Deviation Actions
Literature Text
Archer continued firing at Caster, who nimbly avoided each shot. The magus would counter each gunshot with a burst of daggers. Archer, having become accustomed to this, bounded across the room. Taking aim as he turned in the air, Archer fired his pistols only for Caster to casually deflect them.
“Do you think a point will come that that would WORK?” he asked, nonchalantly.
Archer rolled as he hit the ground, looking up at Caster with a smirk, “Wasn’t planning that it would. THAT, on the other hand…”
Caster realized that he had deflected both shots into pillars that were supporting the ceiling. He looked at his foe, “You’re insane!”
“Well, thank God for that, otherwise this wouldn’t work.” Archer grinned before pulling out his lasso. He whipped it overhead and shouted, “THEO!”
Theodora looked over and saw the lasso fly at her. The loop tightened around her midsection and suddenly pulled her off her feet. The result was something she had familiarized herself with—a sudden flight through the air while she screamed bloody murder. He dragged her to him and covered her with his body again. She saw the slashes from the last time he had done that.
“He protected me…twice now, he’s protected me…” she thought to herself. She pressed her hand to his back and let healing magic flow through her, mending his cuts and wounds.
“Heh, thanks, Master.” He said.
“It’s…it’s because I can’t use a wounded Servant.” She said, irritably.
“That’s nice, but might wanna brace yourself.” Archer said.
The explanation came quickly as the pillars gave way, bringing the entire ceiling down.
CRASH!
The next second, Theodora felt herself coughing to try and keep the dust out of her system. She looked around and saw that Archer’s form had protected her from the impact. He then began digging their way out of the rubble, tossing the hunks of the ceiling aside like they were pieces of Styrofoam. Before long, the two were freed. He looked around the ruined remains of their castle.
“Hoo boy, Caster’ll wanna tan our hides for this.” He murmured.
“Yeah…I think she would.” Theodora nodded, “But at least we beat…him…”
Theodora’s words wandered off as she heard a noise, like the rubble was crumbling and shifting. She saw a shifting part of the rubble moving away. She then saw Caster slowly ascend with his Master next to him, the girl looking frightened and pale, clinging to his side as a spinning wheel spun rapidly beside the two, changing the rubble into gold as it slowly parted. Theodora’s eyes widened in shock as she saw this.
“Well, time to work on plan B.” Archer murmured, readying his pistols.
“Wait, Archer!” Theodora shouted. She then looked at the Caster, “Unable to discern your identity, changing things into gold with a spinning wheel! Caster of the Fairy Holy Grail War, your true identity is Rumplestiltskin!”
Caster’s eyes widened in shock and it seemed that something vanished around him. Theodora suddenly saw his parameters.
“Strength E, Endurance D, Agility B, Mana A, Luck D, Noble Phantasm C.” Theodora said.
“Well, looks like my Master hit the nail on the head, Rumpie.” Archer smirked, “So, looks like you’re just a fragile li’l speedster, ain’t ya? One good hit and you’re outta the game!”
“It was a risk, but I had no option…” Caster growled to himself, “Miss Yuzu, I hope this isn’t TERRIBLY impertinent…”
“Wh-what?” Hinahime asked before Caster grabbed her by the throat and held her up in front of him.
“Here’s the deal, you brutish gunslinger, you let me go free. If you want to shoot me, fine, but know that you harm this poor girl.” He said. She whimpered, but didn’t struggle in his grip.
Archer looked down the sight of his gun. Theodora looked at him, as if asking what he would do. She knew what he would do. He lowered his guns.
“Of course. People like you are SO predictable.” Caster smirked, “Now, Golden Wheel, form us something to leave!”
With that, the spinning wheel began to run faster, quickly forming a small airplane around himself and Hinahime. It then took off into the sky, vanishing from sight. Theodora watched as it slowly became a pinprick in the sky.
“Well, Theo…” Archer said, smirking, “Good job! Ya figured out who the guy is. Now, we know how to beat the guy. Just don’t promise him your firstborn or anythin’.”
“I won’t, trust me.” She said, holding up her hand to show a small, glowing stone, “I also…managed to stick this on her while you were shooting it out with the weirdo.”
Archer laughed, “WOW! Way to think ahead, Theo…whoops, I mean Master.”
“Th-Theo’s fine.” She murmured.
“Wow…didn’t expect that, either. You’re all ‘bout surprisin’ me today, aren’t ya, Theo?” Archer asked with a smirk.
Theodora looked at Archer and nodded. She felt…
She couldn’t finish the thought at the sudden, high-pitched scream. Atsuko had returned with Saber and Caster…as well as a young man decked in samurai-style garbs and a catlike girl. Atsuko looked shocked, Saber was looking like he barely held back giggles, the samurai was confused, the catgirl was sulky, but Caster was looking mortified.
“Wh-what happened to my castle?” She asked, horrified, “M-my glorious castle?!”
“Uh…it kinda fell apart.” Archer shrugged.
