I don't own anything related to Fate/stay night, this is a work of parody.
Act One: Angra Mainyu
/EQC0DcXFxvE Witching Hour (music)
I'm dreaming, but it's not from me.
It's a story that takes place a long time ago, Insanely long ago. About a boy that lived in a very small world. A nameless mountain village in an ancient land. Notable only in their isolation, their God was their single solace.
The villagers lived cleanly and righteously in accordance with their precepts.
People are supposed to value goodness, protect the light, and live virtuous lives.
For these people, segregated from the rest of the world, this supplication was absolute. It was probably the only source of human pride that they knew.
The people in the village earnestly wished for everyone to live in peace. So everyone could be free from malice and live pure, upright lives. They renounced such human concerns as hunger, conflict, love, and hate. They were proud to be worthy of God's blessing.
But it was impossible. People can't be freed from malice just through clean, righteous living. From the moment a human is born, there is evil in them. Certain measures have to be taken to separate evil from man.
And those measures were taken.
They came up with a way to save not just their small village, but the whole world. It's hard to make everyone do good. But you can prove everyone's goodness... You just need one person. If one person embodies all the evils of the world, the rest of the people cannot be evil, no matter what. Of course, there were those that were skeptical of the idea, but to speak up against it would be to admit one's own evil.
In the village, there was a young man. The boy was good-natured, believing in the innate goodness of people. He was known throughout the village as a helper who sought no recompense. But they couldn't understand him. "What sort of person helps others and takes no reward?"
They were wary of him. It was a scarce community, to help others without payment was very strange in their eyes. An obviously selfless act can be far more suspicious than a selfish one. It was natural that when they were to choose their sacrifice they would think of him. Someone they didn't understand.
He was cleaning when they took him, a mob of the villagers, all the people he had helped, his friends, and even parents dragged him away.
They carved every cursed word onto his body, forced every sin imaginable upon him, and held him responsible for all evils in the world. It was a small world. But an ultimate evil was born in this one complete world.
The people cursed, scorned, feared, yet adored this man. They believed they were pure and righteous, since all the world's evil was within him. They believed they'd saved everyone in the world and created a devil. To demonstrate human goodness, they continuously tortured one man until he went insane. No, they would not allow him to die until he succumbed to old age. He was given the name Angra Mainyu, and was irrationally hated by everyone in the world. The name of the devil that corrupts men, erased from even the divine text.
I wonder if he really had become a devil.
Everyone in his village believed him to be so, and they treated him accordingly. They hated and feared him, but he was the proof of their goodness. They revered him as the sign of their salvation. He was the object of everyone's hate, but he saved people.
His existence pardoned everyone of their evil deeds. Though his method was unusual, he still saved people.
He became a hero for the villagers, ironically giving him what he may have wanted.
Hated by everyone, losing his self. Someone who transformed into exactly what they wanted. A helpless sacrifice that came to represent all the world's evil.
An ordinary person without any special talent that was determined to be all evils of the world.
I can only wonder what such a person must be like, what did they become in the end?
(Music Stop)
When I wake up my body is cold but my head is warm. I am on something soft, is there a pillow? And there a warmth enveloping my hair.
'That dream…'
I can't comprehend it, such a story was too much. I'm confused as to why I would see something like that.
It wasn't a nightmare, it did not come from fear. It's scarier than a nightmare, you can take solace that a nightmare is fake, but that felt real.
It was not like my normal dreams, I had only ever dreamed of the fire before now.
Im comfortable lying here, but I should check what time it is. Dad will probably need me to make dinner, he's so hopeless.
I open my eyes and what I see is so surprising that I double-take, opening and closing my eyes over and over.
There is a woman's face is above me, looking down at me. No… it's not just a face, her lap is the soft thing I used as a pillow, and her hand is keeping is stroking my hair keeping it warm.
Snow-white hair and red eyes, a face that looked perfectly sculpted. Her skin was so pale and smooth that her hair seemed to seamlessly melt into it.
She's unlike anyone I've ever seen, she couldn't possibly be Japanese. 'European?'
She looked familiar, 'I swear I've seen her before... but where?'
How did this situation even happen?
