Chapter 1

It took a unique level of arrogance to both summon a being to enforce the rules, and conspire to break them at the same the time. Unfortunately for everyone involved in the Holy Grail War, the Einzbern's had both that level of arrogance, and an appropriate level of desperation to try it. Equally unfortunate for the Einzberns was that Angra Mainyu turned out to be a pathetically weak servant and Ruler did not take their side at all. All the Einzberns managed to do with this act of arrogance was get a large portion of the Greater Grail stolen by a mage with less than honorable intentions for it, and eventually cause a large problem for someone they would consider an enemy a few generations down the line. Which of course was small comfort for them, though by the time it actually caused problems for said enemy they would've taken any comfort they could get.

It was this series of poor decisions long ago that led to Rin Tohsaka standing nervously outside the Emiya household, trying to work up the courage to knock on the door and disturb her sister and friend's peaceful life.

Inside the house, and blissfully unaware of the incoming chaos, Sakura Matou and Shirou Emiya were making dinner. Rider had left them alone for the night, and Taiga was occupied with grading at school so they had the place entirely to themselves. They'd been exchanging small kisses and touches since Rider had left while they made dinner, and were already anticipating what would come after, which was why a knock on the door caused them both to groan.

"Can't we just ignore it?" Sakura whispered

"But what if its Fuji-nee, done grading early? She won't go home, after enough waiting she'll just break through the door, yelling about improper relations." Shirou whispered back. The fact that she'd technically be right was something they both ignored.

"We could be lucky, it could just be Issei needing you to sign something, or one of the archery club members trying to recruit you again." They doubted it though, neither one of them had ever had anything resembling that much luck in their lives. The knocking came again, this time more insistently.

Shirou moved toward the entry way, before Sakura stopped him, saying, "No senpai, you stay and keep going. If it's something urgent I'll let them in, if not we can fix it tomorrow. Tonight's for us, and you still can't turn people in need away." Shirou looked a little embarrassed at that, but Sakura quickly kissed him and said "It's one of the reasons I love you, Shirou." She spun away and started heading for the entryway. She turned right before she left the room and seeing him still watching her said "Oh and by the way, the meats burning."

She heard Shirou's shout of alarm as she spun toward the entryway, to force whoever was there to leave. She and Shirou didn't get anywhere near as many nights together as they would've liked, and unless the person on the other side of the door said the world was ending they weren't going to interrupt this one.

Which was why it was so unfortunate that the person on the other side of the door was bringing just such news.

I'm a terrible person. Rin thought as she waited for one of the two in the house to open the door. I shouldn't bother them with this, they're happy, they don't need this. She almost turned and started to leave, but another part of her, sounding much stronger, reminded her You need to do this. If Shirou and Sakura find out they could've helped and you didn't tell them they'll be even angrier, at least give them the choice. That voice had gotten her this far, and she wouldn't back down now. She didn't have to like it though, as evidenced when her response to Sakura's enthusiastic "Nee-san!" was a less enthused "Sakura…" than what she wanted, and had intended, it to be.

She couldn't say much as Sakura dragged her inside, talking about how unexpected the visit was and how happy she was to see her and about how things had been in Fuyuki. Shirou saw her as she entered, greeting her just as enthusiastically as Sakura had, before exclaiming they only had dinner for two. Her protests that she'd already eaten and was fine were shot down by Sakura, who said it'd be awkward if she was the only one not eating.

They tried to make small talk throughout dinner, asking her how things at the Clock Tower where, how her apprenticeship was going and how things were here in Fuyuki. She could tell they both knew something was wrong, but where trying for her sake and so she tried to seem happy. It almost worked for a moment, she could almost imagine it was just another visit when she talked about her rivalry with Luvia (that she was winning), or how Sakura was doing on the archery team (she was also winning), or Shirou's new plans in life (he wasn't sure, and so was the only one not winning) but ultimately dinner ended and the two across from her got serious.

"So I'm guessing that you two have guessed that I'm not just here to catch up." She began awkwardly

Shirou nodded while Sakura simply said "Nee-san whatever it is we'll do whatever we can to help."

