The Crusaders flew over the land, Mother sensing the Grail was nearly in their grasp. They soared over the forests of Mexico, preparing for the fight of their lives. Somehow though, they weren’t prepared to be shot out of the sky.
From their home base, the other 3 Servants alerted Vortigern that the Crusaders were drawing near. Çelebi began empowering more drones with explosive power as Malinche and Bourbaki began directing Vortigern where to fire Hildeleoma, getting both the right angle to hit them that also gave them the best opportunity for victory. Following their commands, being helped along by the suit he wore giving minor adjustments, Vortigern fired a column of magical energy directly into their plane.
The plane lost its tail, and Lancelot went crazy. The light created by the sword had been all too familiar. Familiar enough that he screamed “Arthur!” before sending the plane careening down at the newley created clearing where Vortigern stood. For their part, his companions were not so pleased. Mother chose now to fly away, heading toward where she sensed the Grail while the other 3 prepared themselves for landing.
Vortigern began retreating, going further into the forest. Bourbaki guided him, ensuring he didn’t set off the many traps they had laid throughout the terrain. Meanwhile, the hundreds of drones Çelebi had rigged flew toward the same area, ready to target down enemies and give Vortigern space if needed.
Only 50 meters from crashing, Lancelot launched himself into the forest, completely heedless of the powerful explosions already being set off by his charge. Barg took similar action, grabbing Ulrich and leaping away from the plane before impact. Lamech, already powered up by Wanderlust, didn’t care, knowing the crash would do little to him.
Lancelot, even in his madness, should have been more aware of all the explosions constantly hitting him, but he had become solely focused on that light emanating from the golden blade. He ignored the damage he was accumulating, not even slowing down when he found his quarry. Vortigern awaited him, a large coffin strapped lengthwise to his left arm, and their fight began.
Mother of Gold soared toward the Grail, working hard to dodge the attacking drones. While she normally would’ve used her first NP, she had yet to accrue almost any greed, leaving her unable to take her fiery form. She was doing a decent job evading, but Bourbaki’s calculations allowed him to continually get closer. Eventually, one hit her hard enough that she couldn’t recover in time for the next, and she was soon taken out by the constant barrage. Sad she never got to reach her full potential.
Barg and Ulrich regroup with Lamech as he walks out of the wreckage. After discussing, they decide to go after Lancelot and back him up, reasoning that it’d be easier to take on the other unknowns with such a strong fighter on their side. They rushed after him, following the large path of destruction he and the explosives created. However, a massive swarm of drones began to assail them, generally being barely avoided. Fortunate for them though, one explosion clipped Lamech, and Bourbaki nearly lost an arm.
Understanding attacking specifically Lamech was probably a bad idea, they began specifically targeting the other two, being sure to keep away from Lamech to prevent further damage. Lamech caught on though, and began using himself like a shield to ward away drones as they made their way to Lancelot.
Unfortunately, they would be too late, as Vortigern was able to defeat him in his manic state thanks in no small part to all the damage he took and having only a tree as a weapon. Had he pulled out Arondite, things might have gone differently. After finishing him off, Bourbaki gave him further instructions. Not questioning him, Vortigern turned to a patch of trees in the general direction of where he had come and, with some slight adjustments, launched another blast from his sword.
The remaining Crusaders were rushing forward, but Barg’s Instincts warned her of something, and she pushed Ulrich away as a ray of power blasted into her. Ulrich watched in shock as Barg endured the attack, managing to power through the attack, if still coming out the other side heavily damaged. Lamech, not one to waste an opportunity, charged through the path the blast had created.
As he did, Malinche could feel it. This was the moment it was all leading to. She told them what they had to do.
Lamech came in with complete confidence, clapping his hands and sending lightning crashing down. Because of Wanderlust, he had gained even greater endurance than Barg. Even if Vortigern managed to hit him with another blast, all it would do was seal his fate. He half-expected Vortigern to block the lightning, as he did with the coffin. Yet, what he did not expect was for Vortigern to counter by, instead of retaliating with a slash, dropping his sword and grabbing him. Taken off guard, Lamech was unable to stop Vort from tossing him up and, trusting in Snow’s NP, slamming him with the coffin. While the physical damage was sent onto Vortigern, it was bearable, but it still accomplished his goal, as Lamech was sent flying.
As Lamech tried to puzzle it out, multiple drones swarmed him. Instead of exploding, Çelebi had a different plan, having attached those drones with his wings. With a thought, he transferred the wings onto Lamech, and sent him soaring right into the middle of a trap laden area far away from Vortigern. After ensuring Lamech was going the right way, Vortigern turned his attention on the other 2.
Ulrich, knowing she couldn’t take another hit like that and knowing they needed greater defense, tried to activate his NP. However, as Bourbaki’s NP has been active this entire time, he was unable to do so, much to his disbelief. Instead, all he could do as Vortigern raced toward them flanked by explosive filled drones was use Blessings of Aphrodite to defend them somewhat. It was not enough, and they too would soon fall.
