll leave the orders up to you."
"Go help papa stop that mean lady. And don't let her turn anyone else to stone."
Caster smiled. "Well, I can't very well refuse an order like that, now can I?" He spun his staff and stepped forward next to EMIYA. "Think you can manage that, buddy?"
"Easily. And call me Archer." Then they two Servants leaped at their opponent.
Olga Marie wasn't quite sure what she was watching, but it looked like the single most unorthodox pair of Servants she'd ever seen: an Archer who fought with swords and a Caster who loved melee combat. The fact that it was working just made things baffling. Kyrielight had jumped in and started helping at some point, intercepting swipes from the evil Lancer's blade and keeping her back from the other Servants. Things came to a rather abrupt end when Caster finally blasted Lancer with a point blank fireball and Archer followed up by taking her head clean off.
"Yay! I knew you could do it papa!" Ritsuka jumped past Rin and threw her arms around EMIYA's waist.
"Not going to ask how a Heroic Spirit has a kid," Caster said, absently laying his staff across his shoulders. "But you're a lucky guy."
"And you're significantly less annoying when you're not a Lancer," EMIYA said. "I didn't think I'd actually be fighting with you this time."
Cu Chulainn laughed. "I think I'd rather have you as an ally than an enemy. You were a royal pain in my ass last time we met."
EMIYA's face hardened. "I have a feeling we're going to need all of the details about that one," he said. "Before we run into something that catches us off-guard."
Cu's cheerful expression vanished. "This place is serious fu…" He stopped for a second and looked down at the little girl. "Messed up. It starts with a corrupt Holy Grail and some really bad luck…"
------------------------------
Olga Marie gasped for breath as she ran to keep up with the rest of the team. A ten year old being able to outlast her stung just a little bit and she swore to add some basic physical conditioning to her weekly practice schedule as soon as they made it back to Chaldea in one piece. Assuming that EMIYA and Cu didn't get themselves killed fighting the Archer's evil doppelganger.
"You're approaching the location of the Greater Grail," Roman's voice said through their link. "I detect something extremely powerful up ahead. There's a major magical reaction going on, but there's definitely something else there too. It must be the Servant Caster warned us about."
Olga nodded as they emerged from the top of the mountain path. Ahead of them, a massive crater burned with blood red light and shot mana high into the swirling clouds. "I can't believe that something like this is the Holy Grail."
"It feels bad," Ritsuka said, looking up at the sky. "It's not supposed to be like that."
Rin clicked her tongue and scowled. "Another corrupt Grail… You'd think people would have learned by now." Then she suddenly manifested her bow again and narrowed her eyes. "But I don't think we have time to marvel over it. Ritsuka, get back."
Olga felt a shiver run down her spine as a figure in black armor stepped over the edge of the crater. Her eyes were hidden behind a black and red visor, but the Director had a feeling that she was staring right at them. "That's…"
"The system is identifying the Saint's Graph," Roman said, panic evident in his voice. "That's King Arthur." There was a long moment of silence. "King Arthur was a woman?" Olga very much wished that the scientist was actually there so she could glare at him. "Not really the issue here I suppose. Her form's been corrupted somehow, but she's still extremely powerful."
"Mama Saber," Ritsuka murmured. "No… No, that's not right. Why is she a bad guy too?"
"It's alright honey," Rin murmured, setting a hand on her daughter's shoulder. "It's not really her. She just looks like her. Just hold on a little longer and we'll beat her and go home."
Ritsuka took a moment to compose herself and nodded. "Stop her mama," she ordered, her voice firm.
"You have very unusual Servants," the armored Saber said as she drew a sword sheathed in swirling shadows from her hip.
"She's talking?" Mash said, looking a little startled. She raised her shield, ready to intercept any attacks from their opponent.
The corrupted swordswoman ignored the shield bearer. "That shield… yes, I see. It seems that I cannot allow any of you to leave this place alive."
"I guess we're done talking then," Rin muttered. "But if you think I'm going to let you hurt my daughter while you're wearing that face, you have another thing coming." She pointed her finger at the dark Servant. "Fire!" Then her bow drew back on its own and a massive arrow of mana launched straight at Saber Alter. There was a massive flash of blue and the ground all around the crater exploded. "Hmph, way too cocky. Don't underestimate me."
