Fate/Extra: Equestria

Week Two

Fight with Honor

[Day Five]
Midday

Yesterday’s adventure through the arena was somewhat successful. We were able to make some progress in exploring the Arena, so that was a good thing. Though I had to pull out of the place seeing how there were a lot of strong enemy programs and I forgot to head over to the chapel to power up saber so she can stand more of a chance against them. So I decided to head over to the chapel during my break time from class. Once there, I ended up encountering a familiar man dressed in green. Dan Blackmore.

“Sorry about yesterday. I do think that the fact your wounds didn’t threaten your life is a silver lining, however."

“Hey, Knight. I don’t really care about your servant, but I’m a bit impressed by your attitude. However, I am a bit curious. Why did you use a command seal to assist us?” Saber asked, which took me by surprise. Wasn’t expecting Saber to ask something like that. But I do want to know why he would assist us.

“Yes. I have been questioning my actions as well. To use one of the three command seals given to me to help my enemy, of all things…” Command Seals...the irrefutable commands given to all the Masters in the Holy Grail War. If it’s within the rules, they will guarantee that an action is performed, whatever the cost. It’s a bit unsettling when you think about, hence why I’m not planning on using them anytime soon...I hope. “But it was the right thing to do. Also, I’m here on behalf of her Majesty, the Queen...It has been a long time since...No, this is the first time a fight has been for personal reasons. As a mere soldier, I’d have praised Archer’s actions. As a knight, I must condemn them. And as I did, I could almost feel as if the spirit of my wife approved, and was proud of me.”

“So, you had a wife?”

“It’s the same story every old man has. It’s been so long I’ve even forgotten the sound of her voice...It’s an obvious truth. As a soldier, one is required to abide by military regulations. There are no allowances made for even one such as myself to go beyond what is permitted. You should take care, to. The ends don’t always justify the means. Regret is an insidious thing. If you let it, it will blind you to the future and all it holds. So knowing this young girl, I will never condone any conduct that would stain my conscience.”

Nothing more came from what seemed to be an apology of sorts. And beyond the journey itself, the path to the Grail lies in dignity and self-respect. Hard to believe that this man can be so honorable...why does he remind me of somepony I knew...but I can’t put a finger on who he reminds me of. Before I could get lost in my own thoughts, I heard Dan speak up again.

“It’s odd that I’d speak like this to you. You’d do well to laugh at the musings of this old man.” With that said, the old man closes his eyes. It’d be the worst form of bad manners to disturb him while he’s praying. It’d be better if I just leave. Looking over at Saber, she nodded with an expression that said “we should leave him to pray.” I nodded back before she and I decided to leave him to his prayers and headed over to the two girls to power up Saber.

[Evening]

Class had finally ended for the evening. Though it wasn’t so bad...just wish Saber kept her mouth shut and not made rude comments about the teacher. Which thanks to her it got me a smack to the head by her weird wooden sword thing. I’ll be sure to remember to figure something out revenge wise to get payback on Saber. Just as I was about to pull myself away from my seat, Saber appeared next to me.

“Hey, Egghead. It’s the fifth day. Shouldn’t we go see that Rani girl and hear what information she has for us?” Oh crap! I almost forgot about that. “Now that we have her cooperation we should definitely speak with her on a regular basis.” She said before vanishing. Thank Celestia that we have Rani on our side for the time being, especially seeing how she’s offered to help us without any strings attached. I quickly gathered my belongings as I quickly made my way to the third floor to meet up with Rani. Once she saw me, she gave me a small smile before speaking up once I was close.

“Good day. I see you’ve brought something of Sir Blackmore’s, as I had requested?” She asked as I nodded and presented her Archer’s arrow from his yew bow. “I give you my thanks. You brought it at the right time as I can read Sir Blackmore’s star today.” She said she wishes to learn more about people and humanity in general. But still, I wonder if what I am doing is really okay. As a master, I feel uneasy having another Master help me, especially as we might have to fight one another...I hope I don’t have to fight her or Rin later on in this war.

“My professor’s words are my guide. He told me specifically to learn about humans. So please put your mind at ease. You have nothing to worry about from me seeing how you’re not human. Learning more about Sir Blackmore will help your cause as well, correct?” With her mechanical reasoning, Rani examines what was Archer’s arrow. She mumbles and then nods in understanding. “With this…” Brushing the object softly with her fingers, Rani closes her eyes and turns her face to the sky. “The fate of which the stars speak, you can learn many things if you simply open your mind. The star which governs Sir Blackmore’s Servant shines brightly in the heavens today.”

