Disclaimer: I do not own the Fate franchise it belongs to Kinoko Nasu and Type-Moon.

Purified by Fire, Dancing with Fairies

Chapter 12

"…so far there appear to be no casualties from last night's meteor impact," the news reporter said. "But damage assessments of both private and public property destroyed or damaged by the meteor are estimated to cost millions of Yen in…"

Saber sat at Ayame's table, watching the morning news with a bowl of cut fruit nearby, while Ayame sat on the nearby veranda, trying to do something with her magecraft. "…reports that the meteor was not a meteor," the reporter continued. "Have been dismissed by experts, with the purported sight of a silver object rising into the sky from the impact site before the meteor's impact being explained as a mirror effect caused by air lensing, wherein a mirror image of the meteor falling to the ground can be seen rising into the air only to vanish when it meets the light source, that is the meteor…"

"I'm fairly certain that meteor was a Servant's Noble Phantasm." Saber remarked. "I can't see the details so I'm not sure who and what but…"

Saber paused and glanced at his Master, who was keeping herself busy on the veranda. "What are you doing anyway?" he asked, getting up to walk over.

"Trying to do that spell the fairies showed me back then." Ayame said, holding out her hands before her. As Saber looked on, a single point of light appeared and began to build between her hands, only to fizzle out after a few moments.

"They showed you a spell?" he asked.

"Yes." Ayame said with a nod. "They showed me…well, they first showed me how nasty the Matou Clan really was, along with that vampire they have for a family head…"

"Wait," Saber asked, his tone shocked. "Vampire?"

"Yes," Ayame said. "Their family head is a vampire…or at least can pass for one, needing to eat people to stay alive, and has for about five centuries or so. Not sure how he managed to avoid getting found out, though…Illya did say he's not quite a vampire…"

"Illya…" Saber echoed. "Your older sister…the Einzbern Master, yes?"

"I know what you're going to say," Ayame said with a small smile. "Can we really take her at her word? It could just be a trick of some kind, after all."

Saber shrugged with a small smile, and Ayame snorted with amusement. "Well," she said. "Whether or not it's true doesn't matter, since my dad told me the Matou Clan always was a nasty piece of work. Avoid them if I could, and if not, be careful. And the fairies showed…disgusting monsters…"

"What did they show you?" Saber asked.

"The Matou Clan specialize in the use of familiars." Ayame said in disgust. "Worms, to be precise. These worms are…deliberately, made to infest their bodies, as part of training. The worms eat flesh and prana, and in exchange boost their host's powers…at the price of a slow and painful death as their bodies fail from being eaten up on the inside."

"That's abominable!"

"Yes, it is." Ayame said with a nod. "And it gets worse. Those worms are actually extensions of their family head, and with them he can override the host's free will at any time and basically turn them into puppets. Oh, and those worms are apparently a key part of their clan's magic training, so it means that even before they go to school, Matou children are already being infested with the damn things."

Saber snarled and clenched his fists. "But that's not the worst either." Ayame said, as yet another attempt at performing the spell the fairies showed her fizzled out. "The worst is that enough of what I told is you is known by the powers that be of magus society. And do you know what they think of it? 'Torturous, but effective'…assholes!"

"Not even Morgana would sink so low!" Saber spat. "Oh don't get me wrong, Morgana was a very…disturbed, woman, but…she had pride and dignity of her own! And…to tolerate much less praise an abomination as what you just said…she'd see them an affront to any and all practitioners of the Art! She'd have stamped them out! Burned them! She and Merlin, or even she and myself would not have disagreed on this!"

"…you want to go and do just that?"

Saber briefly looked away, and then taking a deep breath drew himself up. "Tempting," he said. "And we should. What they do is abominable! For the sake of all that is good and right, their actions must be put to a halt!"

Ayame smiled and nodded. "Yes, I agree." She said. "And I think the fairies agree too. Because after they showed me…visual confirmation, of everything my father told me about the Matou Clan…they showed me this spell. And I think they did so because they want me to use it to bring an end to the Matou."

"…what your sister may have said about the Matou family head may be false," Saber said softly after a few moments. "Though given what we already know about that clan, it could very well be true. It would not surprise me if it was."

Saber sighed and falling silent, watched as Ayame tried and failed to perform the spell. "What exactly is the spell meant to do if I may ask?" he asked.

"Hmm? Oh, I don't know, to be honest."

"…what?"

