A/N: (April 29th)

Early chapter release!

For two reasons: 1.) I'm really excited to share this chapter with you all, and 2.) I'm going to be away from my home this weekend, so I decided to release the chapter early so I didn't have to hassle while traveling. So here we are!

As you may be able to tell from the word count…this is probably my favorite chapter that I've written so far. I have no idea if chapters will end up being longer than this one, lol

I don't want to take up any more time, so let's get into this.

Enjoy!

Chapter 22: A Garden of Fate

P.O.V.: A Certain White Grail

She was used to this view.

Staring out the window, at the sea of evergreens outside, which stretch as far as her ruby red eyes could see, up until they mingled with the horizon. Some days, the warm sunlight would beam down on them. Others, it would be the cool light of the gentle moon. Some days, rain would fall from a dark, overcast sky. Others would be the gentle descent of pure white snow.

For years on end, this cycle would repeat.

She was used to this view.

So being forced to continue this neverending watch of nature, Illyasviel didn't mind.

…Although, in the back of her head…pressing her hand against the glass, she always wished for something.

Something to break through that forest of green, or white, or grey, and call out her name. They had promised— but they broke it.

They didn't return, when she wanted them the most. When they needed her the most.

But she didn't break down and cry— she had to carry on. Even now, she had the same feeling; although the yearning was for someone else.

'Onii-chan…'

All she could do was wait and hope, but she was used to the hope fading.

So when she heard the buzz of black mana forming behind her, it wasn't hard for her to look away.

She was sequestered in a small, empty chamber of her Castle, held hostage in her own home. But again— it wasn't the first time this had happened. Her calm, almost frighteningly chilled demeanor showed that she's been in this situation far too many times for her to fear it.

And so, she looked upon her captor. The shadows melted around them, revealing a head of white hair similar to her own.

Illyasviel's eyes twitched at the horrific sight. After only being around her captor for a little more than several minutes, she had realized what she had been programmed— or rather, was forced— into becoming.

'Another Grail…a Black one.

Yes…that's why her hair is white, and her eyes are red. Her body is trying to replicate the Einzbern formula as best as it can.'

"You look a little different than before, Sakura." Illya says, without a hint of inflection in her voice.

The butterfly in black giggles, pacing around the Einzbern with an eerily jovial expression on her face. "Yes…I've become more powerful than I ever thought would be possible."

"I see." Illyasviel turns away, not wanting to sully her eyes on such a tragic sight. "The Dress will be a little while longer. Sella and Liz are working hard at it, so until then, leave us be."

"I'm aware." Sakura replies. "Only a little longer, and I win this Grail War. Right?"

"…Right." Illya nods silently.

Giving up her soul to Sakura would indeed mean nigh-instant victory. The Matou girl had so many Servants, and Servant-energy on her side, that she was practically unstoppable.

Illya gazes out into the evergreen sea once more. The gentle winds shaking the pine leaves were the only change in environment.

Sighing, she lowers her hand from the glass. '…I guess you won't be coming after all…Onii-chan?'

Despite half of her not particularly wanting to, she takes a small glance at Sakura.

Indeed— in her state, she seemed eerily similar to herself. The Grail twisted her form, until she could fit into what could be defined as an 'Einzbern'.

She recalls something she had told Sakura earlier.

'You're a monster.'

But of course, it took a monster to understand a monster.

Being abandoned by their loved ones.

Forced to sit in a chamber, watching outward for something that they hoped would come, but would never.

Like any dutiful mage, Illyasviel had done her homework on the Tohsaka and Matou's pasts. They were, after all, the other two of the Great Three Families.

Upon reading about the deal they had made ten years ago, and looking at the situation now, she understood.

She understood why Sakura had turned into this form.

Because she…

'Because I…'

Holding on to a vestige; a candle of flame, she wills herself to press her hand against the glass again.

'…I feel the same way.'

As she presses her fingertips…

…Her eyes widen as she sees a change in the distance.

It was far…but it was there. Almost close enough to touch.

A dust cloud rises into the air, and a shockwave tears through the trees.

"Wha—?"

It reached their location, and the entire chamber rumbled quietly. Illya blinks, genuine surprise coming across her face.

The candle starts growing brighter. "What is…that…?"

She hears Sakura scoff behind her. "Don't mind that. Just some fools who don't know their place…Saber's going to take care of it."

She hears the Black Grail wrap herself in shadows, and vanish all at once.

…But the White Grail remains.

Because something is out there…calling her name.

P.O.V.: A Certain Hero of Justice

In short, they had gotten incredibly lucky.

Standing next to Saten, Assassin, Ciel and Tsuchimikado, Shirou Emiya focuses his vision onto the whirling blue portal in front of them. Next to it, a girl with medium-length black hair, gripping a long polearm, gestures at the portal as if allowing them through.

"You're lucky we were already planning on using this tonight, or else we might not have had enough time to turn it on otherwise." The girl explains.

"Thanks, Itsuwa." Tsuchimikado says, with a tired but relieved expression on his face. "I owe ya one."

The girl shakes her head. "N-No, the pleasure's all ours. After hearing what was going on in this Holy Grail War…we'll help out however we can."

She checks her watch, and nods at the four of them. "You only have a few more minutes until the portal closes. If you have any other matters to discuss, it will have to be now."

Shirou glances at an electronic clock in the corner of the empty room, which reads 12:01 A.M.

Apparently, Motoharu Tsuchimikado had quite a bit of connections, one of which was an entire denomination of Christian Faith that was the Amakusa Church. He originally didn't want to ask for their help, simply because they weren't involved with the Holy Grail War…but seeing how dire the situation was now…

'Yeah, I guess we don't have much else of a choice.' Shirou thought.

The Amakusa had access to what was called the 47 Portals of Japan, which were, as their name implies, forty-seven teleportation locations all interconnected to each other.

It made transportation incredibly easy; however, the spell used to access these portals, Miniature Pilgrimage, could only be activated at midnight, and took time to set up.

Essentially, since Tsuchimikado had called them at such a late hour of the night…if the Amakusa weren't already preparing the spell, then they wouldn't be able to use this spell.

Their Plan B was to quickly rent a jet from Academy City…however, even moving at supersonic speeds, it would still put them far too behind.

Fuyuki was a few-hour drive from Academy City; and flying there would still take upwards of half an hour or so. That didn't even take into account takeoff and landing, as well as actually arriving to the Einzbern Castle in car or on foot.

To reiterate…they had gotten incredibly lucky.

"Well…" Tsuchimikado fixes his sunglasses, and steps back. "Since the portal is only one-way, I'll head over to the airport and rent a helicopter. I should be able to get there within the hour— that will have to be your pickup. You guys…"

He looks at Shirou, Saten, Assassin and Ciel. "…You guys will have to handle getting Illyasviel. So don't die on me, will ya?"

They all fervently nod their heads.

Of course— dying wasn't in any of their agendas. Their only goal was to save Illya, and stop Sakura's ritual.

'…And hopefully save Sakura, too.'

Shirou grits his teeth, as Saten and Ciel start stepping toward the portal, which apparently would place them right at the edge of Fuyuki— not too far from the Einzbern Castle.

Kamijou and Index were already on their way to save their friend, Hyouka.

So it was his turn to do some saving.

"Good luck, everyone." Itsuwa says. Shirou gives her a confident nod…and plunges his body straight into the portal.

XXXXX

He expected there to be some sort of magical transition, like entering a portal in a video game…

…but instead, after plunging his body through, he simply popped out the other end.

"Eh?"

Looking around, he realizes that on the other end was simply Fuyuki City— at least, the city limits of it. He walks through, and steps onto the asphalt of a country road.

Unlike the bright city lights of Academy City that blot out all of the stars, Fuyuki's more rural design made the night sky much more visible. Tohsaka had told him before that the city had two sides— the Old Fuyuki, filled with more traditional architecture and city planning, was dark enough at night to see the stars in vivid detail.

This is what Shirou saw, peering his head up. Dazzling constellations, paired with a bright, defined full moon.

Turning his head down, he realized just where the portal had delivered them. Saten and Assassin were already through, observing the environment around them.

They were on a country road, just outside of Fuyuki's border. Silently recalling the walk that he, Illya, and the others had taken to the Fuyuki Museum…

…He examines the road they're standing on. "…Yeah, this place is definitely familiar."

"Indeed." Ciel says, from behind him. She was the last one to enter the portal, and her eyes reassured Shirou that his hunch was correct. "We're not too far from the Einzbern Castle. In fact…"

She squats down a little…and with a grit of her teeth and a light grunt, hops up into the air.

Way too high in the air. In fact, it was practically impossible for a human— more akin to a Servant-level feat.

She jumps high above the forest's canopy, and seems to twist around in mid-air as if looking for something.

Upon falling back to the Earth, Shirou was taken aback.

"Ciel-san…"

"Yes, Emiya-kun?"

"You're pretty strong, aren't you?"

He had taken her as just another classmate only a few days ago…so seeing that level of inhuman athleticism made him feel a bit self-conscious.

'Just how many of my classmates are actually superhumans?'

"Um…yeah. I guess you could say that." Ciel replies, shrugging her shoulders. "Speaking of…Emiya-kun, you said you were low on energy, right?"

"Y-Yeah. I am."

"Well…" She ungloves one of her hands, and steps toward him. "This will only take a short moment, but…do you mind lifting your shirt and turning around, Emiya-kun? You don't have to take it off."

He blinks. He definitely feels like he should be embarrassed at this point, but considering the direness of the situation, he followed her request.

