Day 1-Shirou
The Holy Grail War
Before me stands a beautiful girl, with blonde hair, clad in gleaming armor and holding a sword like nothing I've seen before. She seems European, somewhere between fifteen to twenty years old. The moonlight streaks through the window, forming a halo around her figure. She faces me.
"I ask of you, are you worthy to be my master?"
The girl pauses, and a smile cracks her serious facade. " That sounded so cooool, I bet that's exactly what auntie – I mean, my esteemed King Arthur would say." She quickly loses her composure and seems to almost bounce in place.
"Who exactly are you?" I find myself asking it before I've fully thought about the question. She's the spirit of a historical hero, summoned to take part in a battle for the Holy Grail. Kiritsugu's journal explained that much, though he seemed certain it would be King Arthur himself, or rather herself. I knew Kiritsugu was a mage, and he taught me some magic before he passed, but to think something like this was possible…
"I am Sir Gareth, seventh seat of the Round Table, sister to Sirs Gawain, Gaheris, Agravain, and Mordred. I am your — Saber class servant? That can't be right." She looks confused suddenly. "Master, how the hell did you summon me?"
I stammer out an explanation about Kiritsugu's journal and the piece of wood he left, still trying to process what exactly she's talking about. I hand her the page I read off of, wondering if that could help.
"This last bit about 'ideal knight of dreams', that's something he made up himself. Weird that you can apparently just change the incantation and get a servant that never existed in this timeline." She makes a face, and then pauses, looking like she's trying to remember something. "Huh, that's rough. It's a good thing we're properly connected, otherwise I'd be screwed. Master, what generation of magus are you?"
I stare at her, trying to process everything she just said. Never existed? And what could she mean about generations? "I'll be honest, I don't really remember my parents, so I can't answer that. I was taken in by Kiritsugu ten years ago." I was trying to sound professional, but my voice came out sounding somber, almost sad.
"I see. Best to assume first generation, then. I'll be honest, Master, your mana output is pitiful. With a more standard servant, they might be able to activate their noble phantasm twice without killing you. Fortunately, my noble phantasm has no true name release. I'll have a slightly higher drain on you on average, but I won't require large bursts of mana. I take it you understand this?"
I nod quickly, not really fully getting it but hoping she'll finish her magecraft lecture soon. "Uh, yeah, I think that makes sense. So um, you said you were Sir Gareth of the Round Table?" I hope this will derail her monologue.
"I am! Sir Gareth the Raging Wolf! And you, Master? Please, tell me your name and your wish."
My wish. To be honest, I hadn't really thought that far ahead. I found Kiritsugu's journal this morning, only learned of the Grail War a few hours ago. Kiritsugu said that a war like this would get people hurt, and he was preparing in case another happened. He said there was something evil about the Grail… "You can call me Shirou, and my only wish in this Grail War is to keep others safe. My goal is to become a hero of justice, and I think a hero would see winning this Grail War and protecting others as something they must do."
She smiles as I say this, speaking as soon as I've finished. "Shirou, I think we're going to get along swimmingly! With an attitude like that, you wouldn't have felt out of place at the Round Table! Perhaps I should take you on as my squire." She chuckles at that last bit, and I feel myself blushing at her praise. I open my mouth to speak, when suddenly she tenses, holding her sword ready.
"Shirou, get behind me. There's another servant approaching." She moves quickly, and I have to run to keep up with her. I hear voices in the distance.
"Archer, what the hell do you mean an enemy servant? This is Emiya's house." Is that Tohsaka?
"Master, please, stay back and allow me to handle this." A slightly gruff, weary voice. As we finally enter line of sight, he pauses, and speaks again. "Who the hell? Saber?" His voice sounds shocked, but he quickly regains his composure, preparing to launch an attack. I can feel just how dangerous this man is.
"Tohsaka, wait. I wanna ask for an alliance. I'm only in this Grail War to keep people safe, so if it's someone I know like you, I'd much rather work with them than against." I just blurt out what I'm thinking. Honestly, I'm as shocked as Tohsaka looks. Please, Tohsaka, please just work with me.
"Emiya what the hell are you thinking? An alliance? You realize the Grail War started today."
"Please, Tohsaka. We can battle it out between ourselves when I know that everything is finally fine." She growls at my words, thinking it over.
"Alright, Emiya, but I have two conditions. First, tell me everything you know about your servant. Second, let me use your home as a second base." They aren't really expected conditions, but they're acceptable. I motion her inside, though Archer clearly feels sour about it.
Tohsaka sits and listens as I explain what I can about Kiritsugu and Gareth, while Archer stands nearby, looking tense. He mutters to himself a few times as I speak. What the hell is that guy's problem? I grit my teeth.
