Morgan stomped out of her room—her workshop. Basically a closet that the twins gave her to do her thing in private.
She glared at both her sister’s children and threw the object she was holding towards Gwyrde. “There, I made it. Now, explain what you meant."
Gwyrde caught it, a bracelet mystic code. “This little thing will work?”
Morgan scoffed. “Who do you think I am, child? Creating a Mystic Code that fools a Master’s perception into thinking you’re another Servant? That is easy. I’m sure this idiot could have done the same thing.” She jabbed her thumb at Gyneth.
“Rude. But not untrue.”
“About being a fool or making one yourself.” Her brother asked.
“Oi, don’t be a prat.” She picked up a piece of broken rubble and tossed it at her brother.
“Children.” Morgan’s tone carried the very definition of annoyance. “I have been patient. I am not a patient woman.”
“What did you want explained again?” Gyneth asked, unphased.
“The explanation on your father.” She all but hissed.
“Oh, that," Gyneth hummed. “I don’t know what’s hard to understand about what I said.”
Morgan looked towards Gwyrde, who looked away. "It's…complicated."
Morgan narrowed her eyes. “I have the distinct feeling you both are going to be difficult.”
“Have you ever considered—" Gyneth was about to say something, but Morgan interrupted her.
“Tell me what I want to know and I’ll lift my dress up.” The witch said very bluntly.
It took both the little dragons off guard, but where Gwyrde went silent in confusion and surprise, Gyneth shot to her feet.
“Deal!”
“Dammit Gyneth!” Her brother let out a sigh and smacked his hand to his face.
Morgan had a smug look as she crossed her arms.
“You couldn’t hold on for even a second?”
“I can’t help it; she discovered my weakness," Gyneth said defensively.
“It wasn’t very hard to discover.” Morgan drawled with a deadpan. “You’ve been staring at my derriere since I arrived.”
"Dammit, Gyneth, she’s our aunt!" Gwyrde grabbed a rock and threw it at her sister.
“Umu.”
Her brother threw up her hands in exasperation.
“Don’t blame her; my behind is divine.” Morgan smiled smugly again. “Now, tell me what I want to know.”
Gwyrde let out a sigh. “It’s not a big secret, it’s just not something we usually talk about with people we don’t know.”
Gyneth, as playful as she was being, did share the same sentiment. “Rather not have a crusade called on us from the church.”
Morgan acquiesced that it was something they shouldn't just blurt out randomly.
“It’s not even the real Lucifer. The real one died in our birth world, it’s his…uh, replacement. More like a King Title than anything. Dad’s his bastard.” Gyneth explained. “Half human, Grandma’s side. Obviously.”
Morgan furrowed her brow. Not because she didn’t understand what she said, but because it sounded kind of ridiculous.
But she also was able to gleam that they were telling the truth.
Oh, there was a lot more information she wanted to ask, but the way they were hesitant to talk about it, she decided not to push for now.
Except for one thing.
“How did your father and my sister…” She trailed off, but the twins understood what they wanted to say.
“My mom or his mom.” Gyneth asked.
Morgan let out a sigh. “Two of my sisters! Two!!” She threw her hands up. “Whoever was first.”
“That’d be my mom.” Gyneth spoke up. “It’s honestly kind of boring. Dad was adopted by Grandpa Zelretch—"
“The Kaleidoscope?””
“Ya huh.”
Morgan blinked. “That’s….concerning.” Even she knew about the Kaleidoscope. Someone who was even older than she was. Hell, she had met him once in her youth, but she wasn’t anyone important at the time so he barely spared her a glance.
“Well, Aunt Rin summoned mom during the 5th grail war, they went on to win. Aunt Rin got taken in as Grandpa’s student and mom and dad met at the Clock Tower. Dad said that mom was being stupid, saying thing like how she wasn’t pretty and no feminine appeal or whatever. Dad then asked her out on a date and got her to accept and, well…things just happened from there.”
In all truth, it wasn’t very exciting.
