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Sagafest Stenographies

Summary:

“Wait, you’re telling me this is ANOTHER anthological collection of assorted one-shots with no real theme to them apart from all being set in the Fate multiverse? Wow! That’s the most unique story concept I’ve ever seen!”

Chapter 1: An Explanation

Chapter Text

An Explanation

One of my ironclad rules while writing The Saga of Shirou’s Summons is not to take requests. I’m dictated to by my muse, a voice I cannot control or even encourage with anything but music (and even that works rarely). Creating a full chapter out of virtually nothing but a name (“hey can you do muramasa”) or an oft-repeated concept (“caster irisviel I want to see happy emiya family”) is not something that works for her. 

But one day—or perhaps one drunken night—I thought that maybe I could give requests a shot. I’d open myself up to members of my Discord community, let them throw prompts in my general direction, and see if I could make anything interesting. It kept my writing skills sharp in long breaks between updates, it made me more approachable to my community (hopefully), and it was a fun exercise. 

The following is a collection for all of the prompts written during every “Sagafest”, as someone coined them to be called. They have been done three times so far. The second time it happened, I also allowed my friends, the Loresingers, to answer some prompts. I directed which person got which prompt, and gave them complete freedom to answer it however they like. The first and third times I wrote every prompt answer myself. I will label all the ones that were not written by me and let you know who wrote them.

Please go into this with the understanding that all of these were written with a restriction in mind—either in time or in word count. Most of them are pretty short, not even a thousand words. I have not edited these at all, they will be published with any and all spelling and grammar errors and weird syntaxes and what have you. These are raw writings, or as raw as I and my team could get. But I hope you will find some joy in them nonetheless.

This will be updated once a day until I run out of prompt answers to publish, and then I’ll update it any time we have another Sagafest. You are welcome to participate in such by joining the Discord server, invite code somewhere in The Saga of Shirou’s Summons. They happen once every few months, so don’t join with the expectation that you’ll be able to throw prompts at me and instantly get a response. Some of them have actually gotten sprite comics made of them by one of the members of the Discord, Ruceris. I’ll be attaching them to the appropriate story on AO3. For FFN readers, there’s a collection of them pinned in the Discord.

And if you enjoyed what they did, make sure to check out the profiles of the Loresingers—Aberron, TungstenCat, Exstarsis, Kat-2V, YukiKazami, and nd7878.

As always, thanks for reading.

Chapter 2: Mordred and Kiritsugu

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Prompt : “I had a dumb idea of Kiritsugu summoning Mordred instead of Arturia. They'd probably end up fighting each other like angry cats.” — Gaia


The last remaining Emiya (a fact he had made sure of long ago) sighed deeply. 

“Oh, the old man sigh,” Saber said frustratedly. “How original. What next, gonna complain about your back giving out? How the kids these days aren’t respectful enough?”

“I didn’t authorize the use of your Noble Phantasm,” he deflected. 

“Yeah, well, Lancer was about to launch his!” Saber countered. “He coulda killed me or something!”

“So that makes it okay that you took down three cranes at the port, causing tens of millions of yen in damage?”

“Should have made it sturdier,” she mumbled, crossing her arms. “Not my fault the construction company cheaps out on good metal.”

He pinched the bridge of his nose. 

“You’re going to have to point me in the direction of where we can smelt mundane steel that can stand up to the force of a Knight of the Round Table.”

“Not my job!” she replied jubilantly. “I’m a knight, not a... prospector or whatever.”

“I think I would have preferred the prospector...” Kiritsugu mumbled.

Chapter 3: Shirou and Merlin

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Prompt : “My request would be Shirou summoning Merlin and seeing the ensuring fallout/shenanigan's happen.” — Knight_Of_Rebellion


"...only those free of sin may pass." 

His staff struck down into the sea of flowers.

"Garden of Avalon!"

The ground shook violently. An earthquake was splitting apart the street before them, and Shirou stood agape as a nearby skyscraper crumbled to pieces, scattering concrete dust. In its place, a long, ivory and golden tower tore the skyline asunder, casting a shadow over them. 

"A beautiful prison," the Mage of Flowers said, turning to him, "but a prison nonetheless. No one in this city will be out of my sight now. Is that what you wanted?"

"I just wanted to see if there was a sale at the market today!" Shirou yelled indignantly. "I didn't ask for this!"

"Oh." Merlin faced the tower again, scratching his chin. "Hm. Well... I can make it go away again."

"And make everyone forget about it?"

"Ahah..." The mage chuckled awkwardly, scratching the back of his head. "...no?"

"Are you kidding me?!" 

"I can... maybe make it look pretty?"

"Shirou, what the fu—" Shirou cringed instinctively as he heard Tohsaka approach. 

"No, no, this was me," Merlin assured her. As her glare turned to him, he smiled brightly, trying to assuage her further.

Rin slapped him.

"You useless mage!"

Chapter 4: Archer and Rin-Ishtar

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Prompt : “Shirou summons Ishtar, but it's just Rin, and Rin is still a Master in her own right, and Shirou's command seals don't work on her/are otherwise a non-issue.” — Endy (nd7878)


The night sky was cool upon her skin as she floated beside Maanna, observing Fuyuki from up high. Her city, her home, in a sense her property as Second Owner. If she wanted, she could destroy it in an instant now. The power that lay quite literally at her fingertips, granted by some twist of fate. 

"You really know how to treat a guy," Archer said, standing comfortably on Maanna with his bow nocked. "Archers usually have to contend with fighting against gravity, not alongside it."

"Don't get the wrong idea," she blushed and looked aside. "It's not for you. It's for the war."

"Right, right." She could hear his cocky smirk, that...! 

"It is!" She glared at him. His smirk was smaller than she had pictured, and yet somehow that made it worse. "This is the best way to win!"

"Be honest, you wanted to get away from your 'Master', didn't you?" Archer chuckled, and Rin crossed her arms.

"Emiya doesn't get it," she said. "And don't call him that. He's not participating in the war."

"He did summon you," Archer pointed out. "That does technically make him your Master, even if he doesn't have any Command Seals."

"If he did, I'd have to kill him."

"Be honest with yourself, Rin." His steel gray eyes looked at her, and she shivered. "You really think you could do that?"

"Of course I could!"

His stare intensified, and after a few moments she looked away.

"...maybe I'd just cut the hand off or something..." she mumbled. Archer nodded.

"That's better. You don't want that boy's blood on your hands." 

He sighed.

"Bloodstains are impossible to get out."

Chapter 5: Mordred and the Past

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Prompt : “Mordred is (handwave) ported back to the moment that Arturia pulls Caliburn out of the stone.” — Smunch


It felt like a dream. It had to be. She felt light, floaty. Her feet weren't touching the ground, she couldn't feel the grass against her bare toes. It was disorienting, and it almost pulled her attention away from the young girl walking up the hill, accompanied by a taller man. 

Mordred instantly recognized her father. The determination in her blue eyes was heavier than how much her body must have weighed. Merlin was uncharacteristically serious. 

She awaited the two of them at the top of the hill, unable to do anything but watch.

"Father..." she murmured. 

Father stopped before the sword in the stone.

"What's wrong?" Merlin asked.

"I... don't know," Father said, her young voice lacking the steel of experience. "I just..."

"You were destined to accept this birthright since you were born, Artoria," the mage said. "It has always been yours. You just have to take it."

"Will this save Britain?" Father asked.

"No." Merlin shook his head. "The only way you can save Britain is by your own hand. You understand what must be done. Are you willing to carry it out?"

Father looked at the sword again and took a deep breath. Mordred breathed with her.

"I have to be," she said, walking slowly to the stone. 

"Don't!" Mordred knew it was useless, but she couldn't stop herself. "You don't know what you're doing! Father, no!"

"It has to be me," Father said, taking the hilt in hand. "I can't allow anyone else to bear this burden. I won't let Britain fall."

She pulled it out, and Mordred cried out in pain as if Father had ripped the sword out of her body. She fell to the ground. 

"Father... why..." she choked.

Chapter 6: Shirou and Tomoe

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Prompt : “My request is that Shirou summons Tomoe Gozen, and she acts as a mother figured to him, and both of them are bonding while training archery” — Mune


He was empty. He was his bow, he was his arrow, he was his target. He was going to fire, he fired, he had fired. 

The arrow struck its target with a loud thwack . Bullseye.

"Good," Archer said, rubbing his back. "You're getting better."

Shirou nodded, beginning to nock another arrow, but Archer's hand pushed it back down.

"Let's stop for today," she said. "You've done well. Let's go have dinner. I'm cooking." 

Her red eyes belied a warmth greater than any fire she could conjure. 

"Okay," he acquiesced. "But I'm helping."

"You can clean ," she allowed. "But I'm going to treat you tonight. No helping."

"Unfair..." he muttered, but said nothing more. She patted him on the head a few times. 

"You'll make a girl very happy some day."

Chapter 7: Rin and Jeanne, Altered

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Prompt 1 : “I'd say for my request, one were Sakura summons Archer and is kept by the Tohsaka's instead of Rin, but she still has that special relationship to Shirou” — Musashi is Bae

Prompt 2 : “My request : Rin summoning jalter. And Rin starts to enjoy seeing blood spilled. she goes down the dark (route) path” — Pandy (tfw)


(For this one, I will be combining tfw and Musashi is Bae's request into one work.)

Hatred burned deep in her gut, a fire that was outmatched only by the flames her Servant could conjure. She had burnt away Berserker, turned that golden Archer into ash, and removed any other obstacle in the war. 

Now it was just her, Emiya, and the black-haired bitch. 

Avenger huffed beside her, idly spinning her banner in hand. 

"You don't have to do this... nee-san." The black-haired girl said, holding up her hands. "Senpai and I don't need the grail. We just want to be left alone. He's not even in the war anymore."

"Too late for that," Rin growled. "Avenger?"

"With pleasure," she said, pulling her sword from her sheath. Archer quickly materialized, his two blades drawn and ready. 

"Sakura..." Emiya, that blind ass , only had eyes for his kohai. He never looked at her. Never had. She could have bared herself naked before him and he would still be looking for the other girl. 

Bastard.

"Oi, weirdo," Avenger said. "Make this fun for me, will you?"

"You don't know what you're doing," Archer replied. "The Grail is not what you think it is. It's—"

"Don't care." Avenger drew a line in the air and Archer had to dodge back to avoid an array of stakes that made to stab him. "All that matters is seeing you three dead."

"Nee-san..." The black-haired bitch was tearing up. "Why...?"

Rin tilted her head.

"Don't you remember what Father taught us?" 

She felt an easy smirk split her face.

"Traitors never get mercy."

Chapter 8: Shirou and Boudica

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Prompt : “A request idea that I thought of was Shirou summoning Boudica who becomes a maternal figure to him. For I would assume she would find it tragic that Shirou does in fact remember his original family but doesn't want to think about them due to trauma of the fire. So she utilizes her maternal knowledge to help him come to terms with his loss and be able to think about his family without being reminded of the fire.” — Eteru


"I'm home!"

Her Master's caretaker's loud voice carried through the house, and Boudica couldn't help but smile. The woman had an energy that her Master needed in his life. He was so quiet and slow to move, though his mind was always working.

"Soup's ready," Shirou signed. "How's the fish looking?"

"Looking great," she replied. "Taiga will be very happy with this meal, I think."

He smiled and shrugged.

"She'll be happy with anything," he signed amusedly. "You know how she is. We could buy food from the crappy ramen shop in downtown and she'd slurp it up as if it was made by the Buddha himself."

"Don't be rude," she said sternly. "She likes your food and your food alone. Even what I make doesn't make her as happy."

"Sorry." He did look genuinely admonished. She found herself ruffling his hair before she could stop herself.

"It's okay," she said. "I know you care for her. Just tell her that once in a while too, okay? One of the most rewarding feelings as a moth—as someone who cares for another person is to be acknowledged and appreciated for what you do. She deserves to know it."

He nodded.

"Thank you," he signed. "I don't know what I'd do without you."

She hugged him tightly.

"Thank you for giving me this chance," she said quietly. "I won't let you down."

