Haruka & The Great Holy Grail War
"Welcome to the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, Haruka, Lancer," Shirou said with a friendly smile.
"Ho? You're Lancer's Master, girl? What's your name?" Achilles asked, sitting up.
"Fujimaru Haruka."
"You're quite young for a Master," Atalanta said with a critical eye. "How old are you?"
"Ehehe, I guess? I'm only 18. Well, age doesn't matter as long as I know what I'm doing, right?" Haruka turned to Semiramis and curtsied. "When do we head off?"
Semiramis's lips quirked up slightly at the respect that Haruka still showed her. "We move out in 1 hour. I give you permission to explore as you wish, but any locked doors will remain locked. You may use this time to also interact with the other Red Servants if you like.
"Sounds good to me," Haruka said cheerfully. "I'm going to go explore then. But before that…" A dark aura started to mist off her as her lips curved up into a tormented smile. "I think I'll take revenge for all the torture I went through in high school." A multitude of portals opened up. Tips of Black Keys poked out, all aimed in the direction of Shakespeare.
The Caster began to sweat. "…What fault have I committed against who I have just met…?"
Haruka staggered around to face Shakespeare, her eyes wide and crazed. Even Shirou flinched a bit at her stare. "I went through hell in high school… analyzing your plays… reenacting your plays… being forced to memorize sonnets and monologues… writing stupid analysis of Lear and Hamlet and Macbeth and the like… almost failing school thanks to you… NOW, I CAN HAVE MY REVENGE—gyah?!" The portals disappeared, as well as the dark aura.
Karna had flicked Haruka on the forehead. "Master, calm down."
Achilles stared openly at how easily Karna took care of Haruka. "What…?"
"I do believe she asked Caster—no, Shakespeare to be removed from her presence," Karna said mildly, "The trauma from her school days has warped her mind so badly she cannot prevent herself from attacking Shakespeare when he is in her presence." Indeed, even though Haruka had been snapped out of her temporary madness, Karna had to pin her arms down to her sides to keep her from flailing around.
"Let me go! At least let me shoot 10 of them! I need revenge for high school and for all the other kids who got traumatized by him! I almost failed school thanks to me bombing my essay on Hamlet!"
"No," Karna said firmly.
"Come onnnnnn! I'm not going to kill him! Just a little bit!"
Karna shook his head. "Master, we are leaving the room. Rider, keep Caster safe."
"Yeah, leave it to me."
Before Karna could carry off a struggling Haruka, though, Haruka had yelled out her aria. "Black Key Hell, activate!" 10 portals swiftly materialized and shot verdant Black Keys at Shakespeare.
Achilles could have intercepted them.
He didn't.
With pinpoint accuracy, the Keys buried themselves into Shakespeare's clothes (with the playwright letting out a shriek of terror) and pinned him against the wall spread-eagle, One Black Key was dangerously close to a certain place where the sun didn't shine.
Karna blinked. "Your accuracy has improved."
"I advise you to get your Master out of here, Lancer," Atalanta said. "She might fire another round and I doubt Rider will help."
Achilles was too busy laughing.
"Very well. I will see you later then."
***
"Have you finally calmed down, Master?" Karna asked.
An hour had passed and the Hanging Gardens of Babylon were set to fly in a few minutes. Achilles had popped by occasionally where Karna had stayed with Haruka to calm her down, engaging in short conversation to know her better. He trusted her pretty easily, giving out his True Name and that of Atalanta's (Haruka had to pretend to be surprised since she already knew), much to the archer's annoyance. Atalanta didn't seem to mind too much, though, and was civil to the female Master.
"I'm fine," Haruka said. "I wouldn't mind tossing another round at him, though."
"No," came Karna's immediate answer.
"Aww. Let's go outside. I want to see us setting off."
Haruka walked out to the balcony, where Achilles and Atalanta were. The two of them waved at Haruka. "Calmed down yet?" Achilles called with a grin. "I wouldn't mind helping you toss another round at the annoying playwright."
"Rider, do not give her any more ideas," Atalanta said, irritated.
