Author Note
Hello there and welcome to another chapter of Fate: Sword and Arrow.
I won't answer the reviews this time, as most of the questions will be answered right now, so please enjoy it.
Fate: Sword and Arrow
Part II – Fate Aprocrypha
Chapter 19 – Final Battle Part II
As soon as the trio walked inside the platform's halls, they ran towards the next possible location where a Servant would lie in waiting for them. Soon they walked towards a gigantic door with golden design. The hallway was enormous, and its decoration presented little to the imagination. Pillars of golden shapes and figures. Lancelot could smell a distinct odor behind the big door and thus knew just who lied in there waiting for them. Before the door opened, however, the knight stopped and looked at his king and his master.
"Shirou, please leave this fight to me." Lancelot had looked at Semiramis once and remembered another treacherous witch whose actions ruined their prosperous kingdom.
"Why Lancelot, I thought I told you that we do our fights together…"
"Yes, and it's been a gallant honor thus far, master. Semiramis is behind that door and I have a feeling that she will not keep this fight honorable."
Shirou frowned and pondered.
"My king, the gods have blessed you with a new chance in life with Shirou. Please allow me to fulfil my role as your servant and knight to take care of this enemy."
Arturia was also looking at Lancelot, wondering why now of all times. However, she knew her friend would not address her as such if he was not serious about this manner. Assassin type servants were already a painful opponent to face as she remembered the one from the fourth war. Hassan would be able to sneak anywhere and could deal with the master before the servant paid any attention. And she could feel that Semiramis was even more dangerous as she had the capabilities of a caster servant as well. Turning to her beloved, she knew that Shirou was against the idea. He was never in favor of simply standing still and let the servant do the fighting.
He was still stubborn like that.
"Shirou...I believe we should adhere to his request."
"Turia…" Shirou could see her nod and sighed in dismay.
"Okay, Sir Lancelot, please deal with Semiramis, and…" Focusing mana throughout the wrist where the command seals were, he used one of his three unused ones. "use your noble phantasm at will. Do not worry about overusing my mana as I have plenty to spare…" Lancelot could feel the extra power that his master provided and nodded in resolution. "Whatever you need of me, do not hesitate to call for help, understand?" The knight took a step forward and offered a hand salute to his master, to which Shirou gladly reciprocated. Arturia placed her hand on top of theirs and smiled at her friend.
"Sir Lancelot, you don't have my permission to die, I want you by our side towards the finish line." The knight smirked and nodded before facing the gigantic door in resolution. Shirou and Arturia had already turned and ran away, hoping to reach the place where the Greater Grail was located. Certainly, Amakusa Shirou will be there.
===Lancelot x Semiramis===
As soon as Lancelot passed through the doors, he saw inside what appeared to be a round throne room.
In the middle of the room, Semiramis stood sitting on her throne with a smile on her face.
"Oh, I was hoping to meet your masters and kill them as well, but you ended up ruining my fun…Sir Lancelot, the knight of the lake."
"Huh, so you knew of me, Assassin…"
"Quite a legend indeed, for one whose treacherous actions ended up destroying King Arthur's kingdom. From your fame, I was expecting you to be summoned as a Berserker. Though it matters not in the end. You came here and thus I shall help my master in ridding you of this world. With you gone, then your master shall be defenseless…" Lancelot unleashed Arondight from his sheath and held upside down as he pondered on the woman's rather empty threat. It was funny that really no one knew that King Arthur herself was still amongst the living and there right by his master's side. Not to mention that Emiya Shirou's skills in projecting noble phantasms would make any servant wary of him in a heartbeat.
"You know, you say my actions were what destroyed King Arthur's kingdom, but in truth, there was someone else who always acted from the shadows. Someone to whom everyone despised. You truly remind me of her. I guess this is the reason why I convinced my master to face you alone. In a way, killing you here would be the equivalent of killing her. You two are quite similar in that aspect."
Truly, Lancelot held some of the blame from bedding Guinevere, but Morgan Le Fey was the one behind many atrocious actions that ended up killing his king.
Semiramis appeared amused by it, truly.
Being a witch herself, she certainly knew others who held the same level of skill from the past. Thus, she certainly knew who he was talking about.
"Oh, you truly flatter me. Though her actions were rather short-sighted at the time, I must say. Who would have wanted to sit on a throne of common men anyway? Now, I guess I already entertained my guest long enough."
