Fate 0. Prologue

Today is a very unfortunate day for Emiya Shirou, a red-haired young man with a standard height like any other youths who begin to mature after turning 22 years old.

Five years have passed since he survived the fifth Holy Grail War in Fuyuki, where he became the master of Saber servant and met with his Parallel future counterpart that came from an Alternate time-line, Servant Archer [Counter Guardian EMIYA].

After completing his education at Homurahara High School, he decided to accept Tohsaka Rin's offer to continue his magecraft education at Clock Tower-London.

Aside from being a bodyguard for Tohsaka Rin and a temporary butler for Luvia Edelfelt, he spent his daily life in London studying and researching a variety of knowledge regarding magecraft, as well as how to live a proper and true magus. This is because during his life in Fuyuki, his father, Emiya Kiritsugu never taught him about (common sense) the procedures for becoming a true magus.

Until now his life in the Clock Tower is 'quite' normal like every magus in general. (not including the times when Rin or Luvia went berserk as usual).

However, in the end those normal days ended right this morning.

It all started when he picked up a letter that 'looked' normal from the desk, a letter that is directed to him by none other than The Grand Marshall himself, Kischur Zelretch Schweinorg, holder of True Magic [Kaleidoscope], a magic that was able to connect between different parallel worlds.

'Shit! This is a bad sign! I have to get out of London right now! There's nothing good about dealing with that crazy old vampire! ' Shirou thought as he immediately threw the letter without opening or reading it first. Because whatever its contents will surely make the life of people who read it having a bad luck!

It is common logic in the Clock Tower, that Zelretch is a creature that needs to be stay away from as much as possible like a dangerous infectious virus! You have to stay away from anything related to him!

Frantically, Shirou picked up the backpack from his room. Then he take his wallet, Visa, passport, and other important documents to get out of this country (England) as quickly as possible to another country, island, or other places far away from Zelrech's reach.

After Shirou felt sure he had put all the other important items in his backpack. He hurriedly open the door of the room, go down the stairs, then opened the front door of the apartment. And-

A blinding light enveloped Emiya Shirou who had just come out of his apartment.

[LINE! LINE! LINE! LINE! LINE! LINE! LINE! LINE! LINE! LINE! LINE! LINE! LINE! LINE!]

"Uuuggh..." Shirou Emiya groaned as his eyes slowly blinked open and found himself face-to-face with the cold hardness of concrete. Grudging hands pushed himself up, allowing him to take a better look around, though through yet bleary eyes.

He had been lying in the middle of an empty street. And it was cold. Judging by how dark and cold it is, Shirou assumes that it's probably around midnight. Even though currently he's wearing his favorite green sweater, it only do little in protecting him from the cold.

Cooled by the midnight air, the concrete he had been sleeping on may as well have been a solid slab of black ice. When a gentle breeze blew, it bit into his body like sharp fangs.

It was only then that Shirou realized just how numb he felt. It was like his blood had been frozen. He could not even bring himself to shiver, so chilled as he was.

'Where am I' Shirou wondered. His thoughts were as sluggish as the movements of his body. He could not recognize the street he was in, nor any of the signs on the street posts and shops that lined the sidewalk. They used the Latin alphabet, but he didn't know any of the words, because none of them were written in English.

Shirou had no idea how did he suddenly found himself waking in the middle of empty street during midnight, in a place that he didn't recognize. The only thing that he could remember before waking up in this empty street was him coming back to his and Rin's shared apartment, then he found a letter directed to him from Zelretch, then he threw the letter without even reading it first and quickly pack up his stuff as he decided to leave London so that he can get away from Zelretch's grasp, but then when he just exited the apartment suddenly a bright light welcomed him and the next thing he's-

'This must be that damned old vampire's doing. I'm sure of it!' There's no other logical explanation of how suddenly he end up waking up in this empty street. This must be Zelretch's doing. That infuriating old troll managed to got him first before he could even escape.

'Screw you, Zelretch! Which parallel world did you send me to this time?' Knowing Zelretch's true power, he can easily conclude that the Grand Marshall has send him to one of many parallel worlds that Zelretch has visited. But for what purpose?

Shirou surely hope that the Grand Marshall didn't send him to this parallel world just for his own amusement.

Shirou began to shuffle forward, dragging his feet as though they were iron weights. He rubbed his hands together, trying to put even a little warmth back into his body, but it was like rubbing ice against ice, and he soon stopped and settled for hugging his arms close to his body.

He had no idea where he was going. He walked with no real sense of direction, driven only by a primal desire to find some place warm to rest. He soon find it in an old house that looks to have been abandoned for years. It wasn't the most ideal place to stay for the night, but it's better than sleeping in an alleyway or under the bridge.

