Now what?
"So you're telling me that this person who took my eggs created a corrupted version of the Holy Grail? But you said you destroyed it, how is he any real threat?" Arveia asked, a little lost.
"The problem is that we inadvertently gave this Dark Grail the means to survive by giving it a willing host. By killing Kotomine we ensured that he had nothing to lose and in so doing the Dark Grail was able to use his body as it's new host and rebuild itself." Arturia clarified.
"So you mean to tell me that you're trying to kill someone who not only refuses to stay dead but now is quite literally the most powerful magical artifact in existence?" Arveia asked.
"I'd say that's about the size of it, but he's also trying to kill off the only artifact that can stop him from committing mass-murder." The Grail added.
"This may seem like a silly question but exactly why would he want to do that?" Rin asked.
"In the last fight I had with him, he said something to the effect that he wanted to capture the last spark of humanity. Something about humans being the most beautiful right before they died." Shirou explained.
"That doesn't make any sense! He would end up killing himself too! Why the hell would he wish for that after going through all that trouble to come back to life?" Arveia challenged.
"Do I look like a mind reader to you? I never said it made sense, I just said that's what he told me." Shirou countered.
"Oh great! First some lunatic on a power trip steals my eggs and now I find out that his grasp on reality is tenuous at best. What next don't tell me let me guess. He's immortal to the point where you can cut off his head and he'll just walk it off." Arveia ranted.
"Not exactly but very close, only a servant can destroy him and that is by making a wish to that effect when there are no other servants to oppose them. So unfortunately, you can't kill him." The Grail amended.
"Wait, if she isn't a servant, then how did Kotomine bring her here? I thought the Grail could only summon the heroes spirits?" Rin asked.
"That would be true except there aren't any Magi calling on his power to direct it to that task." The Grail explained.
"You lost me." Rin said, stumped for the first time in her life.
"The Grail has a store of seven Miracles. Normally these Miracles would be used to copy the Heroic Spirit called. With me so far?" He asked.
Rin simply nodded for him to continue.
"Ok, with only two exceptions these Miracles have been used to copy the Spirit of Epic Heroes. What Kotomine did was simply use one of the seven miracles to move through time and bring Arveia back. Now-"
"Two exceptions? What would those exceptions be?" Arveia asked, suddenly interested.
"The first exception would be Arturia Pendragon since she made a contract to become a Heroic Spirit upon dying if she received the Holy Grail. She died before obtaining it, so she was physically summoned in the 4th and 5th Holy Grail Wars. This was because her contract was not fulfilled and it couldn't simply be rendered void and so she was summoned while she was still alive." The Grail explained.
"And the second?"
"The second was Emiya Shirou. He hadn't died yet or even made a contract yet but he was still summoned because in one timeline he did." The Grail concluded.
"WHAT!? YOU MEAN THAT SELF-DESTRUCTIVE LUNATIC DOESN'T EVEN GET TO REST IN PEACE? HE KEEPS BEING SUMMONED EVERY TIME THERE IS A HOLY GRAIL WAR?" Rin screamed while looking straight at Emiya.
At this Shirou backpedaled slightly so he was out of Rin's reach. Arturia simply shuffled awkwardly and tried to avoid Rin's gaze.
"You know which hero he is, don't you?" Rin growled.
Arturia was about to make something up but was stopped by Arveia.
"You might as well tell her, she'll figure it out eventually on her own anyway. It will be easier on her this way." Arveia prodded her.
Arturia appeared to relent, sighed and mumbled something.
"What was that, I couldn't hear you?" Rin asked.
"It's Archer." Arturia finally said.
"What!? You mean, Shirou and he are the same person!?" Rin shouted, not entirely convinced.
"But that's, that's impossible. How can there be two of them?" Rin asked as she stumbled back into a chair.
"It's not that impossible, after all they are from separate versions of history. It wouldn't be the first time it's happened, where one version gets summoned but the other does not." The Grail assured her.
"Why'd he do it? Please tell me, I'm afraid of the answer but I have to know." Rin asked, her voice barely a whisper.
"He did it for you, he made the contract to save your life. He knew what he was getting into but he did it anyway. I tried to talk him out of it but he didn't care, he was adamant and I'm not permitted to turn down a valid contract, so I took it." The Grail responded sadly.
