Tags:
Fight!
Reunion
Separation
Chapter 13 – Wish Upon the Holy Grail/We Shall Meet Again Someday
Shirou sprints towards his first battle.
'Medea of Colchis, one of the greatest Magi of all time during the Age of the Gods.' He recollected the information provided to him. 'She is well versed in combat Magecraft whether it is defense, offense, movement, and many more. She is weak in close quarters combat.'
The only thing he needed to do was get in range and cut her down. He will have to be careful though, there are probably many traps littering the temple. He didn't know whether his Magic Resistance can stand up to Caster's level of Magecraft.
The entrance was in sight, and so was a person. The unknown man arrogantly scoffed and pulled out a Class Card.
"[Install]" He declared. His attire was changed to a cloak and a staff appeared in his hand. He flew up into the air and made magic circles from the Age of the Gods. Rays of pure Magical Energy were shot towards him.
"Trace, on." Shirou activated his Magic Circuits and launched [Traced] blades to meet those rays of light. It allowed him to get closer without giving away too much of his hand.
The enemy moved back as he continued to bombard Shirou. They chased each other around the temple, Shirou analyzing possible ways to defeat the enemy and surveying the battlefield while the man single mindedly shoots beams at him.
Shirou was surprised, there wasn't a single trap waiting for him. It was as if the man was determined to defeat him with simple overwhelming firepower. Was it arrogance or pride? He didn't know, but he won't let this advantage go to waste.
As he was about to charge forward, he saw a flying golem, one made by Ritsuka, charge straight at the Class Card user.
Seeing the nuisance pop up, Caster diverted a single beam attacking Shirou to destroy it. The golem dodged by swerving to the side and continued its advance. Annoyed, he concentrated fire and—
The golem exploded in a cloud of dust, covering the entire area.
With the visibility this bad—
Shirou brought to existence anti-magic weaponry. With his sharp eyesight, he locates Caster and sends them forward. Due to not being able to see anything, Caster puts up an omnidirectional shield to protect himself, but—
The weapons pierce through the shield and skewered his body and he falls to the ground. "I-Impossible…" The Class Card user breathed his last. The card [Uninstalls] itself and his body turns back to what it truly is, a doll. The weapons embedded on his body disappears.
Shirou takes the Caster Class Card and leaves the temple.
Status:
Saber: Active
Lancer: Active
Archer: Active
Rider: Active
Caster: Eliminated
Assassin: Eliminated
Berserker: Active
Ritsuka had a large backpack as she rode out in a horse golem with a lot of bags. "Sakura, are you ready?" She asked.
Sakura came out of the house riding a lion golem. "Yes. Still, it's strange that I can ride this lion golem proficiently." She wondered.
"That's probably because of Parvati." Ritsuka says. "Her mount was a lion. Her experience is probably bleeding over to you. Shirou has beaten Caster already, we are going to meet up and go to where Rider is."
Their mounts rushed out of the estate.
"Sakura, do you remember what I told you?" Ritsuka quizzed.
"Yes!" Sakura replied.
"Remember, even if Parvati's ego is no longer there, you still have her Divine Core. It will give you power, but it will erase traits of the vessel that do not correspond to it and apply traits that it should have. It will probably make you a better person since she is a Goddess who is on the side of good, but that means that some qualities that make you who you are will be erased. You must also avoid using Authorities as much as possible. If it can't be helped, make sure that what you are invoking relates to Parvati's Domain as a goddess."
"It is a small price to pay to help senpai." Sakura didn't want to lose him again. If she has to sacrifice herself, so be it.
"Ah, Shirou is engaged by Rider right now, let's hurry!" With a gesture, the mounts went even faster.
'Senpai, we're coming to help!'
Shirou's enemy right now is fast. Nail and sword clash against each other. The battle was overwhelmingly in Shirou's favor. With his anti-monster blade, a single strike is fatal. Rider's eyes locked on him and tried petrifying him again, only for Shirou to rush him.
'Medusa, one of the three Gorgon sisters. Having the ability to petrify enemies with her eyes and summoning the Pegasus. Excels in speed, but lacks the ability to finish battles without using any skills or Noble Phantasm.'
If Shirou gets one good hit, it will all be over. The Mystic Eyes of Petrification certainly work, but his high Magic Resistance offsets the effects somewhat.
