A proof of concept, something that I might update or might not. Very rough draft, don't expect greatness. Life and Saberface update at the bottom. Read the story first though, I worked hard on it. (Not really, but it did take time…)
Shirou Emiya was different. The people he saved, they could tell that he was searching for something. That he had lost something dear to him. His old classmates wouldn't recognize him, his features were completely different, abnormal even.
Shirou had trained for years, never relenting, never missing a day. He had decided to be a hero, one that was worthy of Arturia. Over the years, Shirou had found out who he was. As his skin turned tan, his hair white, he found out his identity. He was Archer from the Holy Grail War, his destiny written in stone.
He didn't want to accept it, but it did speed up his progress. He didn't want to be snarky, narcissistic, and a jaded person, but his heroic spirit sure was. Shirou didn't focus on that though, his mind was set on finding Arturia. Over time he honed his craft, understanding what Unlimited Blade Works was and how to use it. Yet he didn't adopt the style that Archer used. He took bits of it and made it his own, all while having Caliburn as his favored weapon.
Shirou found himself fighting wars, dead apostles, and corrupt mages. He found out that you couldn't save everyone. No matter how hard he tried, Shirou knew that it was the truth. He wouldn't falter though, his mind was focused on Avalon. He would push his body to the limits, forcing himself to fight harder. He would find her, even if it cost him his life.
He sat in his apartment, looking out towards the sky. He felt nothing right now, just a calming peace that was soon to be broken. Shirou traced Caliburn, the weapon that always reminded him of Arturia. It was a reminder, one that saved him from destruction, one that kept him on the path.
Caliburn was always by his side, ever since he could trace it. It was his most used weapon, it fit his style perfectly. It was her style if he was honest, Arturia had ingrained her teachings into him. He would never stray from them, he had only gotten better with time. Yet he knew that he would never be at her level, so he had to adapt.
A knock came from his door, he wasn't used to visitors, especially at this hour. It was late at night in the middle of nowhere. Shirou kept Caliburn at his side, he worried that the Clock Tower had finally found him. But the most worrying thing was that his bounded field had not gone off.
Shirou opened the door, and his old life ended in an instant. Somehow, he found himself in Avalon. He stood in the golden grass, weary, thinking it was just a dream. Shirou felt the sunlight hit him, warming his core. A breeze blew, his white hair ruffled by the wind.
Shirou Emiya came to a conclusion, he was standing in Avalon. He had finally made it.
"So you made it then? Truly spectacular! I knew that this would work." A voice, someone was standing behind him.
Shirou had been so caught up that he hadn't noticed the person behind him. It was a mage, his wooden staff glowed a faint blue. The man was in white and blue robes, his long white hair flowed in the wind. He was smirking devilishly, like he had expected this outcome.
"Who are you…" Shirou realized that this could only be one person. Arturia wasn't alone in Avalon after all.
"Shouldn't you know? I am Merlin! I have bought you here because I require your assistance." Merlin seemed happy with himself.
Shirou was still trying to take this all in. His life long goal had been realized in an instant, Merlin had bought him here, and he would finally be able to see his love again. He dismissed Caliburn, there would be no fighting here.
"Before you say anything else, I just want to know where Arturia is. I wish to see her, I have been waiting for this moment for a long time." He was pleading, he needed to see her after all this time.
Merlin looked thoughtful, but sadness clouded his eyes.
"That's why I need your help, Bedivere can't do this on his own. Follow me, we should talk in the comfort of my home." Merlin made a waving gesture, flowers sprouted and faded as he walked.
Shirou was at a loss. He remembered what he had to do to meet her again. There were two things that had to happen. She would have to wait for him in Avalon and he would have to search for her endlessly. Had he not searched for her endlessly? Did she get tired of waiting? Doubts flooded his mind, dragging his thoughts into a watery grave.
Shirou hadn't noticed, but they had made it to Merlin's tower. He was still lost, but he needed to know something.
"Is she in danger?" He needed to know why she wasn't here, maybe she needed help with something…
Merlin looked back, he had stopped climbing the never ending stairs.
