Author's Note: So people know, I try to respond to every review I receive. Responses that are notable in that they provide information everyone should hear make it into this space.
This chapter clears out my backlog, so expect them to come slower from here on in.
Chapter 07: Children
November 12, 1994
Einzbern Castle, Japan
161 hours to Zero
The whirring of helicopter blades died down as Maiya finished the landing procedures. A faster way between Fuyuki City and the Einzbern Mansion had been needed and was now served by an unassuming blue and white Kawasaki BK 117 helicopter. They planned to install a Magical Energy Reactor, assorted other Mystic Codes, a powerful Bounded Field, and Reinforcement to shrug off attacks and help it stay in the air if damaged. EMIYA could also serve as its main weapon system if required, though a projected Gatling gun based on that of an F-15J worked in a pinch depending on the situation. EMIYA had to use his connection to Shirou's incomplete Reality Marble rather than his own Unlimited Blade Works to produce it, but he did not mention this fact.
Kiritsugu had managed to secure the equipment for the helicopter by stealing the final shipment of Kayneth El-Melloi's materials from the shipyard where Saber Artoria fought Diarmuid Ua Duibhne in the other timeline. It had been intended to finish outfitting the man's massive Fuyuki City Hyatt Hotel workshop, but Kiritsugu could use it for better purposes. After all, to whom was Kayneth going to report the theft of magical equipment? If he complained to the Mage's Association, the only relevant group that would believe him, they'd just blame him for risking the revelation of Magecraft to the world.
The theft was one more reason he'd brought EMIYA instead of Lancer Artoria on this mission. The latter might have had complaints about the tactic while the former simply found it sensible. The cynical Counter Guardian had indeed followed the Magus Killer's path in life...one more reason to save Shirou and change things.
When the helicopter blades finally stopped spinning, a beautiful white horse in armor approached with two riders. With the assistance of a Lancer Artoria, who had somehow been convinced to wear a stylized maid outfit based on her regal blue dress, Gray gleefully rode Dun Stallion. The horse bore patience and behaved itself as the pair sat atop him.
Irisviel loved the sight. "Lancer...that dress looks wonderful! And Gray on the horse...it's so adorable! I must take photographs!" Indeed, one of the pieces of technology that Irisviel had mastered readily was the camera. There were many pictures of a growing Illya to prove this, and now Gray was going to join the family album.
"L-Lady Irisviel, please-" Lancer Artoria was interrupted by a flashbulb, revealing that Irisviel had the camera on her person in case one of 'life's events' happened. Irisviel paused with an innocent and puzzled expression after the first picture, however, to allow the Knight to speak. "...my attire is too feminine for permanent record. I ask that you allow me to change first."
"Hmm? If you want, I suppose...but you look beautiful in that dress. You should take more pride in your femininity, Lancer." Irisviel said politely, but a bit disappointed. It was something she had told the maids to make for Lancer Artoria, attire fitting of a top-tier Servant. In her limited life experience, that was either a butler or a maid costume. The butler costume was already done yesterday, so it was the maid's turn today.
"Y-yes...Aunt Artoria is very pretty..." Gray managed, her quiet words stated with an earnest and gentle smile.
Add, naturally, had a comment to include. "Oh yeah, Artoria definitely wears this dress well! Gray, this is what can happen when you drink your milk every day and find a good seamstress!" The cube's words seemed to carry additional context with his role as Lancer Artoria's necklace placing him front and center atop the woman's chest.
The compliments brought a tinge of pink to Lancer Artoria's cheeks. She never fully knew how to react to such praise. "A-ah...thank you. Very well. I rescind my request, so long as images in more suitable dress are also recorded later. I do not wish to be remembered solely in this attire." Lancer Artoria had no idea what she had just requested. Though she had surely been referring to her armor or her other existing outfits, visions of the bill for the imminent shopping trip Irisviel would turn this into made Kiritsugu glad that they could expense it to the Einzberns for the moment. He could afford it without a problem, but it was pleasant to see one more thing to stick Old Man Acht with.
"I look forward to it," Irisviel said with a smile before turning to Gray, "and how are you enjoying riding with Lancer?"
Gray's smile remained and she held the reins steady as she'd been taught. "It's fun! Dun Stallion is a good boy. I got to feed him apples! Illya goes next, but she's still in the garden."
Those words made Irisviel's smile soften slightly. Illya had been there this morning as well, but Gray wasn't able to understand why Illya was there so much. "I see...after we take some pictures, I'll go see her. Okay?"
After taking some photographs of a happy Gray learning equestrianism with Lancer Artoria on Dun Stallion, the two parents and EMIYA would move on to a garden in which mild fall-tolerant flowers were blooming. The center of the circular space had formerly featured a statue of Justease Lizrich von Einzbern which had been destroyed in the Third Holy Grail War. Now, however, it held something else. Stabbed into the remains of the statue's base was a reproduction of Berserker Hercules' giant ax-sword made by EMIYA at Illya's request. Illyasviel, flanked by Sella and Leysritt, was paying her respects at the shrine to her fallen Servant.
Illya glanced back to her family as she heard their approach and her expression turned sadder on noticing that someone was missing. "He couldn't come home?" She asked so as to confirm her suspicions.
Irisviel spoke with a sad smile. "Not yet. We've officially adopted him. It's just that whether or not it's safe for him to come to the castle during the war is a concern. The Second Owner has also learned about Tracing and wants to be part of Shirou's education. You'll see him again. We just have to wait."
"...I was told to wait when you left for the war last time! It didn't work! I wouldn't be here if I accepted that kind of thing anymore!" Illya exclaimed sadly, making her parents feel regret as the girl came close to tears. "If Berserker were here, I'd go get Onii-chan myself. Rin's father wouldn't stop me! His Servant wouldn't stop me! I bet Rin's father is even trying to make him marry her!"
This wasn't something that Irisviel or Kiritsugu expected their daughter to respond so violently to. EMIYA stepped forward and knelt to his sister's level, touching her shoulder. "He tried. Your mom shut him down though. Now it's just a matter of where my younger self stays during the war for safety, who teaches him, and other red tape. The man also just found out that his other daughter, Sakura, was hurt badly because he trusted the Matou family with her. He just doesn't want the Einzberns to do that to Shirou, so he's being careful." EMIYA gave a smile to the child. "Besides, Saber's Shirou's Servant again. Our Saber. She remembers everything and wants him to come to see you, too. She's the one who made all this possible, so have faith in her." After patting Illya's head, he stood once more.
"Nnnngh..." Illya gave an impatient and unladylike groan before sighing. "Okay...but this doesn't mean I approve of Saber yet! Onii-chan is mine!"
Kiritsugu was going to ask what Illya meant by that when Irisviel stepped forward. "Excuse me, Archer?" The man regarded the elder homunculus when she addressed him. "There is something I feel we need to correct. You said 'your mom' to Illya just now. I'd like to remind you that the adoption has already gone through for Shirou Emiya. So...it's 'our mom'."
