I'm actually pleased at the response the first chapter of Primordial Song got. Just keep in mind, the story being published as a full story will be some time. I intend to write the story up to the rough beginning of the Babylonia Singularity proper, which will be about 6-7 chapters worth of material, but I want to get at least some material set during the Singularity proper, when Chaldea arrives, by watching through the anime adaptation. I think you'll be surprised by the Masters appearing too. Yes, I said Masters, plural. Three of them, to be precise. Yes, one of them is a Potterverse character, but the third, a canon Nasuverse character, will come as a surprise, and hopefully a pleasant one.

As of publishing this chapter, I'm almost done with the third, which is written from Tiamat's POV. While not as alien as the canon Tiamat's mindset, I think it brings across how much she evolved. It's a nice little chapter showcasing some of her thought processes and what she thinks of the situation, as well as her having a nice chat with Quetzlcoatl.

Anyway, enjoy.

PRIMORDIAL SONG

CHAPTER 2:

QUETZLCOATL

The people watched them in fear as they were led through the streets of a town called Eridu. Harry had to wonder why. Then again, considering he was in the company of a Servant who may very well have conquered them, and was being taken to meet her boss, well, that wouldn't help matters. And there was the fact that he was being accompanied by Tiamat. Even if the people didn't recognise her, her monstrous features probably didn't help.

He didn't need to look at Tiamat to see her current expression. She frequently had a sorrowful expression, true, but he knew it had deepened. He halted, before turning and giving Tiamat a hug. The deity didn't hesitate to return it, emitting a gentle song. After a moment, he returned to following Jaguar Warrior, as they went towards a ziggurat.

There was something both ancient and yet new about it. He also noticed that perched on top of it was a large, round stone, which seemed to be glowing in the fading light of dusk, an aurora-like aura playing around it. Whatever it was, Harry could feel the power.

Harry, Tiamat sang gently to him. Another divinity approaches.

"Hey, Kuku!" Jaguar Warrior called out. "Your purrfect minion has caught herself some interesting prey! We've got a human who doesn't belong here, and some near-naked dragon chick. I stopped them before they could succumb to temptation!"

Harry and Tiamat both shot Jaguar Warrior glares. But before they could rebuke the strange catgirl, someone else did. "Would you listen to that? Some animal is yowling about the little birds it caught and is trying to show off to its owner. ¡Vete! Go back on patrol."

"But Kuku, I'm very hunnngryyyyy!" Jaguar Warrior complained.

The one who was talking approached them from where she had, apparently, been wrestling a rather large and muscular man, her skin lathered with sweat. "Then go catch something," she said. "Or do you want to join me in training, yes?"

The newcomer's vicious grin suddenly filled with a multitude of razor sharp teeth, and Jaguar Warrior moved so fast, it could have been considered Apparition if it weren't for the silhouette of smoke and dust she left behind, like a cartoon character. But as soon as the catgirl was gone, the newcomer's expression changed, and she turned to Harry and Tiamat. "Lo siento mucho," she said with a warm, welcoming smile. "But she annoys me, yes? She keeps trying to be my friend to mooch off me, amongst so many other things."

Harry nodded absently, though he couldn't help but stare at the newcomer, the one Jaguar Warrior called 'Kuku'. She appeared to be a tall woman, with a body that, while muscled, was still very attractive. Her pale skin was flushed and sweaty with what had to be some sort of effort, while messy tresses of blonde hair framed utterly beautiful and serene features that seemed to be meant to be cheerful. Her emerald eyes, so much like his own, matched the green jewels she wore, including a piercing at her bottom lip, and she appeared to be wearing a skimpy version of a dress right out of the Aztecs or another Mesoamerican culture.

"Yeah…I have to ask…are we your prisoners or something?" Harry asked. "Or is this just a misunderstanding?"

