Fire and blood smell was all that was around.
Building destroyed, burnt corpses everywhere.
There was no scream as there was no life left.
Shirou found himself in this familiar place once again. Lately he stopped coming here but here he was in the same place again.
Looking left and right he went around hoping for something. He does not remember what he is hoping for but it's here pushing him forward even though he knows it will be fruitless.
Jumping from one destroyed building to another he searched for something, something he lost long ago.
"..help…" he heard a voice. Something that never happened before.
Without thinking any further his body jumped towards the body, he felt hot inside as the feeling of not wanting to lose the voice rised inside.
The fire in himself rose without an end. His whole body screamed at him to stop but he did no such thing and pushed it further.
Blue lines started to appear around him He felt memories coming outside of him.
He reinforced his legs as they became bigger, stronger. Going full force he wanted to reach it but it was only getting farther away each second. This wasn't enough as he reinforced his full body. The lines spread further as his every part slowly grew. His hair grew more as it turned whiter, his eyes lost all the color and his skin now a perfect tan.
As he was going full force he felt like his hair was a burden so he threw the front backwards and with his old clothes now not fitting him anymore he changed it. A skintight black outfit appeared on him.
He ran without stopping, ran without thinking anything more than the end goal.
The voice was coming closer and closer and finally he reached it.
Now standing in front of the voice owner he saw what he looked like. Hair that was auburn, his eyes colored golden brown with student clothing. He was staring towards Shirou without blinking even once.
"You failed"
"What are you talking about?"
"You know it. You failed, twice at that." Shirou felt anger rise as he threw his hands towards the man in front of him.
"No! I did not!" He just kept staring at Shirou. Seeing this the anger inside him vanished the same way it came. Why did he say that? he wondered but then finally realized his hands. These hands were not his.
"Your failure caused them to die, caused us to die" while trying to understand what was going on his left arm vanished. Looking towards the man he saw that his left arm was now on him.
"What is going on… who are you?"
"You know who I'm Shirou. I'm you and you are me" He dissipated in front of him with everything around. There was now only him.
A mirror appeared in front of him and he saw what he looked like.
He looked just like Archer.
Coming closer to the mirror he reached out to it. With each moment his body changed.
Someone who looked like his skin burned and looked held up by some golden symbols appeared.
Someone who looked just like his adult version appeared.
Someone with gray skin and black hair appeared.
Someone who looked just like Archer but with his short hair style appeared.
Someone with blades sticking all around him appeared.
Someone with red clothing and black scribbles all around his body appeared.
And finally he appeared.
Finally touching the mirror he went through it and started to fall endlessly in a black mud.
"Listen, Shirou, for this is your last chance."
*BAMMM*
With a pain on his head Shirou burst out of the bed he was on.
"Ouch, that hurt"
"Finally you sleepy head. Get up, we will be going now." Looking towards he saw Rin whose right hand was a little red.
"You have a really hard head. No wonder you are still here."
"Thanks, I guess?"
"*Hmph* Come down after you get ready." She went out of the room and right when she was about to close the door she turned her head towards Shirou "Don't make me wait" she clenched her hand and slammed the door.
Now left just by himself it dawned on Shirou.
"Where I am?" He looked around to see what kind of place he was in but there were only things you would see in normal houses. Spotting a mirror he went near it and looked at himself.
There he was like always with one difference. His left arm was now wrapped up with bandages and it looked… bigger.
Slowly bandaging it his breathing got faster and his body started to go hotter each second. Before getting worse he did the bandages again and collected his breath.
'It's Archer's arm' the arm belonged to the person he quite disliked. He didn't hold him highly as that person was the opposite of what he dreamt off.. no, that didn't feel right. He couldn't quite understand those feelings but it was like there was something much more behind it.
Looking towards the mirror once again this scene felt similar to him… too similar.
"Arghhh" his head hurt too much with memories appearing on it. As he held his head with pain he realized why this seemed familiar.
"The dream…" he couldn't understand it. It did not make any sense but the things he saw… the things he experienced. The proof was right in front of him. Does this mean the other things he saw were also real? he wondered.
The part where he becomes Archer, following what he wanted to achieve without looking anywhere else but in the end failing, losing his arm only for 'him' to use it like his own, the different people he saw and..
"..you are me and I'm you…" what did this mean?
Was he… Archer, but how could it be possible? Then what about the other people he saw, were they also him?
"Listen, huh. But listen what?" he did not really understand it but for now one thing was certain
He absolutely did not want to see Rin angry so he readied up and got out of the room.
Walking down the stairs he saw Rin in her red coat. Hearing the noise Rin also turned towards Shirou
"Finally. Quick, we will be going now." She threw the jacket in her hands towards Shirou. He caught it mid air and wore it. As they got out of the house and were walking he asked few questions
"Rin"
"Yes?"
"Where was that?"