“Oh, DID IT?!” Caster shouted, her voice becoming steadily high-pitched, “I JUST COULDN’T FIGURE THAT OUT! I JUST CAME BACK TO WHERE MY CASTLE WAS AND-”
“We got into a fight, Caster. Cut him some slack.” Theodora said.
“Wait, someone attacked you in daylight?” Saber asked.
“Well, we were, too.” Atsuko said, “So…”
“Atsuko, who’re these people?” Theodora asked.
“Oh, my new Servants—Rider and Assassin.” Atsuko said, gesturing to the green-haired Servant and the catgirl respectively.
“Oh, how nice.” Theodora said. There was silence as she slowly registered this before suddenly asking, “WAIT, WHAT?!”
“Yeah, turns out I’ve got more than enough mana to maintain four Servants at the same time.” Atsuko said, holding up her arm, showing the ornate Command Seals that was slowly stretching up her forearm.
“And saved my skin.” The green-haired samurai, Rider, said.
“And Assassin?” Theodora asked.
“Tried killing me twice now and got her contract reassigned to me.” Atsuko said.
“Explains why she’s so sociable.” Archer said, “Howdy, y’all, I’m an Archer. Pleased to make your acquaintances.”
“I should’ve eaten you when I had the chance.” Assassin grumbled.
“EXCUSE ME, BUT WE’RE FORGETTING SOMETHING VITAL!” Caster screamed, “OUR CASTLE’S IN RUIN, WHICH MEANS THE WORKSHOP I SPENT SO MUCH TIME WORKING ON IS-”
Golden sparkles began to glitter, flowing down from the skies. It slowly began to flit around the wreckage. Then, to the amazement of everyone involved, the castle began to rebuild itself. In almost no time at all, everything had repaired itself. As if nothing had happened.
“Wh-what?” Atsuko and Theodora asked in unison, just as perplexed.
“S-Saver did that.” Caster said. She took a deep breath, “Very well. I think we should rest. It’s midday, but we’ve had a full one. And, besides, we work best at night!”
“Yeah, I could use a nap.” Atsuko said.
“Alright then.” Theodora nodded.
“To the west wing, then. There are some luxury bedrooms there. The security desk is no place for any Master or comrade to sleep.” Caster said, “If I’m to associate with you, you should be in as much comfort as I’m used to!”
“Thanks for that.” Atsuko nodded, “C’mon, Theodora…”
“Uh…if you want, you can call me ‘Theo’.” She said.
“Alright then, Theo it is.” Atsuko nodded, walking off with Theo down the west wing.
“Caster’s a jerk.” Theo murmured.
“Not really. Just really insecure about who she is. She’s Cinderella, so she wants to appear stronger or to be the proper noblewoman rather than let herself seem weak.” Atsuko said.
“Y-you just told me who your Caster is!” Theo shouted.
“Yeah. And the problem is?” Atsuko asked, “We’re friends, aren’t we, Theo?”
“I…I never really had friends before.” Theo said, looking at her feet.
“That’s sad. Why’s that?” Atsuko asked. Theo just looked off to the side, “Don’t want to talk about it?”
“It hurts too much.” She said.
“Okay then.” Atsuko nodded. She then asked, “So…how’re you holding up with Archer?”
Theo remained quiet before saying, “He’s a good man. A REALLY good man. He saved me three times now…he let the enemy we fought go because he’d risk hurting his Master.”
“Huh. Think he and Beaumains would be the best of friends, then.” Atsuko said.
“Yeah…Archer’s a good man.” Theo nodded, “I…haven’t known many in my life.”
“Well, look at it this way. Now you HAVE.” Atsuko said with a smile. Theo nodded, but didn’t say anything else.
They arrived at a doorway and swung it open, revealing rows upon rows of luxurious four-posted beds. Theo’s eyes widened in surprise as she walked over to one and flopped onto it. She rolled over on it, feeling how soft it felt against her body. Atsuko laid down on the one next to her’s.
“Ooh, I know how you feel.” She sighed, “It feels like I’m lying on a cloud…” Atsuko yawned, “Wanna go to sleep right about now…”
“Yeah…have a nice…” Theo didn’t finish her sentence. She wanted to fight the urge to sleep, that it would just bring nightmares again. But her exhaustion from the fight and the comfortable bed brought it to her anyway.
She had none of her familiar nightmares…
The wagon bounced and jerked as it slowly vanished in the distance. The baby boy screamed in the middle of the arid wasteland, abandoned by his family. A coyote walked up and sniffled at the child, stopping the cries. The boy looked up at the coyote and…laughed, grabbing onto its nose. The predator looked at the boy and shook its snout free of his grip. It then grabbed the boy in its teeth, but kept itself from bringing down the force of its jaws down on the child. Instead, it took it away to its den.
Theo slowly woke up, feeling at peace. She looked around, seeing that it was sunset. She looked around, feeling…refreshed? At peace?
“Friends…” she said to herself before flopping onto the bed and going back to sleep, a small smile forming on her face.
