Chapter 9

Woo-Hoo New Chapter!

Welcome to my new chapter of the 8th Master! In this Chapter another servant was introduced! Ardrice (OC character) had formed, unexpectedly, an alliance with Shirou and Rin. Will the three of them win the Holy Grail war? And why is the new servant seemed to have a strong interest to Lion-O? Stay Tuned for more! If you like my fanfic or noticed something is wrong, please leave a review!

Disclaimer : I do not own Thundercats 2011 and Fate/Stay Night! All of the characters here are purely fictional!

Now onto to the story!

Homurahara Academy – School Hallway

"Tch. He's relentless, I give him that!" Rin pivoted around the staircase and blasted off, missing a few steps, towards the ground. She landed with both of her feet straight and gasped in the sudden surge of pain, her own weight crawled all over her body in an electrifying way.

"Damn it!" she cursed and took off again. Shirou who was following behind her, quickly dashed down and smack his face on the wall, letting out a short yelp. "What kind of alchemy conversion-"

"He's controlling and manipulating the liquid properties of the whiskey!"

Rin explained to Shirou. And even if so, the rate of conversion was great. That's the Defensor's Thaumaturgy for you! She couldn't help but grimace in bitterness. Ardrice's family magic was great and she couldn't help but feel a bit envious to the Defensor's Thaumaturgy. The girl then stopped in front of a door, she slammed the door open. "Shirou over here!"

"Coming!"

The boy dashed and moved his legs as fast as he can. He slid down the opened the door and slide it closed, just as Ardrice came into view from the stairs. The Young prince's face showed an intense grin, he scanned the whole corridor with stern, hard, eyes, inspecting every corners of it. His right hand clutched and sway his half full tasty whiskey which he tilted to his mouth. Come out, come out, wherever you are…his maddened smirk widened more.

Suddenly he stopped after his ears caught a ruffled movement. He slowly shifted his eyes to his left and landed on the sign hanging on the door's handle. 'CHEMISTRY ROOM' the sign says, Oh they're in here huh. The young prince then opened the door and began to inspect.

An ear-numbing silence greeted the young prince. The tables were clean and the stools were upturned over it. Cabinets, that contain neatly arranged vials or bottles of chemicals, stood empty on one corner. Ardrice observed, his eyes squinted as he slowly skimmed the room, looking for hiding spots where the two mages could hide from him.

"Tch. They're not here-"

"Take this!" Rin emerged from one of the tables and aimed her right hand at him. "Gandr Shot!" a hazy black orb ejected, from her right forefinger, towards Ardrice. The boy swiftly moved his head back, avoiding the shot inches away from his face. "Shirou now!"

Shirou-! Shirou then popped out behind the teachers table and charged towards him. His right hand gripped around a ruler which then began to glow in blue green. "Trace on!"

"Damn it!" Ardrice cursed as he tried to step back again but the ruler curved forward, growing its length, and slashed the bottle of whiskey in his hand. My whiskey! The young Prince's eyes widened in horror at the brown liquid that began to pour to the floor.

"I got you-!"

"Alchemy Conversion no: 2, Pellet!"

Ardrice barked as the liquid morphed into small pellets and shoot forward. "Agh!" Shirou winced as pellets hit him. Though it didn't tear his uniform or puncture his skin, it did however leave red, round, marks all over his body. The boy was forcefully thrown to the floor, the other mage however leaped from the table and pointed her hands at the shooter.

"Gandr shot!"

Aghh! The Tohsaka's and their curses, guess I have to use that huh?! Ardrice cursed and leaped to the left, disappearing from Rin's view. The girl however followed him, she took a sharp turn to the left and she was out of the door. However she let out a short gasped of horror and her left hand quickly took out a green-square gem out of her left pocket and threw it on the ground. A large green shield covered her against a hail of bullets coming from a submachine gun, held by the man.

"Heh, since you took out my whiskey, might as well shower you with bullets." Ardrice laughed triumphantly, his hands held a small foldable submachine gun. "Have a taste of my Magpul FMG-9!" he shouted and his gun roared more.

Rin's shield eventually loose and the girl jumped back inside the room.

"Shirou, how long are you going to lie down in there!?"

