Between writing it and editing it. It really is tedious. Not that I hate the process, it just gets too much sometimes. Writing has been my way to sort of sort my thoughts. Grammarly really cannot decide sometimes. lol

For those who followed and favorite, thanks.

Chapter 3: Rendezvous

Their way top to the school was fraught with dragon tooth skeleton warriors that seemed unending, but Mash with her sword and shield made short work of them. Not like he's doing nothing when his sword appeared nonstop to stop them in their tracks by raining down on them like his once enemy did. Smashing them as one would a glass and vase.

Even from where they were, just halfway between the bridge and the school, the dark presence of the Grail reached them. Lingering in the air that made his hair stand to no end until at the end of the road where the familiar wall and buildings greeted them. Burnt as they were, through his keen vision he saw Homuraha still standing in the middle of this chaos defying everything around it.

"Master," Mash asked, unsure as they dashed towards the familiar place; Homuraha Academy. Almost halfway there without any witnesses to their magecraft. "How do you know the servants."

Axe spun in the air shattering the skull and the others that followed it sent them to pieces of various swords.

Shirou turned, not to gaze at Mash but at the tremors that reached even them at this distance. The magical build-up in the distance made him shiver as if he were still in the vicinity, a frightening fact that made him cold. As expected of servants powered by something greater to emit power greater than Cú did. And there was only one thing that reeked of corruption and power, to think that someone held control of that power to control the other servants.

"Later, Mash. I'll explain everything."

Mash said nothing nothing, vigilant for anything, for Archer, for the skeleton warriors, and anything that pose a danger in this Singularity. Never in his life would have ever thought that their experience—the event that changed his life in one night—was one of the most important events in human history even if most didn't know the truth about it. Only four people alive knew the truth. Of the close annihilation the world nearly went through from the dangers of the corrupted grail.

It seemed surreal because, for him, it was just part of his life, a monumental event that changed his life. But to be that important? It was beyond him to even think that when all he ever wanted was to save people; to be a Hero of Justice, to smile like Kiritsugu in saving another. He was a changed man since then, aware of the selfishness of his dream, but that didn't make his need to save people any less genuine.

A thunder came behind them, its explosive sound reaching them followed by a wall of fire reaching the heavens. Winds smelling of ash and smoke blew toward them, the city fires swaying towards them as if commanded by a master. Somehow... he just knew the fight had concluded. Just in time as the once familiar school came into view. The moment they stepped into its premises, he stopped but continued.

"Senpai," Mash warily said. "I sense a bounded field. It's subtle, but," she said brows furrowing, "it's there. Even if just barely."

It was subtle, similar to the one he had back home, and if he didn't know Rin, he might not have noticed it but his sense of smell was sensitive to magic. But fortunately, he did. Other magus would have ignored it, but he didn't because he knew how deadly of a magus she was.

Within this realm, Rin ruled everything.

"It's okay, Mash." Though he said this the two remained wary, especially Olga who glared at his lackadaisical attitude. Normally, he wouldn't when it came to people he helped since their security was of utmost importance. Not this time since he knew it was good.

The Direction shifted, eyes opening all of a sudden and jumping from his arms landing on her rear. "You! You put me to sleep!" Fingers shaking accusatory, she glared at him daring him to deny it.

"Director, it was Cú Chulainn that did it. Maybe one of his runes." Mash approached Olga, her calming nature serving to calm the

"Why I ought to—"

"Director," Shirou interrupted her. "He saved us. If it wasn't for him, Lancer would have caught on to us." He trusted Mash from the short time he knew her, but he wasn't sure if the both of them could fight Medusa and come out unscathed considering that they still needed to investigate this Singularity aside from caution against any servants.

Olga muttered something about Eastern Magus, some words he knew would get Rin mad at fuming at her choice of words about than her apparent thought about them.

Olga's wrist mystic code beeped. "Everyone, there's another servant! It's coming in fast!"

"Master, get behind me!" Mash uncharacteristically pushed him behind her with Olga, whose forehead glowed and her hands gathering power.

"Guys, it's fine." He gestured for them to calm down just in time to see the radiant silver and royal blue armor that was Arturia land and skid to a stop before them.

Saber with all her glory of Knightly armor stopped before them, her face etched with worry that he smiled at her in reassurance.

"Shirou," Saber said, her frown turning to a smile when she made sure he wasn't hurt. Her eyes turned to his companions, eyes stopping at the shield. Slight as it was, he saw her stiffen when she saw the shield on Mash. Knowing the name, he was sure that she knew of the connection.

