Disclaimer: I do not own the Fate franchise it belongs to Kinoko Nasu and Type-Moon.

Purified by Fire, Dancing with Fairies

Chapter 25

Girlish laughter echoed through the air as Ayame and Saber strolled out of the water park. "Oh come on," Ayame began. "Those sharks were small, the biggest was only about as long as my arm, and they're used to people around and even swimming with them. We were never in any real danger…especially you."

Saber coughed primly. "In my defense," he said. "Back home, what we knew about sharks were tales and legends of monstrously-sized fish with teeth as big as mounted knights who could swallow men whole and wreck even the biggest ships with a single strike of their tails, or by simply ramming into them."

Ayame hummed. "But you know better, don't you?" she asked.

"…I do." Saber admitted. "But, just knowing isn't always enough."

"…true…so what now?"

"Well, what do you want to do?"

Ayame looked at Saber skeptically. "You know," she began. "In a situation like this, the gentleman is supposed to be showing the lady around."

Saber looked just as skeptical. "This is your city, Ayame." He said. "Not mine…and while I daresay I know you enough by now to make good judgment of your preferences, I don't really know where to take you to cater to them."

Ayame frowned and then signed resignedly. "I guess so." She admitted. She looked thoughtful for a few moments, and then sighed again. Making to speak, she broke off as her stomach growled in complaint. Saber laughed, and a blushing Ayame slapped him on an arm.

"I guess it's time for lunch." He said.

"Looks like it." Ayame grumbled.

"Don't you mean sounds like it?" Saber asked with a teasing smile. Ayame turned furiously on him, and then looked away with a scoff as he just laughed at her. "Alright, alright, let's just go wherever you want to eat at. You know your city better than I do."

"…come on."

Saber nodded, and followed his Master as she led the way further into the city.

"So," Ayame began while wiping at her mouth with a table napkin. "How's your meal?"

"Very good," Saber answered while popping a slice of sausage into his mouth. He chewed and swallowed before continuing. "It's much like home, though…different, in a way."

"I'm not surprised." Ayame said with a nod. "Germany isn't that far from Britain when you think about it, and your people's cultures aren't really that different too. They're not the same, of course, but they're not as…far apart, as say…Japanese culture is to British culture. They're more like Japan and China."

"…from what I've been provided about modern history," Saber said while washing down his food with some beer. "That's a very apt comparison. Britain and Germany were mortal enemies barely half a century ago, weren't they?"

"They were." Ayame agreed. "Germany was a newborn nation, and one rising to power. Britain was the mightiest nation on Earth at the time, and as you might expect, weren't too impressed by what they saw as an upstart. In the end though, neither of them got the crown of the ruler of the world. No, those Americans got it."

"All those wars and deaths…" Saber sadly mused. "What were they for in the end?"

"…no one got what they wanted at the start." Ayame answered. "Though those wars and the sacrifices paid built the world as we know it today. It's not a perfect world by any stretch of the imagination, but in hindsight, it's better than what those who fought those wars envisioned the world should be like."

"Again," Saber said. "From what I know of modern history, there is no doubt about that. It would have been more familiar for people of my day and age, but the world as it is today is better than it was."

"Familiar, really?" Ayame asked.

"Yes," Saber said while cutting into a sausage. "Tyrants building kingdoms on the backs of slaves and with ambitious and self-centered nobles and sycophants serving as their eyes and hands, and waging wars to conquer more lands and waters. Blood and gold spent, soldiers sent to their deaths, knights and priests making mockeries of their oaths and teachings…just replace a number of words and you will see."

"Huh…now that you mention it, I do see." Ayame said with a slow nod. "It can be quite familiar, disturbingly so."

"That it would be." Saber agreed. "Thankfully though, while the world isn't perfect, it's changed for the better. Of that there can be no doubt."

Ayame nodded, and silence fell between them save for the sound of silver against china. As they ate their lunch, Ayame took the chance every so often to sweep the surrounding restaurant with her eyes. The walls were paneled in wood, and were decorated with small pictures of the German countryside, of sports teams of one kind or another from the various states and towns of Germany, and there was even a signed shirt from a particularly successful German football player.