Chapter 9: Rin and Suzuka

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Prompt : “So.. Rin got her wish. She summoned a Saber! But it isn't anywhere as good as she hoped. She gets Suzuka Gozen. Who plays being a love struck High Schooler to her annoyance. 

I honestly like the idea of her finding Shirou a great source of amusement to flirt with him. I mean he is cute, in shape and a good cook. She could do worse until she finds her true love. 

Mostly I want to get Annoyed Rin reactions all around. Her reactions are always worth it. 

Other people at the dining room is also welcomed, but probably beyond the scope of this request. 

Ideas include: (Since Suzuka hates Tamamo so much... You could add her as Shirou's summon, but Sakura could also make everyone more stressed as well)” — Gruffard


Rin slid open the door and nearly screamed.

"Uh, Tohsaka?" Shirou said from his position on the floor. "A little help here?"

"Damn it, Master," Saber said unhappily. "We were just getting to the good part."

She had his arms pinned down and was sitting on his chest, frowning as she turned to face Rin. 

"Saber?" she uttered in a sickly sweet voice. "Get off?"

"Nah, don't feel like it. Your boyfriend is comfy."

"He is not my—" Rin stopped and breathed. "Get off. Now."

"What're you gonna do?" Saber's vulpine grin was dangerous. "Use a Command Seal? C'mon. Get real with me."

Rin stretched out her hand.

"By the power of my Command Seals—"

"Are you serious?!" Saber yelled, her expression turning grave in an instant.

"—Saber, I order you to turn your affections towards Caster!"

The entire room went dead silent. Caster materialized, staring at Rin.

"You have got to be ki—"

Caster didn't get a chance to finish. Saber lunged on top of her and instantly began making out with the other Servant, something she resisted for but a moment before happily joining in. Shirou looked on in shock before Rin came and sat on him as Saber had been doing so just a moment earlier.

"Fuck it, you're my boyfriend now," she said, and leaned in to imitate her Servant.

Chapter 10: Shirou and Scheherazade

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Prompt : “Hmm, sort of an odd idea but Scheherazade involved in a Grail War.

I'm kind of split on whether to ask for her as a final boss, the last enemy Servant, or asking for her as Shirou's Servant who is trying to persuade him to take a path that will lead to her not dying. Both seem like they could go in different directions, like as an enemy, her stories entrap Shirou and his Servant in her Reality Marble, but as an ally, she has an advantage against Gilgamesh and is desperately trying to find a way to not die by Gilgamesh.

Anyway, feel free to take it either way or another way. I just want to see how people would think of Scheherazade would work in a Grail War.” — Worldbringer of Joseun


They stood in a field of swords that stood like gravestones, blue sky hanging above and gears clanking in the distance.

"...this was inside of me?" Shirou asked quietly. 

"It appears so," Caster said, leaning on her staff. "This is... incredible."

She walked over to a longsword and reached out to touch it, before turning to her Master.

"May I...?"

"Y-yeah, sure," he said. 

She took the sword in hand and the weight of a myth pressed down on her. She could taste its history, feel every wielder that swung it, feel every death it had wrought. It was overwhelming. She quickly let it go, and it clanked as it fell to the ground.

"Caster?!" He ran over, ready to catch her if she fell.

"I'm okay, don't worry." She steadied herself. "Incredible. Every blade is a legend. Whatever that Archer did to you... you hold history inside of you now."

She turned to him.

"Master, every single blade in here is a story," she said. "It's a... a tapestry of heroism and evil, of life-taking and life-saving."

"I don't want the evil ones." He frowned. "How do I get rid of them?"

"You misunderstand." She shook her head. "A blade of justice can quickly turn to darkness when justice twists into retribution and revenge. Similarly, a blade that was used for atrocity can be held by a saint and used only to protect the downtrodden. You can use all of these for good. You will need every one of them to defeat that golden Archer."

She smiled.

"We will see if he holds enough treasures to beat this arsenal."

Chapter 11: Kiritsugu and his son

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Prompt : “Request Idea: Shirou summons Kiritsugu Asassin.  And Kiritsugu has to deal with the fact that he set Emiya on this self-destructing path but has to keep his identity a secret just like how Emiya did with Rin.” — Reaper_Man


Ten years ago, at his hands, the city burned. Ten years ago, with the last will he had left, he saved someone for the first time in his life. Ten years ago, the he that wasn’t him made a choice to walk off of the path he has followed all of his life. 

The consequence of such lay sleeping in the building beneath him. He stood on the roof of the compound bought under his name, gaze drifting over the skyline. The clunk of boots on tile clued him into Archer’s presence as the other Servant sat beside him. 

Silence was their only companion for minutes.

“Do you regret it?” his son finally asked. 

He couldn’t find an answer for minutes. 

“No.” He shook his head. “Even if I screwed it up... I don’t believe it’s wrong to save someone.”

“...I’m glad.”

Chapter 12: MHX and Siegfried

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Prompt : “Shirou summons Siegfried and, since Shirou doesn't have enough energy for him to use Balmung, he ends up winning the Grail War by Siegfried just tanking everything because no one is able to figure out who he is. Alternatively, a more serious take on this, in which Siegfried, after watching Shirou continuously bend over backwards trying to save everyone, gives him a heartfelt talk. Siegfried lived as a hero he was not proud of in death, his dying thoughts were that he had lived his life as a hero in service of everyone else, and he truly wished he could have been a true Hero of Justice, as he often ignored the suffering of others for the sake of his missions (This is why he's always saying he's sorry, he felt like his life brought nothing but tragedy and lost opportunity in the end). He desperately wishes he had stood for his ideals. As such, he takes Shirou aside and explains why Shirou's twisted bent on the concept of a Hero of Justice is bent and, in the end, self-serving. If his justice is so malleable that everyone can be saved, does he even have any ideals in the first place?” — Yuki


Shirou rubbed his eyes once, and then again. 

"Fight... back... you... damn... Saber!" Assassin yelled as she assaulted his Servant from all sides, her light sword tearing through the air with stock science-fiction-media noises. And Siegfried just stood there, his sword down, head bowed.

"Sumanai," he said. "I don't want to hurt you. I just want to get through. We need to take down Caster."

"I don't care!" she yelled, her sword bouncing off of his side. "I was stuck here for the past two weeks and only got to fight two other people, and they both ran away! Give me a good fight!"

"I can't." Siegfried looked back at him, and Shirou nodded. "My Master and I agreed only to fight those who deserve it."

"You condescending jackass ." Assassin snarled, turning to Shirou and lunging forward. "Then I'll end this right n—!"

As she attempted to draw her blade at Shirou, Siegfried brought up his sword for the first time and blocked her attack. The light sword shattered into pieces, and all she was left with was the hilt. She stopped, staring at it.

"W-What...?" she mumbled, tearing up. "H-How...?"

"Sumanai," the Saber repeated, picking her up by her armpits and moving her aside. "Come on, Master. Let's go."

Shirou bowed apologetically to the Assassin as he passed, but her thousand-yard-stare wasn't going away. She couldn't tear her eyes away from her hilt. 

"Sorry..." he muttered as he walked away.

 

 

 

And now for an associated sprite comic, made by Ruceris:

Chapter 13: Shirou and Passionlip

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Prompt : “As for my request, I’d like to see Shirou summon Passionlip. Over the course of the war, they develop a close/intimate bond, and it culminates near the tail-end of the war with the two trying to spend as much time as possible with each other. The two recognize one another’s flaws, accept them, and try their best to help each other overcome them. I think a little interlude with the pair cooking together (or at least attempting to on Lip’s part) would be heartwarming.” — Skell


Shirou sympathized with his Servant, he really did. She had a heart that was scored with barbed wire many times over, and yet still she bared it to anyone who would care to hold it. He had seen, in his dreams, how that trust was abused. He had heard, from her stories, how hurt she had been. But she still chose to trust.

He wouldn’t, couldn’t , let her down. 

The sliding door slid open slowly, gently, as Passionlip did her best not to tear through the screen with her claws. 

“Hi,” she said quietly, but her smile spoke volumes. “I’m back.”

“Welcome back,” he replied with a nod and a smile of his own. “I’m just working on dinner now.”

“C... Can I help?” 

Shirou had seen, and cleaned, the results of her attempting to do kitchen work. He knew he was supposed to say no. But her eagerness was so bright that his pity overcame his better judgement. 

“Okay,” he said. Her smile lit up the room. She maneuvered as carefully as she could around the furniture of the living room until she arrived at the kitchen. “Um... can you get the rice cooker going? The rice is in the pantry.”

“Yes!” 

Not a minute later, the pantry door had been ripped off its hinges, and Passionlip was desperately apologizing. Shirou sighed and hugged her.

“It’s okay,” he said quietly. She froze for a moment, then gingerly wrapped her arms around him, without letting the claws touch him. “No permanent damage. I forgive you.”

“Sorry...” she muttered.

“What did I tell you to say instead of apologizing?” he asked. He could feel her smile into his shirt.

“T-Thank you.”

“You’re very welcome.”

Chapter 14: Shirou, Ivan, and Gilgamesh

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Prompt : “I'd be interested in seeing how you wrote Shirou with Ivan as his servant. That's my only request, personally a fan of parental figure Ivan but that can be discarded or used at your discretion depending on how much inspiration you have. If it doesn't work with you I'll just leave it at that.” — GamingWarthog


The heavens roared as the clouds tore themselves apart only to reform into even larger cumulonimbus towers. Lightning crackled across the sky, and thunderclaps echoed through the streets of Fuyuki. Nothing that Shirou did could protect himself from the pouring rain. the elements that slammed against him, until Rider reached over and pulled him closer with an arm around his shoulder. With that, nothing more touched him, and he could see clearly through the storm and across the city. The skyscraper provided a good vantage point.

Gilgamesh's annoyed expression looked back at the two of them as he stood across from them, arms crossed. 

"Pathetic." Disdain colored his tone. "You attempt to handle the elements of nature in your favor? Tools of gods should not be wielded by humanity."

The Archer shook his head, and a dozen portals appeared around him. 

"Begone from my sight, nuisance. You stain my garden."

Shirou cringed and leaned into Rider's hold. He trusted his Servant, but the Archer was a fearsome foe. He couldn't help but worry.

Rider lifted his staff, and from it a bright blue light emanated.

"Then, it is quite good fortune..."

Despite looking away, Shirou found himself temporarily blinded. Once the spots had cleared from his vision, he saw numerous golden weapons laying askance around them.

"...that I have long since surpassed the feeble human form."

Gilgamesh's annoyance grew into frustration. 

"You compare yourself to the heavens? I have killed many divines far greater in strength to you. What hope do you have against the King?"

The staff rose one more, and lightning struck it right at its center. The thunder was deafening, and yet his Servant was even louder.

"I am neither divine nor mortal, you pitiful excuse for a monarch."

Frustration twisted into rage.

"You dare!?"

"I am the twisted son of the Lord and the Land, the King who made humanity in his own image to allow them to survive the harshest of frost!"

Rider took a step forward, and lightning struck forward from his leg. Gilgamesh rapidly pulled a shield out of his armory and protected himself against the onslaught, but Rider closed the distance and tore the shield from his arms. He grabbed the King of Heroes by the neck and held him up to the heavens.

"I am the First Tsar of Russia, Ivan the Terrible! I have seen your crimes, Gilgamesh of Sumeria, and I find you guilty of every single one!

"You bastard mong—!"

Rider tossed him off the roof, holding his staff out towards the Archer.

"In the name of our Lord, I sentence you... to death."

The heavens opened, a bolt of lightning struck Gilgamesh, and in an instant, the Grail War was over.

They had won.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here is some art drawn by @ClinickCase for this chapter. Go show him some love by following him on twitter.

Chapter 15: Shirou and Okita

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Prompt: "I got a request idea if its not too much of a bother, Shirou summoning Okita and her trying to explain the nessecity of killing ala redline" — Kiyoko


As with many things in life, a fight was an operation of mechanisms governed either by chance or by controllable factors. For example, Okita could not entirely control her sickness, though she had gotten better at suppressing its symptoms during combat as she aged. She could not control the weather, though she could occasionally choose the time and place of battle. One thing she could control, however, was her blade. Swords were deadly weapons that demanded time and attention to both master and maintain.

