A/N: Hell ya only took two months this time. So sorry guys, I honestly only started writing this a week ago. I know I'm sorry! But recently I've been getting into the habit of having a schedule, so yay for that. However I can't promise weekly updates, just montly. Hell actually I can't promise monthly either. I'm really lazy at times.
Holy hell 8k words, I've never written this much on only one chapter. Like ever.
So about this chapter I kinda promoted Irisviel to co-protagonist with Archer. When I first made this story she was just supposed to be an important character. Now I've kinda decided I want to write about her more. Archer is still our main GAR protagonist, but Irisviel is now his co-pilot.
Also about this chapter, it might be a little strange. That's because I kinda screwed up when things were supposed to happen. I thought the battle at the docks, Saber and Irisviel meeting Caster, and Kiritsugu blowing up Kayneth's hotel all happened on the same night as the attack on the castle. But nope so I tried to put everything in chronological order.
Also I hope I've improved on making everyone, especially EMIYA, not OOC. However Irisviel might come off as such.
This chapter is kinda graphic, so I might change the rating to M later on.
What else? Oh yeah I am looking for a new beta. Yeah! So anyone who wants to help me not make this chapter look like a reader's nightmare please PM me.
Anyway onto the story.
Update: So sorry guys. That unfinished sentence saying Kiritsugu knew the grail was corrupted is gone. I thought I had Archer tell them that in the second chapter, but I was wrong.
Update: So this chapter has been grammar fixed thanks to my two betas: Khanetho and Worldbringer of Joseun.
Khanetho helped with grammar mistakes in a big way.
Joseun helped me word the scenes better.
They are both a huge help. So thank them for their improvements.
xxx
Chapter 4
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Kirei Kotomine was frozen. He wasn't expecting the Servant from the docks to appear in front of him. He also wasn't expecting the Servant to try and make a deal with him right off the bat. Kirei knew he should've called for the Assassins to reveal themselves, maybe to scare off this Servant. However, Kirei was intrigued and his curiosity was getting the better of him.
"A deal?" Kirei questioned him, not dropping his guard.
"Yes, a deal Kotomine-san." Archer said, adding the 'san' as a sort of playful gesture.
"What kind of deal?" Kirei asked, curiosity growing by the second.
"Well, I need two things done. However, there's a bit of a catch. I'm not sure one of the two things has happened yet." Archer explains.
Kirei's eyes narrowed at the red Servant.
"What do you mean?"
"There's a little girl who's been recently adopted into the Matou family. I'm sure you've heard since the little girl is your master's daughter." Archer replied, sitting on the couch while propping his feet onto the coffee table.
"If you're referring to the former resident of the Tohsaka family, Sakura Tohsaka, or Matou as she is to be called, than yes I know."
"Ahh… Sakura. So that was the name…" Archer mumbled under his breath causing Kirei to give him a confused look. "Nevermind that. Yes, that's her. I'll need you to help me get rid of something that may or may not be inside of her. Have you ever heard crest worms?"
"I have, but I don't know much of them. They are unique to the Matou family if I recall correctly." Kirei answered.
"Yes, but what if I told you that the head of the Matou family is planning on forcing them inside the body of that girl Sakura?" Archer told him.
Kotomine's face turned to one of shock and then disgust, causing Archer to turn to him in shock. Archer during his life had gotten used to reading people's expression, how to tell fake emotions from the real ones. Archer wasn't expecting the man known as Kirei Kotomine to feel genuine disgust for the method that Zouken Matou was using.
"T-that's horrible." Kirei said, leaning forward in his seat, his head resting on his hands.
"You, you truly believe that don't you?" Archer said, standing up and walking over to him.
"I… I don't know." Kirei looked at the Servant.
"What do you mean?" Archer asked crossing his arms over his chest.
"I don't know how to explain it. I've never been able to find happiness in other people's understanding of it. I've felt other's love, but I've never felt love for others." Kirei confessed to Archer.
Archer's understanding of this man did not match with this man's words. In his memories of Kirei Kotomine, no matter how blurry, he was always smiling.
xxx
"We are the same you and I. We are only able to find our own happiness in one aspect of life. It is only because those aspects of life are opposite that we are enemies."
xxx
Those words had always stayed with Archer for the rest of his life. Kirei understood him in a way that no one else did, not even Saber. The Kirei Kotomine of his time had already found the answer to the question everyone sought: What would make you happy?
Watching others suffer.
That was his answer.
This Kirei Kotomine has yet to reach that answer.
'Maybe… I could.' Archer thought. Ever since he was summoned, Archer had been changing the future a piece at a time. He wanted to save Irisviel from suffering the fate she was destined to have, by saving her he'd be saving Kiritsugu and Illya. He'd save Saber from her own foolish wish to allow her to rest in peace in the plains of Avalon, to make up for not being able to help her in life. By stopping this Grail War and ending the curse of Angra Mainyu he could prevent...
A Hero of Justice from rising.
He swore up and down he was saving everyone for his benefit.
He'd save Irisviel to stop this war permanently, to stop the being known as Emiya Shirou from coming into existence. He'd save Saber because he owed her a debt, and he refused to fade from existence without paying it. Being a hero was a curse, a curse he would lift from himself by the end of this war.
