Chapter 3
Ideals and Miracles
He moved before he noticed…. He didn't know what had caused it ….whether the understanding of what the Entity had shown him, the face of his crying sister, or the desperate wish of one who sought the salvation of another.
In that moment it didn't matter, someone needed him , someone had cried out in desperation for the salvation off one who meant everything to him.
He knew that feeling…the helplessness of being unable to save one's own family. He had lost so much in his pursuit to become an ally of justice….he had set on his journey in the hope that he could save everyone ….he longed to create a world that would never cry… a world where sorrow and pain would remain a thing of the past.
He had dedicated his life to saving as many people as he could, and yet he had failed in saving those he had held dear……he had failed to save the one person who deserved to smile and be happy.
He had failed to save his sister so long ago, he had watched as her life slipped away before his very eyes….he held her hand as her body grew cold and her breathing stopped. He had been powerless in that moment ….so when he heard that desperate wish….when that boy cried out for a miracle he responded.
"I am the bone of my sword"
He moved without a second thought , free from his bonds to the counter force he responded not as a heroic spirit ….but rather as he once did so long ago…..as a simple boy who carried on the dream of a world where everyone could be happy.
"Steel is my body and Fire my blood"
Knowing nothing but a long forgotten ideal and embracing nothing more than a dream born of admiration. He moved with renewed purpose as he dashed towards a new tomorrow. A shift could be felt in the void…. Where there was anguish and utter desperation now was replaced with laughter and hope. Once embers scattered shifted and grew together anew, a flame reborn to shine in the eternal dark.
" I have created over a thousand blades"
Their prayer had been answered and heard, the hopes, dreams and desperate wishes of the saved together felt the change, they did not need to witness it….a simple change to 'that' world resounded to them.
"Unknown to Death"
He had endured so much in his journey, he had lost so much and yet he refused to let others lose anything before him. He had stood before countless threats and yet remained unyielding to protect those behind him unifying even in the face of monsters and gods alike.
" Nor known to life"
He lived and fought as a sword. He used his life for the sake of others in the pursuit of a dream that while impossible was beautiful and utterly selfless. He sacrificed all comfort and all manner of luxury to keep pushing forward in the hopes that he could save all who needed him, never once asking for anything…never once accepting praise.
"I have withstood pain to create many weapons"
He had bled and suffered wounds far greater in order to walk this path, pushing his body beyond its limit and enduring pain in order to save as many as possible. He had become a sword and reforged his body to bear even the creation of crystallized legends.
"Yet those hands will never hold anything"
He never gained anything in his pursuit of that dream, saving as many as he could, giving his life in order to secure worlds without tears. He walked alone never once being allowed to be truly free. Only ever moving forward with a heart that carried a forgotten warmth and a memory of a calm night where dreams and ideals were made anew.
"So as I pray…… Unlimited Blade Works"
The sky shattered as he pushed through like pieces of glass the very air around him broke, time slowed and as he first gazed upon a new world. The world seemingly rather than reject him seemed to almost welcome him. He felt it….the dense mana that was all around him seemingly rushed to him as if to answer his need for it in that moment.
A world devoid of miracles responded and in the passing moments of his arrival a shift could be felt, the air vibrated with a childlike excitement. He was the first to step through the veil , the wall of this world had been broken and with it….came the birth of miracles.
In the corner of his eyes he saw him…looking at him still with tears in his eyes, He didn't meet his gaze rather he reinforced his body for what was coming, he emptied his mind and began to focus his prana in his right arm. In a split second …a boy who had lost hope and had resigned himself to despair now looked at one who had answered. A flame lit in his heart as he reached out now pouring his heart towards him in a plea.
" SAVE HER!!!"
It shouldn't have mattered, a simple wish made in selfishness should have gone unanswered, its source alone should never have been possible to hear yet here in this moment a prayer and a wish came together to forge a link and bond that allowed the weight of those two to carry out a miracle.
