Shirou runs out the door and witnessed the battle between two warriors. There is a man in a blue skin tight suit with silver lines running through it, with large metal pauldrons He has short blue hair with a small pony tail, he also has piercing red eyes, the eyes of a powerful warrior.
That blue Lancer looks familiar to him, however, he couldn't bring himself to remember what his name was.
But he remember one thing about that Lancer though.
He hates him...
Saber and Lancer were clashing, Lancer with his lighting fast strikes and Saber blocking and parrying each tremendous strike. The ground cracked, the air shook. Everything else would have been obliterated if caught in their fight.
Each swing her blade easily matched Lancer's, even if he were to attack at an impossible angle, she would calmly block and counter.
He could barely see them, their movements were too fast for a normal human, they moved so fast that they created afterimages.
Soon enough Lancer was forced to leap back with each of Saber's swings, quickly running forward, she gets close enough for a sideways slash aimed for his head, Lancer blocked with the shaft of his spear but from the strength of the hit, it causes him to be slowly pushed back. With a battle cry he pushes back Saber, causing her feet to slide against the floor. The two warriors stare each other down, ready to strike again.
"Tch!" Lancer growled. "Stop cheating! Using that invisible weapon!"
Saber responded by leaping toward Lancer and releasing sword swing, after sword swing, forcing him to continusly block each bladed strike and he once again leaps back. Lancer grimaced, each strike was strong, too strong for someone with such a small body, he had to finish this quickly.
"Tell me something Saber... that weapon, it's a sword right?" Lancer asked with a small grin.
Saber calmly stares at him. "It doesn't matter what it is, but it could be anything, an axe, a mace, or even a spear. But all that matters is that I will defeat you right here and now." Saber said.
Lancer was silent for a moment until he started to chuckle, his chuckles then turned into full blown laughter. The laughter grew louder and louder until he calmed down. "HA! HA! Ha! Ha, heh, heh, You? Defeat me? Don't make me laugh!" Lancer said.
Saber's calm eyes continue to stare at him. "You talk too much, if you are a Servant let your lance do the talking." Saber said coldly.
Lancer started to grin, a madman's grin. "Fine! If you want my lance, you can have IT!" The spear began to warp, and glow crimson red. Incredible power oozing off the barbed tip.
"Huh?!" Saber felt the build up of prana and stood ready, waiting for the attack. She didn't notice, but her movments were currently restricted by the spear, one of its abilities is able to constrict the mana in the air, and because she is a being comprised of mana... the situation is not going in Saber's favor.
Meanwhile Shirou finally noticed the build up of magical energy. "What amazing magical power!" Shirou said, he knew that much power could only mean one thing, Lancer's Noble Phantasm.
"What do I do?" Shirou mumbled. He definitely couldn't block that move, if he were to say, try running stupidly infront of Saber, Gáe Bolg's ability to "reverse the nature of casuality" wouldn't allow him to block the spear. Also, if Lancer were to turn his attention to Shirou in the slightest... he would be dead before he even moved.
"Weapon... I need a weapon to neutralize his Noble Phantasm." Shirou begin racking his brain to find a weapon that can be use to match Lancer's spear. And it took him a few seconds to realize that the best weapon match Lancer's spear is none than his own crimson spear.
"Trace On..." Using Archer's seven steps of Tracing, which he fortunately still remember from his last war, Shirou directed his eyes at Lancer's crimson spear and begin using his Structural Grasping to analyze it.
...
Judging the concept of creation.
Hypothesizing the basic structure.
Duplicating the composition material.
Imitating the skill of its making.
Sympathizing with the experience of its growth.
Reproducing the accumulated years.
Excelling every manufacturing process.
...
Once he finished performing his analysis, Shirou uses the informations that he managed to extract from the spear to create a replica of it with his high-level projection.
Blue light starts to form in his hand, suddenly he felt a weight in his hand and he saw the same spear that man, no Cú Chulainn has.
The spear of the Irish Hero.
Gáe Bolg.
"Goodbye, Saber! It's been fun!" Lancer said. A bloodthirsty grin plastered on his face.
Seeing that Lancer was about to deliver his Noble Phantasm, Shirou prepare himself to do the same as well. That's why he needs to be ready, he needs to have absolute concentration for this to work.
"GAE BOLG!"
"GAE BOLG!"
Lancer and Shirou unleashes their Noble Phantasm at the same time. Lancer's spear was thrown with the aim of piercing Saber's heart, while Shirou's was aim to intercept its identical counterpart.
Just as Lancer's spear was in Saber's range, Shirou's own spear slammed into Lancer's. Usually, Lancer's very will is used to, "Throw the spear, or thrust the spear." Quickly leading to, "The heart being pierced." If he were to put his will to stop the ability of, "The lance was thrust, so the heart must have been pierced." He should be able to stop atleast the second part of the curse, since the spear has already been thrown.
