Disclaimer: I don't own Fate/Stay Night.
A Reversal of Fortunes
Chapter 4
Shirou got off the bus at the bus stop, and paused to stretch his limbs as the bus drove off. He took stock of his surroundings before moving on, noting the complete silence around him. Even if it was winter, even if it was much later than when he usually went home, and even if it was the suburbs, it was quiet.
Too quiet.
How do I put this, yes, it was like there was an apparition hanging around her, and not a very reassuring one at that. It was like…like someone walked over my grave.
Issei's words came unbidden to Shirou's mind, and he sighed before softly tapping the side of his head with a fist. "It's winter time, it's late, and it's the suburbs." He said to himself, beginning to walk up the street. "It's supposed to be quiet."
But though Shirou had dismissed the surrounding silence, the memory of Issei's words and their implications continued to tug at his mind. In particular, his irrational belief that Rin Matou was a witch…but was it really that irrational?
Magi, or rather accomplished magi, were known to be rich and aristocratic as a rule. It was a consequence of their lifestyle, as research was expensive, while the nature of magecraft as looking back into the past and a focus on bloodlines and inherited legacies and lineages strongly-encouraged an aristocratic mindset among such individuals.
There were exceptions of course, but those were usually younger, less-established and less-accomplished lineages. Shirou himself fell into that category, and he'd no illusions that his way of thinking – not that he particularly cared for their opinions – would be seen as naïve and childish by his fellow magi.
Going back to Rin though, his and Ayako's investigation into Rin's past after that altercation years ago had revealed that she was the heiress to a rich old family. And while it would be some time after that they'd meet Issei and with it covert accusations on the other boy's part that Rin was a witch…
…well, the Matou may just in fact be a local magus family. They certainly fit the part well, with a lineage going back generations and with a lot of wealth to their name to boot.
It was for that reason that Shirou had decided to stop the investigation then and there, in case any further prying tipped over stones that should be left alone. Magi were especially unhappy when other magi pried into their business, and Shirou knew quite well that as a magus he was very lacking outside of those few mysteries he literally could use.
There was no need to provoke fellow practitioners and risk a vicious response, and in any case Ayako was satisfied at what they found at the time. Shirou wasn't a particularly curious or inquisitive person, but he didn't like the idea of dismissing or deriding people without cause.
True, there was that altercation with Rin and the circumstances around it, but even that wasn't enough for Shirou to completely condemn Rin then and there, not without knowing more. It hadn't stopped Ayako from forming a negative perception of the other girl, but she had conceded that there was a point in that they needed to know more.
And so, she and Shirou had gone investigating, and found all they could know at the time, and again when Issei had become their friend. With the Matou potentially a magus family, Shirou privately judged it was better not to know more, and Ayako and Issei were satisfied by then as well.
That ended the matter.
Or, it should have ended the matter.
"Magi are amoral and ruthless in pursuit of their goals." Shirou thought to himself. "All these gas leaks lately, and then Issei's premonition…is it connected? Are they behind it?"
Shirou clenched his fists at the possibility, but after a moment he sighed and shook his head. "No," he thought while running a hand through his hair. "There's no evidence, and I shouldn't condemn without evidence."
Shirou blinked though at the thought that came after. "Issei had a premonition, didn't he?" he thought. "Maybe…he…"
After another moment, Shirou shook his head again. "No," he thought afterwards. "Like with Matou and the gas leaks, there's no evidence that Issei's a magus. It's probably just his training as a monk, I think. But if it was, then…maybe…Matou…"
Shirou face twisted into a concerned frown at the thought. If Issei's monk training was responsible for allowing him to feel a premonition from Rin, then there was an even bigger chance that Rin and her family were magi. Though, as a novice, Shirou had to wonder too if Issei's premonition that the apparition or spirit or something hanging around Rin being a malevolent one was completely-reliable.
Shirou took a deep breath. "Maybe I'm thinking too much." He said, briefly closing his eyes while sighing. "It could all…just be…coincidence…"
Shirou trailed off, finding himself staring at the little girl standing in the middle of the road in front of him. She was small, just a child really, maybe between eight to ten-years old. She had long platinum-blonde hair, reaching down past her shoulders, and wore a heavy winter coat in purple with a matching Russian hat and winter boots, though a white scarf was tied around her neck.
It was clear from the clothes that she or her family didn't lack for money, and together with her blonde hair and European features made Shirou wonder what a girl like her was doing in the suburbs at this hour. She smiled at him though, and it made him wonder even more.
