A/N: Happy new year everyone! The world comes closer to destruction! I'm kidding. Or am I?

Jokes aside, this chapter was supposed to come out on New Year. But the holidays really took a toll on me and couldn't write due to exhaustion. So I'm six days late. The response on the previous chapter was as always, very positive. And I thank you for that.

Now, Reviews:

GrandSaberEMIYA: That is understandable, it was a passing comment that I actually just did to flesh out the character.

PersonaNinja Lux: In short, there is no "fixed" Shirou. His habit of hyper-fixation on things is something hardcoded to his being. If we ever see a normal Shirou, then he isn't Shirou at all. Except Illyaverse Shirou, not to be confused with the Miyuverse one.

Bucio: Thank you, likewise. You'll see what that thing actually is… Kinda. In this chapter.

Lugal Kug-ga: Unfortunately yes. But I'm glad that we are at the same page.

Now, unto the story!

EDIT: Changed a line for one of the characters. I do agree it sounded weird! It doesn't have any story implications anyway. And a misspelling, thanks.


Shirou

Shirou dodges to the right side of the room as he tries his hardest to avoid the demonic spear. Now he was sure of it, these quick and precise movements. It's Lancer's. The shadow once again tried to stab Shirou, but the king parried it at the last moment, staggering his opponent.

A mere split second passed and the Shadow Lancer once again continued its assault. Shirou narrowly dodges the blow. But within these few seconds, the magus hunter noticed something. "These attacks. They're weaker." Whatever angle he may look at it. The spearman's attacks seems weaker than expected, he doesn't seem to be holding back either, so what gives?

Before the Shadowed Figure could dash to Shirou. It was interrupted by a prana blast from the hallway. The lancer once again staggered. Opening up a possibility of attack from Shirou. The young king stabbed the entirety of Kanshou's blade to the lancers guts. But not a few moments later, the Shadow recovers and sets its sight to Illya, who was firing at a rapid pace while trying to bind the shadow.

The lancer dashed forward to Illya's position, the girl prepared herself to be hit by a piercing strike… Only to be hit by something different. A punch to the gut. "-Kya!" Illya yelled out. Her vision blurred as her brother called her name. She blinked twice, between those blinks the Lancer(?)'s form changes. Its bodysuit morphed into a long robe, it became taller, its hair changing its appearance. Suddenly, the shadow choked the dazed Illya with its bare hands.

Now that she looked closely at the silhouette, she recognized it. And she couldn't be more terrified. "K-Kotomine…?" The young princess asked, wind barely passing through her throat. What is this false priest doing here? She thought.

"Get your hands off her!" Across the room, Shirou dashed with all his might. Legs reinforced to their limits. His vision narrowed, all he could see was a spear-less Lancer, and Illya who was clinging to dear life.

With a single flip of his body. He lodged the twin blades at the shadow's neck. Briefly making it pause to seemingly recover. The pause was long enough for Illya to free herself from the shadow's grasp. The child of winter ran towards the exit as Shirou kicked the shadow to the wall. "Illya! Shoot!"

With his command, Illya shot a volley of prana from her familiars. Each one of them precisely making holes to the shadow's body. "Done!"

As the dust and rubble settled in. They saw the shadow person's new form, it was like a sludge crawling on the floor. "Shirou…" The girl looked at her brother, breathing heavily from the rapid sequence of events. "Do it."

Shirou approached the sludge with an exhausted expression. "Let's end this." Projecting a spear, Shirou stabbed the sludge, cutting it in half. But before they could breath, the sludge suddenly launched itself into the window. This made the pair run in full alert once again.

Shirou looked at the window in disappointment. "Damn it, we can't fight it outside. There's too many people." He turns his head to Illya, who was rubbing her neck. "Illya?"

Illya's hand glowed, the bruises that the choke inflicted slowly disappeared in seconds. "Don't worry, healing magecraft will do." A few moments later. "How's Kotomine?" She asked in exhaustion.

This perplexed Shirou. Weren't they fighting Lancer? Why did she speak the priest's name? "Kotomine? We were fighting Lancer." He relayed, confused.

Illya nods, still exhausted. "Yes, until he punched me. What did you see?" The princess inquired in a nervous voice.

