Author Note

Hello there and welcome to another chapter of Fate Shadow Spear.

Before beginning the chapter, here are some answers to the reviews.

Jose19 - This story is based on Heaven's Feel route, with slight changes as you can see. While Shirou in HF didn't have someone to guide him before, everything he accomplished was only due to Archer's arms. Without it, he woudn't be as strong as in the other routes. With Scathach in his life early on, he had received the training necessary to make a difference in this war. Last but not least is his pairing. True that in HF, his pairing is Sakura, but I don't really care about this pairing, so I changed it. Nothing against it, but nothing in favor of, either.

Franz Myers - Since Shirou is more competent, Kirei's role became reduced as a consequence. The priest in HF counted with Shirou's naivety, lack of expertise and the early loss of Saber to influence the redhead as well as Sakura. Now that Shirou is more competent, he is more reliant on his skills learned by the Ruler of the Land of Shadows, Irish Legend, Scathach.

Mythic Imagination - Thank you so much for the compliment.

Now, here is the chapter.

Heaven's Feel

Fate: Shadow Spear

Chapter 21 - Utopia

Beta: Axel Emiya

Kotomine Kirei stood inside the empty and ghastly hallways of the Church, barely illuminated by the dim candles and the bare moonlight that managed to pass through the windows.

'So, the outcome has already been decided.'

The man of the clergy stood with his hands behind his back with a positive smile on his face, while pondering on the war he was overseeing. It was wrong actually to say that the outcome has already been decided. The truth of the matter was that this outcome had been decided a long time ago. It was no secret to him how distorted this grail war became. For instance, normally only one holy grail would exist, but this war had two. A chuckle escaped from his musing as he considered the container and how fit she is for the holy grail or to be more precise, fit to the grail's contents.

'Now, the stage is set. The one who can provide me an answer…the one whose birth is approaching finally.'

Kirei now walked through the hallways that lead towards the main church, considering the energy he felt approaching.

So, with a content smile as he Kotomine Kirei now saw that his presence in this war shall no longer be of an overseer, but one who shall allow 'all the world's evils' to appear. As such, the man had simply stood there in the main church hall as the front doors opened to reveal one of the servants in this war, Archer, carrying his unconscious Master in his arms while Emiya Shirou and Saber followed right behind. The spiritual healer didn't even need to ask what happened to his former student as he merely inclined his head towards the room adjacent to the church hall, urging Archer to follow him, while Shirou and Saber chose to sit, while waiting for the treatment to finish. Shirou just couldn't help but chuckle that he once more had to stand by waiting while the priest treated one of the Tohsaka sisters.

He looked at the door where Kirei was with Tohsaka and frowned, wondering if he could have done something to prevent her from getting hurt like this.

"Shirou, what are you thinking?" Saber no longer was dressed in her armor as she approached her master.

It made little sense to use the armor now of all times, simply because their enemy was now composed of Lancer and Sakura. Still, like Kirei, Saber couldn't help but wonder how much distorted this Grail War became and worst of all how it seemed to weigh a ton of Shirou's shoulders.

"I am at a loss, Saber. Part of me believes that Zouken and Archer were right and that I should have stopped Sakura before she became like this. But ah…the other part can't help but want to think of a miracle that could save her from the Grail's influence." It was easy to understand the conundrum.

Obviously, the King of Knights concurred with him, while placing a comforting hand on his thighs as she took a seat next to him.

Still, a knight does not walk away from an oath simply because the solution is suddenly obscure. A knight can only push forward and meet the challenge head on with a sword and armor while riding gallantly towards whatever lies ahead. And she understood that. It was no different than the mission she took upon herself to bring peace to a land embroiled in war after war.

It was time once more to remind the man that personified many of the knights of the round table.

"Shirou, right now Sakura may be the enemy we're facing." The redhead looked up to see her clear emerald eyes looking straight at his own. "But it's not hard to see how much she is suffering. You owe it to her to find a way to rid her of the Grail's influence. And as your sword, I shall help you fulfil this oath you undertook, no matter how cloudy the solution may be." The redhead couldn't help but bask under his partner's strong and valiant words. It was enough to bring about a determined fire within him.