So why should he consider saving this man? Stopping him from becoming the Kirei Kotomine he knew would save a lot of innocent people, not to mention Rin's father. However, only heroes would save this man based on those reasons.
And the Counter Guardian EMIYA was no hero.
"Tell me Kotomine-san. Have you ever tried to hurt someone before?" Archer asked, gaining a confused look from Kotomine.
"What? I don't understand the question." He said.
"Hmm. Let's say I give you a normal person from the streets. How does the idea of causing them to suffer appeal to you?" Archer said.
"That's w-wrong! I-I would never." Kirei stammered, placing a hand on his heart. His eyes widened as he felt it beat hard in his chest almost as if he was...
excited?
"I need your help to save the girl, and to do that we would need to kill Matou Zouken. He's a true villain Kotomine-san, I'm only saying this but a 'thing' like him isn't someone who deserves your mercy. I can help you live the life you want, while also helping you live the life you truly desire." Archer offered.
"What about the other one? You said before there were two people you wanted to save." Kirei said.
"Ah yes, I need your knowledge of spiritual surgery to remove something from someone." Archer told him.
"What?" Kirei asked.
"I need you to remove their soul." Archer said.
Kirei was shocked by Archer's request. "Their soul?! That would be risky, one wrong move and I could destroy it! Not to mention that you'd need another body almost immediately otherwise the soul would disappear!"
"Let me handle that, I already have an idea on where to get another body." Archer told him.
"Whose soul would I be transferring?" Kotomine asked.
Archer stood there for a minute before snapping his head to the side almost like he heard something.
"For now, I'll keep the identity of your patient a secret. It seems you'll be a having another guest soon. We'll have to wrap this up. So, Kirei Kotomine, will you help me save these two souls and in exchange I give you the answers to the life you wish to live?" Archer offered, holding his hand out to him.
Kirei stared at it for a second, contemplating his answer. Archer seemed to know a lot more than he's letting on, but his words caused the exorcist's heart to jump in excitement. Maybe he did have the answers he so desperately sought.
Kirei stood up from his chair and shook the Bowman's hand.
Archer chuckled before speaking.
"Congratulations, Kirei Kotomine. Your wish has been granted." Archer then turned to walk away before looking at Kotomine once.
"Do be careful what you tell that Golden Archer about our talk."
And with that Archer disappeared in a mist of blue.
About two seconds later a shower of gold appeared in Kirei's office.
"It seems that you let a dirty stray mark his territory, Kotomine."
xxx
After the fight at the docks, Irisviel was tired, so tired in fact, she didn't even want to take the wheel to drive back to the castle. Saber and her drove back in the car silently. Saber wasn't much of a talker, but even she was a little concerned over Irisviel's state. All the homunculus could think about was Archer's words at the beach. Did she truly show Kiritsugu and Illya how much she loved them? She is willing to sacrifice herself so that the dream of man she loves can finally become reality, but at the docks all she could think about was how much she wanted to see them again.
xxx
"You shouldn't let your life be dictated by something that might be inevitable. If you do… then the love you felt might not be as strong as you thought."
xxx
Sighing to herself, Irisviel tried to push the thoughts to the back of her mind. Eventually, they were stopped by a Servant who claimed Saber was the Holy Maiden Jeanne D'Arc. After Saber threatened him, he disappeared from view, claiming he'd see her again.
They returned to the castle and Saber and Irisviel checked in with Kiritsugu and Maiya. They learned that they took action against the Master of Lancer and blew up the hotel he was staying in, after evacuating the civilians inside first. Kiritsugu had questions as to where Archer was, but he decided against them after looking at his wife's tired face. After the debrief Irisviel immediately headed to her room and went to bed.
xxx
"Leave it to me, your dream."
"Huh?"
Irisviel's eyes snapped open as she heard a voice.
Flames surrounded her as she saw what looked to be a city burning. People who were trying to save themselves failed or trying to save a loved one, only to be trapped themselves. They all burned around her.
"W-what is this!?" Her eyes widening in horror.
In the midst of all this chaos, Irisviel could make out a small boy, probably about five or six, walking in the flames. She saw people reach out to him, begging to be saved or to save their loved ones. However, the begging then turned to curses as the boy walked past them. He placed his hands to his ears, to keep out their curses, their begging, their screams. She saw his determination to keep walking, to keep surviving.
Eventually though, reality caught up to the boy and he fell to the ground. He lifted his hand to the air, one last act of defiance to the flames that threatened to take him.
Irisviel wanted to reach out to him, to take his hand, to tell him everything will be alright. She saw the light in his eyes fading, the willpower to keep going crumbling under the smoke and soot that filled his lungs. Her eyes were filled with tears as she saw this and they fell when she saw his hand drop.
However, someone grabbed his hand before it hit the ground.
"He's alive! Thank you! You saved me!" A voice so familiar Irisviel almost refused to look at it's owner. She lifted her head to see the face of the man who had grabbed this boy's hand.
She was greeted by the sight of her husband, Emiya Kiritsugu, crying his eyes out while kneeling over this little boy.
"K-Kiritsugu?"
The scene around her began to dim and would soon fade away. As she started to wake she heard the voice she had heard when this vision started.