However, when he was about to enter the old house, he saw that all the windows and doors of the house, had been latched on by wooden planks. There is no alternative way to enter the old house, the only way to enter the house is by peeling away the wooden planks that's blocking the entry way.

Using his projection magecraft, Shirou traced a crowbar and use it to peel away the wooden planks that has been used to barricade the front door.

After peeling the last of the wooden planks from the front door, Shirou dismissed the crowbar as it disappear back into the ether. He put his hand on the door handle and twisted, he is surprised when he realized that the door wasn't locked.

Shirou pulls the door and close it again immediately as he enter the old house.

After successfully entering the old house, Shirou felt a little warmer. However, the temperature inside the house still feels too cold for him. But fortunately, Shirou found that the house had a fireplace, which meant he could make a fire to warm himself.

Now, all Shirou needs to do is look for flammable objects such as wood, paper, cloth, etc. to be used as fuel to make the fire.

With that Shirou then begins searching through the entire house, while he's searching for any flammable objects, he noticed that there are still a few items and furnitures left in this old house. It seems that the previous owner had left these items and furnitures on purpose before they left this house. Though, he had no idea why they left them, but then again it's probably because the previous owner didn't consider these items valuable so they decided to left them here.

A few minutes later, he returns to the room with the fireplace while bringing some items to be used as fuel to make the fire.

He put all the flammable objects that he have collected in this house into the fireplace.

"Trace on." After chanting his signature Aria, Shirou proceed to trace a magic dagger with the power of the fire element from his Reality Marble. It took less than a second for the dagger to materialize in his hand.

By channelling a little bit of his Mana into the dagger, fire then starts to form on the blade of the magical dagger. Shirou then used the magical burning dagger as a makeshift lighter to ignites the flammable objects inside the fireplace.

Once the fire is ignited, Shirou displels the dagger back into the ether and sit right in front of the fireplace with both of his arms extended.

"That's better." Shirou sighed in content while feeling the warmness of the fire permeating into his whole body.

After feeling himself quite warm and not cold anymore, Shirou decided that now was the time to find out what was the reason Zelretch brought him to this parallel world.

Zelretch is indeed someone who is very annoying and can easily get on someone nerves, he has a bad habit where he will arbitrarily drag random people into his "Operation of Parallel Worlds". Usually he would do it for his own amusement, but besides that he also usually had a very good reason for doing what he is doing. Zelretch might've been a very infuriating person, but he's not an evil person.

Despite that the Grand Marshall has become one of the dead apostles, he still remains as humanity Ally.

From the looks of it, it seems that now it's his turn to be dragged into Zelretch's "Operation of Parallel Worlds", but for what reason? He had no idea.

Zelretch is a very mysterious and unpredictable person. Even more unpredictable than Archer's battle tactics.

Which why it's nearly impossible for people to understand him, not even the so called Queen of the Clocktower, Lorelei Barthomeloi, could understand him.

However, no matter how mysterious and unpredictable Zelretch is, the old man of the jewels won't leave the people he dragged into one of his devious schemes, clueless on what they're supposed to do.

So, there's no way the Grand Marshall of the Clocktower would just dropped him in this unknown parallel without any some sort of clue of what he's suppose to do while he is in this world.

He must've left him some sort of clue, a letter or something for him, somewhere in his pockets or Backpack maybe?

Shirou began to check his entire pocket, but he found nothing there. So he turned to check his backpack. Not long after that, Shirou pulled a piece of paper that looked like a letter from inside his backpack. And it looks like the same letter that he threw away back in the apartment.

.

Dear Emiya Shirou,

Congratulations, you were chosen as a victim of [Operation Parallel Worlds]

You need to know, right now you are in a parallel world called Draconic Deusu. A world where The Age of Gods persists to the modern era.

Because The Age of Gods still survive today, the influence of [Gaia] and [Alaya] in this world is not as strong as in our world. And the quality of Mana in this world is even better than the quality of Mana in our world.

And since the influence of [Gaia] and [Alaya] in this world is very weak, Phantasmal creatures such as Gods, Devils, Angels, and Dragons can roam freely in this world. So don't be surprised if one day you meet one of them.

What do you think? A very wonderful world isn't it?

But unfortunately, this wonderful world will soon be destroyed because in three years from now, this world will be attacked by evil gods from the world of Evie Etoulde.

And I want you to help the warriors in this world to fight those evil gods when the time comes.

I know that this task sounds too heavy for you to do alone. Therefore I will also help you from behind the scenes. But, you will be the one to do the Heavy lifting.