"Rin…did Ardrice brought a gun to school!?"

"No he brought firecrackers, seriously Shirou!?" Rin said in frustrated tone. The sound suddenly stop, drowning them again with heavy dangerous silence.

Reload! Ardrice's gun clunked out as his magazine ran empty. He opened his school bag but unfortunately for him, Rin saw him reaching out for another round of magazine. The girl jumped out again and took out a purple crystal. "Shirou, follow me!" she barked at the boy before throwing the crystal to the floor. The whole corridor was then enveloped by a thick smoke of purple.

"Shit!" Ardrice cursed as he finished reloading and gunned the two again. Bullets whoosh passed and disturbed the smoke. His eyes caught a faint silhouette of Shirou's back descending again to a flight of stairs. They are going to the ground floor and they could hide from him again. He wouldn't risk loosing them, the young boy dashed madly to them. He slide down along the rails of the stairs and just as he reached the ground floor, a shadow blocked his sight.

"Damn!" he cursed and swiftly ducked from Shirou's elbow who hid behind a corner of the landing. The young Prince swiftly slid down on the floor. He pivoted his hand and pointed his gun but the half-bake mage kicked his right hand, dislodging the Prince's submachine gun.

"Oh yes, you made me do this!" the young noble man fished his bag again and took out a rod-like object with a hanging pin on top. "No!" Shirou screamed as Ardrice stood and jumped back away from the boy.

"Wait—is that a-!"

"You brought a grenade to school!?"

Rin and Shirou froze in fear as Ardrice swayed the grenade with his right hand, eyes wild and mad. The young noble man wasn't expecting to be cornered by the two magus, the grenade was his last resort. He formed a crooked grin, the situation he was in was dire and he could've avoided it if only he was careful.

I got carried away…oh to hell with this. "Ha, what now you two peasants!?" he shouted in a mocking manner, provoking the two. Rin growled as she took a step back, in fear from the grenade. Shirou, however, only tightened his right hand around the ruler, he hid behind his back while its surface began to glow in blue green.

"I'm not afraid of that grenade-"

"Oh you better be boy. This grenade has shrapnel that could cut through diamonds!"

The young prince explained and watched as the half-bake magus stood still. But then Shirou slowly formed a triumphant smirk, startling Ardrice. Why was the boy smiling, he was the one who has an advantage here.

"Heh, you made one mistake Ardrice! I'am not a diamond!" …Huh? The statement puzzled Ardrice, making him lower his grenade. The young magus saw it, he roared in defiant and charged towards Ardrice.

The Beast-class Master tried to leap back but Shirou wrapped his arms around him, locking the prince in a bear hug.

The two men fell to the floor, making a loud thud that echoed throughout the corridor. Shit-! Ardrice tried to free himself from Shirou but the young Magus only tightened his arms around him.

"Rin, kick the grenade out of his hand now!" Shirou barked the order and Rin quickly sprung into action.

"AHH!" however, before the girl magus could kick the grenade, a loud ear piercing scream of a woman cut through the fight. The three mages stopped their fight, their faces showed a startled expression.

Wait a second-is that-? Ardrice, visibly confused, thought while he shifted his eyes to the door at the end of the corridor.

"Is someone here other than us?!" Rin reacted violently. Just like last time, someone other than them was on the school ground. And that someone could've witnessed their Mage's duel. They'd, unintentionally, exposed their true identity to the world of non-magic people again.

"Shit-! Search for the girl," Ardrice threw orders after he forcefully pushed Shirou away from him. He stood up and fixed his uniform. "Sorry about this you two, but let us post pone this battle for now. A civilian is in our midst." He said in an apologetic manner earning him a glare from Shirou.

"You're right…let's stop for now." Shirou said in a rueful tone, regretting that he didn't win against the young nobleman.

Homurohara Academy – School Courtyard

The three magus ran to the courtyard where the voice had came from. In the courtyard there was a small patch of forest, the voice had most likely came from there. Rin took out a circle shape crystal from her left pocket and she lead the two.

Where is she? Her eyes hardened in alertness, searching for the witness.