But... the ability of "cause and effect" is a fickle thing to mess with. Shirou wasn't able to reverse the entirety of the curse. The twin spears met with one another. Shirou's spear soon shattered into tiny shards, then into dust, unable to withstand the force of meeting a real Noble Phantasm.
Lancer's spear was sent into the cloudless sky, spinning a couple of times in the air... until it returned to it's owner.
"You..." Lancer is shaking in anger as he turn his glare toward the red head. "Did you just neutralize my Noble Phantasm, boy?"
The blue Lancer asked, no, interrogate the magus angrily while brandishing his spear at the young teen.
Sensing Lancer's hostility which aimed at him. Shirou prepare to Trace another weapon that he had in his arsenal.
"Trace On!" Blue light of magical energy formed in his hand, before taking form of a big Spiral Sword.
"You-?! That sword?! How?!" Confusion appear on Lancer's face after he look at the spiral sword on the boy's hand.
The sword that Shirou just traced was the demonic spiral sword Caladbolg. It is the magic sword of Fergus mac Róich, and the natural enemy of Cú Chulainn due to him having a geas that makes it his duty to be defeated once by the sword so long as it is wielded by someone who is Ulster-born.
Shirou wasn't originally an Ulster-born so technically the geas that's been placed to Cú Chulainn shouldn't work, but since Shirou manages to replicate the entire history of the sword when he projected it, he indirectly managed to trick the sword to recognizing him as Fergus mac Róich, its original wielder and also an Ulster-born.
Which is why, if Lancer still decides to fight him while he's wielding Caladbolg, Lancer is bound to lose due to the geas that's placed on him and Caladbolg indirectly recognizing Shirou as an Ulster-born.
Lancer looks angry and also hesitating at the same time as he contemplating whether he should attack the boy or not. Since the boy in front of him is not an Ulster-born, then technically the geas that makes him bound to lose once against the wielder of the spiral sword shouldn't work. But, after seeing that the boy, previously, was able to replicate his spear and also copied his skill to reverse the concept of "cause and effect", it makes him hesistate to attack the boy right away.
The atmosphere was tense for a moment until suddenly Lancer heard his master's voice in his mind telling him to retreat, and this makes Lancer to click his tounge in annoyance.
'Tch! What a coward.' Lancer commented in his mind before lowering his spear. His expression also softened and looks more relax than seconds ago.
"Well, I guess that's it for tonight." Lancer said putting his spear over his shoulder. He then look at the boy.
"You know kid. You have a really interesting trick back there. I don't know what magecraft that you used, but you're actually able to replicate my spear along with my skill to reverse the concept of " Cause and effect", and now somehow you're also able to replicate my father's sword as well. Truly interesting." Lancer commented with a smirk before leaping toward the roof.
"You're running away?! Stop being a coward and fight!" Saber said, Lancer turns and smirks.
"Sorry, my cowardly Master told me to only observe, but I did get a good fight, your Master can be a scary guy with that high end projection magic..." Lancer frowns slightly, the brat was able to replicate his spear, granted it was not perfect but it was damn close. He felt his blood rush with excitement, so many Servants and so little time! He only hoped that his Master would let him fight in this damn war...
That reminded him, the bastard Archer, no matter how much he could crawl under his skin, was still such a great fighter. He looked at the red-haired boy. 'Perhaps I misjudged the brat, I can only hope he lives long enough so I can fight him again...'
"See Ya!" He turns around and leave.
"Lancer!" Saber yells and was about to give chase.
"Wait! Don't chase after him!"
But Shirou's stern voice made her stop from doing that.
"Why not, Master? If I chase after him now, there's still a chance for me to catch up with him." Saber reasons as Shirou approach her. The spiral sword that he previously wielded is no longer exist.
"I know that, but, can you just wait for a moment and explain things to me?" Shirou said to Saber with a stern look.
"I completely don't understand what's going on here? Just who are you? Why are you fighting that guy? And how did you appear out of nowhere just like that?" Shirou contiue to interrogate the blue swordsman in front of him.
He actually already knew what's going on, but he needs to act like he doesn't know anything to avoid any suspicioun.
Oh! But then again he can just act as if he is a proper magus who already know what the Holy Grail War is. But, maybe it's already a bit too late for that.
"I am the servant that you summoned to participate in the Holy Grail War. I already told you that earlier, Master." Saber replied calmly.
"I know, but what exactly is this " Holy Grail War" and "Servants?" Shirou asked again with a fake confusion.
"I see... You really don't know anything do you?" Saber said. "In that case I will tell you."
Saber then begin explaining to her in experience Master what the Holy Grail War is based on her own knowledge.
"The Holy Grail War, it is a competition between 7 Masters, each searching for the Holy Grail, for their one true wish. Where their Servants humbly serve, protect and fight for their Master." She pointed her armored finger at Shirou.
"You Master! You were chosen as one of the Masters to fight!" Shirou was silent, not by the information, but for something else. 'Something's off, I don't remember this occurring before... what the hell is going on?'
Saber sees his silence as a way to continue. "Well Master?"
