A/N
I've received a few comments asking why Archer can't just use structural analysis on Soul Gems or Magical Girls. That will be answered in this chapter.
As for why he seems so threatened by the use of Command Seals, its because being in this world is essentially a vacation from being a Counter Guardian. He wants to hang around for as long as his current Master lives. That means he can't risk Kyoko using all the Command Seals early since he needs her to have them on her for a long time. Rule Breaker is an option, but that would mean finding another person with Magical potential to reestablish his contract with before he fades away. He has yet to find anyone else he would prefer as a Master, and though Kyoko is troublesome and naive, she is at least far from malicious. Also, her being an inexperienced 12-year-old makes him a bit more lenient toward her than he normally would be.
"Archer?"
"Yes?"
"Do you really need to keep looking at Mami like that?" Kyoko asked as they followed Mami from a distance. "You like you're ready to kill her."
"I am," Archer replied without hesitation. He continued glaring at the Magical Girl unashamedly.
"Oh- just. Fine, whatever."
"You seem to be staring at her too. Have you taken an interest in her?" her Servant asked.
There was no helping the furious blaze in Kyoko's cheek as her face quickly turned crimson. "No! I mean, she's nice and… pretty… and…"
"I am the last person to ever judge your preferences," Archer replied plainly.
"You know?"
"I'm surprised your father still hasn't figured it out."
Thank god that her father unconventional teachings also meant that he was generally accepting of gay marriage, a stark contrast to majority of their faith. Still wouldn't make the inevitable talk any less awkward.
Not that she was thinking of getting married already. She was still too young! Though… Mami really was pretty…
"Master, you're staring at her butt again."
"No, I'm not," Kyoko quickly denied.
"Because you prefer her breasts."
She began ineffectually punching his arm. "Just shut up already."
"Remember that Magical power is prone to merge with the bodies flui-"
"Jesus Christ Archer, would you stop giving me the talk already!"
Tantric s-… intercourse magical exchange. Sounded like something straight out of a satanic ritual the bible warned about, just toss in a demon and an evil witch or two. Well, technically they were going to hunt the latter and Archer might as well be considered a dem- Ok best to kill that train of thought.
Much to her relief her Servant remained quiet for the rest of the trip, having been sufficiently entertained by her reactions. They eventually reached a park where Mami began holding her Soul Gem aloft.
"The witch is nearby," Mami said as her Soul Gem lit up like some sort of witch radar.
"Yes, I would say that it is like a Witch's radar," Mami replied.
"Oh, damn did I say that out loud," Kyoko said.
"You need to fix that habit of yours," Archer said.
"Shut it!"
Mami chuckled at the two of them. "Before we go in, we should make sure Kyoko is armed. A pipe might not be the most effective weapon for hunting witches."
"I agree," Kyoko replied. Archer created a large spear and casually tossed it to her. She caught it, gave it a few practiced twirls, and jabbed its metal tip into the ground.
"Your magic allows you to create any weapon you want?" Mami asked curiously.
"Projection Magecraft," Kyoko replied. "You can use it to replicate objects though he's best with bladed weapons."
"And the strength you used previously?"
"Reinforcement." Kyoko used her magic on the spear. "Allows me to strengthen my body and any object I touch."
"Interesting. Both of those spells are quite similar to what I can do with my magic," Mami observed.
Magecraft is quite flexible so long as you can work with the confines of this world, Kyubey commented. Though it generally lacks the power that a Magical Girl Contract bestows. A witch would still be a dangerous foe for two average Mages.
"Oh, don't worry," Kyoko waved it off. "Archer's far from average."
"I look forward to seeing his performance then." Mami turned around and led them deeper within the park.
Soon enough, Kyoko would feel the air crackling once more.
I feel it, Master. Archer commented. Pain, regret, despair, so much of it that permeates the air around us. To think that this phenomena could be concentrated to such a small area.
The labyrinth I was in was a lot bigger once I actually entered it. I'd assume this one is the same. Kyoko replied.
So not just a Reality Marble but Spatial Manipulation too.
