A/N: The poll on whether I will choose to take on Rani or Rin as a sidekick is still on my profile. So far the score is:
Rin: 14
Rani: 10
Remember that your wonderful reviews are what motivate me to keep writing. :D
Please forgive me for the poor fight scene up ahead.
Week: 1
Days Remaining: 2
Morning [1st Floor]
Today I decided to go to the Arena early so we could get some extra training done. I make sure I have plenty of healing supplies and head towards the doors that lead to the Arena.
However, the moment I tried to enter the Arena, it felt like I ran into a wall and was flung backwards. It seems someone has put up a barrier.
"I can think of only one person who would resort to tactics such as this." I can hear Saber behind me.
"Hey there! Looks like you've been hitting the Arena pretty hard. Toughen up yet?" Speak of the devil. I turn around to find Shinji, looking a smug as ever. "I was bored, so I decided to set up a few little surprises here and there." I glare at him.
"Can you be any more immature?" I have seriously had it with Shinji's antics.
"No reason to look so mad. I'm actually doing bottom feeding Masters like you favor. The Arena is a dangerous place. If you want to enter the Arena, you'll have to track down two magic sigils I set up. However, once you make it into the Arena, I'll crush you like a cockroach. Show up if you dare." Shinji then turns around. "See you later. Oh, and where are the sigils, you ask? Find them yourself, loser!" With a smug look on his face he walks away.
I am seriously ready to kick that guy's ass. I'm also not the only one annoyed at Shinji.
"That boy never ceases to wear down on my patience. When the time comes, I am more than willing to reprimand him for his behavior and manner of speech. Lady Ailita, I am afraid we must play along with his game for now." From Saber's voice I can tell that he is just about as pissed off at Shinji as I am.
I agree with Saber. I can almost overlook the fact that I will eventually have to fight Shinji.
"I will not lose to that dork." There's only so much immaturity and verbal abuse I can take!
Midday [2nd Floor]
Finding those sigils was so easy it was almost disappointing.
The first one was especially easy because just as I was about to walk up the stairs to start my search, Sakura walks up to me saying that Shinji left something in her office. I guess Shinji thought hiding a sigil there was a good idea.
The second sigil was in probably the dumbest place Shinji could have possibly hidden it… in his OCD neat desk in the second floor classroom we used during the preliminaries.
With that event over I head downstairs to use the sigils and try to make up for all the time we wasted with this little scavenger hunt by training in the Arena.
Night [Private Room]
After a day of training hard in the Arena, I'm happy to call it a day.
"That boy is definitely on edge around you. It seems as though he finally sees you as a threat to be taken seriously."
"If he sees me as a threat then I wish he wouldn't keep provoking me like this." I'm seriously at the end of my rope with Shinji's antics.
"I agree completely. Regardless, the only thing we can do now is to continue our training and prepare for the Elimination Battle."
Week: 1
Days Remaining: 1
Morning [Library]
Since this morning I have been in the library. I decided to get up early to do some last minute research on Rider and the Golden Hind before Shinji could find a new way to get in my way and annoy me.
While talking with some of the other Masters in the school, I got mixed opinions about my upcoming fight with Shinji. Some people were telling me that I was dead because Shinji is a famous gamming champion. The other half of the people I talked to said that I lucked out getting paired against Shinji because he is an arrogant idiot.
My research on Rider yielded better results.
The Golden Hind
A 16th century English galleon. Originally named "Pelican", the ship's name was changed to reflect the crest of its chief benefactor. Many accounts place it at the location of a number of raids against Spanish shipping interests.
Midday [2nd Floor]
As I exit the library, I notice Shinji at the end of the hall. It looks like he's talking to Tohsaka again. Hasn't that guy learned his lesson from the first time Tohsaka crushed his pride? I decide to stay out of sight and listen in on what they are saying. Who knows? Tohsaka might reveal something else useful about him and his Servant for me.
"My my my… Did he manage to do that to you? It seems that your reputation is grossly inflated." Tohsaka says in a mocking tone as she smiles cruelly at Shinji.
"What!? I-I threw that fight in the cafeteria on purpose! I thought I'd throw them a bone. My Servant will blast them full of holes soon enough!"
"Oh, how thoughtful of you. I take it the scared look on your face is just an act then? You suck. Furude and her Servant are clearly better than you and you know it." I'm not sure if Tohsaka really thinks that highly of me, or if she is just trying to piss off Shinji even more.
"Shut up! The power of my Rider's culverin is unrivaled! I can rip anyone to shreds in an instant!" Now Shinji is sounding like a child having a tantrum.
"A culverin, you say? It certainly must be… strong. Your precious embodiment of evil, that is."
