Basically this is the rewrite of my old story.
"Excalibur!"
"ENUMA ELISH!"
The raging wind knocked over trees, and the crashing lights became an exploding sun burning his eyes. The ground under him was rumbling like the Earth was splitting in two. But he held his feet firmly, he had seen this sight many times before. Gilgamesh's noble phantasm is simply too powerful, despairing so, Saber's Excalibur can't ever hope to match it. Even so it didn't mean we were going to lose.
[Something is wrong.] Excalibur's light is getting dimmer and dimmer. Saber was being pushed back.
[That can't be.] "Saber! Avalon! Use it!" He shouted in fear but his word didn't reach her. In the deafening storm, Saber was still standing there motionless, hopelessly holding tight on the fading light.
He was petrified, a million thoughts raced in his head asking the same question. [Why?] He did give Saber back her Avalon, did he? [Why?] He even told her to use it if she faced Gilgamesh. [Why?] In fact, he hinted about this battle with her multiple times, this exact scenario already. [So why?]
The last glimpse of hope disappeared as the golden light faded complete. What happened next was a blur to him. He must have crashed into the nearby tree. Lying there lifelessly right in front of him was Saber's torn up body. She looked at him but without a light in her eyes and said something.
"..." There was no sound. Saber's words didn't reach him. Maybe it was because she didn't have the strength to say it, or maybe it was because his ears had busted after the explosion. And yet he understood what she was trying to say.
I'm sorry.
It finally clicked for him. The reason why Saber didn't use the Avalon, she didn't have it in the first place. She must have given it to someone else behind his back. Saber had betrayed him. The thought was so alien to him before but now he understood clearly.
[She is not my Saber]
He laughed… "Ha. Ha. Ha. Ha. *Cough* *Cough* " Blood pulled out of his mouth. Even if it hurt, he had to laugh. The pain from his chest finally kicked in, his lung had collapsed. But strangely enough, He didn't mind it. It didn't matter to him… The war didn't matter to him. Saber and others didn't matter to him… Not anymore.
In the beautiful night sky, the full moon shone gently onto him, its light felt warm and mesmerizing. For the first time in a very long time, he finally felt at ease. His body relaxed, his eyes weighed down. He knew what would come next. He prayed this time he closed his eyes, he wouldn't wake up again.
…
…
…
…
…
…Badum…
In the darkness in his mind, Shriou heard the beating sound of his heart again. He didn't feel the pain chest, the taste of iron blood in his mouth anymore. Instead, he felt his heart burning.
…Badum…Badum…
It hurt, but not that much, not enough for him to want to open his eyes again. He could still sleep through it.
…Badum…Badum…Badum…
[Was my heart ever beating this fast?] Shirou frowned in annoyance. How could he sleep if his heart kept racing like this? The cool wind blew through his body giving him the shiver, he felt the cold ground he was lying in. [No! I won't open my eyes and wake up.] Shirou was determined. He had slept through worse. He could and will sleep through these minor discomforts.
And then, out of nowhere, a sharp pain pierced through his heart. Everything stopped. He felt much better, he couldn't feel his heart and the cold air anymore.
[Ahhhh… Much better.]
…
…
…
…Badum…
And it's back, he felt the burning sensation in his heart again. Shirou frowned as he sensed the all too familiar discomfort.
…Badum…Badum…Badum…
[Sleep… Sleep… Let me sleep.] He knew he was being stubborn. But by God, let him sleep even if this was the last thing he did.
…
The sharp pain came back and everything stopped again. [Thank God!]
…
…
…
…Badum…
…Badum…Badum…Badum…
"Fuck it!" Shirou opened his eyes in rage. The scene in front of him was all too familiar. He was lying on the cold floor, in the middle of his school's hallway, at midnight. He looked down at his chest, there was a big hole with bloodstains on his uniform, right at where his heart is. He noticed a small red ruby pendant lying beside him. [Ohhhhh…] The realization finally dawned on him.
"Dammit, Rin! Sometimes I wish you would just leave me dead." Shirou muttered. That explained the burning sensation in his heart at least. This was the night Rin Tohsaka saved him. Now, why did the discomfort just stop and start again?
"Kid? You're still alive?" A very familiar voice came from behind him.