At this Rin broke out into tears and started screaming. At this moment Archer returned from finding the eggs and walked in with a confused look on his face. Rin looked up and just stumbled towards him and grabbed him. Archer excused the both of them and slowly helped Rin out into her room.
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"What's wrong?" Archer asked, all traces of his normal sarcastic self were gone.
"They told me everything, about why you did it." Rin sobbed.
"Why I became an Epic Spirit, you mean?" Archer asked.
Rin simply nodded as she sobbed into Archer's chest.
"And you blame yourself? It's not your fault, I made that choice of my own free will." Archer comforted her.
"Yes, it is. If you had never met me or if I had been a little colder towards you, you would never of had a reason to make the sacrifices you did." Rin sobbed, "You did it for me, even though you hated it and wished you hadn't. You went back to try to stop yourself from making such a horrible mistake. All because of me, you were damned for eternity and it was entirely my fault."
At this Rin collapsed into even heavier sobbing and seemed about to shatter.
"Rin, you're starting to scare me. This is completely unlike you." Archer intoned.
"Shut up! Shut up, you giant idiot! You went and condemned yourself and for what? For me? I'm not worth it, trust me I know this more than anyone." Rin sobbed.
"But you are worth it, you are selling yourself far short. Did I hate it? Yes. Did it regret it? Yes but not why you think. I went back to stop myself but not because I thought I had made a mistake but to save you from the guilt of thinking you were to blame." Archer comforted Rin.
"You really mean that?"
"Yes, you were worth it and still are. I would make that trade in an instant if it was offered. But thanks to you I'm free."
"What do you mean?" Rin asked.
"You helped Shirou survive to be the last master to survive. Accordingly, he was given a wish and true to his nature he gave it up so that you would be happy. I doubt he's even aware of what he did nor do I suspect he even thought about it."
"That sounds like Shirou alright, but you aren't really free are you? Once you die won't you go back to the way you were?"
"You mean being a killbot that exists for the good of humanity? No, the Grail took the chance given when Shirou wished for you to be happy. The Grail reasoned that you wouldn't be happy with my eternal servitude and so took the chance it was given to consider my contract fulfilled."
"I really should thank him for everything but we both know he wouldn't accept my thanks." Rin finished.
"Since when has that ever stopped you, we both know you're too stubborn to let a little thing like that stop you." Archer jabbed.
"Watch it, buster. Don't think my sympathetic mood means you're safe from being made to sleep outside tonight." Rin growled.
"Sleep? I can't recall the last time I got a decent night of sleep ever since we started sleeping in the same bed." Archer countered.
"Ok, that's quite enough out of you. One more peep out of you and it'll be the last coherent sound you ever make." Rin threatened as her cheeks turned beet red.
Archer made a hasty retreat as he and Rin rejoined the others in the other room.
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"Do you think they're alright?" Shirou asked.
"I think so but it's to be expected especially after discovering that she was responsible for his agreeing to be a slave for the rest of existence." The Grail reasoned.
At this point Archer stumbled in with a lump on his head just ahead of Rin who was cracking her knuckles with a murderous look on her face.
"Uh, Rin?" Shirou asked cautiously.
"What?" Rin asked imperiously.
"I think what Shirou was about to ask is that you refrain from killing Archer until after he tells us where Arveia's eggs are." Arturia cut in.
"Fine, but don't you think you're off the hook for taking the opportunity to make fun of me while I was in a sympathetic mood. You are going to be serving me hand and foot for a month once we're finished with this to make up for it!" Rin compromised.
"Isn't that what he normally does?" Shirou asked Arturia.
"Don't question it, you know how Rin gets." Arturia responded.
"So, where are my eggs?" Arveia asked, breaking the ice.
"Kotomine took the eggs to a park that seems to serve as a memorial for some huge fire that occurred around 10 years ago. The eggs seemed unguarded but they had a large number of cloaking spells on them to hide their presence. I'm guessing Kotomine was depending on them to hide the eggs from us since he probably didn't want to attract attention to it by having a servant guard it." Archer shared.
"It seems kind of fishy to me but I don't think we have much of a choice. Once Kotomine finds out that Arveia here is free he'll probably destroy them or move them so he can hold them hostage." Rin reasoned.
"I don't like it either but you're right, let's go." Arturia agreed.
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The group walked cautiously around the park looking for the eggs when a man wearing glasses and a camera stopped Shirou.
"Excuse me, I'm a bit lost could you help me get to the aquarium?" The man asked looking a bit confused.
