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Chapter 13
Ruby thought she understood fear.
All her life, Ruby prepared to be a Huntress; she learned how to fight creatures considered the embodiment of fear. However, Ruby had an epiphany when she saw crimson lightning spear her sister in the chest. Ruby's world shattered as Yang crumpled in a pool of her own blood. Shock numbed her, stealing away the strength in her legs and unleashing a torrent of tears.
Ruby's hands trembled as she pushed them down on Yang's gaping wound.
"Yang!"
"Don't feel bad, little huntress." The Nightmare prowled towards her. "It would have taken a miracle to save you in this place." The Nightmare raised its spear high. "And here is this mind mired in horror and pain; there is no salvation or miracle—only death."
Ruby covered Yang the best she could and closed her eyes, a last-ditch effort to deny the inevitable.
However, the impossible happened as if to spite the Nightmare's claims.
Ruby didn't feel any pain. Instead, she felt the same warmth of the sun's first rays peeking over the horizon.
Ruby opened her eyes, and they burned as she saw nothing but shimmering gold.
A golden barrier suffused the hallway with soothing light. To Ruby's eyes, it looked delicate, a little more substantial than a ray of sunlight. Even still, it blocked the Nightmare's strike without wavering. Ruby sat motionless as the barrier pulsed dangerously, starting from the point of the spear strike and spreading outward. The Nightmare face twisted into a snarl before the barrier exploded outward in a wave.
The Nightmare had nowhere to dodge. Flung from the girls, it crashed through a window at the end of the hall, disappearing from sight.
Ruby scrunched her eyes against the brilliant luminescence and could just make out a figure taking shape from the light itself. As the figure solidified, Ruby could make out her feminine contours; soft skin, silky blonde hair, and motherly eyes.
Those eyes stared at her fixedly.
Fear guiding her actions, Ruby pulled her sister towards herself and tried to hurry back, but her boots slid on the pool of blood that formed under Yang's body.
The woman knelt, her eyes shimmering.
"Do not fear, Ruby Rose. I am here to lend you my aid."
Ruby didn't understand, barely able to hear the words over the pounding of her heart—But the feeling behind the words, the warmth, and kindness, calmed her.
The woman reached forward with the gentle care one would use to comfort an injured animal and placed her hand on Ruby's.
"Avalon."
The woman spoke the word, but it seemed to echo from every direction, making the air thrum with energy. Under Ruby's amazed stare, light seeped from the woman's hand and through her own, still trying to stem the blood flow. The light grew brighter and brighter still until Ruby had to look away, but when the light faded, Yang's wound vanished with it.
Yang sucked in a deep gulp of air, back arching off the ground as her heart began to beat under Ruby's hands.
Ruby's mouth fell open, and as her sister opened her eyes, more tears began to fall.
The woman stood and turned her back on Ruby, focusing on the hole the Nightmare made when it fell out of the window.
"Stay behind me, and be ready."
Tearing her eyes away from Yang, Ruby looked up to see a hand grip the window seal as the Nightmare pulled itself back into the building.
Glowering at the woman who healed Yang, the Nightmare's lips twisted into a snarl.
"You are protecting him, preventing me from consuming this mind."
The woman squared her shoulders, tilted her head, and fixed the Nightmare with a frigid stare. She raised her chin, her lips tight and eyes filled with contempt.
"I am, and while I am here, you shall not win, creature."
The Nightmare's wordless roar filled the hallway, an intense rage that preceded its motion. Its formless body raced towards the woman, and she raised her arms, a shimmering, golden shield erupting from her palms. The creature slammed into the barrier, and in that instant, the windows shattered, shards of glass spraying outward in all directions as a deafening boom shook the entire building.
A distant part of Ruby realized that the Nightmare had been toying with them before that moment. Before it had danced, all contemptible elegance and effortless grace. Now it struck with the force of a crashing bullhead, its strikes so fast Ruby couldn't tell where one ended and the other began.
The woman barely flinched at the Nightmare's furious assault, its screeching cries shaking the walls. Instead, she turned her head slowly and studied Ruby through the corner of her eye, unfazed by the commotion.
"Ruby, look at its feet."
While she didn't know how the woman could speak so calmly, Ruby shakily complied.
Ignoring the Nightmare's relentless strikes, Ruby focused, determined to find what the woman was talking about. As she squinted into the darkness, she could just make out a figure in the Nightmare's shadow, revealed by the constant flashes of light caused by the spear hitting the shield.
"You see it?"
Ruby licked her lips and reached for Crescent Rose.
"Y-yes."
"Excellent, on my mark, do not miss."
Ruby nodded though she doubted the woman saw.
Focusing, Ruby mentally pictured her target, eye never leaving the Nightmare's shadow as she waited for her chance.
"Now, Ruby!"
The words heralded a brilliant flash of light from the barrier, and Ruby saw her true enemy for the first time.
The Grimm had hidden its spherical body in the blue-haired man's shadow while writhing barbed tentacles crawled up his legs and carved into his flesh.
