In the kingdom of the blind the one eyed man is king-Proverb
Courage is not the absence of despair; it is, rather, the capacity to move ahead in spite of despair. -Rollo May
"Atone for my Sins? I have no Sins to atone for, nor have I forced such ameaninglessconcept on anyone." Archer
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Damn, Uncle Gilgamesh was p*ssed. He hadn't seen such rage in a long time. Wonder why. Was it because he was fighting like the last black knight? Plane versus Vimana. Nah, couldn't be that, had to be the grail in him. Kiritsugu was, as far as Uncle Gil was concerned, a thief that had taken the king's treasure.
Kiritusugu took his plane into a tight spin evading a dozen projectiles thrown at him. Yeah, this was not the best plan he ever had, but this was necessary. This was needed. He had to teach his father, had to teach him what he was, so this plan was the only plan Kiritsugu could choose. He hopped from one plane to another evading and blocking the projectiles as he tried to close in on Gilgamesh. He felt his blood turn cold as he barely evaded a fearsome and familiar red spear. Truly, it was a good thing that Gilgamesh was a collector and not a wielder of these weapons. Gae Bolg would have been the end of him in an instant.
Gilgamesh was roaring something at him, but at these speeds, Kiritsugu couldn't hear him. One might as well spit into the wind for all that yelling did. Probably just calling him a Mongrel or something.
Kiritsugu almost didn't make it as a hundred projectiles assaulted him. He ran to the edge of the F-15 and leaped. Behind him, he saw the plane explode in fire and give him a boost forward. That boost sent him on top of the other F-15 while his Noble Phantasm plane was busy rolling to the side. "too close." Kiritsugu said as he deflected more projectiles.
The Hippalectryon then fired off three missiles of a different sort. These three missiles stored various relics and were sent to three areas. All three went in the direction of the Einzbern Forest. If all went according to plan, this was the last time he could grab things from his Noble Phantasm. The last time to gather what he might need for battle. Finally, his Noble Phantasm shot off one last, slender missile right at it's master. As the missile approached him, it split sending a few jewels and a wrapped object at him. Each were easily caught by Kiritsugu and placed in pockets, save the wrapped object which he placed on his back.
Back on the ground Haru was a blur cutting the gazpacho monster's tentacles as he neared the source. The gazpacho monster, how had it come to this that Kiritsugu had used his cooking for weapons. Never before had he dome something this monstrous. Even worse, he took the most powerful of creations against his family. The Immortal Gazpacho, the Invincible Strawberry Shortcake, the Devastating Eggplant, the Legions of Mushrooms, and the Caesar Salad from hell.
At least he knew how to deal with them all.
"The Shortcake is weak to ice, don't know why, but ice is it's weakness, freeze it then shatter it." He roared at Luvia who took his command to heart. Chiyo and Tou-san were hard pressed with the last Caesar salad, but they were doing well with reinforcements now that the mushrooms and eggplant were gone. That left the Immortal Gazpacho. Haru shuddered, but knew what he had to do. He closed in on the monster and grimaced. He opened his mouth and plunged his head into the monster. Haru never understood the reason why the tomato soup monster was suicidal, but it had never been trying to kill anyone, instead, it had been trying to get them to feed upon it. Scary enough, said monster was rather tasty. Haru had found all this out when Aurora actually ate the first one. According to her, it was the best Gazpacho ever. Tasting this one now, Haru would have disagreed, but then, Aurora always did like to eat her food live. Much to the distaste of everyone else.
The others watched in horror as Haru ate the monster before them. Most shuddered at what they saw but Haru had to admit, the freak wasn't that bad. Wonder what the others tasted like? Ah well, whatever worked.
After it was done, Haru looked up and pointed in awe as he saw the dogfight above close in. While the monsters below had been taken care of, the battle above still raged.
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Kiritsugu smirked as he saw that he was close enough. He ran along the dying F-15 and leaped. His momentum took him forward enough to land upon the Vimana and tackled the King of Heroes off the vessel.