"Saber," he said, all words not needed to be said. He wanted to touch her to reassure her that he was fine and that they didn't need to worry, but that's for later after all of this was over. Now, the mission comes first.

"Master… Altria-senpai is…"

He nodded.

"She's okay. We're both okay, other than being shifted away from you."

His chest became lighter, a load he knew he had been released in the air with his sigh.

"Come on, she's waiting for you."

"Shirou," Dr. Romani said with quiet awe. "She's a…"

Nodding, he replied, "later. We need to find Rin first."

"Now hold on a minute here, you." Olga crossed with him got off him and blocked his path with crossed arms. Her annoyance and anger masked her confusion. "That's a Saber-class Servant."

"I am Servant Saber, servant of Master Rin Tohsaka and Shirou Emiya." Formal as ever, she introduced herself to the others with a bow. "Mash, Olga Marie, Dr. Romani, it's a pleasure to finally meet you."

Glancing at Saber, he expected that reaction from the Director. "We better get to safety first, I doubt we're safe behind this bounded field."

Did Caster win? He worried if she might be on their tail now. He knew how powerful Cú was with the spear and runes he possessed. It could hold her back, but would his remaining magical energy be enough to defeat a fully powered Lancer Medusa?

The school was empty of life, barren, and so unlike the way it usually was even in the silence of the night. As if the building knew its purpose was gone, and the very people it catered to were no more in this world. It tugged at his heart, clenching his fists, all of them gone if the unresponsive state of Fuyuki was to go by.

Sakura, Rin, Taiga, Issei, and everyone he knew was gone in a flash. They may not have been his friends that he saw once in a while, but they were still his friends, no matter the present or future! These, they, didn't deserve it all. They were innocents in all this.

He breathed. He didn't want to concern Mash, Olga, Rin, and Arturia any more than he needed to. They would fix this, he promised, and its instigators brought to justice, not for him, but for them.

Powerful mana circled the room behind this door. A more powerful secondary Bounded Field that could give any magi a pause.

The door may look plain to those with him, but to him who had people he still considered friends come and go through it, it was anything but a mere door. For him, it was a part of Emiya Shirou. Holding a meaning for him and his other friends in school. As he opened it, the sliding door opened creating a crackle of wood and floor but the only person in the room did not look at them. Her proud shadowy visage stood by the window, lit aflame by the glowing fires in the distance. And her dark locks swaying gracefully as a silk back and forth from the gentle wind blowing by.

"Rin." All that could be said was said by Shirou in that sight alone. His worry, his love, encapsulated in that one word, the name that held the world to him. The few names in his life that held meaning above and over his ideals. The one that pulled him back to down, to stop him from becoming Archer. To remind him that someone was waiting for him back home to say, "welcome home, Shirou," whether it's her, Arturia, Sakura, or Illya.

When he approached her, she glanced at him almost oh so small that no one but him noticed the small frown. A frown that never once belonged on her proud lips. To the lips that should always be proud of her achievements and heritage.

Saber clearing her throat brought him back to reality, pulled by Rin without touching him to take the seat next to Rin opposite to Mash and Olga all the while Saber stood by the door. "I suppose I, we," he said glancing at his partners, "have some explanation to tell, don't we."

Olga's glare, if possible doubled as if to say, "you think?".

"I think that would be great, master."

"What do you wanna know?" he started, offering them a branch.

"For starters," Olga said impatiently, eyes on him and Rin, something she returned equally. He could feel his exasperation knowing Rin wouldn't like to be challenged silently or otherwise. "Why do you know so much about this Grail War."

"Well," she said with a bite, "we know because we had been in one twelve years ago."

Olga's eyes widened, gaping, and eyes darting between Rin and him. Mash looked in awe, all unsaid conveyed through their bond as Master and Servant.

"Then…, Saber-senpai is," Mash whispered, looking down.

"Is my servant. Before things went to hell and somewhere along the way, Rin contracted her when she lost her Archer." Shrugging, he continued after feeling the surroundings, "After the war, Rin and I decided to sort of share the contract. Even when I was her apprentice at the Clocktower."

"Meaning you both provide her with mana."

More than that, he thought, remembering the nights, but nonetheless, he nodded. Inwardly chuckling at Saber's blushing stoic figure when she read his loud thoughts.

"How come I didn't notice it," Romani said, whose projection floated to the left of Olga.

"Outside of battle, we conceal her," Rin said. "It's not perfect." To someone like Tohsaka Rin who wanted nothing but perfection, said in disappointment. "But it works just enough to fool people."