He turned back and saw the blue-haired Servant wearing full body tights. [Ohhh… Lancer.] Shirou facepalmed himself. He knew Lancer would try to kill him the second time before, but it was in his house. In hindsight, he should put the two and two together. He was lying much here longer than before.
"Yo, Lancer!" Shirou lazily held his hand up and greeted his killer.
"You know who I am?" Lancer was confused. By the reaction before, he was sure the kid was a bystander. And he was more confused by the way the kid greeted him nonchalantly.
"Yeah, Cu Cu Lame right?" Shirou waved his arm, sarcastically. "Culann's savage dog? It's kinda obvious when showing off that overcompensating lance of yours."
"You know my true name too." Ignoring the innuendo joke, Lancer raised his eye's brow on how this kid who was supposedly a bystander a few moments before knew his true name. "You're an interesting kid."
"Yeah, yeah…" Shirou over-exaggeratedly mimicked Lancer's voice. "But I still have to kill you."
"I'm sorry, but that's how it is." Lancer pointed his lance right at Shirou's neck. "Any last word?"
"Your master is very hot?" Shirou said with the most earnest look. The lance struck right through his neck, decapitating him. But he smiled satisfyingly at Lancer's confused face.
"The Fuc-"
…
…
…
Badum…
[Here I am again.] Shirou sighed at the familiar scene as open his eyes.
[Now what?] In the past, he always went home, got attacked by Lancer again, and summoned Saber to save his ass. But now he really didn't want to see her face again. Should he summon a Servant ? It is what got him into the Holy Grail War. He would rather not do that.
[Can't run away…] He weighed his options. [Can't fight Lancer… Can't convince Lancer not to kill him either…] He could technically convince Lancer, but to be involved with Kirei Kotomine is much worse. He had to summon a Servant, had he?
[Can't summon anyone else other than Saber…] With Avalon still inside him, there was no Heroic Spirit else who would answer his call. And he couldn't simply pull out Avalon, doing it now when he had no Magic Circuits would kill him and he had to go back to this again.
[I'd rather not summon her anymore… but what can you do?] Shirou sighed, defeated at his only choice.
"Hey, kid! Isn't it the time you run home or something?" Once again, The familiar voice came from behind him.
[Crap! I took too long to think.] " Yeah, yeah…" Shirou took his time, lazily turned around to look at his killer. "Give me 5 more minutes"
"Sorry kid, can't do" Lancer frowned at his prey's nonchalant attitude. "Any last word?"
…
"Your master is really hot?"
…
…
…
…Badum…
[I'm starting to think Lancer got the wrong idea about who I was referring to.] Shirou sighed, defeated, got up, and went home. He really had no other choice and he needed his sleep right now. [Let's just get this over with. Silver lightning, maybe I can trade her for protection or something.]
Rin Tohsaka was the obvious choice. Sakura Matou was a good choice too, though he really didn't want that worm, Zouken Matou, anywhere near the King of Knights. Illyasviel Von Einzbern, his sister, could be a choice, but he doubted she would easily spare him just for that. Kirei Kotomine… out the window.
In his passing thought, Shirou was already home, inside his shed, standing in front of the summoning circle. The summoning circle was left by his adopted father. [Dammit, Dad. Why did you even leave it here for?]
He stared at the circle, feeling complicated. [There's no other choice, is there?] He sighed.
"I announce.
Yourself is under me, my fate(doom) is in your sword.
In accordance with the approach of the Holy Grail, if you abide by this feeling, this reason, then answer.
Here is my oath. I am the one who becomes all the good of the world of the dead, I am the one who lays out all the evil of the world of the dead.
You, seven heavens clad in three words of power, arrive from the ring of deterrence, O keeper of the balance"
A bright light flashed from the circle. He could feel the itch on his hand again, edged on it were the all too familiar Command Seals. Under the moonlight, the silver light that shone into the shed lit up the girl's knightly armor. The girl stared at him emotionlessly with her jewel-like eyes. "I ask of you. Are you my Master?" She said in a valiant voice.
"Unfortunately."
"-Are you my Master?" Saber looked at the teenage boy in front of her. Though she asked, she already had her confirmation by the Command Spells on his hand.
"Unfortunately." Her Master grumbled. The boy didn't seem too happy, perhaps he was expecting to summon someone else?