'ahh, I came to the park and fell asleep on the bench.' I don't know why I came all the way here in the first place.
I blushed when I realized that I was staring, it's rude to stare.
https/m./watch?v=9V2ohFtiYV0 Whisper of Darkness(music)
I was going to look away, but she tilted her head down, stared right into my eyes, and said, "You're awake then, It's a dangerous thing to fall asleep all alone you know."
Her eyes had a tint of yellow you would only see if you focused. She had a crooked smile. "you're lucky I was there to look after you. There are some no bad people in the world you know."
Chills ran down my body from her smile. It was unnatural, as if she were trying to emulate a beautiful grin but just couldn't achieve it.
'Scary…'
I felt unsafe, as if there was no veil of security. She didn't stop me as I stood up.
Up onto my feet, my instincts told me to leave, yet I hesitated and looked back at her. "Uhh, thanks for looking out for me, but I should go now, my Father must be worried…"
I could see her in full now, sitting on the bench, she was wearing a black and red European dress. Her white hair was long enough to reach down to her lap.
"Owwie." My eyes hurt when looking at her in her entirety, she had an overwhelming aura
In my hesitation she gentley guilded me to sit next to her on the bench. "It's alright, I know it can be a bit scary to suddenly meet a stranger out here in the dark, but I'm a...friend of your father's. Why don't we have a little talk?"
'She knows Dad? I didn't even know dad had any friends.' It's true that there is a familiarity there, for one she has that same smell.
"Well...alright, but I should go soon." I sit back down, it's disrespectful to disregard an adult.
We just sat there for a minute, she said she wanted to talk but said nothing.
"Uhh, aren't you cold out here?" It was about the only thing I could think to say.
"Is it cold out?, I'll take your word for it." She was looking at me, I was looking straight at the ground. I could feel her stare, it made me feel uncomfortable, and a little angry.
Placing her hand on my shoulder she says, "There is no reason to be afraid, I would not hurt you. I hold little hatred for you." It's kind of like what I imagine a mom would be like.
"ahh, well... umm, what's your name?"
"My name? you can call me Iri, short for Irisviel Von Einzbern." I just know it's a German name, I don't know how though.
"Irishi-be-ru, Vo-n Einzu-berun?" I try enunciate her hard name.
"Please Shirou, just Iri." She didn't seem to care for honorifics. She was content to sit there for a while after that.
Eventually, she spoke up, "Do you know why your father won't teach you?"
"Teach me what?"
"Magic of course" Whaaa?
"Uhh, I don't know what you're talking about..." Dad said never tell anyone.
"Hahaha, you're cute to think you should keep it a secret." She had her entire arm around me now like a half hug, it didn't warm me up though.
"Well... Dad said I had to keep it secret from people." How could she know about magic?
"There's no point in hiding it from me, I'm a magus myself."
"Whaaa, you're a magus too?" There's more than just Dad?
"Did you really think that Kiritsugu was the only one?" She seemed to know exactly what I thought.
"Well, I never really thought about it..." Dad's still the strongest though.
"Hah, that's naïve, but I will forgive your ignorance. Now answer the question Shirou, why won't your father teach you?"
I thought about it, what did he say to me?
"Well... he said that it was not something to take on lightly."
"Are you taking it lightly?" her question brings out a burning feeling in me.
"No, I have never wanted something more in my life!" She smiles at that, even though Iri's smile is strange I can't help but be happy to see it.
"That's good Shirou, If that is how you really feel then you must tell him that yourself. If you want something you need to take it, that's what Kiritsugu would do."
"I'll do that then, I'll tell him how I feel!"
"hah, you're quite the ball of energy when it comes to this aren't you, but..." she held my hand.
With an sigh, she continued, "Shirou, You look up to him too much. You won't gain what you think you will gain by being a blind follower." She never stops smiling, but there is a sense of seriousness in her words.
It must be fine, following in the footsteps of your father is natural, it's the only course that I can see anyway. "I think I'm right to follow him."
"Just don't wait too long before deciding your route in life, stick with something too long and you'll become stubborn and defensive of it, even if all it does is make you suffer."
"Umm, okay" I don't really get it.