Shirou could also see that in Sakura's eyes just as Saber said it.

Though Sakura appears and act different, deep inside it's a mere case of a woman lashing out at the world because of years of injustice and torture that she endured all on her own. In her deluded mind, right now, having the power right now, means that she no longer has to cower towards those who mistreated her. But, yes, at the end of the day, all Sakura ever wanted was for it to stop. All she ever wants is for the pain to stop.

"You're right Saber…she never asked for any of this, she didn't deserve this treatment." The King of Knights knew that she could get through to him with less effort.

She knew about his strength of character and she knew how big of a heart he had to save those in peril. As she saw Shirou make a fist in determination, she could feel its energy radiating on her, like a tidal wave. The link between master and servant was already strong before, but with Scathach's assistance, it was like Saber and Shirou shared the same presence. So powerful their connection was that her dragon core sprung to life like a dragon opening its wings and roaring in defiance.

"Humm, it seems the priest has managed to salvage Rin for now." Master and Servant saw as Archer materialized close to them with his arms crossed. "Just to let you two know, before the idiot here decides to storm inside."

Shirou and Saber both frowned at Archer's callous nature, but the white-haired servant couldn't care less right now. In his mind, this situation has worsened tremendously right now and it is all because of his idiot past self.

"But it appears that Sakura had taken quite a lot from Rin, so I will be dematerialized for the time being, until she has recovered."

Shirou and Saber didn't get to reply before Archer vanished once more.

"I'm seriously wondering how could I ever become like him…" Shirou's murmur was difficult to hear, but Saber did and wondered that herself. How such a wonderful and valiant person had shifted into such a shallow and empty shell in the future.

===Inside Kirei's healing chamber===

One Tohsaka Rin stirred awake as her hands went unconsciously towards her forehead to stop the migraine that chose to appear just as she woke up.

All she ever could think of right now was curse whoever maniac that must have run her over or something.

"I see you have awakened, Rin." If there was one person whose voice she wished to curse to the high heavens was this guy. She then turned to see the damn priest just sitting by his desk with a book by his hand. "I have been debating whether or not to simply bury you to the Tohsaka state to recuperate, but it turns out your sister did less of a damage to you than I first believed. Or Emiya Shirou did something to at least partially heal you before bringing you here to me." Rin grumbled at the irritating man, before taking a seat by the bed.

"That at least explains how I came to be here once more, since there is no way I would have come here again if I had any say in the matter." The priest simply smiled at the amateur jab, being quite fond of this back and forth with his apprentice.

"Yes, I'd venture you wouldn't have come here willingly. You're welcome for healing you by the way."

"Cut the crap Kirei, we both know that you didn't heal me as a favor." Kirei simply snorted, reminding of the many times when his apprentice let her old temper rise in their banters.

"It's me who is the enemy here, Rin, that job belongs to your sister."

Man, only a few minutes talking, and Rin already wanted to decapitate this irritable person, though Kirei simply continued with his best hobby, making people angry, or more precisely, her. "Though, it must be irritating to you to realize that your deal little sister is now the very vessel that carries 'all the world's evil'. I must imagine that dear old Tokiomi must be rolling in his grave for what he inadvertently caused to his sweet younger daughter. Huh, the man firmly believed that giving her away would prevent more hardship in her life, but in the end, it was quite the opposite, wouldn't you agree, my dear apprentice. Matou Sakura must be releasing all that pent-up anger of hers towards the man who caused her the most pain of all." Rin's blood boiled at this point, but then she took some great breaths to control herself, already knowing the priest's kinks.

"This must be quite amusing to you, right. You probably realized what the old geezer Matou did to Sakura when we brought her here."

"I did, yes. At the time, I forgot to mention that aside from the crest worms, Zouken had implanted pieces of the Grail inside her as well. My mistake." Rin snarled at the choice for words. It was more like a deliberate omission than a mistake.

"You should have told me." Kirei met her snarling comment with a snort in derision.

"And why would I do such a thing. You do seem under the impression that I owe you an explanation here, Rin." This time, the Tohsaka heir exploded at the man, migraine be damned.