The magecraft involved in that was outside him, but he understood the gist that it concealed Arturia's being as a Servant by hiding her excess power and spiritual presence. It would not fool a magus into thinking she's human, but enough to hide her from them at a distance and on some occasions those nearby too as long as they don't look deeply into it. No more was said about what magi would do should they discover her presence. Waver Velvet was enough.

"Senpai, about the war, does that mean you're from a magus family too?"

"Not really. I'm adopted. Both dad and I couldn't be exactly called "magus" in a sense," he said. "We're just specialists."

Technically speaking he was, true Emiya or not. Plus, based on what they found about it, that was neither here nor there.

"He got lucky with Saber."

Chuckled at Rin's words, still envious of it even after all these years even if they both knew he wasn't because they eventually found out that he had the catalyst inside him all along. But how he got it, was the lucky part. No matter what Archer may have thought about his dad's ideal, said ideal saved them in the start. Coming in handy against Gilgamesh, and Sakura's darkness.

Still, he didn't deny it all, because, for him, it was indeed luck. Some call it destiny, some fate, but for him it was luck. Luck that Rin was the best ally for someone like him during that war. Someone who helped him as he did her, and lucky to be with someone like her.

Even more lucky was to be with someone as noble as Arturia. Her strength for more than once gave him enough to help him throughout the war; through Kirei's treachery, Gilgamesh's lust and rage, Zouken's unending greed for power and immortality, and the Grail's corruption.

Odds stacked against them, saving Sakura, and defeating Gilgamesh, Zouken, and Kirei. They, all of them were victorious in the end for whatever reason. Was it fate? He cared not, what mattered was they all lived through it even if scarred in their souls forever.

He grew cold remembering it, the world in danger with innocent people in the center of it all. "Yeah, you're right. She really helped a ton." He couldn't help but smile at her causing her to blush.

"Idiot! I did what I had to back then."

Smiling sheepish, his hand found hers under the table, something which Mash noticed from their bond and looked away, causing him to feel sorry for her unknowingly contracted to him.

"But this isn't our Grail War," he continued. "Several key differences." Through his and Saber's bond, he knew that between theirs and this, the servants were not the same. "Medusa is a Lancer instead of Rider, Cú Chulainn is a Caster and note Lancer, Rider, and Berserker is someone we don't know yet, while Archer remains the same."

The sidelong glance Rin gave when he mentioned that made him nod that it was him. Only he could launch projectiles at him with that level of hostility.

"What about Saber?" Arturia asked, deeply frowning. Was something bothering her? True, they don't know who Saber was, but even if it was another her, would she reject herself as he did Archer? "Who is this world's Saber?"

"That, I can answer." Cú appeared behind Olga who screamed and nearly fell had it not been for Mash.

"You—"

"I wonder when you were going to show yourself. Had it not been for your assistance to Shirou I might have struck you then for spying."

Olga gaped, her disbelief turning into anger. "How did you get past the—"

Cú ignored the Director and turned to Saber, eyeing her with a challenge. "Spoken like the King Of Knights, Arthur Pendragon."

"King Arthu—"

"Saber-senpai is…."

You could drop a pin on the ground and you could hear it just from the silence because of the bombshell Caster dropped. Shirou put his palm on his head while shaking it.

"You mean, you actually summoned King Arthur!?" Romani spluttered from the other end of the line. "And she's a girl?!"

Rin glowered, sighing at Caster who shrugged. "You and your lack of tack. We were hoping to ease them."

Saber glared at Cú who only shrugged and leaned on his wooden staff. "Yes, I am King Arthur."

"Don't get her looks fool you," Cú said smirking. "I would know her strength personally when her counterpart tried to kill me at the start of this whole war. Even moreso after he," he said pointing a thumb at Shirou, "died trying to rescue her from the black sludge of the grail. You, on the other hand, are blackened than the darkest moon by the corruption itself. But more than that, who are you people? I saw the little lady right here die from the curse half a week later when Saber defeated Archer. Those who were dead are alive, so tell me, who are you people."

He died. Somehow Shirou didn't deny it, yet why did it cause his chest to tighten thinking of his unfulfilled dream? No, beyond that Shirou felt the uncontrollable flame coursing through him again knowing Rin died. Not just her, Sakura, Illya, Taiga, and all his friends. And Saber lost in the corruption due to his lack of power.

"We are from Finis Chaldea, an organization dedicated to destroying the temporal anomaly in the Human Order." Olga with head high, looked quite proud of saying that. "We came here to investigate and fix the singularity."

"You mean to say in this timeline, Archer and Saber's masters won the war."

