Earth (fate grand order alt timeline)
Fuyuki city (Anomaly F)
2004CE
The crimson ray attacks didn't let up as it stirred up stones, sands and wind that almost made my eyes water, but that did not prevent me from recognizing the figure that stood before me.
"Mash" I shouted in surprise.
Yes she was mash, but not the mash I held that was slowly dying back at the control room. The mash that stood before me was hole and hearty and wasn't dressed with her normal attire, she spotted in an… incomplete armour and a giant shield she used to prevent the deadly rays from destroying us.
The barrage of the attacks did not let down as the second wave followed soon after. "Mash!" I hollered out to her over the barrage of the attacks aimed at us "what the hell is going on?"
"Keep your head down master!" she immediately cautioned me "I'll explain all this later, but for now please stay down".
I nodded dumb-fondly as she kept on blocking the attacks with her giant shield 'what the hell is going on and heck, did she just call me master just now what's up with that, some kind of SM play?' I thought in bewilderment.
The attacks of the second wave let on for a few moments until it stopped just like the first one.
"Is it over" the lady with white hair asked from the safety of my arms cautiously.
Mash shook her head "no director, I can still sense the enemy servant some distance ahead".
Meanwhile
Back at the radio tower the corrupted heroic sprit Emiya clicked his tongue in irritation "Tch, now this is my blunder" among all the servants that could had been summoned it had to be the one with that shield. Of course he recognized it, during one of his past timelines when his human counterpart 'emiya shirou' fell in love with his servant saber, 'king artoria pendragon'. After the holy grail war a few years later he went on a pilgrimage for the search of Avalon and came across that particular shield, so he knew very well what the shield represents especially to her and that was why when he saw that shield protecting humans he knew he had made a mistake in letting all of them come together as either of the two could be the servant master, but.
"No matter this just means I just need to bring out the big guns" he took on a shooting position as he traced out his specialty. The crystallisation of deeds and lives concerning heroic spirits such as him 'a noble phantasm', the weapon he produced was a sword of renown, as he placed and nocked it back on his bow string the weapon curled in a thin cylindrical drill shape as it hummed in mana. Just as he was about take the shot….
"All right that's enough of you archer" a voice called out.
Emiya instincts screamed in alarm as he hurriedly jumps away from his position, and admittedly he was lucky as a second later his previous position exploded in purple flames as a result of the enemies spell.
"Damn that dog, caster" he growled in anger and irritation because he knew if he kept on his attacking those humans he would just leave his back wide enough for caster to take advantage of. And he doesn't want to die yet. He didn't want to leave her side this time.
"Next time then" he said to himself in resignation and disappeared.
At a hidden corner on the road caster snorted as he felt the presence of archer vanish "so the bastard's gone eh" he shook his head "well this isn't time to deal with him yet. On the other hand boy that crazy theory of mine is just gaining weight by the second; the kid had his presence down to a T. well it seems like I don't need to intervene just yet".
The caster smiled and vanished as well.
It was a few minutes after the second bombardment that mash let up "it seems like the enemy servant has retreated" she said in relief as me and the director stood up and beheld the damage of the attack within our vicinity, the ground around us was destroyed and turned into a U like trench some centimetres deep. I gulped nervously at the sight 'now am sure if I had received one of those attacks I would have been turned into a porcupine' I grimly thought.
"Master, director are you both alright?" she asked both of us both, before I could reply the white hair lady stood up walking past me asking mash in a more authoritarian voice.
"Mash what's going on, and why did you addressed him master".
Mash straighten in attention as I realised i was in the presence of the Chaldea 'lion boss'. And to be honest she doesn't have the image I imagined, after all she was of the appearance of a young woman around her early twenties with a beautiful face possessing… straight sharp features, ok now I can see how she could play the strict part now. Although I couldn't fathom how she transitioned from the flustering image I first met her to the strict personality she now exhibited, May be it was her talent.
I broke out of my thoughts to hear of mash explaining to her about how she became what she was, and cut in immediately to the conversation confused "so mash are you saying that what happened to you… no us, wasn't as a result of gaining magic superpowers" I asked her.
The silver haired director sighed looking at me incredulously "and where the hell did you hear something like that".
I shrugged "I mean i just assumed".
She looked at me in contemplation and then asked "just for clarification, state your master identity no".
I looked at her utterly confused at what she had asked of me "and what do you mean by that?".
The director groaned as she turned to mash "mash are you absolutely sure that this big buffoon here is your master".