Lifting his shirt so half of his back was exposed, he suddenly feels a delicate, yet calloused hand press against the center.

"…You told us you were low on energy, earlier…so this should give you enough for combat."

His eyes widen as he feels a surge of mana shoot from her fingers, straight into his body. He feels his mana circuits, originally mostly dried out, suddenly expand and fill with energy.

"Normally mana transfers involve…" Her voice falters a little, but she clears her throat and continues, "other methods, but skin-to-skin contact is fine, if a little inefficient. However, considering how much I have…I don't mind giving more than necessary away."

Taking a breath, she puts her hand down. "There."

The transfer had finished. Shirou lowers his shirt, and gives her a quick nod of gratitude. "Thanks, Ciel. I feel…a lot better now, actually."

Ciel gives a confident smile and nod, before returning to her serious expression and stepping forward. "In any case, I found the Einzbern Castle. It's just down that way."

She points off the road…deep into the forest.

"Well, that settles it." Assassin, who had been idly standing by alongside her Master that whole time, flips her knife around in her hands before safely pocketing the blade. "Let's get there as fast as possible…Master," she squats down and pats her own shoulder, "Hop on."

"U-Uh, right." Saten obliges, and climbs onto her piggy-back style.

Ciel turns over to Shirou, a sheepish grin on her face. "Well…I guess we have to do the same thing, huh?"

"…"

He didn't really know how to feel about getting carried like a child, but he ignores the embarrassment for now. If it got them there faster, then so be it.

He climbs onto Ciel's back, locking his arms around her neck as she secures his legs.

"Okay, let's go."

Trusting in his newfound ally, Shirou braces himself as Ciel bursts forward— taking off from the ground, and planting her foot against the trees, hopping between them with a strength and speed far surpassing humanity.

Even upon seeing her legs lit up with Reinforcement, he was still taken aback by her strength. She was carrying him, as well as that large and oddly suspicious black bag over her shoulder.

'Ciel wasn't kidding when she said she could take on Servants…'

Between her extraordinary athletic feats, and apparent surplus of mana, to the point that she could waste much of it on inefficient transfers of energy…

'…Just who is she, exactly?'

XXXXX

At the Servant and the Burial Agent's speeds, the race to the Einzbern Castle would take only a few minutes.

All-in-all, between Illya's kidnapping, their recovery and planning, and their subsequent race to reach her…it must have been just over an hour. Even though for all intents and purposes, that was incredibly quick…thanks to Sakura's ability to seemingly teleport, it made Shirou nervous.

It took them time to arrive here. It took Sakura no time at all. Anything could have happened within that time frame.

Speeding through the trees, Shirou felt the pace of his heart pick up gradually, yet nervously. He knew that Sakura wouldn't just leave the Castle unguarded…either she herself would guard Illya as the ritual was going on, or…

'Or the more likely option…'

He could feel Ciel slow down, her hops from tree-to-tree beginning to descend back to the foliage of the forest floor. "…I sense an energy ahead." She mutters. "A big one."

He glances to his left, and sees Assassin must have had the same idea that Ciel did, as the four of them land as quietly as they can.

Dropping Shirou, he sets his legs on the dirt and dusts off his pants, before staring up ahead.

Through the evergreen canopy, he could see the tips of the Einzbern Castle in the distance, which if he remembered was elevated a little above the surrounding forest on a small hill.

They were well within a kilometer's distance now, but that still meant much ground to cover.

Directly ahead was still several layers of trees, but…past that, Shirou could see a clearing in the brush.

That is where he sensed it, too. An absolutely massive surge of mana, coming directly from that location.

The four of them briskly make their way forward. As they move, the clearing starts to grow more and more into view.

The full moonlight casts down upon them as they exit the darkness of the Einzbern forest…

…and step into the clearing.

It was less a natural clearing, but rather an artificial one. The trees that once stood there were violently toppled over, their wood and pine leaves burnt to ash that still sizzled on the dry, lifeless dirt.

Looking down both directions, Shirou realized that the clearing curved— all around the Castle, like a moat.

Moats were made to keep out invaders…though they were useless without guards.

"So you've come."

…And said guard makes themselves known.

On the other end, in the small yet thick patch of trees encircling the Einzbern Castle about three-hundred meters in radius, approaches a woman garbed in black.

The four of them steady themselves as she comes. Despite her being shorter and outnumbered by him and his allies, they couldn't help but to keep their eyes locked on her.

Draconic, dark armor plates her body, over a dress of equal color. Her hair was almost whitish blonde, her skin paler than Shirou had ever seen her before.

The once regal, white and golden blade of victory, was now tainted by shining crimson and raven black. A black visor covers her eyes, but her demeanor, as well as the blade she carries, easily gave her identity away.

He was only somewhat conscious when he had seen her before…but now, seeing her, right in front of his eyes…

'…Saber…'

It was true.

The Servant that he had once called his own, had now turned her blade against him.

If he wanted to save Illya…he would have to neutralize the one that had saved him, many times over.

"I will not permit any of you to enter any further." She states, her voice booming across the clearing and directly into their ears. "This place shall be your burial ground."

She slams her sword into the dirt. The black blade of victory stains the surrounding earth in its essence.

Shirou keeps his eyes on her, not letting himself look away, or even blink. If he does, he's certain she'd attack at a moment's notice, and cut him down.

Thanks to Ciel, he now had enough energy for several Projections…but he wasn't certain if he'd win that bout. In fact, it was much more certain that he'd lose than win.

Luckily, he wasn't the only person tasked to fight Saber.

One of the women surrounding him steps forward— the one clad in a blue kimono, donned with a red jacket.

"You ready for our duel, Saber?" Assassin shouts from across the clearing. Her eyes hadn't started glowing quite yet. As she pulls her hunting knife from its sheath, she continues. "I believe this is a fitting battleground."

"…To call it a duel would be an overstatement, Assassin." Saber shoots back. "But like I said before…"

She picks up her sword, and gets into a stance. "If you wish to fight me, then by all means."

It was true…Assassin's paltry knife paled in comparison to Saber's sword. Not to mention, even by looking at them, he could tell that the Knight held much more raw power than the girl in the kimono.

Shirou estimated that out of a hundred battles, Assassin would likely lose ninety-nine of them. The gap in their abilities was far too much.

Ciel steps forward. "Assassin, let me assist you in—"

The Servant shakes her head. "No. I'll fight her on my own."

However, Ciel seems to protest. "But…there's no way you can…"

"Save your strength for whatever's within the Castle." Assassin resolves. "I have a feeling that Saber isn't the only bodyguard Sakura has."

Not wanting to argue with that logic, Ciel steps down.

…But it still left them with the dilemma of how she was supposed to win.

'I suppose she doesn't have to win, just buy some time. But even with that in mind…

She would probably lose in seconds.'

"…Shirou Emiya, right?"

Assassin locks eyes with him. "Your Ability…I was informed of it while you were unconscious. You can trace and replicate weapons…so I ask you.

Can you give me a katana?"

Shirou gasps.

Of course he can.

In fact…he had one just for the job. He didn't know why he had to trace a katana for Assassin specifically, but…

"…Yeah, I can."

"Good." Assassin glances over to Saber, whose face told them that she was growing impatient. "Move fast— she's not going to let us stand here for much longer."

Quickly, Shirou extends his hand, and opens his palm.

He had to do this…fast.

He closes his eyes, and imagines back to the Museum, and that blade he had seen buried within several layers of glass.

They had meant for it to take on the Shadow— but now, Shirou could tell that its purpose was for what was right in front of him.

A perfect, silvery-steeled, single-edged sword. A dark edge, with wave-like hamon across the blade. Brown cord wrapped around the handle, a golden pommel, and a lotus-shaped guard.

This was the blade forged centuries ago, within the same lands that Shirou Emiya stood now.

He would reforge it in his hands, once again.

A second after he extended his hands, he announces.

"Trace, On!"

A shining light appears in the palm of his right hand, extending out immediately into the shape of a Japanese blade. He closes his eyes, imagining the shape, the structure, the nature of the very weapon that Senji Muramasa had held once before.

In his mind, he sees flashes of images, passing by like passing street signs.

Flashes of a man, holding the same sword he was wishing into his fingertips, standing against a godlike entity hovering over the beaches of Japan.

Flashes of the man whipping his sword with great strength— enough power to split dozens of invading Mongolian ships with a single slash.

Enough power…to fell a God.

This was the power of the Myoujingiri Muramasa.

This is the blade that he calls forth, into his unworthy palms.

A second later, the sword bursts into existence. He opens his eyes, and is almost blinded by the light of his own electric aura.

He grips onto the handle of the sword, and peers across the clearing.

Saber had noticed his light-show, and was in the middle of taking a step forward.

She'd clear the distance in only a second or two.

So, he'd have to deliver the weapon in even less time.

"Assassin!"

He shouts, gritting his teeth and pulling his arm back. Like a baseball pitcher, he flings the weapon directly at her.

Saber had closed half the distance, her sword starting to alight with fiery violet flames.

Assassin reaches out, the katana halfway to its destination…but Saber was moving faster.

She'd cut her down before Shirou's Projection even entered her palm, but—!

"Not so fast!"

Saber glances left, and a loud flurry of light shoots from Shirou's right.

The Dark Servant raises her blade, protecting her body from…bullets?

Shirou turns, and sees that a certain blue Executor had somehow pulled what seemed like an assault rifle from out of nowhere.

He suddenly remembers the large bag that Ciel was also carrying along with him.

'THAT'S what that was?!'

