Chapter 8: Summoning Salvation
The low drone of countless insects filled Twilight's ears as she pointed her horn at Berserker. Aside from the perpetual buzzing, there seemed to be no other sound. A long moment had passed since she had resolved to fight and turned to face Berserker. No one moved. Behind her, she heard no indicators that neither Waver nor Berserker's Master had moved to fight with one another. Everyone, it seemed, had fallen into a wait-and-see briefly. However, things couldn't stay that way forever.
In spite of her courageous words to Waver, it was all Twilight could do to keep her legs from trembling as she stood before the powerful, menacing form of the black knight. Her heart told her to be brave, that she had what she needed to get through the battle alive. But her mind was calling her eleven-thousand different kinds of idiot. What the hay was I thinking? There's no way I can face off against even a regular Servant! What in Celestia's name made me think I could take on Berserker?
And yet...somewhere, deep in the furthest corners of her mind was a niggling feeling of...something. Twilight wasn't entirely sure what it was. It was something that had stirred in her mind and heart during the banquet. Something about Rider's Noble Phantasm had called out to her, given her an inkling. It told her there was something she could do, some way she could fight in the Holy Grail War; not just fight, but win. And yet, Twilight couldn't quite put a name to that feeling any more than she could articulate the vague beginnings of an idea she had gotten from watching Ionian Hetairoi at work.
But the time for thoughtful consideration was at an end. The low creaking noise was the only warning she had. Berserker's body quaked, his armor groaning, as though straining to keep an even more fearsome monster than Berserker himself confined. Black mist seemed to explode out from within the armor's joints like steam from a kettle as the black knight let out a wordless howl of fury and rage. He charged.
To Twilight's surprise, Berserker's charge did not carry him directly at her. Instead, the knight dodged to the corner of the intersection where he had been standing, the ebony fingers of his gauntlet closing around the pole of a signpost. Without breaking stride, he yanked, wrenching the entire thing out of the ground and taking a sizable chunk of concrete with it as he did so. Sign in hand, Berserker's charge angled directly at Twilight, leaping into the air with surprising agility and descending directly down at the unicorn, swinging the sign overhead like a halberd in a move not unlike how he had attacked Saber the other night.
Twilight had already responded with her first spell, a force-field, one she had learned from her brother. The sign itself hit the shield with incredible force, the force of a Noble Phantasm, which was compounded by the added strength of Berserker's weight behind it. Already, Twilight could feel the shield buckling under the force of impact. Any longer and Berserker's improvised weapon would break through it and cleave through her skull like a grape.
Thinking quickly Twilight channeled more prana into the shield, not reinforcing it, but instead over-saturating it with energy, causing its structure to become unstable. In the instant Berserker's weapon breached the barrier, the entire thing exploded outward in a shockwave that knocked Berserker away along the original trajectory of his leap.
Even as Berserker's feet hit the ground, Twilight was already on the attack, using the closest thing she had to actual battle magecraft. Condensing telekinetic energy at the tip of her horn, she fired it like a bullet at Berserker. It was a move that could lay a changeling drone low with a single hit. Twilight wasn't sure that a single shot would do that much damage against Berserker. However, given that the spell wasn't particularly costly, she could afford to use it quite frequently and she could fire it off several times in quick succession.
Berserker whirled his weapon, the blade (sign) intercepting Twilight's first attack and deflecting it cleanly. Several more shots followed, but Berserker easily spun the signpost about, knocking them away with ease. Twilight pressed her attack however. Given that the black mist that enshrouded Berserker kept his parameters hidden from the eyes a Master, including Aaron, Twilight had no idea of what abilities he might have. Some classes, like Saber, had Magic Resistance that granted them immunity to magecraft of a certain level. However, the fact that Berserker was on the defensive and blocking her attacks appeared to indicate that his resistance to magecraft was low, if it existed at all.
Twilight grit her teeth as she continued to pepper the black Servant with her attacks. The vague idea of how to seize victory had yet to crystalize into something concrete in her mind. At the moment, the only thing she could think of was to continue attacking and keep Berserker off balance until she could arrive at a real solution.
Hurry! Think!
"Hmm," mused Rider as his chariot ground to a stop before Lancer, "I must admit I wasn't expecting an attack from you. You were supposed to settle your match with Saber first."
Lancer's resolute expression did not waver as he stood before Rider's powerful war machine. At this moment, he was only at half strength, if that. The long spear was buried in the shoulder of one of Rider's bulls. That left the short spear.
"Hmm," said Rider again, "Are you sure it was wise to throw that spear. Against a mounted foe, the longer a spear, the more effective it is."
"True," admitted Lancer, "But Gae Dearg is the only weapon capable of penetrating the veil of lightning drawn about your chariot. Throwing Gae Buidhe would have been a wasted effort."
Rider grunted an acknowledgement before reaching out with his hand and reached out to close his hand around the shaft of the crimson spear. With a quick pull, he pulled the weapon free of the wound cleanly, without exacerbating the bull's injury. The poor creature let out a cry of pain, but remained standing as Rider casually tossed the weapon back to Lancer, who caught it neatly.
"Once again," said Rider, "Aren't you supposed to be settling your battle with Saber?"
Lancer sighed and looked down. "That is what I would have preferred. But my Master has given me this order. And so, I will go into battle with you."
"Oh? Has he used another Command Seal then?"
Lancer shook his head. "My Master has but to give me the order and I shall obey." He leveled the crimson spear at Rider. "I have no need for the Holy Grail itself. But I was cursed in life to fail as a knight and betray my lord and, in turn, be betrayed by him. This is my chance to regain my honor, by winning this prize for my new master."
Now it was Rider's turn to sigh. "I commend you for your valiant spirit Lancer. Your Master is not worthy of one such as you." Nonetheless, he drew his sword and gripped the reigns. "I shall have to apologize to Saber when we meet again for having defeated you before you two could settle your duel."
A slight smirk spread across Lancer's face. "Oh? You shouldn't boast of your victories before they have been attained King of Conquerors. If you're not careful, you will end up being the one conquered."
In spite of the grim situation, both warriors smiled as they faced each other. As it had been with Saber and Lancer during their duel, so it was with Rider and Lancer now. Though they were king and knight, though they were separated by the gulf of history and the distance between their respective lands, here, on the battlefield, of that vanished like mist upon the wind. Facing one another, with blades leveled, they were true equals.
And yet, Rider had a sense of unease. He was not unaware of Waver and Caster's plight. Even though his senses were focused on the battle before him, he knew that his Master and his ally needed his help as soon as he could provide it. That knowledge left him feeling a little...harried. This battle may end up being quite the challenge.
Waver Velvet breathed deeply and exhaled, breathed again, and breathed again. Only by repeating the simple exercise over and over was he able to retain some semblance of calm. If he hadn't done this, the strength would have gone out of his arms. The vials would have slipped from his limp grasp and he would have been left defenseless.
He was a magus, trained by the Association. He had refined his skills, learned spells and fully embraced his heritage as a magus. Even with a meager three generations to his lineage, his talents spoke for themselves. Though but an apprentice, Waver had successfully summoned a Servant and entered the Holy Grail War of his own volition. He was a true magus. Compared to him, Mato Kariya should have been nothing. Kariya had fled from his post as heir to the Matos, only to come crawling back to obtain a place in the current war. There was no way his magical circuits should be capable of any substantial magecraft. What's more, he was already using his prana to support Berserker. By all rights, Waver had every advantage in this situation, every reason to secure victory...and no reason to worry.
And yet, Mato Kariya stood before him, like a vision from the blackest of nightmares, looking to all the world like a corpse freshly risen from the grave. Waver briefly wondered if Kariya had gone so far as to embrace unlife. Was he, perhaps, some kind of ghoul?
No! That's unlikely! The Association regarded the Dead Apostles and their ilk with the utmost contempt, one of the few traits they shared with the Church. They would never willingly permit the participation of such a creature in the Holy Grail War and the Matos would be fully aware of that. Instead, Waver judged that Kariya had turned to some form of magecraft that ate away at his flesh in exchange for prana. That would explain the man's deteriorated state.
Again, he fought to keep from trembling. Magecraft such as that was immensely painful. The generation of prana would make the magus's nerves burn like fire. The prana to support a Servant would be agonizing, much less what was needed to support a Servant of the Berserker class. Waver imagined that the pain was maddening. And yet, Kariya's face did not seem to betray even the slightest ounce of pain.