"Eight bear witness to the arrival of one who could gather embers and light a flame anew"
A streak of red was all that he was in that moment before impact, neither the one behind him or the one before him could react to his arrival….after all he was never meant to be there.
He stood tall with his back straight before he outstretched his hand and called upon it….the miracle that would be his beginning to his journey as a Hero and as a symbol for all.
He focusing all his will to unleash a crystallization, his body reinforced itself to it's upper limits and his heart rate quickened. He looked ahead without fear or hesitation, his eyes sharpened at the enemy before him. The ground before him cracked as the mana in the air responded to the will of one.
The air crackled and grew heavy as the miracle was called forth, a shield that had stopped the might of both the mortal and divine. Never had it failed to protect when called , not once had it wavered in his presence.
The desire to protect ….the wish for salvation… it was enough in that moment. The wish of one and the determination of another cast a new light upon this forgotten world.
He called upon it , the miracle that would save all.
" RHO…….AIAS!!!"
A shield in the shape of a flower with seven petals , its luminous brilliance shinning against the dark that sought to extinguish the light behind the one who called upon it.
A shield that had stopped the Trojan War's hero's throws.
Seven layers strong that would stand against the blows of legends and myths alike.
Unbroken against all that was thrown against it
A miracle for the sake of others.
The miracle he had called forth answered and it's full splendor was unleashed.
The moment the energy was let loose…..the once cool environment was turned into a living hell. The bioelectricity that had been gathering by the man before him was let loose and what followed was the annihilation of everything before it.
Yet this attack was nothing in the end, this pitiful show of force would inevitably end in failure, the man who stood with a maniacal grin was no monster nor great evil…but rather a thief who could call nothing his own, a simple man who had chosen to embrace his own desires and force his will upon others.
He was nothing in the face of the force that now stood before him, a man of utter selfishness would now come to face with his antithesis, he would see the virtue of a heroic spirit that had become the embodiment of selflessness.
All for One looked on for a moment in utter glee at what he presumed to be his one deceased opponent but as the dust and air cleared he found something now stood in his way, A translucent shield in the shape of a flower.
A single thought flowed through his mind in that moment.
" What is this?"
He involuntarily faltered for a moment halting his assault to see who or what one stood in his way. He stood silently not noticing that he had taken a step back if by pure instinct, his body almost warming him in advance to what was coming.
A shiver down his spine indicated that something was wrong, very wrong….this entire situation was simply wrong!
All for One lowered his arm and looked below him finally witnessing who dared to stop him. Who dared to interfere and when he looked at him….when his gaze met that of the man who dared to defy him…..an emotion he thought that he discarded long ago rose to the surface.
Fear
He didn't know why….nor did he understand but somehow his body did, his subconscious knew what was before him. The hair on his arms stood on end and his pupils began to dilate. A cold sweat began to develop as he looked on and it grew to shivering as he and the stranger looked at one another.
Those eyes that were like steel held no warmth no pity….no mercy…..he was looking at what almost seemed like a machine. He knew in that moment that he had to leave but his body would no longer move.
It was frozen …it dared not make any sudden movements in order to survive, but by sheer will he took a step forward and spoke defying his basic instincts in order to satiate his desires.
" Well this is quite the development, it seems as though I missed one, but I am rather elated that I did after all it seems like I found something interesting, your quirk will be very useful against that child…… well seeing as I have some pending business with the one behind you I will deal with you quickly after all ….there is one that seems to have gotten away."
All for One would live to regret those words.
The temperature seemed to drop…..the area around him became frigid, the air itself seemed to come down on him. He felt the bloodlust from the one before him…he had miscalculated and in doing so whatever opportunity for escape that had been possible was no longer available to him.
Emiya stood silently….his face betraying nothing and yet….his body told a different story…..it shook lightly …..the air around him grew still as a rage seemed to take control for a moment, he almost wanted almost lashed out due to the mannerisms of the man before him.