Mami raised her Soul Gem aloft revealing a familiar ripple in the air along with a glowing purple symbol. "This is the entrance to the witch's labyrinth. Are you both prepared?"
Archer silently conjured his blades while Kyoko hefted her spear. "We are."
They stepped inside. The inside of the labyrinth was just as freaky as Kyoko remembered it. Even Archer couldn't help but show his surprise.
I see what she meant when she said it was hard to explain. Archer scanned their surroundings. "If I didn't know any better, I'd say you drugged our tea," he said to Mami.
"It wouldn't be the first I've heard that," Mami replied.
"You've brought other people into labyrinths before?" Kyoko asked.
"Other magical girls and a few capable of making contracts."
"What happened to them?" Kyoko asked.
"Some are elsewhere in their own territories, and others…"
That silence was all the answer Kyoko needed.
"How do you do this? By yourself?" Kyoko asked.
"It's my duty as Magical Girl," Mami replied. "To protect the people and defeat the witches that threaten them. If I don't do it then who else will?"
"You fight for duty, but there is more to life than a duty or an ideal," Archer suddenly commented as the first wave of dog monsters, or familiars of Mami called them, appeared.
"Perhaps… but I have committed myself to this. Besides," she glanced at Kyoko and gave her a smile. "I would be a terrible example to my Juniors if I gave up now." The magical girl conjured up an array of muskets before jumping straight into the fray.
She's impressive, Kyoko commented as she watched the Magical Girl practically dance across the battlefield. The sounds of her muskets firing resembled a barrage of cannons, sending her ears ringing even from this distance. Every musket Mami fired was quickly replaced by another one she conjured in one continuous motion, quickly dispatching wave after wave of the familiars.
Archer remained silent as replaced his blades with a large black bow. He quickly nocked it and fired a continuous barrage of arrows to lighten the pressure off the magical girl.
Mami turned back at him in surprise. His response was to simply fire an arrow that went past her face and hit a familiar that had been trying to strike her while she was distracted. The Magical Girl yelped at that and turned back around to fight. She swung a ribbon and used it to trip up a few familiars before turning that into yet another gun in her hands.
Ribbon magic… that can be transformed into weapons. Archer observed. Almost like a Mystic Code…
So how well do you think she fights? Kyoko asked.
She gets distracted easily. Needs to be paying attention especially when she's letting them get close.
That's on purpose?
It's so she can beat them aside with her musket using the momentum and force it generates after a shot. Efficient use of kinetic energy, but- he fired an arrow and landed a prompt headshot against a familiar that had begun to sneak up on the Magical Girl's back. Her situational awareness needs work and it would have been better to let them approach not the other way around. She's clearly just trying to show off.
And you aren't? Kyoko gestured toward the battlefield that had already been littered with his arrows.
I'm simply doing what's necessary, Archer replied as he sent out another volley.
Maybe you should go to help her then. You're more suited to close combat than she is.
Are you sure it's wise for us to split up?
You and I both know you can help me at any time. Besides, I can take care of a few stragglers.
As you wish.
Archer dematerialized his bow and took out his signature weapons. Kanchou and Bakuya he called them, twin blades of black and white respectively with a bond that would cause them to return to one another when separated. Kyoko had initially tried the twin blade style herself upon seeing Archer use it, but they quickly realized that it didn't suit her. No, the spear was best for her. Simple to learn and use, but deceptively difficult to master.
With just a few quick hops, Archer leaped into the fray and joined Mami at her side. The Magical Girl looked at him in shock again but quickly adapted to his presence and began fighting alongside him.
He hardly needed the help though.
Whereas Mami was a graceful and acrobatic dancer, Archer could only be described as death incarnate. A machine programmed to do a single task with quick ruthless efficiency. Every move was meant to kill, every swing was death to the enemy in front of him. He had no style, no form, just the experience of countless battlefields and the will to have survived them all.
Watching him was always more frightening than impressive, but there was some sort of savage beauty to the way he fought that always made it hard for Kyoko to look away.
She didn't let herself get too distracted though as she noticed a familiar jumping at her. She quickly swung her spear, cutting the familiar in half with its tip, then in that same motion pivoted to crush another familiar with its shaft.
