PART 5 OF 5
The sun peeked over the mountaintops. Its rays of light, suffused by the incessant snowstorm that raged outside of Chaldea, entered his bedroom through a small window, lightly illuminating the small room and the people inside with its white, candid glow. And when the red-haired young man noticed it, when the bright shine of the sun reached his face from the right, all the weight of responsibility and duty fell back on his shoulders once again.
The fateful morning had finally come.
Shirou took a breath. There was no going back now. Sink, or swim; those were his two options. This would be the very first page of his new story decorated with his name. The first, true actions he would undertake as Shirou Emiya, the boy who had accepted his past even without memories. After what was about to happen today, only time would tell whether he and the others would remember his actions as a noble and worthy gesture, or as a resounding failure and defeat.
Mordred, Iskandar and Ritsuka watched him with alert eyes and tense expressions. "You all know my task," Shirou told to his friends and his Master. They all nodded, crossing their arms and staring at him intently as he strengthened his resolve and prepared to face Destiny. "Let's go."
Shirou got up from the bed and wrapped his white cape around his shoulders.
Mordred placed herself next to him with a determined expression. "Do not fail her," she simply said. He shared a nod with the Knight of Treachery, before clenching his fists and preparing himself for the task ahead. Together, the four of them stepped outside his room and marched into the lights of Chaldea.
Shirou stared forward with a gaze filled with cold and merciless decision.
Artoria stared at the scene right ahead with trembling arms and hands clasped together.
There were no words to describe the terror and anxiety she was feeling right now. An overwhelming sense of anguish and fear pervaded her soul, and the King of Knights was finding herself unable to hold it back, even despite her fortitude and all the years spent restraining her emotions as a King and a Knight. It was simply impossible for her to stay calm on that moment. Not when the duel that was about to take place meant so much to her. And, above all, not when the price at stake was her one and only chance to build a new future together with her beloved. It simply was too much to bear, even for King Arthur.
The Attendance Room was full as never before. An exorbitant number of Servants were present. Almost all of them, actually. Artoria knew it was unavoidable, but this awareness only instilled more anxiety inside her. The news that Shirou had publicly challenged Gilgamesh – the legendary, arrogant and cruel King of Heroes – to a duel, had spread around Chaldea in a matter of hours during the night. And now, because of this, almost every single staff member and every single Servant in the facility had come to watch the battle. It was a scene that no one, even among the countless Heroes, was willing to miss. And this fact only scared her further.
Her friends, as always, were standing right next to her. Jeanne, Isthar, the Knights, Merlin, and even Emiya had come to assist the duel and offer her some comfort and support during this tense moment. Irisviel, Kiritsugu and Illya were here as well, unable to miss the fight that their newest family member was about to undertake under everyone's eyes. And among the countless Heroes in the room, Artoria recognized several familiar faces who had come to watch the show like them.
She saw Medea, Diarmuid, Lord El Melloi II, Cú Chulainn, Parvati, Chiron, Medusa, Heracles, Vlad III, Achilles, Jekyll, Oda Nobunaga, Hassan of the Cursed Arm, Astolfo, Mata Hari, Ushiwakamaru, Shakespeare, Siegfried, Nero, Karna, Okita, Frankenstein… and many, many others. Even Ozymandias was present, much to everyone's shock. The Egyptian Pharaoh was not going to miss the fight of his rival King, it seemed. But there were simply too many Heroes to count them all. So many, in fact, that the room was literally full right now. All the seats in front of the large glass overlooking the Training Room had been occupied since a long time, and many Servants were forced to stand, lean against the walls or even sit on the ground to be able to watch the duel.
In all of Chaldea's history, there has never been a crowd like this for a fight. It was almost breathtaking to see.
And yet, despite this incredible feat, the air was filled only with tension and anticipation. Everyone present had their eyes glued to the large training grounds, impatiently waiting for the two duelists to make their appearance. And Artoria still couldn't placate her growing nervousness as the seconds and minutes passed quickly. Her breaths were getting more and more frantic by the seconds.
"It's ok, Arty. We're here," came the calm, soothing voice of Jeanne from her left side. The blonde Saint immediately put one hand on her shoulder, trying to calm her down with her presence. "Everything's gonna be fine."
Artoria nodded, swallowing in an attempt to quell a sudden choking sob of concern. "I-I know..." she said, trying to sound confidant, as if she was trying to convince herself. It didn't work, of course. "I... I just..."
Isthar sighed with an uncertain expression. "We know, Artoria. We feel exactly like you right now," she tried to tell her with all the reassurance she could muster in that situation.
Her words did little to allay her anxiety. Artoria kept her hands clasped together, so hard that her fingers and her knuckles turned white as bones. It was only thanks to her countless years of training and her habit of keeping a stone-faced mask that she managed to hold back the tremor in her body and the quivering of her lips. And yet, to those who knew her better, that sight was clearly showing how worried and nervous she truly was at the moment. Emiya, Jeanne and all those who knew her a little more thoroughly knew that she was inwarldy screaming and crying in fear. And this realization was like a heavy blow to their hearts. Especially because there was nothing they could do to reassure her.
Gawain glanced at the worried face of his King with a frown, trying to sound as discreet as possible while he voiced his doubts. "Do... Do you think the boy can stand a chance?" he asked, addressing everyone and no one with that question.
The other visibly hesitated at that question. Even the stony-faced Kiritsugu was narrowing his eyes in obvious worry. Only Illya rounded on him with a full-fledged glare. "Of course he does! Onii-chan is strong! Very strong! If he could beat my Berserker Heracles during our War, then he can beat that golden Archer too!" she delcared boldly, without an ounce of hesitation. She even puffed her cheeks and chest as she spoke, crossing her arms in decision.
"This is completely different, Illya," Isthar retorted with a frown. "Gilgamesh is stronger that Heracles. Maybe not physically, of course, but he can count on an almost infinite number of Noble Phantasms. An opponent with a skill like that is extremely dangerous to anyone... but especially to a Saber-class Servant like him. As much as I hate to admit it, that disgusting King has the advantage in this battle."
"Maybe he would have been able to survive for a little if he could to use the Reality Marble like me," Emiya spoke right after the goddess. His narrowed eyes were glued to the training ground while the other galnced at him. "But as he is now... I too doubt he can actually fight and physically harm him with his sword. Gilgamesh won't let him fight on close range, for sure."
Lancelot scoffed in disgust. "I thought the same. That bastard is arrogant, but clever," he admitted with irritation.
Artoria was growing more and more panicked as she heard her friends spoke those words. And yet, Irisviel glanced at Emiya with a little smile on her lips. "Do you really have so little faith in your younger counterpart, my dear? Even after he beat you so easily during the evaluation?" she retorted with a pinch of irony and amusement.
The Archer stiffened, blushing a little as the others chuckled after those words. Even Kiritsugu was now looking at him with mirth and amusement. He merely coughed to regain his composure after a few seconds. "…I was holding back during the evaluation. And, more importantly, I'm not even close to Gilgamesh's strength," he replied evenly in the end.
The others were about to retort, but Merlin beat them to the punch. "Who knows... maybe that boy will surprise us again," he declared instead. His lips curled into a strange smile as he glanced to the left side of the room. "After all, there is one person who still seems to believe blindly in him despite everything..."
The others followed his gaze, and saw that Iskandar and Mordred had just entered the room. The King of Conquerors looked tense and anxious as he walked towards them, but Mordred... Mordred had a determined and serene look on her face. She seemed almost impatient, actually. There was not a single trace of concern in those wide, green eyes of hers. And that surprised everyone, even Artoria.
"You've finally arrived, my King," said Lord El Melloi II with a nod. "I presume the boy is finally ready?"
The tall man with red hair and beard nodded solemnly. "We just saw him off. He's heading there right now," he confirmed, making everyone tense and stiffen even further as he sat down on the ground close to them.
Mordred looked at everyone with a raised eyebrow. "You look like a bunch of scared cats. What's wrong with all of you?" she asked with obvious confusion.
Tristan sighed and shook his head in disbelief. "Are you really asking this?" he muttered incredulously.
"We're worried for the boy, Mordred, just like our King is," Bedivere spoke to explain slowly, noticing Artoria's tense expression and trying to be as delicate as possible with his words.
"Yeah! What about you, instead? You too were worried like crazy yesterday," Isthar pointed out suddently. "How can you be so calm right now? Don't you know how powerful that repulsive man is? Emiya-kun is in danger!"
Mordred didn't even react to her words. She simply glanced at her father, offering a little smile at her worried and tense face. "I have faith in him," she merely replied, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "I know that it was unexpected for him to suggest something like this… but that guy has never let me down before. So, I trust him. I know he will win over that shitty, old king without problems." She sat on the ground in front of Artoria, looking at her straight into the eyes. "Don't you have faith in him too, Father?"
The female King hesitated for a couple of seconds, before hinting at an uncertain smile as well. "I do, Mordred. I have faith in him. I have faithfully waited a thousand years for him, after all," her eyes glanced to the training grounds after she spoke those words. Her gaze became uncertain once again. "It's just... I'm afraid of what that loathsome King could do to him. He's so obsessed with me that I can't help but worry about this," she spat with disdain and disgust. "I never wished for Shirou to involve himself with him ever again."
Her son forrowed her brows, almost growling at that man's mention. "Yeah, that guy's a creep. I would personally shove my sword up to his ass if I could," she agreed with a nod.
Despite her questionable choice of words, everyone could't help but agree on that.
It was true. They couldn't deny it. Gilgamesh was too arrogant, too overbearing, and too irritating for their tastes. And that went not only for Artoria and her friends, but for everyone present here. It could safely be said that almost every Servant in Chaldea would enjoy seeing the King of Uruk lose and be put in place at least once. It was inevitable, given the way he looked down on everyone with superiority and disdain.
Merlin smiled even wider. "Such an incredible faith in him… that boy must be quite something to be able to tame the Knight of Treachery," he mused in his head, his right eyebrow twitching a little. He was still upset over that guy's incredible charming abilities. His eyes flashed with jealousy for a couple of seconds. "I will discover your secret one day. Oh, you can bet I will…" Of that, the wizard was certain.
"...I guess King Arthur's son is right," said a sudden voice after a couple of seconds of silence. Everyone's eyes turned to stare in amazement and disbelief at Kiritsugu's impassive face, while the tanned Assassin stared forward with a narrowed gaze. "We'll just have to have faith in Shirou. That's all we can do right now."
Emiya smirked a little. "Funny to hear yo say that, old man. Are you finally growing softer after all this time?" he joked lightly. Kiritsugu merely shrugged in response, hiding a little smile.
Artoria watched her beloved's adoptive father for a couple of seconds before nodding and smiling faintly. Despite all the bad history that existed between the two of them, at this moment he was right. She had to believe. She had to have faith. She had to have faith in Shirou, and wholeheartedly support him once again; just like she did all those years ago, when they fought side by side to destroy the Grail and put an end to that terrible War. That's all she could do right now. All she had to do.
Shirou had always found a way to amaze her in the past, and she was sure he would do it once again.
"I'll believe in you, Shirou," she mentally promised, trying to strengthen her faith and resolve. "I always have, and I always will."
Five seconds of silence passed after that. Artoria saw Isthar open her mouth to say something, when suddenly she and her friends noticed that the other Servants in the room had became immediately serious and attentive without warning. Everyone's gazes fell on the trasparent window, and their eyes immediately saw what had caught everyone's attention.
Shirou was approaching the Training Room field, walking with a raised head and firm step. He wore is usual white kimono-like cloak like a cape, his rigid body wrapped in an aura of confidence and cold decision, while his right hand was already outstretched and placed on the hilt of his sword. Beside him, Artoria could see Master Ritsuka and Mashu entering the Training Room as well, joining with Doctor Roman, Da Vinci and Scáthach, who had previously been waiting to the right side of the room, checking some display with stats and informations and testing the limits of the training ground for the upcoming duel.
The King of Knights narrowed her eyes in worry and fear as soon as she saw her beloved take position at the center of the room. Despite her fortitude and her best efforts, she couldn't help but feel this emotions right now. It was simply impossible for her to mantain her usual stoic and collected expression.
"Look! There he is!" exclaimed one of the many Servants scattered around the room. Judging by the voice, it was undoubtedly Boudica.
"About damn time! I was sick and tired of waiting!" Medb complained loudly among the crowd of Servants.
"Cut your rambling, you crazy woman. Nobody cares about your impatience anyway," Cú Chulainn retorted with an irritated voice.
"WHAT DID YOU SAY!?"
Ignoring the growing whispers and words of the crowd, Iskandar grinned in anticipation as soon as he saw the boy. "Well, here goes nothing," he declared, nodding to himself and crossing his muscular arms as Artoria and her friends instantly tensed in concern.
Medea giggled as he watched the red-haired young man in the field with an intrigued gaze. "Oh my, he's definetely more handsome than I remembered…"
"I know, right? I was surprised too when I first saw him," Medusa agreed with a sly grin, licking her lips and making a lot of Servants shiver or stare at the young Saber with obvious jealousy.
Merlin felt like crying on that moment. "Please, not you guys too!" he mentally pleaded.