"Where is she…?" Ardrice followed closely behind the girl. The Young Nobleman put his grenade back to his left pocket and cocked his submachine gun. The other male magus glared at his action. "Are you going to kill her too, Ardrice?"

"No. Shirou I am not a barbarian like you."

"Says the man who bludgeoned Shinji to death." Ardrice clicked his tongue at Shirou. The man was so annoying and naïve but he only gulped down, restraining his self from killing him.

"There she is!" Rin called and sprinted towards the girl that lying down on the ground. The girl's face was looking at the afternoon sky, her eyes were lifeless and her mouth was slightly open as if she breathed all of her air before passing out.

"What happened?" Shirou kneeled beside the girl. Rin put her right hand on the girl's forehead and then she gasped. "Her life force is almost gone. Someone suck it out of her." She explained making Ardirce looked around. His senses sharpened to his surroundings, whoever had sucked the life force of the girl could be around them.

"Well can you heal her?"

"Yeah I can." Rin said and took out an amber gem. She grasped it tightly around her left hand and it began to glow bright as the girl magus closed her eyes and started chanting a spell.

"Whoever could've done this?" Ardrice turned his back to Shirou, not noticing the boy's eyes flashed a black look. Shirou stood up and moved closer to the boy. "Hey Ardrice…by the way you lose."

What-huh!? Ardrice didn't get what Shirou had said but before he could react the Half-bake Magus wrapped his right hand around his chest and pointed the glowing blue-green ruler to his neck. The young noble man's eyes widened in fright, realizing that he was now at the mercy of Shirou.

"Not too loud you two!" Rin warned them, without turning her head while she devout all of her concentration on the glowing amber jewel.

"That's dirty…Shirou."

"Sometimes Heroes need to stain their hands in order to save the world."

Ardrice cast a dirty look at the boy. The words that he said was stupid and lame and he almost vomited to it. He then made a devious smirk. "Hoh, you think yourself as a Hero? Too late on saving Shinji then-" the young nobleman stopped after he felt the edge of the ruler sharpened. The nerves on his neck felt it sinking into the skin.

"Yes, I'm too late saving my best friend…which is why I'm trying to save you." What…? The Young noble man's maddened frown disappeared and his face shifted to a perplexed look. He was clueless to he said, what did he mean that he wanted to save him? His brows connected as he tried to turn to Shirou but he stopped after he felt the ruler again.

"What do you mean by that?"

"I know that this is war. But this is so stupid. Why do you need to kill a mage over a stupid wish? And is the grail really that good and powerful, if so…why did it cause so much destruction then. Why did it took so many innocent people?" Shirou remembered the fire of Fuyuki city ten years ago, it played right before his eyes and it made his chest ache in sadness.

Shirou…oh that's right. Ardrice felt a heavy dark veil lifted off his eyes, his confused frown had disappeared and was replaced by an understanding one. The sadness of the boy ran through him and it only made him closed his eyes. "Shirou…why do you want to save me?" he slowly asked Shirou again, his tone was low and soft. A tranquil silence enveloped the three magus as a calm wind blew passed them, rustling the trees above and the grass on the ground.

"It's because I don't want you to end up getting lost in the dark. I understand that you've a wish to fulfill but you don't need to hurt other people for it. If you take a dark path you mightn't see the end, you'll be forever in the dark. Alone, lost and weary." The words hit and crawled all over Ardrice's body and it was painful. Shirou's words were so naïve and yet so true.

But I was always in the dark…until—the face of Lion-O flashed before him. The servant who looked at him as a normal human being. And he was the first person who had accepted him for being who and what he was, regardless of his identity and past. A calm and defeated smile spread on his lips. He had accepted his defeat.

"Alright I lose and I shall give in to your request. Really…you're quite handful huh." A heavy disgruntled sigh escaped the young prince's lips. Shirou smiled at him and withdrew the ruler from his neck. "Ardrice, never kill a master again ok."

"Yeah…I won't." the two men shook their hands and then Rin let out a loud moan.

"Finally you two are finished!" she stretched both of her hands, tired from healing the unconscious girl, and faced the two. "I thought you two wouldn't reached an agreement." She crossed both of her arms over her chest and snorted arrogantly at the two.