EMIYA barely had time to process the meaning of this before the woman eagerly hugged the man with the same exuberance as her daughter was known to display. "Welcome home, son! Now we have to get you and your little sister in some pictures!"
"Ah! That's right! I have two Onii-chans now!" Illya smiled a bit, her mood recovering to a degree as she grabbed EMIYA's hand and started to drag him back toward the house. "Come on! I want pictures of your butler outfit, Archer!" Leysritt followed the mother and her two children back toward the castle, but Sella stayed behind for a moment. She regarded Kiritsugu for a brief time before handing him a letter with a red, wax seal. She then gave him a simple bow and followed the others.
Kiritsugu stayed behind, looking over the letter. It was marked "To the Einzbern Master" and bore the seal of the Clock Tower. It was clear who the letter came from since only two members of the Mage's Association were part of the war and Waver Velvet was not the sort to do this. Exercising caution, Kiritsugu took a playing card from his pocket which promptly transformed into the projected Carnwennan. He broke the seal of the letter with the dagger, disabling a spell with only a small pulse in the handle of the stealthy weapon alerting him to the action. He then read the contents.
'To the Einzbern Master,
I formally challenge your Servant to do battle with my own. While I would expect a family of your renown to respond as station demands, your theft and kidnapping give me the suspicion that you may not conduct yourselves properly. As such, I bid you respond to this challenge or risk the revelation of your Servant's True Name to all participants of the War. If my Servant wins, I demand the return of both the artifact and the child.
We shall be waiting in the harbor area tonight.
The Master of True Saber'
Kiritsugu's eyes narrowed into a firm focus as he processed this information and its implications. The cult which Gray and Add had been taken from were rumored to have approached the Clock Tower seeking allies and offering catalysts to aid in the retrieval of the pair and to 'free their King from the shackles of man's machinations'. They did not approve of King Artoria Pendragon's being summoned for the Holy Grail War. A Master who took their offer of assistance would certainly be aware of the Einzbern Servant's True Name, so the sender's threat was unlikely to be a bluff. The location and time of the battlefield implied that it came from Lord Kayneth El-Melloi Archibald, who had a Saber servant that was likely from Arthurian legend given the available catalysts...or perhaps it was 'Artorian legend' in this world. Was this why Kariya Matou did not have Lancelot this time? Could Lancelot instead have been summoned by El-Melloi as a Saber explicitly for his sword's anti-dragon properties? He would be a noteworthy threat to any form of Artoria in such a scenario, especially with a more experienced and capable Master and without Mad Enhancement robbing him of his reason.
Kiritsugu folded up the letter and put it in his trenchcoat pocket before walking back toward the castle to rejoin the others. All the trouble that El-Melloi was causing made the Magus Killer feel even more certain that robbing him of his assets had been a good idea.
Tohsaka Estate
158 hours and 15 minutes to Zero
"Very good catch, Shirou. Now I will vary the distance and the complexity of the throws." Artoria said from the yard of the Tohsaka Mansion, starting to toss a baseball in ways that were increasingly harder for the blindfolded boy with her to intercept. The child wearing the catcher's mitt over his Command Seals and the Breaker Gorgon in front of his Mystic Eyes was forced to leap, dive, run, and throw back the ball without the benefit of sight. Notably, Artoria moved and ran as well to force Shirou to keep track of her changing position. The King of Knights felt that it was good training and was glad that he had asked for it. If Shirou could retain this ability and get to where he could function well relying on his other senses, it could only help him survive. He should not rely on his special eyes exclusively.
Sakura watched from a bedroom window of the nearby Matou Mansion as the pair practiced outside. She tilted her head slightly while trying to understand how what she was seeing was possible. The strange boy was wearing another blindfold identical to the one that had flown through her window, but he was still catching the ball and tossing it back accurately.
The girl was a bit concerned about leaving to return the blindfold but knew she might not get another chance. This might be the only time her Grandfather was gone for a while. There was also the fact that something inside her was compelling her to see the strangers. The woman reminded her of Auntie Morgan, and there was something about them both that drew her Mystic Eyes. She could not have known that she was unconsciously perceiving the existence of Avalon, Excalibur, and the blessing of the Lady of the Lake. This fact still tipped the scales in her decision, compelling her to collect her courage and leave her bedroom. Descending down the stairs, she then walked toward the strangers while shielded from sight by shrubs.
The child could see the Matou and Tohsaka Bounded Fields with her Mystic Eyes as well, but she also knew somehow that neither would hurt her. Not understanding why her father had re-added her access to the Bounded Field, she entered with a quiet 'excuse me' to apologize for her trespass. Even this tiny utterance to herself was enough to draw Shirou's attention away from the ball due to his borrowing of Medusa's enhanced hearing; he took a strike to the shoulder in punishment.
"S-Shirou, are you alright?" Artoria asked as she rushed to Shirou's side.
The boy rubbed his shoulder a bit. After a brief time though, he simply smiled at Artoria. "I'm fine...Elise. I just got distracted. It's already feeling better!" Shirou rotated his shoulder to emphasize this, the bruise already fading under his clothes. He had thankfully remembered how he was supposed to refer to her around strangers. The name didn't feel right to say, but it was important for people to think that his Servant was a normal girl wherever possible.
"I-I'm sorry for distracting you!" Sakura sputtered out, emerging from the shrubs before bowing in apology. "I didn't mean to do a bad thing, I just...I wanted to return this. The golden man threw it through my window..." Whatever she was about to say fell from her tongue when the boy took off his own blindfold to look at her before his Servant could stop him. After all, Artoria was still surprised by Sakura's presence. As a result, Sakura got a clear look at Shirou's glowing Mystic Eyes.
"Eh? You have Mystic Eyes too?" Sakura asked in surprise.
"Huh? 'Too'?" Shirou responded, unintentionally making Sakura stammer at having revealed her own Mystic Eyes' existence. The boy simply smiled, happy at finding someone else with them. "Yeah, I've got a couple! Clairvoyance and Glam Sight: Fairy Eyes. I just activated my Magic Circuits a few days back by accident so I'm having trouble controlling the Eyes. Mister Tohsaka is helping with that. I'm Shirou and this is Elise!" Shirou said, introducing himself and his Servant. Artoria gave a modest bow.
"Sakura Matou...and I gave Glam Sight: Fairy Eyes too. Maybe I can help you learn to control them. My auntie gave me advice..." The little girl's eyes began to glow pink in a demonstration. If the boy was a magus who just awakened to his power, it made sense that he was here. It did hurt though, that her father was helping some stranger and not her.
