Singularity Short-Snippets
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Babylonia Grand Battle
Underneath the depths of Mesopotamia, she lied there. She was in waiting, in ever patience for her enemies to come.
The Master was nowhere to be found. She had heard that he was aiding the evacuation along with his Demi-Servant. It did not matter to her.
She saw the great Leonidas as he stood against her stone-cold gaze, she saw the warrior Minamoto-no-Yorimitsu managing to slice her and leaving a scar on her face. The warriors that king Gilgamesh had summoned are no doubt powerful and worthy warriors to die by her hands. Heroes that were for the slaughter like the ones on the Shapeless Island.
But she had to be victorious. It did not matter who her opponents were, it did not matter who she had to serve or who she had to pretend to be. She had to win. She had to. For them…
"Shirou… Sakura… Forgive me…"
Her mind, went back to the days before she became the monster that she was right now…
"Ri…Rid…. Damn."
Shirou's memory was fading. He no longer had any time left. His mind would burn out and die before the body be consumed by living steel. Shirou Emiya would not be able to see Sakura Matou any longer as he will die.
"Are you certain of this?"
She asks him if he was willing to destroy the Grail. If he was willing to destroy Sakura's sin in order for her to live the happy life that she so rightly deserves after all her suffering. If he was willing to give up everything for Sakura to live happily.
If he was willing to die.
"Yeah. Just make sure that Sakura and Rin get out of here. They both suffered enough."
The boy turns as he walks to the grail.
She should stop him. It should be her duty and not his. She was the servant and she should be the one to accomplish this task. She should not ask the boy to suffer any longer. She should not ask the boy for this much.
But she was out of mana. After fighting Saber, she was drained dry and had nothing. She was unable to do anything against a monstrosity of that size. Even if Sakura were to magically wake up, she was out of Command Seals to command her to destroy the grail.
So, she does all she can and calls out the boy.
"Shirou."
The boy turns his head to face her once more. His back was painted against her and all she could see on his face was his unwavering gaze.
"Yeah?"
She exhales a deep breath she did not even know she was holding in.
"Make sure to come back alive. Sakura cannot smile if you're not there with her."
A look of surprise comes onto his face. It seems that he knows the outcome of what were to happen and the awareness of what was to come shows on his face. What was to come of this now? Regret? Anger? Sorrow?
He turns his gaze away before walking forward. Before she could turn to leave, she heard his reply.
"I'll make sure to return to her. However, Sakura cannot smile if this thing exists."
If only there was someone like this for her, the monstrosity that she was. Perhaps she might have found the happy ending she was searching for. But that luxury did not belong to her. Her legend was that of a beast and done in order to terrify humanity.
This reward belonged to Sakura. After all her years of suffering, she did not deserve to become a monster like her. Sakura Matou deserves to see her own share of happiness that she longed for in the form of that boy.
Rider shows a small smile of happiness before she walks away carrying the sisters while Shirou walks down to destroy the Holy Grail.
That would be the last time they would see each other.
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Gorgon would represent the regret that she felt at the separation of Emiya Shirou and Sakura Matou. Ana walks ahead of the group as they explored the labyrinth filled with bodies and moving flesh.
Her hands are shivering as they approach her. She still had her fears and doubts of facing her other self. She still had her uncertainties of what would happen. She did not know if she would even win or lose against her.
And despite all her fears, she still has an unanswered question.
Why?
Why was she split apart?
What was the part of Medusa that she retained after the split?
She was lost in thought as Shirou taps her shoulder. Surprised, she turns to face Shirou in a look of shock.
He returns with a serious gaze. "Ana, are you ready? Merlin says that we're near the source of it all already. We'll need you to be in shape."
She stares at him before realizing her answer was right in front of her. After clashing blades with him, journeying with him, and traveling with him, she never thought the answer to be so simple without a further explanation required.
Staring at the boy, a memory flashes back to when she ate with him and Sakura at that dinner table. It was a minor moment, one that could be forgotten so easily and passed off as uneventful.
Yet it was the first time somebody thought of her other than her sisters. It was when Sakura Matou and Shirou Emiya treated her like a family member and not some monster or freak that she was made to be by other heroes and legends.
Offering a small smile, she nods. Her hands steady.
The question why is always so difficult to answer. The more you answer and ask, the harder it becomes to answer as you try to explain it. You could end up in a loop or even give up trying to understand the question. You will never reach an understanding to the question unless you place a source of finality on it by yourself.
For Shirou, it was why he was alive. For the longest time, he struggled to come up with the answer. For his dream, for Sakura, for himself, for others, it never ended. His answer finalized itself the moment he chose his side. It finalized when he killed Saber, destroyed the Grail and went on this year-long journey.