"You can be my guests, yes? As long as you don't cause any trouble, you're free to come and go if you wish, though it might be a tad difficult to do that. This land is infested with demonic beasts, though I'm sure your companion there is strong enough to deal with them, yes? She radiates divinity. A rather familiar divinity, actually."

"I think we'd better speak of this away from prying ears," Harry said. "Anyway, my name is Harry Potter. And can I ask your name, please?"

"My, how polite you are? And you don't smell of fear as much as so many do. I wonder if it's the company you keep, or the pain I see in your eyes." Her smile became a sad one. "You're a long way away from home, yes? You don't belong in this time and place, any more than I do. I doubt I can help you return, but I can maybe help out in other ways, yes? Oh, right, you asked my name. I am Quetzlcoatl, the Feathered Serpent. Encantada, and welcome to my realm…"

Vile and viscous gunk sprayed all over the surfaces of the room they were in, including the startled Aztec goddess. Screams of pain and disgust emanated from the victim of the substance as they underwent a startling transformation, their appearance darkening. Emerald eyes met emerald eyes in fury.

"…What the fuck was that?" Harry asked, his face a study of disgust and fury as he glared at a mug still partly filled with the vile substance.

"…Chocolate," Quetzlcoatl said, puzzled. "Made the traditional Aztec way. Mixed in with chilli, vanilla, honey, and…oh. You probably expected it like you drink it in your time."

Harry, realising he was making a scene, grimaced at himself, even as he felt the chilli kick in. "Yeah, sorry." He turned to Tiamat, only to find her enjoying her own mug. She sang a soft note of contentment as she finished…with a chocolate moustache on her lip that she licked away.

"I believe the Europeans called it Theobroma, Food of the Gods," Quetzlcoatl said conversationally. "Some in both the Mayans and the Aztecs liked to either mix it with human blood, or use dyes to make it look like blood. They had this obsession with human sacrifice, yes?"

"So, what, are you demanding hearts or something?"

Quetzlcoatl scoffed. "You clearly don't know much about Mesoamerican mythology, Harry Potter. I was one of the few deities who despised human sacrifice."

"Yeah, and while we're on the subject…you're meant to be an Aztec deity, right? But…you look like a European. Blonde hair, green eyes, pale skin…and you're a woman. My grasp on Aztec myth is admittedly shaky, but I thought Quetzlcoatl was male."

"Ah, well, the appearance is easy to explain, yes? I am associated with the planet Venus. This body is based on that of your Roman goddess Venus. In addition, I do appear to my followers as one with pale skin. Indeed, there was, supposedly, a prophecy I would return as a pale-skinned warrior…" Her face fell. "That is part of the reason Cortez and his Conquistadors managed to do what he did to my people. They were not sure whether or not he was my latest advent. As for being a woman…well, we Mesoamerican deities started as symbiotic bacteria that came from space. We came with the meteorite that put an end to the reign of the dinosaurs, yes? We bonded with a number of hosts. This body is based on one of my favourites, the woman-king who took the name I would eventually take myself, Quetzlcoatl."

"I…see," Harry said, uncertainly. "I think. Sorry for…" He indicated the chocolate covering the room they were in. He then cleaned it with a Scourgify.

"De nada," the blonde goddess said with a smile. "Though what time do you come from? I'm guessing late 20th Century, early 21st."

"I had an accident involving some rather volatile magical substances," Harry said. "It was 2012. But…"

"I believe the current year, by your calendar, is 2655 BCE. Now, you introduced yourself, but you haven't introduced this one. I was curious, especially as I felt the signature of her divinity not so long ago. From one who claims to be Tiamat's second advent. And yet, she's very different in appearance."

Harry looked at Quetzlcoatl sharply, as did Tiamat. As Tiamat emitted a warning note, Harry said, "And what would you intend to do?"

Quetzlcoatl leaned forward and gave a sinister grin, once more, filled with sharp, shark-like teeth. "Oh? And do you think you could do something about it? I can tell she's weak, weaker than I. I could take you both on and win long before the bell rang. If this was a lucha de apuesta, you'd lose your masks or your hair, I guarantee."

