This is not technically a new chapter in this fic. If I'm being entirely honest its very unlikely I ever finish this fic. Writing takes a level of time and energy I don't really have to devote outside of work anymore and my engagement with fate and fanfic as a whole are a lot less than what they used to be. I have part of a new chapter written that I may one day publish, and I may do smaller works (3-5 chapters) in the future. But I can't say with any certainty I'll ever finish a longform fic like this. When I started writing fan fic I told myself I wouldn't just let a story lapse without some form of closure. I'd read to many fics that just stopped and didn't want to do that to the people who supported me. So this is my fulfillment of that, a summary of where I intended the story to go and how I intended it to end. I wrote out a few parts of it out of renewed excitement, but as I wrote I've gotten more certain of my inability to finish this work. And so here is the outline of Fate Apocryphal Night:
Shirou and Artoria meet with Seig and Jeanne the next day in Trifas after walking in on them sleeping together. Seig conveys his desire to save the other homunculi, which Shirou supports. Artoria is less enthused, pointing out that it might make the other Red Masters hostile. Shirou thinks a bit more on it, but still ultimately decides to help despite the risk.
That night Chiron and Fiore appear, firing a warning shot to lure Shirou and Artoria out. Artoria engages Chiron while Shirou is forced into combat in the alleys of Trifas with Fiore by her mystic code. Artoria is able to close the distance and gain an advantage over Chiron but he's able to press her hard enough to determine she and Mordred aren't the same person, which only makes him more confused. Fiore's inexperience shows through in her battle with Shirou, where he's able to consistently maintain an advantage despite the strength of her mystic code and Shirou not using Noble Phantasms. Eventually he is forced to, invoking Byakuya and Kansho and trapping Fiore with multiple copies of the weapon (Fiore incorrectly believes he can simply resummon them after throwing). Caules saves her, but Fiore is still deeply rattled by how close she thinks she (Shirou had actually just aimed to injure) came to dying. Fran intervenes to help Chiron. Her presence causes Chiron realize that while there is no match to Rider's presented gender, if he assumes history got their gender wrong then it is clear who Rider and Saber must be. With that he calls a retreat that Artoria and Shirou allow.
We then go to Sigisoara for a quick update on Mordred and Jack. Without Fiore's intervention both of them were seriously injured in the battle. Mordred is in better shape, but is still out for at least the day. Jack is heavily wounded, which Rikka tries to help by feeding her the last magus heart. When it still isn't enough she goes outside, passing a family that has just returned to the room across from theirs, and lures some criminals down an alley before brutally murdering them and cutting their hearts out for Jack. Her part ends with her returning to the building she and Jack are staying in, looking up at the newly lit up window across from where they're staying, and thinking about how she knows where to get more energy if she needs it.
That family friendly update out of the way we go back to Yggdmillenia. Chiron reveals Artoria and Mordred's identities when asked why he ordered a retreat. The masters of Black feel Artoria and Mordred will inevitably fight to the death when they discover each other's identities and decide to have two red servants fight to the death while they pick off the winner. Fiore is still rattled from the early fighting, but is able to be calmed by Chiron. Chiron also warns her to avoid Shirou, stating he's someone he might have taken on as an apprentice in his past life. Fiore doesn't have the courage to ask if she would be too.
From there we move ahead to the night of the battle. Sieg and Shirou are a bit late to the fighting, but the goal remains the same: save the homunculi. They see Atalante fire her noble phantasm and Shirou sends Artoria ahead to try and save any survivors. Artoria's drive to protect Shirou causes her to object, but she ultimately obeys his direct order. Artoria finds a scene of carnage where the battle happened and encounters Karna, who reveals he has orders to kill her. Shiro will have no further rogue elements tonight.
They're relatively evenly matched skill wise, but Karna's armor and prana reserves give him a decisive advantage. Artoria releases 5 of Rhongonmyniad's seals, which allows the lance to pierce his armor and more prana (from Blessings of the Ends of the Earth) for her to fight evenly. Artoria knows this is a bad idea and can feel the lance trying to change her, but ignores it so she won't fail this time. Karna remarks that her master must be truly special to drive her to such lengths, and Artoria disparages Karna's master for ordering her and Shirou's death. Karna gets angry stating that he's sure his master is wonderful and that either way it isn't his or her place to criticize. The battle continues, with bursts of light and flame.