"If I saved somebody...would I be as happy as him?"
And with that Irisviel woke up.
xxx
Irisviel sat up in her bed. She knew what the dream was. Her Grandfather made sure to tell her about the dream cycle. It's a phenomenon during the Grail War where a Servant's memories flow into the Master, letting them see the Servant's life before they were a Heroic Spirit.
"Were those… Archer's memories?" Irisviel whispered to herself.
She was confused. She hadn't seen Archer in the dream. Could the boy be…? It was possible. It wasn't only the absence of her Servant in the dream that confused her. It was also the appearance of Kiritsugu. He never mentioned anything to her about this. Maybe…
Maybe because it hasn't happened yet.
Archer did say he was from the future. Could she be seeing events that had yet to happen. If so… who was the boy? What caused that fire?
Shaking her head, hoping to put these thoughts aside at the moment, Irisviel got out of bed and left her room. She had to talk with Archer about this once he returned. For now, she waited until nightfall so the Holy Grail War could resume once more.
xxx
Archer didn't head back to the castle that night. Instead, he stayed behind and scouted out the city. After patrolling around the city until nightfall, Archer decided to head to the residential district. He stood over the unfamiliar area, completely baffled by how normal it seemed. The only time he remembered there being buildings in the area was the night of the fire and he hadn't exactly been giving them too much attention at the time. Archer decided to head back to the castle before his Master got too worried. He just hoped that there wouldn't be too much trouble getting back.
He should've known he wouldn't be that lucky. Landing on top of a building, Archer felt the presence of a Servant. He looked down on the street below to see a man walking towards the direction of the castle, followed by a row of children.
The man had pale oily skin and wore an odd looking robe with red-colored patterns that gave off an evil aura. His arms were long and bony, with his nails being more like talons. In his hands he carried a light tan book. The man stopped his walk and the children followed suite. He turned and looked in Archer's direction, revealing his large eyes that reminded the servant of a dead fish. He then smiled and waved at him, before turning and resuming his walk as the children followed.
"I'm guessing by the high level of mana I'm feeling he's Caster." Archer summarized.
He was about to take off, not wanting to have take on someone he knew nothing about, when he noticed what look like something poking out of one of the kid's shirt. Focusing his enhanced vision on the area he saw the movement, he saw another movement, and then another. The wind blew the child's shirt open a bit, and what Archer saw caused his eyes to widen.
What he saw was rapid movement of something akin to worms crawling under their skin. Taking a better look, Archer noticed the same thing happening to the other children. He then noticed the look in their eyes. The blank stares, like they were already dead.
"Tch, I shouldn't get involved." Archer commented. However, his body betrayed his thoughts as the memory of his Master's words came to him.
xxx
"Save me!"
xxx
"Dammit!" Archer cursed as he projected his bow and traced a reinforced arrow and shot it at Caster.
Before it hit him however, Caster opened up the book he was holding and read a page. Suddenly, the one of the children's bodies exploded in a mix of organs and blood. From inside the body, massively large tentacles bursted out. The tentacles smacked the arrow away and stretched unrealistically far, smashing into Archer's position on the building.
Archer managed to dodge before he was struck by the tentacle, but it managed to send him off balance as he fell off the building. As he was falling mid-air another tentacle lunged at him. Tracing Kanshou and Bakuya, Archer dodged the tentacle and plunged Kanshou into the side of it, slicing through it as he fell down. Before he could hit the asphalt, Archer slammed Bakuya into the center of the monster, causing it to explode in rain of blood.
"Ugh. You make me miss the other Caster, at least her familiars were only made of bone." Archer said to himself as he landed on the street, standing in front of Caster and the children.
"Hoh, I wonder. Are you an Archer who uses swords or a Saber who uses a bow?" The man spoke in low pitch voice. "No, nonononono! My lovely Jeanne is the only Saber-class Servant. The golden king is the Archer and the Hassans are the Assassin, not to mention the the bronze conqueror is Rider. So, what are you?" He asked, giving Archer a creepy smile.
"The man who's about to kill you." Archer said gripping tightly on his married swords.
"Ah Ah Ahh! Are you sure about that?" Caster said as he snapped his fingers together and suddenly one of the children latched on to Archer.
Archer looked down at the little girl who was shaking before she looked up at him.
"Mister, it hurts… I-I'm scared!" She said with tears in her eyes.
Before Archer could do anything she exploded, just like the other child, covering Archer with her blood. Like before, tentacles sprang from her body and attempted to kill him. Archer sliced the tentacles off before throwing the swords into the center of it and then caused them to explode, killing the creature.
"HeheheheHAHA! Come little children, be done with this man so we may go and visit my beloved Jeanne." Caster cackled.
'Jeanne?' Archer thought.'I'm pretty sure the Holy Maiden hasn't been summoned here, so he must be talking about Artoria.'
"Wow, not only are you a sick bastard, you're also a stupid one." Archer insulted.
"Hehehe, sticks and stones my friend, however you've stalled me long enough. Childr—?!" Caster said before Archer's actions interrupted him.
Archer traced another sword to his hand, and began to cut down the children. His face an unyielding piece of steel, refusing to show emotion towards the heinous act he was committing.