Rider knew that he was going to lose if he fights like this. He tried gaining distance, but the enemy isn't letting him go. He is slowly being cornered, if he loses here, then—
With a sudden burst of strength that caught Shirou off guard, Rider sent him flying. Rider widened the distance even further by jumping back and prepared his Noble—
"HHHAAAAAAAA!" There was a war cry behind him, looking back—
'Ah.' That face… that face is...! "Sa… kura?"
He was so dumfounded that he didn't even react as the girl he was trying to save pierced him with her tuning fork. There was only one thing in his mind. 'She's alright.' Memories of his time together with her returned to him.
The girl, riding a crystalline lion was crying. The shout she did wasn't a war cry, but a cry of lamentation. "I'm so sorry, ojii-san…" She choked out her apology. She drops down her mount as she cradles one of the only people who cared for her.
"Ahhh, Sakura, you're alright… I'm so glad…" His form was slowly losing cohesion. "I'm sorry I couldn't save you… Please, find happiness…" His words of concern were his last as he returns to being a doll.
"Ah… AAAAAHHHHHHHH!" She cries out her guilt and grief. She felt two sets of arms embrace her, comforting her. She cries harder as the two siblings give their support.
Status:
Saber: Active
Lancer: Active
Archer: Active
Rider: Eliminated
Caster: Eliminated
Assassin: Eliminated
Berserker: Active
Miyu felt sick. Sakura-san killed her family with her own two hands. It was obvious that the two were close. The pain she is bearing must be excruciating. If… If she was the one in her place, she would break. She admired Sakura-san's strong heart that allowed her to continue on and help her family in rescuing her.
"You will be sent to Mount Enzo after the next battle." Julian declared. "We will be preparing you for the ritual. The next time you wake up, the victor will be the ones you see."
Miyu nodded. She turned her attention to the upcoming battle.
Shirou's opponent this time is really strange.
'Cu Chulainn, the Child of Light, with his spear, Gae Bolg, he can reverse cause and effect to strike the target's heart. He is also well versed in Runes and has Protection from Arrows. A powerful warrior that can continue fighting even with a serious wound.'
"Fervor, Mei Sanguis." Instead of fighting a warrior as he expected. "[Scalp]" He was fighting a Magus. He deflected the mercury sent at him. He analyzed his moves, looking for any signs of deception or traps.
His two companions observe from the sidelines.
He received a message from his bond with Ritsuka, one that she also uses to send Magical Energy. He also has another source, but he didn't know where it came from.
{Shirou, that guy isn't using the Lancer Class Card properly. Among the ones you defeated, only Rider was using his in the proper manner.} Assassin attacked in the open, Caster didn't lay any traps, and Lancer isn't using his weapon properly. {It's possible that the Ainsworths are using them to gauge our strength instead of being actual combat forces.}
"It's interesting, you are integrating a Servant without using the Class Card as an intermediary." Lancer remarked. "May I know how you did so?"
"I turned him into a Demi-Servant." Ritsuka answered from the side.
Lancer's eyes widened in shock. "Impossible! Such a thing cannot be done, just like how Dhampirs are impossible existences, Demi-Servants cannot possibly exist!"
Shirou clashed against Lancer, easily pushing him back, but doing no damage. "You are truly a Demi-Servant?" He asked in academic curiosity. Shirou just focused more on the battle. "No answer, eh? [Scalp]"
Shirou charged forward, with confirmation from Ritsuka that there are no traps, he goes full offensive.
"Your weapons shall never reach me." The blade was blocked by his Mystic Code, boosting his confidence.
Charging forward again, Shirou thrusts his blade. "I told you, it's no—" Lancer's words were interrupted at the blade unleashed a powerful blast, piercing straight through his body, leaving a sizable hole in the middle of his chest.
"I-impossible, w-who is that H-Heroic Spirit…?" Lancer asks in disbelief. His opponent didn't even call out it's name, that meant that the attack he received wasn't a Noble Phantasm.
"Sorry." Shirou answers. "I won't give out information that can be used against us." Lancer fades, leaving only the doll. The blade Shirou was using crumbles and shatters.
Shirou took the Class Card it dropped.
'Two more, just two more and…' Shirou affirms his determination.