They fell
They fell hundreds of feet together as they fought in midair. Each time they clashed blades sending each other back, and each time, Kiritsugu slashed behind him creating a wave of wind throwing him back towards Gilgamesh. He needed to push the King of Heroes back. Push him into the target zone. It was close, but he Did it at the cost of a few slashes to the shoulder.
"Damn mongrel!" Gilgamesh roared behind him the Gate of Babylon opened revealing everything in his arsenal. Behind him, he could hear his father gasp as he instantly memorized every weapon before him.
"I am Emiya Kiritsugu Pendragon. Son of Emiya Shirou and Arturia Pendragon. My lineage stretches back millennia demigod. At least my lineage has been pure human since time immortal." Rider declared as he pulled forth Honor in it's wrapped sheath. "Come demigod, I will show you why humanity has always been greater than that of gods."
"Die, die die die, turn to ash." Gilgamesh roared as the weapons surged forward.
Kiritsugu closed his one eye. Above him, he felt his Noble Phantasm Hippalectryon overflow with Prana. It's hull became cracked and fragile, but it was now far stronger than ever, if only for a moment. "Lock on to my position and charge, full power." Above him, his plane turned and aimed for the ground. He opened his eye as he saw the blades come for him. He suddenly shoved Honor and it's wrapped sheath before him and grabbed a flap of cloth that bound the sheath.
"Behold my Inheritance!" he roared pulling on the cloth. The sheath was uncovered in an instant, a gold and blue sheath that Chiyo and Haru knew all too well.
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Flashback to when Kiritsugu and Arika were twenty in the Black Knight Universe
"Come in." Shirou said seriously to his two children. Silently, they entered and saw that their mother sat beside her husband. Before them was a table covered in cloth that radiated power. The sheer power and authority Saber and the table radiated were staggering. Never before had they felt their mother act so regally or felt so much power concentrated in one area. Something big was in the air, their very instincts had been on the fritz all day, and now their instincts were telling them that something big would happen this day.
"Excuse me," Kiritsugu and Arika said as they entered the room and sat down. For a moment, they sat there in silence as they waited for what was about to occur. They saw their father inhale and collect himself before he spoke.
"As you know, I am now able to Project items that do not become rejected by Gaia." Shirou said. Kiritsugu and Arika both nodded. With Ichigo as the voice of Gaia, Tou-san had negotiated. For the price of never using his Marble Phantasm again, Tou-san could, if he chose, trace weapons that remained permanently. He could not do it often, he was not allowed to do it often either, but it was possible. Chiyo owned a pendent of Avalon that had the same effect. "Your mother and I have talked, and she has asked that you each receive something from her." He removed the cloth and revealed five Noble Phantasms.
Caliburn, the Sword of the Victorious, the Sword of Choosing. The legendary blade that Arturia had pulled from the stone and proved that she was the rightful king of England. The sword of a king.
Excalibur, the Sword of Promised Victory. The mighty warblade of Arturia given to her after Caliburn was lost. One of the most powerful Noble Phantasms in the world.
Avalon, the Ever Distant Utopia. The Hallowed Scabbard of Excalibur, and the embodiment of Arturia's dream of a utopia. Able to grant limited immortality and healing as well as provide an impervious barrier to harm.
Carnwennan, the White Hilt. A dagger that shrouds it's bearer in shadow. A lesser known Noble Phantasm, but a powerful one in the right hands. Able to grant Presence concealment to the one who bore it.
Rhongomiant, the Standard Bearer. The spear that once bore the standards of Arturia, Uther, Ambrose the brother of Uther, and Custennin the father of Uther. It bears the power to inspire an army to the bearer's cause and when carried in battle causes the army to fight harder.
Each of them were powerful Noble Phantasms. With any one of these, they could become legends in their own right.