All I can think of now is going home and convincing Dad to teach me with this new knowledge. I'm not really listening to her weird talk.
Shaking her head she continues, "It's no matter to me, whatever you may choose Shirou, I will support you."
"Huh?" will she be coming over like Taiga?
"I can tell you want your father to be your teacher, but I can help as well, would that be okay?" Asked as a question but a tone allowing no disagreement.
"You'd really help?" My eyes were wide, she may seem bad at first sight but she must be a very kind woman.
"Just don't be disappointed in the difference in our abilities in magic." of course, she must be embarrassed to be compared to a master like dad.
"It's alright, I bet no one is better than Dad at magic." I console her smoothly.
"Haha, of course. When you convince him, we can meet up here at the park. Unfortunately, I can't get to you anywhere else at the moment."
That's too bad." I wonder why that is.
"It is bad isn't it? I made a rash decision and unexpectedly got stuck in a strange situation, you'll help me out right Shirou?"
"Yeah, you seem like a good person." She was basically hugging me now. To be honest... I really liked it, Dad doesn't hug and I just met Taiga today. I've hugged more in one day than the entirety of my life, that I can recall at least.
'I should get going now, while I have this courage burning in me.'
"Well, I should go now..." but she held my hand tight, prohibiting retreat.
"I'll allow you to go soon, but I want you to make one little promise. Don't want you to tell your father about me, Kiritsugu would love it if I surprised him myself, you can keep that a secret right?"
"Yeah, like a surprise party!" If that would make Dad happy then I was glad to keep it secret.
Her grip left and I was free.
"Well I gotta go bye," I said so fast that it was mostly gibberish.
I immediately started to fast walk away but she calls out one last goodbye.
"Be careful on your way home, good-natured boys like you have been known to be taken away by monsters in the night." she waved me goodbye.
"Okay, Iri-san..." She's weird...
When I make it to the edge of the park, I look back but she's gone, only the smell of mud and ash remain.
She was kind of creepy, but she didn't seem bad to me. She gave me a way to convince Dad, she must be watching over us, she must be a good person.
'I can take something for myself...'
My hand tightens into a fist. 'She's right, I can't reach Dad if I just wait around.'
The streets are empty yet I can't help but feel like there's someone watching me. I've been feeling that a lot recently, but it doesn't feel as uncomfortable anymore.
I only realized later when I walked all the way home that she had called me by name, yet I had never given it.
(Music Stop)
I met two new people today. At first glance, they look like scary demons but once you get to know them I think they're good. When I finally made it all the way home, it was really late. I had no money, so I couldn't take the bus.
Afraid to slide open the door and face the wrath of Dad for being out so late, I stared for a little while.
'I have something to do though, I can't be a coward. Iri said that if I want to be like Dad I have to take what I want.'
I slide open the door and walk to the kitchen with purpose, but what I see makes my stomach fall.
/nMBuXTr4b8o Nightmare(music)
'I was too late...'
The Kitchen is horrifying, something that I could have prevented if I hadn't been so late.
My head feels heavy seeing it, it triggers its own flashbacks of certain times. A horrible tragedy has occurred here today.
I can barely see with the smoke filling the room. The kitchen is left toasty from it.
Taiga is fully splayed out holding her stomach next to the table, her eyes are closed as if she were just sleeping. It's too late for her though, I know that now, she won't be coming back.
The perpetrator sits across from her, trying and failing to invest his weapon. I see clearly what occurred here.
(Music Stop)
Dad made dinner without proper supervision.
/gZtJB-LtKsE Today's meal(Music)
I start to make my way to confront Dad but I'm stopped in my tracks, the specter of Fuji-nee is pulling me back. "Shirou... so hungry, the food... so bad."
'I know... I really do.'
"Don't worry, I'll fix this," I reassure her.
"Thank you, please, thank you..." she continues to mumble thank you or please. Who's the older one again?
Thus I confront the menace that caused this, "Dad did you cook without me?"
He was so out of it that he only noticed me now, "Shirou is that you?, you were late; Taiga-chan was so hungry, I think it turned out well, right?" he showed his bowl.
What was in the bowl was not something you would think of as food. He had taken a Chicken breast, cooked it to the point of burning, then combined in it with rice that was somehow both undercooked and burnt at the same time.