The blonde King of Knights ignored them. Given the current concern and worry that she was feeling right now, she simply chose to not bother with those teasing declarations… for now. All that mattered was Shirou's safety, and she was already screaming inside her head in worry. Adding more emotional weight would surely destroy her.
Lancelot glanced at his King, and then to the boy she loved so dearly who was standing alone on the field. "I don't see that despicable king," he noted in all seriousness, narrowing his eyes.
"Worry not, Knight of the Round," spoke a strong, commanding voice from the right side. Artoria, Jeanne and all the others turned their heads towards the man who spoke with a narrowed gaze filled with concern. Ozymandias, the King of Kings, was standing in front of the window glass, looking at the Training Room with an impassive – if not sligtly irritated – face. Nitocris was standing right next to him with a raised brow. "That ancient King is sure to be on his way. It is unbecoming of a King to be late to a sworn duel. But knowing Gilgamesh, he's surely waiting because he wants to prove that the commoners should wait for his appereance. What a reprehensible sight. I truly pity that boy of yours, King Arthur."
Artoria felt her brow furrow in worry and suspicion. "Are you interested in Shirou too, King of Kings?" she demanded, her tone as serious as it could be.
Ozymandias offered her a slight, confident grin. "He is, indeed, fascinating. To challenge the oldest king in history so boldly, he must have quite the courage," he admitted, nodding towards the red-haired boy. His grin widened even further after that. "And besides, he's the one who managed to steal the stone-faced King Arthur's heart, is he not? That's something that even the great I wasn't expecting. I do hold interest for Heroic Spirits who are bound to those who are pure and honest in nature. All the more so if they are heroes who had saved the world like you. Don't you agree, Nitocris?"
That made Artoria pause, much like everyone else. From the Pharaoh's right, Nitocris merely shrugged. Her arms were crossed as she looked at him and said. "He is intriguing, I admit, but he's still coveted by too much royalty for my tastes," she merely said, her eyes flickering between Ozymandias, Iskandar, and Artoria.
"Umu~ I'm interested in him too, you know!" exclaimed a certain Empress amidst the crowd of Heroes with a cheeky, loud voice.
Mordred glared at all of them with a menacing stare. "Don't even think about it, you all hear! Shirou belongs to Father! He's no one else's!" she declared loudly with absolute certainty, as if it was something obvious. The two Kings laughed heartily at her words – much like every Servants in the room – while Artoria blushed madly and looked down at the ground in embarrassment under the others' amused gazes. Her son looked at her in confusion, unaware of the effect her words were having on her.
Jeanne and the others laughed as Mordred watched in utter confusion her father's red face as she avoided her confused eyes. Small streams of smoke were even coming out of her ears for some strange reasons. Could ears even do that?
Instead, among the amused crowd, a certain Wizard of Flowers was openly weeping.
"Please make it stop…!"
Shirou took a deep breath, trying to relieve his growing irritation as he patiently waited inside the Training Room. His left hand clenched into a fist, while he kept his right one glued to the hilt of his sword with a prudent attention. Despite all of his best efforts, he was growing more and more impatient by the second. He was not afraid – this duel had been his idea, after all – but he had been waiting for five minutes already, and yet that damned King hadn't deigned to show himself.
That man's superiority complex was starting to infuriate him more and more.
Beside him, on the right side of the fields, Ritsuka and his ever-present aide Mashu were nervously waiting like him, their bodies stiff and their expressions growing more and more tense by the second. In front of the display that monitored all the training grounds, instead, Doctor Roman and Da Vinci were fumbling with a keyboard in attempt to control and organize something he was unaware of. And still, on the opposite side of the room, the woman he met the day before – Scáthach, if he remembered correctly – was waiting with arm crossed, eyes closed and a scowl on her face, leaning against a wall. Ritsuka had chosen her as the mediator for the duel, so her presence was not very surprising. Shirou didn't mind too much.
Behind him, a large window was set in place on the wall that marked the boundary with the Attendance Room, where his trained senses could literally detect a countless myriad of Heroic Spirits intent on waiting and observing him with morbid attention. There must have been more than thirty of them, he guessed. This knowledge made him smile briefly, even despite the tension. He sure did attract a large crowd with his actions, no doubt. And he had been summoned here just three days ago. It had to be a record, surely. He could not tell just how many Servants were watching him behind that window. There were too many powerful signatures to be counted. He still recognized Artoria, Mordred, Iskandar and his adoptive family among them… but it was hard to tell.
As they waited in silence, Shirou felt a distinct presence began to fill he air after two more minutes. His body stiffened immediatly, just as everyone else did soon after him. Even Ritsuka noticed that presence after a few seconds. After a few moments of silence, the purple-haired Lancer on the side slowly opened her eyes, glaring at the invisible Servant with a displeased frown.
"You're finally here," she spat, separating herself from the wall with a scowl. "How long were you planning to make us wait, King of Heroes?"
In a shower of golden dust, Gilgamesh appeared in all his glory in front of Shirou, with a dozen meters that separated them. Gone were his previous elegant clothes from yesterday, replaced by a full-body armor made of golden metal and prana. The air became immediately cold and tense after his sudden arrival. As soon as he appeared, Ritsuka, Mashu and the others from the side watched him with a careful gaze while he crossed his arms in disdain.
"Watch your tone when you're in my presence, Witch of Dún Scáith," he causally replied, his red eyes still glued to Shirou's own with blatant hatred. "If you don't want the one, true King to send you back to the Land of Shadows."
Scáthach frowned in irritation but said no more. Shirou took a step forward, gritting his teeth even as he forced a smile on his lips. "I see that you have deigned to show up, at last," he began to say with a fake smile. "I'm honored that the great King Gilgamesh accepted to indulge on my selfish wish to fight him in a duel. I would have preferred to begin early and without an audience, but that's not the King of Heroes style, isn't it?" Shirou said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
Gilgamesh merely sneered at him. "It's only common for pathetic mortals to wait for their King. And besides, that way has no flare to it, Faker," he snorted.
Shirou smirked a little. At least this could be a chance to humiliate him in front of every Servant of Chaldea. He could live with that, he decided. "I presume you already know what this is about," he spoke again, more serious than before. "This is a duel to end once and for all our supposed dispute from the past. Whoever wins this battle, will have the right to put an end to this matter in any way he sees fit. Do we have an agreement?"
"Your bluntness towards me is highly irritating, mongrel... but I will let it slide for now. I already agreed to this farce, and I do not repeat myself," he conceded in the end, nodding with a cruel smile.
"I trust you'll keep your word then, when this duel is over," the younger man stressed again, looking deadly serious and determined.
The King of Uruk growled, but kept his face filled with arrogance and superiority even as he snarled. "Don't think too highly of yourself, dog. There's no way that a pathetic, worthless Faker like you could ever best the King of Heroes. The one who will lose here is you, not me. I have decided so, and so it shall be!" he retorted, looking absolutely unaware of the notion of losing a battle.
The boy narrowed his eyes in anger, but kept silent with a mere nod of dissmissal.
Having recieved the approval of the loathsome King, then, the red-haired young man turned to his Master. "Master Ritsuka, can we use our full abilities, as I requested earlier?" he asked him.
The young boy nodded in response. "I give you my permission, as long as everything's in order," his eyes glanced to Roman and Da Vinci along with Mashu after those words. "Is everything ready?"
Roman nodded while Da Vinci gave them a thumb's up after closing the big display. "Yes. We're set, now. We modified the room so that it can contain the force of several A-Rank Noble Phantasms being unleashed. You can go all-out, if you wish," the italian genius explained in all seriousness, even if a trepidant glint was flashing into her eyes as she spoke.
Shirou smiled, tightening his grip on the hilt of the sword. "Good," was all he said.
Ritsuka looked at the two Servants with a serious, determined expression. "Let's make one thing clear," he began to say, all of a sudden. "I gave you permission to fight, but this is not a battle to the death. You can inflict wounds and unleash your true powers, but I won't allow any of you to die because of a grudge of the past. That goes especially for you, King Gilgamesh."
The golden Archer glared briefly to the young Master.
"Can I trust you to restrain yourself for once? I will be forced to use a Command Seal if you try something," the boy warned, completely unfazed by his glare. He would not back down from this, even under threat.
Gilgamesh scoffed with a snort. "Worry not, Fujimaru. I have no need to kill a useless dog like him. But I will put him back to his place, where he belongs," he hissed, his voice filled with contempt. He then focused his gaze back on the Saber, grinning like a madman. "I can't wait to see you grovel at my feet as I order you to leave the King of Knights permanently and never see her again!"
Everyone in the room could literally feel the outraged and angry look of a certain woman from the Attendance Room after that declaration. The King of Uruk didn't seem to mind in the slightest.
Shirou merely drew his sword with an indifferent expression. "We shall see," was all he said.
Ritsuka turned his attention to the woman standing on the opposite side of the room. "Scáthach, you requested to be the mediator for this fight. Can I count on you to make sure everything goes smoothly?"
The female Lancer nodded with her usual impassive gaze. "I will do as requested, Master," she replied, summoning a red lance with a twist of her hand.
Everyone present nodded to each other after that exchange. Nobody spoke any more words. There was no point in wasting breath now. They all had come here to see a battle, to see a feud settle forever. There was no time to hesitate anymore. There was no time to waste. It was time to get this over with once and for all. And this was final. There was no escape, no way back now. They had to fight and settle thing, and there was no way to stop them. One of them had to win, and the other had to lose. That was the one and only way to close this matter for good. And they all knew it.
Several seconds passed, followed by sheer silence.
The two challengers could feel the countless gazes of the others pointed at them, even from the Attendance Room. But they didn't care.
The only thing that mattered right now was to end this dispute. And Shirou had no intention to back down from this. He had to do it. He had to fight. For himself. For his past self. And for Artoria.
Especially for Artoria.
He would win this battle at all costs.
For her.
Shirou readied his sword with a fighting stance as Gilgamesh sneered at him with his arm crossed in disdain.
"I'll give you the signal," Scáthach declared, raising her lance to the air with one hand. "Prepare yourselves!"
The two Servants glared at each other.
In the Attendance Room, everyone watched the scene with bated breath and great anticipation. Here, where there had been whispers, exclamations, invectives and shouts of support and excitement before, now there was only silence. Pure, absolute and total silence that pervaded the room despite its crowded state, plunging it into a sense of tension and anguish that was almost indescribable with words. And, of course, there is no need to say which one of all the Servants present was suffering the most from this sense of anxiety and terror.
Artoria Pendragon watched her beloved charge towards his opponent with her heart hammering in her chest and hands clapsed together, as if she was praying.
She couldn't feel anything. She couldn't hear anything, nor do anything. She did not feel Jeanne's hand gently resting on her shoulder. She didn't feel the tense, nervous looks her Knights were giving her. She didn't see Iskandar's excited grin. She didn't even hear Isthar's curses or Merlin's calculating words. She could only watch, and observe… and pray. Pray, for her beloved to win and her faith in him to not waver during this scene. There was nothing else she could do right now. Literally nothing.
Ozymandias grinned with a feral grin. "It's started, at last!"
Emiya nodded. "This is it."
"Go, Onii-chan! Go!" Illya cried, held in the arms of her mother and holding her father's hand in support and excitement.
Mordred narrowed her eyes on the training field. "Do it, Shirou. Do it for Father. Go get that son of a bitch and teach him a lesson he will never forget!" she mentally roared, her body shaking in trepidation and emotions.
Artoria prayed inside her heart. "I believe in you, Shirou," she thought with a smile. "Go get him, my love."
Shirou moved.
Swift as the wind, strong as a typhoon, and powerful as a raging fire.
He charged out, dashing towards the enemy at full speed and aiming his katana at the neck. But, as expected, he failed to assault him head-on. It couldn't be that easy. He was still eight meters away from Gilgamesh when a countless number of golden portals suddently formed into the air behind the Golden King, each and every one of them filled with swords, axes, lances, spears and many other weapons ready to stab, cut, pierce and impale him. It was a literal army of weapons, ready to charge at him.
And charge, they did.
In a second – nay – in a mere instant, countless swords were mercilessly shooted at him. They started to fly towards his body, more quick than bullets, ready to shred him apart completely. Shirou widened his eyes, but was already prepared for this. He promptly traced a second sword in his left hand and started to swing his two weapons to Gilgamesh's own, deflecting a few of them and avoiding some others with a dash to the right.
The King of Heroes glared at him with a feral smile filled with hatred. "Gate of Babylon!" he yelled, and even more portals appeared from his back, aiming directly at the Saber. Shirou cursed in his head, continuing to dash as more and more weapons fired at him, deflecting some of them thanks to his enhanced skills and jumping away from a series of lances that nearly hit him from the back. He jumped in the air, grunting a little as he kept deflecting the sharp 'bullets' with his swords and inwardly reflect at the same time.
It seemed that this annoying King was able to fire his weapons from multiple directions, so there was no point in hiding or run anywhere. He had to face them on if he wanted to reach him and fight him face to face. So, as he dodged and blocked some other swords, he made his decision. He couldn't stay on the defensive like this, or he would tire quickly and make a mistake that could cost him dearly. He needed to focus, keep his cool, and adapt to the situation. And he had just the thing to do that.