Small, traditional woodcarvings decorated the mantel above the restaurant's faux fireplace, while the tables and chairs themselves were all made of wood. Imported maybe, though Ayame couldn't be sure. "I wonder though," Saber began, and causing Ayame to turn back to him. "If the same can be said about us for this contest."

"What?" Ayame asked blankly.

"Neither of us have anything to offer up to be granted." Saber said. "Like I said before, the moment I answered your call, my desire was granted. And you…you just want to make sure this contest doesn't end the way the last one did, don't you?"

"…yeah…I do." Ayame said before sighing and shaking her head. "And a fine job of it I've done. While nothing like the Great Fire has happened, people have still died in this war. Innocent people…people who didn't have anything to do with it…"

"You can't save everyone, Ayame." Saber gently said. "And all the people who've died in the contest so far…it's not your fault."

"…I just wish I could have done better." Ayame murmured.

"…is that your wish for the Grail?" Saber asked.

Ayame was silent for several long moments, and then she shook her head. "No," she said. "It isn't. It's just me being selfish."

Saber smiled sympathetically. "No one can blame you for being selfish." He said. "It comes with being Human."

The Servant paused and then sighed. "There's an old saying," he began. "About finding what you're looking for is only half of what you find, and the other half is what you find along the way."

"Sounds like something an old man would say." Ayame joked. "Or…the journey is what matters, not the destination."

Saber nodded. "It fits with what we mentioned earlier about the world, doesn't it?" he asked. "And it would also fit us, two contestants who don't really care about what the Grail could do once we hold it."

Ayame nodded in agreement. "It certainly does, doesn't it?" she asked. "Though I wonder if others will agree."

"True," Saber contended. "But does it really matter?"

"What?" Ayame asked in surprise.

"I'm not saying others' opinions don't matter," Saber said. "But, when it comes to doing the right thing or doing as others expect you in its despite, do their opinions really matter?"

"…no." Ayame said after a moment. "I don't give a damn about what greedy and dishonorable magi might say. Not when I know that I am right."

Saber smiled, and nodded. "Yes." He said. "They might say there isn't much difference between their…selfishness, and your determination to live a good life, but there is. It's only a pity that they cannot see. The difference is that you are right."

"…is that how you see yourself as well, Saber?" Ayame asked. "Britain fell under your reign, and yet…you don't want to change anything?"

"Nations rise and fall, and Britain was no exception." Saber said with a sigh. "And I was only Human, despite what others expected me to be. And Humans – people – make mistakes. It is inevitable. Merlin did counsel me to surrender my Humanity, to focus solely on being a 'perfect' king…"

"But…?" Ayame asked.

"How can someone who isn't Human rule over Humans?" Saber asked. "How can someone who is perfect rule over those who are imperfect? Who would follow him? Who would see him as an example, when it is clear from the very beginning they can never be like him? No…I made mistakes. I regret many mistakes, and mourn their consequences. But I have no desire to change anything. I did the best I could. I did all I could. And that is enough. I know I was right, and that I still am."

Saber paused, and raised his beer mug in a silent toast. "Those who stood with me on that day," he said. "Who fought and died with me on that bloody hill…they knew it too. And they would have it no other way, followed no one else. I would not dishonor them so, or those who fell and died before them under the flag of the golden lion."

Ayame stared at Saber for a long time, and then smiling, raised her glass of cola in a toast. "Long live the King." She said softly.

Saber smiled, and returned the toast. "My thanks," he said. "Fair lady."

The Sun was setting by the time Ayame and Saber began to make their way back to the former's house. They'd spent the afternoon window shopping, or rather Ayame dragged Saber around from one clothing store to another, and forcing him to give his opinion on how one or another article of clothing looked on her.

The memories of the Once and Future King's face turned beet-red at several such articles would stay with the Black and White Magician for the rest of her life.

As they were walking along the pedestrian walkway on the bridge crossing the Mion River, Ayame paused, and leaning against the rail looked out over the waters of the river's mouth and the sea beyond. Above and nearly touching the horizon, the orange disc of the setting Sun caused the waves to sparkle as though with diamonds, even as it tinted the skies above gold.

"Do you see?" Ayame asked.

"What?" Saber asked back.

Ayame pointed out to sea, and to a wrecked ship sticking out of the water. "That wreck over there," she said. "It too was sunk in the Great Fire. I'm not sure how, or how many of the crew got out, but in the end, it too was a victim of that disaster. Unlike me, it never got a second chance. And even in my case, the scars will never really go away."