Semiramis lifted her hand and then Sir Lancelot saw as from around the room, a heavy black smoke erupted from the pipes close to the wall. Soon, the room was enveloped by the heavy toxin that certainly would melt the enemy's organs. However, she frowned once she saw that the knight was standing there as if nothing happened to him. Lancelot opened his eyes and looked around the heavy cloud toxin. He could feel his insides burning, but healing at the same time. Even without being there, his master was still there with him. Truly, his king has a fine eye for a partner.
'Thank you, Master.'
"What is the meaning of this? How are you fighting my toxin?" Lancelot could feel the frustration in her voice.
"My master is a doctor, Assassin and above all else, an expert in healing mage craft. Sorry to disappoint, but this toxin will not help you." Semiramis tsked as Lancelot used his agility to shorten the distance. She thus turned to use mage craft as well, opening blue summoning circles to throw light beams at Lancelot, who dodged them. Semiramis then summoned a great load of chains, forcing Lancelot to evade them as well and use his sword to slice the chains clean. He was on the defensive, though, as she had used the chains to keep him at bay. One chain, however, managed to entrap him, earning a smile from Semiramis as Lancelot was dragged throughout the throne room, smashing his body at the walls, until he managed to slice the chains that held him in place. He skidded towards the ground as he once more faced those chains. Focusing energy through his sword, he performed a horizontal arc towards Semiramis, smashing the chains into pieces.
His attack was still powerful enough to charge towards Semiramis who lifted a water shield in front of her to stop his attack.
"Interesting skills, Sir Lancelot. Your legend as one of the knights do give you justice."
He was about to shorten the distance once more when she sent a wave of water towards him, keeping him close to the gate. He managed to stand on top of the water as he saw what appeared to be a gigantic snake with four eyes charging straight at him. Quickly using mana burst, Lancelot slashed the snake in multiple pieces, though he coughed hard as the snake was turned into a black substance that lingered on his body. He could feel Shirou's energy healing him as he had to be more careful with these creatures. He could feel that the air became even more obscured and looked up to see Semiramis smirking at him. His body began to twitch uncomfortably as the poison in the air tripled.
"It's time to see if you could handle this…my noble phantasm Sikera Usum. It turns myself and the space around me into poison. Everything that exists here to each drop of water, is all poison".
'Master, I will be needing more of your mana in order to heal me.'
'Understood, Lancelot…'
He could feel the energy of Avalon (even if unaware of its true source) and got up to face the enemy. For this, he would have to use everything as he saw Semiramis summon a gigantic dragon like creature whose body was mostly made of a deadly toxin. Each drop of that would melt his armor instantly. Closing his eyes and ushering for his master's mana, Lancelot focused all of his energy into his sword Arondight. The bright blue light engulfed his sword as well as his armor as he prepared it. Semiramis cursed it as her own noble phantasm was proving ineffective against this Saber. Little did she know, though, that her attack was facing the almighty protective energy of Avalon.
As soon as the sword absorbed all the energy, Lancelot opened his eyes and saw the monster about to close on his position.
Positioning his sword upward, Lancelot screamed, charging his own noble phantasm.
Arondight Overhead
What followed was a bright arc of blue energy that engulfed the entire room, as his attack all but destroyed the swamp monster. Lancelot then focused his mana burst and surged towards the no-unprotected assassin. He surged on top of her as he looked at her widened eyes at the sight of her doom. His sword was still glowing blue as he needed to finish this once and for all. Instantly, the image of Semiramis was replaced with the last image he remembered of Morgan Le Fey as he swung his sword.
"Fair well, witch!"
Arondight slammed on Semiramis, causing a huge slash from her shoulder to her stomach, before her blood started gashing outside her body. She screamed in pain as Lancelot's sword energy filled her inside, threatening to explode her organs. Because of this, the toxin inside the room had disappeared as well as Lancelot landed in front of the throne. Looking around, Lancelot relaxed upon not feeling the toxin around anymore. Though he heard shifting rubble from within the destroyed throne as he saw Semiramis crawling underneath it. Her body was in tatters, blooded and with the gash caused by Lancelot. He approached the downed servant and he could see that she lacked the mana to even move a finger.
Positioning his sword for the final strike, Lancelot did not wait for her to say anything and killed the assassin.
The knight only allowed himself to relax once he saw her body turned into blue energy and vanishing for good.
===The Greater Grail Hall===
Soon, Jeanne had reached the hall where the Greater Grail was in all its glory.