Shirou talked with the man for a few minutes giving him directions and the man folded up his map and made to leave.
"Oh, just one more thing before I go…" The man said.
At that exact moment the man extended a small blade in the gap where his right ring finger should have been and stabbed Shirou in the heart before anyone could react.
"The master gives his regards and says maybe you'll learn to be more careful about who you help in the next life. But you probably won't, not to worry, you'll have plenty of company." The man whispered in his ear.
At that exact moment the people walking in the park underwent a sudden transformation from normal humans to skeletons.
"Shirou!" Arturia screamed as Shirou collapsed to the ground.
Arturia barely managed to drag Shirou to where the group was before they were surrounded.
"What do we do?" Rin asked.
"What we can, we need those eggs. Archer, go get them once I carve a hole for you to get out then get back here with them." Arturia ordered.
Archer simply nodded as Arturia lifted her sword.
"EXCALIBUR!" She screamed as she brought down her sword, carving a hole that Archer promptly ran through.
"We can't hold out for long, like this. We should've brought Arveia with us, she would have had no problem with these guys." Rin complained.
"Too late for that now. We just need to hold out long enough for him to get back." Arturia responded as she barely managed to dodge a sword thrust.
The group desperately fought to keep from being overwhelmed but they were bleeding from numerous places by the time Archer returned.
"I'm back, now what?" Archer asked.
"I have an idea but I need you to buy me some time." The Grail answered.
"How much time?" Arturia asked.
"Not long, a minute at most." The Grail responded.
"I don't know if we can give you that much time, we're about to be overwhelmed as it is but I'll try." Arturia assured him.
"I need you guys to hold them back while I work." Arturia ordered.
"Work? On what?" Rin asked.
"There's no time just trust me." Arturia yelled.
Rin grumbled but didn't say anything and just started throwing more of her gems into the mass of skeletons. Arturia started chanting and the air seemed to grow lighter as she did so.
There exists a Kingdom untouched by time and the SwordUnaffected by the wheels of Fate, yet within it lies the Fate of all
In this kingdom, there is no anger, no hate, no hunger, no pain
Within its borders one will find peace, happiness and hope
This kingdom has stood for eons and yet forever shall it live on
IT'S NAME IS AVALON!At this a blue scabbard with gold lines on it appeared in the air in front of her.
"They're getting through, are you almost- What is that?" Rin asked looking back.
"This is my scabbard." Arturia replied simply, as she drew her sword poised to strike.
"ARE YOU CRAZY? YOU'RE GOING TO DESTROY THE SCABBARD?" Rin screamed.
"It shall all become clear in a moment." Arturia assured her.
At this she struck the scabbard with her sword and the scabbard shattered into fine dust before her eyes. The pieces of the scabbard moved as if being blown by the wind to surround the group. As the sphere expanded to it's full size the skeletons within its boundaries shattered where they stood and the ones outside continued to try to breach its defense.
"What just happened?" Rin asked, amazed.
"This is my true noble phantasm, Avalon. The scabbard can either be used to give me a form of invincibility for the duration of the battle or I can shatter it as I did to create a movable shield that no magic can touch. Just like no enemy has ever breached the gates of Avalon, so shall no magic touch this sphere. Not even the Five Sorceries are of any use against its power, the perfect shield." Arturia explained.
A robed figure emerged from the horde of static skeletons and started applauding.
"I would've expected no less from the King of Knights, sister." The figure sneered.
"Morgan, you were behind this? I could've guessed, this set up reeks of your touch." Arturia glowered.
"Too bad you weren't that wise before you came here as you could've saved your lover's life. But it's too late, he's as good as dead and all because you didn't see this trap before it was sprung." Morgan taunted.
"You and I both know that this was unnecessary. Justify it all you want but the only person responsible for his fate is you for dragging him into something he had nothing to do with." Arturia raged.
"Dragged him into this? Me? Who brought him here? Who was it that failed to protect him? We both know it was you that is the real villain. You couldn't protect Shirou from one little tourist, who's the guilty one now?" Morgan sneered.
"Your words ring as false as ever, necromancer." Arturia spat back.
"That is a bit harsh, don't you think? Really, these bones don't do anyone any good just lying around; I'm really more of a recycler than anything else. While we're at it I would like to put a statement of yours to the test. You said your shield was impenetrable, what would happen if the perfect sword were to meet the perfect shield?" Morgan asked.