He wanted to say he was sorry, to say there was no other choice, that there wasn't enough time for him to find a way to save them. However, his words wouldn't matter. All these children would know was that they would never see their families again and they wouldn't even know why.
Once the last child hit the ground dead, Archer stood with his back to Caster, surrounded by their dead bodies as his sword with the streets being stained crimson their blood.
'Even with my temporary freedom, it seems I still can't stop hurting those who don't deserve it.' Archer thought as his sword faded back into his world.
"And you call me sick. What kind of hero kills poor innocent children?!" Caster demanded the red-clad Servant.
"No hero would. I guess it's fortunate that I'm not one. No, I'm just a simple killer." Archer said turning around and faced Caster. Two longswords appeared in his hands as he lunged at him.
Quickly, Caster opened up the book and read out another sentence. A portal appeared next to him as more tentacles appeared out of the dark void and attacked Archer. Archer dodged to the left and sliced off one of the tentacles before jumping forward and kicked Caster straight in the chest, sending him flying as the portal closed before he had a chance to escape.
"Why, why are you trying to stop me from visiting Jeanne?! Why why why whywhywhywhywhy WHY!" Caster screamed at Archer.
"Shut up." Archer said walking over to him, ready to put this living nightmare to bed.
"Oh! Yes I see! Why didn't I see this before! Yes, yes I see now! You want her for yourself!" Caster rambled.
Archer stopped for a moment.
"...What?"
"Don't try to deny it! I know your scheme! You wish to turn her impure! Well, I won't let you! I'll be back for you! Oh yes I won't let you have your way with her!" He said before he went into his astral form and disappeared.
"What was that all about?" Archer said. He looked at the dead bodies of the children before giving off a sad sigh. He turned to leave but before he could…
"What is this?!"
He was greeted by Rider and his Master.
xxx
Irisviel and Saber headed to the war room located in the castle. Kiritsugu had asked everyone to meet him there so he could go over a strategy. When they entered the room, Irisviel found she couldn't look him in the face. Everytime she did she was reminded of the dream of Archer's past, the tears and look of joy on her husband's face.
If Kiritsugu noticed her weird behavior he didn't show it. Instead he went on with the meeting. He told them about where the Grail would likely appear when the war hit it's second stage and how they would need to secure a base of operations in one of the residential areas.
When Irisviel inquired about Caster however, Kiritsugu told her that they shouldn't worry about it for the time being. Due to the Servant mistaking Saber for Jeanne D'Arc, Caster would likely seek them out. Saber objected to that idea, believing they should seek Caster out and defeat him quickly before he committed more kidnappings and murders. Kiritsugu, of course, ignored her like he always did, before speaking to Iri as if Saber had never said anything.
After the meeting was over, Irisviel followed Kiritsugu to the outside wall of the castle. He placed his hands on the wall, looking out into the thick forest that surrounded the castle. Irisviel stared at Kiritsugu for a moment, neither of them saying anything.
"I… I want to run, Iri. I want to take you and Illya and run. Run from the war, the Einzberns, the world of magi. I want us to run from it all." Kiritsugu confessed, pressing his hands into the stone.
Irisviel just stared at him. Normally she would hold him and tell him that he should press forward to accomplish his mission through to the end, so they could give Illya a better world, where no wars were fought and when fights broke out they were quickly resolved with no one being worse off. She wanted to tell him that so much.
But she didn't. Instead, she just walked over to him and embraced him. Not saying a word.
"Iri?" Kiritsugu asked, giving her a confused look.
She looked up at him, before lifting herself up by her tip toes and kissed. The kiss was one of love and understanding. When they broke apart Irisviel looked at Kiritsugu with loving eyes.
"Kiritsugu, whatever you choose I will be there for you. If you wish to fight in this war, than I will stand by you until the end, whether it ends badly or not. And if you wish to run, then I will grab our daughter and we will follow you to the ends of the Earth. I love you, Kiritsugu." She told him. Her tone full of certainty.
"Iri… I love you so much." Kiritsugu said as he hugged her as tight as he could, afraid of what might happen if he let go.
"Kiritsugu, I know this may be selfish, but can you come to bed with me?" She asked as her head was buried in his chest.
"Iri?"
"Please?"
Her hug tightened. Kiritsugu didn't understand why she was acting like this, but…
"Alright Iri."
Did he have a right to refuse comforting the woman who had always comforted him? He led Irisviel to to their room and they laid themselves on the satin sheets.
"I love you Kiritsugu. You know that right?" Irisviel said, curling into her husband.
"I know, Iri." He told her.
With their arms wrapped around one and other, they snuggled as close as they could as their eyes drooped down and they fell into a deep sleep.
xxx
Irisviel dreamed of Archer's past again. This time she was in what looked like a hospital room. Kiritsugu had shown her pictures before, but she had never seen one in person. It was white with beds running down on either side of the room. There were machines by the side of each bed.
The beds were filled with children. Most of the children were injured and had bandages and cast that were covering their bodies. Well, everyone except one.
