Disclaimer: I do not own the Fate franchise it belongs to Kinoko Nasu and Type-Moon.

Transposition

Chapter 6

Sparks flew in the night as Rider and Lancer continued to fight.

Lancer pressed the attack, stabbing in again and again and sending sparks flying as Rider parried each and every strike. A feint and its follow-up were riposted, and Lancer was forced to jump after finding himself unable to parry.

Raising her sword overhead, Rider leapt up with a roar, and swung down as she fell from the sky. Lancer again jumped back rather than take the blow head on, Rider's strike blowing the ground up yet again and sending dust and debris pluming into the air. And in the next moment Rider was charging out, sword held low.

Lancer dodged the swing, only to realize too late that it was a feint, as Rider's boot buried itself into his gut. With a shout of pain, Lancer was sent flying back, and through a wall into the apartment building beyond.

Rider charged in after her quarry, and began raining down powerful, two-handed blows from overhead and from the flanks. In the close confines of the corridors, she held the advantage, the length of Lancer's spear a disadvantage in such spaces. Even his class' vaunted agility could only do so much here.

He wasn't helpless though, combining skill with agility to turn Rider's blows as opposed to taking them head on, or simply dancing around them. Rider grit her teeth in annoyance, her delight at finally getting to fight overwhelmed by a combination of her own battle fury, anger at the wound inflicted on her by Lancer earlier, and frustration at her inability – so far – to crush Lancer.

Feinting once, she blocked Lancer's opportunistic strike with her arm against his spear's shaft, and then stepping forward slammed her body sideways into her enemy. Lancer grunted in surprise and at the impact, forced back several steps. Rider charged after him, again slamming her body sideways into his and forcing both of them through a wall and into an unfinished toilet.

Lancer disengaged sideways, the strike from Rider's sword smashing into a wall instead. Grabbing at a urinal, Lancer casually ripped it free from its mountings and hurled it at Rider. It shattered harmlessly against an arm, but it obscured her vision and threw her off balance, allowing Lancer to kick her away and back against a wall.

Roaring in triumph, Lancer stabbed his spear forward, only for Rider to dodge and dancing in, punched Lancer in the face. Lancer staggered back, and again as Rider punched him a second time.

Spitting blood, Lancer dodged sideways and forward as Rider brought her sword down clumsily, water exploding with the ground as the blow ruptured a water line. Grabbing at his spear and pulling it out of the wall, Lancer stabbed back on instinct, and was rewarded as the butt end of the shaft slammed into Rider's torso.

It didn't cause any damage, but it kept her off-balance and allowed Lancer to turn and counterattack, landing a series of kicks in quick succession that repeatedly staggered Rider before a spinning kick sent her through another wall.

Rider fell back through an empty room, shaking her head clear as Lancer jumped in. Rider stepped forward to counterattack, but her eyes widened and her battle cry cut off as Lancer used his spear to anchor him to the ground before drop kicking her through not one wall and room but two.

As she tried to push herself off the ground, she saw Lancer leap through the hole in the wall, and raise his spear to stab her as she lay on the ground. Swatting the spear aside as it descended with a backhand to the shaft, she hurled herself forward, catching Lancer by surprise and forcing him down with her on top.

Drawing a fist back with the intent of pummeling his head into a pulp, she was caught by surprise as he jerked and twisted his body under her, and in the next moment was the one on her back with Lancer on top. Before she could react, he slammed an elbow down into her solar plexus, and while her armor absorbed much of the force she still cried out as the air was expelled from her lungs and pain erupted across her torso.

Lancer leapt off as Rider wildly flailed with her fists. Rolling sideways and into a crouch, Lancer grabbed his spear and swung, sparks and broken metal flying as Rider spun away with a cry, the spear striking at her masked face as she rose from the ground.

Lancer blinked as Rider staggered away, a shiny, jagged scar left over her visor up to her left eyepiece…which had been torn away, exposing a single bright green eye and allowing a few strands of blonde hair to poke out.

No…you…you…

"YOU BASTARD!" Rider roared, and surprising Lancer at the sheer fury in her words. And before he knew it he'd been punched in the face yet again and slammed through another wall.