Shirou blinked twice before speaking. "I-I dunno, I guess Lancer dismissed his spear and then…" He uncharacteristically stuttered.

Illya sighed, clearly realizing what happened to her brother. "I said don't worry, I'm okay now. Let's regroup with the others, I put my familiars on high alert. With them and your sense of smell, tracking that thing won't be a problem." She assured, knowing how much of a worrywart Shirou is.

The young man breathed a sigh of relief and nodded in agreement. Bulldozing this problem would only make it bigger. They need to plan their next moves. "Fine. Have the others found something?" He inquired.

"Yep, they're on the inn now." The girl answered.

"Good, let's go there as soon as possi…" He stopped. Illya tilted her head in confusion. He looked at the young woman up and down for a few seconds, and then his eyes turned at his tattered clothes. The two of them were a mess. "Goddammit, we can't go out like this." He rubbed his temple. "You stand in the corner, I'll get your sizes while I project some clothes."

"Huh? Why would you- oh come on!" She yelled in annoyance, looking at her tattered dress. "These were custom-made too!" It seems that their clothes were damaged during the fight. "I personally instructed the tailor while making these!"

Shirou grabbed Illya's head and caressed her hair, comforting the girl in the process. "We'll get that fixed up when we get home. C'mon, I'll get your sizes."

Illya pouts in annoyance, but complies anyway.


(A While Later)

At Sunspike Inn's doorstep, Shirou and Illyasviel stood. The pair entered the door and was greeted with stares from the customers and boarders. They proceed to ignore them and went straight through the innkeeper.

It was a bald man wearing and apron, he scanned the two for a few seconds. The young woman wore a white long-sleeved shirt and leather guards, with hair tied in a ponytail. Her companion wore a surcoat layered with a jacket. He concluded something. 'Painfully normal.' He thought. "Say, wadya want?" He asks the pair.

The young woman spoke first. "We're here looking for something."

"Hm?" The man raised his brow.

The redhead spoke next. "Our cargo. It seems that there was a mix-up during shipping. We were told to look for it here." He said in a formal voice.

The innkeeper's eyes widened for a few seconds. He regained his composure not long after. "Yeah, damned jewelers. I kept it in the back." He pointed at the kitchen. "Follow me."

The pair nodded and followed the bald man at the back of the kitchen. It was dark, with only a single, non-magical, oil-powered lamp lighting it barely, it was clearly used as a storage room. The man pushed some crates away, what they saw was a hatch in the floor, it was a door to a basement, a hidden door.

The bald man suddenly bowed and beckoned the pair to enter. "Forgive my insolence for not recognizing you… Your Majesty, Your Royal Highness." He changes the way he spoke.

"There is no need, my honest man. That only proves the effectiveness of our disguises." Shirou spoke in his formal, business tone. Not unlike the way he speaks during throne sessions.

"Your benevolence knows no bounds, Sire." He bows once again.

Illya enters the hatch while Shirou orders the innkeeper to keep watch. He followed suit then closed the hatch away from outsiders.

They observed the basement. It was well lit, like it was lit up by a modern light bulb, clearly the lamps are magical in nature. There, was all of the knights and soldiers that was sent on the investigation. They bowed and greeted the duo as they settled down for rest.

"Sire, we've haven't got news about the village that Mr. Rupert came from, like it was erased from the minds of the people." One of the knights spoke "Either Mr. Rupert is lying. Or something is amiss. My team landed on a magical cause, given your orders to treat this with urgency." He stopped, awaiting a response from his king.

'Sounds like a magus cover-up.' Illya told Shirou using their mental link.

'Yeah, this is exactly how the association does stuff. But why?' Shirou responded.

"You may rest for now. I plan to end this mission by tomorrow night. We were told that that Sir Lucian has something to report, tell him I'll listen." Shirou orders.

"Thank you, Sire. I will bring him posthaste." The knight bowed and proceeded to go to Sir Lucian's space within the basement.

Not a moment later, Sir Lucian appeared from the corner. With a concerned look on his face, he greeted his King and Princess. "Good evening My King, Princess Regent." He kneeled.

