"I was given a vision of the end - But it's here in these hands that cannot mend - And the memory will haunt me for all eternity"
Fate/Brave Shine
Chapter 3: Catharsis
He couldn't rely on the skill of others forever. He had seen thousands of weapons, thousands of fighting styles, all that he could copy at any given moment. He had, in his opinion, the skill of the greatest swordsman to ever walk the Earth at his disposal, should he so choose to trace her blade. He could become agile and versatile if he were to trace the twin blades that he once relied upon. He could even go further, to trace a spear, or a bow, to fight from a longer range.
He didn't want to. Not anymore. He still had a contract to fulfill, but he no longer wanted to rely on the skill of someone else to see him through a storm of battle and blood. He wanted to better himself. So, in the small amount of down time, he forged his own sword. One that was not ornate nor magical. One that held no power on it's own, rather relying upon its user to convey its message. The design was plain and simple, easy to reproduce should the first of its kind ever break. A western-style longsword, something that he felt would be easy to use to build his own skill with.
It worked. Through trial and error, Shirō grew into a deadly swordsman. He could never hope to match her level, not while he was still alive, but it was a start. After he had honed his skill to a level he felt comfortable with, he stopped using the skill and weapons of others entirely, instead forging his own weapons to replace those which had broken previously. He experimented in the design, but it always came back to a plain, simple longsword. He could feel something in the back of his mind, something that clearly wanted to get out, to free itself from him whenever he forged a new blade, but he couldn't find a way to let it out.
Each iteration of his blade got stronger and lighter after leaving behind old design flaws. His swings, stabs, and cuts got faster and more precise, and the edges of his blade got sharper. The idea of wielding the blade was left behind. Instead, he became the blade. It was an extension of his own body. As such, his own movements got reeled in to the point where Shirō would waste no energy in his attacks and could easily defend without taking the force unto himself, instead redistributing the energy elsewhere, often throwing his foes off-guard, leaving them open for a final, closing blow.
His battles ended quicker. His enemies would flee sooner. He would let some of them go, those who never wanted to fight to begin with. Those who intended on taking up arms against him once more were not so lucky. Shirō became something in-between. Not quite human, but not as powerful as a Servant. Not on his own, anyway.
He could feel her still. Both on and off the battlefield. Somehow, a part of her was still with him. She was there, her hands interlaced with his, helping guide his attacks. He could feel her tug at him, to warn him of imminent danger. He could feel her arms over his shoulders, as if he were carrying her, when he traveled on foot. In bed at night, he could feel her next to him, warming him, keeping the cold at bay. She was like his guardian angel.
He had saved her. After the Fifth Holy Grail War, she left the world with no fear, no hesitation, and no guilt. After all their time together, he had lifted that from her. She would not return to a blood-soaked hill. She no longer had any regrets. She would have been taken to Avalon. There, she'd wait. She'd wait for him.
Shirō followed his dream of becoming a Hero of Justice. He was at a fork in his path, however. If he continued down it, he knew what he could become. He knew that, in the end, he could become Archer. However, if he stopped, if he left this path, he had the chance himself of reaching Avalon. All he needed to do was find it. Find her.
Neither were what he had wanted. He never wanted her to leave in the first place. He didn't want her to be alone again. He wanted her to be there. With him. He wanted to give her a second chance at life. One where they could leave behind their past completely.
That was the crux of the matter. He had saved her, but she wasn't able to save him. It wasn't any fault of her own. There was nothing she could have done. His Fate was set when the last of her energy was used up and she disappeared before his eyes. He had wanted to help people, to save people. He didn't want to kill. He learned very quickly that killing was the only way to save a lot of people. So, he couldn't be saved. Not from himself. After all of his battles, all of the killing he did, he didn't feel worthy to be in her presence once again. He didn't feel he deserved to be happy.
Then, the world around him became lost in a sea of golden light.
Shirō's eyes opened, and instead of seeing a golden light, instead he saw golden hair and was reminded that he had been given a second chance. They had been given a second chance. Shirō noted that Arturia still smelled of vanilla, just like before.
Her body was molded to his, with one of her arms draped over his chest and her head buried in the crook of his neck. He could feel her heartbeat. He could feel their connection, stronger than it ever had been before. Mana flowed freely between it like two intersecting, rushing rivers. Like him, she was stronger this time around. He could tell.
After their embrace, they had made love. Until they were finished, not many words were spoken. They weren't necessary. Their thoughts were conveyed through touch. Afterwards, they spoke late into the night. He had explained what had happened with him and Merlin. He had told her everything. In return, she shared with him everything she knew. She shared exactly what 'timeline' she had come from, what Merlin had said, and everything relevant to their situation.
She didn't have multiple memories like he did. Instead, they shared only one memory of their time together. It was much like the one she had witnessed the night he had taken four of Berserker's lives. That had lead them to suspect that, for some reason, Merlin wasn't capable of pulling multiple 'Arturias' through time. Neither of them really cared too much. They were just happy to have each other once again.
