I do not own any of the Fate series, the following is a non-profit fan-based parody. The Fate series is the property of Konoki NAsu, UFOTABLE, Type Moon, and Aniplex. Please support the official release.
Sorry about the lack of action in the past couple of chapters, but I gotta world build ya know? Thank you all for the support.
Seeing Double
After Rin's declaration of war against the enemy Caster, the two Masters' said their goodbye's and left to their respective households. The walk back home was largely uneventful, he and Saber didn't say much to each other, Shirou didn't want to force conversation and he was too preoccupied with his own machinations. This war had proven to be much more than he had expected and not a single Servant had been defeated yet. There were so many questions that he still needed answered, and his list of Quests was growing by the day, the potential XP made him salivate, he could only imagine the type of abilities he would unlock when he knocked out even half of the assignments. When they returned to the estate, Shirou made it known to Saber that he would be in the workshop, she accepted it and went on her way to what Shirou assumed was their room.
'Their' room….that's gonna take some getting used too.
Shirou entered into the shed where his collection of tools lay scattered in a corner, with his now abandoned potion station sitting dry across the room from them. He sat down on the ground in front of a piece of wood he had left behind from building his station, picking it up he rolled the cool wood around in his hands. He closed his eyes so that all that was known to him was himself, his energy, and the oversized stick in his hands. The flow of his energy coursed up his body, through his arms, he imagined the wood as nothing more than an extension of himself that had yet to be activated.
"Trace on." The darkness dissipated, replaced with bright green lines running where his arms would be, up to where the square plank would be. He opened his eyes, the room was now illuminated in the shining green glow of his mana, Shirou's amazement was switched to panic as the wood glowed brighter and brighter, before cracking and finally exploding into fragments around the room.
"Whew, could've lost an eye there." He went to pick up a rock before being interrupted by a voice from the door.
"Master?" Saber stood in the doorway.
"Oh hey, is there something I can help with?"
"No, it's just that I sensed mana. Are you training?"
Shirou looked down at the rock in his hand, "Yeah, I try to do this every day, but as you know I've been neglecting it."
"May I enter and join you?"
He shrugged his shoulders, "I don't see a problem with that."
"This is the first time I've seen you use magic, even tonight you utilized only hand-to-hand combat, which was quite impressive I might add," a smile graced her face, "you're quite the quick study."
"Pays to have a great teacher. I'm capable of using projection magic along with reinforcement, but I'm still feeling the effects of creating only two swords and my reinforcing is shoddy at the moment."
Saber held a quizzical look on her face, "Curious, so I'm guessing reinforcement goes as implied."
He nodded his head, "Correct, along with increasing effectiveness, an object toughness is increased as well, so anything I reinforce will work better than it normally does for much longer….if I can stop it from exploding."
"I see." Shirou now realized the proximity that she was to him, he could smell the faint sweet smell that she emitted. His face immediately raised a few dozen degrees, her eyes shone with viridity and he had her undivided attention.
He cleared his throat, "Ummm, it's better to show than to tell. I'll try it on this rock." He raised the rock in his hands for Saber to see. "Trace on." The green lines again appeared on his arms before making it to the rock. He gritted his teeth, "Tracing basic structure, tracing component materials, altering fundamental structure, now...strengthening component materials…" His arm started to shake on it's own and the lines were now flashing red, it was only moments before the rock split in two in his hands. "Damn it, another bust."
"Shirou, recently I have sensed that your concentration has been lacking." Shirou gulped, trying his best to avoid looking at her slim figure, her soft lips, but her eyes and her face did no favors for him.
He slowed his breathing, praying that the intense heat he felt didn't make him sweat, "I'm sorry, it's just that I'm not used to the amount of attention I'm receiving, especially from a woman like you, although I appreciate you calling me Shirou, I hope it sticks."
"I see," Saber rose to her feet, "my being here is a distraction for you. Please try not to push yourself too hard, Shirou." She smirked at the mention of his name, one that he returned.