Status:
Saber: Active
Lancer: Eliminated
Archer: Active
Rider: Eliminated
Caster: Eliminated
Assassin: Eliminated
Berserker: Active
As they were travelling to the next battlefield, Ritsuka noticed something.
"Shirou, Sakura, someone is approaching." She informed. {Sakura, find a good spot to hide.}
With a nod, Sakura activated her borrowed camouflage Mystic Code and hid somewhere. A few moments passed and the enemy arrived.
"So you guys are the ones making trouble for Julian-sama." A little girl holding a large axe sword several times her height. "With this Berserker Class Card, Heracles, I'll crush you all!" She declared with a feral grin.
'Heracles, the greatest hero of Greece. His parameters are the highest possible, except maybe luck. His God Hand negates a certain level of damage and allows resurrection.'
"Hmmm, Shirou, we'll use THAT plan." Ritsuka announced.
"You mean THAT plan? Weren't you saving it for the last fight?" Shirou questioned.
"It can't be helped, Heracles' Noble Phantasm is seriously troublesome. It forced my hand." She explained.
"Oi, oi, whatever plan you have, it's not like you're going to beat me anyways." The girl declared with a cocky grin.
"Are you ready Shirou?"
"Yeah." They both tensed…
And moved away from the little girl.
"NIGERUNDAYO, SHIROU!" Ritsuka shouted.
The girl, Beatrice was shocked, so shocked in fact, that she didn't even chase them.
After a few moments, Beatrice snapped out of it. 'Well, it can't be helped I guess.' She had such a powerful card. It can't be helped that they ran away. Was her thought process. 'For the time being, I'll just— cherry blossoms? But isn't it—'
"[Trishula Shakti]" Lightning rained down from the sky. Beatrice, who was completely caught off guard, wasn't able to offer any resistance as the Noble Phantasm struck her.
{Good work Sakura!} Ritsuka praised. {Get out of there! We're going to whittle Berserker down before killing her again.}
{Ummm…} Sakura interrupted. {The Class Card is already in my hand Ritsuka-san.} The moment her Noble Phantasm ended, the card flew from the epicenter of the blast to her feet.
{…Seriously?} Ritsuka was nonplussed.
{Yes.} Sakura reaffirmed.
{Hmmm, maybe the Class Card doesn't have God Hand…} Ritsuka speculated. {Anyway, we only have one last battle. Let's do our best!}
They regrouped and went to the final component needed to win the Holy Grail War.
Status:
Saber: Active
Lancer: Eliminated
Archer: Active
Rider: Eliminated
Caster: Eliminated
Assassin: Eliminated
Berserker: Eliminated
"There." Ritsuka pointed. They see an armored knight with one hand holding on to something invisible. "This will be the final battle."
'Arthur Pendragon, the King of Knights. Wielder of the greatest holy sword in existence, Excalibur. He has excellent combat capabilities all around and has instinct that functions as a sixth sense.'
"Senpai." Sakura embraced him. "I give you my blessing."
A light transferred from Sakura to Shirou, it invigorated and empowered him. "Thank you, Sakura."
With a nod, Sakura backs off to the sidelines.
Shirou and Ritsuka stepped forward to battle.
The invisible blade clashed against his sword repeatedly. Shirou easily parries the enemy's one-handed strikes, but the same could be said for his opponent. Whenever he found an opening, Saber manages to protect himself in the nick of time. The enemy was unlike the others. His strikes carry conviction and his movements show his determination.
{Shirou, his movements are dulling.} "[Reaction Reinforcement][Mana Burst][Predictive Evasion]" Shirou felt the spells empower him as he looked for an opening. Saber came in with an overhead strike. Shirou evaded it easily as he quickly retaliated with a slash towards Saber's torso enhanced with Ritsuka's spell.
Saber's armor shatters as the blade dug deeply into his body. "[Strike Air]" The attack pushed Shirou back as he blocked it.
"[First Aid]" Any damage he received was healed by Ritsuka immediately.
A large amount of Magical Energy gathered. The enemy was about to use his Noble Phantasm. Saber raised his sword above his head. "[Ex—]"
"[Gandr]" Usually, a simple [Gandr] couldn't hope to pierce through a high rank of Magic Resistance, but Ritsuka's Mystic Code is powerful, even if it is momentary, she was able to stun Saber. "[All-out Charge][Instant Enhancement][Deadly Trident]"
Shirou understood Ritsuka's intent immediately, in a single burst, he rushed the stunned Saber, but before he could reach him, he recovered from his vertigo. "[Ex—]" A sword embedded itself in his body as it released its energy. Saber wasn't able to use his Noble Phantasm.
