I do not own Fate/Stay Night nor any other Servants depicted here.
Truth
Everyone was seated and comfortable as best as they could at the dining table. Noel took a deep breath and exhaled, worried and nervous about what she would have to reveal. Honestly, she did expect them to find out something of the sort, but this quickly? Wearily, she took her seat at the table and said, "Alright. What do you want to know?"
"Did you know that the fake..." Rin started to ask when a knock on the door interrupted her.
Curious, the officer got up and answered the door. She should have expected the next visitor after they showed up. "Bazett... come on in too. At least we can address everything at once," she stated tiredly as she let the Enforcer in. The Irish woman took up watch near the window, but no doubt keeping an ear tuned to the coming discussion.
"Now... what did you want to ask, Rin?" asked Noel, once again seated at the head of the table.
"Do you know Kotomine Kirei?" the Tohsaka head asked, sparing no time for banter, "Saber says you might know him. He showed up last night when we were confronting Caster. Saber says the powers he was using was similar to an Assassin that you know. An Assassin from the Fourth War."
She was worried about this. Why in the world did Kirei show his hand, though? What did he gain from this? And then, a stray thought struck her. An even more troubling thought.
"That man... you know he was your father's student, right?" she asked in return, "That he took part in the War to help your father win? The Assassin he summoned. That Servant was a master at shadow manipulation. The fact that all the fights were to take place at night meant that he had an advantage in every fight he took part in."
"So you do know him... do you know how he had those powers too?" Rin pressed on, "How did he get a Servant's powers? That shouldn't be possible."
"That... I don't know. He never displayed anything of the sort before," Noel replied hesitantly, "And..."
"I went to confront him after you told us about the curse," admitted Luvia suddenly, much to her shock, "It was not a pleasant experience."
"W-what? But I told all of you to..." sputtered the former Servant.
"Why didn't you tell us you knew him?" interrupted the Tohsaka head, "We could have planned better if we knew what he was really capable of."
"But I didn't know it was him!" she exclaimed, leaning forward with her hands on the table, "I only knew when I went to the..." The words died in her throat. She almost let slip that she headed straight to the church after their little meeting.
"You went to the church that night, didn't you," accused Luvia immediately, "There is something you aren't telling us, Noel. What is it?"
"That... I can't... I-I can't tell you," the police officer muttered in reply, already having a creeping fear that somehow, she may be forced to tell them. To tell Rin.
"Noel. You have to tell them. What you told me that night... you have to tell her," stated Saber, staring straight at her.
"What? Saber? You-" she sputtered out, unable to believe it. Even Saber seemed to be forcing it out of her.
"Noel, what aren't you telling us? Telling me? What's going on?" asked Rin as she placed her hands on the table.
"No... Rin, please. Don't make me do this..." said Noel. Her hands were clenched and trembling. Not out of rage, but of fear and worry.
"Noel, we may not have much time. Kotomine Kirei and Matou Shinji have just become a threat ever since last night," the former told her, "Please, anything you can tell us will help us greatly."
"But... but..."
"Damn it, Rin," the blond magus muttered. She then stood up and said sternly, "Noel Mackenzie, you will tell us right now what you are hiding or I..."
"No! I cannot! Why should I tell anyone this!?" the officer retorted back, "My greatest trouble! My greatest shame!"
"Then... we have to assume you are with them," Luvia declared with a harsh glare, making her flinch, "That you are conspiring with them to-"
"I am not with that traitor!" she yelled with a sudden harshness and anger that she slammed the table as she jumped to her feet. Her chair tipped over and fell with a loud crash.
"A... traitor...?" repeated Rin in a shocked tone, "What..."
"Kotomine Kirei betrayed your father, Rin," Saber affirmed as Noel slumped down, sitting down on the chair legs, holding her head in her hands.
"He... did... wh-... my father..." mumbled Rin as she slowly sat down as well as she stared at Noel in shock. Sakura moved over and put a comforting hand on her shoulder.
"Noel, tell us what happened. Not even I know the full story," continued Saber.
