Day 9: The Shadow Beast
"I see, so it's finally happened, are you sure you have it under control?"
There was a pause on the other end of the line. Gregori could tell that Lillian was trying to gather her thoughts, and knew it was best not to pester her in a situation such as this. "Yes..." she finally replied, though with a good amount of hesitation. Her calm voice was faltering slightly.
"Do not lie to me Lillian," said Gregori, his voice laced with a small warning for his pupil mage, "If things get out of hand I will have no choice but to inform the council."
"You can't do that!"
Her shout was dulled by the phone line it traveled through, making it even less effective, "You know they will call for a purge, the best thing to do would be to break the contract with your servent and return to London. I have already prepared a plane for you."
"No, Archer... he needs me, this town needs me, if you call a purge more people will suffer!"
Gregori gritted his teeth, "Very well," he said reluctantly, "But this is your final warning Lillian, unless this 'Shirou' can cull the beast that has consumed humans...
then I will have no other option. You have one day left, I suggest you do not fail if you want to live."
"Bastard."
Venom leaked from her voice, yet the High Mage Gregori did not care.
To him this was simply a business transaction.
"One day Lillian, after that I will keep silent no longer."
Lillian gritted her teeth, closing her cell phone and trying not to scream out in a rage.
The night was silent after she hung up.
Above her, up several hundred stone steps, was the Ryudou Temple. Gregori was merciless, only giving her a day to stop this monstrosity that was known as Sakura Matou.
However, deep in her heart she knew that this would be her last chance. She turned to face the group behind her. Every single one of them looked like they were on the edge of a knife, barely holding onto what little they knew in this world. She was sure that she was not in a much better state.
Zouken's unconscious body hit the ground, Saber held no regard for taking care with such a monster.
"How did it go?" asked Shirou.
"We have one day," whispered Lillian.
Kaguya shuffled her feet, "Will someone please tell me what's happening."
Lancer stood by her Master's side, arm still missing from her body, even though the wound had closed long ago as they were on their way to the temple.
Saber sighed and shook her head, "The Holy Grail is not what it seems."
"I predicted as much," said Lancer softly, "It seems that we must form a mutual alliance. It would be difficult to call ourselves heroes if we let such a thing run wild.
We must eliminate it."
"No!" snapped Shirou.
Silence permeated the air.
"We... we can't do that to Sakura."
Ilya tugged on Shirou's sleeve, "Onii-chan, Sakura has most likely been devoured. It's not good to rush into things."
"I can't believe that! We came here to save her, and that's what we're gonna do, no matter what! Why do you think I didn't kill Assassin or Zouken, if we do that, she'll only..."
A hacking cough interrupted the small debate between the new team, "It's useless," ground out Zouken, "She is too far gone to help, she has already absorbed half of the servants, there is no way to help her in her current state."
Shirou wheeled on the old man, "You! You did this to her!"
Zouken grinned, as if he heard a funny joke from an old friend. "And what were you doing Emiya? Sitting idly by while she cooked breakfast for you every morning? You used her just as much as I did."
Shirou gritted his teeth, "I didn't know she was..."
Zouken laughed, "No young man, you simply did not want to see the horrible truth for yourself. You call yourself a hero, but you can't even save one suffering girl from a decrepit old mage like me."
"Shut up..."
"Shirou..." Saber laid a gentle hand on his shoulder, "Do not listen to this man, he died long ago."
Rin walked to Zouken, glaring down at the helpless worm mage, "You make me sick. You're... you're so afraid of dying that you can't just shut up and take it. You play with worms, but the truth is... you are a worm. You're a parasite, getting into people's heads and screwing around with them. That ends today. You will pay for what you did to my sister. Shirou is still learning, but he is a hundred times the magus you will ever be."
Shirou's eyes widened, "Rin..."
The girl resisted the urge to stomp the old mage's face into the ground, but did not bother to stop her verbal assault. "What you don't understand is that you've already lost Zouken. We are all here to stop whatever is in there, and if you even try to interfere, you will die without even noticing. Sakura is my sister... no matter what happens. I don't care what her name is and I don't care where she lives. But I will DIE before I let you lay your disgusting hands on her again. Shirou, we're wasting time with a defeated pile of worms, we need to go get Sakura."