Sieg and Shirou encounter Astolfo, rather than Mordred. Celenike attempts to intervene, but Shirou uses Rule Breaker to nullify her command seals. Astolfo forms a contract with Sieg. Shirou at first spares Celenike, but she tries to murder him in a fit of rage. Shirou negates the curse with a noble phantasm, and Celenike begs him to spare her while thinking about how she plans to kill them both later and take Astolfo. Shirou kills her, thinking he gave up being the Hero of Justice who would try to save everyone, and he has someone he must return to.
Caules holds Fran in reserve after recalling her from her fight with Shiro, first unsure of how to intervene, then noting not all Red Servants entered the Hanging Gardens and so keeping her back. Jeanne is sitting back and observing the battle. Achilles and Atalante match Vlad much like Karna did in combat. Mordred and Kairi are driving to the battlefield and remark upon flashing light and fire from Artoria and Karna's battle. From their point of view we witness the grail being stolen, with Jeanne, Vlad, Chiron, Avicebron, Karna, Achilles, and Atalante all moving up into it to do battle.
Artoria is watching the gardens from the outside, trying to find out what exactly is going on as she and Shirou talk about possible corruption of the grail. Shirou is cutoff mid-sentence, as Artoria hurries back to him.
Shirou, Seig and Astolfo are under attack by Mordred and Kairi. Shirou attempts to talk things out with Kairi, stating there's no need for a fight. Kairi counters that Sieg is still a master of black and so needs to die. Shirou doubts that matters anymore, but realizes he can't convince Kairi. Mordred gets out in her full armor, remarks it looks like it'll be an easy fight and that there's no need for Kairi to intervene. Astolfo and Sieg are taken out in short order by Mordred. Shirou is able to fight more evenly with Byakuya and Kansho, as Mordred's fighting style is a terrible match for Emiya's.
Mordred, angry, asks how and why Shirou can fight her without any fear. Shirou states its because he something so precious to him he can't afford to lose, a dream he'll see through no matter what. Mordred respects Shirou's resolve, and declares him worthy of her full might. She begins to charge Clarent in response and Shirou clearly recognizes her once her helm falls. Shirou readies Rho Ais to defend against the attack. Mordred fires, but before the attack can land a blur of blue lands in front of him, invoking Rhongonmyniad to counter the blow. The dust clears from the collision and all Mordred can say in her shock is "Father…".
Artoria might blame herself for the fall of her kingdom, but Mordred was still the one who actually brought it down and all Artoria can feel is icy anger. The fact she attacked Shirou has only heightened this, and she swears not to let Mordred take anything else from her. Artoria dismisses Rhon for Excalibur and starts dueling Mordred. Kairi takes the shock at Artoria's arrival and lack of focus on him to get in the car and start driving away, recognizing that Mordred can't win, possibly as a conceptual matter. When he gets far enough away he uses a command spell to summon Mordred into the car, who immediately starts rampaging, but Kairi points out the battle was heavily tilted against her. He's able to calm her down eventually, by pointing out Mordred will prove herself better in a fair fight. Kairi asks if Mordred wants to investigate the Hanging Gardens, but she's pouting and says no.
Jeanne, guided by her Revelation and realizing they're out matched, summons only Artoria to her by her command spell. Artoria, already having a bad night, is even angrier at this. She's able to inform Shirou of the situation and helps the others fight their way out.
We get a brief summary of events between them leaving and Adam being summoned. Without Siegfried to guide him and Shirou presenting the view of one who stopped wishing to be a hero Sieg is much more uncertain. His conversation with Astolfo revolves around those doubts and Astolfo reassures him that being uncertain is okay and so he should take his time determining his path. During the battle with Adam Jeanne doesn't summon Mordred, foreseeing conflict with Artoria. She sees Shirou instead but cannot understand why until Chiron says they need another Noble Phantasm. Shirou says he can use one. The battle goes the same way with Shirou replacing Siegfried and Artoria replacing Mordred. Shirou traces Caliburn and uses it as broken phantasm for maximum damage while Artoria invokes Rhongonmyniad (the unsealed lance is providing her prana) to minimize the drain on Shirou. It isn't enough and Shirou collapses after the attacks.
Mordred and Kairi, watching from the forest nearby, see the battle. Mordred's recognizes Caliburn's light and is shocked at the potential way to fulfill her dream.
