Waver could not believe what was happening right now. He was dancing with none other than Archer. The woman who he had woken up naked next to on the first morning of the war. That memory, for good and bad, was burned into his mind. It didn't help that said body, even if it was sort of clothed, was pushed up against his own as they kept dancing. He was thankful he had taken those dance classes beforehand or he would have sucked at this. Hopefully she liked it too.

She was even blushing. It was so cute. Waver kept wondering what he should do in this situation. It was rather tricky since he still wasn't used to this sort of thing. Girls weren't exactly his forte. Not that he was terrible with them… okay he was, but still. He could do this. He gulped, "Nice weather we're having?"

Archer looked at him and frowned, "Why are you so nervous? It's not you that has to wear this dress."

"No," Waver quickly replied. "I really like the dress. It suits you."

Archer blushed a bit more. She turned her head to look him in the eye with a small smile, "Oh? Is that so? I'm sure it doesn't have to do with the amount of skin that's showing?" She pressed her chest up against his.

Waver gaped as her breasts jiggled just slightly as she did that. He shook slightly, "I… I… I…"

Archer giggled and pecked his cheek, "I could get used to seeing that expression."

Waver closed his eyes and tried to steady himself, "So Archer, do you want to tell me about yourself?"

Archer frowned and gave him a curious glance, "Why are you asking that question?" A small part of her was afraid that he was just trying to weedle information out of her. If that was true, she would… have to kill him.

"Well," Waver scratched the back of his neck. "We honestly don't know a lot about each other and…"

"And?" Archer tilted her head to the side which Waver found rather adorable.

"If we… want to start dating, I think we should fix that." Waver mumbled.

Archer's eyes widened, "Eh? Eh? EHHHHHHHHHHH?!" She gasped, blushing up a storm. She pushed herself away and waved her hands in front of her. "D-Dating? B-But you can't… we can't…." She pulled her hat down in front of her face. "Idiot!"

Waver found the whole display so utterly adorable. He couldn't help but move forward and lift up the hat to look into the shy and blushing face of Archer, "Can't hurt to try, right?"

Archer pursed her lips together, "You are being unreasonable. Asking a girl out like that."

Waver grinned, "Is that a yes or a no?"

Archer glared at him, "You better make it enjoyable or I will skewer you with my sword." She yelped when Waver pulled her into his embrace and blushed like wildfire.

"I'll take that chance," Waver said and kissed her nose.

Archer's mouth fell open, "I… You… ehhh?" She closed her eyes, "You're lucky you're cute."

"And I'm lucky you're so beautiful," Waver said. "We're even."

"I-Idiot," Archer buried her face into his shirt. She felt a small part of her regretting the fact she would be breaking his bond with Rider. Said Rider, she noted, who was off to the side… giving Waver a cheeky grin and a thumb's up? Oh she'd be happy to kill him now! He was laughing at her! She'd make him pay!

"I knew you had it in you," Rider laughed, causing Archer's blood to boil.

The only reason she didn't do anything was Waver… who was getting distracted by her chest. Archer huffed and let out a small smile. She could at least have him right where she wanted him. That's when she felt someone tap her shoulder. She looked back to see Assassin's human guise smiling at her.

"I hate to interrupt," the servant of the shadows spoke. She gestured to the duo approaching behind her. "But I have an extra special someone to show off."

Beast was busy pulling along Saber… who was wearing a very beautiful maid outfit. "It took some time, but we finally found the right outfit for Saber."

"I will kill all of you," Saber was shaking in rage.

"It's adorable," Rider came over. "It really suits her."

"It will not be a quick death."

"I know," Beast squealed, not noticing Joseph wisely taking the smart option and scooting away from the ever raging Saber. "She's just so adorable. I could just keep her and dress her up all day."

"It will be slow and oh so painful," Saber muttered.

"She's the belle of the ball, that's for sure." Assassin cackled.

"You will rue the day you met me," Saber muttered darkly.

"And she's even swearing eternal vengeance," Archer smirked. "How utterly charming of a king of your stature."

"Young lady," Saber quickly moved forward and caught Archer's ear. "That's it. I have had it. You are going to be disciplined."

"Owowowow," Archer moaned in pain. "Waver! Save me!"

"Now listen, Saber." Waver moved forward only for Saber to grab his ear too. "Owowowowow."

