Return of the King
By Zenithos
Chapter 1: Dark Alliance
Almost 2000 years have passed since the legendary days of King Arthur and his knights of the Round Table. Almost 2000 years have passed since his epic legend ended with the casting of his precious Excalibur into the lake, where it was said that it shall forevermore rest in the hands of the Lady of the Lake. Even now, 2000 years later, his legend echoes through the foothills surrounding the lake where his legend ended. Around the dining tables and fires the heroic deeds of him and his Knights were told and retold, passed down from generation to generation, from the day he was conceived as the son of Uther Pendragon, from the day he pulled out the sword of myths, Excalibur, from its rocky prison, to the day his battle cries boomed across Camlann.
But not all of his tales were of great heroic deeds, honour, and glory. There were darker tales, his death not withstanding, that were told after the children were sent to bed. Tales of treachery, deceit, regicide, and the fall of the ideals that built Camelot, all culminating in the fall of the great legend himself. But seldom told was the tale of the agreement between the illustrious King and the Lady of the Lakeà.even less seldom told was what became of it, and the blade Excalibur after it reached its watery graveà.
Until that nightà.
The 1st night marking the night the 5th Holy Grail War ended with the destruction of the unholy chalice, unleashing its tainted raw manna into worldà.
Midnight, Lake Ellesmere, England
The lakeÆs surface was still, a cool mirror reflecting the starlit heavens. The old fisherman was used to star gazing in its gleaming surface as he sat, waiting for his evening catch. The only occasional disturbance in the stillness was the occasional bob of his lure as the wary fish tapped it lightly with suspicion. The fisherman was used to that too. He had been night-fishing here at this sacred lake for many long years. He knew every ripple, every pattern, every contour it would form in reaction to its surroundings. He knew its fish. He knew the stars it reflected. And he was content that it was ever unchanging.
Well, almost ever unchangingà.
That night, the last night he ever visited the sacred pool, it was different. The ripples were different. They were wild, pulsating, without form or pattern. The heavens he saw reflected in them were unusual too. When he looked up, he gasped as he saw the heavens alight with a multi-coloured cascade of novas and auroras. The air shimmered and sparked. The fish leapt and shivered unnaturally.
There was an old, forgotten evil, stirring in the airà
He shivered as the old wives tales suddenly came back to him. The lady of the Lake! Or ratheràthe soul she had taken prisoner within the blade that had brought freedom and peace to Englandà.
It would come back somedayàand it would demand retributionà.
As the fisherman fled for his life, he dared not look back. Pity. For if he did, he wouldÆve witnessed a legend turning living nightmareà
---------------------
Emiya residence, Fuyuki City, Japan
There was nothing about the shimmering heavens that night that in any way suggested that anything was out of the ordinary. Indeed, for young mage-in-training Rin Tohsaka, ordinary was a luxury, especially after the ordeal she went through a year ago. The night it all ended, for the first time in months she finally felt she could get a proper nightÆs beauty sleep.
A succession of peaceful, blissful days and calm, restful nights filled out the bulk of the 1 year that followed. She thought that night, the night marking a year after the end of the war, would be no different. After successfully kicking out a fellow tenant (read: Freeloader) who shared the Emiya residence with her, a certain Ilyasviel Von Einzbern, from her room (sheÆs been wandering from room to room a lot lately, looking for company), she finally settled down in anticipation of a good nightÆs sleep.
She later found this was not to be the case, howeverà
She gasped as a sudden vision shocked her awake. The room was quiet, save the rather loud tick of the alarm clock by her bed. The dagger she had always kept under her pillow was now unsheathed and quivering, held out before her. She gulped as she slowly scanned her room. Nothing.
How could she have been so foolish. It was so simple, so obvious, only an idiot could have overlooked the fact. But noà.it didnÆt occur to anyone. One whole year passed without anyone ever doing anything about it. How could she have allowed this to happen? She banged the broadside of the dagger on her head as she shook her head in disbelief. Perhaps they were drunk with relief? Happy that war had ended? Grieved by the departure of their dear friends?
