In a realm of nothing but shadows, with just a single point of light far above,the lone boy started to wake.
"Ugh…" Shaking his head, the first thing he noticed was the nothingness surrounding him. Despite that however, he did feel it supporting him like the ground would. The second, surprisingly, was the lack of pain. Eyes widening, Shirou Emiya quickly remembered why he was supposed to be feeling pain.
"Archer!? Gilgamesh!? The hell, where am I?" As he frantically looks around, he notices a portion of the shadows seem to mold itself, becoming more like black paint on a black canvas, before almost popping, showing the two females closest to him. Upon seeing that they are laying down and not moving, he sprints towards the duo.
"Rin! Saber! Are you okay!?"
"Ouc-huh?" Speaking in sync, the two begin picking themselves up. "Shirou? What the-wait." Rin slowly begins shaking her head, breaths picking up. "What's the last thing you remember?"
Stopping in front of them, the boy narrows his eyes in thought. 'Why does that matter?' "I was fighting Gilgamesh, when I ran out... of... prana…oh…" His eyes slowly widen as he continues to recall. "BUT, the grail activated, and tried to suck in the prick, so he tried to chain me up to haul himself out… and when I was about to fall in to stop him, Archer-"
"I decided to go ahead and shoot Golden Boy. But, he reacted quicker than even my mind's eye, and shot a sword at me, causing me to hit him through Shirou." A voice spoke out, heavy with cynicism. Shocked, the trio turned to the side, where the red Archer stood. "When you died, I'm assuming that the resulting paradox killed me. However, since Ayala is nowhere in sight and we obviously aren't being reincarnated, I'm not too sure WHERE we are, or why you two are here with us."
"Wait, you're still alive!?" the blue-clad Saber exclaimed, quickly positioning herself in front of the two still shocked mages.
"Ok, how the hell are you here- Oh right, Shirou Emiya. I ended up drawing both. Shit."
Responding to ANOTHER surprise voice, the quartet all looked around, eventually seeing a…gentleman in a tophat? Complete with a white tuxedo, a mask, and sitting in an almost throne-like chair, the man sat in a circle of other furniture with a similar theme. Although, with how white the suit was, it made the quartet wonder how the man went unnoticed… until with a wave of his hand, the shadows parts around them.
In order of note, he reveals a crying Illya being held by an apologetic Herakles, a murderous Medea, an observing Sasaki and Rider, and Cu Chulainn looking around. That is right before the quartet's attention is then focused on the previously mentioned murderous Medea, currently charging a VERY big magic circle.
"ARCHER!" Releasing the spell, Saber quickly moves to block it for the mages. Meanwhile, Archer traces his favoured blades to guard himself. A useless gesture as it splashes onto an invisible wall.
"Oh, there will be no trying to kill each other, it took far too much effort trying to bring all of you here." So says the man as he flicks his finger at Medea, a zephyr crushing the three other spells she had charged up and also dispelling all the built up magic in the area, shocking them all and bringing all attention onto himself.
"I have many names, but you may call me Checker Face." At this, the group looks closer, seeing that his face was indeed checkered underneath the mask. While they studied him, he waved his other hand at the chairs in an obvious invitation to sit, though no one yet took him up on it.
"Now then, we just are waiting on one more person, and then we can begin. I think that some of you might enjoy reuniting with some of them." Checker Face spoke looking at Illya, before pulling out a book.
Illya looked at Herakles, before looking at the biggest group, meeting Shirou's eyes specifically. Drying her eyes, she moves forward, with the… former?... Berserker walking behind. Former, as there is very obviously an intelligent shine to those death globes rather than the focused madness of before. Though, it should be noted that the man still wore a wrathful aura-like cloak around himself.
Shirou stepped forward as well, despite Saber and Rin holding his shoulders, and kneeling, held a shaking hand to the girl, who leaned her head hesitantly on it, becoming even more shell-shocked when he immediately wrapped her up in a tight hug.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry…" On and on, the boy cried, finally settling down when she grabbed onto the boy herself while the others watched on.
