I want to thank dawnwatch for being the beta of this chapter.

The year before the storm.

Hello. Thank you for your interest on this fic. This chapter marks the beginning of the final ark. I hope that in the next five to six chapters this fic will be over but as you can see from the last two chapters. I am already working on the sequel.

Now this chapter will be a transition chapter where we will see the events that happen in the year before the Yokohama ark.

This chapter will be seen from the point of view of Maya, Miya, Tatsuya, and Shirou but it will include all the characters.

I will make a few explanations at the end of the chapter.

Also as you know the second season of mahouka no rettousei is available.

And for my recommendation of this time there is a manhwa named Release that witch that is very interesting.

Chapter begins

There had been a lot of movement in the Emiya mansion, well at least a lot more than in the previous months. Something that by now the residents of the home had gotten used to, but today was on a different level compared to even recently.

With so many people, coming and going the place at all times. All of this after the revelation almost a year ago when the horrors that are waiting for them were revealed. The Emiya mansion had become the unofficial base for the people that knew the truth and that are working to prevent that future from happening.

However, today there was a new reason for them to be even busier than usual. The reason? They were finishing the preparations to assist Yokohama as part of the academy competitions.

In fact, the Emiya family was invited to the event, as the owners of the company that had changed the world so much in the last few years. Considering that they were planning to assist from the beginning, there was not a big change in their plan.

So, things appeared to be normal, if not for the fact that the year of preparation for the grail war was almost over and they still had no idea where it was going to take place. The only thing that they know is that they are running low on time.

Shirou was looking outside the window of his bedroom. Dressed in only his boxer as the first rays of the sun broke over the horizon. Watching Tatsuya, Suzune, Mayumi and Miyuki heading to the forest.

But they were not alone as he could see a man in a robe leading them.

"Merlin." Shirou mumbled. He still could not believe that he was here. But here he ise and he real deal, even if he did not want to admit it, but Balthazar had confirmed it.

He remembered how he meet him almost a year ago.

Flash back.

It was that meeting were they finally got their answers and by the root, they were not the answers that they were expecting.

With Zelretch, Gaia and Alaya gone. That left all those present thinking about what to do and what would be their future course of action.

They slowly began to form groups on their own and began to discuss what they will do.

Some of the groups were more peculiar then he expected.

For example Titania was talking with Irisviel and Aoi like they were longtime friends.

While her husband, Oberon was drinking with a man in a white robe in a corner while laughing.

The more serious group was the one with David, Balthazar and Kiritsugu talking about joining efforts in the future.

"I am sorry." said Shirou to the girls.

"For what?" asked Illya, but Sakura, Rin and Semiramis had the same question in mind.

"Because it seems that my luck and destiny involves all of you, in the same destiny as archer." said Shirou as he was looking to the ground.

"Sempai, please do not say that, even if that is the case it is a cheap price for us to be together." said Sakura.

"The never-ending fights changed archer and you saw him." said Shirou.

"The same could be said about me but all of you accepted me, so it is only fair that we accept this." said Sakura.

"Besides you are forgetting something very important." said Rin.

"What?" asked Shirou.

"That archer was alone, but you will never been alone, not now, not ever." said Illya.

"Besides, it is good to have a goal, otherwise life would be to boring for my taste and this one seems to be very interesting" added Semiramis

"That is great, the love the support that you have for each other, wonderful, just wonderful." said a man from behind them, when they turned to see who it is, they saw that it was the man that was drinking with Oberon.

"Didn't I tell you that he was a true lady killer. Don't you agree Merlin?"

When Oberon said that name, all of them turned around to see that man. He looked young, around his late twenties, with a playful expression, he really didn't fit the image that they all bad about the most powerful magician in history.

"Merlin? You are Merlin?!" asked a surprised Rin.

"Yep," was his simple answer as he took another sip from his drink. "Ahhhh, this liquor is excellent! Better than any other that I have had in the last thousand years"

"How can you be Merlin? He was an old man with a beard." said Illya.

"About that. I have to say that it was very funny to see that version of me that people had been telling over the years, thank the root that they also invented Tv and movies, otherwise I would have been bored to death in that tower."

"Tower?"

"There had been many legends about what happened with him, one of them said that he ended in the tower of Avalon where he will remain until the end of the times." said Rin.

"You sure know a lot of things." said Merlin.

"I can feel that you are alive, how is that possible?"

"Lets just say that I am lucky." said Merlin.

"I still can't believe that you are Merlin." Said Illya.

"Well, I can prove to you that I am the real one" said Merlin as he began to rise his hand.

Shirou and the girls got ready, believing that he would use some high-level spell to prove that he is was real one. Instead he put one hand over his mouth while he rised the other one over his head and began to move it as he said.

"Hey Balthazar, over here can you come here for a moment"

Shirou and the girls almost fell after seeing this; they were expecting a demonstration of power, not something like this.

"Master? It's you but how is this possible," asked a surprised Balthazar.

"It is a long and complicated story." said Merlin.

"Then try to make it simpler" said Balthazar.

"Well it, involves a story of how after being betrayed by Horvath, the lady of the lake came to my rescue, after attending my wounds she talked about how she couldn't let me out of her sight as she lead me to the tower Avalon so that she could help me recover and then she told me how she will take care of me"

When Balthazar heard the story, he remained silent for a moment before he replied.

"In a nutshell, the lady of the lake was upset with you because you cheated on her with that waitress and that's why after scolding you she locked you in the tower of Avalon, isn't it"

"I like my version better, but yes, that is the case."

All those present remained silent for a moment.

"Thank god that we are not closely related, otherwise I could end up like you did" said David. That for his part could not believe that the legendary Merlin had been like this.

"You must be David; I have to say that I am very impressed with your actions in the past" said Merlin.

"Thanks, I appreciate it"

"Wait a minute, according with the legend you can't come out of the tower of Avalon, then how is possible that you are here?" asked Illya.

"Alaya and Gaia" said Rin as she got an idea. "They are the only ones that have the power to take you out from there"

"Right on the first try, I am impressed." said Merlin.

"They must have let you out for a purpose, what was it?" asked Illya.

