Vader stood silently, watching the blood red sky as the thunder of battle exploded in the din.. New York's darkest hour before them... 

The servants summoned this time were of a power beyond even him... something he couldn't even gather or compare..

"Well.. are you done..?" said Gilgamesh, stepping out from behind a ruined wall of what used to be a standing building, brushing himself off as red markings glowed on his bare upper torso.  "I thought you had more fight left in you."

"This battle is no longer ours.. nor are we needed any longer for it.." said Vader. "My conflict now is with the New Faction.."

"Oh yes.." Gilgamesh sighed. "Sauron mentioned something about that.. a new set of servants coming into this war... Aleister Crowley isn't going to be happy.."

"Hmph.. he hardly has anything to worry about." Vader muttered. "His Servant.. the Lancer of Academy City... he's nothing to scoff at.. "

Vader looked at Gilgamesh. "Even Sauron must know that... "

Gilgamesh smirked. "Are you suggesting an alliance?"

Vader shook his head. "No... I don't think you and I could do such a thing.. it wouldn't work.. "

"Why?" Gilgamesh asked. "Besides Enkidu... I feel like you're a person I could most definitely get along with.."

Vader chuckled. "There are certain secrets to how a being who is most definitely a Heroic Spirit born from Movies and Media rather than solely myth and legend could be born into this world.. because of how I was truly summoned I cannot truly ever get along with you.."

Vader slowly moved  a hand to his mask and removed it.. 

Gilgamesh stared.. as suddenly Darth Vader's form changed.  "No way... you.. Vader.."

"As you can see.." said Vader.. his voice was different now.. "My mask functions a bit like Concealment of Pedigree... the Noble Phantasm is called "Forgetful of Burns... in the movies it is to conceal the injuries I obtained in my battle with Obi-Wan Kenobi... however, in the case of this Spirit Origin, they conceal something quite different.. "

Gilgamesh laughed loudly. "NO WONDER YOU DESPISE ME! HAHAHAHAHAHA! FUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!! Ahh.. but you realize now that I know this secret I simply desire you more now?"

"Hmph.." Vader's shadowy figure turned back.. as the earth shook from the battle that was happening nearby against Cthulhu.  "Unobtainable desires.."

"Isn't the nature of the Dark Side to seize what you want?" said Gilgamesh.

Vader turned around.. a familiar female face emerging from the shadows.. her red tinged yellow eyes glowing slightly as she smirked in acknowledgement of Gilgamesh's sound logic. "Oho? Well then.. perhaps.. I guess even Padme has competition... King of Heroes.. Seize me then.. if you can.. "

Gilgamesh smirked at the face that so resembled the woman he found beautiful.. "Until our next meeting then.. Saber of New York.."

https://youtu.be/uRvSaCjZ2w4

"AURORUS FLASH!!!" Amor thrust out her hands, hurling out an explosion of  rainbow energy at Cthulhu.. 

The very air itself shook with the might of a goddess as the clouds and red sky burst with sparkling beauty...

As Amor continued to fire massive blast after blast into the demonic god monster, Fulguras flew above, sparkling wings made of silvery lightning erupting from her shoulders. 

"Roar.." Fulguras whispered as she inflated her cheeks with energy from deep in her body. "OF THE THUNDER DRAGON.. MAXIMUS!!!"

"KAAAAABLLLLLLLLLAAAAAAAAAAMMMMMMM!!!" A massive beam of lightning silvery and gold at the same time exploded around Cthulhu, causing the very entity to screech out with pain.. it's very pained voice reverbrating in the minds of all present. 

"NOW PRANKSTER!!!" Fulguras yelled. 

"IMA FIRIN' MA SAITAMA!!" Prankster cackled as he put his thumb onto his mask, acting as if he were blowing into it.. causing his very glove to inflate to a massive size like in a classic Loony Toons cartoon. 

Prankster took his giant building sized inflated fist and hurled a punch into the side of Cthulhu's head, causing it to topple to the side. 