"Eh? You're Sakura?" Shirou finally attached the girl in front of him to Medusa's memories. The boy then continued to speak, concerned. "Mister Kariya just told your Dad you were treated very bad and they've been very sad about it. Are you okay?" That was news to her. Her father was sad about her treatment? She looked confused, so Elise decided to clarify.
"Your father never meant for you to be put in that pit, Sakura." The comment from the blonde stranger made the girl tense up. Artoria put a hand on Sakura's shoulder and, when the girl looked up, she could have sworn that she saw her Auntie Morgan's smile. "He meant for you to learn through studying books and practice, not through torture. Your father is not sure what to do about it yet, but both he and Kariya Matou want the torture to stop. There are people who love you. Remember that, Sakura."
"Th...Thank you..." Sakura gave a tiny smile before remembering the reason she was there. "Ah! I need to return this..." She offered the original blindfold, but Shirou shook his head.
"Keep it. The lady who wore it would've wanted you to have it. You'd have been good friends. I have another one, anyway." Shirou said, smiling. Artoria wasn't sure that simply giving the girl a Noble Phantasm was a good idea, even if it would fade away sometime later. Still, perhaps it was worth permitting for the time being if it brought Sakura comfort. The King of Knights felt no small amount of shame, now aware that the Sakura she'd known in the Fifth Grail War had endured such a nightmare without anyone ever knowing. How long had it gone on? Had it ever ended? Did that Sakura need help that Artoria had never known to give?
Mystic Eyes glowing without restraint and matching blindfolds around their necks, Shirou and Sakura started to speak innocently as Sakura opened up. She gave advice about Mystic Eyes and he talked about his life. He was an orphan who Elise and Kariya had saved from an attacker and her father gave him protection after the event awakened his latent abilities. Sakura knew she wasn't being told all the details, but she did perceive something from the pair that was quite welcome. Simple kindness, like that of her uncle Kariya. Shirou and Elise knew about Magecraft and about what she endured but did not condemn her.
As if that wasn't enough, she then became aware of her father nearing them at the briskest walk his self-restraint would allow. The man had detected her entering the Bounded Field and found himself staring into his daughter's pink Mystic Eyes on approach. It was one more sign of the nightmare she'd endured that he bore responsibility for. Unable to consider anything else, he fell to his knees on the grass and embraced his younger child for a good, long time. He knew he shouldn't have acted in such an undignified manner, but he didn't care. Tokiomi wanted the girl to know that she was still loved and still his daughter, poise be damned.
"I'm sorry, Sakura. If I knew what they'd have done, I'd never have sent you to the Matou. I'm so sorry...I only wanted what I thought was best for your future as a Magus. I never wanted you to go through that torture." Sakura's eyes widened at the confirmation of the truth that her Auntie Morgan had been telling her all along. Her family never meant to do that to her. They'd never even known. The girl hugged back, gently sobbing into her father's suit jacket.
Fuyuki City Streets
158 hours to Zero
Rin wasn't sure what to think. The girl had gone to the Principal's Office after school to see if there was anything she could learn about Shirou Enjou's situation. She had thought that if she offered to deliver his assignments, they'd tell her where he was staying. The heiress hadn't expected to be told to convey the school's thanks to her father for letting the boy stay at her house during his recovery. To maintain her family's image, the girl had been forced to pretend she'd been aware all along. Now here she was, walking down the street to her father's house in spite of having moved out for protection during the war.
Well, it was too late to back out now.
"If it isn't the young Tohsaka. I had thought you fled with your mother." Though she had hoped to avoid running into anyone, to the point of taking a route that steered away from the Matou Mansion and approached her home from the other direction on the street, she still encountered the last person she wanted to meet. The aged being rubbed her the wrong way, though she was not experienced enough to discern why aside from the malicious chuckle he greeted her with and her own dull instincts. Zouken Matou's inhuman nature was something that would remain concealed from her for the moment.
Rin looked to him, maintaining a certain level of respect in spite of his barb. "My school wanted me to take something home. Father won't be happy, but he taught me not to ignore my duties."
"Hnn. Had more of my descendants carried that sort of attitude, I wouldn't have as many problems. Perhaps I should escort you the remainder of the way. Old as I am, it is still better than leaving a child alone with the serial killer roaming about. Among other things." Rin knew what Zouken was talking about. The War. Their family alliance was on hold during the War, wasn't it? Why would he offer to escort her? Still, Rin didn't respond to criticize or thank. Both would show weakness to the head of the Matou family in different ways.
"How is the war going? I haven't heard anything." Rin asked, curious as to the nature of events. She was more than a bit starved for information. Zouken noted this and decided to be contrary. If Tokiomi wanted to shield the child, he could cast aside that blissful ignorance and see how she responded.
"No Servants or Masters have been struck down as of yet, but all seven have been summoned...along with an additional eighth. The Grail should not have had the power to call forth a second Saber, but that Servant manifested under very unusual circumstances. The Supervisor also had to intervene when it was revealed that Caster's Master was the serial killer responsible for the murders." Rin froze momentarily at this revelation from the aged man, her alarmed expression pleasing to the sadist.
"The serial killer was murdering people...is a Master? Why?" Rin asked in a stunned and frustrated tone of voice.
The ancient man smiled as he resumed speaking. "The killer drew pleasure from it and used the blood of a child your age to summon Caster. The only reason the boy wasn't killed is that the second Saber intruded on the summon and saved him. It is also possible for a Servant to siphon the life force from people, so it is likely that these murders will continue." Telling the girl this would hopefully cause some sleepless nights. Her expression was certainly one of disturbed surprise.
"T-then that Master and Servant have to go first! That risks exposure to the world!" Rin said, sputtering out an angry response. Zouken, however, maintained an eerie calm.
"The Supervisor has already asked the participants to prioritize the defeat of Caster and his Master, but no one has found them yet. The danger will continue until he is removed from the War...hn?" Zouken stopped for a moment when he noticed something ahead that clearly displeased him. Rin looked as well and saw it. In her yard, close to the meeting of the Tohsaka and Matou Bounded Fields, was her father hugging a crying Sakura. Also present were a blonde she did not know and Enjou...who had glowing Mystic Eyes. The boy and the blonde took immediate notice of her and Zouken.
Zouken's eyes flickered to Rin, ascertaining her position, before giving a grin. He realized that this could be amusing. "Sakura!" Zouken called out, making the younger sister flinch and look over from her place in her father's arms. "What are you doing bothering the Tohsaka? You're not supposed to be out of the house!"
Tokiomi pulled away from his younger daughter only partway, glaring at Zouken. Rin had never seen her father with such an angry expression before. The Tohsaka patriarch was then aware of Rin's presence and found himself very surprised and alarmed. Why was Rin here? Had Zouken done something to Aoi? Various questions ran through his mind.