The next day Chiron gives an update on Shirou's status to Jeanne's group minus Artoria. Shirou is recovering, but Chiron says his body isn't normal and is instead a soul bound to a puppet. Using so much prana so quickly has destabilized that connection and he'll recover within a few days. In the meantime they need to counteract Shiro and link up with Saber of Red. Caules calls Kairi and negotiates a meeting with him and Mordred.
We then get a couple of character interludes that show everyone developing.
Caules and Fran get a cute scene alongside Chiron talking to him about Fiore.
Sieg continues to help with the homunculi and talks with Jeanne about war, her life, and being a hero.
Artoria worries over Shirou's collapsed body and contacts Sakura to give her an update, but leaves out Shirou's condition.
Shakespeare writes the story of female Artoria and submits it to an online contest.
Karna goes to see his insensate master and thinks on his battle with Artoria. His goal is to fight her, rather than Siegfried.
Kairi and Mordred talk before the meeting about his history and how she's going to deal with her father. Mordred requests a condition for the allying with them, although she's certain that they'll need to be at a distance given how much her father dislikes her.
Sieg, Astolfo, Jeanne and Fiore meet with Mordred who will agree to an alliance on the condition that Shirou trace Caliburn and let her draw the sword from the stone. They aren't sure if it is possible, but will do so as soon as Shirou awakes. Mordred and Kairi decide to stay away given Artoria's presence.
We move to Jack hunting for Fiore at the manor. She notices Artoria isn't moving and is acting to guard her master. She feels an aberration (Sieg) elsewhere and eventually reaches Fiore.
Sieg reaches Jack and Fiore but is too badly outmatched. The other servants arrive a moment later, saving them. While all of them are shocked but happy things didn't turn out badly only Chiron realizes that things never should have gotten this far.
Artoria is sitting at Shirou's bedside, blade planted in front of her, having decided to let Fiore die to ensure her master's protection in the unlikely event there was a second threat. Shirou stirs and wakes up.
The next day we move to a bunch of Artoria and Shirou watching over Jeanne and Sieg as decoys. Shirou and Artoria talk about what happened while he was unconscious. Shirou can tell something is wrong with Artoria, who feels regret about her actions yesterday. He eventually gets the truth out of her. Shirou says her protecting him like this isn't what he wants. That she shouldn't sacrifice herself for him. Artoria is still hurt by her failure and won't concede, she not only failed to protect him but turned into his enemy. And then she asks the question she's been secretly wondering ever since Shirou told her she was summoned on purpose: Why her? She failed, she turned against him, he should hate her, have never wanted to see her again.
Shirou smiles and answers: "We were partners. I failed you as much as you failed me. So when I heard about this, and realized I needed to fight there was only one person I could imagine by my side.
If you can forgive my failures then I can forgive yours. And then we can move forward, not as guardian and protector or master and servant but as partners, as friends."
"I think I can, and I think I would like that, Shirou"
They were still standing there, smiling at each other like idiots when the fog rolled in. They don't have any luck locating Jack, but both get pulled into her world when she and Rikka die. They're separated within the world and Shirou is confronted by the Jacks begging him to save them. Shirou is shaken, but reiterates that he is no longer the one who can save them. The children keep begging and under the mental pressure Shirou instinctively overlays his own version of Unlimited Blade Works onto the world. His is a grassland with a Sakura tree blooming at the center with a ribbon wrapped around it and a sheathed Caliburn and Byakuya and Kansho crossed before it. That sight seems to physically pain the manifestations around him and they retreat. Shirou states again that he isn't someone who can save them, but he still has as link to someone who can as the world begins to change again.
Regarding UBW Shirou can't invoke it. He's moving away from that person, but he still has enough trauma that it exists in some form. The Jack's world is a patchwork London made of the ideas of the many different souls that comprise Jack, so its especially vulnerable to being overwritten by one with a strong will and their own world. Normally the collective would eventually destroy the world and the one who created it due to the dissonance with the memory London, but Shirou's pseudo world is an expression of unconditional love for another person, the thing the Jacks want most in the world. They pathologically can't destroy it.
Jeanne is preparing to send the Jacks as the only act of mercy she can do, when another person arrives.
This Shirou Emiya had given up being a Hero of Justice, but he had merged his soul with another who had never truly been able to give up that dream and that fragment had lingered. Giving that fragment form within this world of dreams filled with those begging for salvation had not been hard.
"Who are you?" a small girl asked
The world flickered and for a long moment Jeanne saw Hell. Flames and agony and the wailing of the lost all coated in a layer of black, corrupting mud leaking from an inverse sun burning in a black sky. The children took it in, sensing a soul with pain similar to theirs, before that illusion faded and London returned.
