The Chain

//The Story So Far...//

The Chaldea Security Organization…

Stationed in Antarctica, away from the curious eyes that were the rest of the world, is the final line of defense against magical forces that threaten humanity. It gathered the most esteemed and gifted minds, both in magecraft and modern technology, to stop the threat of Solomon; the King of Mages, from wiping out humanity's existence and history. The last 2 capable mages of Chaldea; Gudao Ritsuka Fujimaru and Gabrielle Rutherford, were recruited for what would be known as The Grand Order Initiative. They have been burdened with the monumental task of resolving singularities; distortions in humanity's timeline, to save mankind's past, present, and future.

They were not alone in their endeavors. As masters, they are in command of Servants; spirits of history's greatest heroes given form through magecraft, to fight alongside them. By this point, they have resolved 5 singularities and retrieved a Holy Grail from each one. With every singularity filled with many hard-fought battles and victories, the masters and servants also had their fair-share of setbacks and hard losses.

One particular battle was still fresh in their minds. It was near the end of one singularity in Victorian London that they came face to face with their enemy; the King of Mages himself. He was so powerful to the point that the masters were helpless as their servants fell one after another. They would have lost Mashu as well if not for the indifferent mercy of Solomon, who did not acknowledge Chaldea as a worthy adversary.

Determined to never let that happen again, the masters expanded their ranks, hoping to be able to fight Solomon again in the future. Just days ago, they've returned from 18th century America with a costly victory. After a startling revelation about Mashu's condition, and most of their servants in the infirmary, their hopes lay with the roster of servants that they have assembled for the battles ahead.

Which brings us to the present.

...

Gudao and Gabrielle were in Chaldea's operations room, gathered around a table with a holographic center. Across from them were 2 individuals; one was tall man in a lab coat and scrubs, holding an Ipad-like device. He also had long, peach-coloured hair that was tied back in a ponytail. His attire suggested that he was a doctor. With him was a woman with long brown hair, wearing a short-hem Renaissance-style dress, multi-coloured with soft shades of red and blue with bronze trim. She also wore blue stockings and matching long gloves for her arms, and one of her hands held a steaming cup of coffee.

They were reviewing footage from this morning's training mission when Mashu walks in her casual garb and a white furry creature with long ears, and fluffy tail on her shoulder. She was giving the creature, named Fou, an affectionate rub under the chin before taking her position beside Gudao. The doctor greets the demi-servant.

"Thank you for joining us Mashu. Now that you're here, we can begin."

The man's name was Romani Archaman; Chaldea's head medical officer and secondary director of operations. He is also Mashu's primary caretaker and guardian. His attention turns to the 2 masters, and his tone becomes slightly more serious. The masters braced themselves for the harsh truth.

"Gudao… Gabby. We might need to rethink our methods moving forward. Your servants can't seem to work together, and your coordination is all over the place. You two have never commanded this many servants at once."

"No need to tell us what we already know doctor," Gabrielle states. "We don't have better options at this point. With over half our servant roster in the infirmary, conventional methods won't help us anymore."

"We need a larger group of servants ready in case Solomon ever decides to attack us again," Gudao tells the doctor. "He might not be so lenient next time."

He briefly looked in Mashu's direction, clearly worried about her especially in such a scenario. This did not go unnoticed by the Shielder, who meets his eyes with understanding. Roman isn't convinced.

"It won't matter how many servants you use if they can't act together when they have to. After one training exercise, I don't see this all-or-nothing strategy work in our favor."

"Senpai is right," Mashu speaks out. "We need to be prepared for anything. I trust these servants with me and the masters' lives. You're not giving them a chance!"

"Actually Mashu...," The woman casually interrupts. "We set up the scenario specifically to test your group in a high-stress situation. As soon as I raised the difficulty, your team fell apart."

Gabby and Mashu were shocked by that statement. Gudao was surprised but nonetheless angry like his step-sister.

"You what?!"

"Da Vinci..."

"I knew it!"

Roman sighed.

"Leona, you weren't supposed to tell them that."

The woman gives Roman a sideways glance. Her identity is Leonardo da Vinci; a genius artist and inventor during the Italian Renaissance. As a servant, she chose to be summoned in the form of the Mona Lisa instead of as a man she was in life. She is of the Caster-class of servants and is head of Chaldea's engineering division.