…this face…this face of mine…it is not for you to see!

Kicking her sword up from the ground, Rider charged after Lancer who was shaking his head to clear it. Roaring in rage, Rider pressed the attack, hammering him relentlessly and letting her battle fury carry her away. She didn't care how much collateral damage she was causing, missed blows tearing up the ground and breaking walls and pillars as Lancer avoided or turned her attacks.

Lancer counterattacked several times, but her fury numbed the pain, and was even fed by it. It didn't matter that her armor was rent in several places, blood spilling out to course down her armor and thence to the ground.

It just didn't matter.

The only thing that mattered was beating this…dog, down, and making him pay for exposing even the smallest fraction of her face, of who she was, before she chose to do so of her own free will.

I…

The spear stabbed into her side, leaving a shallow wound that trailed blood behind Lancer's spear as he pulled it out.

I am…

Rider's sword swung and blew a pillar apart in an explosion of broken rock and metal, sparks flying as Lanced danced away, his spear striking harmlessly off her armor.

…the rightful heir…

Cracks spread across the walls as the damage took its toll, and spread further as the building seemed to groan, more and more as Lancer and Rider tore up its insides with their battle.

…and they shall see it…

The ceiling began to collapse, Rin's voice echoing in alarm in Rider's head as debris began falling around her and Lancer.

…know me for who I am…

The spear stabbed, deeply for the first time in the battle, through her armor and into her chest, only just narrowly missing her vitals.

…and recognize my birthright…

Lancer's eye widened as Rider threw herself forward, running herself through with his spear which punched clear through her chest and out behind her, her sword held low but firmly in her right hand.

…in my moment of triumph!

Blood fountained around them, spilling from their backs as Rider buried her sword into Lancer's guts.

I am and will be the King.

And as the building collapsed around them, the two of them disappearing into astral form while locked in a bloody embrace, Lancer whispered a single word, and Rider's eyes widened.

"Your eye…Saber…?"

What?

"Kotomine…Church…?"

"Yes." Sakura said with a nod. "This is the place."

"A church?" Shirou asked skeptically.

Sakura smiled sympathetically. "Yes, I know it sounds strange when you hear about it for the first time without the context behind it." She said. "It'd sound even stranger, when you're told the Overseer is also a full-fledged priest of the Holy Church."

"Seriously?" Shirou asked, walking beside Sakura towards the church's doors. Behind them, Saber followed with a bright yellow raincoat hiding her armor and foreign appearance from unwanted attention. "But, doesn't the Church view magecraft as heresy? Why would they be the ones overseeing something like…this?"

"You know the story behind the Holy Grail, don't you?" Sakura asked.

"Yes." Shirou said with a nod.

"Well there's your answer." Sakura said. "As the Holy Grail is an artefact of the Christian God or rather His son, the Holy Church reserves the right to determine its provenance, its use, and well, basically everything of significance related to it. And that includes this war. And also…"

"And?" Shirou prompted.

"Well," Sakura said. "The Church already knows the Grail of this city is a fake, that is an artefact of the same name."

"What?"

Sakura nodded. "That makes the Grail worthless to the Church, as they have no use for it otherwise." She said. "However, that also makes them perfect for arbitrating the issues that develop between and from the magi who get selected as Masters, since the Church has no interest in the Grail's power themselves. In short: they're neutral."

"I see." Shirou said with a slow nod. "So that's how it is."

They walked in silence up to the doors, and then Sakura paused to turn to Shirou. "A word of warning," she said. "The priest here is an old friend of my family so I know him…better than most. And while this might seem rude, it is the truth."

Shirou just looked quizzical, and Sakura smiled. "He's a bit off in the head." She said, and Shirou made a strange sound before looking at her skeptically, and prompting her to shrug.

"Master," Saber said from behind them, and causing the two magi to look at her. "If your destination is this church, then I have no business coming inside. I will remain here outside, and stand guard."

"Alright," Shirou said with a nod, and Saber nodded back before turning to face away from the church. Shirou then turned back to Sakura, who shrugged before opening the door.