"Get down!" Mash leaped between the two, raising her shield just as a blast of black and red mana tore forward and nearly slammed straight into Rin.
"What? How did she…?" The dust around the impact of Rin's arrow cleared and Saber Alter stepped forward completely unharmed. Mana swirled so thick around her that it was visible in the air and ground at the earth around her feet, sending peddles and shard of rock flying around from her. "Damn, her Mana Burst blocked it."
"He would be unhappy if I didn't finish things now," Saber Alter said, raising her sword. "My only regret is that I must destroy you immediately. Ex-" The dark sword began to glow and the shadows grew longer and darker as her mana levels rose.
"Oh no. Ritsuka, run!" Rin conjured a second massive arrow and fired it at her opponent. Olga didn't hesitate. She just grabbed Ritsuka's hand and tried to drag her clear of the blast zone.
"-Calibur Morgan!" The blade came down and a massive wave of darkness burst forward, shattering the charged mana bolt in mid-flight and bearing down on the Chaldea team.
"Damn it, not like this," Rin muttered.
"No, not like this," Mash agreed. She slammed her shield into the ground. "For the future of humanity… we're not done here yet! Lord Chaldeas!" The shimmering magical barrier erupted between them and the blast and the wave of mana collided with it with a thundering roar. Ritsuka covered her ears and buried her face in Olga Marie's stomach as the massive attack battled with Mash's defense. Then the wave of darkness shattered, leaving only a few wisps of power hovering in the air. Even with the mask covering her face, Olga Marie could tell that the enemy Servant was baffled.
"That defense… it is…" Whatever Saber Alter was trying to say, she was cut off as a shower of golden arrows rained down on her and she was forced to throw up another mana barrier.
"Damn, she's too fast," Rin muttered. "I can't break her defenses without someone to force through her guard." She dodged left as another crescent of dark energy cut towards her, leaving a deep crevice in the ground.
Ritsuka closed her eyes and clenched her hand. "Mr. Roman, please, mama needs more help. I need to do something."
Roman sputtered a little trying to come up with an answer. "Ah, Ritsuka, this is something that is way beyond even a trained magus. A little girl like you would get hurt trying to get into the middle of that."
"Then help me call more help!" Ritsuka shouted, stomping her foot on the ground.
"A… another summoning? Now?" He quickly began tapping on a computer that only he could see. "It might just work. If I can maybe tap into the Grail's energy field…" He fiddled around with a few controls. "We're only going to have one shot, so make it count."
Ritsuka nodded and closed her eyes as Rin fired another barrage that was intercepted by Saber Alter's protective field. She folded her hands in front of her chest and her Command Seals began to glow. "Please, please someone come and help mama stop her. I need someone who can fight like Saber Mama."
The ground cracked and mana poured out of the leylines into the little magus. Then there was an explosion of power that caused the entire battlefield to come to a deep stop. A pillar of blue light shot straight up and from within another figure in armor exploded outward, her blue dress whirling around her. "From across space I have heard your call," Arturia Pendragon said as she landed in front of her double, glowing golden blade already in hand. "The King of Knights await your orders Master."
"Saber Mama!" Ritsuka's eyes teared up and Olga had to grab her shoulder to keep her from running into the battlefield to hug the new Servant.
"Saber, stop that evil you!" Rin shouted as the Alter Servant shook off her sudden shock.
Arturia looked around in confusion for a moment. "I have no idea what's going on, but defeating evil is my sacred duty. Have at you!" She charged forward, her golden blade colliding with her double's blade blade and sending off dual bursts of power as their mana collided.
"Another fly to swat," Saber Alter growled, her strength evenly matched against her opponent. "I never thought I would have to face you again."
"Truly, I never believed I would face my own darkness in battle," Arturia countered. "But I will do what I must."