"Sorry Roman, but I don't like withholding the facts." She took a sip from her drink before continuing. "By the way, I would like to know why you thought putting these two on the same team was a good idea…"

The screen changed to show the profiles of Arturia and Mordred respectively, including footage of their noteworthy battles. Da Vinci elaborated:

"You have King Arthur fighting alongside the very person who ended her reign and kingdom. They were bound to clash at some point."

Gudao spoke to defend them.

"They are our most powerful servants we have right now. As Sabers they have high magical resistance, which is exactly what we need to fight Solomon. Besides, they came through for us in the past."

"Arturia has been with us since Lev's betrayal," Gabrielle explained. "If I hadn't summoned her when I did, Gudao and Mashu would have perished in that singularity. She proved her worth countless times after that."

She continued, this time motioning to the other Saber on the hologram.

"And Mordred... In her short time with us, she has done nothing but proven that she belongs here. She stood toe-to-toe with Babbage and Tesla back in London, and even defeated Medb for us in America."

"No one doubts their strengths as servants Gabrielle," Roman says in a serious tone. "But the reality is you can't just bring 2 fated enemies together and expect things to mesh well. Emiya and Cu Chulainn have it out for each other; do not think I didn't pick up on that. What do you think will happen if your final hopes lie with Arturia and Mordred the way they are now?"

Mashu was steadily getting saddened by the bleakness implied by her caretaker. Pessimism was not unheard of coming from the doctor, but this time he made it sound as if there wasn't any hope of resolution for her two fellow servants. Mashu had fought alongside both of them and knew they were trusted allies who would never purposely jeopardize Chaldea. So she wasn't going to take it.

"You're wrong about them! They can fight together! I KNOW they can!"

Roman sighed, not wanting to hammer the sad truth any further to the Shielder. Gudao then says to the doctor:

"Whatever issues those two have with each other, that is up for them to resolve. What would you have us do doctor?"

"It's simple really," Da Vinci cuts in for Roman. "You two are their masters, so logically you should act like it."

Offended, Gabrielle leans dangerously over the table as she asks Da Vinci.

"What's THAT supposed to mean?"

Da Vinci clarifies seriously.

"You had the opportunity in the exercise to stop Mordred with a command seal, and then force her to go to Jekyll's aid."

Roman then states to Gudao before Gabrielle could say anything in retort.

"And Gudao, you could have had him use his Noble Phantasm. Then he would have made it out with the payload."

"You know Jekyll is ashamed of using it!" Gudao argued. "I shouldn't force him to do something he doesn't want! This isn't a Grail War-"

"But we ARE at war, Gudao!" Roman interrupts. "One we can't afford to lose!"

"I don't need you to remind me of that Roman," Gudao spat, his anger rising. He had already been furious at the doctor for revealing to them about Mashu's lifespan, and now the animosity the master had towards him was threatening to boil over. "How about you get some seals and fight for everyone's sake instead of lounging in here, safe and sound?!"

That insult caused Mashu and Gabrielle to look at Gudao in shock.

"Senpai!"

"That was uncalled for!"

Roman was stunned into silence while Da Vinci rubbed her chin with the fingers of her free hand, and looked up into space as if thinking carefully. The Caster says offhandedly:

"That actually isn't a half-bad idea…"

"Leona, you are not helping," Roman says to her in annoyance. Gudao was seething as he said in a low, threatening voice:

"You have no right to tell me how I should treat my friends! Not when you aren't the one fighting with them, day after day with the weight of the world on your shoulders!"

"Gudao, please listen-," Gabrielle tries to reason, putting a hand on his shoulder in an attempt to calm her brother down. Her hand was waved off as Gudao snapped, his gaze never leaving the doctor.

"Stay out of this Gabby! I'm not going to stand here and let this imbecile tell me to reduce the people I trust into mere puppets!"

Before Mashu knew it, this meeting turned into a full-blown argument as Roman shot back at her master.

"Wars aren't won through sentiment Gudao! They're won by soldiers!"

"Is Mashu one of your soldiers?!"