Stepping inside with Shirou behind her, they let the doors close on their own while walking down the aisle to the altar. The interior lights were off, leaving only the moonlight to cast long shadows down from the stained glass windows behind the altar and crucifix. "So…" Shirou began as they stood before the altar. "Does the priest know we're coming? Or is he asleep and we should come back tomorrow?"

Sakura raised an eyebrow. "He's the Overseer and the war is fought at night to keep people from noticing." She said. "Of course he's awake, and he'll be out soon enough."

"Oh I see."

The two of them waited for a few more minutes, and then with the sound of heavy but steady footsteps, a tall, dark-haired priest with dark, seemingly-empty eyes emerged from one side of the altar and approached. "Well, well," he said with a deep and powerful voice. "This is an unexpected sight. What brings you here at this hour, Sakura?"

"Kotomine Kirei," Sakura said with a gesture to the priest, and then she gestured towards Shirou. "Emiya Shirou."

Kirei blinked, and then smiled a strange smile that Shirou couldn't place but inwardly disturbed him for some reason. "Emiya…Shirou…?" the priest echoed.

"T-that's right."

Kirei then turned back to Sakura. "Emiya-sempai witnessed a fight between my Archer and the Lancer." She said, inwardly deciding to skip over most of the details. "Turns out that sempai was an amateur magus, but despite the fact that as a magus he had the right to know about the contest, Lancer still attacked him. And it was during this attack that he somehow managed to accidentally summon the Saber, despite not knowing about the contest in the first place."

"I see." Kirei said with a nod. "And you want me to explain to him what the contest is about, do you not?"

"Pretty much."

Kirei chuckled. "You could have done that yourself." He said before turning to Shirou. "But very well…you are Saber's Master, are you not?"

Again Shirou was taken aback, and after a moment rallied. "Yes…I guess…I am." He said. "But, I didn't plan to summon her it just…happened…so, that's why…"

Kire chuckled, causing Shirou to trail off. "Lister well," he said. "Becoming a Master, whether intentionally or not, is your responsibility, and the command spells you have been granted are proof of that fact. Perhaps it is an inconvenience for you, but that is immaterial. To fulfill this responsibility, you must win the Holy Grail, and make a wish."

"A wish?" Shirou echoed.

Kirei theatrically held out his hands. "The prize of the winner of the Holy Grail War is to have their wishes granted, even if such a wish is to cleanse all inner filth." He said. "Indeed, you could even start over from the very beginning if you want. Depending on how things go, inconvenience may turn to rejoicing, at becoming a Master."

"Impressive theatrics…" Sakura said with a small but mocking smile matched by the tone of her voice, lightly clapping her hands in applause. "But that's just it isn't it? Theatrics: please be objective to Emiya-sempai. This is not a laughing matter."

"Very well," Kirei said with a nod. "The Holy Grail War is a contest. It is fought between seven magi who are selected as 'Masters', and summon seven Heroic Spirits as 'Servants'. The method is crude and undesirable, but alas, it is the only means by which to select who is worthy of the Holy Grail."

Kirei paused, and smiled just a little bit wider. "It may be that you doubt the provenance of the Holy Grail in this city." He said. "If so, you are correct, for it is to be doubted. But it is immaterial, for its power and the Grail itself are real. As I said, Servants are Heroic Spirits summoned by the Masters to fight for them, and by the power of the Holy Grail incarnated as miracles infinitely close to True Magic. Compared to that, what is its authenticity worth?"

Shirou hummed unhappily for a moment. "Alright," he said. "I've personally seen what Servants can do, so if you say they're incarnated Heroic Spirits I can accept that. The same for your and Tohsaka-san's explanations about the Grail. But no matter what, there's no reason to kill each other for it. If the Grail really is such a wonderful thing, shouldn't its power be used for everybody's sake?"

"An interesting opinion, but one that cannot become reality." Kirei immediately said, briefly closing his eyes afterwards. "The Holy Grail itself selects the Masters as candidates, allows them to summon Servants, and have them fight in order to prove those truly worthy of it. Such is the Holy Grail War, fought between those chosen by the Grail, in order to earn its final blessing."