“That is significantly more mundane than I expected.” Morgan clicked her tongue. “But knowing my sister, that’s exactly what would win her over.” She let out a scoff. “No ‘feminine appeal’!? We look almost identical, I’m just more…rounded. If she’s calling herself ugly, doesn’t that mean she’s calling me ugly!? I’ll smack her the next time I see her!”
“Oi, time to pay up.” Gyneth gestured with her hand.
“Seriously Gyneth? Don’t actually tell our Aunt to flash you.” Gwyrde felt like he should be used to it at this point.
“I am owed a debt!”
“I will call mom.”
Gyneth knew that it wasn’t an empty threat.
“I am not a liar.” Morgan let out a huff. “I said I would lift up my dress, and I will.” Just as she said that, Morgan held her hand out, and it seemed like all light around them was pulled towards her palm, creating near absolute darkness.
There was a very brief moment of rustling fabric before the light returned.
Morgan stood there, looking very pleased with herself. “There, I lifted my dress up. I hope you enjoyed the view.”
She wasn’t someone so quick to…reveal herself to others.
She was Morgan Le Fay, not some common harlot.
“It’s not fair!” Gyneth fell to the ground, hitting her hands on the floor. “Why does the world hate me?"
Morgan rolled her eyes. “Must you be so dramatic? I swear, I don’t know how my sister raised you to be like this. Such a voraciously lewd girl. Why can’t you be more like your brother?”
Gyneth began to cry. “I want to be like him! He can see in the dark!”
Morgan blinked as she processed what her niece just said. She then turned to look at Gwyrde on the other side of the room, who turned red under her gaze and looked away.
“It’s not fair! God, why didn’t you let my semblance let me see in the dark like Gwyrde?"
For the first time since arriving, Morgan, ever so slightly, flushed in embarrassment.
That was a miscalculation on her part.
She didn’t even think that her nephew could…apparently see in total darkness…
It also didn’t help that she was wearing something particularly….delicate right now.
“...you have Mystic Eyes?” She awkwardly asked her Nephew.
“No.” Gwyrde shook his head. “It’s…my semblance.”
“Your what?” Morgan’s embarrassment disappeared because she now was interested in a word she didn’t recognize.
“Um…in another world, humans are able to actualize their souls in a way that produces a sort of barrier around them. It’s called the light of the soul, and it’s an energy similar to Qi or Touki or Chi or whatever you want to call it.” Gwyrde intentionally flared his Aura up.
It was a faint red, perhaps with a tinge of black in there.
“It can be used as a shield, or in other ways like to envelop myself with to make me stronger and such.”
Morgan didn’t interrupt his explanation because just from a few moments of analyzing the way the energy acted, she could more or less understand its implications.
“And, uh….people who awaken their Aura also awaken a ‘Semblance’. It’s an expression of their soul, a semblance of magic, as many call it. Mine lets me see through Illusions, Darkness, or anything that tries to obstruct my vision or things like that. And…when I focus, I can see movements easier, which helps in a fight. Dad called it a "Mind's Eye knockoff.” Gwyrde scratched his head, still feeling embarrassed.
Morgan clicked her tongue. “So it helps you act like a Knight, does it? Not tricked by illusions or deceptions of the eyes.”
Gwyrde just nodded. “Mom said something similar.”
Morgan looked down at the crying Gyneth. “Does she have one of those…semblances too?”
“Yeah.”
“...dare I ask?”
Gwyrde let out a sigh. “It has to do with explosions.”
“Of course.” Morgan responded dryly. “Do you –”
Gyneth shot to her feet, her whining and crying completely disappeared. “Gwyrde, it’s time!”
“The other servants appeared?”
“Yeah, it’s just like mom said. Rider just rode up into the sky and announced himself to get the other Servants to appear.” She grabbed her staff, swinging it around. “Everything’s ready, let’s get to work.”
Morgan wasn’t really sure about this plan, but at the very least, she wanted to see her sister’s children’s full potential.
Though, she was taken aback by how quickly her niece seemed to 'recover.'
Strangely, the girl looked completely different now, the jester replaced with the face of a proper Magus.
“I’ll meet you down there, I’m going to set a few things up.” Gyneth told him before jumping out the window.