Shirou could only nod in agreement.
It seemed like the steps above them stretched on forever.
"Rin," interrupted Saber, "Is it alright to just leave him here? He might posses someone."
Rin scoffed, "It's okay, I just wanted to rub it in his face that he was going to die alone, there's no need to guard him, Assassin can't even help him now, they are both on the verge of death."
Lillian sighed, "I say we kill him just to be on the safe side."
"No," said Rin, "He hasn't suffered enough."
The group began to climb the stairs wordlessly, not even looking back to see if Zouken tried to scramble off.
The old man's first instinct was to find a new body he could consume and possess...
But why?
Why had her words rung so true in his mind?
Coward...
Afraid of death...
Insignificant...
Old...
He could not stand, he could not crawl.
'I need... a new body...'
'No, you need to die.'
His arms and legs were numb, his cane was too far away for him to reach.
No, he still had a backup plan, the worm he implanted in Sakura, that's it, when she was complete he would absorb her very essence. Just the thought of it made him grin maniacally.
But something was wrong...
Maybe she knew, maybe she knew the worm was inside her...
But then that would mean...
His mind snapped.
Worms...
Death...
Engineered to be...
Artificially immortal...
DEATH...
DEATH on this slab of ground...
His very essence would disolve.
The Tohsaka girl was right, he had lost...
He had lost everything...
With nothing for his cowardly hands to grasp, he started to laugh...
"Hah..."
"Haha... HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
The last of Zouken Matou slipped away.
It was so funny, better than the joke he heard at the beginning of the first grail war.
How did that joke go again?
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
He was dying a cowards death on this slab of ground.
Sakura had found him out.
Those Servents and mages were going to destroy the grail.
It was so FUNNY.
His victory was so close, and yet he could not grasp it.
The final string was cut...
He laughed and laughed and laughed...
His artificial lungs were suffocating, but it was hilarious.
And just like that...
Matou Zouken passed away, leaving nothing of worth behind but suffering and carnage.
The gate of Ryudou temple was open to them. The endless stone steps that seemed to go on forever were finally behind them. "I don't understand," whispered Rin, "Where is she? I can't sense her anywhere."
Shirou saw...
His mind flashed, a cavern, an underground place full of pain and heartache, "She's below the temple, we're wasting time, c'mon!"
The place was much too quiet.
As they entered the temple itself, their steps began to echo through the wood.
"Something is wrong," said Kaguya, "Shouldn't there have been resistance? Sakura's mind is almost completely corrupted."
Shirou wheeled on her, "Because she's not the shadow!"
"Wha... but we..."
"Sakura doesn't want this," he said through gritted teeth, "She wants us to find her and stop this madness."
"You really... believe in her don't you?" asked Lillian.
Rin nodded firmly, "Yes, WE do, now stop dilly dallying and let's move, the more time we waste the worse it gets."
Before they could step forward, the shadows on the wall began to move, "Too late!" shouted Rin, "This is what you get for not listening to the mage!"
Shirou thought he heard a scream, for an instant, he saw Sakura, waking him up in his tool shed...
Tucking her hair behind her ear...
'Get down!'
A phantom voice.
"Duck!" shouted Shirou.
He hit the ground...
Scrapping and breaking wood was all he could hear for a split second.
He could still sense everyone's magical energy, luckily they had listened to him.
The thing floated above them, eyeing them curiously. Was this group of fleshy things not its meal? Why was it hesitating again?
"Lancer!" shouted Kaguya.
Hua Mulan coughed up blood, her chest was on fire, she had tackled Kaguya at the last split second, the fact that a simple graze was enough to split her chest open...
Whatever this creature was... it was beyond her abilities as a Lancer. "Don't!" shouted Shirou.
The creature turned towards Kaguya and Lancer. If it had a discernible shape it would have tilted what could have been its head. Funny, it was so hungry... yet it heard a soft voice. 'Don't... don't kill senpai and his friends...'
Lancer moved, Shirou yelled for her to stop...
Kaguya flinched and shut her eyes, "Lancer, use it!"
Shirou saw something under Kaguya's sleeve flash, it was her command spell...
