The battle against the counterfeit Maiden concludes within the realm of Shirou's Reality Marble. The one place he can hope to challenge such an elemental force of Remnant…but as the young man has been reminded time and time again…he will not be alone.

Velvet opened her eyes, blinking furiously to clear out the spots of color in her vision. Strangely, the lighting seemed to have changed. Whereas before it was a dark overcast awaiting an oncoming storm, now the light was sharper as if the golden hour was upon them. Once her eyes focused, Velvet realized it was far more than that.

The Vale countryside was gone along with the rolling green hills, fence posts and all signs of the battle they had just been part of. Instead, the terrain had been replaced with a flat barren wasteland stretching as far as she could see in all directions. The sky was filled with clouds, yet a bright sun loomed overhead, attempting to shine through them, giving a sense of perpetual twilight. It was wondrous, yet somber at the same time. The landscape aside, it was what populated the world around her that caused the breath to catch in her throat.

Sticking out of the ground were uncountable weapons stretching as far as the horizon. Velvet could see no end to them. Among their numbers she recognized Gram, the savage axe-blade, Durandal, Caliburn, Crescent Rose, Gambol Shroud, Laguna's gunblade along with dozens of others she knew from her time with Shirou. But that was the extent of her knowledge, beyond them laid unlimited blades that she knew nothing about. With trembling hands, Velvet raised her camera to the scene in front of her.

Shirou was standing tall and resolute, facing down Cinder who was glancing in all directions, clearly confused by the change of locale. Pulling back the frame to center on the two combatants, while including as many weapons as she could fit, Velvet snapped a photo. Her inner huntress and photographer would not allow just a single shot of such a dynamic place. Steadying herself, she aimed at the largest stretch of weapons, widened the frame to maximum and took another picture…then attempted to take another.

The shutter locked up at the attempted third photograph. Velvet looked down in frustration, now was NOT the time to miss a thing. As she examined her camera, desperate to find the fault, she was greeted by a message she thought she'd never see.

MEMORY FULL

"That's…impossible," Velvet whispered with a gasp. She had designed the camera to compress the data for each blueprint to the smallest possible size to take up a minuscule amount of space. It should have allowed her to store up more weapons than she could count. For it to be full after only two flashes, just how many weapons did she now have stored within, hundreds, thousands…more? More weapons than she could ever hope to use in her career as a huntress?

"What is this?" Cinder demanded as the flames around her burst forth anew, revitalized by the rage bubbling through her veins. "What is this trick?" Her scowl deepened upon spotting her own twin swords lying among the collected forgeries.

"No trick," Shirou muttered, still recovering a bit from the broken Rho Aias. "This is the only magic I possess." He turned to make sure Velvet was alright, relief washed through him as he saw her safe. He continued, more for Velvet's benefit than Cinder's. "I don't create weapons; I create a world populated with an infinite number of them."

"It's…incredible."

Shirou held out his hand, a version of Durandal erupted from the ground nearby and flew through the air to be expertly caught by him.

"I'm sorry Velvet," he whispered only for her to hear. "I should have listened to you…much sooner. Feel free to take whatever weapons you need. They are at your disposal."

In a flash Shirou took off, making a straight line for Cinder. Velvet did not hesitate, reaching down she pulled the closest weapon available to her. The Gambol Shroud wielded by Adam's beloved Blake.

"Death wishes all of you!" Cinder roared as bullets of fire erupted from her shield to rain down upon them.

Shirou swung Durandal expertly, dispersing each one with little effort, protecting Velvet coming up behind him. She had already converted the sword into its firearm mode and took aim. Once close enough, Shirou slashed forward, cutting a thin opening in her weakened bubble that allowed him access. He immediately noticed the difference; the unforgiving heat was far more manageable and no longer caused him pain by proximity.

She must be using up her mana to maintain the flames by sacrificing their potency…she has to be close to empty!

As Shirou clashed against her fire-glass forged replicas of her twin blades, Velvet swung around, unloading the entire magazine into her shield. Cinder did not flinch, but every little bit helped. As the weapon ran dry, Velvet hurled it spinning towards her, disintegrating against her shield that Shirou had managed to breach.

As Velvet drew forth Crescent Rose, unloading it into the shield, she looked up in awe at what was heading their way. Dozens of weapons from across the landscape were hurtling towards Cinder trailing blue light. Pulled by Shirou's will, they impacted the fiery barrier again and again, each hit splitting her focus, however minutely. Many were copies of unbreakable Noble Phantasms, not even her fire could melt them. Regardless, Cinder remained mobile in her bladed dance with Shirou. She was aware of her surroundings enough to not only fight with him, but avoid the weapons that punctured her shield aptly.