"A Hero of Justice" Emiya responded
"Can you save us?"
Emiya sighed deeply. "Of course, he would summon me for this. This world is one where one is consumed for the sake of ten." The Jacks didn't nod, such a fundamental truth didn't require acknowledgment. "I spent my entire life fighting against that, for a world where everyone could be saved." Small blue flames appeared, burning away at the world. He looked up, talking to himself as much as the children, "Part of me wants to say I gave up on that. Ask me on a bad day and I might say I did. But at the end of time this remains my world, my inevitable conclusion." The flames consumed everything, without burning anyone, and in place of London a new world stood. The hellscape replaced by rolling blades of amber grass under a setting sun, with great gears turning in the sky, and the landscape dotted with Noble Phantasms.
"That my wish to save everyone was not wrong."
The Jacks looked around in awe at the world. Emiya knelt before the lead Jack asking "Could you show me your knife?" She obliged, and was surprised when a copy of it appeared in the ground in front of her. "While she sends you to your final rest, I will remember you forgotten children, here in a world that consumes no one for the sake of humanity." He said in gentle voice. The remaining Jacks looked on in awe before presenting their own knives and watching them be recorded. Then the lead one turned to Jeanne and said "We're ready now."
Jeanne puts them to rest, but before they all fade away the lead Jack runs up to Atalante and says "Thank you for caring for us, we wish you had been our mommy. We're sure we would have been happy then."
Jeanne turns to Emiya and remarks she can't believe he didn't show anything when she sent them on or from archiving those blades. Emiya is a soul fragment and so should have been gone with them. Rapidly fading, he smirks and replies "A hero of justice can't be weak in front of those he's saving." Before vanishing entirely and letting Shirou hit the ground face first. Jeanne rushes to Sieg who has been affected badly by the world.
Atalante is emotionally broken, first from the world, then from the Jacks' words to her. Chiron takes aim at her, but is intercepted by Achilles. Achilles takes her away and everyone else returns as Sieg tries to work through what he's just experienced.
Sieg ruminates on the encounter with Jack and Archer through the next day with Astolfo and his encounter with Mordred, before Mordred forces payment of her end of the deal. In the meantime Jeanne confronts Shirou about who he is and his goals here. Shirou talks about his future self and his questions about the corruption in the grail. Before they can decide anything Mordred interrupts demanding a go at the sword of selection.
Mordred, Shirou, and Artoria go to a rock and Shirou traces Caliburn. A homunculus tests it and confirms the sword can't be drawn. Mordred tries to draw the sword and fails. Mordred makes excuses, rants, and ultimately flies into a rage over her failure. Even that fades and she says Artoria must be happy while crying before astralizing and running away before Artoria can respond.
That night, Shirou is talking to Sakura before heading out of his room. He finds Artoria in front of Caliburn in the stone as she draws the blade. She said she thought that she wasn't that person anymore, the one who threw away any chance at a life for her country. Shirou confirms she isn't but that that wasn't what made her worthy. They talk about Mordred for a bit and Artoria says she could never give her the fatherly affection she seeks. King Arthur didn't have it in him and Artoria can't get over Mordred leading the rebellion. She can understand Mordred now, why she wants that fatherly affection, but she still can't give it to her.
Mordred is despondent back with Kairi. Kairi tries cheering her up saying that the sword doesn't matter but that doesn't really work and just makes her angrier. Kairi asks why she wanted to be king. She responds to surpass her father, to which he responds that of course the sword would reject her. Mordred flips out but Kairi pushes back at her. She doesn't even want to surpass her father she just wants his acknowledgement. Mordred tries to deny it and threatens to kill him but Kairi calls her bluff.
Mordred breaks down and admits it. She'd idolized King Arthur and when she'd found out she was his son it was the happiest day of her life. But the rejection in that she couldn't be king and of their bond had turned all that happiness to ash. If the sword acknowledged her than he would have to. Kairi comforts her then talks about what he's seen in his dreams. Not the betrayal or the hill or the rejection but the time between. When she actually ruled the kingdom, the satisfaction she'd felt in driving off invaders or ensuring everyone was fed and happy. That in spite of everything Morgana had raised her to be she'd still chosen good when in a decent emotional state. And it was those qualities that would make her a worthy king. Mordred breaks down.
