Welcome to another chapter of this fic. Are you ready for the Archer vs. Rider fight? Don't worry because it's here!

Shout-out to Solusispe Tsukiyomi for helping me expand on some parts of this story to not make said parts seem bland or have a lack of energy to them.

Disclaimer: first chapter

Night 4 part 3

"I'm surprised your Master's father found the hilt and the scabbard to Caliburn. I thought that it was forever lost with it broken an all. I guess this means that this reality still holds the legend that Arthur lost her sword, and received Excalibur as replacement while you are an alternate version of Saber." Archer said in mild surprise as he fiddled with a seal. Lily, just behind him, scowled at the disclosure of information that Archer didn't need to hear.

"I don't understand why I should accompany you on this little escapade." Lily grumbled in an attempt to change the topic. "To think all this time you were a puppeteer holding my strings of affection." She turned away from the Servant, who was focused on his job of creating the largest Boundary field ever made. It would take up all of Fuyuki city, and then some while completely separating it from the actual city; a pocket dimension of sorts.

"I'm not, Lily." Archer, who recognized the change in topic, spoke seriously. "My feelings are genuine even if they are playful."

"Is it not strange to see your surrogate sister's face on mine?!" Lily shouted. "What new breed of pervert are you?"

"So is it wrong to fall in love again?" Archer asked. "Saber-nee is a sister for the sole reason that she cared for me like one, and I saw her as such. She took a dominant familial role in my life." Archer sighed. "And like I've told her, that spark I've lost was reignited, Lily. You two may have the same face, but you are not the same as her!"

Lily stiffened, "Then…what of your wives?" Lily interrogated with voice hardened like steel. "Surely they must be rolling in their graves."

Archer fiddled with his seal, and said, "Oh I'm sure they are." His stomach growled. He looked down, and patted it, "Huh…must be getting hungry." He created a bowl of ramen to eat to muffle the noise his stomach created. He took one slurp before speaking again, "Yes, I'm sure they're enraged at me, but they've accepted it. To be honest…I was not a simple man who had the capacity to love only one person. I…born without the love of family, never knew what love truly was until one day, it punched me in the face." 'Figuratively and literally, I might add.'

"Argh! This is so confusing!" Saber groaned while she grabbed her hair.

"I'll say. You've been quite expressive lately." Archer noted as he took another slurp of noodles.

Lily turned around. "No thanks to your…admittedly effective advances…" Her voice peaked, then trailed off like a voice in the distance. Archer could already see the faint blush and clenched fists that signify Lily's resistance despite the Knight not within his line of sight.

Archer agreed. "You and Saber-nee are different. By identity and similarity of legend, you are the same, but it is through that similar life that the path splits. You, who forgone the facade of a man, admitted your true gender unlike your counterpart, the more famous outcome of your numerous possible lives. And with the information given to me by the Throne of Heroes, I can conclude one thing."

Lily faced away. "And what's that?" She demanded to know.

Archer sighed. He was being tested. All that he learned from Lancer must be utilized to defuse the situation. So he spoke.

A lily, white as snow

In a field of war and red

Remained unscathed and moved to and fro;

Forever pure and never bled.

Firmly rooted despite the steel around,

Never once did it wilt

When amongst enemies abound

Nor did men of honor find defeat or tilt

To the ground.

A lily, white as snow,

A symbol of peace profound

And beauty boundless.

"That doesn't mean anything, Archer. And your poem ended weak at the end." Lily told the Servant, who recited the poem.

"I admit I'm not great at poems, but are you not a close reader?" Archer suggested. "Hmm… 'A lily, white as snow in a field of war and red remained unscathed and moved to and fro; forever pure and never bled.' Tell me, do words like that mean nothing to you?" He lowered his bowl, and stood up to face the woman. "Look at me, Lily." He requested to the White Knight. Lily complied, and turned to Archer. "Do you see what I see? I see eyes like emerald, battered by stress and experience, yet shine with brilliance unlike any other." Lily stared at Archer's face, serious like never before. Those azure orbs clouded by experience…they were radiating a kind of sorrow she had felt herself. She squirmed a little; those eyes seemed to stare at her soul.

To get rid of this feeling, Saber countered with her own query, "And what of yours? They have the same quality too. You have seen countless deaths, and were stressed by them as well."

Archer crossed his arms. "Aye…that much is true." Archer agreed almost exhaustedly. "But here's the difference: you stayed the same, unyielding and pure whereas I…" He clawed his heart, "I was motivated by the deaths I saw or caused. More precisely, you are seen as a King, a leader of warriors, wielder of weapons: your sword and your fellow Knights; I am merely a weapon forged by my life, refined by my interactions, and sharpened by my teachers." Archer recollected his memories as the naive child. And like any child, he saw reality in a way he changed in personality. For better or worse, he still had no answer. As for Lily, she didn't know how to react to that. She actually took a step back when she heard Archer's outlook of his own self; never had she heard anyone claim themselves to be a weapon. Such distorted perception had to be caused by some trauma…it had to be. Those worn eyes told a story of a changed man, yet they held a bit of happiness within them. "I see you, and all I can do is see the purity I can't regain, the perfection I can't attain…" His voice trailed off. He realized he spoke too much. Last time this happened, his wife never let him go for the whole night.

It was years after he created his Marble. The distorted view had cemented itself in place.

"If you are a weapon, then you've been forged to protect, not to kill. The reason you are more human is because you forged that material into your very being. You have the capability to break and be reforged to be better. I would know. As a Kunoichi of Konoha, I too am a weapon, and I try constantly better myself." His wife's soft words calmed him as he recollected the memory. He remembered her soft touch on his cheeks, "You, my sword and shield, need to be at your best. You cannot break in these trying times. But if you do, fix yourself. You are Naruto Uzumaki, and your most deadliest trait is your unyielding will! It'll take a lot to break you. So give 'em Red Moons hell!"

Archer closed his eyes. Those words were comforting, yes, but it did not change his perception. He was a weapon for sure. His emulating ways were a reflection of his second-most valuable skill: to imitate the weapons he saw. It was like him adopting ideologies and personas of his own Servants. Though he could not be exactly like them. No two weapons, unless they are meant to be a pair, are ever truly the same. They could be made by the same material, but it is when they're in battle that the differences are displayed. One could shatter upon meeting a heavy strike or another could be sharp enough to cut through armor. Each encounter improves a weapon in one way that is different to another.