He landed on the ground, a dozen meters away from the opponent, ready to dash forward even as another wall of golden portals flickered all around him, but he stopped. Thanks to the Eye of Karma, a dormant ability possessed by his body, he focused solely on the weapons around him, and time seemed to slow down instantly as the swords and lances began to fly towards him. He merely watched them move in the air with a slow-motion speed, not even bothering to deflect them now that they were so slow to his eyes. He simply dispelled his traced sword, grabbed one of the firing lances, and stepped out of the range of the others with a inhumanly-quick dash.
Then, with a face full of rage, determination and confidence in equal measure, he threw the lance right back at his owner.
Gilgamesh widened his eyes and gasped. He hadn't expected him to be able to move with a speed like that, and much less such a move from his part. All he could do was immediately step to the side, barely avoiding his own lance with a grunt of displeasure, surprise, and rage. The weapon scraped the joint of his right shoulder, and a small part of his armor shattered and fell to the ground in a rain of metal and prana. Shirou visibly smirked at the scene. He had dealt the first blow, even if it missed. He could feel that the others around him were looking at him with wide eyes, but he paid them no mind now. He had to keep focus during a battle.
"You!" the Archer snarled, rounding on him with wide eyes filled with fury. "You dare use my own treasures to hurt me!? You foul, disgusting dog! Your suffering will be LEGENDARY!" he roared, as dozens and dozens of portals began to surround the red-haired Saber, redy to shoot him with masterful precision. But Shirou wasn't going to let himself be caught unprepared a second time.
All he did was utter two words. "Trace On." Then, just as quickly as his opponent's portals, a dozen of swords and spears appeared around him, pointed towards each and every portal that was firing weapons at him. With a mental command, the boy fired his weapons as well, making them collide with Gilgamesh's own like bullets of light and energy colliding in a gunfight. The weapons crashed into each other, generating an immense explosion that engulfed everything and generated a cloud of smoke behind which Shirou promptly hid himself. He smirked as he glanced at the stunned and incredulous face of the enemy amidst the cloud of smoke and debris that hid him from his view.
The young Saber could see the King of Heroes grit his teeth in rage, unable to fire at him as long as he didn't know where he was among the big cloud of smoke. So, he took advantage of that situation, raising one arm and firing another series of swords to him. Gilgamesh scowled in annoyance, but deflected them thanks to his Gate of Babylon with no problem, leaving the attack unharmed. But that was exactly what he had foreseen.
Shirou smirked, dashing at him at full speed. "You're too slow, King of Heroes!" he roared, slashing at him.
Gilgamesh gaped, enraged, but he could do nothing against the superior speed of his opponent and his sudden dash. Then, in an instant, Shirou slashed at him right on the chest, tearing apart another part of the golden armor. The chestplate fell to the ground, completely ruined, leaving him unprotected on the chest. Shirou smiled in satisfaction, hearing Ritsuka, Mashu and Roman gasp and cheer at the scene while Da Vinci smiled and Scáthach nodded at him.
But the King of Heroes did not smile, nor cheer. He was furious. "Why you!" he yelled, firing another series of weapons at the young man as he jumped back with a roar. "Dodge this, mongrel!"
Shirou gritted his teeth. There was no way he could evade them right after attacking. So, he quickly summoned his own swords with a haste command, firing them to the incoming projectiles. Some of them collided with the swords aimed at him, but due to the sheer haste of the attack, some were still able to avoid his swords, break trough the defense and aim at him. The boy gritted his teeth in frustration and deflected them with his sword, destroying them one by one. The pieces of the destroyed weapons crashed to the ground like rain, including his own katana. Shirou traced another one identical in the blink of an eye.
Gilgamesh glared at him with teeth bared into a growl. "Tch. Damn parasite," he hissed, staring at him with hatred. If looks could kill, Shirou would have dropped dead instantly under his enraged gaze. "You can still summon swords like that useless Archer. How? You shouldn't be able to do this! You can't even activate that repulsive Reality Marble of yours!"
Shirou straightened up, staring at him with a blank expression and eyes full of indifference. "I can still Trace all of your weapons, King of Heroes. As long as I see them, I can copy them to near perfection. Even if they're copies, they can still match your own treasures. You've seen this already now. And besides..."
His lips parted into a proud smirk under the Archer's furious expression.
"...who ever said that I can't activate my Reality Marble now?"
His golden-brown eyes could pratically see the realization and horror blossom into his expression, along with the confusion and shock of all the others. Roman watched him with wide eyes and mouth agape. "S-Shirou… you mean…?" he stuttered, flabbergasted.
For his part, Shirou only said one sentence.
"I am the bone of my sword."
Then, the world was enveloped in a dazzling yellow light.
The Servants watched with amazement and shock the scene unfolding before them. For those who didn't know what it was, they merely raised an eyebrow with intrigue and interest. But for those who knew of it, for those who had already seen this like Artoria, that view was a marvelous sight to behold. And now, despite all the odds, despite their inner shock, despite all that happened before with Shirou and his situation, they were all witnessing it once again without a doubt. It was really happening right in front of them.
Emiya stared with wide, stunned eyes. "H-How? How did he-"
It was a forest of blades. A literal forest of swords, planted into rock and stone under a sky made of metal. And yet, somehow, it was different. This graveyard of weapons, this forest floor… it was not covered in steel-grey tree roots, but with tall, green grass that could reach up to one's knee. A verdant green grass, tinged with outlines of steel grey under an orange sun and a bright blue sky. And the sun… the sun was familiar. It's light was familiar. It was a warm, brilliant, and pure light. A light that represented hope, joy, and peace. A light that many of those who where seeing it now already knew very well from their own past.
"T-This is…" Bedivere murmured, still too shocked to form a complete sentence.
Gawain gaped. "I cannot believe this."
Isthar stared, looking as flabbergasted as everyone else. "A-Artoria… is this…?"
The King of Knights smiled, looking at his beloved with adoring eyes and a wide, prideful smile. "The proof of our connection," she said, noticing the way her son was gaping in pure disbelief.
Lord El Melloi II smirked under the light of the sun. "I see. He's finally managed to grasp it…" he realized.
Everyone knew what he was referring to.
The missing part of his soul. The thing he had been missing for all this time. The very, same thing that, unbeknownst to him, had always connected him to his beloved and pushed him to become what he was today.
His personal connection with Artoria.
"This is not just the Unlimited Blade Works," Kiritsugu mused out loud, recovering from stupor. "This is…"
"Yes," Merlin nodded, a knowing smile filled with understanding and nostalgia curving his lips. "This is exactly what you think."
Mordred smiled, wide and proud.
"This is Avalon."
Shirou smiled under everyone's stunned gaze.
"How?" Ritsuka spoke after ten full seconds of sheer silence, looking around the forest of swords with wide and incredulous eyes. "How did you activate this? I thought you couldn't do it until you recovered your memories. Did you-"
"No," Shirou cut him off, shaking his head. "I didn't recover my memories. But this is true. This is my Reality Marble. I wasn't able to use it before… simply because I was missing something. I was missing someone. But now, the key had been turned, and all that was lost can still be found."
Mashu looked at him in wonder, completely overwhelmed. "You mean…" she said, starting to realize how things stood right now.
"The key was Artoria," Da Vinci exclaimed, nodding in understanding with a stupefied smile. "This light… this is the light of the Magical Artifact hidden beneath you! The light of Avalon!"
The young Saber nodded, looking at them with a smile. "Avalon is what created the Unlimited Blade Works," he explained slowly. "As Artoria told me, it has been with me ever since I was a kid. It has never left my side, my body, not even once; unlike what happened to Emiya. My Origin Magic is 'Sword', and with time… Avalon changed my Affinity to 'Sword' as well. That's what created this Reality Marble, and my ability to Trace and forge swords. It was her, all long, for all this time. That's why she is my Sword, and I am her Scabbard."
"A Scabbard is made to hold Swords, after all," Ritsuka mused, his eyes lit up in realization. "Your closeness to Artoria is what was needed to make it concrete once again! Artoria was the missing part of you! A Sword and her Sheath!"
He nodded. "Exactly."
Gilgamesh growled with barely contained fury. "This is ridiculous!" he roared. Everyone turned to look at his face twisted into a scowl of hatred and rage. "And it changes nothing! You're still unworthy of her, mongrel! That woman should belong with me, and only me! I won't let anyone stole her from me! And especially not a fake Faker like you!"
Without giving him time to say more, yet another wall of golden portals appeared in the air at his command, spawning an untold number of weapons that were promptly hurled at the red-haired Saber. Ritsuka, Mashu and Roman all cried towards Shirou, shocked by the sudden move of his oppontent and worried about his safety. However, they soon noticed that both Da Vinci and Scáthach were remaining silent, with a strange smirk on their lips. They had realized what was about to happen before them.
And, fortunately, it was not what they feared.
They audience watched as Shirou merely raised an arm, and some of the countless swords stuck in the ground around him were brought to life with a flash of blue and red. Then, the swords flew into the air at his command, similar to missiles, and collided against those summoned by the King of Heroes. The collision of the two spiral of weapons generated a mighty explosion, so powerful and frightening that it made the ground tremble and the air vibrate for several moments full of tension.
Seconds passed, followed by minutes. When the smoke cleared, Shirou was still standing on the same spot as before, with a cold gaze glued to the baffled and enraged face of Gilgamesh. A lot of flaming swords and spears were floating around him, ready to defend him in case his opponent tried to use the same attack again.
"It's useless, King of Heroes," Shirou spoke, sounding solemn, cold and irritated all at the same time. "As long as I have this Reality Marble, your countless treasures won't be able to hit me. I have more than enough weapons in stock to match every single one of the treasures stored in your Gate of Babylon. You won't be able to defeat me like this."
Gilgamesh was seething in rage, his face red with anger and his eyes bloodshot with outrage. "How… dare… you… FAKER!" he roared, summoning a long sword from a golden portal and pointing it at him with an enraged expression. "You're just a worm! A parasite! A fake! I refuse to go all-out against the likes of you!"
He then charged at him, swinging his sword with both hands and yelling at him like a madman.
Shirou narrowed his eyes as he summoned his katana once again and readied himself. "He's coming at me on-front? Against a Saber? Is he crazy? There's no wa-"
It all happened in an instant.
Faster than he could blink, Shirou felt something wrap around his legs, torso, and right arm without a warning. He widened his eyes, stunned ans shocked, and looked down on his body only to notice that some mysterious chains made of golden metal and gushing prana had suddenly appeared from small portals on the ground behind him, enveloping him with a powerful grip that almost completely prevented him from moving. He widened his eyes with realization. "He can even summon Chains? Damn, it was a distraction! I fell for it!" he mentally hissed in frustration.
The Arched lunged at him with his sword, grinning madly at his restrained body, ready to strike. "This is the end for you, Faker!"
"No, it is not!" he replied, glaring at him with rage and decision. He could still move his left arm a little. It was more than enough.
His fingers twitched. Then, faster than the wind, his left arm moved even against the chains restraining it, summoning another katana and willing it to move with a mental command. "Re-forging!"
Gilgamesh didn't even had the time to blink after that. In less than a second, almost by magic, the chains around the young man's body were suddently cut and disintregated by some sort of invisible force, freeing him from their deadly grip. Then, with a movement fast enough to impress even Scáthach, the boy leapt at the Archer with his full body, passed down his guard, and attacked him with an invisible series of slashes, cuts, and lunges. Gilgamesh jumped backwards with a curse, but Shirou was already moving up again, faster than what his eyes could see. As he moved, his blades were so fast they were impossible to notice with the naked eye. It was, literally, like observing mere hisses of air blowing in the wind during a rainy day. It was impossible to predict those attacks.
Gilgamesh gritted his teeth in a snarl, but was unable to block the invisible blows due to the difference in skills. One moment he was charging on that mongrel to strike him, and the very next one his sword had been shattered completely and a series of small cuts and wounds had covered his face, his bare chest and his armor. He couldn't even blink during that assault, too shocked and stunned to react accordingly.
But he refused to be defeated by him. With a bellow, the King of Uruk reached back right as the Saber sliced again. The king's hand disappeared in that all too familiar golden portal while he fell back when the faker's blade barely missed flesh and sliced through his armor on the left shoulder. Then, the Archer roared as he swung a golden greatsword from overhead, trying to force the young man to retreat from him.
Shirou twisted to the side, crossed his two swords together and caught the broadsword's strike in an instant. The katanas began to crack under the force of the King's weapon, so he pivoted even more as he let them shatter, spilling into stardust, and Gilgamesh stumbled forward. Gleaming steel struck heavily against the ground and the grass, and Shirou drew back his hand and clenched it.
And then, under everyone's stunned and amazed gaze, a Faker's fist met the King's face, causing him to reel backwards from the force of the blow.
The Saber smirked in satisfaction.
"Hell yeah! That was great!" Mordred cried in euphoria, leaping to her feet and grinning in feral trepidation. "Again! Punch him again! Wipe the floor with his useless face!"
