No matter what, he kept walking. No matter how far he walked, the end of the road was still far away, yet just out of reach. As the years— centuries —passed, he watched civilisations rise and fall. Then, in the end— nothing was left.

The end was inevitable no matter what; all they ever did was push back the darkness.

Some days, he thought to seek him and finish their battle that started all those years ago. At this point, there was no point in delaying their fates. However, the stubborn part of him— the part that chose to fight against that fate in the first place —stopped him. And now he sat in the ruins of a forgotten city, staring up at the stars as a shooting star streaked across the black void.

Do I… still have a wish?

That great power— he just had to have it. This whole game they played helped him feel superior, to feel powerful. Yet, he lost everything and was left abandoned by everyone. No one cared for him anymore and resumed playing that game, unbothered by his plight.

That was why he ate it.

He saw the power the fruits granted those monsters and he needed that power for himself. Without thinking, he yanked the fruit off its fine and bit into it despite the pleas of the white Armoured Rider. Every fibre of his pathetic existence screamed in pain as the vines covered his body, he felt as though he was being ripped apart from the insides. However, one lingering thought remained through all that.

This pain… will only make me more powerful!

It was not too long ago he strived for humanity's end, then he wished for his own end— now he wished for peace between everything. All those years letting all those negative emotions fester, even making him use his own son as a tool to further his goals, in the name of the extinction of humankind.

Yet despite all that— even after killing those that person held dear —he still chose to spare him, to show him the light.

But in the end, he met his end and was left helpless along with the others. All he could do was watch as the body they were stuck in fought to bring about extinction again. They were still stopped before anything truly terrible happened but… it was too late for not just him, but the other three too. He had no doubt he would work to restore them but he couldn't help but wish for something.

Another chance… not just for me but everyone… If only that day never happened…

All that hard work going down the drain hurt. Those millennia sealed in his box until that man volunteered himself to be his host for years— all that time scheming to regain his powers and finally wipe that blue planet from the face of the universe —wasted thanks to someone championing "Love and Peace." The most he could do was wish that his calculations were wrong and both worlds were obliterated in the merging process.

But hey, at least he enjoyed his time playing on Earth, brewing coffee even if he could never get it right and manipulating everyone to his heart's desires. It was such a joy watching them all rip each other apart just for his tiny little box and all the power it possesses. It made the last 10 years enjoyable after he basically lost his mind on Mars from sheer boredom.

Still, he was not satisfied with letting it end like that— he was not ready to let go. He's been waiting way too long to stop here.

Mark my words, Kiryu Sento. I'll destroy your precious planet.

First he lost the love of his life, and then the greatest gift she gave him was taken too. It was as if he was being punished for something. He buried himself in his work, to find a way out of the despair he was in. That was when he discovered the truth— that magic existed. With that knowledge, he searched for a method to bring back his dearest daughter, no matter what it took.

Implanting himself with a magical being of his own creation, all for that selfish goal. Learning and experimenting with that ancient magic, all for that selfish goal. All those people he kidnapped and sacrificed that day, all for that selfish goal.

Even though he successfully revived her, she was but a doll— sustained by mana and no recollection of her previous life. But through that failure, he discovered another solution; a glimmer of hope that he was sure would lead to his greatest wish being granted. But he'd have to bide his time first until all four were gathered.

When that time finally came… it failed. That mayonnaise-obsessed fool completely destroyed years of hard work. Not only that, but that murderer dared to call him his father. And in the end, the one who showed him that hope was the one who stomped it out even though he wished for the same. As he slowly faded away, struck down by his own weapon, he could only wallow in despair again.

Why…? Koyomi…?

Having already died once, he knew the beauty of life. Everyone should only have a single shot at it and his getting another chance made it all the more important that he cherished what he had. However, to protect everyone, he was more than willing to sacrifice himself. What was it that old guy said? To be a Kamen Rider was to accept death no matter how many times? It was something along those lines but he took it to heart.

Both times, he died in the rain. Both times, he died before the eyes of his friend. The first time, he wished he could do more even if he entrusted the others— entrusted him —to continue. The second time… he was fine. If he would come back to help again, so be it. But he didn't mind if this was his last life.

His only regret, however, came from all those who lost their life to the virus. He had his second shot but they hadn't. Maybe that guy will succeed one day, but his only wish…

Bring all of them back… They deserve a second chance…

All his life, everything was dull perfection. His heart always beat the same, nothing excited him— until that day. Those dinosaurs rampaging in the streets, bringing destruction in their wake… That made him feel something different from when he saved people in his career. That was when he realised a way to make his heart race— fighting a game that could get him killed.

It gave him a thrill unlike anything.

But in the end, he decided to through his lot with the good guys he fought with all that time after learning the truth. And as if karma decided to finally collect its due, he died. He never expected to survive long after getting his powers but it was only in his last moments— flying towards the stars with his partner —that he realised his newest wish.

I want to live… what a strange feeling…

I hereby declare.

"Hmm?"

Your body shall serve under me.

"What, going to use me as a cadaver?"

My fate shall be your sword.

"My blade… shall fulfil your wish."

Submit to the beckoning of the Holy Grail

"Another magical relic… yes, that'll do."

If you will submit to this will and this reason…Then answer!

An oath shall be sworn here!

"Oath, schmoth, but if it gives me another shot at Earth, I can listen."

I shall attain all virtues of all of Heaven.

I shall have dominion over all evils of all of Hell!

"Hell… that's what I deserve. But if it could change everyone else's fate…"

Yet, though serves with thine eyes clouded in chaos

Thou, bound in the cage of madness.

I am he who commands this chaos

"Will you show me a good time? That's all I ask."

From the Seventh Heaven, attended to by three great words of power,

"Power… yes… Please…"

Come forth from the ring of restraints,

Protector of the Holy Balance!

He didn't expect the impromptu ritual to work but the kneeling figure before him proved otherwise. It was still unbelievable, making him choke out, "Are you… did it work?"

"…Servant… Saber." The man calmly replied as he stood up. His silhouette illuminated by the moonlight, he looked down at him and asked, "I ask of you: are you my Master?"

A/N: …Yeah, I have no idea why I made this either. Apparently, the best solution for burnout for me is to write the start of a whole new fic. Why? I have no absolutely no clue and am kicking myself for it. Oh well, I had fun writing this one-shot/maybe-prologue-if-I-decided-to-continue so that's good enough for me.

So anyway, I legitimately came up with this like a few hours ago? According to the document details, I made it 5 hours ago as of writing this AN and I'm very much a "by-the-edge-of-your-seat" writer where I tend to think up stuff as I go… which is probably why my works can really differ in quality from terrible to mediocre. So all the Servants were all chosen as I was writing this; no Masters were decided, not a city, not even a time period or even which iteration of the Holy Grail War. I just wrote stuff to enjoy myself which is something I haven't really done for a while for Kamen Rider and Fate.

Can you guess who's who and in which class? I think it's pretty easy to guess though one of the seven is not like the others. I know some of them may raise eyebrows as they may not be dead (anymore) but eh, loopholes and all that. And yes, I do know that a certain verse in the summoning incantation is for Berserkers only which is why it doesn't get italic-ed.

Lastly, gimme your thoughts (and ideas cause I basically have none) and see you all next time!

…maybe.

P.S. while uploading this: ...yeah, I didn't came up with any titles either. If anyone has a better one, go ahead and suggest one.