Part of Rin wanted to die at that knowing what she was about to ask, while another part was happier than it'd ever been that they cared that much. All she was able to do was start explaining while she sorted that out.

"It's about the Holy Grail War. I know you two aren't interest in anything that happens there, but I need to catch you up at least a little to start." Rin sighed, looking down and closing her eyes, before pausing for a moment to collect her thoughts. When she looked back up she was in full teacher mode. "A few weeks ago a branch family called Yggdmillenia splintered off from the Clock Tower, declaring themselves their own organization. They'd been dismissed before because they weren't a much of a clan, just a group of declining or talentless magi banding together, they hadn't had any notable contributions in decades. The Mages Association dispatched 50 hunters, to end their rebellion, and that should've been the end of it." She finished, gritting her teeth

Shirou and Sakura looked at each other, before Shirou decided to take the bait. "I take it that it wasn't?"

"If it was I wouldn't be here right now. 49 of the enforcers were instantly killed. Only one made it back, and even then it's more likely they let him go. The 49 were all impaled in a single instant by stakes from the ground that penetrated all of their defenses."

"So they have a Noble Phantasm?" Shirou asked. "I still remember most of the weapons from Archer, I can try to find-

"They don't just have a Noble Phantasm. According to the survivor they have a servant…and a fully functional Holy Grail System."

Shirou and Sakura couldn't say anything for a moment, before Sakura regained her voice and managed to quietly get out "How?"

"To the best of the Magus Associations knowledge it happened after the Third Holy Grail War. The Einzberns manipulated the war way, way more than they should have and summoned an extra servent, Ruler. The masters in that war thought Ruler would moderate the war, and fought more violently because of it, add extra tensions from World War 2 and well… The leader of Yggdmillenia, Darnic was chosen to participate and fought his way to the end of the war. He fought the Tohsaka master's servant near the Greater Grail, and the battle ended up destroying the most of the Grail. Or so Darnic said, and he and my ancestor were the only ones to make it out."

"Your ancestor didn't say anything?"

"He didn't know anything, the only reason he survived was he'd already escaped the blast. He got pulled back to London over a dispute right after the war. When the damage was discovered it'd already been two weeks. Darnic was the only reliable source, and he said the damage was from the clash."

It was Sakura who grasped it first. "You think he stole it, not that it was destroyed."

"Exactly. The Mages Association wasn't able to get there until a week or two after that, and the Tohsaka heir was in London at the time. Nobody thought the Grail system could even be damaged. The Einzberns were too far away, though I doubt Zouken would've allowed it. I'm sorry but Sakura do you…" Rin had turned to Sakura, hoping she could provide some answers.

"He didn't share much with me but I was able to figure somethings out about his regeneration. After he took a new body he'd be limited for a while, and taking a new body took time. If he was killed during the war he'd have been weakened afterwards. There's also a chance he just let it happen, another Grail War would be another chance to win for him, as long as he could rebuild this Grail he'd be fine with it."

"That seems likely, that's exactly what the families did in the end, rebuilt from what was left. How it happened doesn't, Yggdmillenia has a Holy Grail just for them either way, they modified it to only grant command seals to their members. No one in the association received any, and neither did you or I."

"And when they use it, they can wish for whatever they want." Shirou added "But the Grail's corrupted, it'll just end up destroying them."

Rin shook her head. "Not necessarily, I've been researching the past Grail Wars trying to find out what went wrong. I think the Grail was corrupted during the Third War, records are hard to find, but I've found some evidence. The Einzberns summoned a Ruler servant to moderate the war, but they were also bragging about their berserker, claiming they'd summoned a demon."

"And you think they succeeded?" Shirou cut in

"Maybe, the grail was corrupted by Angra Mainyu, an evil god. No matter what they were already messing with the system with Ruler. They might've tried to summon a demon or a spirit less bound by honor than a hero to try and get the upper hand. Think about how effective Kotomine was because he preyed on decency and peoples honor, they must've thought it would work even better on servants."

"So when the evil servant went into the Grail it corrupted it." Sakura finished. "I think you're right nee-san. When I was the grail it felt angry and hateful, but not like it was always that way, like it had been twisted into it. I think when the Einzberns summoned their Berserker they summoned Angra Mainyu and when it was absorbed it tainted the grail. But you think the remaining system still works."