Artoria and the others were stunned. They didn't even register the Knight of Treachery's loud cheers because of the upheaval. It was... It was incredible. They hadn't expected such power and such mastery with the sword from Shirou. They all knew he was skilled, sure – his previous fight with Emiya had proved it – but this... this was too much. The King of Heroes was one of the strongest Servants in Chaldea. His stats were way higher compared to the average. And yet, even despite this, even despite those accursed chains that had surrounded him, Shirou was standing againts him... and winning.
It was too shocking for them. Simply too shocking.
"T-That was…"
Artoria shook herself from her astonishment as soon as she heard that familiar voice. Her eyes darted to the right, finding the face of the man who was staring at the duel with an obviously shocked gaze. "Sasaki?" she asked him, confused. "What's wrong?"
The man, Sasaki Koujirou, Assassin-class, glanced at her briefly, before resuming to look at the fight with a narrowed gaze. "The sword style that boy just used… I know what it is," he said, furrowing his brows in thought.
Iskandar raised an eyebrow. "You do? What is it, then?" he questioned, sounding both genuinely confused and curious. Even the others were intrigued by that.
Sasaki sighed with a little smile filled with memories and fondness. "It's called the Niten Ichi-Ryu style," he answered after a moment of hesitation. "It was Sengo Muramasa's favourite style. My master's favourite style."
Artoria widened her eyes after hearing that. "Muramasa was your master?"
The tall Assassin nodded. "That's right. I trained under him for two years. He was way stronger than me. I spent years trying to imitate his techniques, but I never reached his level during my life. My very own Noble Phantasm, the Tsubame Gaeshi, was born out of my countless attempts to imitate his sword style. Even if he always considered himself nothing more than a blacksmith, my master's skill with a sword was peerless in his time, and I really admired him for this," his eyes watched the red-haired young man intently as a faint smile formed on his lips. "I never thought I'd see those techniques again with my very own eyes. It is… simply too much. I see now that this boy of yours really is my master's vessel, in some way. He looks just like Muramasa-sensei right now."
"I was thinking the same thing, actually."
Artoria, Sasaki and the other turned to see a pair of Servant moving to join them from the crowd.
Jeanne smiled. "Amakusa! Musashi!" she greeted them with a smile.
After they nodded in greeting to the Maid of Orleans, Artoria watched the newcomers with interest. "You know of this sword-style as well?" she asked them.
The male Ruler, Amakusa Shirou Tokisada, nodded with a smile. "Indeed. Muramasa was quite famous even during Musashi's era. And apparently, the two of us even met during a previous Singularity where I was an Avenger-class Servant and he was an old man living as a blacksmith. Master told me that the other me was defeated by that version of Muramasa, actually."
Artoria blinked in amazement. "I-I see."
The pink-haired samurai next to the priest watched Sasaki with a sly grin. "I see... he's the one you trained under before we faced each other in battle back then," she mused. Musashi glanced at the boy with a wide grin. "I knew that Saber was something special. To think that a mere blacksmith could be so skilled with a blade!"
Lancelot forrowed his brows after that revelation. "Could it be… that Muramasa is one of the boy's ancestors?"
Sasaki shrugged, his eyes glued to the young Saber fighting in the Training Room. "We have no way of knowing this, unfortunately."
Unaware of the discussion that was taking place in the other room separated by the glass window, the two opponents continued to fight without a moment of rest.
And thus, the bout between the abnormal Demi-Servant and the legendary King of old continued.
The crashing of blades against blades created ripples in the air that even dealt a lot damage to the surroundings, but it was clear that Shirou was way more skilled and poweful with his sword. For every thrust, for every slash that Gilgamesh launched against him, the young man blocked and deflected every blow with unparalleled skill and mastery. Their swords collided again, and again, and again and again. And the more they swords clashed, the more they broke, the more they were replaced by new ones. But the fighting didn't stop.
"Damn you!" the golden Archer roared, shouting like a madman and furiously trying to attack him with an expression twisted in blind rage. "Damn you! Damn you! Damn you!"
The sound of destruction, metal and the king's furious shouts echoed throughout the surrounding area, becoming the main theme of the struggle. Gilgamesh and Shirou continued their struggle, almost dancing through that graveyard of swords as they attacked each other. The sight of the red-haired Saber dodging and parring every swing of the mad king's attack and his equally powerful retaliation became the one and only sight the audience could see, and dared not to miss. To a pair of normal eyes, Shirou's swings were almost invisible, and the only thing that was visible was the growing number of cuts and wounds on Gilgamesh's body and armor as the two opponents continued to clash. Shirou, on the other hand, was left completely unscathed.
"DAMN YOU!"
Shirou smiled, flinging himself backwards as he disengaged from his opponent while he tried to impale him with a sudden blow of swords that rained down on him from above. He threw a sword at the Archer in response, instantly tracing two more afterwards and throwing them as well. The weapons hit him in a full strike, furtherly destroying the golden armor on his left leg and arms. His smile widened in satisfaction and pride at the sight.
Gilgamesh was fuming with undescribable rage. "To think that I'd be forced to this by a counterfeit and a sham like you!" he snarled, snapping at him with two swords in his hands and a ferocious charge.
The boy narrowed his eyes, holding back his irritation with gritted teeth. Although the difference in skill with the sword was evident, that damned Archer was still managing to keep up with him, if only barely. Even wth the cuts on his body, even with the wounds, and even with his armor destoyed, he was still coming at him. This was bothering him quite a bit. Gilgamesh might be arrogant and repulsive, but not even he could deny that he was downright powerful right now. Not when he had been forced to actually fight like this to defeat him. That man was definitely one of the most powerful Servants here, given his renowned legend. He had to admit it, as much as he hated doing so.
But now it was time to end this farce, he decided.
Shirou waited for the right moment. As soon as the enemy was close enough in range, he deflected the first sword thrust with his katana, and then quickly ducked to dodge the second. And while he was crouched in front of Gilgamesh, with a movement almost invisible to the naked eye, he thrust his arm forward and made a very quick and invisible thrust with the sword, dashing forward with a thrust of his legs and appearing behind the enemy after only a second.
And when he turned to watch his opponent again, his eyes narrowed in decision and confidence. The attack had taken the desired effect. His lips curled into a smirk.
Gilgamesh's right leg had been severed at the knee.
The King of Heroes stumbled forward, nearly falling to the ground due to his lost balance and severed limb. He managed to keep standing with a grunt of pain and anger, relying on his strength and instinct not to lose his balance. He stared at the ground with wide, incredulous eyes, slowly straightening his body and pulling himself up on one leg as he shed blood from the severed limb. Shirou saw his shoulders begin to tremble in rage, under the incredulous and stunned gazes of all.
"…you," Gilgamesh spoke. His voice was cold, and low, and filled with an icy fury that made even Shiou's skin crawl. He turned to him with rage, his eyes wide and blood-shot in outrage. "To think you'd attempt to make me kneel… YOU BASTARD!"
Shirou cursed, jumping away suddenly to avoid the immense series of golden chains that appeared out of nowhere and tried to trap him again with their deadly grip. He deflected yet another shower of swords at the same time, landing about twenty meters away from the enemy and staring at him with narrowed eyes and an irritated and cold look. "Why can't you just give up already?" he hissed through gritted teeth.
The Archer snarled, looking the very definition of rage and death. "YOU DARED TO WOUND ME!" he declared in fury. "A WORTHLESS, FAKE SCUM LIKE YOU WOUNDED ME! ME, THE ONE WHO BELONGS TO THE HEAVENS!"
Shirou gaped as a giant pillar of golden light appeared next to the King of Heroes after his sudden uproar. A mighty, imposing column of light made entirely of energy, light and prana, so painfully blinding that it forced him to cover his eyes with one arm so as not to be blinded by his dazzling light. He felt a shiver run down his spine as he caught a glimpse of the golden Archer sticking a hand into the pillar of light, and a sense of dread and anxiety began to fill his stomach. Whatever it was what he was doing, it couldn't be good. He was certain of this.
From the side of the room, Doctor Roman gasped audibly, his eyes widening in recognition. "N-No! This is-!" he stuttered.
"YOUR IMPUDENCE HAS GUARANTEED YOUR END, MONGREL!" the King of Uruk roared in the air, pulling out from the column of light an elegant golden sword trimmed with red and black veins. "YOU WILL FACE A PAINFUL DEATH, UNTIL NOTHING WILL REMAIN OF YOUR CORPSE!"
Shirou, Ritsuka, Mashu and Romand widened ther eyes in front of the King of Heroes' greatest weapon.
"Oya? That was unexpected," Merlin mused with a raised eyebrow.
Artoria didn't even hear him. She only watched the scene unfold in front her very own eyes with a mask of horror and growing concern on her crumbling face. She saw that damned, accursed sword of Gilgamesh begin to rotate all of a sudden, pulsing with mana and prana, accumulating an ever-increasing amount of energy and causing the walls of the room to tremble and the air to hiss with its immense power. She brought her hands to her lips, holding a trembling breath as the urge to stand up and rush to his beloved's side grew stronger and stronger within her.
"No... No... Please, no... Shirou… No!" she repeated in her head, like a mantra.
"No!" Mordred roared loudly instead, slamming a fist on the glass window in rage and worry. "That disgusting king is going to kill him!"
Iskandar narrowed his eyes in concern, worried and tense like everyone present in the room. "...I'll be damned," he mused, clenching his fists in helpless rage. He knew very well how dangerous that sword was. His past experience – and death – during the Fourth Holy Grail War had been enough to prove this to him. "That crazed Goldie is really going to activate his Noble Phantasm."
All the Servants in the room became tense and worried at that scene. "Uuuh… that's not good, right?" Astolfo asked, visibly confused by what was a happening.
Jekyll sighed. "No, it is most definetely not."
"That crazy bastard is going to destroy everything!" Oda Nobunaga roared in rage.
Bedivere raised from his seat in shock. "He can't do this! That sword is too powerful to be unleashed on the Training Room! Master should stop this right now!" he exclaimed, standing up from his seat with a worried expression.
Isthar nodded with frantic panic. "That's right! We have to-"
"It won't work," another voice cut them off immediately after. Ozymandias stared at the scene with a calm, collected gaze and arms crossed. "Gilgamesh won't listen to him anymore. That boy managed to enrage him like no one else's before. He won't stop now. It's too late."
Artoria clenched her fist in rage. She couldn't allow this! Not only for Shirou, but also for the safety of everyone in Chaldea! That loathsome man was crossing a dangerous line here. She stood up from her seat, summoning Excalibur in one hand and moving quickly to break the glass to enter the training fields and stop that bastard from killing her lover. There was no way she could allow something like thi-
A hand grabbed her arm all of a sudden.
Artoria rounded on Kiritsugu like a lion spotting a gazelle – much like everyone else in the room except Merlin, who was smiling with a strange glint in his eyes – staring at him with wide, panicked eyes while he prevented her from moving with his hand. "You! What are you-"
The Assassin stared at her with narrowed eyes. "Look," was all he said, pointing to Shirou with his head.
Artoria complied, holding a trembling breath.
"T-T-This is bad!" Roman yelled, hiding behind the figure of Da Vinci and shaking in fear. "This is really, really bad! D-Do something, Leonardo!"
"Calm down, you inguaribile codardo," the italian genius sighed, shaking her head but never once leaving her gaze from the battle.
Mashu stared as well with wide eyes and trembling arms. "S-S-Senpai! King Gilgamesh is going to unleash Ea!" she yelled, soundind as terrified and nervous as never before. "What should we do?"
The young Master clenched his fists, gritting his teeth in rage and helpless frustration. "I told him to restrain himself, but he didn't listen," he raged, looking ready to intervene as he focused his gaze on the Command Seals on his rigth hand. "Damn it! I knew this wasn't a good idea! I have to use a Command Seal!"
Scáthach sighed on the other side of the field, taking a few steps forward and spinning the spear between her fingers as if it was light as a pen. "There's no choice, then. I will stop him immedia-"
"No."
Ritsuka, Mashu, Roman and Da Vinci stopped instantly. Even Scáthach faltered in her steps.
Shirou stared at them with a calm, determined gaze even in front of the growing danger. "Please, do not intervene, everyone. Let me handle this," he said, looking deadly serious as he spoke.
"S-Shirou, this it too risky!" Ritsuka complained loudly, taking a step forward. "We can't endanger the facility because of Gilgamesh! We have to stop him!"
He nodded. "I know. I will be the one to stop him," he replied promptly, looking back at the golden King as he kept accumulating energy in his sword with a snarl on his face.
Scáthach glared at him with a cold gaze. "Don't be foolish, boy. You have no idea of how powerful that Noble Phantasm is. You won't stand a chance against its full force unleashed upon you. You will die, endangering the securty of Chaldea at the same time," she reproved him, pointing her spear towards the Archer and taking a stand closer to the threat.
He looked completely unfazed by her words. Instead, his resolve seemed to increase even more after that declaration. His golden-brown eyes glanced to Ritsuka, looking at him with resolve and decision. "I was the one who requested this duel. It is something that I started. Please, let me be the one to finish it."