Ayame smiled helplessly up at Saber. "They just showed it to me." She said. "A ball of light in my hands, and then I clap them over it, to release a powerful burst of light. What it would do…they didn't show."

Saber blinked. That sounded like…

On and on they came, in an unrelenting and numberless tide. The hosts of the unquiet dead poured over the frozen and snow-covered ground, eldritch lights burning in their eye sockets, weapons of cold steel and enchanted ice in their gaunt and rotting hands. Fear clung like a mist to their forms, and flowed like the tide before them, undermining the resolve of those that stood against them, piercing their hearts and weakening their sinews as easily as the unquiet dead's weapons could cut through metal, flesh, and bone.

Arthur and his knights alone stood unflinching, mounted on their steeds with lances at the ready, the King of Britain flanked by the greatest heroes of the land. Bedivere the Steadfast, Gawain whose spirit shone and burned like fire, and Lancelot of the Lake, whose skill with the blade surpassed even the king's own, and yet humbly knelt before the one who alone held the right and measure to rule.

And before them all stood another, between the King and the hordes of the unquiet dead, unflinching in the face of their spectral terror. Ghastly horns blew, the echoes as though of a battlefield in the distant past ghosting through the air…

…and Merlin stood defiant, a glowing orb of golden light hanging in the air before him, and holding his staff in one hand, brought his hands together…

…and all was light.

"Who are you really, Ayame?" Saber wondered. "Why have the fey chosen you, born in an age where beings such as themselves no longer have a place in the World of Men, and in a land so far from the realm they were once so invested in? Why were you chosen, and how, to inherit power that should have ended with our age?"

Saber briefly closed his eyes, and taking a deep breath, nodded once. Undoubtedly, there was more to this than met the eye, and the power that she possessed and would grow to possess would lead her to trials and tribulations he would not wish for her…

…and yet, she had the strength and will to face them, did she not?

She was young, and yet was willing to stand and fight, not for a desire she herself admitted she did not know, but for what was right.

That's right…you do not know what it is you would offer to the Grail to be granted…and yet when you hear of the abuses of those with power done with selfish purpose, you would stand against them, not for any hope of reward, or even for abstract ideals of bravery or nobility, but simply because it is right.

And from what I know of what you think of the excesses of your people…

…yes…perhaps that is your desire. You desire to be an ordinary person, free to dream as you will and be who you choose to be…but even if you cannot with the power you possess…then neither will you become like those of your kind who abuse what power they possess.

…perhaps you will be worthy of the fey's trust. Perhaps you will know what Merlin once told me, of the purpose that guided his every action, and that which the rest of his and your kind have forgotten.

Magic exists to serve man, and never to rule him.

Saber nodded slowly as he looked on at Ayame still trying to perform the spell. "You know," he said. "If I remember right…I think Merlin did something similar before."

Ayame paused, and then slowly turned her head to look at Saber. "What?" she asked.

"Ball of light, and you clap your hands over it, to send out a powerful wave of light?" Saber asked, and Ayame nodded. "Well, if you want to know what it does, it simply undoes enemy magic. No, perhaps that's too general…I'm not certain of the specifics, but when he used that spell, we were up against a great host of wights…and with his light, Merlin dispelled the spells which had animated their corpses, and freed their tormented spirits to rest in peace."

Ayame stared. Saber stared back. Ayame swallowed dryly.

"Really?" she asked.

"Yes, truly."

Ayame look back at her hands, and then back to Saber. Swallowing dryly again, she nodded once, as if to gather her resolve, and then she got to her feet. "Don't think less of me for this." She said, her cheeks pink as she approached.

"Huh?"

That was all Saber could manage before Ayame placed a hand on his shoulder, and then leaning closer kissed him on a cheek. "Thanks." She said, stepping back with a flaming face and unable to meet his eyes.

Saber blinked and then laughed. "You're welcome." He said. "But you do realize I am married right?"

Guinevere…I wish I could have been a better husband to you…forgive me…for everything…

Ayame blushed an even deeper red, and with a laugh Saber held up his hands. "Alright, calm yourself," he said. "I was just joking. I know there was nothing inappropriate about the kiss, and I was happy to help. Well then, I will take my leave. I would not wish to disturb you any further."

Saber bowed and Ayame nodded jerkily before quickly turning and sitting back down, resumed work on her spells. Saber smiled at the sight. "You still have a long way to go before you can master the fey's gifts, Ayame." He thought. "But I know you have what it takes to do so. You have the strength, the will, and most importantly, the heart to do so. Do your best, and be all you can be, Ayame."

