A set of black covers, silken and soft. The kind that he expected only someone like Rin would put up with, despite not knowing the secret of Rin's morning maladies. Those who had finery like this rarely had sensible hearts- it was just a bias he had developed since his time at Atlas- and the few times he and Tohsaka had warred and traded barbs (mostly her to him, since he'd been nothing but professional with her as far as he could understand). Coming from a mundane background had made him woefully underprepared for dealing with the Aristocracy.
Gilgamesh: "No wonder Ishtar chose her as a vessel," he muttered, now feeling that detail made sense to him.
Arturia: "I'd like to see them dressed up for a gala," she murmured, imagining her Master Shirou and EMIYA in formal attire, their suits tailored perfectly to their figures.
She wasn't alone in this little fantasy. Several women nearby began imagining how EMIYA and Shirou would look in such tight-fitting, formal suits, accentuating their well-toned muscles.
A deep blush crept onto many of their faces as their thoughts wandered, and they found themselves lost in increasingly vivid fantasies. Some were even starting to overheat as their minds wandered further, heads almost steaming from the intensity of their thoughts involving the red-clad Archer.
Merlin: "...Didn't we have a suit-wearing contest at some point?" he mentioned, recalling the time when, out of boredom, some of the male Servants had held a competition to see who looked best in formal attire.
At this revelation, many of the women turned to the men with raised eyebrows, surprised and somewhat incredulous that they had actually done something like that.
For a moment, he feels a sudden heat under him, and he turns his gaze from his own body down unto the sigil that is carefully drawn into the sheets of the bed. The language is not one he knows, but he also knows that he has seen it before. And, better than that, he at least knows why he does not know it- save for it's similarities to something he'd seen enough in his life that he could still picture it vividly in his head.
Upon seeing the symbol, it was enough for a group to recognize its significance.
Arturia: "...You've got to be kidding me," she muttered in disbelief, realizing where Shirou was.
Lanturia: "Of all places... why did it have to be that one?" she spoke with a heavy sigh. Out of all the lands in Britain, the redhead had wandered into her elder sister's domain.
Salter: "...Burn to ashes," she cursed quietly, furious that her vessel was now trapped in Morgan's territory, severely hindering their reunion.
Fae script. Rather, all of his scholastic prejudice termed it "Elemental Language", even though he personally felt that was just an excuse at categorizing something that was beyond them as it was. He had no idea what the circle was, but he was sure he would find out shortly as the glow dissipated and the sound of footsteps filled the corridor beyond the room he was in.
Barghest: "...Oh heavens," she murmured, realizing this situation could end far worse than it appeared.
Morgan, meanwhile, had an unsettling feeling that something very strange was about to happen if this continued. Something that would undoubtedly spiral into chaos.
Saber had drilled it into him, never let the enemy have you as they want you. But right then, Shirou didn't have the time to do more than give the room the sudden intense glance to make stock of what he could and couldn't do. And the sad truth was, not much. It was a bedroom, and the bed was truly the most ostentatious thing about it. A four-poster thing that he was sure would have been considered dated by modern standards but looked finely carved. Beyond that, a vanity and chair, a few side-tables, and a desk. It was- well- like some kind of guest room. Except the only lighting was a series of candles and a glimmering orb of some kind.
He would later decide the orb was hilariously stereotypical, but that was when the door slid open and a figure walked in and stole his breath away. For some, that was considered metaphorical, but right in that moment Shirou felt his heartbeat -stop-. A blue gown trailed along the floor while blonde hair spilled from her head. Emerald eyes quirked in a sharpness that reminded him of some of his teachers rather than the wide-eyed young-looking girl, but his brain was willing to fill in the details and make his heartache.
Saber?
Arturias (Lily included): "OF COURSE NOT!" Several of them shouted in unison, outraged that Shirou had mistaken Morgan for one of them. It was a deeply insulting comparison.
Salter: "Like hell I look anything like that witch!" she growled, gripping her weapon tightly, seething with anger.
However, one Servant watched the scene with teary eyes, unable to stop her heart from aching as the pain of the situation hit her hard.
As for Baobhan Sith, she remained unconscious, blissfully unaware of what was unfolding. For now, at least, there would be no outbursts from her.
EMIYA: "...Okay, I didn't expect him to end up in Morgan's territory this soon, but considering what we've seen, I probably should have. So I guess I'm not that surprised... just a little," he muttered, watching the scene unfold, 99.9999999% sure this was due to his bad luck, though he wasn't sure why it still surprised him.
Arturia: "And for no reason should you ever be in that place!" she exclaimed at the Archer, turning to face him, looking up even though they were both seated. Their height difference was clear even in this position, though her concern for him remained undiminished.