Illya nods. "To you as well, you may rise." She beckoned the knight. "Tell me why you used my second most urgent signal. The others told us that they did not find a single clue. So what gives?" She questioned with a regal presence but a gentle voice.

"As you wish Your Highness." He started recounting.

A few minutes later, the information was successfully relayed to the royal duo. The others were ordered to rest in their designated areas while Shirou and Illya discussed their next moves alone.

"It doesn't make sense." Illya started. "They want to spread words of their actions. But… erasing their traces at the same time? It's stupid."

"Maybe a third party perhaps?" Shirou suggested, with Illya nodding in agreement.

"That does mas more sense. But this one is just overkill." The princess rebutted. This sounds like the association's work, but that's a stupid notion as the magic tower encourages the spread of magic. That's why being a licensed magician if very easy here.

"Agreed, this seems to be too much by this world's standards." Shirou cupped his chin, contemplating the implications. "Maybe- Illya?" He stopped speaking, noticing that Illyasviel suddenly froze up.

"My familiars… They got something." She spoke with serious tone. "That thing, it's moving fast. Shoot! Shi- Isaiah!" She suddenly calls Shirou's other name.

"What is it!?" Shirou responded, on full alert.

"Wake everyone up. It's in the forest, up north!" Illya spoke to her brother while she was tying her hair up.

Shirou nods and rushes to the knights to wake them up. 'It's time to get to the bottom of this.' He thought.

(In 30 minutes or so)

They arrived at the edge of the northern forest near Shelston's capital. Illya kneeled down while holding a live rabbit, the knights were beside her, standing guard. Shirou and the rest proceeded to search the forest for any clues. It was dark, with only the moonlight lighting up their way.

Illyasviel pulled a dagger and ordered a knight to position the rabbit's neck to the bowl in front of her. The knights watching looked worried, concerned that the princess might hurt herself. With a stab, Illya killed the rabbit with a stoic and cold face, shocking even her guards.

She proceeded to draw a circle using a brush. Not a moment later, the circle and the symbols inside it glowed red. "Done." She said.

At Shirou's squad, the group were almost losing hope, with only the mere encouragement from their king keeping them going. Suddenly, Shirou smelled something. Fire… and unfortunately… dread.

"Soldiers, we're nearly there." He spoke to his subjects.

Everyone nodded and followed their king's command. As they near their destination, each one of them felt sick, one-by-one, they felt themselves needing to puke. Shirou ordered them to retreat, but they insisted to follow.

Not even a minute later, everyone saw what they were looking for. A land dyed in black, in charcoal. Burnt down wooden houses. The repugnant smell of charred meat coming from livestock… and dead humans. Shirou saw a pair of what looked like a father and a child, huddled in the corner. They were burnt to a crisp.

With each sight, the group were filled with utter dread. Shirou clenched his fist. Again he was right.

Unfortunately right.


At the Same Time, Artoria/Lizbeth

The former ducal daughter walked the streets of Antaria's capital, the seat of the crown. The moonlight shone on her beautiful purple jewel-like eyes. They just arrived this afternoon, and they decided to rest before going to Sarah's to look for information.

Liz has been assigned with shopping because of her uncanny skills with haggling. Which Artoria is all too happy to oblige to. Artoria also noticed that her armor had been burdening Liz who was untrained to such things. So, they agreed for Liz to wear comfortable clothes while disguising herself with her magic. Liz disguised herself, dyeing her hair and taking up the name "Ria".

Liz sighs as she enters the inn that they were staying in. This day was more exhausting than others, she was happy that her sister is nearing her goals. But she wished that the knight would slow down a bit. But oh well, what WOULD'NT she do for Artoria.

"Oh? You done lass?" The innkeeper asked Liz from the counter.

"Yep." Liz answered. The old man might look grumpy on the outside but is actually really caring on the inside. Artoria remarked that he reminded her of her foster father during her childhood years… before she took the sword. "Did anyone look for me?"

"Nah. But if I caught anyone snooping around about one of my customers. I'll probably gut 'em here and there." The old man gave a hearty laugh, making Liz chuckle.

"Oh you needn't to." Liz spoke with a small laugh. She puffed her chest and tapped her shoulder. "These arms had seen its few battles. They should think twice before crossing me." She spoke such things with the contrast of her sweet voice.