"I hope I'm not interrupting anything….." Saber spun around to face the intruder, but Shirou didn't bother, he already knew the voice to be Archer's.
Saber stepped toward the Servant and in between Archer and him, "What do you want Archer, I was under the impression that we had a truce, or have you and the Tohsaka girl had a change of heart?"
Shirou smiled, "Don't worry Saber he's not here to fight, the guy isn't an idiot and Rin wouldn't betray us, at least not while she thinks she can get you switch doesn't answer why you're here though, you don't seem to be the visiting type. So, to what do we owe the pleasure?"
"You have no sensation in the top half of your body, and your center of gravity is 7 cm off, am I right? I might be of some assistance." Saber turned to Shirou, eyes awaiting his answer.
Shirou narrowed his eyes at Archer, he hadn't told anybody the full extent of his condition, "Alright."
Saber let Archer pass taking to stand over the two as Archer worked, he instructed Shirou to remove his shirt and face away from him. Once that was done, Archer placed a hand on his back, prodding and pushing on various areas, some eliciting pained responses from the redhead.
"I guess Rin was right, you've been doing projection magic haven't you? You're a lucky man, I was expecting much worse, what made you try projection magic in the midst of a fight?"
Shirou responded through gritted teeth, "I was protecting a student from a Servat, as I'm sure Rin informed you. How lucky am I?"
"Necrosis, but it would seem that dormant circuits you never used were opened when you projected. The numbness will go away, it's only the byproduct of flooding unused circuits with mana at full power, putting them into a state of intense shock. At least those circuits are now active, just have to give it a little nudge and….." Shirou felt a surge of mana shoot through him, he winced in pain as a response. "That should do it, you'll recover in a few days at which point you'll be a slightly better mage than you were before, although that's not saying much." He got up and made his way to door to leave.
"You certainly know a lot about my condition." Shirou asked.
Archer stopped, "I went through something similar, I lost the complete use of one of my arms at the time."
"I can imagine." He and Archer locked eyes for a moment, in that moment, Shirou could tell that the things keeping them opposed were ingrained, it was almost natural, but there was something else as well. "Let me ask this, what do you fight for?"
Archer turned to face him, "I fight for myself and nothing more. I have no qualms with those that fight for the sake of others though, as long as it is their wish. Know that if you fight of your own free will, any outcomes are of your making. Fighting for your ideals will only save your ideals, but only that, you'll be useless in helping people."
Flames engulfed him, the echoing screams of the burned rang in his ears, he could smell burning flesh.
"Tell that to the girl we saved," Shirou retorted, "I guess Rin told you about my reason for fighting, but what she didn't tell you was after she educated me, I didn't give up on my wish, no now I know that I was right. The world needs saving, it needs people who are willing to help, and I'll use that wish to save everybody I can. "
"One day she will die, the girl, or at the very least be in danger, as is life. Living by your ideals will only lead to your own destruction. You're fighting against the very force of nature, humanity is bound to its own destruction, and trying to save them will lead nowhere." With that, he was gone, disappearing like smoke in the wind. While the entire encounter raised all kinds of alarms on his weirdo-meter, Shirou was nonetheless grateful for Archer's aid. The pain in his arm was subsiding, and after Saber left and a couple hours of projection training he fell asleep right there on the floor of his workshop. He slept blissfully, although his dreams were definitely different, he say an ocean, a man walking through the desert, he saw the street leading to his house, and the road that led to the Temple, a ship loaded with golden treasures, and a dagger covered in blood.
He awoke to a courtyard, the night air blew cooly across his face, "Where am I? Is this...Ryudou Temple?"
"How very observant." A black fog emerged in front of him, swirling on the ground and emitting a dark purple hue, a red flash blinded him and when he regained his sight a woman stood before him. He couldn't make out about her threw the dark robe she wore nor the hood that covered the top half of her face.
"Have we met before?"
