Pre-AN: Apologies for the hiatus, I promised my patrons advanced chapters, and I bit off more than I could chew. More about it in the author's notes below. TLDR public posts are back on the menu. Warning: Rias is still being a brat here; she'll get better. Promise!! Also please note this story is a Major AU.
Fate: Charm of the Devil Fae
This fic is inspired by Sticky Situation by Professor Quill,In Bloom by Flight of Fancy, and to a certain extent Benefits of Saving a Veela by WD_ONeill. Please check them out.
Story Starts
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Ch. 2 Crimson Princess of Ruin
-No smut, we're moving the plot this time.-
'4 years ago, 2002'
'boom'
'...boooom'
'BOOOOM!'
"Clap–clap–clap- Impressive, I particularly liked the second one, but you can't beat a huge explosion."
I turned my head towards the figure leaning against the tree. A being of otherworldly beauty, long cascading crimson locks, a face so ethereal and transcendental in beauty even the most skilled of artists wouldn't come close to capturing its essence, encased in a body that's both mature yet eternally youthful.
"Ancestor, you're awake." I quickly approached as I lowered myself to match her height.
"Who wouldn't remain in slumber with the noise you've been making? The whole valley probably heard your lashing out, but fear not, child, you have not interrupted my long rest."
She straightened her person and moved towards a bench, sitting, and patting the space beside her, inviting me to come over.
Just as I sat down, she grabbed my hand, putting it on her lap as she covered mine with hers.
"So what's troubling you, young one?" She asked me, her face sincere while she awaited my reply.
I resisted the urge to pout as it is unbecoming for someone of my standing, but still a little whine escaped, as I described my predicament.
My parents announcing my engagement, the public insult where my betrothed announce that I'll be a good addition to his harem, the heartache and embarrassment that I felt when my parents only laughed their future son-in-law's antics, the way my brother didn't even react at their actions, me leaving the party in a loud way as I blew up the great hall's doors, and finally how I feel powerless to change my fate.
'..snort'
My anger flared again as not only did she snort, but she then started laughing out loud. Feeling just frustrated and tired, I just tried standing up where I was, either planning to find Sona or Akeno.
Unfortunately, she's still holding on to my hands and I can't break free.
"Child, what are you?"
Giving Runeas, our family ancestor, a scowl at her question.
"I won't be here all day, child, what are you?"
"A DEVIL!"
Still trapped within her grasp, she just gave me a pitying look.
"Not just a devil but a Gremory, did you forget that child, or are you too busy playing Bael? This family is now basically just an annexed family to the Bael clan. Now they want us to be annexed to the Phenex."
"We're not an annexe house to other clans. It's my father's intention to bring in bloodline traits from the other clans to better our family." I started trying to defend my family, despite being a victim of their ambitions.
"...snort. Who do you think is prouder of Sirzechs? Who do you think benefited more from Sirzechs' rise in power? Who do you think has Sirzechs' ear, Zeoticus or Zekram?"
I stayed quiet at the rhetorical question.
"I don't blame Sirzechs for what he thinks is expected of him, but by Lucifer himself, he is such a bore if he can't even protect his little sister or admonish his own family."
She then tenderly tucks a stray strand of my hair behind my ear and clasps my face as she gently forces me to look at her.
"Again, you are a Gremory. When was the last time you acted like one? We are masters of our own fate; we can divine the past, present, and future; we have the ability to create our own love; we have the ability to discern and reveal hidden treasures, uncover secrets differentiating truths from lies. Why would you be powerless in rejecting what's been laid out for you?"
She then gives me a mischievous smile, "Well, if that fails, you can ask my little– well, he is not so little any longer- Shirou for help."
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'Present day, April 2006'
"Ara, he's really good at that, I can't believe he can go that fast."
I feel a twitch of irritation from that comment as I am currently watching a live feed of my current quarry on their way to Kuoh.
Their group apparently just arrived from England a few days ago, and I was too busy with the opening of the university.