They reminded him for a brief instant of that arrogant archer, he was the only individual whom he would never accept. He had lost friends and family to that arrogant bastard and hearing something akin to the exploitation of others and possible deaths …..it awoke it ….that fire ….the flame that had nearly gone out.
The desire to help….to protect…to save.
How long had it been since he had felt like this? How long had he fought and pushed on ignoring the emptiness inside him? He had forgotten that at his core….what he truly desired was to be an Ally of Justice.
The rage that had manifested so quickly dissipated at the reminder of what he was…no rather what he desired to become. The once frigid atmosphere seemed to warm around him, the wave of killing intent vanishing before the now present feeling of revolve.
Now there seemed to be someone who sought his attention albeit unconsciously.
He could feel her gaze….but also more than that…he felt her emotions if for a moment. Shock, Relief, Uncertainty, Fear….but above all else Joy. The one who he had protected looked at him intensely almost as if to verify he was real.
He turned and met her gaze and for the first time eyes of silver met those of steel. A hero of legend met the ray of hope of one who would define an era. A fateful meeting between the genuine article and someone who chased after it for the sake of all.
She realized it when he looked at her….his eyes they carried a weight far greater than her own. He was someone who had endured far more that she could possibly imagine, yet the longer she looked she saw something beneath the pain, sorrow and exhaustion his eyes conveyed. She saw it….a glimpse of hope and a unwavering conviction.
It had always been asked by the many and sought after by the righteous…the birth of a period of justice and peace for all.
The Age of Heroes and Miracles.
He was what they had long since sought….someone who could push back the dark and its creations, her heart seemed to tell her. She felt it…that the one before her was different….she couldn't explain it but looking at the man before her, she knew everything would change.
Slowly almost painfully she reached towards him and touched him….and saw it….a hill covered in blades with him standing alone in that world looking into the horizon. A unwavering expression with a look of acceptance in his eyes even as he stood alone….yet why….why did he look so lonely?
She was suddenly pulled back and realized that tears now ran down her face. Quickly Nana began to wipe the tears but found that no matter no much she did the tears would not stop. She had witnessed it…. His fate, the ending of a man who had become a living ideal and in turn her heart understanding what she witnessed acted out in the only way that was possible.
" Fou?"
She was startled and saw that a small dog/ fox had climbed up her legs and now looked at her with what seemed a worried expression? Tentatively she picked up the small creature before noticing that the man who had saved her had begun to move forward to face All for One.
Upon the realization of what he was planning on doing she reached out and promptly winced at the pain that followed drawing the attention of the stranger before her. He extended his right arm in her direction before a moment later a sword manifested in front of her and buried itself on the ground.
Stay Here
The message was clear, he did not want her to get involved. He turned once more looking forward never once speaking simply electing to keep quiet and let his actions speak for themselves. He had saved her and as such he would now protect her even against the might of All For One.
In that instance the heart of Nana Shimura screamed at her to react to move but she couldn't, her body had long since reached it's limit, the smiling face she once demonstrated was now raked with guilt, the tears that had been present now dry only served to demonstrate the state of desperation as she almost wished to help, to aid in some way to prevent the death of the one before her.
He would face him all alone...she wanted to tell him to leave and save himself , that she would hold off All for One ...but something momentarily stopped her. She didn't know whether it was her own volition or rather the calm and unwavering expression on his face as he looked ahead, but she held off on doing anything dramatic and simply elected to say two words.
"Thank you."
The man simply gave her a sideways glance before slowly nodding his head.
He then turned to look forward and began to slowly approach his foe never once looking back.
Without realizing it Nana had brought her hands up to her chest gently holding the small creature against her now rapidly beating heart, as she looked at her Hero with a flushed face.
[EMIYA I Should Do This]
Every step he took had a weight that those present could feel, the waves that emanated from him seemingly matched the rhythm of his movements.