"Unhand my master, Saber." Rider moved forward only for Saber to kick him in the lower leg. "Owowowow." He started hopping around, cradling his wound.

"Now stop this at once," Beast moved forward, only for Saber to stomp on her foot. "Owowowowow."

Assassin just stared at it all, "Uhhhh, pretty please will you stop?" Saber stared at her for a moment. Then she stomped on Assassin's foot. "Owowowowowow. You are so mean."

"I didn't get to become king by being nice," Saber glared at her.

Keyneth huffed as Irisviel won the fourth game of Go Fish in a row. The woman was giggle and clapping, so he didn't say anything. He couldn't try and wipe that smile off that face. That would be an utter crime. If only he could see Sola-Ui smile like that. Hopefully he could when she got back from the party. "So shall we go again?" He dreaded the answer.

Irisviel happily nodded, "Yes, let's."

Keyneth sighed as Lancer just laughed at his misfortune. He glared at his servant. He'd get back at him one day. Somehow. He didn't know how and when, but he would. No one bonks Lord Keyneth on the head and gets away with it.

"I think it's been a rather fun bout of gaming myself," Lancer put down his cards. He had joined the game himself a couple of rounds ago. His losses hadn't affected him at all, which hadn't brought Keyneth any joy. It seemed nothing fazed Lancer. Well, Caster did but that was another matter.

Before the group could say anything more, Irisviel tensed up. She looked at the other two in horror, "Someone's entered the boundary field."

Keyneth shot up onto his feet and felt his mystic code rise to the challenge. Lancer summoned his staff. The pair kept themselves close to Irisviel, doing their best to make sure that nothing could touch her.

"Lancer," Avenger's voice shouted from outside. "I've come to settle our battle."

Lancer frowned. He walked over to the door leading to the outside and opened it. Out in the yard, Avenger stood wearing his normal gear, helmet and all. Lancer sighed, "Now of all times?"

Avenger nodded, "I thought it would be the best."

"Only because Saber and Beast aren't here to tear you to shreds," Lancer advanced wearily, stopping a good distance from Avenger.

Avenger chuckled, "True, but I really did want to finish our battle."

"You've expended a lot of energy recently," Lancer commented. "Do you really think it is wise to attack me now?"

"I have enough energy to kill you, Lancer." Avenger held up his sword. "Plenty enough."

"I defeated you last time, Avenger." Lancer said. "And Saber almost had you as well."

"Saber almost fell to my blade," Avenger shot back.

"Due to underhanded tactics and that gun of yours," Lancer snorted. "Trust me, she will not fall for your tricks a second time."

"You make it seem like she's invisible," Avenger chuckled. "And yet, why bring her up? You mentioned already that you defeated me once. Why not defeat me again?"

"You are no fool," Lancer answered as he gripped his staff. He eyed his opponent's hands, but kept the overall position in his sights. His back was to the house as to make sure Avenger or his goons couldn't try something on him or the occupants. "You wouldn't come to face me unless you knew you could win for sure."

Avenger shrugged, "Guilty as charged. It's hard to hide anything from one as insightful as you, Lancer. I guess that's one of the reasons you have to die tonight."

"I'd like to avoid that, thank you very much." Lancer said. "Perhaps we can come to a mutual agreement and stay our hands. We don't need to spill each other's blood tonight."

"How hopelessly naive," Avenger sighed. "You still believe we can finish this war without bloodshed. I guess the deaths of Ruler and Caster have taught you nothing. A great pity. I thought there was at least a sliver of intelligence in those eyes of yours. I guess I was mistaken."

Lancer sighed and shook his head sadly, "You make me sad, Avenger. There is so much hate within you. So much resentment. A need for control. A life with such is a hollow life. Surely you must know that."

"Hollow?" Avenger quirked his head to the side. "Possibly. I had to give up a lot to save the world. My family. My love. My very existence. I am not the man I once was. I am not an emperor. I am a monster," he took a step forward. "And this monster will be the death of you."

"I ask you once more to stop this," Lancer readied himself to move. He was confident he could get to Avenger soon enough. He was far more agile than Avenger after all. "This path you follow will be your undoing."

"I have died once," Avenger said. "It didn't scare me then. It doesn't now!" With that, he charged forward.