"For that I would like to with the young ones as well." said Merlin while looking at Tatsuya, Suzune, Mayumi and Miyuki, who were talking with Lindel. "Could you please call them here."

Shirou and the others did not know what to think of this carefree man, but he was Merlin, that means that he knew and taught Arturia, so maybe there is a hope that that man can help them to overcome this crisis.

Rin proceeded to call them and after they overcome their shock of meeting Merlin.

"I was asked, as a personal favor to train you." said Merlin as he pointed to Tatsuya, Miyuki, Mayumi and Suzune.

To say that they were surprised was an understanding. Being trained by Merlin seemed to be like a great opportunity. For Tatsuya that was having doubts about his own power and if he will be able to help his big brother and sisters in the battle, received this new information with great hope.

"What about us?" asked Illya.

Merlin then turn to see them.

"You already have what you need to be able to face this challenge, but you need to find out what it is on your own"

"What are you talking about." said Sakura.

"Balance, you need to find it. All of you" he said while looking at Semiramis.

"What do you mean, I already know how to fight my battles?" said Semiramis.

"Yes you know, as a magus, a Queen and a Servant. But now you are a woman, a living woman of this era, tell me have you adapted to this time, have you tried to incorporate what this new world has to offer you to become even stronger?" said Merlin, but before she had the time to reply he continued.

"The same goes for you, so far you have the visions of your past and have been using that to lead your actions, and that is fine, to learn from the past to guide your future, but you need to join all of that experience together in order to release your full potential, because when you do that you will find your real fighting style"

"Our fighting style?"

"I have seen your battles and actions from my tower, and I admire your intentions, but the way that you are fighting has limited your power to around half of its real potential."

"What do you mean?" asked Illya.

"In your case" said Merlin while looking to Rin, Sakura and Illya. "You have been fighting as magus that has to fight, not as a fighters or warriors, you need to accept that you are both. The contrary goes for you" said Looking at Shirou. "You have been fighting as a warrior that can use some magic, and you how not explored the possibility that you, in this world are a first-class magus"

That left them silent.

"In your case, Queen. You need to leave the past behind. I can see that you already began to move in that direction, but your yearning for past does not allow you to see that this era has much to offer you and you as well has much to offer to this era."

"How do we do that?" asked Shirou.

"By accepting who you are and your reason to be in this world"

"What do you mean? We do not understand"

"That is something that you all need to find out on your own." said Merlin that turn to see Tatsuya and his girls.

"The reason what I am going to train you, is because thanks to your common experience where you share your magic circuits with your girlfriends, your magic is kind of similar to mine, so I will be able to teach you a few things"

"Will you help us to become stronger." asked Tatsuya.

"He taught Arturia how to fight" said Shirou.

Hearing that name caused a reaction from Merlin.

"Yes I did" said Merlin with nostalgic. "and the answer to your other question will depend on you. Are you ready to leave the past behind and focus on your future and accept your place in this new chapter of the human story?" said Merlin. "The same goes to you" said looking at Miyuki, Mayumi and Suzune.

"Well now that this topic is over let's enjoy the rest of this gathering, tomorrow the real training will began"

For the rest of the evening the guests acted like if this was a normal gathering,. but when the moment to leave came, it was Titania that talked in representation of the group that had came with her.

"It was a lovely night and while I know that this revelation must have been a big impact for you, we had seen your past action and we all agree that we had faith in your victory" said Titania.

"Will you help us with the battle?" asked Sakura.

"I am afraid that that is not our roll, but I can tell you that our roll will began in the moment when the result of the war is known." said Titania.

After saying that they all began to disappear in one way or another, until only Chise, Lina and Elias remained. But changed when they left in company of Kudou Retsu.

End of the flash back.

"Up so early? I guess we didn't do a good job last night if you still have the energy to get up before the sun." Said the voice of Sakura from behind.

Shirou turned around to see a view that would make any man envy him. As Sakura, Rin, Illya and Semiramis were in a very big and expensive looking bed courtesy of Semiramis. That view alone would had been wonderful as it stood but the fact that they all were completely naked made it even better.

Only Sakura seemed to be awake as she slowly stood up, choosing to not cover her body as she walked towards Shirou and huged him leading into a kiss.

"Good morning my love."

"Good morning."

"I believe that the girls and I will have to try harder to relieve all of your stress and energy if you can get up so early in the morning."

"Please don't, you were amazing and if you intensify our sessions, I will be dead before the battle." said Shirou.

Ever since the last year, Shirou and the girls had adopted their sex sessions as a way to relieve stress, and as time began to run short, they had begun to accumulate a lot of stress, but that did not mean that they didn't enjoy their time together.

"I can just feel that we are not ready yet." said Shirou.

"That feeling may never disappear," said Rin from the bed, also not even bothering in cover her body as she got into a sitting position. "You are not the only one that feels that way and while we understand that you will carry the heavier part of this battle, we have become stronger over this past year".

"I know but even if we win, the future still looks full of trouble." said Shirou.

"Good, living without trouble would be to boring." said Semiramis as she stretch her arms.

Over the last year, Semiramis and Sakura were the ones that changed the must; it could be because their dark past but that did not matter, because it was a welcome change.

After thinking about what Merlin told her she began to learn more about this new era, thanks to Iris and Aoi, she took a taste to designing clothes that had awaken her creativity side, but later she saw how architecture was her real passion, that combining that with her magic knowledge and the special feature that she give to her creations. It wasn't too long until Avalon tech announced to the world that a new seat had been added to the exclusive group The Seats of Avalon, The Architect of Avalon. But she wasn't the last one that joined the ranks of the seats of Avalon, there was one more person that did it.

Semiramis as proof of her work and talent, remodeled Shirou's room (without asking for permission) when the work was done it was beyond anything that they had expected, now Shirou's room looked like it belonged to an emperor, the height and width were increased so much that he didn't understand how it had not affected the rest of the house.

So Shirou asked how it was possible.

It turns out that it was a team effort. They had been planning to remodel a room to be their room when they got married but they knew that they would need something special, thankfully the solution come when Illya just mentioned an Anime that she looked in their previous world, Tenchi Muyo, where with the use of pocked dimensions they could create big areas inside small ships. Looking at this world channels they found one that shows classics anime series, and by an incredible luck they found that anime.