If Morgan didn’t at least know her niece had the competence to figure out some form of flight, she would have felt even more exasperated.
“I suppose me saying that this is foolish for the hundredth time would not dissuade you?” She crossed her arms, looking at her ‘master’. “ I am the Servant, you are the Master. It’s supposed to be me that goes into battle.”
Gwyrde scratched his cheek, still feeling awkward from before, but he took a breath and settled himself. “You’re a Caster Servant.”
Morgan raised an eyebrow. “If you’re about to insult my ability just because of my 'vessel,' I will be annoyed.”
Gwyrde cleared his throat awkwardly. “W-Well, it’s just….You’re not the type to fight in a melee with someone. And if Mom were to see you…she may use her sword without a second thought. And then there’s Sir Lancelot as a berserker too… I do not believe he would allow you reprieve in his madness.”
Morgan let out a small chuckle. “And you, little knight, are you going to protect me?”
“Yes.” Gwyrde said without hesitation.
Morgan blinked, surprised by how quickly he confirmed it. “Against your mother and Lancelot?’
“If need be.” Gwyrde puffed up his chest. “It is my duty; I shall protect you even from them. It matters not if they are servants or are family. I will not allow harm to come to you, that is my oath.”
Morgan was silent for a long moment.
Her mouth slightly opened to say something, but the sincerity in which he said it made it difficult for her to mock him.
"Very well then, my little knight. I will leave my safety in your hands should it come to it.” Morgan’s lips curled up. “You can consider the…view from earlier as your payment for services.”
Admittedly, Morgan found the way he went red at the teasing to be….cute.
@***@
Not much had been changed by the twin’s arrival to this world line.
Even Gyneth’s earlier 'bombardment,' it simply ruined a plan constructed by two masters. The others were almost entirely unaffected, and a similar scene played out.
Rider, standing upon his chariot, pulled by two divine bulls, announced his presence to the world.
His name, his legend.
He declared himself Iskander, the King of Conquerors, and challenged any others hiding to come out and face him openly.
His beckoning and shouts were heard throughout the area. "Is there no one that is not a coward among you? Servant or Master, who dares show themselves in front of this King?”
Morgan had hidden nearby.
She could hear his blustering and couldn't help but roll her eyes.
She wondered which fool would reveal himself so openly at his provocations.
Something that would have to be more foolish than that big oaf was.
“I'm not a coward!”
Well, there were fools he knew who would throw caution and subtlety to the wind and do so. She just hoped that she would be mistaken.
Gyneth wasted no time flying over. “Sup.”
Even Rider was taken by surprise but let out a hearty laugh. “Someone answered my call! A master, from the looks of it. Look, boy— “He smacked the shoulder of his master, a younger man, the younger version of Waver Velvet." - Your fellow Master brazenly appeared, this is courage!"
“It’s stupidity! I don’t even see her Servant anywhere!” Waver flinched under his shoulder smack, letting out a huff.
Gyneth sat on her staff, using it as a ‘broom’ in her hovering only a few feet away. Her purple hood was pulled up over her head, so her face was barely visible, doing enough to hide her features.
“Hey there, big and tall and muscular.”
“Hello to you too, young lady.” Rider smiled good-naturedly. “Which Master are you?”
“Caster’s Master.” She said offhandedly.
Waver nearly did a spit take. “The Master of Caster!? Why are you just flying around openly!?”
To him, it was insane.
Casters were known for creating a workshop to establish a territory where their strength increased to the highest possible point.
They were weak, but once a Caster Servant had their Territory established, they became one of the strongest and most annoying Servants to handle.
“Should I be concerned? Are you both going to take advantage of little defenseless me?” Gyneth responded. “Don’t worry, I can take you both on.”
“Are you insane!? You think you can fight my Servant!?”
Gyneth smirked. “I never said that in a fight.”
It took a moment, but Waver’s face went beat red. “W-what!?”
Rider let out another boisterous laugh. “Learn from this girl, boy. She has the confidence that you want for yourself. This is a woman.”
He turned to Gyneth. “How about joining my army? I plan to take the Grail and incarnate myself. Then, I will restart my conquest across the world!”