Within the flaming shield, Shirou dueled against her, his Durandal proving its worth as it shattered her blades again and again. Despite his superiority, she constantly had new weapons birthed from the fire ready before he could bring his own down upon her. Cinder had fallen back on her skill and martial arts coupled with her incredible swordsmanship surpassing even Adam. At long last, she managed to rip the unbreakable sword from his grasp; slicing his arm…he had used all of his aura to form and maintain his marble, none remained for defense.

As quickly as he lost it, Shirou leaned back to avoid her follow-up, a fresh weapon entering his hands…Harbinger, the blade of the stranger who had come to their aid against Cinder's disciples. It was the closest he could summon in time.

Shirou swung the impressive weapon down, requiring Cinder to cross her blades to stop it, her legs buckling from the impact. Like Shirou, his opponent must have been constantly improving and tempering her swords as her fire blades succeeded in holding back the new weapon. With each swing, Shirou felt the metal of his new copy start to groan, succumbing to the heat.

Ducking to avoid a swing, Cinder caught Shirou in the face with a powerful kick, cutting his cheek on the heel and sending him sailing backwards. As he flew, he twisted the weapon, bending the blade downward to reveal a pair of shotgun barrels catching Cinder in the chest with both shells point blank and causing her own aura to flicker.

On his way out, he scarcely cut the bubble open in time once more to avoid incineration at the cost of his new forgery. He immediately righted himself, sliding to a stop just in time to witness the oncoming fireballs. Thinking quickly, the barrage of weapons impacting Cinder's shield redirected, intercepting each projectile again and again to protect him as he retrieved a new Kanshou and Bakuya.

I have to end this; I can't keep this up much longer. If she is still standing when the marble collapses, it's over.

"Get away from him!" Velvet screamed. She had just created hard-light copies of Junior's rocket launcher over each shoulder, her last two photos she had of them.

Pulling the trigger, over a dozen rockets bombarded her shield…Cinder continued to shrug off the Faunus-girl. The frustration at being so disregarded boiled in Velvet mixing with her rage at how battered Shirou was becoming. She was through fighting safe.

"I SAID…!" She roared, even drawing Cinder's attention somewhat. She tapped the box at her hip, bashing out commands quickly Shirou had never seen.

Velvet threw out her arms wide, Ember Celica's wrapped around them, but it was what was occurring behind her that caused Shirou and Cinder to simultaneously pause their battle.

Blue pools of hard-light energy were materializing behind Velvet, dozens and dozens stacking atop one another above her head and folding out to the left and right. Shirou could see beams of light emitting from her camera towards each one. Their numbers continued to grow as the pools started to warp and shift…taking shape at long last. Each one of them took the appearance of a weapon, no two were the same, Shirou saw the blades he had witnessed during his time on Remnant; Harbinger, Gambol Shroud, Adam's black blade, Crescent Rose, Professor Port's axe, Oobleck's torch and dozens more…but also many that had found a home in his reality marble. Even Cinder took a step back at the number of weapons being arrayed against her.

Was that her upgrade? Shirou realized, noticing the sparks and bolts spitting from her box at random intervals. Can it really handle generating so many at once? Velvet was worried about the excess energy…did she find a way around it?

It was clear Velvets camera and box were straining to generate so many, at long last it appeared she had reached her limit. Surges of electricity leapt from it, impacting Velvet's aura yet she held her ground, eyes of fury focused on the twisted maiden.

"I SAID…GET AWAY FROM HIM!"

With that final word, a gesture of her hands and blast from Ember Celica, a great pulse appeared behind each weapon and sent them screaming towards Cinder as Velvet's invention channeled the excess energy into momentum for each replica, while also expanding the range they could move beyond its confines. She utilized as many images from her camera as she could muster, yet with the insurmountable quantity she had gleamed from even a single photo of Shirou's landscape; to truly empty it was now an utter impossibility.

Cinder's entire field of view was filled with weapons bent on her defeat. She barely noticed the second wave coming from Shirou as the full weight that he could summon from his reality marble was brought to bear against her.

She made…her own Gate of Babylon? Even as battered as he was, Shirou could not help but ponder the irony of Velvet's attack.

