A/N: Thank you nd7878 for editing this chapter! It was of great help.
It was hopeless.
She was hopeless.
Even with an eye that could see all future possibilities, she never saw a happy future for herself. And she looked so much. Even when she didn't want to, terrible prognostications would pop up in her mind.
That's why she covered her eye. That and because it had to be kept discreet, or so her parents told her. Of course, it was not her own eye. It was transplanted, from parent to child in each generation along with the family Crest.
Her parents never really cared about the horrible images, or the painful transplant procedure, or the grim future she always saw in front of her.
She was nothing outside of them. Outside of Sundays.
So why?
Why was this person, Shirou Emiya, coming so far for her?
Why did Thrud and Ortlinde ally with him to rescue her?
Why did Mash still try to bring her back?
Why did Archer still claim to love her?
So many questions swam around in her head, and she had no answer to any of them.
Everything hurt.
Her mind, her soul and her heart were being consumed by flame.
She tried to stop Surtr, but could not.
"We won't hold it against you, whatever you do," Shirou said. A twisted knife that she could identify as a Noble Phantasm was in his hand. She could stop him now. She could kill him, let Surtr handle the rest, and watch the grey, cursed world burn away.
But… then…
Mash's struggles, Skadi's love, Napoleon's faith… they would all be for nothing.
Was there really a rainbow beyond the horizon? A happy ending waiting for her?
She wanted to try, to reach for a sunny day and hold it for herself.
"Do it," she said through the pain and the hand that gripped her heart.
He smiled a bit, before holding the dagger in a two handed grip.
"Brace yourself," he said, completely serious. "This may hurt."
She closed her eyes. She saw no future for herself, not one where she lived.
She did not care anymore. Either way, her uselessness would end.
"Rule Breaker!"
The knife made contact with Ophelia's chest. A void of air began to swirl, purple electricity brimming from the source as her contract began to become severed.
But… seconds passed, and the knife began to be pushed away. Shirou Emiya felt the ground beneath his feet begin to rumble, as if wanting him to lose his balance. Surtr was shaking.
"Human–! Agh!" Surtr jerked, as if in pain, before being forced to kneel down. Shirou felt the air begin to regain it's normal temperature, his sense of smell returned, he could taste his own saliva again. "O-Opheliaaa!"
The Noble Phantasm was being expelled. Shirou pressed his arms forward. He felt them become stiff as he applied all of his force to keep it in check.
Ophelia screamed in pain, eyes closed. He was killing her, he had to pull it back.
"No! You are almost done!" She screamed.
"Emiya!" He heard from his ear. Mash was calling him. "What's happening! Surtr has stopped attacking!"
"I'm trying to free Ophelia!" Shirou said, before being repelled by an invisible force. He dug the tip of his feet between Surtr's shoulder plates. "But… something's pushing me back!"
"Surtr must be using all of his energy to prevent the contract from breaking!" Mash said.
"I–!"
"–He's right…" he heard Ophelia say. "… this is… still my mess. But… I can still fix it!" She said, opening her eyes. Her Jewel-class eye began to glow the colours of a rainbow, energy crackling from it. "I'll remove this if I have to!"
"Ophelia no!" Mash screamed from her hologram. "If you do that… without a proper surgery… then…!" Mash said, desperation evident in her voice. Shirou's knowledge of Mystic Eyes made him aware of how delicate they could be.
However, he knew this was the only way forward. Even if it was painful, maybe they could still save her.
He could hear his future self sneer at his optimism.
Even if Ophelia died, they would at least prevent Surtr from destroying the world. Any way they did it, they would win.
Still, Shirou had to try.
"There will be no need for that! I'll save you no matter what!" He shouted, and used every ounce of strength, going so far as to reinforce his arms.
"...by the power of my command spell…" Ophelia said, her hand glowing crimson. The last stroke of the seal turned to dust as it's immense power shot outwards. "… Surtr! I revoke our contract, and you will not make another one!"
"No!" Surtr said, shaking even more due to the effects of the spell. "Opheliaaaaaaa!"