"I'm the second owner of this land, I'm responsible for whatever happens here. This war is my responsibility. Yes, you must have spoken to me the minute you found out about the grail's essence being inside Sakura!"

Kirei, though, merely negated and got up from his chair.

"You may be second owner and responsible for this land as per your family's obligation, but that authority does not extend to the Church. Otherwise, that would be quite an unfair advantage in this war, Tohsaka Rin." If possible, the vein on Rin's forehead had developed a life of its own at that…that…

"Oh dear lord, the great Kirei Kotomine, using subterfuge…this isn't about the Grail war anymore. This is my sister and the amount of carnage that she has been doing…ever since this god forsaken grail war began."

Kirei did not relent, however, in fact he considered his words to be his greatest weapon thus far.

"I have responsibilities as the war's overseer, my dear apprentice. Like you, Matou Sakura is one of the masters in this war. As such, I wouldn't be doing my job if I interfered like you think I should have."

"You know what…forget it. I've done talking to you. Archer!" The heroic spirit and counter guardian appeared with his arms crossed as he saw his master stump out of the room. "Come on, Emiya-kun and Saber must be here as well. We must go and take Illyasviel back before Sakura manages to absorb her. Thanks for nothing, you damn priest." Kirei had simply chuckled as he and Archer saw Rin's back marching towards the Church's main hall, before Archer vanished once more, while Rin slowly fed him more prana. Kirei knew that Rin's choice was the right one and he knew that temporarily their paths were aligned, but that does not mean that the priest would help them or even announce his moves to Rin. His overall goal would be met soon and he only needed to get rid of one minor annoyance.

Shirou and Saber were waiting at the church when Rin opened the door close to the church aisle and continued stomping away towards the church's main entrance. It was quite a comic scene if the situation weren't so serious.

"Ah Tohsaka…are you alright?" Shirou couldn't help but back away slightly as the brunette magus turned her angry eyes on him.

"There is no time to goof around, Emiya-kun, let's go." Shirou and Saber looked at Rin kicking the main door open. The question mark on both their faces, but it was Saber who voiced it.

"Go where, Rin…"

"Ah, back to the Einzbern mansion, where else…!" Shirou and Saber still stood side by side, wondering what had gotten into her when Archer appeared next to them, explaining. "Stop Sakura from absorbing Illyasviel!"

===Eiznbern Castle===

The travel was taken by Servant express for Rin anyway. Shirou and Saber were following right behind.

It still amazes the Tohsaka heir to see Shirou becoming a servant in all the ways except that he is a human being.

While that strength increased because of the very man who was carrying right now, it was by no means less surprising. Aside from Archer's connection to him and thereby influence in Shirou's magic circuits, Shirou had already been training under the gatekeeper of the Land of Shadows for a long time. Still, Rin couldn't help but feel that there was still something in this puzzle called Emiya Shirou that was still missing. For one, despite his prana reserves being massive right now, his body was still of a regular human being. And one normally couldn't handle the strain of moving like that.

Right now, looking at the redhead from the corner of her eyes, she couldn't see fatigue or even an attempt to keep up.

No, Shirou was on par with Saber, moving side by side, jumping through the rooftops and then the open road once the city appeared smaller in their rear view mirrors.

They stopped running as soon as they reached the forest entrance that would lead them towards the Mansion. Walking throughout the path surrounded by dense forest, neither emitted a word about the path ahead.

Matou Sakura has killed a lot of people. In Archer's mind, more like Kiritsugu's mind, killing Sakura now would prevent others from having the same destiny.

Kill one to save a thousand.

Shirou, though, didn't believe that to be a recompense or even atonement for her sins, if it was her sins in the first place. As they stopped to see the Einzbern Mansion in all its majesty in front of them, Shirou stopped to take a look at the big full moon up in the sky. From here on out, chances are that they would be fighting non-stop, and this may very well be the last time he is ever allowed to simply take a long breath and consider everything that has happened until now. Saber, Rin and Archer all looked at him, more like waiting for his resolve to kick in before they resumed their path towards the mansion. When his brown eyes opened and his eyebrows narrowed, Saber took a determined step closer to him with a determined smile of her own.

Archer just snorted…remembering seeing those eyes too many times in the mirror.

