Prologue

Clacking plastic and rustling papers. A harmony of silence and motion, as work commenced through the night within the highest floor of the building. A relatively sparse room, with magical trinkets strewn about as they resonated their arcane presence around the room. A simple, if rather large desk sat at the middle, a thick green cloth layered over it. A simple modern computer was all there is to the table, aside from the various stationery objects all about. Said computer was in the process of being used, as old and withered fingers worked through the keyboard with practiced efficiency. Beside the computer was a thick, leather bound book opened at the middle, with a pen writing through it on its own without a person to wield it. And of course the person that sat at the desk, working with both a modern piece of technology and an old, ancient journal.

He wore an entire black ensemble; black dress suit and pants with his blazer draped over his chair. Circle and diamond like patterns adorned the suit all around his body, along with a bright green tie. An elderly looking man, yet his posture was perfect as he sat on his chair. The wrinkles on his skin barely phased him as he went on with his late night work. His black hair, long and tied into a ponytail. And his eyes, a bright green that almost shone in the relatively dark office space. He was an ancient man of renown, for he was the chancellor of the very university he was in, and right now he was content in going about his work in the silent night. All alone in his office.

Far from the desk, near the door to his office, a cascade of colors and reflections formed. A Kaleidoscope. Color bathed in the dimly lit room, almost drowning out everything else inside it, and then it was gone. Yet in the absence of the light, was another elderly looking man in its place. He wore a black suit, not unlike the man whose office he now stood in, though in return he also had a black cloak draped over his shoulders. His grey hair was kept short, albeit tidy, and a beard adorned his face. But what stood out was his face; a small confident smile that challenged Fate itself. One that, if according to legend, would meet its match with the man that sat before him.

The man kept on working, unflinching as if he hadn't even noticed the sudden entrance that appeared right in front of him. The grey haired man merely chuckled as he took his first step, making his way to the desk. He crossed the distance and sat himself comfortably on a wooden chair that slid towards him from the side of the room. He waited for a good few seconds, before he officially made his presence known.

"Chancellor."

The clacking keyboard and the pen stopped, as the chancellor looked up from his work to meet the expected eyes of his guest. His green eyes flashed slightly, youthful mirth showing through his wrinkled face.

"Marshal."

A small smile formed on the guest's face, responding to the open handed welcome. "Ah, it seems you are familiar with my notoriety."

The chancellor shrugged. "An interdimensional vampire is noteworthy in and of itself."

"True, true." The guest settled himself down before he continued. "I have a proposition."

The chancellor raised an intrigued brow. "Is that so?"

The guest nodded. "Are you familiar with the Holy Grail War?"

The chancellor narrowed his eyes ever so slightly, scrutinizing his guest. Then he raised his hand, palm open facing his guest's face, then he pulled. A wave of green magical energy washed over the guest, before it all converged on the chancellor's palm, washing over his own body. The guest shook his head; he had expected this, knowing who the chancellor was. But expecting is not the same as experiencing, and it was quite the experience he had just went through.

"I am now. What of it?" the chancellor finally said back as a thick, green leather book materialized behind him, the pen moving to said book as it began writing down something. The guest could see his name, and a short history of himself being dictated, before it went onto his skillset.

The guest merely smirked, before he stood up from his chair, making way to the open balcony that was connected to the chancellor's office. The chancellor stood up from his own desk to follow his guest, the both of them now looking over the horizon. And it was a glorious visage. The magnanimous campus the building was in, and the surrounding cityscape that built the university. An amazing proof, of blending magic and technology. Modern sciences, and ancient magics.

"This is quite the view you have here, Chancellor." The guest remarked with awe.

"Centuries of change and growth, I remember when this place was a mere outpost." The chancellor commented, standing beside his guest.

"It's a shame not many worlds follow the same rules." The guest said, turning his gaze to the chancellor. "I've observed many, and the uniqueness of them is always astounding."

"I can expect, from a man with your talents. But I'm sure you're not here to go sightseeing." The chancellor said in jest.

The guest chuckled. "I might actually do that right after this."

"And what is this, Marshall?"

A diplomatic smile formed on the guest's face. "How would you like to go on another adventure?"

"Adventure? That's interesting." The chancellor brought his hand to his chin in thought. "I haven't been on one in centuries."

"And this one will be one for the ages, I guarantee it."

"Bold declaration, Marshall." The chancellor said to his guest, leaning on the railing of the balcony. "What sort of adventure is this? I assume it involves this Holy Grail War you spoke of before."

"In some ways." The guest said with an acknowledged nod before he set out to further explain. "As you have recently known, the Holy Grail War is a ritual, where seven Masters and seven Servants battle it out against each other to achieve the power of the Grail. A single wish from an omnipotent artifact."