"Oi" I called out "and what do you mean by that". But it seems like none of them listened to my rant as mash nodded in affirmative "yes this is master potential candidate billy batson, the victim of the dive incident".
"Ah I remember now" she nodded as her face gave a sign of recognition "the one that fainted and mysteriously opened his magic circuits at the spritron test dive. But even so how does he not remember such basic information".
Before mash could explain this time I talked "no mash this time let me say it" I turned to the director "well Miss Director it seems like the spritron dive thing did not just enable me to use magic… it also took away my memories clean".
My words sobered up the director as she paled a little taking a step back in reaction to my words "b-but that's just impossible" she said in denial "I mean that was just a simulation and the worst case of late magic circuit opening is necrosis. Since when does either of both cases ever cause something as extreme memory loss".
"I don't know lady" I replied "all I know is that I am not pulling your legs concerning a matter such as this".
The lady stood still as she closed her eyes and took a few deep breaths. Opening her eyes, her expression became that of calm as she addressed me "well that's okay now, I feel like i understand the situation. Seeing that you have lost your memory allow me to properly introduce myself" she raised her left hand in a hand shake "I am olga marie animusphere, a mage, lord of the clock tower and the chief director of the Chaldea organisation".
I smiled shaking back "well am billy, billy batson. Ignoring the fact that I'm an amnesiac victim and something magical has transformed me from a kid to an adult".
She tilted confused "and what do you mean by the second part?".
I pointed at myself "I mean this wasn't how I looked before any of this director, I used to be much smaller and lanky, now am this buff macho man you see before you".
Before she could ask for more clarifications to her questions the sound of buzzing sounded from my left arm as I looked at it to recognize that it looks like the same armband the doctor used to answer professor leff back at Chaldea "hmm it seems like someone from Chaldea is reaching out to us" I informed both of them as they both came over.
"So what are you waiting for" olga marie asked "answer it".
I glared at her with a little annoyance and said "and I would gladly do so if it wasn't the fact that I can't remember anything, much less how to use this arm band thing".
Fortunately she didn't escalate it any further as her face tinted a hue of red and surprisingly apologised "…a-am sorry, forgot about your memory problem".
Seeing her with such an expression filled with sincere remorse made me sigh as the little annoyance built up vanished ' not with a face like that' I thought "no it's ok, don't worry about it, I understand you're stressed with all this" I told her.
"Um master" mash called to me "please allow let me to help" I nodded showing her my hand as she came pressing two buttons and then the holographic image of a familiar pink hair doctor appeared "ah billy-kun! I've finally gotten to you. Billy kun can you-..! Wait a minute, who the hell are you and what have you done to billy-kun" the doctor's sound of relief became that of alarm seeing someone different had answered.
Seeing that my inner childish spirit couldn't help but throw a tease "oh come on doctor you mean you don't recognize your comrade in arms, after showing me about the beauty of the whatchamacallit anime stuff and…", before I could continue a red faced doctor waved his hands embarrassed "ok, stop, stop! The only one with me at that period of time was billy-kun and seeing how you know that stuff I cannot help but conclude that you're him… but billy-kun while it is good to see you. What the hell happened to you".
I gave a wryly smile "my guess is the same as you, and that is nothing. And mash and the director informed me that whatever gave me this weren't magic superpowers".
"Doctor" mash stepped forward and greeted.
"Romani archaman, what is the head doctor doing on that chair?. Where is leff" the director brushed past us and asked immediately in a more stern voice.
"Ah director you are actually alive?!" he asked in shock.
"And what do you mean by that?" she asked in irritation "it's obvious what happened to candidate billy and mash happened to me also. And answer my question already, where's leff".
The doctor sat down as he looks at her solemnly "while am glad to see you all sadly, professor leff wasn't just as lucky, he was unfortunately caught right in the middle of the explosion… and we are searching for him as we speak but honestly the probability of finding him alive is highly unlikely".
We were all shocked and saddened by the news, but the one who appeared affected the most was the silver haired director "… leff" she said lightly to herself in grief. It seems like she shared a closer relationship to than normal. And the doctor continued.
"The reason I've been entrusted with the operational command is because there isn't anyone left who outranks me".
"Then what about the other master potentials?" she asked wearily "what happened to the forty seven people who were in the coffins".
The doctor shook his head "all of them survived but are in critical condition and at this rate…".
"Don't be foolish" she gritted out and started to issue directives "transfer them to the cycro-preservation immediately; our top priority is to ensure their survival".
