Eventually Shirou made it back home, at which point he collapsed on the ground, thoroughly exhausted. The only thing he wanted right now was a warm bed, but when the house alarms went off, he knew he wouldn't get his wish. The man in blue appeared out of thin air above him, driving down to plunge his spear into Shirou once more, but this time, Shirou was fast enough to dodge him. He also noticed the text now above his head, Lancer Servant, Level ?
So I can assess the power of an opponent to a certain extent, interesting. Shirou reached for the only thing he could find within arms reach, the newspaper.
"Trace on." His mana flowed through him and into the the rolled up parchment.
"Listen dude, I'm a mage, and whatever you're beef is with that other guy is none of my business. I'm alive and willing to let bygones be bygones."
The bluenette laughed quietly to himself, "Indeed, allow me to rectify that. It would besmirch my name anyway if I allowed you to draw breathe." With that he thrusted his spear at Shirou, nicking his arm but missing anything vital. Lancer's expression became one of surprise, "Oh, what a surprise, that's an interesting little trick kid."
"Do you really want to take the chance of dying from a kid with a newspaper, that would besmirch your name even worse right?" Shirou growled.
"Yeah...about that." Lancer then proceeded to push the pace, Shirou could tell he was only toying with him, every thrust nicking a different portion of his body with speed that made it seem like the cuts were instantly appearing from nowhere. Shirou knew he had to retreat and let the next strike land at the top of his shoulder, shoving him backwards and out of the dining room and into the courtyard. He looked up and to the top right of his vision he could see three bars of differing colors: red, blue, and green, and they were all flashing with red outlines.
You have sustained heavy damage, your HP is dangerously low
You have nearly exhausted your mana supply
You have used up most of your Stamina, and will find it harder to do even basic tasks as it gets lower.
His entire body screamed in pain, he had only one chance, if he got to his shed and could reach his potions, he'd have enough healing and mana replenishment to hopefully win in a war of attrition. He forced his body to move and sprinted into the shed, he could hear his attacker calling out behind him.
"Come on kid, man up already!"
Shirou got the same feeling from before and this time responded, he unfolded the newspaper and reinforced it again, the spear impacted with it, sending bits of paper flying around the room, and gently floating there way to the ground. Lancer looked around the room, eventually laying his eyes on a table that emitted a green mist, and the shelf above it that contained almost a dozen vials with differing colored solutions in it.
"You're definitely interesting, alchemy, that neat trick with the paper, I bet you were supposed to be the Seventh. Ah well, doesn't matter much now." Lancer positioned himself to deal the final blow.
"No. I can't die here, I've died twice already and both times I was saved." Shirou stood up to face Lancer.
The spearman raised an eyebrow, "Did you now? You must not be too liked then."
"I made a promise to a dying man to protect those who can't protect themselves, to offer aid to any in need" Shirou's hand began to glow, but he didn't notice, nor did he notice his now fully replenished bars or the glowing symbols to his left on the floor, all he felt was rage. "Even if I die, that purpose will live on through those I've helped, and as long as I draw breathe I will continue to aid and protect anybody in need, I swear it on my life!"
Shirou didn't fully realize what happened next, one second he was in Lancer's sight and the next, some lady comes out of his floor to protect him, and what a lady she was, she was...beautiful. Her attire was interesting, it reminded of a long flowing blue dress, if that dress had a baby with a full suit of armor.
"I ask of you" her voice caught him off guard, she turned to look at him, "are you my Master?"
Saber Servant, Level 78
Shirou looked dumbfounded, "You're...Master?" Her eyes reminded him of jewels, emeralds, yet they held the resolve of a warrior, and her commandeering voice didn't match the youth in her features, although her facial features themselves hinted at a 'take-no-shit' attitude.
"I am your Saber Servant, I have come in response to your summons. My sword is now at your command, your fate intertwined with my own."
Shirou stood up, "In that case, kick that blue bombers ass." He pointed at Lancer who stood infuriated just outside the shed. Saber didn't waste anymore time, jumping straight into the fight. They moved at speeds too fast for Shirou to fully track, but he see that they fought as typical warriors only at a faster pace. Lancer sent continuous thrust at Saber, hoping to get through her guard, while Saber deflected the numerous strikes at her body, hoping to find an opening to close the distance. Lancer overextended his reach on one of his attacks, allowing Saber to get enough of his weapon to push it up and expose his body to an attack, but Lancer was fast enough to retreat before her sword could reach her. He didn't waste any time pushing back but the result was the exact same only this time Saber didn't give him a chance to recollect himself, instead applying a smothering pressure that kept him backpedalling while blocking her continued forward attack. She was shorter than him, giving her a natural advantage in close quarters, she bent lower baiting him into blocking low before spinning to come back overhead, Lancer was skilled enough to see through it, but he knew any lesser warrior would've died in that instant. There weapons clashed and they struggled to get the upper hand, Lancer was shocked to find that he couldn't even get her to budge, in fact, she was bending his spear with her…..