To her, she had just finished the Fifth Holy Grail War and only had re-lived her nightmare once before a red portal opened up and pulled her through. She was shocked to hear that, in one of the 'timelines' she was granted passage to Avalon. More than that, she was shocked that Shirō felt he didn't deserve to be happy, didn't deserve her after what she thought was an honorable life. She told him that she would always wait for him, regardless of the past, because she knew who he truly was.
He told her everything there was to know about Arcurant. Everything he knew, anyways. Although there were things about it he didn't understand, things that were kept from him despite it being part of him, there was still much to it. He explained how, in its sword form, was similar to her Excalibur. How it would release a flash of brilliant, golden energy. How Arcurant as a whole was just as dependent on his existence as it was hers.
He told her what the fairy runes did, though he did not understand the meaning behind each rune. How changing shape from The Sword to The Armor cost him a single rune that would take a full day to recharge. He explained that The Armor enhanced his speed and strength, allowing him to fight more on-par with powerful opponents. He told her how the energy attack of The Sword worked, acting more as a bladed wave of energy, where its power depended on how large of a swing was made.
He told her how Arcurant seemed to have some mind of its own, making its own abilities known to him at random, that he hadn't known of Arcurant's ability to change shape until a single moment before he did it.
She had her own explanations about how their Master-Servant bond was incredibly strong this time around, how she was in no way hampered from taking 'spirit' form, but that she'd rather stay as she had before. She told him that the amount of Mana that passed between them was massive, and was surprised to hear that he wasn't at all effected by Rider's Bounded Field this time.
Arturia questioned his ability to use Kiritsugu's Magecraft, wondering how he gained his Crest despite it being incompatible with him, but when he thought about it himself it didn't make much sense. He didn't have any memory of learning it on his own, nor memory of Kiritsugu ever passing down his Crest. He could, in the back of his mind, feel a tickle, a whisper of something that he couldn't quite place. When Shirō explained it to her, she said that it sounded like part of his memory was locked away.
This was startling, as Merlin had never said he locked away any memories, and any reasoning as to why he would was not pleasant to think about. In the end, Arturia suggested that, like Arcurant's Armor form, it could later make itself known to him just how he was able to use Kiritsugu's Magecraft. Afterwards, they had meant to discuss their strategy, but she had fallen asleep. It wasn't long before he joined her.
Before that, they had both sensed someone watching them. However, without any malicious intent behind their presence, neither of them cared enough to investigate. They both had a decent idea at who it was. If they were right, it wouldn't matter too much.
As he laid there, he observed her sleeping form. She looked peaceful. He couldn't see her face, but he knew that there would be a small, content smile on it. The blanket draped over them trapped the warmth of their combined body heat, providing further comfort for them both. For the first time in what felt like forever, he was happy.
"Good morning, Shirō,"
He smiled. "Good morning, Arturia."
She shivered at the way he said her name. Nothing had ever sounded so perfect as to hear her name come from his lips.
Neither of them moved to get up. They didn't want to. Of course, they had to eventually, but in that moment nothing else mattered. They woke up to each other again after having been ripped apart once before, or in Shirō's case, many times before. He could feel her breath on his skin. She could feel his hands on hers. So, for a few sweet moments, the rest of the world faded away, leaving only them. No enemies. No mystery. No war. Just them.
"I love you, Arturia," Shirō said.
"And I love you, Shirō" She replied.
Then, without warning, the world came back, and with it came all of the problems that they would have to face. Problems that threatened to rip them apart once again. Problems that were new to them, despite having knowledge of what could happen. Their one, saving grace was each other. There were no more secrets being withheld. They could fight unhindered in the presence of the other, being able to fully rely upon the other.
However, this presented them with a new dilemma. Archer. Sooner or later, he would sniff out Shirō's change. Before, Archer had waited until the majority of the danger was gone before revealing his true intentions. Neither of them were sure just how to confront Archer, or if they even should. They could get the jump on him and deal with him easily enough, but that would undoubtedly destroy their partnership with Rin. If they waited, they were playing a risky game, as Archer had the advantage of range on his side should he wish to pick them off from afar.
Then, there were the weird phantom-servants that had attacked them. Neither of them were sure of their origins, nor of their intentions. It was clear that they were being controlled, but by what they didn't know.
The morning sunlight crested over the horizon, slowly illuminating the room. It was a new day, and the Grail wouldn't wait for them. Neither would Sakura. She would be there soon enough. "We should get up." Shirō suggested.
Breakfast was much quieter this time. Although it was still clear to Shirō that Sakura wasn't comfortable with Arturia's presence, she was coming around. Now, her short glances at Arturia were more out of curiosity than jealousy or fear.
Taiga was noticeably less irate, but her suspicious attitude had yet to go away. "So, Saber-san, how long did you say you'd be staying?"
Arturia and Shirō shared a look before she answered. "My business in town will take no more than two weeks."
Taiga's gaze shifted between the two. Inwardly, Shirō was panicking. Taiga was astoundingly perspective when she wanted to be. It was in that moment he realized that neither of them had thought to take a shower. They didn't really have time. That meant Arturia's scent was all over him, and his was all over her.
His panic was all for nothing, though. "Hmm, okay. Let me know if you need any help getting around town." Taiga said.