Cthulhu gasped.  It began to screech fiercely into the sky as suddenly the entire planet began to tremble..

"WHAT'S HAPPENING!?" Mordred roared from where she was watching.

"It's... morphing.." Fulguras said. "It hasn't reached it's full strength quite yet... in Servant form we aren't nearly as powerful as we are normally...  we have to beat it before it becomes too much to handle.."

"I know! Super Nova Wedgie time!!" Prankster exclaimed. "Wait.. it's not wearing underpants damn it!!"

"Why the hell would Cthulhu wear underpants..?" muttered Amor. 

"STYLE!!! SEXY SMEXY STYLE!" Prankster roared.  "Think about it!! Hanes, the Evil Eldritch God Collection!!"

Cthulhu's body split in half.. as blood gushed out of it's body like a tidal wave... and from within it.. like a chrysalis.. something new emerged...

Mikoto wanted to vomit as soon as she saw it... it was beyond ugly.. beyond disgusting... so hideous that no matter how any writer wrote for a thousand years, they couldn't possibly describe the horrific form of Cthulhu's true body from within it's shell..

"EWWWWW GROSSS!! GROSS LIKE EWWWWW!" Prankster said. 

"That's.. just.." Arturia whispered, horror etched on her face. "I... "

The best way Mikoto could describe Cthulhu's true form... was a mass of horrid tentacles.. limbs with hands.. and pulsating flesh.... with a multitude of red bloodshot eyes scattered over it's form...

But the rest of it... the rest of it was indescribable.. Mikoto was sure if she had the words to describe the nameless features of the beast, one would die merely from reading the description.

And the beast let out a terrible screeching noise.. a  sonic boom exploding from it's mental waves which were now so powerful they emerged in the physical world as a horrid sound. 

"It's... ripping the magic in the air apart!!The ones that have to do with Noble Phantasms.." Fulguras exclaimed as she looked down at herself, and her body was starting to turn transparent. "At this rate we'll be unsummoned..!!!"

"JEEZ!" Prankster exclaimed as his mask began to fade along with his head. "Squid Head's a whole lot stronger since I last fought him... but I mean still weak compared to the REAL me.. but still in this case.."

Mikoto panted hard, she could feel her Noble Phantasm's energy being torn apart.. was Cthulhu truly just that strong...?

She began to feel her power waver as she wheezed hard and the familiars she summoned began to fade away... 

'UGH!" Mikoto fell over, but a pair of arms caught her. 

"Don't.. you dare.. give up yet.." Stacy growled, supporting Mikoto in her arms. 

"Y.. you?" Mikoto stammered.

"I still.. have a damn debt to pay... and I'm gonna pay it before you kick the bucket you hear me?!" Stacy gasped, blood dripping from her eyes.. as she began sending surges of mana into Mikoto's body from her hands. "FINISH THIS!!"

"That girl.. she's doing her best to keep us from fading away.." muttered Amor. "But.. it's futile.. we can't finish Cthulhu like this.."

"Yeah, no way around it.. This Mikoto's still too inexperienced at using her Noble Phantasm." said Fulguras. "But.. that doesn't mean hope is lost.. "

Fulguras called out into the air. "I KNOW YOU'RE SKULKING ABOUT WATCHING... Are you really okay with letting things stay like this..? VADER!!!"

A shadow that had been striding away from the battle stopped in it's tracks.. 

"Don't tell me you're going to run away.. when the going's getting exciting.." Fulguras grinned. "HAH!?"

And with that Fulguras smiled at Mikoto. "Remember one thing... other me...  it isn't about the power of the Noble Phantasm.. it's about the will to keep it going... remember that the next time you summon me or any of us!!! the next time you use that Rose Sword!!"

And with that.. Fulguras faded away with the other servants.. 

Mikoto stared, her eyes wide and gaping. Was it over.. were they done for.. ? Was... this the end..?