Tohsaka Rin got the chills and was torn between her duty to this land and her affection towards her sister. Still, seeing the resolve in Shirou's eyes, she at least got comfort in sharing her duties with him. Sharing the moonlight world with another…that thought relaxed her more than she thought it would. At least through all this mess, it was nice to have to someone to share it with…someone who wouldn't leave once this war was over. As they walked towards the castle, the signs of the past battles were evident throughout the castle lands.

Soon, they walked close to the castle imposing walls, while figuring where Illya would be right now.

"Archer…" The white-haired servant nodded at the silent order and placed his hand on the structure.

Closing his eyes, he muttered the two words that only Shirou could hear, before the prana lines emerged from his hand towards the castle walls.

"Illyasviel is on the third floor, on the leftmost room. I can't feel where Matou Sakura is…her presence is everywhere and nowhere at the same time." Archer soon stood up, while Rin analyzed the feedback from her servant.

"Sakura's element is hollow, so it makes sense that you can't perceive her location. In fact, this is why we never saw what was going on with her before the war began. Emiya-kun…" Shirou and Saber looked at the brunette. "I will go search for Sakura…can I leave Illyasviel in your care?" The redhead nodded, having already seen the window that Archer said his sister was in. Rin and Archer were already heading towards the front door of the mansion when Shirou called for her.

"Tohsaka…" Rin turned and saw Shirou's concerned eyes for her. "Be safe." She smiled at the sentiment.

"You too Emiya-kun." Shirou nodded with a smile, before turning to Saber and seeing the King of Knights acknowledging the following movement, before both flexed their legs and jumped three stories high.

===Inside the Castle===

Oblivious to what was going on outside, one Illyasviel Von Eiznbern was sitting on a chair in a plain room, while the homunculi maids Sella and Leysritt stood in front of the room's double door.

"Are we really going to prepare formal attire for her?" Sella was the one who addressed their master.

"Have you forgotten, Sella?" Illya's child-like voice betrayed the severity of the situation. "Our objective was and always has been to complete the Holy Grail. If the container is fitting, it doesn't necessarily have to be me."

Illya then turned towards the window of the room, not caring to see the looks of concern from her maids right now. The window that she remembered looking outside from, when the blizzard came in Germany. Illyasviel then got up from the chair she was sitting and walked towards the window with her hand stretched to open it. The sudden image that appeared outside scared the petite homunculi, before Shirou and Saber smashed through the window. Shirou rolled on the ground while Saber just stood guarding close to the window, while Illyasviel was still looking scared at the sudden movement.

"Who exactly are you?" Sella was outraged, demanding an answer while the apathetic Leysritt simply answered for them.

"Burglars…" Saber frowned at the accusation, but Shirou was the one to mutter a quick apology for trespassing.

"Oh no, we're not…we are just…"

"Shirou…" The redhead looked towards his sister and got up from the ground with a smile on his face and was about to address her, when she continued. "Why did you come here?"

"What do you mean, why? We came to rescue you, what else?" Illya, though, kept on her fierce resolve in looking down at her brother.

Despite Shirou having Saber and being a magus of his own right, this part of the war just doesn't concern him. So with a tense shoulders and limp arms, she settled for a stern dismissal.

"Go home…there's nothing left for you to do here…just leave everything about Sakura to me. This is my duty after all." Both Shirou and Saber saw when Illya looked down at that last part, which was enough for Shirou.

"Stupid Illya…" Shirou bemoaned as he walked closer to her position. Illya looked upward as brother and sister shared a defiant look. "I don't care about your so called duty! No matter how tough you try to act, no matter how much you pretend you're all right, you can't fool anyone, okay?" The comic offended look on Illya's face was enough for the spectators in the room – Saber, Sella and Leysritt – to smile at the fraternal lovely spat between them.

"What do you mean, 'trying to act tough'?…I am the Holy Grail…" Illya even tried to put up a tough front, but Shirou didn't even let her finish.

"That's exactly what I mean by acting tough, idiot! You are not just the Holy Grail's container, you're Illya, my sister!" This time, the homunculi took a step back in surprise. "What stupid brother would I be If I didn't save you huh!"

