New Pacts
"Shirou, is breakfast ready yet?" Rin asked. The head of the Tohsaka family sat at the living room table of the Emiya estate with her hand resting on her cheek. She was practically half asleep even though she was already dressed for school.
The young redhead looked out at the school's most popular student from the kitchen. "Almost, Tohsaka. Just give me one more minute."
Rin banged her fists on the table and sighed. "But I'm hungry now."
Shirou focused back on the food. He finished the things he needed to do and placed their breakfast on two plates. Shirou entered the room and placed the food in front of Tohsaka and another across from her. "There you go." Shirou sat down across from her on the seat cushion.
The two high school students clapped their hands together and bowed their heads. "Thank you for the meal." The two began to eat their meals in silence before they gathered their things and headed for school.
As they left unaware of it, a foreigner with blond hair and red eyes watched them leave the Emiya estate. In her hands she held a small spinning wheel with golden yarn in it. The yarn began to glow over the woman's face. "Yes, they should be able to help."
Shirou and Rin went through their normal school routine just like the rest of their classmates; however both were secretly watched by the blond hair Caucasian. In the young woman's eyes she saw the hope that she had been looking for. As she did so she also noticed the storm clouds that slowly gathered throughout the city the entire day.
Shirou was in the student council room with his best friend, Issei. The two looked out the window. "Didn't the weather report say it was suppose to be sunny all day?" Issei said.
"I guess they were wrong," Shirou said simply. His eyes harden at the sight, sensing there was more to these clouds than the idea of rain.
In the downtown area of Fuyuki a purple mist gathered. People looked at the purple gas in confusion before a glaze look came over their eyes. People collapsed in the streets and inside buildings as the mist thickened.
A black tower shot up in the middle of a four-way cross section. The tower looked partly organic complete with veins that was taller than any building in the known world. The mist from the tower continued to grow, expanding further out into the city, knocking out hundreds of more victims.
The mist made its way all the way to Homrahara Academy. The courtyard filled with its crippling grip that quickly encircled the main building.
Shirou and Issei stood up from the table about to leave for class when they noticed the fog climbing up beside the window. Their eyes widen with the shock. "What's going on?" Issei questioned.
"Not sure," Shirou responded.
The mist braced the windows, scattering them to pieces. The two school boys quickly ducked behind the table to avoid the flying glass. They covered their bodies with their arms as the glass stabbed into the objects all around them. A single piece went across Shirou's cheek, drawing blood.
When the glass finally stopped, Shirou turned back around. He lifted his head above the table, placing his hands on top of the table to see what was going on. The mist leaked into the room, coming toward them.
Shirou turned his attention on his friend. "We need to get out of here, Iseei." He grabbed his friend's hand and headed for the door. He slid it open, pulling them both out before he slammed the door shut again.
The two boys ran down the hall. "Shirou, do you know what that thing is?"
"No idea."
Coming down the hall they were about to turn into was known other then...
"Tohsaka!" Shirou shouted to get the girl's attention.
The girl turned her attention to the boys. "Shirou, Issei." She ran toward the two boys with the purple mist following after her.
Shirou's eyes opened wide. His eyes then shifted to his right. "This way." He made the turn down the flight of steps that came up. Both Issei and Rin followed him to escape that followed them from both sides. As soon as they made it to the next floor that saw the ground was already covered with mist and littered bodies of the students that had tried to escape.
"We have to go back up," Issei stated.
The three students were about to turn around when they heard the scream of a familiar person. They looked in the direction of the scream. "That voice..." Rin started.
Without an ounce of hesitation Shirou ran toward the scream. "Sakura!"
"Shirou! Idiot." Rin ran after him.
"Hold on." Issei headed after them.
Shirou rushed through the halls that thicken with mist. Shirou covered his mouth with his arm as he finally made it down the hall. He slid open the door where he spotted a classroom full of unconscious students. He scanned the room until he spotted who he was looking for.
Sakura stared directly back at him against the wall beside the door. "Sempai."
"Let's go, Sakura." He reached out his free hand that Sakura grabbed. He then pulled her out of the classroom and headed back down the hall just as Rin and Issei had made their way to them. Both had covered their mouths and noses with their hands.
"Sakura, Shirou," Rin said.
