Final Chapter: Memoria
Tiger Dojo: Finale
Taiga: Live, from the Highly Fictional Hot Springs Resort, it's the Final Tiger Dojo! Ahhh…this is nice.
Illya: It's always good to relax and treat yourself after a job well done.
Taiga: But our job isn't done yet! There are still some unanswered questions that need to be addressed.
Illya: Oh? What is It?
Taiga: I'm worried about Sakura's Shadow. Avenger's gone, isn't He?
Illya: I think it is more likely that Sakura's magecraft has irreversibly change to mimic Avenger, much like how having Avalon for a decade changed Shirou's element to sword. A crossover manga featuring both Fate/Stay Night and Tsukihime had Sakura use her dark powers to a limited degree. This is essentially that.
Taiga: Thank goodness! And I suppose, if she's got special powers now, that would put her more on Rin's level now.
Illya: That wouldn't be hard to pull off…actually, I suppose it would. But Sakura's not as interested in magecraft, considering her background.
Taiga: Speaking of magecraft, I'm surprised Rin chose to stay in Fuyuki, instead of going to England immediately.
Illya: Originally, Rin's scene with Waver was supposed to take place in Clock Tower itself. While they were talking, Omachao would come in and alert Rin about her next class.
Taiga: Ha! That would have been hilarious! But, why the change?
Illya: Rin's character arc in the story is for Mage values to hold less prominence in her heart. If she were to leave for Clock Tower immediately, that would prove that she's learned nothing. By remaining in Fuyuki and choosing to spend more time with her sister, she shows her growth as a person. Unlike her father, who was so focused on the traditions of mages that he was ignorant of his family's suffering.
Taiga: Were there any other scenes that were changed or cut out?
Illya: I think there was going to be interaction between Rin, Sakura and Caren Ortensia, where Sakura uses her dark power to trip Caren up. It would show that the girls have taken control of their destinies.
Taiga: But instead, we get a scene in the archery club?
Illya: Exactly. Sakura is finally free from the intrigues and darkness of mages. There was no need to see her get involved further. And since the Holy Grail War won't happen in Fuyuki again, the Church won't have any pressing need to assign an overseer. There was also an idea about the Mage's Association sending in a team to capture Sonic, but the author felt that be needless filler.
Taiga: A battle between Sonic and the Mage's Association? That would have been cool! Why was it cut?
Illya: Besides the aforementioned filler? If the conflict with the Association devolved into a fight, Sonic's group would take the lead again. It was decided that Rin and Bazett would use trickery to stave off the problem to foreshadow their
Taiga: Speaking of intrigues, I'm surprised that Bazett chose to join up with Stuart.
Illya: Oh, yeah, that was planned from the start.
Taiga: Whaaaat?
Illya: That's actually why Stuart and his group were introduced; so that at the end of the story, they would be able to offer Bazett a new path once she left the Mage's Association.
Taiga: You mean all that intrigue and secret agent work, just for a job interview!? That's too much preparation! Just how far was this story planned out?!
Illya: The author always had a basic idea prepared. As the story went on, that idea became more and more intricate. Each character had a destination in mind, and the story was written to get them there. The girls have new
Taiga: But what about Shirou? He's the main character of Fate!
Illya: The story of Fate / Stay Night has always been about Shirou's growth as a hero of justice. In this story, instead of having his dreams squashed and deconstructed by his peers, he finally meets someone who represents the ideal he thinks he wants…and finds that not only is reaching it a lot harder than he thought, but that a hero doesn't have to stand alone. In this way, he won't have to give up on his aspirations, but also won't become buried by them as Archer did.
Taiga: And he has Saber by his side…that's nice.
Illya: And me! And this time, I'm not going to let those other girls get in the way! Onii-chan will be mine!
Irisviel: Oh, you're going to have your work cut out for you, Illya.
Illya: M-mama!?
Taiga: Sh-Shishou!?
Irisviel: Hi, Zecchan! Thank you so much for taking care of my baby girl, I really appreciate it.
Illya: She hasn't been taking care of me! She's always hitting me over the- (Splash!) Glug!
Taiga: Hahaha… don't mention it, shishou. Are you going to join us?
Irisviel: Certainly. Omachao, could you turn on the jacuzzi function?
Taiga: What do you mean, jacuz- Eee!
Illya: Gasp! Why is the water churning like this!?