But deep down, Shirou knew it wasn't really her, not the Saber he had known. He could tell from the subtle differences. For one, Saber would—never—smile like that. That expression belonged more on the face of a Caster, and for a moment, Shirou felt an odd desire to punch someone. Some things just never changed.
Medea: "Oh my... it seems you appreciate me," she spoke with clear sarcasm, reacting to Shirou's previous thoughts about her.
EMIYA: "After what you did to Saber with that dress? Of course not. I just want to bake your wedding cake and fulfill all your requests," his words were laced with sarcasm.
Medea: "Hey! Don't act like you didn't enjoy seeing Saber in that dress... under different circumstances, of course," she pointed out, leaving the Archer momentarily speechless, while Arturia blushed furiously, knowing exactly what they were talking about.
EMIYA: "...Okay, I can't argue with that," he admitted, quickly diverting his gaze, trying to avoid the incredulous and blushing look on Arturia's face.
Medea: "...You want the dress, don't you?" she asked, easily guessing what was on his mind.
EMIYA: "...I'll cook whatever you want for a month," he proposed as a deal.
Medea: "Two months, and for two people," she countered with her offer.
EMIYA: "A month and a half," he replied with his final offer.
Medea: "Deal," she agreed with a smile, already imagining Arturia back in that dress, a blush creeping onto her own face at the thought.
Meanwhile, Arturia could feel her face burning with embarrassment, and she wasn't alone. Many of her other faces, who shared similar body types, also blushed at the thought of themselves in that dress.
"So you are awake." The voice is even different. Saber's voice had always been placid, demure. It had a soft, but hard edge, that made him feel like if she touched him the way she spoke, he would only be at risk of her cutting him if he had forced her to. This woman's voice was . . .
Tinkling. There was no other way to describe it. It was more mature, certainly, but her voice sounded like bells rather than a glove. He recognized the language, at least. English- but perhaps it wasn't even necessary for him to rely on his knowledge of it. The way her lips moved seemed out of sync.
Billy the Kid: "Yeah, it's real subtle how much he loves her," he chuckled, clearly amused by Shirou's description of Arturia's voice.
EMIYA, blushing slightly, scratched his cheek, trying to avoid making eye contact with any of the Arturias in the room after Billy's comment.
Merlin: "I approve of the kid," he announced as if he were a father approving his daughter's suitor. "And when you two finally... you know, get together, make sure to share all the juicy details with me. Oh, and if you give me grandkids, even better!" He grinned widely, waggling his eyebrows before Fou delivered a swift smack to silence him.
Arturia: "MERLIN!" she screamed, absolutely mortified by her teacher's shameless remarks. There was no way she would ever share any such details with him—certainly not about anything like that.
The other Arturia-faces weren't faring much better. They were all equally red-faced, burning with embarrassment at Merlin's ridiculous demands. None of them were going to indulge his fantasies, that much was certain.
Fergus: "So, you prefer the voice of those versions, huh?" He pointed to the Lancer versions of the King of Knights, the more mature incarnations of her.
Neither EMIYA nor any of his counterparts said a word in protest, which only caused Fergus to laugh, pleased that he had hit the mark with his teasing.
Meanwhile, Arturia, Salter, and Squirturia glanced down at their own chests in comparison, feeling the weight—or rather, the lack—of their busts pressing against their ribs. Their flatness was unparalleled, and the realization stung.
Merlin: "It's not like having a 97 cm chest is easy, you know," he revealed, causing many to look at him in confusion.
Boudica: "What are you talking about?" she asked, not quite understanding the point the Mage of Flowers was making.
Merlin: "About chests, obviously. Archer here has a 97 cm chest. It can't be easy finding clothes that fit." His casual comment left many of the women unsure how to feel. The fact that EMIYA had a larger chest than most of them stung a bit.
Salter/Arturia/Squirturia: -Feeling their female pride completely shattered.-
EMIYA: "MERLIN!" he shouted in anger, absolutely livid that his chest measurements had just been announced to everyone.
Merlin: "What? I was just saying," he replied innocently, seeing no harm in having said it.
Do we even need to explain what Fou did next?
Fou: Fou fou!—Cue another smack to the head, Merlin groaning as he realized too late that perhaps he should have kept his observations to himself this time.
Gaia was kind today, it seemed. He would not argue.
Merlin: "Gaia being kind?" he raised an eyebrow. The idea of Gaia and kind being in the same sentence didn't sit well with him.
Super Orion: "I've got a bad feeling something's about to go wrong..." The Grand Archer felt a deep sense of foreboding like the air itself was thick with impending bloodshed.
Tezcatlipoca: "Death is calling..." He glanced over at King Hassan, then quickly added, "Not you, old man," averting his gaze from the Death Incarnate.
