Fate/Prince of Shadows

Chapter 2: Training

It had been several days since Scathach entered the Emiya family's lives. Shirou was happy to learn that his mother was alive and well, but Taiga wasn't happy at first when she saw Scathach, even going as far as to challenge her to a duel to see who can protect Shirou better…she quickly regretted that decision. Taiga knew her place after that one-sided duel, she didn't even land a single hit on Scathach.

His mother's training was harder than he thought, a lot harder. She trained him in everything she knew in physical combat. she saw great potential in her child, even more than she did when she first saw Cu Chulainn, she didn't have to train him much when it came to archery, he was as skilled as ever when it came to that, Kiritsugu said that Shirou only missed once, and that was only on purpose. Scathach could not express how proud she was of her son when she heard this, if only he was as good with a spear.

He was good, just not at the level that she had hoped. He did show great promise with swordsmanship, however. This got an idea going in the Queen's head, perhaps she could mix up his swordsmanship training with spearman ship. That way he could wield a sword staff variant of Gae Bolg.

But that would be 5 years from now, right now, Scathach would have to train her son everyday until he was at the point where she felt that he was safe to be alone. He was upset that he would have to abandon his friends, one of them was a Matou, much to her dismay.

*CRASH! *

"Again!" Scathach roared. Kiritsugu was worried that she'd break her son, but he didn't want to die sooner by angering someone who is considered a Celtic death goddess.

Another defeat, Shirou hadn't won a single duel yet, they've been training since 5:30 AM, he hadn't taken a break yet. He was determined to impress his mother, to show her that he's not a weakling, that he can be a warrior that can save lives. Scathach saw that her son had the soul of a proud and noble warrior, but she didn't really like how naive he was. She would have to train that out of him.

*CLUNG *

Shirou saw the strike before it happened, he successfully parried his mother's next strike, a spear thrust, with his training shinai. He stopped, confused as to what just happened.

"let me guess," his mother said in a smug tone. "You saw my strike before it happened, didn't you Shirou?" he nodded. "Is that another thing I got from you, Mom?" Shirou was curious just how much power he got from his mother.

"You are correct, though there is more than just that, my son. We'll being your training in Runecraft later today. Right now, you need to take a break, we've been at this since before dawn. I'll cook up something for both you and Kiritsugu." Shirou wanted to continue his training, there was so much more he wanted to learn from his mother. He learned that he was a prince, he was becoming an immortal being, and that he would be a prime target for other Magi if they learned about his origins.

But she was right, if they kept on training until noon nonstop, then he would have passed out due to exhaustion.

At around noon, Scathach was in the Emiya family kitchen when she got a call on her Nokia 8250, 'Caller Unknown' is what it said, she decided to answer it.

"Hello, Anna O'Pike speaking." Scathach used her current alias, waiting for a response.

"There's no need to be subtle, o Queen of Shadows." The voice, it was a soothing, feminine voice. "Who is this?" Scathach was serious, only a handful of beings would know who she truly is. "A fellow immortal, like both you and your son. I only wish to talk." Who is this? Whoever it is, she was clearly an enemy, or so Scathach thought.

"What about him?" "He is the key to my sister's salvation." At that moment Scathach knew who she was talking to, "Oh, in what way is my son the key to your sister's salvation, Morgan la Fey?" there was a long pause after she said that name, Scathach could tell that her caller hated that title.

"…I no longer go by that title. That name got my children killed…please, I just want to talk." Morgan said to Scathach in a pained tone. Scathach knows all too well, the pain of losing family, it doesn't matter if you hated them or not, losing family was, and always will be, painful all beyond description. "I see that your time on this earth has changed you a lot, Dark Queen of the Fae."

"Your son will fight in the next grail war, five years from now, with a saber class servant named Artoria Pendragon." That shut Scathach up immediately, to think that her son would fight in the same conflict she almost lost him to.

"If you want, I can help with his training. There will be a foe that he will face that is beyond anything you've faced before." "Stay out of it! If it's a wraith then I can handle it!" she was beyond angry at this point. "This 'thing' is no mere wraith. It is an angry god. And no, it is not divine by any means. It is the same god that almost killed him and is currently killing his hero." Scathach needed to know more now, Angra Mainyu…she would kill him herself for trying to take her son's life.

"…I won't allow you to train my son, but…I will take your word. Will you send him a catalyst to summon your sister for the war?" "No need, he already has her sheath inside him. all he needs his fresh blood and the incantation." 'Kiritsugu…You didn't…' she thought, she was now angry at him, but that anger quickly subsided, she realized that if he didn't then her boy would have died that day 5 years ago.

"Have a nice day, Morgan Pendragon."

"And you as well, 'Anna O'Pike'" Scathach quickly hung up and got back to cooking, she was also filled with new thoughts. She would have to double down on her son's training, she only had three years to train him to such a level that she would be comfortable with. She wasn't happy with this news in the slightest.

Much to the Emiya's surprise, Scathach had taken in the Japanese lifestyle quickly, she enjoyed the endless relaxation the breeze offered in the open house, but right now wasn't the time for that, she had to prepare for her son's runecraft training after he got home from school, she told Shirou very clearly that she doesn't want him to be near or even talk to Rin Tohsaka or to either of the Matou's. Shirou knew fully well why. He didn't like it, but he did as his mother told.