"What the hell is that?" He asked angrily, "Are you so much of a coward that you would keep your weapon hidden? Have you no pride?"
"What's wrong Lancer, is my bow giving you trouble? Maybe I'm just a better spearman that you, or maybe it's an oversized piece of paper." Shirou could be heard laughing in the background.
Lancer replied, "Whatever, I heard you address yourself as Saber, so I'll assume it's a sword. So, with that being said, any chance you'd be interested in a draw?"
Saber seemed to ponder for a moment, "Not really, I'd prefer you die here, Master?"
"Kill him and whoever made his outfit." Shirou shouted.
Lancer sighed, "Very well then." He readied into a stance, then his spear began to glow with a red aura that eventually engulfed the Servant entirely. He then charged at Saber, stopping a few feet by digging his foot deep into the ground, when he stopped he thrusted his spear at her and yelled, "Gae Bolg!" Shirou had no better way to describe the attack than as red lightning, it ,moved as such and with the same speed and ferocity. It collided with Saber's sword, no, something happened, almost like deja vu but instead of the attack landing on Saber's sword it struck through her chest, it then lifted her off the ground, thrashing her around in the air before throwing his Servant to the ground.
Lancer looked extremely pissed, "Ok, that attack is a guaranteed blow to the heart and yet here you stand, very much alive. Either I'm screwed or you share your Master's knack for miraculous luck."
Saber smirked, "I guess I'm just lucky, although I wouldn't expect a Lancer to know anything about that. I have figured out your identity though, Cu'Chulainn, Ireland's Child of Light and faithful dog."
Cu'Chulainn clapped sarcastically, "Bravo, and with that revelation, I must take my leave."
"What!?" Shirou and Saber yelled in unison.
The Lancer shrugged, "My master is a coward, the fact that someone can survive the very concept of deciding fate has him more than a little worried. You're more than free to follow, but you won't be making it home, I can guarantee that."
Shirou responded first, "Just get out of here, you're only following orders, round two can be rescheduled."
Lancer nodded at him, "Good man, I look forward to our rematch Saber." With that he was off, up onto the the rooftops and into the night.
Shirou approached Saber in time to see her wounds heal almost instantly, "So you're name is Saber huh? On a scale of one to ten, I'd give you a hundred on the badass scale."
"I'm not familiar with that scale, but I am with a compliment." She smiled, "Thank you."
He couldn't hide his blush, "M-my name is Shirou, Shirou Emiya."
"Emiya?"
"Yeah, so could you explain how you appeared out of my shed? Not that I don't appreciate the save, I am forever in your debt."
"I see, so you are not a typical Master," Saber said, "but you are my Master all the same."
Shirou waved his hands and shook his head, "You've gotta stop calling me- wait what the hell is this?" He was referring to the symbols that were now engraved into the back of his hand.
"Those are Command Seals, used to give me order that I cannot disobey. If you wouldn't mind, could you heal my wounds?"
"I haven't really gotten around to practicing that, I might stop your heart as likely as heal a scratch. I do have this though." He tossed her one of his healing potions which she took, inspecting it cautiously. "It's a healing elixir made from yours truly, the hardest part wasn't even in making it effective in healing, it was getting the cherry flavor in without ruining it." He joked as Saber chugged the small bottle until it was empty, at which point she tossed it back.
"Thank you Master, I'm now in perfect condition to face the next threat."
"Threat?" Saber was already on the other side of the building by the time he finished his question. He chased her outside, she was in the midst of fighting the other Servant he saw at the school, but what caught his attention more, was Rin Tohsaka standing behind him. He didn't consider anything else, he ran up behind Saber, screaming for her to stop the entire time before he jumped on her back to get her attention.
"What is the meaning of this? I am not one for horseplay!" Saber scolded him.
He replied from his Servant's back, "You gotta stop! At least for a second, I know this girl, let's at least see if she's cool, if she's not then you can kill them, deal?"
Saber looked visibly agitated but relented nonetheless, to which Shirou responded by getting off her back, figuratively and physically. Shirou invited Rin and her Servant into his house, which Rin accepted but her Servant, Archer, was adamant on not entering.
Rin sipped from the cup of tea that Shirou prepared, "Ok first things first, the Command Seals you have, you only get the three. These are especially useful if Saber is a long distance away, as it allows her to transport directly to your location. If you use too many, Saber will disappear."
"We are heroes from history," Saber explained, "summoned to fight in a war for the Holy Grail and have our wish granted."
"So you're a hero? That explains why you're a badass." Shirou said.
"It is a tradition that has occured in Fuyuki for 200 years among mages of the highest caliber…..and sometimes people like you." Rin said.
Saber added, "Harsh, but not untrue, but you did survive against Lancer long enough to summon me, so maybe there is hope for you."
"I DOUBT IT!" A voice could be heard from the roof, Shirou assumed it must've been Archer.
