He poured over his father's will, reading the notes on making sure that the magic circle was intact and ready to be used. The boxes in the storehouse were all moved out of the way, creating space for the circle he would use within a day's time.

Lowering the instructions left to him half a decade previously, the boy frowns, contemplating what he would have to do in the following weeks. He unconsciously scratches his back, where his family's magic crest was carved into him. He stands, concern etched across his face, as he prepared himself for the greatest trial he would face, and being able to fulfill his father's dream.


[Day One/Thursday, January 29]

The hill was barren, scarred with the results with countless battles. The sky above was blue, but turning into an orange as the sun set. All across the hill, swords were stuck into the ground, their hilts pointing towards the sky, and in the center of that hill was him. He wasn't sure why, but he felt at peace in this strange, strange world of his dream. The sky was a clear blue, and made him feel at ease.

But alas, all things come to an end. The sky grew dark, as ash and soot filled the air. Great, giant gears began to appear in the sky, as the light of the sun disappeared behind the ash. He had lost the peaceful feeling of the blue skies, and calm winds to the gears, and fire, and dust. This world was not one that he was comfortable in. He started to run, started trying to escape the dream, the nightmare as a man began to follow him.

Eventually, he reached the end of the world of his dream. His back to the wall, as the faceless man summoned two swords which he couldn't identify, and charged. The man cut at him, killing him as he said something unintelligible.

Shirou Emiya awoke from the dream, staring into the sapphire eyes and jet black hair of Rin Tohsaka. She blinked, before smirking as he rubbed fatigue out of his eyes.

"Oh, so you're finally awake, are you? I thought that you had died in your sleep," she says mockingly.

"Ha ha. Real funny," Shirou yawns. It was only 6:30, but he was tired. So tired. Why hadn't he started moving those boxes out of the way earlier?

"Come on, Shirou. You can't let Matou-chan do all the work for breakfast, now can you?"

Shirou narrowed his eyes, before sighing. "Oh no! She's guilt tripping me! What do I do?"

The look on Rin's face was priceless. The snarl forcibly hidden behind the smile as she said "Oh my, you're so funny Shirou. How will I be able to cope with your sense of humor?"

He just shrugged before looking at his hand. The markings on the back were even more pronounced than before. The bruise that had once been there, on and off for months had become multiple solid red lines on the back of his hand.

"By tonight, it'll be time," he said staring at the Command Seals now evident on his hand.

Rin's face now becomes serious. "We will win this, Shirou. Me, for my sister, and you for yours."

She didn't feel that she had to mention the rest of the world. Just those words were enough.


He sat on the rooftop of his school, a scarf wrapped around his neck to keep the cold out. He slowly ate the rice in his lunch, as he listened to Rin speak.

"The fake priest told me earlier that the only classes left are Archer and Saber," she had said moments earlier. "I might be able to summon Saber tonight, when my Prana levels are at their peak, but you told me that you have a Catalyst for Saber, so I'm going to have to hope for the best for when I summon my servant."

Shirou nods, chewing his lunch. "The catalyst I have will work. I'll be going to the church tomorrow to formally register as a master, after I show my servant around town."

Rin just nods as she drinks her coffee. It was bitterly cold that day, despite Fuyuki being a coastal town. The red haired magus closes his bento, and wraps it up. He looks over at Rin, and stands up.

"I'll be at school tomorrow, too," he starts to say, "because knowing you, you'll use up almost all of your Prana trying to summon an amazing servant. I'll meet up with you at the park tomorrow after school, okay?"

She nods, a confident smile the primary emotion visible on her face. He knew her well enough, however, that he could tell she was hiding her fear. They start to discuss more mundane things as the leave the roof, like upcoming tests and the such, but despite this, there was no escaping the lingering thoughts of "What if we fail?"


He knew that he should be walking home this late. It would have been fine any other year, but this was the year of the Fifth Holy Grail War. It wouldn't be safe for anyone who was a magus to be out this late for two weeks. But archery practice had run late, and here he was, returning home when it was dark out. At most, Shirou could hope to be able to escape an enemy master provided that they attack by tracing and firing off twenty swords then escape while they're distracted.

He pulled his scarf up, and shoved his hands into his pockets as the air became saturated with Mana. It was the tell-tale sign of a magus with huge power capabilities, or at the least a familiar of some sort that used large amounts of Prana. His answer was provided as he saw a girl leaning on the guard rail. A girl, with hair as white as snow, and eyes that are as red as rubies. She smiles as she pushes herself off of the guard rail, her violet jacket swaying in the wind.

She walks towards Shirou, as he continues towards her, before she says "You're going to die if you don't summon yours soon, Mister."

He stops, and replies "Don't worry. I'll be ready, Big Sis."

He can hear her feet stop, and turn, but he has already disappeared, out of her field of view. He had said that he'd be ready for her, so wasting time hanging around in the street wasn't going to solve anything.


He stands at the front door, waiting for Fuji-nee and Sakura to leave, before he turns around, and walks back into his house. He makes his way through to his backyard and into the storehouse. He pushes open the door, and makes sure that everything is still where he left it, before closing the door with a creaking sound.