"S-something got past the Bounded Field from over here. I was returning it..." Sakura stammered, clearly fearful of the aged man. The child was no longer showing her Mystic Eyes, as Zouken hated seeing the reminder of his failure to transform her fully to his wishes. Even without those visible, Rin could still tell that something was very wrong simply by the expression of fear on Sakura's face.
"Hnn." Zouken took note of the baseball on the ground. Perceiving its existence as a toy and suspecting that it had somehow flown over the Bounded Field, Zouken made the mistake of thinking it was what Sakura returned. "You know better than to lie to me...so I will accept those words for now. Come. It's time to return."
"Wait," Tokiomi said with urgency and anger. "I've been told about the pit, Zouken Matou. That you've not been training Sakura in the way we agreed. She has yet to even learn a single spell from you!"
"Hoh? I don't recall any specific methodology in our agreement. Only that she be trained in our Magecraft and receive the Matou crest. The fact we train through the body rather than the mind is a non-issue and the sole reason she can obtain the crest in the first place. The true problem is that she is a failure, but that does not concern you." Zouken stated, making Sakura flinch. The ancient bag of worms knew that Kariya had told Tokiomi and he'd expected a confrontation soon. Not that he minded. Tokiomi had no recourse here. "If you are intending to retract our agreement and keep Sakura within that Bounded Field...well..." Rin shuddered deeply as she felt an aged hand touch her shoulder. "An alternative has presented itself. Your firstborn might be more suitable, or perhaps even the orphaned magus you've taken under your care in place of her. It isn't like his Servant is allowed to be aggressive against anyone but Caster and his Master lest she surrender her and her Master's protections under the Church."
Everyone gave a shudder as Zouken turned this into a hostage negotiation. If Sakura or Shirou weren't given up, the man would take Rin. Artoria drew her baseball bat and prepared to fight if provoked, though she wasn't allowed to act unless she or Shirou specifically were placed in danger. Rin could feel worms start to slither down her back from the Matou patriarch's arm and gave a loud shriek. That cry made Sakura flinch as she imagined Rin replacing her in the pit. A guilty part of her had once wanted that to happen so Rin would know her suffering...but now, at the prospect of it actually happening, that small part of her immediately died and was replaced by terror.
"Hey, knock that off!" Shirou yelled out, starting to rush toward Rin and Zouken. The sight of Zouken's worms on Rin triggered something vague in his memories, something that told him this had to be stopped at all costs, but he was intercepted and grabbed just before leaving the Tohsaka Bounded Field by Artoria.
"No, Master!" Artoria held the boy close and stopped him but failed to stop Sakura as she ran past and left the Tohsaka Bounded Field. Tokiomi's eyes were horrified, his daughter having left his arms to run toward the man who had tormented her. Sakura shoved her elder sister back into the Bounded Field, the worms on Rin immediately sizzling and dying on contact. Most fell off at the edge of the field while the remainder turned into bloody stains on her clothes. The younger sister breathed heavily after the exertion.
"...Thank you...but it's not worth it," Sakura said sadly while looking back toward Shirou, Artoria, and her true family. She then took Zouken's hand, albeit flinchingly. "I'm sorry for the trouble. Let's go home, Grandfather..." With a grumble, Zouken took the hand and guided Sakura into the Matou Bounded Field and toward the Matou Mansion. He'd really hoped that he could pressure Tokiomi to exchange for Shirou, but the pained look on Tokiomi Tohsaka's face when his youngest fled his arms...oh, that was still enough to make Zouken's day.
Rin rushed into her father's arms and cried, unable to maintain her composure. What just happened felt wrong on many levels that she couldn't understand. Rather than insisting that she restrain herself though, Tokiomi simply embraced her and let her cry while he watched Sakura leave his sight.
"Your daughter is brave, Mister Tohsaka," Artoria commented as she stoically watched Sakura and Zouken enter the Matou Mansion. "Being willing to continue enduring so that her sister would not have to. That is why she left your arms. She does not wish her suffering on others."
"She shouldn't have had to..." Shirou uttered. This was meant for Artoria's ears, as Shirou didn't understand why his Servant had stopped him from helping Rin. Artoria knew it. Tokiomi, however, took the words in a more broad manner as he held his elder daughter. Sakura should never have been in that situation to begin with.
"It wasn't yet time, Shirou," Artoria responded, quietly and desperately hoping that Shirou's disappointment in her would ease with a proper understanding. "There are times when one must choose when and how to fight their battles to optimal effect. He had the upper hand this time. The proper moment will come." Only now did Artoria release Shirou, noting the clenched fist he held at his side.
Tohsaka Estate
157 hours and 30 minutes to Zero
Rin stared at Shirou with an irritated look on her face. She had been forced to take a quick bath after changing out of her worm gut-stained clothes, which were currently being laundered by Shirou. Without Aoi Tohsaka present, the cleaning fell to him to do. The boy didn't even seem to think much of it, though having to do so without a washing machine was a novel experience. Instead, a set of Bounded Fields in the washing bucket served to trap and direct the dirt and grime as he cleaned it with soapy water and detergent. Then heat would be used to help dry it by way of a drying line enhanced with fire Magecraft.
Watching her classmate wash her clothing was embarrassing for Rin. The classmate who she grudgingly and secretly respected for sticking up for Kotone. The classmate who shared his lunch with her on the one day she forgot her own right after Sakura left home. The classmate whose better grades and penchant for languages she tolerated largely because she was a Magus and thought he was not. The classmate who had just started nonchalantly washing her under-
"Enjou!" Rin exclaimed, drawing Shirou's attention while trying to distract herself from her growing discomfort. The boy who was too accustomed to washing the clothes of the other orphans looked to her, completely unaware of what the problem was. "Um...if you tell anybody, I won't forgive you!" Rin blurted out in a mix of embarrassment and anger.
"Tell anyone...oh, don't worry, Tohsaka! I won't mention that you're a Magus. Your dad already told me why we have to keep things like that secret." Shirou said, continuing to wash the article of clothing before taking it out and moving on to the socks.
"Not that, Enjou! I mean that I shrieked and cried!" Rin was mortified, but Shirou just looked at her blankly.
"What's wrong with that? A creepy old guy dumped worms on you. It's normal for a girl to do that." The boy completely missed the point, frustrating Rin even further.
"It doesn't matter what's normal! A Tohsaka always has to show elegance. You saw me at a bad moment and I'm telling you not to tell anybody about it!" Rin hammered the point home as best she could, wondering how such a smart kid could be so dense.
"Huh...alright. I wasn't going to tell anybody about that anyway." With this assurance from Shirou, Rin gave a sigh. She watched him finish washing the clothes and start hanging them on the line with the aid of a stepladder. Rather than carrying on the conversation, the boy simply worked. Rin hadn't expected this. Seeing those glowing golden eyes was surreal and something had clearly happened, but the boy wasn't talking about it. He didn't seem guarded, just...not forthcoming.