"I am." He tried responding, amber eyes fixed on THAT face that brought him back so many memories and so much heartache. He'd swore he'd wait forever for her, hunt forever for her, and . . . he'd done something insensible and crazy. Yes, Shirou was prone to such things, he already knew.
EMIYA lowered his gaze, reflecting on his own past. Unlike that boy, he hadn't been able to save his Saber, and that was his deepest regret, a pain he carried within himself, always burdened with self-blame. At least that fool had succeeded in part, but the boy still had a long journey ahead in his search. EMIYA hoped that Shirou would be able to complete what he couldn't.
EMIYA: "Emiya Shirou... a broken existence without a purpose of his own, chasing an impossible ideal. That's what led to his downfall... but at the same time, Emiya Shirou is an existence determined to reach his goals." A faint smile tugged at his lips as he watched the boy struggle to reach his version of Utopia. Now, he was curious to see what this kid would be capable of in the end.
DEMIYA: "If you continue down the same path... no, if you keep striving to reach her or find her, prove it, Emiya Shirou. Show me if you can surpass that impossible ideal of being a hero of justice who saves everyone," he mused, remembering the path that had turned him into what he was today. He wondered if this kid would be able to protect his loved ones and his family, as he once hoped to do.
Several others in the room listened to the words EMIYA and DEMIYA directed at Shirou, all curious to see if this young man could truly reach the one he loved.
Martha: "May God be with you, young Master, and may His cradle protect you from the unknown fate that awaits you," she prayed for the redhead, hoping he wouldn't face any dangers too great during his journey into this different time.
Many of the religious Servants also offered their prayers, asking for guidance and protection over the boy as he ventured into this unfamiliar world. They wished for him to find peace after his long ordeal.
The slight curl of her brows said that he was understood. She was irritated, it was an expression he was terribly familiar with- and it made him want to apologize without even a thought attached to the action.
"It is rare for a Familiar to take the form of a human. Even more so when he reeks of something that should not be in his hands."
She is probing him, he can tell. Not yet using magic he knows she possesses, she roils with magical energy in a way that even his almost-blind preternatural senses can see. In preparation for this "foolhardy stunt", he had done countless days of research.
Mordred: "If you don't want to end up like my father, you better start talking quickly," she advised, knowing her mother's patience wasn't exactly long-lasting. It was best to hurry up or face the consequences of Morgan's wrath.
EMIYA: "...Knowing my luck, I assure you, one way or another, I'm going to end up like that," he said, fully aware of how his cursed luck worked—bad things were far more likely to happen than good.
Mordred: "...Damn it!" she cursed, annoyed at the inevitability of it all.
EMIYA: "Don't worry... I'm used to it. As long as I don't end up like him," he pointed at DEMIYA, who promptly gave him the middle finger in response.
Angra: "Just keep him away from nuns, and he'll be fine," he added with a smirk. For some reason, Caren felt an overwhelming urge to punch the embodiment of all evil.
EMIYA: "...For once, I agree with him," he nodded in reluctant agreement.
Senji: "Same here," he added, feeling that it was better to be cautious about the kid than to ignore the warning.
DEMIYA: "...Go to hell, all of you. I hope you never get the Kusanagi, old man. I hope you keep getting used as a toy, Angra, and I hope Archer never gets freed from Alaya's grip," he cursed them with what he knew would hurt the most.
Angra/Senji/EMIYA: "...My heart, you bastard," they muttered, feeling the sting of DEMIYA's verbal blows.
Laughter erupted from the crowd as they witnessed the playful banter between the group. Their dispute had to be broken up by the Arturias sitting next to them, who each took a seat beside their respective EMIYA variants.
And it made him scared of what the only possibility was. Which only made his desire to respond to her as if she was Rin and not the Witch he suspected her to be, even more strong. Let it never be said that Shirou was good with women, because he certainly was not.
EMIYA: "If Rin were here, she'd probably punch me right about now," he chuckled softly, only to be promptly smacked by Arturia instead.
Arturia: "Don't compare Rin to Morgan! Rin is far better," she huffed, her cheeks puffed slightly as she looked at the Archer, who nodded with a light-hearted laugh.
Ishtar: "That's right, keep praising me more!" she declared in a lofty tone, clearly enjoying the attention and expecting more adoration.
Without even realizing it, EMIYA had brought his hand up and started gently patting the goddess's head, his fingers lightly running through her hair.
Ishtar froze at the sudden affection from the Archer, and when EMIYA realized what he was doing, he quickly pulled his hand back, apologizing.
EMIYA: "I'm sorry... I didn't mean to. It was a habit from when I was with your vessel as my Master," he explained, turning his attention back to the screen, missing the way Ishtar stared at him for a moment.