"Huh? Oh, yes I get it now." Shirou said as he finally return to his senses.
"By the way, just call me Shirou. 'Master' sounded too formal for me."
Saber contemplates his words, she then smiles. "Shirou it is then, yes it sounds better that way." She said.
Shirou notices her smile and he sees how beautiful she is, her features soften, her stance relaxes and her eyes are no longer cold and strict, but warm and kind. He shakes his head. 'Why am I thinking of things like that...?'
Saber pauses and her stance soon turns rigid. "It seems that another Servant is approaching, stay here and recover, Master." She runs off at speed he could barely see.
"Wait! Saber!" Shirou tried to stop his servant, but he was already too late.
'Damn it! I have to stop her!' Shirou is already know who Saber is going to fight next. That's why he had to stop her. Before she hurt the girl that had saved him from Lancer's attack back at school.
Shirou was about to give chase when he suddenly notice just how exhausted he was.
'Wha-? Why am I so tired?' Shirou wondered while leaning on his kness.
This is strange. Why did he suddenly feel so tired? Is it because he uses Tracing to projected two high-rank Noble Phantasms in a row?
But that can't be right. Back in his Holy Grail War, he was able to project Noble Phantasms more than two times. So, why is he only being limited to two times now?
'Could it be...?'
Shirou then proceed to perform Structural Grasping to analyze himself. And from his analysis on his own body, he found out two things. First of all, at the moment he only has a single active magic circuit which active while the rest is still dormant, that explains why he already feel tired after performing Tracing for two times. Secondly, it was something on his left arm, more specifically, his left bicep.
Shirou rolls the left sleeve of his uniform, and he was shock to find out that he has...
"A Magic Crest?!"
...Right on his left bicep.
This is strange. He didn't remember of having a magic crest before. No, he was so sure that he never had a magic crest in the first place to begin with even in his previous timeline.
So, how did he suddenly have one now?
Curious, Shirou tried to experiment with his magic crest. He tries to connect his magic crest with his single active magic circuit.
And the result was a disaster.
Once his active magic circuit made a connection to the crest. He felt pain.
He felt the familiar pain that was cause by fully unsealing the power of Archer's arm. He remember how its power have him pain, how it gives him a great boost of power. How it was killing him and helping him at the same time. How his influence was trying to rewrite and destroy his very soul.
Shirou grits his teeth as he felt the swords under his skin digging out of his body. Slowly killing him from the inside out. And he quickly cut off the connection between his magic circuit and the crest before the swords completely burst out of his skin and turn him into a human porcupine again.
'That was close...'
Shirou gasping for air once he cut off the connection between his magic circuit and the magic crest to calm down his racing heart.
That was a close call, but at least from that brief experiment he has found out that the magic crest on his left bicep was made of Archer's magic circuit which probably from his arm which is why he was still able to feel his power, knowledge, skills, and memories coursing to his body and mind.
In a way, it was good thing that he is still access to Archer's power, because with it he's confident that this time he would be able to make a difference. He would be able to protect his love ones and friends for good. Unfortunately, the risk of him dying if he uses Archer's power too much is still exist, which is why he needs to be careful when he tries to use it.
Shirou looks at his newly acquire magic crest, 'Well, I guess that means I should only use it when I need it the most.'
That's one problem solved, now he needs to solve the other problem which is activating the rest of his dormant magic circuits.
In order to use his magecraft more efficiently, he is going to need all of his magic circuits to active. And thankfully, he still remember how to do it.
In his previous timeline, he was able to activate all of his dormant magic circuits during his battle with the blackened Berserker by chanting a certain aria, and he remembered what that aria is.
Which is why as he imagine himself flipping a switch he said, "Trigger Off.", and just like that all of his twenty seven magic circuits went active.
With all of his dormant magic circuits went active all at once for the first time, his body felt as if his blood had been replaced with hot water. The change was notable, but not unpleasant as he felt re energize once his dormant magic circuits went active. Shirou opened his eyes and turned his head to look at his body. He could see faint green lines like wires glowing over several sections of his skin. He then allowed the feeling to fade as he heard the sound of battle coming from outside of the house.
'They already here, huh? Then I better hurry.'
Shirou quickly use Reinforcement to strengthen his body to the max. The ground cracked when he took off, he was speeding along and finally saw Saber slash him across the chest, he then saw Rin call him back, but what surprised Shirou is that Saber charged at Rin, he saw her throw a jewel that packs a powerful magical energy at Saber, probably in attempt to push her back, however it was useless due to Saber's high magic resistance.
Rin fell on her butt as Saber brandish her invisible sword at her.
"What you've just done was impressive magus. But your fight ends here, Master of Archer." Saber stated as she prepare to kill Rin.
"Shit!" Shirou cursed as he quickly rushes toward his servant to stop her from killing his school-mate. Unfortunately, despite having his body strenghtened to the max, he won't be able to make it in time.
'Looks like I have no choice...'