“Will there be women?”
“What!?” Waver blurted out.
“Of course!”
“Tempting….” Gyneth bit her lip. “Can I ride your chariot?”
“Of course not!”
“Sure.” Rider immediately overrode him.
“Awesome!” She floated over and slid off her staff, standing between both Waver – who freak out, nearly falling off, and Rider who reached over and steadied him. “This is neat, more spacious than I thought.”
“Indeed, a chariot needs room to maneuver, both you and a weapon. Many overlook the skill and training one needs for chariot combat; it’s a different beast than riding on a horse.” Rider nodded.
“Don’t chat with her; he’s an enemy master! Just…just kill her already!”
“Rude.” Gyneth turned her nose up. “I’m a guest. Is this how you treat guests, Waver?”
“You’re not – “He pause. “You know me?”
“Duh.” She rolled her eyes.
“...have we met before?”
“In a manner of speaking.”
Waver furrowed his brow because he was trying to remember who this girl was because he was drawing a blank.
He couldn’t see her face, mostly just her mouth and nose, but her voice and mannerisms shouldn’t have been enough.
“Wonderful, acquaintances then! There’s nothing better than a friendly fight!” Rider proudly declared.
“This is a war, not a friendly spar!” Waver immediately cried out in reprimand.
“Same thing really.” Gyneth shrugged. “At this point, technically, all Servants have met one another at some point since they exist out of time and space. Across all possibilities, across parallel worlds, they have met before.”
Waver just blinked.
Rider, understood about half of that, but he just nodded along.
“Do you have a name, girl?”
“You can call me Gyneth. If I said my last names, Waver would probably have a heart attack and fall to his death.”
“Then I thank you in advance.” Rider chuckled, taking the joke graciously.
Waver didn’t know what to say even as he silently fumed.
Did Gyneth hate Waver?
Actually, the opposite, she admired him for his talent and skill. In her own world-line she was a student of his, one of many, and had taken plenty of his classes.
However, she was also holding a grudge where he rejected one of her requests for funding for an experiment.
It was completely valid.
There was merit in finding out if tantric rituals produced better results if the partner was a MILF or not; it was something worth testing!
But that was besides the point.
“One courageous master, how about you others hiding in the shadows reveal yourself. Or are you not as brave as this girl here!?” Rider’s voice echoed out. “It seems the other masters are nothing but cowards.”
“I won’t get angry if you insult me, Rider. But if you insult my Master, I will defend his honor.” A voice called out as someone stepped out of the shadows.
“Hoh, a spear, then; you must be Lancer.” Rider rubbed his chin.
“God damn, he’s pretty," Gyneth spoke.
“Pfft” Waver nearly choked.
Though, Rider let out a bark of laughter. “Well said! A handsome man indeed. What's your name, Lancer?”
Lancer actually appeared slightly sheepish at his comment, not expecting such a blunt compliment. “I’m afraid my Master forbid my –”
“He’s Diarmuid Ua Duibhne," Gyneth said casually.
“– Name.”
They all sort of went silent and stared at Gyneth.
“What?” She looked at them. “He has a face that’s basically begging me to lick peanut butter off his fingers. Do you think a mystic face is common? What is it again, Diarmuid of the Love Spot?”
“I see, a magical face! One that affects women, no wonder.” Rider nodded.
"..." Lancer let out a sigh. “I suppose it’s not important now. I am Diarmuid Ua Duibhne, as the lady said. I would prefer if you don’t draw attention to that aspect of my person. It’s not a pleasant feature, more of a curse.”
Lancer twitched because he heard his master shouting in their shared link.
“I’ll cut to the chase. Join me, Lancer!” Rider didn’t waste a second.
“I’m afraid I’ll have to decline. I have sworn myself to my master."
“Oh well.” The rider seemed nonplussed, as if it were expected.
“Are you going to come down here and fight, Rider?” Lancer leveled his spear at him.
“In due time, in due time. How about we have the others come out? Or are they just opportunistic dregs that won’t reveal themselves unless their foes are tired and battle worn?” Rider hummed.
The next one made their appearance, and Gyneth unconsciously pulled her hood up tighter.