Well, whatever the reason, they had wasted an entire yearà
No time to waste. She quickly got out of bed, got dressed, and threw what little amenities she thought sheÆd need in a convenient traveling bag before turning off the lights. She sighed as she looked over her darkened room. The brief Happy Ending she had lived out here with her friends would end here. No, it wasnÆt an ending yet. It was nothing but an interlude. Realizing that, she steeled herself and slid open the door to her room.
There might still be timeàtime enough to preserve the Happy Endingà
-----------------------------------------------
A gentle, warm breeze swept through the open verandah, causing a meticulously placed wind chime to tinkle quaintly to the rhythm of the cicadasÆ mournful cry. ôOneà twoà threeà.fouràö A young ruby-eyed girl counted under her breath, one hand under her snow-white hair, acting as a make-shift headrest, the other pointing up before her to the heavens. ôFiveà.sixà.ö
She sighed. It wasnÆt her fault that she got lonely at night. It was always comforting to wake up beside someone after a nightmareàsomething that was becoming an increasingly routine nightly experience for Ilya. The least that obnoxious girl could do was understand. But no, she even kicked her out.
Taiga-sensei was always an open and willing optionà.but Ilya could never handle the fierce brunetteÆs sleeping habits. She was sometimes worse than the nightmares. She had an open invitation to share SakuraÆs room too, but the young blue-haired high-schooler had a tendency to fuss over her. It reminded her of her dreary days getting æcared forÆ by her two maids in that stuffy old castle. Nope, anything but that.
Tohsaka Rin was an ideal choice, obviously. She couldnÆt care enough to fuss over anyone. She was a quiet sleeper too. Perfect. The only problem was that she had issues with sharing her room with others. And she always made sure her point got across. This policy had landed Ilya with many a sore bottom and brief flights down the corridor leading to RinÆs room.
Ilya sighed again. Shirou, the red-head owner of the residence, was always there for her. But if she crept into his room again Taiga-sensei would definitely raise hell at the breakfast table. As if she didnÆt trouble Shirou enoughà
ôIlya?ö A voice called out the girlÆs nickname. ôCounting stars again?ö
ôOniichan?ö The girl dropped her outstretched hand to her chest and looked up at the upside down face of the owner of the residence and her host, a red-head boy by the name of Shirou.
ôLet me guess, Rin kicked you out again, didnÆt she?ö Shirou smiled down at her.
ôUngggàö Ilya sighed, getting up into a sitting position.
ôWell, you could always sleep with Taiga-sensei or Sakura.ö Shirou suggested, patting her fondly on the head.
ôMmmmàö Ilya shook her head.
ôWell, a friend of mine just asked me to turn on the television.ö Shirou said. ôWhat say we shake up two cups of hot chocolate and watch a bit of TV?ö He offered, pointing in the direction of the living room.
ôUmm!ö Ilya nodded, suddenly excited. Any company was good company. And hot chocolate! It just couldnÆt get any better.
------------------------------
ôHuh? Rin, where are you going?ö Rin froze in her tracks upon hearing the voice. She slowly turned towards the source of the voice, Shirou, who was just about to turn on the living room television.
ôOh, uhà.sudden business.ö Rin said uneasily. Yeah right, what a lame excuse. But it was short notice after all, what was she to do?
ôReally?ö Shirou asked, a slight hint of doubt in his voice. Behind him the television came to life.
ôàand no official announcements from the government have been released as yet. The few government officials in the field still claim they have no information regarding the incidents.ö The field reporter on the news said in heavily-accented English. ôWe now have confirmed reports that the attacks are occurring simultaneously in several big cities in England, with most attacks concentrated in the westàö Behind him a fierce fire raged, consuming the city in a blazing inferno.
ôàwhat was that? The British isles going up in flames?ö Shirou asked, staring at the television screen in disbelief. ôIs this a movie of some sort?ö
ôWellà.that saves me the searchàö Rin sighed, sitting down at the table in front of the television and grabbing IlyaÆs cup of hot chocolate. She gulped it all down in one go, slammed down the cup, and gave out a big long sigh.