"Choose one," Saber prompted, "But only one. Though you are my children and my pride, I fear that more than one would cause great strife for yourself and your family. Take one and hide it until you believe you need it. Choose, but be careful for what you choose."
Kiritsugu looked over at his sister who looked on at the weapons with glee, but for him... "I don't need one." Kiritsugu said, "I am sorry, but I have no need for any of these. Already Tou-san has given me armor and blades. You gave me the ability to fight and inspire others. What more gifts do I need?"
Beside him, his twin looked at him like he betrayed her. Then it occurred to him, he just had, in a way. If he did not choose one, then his twin could not in good conscious take one either. By doing this, he had stolen her ability to make a choice. "Is that what you wish?" Saber asked gently. He could feel a sense of pride in her, but also worry, and a bit of hurt. She was giving him a gift, and he was refusing. Could he really deny them this? He mentally sighed, Honor and Chivalry demanded that he accept the gift and not deny his sister choice.
"No, I thank you, I will choose, but I will choose second." Kiritsugu said pushing his twin forward a moment. He watched her as she looked on hungrily at the Noble Phantasms. He knew her wish, to surpass her mother, to be better than mother. Not a malicious thought, just the wish of a child to become better than the parent to make them proud. But for him, he had no need or wish to do that. He was a Knight, not a king. Caliburn and Excalibur were the swords of Kings. Those who bore them were bound to rule, a thought that made him shiver inside. He gave upon his mental throne of thorns and retreated. No, he would not choose them.
Avalon was also pointless as he did not desire immortality. If he should die, then that is what would happen, but it was not for him. The Sheath was too much, too powerful. Carnwennan was also useless as he was not one for skulking I the dark. As a knight, they would see him coming, and he would inspire fear in them. But the most pointless one of all was Rhongomiant, he was a black knight. He had no standard to bear. He would charge into battle declaring he worked for no man but himself. The banner would only claim him to be more than just a man, and would inspire others to die for a cause that he did not wish others to follow. He would make a better world, but it would be his own way.
He watched as his twin Arika reached forward to almost touch Caliburn. Before his eyes, he saw the blade leap into her hand. So, she had chosen Caliburn, and it had chosen her. So be it. He watched her gaze upon the blade she adored most with content. She was happy, his better half was happy. So be it. Now, it was his turn...
No matter what he picked, he would do one thing with it, store it away in some trunk until he died, then it would be left for chance and fate to decide. He reached forth without looking and rested his hand on the one he chose. He looked down and saw that he had chosen Avalon. So, he chose the ever elusive Utopia. So be it, for him, utpoia was easy to make. His home was one right now. Keeping it a Utpoia, that's the hard part. Constant vigilance, that is the only way to maintain a Utopia.
"Treasure these gifts for all time." Kaa-san told them. Treasure them they did. Arika was the one that ended up using it, becoming something very different than her brother. But him, he had taken it and carefully stored it away. In time, he came into possession of Chiyo's pendant and wore it as a reminder of her sacrifice as the Golden Seal. A sort of tragic end for his sister, but then, she did die at sixty nine, so how tragic is it really when the old die to save the world? He had done the same for his daughter and had no regrets. He knew Chiyo had no regrets as well.
Probably made his young alternate's day when he found the Sheath hidden in a compartment in the plane after his older alternate died saving Aurora.
End Flashback
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"Avalon!" Kiritsugu yelled activating his inheritance. The sheath glowed golden and blue before it burst into light and wrapped around him. Kiritsugu charged forward heedless of the weapons that tried and failed to harm him. With Honor in hand, he smashed his sword against one held by Gilgamesh. Again and again they clashed creating a mighty noise that drowned out all else around them.
Perfect.
Kiritsugu groaned in pain as he felt the darkness wiggle inside him. Though Avalon protected him from outside problems, it wasn't helping him with the worms. It was trying to reject them while they were deeply tunneled in his body. Not a pleasant feeling, and one he could not afford to have happen long. He needed the worms still, they had a task to perform. Every instant they were in his body was spent purifying the Grail. If he kept this up, he could very well eject his precious disgusting worms.