"The girl is cured. Put her on a bench or something." She started walking away but then she stopped and glanced at Ardrice. "Welcome to the alliance, Ardie." She said and the nobleman made a graceful bow to her. "Why thank you, Rin." The Prince then glanced at the woman, still worried for her life. "Shall we put her in a bench?"

"Good idea." Shirou said and the two carefully lifted the girl student from the ground and began to walk towards a nearby bench. However, without them knowing, a purple colored butterfly hovered on one of the branches above, silently following them. Its wings left a trail of sparkling purple light, its eyes focused on the mages as they help the unconscious girl.

The butterfly had also watched the battle between the three and the one that was watching them wasn't Kirie of the church.

Shirou's Residence – Dining Room

The sweet humming version of Ein Kleine Nachtmusik poured out of Lion-O while poured a hot green tea from a tea cup. He made a glanced behind him, towards the other two servants. Saber and Archer stared dagger at him but the cheerfulness of the Beast-class didn't waver.

"Hmm I should've brought that brioche from last night's dinner." He wondered and he earned a sharp and cold reply from Archer. "No thanks, it could be poisoned."

"By what Archer, Polonium 210 or Cyanide?" Lion-O grinned and tapped his right pants pocket, clinking the vials that contained the poisons that he had mentioned.

What is he doing, what does he mean by our Master's fighting? Saber calmly watched Lion-O while holding her invisible sword from her left hand.

"Done." Lion-O said gleefully. He carried the tray of tea and put it on the table. "Now then…shall we discuss on what to do with the grail?" he asked first as he took the first cup and sip the tea on it. The aroma and taste entered his body and it relaxed him. The green tea of this world was perfect compared to his Kingdom of Thundera.

Saber cast a judging eyes at him. "If that would happen, then it will fulfill my wish."

"If. Saber…if." Lion-O grinned mischievously at Saber, earning him a frown from her. Archer took the second cup and sip the tea on it. "No poison, that's good." He took another sip and calmly breathed out.

"I don't need the grail. I am fine without it." The King of Thundera shifted and eyed him, addled. He was baffled to what the Archer servant said. If he didn't have a wish, then what was his goal? I wonder what is your goal? Servants don't just join the Holy Grail War without a goal.

"Really Archer. You're very weird." Lion-O said with a defeated tone. He gave up from pondering the Archer-class's goal. The Red Archer only made a satisfied grin before he shoot a question to servant Lion King. "What's your wish then, Beast?"

"Its King Lion-O. Archer."

Lion-O coldly said. His eyes cast a serious glare and the air between them become thick and heavy. Saber felt the tension between the two and she knew that in any second this room would become a bloody battlefield. She cleared her throat loudly, calling the attention of the two and disputing the tension.

"Forgive me, King Lion-O-"

"No, no, Saber. To you, Lion-O is fine since we were both Kings." The Thunderian King said in a welcoming way, his dark glare had disappeared as it was replaced by a friendly smile.

Saber gulped nervously to his sudden change of attitude. "Ok, Lion-O. What's your wish then?"

Lion-O shifted his eyes away and looked straight to the courtyard, a serene look of wonder formed in his face and his smile changed into a sad and reminiscing one as a memory played in front of him.

"Well…Saber," he moved his right index finger over the rim of his tea cup as he finished his words, "my wish is to defeat 'Evil'."

Evil? Saber was startled to the King's wish. She was expecting something grand from him but his wish was simple and understandable. The girl king took the last tea and sipped its content, it was good and it made her form a small smile. Lion-O noticed it and he pridefully grinned.

However, invisible to the two, Archer frowned to his words. Skeptic to the King's wish, he shifted his eyes at the courtyard and spoke in a coolly manner. "What kind of Evil do you want to defeat, King Lion-O?"

The King turned to him, his grin disappeared and was replaced by an irritated frown, he didn't liking his tone so he just made an unsure shrugged. "All forms of Evil, Archer."

"Oh is that so? Then you might want to start with that servant in the courtyard." Archer looked straight at the courtyard, gazing the newly arrived servant, and the two quickly darted their eyes in front.