In order to reach them in time, he's going to need a much stronger power boost to increase his speed. With that Shirou then proceed to connect all of his magic circuits to his magic crest, and with the connection has been establish, Archer's magical energy that's stored within his magic crest come running full force inti his body, strenghtening him with power that goes beyond his limit.
Shirou, with a speed that surpasses the speed of sound, blitzes forward and he was soon right in front of Rin, ready to defend her. He traces a sword and pumped more magical energy into his arms and blocked Saber's swing.
He felt his arms groan under the pressure, the power behind that attack caused the ground to indent from the tremendous force. He felt his wound painfully, and uncomfortably grating together. To his annoyance, just from that slightly distracting thought, his arms bent even more, almost completely breaking his guard.
The nameless sword, no matter how ancient and powerful it was, started to chip and crack, just one more push and the sword would break. As suddenly as the attack happened it stopped as well. It seems that Saber didn't fully comprehend what happened, one second she was dealing with the other Master and the next she saw the blur of auburn hair and the clash of steel against steel.
"Master! Why would you defend her?! She's the enemy!" Saber shouted, how could her Master be so stupid!
Shirou didn't here anything, right now all he felt was pain, horrible pain, he felt his existence fading away. He dropped the nameless sword, it clattered uselessly on the ground until it shatters into dust.
Pain. Pain. Pain!
Cut it off!
Stop now!
You will die!
Shirou ignored the small voice and quickly cut off his connection with the magic crest. And just like that, the power boost that he had dissappear along with the painful sensation. The horrible pain now a dull ache. Shirou feels a warm hand touch his face, he opened his eyes and sees the worried face of Saber.
"Are you alright, Shirou?" She asks calmly, she could have sworn she saw something coming out of his neck.
Shirou smiles. "Yes I'm alright, the projection of Lancer's spear and that spiral sword took a lot out of me, as well as blocking your sword, man you're really strong Saber!" He said with a smile.
He saw a slight blush on her face for the complement. "That was still reckless of you Master, but besides that, she is the enemy! Why would you protect her! She needs to be eliminated!"
"She's not an enemy, Saber. She's my school-mate." Shirou told his servant just who Rin is.
"Be that as it may, she's still Archer's Master, so she's an enemy!"
"No, she's not!"
Saber and Shirou then starts to bicker with one another as they debating whether Rin should be killed or not.
Saber stubbornly demans that Rin should be killed because she's an enemy Master, while Shirou persistently tries to defend her because she's a close friend of his.
Well, at least back on his original timeline.
"I won't obey to such orders, the enemy must be defeated!"
"Hey! I'm your Master, remember! So, you have to listen to me!"
"Man, you two look like an old married couple." The voice said.
The third presence finally makes herself known. Saber immediately puts herself in-front of Shirou.
"Good evening Emiya-kun, I'll have to repay you for that." She said with a deathly calm voice.
He began to smile. "Hello... Tohsaka."
Saber looks at the girl suspiciously before turning toward her Master. "Shirou, you know this girl?" Saber asks, she looks to Shirou who begins to shift uncomfortably from her gaze.
"I told you she's my school-mate. We go to the same school together and she is the school idol there, I would have to be a complete idiot to not know her... and I would be lying if I didn't say I admired her a little." He admits. He looks at her, and notices she's acting strange.
Rin turned her head slightly and coughed into her hand, a bit of red was present on her face.
Strange.
Did she catch a cold or something?
Well, the night air in Fuyuki feels incredibly cold lately, though it's already to be expected since it's already on the eve of winter season.
"H-How generous of you to say Emiya-kun." She said uncertainly, and just like that Rin's true colors form. She suddenly becomes deathly serious. "But more importantly Emiya-kun, do you know what your involved in? How much responsibility you have to carry?" She looks at him questionably.
Shirou had to lie again, but it was for the best. "Not very much, all I know is what Saber told me, of how there are 7 Masters and how each are chosen to compete, how they fight to the death with their Servants to obtain the Holy Grail and get there wish granted."
Rin was silent for a moment. "Well it's not as much as I hoped to hear but you at least got the basic gist of what's happening. Let's go inside, I'll tell you more about the war then." She slowly walks ahead of them.
As Shirou starts to move he feels Saber walk up beside him and grab his arm. "Shirou, it seems that she doesn't have any ill intentions against you." She suddenly gets even more serious. "Master you should listen to what she has to say, everything you learn will help you win the war." As soon as she finished she walks away
"Win the war huh? This time it will be different, this time I will save everyone I love with no casualties." Shirou looks at his left hand and slowly makes a strong fist, he looks to the sky for a bit and then walks away following Saber and Rin who already walk inside his house.
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Everyone was slowly walking to the Emiya Household, when they arrived Rin notices the window, that who know what happened was broken, probably something to do with Lancer. Rin walks up to it and before his very eyes the glass reforms as if it never broke in the first place.
"Thank you for that, Tohsaka. You really are a full-fledge magus, aren't you?" Shirou commented with a smile.