There was happiness there, as though she was happy to see him.
Why?
But there was also a hint of bitterness, as though something about him was of fault to her.
Why?
As he thought about her strange smile, she walked down the street, her eyes closed. Shirou could only watch, and as she passed him by, heard her say what was either a warning or a threat.
"If you don't summon one soon, you'll die, onii-chan."
Shirou blinked, and whirled around…
…only to find the girl gone and the street empty.
"What?" Shirou muttered in shock, surprise, and worry.
Did I imagine all that? Or maybe was it…
…magic?
And what did she mean by 'summon one soon'? Summon what?
And also…
…could she be…
The golden blades cut through air as Lancer vaulted overhead, using his lance to anchor himself, and pulling it out of the ground with him. Landing in a crouch, he swung at the back of Archer's legs, aiming to hamstring the other Servant.
A sword swung down, and parried the lance. Its pair stabbed forward, and forcing Lancer back. He jumped back a couple of times, opening up the distance before counterattacking with a series of fast stabs which Archer parried with alternating strokes of his blades, before pivoting in close and swinging a sword at Lancer.
He dodged back yet again, Archer in pursuit. Lancer met his charge however, and stabbed at Archer's chest. The spearhead was caught between Archer's twin blades, only for Lancer to force Archer's guard open with an abrupt circular movement before stabbing forward at Archer's chest once more.
Hissing in surprise, Archer sprang back, Lancer in close pursuit. Red flashed through the air nearly too fast for the Human eye to follow, as Lancer stabbed at Archer again and again. Archer scowled as he gave way several steps, before finally feinting and folding his swords back into tonfas at the same time.
A swing of his left arm knocked the lance aside, and then concrete broke underfoot as Archer leaped forward. Lancer dodged a right hook from Archer, and then with wide eyes narrowly-avoided getting cut open by a rising swing from the left, as Archer swung up his left arm with his other sword unfolded.
Lancer gave way, jumping back in an effort to reopen the distance. Archer pressed the offensive though, spinning like a top through the air in a whirlwind of blades as he tried to keep the battle close and Lancer from using his lance effectively.
An alternating series of blows followed, Lancer dodging again and again before being forced into a clumsy parry that knocked him aside. Archer's laughter echoed through the night air as he followed through, swinging golden arcs through the air as he kept it close.
"Damn this, I've had enough!" Lancer shouted, and stabbing his lance into the ground behind him. And then using it as an anchor, he jumped off the ground and kicked Archer mid-charge with both feet on the blonde's chest.
Archer grunted in surprise as he staggered back, Lancer taking the offensive with a roar and a swing at Archer's chest. The blonde dodged back, and Lancer took the initiative, stabbing fast and hard several times before a riposte by Archer forced him back.
"An Archer fighting like a Saber," Lancer growled as he tried to get around Archer. "There's something you don't see every day."
"Of course not," Archer replied with a grin, clearly enjoying himself, also moving in a circle to keep Lancer in front of him. "In truth, though I walk my garden as an Archer, I am best-suited as a Saber, for there is none greater be it in skill, glory, strength, wisdom, virtue and valor and other qualifications than myself! Truly, only the most outstanding of classes is worthy for one such as I!"
"Humph," Lancer snorted as he launched a fresh attack. "Pretty full of yourself, aren't you?"
"It is only meet that one should take pride in one's legacy, is it not?" Archer replied, parrying all but the last of Lancer's strikes, and riposting the last, forced Lancer to evade.
"Heh," Lancer barked, finally grinning himself. He wouldn't deny it: he was enjoying this battle too. "I guess it is. You certainly have the skills of a Saber, and can match a Lancer's agility. Who are you really?"
To his surprise, Archer stepped back at that, and stood in a defiant yet triumphant pose, swords held low and legs placed wide. "A worthy question!" he thundered, every syllable ringing with pride. "And I shall answer! For I have no need to cower behind a title, instead standing with pride!"
Lancer stared, wide-eyed and disbelieving as Archer grinned even wider and loudly proclaimed his identity for all who could see and hear.
"I am Gilgamesh, King of Heroes, Master of Mankind, Ruler of the World and all that dwell upon it!" he shouted. "Mine is the first legend, upon which all others follow, and which shall never be forgotten, though all else be lost to the sands of history! For I am the first, and the greatest, and so long as heroes stand defiant of the tyranny of Heaven and Earth alike, I and mine shall never truly die!"