Saber didn't know what to say, so he just stayed silent, leaning against the rail while Ayame silently looked out to sea. The Sun continued its descent towards the horizon, touching and dipping below it, the diamond-like sparkling of the waves fading away just as the gold and red of the skies above gave way to violet and a deep dark blue. The streetlights came on, flooding the walkway and the people walking there with sterile, artificial, white light.

"Sorry, Saber." Ayame finally said.

"What for?" Saber asked.

"For making you go along with my selfishness today." Ayame said.

"I…don't understand." Saber replied with evident confusion, and Ayame gave a small laugh. She then looked at him with a small smile, and an expression of sympathy.

"No," she said. "You probably don't. Back in your day, boys and girls didn't go on dates, did they?"

"Dates?"

Ayame turned back to the sea. "Yes," she said. "Back then, relationships were arranged as formal marriages, and outside of them men would visit prostitutes or keep mistresses and courtesans, while women would have lovers."

"…what are you getting at?" Saber asked, starting to understand and getting uneasy about it.

Ayame glanced back at Saber. "Back when I first summoned you," she began. "I…I guess you could say I might have…gotten…a crush on you."

"Huh?"

Ayame took a deep breath, as though to brace herself, her cheeks turning pink. "I got infatuated with you." She admitted.

"…oh."

Ayame laughed. "That's all you're going to say?" she asked, turning to lean on the rail with her back, arms crossed over her chest while smiling at Saber. The blonde Servant sighed and rubbed the back of his head.

"…I'm sorry." He finally said, and Ayame laughed again.

"It's fine." She said. "I'm not offended. I guess…a part of me always knew nothing would come of it, so when I finally realized it for what it was – just a teenage crush – it didn't really hurt."

"…really?" Saber asked.

"Yeah," Ayame said with a sigh. "Though…thank you, and again, I'm sorry for making you put up with my selfishness. Though in my defense, it's all the fault of that pretty face of yours! Honestly…if I didn't know better, I'd say you probably had all the ladies of your court infatuated with you at one point."

Saber blinked and then burst out laughing. "Not really, no." he said. "Though, I hope you find someone who'll make you happy for the rest of your life someday."

"Thanks…really, thank you for everything, Saber." Ayame said, and he tilted his head.

"Don't thank me yet," he said before winking. "This contest isn't over yet."

"No, it isn't." Ayame agreed, straightening and then offering a hand to her Servant. "So, shall we go? Back home, and prepare to end all this?"

Saber nodded, taking Ayame's hand and gripping it tightly before holding it up. "Yes," he said. "Let's go."

Ayame nodded, and letting go, led the way back home.

"So," Lancer began. "Who are we going after next, Saber?"

"No," Rin disagreed with a shake of her head. "We're going after Berserker."

Lancer whistled. "Talk about a challenge." He said. "And I'd have thought you'd have saved the hardest enemy for last."

"Berserker has the greatest raw strength among Servants, true." Rin conceded. "But he is not the overall strongest Servant. No, statistics-wise, that belongs to Saber. And considering what we know about who Saber really is, Noble Phantasm-wise, Berserker again loses out. Hell, he loses out against you."

"Guess so," Lancer agreed with a shrug. "Though, knowing who Berserker really is, that's only because that doll who summoned him did so with him as Berserker. If he were any other class…well, even if he wasn't Saber…"

Rin nodded in agreement. They knew Berserker was Heracles, and while his overwhelming strength was made even more so by Mad Enhancement, it also left him a hollow shadow of what he once was in life. It took away his mind, his sharp intellect and brilliant resourcefulness, his great heart and kind spirit, and with it his greatest abilities.

It was a blessing in disguise, but even so, it was a pitiful thought, that someone as great as Heracles was would be reduced to an insane and bloodthirsty beast that Berserker was. "That's not to say that Berserker isn't a threat, of course." Rin said. "He still has the greatest raw strength among the Servants, and his Divinity renders all Noble Phantasms ranked below A useless against him."

"Yeah, like I said, talk about a challenge." Lancer said. "My spear would be lucky to scratch his skin."

"Fortunately," Rin said. "Even with that, he's not invincible."

