Disclaimer: I do NOT own Fate/Stay Night or any other elements of the Nasuverse. If I did, then instead of reading this fanfic, you would be watching a spinoff.

A/N: Greetings and salutations, fellow fic fanatics! This is the third part of Chapter 1: Halcyon Days. This is a very short update, but I still like it, and it just means we are that much closer to the reveal of a Servant next update. This update also reveals two Masters who will appear in the Holy Grail War. Hope you like my choices. You will probably be able to guess one of their Servants, but good luck with the other. I will give you a hint: it is my favorite Servant of all.

Bonus: there's an omake at the end of the update!

Akuma-Heika - Yes, that is the exception, but I actually meant Einzberns currently alive. The founder was almost definitely a human mage. You are right that Avalon is in his chest and he is a blank slate, but I never said that his origin and affinity wouldn't be changed. Avalon will change them, and he will still be an incarnation, it just won't be sword. I actually call that Shirou 'Amakusa' so that I can avoid confusion, and he is not present in this world. From now on, I'll identify this one as FSN Shirou Kotomine.

Drow79 - I don't really want to reveal any of the Servants (other than Caster, who I already revealed as Medea on my profile page) until they are revealed in-story, but I will confirm that Shirou's Servant is not Jackie the Ripper like in 'Tainted Ideals'.

SinForged - I plan to keep what incarnation he is a secret for now. As for how powerful he is, even at nine years old he is far stronger than in canon at the beginning of the War, and towards the end I plan to have him be stronger than all of the versions, including HF. This increase in strength will start once his origin is revealed as it will allow him to use magecraft empowered by that origin.

"Dialogue" - "SHOUTING AT TOP OF LUNGS"

Thoughts/Flashback/Exaggeration

"Magecraft"

Chapter 1.3

Halcyon Days

THREE YEARS AGO

Tears welled up in the corners of Illya's eyes as she looked down at the bloodstained bandages covering her arms. She whimpered, "It hurts, it hurts. I don't want to do this anymore." She looked at her shaking hands, covered in maroon stained bandages. "Why do they do this? Why do they have to cut me every day?" She brought her hands to her face, about to let the tears flow, when she heard footsteps.

She looked out the wooden double doors to see two maids carrying a blanketed form on a stretcher. Silently, she crept out of the room and followed them, her curiosity compelling her. She followed them into a large room. The walls of the room were stone, and there was a gigantic pool of water taking up the space where the floor should be except for a stone dock. The pool seemed to glow with an ethereal blue light. The maids walked to the end of the dock and tossed the blanketed form into the water, the body making a splash before sinking. The maids walked past Illya on their way out.

Illya gazed down at the pool, giving a small gasp when she realized there were dozens upon dozens of lifeless bodies floating in the water. She whispered, "This Holy Grail War is stupid. Why don't they just stop it?"

Illya gasped again as an emotionless voice said, "We cannot. That war is our purpose. It is why we exist. The miracle occurred a thousand years ago." Illya turned her head in surprise to see one of the bodies sitting up in the water. It was the body of a woman. She had white hair in pigtails and blood red eyes, just like Illya's own. There was a spear through her heart, another through her side, and an arrow in her thigh. "We were created in an attempt to replicate that event."

"Magic?" Illya realized. "Humanity's salvation? That will only bring happiness to human beings. What do we get? What makes life good for us?!"

"We have no concept of what happiness is. We are only their tools. We are the used and not the users. It is doubtful that real joy has even been known by Elder Acht."

"Yes," another voice said. "We are nothing but tools meant to activate the Holy Grail." It was another female homunculus, her white hair flowing in the water. There was a spear through her heart too. "To that end, we have suffered for a thousand years. But at long last, they finally achieved you."

"I was… achieved?"

"Yes," yet another voice said. Her body was bent over the water, white hair dipping into the fluid. There was a halberd through each of her shoulders and a sword through her arm. "You are the Einzberns' crowning achievement. The result of their research on us. They will never create one superior to you, no matter how much time they choose to spend."

"They will give up if there should ever come a time when you are defeated," another voice said. There was a sword in her shoulder, a spear poking through her gut, and an arrow through her neck. "Elder Acht will turn off the power himself."