But now there is a problem, because now thanks to Illya; the others Rin, Sakura and Semiramis, got hooked to the anime. However with a visual guide of that series, Semiramis with a little of help from the other girls managed to create a mystic code that created a boundary field that expand the area in a single location in a permanently, something that they already had experience with the development of their CSD (Look at the chapter 7).

This was just an advance application of that idea, but made it stable for large areas and permanent was something that could only been done with the help of a magi from the era of the gods.

"This is serious" said Shirou returning his mind to the present.

"In my era there was a saying: a very tight bow can break and injure the archer, we know that all that we can do is wait. Getting worried will not help us, we have been training for this. The only thing that we can do, is do our best when we face them." said Semiramis.

"It is too early to be so worried." said Illya as she finally woke up in the emperor size bed.

"I know that I am being a fool but I just can help it."

"Do not worry, we know that you are a fool, but you are our fool" said Rin.

"We will win this battle" said Sakura. "Because even if there will be fight and wars in the future, we will face this together."

"Bedside if we do not win that would mean that all that training that we did over the last year was for nothing" Said Illya.

And train they did.

Flashback

Over the last six months they trained inside the UBW, because that was the only place that would resist what they had planned to do for training.

Their method to train was simple, Shirou and Semiramis were at servant level when fighting seriously with the girls in one vs one fights, to give them the experience of fighting a stronger opponents.

It was in one of these matches when Shirou faced Semiramis, that the ancient queen realized what Merlin told her when after a couple tries, Shirou managed to land a single hit on her, stopping his blade right in front of her throat.

When Semiramis asked how he was able to do it, because that was a hit to her pride.

Shirou answer was simple. "In all our fights you always remain still in a single place, relying on your magic to defend and attack, and that is fine but after a while yours defense and attack patterns become predictable." Those words even if they had the best intention made her remember that encounter with that red saber in that world.

Normally a queen would never show any signs of vulnerability, but she knew that she could trust Shirou. "How can I overcome that?"

"I would recommend you learn to move in the middle of a fight, do not depend only on your magic for your defense and learn how to attack while on the move."

Taking the advice of one of the first people that she could call a friend and lover she began to practice doging and moving around the battle field, but that is when she saw that her clothes were not made for that kind of fight, but that was fixed when she also got her battle armor, one that she personalized to her taste, she also was pleasant surprised when she received the flying magic crest, if this was her old queendom, no one would ever give the king that power, but here they give it to her, even if the rest of the world already knew it, this was still something special for her.

When they also give her that crest, Shirou took that opportunity to give her a copy of Avalon that he give to the girls and his family. If Semiramis was not already in love with him that would have sealed the deal.

Semiramis was not the only one that got advise from Merlin, because Illya, Rin and Sakura did as well.

"I do not understand what Merlin means!" complain Illya.

"I believe that I have an idea, but you are not going to like it." said Rin.

"At this point we are willing to try anything." said Sakura.

"Shirou, do you remember the first time that you used your magic?" Rin asked.

"It was in the Grail war." was his reply.

"To be more specific, when you were in the middle of a fight and you were about to die." added Rin.

"I do not like where this is going." said Shirou.

"We had been training for six months now and while he had improved, the only ones that can face a Servant alone are you and Semiramis, if we want to survive, we need to get at that level as well." said Rin.

"It will be very dangerous" said Semiramis with concern, she had finally found people that she cared for and she knew that they felt the same for her and she did not like the idea of putting any of them at risk.

"It will be safer than facing a servant in a real battle" said Illya, supporting Rin.

"They are right, you know it, don't you?" asked Semiramis.

"Yes, but I do not like it." Taking a deep breath. Shirou closed his eyes for a moment.

But when he opened his eyes they were as hard as steel.

"I am the bone of my sword" said Shirou as many blades appeared around him.

Sakura, Illya and Rin got ready for the fight as Rin traced a jewel that creating a barrier while Illya and Sakura began to send her their magic to reinforce their defense.

In that moment Shirou released his attack, they all were normal swords with a few C rank noble phantoms.

"Why are you standing right there waiting for my attack to end?!, You have flying magic, USE IT!" Said Shirou as he continueed his attack. "NEVER! Allow the enemy to dictate the terms of the battle." As he increased the number of C rank noble phantoms that began to break the barrier until it finally collapsed and the girls had to jump to avoid being impaled.

"You need to find a way to turn the battle to your terms!" Said Semiramis from a distance.

When the girls landed on the ground, they turned to see where Shirou was, just to see that he isn't there anymore.

Before they had the chance to ask where he was, they could feel a great power from above them. They raised their head just to see how Shirou with his bow in hand and one of his broken phantoms launching his attack.

Shirou missed the target on propose, but it still landed close enough for the explosion affect the girls as they were sent flying in different directions. With Illya and Rin landing close to each other's. but Sakura landed in the other direction.

She was about to fly towards where the others were but then, she was caught by some black chains.

"Semiramis?"

"We never said that Shirou would be your only opponent, beside do you believe that that if an enemy has the chance to attack like this they wouldn't do it?" said Semiramis.

"I guess that I lose this practice" said Sakura in a sad tone.

"Who said that this is over?"

"Semiramis?"

"You are holding back, I can feel it, you have the same levels of power that a magus from the age of gods, no maybe even more but you are holding back because you are scared." said Semiramis.

Sakura remained in silent.

"You are afraid to lose yourself in your own darkness" said Semiramis. "That is fine because that darkness is part of you"

"But I don't want that! I have been trying to move forward to stay away from that power, so I could protect my family from this."

"Then can you tell me what will happen if one of them died in battle?" asked Semiramis, her eyes deathly serious. When she saw how Sakura lowered her face and said nothing as she continued.

"In that moment you will lose it, the control that you have over it, because in your mind you will blame yourself saying that if you had controlled your power you could have prevented that from happening. I have been looking at you, and what I remember of your memories and I know that that will happen and if that happens you may be the one that kill the rest of your family when they try to stop you."

"I would prefer to kill myself before that happens."