"Someone's house. He left before us so you didn't see him." He felt like Rin did not say everything but he didn't ask further
"Where are we going?" She stopped and looked at Shirou
"To the Church. I feel that there is something wrong with this Holy Grail War so we are going to ask some questions. Even if we are not participants anymore it does not matter. Any more questions" She said the last part with an annoyed face as she smiled towards Shirou. A smile so horrifying looking.
"..no" He stopped talking and followed Rin
They walked for nearly 2 hours and finally reached the Church. The place looked as gloomy as always. Opening the door they entered and saw the priest looking at them like he was expecting them. There was also someone else there. Golden haired man's red eyes were staring at him then he smiled.
"Hoh, so it is you" he then turned his back towards Shirou leaving him confused.
"Kirei, we came here to seek protection as we have lost our rights" at this the creepy priest nodded his head.
"Of course after all that is your right." then Rin muttered 'huh, that was easier than i thought' but then Kirei turned towards Shirou
"What about you, son of magekiller, Shirou?" Shirou stood there. He did not feel shocked at all because he knew this already. How? he had no idea but he felt like he knew about this.
Rin turned towards Shirou as she did not know about this.
"Thanks but no." He couldn't just stay here when people out there were at the risk of death. It was his mission to protect them... When did it become his mission? It was his dream, yes but his mission?
Shirou held out his head as it started to hurt again.
But why should he help them when they themself blamed him for everything?
"ARghh" the pain in his head was becoming more painful. His knees stopped working as he suddenly found himself on the floor.
" Shi.. w.. ah.." he was feeling really hot. Rin was saying something to him but he couldn't understand it. He saw that Kirei was coming closer to him and suddenly everything went black for him.
Kirei looked at Shirou on the ground. He expected some reaction from him but this? he did not. 'How interesting' he thought.
"Kirei, what happened to him?" Rin questioned as she checked Shirou.
"I'm not-"
"His brain was overloaded" both of them looked at the golden haired as he spoke
"The mongrel's brain couldn't handle it so his body entered that state" he then laughed at the state of the boy.
"What do you mean his brain couldn't handle it?" as Rin spoke she suddenly felt like kneeling as the air around her suddenly grew heavy. She was having trouble breathing while red bloody eyes were staring towards her.
"You dare to call me so casually?" the aura around the man grew more as Kirei was also affected but then it disappeared "but i'm in the mood right now so i will allow it. Be grateful, mongrel"
"To answer that question, I don't know. Most likely possibility is because of that" he pointed towards Shirou's left arm as he said so.
He did not say anything more than that but Rin understood what he meant by 'that'.
The golden haired man got up and as golden lights appeared around him.
Screech noises were heard by all of them as some kind of black smoke rose up in the air.
"That disgusting thing now dares to come here. This barrier seems to be useless now, Kirei"
Rin looked at the black thing and at the ground she saw some kind of black mud wriggling.
"It seems like it will get destroyed tonight." Kirei said as he checked the condition of the barrier.
"Kirei, what is going on?"
"I could answer that" someone else came from the shadows of the Church. She was a small child with red eyes and white hair. Rin knew who this was but she looked different. Looking towards her hand she saw that there was no mark.
"...Einzbern" hearing this the little girl smiled weakly and tilted her head a little.
"Yes, I also lost. This battle however is not what you expected it to be."
"What do you mean?"
"There is another player that we did not know about. This player already destroyed every other servant and now there is no one left."
"Lancer was the first one to go and it was followed by Rider, Caster, Archer and Saber. Assassin and Berserker followed after them."
"Every servant is dead? then who won?"
"Not exactly. I also thought the same but the one who defeated Berserker was the supposed Saber who should have been dead. The reason was… the eighth servant that should have never existed." Rin did not say anything as she listened.
"Avenger was it's class. The one who was summoned at the third Holy Grail War and the first one to die, Angra Mainyu. Everything points out to it living inside the Grail and somehow corrupting it. When I tried to feel the connection, as the lesser grail, this was confirmed."
Rin stood there taking everything in. How? she thought, Why? she thought but she could not answer any of them.
"I don't understand one thing. You said every servant is already supposed to be dead right?"
"Yes."
"But I saw Caster this morning with her Master." hearing this Kirei and Illyasviel burrowed their burrows.
"Wha-"
"Hahahahaha!" all of them looked towards the owner of the maniacal laugh. The golden haired man started to clap slowly as his laugh started to grow quieter.
"Hah.. It seems that man also entered this game." Kirei's eyes widened up after hearing it.
"You think it's him?"
"You think I can mistake something like this, Kirei? You should know better" He left after that leaving the three.
"Kirei, who are you guys talking about?" Kirei did not answer her and turned around. He did not give any attention to what Rin or Illyasviel was saying.
Looking towards the lights that were shining he was thinking.
'It seems I won't be able to see it in the end.' he turned around and stared at Shirou ' at least show me, show me what your Father dreamt of.'
—-
Shirou was once again falling.
No, it wasn't accurate to say he was falling. He was inside something like water. Lifting his hand he saw how slow it was like something was forcing him to stay down.