As she inspected the holy rock, she saw Amakusa Shirou now looking completely different. His hair was more straight and whiter. His wardrobe now resembled one of a samurai as he stood beside the Grail with his arms closed. She readied herself for battle, though she frowned at his lack of movement towards her. Or rather, she found it odd that he did not find her enough of a threat to face. Her answer appeared as another servant walked towards her. Dressed in all his English styled beige overcoat, black trousers and brown boots, was the last summoned servant to this war, Caster of Red, widely known for his fame as a writer and creator of many of the world's historical culture.
"Caster Shakespeare".
"Oh, indeed, my name is William Shakespeare., I am merely a top-tier author." He even bowed in greeting to the Saint.
"I suggest you surrender; you can't win against me."
"Oh no, on the contrary, this is where the fun begins." She frowned once Shakespeare held a book on his hand and opened it. "Now, the curtain rises…sit in the seats, no smoking and no photographs allowed! All the world's stage, the curtain shall rise now!". Jeanne was ready for whatever attack came her way, until she looked on in shock as her body was sent to a scene she knew all too well. The city that Jeanne D'Arc grew up in. Even her outfit changed back to a simple blue dress her mother had made for her. She could see said mother behind her, kneeling at her in a tantrum for Jeanne's actions throughout the war. Then the curtains closed and opened once more, now to show the war Jeanne D'Arc was most famous for. Now, her outfit returned to the one used by Servant Ruler as she saw the soldiers killing one another.
All through it, Caster whispered in her ears, showing the tale of one Jeanne D'Arc.
"Thou art covered in blood, Oh Holy Maiden?" She snorted at the ridiculous ploy.
"It's useless, no matter what I'm shown. As those that have accompanied me soiled their hands, so too, have my hands been soiled. I have never feared that fact."
A new scene now shifted as Jeanne was dragged throughout the public as she was about to be burned.
"Such poor taste, Caster…" The one who was dragging her turned out to be Caster himself as he smirked at her.
"No, this time, this is quite different from what you remembered." Now, Jeanne looked in question and then in shock and anger as she saw another person shackled on top of the platform. Sieg was there looking down, apparently accepting his fate. When his eyes met hers, she trembled, forgetting to be under the influence of an illusion of Caster's doing. She ran screaming for Caster to stop this at once, but no one heard it. She kneeled on the ground in fright as the torches began to burn Sieg's body. She could not take this anymore.
"Please, burn me instead, not him." The one she was talking to was someone in priest outfit, though it was Caster's face.
"Oh, but it was because of your actions O Maiden…unfortunately, the basis for my noble phantasm is your own memory." By now, Jeanne looked frightened at the consequences of her actions. "In other words, the one who believes to have killed him is not I, but you Oh Dear Maiden!". She looked distraught at the possibility, still in denial at the prospect of thinking like she killed him. Though, she had left him alone against a powerful servant and thus could not know if Sieg was alive or not. Should she have stayed behind and helped him?
"Well, now, it's time for the final act…"
Shakespeare snapped his fingers and then Jeanne was now inside the confines of a castle as she saw the wooden puppets that Shakespeare used.
"Would you understand if I said this is a substitute Chateau Tiffauges?" She turned and saw Shakespeare looking around the premises.
"The castle of Lord Gilles de Rais? Are you now going to kill children in front of my eyes?" Shakespeare looked at him for a while and then busted out laughing.
"No, no…there is an actor better suited for that…" Soon, steps were heard from the shadows, before someone appeared right from Jeanne's memory. A knight fully dressed in silvery armor with jet black hair. Jeanne looked baffled.
"You, it can't be!"
===With Shirou and Arturia===
As soon as they arrived in the hall where the greater grail was located, Shirou and Arturia had heard Jeanne's screaming and hid behind the pillars. They could see Amakusa Shirou with his arms crossed while looking at the kneeling Jeanne D'Arc holding her head with a look of despair. Next to her, was another servant from the looks of it who was holding a book in his hand. Shirou and Arturia could feel the mana coming from the book. Seeing as there were yet to meet the Caster from the Red Faction, they made the conclusion. Shirou had already devised a plan of action.
Looking at Arturia, she nodded at him, before moving.
===With Jeanne D'Arc===
Gilles de Rais appeared in all his glory to the Maiden of Orleans. He was holding something wrapped into a cloth of sorts.
"Oh, it isn't Jeanne? What a coincidence…what brings you to a place like this? Jeanne closed her eyes and then turned to Shakespeare.
"Enough of this, no matter what you show me, in the end it's all fabrication. You must be near your limit, binding me with your noble phantasm." Shakespeare only smirked at thy claim.