"But you won't be in control." Said Semiramis as Sakura remember the events of her previous world where she lost control.

"Then what can I do to prevent that from happening?" Said Sakura

"Accept the darkness in you and become its master." said Semiramis

"How can you ask me that!?" said Sakura.

"Did you remember the memories of my past? How my legend will always be related to darkness? Tell me what do you think about me" said Semiramis

"That you are my friend, one of us" answered Sakura

"Even with my darkness?" added Semiramis.

"You are not darkness, you are one of us and even if part of your past has darkness, you has master it, so the darkness does not define you, you define your own darkness so it can be part of your person, under your terms" said Sakura seeing Semiramis point.}

"It is time that you broke the chains that are holding you back and I do not mean my black chains" said Semiramis. "You can do it, release your power, accept your darkness under your terms and make it yours"

Sakura closed her eyes and began to focus her power. Maybe this is what she needed, she knew that her family will always support her and love her but this is something that she needs to hear from someone that was also touched by darkness in her past.

While this was happening.

The fight between Shirou against Rin and Illya continued. But now it was in the skies as the girls seen to realized that they have more mobility using their flying magic. And in this magic, it seemed that Rin has a natural talent.

They had begun to coordinate their efforts hopping that this time they can land a hit on him with Illya attacking non-stop giving Rin the chance to sneak out and attack him by surprise, but when Rin launched her attack, Shirou just flew over it.

"Not bad, try to predict me movements the next time" said Shirou as he was about to attack them again.

That is when they felt it, a power that they had already felt in the past before, on their last day on their old world.

They flew as fast as they could to see what happened, when they arrived they saw Semiramis standing in front of Sakura, but there was something strange, her hair was normal, but her battle armor was now completely black with red lines.

Her magic was amazing, just like the last time, but this time it felt calm, under control like.

"It feels like a night sky in the summer" said Shirou as he was the best out of all them at feeling the power of the others.

"Thank you sempai" said Sakura with a smile.

"You controlled it? How?" asked a surprised Rin.

"About that" said Semiramis as she began to tell them what happened.

End flashback

It had been six months after that event, one year since the meeting with Zelretch. And they had managed to prepare a few surprises for the time of the battle, but they still need to do more because the feeling that this battle would be harder than the last one in their previous world is too big.

"We still have time before we have to get ready to leave to Yokohama, what if we have a nice breakfast" offer Shirou.

"You read our minds" said Rin as they go out of the bed and began to dress, that was a view that Shirou always enjoyed.

With Tatsuya, Mayumi, Suzune, Miyuki and Merlin.

"Today will be our last training session, are you ready?" said Merlin as he sees his students.

Tatsuya, Miyuki, Suzune and Mayumi were already in fighting positions, they had learned after their first training with Merlin that once he said 'ready,' he would attack you without giving you a second to reply.

The view of Tatsuya with his battle armor was something common, but seeing Miyuki, Mayumi and Suzune with their own customize battle armor, they had the same basic structure but they had put lines with their personals colors around the plating of their armors, with blue lines for Mayumi, blue for Miyuki and purple for Suzune.

However, like the one used by Rin, Sakura, Illya and now Semiramis they wanted their show their feminine lines, and by the root, if they didn't know it was actual battle armor people would believe that they were wearing cosplay, but they were real piece of work.

With the experience from the last year of training, they knew that giving Merlin the chance to do anything was a bad idea, so this time they got a plan.

"Now!" said Tatsuya as he and Suzune take up with their fly magic while Mayumi and Miyuki jump to land at one side of Merlin as they rise their hands and cast their frozen mist surrounding Merlin as Suzune use her Deceleration Magic in the area where Merlin is making impact.

In that moment, Tatsuya began to fire multiple shots at his position.

"Not bad, not bad at all, you now have great coordination and your casting speed has improved," said Merlin as the mist that was surrounding him began to turn into flowers that later began to rise in the form of a tornado towards where Tatsuya and Suzune were flying, soon they were trapped on it.

"No, no, no" said Suzune as she fought to regain control in the middle of the tornado.

Suddenly an energy wave formed dispersing the tornado.

"Not bat Tatsuya, you have learned to use your power more easly, remember that you can use your mist dispersion on the magic and attacks of the servants, but never on them and their weapon, because their connection to the throne of heroes that will be to much more for you to handle, but you do not need to use to elemental sight on an enemy to hit him hard."

In that moment Mayumi try to attack him with a magic tool that has the form of a Naginata from his right while Miyuki do the same with a another Naginata.

The girls asked to have a magic tool they could use in a battle, with Mayumi and Miyuki choosing one that looks like a naginata, while Suzune chose a Celtic spear.

Merlin traced a sword to stop Mayumi's attack, while he used his cane to stop Miyuki.

"Excellent! You didn't give time to your enemy to attack at the same time that you support your friends" said Merlin as he generated a wave of energy which impacted them and sending them flying a couple of meters.

"Don't feel bad about this, Arturia always fell for that trick."

In that moment Suzune appeared from behind trying to attack him but when her spear made contact with Merlin it turned into flowers and disappeared.

"Not bad, you come using my blind spot and attacked me without any signals," said Merlin his voice from around the forest while the girls were trying to locate him, he was next to a tree looking at them.

"And you were able to find me, you have made great progress" said Merlin without looking back at Tatsuya that has his silver magic tool pointing at him.

"In that moment the alarm of a small clock could be heared"

"Very good, this was all for today" said Merling as he began to walk towards the girls with Tatsuya next to him.

"You have made great progress in this last year" said Merlin now standing in front of them. As he looks at the girls.

"Suzune, you learned magic runes faster than any other that I had meet, you should feel proud of that, but remember they are powerful but they need time to be used, with time you can reduce the time that you need to draw the runes, but for now and even after you can rely on your friends to made up for that. Mayumi and Miyuki, with your compatibility I could believe that you are sisters in anything, even blood, and with your compatibility with ice and your bond with Suzune you have open the gate to use a forbidden spell from the era of the Gods, the Cocytus!, but that spell come with a prize, remember what I teach you, that spell will use all the energy of the three of you, so you will be defenseless after you use it, if you manage to hit your target you can win, event against a Servant but if you miss you will be vulnerable, remember to never try to use this spell alone, because you will die before you have the chance to use it, in time and with experience each one of you will be able to use it alone, but for now you need to work together"

Then he turns to Tatsuya.