Rin nodded. "Unllike that false priest Darnic has no use for a grail that just destroys the world, he actually needs to make a wish. Beyond that if we're right the corruption was in the Greater Grail container, the only part Darnic didn't get. It would've spread from there into the rest of Fuyuki's grail."

"But it could still be corrupted, right?" Shirou pointed out. "Darnic could have a tool to destroy the world and not even know about it. And how does this concern us, there isn't much we can do about it. I'm nowhere near Archer's level and Sakura hasn't studied magecraft any." That Rin might be there to ask Sakura to act as a substitute Grail wasn't mentioned. It wasn't something Rin would ever ask of her sister.

"She wants to use Rider." Sakura said "The only way to beat a servant is with a servant. She wants to use Rider to take out their servant and them before they can start the ritual."

Rin looked down at that and said quietly "I wish it was just that. Then we'd have more control and could dictate terms, but it isn't. Remember how I mentioned one hunter wasn't killed instantly? Well he managed to activate a failsafe. Seven Association masters will be chosen and another Holy Grail War will start, only this time with 14 servants."

"14 sevants…" Shirou sputtered out. The idea was beyond him, with only seven servants there'd been havoc and those were through 1 on 1 fights. An all-out war between multiple servants would cause even more destruction.

"The Association insisted on it." Rin continued "After the first war showed what the servants could do the Association was afraid the founding families would use them to take over. The failsafe to summon seven servants to oppose them was meant to allow the Association an even playing field, though the number of mages the Association had made it more of an advantage to them, greater numbers and all that." Rin's voice went somber before she continued. "When they heard about the failsafe being tripped, the Mage Association went crazy. It was a chance to get a powerful familiar, and maybe reach the root or a true magic. None of them could directly step in, they couldn't secure their crests in time, so The Association decided to hire mercenaries to secure the Grail. I couldn't participate because of the Tohsaka crest, but I needed to have someone who could act for me, prevent them from doing something terrible. I'm sorry, Shirou, I'm so sorry." She repeated looking at Shirou. She looked like she was about about to break down.

Sakura moved around the table and hugged Rin saying "Its fine nee-san. I'm sure senpai would've wanted to go anyway, and we can't just let anyone get their hands on a Holy Grail."

"Yeah, you didn't think I'd just let a bunch of random mercenaries get their hands on the Holy Grail, did you? You securing a position for me just makes it easier." Shirou added.

"Shoulda know a pair of idiots like you would be happy about this." Rin said, as Sakura let her go. "There are a few more things before you go though." She pulled out an envelope before continuing. "This war will be in Trifas, in Transylvania, I've got your plane ticket already, but you'll need to go to London first. They'll give you a catalyst there, and once you land in Transylvania the command seals should appear." She got the same nervous look from earlier before continuing "Shirou, how much do you know about Archer..., my Archer?"

"You mean that he's a future me?" The look of shock on their faces was well worth the blunt response. "It took me a little while to figure out, but after I saw his memories, I understood."

That got a nod from Rin before she said quietly. "Ilya told me before she sacrificed herself, but the reason I'm bringing it up is because there's a chance the Grail could use you as a catalyst and summon Archer instead of whatever servant the Mages Association provides." She paused for a second before continuing "As great a servant as Archer was, he isn't what we need for this war, we'll need more raw firepower than he could provide. Plus I got the feeling he never really liked you"

"Yeah, but I don't think that'll happen." Shirou said. "Archer and I are incompatible now, the whole arm transfer thing proved that pretty well. And this body isn't the same as his anymore."

"I know, but it's still a chance. So we need to summon another servant, one you have a closer relationship with."

"You mean Saber." Sakura cut in. "That would be nice, a second chance between you and her. But we don't have a catalyst for her, and we can't guarantee The Association will have one."

"I know." Rin said before she looked at Shirou "Unless you can…?"

Shirou closed his eyes and looked inward, past his own experiences and memories and into Archers'. He looked past the last memory of his servant, past the tainted being she'd become and toward what she had been before. He saw her again, in a memory that was and wasn't his, standing before him in the moonlight the first night they'd met, then standing proud against Lancer. He saw them fighting Berserker, Caster, and a Golden King in memories that weren't his. He saw a final goodbye, and the end of another war.