Mashu gasps as their argument takes a turn. Fou jumps from her shoulder and onto the center of the table, and looks up at the demi-servant in concern. Mashu casts her head down, wishing for the verbal fight to cease. Roman retorts angrily at Gudao.

"How dare you! I love Mashu like a daughter!"

"Then where were you when she was experimented on like a lab rat?!"

"Gudao, enough!" Gabrielle grabs Gudao as he started walking around the table, wanting to give Roman a taste of his fist. Da Vinci slowly backed away solemnly, not wanting to get involved. Mashu was forced to listen to her family falling apart before her, tears threatening to escape her eyes behind her glasses. She puts a hand over her chest as her heart ached, and the tirade continued.

She couldn't take it anymore. Mashu's hands curl up into fists as resolve builds up inside her. She could hear the words she so desperately wanted to say race through her mind. When she tried to say them, her voice was barely above a whisper.

"Stop it."

It went unheard as Roman continued arguing with Gudao.

"I wanted to save her! I couldn't stop what had already been done!"

"Liar!"

(SMASH!)

"STOP IT!"

Everyone turns to the sound of Mashu's fist impacting the table, leaving a sizable dent in a console and causing sparks and wires to arc and crackle. The whole room became dead silent as everyone looks at the anguish on Mashu's tear-stained face with astonishment. She was visibly angry, but her face slowly morphed into shock when she realized what she just did, with Fou inching up to her hand out of worry for her. She looked at everyone, seeing their startled stares fixed on her.

"I- I'm sorry!" She stutters as she pulls her hand back. Gudao could tell that Mashu was now feeling ashamed of herself. He notices her backing away from them, but before he could say anything, the Demi-servant turned and ran out of the room. Fou jumped down and ran after her. Gudao casts his head down in regret, whatever anger he had towards Roman dissipating. Gabrielle slowly releases her hold on him as he relaxes and tries apologizing to the doctor.

"Roman… I'm-"

"Don't worry about it," Roman stops him, regret evident in his voice as well. Gudao looks up at him to meet his eyes. It was clear to the master that Roman was ashamed as he was. "Mashu needs both of you right now…"

Gudao composes himself, pushing aside whatever ill will that lingered between them. He turns to face a determined Gabrielle, whom he could tell was on the same page he was.

"Let's go Gabby."

"Right behind you."

Gudao turns and exits the control room with Gabrielle following him, leaving Roman and Da Vinci alone. They both ran in the direction Mashu disappeared to, determined to make things right.

-

Mashu ran through the halls of Chaldea, keeping her head down from any employees who she passed along the way and not letting them see the state she was in. She eventually found herself in the one place she always went to whenever she wanted to be alone.

The Solarium.

It was a spacious lounge lined all-around with windows that offered spectacular panoramic views of the surrounding glacier. On a clear day, one could see as far as the Ellsworth Mountains over the Ronne Ice Shelf. Today, however, there was a heavy blizzard outside, completely obscuring anything of interest, and was completely empty.

Mashu slowly walked up to the window and stared outside distraught. The frigid storm outside mirroring the turmoil she was feeling in her heart. It hurt her so deeply to see the people she cared about most fighting each other that she lost control of herself; smashing the table with her strength as a Demi-servant.

She looked down at her hand. It was completely unscathed considering the impact it made. Even if it was cut or bruised by that, Mashu figured that it would have healed by now. The physical pain was negligible.

And it terrified her…

It was just another reminder of who she is. What she is…

A freak.

She was a mere lab product. Made to bear the saint-graph of a servant, and harness its power into a human body. There is nobody else like her. Even among the other servants, she was just an anomaly; hardly on par with them as true heroic spirits. She couldn't relate to them or anyone else in Chaldea. In that regard, she had always felt alone…

Mashu felt more tears threatening to escape her eyes. She took her glasses off and sat down by the windowsill. Her legs curled up, bringing her knees up as she cried into her arms.

"Fou?"

Suppressing a sniffle, Mashu lifts her head slightly, seeing the little furry creature walk up to her in concern. Mashu brought a hand down to pet it.

"I'm so sorry, Fou," She says gently. "Did I scare you?"

"Fou…"

The creature rubs against Mashu's hand affectionately. She asks rhetorically.

"I did, didn't I?"

The demi-servant lets out a sigh.