For Ana, for Medusa Lily, her answer for why she existed, why she split, why she fought was all simplified the moment she saw Shirou Emiya once more.
If Gorgon would represent the regret of Medusa for the death of Shirou and sorrow of Sakura Matou, Medusa Lily would represent the love she had for both Shirou Emiya and Sakura Matou.
She loved Shirou and Sakura. That was all.
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She hears it. Footsteps.
It's the sound of the enemy master approaching. It's the sound of the coming battle. She was prepared as her monstrous figure simply gazes at the entrance. Once she would face the opponent, she would defeat them. Once she gazes upon the enemy, she will freeze them and she could save the one she could not back in the Holy Grail War.
She could finally be assured that Sakura would smile again and she would be happy. She would no longer drown in the despair like she is now. She would no longer suffer like she is now. She could finally save the people she loved most.
It would seem the one first approaching is the girl, Mash Kyrielight. She matters little to her. Nothing more than an obstacle in the way of her path.
Next was a hooded girl. She could not see her features, yet she was covered in black and purple. A color that reminded her of back when she was younger as a Rider class Servant. She could not tell who this girl was as she appeared in front of her.
Unsurprisingly, Merlin does not come out. He would be killed in a moment's gaze if he were to be caught in it. As an incubus, he would cease to exist and he would die. He would no longer be able to-
"It seems that we meet again, Rider?"
No.
She sees it.
The approaching figure.
It couldn't be.
It was impossible.
No.
No.
No. No. No. No. No. No. No.
Yet, he's there.
She sees him step forward in front of the group and beside the hooded girl. Donning the clothes that signified that he was the Master of Chaldea. It's ensign on his upper right chest, his neck covered by an orange scarf, donned in black and white.
She sees the red hair and golden eyes as they pierce through her. It was not the look of a hero coming forth to strike down the terrible monster, it was not the look of disdain on what she has become, it was not the look of an enemy facing down his worst opponent.
This was the look of sadness and pity.
"Shi…rou…"
She didn't even notice the singular tear that fell down her cheek. One that surprises Mash Kyrielight. Yet doesn't faze Merlin, Shirou and Ana.
To Shirou, he felt sorrow. He didn't know how Rider ended up like this in this Singularity. He did not know why she chose to side against humanity and would destroy the future Sakura was in. Perhaps she did not know about her own situation or this was a Rider from a different timeline.
To Gorgon, she was in shock. Nothing entered her mind, and no thoughts were there except for the young boy in front of her. This couldn't be. It shouldn't. Why? Why? WHY? WHY?
"Why are you here?"
"It's because in all that despair of yours, you forgot why it was that you truly fought." Replied the hooded girl. Despite the question not being directed towards her… no. It was not just meant for Shirou, it was meant for both Shirou and her.
All Gorgon could do was glare at her.
Shut up! Shut up! SHUT UP!
What would she know? What would she understand? She was a child. She was nothing. What would she know of her own suffering? Of Sakura's suffering? Why she chose to side with Solomon? What she was promised as her own personal wish? WHAT WOULD SHE KN-
The girl takes off her hood.
No.
No!
NO!
WHO WAS SHE? WHO WAS SHE? WHO WAS SHE?
SHE SHOULDN'T EXIST! WHY? WHY? WHY?
"Argh!"
She holds her own face, suffering through the pain. Wanting to peel it off just to make it stop. Wanting to bang her head in the wall to stop this despair that would flow through her non-stop. The pain was too much. It felt like a furnace was pushing her mind like it was a wall. Her breath felt like she would vomit at any moment but couldn't as no food was devoured.
This was hell.
She was in hell.
That was the only simple answer.
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
This could truly be her only possible response. How fitting for a monster like her. How fitting for something as hideous, as terrifying, as unlovable as her. This was truly hell.
She laughed as Ana stared at Gorgon. The personification of Medusa's despair against the personification of Medusa's love and hope.
She turns to Shirou knowing that this was her last request of hers. She knew that he would fulfill it but not know the consequences of doing so. Doing this would probably hurt him more and make him feel more pain than so.
But she knew that he would return to her. He would not stray from his path nor ever turn back in regret. He truly loved Sakura more than anything else at this point.
"Shirou. I'm asking you…"
He turns to face her like he did back then. The memories of when they split up, of her standing by Sakura as she waits for him, the moment she died as Sakura waited by the side of the house they lived in, waiting for him to return begin to flood her once more.
She understands why Gorgon is fighting, why she chose that path. Gorgon was her after all. However, she had her own reasons to fight, her own reasons to win, her own wish to be fulfilled.
With tears in her eyes, she asks Shirou, "… My mystic eyes can combat hers. So, I'm asking you, please let me be the one to finish this."