Smiling to himself some more, Saber stepped back inside. As he did so, Ayame glanced over her shoulder, and once she was sure Saber couldn't see her anymore, pumped her fists in the air in celebration.

"You're finally awake." Zouken remarked. "Then again, you managed to fight Einzbern to a draw, which is quite a feat in itself for your typical magus. With your limitations, it is quite…impressive. I am proud of you, grandson."

"Thanks…you have no idea how much I've wanted to hear that, and for how long."

Zouken laughed at that, while Shinji flexed his fingers. "That said," he said. "It didn't come easy, with my reserves badly depleted. Same for Rider…I suspect if they'd pressed the fight, I'd have lost."

"Well," Zouken began. "That is not really something that can be held against you. Einzbern homunculi, well those coined to fight as magi, would always have more prana than most magi would. And the exceptions would only be if they had…similar, circumstances, to that which give Einzbern homunculi their superior prana reserves. And mystery-wise…Einzbern is old. Over a thousand years old in fact. Their mysteries are…profound, I'll admit that much."

Zouken paused and smirked. "You know what that means, yes?" he asked.

"I'll have to fight smarter, next time."

Zouken nodded. "Yes," he said. "Or, you could go after easier prey. There's Caster on Mount Ryuudo for one, or the Lancer and the Assassin which have yet to show themselves."

"I'll have to find them first, in the cases of the latter two." Shinji said thoughtfully. "But before that, I'll need to replenish my prana reserves."

"You already know how to do that, don't you?"

"Yes…Rider…"

"Yes, yes," Rider said with a sigh. "I understand. It's distasteful, but it needs to be done."

Rider sighed again and scratched at his head. "I'll wait for nightfall before looking around for…prey." He said glumly.

The two Matou nodded. "About the damage caused…" Shinji began, but Zouken waved him off.

"It is of no concern." He said. "Much worse was caused during the previous war, when Kiritsugu Emiya levelled the Fuyuki Grand Hyatt Hotel, to say nothing of the Great Fire. And don't even get me started on the Third Holy Grail War."

"Yes."

"Well," Zouken said, getting up and beginning to head to the door. "You seem to have things well in hand…so I'll leave them up to you."

"Yes," Shinji said. "I'll wait and rest until this afternoon before going out and getting some prana of my own."

"Very good…though keep in mind you risk being forced into battle for staying out so late."

"Point…I'll have to figure something out, or it's going to be problematic."

"Yes, it would." Zouken agreed. "And you should."

Without another word the old man left, leaving Shinji and Rider behind. Shinji sighed, and leaned forward with his arms resting on his legs. "Sorry, Rider." He said. "Making you go so far…if I was a better Master, I…"

"No, it's alright." Rider said with a sigh. "It cannot be helped, can it? Hopefully this will be the last time but…"

The Servant trailed off with a sigh, and Shinji nodded once in sympathy before sitting back with a wistful expression on his face. "If only…" he murmured before shaking his head, and closing his eyes. "No…it's nothing…there is something else that worries me though."

"Master?"

"Magi, even artificial ones such as myself," Shinji said. "Can detect other magi. You could say…like calls to like. It's an oversimplification, but an accurate description, nevertheless."

"Yes."

"I've been in the same school with Emiya for about…four years now." Shinji said, keeping his eyes closed. "I've never been in the same section as her, but…same level. We've even spoken to each other or even worked together, on school events and the like before."

"…but you couldn't detect her?"

"Yes."

"And…Tohsaka…you could?"

"Yes," Shinji said, finally opening his eyes and sitting up again. "I could. If I wanted to, I could always figure out where she was within a…limited, area around me. I've even done it before, as an exercise. Any magus within that should have been detected. But…Emiya…why…?"

"Perhaps she was hiding herself?"

"Of course she was." Shinji said, narrowing her eyes. "And that's the worrying part. Spells like those are basic, and among the first developed by any magus lineage. And my lineage goes back five hundred years."

Rider looked concerned, while Shinji looked belligerently worried. "Emiya…" he said softly. "Just how are you hiding from me? From Tohsaka, even? A no-name family like yours shouldn't have the skill to do such and yet…how…or where did you or your father get it? And what else could you be hiding from us all?"

"You are certain?" Kuzuki asked.