Another three familiars charged at her in practically a line. These she dealt with by doing three sequential and practiced thrusts. She then twirled her spear to show off a little before casually jabbing a familiar behind her.
According to Archer she was quite the natural with a spear and her style was reminiscent of that of a dog's. She didn't know any dogs that could hold a spear though. Even then, it was probably a compliment… probably.
Anyway, it was easier dispatching of these things now that she had a proper weapon that didn't require so much Od pumped into it to be effective. What stragglers were left for her were quickly dealt with as she followed her companions from a distance.
After several minutes of charging through the labyrinth fighting through familiars, one of which Kyoko had the joy of punching into a wall, she eventually caught up to her two companions as they arrived at a room where the walls had become a sort of giant metal dome cage. In the center of the cage was some unholy amalgamation of man and beast. It was as if someone had taken the head and chest of a dog, stuck it with human limbs, inverted so that it was inside out, drew on its face using crayon, and then gave it a large yet goofy red bell for good measure around its neck.
"Ok, so you definitely drugged the tea," Kyoko commented.
"Not the strangest witch I've seen to be honest," Mami replied.
"These things get weirder?"
"Try combining a tentacle monster with a giant set of bagpipes. It even had a nice kilt."
"Anything we should know about this particular witch?" Archer asked.
"Every witch is unique, though you can get some insight as to what they are like through their familiars. It'll probably attack us once we enter its territory and it might have other tricks that we'll have to watch for."
"Adapt on the fly then," Archer replied as he dematerialized his twin blades and replaced it with a spear that caused both Kyoko and Mami to flinch at its presence
"What is that?" Kyoko asked.
The spear was long and crimson and seemed to pulse with some sort of demonic energy. Its very existence began creating minor cracks in the air of the labyrinth around them.
"Are you planning to fight up front with that spear?" Mami asked
Archer remained silent as he began pumping his Prana into the weapon. The spear began changing, it twisted and curled upon itself until it was a distorted version of what it once was. Some sort of strange, yet unnatural, coiled sword that seemed ready to break apart at any moment.
Kyoko wondered why he would do that to his weapon when he suddenly conjured his large black bow and nocked sword against the strong. No, not a sword, she realized as her eyes went wide. A makeshift arrow.
Both she and Mami could only stare in awe as he let loose the arrow from his bow. It flew like a missile straight at the witch. The twisted monster only had a moment to notice the projectile heading its way before it struck. The labyrinth cracked where it had struck, the arrow exploded in a red light, and when the dust faded there was a large gaping crater in the middle of its chest. Somehow though, the creature remained standing.
"Tougher than I thought," Archer said with an eye raised as the witch howled and began charging at them despite the damage it had taken. He quickly grabbed Kyoko, hefted her over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes, and jumped to the side while Mami somersaulted out of the way.
"That could be the case," Mami replied, having regained her composure. She grabbed and hung off a metal bar as she fired her rifles. "Or that might not be its actual body."
"In that case either a summoned creature or a Projected body," Archer said as he landed on the ground. "Means we'll have to find the source." He jumped away as it threw some black sludge at him. "It also seems to be focusing on me."
"Considering the damage, you just dealt it? I wouldn't be surprised," Kyoko commented. The witch seemed hell bent on smashing Archer, even going as far as to ignore the many bullets Mami was shooting into its body.
"That's fine." Archer put Kyoko down and took out his twin blades. "You two search for its real body."
"Are you sure you can handle it by yourself?" Mami asked.
Archer stood still as the witch charged and wound up for a punch. He quickly sidestepped the punch and left a long gash along its arm with his Bakuya. He then ducked under the witch's next swing, lashed out with his Kanshou, and quickly leaped away. As he flew in the air, he threw his blades into the witch's body before immediately conjuring a new pair in his own hands.
"I think he's got this," Kyoko commented as Mami leaped off the metal bar and landed next to her.
"I agree," the magical girl replied.
The two of them ran off to find the witch's real body. However, after several minutes of running around the area it became apparent that there was nothing else in the cage except for the three of them, Kyubey who was off observing in the distance, and the monster.