Worse still was his intent. This was nothing like what Waver had experienced at the docks. Kayneth Archibald's taunts had been delivered with deliberate malice and filled Waver with an instinctual fear of the man who had once been his instructor at the Association. Waver had been able to sense Kayneth's hatred and desire to kill him, the desire to see Waver suffer. He sensed nothing like that from Kariya. In its own way, that was even more frightening than Kayneth.
The murderous intent emanating from Kariya was devoid of malice, of anger, of hatred. Waver understood immediately. He was nothing to this magus from the Matos. Kariya regarded him the same way a chess player might eye an opposing piece that he was planning to take. Kariya would kill Waver and then cast his corpse aside without a second glance and move on. His eyes were set upon something much further ahead. Yes, Waver was nothing to this man.
Though the clash of magic and steel echoed in the night behind him, Waver dared not turn his head to try and see how Caster fared. The slightest lapse in his attention would be all that Mato Kariya needed. Though the man had no true experience as a magus, his tenacity lent him the insight of a bloodthirsty beast, who could and would pounce at the slightest sign of an opportunity.
"You will learn what it is for two magi to battle to the death. You will experience all the pain and terror that this battle entails..."
The meaning of Kayneth's words became frightfully plain. This was a battle to death, two existences striving to overcome one another, end one another. Either him or Kariya, only one of them would come away from this battlefield with his life. From the expression on Kariya's face, the Mato magus was fully prepared for this. Waver was not. This fact alone completely reversed the advantages that Waver possessed. Kariya was not a true magus. He had none of the training, none of the skill, none of the knowledge that was Waver's to command...
...But he was prepared to die...
...But he was prepared to kill...
...And that made all the difference. Thus Waver was the one who had no reason to feel that he could win.
The repeated sounds of frenzied impacts came from behind Waver as Caster's battle with Berserker gained momentum. It was clear that Twilight was putting everything she had in this fight when, by all rights, she should have been less prepared for this battle than Waver. With her behind him, Waver knew he could not falter. The moment he fell in battle against Kariya would be to moment that nightmarish magus sank his fangs (or mandibles would be more appropriate) into Twilight's back. In other words, Twilight's safety and the success of her fight against Berserker hinged upon Waver not losing to Kariya.
Even though he had no reason to, Waver smiled. The one he wanted to protect, his reason for fighting, was behind him. He knew he couldn't afford to lose this fight. With that knowledge secure in his mind, though Waver had no reason to think he could win, he felt as though he had the means to reach out and secure victory.
Kariya's face faltered, betraying a grimace. It seemed a moment of weakness, but Waver realized that he was simply drawing out more prana still. The blade-winged beetles that surrounded Kariya surged forth to attack. It was time for the battle to begin. Pulling the first of the vials he held clenched between the fingers of his right hand, Waver grasped the cork in the top with his teeth and pulled it loose and spat it out. Twilight's battle was behind him, his fight was before him. He could not afford to lose.
Even though he had been running hard, Aaron's breath came easily. After taking care of Mato Kariya's familiar, he had planned on scouting out Miyama a little more before returning to the house and awaiting Caster's return. However, at the first inkling that things had gone wrong, Aaron had bolted out the door and run in the direction of the battlefield. He could sense Caster's distress, but also sensed that she had a handle on the situation for now. Now that he was on the move, there was no way he could spare the concentration for Shared Perception. Besides, from the sound of things, Rider was in a separate battle. Aaron couldn't focus solely on Caster's fight alone.
He had to secure a prime position from which to observe the battle. Fortunately, he had an idea of just the place. The fights were taking place near and within the woods that surrounded the private school that rested in the southwest section of Miyama. Climbing over the wall was the work of but a moment. Aaron didn't even pause as he used a simple magecraft to open one of the locked doors into the main building, heading quickly to the upper floors.
Aaron slid into the empty classroom, moving around the desks to a window, which he slid open. From there, it was simply a matter of making preparations. Moving to the teacher's desk, Aaron pulled out the tube and withdrew a sheet of parchment. His magecraft had already begun from the moment he had entered the building and a faint breeze was carrying his prana through every nook and cranny of the school. Now that his Servant had entered the war, Aaron realized that he couldn't afford not to take precautions. Opening a vial of ink, he poured it onto the paper and watched as the ink began to flow into lines, slowly inscribing a diagram of the school. Finally, he dropped a small number of ball bearings onto the sheet. A single one animated and rolled into position on the diagram, settling in the image of the room that Aaron himself occupied. He allowed himself a small smile. He was alone...for now.
His immediate security assured, Aaron put on his glasses and faced in the direction of the window. On the battlefield, he would have been a hinderance more than he was a help. Besides, this entire affair promised to be fun to watch.
Even though he continued to fend off each shot Twilight fired, Berserker remained rooted in place, unable to move forward. It was something of a consolation to Twilight, as she had the prana to maintain her barrage for a good deal longer if she needed. However, she knew that this state of affairs couldn't be allowed to continue for much longer. At best, it was a stalemate as the two fighters depleted their prana attacking and defending. In terms of expenditure, Twilight was certain she could outlast Berserker. But a war of attrition was costly in both time and energy.
A grimace flashed across her face. If she let up on her barrage, there was no question that Berserker would use the opportunity to immediately close the distance. Therefore, the question at the heart of the issue was whether or not she could get off a more powerful spell before Berserker could reach her.
Of course, there was another option that was open to her. But that necessitated that she abandon her position behind Waver, leaving his back unguarded. If she moved away, there was every possibility that Berserker would abandon his attack on her to strike at Waver Velvet from behind. However, it was the only option she had that seemed capable of actually changing the flow of battle. She would simply have to hope that Berserker's aggression would send him in pursuit of her, rather than take the sudden opportunity presented by her change in position.
She ended her barrage. Berserker was moving forward even as he batted aside the final telekinetic bolt, charging in to try and crush her skull with the concrete chunk on the butt end of his weapon. Twilight's horn flared and Berserker's weapon passed through empty air. She emerged from her teleport several meters away, with a larger distance between her and Berserker than there had been previously. Just to make sure she had his attention, she quickly fired off a shot at his back. Berserker's head didn't even turn as he intercepted the bolt with the sign. However, as a ploy to gain his attention, it worked.
The black knight immediately oriented on her and charged in. However, the extra distance gave Twilight the time she needed to use a different spell. Her prana ripped a chunk of asphalt clear of the ground, specifically, the chunk that Berserker had been standing on. A simple twist caused the entire section of the street she'd lifted up, with Berserker on it, to invert in the air before she slammed it back down.
The sign split the asphalt instantly as Berserker slammed his improvised halberd into its surface. At the same time, he planted the concrete lump in the crater vacated by the asphalt chunk above him. Spinning about the pole of his weapon, Berserker slammed his armored foot into one of the chunks, kicking it directly at Twilight. She intercepted it with another bolt from her horn. As the asphalt splintered into still smaller chunks, Twilight realized that Berserker was no longer there. The attack's true purpose had been to breaker her line of sight. The crunch of steel against concrete on her left was the only warning she had before Berserker's weapon swept down to split her skull in two.
The unicorn vanished in a flash of violet light, only just barely escaping the savage strike. Twilight emerged from her spell and skidded to a stop, firing off the first spell she could think of the instant she had a bearing on Berserker's position. The black knight parried the stream of light with the chunk of concrete on the butt end of his weapon, only to freeze as the burst of magical energy transformed the concrete into an orange impaled on the base of the street sign.
For a moment, Berserker simply stared at the citrus that had suddenly appeared on the end of his weapon. It seemed that, even for a Heroic Spirit who had traveled across time and space and sacrificed his sanity for the sake of power, there were some things you couldn't take in stride.
Berserker's gaze turned to Twilight.
The lavender unicorn grinned sheepishly and blushed. "Whoops!"
With another angry howl (possibly because it was the only noise he was capable of making) Berserker leapt forward and thrust downwards, trying to strike Twilight with the orange of all things. She barely managed to teleport out of the way at the last second, materializing in another location just in time to see the fruit split open against the ground, spraying juice everywhere...juice that then began to eat through solid concrete like acid.