"Lucha da what?"

"Oh!" She clapped her hands together, dispelling the sinister atmosphere, and her smile became more genuine. "You don't know of lucha libre?"

"…I know it's Mexican wrestling, with masked wrestlers…and that's about it."

"Well, that won't do at all! A lucha de apuesta is where they bet their masks on the outcome of the match. Or their hair. Ah, lucha libre! I once got summoned for a Holy Grail War, yes? And I saw it on TV, and I thought, what a brilliant sport. It affected my true divine self, as well as my aspect on the Throne of Heroes! A means of battle without weapons, without death! Luchadores and luchadoras flying through the air as if on wings! ¡Maravilloso!"

Harry and Tiamat shared a bemused look at the Mexican deity's enthusiasm. "…Weren't you supposed to be threatening us or something?"

"Oh, right, sorry, I got sidetracked. Anyway, it wasn't so serious, yes? More of my making a point than making a threat. The one I met had more of the feeling of this one's divinity, and yet, it was mixed in with something else, something more actively malevolent. Whereas this one's divinity, while lessened significantly, is nonetheless pure. I'm guessing that the one claiming to be Tiamat's second advent is an impostor using her power, and that this one is the real Tiamat, or part of her anyway. You look so much more adorable than that bruja I was talking to."

A faint blush and soft smile came to Tiamat's features when she heard that, and Harry turned to her. "See? Someone else calls you adorable."

"Laaaa…"

"So…" Quetzlcoatl said. "I'd like to hear about how and why you came here. I can make some guesses, being a goddess of wisdom and all, but I'd prefer to hear the story from you…"

Harry, albeit reluctantly, discussed the circumstances that led to his ending up here. He left out Goetia's true identity, though he did say the so-called Solomon they met was an impostor. And Quetzlcoatl listened attentively, before, after he finished, she gave him a gentle hug.

"You poor guy," Quetzlcoatl said softly. "You've been through so much, yes? And yet…you've done something so many would be hard-pressed to do. You earned the allegiance of a Beast of Calamity, or at least part of her. Do you not comprehend the sheer impossibility of what you have done? A Beast of Calamity represents one of the fundamental evils of humanity, a bit like the Seven Deadly Sins of your Christianity, but more fundamental than that, yes? More primal. Tiamat, from what I know, she represents Regression. And yet, you managed to coax her away from her mindset, at least in part. Enhorabuena."

"…Aaaa," Tiamat sang out, looking a little put out. Harry knew she was jealous at not being given a hug herself.

"Ah! And you, Tiamat…you've done well." Quetzlcoatl gave Tiamat a hug as well. "This one, you should keep by your side, yes? Still, the question is, what next? If this cabron masquerading as Solomon is responsible for this Singularity…well, I am somewhat aware of what has happened, partly due to the meeting I had with the two goddesses. It was a meeting intended to begin a possible alliance. We were told by the one who claimed to be Tiamat that the course of human history has been wiped clean by the King of Magi, the false Solomon. We have been given an opportunity, so she claimed, to reshape history as we see fit, to enslave or annihilate humanity. Given that the power of deities is on the wane by this point in history, we were led to believe that this could be a chance to revitalise that. I only came into existence in this period a short time ago, and claimed Eridu, Ur and the surrounding territory as my own."

"And what did you intend to do?" Harry asked.

"The false Tiamat, she desires destruction and chaos. She despises humanity. The other goddess, I am not so sure, but I doubt she has what you and I would think of as humanity's best interests in mind, no? But I love humanity. I want to save it. I love you all, all your potential. One day, you will spread out to where I came from, from the stars. Continual progression and evolution. Now, how can you do that when you're dead?"

"And the other deities?" Harry asked.

"My territory is south of Uruk, where King Gilgamesh currently reigns. North of Uruk is where the false Tiamat is currently establishing her base. We've been here a fortnight, so…"

"We must've been falling through time for that long," Harry mused. "Long enough for the fake Solomon to put his catspaws into position."