"Hmph... I thought this was no longer my fight.. but it appears I must reveal my FULL strength now...  well then.. Let the Dark Side be fully shown to you this day.. "

https://youtu.be/4XC-Qb8rxig

A voice called out... 

It was a woman's voice..

Mikoto stopped breathing for just a moment. That voice sounded like Saber's voice.. however it couldn't have sounded less like something Saber would even say..

"Up there.." Stacy whispered, looking up to the top of a skyscraper.. 

A woman stood there... Her face... her blonde hair fluttering in the wind.. she looked like Arturia.. like Mordred.. however.. her eyes were yellow and red.. glowing in the darkness.. and her clothing.. was like that of futuristic armor..  in fact with the revealed upper thighs, armored gauntlets.. and what looked like parts of a removed breathing mask under the chin..  not to mention a new long hilted lightsaber with a curved guard..  Mikoto couldn't help but note..

She looked like a female version of...

"That is Vader's true form as a Servant." said Stacy quietly.  "The theory of summoning based on the Popularity of the Masses making a Servant powerful are true.. however.. Vader's worshipers number in the millions thanks to the use of marketing and other aspects..as a result Vader's power is too strong to summon on spells alone.. a Strong Homunculus body was needed to hold the power and keep it steady.. and King Arthur's dna was harvested from the Mage Association for this purpose..  the Noble Phantasm Forgetful of Burns, the mask.. creates a seal to hide this truth, disguising Vader as his notable form in the movies.. however, in order to reveal her true power.. she must remove the disguise..  remove the mask.."

Vader smirked as she raised her humming energy blade. "You have impressed me.. Railgun.. it is no wonder that Okita Souji is your sister... strong in the force you would be.. Very well.. for impressing me so, just this once, I shall indulge you in a display of why a Turn to the Dark Side is only in your best interest.. Come now..  DEATH STAR... BLADE.. "

From in the sky... The Death Star appeared in a burst of magical energy... charging up it's world destroying energy blast. 

"I was hoping I did not have to reveal this weak looking delicate form.." Vader growled. "The fact I was summoned in this female body is an embarrassment for me..  but there is nothing left for it...  I cannot have such worthy candidates for the Dark Side be destroyed by a cheap beast...  "

The Death Star fired it's beam down at Vader as she raised her blade to the sky and it collided with the red blade.. turning it into a towering pillar of flame like plasma, exploding with massive heat, burning up the air around it.. 

The surrounding flood waters instantly evaporated like a boiling kettle, turning the land dry and cracked as Vader swung her blade in her most deadly technique yet, her last resort as a Grand Saber. 

Cthulhu screeched as the tower of energy blasted straight into it.. and.... 

There wasn't even rubble..  Cthulhu simply evaporated into dust... disintegrated like a brick in a Meltdowner beam. 

Mikoto couldn't help but feel absolute awe, and at the same time, terror... So THIS was what it meant to be a Grand Servant. 

Vader looked down at Mikoto and the others. "That is a terrifying Noble Phantasm you wield Mikoto Misaka.. learn it properly next time, and we can have a proper match between Servants.. and Okita Souji... I look forward to having you join my ranks.."

"Yeah.. no chance in Hell.." said Okita.

Vader smirked and nodded. "It wouldn't be worth the challenge if it were easy for you to succumb..  until our next meeting.."

"You don't want to fight us now? We are weakened, there's no better chance." Saber said.

"That would simply be dishonorable.." Vader said. "Perhaps its this body being similar in nature to yours.. King Arthur.. or perhaps it is just a part of Darth Vader's character.. or maybe it's what remains of Anakin Skywalker.. though I doubt it, as he frequently fought dirty.... but I would rather win in a test of fair play and strength, than that of a crafty assassin lurking in the dark.."

Vader waved and smiled. "But know before I go... Shirou Emiya.. yes I killed him.. but I could not wish for a more worthy  opponent.. even compared to the King of Heroes.. I regret that he could not become my disciple too in the end.. it might seem like a sick joke.. however, my condolences..."

Vader seemed to melt like a shadow.. disappearing from view...