"No problem, though, you can just cast that spell yourself, right?"
Shirou rubs the back of his head. "Sorry I can't do that kind of spell yet." He said sheepishly.
Rin immediately halts her steps and does a complete 180 turn.
"What!" She shreaks.
Shirou winces with the tone. "How could you not know! That's this simplest thing they teach you!"
"Well... I never had anyone to teach me, all I had was my old man and he wasn't able to finish my training before he died, so what I have learned till now is severely limited." Shirou explain diplomatically. He remembered when he had to pester Kiritsugu almost everyday for him to finally teach him something.
Now that he thought about it, why didn't he just never say he was a magic user in the first place? Then he would have never bothered him so much about it in the first place...
Rin furrowed her brows. "So, you're saying that you're a third-rate."
Shirou frowns at her words. "How rude! And that's not true! I can use Projection, Structural Grasping, Reinforcement, Alteration, and a little bit of Runes."
"Oh? That so?" Rin spoke while rubbing her chin. "So, you can only use spells related to Material Transmutation Thaumaturgy and a little bit of Rune craft, huh?"
"Not bad. But that still only made you a second-rate magus at best." Rin stated bluntly which prompts Shirou to huff in annoyance.
Well, at least he's not a third-rate anymore.
"Well, we can't all be like the great and powerful Miss Tohsaka." Shirou snarks while rolling his eyes.
Rin simply smirks and walks to the dining room followed by Shirou and Saber.
Once inside the dining room, Shirou proceed to serve the girls and himself with some tea. Green tea for him, and milk tea for both Rin and Saber.
Before the conversation start, everyone took a bit of their time enjoying the tea that Shirou made.
From the corner of his eyes, Shirou notices that Rin was stealing some glances towards him, she's probably suspicious of him since this would be the first time that she found out that he is a magus.
'Heh... This feels nostalgic.' Shirou commented internally with a smirk that's hidden behind his cup.
This atmosphere reminds him of the same situation back from his original timeline.
Back then, Shirou would steal some glances towards Rin and Saber as they enjoying the tea that he made for them, as he tried to understand the situation that he got himself into. And Rin would also steal some glances at him, suspecting that he might be an intruder because she never heard of another magi who lived within her territory besides the Matou.
"Well, then lets start." Rin begin as she put down her cup on the table.
"Right, I'm as ready as I'll ever be." He responded.
"Emiya-kun, you've been chosen as a Master. The stigma on the back of your left hand. That is the proof that you're a Master chosen by the Holy Grail." Rin start her explaination by mentioning his command seals.
"Oh, this?" Shirou asked while showing his command seals at Rin.
"Yes, they are called the Command Seals, and allow you to retain control over your servant as long as you have them. The limit is three uses, you'll be killed if you lose all of your command seals so..."
"K-killed?!" Shirou exclaimed with a fake shock. Honestly, he already know about all this, but he needs to play the act to make sure they're not suspicious of him, especially if that bastard is around.
"Yes, killed. Masters killing other Masters is fundamental in the Holy Grail War. And the Master that killed the other six Masters is awarded the wish granting Holy Grail." Rin stops for a bit to make sure her explaination sinks in to Shirou's mind before continueing. "To put it simply, you've been dragged into a game. A death match between mages known as the Holy Grail War."
"I've also been chosen by as a Master. The grail then proceed to manifest Servants to help the Masters to win the war. Think of them as a familiar."
Rin then proceed to explain about the origins of the Servants who was actually spirits of the Heroes of the past which has been recorded on The Throne of Heroes based on their History.
Shirou make sure to listen to her every words, despite he's already know about all this from the previous timeline.
"Anyway, from what I heard from Emiya-kun here, you can't enter into your spiritual form, is that true Saber?" Rin proceed to ask the servant of the sword.
"Yes, just as you say, I'm not in complete form. Since Shirou has insufficient magical energy, it will be difficult for me to turn into spirit form or replenish my magical energy." Saber explain her handicap condition with a calm expression.
Bullshit...
Internally, Shirou wanted to say that word to Saber when she said that the reason why she can't enter to her spirit form was because of his insufficient magical energy.
Well... Although it was partly true, but the real reason why Saber couldn't turn to her spirit form was because, unlike the other six Servants, Saber is actually a living servant because her history hasn't been recorded on the Throne of Heroes due to her current contract with Alaya to obtain the Holy Grail in exchange for her eternal servicetude once the contract has been fulfilled.
How did he know all this?
Well, even though at the moment he have cut off the connection between him and the magic crest on his left bicep, the crest is still passively flowing Archer's magical energy into his body, and with each flows Shirou obtain a fragment of Archer's knowledge and memory. And that's how he was able to find out about Saber's status as a living servant.
"Wow, to think that you would reveal your weakness. I'm shocked..."
"Even if I were to try to hide it from you, I don't think I could have fooled you. As such, it would be better to tell you about our situation so that Shirou can gain a better understanding as well." Saber said while glancing toward her Master.