Her zen was found in this, in the mastering and maintaining of her blade.

Right now, though, she could not find it. Her Master was... distraught, to say the least, and he had been so since yesterday. It was time to break him out of his funk.

She found him in the dojo, going through his daily exercises. This was his Zen, but he was clearly far too lost to be anywhere near it. She took up a bokuto and struck him in the shoulder.

"Ow!" He jumped, clearly unprepared for the interruption. "Saber, what are you—"

"You will not have time to talk on the battlefield, Master," she said, already swinging at his legs. "Don't waste mine."

His lips set into a grim line, and he nodded. The following hour left him battered, sweaty, and exhausted. He lay on the floor, panting.

"My commander would have told you that you are weak, pathetic, a detriment to his corps," she said, sitting next to him. "I will not go so far. But you will need harsh training. We will repeat this tomorrow."

"O... kay..." he gasped. "Saber... yesterday..."

She raised an eyebrow.

"Are you going to judge me?" she asked. "Only the strong have the privilege of judging others, and you have quite a distance to go. Do not pretend to hold the moral high ground before you have fought on the low."

She stood.

"Tomorrow. Rest now."

Chapter 16: Shirou and Atalante Alter

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Prompt: "Request idea Atalanta and shirou talk about her wish and his dream" — sardines loveing freak


"...you understand I don't need this, right?" Berserker asked as he placed one of his coats on her. "I don't get cold."

He shook his head. "You're far too close to naked for me to be comfortable in my own home," he said. "Please take it."

"Fine, okay." She adjusted her own garments until his coat covered the essentials. "Better?"

"Much." He sighed. "What did you want to talk about?"

"Why do you chase death?"

"I don't."

"Please don't lie to me." The Greek huntress turned and stared him down. "I will be extremely unhappy if you do so again."

"I don't!" he protested. "That isn't a lie!"

"Shirou, you were very nearly bisected by Saber the other night because you threw yourself in front of me when we were fighting," she explained calmly. "That is called chasing death."

"I wanted to protect you!"

"Please don't mock me like that. You are not strong enough to protect anything or anyone."

He didn't have a response to that.

"It has always been my duty to protect children," she continued. "You may be on the old side, but you are still a child to me, if a very scarred one. I will not see you come to harm again."

Chapter 17: Shirou and Asterios

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Prompt: "Can I get uuuuhhhh some Asterios up in here? I want Shirou to drown him in kindness because that's what he deserves." — Natsu


Shirou yawned and stretched his arms as he walked down the hallway, still shaking off the morning drowsiness. Having taken care of his hygiene, he was ready to start his morning exercise, until he opened the door to his yard and found his Servant stretched out across the grass. The fluffy Berserker was asleep, and resting on his nose was a butterfly that appeared to be resting as well. Despite how loud his snores were, the butterfly seemed happy to sit there, and rather than disturb the tranquil image, Shirou quietly sat down on his porch and enjoyed the feeling of the sunrise.

Some time later, the Berserker snorted awake, and the butterfly flew away. He yawned and pushed himself up, and only after rubbing his eyes did he spot Shirou sitting aside.

"Master...?" he asked. "You... watched...?"

"I wanted to keep you company," Shirou said with a smile, walking over and sitting in the grass next to him. The Berserker would have towered over him had he not been hunched over in sleepiness.

"You didn't... exercise...?"

"I can push it off a bit today."

"Oh... thank you..."

"My pleasure."

They sat in silence for a little while longer, the sunlight washing over them. Shirou smiled as the very same butterfly returned and landed on Asterios's nose, making the Berserker go cross-eyed, awe in his expression.

"Hello... small friend..." he said. The butterfly twitched its wings in response.

"They seem to like you," Shirou commented.

"Have always... been close... to nature..." Asterios smiled, an innocent joy in his eyes. "Glad I could... be here..."

Shirou patted his Servant's head.

"Happy to have you here too."

Chapter 18: Shirou and Andersen

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Prompt : “Better request: Shirou summons Hans Anderson. Both compare art and creativity. Bro moment.” — Aberron


Shirou fished a crumpled paper from the trash, unfurling it only to find that he obviously couldn’t read it. The Germanic script was rough, looking more like scratch marks made with ink than an actual language. It had joined 6 of its brethren in the study’s garbage, and as he moved his gaze from the paper to the pen that had written on it, he considered his Servant.

“Are you going to stare all day or do you have something to say?” Caster asked without looking up from his writing.

“What’s wrong with this?” Shirou gestured with the trashed paper. 

“The prose is faulty,” said Caster, “the grammar poor, the characters flat, and—“ He stopped and frowned. “It is a failure, through and through, better used as kindling than as literature.”

“You’ve been struggling a lot,” Shirou commented, leaning on the wall. 

“You leave me no choice.” He out down the pen and turned to Shirou, crossing his arms. “You cannot win the war as you are now. This is our only effective weapon at the moment. I will write a story to empower us to to win.”

“And it’s not going well?”

A sardonic smile stretched over the Caster’s face. 

“You are a very challenging protagonist to justify empowering.”

Chapter 19: Shirou and Astolfo

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Prompt : “Shirou summoning Astolfo? Given the kind of Personality he brings when Sieg becomes her/his Master, I wanna see how he'd possibly handle Astolfo. Plus, given how Astolfo is, it'd be funny knowing that Astolfo would definitely be cute and confusing for Rin especially. I can just imagine it!” — myfunvideos


When his Servant had asked for a night on the town, Shirou had not expected this.

"I'm stiiiiill in a dreeeaaaam!" Astolfo sung into the microphone. "Snake Eaaateeeeer!"

Shirou had clapped his hands over his ears long ago because the singing had been so loud (though not all that bad, he had to admit). Karaoke rooms were designed to amplify and reflect sound, a fact he was none too happy about at this moment. Rin was similarly covering her ears, and they exchanged a small glance of commiseration.

The song slowly dialed down and Astolfo spun around happily.

"That was awesome! You guys are so lucky to have stuff like this!"

"Hey, how did you know what the song was?" Rin asked as she put her hands down again. 

"Oh, I just figured it out as it went." Astolfo's bright grin lit up the dark room. "It was fun! Now, which one of you two are going next?"

Shirou looked to the side. 

"I can't sing," he said at the same time as Rin, after which they turned and stared at each other in an uncomfortable silence.

"Sure you can!" Astolfo cared not for their protests, and Shirou's stomach dropped as his Servant grabbed his arm and pulled him up. "Just pick something and sing!"

He looked at Rin once more, pleading for help, but she was examining her fingernails. 

Traitor!

He scrolled through the machine, not recognizing a single piece he found, and ended up clicking the "random" button. The screen flashed a few times, and then the TV began playing. The instrumental felt... familiar? 

Do I know this?

The words came unbidden.

"Yume ni mite ita..."

Chapter 20: Caenis vs. Leonidas (Aberron)

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Prompt : “hmmm, then Caenis and Leonidas trying to out macho each other with Heracles as the judge?” — greg , answered by Aberron


The location was set. A stone altar that seemed prestigious enough for the occasion. Two bare elbows slammed into the stone, and the eyes of Heracles looked down upon the momentous occasion. "Any last words between you two?"

"No spectral summons can help you." The once-member of the Argo demanded.

"Use your monstrous strength. Hold nothing back." The spartan also demanded. "I would win and defeat you as a man."

"I refuse to use my gift of Poseidon upon you, for such."

Heracles looked down upon both as their hands curled around one another. "Begin!"

The spartan was immediately driven back, his wrist the only thing not touching the stone. He grit his teeth, a wild grin on his face. "Driven to the wall immediately! You fool!" 

Over the course of thirty seconds, the fist of the argonaut rose inch by painstaking inch. "You cannot break me! No man can break me!" 

"Even when my stamina runs dry, my spirit fights on with twice the strength!" The spartan bellowed, as Caenis' fist finally touched down. 

"Winner!" Heracles declared, as both heroes rose with fire in their eyes. 

"That's just the first round." Caenis grinned. "Gay Chicken." She declared with finality.

The spartan seemed concerned. "I don't believe that wise." 

"Do you doubt your manhood so much that you won't accept the challenge?!"

He looked Caenis up and down once. "I only doubt yours."

Her eyes flashed a burning red. "Put. Your. Elbow. Down." She said, eyes glowing with power. "I will destroy you!"

"I never refuse a tyrant's tantrum." The spartan answered, slamming his elbow into the stone. "I will survive."

Heracles only sighed.

Chapter 21: Shirou and Ushiwakamaru (Exstarsis)

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“Looks like someone already came up with the suggestion of Tomoe I was going to do.

In that case, uh...

I guess my request would be Shirou summoning Ushiwakamaru perhaps? She seems like someone he'd hit it off with fairly easily and someone I imagine he'd be a lot more familiar with right off the bat than a lot of other Servants given how popular Ushi's legend apparently is in Japan. I can still see them clashing over how to fight the War of course, but I imagine they'd get along well enough overall that they'd be able to work out their differences somehow.” — Quality , answered by Exstarsis


Although Shirou had been once again asked to stay after school to do chores, today he had declined. It bothered him to disappoint people who were depending on him, but he was just too worried about Rider. He'd told her firmly to stay at home while he was in school, but, much like a dog who could smell a cat, he wasn't sure she'd been listening to him. Her gaze had been faraway, raised to the horizon, and she'd bounced on her toes as she nodded absently.

No, he had to get home as soon as possible. He raced through the February afternoon. He'd take her out on a patrol right away and then make some of her favorite foods for her. If he filled her up enough, maybe he'd be able to keep her out of fights another night. Eventually.... eventually he knew they'd have to resolve the War. He just wasn't quite ready yet to see that small, feminine figure battered by the weapons of that giant, or blasted by the sword of that foreign queen. If only they had more allies...

As he stepped into the compound, his relief at hearing her cheerful raised voice was almost immediately destroyed by hearing the deep, resonant voice of somebody he despised. He ran to the front door.

Ushiwakamaru threw it open before he could, beaming at him. She'd abandoned the men's shirt he'd loaned her for her usual burlesque take on samurai armor. She looked nothing like the warrior he'd pretended to be as a child, but he was getting used to that. Slowly.

"Master! Praise me!"

"You stayed home, Ushiwaka! Good girl!" He reached to give her the headpats she so craved and then hesitated as she gave him a sidelong look reeking of guilt.

"Oooh, um, nooooo, but praise me anyhow! Come see! Come see!" She grabbed his hand and dragged him as she walked backward down the hall. From the living room came two other voices: the so-hated resonant one and another more sardonic voice.

"I forgot that you said don't go out," said Ushiwakamaru guilelessly. "But I did remember you didn't want me to do anything risky alone!" She pulled him through the open door and waved a hand, displaying her work. 

Kotomine Kirei, cocooned in rope, dangled from a ceiling beam over Shirou's dining table, wearing an expression like he'd been eating lemons. His Servant, the blue Lancer, kicked back below him with a can of beer. "So instead I caught the enemy Master and brought him home for you. And I told his Lancer we couldn't fight until you came home and said okay. So? Can we? Can we?"

Chapter 22: Liz Does Metal (TungstenCat)

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Prompt : “Can I get a Elisabeth singing too loudly waking up every master and servant from sleep with various emotions ramping towards the Lancer, and in the end maybe Shirou throw a pillow to shut her up or both running away from their sleep-deprived allies and enemies” — Best Medic , answered by TungstenCat


“Emiya-kun, please explain. Now.” said Rin with a malicious grin, pouring just the right amount of poisoned honey into her words.

Only to have them entirely drowned out by the cacophony of the crowd, and the tortured screeching of the guitars.

Grinding her teeth, she grabbed Shirou’s sleeve and yanked hard. “EMIYA!”

“Huh? What?” He startled, his gaze finally leaving the frilly pink eyesore commanding the stage, waving merrily at them as a reptilian tail twirled to the discordant beat. “What’s the matter, Tohsaka?” His face wilted under the force of her glare. “Okay, maybe things got a little out of hand, but—”

Rin pinched the bridge of her nose. Clearly she was going to need to walk him through his idiocy.

“Why did you build her a stage?”