The girl couldn't help but blush in surprise at hearing him addressing her as his sister for the first time. It was enough to make her resolve whiter for a while, as she looked at his eyes once more.

"Shirou…my duty…"

"Oh forget about this so called duty already." Illya screamed in surprise when Shirou grabbed her and enveloped her with one arm. Saber couldn't help but smile fondly at the little girl kicking and screaming.

"Hold on, put me down Shirou!"

"Let's go Saber!" The King of Knights merely saw as Shirou jumped down from the window, before looking at the maids to see them merely bowing at them, before Saber jumped to follow her man.

Master and servant then kept on running, sure that Rin and Archer would follow them.

Back inside the castle, though, Sakura was on the floor in ecstasy as she sensed Shirou's presence inside the castle. She was trembling in delight at the feeling of her Senpai coming for her, while Rider just stood a few meters behind her master in an apathetic display. She saw as a shadow emerged from Sakura's body, before an almighty roar emerged from within her master. Shadow Berserker got his orders and charged with all its might towards retrieving Illya from Shirou's grasp and killing everyone in its path. Archer had barely taken his master out of the beast's path, before the front gates were smashed to pieces.

===Einzbern Forest===

The huge noise alerted Shirou and Saber as they ran even faster to make an escape, at least towards a place where they could better face this menace.

"Berserker…"

Shirou and Saber looked at Illya and then at one another. Facing the mighty servant before he was consumed by the shadow was bad enough, now they had to figure out how to face this beast. Berserker was indeed a beast in all senses of the word, causing havoc in its path, slicing up trees like they were nothing and hurling them at long distances. A couple of tree projectiles even landed close to their running position, forcing Saber and Shirou to dodge.

They couldn't simply fight the beast while protecting Illyasviel. As the sun slowly appeared in the horizon, Shirou and Saber stopped their running as they reached a clear part of the forest where Berserker had once fought against Cu Chullain. They could see the ditch caused by the beast's sword, so Saber stood upward waiting for Berserker to appear while Shirou jumped downward to leave Illya there, before turning to get back with Saber.

However, before he could do that, Illya grabbed his jacket. The tremors in the area and Berserker's growl all painted a clear picture. And Illya now feared for her little brother.

"Shirou…please run, you and Saber! He is after me, not you!" Illya stopped screaming as Shirou enveloped her in a comforting hug.

"Don't worry Illya, as I said before, what brother would I be if I didn't protect you." The little homunculi, though, couldn't agree to him doing this for her. Probably, the one person in this war who has never done anything bad.

She couldn't allow him to sacrifice himself, even if he had Saber to support him.

"But Shirou…you'll die." The redhead merely chuckled and placed a comforting hand on her hair, ruffing it mildly like a big brother would do.

"Don't worry Illya, I have made a promise to save Sakura from what's inside of her. I won't die here." Illya just kept looking at her brother with dazed eyes, as little tears gathered.

"Shirou!" the moment was ruined when Saber called for him, just as Berserker emerged from the trees. Shirou jumped towards the surface and joined next to Saber, while both looked at Berserker's new form. Before this, he was already a beast, but now enveloped by the darken red hue of the shadow. Berserker slowly walked towards them, dragging his axe sword. Shirou had immediately traced his red spear and Saber had released the wind enveloping Excalibur. Against this foe, she couldn't afford to fight without thrusting prana through her sword.

"Shirou, what's the plan here?" The redhead looked sideways at his partner and coursed fire through his spear.

"We shall attack him one at a time, Saber. When one attacks, the other provides cover. But we have to kill him twelve times, Saber."

Arturia grabbed her sword and nodded, before they charged at the adversary.

The Shadow Berserker roared in defiance at the opposition as Saber initiated the attack, while Shirou stood in medium distance, using the extended reach of his spear to aid Saber. The King of Knights felt her knees buckle as she parried sword with the monster. Still, with the more than enough supply of prana from Shirou, Saber managed to keep up with the Berserker servant. Without the shadow, he was already on a mad dash, worrying very little about restraint. Now, it was like an uncontrolled train al fulll throttle, still Saber managed to expertly use momentum and agility. Both she and Shirou for that matter just like they practiced in Shirou's Dojo.

