The scorched streets of Fuyuki trembled under a surge of malevolent energy, the air thick with the scent of burnt mana and distant thunder. A figure emerged from the shadows, her black armor gleaming under the crimson sky. Saber Alter—Artoria Pendragon, corrupted by this Holy Grail's taint—stood with her sword, Excalibur Morgan, crackling with dark energy. Her cold, golden eyes locked onto the horizon, but then… strange sound cut through the her musings: music.
"—you know I'd walk a thousand miles if I could just see you… if I could just hold you!" Gudako's off-key singing echoed from above, accompanied by the roar of an engine.
Saber Alter looked up, her stoic expression faltering as an RV plummeted from the sky like a meteor. Inside, chaos reigned. Olga's screams pierced the air, her hands gripping the seat as if it could save her. Caster banged on a window, muttering incantations to no avail, while Mash clutched her shield, her voice trembling. "Master, please save us!"
Fou, perched on Mash's head, let out a frantic "Fou! Fooou!" as the RV spiraled downward.
Gudako, unfazed, belted out the final note. "…tonight!" With a snap of her fingers, the RV dissolved into a cascade of fluffy pillows, cushioning their fall as they landed in a soft pile amidst the ruins. Dust swirled around them, and Gudako popped up, brushing feathers from her red hair with a grin.
Olga, however, was not amused. She launched herself at Gudako, grabbing her by the collar and shaking her. "You madwoman! Were you trying to get us killed?!"
Gudako waved her off, her orange eyes gleaming. "Relax, Director. I had it under control the whole time. Plus, we took out those straggling corrupted servants on the way down!" She wasn't lying—her reckless stunt had flattened the remaining servants on the way.
"FOU!" Fou leaped onto Gudako's face, swatting her with his tiny paws. The attack was more adorable than painful, and Gudako just laughed, scooping him up and nuzzling him.
Caster cleared his throat, his robes rustling as he pointed toward Saber Alter, who was now standing a short distance away, her sword raised. "Ahem, Director? We've got bigger problems."
Olga froze, her face paling as she spotted the corrupted king. She instinctively ducked behind Gudako, who stood unfazed. Mash stepped forward, her shield raised protectively in front of her Master, her lavender eyes steady despite the danger.
"Hey, it's King Arthur!" Gudako said, grinning. "Name's too long, so I'm calling you Salter."
Mash blinked, tilting her head. "Wait… King Arthur is a woman?"
Gudako shrugged. "Royal family thing, probably. Only males could be in charge so she lied about her sex."
"Oh… I suppose that makes sense," Mash said, nodding thoughtfully.
Caster interjected, his voice sharp. "Don't be fooled. Her strength isn't physical—it's an obscene amount of magical energy. Defeat her, and the singularity's anomaly should stabilize. What happens after that is your job."
Saber Alter's cold voice cut through the air, her gaze fixed on the group. "I see… you travel with an interesting servant." Her eyes flicked to Caster, then settled on Mash. "But I am more intrigued by this girl and her Noble Phantasm. Prepare yourself, strange one. My sword will test the truth of your shield."
Gudako stepped behind Mash, clapping her on the shoulder. "This one's all you, Mashu. Don't wanna steal all your spotlight. Go get her—I believe in you!"
Mash hesitated, her grip tightening on her shield, but Gudako's encouragement sparked a fire in her eyes. "Yes, Senpai! I'll do my best!"
Saber Alter charged, her black sword slicing through the air with a howl of dark energy. Mash met her head-on, their weapons clashing in a shower of sparks. The impact reverberated through the plaza, cracking the tiles beneath them. Mash held her ground, pushing Salter back with a grunt of effort. Gudako, not one to sit too idly, conjured a cartoonish Bomb-Bomb and lobbed it at Salter. The explosion erupted in her face, sending the corrupted king staggering back in a cloud of smoke.
"Hell yeah!" Gudako cheered, pumping her fist. "Turn up, Caster—your move!"
Caster smirked, raising his staff as mana swirled around him. "Let's see how you handle this!" A colossal wicker man materialized, its wooden frame blazing with magical fire as it trapped Salter within its cage. The flames roared, scorching the air and casting flickering shadows across the plaza.
"Nice one!" Gudako shouted, but her enthusiasm faltered as Salter's sword sliced through the wicker man like paper, the flames parting around her. "Okay, Caster, you suck."
Salter's eyes burned with fury as she raised her sword, its blade pulsing with dark red and black energy. "Vortigern, Hammer of the Vile King, reverse the rising sun. Swallow the light—Excalibur Morgan!"
A torrent of corrupted mana surged from her sword, a beam of destruction that tore through the area, obliterating everything in its path. Gudako called up her next servant. "You're up, Mash!"
Mash planted her shield, her voice resolute. "Unleashing Noble Phantasm!" A radiant barrier materialized, shimmering with light as it met Salter's attack head-on. Mash cried out, her muscles straining as she held the barrier against the onslaught, her lavender hair whipping in the wind. With a final push, she deflected the beam, sending it spiraling into the sky.