Everything was ready. He moved over to the summoning circle, as the clock in the storehouse struck nine o'clock. He lifted up his left hand over the circle, and began to speak.

"Fill, fill, fill, fill, fill. Repeat five times. But, when each is filled, destroy it. Set."

The room was glowing with the magic circle on the ground, one made of silver that he had acquired over time.

"Heed my words," Shirou continued to say. "My will creates your body, and your sword creates my destiny. If you hear the Grail's call and obey my reason, then answer me."

Wind was blowing in a funnel shape around the magic circle, pushing and pulling at his jacket. The light level in the room was intense, as it radiated in waves from the magic circle that he had spent hours perfectly crafting.

"I hereby swear. I will be all that is good in the eternal world. I will be the disposer of evil in the eternal world. You seven heavens, clad in three great words of power, come forth from the circle of binding, guardian of the scales!" he yells, as he is blinded by the amount of light present in the room. The wind blew madly, before the light and wind dissipated, leaving only a girl with blonde hair, and emerald eyes in the circle, her steel armour appearing silver.

She appeared beautifully regal as she stood, her sword in her hands. She looked at Shirou, before she spoke, asking him one question.

"I ask of you-Are you my master?"

Shirou couldn't help but reply "Yes. I am."

-(=O=)-

Fate/frozen twilight

Chapter One: The Summoning

-(=O=)-

[Day Two/Friday, January 30]

Rin had left her fathers-no, her study. She still couldn't get over that. Even though her father had been dead for a decade now, she still thought of that room as her father's study. It reminded her of him too much for it to be anything else. Archer silently followed her as she walked to the staircase, before she stopped.

"Oh, yes, Archer. I forgot a few things. First of all, which heroic spirit are you?"

He just stood still for a moment, concern visible on his face, before he answers with "I cannot tell you my true identity, for no other reason other than that I do not know."

Surprise evident in her voice, Rin yelled back at him "What's that supposed to mean? Are you messing with me?"

Archer looks towards the windows, his voice serious and respectful as he continues. "I mean no disrespect Master, but it is because of your imperfect summoning. My memories are in a jumble. My name and origin is hazy as well. It doesn't matter though."

Rin sigh. "Of course it matters! If I don't know what Heroic Spirit you are, I don't know how powerful you are!"

"That's a trivial matter," Archer says flatly.

"No it's not! If I don't know how powerful my partner is, I can't formulate a strategy!"

"What are you talking about? I am the servant summoned by you. I can only be the most powerful," he says, confidence evident in his voice.

"Well, whatever," Rin says. "That means that it'll be harder for enemy servants to identify you as well. For now, we'll overlook that you can't remember your identity."

She spins around, her hands on her hip as she addresses her Servant. "Now, Archer. About the other thing I forgot to mention. For the duration of the war, we will be allied with a friend of mine. He's the Master of Saber."

Archer raises an eyebrow. "Oh? Who is this friend? Someone you know through family connections? Some guy who you gave pity to?"

"He's a Magus who I've been friends with since grade school. His name is Shirou Emiya."

Archer nods. "More evidence to how incorrect I was when we first met, Master. To have become allies with one of my primary threats in the war. I must applaud you Master. Please, tell me when we will be ready to turn on the boy."

Rin stares daggers at him. "We're not going to be turning on him. As I said, we will be allied with him for the duration of the war. Anyways, Archer, your first job."

Archer grins. "Right down to business then. My master is belligerent. Now, who is my enemy-" he says, slight amounts of excitement present in his voice as Rin throws a broom and dustpan at him, which he catches with no effort at all.

"Your enemy, Archer, is the mess you left downstairs. Now, go clean the living room. You made a mess, so I expect it to be spotless," she orders him as she makes her way to the bathroom so she can prepare to go to bed.

"Wait," he interrupts. "What do you think Servants are?"

She looks at him, a slight grin on her face. "Familiars, right? They talk back and are unruly, however."

He sighs as she walks off, as he rests the broom on his shoulder. "Good grief. I will do as you wish, but you can go to hell Master."

Minutes later, at around 1:30 in the morning, the bedroom light of Rin Tohsaka clicked off, signalling the end of a long day, and the beginning of a new battle to be fought.


WISE UP!

SERVANT SABER

ID: King Arthur/Arturia Pendragon

Alias: The King of Knights

Master: Shirou Emiya

Alignment: Lawful Good

Stats:

Strength: B

Endurance: A

Agility: A

Magical Power: B

Luck: B

Noble Phantasm: A++

Class Skills:

Magic Resistance: A

Riding: B

Personal Skills:

Charisma: B

Instinct: A

Prana Burst: A

Noble Phantasms:

Avalon: EX (Barrier)

Excalibur: A++ (Anti-Fortress/Anti-Army)

Invisible Air: C (Anti-Unit)


SERVANT ARCHER

ID: UNKNOWN

Alias: UNKNOWN

Master: Rin Tohsaka

Alignment: True Neutral

Stats:

Strength: D

Endurance: C

Agility: C

Magical Power: B

Luck: E

Noble Phantasm: ?

Class Skills:

Independent Action: B

Magic Resistance: D

Personal Skills:

Clairvoyance: C

Eye of the Mind (True): B

Thaumaturgy: C-

Noble Phantasms:

?