At the top of Mount Enzou, deep within the various chambers of the Ryuudouji Temple, a summoning was taking place. An underground room was illuminated by a sinister red light that was projected from a Magic Circle. The room had three occupants at that moment, one to fuel the summoning, one to control the summoning, and one to stand guard.
After some time, the red light flashed brightly and after the light completely faded, there was a fourth occupant. It was a knight, dressed in pitch black plate armor that had a helmet which covered their entire face, leaving only one long slit to see out of. He was knelt in the middle of the depleted Magic Circle, a nameless sword at his side, awaiting a command.
"That's the fourth one so far. How many more do you plan on bringing forth?" A voice came from a distinctly feminine hooded figure.
The other woman in the room turned to her, a thinly veiled expression of rage evident on her face. However, her voice was eerily calm. "Several more. I will leave nothing to chance."
"They were able to fend off two of them with ease. The boy was holding back. Will your little pawns be enough?" The first woman asked.
The second woman turned away, looking at her new 'pawn'. "They will be. Once they are all together, nothing that boy can do will be enough to save him."
"So far, he's survived much worse than what you plan to throw at him."
The two women turned to look at the other standing figure. A man, also dressed in pitch-black armor, with slicked back black hair and a neutral expression on his face.
"Agravain, must you always speak out of turn?" The second woman asked. She raised a hand and made a small clenching motion.
The man, Agravain, was overtaken with pain. His very soul hurt. It was as if it were being ripped apart layer-by-layer. He refused to scream, though. He wouldn't give her the satisfaction. Instead, in a shaky voice, he spoke "He's stronger than you think, Morgan. Besides, she wouldn't let you harm him,"
Morgan le Fay growled. She squeezed tighter and Agravian was rendered unconscious. "Of all the possible Assassins, you summoned him," She spat, venom in her voice.
The first woman shrugged. "If I hadn't summoned him, it would have been more difficult to pull yourself to this time. You should be thanking me."
Her words were rewarded with a stare that could kill. "Watch yourself, Medea. I tolerate your presence because you've agreed to help me."
Medea laughed softly, ignoring Morgan's fury. "You're far too serious, Morgan. That boy might be able to stand against your pawns, but he could never hope to stand against us."
"No," Morgan said, preparing a new Magic Circle. "He won't be able to stand against my pawns, either. Not after I summon the next one."
Morgan le Fay's words piqued Medea's curiosity. "Oh? What is so special about the next one?"
He question was met with a cruel smile. "He's a dragon."
Shinji had been absent again. Shirō knew he wouldn't be there, but it was no comfort to know he was out in the world possibly doing other terrible things. He only hoped that his words got through to Rider.
At the end of school, he and Rin searched for the sources of the Bounded Field. She had explained that destroying them would only buy them time, as new ones would appear and the old ones would be restored elsewhere. This meant that they had to find the Magus responsible for the Bounded Field.
Shirō knew where to find him, of course. He'd be hiding in the Archery Club. However, he couldn't risk Rin getting hurt. Luckily, Rin had told him that she sent Archer to investigate a lead she had on another Master. Shirō could only assume that meant Archer was off spying on Caster. Before he left for school that morning, he had told Arturia to do the same as yesterday, to make her way to the school shortly after he would normally get home. Just in case.
He split up from Rin after suggesting that they could cover more ground looking for the sources of the Bounded Field once he convinced her he knew what he was looking for. As he approached the Archery Club, his mind went into overdrive, thinking of what to do, what to say, and how to deal with Rider.
He smirked at the reaction Rin would have if she knew what he was about to do. She'd probably go ballistic. Yell at him for willingly engaging both a Servant and a Master without any backup. She'd be even more irate than usual because neither of them had their Servants with them. She would never understand. Even if he told her the truth, even if he revealed everything to her, she'd still be angry. Mostly at being excluded, he thought.
Shirō had to do this. He had a chance at dealing with Shinji before putting anyone else at risk. Shirō reached outwards with his mind, relaying a message to Arturia. "I'm here, at the Archery Club. West side of campus." Their connection was strong enough for him to rest assured that the message got through. He was sure of it.
He set down his school bag by the door and steeled himself. 'You can do this.'
He opened the door.
Earlier that morning..
Rider was in a kind of daze when she finally arrived at Sakura's window. She kept quiet to avoid waking Shinji, not wanting to deal with him at the moment. She had watched Shirō and his Servant for the past several hours and was presented with more questions than she had answers for. She was more confused than anything else.
She tapped softly on Sakura's window and waited. She knew Sakura slept lightly and didn't want to let herself in. She wasn't sure what she was going to say, just that she knew the only person she trusted was Sakura. Even still, she didn't want to reveal exactly what it is she saw for fear of hurting Sakura.
The window opened. "Rider?"
Rider, even with her eyes sealed, could tell Sakura hadn't been sleeping very well. "I'm sorry, Sakura. Something happened recently and I was hoping for your help."
Sakura was confused. What could she possibly help Rider with? "Please, come in," She said, tugging on Rider's hand.