"Indeed, I am…though you're mistaken…Gilles is no fabrication, but a servant…" Jeanne looked astounded as the knight in question nodded in a bow. "Well, he is a servant only superficially, but this is unmistakably, the real one."
"Is that really you Gilles?" The man in question showed at first a disarming smile as he then unfounded the cloak he was holding.
"Anyways, please take a look, Jeanne…" When he finished it, Jeanne was caught by surprise at the head of Sieg. "This is supreme material I could never find during my lifetime." Jeanne flinched and turned her head immediately, begging for this man not to show Sieg in such a state, well, considering that he was the real man she knew him as. "That is absurd, Jeanne. Upon receiving an invitation from the Lord, you must treat all human life equally. Yet, why do you attempt to treat him differently?" To her shocked and in denial response, Gilles stepped forward, now with a twisted expression. "Indeed, that exception is called love. The powerful emotion you feel towards this boy!"
"That's not true, I have no right to love an individual and I have no intent of doing so! That…that could be…" By now, she was holding her chest, trying not to believe in the words she was hearing.
"Well, just as you say! It is how Holy Maiden Jeanne should be! Such feelings should not exist within you. You are a lover of humanity, to love any one person is impossible! I mean, think about it. You drove him into the jaws of death, were you not convinced he was certain to die? " Jeanne was by now hysterical as she tried resisting the cold truth…"He had no freedom at all, he had no options at all! You needed his power, so you brought him here! So, If you love him, why didn't you stop him, huh?" Gilles thrown Sieg's head towards her as she screamed frantically at the consequences of her actions towards Sieg. She placed him in danger, and she was the one who killed him in the end. Shakespeare could practically dance at the tragedy in front of him. He was now certain that the Ruler servant would fall into despair at his hands and would no doubt not be able to stop Amakusa Shirou from finishing her off.
Snaping his fingers once more, he finished his noble phantasm, confident that his work was done.
However, Caster flinched upon feeling a dagger as Arturia materialized herself seconds before thrusting her noble phantasm Carwennan at the unsuspecting Caster.
Amakusa Shirou was about to release his blade and put an end to Ruler, when he turned and saw Shakespeare turning his head to look at the one who assaulted him.
Shakespeare could only see golden eyes looking at him, before Arturia finished him through another swing at her dagger. Shakespeare was gone from this world as a servant before Amakusa Shirou advanced at Arturia with his blade. The first ruler servant halted his advance when he saw a rain of arrows coming down at him. Arturia quickly retreated to Jeanne's position as Shirou lifted her up. She was still holding her hands mumbling the words 'it's my fault… 'he is dead'…'Sieg is dead because of me'. The energy of Caster's noble phantasm dissipated and Shirou had placed his hand on her forehead, forcing some of his mana inside to rid the rest of Caster's curse. When Jeanne opened her eyes, she was surprised to see herself being held by Emiya Shirou's arms protectively.
"S…Shirou…"
"You don't need to worry about Sieg…he is fine now." She blinked at the healing mage as he helped her get up.
"When I arrived, he had just defeated Karna and was about to die, but I managed to heal him."
"Thank goodness…but Caster was right…if it weren't for you, he would have died and it's all because of me."
"Well, I like to think that he had made his own choice to follow you…now, please rest and we will deal with Amakusa Shirou…" By this time, Sir Lancelot materialized next to Shirou and the magus could see in elation that he was not hurt.
"Master of Saber…so you are all that remains in my path to the salvation of humanity." Shirou turned to see the man he first met in that church at the beginning of the war. Despite now facing three enemies at the same time, he was not showing any signs of concern as Lancelot appeared in front of Shirou protectively. "Do you not know of my wish to the Grail? I wish for the salvation of humanity by using the Greater Grail`s third magic Heaven`s Feel. With it, humanity will better understand one another…" Emiya Shirou was quiet as he listened to the only remaining servant across the room. "Once I get my wish, humanity will be freed from their physical bodies. Instincts will dissipate, greed will wane, and humans will become sentient spirits. They will not lose love and affection, but merely become immortal. If you do not call this salvation, then what is it? Humanity will eventually attain this state at one point or another. I will be merely speeding up the process."
Shirou stood still as he processed the priest turned samurai's words.
"Truly, now, I have no will to fight you. Though if you stand in my way, I shall do what I must…" Emiya Shirou opened his eyes and looked at the enemy.