"Servants? What's so special about these Servants?" now it was the guest's turn to raise a brow.

"I thought you already went through my memories."

The chancellor waved his hand dismissively. "I glossed over them, and freed my mind of those memories. Going through a timeless individual isn't what I'd like to call a pleasant experience, after all."

"Right." The guest nodded in understanding. "These Servants are Heroic Spirits of legend and myth, coming from beyond time and space as they are summoned to battle for the Masters, acting as familiars. There are seven class-containers; Saber; Lancer; Arche-"

"Alright alright, it's coming back to me now." The chancellor said, his hand raised to stop his guest. "And people clamor to this device for just one wish?"

"Would you not seek out such an artifact, Chancellor?" the guest asked, earning a bellowed chuckle.

"Unless you achieve your wishes through your own means, they exist only to be perverted. Many legends exist of those whose lives have been wrought by a wish. So no, Marshall, I would not seek out such an artifact." The chancellor explained.

"I see. The centuries have blessed you with glorious wisdom, Chancellor." The guest remarked. "It's fortunate, because wishes from a Grail are not why I offered this proposition in the first place."

"Oh, is that so? Then by all means, continue." The chancellor said, gesturing to his guest.

"There are many a reasons I have in offering you this. Most of all, the Grail itself has been corrupted, by a devil-like entity, and no doubt whatever miracles it could enact; whatever wishes it would grant; would all but be guaranteed to be perverted, as you said. I'm hoping that, an outside influence let's say, could remedy this problem.

And another reason, one that will no doubt tickle your fancy, is that it'll be fun." The guest said, knowing just what kind of person he was speaking to.

The chancellor kept his gaze neutral, before it morphed into a joyful smirk that infected his guest. "Well, who am I to turn away fun?"

"I'm glad to hear it, Chancellor." The guest said with a genuine smile.

"I have one condition, Marshall." The chancellor straightened himself as he addressed his guest. "I would like to see the previous ritual in person."

The guest grimaced. "Are you sure? The previous ritual from the one I wished for you to join is quite the disturbing one."

"All the more reason to then." The chancellor said with confidence. "Plus, it would allow me to further situate myself with the world that I will be joining."

"Then it shall be done." The guest said. "Shall we go?"

"Hold a moment." The chancellor walked back into his office, reaching to his desk as he pressed a button on the phone next to his computer. The floating book that was being dictated closed and disappeared as he reached near it. The guest also returned, going back to the chair he sat, and the both of them waited.

Not a moment too soon, a knock came from the door. He called for them to enter, and they did, walking towards him. A middle-aged man, dressed in purple robes. Unseeming. "Yes, Chancellor?"

"It seems I would be taking an unscheduled vacation, Lorik. I might be back in a few days, a few weeks, months. Possibly years." The chancellor said, as if it wasn't something extraordinary. Judging by the middle-aged man's lack of a response, it might seem so. "Just a heads up, and to alert the others to watch my place."

"As needs be, Chancellor." The man said, before turning back and leaving the office.

Now just the two of them once more, the guest stood up with his hand reached out. "Are you ready, Chancellor?"

The chancellor stood up with a smile on his face, as a green ripple of magic washed over him. His elderly appearance was hidden by a younger disguise. "Yes. But not as the Chancellor."

"Oh, then as what, if I may ask?" the guest had, without a doubt, asked.

The chancellor's hand met his guest in a handshake. "I will leave as Rubick, Son of Aghanim. The Grand Magus."

The Fourth Holy Grail War was, without a doubt, deplorable. Not the Heroes that were summoned to fight in this Ritual, they were all noble in their own peculiar ways (except the one summoned as Caster, as obvious even to the mundane). Everything else though, was truly disgusting. The big one obviously, was the corrupting entity within the Grail, just as the Wizard Marshal had explained before. He would need to further read up on it, but the darkness that exudes from it, felt just like the demons back home. He would not be surprised if it had some sort of infernal connection. The next reason as the Masters that were involved. These chosen magi, supposedly the best this world has to offer; and yet they were all questionable individuals. Truly, he might actually have to extend this "vacation" of his, if only to just right the absurdities that exist here. But he thought against it. This was something that was rooted to their very idea of what constitutes as magic, or magecraft as it's called here, and of course the rules that governed their existence.

Still, he wished this world wasn't so, demanding. It pained him that people are willing to strip their own humanities. In fact, he would actually say that there wasn't a single human in that ritual.

Except for the doll that tried so hard to be a human. Yes, the homunculus. She was the life that was worth living for. She was the shining light within this damned Ritual. And he did not appreciate the irony that this homunculus was destined to die. No, she was engineered to die. Which was, frankly, bullshit. He had a mind to talk with the supposed husband, just to see if he actually had some sense in him. But, as they say, people are a product of their environment. He most likely was like that because he was shaped to be like that.