Rider climbed in through the window and became instantly aware of how carefully she'd have to choose her words. Sakura's room was clean, well-kept, and had various pictures scattered about. These pictures were behind glass, encased in handmade frames. Each and every single picture had Shirō in it. It was clear to her that Sakura viewed Shirō as more than the boy she had a crush on. She could tell that he was probably the only thing keeping Sakura the kindhearted girl she was.
That made things more difficult. "Sakura, things have transpired recently that have made me rethink certain things," Rider sat down on a chair close to Sakura's bed.
Sakura sat down on her bed after closing the window, keeping the cold air out. "What kind of things?"
Rider was silent for a moment, trying to think of a way to frame her words. "I.. I'm having doubts," She began "Some of the things I've seen tonight are making me think that.. That I'm more than what I am."
Sakura tilted her head. "More than what you are?"
"A Servant that servers her Master." Rider clarified.
A sad look crossed Sakura's face. "Then those doubts are justified. You are more than that, Rider," Sakura took Rider's hand in her own. "You a friend. A person, just as much as anyone else."
"How can you be so sure?" Rider asked, hesitation to believe evident in her voice.
Sakura pulled Rider's hand to her chest, causing Rider to slightly blush until she felt something. Something moving. Something that wasn't her heart. Rider used her magical detection to see beneath the surface of Sakura's skin. Within her were worms. Thousands and thousands of worms. She looked up at Sakura, shock on her face.
"Because I used to think just like you." Sakura said.
Present...
"Looking for something, Emiya?"
Shirō turned to see Shinji, his Command Spell plainly visible in his hands. Behind him was Rider, just barely visible through the shadows.
"Take down the Bounded Field," Shirō commanded.
A look of shock flashed across Shinji's face, before returning to the small smirk he was familiar with. "Don't be like that, Shirō. It's purely for defense. With a Magus like Tohsaka running around, it's the only way I could-" He stopped.
Shirō had heard this before. He had to make a point. He had to force Shinji to give up. Hopefully he would be able to do that without hurting him.
Shirō extended his arm to the side slightly and called forth Arcurant. The blade flashed into existence, its golden runes providing enough light to make Rider fully visible. "Take down the Bounded Field. I'm not going to ask again."
Shinji backed up, bumping into Rider. "S-Shirō, hold on. I'm just trying-"
Then, in Shirō's other hand, another item appeared. It was a jagged dagger, one that was even less effective of a weapon than a normal dagger. However, it held a different purpose.
"Rider. I'm going to offer you the ability to choose."
Shinji was confused. Choose? What choice was there? He was her Master. She didn't get to choose anything. He looked back to Rider, but she didn't meet his gaze. Instead, her head was pointed in Shirō's direction.
Shirō expertly flipped the dagger around, now holding it by the flat surface of the blade, offering the handle to grab. "You remember my words, Rider?"
"I do." She said.
Shinji was getting angry. He was being ignored. "Shirō, I was going to offer you an alliance, but now it is clear to me that you're just another enemy," He turned to Rider, invoking the power of his Book of False Attendant "Kill him." He then left quickly, to avoid getting killed himself.
Her body moved into action without her permission. She brandished her dagger, preparing to strike. Shirō didn't move, the dagger still in his hands. "You need to pick one now, Rider." He said, no fear in his voice.
"Sakura. I choose Sakura!" She said, her body involuntarily launching her dagger towards Shirō at a blinding speed.
Only to be blocked by a swirling vortex that acted to cloak a blade. Arturia had arrived. Both Rider and Shirō breathed a sigh of relief as Rider retracted the dagger to make a second attack.
"Shirō," Arturia started. "Shinji is making his way across the field. I suggest you do it now."
He nodded. "Please keep her occupied for a few moments." Shirō then bolted out the door, chasing after Shinji. Rider moved to intercept him, but was blocked by Arturia. "Please forgive me for any damage I might cause you." Arturia said.
Shirō reached his ideal spot and Arcurant dissipated. He saw Shinji moving at a pace slightly quicker than walking. Apparently he believed Shirō would never have been able to escape Rider, since he wasn't in a hurry. This wasn't exactly how he intended this to go down, but the result would still be the same.
He'd have to be quick, but also careful. He didn't want to kill Shinji. He held out his free hand that once held Arcurant and spoke. "Trace, on"
Judging the concept of creation
Hypothesizing the basic structure
Duplicating the composition material
Imitating the skill of its making
Sympathizing with the experience of its growth
Reproducing the accumulated years
Excelling every manufacturing process
In his hands a large, sleek black bow appeared. A bow that he had used before. He tested the draw weight, making sure it was how he remembered. It wasn't something any normal human would be able to use. But, as those around him were constantly reminding him, he was far from normal.
Next came the hard part. He focused his energy, directing it towards the dagger in his hands. Rule Breaker. He flipped it around, once more holding it by the grip. As he went to nock it, the dagger changed shape. It twisted and elongated, changing from dagger to arrow, while maintaining its original purpose and power.
He'd never be able to use Rule Breaker again unless he were able to trace the original. He planted his feet in an optimal postion, exhaled, and fired.