"Just you wait! As soon as I mop the floor with Ailita and her Servant, I'm coming for you and Leo next! When it comes time for us to fight, it'll be too late to beg for mercy." Shinji storms away. This time I'm more careful to stay out of sight.
"Unfortunately, I don't believe that we'll ever get the chance to face one another." Tohsaka says this quietly to herself as she walks away.
With my research complete, the only thing left to do is head to the Arena for some last minute training. It's still early in the day, but I want to make up for the time I wasted on Shinji's stupid scavenger hunt the other day.
Night [Private Room]
Tonight is the last night before the Elimination Battle.
"Today is the final day before the Elimination Battle. Be warned that no matter how incompetent that boy is, it would not be wise to underestimate his Servant." I can't see Saber's face, but he sounds more composed than I could ever hope to be right now.
I'm not really in to mood to talk tonight. I'm not even sure I'll be able to fall asleep tonight. I can't stop thinking about the fact that tomorrow, either Shinji or I will die.
Desperate to distract myself from the topic, I look at Saber's parameters on my terminal.
Strength: C
Endurance: D
Agility: D
Magic: E
Luck: E
It looks like training every day in the Arena has finally yielded some results. The question now is if they are high enough to defeat Rider tomorrow.
I can't hear anything from Saber's side of the room so I assume he must have fallen asleep already. I guess being a Heroic Spirit, going off to battle is nothing new for someone like him.
Another thought crossed my mind. This might also be the last night I have with Saber…
I can feel a gentle breeze against my cheeks.
I open my eyes to take in my surroundings.
Neither a single star, nor cloud can be seen in the night sky. The only thing that contrasted with the dark satin sky was the moon. It's silver glow gently illuminating the land.
The moon reflected beautifully on the mirrored surface of a lake. The lake was surrounded on all sides by a wall of tall trees.
The area looked tranquil and completely untouched by man. The sight was not something that even a master artist could create on a canvas, nor could the most skilled poet put into words.
There is a disturbance in the water, and my eyes are drawn towards the source.
There was a man standing up to his knees in the dark water. He was facing the reflection of the moon in the center of the lake.
With his back facing me, his face could not be seen. His long dark hair was lightly being carried by the wind. His back is covered in armor that reflects the glow of the moon even more beautifully than the lake. By his side was a long sword in its scabbard.
Something about this man seemed so lonely and sad. His hands are clenched into tight fists and his head was bowed down as if in penitence.
I can't see the man's face, but for some reason I can tell that he is crying.
I reach out my hand and try to call out to him, but as soon as I open my mouth…
…my vision fades to white.
Week: 1
Days Remaining: 0
Evening [Private Room]
I wake up from the strange dream I just had. I see my hand stretched out before me. Just like when I was about to call out to that mysterious man in my dream. I sit up in bed and try to gather my thoughts. Why would I have a dream like that, and who was that man? The dream felt so real to me that I couldn't just dismiss it as nothing. It made me wonder if there was some kind of meaning behind it.
"Good morning, Lady Ailita. I hope that you have slept well." Saber's calm voice calls me back to reality. I look to my right and I see Saber kneeling beside my bed.
"Morning, Saber." I look at my terminal and I'm shocked to find out that it's already evening. I cannot believe that I slept in this late!
"Saber, why didn't you wake me up sooner?!" Saber's gaze follows me as I scramble out of bed and put on my uniform jacket.
"Forgive me, Lady Ailita, but there is still a fair amount of time before our Elimination battle." At that, I stop rushing to put my shoes on and turn to look at Saber. "I also noticed that you have been more anxious than usual. I was worried it would affect your health, so I thought it would be best to let you get as much sleep as possible." Saber then stands up and turns to face me. "Kotomine also stopped by while you were asleep to inform us that as soon as we are prepared, we should meet him on the first floor."
I was touched by Saber's concern. However, he did remind me about a very pressing issue.
The Elimination is today. A day that will be the last for either Shinji or myself. Will someone really die today? I mean… Even though I can say the words, the idea that someone's going to die is just too surreal. It can't be reality. With everything I have read and heard over the past week I think I now have a pretty good idea about who Rider is and what to expect. But I'm still not mentally prepared to take someone's life.
"Lady Ailita, are you afraid?" I look down as I give Saber my answer.
"Yes." I would be lying if I said I wasn't. "I'm afraid of taking someone's life. But even more than that, I'm afraid that I might die. I guess I must seem like a coward for being afraid to fight." For a battle veteran like him, a scared little girl must seem pathetic.
"Actually, it is nothing to be ashamed of. In fact, it would be a problem if you did not have any fear."