"What the-I didn't notice her!" Lion-O growled at the new servant, a tall and slim lady clothed in bluish-purple robe. Half of her face was concealed by her hood and she was only showing her lips coated with purple lipstick. A sinister smile spread on her lips, her eyes landed on the three servants through the opened windows of the dining room.

"Oh my, looks like I'm notice." She said in a clumsy way, her voice was soft and gentle but menacing and devious. Saber gazed at her and gripped tightly on her sword while Lion-O gulped down as his senses works. "She got a lot of Mana…" he whispered to Saber who only replied with a nod. The aura of the woman was sickening and deadly, every parts of her form was screaming of evil. The King of Thundera summoned his gauntlet and readied his self to attack the woman.

"Oh that's because I'm Caster."

The woman explained briefly and it made the Thunderian King widened his eyes in shock. Caster! No wonder why I couldn't detect her at first. She might've hid all of her mana! He cursed and grunted at the woman who then chuckled in a delightful way.

"Say, you three look so relaxed in there. Can you invite me in? I'm so interested in meeting all of you," she paused as she began to hover towards the opened door, "especially the two of you, Saber-san and…Beast-class-san."

Great I'm famous again. Sometimes, Lion-O wanted to curse himself for not being a normal servant. His class was always the center of attention in this war. "And what do you want from us?" he took a step forward, defying the Caster-class's terrible and frightening aura.

And then everything happened so fast. The Caster-class suddenly swooped in, extended her left hand, and caressed the left cheek of the Thunderian King. Her face was a breath away from Lion-O's and her frightening smirk turned into a malicious grin.

"Why…to go inside of you of course." She whispered in an enticing way and it made the King gasped and took a step back.

"You perverted mage!"

He drew his sword up but the floating Caster quickly flew back and cackled madly to the Lion King's pinkish yet terrified face. She caught him off guard and his squirm was maddeningly and satisfyingly delightful.

Saber stood beside him and brandish her invisible sword, she glared at the Caster for her lewd actions to Lion-O. Archer, however, reacted oppositely and cast an amused smile at the King.

"Well then I shall take my leave. I should not have leave my territory all alone you know."

"You shouldn't have, because I can kill you here right now!" Lion-O snarled and roared at her but the Caster-class only giggled, unfazed to his obvious empty threat. She turned around again, attempting to spite the King more, only to gasped in shock as a sharp air whoosh passed closely on the left side of her face, pulling her hood off.

Caster's full startled face loomed over to the three. Her beautiful stupefied violet eyes were wide while her cheeks and knife-pointed ears slowly turn into red as she realized what had happened.

"Like Beast had said. We can kill you here right now in one blow, but since Saber here is too chivalrous, she won't battle you right now, unless you're truly ready." Archer said gravely to her. His right hand held a large beautiful curved bow while his left hand held a long sword-like arrow which was pointing at the Caster-Class.

"Now, if you're finished, scram. I still need to bake Brioche for our small tea party." Caster detected a threat to his voice and it made her gnashed her teeth in anger.

"You'll remember this!" she cursed and pulled her hood over to her head again and then burst into tiny purple butterflies.

Lion-O and Saber took their swords down as the mana presence of Caster died down. Archer's bow disintegrated and the man took a sip of his tea. "I have to admit, Lion-O. You're good at brewing tea." He commented and Lion-O ignored it. He sat down and frowned at the table. Saber saw his mood was completely ruined so she also sat in silence and drank her tea.

"Um, Archer." Lion-O suddenly called, his voice was low and hard. The King was looking away to his left, hiding his face from the red Archer. "Say…can you really bake Brioche?"

"Yeah."

"Then could you...please…right now?" Saber saw Lion-O's face slowly becoming red while still retaining his bitter frown. He was still embarrassed from Caster's actions. And his pouting face was pretty cute too. Cute, you reminded me of my pet Lion back home. Saber, reminiscently, thought and quickly gulped down her tea even though it was still hot.

"Archer mind if I help you?" Saber said as Archer stood up and cast an inviting grin.

"Why of course Saber. The cat King was embarrassed after all." He commented, slyly, and it made Lion-O' growl in frustration.

Hmph, I'm letting you go this time. However he didn't react violently. Instead he just only lowered his head and sulked, quietly, on the table.