Artoria: "What is taking Naru so long?"

Artoria paced back and forth in front of the gate. It had been 15 minutes since Naru entered the church, and she was getting nervous. The gatekeeper noticed this and decided to talk to her.

Old man: "Hey lassy! What's got ya lookin' so spooked?"

Artoria: "Is my master going to be okay?"

Old man: "Don't worry about it, the church is neutral territory. Your master is in good hands."

Artoria: "I hope you're right."

Old man: "While yer waiting, do ya want to know somethin' about the church?"

Artoria: *Sigh* "Sure, why not?"

Out of nowhere, the old man pulled out an accordion and started singing!

"Theeere's! Nooooo! BATHROOM! There's no bathroom!

If she needs to use the bathroom!

Tell her that there is no bathroom!

Please don't pee in my balloon!

This may be a bit more bumpy

than a plane ride or a taxi!

But I promise it is worth it

and your lady, she will swoon!"

Artoria: "I…wha-?"

"PLEASE DON'T POOP IN MY BALLOON!"

has stopped working. Press 'x' to continue.

Artoria snapped out of it and regained her composure.

Artoria: "Just remain calm. He is simply a strange old man who wants attention. Just ignore him and-"

Artoria suddenly froze. She could no longer feel her master's emotions or hear his thoughts through their telepathic connection. Her master was in danger! She rushed towards the gate, but the old man grabbed her by the shoulder.

Old man: "Whoa, whoa! Where are ya goin'?"

Artoria: "I have to go inside!"

Old man: "I told ya lassy! No servants allowed in the church!"

Artoria: "You don't understand! My master is in peril! Now let go of me! I need to-"

Then, Artoria noticed something strange. She was unable to break the old man's grip on her shoulder. As soon as she noticed this, the old man's grip got tighter, breaking her shoulder blade and causing her to bend over in pain.

Old man: "I don't think I made myself clear. No servants allowed…INSIDE!"

He followed up with a kick to her stomach, which shattered her armor and caused her to fly down the stone slope until she crashed at the bottom of the steps. She struggled to get up. Despite the armor serving as protection, the blow to the chest still broke five of her ribs. She looked at the old man with a snarl on her face.

Artoria: "Who- *cough* -the hell are you?"

The old man slowly walked down the steps.

Old man: "Here's a hint!"

The brown cloak he was wearing turned into a green one with gold crosses decorated across it. Underneath, he wore a black, long-sleeved shirt with matching black pants and boots. In his hand, he wielded a golden staff with a bladed cross on one end, and a sharp hook on the other.

Artoria: "Lancer!"

Lancer: "That's right, and you are Saber!"

A sadistic grin spread across Lancer's face. Artoria had little time to react as Lancer dashed down the steps and collided with her, their weapons creating sparks as Artoria was pushed back. Their weapons clashed for a few seconds before Artoria finally pushed Lancer back just enough to jump back three steps.

Lancer: "Yer pretty strong, aren't ya! I guess I'll have to take you seriously."

Lancer pulled a bag of coins out of his cloak and began tossing the coins all over the battlefield.

Lancer: "Alright! Now that the battlefield is set, we can start fightin' now."

Artoria was a bit puzzled. What was the purpose of the coins covering the battlefield? Artoria had to be cautious. She had a bad feeling seeing those coins on the ground. She charged forward at Lancer, aiming a slash at his head. Lancer responded by blocking it with his staff. He thrust the sword back at her, with Artoria stopping the blade with her other hand to stop her own sword from splitting her head.

Artoria: "What was that?"

Artoria didn't have time to think about it as Lancer attacked with a series of slashes and thrusts from his staff. She managed to deflect all blows with her sword, all the while examining her opponent.

Artoria: "So far, his moveset appears quite basic, only slightly above average. Perhaps he was a spirit who didn't use a spear in life? Was he placed into the lancer class unwillingly? I should continue to engage him and find out more."

She released several more blows at Lancer, this time using more strength in every strike. Lancer was put off guard by the increased strength of the attacks. One of Artoria's blows managed to break Lancer's defense, leaving his chest wide open.

Artoria: "I got you, Lancer!"

She thrust her sword, ready to impale him. However, as she was about to deliver the killing blow…

Artoria: "A…A…..ACHOO!"