"I-" Before she could say anything more. The boy held his finger up, signaling her to be silent and… yawned… for an awkward amount of time. "I'm going to sleep. Have fun with Lancer."
She was stunned and speechless at the way her Master spoke to her. It took a second, but she finally reacted, wanting to address the disrespect her Master gave her. Before she could grab him, she noticed a Servant nearby.
"Kid. If I knew you would summon a Servant, I wouldn't let you get to your house." The Servant said while sizing up her. She could easily see the weapon he's using, a lance. "Lancer." She confirmed. Judging by her Master and the Servant comment, they must have known each other beforehand.
Her Master didn't even react, he simply walked into the house, letting his back, his safety to her, the only one who can defend him against another Servant. While she was stunned by the way he spoke to her, she was also flattered by the way he completely trusted her with his survival. What a strange Master she got.
"Kid! Are you listening?" Lancer showed his annoyance at her Master's disregard.
"I'm sorry Lancer. My Master is occupied-" Saber cut in, she wanted to greet the fellow warrior as her Master seemed to be completely uninterested in the situation.
"Oh, the master I was talking about is Scáthach." Suddenly, her Master turned around and said to Lancer out of nowhere.
"Okay?" Lancer obviously was as confused as she was.
"I'm not gay." Her Master declared as if it meant something. " And Ewww!" His face filled with disgust. "Jesus! I hope I don't dream about it now." And with that, her Master walked inside, leaving the two Servants wondering what was that all about.
"Lancer, Do you…" Saber tried to ask to make head or tail of what her Master said.
"No, I don't." Lancer cut in. "I have no idea what your Master was talking about."
"I see…" Saber was lost for words. "Ahem!" She gave a small cough. "In any case, I won't let you hurt my Master, Lancer." She tried to break the awkward silence.
"Very well. I just need to get through you then." Lancer shouted while rushing at her with a big thrush.
And so the battle began. Saber mentally stated. She parried Lancer's attacks at ease. while Lancer frowned at her weapon. It seemed her invisible sword was difficult for him to deal with. She saw an opening at Lancer's ribs, and she went for it. But Lancer reacted quickly, held his lancer vertically, and blocked the incoming attack.
"Coward, what are you doing, hiding your weapon…" Lancer complained while avoiding her pierce attacks.
Saber could feel her lips curling up a little. She didn't answer and pushed more attacks, she had the upper hand but soon Lancer would gauge her sword length. Before she could push further, Lancer made a huge swing and jumped back, making her unable to pursue.
Both of them caught a little breather.
"What is wrong Lancer?" Saber taunted. "It would not do your name credit if you just stand there. If you will not come, I can."
"... Hah, you're going to come and die?" True. His longer range was very difficult for her to deal with. She couldn't easily fight if he kept her at bay. "I don't mind but let me ask you this first. Your Noble Phantasm, is it a sword?"
"Who knows? It might be a battle axe or it might be a spear. It might even be a bow, Lancer." Saber smiled. She knew this was just mindless banter between battles. After all, there's no way Lancer did not figure her weapon type out already.
"Heh, keep talking, Saber." Lancer smiled too. He lowered his lance. She was quite puzzled by his action. "I'll ask just in case since this is our first meeting. Do you want to call it even?"
An invitation for a temporary truce then. Saber frowned at the idea a little. She wanted to strike down Lancer as soon as possible.
"It's not a bad deal, right? See, that sen…" Lancer paused a bit. "...ile Master of your is useless and it so happens my Master is a coward. I think it's in both our interests to hold off on this match until we're better prepared."
Saber wanted to keep the battle going but her Master's word flashed in her mind. Scáthach, that name, that legend she had known about it in her time as King, Scáthach - the Queen of the Land of Shadows. If her Master's words were true then the Heroic Spirit in front of her must be the Hound of Culann - Cú Chulainn. And his Noble Phantasm - Gáe Bolg wouldn't be easy to deal with, especially with her current condition.
"Very well. I accept your offer, Lancer." Saber lowered her sword.
"I will be looking forward to it." Lancer backed away, leaving the final word. "Don't die until then, Saber."
After confirming Lancer was actually left, she allowed herself to relax. Then the battle was in her favor but by no means it was easy. Lancer was a formidable foe.