To be honest, I have no clue as to what astrology is or what it’s supposed to accomplish, but she claims that today certain portents can be read in the stars, and I believe that she can see things about his servant.

“Astrology is weird and confusing. All I can see in the sky are just stars. Don’t see how you can read about them. It’s not like they’re books or anything.” Saber said as she folded her arms in curiosity. “However, I am curious about this “professor.” As for this girl’s motives, I wish to know more. For today only, I’ll just play ignorance on this matter of the stars.” She said before looking over at Rani as she spoke.

“I find myself in a...forest? It’s deep, dark…” Running her hand along Archer’s arrow, the now entranced Rani begins speaking in a quiet tone. “An incredibly...dark color. At times a harbinger of infamy...A life spent in darkness...Admiration mixed with trepidation, the color of the solitary path he walks. His green-clad form blends in with the forest. He snipes his enemies from the shadows…”

it seems that the Servant’s way of life created a Noble Phantasm that would conceal him. A life that consisted of cowering in the darkness, shooting his enemies from afar. It seems totally at odds with Dan, who would fight with dignity and honor.

“...I agree. I think that there must be some sort of longing hidden deep within his soul. A desire to live an honest life, out in the full light and warmth of the sun.” I wrack my brain trying to think of a hero out of legend who’d fit such a description. I start with those who are heroes because they were named so. Although, that’ll take a while seeing how I haven’t checked the library fully in my spare time due to fear of Archer attacking me from a distance or worse.

“So we have an enemy who could only play the role of the hero, but never be one himself.” Saber said as she began to think. “Why does this sound so fucking familiar.” I wonder if the legendary soul I find myself allied with shares the same bleak history. As I try to follow this line of thought, Rani begins to speak again in the same quiet tone.

“This may not be the one that I’m searching for...To say clearly, I’m not sure though. Longing, is the reason for this fissure. This is something told by my professor, a part of humans that I understand. I can feel him deep within the second floor of the Arena. Maybe you should talk to him directly?” After lowering her head in a bow and thanking me again, she once again turns her eyes to the sky. A mismatched cog. I wonder if I’ll mesh with anything. With my servant, with all that’s happening around me.

“Egghead...much as I hate to admit. I’m a bit moved by Dan. Both his sorrow and his resolve. But now is not the time for sentimentality. Let us go to the Arena; there is still much to do.” Saber said as I nodded in agreement. She’s right. I can’t let sentimental feelings like Dan’s story get the best of me or cloud my judgement. I came here for a reason, that reason is to figure out who I am and survive this war until the end. No matter who blocks my path to the truth. With that in mind, Saber and I began to make our way back to the Arena. To get the second trigger card and to face Dan and his servant.

[Arena]

[The Glory of the Night-Shrouded World and the Defiled Faceless Hero. What is Justice, and at the cost of whose Pride?]

It never ceases to amaze me as to how the Mooncell can make the arena look so amazing like this. First a pirate themed arena, and now something that looks like it was from the medieval ages from what I looked up from the library’s books I’ve been reading. It’s hard to believe that a place like this actually exists...it’s even harder to believe that I’m in a world like this. You think I would be dreaming or something. But given how things are, this place is real. After we got the trigger card and the girl’s glasses that Taiga asked me to get for that girl, we made our way through the arena, but we took a quick stop at a nearby fountain that I used to help replenish our lost strength.

“Gotta say, these fountain things aren’t so bad. Especially in your case egghead.” Saber said as I rolled my eyes before taking a huge drink from it by sticking my head into the water. Couldn’t really care so much for her comment but right now, I was really thirsty. “Should’ve rested a bit longer before coming here. The poison may be gone, but your body is still weakened.”

“And miss out on getting what we needed from here? I think I made the right call in this.” I said after pulling my head out of the fountain. “My mistake was not taking into account that I needed to drink some water after being poisoned by that archer. That and it didn’t help that I had another dream again.”

“You mean like before or something else?”

“Part of my past from what I’m getting at. But it seems that I was turning into a monster of some kind.”

“By force or was it of your own accord?”

“Hard to say. Everything is just a bunch of shattered fragments. One dream I’m talking to a mare I know of, then next I’m in a world where I look like a human with a different skin color.”

“Geez, seems the Mooncell is giving you your memories back. But it seems like it’s only certain fragments of it from what you’re telling me, and from what I’m seeing.”

“Think this might be a problem with the Mooncell?”