"And at the centre of it all is the Holy Grail," Quetzlcoatl said. "That is the grand prize we goddesses are competing over. Not the cup that your Jesus Christ was said to have drunk from at the Last Supper, but rather, an extremely powerful magical engine, capable of achieving True Magic. It's what brings we Servants into these places. Gilgamesh, I have been told, is in possession of the Grail, though that in itself may not mean much. His vault is said to contain every known treasure in the world, so a Grail may not be out of the question."

Tiamat frowned thoughtfully, a similarly pensive hum escaping her lips. "Then I'm guessing Uruk should be our ultimate destination, if only to find out whether Gilgamesh possesses the Grail…or was given it by the false Solomon. He brought up the Grail while explaining his plans to Tiamat," Harry explained. "I didn't quite understand what he meant at the time, I only heard part of it while eavesdropping. But he said something about how he uses the Grails to alter history or something."

"That does make sense. To change history so drastically, you'd need something capable of True Magic at the very least, and that's without going into the Counter Force," Quetzlcoatl mused. "In any case, you two may stay here, at least for the time being. Mi casa es tu casa, yes?"

"…Thank you."

Quetzlcoatl started when she heard Tiamat speak those words in English. It was rare that Tiamat would speak in English, even though she could understand it, albeit after patient tuition from Harry. She preferred her native tongue. But Quetzlcoatl recovered quickly. "De nada," she said with a smile. "That being said, I have no doubt that either the false Solomon or the false Tiamat have agents in this time and place, to say nothing of the third goddess in the tentative alliance we are forming, Ereshkigal, Mesopotamian deity of the Underworld. I would be wary of her sister too, Ishtar, for I have received intelligence that she walks abroad as a divine Pseudo-Servant. Well, not so much walking as much as flying around like a rich girl driving her daddy's sports car, only it's a heavenly boat that doubles as a massive longbow. Isn't mythology a grand tapestry, yes?"

"Marvellous," Harry snarked. "But…thanks, Quetzlcoatl. I appreciate the help."

"…Stop, you're making me blush," Quetzlcoatl said, looking a bit embarrassed. "It's a bit strange to be thanked as a deity. Mortals curse us and blame us as much as, if not more than, they praise and thank us. I am a goddess of war as much as I am of the sun and wind and knowledge. These people here, they fear me, and I have to perpetuate that fear, so that the other goddesses do not cotton onto my true intentions. Advertising my intentions too much would be suicida, yes? I may be strong, but I am not stupid. Of course, if an envoy of one of the other goddesses asks, I will say that you are my prisoners. It's unlikely one will, though, we communicate via a special chamber that links us."

"Fine. But still, thanks again, Quetzlcoatl."

"You are very welcome, and in any case, I should thank you for your story and the information you brought me. I do not intend to be a pawn to a monster claiming to be King of the Magi, not when humanity is at stake…"

CHAPTER 2 ANNOTATIONS:

So, we've had Quetzlcoatl being, well, Quetzlcoatl. Seriously, she is easily the best Servant of the Babylonia Singularity, followed closely by Ereshkigal. Then again, it's not like that Singularity was lacking for interesting characters. Hell, they made Gilgamesh likeable. Gilgamesh. I know he has his fans, but I despise his Archer version. Caster Gilgamesh, while still a pretty unlikeable dick initially, actually is a much better character. At least he actually cares about people.

Anyway, Quetzlcoatl is always fun to write. I like how, despite her seemingly frivolous and silly nature, she's not just compassionate, but smart too. In fact, I find it funny that she is actually designed by Rei Hiroe of Black Lagoon fame. To think, she is the opposite of the likes of Revy or Balalaika. I mean, aside from being a beautiful and badass woman. She'd eat them both up for breakfast via a lucha libre match…

No numbered annotations this time.