"Onii-chan…" Getting his emotions under control, the boy pulled back a bit to look at the albino girl.
"So, I guess we really are dead… for what it's worth, I am so sorry I couldn't save you…"
"No... you don't have to apologize Onii-chan. I'M sorry about trying to kill you before. I knew that Grandfather hated Papa, but I...trusted him when he said that he abandoned me to raise you…"
"Wait…" Blinking the tears away, Shirou looked at the little girl. "Raised me? The only one that did that for me was Kiritsugu…"
Seperating, now it's Illya that blinks. "Yes… did he never tell you? I'm the daughter of Kiritsugu Emiya and Irisviel von Einzbern…"
"But you're too young! And he never said anything about being married!" Standing up now, Shirou stared at Illya, looking for some resemblances. "Though, he did go on those trips to Europe pretty frequently when he first adopted me, before he got too sick… maybe he had you then…?"
Eyes now twitching mad, Illya pouted. "Hey, I'm 19! I'm just small!"
Now drooping in sadness, she continues. "So, he really never did tell you…"
Before she could continue wallowing in depression, in a move that shocked all, a massive hand laid down softly on her shoulder before the giant it belonged to spoke.
"Now, before you begin, notice that the boy; no, the man, stated that your father often went off without him. Perhaps he attempted to get to you? And if he failed, he might have thought to protect the child he did have." Nodding as Illya's mood began to pick up, he removed his hand and nodded at the red-head, whose jaw could currently be found on the floor with the rest of the groups and even the other servants, aside from Medea. "Also, I have to give thanks for avenging us against the Golden King. The fact that he was defeated by a modern human that he so despised makes it all the sweeter."
"Well, I think that's the most I've ever heard you speak, even when we were alive." A…sufficiently calmed Medea spoke, making her presence known, still glaring at the quartet.
"H-huh…" Collecting themselves, the group which had grown to include the other servants, because drama, turned to study the 'host' only for the movement of the shadows to distract them, as they began to deepen, heralding another arrival.
"Sakura!" Moving at her full speed, Rider was the first at her side as Sakura gasped. Startling awake as if she had a heart attack, she calmed as she noticed Rider and Shirou at her side.
"Senpai… Rider… what?" Leaning up, though not seperating from the two's hands, she looks at the gathering walking towards her before focusing on the two with her. "Senpai, what's going on? I died, didn't I? Why can I see both you and Rider?"
"That would likely be because of our host, although we haven't found out the 'why' as of yet." A rather stiff Rin spoke for Shirou, causing Sakura to likewise stiffen.
"Oh, Tohsaka-senpai, I'm sorry, I didn't notice that you are here as well..."
Guffawing, the host spoke. "Oh please, while the drama is much appreciated, I do not think this is the correct time, considering that the both of you are indeed dead." With the book now closed, Checker Face appeared to have shifted closer along with the rest of the 'seats' with an annoyed look on his face. "I know that your father didn't do right by either of you, but I do believe that death at the least would invalidate any sort of promise to the man."
Looking surprised at the girl, Rin ignores Saber, Shirou, and Rider now looking at her as they start connecting the dots, instead turning to the purple-ette, only to see her shyly turn her head to the side, though hidden deep, deep, down, Rin could see a hint of hope. Of longing. Before even Rin knew what she was doing, she found herself hugging Sakura with tears in her eyes. It was similar to the scene before with Illya and Shirou, although not as loud and with less flowing tears.
"I'm sorry… imouto…" Hearing these words, Sakura turns as stiff as granite, tears pooling in her eyes, before wrapping her arms around the brunette.
"It, it's ok.. Nee-chan…"
Tightening their holds, it's not long before the tears lessen. As they do, Checker Face pointedly directs the rest to sit, making a few of the chairs into sofas for both Shirou and Iliya and Rin and Sakura, to the raised eyebrows of most.