"Let's get moving," Shirou told them. The four students ran, hoping they could reach high ground and escape the mist. They speeded up the steps to meet the very last of the students who hadn't been beaten by the mist.
"Shinji," Shirou said as they stopped him in the middle of the steps.
Shinji looked at them all in a panic. "What's going on?"
"We're not sure, but we need to get to the top of the building as soon as we can," Rin instructed. Not giving the others a chance to argue Rin headed up the steps. Shirou followed her with the others doing the same.
The five students pushed open the door to the roof, racing forward. They made it to the chain link fence to see that the entire school was surrounded in the mist. "Everything in the area has been consumed by it." Rin looked over at the others. "The only way we're going to escape this is to clear this mist completely."
Shirou looked over at her. "But how do we do that."
A pair of footsteps come up behind them.
The group turned around to see a blond woman with brown eyes. "You can't, not alone. It's impossible for a human."
Sakura hid behind Shirou as Rin moved beside him. Shinju also hid behind them while Issei looked in confusion, adjusting his glasses. "Who are you?"
The woman placed her hand over her rather large chest. "I am Jessica Beam. I have been tracking this mist for some time now."
"You know what this is?" Sakura asked timidly.
"An evil far greater than the so called Holy Grail," Jessica responded.
"Holy Grail?" Issei questioned.
Jessica pulled out the hand-size spinning wheel she had earlier and held it out in front of the group. The golden yarns glowed that created a screen. Images from the fifth grail war showed up on the screen. "The Grail can grant any wish, but will only find one person worthy of its use each time. It is a completion between seven mages who summon heroes from different times to do battle with only one surviving. You're friends here participated in the latest of these wars and survived." The images she showed included the summoning of Saber and Archer and their first meetings with their masters and how they fought alongside Shirou and Rin in the war along with Shinji's own movements in the war.
Issei looked at them in shock. "What!? You all were in secret war?"
"How did you know about all this?" Shirou questioned the woman in front of them. "I thought no one, but the ones in the war was suppose to know about it?"
"My wheel allows me to see into any and all magical events that are in my lifetime. It's one of its many great powers." She brought the wheel back close to her body. "But despite its power and your skills as mages neither will be enough to stop Fuyuki from being consumed into nothing."
"What does that mean?" Shinji asked in a panic.
"It starts by making everyone unconscious," Jessica stated. "After that it will slowly absorb every person and thing in the area. There won't even be a city to speak of when it's finished unless,..."
"Unless, what?" Shirou took a step forward. "If there is a way to stop this I'll do whatever it takes."
"Will you really put your life on line once again?" Jessica asked. "I know you want to be a hero, but what you have to do will be completely different from the Grail wars. You'll have to risk your life in a completely different way."
Shirou nodded with determination.
"Wait, Shirou you don't even know what she wants you to do," Issei said.
"It can't just be Shirou, each of you will have to put your lives on the line." Jessica stepped forward, looking at them all. "Despite Shirou's will and strength it will take all five of you and even with that it's still unlikely we can fully pull this off."
"You're saying we could still all die?" Shinji questioned.
Jessica nodded. "That's right."
"But if we don't do anything we'll all die anyway," Sakura said.
"That's true too."
"What exactly do we have to do?" Rin questioned.
Jessica shut her eyes for a moment. "I will summon heroes with my time alter wheel, make pacts with them and we may have a chance." Jessica opened her eyes. She lifted the wheel above her head and let the wheel turn. "Now return servants of the grail, to fight with the masters of this time." A glowing light came out.
Five light blue magic circles appeared in front of the students. Jessica lowered her wheel down in front of her. "Now every servant that ever fought in the grail war can hear you. Each of you just needs to make a pact and the one who believes in your vow will come to you to help us fight."
Both Shirou and Rin looked at the woman in awe. "You mean..."
"There is no need for a catalyst," Jessica spoke as her eyes became gentle. "But the hero will be doing the picking not you so make sure you come up with a proper vow for them to pledge to. A pact of partnership and not of services. Also unlike in the holy grail war..." A golden thread shot out of each of the students body into one of the five circles. "You will not need to feed them mana to keep them bound, instead it is your existence alone that will keep them here. As long as you live they live, but as long as they live to complete the mission the same rules apply to you."
"You're saying if they die while they are bond to us..." Rin started.