The bullets hit true, slowing down Saber's charge as she's forced to halt and defend herself. Despite Servants being immune to bullets, at least from Shirou's knowledge, she had to actively defend herself from being hit.

And so—

P.O.V.: A Certain Seer of Death

"Gotcha."

Her hand grips the handle of the Traced katana.

Saber immediately recognizes her blunder, and hops several meters backward, gaining distance from her new, main foe.

Taking a light breath, she slowly removes her red motorcycle jacket, leaving just her lightweight kimono on her body. "Catch."

She tosses it over to Saten, who grabs it— and immediately backs up to be outside of her Servant's range.

Assassin takes another breath…feeling the energy the katana is radiating through her veins.

'This is different than the one I used against Araya…'

The katana she's wielding…seems to have quite a personality to it.

Screaming at her, as if filled with rage.

A blood-red, demonic aura pulses from the katana, and into her fingertips and palm. The curse of the Muramasa blades, said to curse whoever holds it, and whoever it's used against, sear into her body.

However…

'Please. I'm used to feeling the urge to kill.'

It was ever-present within her, after all.

She opens her eyes, and the ever-present Lines burn into visibility for her.

Her power to bear witness to the Death of all things. The ground beneath her feet, the trees and their leaves, even the very sky…

…structures humans had made, such as cars, buildings, roads…and yes, even humans themselves.

All things had an end. This "End" is what she saw, in the form of jagged Lines that exist on everything.

Such was the ability of her Mystic Eyes of Death Perception.

She centers her gaze on Saber, who gives her a quizzical, yet aggressive look.

Assassin steps forward, suppressing the wrath of the katana with her own Origin of Emptiness.

The two sword-wielding combatants step into the ring. Before their match begins, Assassin glances back at her allies.

"Some of you should go ahead. Like I said…"

She turns her attention back to the Knight in Black. "…I can handle her."

She hears one pair of footsteps begin to move forward. In her periphery, she sees the blue-haired Executor rush forward without a moment's hesitation. It appears she would be the one to continue with the rescue mission.

"And the rest of you?" She asks.

She hears the redheaded boy speak first. "I need to see Saber off…to the end."

"…I'll stay with you, Assassin." Her Master resolves. "I have Command Spells…I can still use them to support you!"

The Servant smirks. She hoped it wouldn't have to come to that— a part of her wanted to finish Saber off without help, but she resolved that if worse comes to worst, it may be needed.

"Alright."

She takes in a breath. A feeling begins to overcome her— not from the sword, but from her past training as a child.

In Japan, there were four families who, in the past, when Mystery was more prevalent, were the premiere fighting forces against the supernatural. The Demon HunterClans, that kept the boundary between humanity and the supernatural.

The Fujou, the Asakami, the Nanaya, and last, but not least…

The child of the Ryougi's senses kick into overdrive. She feels her internal nervous system and muscle structure shift and churn in her body, transforming her from the inside.

It shifts her from less of a person and into a weapon, befitting of the Ryougi Clan. Her auto-suggestion: the ability to strike without thinking, saturates throughout her entire body.

Her Mystic Eyes focus onto her enemy, and view the clear Lines of Death on every single part of the Black Knight…except her weapon.

The Blackened Sword of Promised Victory lacks the Lines that she's used to.

'That's a Divine Construct, alright…'

If she is to defeat Saber, then she'd have to strike her body directly.

"My True Name is Shiki Ryougi." Assassin announces. "And yours, King of Knights?"

"Hmph." With a scoff, Saber grabs at her visor, and throws it aside.

Beneath it, is revealed a pair of golden, pale eyes, hardened by decades of combat. "If you know my title, Ryougi, then the announcement of my True Name is useless."

The King of Knights lifts her sword: the darkened blade of Excalibur.

The Assassin of Ryougi grips her katana: the demonic sword Myoujingiri Muramasa.

The two of them take a step forward—

—And charge like lightning, colliding with a crash of metallic thunder.

P.O.V.: A Certain Burial Agent

The Einzbern Castle Doors open with a lurching creak.

Ciel steps her way inside, checking the capacity of her Seventh Holy Scripture's magazine before locking and loading it back into the chamber.

In the back of her mind, she reminds herself that she really shouldn't be here. Her job was elsewhere, all the way across a few hundred kilometers within Academy City.

There, she was having someone else do her dirty work, while she in-turn, did theirs.

'…I can't help it, though.'

She's gotten attached to this group, for better or for worse. And even if she wanted to change her mind, she's already stepped foot into the Castle, whose grand doors shut with a reverberating thud.

There was no going back, now.

Somewhere in this Castle was Illyasviel von Einzbern. For the sake of the sanctity of the Grail War, to possibly protect the Human Order, and most importantly…

'For the sake of Kamijou-kun and Emiya-kun…'

…She would get her out of here. Assassin, Saten, and Emiya-kun were battling outside— that left the task of extracting the Einzbern child all up to her.

She didn't understand why it was so eerily quiet, though.

Suspiciously silent, only the whispers and hums of the chandelier and torchlights along the ceiling and walls gave any noise, along with the sound of her boot-accented footsteps.

Calling out Illyasviel's name would be useless, as well as give away her position more easily, so she opted for a quiet search. If the enemy was being quiet, then so would she.

She closes her eyes, and starts scanning the Castle for any mana signatures matching one of a human's.

'Ah, no good.'

There were too many Elements flowing through the interior to get a clear read. There were five known Elements— and a couple Imaginary Elements. The latter was scattered around the Castle, throwing off her ability to sense magical energy.

It also gave her an additional worry. Recalling the Shadow she had seen that night in the Underground District, and comparing it to the energy she was feeling now…

'…Yeah. Sakura's definitely been here.'

More than certainly lurking in the Shadows, watching her every move.

Regardless, she'd have to search the old-fashioned way, and there was nothing she could do to prevent from being watched aside from simply staying on guard.

She starts with the first floor, attempting a clean sweep of their hallways. Like a covert operator in the military, she leans against the wall, aiming her gun down the hallways before peaking around the corner.

Once she scanned that it was clear, which it almost always seemed to be, she would move in herself.

She makes an extra-careful point to step as lightly as she can, from heel to toe. She was wearing noisy combat boots meant for active battle, but the carpeted floors provided the muffling required to stay quiet.

Even though a part of her felt being stealthy was, as aforementioned, useless, since Sakura was likely watching her from a distance.

'But I can't just wildly make my presence known…'

Otherwise, it would make her enemy panic, and turn to drastic measures.

After a few minutes of searching, the bottom-floor's West Winghall was clear of enemies and her objective. Feeling dissatisfied, but not quite hopeless yet, she makes her way back to the main hall.

The East Wing didn't have any bedrooms or chambers, but rather was access to the kitchen area and pantry.

'I doubt she's there.'

She takes a quiet peak into the kitchen area, but it too was devoid of anyone, as she thought. Her allies had mentioned a ritual of some kind being performed…one that she doubted would be executed within a kitchen.

Which meant her next place to go was up the staircase, and into the upper halls.

Taking a breath, she places her foot on the red-carpeted stairs, holding her rifle tightly.

She didn't have a watch on her, but her internal clock said that ten or so minutes must have passed since she first entered, and not a peep could be heard anywhere in the Castle.

At this point, she expected to hear at least something, but…

'Nothing.'

It meant that it was far too quiet for it to just be a coincidence. In her head, she deduced more and more…

'I'm certainly being watched.'

She reaches the top without incident, glancing at the golden statue standing tall as the centerpiece of the grand receiving room.

She takes a right first, choosing to search through the East Wing. To her left, was its entrance.

Just around the corner, she remembered there were a handful of rooms which Emiya and Kamijou were sleeping in just the other night.

She does her usual routine, and leans against the wall, just standing out of sight around the corner.

First comes the rifle, slowly prodding around the bend…

Ciel takes a breath.

Then jumps out from the corner.

'As I thought…nothing.'

The hallways, just as empty as the ones previous.

"Berserker."

Her limbs freeze up.

'How did—?!'

Out of nowhere, all of a sudden, she feels a huge pressure come into existence directly behind her. She hadn't even sensed it a second ago, and now it was breathing right on her back.

She gasps, and spins around.

Only to scream as a massive hand, more akin to the claw of a great bear, wraps around her face and crushes down.

She feels herself being lifted into the air, then thrown like a ragdoll back towards the main hall. Over the railing, and down several meters.

She hits the cold tile with a resounding thud, tumbling violently as she grits her teeth and tries to bear it.

'What…just…!?'

The Burial Agent slams against the wall, and dull, blunt pains firing up and down her spine.

She opens her eyes, and finds shades of red coating the edge of her vision.

"Urgh…ah—!"

Just at the top of the staircase, stood a giant.

Many times her size, with hulking muscles beyond her comprehension of human possibility.

Covered in dark shadows, coiling and fizzling. Just underneath that layer of black, was lava-like scalds of bright red.

A pair of circular, demonic eyes glare at her, as the creature hops into the air, carrying a massive piece of obsidian.

She tries to get up, but can't move her legs.

The beast falls, and crashes his hammer down.

And all she could do was cry out from the ripping pain…and then felt nothing.

P.O.V.: A Certain Lost Butterfly

Too easy.

Too, too easy.

"Yes, crush her, Berserker."

The beast roars at her command, slamming its great sword of obsidian and stone into the earth, over and over. Loud, guttural rumbles tremble at her feet, accompanied by the oh-so delightful sounds of breaking debris…

…and the crushing of flesh and bone.

"Flay her, destroy her. Annihilate her."