The young Master hesitated, looking stunned and uncertain in egual mesure. "But…"
"Please," the Saber repeated, his resolve even more strong than before.
Ritsuka gulped, clenching his fist in attempt to regain his composure. He looked at him, then at the swirling sword into Gilgamesh's hands, and then at him again with an uncertain expression. Then, as he saw Shirou's eyes silently speaking to him, he gritted his teeth under his friend's and Servants' gazes and nodded. "I trust you. Do what you must," he ordered solemnly.
Shirou nodded, smiling at him with gratitude and confidence. "By your orders, Master."
"S-Senpai!" Mashu exclaimed, stunned.
"Fujimaru!" Roman and Da Vinci gasped, looking both shocked and incredulous.
Even Scáthach widened her eyes. "Master, you can't be serious!"
Ritsuka ignored them, raising his arm and pointing his hand enveloped into a crimson light towards the battle. "By your Master's order!" he cried, looking at the red-haired Saber with a serious expression. "Shirou! Stop the King of Heroes with you next move and bring an end to this duel!"
Shirou grinned, his expression a mask of feral and determined trepidation as an enormous flow of prana flooded him thanks to the Command Seal. "As you wish, Master!" he obeyed, preparing himself once again.
Gilgamesh laughed loudly like a madman, raising his sword to the air as it kept swirling with a growing flow of dark-red magic and energy that was starting to destroy his Reality Marble thanks to the sheer power of the sword. "THIS IS WHERE YOU DIE, FAKER!" he roared with a cruel grin and a twisted expression.
But Shirou didn't hear him. He didn't look at him. He didn't even see his Reality Marble begin to crak and dissolve under Ea's immeasurable power. He simply closed his eyes, focusing all his mind and attention on his task, on his duty, and on the order his Master had given him. Now, now he couldn't hesitate any longer. He could no longer restrain himself like he did before. It was time to end this duel. It was time to put an end to this charade once and for all.
It was time to defeat Gilgamesh for good.
He had to do it. For Chaldea's safety. For his friend's safety. For his promise with Mordred. For his current self's honor. For his past self's behalf.
And, more importantly, for Artoria's future.
Shirou smiled as he felt a sudden series of flaming swords begin to rain down from the sky, sticking into the ground around him and setting fire to the floor with flames made of energy and prana.
Then, the young Servant started his chant.
"Essence: unravel."
The flames roared around him, setting everything ablaze and making Gilgamesh's eyes widen in shock.
"Perfected ideals: converge."
The heat, the flames and the fire became unbearably hot. Around him, Ritsuka, Mashu and the others watched him with mouth agape and stunned looks as more and more flames started to swirl around his right arm all of a sudden.
"Forging technique: critical!"
Like snakes roused to life thanks to magic, the flames surrounded his arm and hand, merging together to form a weapon. A blade. A long, flaming, powerful blade that glowed and throbbed before him. A blade that glowed with decision, dreams, and hopes never reached in life. A blade that could purge resentment, cut through bonds, fate, causality, and destiny; and slice through the idea of Karma itself.
The ultimate sword capable of cutting through anything that dared to obstruct it.
The legendary sword of Muramasa Sengo.
From the Attendance Room, Artoria, Mordred, and all the other Servants who were witnessing this Noble Phantasm for the first time looked at him in shock and amazement. Among them, Sasaki Koujirou smiled with nostalgia.
And Shirou continued his chant.
This is the place where all paths cross.
This is the place where all desires flow.
This is the place where all deaths await.
My whole life was for this single swing.
Gilgamesh roared, pointing his weapon towards him with a crazed grin full of rage and madness. "DIE, FAKER!"
The spiraling sword fired a mighty wave of red and black energy aimed at him, unleashing his full power for the first time after many years.
Shirou opened his eyes, glaring at the incoming mass of energy that threatened to vanquish him as he slid a foot backwards and took a stance with his flaming sword raised to his eye level, ready to strike at the right moment. "Take this as your gift to hell!" he roared at the same time of his opponent.
"ENUMA-"
"For this is my-"
"-ELISH!"
"-Tsumukari Muramasa!"
And when Muramasa's sword clashed against the blast of the Sword of Rupture, an immense explosion was generated. The floor, the walls, the windows, and even a great section of the whole facility of Chaldea trembled and shook suddently because of the sheer power of the two attacks, and a few pillars of fire even came out of the floor of the Training Room. Then, as the whole world trembled like an earthquake, a glowing light made of fire and energy blinded everything, forcing Ritsuka, Artoria and all of those who where watching the duel to close their eyes and cover their faces in shock and pain.
Nobody knew how long that light lasted. There was no way of knowing how long they were forced to keep their eyes closed. Time seemed to slow down, and it was only after an eternity that the tremors ceased and the light seemed to begin to thin out. When they noticed this, everyone began to slowly open their eyes, blinking furiously to clear their vision once again. And what they saw once the light disappeared was quite unexpected.
Gilgamesh was standing alone on his only leg among the ruined and destroyed training field, looking tired, angry, satisfied and exhausted all at the same time.
The audience widened their eyes in shock and worry.
"…he cut through my Enuma Elish," Gilgamesh spat with rage, noticing that the damage his previous attack had caused on the surroundings and the room was way less than he expected. But he still grinned in victory as he as he straightened up and laughed with satisfaction and arrogance. He glanced at the stunned faces of Ritsuka and the others with a grin that was both predatory and cruel. Even the calm and stone-faced Scáthach was flabbergasted right now. "But he still got killed by my attack all the same. That Faker's struggle had been for nothing. Bwahaha! I defeated that useless dog once and fo-"
"I don't think so."
The golden Archer widened his eyes in shock. Had he been more attentive, he would have noticed that everyone's stunned eyes had never been glued on him... but rather to something that was flying above his head. And when he relized this, it was already too late.
Gilgamesh paled, immediately raising his head with wide eyes and mouth agape.
Shirou was falling from the sky, spinning in the air as he held up his sword and took aim with a feral grin. "Here I come, King of Heroes!" he roared with full lungs.
The Archer gasped. He could't move or evade because of his missing limb, so he did the only thing he could. He raise both his arms in shock and tied to attack aga-
SLASH!
-and his right arm – along the sword Ea that was held within it - collapsed to the ground in a pool of blood.
Shirou landend with a crash, right at the same moment when Gilgamesh collapsed to the floor, spilling blood from the wounds on his body and the stumps of his severed limbs. The young Saber panted, looking extremely fatigued and out of breath, but managed to hold a solemn expression as he pointed the tip of the sword at the King's neck. A King who, now for the first time ever, had finally been thrown to the ground before someone else's feet. And that was a first.
Even though he couldn't see them, the cheers and shouts of support and joy from the other Servants in the Attendance Room could be heard loud and clear. Shirou smiled with a tired expression.
He had won the duel.
"Y-You!" Gilgamesh panted with rage, struggling hard to get back on his feet (pardon, foot). The tip of Shirou's sword still pointed at his neck made him give up immediately. "H-How!? How did you survive my greatest weapon!? This is impossible!"
The boy smiled in victory. "Don't you know already? My sword can cut through anything, even Divine Constructs. Tsumukari Muramasa is a faithful recreation of the mytical Kusanagi no Tsurugi. Even if it's a copy of the original sword, there's nothing that cannot be cut by this blade, King of Heroes. Not even your Noble Phantasm. It's the very, living proof of the fact that even a copy can surpass the original if it's faithful enough."
Gilgamesh gritted his teeth, his face a mask of outrage and fatigue. "Y-You... damn... mongrel..." he hissed in rage.
The Saber paid no mind to his words. He merely knelt on the ground, towering above him with a face that was cold, merciless and solemn all at the same time. "You lost," was all he said; his voice cold and commanding like never before. "Now you must keep your word, King of Heroes."
The golden king tried to spat out an insult, but the boy's gaze was so filled with hatred and disgust that even he was left stunned for a while.
"You will never approach Artoria again," Shirou commanded again, speaking to the King of Uruk as he was nothing more than a mere bug under his feet. "You will leave her, and me, and all of our friends alone. Because if you ever dare to come near any of us again..." Shirou brought his face close to the Archer's, glaring at him with cold, wide eyes that were more frightening than any nightmare. "I will personaly cut you down... permanently. Is that clear?"
Gilgamesh snarled, completely enraged by his words. "You dare use those words against me, mongrel!?" he roared, completely ignoring the sword that threatened to sever his thyroid. "I do not care what you or any other say! I am the one, true King! I am the only one that should take that woman! You are not worthy of her!"
His snarl became even more ferocious at this point, even when his red eyes saw Shirou began to glare at him with a cruel and outraged look.
"You are just a Faker!" the King of Heroes continued. "A sham! A fake! You don't deserve her! You're not even worthy of her! A Faker like you shuld not even exist in the first place, mongrel!"
"…you're right. I don't deserve her."
Gilgamesh grinned, but that only lasted for a second.
The King of Uruk gulped and widened his eyes in a horrible, sudden way when Shirou's hand clamped his throat, lifting him off the ground and holding him in the air with a deadly grip that made him choke and groan in pain. He tried to resist, he tried to break free from his grip with punches and kicks, but having only one arm and leg, his attempts were useless. Shirou didn't even feel the hits.
"I am a fake. And I most certainly do not deserve someone as good, kind and beautiful as her," the Saber declared slowly while he held him by the throat, choking him, before his gaze suddently became angry and outraged like it has never been before.
Gilgamesh choked, his eyes widening out of all the proportions as the grip on his throat grew even stronger. "But you know what, King of Heroes?" the boy contunued soon after. "Even if I'm a fake that's not worthy of touching her boots... then you're nothing more than a disgusting insect that doesn't even deserve to crawl under her feet!"
He punched him square in the face soon after yelling that, glaring at him as blood and sweat oozed from the King's face. Shirou spat on his face, right under everyone's stunned gazes, looking at him with disgust before ending this farce once and for all.
"And now, fuck off!"
Having said that, without further ado, Shirou forcefully slammed Gilgamesh's body on the ground, before lifting him once again into the air and hurling him with all the force he could muster against the right wall of the Training Room. The golden Archer could do nothing but scream and trash in pain, choking and groaning before collapsing against the wall and cracking it from the impact.
Then, after two seconds of sheer silence, he fainted and fell to the ground, collapsing into a pool of his own blood.
He had been defeated.
Shirou panted, standing with trembling legs for exhaustion and dissolving his sword in a dust of prana.
Seconds passed, followed by silence.
Then, the cheers and the clapping began to fill the room like never before.
"HELL YEAH!" Mordred loud scream from the other room could be heard even from a deaf man. Shirou merely chuckled at her antics, shaking his head a little while he heard the applause and words of encouragement and compliments from the others, panting and gasping as he tried to catch his breath.
Ritsuka sprinted towards him, smiling a little with wide, stunned eyes. "You did it," he exclaimed in shock. "You actually did it! I can't believe it! That was awesome!"
"Congratulations, Shirou-senpai!" Mashu complimented as well along with the young Master, nodding with a sweet, impressed smile and shining eyes full of admiration.
Da Vinci's eyes were as wide as they could be as she clapped her hands with a stunned expression. "Incredibile. I must say… this is one of the strangest things I've ever seen. And I was there when my very own invention flew in the sky for the first time…" she then shook her head, nodding towards the red-haired young man with a relieved face. "But that was a really good show. Davvero magnifico. I will never forget the way a new Servant wiped the floor with Gilgamesh's face! This day should be recorded into Chaldea's history!"
"S-Shouldn't we call Nightingale to check on Gilgamesh, though?" Roman chuckled, glancing nervously at the defeated figure of the King of Heroes.
"Yeah, yeah. I'm on it," she quickly replied, pouting a little.
Shirou laughed a bit, scratching his neck with embarrassment and blushing a little as Ritsuka, Mashu and the others approached him, complimented him, patted him on the back and offered him stunned smiles and words of appreciation. He could only chuckle at their enthusiasm and accept their compliments with a nod and an embarrassed smile, too tired and exhausted to really try to talk. Using his Noble Phantasm always had this effect on him, after all.
"I must say, I'm quite impressed too, boy," Scáthach stepped in immediately, approaching him with a veiled smile and a nod of acknowledgment. "I really thought you were a fool when you challenged the King of Heroes to a duel, but now... I can't deny that you're quite powerful despite your memory loss. It almost seems like you traded your memories for more strenght and power, actually." Her smile became more intrigued at that point. "You have some courage, and I admire brave people. Say, would you be interested in becoming my apprentice? I have trained countless warriors in the past; and I could really use someone that wields that sword of yours for my personal wish..."
The young man gave her a strained smile. He had no idea of what that 'personal wish' of hers was, but he couldn't help but feel that it was not something good. "I-I'm not that good, really. I just… I j-just..."
He couldn't finish that sentence. Then, all of a sudden, his world began to spin without a warning and Shirou felt a great sense of dizziness and fatigue starting to pervade his head. His legs became weak, trembling more and more by the second, until they gave out completely and he couldn't help but lose his balance.
And then, the Saber fell to the ground right before the worried gazes of the others, sinking into a cold, familiar darkness that welcomed his vision.
. . .