"What happened, Enjou?" Rin asked, her words breaking the silence between them. "Last I heard you were attacked, and now you're at my house as a Magus with your own Servant?"
Shirou glanced at her before resuming his work as if pondering what to tell her. Before she could get too frustrated by the silence, he decided to tell the story. "I got attacked by a man who was using blood to try to make Magic Circles to summon things with. He dragged me into an alley, hurt me, and used my blood to summon Caster. Saber came through the Circle at the same time to help me. Berserker and Mister Kariya showed up to help too. They took me to see Father Kotomine, and he called your dad. When Mister Tohsaka saw that my Magic Circuits and Magic Eyes got turned on, he brought me here. I'm supposed to stay until I get these eyes under control and until Caster gets beaten. He also wants to teach me stuff. Something about not wanting to waste my potential. There's also some mage lady who wanted to adopt me this morning."
Rin noted that this matched what Zouken Matou told her. Shirou was the eighth Master in the War and, unlike her father, he had a Saber. Saber was commonly considered the strongest class in the War. "What's your wish?" The girl asked with suspicion, wary that Shirou might be an enemy to her father.
"Neither of us have one." A voice came out from behind them as Artoria left the house and moved to help Shirou with the laundry line. He was a bit too short to manage easily, after all. "Oh, I'm sure there are things he would want, but the Grail is too dangerous in our eyes to use. I just came through to protect the innocent boy I've been watching over. That's one of the reasons your father is tolerating us. We don't reduce his chances of winning the Grail War." Artoria smiled as she looked at Rin. "If anything, we increase them. Your father is able to keep his Servant here to protect him and Shirou while I'm sent out to chase Caster at night."
Shirou spoke afterward to confirm his Servant's words. "Yeah, Saber told us that the Grail might be corrupted into granting wishes in bad ways. Even if it wasn't messed up, I don't want to use the Grail. It could still turn out bad." Rin thought the boy's logic was silly, but she didn't mind as long as it kept the pair from interfering with her father's chances. Still...
"Corrupted? What do you mean by that?" Rin inquired.
Artoria was the one to respond here. "As I am an unusual Servant, I retain memories of previous summonings while other Servants do not. This includes Wars where the Grail was corrupt. If the Grail were working properly, a truly evil Servant like Caster couldn't even be summoned in the first place. The three families have been informed but not everyone believes me. Your father is at least willing to investigate and entertain the possibility."
"Well, if you've told Father, I'm sure it'll be taken care of," Rin said while crossing her arms and closing her eyes, her concern over that matter easily resolved. If the Grail were messed up, her father would just fix it. The greater issue now was Shirou's potential as a Magus. The girl opened one eye and looked sideways to Shirou. "Father said you have potential? What sort of Mystic Eyes do you have?"
Artoria realized that a prideful Rin was trying to determine where Shirou was on the pecking order. Sadly, Shirou didn't understand this as he answered. "Um...Pure Eyes, Mystic Eyes of Clairvoyance, and Glam Sight: Fairy Eyes. It's all geared toward analyzing stuff. Like how I can see the Bounded Fields and how they work by looking at them."
She was surprised, opening both eyes and looking at him with a start. Rin had never heard of compound Mystic Eyes before. Dual powers were usually in separate eyes. Mixing Pure and Mystic Eyes was also possible, but very rare. "W-well, it takes more than Mystic Eyes to be a good Magus. How many Magic Circuits do you have? I have forty."
Shirou looked at Rin in confusion. Why did she want to know so much? "I have a hundred and eight..." Rin's eyes widened at that number. More than twice as many as her? Even when she inherited the Tohsaka Crest one day, she wouldn't have that many! She forcibly calmed herself though. "W-what quality? If they're all bad quality, it doesn't mean much no matter how many you have."
"Um...I think they're supposed to be something called EX-Rank..." Shirou said, the girl's fists clenching in response just before she finally blew up.
"Liar! There's no way!" Rin yelled, startling Shirou to where he fell off of the stepladder with a crash. Artoria rushed to his side and started looking him over while Rin kept ranting. "You don't just 'find' Mystic Eyes and Magic Circuits like that in someone! It takes generations to make that! Your parents would've known-" Rin's eyes widened and she stopped abruptly as she remembered that he was an orphan who had never known his parents.
"Check with your father," Artoria advised with a slight sternness to her voice, gaining Rin's attention. "Mister Tohsaka verified it all personally. Master really is an orphan with these specifications and has no known living relatives. He had no way of knowing, so it is cruel and inelegant to call him a liar simply because of your pride." Artoria may typically have been more diplomatic, but she was a bit more impulsive in matters relating to Shirou than in the past. Still, it was nothing that didn't need saying.
Rin flinched a bit at the comment. "I...I don't know what you're talking about!" The girl stammered, but Artoria looked at her and shook her head.
"Rin Tohsaka was the Master of Archer in the Fifth Holy Grail War, and an ally of my Master. I came to know her well enough. She was proud and eager to prove herself while quick to denounce my Master when he unknowingly caught her off-balance." Artoria smiled as she helped Shirou stand up before she took over the hanging of the wet clothing. "Neither of you have changed in that regard."
The implication wasn't lost on Rin as she looked to Shirou, who already knew this fact from Excalibur's history. After a moment, she closed her eyes and turned in a huff. Walking away and entering the mansion before heading toward her father's study, Rin decided she needed to verify all of this. It wasn't like she'd believe Saber so easily. For goodness sake, Mysterious Heroine X wasn't even a name! She wasn't leaving out of embarrassment, nor out of shame for reminding her classmate of his lack of parents. No, of course not.
Artoria watched the girl go, hoping that she would in time treat Shirou more kindly. Rin was a good girl at heart. She simply had too much pride. The Servant helped her young Master hang the laundry, then knelt to his level. "Shirou, there's another weapon I want you to Grasp. It is too dangerous to use in close quarters or around innocents, but I believe it may prove to be of import one day."
"What kind of weapon is it, Saber?" Shirou asked. He took note of a baseball the Servant pulled from her jacket, but could already see past its disguise to tell that it was an unusual weapon...
British Countryside
Sixth Century AD
Standing outside of a cave, Artoria and her Knights of the Round Table stared down their enemy. Bors had fallen from a kick to the face that launched him into a nearby boulder. Gawain, Lancelot, and Mordred had already been humbled by the beast, the lattermost seething at the sheer audacity of the encounter. Their guide, a local Magus by the name of Timothy, was a little too amused by their failure.
"Don't say it," Mordred said from under her helmet.
Their guide simply smiled. "Say what, Good Knight? That you did not heed my warnings? That the beast is not as weak as it first appears? Or perhaps that I..."
"Don't." Mordred glowered at the man.
"Told."
The angered and tired knight drew her sword in an effort to intimidate. "Stop it."
"You."
"Cease!" Mordred warned.