"Are we sure that thing is not its actual body?" Kyoko pointed to where Archer still thought. At some point he had begun throwing around multiple copies of his swords which were now embedded deeply across its back, arms, and chest.
The Servant and Witch played a dangerous game of cat and mouse where a single mistake would've led to him being devastated by a single blow. Unlike a mouse however Archer was fully keen on rushing into the witch's range whenever he saw an opening. The way he fought seemed suicidal, as a single mistake would mean death. Yet he never made that mistake.
He probably wasn't in any danger at all, despite appearances. However, it was best not to stall with him. He could be surprisingly impatient sometimes.
Mami shook her head. "That… arrow should've torn that witch apart completely or at least crippled it. But it's still fighting at full strength, it can't be the real body."
"Then what else could it be? There's nothing else in here except this damn cage."
"Cage," Mami looked up at the center of the dome and her eyes lit up in epiphany. "That's it."
Similar to when Archer had shot his "arrow," Kyoko could only stare in awe as Mami pulled at a ribbon on her chest, let it loose in the air, and turned it into a gun as large as Archer was. It was amazing how graceful she looked, and not stupid, hefting that damn thing against her body.
"What are you doing!?" Kyoko asked.
Mami's eyes became steel as she pointed the gun at the ceiling.
"Tiro Finale!"
The gun fired like a tank and shot a ball of brilliant golden light toward the ceiling. Even Archer had to glance momentarily to watch as the bullet flew brilliantly at the top of the cage. It hit the center of the dome and exploded in a brilliant yellow light that began to consume everything around it.
It was almost blinding, yet Kyoko couldn't help but continue watching as the explosion broke the cage at its center and caused the rest of its walls to collapse around them.
The thing that Archer had been fighting promptly collapsed and began to dissolve into darkness, much like the shards of metal that fell around them. He promptly dissolved his blades and made his way towards the two of them.
He stood in front of the magical girl and seemed to appraise the girl. The Magical Girl likewise continued staring at him. They stayed like that in silence for a brief moment before Archer finally spoke.
"Not bad."
Mami was shocked at first, but then began to glow at his praise once the words sank in. "I simply made the most logical choice at the time. You were very impressive though. I couldn't ever imagine fighting it the way you did."
Archer on the other hand simply took the magical girl's praise in silence as the labyrinth broke apart around them. Soon enough they were returned to the park, though not before a strange black jewel fell on the ground in front of them.
"What is that?" Archer asked as Mami bent down to pick it up.
"This is a grief seed. A witch's egg." The magical girl showed the grief seed in the palm of her hand. "Witches carry them, and they'll drop after they are defeated."
Mami summoned her Soul Gem in her other hand and held it up.
"It's darker now," Kyoko commented. It wasn't the same brilliant yellow it was before. It was a bit muddier.
"When a Magical Girl expends her magic during a fight their Soul Gem gradually grows darker, but if I do this." Mami brought the two closer together. Suddenly black lights flew out of her Soul Gem and straight into the grief seed. The Gem was now returned to its brilliant yellow color. "Then the magic I expended in the fight is restored."
"Are they safe?" Archer asked suspiciously.
In that state they are harmless, Kyubey hopped down next to them.
"And what would cause its state to change then?"
"There is a limit to how much magic Grief Seeds can restore which is determined by the strength of the witch you've defeated," Mami answered. "Once used up then the seed might become a witch again if left alone, though thankfully Kyubey is here to deal with its disposal."
"How does it dispose of them?" Archer asked.
They are stored in a hole in my back before being taken to be processed.
Archer looked at Kyubey with an eye raised.
"I'd show you myself, but this seed still has a few more uses on it. It would be best not to waste it," Mami said.
"Could I take a look at that?" Archer asked.
Mami put the grief seed in his hand and he immediately began pumping his Prana into it. Something was wrong though judging by the dissatisfied look on his face.
What's wrong? Kyoko asked.
Archer squinted his eyes and concentrated even more on the grief seed in his hands. I can't analyze this Master.