The push weakened, and finally, Shirou inserted the dagger in Ophelia's chest, the bare minimum to not kill her.
"Gaaaaaah–!" Ophelia screamed for a second as the contract was severed, and then everything died down except the wind.
Rule Breaker disappeared in an instant, and Ophelia began falling forwards with her right eye losing all light. Shirou caught the unconscious woman in his arms. She was heavier than expected.
"I got her!" He said. Surtr continued shaking, and began to move his head towards him.
"You–!" he sounded angry, and the sheer killing intent emanating from him almost paralysed him. If he stayed there, both he and Ophelia were sure to die.
"Emiya-senpai!" Mash screamed. "Jump!"
Shirou did so, more out of instinct than anything. He fell through the air, carrying Ophelia bridal style.
However, the only thing that remained of the ground was a lava lake.
He was going to die for sure. However…
"Ortlinde!" He screamed, calling for his Servant in a sudden wave of nostalgia.
Just as it had happened years ago in the 5th war, Ortlinde swooped in and grabbed both him and Ophelia out of the air.
"I have you," she announced. With the speed of a peregrine falcon, she flew them meters away from Surtr.
However, his sights now turned to her.
"You will not escape!" He said as his eyes began to glow again.
"Ortlinde, look–!" Ortlinde's back was hit by an explosion, her wings of light dispelling. The three of them fell to the ground, Shirou still holding Ophelia tightly.
He curled up to protect the woman in his arms, and then tumbled into the snow, rolling a few times before hitting an ice trunk.
Everything hurt. Shirou looked at Ophelia, and sighed in relief when he saw she was fine. But something else came to mind.
"Ortlinde!" He looked over, searching for the Valkyrie. He saw her, face down in the snow, back smoking.
He ran to her, Ophelia now on his back.
"Ortlinde! Are you okay!?" he asked her, turning her over. His heart thumped as if grabbed by an invisible hand.
Ortlinde's eyes were closed, but they soon opened. She looked around, bruised and battered.
"Human… is Lady Ophelia alright?" she asked, standing up with difficulty.
"Yes," he said with a smile. "I'm glad you are okay."
Ortlinde blushed for the first time since he met her on the Lostbelt, which warmed his heart.
Before she could say anything, Surtr screamed over the trees. "Ophelia!" It was deafening, and he was still looking straight at them.
"Emiya! Are you alright?!" he heard Ritsuka ask through his communicator.
"I… we need help…" he told her, beginning to run away from Surtr. Ortlinde followed suit. An explosion suddenly appeared at his side, almost knocking him off balance.
"Keep moving, human!" Ortlinde screamed, blocking another of Surtr's attacks with her shield successfully.
"Emiya, run west. We're on our way! Napoleon, Sigurd, strike him directly–!" The transmission cut off once Ritsuka began talking to her Servants. Then, multiple attacks landed on the King of Giants, nearly knocking him off balance. However, he still chased after them.
When they crossed a small ridge, a wall of ice presented itself in front of them. Unlike every other ice in this Lostbelt, this one looked different. It had a greenish tint, and smelled like a gas leak.
"We're trapped," Ortlinde stated without emotion. Shirou looked at the wall, then back at the looming Surtr, then back at the wall. Surtr had made it with his magic. He had trapped them.
Shirou took a breath as more attacks began to slow down the king of giants.
Ortlinde could not fly, Ophelia was too weak to do anything, and he himself was faring no better.
There was no escape. Only the Chaldea Group could save them.
They needed time.
And there was only one way to get it.
He needed to use the last gift that was given to him. The only tangible thing in his armoury, the only dream he could reproduce.
He turned to Ortlinde, fixing her gaze with his own.
"Ortlinde…" he said softly. Her breath seemed to get caught in her throat. Shirou walked towards her, and handed her the woman in his arms. Without a complaint or question, she took hold of Ophelia. "… I'm sorry I wasn't strong enough."
Ortlinde said nothing, but looked at him with some confusion.
"What are you–?"
"I'm going to buy us some time. You get–"
"–I can't do that. As a Valkyrie, and a warrior maiden, I cannot retreat from this. If you are going to face him, then I'll stand by your side, as warriors," she declared. He looked at her with eyes wide. Then, he relaxed his expression into a soft smile.