"You believe what he said?" Asked Stacy quietly. "That he truly feels bad for that red headed man's death?"

"Yes.. oddly enough." Mikoto murmured. "Vader is crafty.. it's how he was in the movies.. pure evil.. not above torture to get to Luke... but... there always was some measure of honor to him too.. in the end he always chose to fight his enemies head on and seize victory by his own strength... "

"Of course he did." said Saber. "It is part of the Sith Philosophy, which originally in of itself, wasn't too evil.."

Everyone stared at Saber. 

"What?" said Saber. 

"Didn't take you for a Star Wars Lore buff." said Mordred with a whistle. 

"I enjoyed the little green one.." said Saber. "Has anyone seen this amazing wonder known as Baby Yoda yet?"

*****************

The reconstruction of New York was a madhouse. Wiping the memories of anybody who witnessed the event was impossible so the Mage Association had to put it down to 'unexplained phenomena from a Nuclear Explosion of an old bomb from the cold war era and resort themselves to wiping the memories of those who were close enough to see  Cthulhu with their own eyes. 

Mikoto however, didn't have to deal with any of that thankfully. She, Mordred and Stacy finished their school semester peacefully.. albeit with a few notable differences. 

Jade had cut Stay off, so she had to stay in the Hotel Room with Mikoto.. no longer even a master as her Servant Grievous had also abandoned her.. Stacy had literally lost everything she had held over Mikoto. However, while the old Stacy might have held a vicious grudge over her situation... the new one was quiet, timid, and accepting of her new situation.. 

In spite of Mordred's lingering distrust, she even tried to help Mikoto with her homework from time to time.. and spent most of her days reading a book in the hotel lobby. 

Aside from this, Mordred and Mikoto now spent a lot more time together.. and this time Mikoto wasn't afraid at all to be seen holding hands with her.  If you talked to her a year ago and asked if she might consider becoming a couple with another girl, she probably would've given the person asking, depending on the situation, a mild glare and a little snarl of confusion... 

But now.. well.. Mordred had changed the standards. 

In the end... the days passed by in peace.. with Mikoto not even considering the omens spoken by Nerghal.. The Ordained.. the Proctors..  Beast 0...  

But on the day Mikoto was to fly back to Academy City.. after her graduation and the quiet ceremony acknowledging her as a Magus free to study magic at her own pace and obtain jobs in the field..  that things changed.

In the end Mikoto decided to return to Academy City and finish her tuition at Tokiwadai. Part of her graduation was receiving a ton of money in starting funds. This was supposed to help her and other new mages in creating workshops, or surviving until finding work, basically a start up fund for their practice. 

Mikoto felt that in the end, considering all the crap Touma went through, Academy City was starting to veer more and more into the Magic Side by the day. In the end the place needed a mage that wasn't just Aleister Crowley holed up somewhere doing who knew what.

"So you're sure it's a good place for me?" Stacy asked on the day they were riding the Chaldea brand car to the airport, a ticket to Academy City in her hand.  "I.. I mean.. this Tokiwadai place?"

"Well Mitsuko Kongou's pretty stuck up, but she's very nice. Besides Aiko and Misaki there shouldn't be much problem.." said Mikoto. 

Saber, who was sitting shotgun next to Mash who was driving, looked back and smiled slightly. "Do not worry yourself. You will be fine.."

"It's just.. you've all been so nice.." whispered Stacy. "Even after I.. I.."

Mash suddenly blinked as her phone began to ring. "Um.. excuse me.. I need to take this.. "

She stuffed the phone to her ear and nodded. "Yes..? Doctor Roman..? What is it..?"

Mash's eyes widened as a look of horror slowly appeared on her face..

"What is it!?" said Saber. "Mash?"

Mash gave everyone a look of serious fear. "We must return to Chaldea's Academy City branch immediately.. a god named Baldr has manifested at headquarters...  and... Director Olga has just been killed.."

End of Book 4.

Stay tuned for Book 5:  March To Ragnarok.