Another Route - Fate/Stay Night

Tohsaka Rin looked at the petite blonde in front of her. The girl’s green eyes seemed to bore into Rin’s soul, scrutinizing everything about her in mere moments. Something about this felt off - as though it went against the natural order of things. But Rin couldn’t deny that this was the proper Servant she had summoned. Everything had gone to her meticulously-crafted plan.

“I ask you… Are you my Master?” The blonde girl’s voice was firm, noble. There was no hint of malice or subterfuge. This was the voice of a pure-hearted soldier. Rin noted the elegant braiding of the Servant’s hair, an element that seemed as natural to the young woman as her regal bearing, yet seemed too pretty for a seasoned warrior.

“I am Tohsaka Rin, the Mage who summoned you,” Rin said as authoritatively as she could muster. “I am your Master.” Her voice trembled at the end, but from nervousness or excitement she couldn’t tell. “Please state your True Name and class.”

The blonde girl, clad in an ornate blue dress with heavy gauntlets and a breastplate, appraised Rin intently for a moment then studied her surroundings before speaking. “I am the Saber class. My name is Artoria Pendragon. History knows me as King Arthur. Please, address me as Saber.”

Rin gasped. She had summoned *the* King Arthur? And *he* was truly this beautiful young woman before her? This didn’t make much sense, but Rin knew as a Mage that common history was rarely true to life. Still, this was a little hard to bite. Of course a Magus of her caliber would summon the strongest Servant class, but King Arthur? She raised her eyebrow curiously and tossed her dark brown hair over her shoulder. “What proof have you to offer of your True Name?” Rin asked.

Without uttering a word, Artoria extended one arm in front of her and golden light shimmered up from her hand into the shape of a blade. As the light dissolved, it revealed gleaming steel ornamented in gold and blue. This was, without a doubt, the fabled sword Excalibur. Rin could feel the pure mana radiating from the weapon… and the drain it was putting on her magic circuit as well as the Bounded Field that encompassed her workshop.

Just as quickly as she had revealed the blade, a gust of wind flowed up from the ground over the weapon and obscured it from sight. Artoria released her grip on Excalibur and its oppressive wave of mana was no more, the weapon now reverted to its Spirit Form. The golden-haired girl gave a slight smirk and said, “I trust this shall suffice as proof?”

Rin nodded numbly, her surprise outweighing her pride. As the two young women stood awkwardly in the relative silence of Rin’s workshop, a terrible sound shocked them both.

“RRrrrrRRRRrrooowwwwrrrrrr,” grumbled Saber’s stomach. Her face flushed bright red and she looked to the side in embarrassment. “Could I, perhaps, partake of the scones on your desk?”

Rin blinked and glanced at the snack she had prepared and forgotten prior to the Summoning. With a slight smile, she gestured toward the tea and scones and said graciously, “Please, help yourself!”

As Saber took the ornately-carved chair that faced Rin’s desk, she sat down gracefully and poured a cup of the piping hot tea. There was a brief moment of hesitation before she picked up a scone and munched on it happily.

The look of bliss on Saber’s face as she ate sent a strange pang into Rin’s heart. How could someone so noble look so… cute? Rin felt a faint flush across her cheeks and she banished the thought immediately. This was no simple girl - this was the King of Knights, her Servant in the Holy Grail War. But the strange ache in her chest did not abate.

Rin took a deep breath to steady her body and her mind. This summoning had taken an incredible amount of mana and burnt through no small number of the gems in which she had stored it.

“Master, you seem to be quite tired. Perhaps you should rest for the night so you can be in top form for the battles to come?” Saber’s voice was firm, yet caring. “I will keep watch through the night to ensure no harm befalls you.”

Rin nodded. She was quite tired… it was late. The 2am summoning despite the odd behavior of her clocks was a feat unto itself given she still had to endure her school routine for appearance’s sake. She looked at the Command Seals on her hand - two opposing concentric arcs with a line extending toward her wrist - and clenched her fist with a smile. She *would* be the victor of this Holy Grail War.

On the way to her bedroom, Rin could feel Saber behind her, a tickling in her mind that seemed to relay information about her Servant. It was a comforting feeling - a bond that needed no words. She hesitated near her bed, about to undress when she glanced at Saber. Saber, mindful of Rin’s modesty, has positioned herself near the window and stoically studied the environment outside. Rin quickly dressed in her pajamas and climbed into bed, stealing one more glance at the young woman by her window before closing her eyes.

Several long minutes passed before Rin felt movement behind her. She rolled over to look where Saber had been standing, but instead found Artoria standing there wearing naught but a slip, her hair loosened from its braid and bun. Rin blinked in surprise, about to ask what the slight young woman was doing, when Artoria leaned forward, placing a finger to Rin’s lips, indicating silence.

What followed was an experience that Rin would never forget - Artoria intimately serviced every part of Rin’s body with her fingers and her tongue, caressing her in ways that Rin could scarce imagine. The ecstasy of the experience was transcendent. Rin bit her lip and struggled to make no noise. But why? There was no one else in the house! Why shouldn’t she cry out her pleasure? She opened her mouth and…

“Master!” came Saber’s voice from the window. Rin’s eyes snapped open as she awoke. “You… seemed to be having a very intense dream,” Saber went on to say. “Are you… well?”

Rin’s body was radiating heat and a sheen of sweat covered her head to toe. She looked to Saber, still fully clad in her armored dress, then down at herself. What the hell was that?!

It was then that she noticed Saber’s face was beet red. In a low voice, Saber muttered, “Just so you know, I can feel what you feel through our bond. Especially when the feelings are strong.”

Flustered, Rin smoothed her hair and her pajamas and replied, “I’ll keep that in mind.” She fanned herself with one hand and thought to herself, This Grail War is going to be more intense than I expected…