"No." He peeked a little purple hair, but her reply affirmed that it wasn't the Servant he fought at the school in a different outfit. "I'm sure you've already noticed the predicament you're in." Shirou could feel wires wrapped around his neck and see the ones wrapped around his limbs, he was indeed, royally fucked. "Don't bother struggling, once my spell is in effect it can't be washed away by the simple water of mana. Especially by the flow from magic circuits as feeble as yours."
Shirou raised an eyebrow at the insult, "I don't know, I might surprise you, you're lackeys already found out that I don't need magic to kick ass."
"No, just the aid of two Servants and another Master, face it, you're undoubtedly the weakest Master of the bunch, shown by how easily I summoned you here."
"You are not going to start that, you got me while I was sleeping, I'm also having… performance issues right now, that's the only reason you got caught me." He looked down at the wires, around at the temple, then back to the Servant. "I assume you've gotten yourself situated, it's the only reason you would be this bold, considering as a Caster you're probably the weakest Servant, at least weaker than mine."
"We'll see how much bark you have after I drain you dry, I killed the first couple of humans but now I believe I've found the perfect amount, not too much, not too less." Her smile was sinister, and her words were laced with malice but never stopped being soft and sweet, almost seductive.
"Are you…...propositioning yourself to me? I'll have to pass, murdering scum aren't my type. The blood of civilians is on your hands, and for that I can't allow you live, but I'm feeling generous so I'll allow you surrender now while I'll let you."
"Enough of your prattle, everyone in this city belongs to me, including you." The wires tightened, anymore and he was sure they would draw blood, although he felt that she had much worse in mind for him. Caster walked towards him until they stood face to face, she leaned in until her mouth was by his ear, "Now let's get those Command Seals off." She whispered as she ran her hands up and down his arm, moving up to caress his face.
"I kind of need those." He growled.
"Oh but my Master will prove to be much better suited to command Saber, she's much better suited for dealing with Berserker. By the way, I'm going to have to strip the magical circuits in your arm." She positioned the strings to force his left arm out in front of him, Caster placed her hand over his Command Seals, then a bright purple light appeared where they touched. "Please, I love it when they fight back." Shirou could suddenly feel a searing hot pain run threw his arm, it was like every nerve was being flayed at once, he couldn't hold back the screams until his throat went hoarse.
This is it huh? Killed by a witch, about how my luck goes I guess. A barrage of red arrows stopped his thoughts, along with Caster's magic as she had to jump back as the flurry landed where she had once been standing.
Archer's Bow traced and saved
"You're still alive? Maybe I should come back later." Shirou could recognized that assholish remark anywhere.
"No, please stay, I take back everything I ever said about you, you're outfit is totally badass, I might go out and buy one myself in fact." Shirou didn't waste any breathe, saying the sentence in a single gulp of air.
Archer smirked, "Easy there, you're breathe is bad enough without the ass kissing. How are you feeling, my arrows should have severed her strings." Shirou moved his arm and it did in fact move of his own volition, and the first thing he did was check was breathe, no point in taking the chance if Saber or Rin showed up. "Good, now if you would kindly not make any dumb movements you might make it out alive."
"How, why are you here?! What the hell is Assassin doing?" Caster growled in fury.
Archer turned to Shirou, "Hell hath no fury like a woman's scorn, and I'm sure she wouldn't mind taking out her frustrations on you. The mess would be a pain to get out of my clothes."
Deciding to take advantage of the momentary reprieve, Shirou used it to stretch. "Sounds about right. I didn't expect someone else to form an alliance, you did mention an Assassin Servant after all."
The Caster's laugh rang throughout the Temple, "Me, working with that dog? He's nothing more than a Masterless pawn. As a mage I figured it only fair that I'm afforded the same protection as that redhead cowering behind you."
"Psssh, cheater. It explains the need to siphon energy from an entire city though." Shirou said. "So why is Assassin out there and not protecting her?"