Irisviel saw that red haired boy again. He was laying in a bed in the back of the room. He wasn't wearing any bandages or had a cast on. In fact, if anyone else saw him they would be confused as to why he was even in the hospital. However, Irisviel saw the look in his eyes. It was a look she recognized well. She'd seen it many times, whenever she looks at one of the homunculi in the castle. It was a look she used to wear, before she met Kiritsugu and had Illya. The look of someone who couldn't express emotions no matter how much they tried.
Irisviel walked up to the boy's bed as he currently stared out the hospital window.
"Ah, I see. Thank you."
Irisviel turned around as she heard his voice again. She saw Kiritsugu standing with his back to the doorway, talking with one of the nurses with a briefcase in hand. He turned around and headed into the room with an expression that she'd never seen on him before: nervousness. She'd seen happy and sad, but never nervous. She watched as Kiritsugu passed by all the kids and headed straight to the boy. He stopped in front of his bed, causing the young boy to stare up at him.
"Hello. You must be Shirou-kun." Kiritsugu said.
"Shirou?!" Irisviel said remembering the name Archer gave them when they first summoned him. She was confused. Sure she had her suspicion, but this boy and Archer looked nothing alike. What happened to cause such a drastic change in appearance? Had it something to do with him being a Heroic Spirit?
"I guess I'll cut right to the chase. Would you rather go to an orphanage or go with someone you just met?" Kiritsugu asked.
The boy, Shirou, stared at Kiritsugu confused. Eventually he put on a face like he was thinking hard. After a minute, Shirou looked back at Kiritsugu and pointed at him. It took a second for Kiritsugu to register what Shirou was saying. The man gave a look of pure joy.
"I see. I'm glad. Okay, let's get you dressed. You'll be leaving with me to your new home." Kiritsugu said reaching into the briefcase, looking for something. Suddenly he stopped before looking at Shirou.
"Ah, before we go, I should tell you. I'm a mage." He told him.
Shirou looked at him with awe.
xxx
"Iri wake up!" Kiritsugu shook her awake.
She stared at him picturing the expression he had in the dream before she noticed the look on his face.
"Huh? Kiritsugu what's wrong?" Irisviel jolted up.
"The castle is under attack! I need you to leave right now!" Kiritsugu said as he headed out the door.
Irisviel immediately understood what she needed to do. Kiritsugu had prepared her for a situation like this. Jumping out of bed, Irisviel made it out of the room. She then heard a crash in the direction of the entrance to the castle.
She knew she shouldn't head there but she couldn't help it. Making her way to the front entrance, she heard a voice cry out.
"I am Kayneth El-Melloi, the ninth head of the Archibald family! Mage of the Einzbern family, let us duel for the Grail and our honor." The voice of the Master of Lancer called out.
"Well said my liege, I am grateful we have taken this course of action." The voice of Lancer spoke with gratitude in his voice.
Peeking out from the corner at the top of the stairs, Irisviel saw them standing by the doorway. Kayneth had a metal sphere that floated next to him.
'A mystic code!'Irisviel thought, remembering Kiritsugu telling her about him and how he was dangerous, even above that Tokiomi Tohsaka.
However, before she could continue her thought process, she felt a rush of wind and heard steel boots hit the floor. Looking a few inches away from her Irisviel saw Saber standing there looking down at Lancer and his Master.
"Kayneth El-Melloi, you have attacked the home of my Master. This something I can not abide." Saber spoke, her regal tone nearly causing Irisviel to want to hide.
However, Kayneth just gave the Servant a bored look before signaling Lancer to go forward.
"It is an Honor to be able to cross blades with you again, King of Knights." Lancer said giving Saber a small bow.
"Yes let us hope that our battle reaches a more satisfying conclusion than it did before, Sir Diarmuid." She replied.
With the pleasantries out of the way the two warriors lunged at each other. The weapons clashed against each other as they landed in the middle of the room. With the force from their blows being too great they destroyed most of the room, including many well placed traps.
As the two Servants battled each other, Kayneth made his way up the stairs. He turned to walk across the hallway when he was greeted by the sight of Irisviel standing in front of him.
"You must be the Lesser Grail. Tell me doll, where is the man who attacked me?" He asked in an arrogant tone.
"Leave!" Was all Irisviel said to him.
"Oh I see, do the Einzberns usually allow those like you to talk back to their betters? Perhaps I should curb that tongue."
Irisviel's circuits flared and she used her alchemy to form a giant fist that attacked Kayneth. Before it could hit him however, his giant sphere morphed into a solid wall that the fist collided into. Pulling back the strings of light, Irisviel made the strings form a whip of sorts as she noticed the wall had a small opening showing off her enemy's feet.
She swung the whip at the opening, causing Kayneth to jump back, avoiding her attack. He didn't notice Maiya behind him with a military grade knife. He yelped in pain as she plunged the knife in his back.
"Gah! Damn you, cowards!" Kayneth yelled as he used the sphere to smack her head into the wall, knocking her out.
"Agh!"
"Maiya!" Irisviel cried out in concern.
"You will regret messing with me!" He shouted, causing the sphere to turn into a ball of spikes, throwing it at Irisviel. Irisviel turned the whip into a hand that caught the ball right before it hit her. She wasn't counting on the one of the spikes expanded and stabbing her through the leg while another went through her shoulder.
"Ahhh!" She screamed in pain.