Irisviel: Ahh, this pressure feels so nice, it's like getting a massage from the springs itself… Isn't technology wonderful?
Taiga: Is that the moral of the story? "Technology is good"?
Irisviel: No, that would be silly. The secret meaning of Fate / Genesis is the importance and necessity of adjusting to changes, and new ideas.
Illya: Is that so, mama?
Irisviel: Oh, yes. While it is true that the advance technology Tails and Eggman brought from their world has uses beyond the current level of Magecraft Rin could offer, according to most sources, Sonic's world is about a thousand years more advanced than ours. You could say that their technology is on par to the ancient Magecraft of ours.
Taiga: Wait, wait. I remember seeing Caster outdo a blaster Tails built for their battle.
Irisviel: That's right! It's true that technology can be widely used than magecraft, but that doesn't mean one side is inherently superior to the other. And remember, neither Eggman or Stuart could truly grasp what was going on or make progress in the War because they didn't comprehend the true nature of the conflict. Until Shinji told him about the Holy Grail, Eggman was just grasping at straws. But, because Eggman chose to just see the Holy Grail as a power source, he lost control when the Grail's corruption took over his final mecha.
Illya: That's right! And the only reason the heroes were able to stop the Genesis Ray was because Archer Projected Fragarach for Shirou to fire.
Irisviel: Exactly! And Metal Sonic couldn't copy Saber's Avalon at all. Do you understand, Zecchan?
Taiga: I think so…this jacuzzi thing really is fine!
Illya: She wasn't paying attention at all…and this woman teaches her own class?
Irisviel: Well, working in a school requires a lot of hard work…
Taiga: Ahh! Wait! What about when Metal Sonic used Lancer's Noble Phantasm?
Irisviel: Oh, that? That's easy. Lancer's spear Gae Bolg allows him to warp causality to strike his targets without fail. Metal Sonic had already copied Chaos Control, another power that manipulates time, in Sonic Heroes. Metal was able to adapt Lancer's technique with that.
Illya: Brrr…technology is scary!
Irisviel: Even the jacuzzi?
Illya: Hmmm…actually, now that I've had a chance to get used to it, the jets are kind of nice. Thanks, mama!
Irisviel: One thing I've learned from your father is that neither technology or Magecraft are perfect. Each has its uses depending on the scenario. The secret is to think about which would be more effective at a given time.
Taiga: That's a pretty simple moral.
Irisviel: It was a pretty simple story.
Taiga: …No, it wasn't.
Illya: Well, it's over now. Unless, are there sequels planned?
Irisviel: Oh, I doubt that. The only way to make a proper sequel would be to involve Servants from one of Fate's sequels, which the author didn't play or have access to read.
Taiga: The author's probably going to take a long break from writing stories in general, so those expecting one shouldn't press their luck.
Illya: But still,thank you so much, our loyal readers, for sticking through with us until the very end! We hope you had a great time, and-
(Beep beep beep)
Omochao: You have five minutes until showtime!
Taiga & Illya: Huh?
Irisviel: Oooh, we're going to be late! Everyone, out of the water and get dressed!
(Scene transitions to a theater. In the audience are various characters from the Fate and Sonic franchise. Irisviel leads Taiga and Illya to a set of empty seats. Emiya Kiritsugu is sitting next to them, conversing with Uncle Chuck. Seeing him, Illya squeals in happiness and glomps her father. Behind them, Waver Velvet is trying to get a video camcorder working, but seems to have no luck. Next to him, Sticks the Badger curiously pushes a button the camcorder's side. A flash goes off, blinding Waver, and Sticks ducks under her seat.)
(In the orchestra pit, villains of both franchises are tuning their instruments. Shinji, playing a harp, has somehow gotten his head stuck in the strings. Orbot and Cubot try to carefully pry him out to no avail. Kirei, rolling his eyes, takes Shinji's head and just yanks him loose. Shinji howls in pain. Eggman, taking the conductor's stand, angrily taps his podium to get everyone's attention.)
(The curtain rises, showing Amy Rose, Saber, Rin, Sakura, and Bazett standing on stage. Behind them are Sonic, Shirou, Tails, Archer, and Knuckles. They are all wearing Kamen Rider helmets. Behind them is a mural of a beautiful valley is seen. The orchestra begins to play.)