"Oh?" Lancer said, pushing off the wall and coming closer. "You have an idea on how to deal with then, little lady?"

"I do." Rin said with a nod. "The protection of his Divinity extends to mysteries…but I have a number of A-rank mysteries that should break through and with enough power to kill him. The only problem with that is his Noble Phantasm, God Hand."

Lancer made a growling sound. "One extra life for each of the Twelve Labors, huh?" he remarked. "And he becomes immune to the method used to kill him before…this is going to be tough."

Rin scoffed. "You say that," he said. "But you're actually enjoying the idea, aren't you?"

"Of course I am." Lancer said with a grin. "Hunting rabbits just isn't fun, you know?"

Rin scoffed again. "Right," she said. "Anyway, God Hand isn't much of an issue here. It only means I can't reuse spells to kill him, and if I run out, well, aren't you proficient in rune magic?"

"I am." Lancer admitted. "Not as much as I would be if I had been summoned as Caster, but I should be able to kill that monster a couple of times at least if it comes to it."

"Good," Rin said with a nod. "Then we have a fighting chance between the two of us. What's more, Berserker's stock of lives should be depleted given the number of times Rider's killed him in the past. We'll take advantage of that as well."

"And then?" Lancer asked. "What happens after that? Berserker's Master…what do we do with her?"

"…Kirei told me that the Einzbern girl is the vessel of the Grail before he got killed." Rin murmured. "We'll have to take her into custody. It shouldn't be too difficult, given the effects of being a vessel on the Human body. Four Servants are already dead…she's probably a vegetable by now."

"A what?" Lancer asked in confusion.

"A vegetable," Rin said. "It's a way of calling people who can no longer move or talk or really just consciously control their bodies."

"…strange, but alright…

Rin nodded. "Though that also works against us." She said. "Einzbern's attendants are probably aware that with their mistress unresponsive, any enemies will have to come to them, in the heart of their territory. And magi are always at their strongest there."

"Sounds like a challenge." Lancer said with a nod, and then he smiled. "Looks like you and me might be more compatible than we originally thought. I like the challenge. So, when do we head out?"

"Probably after midnight," Rin said. "In the meantime, we need to come up with a plan to work with."

"Sounds like a good idea…alright, what do you have in mind?"

"All that's left are Berserker and Lancer." Saber began as Ayame poured tea for them both. "What do you plan for either of them?"

"Both are problematic in their own way." Ayame replied. "Lancer in particular is very problematic simply because we have absolutely no idea who they are, apart from having a Noble Phantasm powerful enough to take out Ryuudo Temple in a single shot."

"And two Servants with it." Saber added. "That ruthlessness of theirs – and their Master's – is also something we have to factor in."

"Yes…" Ayame said with narrowed eyes. "I wonder…"

Saber blinked but waited as Ayame thought in silence. "I was just thinking," she continued. "That Lancer and their Master's strategy might have been to lie low and avoid being noticed by the other Masters and Servants until their numbers had been whittled down, and then to strike at the weakened survivors."

"…that is a valid strategy." Saber conceded. "A bit cowardly, but in war, one must do what needs be done – within reason – to win."

"Yes…" Ayame agreed with a nod. "We used that reasoning ourselves before, didn't we?"

"Yes, we did."

Ayame nodded again. "Based on that assumed strategy of theirs," she said. "Shouldn't Berserker have been the first target, weakened as he is by repeated clashes with Rider?"

"As far as we know." Saber pointed out. "It may be that Assassin and Caster had been acting on their own all this time without us noticing, fighting against each other or even with Lancer in subtle ways and places."

"That…" Ayame conceded. "Or the prospect of taking out two Servants all at once is more tempting than just one, and with less risk along the way. Berserker even worn down by Rider is still a formidable enemy."

"Indeed," Saber agreed. "Even for a Servant Knight, a Berserker Class – and one as powerful as Heracles at that – is not something to take lightly."

"Lancer…" Ayame murmured. "The Knight of the Lance…the most agile of the Servants, if usually the lowest in terms of the Luck statistic…just who are you?"

"…we will find out soon enough." Saber said. "When that time comes, I shall see to it that the deaths of innocents within Ryuudo Temple shall be paid for, on my honor as a knight and as a king."