"Irisviel!" She heard Saber scream, but she was still in the middle of her fight with Lancer.
Than a loud bang filled the room.
Irisviel, who was still holding the sphere, looked at Kayneth who looked very confused at the moment.
"Huh?" Kayneth felt a stinging pain his chest and when put his hand on it he noticed blood covering his hand. He didn't hear the second shot as the bullet pierced his head, killing him instantly.
The sphere than turned into a metallic puddle as it fell through the giant hand's fingers. Irisviel got up before wobbling over to Maiya to check on her, a small trail of blood made it down the Assassin's head. Luckily though she was still breathing.
Irisviel felt a hand on her shoulder and she looked up to see Kiritsugu standing over her with a first aid kit. He then began to bandage Maiya's head and Irisviel's leg.
"Master!" Lancer shouted as he saw Kayneth lying on the floor as his blood pooled around him.
"Damn you!" He screamed as he began attacking Saber faster. His attacks attempted to take her out quickly before he vanished. Lancer broke her guard and struck Saber's armor with Gae Dearg, causing it to vanish before attempting to stab her with Gae Buidhe. Saber, knowing she couldn't get away from him fast enough without getting hit in her chest with the spear, decided to swing her sword at the spear, hoping she was fast enough to parry the attack.
Before they struck each other Saber heard her Master speak.
"By the power of this command seal I order you: Saber, appear behind Lancer!"Kiritsugu yelled.
Space and time bended at that moment, sending Saber directly behind Lancer. However, while Lancer missed the attack, Saber was still in mid-swing. She slashed through Lancer's body, destroying his core. Saber stared in shock at what had happened. Lancer dropped his spear as his arms fell lifelessly.
"I'm sorry Sir Diarmuid, I wanted this battle to end more honorable than this." Saber apologized to Lancer.
"I-I wanted to serve my lord right this time, but it seems I've failed again. I feel sorry for you King of Knights, that you have such a Master." Lancer said his final words before fading away.
Saber stared at where he used to be before turning to Kiritsugu, who was staring at her. She was about to yell at him, before he grabbed Maiya and lifted her up and headed down the hallway to the infirmary. Irisviel tried to follow him but nearly fell before Saber caught her.
"Saber..." Irisviel tried to say something, but Saber just stared forward.
As they were about to head down to the infirmary as well, they saw Archer walk in through the destroyed entrance.
"I'm guessing I'm not the only one who had an interesting time since we parted. Mind filling me in on the details?" He asked, placing a hand on his hip.
Irisviel told him all that happened since they split up at the docks as they made their way over to the infirmary.
'That explains why Caster was heading here.'Archer thought before he opened his mouth to speak. "Well, at least Lancer and his Master are gone. Should make things easier now that we don't have to deal with those spears." Archer spoke, noticing the way Saber's face seemed to tighten up.
'Seems the old man dealt with them in a way that probably left a bad taste in her mouth.'Archer thought.'I hoped she's taken my words to heart.'
"Well, seems like I missed an eventful evening." Archer said to no one in particular as he, Irisviel, and Saber made it to the infirmary. There, they saw Maiya still unconscious, sleeping in one of the beds while Kiritsugu was outside smoking a cigarette.
Saber and Irisviel went inside, leaving Archer outside with Kiritsugu.
xxx
"Where did you go after the docks, Archer?" Kiritsugu asked, more like demanded, as his eyes narrowed at the red Servant.
"I went to the church." Archer told him.
"For what reason?"
"I was curious, I wanted to see how much of a different environment it is than in my time." Not a complete lie.
"And?"
"It was different to say the least." He hadn't expecting Kirei Kotomine to be the way he is.
"Anything else?"
"I ran into Caster."
"What happened?"
"We engaged in combat. He seems to use a book that allows him to control some tentacle monsters." Archer reported.
"A book that summons monsters, huh. Did you neutralize him?" Kiritsugu said continuing to smoke.
"Unfortunately no, he slipped into his astral form before I could kill him."
"Unfortunate indeed. Anything else?"
"Nothing worth mentioning." Archer didn't need mention his encounter with Rider.
xxx
"Archer, you better have a good explanation for this." Rider said, pointing to the dead children and destroyed tentacles, griping the reins of the chariot tightly. Lightning crackling around the chariot. Waver started to feel sick at the sight of all the dead children littering the area surrounding Archer. He sat down in the chariot so he wouldn't be able to see them.
"Calm down Rider, that was necessary." Archer tried to explain.
"Necessary?! How do you call the slaughter of these little ones necessary?!" Rider exclaimed.
"Caster summoned monsters to burrow themselves in the children and then have them bursting out of their bodies l as a surprise attack ." Archer told him.
"That fiend! When I find that Monster!" Rider said, ready to immediately begin the search for Caster.
"Wha! Hang on you idiot! We haven't prepared for going head to head with Caster!" His Master yelled at him standing himself back up, forgetting the reason he was sitting in the first place.
"Waver Velvet, this is not the time for cowardice! How can I be a proper ruler if i allowed my subjects to be slaughtered like cattle?" Rider asked Waver.
"Waver… Velvet?" Archer questioned, as the memory of a grumpy mage returned. Waver stared at Archer for a second, before looking back at Rider, furious.
