Hi all! I know it's been awhile since I have written anything on this platform but quarantine finally got to me and now I'm ready to try writing again. On another note, please be sure to critique me as much as you can so I can improve the way I can write these stories better! I hope you all enjoy!
Also, just for personal reasons, in this story Shirou and Saber are going to be much older than what they were during the Holy Grail War so maybe mid 20's? I'm sure a fan can point out what age they'd be but lets just assume they're somewhere at like 25 or something. This story picks off after Shirou greets Saber in Avalon and has a few deviations here and there.
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters or Fate Stay Night. All characters belong to Kinoko Nasu, Funimation, Type/Moon and the like. Please support the official release.
Avalon Episodes: Reunion
"I'm back, Saber." Shirou softly smiles while looking at Artoria.
He has travelled aimlessly without end to look for the one thing that he needed the most in his life. All he could utter were those few words that were the result of so many mixed emotions. Many times he wanted to give up. Many times he wanted to turn around. Many times he felt like he should stop. However, when he saw her smile, all of those hardships turned into nothing but the whims of a man who thought about giving up. Shirou was probably the main definition of persistence after all.
"Yes" Artoria replied smiling with her hands clasped together.
She cares not for how long the wait may have been. For too long, she has suppressed her emotions for the good of those around her. It's how she ruled her kingdom and how she carried herself among the weight of her responsibilities and duty long over, she can finally live the life that would have been her other choice to live. Now, she can be with the man she loves and live a peaceful life.
"Welcome back, Shirou" She continued while still looking at him. Her eyes teary and full of joy.
"Guess I might have taken a while Saber" Shirou smiled jokingly.
The ex-knight laughs a little still teary eyed "That is probably the biggest understatement I have ever heard in my entire lifetime Shirou."
"Sorry haha I was never much of a comedian" Immediately regretting his decision to try and lighten up the mood
Suddenly, Artoria rushes to Shirou and hugs him tightly, knocking both of them down to the ground. Shirou is surprised at first but he hugs her back. In their passionate embrace, they both affirm what they have needed for so long. The wait was worth it. The journey was worth it. Their love was worth it.
After the long deserved hug, Artoria looks up to Shirou and they both smile at each other. She quickly gets up and reaches her hand out to Shirou for him to get up, He takes her hand and gets up on his feet. Saber then notices something odd and looks up at Shirou.
"Shirou, have you grown even more?" She pouts at the now grown Shirou. He laughs and puts his hand on her head only affirming her statement. The distance between their heights wasn't all that much different from other perspectives but in Saber's it was much more than it was the last time she saw him.
"And you haven't grown taller at all!" He pats her head continuously not noticing the irritated King of the Knights grinning in anticipation with her fist slowly rising. Unaware of what was about to happen, he continued to tease her about her height until he was met with a excali-punch to the gut knocking the wind out of his body. Nearly brought to his knees, Shirou holds on to his now bruised stomach taking few of many mental notes to come:
Saber is still as strong as before
Tease lightly. VERY LIGHTLY
"Note….taken…..Saber..ugh" Shirou says weakly. After mustering up the strength to stand, he looks around and sees the land around them. Vast fields of grass and nature extend beyond the place where they stood. The wind lightly blows a gentle breeze every now and then providing the perfect ambience to the land.
"So this is Avalon huh. It's beautiful, Saber." Artoria has seen this view a thousand if not a million times before. However, with Shirou around, the beauty of the land is much more apparent. It wasn't a lonely utopia where she forever slept but rather a paradise with Shirou.
"It really is mesmerizing. I may have seen this sight a lot but I have never really appreciated it as much as I do now that you are here with me Shirou." Shirou slightly blushes from the remark.
"Well I am here now so lets admire what this landscape has to offer us together. Maybe we can find a good spot and build a little cabin for the two of us." Shirou starts to think hard on where the ideal place could be which causes Artoria to smile. Shirou was very dedicated to making sure both of them felt happy. It was one of the things she found very attractive about him.
Saber giggled and took Shirou's hand, taking him out of his trance. "As much as I love the idea of us living together in a little cabin here in Avalon, I wanna show you more of what this place has to offer for us." Shirou smiled and agreed to go along with their little exploration of Avalon.