"…and I'll do the same for the Master." Ayame said with narrowed eyes. "I'll beat them to an inch of their life."

"Don't hold back, Ayame." Saber warned.

"Don't worry, I won't." Ayame said, but then Saber shook his head.

"No…what I mean is, if you have to kill, then do so." He said. "We already know to what extent Lancer's Master is prepared to go in order to win. If you hold back as you imply by simply being satisfied with beating them to the ground, then you might end up leaving yourself vulnerable to getting killed by a surprise attack. In that light, it might be best to just kill them the first chance you get."

"…magi walk with death…" Ayame murmured while looking away. "But even so…I…"

"I know." Saber said. "And I'm glad to see you have reservations about killing. Simply put, it's disturbing how magi teach themselves and their children that it's alright to kill if you yourself are prepared to die. That's…what kind of justification is that?"

"…it isn't." Ayame said.

"But," Saber said. "Lancer's Master is prepared to kill innocents to hold the Grail. If they kill you, then even if I kill Lancer, there's a chance, a small chance, that when the Grail appears, they can reach it and make their wish before I can stop them. I shudder to think what kind of twisted and debased desire such an individual would have."

"Agreed…" Ayame said with a nod, before taking a deep breath. "I don't like it, but just like with the Matous, it looks like Lancer's Master needs to be put down. If nothing else, they cannot be allowed to hold the Grail. Like you said, the gods know what a mass murderer might do with the Grail."

Saber nodded, and then his face turned worried. "Ayame," he said. "Moving on…about Berserker…"

"…Illya…" Ayame murmured. "…my sister…"

"…what do you plan to do?" Saber asked.

"…I don't know."

"So," Lancer began. "Once we take out Berserker and have our hands on the Grail's vessel, then what?"

"…there are a number of places within the city where the Grail can manifest." Rin said. "One of them is here at my house, but let's not do it here unless we absolutely have to."

"Why not?" Lancer asked.

"We're in the middle of the suburbs." Rin said. "I doubt if the Grail's manifestation will be anything but eye-catching. Even though I don't plan to stick around for long after I make my wish, I'd like to do things properly and not draw too much attention as much as I can."

"Going somewhere, little lady?"

"You could say that."

Lancer raised an eyebrow but Rin didn't elaborate. "Besides," she said. "Even if we take out Berserker, that still leaves Saber to deal with. And you and him are more or less on the same level. I'm sure you'd prefer to fight somewhere without having to worry being forced to hold back for one reason or another."

Lancer smirked. "Glad to see I've got a Master who understands." He said. "And? If we can't use this place, then where?"

"There's one spot in the city, but the previous reasons for not manifesting the Grail here hold true there as well." Rin said. "Besides, that spot was fried after the Great Fire. Other places…where Ryuudo once stood might be an option, but in hindsight, firing off a Noble Phantasm against that place might have left it unsuitable."

"…too late for that consideration…"

"Yes," Rin agreed while running a hand through her hair. "But just in case I've sent familiars to check. Hopefully it's still suitable, as the distance from the city and the isolation of the area make it very suitable for manifesting the Grail at, and for the final battle of the war."

"But if not?"

"…then the only other option is at Kotomine Church…though again I'm having my familiars check if that fire last night might have left it unsuitable." Rin said. "But even if it is suitable…the same problems as ending the war here apply."

Lancer made a sound of disgust. "Then let's hope that ruined temple on top of that mountain still works." He said.

"I hope so too." Rin said while getting to her feet. Patting herself down to make sure she had everything she needed for tonight's battle, she took a deep breath and shared a resolute glance with her Servant. "If there's nothing else, let's get going. Kill Berserker. Take the vessel. Another step to victory, and the granting of our desires."

"…here's to hoping you still have that resolve of yours when we face off against your sister." Lancer remarked coolly.

"…it will be." Rin said after a moment. "Because once my wish is granted, then all this…my family…will be whole once again…"

Lancer raised an eyebrow at that, and then narrowed his eyes. "Well," he finally said. "Far from me to tell you what you want from the Grail…but…"

"But what?" Rin asked with narrowed eyes.

"No, it's nothing." Lancer said. "Let's get going."

"Yes…" Rin said before stepping past. "Let's."

A/N

Update time…the countdown to the final showdown continues.