He saw a single sword, standing proud in a world all his own.

Trace On.

Caliburn formed in his hand, feeling like a long lost friend.

"Good, and that clears up another question. I was going to ask how much of Archer's knowledge you still had but it seems like you'll be fine. What? I can't have a representative of the Tohsaka family show up who can't use any magic." She said smiling when she saw the questioning look on their faces. "Have you been practicing at all, or just slacking off?"

The sidelong glance Shirou gave Sakura answered that question but Shirou still felt the need to get out some defense. "I mean, a little every now and then, just enough that if someone attacked the house I'd be able to stop them."

"Sure." Rin said, being able to project more efficiently was sure to be helpful if anything got past the servant, the first noble phantasm, and effectively limitless prana Sakura possessed. But those were points for another time. "You'll be less efficient without Archer's help, and you shouldn't show off your magic too much anyway. The ability to create weapons at that level is an ability any mercenary would kill for, and I mean that literally. The Association hired the most effective magic users, not the most scrupulous or nice."

As Shirou nodded and dismissed Caliburn, Sakura had a realization. "Nee-san, if you were able to get a representative what about the Einzberns?"

"They don't have one as far as I know. Jubstacheits unreachable, probably withdrawn after the failure of the Holy Grail War, and things are moving too fast to wait for him to act. You were the last Matou as far as anyone can find, and you've stated you have no interest in the world of magic. None of the founding three families but mine are still involved with the War at all."

Rin stood up before stretching and saying "Well I've said all I needed to, so I'm gonna head home for the night. The plane leaves tomorrow so I'll let you two have one last night alone." Rin headed to the door as the other two stammered out denials and blushed. "I'll be over tomorrow before you leave to make sure everything's in order before you go." She turned to Sakura next "I'll be staying Japan for a little while after you leave, I need to investigate the Grail here to see if there's any way to spot if the Trifas Grail is corrupted, but I think I can make some time for my sister." Seeing Sakura's happy smile and nodding she finished saying "I'll see you two tomorrow then."

"Yeah."

"Good night, nee-san"

After Rin had left the two returned to the kitchen to clean up. They worked silently, the only sounds being the scrape of plates and running water. Shirou finally broke the silence by asking "Are you really okay with this, Sakura?"

"I am. I don't like it, but I like I said earlier, I understand why you need to do it, so I'm okay with it."

"I'm sorry, but it's just too good a chance. If the Grail isn't corrupted we could wish everyone who died in the war back! Ilya, Shinji, everyone hurt by or during the war! And it's a chance to help Saber, I know she was hurting but there was just time to do anything. I know I said I'd stop being a hero but… and if the Grail is corrupted we need to destroy it."

"Not being a hero doesn't mean not helping people, Senpai. Thats a part of you, and without it you wouldn't be the person I love. I want everyone who died back then too, they deserved to live longer, better lives. Just promise me you'll come back alive."

"Not that I'll stay safe?"

"I'm not gonna ask the impossible, senpai." She giggled as she set down the last dish. She grabbed his hand and started dragging him down the hall. "Now come on, I have one night alone with you before you leave, and you owe me for keeping secrets." Shirou sighed as she pulled him into their room, silently promising he'd try his best to be safe too, not just return home to her.

AN: So just a few clarity things. In case you couldn't tell this takes place post Heaven's Feel, probably about a year afterward. Any timeline differences can be attributed to Darnic not getting the whole Grail and having to work a little harder to get his started. The characters will still be the same, and at the same age so everything will be pretty similar on that front. The Saber tag reprents all the Sabers in the story, Red, Black, and Blue, and all of them will have a staring role.

On the chapter notes if Rin seems a little out of character in the beginning that's intentional. Shes under a lot of pressure and stress, and thinks she might be about to ruin or hurt the lives of the two people she cares about most. Basically she's in a shitty position, but can't rely on anyone else. Next time we get into the actual start of apocrypha!

I'll try to update monthly, but if real life happens or I get writers block it may (will) get delayed, sorry.