"But, even if we have to fight each other for it," Shirou said, sounding and looking angry. "There's no reason for us to go so far as to kill each other!"

"You're right, there isn't." Sakura put in. "Technically speaking, just eliminating the Servants except for your own is all you need to do to win. But…"

Sakura trailed off, glancing at Kirei who nodded. "Allow me to ask, Emiya Shirou." He said. "Can you defeat your own Servant?"

"What?"

"Servants are powerful." Kirei said. "Even for other Servants, defeating a fellow Servant is not an easy task, much less for Masters. However, Servants cannot exist without a Master. If so…"

"Then killing the Master is the easiest way to win." Shirou concluded darkly, and Kirei nodded.

"Keep in mind though," Sakura added. "Servants who lose their Master won't disappear immediately. So long as they still have enough prana, they can continue to exist to greater or lesser degree of time on their own. And, if they find a Master who's lost their Servant but still has command spells, well, they can make a new contract and rejoin the war. See where we're going with this?"

"About that," Shirou said, turning to face Sakura. "What happens when you lose or use all your command spells? Would it free your Servant and allow them to make a contract with another Master?"

"Indeed," Kirei said with a nod, and causing the two magi to turn to him. "Losing all your command spells relieves you of a Master's role. But…"

Kirei paused to smile with contempt. "If such a fate were to befall a magus in this contest," he said. "They'd be less than amateurs…mere cowards even…"

Shirou grit his teeth, somehow just knowing that the priest was referring to him potentially taking such a course of action. "…regardless," Kirei continued. "If such a thing were to happen, I would guarantee their safety. Such is my duty as the Overseer of the Fifth Holy Grail War."

"Wait, the fifth?" Shirou echoed in shock and disbelief.

"Yes, this is the Fifth Holy Grail War, as previously mentioned." Kirei said with a nod. "The last one was just ten years ago."

"Are you people insane?" Shirou demanded in anger and outrage. "Holding this kind of thing again and again?"

"Past Holy Grail Wars were particularly brutal." Kirei said, sounding and looking completely unfazed by Shirou's outburst. "Driven by greed, Masters schemed, fought, killed, and destroyed indiscriminately. That is why in the aftermath of the third war, an agreement was reached between the Mages Association and the Holy Church to allow the latter to dispatch an overseer for succeeding Holy Grail Wars. Such was my father's role, which I have inherited."

"I see." Shirou said after a moment with narrowed eyes. "In other words, the rules of magi society were repeatedly broken in the past by the Masters, and your role is to keep that from happening again, isn't it?"

"To an extent, yes." Kirei said with a nod. "However, it is not our role to determine who should win the war, regardless of their character. Ours is only to maintain the rules."

"So you're saying it doesn't matter if someone who could kill people indiscriminately or worse wins the Grail?" Shirou exploded.

"So long as the rules are maintained, it does not." Kirei said with a smile, though he narrowed his eyes to match Shirou's own afterwards. "If you disagree, then win this war. Fight, and keep those you judge unworthy from winning the Grail. Certainly, you will find more assurance in there than in trusting in others."

"That's so unreasonable!" Shirou shouted. "I have no reason to fight, much less a wish to offer to the Holy Grail! Should I have to…!

Kirei's smile twitched wider. "Then perhaps you might be interested in hearing about disasters caused by the events of previous wars?" he interrupted Shirou. "Such as…the Great Fire ten years ago?"

Shirou gasped, the fires of anger going out at Kirei's words. "Ten years ago," Kirei began. "An unworthy Master attempted to claim the Holy Grail. I know not why he did as he did, only that it resulted in catastrophe. Yes, the Great Fire of ten years ago, the cause of which is still officially unknown, was in fact the end result of the Fourth Holy Grail War."

Sakura glanced at Shirou as his bearing abruptly seemed to go off, like he was spacing out, and indeed, his eyes were distant and unseeing. "Sempai," Sakura began, stepping closer. "Are you alright? Sempai…"

Shirou didn't seem to hear, though he jolted when Sakura placed a hand on his shoulder. "Sorry," he said, before turning back to Kirei. "And, what happened after that?"

