Ok Saber, I'll admit, I wasn't expected the lightning… serpent? Dragon? Whatever the thing that was flying straight towards me was. Honestly, a part of me wanted to forget the plan and fight it, assuming one even could fight something like that. Seriously, taking down that thing would be one hell of a story!

Especially since this plan was his plan. Master could try to deny it as much as she wished, but using the other aspect of my Noble Phantasm in such a way was so far removed from her style of doing things. But not from his.

Was it a trap then? I wanted to claim it was, but… glancing at him in this moment, I honestly couldn't say. Suppose I didn't have much of a choice in the matter at this point though. Master decided with this course of action, and I'd agreed to it.

"Unleashing Noble Phantasm! Longinus!"

The moment I began the activation, I could feel myself beginning to dissipate. I had no idea if this would even work. Using the healing aspect of Longinus on others was one thing, but on myself? I'd never even considered such a thing before. I could kind of understand the reasoning behind it, but as to how it would all actually work? …I was clueless.

Staring down the lightning monstrosity rushing straight for me though, all I could do was pray. Right before it swallowed me-

"Blessed Blood of the Divine Prophet!"

I turned the lance on myself, running it straight into my chest.

Immediately, I felt my entire body go limp. I couldn't see anything now; only feel. Feel the tingling sensation run over me, though as to the source being Saber's Noble Phantasm or my own, I couldn't say.

The sensation was brief, lasting mere seconds. Replacing it came a more forceful, violent shock. Two objects, Saber's blades I could only assume, ran me through, bringing me to my knees, the base of Longinus being the only thing I could think of that could be propping me up, preventing me from falling forward into the dirt.

Finally feeling left me, and all I had were my thoughts. I couldn't move. I couldn't see. Couldn't feel, hear, or speak.

But…

But to some capacity, it must have worked.

I still had my thoughts, after all.

If I still had my thoughts, I must still be there.

I focused on that thought.

Forced myself to believe it was so.

The war was not yet over for me.

For I was still there…

…Feeling was the first to return. Pain raked my entire being, yes, but… I had endured worse before. Until the pain ebbed away, I would not show a sign of weakness.

Movement returned second. I was free to act, but it was still too soon. Until I could observe my surroundings, I would stay my hand.

Hearing returned next. Faint, yes, but not undetectable. They were wary by my lack of dissipation. Until they lowered their guard, I would play dead.

Sight returned last. I could see that Longinus had indeed kept me propped on my knees. See my armor scarred by lightning and blade alike. See the red on the ground below me, undoubtedly my own. Immediately, I closed my eyes.

I had only one shot at redemption.

I would not miss it.

I would not fail my lord again…

I prepared myself as I listened to the confusion.

I envisioned my movement as the silence of hesitation set in.

The moment I sensed Saber move in for the finishing blow-

Clang Clang Clang Skrett!

The sound of Saber's blades clattering to the ground echoed through the silence of the night. It all happened so fast, I only visually registered my surroundings once I was already back on my feet, Saber looking right into my eyes, the shock plainly evident.

…Longinus run right through where his heart would have been. Right through his spiritual core…

"Sorry, Saber" I spoke in a low voice only us two could hear. "This is not how I'd have liked this battle to play out."

"…No need for apologies, Lancer" Saber muttered, the look of shock on his face morphing into that of… acceptance. "You did as you needed to do; as anyone else would have done. Feel no shame in this victory."

Even as Saber spoke, he was already dissipating into a shower of gold sparkles. His swords were no longer present, and both his arms and legs disappeared as he turned to face his master, stunned to inaction.

"My apologies, master. It seems our wish will evade us… a while longer..."

Silence returned to the night as Saber returned to the throne.

"W-W-What…?" Saber's master would eventually begin to speak, the pain in his voice crystal clear. "Saber… Y-You can't be…"

I watched as Saber's master fell to his knees, head down in a mix of sadness and shame. Off on my right, master rushed past me, over to her former ally. There she joined him, likely trying to console her friend over his loss.

…Their loss.

Saber… While my wish is likely different from yours, I will win this war, for the both of us.

Further back still, behind the pair, was Caster's master. I'd expected to see a grin plastered across his face; hear him start his ravings about the beauty of what had just transpired before him.

Instead, I found a gaze directed towards the tree line. An expression rapidly changing from one of pure neutrality, to one of shock, and worry.

Then I felt it.

The presence of another servant.

I turned to face Assassin, unsure why he had chosen to give himself away while there was still such a distance between us. Unsure why he was approaching without a weapon drawn. Unsure what he was wear-

"Lancer, get out-"

"Sic semper tyrannis!"

A/N

…Well, the past couple of weeks have been quite... eventful for me... Won't go into details here, but yeah, sorry for the long absence.

While I haven't had time to edit much, I have been slowly typing this entire time, so expect this story to be fully finished by this coming Monday, I can say that much, I PROMISE! All I need to do is edit the last bits now; they're all typed up.

As for this part here... yeah, yet another bit that played out far better in my head that it really did on paper... Kinda wish I could come up with something better, but... at this point I'll cut my losses here on it, and focus my attention elsewhere.

Also, expect parts for my other work to be posted alongside each post of this till it's end (as I said, not a lot of time to edit recently, but I have been writing xD)

See y'all in the next post o7