Cinder took off, using her flames as propulsion, but the merciless double barrage of countless weapons followed her. Despite her incredible speed and power remaining, there was no escape and nowhere to run. For every one that she dodged, another six impacted her shield dead center. Finally realizing this, the nefarious woman stopped, holding her ground she extended her shield and reinforced it as much as she could right up until the moment of impact.

A great plume was kicked up as hundreds of weapons impacted her from every angle, so many it took several seconds before the bombardment ended, the landscape around her utterly demolished. Velvet rushed to Shirou's side, desperately attempting to bring her camera under control. Whatever she'd done had clearly caused damage. The entirety of her creation was scorched and blackened; he hoped it could be repaired.

When the barrage had ended and the dust cleared, Cinder could be seen amidst the remains. Amazingly, she was still conscious albeit on her knees, panting hard from the effort to survive the punishment. Her personal aura flickered and her shield of fire was completely spent. The blades that could not be stopped were scattered around her like grave markers…she had blocked what she could and dodged the rest.

"I have not worked for so long to lose it all in an instant!" In a flash she was back on her feet, a black-glass copy of her bowblade materialized in her hand. With a twang, three arrows flew towards them, falling short and burying into the ground at their feet.

"MOVE!" Shirou yelled, having seen the technique in her weapon's history. A grating whistling sound could be heard building higher and higher.

The two dove in opposite directions as the arrows detonated, the blast wave shattered Velvet's aura and lit Shirou's shirt aflame. Swiftly he tore the shredded remains off, his back only slightly scorched. The young magus leapt to his feet, taking a stance with his married blades.

Cinder was preparing another shot as Shirou rushed forward. From the side, four forgeries of Berserker's axe-sword spun in like saw blades aiming straight for her throat. Cinder still had strength to spare, separating her bow back into their twin form; she parried each to the side. The behemoth weapons buried into the terrain several feet to her left and right. In her exhaustion, Cinder did not realize Shirou had subtly adjusted where they landed.

The trap set, Shirou hurled his pair spinning end over end towards her, to his astonishment, a hard-light pair followed behind. Shirou had already created the next Kanshou and Bakuya set, and Velvet was alongside him the whole time, her box of tricks retaining the stability to create them, albeit barely.

I've never shown this attack to her, Shirou thought, utterly perplexed. How is she mimicking something she hasn't…?

The answer came to him as he watched her movements; Velvet had never seen him perform the maneuver before...she didn't have to. She wasn't mimicking what she had seen, she was imitating his movements as he was making them, her motions a mere fraction of a second slower to the point it was barely noticeable. Together, they threw a second set each towards Cinder, a third already in hand just as the previous left their grip.

What an incredible girl. For her to so perfectly imitate an attack that was the culmination of Archer's usage of the married swords and the true meaning behind Kanshou and Bakuya... Shirou could not express the amazement and pride he felt.

As easily as she'd parried Berserker's weapons, Cinder knocked aside their first barrage of Kanshou and Bakuya, the four blades spinning away in either direction followed closely by the second pairs. Shirou was up first to perform the coup de grace with Velvet beside him. Cinder leaned back to avoid him, bringing her flexible legs up she caught Velvet in the side of the head hard with a resounding crack, knocking her away before she could strike.

Shirou didn't relent, planting his feet he charged forward, his blades coming back to perform a renewed cross-slash. Cinder twirled her swords, ready to parry him, only for her counter to fail as the first pair she had knocked away at the start returned, intercepting her strike. Her only counterattack thwarted, she could do nothing but watch as not only did Shirou catch her square in the chest with both blades…but so did all of the remaining pairs encircling her, slashing across her back and chest as a single omni-directional strike. The attack was a devastating success as each pair performed their task and vanished as they cut through Cinder's aura, flesh and bone. One struck her in the face, slicing away her left eye.

Cinder slid backwards, yet dug her glass heels into the dirt, skidding to a stop. Unfortunately, the combined slashes only barely shattered her aura; the gashes across her body were ugly and bleeding profusely, yet were not deep enough for a fatal wound, she refused to drop. The crazed maiden spun her blades back to bear on him, stabbing forward with all her might.

A splatter of blood covered Shirou's chest, dribbles emerging from Cinder's mouth. A glittering blue Kanshou and Bakuya had pierced her chest where her heart should be….from behind

"Wh-wha?" She gasped, turning around to verify what she felt, how did she not spot her?