Again and again Kiri and Gilgamesh clashed each trying to kill each other, each failing to gain any advantage. Yet, Kiri smiled the whole way. 'Ten Seconds to impact.'
He smashed his blade once more against his Uncle's while raising his shield to smash it into Gilgamesh's face.
'Nine'
"Mongrel!" Gilgamesh roared as he unleashed a dozen swords upon Kiritsugu. Each and every one of them was blocked, evaded, or bounced off of him as he closed in for another attack.
'Eight'
Kiritsugu's eyes opened wide as Gilgamesh backhanded him with great power. He had forgotten the his Uncle was just as good with his hands as he was with weapons. He was the original king, and as king was expected to be the best at everything.
'Seven'
"Enough" Gilgamesh declared. "This has gone on long enough. He raised his hand in the air and opened his mouth
'Six'
"Enkidu," Gilgamesh said stretching out his hand. From everywhere at once, chains appeared from mid air and seemed to be bound to something that was invisible to the human eye.
'Five'
The chains bound Kiritsugu in the air. Holding him still, unable to move, unable to block, unable to defend himself. He saw Gilgamesh had noticed the noise of the approaching death.
'Four'
"Not, bad." Kiritsugu said as he took his left hand and aimed it at Gilgamesh. He could see the king was preparing to destroy his Noble Phantasm with countless blades
'Three'
"Burst." Kiritsugu said as a jewel flew in front of Gilgamesh. It emitted a burst of light blinding all who gazed upon it throwing off the aim, as well as distracted Gilgamesh from the true intent.
'Two,'
His hand burst sending the fingers flying to wrap around Gilgamesh and draw him back with thread both fine and strong. A secret he had implanted in his false hand to capture targets and bring them to him.
'Goodbye Uncle' Kiritsugu thought as he closed his eye not willing to see his former nanny and mentor die. He didn't so much hear the explosion as feel it in his ears. He could feel the impact of his plane on him, but it didn't hurt him. Yet, he knew the explosion was huge. Were it not that no-one was in the park save Tou-san and the others, there would have been countless innocents killed. Still, he knew Lorelei, Luvia, Rin, Bazett, Chiyo, and Haru would find a way to survive. They had not been intent on Kiritsugu, they had watched, and thus saw what was coming.
But Gilgamesh...
Kiritsugu opened his eye and saw that his Uncle was missing his head and half his back. Not even the mighty Golden Armor could deflect all that damage. Kiritsugu opened his mouth and inhaled as the King of Heroes turned to ash. Kiritsugu then took on of his last two Teleportation jewel and broke it, sending him to a predetermined location. Illya would not feel him as he did not cross the Bounded Field. None would know where he went. None would look, for a while, for a Servant in a ruined Throne room.
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The road to hell is ordered by the righteous, planned by the well-meaning, and paved with their good intentions. -16 century proverb
Kiritsugu looked up from his throne and stared as the sun rose before him.
He was laughing. He was crying. He was shedding tears of blood while he greeted the morning sun. Gilgamesh was dead, dead by his hands, though not before Tou-san was able to see the full armory of Gate of Babylon. May Tou-san make good use of what he had done and what it had cost his son. His plane, his beautiful plane that he had spent a lifetime working on was gone. His beautiful wings that he had made side by side with his family was destroyed. With both his horse and plane gone, could he call himself Rider anymore? No, now he was something else, something completely different. This night, Rider had fallen...so what was he now?
