DISCLAIMER

The following is a fan-based

FICTION

F/SN, F/Z, F/KPI and other products related to the Fate Series are all owned by TYPE-MOON, Kinoko Nasu and Takashi Takeuchi.

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Chapter 3: Saving Illya 1 - Inside the Castle of the Snow


Shirou stared in awe at the beauty of the German forests through the car's window.

It was the first time he travelled so far away and a part of him was excited at this unique scenario.

Before leaving, Kiritsugu had met several of his former 'friends' to borrow equipment.

Shirou was ready to put all of his faith in the man because if the conspicous quantity of gun in the back of the car was a sign then Kiritsugu was ready to wage a war. A big one.

As he mused over the snowy trees, Shirou noticed that Kiritsugu was starting to slow down the car.

Then the car ceased completely its movement having been turned off and Kiritsugu started to remove the safety belt and gestured Shirou to leave the car too.

Silently, the child got out of the car and followed his adoptive father inside the old and seemingly unhabited castle.

Kiritsugu's pace was definitively slower and a bit of sweat was on his forehead. Shirou was starting to believe it wasn't something related to his nervousness. (1)

As they approached the entrance doors, those opened without being pushed or pulled by anyone.

"Stay always with me and don't stray away. Understood." His tone demanded utter compliance to the order and Shirou did so by nodding silently.

They continued to walk deeper in the big hall until they reached the deepest segment.

It oddly resembled like the innards of a church as it had several coloured glasses that were showing several individuals that shared two characteristics. White hair and red eyes.

A old man was standing in the centre of this place, he was glaring at Kiritsugu, as if trying to burn him with his stare.

The wrinkled man didn't give any look at Shirou, focusing all his being just to look at the man.

A quick Observe made Shirou understand how critical the situation was.

Name: Jubstacheit von Einzbern

Title: The Ambitious Homunculus

Level 50

HP : 2500

MP : 100000

Description: First Creation of the Greatest Einzbern Founder, Justeaze, Jubstacheit is possibly the most ambitious Homunculus ever created. He was the mastermind behind the creation of the Eight Servant Class, Avenger, during the Third Holy Grail War.

The man's stats were scary to even glance.

But what was this 'grail war'?

Thankfully, another box popped up with an answer.

[Holy Grail War]

One of the most dangerous but important challenges of the Magi Foundation. The Three Houses' founders (Justeaze von Einzbern, Nagato Tohsaka and Zolgen Makiri) created the Holy Grail as a mean to reach Akasha and finally understand the greatest mystery of Magecraft, The Root. The competition had seven heroes, each taking one of the possible seven classes, that were given as Servants to Masters, individuals that have Magic Circuits and a strong wish that the Grail can realize.

That seemed a lot more simple than it should be.

Shirou was skeptical that something so powerful wouldn't have already been used and frankly he couldn't think of any occasion it ever happened.

"Kiritsugu Emiya, how dare you present yourself before our home after having dishonored us!"

The old man's strong voice sent some shivers in the surprised child.

"I want my daughter back, Acht!"

The reply was delivered with the same if not more poison than the previous statement.

"You have already caused us much distress and you dare to make demands?!"

Jubstacheit stared with renowned hatred at the man before him.

"I will have you beheaded then!"

Shirou jumped away as a light blue scythe was sent towards them.

Kiritsugu decided to jump high and started to shoot with his guns.

Even through Kiritsugu had ordered him to stay there, Shirou was sure that he would but just be a distraction for the man, no matter how much advantaged he was against the old Homunculus.

Shirou eyed the only door open on his left and slowly started to run towards it.

The old man finally deigned a look at the young child and started to focus an attack before he could get away from the room.

His attempt was soon met by a barrage of bullets caused by Kiritsugu's enchanted gun.

He gave another look before returning his attention to the former hitman and snarled when he saw that the child had gotten away.

Meanwhile Shirou was still running through the empty but illuminated hallways as he tried to find Illya.

His hopes were little for the lack of any sign of life in those halls.

As he turned in another hallway, he finally noticed something different. The glass door on his right seemed to led to some inner garden.

He was about to keep his search in the inside of the castle but something caught his attention.

A soft, muffled cry coming from the garden covered in snow.

He halted his pace and walked slowly and cautiously in the garden.

Snow was still falling from the sky and the cold weather was uncomfortable even wearing heavy clothes.

There he finally noticed the cause of the cries.