Ishtar: "...Wow, I'm jealous of that girl..." she thought, feeling something in the way EMIYA had touched her. His vessel... was more cherished than a goddess of love and beauty.
The goddess hugged her knees slightly, a small, almost bittersweet smile forming on her face as, for the first time, she felt a pang of envy toward a human—her own vessel. She, Ishtar, realized that Rin was loved more than a goddess could ever be.
"It is even more rare," He had to actually pause and swallow past a mouth filled with spittle all of a sudden.
Fergus: "Of course, you've got your mouth watering, kid. You were looking at a complete beauty right in front of you—no surprise you were drooling at the thought of claiming her for yourself!" he teased, his booming voice filled with laughter, which made EMIYA roll his eyes... until he saw Arturia staring at him with a very pointed expression.
EMIYA: "I'm well-mannered enough not to be what Fergus is saying!" he clarified quickly, realizing it wasn't just Arturia giving him the side-eye—many of the other Arturia-faces were also scrutinizing him.
Fergus: "Sure, sure, kid. It's totally not obvious how you're eyeing up the sister of the woman you love, right?" he laughed loudly, gesturing toward how Shirou was staring at Morgan in the scene, his tone dripping with teasing.
Morgan, the Fairy Queen, was deeply embarrassed, her face flushed with red as she stood there. This was exactly why she disliked wearing revealing outfits—they made her feel far too exposed.
On the other hand, the Queen of the Lostbelt made a small grimace at Fergus' remarks. Having interacted with EMIYA several times, she knew enough about him to recognize that he wasn't the type Fergus was implying, though the Celtic warrior's comments were starting to irritate her a little.
Teasing, playful remarks were not things he was used to putting out, but he had a feeling that showing her the weakness of embarrassment was . . . unwise. "For a man to wake up in the bed of a woman and not know what happened."
Edmond: "It's even worse when you wake up with a headache and no memory of what happened," he remarked, drawing on the experience he had shared with his savior from D'If during his imprisonment.
Fergus: "The last time that happened to me, I ended up three cities away from where I started drinking... and without my weapon," he mentioned, still unable to understand how that came to be.
Scathach: "Setanta once slept with a pig..." she chuckled, reminiscing on the bizarre event.
Fionn: "The last time the knights and I drank, we all woke up without our weapons... and Diarmuid was impaled on a tree somehow," the dual-wielding lancer added with a nervous laugh, recalling that chaotic night. Not to mention how Grainne had taken advantage of him on that occasion... and several others after that.
Skadi: "Odin tied himself to a tree, insisting that no mere giants could knock him out, even without defending himself," she muttered, sweating as she recalled the incident while gently stroking Voyager's head, who was comfortably resting on her lap.
As Shirou processed these humorous and strange anecdotes, a pause came over him, correcting his earlier thoughts. For a brief moment, he couldn't help but smile internally. He would never have said something so brazen, so incredibly playful when he was younger—when he still had women around him who enjoyed spending time with him.
The pause, the correction of her thoughts, played across her face and for a moment Shirou couldn't help but smile internally. He would never have said anything so crass and unbelievably -playful- when he was younger and actually had women who enjoyed spending time with him.
Merlin: "Look at him, a proper ladies' man now. I'm so proud..." he wiped away a fake tear of joy, his expression exaggerated.
For some reason, EMIYA Assassins felt a strange sense of pride in Shirou's development.
As for Irisviel?
Irisviel: "A womanizer son = many women = lots of grandchildren," she thought, her eyes sparkling. It was a total win-win for her.
Meanwhile, EMIYA and the others had a sinking feeling that frequent trips to the infirmary for hip-related issues were in their future.
He could admit that he would have stuck his foot in his mouth before she'd even walked into the room. Shirou had a lot of time for self-reflection while he was . . . immersed.
"You risk much." She said an edge in her voice that he knew was a good sign since she hadn't immediately leapt to trying to kill him. He had put her off guard, even if only in a minuscule way. Never let them keep their footing, Saber had said, and he had taken that lesson to heart as well.
"Saying things like that," Morgan continued, her eyes narrowing as if measuring him.
EMIYA: "Your Majesty, Emiya Shirou is a first-class daredevil. Don't doubt that he'll say something like that—or worse." He gestured toward the screen, and Morgan sighed deeply. It seemed she would have to get used to this reckless nature from now on.
DEMIYA: "He flirts with death... literally," he muttered, sweating slightly as he recalled just how suicidal the kid could be.
Senji: "Better to be forging swords than flirting with death," he grumbled, his own body tensing at the thought. "Mocoso," he growled, though his irritation was somewhat softened by the fact that Castoria, looking drowsy, had started using his shoulder as a pillow, slowly drifting off to sleep.