“Ahh. Lancer really wanted it.” His amber eyes took on a bit more confidence. “And a singing competition is better than a war, right? This way, nobody has to get hurt.”

Lies! Rin’s poor eardrums had been the first casualties. She took a deep breath, then jabbed an accusatory finger into his chest.

“And why is it three stories high? And covered in roses and… are those bats?” she screamed, and winced at her own shrillness. But she wasn’t to blame! The noise was terrible enough without decorations so aggressively mismatched they made her eyes water.

Shirou had the decency to look sheepish. “When Saber heard about the contest, she insisted on a golden theatre. She and Lancer argued about splendour and marketing trends and other stuff I didn’t quite understand, but…” He awkwardly waved a hand. “This was the compromise.”

“And you didn’t use your Command Seals to step in,” said Rin, scorn dripping from each syllable.

“You said those were only for emergencies!”

This was an emergency against all semblance of good taste, but explaining that to the idiot seemed like an impossible task. A sigh shook her shoulders as Shirou babbled on.

“And then Rider said anything Rome can do, she can do better.” His finger jerked towards the side of the stage, and the fiery mane and spiked leather of the woman leaning on it, impatiently waiting her turn. “And then people just started showing up, and…”

“And Fuyuki,” interrupted Rin with a scowl that promised violence, “My city, the land entrusted to me by my ancestors, is now the scream metal capital of Japan!”

Her fists clenched at her sides. She was going to kill someone. It should really be Shirou, this was his fault, but it was always so hard to stay angry at that stupidly earnest face—

“Oh, lighten up, Rin.” The childish sweetness of the voice was tinged with mockery. “Nobody likes a grumpy old lady!”

Scowling, she whirled around to find Illya beaming down at them from her perch on Berserker’s shoulder. They were wearing identical shirts, emblazoned with lurid band names over fang-toothed horrors more grotesque than anything lurking within the Grail. The little homunculus was practically drowning in the fabric, while it stretched so tightly across the Servant’s broad chest that it was tearing at the seams.

“Illya?” asked Rin incredulously. “ You’re into this?”

“Of course! Germany had the best metal bands in the world!” Illya’s voice lowered to a greedy cackle, barely audible above the pounding roar of a drum solo. “Now that I’m finally away from old-man Acht, I’m going to listen to as much as I want! Let’s see you toss this into the  fireplace, you shaggy old loser!” She pointed imperiously towards the mosh pit. “Berserker! We’re going in!”

“▂▂▃▃▅▅——!!”

Exhaustion fell on Rin like a wave. She really wanted to climb back in bed and smother her head under the pillows, but she already knew it was no good, not with that infernal screeching—

Screeching. Gears. She had an idea.

”Hey Archer?” She reached out with her mind, and felt the answering presence of her Servant.

”What is it, Rin?” Even disembodied, his sarcastic drawl was unmistakable. ”Had enough? Are you finally going to let me kill him?”

Instinctively she shook her head, even though she knew he couldn’t see her. ”I have something more important for you to do.”

”Oh? What has my unreasonable Master come up with now?”

A wry smile touched her lips. ”Can you fit my bed inside Unlimited Blade Works?”

His astonishment bled through the connection. ”What? You do realize it’s a blasted wasteland, right? Nothing but scorching sand and swords and rusted gears.”

“I know,” she said aloud, watching Saber muscle her way into the stage for a duet with that the grinning Lancer. ”It sounds wonderful.”

Chapter 23: Cú vs Babbage (Aberron)

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Prompt: Aberron just kinda wrote this to kick off the second Sagafest, so there's no real prompt here. Still cool!


"You're a Caster? With that weapon?" The man in blue challenged.

"This is a reflection of the world that my mind would have created. This weapon?" Charles Babbage hefted his mace, the metal slamming into the concrete below with a satisfying crunch. "It is the evidence that my faith was realized!"

"Faith means nothing, old man. The gods don't care."

"Faith is a verb of action. Perhaps in the eras it has been since your unfortunate death the language of man has encapsulated beyond the simple belief in totems and idols. No, I have faith that my science would speak for itself. That mathematics would hold true!" The gears on the mace began spinning. "This mace is the objectification of the Difference Engine I designed. Gears turning, steam pressure proving input over output." The pressure within him had built to too much, and with a burst of steam the area around him was filled with the evidence of his beating heart. "This is, with every moment calculating the exact way in which I must strike. That with each beat of my mechanical heart it calculates where it must strike. Fate itself must stand down to its calculations, as it paves the way for the world I shall create!"

The Irishman seemed to ignore the entire statement. "So it spins. You going to hit me with it or just stand there like a coward?"

Babbage stood up to his full height, and the steam engine within him was spinning ever faster. His foe was a Lancer, after all. "I am a gentleman. If you demand I attack, I shall receive your invitation." His feet kicked forwards, the gears already predicting that the Lancer would meet his charge. His shoulder began building a charge, the gears squeaking as they spun. Even as that began, he let the Difference Engine calculate where it needed to be. His mind was immediately filled with angles and likelihoods, until it settled upon one single location. Inside his guard, at the juncture of his left knee. The charge was released, his shoulder redirecting his forward strike to the exact location it needed to be.

The red spear twisted away from his knee in time to block the spinning mace, knocking back the hero almost ten feet. "Did you receive my RSVP?" Babbage asked politely.

"Yeah." The Irishman wiped his lips of some spat blood. "I want to test it again." He took a position, his left foot forwards and his back foot ready to launch himself forwards. "For a Caster, you're actually worth fighting."

Chapter 24: Kiritsugu’s Chaldean Family (Exstarsis)

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Prompt: "Emiya Family(Including Illya and Irisviel) spend some time bonding together!" — Knight_Of_Rebellion, answered by Exstarsis


"Irisviel," said the Assassin she called Kiritsugu. "They're not actually our children. Not really. Neither of us ever had children and—" He didn't finish, but she could see in his eyes that he thought it better that they hadn't. "In any case, we're under no obligation to spend family time with them."

Her voice as sweet and cool as ice cream, Irisviel said, "But you'd like to spend time with me, Kiritsugu." He'd even hinted that's why he'd answered the Chaldean Master's summons. But she knew it was more than that.

He shrugged, looking away. "I want to understand why I feel the way I do around you."

"I would like that, too," said Irisviel, putting her hand on his arm. "But can't you see? Those children look at us and they know why they feel the way they do. It's because we are, in some other timeline, their parents."

Kiritsugu ran his hands through his hair nervously. "I don't even know how you can call those two children. They're taller than me."

Iri gave him a mischievous smile. "Yes, that does happen, I've heard." She ran her hand down his arm to his hand and tugged on it. "Please come with me? I might be overwhelmed alone."

His fingers laced with hers, but it was a moment before he said, "Fine."

Still smiling, Iri pulled him along to the cafeteria where two nearly identical lean men leaned against opposite walls, while two nearly identical little girls argued as they arranged cards on the floor. Kiritsugu's hand tightened on Irisviel's as one of the two other men known as EMIYA glanced at him.

But Iri freed herself so she could clap her hands in delight. "That looks like fun. Will you two teach me how to play?"

Chloe and Illya both looked up sharply, tensing and then relaxing again. "Of course, Irisviel-san," said Illya, with careful politeness.

Then Chloe pushed past her, puffing her chest out as she said,"I'll teach you, Mama. But Papa already knows how to play, I bet."

Kiritsugu nodded warily. They were setting up a game it was impossible to forget.

"They're not Mama and Papa, Chloe," said Illya, her cheeks flushing. "They're just strangers, being nice to us."

"Is that so bad, kid?" said the man with the buzz-cut white hair. Alter, they called him.

Angrily, Illya said, "Irisviel-san had to drag everybody here—"

"Nah," said Alter. "I'm here because you dragged me. It's just a game. You'll have to teach me, too." It made Kiritsugu wince, because he knew Alter's origins, knew he had to know the game in question.

Illya turned to Alter, taking a few steps in that direction. He held out a hand and she moved closer, leaning against him for a moment, trying to manage her emotions.

Then the other Archer EMIYA turned around, bringing out a cake. With a faint blush on his cheeks, he said, "I'm not the best here at baking, but I made this…"

It was Kiritsugu's favorite. Sighing, he came the rest of the way into the cafeteria, and bent down to offer his hand to Chloe. "We'll make this work."

Chapter 25: Ritsuka, Mourning (nd7878 & TungstenCat)

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Prompt: "Ritsuka has a human reaction to being told that no, he can't go home to see his family and friends for the first time in two years because they were all butchered over the course of three months. So he goes and experience a mental breakdown in his room and Boudica comes in to console him." — Eteru, answered by nd7878 and TungstenCat


"Ritsuka, I'm… sorry."

A beat passed. Ritsuka's smile didn't falter, just like in Fuyuki, just like in the Temple of Time, just like… every single time. Of those in the Shadow Border, only three people knew him well enough to see the shift. Only three saw the light in his eyes flicker out, and understood that he had gone into autopilot.

Da Vinci hurt, but she was the one who had to tell him. This wasn't like the singularities, this wasn't something that could realistically be fixed, only stopped. Everyone was already dead. His family was already dead.

Holmes couldn't do anything, not for this. He could read the tells, see the signs, watch the gears turn in Ritsuka's head, but this was emotion, not logic. It wasn't a puzzle. He'd been forced to acknowledge that he couldn't solve human emotions, and turned away from the scene.

Mash tried. She stepped forward, hand outstretched. "Senpai," she tried. But this was something beyond her scope. She'd known him for a while now, but she wasn't family, not in that way. He didn't even look at them as he turned and walked to his room in silence.

As the door slid shut behind him, Ritsuka was alone.

Not alone, but at the same time, completely, utterly alone. He sat on the bed, straight-backed and quiet, for longer than he should have. He should be outside, leading, helping, or at least present- the Master who stopped the incineration of mankind would mean more as a figurehead than locked in his room.

But he couldn't. Instead, he reached beneath his bunk and let his hand wrap around the grip of a certain briefcase. Heavy metal, whirring with internal machinery, hummed against his palm as he pulled the last remnants of his Servants onto his legs. Not Servants, no, friends. The ones he was forced to say goodbye- the ones he wasn't even allowed to say goodbye to before they were cut from Chaldea's power supply, thrown aside as tools when the fight was "over." As if all their fighting and bonding didn't mean anything. As if he didn't spend nights laughing with them around the campfire in some godforsaken era long repaired.

Vanished into memory. Just like his father's furrowed brow over his morning coffee, his mother's impatient tap of foot, his sister's crooked smile—

The first whimper caught in his throat, and for a beat of his pounding heart, he thought he might hold it. Then the damn burst into great ugly sobs, wracking his body until his sides ached and he thought he might vomit. Bile lodged in his throat, briny tears and snot flowing down his cheeks to soak his collar, and still they wouldn't stop.

Warm hands descended on his shoulders, rubbing soothing circles on his hunched back. A gentle touch so reminiscent of his sister, when she tried to cheer him up whenever he returned from school with a black eye and jeers ringing in his ears, and oh god she's gone I'll never see her again-

"It's alright, Master. There is no shame in mourning what we've lost, and even a commander must grieve."

The familiar voice was both a comfort and another stab to his heart, because she wasn't here, of course she wasn't. The only memory of her was in the briefcase clutched in his grip. But if he closed his eyes and let himself pretend, just for a moment…

"Boudica, I… I don't know if I can do this again. Last time it was by the skin of our teeth, and only because Romani… died for us. No, worse than died.."

The tears burned hot in his eyes as he sobbed again, biting his fists in an effort to keep his howls muffled. Here, alone in his room, he could cry without them seeing him break, without worrying them. But if they heard him, knew how weak he'd gotten…

"He made that sacrifice so we could carry on. And we will, Master."

Her breath against his ear was a phantom of his mind, but still a comfort.

"I can't… it's too much, Boudica. What if I can't reverse it this time? What if they're gone for good?"

He pivoted around, and for a moment he could see blue eyes and a gentle smile.

"Then we keep going anyway, for the sake of the ones we can still save." Her sigh echoed through the room, somehow carrying even over his gasps and whimpers. "For all the children whose futures count on you."

