Shirou looked across the war torn desert, metal and bodies littering the sand. He stumbled down the slope and fell forwards. As he picked himself up, he noticed he color of his hand. It was darker.
Shirou stumbled backwards as he felt his body. He grabbed something on his back and pulled forwards a bow. Archer's bow. When Shirou looked up again, the bodies littering the desert now had arrows sticking out of them.
Shirou gripped a fist. "I can change this."
"What's there to change?"
Archer knelt next to Shirou. "You want to be a hero of justice don't you? Well, what else could the Grail make you do except this?"
Shirou's eyes blazed. "I just know I can change our fate."
Archer sighed. "There you go again Shirou Emiya, going for the impossible dream."
He stood and Kanshou appeared in his hands. "I could kill you right here, yet it would do nothing but make me feel better. Oh well, better than nothing."
He brought the blade down and Shirou woke up in a cold sweat, breathing hard.
Rin sat up from her futon next to his and touched his shoulder. "Shirou?"
"I'm fine," he said, but Rin wouldn't have it.
She gripped his shoulder. "Shirou."
He sighed. "It was just another dream with Archer. It's not a big deal."
"Idiot," he heard her grumble before she grasped his hand. "Shirou, you are not Archer. I want you to know that."
"Maybe," he said. "I know my path isn't wrong, but I still feel like something needs to change."
Rin sighed. "We'll figure this out, together."
Shirou nodded. "Sure."
He stood. "I'm going to start breakfast. We need our strength up for when we meet the overseer."
Rin nodded as he left. Thanks to Kirei Kotomine, they had a natural wariness of priests.
...
When Shirou entered the main room to start the food, Saber and Jeanne were already there, talking about a guy named Gilles or something.
"Good morning Shirou," Saber said brightly.
He smiled back. "Good morning Saber, Jeanne."
Jeanne nodded. "Good morning Master of Saber."
After a few minutes, Rin joined them as well as Caster, who was still going on about pants.
A knock came from the front door and Rin stood from where she sat next to Saber. "I'll get it."
After a couple moments, she led Lord El-Melloi II and his assistant Gray into the room.
Caster leaned on his staff next to Shirou as he cooked breakfast while everyone sat around the table. "You got enough food for all of us?"
Shirou nodded. "Just enough. I'll still need to make a trip into the city for more soon. Maybe when our meeting with the overseer is done."
As Shirou set down the food for everyone, he heard Jeanne explaining who she was to the Lord.
When Shirou sat down, Lord El-Melloi II looked at him. "So you and Rin are heading to the overseer?"
Shirou nodded. "We want to know who the overseer is and find out if we can trust them or not."
The Lord nodded. "A good idea. Establishing who are allies and enemies is a good course of action."
Rin glanced at Jeanne. "So what are you planning to do in the Grail War?"
"Unless the rules are broken," she said, sipping some tea. "I'll just be watching. That's all I hope that I'll do."
Rin nodded. "Perfect."
...
Once the dishes were cleaned, Taiga showed up and raged about missing breakfast. She then questioned Lord El-Melloi II on who he was, which wasn't very long. Once he told her he was a professor at the school Shirou and Rin went to, she wanted to know everything about that place and how Shirou and Rin were doing there.
Leaving the Lord with Taiga, Shirou, Rin, Saber in her blue and white dress outfit, and Caster following them in spirit form, left the house, heading for the church.
"Any idea who this new overseer is?" Saber asked as they walked down the sidewalk towards the city.
Shirou shook his head. "No idea."
"As long as they aren't a psychopath with a secret servant," Rin said. "I think we're good."
"You know," Caster grumbled from thin air. "I wish I could walk the streets with you guys."
"You are silly," Rin said. "Just in spirit form."
More grumbling.
...
After an hour, they finally reached the church.
Saber looked at the gate warily and said, "Once again, I think I'll wait out here. This church... It doesn't feel right."
"I second that," Caster said, materializing next to her. "Personally, I would go in, but it's probably best we stay out here."
"Chickens," Rin muttered under her breath and Shirou coughed.
"Well," Shirou said. "Just be on alert. Last time we walked out of the church after meeting a priest we were attacked by a little girl with a Berserker."
"Noted," Caster said before disappearing.
As Shirou and Rin went through the church gates, they heard Caster asking Saber about the last Grail War.
Shirou placed a hand on the doors to the church once they reached it, hesitating.
Rin looked at the door with unease. "C'mon, let's get this over with."
She and Shirou pushed open the doors and walked into the all too familiar church. The last time they were in here it had been wrecked by the last Grail War's Caster, but now it was back in order. At the end of the pews on the edge of the podium sits a woman with long light gray hair and piercing golden eyes.
When she noticed them, she closes the bible in her hands and stands, smoothing her church robes. During this moment, Shirou saw bandages on her left wrist before her sleeve covers it.
She smiles, the cross on her neck reminding Shirou of Kirei's. "Why hello. I was wondering when you would show up."
Rin raised an eyebrow. "You were expecting us?"
"No," she said, shaking her head. "And yes. I was expecting a Master to eventually show up here, I just didn't know who would come."
She tilted her head slightly. "Query. Why are you here?"
"Well," Shirou said, rubbing the back of his head. "You see-"
Rin sighed. "We wanted to make sure the overseer wasn't like the last one."
"Yeah," Shirou said, lowering his hand. "That."
"Oh," the priestess said. "Yeah, I heard about what my father did."
Shirou choked. "What!?" as Rin exclaimed, "Father!?"
She nodded. "Oh yes, Kirei Kotomine was my father."
Shirou and Rin shared a glance, both on guard even more now.
The priestess smiled sadly. "I can see my father's wrongdoings have affected your judgement. Let me assure you I am nothing like Kirei."
Rin narrowed her eyes. "Can you prove that?"
She shrugged. "No, not really. That's up to you two to ultimately decide. I can only give you my word as a priestess."
Then she smiled. "Oh, we haven't introduced ourselves properly yet have we? I am Caren Hortensia, this Holy Grail War's overseer."
"Shirou," Shirou said, holding out his hand. "Shirou Emiya."
Caren eyes widened a little as she shook his hand. "Oh, now I understand your prejudice. You two have a particular history with Kirei. So you must be Rin Tohsaka."
"Indeed," Rin said, her gaze still narrowed.
Caren nodded. "Well then, if it makes you feel any better, I'm sorry for whatever my father has done to the two of you. The Mage Association didn't choose me lightly for this spot because of my relations to Kirei."
"That's a relief," Shirou said brightly and Rin looked surprised. "So we can trust you will do the job of the overseer and nothing else?"
Caren smiled. "Of course. Though I sensed a Ruler servant popped up somewhere, so I imagine they'll help oversee the war as well."
Then she frowned. "You two brought your servants, correct?"
Shirou nodded. "Yeah, they're outside."
A gunshot rang out from outside and Shirou and Rin spun around to face the doors.
"Looks like your servants have been engaged," Caren said. "If one of you lose a servant, I'll offer you sanctuary."
"Not going to happen," Rin said, rushing to the doors, Shirou right behind her.
...
Kirei appeared from the shadows as the two Masters left, an eyebrow raised. "Nothing like me huh?"
Caren chuckled. "Sorry father, did that insult you."
He smirked. "I see you are my daughter. You may look like your mother, but your skill at lying comes from me."
"Well," she said, turning to face him. "I wouldn't be if I hadn't summoned you."
I can't stop writing this. I'm too into Fate at the moment. Well, it's not bad, so let's continue. Toodles