A young girl, close to his age, was kneeling on the cold ground in just a light, lilac nightwear.

Her hands were covering her face but Shirou could see tears still falling.

Closing the gap between the two he knew what to do.

Illya von Einzbern was the most miserable girl. Her parents have been absent for almost an year and she was feeling more alone than ever.

She missed her mother's kind voice or her father's attention.

To add salt to the wound, her Grandpa had started to say that her mother had died and that her father didn't want her.

She had replied more than once that he was lying and that her Papa loved her.

Sadly, as time passed, she felt less and less convinced herself.

Silently, she had walked out of her room and had found her way inside the beautiful garden.

There, she remembered, would have always played with her Papa or would have just slept in her Mama's arms.

Now the darkened sky and the snowy weather were showing how dark her world had gotten in just few months.

Tears have started to fall from her face and, no matter how much he tried to act tough in this situation, she felt so little and weak inside.

Differently from the other times she had visited the garden, something strange happened.

Someone had put around her a heavy, warm jacket and she slowly turned around she found herself surprised of her discovery.

There in front of her was a young boy, close to her age, crouching close to her.

He had red hairs and intriguing, amber eyes. She felt a knot form in her stomach as he gulped down her surprise, her eyes wide open.

She would have ran away from him since he was a stranger but the warm smile in his face made her hesitant to leave.

His smile reminded her of her Mama and so she once again weeped. A soft, small hand patted her head and she slowly put her face on his chest, crying even more.

As minutes passed, her breath rate returned to normal and she felt sleepy.

"Thank you.." She tried to thank the boy that had comforted her but she was far too much tired to finish the phrase and fell asleep.

Meanwhile Shirou stared at the young girl that was now sleeping using his chest as a pillow.

After a quick Observe, Shirou sighed in relief as he was assured by the Game that she was his 'older' sister.

Slowly, he took her bridal-style and started to backtrack to the entrance.

His mind, a bit wary of any other attacker, was still thinking how cute the girl cuddling in his arms was.

While walking away from the garden, a sinister presence watched with a twisted smile the whole scene.

Illya's rescue mission might be more difficult than both the Emiyas had thought as...


AN

Oh, I may have forgotten... Shirou kept his 'density' even after being claimed by the Game. Muhahahaha!

This part is lacking much action but next part will see Shirou having to use his cleverness to beat a foe that not even Kiritsugu could beat.

About Illya's reaction, she is 9 years old and, while inquisitive and smart for a child her age, she was far too much emotionally drained to be skeptical about this encounter.

Also she doesn't know yet that Shirou is there with Kiritsugu.

1) I always thought that Kiritsugu didn't get back in Germany to claim Illya not because of the Boundary Fields but because of his painful guilt and the curse of Angra Mainyu. The only reason this time he makes an attempt is because he has Shirou that isn't tainted by God of all Evil. So Boundary Fields aren't going to hold back the former Magus Killer!


Reviews Q&A

Somanjeese: Can't wait to write more!

merendinoemiliano: Rho Aias will be crucial for the next chapter as it will save Shirou and Illya lives. I've hinted too much...

: After saving Illya, Shirou will start powering up and getting powerful Skills. As of now he need Kiritsugu to save Illya but Kerry will not be there always. If you want to know the details how Shirou is going to save Sakura with Rin, then I will apologize but say that you will have to wait for this Arc.

N°2: I would like to avoid making Shirou immediately powerful with the Gamer. Having him that much powerful in a span of time so limited would make this not a serious fanfic but a parody. An example: If you search in the OPM x F/SN Crossovers, you will find one fanfic where Shirou is able to beat everyone and everything in just few days and with just one punch. That fanfic was made as a parody and this isn't so I cannot have Shirou, a five years old, so much powerful. There's already a fanfic there with that concept so I will have Shirou proceed with the Gamer as slow as possible.

Necrogod: You're Welcome and Thank You too!

adislt: That fun theory seems interestingly possible since there this new Fate anime (this one is a Slice of Life) called Emiya-San Chi no Kyou no Gohan, where the main focus is Shirou's Cooking. You can find some videos on YT already available. The Origin and Nature of Shirou are unchanged because Shirou has still Avalon inside him, deactivated but still present. Maybe I will add some Skills to make Shirou's ability with sword more prevalent thanks to the Game.

END AN

STATS ARE UNCHANGED AND ARE THE SAME AS CHAPTER 3.