Twilight felt queasy. She knew that Berserker's ability allowed him to wield any object like a weapon and use it as his Noble Phantasm, but she hadn't dreamed that it could go so far as to turn fruit juice into a dangerous substance. She didn't want to think of what that kind of acid would do to her body, but her overactive mind obliged her with a graphic image anyway.
Just what I needed, she thought wryly, cursing her incredibly strong talent for visualization.
Berserker stood up slowly and turned to face her. A flick of his wrist sent the remnants of the fruit sailing away before the knight raised the signpost above his head, a jagged spike of metal jutting from where the chunk of concrete had once rested no pointed directly at Twilight, who braced herself for the next exchange as Berserker charged once more.
In stark contrast to the frenetic match between Caster and Berserker, the battle between Rider and Lancer was one of overwhelming stillness. From the moment Rider had returned Lancer's spear and the two of them had taken their stances, they had not budged an inch. The only sound that could be heard was the occasional snort from Rider's bulls and the soft impact as they pawed the ground.
Rider hated to admit it, but Lancer had the advantage in this situation. Not only had he succeeded in luring Rider down into the trees and into close quarters, but by ensuring that Waver and Caster were endangered by their own respective conflicts, he had increased the pressure on Rider immensely, increasing the likelihood that Rider would be forced to act with haste and make an ill-considered move. In this situation, it was to Lancer's advantage to draw things out as long as possible.
All things considered, Rider should have had a substantial advantage. Not only was his current Noble Phantasm, the Gordius Wheel immensely more powerful and destructive than Lancer's spears, he also had his trump card that had annihilated Assassin earlier that same evening, Ionian Hetairoi. The latter was almost completely out of the question though, as using such an overwhelming Noble Phantasm against a single foe like Lancer, especially since he had used the very same ability only a little earlier that same night, was a squandering of prana that even a rather carefree Servant like Rider could not condone.
In the case of the former, while the Gordius Whell was indeed powerful enough to smite Lancer with a single blow and swift enough that it could overtake him in an instant, it was also unwieldy in these tight quarters. If the initial charge missed, Rider would not be able to turn the chariot around in sufficient time to avoid or defend against Lancer's counterattack. And, although the chariot was protected by a veil of lightning whenever it moved, Lancer had in his possession the spear that could cleave through prana and thus strike at Rider through his lightning.
Should the initial charge miss, Rider's best hope was to simply continue forward and try to escape Lancer's range before the other Servant could mount his attack. But given the incredible display of skill and speed Lancer had displayed against Saber, it was highly unlikely that even Rider's chariot could escape him before he'd turned and struck.
In the end, it all came down to the initial exchange. The first blow made between these two redoubtable warriors would decide the course of the entire conflict. Rider knew he could not fail in his initial attack, just as Lancer knew that he could not allow Rider's first blow to land. And so, the battle continued along its silent course, as each tried to be sure of his advantage over the other. When the time finally came, it would be decided in an instant.
Waver spun about, spilling liquid from the vial to inscribe a rough circle on the ground around him. The concoction spat and hissed as it touched down, quickly dissolving into a faint mist that rose up around him. Turning completely around, Waver faced back towards the swarm of blade-winged beetles that Kariya commanded, bearing down on him like a tide of chitinous death. He held his breath and waited.
The leading members of the swarm came to a halt, hovering uncertainly before Waver, as though they could no longer perceive him. The other members of the swarm quickly spread around to try and attack from other angles. But no matter where they went, the couldn't seem to approach Waver from any direction and instead hovered about, unable to close in and attack, their positions matching the boundary of the circle Waver had created with his potion. His barrier was working exactly as he hoped it would; a barrier of fumes born from an alchemical solution derived from insect-repelling compounds and held in place by a light application of wind magecraft.
Waver's ears barely caught a low groan escaping from Kariya over low droning noise the beetles seemed to make that drowned out almost everything else out. More were coming to cluster around him every second, the empty air around Waver filling with insects. Through the shifting gaps in the swarm, Waver could barely catch glimpses of Kariya.
The Mato magus was in pain. Not only was his face drawn in agony, but Waver could also catch sigh of streams of blood trickling from his eyes, nose, and mouth. Even more tellingly, as the curtain of insects shifted, affording Waver another glance at Kariya, he saw a blood vessel on Kariya's forehead suddenly burst, sending a tiny fountain of blood into the air. It seemed that the more beetles Kariya sent, the more the prana demands on his body caused it to break down. And this was on top of what he was already using to maintain Berserker and allow the mad Servant to keep up his attacks.
Waver realized that this fight was to his advantage. By settling in to wait out Kariya's attacks, he could simply wait for the combination of Berserker's efforts and Kariya's own magecraft to while away his prana.
However, there was no certainty over how much prana Kariya had at his disposal. If Kariya had sufficient prana, this could drag on for hours. So long as Kariya was able to withstand the pain of whatever horrific method he was utilizing to forcefully generate prana, he could easily continue this for a good while longer. Waver was uncertain if Twilight could hold on for that long. He needed to act.
Waver pulled the cork from the second vial. Rather than try and repeat his action from the previous time, he instead threw the vial at the edge of his circle, breaking it. The chemical solution within reacted with the solution from the first vial. The results were dramatic, to say the least.
Waver's world was engulfed in flames. The roaring of those flames did nothing to drown out the screams of Mato Kariya as his insect familiars burned.
"That must have hurt," muttered Aaron as he observed Waver's battle through his Mystic Code. It was a challenging prospect, watching three battle simultaneously, each fascinating in its own way. The frantic exchange of spells and blows between Caster and Berserker contrasted sharply with the enforced stillness of the silent battle between Lancer and Rider, while the fight between Waver and Kariya showed all the fascinating aspects of a battle between two magi who were each novices in their own way. It was hard to pull away from one and give attention to another when Aaron knew he might, in that instant, miss some critical detail that could determine the outcome. It was fascinating. It was thrilling...It was frustrating.
Even as he watched, a giddy feeling swelled up in Aaron's breast. This was the Holy Grail War, the clash of heroes and powers fantastic and impossible to magi of the modern age. This was the spectacle that had motivated him to come to Fuyuki to begin with. This was the kind of thing he had been longing to see and study with his own eyes. And here he was, doing it now, living out the exciting dream that had drawn him to this eastern island nation. And yet...it was still frustrating.
Because, even though everything he had ever desired from this experience was here before him, Aaron was not merely here as an observer. He was here as a Master, a participant, one who had been called upon by the Grail to marshal his Servant into battle. And now that she was in battle, he stood silently on the sidelines and watched. That inactivity alone wasn't what truly frustrated Aaron. He had no real sympathy for Caster. Ultimately, moving her towards winning the Grail ultimately served his desire to see something interesting. What truly frustrated him was that he was here to act in his capacity as a Master and he didn't know what to do.
It was a novel sensation in a sense. Throughout Aaron's life, it had always been relatively easy to perceive the course of action he needed to take. If what he wanted to see was guarded, penetrate those safeguards. If his actions attracted unwanted attention, elude those pursuers. If he couldn't elude his pursuers, kill them in any way available to escape. Things had always been quite simple in that regard. And yet, here, Aaron was at a loss as to what direction he should take in this situation.
After the first major battle of the War, Aaron had smugly and securely analyzed the strategies and tactics of Master and Servant alike. He'd dissected their natures and gained incredible insight into their actions and plans. And he'd been quite proud of that. Only now did Aaron realize how much he had benefitted from his position of neutrality and hindsight. Being able to securely scrutinize the events of a battle after it had occurred. However, it was a whole different matter to do so while the battle was in progress and his decisions and actions (or inaction) had the capacity to affect the outcome. It was a daunting sensation. For his whole life, Aaron Styx had avoided conflict, evading it when it sought him out and only fighting when it closed off all possibility of escape.
Aaron recognized the irony of it at all. He'd mentally scoffed at Waver Velvet for not knowing what he was getting into. And yet, here he was, the experienced magus, sidelined by indecision while the impetuous apprentice went into battle, and was acquitting himself quite well by any measure. Aaron understood now that he was the one truly unprepared for what it meant to fight in the Holy Grail War, what it meant to be the Master of a Servant.
I guess I'm not so different from Lord El-Melloi after all, he thought wryly, thinking back to his comments on Kayneth's aptitude as a Master the other day. It seemed he had no idea how to utilize Caster as a Servant either.
To his surprise, Aaron found himself smiling. It seems that even now, I continue to make interesting observations, even though they concern myself. Just acting as Caster's Master has uncovered something I didn't realize about myself. So, just as I hoped, she showed me something interesting again.