Saber Alter actually smiled. "You will certainly try." Their blades struck against each other again and again, their movements a near perfect mirror of each other as the twin Sabers clashed. Saber Alter gave first, leaping back and focusing her mana around her blade again. "No more of this. Ex-" Her cry was cut off as half a dozen arrows tore through her the instant her barrier vanished.
Rin lowered her hand, clenching it to try to stop it from trembling. "You let your guard down."
Saber Alter didn't respond for a moment as she swayed in place and blood dripped from the sudden wounds. "It seems that I was careless. Even though I was to defend the Grail to the end… it seems that I cannot complete that task."
Saber looked sad for a moment as she lowered her blade. "You fought well, but the fight is over. You can go in peace now."
"Rin!" EMIYA appeared up the path, followed closely the Cu. "You're alive. And…" his eyes widened slightly as he recognized the new Servant. "Oh boy…"
"Looks like your little girl called up some more back-up," Cu joked. "Another old girlfriend?"
"Technically yes," EMIYA said slowly.
Saber Alter laughed as the Servants gathered. "I couldn't even remove one of you. How foolish… But in the end this is only the beginning of the battle surrounding the Holy Grail. The Grand Order begins here, heroes of Chaldea… Be prepared…" And with that, the darkened Servant dissolved into nothingness.
Olga Marie froze in place. The Servants were all talking behind her, with EMIYA fussing over Rin and Cu congratulating Mash on mastering her Noble Phantasm, but she barely heard them. "Those names… where did she hear them?"
"Miss Marie?" Olga jolted out of her haze and Ritsuka looked up at her. "Are you okay?"
"Ah, no. I mean, yes, yes I'm fine." She shook herself. She smiled down at the girl, trying to look encouraging. "And it's thanks to you Ritsuka. We've managed to resolve this Singularity thanks to your… family." She didn't have a better way to put it than that. "It seems that you really were Chaldea's best Master."
"Ah, did the Director just compliment Rits-chan?" Roman suddenly cut in. "I think you've actually taken a liking to her." His image appeared in the air, smiling broadly.
Olga Marie immediately turned red and looked away. "She's done everything she had to and kept remarkably calm given her age. She deserves to be praised, doesn't she?"
"Really now, this has gone far beyond what I can stand. Really, I thought this child was some kind of bad joke from the Association, but to think that she would cause this much trouble for me…" Olga jumped again as a very familiar voice called out to them. She let go of Ritsuka and looked past her to see a familiar figure in a suit walking toward them.
"Professor Lev?!" Mash called out, completely baffled.
"Lev?" Roman said. "Professor Lev is alive?! He must have Reyshifted there as well. Somehow. Where on Earth has he been?"
"Romani?" the top hat wearing Professor said. "So you survived too. Blast, and even after I gave you direct orders. You always were good at ignoring directions."
"Ritsuka get back here," Rin suddenly called out. Her face was pale and one hand was clutched to her chest. "The spirit inside me… she's afraid of this man." Ritsuka looked at the man's off-kilter smile and run back to her parents, ducking behind her mother again. Mash firmly placed herself between the group and Lev, raising her shield as if expecting another attack.
"What kind of nonsense is this?" Olga Marie said. "Professor Lev is part of Chaldea. And he's…" She sniffled, rubbing her eyes as she felt tears well up. "He's still alive." She rushed forward. "Lev I was so… I was so afraid. I didn't know what to do anymore."
Lev's slightly bland smile didn't shift as the Director ran toward him. "Olga Marie. It must have been very hard on you. I'm honestly surprised that you're alive."
Olga Marie felt like the weight was lifting off her shoulders. She wasn't left alone as the head of Chaldea anymore. She hadn't lost everyone. "It was," she said, her voice barely loud enough to carry. "It really was. But you're here now, and you'll help, right? We'll still manage just fine."
"Considering I planted the bomb directly beneath your seat and all." Olga Marie stopped in place as Lev's smile suddenly seemed far less comforting.
"Wh…what? L…Lev, what are you talking about."
Arturia growled and immediately raised her blade. "You monster. I don't really know what's going on here, but I recognize a betrayal when I see one."