He stayed there
This place felt so cold and at the same time so hot.
He just wanted to stay here but it also felt wrong. It was like something was pulling him while something else was pushing him.
Curiosity won in the end as he tried to move more.
Going upwards he swam through the endless black all around him and finally he started to see the light.
With each second he was getting closer and closer.
His hand reached out to it and suddenly it was like someone pulled him out.
The feeling of coldness disappeared as the black around him disappeared.
Looking around he was now on some kind of desert with swords everywhere, the air looked crimson, fire was everywhere but they did not feel hot for some reason and there were many gears.
What was this place? This place with Unlimited swords everywhere looked like it was someone's workshop… Unlimited Blade Work. This name appeared inside his mind but he did not know why.
He turned behind and saw someone. He towered him with his height and his dull gray eyes were looking at him.
"Archer…"
"Shirou Emiya" another voice appeared and he turned towards it.
This time it was a person who looked similar to Archer but with shorter hair and darker skin tone.
"Listen and break free" the man then shattered in front of him and disappeared leaving two pair of guns behind.
"Use this chance and stop" turning left he saw himself with white hair and golden eyes but was slashed from the waist and left behind a simple looking sword.
"Stop what?" he asked
"This dream of yours" another answered. This one looked just like him but with blades coming out of him. He also disappeared like the others but with blades coming from everyplace of his body, destroying himself from the inside as he left something similar to what Berserker used.
He once again looked towards Archer but this time the man was bloody from head to toe with scars everywhere on his body but there was some kind of blue light behind him.
"Will you stop and end this suffering?" He questioned and disappeared leaving one white and one black short sword behind.
Shirou stopped there
His brain was trying to comprehend what was happening.
From the side he saw something.
There was a flaming wooden stake falling towards a child.
He at first took a step forward but then stopped.
Should he go? should he save that child's life?
If he saves that child than surely he would suffer
The stake was coming closer to the child each second and he just waited there and watched it unfold.
Compelling on what to do one side was thinking of giving up but the other side was saying go save him. His second side started to overwhelm the first one as he remembered the memories.
This… this was not who he was.
His body took another step.
He was not someone like this.
The guns on the ground disappeared
He started to walk
He would save even if it meant his death
The huge sword disappeared
He started to run
He won't ever stop and regret
The two pair of short swords disappeared
He finally reached the child
Even then, he would not lose his last bit of humanity
The simple sword disappeared.
If every other version of him was nothing but suffering then he would be different as he remembered something they did not, save something they did not.
He grabbed the child, in an attempt to save him, wrapped his hand around the boy to protect him. He only waited for the spike to fall but it did not happen.
The spike that was supposed to fall never fell. Shirou unwrapped his hand and looked behind him but failed to spot the spike
"..you…" he heard the child speak and turned towards him as he saw that it fainted. The child looked exactly like him but younger.
He protected him, he protected his dream, the last part of his humanity.
He did not listen to his 'evil' side. It maybe was right but he would still not give up.
Suddenly he was somewhere else. He looked around and it looked exactly like the place he was first in, black everywhere, but this time there was something else. In the middle he could see some humanoid shape and he walked closer to it.
Each step replaced the black with white. The world started to shine as he moved closer to the man in the middle.
Coming closer and closer he saw the man was nothing but a black goo but it didn't matter to him. He reached out and hugged him. The man shaked and tried to push him but he didn't let go.
"wHy?" a monstrous voice asked Shirou
"YoU wiLL StLl eND Up LiKE ThEm" Shirou loosened his hand and pulled himself back just so he could face the man who now had shown his true self. Shirou knew who this was, this was his 'evil' side. The side trying to make him give up.
"I know but I just can't stop and you also know it. After all you are me and I am you"
Few seconds passed without anything happening but later the world around them started to bleed into each other as the black and the white blended.
Black goo in front of him started to melt down as it revealed a child who looked just like him except his black hair
"Then promise me that you will save me too" Shirou smiled towards the child.
"I promise I will save you"
"I won't make it easier for you"
"It does not matter, I will still save you" the child in return also smiled
He now knew what other versions of himself went through, he knew their experience and memories as they were too himself in the end. He won't end up like them as he was going to do something none of them did.
—
Shirou woke up and he found himself in the Church
"Finally decided to get up?" he rubbed his head while looking over the Rin who spoke towards him. He smiled at her antics.
"'Wh-What are you smiling you fool" she turned around as she said so. Shirou couldn't help but smile even more
"Onii-chan is up?" Illyasviel also came close looking at Shirou
"Yes, Illya. I woke up and I know what we are going to do now" This confused both of the girls. Kirei and goldie left a while ago so they were just waiting for Shirou to wake up so they could plan what to do but he already has one.
"What is this plan of yours?"
"It's simple really, we are just going to ask for help. Help from some old man"
—-
I was not sure about this chapter, hope its good enough. Also fixed the spacing