He turned his attention back to Caster's battle and pondered over what action to take. What will my part be in this battle?
Unknown to Aaron, the decision had already been made for him. He was so enthralled by the sight of the three battles, that he failed to notice his own map as one of the ball bearings discarded across its surface animated and began to move over the paper with grim purpose. Not yet realizing it, Aaron had just become the participant in the fourth battle to take place.
In the school's courtyard, the tall and slim figure of Kayneth Archibald strode towards the center. Looking around slowly, he sized up the area, eyeing the buildings with disdain and disinterest. He was not here to pass judgment on this place. He was here to carry out his role in the night's proceedings.
Though it irked him to do so, Kayneth had left the disposal of Waver Velvet to Mato Kariya. Kayneth still desperately wanted to preside over Waver's punishment himself, but took some solace in the fact that the hideous and undoubtedly painful death that awaited the foolish apprentice at the fangs and wings of Kariya's insect magecraft was a sufficiently horrific fate, however unsightly such magecraft was. Besides, there was always the chance, however slim, that Waver might even win or escape from that conflict, thus giving Kayneth another opportunity to settle affairs with him at a later date.
Regardless, his purpose here was to ensure Zoken's acquisition of Caster. He cared not why the shriveled old husk of a man wanted to capture that Servant. However, even Kayneth was forced to recognize the brutal potential of Kariya's Servant. Obtaining the aid of such a formidable Servant would give him a considerable advantage when he faced that damnable Einzbern Master once again.
The thought made Kayneth pause. Perhaps the best thing would be to make a more permanent arrangement. Lancer was a disappointment as a Servant, failing to dispatch Saber, even with the knowledge of her true identity and after having wounded her with Gae Buidhe, he still allowed her to slip away. More importantly, he had the temerity to suggest that he could still be considered loyal after contesting the orders of his Master and forcing Kayneth to waste one of his precious Command Seals just to force him to act. And then there was Sola...
Yes, perhaps it was time to dispose of Lancer and take on a superior Servant. With Sola-Ui's support from the modified contract system, the increased prana demands of the Berserker class would be no issue. And best of all, that treacherous Lancer would be out of the way. It seemed the most appropriate course. First, dispose of Lancer, then dispose of Kariya and take up the contract with Berserker. Mato Zoken had already indicated his lack of interest in the outcome and complete disdain for Kariya. If Kayneth disposed of Kariya, Zoken was unlikely to protest.
However, that would have to wait. Right now, Kayneth had a job to do. Opening the vial he pulled forth from his robes, he poured the silvery liquid from within, undoing the mass compression and weight reduction spells from the substance.
A cruel smile spread across his face. "Fervor mei sanguis."
Aaron only had a vague premonition that something was wrong. Reluctantly, he pulled his eyes away from the spectacle of the battle and looked about the room for the source of the ill feeling gnawing away in his gut. There was nothing amiss, but Aaron could sense the presence of someone observing them. Is it the one from before? he wondered, remembering the mysterious sensation of being watched by someone whom he guessed was from Caster's home plane. No, this is different.
He almost missed the tiny sliver of silver coming from the door. His eyes narrowed as he looked more closely, seeing a tiny bead of silver liquid flowing forth from the keyhole. The bead stretched down before stretching towards him ever so slightly then retracting back. Aaron's eyes widened and a momentary surge of panic swept through him. That looks like...! Uh oh!
He quickly cast his eyes down to the map. One of the ball bearings on its surface was now rolling in the direction of the bearing that marked his position. It was on the hallway of the floor below. Aaron quickly reached out and began rolling up the map, dumping the bearings off into the palm of his hand and returning them to his pocket. It was only a matter of time before Kayneth took the stairs up to this floor and came after him.
As Aaron inserted the parchment back into the tube and deposited it under his coat, a tremor shook the floor and walls around him. I guess someone of his stature can't be bothered with stairs. The floor and wall of the room and the hallway beyond fell away. Aaron's eyes only caught the faintest trace of movement.
Tendrils of that same silvery liquid from before reached up from the newly created gaping hole in the floor, setting down on its edges. Slowly, the proud and poised form of Kayneth Archibald El-Melloi was lifted into view on a platform made from the strange substance. Now that he had more than a fleeting glance at it, Aaron recognized the substance. Mercury.
This then, must have been Kayneth's most formidable Mystic Code, the infamous Volumen Hydragyrum. Kayneth's smile widened slightly as his eyes met Aaron's. "Ah, so we meet at last, Aaron Styx."
"I always thought someone of your stature couldn't be bothered with the likes of me," said Aaron calmly, his eyes looking for an opening, any opening he could get to escape. He was well aware of Volumen Hydrangium's capabilities, having observed its development at some point. In all likelihood, it was even more formidable now, since Kayneth had likely developed it further in the time since Aaron had seen it. "I'm rather surprised you even know my name."
"I make it a point to learn the names of those who have insulted me," said Kayneth smugly, "Even now, you still seemed to be consumed by that detestable habit of yours...Witness. You are supposed to be a Master in this conflict and yet here you stay, content to skulk about and watch."
A small chuckle escaped Aaron. "Funny. Isn't that the same thing Rider called you out on last time?" Kayneth's smile disappeared. "Perhaps we have more in common than either of us thought."
Now Kayneth's lips pulled in another direction, forming a snarl. "Do not compare yourself to me you rat. Even though it is beneath me, I am here as a Master in the Holy Grail War. I have come that we might stake our lives and our honor as we strive for the Holy Grail."
"A lovely sentiment," remarked Aaron, a smirk of his own in place, "But I am not the kind of magus who is suited for an open battle."
"So you intend to slink away like the vermin you are?" asked Kayneth.
"I suppose," replied Aaron, "You called me a rat. Well, if there's one thing rats are good at, it's getting out of a dangerous situation."
Aaron's right hand and arm moved swiftly, making a slashing motion in front of him. The slight distortion along the line of the arm's movement was the only warning Kayneth received. However, even this little of a warning was more than he needed. The Volumen Hydragyrum reacted instantly, rising up to shield its wielder, its surface rippling as a razor-edge of wind cut into the membrane of mercury, but failed to penetrate it.
It dissolved back down immediately, once again giving Kayneth a clear view of his target. "Hmph! Nothing more trifling than basic wind magecraft, an amateur spell." His eyes narrowed as he finally saw what was gripped in Aaron's hand, a knife carved from clear crystal, so transparent as to be almost invisible to the naked eye. Until Aaron had attacked, Kayneth had not even realized he had been holding it.
"Such a pathetic deception," observed Kayneth sadly, "Stamping out vermin like you will bring me no pride." He shook his head sadly.
Again Aaron chuckled. "Perhaps you should spend less time pretending to be Archer and get on with it."
"Very well then," snarled Kayneth, "Scalp!"
Two tendrils lashed out from the mass of mercury supporting him, lancing directly for Aaron. Partway there, their path suddenly bent sharply to the left, impacting the wall to Aaron's right. Kayneth stared in shock, wondering how his attack had been diverted. The hesitation was only momentary, but it had been enough.
Aaron was already in motion. Swinging his knife downward, blades of wind slice through the floor at his feet, creating an opening for him to drop through.
Aaron had dropped down onto the floor that Kayneth had ascended from, bolting down the hallway as fast as his feet could carry him. For a magus of Kayneth's caliber, dropping down to pursue would be the work of an instant. And yet, Kayneth did not budge as he stared contemplatively at the place where Aaron had been standing.
"So he used wind magecraft to alter the refractive index of the air between us, displacing his position before my eyes and throwing off my aim." Aaron had been lucky. Had the Volumen Hydragyrum's attack function been linked to the autonomous detection function, which tracked targets through vibrations and body-heat, it would not have been fooled by such a mundane tactic. "It's disappointing that my opponent relies on such pathetic trickery."
"If it's so pathetic, doesn't that make the fact that it worked against you even more pathetic still?" Aaron's taunting voice floated down the hallway on the wind and carried up to where Kayneth waited. "Perhaps the great Lord El-Melloi is not the great magus that he pretends to be."
Kayneth's muscles tensed sharply at the jibe. "To be insulted by such a pest..." he hissed.