Along with the clouds of dust rising up from Berserker's reign of destruction, came spurts, splashes, and geysers of blood and viscera.

Flying through the air, like fireworks.

'A perfect end…for an interloping outsider like her.'

The beast's sword is utterly caked in human remains. Sakura could even see the dark red and pinkish outlines of certain internal organs as he slams his sword down violently— over, and over, and over.

An absolute slaughter— no, more than that. Not even butchers treated their animals this harshly in their final moments.

Seeing as the body underneath the rubble had stopped moving long ago, Sakura raises her arm. "That's enough, Berserker."

The Beast stops moving as her tendrils wrap into his flesh from the ground, pulling him back into the depths. "I'll need you someplace else. You've done more than enough."

With an animalistic howl, the monster's torso is quickly enveloped by black, then disappears under the darkness.

However, Sakura felt dissatisfied by his roars. They felt less of one of rage…and more of grief.

'Even in that state, he retains a modicum of sanity…

How powerful you are, Hero of Greece.'

Sakura steps up to the steaming corpse in the corner of the room.

Indeed, they had been completely, utterly, sloppily bifurcated. Their arms were bent out of shape, broken and torn and bloodied like a discarded toy.

Their torso— completely ripped from their legs. Crushed skin, and flattened viscera and organs stain the rubbled ground like pancakes, blood pooling from both her legs and her chest.

Sakura spots the girl's heart sticking out, slightly exposed to the air. By some miracle of nature, it was still beating, if ever slowly.

"Let me put a stop to that."

She flicks her finger, and a tendril wraps itself around the muscle like a python.

Curling her digit, the tendril tightens all at once. The heart shudders, then squirts a reddish goo from all directions.

It ceases its beating.

Sakura peers her eyes up to the girl's head. Her eyes were wide with her last emotion of fear, bloodshot with blood running down her face and hair.

An unmistakable, absolute carcass.

"Heh."

'This is what you'll be soon…Onee-san…Senpai…'

Neither of them could save her.

So she'd exact her retribution, just like she had with the ex-person before her.

She steps away from the body, satisfied in its destruction. She could still hear the squelching and dripping of blood, which captivated in her ears.

The black butterfly stands in the center of the room, and prepares to wait a little while longer. From her knowledge, the Einzbern maids should be nearly ready to present the White Grail with the dress.

Upon claiming Archer's soul, she would be unrivaled.

"It's…almost time…"

She places her hand over her stomach, narrowing her eyes at the dull pain that's been shuddering within it. She didn't know why or what was causing it, but it annoyed her.

Nevertheless, it didn't affect her plans. With a grin, she sighs as the shadows begin to envelope her.

"Almost time…"

"Almost time…for what, Sakura-san?"

Sakura's eyes widen. The shadows fall from her body as she hears a voice that should be impossible to exist any longer.

She pivots her head.

And meets the hardened eyes of a certain Burial Agent, her gun trained directly at her face.

'H-How did…!?'

Her body.

It was completely healed.

The blood, all vanished. The damage to the surrounding Castle remained, but her body…

Her torso was reattached to her legs.

Her eyes, no longer bloodshot. The red and pink liquid coating her skin— vanished. Her clothes were the only things tattered, exposing her midriff and some of her legs thanks to the tears in her boots and top.

Sakura grits her teeth, unable to answer in her head why that could be.

That girl was dead.

She was so sure of it. She had crushed her heart— Berserker had flayed her body until nothing was left but a pile of flesh!

"You…!"

The Butterfly in Black shoots all of her tendrils right at her, wanting nothing more than to tear her to pieces once again.

And with naught but a small grin, the Executor in Blue pulls her trigger.

P.O.V.: A Certain King of Knights

She didn't understand. She could barely comprehend the enemy that stood before her.

She was the King of Knights, who wielded the Holy Sword of the Planet. Contracted to a suitable, powerful Master, with access to a nigh-endless amount of magical energy.

She should be unrivaled. She should be unstoppable.

'So why…'

Saber slashes her blade, unleashing a fiery torrent of flames that rips through dozens of trees with a singular slash. In seconds, the woods that stood before her eyes were burned to ash.

'Why is she still standing?'

A Servant that she didn't think would be a threat to her, was giving her a run for her money.

Just above her burst of mana, flipped through the air a sky-blue beauty. She carried an Eastern sword that she didn't immediately recognize, thanks to her ignorance of foreign lands.

Gritting her teeth, the King fires another blaze of prana. The air itself scorches red from the heat she's forcing out of Excalibur. Everything around her is engulfed in light and shadow.

Yet with a silent slash, it had all ended.

Assassin swipes her katana, lightly as a feather, at her blast prepared to burn her asunder.

Before Saber's eyes, the violet flames in front of her invert in color.

For a moment— just a brief moment, faster than even a blink, she could make out that they had been returned to their original state.

A bright, hopeful, golden shine.

Then, nothing.

Completely erased, as if sent into nothingness.

Saber sears her blade on fire once again as Assassin hops back on the ground, unharmed.

They lock their gazes.

And a split second later, Assassin is right upon her once more, barely giving her a moment to breathe.

Their blades rip across each other, sending glowing sparks flying between them. Every time Saber tries to slash at her, either to dismember or to even bifurcate entirely, Assassin effortlessly evades and lightly smacks the sharp edge of her katana against Excalibur, parrying it away and opening her guard.

'No way—!'

Before Assassin could capitalize on her blunder, Saber lights her sword ablaze once more and forces her to hop backwards from its pure heat alone.

In that half-second of respite, Saber deduces their strengths and weaknesses.

'She's faster. I'm stronger.

If I could only hit her, I could burn her to ashes, but…'

She narrows her vision, at Assassin's own irises.

They were illuminant with reddish blue light, as ethereal as Heaven itself. It was almost enchanting how mysteriously bright, yet unsettlingly nerve-wracking they were.

She couldn't look away, yet they sent chills down the King's back.

Her enemy vanishes from her view. However, even the speed of the Assassin Class could not outrun her built-in Instinct.

'There you are—!'

She pivots around, and fires an arc of mana, careening into the exterior forest.

With the grace and ease of a ballerina, the kimono-clad huntress bends over backwards— the heat of her fire only centimeters from burning her face off.

Safe from her attack, the Assassin uprights herself and pushes off the ground, forcing Saber to bring her sword up to guard as a body larger than her own crashes into her.

Sparks fly once more as their swords intermingle, battling for dominance. Saber grits her teeth, digging her heels into the ground as Assassin's attack forces her backward.

'That sword…it must be a Divine Construct…or something very close to one.'

Seeing their sword close-up several times, she's gotten an idea of its structure and craftsmanship. Any weapon that could stand up to Excalibur had to be Divine in Origin.

This wasn't simply standing up to Excalibur, however— it was quite nearly a rival to it. Saber could tell her own sword was still superior, but the mere fact that the katana hadn't broken yet after several collisions was proof of its pristine design.

There were few blacksmiths from the Far East that could possibly have created weapons to stand up to Excalibur.

On one hand, there was the stoic yet calm Gorō Masamune, highly regarded as Japan's greatest blacksmith…

Yet on the other, judging by the rage she felt emanating from the blade every time it grit against Excalibur, she had a feeling it was his more infamous counterpart.

The man whose blades slayed the Tokugawa, and cut down a Magic God.

Not only were their swords nearly equals, so was their swordsmanship— while they were exact opposites in practice, they turned out to be nearly equals in prowess as well.

Saber's straightforward, hard, determined slashes cancelled out against Assassin's delicate, quick flurries.

Grinding to a halt, she stands her ground. Assassin darts all around her— moving at a pace too fast for her eyes to keep up with.

Indeed, in this state, her Agility had fallen for heightened Strength. Compared to the Assassin, whose Agility was likely only surpassed by Rider's, on top of the sword and Eyes she wields that negate the power difference…

…If Saber didn't possess a powerful utility Skill like Instinct, she would be at an utter disadvantage.

Even with Assassin becoming a blur to her, Saber detected her attacks a beat before they happened, and moved to block.

Every time she shifted her sword, she'd see the whipping afterimage of the katana slashing against it, then Assassin's glowing eyes retreating before she could retaliate.

Over, and over, and over.

'Is she trying to exhaust me…? No, that can't be.'

She had limitless energy, and Assassin must have realized this by now. If she wanted this to be a war of attrition, then she already lost the second she chose to fight her.

'So why—?'

She feels a pressure coming behind her head. Too slow to simply turn around, she quickly hefts her sword over her shoulder and fires another gust of infernal mana.

Saber hears the crackling and burning of trees behind her, scorched to a crisp almost instantly from her attack.

Yet the woosh of fluttering fabric above her head clearly told her she had missed her mark.

She gazes up, and glares into the eyes of a boundary of emptiness.

Glowing, azure pupils, staring into her soul, getting a read on her death.

It only froze her in surprise for a fraction of a second, before she willed power back into her sword to calm her nerves.

As Assassin flew overhead, Saber grimaced as she lifted up her Holy Sword to block— she felt an attack coming, even before Assassin twitched her arms.

"Grrr—!"

Barely ducking her head down, she grunts as she feels the slash sweep just above her. She immediately inflames her blade again, forcing Assassin to hop away as she releases a burning geyser into the air.

Now with good distance between the two of them, Saber's eye twitches as she feels her hair fall around her shoulders..

While she had largely evaded Assassin's katana, it still managed to strike the tight bun she wore her hair up in. It cut so precisely, that Saber could feel that her hair hadn't been sliced unevenly.