Ruby raised her gun, aiming into the smoky haze, and let out a round. The Nightmare wailed in pain, its tentacles lashing out in desperation against the magical barrier that kept it from its prey. She fired again and again, and each shot struck true. Then, with one last burst of smoke and a thunderous crack, the Nightmare was no more.
Ruby lowered her weapon, ears ringing as the man in blue stopped mid-strike and the black veins reseeded from his face. He lowered his spear and stood straight, looking at the woman and beyond her, at Ruby, Yang, Pyrrha, and Blake. He offered them a cocky smile and nodded before fading away in a wave of blue light.
The woman standing over Ruby slowly unclenched her fists and sighed softly. A faint aura of golden light weakened from the flare, flickered around her body before winking out, dissipating into the air like a ghost.
"Ruby," Yang said, from where she lay, looking as surprised as Ruby felt as she ran a hand along her chest.
"What the hell?"
Ruby dropped Crescent Rose and immediately latched onto her sister, tears falling heavily in overwhelming relief, staining Yang's jacket.
"You're ok. You're ok."
Yang held Ruby, comforting the both of them while keeping a wary eye on the girl who saved her life.
The woman stepped back, allowing Blake and Pyrrha to stand protectively before the sisters, but they did not move against her.
Now that the excitement had passed, they all had time to look at her properly.
She was dressed in a luxurious blue gown, with intricate silver armor crafted to hug her curves like a second skin. The armor was etched with ancient symbols and shimmered in the dim light. Her garb reminded Ruby of a huntress, but her presence radiated something far more than just a huntress.
Royalty.
Ruby didn't know why the word came to mind. Remnant abolished all forms of aristocracy a century before she had been born, but it seemed like a crime to describe the woman as anything less.
Blake's arms shook with tension as she held her gun and knife, her knuckles white from gripping so tightly. As the woman made it clear she meant no harm, Blake slowly exhaled and lowered her weapons, her muscles beginning to relax.
"Who are you?"
The question, blunt as a hammer, caused creases to form at the corner of the woman's eye as she smiled.
"I am the vessel of the holy sword Excalibur."
Ruby's brow furrowed, not understanding. How could a person be a vessel for a sword?
The woman acknowledged their confusion by cocking her head to the side, eyes becoming distant.
"Though I suppose as I am now, you may call me Artoria in honor of the form I bear."
Ruby felt Yang stiffen when she heard the name.
"Your Shirou's best friend? The girl he loved."
Shirou loved a girl? Why didn't Ruby know about this?
Artoria shook her head and clasped her hands.
"No, the true Artoria Pendragon was my first wielder. So while I do have her face, I am not her."
"So, you're a manifestation of Shirou's mind?" Blake asked, eyes narrowing as she tried to understand what Artoria said.
"No—"
Artoria tensed, eyes becoming firm and focused as a deep rumble reverberated through the hall, shaking the floor beneath her feet. Jagged cracks lined the walls like a web, radiating out from a single point in the center.
"I understand you have questions, but we can not stay here. The Nightmare will be back soon."
Yang's arms shook as she attempted to push Ruby away. She gritted her teeth and let out a sharp breath, feeling the fatigue in her muscles from the effort.
"Ruby killed it, or did you miss that?"
Ruby helped Yang stand and pinched her side. Now wasn't the time for snark, especially toward the person who saved them.
"Ruby killed one aspect of the Nightmare, nothing but a splinter of its true self."
Ruby didn't want to hear that. The fight against the Nightmare had been the shortest and most brutal battle she had ever experienced. To have been nothing but a fraction of the Grimm made her heart skip a beat and her throat close.
"We need to hurry," Artoria said, turning her back on them and placing her hand against a door.
Yang sneered at Artoria's back and crossed her arms.
"You want to hide in a classroom, in the same place where the Nightmare attacked us? It seems obvious.
Ruby gazed at Yang with wide eyes, not understanding the hostility pouring from her.
Artoria looked at Yang impassively, lips pursed.
"You would do well to remember we are in Shirou's mind, and a door does not always lead to the most obvious place."
Opening the door with a clatter, Artoria revealed a well-lit, homey living room.
"We'll be safe here for now."
Ruby zipped over to the doorway and stuck her head through.
"Cool!"
Ruby stepped into the room, feeling a wave of warm air caress her face. Her feet sunk into the plush carpet, and her eyes scanned the walls. Sunlight streamed through a large window, and the faint scent of lavender hung in the air.
"Dream travel is awesome."
Blake followed after Ruby, looking around in interest, assuming they must now be in Shirou's old home.
"It will certainly make things easier for us," Pyrrha said, slinging her shield over her shoulder.
Only Yang remained in the hallway, nibbling at her lip under Artoria's firm gaze.
"Yang now is not the time to delay."
Yang hung her head, shoulders slumped in defeat, and slowly trudged behind the girls as they made their way through the doorway. Artoria followed a few steps behind, solemnly watching the scene unfold.
As Artoria crossed over, the doorway shimmered like a mirage before disappearing from sight.