"…Why do you perceive yourself as a weapon, if I may ask?"

Archer kept silent for a long while because he considered whether or not to divulge in the matter. 'I am the weapon left standing here…' He thought to himself as he remembered his birth, the day that defined his existence. A Jinchuriki was a weapon for the village. It was a role he accepted later in life; it was how he got his Reality Marble. He reminisced at the mission when he found out his purpose.

Traitors of Konoha escaped from prison, and with the information the escapees acquired, they needed to be hunted down and killed. Archer was dispatched to intercept with brute and indiscriminate force. He was quick to accept, and when he cornered the escapees, his mind blanked. He regained awareness, and what he found stunned him. Bodies littered like piles of trash like the discarded weapons, placed all around, painted in blood.. Countenances drained of life fluid like a dry husk, etched themselves to Archer's mind.

His Servants told him he was worked on autopilot. He wasn't responding to taunts or pleads of mercy. All he did was engage and eliminate the target with brutal force. It was he who killed them with blade at the ready.

A weapon's purpose is to kill, but it kills for many reasons. For him, it was to protect his village like his wife told him. 'I stand as the unprovoked Vanguard to protect, to safeguard those precious to me…' Yes. His aria was built on the self image of his existence and purpose in life: a weapon to slay enemies for the sake of those he wished to protect. He decided to give Lily a roundabout answer. "I was part of a military force in my lifetime. As a soldier of sorts, I am a sword to slay my enemies, and a shield to protect the denizens of the village I swore fealty to." Lily stared, unsure of the answer. That logic was simple, and she could honestly see her own Knights say the same thing if they were asked the same question.

Lily chuckled lightly. "You sound more like a Knight now." Lily commented. She leaned forward, "I thought you were a vagabond that merely adopted a Knight's ethics when you stumbled upon an old record of it or some sort."

Archer had to stifle his laugh. One could think of him as a vagabond. During his trip, he wasn't necessarily getting any jobs unless asked to do so by messenger bird, and he certainly wasn't staying in one place for more than three months. He also stumbled (Not really) on the most prominent primary source, Saber herself, as a Servant, so records of the Knights of old were an easy study especially when he got his behind handed to him on a silver platter. That and when Caliburn fully accepted him, he became a Knight in behavior and in combat.

"Well you're not wrong in me adopting the behavioral pattern of a Knight, but I wasn't fully committed to the act. A mutual friend of Saber-nee and I…persuaded me to make my own path. That friend was the reason I'm so dishonorable." Archer looked sheepish. He accepted it, the change to move in his own path; the method and motivation of persuasion though…could have been less sharp and pointy. He didn't want to get into the detail of his change from a Knight to something else to the woman who was considered as the King of Knights; the mere act was treason to the code she lived by.

Saber exhaled deeply. "I can see why." Archer raised an eyebrow. "You're uncouth, a shameless flirt, a pretentious showman, and a infuriating enigma!" She pointed Caliburn at Archer's chest.

'Back to being King, Lily?' His face, which had an imperceptible frown from the insults (they hurt…a lot) , had morphed into a smile. "Seeing you frustrated humors me so. You should act more human than King. The experience is quite liberating. No kingdom to rule or Knights to lead; it's just you, Arthuria Pendragon, Servant Saber."

Lily poked the sword at Archer's breastplate, which gained a tiny 'tink' noise. "If my vexation humors you, then I'll gladly stop to not provide you the entertainment you desire." Her eyes burned a fire he had seen before in Saber.

Archer laughed a bit. Lily loved to take away things Archer liked about her to make the effort of driving Archer away. "Your will to persevere is another trait I adore. I like my women strong-willed and able to fight."

Saber lowered her sword, then turned away. "…Is that why you flirted with Rider as well?" Archer shivered at the words. Funny enough, he didn't register the sound of disappointment in Lily's voice.

'Busted.' He thought to himself. 'Well if she found out, might as well know how, right?' "And how do you know that?" He asked.

"'I just want you to follow the beat, Rider. Now won't you dance with me?'" Lily mocked with an almost spot on impression of Archer with her bowing to the Servant of the Bow."

'Ah…she was there the whole time. Well I'm screwed.'

"I hope you've learned your lesson now, Emiya-kun." Rin stated menacingly as she crossed her arms and stared at a mildly beaten Shirou on the floor. "Really. I thought we're allies. We shouldn't hide things from each other."

Shirou twitched. "So you're saying I reveal Archer's identity?" Rin perked at the idea. It frustrated her so much to not figure out Archer's name. She researched all the Knights of the Round, but never had she heard of a Magus Knight that could copy Noble Phantasms or actually wield the famous bunch of swords of those Knights. Arondight, Galatine, Caliburn… could it be safe to say that Archer had Excalibur as well? She shivered at the implication. All those weapons in his control could spell defeat for her and her Saber. She needed to know.

Tying to hide her interest, Rin acted haughtily, "Why not?" She waited patiently for an answer from the boy still lying on the ground.

Shirou moved his face away from the floor to look at Rin. "Well don't get your hopes up. Even I don't know the answer to that." Rin stumbled, unable to comprehend the fact that slapped her right in the face. "I get dreams constantly, but something blocks me from hearing his name." He didn't dare mention his latest dream; the idea was still so absurd that it couldn't be true.

Meanwhile, Rin was having a mental breakdown. She cradled her head as she tried to join all the facts she could to find Archer's identity. 'Okay, so he's partly a Knight with Magus abilities; none of the Knights Saber told me are Magus Knights. He's skilled in archery. Lancelot, could be that with his legend of being able to use anything as a weapon, but is discounted by the fact Archer can create his own weapons. Archer stopped living a life of a Knight as shown by his dishonorable way of fighting and his shameless flirting…' Silence happened in both the physical and mental world. "Argh! I can't take it anymore!" She shouted for all to hear. "Nothing connects! Nothing!" She stared at her hands as if the information was written there, and looked over both palms like a detective trying to solve multiple cases at once. Shirou could see Rin's eyes vibrate rapidly as confusion took a toll on her mind. He stood up -groggily- but he managed to and placed his hands on her shoulders.

"Calm down, Tohsaka." He said to the girl with his face close to hers. So close Rin should be at eye-level with Shirou's golden eyes, and with their noses almost able to touch. "It isn't like you to panic over something so trivial."