"Archer you could always just come inside." Rin said, she didn't get a reply only a roar of laughter from her Servant. "Anyways, the mages in these wars are no joke, imagine Merlin with an insatiable bloodlust.
"Scary thought." Saber replied.
"For a wish? I mean… I'm still alive, maybe I was meant to win? The thought of killing other people isn't exactly my cup of tea though." Shirou said.
Rin looked at him incredulously, "Are you serious?! Just give me Saber, go on your way, and live to see another day, I don't see what's so difficult with the concept. You know what, if I can't convince you, maybe Kirei can, he's the priest who oversees the entire War."
Besides the lateness of the night, Shirou saw no problem with going out with Rin, maybe he could learn something about her while they went to see this priest.
They eventually reached the church that Rin was leading them to. Saber and Archer insisted on staying outside, which Shirou chalked up to strategic positioning, keeping a lookout over the church while they talked to this 'Kirei'. They entered the church, which was slightly illuminated by candle light. The priest stepped from the shadows to address them, "You never accepted my repeated invitations, and now here you are with an odd guest. I take it this means that he is the seventh, Rin? I am Kirei Kotomine."
Shirou walked forward, "I'm Shirou Emiya, new master, trying to figure out if the constant threats on my life are worth….a grail?"
"Emiya?" Kotomine questioned, before laughing to himself softly, which sent all kinds of alarms to Shirou. "Well Shirou Emiya, your status as Master cannot be taken away nor handed off, you have been chosen by the Grail to carry this burden. The Grail has a habit of sometimes pulling in stragglers to fill in empty spots, last war it was a serial killer."
"Well that's pleasant, and this Grail isn't the one we read about in fairy tales is it?" Shirou asked.
"No, although, look at the Servants that the Grail has produced, the amount of power they possess. A Holy Grail capable of that will surely grant its holder limitless power."
"What if I chose to destroy the world, how do you know I'm not a sociopath?" Shirou asked.
"It is not up to us to question who the Grail chooses, why the last man to win the Grail tried to destroy it, are you familiar with the great fire from ten years ago? That was the result of that man's wish. If you do not wish to participate, I am sworn to provide you sanctuary, although you would be the first to quit before anybody actually died."
"Not the kind of reputation I'm fond of." Shirou said, more to himself than Kirei. "OK, sign me up preacher man."
Kirei looked mildly surprised at the guy, "Is that right?"
"Yeah, the upside is just too good to pass up, and Shirou Emiya is a gambling man. Anything else you need to tell me you can just send through the mail, trust me, I'll be alive to receive it." Shirou was out the door with Rin in tow, they made their way down the steps and out the gate where Saber stood guard.
"Have you concluded your business?" Shirou nodded to say 'yes', "And?"
"Seventh Master, future Grail owner, or co-owner, no offense Rin." He said.
The fellow Master gave him a stink eye, "Some taken."
"Saber, if you would allow it, will you fight at my side to victory? To the Grail." He held out his hand to her.
"I swore to be your blade, my vow still stands." She said with new admiration for the redhead, with that she took his hand, and sealed their pact.
Shirou looked out over the city, "If the Holy Grail was what caused the fire and all that death ten years ago, I can't let something like that happen again."
The three were making their way back home when Rin stopped, it hadn't crossed his mind that she would probably want to go to her own house.
"Rin…..thank you, for everything." He offered.
"Consider us even then, you stopped Saber from cleaving me."
"That's not all, listen, I know you don't know me too well, but you're the first person who hasn't tried to kill me tonight, even your Servant wants my dead, yet you hold him back." He took a step forward.
Rin blushed slightly, "A strategic move I assure you, I don't think I like what you're assuming."
Shirou took another step, "Face it Tohsaka, you're a good person, i like people like you. I was wondering if you would consider a truce."
"Excuse me?" Rin look abashed. "Why would I need your help?"
"Think about it, together we could take out the other competition until it's just us. Then we can conduct a final battle with the loser stepping aside, it ensure our survival and a 50% chance of victory, much better than your odds alone, not saying you couldn't do it alone, I have no doubt you're more than capable."
"You're damn right I'm capable." Rin responded. "I'm willing to fight by your side until the point comes where you inevitably die, at that point I will be assuming my rightful role as Saber's Master, as it was meant to be. Besides if I don't get what I want, I'll just murder all of you."
Shirou rubbed the back of his head, "Well I can definitely respect your tenacity, but you'll be disappointed because I have no intentions of dying."
Saber suddenly turned, drawing her weapon in defense of something further down the road.
"Are you done chatting yet?" That white haired girl stood off in the distance, her piercing red eyes cut through the night and the towering mass behind her could only have been her Servant.
Author's Note: I'd like to give my respects to the various sources that I'll be using to make my story. Many people have put far more hours than I have into building the Fate lore to where it is now, and I give my thanks to all of those hard working men and women.