Whatever happens, we cannot allow these evil gods to dominate this world. Because if that happens, then it's only a matter of time before those evil gods decide to attack our world too.

All right, that's all I want to say. Let's work together to stop those evil gods, Shirou-kun.

P.S. If you think this mission is still too difficult for you to do alone, I suggest that you join one of the supernatural organizations of this world. But if you want advice from me, then I suggest that you seek help to a man named Azazel. He is one of my acquaintances in this world. I'm sure he will gladly accept you in his organization.

P.S.S. If you don't know where to start, then I suggest you go to the Cathedral tommorow morning at ten. There's something that's going to happen there, and I want you to be there when that happens.

.

Shirou frown after reading the contents of the Letter from Zelretch, now he understood the reason why Zelretch brought him to this parallel world.

Draconic Deusu, a world where The Age of Gods persists till the modern era. A world where Phantasmal Species like Devils, Angels, and Dragons are free to roam the world due to the lack of influence from Gaia and Alaya. A world of infinite possibilities. An ideal world for any magus who wants to step-up their research.

Shirou could understand why Zelretch find out this world Wonderful. After all, based on how Zelretch described this world on the letter that he just read, this world is like a fantasy world that exist in the present era. And he had to admit that he also feels intrigued with this world.

However, there's something that's bothering him, and it's about the task that Zelretch gave him. The task where he must help the warriors of this world to fight against the otherworldly evil gods that seeks to invade this world in the next three years to come.

That is what Shirou couldn't understand. Of all the great magus in Clocktower, why was he chosen to carry out an important mission like this?

Shirou was nothing but a second-rate magus who was initially inept as a magus. And even though he has been training hard for five years under Tohsaka Rin's guidance, his abilities in magecraft are still limited due to his matching origin and elements as sword. Which makes him unable to learn any other types of magecraft besides Projection, Alteration, Reinforcement, and any other type of magecraft that relates to manufacturing that he hasn't learn yet.

It's true that he had a Reality Marble that can create an unlimited number of powerful swords to cover his limitations in the field of magecraft, but it doesn't guarantee him a victory in a battle against gods.

Although he once defeated demi-god when he participated in the fifth Holy Grail War, Gilgamesh was an exception because his Unlimited Blade Works was basically the natural counter to the King of Heroes' Gate of Babylon. And Shirou was only able to win because Gilgamesh wasn't even fighting seriously since the beginning.

Shirou doubted he could carry out this great task well. However, even if he wants to withdraw from this mission, he knows that Zelretch wouldn't take "No" for an answer.

So, the only thing that he could do at this point was just go along with what Zelretch has planned and hoping that he can accomplish this important task successfully without dying in the process. Rin would never forgive him if he doesn't return safely to her.

'Well, I guess it's settled then. Very well you old vampire, I will follow everything you have planned. ' Shirou murmured in his heart as he made up his mind to carry out the task Zelretch had given him. After all, this task could be his first step to becoming a hero.

Shirou watches as the letter in his hands disperses into thin air in a similar way to how his projected weapons dissapear when he dispelled them.

Shirou let out a long breath. He could feel it, he could feel that the mission he received would be a great experience, even bigger than the fifth Holy Grail. An experience that forever change his life, but he doesn't know if it's for the better or worse.

And now that Shirou has decided to accept and carry out the tasks that have been given by the legendary Kaleidoscope, then to ensure this mission runs smoothly, he must make careful preparations.

He needs to plan his every move carefully, formulate new battle tactics, and maybe creates some new weapons as well.

Fortunately, Shirou was already proficient in using his Reality Marble to create weapons based on his own ideas. And it's all thanks to his mentor and secret lover, Rin who has taught and guided him in how to master the power of his Reality Marble for the past five years.

So, creating some new blades and defensive armaments shouldn't be that hard. But, if he were to creates something powerful like a sword with dragon-slaying or god-slaying attributes, then it might take a while for him to create. Creating such complex weapon is not as easy as replicating a Noble Phantasm, you know!

'Well, better get some shut eye then. There's a place where I had to be tomorrow.' Shirou decided to get some sleep after watching the letter from Zelretch that he just read disappeared into the ether.

He decided to get some sleep not because he's tired or anything, but it's because he felt bored and there's nothing that Shirou could do at the moment to occupy himself. He would rather get some sleep rather than doing nothing while for the sun to rise in the Horizon.

Shirou lay his body down on the floor and use his backpack as a makeshift pillow. And before he went into his temporary slumber, he begins to wonder what kind of big event that's about to happen at the Cathedral tommorow. There must be a reason why Zelretch wants him to be there by tomorrow. And according to the letter, it seems that there's going to be some kind of terrorist attack at the Cathedral tommorow. But, he wasn't sure if that's what going to happen. Guess he just have to see what's going to happen tomorrow.