Illya gazed upon the countless bodies of female homunculi floating in their water, each suffering from a fatal injury.

"It is doubtful that real joy has even been known by Elder Acht."

"Everyone… will give up?" Illya asked. "You'll choose to stop living?"

"Yes. Then a millennium of research will end, and all the Einzbern efforts will come to a close. They will do it with a smile, saying they gave it their all but it was to no avail."

"That is horrible!" Illya protested. "You're all alive! Why should any of you have to die?! Shouldn't I be the one to die if I'm the one to fight?!"

"Sweet child, please don't mourn for us. Even if it was all for nothing, none of us will mind. Even if we cannot be saved, we will finally be freed of our obligation."

Tears flowing down her cheeks, Illya cried, "Duty, duty, duty! It's always duty! Who do the Einzberns think they are?! We never had the chance to live or love or have identities of our own!"

Gray's eyes fluttered open. Blearily rubbing the sleep out of them, she rose from the bed with a yawn. She walked to the bathroom to begin her morning routine, running the faucet and splashing water on her face. She looked up at the mirror, a noble face with pale blonde hair and bright emerald eyes staring back at her. Her eyes narrowed as she focussed on the three red markings on the back of her right hand, which definitely hadn't been there when she went to sleep the night before. The maroon symbols depicted what appeared to be a very pointy cross flanked by things looking similar to wings.

Sighing, she picked up her cellphone, quickly dialling a number. Unlike most mages, she and her mentor thought not taking advantage of modern technology was simply impractical, and had no qualms about using it. She held the receiver to her, and spoke, "Could you please put Lord El-Melloi II on the phone?"

Waver Velvet, now known as Lord El-Melloi the II, felt the beginnings of a migraine beginning to form as Gray told him over the phone of the three mysterious maroon markings that had appeared on the back of her right hand over night. Staring down at his own hand, where the symbol of a maroon sword flanked by ridged blades was located, he breathed, "Fuck."

The plum haired girl fell against the wall, her cheek red from where Shinji had slapped her. He sneered. First she had invaded his home. Then she had had the audacity to take his place as the heir of the Matou Family. As the eldest son, he should have been the only one fit to inherit the family magecraft. And he would have been, if he had the capacity for it in the first place.

The Matou Family, the once proud Makiri Family, was a five hundred year old family of mages that had once been one of the most prominent mage houses in the world. Recently, however, they lost that prestige. As the years went on, the family's potential for magecraft gradually faded out. Shinji had been born without magic circuits, which were essential for the practice of any magecraft beyond a geis contract. Even runes and formalcraft required od, however little, to work, and the only way for a non-mage like himself to provide enough of it was to put his own life in danger.

Sakura, meanwhile, wasn't even related to him. She'd been adopted because she had magic circuits. But not just magic circuits, she had an abundance of them, and all of them were high-quality. Grandfather had decided to train her to be the family heir. She wasn't even a part of the family, merely a stranger with exceptional luck, but she still possessed the one thing he coveted above all else.

Maybe he could have handled it if she took pride in that. He thought he even might have accepted it if she had flaunted it in his face. But no. Instead, she acted like he didn't even exist most of the time. She took absolutely no pride or pleasure in the privilege she had that he was unable to enjoy. And worst of all, she was so submissive. As a child, he'd often made fun of her, and she'd just calmly accepted it, never once fighting back. Now, no matter how much he hit her, she wouldn't do a thing. She'd just sit there and take it.

He hated it. He hated that this stranger, this bitch, took what was rightfully his, acted as if it was some sort of great burden, and never fought back. It would have been better if she fought back. At least it would provide some entertainment.

Instead, she looked up at him, her purple eyes blank and dull as if she, like a child too young to comprehend the concept of harm, was completely ignorant of the danger he was posing to her.

Snarling, he grabbed the collar of her shirt with one hand, raising the other to strike her again.

"Let her go," a boy said coldly.

Shinji turned to see a boy his age standing there in the school hallway. He had bright red hair with a strand or two of white. His eyes were a deep golden. They were blank and dull, just like Sakura's. Shinji hated him already.