"Huh?" Saber then walks up to me and places his large armor covered hand on my shoulder. I look up at him.
"My king once said, 'A man without fear cannot be wise'. Being afraid allows you to recognize the dangers around you, and prevents you from being reckless. The fear of death is a very natural instinct. If anyone was in your position where they are placed in an unfamiliar environment and put under adverse conditions, it would be unnatural if they did not express the slightest bit of anxiety. Fear is also very essential for survival." His voice then took a more gentle tone. "It was also the fear of your life ending that allowed you to summon me in the first place."
All I could do was look up at where Saber's face would be through his helmet. What he is saying makes sense. The main reason that I have a contract with Saber is because of my fear of my life ending. It's the reason that I'm alive right now.
Saber then backs away, puts his hand over his heart and bows on one knee.
"I also swear to you on my honor as a knight, that I shall ensure our victory in the Holy Grail War. I also promise you that I shall be by your side to protect you. No matter what difficulties we may encounter in the future. So I implore you to have faith in me."
I am speechless at Saber's declaration. It somehow gave me the strength I desperately needed right now. I may not have known Saber for very long, but from the sincerity in his voice I somehow knew that he would keep his word.
I turn away from Saber and head towards the door. All right. This is the very first Elimination Battle. I will have to fight Shinji on the battlefield. I'm still afraid, but I have faith in the man who swore to protect me.
"Let's go, Saber."
[1st floor]
I see Kirei Kotomine standing in front of a door. The door seemed to be glowing and covered in chains.
"You will now enter the Coliseum and confront the opposing Master. Are you ready? Remember, the only way to leave the Coliseum is to win. If you are ready, I will open the gate."
"I'm ready as I'll ever be."
"I wish you the best of luck and hope that you will return. Remember: It's kill, or be killed."
The door opens and I walk inside.
[Elevator]
I was surprised to find an elevator when I walked through the door. Saber materializes next to me, but we were not alone. Shinji and Rider were standing on the other side of the elevator. We were kept apart by what appears to be a clear glass-like wall.
Unfortunately, the glass is not sound proof…
"Look who didn't chicken out and run away. Oh right, I forgot that your only redeeming quality is following directions."
Shinji continues to run his mouth. This is going to be a long elevator ride.
"Hey, Saber. Can your helmet block out anything he is saying?"
"Unfortunately no." Oh well. At least I'm not suffering alone here. Shinji still can't tell that I just want him to shut the hell up and continues to talk.
"Well, you can't say I didn't show you how awesome I was in the prep period. Never in a million years are you going to defeat me. You should have run away when you had the chance!" All he managed to show me was how immature he is.
"I won't know unless I try." I glare defiantly at him. Shinji looks upset and walks up to me.
"Excuse me? That's some bull! Did you forget that you never got the best of me at school, like, ever?! How many times do you losers have to be reminded that you'll never be on the level of a genius like me? But, I guess I better get used to it, since nobody here can defeat me. My Servant El Draque and I are completely invincible." Shinji starts pacing back and forth with his arms crossed. "Man, you've got some seriously shitty luck to have gotten paired with me in the first round. Don't worry. Since we're such good friends, I'll make sure you go out with a bang." Shinji suddenly stops. "Oh, hey! Check out my great idea! You've gotta hear this. Ready?"
"Sure, why not." I have a feeling he will tell me no matter what I say, and it's not like I have any way to block out the guy's voice.
"Always a goody-two shoes, gotta love it. Well, I hope you'll take one more direction. …Why not lose on purpose this time? Anything else is a waste of time. Even a landslide victory against you will cost me energy. Even decided battles like this one still are unfair because the victor has to waste their strength. That sounds lame, so do me a favor and just throw the match." Did he really just propose that?
"Does your depravity know no bounds?" Saber's dislike of Shinji is continuing to grow. I can't blame him. Shinji then turns his attention to Saber.
"Shut up! I wasn't talking to you." Shinji turns his attention back to me and softens his tone. "Listen, Ailita, all you have to do is forfeit the fight. Then I win, and you don't get hurt, see? What do you think? Makes total sense, right? And you can even feel all warm and fuzzy for helping me out! And there's something in it for you, right? Because if we fought for real, there's no way my Servant will hold back. Hell, I'll even throw in some of the prize money I'll win. All I want is the title, anyway. Come on, is this a great idea or a great idea?"
"Hell no."
"Did you really just propose that laughable plan? This is a grave offence to my honor."
"You really want to fight me, huh? *Sigh* …You're a freaking idiot. I feel sorry for you. All this new power at your disposal is giving you an inflated ego. Hey, Servant. Why don't you try talking some sense into the head of your stupid Master?"