Shirou threw the sword straight at his opponent's heart. He wasn't sure if he could reach in time if he was going to cut him down, so he simply used the safer option.
Saber's armor shatters as he fades away. "I'll leave Julian… to you."
"…?" Shirou was confused by the enemy's words.
"That person is… Julian Ainsworth's father. [Spiritron Transfer][Mana Conversion]" She sped up the recovery of Shirou's reserves. "I'll leave whatever it is to you. Let's go, Miyu is definitely in Mount Enzo."
Ritsuka picked up the Saber Class Card. The Holy Grail War was over. They had won.
Status:
Saber: Eliminated
Lancer: Eliminated
Archer: Active
Rider: Eliminated
Caster: Eliminated
Assassin: Eliminated
Berserker: Eliminated
As they were en route to Mount Enzo, they were greeted by a man in a priest's garb.
"Splendidly done. You have all managed to defeat your opponents and collected seven cards. In this Holy Grail War, you are the victors."
"…Who are you?" Interrogated Shirou.
"Shirou, Sakura, meet Kotomine, Kotomine, these are Shirou and Sakura." Ritsuka introduced them to each other. "He's the guy I bribed so that our deaths will be more convincing."
"What did you bribe him with?" Sakura asked.
"I gave him the recipe on how to make the most delicious Spicy Mapo Tofu in the world." Ritsuka declared.
Sakura and Shirou looked at Kotomine in envy.
"I have not regretted our agreement ever since. I shall not delay you any further, that girl is waiting for you." Kotomine said as he returned to his restaurant, he needed more of that Spicy Mapo Tofu.
They continue their journey unimpeded afterwards.
They arrived in the cavern. They walked with their heads held high, looking brightly into the future.
They see someone, Julian Ainsworth was there waiting for their arrival.
Shirou gestured for his companions to halt, he wanted to confront Julian alone. The two acquiesced as they stand back.
"It's been a terribly long time. How are you doing, Julian?" He amicably greeted. There were a lot of things he wanted to ask, and plenty more that he wanted to hear, but he focuses on his objective. "Give Miyu back."
"If I did that, I would be a traitor to mankind." He refused. It's just about as Shirou expected, they will have to prepare for the Ainsworth's final attempt to stop them. "Within her lies a way to save the human race from the tragedies of this doomed planet."
Julian glared at Shirou. "Do you think I'd throw all that away for your petty sentimentality?! It's not even funny. It really isn't." He shouted his anger. "Something like that, makes you the worst kind of evil!"
Understanding flashed in Shirou's eyes. "I see… so that's it." Shirou looked at Julian's eyes and declared. "You were fighting alone this entire time."
"Don't act like you understand!" Julian snapped at him.
"But I do." Shirou countered. The dream that he discarded, he knew it just as well as Julian. "Kill one to save many." The old man's mantra. "I knew someone like that."
He has long come to terms about his abandoned dream, he had Ritsuka to thank for that. All he has done up to this point is simply putting his new dream into practice.
"Did you know? About Miyu's family, about the Sakatsuki Family?" Shirou questioned. Julian didn't reply, he didn't know of such things. "They kept records from the 1st generation down to Miyu's. They had divine children who could grant any wish they desire. Do you know what the family who controlled that power wished for? They simply wished for their children to grow up healthy." Shirou admired them, to have that kind of power and not abuse it, they were truly good people.
"They could've wished for wealth or prosperity, but all they ever asked for was what any parent would want for their child. For over four hundred years, there was not a single exception." Julian's eyes widened as Shirou kept his determined gaze forward. "If that is considered evil, then I'm fine with being evil."
Sakura followed after Shirou went past Julian.
"You are being foolish." Ritsuka declared to Julian as she too, went to meet Miyu once again. The mounts followed her lead.
Julian was left behind to stew in his thoughts.
And so, finally, at last—
Their gazes gather at the girl in the middle of the magic circle. Shirou cracked a joyous smile while the other two gave gentle smiles.
Feeling the presence of the victor, Miyu opened her eyes.
