Fate/Zero - The Grand Caster And The Forgotten King

Prologue

Three years before the Holy Grail War, Italy.

"A command seal?" Kirei Kotomine asked.

"Yes, the mark identifies your son as a participant in the Holy Grail War. A stigmata bestowing upon him the power to command a servant." Tokiomi Tosaka answered whilst showing off his own command seal.

Kirei looked down on his and his son's hands in slight concern. 'The Holy Grail War. The battle for an ancient relic that performs miracles.' Kirei looked back at the Mage before them. "But why my son?"

"Normally those chosen by the grail as masters for the servants are experienced and accomplished Mages. It is highly unusual for someone like your son and yourself, who have no connection to magic whatsoever and so young, to be chosen to participate." Tokiomi began to explain.

"Heroic servants?" Shirou Kotomine asked, confused.

"I still find it strange to command the summon spirits of ancient heroes to fight as familiars." Kirei added in.

"Of course. I know all this can be very difficult to believe. But heroes from every age and nation will come back to life in the modern world. Killing one another to viy for supremacy. That is the Holy Grail War." Tokiomi explained.

"Also, there is an unspoken agreement among all involved. To keep this all secret. To ensure this rule is kept, someone of the Holy Church is always sent as an observer." Risei Kotomine added in.

"Should one of us really be judging? A secret battle between Godless magicians?" Kirei asked whilst placing a hand on his young sons shoulder.

"A Mages association member, would be too partial to one party to ensure fairness. And so once again, just as we did some sixty years ago we've recruited your father to watch over and referee our battle." Tokiomi explained whilst pouring a glass of red wine.

"My father will be coming to Fuyuki?" Kirei asked in shock. "But wait, how could this be considered fair? It's a conflict of interests for the overseers child and grandchild to also be a participants." Kirei asked becoming more confused. Shirou reached up and grabbed his father's hand in worry.

"Tokiomi." Risei said for the mage to explain the situation.

"Perhaps it's time we got to the point." Tokiomi said before he started to walk around them in a circle.

"Kirei, everything we've spoken of vus far is just the official background of the Holy Grail War. However, there is an additional reason I have introduced you to Tokiomi Tosaka here today." Risei said before also beginning to walk around his son and grandson in a big circle.

"Actually, we found proof a long time ago that the Holy Grail that will appear in Fuyuki is not the sacred relic that belonged to the son of God." Tokiomi started.

"So I gathered. Otherwise, an order to retrieve it would have been given to us of the Eighth sacrilege assembly." Kirei stated whilst looking to his father.

"Be that as it may, Fuyuki's Holy Grail is far to powerful to ignore. It is an omnipotent wish granting device, who knows what disaster it could unleash should it happen to fall into the wrong hands." Risei explained.

"In which case, the best course of action would be to ensure that the Fuyuki Grail falls into the right hands. Hands that would not misuse it." Tokiomi added.

"The Tosaka's are a family of Mages but they are mages with a long history of friendship with the church. We know what kind of person Tokiomi is and more important than anything else, Tosaka's ultimate intentions for the grail are plain and honorable." Risei explained.

"To reach the root. That is the Tosaka families sole desire. But the Einzburn's and Matõ's have both forgotten the wish we once shared with them. And have other less altruistic plans now." Tokiomi explained.

"It goes without saying that the plans of the other masters will be even worse. Who knows what dark desire they may harbour for the power of the Grail, should they obtain it." Risei spoke.

Shirou backs into his father in fear. And Kirei put his other hand on his shoulder to reassure him. "That being said, I assume that the goal of my son's and my participation is to ensure Tokiomi Tosaka's victory, rather than for us to prevail ourselves." Kirei asked.

"To achieve that goal, we will conduct ourselves in a manner that will maintain the appearance of us being enemies. However, we will actually be working together in total secrecy, to soundly defeat the other four masters and assure our victory in the end. And so Kirei you and your son will be officially transferred from the church to the Mages Association where you will become my students." Tokiomi explained before he stopped walking about in a circle, back where he started.

"The official orders have already been issued." Risei informed them.

Kirei looked down, his eyes shadowed as he held Shirou a little tighter as his son looked up at him in worry.

"You must go to Japan and study the principles of magic, and become a mage of sufficient strength and skill, to command a servant in the Holy Grail War in Three years time when the battles begin." Tokiomi ordered them before finally taking a sip of his wine. "Now then."

"Do you have any questions for us, Kirei?" Risei asked.

"Only one. How exactly does the Holy Grail go about selecting its masters? What kind of criteria does it use?" Kirei asked.

"Hmm. The exact criteria it uses is unknown but, it chooses those masters who need it most." Tokiomi answered.

"So all of the participating masters have a reason to covet the Grail?" Kirei asked.

"Not necessarily, I'm told that in the past there was cases where command seals appeared on those who you would have never have expected. Oh I think I understand. You're still puzzled at being chosen to be a master by the Grail aren't you?" Tokiomi realised when seeing Kirei's expression.

"I didn't expect Kirei to give his consent so quickly." Tokiomi mused as him and Risei watch him leave.

"My son would jump into fire if the Holy Church ordered him to do so." Risei explained.

"To be honest with you, I'm even a little shocked. From his perspective him and his son are being drawn into a senseless war that has absolutely nothing to do with them." Tokiomi added.

"No this is as it should be. Perhaps this ordeal will do them some good. Only a few days ago my son lost his wife. I believe that a complete change of scenery in a difficult new mission to focus on maybe exactly what they need to nurse their wounds." Risei said as he returned inside.

Kirei held his son close as he walked away, carrying his tired son.