"Humanity is in danger my friend. She is just a part of the cause." Merlin looked away, not uttering another word until they got to the top of the tower.
Shirou didn't understand. How could he? Arturia was a threat to all of humanity? What happened while he was being a hero? What was his role in all of this?
His dreams of Avalon were crumbling away, whispers of betrayal echoed in his mind. They were almost at the top, but the climb left him thinking. Shirou didn't want to believe that Arturia might have betrayed him. He stopped himself, he would get his answers from Merlin. Surely he would clear everything up.
She wouldn't.
The stairs ended and Merlin opened a door. Inside was his work shop, a royal red carpet lined the floor. Flowers bloomed and metal adorned his workbench. The scenery was nice, but he had no time to take it all in. He had to speak to Merlin, right now.
"I would pull up a chair, this will be a long conversation." Merlin sat down, flower petals settling on the ground.
Shirou sat down, leaning forward, his arms tense. This whole situation was unbelievable, but he needed answers.
"Humanity as a whole is in trouble, but an organization has been taking care of the problem. Only this time it will be nearly impossible to correct the course of history." Merlin sat back in his chair, letting Shirou have a moment to ask questions.
"So people are saving humanity by correcting history? What does this have to do with Arturia…" It suddenly all made sense.
She had always wanted someone else to be chosen as the king, maybe she had made her wish a reality. Was that why she wasn't here? How did she do it though? Did she really leave him?
"In history, the king died when Bedivere threw Excalibur into the lake. Now… The sword was never thrown away, the king never died." Merlin wasn't happy, a frown adorned his face.
So he hadn't been betrayed, Shirou's heart warmed at the thought. He felt invigorated, now he just had to find Arturia.
"So she never died? That's what is affecting humanity as a whole?" Shirou still didn't really understand, but he was happy. There was still hope.
"Yes, she then went on as the king of the dead, she wields Rhongomyniad as her weapon. Rather, she is now a divine spirit, the Goddess Rhongomyniad."
What? He had no idea what that meant.
"So she became a god? You still haven't told me the worst of it, have you?" Shirou could tell that he wasn't telling him everything.
"Ah yes, you have a good head on your shoulders. She started summoning the knights of the round table. They destroyed the crusaders, an entire part of history was annihilated in an instant. They are trying to rebuild Camelot, to run away. You need to stop them, if this continues then humanity will be destroyed." Merlin was serious, he leaned forward in his chair, as if he was going to stand.
They got rid of an entire part of history to remake Camelot? This wasn't like Arturia at all.
"How different is this 'goddess' and how will I be able to set things straight?" He was worried, the future of humanity could cease to exist.
"She is nothing like the person you know. Killing her will allow you to see her in Avalon. But there are only two ways to really get rid of the goddess. Bedivere has one of them, the other will be yours." Merlin stood up, walking towards his workbench.
Shirou followed him trying to make sense of the entire situation. He understood that humanity was in danger, that the round table was rebuilding Camelot, and that this goddess needed to die. He would be able to see her after all, he smiled at the thought.
Merlin pulled out a dagger, it was quicksilver and adorned with runes. The blade was curved, it's size was small. It was quickly stored into his Reality Marble. It felt extremely familiar, like it was a piece to something he had already seen.
"This used to be a part of Excalibur, but it is now just a piece of Airgetlám. I gave Bedivere an arm made from Excalibur, but every use of it will destroy a part of his soul. I warn you Emiya Shirou. Only use this once, three times at a max if you are lucky." Merlin handed him the silver dagger.
He gave a knight of the round table a Noble Phantasm that was made out of Excalibur? It eats a part of your soul?
"Only use Airgetlám on the goddess or Gawain. The round table have gifts that will help them in battle, Gawain will be the hardest to kill. Remember that the goddess can only die to Airgetlám, make sure you or Bedivere kill her." Merlin's tone was serious, but he relaxed, looking as if humanity wasn't at stake.
"You mentioned it before, but will I be helping Bedivere? Where is he?" Shirou was unsure if he should trust Bedivere at all.