"Now that the waterworks and fluff are over, let's get down to the exposition. First thing you should know? I'm not only the one that brought you here, I'm the one that altered you humans' fate just enough to kill you in the first place."
"WHAT!?"
Making straps to hold down the righteously angry mages, along with their Servants, he unabashedly continues.
"Except for Illya. Sorry, but no matter what in this universe with Herakles dying before you, you had no true chance of surviving beyond a year. As for the rest? I'm sorry, but I do have a good reason for doing so. And, I did make sure that Gilgamesh, Kotomine, and Zouken were all killed when you were."
"AND? YOU KILLED US!" Rin yelled angrily…only to be shut up at the man's retort.
"And brought you closer together in doing so. Besides, if I could continue, it is only temporarily." Huffing, Checker Face segued on.
"Simply put, I want to reincarnate you into another world, one that is unfortunately one group too short to work properly." Creating a magic circle, a projection forms showing a scrawny middle school student with his light brown hair shaped somewhat similar to Kiritsugu's. "In this world, it is one child's fate to both save the world, and change it. However, in this particular world, this child ends up drowning in his underworld long before he can truly change it, ending up getting poisoned by a supposed ally. What I want to do is reincarnate Shirou as his relative in order to lessen the load; and the chances of failure."
It's then that Medea speaks up. "Well that's all fine for the boy, but why gather the rest of us?"
"That actually goes with this world's rules. Unlike in this world, Ayala and Gaia never split, and instead formed "The Will of Life". This Will sustains literally every life on the planet, and in order to protect it, the Will created a race of ageless beings to watch it. However, somehow most of this race died, leaving only one left, who decided to better protect it by splitting it into three sets of seven, called the Tri-ni-sette, or 7³, and given to what would eventually become the mafia."
The last bit grabbing their attention, it's Illya this time that asks. "The mafia? Why?"
"Well, the first thing to point out is that in this world, magic is far more… esoteric, and in its place, humans with a strong enough 'Dying Will' became able to manifest it as Flames. As those with the strongest wills have always shown, the ones to find this out first were the world shakers, and eventually turned to the underworld for a variety of reasons, inspiring others like them to follow, until they formed clans, which became 'Famiglia'. Of course, it did help that the mafia already had a system in place to help hide the more mystical side with Omerta; and so the normal mafia became a front for these people."
"The people that developed the Dying Will Flames chose to name the differing versions of it after weather phenomena. I need you servants here because in order to not derail Fate too much, I need a ready made set for Shirou to connect with."
Shirou then speaks up, having been in student mode. "And what does killing Rin and Sakura have to do with this? You said that a set was only seven, so why bring them and Illya? Or me for that matter, when you could have Archer?"
"Ano, you've been talking a lot about will, and… I don't have much… Grandfather broke me so many times…" Sakura commented, looking down and missing Rin and Shirou looking at her in worry.
"I brought Tohsaka, Matou, and Einzbern here for another mission of mine." Ceckerface smiled mysteriously, making some of them sweat nervously from the implications.
"As for Matou not having much of a will, don't make me laugh. I am aware of what you have gone through, and despite what you say, not once did you break, not even when your uncle died, and although you came close, Shirou kept you more than strong enough. And if that wasn't enough, this place is more than enough proof. This; is a possible Reality Marble Matou could have developed. I used what amounts to an incredibly powerful geass to trade her for it." Allowing a moment of suited awe, he moved on.
"Though, between that, thwarting Fate, capturing each servant copy before they disappeared, and using them to summon the true Heroic Spirit of each of you, fusing them with you in the process, on top of making a deal with both Merlin and Vivian to grab your body-" Cue pointing at Saber, or rather, Arturia. "-AND fusing all THREE pieces of you, I'm running out of power fairly fast. As for Archer, I wasn't actually planning on grabbing him, he just kinda followed you. He LONG lost what charisma you hold; and you two are just too different from each other to have a happy fusion. I see you becoming a lump of blood and swords if I even try." It's then that an old-style alarm clock began ringing. Shutting it off, Checker Face continued.