"You know…there was a time in my life when I would have believed in your words, Amakusa Shirou. When I was growing up, I held up to my father's ideals of becoming a hero of justice." Arturia and Jeanne now looked at Shirou as he was talking but mostly to himself. "It was my wish to stop people from suffering." Amakusa Shirou nodded as he could relate. "However, I was confronted by destiny one day and it showed me that one person alone had limits…it showed me how it was impossible to save everyone." Arturia remembered her beloved's fight against Archer. "And indeed, humanity is filled with enough negative emotions…I know I have been through hell to understand this. My life was turned upside down when the Holy Grail in the Fourth Grail War burned the entire city I lived…it killed my family as well as many others. I would imagine that you had suffered just as much if not more than I did. However, you are right in one thing, humanity will eventually reach a state of deep understanding with one another."
Amakusa Shirou frowned. The others were looking at Shirou with a smile as he finished his train of thought.
"Your wish, despite full of nobility, is wrong…is merely a façade. Yes, at first, people would stop committing atrocious acts to one another, but what then…they would lose their drive to improve, they would lose the meaning of living, they would stop seeking for enlightenment. A noble aspect of humanity is their desire to overcome obstacles. To face their mistakes and improve upon their lives." Shirou stopped as he remembered the fire. "It would be wrong to erase all the sorrow, the tears, the memories, the cruelty of the reality. All the deaths and hardships that people endured and overcame throughout the years. They would embrace their pain and move on. Without overcoming hardships, the human race can't evolve! No matter how much it hurts, even if you carry enough injuries that will never truly heal, humanity must endure…it is the only way one can truly evolve."
Jeanne D'Arc now looked at Emiya Shirou in a completely new light as she took solace in his words. Arturia by this time should not be surprised at being surprised by this man. The man she had chosen as her master…her partner…her lover…her husband. Even Sir Lancelot became moved by his master's words. One could only speak about such things after a great deal of suffering and Lancelot could see in his master's eyes that he had suffered just like everyone else. Amakusa Shirou, though, could not abide by his words.
"Huh, I care not…if humanity will be saved…then that's small price to pay! I assure you, this is salvation, no matter what you or anyone says and you shall not stop me Emiya Shirou."
No sooner had Amakusa Shirou release his katana from its sheath, Jeanne D'Arc took a step forward and placed a hand on Emiya Shirou's shoulder.
"Allow me to take care of this, Emiya Shirou…Amakusa Shirou is no servant in this war…it is thus my responsibility as Ruler to finish this and claim you as victor of this Holy Grail War. Can I entrust you with my flag?" Shirou looked at the ruler servant and nodded as Jeanne gave him the flag. She then focused energy on her hand until her holy sword materialized. Taking it off from its sheath, Jeanne kneeled on the ground in a deep praying as she sliced her open palm to offer her blood to the blade. It then absorbed it and glowed in a bright yellow light. When she finished the praying, Jeanne was then engulfed in a bright yellow beam of light that reached the hall's ceiling. For a moment, there, Jeanne was alone with Emiya Shirou next to her. She turned to him with a beaming smile.
"I truly thank you Emiya Shirou for the bottom of my heart for your actions. Both in saving my beloved Sieg from death and from being this wonderful man. Arturia is truly blessed to have you by her side."
Shirou smiled at the maiden and nodded in appreciation at her words.
Jeanne was then transformed into a golden warrior as she looked at Amakusa Shirou who held his blade with a snarl on his face. Amakusa Shirou advanced on her, but Jeanne D'Arc simply looked at the man and extended her sword, as it glowed in a deep red fire, revealing her strongest noble phantasm La Puecelle. She sent a torrent of fire towards Amakusa Shirou who managed to evade it by absorbing it, however he was ill equipped to stop the holy sword from slicing him open as the holy maiden carved a big slash on his chest. Amakusa Shirou was sent flying towards the next pillar as he looked upwards at the ruler servant who had defeated him. He could feel his energy living him as he pondered on where exactly he went wrong…sixty years of planning…the Grail should have by his grasp by now. He looked at Jeanne and then he looked at Emiya Shirou, pondering at his words.
'Humanity must endure hardships and overcome them…it's the only way to truly evolve.'
"Perhaps, you were right, Emiya Shirou. Though, this path is one of many hardships and without a clear horizon to reach. I have done everything I could and still lost in the end." The image of Semiramis appeared in his mind and he smiled at having her partnership at least. If one could grasp one good thing from this was that she believed in his dream. She believed in him so much that she died trying to help him achieve it. And right now, he could die in peace, knowing that he tried his best.
Everyone watched as the greater grail now shone with enough energy that the winner would be granted his wish.