The first thing he felt upon coming back to the world was something soft, yet firm under his head and a strange warmth on his right cheek.
Shirou opened his eyes and saw another pair of deep emerald eyes watching him from right above. A pair of eyes that, even if he didn't remember the reason, he knew he loved and adored dearly. He lifted his hand, touching that hand that was still caressing his cheek with affection, and then closed his eyes to enjoy the feeling and the warmth of her gesture with a smile. He even started to nuzzle against her hand as well.
"Do you like my hands so much?" Artoria laughed, still gazing at him with love as she gave him a literal lap pillow on the ground.
"All of you… is what I like," he replied softly, smiling.
He could pratically feel the hand on his cheek turn warmer, and he opened his eyes to see her face blush right down to her neck and looking away bashfully. "That was terrible," Artoria mumbled. "But effective."
Shirou smiled and looked around at their audience. His eyes widened in embarrassment soon after.
They were all here. Ritsuka, and Mashu and Mordred and all the others as well. Mordred was looking at them with a blush and a deep-red face, stuttering a little in wonder and confusion. Iskandar was laughing openly with his mighty voice next to her, while Isthar and Jeanne giggled among each others with amused and knowing looks. The Knights of the Round Table seemed to be torn between being happy, shocked or jealous – especially Gawain and Lancelot; Bedivere was just chuckling along with Tristan – and Scáthach had an amused grin on her lips as she stared at him with her arms crossed along with a visibly laughing Da Vinci.
On the other side, also, Doctor Roman and Ritsuka were watching him with wide grins and nodding heads, while Mashu, on the other hand, seemed too embarrassed to be able to say anything. Small streams of smoke were coming out of her ears as Merlin laughed with a really, really irritating expression. He was watching his interaction with Artoria with hungry, curious eyes that were filled with intrugue and a pinch of mischief. Shirou didn't like that look. He didn't like it at all. Even his adoptive family and his older Archer-self wer present, much to his growing embarrassment. Irisviel was gushing at them while she held her husband's arm, while Kiritsugu was shaking his head in shame and Illya was glaring at him with a pout. Emiya, on the other hand, had his arms crossed, looking suitably dry about the display of affection.
Shirou sweat-dropped, mentally cursing for the embarrassment. "Ah, shit..."
"Don't mind us, boy. Keep going!" Iskandar laughed with a sly grin, giving him a thumb's up.
The boy immediately tried to get up from Artoria's lap, but found himself too weak and exhausted to do so. His body was heavy, and his mind still filled with weariness and sleep. Aside from his arms, he had a hard time moving any other part of his body.
The female King he was so in love with sighed under everyone's amused gaze. "Ignore them, Shirou. You're still too weak to move. You fainted for a few minutes for exhaustion. We're waiting for Nightingale and the medical staff to come and get you," she explained to him softly, completely unfazed by the presence of the others as she held his head on her lap. Shirou had fought bravely and audaciously for her sake just a few minutes ago. This was the least she could do to pay him back. As embarrassing as it was...
He complied, squinting a bit from sleep and weariness. "…I see," he whispered.
Artoria smiled at him, stroking his cheek once again as she stared at him with a myriad of emotions. "Thank you, Shirou… for all you've done for me," she said in the end, trying to convey all her emotions in that sentence.
The boy shook his head a little, almost imperceptibly. "It was… nothing…" he reassured her with a low, tired voice, smiling as well. "I couldn't… stand that guy… when he was… making you… suffer."
Mordred looked at him with a proud expression. "You were really cool, you know?" she admitted after a few moment of silence, grinning at his embarrassed face. "I knew you would kick that bastard's ass. I never had a doubt. Oh, and you have to teach me some of those moves! That punch was literally awesome!"
He grinned a little with a chuckle. "Thank you…"
Merlin sighed with a content smile. "Come on, everyone, let's give him some space," he decided to say. As amusing as it was to watch that scene, he knew that the boy was too exhausted to do much right now. His eyes glanced at the coming Servant followed by a little group of medics and staff. "Nightingale's here. Let her do her job now."
Shirou closed his eyes when he felt someone lift his heavy body and place it on a cot, falling to sleep once again.
It was only after ten hours of rest and sleep that Shirou was finally able to sit straight on the bed again. His body was still a bit heavy and stiff, but at least he could move a little now. The only complain he had was that he didn't really like the idea of having to be locked in the Infirmary for a full day, but Nightingale had threatened him – litterally threatened him with a syringe and some scalpels – at every minimal sign of protest. The look on that woman's face was quite frightening when she was serious. Now he knew why Mordred was so afraid of her during his first day here.
She had even decided to scold him for his brash actions and the 'conditions' in which he had reduced Gilgamesh during the duel, stating that it was going to be a pain in the ass to rehabilitate him and giving him more prana to recreate his lost limbs. Shirou had no regrets, though. That bastard had it coming. He dared to treat Artoria like an object and claim possession on her right in front of his face. He would never regret his decision, not even under threat.
But that happened a few hours ago. Now, his eyes were glued to the one and only other occupant in the room beside him, seated on a chair next to his bed and intent of stroking his left hand with a content smile and bright eyes filled with love. Shirou found himself lost as he glanced at her face with a little blush and a growing sense of warmth in his chest.
God, she was too beautiful to be human.
"Huh, Shirou... are you ok?" Artoria asked, looking at him with a raised eyebrow and a hint of concern in her face.
He blushed harder, startled, and mentally cursed himself for staring. Seriously, what was wrong with him and her face? Why he always ended up staring at her like a creep? He had to do something about his habit, as soon as possible. "I-I'm sorry," he quickly apologized, laughing a little in embarrassment. "I just… got lost in your eyes. Every time I look at you is just…"
Artoria widened her eyes, her face flushing instantly at his words, but she smiled nontheless. "I see," she mused, glancing at him with fondness and forming an amused grin filled with irony soon after. "I usually find uncomfortable to be stared at in such a manner, you know..."
Shirou paled, sweating profusely under her gaze. Oh no. He made her uncomfortable. He immediately lowered his head in shame. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry! I won't do it anymo-"
"I don't mind if it's you, though."
His head snapped up, eyes as wide as plates. Artoria was looking at him with adoration, squeezing his hand between hers and smiling with affection and nostalgia. "You've done so much for me already... there's nothing about you that I will not accept. You can stare at me as much as you like, and as long as you want." But right after saying that, her eyes turned cold all of a sudden. "As long as you don't go stare at other women, that is."
Shirou gulped, sensing that he was trading on a very, very dangerous ground here. He smiled nonetheless. "I would never," he reassured her, looking both sincere and embarrassed as he spoke. "Even if I don't remember why... I'm sure you're the only one I love. I won't look at anyone else but you. I promise."
She nooded, looking both elated and satisfied at his response. "Good."
Shirou sighed, immediately trying to change the subject so as not to die of embarrassment. "How's Mordred? I expected to see her with you, by now," he asked then, sounding genuinely confused by that girl's absence.
The King of Knights let out a sigh, but her lips still edged into a smile. "That child... she's trying to prevent Merlin from coming to see you. She says she is sure he has dubious intentions towards you. Mordred said something about 'ensuring your safety'," she replied with a shake of her head and a little giggle.
The red-haired young man smiled, holding back a chuckle. "I'll have to thank her later, then. I'm glad she's so sweet with me now. I always had a feeling that she hid a good heart beneath her temper."
"Yeah… I've never seen her being so protective towards someone before. I wasn't even sure she could be sweet, actually. I still believed she hated me a few days ago... " Artoria admitted slowly.
Shirou tapped her hand with his fingers for her words. "Hush, now. We both know she loves you. Don't say things like that."
"I know…" she agreed after a while, smiling a little. Then she blinked, before looking straight at Shirou with a serious expression. "What about you, Shirou?"
Her question turned his blood cold inside his veins.
He knew why she made that question. He knew extremely well why.
"…of course I love you," he slowly replied, trying and failing to brush off her probing eyes. "Why do you need to ask?"
"You said you don't deserve me."
Her angry frown revealed that she was quite displeased with that previous statement of his. Shirou felt his chest tighten and his eyes drop to the bed under her irritated and stern gaze.
"You said you don't deserve me, twice. Even after I after I specifically told you to never say such a thing again. That... hurt me, you know? Because it's not true. You do deserve me, Shirou. I already told you this, so stop with this nonsense at once. Please," she said, with a solemn face and a firm voice that sounded like a command.
His voice nearly cracked under her gaze. "D-Do you really mean that?"
Her glare intensified. "Would I be asking you this if I didn't?" she promptly asked back, almost irritated.
"...I'm sorry."
Looking at his dejected expression, Artoria cradled his cheek in surprise. "S-Shirou! Why are you apologizing like this? If I had an issue with you, I'd have told you long ago, right?"
He smiled sadly at her, looking straight into her emerald eyes. "You... really don't understand, do you?"
"Of course I don't!" she quickly replied, looking both conflicted and angry as she spoke. "There is absolutely nothing stopping you from accepting my love right now! You even realized and admitted that you still have those feelings for me! But then, why are you always so hesitant with me? Why are you still so hard on yourself?"
Shirou grabbed her hands, squeezing them tightly. "I said I'm sorry... because you do deserve better, Artoria."
Artoria's face twisted into a scowl. "Who said that? Who said there's anyone better for me than you!? You didn't really believe that loathsome King's words, do you!?"
He shook his head. "It's not like that. I'm simply saing that my… condition is not the best one," he grimly said, wincing at her insistence. "Look at me, Artoria. I'm a man without memories. I can't remember my past with you. And yes, I know that even if the memories are gone the feelings didn't disappear. I know that I love you, but... I honestly think you should deserve someone who can appreciate you better than an idiot like me. Especially since we don't even know if I'll ever be able to remember my past. You really deserve better than this."
"No." she insisted, looking deadly serious. "I love you, and only you, Shirou. This is final."
Shirou smiled, kissing her hands softly on the knuckles. "I know you do. And now that I know my heart, I know that this love you gave me made me fall for you again. I will love you, and will do anything I can to make you happy," he decided, offering her a smile that was both sincere and sad. "But I'm simply saying that if you'll ever find someone better than me… I won't blame you. This kind of love, the love a forgetful idiot like me can offer you... isn't good enough. You deserve more, Arto-"
SLAP!
"You... You stubborn idiot!"
Shirou blinked, feeling his cheek sting. He looked flabbergasted, and in awe at the same time for the strength behind her slap, but even more so because of the tears which start to accumulate in the corners of her eyes.
Artoria jumped on him, buring her head in his chest so that he couldn't see her tears, but Shirou could still feel something warm and wet dampen his hospital shirt. "I don't care if I deserve more! I love you, and only you, Shirou! Why can't you see that?" she sniffled, shaking a little in rage and sadness as she hugged him. Her shoulders trembled in attempt to hold back her growing sobs, and Shirou immediately felt a great pang of guilt for making her cry... again. Even after he swore he would never do it again. "I don't need anyone else! Even if you told me to go away, I... I'd still chase after you! So, please, please… don't leave me! Don't leave me again!"
His words were caught in his throat, and Shirou felt his own tears start to fall from his eyes. A myriad of emotions and sensations hit him in that moment, making his heart clench and his mind fill with shame, happiness and joy all together. Why? Why did she love him so much? What had he ever done to deserve such a wonderful woman? Was it really ok for an idiot like him to accept this kind love from her? Was it the right choice to return this hope?
Despite all the hesitation, despite all his uncertainties and doubts; deep inside his heart... he knew the answer to that.
"A-All right," he said in the end, sniffling a little to stop his own sobs. "All right. I-I won't leave you. I will never leave you. As long as you're fine with s-someone like me... I will do my best to make you happy. I promise."
She nodded in his chest, before snapping her head up and facing him directly, cutting off any chance for him to escape. "You dense, stubborn idiot. It's about time you made your choice," she glared at him, even if her lips were curled into a quivering smile. Her eyes burned with love and decision as she looked at him again. "And besides, I've already decided what I'll do from now on."
"D-Decided what?" he asked nervously, gulping.
Artoria smirked even with her teary glare focused on his eyes. "If you are so hesitant to chase after me, then I'll chase after you. If you really think I deserve better than you, then I'll simply pour so much love in you that you won't even be able to entartain the notion of leaving me. If you think you won't be able to give me the happiness I deserve, then I'll make you so happy that you'll forget everything else. I won't hold back to keep you with me, you'll see!"
Shirou gaped, utterly flummoxed by her words; feeling his chest tighten, his cheeks burn, and his mind explode in a myriad of emotions.
But without giving him any time to reply, however, Artoria's face moved forward and her lips devoured his with abandon and love.
And at that moment, at that exact, same moment when the two of them finally shared the kiss they were denied so many times before… Shirou felt a strange, deep, infinite warmth bloom within him.
And for the first time since he had been summoned here, he was certain of something.
He was finally home.
Artoria parted from his lips after an eternity, looking at him with a deep blush and a confident smile. "So?" she asked.
Shirou laughed, nodding in accepatance under her earnest gaze. "I'm back… Saber."
Artoria smiled in glee, kissing him again and hugging him dearly. "Welcome back, Shirou."
