12:35am, The Athenian Skyline
Over the tall towers and labyrinthine streets, an angel decked in gold armor and an ivory mask, boasting wings made of platinum knives, careened southbound in a blur of blue and white; his flight resembling the turbulent jostling of a plane in a storm. The ocean of his mind was tormented by images of burning crows, black stars, silent death, and a head separated from its torso, and he was struggling to not be distracted by the hordes of undead that skittered about like ants on the streets below.
He dropped about ten feet before regaining his composure and returning the wind to his sails. He was almost there, almost at safety. Then and only then could he afford to fall apart. Yes, ahead of him was the hotel where Heping had made her home, as well as the place where the war's only remaining survivors could be found. It was spotted easily. The suggestion spell that imposed a curfew on those who knew nothing of magic remained strong in the city, and so, in the hotel rising fifteen stories high, only one window betrayed any light from within.
He couldn't slow down. Feeling he could collapse at any moment, his flight turned into a careening glide, and, flapping once to correct his trajectory, he curled into a ball, allowing his wings to fold around him and form a silver sphere bleeding blue-white light. Its density brought it down and further down until it crashed through the balcony doors with the tearing of metal and shattering of glass. The wings unfolded outward, revealing the huddled shapes of Chrysaor and Athena, he holding her tightly, shielding her with his body. She let out a grumble, nearly dead to the world, but Saber was up and alert, pushing off the carpet, glass shards falling off his jacket, to investigate the torrent of sounds that now surrounded him.
Towards the hallway, he saw Monika, his Master's older sister, facing the door and, beyond her, pushing through the threshold, was a walking corpse, his bottom jaw nowhere to be found, his right eye falling limp from its socket, and his rotten hand reaching for the young mage. Indigo light, a globe that sparkled as if filled with stars, burst from her hand, exploding against the desiccated face of the zombie and sending him stumbling back into the hall.
She turned to face the scene behind her, "Athena!"
The zombie in the hall disappeared into a roaring burst of red flame that sent Monika's ponytail flying over her shoulder. When the fire made its course, the walls and carpet reduced to charcoal with a skeleton lying in the ash, Pigsy flipped onto the scene, turning his head inside.
He snorted, "It's about damn time! -oink- Let's blow this bun stand!"
"Right!"
Monika reached into the purse on her hip and removed a small pouch. She pinched it by the bottom and made a wide fling, filling the air with a cloud of smelling salt. She waved her hands and the crystals halted their descent, remaining in the air with the faint glow of stardust. These miniature comets flew throughout the room, coating the walls and floors, and Monika brought her elbows together, pointing up with one hand and down with the other.
"As planets orbit stars and stars orbit galaxies, we move as ships in a sea of dust. A celestial sphere, its bodies move in and out of alignment. As planets clash and stars converge, I alone shall set my course. I will separate the seas from the seas. I will separate the dust from the dust. There is no gravity but my own. We move as islands in a sea of nothingness, and none observe our passing."
Mana surged in the room, sending chills down the spines of Saber and Athena, who was roused by the sudden change in the air. Monika broke her own focus, and the rising tide abated for but a moment.
"Pigsy! Get in here!"
He sent another plume of flame from the spinning tip of his rake down the hall, where mindless screams and gargles echoed back in anguish, and hopped through the doorway into the hotel room.
"Right! -And don't call me Pigsy!"
The moment he was in, she reignited her focus.
"Nihil Parallax!"
A wave of black, like a dark veil, washed over the walls and doorways, shrouding them like billowing curtains before becoming still and disappearing entirely. A moment of silence fell over the room. All held their breath, waiting for no-one-knew-what. Then, a zombie wandered down the hall, searching the space with his head on a swivel, but passed on undisturbed. The room breathed again.
Athena began to rise, "What was that?"
Monika was jolted by the sound of her sister's voice and rushed to her side, helping her up and off the ground before Saber could get the chance.
"Oh- that was just something I picked up in Modern Magecraft Theory. It takes advantage of the concept of alignment that astromancy uses as its foundation and- oh God I'm rambling now. The point is we're safe."