"Don't say my real name in front of the enemy you idiot! Oww!" Waver yelled, only to get flicked on the head by Rider.
"Your Master is correct Rider, giving out your true name is a sure way to get yourself quickly eliminated." Archer said, getting a laugh from Rider.
"Ho Ho! I do not fear it. I am Iskandar, the King of Conquerors!" Rider boasted."Duly noted." Archer said. "Rider… is your offer of an alliance still open?"
Rider and Waver gave Archer a look of surprise. Rider gave a laugh before hopping off his chariot and giving Archer a pat on the back, although it was more like a slap.
"Of course! See Waver, I told you one of them would come around eventually! They know." Rider laughed happily.
"Shut up. Idiot." Waver grumbled.
"Actually Rider, I propose a compromise. Caster needs to go and soon. I propose a temporary alliance. Tomorrow at dusk, we meet and find Caster's hideout and eliminate him." Archer offered.
Waver than choose to interject on the conversation.
"But the Overseer has already put the war on hold so everyone can deal with Caster. The one who takes him out gets an extra command seal. What's the point?"
"How long do you think it will take for the Church to get the rest of the Masters to cooperate? Four, maybe five days? By than Caster will have already killed enough people and absorbed enough prana to make himself a threat. Not to mention we don't know the situation of his Master. Those command seals could change the battle in his favor drastically." Archer said trying to convince them.
Rider adopted a thoughtful expression. He eventually sighed and grabbed Archer's hand.
"Very well bowman, I agree to your terms. We shall be allies until Caster is dead. On the night of tomorrow that monster shall be done for!" Rider shouted. He then proceeded climbed back in his chariot.
Waver looked at his Servant like he was crazy.
"You idiot! Don't go making deals without my consent!"
Rider laughed as he and Waver vanished back into the sky, leaving Archer all alone again before he headed back to the castle.
xxx
Kiritsugu sighed before he took the cigarette out of his mouth and stomped it out.
"Why didn't you tell me you were a mage?" Kiritsugu asked looking him in the eye.
"Why would I tell you?" Archer said bluntly as Kiritsugu glared at him. "Despite this alliance we have you're still an enemy Master. Not to mention a crafty one at that."
"Don't test me. Despite all your abilities, when you're summoned as a Servant you're nothing more than a tool, one I need to know everything about if I can use you properly." Kiritsugu said, possibly hoping to see if he could get a reaction out of him.
Archer chuckled at him.
"You are correct, I am a tool. No matter how popular or powerful a Heroic Spirit is, they are nothing more than weapons during a Holy Grail War. However, my purpose is to be of use to my Master, Irisviel von Einzbern, not Emiya Kiritsugu. Unless she orders it, I will not take orders from you." Archer spoke harshly to him.
Kiritsugu then turned and walked away, but Archer's next words stopped him.
"You may not believe it, Emiya Kiritsugu, but you and I are more alike than you think." Archer said ,his eyes closed, back resting against the wall.
"Are we?"
"We were both were betrayed by our ideals. Now we're looking for a way to escape our burdens, no matter the sacrifice."
Kiritsugu didn't speak and walked away, heading back towards the war room.
Archer didn't want to tell him the real reason he didn't trust him. Emiya Kiritsugu was a threat to his plans. The Magus Killer always went for the option with the highest chance of success. He was willing to let his own wife die just to complete his mission.
Archer stood against the wall for who knows how long. Eventually, Saber walked out of the infirmary and walked past Archer.
"Saber." He said as she stopped, her back turned to him. "Remember, despite this being called a war, in reality it's just a skirmish between Magi to complete a ritual. They care nothing for honor or glory, only for results. The more you expect it from them, the more you'll be setting yourself up for failure." He told her.
Saber didn't turn around, but she spoke in a small voice.
"So I should throw away all that I am, just to win?" She mumbled.
"Maybe or maybe not. Your the one who needs to decide what's more important. Your victory or your ideals."
Saber gritted her teeth and clenched her fists. Despite her not liking them, Archer's words made sense. However, before she could speak, Archer said something that caused her to freeze.
"Maybe you should accept the hand you've been dealt and be glad you saved what you did, no matter how tragic the end was." Archer said, realising how hypocritical he sounded.'It seems I never can practice what I preach after all.'
Saber stood silent for a second, before she too walked away from the bowman, thinking hard on what he told her.
Archer stood in silence for a while longer before he heard a voice come from inside the infirmary.
"Archer?" Irisviel called out to him.
He walked into the infirmary and saw Maiya still asleep, while Irisviel was sitting up in her bed.
"Shouldn't you be resting Master?" He said, a bit concerned for her health.
"Archer… I need to ask you something, and I want you to be honest with me." She said, giving him a serious look.
"Being serious are we Master?" He smirked.
"Archer."
"Fine fine. What is it you need to ask me?" Archer asked, holding his hands up in surrender.
"Archer, I'm asking you this because what I've seen confuses me." She said fiddling with her hands.
"Saw?"
"Archer, why didn't you tell me you knew Kiritsugu?" She said staring him in the eye.
Archer's smirk left his face as he stared at his Master, looking shocked.