Even when she barely knew him, Ortlinde read him like an open book.
Surtr took a step that would have toppled buildings.
Time froze for a second.
"Now–!" A boom was heard across the otherwise silent landscape. From behind Shirou, wind shot forwards and a rainbow crossed the field towards Surtr's face.
The beautiful beam of energy impacted the Giant, sending his stone head backwards and snapping his neck. Surtr kneeled, but he was very much still alive, his head cracking and putting itself back in place.
Shirou stared in disbelief as a tall figure passed by him.
It was Napoleon.
"That was a fantastic show," he said, standing tall. "You and Master truly have gone far and beyond the rainbow. Sadly, it is still not enough to reach victory. Am I right?" he asked, all pleasantness gone.
"Yes. I could not do much," he admitted.
"Hmph," Napoleon said, his usual smile returning. "Don't be so hard on yourself. And worry not, cause I am here!"
He raised his cannon into the air, and it split apart, revealing a white barrel.
"W-What?" Shirou asked, feeling an immense power emanating from it.
"I am the commander of my army! I have come here, I made promises, and stood by your side. If you have done everything that is possible, then it is up to me as your commander and Servant to help you reach the impossible."
"A-Archer…"
"Let me go," said another voice. Ophelia stirred from Ortlinde's back.
"Lady Ophelia? What are–?"
"Now!" She screamed. Ortlinde obeyed, letting her off her back gently. The woman stood, shaking. "I don't know what I did to make you all come so far for me. I barely deserve it. But… this is my mess, mine to fix, even if it's impossible," Ophelia said, going to stand alongside Napoleon. "Thank you, for this chance."
Ophelia gave Shirou a shadow of a smile, before turning towards the Archer class Servant.
"Archer, after everything I've done, would you allow me to fight by your side?"
"What are you saying?! I should be the one asking you, my fiance!" He said, a toothy smile back on his face. Ophelia looked away, blushing.
"Again with that? I'm serious!" she said.
"Very well. Then, shall I destroy this beast," Napoleon asked.
"Please do so," Ophelia said.
"We'll help you as well," said Mash, standing up with her damaged Ortinax.
"Mash…"
"I want a future for both of us. Walking forwards together. Please," Mash said.
"After everything," Sigurd came into the picture, bruised and bleeding from various places. Even so, he maintained his composure. "It all comes down to this. Sorry we don't have more time, my love."
"Yes. The bonds we formed. They will carry us to victory," said Brynhildr, squeezing Sigurd's hand with a smile. Then, a purple and blue aura started emanating from her.
"Then let us proceed," said Sigurd, channeling immense energy into his sword.
Shirou felt like he was being blown away by the pressure the three servants were exuding.
Surtr stepped forward, his sight still set on Ophelia, who stood behind Napoleon, her eye still bleeding heavily.
"You fools… die!" He expelled a breath of Ice and Fire, which was sure to consume them all.
Mash stepped forward, blocking the line of fire. Frustrated, Surtr continued his assault, supplied now by a barrage of fireballs and ice magic.
"Not so fast," Ice pillars and runic attacks intercepted Surtr's own. A calm soothing voice commanded them with a faint song. Skadi was helping them with her runes, along with Sitonai and her arrows.
"Now, Napoleon!" Mash said, the fire pushing her ever so slightly.
"This is it!" Ritsuka said, going to stand by Shirou's side. She raised her hand into the air, revealing her command seal, which had one stroke left. "By the power of my command seal, Napoleon… defeat Surtr!" Ritsuka screamed, releasing the spell on the air.
Empowered even further, Napoleon smiled. He raised his cannon into the air, letting it split and transform into a larger form, with a white slim barrel exiting from behind. A rainbow coloured energy emanating, bathing the area in a warm embrace, nothing like Surtr's hurtful heat.
"O people...make your appeal.
Nothing is impossible.
Why?
Because I am here!"
Surtr's killing intent was evident by now. He lit up, bathing the area in embers and fog.