"...Alright... alright... I had to tell you... and Rin... eventually," confessed the former Servant reluctantly as she righted her chair. And now that she was more or less seated right and a whole lot calmer, she told her story.
Your father and Kirei were meeting at the house. We had just met with Illya's mother Irisviel, the Einzbern representative at the time, and fought off Berserker and his master Kariya. We had just finalized a temporary alliance with the Einzbern with one of the conditions being Kirei bowing out of the War. He was pretty much being congratulated for his efforts. Then, your mother suddenly showed up.
"What are your plans now?" asked Kirei. While the boy was quite excited about gaining more power, he still had a human body and still susceptible to low energy. They were back in the house that used to house the family of four. He went out to scout around while the boy recuperated. It was probably not needed but one can never be too careful.
"I feel... undecided," mused the Matou boy as he sat on the couch, staring at the television. It was busy detailing the latest bit of destruction that befell the city. The former Assassin scoffed at the news but somehow felt that he should have kept appearances of being the mediator and fixed that stretch of road. The thought that the closure of the road might close the temple for a while also sprang to mind.
Your father did not expect her to show up. While they spoke, Kirei called out to Assassin... and Assassin suddenly restrained them both. I tried to stop him but was attacked by him instead. Words were exchanged and Kirei revealed that he had spoken to Caster. He even admitted to killing his own father, the mediator of that War, and had Assassin take over his mind and body. Caster seemed to have such an effect on him for him to do this. I recovered and tried attacking them again but was struck down again.
"Is that so, Matou Shinji? What are the options open to you?" asked the fake priest. He was quite curious as well as concerned. Was the boy thinking of running away with the heart of the Grail?
"I have so much power right now. It feels intoxicating!" the boy stated as he turned and grinned madly at him, "One option would be this. I feel like visiting every branch of the Mage's Association and showing them how the Matou family magecraft has evolved beyond that what they can do. Undoubtedly irresistible."
"A dangerous option. Is there a second option?" he asked. Option one was quite foolish. Causing that much chaos on the pretense of showing off will draw way too much attention both within his circle and beyond. While his body had changed, his mind had not, it seems.
"To see this War through," the boy replied with a manic smile, "Collecting all the Servants and bringing the Grail forth... would be the second and only other option. The amount of power I can get... I would be unstoppable."
"The second is more prudent an option," advised Kirei.
Then... then, Kirei told me that if I join him, he would be willing to release your parents. At first, I refused. But then, he reminded me of my promise to you... and so I agreed to it. He was somehow able to transfer the Command Seals without your father's consent, breaking my contract with him. After he made a contract with me, he had Assassin release them. And then... and then... Assassin killed them!
Shinji was deep in thought for that moment, fully ignoring the news. Then, he looked at the priest and said, "The Grail it is then. I shall see to its completion. No doubt, this will change everything."
"Of course. After all, the War must be completed and the Grail brought forth into this world," the priest stated, fully agreeing with the decision.
"Then, that man used a Seal to stop me from avenging them," ended Noel as she clenched her fists on the table. Her whole body trembled as she relived those memories again.
"My apologies, Noel, for having you recount that experience," said Saber regretfully, her eyes closed and head tilted slightly downward.
"Be that as it may, it was a necessary thing to do," stated Luvia, wholely unapologetic.
"Agreed," spoke up Bazett, "However, as informative as this story may be, it doesn't explain how Kirei gained those powers for himself. Unless somehow Assassin is hiding somewhere in secret, playing his part in the shadows."
"That may not be true," replied Saber, addressing the others, "She did mention something of interest. 'and had Assassin take over his mind and body.' Perhaps..."
"...Assassin killed his own Master and took over his place," completed the former Servant, "Yes, that thought did occur to me as well. Well, it's either that or that Kirei is sustaining Assassin with the spare Seals he took from his father."
"Is that so?" mused the blonde magus, "This still doesn't help things. The only one who could confirm your suspicions is currently out to kill us if you don't remember."