Atalante still hasn't moved from her room in the hanging gardens when Shakespeare enters. He manipulates Atalante, having been observing from a distance, and is able to redirect her apathy into anger at Jeanne and Sieg. He walks out smirking about how he can't let a player exit the stage before he's gotten the full value out of them.
Sieg confess still being uncertain to Astolfo and Jeanne. He's seen so much and so many examples different kinds of heroism that he has no idea what to do. He's also now seen the dark side of humanity and is still grappling with it. Astolfo and Jeanne say that can be his resolve then to learn more about humanity and to discover what he wants to do with that life of his. Siegfried didn't give up his life to force Sieg to become a hero, he did it so Sieg could live, with all that entailed. He'd been alive for less than a week, nobody figured things out that quickly.
Amakusa enters the grail and is able to successfully configure it, he believes. He has his conversation with the greater grail and attempts to connect with it. The scene is laced with multiple hints that things are not what they seem: the woman wears a black dress, the sky is red and the sun black, and the flowers are blood red.
Caules is in pain from the transfer as Fran comforts him. Caules finds it funny a week ago he didn't even want to summon a servant. Now he couldn't imagine life without Fran going around unplugging his electronics. Fran blushes before saying "me….too…" and kissing him. Caules kisses her back, thinking this probably isn't wise but that he's done being wise for the day.
Mordred and Artoria meet before dawn before the mission, with Shirou and Kairi watching. Kairi says it's a shame they won't remember it back on the throne, but Shirou responds that servants have some records and that sometimes things stay with them. The two then talk a bit more, before Mordred and Artoria finish their conversation. Mordred looks back to the sword of selection, before smashing it and moving on.
The characters attack from the planes similarly to in canon, although Sieg is with Jeanne rather than Astolfo. Jeanne is more confused about Atalante's attack, but resolves to fight her with all her might when she says she'll murder Sieg first so Jeanne can know how it feels to lose the one she loves.
Mordred and Kairi force their way into the Hanging Gardens and encounter Semiramis. The two banter a bit, and eventually Mordred says Semiramis still reminds her of Morgana and attacks.
Karna's attack on Astolfo is halted by Artoria and Shirou's assault, which forces Karna into a two on one battle. Karna's stat advantages and greater familiarity with his weapon should give him advantages (Artoria is forced into using Rhongonmyniad to actually pierce his armor), but Shirou's support keeps the battle even (he can't harm Karna much, but well timed arrows slow or alter the direction of his strikes). He asks Caules, as in canon, to save the masters before clashing with them. After a clash between
Rhongonmyniad and Brahmastra Kundala Karna says he knew she'd abandoned much, but thought her sense of honor and chivalry weren't something she'd abandon. Artoria retorts the Holy Grail War involves Master and Servant fighting as team, that Karna's master can't or won't fight on the battlefield with him is a disadvantage of his own making. Karna acknowledges their way of fighting but claims he will protect his master and that he alone is more than enough to defeat any foe.
Karna's armor burned away, and the world began to burn with it. His spear changed, gaining a burning black point that hurt Shirou to look at and whose might Artoria could feel from here. A great eye, matching the design on his spear was drawn in flame behind him. "Though I have heard your names from Shiro Kotomine I would hear them from you now, my great rivals."
Artoria dismissed Rhongonmyniad. At full power the lance might be able to stop the blow Karna was preparing, but that was no longer a price she was willing to pay. Instead she brought Excalibur to her hand and planted it before her. "Artoria Pendragon."
"Shirou Emiya."
Karna smiled faintly "I see. What wonderful names. In honor of the strength of your bond I shall grant you the greatest attack I can muster."
"Know the mercy of the king of gods. With this single strike I shall inflict extinction. Burn to Cinders."
Shirou simply raised his hand in response and Artoria's instincts told her to do the same. Excalibur couldn't counter such a blow, but Artoria had once possessed a Noble Phantasm that could. A Noble Phantasm Shirou had seen beneath the tree when he had brought his own world into reality. The beautiful blue sheath formed and floated before them.
"I see, so this is why you summoned me in that shed the first night."
"I suppose it is, though I like to think I'd have summoned you anyway." They both smiled at that as Karna fired his Noble Phantasm.
O'Sun abide death, Vasavi Shakti!
The Everdistant Utopia, Avalon!
The wave of burning death met the shimmering golden barrier and attempted to break through to strike at the two defended by it. They both poured everything they had into the defense even as the world around them was reduced to cinders.