"This is one of the few places where the Nightmare has yet to establish its presence. It will give you a moment to recover while I explain what you have all walked into by entering Shirou's mind."
Artoria slowly moved to the low table at the center of the room. Her armor clinked, and her boots scuffed against the floor. Kneeling down, she rested her weight on her heels and settled into a comfortable position. With a graceful wave of her hand, palm up, she motioned for them to join her.
"Please sit. We have much to discuss."
They had formed a semi-circle around the table where Artoria sat, and the air was so thick with anticipation that it felt like a weight pressing down on them. Yang cleared her throat and opened her mouth to speak, but Ruby shot her a sharp look and kicked her shin beneath the table. A yelp of surprise escaped Yang's lips, which broke the silence, and Ruby turned her attention to Artoria.
"Sorry about her, but please explain what's happening and how you are here?"
Artoria closed her eyes and tapped her short, clean nails on the table. She glanced to the ceiling and let the tension hang between them, stifling the air. She took a deep breath, feeling the minutes pass by, before finally breaking the silence.
"I apologize," Artoria said with a sigh. "There is much you don't know, and to explain it—I don't know where to start or even if I should."
Yang growled low in her throat.
"What does that mean?"
"It means I fear you're too late to save Shirou from this Nightmare. Not without losing your lives in the process, and that is something he would never allow."
Yang slammed her hand down on the table with a bang.
"Don't say that!"
Artoria met Yang's fiery glare with an impassive stare, not intimidated.
"I admire your fire, Yang. After everything you went through, you still think of nothing but fighting for him… But you don't understand. The memory you experienced, the memory you died in," Artoria shook her head. "It was nothing, something Shirou long since put behind him." Closing her eyes, Artoria bowed her head. "The Nightmare is forcing Shirou to relive every horror he's endured over and over again, monsters you can never hope to stand against."
Yang's jaw clenched as a chill spread through her body. Nevertheless, she stood her ground, her back ramrod straight, determination flashing in her eyes. She refused to give up, no matter how difficult or discouraging the situation was.
"Doesn't matter. Until Shirou is safe, I'm not leaving."
Artoria looked at each girl.
"Do you all believe the same?"
Yang stared at them, silently pleading for them to stand by her side despite the danger that lay ahead. She knew how selfish her request was, but she couldn't help it. They'd come in expecting to fight the same type of Grimm that had attacked so many times before and never expected to find something far more powerful.
Flexing her fists as Ruby looked at her and licked her lips.
"Y-Yang?"
Yang's eyes stung, but she didn't turn away, silently begging her sister not to leave. Her prayers were answered when Ruby's silver eyes became steely.
"What are you?" Ruby asked. "Shion never mentioned we would find help, and who did we just fight?"
Artoria sighed when it became clear that no one would give up.
"I am the vessel of Excalibur, Avalon, implanted into Shirou Emiya's soul by his father to save his life. As such, your friend could not have known of my presence."
Ruby's eyebrows scrunched.
"So, you're not a person?"
Artoria shook her head.
"The form you see is the remaining energy left from my true wielder, the once and future King of Britain."
Pyrrha sat back, eyebrows drawn down.
"This doesn't make any sense."
Artoria sighed.
"Yes, allow me to start from the beginning. Do you remember seeing the moon?"
Yang remembered, but she didn't have the time to thoroughly question it before Shirou had appeared at the school, but the moon had shone in the sky, whole and unbroken.
"Yeah, what's with that anyway? Is that how Shirou views the moon or something?
"No, that is how Shirou remembers the moon. Shirou is not from Remnant. He is from a planet called Earth."
Arturia's solemn words hung in the air as the truth of Shirou's origin sunk in. The girls' expressions shifted from shock to confusion and back again. Artoria calmly explained that Shirou was a magus, a person who could use magecraft to manipulate reality. Earth didn't have Grimm, but other monsters the general populous didn't know about. Artoria told them how Shirou worked for an organization of magus to keep the world safe until he was sent to Remnant by someone named Zelretcht.
It was a lot to take in, and once Artoria stopped speaking, no one found it in themselves to break the silence, too baffled to find any words.
"That's..." Ruby said before trailing off, mind working on trying and figuring out what she wanted to say.
"... Ridiculous," Blake said, crossing her arms.
"But Blake, you heard Shion. Nothing here is made up; everything here has to be from Shirou's memories, not fantasy." Pyrrha said, looking from Blake to Artoria and biting her lip.
"Believe it or not," Artoria interrupted the argument before it could go any further. "I have spoken the truth to you. Regardless of your acceptance, these truths are the facts of how this place will work, and they are why your odds of defeating what lurks in Shirou's mind are so unlikely. The man you found wasn't a human or a faunus. He was the Heroic Spirit summoned by a magus to act as Servant Lancer in the Holy Grail War."
Yang's automatic reaction to Lancer's name was to rub her chest where the large lacerations had been inflicted by his relentless spearman-ship. She gritted her teeth in frustration as the memories of his taunts and jeers echoed through her mind during the battle.