Shirou closed his eyes and listened to the sound of his own breath. Without anything to do, he felt a boredom come over him, slowly lulling him into sleep.

When Shirou finally fell asleep, he had a dream of fighting against a certain red knight in the red plains of unlimited swords

[LINE! LINE! LINE! LINE! LINE! LINE! LINE! LINE! LINE! LINE! LINE! LINE! LINE! LINE!]

A certain handsome young man who appears to be in his late teen, with short dark green hair, and gentle smile on his face, wearing a rather expensive outfits, can be seen entering a strange looking fortess while being accompanied by four women dressed in nun outfits, and three men who wore a large robe.

This handsome young man is not an ordinary man. His name is Diodora Astaroth, a high-class devil who was born in the prestigious Astaroth household, and he himself is also the next heir of the Astaroth household ever since his older brother became the new Maou Beezelbub.

Diadora Astaroth had always grown up under the shadow of power. Both his father and his brother were great men, powerful men – beings of such strength and influence that they made their enemies tremble and their allies look upon them in worshipful awe.

His father had near singlehandedly raised the Astaroth name to a preeminent position in the Underworld. His success had been such that the number of rivals that could challenge them now could be counted on a single hand, while those whose families surpassed theirs were fewer still. His brother was even better, having seized the name of Beelzebub in the aftermath of the great civil war that had torn their species in half and driven them to the brink of extinction mere centuries ago. The name marked him as one of the four kings of the Underworld, and his elevation had brought their family even greater prestige.

It was for that reason that Diadora knew how to recognize power for what it was. He knew what it felt like on his skin, how it smelled in the air, and how oppressive the sheer weight of its presence could be. He could feel all that and more now from the human woman sitting across from him.

To say that she was a beauty would have been a miserable lie. Her features were too sharp and angular; her eyes too cruel. The lilac dress that she wore was wasted on her, Diadora thought, though he took special care not to let any of his distaste show. If she so wished it, this woman could snuff out the spark of his life with the barest twitch of her finger. Such was the power of her Sacred Gear, Incinerate Anthem. Instead, he spoke to her in smooth velvet tones, as a gentleman might while courting a lady of the noblest birth.

"Lady Walburga," he began. "Before we begin, I would like to express my utmost gratitude for agreeing to meet with me on such short notice, and what an honor it is. Even in the Underworld, tales of your strength and beauty are known far and wide."

Walburga's lips curled upward with pleasure. "When one from an esteemed household such as yours comes knocking on my door, only a fool would turn them away. The honor is all mine."

"As kind and graceful as you are beautiful, I see," Diadora replied. "Still, as the guest, it would be remiss for me to not present my lovely host with a gift." He clapped his hands once. "Ladies."

Two women dressed in the habit of nuns stepped forward from the shadow of the corner of the room. They bore between them a large wooden chest bound in dark iron. It was easily large enough to fit the both of them inside with some room to spare. They carefully set the chest down in front of Walburga and opened it, and the lady in lilac's eyes went wide in astonishment.

"This..." she breathed, stunned by the display. Without even caring for appearances, she fell to her knees to get closer to the treasure within, letting the gold, silver, and all the polished jewels and alchemical reagents of every sort tumble through her fingers.

Diadora allowed himself to smirk while the woman wasn't looking. 'What an easily impressed cow.'

"I've heard that your group, Hexennacht, has fallen onto hard times ever since it broke away from the magicians' High Council," Diadora said calmly. "I could not bear to hear that one of your strength and talent be forced to eke out such a miserable existence in this ruined castle. It is like the casting of pearls before swines. You deserve far better than this."

"I do," Walburga said. Her eyes were still glued to the treasure. "But what can we do? Hexennacht is now nothing more than a group of rogue magicians. We have no base of support, Mephisto saw to that, and we face his witch hunters almost daily."

"Mephistopheles." Diadora sneered at the name. "I had heard that he had escaped to the human world by making a pact with a strange old vampire at the peak of the Underworld's civil war. They say that he rules over the High Council like a king. A poor replacement for the true kingship he desired but was too afraid to fight for, unlike my brother, no doubt."

"More like a tyrant," Walburga snorted, finally raising her eyes and retreating back to her seat. It seemed that it was only now that she realized how shamefully she had been behaving, and her pale cheeks were touched with pink. How ridiculous. He had already seen her drooling over his gift like a begging mutt, and only now she tries to salvage any semblance of dignity? "Any magician who does not agree with his methods, he labels a stray and has them hunted like dogs. Any who try to challenge his rule, he has executed."