Rin, in her own little world, realized how close Shirou was, and bolted out of his hands. "W-What are you doing?!" She demanded. She hugged herself; she didn't want him to touch her like that without her consent. "Are you becoming a pervert like Archer?!"

"What?" Shirou recoiled from the accusation. "I'm not. I was trying to calm you down, Tohsaka! You were getting too stressed over Archer's identity that you were convulsing as if you were having a problem in your body." His explanation was clear and concise. Rin looked bashful. She couldn't tell him that he was in the wrong with that logic.

"I…I see." She took a few deep breaths to calm herself. "Well thanks for that. I really needed that." Shirou recoiled at what Rin said.

"Are you really okay in the head?" Shirou asked worriedly as he took a step closer. "You said 'thanks' to me. I've never heard you-"

Rin snapped. "Okay! Now that's going too far, Emiya!" She interrupted him so quick that Shirou was forced to stop talking, and take a step back from the volume of Rin's shout. "I say thanks as many times as needed." Shirou crossed his arms once he recovered from Rin's outburst.

"Hmm? Name one time, school idol, Rin Tohsaka." Shirou dared unintentionally. He saw the Magus many times alone. How could she build up enough social interaction to the point she can say thanks? He could see Rin turn red with anger. Unknowingly, Shirou teased the girl too much; it was an effect one unconsciously gained by interacting with Archer for too long.

"Would you like a shovel now, Master?" Shirou's Saber shouted from across the hall. "You restarted the process of digging your grave again." Ah yes, Saber too had learned a thing or two about teasing. She had her moments, and they were similar to Servant Archer in terms of snark.

"No, I don't need it at the moment, Saber. I can handle this troublesome dispute on my own."

"Would you like an Excavator instead?" Saber suggested. "You seem to want to dig a grave deeper than six feet."

Shirou stepped back when he saw Rin raise her left sleeve to show her Magic crest. "Not now, Saber!"

"Troublesome?! I'll show you trouble, Mr. I-love-to-put-my-foot-in-my-mouth!" Rin pointed her left arm at Shirou with her Prana surrounding her arm. "Take this, Emiya!"

Archer and Lily returned to the Emiya residence at that moment. Shirou ran past the Knights rather fluidly. Archer took note of that. "Getting slippery over there, eh Master?" He asked the retreating Emiya. "Maybe you do have what it takes to dodge all of my-" Archer felt an explosion rock the back of his head. The force of the impact made Archer lose his balance, but his head? That was still intact. Hurt real bad, but still connected to his body. He regained his footing, then popped his neck to fix the kinks in that area. Lily brandished her sword at the sight of an attack, and nearly skewered her Master when Rin barreled towards them without warning.

Oh she was mere centimeters from having a gaping hole for her heart.

"S-Saber!" Rin exclaimed in surprise. The girl managed to step back in time. She placed a hand on her heart as she exhaled. "You're back?" Her Servant nodded, and said they arrived just at that moment. Lily asked why Shirou ran with her hot on his tail.

"He teased you didn't he?" Archer butted in. "That kind of reaction is almost universal when it comes to tsundere types like you, Tohsaka. And with the amount of Prana you just shot at my head, I say you were serious about taking off a leg or two from his body for whatever he did." Rin could hear the displeasure in Archer's voice. However, before she could explain the situation, Archer's demeanor changed drastically. The Servant shed tears of joy, and whooped for some strange reason. He raised his hands in the air, "Yes! I finally got through to him! Saber-nee!" He called as he ran deeper into the hallway. Both Rin and Lily could see a little hop in his step as he continued to call for Saber. "I finally got him to finally slip! I-"

Saber exited the bathroom door, and knowingly slammed the door in front of the cheering Archer's face. Rin and Lily winced at the sound of possible skeletal deconstruction. On the other side Saber huffed, and hid herself by using the door and a towel to hide her figure. "I hear you, Archer. Now don't disrupt my bath time again." She promptly closed the door. Archer stood there to cup his face, the pain lingered.

On the door, an imprint of Archer's cheery face laughed at him.

That and he could feel Rin's fury heating up the atmosphere in the hallway. He could distinctly hear the sounds of bones popping as if ready for a beatdown. "Oh?" He heard Rin's voice tease dangerously. "Emiya-kun's learning to be blunt and flirt rather quickly. I'm positive, he's acquiring these heinous abilities WITH THE HELP OF YOU!" Her hand radiated Prana at dangerous levels. Archer could tell Rin was serious; the amount she had stored in her hand could blow off his head if she added jewels to this attack. Rin pointed her left hand at Archer. "This hand of mine glows with an awesome power! Its burning sensation tells me to destroy you! TAKE THIS! MY EMBARRASSMENT, MY HATE, AND ALL OF MY FRUSTRATIONS! SHINING GANDR!" The overwhelming power erupted off her hand and shot towards Archer.

He dug inside his ear to check if it still worked after Rin's shout. "Block." He said impassively. A floating mirror blocked the shot. It had an imperial purple base for the mirror to attach itself to, and two gold protrusions from one end to the other along with four extra protrusions on each side of the golden pieces of metal. When the shot struck the mirror, a set of purple concentric rings etched with Kanji, absorbed the shot. The damage feedback was reduced greatly, not even flinch worthy. "That was some frightening attack, lassie. Thanks for the Mana recharge; I was feeling a bit low on Mana. 'Though Chakra is still a good alternative.'"

Rin looked aghast. She heard Archer summon several high-class Noble Phantasms; that alone should have caused a strain on his body. Yet from the most recent battle, she saw that Archer hadn't broken a sweat. What monster was he? "Just low on Mana? What?" Archer nodded. He explained that he had a Mana reserve that could rival Caster's own; a fact that terrified Rin where she stood. To her, Archer was the epitome of a Magus Knight. The Servant had the close combat abilities of a Saber and the supernatural skills of a Caster. Though considering her Saber had a considerable Magic Resistance, the latter portion would not be as threatening. She assumed a thinking pose now that she found something to occupy her time.

Meanwhile, Shirou hid in the training dojo.