Scathach was really a stay at home mom, it helped that she was incredibly wealthy. 'As any queen should be.' She told this to her son the day after she re-entered his life. She didn't think much on her son's biological father, he was a businessman who beat up four thugs who were trying to foolishly mug her.

Kiritsugu was a positive father figure for Shirou, much to Scathach's surprise, even more so on how much of a gentleman he made her son. The only thing that she would have a problem with right now is his fledgling ideals that he gets from him. But those ideals did give him purpose in life.

Perhaps…perhaps she could save his child from the Einzberns? The old man doesn't have much time left to live. She got up from the spot she was resting at and went to find Kiristugu. Only to see him colasped onto the floor. She rushed to his side to see if he was okay.

"Kiritsugu, are you alright!" she said with worry and urgency, she can't have her son's savior die just yet. He groaned as he was brought up with her help. Coughing up blood into his hands. He only has about 2 months or less left to live.

"I'm…I'm alight, just worry about training Shirou…please." His voice was hoarse. "Are you kidding me? You're not alright, Kiritsugu. What on earth would I tell Shirou if I found you dead?" he was silent after she said that.

"…What do you want?" he knew she was up to something, "I want to help you save your daughter." He almost collapsed again. He didn't expect her to say that, but he was ready as always. "I'm…I'm afraid that it might be too late to save her, she'd hate me right now if anything else." Scathach knew what he meant by that. "Then…do you want Shirou to save her?"

"…no, not yet…I have something else in mind." 'something else in mind.' What did he mean by that? She wondered. He pulled out a small letter, addressed to Illyasviel von Einzbern. "When my daughter comes here for the next war, make sure either you or Shirou give this to her. It'll explain everything and serves as my apology to her."

What…he's…he's just going to give up? "Kiristsugu…don't tell me that you're giving up on saving your child?" he answered her question with a yes and tears. He didn't want to do this, but he knew his life was fading. He couldn't save his flesh and blood, the only living reminder of his family, and Irisviel's greatest gift to him.

"please…don't make this harder for me than it already is, you think I want to give up on my daughter? I don't…I…I just don't have any other options left." He sounded defeated. Kiritsugu Emiya, the Great Magus Killer…defeated.

When Shirou got home from school, he noticed that Kiritsugu was worse than the last remembered, he was getting more and more worried about his adoptive father. But Scathach told him that they already know, the focused back on his training, but this time Scatach needed to find out what her son's Origin and Elements where.

"Shirou," She started, standing in the middle of the Emiya Dojo. "Today, we'll start your magecraft training, but before we do that, I need to learn what your Origin and element are." Shirou looked confused for a moment, Scathach wasn't surprised, Kiritsugu wasn't much when it came to being a Magus, he was a warrior and assassin first and foremost.

"Now, to start, your origin and elements are both different, but aligned in some way. Origins are the starting point that difines your existence and your actions, where as your element is something that you can manipulate and use, things like metal or air." As Scathach continued her explanation, Shirou had given his mother his full attention.

"Now, hold still, this is going to take but a brief moment." Scathach said to her child, reaching out her right and placing it on his heart. What she found was both fascinating, and even more terrifying. "Shirou…" she said with worry. "You…You're an incarnation, meaning both your origin and element are aligned, both of which are 'Sword.' this means that you are a living weapon." She was trying to hold back tears at this revelation, her son will be hunted down by the association for so many reasons no, but the last one will top them all off.

"And the last part is that you have a realty marble that is almost done developing within your soul." He was confused, "What's a Reality Marble?" he asked. "It is the manifestation of your innerself, or in other worlds, you have your own inner world that, if used correctly, can easily turn the side of all of your battles to only favor you."

As the months went by, Kiritsugu passed away, stargazing with Shirou. 'I wanted to be a hero.' He told to his son. Shirou swore that he would live up to his father's ideals, he doubled down on his training, but for others around Fuyuki. Things got a turn for the worst.

Shinji Matou had accidently stumbled upon his sister's…'training'…he managed to escape without anyone noticing him, he felt sick to his core. He felt shame for feeling envious of Sakura for her magical talents.

He was filled with a new sensation; he knew that the grail war would happen in 5 years. That's plenty of time to plan out the war. Shinji was changed for the better from his self-hatred. He wanted to save someone, he wanted to save his sister Sakura.

'don't worry Sakura,' he said in his head, 'I'll save you; I promise…even if I die, saving you would make my death meaningful.'

AN: its come to my attention that some of my readers where confused on why Scathach saw Shirou inheriting her immortality as a curse, immortality, for those who have it, is a curse. Not a blessing. They are forced to watch as their loved ones fade into dust while they continue living.

I've decided to also change up Shinji's story arc, this time, instead of him being someone you want to strangle in his sleep, I'll try to make him into something like his late Uncle, trying to save Sakura, even through questionable means.

This is staying as a saber route. I'm just debating on whether or not she stays the same or is summoned Altered. I'll leave it to a vote by you the readers.

Update: Fixed lore breaks here and there.