"You're wasting your time, not even the Five Sorceries can touch Avalon's shield." Arturia taunted her.
"We shall see about that. A friend of mine lent me this sword in case this very event should occur. I present the sword Fragarach, which no armor can stop. Let's see if it lives up to its reputation." Morgan replied.
With this she thrust the sword and it shattered upon striking the sphere made by Avalon.
"This is no mere shield, that sword is a pathetic attempt at magic, it only seeks out gaps in armor. My Noble Phantasm is not so weak as to fall to such a disappointing trick." Arturia stated.
"The portal is ready, we should go." The Grail whispered in Arturia's ear.
"Until we meet again, sister." Arturia said as she stepped through the portal.
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"Does anyone want to tell me what the hell happened? You said it was safe and we walked right into a trap!" Arturia yelled, advancing on Archer.
"I said it appeared unguarded, I was as surprised as you were when we were ambushed. If I had to guess, Kotomine knew we were coming and set this trap." Archer retorted.
"Because of your little fuck up Shirou is…" Arturia screamed as her emotions got the best of her.
"Ahem. My eggs?" Arveia asked, clearing her throat in an over the top manner as she entered.
"You want your eggs? HAVE YOUR DAMN EGGS! I HOPE YOU CHOKE ON THEM! I HOPE YOU'RE HAPPY, SHIROU IS DYING FOR THOSE BLOODY EGGS AND ALL YOU CARE ABOUT IS GETTING YOUR PAWS ON THEM!" Arturia screamed in outrage.
"I didn't realize-" Arveia started.
"I'M NOT DONE, SO JUST KEEP YOUR BLOODY MOUTH SHUT! NOW IF YOU'LL EXCUSE ME, I NEED TO JUSTIFY NOT KILLING YOU AND CORRECTING THE NOW GLARINGLY OBVIOUS MISTAKE OF LETTING YOU LIVE SINCE YOU HOLD OUR LIVES IN SO LITTLE REGARD!" Arturia finished.
Emotionally drained, Arturia started sobbing and stumbled over to where Shirou lay and hugged his body close to hers.
"I'm sorry. It may not be too late, may I have a look at him?" Arveia asked in apology.
Arturia solemnly nodded in agreement to her request and Arveia walked over to his body.
"I can't believe this! You did remove the scabbard from his body, right?" Arveia exclaimed.
"Of course I did. We wouldn't be having this conversation if I hadn't." Arturia whispered.
"What's wrong is that his wound should've killed him by now but it hasn't. In fact, if anything, it has started healing on it's own." Arveia explained.
"But how is that possible? We removed it, it should no longer be protecting him." Arturia gasped.
"Are you complaining? It seems someone upstairs really really likes you. Though I haven't the foggiest clue why this would be." Arveia finished, polling the room.
"Of course. The Scabbard is a powerful artifact, it's highly unlikely that it wouldn't have left some trace of its power even after being removed." Rin mused.
"That is quite a relief, but I get the feeling there's something you aren't telling me." Arturia stated.
"Well, I noticed that the last time he was injured like this he was mostly healed by this point. I'm guessing that while the scabbard is still protecting him it will take longer for him to heal than when it was inside him." Rin said.
"So, how long will he be out?" Arveia piped in.
"I'd guess he'd be out for the rest of today and all of tomorrow at the rate he's going." Rin said.
"Good for you, Arturia. You'll have him all to yourself, I'd take advantage of it if I were you." Arveia teased.
"As if. I'm not some love struck damsel like in those fairy tales with her head stuck in the clouds." Arturia raged, mostly forgetting her anger from earlier.
"Oh? And then what was that just now when you nearly lost it when you thought he was dead?" Arveia prodded.
"Oh, shut it. Shirou nearly died twice because of me and it was all due to my being unable to keep my emotions in check. I was so scared of losing him that it was affecting my performance in combat. I don't love him any less; I just need to keep my emotions in check if we're to make it through this. There will be plenty of time for emotions after all this is done but only if we survive." Arturia mused.
"Aren't we optimistic? We don't even know the identity of the man who stabbed Shirou, do we?" Arveia retorted.
"I believe that by the fact that we were ambushed immediately afterwards and we didn't notice he was a servant until then, I'd have to guess it was Assassin." Arturia revealed.
"Also, I think I know his identity." Arturia whispered.
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