"I am certain." Caster said with a nod. "Rider is Perseus. I'll admit the Pegasus was a surprise, as he never actually tamed it in life, for all that he could be considered its…sire, for spilling the blood of the gorgon from which the Pegasus was born, but the scythe he attempted to fight Berserker with…it leaves no room for doubt."

"If you are certain then I will take your word for it." Kuzuki said. "More importantly, what countermeasures would you take against him?"

"The greatest weakness of any Servant has always been their Master." Caster replied. "Take that away, and even the strongest Servant will find their capabilities reduced by half, if only by the need to conserve prana with which to remain in the World, much less to fight with."

"You would know that quite well, wouldn't you?" Kuzuki remarked.

For a moment, Caster was at a loss. And then realizing this was her Master's attempt at humor, smiled and shrugged. "I suppose I do." She admitted, and Kuzuki nodded.

"In short," he said. "We target Rider's Master."

"Yes." Caster said, holding out a sphere of magic which began to show Shinji, Zouken, and Rider speaking together in one room. "I saw this earlier…interesting conversation, wasn't it?"

Kuzuku stayed silent until the conversation was finished. "I see." He said. "They are glass cannons."

"I beg your pardon?"

"It is a figure of speech." Kuzuki explained. "They are capable of striking hard, but are very fragile and vulnerable. So much so, in fact, that it takes only a single blow to shatter them."

"Hmm…interesting…but not so fragile I would think. Please observe."

Kuzuki again silently watched another recording in Caster's sphere of magic, this time of the battle between Berserker and Rider during the previous night. "Indeed," he admitted. "But, by his admission Matou is more vulnerable than most to attrition."

"As you say, Master." Caster concurred. "We could use that against him, though if I may say so there is another way to defeat him and Rider at the same time, if with a greater degree of risk."

"Oh?"

"An ambush," Caster said. "I will teleport us close to Rider's Master, with just the bare minimum of space required for freedom of movement on our part. You will eliminate Rider's Master, while I hold Rider off himself."

"It has promise…but can you handle Rider on your own?"

"So long as he does not summon that Pegasus of his," Caster said with a smile. "I will have no difficulty with performing my role in the plan."

"How certain are you of this?"

"Rider's scythe was unable to penetrate Berserker's skin." Caster said. "My shield is of comparable strength, and if Rider could not do so against Berserker with Harpe, he cannot do so against me."

"I see." Kuzuki said. He was silent for a few moments before glancing at Caster. "However, we must not discard the possibility that Matou may use a command spell in such a situation. After what Emiya and Saber did to Tohsaka and Archer, prudence may be of value here. As I recall it takes little more than a thought to activate a command spell."

Caster nodded, her expression grim. "In hindsight I should have considered such a potentially-disastrous development." She said before giving a bow. "Please accept my apologies."

Kuzuki waved it off. "No need," he said. "No harm was done, so let us move on."

"Yes, Master."

Kuzuki nodded. "That said," he continued. "The plan does have merit in terms of concept. We must merely reconsider its application."

"Its application, Master?"

"Yes." Kuzuki said. "The problem with the plan as it was originally conceived is that it would provide Matou with a psychological sense of being backed into a corner. In such a case, it is likely he would have no other choice but to use his last resort: his command spells. The right command in such a time could spell a disaster."

"While the possibility exists he may not use the right command," Caster said while nodding slowly. "The risk that he would should not be taken lightly."

"Indeed," Kuzuki agreed. "However, a frontal attack will not have to worry about such. The fact that I am no magus, and I would admit as such to Matou, could be used to our advantage."

"I see." Caster said with a smirk. "The resulting sense of superiority will cloud his judgment, and impair his ability to fight at his fullest."

"Yes," Kuzuki said. "Though it does come with drawbacks of its own. I believe you have studied the Matou magecraft in what time you've had?"

"Yes," Caster said with an expression of disgust. "An utterly repulsive and tasteless branch of the Art…but I have to admit it does have potential. It will take time to prepare countermeasures that you may take with you on the battlefield without need for me to support at the time, but it will be done. Must be done, if you are to engage Matou head-on and as I do so with Rider at the same time."

Kuzuki nodded. "There is no need to rush." He said. "We have ample time, and doing so risks mistakes and reduced performance. A day's rush could result in twice or thrice that amount of setbacks."

"Yes, as you say Master."

Kuzuki nodded, and for a time the two stayed silent. After several moments, Kuzuki glanced at Caster. "Was there something else, Caster?" he asked.