And Shirou who notices Saber looking at him, pretend to look guilty for giving Saber such handicap.
"And you even have a good personality." Rin took a deep breath, and then she starts to freak out which surprises both Shirou and Saber, although Saber was able to hide it pretty well with her cold face.
"Oh come on! I'm regretting it even more now! If I was your Master, we would have win this war for sure!" Rin whined before she starts sulking on the floor.
'This is strange... Rin doesn't react like this in the previous timeline. Another changes? '
Shirou is feeling worried at the moment, he don't remember Rin acting like this in the previous war. She never expresses her jealousy towards him for having Saber as his servant, instead she took it like the proper lady that she always carried herself as, at least that's what happened in his original timeline.
"Wait! Are you implying that I'm not fit to be her Master?"
"Isn't it obvious, idiot!"
And just like that, Shirou's good impression of her that he always has even from the previous timeline has shatters to pieces.
'Is this Rin's true nature behind her proper lady persona?' Shirou wondered while giving Rin a deadpan look.
"Well I best be going now Emiya-kun, but you should come too." Shirou sees red for a moment he was knew where he was going, he was going to see him again.
"Where are we going?" He asked. He begins to grip the table, causing it to groan from the pressure. She turns to look at him.
"We're going to see the man that oversees the war."
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Shirou, Saber, and Rin walks on the quiet street of Fuyuki towards their destination. It's already midnight so there aren't many people wandering the streets.
"Um, Emiya-kun couldn't you have tried to hide Saber at least a little?" Rin asked while glancing toward the blue swordsman.
Saber is walking right behind them, dressed in her shining armor just watching, waiting for the outcome of this talk.
Shirou shrugs. "I didn't see the point of making her wear anything I have, and everything I have will look strange on her. What you expect to me to do? Embarrass her and make her wear, like a raincoat or something? Plus it's the middle of the night, so not many people will see her anyway." Rin thought about it for moment and nods her head, while Saber smiles a bit at what her Master has said.
Shirou remembered the discontent expression Saber had in her face when he dressed her up with that yellow raincoat back in his original timeline, since he doesn't want to embarrass her the second time, this time he decides to just let her wear her armor.
Oh, but then again he can just projected a girl clothes for Saber to wear beforehand. Why didn't he think of that?
"We're here, this is Kotomine Church." Rin state as they finally arrived at their destination.
Shirou grits his teeth in anger as he looks at the church, he clenches his fists trying not to destroy that damn place with every step he took.
"Master I will stay out here and make sure no other enemies appear." Saber said as she stands outside of the gate.
Shirou nods his head and quickly goes inside with Rin.
He didn't like it.
He never liked this damn place. Besides the uneasy feeling of death and malice whenever he decided to come here... he always had a feeling of... emptiness that matched his own that was hidden deep within his core. He looked around slightly, seeing that it's still the same.
"Hmph..." A fake, empty place for a fake, empty man.
How fitting.
"Kirei! Where are you? I brought the Seventh Master." Rin yelled with an annoyed tone.
Shirou sees him again he sees his false smile he sees his dead eyes.
Kotomine Kirei.
"Welcome, young one... I am Kotomine Kirei." He continued to smile with that fake smile.
Shirou had to lie this time too. He didn't give a damn. "So... you are the supervisor for this war?" Shirou asked calmly, Shirou may look calm but it took every bit of willpower, every last bit to not Excalibur him in the face.
He grins, the bastard grins... "Exactly, tell me young one what is your name?"
"Emiya Shirou."
His eyes widen slightly. "Emiya... I see so you are the last Master." He chuckles lightly. "Well Emiya Shirou do you accept your role as the Seventh Master?" He watched as Shirou pauses.
"Well... I do for the most part, but I still need help as to understand what exactly is happening, what I heard for Saber and Rin helped a lot but I need more information." Kotomine stares at him for a bit more and grins.
"Very well Emiya Shirou. A word of advice, becoming a Master is not something handed down, it doesn't matter if this was a mistake or not because you were chosen by the Holy Grail, The Seven Masters and Servant pairs participating in this war were not chosen because they wanted to be; they are chosen to determine who is the best of the best, who is worthy enough to possess the Holy Grail. The Grail can grant any wish that you desire..." He looks to the moonlit ceiling.
"...10 years ago in the 4th Holy Grail War the winner was a corrupted Master, he ended up causing a tragedy that killed many innocent lives." He watches as Shirou is silent, he unconsciously begins to remember the painful memory.
"Do you understand now Emiya Shirou? What position you are in?" Shirou slowly looks up to Kotomine Kirei. Even if he knew and forgave his adoptive father for causing the inevitable fire that happened 10 years ago, it still didn't stop his heart from aching.
"Yes... I understand, I'll do it, I'll become the final Master. I'll do it to stop another tragedy from ever happening again." He felt his boiling rage dissapearing for a bit. He could still feel the phantom pains from Kotomine's powerful attack.