Pigsy pushed past them, dissolving his rake and throwing himself onto the sofa.
"Is there a reason you couldn't have done that earlier? -oink-"
"Of course. I wasn't going to set it without Athena here. I removed the space's parallax, its standard for observation. It wouldn't have been possible for her to find us otherwise."
"Got it." He rolled over on his side, facing away from her, "So I guess I'm the only one who cares about my Master. I understand."
She seemed wounded, "We all have our priorities, Pigsy. I'm sorry."
He chuffed, "I told ya not to call me that! Man, I shoulda never told you my True Name. Never shoulda told anybody. Don't get any damn respect around here -oink-."
Chrysaor was on his feet and he placed a friendly hand on the mage's shoulder to soften Lancer's complaints.
"Thank you, Monika. We appreciate it."
She nodded, and Athena's mind finally managed to conjure a thought, "Those were zombies? What were they doing? I haven't seen them since-" She looked at her Servant, "-Since it all started."
"The whistleblower told us about them. They're Caster's thralls. Apparently they've been enforcing a curfew, attacking and killing civilians who threatened to witness the war itself, and were programmed to avoid anyone with Command Seals. I think- I think that they're priorities have been reversed, and they're now hunting down the war's remaining Masters."
Monika thought for another moment, at the end deciding to spare her sister the trouble of knowing that not all the thralls were undead. Out in the hallway they had fought and silenced not just moving corpses, but also living people whose minds had been taken from them. She shuddered to think of the blood on her hands.
Chrysaor cast a somber glance towards the bedroom, where the Master of Lancer laid unconscious in her bed, and where the Master of Assassin had curled herself into the crook of an armchair.
"Well that makes sense. All the war's Masters are in one place now."
Pigsy came out of his stubborn funk, "All the Masters? -oink- That means..." He turned around to face the group, "How many died out there?"
"It would be easier to tell you who survived."
Pigsy winced, "Do that, then."
"Other than us the only survivors were Caster and Archer, and, I assume, their Masters."
"I thought you said all the Masters were here. -oink-"
"I did. Archer and Caster are working together. I don't know what their plan is, but I think they've reached some agreement to split the prize."
"Huh? How's that!?"
"Hell if I know. But... the Servants with the most Divinity have fallen. Berserker being what he is- or, was- there might be enough to overflow. Or maybe they have the same goal. It's useless speculating. All I know is that the war is entering its final stages, and it's looking like a two-on-two for the Grail."
"Two-on-!? -oink- Oh no, don't rope me into this!"
"Rope you into what!? You're a Servant! You were roped in the moment you were summoned!"
Monika guided her sister by the hand, taking her into the kitchen and beginning to brew a cup of coffee.
Lancer grimaced, "Maybe so, but- but I'm my Master's Servant first! I know we agreed not to pursue the Grail, but I still gotta protect her. -oink- I can't just leave her be."
Saber's demeanor softened, "Do you really think you're protecting her by staying here? If Caster takes the Grail, then what? How is your Master safe? The only thing you know for certain right now is that Caster wants your Master dead, and if he gains the power of a god then how on Earth can she be called safe?"
"Oh please, I know Archer a lot better than I'd like. There ain't no way they're splitting the prize. If we just wait it out, -oink- they'll eventually just kill each other and-"
A sound like a driving wind or a jet in flight rose from beyond the balcony. All eyes turned towards the Acropolis where a thin stripe of light rose from the Parthenon like a column to hold up the sky.
"What the-! They- they opened the tabernacle! The Grail will be exposed!"
"Yeah."
"That means-!"
"It's now or never, Lancer."
Pigsy dropped from the couch and wandered over towards the balcony, his small face lit by the distant glow.
"Shit."
Monika piped up from the kitchen, Athena sitting at the bar with her face cradled in her own arms, "How long do we have?"