For a moment, he tried to think of how to respond, how to keep this moment in his control, but he let his nature take over and- with a shy little smile that felt strange to his more mature soul- rubbed the nape of his neck with a hand. "I apologize. You remind me of someone dear to me, and so I teased you."
Salter: "Tsk, just because it's you, I'll forgive you," she muttered under her breath, a soft blush forming on her pale cheeks as she turned her gaze away, embarrassed.
Arturia, on the other hand, smiled faintly. Even with her sister present, there was still a part of her that longed to be with Shirou, hoping they could finally end up together as they both wished.
With a glimmer of hope, she gently placed her hand on the armrest, resting it over EMIYA's. Feeling her touch, the Archer turned to look at her, noticing the hopeful expression in her eyes as she watched the screen. He squeezed her hand gently, causing her to glance at him. He responded with a warm, comforting smile, his fingers closing around hers as their palms pressed together.
Her eyes narrowed, but the slow way her shoulders relaxed said that he would get to survive at least a few minutes longer. Either he'd caught her in a good mood, or she was invested in him. Neither was a particularly good concept at the moment, but it was better than the other options.
Mordred: "She probably has plans for you... ones where you'll be useful," she spoke from experience, her voice laced with the grim reality of dealing with Morgan.
EMIYA: "...It wouldn't be the first time," he sighed, sounding weary, while Arturia glanced at him with concern, hoping that her sister wouldn't manipulate or brainwash him into something that would force them into conflict.
"You remain lucky to be in my good grace, as a guest of my home." Ah-hah, she was startlingly easy to deal with.
The Knights/Arturia-faces: "No, of course, it's not that easy," they muttered in unison. They knew the witch far too well to believe her words were anything less than a misleading understatement.
Meanwhile, Baobhan Sith remained unconscious.
Melusine: "How long will she stay like this?" she asked, glancing at the fairy who had yet to wake up.
Barghest: "...For all our sakes, I hope she stays out for the rest of this universe," she replied, eyeing the unfolding scenes that could easily push the redheaded fairy to unleash her Noble Phantasm in a very unpleasant way on EMIYA.
Melusine: "...Yeah, let's hope she doesn't wake up before it's over," she added nervously, beads of sweat forming as she imagined the potential chaos they'd have to prevent.
Of course, he only thought that in that moment out of a memory to a much more... friendly . . . blonde woman. He willed down the blush that wanted to touch his cheeks.
"Your name."
In good timing, too, since it seemed this little game of word tennis was going to come to an end. She had demanded it, there was no give in her stance now. He was playing with fire, but that was something he was used to.
"Shirou."
He gives it, bowing his head in full politeness since he is bedridden and has at least enough awareness of himself to know that standing at that moment would be unwise.
"And you, My Lady?"
It is natural to say, he has learned enough from his time at Atlas- even if countless other students had laughed at him when he would inevitably upset some Aristocrat. Magi were one thing, but Alchemists were another.
Arturia: "...You never addressed me like that," she muttered, unable to suppress the twinge of jealousy bubbling up inside her after watching the interaction on screen.
EMIYA immediately began to sweat, feeling the growing intensity of Arturia's grip on his hand. She was squeezing harder and harder, and he knew exactly why.
EMIYA: "Remember, you didn't want me to be formal in case I got captured and they tried to use me to learn your identity," he explained quickly. The tension in her grip relaxed a bit after that, much to his relief. He really needed his hands intact for cooking.
For a moment, he is sure she will not answer. In fact, she damn near looks ready to walk out of the room in that moment.
Angra: "I know it seems like a bad impression, but if you train him right, he becomes a pretty good pet. Trust me, just try it, and he'll be giving you his paw in no time," Angra joked, seizing the opportunity to poke fun at EMIYA.
EMIYA: "Do I look like Cu Chulainn to you?!" he snapped, glaring at Angra.
Angra: "Yes." He didn't even hesitate for a second to answer.
EMIYA: "...You didn't even think about it," EMIYA said, feeling defeated by the quick comeback.
Meanwhile, Morgan, for some reason, couldn't help but imagine Shirou as a puppy. Her pale cheeks flushed slightly at the thought, leaving her feeling a bit embarrassed.
(Protagonist voice: Don't worry, folks, I'll win her over at varying speeds. Shift gears.)
He is presuming again, in her eyes- that he is of value or interest enough to even know that tidbit of personal information. But, he also knows that she was raised to a certain expectation- and that he at least has what little he did find out about Camelot to wield as a sword in this arena.
"Shirou,"
She tests his name on her tongue, and he sees her tongue and teeth as her face- nearly like Saber's- grimaces for a moment as she is stuck between politeness in the face of similar, or continuing this interrogation-like dialogue.