They walked through the hills, through the forests, and found a creek that had a beautiful small but not too loud waterfall as the center of the area.(AU: Google search Sweet Creek Waterfalls for reference) There seemed to be no end to what the paradise had in store for them. They spent hours talking until the sun was about to set. It was then, Shirou talked about what happened after the Holy Grail War.
He assisted in taking down the Matous after Rin found out what was happening to Sakura. Zouken Matou was finally killed and Shinji ended up serving life time in jail for what he did. (AU: yeah fuck you shinji)Afterwards,Sakura joined Rin in the Clock Tower to try and undo all the damage that was done to Sakura by the Matous. They eventually became close like real sisters and vowed to support each other in their own individual endeavors.
Illya got the closure she needed after talking with Shirou about Kiritsugu. Illya raided the Einzberns Castle and became its new head to make sure no homunculi were ever created and used inhumanely for a selfish purpose ever again.
Issei became the new head of Ryuudou Temple and married Mitsuzuri much to everyone's surprise. Shirou was chosen to be the best man of his wedding and talked about how embarrassing it was speaking in front of so many people.
Then, Shirou showed a slight change in tone with regards to the next development. Artoria leaned in and wondered what could have happened to make Shirou less joyful in storytelling.
"I was in a pinch one time. There were lives at stake. I had to save everyone there. It was then Alaya appeared." Artoria realized what this meant. A contract with Alaya meant either becoming part of another Holy Grail War or becoming a counter guardian for eternity. Artoria was concerned for Shirou but she let him continue.
"Alaya offered to help me save all these people. In return, I serve as a counter guardian after I die. I wanted to do it but it said something that made me reconsider." Shirou added.
"What did Alaya say?" Artoria was curious.
-FLASHBACK-
Shirou: Come on! Lend me the power to save all these people! They don't have much time!
Alaya: The will of humanity will lend you the power you need, Shirou Emiya. But….
Shirou: But what? Cut the crap already! I don't care what is at stake! If you need my life, then take it!
Alaya: You will be a counter guardian for eternity. Your soul will never reach Avalon. If you form this contract with us, you will no longer be able to see her ever again.
Shirou: What? How do you? Wait, Avalon? Isn't that Saber's scabbard? Why do you know about that? What do you mean I won't see her again?
Alaya: Decide, Shirou Emiya.
Shirou: I...I have always wanted to be a hero of justice. That's what Kiritsugu would have wanted right? I...If I became one, no one would get hurt ever again. But you said I won't be able to see her again. You're talking about Saber aren't you?
Alaya: After her death, her soul eventually reached Avalon. If you try hard enough, Shirou Emiya, you may be able to see her again.
Shirou:...It's not fair! I can't abandon these people! I can't abandon her either! If she is waiting for me, then..
Alaya: What will it be, Shirou Emiya? Will you save the life of many or will you be with the one you love?
-FLASHBACK END-
"All my life, I believed I had to be a hero of justice so the tragedy of the fuyuki incident would never happen again. The hell that Kiritsugu and I had gone through was a horrific experience for the both of us. I vowed to him that I would become a hero of justice in his place. If I could do just that, I could make him proud." Shirou clenched his fist.
"But if I did that, I would never have been able to see you again like this. If I made that decision, I would be casting aside the happiness I found in my life." Shirou looked at Artoria with surprise and saw that she was tearing up.
"I..I'm sorry Shirou. I never knew you had gone through such a thing. For you to give your ideals up for my sake, I..I,,," Artoria couldn't speak. Shirou immediately hugged her to console her. Artoria pushed him back which shocked Shirou.
"So all those people…they died because you chose me over them?!" Artoria exclaimed
"You didn't let me continue, Saber." Shirou added.
"Then what happened?" Artoria asked. She needed to know what happened. Truth is, Artoria wasn't angry at Shirou. At least she thought she was. She was conflicted, Had she been in his place, she would have made the decision to save her people even if it meant suffering. A choice that is completely opposite to what Shirou evidently made.