The Professor's grin spread until it was borderline demonic. "A betrayal? Yes, I suppose you could call it that. Though, the Director isn't quite alive anymore anyway. It's hard to betray someone who's already dead. Her body was destroyed just as I anticipated. It seems that Trismegistus was able to salvage her consciousness and shift it to this place as a spirit. How… unexpected. Still, it seems that returning to Chaldea would result in her spirit completely disappearing."
"Miss Marie is going to disappear?" Ritsuka asked, her eyes wide.
"This guy's one twisted piece of scum," Cu said pushing his hair back. "What the hell is he playing at?"
"Oh, you're still here, are you? Yes, I suppose you would be since they haven't deactivated this Singularity's Grail yet. I suppose I could clue you and the little Master in on what's going on here. It's only sporting after all." He waved his hand and the whole world shifted so that the group was suddenly standing back in the main room of Chaldea. It seemed to be entirely intact once again, but the glowing sphere in the center of the room was burning red rather than a peaceful blue.
Olga Marie felt her whole world collapsing around her. "No. No, it can't be."
"Oh, but it is. This is the final result of my mission. All signs of human life have vanished from this Earth. You mortals truly are fools. In the end, Chaldea's mission amounts to nothing more than the final failure in mankind's pitiful attempts to grasp at continued existence."
Olga collapsed to her knees, no longer able to keep herself standing. "No… No, this isn't right. This isn't my Chaldeas. I haven't failed. I'm not dead!" She gasped as she felt something tugging on her and her body began to be dragged forward. "What? Lev, what have you done?!"
"I did say that returning to Chaldea would mean your disappearance, didn't I?" the demonic man said. "I could have simply allowed you to fade away, but that seemed so cruel to have you just vanish like that. So I thought that I would reunite you with your family's legacy one last time."
Olga Marie's eyes widened and she grabbed for anything in vain. "No. No, Chaldeas is the space of a different dimensional territory. Being pulled in would…"
"Be like being dragged into a black hole," Lev agreed, his voice full of mirth. "So please, enjoy your death for all eternity."
"No, no please! Please, I don't want to die like this! I don't want to die like this. I don't want to die without accomplishing anything! Not before someone appreciates my efforts. Before anyone praised me. Please!"
"The hell you will!" Rin shot forward, one of her hands reaching out.
Lev just laughed. "Even a Servant lacks the strength to prevent a soul that has already passed on from departing this world. The best you can do is keep her from Chaldeas's grasp until her spirit dissipates and she passes on it peace. Such a boring struggle." He sighed and shook his head.
Rin gritted her teeth and for a moment it was like they were seeing double. A second Rin appeared superimposed over the first, her hair a brilliant gold and her clothes a mix of deep crimson and jet black. "Maybe not," she said, her voice echoing like several people were talking. "But we are not just a Servant. We are Divine Spirits and we do not allow this!" The blonde image of Rin surged forward, grabbing at Olga Marie's hand. The world seemed to freeze for a moment and Olga could feel something trying to enter her spirit. With nothing left to lose, she opened herself up and let it in. Everyone covered their eyes as a golden flash split the sky and when it cleared Olga Marie was no longer being dragged closer to the crimson sphere. She was standing tall, with a deep red cape swirling around her and a dark top covering her body. Her stark white hair now glowed radiant blonde and flowed down her back.
Lev looked utterly flabbergasted. "Inconceivable! You… you converted her soul into a Saint's Graph in order to anchor its existence? Utterly impossible! Such a feat is beyond any human's magecraft."
"Do you ever stop talking?" Rin said. She raised her hand and fired a blast straight into his legs, literally cutting the man off at the knees.
"For a mortal, yes," the new Olga agreed. "But I am Ereshkigal, the Queen of the Underworld. All things within the domain of souls are mine to command. And I will not allow this soul to depart before its time."
"Wow, you're being dramatic today sis," Rin chirped, her voice changing tones for a moment before Rin's scowl reappeared.
"Impossible, utterly impossible," Lev growled, struggling to regain his feet and failing. The world faded back into the rocky crater at the edge of Fuyuki City once again as his power faded. "A child magus like that… she couldn't possibly have summoned such a spirit. A person with so much potential in both magecraft and Servant compatibility would never have been able to go unnoticed by us."