The arrow impacted before Shinji could take another step. It buried into the book, knocking it out of his grasp. The arrow glowed a crimson red before setting the book alight, magical fire consuming the book quickly.
"No!" Shinji screamed. He tried to put out the fire, but it was no use. The book turned to ash before his very eyes.
He turned to look at where the arrow had come from to see Shirō standing there, with Rider and his own golden-haired servant behind him. They were all staring at him. He screamed, turned, and ran.
"What now?" Rider asked.
Shirō, after watching Shinji disappear from sight, turned to her. "Now? You go home. To Sakura. You protect her, just like you've been doing. Shinji isn't going to take this well."
Rider regarded him with a look. "You're a strange one, boy. Nothing about you makes sense."
He smiled. "It does. You're just missing a few pieces to the puzzle right now. Give it some time. Things will make more sense towards the end of this war."
He and Arturia moved to leave. Rider had one last thing to say, though. She placed a hand on his shoulder, ignoring the icy look his Servant gave her. "There's something else. Sakura, inside of her she has these-"
"Crest Worms. I know," Shirō started. "Don't worry about it. We'll take care of that, too. The important thing to remember is that she's still Sakura."
Rider lifted her hand. With that, Shirō and Arturia left.
"Goodbye, Shirō." She said softly. Soft enough he shouldn't have been able to hear.
He did, though. "We'll see you later, Medusa." He said, waving back at her.
Next was giving Rin the all-clear. She'd probably be furious he dealt with Shinji without her, but she'd get over it. He'd have to change a few details to suit his story, but that was easy enough now that Arturia was there.
Shirō looked over to Arturia to see she had an angry look on her face.
"What's wrong?" He asked. She looked over at him, her face changing from anger to something else. Something he wasn't familiar with.
"I don't like that woman."
Jealousy. Arturia was well aware of what had happened with Rider previously. It was from the one past they shared, where Rider had entrapped Shirō with her Breaker Gorgon and extracted Mana from him through the guise of lewd, illicit dreams.
Shirō had them stop and wrapped an arm around her waist. She blushed at his action. "Shirō?"
"Those dreams, whatever they were, mean nothing. They were the only way she'd ever get anything like that from me, because you're the one I love. Not her."
As he spoke, her blush got deeper and deeper. Even now, after all the intimate moments they had shared together, she was still only just recently opening up to the 'woman' side of herself, which had all kinds of complex emotions and feelings she was largely unfamiliar with.
"Come on. We'd better find Rin before she blows up half the school looking for Shinji."
"Oof!"
Shirō and Arturia rounded a corner and immediately a body slammed into Shirō at what before was a full-tilt sprint. If Shirō weren't who he was that day, he'd be knocked over for sure. However, Shirō had changed in many ways. One of those ways had been something Arturia commented on. The entirety of his body was much more solid.
The body that slammed into him bounced backwards. Shirō looked down to see Rin, out of breath and looking fairly annoyed.
"Geez, Emiya," She started as he helped her up. Suddenly, whatever she planned to say was cast aside. "Wait, Shinji! I saw him running from the School grounds. He's got to be the Master!"
She moved to follow, but Shirō raised his arm to block her. "He was. Not anymore. Arturia and I took care of it."
Astonishment, annoyance, and doubt flashed across Rin's face. "You did? Wait, how did Saber even get here? How did you beat his Servant?"
Shirō shrugged. "I caught him off-guard. He wanted me to partner up with him against you. Saber showed up pretty quickly after I called her through our link. When she did it was too late to realize that I wasn't going to be the pawn he wanted."
Rin bought it. He was wise to leave out any details of him fighting. "So when he was running.."
Shirō nodded. "He was running away. After his Servant was gone, he didn't want to stick around."
She gave him a pensive look. "Still, I should have noticed the fight.."
Arturia interjected then. "Shinji's Servant was of the Rider Class, and ill-suited for close combat. She didn't have any time to gain the advantage of distance because she wasn't expecting me to appear so suddenly."
Rin took a moment to think and nodded, satisfied. "Well, Archer is still investigating a lead on Mount Enzou. I'm pretty sure there's a Servant up near the Temple."
"So now that Shinji is taken care of, where does that leave us?" Shirō asked.
Rin shrugged. "I'm not opposed to your own goal to prevent meaningless death. Plus we both could use some help when the time comes to deal with Berserker." She stated.
Shirō nodded. "Alright. If your lead on Mount Enzou goes anywhere, Saber and I have your back."
After a short while longer, they parted ways.
Once again, it was dark by the time Shirō and Arturia were heading home. They walked close together, his arm wrapped around her waist, her head on his shoulder. He was a bit taller than he was previously, one of the many differences this time around. The cool nighttime winter air nipped at them, but their closeness and combined body heat kept it at bay.
"So, how do you want to handle Caster?" Shirō asked.
Arturia looked up at him. "With her Rule Breaker, she's dangerous. Were it not for that I wouldn't need to worry about her attacks."
Shirō nodded grimly. "And now that I've broken my image of it, I'll have to trace the original if I ever need to use it again." He said, chiding himself.
Arturia could feel that Shirō felt his actions were a mistake. "Even so, now that we know about it, it'll be much easier to avoid."