"I refused Alaya. Alaya disappeared and I truly felt as if I was doomed to fail to save all these people. I felt powerless. Until a miracle happened"
"A miracle?" Artoria was surprised
"Chaldea. A group of individuals who were in charge of protecting humanity's future. They arrived alongside Rin and Sakura. I couldn't believe it. They said they came from the future. At first, I was hesitant. Time travel? Really? It then hit me. It was funny coming from me since we participated in a magical war where we use heroes from different time periods to fight for an evil wish granting cup. At that point, time travel seemed less crazy than it sounded. In any case, they assisted me in saving all of those people. Had it not been for Ritsuka, Rin and Sakura; I don't think I would have been able to live with myself."
"Ritsuka?" Artoria asked.
"He was the magus who came from Chaldea. He had many servants with him that day, it was crazy. If you need an example of a hero, it's that guy." Shirou smiled while remembering that day.
"When I found out that there were heroes from the future protecting humanity the way they do, I felt glad. I talked with Ritsuka, Rin, and Sakura afterwards. They made me realize something important."
"And that was?" Artoria asked
"I had been trying to bury what I truly wanted with what I felt like I needed to do." Shirou answered.
"What you truly wanted?" Artoria and Shirou had this conversation before. The sense of duty as a King and the desire to live a normal life often collided with Artoria's mind. This clash of ideals was put to rest after the 5th Holy Grail War.
Shirou suddenly hugged Artoria which caught her off guard.
"You. To be with you, Saber." Shirou held her in a long embrace to convey all that he felt for Artoria then looked into her eyes. Her eyes reflected the night sky but were full of emotion.
"I love you, Saber. I always have and I always will. I don't care if it took eternity. I'd pursue you endlessly over and over as long as it meant seeing you again."
"Shirou…." Artoria had no words. This man had set his ideals to being able to see her again. His love for her allowed him to overcome the obstacles of what seemed to be impossible. This is who Shirou Emiya had become. This is the man she loves. As it turns out, she does have words for him.
"I love you too, Shirou." Artoria looked into Shirou's eyes and both of them could see that although different, they both have sacrificed so much to be with each other. The clear night sky full of stars too many to count and the gentle breeze added to the ambience of what they felt.
They both leaned in and finally kissed once more. Their doubts and hardships swept away with emotion. Their feelings finally realized and affirmed. Nothing in the world could separate them any longer. This is what both of them wanted so dearly.
After some time, they parted lips and they looked at each other and took them a moment to realize that it was midnight.
"We should get some rest soon. We gotta start building that cabin tomorrow too. I'll make sure to make us some nice beds and a nice meal too." Shirou added
Artoria's eyes lit up like the stars in anticipation of Shirou's home cooking. Her mouth open and slightly drooling. She was waiting forever for this. Quite literally.
Shirou laughs and says "Gosh Saber, you're such a glutton."
Artoria breaks from her trance and blushes says "Shawtup Shiwou you don't know what it's like-"
Shirou interrupts her while smiling. "Yes yes I know. I'll hear your complaints tomorrow morning but let's enjoy the night sky for now Saber." Shirou lays down on the grass patting the patch beside him prompting Artoria to lay beside him.
Artoria gives up her incoming lecture and proceeds to lay down beside Shirou.
"Good night, Sa-" Shirou is interrupted before he continues
"Shirou, before that, I'd like to make a request." Artoria asks.
"Yes? What is it?" Shirou is slightly curious
"Call me by my real name." Artoria blushes while asking
"Oh..uh..Arthur?" Shirou hesitantly utters what he thinks is her real name
"I should have anticipated this.." Artoria facepalms "It's Artoria. Shirou."
"I-I see..well.." Shirou then pulls Artoria closer to him
"Good night, Artoria" Shirou says with a heartfelt smile
Artoria blushes a bit from embarrassment and says
"Good night, Shirou"
The couple then fall asleep in an embrace under the night sky happy that their long deserved happiness has finally arrived.
Whew! That is definitely longer than anything I've written on this platform. Please tell me what you think in the reviews section. Any criticisms are welcome since it helps me improve the way I may go about the story or how to write scenes better. I do plan on making a second chapter of this story but I am not sure how I'll go about it yet. If you have any suggestions, I'll be sure to consider each of them. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed it. Love y'all and stay safe amidst this pandemic! :)