"...This doesn't make sense. Why would the fake priest want to kill my father?" Rin was heard muttering as she shook her head, "It doesn't make any sense."
"And I'm surprised you are still aware," the former teased, "I would have thought the revelation had shut your mind down."
"You be quiet," the latter retorted with a glare. That didn't last that long and she said, "I am angry. I want to go out immediately to hunt him down and demand answers... and maybe seek... 'compensation' from him. But, after what Noel told us, I realized just how little I know about the fake priest... and it is dangerous to try and face him unprepared. We have to know more."
"Cold... but correct," agreed the Edelfelt with a proud smile, "As expected of my rival."
"I am not your rival," retaliated the twin tailed magus.
"Sure, keep telling yourself that," the blonde magus hummed.
A loud sigh drew everyone to look at Noel.
"...I don't mean to sound rude, but I really need my sleep," the very tired officer pleaded, her exhaustion finally overpowering her current state, "My next shift starts at six, so if you don't mind...?"
Those seated glanced at each other, wondering who would answer for them. Rin then spoke up, "I suppose we have enough for now. While we can't confirm anything right now, we can at least plan around the fake priest's and the previous Assassin's capabilities."
With a sigh of relief, Noel got up, the others following suit. She let them out as graciously as she could. Save Bazett.
"Does Lord El-Melloi know your story?" the enforcer asked as she stood in the doorway.
"He does... Why do you ask?" the former Servant replied.
"I have worked with Kirei before and he has never shown any other abilities other than things expected of an Executor," the Irishwoman explained, "We have to ask why he was hiding this? Why show all this now? What makes this War special enough to need those abilities?"
"I... I'm sorry. I have no answer," the former apologized.
"I suppose we will have to find out. I hope they can react to it in time," the latter stated before leaving the house too.
"Did you notice how sluggish he was?" asked Assassin after Shirou left the dojo to prepare dinner.
"Indeed. He moved stiffly and this weakened his defense," Saber agreed as she stepped up beside him, "He came close to dropping his sword a few times. Very different from previous sessions."
"Was he affected by yesterday's battle?" he questioned as he returned the bamboo swords to the rack.
"He did not seem to be. He did not mention anything the previous evening," she clarified.
"Hmm... perhaps I should shadow him for a time. Perhaps to find out why he is like this?" he suggested as he looked at her for permission.
"...Very well. It will not do for him to regress in the wake of a battle, after all," she acceded.
The Servant nodded as he shifted to his spirit form and caught up with the boy. Shirou seemed to be favoring his right side more as there was a stiffness to his left side. The boy had also become more prone to clumsiness, breaking a bowl during preparation and a few dishes during cleaning. He then waited for the boy in the hallway leading up to his room while the young man was in the toilet. Then, he went to the storehouse. Surprisingly, whatever ailed the boy did not impede his practice with his magecraft. Then, he heard a knock and the door slid open.
"Huh? Sakura?" muttered Shirou as he glanced up at the doorway. Assassin decided to stay silent for now and wondered why his Master was here.
"Are you alright, Senpai?" she asked with concern.
"Eh? Yes, I am. Ahha, why do you ask?" he hurriedly replied with a nervous laugh.
"The dishes. As long as I've known, you have never been as clumsy as that," she told him as she stepped nearer to his side, "Is there anything wrong?"
"...I guess I can't get anything past you, Sakura," he said with an apologetic smile as he looked down at the metal pipe on the piece of cloth, "Yeah. My left side has been feeling numb since this morning. I never felt like this before." Looking back to her, he continued, "But don't worry. It isn't slowing me down or anything... Actually, I would have expected Saber or Assassin to ask me about it."
"Eh? Why did this happen? Was it because of last night?" she asked with worry as she knelt down next to him.
"Yeah... I think so," he mused as he lifted his left hand up for scrutiny, "Archer's swords... projecting them must have caused it. But, a reaction like this..."
Then, Assassin felt a familiar presence coming to the storehouse and leaning against the doorway.
"Is most of your body still numb?" Archer asked, causing both Masters to look at him in surprise.