These past few years were just me spiralling into a fit of rage and madness as Runeas and her fae friend took over everything Sona and I have worked for.
Initially, we were supposed to invest in this town's most popular high school that is where we plan to find our potential servants. As this town is situated along Japan's major leyline and is not under any second-owner, this is a prime location for me to find a person with potential.
My plan to escape from my family's predicament was to gather strong allies, so by the time they force me into the marriage, I can just challenge Riser into a rating game.
In fact, the very same year Runeas inspired me to escape from my predicament, we, Sona and I, came up with the Kuoh plan, and in addition, came up with the best idea that would complement my goals, well, at least that's what I thought at the time.
Just before we decided on taking Kuoh as our territory, I had my servants scout the area, and it was Koneko's report that solidified my resolve.
She was able to pick up two distinct scents of dragons, and that they are male, and that's where my plan developed into making Kuoh High into a co-ed school.
Irritatingly, Akeno described my plan as a honeytrap, but in the en,d my plan didn't bear fruit as my ancestor Runeas suddenly arrived and bulldozed her way into our plans.
Instead of just taking over a high school she purchased the immediate surrounding area and converted the area into a large university campus. Of cours,e the high school still remained operational within the campus, but due to how hectic everything was, we weren't able to implement the co-ed rule until last year.
By then, one of the dragons had already left the area, and the other was quickly snatched up by Sona. Another frustrating thing is that Sona was able to break away from her betrothal. I am actually very happy for her, but I can't help but feel jealous, as she was able to break her betrothal just by beating them in chess.
She even got her sister's support when she declared that only someone who can beat her in chess has the chance to marry her.
Now, she's sitting pretty in her position here in the university without any problems, her engagement broken, her position as the Sitri heiress solidified, and she has even filled most of her peerage's slots.
We currently aren't on speaking terms, as I disagreed with her opinions on the fact that we are in a better position than if we were just alone governing the town and a high school. I, of course, argued that all of the influence and power we gain from this will just be tainted by the fact that Runeas gave us this influence and power.
She then pointed out that the power to govern the town and high school was just given to us as well, which then devolved into more fights.
Which brings us to today's predicament and my now simmering anger. This morning, Akeno tried consoling me as she both gently and not so gently pointed out that I was being belligerent and obtuse, and a lot of what Sona said was mostly correct.
I begrudgingly accepted Akeno's honesty, as yes, no matter what happens, I can't escape the benefits I get from my family, and that everything was handed out to us. The only way for me to claim independence and all my gains as my own was to sever ties.
Akeno also pointed out that Runeas had been nothing but patient with me over the past few years, despite my being rude to her this whole time. Runeas even always remind me that if she needs help, she could always ask Shirou.
My irritations simmered a little more as all that I heard from Runeas and that friend of hers were only praises about how kind he is, helpful, and the fact that he probably is the key to bringing salvation to our race and allies, whatever that means as I never participated in her projects when offered.
So today I decided to observe Shirou for a week to see if he'd be a worthy ally, which brings me to my current simmering anger.
I sent one of my summoned bats to observe him, and what I saw was the debauchery, the casual way he just has sex with all of those around him, that even the train coach turned into a den of sex, voyeurism, and self-gratification.
"Ara, looks like she passed out. I knew that Runeas said that Shirou was a devil of lust but he certainly surpassed my expectations." Akeno said with her amused voice as she held a hand hovering over her mouth in mock gasp.
Of course, all of those feelings culminated in me unloading all of my anger and resentment unto Runeas during that meeting a few minutes ago.
My temper, still there but a lot more subdued due Runeas throwing her weight in power and authority at us, who wouldn't be cowed by the might of a devil ancestor?
I smiled as I still got one last shot in as I threw her toy's incompetence at her.
"This just proves my point." I declared as we were teleported to a place nowhere near the summoned destination.
By my estimation, the summoning circle should have deposited us at Kuoh Park, but unfortunately, we arrived at an abandoned lot about a kilometre away from the area.