"What's a Heroic Spirit?"
Artoria jumped up from the table and began to pace back and forth, her feet crunching the carpet beneath them. Her golden blonde hair bounced as she moved, and she absentmindedly pushed a lock of it back behind her ear.
"Heroic Spirits are beings who achieved such renown in life that their legends became enshrined in history and their souls recorded within the Throne of Heroes. They are the best warriors, mages, assassins, and kings to have ever lived. Each of them alone is a match for any army."
Yang's first instinct was to scoff, and an hour ago, she would have, but after fighting Lancer, she couldn't help but believe Artoria.
Lancer didn't fight like a human, average, or huntsman—he moved faster, hit harder, and crushed them like ants.
"We don't have to beat the Heroic Spirits. We have to defeat the Nightmare," Ruby said.
Yang didn't follow, and looking at Pyrrha and Blake, neither did they.
"Think about it. We didn't beat that Lancer guy. He went away when I shot the Nightmare. Also, the Nightmare didn't notice us until the memory ended, and we tried to get involved." Ruby became more animated as she laid out her plan. "All we need to do is find where the Nightmare is hiding in each memory before the memory ends, and boom!" Ruby slammed her hand on the table for emphasis. "We kill it without having to fight those Heroic Spirit guys."
Would that work? Yang looked at Artoria, who had stopped her pacing and looked thoughtful.
"It won't be easy, but if you are careful and smart..."
Yang's eyes lit up, and she stood, a savage grin splitting her lips.
"But it could work?"
Artoria hesitated before nodding.
"Yes, provided you can find the Nightmare, it could work."
"That's you, right? So you can do your lightbulb thing and show us the Grimm, then, bang!"
"Perhaps, but not like you're thinking." Artoria held out her hand, and a dagger appeared in a shower of gold.
"I used too much power protecting you from Lancer, any more and I won't be able to keep the Nightmare from consuming Shirou completely." Artoria handed the dagger to Yang. "This contains a small portion of my light. Call my name when you think you've found a piece of the Nightmare, and it will shine. Should I sense you've killed a portion of the Nightmare, I will help you find the next one, and remember this, the Nightmare will hide in the source of Shirou's pain, and that is not necessarily the strongest of enemies."
Yang lifted the dagger, its blade shining with an inner light, and felt its weight in her palm. It was heavier than what she had expected, and the hilt felt oddly warm to the touch. Yang swallowed her disappointment that Artoria herself would not be accompanying them but knew that with Ruby's plan, they wouldn't need her. If they were clever, all they would need to do was kill some Grimm, and she had always been better at that than anyone else.
Looking from the knife to Artoria, Yang slipped the blade into her boot.
"Thank you."
In an action that surprised Yang, Artoria reached up and rested a hand on Yang's shoulder.
"Before you leave, I would like to thank you. Shirou has had few people willing to stand beside him, but you have proven yourselves to be his bravest of friends, and I am grateful.
Yang didn't know what to say. Yang had been conflicted since Artoria arrived. She appreciated Artoria saving her life, but at the same time, something about her set Yang's teeth on edge.
Yang settled on a stiff nod, and Artoria grinned like she knew a secret.
"Good luck." With those parting words, Artoria began to glow gold, and with a blinding flash, she vanished, taking Yang, Ruby, Blake, and Pyrrha with her.
Holy crap, it's cold!
Yang shivered as her breath fogged in the icy air. Light from the sun, hidden behind a wall of gray clouds, barely managed to reach her. Her warm aura seemed to be extinguished, and she felt as if her energy was slowly leaching away.
She also found herself getting tired of teleporting to unknown places. Would it have been that hard to give her a quick heads-up?
Pushing that aside, Yang looked around more closely, careful not to make any noise. The forest felt old. Towering trees creaked and moaned as chilly gusts of wind blew through them. It gave the place a haunted feeling, bleak and empty.
Yang's skin prickled as she scanned the trees, the feeling of being watched settling over her like a delicate spider web. Yang's eyes darted across the trees as if looking for an answer. Could something be out there, watching her?
"There," Pyrrha whispered, pointing to the right, where Shirou, dressed in simple jeans and a jacket, walked with a black-haired girl in a red coat.
Yang swallowed, eyes searching, looking for any movement around the two.
She understood that the Nightmare might not attack instantly. The last memory took some time to play through, but there was no way Yang would accept another enemy taking her off guard.
"We need to follow them," Blake said, taking the lead, and tiptoed along, careful not to step on any branches.
Once they got close enough, Yang could hear Shirou and the girl conversing.
"Rin, are you sure we're going the right way?"
"Positive. You should be able to tell shortly. According to my father's old notes, we should be coming to the Einzburns bounded field soon."
Bounded field? It must have been a wizard thing. Yang added it to the list of things she planned to ask Shirou later and didn't give it another thought.
"Do you think she told us the truth? That she wants to talk to me and form an alliance?"
Rin stopped. Looking at the canopy of trees, she nibbled at her lip.
