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Fate/Stay Night - Chapter Red

Chapter 03- Saber versus Berserker!

...

"Hello again mister. This makes it the second time that we've met." the silver haired girl greeted. The situation couldn't have been more perfect for her. No witnesses nearby and two masters for the price of one right in front of her. How could she not smile, especially since her prey was beginning to sweat. The silver haired girl took a graceful bow as she introduced herself. "Hello there Rin, my name is Illya… Illyasveil Von Einzbern. Von Einzbern, you're familiar with the name, yes?"

"Von Einzbern?" Rin tried to recollect.

Illya giggled, this was just starting to get fun. "We can skip the rest of the introductions since you'll all be dead."

"Is that right you little brat?" said Saber as she stood protectively in front of her master.

"Mmhm." Illya hummed. "That's right."

Rin who had gone silent began observing the Von Einzberg's servant more closely. The amount of raw power the servant emanated made the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end. "This is bad. That thing outclasses Saber by a lot."

Hearing that made the already nervous Shirou even more nervous. He'd seen Saber fight once already and knew she was powerful, but hearing Rin say she was outclassed really caught him by surprise. Not only that, she was still dealing with a wounded shoulder.

"Emiya." Rin said, gaining the nervous boy's attention. "It's up to you if you decided to run away or stay and fight, but if you can... Try to run far away."

Shirou could practically feel his heart beating in his chest. He was afraid... He could admit that. But running away and leaving Rin and Saber to face this new threat was not an option. He could feel the sweat rolling down his brow as he gazed into the glassy eyes of the hulking servant.

"Are you all finished talking because I'd like to get started." Illya chirped. "Okay, I hope you're all ready to die. Go get them Berserker!"

Once the order was given the hulking servant that stood docile began to tense. His almost smoky gray skin began to turn a dangerous shade of scarlet as his power started to rise. His eyes flashed a menacing red glow before he roared to moon like an untamed animal.

He dug his feet into the ground and leaped high into the air. In an instant Saber's raincoat was discarded and her armor and blade reappeared in a flash. Sensing the true danger Berserker represented to her master and herself, she knew she had to try and put this mindless beast down as quickly as possible.

Berserker raised his massive blade high and made to cleave Saber in two. She brought her blade Clarent up in defense. Both blades met with a resounding shockwave that knocked Shirou flat on his ass. He looked up to see Saber and Berserker locked in a deadlock.

Saber tightened her grip on Clarent and roared she forced Berserker back to the surprise of both Shirou and Rin. Berserker landed straight on his feet as he glared at Saber with eyes full of madness. He roared with anger at the armored knight, his only thoughts revolving around chopping her to pieces. Saber was largely unaffected by Berserker's mad shouts and charged at the mad servant.

Both swung their blades at each other with frightening speeds. The sounds of steel meeting steel filled the area. Literal sparks flew from their blades as the each held the same strategy in mind. SLASH and DESTROY! Berserker went for a powerful overhead strike that Saber easily blocked, but the force alone was still enough to force her back. Feeling enraged at being pushed back, Saber charged back in with reckless abandon to meet the hulking red giant.

"Saber, be careful!" Shirou shouted as he watched Saber recklessly charge in.

Rin's mind though was focused solely on Berserker. "That sword of his is massive and yet he swings it with such relative ease."

Saber and Berserker continued to trade sword strikes with each other as the impact of their blades began to leave multiple slash marks on the surrounding area. Neither one could land a clean slash on the other even though they had increased their speed.

Saber eventually jumped back to create some distance between herself and the mad beast known as Berserker. He was proving to be more trouble than she'd thought he'd be. She grit her teeth under her helmet and charged back into the battle. There where four loud strikes made before Berserker went for another overhead strike. Saber saw this coming and sidestepped the blade that had now embedded itself into the ground.

Not wanting Berserker to raise his blade again, Saber planted a foot on top of it. Seeing her opening she swung her blade at the mad servants throat. "I've got you now!"

"She's got him now!" Rin cheered. That cheer quickly turned to shock however when instead of having his throat slashed, Berserker merely arced away from the blade and forced Saber away with two strong kicks to the chest. "There's no way he could be that agile! How the hell does that thing even qualify as a Berserker?!"