Archer paused ever so briefly, raising a sword in challenge. "Come then," he challenged. "Any who would seek to partake of the Holy Grail, or to stand in rebellious defiance, seeking to take advantage of whatever weakness they may perceive in myself, come, and prove yourselves to me, as heroes who would follow in my footsteps!"
Archer then focused on Lancer, his raised sword dropping to point at Lancer. "What say you, Lancer?" he asked.
Lancer flourished his spear and aimed it at Archer. "I say it's a good day to die." He growled with a grim expression, before grinning. "Though, I'd also say it's too soon to die in this war."
Archer laughed, and crossed both blades in front of him. "Well said," he said. "But words are merely words, and actions count for so much more!"
"Well said," Lancer shouted as he charged. "King of Heroes!"
Archer's laugh of delight echoed through the night as he met Lancer's charge, the Knights of the Bow and the Lance crossing blades yet again.
Luvia looked on as the battle continued, blue and gold blurs flickering across the battlefield nearly too fast for the Human eye to follow. Sparks flew as blade met blade, dirt and debris spraying in bursts from the ground as concrete broke beneath the combatants' feet.
The blonde blinked and turned her head to see Sakura walk closer, having taken a circular route around the battlefield to approach Luvia. "What's up?" the brunette girl greeted her blonde cousin.
"Just watching our Servants brawling it out over there." Luvia replied, and Sakura giggled.
"Brawling it out?" she echoed. "I doubt they'd appreciate such a description."
"True," Luvia agreed with a shrug. "Sparring then, yes, in hindsight it fits much better. Seeing as they're just feeling each other out, I don't think they'll be invoking Noble Phantasms in this battle. At least, I hope not. It's too early for identities to be revealed. Or it should be."
She glanced at Sakura, who blushed and glanced at the battlefield. Archer had caught Lancer's weapon between his crossed swords, and uncrossing them swept Lancer back. Charging forward, Archer's momentum was spoiled by a probing stab from above even as Lancer lightly jumped back a few times, before bringing his lance down into a two-handed grip and counterattacking.
"He was angry, you know, at first, when I summoned him." Sakura said.
"Oh?"
"You heard what he said, the Saber, the most outstanding of the Servant Classes, should have been his class. Instead he was summoned as the Archer."
"How'd you calm him down?"
"I didn't." Sakura said with a laugh, while Luvia looked surprised.
"He calmed down on his own?" she asked. "How? Or rather, why?"
Sakura shrugged. "Hey," she said. "He's King Gilgamesh. Why do you think he calmed down?"
Luvia briefly looked confused, and then blinking, gave Sakura a once-over. "Oh that's right," she said with a sigh. "He does have a reputation with the fairer sex, doesn't he?"
Luvia then blinked again, and then glanced at Sakura suspiciously. "Tell me you did not…" she began, trailing off as a scandalized Sakura quickly waved her hands in front of her in denial.
"No!" she exclaimed, her cheeks pink. "Of course not! Why would you think that way?"
"Well, he does have that reputation." Luvia said. "That, and taking into consideration the pride of such a man, well, it seemed a reasonable hypothesis as to why he calmed down so quickly over not being summoned as the Saber."
Sakura pouted, and then sighed as Luvia smiled and shrugged apologetically. "It's not completely wrong." The brunette admitted, turning to the battle briefly.
"Oh?"
"He ranted a bit, along the lines of what he said earlier." Sakura said, wincing as she watched Archer get drop-kicked by Lancer. Lancer followed-through immediately, only for Archer to turn his enemy's attack with a raised sword followed by a kick up at Lancer's side that forced the other Servant back, and allowed Archer to get back on his feet.
"And then?"
Sakura glanced at Luvia with a smile. "And then he calmed down all of a sudden." She said with a wink. "He said he'd let it go, before flirtatiously adding that it's because it's bad form to be so angry at a pretty young lady who just didn't know better, and is also still a precocious child at heart."
Luvia burst out laughing, while Sakura rolled her eyes with a smile. "Still a child eh, Sakura?" Luvia teased.
"I don't want to hear that coming from you, miss romantic 'I wish I could meet and marry a simple, handsome, and kindhearted gentleman I could have a happy family with'." Sakura shot back.
"Hey!"
This time it was Sakura's turn to laugh at Luvia's expense, and while blonde pouted at first, she relented with a shrug after a few moments and managed a few laughs of her own. "Fair enough," she admitted. "I suppose I'm still a child too, holding on to a romantic dream like that. But, even if I know it's almost impossible for that dream to come true, I'd like to hold onto it for a little while longer."