"Hey…are you plotting against me again?" Archer questioned as he scratched his head. If there was one thing he could praise, Rin was persistent. If she was his Master, he would no doubt have fun teasing her to the point she would use up two of her Command Spells, and he would hold the last spell against her in exchange for his full cooperation. The image of a fuming Rin humored him greatly. He grabbed a book from his back pouch, and slammed the spine on Rin's head. The girl buckled under the force, and caressed her new bump. "Enough." He said tiredly. "You can plot against me when you and Lily are the only opponents left." He turned around and headed for the kitchen. "Dinner will be done soon. Will you stay?"

Dinner wasn't a simple endeavor. With a worrying Taiga, and Rin along with a materialized Lily. The situation only seemed to get more dangerous. He had to come up with a lie that Lily was his older sister, an identical twin with Saber. Taiga ate up the story, and did not protest much when it came to that. She did protest about Archer's brash action at school. The Servant held back the urge to groan. He could clearly see Taiga's infatuation with him as well as her worry. He had to explain to her that he was fine, and had done worse like insulting a man who had his wife at knife point. Then came another spiel that Archer blocked out. The woman gave good points, but were useless to him; he wasn't alive ever since he was summoned.

When that was done, Archer left the residence in silence. He left a note that said he would be out for a bit. Both Lily and Saber knew what Archer would be doing, and sighed. As an Archer, he was independent. He didn't need orders from Shirou to do what he would do next: his decision to face Rider this night.

He stood on top of the tallest building in Fuyuki, then flared his Prana as a signal of challenge. Anyone who didn't feel his release of Prana were either reluctant or refused to fight him, and did it matter to him if they did? Not really. It was less work needed if others decided not to show up. So there he was with his arms crossed as he waited patiently for his opponent to answer.

'Rider…' He thought to himself. 'Why fight for an incompetent and terrible Master? Despite him not being your real Master, you follow him like one. What is it that drives you?' He looked up to the moon. It was strange to see it. This timeline he'd been summoned to was centuries before the Sage was ever born. Something must have happened to this in order for that man to have recreated it as an astral vessel meant for the Juubi. He shook his head; he was going out of topic.

He pulled out his sword, and threw it in the air. It transformed into the motorcycle form, revved for battle. He patted the vehicle's dashboard. "You'll get some action tonight." It revved as if excited at the news. "Heh! Eager are we? Don't worry she'll come soon." He straddled his vehicular Noble Phantasm, and gripped one of the handles. "When was the last time I used you for more than five minutes?" He asked himself. The motorcycle revved an answer. Archer pulled back in shock. "That long?! My bad. I shouldn't be choosing favorites." The growl of the engine calmed as if understanding the situation. "Are all systems go?" The armor of the motorcycle shifted and revealed blue, glowing lines of Chakra and Prana that emerged outwards like flames. The wheels gained the same treatment, effectively bathing the wheels in blue fire. The coffin backpack separated in two, and connected to the large exhaust pipes on both sides of the motorcycle. The compartments opened to reveal a much larger exhaust valve since they were combined with the cannons.

Out in the distance, Archer saw Rider jump her way towards them, and unconsciously tightened his grips on the handles. 'Here she comes…' The motorcycle closed off its exposed inner frame, and dispersed the blue flames.

Rider landed in front of Archer. "Good evening." She greeted. Archer saluted informally while his motorcycle purred lowly. Rider took an unconscious step back. That sword had another form she didn't know about. Just when she thought she had figured out an attack plan, Archer throws it out the window with another ace in his sleeve.

"Yo, Rider." Archer waved. "Where's your Master?" He asked. He leaned forward in interest. Rider inspected the vehicle conspicuously.

'How would those mounted guns on the front work if it can't aim? The only way it could do so would be to charge head on like a jousting Knight.' Her interpretation wouldn't be far off, but it lacked something else. 'If so, then it's practically useless against me since a motorcycle is far less maneuverable than I am.'

"Away from here." Rider answered cryptically. Archer straightened himself, and crossed his arms in disappointment. But he knew better. Shinji would not tolerate sitting in the sidelines. Archer would accept the answer for now because at that moment, all he wanted to do was to see how he fared against other Rider class Servants. He could qualify as one sure, and he yes he could ride his dragon, but he wasn't dependent on his mounts. If anything, both Kiryuuin and Kiritsugu were support units that help out by clearing the surrounding area for him; he could that on his own if he used his clones.

"I see…" He revved his bike. "Shall we start?" Rider charged without warning. Archer expected such a tactic. He went full throttle to meet the enemy. The instant he did so, his tires burned rubber. The riding Archer drove forward with a simple blade in his left hand. Archer's sword met Rider's chain and daggers in a battle of supremacy. The blond Servant raised his sword to push Rider above him. The woman was airborne, and to remedy the error cause by Archer's parry she flipped several times before she stuck the landing. She nailed her daggers to the ground to stop her forward momentum. Archer inspected Rider's form. So flexible like a serpent, Rider bent in such a way that her tasteful backside was further up than her head. It was like a snake ready to strike once Archer went in range.

"I see you can qualify as a Rider too, Archer." Rider noted while keeping the pose she made. She wiggled her derrière seductively, and knew full well the effect of her act. "I guess it's not surprising since you summoned a dragon."

'No, Junior. We are not going to be affected by Rider's petrification spell when she hasn't even shown her eyes yet.' He told himself without turning his gaze to his lower regions. How he hated Jiraiya for corrupting him so. 'But…she does have that fine body.' He inwardly drooled. 'No. Stop it, idiot.'

An intense feeling bubbled from deep within his subconscious.

He blocked it out.

Archer's form slacked, yet did not show any form of reaction to Rider's excellent attempt at seduction. "Ah…so you saw that, eh?" He asked rhetorically. He rubbed his head. "It's a wonder why I wasn't summoned as Berserker or Rider. I mean my strongest stats are placed in Mad Enhancement and Riding skill. Though I could reason out that I wasn't one to follow orders constantly." Rider shifted her feet. Her chains rattled as it scraped the concrete ground.

"Mad…Enhancement? You?" She questioned the Servant.

Archer raised an eyebrow. "At this point, you're still surprised? But to answer your question, I do have that skill; it's just sealed off until I want to use it. You'll know when I use it when my eyes turn red and beastly. That and my Prana expenditure increases ten-fold."

"If that's how it is…then how has your Master not died?!" Rider demanded.