Velvet stood behind her, eyes focused in rage as her weapons disappeared, blood dripping from the side of her head where Cinder's kick had connected. The false maiden had missed her presence completely; the towering weapons of Berserker on either side having restricted her peripheral vision, allowing the already stealthy Faunus to maneuver around unseen. Her spatial awareness was useless if she couldn't see nor hear the attack coming.

"A…damned…rodent?" Cinder sputtered with a sanguine cough before slouching forward, the light draining from her eyes in final defeat. The plan worked…almost perfectly.

Cinder's blades had punched through Shriou's chest and emerged out his back, Velvet's final attack a heartbeat too late to stop it. Blood seeped forth in a spreading pool from the points of contact.

"SHIROU!" Velvet screamed as she saw the wounds. But she had no time to move as a blue-white explosion erupted between them, blinding her to all else.

The reality marble collapsed.

Vale Countryside…

Ozpin looked on as Coco tended to Yatsuhashi's injuries, nothing serious thankfully, just a gash across his head after a rather one sided beating from the young man known as Mercury Black. He and his associate, Emerald Sustrai were unconscious and bound, currently being secured by Qrow. They were fortunate that Velvet had contacted them when she had, any slower and they would have…

A blue-white flash caused them to jump, they had returned.

Shirou was slumped backwards, impaled through his chest, the blades responsible were already disintegrating into the air with the defeat of their master. Cinder Fall, pawn of the Queen he had been warned of, was similarly crumpled on the ground. Velvet had been blasted back several feet and looked unconscious.

"Qrow! Tend to the girl!" Ozpin shouted as he hurried over to Shirou, kneeling down, he cradled the 1st years student's head in his arms. He was still alive…but wouldn't be for long. Yatsuhashi ignored his injuries, along with Coco they ran to Velvet to check on her, trusting Shirou to the Headmaster. She was slowly coming around.

"S-she….safe?" Shirou gasped, he could barely speak.

"Ms. Scarlatina is quite safe Mr. Emiya." Ozpin replied, as stoic as ever, yet his eyes betrayed a great sadness as he looked over Shirou's injuries. "For you, however I am afraid there is nothing we can do. We set out hoping to bring you back, had I known we'd be stepping into such a battlefield I would have prepared further. I have no such healing any longer, and from the look of it, Avalon is depleted even if you had any od left to ignite it."

Shirou's brow furled at the mention of Avalon, he knew of it as Saber's lost scabbard, but how did Ozpin…?

"I would have told you eventually you know," the aging Headmaster removed his glasses and rubbed the bridge of his nose. "I suppose the gods are ever cruel regardless of world. At long last I find a rendition of humanity I can respect, even spread tales of our world to invigorate their spirit…yet must suffer through millennia of these ACCURSED reincarnations," his demeanor seemed to be changing before Shirou's eyes.

Shirou wanted to move, get away as he realized what this meant, but he couldn't. His energy was slipping away with each second; he couldn't even muster a word.

"I finally find you after all these years, but you were the same mongrel who only knew me from so long ago, who flees on an obsessive chase caused by a weapon pathetically lost to me ages ago. I would have told you…once you were no longer set on claiming my head."

All this time…he was right there…back at Beacon. All the discussions they'd had, the tea and coffee shared, Ozpin's true identity was unmistakable now.

"You have good eyes for Ms. Scarlatina," he complimented in absolute sincerity, noticing she was stumbling to her feet. "It must be my unique curse imparted by the Grail…fakers just seem to be drawn to me like moths to a flame…always in pairs, as well. You may rest easy; I will ensure she fulfills her dream of being a huntress and hero. After all, a king would do well to promote the strength of his most promising subjects. Every pawn contains the unlimited potential of a Queen if they reach for it, do they not?"

Gently, he laid Shirou back down, the unrecognizable King of Heroes wanted his final moments to be peaceful.

"Shirou!" Velvet had fully recovered and was scrambling towards him, tears streaming down her face. Yatsuhashi and Coco were close behind and would be upon them any second.

Glasses restored, Professor Ozpin sadly returned to his full height, turning to them approaching students.

"I am…so sorry students," he answered solemnly. "There is nothing to be done; if you have anything to say…now is the time." Velvet was upon him first, taking his head in her hands she pulled him close. The scene was not all too dissimilar from when he had been found in the burning wreckage as a child.

"She's dead too Oz," Qrow remarked. "Power's gone; we'll have to start looking again. His old mentor only nodded, it didn't matter in that moment.