This was true. Caster, as her Class suggests, not a close-range fighter. She couldn't close gaps quickly. "If I were to use a bow, you could stop block some of her attacks, right?"
Arturia caught on quickly. "Yes. My Magical Resistance means all but her more powerful attacks would be easy to defend against. If you were to make a decisive shot immediately-"
"- Then it would be a quick fight. The problem is Suzuki-Sensei. He's not just going to stand around." Shirō said, finishing her thought.
Arturia nodded. "We'll have Rin and Archer there. They should be able to deal with her Master."
Shirō nodded. "True. I was hoping to avoid killing either one of them. Suzuki-Sensei reformed himself after a life of killing. A life that was a lot like one I lived. Caster's own Fate was one where she was betrayed again and again."
Arturia could see where he was coming from. After Shirō had told her of the things he had done, she was surprised, but not in a bad way. He had become a warrior, in body and spirit, yet retained his own sense of justice and honor. He didn't revel in killing. He only did it when absolutely necessary, and never felt good about it. Often, he felt bad about it. That's why he didn't want to kill Caster and her Master. Because they were only his enemy because of the Holy Grail.
"I understand, Shirō, but if Caster calls down the Grail like she said she can.."
"I know," Shirō said. "I know. There's no guarantee that destroying it would be the same as destroying the proper Grail. I doubt she'd be okay with it even if there was."
They walked together in silence, both contemplating on how to deal with Caster. Arturia knew he would seek every possible option before resorting to killing them. As she thought about it, she realized something. She and Shirō had similarities to Caster and her Master. Caster spoke of what she planned on wishing for. She wanted to stay with her Master, and he wanted her to stay with him. He had said he was empty before meeting Caster. That he felt something move inside of him when seeing her.
Caster, after meeting Kuzuki, was able to move on with her life. She was able to let go of her past and strive for the future.
It was all so familiar to her.
Shirō and Arturia came to a stop. In front of them was a man in black armor, similar to those of the phantom-servants they had fought before. However, he wasn't wearing a helmet. Illuminated by the streetlight he stood under, she could see his face plain as day, accompanied by his black, slicked-back hair.
She knew this man.
"Agravain?" She asked, disbelief evident in her voice.
Shirō looked to her. "That's Agravain?" He whispered. Though he had seen her past via dreams, the faces of her comrades had all been blurry and distorted. The only clear one was that of Lancelot.
The man, Agravain, had a sad smile on his face. "Hello, my King. Hello to you as well, boy." The way he spoke suggested that he was not displeased to see either one of them, nor the sight of Shirō so close to his King.
"What are you doing here, Agravain? How are you here? What has happened to you?" Arturia asked.
Behind him, the two other phantom-servants from before appeared. He had a regretful look on his face. "I regret being put in this position. Unfortunately, my King, I've been sent to kill that boy."
Shirō took a defensive stance while Arturia's clothes were replaced by her armor, Excalibur's cloaked form in her hands. "What is the meaning of this, Agravain? How are you here? Who are you doing this for?"
Agravain drew a long dagger, elegant and vicious in design. It was the blade of an Assassin. "That woman," He spat "Has forced me to do this. Please do not hesitate to strike me down."
The two phantom-servants bolted forward, weapons in hand. They moved mechanically, like they were nothing but tools. Shirō, quickly remembering their previous reaction, called a weapon he used the previous night.
"Trace, on"
Judging the concept of creation
Hypothesizing the basic structure
Duplicating the composition material
Imitating the skill of its making
Sympathizing with the experience of its growth
Reproducing the accumulated years
Excelling every manufacturing process
Caliburn's weight rested firmly in his hands once more. However, this didn't cause his enemies to act like they did before. They didn't react at all. He raised his blade to block an attack while Arturia countered the other's attack. This time, she was facing the spear-user, while he faced the one with the sword.
Meanwhile, Agravain was gone. Disappeared. This began to worry Arturia, as she knew how he fought. Though her spear-wielding opponent was no slouch, it was just like before; If she didn't give more effort than necessary, her opponent wouldn't either. So, she had plenty of time to call out to Shirō. "Shirō! Agravain is an Assassin, he fights from the shadows!"
Just as she called out, Agravain struck at Shirō, cutting into his arm before retreating quickly, avoiding Shirō's stunningly quick counterattack. Blood ran down his arm, dripping onto the ground below as he worked to defend himself from two opponents. Shirō noted that Agravain was almost completely invisible while in darkness, the glint of his blade being the only warnings before he struck.
As Shirō got faster in his counterattacks, so did both phantom-servants. This, coupled with fighting Agravain, who was by all accounts just as dangerous as the previous Assassin-Class servant they once fought, made it incredibly difficult to make any progress or gain momentum.
Shirō and Arturia eventually came back-to-back as their opponents circled. Shirō had taken several hits, but thanks to Avalon the oldest of them were already healing. Even still, the pain remained as a constant hum. It was a pain he was intimately familiar with. Within that pain lied several entire lifetimes worth of fighting.
"I don't think we have much of a choice," Shirō started "If we keep going like this, we're either going to be worn down or draw unwanted attention."