"What?"
xxx
A/N: Archer man you l have had to figure she would see your memories sooner or later. Man I hope you have a plan.
...you do don't you?
Archer has decided to turn Kirei into the Fate version of Dexter Morgan.
Now Kirei has to follow The Code of Archer.
Anyway welcome to the bottom AN where I talk to you about more awesome stuff than the top AN offers.
I hope you guys enjoyed the dream sequences. I know I got a couple of reviews asking for them. I actually planned just to do the first one, but due to me fixing my chronological F#$k up (see top AN) I decided to do two. I hope you guys enjoyed them
I kinda want to do an Einzbern's consultation room. However I feel like since I still am not sure how the mechanics of the nasuverse work, it wouldn't be well received. You know since they're usually used to explain how things work in the story.
But you know what screw it.
xxx
Einzbern and Hero's Talk Show! Demo!
Standing in a large empty talk show room were two people. It looked eerily similar to a god-like talk show host's room that appears on TBS.
"Oh god, I'm not actually wearing this again am I?" Spoke the Servant of the Bow, Archer, who was currently rubbing his finger in between his eyes, trying to ease his headache. He was currently sitting in the chair next to the host's desk. He was wearing the outfit Irisviel made for him.
"Oh Shirou-kun, don't be such a grump, you look so dashing in that. This is going to be so much fun!" Spoke his Master, Irisviel von Einzbern, who was sitting at the host's desk wearing a black pantsuit and tie.
"Hello! I'm your host Irisviel von Einzbern! and this is my co-host/son Emiya Shirou!"
"Call me Archer Master, I've asked you this before."
The audience clapped.
Archer looked at the empty bleachers across the stage, wondering where the noise came from.
"There's nobody here. Master, I think we should quit before we're eaten or something." Archer said looking at his Master.
"Shirou-kun, I've told you before, call me Mama!" Irisviel put her hands together.
"And I've told you 'Master' no."
"Ara ara, Shirou-kun is being an unruly child. Must be in his rebellious phase. As his mother, I have to discipline him. Oh Shirou-kun~" Irisviel gave him a dangerous look, before jumping on him.
"Wait! Master! Stop! Not there! Please I'm begging you!" Archer shrieked.
The audience laughed.
"There's no one here!"
"Shirou-kun~"
"Please stop… Ma… Mama." Archer blushed.
"Aww! Shirou-kun kawaii!" She hugged him.
"Mas—Mother, tell everyone what this'll be about." Archer told her, pushing her off of him.
"Ah, you're right! This is a segment at the end of the story where we will interview each member of this story plus those of other Fate franchises!" Irisviel explained.
"This sounds kinda like a rip-off of the Einzbern's Consultation Room." Archer deadpan.
"It's not, it's not! This is totally different!" Irisviel said.
"How so?"
"I'm a talk show host now! Look at my nice suit." Irisviel said showing of her black suit and tie.
The audience laughed.
"Ugh… You stole that from your husband's closet didn't you?" Archer said more as a statement than a question.
"Eeep! H-how did you—!?" Irisviel moved back in shock.
"You're kidding me right?"
"Ehhh."
"Anyway, catch our first interview in the next chapter." Archer said looking in the direction a camera would be positioned.
"There's no cameras either!"
"For our first interview, we'll be talking with the three heroines of Fate/Stay Night about Shirou-kun's womanizing ways!" Irisviel said patting Archer's shoulders.
The audience screamed in excitement.
"Wait what!?"
[End Segment]
xxx
Review response time.
longbowchris50: Don't let Gil hear you say that.
98kazer: I didn't forget I hope you enjoyed them.
The Impossible Muffin: That was the second longest chapter (now third) I've written.
Ilidio13: Yeah but Archer sure acts like it.
StoryReiter: I know he did reveal too early, but what was he to do his Master was about to be turned into a pin cushion.
Raikiri's edge: Another guy who knows more than me about the mechanics of the nasuverse. Please be my beta. Man it wasn't about the stats, it was about the love.
xxx
So I forgot to do this earlier, but it's time to shamefully promote my new story. Yes you heard right, a new story by yours truly. It's a fic about Grim Tales so...it's a fanfic about a fanfic. For those of you who don't know about Grim Tales: It's a mix-mash of all old popular american cartoons (BillyMandy, PowerPuff girls, etc) mixed with comics (DC, Marvel, Image). My fic called The Tale of the Time-Traveling Reaper. It's a time-travel fic as the name implies. So those of you who enjoy Grim Tales, go check it out. Please! I beg of you! It ain't doing to well.
xxx
So I'm getting back into Fate related things again. I plan to watch Apocryphal sometime this week and the Heaven's Feel movie. However since im currently watching Chaos;Child I won't be watching now. I'm also playing Grand Order again. Thanks to you guys who offered your spare accounts. I didn't use them but it was a thoughtful gesture.
So this is the end of the bottom AN. I'm pretty sure it's over a thousand words so I gotta end it.
Oh right preview summary: Irisviel confronts Archer which has unexpected consequences, Irisviel's next dream, Irisviel, Waver, and Rin's Misadventure results in The Red Bowman, and the Bronze Rider, and The Mad Knight forming The Three Musketeers.
Thanks for the support you guys.
seeya