"Why are you asking?" asked the boy in return.
"Hmph, that's hardly surprising," the Servant continued as if brushing off Shirou's question like it was nothing.
"What do you want, Archer?" the boy asked again, a bit more sternly than before, "Knowing you, you didn't stop by to say hello."
The Servant shifted his position and walked up to them, stopping a few meters away. "You have no sensation in half your body and your center of gravity is 7 cm off, right?" he questioned, getting a gasp from the young man, "I might be of some assistance."
The two glanced at each other and then back to Archer. "What do I have to do?" the boy asked.
"Take off your shirt and turn your back to me," he instructed. The boy did so, Sakura blushing a little when the shirt was removed. Archer knelt behind him and examined the left side of his back. Shirou grimaced and muffled a groan in response to it. The girl brought both hands up to her mouth, wrought with worry.
"...You're fortunate. I expected some necrosis, but something that was closed has been opened," the Servant told them as he examined further.
"Something that was closed has been opened?" repeated the boy.
"Circuits that you were meant to use from the beginning had grown dormant from neglect," the former explained, "The numbness is only temporary. By suddenly flooding circuits you never used with mana at full power, you sent them into a state of shock. This means that the circuits have returned to their active state."
Archer suddenly pressed the middle of the boy's back and Assassin sensed a sudden surge of power being sent through.
"Senpai," shouted Sakura when Shirou suddenly yelped.
"That should do it," announced the Servant of the Bow as he withdrew his hand, "You'll recover in a few days. When you can move properly again, you should be a better magus than before." He then moved to leave, taking his first few steps away. Sakura inched closer to the boy as he rubbed his left hand.
"Wait," said Shirou loudly, halting the Servant in his tracks.
"What?" he asked without turning around.
"I want to ask you something," the red head said as he got up to face him, "Why are you helping me now? I remember you saying that I'll be going to be sent to an early grave. Why did you say that?"
"You desire to save everyone. You want to save and will do so even at the cost of your life. Those are your ideals," Archer explained, his back still turned, "Your ideals will drag you to your death. I refuse to take part in that."
"Then what about yours? Why do you fight? What's your reason?" he half yelled.
"That's obvious. My reason for fighting is for myself," was the calm reply.
"Just for yourself?" he muttered, his tone turning uncertain.
"That's right," affirmed Archer, "If your desire is to fulfill the ideal of saving anyone, then do as you wish. But only if that desire is truly yours."
Then, he glanced back at them, "If you fight of your own free will, then any resulting crime or punishment is your own making. Accepting them is part of that ideal."
Finally, he fully turned around to address the boy, "But if that desire was borrowed from another, the ideals you uphold are mere fantasies. There must be a reason for fighting, but that reason must never be an ideal. If you fight for an ideal, you can only save ideals. That doesn't entail helping others. A reason to fight it is to desire to save something. At the very least, it is for you. Right, Emiya Shirou?"
He turned to look away, "But salvation by the hands of another is not salvation. Such salvation is like money. When used, it's passed to another's hands. It's true that you can probably achieve your wish to save others, but there's no hope of saving yourself in doing so. You will repeat the cycle until you die, still clinging to ideals that are not your own. That is why your ideals are meaningless."
He turned around again and walked off, shifting to his astral form, "Nothing comes of helping others. In the end, you can neither save yourself nor others. A lie of a life."
"...You're wrong... That isn't true," muttered Shirou, his head bowed down. He clenched his hands tight. To his surprise, another pair of hands grasped his right hand. The boy looked up and saw it was Sakura.
"I believe in you, Senpai," she said softly, her cheeks dusted red, "And... you already promised not to go too far when trying to save Nii-san, so..."
He stared at her, shocked that she would say that, even after hearing Archer's words. Then, he smiled gratefully and said, "Thank you, Sakura."
Assassin smiled a little as he vacated the building and went back to the main house. Time to tell Saber what he had learned. But on the way, a thought struck him. The boy's first question remained unanswered. He had to hand it to Archer for being eloquent enough to distract the boy. Still, why did he help the boy now?