Berserker simply cracked his neck before lifting his blade from the ground. He turned to face Saber, his face betraying no emotion.

"Hmph! You're better than I thought." Saber said to the mad servant, gripping her blade tightly before pointing it at the stationary giant. "Still, I'm going to cut you down you annoying bastard!"

Berserker's eyes widened in rage as he made a mad dash at Saber who mirrored his movements. The ground beneath them began to split apart as they neared one another. Unfortunately for Saber, Berserker was much more powerful and forced Saber back.

She was doing her best to hold off his blade with her own, but the mad servant was just as relentless as she was. He roared in fury and swung at Saber with such force that she was sent flying into the air. Saber cursed under her breath at letting herself get launched so easily. The next thing she knew she was using Clarent to block Berserker's midair strike that had forced her back to solid ground with a large bang.

Berserker came crashing back down to skewer the red knight, but she got back to her feet first and again was deadlocked with the snarling Berserker. Saber could feel her muscles trembling under the extreme force that was baring down on her. She needed to break this deadlock soon. The blade Clarent began to glow, flowing with red lightning. Saber could feel herself slowly pushing Berserker away. She gave one mighty heave and forced Berserker off of her.

Saber's helm disassembled around her revealing her face, she looked frustrated. Maybe it was time to change up her strategy? "Damn Berserker." she muttered under her breath. She tried to think of what would her father do in this situation... Then it hit her. Use the environment. Saber began to run down a side path no too far from her position with Berserker not too far behind.

"Don't let her get away Berserker!" Illya ordered as she followed after her servant.

Saber wasn't fast enough as Berserker was on her in an instant and began to swing his blade wildly at her. She quickly turned around and parried each strike made at her. Just watching Saber struggle was enough to put a smile on Illya's face.

"That's it! Get her, get her!" she cheered.

Saber narrowly avoided a strike that would have taken her head off. She ran around the savage servant and up a nearby telephone pole. Using her red lighting she began to surf the wire with Berserker following on foot. Berserker growled at the crimson knight before chopping the telephone pole down. Saber clicked her teeth as she was forced to hop to a different pole. While she rode the lightning she finally found her intended target... Berserker's master.

Saber jumped into the air with her blade poised to end Berserker's master's life. For the first time since the battle started, Illya looked at the Saber of red with something akin to fear in her eyes. Just as Saber was about to bring her sword down, she was batted away by a very enraged Berserker, and sent crashing full force through a nearby stone wall.

"Saber!" Shirou called out in worry as he watched his servant walk through a new hole in the wall. The top of her head was bleeding heavily as crimson rolled down the side of her face. She looked just as enraged as Berserker. She completely abandoned all sense of strategy in her rage and dashed at Berserker. He swung his blade down in an arc that split the ground. Saber merely leaped into the air and Shouted at the top of her lungs as hers and Berserker's blades met once more.

When both blades met, Saber could feel her shoulder pop. She cringed from the searing pain shooting though her shoulder down to her arm. Berserker on the other hand wasn't previously injured from an earlier bout and took advantage by knocking Saber aside.

The crimson knight was able to land on her feet but fell to a knee as she gripped her left shoulder. "Shit!" she growled.

"She's still hurt!" Shirou realized. By the way she was fighting, Shirou had nearly forgotten the injury she suffered at the hands of Lancer earlier. She must have been ignoring the pain before now. "SABER! GET AWAY FROM HIM!"

Shirou was about to try and intervene, but was held back by Tohsaka.

"Tohsaka!"

Rin ignored Shirou for the time being and focused her attention on Berserker. She began firing magic at the mad servant, but it had no effect. Her puny finger gun was the equivalent of a peashooter to him. "No good. My attacks have no effect."

"This is hopeless, get out of there now Saber!" Shirou shouted.

Retreat! Leave the battle unfished! Ridiculous! She was destined to become a king and surpass the one and only King of Knights himself! Like hell she would retreat! She could feel her anger threatening to swallow her whole and grit her teeth, she would take this freak of nature down even if it killed her.

Saber looked down at her left arm which now hung limply by her side. She couldn't feel it at the moment. That meant she would have to try something even more risky than before if she was going to slay this beast. But first, she had to clear her thoughts. She took a deep breath and hardened her gaze at Berserker. She stood back on her feet and held her Clarent close.