"I don't know. Before all of this, the Grail War, knowing the Einzburns and the lengths they are willing to go, I'd have said this is a trap." Rin turned and looked at Shirou. "You need to remember something, Shirou. Magus families are vicious, cruel, and deceitful. The Eienzburns sent a child to represent them—a child they created and tortured to turn her into a mana battery. A child they raised to hate your father, her father, and by extension you, her brother."
Rin resumed walking.
"So, if you ask me, I'd say the odds of this being a trap are about fifty-fifty."
Yang felt an icy chill spread through her body as she processed Rin's words. She had known Shirou for months, but her friend had never mentioned a sister. Now, Rin was telling them that this mysterious sibling wanted to do the unthinkable—end Shirou's life. All the color drained from Yang's face as a sickening pit formed in the pit of her stomach.
"I won't believe that. Illya, she's a good person—she wants to connect. She hesitated when I invited her to come and have dinner with me, to visit the house Dad left us. Illya wants more than revenge."
Rin shrugged but didn't stop.
"If you believe such a thing, I'm unsure why you asked me for an opinion. For what it's worth, though, I hope you're right."
Yang felt Ruby tug at her hand.
"Yang, you said his family..."
Yang didn't turn to look at her sister, but she gave her hand a tight squeeze. From the sound of it, Illya was part of the Grail War Artoria told them about, which meant she would have summoned a Heroic Spirit.
Yang focused on the comforting warmth of the dagger in her shoe. They had a plan, but now it would be a matter of executing it.
They didn't walk much further before Shirou touched Rin's shoulder.
"We're close. I can sense the bounded field."
Rin reached into her pocket and pulled out a ruby, half the size of an orange.
"I hate having to use this." Rin jerked her head, indicating she wanted Shirou to take the lead. "Your ability to sense magic is more sensitive than mine. Lead me as close to the edge of the field as possible, and I'll do the rest."
Shirou crept forward, scanning the area for threats. His nose twitched as he tried to catch the scent of danger in the air, and his hands instinctively clenched and unclenched as he prepared to defend himself.
"Why do you think Illya asked us to bring down her bounded field if we came?
"To weaken us and maybe to piss me off. Jokes on Illya. You're already weak, and I definitely couldn't get any angrier."
Shirou snorted mid-sniff.
"Not the time to make me laugh, Rin."
Crossing a few more feet with careful steps, Shirou stopped and peered forward.
"The field starts a meter ahead."
Rin bounced the gem in her hand, face pinched.
"Then step back, and run as soon as I give the signal."
Yang tensed, eager despite herself to see what Rin had planned.
"Zerschmettern!"
Rin threw the gem as she screamed in a language Yang didn't recognize.
The ruby burned crimson as it flew until it struck something mid-air and exploded into dust.
The wind howled, and the ground shook as the empty space where the gem impacted shattered like glass.
Rin broke into a sprint.
"Hurry, Emiya!"
Shirou threw himself after Rin, with Yang, Ruby, Pyrrha, and Blake following close behind.
Yang felt her heart leap into her throat as they crossed the boundary line, and she was presented with a breathtaking view. Despite the dim light, the towers of the castle seemed to shine, and the massive stone structure seemed to loom above them like an ancient sentinel. She had to remind herself to breathe.
"Whoa," Ruby said, no doubt as amazed as Yang at the impossibility of a castle appearing out of nowhere.
"So, that's Einzbern Castle." Rin sounded jealous.
Yang could understand the sentiment. However, those jealous thoughts were cast out as a fiery explosion erupted on the roof of the great building. The thunderous force of the blast shook the ground beneath them, and Yang felt the air pressure from the blast push against her cheeks and ruffle her hair. She took an instinctive step back, shielding her face from the deafening sound.
"Oh no," Shirou said before darting forward.
"Wait! Dammit, Shirou! We need to think this through."
Yang's legs trembled with terror as the ground beneath her quaked, and roaring explosions echoed around her. With each blast, a wave of smoke and dust blew from the castles.
"Yang, wait, we should let them get ahead of us!" Ruby said, getting ahead of Yang and slowing her down. "We can't afford to be spotted by the Nightmare yet."
Yang's body tensed, and her blonde hair stood on end as her temper surged. She balled her fists and clamped her jaw shut to prevent herself from barking at Ruby. She knew it wasn't their battle to fight, that it had long since ended, but it went against every fiber of Yang's instincts to let her friend suffer.
But Shirou's already suffered. Yang reminded herself bitterly.
Yang's pace slowed, her strides becoming shorter until she was left behind. Yang watched as Shirou and Rin's figures grew small in the distance, gradually increasing their gap.
"He'll be ok," Blake said, eyes never leaving Shirou's back. "Shirou's strong. He'll be ok."
Yang didn't know if Blake meant the words for everyone or if she said them to reassure herself.