"I've a skill that allows me to take in Mana from the source: the world around me." He opened his arms to show that he wasn't kidding about taking Mana from the world. Rider didn't need to see to know that the Archer was gaining Mana from the leylines of the city. If Prana could take form of light, then Archer was a beacon of light that could blind her. From what she saw of yesterday's battle, Archer should have been out of commission for any extensive use of Noble Phantasms. It seems that isn't so if Archer could rapidly replenish his Mana at this ridiculous high-speed rate. "My Master doesn't take the full drain of my constant use of Noble Phantasms. All he does is supply me with the utmost bare minimum to use my Noble Phantasms. That is how he's survived so far."

Rider realized another skill Archer possessed. Her chances of winning were dwindling with each passing second the more she hears of the enemy's abilities. "So…I'm facing a Sage." Archer nodded.

Archer raised a finger, "That you are, lady. And to not further disturb both the leylines and the fine people of Fuyuki city, we shall partake this battle in a more empty version of it." Archer snapped his fingers, and gone was the feeling of life from all around them. Nothing from people to the minuscule insects that buzzed at night stirred in this hollow shell of a city. Except for a couple of Masters and several Servants. Archer recognized these signatures, and smirked when he found Shinji in this almost vacant city.

From the sidelines, Assassin eyed the battle. "This field could almost pass off as a Reality Marble. To think his skills in this field blow mine out of the water…" He told his Master, who was beside him. The Edelfelt reinforced her eyes. She could see the Prana flow like a Reality Marble.

"Can this stand against yours, Assassin?"

"Almost." The Servant answered. "A Bounded Field cannot reach the level of complexity nor the sturdiness of a Marble. Archer is merely using expert transmutation with Prana as a means to replicate one. If you look closely, Archer has planted both runes and sealing tags to ease the formation of this field." Luvia confirmed Assassin's words by examining the floating, golden etchings in the sky. They were nearly invisible because they melded with the soothing rays on moonlight.

"Your friend is quite the specialist." Luvia complimented.

Assassin snorted. "Trust me. Archer's true specialty lies in messing with people by pranking. If you were to tell me Archer would become a fighting machine, I would have laughed at your statement, and walked away. Others would have made fun of you. The Archer you see was as weak as his Master when he started off. Heck, Archer had one of the worst aims out of all of our colleagues that he would hardly be qualified for Archer class." Luvia imagined Archer like Assassin described, yet she could not see how Archer could have been so weak. She scrunched her eyebrows while she still attempted to visualize a weak version of Archer who could fail to fight. Assassin smirked. "If you've difficulty conjuring an image, then it's a testament to how far Archer evolved from that weak version of himself." He stared at the orange blur that bounced off the pink streak. Both fighters were going blow for blow without any signs of stopping.

Archer fired his mounted guns as he weaved around Rider's daggers. It was a useless act since Rider just moved around Archer's aim. Archer and his ride moved in close to slice Rider. The woman inched away from the blade, and got to see just how polished and sharp the sword was. The air whistled as the sword completely missed her neck. Rider smirked. To wipe it, Archer applied the front brakes. His ride positioned itself on the font wheel, and with the aid of his turning body, he swung his vehicle's back wheel towards Rider's face. The impact sent Rider rolling away to the edge of the roof. Archer ejected the cannon exhausts to make them shoot at the downed Rider. She rolled towards the cannons to evade the shots only to meet Archer's dropkick.

Archer bent his knees. He leaped off the Servant then grabbed hold of his bike's handles. He revved it then faced his opponent. Rider was rolling due to the force of Archer's leap. Archer pulled the trigger, and shot at the rolling woman. Rider willed her body to move out of the way. With her speed, she easily escaped the line of fire. She decided it was time for a counterattack. She darted in a zigzag motion whereas Archer rushed head on. The blond Knight pulled his steed upward right when Rider was ready to pierce Archer's armor.

The dagger only met near impenetrable armor that protected the engine. Archer moved his bike left and right within the upright position. To keep balance, Archer leaned the opposite way of his vehicle. Rider sidestepped to Archer's left with her right hand using full force to impale Archer. Archer let go of the handles, and placed them on the seat. He positioned himself in a handstand, and projected those hip jetpacks. He kept a tight grip as the contraption at his waist propelled his body towards Rider by rotating himself around his motorcycle. Archer came from underneath his ride. With such an unorthodox style, Rider did not expect another dropkick from the Servant.

Archer grinned. This was going in his pace! He had to thank his little brain for creating this style of his. Rider could hardly find time to counter his moves. He had to keep the pressure.

He straddled his ride again, and maneuvered like Rider seconds ago. He zipped in one direction, then another. Rider stepped back with each advance Archer managed. Without warning, Archer pulled the brakes, which swiftly swung the back wheel again. Rider was prepared, and somersaulted backwards to not get hit. Archer revved his bike, and aimed to trip Rider with a skidding back wheel. Sadly he missed, but did not fail to catch one of her legs. He slammed her to the ground, and rotated his vehicle just above Rider's face to smash it in by the sheer weight of the vehicle.

Rider moved her head. The black tires of the Noble Phantasm steamed from the amount of work it did in such short time. Rider frowned; this was a fighting style she hadn't experienced before. She heard of mounts being used as weapons, but not in the way Archer was using it. This was just ridiculous!

"Close shave, wouldn't you say?" Archer cheekily asked. Rider scowled at Archer's mirthful tone. The Knight drove away from Rider to restart his motions. That was the problem when using this style of fighting when against one enemy. When coming to a full stop, there is a second time window where enemies have a chance at rushing him because of his lack of mobility. When he balances on one wheel, Rider could easily throw him off his ride, or flip it forwards to send Archer's face to the ground. Ironic as it is, using physics to fight with this bike is a double-edged sword; it's both a unique and unpredictable style, yet so vulnerable when one looks closely at its flaws. Had Rider noticed the imperfections of this style, Archer himself would be the one to have quality time with the ground.

He positioned himself on one side of the roof while his opponent occupied the other. The woman stood up with a fully relaxed posture. Archer noted the change. He didn't think she would get accustomed to the way he fought so quickly. In another part of his brain, he thought that this relaxed state could be a way to help her with her mobility; rigid posture tended to limit movement like that.

"What? No answer?" Archer asked. He shook his head. "Now, now. If I angered you this easily, then I can see why myth has call you a monster."