"Why?" The young girl asked between sobs. Yatsuhashi moved forward, but Coco held him back. The moment was between them. "Why couldn't you have just come back with me?"

Shirou wanted to answer, so badly he wanted to, yet he could barely open his mouth. He wouldn't last much longer.

"I could have learned…so much more from you. Even if you never showed me another sword as long as you lived. Please stay…" She begged, squeezing tighter.

I wish I could. There was still so much to see and learn…if only there was more time. But…the Headmaster of Beacon is him…the entire reason I left. I have…to tell you…

Shirou gasped, slowly he opened his mouth to speak, Velvet and the others grew silent. The pain was excruciating, he'd only be able to say a single sentence…and he chose that which he felt was most important.

"You…are going to be an amazing huntress…and an even better hero."

With that final effort, he went limp in her arms, his eyes closing for the last time in Remnant. As Shirou Emiya passed from the new world in which he had found himself. Coco removed her beret and glasses, determined in vain not to let a single tear fall down her cheeks…she'd need to be there for Velvet. Yatsuhashi stood tall to his full seven foot height, bowing low before Shirou as was his way. Velvet continued to cry.

And then…in the midst of such sorrow, a rather strange thing occurred. Blue wisps almost like motes of starlight started billowing off his body, disappearing into the air above. Yatsuhashi stood back up, Coco blinked to clear her eyes, and even Professor Ozpin looked on amazed, adjusting his glasses for a better look. The substance of Shirou's body began to drain away starting with the color, then the very mass itself beginning with his feet and working up. As the details began to disappear, he soon did not look too dissimilar from the hard-light copies Velvet had created.

Velvet did not know what to think, she held tighter as if she could prevent him from disappearing, but the process continued. In desperation, as the effect reached his torso, the Faunus-girl leaned forward, pulling him up she kissed him on the lips, her tears dropping onto his cheek as she did so. He was still warm to the touch, she held that as long as she could…right up to the moment he vanished from her arms, leaving her there kneeling on the ground.

"Wha…what happened?" The young woman asked as she knelt there confused. No sign remained that Shirou Emiya had ever been there at all.

"Something…extraordinary," Ozpin explained as best she would understand. Extending a hand, he helped her up. "Do you truly wish to see Mr. Emiya again?"

She nodded furiously without hesitation, her rabbit ears bobbing up and down all the while.

"Then continue your path Ms. Scarlatina. He is no longer among us, but Mr. Emiya is far from gone. If you continue towards your goal…become a huntress…a hero, then there is a possibility that you may meet him again someday.

Velvet looked up at her headmaster, nodding as she wiped away the last of her tears; none noticed a single speck of ember fall with the last drop. As Coco and Yatsuhashi took up positions to comfort her, she looked off into the setting sun, her ears standing as tall as she could make them. The glow gave her the briefest of reminders of that barren landscape filled to the brink with swords, that image in Shirou's mind that now graced her camera. Though even were it not there, she would never forget it…or him.

I will…and I WILL see Shirou again, if it is possible, there is nothing that will stand in my way!

Where it all Began…

Shirou shot up, almost hyperventilating before realizing that his breaths came easier. He could feel the energy draining from him not a moment earlier, he'd been dying…in Velvet's arms. The room he found himself in was well lit, taking him a moment to adjust to the light.

"This…is my room."

Sure enough, it was his house, of that there was no doubt. It was empty, devoid of furniture beyond the desk under the window and the futon he was wrapped in, just as he'd left it. In a state of utter confusion, Shirou shot out from the covers, feeling his chest and lifting his shirt, he was wearing different clothes, pajamas? The injuries sustained from the battle with Cinder were gone, he was alive, whole and hale.

Sliding open a drawer from his desk, he pulled out a calendar. It was the same month that he'd fought Gilgamesh…someone had been marking off the days. If it was accurate, his battle had only occurred two days earlier.

But…I was gone for two weeks…

"Well, someone is eager to get started."

Shirou spun on his heels, nearly wiping out were it not for the desk to provide support at the familiar voice.

"Rin!?" It had been so long since he'd seen her. Staggering forward, he gripped her shoulders, arms, even a strand of her hair to ensure he was not hallucinating. "You're here? Is this real?"

The brunette looked confused, blushing red as he held her; finally as his hands found her hair she slapped them away. "Of course I'm real you idiot, how hard did you get hit? I guess I should have expected as much, you being stupid enough to take on Gilgamesh alone."