“Possibly, then again it could be the fact that you’re not human. So the Mooncell might be having a problem trying to give you back your memories or something.” Saber said as I felt her place a hand on my head while I was still on the ground. “But hey. Whether you’re good or evil during your time back where you came from, you’re still good in my book of eggheads to be partnered with...then again you’re possibly the only horse like human I’ve ever been partnered with.”

“I don’t know if I should take that as a compliment...but thanks for the boost in confidence...I think?”

“I’m not good with words or morale boost and stuff. Mostly I just punch them in the face so they’ll get over it and that seems to work...twenty-five percent of the time.”

“....Should I be worried about that?”

“Not so much.” Saber said before her helmet appeared on her head and drew out her sword. “But back to the matter at hand. I can feel both Dan and his Servant near the exit of the Arena.”

“I get the feeling you want payback for what his Archer did to me?”

“Damn right I do! Now that they’ve been given a penalty, this may be a good opportunity to attack them.” I deadpan at her comment, but I wasn’t against the idea of fighting them. Unlike Saber who wants revenge. I’m simply doing this to learn more about him and his Servant for information. Before I can take the lead, Saber quickly bolts it towards the arena exit as I quickly follow after her so that she doesn’t forget that there’s still enemy programs within the area we were in.

Once I caught up with Saber, I soon noticed Dan and his Servant standing in a room Saber was looking from. It looks more spacious than normal. A slender man clad in green and the knight he serves. Yep, it’s Dan and his Servant.

“What do we do now, boss? They did appear right in front of us.” Archer said as he placed a hand to his weapon. My Servant locked eyes upon hearing Dan’s and Archer’s words.

“Finally get the chance to get payback for trying to poison and kill us, bastard. You archers really piss me off when you attack from afar and scurry away like a mouse stealing from a giant.” Saber said as she pointed a blade at Archer. “But now you’re out in the open. And my blade is itching for something to cut in two.”

“You’re one to talk. Who was the one hiding in the shadows before?” Archer said which caused her to look over at me. All I could do was give her a sheepish smile. “But no worries, feel free to hide wherever you wish.”

“Cocky little bastard. The only one who feels the need to hide is you, hunter of the gloomy forest~” Saber said as it caught Archer by surprise as if touching his very core. For a moment, his normally calm demeanor became incredibly flustered. “Hiding while mortal, hiding now in the vast sea, you have nothing of value save your skills at Subterfuge. But you’re fine with that, aren’t you Archer? In this battle, there is nothing for you to protect. How about you try for a certain amount of gravity and decorum now? I will gladly hear you out.”

“Ha! I have no idea what sort of halcyon days you lived in. But you really seem to enjoy talking down to others, you arrogant knight.” Archer’s eyes shine with evil intent. As he reaches under his cape, I fear he may unleash his Noble Phantasm. “I will hide myself just as you asked. Now experience the slaughter of the Sherwood Forest!” He yelled as he was about to attack, only for Dan to stop him by putting his hand in front of him.

“Calm yourself, Archer. Your behavior is completely out of character.”

“Yeah, yeah, I know...Sir Bossman, your request is kind of a pain in the ass, you know? You do realize who I am, don’t you? Asking me to fight toe-to-toe...Are you drunk or something?” He asked with a slight chuckle. “I really don’t get it. If you take away the element of surprise, what else is there left for me? My looks, maybe? My sweet, handsome face? Alas, its powers only work on simple village lasses.”

“You wish to complain? Is your prowess as a hunter so dependent upon the power of the Faceless King?” Dan asked as Archer turned his attention to him.

“Ah...no...well, I mean...Even I get nervous around that, okay? I do have pride in my archery skills, though.”

“Then fight with that in mind. A sniper such as myself would know more than anyone else about your skills. And what I know would send chills through most people. I have confidence in you, Archer.” Dan said as his Servant turns his attention back onto Saber and I.

“...it’s not like i have a choice. I disapprove of all of this, but I will obey. He is my master, after all. Fortunately for me, my opponent is a mere animal. I rarely attack directly, but it shouldn’t matter in this case.”

“....I feel like that’s both offensive and racist towards my kind...should I be angry at that statement?” I asked which caused Saber to smack me upside my head. “What was that for!?”

“For asking a stupid question to an obvius answer. Seriously, how can you not take offense to that?” She asked as I rubbed the back of my head a bit before doing the same to her, only that was a stupid mistake on my part as it cause me to yelp in pain as I forgot she was wearing armor. “Haha! Not the smartest move to do, huh egghead?” She asked as I glared at her and kicked her in the shin...which was another stupid mistake as I fell to the floor from the pain I felt in my leg.