"Fine then. With this, I'll rewrite this entire existence to one of flames! The perfect song of destruction… 'Loptr Laegjarn!'"
A wave of destruction emanated from him. A wall of white fire that would consume them. Even from a distance, Shirou felt it come towards them.
"No! It won't end here!" Ophelia said, holding her left hand forward. She had no command seals left, however…
A light began emanating from it. Something unlike any command seal he had ever seen before.
"O light, o light! Shatter these illusions, rewrite this world, and pull us into the future! My Sirius light, protect us from this coming calamity!" Ophelia chanted, her magic circuits flaring and overflowing with power as her Sirius light activated.
It was like the world was turning back, twisting and retreating.
Surtr's white fire disappeared. Everything went back to zero.
"Now… King of Giants… this is our path… our future! The light of possibility!" Archer held his cannon steady, smoke and energy crackling around it.
In unison, Sigurd and Brynhildr's energy also topped off.
"Arc de Triomphe de l'Étoile!"
"Bölverk Gram!"
"Brynhilde Romantia!"
The three noble phantasms released together and fused into a true rainbow.
It impacted Surtr head on, the giant unable to even lift his sword in response.
Just like he attempted to swallow the world itself, the Noble Phantasms had swallowed him whole.
Shirou watched him become engulfed in the light and turn to ash before having to cover his eyes.
It was a beautiful sight, full of shifting colours and hope.
When it faded, Surtr was standing, half of his body missing.
The giant kneeled, planting his sword on the ground and using it as leverage. His flames and ice were going out, or thawing.
"His energy signatures are decreasing!" Da Vinci said through the communicator. "He's fading away. You've defeated him."
Shirou was in shock. They had done it. They had survived.
A warm atmosphere fell over the group. The sky was clear once again. The landscape, although destroyed, began to be covered in snow once again. Droplets of rain fell from the sky, creating a rainbow along with the true sun that now took its rightful place in the sky along some white clouds.
The mountains in the distance recovered their form, no longer covered in blue flames or snow, instead having their base grey and their peaks covered.
Everything smelled fresh, clean. Nothing like the cold, stale air the Lostbelt had under Skadi.
It was healing, and quickly at that. Shirou was sure that, given time, the Lostbelt would brim with newfound life.
It was a miracle. Wether Napoleon's Noble Phantasm made it happen or not, it was something amazing.
The man himself stood tall, looking at the horizon with his back straight. He was, for sure, a true hero. At his side stood the Dragonslaying knight hand in hand with the Elder Valkyrie.
A sight to behold. Three legendary heroes had worked together to stop a world-ending threat.
"Well now," Napoleon said, looking back at the group of Masters. "I guess this is it."
"Commander, your body…" Mash said, lifting her visor. Napoleon was fading away, his body turning to ash rapidly.
"Don't worry. When you have a trump card, this is usually what happens," he said with a soft smile. Although he looked at each one of them, he stared mainly at Ophelia.
"Archer… why?" She asked. "Why me?"
"Why, you say?" He asked. Half his body was gone with the wind now. "What an odd question. You called me here, my lady."
"I… did?" She asked.
"You wished for a hero, and I, as the one who answers wishes and achieves the impossible, came here. That's just how it is," he said, fully turning forward, towards the sun. "Don't worry. You don't really need my help. You are strong. I'm sure that whatever you do, you'll definitely reach a happy end."
Ophelia grimaced, and Shirou did as well. This moment awoke the beautiful and unpleasant memory of his goodbye with the Valkyries.
"Now go. Achieve what you set out to do. And thank you, for being my Grande Armé," he smiled one last time, and faded away.
Napoleon was gone.
Ophelia keeled over, and had to be supported by Mash. "Ophelia! Hold on to me."
"It's okay," she said, breathing heavily. "The Sirius Light just… it hits hard."
"We need to get her to the border," said Ritsuka. Mash nodded, lifting the now unconscious Ophelia in her arms. Then, the Master turned to Shirou. "You as well."
"I'm fine," Shirou said. He got up. Pain wracked his body, and his right arm was useless, but he could move.