She stepped inside the castle and was overwhelmed by the destruction. The once plush carpet was reduced to crumpled fragments, and the few remaining paintings and sculptures hung in tatters. In the center of the room, a gaping crater had taken the place of what used to be a massive fireplace. Jagged chunks of stone, up to the size of a car, had been blown through the walls, creating dark, mysterious tunnels leading to who knows where. Yang moved cautiously further into the musty corridor, her heart pounding as the echoes of battle raged in the distance. The air was filled with bestial roars, the clang of swords, and the earth-shaking boom of magical explosions.
Heroic Spirits?
Yang burst through a set of heavy wooden doors after Shirou and Rin, revealing a grand ballroom. A long flight of marble stairs descended to the center, their edges framed with gilded banisters. The walls were carved with tall thin windows that let in pools of dim light. Shirou and Rin had enough time to press themselves flat against the stone wall near the railway to peer down into the room.
The room was silent, without a single soul inhabiting its depths. But the clash of steel and screams of rage were louder than ever, and Yang's gaze shot up just in time to see a spider web of cracks forming across the ceiling, a warning that the battle was encroaching ever closer.
"Holy cra-"
Yang heard the groan of wood splintering, followed by a thunderous roar as the ceiling gave way and collapsed in an acrid cloud of dust and debris. Through the fog, she saw a massive figure with a wild mop of black hair falling amidst the rubble, cradling a tiny child protectively in the crook of his beefy arm.
The man landed on his feet, powerful muscles flexing to absorb the recoil and causing cracks to radiate from the point of impact.
"Illya," Shirou said and made to stand up.
Rin reacted and snatched his arm to pull him back down.
"Wait, look."
Another figure sprang through a newly made hole in the ceiling, arms tucked securely in his coat pockets. He twisted just before landing, coming to rest with a soft thud on the floorboards with the grace of a born acrobat.
"Well, running out of places to flee, are we Berserker?" The man drawled, a superior smirk playing across his lips.
Berserker growled, low and deep while hefting a massive sword made of stone and wood.
"Who are you?" Illya asked as Berserker let her down, and she stepped back, white hair and purple dress stained with dust.
Yang's throat tightened as she watched Shirou attempt to stand, only for Rin to grip his shoulder and hold him back.
The man widened his stance and ran a hand through his golden locks before standing confidently.
"You may call me Gilgamesh, the first King and lord of all the light touches.
Gilgamesh stood tall, shoulders square and chin held high, and the air around him seemed to vibrate with his authority. His gaze was calm yet commanding, and Yang could feel the intensity of his presence as he spoke words that demanded attention and respect.
'Heroes of Legend who gained such renown in life are forever immortalized by the throne of heroes.'
Illy's tiny hands tightened into firsts as she glared at Gilgamesh.
"I've heard of you, but it will make no difference. Berserker is the strongest, and you won't defeat him!"
Berserker threw back his head and released an ear-splitting howl. His powerful strides ate up the ground as he raced forward, and Yang's breath was taken away by his movements' sheer strength and speed.
"Such an uncouth approach," Gilgamesh leaped back and let Berserker slam his sword into the floor. The sheer force behind the strike generated enough power to knock Yang off her feet with a muted grunt.
Gilgamesh looked unaffected, taking a moment to brush some dust off of his black jacket.
"Let's see how you handle this."
Waving his hand, six golden portals the size of dinner plates materialized around Gilgamesh, and from each, a length of sharpened steel protruded.
Gilgamesh waved his hand again, the swords fired from the portals, hissing through the air.
Undeterred, Berserker spun his sword, slapping aside the blades like gnats.
"Hmmm, I'm gratified that your madness has not dulled your skills."
Another portal formed, this time pointed at Illya.
Berserker didn't wait for the sword to be launched before bolting in front of Illya and falling into a defensive crouch.
"And you've retained some semblance of reason. I should have expected nothing less from the man once known as Herakles."
Ilya leaned out from Berserker's shadow to glare at Gilgamesh.
"If you know who he is, you should know beating him is impossible. Berserker is the strongest."
Gilgamesh tossed his head back, his laughter echoing off the walls, his bright blue eyes crinkling joyfully. The air around him seemed to shimmer, and a golden light poured forth from behind him, engulfing him in a swirling vortex of energy. The chamber was transformed into a glittering expanse of golden portals.
"Let's test that, shall we?" Gilgamesh snapped his fingers.
Yang gasped as the weapons filled the air and howled toward Berserker. The attack reminded her of Shirou, but on a whole new level of magnitude.
With a roar, Berserker planted his feet and, unable to move or risk endangering Illya, deflected every blade in a show of breathtaking skills.
Gilgamesh's laughter filled the air again, and more portals spawned.
"Yes! Show me more, Berserker!"
Berserker moved even faster but couldn't stop everything, regardless of his skill.
Yang almost gagged as the first spear evaded Berserker's defense as skewered him through the chest, but he didn't stop.
Bellowing in defiance, Berserker refused to fall, even as more grisly wounds began to litter his body.
A sword tore through his throat mid-roar.
An axe sank into his hip, bringing him to a knee.
Finally, a great sword buried itself beside the spear. With a choked gurgle, the behemoth sagged, and the light faded from Berserker's eyes.