Rider snapped. That was a history she didn't need to relive!

Rider let go of the handles of her chains, and held onto the chains instead. She disappeared in a blur. Archer's senses told him to duck, and he followed that instinct. Up above him, the daggers, used as a blunt weapon, missed their mark. He thought that was the end when he was sorely mistaken. Rider tugged Archer's hood. The cloth instantly choked Archer as he was thrown away from his motorcycle. He recovered in the air, then projected his go to white-barrel twin pistols. The man aimed carefully, and shot. No bullets emerged from the chambers, yet Archer kept pulling the trigger.

Rider tensed. The air shifted dangerously from multiple angles. She backed off quickly just in time to not get hit by explosions caused by distortions in space. 'Another Noble Phantasm…Another I can't recognize. How many aces do you have, Archer?' She wondered. Archer landed perfectly. He aimed his guns at Rider immediately after.

"Kyukiseki: Rider mode -codename: Arbalest. CQC protocol." Archer spouted. Rider had suspicions about the command. If Archer riding the damn motorcycle and pummeling her with it isn't CQC, then what is this?

The motorcycle's armor shifted to reveal its inner frame fueled by Prana and Chakra. The former formed the structure while the latter was its fuel so to speak. So when this inner frame ignited blue flames, Rider flinched slightly. Because the Gorgon was classified as a Rider, she felt a sense of life within the mount. The headlights shone an unearthly, almost spectral wisps of azure light while its beam heated the surrounding area.

The motorcycle bolted towards Rider. It fired its guns uselessly since Rider deflected them with her daggers. Rider let the vehicle come close. She joked like a matador, and took this moment of opportunity to close the gap Archer made. Rider felt the air tingle again. She moved her body left, right, down, and came out of the scuffle with minor scratches done by the resulting explosions. Occupied by the attacks, she didn't see Archer in front of her. The Servant pulled the trigger, and blasted the space in between them. Rider was consequently stunned for a critical moment.

Archer moved behind her, spun clockwise, and shot the ground. A small pillar of flame rocketed Rider off the ground. He spun again, and tackled Rider towards the roof's edge. She slid close, but not to the edge because Archer dashed in and riddled the ground underneath her with tiny explosive shots that kept her in midair. Archer shot another round at Rider's gut. He jumped and spun while pulling the triggers rapidly. Rider suffered numerous bursts of Prana damaging her body. Then as if defying physics, Archer flipped over, and shot a few times straight down at Rider, who crash landed quickly. Archer landed a near second later with a swift and powerful sweep that juggled Rider again. He regained a standing pose, and thrust a pistol at Rider's gut, twisted it ninety degrees, the pulled the trigger.

"Now, Arbalest!" The motorcycle dashed in, and rammed the woman. The trailing blue streak of flames kept her hovered for a second. It returned for a second trip, and so on; the trail it left made a figure eight shape, or an infinity symbol. Archer aimed at Rider, and pulled the trigger an immeasurable number of times. Instead of small spheres of explosions, the sheer volume of shots became a giant fireball that engulfed Rider.

At another building, Shinji panicked. Rider looked to be no match for Archer. He slowly backed away in fear that Archer would finish the deed. He took fearful steps backwards without noticing a presence concealed behind him.

Archer rode his vehicle again and went in to finish the job. He heard chains rattling a second too late. Out from the fire, Rider drilled the air above Archer as she spun dangerously. Her chains, acting like whips unfurled when Rider opened her arms, and the chains themselves fit into the groove of Archer's neck. The conflicting forces, resulted in a dismounted Archer. Archer rolled to a stop, then felt a weight compress him from above. Rider mounted Archer, and raised her daggers above her.

Archer intercepted the daggers by parrying Rider's wrists. Archer head butted his opponent, and kept it close to her face. Rider may not be able to see, but she felt Archer's piercing, yet soft stare. Archer grabbed Rider's wrist, then plopped them to the ground. The two were basically posed as a loving couple that treaded on the fine line between love and lust. Not that Rider cared to notice.

The allied forces (Shirou, Saber, Lily, and Rin) stood at another rooftop with eyes like hawks, surveying this battle for each newfound discovery in Archer's skill palate. They didn't interfere since they (read as Saber and Shirou) knew Archer would have some devious way to turn the tide to his favor like he did seconds ago. Lily, beside Saber, Rin, and Shirou, silently seethed. Her firm grip on Caliburn tightened to the point that the handle might break at any time. She hated this womanizing attitude from the Servant who charmed her effortlessly -not that she would admit it out loud. Shirou was signaled by Saber to step away. Her soft, whispered words were, "A woman scorned is not one to be approached callously. Let Archer fall into his own grave." Shirou didn't need to be reminded of that fact, and silently nodded in understanding.

Back to the battling Servants, Archer said, "Wow... I knew you were forward, but not this forward." Rider didn't need to remove her blindfold to know Archer was amused by this development. "What next? You'll undress me?" He asked with a mirthful tone. Rider's concealed eyes twitched uncontrollably. How lax could Archer be?

"Your words infuriate me, Archer." Rider snarled. "That smart mouth of yours would be better off silenced by Artemis."

"The man-hating goddess?" Archer asked. "Hah! Even I know my boundaries, Rider. To speak like I usually do would sentence my death."

'A wonderful wish come true if it did happen.' Rider thought begrudgingly.

Archer snorted, "Besides….you aren't the first to say that I piss someone off, lady." He pushed his body forward, and rolled himself over Rider. His weight keep the Servant from escaping, and his chains dug into the ground as supporting anchors. "How did you tolerate the people who desired your death?" Rider stiffened underneath Archer; his words cut deep. She did tolerate those threats to her life when she was still sane. However, she succumbed to bloodlust, and became the very monster the people wanted her to be. To fall victim to Archer's mockery is a failure to her iron-willed composure in the past. True to her analysis, Archer admitted, "My words are far more harmless than that of what you endured in the past." He lowered his face closer to Rider's, and asked, "Tell me. What makes you tick?" Rider shuffled her feet in an attempt to escape. Her heels scratched the ground. Archer pinned her down effectively with his overpowering strength. One of his knees fell on top of her abdomen to prevent movement from both upper and lower body.