"You're not," Ritsuka said. Shirou stared at her. She looked no better than him. Her left eye bled, and she was covered in burns.
"You aren't either," he replied, a little more harshly than intended.
Ritsuka chuckled darkly, then turned to Sigurd and Brynhildr. "What about you two?" She asked.
The two lovers looked at each other, sadness in their eyes, as their bodies also began fading away.
"We got everything we wanted. Our spirit cores were joined, after all," Brynhildr said, looking at them with a smile.
"I can still–" Before Skadi, who had been on the sidelines, could finish her offer, Brynhildr stopped her.
"It's not necessary. We are done here. This was our duty from the start. Besides," she looked at Sigurd, before planting a kiss on his lips. "I guess, the shortness of our encounter, Is what makes it all the more precious. Don't you think so?"
She looked at Shirou when saying that.
His chest felt tight.
"Emiya," she said, gliding towards him, even in her weakened form. "Thank you. For loving my sisters like nobody else could. However…"
She looked at him with sadness in her eyes, and wrinkles around her mouth. Shirou understood.
"I know," he said, voice cracking.
"… I'm sorry, for leaving you with this burden," as she said that, she planted a cold kiss on his forehead. He blushed, along with Ritsuka.
"It's alright. It's my fault anyways," he said. Brynhildr retreated, bearing her usual melancholic expression, until she was side by side with Sigurd.
"What you must do," he said, adjusting his glasses, "it's a terrible thing indeed. But love oftentimes is terrible, and always ends in misery, but… is it wrong to enjoy it while it lasts? I don't think it is." His smile faded into a frown.
"Still, I am sorry as well. Wish I could help you more, but I've been enough of a burden as it is."
Ritsuka stepped forward, her expression a mix of pain and happiness. "Goodbye, you two. I'm sure we'll see you again. I… won't give up."
"Good. Truly the resolve of a hero," Sigurd said.
"Take care. I'm sure you'll succeed, however terrible your task is," Brynhildr said, fading away at the same time as her beloved.
Ritsuka, Shirou and Skadi were left alone in the clearing, near Village 23.
A fresh, comforting earthly smell seemed to seep in with Surtr gone, replacing the cold one from the Lostbelt's normal state.
"You two did a fantastic job," she said after a while, her regular emotionless expression returning. "I'm sure the Valkyries you loved are proud of you."
Shirou looked down on the ground.
"I…"
"It's alright, my child. I still love you. Both of you," she said, before waving her wand in a rune motion. In moments Shirou began to feel refreshed, and when he looked at himself, he found all his burns, lacerations and bruises gone. His arm felt a little numb, but he could move it a little.
"Why?" Ritsuka said, massaging her left wrist. Her wounds were gone as well.
"You know why. Still, this may be my last kindness. Now," she said, walking through the snow in the direction of the village. "I must attend to my daughter."
She left without a word, graceful and mysterious.
"Hey…" Ritsuka said, catching Shirou's attention. "… where's the Valkyrie?"
Shirou looked around, and found no sign of the injured Ortlinde. Had she died? No, there was a trail leading deep into the forest.
He remembered Thrud, attacking Surtr with his Noble Phantasm, and disappearing in his tornado of flames.
A dark feeling crept up his spine. A deep fear, and a terrible sadness. What Ortlinde would find, he already knew. He could not afford to think about it now, otherwise, he would do something stupid, or break. Perhaps both.
"I think I know. But, let's go meet the others," he said, looking at the forest one last time.
"Shirou," Ritsuka said. Her gaze was something else now. All hope was gone, replaced by dread and doubt.
"Yes?"
"I– I don't… know if I can do this, not again," she admitted, rubbing her arm.
"Neither do I," he said with a sigh.
"Then, what do we do? What if everything is wrong and pointless?" She asked, voice cracking.
"I don't think it is. Regardless, you want to save everyone on earth, bring them back to life," he said. Ritsuka nodded. "That cannot be a mistake. It could never be a mistake. Even if we're doing something terrible, wanting to save others is not a mistake," although he spoke to her, out of his heart, he was also talking to himself. "Even if I end up cursing myself, I won't have any regrets."