"He's currently engaged in battle with Saber." Archer replied.
"No matter, I have no need for him, in here you can't touch me." She exuded confidence, it put Shirou on guard, he knew she had much more tricks up her sleeve.
Shirou didn't feel fear, no, he relished the challenge in front of him and he wouldn't let it go to waste. He rushed ahead of Archer, sure his arms were still sore but his legs still worked perfectly fine. He was on her in seconds and Archer, as he figured, jumped into action when he saw Shirou move ahead. Archer still reached her first and was behind her before Caster could materialize a weapon, Shirou was airborne, coming down with a leg drop onto Caster's head as Archer drove his twin swords into her back. She crumpled to the ground without a fight, it was too easy to Shirou, who's suspicion was confirmed when she disappeared in a dark cloud of smoke.
"A nice try men" Shirou felt the incoming mana before he could locate the Servant, the purple beam landed at his feet in an inferno, and Shirou was sure his legs would've been blown off if he hadn't jumped. There was another problem, he was now midair with another attack coming his way, the way Shirou had to contort his body to avoid the next strike strained his body to it's limit and even then he felt his back get scorched by Caster's mana. Shirou didn't waste any time, run along the pillars around the courtyard for cover, moving to one after the other one as Caster's attack proved relentless.
Not good, not good, not good! Shirou thought as he dove through a nearby door, he closed the door behind him until he realized how stupid it was since the room he was in was quickly incinerated in a blast. Her mana supply seems to be limitless, she'll kill me before she runs out. He was back in the courtyard, but now Caster was focused on Archer who was running along the rooftop doing his best to also not get obliterated, Caster's spell's were right on his heels. Destroying every location he went to, Archer was in constant movement, never moving in a straight line, never showing a pattern. He saw Archer make for the exit, She'll be focused on blocking his escape, now's my chance. Shirou climbed the building closest to her as quietly as possible, as he expected Caster sent a barrage of spells at the exit, putting fire and exploding debris in his path. Shirou jumped right for Caster, but halfway there he saw her turn and looked at him with a smile on her face, and a spell prepared in his direction. Shirou watched as the purple circles appeared from thin air, illuminating brightly as the stream of magic shot towards him. Only one thought popped in his head.
Well shit. He closed his eyes and waited his death, but it never came.
"Your excessive stupidity hurts my head, idiot."
Shirou opened his eyes, he was beside Archer on a nearby rooftop "I'm the idiot? While you were running away I actually did tried to fight back, so who's the real idiot here? Calling me an idiot only makes you more of an idiot."
"You're such a child, while she's in this temple she can replicate true magic, Spatial Transportation, Innate Time Control, that kind of stuff, but I wouldn't expect your feeble mind to be able to grasp such concepts."
"Excuse meeeeeeeeeee." Apparently Caster didn't find their squabbling entertaining since where they once stood was now flaming rubble. Archer dragged Shirou by the collar of his shirt as he dodged another flurry of spells. The speed Archer moved at was nearly incomprehensible to Shirou, his vision was nothing but a blur of colors, with the constant flashes of heat and purple flashes exploding around him, he heard nothing but the wind at his ears. Then suddenly, they stopped, no they couldn't move, the area around them was covered in a purple aura.
"It doesn't matter who you are, you can't move if space itself is immobilized, so as they say, checkmate. Goodbye."
"Dodge this." It was so low that Shirou could barely hear him, he didn't know what he was talking about at first, but he and Caster noticed at the same time that Kanshou and Bakuya were spinning towards Caster's neck, each approaching from opposite sides. Caster had to dispel the immobilization spell to counter the incoming attack, freeing them from her clutches. Shirou and Archer wasted no time, Shirou took the left as Archer run up the middle. Archer rematerialized his bow as he jumped away from Caster's approaching spell, landing again, he materialized a strange looking arrow.