Eyeing him and Rin—who shuddered, Cú whistled, smirking at them. "You've really grown, haven't you, young lady. I can see why he's still with you. He's like me in that area, isn't he. Just your type."

Rin gaped, face face flushing. Cú laughed happily, easily batting her Gandr with his staff. Rin learned a lot in the years, Gandr was the least of his worries if she really went full force at it. "Learn to live a little, young lady, otherwise you're gonna grow faster."

"Why you—"

"We're getting off track!"

"Lancer, this is no time to be inappropriate."

"Caster-san" Mash frowned disapprovingly. "I would appreciate it if we get back on the topic at hand."

"Fine," he said with a careless wave. Leaning on the wall beside the spear. "Point is, Saber Alter has the Holy Grail. She's gonna be a bitch to beat even if I have master."

"With that out of the way, we need to know the cause of this Singularity."

"That's easy, Director," Rin said, feeling that she emphasized the last part on purpose. "It's the Holy Grail on Ryudou Temple. In our world, we destroyed the Grail for good. Whatever happened here allowed must've stopped its destruction."

Or who stopped it. He had a feeling that it was the same case as Chaldea; a sabotage. Who was it then? Kirei? Zouken? Gilgamesh? All three would risk the destruction of the world for the sake of their ambition. Of destruction, of reaching the root, and culling the "unworthy".

But…

"Do you know what went wrong, Caster?"

Could it be possibly some third party they were not aware of? After all, would it be too much to think of coincidences after coincidences? The destruction of Chaldea and now they found themselves in a derailed Fifth Grail war where everyone died and Saber prolonging this destructive event.

"Hell if I know, Saber," he said shrugging. "By the time I tried to stop it, you nearly killed me."

"After the war, Rin and Illya made sure that the Grail itself was destroyed." All five of them were there to investigate the cavern where the Grail laid in. "Whatever remained of it, we dismantled it to make sure it doesn't fall into the wrong hands. Looks like someone succeeded in stopping us."

"Then we have our goal." Olga for the first time had a fire in her that wasn't covering her fear through acting.

"I'll stop you right there, young lady," Cú said. She turned to him leaning on Gáe Bolg. "We need to make sure she," he said pointing to Mash, "is prepared. The ones we will face on that mountain will be more than for her to handle as she is now."

"I concur, Mash has the determination and that's a good start. So Caster and I will be training her. we should be done in a few hours."

"You don't even know the name or how to activate your Noble Phantasm, don't you."

"I…" Stammering for a reply, Mash sighed. "Yes. When I bonded with the Hero in the shield, he gave me his strength, but none of his knowledge."

Thoughts of Arturia training him during the Grail War flashed into his mind. Saber's eyes said it all, that she knew more about it. Yet, why wasn't she saying anything?

"Saber, you know about the shield, don't you?"

She didn't turn to him, but she acknowledged it with a single mental nod. "I told her nothing of what it is yet because the shield only draws strength from the user's will. Anything I say, even its true name will serve no use to her for she had to find the strength to use it. Galahad has chosen her to wield it for a reason. He saw something in her, and it is only up to her to use it to its rightful potential that no words could draw out."

"Saber," Shirou said. "Mash is a new demi-Servant, go easy on her. Mash, Saber will help train your strength."

"Don't worry, I'll make sure Caster doesn't go overboard."

Caster took the comment in stride, grin still unshakeable.

Mash bowed. "I won't let you down, Master!"

"I know you won't." He smiled. "Go Mash, we'll leave by the time you're finished."

He trusted her and Cú, but the Irish hero tended to go overboard that's why he had Saber accompany them.

The door creaked open, the three leaving them in awkward silence. Dr. Romani seemed like he wanted to say something, while Olga stared at him sourly. Rin for her part, massaged his hand driving the darkness that lurked in the recesses of his heart.

"I know all about Rin Tohsaka's exploit," Olga said after a minute. "So I have an idea about her capabilities. But I don't know about you, Shirou Emiya. The way I saw it, you projected Noble Phantasms earlier. Multiple ones and even Caster's spear."

"It wasn't any projection I know of," added Dr. Romani. "Usually any projections would fade in time but..."

"I knew you were famous, Rin, but to think they even heard you all the way in Antarctica." He couldn't hold his awe off, enjoying her silent pride while blushing at his words.

Shirou found it cute when she looked away, whispering, "Idiot, of course, I told you haven't I, I'll give the Tohsaka name a legacy to look up to."

"We're gonna give the Tohsaka name to live up to." Just as she helped him, Shirou would repay every debt he had to her, not just that, because every part of him says he needed—wanted—to. To see her happy the same Sakura was when she was freed from Zouken.