Lancer found Avenger's form predictable. He parried the strike and slammed the other end of his staff into Avenger's side. The servant Avenger was thrown to the ground but got up in an instant. He charged, slashing and stabbing at Lancer's center. Lancer found him predictable but not bad. His speed and prowess did speak of a soldier. He was improving as his slashes were getting closer.

Lancer used his strength to push Avenger back. Then he twirled his staff in front of her to deflect the next blow and force Avenger to take a few steps back. Lancer could tell that Avenger was not a person of the blade. It felt foreign in his hands. Lancer stopped his spinning and lunged at his opponent.

Avenger blocked the strike with the flat of his blade but was pushed back. Lancer moved his staff to smack into his side. Avenger blocked it and made a sweeping motion to cut into the servant of the lance. The pandaren jumped back and with great speed rushed forward to use his staff once more.

Lancer's first few blows were slashed aside by his opponent's long sword. He was getting better with it and was doing his best to counter the pandaren's blows. Yet he didn't have Lancer's age and wisdom as one blow connected with Avenger's shoulder. It made him stumble to the side where the staff smacked into his stomach. Avenger gasped as he was thrown off his feet and landed a few meters away.

Lancer frowned as he advanced. While Avenger had plenty of skills, Lancer knew that he was his better in close combat. Saber ever exceed that, so a part of him wondered how he had survived that encounter.

Just as Lancer got within striking range, Avenger turned over and fired his pistol. The servant of the lance gritted his teeth as he dodged. Two bullets skimmed over his upper arms while he used his staff to barrel to the right and let the rest miss. That infernal gun. While not powerful, Avenger could use it when his foe was getting the upper hand to push them away. Lancer himself never cared about guns. They were loud, unhonorable, and smelly. His staff was twirling back and forth to block the rest of the bullets.

This was one way he could stay in the fight. Even then, he could still be countered. Yes, that was where his second trick was used against Saber to keep her on her toes. That got Lancer's attention.

Where was Avenger's double?

Keyneth chuckled as he watched the battle, "Is this really the same servant that Saber had trouble with? Ha! This Avenger is a weak servant. It's quite fun to watch Lancer beat him around. No doubt he will do the same to Saber when all is said and done."

Irisviel gave him a harsh glare. Said glare was about as effective as a puppy's, "You and I both know Avenger is a tricky servant. He hasn't used all of his abilities yet."

"Are you saying he's holding back on Lancer?" Keyneth snorted and crossed his arms. "I find that rich. No doubt you are trying to save face. Lancer will win this battle and show that no good false magus who the real leader of this alliance is."

"You should put more faith in Saber," Irisviel crossed her arms. "We both know she's amongst the strongest servants in this war."

"Maybe," Keyneth brushed off her comment. "But she is under the rule of a misfit. I on the other hand, am a proper magi. Lancer flourishes under my control as we see before us. Yes, Avenger will die tonight. Just watch and see."

The two person conversation was interrupted when someone opened the door. The pair looked back to see Sola-Ui walk into the room. She was smiling but her movements were stiff. Irisviel couldn't put a finger on it, but Sola-Ui looked a bit off. Her hands were behind her back.

Keyneth didn't seem to think the same. He smiled and moved forward to pull Sola-Ui into a hug, "Oh you don't know how happy I am to see you right now. Lancer is about to kill Avenger. One less challenger in this Grail War. Now this calls for a celebration, doesn't it my love?"

"Yes my love, it does." Before anyone could react, Sola-Ui pulled a gun from around her back and put it under Keyneth's chin. She fired, blowing a good portion of Keyneth's skull up into the air. He held still for a moment before slumping to the ground.

"Keyneth!" Irisviel shouted, kneeling at his side. She knew she couldn't do anything at the moment. He was far too gone, but the sight was horrible more so because of that.

Sola-Ui stood there. Her eyes turned to Irisviel. She was crying. She looked horrible but there was that oddity in her eyes. Irisviel swore it looked like- Sola-Ui raised her gun and fired it into her own head, blowing her brains out.

Irisviel's eyes widened. This couldn't be happening. It just couldn't. Why would she do this? It made no sense. She was starting to hyperventilate. She hugged herself. She wanted Kiritsugu here. She needed him. She touched her face and pulled the hand back. It was covered in blood. Sola-Ui's blood.

Her friend's blood.

She let out a blood curdling scream. She had spent so much time with the woman. The only real human woman she had gotten to know and now she was gone. Dead. Right before her eyes. She couldn't do anything about it. None of it. It didn't make any sense. She wanted to crawl into a hole and never come out.