ôM-my hot chocolateàö IlyaÆs eyes watered.
ôSearch for what?ö Shirou asked the black-haired sorceress while offering Ilya his untouched cup of hot chocolate, which did wonders in calming her down.
ôWeàseem to have overlooked one minor thing after the end of the last waràö Rin cradled her head in her arms as she watched the news anchor point out the trouble spots across the British isles.
ôAnd that is?ö Shirou, slightly frustrated by RinÆs continuous half-statements, pressed on.
Rin looked up at Shirou, a dark look in her eyes. She sighed, grabbed ShirouÆs cup of hot chocolate which Ilya had been lovingly blowing to cool for the past few moments, and downed it in one gulp. She slammed the warm mug down, told the sniffling Ilya to shut up, and stared at Shirou. ôWe forgot about all the dark manna that accursed Grail had stored upàö She looked around at the television screen, now showing Big Ben crumbling and collapsing in a shower of dust over the House of Parliaments. Shirou could see the raging flames reflected in RinÆs darkened eyes. She looked back at Shirou. ôàAnd I guess now itÆs too late to do anything about itàö
----------------------------------------
AuthorÆs note:
Ok, this is the first time ever I ventured out of the realm of Akamatsu Ken and I must say itÆs a completely different experience. Though I am a FSN fan, IÆm not exactly that a big fan such that IÆd memorize each and every technical aspect of how the Holy Grail Wars work. Therefore, IÆm going to have to ask all of you your help, please?
I think the idea itself seems quite obvious. However, if anything requires further explanations, just ask. Does the idea seem possible, in terms of FSN technicalities?
Also, I might have gotten a number of facts wrong, such as Lake Ellesmere. I'm not sure whether or not that was the name of the lake where the Lady of the Lake resided. If anyone's got any info on that, can you please tell me? Also, I've been looking for the excerpt about the casting of Excalibur into the lake. Anyone have any leads? Thanks.
By Zenithos
Chapter 1: Dark Alliance
Almost 2000 years have passed since the legendary days of King Arthur and his knights of the Round Table. Almost 2000 years have passed since his epic legend ended with the casting of his precious Excalibur into the lake, where it was said that it shall forevermore rest in the hands of the Lady of the Lake. Even now, 2000 years later, his legend echoes through the foothills surrounding the lake where his legend ended. Around the dining tables and fires the heroic deeds of him and his Knights were told and retold, passed down from generation to generation, from the day he was conceived as the son of Uther Pendragon, from the day he pulled out the sword of myths, Excalibur, from its rocky prison, to the day his battle cries boomed across Camlann.
But not all of his tales were of great heroic deeds, honour, and glory. There were darker tales, his death not withstanding, that were told after the children were sent to bed. Tales of treachery, deceit, regicide, and the fall of the ideals that built Camelot, all culminating in the fall of the great legend himself. But seldom told was the tale of the agreement between the illustrious King and the Lady of the Lakeà.even less seldom told was what became of it, and the blade Excalibur after it reached its watery graveà.
Until that nightà.
The 1st night marking the night the 5th Holy Grail War ended with the destruction of the unholy chalice, unleashing its tainted raw manna into worldà.
Midnight, Lake Ellesmere, England
The lakeÆs surface was still, a cool mirror reflecting the starlit heavens. The old fisherman was used to star gazing in its gleaming surface as he sat, waiting for his evening catch. The only occasional disturbance in the stillness was the occasional bob of his lure as the wary fish tapped it lightly with suspicion. The fisherman was used to that too. He had been night-fishing here at this sacred lake for many long years. He knew every ripple, every pattern, every contour it would form in reaction to its surroundings. He knew its fish. He knew the stars it reflected. And he was content that it was ever unchanging.
Well, almost ever unchangingà.
That night, the last night he ever visited the sacred pool, it was different. The ripples were different. They were wild, pulsating, without form or pattern. The heavens he saw reflected in them were unusual too. When he looked up, he gasped as he saw the heavens alight with a multi-coloured cascade of novas and auroras. The air shimmered and sparked. The fish leapt and shivered unnaturally.