"I don't know. Somewhere between thirty minutes and an hour. It'll take a while for the Chalice to manifest itself fully, and if Caster is directing his thralls, then his focus is probably strained. That said, too much stalling wouldn't be to our benefit."
"But a small amount would. Sit down, Chrysaor. I'll make you and Athena some coffee."
"Thank you, but-"
"None of that," From her mouth was a chastising oddly similar to her sister's, albeit with a slight English twist from her time in London, "You're both exhausted. Let me help you in just this little way."
To her point, Saber was too tired to argue, and saddled up to the kitchen's bar, taking a seat next to his Master. He wrapped an arm around her and she leaned into his shoulder, though never removing her head from her arms.
Lancer disappeared into his Master's room in the meantime, staying there by her bedside, all while the pillar of light loomed ominously in the distance: a constant reminder that their fight hadn't ended. Where none could see, he had a one-sided conversation with his sleeping Master, eventually returning to the main group.
Pigsy hopped up onto the bar, falling onto his rump and heaving a heavy sigh.
"Two cups for me, bartender. One for my Master, -oink- and one for the road."
"I'll make enough that everyone can have two. Better too much than not enough."
He squirmed in his place, "Hey, lady. You said that this place can't be seen, right?"
"Right. No observation direct or indirect, natural or mystical. So long as we're here, we may as well be dead to the world."
"Dead to the world, eh? That's a nice thought..." He took a breath, "Does that apply to the Buddha?"
"I-uh..." She briefly paused before returning to her coffee grounds, "I wouldn't know about that, sorry."
"Right, sorry. Stupid question."
Saber examined the pig, "I take that to mean you'll be joining us after all?"
"Hngh." He tensed up, almost seeming to flatten, "I guess so. -oink- I mean, if I get you schmucks outta here, then all the zombies will follow us and leave my Master be. So, yeah. Seems like the smart thing to do."
He didn't seem happy to admit any of that, but, sensing his own weakness spoil the atmosphere, he jumped to his feet on the bar and began to shadowbox the air.
"'Sides, I owe that Archer a sock in the jaw! I'll punch his teeth out! -oink- I'll kick him where it hurts! I'll twist his family jewels 'til he begs for mercy!"
From her arms, Athena let out a stifled chuckle. A small smile crept contagiously over everyone in the room and, in spite of the chaos around them and the threat which loomed in the near-distance, things felt strangely normal. The Master of Saber looked up from her place and saw her sister preparing drinks for them in the kitchen. She looked beside her and saw her friend, a man she trusted with all her life and more, cradling her in strong, comforting arms. Behind him was a strange creature whose appearance belied his humanity: true humanity, the best and worst of the species all wrapped up in an anxious little ball. In the room behind them was a sleeping girl, the only one in all the world who could relate to her, and a silent, gentle young woman who had been left in her charge and who, despite being her elder, felt more like a younger sister she'd never had. Her thoughts drifted to Assassin- to Echo- who had been her roommate for the last few days. She spent enough time with her to know that her silence had hidden a sharp wit, and that her cutting actions- not exactly words- belied a hidden loyalty. Looking back now, she'd have liked to have known her better than she did, and, without realizing it, the nymph joined Rhiannon in her mental afterlife, the dreams of people she hoped to meet again someday.
There was the bitterness of the tragedies which had brought them to this point, but also an understated sweetness. All those sorrows had brought these unlikely people together, and Athena found herself wishing this moment would stretch on into forever. That she, her sister, Chrysaor, and all the friends she had made: Rhiannon, Heping, Echo and Massiah, could all live in a big house, and spend their days together in gentle harmony. Perhaps even Aaron and Rider could have a place there, but of those two she didn't feel she knew them well enough to even grieve over their deaths. That fact opened a certain sadness in her, and she wondered who would be left, if not her, to mourn them: Rider, who was a hero by any definition, and Aaron, who had fought beside her and very well may have saved her life. Yes, there was a real possibility that, if he hadn't chosen to fight Archer on his own, she wouldn't be alive at all. He had given his life for her sake, for the sake of a complete stranger. At that moment, she made the conscious choice to hold him in her heart. It was true, they had no emotional connection, no friendship to speak of, and she had no idea how he had spent his life, whether he was, when all was tallied, a hero or a villain. What she knew was that whatever wrongs he may have done in the past, he had only ever done right by her, and that was good enough. She would remember him fondly, as an ally. As a friend. As a hero, and as a good man. Whoever waited on him, his friends, his family or whoever else, she hoped they would mourn him with the reverence he deserved, for the man that he was and for the man he could've been had his life not been taken so soon.