"Alas, it seems the time has come to send you off, although the journey likely won't be smooth, so be careful." Getting up, he lit his fingertips aflame with an indigo mist like flame. With it, he drew a Magic Circle, which flared before stabilizing.
"Wait, we still have questions-" Shirou and Rin spoke in stereo, only to be interrupted.
"No time, if you would." Appearing to teleport behind the two, he shoves Shirou first, the Circle flashing as he touches it and disappears, only for Rin to take his place a split-second later. Arturia tries to grab Rin while Archer tries to defend against the man, but each feels as if they are going through cement, and watches as she too vanishes.
"Ah, by the way." Checker Face begins. "While I did go through the trouble of bringing your full selves here, I need to seal most of your powers and Phantasms. They will be released to you after you gain a few ingredients and get some help, so I wouldn't worry."
Now grabbing Arturia, he pushes her towards the glowing shape, and the other humans and servants follow suit, with the exception of allowing Herakles and Illya walking into the shape, until only Archer and Medea are left.
"I want to negotiate." Medea stated silently, causing the gentleman to pause.
"Oh? And how will you accomplish that?" With a twitch of the fingers, Checker Face violently dismissed the frozen archer and turned his full attention to the witch.
"By bidding my cooperation. Despite your use of true magic, not once have I felt you attempt to use mind-craft, at least showing a distaste for it."
"Mmm. Fair. What do you want to negotiate in return for your helping Shirou?"
"I want my Kuzuki." Solemn and rigid in both posture and tune, it is indisputable that Medea wasn't going to take no for an answer, though with a sigh Checker Face heaved, it was equally palpable that was his answer.
"Unfortunately, I've already attempted to calculate bringing him along with you; and the result was that it is impossible to do so and expect him to survive. The world I'm sending you to isn't 'close' in terms of the multiverse, and so the route I'm sending you people on will skirt on the 'edges' of others. Souichirou has neither a strong enough will to survive, nor a strong enough sense of self to keep his soul from evaporating during his travels. So, I can't send him with you."
Frowning more and more as his excuses continue, Medea soon loses her temper in an attempt to intimidate the man. "Now listen here, we both know that there are more ways than one to skin a cat! Surely with-"
"I calculated that too. Still doesn't work. I am far older than even you, Girl. However, I am also quite reasonable, so I know that this is just your grief talking. Who knows, you might even find something to help you during your journey. Goodbye." Knocking Medea back, Checker Face quickly disables his Circle, and allows a full-blown smile to appear. "Now then Heroes, with my piece done, how will you affect this world without morals…"
"Saber, is it over?"
"Yes… say, Shirou? Can you speak my name?"
"...Arturia…"
Turning to the red head, she smiles, even as she disappears.
"Shirou… I love you."
Fragments. Memories? Maybe once, but as he stands in front of the pillar of Evil, Shirou has no more clues as to why he was doing this anymore. All he knew was that he needed to. And so, with the fragments that were left, any that made him feel anything positive, he began, but perhaps by a quirk of fate, it is with a flash of purple and a name, that he finishes. 'Sakura…'
"EX...CALI...BUR!"
Shirou and Taiga enter the boy's home, excited to tell Kiritsugu about the festival they went to the next town over.
"Kiritsugu?" "Dad?"
"We're home!" Taking off their shoes, Taiga decided to wait at the table for Shirou to get the man, which he does with gusto.