"You really are a pain in the ass, you know that?" Saber started. "You're just a mindless beast that only understands one language." she began to grin. "Fortunately for you it's a language I also understand and will respond in kind."

The energy around Saber began to build, red lighting swirling all around her body.

Her face turned hard as she prepared for an all or nothing strike against the mad beast known as Berserker.

"This is where you die! BERSERKER!"

Saber took off like a speeding bullet ready to put everything on the line. Berserker merely tried to divide the earth as he took another swing at the ground below. Dirt and debris flew through the air obscuring everyone's view. Saber was not deterred by going in blind. She powered through until she was face to face with the red-eyed monster. She thrust her blade at the beast's heart, but found her blade ensnared by his iron grip. Blood dripped from his hand as he held Clarent in place. He was ready to end this battle and send Saber back to whence she came. Saber would have none of it however, as she felt nothing but raw, untamed power surge through her body. She let out her battle cry as Clarent glowed it's crimson glow, "AHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

Again Berserker roared, but not from rage. No! It was from a pain which he had likely never experienced before. In a move that left nearly everyone stunned, Saber forced her blade through Berserker's chest and released everything she had at that exact moment. Red Lighting shot straight through his chest and out his back, leaving behind a giant gaping whole in what used to be called a torso. Berserker fell to his knees, lifeless... the light in his eyes, extinguished.

"Is it all over?" Rin asked when the dust had finally settled.

"Saber!" Shirou called as he started to run over to his servant.

Saber let loose a long sigh of relief, this battle was finally over. Right as she was about to address her master, her eyes grew two sizes at the sight in front of her. The gaping whole in Berserker's chest was... Closing itself up. "HOW! Is this regeneration?! No, it can't be! It's a curse of resurrection that activates whenever he dies!"

Worry began to grip Saber as she saw the mad servants eyes brimming with life. She knew what was about to happen next.

"MASTER! STAY BACK!" she ordered.

No sooner had those words left her mouth, Berserker had fully recovered, and struck all his might...

Saber was sent flying through the air, a trail of blood following her on the way down.

"Saber!" Shirou shouted in horror.

Saber struggled to look up at the insane savage that had wounded her so badly. Her vision was blurring and turning as red as the blood she was leaving on the pavement. How pathetic she thought. How was she supposed to accomplish her goals if she gets taken out like this? She was supposed to become a king wasn't she? In a way this situation seemed almost familiar to her. It made her so mad she could spit. Shirou tried to run over to help her but she waved him off, much to his surprise.

Shirou couldn't believe what he was seeing. Here was Saber, bleeding profusely and with one function arm, forcing herself to stand with the aid of her blade. Shirou couldn't do anything except watch, he hated this. He couldn't understand why? Why was Saber still trying to fight knowing this was a loosing battle?

Illya finally appeared from behind Berserker with her child-like grin plastered across her face. "You're not going to win this. Berserker isn't your average servant, he's the strongest hero in all of Greek history."

"A Greek hero?" Rin questioned, she made sure to know her history. It was then realization finally hit her. "You don't mean..."

"That's right! My servant is none other than famous Hercules."

"Hercules?!" Rin parroted in shock.

"That's right, the strongest monster there is. My servant is a thousand times better than any lackluster hero you could summon."

Rin remained silent.

"Oh well." Illya smiled. "Finisher her off Berserker. She'll just regenerate so chop off her head to make sure she stays down."

Shirou couldn't take it anymore! To hell with the damn rules! Saber had been through enough. "LEAVE HER ALONE!"

What happened next left everyone shocked...

Shirou Emiya, the novice magus who had just found out about The Holy Grail War a few hours ago had just jumped in front of a finishing blow meant for his servant. Such a thing was unheard of. No proud magus would ever do something so colossally stupid.

Shirou's scream is loud and permeates throughout the entire battlefield. He lands in a heap, his life essence flowing out of him freely. "Master! Master!" Saber calls in worry. He's unresponsive.

Rin is rendered speechless. She looks back and forth between everyone present, unable to fully comprehend what just happened.

Illya is very much the same. "Why...? Why did he do that?"