Lancer stopped mid strike and jumped back, narrowly avoiding being cleaved in two thanks to her Master's command. She twisted her lance with her remaining arm and stabbed it into the ground. "Foolish creature," she said softly, "You will bow before the Emperor's Army!"
Shirou saw a flash of light before the shadow disappeared.
It was a split second before another one appeared, another flash of light...
He heard the sound of metal, horses' hooves, screaming.
The entire hall was lit up and devoured by the battle cries of ancient China's warriors.
"Go!" shouted Lancer, blood seeping from her lips, "These creatures are no match for me!"
Shirou hesitated, but knew it wouldn't do any good to get in Lancer's way, especially when using her noble phantasm. The rest of the group followed him hesitantly. Ilya walked by Shirou, clinging the bottom of his shirt. He did not know whether it was out of fear or if it was to reassure him, but still... he pressed on.
The temple's basement was easily found, but the steps descended farther than they should have. This was it, Shirou could feel it.
Lillian swallowed the dry air in her mouth, "So... this is it."
Archer laid a hand on her shoulder and smiled, "It's been a pleasure working with you dear."
Lillian felt heat rise to her face, "N... Now isn't the time for that!"
Shirou's eyes did not leave the endless depth of the stairs.
He knew as soon as he descended, there was no turning back for any of them.
"Shirou," said Saber softly, "We have done this once already."
"Y... yeah, you're right, I wonder why I'm so nervous," he said with a bitter laugh.
The descent itself was completely silent, save for the sound of shoes and boots hitting the stone steps. It seemed to go into the core of the Earth itself, and Shirou found it hard to believe that something like this was under Ryudou temple all this time. He could sense Sakura getting closer, she did not feel normal... as they reached the bottom of the stairs Shirou's lungs contracted from the sheer magical energy.
The cavern was huge, and seemed to stretch on in darkness for miles.
"Something like this... was under Fuyuki city?" whispered Lillian.
Rin frowned, "My Ancestors helped build this place when the Holy Grail was created. I don't know what they intended to do, but the result is hurting my sister."
"I don't think your ancestors intended for any of this to happen Rin," said Saber.
When Shirou finally caught his breath he shook his head and attempted to clear his thoughts, he realized something was not right about this place.
"Lillian, perhaps it is best if we stayed here," interjected Archer.
"But... the Grail is just ahead, we have to..."
"I don't know how long Lancer can hold against those monsters, but Kaguya will surely flee when her defense falters. It is best if someone remains here to ensure that Shirou and his friends are not interrupted."
"Fine," she said bitterly, "But you owe me for this Archer."
Leaving Archer and Lillian behind, the remaining four continued to walk through the wide expanse of rock. The heat and pure magical energy surrounding them was almost unbearable. Shirou was having trouble walking straight, his body was still getting used to having his magic circuit open, and it did not help when endless amounts of energy poured into him like this.
On the verge of collapsing, they arrived at what appeared to be a steep plateau. On the top of it was a monster the likes of which they had never seen. A dark egg pulsing with magical energy, begging for the suffering of all living things. It was at least thirty stories tall and fifty meters wide. It was some sort of embryo.
Its mere presence made Shirou's stomach churn in disgust, he felt like throwing up.
'This is Angra Manyuu, All Evils of the World. This is the Holy Grail that people suffer and die for.'
A voice in his head, familiar yet foreign.
'Shirou, killing this creature means that I die with it...'
Shirou felt the temperature rise, 'Avenger,' he thought.
'You took me from that embryo, that false Holy Grail. I will assist you in destroying this monster that has plagued me for thousands of years.'
"I'm glad you made it... sen... pai..."
A shiver ran down Shirou's spine, and he could feel Avenger's hackles raise.
'Do not trust it!'
Sakura stood on the edge of the small cliff, looking down on them.
Ilya's grip on Shirou's shirt tightened.
She was... wrong...
Her hair was silver...
And black tendrils wrapped around her, as if to form a dress.
Sakura giggled, "You even brought all of our friends."
"Sakura" said Shirou softly, "You can stop this now, Zouken is gone..."