Avenger? Not yet. Not just yet, but feeding upon Gilgamesh had sped it up. The essence of the Fourth Grail that had spilled upon. The tattoos beneath his armor had spear across his arms and legs, his torso was completely covered in words of hate and condemnation. His armor, however, was beginning to crack again. And where it cracked, something black and evil oozed from his flesh. It was the armor that held the evil at bay, and only when he had removed it had he noticed what was spilling from within. He watched in mild horror as the dark sludge, when it touched the ground, changed the environment. The ruined and dirty floor became smooth and reflective. The chair he had sat upon had sprouted thorns where the darkness had touched it. He gazed upon the throne and shuddered, it was bringing his world into this one. Was this a good thing or a bad thing?
He watched as another drop of pure evil touched the ground. Curious, he removed a bit of armor and let it cool in his hand. He took the sludge and wiped it on the wall hoping to see the mural of his world that he loved so much. He looked upon this one and almost screamed. The faces, the faces of his family were horrific. Dying in horrible ways wailing words of despair and cruelty. Kiritsugu balled up his fist and destroyed the image.
Bad, this was very bad. How long before more would splatter upon the walls? The ceiling? 'Oh God, Tou-san hurry, I don't think I can keep sane much longer.' Kiritsugu thought. 'Find the truth, find the answers and learn of your potential.'
Every Sibling he fed upon reversed the evil, but it came back faster and faster. At this rate, he would have to kill either Haru or Chiyo tonight to remain sane. No, it was getting faster. Too fast, it was happening too fast. Was this as far as he could go? 'Please, no, not yet. I may have won, but I can still make the world better. Just a little longer, just a little longer.' Kiritsugu pleaded.
He felt something crack in the back of his head, and he felt something in him die. The knight that stood by the doorway had fallen, leaving the king upon the throne vulnerable to the darkness.
Time had run out
"I can help." A familiar voice called out.
Kiritsugu's sight went red at the voice growled, "You dare? You dare to tempt me in my darkest hour little sister?" he turned to see a lovely woman in a white dress with red hair in twin tails and red eyes. "Begone Shinra, begone and do not return. I have already seen your work upon this world. They adapt too well to the situation, they accept my words too easily. Begone." Behind him, the air swirled as something dark and monstrous with nine white eyes glared at her. The darkness that he had held back by sheer will was becoming free. The thing sent a hundred tendrils of darkness forward attempting to claim the life of the higher being. Shinra smiled sadly and phased out.
"It was not I that chose this route brother," Shinra voice said sadly in the air emanating form everywhere and yet nowhere. "You did. You chose to make a better world. You could have just accepted it and moved on, but you chose to make it better."
Kiritsugu sneered at her, "Do not tell me of choice doll. You are but an extension of Alaya. A branch, and Idea. You were bound to your route since you were born."
A sad sighed echoed in the wind, "And you have already fallen brother. I apologized, I wanted to help, but it seems that it was too late. Good-bye."
"Begone doll." Kiritsugu said in hate. "Torment me no longer. I will make the world better. So much more can be done."
"Buca." A voice called out from the door. Kiritsugu looked to see his five soldiers, his five undead cooking attempts come through the door.
"Ah, you have returned. Excellent." He said with a voice filled with malice. The chickens all stood very still feeling like mice before a serpent. Behind the black knight covered in red cracks, the tendrils rose in the air, then charged forward. The chickens all screamed for a bit, then were silent...The sound of crunching could be heard emanating from the manor.
As the sun rose in the sky, the manor looked far darker than ever before. It was as if no light could touch that place.
I haVe beEna kNiGhT foR tOolONg
I sHoUld hAve bEeN tHe KiNg alL alOnG
FoR toO lOnG haVE I aLloWeD thEm choIcEs
NoW I sHaLl tAkE aWaY tHe diSsIdeNt vOIcEs
If tHeY wIll nOt coMe tO Me, tHeN I wiLl cOmE to tHeM
ThEy tHiNK I aM tHe SinNer, bUt it IS i ThAt sHouLd coNdeMn
ThEy wHo wOuLd sTeaL mY rIgHt
wiLl dIe tHiS vERy niGhT
FoR i aM tHe BLACK KNIGHT
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