"But she has and did," Ereshkigal said, a golden spear manifesting in her hands. "And now your plans have failed. I sense the calamity within you. So know that your brethren will also fail so long as we oppose you. Now begone from this world"
"You cannot do this! I am Flauros! I am…!" He was cut off as Ereshkigal kicked him against the side of the crater.
"You are a monster! Can you not see the pain you caused this girl? I can feel the heart that still beats within this vessel, and I can feel every unshed tear that she feels over the man she saw as a second father stabbing her in the back. You have no right to exist in the world of men or gods. Now begone!" She twirled her spear and rammed it through Lev's chest. The man screamed, his body twisting and warping before he disappeared, dissolving into a cloud of shadows.
Ereshkigal nodded with satisfaction as she turned around, only to find everyone else staring at her with open mouthed amazement. Save of Ritsuka who was hiding behind her father with wide eyes. "Oh no!" Eresh squeaked as she met the little girl's eyes. "I promise I'm not usually that scary! I mean, I'm a death goddess, so I'm kind of scary, but I'm only scary to bad people. You don't have to be scared of me Ritsuka."
Ritsuka carefully walked around EMIYA and looked Ereshkigal in the eyes. "You only hurt the bad guys?"
Eresh nodded quickly and tried to pose heroically, driving her spear into the dirt and crossing her arms. "That's right, that's what goddesses do."
"And you saved Miss Marie?"
"She's right here inside me," Eresh said, putting a hand over her heart. "I'll let her out once we get back to Chaldea and its safe."
Ritsuka looked at her speculatively for a few seconds then she nodded, seemingly satisfied. Then she launched herself at Ereshkigal and threw her arms around her waist. Eresh squawked with shock and failed her arms, trying to maintain her balance as she was assault by the ballistic child. "Thankyouthankyouthankyou," she blubbered. "I didn't want Miss Marie to disappear!"
Eresh looked up at her sister's host with a pleading expression, but Rin just grinned and did nothing. The rest of the Servants continued to stare for a moment then began to chuckle one by one until the entire group was laughing. "Man, I needed that after the day I've had," Cu said, covering his mouth with his hand to try to stifle his laughter. "You guys are great. Think I can come back with you? I think I can hitch a ride with the contract."
EMIYA gave a long suffering sigh. "If Ritsuka wants to bring you along. Oh, and is Saber coming with us as well?"
"I think she should be fine," Roman said seemingly having recovered. "Her Saint's Graph is stable and she's contracted to Ritsuka, just like the rest of you. She should survive past the Singularity just fine."
"Then of course I will be accompanying you," Arturia said, sheathing her blade. "You always did get into trouble whenever I left you alone for too long. I can't very well let you try to save the world without my help."
"Saber Mama is coming back with us too!" Ritsuka immediately abandoned the goddess and jumped on Arturia, dragging yet another Servant into one of her hugs.
Roman let out a long sigh of relief and ran a hand through his hair. "That was... entirely too close. But I'm just glad that everyone made it through in the end. Hurry up and grab the Grail before the whole Singularity collapses and then I can get you back here. I'll have a chance to make sure everyone is in top shape after that ordeal."
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Syqadelic
That's not a mountain.
- Location
- Earth
It's all fluff! Gah, it burns! I'm meltin-
Seriously, though. That fluff.
edit: I'm guessing that Ritsuka was born in the Hollow/Ataraxia timeline, and that Shirou got the harem ending. That's really the only way she would recognize Medusa as an Auntie and Saber as a Mama, after all.
Seriously, though. That fluff.
edit: I'm guessing that Ritsuka was born in the Hollow/Ataraxia timeline, and that Shirou got the harem ending. That's really the only way she would recognize Medusa as an Auntie and Saber as a Mama, after all.
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kamenhero25
The Masked Writer
- Location
- United States
Yes, yes she was. Or something somewhat similar. Rin really needs to stopping screwing around the with Second Magic.
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TimeDiver
Herald of Dis Lev
- Location
- In-between the parallel worlds...
At the risk of being THAT person... why Rin's turquoise, rather than Shirou's golden-brown?