Sakura smiled softly, tucking her hair behind her ear, "I can't do that senpai, it just feels... so good. That... Mulan was it? I liked her, it was too bad her Master got away. You're all here though, so I feel better... I even got to absorb Rider" She sighed wistfully.
As if remembering something, Sakura looked surprised, "Oh, I completely forgot to apologize for that fight I had with you Saber, here's a present. Please accept it."
Sakura raised her hand.
Shirou's eyes widened, "Saber, get away!"
It was too late, the shadow had already engulfed her pure white dress.
It burned her very essence.
Shirou gritted his teeth.
"Do you like it Saber-san? It's my thanks for taking care of senpai when I was away."
Saber could feel her mind slipping away...
Something was creeping into her...
Something...
Someth...
"SABER!"
"That won't do Senpai, please just watch, I'm sure you'll enjoy the new Saber when it's finished."
Breath...
Breathing was hard...
It took too much effort...
It was like she was drowning.
Excalibur's comfortable weight was gone, she couldn't see anything.
Air... she needed air...
Her mind faltered.
She saw her men turning on her.
She saw her blood on that hill after the final battle.
Shirou was there.
He smirked, "Worthless," he spat.
No...
No, he wouldn't say that!
Her breath hitched and she caught a lungful of air, as if coming up to the surface of a lake.
'...SABER!...'
Her world shattered to pieces.
She tried to reach out but couldn't.
Her surroundings disappeared.
Darkness.
She saw Merlin's smiling face, "I suppose you were right Arturia."
"Old... man?"
She found herself in the Emiya house's dojo, sitting on her knees formally. Merlin mimicked her and laughed deeply, "So used to customs outside of your own country," he said softly.
"Have I really... changed that much?" she wondered.
The old wizard smiled wide and wrapped an arm around her, "No, you haven't, but that does not mean you haven't grown. You said that many people were smiling, do you want to know the reason I cautioned you against pulling Caliburn free from the stone?"
"You said it was because a King must not be a human, they must rule in order to help their country, they have to devote their entire self."
Merlin laughed deeply, "Yes, that is true, I thought that would stop you, but you were always so stubborn, just like your father."
"Merlin, am I dying?"
He frowned, "Do you wish to die?"
"No... it's not just England that needs me anymore, it's my duty, I have to save everyone."
"That is too much for one person to bear Arturia. Do not lie to yourself."
"I suppose... there is another reason."
The wizard smirked, "Yes?"
"I found out what it means to be alive. I met someone."
Merlin chuckled, "Oh little one, your father must be rolling in his grave to hear you say such a thing!"
"I suppose he would be."
"Well," said Merlin abruptly, "I'll be going now, you just accidentally let the pigs out of the pen, the blacksmith will be furious."
"I don't remember doing that."
"Of course you don't, you're only four," he said with a grin. "The rest of this... is up to you Arturia."
Just like that... Merlin was gone.
The weight of her desperation returned.
She stood as the dojo around her darkened.
In front of her was a shadow, a dark being that resembled herself. Black armor, pulsating veins, yellow eyes. Excalibur was corrupted by this creature.
"Who are you?" asked Saber.
The mirror of darkness did not reply.
An alternate self.
Unless she escaped this prison, Shirou would have to lay his eyes on her like this.
She would not allow it.
She would rather die.
She would kill this creature with her bare hands...
She didn't need Excalibur for something like this.
The alternate Saber approached her with a calm stride, no expression betrayed its intentions. That thing had no emotions, something like this couldn't possibly beat her. Not waiting for it to attack, Saber closed the distance between them.
Alter Saber swung down the corrupted Excalibur, making to cleave her in two.
The King easily side stepped the blow, rushing forward and bringing her leg down on the dark being's knee.
She heard a crack, but Alter Saber showed no visible signs of pain.
Saber spun on her pivot foot, avoiding another lethal blow from the dark sword and repositioning herself behind the creature.
She reached around the thing's neck and brought her arms in tight, closing off what she hoped was the creature's source of air.
The dark sword was dropped to the ground, and Alter Saber writhed in protest, clawing at Saber's arms as she choked it.
Saber pushed her foot forward and kicked out to the right, causing the creature's right leg to give out with another sickening crack.
The dojo continued to fade away around them.
This thing was not her...