"I can understand the sentiment," Aaron answered once again, his phantom voice seeming to echo from every direction, "One could say I specialize in being a pest. However, what does it say about you that someone who claims to be a Lord of the Association completely fails as a rat-catcher?"
Kayneth ground his teeth, irritation rising in his stomach as this nothing of a magus claiming to be a Master taunted him while hiding and running. However, just as his anger crested and peaked, Kayneth mastered himself and relaxed again. There was no need to get so upset over such trash. He could run, but the Volumen Hydragyrum could not be escaped. There was no hole or warren in the grounds of this school where Aaron Styx could elude detection. And speaking of escape...
Kayneth snapped his fingers, raising the barrier he had preemptively set up. This was different from the larger barrier that encircled the entire battlefield, which had been erected only to keep non-magi from intruding. This smaller bounded field encircled the entire grounds and would prevent anyone within from escaping. A skilled magus could probably force his way through or find some clever way to circumvent the barrier, but it had a secondary function of detecting interference, which would immediately alert Kayneth to the point at which the target was trying to escape.
Now Aaron was trapped in the school grounds. His own battlefield had been turned into a closed space, where he had no hope of escape. If he continued to run and hide, Kayneth would simply and meticulously root out his hiding spots one by one, until Aaron was cornered, with no other place to escape to. And then, his role in the Holy Grail War would come to an end.
Aaron felt the shiver of prana run through the school grounds as Kayneth raised the second bounded field. He silently cursed his laxity in having overlooked the barrier line as he entered the school. Kayneth had clearly set this up well beforehand, looking to trap him into this place with no hope of escape. It was all clear now.
Kayneth's intent in choosing this place for the Servants to clash was not just because it lay upon the obvious route of Rider's return from the Einzbern castle. Rather, he had also chosen it because he expected this battle to draw Aaron into the area so that he could better observe. And the school had been the obvious place for Aaron to observe from. Ironically, Kayneth had used the very same tactic that Emiya Kiritsugu had employed on the night of the first battle.
I'm gonna have to think more carefully about this in the future, Aaron mused, It's obvious that this would be the trick my enemies would employ in order to trap me. I'm just lucky that it's Kayneth Archibald and not Emiya Kiritsugu...
Though luck would be a relative term in this case. Needless to say, even though Kayneth was nowhere near as fearsome or daunting a foe as the infamous Mage Slayer, he still completely outclassed Aaron as a magus.
At present, Aaron was hiding in the girls' restroom, just down the hallway from where he had escaped. It would only be the work of moments for Kayneth's Mystic Code to track him down and renew its attack. Its capability to detect its target was presently Aaron's greatest concern. Since he had no hope of surviving, much less winning a direct confrontation with Kayneth, his only hope lay in escaping the Volumen Hydragyrum's detection function.
Aaron's eyes turned to the side and he spied his reflection in the restroom mirror. Luckily, I seem to have everything at hand that I need.
Whipping out with his arm, he slammed the butt end of the knife into the mirror, shattering it. "Time to get to work." This at least, was a situation he was quite familiar with.
Kariya's agonized scream echoed across the night as his familiars burned. Waver's eyes flicked to the cloud of burning insects around him. In all likelihood, a few had escaped the flames and would still be able to attack. But with Kariya in the throes of agony from the feedback of losing so many at once, any attack they made would be uncoordinated.
A magus of Kayneth's caliber would have probably basked exultantly in his adversary's pain. But Waver neither had that luxury or that inclination. Besides, it seemed the kind of thing that Twilight would really not enjoy. Waver had to move to the third stage of his plan if he hoped to turn this small advantage into a true victory. Only one of the three potions he had prepared remained.
So he rushed forward. Ducking his head and throwing up his arms, Waver charged through the still dissipating wall of his own flames. The heat made him wince. He grunted in pain as he brushed up against a flailing insect. A spark burned the top of his ear. But still, Waver continued forward, charging straight ahead for Kariya as fast as he could manage. The unexpected move caught the other magus off guard, especially since he was still crying out in agony. Blood was spilling from his orifices. Vessels all across his body were bursting.
A few of the bugs that had escaped the flames began to orient towards Waver, but did so slowly and lethargically, their movements hampered by the incapacitation of the one controlling them. As Waver closed with Kariya, he brought the last vial to his mouth and gripped the cork with his teeth. Pulling it out and spitting it away, Waver waited until he was a mere three feet from Kariya before whipping his arm out, throwing the vial's contents directly into his face.
Kariya's screams before were merely a preview to the shrieks of agony that resounded throughout the night now.
Berserker's foot slid out from under him as it touched the ground, Twilight's spell having completely eliminated all friction across a swath of asphalt. As the armored Servant tumbled, she let fly with another telekinetic burst, hoping to catch him off balance.
However, Berserker merely turned his weight into the fall, taking advantage of the properties of a frictionless surface and used his momentum to spin around and bring his weapon into play. The sign intercepted Twilight's attack neatly. Berserker then actually used the attack's recoil to allow himself to be knocked back off of the area Twilight's spell had affected. As soon as his feet touched back down, he entered into a leap that carried him over the slippery obstruction and at Twilight. She intercepted his descent with another shield as Berserker stabbed downward with the jagged, twisted point of iron that formed what had once been the butt end of his weapon. This time, Berserker's attack brought him down almost directly on top of her.
Twilight poured more magic into her shield, ensuring that it would hold out for a few seconds, even without her continuous input. This had the secondary effect of turning the shield opaque. Thus, as Berserker continued to exert his strength downward, he was left completely unaware that Twilight had already teleported out from within the shield's confines until if finally cracked under his onslaught.
Having only bought herself a scant few seconds before Berserker located her again, Twilight turned her focus inwards, desperately looking for something that she could latch onto to turn that small fragment of an idea into a means to win.
Think about Rider's Noble Phantasm. How does that help? Could I try to create a Reality Marble? No, that wouldn't work. That isn't what's important. The Reality Marble is just an effect. Come to think of it, so is his army. Neither of those are the Noble Phantasm.
The issue was obvious. Neither Rider's army of followers, nor the Reality Marble they created could truly be called the Noble Phantasm itself. Rather, if Twilight compared them to the examples she had seen so far in the War, then it was something else. Lancer's Noble Phantasms were his spears. Their power took effect when they pierced their targets. Saber's Noble Phantasm was a sword. Twilight hadn't seen Saber use it in its full capacity, but most likely utilizing its ability required that she swing the sword. Rider's chariot, the other Noble Phantasm in his possession had to be driven in order to be used.
In other words, the Reality Marble and Rider's army were like being pierced by Lancer's spears or being trampled under Rider's chariot. Rather than being the Noble Phantasm itself, they were the effects of that Noble Phantasm's ability, the army and the territory called into being by Rider employing the Noble Phantasm itself. If that was the case, then what was the Noble Phantasm? It couldn't have been Rider's sword and there was no object on his body that Twilight could associate with its activation. But was that the only way?
Berserker's Noble Phantasm allowed him to turn anything he touched into a weapon. But that wasn't the product of an item he held or carried, but rather an ability in its own right. Noble Phantasms did not have to be limited to tangible concepts. They also took the form of ideas and abstract concepts. Even Archer's ability to rain countless treasured blades from on high could be considered in such a manner, his ownership of those Noble Phantasms itself manifesting as a form of Noble Phantasm.
So then, it was simply a matter of identifying the true form of Rider's Ionian Hetairoi. But what? Rider had called forth across the boundaries of time and space to fight by his side, their loyalty unshakable even after death. It was more than a simple act of servitude on their part. It was also not the product of Rider's soldiers on their own. Rider's own devotion to his men and his love and loyalty to them had as much to do with their connection as theirs did. What was it about that bond that...
That's it! Twilight let out an exultant squeal at the revelation. That's the answer! The bond itself is Rider's true Noble Phantasm! The bond between the king and his subjects was the source of everything. It connected them beyond even the limits of the living the world and allowed them to accomplish the normally impossible A wave of exultation swept through Twilight as she realized exactly what she needed to. Here was her answer. Here was the way to turn the tables and actually swing the Holy Grail War in her favor.
But how?
Unfortunately, Twilight was out of time. Her whirling of mind had been able to process the careful deduction in the scant seconds since she had escaped from Berserker's attack. However, the shield had failed and the black knight realized that it as empty. Already, his visored gaze was settling on Twilight again, not even bothering to pause as he closed in for a new attack. Twilight grimaced as she retaliated, launching another kinetic blast for Berserker to bat aside.