Even with that small blunder, it did serve to prove her suspicions. Her hair had been cut through like a knife through butter— no, even easier than that. Even razor-sharp swords would have some issues cutting through thick hair, bunched all together. That, on top of her being able to negate even her Mana Bursts…

'So that's what her Eyes are…'

The Grail gave Saber knowledge of the concept of Mystic Eyes. There were many categories, and dozens of subsets all varying in strength.

But the one that Assassin held…the King of Knights had deduced that they must be one of the strongest, originating from the Gaelic God Balor.

She'a had suspicions of it ever since she had watched her fight before, but dueling her head-on was more than enough evidence.

'Mystic Eyes of Death Perception…'

The Ability to see the Death of all things. Likely, Assassin knew exactly where her Lines were— and every single one of her strikes was an attempt to trace along them.

If she were to be hit…

'…Regeneration would prove useless.'

Being killed by the Mystic Eyes of Death Perception meant absolute Death. It ignores durability, healing powers, and kills the target at the source— their very essence is annihilated, and sent back to the Root.

Even with her great strength advantage, and her naturally high instincts, she couldn't help but feel this battle was on equal ground.

The Assassin— no, at this point, Saber internally believed she had proven herself enough on the battlefield to warrant her True Name.

'Shiki Ryougi…'

Shiki paces forward once again, forcing Saber to get into a defensive position as they slash again.

'Left flank.'

Parried.

'Right shoulder.'

Blocked.

'Left thigh.'

Evaded, at the last moment.

Her senses were nearly at their highest capacity, just to keep pace with the speed of her enemy's movements. She flings her own sword, only for her opponent to bend under it like a fatal game of limbo.

As Shiki's glowing eyes became visible under Excalibur's flame, they both seemed to shoot each other the same look.

The same fraught, desperate glare.

'This cannot last forever!'

P.O.V.: A Certain Master of Assassin

Of all the things that Ruiko Saten had seen in her life…this was the most crazy. By far. Nothing else came close.

She couldn't even see the fight sometimes— the two figures danced through the air and across the ground so quickly, they may as well have been invisible to her half the time.

Standing near the much more physically adept Shirou Emiya for a modicum of mental support, she watches on as her Servant battles to the peak of her Abilities.

'Assassin, no, Shiki…' Saten ponders a past conversation, as the two Servants clash their swords in the distance. '…She told me that I'm, objectively, not a good Master.

…but that doesn't matter to her.'

Assassin hadn't just meant that in a sentimental way, either— watching the speed of her attacks, the fluidity of her movements akin to the flow of a river…was clear that she was, for the most part, entirely self-sufficient and required little actual mana support.

Sure, Saten felt a light headache that slowly grew worse the more she watched Assassin battle— but that was an easy burden to bear, compared to the weight that was falling on Assassin's shoulders.

'You have to win.

You have to.'

Otherwise, well…

'No, there is no otherwise. She's going to win.'

Ruiko's hand tightens on the motorcycle jacket she had draped around her shoulders, as the great battle of superhumans continues before her eyes.

Clanging metal. Desperate grunts and shouts. With every slash and clash of their blades, a pulse of wind flew by her face and whipped around her body, throwing her hair wild.

Trees burned to ash by the dozens or more. The very earth, scorched to ashes. Nature itself was falling— yet she still stood tall.

"E-Emiya-san?" She turns to the young man who had been standing with her. To protect themselves from collateral debris, they had resolved to hide behind a set of boulders, only peeking around the corner when it was safe. "You can probably see them better than I can, right? Can you tell what's happening?"

Emiya nods, albeit hesitantly. "Somewhat. They're dead-even…Assassin's almost too fast for her to handle, but Saber's reflexes allow her to keep up…plus I think…'

They both see their swords slide together again, the curved katana edge grinding violently against the darkened greatsword with deadly orange sparks. A split-second later, an echoing boom shakes through their bodies and the surrounding brush and trees.

"…I think neither of them have made contact with the other's body, because if they did at this point, then…"

Saten finishes his sentence in her head. '…Then there would have been a winner already.'

It was clear to even an inexperienced Master like her— just one good hit from either side would determine the winner.

Saber's glowing black sword was fatal if a direct blow was allowed. Its fire was potent enough to permanently scar the land— even to a fellow Servant, it was a brutal weapon that Saten wasn't sure if anyone could take head-on.

Yet at the same time, the combination of Assassin's Eyes, and the potency of her sword, was just as deadly. They had spent the last several minutes preventing either from hitting the other's body, and hundreds of blocks, parries, and dodges were the result.

After yet another unsuccessful skirmish, the blackened Saber jumps away, flipping her weapon into a baseball-like stance as it burns to life with a candle of iridescent violet, searing into Ruiko's untrained eyes.

With a stoic shout of a scornful King, the Servant rips her sword diagonally upwards, unleashing a wave of red-hot, opaque dark energy from its edge.

It tears into the trees, immediately ripping dozens in half all at once, separating the top halves from their roots as the shockwave causes them to burst into the sky, far above the treeline.

And amongst the flying sea of trees was a certain kimono-wearing warrior, who had barely evaded being torn in twain. Saten watches as her ever-neutral gaze, never losing focus of her enemy below, hops from tree-trunk to tree-trunk as she methodically zips toward the earth.

Yet her enemy, never letting a moment go to waste, pushes into the lifeless dirt and blasts herself up like a rocketship, cracking and crumbling mother nature at her feet.

Saten squeals as the shockwaves reach her, her feet trembling and nearly wanting to fall over, but she remains upright.

She couldn't show any weakness— not witnessing a battle like this. Not when her Servant was fighting with her life, for the sake of her and her friends.

'Go, Assassin! For Shirai…for Uiharu…and everyone else…

…you can't fall here! WE can't fall here!'

Just above the skeletal remains of the canopy of evergreens, Saber and Assassin flash their blades and crash them together, still unable to break the other's guard fully. Assassin twirls— using the mid-air as her advantage, and evades a clean slash from her enemy to deliver one of her own.

It strikes untrue, blocked by the black sword once more. As the tree trunks start to descend back to Earth, Assassin hops between each one- using each as a springboard to fire her body at Saber at every single angle Saten thought possible.

Above, below, left, right— northwest, southeast, northeast, southwest; dozens upon dozens of times, until she was just a blur to Ruiko's eyes. She couldn't see it, but the grindingly loud whirs of metal hitting metal told her that each of those dozens of hits were unsuccessful, still.

Then, up above.

Like a rabbit in the heavens, the Assassin donned in blue hops over the bright full moon.

Effortlessly, and breathlessly. Just for that second, Ruiko feels time slow down as her Servant spins in mid-air, her pristine silver katana glinting, glimmering, and lustering in the moonlight.

Her eyes, just as azure as the night. A pair of stars, shining overhead amongst a canopy of constellations.

She whirls through the air, then flips her katana inverse in her hands, pointing the tip down toward the Earth.

The star of Shiki Ryougi transforms into a burning comet. With an inhuman cry of war, the Servant plunges down back to reality.

Directly at her enemy— whose face only just noticed her falling from above.

A linear blur from the sky to the earth followed.

Next, came the loudest boom of all, quaking the land for what must have been hundreds of meters in every direction.

Saten holds onto the boulder for dear life, and is surprised that it managed to stay anchored to the ground from such a powerful display.

"Urgh…"

Groaning, she peers her head over to Shirou, who seemed to have taken the hit a little worse than she did— his body was prone on the floor. "You good?"

"Yeah…" Despite clearly being a lie, he attempts getting up to his knees anyway as he looks up and ahead of Saten. "But…"

Saten steps out from behind the boulder, and finds only a cloud of dust completely obscuring her sight.

She couldn't sense magical energy, so she had absolutely no idea what was ahead.

That is, until a flash of violet darkness flared up into the air like a beacon of despair, immediately blasting away the cloud. No, it didn't disperse the cloud away— it completely vaporized the tiny particles into smithereens.

And the source of it all…

…the King in Black stood tall and uninjured.

"Tch, she barely got away from me." The voice of her Servant made Ruiko's heart beat just a little slower.

Assassin stands just to Saten's right, a dozen or so meters out.

Saber stands even farther, readying another torrent of black mana.

Knowing what was coming next, the Master turns to her Servant and shouts. "Assassin, get ready to—"

'Wait.'

Saten pivots her gaze back to Saber.

Saber wasn't looking at her Servant. She was looking at her.

Saber mouths words that send a freezing chill down Ruiko's spine.

"Fall."

"Master, wait—!"

"SATEN-SAN—!"

Saber thrusts her sword, and Saten's eyes widen in horror as her vision is engulfed by streaming colors of black and violet and red.

A warmth comes across her body.

'Help…me—!'

Then, a searing-hot pain, scorching at her skin.

That is…until it's all stopped by the silhouette of a certain someone, jumping right in front of her.

P.O.V.: A Certain Hero of Justice

"Fall."

Those were the words he heard his former Servant say, just as she flared up a great pillar of deadly magical energy.

Not aimed at Assassin— but the one tasked to command her. He realized this in a heartbeat.

His muscles moved faster than his brain did.

At that moment, all of the aching pains caused by the shockwaves the battle moments before meant nothing. Because right in front of Shirou Emiya, was the helpless body of someone in danger.

'No!'

He pushes against the ground as fast as he can, racing against the approaching violet growing ever brighter and ever hotter to his right.

He had to beat it. What a sorry excuse for a hero he'd be, otherwise.

Saten was powerless— even moreso than he was. Despite not knowing each other until several days ago, they had been through enough in this Holy Grail War together for him to consider her a friend.