“Your insults are misplaced, Rider.” Saber appeared with her own ‘Master’ in tow. “To appear so bombastically without any consideration would be the height of foolishness. Something I’m sure you are accustomed to.”
Gwyneth, of course, recognized the voice of her own mother.
“Ohoh, it seems the little girl has some bark.” Rider just grinned as they both saw her.
Saber’s eye twitched slightly but didn’t rise to the 'insult.'
“And you must be Saber’s Master.”
“White hair, red eyes—she must be one of the Einzbern Homunculi," Waver whispered.
“God damn, she’s pretty," Gyneth whispered.
“Is that all you have to say!?” Waver groaned.
“What? Do you want me to name Saber too?”
“Can you?’
“Of course I can," Gyneth scoffed.
“Excuse me?” Saber interrupted. “How could you possibly–”
“King Arthur.”
“-- know my name.”
They all went silent again, staring at her.
Saber didn’t deny it, which all but confirmed it.
“Saber, how did she guess your identity?” The Einzbern Homunculi, Irisviel von Einzbern, asked Saber.
“I… I am not sure?” She was utterly confused.
Rider let out another laugh. “Who would have thought that King Arthur was a little girl!”
Saber was about to open her mouth and respond in kind, but someone beat her to it.
“Oi, what’s wrong with being a girl, huh!?” Gyneth kicked the muscled servant. “You got something against girls?”
“Peace, girl.” Rider held his arms up in defeat. “I take back my words.”
“Hmph.”
Saber looked at the girl up in the chariot and felt confused about something. “Have we met before? There is something familiar about you.”
Gyneth pulled her hood. “Nope, never met you before in my life.”
Saber for some reason felt those words weren’t entirely truthful, but she also couldn’t fathom having met this young girl before considering her origin.
“How did you know she was King Arthur?” Waver asked in confusion.
“I can read minds.” Gyneth wiggled her fingers mythically.
“T-That’s bullshit!” Waver declared without hesitation. “Then what am I thinking about right now?”
Gyneth covered her chest. “Thinking about a lady’s chest so intensely, how rude.”
“Bwah!?” Waver went red immediately.
“Boy, you have a lot to learn about how to interact with women.” Rider shook his head.
“I was not—" He realized it was an effort in futility; he realized he walked right into that teasing.
“I came here to fight; who will fight with me?” Lancer cut through the chatter, declaring his intentions.
“I will fight with you, Sir Diarmuid," Saber answered. “A fight between fellow Knights is more than I could ask.”
“Hang on, you have to wait in line. My servant was here first, and he wants the first crack," Gyneth interrupted.
Their intentions paused momentarily as Gyneth made her own declaration. “Come out, my amazing Servant!” She snapped her fingers to make it more grand.
The multitude of colors enveloped the area as Gwyrde stepped out of a portal.
He was wearing his normal armor, but he was almost wearing a mask that covered half his face with his own hood up over his head.
It made it difficult to perceive his features.
“This is Caster, my Servant.” Gwyrde declared happily.
"..."
"..."
They stared silently again because the supposed Caster Servant was wearing full armor, carrying a sword, and looked the part of a knight.
“That’s not a Caster!” Waver blurted out.
"Yes, he is.”
“No, he’s not!”
“Watch this," Gyneth responded. “Caster, cast sword!”
Gyneth shot forward and swung his sword at Lancer.
The Lancer Servant was surprised by the suddenness, raising his spear to block, and found himself pushed back several steps from the force of it.
“That’s not how it works!”
“Yeah? I’m about to cast a fist right into your balls.” Gyneth raised her fist up at Waver, who actually unconsciously cowered under the threat.
Gwyrde ignored her, and similarly, the other servants were now focused on the newcomer to get his measure.
Waver looked at him as well, noting he was a servant but couldn’t see his parameters.
Likewise, the other Masters telepathically told their Servants the same thing.
“Greetings, I’m Caster.”
“Are you truly a Caster Servant?” Saber asked.
Gwyrde also was a bit stifled to see his mother up close like this but did his best to keep his composure.
“That’s right.”