"Yes, though it doesn't seem pressing." Caster said before activating her sphere of magic again. Kuzuki stared into it again, narrowing his eyes as he peered into a dungeon-like pit filled with…worms, of some kind, with shackled chains and even a cage of all things hanging from the ceiling. Caster adjusted the image, and homed in on a large, cocoon-like structure on one wall.

"What is that?" Kuzuki asked.

"I do not know." Caster said. "It appears to be a cocoon, and it does seem to be alive, but…what may be inside…I do not know. It could be of concern…and it could be not. The risk is present but…without knowing more, we should not impair ourselves on what may be or may not be."

"A calculated risk…" Kuzuki said. "But an understandable one."

"Once we deal with Matou and his Servant," Caster said. "I would like the opportunity to look into the matter further."

"Can you handle the Matou patriarch?"

"He is old and powerful," Caster admitted before smirking. "But compared to me he is but an ant against a hurricane."

"Very well, I will allow it."

"Thank you, my Master."

"How did it go?" Saber asked as he walked from further inside the house, having finished bathing to find his Master having stopped practicing and now cooking up an early lunch.

"Needs more work." Ayame answered. "I think I'm going at it too easy, that is I probably won't make it work as a single-action spell, or even as a single-count, at least not at first. A five-count might work though."

"Why not try asking the fairies for help?"

"…I…could do that…" Ayame slowly admitted. "But…I'm afraid I might lose their confidence if I do."

"Oh?"

"They already showed me a spell." Ayame said. "Somehow…I get the feeling that they expect me to figure the rest out on my own. And one lesson my dad taught me about magecraft, in particular over casting spells, is just to feel. So in this case…I'm going with my gut."

Saber nodded his agreement. "That is good advice." He said. "Of course, one cannot and indeed must not base all action on emotion, but at times, the heart can perceive and do things the mind cannot. A wise man, your father."

"He was." Ayame said with a sad smile, and she sighed. "Though…I always did think that…his wisdom…how did he earn it? How much did he lose?"

"True wisdom is never given, only earned." Saber sadly murmured. "But, I don't think you should let it weigh on you too much. I'm sure your father wouldn't want it too."

Ayame smiled wryly. "He didn't want me to learn magic either." He said. "But…I couldn't not learn magic. It might as well be signing my own death warrant. Too much potential, you see. I'd…draw attention just being me, from the supernatural. And if I didn't have power of my own, then…"

Saber nodded sadly. "I see your point." He said before smiling. "But, I think that while it may have cost your father dearly to earn what wisdom he had, he spent it well. After all, he raised a fine young woman."

"Do you really think so?"

"Yes," Saber said with a smile. "You know what's right and wrong, and to stand up for it. You're intelligent, perceptive, and you know how to fight well."

Ayame laughed. "In this day and age," she said. "That last isn't usually a good thing."

"Perhaps," Saber conceded. "But in your society, it is?"

"Kind of," Ayame conceded in her turn.

"Then there you go." Saber said with a nod. "And of course, you know and understand the responsibilities that come with your powers, and you don't take them for granted. I know plenty of modern magi do. Merlin would be appalled and aghast in equal measure if he saw what magi have become."

"And Morgana?"

Saber snorted. "You already know the answer." He said.

"Right, right, sorry about that."

Saber nodded at Ayame in acknowledgement. "Well, enough about that." he said before smiling cheekily at her. "I think I've flattered you enough for now."

Ayame laughed again. "Yes, you have." She said, waving him off. "It's getting to my head, that I'm starting to wonder if I should crown myself Fairy Queen of Fuyuki. Now, off you go, King of Britain, while I finish preparing our lunch."

Saber laughed as well.

"Yes, yes."

A/N

You go, girl.

Ahem…so, can Ayame really be as powerful as Merlin? It's not impossible, much like Shirou and Saber being together, i.e. Shirou must keep looking for her forever, and Saber/Altria must wait for him forever. I don't know what it'll take for Ayame to become a full-fledged master of fey magic, but long story short…possible, but so improbable as to be impossible.

As it should be: Merlin was a magus on the level of a magician. As Saber said, if she's to become like Merlin, she has a long way to go and plenty of trials and hardships to go through first.

That said, the answer to why she's been chosen is fairly obvious in hindsight.

And damn…everyone seems to be smelling blood in the water when it comes to Matou. Illya and Berserker, and now Kuzuki and Caster.