The smiles faded, both girls silently watching as their Servants continued to battle. At length, Luvia glanced at Sakura, and gave her another once-over. A blonde eyebrow quirked up, followed by lips twitching into a smile. "Nice shoes." She remarked.
"I know right!" Sakura gushed, the good mood from earlier returning as the brunette struck a pose, showing off her black, form-fitting, knee boots. "They cost me a pretty penny, along with the other articles I had to purchase while preparing for the war, but I'd say it's worth every penny considering the opportunity to show off that this war is."
Luvia giggled and regarded Sakura's current attire. Apart from her equally-stylish and utilitarian boots, she wore black leggings that ran up from her knees to disappear halfway up from her knees under a red, button-down winter coat with long sleeves, the cuffs and collar trimmed with black fur. An ushanka of matching color kept the head warm, all in all presenting the image of a rich young socialite with a very appropriate fashion sense. A bit modern perhaps, but acceptably so, in a young and daring way.
Luvia blinked though, at a strange sentiment that something was missing. It took only a moment to realize what it was though.
"I thought you were near-sighted?" she asked. "Or did you have your eyes fixed?"
"No, no," Sakura said with a wave, and dropping her pose. "Well, I considered that, but the spiritual surgeon said it would be best to put something like that off until after puberty, when the body's physique has completely stabilized into its – relatively – final form."
"Then how?"
"Contact lenses!" Sakura boasted, waving a hand in front of her face. "Shamefully modern true, but if it helps me pull off this new look of yours truly, it's a small price to pay."
Luvia burst out laughing, hiding her mouth behind a hand, Sakura joining in a few moments later. "I'm glad to see you've finally decided to drop that boring pseudo-librarian appearance you project at the Clock Tower." She said. "No offence, but you're not old enough to pull it off in either a flattering or professional way."
"I'd agree," Sakura said with a wink. "In part – it projects my professional, workplace appearance and character well enough that apart from truly-unavoidable social obligations I can focus on my responsibilities as a student and as a magus without getting distracted by outside influences."
Luvia snorted with amusement. "In short," she said. "It's a figurative repellent against the noble-born fops and dandies that infest the Clock Tower."
Sakura shrugged, and Luvia giggled.
"Well," she said. "If that was your goal from the start, then it definitely succeeded."
"That it did. Though, originally I chose that look because it made me look modest and studious at the same time."
Luvia laughed again. "Oh I see." She said with a grin. She narrowed her eyes afterward though, her grin turning veiled. "But if your new look is about showing off, then I'd say the voyeurs are getting a really good look, if you know what I mean."
"Yes, I know." Sakura said with a sigh, pulling out a pendelum from a pocket. The small, pinkish diamond flashed as it swung on its chain, and then Sakura put it back into her pocket.
"You were feeling things out, weren't you, while walking over?"
Sakura shrugged, and Luvia sighed. "There's probably little chance then that Archer's proclamation just now went unnoticed." She said.
"He's the King of Heroes." Sakura said, sounding surprisingly unconcerned. "It's possible I suppose, that with his true identity exposed an enemy might find a weakness. But…"
Sakura trailed off, but Luvia nodded. "He's the King of Heroes." She continued. "The first and greatest of all heroes. Even if there's a weakness, it doesn't guarantee a victory against a man who in life spat on a goddess' face, killed a being on par with a god, and likely slew and bested many other Phantasmal Species while travelling the world in search of immortality."
"Heroes do not become heroes without overcoming nigh-impossible odds." Sakura concluded. She narrowed her eyes. "Let them come after his weaknesses. It'll probably be not much different from the challenges he faced in life."
Luvia nodded, and then smiled lightly. "From the look of things though," she said with a glance at Sakura. "Lancer and Archer, at least without invoking Noble Phantasms, are a worthy match against each other."
"Just like us." Sakura said, raising a fist at Luvia, who smiled and bumped a fist of her own against it.
"How unsophisticated," she quipped. "But I like it."
Sakura just laughed in response.
A/N
I'd like to make Proto-Gil truer to his roots in the Mesopotamian legend/supposed Chaotic Good alignment than his canon self is. And I'll start by not having him look down on people just because, and being indulgent to pretty young ladies.
And to be fair, from what we can see in the Fate/Prototype short, he seems a much nicer guy than his canon self is, though (justifiably) still proud of who he is and what he has achieved.
Proto-Cu and Cu pretty much act the same, they just have a different appearance and VA, though the former is supposed to be more forward/daring than the latter is for some reason.