That would have been horrid on its own but it didn't end there. I can assume it was Taiga's idea to combine it all in a single bowl and pour so much soy sauce on top that it looked like a soup.
'I see why they get along so well...' they are both so irresponsible.
"Dad, I'm going to throw this out and make dinner."
"Yeah, that's probably for the best..." I don't think he could fight anymore when it come to food.
(Music Stop)
I put my apron on and twenty minutes later, I'm done with a proper dish. Using the remainder of uncooked chicken and rice, I add carrots, onion and shimeji mushrooms on the side.
/EG78j9QDjd4 Calm Days(Music)
I place them in different bowls, as you're supposed to and bring them out to the hungry pair.
Kiritsugu is drinking black tea, probably silently reflecting on just how poor his cooking really is. While Taiga is rolling on the ground holding her stomach in hunger and nausea at the small amount of the monstrosity she had eaten.
When I put the food on the table, Taiga jumps at it, similar to a large cat, and begins her devouring. Even if Dad is super relaxed on Japanese etiquette, I still have some standards.
"Please, mind your manners Taiga."
"Errr, fine. And call me Fuji-nee." she grumbles with food in her mouth.
"Yeah yeah, Fuji-nee. Now don't talk when your mouth is full."
Dad seemed to be enjoying the meal too but also looked a little lost in thought, "Thank you Shirou, I'm not sure how it ended up like that."
'He really has no clue does he...'
"Dad, I think it's time to let me do the cooking from now on. Let me give back to you for what you've given me." I give him my best persuasive smile.
"I don't know, I don't want to put it all on you, you're only seven years old Shirou."
"That's true but..." right as I'm about to explain that what he makes can't even be considered 'food', I was tackled from the side.
"Shirou, that really was great! Kiritsugu-san, please you must let him make all of my-err, our meals from now on." Taiga came with the save but her intentions were clearly selfish.
After a bit of grumbling Dad finally aquiesed, "Fine Shirou, but Taiga-chan has to be there whenever you use the stove"
"Leave it me Kiritsugu-san! Under my close supervision, Shirou will be careful while he makes me meals." She nodded her head like she was accepting a mission.
'How about that though? Maybe Iri-san is right, maybe just being a little confident goes a long way.'
After cleaning up her bowl and them prowling on my bowl Fuji-nee asked the question that I thought would have come earlier.
"Anyway Shirou, where were off to? You were gone for almost six hours!" Now that Fuji-nee had her meal ticket, she was ready to remove any possible obstacles.
"Well, I took a walk like I told you... I just ended up, you know, maybe, falling asleep for a little while." and having a crazy dream and meeting a strange woman.
Dad is the one that speaks up softy, "Shirou, do try to be more careful out there. There are bad strangers who would do you harm."
"Yeah, I know." I was warned about that already.
"Don't worry dad, I'm aware that unless they know you, strangers might be bad."
"No Shirou, that's completely wrong. Don't trust anyone who claims to be a friend of mine, I'm new to this town, I don't really know anyone but Taiga's grandfather."
"What?" A bead of sweat fell down my cheek.
"It's okay, as long as you know from now on. You didn't see any strangers did you?" I'm so confused now.
Iri made me promise not to tell Dad but he claims not to have any friends, Dad deserves to know he does but I should also respect her wish to want to surprise him.
I don't know what to do, maybe I should ask Dad about her... "Well, err, there was-"
I was saved when Taiga, had a delayed overreaction.
"Shirou, you must be more cautious, imagine if you were kidnapped!, who would do the cooking for us, Right Kiritsugu-san?" I can see what she values most...
"Shirou were you going to say something?" She's not completely oblivious to reality.
It's too late now, and I did make a promise not to tell... "Oh, no. Nothing."
Hearing this Dad commented,
"Well... when I was Shirou's age I went on walks all the time. Hmm, I have an idea, how about Taiga-chan accompanies you from time to time?"
Dad never talked about what he did as a kid.
"That sounds great! I need improve my endurance for Kendo anyway."
'They decided for me...'
I'm not against the idea but I don't think that I could see Irisviel with Taiga. I shudder at the thought, I doubt I would survive the two of them in the same place at the same time.