They stood in silence for a while, neither looking at the other.
Then, Ritsuka grabbed his hand and gave it a squeeze.
"Alright," she nodded. "But, what are you going to do about the Valkyries?" She asked him. Shirou felt a pang of dread in his chest, and pulled away from her.
"I'll figure it out," he said.
"Emiya… I–"
"Really. I'll be fine," he said with a smile. Ritsuka's eyes widened, but she soon turned away.
"Alright, then, let's meet with the others,"
With that said, both humans began heading towards the Shadow Border.
Mystic Code status… unusable.
Network status… unreachable.
Envoy status… forces depleted.
Valkyrie status… two remaining.
Threat status… one eliminated. One remaining.
She had to search for her. For Thrud.
Her wounds would heal soon. Her Mystic Code could be repaired. If Thrud died, that could not be recovered.
So Ortlinde trudged through the woods, searching for her fallen sister.
Their connection was still there, weakened, but traceable.
Even though she attempted to remain emotionless, a cold sensation washed over her chest. It was not like Skadi's cold world, or Surtr's age ending heat. It was more like… the hot fire of emotions deep in her heart.
Fear. That's what it was.
She was afraid for her sister's life.
It was unpleasant, like most feelings were.
But she could not suppress it. Was this what Thrud and Hildr also experienced? How terrible.
She passed downed trees and upended shards of earth.
She jumped on top of one of those shards, and found Thrud lying on a piece of cracked land, covered in some snow.
She reached out to her, but there was no response.
But her body was there, thus, she was alive.
That awful feeling lessened.
She ran to her and checked her vitals. Her magical energy was low. Her body was heavily damaged, inside and outside. Her Divine Iron Shield had melted.
"Sister," she whispered. "Please respond."
As if on cue, her sister's eyes opened slightly.
Their usual ruby shine was dull now.
The fear in her chest intensified. All kinds of horrible sensation spread through her body.
"Ortlinde…" Thrud breathed. Her voice was weak. "… are you… functional?"
"Yes, sister. I'm twenty percent damaged, but can still fight," she said, returning to their usual demeanour.
Thrud, however, smiled. "Thank the All-father. I'm so glad. What about sister Brynhildr?" She asked.
"She… faded away after destroying Surtr, along with Sigurd and the Archer," Thrud closed her eyes.
"I see. What a shame. I really wanted to talk to her one last time," Thrud mused. Ortlinde felt the urge to… hold her. So she grabbed her hand. That's what humans did, right?
"Me too," she said. "We need to take you to lady Skadi, for repairs."
"No," Thrud said, opening her eyes slightly.
"What? But–!"
"–It's alright. I ever wanted one thing, it's just…. I suppressed it to be the perfect Valkyrie," Thrud confessed. Ortlinde's chest tightened. The elder sister that she trusted and admired so much… had secrets.
"I… see," It was not proper of a Valkyrie to be curious about things not related to heroes or combat.
"Are you… curious?" Thrud asked. Ortlinde nodded sheepishly.
"I… wanted a world where you two could be happy. A world where I could see heroes again. I guess… I managed that," Thrud said. She seemed content.
"Sister… I see," Ortlinde whimpered. Something wet came out of her eyes. "Please stay."
"You don't need me. What you need to do… is choose," Thrud said.
"Choose?"
"Yes. How you live, how you die. Who you fight, why you fight. I know it's a lot. It was for me. But… I'm sure you'll manage it. You are the most precious of us… after all. Our dear little sister," Thrud smiled, caressing Ortlinde's cheek. As she did so, she turned to dust, crumbling like a pile of ash.
Thrud was gone, and nothing but her melted Divine Iron Shield remained.
Something wet landed on Ortlinde's knees.
She tried to make sense out of it all.
She needed to fight…
And now she knew how.
A/N: This is it, the second to last chapter of Cold Flames. Surtr has been defeated, Thrud died and destroying the Fantasy Tree is the only remaining objective our heroes have left.
Not much to say this time, except next chapter will come in a few days since I'm very excited to write. That is all for now Chiao!