He managed a shaky smile. "And you'd know, wouldn't you."

"Yes. My heart died the day that Prasutagus was killed, that my daughters were hurt. But I lead the Iceni to War, for all the others Rome would have crushed under her feet."

"And… we'll see each other again, right?"

There was a long silence. Even in his imagination, he knew she couldn't promise him that. The Queen of Victory had lost in the end, as they both knew. No, he had already asked the impossible from her, he couldn't do that—

"I promise you that spring will come again," she said at last, and despite the missing words, it was birdsong in his chest. "Even if I'm not there to greet it with you, there is hope and smiles on the other side. So please, keep marching towards victory. My… our Master. Our friend."

"Yeah." He wiped his face. The sleeve of his shirt, a uniform of an organization that no longer existed but still mattered beyond words, was drenched in salt water and something worse. But he smiled away. "I'll make you proud."

"That's more than enough… Ritsuka."

Chapter 26: Shirou and Hokusai

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Prompt: "Shirou and Oui Hokusai (plus Katsushika) go on a date to an art gallery." — Skell


"I don't get it."

Shirou stared deeply at the painting until he felt his eyes strain, trying to extract any kind of meaning from it. He consciously knew that art was supposed to have inherent meaning, but every time he actually tried to grasp that from a piece of art, it slipped out of his hands.

"What don't you get?" For—no, Oui asked him. Somehow it was still troubling him, even weeks into their relationship, that he used to be contracted to his girlfriend. That he used to have power over her.

"What's the point?" He waved at the colors splashed on the canvas. "What am I supposed to understand from this? It's just... someone threw a few buckets of paint on the canvas and now it's here."

A small burble was his only warning, but it was enough. Shirou ducked as an inky projectile sailed through the spot his head had occupied. Further angrier burbles emitted out of the small floating octopus that shoved itself right into Shirou's face.

"He says that you're an uncouth boor, and that he's—hey!" Oui grabbed her father by his head and shook him. "No! That's too far!"

"The usual, then..." Shirou sighed. After some hissing complaints from the creature, she threw him aside.

"He'll get over it in time," she said, curling her fingers in between his. "I know you're worth it."

Her touch helped him relax a little more.

"Do you see how the shadows are drawn?" she asked. "It's a gradient. Our eyes are naturally inclined towards light and away from dark, and thus things in the dark usually have more negative connotations. Yet here, the artist subverted the idea. Look at that red. It feels warm, no? A comforting warmth from a fireplace?"

"I... yeah, I think so."

"Because we so often return home exhausted from our lives, the greatest thing we can find when we return is the comfort of family. Of enjoying the presence of your loved ones. One of the small joys in life."

She squeezed his hand.

"It's about love, Shirou. Even in the darkest of nights, we can take solace in our love."

Chapter 27: Waver, Reminiscing (Aberron)

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Prompt: "During Case Files, Waver is still chasing/reminiscing the chance to meat his king, but what if it wasn't Iskandar. (Author's choice, Nobu, Ozy, Napoleon, etc)" — Gruffard, answered by Aberron


The ancient coin flipped once, twice and then a third time before coming to rest on Waver's hand. The image on the coin was of a woman with ringlets in her hair, though it did not do the true owner justice. "Basileus." He pronounced one of the two words on the coin. "Kleopatra." He smirked. The words had long been rubbed off from his hands. Every day he spun this coin for a while, ostensibly claiming that he was writing lesson plans for his lectures. In reality he mourned his friend.

Scars covered his legs from the fire that had rained from the heavens back in Fuyuki. It had been Assassin that dragged him from the crater, and had healed him. "I still owe you, mighty Isis."

Inside his desk, he pulled out the small photo album that he had from the grail war. She wanted him to have it to remember her by. The front page was a single image, of Cleopatra with her braids hanging out, and a golden snake extended from her belt. But that wasn't what he focused on. Instead it was the look upon her face. It was pure joy. Joy to be alive, the thrill of the fight, and the eagerness to prove her right to win.

She had died that night, to Gilgamesh of Uruk. This was the last moment that he could clearly remember her. He had cried about her before, even though they only knew each other for a few days. "Praise to Isis, upon her golden throne, that Egypteus may live on forever…" He began the ancient prayer. It was said that someday, if there was a strong enough belief, Isis would return to the earth in the form of the Queen. And once again, he flipped the coin.

Chapter 28: Taiga and Ishtar (Kat_2V)

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Prompt: "taiga as a master, maybe summoning a pseudo from fuyuki?" — Tara, answered by Kat-2V


"RIN TOHSAKA!"

The scream made Rin's heart leap into her throat as she jumped to attention, "Miss Fujimura! I-"

"She took my scooter! And my wallet! Again!" Before she could even blink Taiga was in her face, hands wrapping around her coat to shake her like a rag doll. "And do you know what she did last night!?"

Archer! Help me!

The only response from her treacherous servant was gales of mental laughter.

"She came home with enough jewelry to fill a swimming pool! Said it was her tribute!" Her teacher shook her a few more times. "That's not even the worst part! I've had ten different men leave voicemails on my phone where they beg to worship her!"

"I-"

Taiga growled, actually growled, and shoved her against the school's wall. "What other fetishes are you hiding from me!? I refuse to allow you to corrupt Shirou!"

Rin squawked in indignation. "Just because that servant looks like me doesn't mean we're anything alike!"

"Liar! You-"

"Is this a bad time?"

Rin felt her teeth grind, she did not sound like that dammit, and turned with her teacher to face the bane of their existence.

Ishtar was sitting on the back of a motorcycle that was definitely not the teacher's scooter, both of the saddlebags looked like they were stuff with fine clothing, and the servant herself was wearing so many gaudy necklaces it almost impossible to tell if she was wearing a shirt or not.

"It's-" Rin tried.

"Of course-" Taiga began.

"Good, because I need my master to witness some paperwork. Apparently her grandfather wants to give me a job. Something about collecting dues and enforcing... I didn't really pay much attention after he said he'd only ask for thirty percent of my daily take."

Taiga's entire body began to tremble in rage, and it was all Rin could to brace herself for the next explosion.

Chapter 29: Rin and the Pyrrhic Victory

Chapter Text

Prompt: "a holy grail war where rin never saved shirou and he died, drastically changing the war and the winner." — Pandy


The sky is bleeding.

Rin was a very intelligent young woman, she knew that and everyone who knew her knew that. She had mentally prepared for every possible outcome that she could possibly imagine for the Grail War, even if she had trouble affording actual physical preparations. But she thought she knew what she was getting into.

But her father, the man who always taught her how to hold herself with poise and elegance, never taught her how to fall. How to fail. How to lose everything and watch your dreams (the ones you didn't even know you had) crumble to dust before your eyes.

How to deal with a classmate (the one you failed to deny your feelings for) dying to save your life.

Because of your mistake.

Rin wished she had the energy to laugh at herself, at her arrogance in believing that she had power. The War had taught her many things, opening doors that she had never wished opened, and where she had started it with a fire in her chest, now all she felt was cold. Perhaps that was the chill of winter getting through her torn clothes.

No. She was sure it was post-dread numbness settling in.

The sky is bleeding.

Black blood, shadow blood, Grail blood, an ocean, a flood of fire that forced Fuyuki into flames once again. She wasn't here the first time it happened, only seen the destruction it wrought upon her home. Now, she watched it in a daze, almost an out of body experience. Watched as everyone she had known and... cared for died.

She felt nothing about the fact that she felt nothing, and some distant part of her screamed at that.

Rin fell down onto the grass and stared at the bleeding sky as the chill grew stronger, even as flames crawled up the hillside.

I hope you end up somewhere better than I do… Shirou.

Chapter 30: Kiritsugu, Unforgiven

Chapter Text

Prompt: "Kiritsugu seeing Shirou (EMIYA) make his contract with the Counter Force." — Mune


"He was a better person than you."

Kiritsugu opened his eyes to a dark room. Beside him was his curse, his master, who puppeted the body of his daughter just to drive the dagger deeper into his heart.

"Who?" he asked, and she turned and smirked at him.

"I'm sure you can guess." She flicked her long white hair to the side, and he followed her smile until his gaze landed on the one person he prayed he wouldn't see.

White hair, darkened skin, scars crossing over his hunched body, but Kiritsugu knew who that was.

"You didn't—"

"I did nothing, monster." He flinched. "He never needed to hear my voice. He was running as fast as he could towards every fire, away from a guilt that haunted him since you saved him."

She snorted, crossing her arms. A swirling orb of blue light descended before his son.

"You hurt him more than anyone else ever had, and you didn't even have the decency to rectify your mistakes as you were dying. You never tried to assuage his fear that he was worthless, you put him in danger rather than take the responsibility of his education in magecraft, and you abandoned him to fruitlessly chase after a daughter who had already come to hate you."

"I only meant—"

"Meaning means nothing to the bereaved and betrayed. Intent is only as valuable as the consequences of the actions it prompts."

His son stretched out a frail arm towards the light, and Kiritsugu couldn't help but mimic him, wishing he could reach out and stop him.

"All you could do was imprint your worst mistakes upon him... and he was still a better Ally of Justice than you ever were."

"...then he is my only success."

Alaya snorted.

"Yes, it is the duty of sons to surpass their fathers, I suppose. And now, he will even get to be as great a villain as you are. Good job, and thank you."

She smiled that awful smile and patted him on the back.

"Because of you, I got two weapons… for the price of one."

Chapter 31: Illya and Asterios (YukiKazami)

Chapter Text

Prompt: "Illya becomes the master of Asterios. Either really cute, really angsty, or whatever suits the writer's mood. I want more big fluff content in my life." — Natsu, answered by Yuki (YukiKazami)


"Ah... Master..."

Berserker gently prodded her face as she rested in his arms, tired after a long day of "patrolling" with her "older" brother. Illya instinctively turned away, murmuring as she attempted to grasp at the last dregs of her dreams. Faded bits still filled her mind, endless dark halls contrasted with a familiar white forest. A particularly vivid moment came to her once again, a flash of bronze skin and white hair dashing back and forth across the snow. Even then, she had noticed his true nature. Only the wolves that had touched her were harmed.

"Come now... Wake..." A small smile came across the face of the gentle giant as his charge pouted at his insistence. "Wait until... home..."

"Fine, fine, I'm awake. You do make quite the fine bed, though." With a yawn, she stretched her tired limbs before moving up to her usual position on her Servant's shoulder. "What do you think of Onii-chan, Berserker?"

"Kind... Good food..." Asterios's grin widened as he remembered the feast that Shirou had prepared for him out of gratitude for keeping his sister safe. "Not who... you thought?" Despite his rather paltry conversational skills, Asterios was not an idiot, and he could certainly tell that his Master's initial mindset about the war had changed dramatically.

"...no, I suppose not. Just one more thing to hold those rotten golems accountable for when I return to Germany to end the Einzbern line." The revelation that her father had been desperately trying over and over again to save her had sobered Illya's bloodlust once she worked past her initial disbelief, and her brother's warmth had done wonders to heal that long-standing wound. "...thank you, Berserker, for standing up to me, that night near the church. If I had attacked him then, once that Tohsaka girl left, I would never have known the truth. Everyone writes about the minotaur's wrath, but I suppose you've got more of a soft side than legend wants to admit."

"You're… welcome… Illya." A gentle shade of red tinted his cheeks, but his smile grew even larger. "Must protect… you. Your heart… too."

Chapter 32: Archer and Eresh (nd7878)

Chapter Text

Prompt: "Shirou Emiya summons Rin (Ereshkigal) after she had saved him. Naturally, this makes EMIYA a bit of a third wheel as Ereshkigal's mellow and shyness (FGO personality from what I can see) allows her to not be so Tsundere. Shirou, having already liked Rin and Rin being infatuated by the Hero kid, decides that maybe they can have a date.

It'll be quite interesting for Rin to explain her Blonde hair and red eyes should she meet Sakura, that's for sure." — myfunvideos, answered by nd7878


"What have you done to my Master?" Archer growled under his breath. Not in malice, though, or anger. He definitely wasn't ready to fight (whoever possessed Rin, anyways).

