A Twist of Fate (Fate Zero & Fate Stay/Night:UBW)

Chapter 13: The Death of a Dream

Three courageous hearts approached the bridge, brightly lit by mercury lamps. As they stepped from the shadows into the light, it felt as though a spotlight was enveloping them. Like performers getting on stage for their final appearance. Waver Velvet sat on the majestic steed, Bucephalus, with the steady thumping of Rider's heart behind him.

The British teen felt as if he had just sprinted a hundred metre course; his heart beat like drums at a rock concert. Diarmuid walked beside them, wielding his spears and girding his loins.

Waver finally knew what it meant to experience deafening silence. And though there was no audience present for this curtain call, the suspense was irrefutable.

"Rider..."

The King of Conquerors answered Waver with a nod.

Standing on the bridge was a figure who radiated light akin to the Sun's. Its glaring brilliance scowling at the lamps overhead as if they were distasteful counterfeits. The arrogance and unforgiving coldness in his glowing crimson eyes caused the blood in Waver's body to freeze.

It was the King of Heroes, Gilgamesh. Though Waver knew that this was an unavoidable encounter and that a veritable distance stood between them, he felt no less intimidated. Their opponent's tremendous aura bore down on him like the abysmal depths of the ocean.

"Are you scared, boy?" asked Rider, feeling his master's tiny frame tremor against his chest.
"Yeah, I suppose this is what you mean when you say your heart is racing."
"It seems you're starting to understand." said the King of Conquerors with a pleased expression as he alighted from Bucephalus.

Rider planted his feet on the asphalt and walked with a kingly air towards the waiting enemy. Like a scripted scene from a play, Gilgamesh also began stepping forward to meet his opponent in the middle, his golden armor making an imperious clink with every move.

Waver couldn't believe what he was seeing.

"Are they... Drinking?"

Diarmuid's gaze never left the pair conversing in the middle of the bridge.

"They are beginning the battle in proper decorum. It is a conversation among Kings."

"I see you have brought another to our battle this evening. Did you really think that the presence of one more could bring about my defeat?"
"Lancer is a noble knight who seeks only to fulfill his master's wishes. Far be it from me to get in the way of that resolve."
"I did not come all this way to waste precious speech and time on that mongrel. He is but another petty creature I shall trample without remorse. Never mind that, where is that little chariot you're so proud of?" questioned Archer, summoning two golden goblets and a carafe filled with quality wine.

Rider emptied out the contents, "Well... I'm embarrassed to say that I lost it in a match with Saber."
"Did you forget my decision? I believe I told you that I would not defeat you unless you were at your full strength."
"True, the weapons at my disposal are somewhat depleted. However, on this night Iskandar is less than perfect and thus, is greater than perfection."

It was a contradiction unto himself, but Gilgamesh disregarded his incoherence and examined Rider from head to toe. Any ordinary person would have quivered beneath his scrutinizing gaze but the King of Conquerors stood tall and composed.

"I see. Indeed the aura that is emanating from you is unusually potent. It appears you have come before me believing that you have a chance at victory."

Both of them smiled in bitter satisfaction. Then they knocked their cups together and finished the wine.

Though he had lost one of his Noble Phantasms, mana overflowed from the King of Conquerors. The three command seals Waver had used up for this battle were already taking effect. Rider in his current state, could be said to be several times more perfect than before.