There was an old, forgotten evil, stirring in the airà
He shivered as the old wives tales suddenly came back to him. The lady of the Lake! Or ratheràthe soul she had taken prisoner within the blade that had brought freedom and peace to Englandà.
It would come back somedayàand it would demand retributionà.
As the fisherman fled for his life, he dared not look back. Pity. For if he did, he wouldÆve witnessed a legend turning living nightmareà
---------------------
Emiya residence, Fuyuki City, Japan
There was nothing about the shimmering heavens that night that in any way suggested that anything was out of the ordinary. Indeed, for young mage-in-training Rin Tohsaka, ordinary was a luxury, especially after the ordeal she went through a year ago. The night it all ended, for the first time in months she finally felt she could get a proper nightÆs beauty sleep.
A succession of peaceful, blissful days and calm, restful nights filled out the bulk of the 1 year that followed. She thought that night, the night marking a year after the end of the war, would be no different. After successfully kicking out a fellow tenant (read: Freeloader) who shared the Emiya residence with her, a certain Ilyasviel Von Einzbern, from her room (sheÆs been wandering from room to room a lot lately, looking for company), she finally settled down in anticipation of a good nightÆs sleep.
She later found this was not to be the case, howeverà
She gasped as a sudden vision shocked her awake. The room was quiet, save the rather loud tick of the alarm clock by her bed. The dagger she had always kept under her pillow was now unsheathed and quivering, held out before her. She gulped as she slowly scanned her room. Nothing.
How could she have been so foolish. It was so simple, so obvious, only an idiot could have overlooked the fact. But noà.it didnÆt occur to anyone. One whole year passed without anyone ever doing anything about it. How could she have allowed this to happen? She banged the broadside of the dagger on her head as she shook her head in disbelief. Perhaps they were drunk with relief? Happy that war had ended? Grieved by the departure of their dear friends?
Well, whatever the reason, they had wasted an entire yearà
No time to waste. She quickly got out of bed, got dressed, and threw what little amenities she thought sheÆd need in a convenient traveling bag before turning off the lights. She sighed as she looked over her darkened room. The brief Happy Ending she had lived out here with her friends would end here. No, it wasnÆt an ending yet. It was nothing but an interlude. Realizing that, she steeled herself and slid open the door to her room.
There might still be timeàtime enough to preserve the Happy Endingà
-----------------------------------------------
A gentle, warm breeze swept through the open verandah, causing a meticulously placed wind chime to tinkle quaintly to the rhythm of the cicadasÆ mournful cry. ôOneà twoà threeà.fouràö A young ruby-eyed girl counted under her breath, one hand under her snow-white hair, acting as a make-shift headrest, the other pointing up before her to the heavens. ôFiveà.sixà.ö
She sighed. It wasnÆt her fault that she got lonely at night. It was always comforting to wake up beside someone after a nightmareàsomething that was becoming an increasingly routine nightly experience for Ilya. The least that obnoxious girl could do was understand. But no, she even kicked her out.
Taiga-sensei was always an open and willing optionà.but Ilya could never handle the fierce brunetteÆs sleeping habits. She was sometimes worse than the nightmares. She had an open invitation to share SakuraÆs room too, but the young blue-haired high-schooler had a tendency to fuss over her. It reminded her of her dreary days getting æcared forÆ by her two maids in that stuffy old castle. Nope, anything but that.
Tohsaka Rin was an ideal choice, obviously. She couldnÆt care enough to fuss over anyone. She was a quiet sleeper too. Perfect. The only problem was that she had issues with sharing her room with others. And she always made sure her point got across. This policy had landed Ilya with many a sore bottom and brief flights down the corridor leading to RinÆs room.