"Shirou! Do you realize what you're saying, you dolt."

He leaned in, lips just inches apart, enjoying feeling the heat emanating from her, her luscious lips agape slightly in frozen shock as his hand pushed a stray hair back her ear. "Yes, I do."

Someone coughing broke them apart. "I hate to ruin a private conversation, but…" Dr. Romani said leaving the sentence hanging beside a blushing Olga.

"Why the curiosity?" Rin asked, coughing, a silent tension rising between the two. Both magus of incredible mana and power, neither backing down.

Dr. Romani said something, but he sighed needing to stop the two before another Luvia happened. He'd seen the extent the two went to prove to each other who was better.

"I—"

"Don't answer that, Shirou." She leaned on her wooden chair, arms crossed.

He knew why Rin was like this. Most magus usually would be bad news, their amorality, and in worst cases, immorality not caring who's affected as long as they get to their goal, ambition, and dream. But he trusted his gut, he felt Olga, Dr. Romani is trustworthy, more so Olga despite what she showed them.

Olga glowered, crossing her arms. "As Director of Chaldea, it's my prerogative to know those under my command. If we're to solve this, I need to know what I'm working with. If it's a family secret, I will teach you how the Animusphere magecraft work as an equal trade."

Satisfied, Rin nodded. Not that he wasn't gonna tell in the first place, this was bigger than him or his secrets.

"It's my magecraft I call Tracing, a specialized projection. The only thing I'm good at since most conventional magecraft are out of my league aside from reinforcement, projection, and alteration." Throughout the years, in his need to help people, he wanted to learn other branches of magic to see if he could through "favors" people—eccentric ones, owe him. "While I could learn it, I couldn't learn it fast nor be on a level like you guys."

Some magecraft he could do, but that's neither here nor there as they were few.

"Any mystic code and Noble Phantasms I see, I sympathize with it. Learn everything from it from its construction, the materials down to how it was used. But that's not limited to weapons, I can project anything but the closer it is to sword, the easier and lesser mana is used."

"You mean…," Dr. Romani left the question open, but they all knew what he meant.

"Yes," he nodded. Just to show it, he traced a knife mystic code he saw years ago and gave it to Olga. Something that accelerated healing, not as good as Avalon, but helped him many times by accelerating one's healing factor at the cost of using the other bodily nutrients leaving its user without energy.

He wanted to trace another dagger but thought it better to do another. Tracing another Gáe Bolg, its innate presence of malice and blood made Olga shiver ever so slightly when she received it.

Last but not least, his most used pair of Kanshou and Bakuya whom both beheld with awe when they saw its bladed elegance.

"In terms of magecraft it's not enough," he admitted with a shrug.

"Not enough?!" Romani flinched at her volume. "Do you know how much others would pay to study Noble Phantasms from the Age of Gods? How it would help against the decline of mystery?!"

He knew, but he also knew they'd cut him apart literally just to learn his secrets. What's more, he shuddered, a Sealing Designation for having the closest thing to magic.

"We know," Rin said, exasperated like the many times she discussed it with him. "But this blockhead doesn't care about any of that. He only cares about helping people. It's his reason for learning magecraft in the first place. It's why we're here in the first place."

She didn't mention the fact that it was her who studied said phantasms and him supplying her endlessly, he sighed just remembering it. Even going as far as to imitate one already.

"This is good, this I can work with," Olga muttered, looking down in deep thought. "And you can make this easily? No mana problem or any problems I should know about now because I can provide you some mana."

"I appreciate the concern, but—" Quick to reassure her, he lurched forward when a reinforced elbow hit him.

"He's happy to accept assistance like we always talked about," Rin said, giving him a cool smile that he knew belied her lack of tolerance for his idiocy, especially when she thought it could help them. But something, something in those eyes, hid something else too. Something he could not read, just a fiery reaction to something he didn't know.

"Good," Olga said. "With that said, when we attacked it's better if we split up into two or three groups."

Rin said, "I would hold off that planning, let's wait until we're all together. For now, let's use this time to rest."

As if on cue, Shirou yawned, adrenaline faded long ago. His muscles remembered the strength of a Servant in a serious fight. Different from the sparring he and Saber had, his arms were stronger than years ago still felt the shake against a servant's strength. While not that drained, he needed to conserve his strength for the fights to come.

Lancer was no easy fight, he only kept up from knowing her style by looking at her Harpe.

"Fine," Olga said in agreement. "I need to do something." She left the floating image of Romani disappearing.