"So."
"GAAAHHHH!" The Knight lowered her weapon hard against a rock, the non-descript blade which had seen better days still able to split the stone in two. She had yet to claim Clarent, as her rebellion still lay in the future.
"Hold, Mordred!" Artoria Pendragon called out to her Knight, the King not permitting her own irritation to show so openly. Still, the beast had outclassed several of her knights at once as if they were mere village guardsmen. This ancient creature was among the toughest of foes, as Timothy had warned.
"Fou!" The Killer Rabbit of Caerbannog exclaimed, taking a single step forward and sniffing the air as it looked toward the sources of noise that continued to annoy it. Mordred let out a small yelp and took a single step back in surprise to enter a battle stance, but immediately condemned herself for acting in such a way before her King. Artoria acknowledged that the beast was not a typical rabbit, though Merlin's smug smile implied that he held a deeper knowledge of the creature. One that he would not divulge. The beast had grown legendary as a powerful creature with a long lifespan exceeding any man. Its magical pelt and the Holy Grail it allegedly protected had drawn the attention of many adventurers and warriors, but the broken armor and weapons strewn about its lair conveyed the monster's hidden strength. Some of the weapons laying about were ancient. Was it even a rabbit? Perhaps a fox or a cat? It was adorable enough for Gareth to hesitate to attack it. Not that Artoria could truly blame her newest Knight for not wanting to kill a cute, fuzzy animal. Even Mordred had initially been unsure of attacking. She liked cats.
"It seems that we will have to employ Merlin's strategy to disable it and move forward. Brother Maynard?" Artoria called forth a monk with a box, who opened it to reveal an ornate sphere with a cross atop it. The device was an unusual single-use weapon that was first designed and employed under the reign of 'Saint Atilla', also known as Atilla the Hun.
Lifting the sphere reverently from its padded box, Artoria took aim as her emerald green eyes met with the beady lilac ones of her latest foe. Pulling the pin, she counted forth. "One...Two...Three!" Lobbing the weapon forward, the King of Knights watched as the sphere bounced and landed near the puzzled creature. A mighty but localized magical explosion and a loud cry of "FOU!" resounded as the Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch proved effective against their fluffy enemy.
Gareth looked as if she were about to cry for the poor thing.
Tohsaka Mansion Study
157 hours and 25 minutes to Zero
Silence reigned in the study of the Tohsaka Mansion as a stressed Tokiomi Tohsaka sat at his desk. Okita Souji was sitting on the right-hand couch and Gilgamesh was at the window looking outside while paying attention to the altercation between Rin, Shirou, and Artoria. However, Tokiomi's attention was all on Kirei Kotomine who sat on the left-hand couch. Though Assassin had already conveyed in real-time to her Master the revelations made by Irisviel von Einzbern and Artoria which she had covertly listened in on, Kirei was stunned that Tokiomi would give him this information of his own accord.
"...Why would you tell me this?" Kirei inquired of the man. Tokiomi looked hollow as if his world was starting to fall in on itself. These facts, combined with the recent revelations about Sakura and the danger his children were in, were taking their toll.
"Because we all have a chance to avert an unpleasant future, Kirei. I must admit that my future self's decision to send you away was overly pragmatic and neglected your stake in the matter. You had only just lost your wife when you took on my request, after all. You've dedicated three years to this endeavor as well. To be thrown away in that manner when you became disadvantageous to me...it must have driven you over the edge. I've already done such a thing to my own daughter and we've seen the consequences of that. No. I've chosen not to hold you accountable for something you haven't even done, nor to reject the lesson of it." The tired man blamed himself more than Kirei for the events that unfolded in Irisviel's story. Kirei realized that Tokiomi's choosing to move onward like this instead of simply throwing him out or trying to neutralize him was a very Christian thing of the Magus to do. The history of the Tohsaka Family as Hidden Christians, and their membership in the current Church in spite of being Mages, showed at this moment.
Silence returned as Kirei clenched his fists. He pondered his response. With an imperceptible sigh, the man chose to confess. "I can see...the things Lady Einzbern said coming to pass. I am fundamentally flawed. My whole life has been spent seeking that which others take for granted. Beauty, purity, love...these things have always been incompatible with me. Only the suffering of others is beautiful." Okita's eyes widened at this admission, though Kirei did not stop there. "I pursued God for salvation, but none came. My sickly wife knew of my flaws and attempted to save me, but I only knew more pleasure as she struggled. In the end, I intended to take my own life...but she made one last attempt to save me and perished for her trouble. She thought she reached me in the end, but I only regretted that I had not ended her life myself. That was the true source of my tears. It was at that moment that I stopped seeking salvation that would never come."
"And you gave up your daughter to her maternal grandparents knowing you could not raise a child in such a state," Tokiomi noted in an expressionless understanding. Kirei subtly nodded in reply.
"I am, at my core, a sinner. An evil man who is struggling to be something he is not and depriving himself of pleasure in hope of God's salvation. Even my father never understood my nature. My piety, my discipline, my sacrifice, they are enough to conceal from him the truth. But like with the Pharisees written of in the New Testament, that worldly recognition of observance alone is not enough for the Lord." Kirei did not know what the result of this confession would be, but he did not expect Okita to move over to his side of the room and embrace him. The woman, who in her old age was like a grandmother to a very young Kirei and Tokiomi, attempted to provide comfort.
"I think I finally understand a little," Okita said to a puzzled Kirei, "you showed signs of it in your youngest days. You couldn't be trusted with animals and always had an...enjoyment for the suffering of others. My knowledge of the Grail says the word for that enjoyment is 'schadenfreude'. Traditional beauty eluded you. Cherry blossoms, a beautiful spring day, all these things I tried to share with you and Tokiomi in your youth, you never were able to enjoy. You tolerated them...but they held no deeper meaning to you. Your eyes never regarded them with enjoyment because you were not capable of it."
Kirei allowed the hug to continue but drew no comfort from it. Instead, he continued to speak. "I believe that homunculus. She knows things I've never told anyone. Specifically that I had hoped Kiritsugu Emiya could be the answer to my prayers. To hear that a wife and daughter were enough to save him when I've already tried and failed in that regard. To learn that we are opposites who only share our discipline and ability to seal our feelings away to act. It...is a profound disappointment."
The room returned to uncomfortable silence until there was a knock on the door. With a moment of hesitation, Okita broke the hug and walked over to the door. She opened it to find a young girl in twintails looking up at her with a stern and somewhat angry expression. "A-ah! You're Toki-chan's older child!" The door was flung open the remainder of the way and Okita hugged the surprised girl. "You're adorable! It's nice to meet you, Rin-chan!"