What!? Kyoko tried to hide her surprise. You can analyze anything! Even my kitchen sink!
I'm well aware, but there is something stopping me. But if it's what I suspect…
Mami held her hand out to take back the grief seed, only for Archer to suddenly grab her by the hand.
"What!?" Mami's eyes widened.
"Archer!" Kyoko shouted.
"Tch," Archer let go a few seconds later. I can't analyze her body either. Whatever that incubator does, it seems to block my Structural Analysis.
I wouldn't suggest trying to analyze her body, Kyubey said, having seen through Archer's actions. Though Magecraft can be used in conjunction with True Magic, it can't be used to analyze something that is beyond the understanding of your species.
"True Magic?" Mami asked.
"Magecraft can only do what is scientifically possible. True magic does the impossible." Archer told her. And is apparently what this incubator uses to form a contract, creating objects and bodies like Divine Constructs.
Impossible for your species perhaps. Not for ours, Kyubey replied.
What are witches then, if I'm unable to analyze them too? Archer asked Kyoko.
She didn't have an answer for him.
So long as it was made by the world, I can analyze it with my magic. However magical artifacts not created by human hands or beings of another world are outside my ability to analyze.
"Are you from another world?" Kyoko asked Kyubey
Yes, it replied
That makes them dangerous beyond imagination, Archer warned. Especially since they aren't bound by the rules and logic of this world
They don't seem hostile for aliens though, Kyoko replied.
You are rather calm about this revelation Master.
Well I mean… aren't most mascots from magical girl anime otherworldly creatures anyway?
Kyoko could practically hear the man facepalm in their mental connection.
… This isn't an anime, Master! Archer argued.
Could've fooled me. Besides maybe those anime were created and inspired by the fact that Magical Girls actually exist. According to Kyubey, they've been around for a long time.
That… is not entirely implausible. Archer admitted. But it's best not to assume that this is a friendly mascot.
I could say the same about assuming their hostility. Just being because they're aliens, doesn't mean it's going to be like War of the Worlds.
"Wait." Everyone there turned to Mami, who seemed completely stumped by what Archer and Kyubey had just said. "Kyubey, you're an alien?"
I am. I have told you that we do not originate from this world.
"You did, but I just never really thought of it that way…" Mami's shock turned to awe. "Real life aliens. Humanity has been looking for proof of other life for thousands of years, and now it's right in front of us."
I think we broke her, Kyoko commented.
Archer returned the grief seed to Mami. "It would be best that you hold onto this. You Magical Girls seem completely dependent on these seeds."
"That is true," Mami replied.
"What do you mean?" Kyoko asked.
"That magic that Magical Girls have doesn't restore naturally like your Magical Circuits do," he explained. "They need to use these grief seeds to restore the magic they use, but that means killing witches. So, what happens then if a girl uses up most of her magic and then has to go fight a witch in order to restore it?"
"They'd be helpless," Kyoko realized.
He nodded. "Fighting witches for their grief seeds becomes a necessity for Magical Girls to survive. A vicious cycle of combat that doesn't end until their deaths. An endless war essentially."
Mami looked solemn but he didn't deny his words. "To be a Magical Girl means to always face death. But in exchange for a wish and the power to help those unable to help themselves? I believe that is a fair exchange."
Magecraft restores itself though, Kyubey said. So, she'll always have some way to fight even if her Soul Gem weakens.
"Which means I won't suffer from the same weaknesses as other Magical Girls," Kyoko replied. "Or at least not as easily. And if I were to use a Soul Gem and Magecraft together in a pinch…" It was almost enough to get her to shudder in excitement. Archer was impressive with his Magecraft alone, but to be able to do that in combination with some of the magic that Mami ended up showing off…
Perhaps Master, you should see what the contract fully entails before accepting it, Archer suggested.
I know, Kyoko waved him off.
"Make sure to think about it carefully," Mami said with a reassuring smile on her face. "And if you need any advice you can always come to my apartment."
In the end Kyoko was left with a very important question. What was it that she wanted to wish for?