Gilgamesh heaved a deep sigh and slouched.
"In the end, you were as disappointing as others, Herakles. My fault for expecting more from a fellow demi-god."
Yang bit her fist, her entire body trembling.
The Nightmare had to be in Gilgamesh, right? If so, Yang had no idea how to get close to him without being spotted by the Nightmare.
Illya, against Yang's expectations, looked unconcerned. Confident, even if her Servant was dying in front of her. Only when the weapons littering Berserker's body faded did Yang understand why.
Berserker's wounds were healing.
"You said you knew of Berserker. Clearly, you do not know everything. Berserker will not fall because he is strong!"
Yang's mouth dropped as Berserker stood, the last of his injuries vanishing as if they had never existed.
What are these guys?
Arturia's opinion of Yang's chances of success started to take on a new meaning. Artoria hadn't been calling Yang, Ruby, and Pyrrha weak, but they didn't stand a chance against monsters like Gilgamesh and Berserker.
Worse still than Berserker being able to come back from the dead, Gilgamesh didn't look the least bit concerned.
"Hmm, I wonder, a pseudo-form of immortality? Herakles earned fame by completing his famous twelve labors, earning the gods' favor for each one. Twelve laborers for twelve lives?"
Illya's little frame shook with indignant rage, and Herakles took a ready stance.
Gilgamesh smiled ferally.
"Against any other opponent, you would be invincible. However, you face me, so I will make you watch that girl die like you witnessed your children die."
Berserker screamed. I wasn't like his earlier roars and bellows of anger. This scream held the pain of ages, and it made Yang quiver in place.
"Rin," Shirou said, voice frantic and strangled. "We have to do something. He's gonna kill her."
Berserker charged with the force of goliath and rage beyond reckoning.
"Haha! Is this all the great Herakles can do? How disappointing
Yang looked at the combatants below, frozen. The feeling they gave her was like Lancer times ten.
She couldn't fight these things. There was no way.
Shirou's friend agreed.
"Wait, we die as soon as they see us."
Golden disks formed in the air around the blonde Servant.
"This is the end. No use dragging this fight out any longer." Gilgamesh smiled savagely. "Now die, you mongrel."
Weapons flew from the portal.
The swords, spears, and axes flew too quickly for Yang to make out until they embedded themselves into Berserker's massive form.
"Aaaahhhh|"
Herakles ignored his grievous injuries and exploded forward. The ground shattered under his feet with each step, causing thunderous booms to echo.
"Too slow!"
Gilgamesh roared joyously, Leaning back to avoid a slash that Yang never saw.
"Now stop moving!"
More portals formed, and chains snaked out, writhing as if sentient as they wrapped around Berserker's arms and legs, binding him.
"Berserker!" Illya said, fear and panic radiating from her in waves as he thrashed helplessly.
"By the power of my command seal, break your chains!"
Illya's entire body glowed with crimson light, but nothing happened.
"That won't work." Gilgamesh said, "These chains were created by Divine hands to bind Divinity. Last I checked, your Berserker is almost as godly as me." Gilgamesh stalked toward Berserker, and his hateful roars faded into a rumbling growl.
"In the end, it is the fault of your godly blood that the girl you tried so hard to protect will die before your eyes. Just like all those millennia ago."
"Berserker! Break your chains! I command you."
Berserker thrashed angrily against his bonds and roared in rage against Gilgamesh's unflinching stride. Shooting the bound man an irritated look, Gilgamesh flicked his wrist and the chains wrapped around Berserker's throat, cutting off the terrible sound.
Illya stumbled backward, crimson eyes fixed on the display in fright. The silence in the room was heavy with tension as Gilgamesh slowly, methodically approached Illya.
"B-Berserker, you're the strongest; please, break your chains!"
He couldn't, no matter how great his strength or fervent his rage. The chain remained, locking him in place.
Shirou wrenched himself away from Rin, stumbling forward a few steps. Rin's eyes began to glow an electric blue, and with the speed of a gazelle, she leaped at him. She straddled him and pinned his arms to the ground, her lengthy hair falling down around them like a curtain as Shirou thrashed.
Gilgamesh raised his arm, gripped the hilt of a simple long sword from one of his portals, and in one swift movement, he buried its razor sharp blade into Illya's eye sockets. Illya screamed, hands moving to cover her ruined face and a moment later, crimson tears began to stream down her face.
Shirou uttered a muffled cry, thrashing under Rin's hold, desperate to claw his way down to the fight.
Yang felt like the air had been drained from her lungs. Shirou's face was contorted in an expression of anguish, an anguish that Yang could almost feel herself, but she was rooted to the spot, unable to move or speak.
Illya jerked forward, her voice trembling as she called out,
"B-Berserker?" Gilgamesh shifted away from her instinctively, not wanting even the slightest contact with her. Three steps backward, and he was far enough away that she couldn't reach out and touch him if she tried. Not that she seemed capable of that anyways; her hands were clasped tightly against her face, her fingers flexing against ruined sockets. "I can't see you, Berserker. Where are you?" She begged frantically, the desperation in her voice palpable as she began to wave her arms before her in a vain attempt to feel where he was.