Even as she teleported away from again, Twilight's mind settled on its current dilemma. She'd figured out the secret to Rider's Noble Phantasm and even how that applied to her. She too had a bond with her friends, a powerful one, one that had formed between them before they had even met. And the effect, the equivalent of the army or the Reality Marble, was unquestionably powerful. After all, it had defeated Nightmare Moon and had even struck down the living incarnation of chaos itself. Compared to that, a mere mortal human human, however powerful he might be, would be foal's play.
But how to use it? That was the question. In the past, her friends had been with her themselves. And they'd had the artifacts, the Elements of Harmony to channel that bond into power. But Twilight's friends were a world away, separated by a seemingly impassable gulf that Twilight herself had only managed to cross through some incomprehensible accident.
But wasn't Rider in a similar situation? He alone had been summoned to the Grail War. He didn't even have the quality of being a magus. He had been called into a world where his companions had passed into dust and been lost to the fog of ages.
And yet...when he needed them, they were at his side, even though it should have been impossible. The answer was there for Twilight to grasp. She knew that her bond with her own friends was no less powerful, perhaps even stronger. But the how still alluded it her.
With a yelp, she ducked under another swipe of Berserker's weapon. Twilight leapt away from the attack and paused to respond with her own counter, which was about as effective as it had been before as the knight deflected her blasts with casual ease. Now that she'd come close to grasping the conclusion, Twilight was becoming increasingly distracted from the battle itself. In this state, it was only a matter of time before one of Berserker's attacks connected. And frail as she was, one blow would probably be enough to slay her.
If only I had more time! I could figure out how to do it myself. If I had an hour-No! If I had just a few minutes, I could finish working this out. All I need is one last push. If I could increase my own capacity just a little...THAT'S IT!
She realized what she needed to do to find her answer. But even as Twilight realized what she needed to do, she hesitated. This meant more or less giving up on the failsafe that she'd pinned her hopes on if winning the Grail War proved an impossibility. True, there was no guarantee that she needed all three of them (and also none that even using all three of them would succeed), but giving up even one of her chances to escape from this War was a daunting problem.
However, if things continued like this, she was more likely to die at Berserker's hands than figure out the answer to her problem on her own. There was no other alternative. It seemed that this was the point of no return. Aaron!
It was the work of a moment. Using the sink as a mortar and the handle of his knife as the pestle, Aaron had managed to grind down the broken glass into a find powder. Once he judged it to be sufficiently finely ground, he reached into the sink and scooped up a small handful, silently thanking Kayneth for being willing to take his time.
Calling upon his magical circuits, Aaron breathed out a simple command. "Scatter." He blew gently on the glass dust, his prana-infused breath scattering it into the air. He continued to exhale until he had blown every single particle off the palm of his hand.
Carried on the wind of his creation, the dust seeped out through the small cracks between the door and the walls, before spreading throughout the school, the wind carrying it to every available space. In just a few seconds, everything would be ready.
In avoiding the Volumen Hydragyrum's detection function, there were two approaches that Aaron could take. The first and most obvious way was to mask his presence so that it could not "see" him. Given the Mystic Code's qualities, that meant hiding the vibrations produced by his body and masking his body heat. The first was relatively simple as Aaron could simply manipulate the air around him to prevent it from acting as a medium for his breathing and heartbeat. However, he lacked the skill to disguise his body heat, as thermodynamic manipulation fell outside of the purview of his limited magecraft.
The second way to escape Kayneth's notice was to figuratively go in the opposite direction. Aaron grinned. Now that the preparations were completed, he set his spell into motion.
"Ire: Sanctio!" Thin tendrils stretched out from the Volumen's mass, stretching along the walls, floor and ceiling, reaching in every direction. Kayneth smiled in satisfaction as a tremor traveled down one of the tentacles. Already, the mass of mercury was beginning to move in the direction of its target.
"Found you rat," he muttered, preparing to set off with his weapon. However, at that instant, the Volumen Hydragyrum froze. A shiver traveled down its tentacles from another direction.
Kayneth spun about to face the new source that had alerted the Volumen's detection function. Already, it was heading towards the new target it had detected. However, even as it did, its sensors picked up targets from several other points. The mass of mercury seemed to freeze into place, shivering as it rolled in one direction and then another.
"What?" exclaimed Kayneth. He'd ensured that he and Aaron were the only two people inside the barrier. So there should have been no one else for the Volumen Hydragyrum to detect. Now reactions were flooding in. The Volumen was picking up targets from everywhere in the building and it didn't know which one to actually track.
"How is he doing this?" snarled Kayneth as his Mystic Code picked up the presence of a new target directly in front of him. Looking, Kayneth's eyes picked up something glimmering in the moonlight, a shimmering dust that swirled faintly through the air. "Is this?" He slowly reached out towards it. Abruptly, the area reached by his hand felt warmer, he could even feel the faint pulse of something like a heartbeat. "No!"
This was the way Aaron had chosen to elude the Volumen Hydragyrum's detection function. Using the glass powder as a medium, he'd scattered bits of his prana throughout the school building. At his command, the glass particles began to vibrate against each other, heating the air around them and producing vibrations similar to the level of that which was produced by the human body. The entire building was now flooded with false positives that would throw off the Volumen's sensors, keeping it from homing in on its real target. Now Kayneth had no idea where to go in order to find Aaron.
At this point, it was only a stopgap. The barrier was still in place, so Aaron was still confronted by the fact that he needed to escape in order to truly consider this a success. But he'd bought himself time.
However, that would have to wait for a moment. Now Aaron sensed Caster's need through his contract with her. A slight incredulous smile spread across his face as he realized what she wanted from him. "Are you sure about this?" he asked, transmitting his intent as best he could, "This is a pretty big decision." Aaron lifted his hand and eyed the brands of his three Command Seals.
He sensed her determination. "If you're sure then..." He frowned slightly. "But I'm not even sure what command to give. I don't think I could articulate it properly even if you could explain it to me through shared perception."
However, an idea rose in his mind and, for the first time since the battle had begun, he knew what he needed to do in his Capacity as Caster's Master. The seals on his hand began to glow. "By this Command Seal, I hereby order you: Do what thou wilt."
One of the Seals flared especially bright and faded away.
Power and awareness immediately flooded Twilight's mind shining like a light and illuminating the truth she sought in an instant. At that moment, she realized she knew exactly what she needed to do. She could have figured it out on her own, had she a mere half-hour of time to her own thoughts. But given the degree to which Berserker had been pressing her, relying on the Command Seal's capacity to reinforce a Servant's action to accomplish that in the instant.
Normally, such a vague command would hardly have brought about any tangible benefit to Twilight. However, because she herself was a magus, she harnessed the power of the Seal and modified the command to suit her needs, allowing her to transform it into the perfect tool for her needs.
I can't believe it was so simple, she thought, The truth has been in front of me all along. All I needed to do was believe and call out to them and they would answer. I feel so silly for needing this much to realize that. Wasn't that what I learned the first time we came together?
Berserker looked as though he was moving in slow motion as he closed in. His mad howls sounded like they were miles away. Everything around Twilight slowed to a snails pace.
Softly, her lips formed the three words that were the source of her ultimate power, the means to secure victory, to survive, to return home, lay in that one simple truth. "Friendship is Magic."
Kariya's body was being torn apart. The surface of his skin squirmed sickeningly as the crest worms implanted within him writhed and spasmed, releasing the prana that they had already produced by devouring his flesh into his body, tearing him apart from within. The pain of manifesting Berserker, the pain of conjuring his familiars, the agony of those familiars being destroyed; they were nothing. The worms rampaged within, tearing at his flesh without purpose, fighting their way to the surface, forcing their way out. Kariya's one good eye fixated upon the one responsible for his pain. He saw the boy's face and could not comprehend how he had ended up in this state.
He had offered up his life for this power. It was the power to oppose Tokiomi, to punish him for sending Sakura into Zoken's clutches. It was the power to dominate the battlefield and claim Victory in the Grail War. It was the power that would allow him to save Sakura. He was not meant to fall here, at the hands of this pathetic child.
The rage that flooded through Kariya made his pain seem like a distant memory.