Arturia squeezed EMIYA's hand a bit harder, her frustration and worry evident as she continued to watch the screen. Meanwhile, Morgan wore a slight grimace. She was growing tired of constantly being compared to her sister, Arturia, and it was starting to irk her.
Yoshinaka: "Kid, a piece of advice... never look at another woman when you're married," he said with a hint of warning in his voice.
Tomoe elbowed him sharply for the comment, pouting.
Yoshinaka: "You chased me for three days because some woman falsely claimed I got her pregnant," he retorted, clearly remembering the ordeal. Tomoe couldn't respond and instead turned her head with a small pout, causing Yoshinaka to sigh before gently patting her head affectionately.
EMIYA: "I know... all too well," he muttered, recalling how often he'd had similar issues.
Many of the other Servants couldn't help but feel a bit of sympathy for him, imagining the headaches he must have gone through.
"You do not know of me?"
She asks, putting herself above him in station, and making it look like his own failing. It is not clumsy, like he remembers some students, but well-practiced. He respects her for that. She is not belittling him, only strengthening herself.
EMIYA let out a small sigh, his thoughts wandering. "If I could remember everything I've been through, I'd probably have so many unresolved issues that not becoming an Avenger would be a miracle... I think. It's hard to tell with all this mess in my head." Some of the others couldn't help but sweat nervously at his remark.
"Besides, how could I ever forget someone who looks exactly like Arturia?" he thought nostalgically, a faint smile tugging at his lips as he looked at the screen.
Of course, Arturia saw that smile and, panicking, misinterpreted it as EMIYA smiling at Morgan. The thought of that made her heart race with anxiety, her mind filling with all the worst-case scenarios she didn't want to imagine.
Shirou stood firm as he spoke. He recognized how similar Arturia and Morgan were—two sides of the same coin, one walking in the light, the other in the shadows.
She and her sister are very alike, even if one walks in the Light and the other in the Shadows.
"I think I do."
Shirou answers, relying on his honesty in the face of someone he considered an enemy. Certainly, perhaps she could have been Artoria's mother, Queen Igraine, but Shirou had learned to put two and two together many years ago.
"Lady Morgan Pendragon, daughter of Uther Pendragon, King of Britain. Am I right?"
Teach: "And the kid saved himself," the pirate noted, seeing how Shirou had narrowly avoided a potential disaster.
Francis: "If he hadn't pulled that off, things would've gone south real fast," she added, with Mordred nodding in agreement, understanding exactly how delicate the situation was.
Mordred: "Most likely, she would've either hypnotized him with magic or pulled something similar to what the Beast did to the Alter," she remarked. That thought alone caused DEMIYA to tense up, imagining that hypothetical scenario.
Without a word, DEMIYA summoned his gunblades, aiming them at his own head, intending to end it before anything like that could happen.
Crack!
Salter was faster, shattering his gunblades before he could follow through, leaving DEMIYA groaning in frustration.
DEMIYA: "...Damn it," he cursed under his breath, clearly upset his attempt was thwarted.
EMIYA chuckled slightly, smiling at his fellow Emiya's misfortune. "Poor guy..." he muttered, finding amusement in the suffering of another version of himself.
But Arturia, knowing full well what he was enjoying, tugged on EMIYA's ear, forcing an apology out of him as he mumbled under his breath. Satisfied, Arturia released his ear and gave a nod, smiling contentedly.
Meanwhile, back on screen, Shirou's bold question had caused Morgan's face to return to that controlled, firm smile. That expression told him all he needed to know about the woman who was the sister of his beloved. It also made him feel like a successful magician, which was both uplifting and a bit depressing.
Shirou had never mastered the art of lying, but he had gotten very good at controlling how he shared the truth.
Cien Rostros: "That's quite useful if you're not capable of lying..." they admitted. If the kid couldn't lie, then being able to control how he shared the truth was just as effective as telling a decent lie.
Serenity: "As long as he avoids saying too much with his truth," she added. Even so, if Shirou wasn't careful with his words, it could be just as ineffective as a lie getting exposed.
Angra: "Don't worry, he'll be fine... probably," he muttered, munching on popcorn and waiting for the inevitable blow to the boy.
Bunnyturia gave him a sharp look of disapproval for his comment.
Morgan's voice rang out again.
"That's right, Shirou."
She flashed her teeth in a way that made her seem almost... cute, much to Shirou's surprise.
Diarmuid: "Careful, or you'll get hit by one of those arrows," he chuckled lightly, amused by how Morgan was handling Shirou.
Arturia, however, looked entirely panicked, her eyes wide with concern. She didn't want her sister to steal away the one she held dear.
EMIYA sighed, gently patting Arturia's head to calm her down. There was no need for her to be so alarmed—after all, she was here with him. Besides, the Fairy Queen seemed more interested in the Master than in anyone else.