If it was it would have been a match...
With a final brutal movement, Saber snapped the neck of the thing in her grasp, causing it to let out an inhuman scream.
Sakura's eyes widened, "Wha..."
Excalibur flashed, disposing of the darkness engulfing Saber. The King gritted her teeth, "If you think such a creature can defeat me, you have a lot to learn."
The possessed girl lifted her arm once more, and beings of shadow surrounded the group. "Stay behind me Ilya," said Shirou softly.
"Onii-chan, you can't beat these things."
Shirou ignored Ilya, stepping forward and pushing her back, "You think Sakura actually wants to kill us?"
Ilya was silent, she didn't know the answer.
Saber reached up and pulled the ribbon out of her hair, digging her feet into the cavern's floor.
Rin had fifteen jewels left.
Shirou was tired, and projecting when surrounded by so much energy would put strain on his circuit.
"We're outnumbered," said Rin softly.
Shirou smirked, "Looks like twenty."
Saber went into stance, "Hmph, that's a little unfair," she said softly.
"True," Shirou grinned, "For them."
"You have a plan for this?" asked Rin.
"Yeah," said Shirou, "We kill every single one of these bastards, and then take out that egg."
Sakura smiled softly, "Why are you so difficult senpai? I could give you everything you know."
"Now what kind of fun would that be?" he asked jokingly, "You of all people know I like to earn my keep."
The shadows converged on them in an instant.
Shirou moved, "Trace, on..."
Kanshou and Bakuya cleaved one in two, opening a path for the sword mage, he charged forward to avoid getting cramped in the group attack. He skidded to a halt from his sprint and used his momentum to turn on his pivot foot. The short swords flew from his hands, impaling two more shadows.
Screams of these monsters echoed throughout the large chamber.
Sakura gritted her teeth...
Saber stepped forward, cleaving three of the monster's in half with one fluid movement from Excalibur. She dug her feet down, not ceasing her movements for a single moment.
Rin let two jewels loose. They exploded into fire, holding back the creatures with their sheer magical energy. She held out her hand.
"Atzen," she whispered.
The flames extended, engulfing the creatures with their tranquil fury.
"Why..." muttered Sakura.
The screams continued...
"Why..."
Their movements were so fluid, perfectly in sync with each other as they cut down shadow after shadow...
They were winning...
Sakura erupted in fury, the shadows dissipated.
"Why won't you let me feel good?"
Shadows converged on them once more, but these were not creatures, they were pure darkness.
"Saber!" shouted Shirou.
The King stabbed her sword into the ground, holding whatever was approaching them at bay.
"Sakura, listen to me!"
She glared at Shirou, "You never do anything but lie senpai. You said you would protect me."
Saber gritted her teeth, "Shirou, we are running out of time! We have to do something."
'That's right, you came here... to kill it...'
Avenger...
'I am not strong, but I will give you what I have.'
Shirou felt something creep into him.
It was like something was crawling all over him.
Saber looked on in shock.
"What is it?" asked Shirou.
His body was warm.
He felt... heavier... but more powerful...
His eyes burned, but it wasn't uncomfortable, as far as he could remember he was used to this feeling.
Sakura froze, "Sen...pai?"
Tattoos, endless tattoos...
Covering every inch...
Every sin known to man...
Black hair...
Burning eyes...
Indomitable will...
His magic circuit flared to life.
He saw an endless selection of weapons, not just swords.
Only one would really work.
"Trace... on..."
The sword that was closest to his heart.
He felt the weight in his hands, it was heavier than what he was used to, but as soon as its history entered his mind it became more comfortable. "Saber..." he said softly.
"You and me, let's finish this... just like back then."
The King nodded firmly, pulling her sword from the ground.
The shadows closed in on them.
Shirou was not afraid, it was no match for two Excaliburs.
Sakura fell to her knees.
Shirou and Saber jumped and ran for the woman who had become a shadow.
She knew this was the end...
She felt so... sad...
Funny... the thing in her mind said she would be free of sadness.
Saber and Shirou were closing in...
This was it...
Their swords...
So beautiful...
Shirou and Saber raised their arms to strike.
"EX..."
Sakura saw the truth.