He watched Rin-but-actually-Lancer spin around and smile at trees, reach to pet any animals she could find, and, finally, duck around a wall with a panicked expression.

"I told you to keep watch, Archer!" The blonde Rin poked her head around the corner, eyes trailing to a-

Oh no.

'Please, Alaya. You can have my eternal soul for as long as you need me, just… don't do this.'

Archer's archer eyes picked up a very familiar head of red hair across the courtyard. Three command seals shown on his hands, almost-but-not quite matching those on Lancer's own hand.

And thus he was reminded that, even if they were separated by a degree, Shirou was technically his Master. His grand-Master, if you would.

Archer would not. He already had to listen to Lancer-Goddess-Rin gush about how her brave Master jumped to save her like a true hero, and how she was so ashamed that she couldn't look him in the eyes anymore.

It made him want to puke.

But Lancer wasn't trying to hide, not really, and her yellows and reds stood out. Even Shirou, with his not archer-eyes, could find her.

"Rin- I mean, Ereshkigal! There you are!" he called, running up to her. She turned beat red at his approach.

"A-ah, Shirou! You corrected yourself, so I'll let the 'Rin' part slide, as a benevolent goddess."

He smiled. Archer gagged. Who was this so-called goddess who neutered all of what made Rin great?

"Well, you ran out last night, and I was worried you might be in danger. I spent all night searching for you."

Ereshkigal's face was indistinguishable from her maroon cloak. "T-that was unnecessary, I can take care of myself, but… thank you. This goddess appreciates it."

"Of course!" Shirou beamed. "If you want to come back, I saved the dinner from last night, if you'd like some."

"I'll accept your offering!"

Archer didn't follow them. He didn't feel like it. This was wrong and he would have no part in it. He summoned a blade to his hand, pointing it at Shirou's back.

'Not today. Hold out just a little bit longer, EMIYA. Just. A. Little. Longer.'

Chapter 33: Shirou and the Valkyries (TungstenCat)

Chapter Text

Prompt: "valkyrie in the fuyuki grail war, interacting with their master. Preferably fluff" — Chalos, answered by TungstenCat


"I do not understand." Ortlinde sat quietly at the table, watching the redhaired boy bustling among the pots and pans in the narrow space he called a kitchen. "Only one of us is needed to guard you. Having all three of us manifested is an inefficient strain upon your circuits."

"Yeah!" Hildr sniffed at her empty cup and reached for the sake. "It would be a big disappointment if you keeled over before we get to battle anyone!"

Next to her, Thrúd tapped the buttons of the odd device - a handheld console, the Grail supplied- staring at the blinking lights on the screen with the same intensity she would have granted one of Fenrir's ravenous spawn.

Shirou's jaw tightened as he poured some red powder from one of the many small glass bottles on his shelf into the stew. The savoury odors wafting into Ortlinde's nose made her mouth water, but she forced it down with long disciple. A machine had no need for luxuries (and she hadn't earned any, anyway.).

"It's not fair for Hilde and Thrúd to have to hide away," said the boy. "I know it's a War, but you guys should get to enjoy your time here too, right?"

"That is unnecessary," said Ortlinde, suppressing the urge to bite her lip. "We are your weapons, little more than machines. Enjoyment is not within our parameters."

Her sisters nodded, Hildr with some vigour, Thrúd absentmindedly.

Undeterred, her Master stirred the stew and added some chopped carrots. "Right," he said, a gleam in his amber eyes as he turned to look at her. "But machines need fuel too right?"

"No, we are powered by—"

"Hildr," he called, "If you aren't busy, can you please set the table? The dishes are in the cabinet over there."

The pink haired Valkyrie grumbled, but rose from her seat to do as asked. The boy was very strange, but he was still their Master, as they all agreed over their shared link.

But some constraints had to be imparted if they were to succeed in this battle, the Holy Grail War. "Master. I must insist—"

"Here, how does this taste?" He offered her the wooden spoon he'd been stirring with. There was thinly sliced beef in sauce on it, still steaming. "I think it may need more salt."

She took a step back, away from his earnest face, and wasn't sure why. "I am certain that it is adequate."

His brow furrowed. "I'll have really failed you three if it's only adequate."

For the first time since she'd met the boy, Ortlinde could tell she had wounded his pride (and he'd been entirely unruffled by their criticisms of his martial prowess and magic potential. A strange Master indeed).

Ortlinde surrendered and took the spoon, suppressing a sigh. Then the warm liquid hit her tongue, and she almost dropped it in her astonishment. "This… is really good." I should not care, but… "how did you make this?"

Shirou looked honestly puzzled. "I just tried to guess what you guys might like. You're warriors, so I thought a meat dish? And spice to help with the cold."

"You made this with us in mind," she whispered, dipping the spoon in for another portion and passing it to Hildr, who had appeared at her shoulder. "But we are all interchangeable."

"No, you aren't. You're Ortlinde, and you like to whistle back to the birds each morning. Hildr's already pried into my old man' stock of cigarettes, and Thrúd's on level 20 of that action game Shinji keeps trying to get me to play."

Her fingers clenched on the counter as she stared at the boy, searching his face for the answer to a question she couldn't even formulate. Ortlinde never thought much about the warriors she picked up from the battlefield. All were suitable so long as they met their father's criteria for bravery. They were interchangeable, as much as she and her sisters. But looking into Shirou's earnest eyes...

"To remember one face over another, and what makes each smile… is that what it means to be a human?"

"I don't know," said Shirou, scratching his cheek. "But maybe.. I guess it's a start?"

Ortlinde said nothing in return, but she smiled as she found herself reaching to sample the salad.

Chapter 34: Rin and Chloe (Exstarsis)

Chapter Text

Prompt: "Well, if you want a random prompt...

Rin summons Chloe in EMIYA's place. But Chloe still has the curse that inflicts pain on her whenever Illya is injured so Rin can't let Illya die as that would kill Chloe. And Chloe refuses to let Shirou be hurt at all. Meaning Rin has to manage Illya and Chloe's squabbles, Illya and Shirou's troubles, keep Chloe off of Shirou, and stop Chloe from kissing anyone (such as Shirou or Sakura or Taiga or herself) while trying to win the Fifth Holy Grail War.

I'm sort of looking forward to a trainwreck." — Worldbringer of Joseun, answered by Exstarsis


[A/N: "I've seen Prillya. I'm still fond of Chloe. I'm so sorry."]

The pink-haired little girl dressed in red and black stood in the summoning circle, looking around like she was at a museum.

"Ahem," said Rin. "And who are you?" Certainly not the legendary Saber she'd hoped for. The ritual hadn't entirely failed, though, despite her screw-up. She could still make something of this.

"Oh!" said the kid. "I'm… I'm Archer? Yeah. Sorry 'bout this. You were scheduled to get a different Archer but he kind of had to go… blow something up?" She scratched her head. "Do you know what that means? Because I don't."

Rin sagged a little. "Can you tell me your True Name?"

"Uh… Chloe." The girl gave her a jaded look, as if she knew what was coming next.

Racking her brain for any legendary warrior named Chloe, Rin came up empty. But it didn't matter. They'd still win. She'd win, no matter who her Servant was. If all else failed, she could always pick her up and use her as a bludgeon. She about the right size for that, at least. "Right! Chloe! Can you — you can fight, right?"

Chloe winked, disappeared, appeared briefly bouncing off the wall of the workshop, and then small lips pressed against Rin's cheek. "Sure can, Miss Master." She crouched before Rin, tilting her head in a way that was almost familiar. Then she giggled. "This is going to be fun! I'll… I'll go scout around, okay?"

And then, before Rin could say a word, the little Archer had vanished.

When Rin woke up the next morning, a strange pink-haired child was waving coffee in a paper cup under her nose. "Come on, I'm bored, get up, get up, get up, there's two dozen doughnuts downstairs."

Rin blinked blearily and then memory rolled over her. She sat up, pushing away the cup of coffee and then snatching it back again. She'd already sipped it before a thought occurred to her. "How did you get this? And doughnuts?"

Chloe winked at Rin. "You don't want to know. But I'll tell you if you want!"

A nasty feeling crept over Rin and she said sternly, "Tell me right now!"

With a shrug, Chloe leaned over to whisper in Rin's ear, as if her technique was too naughty to be spoken aloud.

And it was! It took all of the Tohsaka elegance not to spill the coffee from a cold and nerveless hand. She stared, aghast, at the child bouncing on the edge of her bed.

"Oh, come on. You're a magus, right? Resources are resources."

Slowly, Rin finished the tepid coffee. She was a magus. She'd already committed to killing to win this war. It would be weakness to cavil at something like this. And obviously the kid, whoever she was, was definitely gifted in her own way.

By the time she'd finished her coffee, Rin felt decidedly better. She would win this war. She focused on her Archer, who had been restlessly moving around her room picking out clothes, holding them up to her chest and then discarding them.

"You're right. Resources are resources. And I know exactly how to use you, now."

"Does it start with eating doughnuts?" asked Chloe hopefully.

Rin's thoughts, already racing through the junction of possibilities, paused. "Well, maybe just one."

Chapter 35: Taiga, Ruminating (TungstenCat)

Chapter Text

Prompt: "Could I get a Taiga introspection about her worrying over Shirou as he grows up trying to be an ideal?" — Smunch, answered by TungstenCat


"Ahhh, that was great!" Taiga patted her stomach as they walked away from the yakitori stand, stars in her eyes and a bit of sauce still smudged on her cheek.

Not that it will be there for long. He's so fussy.

Sure enough, Waver frowned and wiped it off with his thumb, brow bent in that sourpuss way of his. Taiga thought it was adorable, entirely worth looking a little silly. And besides, she'd never tried to keep up airs around the man — boyfriend now, three dates made it official— and the gaunt professor didn't mind. Found her openness refreshing, even, as he sometimes let slip through his tirades about Clocktower facades and daggers.

"I still cant believe you packed away twelve whole skewers," he muttered as they walked down the shadowed street. "You'd put even Gray to shame."

"A girl needs her sustenance!" she chirped with practiced ease, even as her stomach fell at the mention of Waver's charge. It wasn't Gray's fault — she was a lovely young lady— but that face always reminded Taiga of the other one. The emerald-eyed Servant who had sat on the other side of the Emiya table, Kiritsugu's "foreign friend" according to her little brother's clumsy attempt at a cover story. The one Taiga had to pretend to be oblivious to, when she knew she was dangerous to Shirou, as dangerous as the accursed seals emblazed on his hand.

Somehow he had survived the Grail War, but he had emerged worse than ever. If he had perhaps reflected a little more on his ideals, he clung onto them as tightly as before. Worse, now that he thought he had the strength to see them through in the most direct way.

Taiga shivered in the night coat, barely noticing as Waver helped pull her scarf tighter. She had worried from the first day Kiritsugu had introduced them, sitting around the table, and the boy had smiled and looked right through her. Emiya Shirou was broken. Broken in fire and guilt, making himself an empty vessel to be filled with others' dreams. She had watched him fill himself with Kiritsugu's (another ache in her heart, but softer now with Waver holding her hand), knowing it wasn't healthy but not knowing what she could do to pull him off that unhappy path,

She worried, and she tried. Oh, how she tried. But all her earnest attempts at teasing him, fussing over him, dropping by to share his life… he had opened a little, but never enough. Therapists did nothing, he simply learned to put on a better mask. She tried to talk to him about his future, spark a passion in him that would help him connect to people outside the framework of saving and helping them.

For a brief moment, she thought she had successfully steered him towards law or politics, perhaps even policework no matter how much her father disliked the idea. Even if it would never fix him, never quite fill the void behind his eyes, it was the best she could do for her little brother. But he'd gone and fought in the War, and it had unlocked his circuits and his eyes. And now…

Taiga ran her tongue over her teeth, catching the last bit of yakitori flavour. "It tastes like Shirou's used to," she said, and felt briny tears roll down her cheeks.

"He's a strong boy. He'll be alright, even in Algeria." Waver reached for a cigarette, and frowned but surrendered when she slapped his hand. "He's already learned the language, you know."