"I would say that Lady Ailita has proven herself to be a far more praiseworthy Master than you could ever hope to be, and someone like you is in no position to speak in such a haughty attitude."
"Whaaa…?! How dare you speak to me like that! You're just a Servant!" He actually sounds surprised that Saber insulted him like that. Shinji now looks desperate for a comeback. "So what does your Servant want in return? Money, right? He's no better than my Servant!"
I then realized that Saber never did tell me what he wanted from the Grail. I may not know Saber very well, but I'm sure that someone like him wouldn't have a wish that petty.
"Do not compare me to that covetous pirate of yours. I am an empty shell whose many resolves have been burned clean. There is nothing I desire." The gloomy edge in his voice is back as he said that.
"Man, he is so boring." Shinji says that pretty bluntly.
"At least I have a Master that I can take pride in protecting."
"Hahaha, they have a point, Master."
"H-Hey?! Whose side are you on?!" Shinji then turns his attention to Rider, who had been silent until now.
"Your side, of course. You paid me, so I'll fight for you. Letting them throw the match wouldn't satisfy either of us. I dislike giving less than my full effort. Let your winning instincts take over. Everything's better if you fight for it: food, women, and victory. Besides, we're villains. That means if nothing else we're allowed to be flashy. If you're going to be a villain, might as well be as flamboyant as you please. Don't hold back."
"I'm not a villain! Don't call me that, you, you… evil woman!"
"Hahaha! Temper, temper, little one! You've got big balls for being such a tiny man. I admire that."
"Hey, stop! I said stop! Don't pat my head you baboon! And you reek of alcohol!"
…They're perfect for each other. Rider is kind of like a wild big sister to Shinji. I know Masters and Servants are paired by compatibility. Will their chemistry be constructive in battle?
The elevator rumbles to a halt. This must be where we're going.
The elevator doors open.
"…Hmph. I was going to spare your life if you surrendered. But since everybody insists, I'll show you the vast differences in our abilities until you cry for mercy. Once El Draque's culverin makes Swiss cheese out of you, it'll be too late!"
[First Chimeric Lunar Sea]
The moment I exit the elevator, the scent of saltwater invades my senses. I take in my surroundings and note that there is a sunken ship, along with some wooden barrels that are suspended in midair. The Arena makes it seem as though we are submerged to the ocean floor, yet I can't feel any water. I mentally note that this type of setting suites my opponent well.
"I never imagined that I would do battle in an environment such as this. Regardless of the environment, dealing with barbarians from the sea is something that I am accustomed to." Saber says as his sword appears.
"All bark and no bite. Right? That's what they say, isn't it? Well, that's you and your Servant! I'm gonna humiliate you so bad that after this game that you'll never crawl out of your mom's basement!"
"Oh, so your goal isn't just victory, but humiliation? What a greedy little boy you are, Shinji. Very well, I'll bring the rope for you to truss them up. Tie them to the mast or whatever your little heart desires."
"Don't slip up Rider, don't you turn on me either, and finally, don't even think about showing them a shred of mercy, El Draque! They should have backed down when they could."
"Trust me; there was never a time I showed mercy. I have a thirst for the finer things in life, and that is all I care for. I may not always have good fortunes, but with humans or bombs, there's a certain fatal inevitability to life." Rider steps forward and her dual pistols appear. "Alright, Saber… Let's begin the wild hunt!"
Rider fires a few shots at me, but the bullets are blocked by Saber's materialized sword.
"Lady Ailita, stay behind me!" Saber stands protectively in front of me. He then charges at Rider and brings his sword down. Rider barely raises her pistols in time to stop Saber's sword from crashing down on her.
I could tell that Rider was struggling to push back Saber's attack. Rider backs away and tries to counter with a gunshot, but Saber suddenly vanishes and reappears behind her ready to separate her torso from the rest of her body. I guess all that training in the Arena is finally paying off.
"I guess I'm beat. You got behind me with such ease. There's no way I can shoot you down like this." Despite what Rider said, she doesn't seem very worried as she jumps out of the way.
Saber lashes out with his sword again. Rider blocks it with her pistol, but the force of Saber's attack pushes her back a few meters. Rider then clutches her left arm. The strength behind Saber's last attack must have broken her arm.
If it comes down to raw strength then Saber should win this fight. Saber charges again at Rider. This time she fires aiming for Saber's chest, but the bullets simply bounce off of Saber's armor.
"What's wrong, Rider? If this continues then it shall be my sword that ends this fight."