Kirei didn't reply for a moment. "The war ended as a failure." He said. "As I said, someone unworthy attempted to claim the Grail, only for the Grail to reject him."

Sakura glanced at Sakura who shrugged. Shirou briefly lowered his face in thought for several moments, and then he blinked and stared at Kirei in realization. "Could it be," he began. "You were a Master in that war?"

"I was, up to a point." Kirei answered. "But I lost my Servant, and had to seek asylum under my father, who was the overseer at the time."

Kirei briefly closed his eyes, and turned to leave. "That is all I have to say." He said. "Know however, that only a Master with a Servant may gain the Holy Grail. When only one Servant is left, then their Master will be blessed by the Holy Grail. But before you depart, let me ask you a single thing, Emiya Shirou!"

Shirou narrowed his eyes, and drew himself up as though answering a challenge. "Do you have what it takes to fight in this Holy Grail War?" Kirei asked.

Shirou briefly lowered his face, but then just as quickly raised it to meet Kirei's gaze. "I'll fight." He said in a quiet but determined voice. "I won't let this war end like the last one did."

Kirei didn't respond, and after a few moments, Sakura placed a hand on Shirou's shoulder. He glanced at her, and after a nod, nodded back and turned to follow Sakura out.

"Rejoice, boy." Kirei suddenly said from behind them, as they approached the doors. "It may be that your wish will be fulfilled. Know however, that if evil does not exist, then neither can justice. Put another way, the noblest wish and the vilest desire have the same origin. No, you need not be ashamed to admit this truth. It comes with being Human, after all."

"Satisfied?"

Rin turned to look at the voice's direction, and moments later a stooped and wizened old man with greying, wrinkled skin and pitch-black, opaque-looking eyes dressed in a kimono seemed to just melt out of the shadows. He stared expectantly at Rin, who briefly closed her eyes.

"For now, yes." She said. "Lancer survived, but shouldn't be able to function normally for at least a few more days, more if he wants or needs to go all out. Not after taking Rider's sword through his guts."

"Hmm," Zouken Matou hummed. "Certainly, that is true. And what of Rider?"

Rin didn't answer at once. "As long as she doesn't have to go all out," she finally said. "She should be ready for combat again in a few days. She took Lancer's spear through the chest after all, though it missed her vitals."

"I see." Zouken said with a nod, already turning to leave. "Well at the very least Kotomine's ability to take action is suspended for a time, and of course, his actions to scout out other Masters and Servants are ended."

"Quite,"

Zouken walked away, but stopped after a few steps, and looked over a shoulder at Rin. "Пробудить." He said, and Rin collapsed to her knees with a gasp, wide-eyed. Sharp, burning pain, like fangs biting into flesh or hot metal touching a nerve erupted from her womb and up her spine, and then across her entire body.

Flesh bulged and began to spasm, unnoticeable for the most part beneath her clothes, though in places where skin was exposed such as on her neck and arms, the silhouettes as though of long, wormlike things could be seen squirming beneath her skin. Rin cried out, doubling over and would have fallen if not for a shaky hand that caught her fall.

The other hand went to her belly, which bulged as though she was pregnant, the flesh squirming unnaturally as something in her womb thrashed around. "Know your place, little granddaughter." Zouken said with a note of warning. "You are free to play around, and while I understand your interest in the Emiya boy and would seek to avenge Kotomine's…violation, of your territory or rather your property, remember, you have responsibilities to us."

"Lancer…is…defeated!" Rin gasped out.

"Temporarily, yes," Zouken agreed. "But the victory is pyrrhic, as Rider is also equally-incapacitated. If an enemy were to attack us now we are vulnerable."

Rin didn't answer, instead gasping wetly and heavily on the foyer's floor. "You were careless." Zouken said. "You are smarter than that little granddaughter. Instead you allowed your feelings for the Emiya brat to get in your way, and so moved to attack without preparation beforehand. It wouldn't have taken much for a pyrrhic victory to have become crushing defeat, and where would that leave us? Where would that leave you? You, who have the responsibility of winning this war for us, and securing our family's legacy?"