He chose this path ….and he would see it through with no regrets. He continued forward slowly but although it looked that he walked to his demise…..the air grew heavier for one and light for another.
The wind picked up as it to signal his start…. His new beginning, his scarlet cloak moved softly in the wind…and his back straightened to confront and stop the threat before him. He didn't know what awaited him nor what he could expect but seeing the tears of one and the relief and joy of another only further solidified his resolve.
The ideal and dream that he had carried before, Creating a world without tears although impossible could never be wrong. The path he had chosen….the people he had saved, those he had chosen to help….seeing them smiling and laughing.
" It was never wrong to help others"
He moved forward remembering it that warmth and joy of that long since forgotten dream, the very reason that drove him to run forward. A fire had been lit and with it the acceptance and desire to reach towards a different path….a different ending.
Every step he took a pulse of energy radiated from his body and the air shimmered, the very ground he walked on broke and shattered before he stopped momentarily and he fixed his gaze upon his opponent.
He knew what he had to do, no rather what he should do, he had come because of a wish for salvation for one …and so he would grant it.
He simply spoke two words that would impact this world forever.
TRACE…ON!!!
He had called out
He called out to any being who would answer his plea, he sought the salvation for one who had given everything in order to ensure his own wellbeing….for a moment he no longer cared about being a hero, a savior nor someone of value, he was a boy who desired to not lose someone in front of him.
He had watched as All for One decimated everything in his path, he destroyed anything and anyone who stood in his way, and yet when he saw him about to do the same to his master, his mentor, his mother... a desperation rose within him.
He prayed ….he called out, he begged someone, he wished…. To anyone, anything to save his Master. He didn't care about the consequences nor the price he might pay, all he wanted was a miracle.
" PLEASE SAVE HER………SAVE MY MOTHER!!!!!!!"
Yet as the seconds passed by and the exhausted state of his master became clear to him…a feeling of utter despair closed in on his heart…the flame he carried now flickered and grew smaller.
He watched on with tears in his eyes flowing at the inevitability of losing someone dear to him, his prayer he thought had gone unanswered…
Until the air next to him broke ….and he saw Him …..one who had come in response to his wish.
One who would change Everything
Time seemed to slow…and the flame which had flicked now burst and exploded forth at the realization of what could be, he reached out and called out to him!
He didn't care, nor would he regret his decision, so long as his Master could be saved…so long as she could be a part of the world that he sought to create….he would endure ANYTHING!
He screamed and poured all his emotions to the man before him not noticing that the flame he carried seemed to grow.
"Save Her!"
He watched on and for a split second….before he felt the hair on his arms stand on end, his body rapidly growing warm before he saw past the veil and bore witness to what was and what could be again.
The appearance of the man seemed to melt away and revealing a young boy with Auburn hair and amber eyes, he wore nothing more than a pair of jeans and torn white and navy blue shirt.
He was cut in multiple places and blood mated his hair, beneath his eyes dark circles could be seen as well as sweat seemed to cover his body from exertion.
He saw it for a brief instant the core…The very being of the boy know as Shirou Emiya.
""Maybe I got something wrong, but it doesn't matter because the thought of wanting to help others definitely isn't wrong."
Toshinori's eyes widened…the words he had just heard….the meaning behind them…it resonated within him, the flame within him swirled and grew in response to the connection to the kindred flames of another.
Time began to flow normally and Toshinori watched on witnessing as his prayer was manifested in the form a miracle.
A shield that stood strong even against the might of All for One.
A single though flowed through his mind even as he lost sight of his master and the man who answered his desperate wish.
"He's…..just like me…."
It all started with the wishes of the saved for the sake of one,
Their Hopes ,Dreams and Desperate Prayers…that led to this moment,
The culmination of all their efforts to reach out,
A predestined ending now shattered revealed a new path, a new beginning,
Witness it,
You who have sought a miracle for a savior,
You stars that sing across the void,
Look upon this new world where all things converge,
Seek him,
You who would seek a chance for love and admiration,
Maidens without hope and change,
Love him,
Light your hearts ablaze and run towards possibility,
And if your feelings hold true…..