(Protagonist: "Hell yeah, she's married... time to shift into overdrive!" Shifts gears to the max.)
Lancelot: "You don't think... she'll actually do it, do you?" he asked, glancing at his fellow knights.
Gawain: "...She might, honestly." He knew his mother all too well and wouldn't be surprised if Morgan tried to meddle with her king's relationship. It wouldn't be out of character for her to get involved if it suited her desires.
Astolfo: "What a shame, looks like they're about to pull a Lancelot on the King of Knights," he said with a dramatic sigh, earning an offended glare from Lancelot himself.
Meanwhile, Melusine was more focused on making sure that Baobhan Sith didn't wake up and cause a scene rather than paying attention to the conversation about her.
Shirou couldn't tell if it was Morgan's charm working on him or if he was simply projecting Arturia's image onto her. Of course, he would never admit that thought out loud.
"Then, you should be well aware of how kind I've been, letting you sleep in a bed in my house. Not to mention, after you've done something as embarrassing as flirting with me." Morgan's voice carried a teasing edge as she addressed him, clearly enjoying the situation.
Salter: "...Shirou." DEMIYA now felt it might be best to leave before things got worse.
Arturia: "...Shirou." Unfortunately for EMIYA, he couldn't escape, as Arturia had a firm grip on his hand, making sure he couldn't run off.
Angra: "Oh man, that can't be good," he muttered, watching as Bunnyturia gave him a look colder than winter.
Senji, however, was in a worse situation, trapped between three Castorias who were staring at him with dangerously sharp gazes.
Senji—looking at the fourth wall—held up a sign that read: "Welp, I'm screwed..." before the fairies started beating him up.
Meanwhile, Morgan pondered aloud, "It's... strange. She let him sleep in her bed, tolerated that so-called 'flirting' without killing him, which means..."
Mordred finished the thought for her mother, "She's going to use him like a pawn in her game, tch." The blonde knight clicked her tongue, already seeing how her mother was setting up yet another move. Morgan wouldn't stop until she had control, or until Camelot fell.
Shirou froze for a moment. Did I flirt with her? he wondered. He had definitely teased her, but that wasn't quite the same, right?
"My lady-" he began to speak, but the delicate hand Morgan raised immediately told him she wasn't interested in hearing his explanation.
"I'm kind," she repeated, a subtle smirk on her lips, and Shirou couldn't help but give her a small smile in return.
"-and I'll forgive you for being awestruck by my beauty. But in exchange, I demand an answer. How did you come to possess Fae constructions?" she asked, referring to the remnants of Avalon's magic in his body.
Even if he told her the truth, it would sound unbelievable.
Merlín: "So, he did have it... interesting, to say the least," he murmured, analyzing the situation with growing curiosity.
Da Vinci: "How effective would that be with Arturia by his side in that time?" she mused, eyeing the screen thoughtfully. Shirou practically had the ultimate defense against nearly everything the world could throw at him.
Lady Avalon: "If Avalon and Excalibur were combined with Arthur—or Arturia, whatever you prefer—he would be virtually invincible in battle. Avalon grants absolute defense, slows aging, and bestows pseudo-immortality, healing even lethal wounds in most cases. In a Holy Grail War scenario, it's a smart idea to leave the Master with the sheath, allowing Arthur or Arturia to fight without worrying about dying." The albino explained, deftly avoiding Fou's attempts to swipe at her while talking.
Irisviel: "Even someone who doesn't have a contract with Arturia can use Avalon, but only if they stay close to her. The effects diminish the farther away they are until Avalon becomes inactive." She added, recalling Kiritsugu's strategy during the Fourth Grail War to prolong his life as a homunculus.
Shirou spoke, "The remnants of a family relic." It was true, in part. He knew it wasn't enough when Morgan glared at him in fury, but he merely shrugged.
Mordred: "You're pushing your luck... way too much," she growled softly, watching Morgan's burning gaze.
EMIYA: "It's part of my nature... ow." He winced, still covered in bandages from the injuries Arturia had given him earlier.
Morgan warned him coldly, "You won't enjoy life if you refuse to answer." Despite the threat, Shirou felt a sense of relief that she still found him interesting. After all, a warning was better than the alternative. She could have easily chosen to strip him of Avalon and unravel its secrets herself, but for some reason, she hadn't. Why? He couldn't quite figure it out.
In unison, EMIYA, DEMIYA, and Senji muttered, "My life isn't my own, it belongs to someone else." They each understood that sentiment all too well—though Senji hadn't even realized he'd said it out loud.
With cautious determination, Shirou dared to push the boundaries once more: "My life isn't mine to live, it's for someone else."