Panting, Mash lowered her shield, her face flushed with effort. Gudako rushed over, patting her head gently. "You did good, Mashy. Really good."
Mash blushed, a shy smile breaking through her exhaustion. "Thank you, Senpai."
Gudako turned to Salter, who was already charging again, her sword raised with a battle cry. With a thought, Gudako summoned a towering wall of adamantium, its surface gleaming under the light of the fires. Salter's blade struck it, the impact echoing like a thunderclap, but the wall held firm. It morphed into a massive metal fist, backhanding Salter and sending her skidding across the plaza. Chains of the same material erupted from the ground, wrapping around Salter and pinning her in place.
"Sorry, Salter," Gudako said, her tone almost apologetic. "This is the end—for now, anyway." She conjured a sleek revolver, its barrel glinting as she took aim. With a quick draw, she fired, the bullet piercing Salter's heart with unerring precision.
Salter fell to her knees, coughing as dark blood stained her armor. "Hmph… my power has weakened, unknown to me… though I doubt it would have mattered against you." Her golden eyes met Gudako's, a flicker of something in their depths. "No matter how my fate shifts, it seems I am destined to fall alone."
Caster stepped forward, frowning. "What's that supposed to mean? What do you know?"
Salter's lips curved into a faint, enigmatic smile. "You'll understand in time, Ireland's Child of Light. The Grand Order—the battle for the Holy Grail—has only just begun." With that, she dissolved into particles of light, her form fading into the ether.
Caster blinked, then noticed his own body beginning to shimmer. "Wait, am I getting sent back too?" He turned to Gudako, a wry grin on his face. "If there's a next time, summon me as a Lancer, yeah? I'm better with a spear."
Gudako saluted him playfully. "You got it, L man." As Caster vanished, the area grew eerily quiet, the oppressive energy of the singularity beginning to wane.
Dr. Roman's hologram flickered to life, his voice crackling with excitement. "You did it! Saber and Caster are gone, and the singularity's stabilizing!"
Olga, however, stood frozen, her expression troubled. "Grand Order…" she muttered, her voice barely audible. "How did she know that name?"
Mash tilted her head, concerned. "Is something wrong, Director?"
Olga snapped out of her thoughts, brushing a strand of white hair from her face. "N-No, it's nothing. Well done, Gudako, Mash. Several details are unclear, but this mission is complete. Now, let's retrieve that crystal—it's clearly the source of Saber's corruption."
Mash nodded. "Yes, an immediate—" She paused, her eyes widening as a new figure emerged from the shadows.
A man in a green suit and top hat stepped forward, his grin unsettlingly wide. "Well, well, I didn't expect you to get this far. You've exceeded my plans—and my patience, Master Candidate #48. I underestimated you, improbable child."
Mash gasped. "Professor Lev?"
Dr. Roman's voice crackled through the comms, laced with disbelief. "Lev? He's there?!"
Lev's grin widened, his eyes glinting with malice. "Romani, you survived too? You were supposed to be in the command room. Why do humans always defy their preordained destinies?"
Gudako stepped forward, her hands on her hips. "Because destiny's a scam cooked up by gods to keep humans down. And you, buddy, are giving off major red flags."
Olga's face lit up with relief. "Lev! You're alive—" But Gudako grabbed her arm, pulling her back.
"Hang on, Olga. This ain't the Lev you think you knew. That line about humans was a dead giveaway."
Lev's grin twisted into a sneer as he shed his facade. "Perceptive, aren't you? I am Flauros, one of the Demon Pillars, sent to ensure Chaldea's destruction. Because of me and my allies, your precious organization couldn't see beyond 2019. The world outside is already gone, and if time within Chaldea passes 2018, you'll fade too." He turned to Olga, his voice dripping with mock pity. "And you, Director, have already lost your body. You're nothing but a fading soul now."
Olga's eyes widened, her hands trembling as she touched her chest. "W-What…?"
Gudako's patience snapped. "Okay, you're annoying." She clenched her fist, channeling her Essence once more. Her arm lit with flames as she unleashed an infinite-mass punch, shouting, "FALCON PUNCH!" The force sent Lev rocketing into the sky, his scream fading as he vanished into the distance.
"Ugh, that guy's face was begging to be punched," Gudako said, dusting off her hands.
But Olga's form began to shimmer, her body growing translucent. Tears welled in her eyes as she clutched her arms, her voice breaking. "No… I don't want to disappear like this…"
Gudako's expression softened. "Hang on, beautiful. I've got you." With a flick of her hand, she conjured a Poké Ball, its red-and-white surface gleaming. A golden light enveloped Olga, drawing her soul into the ball with a soft ping. "I'll get you a new body once we're out of here, Director. Promise."
The plaza trembled, the singularity beginning to collapse in a cascade of light and debris. Mash grabbed Gudako's arm, her voice urgent. "Master, we need to go! Dr. Roman, initiate an emergency rayshift!"
As the world around them dissolved, Gudako glanced at the Poké Ball in her hand.
---
Gudako stirred, the soft hum of machinery and the faint scent of antiseptic pulling her from a dreamless sleep. She lay in a sterile white bed, the sheets crisp against her skin, and blinked groggily as voices filtered through the haze.