'Senpai,' she thought, 'You did save me, every day... I was in pain, but seeing you every day... made that pain go away...'
"CALIBUR!"
The two beams of light intersected...
And they passed over Sakura, as if creating a doorway of light.
The dark embryo burst, letting out a horribly loud moan of death. The cave shook from the sheer concussive force of the blow.
And Sakura was left on her knees, eyes widened in surprise as her hair once again began to darken.
She felt energy leave her... and she felt lighter.
"Senpai... why?"
Shirou felt his body lighten, and he felt the tattoos recede as the embryo died.
As the Holy Grail burned, he felt that at last, it was over.
He smiled at Sakura, "Because, I promised to protect you, and I don't go back on my promises."
Final Day: Back to Normal
"No..."
Lillian could hear Gregori's grip on the phone tighten, "But thats..."
"I will not withdraw my appeal, you stood by while an innocent girl went insane, and watched as a town went to hell in a handbasket. Your duty as a mage is to ensure that things like this do not occur, therefore, you should not have a place on the council."
"Bitch..."
Lillian smirked, hanging up the phone and biting her bottom lip, trying to supress a giggle.
"Lillian!" came a shout from upstairs.
"What?" she snapped.
A light chuckle was the only response she got, "Lillian, you must tame that temper of yours."
Archer approached her from the foot of the stairs, "What do you want?"
"The faucets broken," he said simply.
"You're useless," she spat, "If you can't get hot water just let it run for a few minutes."
Lillian pinched the bridge of her nose and leaned back on the sofa, wondering lightly how the mages in Fuyuki were holding up.
Kaguya gritted her teeth, looking at her watch for the hundredth time.
'Still not here,' she thought, annoyed.
Finally the academy gives her students, and they're late to their first lesson...
"This sucks," she muttered to herself.
The train station was noisy and had too many people, she wanted to leave as soon as possible.
"Ah! Are you... Kaguya sensei!"
Kaguya put on a smile, trying to hide her frustration, "Yes I am, do you know where everyone else is?"
"Um... they got pushed back to a different train."
Kaguya's eyebrow twitched. "Well," she said, taking a deep breath, "I suppose it can't be helped."
"Senpai... Senpai, wake up, it's time to go to school."
"Mrgh." Shirou brought a hand to his face and let out a large yawn, sitting up from the wall. 'I guess I fell asleep in the shed again,' he mused. "Good morning Sakura."
"Breakfast is already done, so please hurry to the living room."
He looked around the shed, noticing that Saber was nowhere to be found. 'She must have not come out here last night, she was probably out cold in my room,' he thought.
He made his way to the dining room in no particular hurry.
When he got there everyone was already sitting at the table, including Saber, Taiga, Ilya, and an uninvited mage.
"I thought you said you'd go back to your mansion."
"Sakura insisted that I stay," said Rin with a huff.
Taiga sighed and shook her head, "I didn't know you were such a deviant Emiya-kun, letting so many girls stay at your house."
"It's not like I have a choice!"
"That's what they all say," she mocked.
Saber looked up at him, "Shirou, do not let yourself forget..."
"Yeah yeah, training in the dojo after school, got it."
"Good, I wouldn't want you falling behind."
'More like you wouldn't miss an opportunity to beat the crap out of me,' he thought bitterly.
He sat at the table and flipped on the morning news as an instinct.
The newscaster popped up with her usual smile, "And it seems for the first time in weeks, Fuyuki city can finally rest easy. With the strange string of murders occuring across the suburban and downtown area suddenly ceasing a month ago. It is not known whether an assailant has been identified, but..."
"Who wants seconds?" asked Sakura cheerfully, completely ignoring the news.
Shirou couldn't blame her, he would have done the same exact thing.
Saber held up her now empty bowl, and Sakura cheerfully complied.
The newscaster continued, "However, with no more mysterious murders, it seems Fuyuki is still ill at ease. Sightings across not only the city, but the country as well have shown strange occurrences in the sky."
Shirou's fork clattered against the plate when he dropped it...
"Senpai!" shouted Sakura, "What's wrong?"
'Something... doesn't feel right...' he thought, gritting his teeth.
The worried cries of his friends fell on deaf ears.