“...Your master isn’t that bright is she?” Archer asked as Saber simply shrugged.

“When she wants to be. But she manages to pull off amazing feats when the moment calls for it.” She said as I slowly pulled myself up from the ground “But it is all right; I will not complain of the excitement added to this droll fight with a frail man. You will recant your haughtiness when I have your liver on my blade.”

“And you say I’m the haughty one? Hey, animal girl. You need to put a muzzle on your pet. When it comes to regrets, I’ve already been down that road. Don’t care anymore. Besides, are you telling me to regret winning? What kind of reverse psychology are you playing at?”

“...Oh I am going to enjoy impaling you with my sword and leaving your body to rot for the crows!” She yelled as mana erupted from her body.

“Damn, kid. This pampered knight of yours is less a gaudy lapdog and more of a feral pooch.”

“Oh you’re dead!” Saber yelled as she launched herself toward Archer. Once she’s close, she quickly brings her sword down upon Archer. Only for him to quickly dodge to the left and fire a volley of arrows at Saber. Saber was able to deflect most of the arrows that would have hit exposed parts of her body that didn’t have armor covering.

“That should take care of your mobility-” Before Archer could finish his sentence, Saber flung her sword at Archer which was inches from his face before quickly dodging it at the last second and rolled to the right of where her sword landed. Saber quickly lunges herself over to her sword to pick it up and charges at the archer with the intent to impale her sword into his chest. Archer places a hand to the ground quickly as Saber quickly brings her sword up to block a burst of thorns shooting out of the ground and pushing her away from Archer and land’s next to me.

“You okay?” I asked as I used my cast code to cure the poison that was flowing through her body.

“I really hate archers. Especially when they keep moving like that.” She said before quickly tackling me to the ground. Looking at her, I noticed a green and purple colored arrow sticking out from the ground from where we were standing as it started to ooze out poison onto the ground a bit. Both Saber and I looked over at Dan and Archer who was preparing to fire another poison arrow, only for Saber to raise her fist up at Archer and fire her gauntlet off like a rocket. Archer quickly fired his arrow at us, but was brushed off to the side as Saber’s gauntlet hit him straight in the gut as he was sent flying backwards into the Arena wall.

“Nice shot Saber...Wait, you could do something like that before?” I asked as Saber shrugged.

“I saw it from a weird book about robots when you were busy looking stuff up about human history. I figure why not do the same with my armor.” Saber said as her gauntlet materialized back onto her hand as she looked over at Archer. “Bet you didn’t see that coming punk ass bitch!?” she asked as she was about to charge at Archer, only for the Arena alarm to go off. “Damn, guess our time is up.”

“I’m tired of this.” Archer said as Saber and I looked over at him staggering to his feet. “Really, this whole deal is totally a waste of time and effort.”

“I will not allow vulgar and petulant language, Archer. As my Servant, I wish for you to behave as a knight.” Dan said as Archer lets out an annoyed sigh.

“Ugh...You sure are suffocating, Mr. Boss Man. I know, I know, foul play and stuff is a no-no...Jeez, cut off my arms and legs already. Ever heard of those things people have called personalities? Well, if I have to, the best archers can shoot with their teeth. Ha, pretty hardcore! All right, I’ll be your knight in shining armor. I’m not so hot as being a knight, but I’m not too bad with a lance.”

“Excellent spirit. We are already en route to the next battlefield. Do not let your focus sway.” With that said, both Dan and his Servant vanish from the dungeon. I let out a sigh of relief as I turn my attention to Saber who made her helmet vanish.

“Looks like we made it through intact.” Once we’re sure that Dan and Archer have left, Saber relaxes a little.

“So, he used to live in the Sherwood Forest. It was a bit vague, but the astrology reading from that Rani girl did come in handy.” I said as I notice a small grin forms on Saber’s lips

“Dan also mentioned a fairly important keyword, the Faceless King...that name sounds really fucking familiar...we should ask Taiga tomorrow seeing how she might help us out seeing how we helped her out with this request of hers.”

Matrix Level: Three
Enemy Servant Info Obtained

“Yeah, lets head back to the campus before anything else happens.” I said as we both exited the Arena to head back to the campus. Only one day left before the elimination match begins. We did everything that’s needed to get ourselves prepared for the week. Now all that is left is organize the information we gathered and see this week’s fight through. I just hope that we’ll win this.