Then a sword may be forged anew!
Trace On!
The moment He spoke those two words, he found himself in the storm, he couldn't see nor could he hear yet he pushed onward.
He knew where he was, how could he not?! This path is one he walked all alone in order to make a dream into a reality even as it struggled against him.
"Help Them!"
He had known what the path of a Hero of Justice entailed and what it's ending would be…but now after all he had endured and witnessed…he now had a goal …not one chosen from selflessness but rather one forged in the hopes of one and the tears of another.
" Protect them!!!"
He had longed walked this road , never once wavering, never once turning back, always pushing forward towards a dream of beauty and impossibility one that would define his journey and create so much more.
He had been given a new opportunity, a chance to redeem himself…and though he sought no such thing...there were those that were waiting for him!
"Reach them!!!"
The storm cleared up for a moment and before him just out of his sight he could make out someone moving ahead of him, walking calmly through this storm.
"Hmph….took you long enough."
Someone who should not have been there…a vestige of what could have been but never was, a version of himself that had followed through with Kiritsugu's Beliefs and Ideals. A man who would save the many before the few and in the end would forsake the few for the many.
A man who's hair was a mix of both Grey and Auburn and whose skin was mismatched between tanned and porcelain skin.
He turned to him and when worn amber met unyielding silver a single question was uttered…
" Can You Keep Up Emiya ?"
A smirk formed itself on the vestige…and in response Emiya found himself pushing his body at a pace that shouldn't have been possible…he forced his body against the now strengthening storm around him.
"This bastard, just who the hell was he talking to ?!"
He pushed forward even as the storm began to cut into his skin and his body began to break…yet he didn't slow down not even if the distance between him and the vestige seemed only to grow.
Why was he here?
The vestige merely ignored him and turned around before it began to walk forward but not before it revealed something that lay ahead of it…. a miracle that had been shown to him…a vision of possibility and peace.
He glimpsed at his family as they waited in the snow and cold.
What was he fighting for?
He had accepted the task of saving those who resided in this world, he had accepted in order to escape the hell that was the counter force, yet he fought for so long as a guardian of humanity that he had forgotten what it was to fight for more than one's self.
He had moved and chosen to save someone not for his freedom nor his own pride, he had moved and pushed forward because he saw it….for a brief moment he had seen the same desperation he once had felt.
He saw himself in that boy…the very same desperation that he felt resonated because of the reason that he sought to protect someone just as he once had. He had witnessed that he would stand strong even his last moments smiling for those behind him.
He now was running for more than himself , he now ran towards an ending worth striving for!
Look forward…..They Await…..
He looked at them once again ….and saw something that pushed him past his limit….past his fears…his worries and uncertainty……he saw his family now calling out to him and encouraging him forward.
" Shirou……."
"Son…….."
"Onii-chan……."
Will you keep them waiting or ….will you reach for a miracle?
" Keep Going!!!!!!!"
He ran forward not noticing that bit by bit the storm took with it a little bit of him revealing underneath what he once was….slowly his exterior appearance seemed to crack and then….all at once it shattered revealing the boy who had long since been thought lost.
He ran now even as his body protested even as his mind threatened to break …..he ran forward until….he reached his vestige and in doing so….he pushed past It!.
The illusion broke and he found himself now running towards All for One ….with every step he took the very ground around him shattered.
The pain, the sorrow, the despair he had felt before no longer mattered…because in this instance he was no longer a heroic spirit.
He was far more than that, he had chosen to be here in this place. He had chosen to once again take up the mantle of being a hero, choosing to help others was what his sole desire was and always would be.
He was a man who sought a miracle and achieved it alone through his own efforts and his name is….
Shirou Emiya.