A week later
"I gotta say, you're either incredibly lucky or unbelievably unfortunate. Or both."
Shirou sighed, scratching his neck with a tired motion of his arm. His expression was a mask of tired, exasperated disbelief as he walked down the white corridors of Chaldea, shaking his head in defeat. He had just come back from a small mission, but that was not the reason for his current weariness. "Please, give me a break, Master. How about a word of support for once?" he groaned, turning his attention to the shorter boy walking beside him with a grin. "I should have listened to my Archer self. That was a literal hell I walked into."
Ritsuka chuckled nervously, shrugging a little. "Come on, it couldn't be that bad… right?"
The red-haired Saber rounded on him, his golden-brown eyes screaming: Are you kidding me? He merely shook his head in disbelief under the young Master sympathetic look. "You have no idea. Since I defeated that golden bastard, a lot of Servants came to me and asked me to train with them… incessantly. I couldn't even say no, because some of them even forced me to fight them! Iskandar had to drag me out of Leonidas' clutches during the last Singularity to prevent me from ending up in rehabilitation again. Mordred and Artoria are gonna be furious again..." he lamented, almost weeping at the thought.
"…ok, that's pretty bad," Ritsuka conceded with a sigh. "Don't worry. I'll talk to them, and ask them to stop bothering you for a while."
Shirou nodded in gratitude with a relieved sigh. He then swallowed a little with a nervous smile. "And while you're at it, Master… could you kindly remind Scáthach that I never agreed to become her apprentice? That woman has been coming to me for days, asking me to spar with her and hinting words like 'killing her with that sword' and 'free her from eternal life' or something... she simply won't accept a no for an answer. Much like everyone else here, apparently."
The black-haired Master nodded with an amused grin. "I'll try, Shirou. Don't worry," he conceded, trying to help him as best as he could. "But you should heave foreseen this. You made quite a stir after challenging and defeating Gilgamesh. It was inevitable that others would come to you after all that commotion," his smirk widened at that. "You really can't stay out of troubles, huh?"
"Yeah, blame my E-Rank Luck for that," the Pseudo-Servant replied, chuckling a little in attempt to hold back another sigh. It wasn't like he actually tried to put himself in those kind of situations, after all. He then playfully put his hand on the shorter Master's head, ruffling his hair while he frowned with an annoyed expression that soon turned into a quiet smile. "You know, you could join us if you'd like."
Ritsuka smiled. "Thanks, but I've got plans for today. And I have no intention of dealing with Mordred and the rest of the Knights of the Round when they're hungry. You're on your own in that regard," he answered with a weary smile. It was clear that a part of him wanted to come along, if only just to see the show that would arise from his newest Servant's life. But he had another important 'task' he needed to attend to right now. One he could definetlely not be late to.
Shirou smiled knowingly, already guessing what his Master was implying with those words. "I see. Then I won't insist any further."
The two of them continued to walk down the corridors and halls, their every step bringin them closer to their own destinations. Shirou was heading for the Sleeping Quarters, while Ritsuka needed to go to the Cafeteria. They both knew they had to part ways soon. So, the young Saber offered him a smile. "By the way, if you ever need help with something on that regard… you know where to find me, Master," was all he said.
"Thank you, Shirou," Ritsuka said, giving him a nod of gratitude while looking at him with a sly grin. "But I'll have to be prudent with your help. After all, you work too fast for me. I honestly don't know how to explain it. You're like a doom magnet for some things, and some sort of a good luck charm for love. Both rolled into one," he laughed as they drew colser to the Sleeping Quarters.
Shirou watched him with exasperation. "Believe me, Master, I'm just as incredulous as you on that regard," he agreed with a sigh, shaking his head.
When they reached the crossroads that led to the Quarters, Ritsuka started walking away in the direction of the Cafeteria, giving him a wave of his hand and a toothy smile as he moved to the left while the other went to the right. "See you around, Shirou," he said cheerfully.
Shirou nodded. "Good luck with your date with Mashu," he replied back, grinning when he saw the young Master's face blush in embarrassment and smile a little. He even caught a glimpse of sweat and nervousness on his face as he walked away with haste. Shirou merely chuckled a little, wishing him the best on that regard. He could totally relate to him, given what happened just a week ago. He had been in his own shoes, after all.
The young Saber didn't take long to reach his bedroom door. With mere habitual movement, he waved his hand in front of the sensor, making the door open with a hiss and smiling in anticipation at the scene he saw.
Now, his room was very, very different than before. Where once there had been a simple bed, a couple of chairs, a bathroom and a window immersed in a small space of about seven square meters; now the interior was much larger and way more accommodating. A large room, made with Japanese-styled wooden walls and floor, with several floors, a small garden, a forge and a lot of rooms. It was a space so large that it could literally be considered as a real house confinded behinh his door. It was no longer a simple room, but his very own Workshop in all its glory. Shirou had activated it perpetually inside his room, transforming it into a cozy home that could accommodate dozens of people at the same time. It was a choice he hadn't regretted doing. He felt much more comfortable in living inside a large, Japanese-style environment. He didn't know why, but it made him feel at home. And the usual company was strangely familiar to him too.
Speaking of company...
Shirou couldn't hold back his smile as he walked into the large dining room of his very own house. They were all there. Mordred, Artoria, his family, the Knights and his friends. The Knights of the Round were seated on the right side of a large, low table; bickering loudly among themselves on some useless topic while Merlin laughed from the side, thrown on the comfortable parquet while he drank something alcoholic and listened in silence. Gawain and Mordred were playing cards, glaring at each other with irritated looks as Tristan and Lancelot laughed and Bedivere sighed at their antics, trying to calm them down.
Across the table, instead, Isthar was talking to Jeanne with hushed breath, giggling and whispering something in the Saint's ear while they watched Irisviel teasing Artoria with some sentences that were making her blush and stutter for some strange reason. On the far side of the room, Illya was playing with an exasperated Emiya who carried her on his shoulders with an expression mixed in amusement and defeat, while Kiritsugu watched them with a smile, sipping a cup of tea.
His smile widened at tthe scene. It was... familiar. Nostalgic. This scene, the room full of guests, the noises of laughter and chatter; it was all incredibly familiar to Shirou. He didn't know why, nor when he saw this scene before, but he could feel it inside his heart. And this, even without knowing why, after all the things he had lived and experienced after being summoned here in Chaldea, made him feel happier. It made him feel at home. And that was all that mattered to him.
The red-haired boy entered the room with a smile.
The others saw him coming and turned to him with wide smiles. "Emiya-kun. You're here, at last!" Isthar exclaimed with joy.
Shirou nodded, smiling at the guests with fondness. "Yeah. I'm back."
"Welcome back, Shirou," Artoria greeted him with that sweet and sincere smile she reserved only for him. The young man felt his heart flutter a little at that vision. Damn, she was cute.
"Hell yeah! Mother's back! It's finally dinner time!" Mordred exclaimed loudly, leaping to her feet and grinning like an excited child as she threw her cards on Gawain's face. The others burst out laughing at that scene, enjoying the sight of the boy's face that blushed heavily after the Knight of Treachery's statement, making him stutter in shame. Even Artoria laughed a little, hiding her giggles with a hand on her lips.
"...Mordred," Shirou sighed, visibly exasperated. It was clearly not the first time he had been addressed that way from the younger girl. "I told you many times not to call me like that. I'm not your mother, and you know it."
"Yes you are!" the blonde replied with a grin, looking genuinely confused and determined on that matter. "You're Father's future consort! That makes you my adoptive Mother! That's how it is!"
Lancelot gave him a knowing smile. "Should we start calling you 'Queen' as well, Shirou?" he asked with barely contained sarcasm.
"Oh yes! Queen Shirou! That's a lovely title, indeed!" Merlin grinned with a stifled laugh, slapping a hand to his own forehead in attempt to contain his laughter. The poor boy looked ready to faint in shame, trembling in embarassment after the general amusement for his chosen 'nickname'.
"Come on guys, stop teasing him," Jeanne tried to go on his defence, but even she couldn't hold back an amused smile at his blushing face. It was simply too amusing to watch.
Kiritsugu watched his adoptive son with a smile while the others tried – and failed – to calm down. "Did the mission go well, Shirou?" he asked him slowly.
The young Saber nodded with a sigh. "No problems, really. A few monsters here and there, but overall it was an easy task," he replied, smiling slightly. He decided not to say anything about the renewed... interest... that the other Servants had shown towards him during the mission. He didn't want to be the cause of a bloodshed. Artoria and Mordred could be quite frightening when they decided to be overprotective for him. Their sense of possession and care over him was extremely sweet, really, but also very overwhelming.
They really were father and son, indeed.
"Onii-chan! Onii-chan!" Illya exclaimed, running towards him and hugging him on the waist. She looked up at him with two big, red eyes and a little pout as she hugged him tightly. "I'm hungry! I can't wait anymore!"
Irisviel giggled as she pulled her daughter back next to her. "Come on, Illya. Don't be like that. Your brother just came back from a mission. He must be tired."
"No, it's fine," Shirou reassured her with a nod, patting his little sister on her head with one hand. "I can cook right away. Is that ok with you, Illya?"
The white-haired child grinned. "Yaay! Onii-chan's food is the best!"
"Hey now... that hurt my pride," Emiya grumbled from the side, crossing his arms as Isthar laughed at his irritated expression.
As the others laughed and joked among each other, Shirou merely smiled with fondness and moved towards the kitchen to start making dinner. It was a good thing that Irisviel had given him a refrigerator to store food five days ago, otherwise he would have never had enough food to feed all those people daily. He knew that they didn't come here every night just for fun and enjoyment, after all. Even Merlin usually came here to eat his food, claiming that he enjoyed to eat in a quieter placet than the Dining Room. And the fact that other people enjoyed his culinary skills was something that Shirou discovered to be quite amusing to watch. It made him feel happy, actually. The kitchen stuff was already pleading him to join them like Emiya usually did. Shirou wasn't particulary averse to the idea, to be honest, but he just needed a bit of time before making a decision.
"Shirou... I'll give you a hand," Artoria promptly offered, moving next to him as he started to fumble with the ingredients to prepare the food behind his kitchen counter.
He smiled at her in gratitude with head tilted and eyes closed. "Thank you, Artoria."
The female King blushed, placing herself next to him with a bashful smile and eyes filled with adoration. And then, as they started to prepare dinner in silence together, as they grew closer to each other and get used to their growing presence; they both find themelves glancing to each other's eyes while they cooked, smiling a little and chuckling with joy and fondness and complicity.
And Artoria, for the first time in along while, for the first time in centuries – nay – for the first time in a thousand years, finally felt complete, and happy, and whole once again.
Because now, she was no longer a King. She was no longer a Knight. And she was no longer just a Heroic Spirit. She was a woman. A normal woman. A woman who found her love again, who found the missing half of her, and who managed to heal her broken family and lost relationship once again.
A woman who was happy beyond words.
"Artoria? Can I ask you a question?"
The voice of her beloved roused her from her warm-filled thoughts. The blonde girl beamed, turning her head towards her boyfriend with half-lidded eyes filled with love and affection. "Yes, my dear, sweet Shirou?"
Shirou smiled as well, looking at her with a curious expression. "Is this the continuation of your dream? The dream you spoke of when you first met me here?" he asked her.
Artoria smiled, glancing for a couple of seconds at the guests on the room, at her son laughing with her friends and Knights, and then at her beloved's face. And then, after a few moments, she widened her smile and scooted closer to him, resting her head on his chest as he blushed and looked at her with warmth and affection as well. And when she found herself wrapped into her beloved's arms, when she felt his heart beat at the exact same pace as hers and her cheeks grow warm at their body contact… she knew. She knew, with crystal clear certainty and security.
She knew how to answer that question.
"Yes," she told him with love. "Yes, it is."
THE END
. . .
This are four small extra scenes that are not canonical to this story. They are taken from a few fanarts that I found during these days while I was searching for something to distract my mind. I never intended to put them in the story after I found them, but when I first read them I laughed so hard that it made me forget about the mess that happened with this story for a bit, so I decided to include them so that those of you who don't know of them yet can go search them as well.
I DO NOT take credit for these EXTRAS. They are an almost faithful written replica of those fanart. You can find all of these four fanart on Google Images, writing the titles below. I repeat, I DO NOT TAKE CREDIT FOR THOSE. THE CREDIT GOES TO WHOEVER MADE THEM. I just slightly modified them for fun. I hope this is clear this time...
. . .
Extra 1
Rasputin's Arival : grandorder
Shirou and his adoptive family were walking through the corridors of Chaldea, chatting quietly and joking with each other as they headed to the Cafeteria to prepare a meal and spend a bit of time together. Even Emiya was tagging along, forced to join them against his will thanks to Irisviel's efforts and pleads.
They had just arrived in front of the Cafeteria door when they met Mashu and Ritsuka along the way, talking to a Servant they had never seen before.
"Oh, Master. We meet again," Shirou greeted him with a cheerflu smile and a friendly wave. "Are you here to eat something too?"