Little by little, the dark tendrils that surrounded Heracles's body were cut to shreds by their combined attack.

It was such an exquisite sight to see two blurs, one blue and one red in deep synchronization, Saber with Excalibur and Shirou with Gae Bolg.

Shirou then reinforced his body to the max as he stopped Berserker's Axe Sword just enough for Saber to slip behind the giant menace and land a powerful yellow beam of energy straight through Berserker's heart.

The black tendrils all came back together with Berserker's chest area, before the beast roared in defiance once more. Saber and master jumped away from the menace as Shirou released the spear and picked up his bow to release a rain of thousands of arrows. Berserker, though, was merely fazed by it. No matter, because Shirou's intent was merely to stop his advance long enough for Shirou to give Saber the needed opening. However, as soon as Saber capitalized on the opening, she was hit hard in the chest as Berserker landed a fierce kick that would have levelled an entire building. Still, the King of Knights, despite its petite figure, was quite strong and resilient, despite slamming her body hard against a sequence of thick trees. Shirou could feel his own prana reaching his servant to heal her, while using flame attack to keep Heracles at bay.

Saber snarled from her position and wiped the blood from her mouth, before using mana burst to shorten the distance towards the beast just as she saw the flame hurricane from her master. She could see Hercacles's skin peel from the excessive heat.

"Saber, prepare for another air strike!"

Shirou screamed throughout exertion in maintaining the fire rune craft. His body was already glowing from the runes that Scathach inscribed, hence his body was now more pain resistant and his strength to match that of a servant. The King of Knights stood ready for the strike as Shirou stopped the fire attack, before focusing prana through his spear. His intention wasn't to charge and hit, but to throw the spear from a distance. The spear projectile was thrown at tremendous speeds and headed straight for Heracles's heart, being the only possible target. Berserker even attempted to block it with his axe sword, but Saber was right next to him, with an air strike that like the first life taken, aimed for Heracles's right chest, skewering him completely.

And as Shirou's spear held the curse familiar to Gae Bolg, the wound caused by the spear transferred the curse towards the Berserker, while taking his heart along as well.

After that, Saber and Shirou regrouped as they observed the menace's body recover after the third life lost. Shirou wasted no time and turned to Saber while using the healing rune on her body. The King of Knights took this opportunity to feel her body replenishing its full strength while enveloped by golden energy. Still, to this day, Saber felt this power to be familiar. Now, however, was not the time to ponder as Heracles had recovered his strength. Saber was surprised and quite fearful when this time the menace went after Shirou instead, attacking him relentlessly, until Shirou received a nasty cut on his chest, completely shredding his outfit and revealing Shirou's plain and muscular upper body, inscribed with runes.

"Shirou!"

The redhead spilled blood on the ground at the attack, but used his spear for support while he observed Saber parrying against Berserker's sword. A roar from the redhead gave him all the fire in his body to keep on fighting as Shirou inscribed shield runes surrounding Heracles, keeping him trapped while he attacked with the spear. Saber looked in relief as her partner bounced back, despite the nasty cut on his chest that surprisingly was being knitted before her very eyes. She could see red lightning like energy enveloping Shirou's body as well as his spear while Shirou parried his attacks against the Shadow Berserker.

The sight was so impressive that Saber actually faltered in their fight as she observed Shirou battling against the mad Servant. The hesitation only lasted for about two seconds, before she saw another opening and she took it.

Using her wind strike, Saber sent a powerful hurricane straight towards Heracles's unprotected chest. Because of Shirou's spear, the curse was in full effect on Heracles's body, allowing them to have the upper hand.

Saber's strike obliterated Berserker's body, taking the fourth life.

While observing the enemy recover, Shirou and Saber took their time recovering and unfortunately huffing. With one third of the fight reached, the goal now seemed even further away if possible. Still, as both looked at one another, an implied camaraderie ascended between them. To this day, Arturia had never met someone who could have her back like this. Someone who knew her so intently that managed to cover all her blind spots without falter. Despite feeling the fatigue and still not seeing favorite odds in this fight, her eyes landed on Shirou and her heart skipped a beat at seeing the level of his resolve.