Seeing that her bullets won't even slow him down, Rider shows a hint of distress. Rider then jumps out of the way to avoid being hacked in two by Saber.
"Damn… That Servant of yours really is a monster." I was so enraptured with the battle before me that I forgot about Shinji. He seems only mildly concerned. "But still… he'd better watch his step." Shinji then hold his outstretched hand in front of him. I know I'm not going to like this.
Suddenly the ground beneath Saber's feet began to glow and electrical currents shoot into him.
"What?!" The electrical currents then take the form of chains and bind Saber's arms and legs, causing him to fall to his knees.
"Saber!" I call out to him, but he can't even turn his head to look at me.
"I-I can't move…!" With Saber immobilized, Shinji and Rider seem more confident. All I can do is just stand there and watch.
"Hahaha! How do you like that? What I just used is called a Code Cast. It's a type of highly advanced hacking that only skilled magi can use. That being said, it's impossible for someone like Ailita to stop it! Now, hurry up and finish them off, Rider!" Rider's face forms a cruel smile.
"Well… since my bullets can't even dent that armor, let me show you my ship, Saber!"
With a gust of water a giant golden ship appears. This must be the 'Golden Hind' that I read about. Behind it was a navy of smaller ships made of wood. With the Golden Hind acting as the core, it expands countless small crafts. Rider is seen standing on the figurehead of the Golden Hind.
"Weren't you saying something about how your sword would end this fight, Saber? Well it looks like my cannons will end this with a bang! Remember my name by the death from my passing! Temeroso el Draque! I am the woman who set the sun! You rascals, it's time! The king of storms, a swarm of ghosts, this is the beginning of the Golden Wild Hunt!"
At Rider's command, three large cannons on the Golden Hind fire as the rest of the ships provide supporting fire.
Everything seems to go by in slow motion. Right before the attack hits, Saber's shoulders go slack, as if he has resigned himself to his fate. "Lady Ailita… I apologize for not being able to uphold my promise to protect you."
I can hear the regret in Saber's voice. I then realize I can't give up yet! It's not because this means that I would lose to someone like Shinji. It's not because my life is about to end. It's because I can't give up on the only one who has stood by my side and supported me. After all he's done for me, I have to do something to help him!
I raise my left hand and focus on Saber. If I'm supposed to be a mage like Shinji, then I should have the same powers as him. I close my eyes and focus all my energy on Saber. I imagine the chains on him disappearing.
Without opening my eyes, I hear the sound of the cannonballs making contact. I feel something hard crash into me with incredible speed and force, strong enough to knock the wind out of me. I can only assume that it means that Rider's attack has reached me after going through Saber. This means that in the end, what everyone said about me being incompetent was true. This also means that I was unable to thank Saber for the kindness he gave me…
"That was very well done." A deep voice can be heard near my ear.
I open my eyes to see that my face is pressed against something hard and made of metal. When I look up towards the source of the voice I see a man looking down at me with a concerned expression. He had rather pale skin, long dark hair that went past his shoulders, and dark grey eyes that seemed to carry a deep sadness. I have no idea who this man is. I have never seen him before, but he seems so familiar. Another thought that crossed my mind is that he is really handsome.
"I apologize for being so rough with you. The moment you released me from that boy's Code Cast I used all of my strength in order to get you out of harm's way, but I am afraid that I applied too much force, Lady Ailita." I suddenly realized who this man is. Only one person could be that formal at a time like this.
"S-Saber…?"
"Yes Milady? Are you in any pain?"
"N-No, I'm fine. It's just… your… helmet is gone." I suddenly realize that Saber is holding me bridal style. A mixture of emotions passes through me. "Uh… Saber… could you put me down?"
"Ah, my apologies." Saber gently sets me down. "Due to the force of that pirate's last attack, my helmet was blown off."
"Are you hurt?"
"I appreciate your concern, but I have received no major injuries." I take a step back to completely take in Saber's appearance.
The fog that surrounds his armor is still present, but it doesn't cover his face. I guess the fog must be created by his armor. It also looks like Saber wasn't just trying to sound tough when he said that he wasn't hurt because I can't see any injuries on him. In all honesty I'm surprised that only his helmet was knocked off during that last attack.
Seeing that Saber is ok, I then take a look around me. I notice that we are on one of the smaller ships that make up Rider's Armada. I can see the main ship, The Golden Hind in the distance. Considering that they are not coming after us, they must think that Rider's cannons finished us off. This gives us a good chance to launch a counterattack. However, there was one small problem…
"So, Saber… Do you have any ideas on how to bring the fight to them?" It's not like we can just walk over when the ship is floating in the air.
