"So here we are. Three of us, then? We're rather vulnerable out here."
"Does it matter, really? We should get this started. 's getting boring."
"I admire your spirit, but don't get ahead of yourself, boy."
"Whatever's cool with you, pops. I'm just here to negotiate."
"Please, gentlemen, settle down. We won't get anything settled here if we just argue amongst ourselves."
"...to be honest, that's the only way I see this going down." A shrug. "RIght then. What do you all want out of this?"
"A ceasefire, if at possible. We ally ourselves, dispose of the rest of the masters and servants, then duel each other in honorable combat for the Grail."
"I...well, that seems acceptable. My intentions are along the same line."
"Heh, you guys thought this further ahead than me. All I want out of this is to knock out Berserker."
Eyes narrow at each other. Tension rises.
"It seems we're at an impasse."
"Indeed, madam."
"Well, fuck."
The air thickens with the threat of violence.
"See, I'm not quite willing to accept an alliance with a Master who's out to take out my Servant first."
"I'm not quite willing to make an alliance with the Servant and Master who wounded my Servant."
"You know what? I'm not quite willing to listen to this anymore. Looks like we're all out for different things, so lets just walk our seperate ways, alright? No bloodshed involved, no deaths...just go on as if nothing happened."
Chaos erupts. A massive explosion rocks the bridge, sending debris into the water below. The fireball lights up the night sky like a sun. All three attempt to maintain their footing, to varying degrees of success.
A snarl. "How dishonorable! You'll pay for your trickery, the both of you!"
"I didn't do a damn thing!"
"Nor I!"
"Enough talk! This 'negotiation' ends now! Berserker!"
"Aw fuck, Assassin!"
"Rider!"
Daggers, cudgel, spear. All flash through the air like bolts of lightning. Fire rips into existance, as does ice. Pitch black bullets, shadows amongst shadows, streak through the air like rabid hornets.
Twin daggers barely miss a vulnerable back. The spear grazes past an extended arm. The lightning wreathed cudgel slams into empty air and fragile concrete over and over. None can land a hit.
Then again. The explosions recurr, further shaking the already weakened bridge.
"Master, they're coming from the island!"
"What? What fool would dare attack us?"
"Better pay attention, pops!"
Prana bullets explode forward in a spread pattern. The wizened magus clicks his tongue in annoyance and barely dodges the lot, almost as if by luck. Then the daggers fall like a guillotine upon him, but at the last moment he's saved.
"Please be more careful, Master."
"Damned Assassin..."
"Elliminating."
Once more, the electricity bound cudgel crashes into nothing. Her speed works against her. But so do many things, for all the combatants involved. None can get leeway in the fight.
The young man and the small girl hang near the edge of the bridge. The woman and hammer wielding maiden linger at one side, while the magus and spearman stand ready at the other.
"This is going nowhere...," the youngest of them mutters.
"That is soon to cha-"
Then one last time. This one is...stronger. More volatile. The biggest artillery round yet collides with the bridge and finally sunders it.
"Goddammit!" he screams, just as he's thrown into the water by the explosion.
"Rider, retreat!"
"Of course."
"We're getting out of here, Berserker."
"..."
----
"Damned children...no sense of honor."
'Master. We have company. Bad company.' The voice is tense, worried. Scared, even.
"What...?"
"Oh my, now lookie here."
"Seems like we've finally found someone, goshujin-sama~"
----
"No choice but to retreat to the island...Berserker, let's find out who was so kind as to interrupt our little parley, shall we?"
"..."
----
The young man would've sworn, but he was too busy trying to surface from the cold, black water.
----
"Seems like something was happening on the bridge, Master."
The surrounding panic from the populace was testament to that. "Let's focus here, Saber."
"Yes."
----
"Still nothing around...?"
----
"Master puts me on the most demeaning tasks..."
----
"And so my territory expands."
----
"Phew. Done with here. I'd like to see anyone get out of here alive."
----
Areas scouted. First open contact in the Grail War achieved. The 2-12 bridge has been broken; travel between the two is now impossible. A third party has joined the war.