Apologies if I presume that this fem!Ritsuka was an outright chibi!Gudako (i.e. also red-haired).
EDIT: Aaaaand EMIYA forcibly underwent his 1st ascension... just because Rin is not an exhibitionist.
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Don't listen to those heatens! LET THE FLUFFINESS FLOW!
meganeshounen
*tips glasses*
- Location
- Far East Asia
Jesus, I never knew I needed this much fluff.
hypnosis morale reinforcement from an early age sure is working well, eh Rin?
It's even better since Ritsu can back up her boast with sheer potential.
On the other hand: the King of Magic might escalate early since Flauros got blasted early.
But at least we'll have Ritsuka cutes before that. Plus Pseudo Servant Olgamarie yaaaaaaay~
Speaking of which, why isn't she kneeling over after chain summoning 3 SSR and 1 SR rarity Servants in the middle of a Singularity? Is Ritsuka going to faint the moment she gets back to Chaldea?
That
It's even better since Ritsu can back up her boast with sheer potential.
Hopefully, Ritsuka's cute enough that the other Celtic Servants would tone down their somewhat problematic behaviors.
On one hand: Ritsuka is summoning Divine Servants.
On the other hand: the King of Magic might escalate early since Flauros got blasted early.
But at least we'll have Ritsuka cutes before that. Plus Pseudo Servant Olgamarie yaaaaaaay~
Speaking of which, why isn't she kneeling over after chain summoning 3 SSR and 1 SR rarity Servants in the middle of a Singularity? Is Ritsuka going to faint the moment she gets back to Chaldea?
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She's piggybacking off of Chaldea's systems to summon. So while she's the established master, she's still not taking the full brunt of the summoning.
If she did, then any Chaldea master would pass out after one 10 summon.
meganeshounen
*tips glasses*
- Location
- Far East Asia
EMIYA and his Structural Grasping and Saber being King Arthur herself can easily clue in Mashu on her bonded Servant's identity, but I think they won't.
It's an important part of Mashu's journey of self discovery... but they CAN give her clues to make the journey faster, I bet.
Oh yeah, there's that. And regenerating Command Seals.
Thanks, FATE System!
But still, maybe Ritsu will be limited in the maximum number amd total quality of Servants she could bring in a Singularity.
Speaking of which, wonder how is Olgamarie holding up?
TimeDiver
Herald of Dis Lev
- Location
- In-between the parallel worlds...
If the constant WAFF-iness doesn't immediately keel her over, well... Marie's still gonna be touch-and-go for weeks, if not months.
Lev was, as per Grand Order's Tutorial/Prologue singularity, practically a second father figure. Not something that gets shrugged off.
Fortunately, chibi!Ritsuka's antics might (over time) bolster Marie's spirits for another surrogate family to form... maybe?
So, something I just though of, are the other Demi-Servants gonna end up also being from Ritsuka's timeline as well ? Like, they also jumped through the Kaleidoscope with Rin, made deals with Heroic/Divine Spirits and Rin was just the first one to reach her daughter ? Because I'm imagining Ritsuka's actual "Shirou Papa" (as Saber Muramasa) and EMIYA, who at that point would have gotten used to being "papa", getting into some seriously epic pissing matches over the little bundle of cuteness.
Another thing I tough of is that Ritsuka's Arturia could actually be the Lancer version, since she obviously has been living in the modern era without Avalon to freeze her age for over a decade and then some by this point, what with Ritsuka being around 8 or 9 years old. The reason she's a Lancer would be that Grey gave Ron back to her when she came to the Clock Tower alongside Rin and Shirou and rather then turning her into a goddess, Ron "merely" restored her body to full fuctionality.
Another thing I tough of is that Ritsuka's Arturia could actually be the Lancer version, since she obviously has been living in the modern era without Avalon to freeze her age for over a decade and then some by this point, what with Ritsuka being around 8 or 9 years old. The reason she's a Lancer would be that Grey gave Ron back to her when she came to the Clock Tower alongside Rin and Shirou and rather then turning her into a goddess, Ron "merely" restored her body to full fuctionality.