"Things are bad, Fou. We shouldn't be fighting each other. We're a supposed to be a family. A team…"

"Fou!"

Mashu yelps in surprise as Fou climbs up on her shoulder. She felt some of her sorrow melt away from the affection.

"At least I have you. I guess we're just a couple of misfits."

"Mashu."

Mashu looked up to see the masters standing nearby, giving her space. Seeing their apologetic expressions reminded her of what she did. She was afraid they didn't see her as a person anymore.

"Masters…"

Gudao walks up to her and kneels down, offering a hand to help the Demi-servant up off the floor. Her eyes widen at gesture. With a bit of reluctance, she takes Gudao's hand and they both stand up, with her wiping away tears from her face afterwards. She takes a deep breath before speaking to him.

"Senpai, I'm sorr-"

Mashu didn't get to finish that sentence as Gudao suddenly pulls her into a hug, making her gasp in surprise. She was rendered speechless in an instant.

"No Mashu," Gudao says in a voice barely more audible than a whisper. "If anyone should be sorry, it's me. I said some things I shouldn't have and I've upset you greatly. What you did brought me back to my senses. You have nothing to be ashamed of."

Mashu is touched by his words, causing her heart to flutter. Gabrielle then joins in, forming a group hug.

"We are a family, Mash. We may forget that sometimes, but it's always you who reminds us. You're the chain that keeps us together. We will never take that for granted."

"Fou!"

Mashu slowly lets a soft smile form on her face, eventually returning both masters' hugs with equal affection. She cried in her friends' arms, not out sorrow this time, but in great joy.

"And don't worry about the table," Gabrielle adds. "Roman can always buy another one."

Mashu giggles lightly at that. With her friends here, she didn't feel lonely anymore. She felt a little hope returning to her. The Demi-servant knew she had to pass that on.

"Gudao… Gabby," She began with renewed resolve. The masters paid attention, as it wasn't often that the Shielder used their first names. "Help our friends. Whatever it takes…"

The masters understood perfectly. Their servants were divided, and for everyone's sake, they had to extend their chain to them.

-

Roman watched the tender scene between Mashu and the masters over the security feed. It warmed his heart seeing them come back together after a drastic altercation. He was left alone with Da Vinci, who was working nearby, observing him and the video from afar. Roman pulls up a seat, sits and leans back. He closes his eyes and lets out an exasperated sigh. The events of today weighed him down heavily.

"Oh boy…"

Da Vinci walks up behind Roman's seat and says to him teasingly.

"You seem stressed Doctor."

"Da Vinci, I'm pretty sure we're all stressed right now."

The Caster feigns offence.

"Hmph. You don't hear me complaining about it. I happen to have a secret to relieving that problem…"

Roman doesn't bother opening his eyes in hopes of he would doze off. He wasn't the mood to play games with the female servant. He says sarcastically:

"I'm sure you do…"

"Oh no, Roman. I'm actually being serious…"

That didn't sound too convincing at all to the doctor.

"I swear, if you tell me to start taking your brew of coffee..." he almost sighs in annoyance. "How do you like it again? Double sugar, regular cream?"

In response, Da Vinci put her hands on Roman's shoulders rather firmly. The doctor opens his eyes to see The Caster leaning over him; her auburn hair framing her face and wearing a soft smile as she faces him from behind. Roman anticipates her response with careful attention.

"A massage..."

Roman raises an eyebrow, heat slowly rising to his cheeks. Was she being serious? This felt wrong to him on so many levels.

"Leona-! "

"Roman, just sit back," Da Vinci instructs. "Relax…"

"I should really get back to-"

She tightens her grip on the doctor's shoulders. Roman tries to leave his seat only to be forced back down by Da Vinci. The Caster says firmly:

"Relax."

Roman is frozen as Da Vinci starts rubbing, working her way to the collar bone as her thumbs dig into his shoulder blades. After a moment, she asks him:

"Feeling better?"

He starts feeling the fatigue in that area slowly melt away. Roman exhales slowly as slumps back in the chair, closing his eyes and savoring the euphoria.

"Yeah…"

Da Vinci giggles just audibly enough for Roman to hear. The doctor didn't care if he sounded like an idiot. He was in heaven right now. His attention sharpens as Da Vinci continues her ministrations expertly.