"Well, if he's unable to keep magicians of your caliber on his side, then I've no doubt that his days are numbered. But I digress. This is not what I've come to talk with you about. What I want to talk about is Hexennacht, and what I can do for it... provided you are willing to do something for me."

"I'm listening."

'Of course you are, beggar that you are'. Diadora wanted to roll his eyes. Instead, he began explaining his proposition.

"There is something that I want that neither I nor any of mine can easily retrieve. I would ask that you and your magicians bring it to me. In return, I would shower you with enough wealth to make what you have here look like a mere pittance. Do it well, and we could establish... shall we say, a relationship of trust."

"And just what is this 'something' you want us to get?" Walburga's eyes gleamed. "Surely it must be quite the valuable prize if you're willing to pay so much for it."

'Greedy cow'. "Only for me, I assure you," Diadora said frostily. "I doubt it would prove nearly as valuable to you. Have you heard of the Blessed Maiden of Rome?"

"I have," Walburga answered. "Asia Argento. The Church's pet. It's said that she has an extremely powerful Sacred Gear. Is that why you want her?"

"Hardly," Diadora scoffed. "I could not care less about her Sacred Gear. I want her."

Walburga's eyes flicked over towards Diadora's servants, and her lips faintly curled in disgust. "Your taste in women, I see. But you know, the Grigori are always looking to buy those with rare and exceptional Sacred Gears. I'm sure they'd pay quite well for hers."

"Not as well as I would, I assure you," Diadora said. "And they would pay you but once for the job, whereas I would continue to be your patron long into the future." He shrugged and stood up. "But if you'd rather not accept my request, then that is entirely up to you. I cannot force you to help me. What a shame, though I suppose the Fallen will pay you adequately enough."

"It was a joke, a joke," Walburga said hastily. "Hexennacht will gladly retrieve this girl for you. In truth, I already have a plan."

"Is that so?" Diadora arched an eyebrow and sat back down. "Then let's hear it."

"As it so happens, Asia Argento is scheduled to deliver a series of public sermons across Italy over the next month as a sort of rehearsal for a continental tour next year," Walburga explained. "The Church is attempting to bolster the current decline of believers, you see, and so they've placed one of their most valuable assets in a uniquely vulnerable position."

"I see," Diadora nodded. "So you mean to ambush her during one of her sermons. However, she'll still be heavily guarded. And if they place Asia under Dulio's guard, then any attempt to seize her is doomed to fail."

"So we shall take a calculated risk," Walburga said. "A small group and I shall attack one of the Church's strongholds far away. This will compel the Church to reassign Dulio in order to deal with me. With that opening, my magicians will infiltrate one of the girl's congregations, slay the exorcists, of which I expect there to be no more than one hundred or so, and take the girl before making their escape."

"A good plan. Bold. Swift. Precise." Diadora nodded and smiled. "It would appear that I can rest easy and leave this matter entirely in your capable hands."

"You certainly can."

"In that case, I will take my leave now so that you can begin to prepare." Diadora stood up and began heading towards the door, his two servants bowing as he passed them by. Then he stopped and turned back around. "Oh, before I forget, there is one more thing. A special request, if I may."

"What is it?"

"If at all possible, I would prefer the girl to be brought back to me unharmed." He flashed a smile at her. "Spoiled goods are so much less appetizing, you see, even if she can heal herself."

"Of course," Walburga replied, and once more that mildly disgusted look appeared on her face, but only for a second. "I assure you, you will not be disappointed."

And thus, the hunt for the vatican's Holy Maiden begins!

.

To be continued

A/N : Hello everyone, welcome to my story. I'm not really good with introduction, so I'll keep it brief. I'm a rookie writer in Fanfiction, and I really love anime. Especially the Fate series and DxD series. Which is the reason why I decided to make a crossover story about this two series. My plan for this story is that, I'm trying not to follow the original plot too much because I want to make this story different, but then again it might be difficult to write. But, I'll try to write it anyway. And if you notice, I've borrowed some of Orange Peon's ideas from one of his story called The sword of King and Heroes. I did it because I really like his ideas of the story and I'm sad that he never finish it. And so, with his permission, I'm going to adopt some ideas from his story, and of course I'm going to put in my own ideas as well so that it won't look like a direct copy paste from his story. At the very least, I wanted to expand his ideas in The Sword of King and Heroes a bit. Anyway, I guess that's it for now. And sorry if this chapter is too short. But then again, this chapter is not even the first chapter yet. It's still the prologue of the story. Please leave some Reviews for me. And if there's any misspellings or grammar errors then please forgive me. English is not my first language.