"You and I are very similar but opposite at the same time, we chose to carry the burden of our lives in a different way, for you I have one final advise, do not try to do anything alone, you have friends and family that will support you and you much be there to support them, and finally you have more power than what you can imagine, but you need to learn how to control it and not the other way around"

"But you hadn't told me how?" was Tatsuya reply.

"The power is a reflection of the person that use it, if I told you how to use it you may end following my same footsteps and believe me this world do not need a second me, it needs the first you"

Tatsuya began to consider Merlin words, in the year since they began to train under him, he had them mainly focus, giving them experience fighting someone at a servants level and help them to increase their powers.

But at the same time, he for some reason made them try to life as normal as possible, even if he knew that they will be facing a big battle he rejects the idea that they should take a sabbatical year from the school so they can focus all their time in getting ready. He told us to not force our destiny. However, they still step down from the council and clubs activities so they could come directly to train. But when they were asked to participate in the Yokohama academic competition, it was Merlin the one that convinced them to participate. "Sitting here waiting will do you no good, and while you wait you can do something useful, besides this kind of competition did not existed in my time so you need to take advantage of it now that you are young" was what he said.

"This will be out good bye for the moment, do not worry because we will see each other again in the future."

"How can you be so sure about that?" asked Mayumi.

"Because I have faith in all of you," said Merlin as he turned around and began to walk towards the forest that was behind the Emiya's mansion, disappearing between the tress.

"He sure likes drama." said Miyuki.

"It is hard to believe that he is the real Merlin." said Suzune.

"I don't know about you but I want to take a long bath before breakfast." said Miyuki as she give an explicit look to Suzune and Mayumi that understood what she wanted as both took Tatsuya's arms.

"And of course in order to save time we should all bathe together." said Mayumi.

Tatsuya that already know what they really wanted reply. "But we need to get ready to join the others students that will travel with us to see the competition."

"There is no trouble; yesterday I notified them that we will travel with the Emiya family and that they can expect us at the hotel."

With that the girls began to lead the way towards Tatsuya's room, knowing that taking a bath will not be the only thing that they will be doing.

In the way towards his room, Tatsuya began to remember how their relationship evolved to this point, not that he had any complaint, but he was still surprised about how all began.

Flashback.

It happened a few days after they meet Merlin. Ever since that day, they began an intense training that become routine, it was both a blessing and a curse at the same time.

A blessing because they now felt that they are making progress for the incoming battle. A curse because the famous magi did not hold back in the training sessions and them always ending it with their entire bodies in pain.

In the case of the girls, Merlin saw their individual's talents, if they learn how to synchronize them, they would be able to master a forbidden spell that if what Merlin said was true, it will have the same effect of an anti-army noble phantom. Therefore, he had them learn runes to help increase their physical strength.

But he warned them about the consequence of using that spell alone, the death, even with that warning the girls agreed and began to train as if their lives depend on it, because that is the case, it will take them months to be able to master that spell, in fact Sakura give them a ride to a desert Island so they could try that attack when Merlin told them that they were ready after eight months of training. The effect of the Cocytus! Wasterrifying and hopeful, because even if the girls were in the ground with no energy after using that attack, they were smiling, because they had recovered part of their confidence because now they have a way to face a Servant, now they need to spend the new days recovering and after that try to increase their power and resistance to be able to use that spell without the secondary effects been as strong on them.

Tatsuya, was happy for them because he had seen their progress, but at the same time he feel kinda jealous, because they has mastered a powerful magic at the level of a magus of the era of gods. But for some reason Merlin has been training in a different way, because instead of teaching him new magi or battle techniques, he has his him use his elemental sight a lot, something to find object that he was hiding in the forest behind the Emiya mansion, something to find creatures that he summon and told them to hide.

"What is the point of this?!" said Tatsuya when he was alone with Merlin, because the girls will be taking a couple of day off to recover after them manage to use that spell.

"What do you mean?" asked Merlin.

"These hide and seek games, how can I face a Servant if all that had been doing while the others get ready is play these games".

"But these games have a real important propose besides help you to improve your elemental sight"

"Really? And what is that propose?" asked Tatsuya, wanting to hear his answer.

"So, you can peep in your beautiful friends without them noticing" said Merlin with a big smile that ended when Tatsuya took his Silver magic tool and put it in his forehead.

"OK, OK, chess I see that you have no sense of humor. Listen Tatsuya, from the entire magus that have lived in this Earth, you are the one that is closer to me, do you know what I mean?"

Tatsuya put down his magic tool and began to think about what Merlin said, trying to find an answer.

"You want me to learn one of your special skills?" said Tatsuya.

"Bingo, that is correct. Listen if we are talking about brute power you are at the level of a first-class servants, yet you lose the last time that you face one, can you tell me why?"

"Because when I try to read the information of the body of that servants with my elemental sight, something happens, an over load hit me and I lose conscience"

"And what do you believe that I had been trying to do with your eyes?" asked Merlin as the smile return to his face.

"You want me to strengthen my eyes so I can use my full power against a Servant!" said Tatsuya realizing Merlin's goal, he should not doubt Merlin, he can see it now that he is really trying to help him.

"INCORRECT!" said Merlin as he hit Tatsuya in his head with his cane.

"HAYYY" maybe not thought Tatsuya.

"Listen, the Servants are linked to the thrones of heroes that is in the root. No matter your talent and power if you try to use your elemental sight it will have the same result"

"Then what do you want me to do?" asked confuse Tatsuya.

"To develop your eyes to the next level" said Merlin, that after seeing Tatsuya confuse face he continues. "One of the elements of my legend is related to my visions, yet I couldn't stop the fall of Camelot, do you know why? Because my eyes are not all powerful, I cannot see the future or the past with my eyes, I can only see the present, events that are happening in my same timeline, but that are of great importance, that is the powers of my eyes"

"But how can that skill help us?" asked Tatsuya.