"That's okay with me" I say.
Finally all done with dinner, I start cleaning up. Dad spoke up an offer to Fuji-nee, "Taiga-chan you're welcome to stay, it is you family's land after all."
"No that alright, it's not that late. Japan Is a peaceful country, and any villain foolish enough to challenge me would face the wrath of my shinai."
Wait... please not that Shinai, "Didn't you put the Shinai away Dad?"
"Well, we came to an agreement on it. Taiga-chan will only hit people who have weapons of their own, well... actually you are lone exception, Shes given complete freedom when it comes to any punishment." what's the point of a deal like that?!?!
"Hahahaha, you hear that Shirou! I will be a forgiving mistress of course." A triumphant smile marking her victory.
But Im not defenseless, "In that case, you'll just have to cook for yourself, or better yet you can have Dad's cooking."
"You wouldn't, wait, I take it back I swear it! I'll only hit you if you deserve it, okay?" This confidence thing is great!
"Fine." She was a girl after all, how strong could she really be?
"Hahaha, you're quite the negotiator Shirou." I was happy that Dad seemed amused by the scene.
While I finished placing everything in the sink, Taiga started to put all her things together.
"Well its time for me to leave, what a long day, aaahhhhhhh" she stretched her arms out far and yawned, making me yawn in response.
Running out to the door with an energetic step, marking the end to her first day as a part of the Emiya household.
"Thanks for the lesson Kiritsugu-san! See you tomorrow Shirou!" The energetic Taiga, or is it Tiger?, zoomed off waving her Shinai around like a maniac.
"Hah" I exhale deeply, Without her the house loses a great of energy. A return to peace and quiet.
As I finish up the dishes, Dad silently drinks from his black tea, which is about the only thing he can make.
(Music Stop)
Thats just how he is, Running around like hes at the playground in the day and a bit silent and deliberate at night.
My hands tighten into fists as my resolve begins to muster. The tension builds the longer I wait.
'It's now or never.'
"Dad..." I finally force myself to call to him.
"Yes Shirou?" He awkwardly responds when I don't continue."
'Alright, do what Iri told you, just tell him how you feel.'
"I want you to teach me magic." I barely whisper.
"Say that again Shirou."
"Uhh, well, err." It's in this nervous state that I begin to feel it again. That burning inside me that I had when I spoke with Iri, like something deep in me cheering me on.
"Dad, I want you to teach me magic. I know you think Im thinking its a game but Im not, Im serious about it." I say it with as much confidence as I can muster.
Sipping his tea, his face remained neutral all throughout listening to me.
When he finally responds it's a "hmm, I see."
He's going to deny me... Im must not be good enough to be his student.
Imb about to apologize when he holds his hand up to stop me, "Shirou, to be a magus means you will walk with death. You would be a dangerous world, is that what you want?"
"Yes, im sure of it." Dad walked the same path, It can't be wrong.
"Then give me a week to think about it, but if I decide not to then that will be final." It was not a tone that allowed debate.
"Ok..." I still have a chance then.
"Good, I'm going to go to bed." leaving me to clean up for myself.
After that I went to bed, but it took a while to fall asleep. I had a big nap in the day after all, and so many things happened in one day. It was the most eventful day in my entire life, well... except for the fire of course.
When I did finally fall asleep the name Angra Mainyu ricocheted across my mind.
Author's Notes:
hardest part to write was definitely the scene with Irisviel, I wasn't happy with it for a while. I think it's better now, Ill take a look at it again later to really get it right.
Shirou's magic will ve pretty interesting to go through. in the following chapters.
It's hard to find a middle ground between Shirou being an ignorant Seven year old, Shirou being the only one with a responsible personality and Shirou being a blind follower of Kiritsugu.
I also don't want to use simple words all the time. That conflicts with the fact that Shirou is only seven.
You tell me if you want an interlude next chapter or the one after next, I can go either way. It could be Sakura, Katarina or even Tohsaka.
I do have a character sheet that I will share probably next chapter, If you want to see it now I can share it but it's still in progress. Of course is crappy with links so that's annoying.
I appreciate all reviews and will answer questions.