"Oh? Are you all gathered here? We set off now," Semiramis said as she materialized. With a snap of her fingers, the ground underneath them rumbled and the large structure shuddered, shooting up into the air.
Haruka squeaked and held on to Karna for dear life while Achilles and Atalanta stared at the view around them. When the fortress stabilized and began flying in one direction, Haruka let go of the golden Lancer and breathed out in relief. "That was scary."
"Scared of heights?" Shirou asked as he walked up next to his Servant.
"No, just the whole shaking part. Do you guys have a strategy by any chance when clashing with the Black Faction?"
"You're the one with the most information; I was wondering if you wanted to give some advice."
"Oh yeah, I didn't tell Achilles or Atalanta what I knew." Haruka turned to face the Rider and Archer. "Saber of Black is Siegfried and Karna's probably going to take him on, you can take on Archer of Black since he is your old mentor Chiron, Lancer of Black is obviously Vlad, Caster of Black is Avicebron, Rider of Black is Astolfo and I'll bet he's going to try and take down the fortress, Berserker of Black is Frankenstein, and please leave Assassin of Black alone; I've recruited her to my side. She's Jack the Ripper by the way. There's probably also going to be armies of homunculi and golems."
"So I'll get to fight Teacher, huh?" Achilles grinned.
"I'll take down the armies then. Wait, how do you know this much?" Atalanta asked.
"Would you believe me if I told you I was from the future and know what's going to happen?" Haruka asked seriously.
Taken slightly aback at the serious look on Haruka's face, Achilles glanced at Karna for confirmation.
"She is not lying," Karna affirmed. "I may as well add that she summoned me in her time and then we were both sent here. I have previous knowledge of this very Grail War but my master has already altered the timeline beyond repair. Her objective for travelling to the past remains unclear even to me."
"What happened in the end?" Achilles asked curiously. "This sounds very far-fetched but at the same time it would make sense."
"You all die," Haruka said with a shrug. "I'm trying to keep this one as bloodless as possible. Of course we probably will end up with a couple Servant deaths but if I can avoid how you guys died the first time then I'll be fine with that. Anyways, questions later. We're almost at Yggdmillenia Castle. And before you guys go, I have some gifts for you." She took out her phone and pulled out a few cards, tossing them to Achilles and Atalanta.
"What are these?" Atalanta asked, looking at the image of a determined-looking purple-haired girl. Achilles had the same one.
"Boost your overall performance in battle and probably increase the output of your Noble Phantasms. You can choose not to use them but if you do, just send a bit of prana through them. Pretty clever, right? Karna, you're keeping Volumen Hydragyrum and I'll back you up."
"Understood."
"We're here," Semiramis announced. "I suggest you set off now."
Achilles summoned his chariot with a flash of light. "I'll take first blood!"
Atalanta sighed but readied her bow.
"Karna, be careful," Haruka instructed. "I can't Gandr anyone from where I am but I can boost you."
"I will, Master." Karna dematerialized into spirit form, jumping down from the fortress as he did so.
"Nothing for me or Assassin?" Shirou asked curiously.
"Servants only," Haruka replied, glancing towards Atalanta, who was still within earshot. "As for Queen Semiramis… Battle Olympia, I guess? This might boost your spells if you want to take it."
"I shall decline," Semiramis said. "I will be fine handling my own Noble Phantasm."
"As you wish," Haruka said with a shrug. "Are we going to watch the battles?"
"Yes. Let's go to the throne room; I'll make sure Caster isn't there." Shirou went on ahead.
"Can I use him for target practice?" Haruka asked the Assassin.
"As amusing as that would be, he is useful to our cause. Do not harm him."
"Aw."
Haruka watched as Atalanta fired her Noble Phantasm and jumped to the battlefield, and then opened the telepathic link with Arthur. Arthur, how's it going? The Red Faction just set off for battle.
Infiltration of Yggdmillenia Castle is going smoothly. Mordred and her Master are nearly at the battlefield.
Sounds good. Make sure Sieg doesn't get into any trouble and you are permitted to use Excalibur if you absolutely have to.
Understood.
Haruka cut off the link with the King of Knights and a wide grin stretched across her face. "The 500 quartz is mine.