Saber looks down at his left hand. He then turns his gaze to the ship we are standing on, the main ship, then to me. "I do have an ability that should allow us to turn the table on our opponents."
"Really…? How?" I'm currently at a loss as to what we should do next, so anything would be of help right now.
Without giving an explanation, Saber turn his back to me and walks up to the front of the ship. He then puts down is sword and places his hands on the railing of the ship. The tassels on his back also take root on the ship's deck.
Suddenly, something that looks like the black fog that covers Saber's armor permeates from his hands and starts to quickly cover the ship. It slowly changes as the brown wood of the ship is tainted with a dark color as red lines invade the ship and multiply like the veins on a leaf. The dark fog spreads past me and covers the rest of the ship. I then take a look around me. The ship, now covered in black and a spider web pattern of red veins, looks alien and repulsive compared to its normal form. It now looks like a ghost ship.
"Saber, what is all this?!" I turn to Saber hoping he will give me some form of explanation. I have no idea what he's doing, or plans to do right now.
I nearly lose my footing as the ship now starts to move towards the main ship. I grab onto the ship's mast to keep myself standing. Saber still has his back to me as he steers the ship.
"I can make use of anything that classifies as a weapon… including the weapons of others." My eyes widen at that. I had no idea he could do something like that. I'm not sure of all the details, but I think it's amazing how he can take possession of something that only Rider is supposed to control and used it against her. I guess a war ship also counts as a weapon.
Looking at Saber's back I then realize something important. I realize that Saber is the same person I saw in my dream last night. He just had to be. His appearance matches perfectly to what I saw in my dream. This caused so many thoughts to enter my mind. How could I dream about what Saber looks like under his helmet if I have never seen it before now?
"Lady Ailita, prepare yourself, for we have almost reached the main ship." Saber's words snap me out of my thoughts as we come up behind the golden ship.
As we approach the main ship, I can overhear Shinji talking with his Servant. In a way I'm not surprised that I can hear him from this distance.
"Dammit! I can't believe that my Code Cast was undone by Ailita of all people! Rider! This is only the first battle and you're already slacking off! Now's not the time to let up on them! Don't let this happen again!" I spot Rider casually leaning against the ship's mast and drinking a bottle of beer and looking pretty relaxed.
"Ah, geez… Take it easy. They're gone now."
Without warning, the cannons from the ship we are riding fire at the main ship. There are pitch black with black smoke trailing behind them. The force of the impact knocks Shinji and Rider off their feet. Two gaping holes are now in the Golden Hind.
Saber steers the smaller ship to the main boat and we jump on. As soon as Saber lets go of the ship it returns to normal. I decided this was a good time to sound cool and make a comeback.
"Hate to break it to you, but you haven't won this battle yet Shinji!"
"A-Ailita?! That's impossible! You can't be here! You were hit with that last attack!"
"Your Servant was recovering from her injuries that were received during your skirmish with Sir Gawain. If you had chosen your fights more wisely then your Servant would have been at full strength. You also failed to train with your Servant. Only trying to hinder your opponent with childish tricks while we made use of our time to grow stronger." As Saber says this he stands protectively in front of me with his sword in hand.
Rider stands up on shaky legs to confront us. It looks like our attack did some real damage on her. She is clutching her broken arm, small cuts can be seen on her face, and a gash on her right leg is bleeding.
"It did take all my strength to endure your attacks earlier. By the way, Handsome, it's not very nice to ride a boat free of charge."
"The boatman shall earn his pay soon enough. That is the price for those who would do harm to my Mistress. I just hope that your greed has caused to save up enough money for the trip. On another note, you have my sympathies for having that boy as a Master. Your bad luck shall now take its toll."
This time it is Rider who seems to have resigned to her fate as she lets out a sigh.
"I'll admit this has been fun. It would have been better if I was drunk. It's good when you have a fine Master, but being picky is boring. Testing fate with the luck you don't have is the greatest thrill." Rider readies her pistols with a crazed expression. She's ready to risk everything.
Saber and Rider charge at each other. The next blow will decide this battle. With the extent of Rider's injuries from the cannon blast she is unable to defend herself from Saber's sword.
Time seems to go by at a snail's pace as Saber's sword pierces Rider's body and slashes her from her left shoulder to the right side of her stomach. Rider looks at Shinji as if she wants to say something to him, but she just falls to the ground with a sickening thud. With its captain defeated, the Invincible Armada disappears. I suddenly find myself standing on the same underwater seabed as when the battle began.
"Wh-What the hell?! How did my Servant defeated?! No matter how you look at it, I'm the best! At everything! I can't lose in the first round! I'm not inferior to anyone!" Shinji starts yelling. Almost like he can't comprehend what just happened. Since he fails to see himself as the reason for his defeat, he takes his anger out on Rider.