So, Archer, it's about time you tell what you think is weird about those Grief Seeds, Kyoko asked her servant from the comfort of her bed. After splitting up with Mami it was simple enough to sneak back into the house in the middle of the night. Momo had been awake to see her crawling through the window, but Kyoko knew her sister would keep silent for her sake.
Apart from the fact that they seem to come from creatures made of some form of True Magic?
Yes.
You remember how the labyrinth worked? That Grief Seed is the same but on a smaller scale. Inside is an entirely different world, a Reality Marble that every witch seems to reside in.
What is a Reality Marble anyway? You keep mentioning that but you haven't explained it yet.
… It is the materialization and projection of one's inner world into reality. They are the pinnacle of all Bounded Fields where the boundary line becomes the space itself.
After being trained and lectured by Archer for a few months she more or less understood him whenever he went on these tangents about Magical theory.
So, the reason we can't detect Witches easily is because they have released their inner worlds into reality, Kyoko commented. And then hide within them.
Yes, though to imagine so many of these creatures with access with this ability is frightening indeed.
How so?
Gaia does not take the disruption of its natural laws well. It will constantly attempt to crush these worlds that go against it, meaning that it takes a great deal of energy to construct one and keep it running. The few people and creatures capable of creating one, would by all rights be only to maintain it in this world for a few minutes. Even the strongest of Dead Apostles can't maintain a Reality Marble for more than a single night.
Dead Apostles?
Vampires.
Okay, ignoring the fact that Twilight is apparently based on real life events-
It isn't.
We can assume that witches are incredibly powerful creatures because they can use Reality Marbles.
Except the one we fought wasn't that powerful, yet it still had access to one. Even that yellow haired Magical Girl is capable of hunting them on her own, despite the difference in our strength.
What does that mean then?
Hmm… very few Magi are capable of manifesting a Reality Marble. It is a rejection of reality, an overwriting of the rules of this world. It is fundamentally the abilities of beings like Demons or the Dead Apostles, since their "common sense" isn't the same logic as our world. Your mind must work differently, you must believe and exist in a way that contradicts how the world works in the first place, in order to have your own world manifest. That is why few humans are ever capable of it, since nearly all are bound to the thinking and logic of this world.
What are witches then? Demons? Vampires? Aliens?
I'm not sure. However, they are clearly broken. And being broken is a pathway to manifesting a Reality Marble.
That still means that Witches are essentially broken otherworldly monsters. They don't think like we do, they're creatures that have rejected the very logic of this world!
Indeed. That would be my assumption. But could the same be said about Kyubey?
Kyubey hasn't shown us hostility though. Witches do. Isn't that even more reason for us to go and hunt them?
They are a threat, but do you really need to take up the duty to hunt them? There are other Magical Girls out there apparently fighting this endless war. Have you not considered simply living your own life?
I'm already a girl with magical powers. I don't think I was meant for a normal life and besides I learned Magecraft so that I could help my family and other people. I want to continue fighting witches… I want to be a Magical Girl.
You don't have to become a Magical Girl then. You've been making excellent progress with your Magecraft.
I could barely hold off those familiars, much less that witch.
You're still young and have plenty of room to grow. Focus on training and let me protect you until you're capable of standing on your own.
But how long will that take Archer? If there are as many of these witches out there as Mami says there are then who knows how many people could get hurt. All because I was still busy training when the power I needed was right there.
Icarus's wings burned because he flew too close to the sun. If you rush to do something before you're ready for it-
I'll be ready if I become a Magical Girl! And Mami will also be there to teach me so that I don't get hurt!
You don't know that. There's a good chance you'll regret this decision if you rush to make it.
Did Kyubey or Mami ever lie to us?
… Not that I can tell. But that doesn't mean that they were telling the whole truth.
Then I'll ask them more questions, make sure to get all the information I need. What's the problem with me making this decision once I'm fully informed?
Because you can never know enough, there's always something that you don't realize you've missed until it's too late.
If I always think like you do then I'll never get anything done. I've already asked Kyubey all the questions I needed.
Do you already have a wish then?
… I do
What is it?
I'm going to have people come to my father's Church and listen to him seriously.
Mind Control?