"Onii-chan…? Onee-chan…?" As she realized who it was staring at her, tears of joy flowed to her cheeks.
"I'm sorry, we made you wait for a long time." They approached her together.
"I believed in you. I knew you would win." Miyu said as her voice cracked from her crying.
Sakura took a back seat as the family reunited.
They embraced each other to confirm each other's presence. They stay like that for a while, enjoying their reunion.
"So you were the other source of Magical Energy, Miyu-chan." Ritsuka commented.
"Eh, what do you mean?" Miyu didn't know about something like that.
"Feel this." A strange sensation washed over Miyu, as if something was entering her body, making her squirm. "See, you probably don't know, but you have been helping us all time."
"Really? Then I'm glad." Miyu was happy that she was of help.
"Yes, you're a really great girl Miyu-chan." Ritsuka praised.
"Ritsuka." Shirou nudged her as he handed over the other cards. Ritsuka took them as she stood up and stared at Shirou.
"Shirou, do you remember what this does?" Ritsuka showed her Command Seals.
"Yeah, you told me they were proof that you were my Master, allowing you to give me Magical Energy." Shirou recalled.
"Correct, but I never told you this: By my Command Seal, Shirou do not move until I am defeated, or you have successfully transferred." Ritsuka's Command Seal glowed as it imposed her order to Shirou's body. [1]
"Wha— Ritsuka?" Shirou couldn't move his body no matter what he did.
"I'll face the enemy alone Shirou, you go ahead with Miyu and Sakura, there's still something I have to do." She kneeled to hold onto Miyu's hand and removed her elastic hair band.
"Guh!" With a groan, Miyu felt her hand burn. "Onee-chan…?"
"Miyu, these are Command Seals connected to Shirou. They aren't as strong as mine, but you can use it for emergencies like calling him to your side or making him stronger." Ritsuka explained as she placed her elastic on Miyu's hand. "They also recover one seal every midnight."
"No… Don't go…" Miyu then understood, her onee-chan was going to sacrifice herself for them. "I don't want to lose you again!" Miyu tried to move her body too, but it seems that it was impossible.
Sakura watched in sorrow as the events played out in front of her.
With a flourish, Ritsuka scattered the seven cards and made her wish.
All of them heard the chime of the bell, signifying the wish being granted, but none of them heard what the wish is about. The magic circle came to life, its purpose was about to be fulfilled.
"Thank you, Shirou, Miyu, those days were filled with so much happiness. If it's possible, I would like to meet both again." She started walking away from the circle.
"Ritsuka! Let me go and help you!" Shirou shouted.
"Onee-chan, please…!" Miyu begged.
"There are just some things that I want you to do." She looked back at them, her eyes filled with love for her family.
"Miyu, live freely without regrets, I want you to see the world, because as much as there are ugly parts in the world, there are also beautiful things that you haven't seen yet. Someday, I want us to fly away side by side without worries. Shirou, I'm sorry that I couldn't make you a good Magus, I guess you will have to settle for being a Spellcaster. Don't you ever lose sight of yourself." Finally, she smiled. "I wish that you all find happiness on the other world. I shall do my duty. After all, a big sister protects her younger siblings, doesn't she?"
"O…nee…chan…" Miyu whispered as she cries.
"Dammit…!" Shirou cursed.
"Please don't die." Sakura requested. "We will be waiting for your return until the day we die."
The three of them were enveloped by the light. The last thing they saw was Ritsuka's reliable back moving further away.
"Sorry, Miyu-chan is doing her best right now." Ritsuka said. "Could you just wait a little longer?"
"I cannot… Your wish will not be granted." Angelica refused. "While it is true that you are a great Magus who won the war fairly, you shall not be allowed to seize the miracle!"
Golden ripples opened behind her and shot its contents towards Ritsuka.
She doesn't move. As they were about to hit her, golems rose from the earth to protect her. They were able to receive the attacks without completely breaking. The ripples close.
"You are a fool, a great Magus you may be, but you will never be able to defeat a Heroic Spirit. To think that you would leave your Servants behind and face me alone, the King of Heroes… you are far too conceited." Angelica declared.
