Pain. That was the one thing that Shirou felt at the moment as his limp body was being strung to the wall. He managed to open his eyes and immediately regretted it. There were at least hundreds of spectators. Some were jeering while the others looked on hopelessly. Then, Shirou trained his eyes on the fat politician he had saved. The man was grinning and rubbing his hands together. Shirou felt disgust well up inside him.

This politician wasn't looking out for the people. He just wanted to save his career and the only way to do so was through execution. Shirou sighed. There was nothing he could do about it now. He was being strung up to the wall and he will face his last moments with all the dignity given to him. The only regret was him not being able to see them again.

Rin

Sakura

Ilya

Saber...

Against his own wishes, Shirou felt tears well up in his eyes. He quickly shut them before anyone could see. No matter how long it has been, the memory of Saber's parting was so painful and raw he thought he could never part from it. Rin and Sakura had tried to comfort him using any means possible and he was thankful for them. The shy love they had for each other gave his life some meaning but it could never fill the void that appeared the moment the young girl, Arturia, left his world altogether.

Though it was painful, Shirou continued to follow his dreams and after winning the next Holy Grail War, he became the living incarnation of the Hero of Justice. He had achieved his dreams of becoming a protector of the innocents and yet, it left him hollow. Long nights with Rin and Sakura would temporarily fill that hollowness but it would come back the next day with doubled the force.

Furthermore, Shirou suddenly realized, to his horror, that for every one person he saved, he was forced to kill another. No matter how hard he tried, Shirou couldn't save all those people. It was through that dispair and desperation that he made a pact with the Holy Grail. He would exchange his services in order to protect the remaining hundreds still alive within Fuyuki City.

-Flashback-

Shirou stared in horror all around him. Flame, screams, death. The whole city was consumed with those three phenonmenons. It was bad enough that he was already plagued with the guilts of killing but now, his beloved city has now become the target for world powers and just a moment ago, planes dropped tons after tons of bombs to the city, leveling its peaceful atmosphere into dust.

Desperation. Shirou was racked with it. He had traced numerous protections but they were simply far too much destruction for him to stop on his own. He fell to his knees. There was absolutely nothing he could do now. Fuyuki City will burn.

'Is that so?'

Shirou whipped up his head. There was no one there. All he could see was a vast city of flames and ruins. There was no one next to him.

'I can help you save those still alive.'

Shirou immediately stood up. That voice... it wasn't human. It emanated power and yet, it felt so familiar. "Can you?" He asked. "Can you help me save those still alive?"

'Yes Hero of Justice. I can.'

Then, before Shirou's eyes. The darkness was filled with indescribable light. It illuminated the dark city and seemed to have quelled the flames with it's sheer brightness alone. Shirou immediately knew what it was that commanded such power and respect. He fell to one knee in respect.

The Holy Grail.

'I can help you save those still alive but something must be given to me as return.' Shirou nodded. He couldn't expect such an omnipotent vessel to grant his desire without something in return. That could only be given through the Holy Grail War and it would be impossible should Fuyuki be destroyed.

"What will you have me give to you?"

'Your Scabbard. The holy sheath of King Arthur.'

Shirou stiffened immediately. It was not because the sheath was the most powerful defense he had, though it was true. Rather, it was the very last thing he had left to remember her by. Still, he nodded and stood up. "I accept the exchange."

'Then the pact has been made.'

There was a blinding flash of light and Shirou felt immense pain take over his body yet he felt strangely empty on the inside. The last remnants of Saber was taken but he could not blame the Grail. It was either that memento or the lives of hundreds. When Shirou opened his eyes, tears sprang at the sight of the ruin city. Yet, they were tears of joy as he saw that people were indeed still alive and are now making their way to rebuild what has now been lost to them.

"To rebuild, we must forget the past." Shirou gave a sad smile to the sky, his tears flowing endlessly down his cheeks. "Farewell, my dear Arturia."

-End Flashback-

Fuyuki had been spared an rebuilt. Shirou had felt immense gladness at the sight of it's magnificent peaks reaching the sky once more yet those he had once saved now turned their backs towards him. Some blamed the fire on him and many were angry that he could not protect them.

Then, the greedy politician played on their emotions and declared him a traitor. Shirou could not bare fighting against those he had once protected and they took him without so much as a struggle.

He now hung before them, with thoughts of regret and guilt as he gazed upon the faces of those that survived. Many were saddened but the rest were staring at him as if he was mere filth. Perhaps, he really was only filth.