Ritsuka smiled at him. "Actually, me and Mashu are here because we are giving our new Servant and ally an introductory tour here in Chaldea," he explained cheerfully, with a toothy grin and a proud expression. "We summoned him just a couple of hours ago. Now you're not the newcomer here anymore, Shirou."
Irisviel tilted her head to the side, looking at the new Servant with confusion. "Is that so? And who might this b-"
She froze, much like everyone of the Emiya Family. Even Shirou felt his blood turn ice into his veins and his skin shiver in displeasure.
Mashu smiled happily, unaware of their inner turmoil. "Guys, meet Chaldea's newest Servant!" she introduced them, pointing to the older, tall, brow-haired man next to her. He was wearing a long dark suit, similar to a priest's robe, with a golden crucifix hanging around his neck and a serius and impassive gaze on his face.
The Servant looked at them with a cold gaze. "It's a pleasure to meet all of you. My name is Rasputin, Alter Ego class, Demi-Servant," he began to say, forming a smug smile on his lips. "Rejoice, all of you, for the great me has been finally summoned here in Chaldea."
Second passed, followed by sheer silence.
Until…
"NOW!" Kiritsugu cried.
At his signal, the whole Emiya family jumped at the new Servant, their weapons unsheathed and their faces furious and outraged like never before.
"Get him!" Shirou cried, not even knowing what came over him or why he felt such hatred towards that man. It just felt right to attack him…. and so he did, drawing his sword and assaulting him from the front.
Rasputin paled, widening his eyes in shock. "W-What the-"
"You evil brute!" Irisviel cried, slapping him on the face as Emiya attacked mercilessly him with his twin swords.
"Die, evil priest! Die!" Illya roared as well.
Ritsuka and Mashu could only gape and shout in confusion during that scene, uttelry unable to understand the situation. And as Rasputin was hit and cut by an endless series of thrusts, punches, arrows, swords, bullets and kicks... a single thought flashed through his mind amidst the pain and confusion that overwhelmed him completely.
"…what the fuck is happening right now?"
Extra 2
The King's Consort : fatestaynight
a.k.a. Queen Shirou
Artoria stared at her Knights and friends with a wide smile on her face as she motioned to Shirou to stand next to her.
"My fellow loyal Knights," she began to say, before sparing a glance of annoyance at Mordred who was looking at her with a bored expression from the side. "…and Mordred. I have gathered you all here because I wish to introduce you to someone."
She pointed at her beloved with a fond expression, smiling widely at the confused and stunned expression of her Knights. "Some of you may have met him by now, but this is Shirou," she introduced him to them. "He was my Master in the Fifth Holy Grail War, and is also the current keeper of my Scabbard, Avalon." She walked closer to him, staring at the Knights straight into the eyes. "What's more, he is my new consort. So, I suggest you hold him in higher regard than even Guinevere, as do I. Is that clear?"
While the Knights watched him in shock, Mordred furrowed her brows in confusion. "Higher regard than even the Queen? Ok, he's got Father's Scabbard, sure… but apart from that, what's so special about him that even Father wou-" she froze in mid-thought, widening her eyes. "…wait!"
She stepped forward, looking at her Father with a solemn gaze. "I have a question, my King."
Artoria sighed. "Speak, disappointing and delinquent bastard son of mine."
Mordred felt her eyebrow twitch, bot chose to ignore that rebuke. "If we are to treat this man even better than Lady Guinevere, that would require us to treat him on the level of royalty. What's more, if he truly is your, in your wordss, 'consort'…" she hesistated for a couple of seconds, before looking at the red-haired young man with a confused expression. "…does that mean that he is to be our new Queen?" she asked.
Shirou jumped physically, startled. "W-W-WHAT!?" he cried in shock.
Artoria only blinked for a few seconds. "…well… I guess…?"
Gawain stepped forward, placing one hand above his heart. "ALL HAIL QUEEN SHIROU!" he suddently cried, prompting the other Knights to do the same.
"ALL HAIL QUEEN SHIROU!" they all saluted in unison.
Shirou felt his eyebrow begin to twitch in rage and embarrassment at that scene, looking at Artoria with barely veiled irritation. "Artoria… can I have a word with you? In private?"
The female King refused to meet his eyes, her face a mix of nervousness and amusement. "M-Maybe later…"
Shirou grew visibly angrier, but he quickly regained his composure. Then, he stared at her with a blank expression. "I see. I guess someone doesn't want dinner tonight, then," was all he said. Then, withouth further ado, he turned and began to walk away.
Artoria gasped, visibly panicking after that threat. "S-Shirou! Wait! I-I can explain!"
Lancelot stared with a stunned expression at the retreating form of his King while she followed the new Queen desperately. "T-To be able to reduce our King to such a state with but a few words…"
Gawain nodded slowly. "Truly, our new Queen seems quite formidable."
Extra 3
Fate Grand Hammer - Schrödinger's Servant
Ritsuka stared at the scene with obvious confusion. "…what are these two doing?"
Mashu merely sighed in exasperation, shaking her head as she watched the scene unfold before her very own eyes. "I really don't know, Senpai. It looks like they're kinda arguing. They've been at it for an hour now," she explained, looking completely lost just like him.
The source of their confusion was none other than two people who were talking loudly in the corridor.
Shirou stared at the other Servant with a serious expression. "Why don't you get it? People die if they are killed. That's the way it is."
"No, no, no. A hero cannot be defeated simply by making him die," Tamamo no Mae replied, her face as serious as the other's.
"Just because you're correct it doesn't mean you're right!" Shirou retorted, crossing his arms with decision.
Tamamo scoffed. "Says who? The man with an Archer-self who shoots swords?" she retorted as well.
"And what is wrong with that?"
"Do you even need to ask? The Archer-class in made for Archers!"
"Yeah, but it's more fun that way. Fun things are fun."
"That doesn't make any sense. It's not the same thing! It's like… your left arm is not the same as your right arm!"
"Well, yes… but actually no."
"You're so irritating, Shirou! I will leave this feud alive and victorious, even if it kills me!"
"Just watch me! I'll defeat you so bad that you won't be able to die!"
"Tch… I'm really weak against strong opponents."
Ritsuka stared for a few more seconds, blinked, and then sighed with a sudden headache. "You know what? I'm out of here," he muttered quietely.
He left, followed by Mashu, as the two Servants continued their dispute.
Extra 4
Seiba Horny : F/GO
Shirou sighed, sitting on the bed of his own room with a tired, broken expression on his face. Man, what a day it had been. Not even four hours had passed since he had been summoned here in Chaldea, and he had already caused a commotion in front of all the other Servants because of King Arthur and their supposed 'relationship' in the past…. He really found it hard to believe even now. Merlin had been laughing the whole time during that meeting.
"Kissed right in front of everyone… by King Arthur, moreover. What a crazy story," he mused inwardly, shaking his head with a tired frown.
He was about to fall to sleep when he heard a sudden knock on the door.
He frowned, getting up from the bed and moving to reach the door. Once he opened it, he found himself face to face with the last person he was expecting to see right now. "...you again?" he asked, utterly confused and unable to understand.
Artoria entered his room with an uncertain expression, her face red and her eyes glued to the floor. "C-Can I talk for you... just a bit?" she asked with a timid, shy tone of voice.
Shirou nodded with a sigh, allowing her to enter and scratching his neck in embarrassment and irritation. He couldn't really kick her out of his room now, could he? Her Knights would surely kill him if he only tried. He merely sighed with a resigned expression.
"Listen, ma'am… I told you already. I don't remember you. I'm not the same guy you met in the past anymore…"
"I know," she cut him off immediately, staring at him intently. Gone was her previous hesitation, replaced by a calm, intense gaze that Shirou couldn't quite decipher yet. "That's not why I'm here."
He stared at her for a few seconds. "…then what?" he asked.
Her reaction was interesting, if not a bit off-putting. Her eyes scanned him from head to toe as her cheeks blushed and a strange, hungry smile formed on her lips. She stared at him with half-lidded eyes, taking a step closer. "I heard you like swords," was all she said.
Shirou blinked. "Huh?"
Artoria moved closer to him, placing a hand on his chest and staring at his face with a seductive gaze that was anything but reassuring.
Shirou gulped audibly.
"I can show it to you. The Excalibur…" her left hand moved to touch some 'private' parts of her body, while she pressed herself on him with a flushed face and a predatory smile. "…and my 'Excalibur' down below."
Shirou blanched, sweating profusely.
That night, only one scream could be heard from his room.
"Merlin, what the FUCK!?"
And it's done. The story is over, guys. Despite all the things that happened, I hope it managed to arouse some emotions in you. That is the ONE and ONLY thing I care about. Give emotions and feelings with the words I wrote. I don't care about taking credits, or the results, or anything else. Especially after what happened.
To a reader who asked this: I put your line in the last chapter, as requested. I changed it a little, since the the expression 'lick her boots' was a little too extreme for my tastes. I hope you don't mind, and thanks for the idea XD
The fight between Shirou and Gilgamesh contains lines, attacks and details inspired by Muramasa's own attacks and his Noble Phantasm in the F/GO game. (Like – Re-forging; his chant when he summons the sword; and even some moves with the blade. Even the Niten Ichi-Ryu style is quoted by him in one of his attacks. You can read his voice lines on a video on Youtube.)
I personally would have liked to use some lines from the fight between Shirou and Gilgamesh in the UBW anime, but after all that happened, I learned that there was even another fanfic from another author where Muramasa/Shirou and Gilgamesh clashed. So, I checked it out, and saw that this author quoted all those lines from the anime, and I decided to not use them. I don't want to be accused of stealing credit from him too, after all. I still had to use a part of Muramasa's chant from the F/GO fadom Wiki, however, otherwise he would not have been able to summon his Noble Phantasm. If you want to accuse me of plagiarism for this too... go ahead.
Another curiosity is that, throughout the course of my fanfic, many of the dialogues of different Servants are inspired by their own voice lines from the F/GO game. Some phrases used by Musashi, Jeanne, Siegfried, Parvati, Merlin – for example – but also many others. You can find their voice lines on Youtube and compare the differences, if you are interested.
One last thing about the details in the story. What Amakusa Shirou and Sasaki say in this chapter should have been a clue and the incipit for a new story. I had in mind to write a Four-Chapters sequel called A Thousand Miles (with song included), where I would have further explored the relationship between Shirou/Artoria, Shirou/Muramasa and especially Shirou/Mordred and the other Knights, introducing the 'Alters' of the Servants such as Artoria Lily and Artoria Alter, Jeanne Alter and Emiya Alter. This is why Amakusa talks about his Alter Ego self even if the Alters have never been mentioned in my story. Obviously, given what happened, I won't write the sequel anymore.
And yes, I know that Muramasa was not Sasaki's master in the Fate universe. But I liked the idea, and went with it because I wanted to hint at the sequel in my original plans.
SPOILERS ON F/GO AND A CERTAIN LOSTBELT:
The reason I made Shirou more OP in this story should have been revealed in the sequel. Basically, it's because Muramasa IS a damn OP. Think about it: Although that crazy old fool always claims himself to be a miserable blacksmith determined not to fight, in the original works he performs crazy feats: (He destroyed an entire Reality Marble and a full Castle with a single swing of his sword - he cut Hephaestus in half - he killed the titan Atlas - he's so strong that the Alien God forced him to work for him (even if his legend is only 500 years old) - he cut a full mountain in half with a single slash in a certain Lostbelt opening - in Shimosa he almost destroyed Lancer Purgatorio body with a single slash, who was defeated by Musashi thanks to his blade - he defeated a lot of Servants in two Lostbelts - he can even use martial arts...) He's a literal tank that traded the survivability of his body for more damage and power! That's what Muramasa is. That man is a liar, he's just too lazy and modest to admit that he's badass. Shirou inherited all his abilities, so... he too is more badass here. Their connection won't be deepened and explored anymore, so you're all free to draw any conclusions you like.
END OF THE SPOILERS.
. . .
Having said that, I thank all of those who had the patience and the desire to read and see this story end. Really, really, THANK YOU. I have no words to describe how much I appreciate your support and your kind words.
(Since some have asked me this question privately... yes, you can copy the story and save it on your computer in case it gets removed again for some reason. I don't think it will, since the Mod have guaranteed me that it won't be removed from the site again, but you can still copy it, save it or do whatever you want with it. You can even publish it again and take credit for it, for all I care. I don't give a damn about taking credits anymore, especially after what happened.)
I repeat, once again, that even if you decide to send me a private message or leave a review to the story, I will not read them nor answer them like before. I will completely abandon this account, and even if one day I will find the will to write another story again, it will DEFINITELY NOT be with this account. I'm sorry, but my mind's made up.
Thanks a lot to everyone who supported me until the end. I would hug you all if I could.
. . .
Vorrei poter dire che è stato bello, ma… visto ciò che è successo preferisco restare in silenzio. Ringrazio di nuovo dal profondo del mio cuore tutti coloro che mi hanno supportato. Oh, e se state traducendo questa frase con un certo sito menzionato prima, sappiate che adesso potete sentirvi come mi sono sentito io quando scrivevo questa storia. L'intera fanfiction è stata scritta così, dopotutto.
Volate sempre in alto, gente!