Arturia nodded. "What is the plan?"
"So far they've been able to match our output, but their weapons aren't Noble Phantasms. Their armor isn't magical. If I didn't know any better I'd say they were just extremely advanced humans."
She nodded again, agreeing with him, closely watching as their enemies circled around and Agravain lurked in the shadows. Shirō couldn't see him, but she could. "Then perhaps we shouldn't give them any time to match us."
"That's the plan." Shirō said.
The King of Knights gripped the hilt of her holy sword firmly. "I'll follow your lead, Shirō."
There were no houses around. No occupied buildings. It was a long, empty street. Both Caliburn and Excalibur would scorch the earth. Excalibur would leave a much larger mark. Shirō knew that if their plan failed, they would be in trouble. Still, it was the only plan they had. Shirō focused inwardly, calling forth the power of Arcurant. However, instead of The Sword, he wanted The Armor. He already had Caliburn. That's all he needed.
A golden light appeared, surrounding his body. Its shine was so bright that it made Agravain clearly visible, banishing the shadows he relied upon. There was a flash, and the light dimmed considerably. Around Shirō's body was Arcurant, taking the form of armor, yet retaining its blade-like qualities. The fairy runes glowed brightly.
Shirō's very body became a blade in that moment. A sword. Something that was meant to be used in battle, meant to defeat his enemies. Meant to protect himself and others. Despite being covered in armor, he felt light. He felt like he could beat Rider in a sprint. Likewise, he felt strong. Stronger than before. Even stronger still than the first time he called Arcurant.
"Now." Shirō said.
The swirling vortex that once hid Arturia's blade picked up speed before being blasted away, revealing Excalibur's golden blade. It shined brightly, in unison with Shirō's Caliburn. The phantom-servants screeched, where as Agravain basked in the glow. His King's strike would free him from his servitude to that woman.
"CALI-"
"EX-"
Their blades hummed, the energy within them welling up to a critical point. Their shine brightened. Together, they brought down their blades, intent on ending this fight.
"BURN!"
"CALIBUR!"
Twin pillars of intensely bright energy rocketed into the night sky, scorching the very ground beneath them. Nothing was spared.
As the glow of the attacks faded away, Shirō and Arturia could see what remained. They were filled with a sense of dread. The two phantom-servants still stood, their armor steaming from the intense heat it was just subjected to. Agravain was gone, but those two remained.
"H-How?" Shirō asked, not believing his eyes. Their attacks would have done-in just about any servant shy of Berserker or Gilgamesh.
However, the phantom-servants were stood still, unmoving. Then, from the sword-wielding one, a voice came. A hoarse voice that sounded like their vocal chords had been torn to shreds. It sounded like a fight to even speak two words.
"My King?"
Arturia's eyes widened further. Even with the strain, she knew that voice. She now knew why these two were so familiar, but only knew the identity of one of them.
"Gawain?" She muttered, voice full of emotion.
And, just like that, the two phantom-servants were gone. They faded away into the night.
Shirō and Arturia turned to each other. His face was a sorrowful one. He knew that this would be difficult for her. Hers was a regretful one. Regret that she once thought herself rid of. In that moment, Shirō reached out for her, pulling her to him. She didn't fight it. She simply buried her head into his chest. They both knew that they'd be seeing more of them. They both knew who was behind all of this.
Back at the Temple, in chains, Agravain was screaming. He had been so close to being released from his unwilling servitude, and yet it was ripped away from him when that witch teleported him back before any damage could be done. Not only that, but his King releasing the power of Excalibur had been part of her plan.
As soon as the other two returned, he knew. They were different. Before, they were but mere pawns. Hollow shells, controlled by Morgan le Fay and her newest Puppet, Medea. However, the twin blasts from both Excalibur and Caliburn had somehow restored some of what was lost to time. Not everything; They were still under the control of Morgan. But, their own fighting prowess had returned. They wouldn't be limited by their opponent's skill next time.
Not only that, but their weapons had absorbed the excess energy. They now had the appearance of their Noble Phantasms. There still wasn't any inherent power within them, not yet, but they were well on their way.
She had already left, but he could still hear her cruel laugh. He could still feel her hold on him, on his very soul. He had betrayed her once before, when he was still alive. She wouldn't allow it to happen again.
His original summoner, a Servant herself, Medea was still in the room with him. She looked at him with pity. It was veiled behind disgust that came from Morgan telling her what he had done, that he had betrayed her, but it was there.
"I don't understand you, Agravain," She spoke "You're already a betrayer. Why not betray your King? Why not serve her instead?"
Agravain sighed. "My King is not like Morgan. My King holds no evil within. Even after I learned of My King's true nature as a woman, I could not bring myself to hate her. She is the light in the dark night. The very moon itself."
Medea huffed. "That doesn't answer the question."
"I cannot betray her because she stands for everything that I find to be just and good, even when I have strayed from that path." He explained.
A thoughtful look crossed Medea's face. She still did not understand him. He admitted to his own faults, yet stood so firmly in defense his King, despite having differing paths. His voice roused her from her thoughts.