Shinji sneered. "Oh yeah, and what happens if I don't, tough guy?"

"If you don't within the next three seconds, then I will break your wrist."

Shinji sneered again. As if this nobody could or would dare to touch him.

"One."

Shinji turned back to Sakura.

"Two."

Shinji thought, But that doesn't mean I can't teach him a lesson.

"Three."

Shinji whirled around, sending his left fist careening towards the boy's jaw in a hook. The boy ducked, and as Shinji stared into his previously blank eyes, for the first time in his life, he felt true fear. He'd thought he'd been scared whenever his father had drunkenly berated him. He'd thought he'd been scared whenever his grandfather had beaten him. But this was the first time he felt pure, unadulterated terror.

The red-haired boy's hand lashed out in a vicious strike to Shinji's gut, forcing him to release Sakura as he gasped for air. As Shinji's was on his way to grasp at his stomach, the boy grabbed the hand and swiftly and brutally twisted. Shinji screamed in pain as his wrist twisted with the sickening crunch of breaking bones.

Cradling his wrist, Shinji collapsed to the ground, tears forming in his eyes as he crawled away. But all he could think about was the boy who had done this to him. As Shinji had thrown the punch, the boy's previously dull and lifeless eyes had become hard as steel. And behind it all was a savage glee.

Sakura gazed at the boy that now stood over her. Why had he saved her? Didn't he know she was tainted? Didn't he know that she wasn't worth saving?

She looked at her adoptive brother, still crawling away as he cradled his wrist, who had hit her until this stranger had saved her.

"Are you all right?" the boy asked her.

Sakura wordlessly nodded.

The boy offered his hand, smiling gently. "Come on."

She took his hand, and the boy led her down the hall and away from Shinji. Finally finding her voice, Sakura asked softly, "Why did you help me?"

"Do I need a reason to help people?"

She was silent for a few moments, before asking, "Where are we going?"

The boy replied, "Rule #7: when you are injured, seek medical attention. The nearest medical facility is the nurse's office." The boy suddenly stopped, causing her to run into his back with a squeak. He turned around, slapping a hand to his forehead. "How could I have forgotten about Rule #1?" He looked at Sakura. "My name is Shirou Kotomine."

Staring down at her feet, Sakura said shyly, "My name is Sakura Matou." She looked back up at the boy, her eyes flicking to his golden orbs before she looked back down with a blush. "It's nice to meet you."

OMAKE

"Come on," Rin pleaded, tugging at Shirou's arm. "It'll just take a second."

Shirou sighed. "Rule #8: never attempt to practice magecraft beyond your level of ability."

"Oh, would you stop with those silly rules? Who taught you them, anyway?"

"You," Shirou said flatly.

Rin sighed in mock exasperation. "The one time you listen to me."

"Try ninety-seven times."

"And here I thought you weren't any good at math." She turned around to face him, hands on her hips and nose in the air. "I told you, this stuff was beyond my abilities when I was five. Now that I've matured, I should be more than capable of handling this."

Shirou sighed. "I'm not going to convince you to not do this, am I?"

"Nope." She grabbed his arm again, tugging him down the stairs of the Tohsaka Manor. "Now, come on."

Giving in to her demands, Shirou allowed himself to be dragged on. Unfortunately, the sudden lack of resistance combined with throwing all of her weight into pulling him along caused Rin to fall over. She squeaked as she fell backwards, only to have an arm clutch her around the waist.

Pulling her close to him and away from the suddenly very steep looking drop, Shirou said mockingly, "Behold and cower before the mighty Rin Tohsaka, capable of mastering the darkest reaches of magecraft, but incapable of walking down a flight of stairs."

Suddenly aware of the extremely close proximity to her friend, Rin's face turned a red brighter than her sweater. "Sh-shut up," she stammered weakly. Turning back to descend down the stairs, Rin breathed deeply, eyes closed. Continuing down the steps, she said, "Come, apprentice, and I shall show you just how… ah!" She squealed as, eyes still closed, she tripped and tumbled down the remaining stairs before landing in a heap on the landing, butt in the air and panties exposed.