Again, Rin didn't answer, and Zouken narrowed his eyes. "возбуждать." He said, and Rin collapsed, twitching and gasping on the floor. "Make sure it doesn't happen again, and do it right next time, understand?"

Rin didn't answer, or rather was unable to answer as her body went out of control. Zouken scoffed at the sight and resumed walking away. "I expect an answer once you're rested, little granddaughter." He said, and after several more steps walked into a shadow and vanished.

Alone now in the foyer, Rin continued to spasm helplessly on the ground for a few moments, and then…just stopped. She lay silent and unmoving, breathing heavily but normally for several moments, catching her breath, and then slowly got up on all fours. She coughed, blood splattering on the floor before more dripped down from the ground.

"Playing along…" she thought to herself as she forced herself to stand, blood running from the corners of her bloodshot eyes down her face to drip down to the floor or onto her clothes. "…is such a pain…no matter how necessary it is…"

The worms squirmed hungrily inside her, but a thought had them calm down. "Shinji's in his room." Rin thought as she briefly 'touched' the Matou bounded fields and found her brother's presence in his room. "Good, I'm…hungry. But first…"

Rin paused, glancing down at herself, her clothes and skin covered in dust which sank into her clothes thanks to her sweat and of course there was the blood too. "It might be polite to wash up first though." She thought before smiling hungrily. "And delaying things for a bit will only make it sweeter when the time comes."

Flicking a few more drops of her blood to the floor, Rin turned and began to climb the stairs. And after the flicked drops touched the blood from earlier, the liquid turned black, beginning to rot and boil away leaving nothing but dry, lifeless dust behind.

"Well, this is goodbye for tonight, I think."

Shirou nodded. The three of them – Shirou, Sakura, and Saber – were standing at a crossroads. "You live across town, don't you?" Shirou asked.

"Yes, I do." Sakura answered with a nod. "Well, in any case I'm sure you can get home on your own from here, and you do have Saber with you, so no worries."

"What about you though?" Shirou asked. "Will you be able to make it home safely? I mean, your Servant got hurt earlier, didn't he? If you want, we could walk you home."

Sakura smiled and waved him off. "No, it's alright." She said. "I'll be fine on my own. Thanks for worrying though."

"I see."

Shirou and Sakura fell silent, but after a few moments Sakura sighed and tilted her head. "You're nice, sempai." She said. "Nice and kind…it's a shame that traits like those are so rare in this world."

Shirou laughed. "I'm not really like that exceptional…am I?" he asked with mild embarrassment.

"Yes, you are." Sakura said.

And that's what I like about you, sempai.

"Thanks for the compliment then."

Sakura nodded and began to turn away. "Well then," she said. "Goodbye and good night."

Shirou nodded. "Alright," he said. "Goodbye and…"

"Master!"

Even as Saber gave the warning, the two magi felt the new arrival and turned towards it. There were two of them, a young girl of around ten, dressed in rich and expensive furs with a tall ushanka on her head. And standing behind her and to the side, was a swarthy giant dressed only in a skirt-like garment and carrying a massive slab of stone like a makeshift axe, his breath steaming in the air.

Heterochromatic eyes – one gold the other red – stared down at them, and the little girl giggled before giving a proper curtsy. "Good evening, onii-chan." She said. "And to you as well, Tohsaka-san. I am Illyasviel von Einzbern."

"Oh no!" Sakura said with evident alarm. "Einzbern!"

Illyasviel giggled again. "So you recognize the name." she said. "Good, you should at least know the name of the person who's going to kill you."

"Kill us?" Shirou echoed. "Hey, wait…"

"Go, Berserker!" Illyasviel shrieked, and with a thunderous roar Berserker charged forward, Saber doing likewise while throwing off her raincoat.

The battle was on.

A/N

Sigh…once again, stations of the canon, though we at least have the conclusion of Rider vs. Lancer, and part of the aftermath.

Zouken makes his appearance, and is, well, himself. Rider doesn't show in the POV true, but we'll get to her eventually, don't worry.

Kirei is still Kirei, moving on, moving on, same for Illya.