"Did I steer him wrong, Waver?" Her shoulders shook with the sigh she'd summoned up to hide a sob. "I should have given him a better dream. I should have—"

"Hush. Ideals are something people choose for themselves. You can show someone a dream, but it's up to them if they want to reach for it." Waver looked out onto the horizon, toward the Mion river, its rough waters reflecting the lights of the city above. "You were there for him. That's something he'll hold onto, even in his darkest hour. He'll remember someone loved him."

"Do you think we'll see him again?" she asked, squeezing his hand a little more tightly. " I kind of do want a cute nephew."

"After all that time you worried about the girls chasing after him.." he groaned. "Why are people so impossible?" Then Waver looked into her eyes, and smiled. "Then, shall we fetch him back together?"

Taiga's mouth twisted, even as her heart beat a little faster in her chest. "It's on the other side of the world. In a war zone."

"I do have contacts." He lit his cigarette, and this time she let him. "And he has many people who love him. Perhaps it's time to remind him of it."

"Let's do it." She breathed out, her eyes shining again. "That delinquent could use a good beating to put him back on the straight and narrow. "

And several hugs too, but that could wait until Tora-Shinai had gotten its share.

Chapter 36: Sakura and Nightmares (YukiKazami)

Chapter Text

Prompt: "Shirou and Sakura (post HF) just being wholesome, like in a date or just domestic fluff" — Mune, answered by Yuki


Darkness. Blood. Darkness. Blood. Dark-Blood-Dark-Blo-Dar-Bl-EAT, CONSUM-

"Nooooo!"

Warm arms wrapped around her, pulling her from the depths of her nightmares. "Sakura! Sakura, it's me. I'm here, we won, you're safe now."

"S…Senpai…" Her breathing began to normalize as she realized where she was, comfortably in the arms of the man who gave up his very body in order to save her. "I.. I'm sorry… Did I wake you?"

"No, you're fine, Sakura. I'm just glad I could be here for you."

Even as he smiled, though, she could still see flashes of steel when she blinked, and scared of what that implied, she held even tighter to him. As her face pressed into his chest, she could feel his heart beating, a comforting rhythm despite his new body. Tension left her body, and she melted against her lover, allowing his warmth to chase the last of the darkness from her mind. "Thank you… Senpai."

"Would you like some breakfast?"

Chapter 37: The Real Saber’s Grail War (Exstarsis)

Chapter Text

Prompt: "shirou summons MHX... but the holy grail war is literally just artorias. swimsuits! alternate class containers! bunnygirl costumes! alters! alternate universes! lostbelts! of course, it's quite obvious who would be summoned as the saber of the war... unless? not all servants should appear directly, it's fine if they're only referenced." — Tara, answered by Exstarsis


The Real Saber, Definitely (or, as everybody called her behind her back, 'Assassin') ghosted around the edge of the Homurahara High club building. The bunny-suited Ruler (she definitely had to die) had delivered an invitation for The Real Saber to be here at this hour. Of course she'd rejected it. But when she'd followed the Ruler after (she was so oblivious!) she'd realized the Ruler had delivered invitations to every other Servant as well.

The opportunity was too good to pass up. She snuck into the building and tip-toed down the hall, toward the sound of raised feminine voices. When she rounded the corner, she was so distracted with thoughts of how to destroy all of them at once, she ran right into a broad, non-squishy chest.

"Whoa!" said the Fake Saber, catching her as she almost fell. "Be careful, my lady."

The Real Saber leapt backward, reaching for her Excalibur automatically. Fake Saber gave her a wry grin and held up his hands. "I suppose you've come for the party, too?"

The Real Saber hesitated and then let her weapon vanish. Fake Saber's only crime was claiming to be a Saber, and that put him below everybody else in this damn war on her hit list. He'd definitely go down eventually, but now was not the time. Not when she could get information out of him.

"Hah! Why aren't you in there?" she demanded. The door behind which all the women wearing her face laughed was clearly visible.

Fake Saber flushed a little. "Ah, well. They… It didn't seem right for me to be joining them." When The Real Saber glared at him suspiciously, he waved a hand at the door. "You're an Assa—uh, why don't you go and see for yourself?"

Keeping her eyes on the tall man, The Real Saber edged past him until she was near the door. Then she carefully peeked inside.

Six women sat around several tables pushed together. There was the bunny-suited Ruler and the swimsuit-wearing Archer. The Rider with the ridiculous hat. The weird Caster. The milk-obsessed Lancer who normally wore black, and even the Berserker who sometimes triggered the strangest feelings in The Real Saber.

And none none none of them were wearing all of their costumes, but all of them were holding cards. The Archer, who sat in profile, had lost her top and one of her shoes (but retained her jacket). The Lancer had lost a lot more than that, and most of it was piled beside the Archer. The Ruler mostly wore flimsy transparent veils. The Caster had clearly focused on keeping her tunic, which covered the essentials, but she'd lost everything else and she was laughing about it. And Berserker—

Berserker raised her gaze from her cards, still mostly clothed, and met The Real Saber's eyes for just an instant before The Real Saber squeaked and ducked away, covering her face.

When she looked up, Fake Saber was looking down at her in sympathy. "Is Rider still winning? They were happy to let me step out once Archer lost a hand."

"Why are they doing this?" demanded The Real Saber, waiting with her heart in her throat for Berserker to fling open the door and drag her in.

"Uh. I think they said that since they were all variations on the same person, it didn't make sense for them to kill each other. If one won, they all won. So they wanted to have fun?"

"Who suggested it? Ruler?" The Real Saber clutched her hair, calming down as the door remained closed.

"I think it was Archer, actually." Fake Saber got a thoughtful look on his face. "She lost the first few hands. I'm surprised she hasn't been knocked out yet."

The Real Saber, Definitely thought of all the armor piled next to the Archer, and casino Ruler on the other side of the table. Her nose itched like it always itched when there was a cheating lookalike around. Then she thought of Berserker, still mostly clothed, and grew thoughtful.

"Are you going in?" asked the Fake Saber.

"They're totally wrong about how if one of us wins we all win, you know."

"Oh?" he said, with a faint smile.

"Yeah. That awful Archer thinks she's going to win. And I am going to prove her wrong."

With that, The Real Saber marched into the room, ready to do whatever she had to win, including an alliance with her old rival Berserker. And if the thought made her just a little bit happy? Well, who cared about that?

Chapter 38: Girl’s Night Out

Chapter Text

Prompt: "I need a girls night out with Ibuki, Circe, and Vritra STAT" — Pallan Minerva, answered by Pallan MinervaContext: Saw a piece of art of Ibuki drinking, spewed these words out, and a friend screamed at me in rage and then proceeded to draw some art of this exact thing happening. But then I was told that if he did that, I had to write a little piece for it too.


Circe woke up feeling far better than she thought she would. That is to say, rather than feeling like throwing herself into Charybdis's maw, it was preferable to enjoy the sweet release of Thanatos's touch. Either way, the magician wanted to die.

Ugh... what the fuck did I do last night...

Trying to push herself off of the floor, she found instead her hand was absorbed into it. Wait, that wasn't the floor. The floor doesn't snort like that.

Eyes squinted, Circe attempted to understand what was happening to her, and instead she was pulled back down into what was apparently a gigantic cleavage. Her "what the fuck" came out more as "wrthrfr", but as she understood it, there was no one around to hear it.

"Fufufu. You look like you took quite the tumble last night."

The witch managed to pull her face out of the large chest just enough so that she could groan and close her eyes at the blinding light from the doorway. How the hell was she hungover!? Servants weren't supposed to get hangovers!

I know I have a spell for this... gah...

"Would you like some help?"

Opening her eyes a fraction of an inch, Circe barely made out the outline of Shuten-Douji, and was only able to recognize her as such because of her voice.

"yrplr" she managed to get out. Soon after, she groaned as Shuten pulled her out by her hair. The oin let her fall to the floor.

I want to die.

"WHAT IN THE GODDAMN BLAZES—" she heard someone scream from outside. "WHAT SONNUVA GUN STUCK THE KUSANAGI-NO-TSURUGI THROUGH THE WALL!?"

Chapter 39: Kojiro, Ashamed

Chapter Text

Prompt: "Sasaki Kojiro mocks Shirou. Shirou reveals that it's actually Muramasa and shittalks Kojiro hard, with banter between them." — Aberron


Kojiro fingered his hilt with a small smile as the boy climbed up the steps.

"So... you approach me," he said softly, but his voice carried through the trees. "Despite all that you were warned, despite everything you have seen, you approach me. What have you to say for yourself?"

The boy turned his gaze upward, and Kojiro was surprised by how much steel he found in those eyes.

"I can't beat the shit outta ya without gettin' any closer."

His small smile stretched into a grin.

"Ho... then come as close as you like."

Kojiro took one step downward, and then blurred. A fraction of a moment later, their blades were locked. The boy wielded a katana that seemed so basic as to be unnotable... which was exactly what made it so interesting, for it did not crumble underneath his strength.

"You are better than I anticipated," the samurai grudgingly admitted.

"I ain't meant for this shit," the boy said, and only then did it hit Kojiro that he sounded nothing like the child he had chased down and nearly killed that first night. "But if I'm gonna be in it... well, if you got a job to do, ya better do it right."

"On this we agree."

Kojiro attempted to trip the boy up by using the height advantage and some shifting of his feet, but the boy took no issue and easily swept around him. And as they clashed more and more...

"Your guard is fallin' on your left side."

"Don't overextend yourself."

"Stop tryin' to hit me and hit me, damn it!"

...he was getting a little bit pissed off.

"I've had enough!" Kojiro said and kicked the man square in the abdomen, pushing him back a few steps. "This is the end! Tsubame Gaeshi!"

A flash of steel. A body hit the floor. He realized far too late that it was his own.

"W... what...?"

"Next time, don't let your temper get the best of ya," the boy said. "Else someone might take a paddle to your hind."

You fucking ass—

Chapter 40: Shirou and Moriarty

Chapter Text

Prompt: "Shirou confronts his former servant, Moriarty, after his betrayal." — Doc Test


"Trust is a delicate thing," the Archer said, tipping a concoction into his former Master's mouth. "Once lost, it will never be found in the same state as it was before."

Shirou woke with a start as the concoction touched his tongue, but a series of presses on his throat had him quickly swallow it.

"I know not why it was me whom your voice reached," Moriarty continued. "I know not why you still trusted me even after Caster's fall. But none of that matters, does it?"

"Gahk!" The boy tried to cough out the serum, but it was far too late. "W... what..."

"Not what, young man." Moriarty corrected sternly. "Who. It is in my nature to do wrong. Despite all you proclaim about the inherent good of man, you summoned an evil Servant."

"That's—that's not true!" Shirou got out. "I don't—don't think you're a bad person at all!"

"Hm?" He quirked an eyebrow.

"You wouldn't have helped save Tohsaka if... if you were bad."

Moriarty smiled. "Are you familiar with the expression, 'all that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good to do nothing?' Well, evil can conquer by way of doing good. Doing good earns trust, you see, and with trust comes vulnerability. And in vulnerability..."

Moriarty motioned to the monitors behind him. They displayed the burning wreckage of Fuyuki City, skeletons of skyscrapers and already crumbling ruins all that remained of his former Master's hometown.

"…comes the opportunity for evil."

Chapter 41: Napoleon and Medusa

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Prompt: "Napoleon and Medusa go on a library date. Much banter. Their dynamic is more like drinking buddies than a couple" — Tara


The First Emperor of France was an obnoxious braggadocio, Medusa had noted on first sight. He seemed like a slightly more tempered Fergus, with a little less flirtatiousness and a little more charm. Not much, mind you, but there was something endearing in how he always let the child Servants climb on top of him when he encountered them in the hallways.

"You're staring again."

Medusa blinked. Napoleon was looking at her with a small, knowing smirk, a thick biography in his hands.

"And? What of it?"

"I can understand the charm of a man like Bedivere more than you know, but you would do well to be less obvious."

"Don't be ridiculous." Medusa waved her hand dismissively. "He's, at best, a pretty boy with less spine than an amoeba. Three out of ten."

"Really?" Napoleon's eyebrows raised. "Okay, rest of the Knights of the Round. Go."

"Agravain is a negative ten."

"No arguments there."

"I'd put Gawain at a... five, nearly a six. He tries too hard and fails too often."