"When the time come, if you have managed to awaken my eyes of the tower, they will show you the answer and when that happen you will need to attack with everything that you have, with no doubts or mercy." said Merlin with a dark shadow in his eyes, that for a moment scared Tatsuya, but after a moment his eyes turn back to normal.

"Well it is dinner time already and I can't wait to see what your big brother is making for today, I have to tell you that he is lucky that he didn't life in the times of Arturia or she would chain him to a kitchen for the rest of his life so he would cook her all kinds of delicious meals"

That same night after the dinner, Tatsuya went to his room to meditate about what Merlin has told him, wondering if he really could win if he manages to evolve his eyes to had the same power as Merlin.

It is in this then that he heard someone calling at his door.

LEMON ALERT!

"It is open." Tatsuya replyed. When the door opened, he saw that it was Miyuki, Suzune and Mayumi, though they were using their bath bathrobes.

"We are sorry to bother you at this hour" said Mayumi.

"There is no problem, I was awake any way, is there something that I can do for you?"

"We had been thinking about an easier way to use the Cocytus and after a while we realized that we already had a way to help us to use that spell" said Suzune.

"Really? What is this method?"

"Onii-sama, have you forgot, you were the one that give us that skill, back in the hotel room"

Tatsuya needed only a second to know what she was talking.

"The Status scream" answered Tatsuya. (See chapter 21). "You are right, I am sorry I should have seen it sooner and suggest that idea to you".

"Tatsuya-kun, we are not damsels in distress and as you can see, we managed to find a solution," answered Mayumi with a semiserious-playful tone.

"We had to integrate that spell into our magic crests, and we even created a way to synchronize and control our magic while we are using this spell." Added Suzune.

"But we still will want you to check our work, this is after all a very powerful spell and we do not want to take any risk." said Mayumi.

"Ok, it will be my pleasure." After Tatsuya said these words and much to his surprise, the three girls remove their bathrobes, allowing them to fall on the floor, showing their naked bodies.

"What are you doing?!"

"That night, in the hotel room, when you put that status screen on us, it was necessary for us to take our clothes out" said Mayumi.

"I know but this time it is not necessary" said Tasuya that even if he had seen then naked before, the view of three more beautiful girls in the academy in their naked glory was something that would always impress him.

"I see, but now that we are like this it will be a waste of time if we put our bathrobes again" said Suzune, she looked serious but still a small blush could be seen in her face.

Tatsuya remained silent for a moment, trying to understand what is happening.

"Tatsuya-kun, if you stay in silent while looking at us you will embarrass us" said Mayumi with a small smile, that contras with the blush in her face.

For Tatsuya, it was obvious that the girls were forcing themselves to do this for whatever reason they have.

"It is ok, Oni-sama, we trust you and in the same way that we know your secrets, we do not want to have any secrets to you" said Miyuki as she steps forward him.

Tatsuya reacted to those words, as trying to understand what these words had to do with been naked in front of him, but he chose to just do what they asked him to do.

One by one he began to see their status, and even if he tried to be as professional as he could, having this three goddess in front on him was very distracting, but somehow, he managed to get the job done.

"I have to say that I am impressed, you took an ancient spell and turned it into modules inside a program where each one of you have an equal part of the scripts and then you create a class sequence to run it in synchrony, I am impressed." said Tatsuya.

"Actually we all have the complete spell in another program, but we know that we do not have the power to use it and survive if we try to use it alone, at less for the moment until we gain the power necessary to use it by ourselves, so we follow Merlin's advice and learned to work together to use it, we just add a little of modern knowledge to make it easier" answered Suzune.

With this they were done or at less that is what Tatsuya believe but the girls didn't move to pick up their bathrobes, they were planning something, that is something that he just knew, but he didn't know how to ask under this situation.

"Onii-sama" Miyuki broke the silent. "The three of us over the time and these circumstances have become really close, like we were sisters all our lives, and we know that we remain the same for the rest of our lives" as she got closer to Tatsuya.

"Thanks to the time that we spent using that telepathy spell to talk we each other's, we feel like we had saw each other's souls, even if that is not how that spell works, that is what we believe" said Suzune as she also step closer to Tatsuya.

"Thanks to that we have come to two conclusions" said Mayumi as she joined her two friends.

"We love you" said the three of them at the same time.

For Tatsuya, been confessed by them was a roller coaster of emotions and he did not know how to respond. In fact, only one thing come to his mind.

"And the second thing?" he asked.

"Simple, we are going to follow the example of your big sisters and share you" said a happy Mayumi.

"But dodn't I have something to say about this?"

"Did your sisters give Shirou-san the chance to say something?" asked Suzune with a small smile.

"Ohm, no" said Tasuya as he remembers the day that his big brother and sisters told the family that they have chosen to live the rest of their lives together, not only as family but also as soulmates.

That was a big surprise, because even if he saw how the girls flirted with him, he never expected that the events would turn out the way that they did. At one point he believes that Shirou will end chose someone else to not hurt Rin, Sakura and Illya. But that idea was drop out the windows when it was the girls that said that they will like a harem life with Shirou and that they are willing to face any obstacle to be together.

Beside he was happy for them, and part of him wondered if one day he would love someone as much as they love each other, to the point that he would be willing to face the entire world to be with his love one.

The feeling, no, desire inside him grew when this time it was his parents figures the ones that also join the harem club. He remembered the moment they joked about when he would also join them.

Even if it was a joke in the moment, now it seemed like a very real possibility.

"Could it be that Onii-sama does not feel the same about us?" asked a worry Miyuki. Given her past with him, she is the one that is more worried about a possible rejection.

But that fear ended when she felt Tatsuya's, put his hand on her cheek her lips to his.

"I will no longer live my life with doubts and concerns, I, we are going to survive this and live a happy life, facing whatever happens in the future together" said Tatsuya after he ended his kiss.

For Miyuki this is a special moment, not only had she managed to confess her feelings towards her brother, but he also reciprocated them. And that feels great, even if she has to share him at less she can call the other two girls her sisters and she will treasure this relationship and use it as a motivation to grew and improve, not only as a magi but also as a wife, one is Tatsuya-onii-sama's wives. Now more than ever she needed to make sure that she and all the others survived the upcoming danger.