Kirei nods his head. "Very well." Kirei said. "The Seven Masters have been chosen, I now declare the start of the Fifth Holy Grail War!"
"Were finished here Emiya, let's go."
As Shirou is leaving. "Rejoice, my son, for at last your wish will be granted!" His voice booms in the empty church.
Shirou just ignored him as he walks out.
Kotomine watches the empty space that he left. He soon began to chuckle to himself, remembering the incredible amount of hatred and malice that was radiating off of Shirou Emiya's own empty eyes. Even if he hid it very well, it was a clear as an open book to him.
"Quite interesting, Emiya Shirou... perhaps you can answer the question's I seek. What your father failed in, I hope you can succeed in... " He turned to look back to the moon, watching as it shines brightly in the sky.
Shirou notices that Saber is still standing watch, she is quick and ready to strike. His eyes meet with hers and he smiles slightly, the anger quickly leaving his body as soon as he saw her. "Come on Saber, there is nothing to do let's go home."
She nods slightly and turns to leave with her Master.
They all soon walk in a comfortable silence the only noise heard was their own footsteps. "I've done all that I could, I think that you can survive on your own now." Shirou gives her a warm smile.
"Thank you Tohsaka, I couldn't have done it without you." He puts a hand on her shoulder, and squeezes it slightly. "If you didn't step in before, I would have been dead before I knew it. Thank you, really..." She has a surprised expression on her face, and quickly pushes him away from her.
Again, she's acting very strange in Shirou's perspective. She has a very large blush on her face.
"H-Hmmph, w-whatever it's not like I did it because I wanted to. I was repaying a debt, besides after this were enemies again!" She growled, why does he have to have such an innocent and... cute smile?!
Shirou grins. "Sure, sure..." He sees her face gets slightly more red for some reason... somethings off, why does this feel so familiar?
Suddenly everything becomes too quiet. Shirou spins around and hears the quiet giggling and small footsteps, to his surprise he sees her the small girl in the violet clothes.
"Hello again Onii-chan~!" It's her, the girl with white hair and red eyes. The girl who became the main reason why he made the wish to start over to the Holy Grail.
"Illya..." Shirou mumbles.
Seeing the form of his older sister again nearly drive him to tears.
He still remember it very clearly.
Her smile.
Her last smile she directed at him before she sacrificed herself to destroy the greater grail.
Upon seeing her again, he just wants to hold her in his arms, to hug her and never let go. To make sure she doesn't ever go away.
Never again.
But alas, he have to restraint himself for now, because he also remember that the first day of the Fifth Holy Grail War, Illya is still hostile towards him.
So, for now he has to wait and regain her affection.
Illya turn her gaze towards Saber and smiles brightly, "Ne, do you know a woman named Irisviel Von Einzbern?"
Shirou turn his sight towards Saber he notices the surprise look that Saber had when Illya mentioned that name. But she quickly schooled her expression with her cold facade.
'Irisviel Von Einzbern? Who's that?' Shirou wondered as this is the first time he heard that name. Even in the previous timeline Illya never mentioned that name during their first confrontation.
What is this? Another changes?
Shirou turn his attention back towards Illya who was still staring at Saber as she's expecting an answer from her.
But after a few seconds of silence, Illya sighed in dissappointment. "No, answer huh? I should've expected it. There's no way you would remember her. " The girl said with a hint of disapointment since she didn't get the answer that she's expected from Saber.
After finishing his business with Saber, Illya then turned his gaze back to Rin and Shirou. Illya grabs the sides of her jacket and bows slightly. "Hello my name is Illyasviel Von Einzbern. I'm the Master representing the Einzbern family in this Holy Grail War. And this is my servant Berserker" Illya said while pointing at the bronze giant that stood next to her.
Rin instantly tenses, her eyes widen in fear. "What did you say?!"
"Tohsaka you know her?" Shirou asks quietly, pretending like he doesn't know who Illya is.
"Yeah, the Einzbern's they are a family of Magi who have desired the acquisition of the Holy Grail for a very long time, they have always sent an Einzbern to each Grail War."
"Is that so?" Shirou asks again while staring at the girl.
"That's right Onii-chan~! But getting the Grail is not the only thing I'm looking forward to... I'm also here to kill you as well. I've been waiting for this day for a long time Onii-chan... that's why I'll be sure to kill you as slowly as possible." Illya said with rather scary sadistic smile which sends shiver down Shirou's spine.
'Damn, I forgot just how scary Illya is during our first confrontation.' Shirou mumbled in his though while also preparing a weapon that he could use to defend himself from the battle that's about to happen.
"So,no one wants to talk anymore? Then I'll start the fight." Illya then snaps her finger. "Attack them Berserker."
"!" The giant's bronze skin suddenly turn red as he let out a deafening roar. And in mach speed, Berserker launches himself at Shirou's direction.
Seeing that he has become Berserker's target, Shirou quickly tried to Traced a weapon to defend himself when suddenly Saber steps in and stand right in front of him.