There was no warning. Waver looked on, torn between pity and disgust as Kariya screamed and writhed. The surface of his skin churned and then split open in several places across his body. Waver had to fight to keep a hold on his stomach as he observed the cuts opening. Kariya's insides were boiling over with writhing maggots that spilled out from within. However, at that instant, Kariya suddenly surged forward. Waver had no idea where a man in his state could find the strength to move at all, much less move so quickly.
But move he did. Before he could react, Kariya's hands latched around his neck and cut off his air. Before he could do anything, Waver was on his back, pinned to the ground while Kariya hovered over him, his face a mask of agony and pain as he did his best to choke the life out of the boy before him.
"I curse you, all of you magi!" snarled Kariya, "Tokiomi! Zoken! Kayneth! I'll kill all of you!"
Waver tried his hardest to pry Kariya's hands from his throat. But the Mato magus's grip was like a steel vice. Waver's efforts proved utterly ineffectual. As his oxygen-starved lungs tried desperately to seek air, the darkness at the edges of his vision began to close in.
Twilight Sparkle vanished into a nova of violet and white light, her body obscured by the raw power of her overflowing prana. Berserker's charge came up short, his improvised halberd raised to ward off the blow. It was useless. The burst of unleashed prana slammed him back, lifted him off the ground and hurled him through the air. The black knight slammed into the ground, his armor smashing a furrow through asphalt and concrete and then dirt as he ground to a stop off the road. Slowly, he got back to his feet and faced Twilight, who was finally becoming visible within the storm of prana.
Twilight's eyes were closed, the energy surrounding her actually levitating her off the ground. She floated in a blazing nimbus of energy that lit up the surrounding area like the morning sun. She opened her eyes, which had transformed into a fierce, blazing white. Slowly, golden lines began to materialize atop her head, forming themselves into an artful tiara, which framed a violet jewel that matched the starburst pattern of her cutie mark. Her power flooded across the battlefield, threatening to engulf everything.
"Luna! What's happening?" cried Celestia as she rushed into the study. The portal looking in on Twilight was being flooded with power, shining with almost blinding light. Princess Luna shied away from the display, even as she turned to address her elder sister.
"I'm sorry Tia," she said, "Things have escalated even further than they had when I called for you."
"What is it?"
"Twilight's power surging. The last time something like this happened..."
"She used the Elements," muttered Celestia, "But how? She's by herself right now."
"That's just it!" exclaimed Luna, "She must have figured out the same thing we did and figured out how to use it. Can't you feel it? The power of their bond is transcending the boundaries of our realities. She is reaching across time and space and more besides. And the others are answering and reaching back."
Celestia turned her eyes to the vibrant display and the mare within who burned like the light from her own sun. "I knew you could do it Twilight."
"Hmm, now to fix the hem a little. Spike!"
Spike quickly trotted over and presented his tail, which was studded with pins. Rarity's magic unceremoniously yanked one of them out, which earned a wince from the young dragon. Not even turning her eyes from her work, Rarity continued her modifications to the incomplete dress at a feverish pace.
Spike's eyes swept across the Carousel Boutique's workroom and the numerous ponyquins within. Rarity had been working almost nonstop ever since they had gotten back from the palace. She'd gone into creative overdrive and was turning out dresses with the frequency of an assembly line.
She wasn't the only one. To keep from dwelling on their beloved friend's plight, all the others had thrown themselves into work and play, doing their utmost to keep themselves busy so that their minds wouldn't be flooded by worry. Fluttershy had disappeared into her cottage, tending to an endless stream of animals that came from Ponyville and the surrounding areas. Between work sessions with the weather team, Rainbow Dash was training harder than ever, not even stop for five minutes to take one of her once frequent naps. Pinkie Pie was baking up a storm at the Sugarcube Corner, having thrown three parties and one happening since they'd gotten back. Applejack hadn't left the farm since she returned and seemed to spend all day of every day bucking apples like there was no tomorrow.
Spike was worried. They were working themselves into exhaustion. And it didn't really help. His own anxiety was no small thing, but he felt that the best thing he could do for Twilight was soldier on and try to keep their group of friends together. He also had a slight advantage. The Cutie Mark Crusaders had taken it upon themselves to keep the young dragon occupied, spending a surprising amount of time with him in various activities.
The little dragon's mind was brought back to the present as a pin slipped out of Rarity's magic and dropped to the floor. He looked up in surprise. All around them, rolls of fabric, snipping scissors, snaking ribbons, floated in an uneasy stasis as Rarity froze on the spot.
"Rarity? Are you okay?" asked Spike.
Rarity jolted slightly. "Oh!" She whirled around, as though suddenly remembering that Spike was in the room. "Oh! Nothing! I'm fine Spike. Really."
"Are you sure?" asked Spike, noting that her eyelids seemed to be drooping a little, "You look tired. Maybe you should take a break."
Rarity's mouth seemed to open in protest, but she paused. "Yes," she said quite abruptly, "Yes, perhaps you're right. I feel like I just need to lay down and close my eyes for a moment." She slowly made her way to the couch, not so much climbing on it as she did collapse upon it. "Don't let me sleep too long Spike," she instructed as her eyes drifted closed.
Spike stared at her for a second, before turning and running upstairs. He came back down with a blanket, which he pulled up over the sleeping mare, gently tucking her in. As he watched her silently sleep, he hoped that she was having a pleasant dream.
"But the cupcakes..." whined Pinkie as Mr. Cake gently molded the covers around her.
"Don't worry honey," he said softly, "I'll keep an eye on them. You just relax and close your eyes."
"But I have a party in-"
"It can wait Pinkie. You can't very well throw a great party if you're all sleepy."
The pink mare let out a small yawn and smacked her chops. "No. I guess not," she slurred, her eyes drifting closed.
Mr. Cake carefully backed out of her room, his eyes full of sympathy. Turning of the light and closing the door, he left his surrogate daughter to the land of dreams.
"AJ? Are ya okay sugarcube." Big Macintosh looked over at Applejack, who swayed unsteadily on her hooves.
"Ah'm fine Big Mac," replied the surly orange mare, "Ah just need to rest mah eyes a bit. We can't afford to get behind."
Big Macintosh shook his head and shifted the stalk of grass in his mouth. "We ain't behind AJ. If anythin' we're ahead 'o schedule with all the buckin' ya've been doin' the past couple days." He slowly began to push and nudge Applejack in the direction of one of the trees that had already been divested of its fruit. "Why dont'cha just lay down fer a spell? Ah'll take care 'o things. Ya just rest yerself here in the shade. Okay sugarcube?"
Applejack let out a loud yawn before looking blearily at her brother. "Okay then," she said before curling up under the tree, "Sure feels nice to lay down a bit."
"Sweet dreams sugarcube," said Big Macintosh softly as he nuzzled his snoozing sister. He turned his attention back to the farm.
"Are you sure?" asked Fluttershy, her normally soft voice nearly inaudible as Angel Bunny pointed insistently at the bed, "But there are still so many critters that need taking care of."
Angel shook his head vehemently and pointed behind Fluttershy, where all her woodland friends were watching intently, all of them making similar gestures indicating that the yellow mare should climb into bed.
"Alright then," said Fluttershy, pulling up the sheets while Angel fluffed her pillow, "If you insist..."
"You guys are really okay with this?" asked Rainbow as she settled her back onto the cloud.
"Yea we've got this," said Thunderlane, "You've been running yourrself ragged boss. It isn't good for you. We'll look after things while you have your nap. Don't worry about a thing."
"Okay then," said Rainbow softly, her eyes steadily drifting closed. It's funny. I've had a hard time sleeping because of Twilight. But now it feels like she's right by me and she's calling for me. Hang on Twi, I'm coming.
The voice of Twilight Sparkle called out across the immeasurable abyss between worlds, carried beyond the boundaries of space and time by a bond of friendship powerful enough to crush down demigods. It disregarded the laws of existence and transcended the limits of what humans and ponies should have been capable of. As she called out, five other voices called back in answer.
And somewhere...someone began to laugh, a malicious cackle echoing endlessly through the void.
The light began to fade as Twilight's prana died down. However, her eyes still shined with an intense, white light. She turned that gaze on Berserker as the black knight struggled to his feet. With a low growl, he lifted his visored gaze to her own. The powerful Servant was still at his fullest strength, his armor having absorbed the impact easily. However, Twilight Sparkle was no longer alone.