"Wow, Leona," Roman says as Da Vinci begins using her palms, impressed with her skill. "Where did you learn to massage so well?"

Da Vinci smiles and says:

"I studied anatomy while I was an apprentice to Verrocchio, focusing mostly about various human muscles and tendons. Some of those lessons were pretty hands-on."

"Oh?"

"Purely consensual I assure you…" Da Vinci said while her hands begin to travel lower. "I learned quickly where the various stress points are on the back of a human, and knew where to relieve the pain. After that, it all comes down to applying the right amount of…"

Roman stiffens as she digs a thumb forcefully near his rhomboid major, causing him to stifle a groan.

"-pressure."

Da Vinci releases her thumb and resumes to uses her fingers and palms, allowing Roman to relax once more. The doctor contemplates as time goes on. Speaking of pressure…

"Leona," he says with a bit of uncertainty. "Do you think we're being too hard on those kids?"

Da Vinci's face fell. She suspected this question was coming, and thought carefully before answering in a calming voice.

"I'd say mostly. We know what the stakes are. They did too when they volunteered for this operation. Those three have been through more hardship than any mage would've in a lifetime. It's very easy to forget they are still just teenagers, trying to hold on to hope wherever they can find it. Not every child is burdened with the task of saving the world. It is in times like these we see the worst… and best of humanity breach the surface."

Roman sighs.

"I'm afraid, Leona. Did I crush their hopes? Mashu's especially?"

Da Vinci hums gently as she rubs.

"I don't think she needs you tell her if she should keep fighting. In fact, I would go as far as saying she outgrew you. Mashu now looks to her friends; the masters and servants, for strength. For her to defend them so passionately shows how much she has grown as a person. She puts her faith in them because they give her hope in return. We should too."

Roman gives a subtle smile, his melancholy now fading away.

"You're right. If they believe they can still make this work, then we'll be backing them up all the way. We will work extra hard for them."

"Extra work? Well then…"

Da Vinci moves over to the right a bit and whispers in his ear.

"If we're going to be pulling long hours…"

A slight blush starts forming on Roman's face. He gulps as the Caster's fingers slowly dance along his shoulders to his neck. The flustered doctor can picture the scenario being implied by the sultriness of her voice:

Leona, retiring to her quarters after a long day of working…

She invites him in, the lights dimmed as if to set the mood…

"I am soooo sore…"

With a single clap of her hands, "Careless Whisper" starts playing on speaker.

She kneels in front of her bed, facing away from him.

The lady brushes her long hair over shoulder before pulling down the top of her dress.

Her shoulders exposed, she looks back and beckons him closer.

"Mind loosening me up?"

She looks away, completely entrusting her aching muscles to him.

His fingers reach out, followed by his palms. They inch closer and closer, almost-

A poke on the cheek snaps Roman out of his fantasy. He gasps in surprise and turns to face Da Vinci, who wore a deviously smug look. Rubbing the site on his cheek, the doctor was utterly dumbfounded as she stands up, and walks away as if nothing happened. She finishes in a chipper voice:

"I'm gunna need a cup of coffee…"

-

Gudao was sitting on a bench in one of Chaldea's hallways, waiting for Gabrielle after taking Mashu back to her quarters. She eventually walks up to him, taking a seat beside her brother.

"How is she?" Gudao asks.

"Mash is just cleaning herself up. She'll be joining us later."

"That's good…"

"She's a tough cookie Gu-dork. Our adorable kouhai will be better in no time!"

Gabrielle gives her brother a playful pat on the shoulder, lifting his mood. Gudao turns to face her, admiring his sister's optimism. Her face turns to one of concern when she notices bags under his eyes.

"You look freaking awful. When was the last time you got any sleep?"

Gudao answers reluctantly.

"I only got 5 hours last night. I can't sleep much anymore…"

Gabrielle knew why that was, but it didn't make the reality of it any easier on her conscience: The stress of recent days was getting to him. Gudao casts his head down in regret for worrying her. He almost jumps when she gently puts her hand over his. His alarm washed away when he sees the look of empathy coming from his sister. She asks him softly:

"Is something on your mind?"

Gudao collects himself and looks straight ahead, thinking carefully before answering.

