A battered, blood covered body drug herself across the burning battlefield that once was a part of Fuyuki city. Smoke filled her lungs and she coughed and wheezed while struggling to move herself to her destination. Her left arm dragged lifelessly across the ground as she forced her body forward with her right.

The final blast of her attack against the opposing Rider servant had seemingly ended the Grail War, disintegrating both servant and master while leaving a fiery wasteland in its wake.

"Master!" she cried out weakly, "Master, where are you? We've finally won..." She could feel his presence, but very faintly. His mana was almost completely depleted and she could no longer benefit from its healing effects. She could feel the blood seeping from the wound in her side, mixing with the dirt and rocks that rubbed against her body as she continued to crawl and search for her master. The sound of moving rubble and a large gasp caught her ears as a man emerged from under a huge pile of rubble, gasping for air and coughing violently.

"Master, are you alright?" she called to him as he lifted himself up and began to move towards her.

"I could be worse, how are you faring? Alita?" he asked, eyeing her beaten form. He knelt down in front of her and brushed her blood soaked hair out of her face then hooked his arm around under her unbroken right arm and lifted her up. Alita winced, her scratched up and tired legs fought her but she was able to stand leaning against him.

"I wish I could say the same as well... I can't feel my left arm, and I cannot heal myself lest I use up the last of your mana," she answered.

"I see, I'm sorry about that. Surely our victory was worth it, however," he joked and she felt herself relax a bit against him.

"Yes it certain-" her words were cut off as she felt liquid pass over her bare feet, slightly burning her skin. Both she and her Master looked down at the crimson liquid and up towards the source: The Holy Grail. The large black hole in the sky released small spurts of crimson liquid upon the field where they stood and slowly began to lower itself, lessening the amount of liquid it released until it ran dry. She felt herself being pulled towards the hole, debris flying past her and being sucked into the small abyss. In her weakened state she felt herself being dragged towards it, but her master held a firm grip on her shoulders so she would not be pulled in.

With a small "pop" the hole collapsed onto itself, turning the crimson liquid around the pair into red shimmer that began to float upwards into the sky. Gently she released herself from her Master's grip and walked closer to the place the hole had once been. In its place stood a blinding golden chalice, ornate with engravings so intricate and beautiful she could barely stare at it without feeling her vision burn.

"We...really won..." the man behind her whispered and fell to his knees. Alita turned quickly to make sure he was all right only to see him kneeling on ground, tears falling from his eyes.

"Master...are you alright?"

"Thank you, Alita ..." he whispered softly, "For helping me achieve this goal..."

She smiled at him. She knew what was to come next. Her Master had kept his last command seal until the end. He would soon ask her to end her life in order to have his wish granted by the Grail.

"I have never achieved anything in my life, until today...and now I will have no one to share this achievement with..." He whispered staring down at the petal shaped mark on his hand.

"Master, feel no pity. I am honored to have served you this far. I am proud to have had such a kind and honorable Master. You are truly deserving of Grail. May it grant your deepest desire." the servant said, placing her hand over her heart and performing as reverent a bow as she could in her current state.

"Please, use your command seal and acquire your wish, my Master." She closed her eyes and stayed in slight bow, a small smile on her face. Never had she believed she and her Master would have won the war, yet there they were. She couldn't think of anyone more deserving than he to have his greatest wishes fulfilled.

"By the power of my command seal, Alita , I order you to kill me."

"Yes, master." The words left her mouth involuntarily. Her eyes snapped open as soon as her words reached her ears and she stared at him in disbelief.

"W-wait..Master, what? What are you doing?" She asked as her usable hand reached out and summoned a red arrow.

"WHY ARE YOU ASKING ME TO DO THIS!?" she screamed, her broken left arm lifted and an opalescent wooden bow materialized in her hand. Even with a broken limb, the power of the command seal forced her to lift the bow and arrow and point it directly at her Master's head. He simply looked at her with sad eyes.

"You have made my life worth living...but there is no point in living in this world if I cannot share it with someone..."

"Master, please... simply wish for your wife to be returned to you. You both can be happy! Please don't make me do this!" Tears rolled down her face as she strained to stop her hand from pulling the arrow back. Small rose petals swirled around the arrow and her Master closed his eyes.

"Please, Alita . Take the Grail's wish as your own. My life has been given purpose through this war, but I will never be able to return to a normal way of life after. I hope you understand. I wish to be at peace with my wife. Besides, you deserved a good life too. Make it happen."

Her hand released the arrow and as it collided with her master's head both the arrow and body exploded into rose petals. Her weapon disappeared in a mist of red particles as she fell to her knees, tears streaming hard down her face.

"Master, why... WHY?" she let out a heart wrenching cry and fisted the petals that lay in masses around her. They had both fought so hard and overcome many challenges. Alita had never questioned her Master's reason for fighting in the war, nor had he ever given a direct answer when she asked about his wish. She had never imagined that he didn't have one, not with how determined he was to win.

A stern voice came from behind her, snapping her out of her thoughts. "Tell me, what is your wish?"

"My wish...?" she stared lifelessly down at the petals in her hands. She lifted them to her face and her expression changed from pain and hopelessness to absolute anger. Crushing the flowers in her palm she turned angrily towards the grail and spat: "I no longer wish to be a servant in this ridiculous war."