"Hmm, are you a cat or a squirrel? Either way, you're awfully cute," a warm, melodic voice said.
"Fou, kyu kyu!" came the familiar chirp.
Gudako's eyes fluttered open, focusing on a striking woman with long, brunette hair cascading over her shoulders. Her eyes sparkled with intellect, and she wore an outfit that seemed equal parts artist's smock and Renaissance finery. She was petting Fou, who sat contentedly in her lap, his beady eyes glinting with approval.
"Well, hello, gorgeous," Gudako said, propping herself up on her elbows with a grin. "Who might you be?"
The woman paused, then giggled, her laughter like the chime of a bell. "I'm Da Vinci, Chaldea's resident genius and collaborator—or, if you prefer, the third summoned Heroic Spirit. But we'll get to that later. Someone's waiting for you in the command room." She winked, setting Fou down gently before turning toward the door. "Don't keep them waiting, Master."
Gudako swung her legs out of bed, her orange eyes scanning the room—a sleek, high-tech medical bay with glowing monitors and a faint hum of mana in the air. She stretched and headed for the command room, Fou trotting at her heels with a cheerful "Kyu!"
---
The command room was a stark contrast to the medical bay, its walls lined with holographic screens displaying swirling data and maps of singularities. Mash stood near the central console, her hair catching the soft glow of the lights. She turned as Gudako entered, her face lighting up with a shy smile.
"Good morning, Senpai!" Mash said, adjusting her glasses—a new addition that made her look great.
Gudako's heart did a little flip. Without warning, she launched herself at Mash, pulling her into a tight hug and nuzzling her cheek. "Mashu! You're okay!"
Mash's face turned a brilliant shade of red, her glasses slipping slightly as she squirmed. "S-Senpai! There's no need for this!"
"But you're wearing glasses now!" Gudako cooed, stepping back to admire her. "You look positively angelic. Very beautiful I'll add."
"Senpai…" Mash mumbled, hiding her face behind her hands, though a small smile peeked through her embarrassment.
Gudako's expression softened, but a memory hit her. "Oh, right! Almost forgot the VIP." She clapped her hands. A feminine form materialized—a perfect replica of Olga Marie Animusphere's body, but with a few… enhancements. Her white hair was sleek, her features sharp yet softened by a healthy glow, and her figure was, well, noticeably curvier than before.
Reaching into her pocket, Gudako pulled out the Poké Ball containing Olga's soul. With a dramatic flourish, she opened it, releasing a cascade of light that merged with the new body. The air hummed with energy, and slowly, Olga's eyes fluttered open.
"…I'm… alive?" Olga's voice was soft, disbelieving, as she touched her face, then her arms, confirming her existence. Her expression shifted from shock to joy, her amber eyes glistening with unshed tears. "I'm really alive…"
Then she glanced down, and her joy morphed into mortification. "W-Wait! Why is my chest so… exaggerated?!" Her face flushed as she crossed her arms over her new, noticeably enhanced figure.
Gudako grinned, leaning back with her hands behind her head. "Just a little gift from me to you, Director. Thought I'd add some perks to your new look."
"You pervert!" Olga lunged at Gudako, her hands raised as if to strangle her. But the anger melted into a reluctant hug, her arms wrapping tightly around Gudako as she buried her face in her shoulder. "Thank you," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "I… I didn't think I'd get a second chance."
Gudako patted her back with a genuine warmth. "Anytime, Olga. You're stuck with me now."
Fou hopped onto Olga's shoulder, nuzzling her cheek with a cheerful "Fou!" Olga flinched but managed a small smile, petting him gently.
---
Later, the group gathered in the command room, joined by Dr. Romani Archaman, whose hologram flickered to life at the console. His usual easygoing demeanor was tempered by the weight of their situation, his eyes shadowed with fatigue. "You've all done the impossible," he said, his voice steady but somber. "Singularity F is resolved, and Olga's back—somehow." He shot Gudako a curious glance, but she just winked. "But this is only the beginning. The other singularities are still active, threatening humanity's future. Our mission is clear: fix the singularities, uncover who or what is behind this, and save humanity."
Olga nodded, her composure restored as she adjusted her coat—now resized to fit her new form, thanks to Gudako's quick thinking. "Agreed. We'll need to mobilize quickly. Mash, Gudako, you're our frontline. Da Vinci will handle technical support, and I'll oversee operations."
Mash stood straighter. "Understood, Director. I'm ready to assist, Senpai."
Gudako, lounging against the console, tilted her head thoughtfully. "Hey, Romani? Quick question—how does one summon a Servant again? I might've missed that part of the briefing."
Roman blinked, then chuckled. "Summoning a Servant requires a ritual using Chaldea's summoning system, fueled by mana and Saint Quartz. You form a contract, and if the Heroic Spirit accepts, they manifest. Da Vinci can walk you through the details later."
"Not that you seem to need them." Reply'd Olga.
Gudako tilted her head. "Well maybe I don't need any… but I want them."