Rin's arms flailed a bit momentarily in surprise until she calmed down from the surprise hug. Once she acclimated to the strange woman, she looked over Okita's shoulder for answers and saw her father and Kirei in the room looking at her along with a man dressed in gold. The lattermost spoke first with a bored tone. "The Assassin of this War embraces children so easily..." Rin's eyes widened at the revelation of this Servant's identity. Assassin. It made the girl shudder in a way that her father noticed immediately.
"Worry not, Rin. Grandmother was a family friend in life and even knew me in my youngest years. She left behind her catalysts explicitly so the Tohsaka and our allies could summon her to assist in keeping the Grail War from getting out of hand." Tokiomi gave a somewhat hollow smile to his daughter, though it wasn't as reassuring as he'd hoped.
"That's right, Rin-chan!" Okita said, smiling at her. "I'm Okita Souji, and I've been a friend of the Tohsaka family ever since I was Saber-senpai's Master in the Second Holy Grail War. I am currently Kirei-chan's Servant." She gave Rin a far more true smile than Tokiomi was currently able to give.
Rin was well aware of Okita Souji's legend as well as her connection to the family, to the point where her meetings with Saber and Nagato Tohsaka helped transform her life and changed her fate. The child's nervousness faded almost instantly on hearing that name and seeing the Servant smile. Okita broke the hug and Rin curtsied in greeting. "I see! I-it is very nice to meet you, Grandmother. What do you mean by 'Saber-senpai', though?"
Tokiomi elected to respond, glad that his daughter was being polite. "Shirou's Saber-class Servant is the same one that Grandmother was partnered with during the Second Holy Grail War, and has the ability to retain her memories between summonings. She manifests to avert dangers to the civilian populace rather than for any prize and inspired Grandmother to do the same in both life and death. She also supported some version of our family in a future Fifth Grail War. Though our Archer is by far the strongest Servant, that Saber is a serious threat to any other Servant in the War. We are fortunate to be on friendly terms with her, during Wars in the past, present, and future."
"Y-yes..." Rin said nervously to acknowledge the point. This lent support to Saber's claims as well. Maybe she would ask what her older self was like? How many opportunities would she have for that? "I'm sorry to interrupt, but I wanted to know if Shirou really had a hundred and eight EX-ranked Magic Circuits. Is he lying?"
"Nothing my cook or Saber told you when you pressed to learn your standing with him was a lie. My cook's raw potential is superior to your own." Gilgamesh said, smiling idly as he looked out the window. "If you came here seeking to restore your pride as a prodigy, child, you won't find what you're looking for. Do not boast if you cannot support your claims." At Gilgamesh's words, Rin's face shifted to a sour expression as if she'd started to suck on a lemon. Hearing Gilgamesh criticize others about excess pride was a bit of a surprise to the adults in the room, though it was not hypocrisy. Gilgamesh could back it up.
Rin finally had to accept that Shirou and Artoria's words were the truth. Still, there was one point that confused her deeply that she had to ask about. "Father, he said you wanted to train him. Why can you train him but not Sakura?" The child's question was carefully asked, but the intent was clear. 'Why did you give Sakura away if you could accept him'.
Tokiomi tried to think of the best way to explain. He looked to his worried child for a few silent moments before closing his eyes and spoke the truth. "I initially felt that there was no greater suffering than for the lesser child of a Mage family to be forced into obscurity. As such, I eagerly allowed the Matou to claim her as their future heir so she could stand equal to you as a Magus rather than be cast down into the common masses. I have since learned that there...are far worse fates than becoming common. Sakura is suffering such a fate now and, once I find a way to resolve my mistake, I fully intend to bring her home. Whether she has a crest or not, I would still teach her at that point."
The next part of the story was more difficult to explain. "Shirou, however, is in a different situation. At the time he had no family, he has no crest to inherit, but an immense potential that transcends such limitations. He bears Mystic Eyes and Magic Circuits that would be a blessing for a Mage Family with a daughter to take in as a son-in-law. He has his own avenue of Magecraft to research. Were he to have married you, your children would have been significantly stronger and guaranteed our family's growth as Mages." This statement made Rin blush briefly, but Tokiomi continued. "However, I've since learned that meddling in my children's futures to that degree is what caused Sakura to suffer. Also, a branch family of the Einzberns managed to adopt him behind my back once they learned of his existence. While they did not forbid such a marriage between the two of you, it would have to happen naturally because you both chose such a thing...something I'm inclined to agree with. Now? I am merely fascinated with the potential of his unique Magecraft and want to cultivate it. He is also able to create gemstones that may advance your own training without cost and may serve as a powerful rival to inspire your further growth. He's good for you, Rin. Even if only as a friend or rival."
Rin didn't know what to say but settled for a sigh of relief. The idea of having a fiancé wasn't something she was prepared for. Part of her couldn't help but wonder what it'd be like, though that curiosity was forced down as soon as it popped up. She was happier to hear that Sakura would be coming home and that they would get free jewels. "If he can make free jewels, Sakura and I can practice together when she gets home! And a lot faster than normal! Has he made any yet, Father?"
Tokiomi smiled more genuinely this time. "They're in the white box labeled 'Traced Gems' in the Workshop. Just leave me the ones with the time and date stickers on them. Those are for me to analyze later."
"I will, Papa!" Rin said excitedly, mistakenly dropping the more formal 'Father' for the familiar endearment in her glee. "I've got work to do! I'm not going to let Enjou catch up to me!" Rin curtsied to the guests with that, walked away from the room, and dashed off toward the basement once she thought she was no longer observed.
Tokiomi couldn't help but chuckle. He would have preferred that Rin stayed out of harm's way, but it was good to have her activity back in the house. Besides, even the Zenjou Estate wasn't safe if Zouken truly wanted to claim her. Maybe having the three Servants here regularly keeping an eye on things around her was the best way to go...
Matou Mansion
157 hours and 19 minutes to Zero
Sakura sat in her room, unwilling to test her adoptive grandfather's patience by leaving again. Medusa's blindfold hung from her neck as she pondered what to do. Her true family wanted her back, but Rin was in danger if she did. So was that boy, Shirou. Her grandfather was willing to trade her away because she hadn't acclimated to the Matou Magecraft as Zouken had hoped, but that was to be expected. Auntie Morgan had been grooming her for something else. Even the worms within her body couldn't act as her Grandfather truly wanted, though they did still itch and wriggle at times. They weren't even able to eat all of her prana anymore.
Closing her eyes and focusing, Sakura cast a spell she had learned from training with her Auntie Morgan. A spell that was hers alone. Darkness briefly surrounded Sakura, but this shadow was not evil. It carried a refreshing feeling of hope that brought comfort to the child, even as the energy coalesced in front of her and took on a humanoid form. The sub-foot-tall Shadow Familiar was completely black but had seven glowing spots on its head and a single larger spot on its chest. Far larger versions of this being had wrought havoc in a Parallel World. The taint of Angra Mainyu was nowhere to be found in this being, however.