Jessica looked down sadly. "Yes." She then looked up behind the group. "But we must hurry, the mist is almost up to us."
The students looked back to see that she was. Rin quickly turned back around to her magic circle, focusing on it. She brought her fist to her chest. "Heroes hear me! The hero that wishes to fight by my side to destroy the evil that threatens this world." She reached her hand out. "Who trusts their life with my life and I will trust mine with their life come forth with this vow."
The magic circle that Rin's thread went through glowed brighter than the others. A beam shot out to everyone's amazement that cleared the air around them. A tall figure came into sight with their clothes blowing forward as Rin's hair and skirt blew back.
The eyes of Rin's hero opened. A smile graced their lips. "I'd be honor to help you, Rin Tohsaka." The light broke into fragments like glass to reveal that it was...
Tears grew in Rin's eyes from the happiness she felt while everyone else looked in awe. "Archer," Rin had finally said.
Archer, the heroic spirit Emiya walked up to his friend. "Looks likes things have changed since the last time we met, Rin."
Rin could only nod in agreement. "Yes, this time we aren't fighting for the grail. We're be working with the other heroes to stop another enemy."
Archer gave a slight nod. He then looked over to his younger self that eyed him right back. "What are you waiting for, Shirou Emiya? An invitation?"
Rin looked at the boy, placing her hands on her hips. "Archer's right, Shirou hurry up and make your pact." She pointed to his magic circle.
"Right." Shirou focused on his circle. "Heroes of the past." He bit his teeth together with hard determination in his eyes and heart. "Please lend me your aid to help stop this darkness from destroying my town. Fight alongside me so we can win!"
The circle glowed brighter just like Rin's did. A figure floated out of the circle on top of it, being none other than Saber. "I'd be glad to help you, Shirou." She gave him a gentle smile.
"Saber," Shirou spoke with relief. A strong wind came from Saber that blew away more of the mist to keep them all save for awhile longer.
Rin then looked over at the others. "Alright, it's time for you guys to do it."
"But if we keep summoning the servants we had in the grail wars, then I'll be stuck with either..." Shinji trailed off.
Issei gulped. "He-heroes, please help me stop this evil that's attacking my town. My life and your life will work as one to stop all the evil that threatens us," he announced. A spiraling wind blew out the circle that cleared out the mist from the top floor of the school as Issei's hero revealed himself.
Rin's eyes opened with surprise. "It's, Lancer."
Lancer stood tall with his lance resting on his shoulder. "So it seems I have a new master. Let's hope you're better than the last one."
"I want to help everyone, so please a hero that wants to help save this land, its people. Please come forth," Sakura spoke with tears in her eyes, sticking out her hand. Her magic circle dull at her pleads almost to the point of disappearing completely.
Shinji glared over at his sister. "What kind of vow was that?" He pointed at her. "Not a single spirit wants to come and help you. They don't even want to bother risking their lives for you."
Sakura looked down in despair.
"Back off," Rin told him.
"Such a pure heart," a voice came from Sakura's circle, grabbing everyone's attention. "I had truly given up on anyone being so caring."
Saber looked over at dull circle in surprise. "It can't be."
"It would be my honor to serve you, if you allow me," the voice continued.
Sakura looked up with hope. "Yes."
Sakura's circle glowed brightly like the ones before it. A man with two lances appeared before them on one knee.
"Lancer," Saber spoke.
The black hair Lancer shifted his eyes over to the blonde. "Saber," he spoke with distain.
"But isn't my servant Lancer?" Issei questioned.
"Jessica did say she opened it for all heroes to hear," Rin spoke. "He must be another hero from the Lancer class."
Sakura stared at her Lancer's face only two blush at the beautiful sight. Her fist rested on her chest while the other one tightly gripped onto Shirou's shoulder.
Lancer smiled at his new master. His eyes then shifted over to the king of knights. "You're here, Saber. I wouldn't think an unselfish quest would peak your interest."
Saber balled up her fists bitterly. "Lancer, you have it wrong..."
"We don't have time for this." Jessica madly waved her wheel up above her head, getting their attention.
"You're..." Lancer began.