Saber frowned. “Either you are lying or a fool to stand before us without a workshop or territory at your back.”
"...I just prefer to act as a knight." Gwyrde said awkwardly. Truthfully, he thought this plan was a little stupid. Who would believe he was actually a Caster Servant?
“Well, I’m not complaining.” Lancer took it easily. “This is to my preference rather than fighting a traditional caster."
Saber once more had a strange feeling of familiarity at this servant.
She couldn’t understand why.
“I suppose I shall step back then and allow you your fight.” Saber acquiesced. Far be it from her to interrupt an honorable fight between two willing knights.
“You have my thanks, Saber. I’ll gladly fight you after I’ve finished Caster.” Lancer spoke, partly in politeness, partly with a smidge of arrogance in his confidence with defeating Lancer.
Gwyrde, though, only felt excited.
@***@
Elsewhere, Kiritsugu Emiya, Saber’s true master, was sitting on a nearby rooftop with a bird’s-eye view of the 'battlefield.'
Known as the Magus Killer, he specialized in hunting other Magi.
He was hired by the Einzbern family as a mercenary to win the Holy Grail in this war and became Saber’s master.
His wife was Irisviel Einzbern, who was currently pretending to be Saber’s master to everyone else.
Kiritsugu was lying prone on a rooftop, looking through the scope of a sniper rifle. “Maiya, keep focused on the Master of Caster for now.” He spoke through his radio to his companion.
Maiya, a girl he rescued in the past and became almost like his shadow.
She too was on another rooftop, looking through the scope of a sniper. “Yes, Sir.”
Kiritsugu was instead looking at Caster’s Servant, trying to gleam information from him.
However, all the information was coming up blank. All he could see was that the Servant was in fact Caster, which made him frown unconsciously.
If there were a servant that could trick a master's authority to view a servant's parameters, it would be a Caster servant.
So it was hard to verify the truth in anything that was spoken.
He was debating on whether to take a shot at Caster’s master right away.
The fact that she identified two servants so easily meant that something was going on that allowed her to do so.
That kind of specialty was dangerous in a war like this.
How much did she see about Saber?
Just knowing her identity already ruined a lot of plans right off the bat.
But if she’s able to see Saber’s Noble Phantasm, that would be just as bad.
Information was always a valuable resource in a fight, and now Kiritsugu was on the back foot, and it wasn’t his favorite position to be in.
She appeared to be a normal Magus in most regards.
Her clothing was far from what a ‘modern’ person would wear. And she was floating around on her staff beforehand, which is a well-known trick with brooms, which spoke of a Clock Tower education.
Which aligned with some of the conversation he listened in on with her and Waver Velvet.
Confirming those details were enough to extrapolate some more information that seemed to paint a picture.
He supported Saber’s decision to step back and not engage in the fight that was about to start. He of course scoffed at the notion of 'honor,' but letting others fight and taking advantage of it was the most intelligent thing to do.
If two servants wanted to fight each other to exhaustion—or possibly death—in the open and even show off their Noble Phantasms, he would sit back and let them.
“Kiritsugu.”
“What is it, Maya?” He asked through the radio.
“I believe I’ve been discovered.”
His eyes narrowed. “Explain.”
The fact is, she was even further back than he was, halfway across the city, on one of the tallest buildings within her reasonable range of operations with the gun in her hands.
“Caster’s Master is looking directly at me.”
“...are you sure?” He didn’t want to call her a liar, but he needed to verify.
“She took out a piece of paper from somewhere and is writing on it.” Maiya paused. “She is holding it up towards me.”
“What does it say?” At this point, he believed her, which meant that Caster’s master was much more dangerous than he anticipated.
Was it a warning? A threat?
Maybe a request to work together?
“The paper reads, 'Are you single?'" Maiya stated.
"..."
“Should I respond? Should I retreat? Kiritsugu?”
The Magus Killer clicked off his radio for a moment just so he could let out a long sigh.
He had a strange feeling that it was going to be a long night.
@***@
A/N
Next chapter of Twin Dragons: I hadn’t done one in a while, and some people suggested it, so I figured I may as well.