As they sat there in silence, through his connection with Mash, he felt her frustration and her determination on trying to activate the shield igniting her being. So pure that he couldn't help but want to protect it

"Say Shirou, how did you form a contract with Mash?" she asked, her face open with curiosity.

He shrugged. "I didn't, we were contracted already when I woke up. I'm more surprised you didn't know she was a demi-servant."

"Part servant," she said. "A human with servant powers from what I can sense. Very different from Saber herself. While most could only dream to hold that power, I could only imagine what they did to allow a servant to mesh with her without possessing her."

"Yeah." Standing, they then lay on the table, all too used to hard surfaces. "That doesn't answer why we didn't know so earlier."

Mash's innocent disposition made sense, he had a feeling it related to her being in Chaldea and her demi-servant state. Her dream of seeing the blue sky, the sun, and the moon painted a clearer image for him. He didn't have all the answers, but it painted the image of a bird in a golden cage.

"Mash felt so normal, I didn't even detect her," Rin admitted, head on his chest, looking at him, her very breath ticking him even with the zipped open Chaldea suit on. "Normal magic circuits but when I saw her again, her magical energy doubled. Greater than me even."

"She only became one now," he remembered Olga asking why it only happened now. "They may have done something to her to make her compatible with a Heroic Spirit. Our circumstances forced Mash to become one with the spirit."

He knew how magi would stoop to the lowest of the lowest to achieve their goal, and experimentation was the most common. It pains him that even if he saved people from them in his years freelancing, they never stopped nor cared. At least, some of them were outlier enough.

"You don't think…."

"Definitely. No self-respecting magi would give up the chance to study and make a flesh and blood servant to serve them."

His face scrunched, focusing on the possible terrible images Mash had to go through based on what he saw people go through with rogue magi or those who care less about revealing mysteries to the world. Yet somehow the girl and her disposition were so pure, not naive, and certainly at the very least not cynical. It was a trait he liked in her from how short he knew her. But, even so... Was it simply an appearance? Her way of coping?

It couldn't be, shouldn't be, he hoped. But in any case, he'd cross that bridge when he gets there.

"Rin," he said, licking his dry lips. "Do you regret coming with me?"

Does she regret coming with me? Part of him just wanted to really leave her safe and happy to just do what she does best.

He knew how she valued her research of the Second Magic, and he had seen what it was capable of. He convinced her that she didn't need to, but she and Sakura tore through his arguments. Sakura with his sweet purple eyes that silently said "You need to care for yourself too, make sure he gets it," and Rin of course was just happy to just say, "It's for my research." Granted, she did learn some from meeting various magi and cultures throughout the world, but it didn't mean he didn't feel bad for stringing her along in his quest.

Rin scoffed, the cold air tickling his chest with the zipped-open Chaldean suit. "Idiot, I—we, told you, didn't we? If it means protecting you from yourself, we will be with you until the end. Besides, what do you think Sakura would do if she found out you wanted to just leave without one of us with you?"

The image made him flinched, Sakura looking at him in understanding yet disappointed, all the same, gazing at the wooden floor of his house. The same sweet Sakura that knew he was as broken as him, understanding on a deeper level that both of them were broken by experiences outside of their control. Illya would probably glare at him for making her sad and would make him unable to move and just force him to spend time with them until they would be satisfied.

Which is never, he shook his head, a small wry smirk on his lips.

Sighing, he replied, "You think they're fine?"

The cold churning of his gut told him otherwise, and he knew that they both knew something was wrong if that red state of SHEBA was to go by. Even if he didn't know how wrong, a part of him kept the worry down for the sake of the mission at hand. The sense of wrongness that neither of them said anything about.

"Yes, at this very moment, they're cooking dinner and eating with Taiga."

Laughter came out of him unbidden at that image. Taiga eating too much and Illya just exasperated as to who's the real adult in the room while Sakura just ate in silence from their shenanigans. An image that just lit up his heart and a smile on his face.

"And you didn't want to stay with them?" he asked. She could have had an easy life of a magi, but she chose the trouble that was called Emiya Shirou.

He could just see her roll her eyes when she replied, "I told you, if it comes to saving your sorry self from yourself and being a magi, I'd choose saving you." She then quietly laughed. "Besides, now that I've seen that some of Chaldea's machines run with what looks like Second Magic, how could I not? I'd be a poor excuse of a Magician's apprentice if I didn't investigate it. Somehow, I just feel Zelretch has some hand in this."

Somehow, he knew that would be her response, but as long as Rin's happy, he would go through hell itself. Not only for her but for them.