"So there was another magus here in Fuyuki… And if I'd known I could just change the incantation I wouldn't be in this situation. Damnit." She clearly understood all that gibberish better than me. She looks at me. "Emiya, what do you plan to do?"
I pause for a somber moment. What do I plan to do? Win the Grail War? Defeat everyone?
"I plan to defeat all the servants, and protect the masters and bystanders. That is the only way to see this battle through." She seems about to laugh, but she nods.
"Alright then, we should scour the city. Masters aren't likely to stay out in the suburbs. I'll take the west, you go east." I nod.
We head out quickly. Gareth has changed into a more casual outfit, with her second noble phantasm. She wears a black hoodie, with simple blue jeans and grey sneakers. Compared to the white dress and silver armor she first appeared in, this look is plain, but Gareth is still beautiful. We walk together, and I try my best not to stare. I can't stop myself from talking, though.
"Saber, what was King Arthur like?" I can only wonder about the knight who fought alongside Kiritsugu. He spoke fondly of her, but also felt unworthy…
"Ha, my King was the most flawless person I've ever met. Every one of us knights deeply aspired to be just like them. Sir Lancelot, Sir Bedivere, myself. We all dreamed to be knights as perfect as King Arthur." Her voice softens, clearly remembering something important to her. She talks about King Arthur how I talk about Kiritsugu. We keep walking, and I let her enjoy those memories.
I didn't tell Tohsaka at the time, but my plan in patrolling the city wasn't just to find other servants. With a knight of the Round Table at my side, I can stop any sort of wrongdoing. Maybe I can't truly be a hero myself, but I can borrow Sir Gareth's strength at least. If I, if she, can protect even one person in need, this night will be worth it.
I quickly set us off in a grid pattern, combing the eastern half of the city starting from the bridge. For two, maybe three hours we walk. Down every street, looking down every alley, investigating every noise. Tohsaka is probably on a rooftop somewhere, just staring down, but I don't have the patience for that. I have to do it like this.
As we come to what feels like our hundredth alleyway, we finally find something. Two dark figures, no, three, stand in the shadows. Gareth and I approach slowly, trying not to get noticed. A familiar voice calls out to me.
"Emiya! Nice of you to join us, I'll get to you after assassin finishes snacking on this trash. Oh, you brought a friend, too!" Shinji's voice sounds even more cocky and arrogant than usual, he's clearly quite proud of his servant. I take a moment to process everything, looking at the ominous woman in black. When I realize who she's holding, my stomach turns. Mitsuzuri!
Before I can speak, Gareth moves, quick as lightning. Her armor appears in a flash of light, her crimson greatsword appearing in her hands. She leaps so far she seems to fly, sailing into attack range of assassin before I realize what's happening. I watch Mitsuzuri fall as she's dropped, blood pooling near her neck. Crap, she's injured.
"Saber, get them away from Mitsuzuri!" I shout, already running after them. Daggers flash against Gareth's sword, assassin's arms a blur. Shinji seems to have retreated somewhere safe. I finally get close enough, and I can immediately tell that Mitsuzuri's wound is serious. I start applying pressure to the wound, checking her breathing and pulse. I don't think we have very long.
"Gareth, she's gonna die!" I shout desperately, and I can see Gareth pushing even harder, her blows knocking the black-clad woman back farther and farther. I watch as the sword arcs through the air, just grazing her hair as she ducks, and then — SMACK! Gareth's knee connects with assassin's ribcage, sending her flying through a wall. That's one way to end a fight I guess.
I pick Mitsuzuri up awkwardly, having to carry her and keep pressure on the wound. We need to find Tohsaka. Gareth and I run silently, hoping that as soon as we reach the western half of the city one of them will notice. I can feel my hand soaked in warm blood. Please. Please don't make me watch someone else die. I can't stop myself from remembering that fire. Bodies everywhere. I can't handle another one. Tears stream down my face.
"Shirou, wait here. We're close enough, I'll find them." Gareth motions to a bench. I set Mitsuzuri down on it, focusing everything on keeping her alive. Please, Ayako, please make it through this. I remember our days in the archery club together, learning from her. Eating lunch with her and Sakura and Shinji. I'm crying more.
After an eternity passes, I feel a hand on my shoulder, and Tohsaka's voice a mile away. I move away from Mitsuzuri, letting Tohsaka work, and I can feel Gareth close to me. I can't watch, so I just turn away and put my head in my hands. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I should have been faster. I'm sorry.
Red flashes from behind me, and Tohsaka speaks again. "She's stable, Emiya, but we need to get her somewhere she can rest. Your house is closest." I nod numbly. She's alive.