Then he walked towards Suzune and hugged her, getting close to her face, she did not offer any resistance as Tatsuya claimed her lips.

"I will no longer believe that I am the one that have to face the problems alone, you will always be the ones that I tell everything, the good and the bad and ask for your help and advice"

For Suzune this was a personal dream of hers, because her family past, after her family lost its number into the magic community of japan, she lost trust in the people that believed that the social status is the more important thing and while she was happy that Mayumi wasn't like that, she knew that at one point in the moment that she began to create a name by herself, members of the same community that made fun of her family will come to offer her saying that they wanted to give her a place in their family, but she knew that they would want her as a concubine and that is something that she would never agree to, something that is funny because many would said that that is what she has become in this relationship, but the truth is that after seeing how the men of the Emiya family take care, love and protect their respective partners, but more important, because she realized that over the time that she knew Tatsuya she fell in love with him and that wanted to be part of this family.

Then as Tatsuya broke the kiss, he turned to see Mayumi that was looking at the scene before her eyes. Even if she always showed great confidence to the others, there are some aspects that she feels as insecure as any teen girl, one of those aspects was her figure, she knew that she was the less developed of the three girls that had just confessed their feelings towards Tatsuya and is the cause of her insecurity.

But when she tried to lower her face, Tatsuya didn't give her that chance as he kissed her in the same way that he had just kissed Miyuki and Suzune. That action made her forget her insecurities.

When the kiss was over, he said.

"And I promise that I will never look at others girls in the same way that I look to you, because for me you are my three goddesses of beauty, intelligence and power"

Mayumi then took his hand and lead him to his bed with Miyuki and Suzune close behind.

"Don't you think that you are been a little unfair, Tatsuya-kun?" asked Mayumi as she sit on the bed.

"What do you mean?"

"Because you have your beautiful girlfriends naked in front of you and you still have your clothes on" said Suzune as she sat next to Mayumi with Miyuki doing the same.

Tatsuya could see how all the doubts and shyness that they had a moment ago was gone and now he could see a look on their eyes that is identical to his big sisters when they are playing with Shirou.

"I believe that my sisters have become a bad influence on all of you"

"That is true, but we believe that that is something good, besides after we graduate, they will become our big sisters as well" said Miyuki.

Tatsuya knew what they mean, after all Shirou, Rin, Sakura, Illya and now Semiramis had been planning that after this battle is over they will have a small ceremony, even a polygamy marriage is not recognize by the government, they do not care, they will have their wedding day and spend the rest of their lives together and by the look of it will be a double weeding.

With that thought, and the last of his clothes touching the ground. He waited to see how they will move from here, but from the look of their faces as they stared at his body, he knew that he would need to take the initiative.

"Enjoying the view?" was Tatsuya joke.

The girls could only nod a little.

For Mayumi this was her first time seeing a man naked and his private parts, the same could be said for Suzune and Miyuki. But she had decided to become a woman today, and become Tatsuya's woman she would.

Suzune, for her part more than been surprised for the view was having vivid images about the things that she wants to try, yep, it is always the quiet ones.

Miyuki for her part, saw the body of her Onii-sama as a goal, she was born in this world to be his, no one else will have her body, only him and even if she had to share him, by doing it she also gained something that she always dreamed about, a real family that love and support each other's.

"You should go first Miyuki" said Mayumi with Suzune nodding. "We know what this mean to you and how long you had been waiting for this."

"Are you sure?" asked Miyuki. They never talked about the order when they become Tatsuya women. Both just nodded.

What happened next was that Tatsuya walked until he was right in front of Miyuki, because she was sitting in the bed, she had a good look at his manhood, she was nervous, but happy.

Even more when Tatsuya put his hands on her shoulders and put her on her back as he lied down over her with great care and gentleness, for Miyuki, the feeling of the weight of her beloved Tatsuya over her was a magic experience and with the feeling of his manhood on her belly, she was even more pleased because she knew that he found her attractive. In that moment he kissed her again but this time there was more passion on this kiss as each one tried to explore and invade their mouths, that is when Miyuki could feel Tatsuya manhood getting ready to invade her private entry, no, not invade, because she is welcoming him.

With a final look Tatsuya asked for permission, that Miyuki answered with a gentle smile.

In that moment, with a single push he was inside her.

"AHHH" said Miyuki hugging him even more.

"Are you ok?" said a worried Tatsuya.

"This is the happiest moment of my live, please do not stop, I was born in this world for this moment, to be with you, so even if you break my body I want you to use me as much as you want, in the way that you want!"

Tatsuya knew that Miyuki love in a way that he cannot define, but after hearing her say these words something inside him was released.

"As you wish my love" and with that Tatsuya began his attack without feeling any resistance from Miyuki, just words of love and Happiness. It could be for the intensity of the moment, but both of them turned on their magic circuits.

Soon the feeling that something is happening inside them, an explosion awaiting to happen grew more and more with each movement, with each breathe full of passion, until it happened.

"ONII-SAMA!"

"MIYUKI!"

For a moment no one said anything as Miyuki curved her back up to be closer to Tasuya, to be close to him as he hugged her with strength and care at the same time. Their bodies tensed as Tatsuya marked the inside of Miyuki as his.

A few moments later they began to relax as Tatsuya release Miyuki.

"Thank you Onii-sama, no my Darling, this is what I always wanted, but even if I want to continue, there are others waiting to experience the same happiness" said Miyuki as she looked at the red faces of Muyumi and Suzune.

For the two were that has just see this show first hand, that was something intense, not only because they saw how their best friend/sister made love to the boy that they love, but because even if they do not realize both of them turned on their magic circuits as they were doing it.

Seeing the intensity as they move with their bodied joined as one and their magic circuits glowing at full intensity with sparks jumping with every thrust. It was a great spectacle, but now it was their turn to step up to the scenario.

"Our magic circuits are a representation of our souls" said Mayumi in low voice as she active her magic circuits that trace beautiful lines that curved her body, she turned to see Suzune as asking for permission, something that she reply with a smile.