Not that being a friend was a requirement for him to save them, though. Regardless of who it was, he would try. However, the fact that he did know her, and knew exactly what she had lost, made him run that much faster.

There wasn't any way he'd let her get hurt.

Despite the heat of Saber's Mana Burst being much faster than him, with temperatures easily surpassing that of a furnace several times over— the fact that he was much closer to her, made him the winner of this fatal race.

He jumps in front of her body, stretching his arms and legs as the pure, malevolent prana approaches his body.

'Trace, ON!'

In a half-second, his hands crackle with viridescent light, and immediately begin forming a pair of twin-shaped short swords, which he crossed over himself to block his vital areas.

He didn't have nearly enough time to make anything larger— and yet, he wasn't sure if it would be enough to protect himself.

That didn't matter to him, though.

As long as the person behind him was okay, he would be okay in turn.

He closes his eyes, and braces for impact.

Indeed, the mana burned at his skin, hotter than a midday sun.

…And yet, it never grew hotter than that.

'Wha—?'

He opens his eyes.

And in front of him, he sees someone else had taken the blow for him. Just past his cross-guarded pair of blades, he sees the back of a blue kimono, blocking both his body, and the body of the girl behind her.

He hears the cry of an anguished Master.

"ASSASSIN—!"

Then, everything grows white.

P.O.V.: A Certain Lost Master

When the blinding light faded, she remained standing.

Everything had only happened in maybe a second or two— much of it too fast for her to process.

And yet, she also knew exactly what had happened. While she was stuck there, like a deer in headlights, waiting for the car to run her over…

…They had protected her.

When she couldn't do anything, they threw themselves in the way to keep her alive. 'I…'

She didn't know whether to be grateful, or to cry and say she didn't deserve it.

In her mind, she supposes she felt much of both, as she stared upon not one— but two lying bodies.

Shirou Emiya lay at her feet, panting heavily as bands upon bands of sweat run down his head. He looked extremely shaken up; perhaps even partially burned, as the singe marks on his shirt and pants signified. He was holding what looked to be a pair of swords— yet Saten didn't exactly recognize them.

She immediately knelt down by him, checking his injuries. It was the least she could do for him, after what he did.

"Are you o…"

Then, a sputtering cough from behind her, petrified her.

"…kay…?"

She moves her eyes away, and glances to her six.

"Assassin!"

She regretted turning her back on Emiya, and likely their still-standing enemy, but she couldn't help it.

She had done this. She had caused her Servant to fall.

It hurt her heart so much, she could already feel the tears welling.

And when she happened upon their body…

"…Assassin…!"

Her entire front body, scorched her cinders, beyond just third degree burns and to the point where her skin was almost melted off.

The front part of her kimono had been utterly obliterated, yet the injuries from the Mana Burst were so powerful that the normally private extremities were too burned to be recognizable.

The only parts of her body that weren't a sizzling, searing mass of flesh were her hands, her lower legs, and face. Her katana lays at her side, still unbroken despite its user being utterly inoperable.

She lay on the ground, spread out like she had already died; yet the red, steaming face of her Servant still moved slightly, against all odds.

It was an absolutely horrific sight, the more Saten thought about it, so she chose not think about it as she centers in on Assassin's eyes, and her eyes alone.

Slowly, they open up. Miraculously, a pair of gentle, onyx brown eyes look back at her.

"Assassin…no, Shiki…"

Saten places her hands on her Servant's own. They were hot beyond a temperature any Servant should be.

If she were a better Master, then her mana could heal her body, but…

'I'm just a human…just a useless, useless human…!'

Shiki's mouth moves in a nearly unrecognizable whisper.

"…sor…ry…"

"No…I'm sorry…" Saten leans down, placing her forehead on the Servant's palm. The parched, dried dirt started to be quenched by her eyes. "…I should have been…better than…this…"

She made a promise to win.

To Shirai, and then later Uiharu. She made a promise to Misaka, to herself— that the four of them would all be together again.

And yet, here she was.

A failure.

Again.

It was almost comedic, how horrible everything had turned out to be in such a short amount of time. Gripping Shiki's hand, she starts to see her fingertips and toes turn to glitter.

"Shiki…I—"

Assassin's eyes lose their focus, and her breathing stops.

The glittering grows faster, as Ruiko feels Shiki's hand limp in her grasp.

Gazing down at the searing-hot, lifeless palm, she suddenly locks eyes with the back of her own hand.

'…Oh—!'

"My patience has reached its end. Your goodbyes are now over, Master of Assassin."

Just as she realized her inexperienced, ignorant mistake, a cold, tyrannical voice announces her presence just ahead of her.

Saten pulls herself upright, her tear, dirt, and blood-stained face glaring daggers into the dark-clad Saber.

"You appear to still have Command Seals. However—"

The Tyrant King locks her sword at her side, and releases an unholy pressure from its blade, lighting the Einzbern forest in a crimson glow. "—You will fall before you have the chance to use them.

Hammer of the Vile King, reverse the rising sun."

The light from Excalibur burns darkly brighter than ever before, drying Saten's tears and steaming her skin in an instant.

The ground beneath her legs trembles, preventing her from getting to her feet. Loose dirt clumps and small rocks begin floating into the air as the currents of the atmosphere start to whip around the King's blade.

Saten knew what this was— a Servant's Treasured Gift. Their Noble Phantasm.

In seconds, Saber would release a massive torrent of heat so powerful that the result would render Saten less than ashes.

'…No!'

She grips her Command Spell-wielding wrist, and cries out, at the top of her lungs—!

"By my Command! Stand, Assassin!"

The blue glitters of light halt their consumption of her Servant's body— in fact, they're immediately replaced. Her fingers return back to her hands, and her feet return back to her legs.

But it wasn't enough.

"Again— by my command…Stand, Assassin!"

The burns on her body flake away, magically replacing her clear, flawless skin. Her kimono's cloth etches back together, covering her body as its healed by the warmth of Saten's red light.

For some reason, however, its color shifted— no longer was it an ocean blue, but rather a delicate, bright snowy white.

She didn't pay it any mind, though. In the back of her mind, she was glad.

Glad, that for once, she was the one doing the saving.

"Swallow the light— Excalibur Morgan!"

And yet, it wouldn't even be close enough.

Her Servant didn't even get the chance to regain consciousness, as Saten sees her enemy whip her blade forward, and unleash that impossible beam of impossible light.

Saten closes her eyes.

Yes, it was all over now.

Her will to win the War fades, at her last moments.

As the heat gets terribly closer and closer, she feels her mind wander.

'…I'm sorry, Shirai. Uiharu.

I wonder…if I go now…will I be able to see them, again?

Ah…I'm starting to sound like Misaka now.

…I'm sorry I left you behind. I'm…sorry…

…someone…please…help…'

"…ias!"

'…me?'

"Saten-san!"

Her eyes dart back awake. For the second time in what must have just been a minute or so, she hadn't been burned into smithereens.

For the second time, someone had protected her. And yet this time— it wasn't the woman laying at her feet, still unmoving, yet half-reformed.

She turns her head up, and awes around herself.

In her tunnel-visioned wish to heal her Servant, she hadn't even realized the great show of light around her.

Saber's Excalibur, its hurricane of vile mana blazing all around her, yet none of it touching her. It tears through the earth, vaporizes the air itself…and she still remains unharmed.

She turns her head, and discovers why.

Because a certain hero of justice had answered her call.

Seeing the look in his eyes, she realizes what she has to do.

She stares down at Assassin, and screams out her last, desperate, hopeful wish.

The final red tattoo on the back of her palm sears off.

"By my Command Seal…Live, SHIKI!"

P.O.V.: A Certain Hero of Justice

Seconds Earlier.

Just as Saber begins to shift her weight and begin her swing, he jumps into action.

Placing himself perfectly between Saten and her Servant, and the enemy before him, Shirou Emiya's eyes widen as he focuses his entire body on his next task.

He knew it would be painful. Up until this point, he's over only traced weapons. Here, he would have to make something that went outside of the norm of blade.

Yet still, he knew it would have to do. He had seen Archer use it before— and if Archer could, then so could he.

That was his fate. Even if he wouldn't see the life that Archer led, he would always eventually end up learning his powers if he ever walked the path of Magecraft.

Thanks to his father giving him this chance, he could strive to become the hero he felt he had to be.

To save others.

Especially those he cared about. A girl within that castle was calling his name, even if she didn't know it.

He would answer it.

"Trace, On."

With just two words, he opens up his Magic Circuits. For a Mage, he had a below-average amount— and in normal circumstances, he would forever be nothing but an apprentice.

And yet, there was something assisting him. Pushing his Magecraft further than he ever thought possible. It was at first a poison to him…yet, the more and more he performed his Projections, the more he realized that his body was becoming acclimated to it.

His Esper Ability— the power that Kokutou-sensei had told him was just like his Magecraft…was fusing with his magic.

Enhancing it.

Combining with it, and exponentially erupting his powers past their limitations. His body, previously too weak to handle it, strengthened itself with each use.

In the back of his mind, he knew why.

'Thank you, Kiritsugu.'

The injections Kiritsugu had his son take, without fail. Before, it was to separate his powers…

…Now that he was using both in tandem, they were no longer about separating, but tying together.

Because of his father's work, and sacrifice, Shirou could stand tall.

"It's a dream I never reached."

'So I'll reach it for you, Dad—!'

And the result was just before Shirou's eyes.

Within his mind's eye, he searches through his internal barrow of blades, as Saber's light grows dark, darker, yet darker.