She needed to get out of this situation. Further talk with this Servant would take her to memories she did not want to fully remember. Though in the back of her mind, there was one thing that she remembered as a tiny piece of light in her life. That majestic beast with giant wings white like a dove, a bellow that rivaled the thunder, and speed faster than sound… She wished it would whisk her away from this problem, or better yet, help her defeat this Servant.

She heard a distinct beat reach her ears. Rhythmic like a metronome, the volume gradually increased as if coming closer to her position. A second later, a blinding white line of light tackled Archer off of Rider. The force of the blow sounded like thunder. Archer was sent airborne like an orange shooting star. The newcomer, an alabaster stallion, no...the description lacked magnificence. The steed of myth bathed in an aura of ancient -almost holy- powers. Its opened wings closed, then unfurled instantly to create a gust of wind. The dome of wind was so strong that others felt the winds graze their faces as a soft breeze. Pegasus neighed proudly. The winged steed clopped its hooves on the ground. Rider looked in amazement at Pegasus's lightning-fast response time. She was about to call him to help, but it seemed her friend had gotten the idea faster than she did.

"Pegasus..." She called to the steed. The horse lurched his head towards her, and nuzzled Rider's neck. "It's been too long, old friend." She caressed the flawless steed's cheek. The horse neighed in return; he bore the same sentiment like his rider. This reunion was a feeling nearly forgotten; the feeling of companionship had returned as the final, missing piece of her soul. Pegasus trotted backwards a little, and showcased his side while it made a small flap of its wings. Rider caught on quick, "You want me to ride you?" She asked puzzlingly.

"You might as well!" Archer's voice yelled from up above. Rider turned to the source of the sound, and was soundly surprised by a hovering Archer riding the motorcycle that should not be able to achieve flight. Rider sensed the air around Archer. She noticed that molecule upon molecule of air stacked over, under, side to side like a thick slab capable for anyone to stand on; it wasn't flying at all. Archer and his Noble Phantasm sat still on this…'road' of wind like any other drivable surface. It's like Archer visualized a road he could traverse without difficulty. "Don't ask." He ordered, not exactly desiring to get into specific details. "You should know me well enough that I'm full of surprises."

"You're an infinite trove of surprises!" Rider retorted. "Ace after ace, you have something more to display, Jester!"

Archer waved off Rider's comment. He pointed to the stars above. "An air battle...it's been a while since I had one. You and your majestic steed as one; let me see your passion burn three times brighter!" The motorcycle revved a powerful roar emitted by the engine. Wind collected at the bottom of the motorcycle. The air became hazy like a storm. A set of guns materialized around him like floating sentries ready to abide by his orders. Their bodies, trained on the woman and her steed, moved in unpredictable patterns, confusing those who took time to stare at them.

"The skies are my domain in this War, Archer! You may not tread on it!" She turned to her friend, "What do you say, Pegasus? Do you want to slam Archer's ego to the ground as much as I do?" The winged horse bucked in excitement, and flapped its wings, which created a miniature storm of gale force winds. The action did not disturb Archer's position in the air, but he did marvel at the sight of the Phantasmal beast. "Okay then." She summoned a golden bridle and whip, and placed the bridle on Pegasus. She mounted Pegasus without difficulty. She grabbed the horse's mane as natural reigns. With a quick jerk of the mane, the steed and his rider rocketed to the sky, far beyond the clouds. Archer heard the sound barrier break.

He knew this maneuver. Pegasus, a benevolent beast, would never harm. To do so, Rider must use her Noble Phantasm, Bellerophon, to properly control it to do her bidding. Next would be the supposed unstoppable charge, the white comet that would descend to wipe armies off Gaea. Archer decided to test that theory without using any of his shields.

No Rho Aias, no Aphotic Cave, certainly not his shield, and those other defensive armaments he had in his armory. No… He delved deep into his mind, and brought out many of his strongest artillery-based Noble Phantasms. With a blast of Prana, the encompassing area became littered with old British privateers armed with Culverin cannons, unlimited numbers of guns, numerous floating sets of AAM (air-to-air missile) pods, giant Prana cannons ranging from Howitzers to Railguns, and the famous flagships, cruisers, battleships, and aircraft carriers of the WWII Imperial Japanese fleet.

Of course, barring the fleet of the Golden Hind, the rest were modified to suit a more…destructive result. If one looked through his visor, one would see the eyes of a beast; he activated his Madness Enhancement. Archer himself wielded his most destructive jutsu within his hands. He held a black sphere of restrained power. Prana or not, all spectating Servants knew that if one poured enough energy into one attack, it meant utter destruction.

Shirou bent on one knee. The sheer number of Noble Phantasms he conjured took a toll on his meager reserves of Prana. 'Is this how Archer fights when he's serious?' He asked himself. His body succumbed to phantom pains as Archer drained more of his Prana. He clutched his chest as he felt himself losing his breath. Saber tended to him by pouring her Mana into Shirou to alleviate some of the pain.

"Emiya-kun, is there something wrong?" Rin asked worriedly. She squatted on the side unoccupied by Shirou. She saw the boy sweated profusely and pant heavily like a dog.

"A-Archer…!" Shirou croaked. The Tohsaka Master turned to the battling Knight, and reinforced her eyes to see what happened. Reinforcing her eyes meant she could see things from afar; moreover, it meant she could see the finer things like Prana coming off in blinding waves. She reeled back from the ocular feedback of Archer almost drowning himself in a ridiculous amount of Prana.

Assassin carried his Master far away from their original position without any warning. "Assassin?!" She demanded to know what's going to happen even if her words lacked elaboration.

"That my Master is one of the many things that makes Archer an Archer. This next attack nearly defeated a phantasmal beast of Gaea. Just being near the attack would vaporize you instantly." He didn't delve deeper than that because he didn't have time to waste. '100 kilometers of scorched ground and superheated air… would this Bounded Field even hold, Naruto?!' He summoned Susanoo, and flew to the far reaches of the field as he could within this short time frame.

'Bear with it, Shirou…' Archer silently pleaded. 'This is something necessary.' He breathed deeply. 'I'm sorry Kiritsugu, Kiryuuin. You two didn't get your chance to shine in this battle between riders, but let me promise you that when I find another suitable fight, that you shall be part of it.'