The cruel voice of the politician rang through the air, breaking Shirou's train of thoughts.

"Emiya Shirou. For your acts of treachery against this city, I sentence you to death." The fat pig sneered at him. "Any last words?"

Rage. Shirou's eyes suddenly snapped open and they were filled with it. This politician, he is not what the people need. This fat pig in a man's suit will bring ruin to his beloved city and Shirou will not accept it. He immediately glared fiercely at the man, forcing contact between them.

'I am the bone of my sword...'

The air was suddenly laced with mana. People became discomfort as they looked around, trying to see what had caused the sudden shift.

'Steel is my body and Fire is my blood...'

The ground trembled. Everyone immediately grew alert but relaxed again as the tremble was not too strong.

'I have created over a thousand blades...'

Unknown to everyone but the fat politician, Shirou's hands began glowing a faint red. The man's eyes widened and he took a step back.

'Unaware of loss...'

The pig fell, gaining the attention of everyone.

'Nor aware of gain...'

The man began sweating. His clamored back in fear of the now glowing man.

'Hath withstood pain to create many weapons...'

"Guards!"

'Waiting for one's arrival...'

"Kill him! Can't you see what he's trying to do?"

'I have no regrets, this is my only path...'

The guards immediately raised their guns and aimed at the glowing form of Emiya Shirou. The fat man now stood behind them, with a triumpant smirk on his enormous face.

'My whole life has been...'

"FIRE!"

'Unlimited Blade Works.'

The sounds of gun fire were heard just as the whole platform glowed yellow with mana. To some, it seemed to have lasted an eternity but in all actuality, it was only for two seconds. The yellow glow faded and there hung Emiya Shirou, still strung to the wall and now dead with bullet holes all over his body. Yet he died with a content smile on his face.

Suddenly, behind the guards, the sound of something squirting was heard and the screams of those behind them caught their attention. They immediately turned around and were met with the decapitated body of the fat politician. Blood squirted out of his severed neck like a fountain as the body stayed upright. Then, it fell, staining the wooden floor with its greasy blood.

---

Shirou opened his eyes. To his surprise, he wasn't met with the crowds of onlookers or the armed guards that were his executioners. Instead, he was met with an endless field of grass and trees as well as the clearest of blue skies.

'Where am I?'

He sat up slowly to gaze at the endless expanse of green and blue. The wind swept gently across the fields and cooled his body with its gentle touch.

"Is this... Heaven?" Soft laughter was his response.

"No. This is Avalon, the Paradise of Heroes." Suddenly, a pair of warm arms wrapped themselves around Shirou's neck and he stiffened immediately. It had been a decade since he felt those arms or that voice. Something warm, something incredibly warm welled up in his chest and longing crashed through his entire being.

"...Arturia..."

The hands loosened enough for Shirou to turn his body around and he was immediately greeted with the young face of Arturia, the girl he had fallen in love with. She was dressed in the same royal blue dress but this time, without the silver armor. Her face was as radiant as ever and her warm green eyes sparkled with unshed tears.

Arturia held Shirou's cheeks with her hands as she gazed at his mature face lovingly. He had aged through the years they had parted. No longer were there the eyes of youth but they were dull with age and maturity. However, they were still his eyes. The same she had fallen for all those years ago.

"You have lived a hard life Shirou." She leaned forward and touched foreheads with him. "You suffered so much for those you saved and yet they couldn't forgive you for something you had absolutely no control over."

"Rest now Shirou. You have been granted eternal peace by the Holy Grail. You no longer have to worry about the mortal plain any longer."

"Arturia..."

"Shh..."

Arturia kissed Shirou gently on the lips and soonafter, he fell asleep. She positioned herself so that she could lay his head on her lap and smiled at his sleeping form. It had taken her more than a thousand years to see him again and he had changed so much from the young teenager she had once knew. But he was still the same Shirou and she loved him for it.

'Do you... my king... behold the continuation of your dream?'

Arturia smiled and murmured out loud. "No Sir Bedivere. That dream had fallen the moment I awoke those many years ago. I now dream of a different plain. One filled with peace, with hope, with reunification."

She stared into the sky and unconciously placed her hands over the sleeping Shirou's cheeks. "I view... the awakening of Avalon."

---

Wow I actually liked this one. Maybe I should make a fiction based on this but time will tell.

o ya... Booyah:D

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