Saber doesn't know what to do or what to really think. She was a knight who had fought many battles, and yet in not one of them had she needed to be rescued by another. She couldn't remember a time when someone had jumped in front of a blade for her. She didn't know if she should feel angry or... All she knew for sure is that she knew who to blame for this. Even in her weakened state she gives Illya the most malevolent glare she could muster.

Even with Berserker by her side, the silver haired girl takes a step back. Even if she wouldn't admit it out loud, this Saber servant scared her. "C-C'mon Berserker. T-This has gotten boring. We're leaving!"

By his master's order, Berserker dematerialized and Illya disappeared into the dark of the night.

With the enemy abandoning the battle, Rin sighs in relief. She turns her attention to the unresponsive Shirou with her anger out in full force. "What did you think you were doing running in there like that?! Did you really think you could save her?!"

In an unknow location another set of eyes views the battlefield. "So you too have been summoned to this world ... Mordred."

...

Back at Kotomine Church, Kirei was reveling in his good book, carefully reading it's passages. "Too many voices and too many desires will confound you. Talk is cheap, man's sin is lying-"

"There is a feint sneer on your lips Kotomine." a new voice interrupted. There form covered by the creeping shadows of the church. "You should take heed not to show that look to other people."

"Is that what it looked like?" Kirei said as he closed his book. He turned to face the only other occupant in his church that was seated all the way in the back.

"Indeed. You are a rogue without shame and have a smile to match. That boy... Emiya, was your encounter... pleasant?"

"Yes it was." Kirei smiled faintly. "It was as if I had been reunited with an old friend. How could I not be happy. It's just as you said, The Holy Grail War has begun again after a mere ten years. As overseer I can only pray that the miracle will be fulfilled and that the grail will materialize this time. On a different subject, what do you think of young Shirou Emiya? Does the name make you feel nostalgic?"

The figures eyes narrowed. "Hardly, just the name alone fills me with disgust. All I want is the wish that I was denied."

Kirei smirked. "Our lord who is in heaven will forgive all the sins of the world. But first we'll have to wait a while, preparations are nowhere near complete."

"Very well, I shall stay my hand for the time being." the figure said, their golden orbs looking out to the moon. "Emiya, even in death you haunt me. To think your spawn would summon... Her."

"Is there something on your mind?" Kirei asked as he noticed his guest seemed lost in thought.

"No. The moon is beautiful tonight. That's all."

...

A cool and calm night. A bright moon shining down on the ground below. The wind was calm and the crickets made their serine music. In the backyard of a fairly large home a young Shirou Emiya sat with his father to enjoy the cool night.

"When I was younger I too wanted to become a hero of justice too." said Kiritsugu.

"What do you mean used to?" Shirou asked in confusion. "You just gave up on it? Why would you do that?"

"It's hard to explain." Kiritsugu said calmly as he looked up at the full moon. "Hero's don't last long. The older you get, the harder it is to be one."

Shirou pouted.

"I only wish that I had come to that realization sooner."

Shirou became silent as if pondering his father's words. "I see, I guess that probably won't happen for you then."

"No... It probably won't."

"Well, since it's not going to happen for you... I'll just have to be one instead." said Shirou. "I'm sorry that you've gotten too old for it, but I've still got plenty of time for it."

A moment of silence passed between the two as the wind began to pick up, it honestly felt quite nice to them.

"You just leave it to me." Shirou continued. "I'm gonna make that dream of yours come true someday dad, I promise."

"Thank you. That's a relief son." Kiritsugu nodded.

Another silence fell between the pair. This time though it wasn't by choice, Kiritsugu's journey had finally come to close. He dies right then and there with a smile on his face. Shirou looks on with sadness as the man who had saved him passes on into the next world.

Tears roll down his cheeks...

He feels his heart ache...

And everything else around him is rendered silent.


A/N: Chapter three has come to a close. This chapter was a bit shorter than the last one. Anyways, Saber fought Berserker and it obviously didn't go well. Just to clear up any confusion or misunderstandings that may arise, Saber(Mordred) is weaker than she was in Apocrypha. This is due to Shirou's inability to provide a sufficient amount of mana for her since he's a novice.

I hope you all enjoyed the chapter, have an awesome day.