"You've always protected me, so I know you're still here. I know you won't leave me." Illya tripped on the rubble with a squeak, falling to her hands and knees.
Gilgamesh cocked his head, curious like a child might be interested in watching a line of ants.
"We still have to find Big Brother Shirou, so I can tell him I'm sorry. He said he would make dinner for me and we'd eat together as a family. I want to. I want to—"
Illya lay a hand on Berserker's leg, and at that moment, his rage faded, leaving only grief. However, he never stopped fighting, even as the chain tightened, crushing his throat beyond his ability to heal.
"Enough," Gilgamesh said and, without ceremony, stabbed Illya through the back, impaling her to the ground.
Shirou wailed into Rin's hand, arm stretched forward in a desperate attempt to reach out.
Illya died silently, hand resting on her friend and protector. With her death, the burning light faded from Berserker's eyes, and he slumped, the magic sustaining him gone.
Yang curled into herself, her arms clutched tightly around her knees. Her left hand clamped over her mouth, muffling her anguished cries. Conflicting emotions raged within her—outrage, fear, sorrow—at the thought of what Shirou must have endured, watching his family be taken from him. The bleak hopelessness of that moment in time pierced through her soul.
"W-we need to find the Nightmare," Blake whispers, past her tears.
'Focus, I need to focus.'
Yang's gaze darted about the room, searching for the creature responsible for such evil. She clenched her fist around the dagger in her boot as her eyes scanned the corners and shadows, ready to fight if she had to.
What did Avalon say? We don't need to find the strongest person. We need to find the person who caused Shirou the most pain.
As Gilgamesh reached down and ripped out Illya's heart in a shower of gore, Yang turned her attention to Shirou and the girl forcing him to do nothing. Finally, Yang thought of what she knew about her partner and decided.
"Avalon."
Golden light blazed to life for a split second, enough time for Yang to spot the tentacle form of the Nightmare tangled in Rin's black hair. She didn't hesitate. A flaming round from Ember Celica slammed into the Grimm and burned it to ash before Avalon's light could fade.
Everything about the memory paused before Shirou and Rin's form faded into nothing, leaving Yang, Ruby, Pyrrha, and Blake alone.
"Is it over?" Ruby wiped the tears from her face and stood, knees shaking.
"That was horrible," Pyrrha said, fists clenched so tightly her knuckles turned white. "I-I never want to see something like that again."
Yang agreed but did say anything as she stared down at the place where Illya, Shirou's sister, died.
No wonder he didn't say anything.
Yang got up and pulled Ruby into a desperate hug, biting the inside of her cheek until she could taste blood. Losing Ruby would destroy her. She would die by her side in any helpless fight if the alternative meant living without her.
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I should have never asked you to come with me."
The words spilled from Yang's lips as guilt and fear clawed at her with vicious claws.
Ruby pushed herself out of Yang's hold and stared at Yang with large silver eyes marred by confusion.
"What do you mean, Yang? This isn't your fault. It's the Nightmare's, and besides, Shirou is my friend too. I would never let him die!"
Yang lowered her head, blonde hair falling forward to hide her face, acting as a shield against the world as she forced herself to calm down.
It didn't matter how guilting she felt, how much watching that memory affected her. They couldn't go back now, even if they wanted to. The only way out was to move forward.
After taking a few deep breaths, Yang felt her panic dissipate, and her heart rate slowed.
"You're right. We need to keep moving. I don't know how long Shirou can last if the Nightmare keeps making him relive these memories."
Yang held up the dagger.
"We should all hold onto this. I don't know how the whole teleporting thing works."
The others agreed, and each lay a hand on the dagger and looked to Yang, waiting for her to make the call.
"Avalon."
The dagger shone, and in a rush of air Yang felt the now familiar rush of this weird way of travel.
It lasted less than a second. One minute Yang was on the balcony looking down, and the next, she stood on the fractured marble ballroom floor beside Shirou.
"Huh?"
How many horrible things have happened to Shirou here!
Yang quickly backed away, pulling Ruby and Blake along with her while Pyrrha scrambled to follow.
Shirou looked haggard. Deep circles hung heavily under each eye, and his clothes were torn and stained.
"It's Artoria," Ruby said, pointing to the other side of the ballroom where the woman stood, still and tense, not looking at them.
Yang didn't care. She focused on where Shirou glared, the staircase encased in deep shadows, where a figure sat amongst the rubble.
Shirou stepped forward and bared his teeth, his hands flexing at his sides.
"Hello, Archer."
I know this chapter is way late, but holy crap, it proved hard to write. I kept writing myself into corners and had to figure out how to push the story forward in a way that made some sense. However, I accomplished that, and I plan to move forward, so the next chapter will be much faster.
Let me know what you think about this. I know I've diverged from any Fate cannon, but it was necessary to make the story work and strongly impact Yang and Co.
As always, thanks for reading!