Lamech, crashing into an innocuous area of the forest, was immediately on edge. He knew things had to be afoot, and only taking a few steps forward, he was proven right.
A question: If a bear steps in a bear trap, is it the hunter’s fault simply because he laid it? Likewise, if a rabbit scurries into a rabbit trap, is it the hunter’s fault it got caught?
If a Servant with an ability that responds to someone attacking him gets hit by an explosive trap, does the damage get transferred? To whom if so? The man who made the explosives, or the one who made the trap?
The answer is neither, because the trap was simply there. It was the Servant who walked into it.
Lamech began taking explosions as he attempted to navigate the area, his buffs from Wanderlust allowing him to keep going, though the damage was piling up. Eventually, he got the idea to simply use his strength and began leaping, choosing to go the direction Mother had instead of returning to the fight.
Being unable to assault him in the air, and him setting off far fewer traps on the ground, the other Knights discussed how to deal with him while Vortigern fought Barg and Ulrich. They discussed waiting to see of Vort would be able to finish him off after the damage he received, but it was something they didn’t know they could rely on, since their heaviest hitter would be out if they were wrong. As Mal and Bourbaki got further into the possibilities, Çelebi watched how fast Lamech was going on the screens they set up.
“…Eh. My wish wasn’t a big deal anyway.”
Çelebi launched from the ground, soaring at high speeds toward the Avenger in the distance.
After Vortigern finished Barg, whom Ulrich had done an admirable job protecting till his last breath, Bourbaki informed him of Çelebi’s actions, and Vortigern began racing in the same direction. It was his job to protect the rest of them. If anyone needed to be sacrificed to Lamech, it would be him.
Lamech came into a clearing, and the Grail hovered overhead. He looked around, surprised to find no one was there to guard it, but more than aware of all the drones watching him. He began taunting them, saying he may as well take his wish now since no one was willing to stop him.
“I wouldn’t say nobody.”
Çelebi landed at short distance away, radiating his traditional excited confidence. Lamech, rather than attacking, taunted him even further.
“Alright then, kid, get on with it! I’ve got so long before I need to hunt down your friends! Take your best shot!”
“Oh, you’re really gonna regret that.”
Lamech didn’t believe he would despite the broad grin that split Çelebi’s face. Had he known just how many powerful explosives Çelebi had strapped to himself, he might’ve. Yet, as Çelebi flew into him and began racing into the sky, he was still confident as he reeled back with his arrow in hand and plunged it into Çelebi’s back.
Even under the pain and distorting effects of the arrow, Çelebi yelled over the rushing air.
“You think you’re gonna make it out of this?”
“All I know is that if I die, you’re coming with me!”
“Exactly!”
Reaching a good height and pouring all the magical energy he still had into rapidly creating gunpowder, Çelebi and Lamech in an array so bright and powerful, one might’ve thought a small sun had briefly appeared over the Mexican forest. Vortgern looked up, knowing he was too late, and both Bourbaki and Malinche saw it far in the distance. They felt the loss, but Mal knew that this was how it was meant to be.
Bourbaki had his drones sweep across the area, ensuring they had not missed anyone else, before confirming to Vortigern that it was over. He told him to meet them at the Grail, and they would decide things from there.
Before he did so though, he had a promise he had to keep.
Carefully dislodging the coffin from his arm, Vortigern laid it upright against a tree. He opened it, revealing Snow White exactly as she was when the coffin first appeared around her. It’s hard to imagine that Vortigern was only recently swinging her around on his arm and defending from attacks. He gently brushed a strand of hair from her cheek, glad she had remained unharmed despite everything.
When Snow had told him about her NP, she had revealed that the only way to awaken her would be true love’s kiss. Vortigern… didn’t know if he fit that criteria. There was a woman who had held his heart in life, and she wasn’t Snow. Yet, he saw much of her in Snow. The very things that had drawn him to her were in Snow, and things that weren’t that still drew his attention. However, he could say that, when she looked him in the eye and told him she would risk her everything, entrusting her life to protect his and the others, the only thing he felt in that moment was love.
Whether that was enough had yet to be seen.
He leaned in and kissed the princess with every emotion he felt for her in their unbearably short time together. It wasn’t long or forceful, but none could say it wasn’t brimming with emotion. A true kiss.
He slowly pulled back, watching her with hope filled eyes, praying he had kept his promise.
Infinite passed in those seconds before Snow’s eyes fluttered open. As she took in the world around her, particularly the man who was smiling warmly at her. As everything came back to her, and she realized what this meant, she found a surprised smile growing on her face.
“You did it?”
“We did it. This would never have been possible without you.”
He extended his hand to her, and her sight became blurry at his words.
She had done it. She’d protected them. She’d protected him.
As joyful tears began falling down her cheeks, she reached out and took his hand.
Originally Posted by BnEl15
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