Such tenacity brought nothing but respect from the King of Knights.

Still, she could see the toll this fight has taken on Shirou. Not only he was engaging in a servant battle, but he was also providing prana to her. His usual prana capacity plus the runes on his body provided more than enough for a regular battle, but this was not a regular battle, not by a long shot. Heracles was a being of massive reserves, boosted by Sakura who for her part was boosted by the Grail. Not only that, but one of Heracles' Noble Phantasms forced them to kill him at least twelve times. The fact that they killed him at least four times already was evidence enough of Shirou and Saber's strength, but that alone wouldn't suffice.

She knew that and she knew that Shirou was aware as well.

"Saber…" The King of Knights looked at the panting master by her side. "I think it's time we used your noble phantasm against him." Saber looked startled as they observed the monster recuperating.

"Are you sure about this?" Shirou nodded, before he took a breathing to calm down, while his runes worked in replenishing his strength.

"Dealing with him one life at a time will eventually tire me out and without prana, you can't sustain yourself. Now, please start, Arturia. I will keep him occupied." Saber looked hesitant at first but got a grip once the beast roared to life once more. She saw as Shirou slammed his spear on the ground, before rounded sigils appeared out of thin air all around Heracles, like a cage. The beast looked around and began to trash around, using his axe sword. She could see that each Strong stroke from his sword made Shirou flinch and she realized that keeping this number of shields activated was taxing. Closing her eyes in concentration, she held her sword upwards close to her face, before the sword hummed to life.

Golden goblets of energy emerged from the ground and from the dense foliage behind her as Saber lifted her sword past her shoulder height.

When she opened her eyes and took a step forward, a beam of yellow light climbed up the sky as she observed her target still trashing against Shirou's sigils barrier. At this moment, time stopped as Saber's mind went back to the time when she received this sword from the Lady of the Lake. The sword of the promised victory handed to her by Lady Vivian. A tear escaped from her eye at the memory of no longer having its sheathe with her as she could see Shirou's sigils barrier begin to crack under the pressure of Heracles's relentless assaults.

She just prayed to whatever god was seeing this, because she won't have another opportunity to do this in this fight.

As soon as Heracles forced himself away from Shirou's barrier, Saber announced her own noble phantasm with a roar, sucking a good chunk from Shirou's reserves in the process.

"EX-CALIBURRRRR"

The golden beam that travelled towards the sky was brought down like a hammer from the gods as Saber slashed Heracles head on, earning a roar from the mighty Greek hero. Shirou got the hell away from the beam's trajectory as not only sliced the Berserker clean, but also went further down the forest, carving a nice slash on the ground that extended towards the entire Einzbern grounds. Trees erupted from the ground as Saber and Shirou turned to observe the end result of her noble phantasm.

Saber kneeled on the ground and used her sword as a walking stick just like Shirou with his spear.

Both were panting and Shirou's runes couldn't work that fast in replenishing them both. Still, they were confident that the beast was now gone. When the light and debris cleared, however, both gasped at the sight of the Berserker's body, which was sliced in half, recover, just like before. They couldn't know how many lives were taken from Saber's attack, but their fear now grew as it was at least short of eight left, because he was still up and about, roaring to life. Shirou cursed this situation as he observed the panting King of Knights up front from him. She tried getting up, but the amount of prana she had right now was barely enough to keep breathing, let alone keep on fighting.

And Shirou tensed when Berserker charged straight at her, to deal the killing blow once and for all.

Shirou was trembling at the notion of losing her. He was trembling at the thought of no longer having her close to him. At the thought of no longer embracing her.

At the thought of no longer sleeping together.

Time has stopped as he observed the menace about to skewer her with his sword. He needed to come up with something…something to save her. He searched deep within him to inscribe something…trace something!

Saber, for her part, saw Berserker come with his axe sword about to decapitate her and she didn't have the strength to even lift her sword, let alone attempt to parry it.