Ilya sighed again. Shirou, the red-head owner of the residence, was always there for her. But if she crept into his room again Taiga-sensei would definitely raise hell at the breakfast table. As if she didnÆt trouble Shirou enoughà
ôIlya?ö A voice called out the girlÆs nickname. ôCounting stars again?ö
ôOniichan?ö The girl dropped her outstretched hand to her chest and looked up at the upside down face of the owner of the residence and her host, a red-head boy by the name of Shirou.
ôLet me guess, Rin kicked you out again, didnÆt she?ö Shirou smiled down at her.
ôUngggàö Ilya sighed, getting up into a sitting position.
ôWell, you could always sleep with Taiga-sensei or Sakura.ö Shirou suggested, patting her fondly on the head.
ôMmmmàö Ilya shook her head.
ôWell, a friend of mine just asked me to turn on the television.ö Shirou said. ôWhat say we shake up two cups of hot chocolate and watch a bit of TV?ö He offered, pointing in the direction of the living room.
ôUmm!ö Ilya nodded, suddenly excited. Any company was good company. And hot chocolate! It just couldnÆt get any better.
------------------------------
ôHuh? Rin, where are you going?ö Rin froze in her tracks upon hearing the voice. She slowly turned towards the source of the voice, Shirou, who was just about to turn on the living room television.
ôOh, uhà.sudden business.ö Rin said uneasily. Yeah right, what a lame excuse. But it was short notice after all, what was she to do?
ôReally?ö Shirou asked, a slight hint of doubt in his voice. Behind him the television came to life.
ôàand no official announcements from the government have been released as yet. The few government officials in the field still claim they have no information regarding the incidents.ö The field reporter on the news said in heavily-accented English. ôWe now have confirmed reports that the attacks are occurring simultaneously in several big cities in England, with most attacks concentrated in the westàö Behind him a fierce fire raged, consuming the city in a blazing inferno.
ôàwhat was that? The British isles going up in flames?ö Shirou asked, staring at the television screen in disbelief. ôIs this a movie of some sort?ö
ôWellà.that saves me the searchàö Rin sighed, sitting down at the table in front of the television and grabbing IlyaÆs cup of hot chocolate. She gulped it all down in one go, slammed down the cup, and gave out a big long sigh.
ôM-my hot chocolateàö IlyaÆs eyes watered.
ôSearch for what?ö Shirou asked the black-haired sorceress while offering Ilya his untouched cup of hot chocolate, which did wonders in calming her down.
ôWeàseem to have overlooked one minor thing after the end of the last waràö Rin cradled her head in her arms as she watched the news anchor point out the trouble spots across the British isles.
ôAnd that is?ö Shirou, slightly frustrated by RinÆs continuous half-statements, pressed on.
Rin looked up at Shirou, a dark look in her eyes. She sighed, grabbed ShirouÆs cup of hot chocolate which Ilya had been lovingly blowing to cool for the past few moments, and downed it in one gulp. She slammed the warm mug down, told the sniffling Ilya to shut up, and stared at Shirou. ôWe forgot about all the dark manna that accursed Grail had stored upàö She looked around at the television screen, now showing Big Ben crumbling and collapsing in a shower of dust over the House of Parliaments. Shirou could see the raging flames reflected in RinÆs darkened eyes. She looked back at Shirou. ôàAnd I guess now itÆs too late to do anything about itàö
----------------------------------------
AuthorÆs note:
Ok, this is the first time ever I ventured out of the realm of Akamatsu Ken and I must say itÆs a completely different experience. Though I am a FSN fan, IÆm not exactly that a big fan such that IÆd memorize each and every technical aspect of how the Holy Grail Wars work. Therefore, IÆm going to have to ask all of you your help, please?
I think the idea itself seems quite obvious. However, if anything requires further explanations, just ask. Does the idea seem possible, in terms of FSN technicalities?
Also, I might have gotten a number of facts wrong, such as Lake Ellesmere. I'm not sure whether or not that was the name of the lake where the Lady of the Lake resided. If anyone's got any info on that, can you please tell me? Also, I've been looking for the excerpt about the casting of Excalibur into the lake. Anyone have any leads? Thanks.
) I'm sure you will be able to work around these few details. Good luck with the story.