Ruler, now reverted back to her usual outfit, used her ability to manifest a latter for Shirou to climb towards the Grail.
Shirou was about to climb but stopped before offering his hand to Arturia to follow him. They looked at each other's eyes and their promise to stop the Grail made a long time ago appeared. Together, they were able to once more stop others from using it. They were surprised to see Lancelot appearing by their side with a deep smile on his face.
"Shirou, my king, I believe this is time for us to part ways." To their confused looks, he elaborated. "Once you step foot inside the Grail and make your wish, I will no longer be here. I want to say it's been a true honor to fight alongside you two. Shirou, your words showed me the way…I will no longer morn for my actions. They were in the past and it's now time for me to move on. Perhaps, meet Guinevere and finally rest in peace." Shirou and Arturia smiled at the man's words. Arturia hugged her dear friend.
"Please give my regards to Guinevere my friend…and thank you for everything."
"My king…it's been a special honor to fight by your side…" Lancelot then turned to Shirou. "I trust that you will ever by her side, no matter what. For she could not ask for a more perfect knight to protect her, Sir Shirou!"
Emiya Shirou fought the urge to scratch his head as the man paid reverence to him, though he had understood the force in his words. Shirou had bowed in respect to Sir Lancelot and then they exchanged hand salutes as one would expect from fellow knights who came out of battle together. Then Shirou and Arturia walked towards where Ruler was waiting as the holy maiden smiled at the couple.
"Like Saber, I also shall leave this place once you make your wish. Could you please escort Laeticia away from here, afterward?"
Arturia walked close to Jeanne and gave her a hug, surprising her for a moment.
"it's truly was a blessing meeting you Jeanne D'Arc."
Shirou smiled as he remembered the times when he would see the two shopping together like sisters. Jeanne D'Arc soon returned the hug.
For some reason, she could feel that Arturia was more than she let on, though she could not tell.
"The honor was all mine, Emiya Arturia."
Afterward, Shirou and Arturia walked upwards hand in hand until they reached the Greater Grail.
Both were confident that whatever lied inside waiting for them, they would emerge victorious.
===Inside the Grail===
As they entered the Grail, the couple was surprised to find themselves back in Fuyuki, or at least a different scenery than Arturia had known. However, Emiya Shirou knew exactly what was happening right now. They were back for the event after the Fourth Grail War as they saw fire everywhere. Bodies around them burning to the death as everyone screamed for Shirou and Arturia to help them. Shirou looked troubled at the scene, but then Arturia squeezed his hand in confidence. He turned to her and smiled as they walked towards their destination. After a couple of steps, they were now at the Battle of Camlann as Arturia watched the bloody corpses of her army on the ground, dead. They could see Mordred in her armor killing everyone, while screaming at Arturia.
"Why aren't you hating me father? This is your responsibility. Everything I did was because of you not recognizing me as your son!"
Arturia narrowed her eyes, but Shirou squeezed her hand. She turned to him and saw him smiling at her. She smiled back in return as they both walked away from their respective hell together. They walked further and further until they reached a field full of flowers and a clear blue sky. Looking around for a while, the couple became startled once an image materialized in front of them. Arturia had lost her breath as she saw someone she thought she would not see again.
'Irisviel'
Though similar in looks and the hair, she was wearing a dress of white and golden design and a crown of similar color to the dress.
"Welcome, you are the final master who won the Great Holy Grail War. I am the recreation of the individual who was once called Justeaze."
Emiya Shirou was looking at the woman and could not help but remind him of Ilya.
"So you're the Greater Grail itself?" She merely smiled, though.
"To be precise, I am more like a terminal thereof. As master of this war and thus the winner, please tell me your wish…"
Shirou and Arturia exchanged looks for a while, before Shirou turned to Grail.
"I do not know why the Greater Grail was created…perhaps the three mage families attempted to become closer to reach the Root. However, as long as the Grail exists, there will always be those who will sacrifice others in order to reach it, all for the possibility of having a wish granted. Humanity does not need the Greater Grail nor is the Greater Grail something that should be easily reached. Therefore, my wish is for the Greater Grail to be hidden where no mortal men could ever reach it." The greater grail's manifestation looked at this master curiously.
"Is this truly what you wish for?" Shirou and Arturia both nodded.
"…very well…"
Author Note
Alright, folks. So, here is the end of the Holy Great Grail War. In the end, I believed that I managed to cover it all and was able to incorporate my ideas.
I am already writing the epilogue and should finish in about 2-3 days. Please tell me your thoughts and see ya next chapter for the epilogue.
See ya.