"But, how did you get me back?"

"Back?"

"From Remnant!"

Rin was now quite confused; looking at him as if he had just told her he'd singlehandedly mastered the five true magics during his time unconscious. Trying to get a cohesive answer, he and Rin spent the rest of the morning exchanging stories. Shirou told her as much as he could recall of his time in Remnant while Rin briefly walked him through the events after his struggle with Gilgamesh. Of how Saber had destroyed the Holy Grail with Excalibur…she'd even rescued Shinji who was recovering at the hospital. The young magus assured him that she had located his unconscious body after the battle, he had never left Earth. She'd spent the last two days tending to him and making excuses to everyone so they wouldn't catch on to his condition.

"Bunny girls…you are kidding right?" Rin asked as he concluded his recollection, despite fully trusting Shirou's words, the whole thing sounded ludicrous.

"She was more than a bunny girl!" Shirou snapped reflexively, the realization that she surely thought he was dead wouldn't leave his mind. He felt guilty, pure and simple.

I left her again...with no way back. But how, how did this happen in the first place?

"But how is that possible?" Shirou asked aloud. They had moved their conversation to the kitchen where was currently in the process of whipping up some eggs.

"So that's where you were," Rin muttered to herself. "You've been here the whole time…mostly. Your body was, but the greater part of your soul and consciousness were elsewhere. That's why I watched over you so closely, monitoring for any sign that the portion of your soul still inside your body didn't weaken. It didn't, even until now. As for the two days versus weeks, well, time displacement isn't unheard of. I doubt we can know with absolute certainty how it happened…"

"But I'm sure you thought of a few ideas while I was gone?" Shirou asked with the slightest fringes of a smile on his face. He knew her too well.

Rin replied with an indignant "hmmph," and a throw of her hair. "My theory? The Grail searched for a place where your wish could be granted. To save people? To be a hero or failing that, to find one? It not only found somewhere…but it sent most of your soul there housed in a servant's body. It fulfilled your wish and performed a summoning function all at the same time. Until you came back, I assumed the bulk of your soul was somewhere on Earth and we'd have to go out looking for it."

A servant's body, that explains my od not regenerating. But that means getting back is nearly impossible. There must be a way. What if Velvet…

Shirou suddenly latched onto Rin's last statement.

"We?"

"She's probably in the dojo this time of d…"

Shirou bolted from the kitchen, leaving Rin to turn off the stove. He was out the door before she could even call out his name. He had been so wrapped up in explaining Remnant and the events of his two weeks that the thought had never crossed his mind she may still be there. Reaching the dojo, he flung open the door; a familiar woman was kneeling at the far end. At his presence, she raised her head, smiling serenely towards him.

"Saber…"

Homurahara Gakuen…

Across the city, atop the rooftop of Homurahara Gakuen, was a bearded old man, at least he appeared to be. Despite the considerable distance between the young magus' home and the place of learning, he could tell everything that was occurring as if he were there.

He was dressed in black from head to toe, a shoulder cape clasped by a gold chain across his chest fluttered in the wind as he gazed out towards the residence far beyond. He was nonchalantly relaxing against the nearby railing while simultaneously leaning on a long cane; tapping it impatiently at regular intervals…contemplating what had just occurred.

"What a fascinating boy," he muttered to himself as he was wont to do. "To think his wish could punch a hole in the Kaleidoscope itself. And here I thought I'd seen just about everything interesting."

He practically felt excited, whimsical…giddy? It was as good a word as he could think in that moment. How serendipitous it was that the young man's wish had been so strong, that not only had the Grail opened a new route through the Kaleidoscope, but to send his soul there at the same time? And to land practically smack dab on top of another forgery-maker? Even he had to admit, the scenario was utterly ridiculous…and he loved it. Accomplishing all of that while working with a Tohsaka as well? How far that family had come in such a short amount of time.

"Congratulations on being the first…'Heroic Spirit' to visit the new world," he smiled, preparing to depart. "Good luck in your future endeavors boy, you'll need it. I'm off to partake in the fruits of your labor; the ramifications of the connection to this new world you've pioneered should be quite…enjoyable."

Thus ends Shirou's tale in Remnant, his blinding search for Gilgamesh ending his journey before it could truly begin. Yet the Kaleidoscope is open, Earth and Remnant's fates now intrinsically linked. One adventure ends, yet countless more parallel worlds and routes have been made possible…