Karna saw the last of the flames fade and was struck by the sight of the two of them standing side by side, wreathed in golden light that was not fading but intensifying as Artoria now held her sword above her head in a two-handed grip.
Excalibur!
Karna, still weakened from firing his Noble Phantasm, could do nothing as the wave of golden light slammed into him.
"I wonder if we would have been able to avoid this had you been by my side, Master."
Elsewhere Atalante, Jeanne, and Sieg continue their battle. Atalante invokes Agruis Metamorphosis, but Jeanne and Sieg are able to stay alive since Atalante is hyperfocused on killing Sieg and not fighting well. Astolfo also joins the battle and eventually the three of them are able to kill Atalante, with Jeanne striking the final blow. Atalante breaks down crying as in canon, admitting she was just trying to blame Jeanne for the pain and wondering what she should have done.
Unfortunately, the tragedy doesn't end there, as Achilles arrives just as Jeanne kills Atalante. His mad enhancement takes over and he brutally attacks the trio. Achilles is clearly different, seemingly delighting in causing Jeanne, Astolfo and Sieg pain. The fight seems even until Achilles summons his chariot and shield, which Jeanne notes he did not have before. After that he clearly out matches the trio, laughing sadistically he beats them around the arena. The worst of his wrath is reserved for Jeanne as the actual killer.
Jeanne and Astolfo eventually tell Sieg to run, saying that if they die it doesn't matter while Sieg only has one life left. Achilles laughs and taunts Sieg he'd better run far, far away. He taunts Sieg and Jeanne saying that after he's done beating Jeanne he'll keep her alive so she can watch him kill every master and servant on her side, all those homunculi she tried so hard save, and her finally beloved Sieg before he beats her to death with his severed head.
Whatever Sieg's doubts about humanity or what he should do with his life he recognizes he will not allow the brutality Achilles intends to inflict to stand. That to do so would be a betrayal of everything he knows about right and wrong and that he's seen thus far. He hears Siegfried's voice, which commends him on his resolve and says it will grant him the power to match his will. Sieg transforms into Siegfried and engages Achilles.
Whereas Jeanne was commander and Astolfo a paladin more renowned for his misadventures than skill, Siegfried is one of the greatest Germanic warriors in history and is able to match the maddened Achilles strike for strike. In a neutral fight they would be an even match, but Achilles is badly wounded from his battle with Chiron, has lost his blessing, and has further sustained some wounds in his battle with Jeanne and Astolfo. The fight ends when, in a mirror of their earlier fight, Siegfried lets one of Achilles' skate off his invincible armor and drives his blade through Achilles' heart.
Achilles' madness fades away as he does, and he apologizes for his earlier behavior. He doesn't say he didn't mean it, since he absolutely did at the time, but says he has a way to make up for it. He tosses Astolfo his shield saying he'll find a use for it shortly. Astolfo tries to ask him what that means but Achilles fades away smiling without answering.
Shirou and Artoria find Kairi's dead body and are saddened by his death, but note he seems to have died satisfied. From the condition of the room Artoria thinks that Mordred likely took Semiramis out and acknowledges Mordred's skill. They move on and the two Shiro(u)s meet again.
Shirou has Artoria step back, saying he'll face Shiro alone. Shiro asks if the fact they once shared the same dream is enough for them to reach an understanding. Shirou says he abandoned that dream, but nonetheless asks how Shiro intends to save the world, and Shiro reveals his plan.
Shirou acknowledges his plan, and says in another world he might even have supported him, but also states that it's impossible in this world. Shiro questions why and Shirou explains Angra Mainyu and its form of salvation. Shiro states that such a thing won't happen with his grail and Shirou responds by asking him to look at the greater grail. The grail is a pulsing black orb with monstrous demons where the angels would be. The grail's corruption has become open and obvious. Shiro, however, denies that reality and the two engage in combat to decide the fate of the world.
Meanwhile Jeanne, Sieg and Astolfo are delayed by Shakespeare, who writes alternate stories to delay them. Astolfo faces a world where Celenike won when she encountered them. Sieg one where he was thrown out with other homunculi. Jeanne one where she failed to stop Atalante. It takes some time, but all of them realize the falseness of the worlds due to their bonds and escape the worlds only to find Shakespeare long gone.