"Hah! Good spirit lass! Now, ya said ye'r going early tomorrow? I bet ya wanna sleep now. G'night." The innkeeper waved.

Liz nods in affirmation. "Likewise." She proceeded to go upstairs, bringing her massive stock of food with her.

A few minutes later, she finished eating her food for the night. She sat down at an open window while looking at the moonlight. She reminisced of the past.

It was a night like this too, the death of her mother. Truth to be told, she didn't hold any affection for her mother, she was an egotistical woman who only thought of money and her status. But unlike her father who tried to brainwash her into being an egotistical maniac, Duchess Nightwillow mostly ignored her.

At her mother's death, someone important appeared in her life: Artoria Pendragon. She was five years-old when it happened. But it was still as vivid as yesterday. Like a never-fading dream, a memory of a time of utter glee, a light in the void. Her struggles became Artoria's, as Artoria's became hers.

It was also the day, she learned to hate Aulus Nightwillow, the father she never wished she knew.

(Years Ago)

"At the flood's coming. May the Great Tree guide us." Aulus spoke to a congregation of hooded men. Behind him is a table. With a sheet covering something… human shaped.

"May the Great Tree guide us." The men answered in unison.

At the corner, behind an open door, was Elizabeth. The child had been observing her father's activities ever since he stopped coming to her room. Did she do something wrong? Did father not love her anymore? Questions ran through her mind.

Her father had always been good to her, unlike her mother who was mean and doesn't talk to her. Father said that she would be queen when she grows up, that she was destined to be great, to own the world. That's why he taught her magic.

Suddenly, a feeling of dread escaped her being. What she saw terrified her to her core. Her father opened the sheet in the table, a mix of dread an anxiety washed over the child even before she could see what the sheet covered.

Aulus lifted a knife as he chants some words that the child cannot even begin to comprehend. A dark force could be felt around the room. Liz trembled in fear, her body frozen in place. With only one thought in her mind.

Get out.

Get out.

Get out.

Get out!

GET OU-

Her vision blurred, her head in agony as her ears rang. She looked up, her eyes were blasted by the moonlight from the win-

'Wait, window?' Elizabeth remarked. She was in the hallways not a second ago. She felt her hand sink in soft surface. The ducal heir looked down and noticed that she was sitting at the corner of her bed, the soft surface being the mattress. Her gaze traveled to her front. What she saw was her mirror, the one she used when dressing up.

The moonlight shone on her, making her reflection visible amidst the darkness of… what she presumed is her room. She stared at her reflection, something was different, something was wrong… or right, it was confusing.

She lifted her hand, her reflection did the same. She made a face, the reflection did- wait! Did the reflection just giggle? Instead of fear, she felt curiosity. Elizabeth jumped down from her bed, the reflection mirroring the action. As they get near eachother, Elizabeth felt an odd sense of relief, like she's being shone the spring sun after a long cold winter.

Finally, she arrived at the front of the mirror. The young girl touched the glass with her tiny, fragile hands. Now that she could see clearly, she saw the difference that bugged her about her reflection. The eyes. They were green instead of purple.

"Who… are you?" She asked, in front of this reflection- no, person, she felt small, like she was seeing someone larger than life itself. There was only one word that could describe her. Nobility.

The reflection nods with a smile. "My name is Artoria Pendragon… and I send you a message." Artoria touched the mirror from her side. "Be not afraid Elizabeth, for you are not alone anymore."

(Back to the Present)

Liz chuckled as she remembered the days when she barely even thought of being equal to Artoria, like disrespecting her as a joke. Now, she knew she was wrong for thinking that. Artoria needs friends, not subjects. She'd already done too much.

That's why she wants to see if that Shirou person is even remotely worthy of her sister.


A/N: Ponytail Illya, Ponytail Illya UUUUOOOOGH! Wait, it's more like Ponytail Irisviel? Since she kinda looks like her now…nevermind. So did you like this chapter? Tell me. Artoria and Liz's segment was originally put in the middle, but I noticed that it breaks the flow HARD during editing. So I put it on last.

Review if you can! Follow and Favourite as always. I'm glad that FFN stats are fixed now. See you next time. TM out!