No, just have them want to come in and give his sermons a shot. Have them consider his words. Then they can decide whether they want to continue attending or not.
That is a surprisingly… modest wish. And for another person.
Kyoko shrugged. I know, but I just want to help out my family. Then once they're fine, I want the strength to help others.
Why do you want to help people that you don't know? People that will never know what you've done. You'll never be rewarded, never be appreciated. So why do you do it?
Because isn't it the right thing to do?
…
There's nothing wrong with wanting to help people, right?
You will suffer for your decision. The world is not kind to people like you.
And I'll accept that. The question is, do you?
Archer remained silent before severing their connection.
"That could've gone better," Kyoko muttered to herself before finally going to sleep.
That night though, she dreamed. It wasn't the first time she had these strange dreams either, she just never thought to tell Archer. If he could keep his secrets, then so could she. Besides knowing him, he probably already knew anyway.
Once she dreamed of a boy with crimson hair like her. A boy who would always go out of his way to help people. Always putting their safety before his, always being the first one to stand at the first time of trouble. Whether it was a broken heater, a small girl being bullied by boys much larger than him, or the impossible height of a high jump, he would always be there. Even if he was weak, even if it seemed impossible, he still fought.
Another night she dreamed of that boy fighting alongside a girl with yellow hair clad in brilliant blue and white armor. Her sword shined magnificently with a holy light, decreeing its wielder as the hero she was. A hero that he fought along, bled with, and loved. A hero that showed the boy everything he wanted to be, everything he could be, was right in front of him.
That night though she dreamed of a man with black hair and ever-present fatigue on his face. She dreamed of that man with a weary smile yet a truly caring heart. She dreamed of that man causing a fire in the kitchen forcing her to take up cooking, if only to keep their house standing.
She dreamed of moments of happiness, moments of silence, and signs of regret. He always did his best to treat her well but there was always a part of him that seemed to be missing. A part of himself that he could never get back.
Finally, she dreamed of that man and her sitting on a porch. The gentle light of the moon shined down on them. She listened to a dream gone unfulfilled, of the regrets of a man who failed and ultimately abandoned his ideals. A man who sacrificed everything but gained nothing in return.
Her savior, her hero, it was because of him that she made a promise. A promise that one day she would fulfill his lost dream for him.
That one day she would become a Hero of Justice.
The man smiled at her words. He closed his eyes and rested on that porch.
For he could finally be at peace.
Magical Girl, Witches, whatever that damn thing Kyubey was. Nothing could ever be simple no matter what world Archer ended up in.
The Soul Gems and Grief Seeds were more akin to Divine Constructs than they were Mystic Codes. There was something he was missing, something that seemed to connect Magical Girls and Witches, but he couldn't figure it out. If he had more time to investigate, maybe interrogate the Kyubey creature, but no. His Master wouldn't give him that time. She was a hopelessly stubborn fool that was going to sign that contract no matter what.
But… she wasn't entirely hopeless.
She was an idiot and a fool, but she wasn't trying to chase an impossible ideal. She was acting the hero, but she wasn't trying to become a Hero of Justice. Similar, but fundamentally different. Something he didn't like but could begrudgingly tolerate.
In the end there wasn't anything wrong with wanting to help people, that was a part of himself that would never change. However, he also knew what it was like to sign a bad deal. Especially when the one that drafted the contract was so eager to have her sign it.
As it was, Kyubey was standing on a building overlooking his Master's home. Ready to swoop in like a hawk and have the contract made the second it saw a chance. He would have to keep that thing away from his master, interrogate it, and then kill it if necessary. Doing that might anger her and turn that other Magical Girl into an enemy, but he couldn't risk the alternative. That thing didn't lie, but it kept secrets and told half-truths. He of all people would know that and of how dangerous that could be.
He quickly made his way toward the creature's location, ready to get some answers.
What a foolish yet loyal servant he was. Perhaps that was why he was summoned by this girl.
Strange… How strange.
The sun shined brightly that morning, though the Incubator hardly cared for the warmth. It sat atop a nearby building overlooking the home of Kyoko Sakura, the girl with whom it hoped would contract.