The doctor stood up immediately "I'll do that immediately mam" and left the hologram screen.
Looking at the director I could see she was just trying to appear strong although she was in pain inside because of the strings of news. She unconsciously bit her finger "as long as they don't die… this can all be justified later" she almost looked like she was about to cry "I can't possibly carry the burden of their lives alone".
Seeing her like that I couldn't help but place a hand on her shoulder "it's not your fault marie" I tried to comfort her "don't worry it'll all be fine. They will all survive this, remember… you're strong and we're all with you".
She glanced at me and faced forward not without muttering a light 'thanks' I was sure I wouldn't had picked up if it wasn't for my superior hearing. It seemed like mash also heard her thanks as she came near me and gave me a small smile in appreciation, looking at her I was overcame with emotions as I held her hands "mash… I've been waiting to say this since you came, but thank god you're alive. We'll get through all this together".
She nodded back her smile widening a bit more "yes billy-kun" she squeezed back "together, after all you still owe me a date".
….
It was after two minutes that romani came and gave us a rundown of the situation at Chaldea he began grimly "currently Chaldea has lost eighty per cent of its functions with surviving staff less than twenty. Once communications with the outside are restored, I'll begin requesting of supplies and commence the reconstruction Chaldea immediately".
The director commended "quite fine romani archaman. I'm not happy about it, but until I get back you're in command of Chaldea".
"Roger but still…" he looked over addressing us at the back "mash a demi-servant, the fusion of man and spirit, and then billy-kun transformation. What does it all mean?"
"maybe I've become one of those servant things that you've all been mention" I quipped flexing my muscles ignoring the fuming occupant on my shoulders as it tries to slap my cheeks "I mean when I changed into this muscles hunk here I became superstring and fast to, and I all of a sudden I somehow knew how to fight" I pointed towards the animal glaring at me on my shoulder "even fou saw me back there lifting a car over my head. And that didn't even strain me much".
Olga marie nodded "I wondered about that as well, his performance against those bone warriors were that of the capabilities of a servant" she turned towards mash "mash can you sense if he's a demi servant like yourself".
Mash immediately shook her "no director he doesn't have the presence of a servant, he's still clearly human… although".
"Although what mash, speak out your thoughts, maybe I might be able to come into a conclusion" the director urged her.
"no, is just that master radiant some kind of strong presence, more like I couldn't help but to feel him… even now. But since am a demi servant I honestly don't know what it is".
She nodded back "I felt that as well when he began fighting the bone creatures seriously. It was more like the air around him became different and stronger".
The two turned to look at me like am some kind of special zoo animal.
"Maybe it's is some form of bloodline ability" olga marie speculated "an ancestral type seeing that he wasn't originally a mage maybe one of his predecessors was but wasn't chosen to inherit the mage-craft of the family and then by coincidence awoken to it himself".
"You think so mash" I looked at her.
She bopped her head "I believe so master. At least that is the only feasible explanation till we get back".
Olga marie agreed "mash is correct. It is only until we run a number of tests can we safely identify the correct origin of such a significant change".
"But before we continue on I need to ask something that has been bothering me" I asked everyone "what the hell is a servant? And why the hell does she call me master? I initially assumed it was a SM play, but looking at the context seriously I can deduce it has a more seriously meaning so can anyone help me here".
Mash flushed up in embarrassment waving her hands sideways trying to explain to me concerning the situation but that was drowned by the hearty laugh from the good doctor while the director shook her head with a wry smile, Seeing that neither mash nor archaman were not in the position of explaining she cleared her throat and called all of our attention.
"Well billy-kun initial conjecture aside. It is high time you understand what a servant is and why she calls you a master" she begins to instruct me "first look at your left hand and tell me what you see".
I lifted up the said arm only to see a strange tattoo engraved on the back of my palm the had the appearance of two adjacent lightning bolt with a kite shape situated at the centre "what is this" I asked surprise evident in my expression.
"That billy-kun is the symbol of command marks that proves that you are in possession of a said servant and as for what servant well you can call them familiars but in this case we are dealing with heroic spirits".
"Heroic spirits" I echoed.
"Yes heroic spirits. Powerful echoes of the renowned figures of old and from all sorts of tails, ranging from Hercules, peruses, Achilles, David, King Arthur… and what have you know that they are essentially dead people that serves as important pieces in the holy grail war".
"And what is this Holy Grail war" I asked.
"I won't go into details so I'll just hit you with an overview. A or rather the Holy Grail war is essentially a ritual where seven master each summon their own seven respective servant for a death battle royal for the right to grant wishes".