...
Eventually, the coffee was poured, and each handed their own cup, though not before Monika reached into her purse and sprinkled something in. As requested, Pigsy received two, as well as the bottle of creamer, half of which was poured into his drinks, and the other half straight down his throat. Each went at their own pace with the drink, and Athena found much of her lost energy returned to her. It didn't take a genius to assume that her sister, via magecraft, had doctored the drink in some way, but she couldn't care less. She wasn't about to waste her second wind worrying about whatever witch's brew she had just ingested. There were more important things.
Although he had two cups and a whole bottle of creamer, Lancer was done first. A moment later, a shiver ran up his spine with a shudder that sounded like a revving engine. As it reached its fever pitch, he bounced like a rubber bullet across the walls and floor, the thudding of his impacts reminding her of a pinball machine.
At one point, he was going too fast for the naked eye, but he would slow down, bouncing off the floor, landing on his feet and shouting to the sky, "I'M READY!"
He pumped his fists, "LET'S KICK SOME ASS!"
In spite of the situation, Athena laughed to herself and exchanged a glance with her Servant.
He nodded back to her with his usual, somber smile, "We've rested enough. Let's finish this."
"Let's."
They removed themselves from the bar, starting to group themselves together, but Monika hustled out of the kitchen before they could leave.
"Hold on! Athena!" She reached her sister and took her hands, "Let me do one more thing for you."
She closed her eyes and a teal light began to glow from her fingers. No, not precisely from her fingers, but rather in the space where the sisters' hands met. As with the coffee, she felt a new energy worm through her, bringing her to a new high. The light faded, and Monika was visibly paler.
Her strength faltered and Athena caught her, "Monika! Are you okay? What did you do?"
She smiled in spite of the tiredness.
"Just a simple mana transfer. Not the most effective method, but-" She looked over to Chrysaor in spite of herself, "Now's not the time to explain all that. The point is-"
She clasped her sister's hands as hard as she could, "Good luck. I'm rooting for you."
Athena pulled her sister into an embrace with a simple 'thank you' that could never express her true feelings. She longed for the days that they could've spent together, she thanked the heavens for giving her such a great sister, and mourned the broken world that had kept them apart. However, she would, as always, need to pull away from her embrace, for fate had something else in store. She left her sister and joined her Servant, her friend, her sword, feeling in the space between them the warmth of both his love and her sister's, but eventually having to enter the orbit of only his. She and he once more exchanged a knowing look and a smile, turning towards Pigsy.
Athena let go of the breath she'd been holding, "Alright, Pigsy. Let's go."
He pointed a stubby, hoof-like finger at her, "Don't call me Pigsy! ... But, yeah. -oink- Before we lose our cool!"
He began to rush towards the shattered balcony doors, manifesting his rake behind him and firing out the head on a chain which began to encircle Saber and his Master.
"Chrysaor?"
His face went pale, "We may have made a mistake."
The line went tight around them, binding them tight together while he, Lancer, leaped up onto the balcony, his rake behind him like a fishing rod ready to cast- the sound of a drum echoed out from his small body.
-BENG-
The chain went taught, dragging the Servant and his Master as both began to scream in confusion. He cast his line, and the chain unfurled beyond the balcony's edge, leaving the couple flailing around in the air and looking down at the streets which threatened to welcome them with open arms.
-BENG-
Pigsy, as they hung in the sky for a single moment, before gravity could seize them, leaped out into the open air between them.
"Wahooo!"
-BENG-
....