This seemed to settle the tension for a moment, the weight of his words lingering in the air, daring Morgan to challenge his resolve.
Bakastoria: "How did you know he was going to say that?" she asked, curious as she looked at EMIYA.
EMIYA: "Because I'm an Emiya Shirou... and, unfortunately, that's the only truth. My life doesn't belong to me; it's always for someone else, never for myself." He explained with a faint, weary smile. The truth of his existence was one of constant sacrifice, never having known genuine happiness outside the fleeting satisfaction of helping others.
Morgan pressed, "To whom?" Her eyes bore into Shirou, serious once again, seeking the truth.
EMIYA: "To the woman I love..." he murmured softly, a distant look in his eyes as memories of his past floated back to him.
DEMIYA remained silent, but in his gaze, there was a similar story. His life had once belonged to his last remaining family member, his older sister, Taiga Fujimura before he had to make that final, devastating choice.
Senji glanced briefly at Castoria, who looked at him curiously, intrigued by how in sync the EMIYA Shirou variants were with each other. Senji himself was lost in thought, recalling a particular event from his past, perhaps someone he had once cherished.
Shirou, realized that Morgan was interrogating him again, this time with less amusement or ceremony. The brief reprieve had lasted longer than he had expected. Now came the dangerous part—being honest wouldn't win him any favors; in fact, it might get him killed. But lying would be too brazen and would fail immediately. Instead, he chose a different approach, one that would play into something Morgan understood.
"I belong to someone," he repeated. "Not out of duty, but because I've chosen to." He didn't answer directly, but he hoped the subtlety of his words would resonate with her.
Morgan's expression remained unreadable, but there was a flicker of something—perhaps curiosity or recognition of his resolve. Shirou had to keep this dangerous game of words going, knowing full well that a single misstep could end his chances.
Mordred: "If you keep pushing your luck, she will kill you," she warned, not wanting to deal with the headache that could result from this.
Her love of power, of being treated with regality.
"If you will give me time, I will show you that I am worth your while to allow near you, My Lady."
He was treading dangerous waters again, and he knew it from the way her eyes narrowed and her lips pulled back into a sneer. He couldn't help but compare it to Rin, moments before she'd started firing Gandr shots at him again. Bad memories this way and that, especially now.
Ishtar, with a pout, gave EMIYA a light punch on his shoulder, clearly annoyed but not truly angry.
Mordred: "Looks like you're safe for now..." she sighed, relieved that things hadn't taken a worse turn.
Gareth: "Yeah... mother can definitely be a problem," she smiled nervously, scratching her cheek, as Mordred nodded in agreement.
"And you will answer?" She poised.
"With my actions." He agreed, thinking of a head full of blonde hair and green eyes. And differentiating the two in different ways.
Merlin: "Are you going to sleep with her?" he asked with a grin, only to be promptly smacked by Fou.
Angra: "Honestly, if he doesn't, I'd be disappointed," he commented, earning a glare from EMIYA, to which Angra just shrugged.
Morgan herself was sweating a bit, knowing how her pan-human counterpart operated. It wouldn't surprise her if that were to happen.
"Then, your arrival is convenient." Ah, she was back to that smirk. Shirou understood now, she viewed this as a victory. In her mind, she saw him as acquiescing, and playing into her hopes that he would be useful to her.
And he would be, he felt. Perhaps in a way she might not immediately cotton to, but if there was one thing Emiya, Shirou had in spades-
It was a willingness to sacrifice for others.
"The screen turns off."
Arturia, still visibly frustrated, clenched her fists. "She won't change... she's always been like this, manipulating everyone for her own purposes." Her voice was tense, knowing that Shirou might end up as her sister Morgan's pawn in this timeline, unlike in the present.
Percival, always the hopeful knight, added, "Let's pray that Her Majesty can guide Shirou-san and prevent Lady Morgan from using him... and that they can avert the fall of Camelot." His voice carried a sincere, hopeful tone as he clutched his hands in prayer.
Merlin then spoke up casually, "Well, for now, everyone can take a break while this... situation cools down. We'll be back soon to continue watching the show." His carefree tone did little to ease the tension, but the others nodded in agreement, some grateful for the pause.
Barghest, clearly eager for something different, asked, "Aren't we going to see another universe?" She glanced toward where Baobhan Sith was still unconscious.
Merlin gave a sly smile, "Why bother? This one's been very entertaining so far." He chuckled, knowing full well that the current universe had captured everyone's attention.
With that, Merlin left the room, leaving everyone else to their thoughts and some much-needed rest before the next session began.
Meanwhile, a few Servants whispered among themselves, wondering what would happen next, while others kept an eye on Baobhan Sith, ready for any possible reaction once she regained consciousness.