Shirou and Shiro continue fighting and are evenly matched. Semiramis attempts to intervene on Shiro's side, but is stopped by Artoria. Shiro reinforces her with a command spell but in hear weakened state it still isn't enough until Shakespeare appears with a shadow servant shaped like Mordred's armor to reinforce her. The actual Mordred wouldn't answer his call, so this is the best he can summon. It lacks Mordred's mind or skills but is still sturdy enough to force a stalemate.
Shirou and Shiro continue their battle, both of them desperately stop the other. Shiro invokes his Big Bang Attack, which Shirou counters with Caladbolg. In the aftermath of the explosion is able to inflict a fatal wound on Shiro. Shirou has narrowly won the fight but is badly injured and Semiramis absconds with her defeated Master. Shakespeare and the phantasm vanish as Artoria goes to make sure Shirou will be fine, which he confirms. They still have no way to stop the grail.
Semiramis and Shiro have the same conversation as in canon, but Semiramis lying the whole time pretending the plan will work. After Shiro dies Semiramis is happy her skills at deception could be used for good, just once, before she also fades away.
Jeanne, Sieg, and Astolfo arrive to see the corrupted grail. All present realize that the grail has to be destroyed, but that doing so will likely release the thing in the grail into the world. Astolfo remembers what Achilles told him earlier and says they can destroy it in the world of Achilles' shield where it can't do any harm. All realize it will require her and Astolfo to sacrifice themselves, which Sieg refuses to allow. Sieg tells Jeanne to let him use Luminosite Eternelle to protect them. Jeanne says she appreciates it but it won't work, as her noble phantasm is based on the user's magic resistance.
Artoria states that Sieg has the core of one who bathed in the blood of a dragon and should have high magic resistance as a result. As he doesn't possess Siegfried's Armor of Fafnir it isn't negated either. Jeanne also says that Luminosite Eternelle only works on those who witnessed her legend, but Sieg responds he did see her legend in the Great Holy Grail War. (This is a contrivance to get around the contrivance that only those who saw her legend can wield the flag). The three step forward and invoke the La Pucelle, Akhilleus Kosmos, and Luminosite Eternelle. The greater grail is destroyed and Angra Mainyu is trapped in Akhilleus Kosmos and destroyed when Astolfo collapses the world. Sieg is able to hold out long enough to protect them.
Jeanne is still dying from La Pucelle and there is nothing anyone can do about that. Jeanne and Sieg's relationship has been much more platonic in this fic, with her acting more as a mentor than love interest. Jeanne tells Sieg to live life to its fullest, which he swears to do as she fades away leaving Laeticia behind.
Everyone flees the Hanging Gardens with the two Riders getting everyone out as the Garden's collapse. Shakespeare fades away after finishing his story, satisfied with conclusion but still wishing he could be the protagonist.
Waver is talking with Caules and Rin about the results of the war and his acceptance into the Clock Tower. On the news in the background, we hear of the international smash hit story about King Arthur submitted by a mystery author to an online contest. Waver warns him about the risk he's taking keeping a "homunculus like that", but Caules says he's learned such risks and responsibility are worth taking. Waver simply sighs as Flat and Reines interrupt to mess with Caules. All Rin can do is laugh knowingly saying he should pick a place further away from the clock tower if he's going to hide a servant. Waver is concerned about Gray but Rin waves a familiar jagged dagger saying she has and idea for how to sever the connection.
Fiore is in physical therapy and looking forward to going to college. Gordes has taken in the homunculi and is raising his son.
Shirou is talking with Sakura about upcoming their upcoming wedding a few months after the event when they're interrupted by a knock on the door. Shirou opens it expecting to see Rider, only to see the wrong Rider. Astolfo, Sieg, and Laeticia greet them. Shirou welcomes them in, and they say they've been traveling now that Laeticia's graduated. They talk about all the places they've visited and thing they've seen, and Laeticia jokes about the grail war giving her a taste for adventure. Sieg is more sure of himself, but still not completely sure of what he wants.
Artoria and Medusa return home and Astolfo jokes that there've never been so many Riders in one place before. Artoria has been living her life and is working to find what she wants to do with her new life. Medusa has taken up librarian as a career and Sakura jokes Shirou needs to find a career path too. Shirou replies that he sent that application into culinary school a few weeks ago. Astolfo asks to see some of those skills and Shirou goes off to make dinner for them, all of them happy.
And that is what would have been Apocryphal Night. If someone else wanted to take up the story using this outline I'd have no problems. I hope this given at least some closure to the people following this story. Thanks for reading what I did write and this.