I am the bone of my sword

Far above the sky, the King of Heroes heard Archer. He noticed his Queen there too, yet prioritized the Servant who spoke those words. He sat upon his floating throne, Vimana, alongside Lancer, who was given a ride out of courtesy for the spearman's honesty. The man, who had mild interest in Archer, leaned forward with wide eyes as he heard the distinct words that would not ever leave his memories. "Archer…" Gilgamesh growled. "Could you be?"

In his left hand, Archer projected Kyukiseki in its bow form. The black ball of Chakra undulated in reaction to Archer's words. Slow like a calm wave, its form shifted within Archer's right palm. He grasped an invisible shaft, and soon the wavelike, quaking form narrowed and elongated itself like an arrow. Akin to a black spear, the arrow pulsed as the energy attempted to escape its form. He nocked it like one, and continued his aria.

Steel is my body, and fire is my blood

The next words did not surprise Gilgamesh. The words were ones he heard last before his humiliating defeat against a mere mongrel, a faker who dared imitate his fighting style and his treasures. A fist that wasn't clenched before became one at the mere thought of remembering Shirou Emiya. Speaking of which, he surmised the Throne of Heroes did not give him that information to kill the Master when he met Archer the first time because he would kill that Master.

Archer's arrow solidified; however, it was merely in texture. It was still unstable, yet capable of being fired. Archer coated the arrow with a shell of Prana to maintain its shape.

I am tempered steel forged in fire, and blessed by water

The following phrase angered Gilgamesh to the point he wanted to annihilate Archer right where he stood. His suspicions were correct. Memory after painful memory of that mongrel angered the man. He stood up from his throne hastily, then walked to the edge of his vehicle. "You mongrel…come to stain the past have you?" Gilgamesh's face contorted in pure anger. His red eyes burned with hate and contempt for Archer. "Very well…for your disrespect, I shall kill you in the most disgraceful way possible! He raised his arm, and activated his Gate of Babylon. Strangely, he kept on holding it open, not one Noble Phantasm shot out. The King lowered his hand, dismissing the Gate, then spoke to Lancer, "A final mercy." He declared. "Choose your side, Hound of Ulster."

"Really? You sound far more kindhearted than before, King of Heroes. What brought this?"

"An honest man shall be paid with an honest reward." Gilgamesh answered.

"Ah…I see that you've become somewhat humbled by him." Gilgamesh glared daggers at Lancer. "Moving to the question…I guess I shall side with Archer."

"Very well. Next we meet, prepare to die a horrible death. And don't worry about Kirei, I'll stop him from ordering your death. Now go."

"Right, right. Sheesh way out-of-character, you are. Well… see ya!" Lancer shook off the threat nonchalantly, and dropped from the floating airship. As the Servant of the spear fell, he noticed the atmosphere heated up considerably. Nearby metal objects started to melt, the walls of skyscrapers began to morph, the glasses on windows bent, yet Archer himself looked to be completely fine. The bow's frame glowed gold, and markings bearing resemblance to the letters of the Fae appeared soon after.

Unknown to the chaos of battle, nor known to the placidity of peace,

I stand as the unprovoked Vanguard to protect,

To safeguard those precious to me

Gilgamesh stared at Archer. He gritted his teeth. Oh how he hated that mongrel with every fiber of his being. Next they truly meet…he will kill Archer.

I am the weapon left standing here…

This Archer known as…

As the origin of my Infinite Spiral Battlefield!

"NARUTO UZUMAKI!"

Archer's Reality Marble manifested within his mind instantly. The image of a battlefield littered with weapons from all types closely resembled Unlimited Blade Works in that regard. Archer's Infinite Spiral Battlefield held more than just swords; it held every weapon he'd seen, blades, guns, spears, hammers, axes, maces, bows and quivers of arrows, and much more were littered just as the title stated: in a spiral. An eternal sunset shone over the landscape. Skyscraper-tall steel bars chained together by golden chains set up the boundaries of the place as if an arena. This Marble could have been used to fight Rider in now that Archer thought about it.

However…

"Install!" Archer shouted.

He had other things in mind. Particularly, this arrow wasn't meant for Rider at all. Sure he wanted to stop Pegasus, but that's what the other Noble Phantasms were there for. The arrow was meant for the bastard behind her. The Marble he manifested in his head was projected into the arrow. Countless weapons smelted to fuel the devastation that is Bijudama would increase the damage output a hundred fold. He flooded the arrow with even more Prana.

"Break." The arrow's form cracked, fire erupted from the cavities.

Shirou coughed repeatedly. Blood erupted from his mouth. The strain of too many Noble Phantasms present harmed Shirou's wellbeing. Saber dragged Shirou away. She called her horse, Llamrei to her side. She may not be a Rider, but there's no argument that a Knight must have a trusty steed whenever there is a battle. She hoisted her Master on the saddle, and rode on the horse next. Lily decided to follow Saber's example, and called for her steed as well. There was an unspoken sense of worry for Shirou, but there were more pressing matters to attend to like staying alive. The Knights and their Masters leaped off rooftop to rooftop to stay away from the blast.

"FIRE!" Archer roared. He released the string, which fired the arrow at Gilgamesh with mach speeds. A shockwave broke the sound barrier. A contrail followed the arrow that displaced the air as it travelled to its target. His surrounding armada of guns, cannons, and ships fired upon Rider.

Unbeknownst to Rider, who descended like a meteor far slower than the upcoming attacks. Whether she lived or die was a question to truly wonder; her fate had not yet been sealed. As for her Master, that was a mystery in itself.

The retreating Servant/Master pairs dared not look back. Whatever happened next would undoubtedly be disastrous. Shirou's weakening body shuddered. He heard his Servant uttered those words. His mind started to hurt as well since information seeped into his head like impaling swords. 'A-Archer…you!' He lost consciousness soon after, and started to dream.

And here's the end of the chapter. I realized I got too fired up at the end, which resulted in another cliffhanger. Damn me for liking to cut things off. Also I'm noticing a pattern here. Do you see it?

Well again, shout-out to Solusispe Tsukiyomi for helping out.

Now you know the full chant to Naruto's Reality Marble, and there is merciful Gilgamesh again. Sorry about that major OOC moment.

So review, follow, favorite, I don't care.

Update: I added the omake because why not? It said the title was "Lily," it was a ballad, and it had passion in it; perfect way to show Naruto's affection for Lily. Take it as a joke or not, it doesn't matter. It just struck me.

This is Azure signing off.