"Th-That's right, it's all your fault Rider! Yeah, it has to be… I ended up with a useless Servant! Dammit! For me to lose in the first round! This game is stupid! STUPID!"
"…Huh? Flogging a waterlogged sailor, are we? It won't reverse your fortunes, Master." Rider's breathing was shallow as she managed to speak.
"If you've got the energy to talk back, then go fight! There's no way I'm losing this!"
"Hmm, I don't think that's happening. Did you forget that I've been slashed in the heart? I'm going to disappear."
"Say what?! You think you can run away and leave me here? I lost because of you!"
"…My fault? Perhaps. Or it could have been carelessness. Or a lack of tenacity, luck, ability, etc… Well, whatever. Fortune is fickle and fate is what we make of it. We lost for a reason. We may be strong, but we didn't have what it takes to win."
"Why are you making it sound like somebody else's problem? I did what I'm supposed to do! I'm the best! It wasn't supposed to go like this. You ruined everything by becoming my Servant! Useless! Damn it! I can't believe I lost! This game sucks! Suuucks!" Shinji's tantrum makes him seem like a small child that didn't get his way. I can even start to see tears forming in his eyes. It's almost too pathetic to look at.
"Shinji, calm down! The fight is over. We should try to figure out a way to get out of here." I try pleading with Shinji. The match may be over, but we still have to find a way to escape the Moon Cell. I feel a hand grip my shoulder. I turn around to find Saber with a sympathetic look on his face.
"It is over, Lady Ailita. I am afraid that your words are wasted on someone like him. Now that the battle has been decided we should return to the campus immediately. This scene has become too unsightly to watch. That boy shall never again pose a threat to us. As for Rider, a hanging would be appropriate for a pirate, but now I have nothing but pity for her." Saber seems almost in a hurry to get me to leave.
"Hey… W-Wait! Hey! Ailita!" Shinji calls out desperately. "How about you declare that I won the battle? B-B-Because, you know, you just won this battle by accident! There's a 100% chance you'll lose in the second round. But I'll win it for sure. Think about it. Isn't it better for one of us to keep winning than for both of us to go down when you to lose in the next round? Can't you see the equation? I'm saying I'll share the Holy Grail with you!"
"Cut it out, Shinji. You've lost and you know it. You can't change what happened." There is nothing but pity in Rider's voice.
"Shut up! We lost because of YOU! What makes you think you have the right to act so bossy?!
Shinji then turns to face us and points an accusing finger at me.
"Don't think that just because you won you can act all cocky! Listen up! Because I'm only going to say this once! When I go home and find out who you are I'm gonna-!"
Suddenly an orange digital wall comes down. Slicing off Shinji's outstretched right hand, and effectively separating me and Shinji. The sound of the wall coming down is similar to that of a condemned man's prison door slamming shut. There is no blood from the injury. Only a black and purple spot where Shinji's arm should be. Shinji lets out a strangles cry as his arms, legs and torso gradually dissolve into blackness.
"Shinji!" I cry out. As the rest of Shinji's body starts to darken, and erode away.
"My arm! My body it's! What's happening?! M-My body is disappearing?! What's going on?! I've never logged out like this!"
"In a war the loser is the one who dies… Shinji, you're my Master, so you must have heard." I turn to see Rider starting to disappear the same way as her Master.
"D-Die… But, just our avatars get erased, right? There's no way you can DIE in a virtual world…For electronic brains to die, is that really…?"
"It can still die, right? That is the fate of those who go to war. You lose, you die. This is a 'war', not a 'game'. Most everyone who joins this war ends up dead. Roughly speaking, when you came here you put your life on the line. It is a rule that only the winner of the Holy Grail War can return alive."
"What… No… It's too late to tell me something that! This is supposed to be a game right?! RIGHT?! Aaagh… Wh-Why isn't this stopping?!" Shinji really starts to panic as the gravity of what he has gotten himself into finally hits him hard.
"C-Can't you stop this?! Do something Rider! Isn't a Servant supposed to save their Master?!"
"If it was easy to break the rules, they wouldn't have created them in the first place. But, well… the good and bad are both sent off to another world in the end. It's nothing to complain about."
"Acting like you know so much…! Aren't you ashamed at all?! First you lose… and now this…?!"
"Hmm? Am I ashamed? Of course I am. I'm so disgusted with myself that I could throw up.
"But, remember what I told you when we first made our contract, boy? I said 'are you ready?' Whether we win or lose, at the time of your death you must laugh at all the bad memories rather than feel sad… Am I wrong? A villain's final moments are laughably miserable!" His Servant gives a hearty laugh, even as her body is being erased by the system.