Merlin's laugh cleared the doubt from his mind.
"You will be assisting him, but he has already made his way to the desert. He made contact with Chaldea, but he will probably part ways with them. I must warn you to keep Airgetlám a secret from everyone. If they were to know that it was once Excalibur… Just keep it a secret, I will make sure that no one recognizes it."
Merlin cast a spell on him, blue light covered his body and disappeared in an instant. Shirou had no idea what he did.
"I put an illusion on Airgetlám, you will do well to not reveal it to anyone. I have some supplies for you, you will be needing them for your journey." Merlin gestured to the table, a suit of armor sat upon it.
It was full body armor, except no helmet was to be found. It was pristine white and grey plate armor that had red and gold surrounding the edges. A dark red cape lay next to it, being able to hook onto the shoulder of his armor.
"The armor looks much like Bedivere's, but don't worry, you will stand out just fine. Also wear this, it will help with the sand storms." Merlin handed him a dark red shroud.
Shirou was fine with the armor, but he had a problem with the cloak, cape, thing. Wouldn't it be a huge disadvantage in battle?
"Thanks for the supplies Merlin, this will help out a lot."
Merlin just smirked and stepped out of the room.
"Get prepared, you don't have much time." Merlin called out while descending the stairs.
Shirou had nothing noteworthy on him, just his plain old workout clothes. He began to dress himself in the beautiful looking armor, it looked like it belonged to a knight of the round table. Once he was finished putting on his cape, he made sure it was easy to move around. Somehow Merlin got all of his measurements correct, even the gauntlets felt right.
Shirou put the red shroud around his neck like a scarf, he would be needing to use it soon. He made his way down the tower, thinking about this upcoming journey. Shirou was glad that he had eaten and slept earlier, this was going to be a long trip.
Once he made his way down the tower all he could do was sigh. He had been hoping to see her here, but he would just have to wait a little longer. Merlin noticed his presence, giving him a quick once-over.
"I have outdone myself again, you look great, right at home with the knights of the round." Merlin was pleased with himself, Shirou ignored him.
"Do I have any supply of food or water? Where do I go? How do I get out of here and how do I make it back? I need to know this stuff." Shirou wasn't irritated, but he felt under prepared.
"You will have to find food, but this canteen will help with water. It's never ending, courtesy of me. It's not really never ending, but it is some water. You may thank me now." Merlin was smug, he handed the canteen to Shirou.
"You will begin in the desert so put that scarf to use, I have enhanced it so you won't breathe in any sand. When it is wrapped around you at least, it will also keep it out of your eyes, now say thank you." He was still smug as ever.
"Thanks Merlin, but how do I get out of here? The sooner the better, right?" Shirou was a little sarcastic, but Merlin paid no mind.
"You must leave, that's it, just try to leave. Think of a desert and follow Bedivere, you will be alone for a while though. I wish you luck." He seemed serious, but Shirou couldn't tell.
Merlin started walking away, not looking back. So it was as easy as he said it was? Just think about leaving and you will? Shirou gave it a shot, he closed his eyes trying to concentrate. When he opened them, he was in a world of sand.
A/N: I know I know… This isn't Saberface. I'll get on that right away, no worries. I do have a pretty good excuse though. I got COVID, like right after my hand was finally healed. Yeah it fucking sucked ass. Breathing was hard, I couldn't taste anything. It was just like getting the flu. Except you have to be quarantined for like 15 days after you start to feel better.
Work and school at the same time is also draining my poor creative juices, but I digress. I couldn't get out of this funk for a while, kinda just didn't want to do anything. Then this idea came back to jumpstart my writing. I had this as a rough draft for a while and I just wanted to post it as a proof of concept. That and to get back into things.
I'm finally gonna get started on Saberface again, but it might take until January to get a chapter out. I'm still kinda stuck just looking at my screen wondering what the hell I'm gonna do.
Merry Fucking Christmas by the by, who knows… I might just have a Christmas gift for ya. (Please brain…)