"I was never a good Magus anyways." Ritsuka professed. "So I'm going to fight you not as a Magus, but as what I really am!" She pointed her finger at Angelica. "That burden that you are carrying, I'll be taking it." [2]
"You…!" Angelica opened the maximum possible number of portals available, intent on utterly crushing her opponent. She unleashed the greatest weapons that the treasury has. 'With this, there shall be no escape.'
A great power rose from the earth as it matched every single one of those weapons.
Miyu opens her eyes. She sat up and looks around.
"Miyu…!" She was enveloped in a familiar comforting embrace.
"Onii-chan!" She returned it, giving her tightest embrace. "If you're here, then…!" She looked again, only to see Sakura.
"I'm sorry, but Ritsuka-san is…" Sakura tried to say it, but it was like there was something stuck in her throat.
"Oh…" Miyu bottled it all in, for now—
Her onii-chan started stroking her head. "It's alright Miyu, let it all out. You can always lean on me." Those words were too much for her.
Like a dam, all her pent-up feelings exploded. Her trauma at their deaths, her resentment and fear of the Ainsworths, her loneliness, and most of all, her powerlessness.
"WAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!" Holding onto the keepsake her onee-chan gave her, she wailed on her onii-chan's chest. For the sister she might never see again, for the brother that she was reunited with, for all the pain that she bottled up all this time. Her cries echoed against the cavern.
"There, there." Shirou comforted. He continued stroking her hair and hugging her. Miyu cried harder as she tightened her embrace.
Shirou felt someone embrace him from behind. "Sakura?"
"Senpai, you don't have to hold it all in either." Sakura replied gently. "We're all here for each other."
Miyu's cries continued, and eventually, Shirou too joined in. He let out his frustration and sorrow by shouting. "AAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!"
Sakura sniffles as she let out her tears and leaned onto Shirou's crying back.
They let all their feelings out today so that they could finally go forward and take their first steps into their future.
Epilogue
Authorization to establish Novum Chaldea, granted. Agents are now deployed to seek a proper location to build. [3]
Agents:
EMIYA (Archer)
EMIYA (Assassin) [4]
|NOTE: SUBJECT TO CHANGE!|
Assets provided:
Golems for building, maintenance, and guarding of the base.
Homunculi for gathering and processing resources.
Magical resources for use of the base and for making connections in the new land.
Food ingredients.
Etc.
[1] Command Seal (Chaldea's Master) EX
As the one who holds the title of the greatest Master, this Command Seal cannot be resisted in any way by a Servant. Even those who should be immune to Command Seals will be unable to do anything.
Ritsuka's Command Seals originally didn't have this function, but as one acknowledged to be the greatest Master, a correction to its power befitting of the title was given.
[2] What she means is that she will take the mantle of saving the world/humanity.
[3] Novum Chaldea: A
The secondary base used by Chaldea after the original base was destroyed. The only difference is that it lacks CHALDEAS.
Should Chaldea's Master be defeated, they shall be transferred to this base together with the remaining resources and the Shadow Border will become available for use.
[4] While thinking of candidates to transfer together with the family, the ideal traits are: Used to the modern era, inconspicuous when desired, will follow the mission, knows how to navigate the Moonlit World and a background in crimes in the modern era.
Moriarty was immediately rejected, even though he is an Archer and fits the traits desired.
Regarding the crimes, forgery of documents are the only ones they truly need.
AN:
This ended really quickly, guess I should be surprised too much. That one person was right, a one-day blitz isn't really conductive to long writing. Fight scenes are probably not my forte.
The enemies were pretty overestimated by Ritsuka, so they were overkilled. The only ones who managed to somewhat live up to expectations were Saber and Archer.
Ritsuka has the authority to issue Command Seals. This is already self-explanatory.
Ritsuka separates from the rest of the gang to do her thing. Since she is sending them away anyways, she decided to establish her backup base there just in case she loses somehow.
I won't be updating for a while, writing a scenario for Pre-Prillya will be quite the problem. The Class Cards will be sent in 1992-1994 and the Miyuverse cast is on May 5, 2004. I will use some underused characters and probably sideline a lot of others.
The story will separate from the family for awhile to focus on the Prillya side. I will use a probably not very lore friendly way of explaining how the earlier by 10 or so years worked.
May 5
Shirou – 17, 11 months till 18 April 15
Miyu – 10, 3 months till 10 July 20
Sakura – 15, 10 months till 16 March 2