Shirou widen in shock. It seems that he understood the possibility of what would happen if she did, or even knew what would.
But she seemed to be resolute. She seemed to stand tall on the path that she chose to walk. It would be hypocritical of him to judge her otherwise. He nods at her request.
"Let's go, Ri… No. Let's go, Medusa!"
"Yeah, Shirou!"
Shirou gets into a combat stance as Medusa Lily prepares her Harpe. Gorgon stopped writhing in pain and seemed to take the sign of hostility as a sign of battle.
Gorgon's eyes begin to glow purple as Lily's own glowed to counter hers. This battle would decide who truly was fighting for the happiness of Sakura Matou.
"SHIROU!"
And her precious snakes began to move, each with the intent to defeat the master in front of her as well as her other self. A single snake shoots itself into the air and slams down into the spot Shirou and Lily were, causing a huge dust cloud to form.
Shirou rolled to the left as he traced his own bow while Lily dodged to the right and began to rush forward in order to strike her own spear into her own heart.
Shirou readies an arrow as a snake approaches him. With its size, it would swallow him whole and he wouldn't even have a chance to escape. He had no time to dodge as its speed was closing in on him too fast.
As it opened its mouth however, Mash rushed forth with her shield as she knocked the monstrosity onto the side. The force of her impact launched the snake into the far end of the cave.
She holds up her shield and stares at Shirou. "Master, I'll guard you!"
Shirou nocks an arrow and aims for the snakes approaching Medusa Lily. "Yeah, thanks Mash."
With that, he fires shots at rapid succession. Each aiming for several snakes that were to get in her way. He would leave his defense up to Mash as several snakes approach her. He trusts her strength as she trusts his orders. Both of them would make it.
"Ha!"
Medusa Lily slashes through some of the snakes blocking her path while those she couldn't take account for were all shot down by Shirou. It would seem that she was being taken care of by him now.
She let out a small smile. As sad as this battle was, as sorrowful as it's conclusion would be, she knew she was fighting for the right cause.
She rushes forward as an enormous snake suddenly appears in front of her. It was surely enough to devour her whole. This black and purple mass was large enough and probably as strong enough as Gorgon was to fight her.
But she was agile enough and fast enough as well to dodge it.
She jumps up and brings down Hapre to slash down at the snake's neck, slicing through it clean like a sharp knife would cleanly cut through a piece of paper.
Three more snakes of similar size appeared out of her blind spots. One was coming behind her and the other two were coming in from both sides. She would be able to dodge one, but she would not be able to dodge the other two.
However, she was still covered for.
"Sic 'em."
And Shirou launched the Noble Phantasm.
Hrunting. This was the sword that was used by Beowoulf, the Berserker that was encountered in the American Singularity. It was a sword that would hunt down it's opponent with unrelenting will and will cut down the opponent without ever stopping. Should it miss, it will come back to hunt the opponent down.
But this was not his sword. This was something that became twisted and morphed from its original shape. More akin to an arrow with thorns and a grip like a sword, it was the perfect Noble Phantasm as an arrow to help defend Medusa Lily.
A red streak crosses through the cave and pierces through one of the snakes.
Lily then cuts through the one behind her. However, the last one is close enough to swallow her. It would be enough for her to lose.
But the arrow still hunted for its target.
Appearing above it, the arrow strikes down and pierces through the snake's head like a bullet, killing it instantly.
All obstacles having been killed, Lily rushes in. This would be her only chance to defeat herself and win. She was close enough for her to leap towards the heart of Gorgon. However, she notices the gaze of Gorgon move from her to Shirou and Mash.
"Don't do it!" She screams, but to no avail. She was too far to run back to Shirou to save him, too far to even attempt to do anything to save their life.
Some of her snakes gaze at Shirou and begin to produce mana for an assault. It was over. A Divine Being empowered by the Holy Grail and using it as an energy source for her attack would mean certain death. Shirou and Mash would not be able to survive this attack. They would instantly freeze upon the gaze of Gorgon as she became a monster. Defeat was certain.
Gorgon was transforming. Forcing Lily to retreat and become powerless as she stares at her. She was becoming the monster that murdered her sisters. The one that lurked in the Shapeless Island. This was the monster Gorgon was becoming.
Masses of dark energy began to form around her and began to contort the very being of Gorgon itself. What came out would not even resemble what she was back then.
A horrifying mass of flesh with a gaze that was certain to kill, it spoke. This would be the defining strike that would kill them. This was the Noble Phantasm of the monster of Greek Legend. The most infamous monster in Greek history and one whose name was echoed throughout the ages.
"PANDEMONIUM CETUS!"
And her Noble Phantasm was released. She shoots it towards Shirou and Mash and none of them have time to react.