Song: Geki! Teikoku Kagekidan -Shinshou-
Performed by: Fate Genesis Players
Translation of lyrics provided by Tiffany Nguyen (As in, I copied them directly from her Sakura Wars lyric video)
(As the girls sing, the boys go into a somewhat repetitive dance)
Rin: Kudakechiru yami ni tsukitaerou yaiba (Thrust your blade into the scattered darkness
Saber: Aku wo yuurusani (We will never forgive the evil)
Saber: Ai no yume (Dreams of love)
Amy & Rin & Sakura & Bazett: Tagirasete (Swelling up inside)
Saber: Ukabitatsu (Over the scenes)
Amy & Rin & Sakura & Bazett: Senshi-tachi (We are soldiers)
Heroines: Kagayakeru otome (We're beautiful maidens)
Saber: Mankai no sakura dakishimeru yasashisa ga atsuku moeageru (Bearing cherry blossoms in full bloom, how fiercely blaming sympathy)
Saber: Tomo yo te wo nigiri kono ikusa iza (Take my hand, my friend, and we-)
Heroines: Kanchi-susume (Shall win the battle)
Saber: Setsunai Teito ni odorideru (We're leaping out to the heartrending Imperial Capital)
Heroines: Hashire (Run)
Saber: Hashire (Run)
Heroines: Kousoku no Teikoku Kagikidan (Fast as light, Imperial Fighting Troupe!)
Heroines: Unare shougeki no Teikoku Kagikidan (Roar on, shocking Imperial Fighting Troupe!)
(Instrumental interlude. An elaborate puppet that looks like the love child of the Hydra and a Rancor is wheeled out onto stage, controlled by Team Chaotix and Lancer who are wearing kuroko outfits. The performers break ranks and run about, trying to 'fight' the 'monster' with swords made of paper mache. At one point, Sonic loses his grip on his paper sword and nails Lancer in the head with it. Lancer has to be held back by Knuckles and Bazett as the others continue to 'slay' the beast. To help operate the puppet, Sakura joins Charmy's side. As the interlude ends, Team Chaotix and Lancer take the monster-puppet boys and girls resume their original positions)
Rin: Ankoku no yoru wo terashidasu yuuki (With bravery illuminates the pitch-black night)
Rin: Sai wa nagarareta(For the die is cast)
Amy & Rin & Sakura & Bazett: Inochigake -tomoshibi wo- (For our lives -our light-)
Amy & Rin & Sakura & Bazett: Mamorinuku -senshi tachi- (We keep the fire -we are soldiers)
Heroines: Utsukushii otome (We're marvelous maidens)
Amy: Maiagaru sakura kono mune ni someagate (Stain your chest with fluttering cherry blossoms)
(As the girls are singing, Lancer comes back on stage weilding a large mallet, which he chases after Sonic with. The guys keep trying to do their dance as Lancer and Sonic run around the stage. Archer sticks out his foot, causing Lancer to trip and fly off the stage. Rin shoots them a dirty look. They resume their positions and continue dancing.)
Amy: Toki wo koeteiku (As they traverse time)
Bazett:Tomo yo te wo nigiri kono ikusa iza (Take my hand, my friend, and we-)
Heroines: Kanchi-susume (Shall win the battle)
Sakura: Itoshi ashita ni kikari are (For splendid days to come, let there be light)
(Team Chaotix and Lancer return to stage, now armed with fake swords of their own. Everyone begins to have a mock sword fight, even as the girls continue singing. Sakura, looking royally unhappy with the violent scenario, tries to back away, but ends up tripping over the invisible Espio. Shirou and Archer lock their blades, which end up breaking under the pressure and the two Emiyas crash into each other.)
Heroines: Hashire (Run)
Saber: Hashire (Run)
Heroines: Kousoku no Teikoku Kagikidan (Fast as light, Imperial Fighting Troupe!)
Heroines: Unare shougeki no Teikoku Kagikidan (Roar on, shocking Imperial Fighting Troupe!)
(Soon, everyone stops fighting and line up on stage.)
Heroines: Yume wa yomigaeru Teikoku Kagikidan (The dreams will be revived, Imperial Fighting Troupe!)
Heroines: Warera aratanaru Teikoku Kagekidan (And now, we are the new Imperial Fighting Troupe!)
Performers: Thank you for coming! Goodbye, everyone!
(They bow, and the curtain falls)
END