Its shadowy, white light pulses against his skin. Within one second, he would be burned to cinders, as well as who he was trying to protect.

Faster than that, he would search for a counter. It didn't have to overpower the Holy Sword— only prove to resist it for a few moments.

"Search."

The Trojan War.

The Hero of the Shield, that resisted Durindana's might.

"Select."

The same shield that a certain crimson coat had used, to protect him and his friends from Caster's nigh-unstoppable Gae Bolg.

Its shining, flowery petals of light burned clear in his mind. In a fraction of a second, he scans its structure, its shape, and its design as perfectly as he could.

"Analyze."

He outstretches his right arm, supporting it with his other. Electric green sparks swirl in his palm, and his clothes begin to flutter in the wind of his own creation.

"I am the bone of my sword."

At the same moment, Saber curls back her blade, preparing to whip it forward with all of the inhuman, draconic strength she could muster.

He had to meet her, head-on.

The Servant that stood by his side, and was now standing against him.

There were a myriad of thoughts about Saber that he wills his mind to hide away. In this instant, none of those thoughts mattered.

Even if it wanted to make him break down and cry, they didn't matter. All that mattered were the lives behind him, and the life he was trying to save.

And in the end…the woman in black in front of him, was his obstacle.

The Tyrant shouts.

"Swallow the light— Excalibur…Morgan!"

A blinding heat wave of prana shines in Shirou's face.

The instant after, he responds.

"Rho…Aias!"

From his palm blooms a flower of hope.

Ovular barriers, forming a circumference much larger than his height, and stronger than the strongest steels. Pinkish in color, yet flowing with hardened energy.

A barrier made to withstand any thrown weapon— now, it would test its mettle against the Holy Sword of Arthurian Legend.

Gritting his teeth, Shirou braces as Saber's energy collides with his own. The ground bursts at his feet, cracking and splitting as he feels the heat wrap around his shield, yet not enough to overwhelm him.

Immediately, he begins to see cracks. Tightening the clasp on his arm, and narrowing his eyes, he pushes deep into his own reserves— already exhausted all of Ciel's support— to regenerate the half-dozen petals.

His Esper Ability and Magecraft cry out for all they're worth, working over the clock and double time to prevent his body, as well as his shield, from falling apart.

He takes a step back.

The temperature was overwhelming.

The pressure of Excalibur Morgan— incomprehensible, and nearly endless. While Shirou had exhausted over eighty-percent of his energy already, he could easily tell that Saber was far from exhausted even after a full-power Noble Phantasm release such as this.

Her new Master— which Shirou didn't want to think about the ramifications of who it was at the moment, must have had a nearly limitless supply.

His eyes widen as, merely three or four seconds after their collision of energy, an entire petal shatters like glass. Grunting, he exhausts even more of his reserves, and watches as the magical energy flows out of the circuits in his arm and into his shield, slowly reforging it.

He turns his head. He only had seconds left until full collapse.

"Saten-san!"

He shouts to the girl behind her, who had the face of half-confusion, and half-defeat.

He had to get her out of that funk, and now.

She seems to hear his call, and the two lock eyes.

He lets his pupils soften.

Despite not saying anything, he knew she could read his words.

'Please…end this for me.'

She steels her face, which was good enough for him. He focuses back to maintaining Rho Aias, and feeling the searing heat of Excalibur's light rip past his eyes with every tear in his shield.

He hears her voice cry out behind him.

"By my Command Seal…Live, SHIKI!"

A voice of desperation, and a whir of mana echoes from behind him.

He could only hope that did the trick, as he suddenly feels all of his reserves reach the end of their fumes.

The fuel tanks exhausted, he watches his petals begin to shatter, with no reforger.

His fight with Saber had lasted a mere ten seconds.

All throughout, his former Servant had been the clear dominance, and clear victor. Honestly, he wasn't surprised.

Even with his boosts in strength, he could never hope to match up to someone who had the experience, prowess, and inhuman strength that Saber had. Even turned dark, he could tell her core remained.

He watches one petal break. Two.

Rho Aias enters a total catastrophic failure in front of him, as the continuing blaze of Excalibur Morgan sears forward without end.

With absolutely no energy left in his body, Shirou Emiya feels his legs turn to gelatin.

'Ah…that's it.'

Saten's wish— whether it worked or not, he had a feeling he wouldn't know now— as his eyes grew heavy from pure, utter drainage of energy.

He falls backwards, as his shield shatters entirely.

The inferno blazes forward, as a delicate hand clasps his shoulder.

"Good work, young one.

I'll take it from here."

The hero of justice gives a small grin to a passing woman clad in white, as he gently falls backward and shuts his eyes.

P.O.V.: A Certain Boundary of Emptiness

Shiki Ryougi was gone.

After that blast of mana that utterly burned away most of her body, and heavily damaged her Spirit Origin to the point of near-disappearance…yes, the Heroic Spirit known as Shiki Ryougi had vanished from that existence.

Death, in most cases, and definitions of the word.

And yet…looking back at Shiki Ryougi's life…indeed, it would not have been the first time that something like that happened.

In her life, she was killed. Or more specifically, he was killed.

Ruiko Saten could not understand, since Shiki had never told her, but the one that carried the name Shiki was actually two.

One male, and one female.

Yin and Yang. Opposites, yet complementary, within the same body. One could call it two souls entirely, rather than simply alternate personalities.

One fateful night, the Male side had lost themselves. In a bamboo forest, on a country road, he was struck by a car that rendered him comatose.

Near-death, for both of them.

Yet after three long years of existing in a boundary of emptiness, the male half decided to give himself up— to fall into the Swirl of the Root, the end and beginning of all things, so the female half could open her eyes.

A complicated situation, it very much was. This was the life that Shiki Ryougi led— one of esoteric fantasy, straight out of a novel.

Although, it left one question: just how does one human body be born with two souls?

It was not the case of something scientific, such as conjoined twins. The body of Shiki Ryougi was entirely, perfectly whole, with no imperfections.

No— for a single human body to have a complementary pair of spirits, something that no other human in existence would have, there was only one answer.

Something else, outside of those two souls, had created them. Something beyond the Yin and Yang.

That was her, now.

Lying dormant between the male, and the female; the light, and the dark, at the very edge of an empty boundary.

This soul is who had created the other two— if nothing more, than to fulfill her parents' wishes. After effortlessly making two souls, she had discarded herself…leaving herself quiet, and dormant.

Watching in peace, from behind a curtain that observed reality.

It was, after all, all she needed to feel content. A being who could wish anything into existence, could not do anything else but be. To exist.

Nothing was a surprise to her, after all.

And yet…

And yet, this girl, she could find some interest in.

The young girl with raven-black hair, and an adorable little flower on the side of her head. If ever so slightly, it made her smile.

A powerless girl, who had no ability. No Esper Power. No Magecraft.

A normal, ordinary human, yet thrown into conflicts she didn't completely understand. And yet, even in the face of defeat, tried the hardest she could.

'…Yes, it certainly reminds me of someone.'

The woman smiled inwardly, as she remembered a certain glasses-wearing young man, that she had met one or two times on a snowy hillside.

Taking a light breath, she opens her eyes.

The world comes into view, with her own will, for the first time.

What she wasn't used to, was being in the body of a Servant. While she was exactly aware of a Servant's parameters compared to her human body, it still surprised her at just how much stronger it was.

'Ah…'

Her body, however, was just barely being held together. The magical energy of her Master's Command Spells provided just enough to restore her Spirit Origin, but only barely.

One more attack— that's all she could do.

She lightly picks up the blade of Senji Muramasa, then turns to her Master.

Ruiko Saten's eyes seem to widen with surprise. She supposes she couldn't blame her— her stance, her demeanor, and even how she expressed her face was much different than her other self.

"…Shiki?" She mutters.

All 'Shiki' could do was smile, then bypass her without a word.

For after all— she did not have much time.

Taking up her sword, she rushes forward- her bare feet bouncing off the dry dirt, and hovering quickly up to the battlefield.

'Ah, just in time.'

The boy had lost his energy, just as she arrived.

She places her hand on his shoulder, and gives him a whisper of comfort.

"Good work, young one. I'll take it from here."

The shield breaks before her eyes, unleashing a flood of red-hot mana.

And in response, her Mystic Eyes of Death Perception blaze to life.

"Amalavijñāna."

For her, even in front of a massive divine spire of black flame of the Holy Sword of the Planet, seeing its Lines of Death was incredibly easy.

Even moreso— there weren't even multiple she had to individually trace.

Just one.

With a grit of her teeth, she slashes her sword forward, tracing it seamlessly along the Death Line of Excalibur Morgan's blast.

The wave of mana breaks in two, as if she was a prophet parting a sea.

She continues moving forward, accelerating as she feels the mana from Saten's Command Spells quickly burning away with every second of her existence.

'Ah…my form is mana-intensive, hm?

Perhaps it's the potency of my Noble Phantasm, or even the Counter-Force rejecting me…'

She closes her eyes, and reads her body's memories.

Appearing in front of a confused trio of girls, from a Summoning Circle that they clearly did not create.

Holding her Master tight, as the girl cries in her arms after learning of her friend's passing.

Taking her to that strange café, and teasing her for ordering a BLT without tomato.

Wrapping her in that red jacket, when she needed something warm to comfort her.

'…apologies, young Saten-san.

This attack…will be my last.'

Across the other end of the blazing inferno, now split in twain, she hears a certain King of Knights scoff in acceptance.

Approaching the source of the beam of violet light, Shiki gives one last push, and bursts her head out through the other end.