Caladabolg traced and added
"I am the bone of my sword." Shirou just made out what Archer said, the words made no sense to him, but red lightning formed around him as spoke. The air around Shirou and that what was in his lungs was siphoned and condensed around Archer in a swirling mass, the arrow began to radiate brightly. "Caladabolg!" The arrow released in a brilliant blue streak, it collided with the protection spell Caster spell and tore through it as she screamed in pain. She landed in a bloody heap on the ground in front of them, her clothes still smoked from the impact of Archer's attack. Shirou ran in too finish her off but was stopped as Archer grabbed him by the back of his neck.
"Oh? You don't wish to finish me off? How generous of you Archer." Caster's injuries healed as she was speaking, and she appeared no worse for wear in a few moments.
""I'm only here to make sure you don't kill Shirou." Archer crossed his arms. "Any fighting other than that would prove unnecessary at the moment, and there's nothing I hate more."
"Let. Me. Go." Shirou struggled against Archer until he let him go, dropping him on his butt, Shirou got up but didn't approach Caster since he figured Archer would just stop him again.
Caster laughed, "Really? You don't care for unnecessary bloodshed? Are you sure this boy isn't your Master?"
It was Shirou's turn to talk, "Don't even start, I know what you're getting at and don't you dare."
"Indeed, while we are both pacifists, the boy's fundamentals are nothing like my own." Archer added.
"Pacifist my ass." Shirou retorted.
"Well anyway, I do find you both quite intriguing, I would like to offer an alliance with you. I have a plan to stop the entire war."
Shirou couldn't suppress a chuckle, "Man the balls on you, sorry but it's a no, from both of us."
"Excuse me?" Archer raised an eyebrow at Shirou.
"I doubt Rin would allow you to do it, besides does Caster give you a better chance of defeating Berserker than Saber and I?"
After a moment he replied, "I guess you make a good point, he's right Caster, we decline your offer."
She actually seemed a bit disappointed, much to Shirou's amazement, "Ah well, negotiations can't always go the way you want."
"Even though you just tried to kill me, if you ever decide to change your murderous ways and join the good guys, a Magus of your caliber on our side would always be a plus, just saying." Shirou didn't look at her, just saying it left a bad taste in his mouth.
"I see generosity is another shared trait of yours," she giggled. "I'll keep that in mind." She got to her feet, flying back up into the air. For a moment Shirou thought she was going to resume fighting but instead, she left, in an instant she was gone.
Shirou let out a sigh of relief, "Do you think she'll be back?"
"No" Archer turned to face him, "she's gone to the wind, do you plan to pursue her?"
"Nah," he slumped to his knees, his eyes felt heavy and his muscles were burning, "Would you mind assisting Saber? I'm just going to rest my eyes for a bit, this rock looks really comfortable."
Archer chuckled, "Sure, I think I can manage that."
"And Archer…"
"Yeah?"
"If you kill me in my sleep, I'll haunt you forever. Plus.." a yawn broke his sentence, "I've ordered Saber to kill you if I die, whether it's your fault or not." He didn't wait to hear Archer's response as he drifted off into unconsciousness.
Shirou Emiya, Level 39
Health: 40/100
Magic: 25/100
Strength: 29/100
Endurance: 50/100
Dexterity: 47/100
Intelligence: 30/100
Wisdom: 20/100
Luck: 60/100
Skills:
Element: Sword/Sword
Resistance: Magic (5%) Curse (5%)
Unlimited Blade Works: Level 4 (Locked)
Passive increase in Swordsmanship
6% EXP increase in Sword skills progression
10% EXP increase in Archery skills progression
Charisma: C+
Cooking: A+
Cleaning: A+
Zen: D-
Alaya's Favor: 0%
Kenjutsu: C
Reinforcement Magic: C+
Weapon Tracing: C-
Time Alter: C
Gun Fu: D
Pankration: Level 3 (Instant Travel: 2%)
Presence Concealment: D+
Perks:
Ironman
Miraculous Healing
Star Constellation: Locked