"I was just thinking about how far we have come. Where we've been… what we've seen, done… and how much farther we have left to go."

Gabrielle contemplates solemnly.

"Yeah… becoming mages… Jumping through time… battling servants, monsters, a demigod... We had some crazy turns and close calls."

Gabrielle turns and smiles.

"Quite the trouble-magnets aren't we?"

Gudao chuckles.

"Yes, we are."

Gudao began to reminisce how he and Gabrielle came to be great friends as well as siblings. Gudao was barely five years old when he and his mother had moved from Tokyo, hoping to move on from the tragic death of his father, an accomplished mage. They had relocated to London, where at the same time; Gabrielle's parents were going through a divorce. Her father, who too was a mage, won custody of her, and moved them out from Belfast. Their parents met and eventually tied the knot; by default making Gudao and Gabrielle brother and sister.

Looking back, forming a connection was awkward at first, as they both kind of ignored each other. It wasn't until they started going to school together when things started to mesh. Gudao was the excelling academic, but was frequently bullied by his peers, mostly for his background. Gabrielle stood up for him, despite some insults thrown her way as well. They grew to depend on each other over the years; working together to eventually reach top of the class at The Clock Tower, earning the recognition of Olga Marie Animusphere, who recruited them for the Grand Order Initiative, along with 40 other masters.

They were taken to Chaldea, where in addition to meeting Mashu, they formed comradery with Romani Archaman and Leonardo da Vinci. When Lev Flauros betrayed them, they lost Olga Marie, along with the other master candidates. Olga's consciousness was banished during the singularity, making it impossible for her to ever return. There was not even a trace of the other masters during the incident, leaving Gudao and Gabrielle as the only ones left to continue the fight for humanity's future.

Their path to fulfilling that duty began with Mashu and Arturia Pendragon, their first two servants. Together, they ended the singularity that occurred with Lev's attack and the five more that followed, gaining great allies along the way…

France, during the Hundred Years War.

First Century Rome.

Okeanos, during the Great Expansion.

Victorian-era London.

And the New World: the American Revolution.

Yet their fight was far from over. Both masters knew it, and it was taking its toll. The threat of Solomon still loomed over all Chaldea while the rest of the world remained blissfully unaware.

"You know something Gabby?" Gudao says to his sister. "I think I know why Solomon didn't finish us off in London."

This catches her attention. Gabrielle looks at her brother as he simply stares straight ahead with a serious face. He knew she was listening.

"It's because we are already doing that for him. He sees humans as violent and savage creatures. Our disparity comes out during the most desperate of times. The very fact we are clashing with each other is proof of that. Solomon thinks that we will destroy ourselves before we even reach him."

While he was saying this, Cu Chulainn; in his Hawaiian-getup, was casually walking down a nearby hallway. He was about to turn the corner when he overheard the masters talking. Growing curious, the Lancer stopped behind the corner and listened in, staying out of sight.

"He thought it would be a waste of effort," Gabrielle finishes for him.

"Right. If we are ever going to have a chance at beating him, we need to grow stronger, and unite as a team. Show him not what humanity is, but what it can be. Our demons don't rule us…"

Gabrielle is inclined to agree with her brother. She sighs when it became apparent that they didn't know how to go about doing it.

"We have a lot of problems to solve, mainly getting our servants to work together, purge any animosity between them, and maybe learn some new tricks. Hell… If our training results are anything to go by, it looks like we could use a drill sergeant or teacher or… I don't know..."

That part grabbed Cu's attention.

-Teacher?-

"But rest assured," Gabrielle continues, facing Gudao with renewed resolve. "We will be ready for Solomon. And when we face him again; we will make him regret sparing us."

She grabs her brother's hand firmly, as if making a promise. Gudao faces her once again, and nods in affirmation. Sensing the end of the conversation, Cu decides to go off and leave the two masters alone for now. He had a lot of thinking to do…

Gudao meets Gabrielle's promise with one of his own.

"We'll stop him. And we will do it together."

Gabby smiles and nods in agreement.

"Yeah!"

With renewed hope between the two masters, they knew they had a lot of work to do. They had a monumental problem ahead of them and still had yet to find the solution, but one thing was absolutely certain:

They will overcome Solomon…

And he will never break the chain.