"You should go. She will get the wrong idea if you stick around me for too long."
"Are you suggesting that Morgan would go back on our deal?" Medea asked. Agravain chuckled darkly.
"You despise me for betraying Morgan, but are ignorant to who exactly Morgan is to my King." He said, his blazing eyes meeting hers.
"And who is that, Agravain?" She asked, curious. All Morgan had told her is that she wished to kill the boy and, if at all possible, also kill his Servant. She hadn't gone into very much detail about who the Servant was.
Agravain looked down. "You should ask her."
Medea took one last look at the man bound by magical chains before leaving, deciding to file his comments away for later. Morgan had promised, when her own task was complete, to supply all the Mana necessary to summon the Grail so she could have her wish granted. Still, his words had made her curious.
For now, she'd return to her future husband. Morgan's latest summoning was a quarter of the way complete, but she was already low on Mana. She'd need to restore what was used. He would be willing, of course. He loved her, after all.
Outside of the Temple, far away, Archer was perched on the branch of a tree. He had detected an incredibly powerful Bounded Field when he first approached the temple. More powerful than anything he had ever experienced, or so he could remember. He had circled the Temple, careful as to not trespass beyond the field, and come to find that there were absolutely no openings he could exploit.
So he watched and waited to see just who it was that set up the field. Initially, he had sensed a singular Servant residing in the Temple. However, as he witnessed more and more strange occurrences, he came to realize that there was definitely more than one Servant within the Temple, and that made him nervous. Because, in all his time as a Counter Guardian, he came to realize that a singular immensely powerful entity could mask the presence of other, lesser beings.
So he had no way to know just how many Servants were housed within the Temple. He had yet to see any of them. Archer was intent upon figuring out this mystery. One of the many that plagued his mind with questions. He was distinctly aware that things were not how they should be, but at the same time his own memory was so fragmented that he couldn't recall important details on his own. He hadn't remembered Rin's name or face until he saw her and she told him her name. He hadn't remembered Saber at all, even though she clearly played a critical role in him becoming who he was.
Something very wrong was going on, and he was going to get to the bottom of it. Though he detested it, he still had a duty to fulfill as a Counter Guardian. Then he would kill Emiya Shirō.
In Merlin's prison, he watched a projection of the very first time Arcurant changed shape from Sword to Armor. It replayed over and over. His eyes were glued to the screen in an uncharacteristic fashion. His gaze saw more than any human eyes could hope to see. He analyzed the event a thousand times. Try as he might, he couldn't figure out how. How it happened.
Merlin played a large part in giving physical form to Arcurant. Not as much as Shirō thought, but still a significant role. He had infused his own magic into the blade, tempering it. He knew every detail of the blade by heart. Or, that was what he thought before seeing Arcurant change shape.
He knew something was not as it seemed the second he saw that Shirō was able to use Kiritsugu's techniques. He chalked it up to a bi-product of tampering with time. After all, it gave him an edge that he could make good use of. Once Vivian left, questions burned in his mind.
Arcurant, The Sword, was supposed to be stronger. It should have completely annihilated Berserker. Vivian had said conditions had to be met. That meant she knew of things beyond his own understanding of Arcurant. That meant she knew that Arcurant could change shape.
How, then? He was no fool. Vivian was a fairy. She was immensely powerful. But, even she had her limits. The Armor was something unexpected, more so than anything else. Not only that, it was strong. It was strong like The Sword was supposed to be. Stronger, even. But it was not The Sword. It was not given form to clash with Ea. No, something else had tampered with their combined efforts.
He couldn't be entirely sure, but he held the suspicion that Vivian knew exactly what it was. She was crafty. Devious, at times. But, he knew her. She held no ill-intent towards Arturia or Shirō. Far from it. Perhaps she had decided to throw the odds a little more in their favor by contacting some outside source.
Merlin could almost visualize that source. Its name was on the tip of his tongue. However, it eluded him. Every time he got close to figuring it out, his mind clouded and it became unknown to him once more. It was not harming him. It wasn't malicious.
Rather, that's what he hoped.
A/N: This is turning out to be more complex than I originally thought it would be. There are things that have been set in motion that we won't see the results of until much later, and then we have other things that will collide into something spectacular. Progress is being made on this journey. However, still have a long road ahead.
That being said, those of you who are worried about other characters such as Rider and Sakura being cast aside, worry not. We'll all be seeing more of them soon enough. Same goes with Illya and Berserker. Even Shinji has a place within future chapters. There are still many, many chapters to come. Morgan hinted at who she is planning on summoning next, and Arturia has discovered that one of those already summoned is Gawain. Agravain made debut as well. Then, Merlin realized that Arcurant isn't what he thought it was. At least, not entirely. I'm sure some of you think you know where this story is going. My bet is that you're all wrong. Even I was surprised when I figured out just where this story was going to take us. Fate/Brave Shine continues to pleasantly surprise me, and I hope the same can be said for all of you.
As always, I appreciate all of the feedback I've been getting. There have been a few nitpicks and such, but so far not one that has to do with the story itself is going to be left unanswered within the coming chapters. Thank you all for reading and I hope you continue to come back for more.