ARC 2 - Prologue : Soft Drizzle

Bang!

The sound of gunfire could be heard outside followed by the screech of blades and a thump. Probably a body falling. Everyone in the room flinched with Mash grabbing Gudako's arm and squeezing it tightly.

"That was... that was the sound of guns, Senpai!"

Meuniere panicked, his limbs scrambling across the floor as he tried to back away from the door.

"Hey, we're still locked in!! Didn't you say we were going to be set free? What's happening!? Hey! What's with the gunfire outside!?"

From outside, the sound of a guard's voice could be heard.

"Shut up, just keep quiet! I've got no time for this right now!"

Followed by the sound of a radio beep and the scratching sound of the connection.

"This is Clover 3, request for assistance acknowledged! Although under different jurisdictions, I'll rendezvous with the Spade Squad! Hang on until I get there! If Chaldea's staff get in the way it's fine to dispose of them first!"

The guard then stormed off, his boats clacking against the hard metal floor as he left.

"Wh.... did he just leave us locked in here like that!? Gudako, what should we do!? And what the heck is that? What's that gonna help with anyway!?"

"I don't know..., but Da Vinci and-I mean, Da Vinci said to keep it close just in case. I'll keep it closed for now. Let's try to find a way out."

"Senpai, you've been looking at the ventilation duct for some time now... do you plan to escape through there? Sorry to say it, but that ventilation duct is very narrow... only Fou-kun would be able to pass..."

"Fou. Fou, fouu..."

"Then we'll have to try another wa-"

*BANG*

This time, instead of gunshot sounds, it was the sound of something hitting the door. Hard

"! Someone's trying to get in! Senpai, get behind me!"

*BANG*

As the banging continued, the door began to dent. Gudako could make out the markings of a fist. Which meant someone was punching the door hard enough to bend cast iron.

Mash whispered, her voice shaky as she tried to keep her brave face

"Senpai! Ican sense multiple presences in the corridor...But, the density of this magical energy... it's as if—

"...Yeah, Roman soldiers, maybe?", Gudako joked, her hand laying itself calmly on Mash's back.

"...That'd be great if it were the case. But, thank you very much, Senpai.

You've relaxed the mood. Thanks to that, I'm also able to take a deep breath."

The banging continues, with each hit getting louder and louder, the dents becoming more and more noticeable.

Mash grimaced, her hand raised protectively in front of Gudako and Meuniere/

"Ugh... the two of you, please get down...! Senpai... please give me permission to arm myself! I'll be counting on you for backup...! If it's with the power of the command spell, then doing it just one more time is...!"

"---You can't. Your body is—"

*BANG*

"We don't have the time...! I'll be fine, I've been training for this all this while! Da Vinci-chan also said that it'd be fine if it was just for battle! So, please...! I've only been able to be a navigator ever since the Final Singularity, so that is exactly why I want to fight, right here! If I don't, everyone will be killed! Our Chaldea will be destroyed! I can't stand it when such thoughts cross my mind! Please--- Master Gudako!"

Gudako closed her eyes, her heart heavy with the decision. She knew that ever since the events of the Final Singularity against Solomon's 72 demons, Mash's body had essentially broken down, unable to maintain her combat form at all. Galahad had also left, seeing as the job of protecting humanity was completed. Opening her eyes, Gudako raised her right hand, her command seals a bright, vibrant red against her skin.

"---I'll leave it to you, Mash! By the power of this command spell, Mash! Don your armor and shield and protect Chaldea!"

In an explosion of light, Mash suddenly dons her old uniform complete with her sword and shield. And as if on cue, the door flies off. Raising the shield, Mash deflects the door with a grunt. Peeking out from behind Mash, Gudako watches as the dust clears to reveal a strangely dressed person in all black. Their face is obscured by a crow mask and in their hands is a strange looking single-handed gun.

"Ugh...ah..."

"You did it... you did it! But is Mashu alright, Gudako!? She seems to be in some serious pain, you know!"

"I... I'm fine...! Rather than that, in front of us-"

The black-cloaked soldier enters the room, staring wordlessly at Gudako. She stares back, her heart unwavering despite the harsh pounding against her ribcage.

"Engaging in battle...! Master, your instructions...!"