The Magus, the male one, was an unknown variable. Certainly, more than he appeared and very capable. Normally the Incubator wouldn't risk showing itself to a person like him, not with as little information as it had, but the amount of energy the girl would create upon her contract was worth the risk.
She seemed already prepared to make her wish anyway. All it needed to do now was separate her from her protector and its plan for that was already in motion
A figure in black and red dropped down behind it. That took less time than its initial calculations had predicted. Very quick and observant, it would have to move more carefully around him in the future.
You found me, the Incubator replied as it continued swaying its tail.
The man known as Archer grabbed it by its tail and dragged it into the air. He put an iridescent and jagged dagger under its neck.
A weapon that destroys all thaumaturgy. Very akin to a Noble Phantasm, but it couldn't be one. Those had long since gone extinct, the Incubator's species had made certain of that. They simply couldn't allow weapons that could threaten them to exist, even if they were the last remnants of the Mages that had been so interesting to study. This dagger and that spear he had used previously had to be inferior copies he had made then. A magus trying to replicate things long gone.
If he had any more weapons like this… well it certainly called for further caution around him. The Incubator was actually quite fortunate that this particular weapon wouldn't have an effect against it. Though if he tried to use it on his student after she contracted…
"What is the purpose of the contract? What do you gain from all of this?"
Delaying entropy.
Archer raised an eye.
The energy created from a contract will be converted and used to prevent the heat death of the universe.
The Incubator wouldn't go far as to dispose of him just yet. He was still interesting to study and it would placate his student if it continued to cooperate when it could.
"You expect me to believe that?"
I am currently no danger to you. I do not lie. You must have realized that by now.
"That truth can change and that doesn't mean you speak the entire truth."
That dagger has no effect on me and if you use it on a Magical Girl, then they will die.
Archer's eyes went wide.
That was what you planned in case your student contracted, correct? After testing it on another Magical Girl, Mami most likely. Other than that, you already know what you need to know. The Incubator glanced towards the direction of the girl's home.
Good.
Its other body had already infiltrated the premises without him knowing. Losing this one would be worth the cost if she contracted. It was always meant to be the distraction after all.
"Is there any way to get rid of the contract once it has been made?" Archer asked.
Only by a wish perhaps.
Archer drew his knife close to the Incubator's neck until it began to draw blood. "And willingly sacrifice another girl to an endless war? For what? To gather some energy?"
It is the most efficient method we've devised to gather energy; all others are inferior and will lead to countless deaths. Doesn't it make sense to sacrifice the few to save the many? Kill millions to save billions in the future?
The man's eye dilated.
Was that the wrong thing to say?
Kyubey watched as one of its ears fluttered in the wind and eventually landed on the ground below them.
Apparently, it was.
How contradictory, for a man as careful and calculating as he was to reject the pure logic presented to him. But then again, all humans were illogical that way.
"You will tell me everything," Archer said.
Under threat of destruction? Kyubey asked.
"What do you think?"
I believe that this body is worth discarding, now that I've fulfilled my purpose.
"Body?" Archer's eyes went wide as he finally processed its words. He plunged his knife into its neck and swiftly decapitated it before making his way back to the house. It was too late though.
A brilliant red light, unseen by those who didn't possess magic, already shined from the backyard.
The contract had been made.
And with that entropy would be delayed.
A/N
Dream Cycle can be a real bitch sometimes, especially on an impressionable twelve-year-old girl.
Anyway, Archer is a contradictory person in nature. That makes him a very difficult character to write yet so very interesting to try and put in this story. I can only hope that I've portrayed him in an adequate way despite these challenges.
As for why he goes so far for Kyoko, in the end he is a loyal servant. Despite being cynical and nihilistic he is still a protective person, going as far as to sacrifice himself for Rin and Co. in the Fate route and Heavens Feel movie.
Even when his priority is to kill Shirou, going as far as to "betray" Rin, he does it in a way that sets Rin up with Saber. Throughout the UBW route he intended to let Rin win the Grail War with Saber. He is the sort of person that will do what he thinks is best for his master, even if it isn't what they might want or ever expected from him.