"Dad, where are you?" First checking his father's room and then the dojo, it is at the porch facing their shed that the boy found his father, eyes closed and a smile on his face, appearing to sleep. "Dad, you're going to catch a cold if you sleep out here! Come on in, me and Fuji-nee…"
Dropping off as he reaches the man with no reaction from the latter, Shirou pauses as he steps on a piece of paper. Looking at it, it only has one sentence on it. 'Shirou, live a good life.' Tilting his head, he decides to shake the man in order to wake him up… only for there to be no reaction…
'Man, am I glad I brought an umbrella tonight.' Walking down the path that leads to the stairs in front of the temple, Shirou meandered, enjoying the sounds of nature rejoicing the rainfall. Soon, he reaches the bottom of the steps, only to freeze when he sees somebody laying down at the beginning. Dropping his cover, he quickly runs to see if she (and it is certainly a woman, even if the shawl does somewhat cover her, Shirou notes) needs any help. Upon seeing her unresponsive and almost catatonic, the boy comes to a solution and gathers her up, leaving the umbrella without a thought, and jogs to his house, unknowing of the chaos about to happen…
There he was, chased into the shed as always, but by a blue clad Caster rather than the familiar Lancer, and there he again summons a beautiful Saber; however, while his was majestic, clad in ethereal armour, eyes like emeralds, and hair of spun gold; this one was… tyrannic, clad in black with the shadows themself serving as her amour, hair bleached and smoothed, and irises shining like yellow topaz. Despite this, the duo still became close indeed…
On and on he pushed, never resting, never quitting, always searching for people he could help. Despite the similarities, this red clothed man sought to defy his fate, ever searching for a path of peace. Perhaps for the irony, it is for this reason the man never used the black and white wings the OTHER used, not unless he had no choice. Rather, he instead chose to wield the same spear that nearly took his life, that fateful day. Just as red as his shroud, the thirst for blood was never ending, until he needed something more…
The man stood, broad back in front of his army, eyeing those that stood in his way. His army, rather than wielding guns and explosives, were instead only holding food and water, some not even fully clothed unlike the others that he faced. But, as always, he prevailed, as he always did, even if he was fighting alone. For he would never accept defeat, not until he could look her in the eyes and tell her that he completed her dream, for the both of them…
The teen stood there in the silence, simply whipping the blood off of the sword he held and went back into form, facing the goliath that even now was regrowing his head from the severed neck.
"I-i-impossible…" The white girl spoke, suddenly looking quite fearful.
"No way…" the red teen and blue knight also stood shocked, not quite believing their eyes.
"You may try to kill me, Illyasviel von Einzbern, but even still, I refuse to die, not so long as my edge is needed to cleave the wicked."
"I don't care! You might be the King of Heroes, and I may just be a Faker, but so long as my body has a will, you will NEVER so much as touch a hair on either of their heads!"
"Oh? The mongrel dares bare his teeth at his owner? He dares to speak as if an equal? Come then, allow me to break your hopes and dreams before I make you watch as I break them!"
With a roar, Shirou rushed at the man spamming blades, as he recited the prayer, no, the Oath he knew by heart.
"I am… the bone of my sword…"
"Steel is my body, Fire is my blood."
He spoke calmly, as if he didn't have three different Black Keys impaled in him, with holes from many more. The priest merely raised an eyebrow with a smile on his face, watching the kneeling boy as he stood between him and Arturia with her wrapped in the Noble Phantasm Chain Enkidu, still wrecked from her battle with the golden tyrant.
"With this Forge of a Heart…"
"I have stood, creating Countless Swords…"
The line spoke true, blades hanging like stars against the twilight sky, above the werewolf-like Dead Apostle with Shirou, rather Shiro, watching on the highest blade as the recognition of loss settles on the Apostle's body…
"To walk Countless Wars…"
He growled, unminding of the people attracted by the sounds and flames, the phones and cameras going off; only having eyes for the bastar- no… the beasts, in charge of the latest, and largest, sex slave factory, literally breeding them in order to have better products to sell. 'For you, Sakura… I hope these scum find themselves in the same hole in hell as Zouken!'
"Protecting those behind me…
I March forever onwards…"
Standing beside the Saber that looked so much like Archer, despite being German, as he hoisted the great dragon slaying sword. Through it all, he was glad he found someone that had as hard of a time understanding how to be a hero as he did; but facing the embodiment of Sin, he knew that would be the end… maybe, if he had used Avalon as a regent, rather than purposefully leaving it in the house…
"Defeat in one hand, Victory in the other…"
And so it is, that I Declare…
Unlimited Blade Works