Not even bothering to hide his amusement, Shirou said, "Need I say more?" Calmly walking down the stairs, he held out his hand and pulled her up. "Were you always this clumsy?"

Her face burning, there was only one thing on Rin's mind: I blame Kirei.

Back in Fuyuki Church, Kirei sneezed. Rubbing his nose, Kirei said, "Hmm, Shirou must be embarrassing Rin again. If this continues at this rate, I'm going to need to stock up on tissues."

"I still don't think this is a good idea," Shirou warned for the upteenth time.

"For the last time, it will be fine," Rin said. She opened the door to her father's old workshop, breathing in the musty air and coughing as she inhaled dust instead. Once the coughing subsided, she said, "If it really bothers you so much, we'll leave as soon as I finish proving to you that I can handle anything these old tomes can throw at me."

Shirou sighed. He seemed to be doing that a lot lately. "As you wish, master."

Rin turned away from him to hide her blush. Even when he said it mockingly, she couldn't help but blush when he called her that. Dammit, aren't the boys supposed to be the one with the raging teenage hormones? Shaking her head rapidly to clear away the image of a 'hormonal' Shirou, she coughed and said imperiously, "Then come, my apprentice, and let us delve into the dark and mystical aspects of magecraft." There, that should help her save face.

Shirou thought, Why does she keep on talking funny?

Flipping her hair, Rin went over to an indigo-bound book, pointedly ignoring the green one that had given her so much trouble when she was five. She set the book on a table, flipping open to a random page.

Everything went dark.

Groaning, Rin lifted a hand to her aching forehead. Her head was ringing. She blearily opened her eyes to see a blurry thing with red hair placing a wet washcloth on her forehead. Blinking rapidly, her vision cleared to view Shirou. The ringing having finally faded, she croaked out, "W-what happened?"

Shirou said, "The book exploded." Placing a hand on her cheek, Shirou said, "Are you alright? You're burning up."

Sure enough, Rin's face was aflame, though likely not for the reasons he thought. "I-I'm fine."

"So, still think you can handle whatever those old tomes can throw at you?"

Face still burning, Rin turned her head away from him. Luckily, she knew exactly who to blame for this fiasco. She muttered, "Damn you, Kirei."

Tissue at the ready, Kirei sneezed.

A/N: So… I just realized that this update is kind of depressing. First, Illya is off the surgery table for the day and discovers she's just a tool, then Sakura is abused by Shinji (which unfortunately won't come to a halt just because Shirou protected her this one time) and thinks she's worthless. Hopefully, the omake and Masters reveal brightened things up for you. Yes, Rin will continue to cuss like a sailor. 'Damn you, Kirei' is now officially her catchphrase. Let me know how you liked the omake and the rest of the update.

Writing from Sakura's point of view is actually turning out to be a little difficult since you don't often get characters who think they are less than worthless. Angst and most other negative emotions I can do, but writing them so they come across as feeling like trash is kind of weird. Don't worry, this feeling of worthlessness will be diminished with Shirou as her friend and obvious yet oblivious crush. But how did you think I did for this little bit?

In case you're wondering, Gray will be twenty-two by the Holy Grail War. I couldn't find much information on her other than she has an affinity with earth, looks like and is descended from Artoria (I am currently laughing as I imagine canon Shirou's reaction to this revelation), and possesses Rhongomyniad, so any info you have on her would be appreciated. Her personality is a complete mystery to me, so for now I'm having her be sort of similar to Artoria.

Credit for being the beta reader of this chapter goes to Cardinal Grief.

I have another FSN Shirou Kotomine fic recommendation: 'Birth by Fire' by Satire Swift. It is something of a prequel to 'Soul of Fire', which is a Fate/Stay Night x Sekirei crossover. Basically, Kirei finds Shirou and decides to raise him. Meanwhile, Shirou develops a sense of humor, becomes fast friends with Rin and Sakura (nicknamed by him as Tsun-Tsun and Dere-Dere respectively), and is very proficient at fire magecraft. Canon Shirou was forged in fire, Swift's was born in it.

Next update will be the last part of the chapter and feature a big reveal: the identity of a Servant.

Read, review, and trace on.

PS. This is an actual update, not some April Fool's prank.