After several minutes, he felt Mash's confidence dip, taking a dive when her fear spiked followed by Saber's rising ire. Slowly, he moved Rin who groaned.

"Stay," she said pushing him down.

Words stuck in his throat, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down. "Mash needs me."

"Shirou, I know you, but," moving, soft firm eyes met his. "Mash inexperienced as she is, is a servant, she can do it. She just needs a little push and learn on her own."

She's right, but Shirou wanted to personally be with her to help her because he knew how tough Cú could be. He wanted to be there even just to support her with his presence.

Through their bond, Shirou shared with her his warmth. His faith in her as a servant that she could do it even if she had no clue of how to be one for now. She would only grow from hereon, he knew surely, and shared that emotion he felt for his new friend and companion.

"Master, I—,"

"Mash." Through their connection, he saw her struggle to keep up with Saber's attack and Caster's various runic spells. "Don't think, just do."

Noble Phantasms require only but the strongest of wills to activate. An innate instinct. In his years of traveling, he came to know and master this through using the various Phantasms Archer—and begrudgingly Gilgamesh too—had gained throughout his lifetime, both alive and as Counter Guardian. Not only that, Arcdher's experience gave him more than knowledge.

A shield is something that defends, for every shield a hero had, all of them had but one purpose; to defend.

"What do you wish to defend, Mash?" he asked the single question that all those who defend had to answer for themselves. Whether it's a selfish reason like survival or for noble goals like defending your country or loved ones, ideals, it must have that sole purpose of defending at its core. Even the beautiful Kanshou and Bakuya held the purpose of being graceful swords. "What do you want to protect?"

Shirou found himself smiling when through the doubts and fears, came something pure; a fiery determination that spread through her being. A pure light that he wanted to nurture to watch it grow to a warm ember that drove the shadows away.

Caster raised his arms with staff in hand, and from runes came fire as big as a truck speeding towards her. Saber wanted to stop it, but Mash needed this. He believed in her.

'Saber,' he said stopping her in her tracks. 'Believe in Mash.'

'I want...' Her grip on the shield tightened like the bubbling belief in herself. 'I want to protect my home. The world I longed to see.'

'Release those feelings, Mash. Let it take form.' The activation of a Noble Phantasm required a will, yes, but only the strongest of wills. Not just anyone could possess the power to use it. That unfaltering strength of heart in the face of every danger and opposition.

"Lord Chaldeas!" Through her eyes, he saw her slam the shield to the ground, splitting grass and soil as the power in her burst forth from within the shield and to the world at large.

The flames spread charring grass and heating air. Mash's eyes widened but she held on to the shield. When the flames crashed against the shield it divided the fiery element into two. The spell neverending pushed her back with gritted teeth, pushing the shield and ethereal magical castle walls to no avail for it stood strong. Mash's energy dropped and in turn his, but her smile and happiness reached through him making him pat her head as he would Illya, mentally that is.

'I knew you could do it.'

He never lost faith in her. For behind those demure and innocent eyes, Shirou saw something he had no idea of, but part of it was the strong will of a young woman.

'Thank you, Master.'

Shirou simply hummed and nodded to himself, open in his link between them as he let rest take hold of him.

"I told you," Rin said smugly.

Rest in the field was never a comfortable one but one gets used to it. And with Rin and Saber's company, the empty smoldering world they found themselves in was made better. Any rest one gets in the field wass a blessing and the difference between life and death.

After a few hours, with Mash resting the remaining time, they found themselves gathered in the Student Council Room again.

"I'll face Archer," he said. It was always going to be him. Some would call it fate, destiny, to face him of what could be, but for him, it was just a need. What he needed to do. "While I fight him, you guys run for the Grail."

"Are you sure about that, kid," Cú asked offhandedly on the wall. Right next to his two copies of Gáe Bolg. "That Archer is a bastard I wouldn't mind repaying the debt."

"It's fine, Caster," he replied. "I'll be happier with you backing up Rin."

"I'll back you up, Shirou."

He shook his head at Saber's insistence, nor would he accept Rin's offer when she was about to object. "You know me, Rin, Saber. You know I'll be okay."

"That's exactly the reason I worry. You better be," Rin grumbled, glaring at him and stopping him from saying more.

"I'll back him up." Olga offered.

"No, you guys go ahead and destroy the Grail. With Mash and Cú with Saber, even a grail-powered Saber would have a hard time with you three."

Saber frowned. "Shirou, this is being reckless. You need a backup just in case."

"I'll go with Master," Mash said, stepping forward. "I'll make sure he's okay."