"I'm the one who brought you both back," Jessica replied with a pout. She brought the wheel down in front of her. "And we don't have time for an old fight from the fourth grail war. So I'm clearing this up right now." The wheel glowed and created a screen again to show everyone the battle between Lancer and Saber during the fourth holy grail war. How Kiritsugu Emiya had basically used Saber as a diversion and how he had Maya take Lancer's mistress to force his master to sign a magical contract that would result in Lancer's death. They saw how Emiya slipped out of his contract by having Maya shoot both Lancer's master and mistress down after Lancer killed himself and cursed everyone there, including the grail. Finally they saw how Saber delivered the final blow to Lancer's master after begging to die while Kiritsugu mocked the code of chivalry, stating all wars were hell and that heroes merely glorified it.
The screen disappeared before them.
All of them who saw the scene stared in shock except for Saber who lowered her head in sadness. The black hair lancer looked over to the king of knights. "Saber, I had no idea." He placed his arm over his stomach and bowed his head. "I'm very sad what I said to you that day."
"No, what my master did that day-" Saber spoke.
Jessica waved her wheel around madly. "We don't have time for this." She pointed at Shinji. "The mist hasn't hit us yet because of the blow back from the summoning, but its closing in. Now, Shinji make your vow."
"I-I, a strong hero that will crush any other who will make me look better than all the rest come forth," Shinji said, sticking his hand out.
Rin placed her hands on her hips, glaring at Shinji. "That's the type of vow you make? Who is going to answer to that."
Shinji's magic circle glowed. Everyone looked to see who would heed, Shinji's call. Long hair that flew up was the first thing saw as the hero. They finished coming out of the circle to be none other than.
"Rider!" Everyone who knew her spoke as one.
Shinji bit down on his teeth in frustration with a drop of sweat going down the side of his face. "Why did she come?"
Jessica held the wheel in front of herself. "Ok, it's time to finish the pact so we can get started. Say you seal this pact with your true names."
"True names?" Shirou said in confusion.
"Yes, these aren't master-servant relationships, you're partners this time," Jessica quickly explained. "So you can't refer to them by their class names."
"I, Artoria Pendragon also known once as King Arthur seal this pact." The once Saber servant placed her fist of her heart. Her body glowed in a small golden light with a thin silk yarn coming out of her chest.
Shirou placed his fist over his own heart to perfectly model Saber's stance. "And I Shirou Emiya also seal this pact." Just like his former servant his body glowed.
"I, Issei Ryuudou seal this pact with..."
" Cú Chulainn and I seal this pact as well," the blue hair lancer spoke.
Shinji balled up his fists so tight that they trembled. His anger continued to grow at the sight of the hero he had gotten.
Sakura blushed even further while she stood behind Shirou. "I, Sakura Tohsaka agree to this vow." Her body glowed.
Shirou shifted his eyes back in shock. "Tohsaka?"
The black hair lancer went down on one knee and placed his fist over his chest. He shut his eyes as he bowed his head. "Milady, I Diarmuid Ua Duibhne swear to your vow." The former lancer class glowed.
Rin focused her attention on her own partner. She saw the small smile on his face and knew heroes and students alike were in for a surprise. "Alright it's my turn. I, Rin Tohsaka agree to my vow with..."
"Shirou Emiya also known as the heroic spirit Emiya," the former Archer spoke. The heroic spirit glowed with the front of his hair falling over his forehead to mirror his younger self.
Sakura, Shinji and Issei along with their servants stared at the sight in utter shock. "Did he say he was Shirou?"
"Sempai?"
"You've got to be kidding," Cú Chulainn questioned. "He's the kid?"
Emiya, once known as Archer shifted his attention over to the former Lancer of his war. "I still remember that night when you struck me through the heart for watching you fight, Lancer. It's a good thing I was able to summon Saber the next we met." An amuse smile graced his lips.
Cú Chulainn bit down on his teeth and glared at the former servant.
Jessica waved her hands rapidly. "Yes, he's Shirou's future self. Moving on! I told you we don't have time for this. Make the final pact before we're all killed."
Shinji threw his head up. "Alright, fine." He pointed at Rider. "You better not let me down."
Rider simply nodded.
"Fine, I seal the contract as Shinji Matou," the blue hair boy said.
"And so do I as Medusa," the former Rider servant spoke. The two glowed in golden light as well.
"Now to begin," Jessica said more calmly.