With no words needing to be spoken, Sakura's familiar faded into the shadows of the room unobserved. Only once it was gone had Sakura reopened her eyes, so her Grandfather would not perceive its presence through her senses. It escaped the mansion easily, crossing the Bounded Fields and moving onward into the Tohsaka Mansion to observe...and if needed, protect. Less than two minutes after the crossing of the Bounded Field, Zouken came to Sakura's room and checked on her. Noting that the child was exactly where she should be, he kept on moving without a word while wondering what he had felt cross the field...
Fuyuki City Harbor, Warehouse Area
154 hours and 15 minutes to Zero
Many plans had been discussed. Kiritsugu had wanted to simply snipe Kayneth, but knew he couldn't freely do so as long as Kayneth had Volumen Hydrargyrum at his disposal. As such, he had planned to use Carnwennan to sneak in and slit the enemy's throat. Lancer Artoria shot down that idea, just as Kayneth intended. By sending a formal letter of challenge, Artoria Pendragon was obligated to answer and do so in good faith regardless of if it was a trap. The only thing in the letter she wouldn't agree to was the order to surrender Gray and the artifact if she lost. As such, Gray stayed at the castle with Illyasviel, Sella, and Leysritt. EMIYA had his own mission to carry out, outside of Lancer Artoria's sight.
"You don't have to take this mission." Kiritsugu had told EMIYA after he had volunteered for it privately. "I can stick with the original plan and just move the girls from the Einzbern Mansion before the time comes."
EMIYA, however, had responded with an unflinching gaze of steel. "I appreciate the concern, but I'm not a normal Servant. Even if I were destroyed, my soul is still stored in my younger self's Reality Marble. Give him time to recover the prana needed or draw it from Avalon and I'll be able to re-summon myself. Don't hesitate to use me to protect the family or destroy the Grail, because I'm in no real danger as long as Shirou is safe."
Kiritsugu shut his eyes from his vantage point atop the crates, Carnwennan concealing him from sight as he waited for their target to appear. Clearly, neglecting his son's Magecraft last time around had not dissuaded him from the sad path he himself had been on to become an Ally of Justice. No, his son had completed it to its logical extreme. The man had no idea that his last words would feed into Shirou's distortion so completely. Also, the man's unplanned ability to self-summon made him not a mere teacher and supplement to Shirou as Merlin intended, but a force that felt obligated to shift as many risks away from his family and onto his own shoulders in this War as he could get away with. He was the type of man to do that anyway, but complete regeneration gave him another reason to justify his actions and take painful risks. It wasn't mentally or emotionally healthy to see one's self as a disposable and replaceable sword.
For now, though, Kiritsugu had a mission to carry out. The fireworks had signaled that Kayneth was ready and the group had arrived. Irisviel and Lancer Artoria were standing just where they were in the last timeline to minimize deviations, though the latter was in full armor. The nature of the battlefield was not conducive to horseback riding, but Lancer Artoria had simply transformed Rhongomyniad into a sword instead of a spear. It was truly a versatile weapon.
Now to see just which Servant had been called forth to deal with the King of Knights. Kiritsugu was still betting on a Saber version of Lancelot. Sabers had a natural advantage over Lancers, but using the true Rhongomyniad instead of just a replica made by the Grail might allow Lancer Artoria to partially mitigate this.
"About time you finally showed up! I've been waiting for almost four hours!" A loud female voice rang out, one which Kiritsugu had heard in Artoria's memories while he dreamt. The armored warrior that stepped forth from the shadows with her sword casually held over her shoulder was indeed a Knight of the Round, but not the one which he had expected. Her helmet retracted into her red and light gray armor in a complex manner that was in no way inferior to modern technology, revealing the blonde's face. Green eyes shone with determination as she glared at her target with a scowl. "Your armor may be different, but I'd know that spear in any form."
The Knight of Treachery moved the sword Clarent into position with one hand and held the stolen shield Prydwen in the other. She stared angrily at her father and King. "Prepare yourself, Father!"
WEAPON DATA:
Name: Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch
Owner: Artoria Pendragon, Altera (Atilla the Hun)
Type: Anti-Unit
Rank: B+ (A+ against Phantasmal Species and Vampires, EX against Rabbits and Beast IV)
Range: 1~2 (from the landing area, true distance varies by user's ability to throw)
Maximum number of targets: 1 rabbit
The Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch is an example of modern media influencing the powers of a Servant. While a very young part of the legend borne of a movie from 1975 called 'Monty Python and the Holy Grail', it is pervasive to where it is a core part of peoples' awareness of Arthurian lore and thus influenced the abilities of Artoria Pendragon within the span of a single generation. As the movie's 'Book of Armaments, Chapter 2, Verse 9' claims that 'Saint Atilla' used the Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch as well, it is also possible for Altera to utilize this Noble Phantasm through her identity as Atilla the Hun.
When used by Artoria Pendragon in her Mysterious Heroine X disguise, the hand grenade is disguised as a simple baseball. Its true form, however, is an ornate sphere with a pin on top in the shape of the Christian cross. When the pin is pulled, the user must count to three and throw the Hand Grenade. As in the film, the grenade will bounce and roll into an optimal position to strike its target before exploding with a small blast reminiscent of a low pyrotechnics budget. As such, the Noble Phantasm is classified as an Anti-Unit attack even though the destructive force within that restricted range is massive.
Used to kill the Killer Rabbit of Caerbannog in the film, a monster in the form of a small rabbit that routinely killed and fed on humans, the explosive has attained increased effectiveness against Phantasmal Beasts, Vampires, and Rabbits in particular. Might the hide of the Killer Rabbit of Caerbannog be used to make a certain bunny girl costume for the King of Knights? Merlin only gives an amused laugh in response to such a question while Fou shudders as if remembering something rather unpleasant.
Perhaps there is some truth to the tale after all...
Name: Shadow Familiar/Shadow Giant
Owner: Sakura Matou
Type: Anti-Unit, Anti-Fortress
Rank: E~A+ (theoretical)
Range: 1~50
Maximum number of targets: 1~300 people
Using her Hollow Element, Sakura is able to create humanoid familiars made of shadow. Unlike the Shadow Giants of the Heaven's Feel route, these familiars lack the influence of Angra Mainyu and are instead formed of a mysterious shadow that conveys hope rather than malice. Sakura learned to create them from Morgan le Fay's teachings, which are in turn based on observations of a World in which the Heaven's Feel route unfolded.
At their weakest, they are E-ranked familiars that are under a foot tall. Used for intelligence gathering rather than for combat, these employ minimal power and are easily maintained. Greater ranks, however, require more energy. While Sakura can theoretically reproduce the castle-sized A+-Ranked Shadow Giants of her counterpart, they require roughly 1000 units of prana each and may well be beyond her younger self's abilities. Her upper limits for both power and control are untested.