Well of course, I didn't bring up that a ward might also be the cause of our off-route destination.
Akeno and I just looked at each other, not needing words, and unfurled our devil wings. Not forgetting to coat ourselves in magic that misdirects sight.
From our vantage point, it is clear that something is actually wrong. While Kuoh isn't a significantly populated bustling city like Tokyo, at this time, you usually see families and students hanging out in the park.
You can usually see the activity of people going around the park, but from our vantage poin,t we see nothing within; not even the park lights have been turned on as the sun is about to set.
"Rias." Akeno redirected my attention towards a clearing to the east.
We could vaguely see a lot of dark figures scattered around the clearing, and at the centre of it all is a bright light.
Not wanting to get ambushed, we dropped down within a group of trees just at the border of the clearing.
"Fuck, if my day couldn't get any worse." Looking towards the sole of my shoe as I stepped on something sticky, a brown and pink substance, but then I heard Akeno gasp beside me.
Taking a look at the direction of her gaze, I too couldn't help but gasp at the sight before us.
The clearing looked like a wasteland, the dark figures we saw were dead or dying fallen angels, others were just body parts strewn in between prone figures, and throughout the area, you find bladed weapons of different shapes and sizes littered across the region.
And at the centre of it all was the same boy we were observing this morning. He currently has his palms on top of a glowing object, and underneath the object was a girl, the same one who accompanied him on his commute to Kuoh.
"Hey! Please, I need help." The boy somehow spotted us and pleaded with us.
As we approached the boy, I could already feel his allure gently envelop me.
"Please, I still don't have my evil pieces. She's dying, and my artefact isn't capable of healing this much damage with my magic."
Looking around me at the carnage, I exchanged glances with Akeno and grinned.
"Okay, I'll help you, but you'll owe me a lo–"
"I don't care how much I'll owe you, just please help her now."
Shrugging as I pulled out a pawn piece. Kneeling as I inserted my magic into the pawn to begin the process of assimilating the piece into a host, and as the piece got rejected, my grin grew larger.
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END
AN: Again, apologies for the hiatus. Basically, I promised my patrons a chapter of Ending Maker: Fate Wizardry for each public chapter I posted a few weeks ago, and I also promised one more advanced chapter of Fate: Charm of the Devil Fae and These Tragic Souls and a Sword Reborn.
By the way, I just subscribed to Grammarly, so you might notice an improvement in the quality of my writing in my latest works. Unfortunately, I haven't edited this chapter apart from some minor, cursory glances; this one was already written a month ago. My current project is rewriting my favourite, These Tragic Souls and a Sword Reborn, so that's why public postings of that particular story will slow down for now. I'm still updating it, it's just not going public.
I have 3 classifications for stories:
Main Story (These Tragic Souls and a Sword Reborn)Side Stories - Stories that aren't just my main, so as not to get burnt out. (Ending Maker: Fate Wizardry)Smut Stories - Stories that still have a plot but are related to sex, may not even contain a plot at all. (Fate: Charm of the Devil Fae, Hostess of Debauchery, The Metamorph Next Door)
* Please note: Side stories and Main stories may involve chapters with lemon but it's just not the main driving point of the story.
The reason I started with this information is that we'll be doing cycles of public uploads of Side Stories and Smut Stories, and in between, I'll be dedicating 3-4 days to taking care of patrons.
So during this cycle of stories, I'll be publicly uploading 4-5 chapters of Fate: Charm of the Devil Fae, then do 3-4 days for my patrons, then do a 4-5 chapter cycle of my Side Story, depending on if Ending Maker: Fate Wizardry shall win the next polls.
Story AN: Short chapter, but we are currently setting up, so the first baddie is revealed. You'll find that this story isn't just a HDxd and Nasu crossover. Tbh, this is basically a smut version of my first fiction Fate/Wayward Fae, as I've yoinked some plot from that story. So we'll be doing a few chapters of yapping. I like slow-burn fics as well, so I'm taking my time with this in plot progression.
Have a great week!