"Well, well." Irisviel turned to see Avenger strolling up to her. He crouched down to look at her through his visor. "What do we have here?"

Avenger lunged with his sword, trying to stab right into Lancer's gut. The servant of the lance saw the move and lowered his staff with both his hands. He raised it up quickly to knock the blade up and slammed the middle into the avenging servant's chest. Avenger let out a grunt of pain before trying to steady himself.

Lancer wouldn't give him that chance. He rushed forward. Avenger tried to fire at him, but Lancer used his staff to block the first few bullets. Then he used his staff to launch him over Avenger. The moment he landed, the end of his staff slammed into Avenger, knocking him to the ground.

The avenging servant turned around to fire but Lancer knocked the gun out of his hands. He then slammed his foot down on Avenger's chest hard and aimed his staff at his head. Avenger stopped struggling to stare up at him.

"You lost, Avenger." Lancer said calmly. "Promise to give up on this bloody path and I will let you go."

"Answer me this, Lancer." Avenger cast away his helmet to stare at him with his own eyes. "Why didn't you use your noble phantasm?"

"Because I wished to fight you in a fair fight," Lancer told him. "An honorable fight."

"Honor?" Avenger sneered. "That is the word of fools, Lancer. Only the strong have use of honor. A playground term they use to make themselves feel good when the killing is done. Yet at the end of the day, it is nothing but hollow words and meaningless gestures. I spit on your honor, Lancer."

Lancer frowned, "You are a sad, strange creature, Avenger. You have my pity."

"I don't need your pity," Avenger scowled.

"You don't," Lancer nodded. "Nor do you have the strength to defeat me as your own noble phantasm could have killed me easily enough, even if it would expose a bit of this war."

Avenger smirked, "My Knightmare could have easily killed you, yes. Yet you don't seem to be worrying about my second noble phantasm."

Lancer's eyes widened when he heard the first shot. He clutched his chest as though he felt a great pain. A measure of energy leaving him. He held fast and raised his staff to kill Avenger before the second shot aired. A pained gasp escaped the servant of the lance as he stumbled back, off of Avenger. He looked at Avenger in horror for a moment. "What have you done?"

Lancer gave a pained gasp as two bullets pierced his back. He coughed, spewing a bit of blood. One of them no doubt had pierced his lungs. He looked back to see the other Avenger holding out a past out Irisviel. "No."

"Yes," in an instant, the first Avenger plunged his blade into Lancer's chest.

Lancer let out a gurgled scream as he fell to his knees. Avenger pulled the blade away, allowing blood to pool onto the ground, "I have lost… it seems."

"Yes you have," Avenger nodded. "You fought well and could have destroyed me if not for a few improvements from the Grail. However, I have come out on top because I was cunning. Not because I held honor."

"Even if you kill me," Lancer looked up at him defiantly. "The others will stop you."

Avenger threw back his head and laughed, "The others? Oh they are but simpletons. I have plans for the others that I can assure you. I may lack brawn but I make up for it in brains." He tapped his skull.

"I feel such sorrow for you," Lancer felt himself passing away. "You will die alone."

"I will die happy," Avenger raised his pistol. "Any last words?"

"...May the light of heroes destroy you, monster." Lancer said.

"How naive," Avenger fired his gun thrice into Lancer's skull. He stood there, watching the servant of the lance's body disappear. "There are no such things as heroes. There are only tyrants and children trying to play the fool."

Avenger turned to leave. His work here was done.

And thus, the Lancer of the fourth Holy Grail War perished.

And thus the third servant of the war perishes. I was sad to have to write Lancer/Chen dying, but I felt this was the best place to do it. I hope you enjoyed it. Also, bit of a note.

Avenger's increased strength and agility come from Suzaku. Given that Suzaku played a part in Lelouch's 'death' as he wore Zero's suit, he sort of became a part of the legend, so this is why Avenger can put up a fight whereas Lelouch by himself would... just suck at it. XD His regen comes from CC's confirmation of his power-up and how he sort of 'possibly' survived in canon. Just thought I'd clear that up a bit.

Anyways, I really hope you all enjoyed this chapter and please leave a comment. I hope to see what you all thought of this story thus far and if you enjoyed the battle/death and your thoughts on it. It could greatly help me improve. Until next time, take care.