"Master! Stay Back!" Saber blocks BerserkerBerserker's over head strike, the power makes Saber slide back.
"Ugh!" Every hit is either blocked or evaded and each hit that missed destroys walls, pavement and cars like a hot knife through butter. She's forced to block another earth shattering strike. With a mighty shout, she pushed him off with a burst of wind. He's sent flying into the air, but he quickly fixes himself mid-air, he lands on the ground with a heavy thud. He quickly raises his weapon and charges at Saber.
"He's swinging that thing like a toy!" Rin yelled in disbelief at what she saw.
While the battle is taking place Rin is watching with great interest. "Incredible! Berserker classes are provided a boost of strength in exchange for there sanity, and normally Servants like these are supposed to severely lack in the mental department, but to think someone like this exists!"
She then looks to Saber. "But what he's fighting is no joke either, a master swordsman of her degree, will use her magical energy contained all around her body and launch a counterattack of super human speed and power to take him down!"
Saber looks back while she's holding back one of Berserker's hits. "Now Master, Hurry!"
Rin grabs Shirou's hand. "Let's go Emiya-kun, we have to get out of here!"
"Wait! Rin we can't just leave her here!" He resists her attempt.
"All we're doing is getting in the way Emiya-kun, Saber is fully capable of finding an opening and delivering the final blow on Berserker." Rin tried to reason, but Shirou stubbornly refuses to leave Saber alone.
"Where do you think your going Onii-chan? It doesn't matter where you run off to, because you will never defeat my Berserker! I mean he is Hercules after all, the Greatest Hero of Ancient Greece!"
Rin paled a little. "Hercules?! this is bad!"
"Did you know that Servants are spirits of heroes who were summoned to the present world? You had to have known that Rin, anyway the extent of their existence here is influenced by how much they are known across the world, Therefore if the Servant is well known around the world the stronger they are as a Servant. That is why no one can ever match my Hercules!" Illya declares with glee as she saw her Berserker starting to push Saber back.
"Very good, Berserker! She could regenerates so beheaded her first and then violate her!"
Saber raises her sword to block Berserker's overhead slash, but was taken aback when the giant deliver a strong fist to her gut, and Saber was flung several meters away until she reaches the location where her Master and Rin is.
Saber struggles to get back to her feet as she cough out some blood.
"Saber!" Shirou shouts at his servant in worry.
"Ma...Master..."
Berserker charges again, Saber immediately gets up and blocks each swing, but with each swing Saber is getting pushed back more and more. Saber is losing, Rin tries to help by sending a Gandr Shot at him, but it bounces uselessly off his skin, With each mighty swing Saber is forced to block and evade more and more, Saber again is forced to block an over-head strike, the force of the hit breaks the pavement and forces her to one knee. With another roar, Berserker quickly redirects his blade and slams her to the wall, she coughs blood.
"Please... get away, Master..." Berserker roars and charges once again, he raises his massive weapon, ready for one more swing.
Shirou sees that swing will kill her. Shirou could have done many things, he could have attempted to block Berserker's strike, as stupid as that may be. He could have sent sword after sword against him, he could have even used Gáe Bolg, the demonic spear still fresh in his mind.
Shirou ignored all of those to simply push her out of the way.
"...Eh?" Saber feels warm blood splatter her face, yet there is no pain, she then sees Shirou standing where she once stood, with a large chunk of his stomach ripped open. She felt sick, she could see his broken bones, ripped up intestines, each pump of his beating heart made blood squirt out of the horrible wound.
"S-Shirou...?" She whispers silently.
He coughed a large amount of blood. Did the mad beast clip on of his lungs? 'Heh... it happened again huh? Me and my stupid brain always defending others.' Shirou turns to see Illya who looks shocked at his suicidal act. He smiles before slowly made his way towards her.
"W-why... Would you...?" Illya stammered, unable to say anything as she too shocked to utter any words. The boy that she though to be evil like what her grand father said, turns out to be...
Illya was brought out of her stuppor when she saw Shirou was already kneeling right in front of her. He cups her cheek, but before he could say anything to her, he soon succumb to his wound and pass out right in front of her.
"Master!"
"Emiya-kun!"
From the corner of her eyes, Illya could see the two of them rushing towards Shirou in worry.
Illya who was still in shock almost wanted to check on him, seeing how he would give his life to protect his Servant, a mere tool to help aid in achieving the Holy Grail... it made her doubt what her "Grandfather" had told her about Shirou Emiya.
Keyword, almost.
"...This is boring. We're leaving, come Berserker." With that, Illya order her servant to retreat as he turn into his spirit form, and Illya walks away leaving his dying brother to be treated by his servant and the Tohsaka girl.
And that marks the end of the first day of the Fifth Holy Grail War.
Or in Shirou's condition, the re-starting Fifth Holy Grail War.
To be Continued.
A/N : And that's the end of the second chapter. Hopefully I can upload the next chapter as soon as possible. Please leave some reviews for me.