For Tatsuya, the view of her magic circuits was something exotic. When he was doing it with Miyuki he realizes that at one point they active their own magic circuits and in that moment the pleasure intensifies a lot, in fact even after he and Miyuki ended the act, he still took a moment to see her beautiful body marked with her magic circuits.

Now he is in the presence of another beautiful girl that was also in love with him and with her body marked with her own magic circuits, so he responded in the same way and actived his own and took her hand as he drew her towards him.

Mayumi did not offer any resistance as she climbed into Tatsuya arms and soon was on top of him.

"The student council president should be on top of the situation, don't you thing, love?"

Mayumi reply didn't wait as she kissed him with all the passion and love that she could show, after a while she broke the kiss and began to kiss his neck, then his chest as he lower until she began to kiss his abs.

Seeing that his manhood was ready for action again, she gives it a kiss and then receive it in her mouth.

"OH GOD" said Tatsuya.

After a few moments, Mayumi stopped and looked up to meet his eyes.

"A student council president should have a mouth and know how to use it" joked Mayumi.

"OH YES" said Tatsuya as Mayumi still had his manhood in her hand.

But them she rises her body in a sitting position and place her opening right over Tatsuya manhood.

"When president is in the room, everybody standup," said Miyuki with a smile as she lowered her body, feeling how Tatsuya manhood marked her as his.

She remained still for a moment to adjust to the guest that she had welcome in her body, but the feeling of pleasure that she was feeling in her magic circuits made her began to move.

For her this is a very important experience and she knew why Tatsuya allowed her to be on top, he knew that she still had some reservations about her appearance, because she was not as develop as Miyuki and Suzune, but by allowing her be at to top, she had control, she was gaining a sense of confidence and power, the sexy woman that had just awaken in her feels great, loved and wanted, and she will enjoys this experience as much as she can.

Tatsuya for his part was enjoying the experience, looking at Mayumi and how she was riding him while her magic circuits burned even more as she gained speed and the lines that touched his own magic circuits began to arc. In an act of instinct, he reached his hand out grabbing her breast.

Mayumi was filled with surprised look but after seeing the smile on his face, she also smiled as she put her hands over his, making sure that they would remain there until the end.

With this last action Mayumi increased her speed and soon the noise that Tatsuya was making confirmed that he was feeling as good as she did and in one last action rammed herself down both feeling an explosion they came.

Mayumi fell over Tasuya as she heard his breathing, it was hard but the sound of his heart made her happy, she had just become his woman.

They remained like that for a moment enjoying each other's warmth.

Tatsuya placed a light kiss on Mayumi forehead, before he turned his head to see Suzune, who was looking at them, the blush on her face had increased since she had just seen how Miyuki and Mayumi had become his.

Suzune for her part got closer to the bed, but she just put her hands on its borders and separate her legs.

"I want to do it this way." Said Suzune as she gathered her strength.

"Are you sure?" asked Tatsuya as he stood up from the bed.

"I have always had troubles expressing how I feel, some people may believe that I have no emotions. Just because I do not how to express them, does not mean that I don't have them, that is why I want to do it this way, use all your force, made me feel things that I have never felt before." she said activating her magic circuits.

She did not know why, but it seen that the view of them seemed to exited them. But at the end who cares, they have just decided to life as a harem and they are fine with, a small detail like that won't change anything.

Tatsuya walked around her as he admired her body, again his eyes looks at the curves that her magic circuits made in her body, her skin color, made the magic circuits looks exotics.

Taking position behind her he placed his hands on her hips, once more activating his magic circuits and once more ready for action.

Looking at Suzune she nodded in confirmation and with that Tatsuya invaded her womanhood making her his as well.

"AHHHH!"

"Are you ok?" asked Tatsuya.

"Yes, this is what I wanted, please keep going"

Respecting her desire, Tatsuya began to slowly ram her hips.

For Suzune, the pain disappears after a few moments and now she is beginning to feel more pleasure than what she upstand and the expression on her face was evidence of that, who would had believed that the serious and formal Ichihara Suzune could made so erotic expressions. She knew that this will happen and for that she asked for this position, so Tatsuya won't see her face and the lusty expressions that she is making right now, but that idea ended when she rise her face and saw that in the other side of the room there is a mirror that is allowing him to see her face.

"Please don't look at it"

"Please do not hide your face, let me see it" said Tatsuya.

"I have never made that expression before, this is so embarrassing"

"And I am honor that you show it to me, we just said that there will be more secrets between us, so let me see your face and feel the pleasure to know that I am the man that is causing this reaction"

As an incentive, Tatsuya put more power and speed in his moves to increase the feeling that Suzune was feeling. It did not take too long before Suzune do as Tatsuya said and rise her face showing expression that no one would believe that she could do.

"OH KAMI, YOU BETTER TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS!" said Suzune with barely being able to breath as the pleasure that she was feeling began to accumulate.

"Of course, I will, for the rest of my life I will take responsibility for the three of you" said Tatsuya as he increases the intensity.

There after a few more thrusts, Tatsuya marked her insides as his.

Tatsuya allowed his body to fell over Suzune as he rests on her back, the two of the breading hard.

"That was amazing" said Suzune.

"I am happy that you like it" said Tatsuya.

"You are incredible Onii-sama" said Miyuki joining the conversation. After she had had her turn, she watched how her Onii-sama also have his fun with Mayumi and Suzune, and while part of her felt jealousy, another part like the emotions that she saw on his face while he was marking them as his.

"Yeah, doing it three times in one hour that is impressive" added Mayumi.

"I can't wait for round two" said Suzune

"Round two?" asked a worried Tatsuya

In that moment, Miyuki active the magic tool in her ring and open her CSD (look chapter 7) and put out a bottle.

"Illya-onesama give us this, she said that this will help us to made that this night last until the sunrise" said Miyuki as she gets closer to him while she offers the bottle so he can drink a little.

Tatsuya for his part now understand why Shirou always look so tired in the morning and how he is able to satisfy his future wives.

Part of him want to run but the other part that is just remembering what just happened and that also want more of the same win the little battle in his head as he took the bottle and take a little drink.

With that, the fun continues for the rest of the night. Now the only question that remain is how they will tell their families about this.

End of the chapter.