She heard and felt five sets of hooves settle onto the ground on either side of her. Looking over, Twilight smiled. She wasn't the only pony in this world, not anymore. Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie stood to her right, grinning at her happily. Rarity, Fluttershy and Applejack waited at her left. All of them bore necklaces that were adorned with jewels matching their cutie marks.
"You came," said Twilight, her voice filling with elation as the white light faded from her eyes.
"Of course we did," said Rainbow, "We'd never leave you hanging."
"Oh I'm so fantastically happy to see you!" squealed Pinkie, immediately leaping over and pulling the lavender unicorn into an enthusiastic hug.
"Really, you've had us at our wits end," complained Rarity as she nuzzled Twilight from the other side.
"Thank goodness you're alright," whispered Fluttershy, joining in on the display of affection.
"Ya sure had us goin' there sugarcube," added Applejack.
The lovely moment was broken by two things. The first was a low gurgling noise that reached Twilight's ears. Looking for its source, her eyes widened with horror as she saw Waver twitching spasmodically beneath Mato Kariya, the gaunt magus's hands around Waver's throat. "Waver!"
The second thing that got their attention was an unearthly howl from Berserker, as the dark Servant prepared to charge once again.
"I've got your friend Twi," said Rainbow, speeding off for Waver and Kariya.
Twilight quickly turned her attention back to Berserker and her eyes began to shine once again.
The world was beginning to grow dark. Waver tried desperately, but compared to Kariya's strength born of incalculable rage, it was nothing more than pointless flailing. He was beginning to lose sensation in his limbs and couldn't make out details before his eyes anymore. Is this it for me?
"Hey!" Kariya's head snapped up at the sound of the voice. That was the only warning he received as a blur of blue and rainbow slammed into him, knocking him clean off Waver's body and pulling his fingers away from Waver's throat.
Waver coughed and gagged, forcing air down his much-abused trachea and filling his oxygen-starved lungs. Slowly, he forced himself to sit up and try to figure out who had saved him.
"You okay there pal?"
Waver's head swiveled towards the voice of his savior and found himself staring into rose-colored eyes. It was a pony, similar to Twilight. However, this one was blue and her mane was a vivid rainbow of color. Looking down, he saw that her tail had a matching look. Perhaps most glaringly obvious was the absence of a horn on her head. Instead, a pair of wings sprouted from her back.
"Um, yes," replied Waver, his voice croaking, "Thank you."
Rainbow Dash grinned back at him. "No problem."
Twilight's magic seized Berserker like a vice. Normally, breaking through her telekinesis with brute force would have been a simple thing for the powerful Servant. But now the force of Twilight's prana clamped down on him without mercy, completely overriding his meager Magic Resistance. Tossing her head, Twilight jerked her hold on Berserker and sent him flying through the air again, this time hurling him to the side, which sent him over the heads of Waver and Rainbow and straight into Kariya, who was just beginning to force himself back to his feet.
Servant and Master crashed and tumbled, rolling to a stop in a tangle of dead flesh and black armor. Twilight and the rest of her friends came up to stand next to Waver and Rainbow, the jewels on the five necklaces and one tiara beginning to glow. Once again, a massive amount of prana began to spill into the air, flooding over the battlefield, seemingly erasing everything else from its vicinity.
Waver stared with wide eyes at the spectacle. He'd never seen such an incredible phenomenon, even at the Clock Tower. Instantly he realized what he was witnessing was far beyond the limits of magecraft. This was more the phenomenon of mere human magi. This was the birth of an absolute power, a true miracle. This was Magic.
Streams of light connected the six jewels before joining together to release a brilliant rainbow that spiraled into the air. Cresting high above, the stream of polychromatic light bent and dove straight towards its helpless victims. Kariya and Berserker were only beginning to disentangle themselves and could only watch as the attack slammed home.
Master and Servant vanished in a blaze of light.
OMAKE:
WARNING: The following is not meant to be taken as canon for this story in any sense of the word. Anyone attempting to take it seriously will be mocked relentlessly while I make funny faces behind their back.
"That's it!" exclaimed the brown earth pony stallion with a darker brown mane, "I've got a fix on the signal. I have a lock on Twilight Sparkle."
"That's great Doctor," exclaimed the stallion's companion, a gray pegasus mare, "I was so worried about her when I heard what happened." She ran a hoof through her blonde mane and let out a relieved sigh.
"I have to admit she had me all worried too," agreed the stallion who strangely only answered to the name of Doctor, "Silly mare, attempting trans-dimensional travel without the proper preparations is only going to cause trouble, especially since the Time War went pear-shaped." He shuddered dramatically at the mention of the dreaded P-word.
Ditzy Doo chuckled at her friend's needless dramatics. "So where is she Doctor?"
"Give it a moment," said the Doctor, studying a console in front of him that contained, among other things, a gas gauge, calculator, and television screen. He fiddled with a couple of the dials below and pulled a ripcord. "Ah here it comes now. She's in another dimension...interesting, a human dimension...specific coordinates coming now...oh dear."
"What's the matter?" asked Ditzy.
"I found out exactly which dimension she's in," muttered the Doctor, not sounding happy about it at all.
"That's great!" exclaimed the gray mare, ignoring her friend's pessimistic tone, "Now we can go and get her out!"
"No we can't," said the Doctor, his response suspiciously quick.
"Why not?" asked Ditzy, her ears drooping.
"Because she's in that world," said the Doctor, shivering again.
"What world?" asked Ditzy, tilting her head while one of her eyes wandered off track.
The Doctor gave her his most serious and solemn look. "Only one of the single most dangerous and unnatural human dimensions in all of space and time," replied the Doctor.
"I don't get it," said Ditzy, "Doesn't that mean it's all the more important that we go in and get her out of it as soon as possible."
"No! Absolutely not! There is no way we are going to that dimension." His eyes quickly shuffled to the right and then to the left. "We can't anyway."
"Why not?"
"Article...3579 of the Shadow Proclamation: Do not go into that dimension!" The Doctor seemed to be sweating a little.
Ditzy's eyes narrowed, an effect somewhat marred by the fact that one of them was still refusing to point forward. "You made that up didn't you?"
"No I didn't," said the Doctor a little too quickly.
"Why are you so hostile all of a sudden?"
He shrugged. "Well we're all a little hostile now and then. Some people are able to sublimate, others can't adjust."
"I know, but you're still avoiding the topic. Why don't you want to go into that world."
"Because it's dangerous in ridiculous ways," snapped the brown stallion, "Nobody visits that dimension if they can help it. It's packed to the brim with ridiculous monsters that make no sense. Not even the Daleks will have anything to do with it."
"Why is that?"
"One of them wandered in at some point," said the Doctor, "It probably figured that it'd found some new world to start "exterminating." It didn't last more than a few minutes."
"Why?"
"It ran into some boy who sliced it into pieces...with a pocket knife. Seriously, an ordinary pocket knife and the kid was able to cut right through the outer shell like it wasn't even there. It's probably the most genuinely sorry I've felt for one of those tin cans in my life." The Doctor sighed. "And then there was the time one of the Weeping Angels made it in."
"What happened?"
The Doctor's eyes widened. "This one woman just blasted it into atoms. While it was quantum locked no less! I have no idea how she did that, I didn't even think it was possible to do that!"
He sighed and turned back to the screen. "And then there's that git." His voice dropped down to a growl.
"What git?" asked Ditzy, raising an eyebrow.
"That insufferable arse!" yelled the Doctor, spinning back around, "He jumps around dimensions and alternate planes like he's out on a holiday lark and whenever we cross paths, he's always rubbing it in my face about how he doesn't need some "shabby-looking blue box" to go and see the universe! Bloody Twit!" The Doctor leaned up against a console and began to stroke it fondly. "As if anyone could call this sexy thing shabby."
"So no, there's absolutely no way I'm going to have anything to do with that world if I can avoid it. I happen to think Twilight is going to be safer if I don't interfere. So let's not muck about alright."
Ditzy sighed in resignation. It seemed that this was going to be a sticking point for the stallion. "If you insist Doctor. I don't like to think about Twilight being alone on a world that's as dangerous as you say. But if you insist..."
"It'll be fine Ditzy, old girl," said the stallion, chortling and throwing an arm around her shoulder, "Now come on, we've got a universe to explore. Would you like to see a world made almost entirely out of muffins?"
"Muffins!" exclaimed Ditzy, her dejection over the conversation's previous topic evaporating.