Even with severing Excalibur's light, she could feel her body burn with every second she remained near it. She had exhausted much of herself, just to maintain her appearance.

'…I don't want her to see me hurt in my last moments, after all.'

Her eyes meet the Altered Saber's, who stares upon her with contempt, yet awe.

With seemingly no effort, she had rendered her Excalibur Morgan completely negated. Not even the power of Imagine Breaker could accomplish the feat that 'Shiki' had just done.

Now, her katana, red-hot and starting to turn molten from taking the continuous heat of Excalibur, centers-in on her enemy.

With no way to dodge, and blocking utterly fruitless, Saber simply closes her eyes.

And Assassin declares her victory.

"This is the end of our dream.

For you are naught…"

A quick slash of a blade follows, that tears through the atmosphere and into the ears of all who could hear it.

"…but a withered flower."

P.O.V.: A Certain Lost Master

For a moment, nature itself stands still.

Assassin stands behind Saber, her blade finished with its cut— yet devoid of blood.

A light breeze, akin to standing at the edge of a summer ocean, blows past Ruiko Saten's face.

She swore— just for a moment, the night had turned into day, as soon as she heard that brilliant slash of metal.

It had vanished as soon as it came, but the feeling that grew in her heart, just from witnessing a strike like that, it felt…

'…peaceful…'

It had vanished as soon as she comprehended it, though. In a flash, everything transpersed back to normal.

Saber and Assassin stood a few meters apart, their backs facing each other.

Saten couldn't make out either of their face, but the closer one, that had been their obstacle; their enemy…

…Her draconic armor. Gone.

Replaced with the silver and blue from before. Her pale hair regained its blonde color. That strange little strand of hair reappeared.

Her sword— life had returned to its blade. No longer the dark flames of destruction— but the golden luster of hope.

Saber falters a little, lazing her shoulders.

"I severed your contract to your Master…though I had to also sever your Spirit Origin to do so. The darkness tainting you went down to the core of your soul, King of Knights."

"…" Saber doesn't say a word in response. Instead she clutches her chest, as her fingertips begin to disperse into not glitters— but flakes of white cherry blossoms.

"After this, you will return to the Inner Sea. Use your time left to say goodbye." Assassin says, then slowly turns her head…

…To look directly in Ruiko Saten's eyes.

Immediately, Saten breaks into a sprint, running right past Saber to meet up with her. As she nearly trips over a half-sizzling rock, she sees that Assassin's already starting to dissipate as well.

"Assassi— Shiki!"

She runs up right next to her.

Both to say goodbye, and to also confirm a suspicion.

Standing up close…indeed, she was different.

The way she stood. The expression on her face.

Even her clothes had changed— clad in a white kimono with a blue sash, and was now walking upon the dried dirt with naught but bare feet.

"…Shiki?"

She wasn't sure who she was looking at, anymore. Something in the back of her mind told her…

'…Is this really her?'

However, she throws away those thoughts, as she hears the clang of a red-hot katana.

Assassin's hands had vanished, and slowly her entire body would come as well.

Saten takes a step forward, instinctively reaching out her hands. 'Even if she isn't her, I—'

"Ruiko Saten-san."

Her voice— higher-pitched, and distinctively more feminine. The tomboyish attitude was gone, replaced with a serene calmness.

The wind picks up around them, whirling the lifeless battlefield with white blossom petals. The woman in white tilts her head, and gives a glassy-eyed, small smile.

Ruiko runs forward.

"SHIKI—!"

Before her Servant could leave the world, she wraps her arms around their body.

She can't go. She just couldn't. Not after everything.

"…don't go."

That's all she could will herself to say.

She feels the Servant she's embracing sigh, then place a delicate, thin hand on her head. "…One time."

Ruiko glances up, puzzled at her words.

"…I bestowed a single blessing upon you, young Saten. It will protect you. Once.

I normally should be more neutral in these types of affairs, but…your heart is strong. I can't help but be biased, every so often."

She feels her face dampen, and chilled streaks of liquid fall from her cheeks.

"Shiki…"

She grips the red jacket, still wrapped around her body, as she steels her legs and stands straight. She didn't want to seem weak, in her Servant's last moments.

Shirai.

Uiharu.

And now…

With a serene smile, the woman in white utters her final words.

"This is where we part, Master.

Live. Be happy."

Shiki's body cascades into golden shimmers. Saten loses the sensation of hugging a body, until she's gripping naught but the fluttering petals floating through the air.

Saten opens her palm, and sees the light pink petals soar quietly in the gentle breeze. With not a word, she lifts up her arm and watches them spread out into the air, scattering across the sky like stars.

She didn't sob. To the end, she kept herself from falling apart, remembering the wish that her Servant wanted for her.

'Thank you, Shiki.'

In the back of her mind, she realized. The flowers she watched soar away, were just like her Servant. Fleeting, temporary, and…

'…beautiful.'

P.O.V.: A Certain Hero of Justice

She was right there. Right there.

In front of his very eyes, stood a certain King of Knights. Her form, purified. No longer did she have the dark look of a draconic, tyrant king.

She was just Saber. The girl who had saved him, again and again.

He watches as she lulls in her steps, unsure of what had just happened after that resounding slash echoed through the battlefield, and especially through her.

He hears Assassin's words from across the field. She had said something just before, but he was too stunned in the moment to make them out.

"Use your time left to say goodbye."

While Assassin was likely referring to Saber, he felt as if it could also apply to…

"…Saber!"

He breaks into a run, then immediately regrets his decision as sharp pains shoot up his legs and arms. His Esper-Mage fusion still didn't seem perfectly mixed yet, after all— but he wills himself to ignore it.

She was right in front of him. Upon hearing his cry of her name, the blonde king lifts her gaze.

She drops her sword— either out of shock, or perhaps because Assassin's attack had rendered her too weak. But regardless…

…Her sea-green eyes soften, as she watches him run up to her.

Shirou Emiya reaches out his hand. "Saber!"

She does the same.

"Shi—'

He immediately wraps her into a hug, not wanting to let her go.

He had already seen her go once— and he hated the thought of seeing her go again.

He didn't want her to; not after everything that had happened to them.

"…rou."

He feels delicate, yet powerful arms hesitate, yet choose to embrace him as well. Despite being small, he could feel her strength.

The immense strength, and heart of a King.

"…Thank you, Shirou."

Her voice speaks quietly into his ears, softly as a snowflake.

He opens his eyes, and sees the white petal blossoms swirl around them. In his arms, he could feel Saber getting lighter and lighter.

He begins to feel her arms release from his body— not because she was letting go, but because she herself was starting to vanish like any Servant done with their duties would.

But he hated that. He wanted her here.

He's already lost too many people— including her. And yet…

"…Shirou. Look at me."

For once, the former Master follows his Servant's orders.

He releases his head from her shoulder, and the two lock their gazes.

A sunshine smile immediately fills his vision. Her loose, blonde hair picks up in the blossoming breeze, before glittering away as well.

"Thank you for letting me be your sword, Shirou."

Losing the mental strength to stay upright, his head tilts forward.

Gently, he feels his forehead touch her own.

"…You're the reason I'm still here. Thank you, Saber."

…And once again, he could see the King no longer.

Gone, into the wind, amongst a garden of fated flowers.

XXXXX

Some unknown time to himself later, whether it was a few seconds or a few minutes, he finds the strength to pull himself to his feet.

He feels something missing from his heart. Though unlike before— it wasn't replaced with despair.

It was a strange feeling. It was sadness…but not emptiness.

He lost her, but this time, it was on his terms.

He could say what he couldn't to her before, and that was enough.

Perhaps that's why he could pull himself to his feet, and lift his head. Saber wouldn't want him to sulk on the ground, anyway.

He had a job to do. He wouldn't let Assassin and Saber's efforts be lost because of him.

Squaring his shoulders, and holding back the emotions bottled in his throat, he walks up to the girl kneeling in the dirt ahead of him.

Mysteriously, the white blossoms around them had vanished— their existence as ephemeral as the heroes that had once served under them.

It left nothing but a desolate, sandy, dirt-filled field, complete with the ashes and remains of what was once a forest of trees.

Quietly, he places his hand onto Ruiko Saten's shoulder. She wasn't crying— but instead, had a thousand-yard stare into the heavens; something that Shirou was sure he had just moments before.

"Saten-san. Let's go."

She blinks out of her apparent daze, and looks up at him. Focus seems to come back to her glossy eyes. "Y-Yeah."

He helps her to her feet, and the two resolve back to their task at hand.

Both of their Servants were gone— but they still had to continue with their mission.

'Stop Sakura. Save Illya.'

Tightening his gaze, and hardening his will, he breaks into a light jog toward the Einzbern forest.

Kara no Kyoukai VS Fate/stay night.

An eternal dilemma that I will never be able to answer. Even here, it was kind of a tie between Shiki and Saber, lol

Anyway, this was both the longest fight I've written for Heaven's Fall, and the fight that I'm most proud of, so I really hope you enjoyed reading it, too.

Also with a bit of Ciel-related Tsukihime bonus sprinkled in. If you know, you know XD

If you're more of an Index fan, er…apologies, there wasn't a lot of room for that here, oof. Sit tight, although I hope you enjoyed the battle anyway! Act III kind of has a more Fate-leaning arc (this one), and a more Index-leaning one, so don't worry— I'll keep it as balanced as I can.

I'll see you at the regularly scheduled time. Hope you all had a great April!

Next Chapter: "To Save and Protect, Part One" (May 5th)