Moonlight bathed the courtyard outside. Even the most boisterous ones had turned in for the night. All save the remaining Servants. Archer and Assassin maintained their guard as per usual. Sharp eyes and ears covered the exterior while observant senses kept vigil within. However, a black blot appeared in the corner of the main room.
"So... this is where you are staying," Kirei thought as he rose out of the darkness, "Fortunate for me to have a sense for her." Looking around, he continued, "Though, it seems I may have been a bit off. Perhaps, nearby."
Suddenly, he heard a soft click and quickly put up a barrier behind him. Then, he lashed out with a tendril and heard the clink of metal.
"You are not welcome here," said Assassin as he readied his sword for another go.
"I would assume so," the priest agreed as he slid over to the other side of the room, "Luckily, it seems I didn't need to go far."
He couldn't read the Servant in front of him; unfortunate that the mask hid most of his expressions. Then again, this mortal body is almost the same. Without a word or warning, he dashed forward and sent out sharp tendrils aiming to impale. Assassin disappeared in a wisp of smoke. He immediately swung round, his Black Keys flashing out from between his fingers. The Servant dodged back and he threw the Keys at him. The blades were expertly deflected but that was what he needed. A little Eddie burst out and hooked the Servant's leg while Kirei slid over and kicked him out of the room with his hammer leg. The Servant crashed through the glass partition and landed in the courtyard. Slowly, he slid over to the broken glass as the small one disappeared.
He made his decision. This Servant will die next. However, there was an unexpected complication.
"Master?"
Commentary:-
So... we meet again, readers. The truth has come out, but... not sure if Noel feels free yet. Rin finds out what happened to her father. The group finds out to some extent about Eddiemine's power. Theories being tossed around, but they were quite close to the truth. Will they be able to find out? And then, we move on to evening times. Shirou in some sort of trouble. Those who are aware seek to find out what happened. Sakura gets a few more points. Archer reveals his contempt for the young man. Finally, Eddiemine invades the house. By sheer luck, Assassin was able to intercept. A scuffle later, the current Servant gets tossed out. And then, the unexpected complication. Care to guess who?
Now... we have the final entry.
"There is no time, you dumb blonde!" the Tohsaka shouted at her. Turning to her Servant, she ordered, "Let's go, Archer. For all we know, we may be too late and he is already dead."
"Damn it, you stupid girl," growled out the Edelfelt, "After them, Rider!"
The two pairs raced down the lane, but only for a short while. Something came over the wall and landed in front of them. A young woman with long red hair in a pale yellow dress with bright yellow trim and its edges adorned with yellow flowers. She stood in front of them holding a sword in her right hand. Yellow gloves covered her hands and a dull gold crown sat on her head.
"You must leave, take flight. Or stay here to fight," she announced with a calm demeanor. She was on guard nonetheless, her eyes slowly going between all four persons.
While the two Masters felt a little perplexed as to her class, Archer felt things get all the more difficult. On one hand, the boy summoned a Saber. On the other, it was a Saber he did not recognize at all. Rider, however...
"What do you think, Luvia?" the Servant asked discreetly, "Should we do our best to take her out, or delay her while you girls run ahead?"
"Delay her," Rin interrupted, a plan already developing behind her brow, "We have to get to Emiya. For certain, her Master is nearby and is most likely with him as we speak. Archer, work with him." A subtle nod was the response.
"Do it," affirmed Luvia with a nod of her own.
"Right," he acknowledged. Glancing at the other Servant's choice of weapon, he asked, "You gonna switch to ranged or all in with me?" There was no response, for he had already taken off.
"All in it is then," the Servant of the Mount muttered, raising a brow for a moment before going after him, easily keeping pace.
Saber, seeing that the two other Servants were charging her down, lifted her glowing left hand and responded, "You have chosen to battle? Now, I test your mettle."
Both parties would have certainly clashed, if...
"Optic Barrel!"
And that's it. Omake Saber, done. Now, all that's left is... to leave a review. And to wish you all Happy New Year!