Her mind then went to Shirou. If there was ever one person in her entire existence that understood her it was him. Ever since the time when Shirou saved her from the shadow, Saber had felt the immense and nurturing feeling of his prana healing her, feeling her entire being, protecting her from harm. With him by her side, she truly felt invincible. Also...their past experiences led her to find buried emotions deep within her. When she took Caliburn from the stone, it was perceived that she would stop being human in order to become the King that her land needed from her.

And until she met Shirou, she firmly believed that to be the truth.

Emiya Shirou in no time at all became everything to her. A kindred spirit, someone who understood her completely…someone…who had her heart…all of it. She could feel her heart pounding in her chest as she tried committing everything they shared into memory. She wished to remember him…she wished to remember his warmth…she wished to remember his strength…she wished to remember his tender eyes looking at her own as they made love together. Above all else, she wanted to apologize to him for leaving him. So, with her eyes closed, all she could do was to simply wait for the pain to come and then she would be back at the Hill of Camlann once more.

"ARTURIA!"

Her eyes trembled shut now as tears fell from her eyes at hearing Shirou's frantic scream for her.

However, when the pain never came, Saber opened her eyes to see what happened only to gasp in surprise at the sight of something long forgotten in her legend.

There hovering in front of her and standing in all its splendor, was the almighty sheathe of Avalon, blocking Heracles's attack and sending the beast flying backwards, practically reflecting the attack. Saber was gasping for breath as her hands unconsciously reached for the relic. As soon as she touched it, she knew. She knew instantly why Shirou's energy was so familiar to her as Avalon's golden energy enveloped her entire being, filling up her core to the brim. When she opened her eyes, she turned to her master only to see his extended hand, towards Avalon. She could see him panting still, but she could see his tender eyes for her, feeling relieved to have saved her somehow.

At this point, Saber realized the final piece of the puzzle that was this amazing man named Emiya Shirou.

Her heart skipped a beat as she now got her answer and much more. The reason why…just as she was his sword, he was her sheathe.

Heracles's sudden roar had awakened from her daydream and Saber now stood in all her glory to face the enemy, but her master had still surprised her by running towards Berserker with a roar of his own. This time, Shirou looked at Heracles…truly looked at him, as he imagined the sound of a sword getting pulled from its scabbard. The trigger that made his circuits hummed to life; the trigger that activated his tracing skills. Shirou saw the twelve labours of Heracles through his structural analysis skill and extended his arm upward. Shirou also saw the pain of this Greek legend as the man looked to be embracing a dying infant.

Saber could see what looked like a green ball of energy as Shirou then traced Heracles's axe sword. The green energy enveloped his entire being.

"Nine Lives Blade Works!"

Heracles met him halfway and Shirou dodged Heracles' sword and slashed the beast in the middle. However, it was not a single slash as behind Berskerker, nine slashes on the ground were visible. Shirou didn't stop there, however, as he flipped and flipped, before getting enough momentum to slam the axe sword straight at Heracles' chest. It was in this instant, that Illyasviel emerged from the hole and joined the gasping Saber as both women observed the fight's ending.

Illyasviel, despite feeling glad that Shirou was alive, surprising as that was after facing Heracles, she looked saddened at seeing her servant once more. The black tendrils from the shadow all but vanished from his body as the legend now appeared for a brief second as he looked at Illya. As his body turned into prana once more, Heracles addressed the mighty warrior that managed to defeat him in battle.

"Protect her in my stead."

Shirou looked upwards as he saw the legend's body turn into golden sands of prana.

He then started wobbling from fatigue, bleeding in various places and almost falling on the ground before Saber appeared by his side, hugging him for all he was worth, never ever daring to let him go from her arms.

Her head rested comfortably on his shoulder; her eyes were closed as a peaceful smile on her face could be seen. It brought only more warmth in her when she felt his arms embrace her in return.

(OST: Kishi Ou no Hokori)

It took two millennia but she had finally found the utopia that she has searched for all her life.

"Rest, my love...my sheathe."

Author Note

This is one of the moments I have been mostly waiting for to reveal in this story.

The last piece of the puzzle to Shirou's strength and his overall bond with Saber…Avalon…the sheathe…finally being revealed.

Please tell me your thoughts and thank everyone who added this story as following or favorite. It is really thrilling to see that so many of you enjoyed my work.

Next Update – Nidaime no Sairin