26 Chapter 25: Storm Brewing

The day began like any other weekend for the Emiya Estate. At least, until a message from the HHC came. A Divine Ancestor had entered Japan with traces of a heretic god being present at the locations as well. The tension in the room that Shirou and his court were gathered in couldn't be any greater.

Shirou spoke three words that everyone present was thinking, "she is here."

Guinevere was the only Divine Ancestor who was served by a heretic god and the description matched all known sightings of her. Maidservant of the King of the End. Queen of Divine Ancestors. Witch Queen of Britannia. Her long list of titles was well earned, having escaped from the Black Prince on multiple occasions when she wasn't the one who made him retreat. Her history was filled with her deceiving god, men, nations, even Campione. Europe was her place of power and she was deeply rooted there. Then suddenly out of nowhere, she came here. Not a good sign, not a good sign at all.

The contemplation of the king and court was interrupted by knocking at the door. When Shirou gave permission to enter, a messenger from the HHC entered with new information.

We've managed to track the sightings and traces of the Divine Ancestor, her course leads to Saitenguu at Nikkou's Toushouguu."

Shirou frowned, "why there?"

The messenger trembled under Shirou's gaze before continuing, "the representatives of the Four Families ask that you speak with them. They'll explain why."

Shirou sighed before standing, "Rin, come with me. Everyone else, remain here until we have more information."

Just Outside the HHC Headquarters, 2 Hours Later

Shirou had just exited the building, following behind a very angry Rin. His face is a combination of tired and resigned. "Calm down Rin. At least we now know that Guinevere might not be aware of Saber yet."

Rin stopped and turned to face Shirou, her anger not reduced in the least, "calm down you say? After being told about a secret that we should have been told on day we first joined with the HHC, you say calm down. Even assuming that we needed to prove ourselves, we should have been told about it after the first incident with Voban should have been the absolute latest time of us being told."

Rin would have ranted more, but Shirou's phone rang, with the ringtone indicating Saber. Shirou answered his phone, "what is it Saber?"

"Was just contacted by Pandora, Aisha has appeared in Rabat, Morocco. She estimates that she will disappear into the past again within 36 hours."

Shirou bit back a particularly nasty curse, "new plan, everyone but Saber and Rin get Kusanagi and head for Guinevere's destination. Do not escalate the situation, you won't be a match for the Heretic God sealed there. Rin and I will deal with the time-traveling idiot and meet you there. You don't have to solve the situation before we get back, so don't do anything stupid."

Shirou hung up and looked at Rin, "we're heading to Morocco. Aisha has surfaced."

Rin could only groan, "worst timing ever."

Shirou nodded and turned away, moving to get somewhere where they wouldn't be disturbed when his phone rang again. Looking at the caller ID, it read 'Annie Charlton'.

"It's just going to be one of those days, isn't it?" thought Shirou as he answered the phone, "I am kind of busy at the moment, if this is a social call, I must ask you to call me back."

"I wish, the Divine Ancestor that lead the rogue magic association Lord of Flies is fleeing to Japan. I'm about to board a plane to follow. Do you have any idea where she is going?"

Shirou groaned before responding, "with any luck, the same place the Queen of Divine Ancestors is heading. I'm sending most of my court as well as the 8th Campione after her in an attempt to prevent her from raising a very powerful sealed God of Steel. I'm headed to Morocco because our wayward elder sister has surfaced. I'll have an HHC representative meet you at the airport and take you to the location. Please try to limit any collateral damage until I get back. Do you copy?"

"I copy. But hurry, if the deity of steel is released, I won't be able to keep things from getting messy," was the 6th Campione's response.

Shirou hung up and called both the HHC and Sakura to inform them of the new developments as he headed to the airport. The private jet that HHC had gotten Shirou was always ready to go and they took off almost immediately after Shirou and Rin boarded.

As the two got comfortable for their 19 hour flight, Rin asked the question that had dominated her thoughts since the bad news began, "is this what Prometheus was predicting?"

Shirou thought briefly before responding, "it might be. I just hope that my brother and sister can keep things from going to the worst case scenario until we get back."

Shirou closed his eyes, hoping that his rest would be peaceful. Unfortunately, his dreams went back to a month and a half ago, when he encountered the brother-in-law of his adopted mother. The day he learned of the storm that could envelope the entire world that was coming rapidly.