"Considering all the things you've done, this isn't such a bad death. Just let yourself go, Shinji." Rider turns to face us and gives us a pained smile.
"And you guys over there, let's hear some laughter, huh? It's sad when a clown doesn't get a laugh. May the rest of your journey go well. I'd like it if you ended up stronger than me. In life, I fought against military ships. It's against my nature to enjoy fighting weaker opponents." With a forced smile, Rider disappears into black.
As she turned a forced smile my way, the female pirate disappeared. She was a great navigator, and the first person to circumnavigate the world. And she went out laughing. Now that she's gone… Shinji must know what his fate is.
"H-Hey! Who gave you permission to disappear like that?! You've gotta help me! Don't leave me! Oh.. Oh god…!"
With tears running down his cheeks, Shinji turns to me and puts his remaining hand against the digital wall.
"Ailita! Help me! We're friends right?! Ailita, please save me!" I can't bear to watch this. I admit that Shinji is the biggest pain in the ass I've ever met, but I never wanted something like this to happen to him. Not knowing what else to do, I turn to Saber.
"Saber, there has to be a way to stop this! This isn't how a fight should end!" I bang my fist against the wall in vain.
Saber just closes his eyes and lowers his head, maintaining his usual silence.
"Aaah! I can't feel half of my body! Why does it feel like I'm going to die in real life, too?! What the hell?! This is crazy! Help! I'm really going to die! Ailita, please help me!" Shinji continues to cry out in choked sobs as he falls to his knees. "Even though my real body is only eight years old?! Even knowing this, it's still going to kill me…! I don't want to die yet-!" With a final cry, Shinji is completely erased in the same way as his Servant.
He's gone… The person known as Shinji Matou… that soul… that being… is completely gone. All traces of his existence are gone. All that remains is me, the winner.
And so, round one of the Holy Grail War has come to a close.
Night [1st Floor]
I step out of the elevator and find myself back at the school. Saber is back in his spirit form and returns to his silent self.
This round is over. I won and Shinji lost. The price for my victory is Shinji's life. Can it really be true? I know what I saw, but it still doesn't feel real. Has Shinji's life been lost forever? Just because I won the match? Without any explanation or greater meaning?
"Looks like the first round is now over. I'm actually surprised that the Blanks Slate managed to defeat the Gaming Champion."
I wonder how long I have been standing there, dumbfounded. When I finally came to, Rin Tohsaka was standing in front of me looking at me. When I looked around I saw that it is dark out. I didn't realize that the battle had taken so much time.
"Even though Shinji was the one who chose to fight you, he's the one who ended up dead." There isn't a hint of sorrow or sympathy in her voice. "The infamous game champion of Asia is defeated. That idiot didn't have a clue how to fight for his life. That's the fate of anyone who treats the Holy Grail War like a game. It's really a pretty pathetic way to die."
I automatically open my mouth to defend the dead from desecration, but as if Tohsaka knew what I was about to say, she spoke up.
"This place is a battlefield. What's the point in exalting someone who was dealt defeat?"
The look in her eyes and her words drove home a cold hard truth: on the field of battle, losers die. It should have been obvious. But apparently not to Shinji and I.
"The winner of the Holy Grail War can be granted any wish. But there is only one winner. Everyone who enters has wishes and dreams, things they desire to have at any cost. Things worth dying for. You don't seem to have regained any of your memories yet. …It's better that way. To lack a motive, that is. But you should at least be mentally prepared. If you're not ready to kill or be killed, it'd be better to go hide under a rock." I'm not sure if Tohsaka trying to give me advise, or make me feel worse.
"I know I should, but…" I can't even look her in the eyes.
"Hide from reality if you like, but round two will inevitably come. No Master remaining thinks they can win without being prepared." With that she walks away.
Tohsaka is right about everything. Everyone who makes a stand here fights with a strong will. There isn't a single Master I could defeat without a hard fight first.
The main problem is that I don't have a reason to fight.
I can't even think about killing and being killed until I have some reason to fight. That said, what right do I have to put an end to other people's lives and crush their dreams?
Pain can be endured.
Adversity can be overcome.
One will eventually become accustomed to wounds,
and ever so slowly things begin to settle.
But souls can be released and people transform.
Wings as white as snow soar through the sky,
and a fragile feather falls to the earth.
Evidence of change in the wind.
A/N:I'll admit, when I first found out that Shinji's real body was really eight years old, the first thing I thought was "Well, that explains a lot" and then I started to feel bad for him.
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