A fight commences with Mash running towards the opponent. Wordlessly, the creature raises its gun to shoot at Mash, pointing it directly at her head.

"Headshot! Block it!"

"Hyah!"

With a yell, Mash raises the shield just in time for the black bullet to ricochet off of it. She dashes forward again, this time throwing the shield back in preparation for a swing.

"Aim for the legs! And then the head!"

"Yes!"

Mash swings and connects, the brute-force of the blow causing both to stagger slightly. The assailant's knees drop to the ground, but somehow, they don't bend forward. It's as if it were a machine...

"The head! Knock it out!"

"Hyah!"

Mash swings again, this time lighter and faster. Perhaps it was due to habit or their general code of not killing human-like figures, but Mash hits the figure hard with the flat side of the shield. A crack is heard and Gudako watches as the figure slams into the left wall hard, denting it, before falling to the ground.

It gets back up.

"On guard, Mash!"

But there was no need. The figure staggers forward, its arms struggling to raise the gun, before it falls forward and disperses into black ash. And even that disappears as well.

After the battle, Mash staggers, the strain of combat mode clearly taking a toll on her body.

"Ugh, ah...!"

"Mash!"

Gudako runs towards Mash, her arms outstretched to catch Mash as she collapses forward onto her knees, the shield clanking against the ground. Gudako holds Mash's upper body as the gear dissolves away, leaving behind a sweating Mash in her usual attire.

"Y...yes, I did it, Master... I've managed to fight, once again..."

"That's bullshit, you can't fight at all! Mash's being too reckless right now! Since I'm an operator of the control room, I'll say it to you straight! You can't even exert half of your former strength right now! How can we let a child in such a condition fight for us!? Gudako, here, you and I should-"

Meuniere is cut off when through the doorway, they all see more black soldiers heading towards their room.

"Uwaaaa!? There's so many---!?"

Mash groans, standing up and summoning her armaments again, wincing. Except, her arms couldn't hold up her shield at all.

"The shield's... heavy...! Even though I trained so hard... why...!"

"Fou, fo....?"

"Gh, Master, Mister! I'll draw them away from here! Once I've pressed them back into the corridor, please run in the opposite direction!"

Gudako shook her head.

"If I'm a Master, I have to support your battle to the end."

"But...!"

A male voice spoke, interrupting their conversation.

"Shouldn't you let your Master spoil you more? After all, their partner has made a comeback after a year's lapse."

Swiftly, the black-clothed soldiers were taken down by a combination of light-based attacks and hand-to-hand fighting skill. Standing in the doorway now was a familiar man dressed in grey and blue with slicked-back hair and cunning eyes.

"Mr.Holmes!"

"Did I make you wait? But I hope you will pardon me for that. After all, great detectives are prone to such behaviour."

Holmes smiled before walking over to stand in front of Gudako and Mash.

"I see you kept the box I gave you. Very good. Now then, Mash, may I have your shield?"

"A-of course! Here, Mr.Holmes."

"Thank you very much. Oh and the box please? It should have opened by now."

"Yeah, it did. By the way, what are these things anyway?"

Gudako opened the box easily. Somehow, the box had suddenly manifested two grooves in it which made it easier to open. She placed the box on the floor and handed the two items to Holmes's outstretched hand.

"A strange red mask and a purple feather. What for anyway? And why so much secrecy? Don't tell me you and Da Vinci did something illegal again."

"Oh, I'm quite offended, Gudako. You see, these things would come in handy if you were in any physical danger. And since you are, they will be very useful. Now then, do give me a moment's worth of time...there's some summoning to do."

....

*Author's Note*

DUN DUN DUNNNNNNN!!

Anyway, hey guys! I'm back from the dead known as backpacking!(Ah, no offense to anyone who likes to do it. My friends and I just ended up picking a terrible season to do it in.)

That's why I didn't update for so long. I had a backpacking trip out in 80-90 degree(F) weather and lots of sun. Talk about asking for heat stroke(which none of us got, thankfully). Anyway, I will try to update again this Friday since this update technically makes up for the previous Friday.

Plus! We finally get some action! I'm sure you guys can easily guess who's going to appear in the next couple chapters.

SOTN out! See ya tomorrow(hopefully, I'm actually a little sick right now so we'll see what happens).