"As your employer, I'll have to make sure everyone makes it in one piece." She dared him to object, her strong gaze, younger as he was, held a silent strength that she may or may not know. "Tohsaka, Saber, and Cú Chulainn will face Saber. With me providing mana, you and Mash will have more chance."

"Then it's decided," Saber declared with finality. When he looked at the others, none objected, especially not Cú who looked too excited at facing a fully powered Arturia. "What about the other threats? Caster?"

The man hummed. "Berserker is on the east side of the city, as long as we leave him alone, we'll have no problem. Assassin and Rider, I killed half a week ago and Lancer I defeated tonight, young Shielder and Emiya here made sure of it. That leaves Saber, Archer, and me."

"They're outnumbered, but I don't doubt that their threat levels." Rin and he knew how powerful Saber could be, and what more, a corrupted Saber powered by the Holy Grail. "Still, this setup is better as much as I hate it."

"How do we do this," Dr. Romani asked.

He projected a paper and pen making a crude drawing of the the school, Ryudou Temple, and Mt. Enzou leading to the cavern housing the Holy Grail. "The Ryudou Temple has a natural bounded field that repels spirits. Anyone who forces their way in will be reduced in strength. The stairway is the only known entrance to the temple. Mash, Olga, and I will take the main stairway to distract Archer from providing backup. Rin you guys can take that other route."

"The roundabout route we took," she answered. "Of course, with Archer distracted, we'll get there unhindered."

"Exactly." He nodded.

"Sounds like a plan." The good doctor nodded, but worry filled his voice. "But are we sure this Berserker isn't gonna ambush one of you?"

"I trust Caster, but Dr. Romani has a good point." Saber frowned, so deeply pensive in her thoughts that she never noticed he put his hand over hers. "No plan survives first contact."

"Saber." Jolted out of her thoughts, green stared into his. "Will know what to do when we cross that bridge."

Sighing, a small smile flitted on her face. "It's always the unknown one has to watch out in the field. The plan is flexible enough to account for variables, I suppose."

"That's good and all. I finally get to fight you, Saber." Caster grinned savagely as his Lancer counterpart. The itch for an epic battle made his blood boil. "Well then. What're we waiting for? Let's meet death head-on."

Clearing her throat, Rin got the attention of the others. "Before we move out, Caster, you don't have a master. Will you be okay."

"Heh," the man huffed, smirking. "I'll last long enough to finish this war once and for all."

"Caster, it would be prudent if you made a pact with Rin before we go," Saber suggested. "It could be temporary if you don't want to stick around after this singularity."

Shirou narrowed his eyes when Cú gave Rin a once over and sighed when he shrugged. "Since you're offering, don't mind if I do. Though can you handle supporting both of us."

As much as he hated to burden Rin, they had no choice but to do it. With them sharing the mana to Saber meant less burden on Rin having a new contract with Caster.

"Shirou and I are sharing Saber. I can handle it." She crossed her arms, looking slightly indignant. "Let's get this over with."

After a minute, she slightly wobbled in place clutching her head and grimacing.

"Rin, you okay?" Fast as the win, he caught her supporting her with his body.

"I…" she breathed, huffing and puffing. "I'm going to be fine. I only have a few energy left to cast spells, one-fourth at best. So do your job, you dullard."

Caster grinned, putting an arm on Olga who muttered profanities and waved her concern away. "Yes, you got it. I'll be even better than that Archer."

"Sorry, Rin." If only he was a better magus, then…

"Idiot, stop apologizing. This is the greatest chance of winning we have."

"Sorry about this, Emiya and Rin." Dr. Romani bowed from his station. "Normally Chaldea would carry the burden of maintaining the servant with magical energy but…" he left hanging the obvious.

"Whatever happened was out of your control, Romani," Olga said straight-faced, but sensing her frustration underneath with her fleeting scowl. "Do you even take things seriously, Caster. I don't want to die yet, Caster!"

Dr. Romani chuckled in an effort to lighten the mood. "I'm sure it's fine, Director. He's a Heroic Spirit after all."

"A womanizing Spirit who doesn't know when to stop."

Caster bellowed, patting her on the back. Quick as thunder did he hefted her before they could protest his actions. "That's the spirit, young lady. To battle!"

"Mash! Help me. This is an order from your Director!" Olga's scream faded as Cú carried her ahead of them. Romani who somehow remained with them blinked and shrugged.

"At least he's enthusiastic about it." Dr. Romani scratched his cheek, unsure about what happened.

Editing and revising, are tedious. lol

Additional note: To edit more in the future.