Shirou turns towards Mash to try to get her out of the way while Mash attempts to do the same.
"MASH!"
"SENPAI!"
But to no avail. They were devoured by the energy that was shot out and was swallowed by all that power. Nothing would come out of that. No form of life would remain and no particle of any one of them would even come out.
They had lost.
Gorgon returned to her true form.
Had she truly done it?
Had she truly won?
"Ha."
She was willing to go that far for her own wish?
She was willing to kill the very person she wished to save?
"Haha."
How hypocritical. How ironic. How utterly wrong she was. But did she care anymore?
No.
She was a monster and always was.
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
For Lily, she should have been in despair. She should have felt lost. She should have been in sorrow.
Yet she wasn't. For in the place of Mash and Shirou…
Rider, I know what to do
…were small flower petals with a white and pink color.
From the entrance of the cave, he shot forth with a bow in his hand, an arrow already knocked in as it crackled with red electricity.
To call it an arrow would be like calling a helicopter an electric fan. It was more akin to a drill than an arrow, more of a sword than something to be shot. But without a doubt, this arrow would be indeed powerful.
He takes aim towards the stomach of Gorgon. This would not kill her. It would wound her and force her to heal. It would harm her and that would be all it was good for on his end.
But for Lily's end, it would buy her time. Enough time to strike her down while she's in shock and pain.
It was only for a moment, but Gorgon took notice of Shirou and stopped laughing. No. NO. NO!
"Shi…"
"Caladbolg."
And he let the arrow fly.
Like a cannon firing, a loud boom could be heard. A noise that's similar to a scream could be heard for the split second the arrow was in the air. It came forth like a red lightning bolt.
And like a lightning bolt, it pierced through its target. Ripping through it's insides like paper and tore open through the other side.
It went through the cave and even went through the outside. Giving Kingu more signs of worry. It would seem that mother was losing and that Kingu must hurry.
"…rou."
She coughed out blood as she said that. Puking it out like bile. This was all done in but a moment, nothing more and nothing less. The arrow had done its job. The rest was up to Lily.
She couldn't feel anything anymore. She lost. She no longer felt her snakes respond to her, her power in her eyes began to fade and her sense of touch numbed.
All she could do in her final moments was watch as her younger self rushed forward with her scythe glowing, jumped up, and screamed.
"CARESS OF THE MEDUSA!"
Her own Noble Phantam pierced through the spiritual core of Gorgon, defeating her.
She had lost.
Ah.
She accepted defeat and the only thought that went through her mind as she saw her younger self and Shirou were nothing more than signs of regret.
If only there was someone like you Shirou… If only there was someone like you that loved me as well…
Perhaps I was jealous of Sakura in some way.
I guess all that I wanted…
Was to see you again.
And Gorgon thought no more.
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The whole cave was collapsing at the defeat of Gorgon. Lily was still on Gorgon's body. They had to leave, otherwise they would be caught in this mess too.
Suddenly, the body ofGorgon began to sink. It seemed to be absorbed by the cave itself and Medusa was not doing anything.
"MEDUSA!"
Shirou yelled at her, hoping to get her attention so that she could get out. If she did nothing, she would die. If she didn't move, the cave would devour her and leave her in it.
Yet he knew the moment she made a request of him that she would not make it out alive.
Medusa turned, and the hole from his arrow shed its light on her face as she sunk down with her older self.
She smiled. One that she no longer hesitated to do. One that was genuine and heartfelt after all she had been through. One that continued as she spoke.
It would have been quiet with the noise of the cave collapsing in. It wouldn't have been heard even if Shirou used his reinforcement to strengthen his hearing to listen to her. Yet to him and her, it was echoed as though it were a scream.
"I love you, Shirou."
And the cave collapses in.
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AN
I know that this Grand Battle chapter is not as large as the previous ones, but it's all the juice I got for a Gorgon battle.
Guess what bitches? The next chapter's most likely the Childhood's End Chapter. I won't go into all the badass details of Gorgon, Quetz's badass moment, King Hassan's arrival, and all of that as I won't be able to do it justice.
On the bright side, I think I'll be able to do some moments here and there for the final part. But if it's not to your satisfaction, then I understand.
Also, in response to Rambukla, I'm sorry for not adding in Ozymandio. I wanted to focus more on the Shirou and Artoria part. I may do an Omake.
In response to AccelBreaker, probably not or probably will write that one-shot for Artoria and Shirou. I'll never know with how I am with promises and workloads. Maybe someday. Maybe I will. For now though, I'll focus with the main juice of this fic.
Thanks for all those follows and favorites! And don't be ashamed to review me. I know I'm shit, but I would like to hear how shit and how I can improve.
As always, thank you for reading and enjoying my story! If not, then thank you for your time.