…she sneezed, causing her to close her eyes and only succeed at grazing his side. Lancer took the opportunity to kick her square in the chest, sending her flying backward. Artoria quickly got up, completely stunned.

Artoria: "What the hell was that!? Why did I-? No, calm down Artoria. Sneezing happens. You just happened to sneeze at an inopportune time."

After recovering from the initial shock, she and Lancer exchanged a multitude of blows. Artoria went for a swipe meant to cut off his head, only for him to duck and cause her to trip with the hooked end of his staff. He then went to stab her with the crossed end while she was down, but she rolled out of the way to avoid it. She then got up while Lancer's staff was embedded in the ground and went to cut off his head.

Artoria: "I got you now!"

However, the coins covering the ground reflected the sun's rays and blinded her, causing her to miss the killing blow again. Lancer by this time had pulled his staff out of the ground and slashed her across the belly. Artoria stumbled backward holding her wound.

Artoria: "Alright! This is no longer a coincidence! Something is going on!"

Lancer: "What's the matter? Oh, I see! You appear to be havin' trouble with my noble phantasm aren't ya!"

Artoria: "Noble phantasm?"

Lancer: "Yeah! However I have to admit, even this is making it a little unfair. Tell ya what…"

Lancer dematerialized his staff and spread out his arms.

Lancer: "I'll let you have one free hit before I wreck yer shit. How about it?"

Artoria: "Don't get cocky Lancer!"

Artoria charged towards Lancer ready to stab him in the gut. As her sword got closer to Lancer until…

SHLICK!

The sword stabbed something. However, Lancer didn't have a wound on him. When Artoria looked down, she saw the invisible handle of her sword sticking out of her abdomen. Artoria had stabbed herself.

Artoria: "Im…posible!"

Artoria pulled the sword out of her stomach and stumbled backward.

Lancer: "Alright! Ya had yer chance at a free hit and now, it's time fer a beatdown!"

Lancer materialized his staff and split it in two, forming two separate weapons.

Artoria: "Dammit! I can't fight him in my current condition! I have no other choice but to use my scabbard!"

Artoria reached out her hand and began a chant.

Artoria: "Behold! The everdistant utopia! Avalo-"

She was cut mid-sentence by a red glow that permeated throughout her body, preventing her from using the noble phantasm.

Artoria: "What's this? A command spell is preventing me from using my scabbard!?"

She didn't have time to think about it as Lancer came to her like a typhoon, delivering blow after blow, with Artoria struggling to defend against them all as she only had use of one arm. The other was being used to cover her wound. Then, Artoria slipped on the coins on the ground, knocking her onto her back. Lancer then stabbed Artoria in the gut with the crossed weapon, while she hooked onto her leg with the hooked weapon.

Lancer then dragged her across the ground before using the hook to lift her off the ground and slam her face into the stone steps, breaking her nose and causing multiple skull fractures.

Artoria tried to crawl away, but Lancer still had her hooked. He then pulled the hooked weapon out of her leg, ripping out her tendons in the process. He then connected the weapons forming his staff once again.

Lancer: "So long, wee lass!"

He stabbed her with his staff, impaling her through her back and out her front, pinning her to the ground.

Lancer: "Ya look like yer in a tough spot. Lucky for you, yer not alone."

Marylin exited the church holding Naru's unconscious body. Artoria looked on in despair after seeing the state of her master.

Artoria: "No!"

Marylin: "Lancer, have you dealt with the enemy servant?"

Lancer: "Of course Master! They are pinned and unable to move!"

Marylin: "Good."

She tossed Naru's body down the stone steps and next to Artoria, who tugged Naru closer to her.

Lancer: "She's trying to protect her master. Now I feel kind of bad. Do I finish them?"

Marylin: "No, let them wallow in their misery. The master is almost dead. Once he dies, the servant will disappear as well, and with the servant pinned, they won't be able to bring them to safety. There is nothing more for us to do."

Lancer: "Yikes! That is ice cold!"

Marylin: "I don't care. Come on Lancer."

Marylin walked back up the stone steps while Lancer returned to spirit form, leaving Naru and Artoria behind.

Artoria: "This is it. This is how I die. I'm sorry Naru. I wasn't able to protect you. And I'm sorry Shirou. It looks like our reunion will be cut short. Everyone…forgive me."

Artoria then closed her eyes, and let unconsciousness take her.