…
Suddenly Saber tensed up again. She could feel two presences outside and one of them is a Servant. She judged her current condition a bit. There's no wound from the previous fight, and her mana was enough. She was confident she could engage them without a problem. After giving a small nod to herself, she leaped over the wall.
A man and a teenage girl, Saber noticed her enemies. The man in tan and wearing a red cloak seemed to be a Servant, and the teenage girl was his master. They looked surprised and unprepared. Without any warning, she rushed at the man.
But right before the man in red's neck was slashed, he disappeared as powerful magic was cast. Saber noticed it but didn't even give it a thought, the magic was easily nullified by her A-rank Magic Resistance. It seemed the Servant was so busy saving his ass that he left his master unguarded. She raised her sword to the teenage girl's neck. A little unknightly for her taste but it was their Servant's fault for letting their Master unguarded. The girl fell helplessly down to the ground. The girl's hand immediately raised high to surrender as she pointed the invisible sword right at her neck.
"Rin!" The Servant shouted worryingly. But he didn't make any more actions as his master was being held hostage.
"Archer!" The teenage girl yelped back.
So that Servant was Archer then, Saber mentally noted. She could and should kill his master now. This would be the easiest way to shorten the competition.
"Saber. Wait" The man shouted again, pleading with her.
Saber thought to herself why she was still hesitating. Perhaps it was because the victory was given to her too easily. Or perhaps with her current condition, she wouldn't be afraid of any trickery. So she indulged herself to listen to what Archer had to say. "Talk." She commanded.
"She saved Shirou's life." The Servant said but it seemed meaningless to her. Shirou? That name was foreign to her. Saber raised her sword higher to encourage Archer to clarify more.
"Shirou Emiya, your Master!" The Servant hasty added.
Saber regretted her decision now. Shirou Emiya… Emiya? That name sent chills in her spine and rage in her heart. That man, Kiritsugu Emiya, her previous Master, the person who betrayed her and made her destroy her dream by her own hand. Now, whatever good mood she got was all gone. Let's hope the name was just a coincidence, after all her Master has red hair, as opposed to black like that man or white like Irisviel.
And for the next detail, the black-haired girl here saved my Master? Saber frowned further. If this was true, she couldn't kill the girl right now, it would go against her Knightly oath. She stared down at the girl and asked. "Is it true?"
The girl yelped in fear, too afraid to respond. Now that made her seem like a bad guy, bullying a defensive maiden. Saber repeated heavier. "IS IT true that you saved my Master's life?"
"Yes!" The girl cracked immediately under the pressure. "If your Master is indeed Shirou Emiya then I did save his life." She quickly added.
"I see." Saber muttered. She could feel a headache bubbling through her head. Out of all the time she had been King, she never experienced such a unique situation like this. After some time weighing her options, Saber sighed. "Very well, and you wouldn't mind staying here on my watch to confirm this, would you?"
The girl swallowed at the implication, she will be Saber hostage at the time being. "I'll be happy to?" Saber nodded in agreement, she then looked at the girl's Servant. The girl understood immediately. "Archer, go scout the area." The girl commanded her Servant.
The man was also weighing his options. After some time, he decided following his Master's command is his best option "Understood, Master." He switched to his Spiritual Body and disappeared.
Saber said nothing and let the girl inside the house. The girl uncomfortably sat down at the table. She was obviously nervous, fidgeting her fingers waiting for the Servant in front of her, who held her life and death, Master came out…
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And nothing.
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…
And nothing. Saber just only sat there looking at her.
…
…
The girl couldn't handle the silence anymore, the atmosphere was too heavy. She asked fearfully. "Is your Master coming out?"
"No." Saber simply shook her head. "Master's sleeping."
SLEEPING? By God, the girl felt like she was having a heart attack. She risked her life and suggested. " Can… Can you wake him up?"
Saber opened her mouth but nothing came out. She then closed her mouth and frowned. "My Master is a very… particular person." Particular… Yes, that word could describe her Master. "I'm against waking him up."
"Then…" The girl was getting teary at the implication. "Then I have to wait…"
"Yes." Saber confirmed the girl's worst nightmare. "You have to stay here until morning."
The girl sobbed, not daring to make a sound while crying. She wished the Servant would just end her already.
Let's hope I have the will to get this story further than the old one.