I gulped nervously 'well that proves it am definitely not dead cause I am not some death battle ghost that fight others for something as vague as that… or at least that's what I believe'. But then a thought struck me as I remembered mash first discussion with the director I narrowed my eyes at her "and so do you mean mash was supposed to join in something like this" I asked visibly displeased.
"No. no billy-kun mash situation is totally different. But we'll discuss with this after we deal with the anomaly" this time the doctor placated. I didn't say anything but I made a mental note to remember ask about this later as we aren't in the clear yet.
Olga marie informs the doctor "well then, starting now both billy batson and mash kyrielight will begin the investigation on singularity F".
"Ok mam, if an emergency situation comes up, please inform me".
She brushes him off "humph, we could send an SOS, but nobody will come to save us".
The doctor could only laugh awkwardly as the coms closed off.
"Director are you sure about your decision" mash asks in concern "we could wait here for help".
"After this I can imagine the protest chaldea would get from the association" olga marie says as she clenches her fist "we need to get something out of all this".
"Mash and especially you Billy batson seeing that you have lost your memory it would be cold of me to ask this of you but I will ask still the same. Can you lend me your strength in the investigation of this anomaly".
'Ok billy batson here's the deal' I thought to myself 'well the only deal in my book. Work together with mash and help the director in producing result while fighting super dead ghost while being an amnesic victim… great' I smiled "I will lend you my strength to get through this, remember what I said before, we're all with you in this".
She breathed out in relief from my words as she blushes lightly muttering a quick "thank you" and turning the other way. All though I can't for the life of me understand why mash pouted when olga marie did that, she actually huffed at me!.
So I couldn't help but try placating her "mash-san?... If there anything I did wrong just now you're humble date escort pleads for forgiveness or should I kneel that here because I will do it".
My declaration and my expression showing that I would willingly do what I just said seemed to do the job as mash finally gave in and she said she would let this one pass. But honestly, I really didn't understand why she even did that in the first place, not like am going to tell her or anything. But honestly… women are such strange creatures.
It seems like the director has had enough of our little spat as she coughed "well now that you two workmates are done with your little play let us begin".
I and mash laughed awkwardly at the announcement. As we were just about to head out, my instinct suddenly blared in alarm as I felt a presence heading towards us fast. Before I could warn the others olaga marie armband beeped in alarm. She opened it to ready to tell of romani for his early disturbance concerning the mission.
"Now you're being annoying romani, what do you-".
"Please get away from there right away right now" all trace of joviality gone with a look of urgency on the doctor's face.
And mash finally confirmed my suspicion "detecting signs of an enemy! … and it's that of a servant".
'And that's our cue to vamoose' I grimly thought "mash" I called her "can you run fast with that shield"
"Yes master, the weight of the shield doesn't bother me in the slightest"
"That's good" I nodded, turning to the director I picked her up in a bridal carry "and you director seeing you're not a good runner I will carry you to keep up" the director 'eeped'
Blushing red but she nodded as I try not to notice another forming pout on mash face I urged her ahead "let's go mash".
She nodded and then we shot out leaving the place far behind in a blur.
TMMGO
Mash stayed vigilant as the nearby surroundings blurred, moving at this speed without knowing the class kind of servant against you might be dangerous. But so is staying at one location for the servant to meet you at his or her own terms. But. She glanced back as she saw billy-ku… she meant master keeping up with her so easily. Honestly she doesn't understand what had happened back at the control room but she was glad it did. Not like master before wasn't ok no quite the opposite he was perfect, but so is this kind of master, she could feel it even now the mana she receives from him hadn't even dropped and she was sure like this she could fight at allowed full capacity excluding her personal servant problem.
"if it wasn't that he was trying to calm the director down" no it wasn't master fault, he understand the director's pain and he trying to establish an empathic link with her, no he isn't doing anything wrong. Although after this mission if she gains the proper permissions they would need to have that date immediately.
'Keep your head in the game mash' she chided herself now not the time to think of such things. Pulling out of her thoughts she realised that their short run had carried them to the city's rivers near the Fuyuki Bridge, before they could go on her senses went off as she sensed the presence of the enemy servant; it seems like whoever they are had finally caught up to them.
She positioned her shield forward as her master and the director immediately went behind her "master" she said more of a statement than anything else. He nodded back grimly "looks like she's here be careful mash".
She nodded back trying to ignore the butterflies in her stomach. And all of a sudden then their world was filled with chains.