Thinking about the homunculus put him in a sour mood. He wished the husband tried a bit harder in keeping the homunculus alive. Hell, he wished he himself could try and save her, but he didn't know anyone who had abilities that involved saving someone in that manner. A green book materialized next to him, floating in the air as it flipped through the pages. His hand was open, a green tinge of magical energy layered on it as he read through every single entry in the book. All the notable people he's met in life did not in fact have abilities that could help him. There were a few of them that had power over the underworld, but he's sure they wouldn't transfer over.

The pages stopped at the last entry, the latest entry. The green layer dissipated, and he took the book into his own hands, and began reading. Kischur Zelretch Schweinorg. The interdimensional vampire, as he had personally called him. Quite a useful ability, if he had to say so himself. He would've used it right now, just to go back and try and get something that would help her. Truly, the idea of something that works beyond space and ti-

His green eyes widened as he remembered something, one of the last things he and his fellow heroes; friends had created together. The book in his hand disappeared, and he held it out behind him. He hoped it would work, despite him being elsewhere right now.

He felt wind wash over him, the sound of pressure readjusting as they came into one, and smiled. He turned behind, and saw the beginnings of a portal or gate forming. Starting from a tip at the top as they diverged, separating as it went down until it stopped, before a line connected them. A triangular gate, to the Vault he and his friends created. A Vault to house the artifacts that played an important role in their lives, in one way or another. He could walk in and take the artifact out himself, but he had set a rule for himself, that he would not leave this world while on his vacation.

Along the endless corridor, doors lining each side to single rooms, all housing artifacts of different kinds. One of the doors opened, and an artifact flew out, heading straight to him. An elaborate and elegant censer of some kind, bronze in make and a good 60cm in height, almost clean as remnants of red dust like fragments dirty the top filter while green dust fragments were at the bottom. The triangular gate then disappeared, leaving him by himself along with the artifact that he had pulled. He brought it to his front.

The Spirit Vessel.

Yes. This was the perfect artifact in this situation he was in. Now, he hoped that he wasn't too late.

It's been a couple of hours, and people were still struggling with the carnage. At the very precipice of the destruction, all emergency respondents were doing their best in trying to quell the disaster. At the center of it all (well, the center of it from those who knew what had happened), he was alone. The Masters had left, along with the reincarnated Servant (and he himself was surprised that one of them had found a survivor. This carnage didn't seem like it'd leave anything behind). He closed his eyes, and empathized with the surroundings. Anger, sadness, despair. All these negative emotions, swirling here in the pit of destruction. But most of all, the presence was still strong.

He let out a breath that he was holding and nodded. He held out the extravagant censer, and activated it. It began vibrating, taking in the surroundings on its own. And channeling himself through the artifact, he combed through the landscape. His mind, full of clarity as he weaved through the remnants of the dead, the souls that lingered thanks to the hundred souls to go through, and none of them were the one he was looking for. One by one, as fast as he magically can, he sifted through them unflinchingly. Each soul he passed, he grew wearier, more despondent. Was he in fact too late? Did he miss his window of opportunity? Damn! If he onl-

There! Fading! He activated the artifact immediately, and the censer resonated with magical energy as it began pulling, and pulling, and pulling! The censer exploded in a red and green explosion of dust, he faltered briefly before he steadied himself, holding onto the artifact carefully. When the dust settled, literally, he inspected the censer. Now, green smoke filtered through it, as if an incense was lit within it He kneeled down, setting the artifact onto the charred and burnt ground, and called to it.

He closed his eyes, his hand hovering over the censer. "Irisviel." He whispered.

He felt it. The soul inside the artifact stirred. He chuckled, pleased that the first course of action he did (aside from watching over the Grail War) was something that involved denying someone of their underserved fully sat himself on the charred ground, patting the censer as if he was trying to comfort the soul that was now contained within it. Step 1, done. Now he'd probably need to head back to his apartment for a quick refurbishing. A cold shower, perhaps a bite to eat. Then onto step 2.

He just needed to get a ticket to Mifune City first.

AUTHOR'S NOTE

i wanted to finish my other Dota/Fate crossover fic. but, i've already written five chapters for this, while the other one's stuck in writer's block. i'm like a quarter in FotA, but i'm not getting any more.

i still wanna finish it, especially since the ending is only a couple of chapters away, but with nothing coming out it put it on the side burner. otherwise, i wouldn't be writing anything if i didn't.

it's why i'm also writing other things at the same time.

well, hope you guys enjoy seeing Rubick take the center stage.