"I find that most attractive myself. I like people who try. Seven-point-five out of ten."

"Tristan is far too depressing for such a beautiful face. Four out of ten."

"Fair enough. I would give him three. I bet he'd complain when I didn't give him a haircut whenever he asked."

Medusa snorted. "Lancelot... seven. He can improve to be better, but he's good-natured, though I'm not sure if I could trust him."

"I think he's reformed. I'll agree with a seven."

"Mordred... a bit too loud for me. Six."

"Also my type. Eight."

"The Lion King, when she's in a better mood, is a nine."

"Absolutely. She's got a big heart."

Medusa shot him a flat stare. "Uh-huh. Are you sure that's what you were looking at?"

He grinned through his blush. "Same area, isn't it?"

"You're absurd."

"And you're a ten."

It was Medusa's turn to blush. "Shut up."

"Never."

Chapter 42: Foreigners Unfulfilled

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Prompt: "Hokusai and Van Gough share a studio space for an afternoon in Chaldea. Muse on each other's art as it progresses and twists. Each other's 2nd personality comes out as it goes on. Undercurrent of tension." — Edge


Two twisted creatures sat in commune in the sunlight. One whose brush twirled elegant lines on her canvas, calligraphies coalescing into constructs. One whose brushed swung from side to side and softly soothed its painter with its paint.

Oei was not dumb to the fact that the Servant that called herself 'Van Gogh' was not, just like how she was not 'Hokusai'. Their Spirit Origins were not their own, these names were not their own, and yet over and over again did they smile and nod as they were addressed as such.

The edge of her mind was always frayed. It was a place she liked not to stray. But in the silence, in the nothingness of her art, it was easy to get lost.

"I hate this place," she did not say.

"As they hate you," the other Foreigner replied.

"How frightening," she did not smirk. "To be hated by fleas."

"You will not harm Master," said the other Foreigner.

"I? Why would I need to? Master puts herself in harm's way enough as is. I need not do anything."

"You will not."

Their gazes met, and time turned inside out.

Chapter 43: Sakura and Drake, Drunk

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Prompt: "Drake takes Sakura out drinking to help her work up the courage to talk to Shirou. Things get out of hand." — Kat-2V


When did things get so blurry?

"Oh dear," Rider said from her side. "Someone went for the bottle a few too many times too quickly."

Sakura wiped her eyes to try to get the blurriness out of them and mostly succeeded. The bar was far quieter than she had expected from its outside. Soft jazz over the speakers, an old bartender casually wiping a glass down, and only a few patrons at this hour. With the sun not entirely down, the wooden interior was lit by a warm sunlight uncharacteristic to the winter, but much welcome.

"I... huh...?" she murmured as her vision swayed again.

"Alright, up and at 'em. Let's get you going while the liquid courage is still running."

Sakura giggled as her Servant picked her up in a princess carry and strode out the bar. "I bet... Senpai is very confused."

"Bah, he can wait a little longer." Somehow, despite using both arms to carry her, Rider had a large tankard of beer in one hand that she was drinking out of. "That boy's too low-strung sometimes. He needs more excitement. A little bit of worry will do him good."

"Don't be mean! He's a good person."

"So was my first mate!" Drake replied. "But that didn't mean he didn't need a good kick in the arse from time to time. Now come on, we're gonna go beat up Assassin again."

Sakura laughed even harder. The night was young, but it wasn't getting any younger. She was ready to enjoy it to the best of her ability before sinking into the hell of the Holy Grail War again.

Chapter 44: Shirou and Taiga, Familial

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Prompt: "Shirou gives Taiga a hug." — Eteru


The first thing that clued Shirou in that something was wrong was that Fuji-nee did not yell "I'M HOME!" at the top of her lungs when she arrived that evening. The second thing was that her smile was dimmed, like a flickering lightbulb ready to go out. The third was that she was picking at her food rather than eating it.

He was not a busybody who liked to interfere in other people's business, but Shirou did not stand aside idly while one of the most important people in his life was not feeling well.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

She looked up at him with tired eyes. "Nothing. Why do you ask?"

"Fuji-nee, you told me not to lie to you every time I came back from a fight. Please don't do the same."

Finally, her smile grew a little larger than it had stayed the whole night. "You were such a punk kid."

"I had a bad role model." The comment was meant to incite her to try to smack him over the head with torashinai. But instead she sighed and slumped a little further.

"Yeah... yeah, I guess you did."

Shirou frowned and went to take the dishes to the sink. She made no effort to stop him. Once he had rinsed everything and filled them with water to fully wash later, he came back and sat by her side.

"Fuji-nee, please talk to me."

"Really, Shirou, it's nothing."

"You didn't eat anything. Can I make you some soup?"

"No, I'm fine."

He was stumped. Shirou was not a physical-contact type person, but this had been nice for him when he was a kid, so he thought he'd pay back the favor. He wrapped his arms around her shoulders and pulled her into a hug.

"I don't know what's going on, and you don't have to tell me. But I'm here."

She was silent for a few moments, then laughed quietly and hugged him back.

"Yeah. I guess you are."

Her hug grew tighter momentarily before she let go.

"Thank you, Shirou," she said quietly. "Thank you. For... everything."

He smiled at her, even though he didn't know why. "Any time."

Chapter 45: Rin, Da Vinci, and Technology

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Prompt: "Rin summons caster-class servant Leonardo Da Vinci, who takes it upon herself to personally upgrade the outdated technology in the Tohsaka household - much to Rin's dismay." — Ruceris


Rin woke up to screaming. Not human screaming, she knew what that sound like, but the screaming and squealing of metal sliding against metal. She slammed her hands over her ears and looked at the clock, blearily trying to make out the time.

Six am!?

Growling, Rin threw off her blanket and stormed out of her room, down the stairs. She managed not to fall, only stumble on the bottom step, but quickly recovered. It was in her living room that she found the source of the noise.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!" Rin screamed at Caster.

"Hey, keep it down!" Caster replied indignantly. "Do you want to wake the neighbors?"

"DON'T YOU TALK TO ME ABOUT WAKING UP ANYONE! I COULD HEAR THAT FROM MY BEDROOM!"

"Oops." The inventor grinned through her awkwardness and scratched the back of her head. "Ahaha. I just wanted to upgrade your computer, but then one thing led to another and..."

ARF.

The... mechanical dog, if it could even be called that, towered above them both. At least nine feet high if not more.

"HOW DID YOU TURN MY COMPUTER INTO THIS." Rin couldn't help but speak with Caps Lock on. Give her a break, it's six in the morning.

"I'm a genius!" Caster posed and winked as if that explained everything. Rin was not amused.

ARF. I AM A DOG.

"SHUT UP."

Chapter 46: Shirou and Meltryllis

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Prompt: "Shirou takes Meltryllis on a date to an ice-skating rink." — Skell


Meltryllis did not like to hold hands. Also, she did not like to be called "Melt"—Shirou learned that the hard way. But she did like the cold. She did like to dance, though not in a club or anything. She liked to dance alone or—on very rare occasions—with him. He always felt so embarrassed when she did because she so clearly outclassed him and, yet, still she did so.

He watched from the side as she so elegantly skated around the rink as if she was born there. Parents held their children aside as she swooshed past, both adult and child slack-jawed. He could see Meltryllis's easy smile—one she so rarely wore—as she took curves more naturally than she walked.

She stopped in front of him, her trademark smirk back.

"You were watching," she stated.

"Is there somewhere else I was supposed to look?" he asked.

"No." She bent over the rail. "Never. But you're supposed to be on the ice."

"I told you, I don't know how to skate..." he looked aside awkwardly.

"There's a first time for everything, isn't there?"

"I... don't want to slow you down."

"Idiot." Her easy smile was back. She offered her sleeves to him, and instinctually he held her cold hands inside of them. "I'd just work you to the bone until you were fast enough to stay with me."

Before he could reply, she had already started to move, still holding onto him. "Now to go the clerk and ask for a pair of skates. We're not leaving until you can do an axel jump."

Shirou paled. "Um... I don't think I can do that today."

She wore a wide grin. "Then we won't be leaving for a while, will we?"

Chapter 47: Illya and Archer

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Prompt: "iiyia summons archer emiya, who in kiritsugis footsteps, does what what he can to protect her." — Pandy


Illya hated feeling weak. For so many years, she hurt and hurt and hurt, over and over again. Nothing but demands and sneers and "you will succeed." She loathed feeling weak. So why had she gotten the weakest Servant possible?!

"How did you let them get away!" she yelled at him. "They were right there! How!?"

Archer crossed his arms. "They had us outnumbered two to one. I would have died and you would have lost."

She stomped her foot. "Couldn't you have split them up somehow!?"

"Saber wasn't hesitating to slice me into ribbons. I didn't have the space to do anything except defend myself. We're lucky we got away alive."

Illya roared and punched him in the chest. She knew it would only hurt her, he wouldn't feel a thing, but it was something.

"...for what it's worth, I'm sorry."

"Sorry isn't good enough," she hissed. "You were supposed to be better. Why do you always fail me?"

That, at least, made him recoil. "…yeah. I'm sorry. I'll try to be better."

Chapter 48: Sakura’s Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

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Prompt: "Astolfo being summoned as Sakura's servant. He uses his inescapable net Noble Phantasm (Vulcano Cagliorante) to contain Zouken, then grabs Sakura by the hand and whisks her off on a date across Fuyuki that leaves her smiling but also flustered and overwhelmed by the sudden change of circumstance" — Yuki.


She loved candy. Sakura adored munching on little sweets: sugar pops, gummies, everything Astolfo could get out of a candy store and more. His Master had so rarely had the chance to be a child that he relished in giving her that opportunity again.

He had to say, though—the part where she started eating people was unexpected.

"I'm a monster."

She sat on the bed that her boyfriend—was he really? he never seemed to make any moves—provided for her, curled in a ball.

"I don't see anything scary about you," Astolfo said with muted cheer. He hoped that it would help her somehow.

It didn't.

"Rider, I... I killed someone." She looked at him with teary eyes, still blurred in purple. "I... oh God, I'm going to be sick."

"No, no, not here."

Again, he had to take her to the bathroom and help her dry heave. No, it wasn't pretty, but nor was what she did to all those people. It didn't bother him.

"I... I want to..."

"No ,you don't." He didn't need her to finish that sentence to understand her intent. "Or maybe it's better to say that you shouldn't ask for that."

"How can you bear to even look at me?"

"Well, it's easy. I keep my eyes open and stare." Astolfo forced his eyelids open with his fingers. "See? Like this."

"Stop it... just... stop..."

"Sorry." He wrapped his arms around her. "Monsters don't feel regret, you know?"

"But they love being monsters, don't they? And I loved doing that. They... oh God, they were... they tasted good."

Another two minutes to help her deal with the acid reflux.

"You'll get better. I promise."

Astolfo was an expert in miracle-making. He'd help her out. Whether that meant that she would become good or bad in the end, it didn't matter. He'd make sure she was happy.

Chapter 49: Shirou, Illya, Tomoe, Trying

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Prompt: "Tomoe Gozen and Illya teach Shirou how to play videogames" — Mune


"So... I press the stick left and then B?"

"Yeah, just like that!"

Tomoe had sacrificed her seat on the couch to Illya, but didn't mind, as she got to lay her head between Illya and Shirou. Plus, the floor was nice and cool.

"Oh, you died again," Illya said.

"Sorry!" Shirou winced. "I keep making the death counter go up."

"Shirou, it's not supposed to be easy," Tomoe said. "No mountain climber ever climbed Fuji-san on their first try. The game is meant to be challenging."

"Yeah, but—"

"The counter isn't meant to tell you how bad you are at the game," Illya interjected. "It says it on a loading screen hint: it tells you how much you've tried and how much you're learning."

"...yeah, guess so."

The little pixel figure flashed as it clutched onto the wall, before dashing right and jumping off a spring onto a piece of solid ground.

"Yeah, you did it!" Tomoe threw her arms up in celebration.

"It's not much, really..." Shirou muttered awkwardly.

"Shirou, every puzzle you solve is an achievement," she said, "because it means you're getting better. You just started playing, you're definitely not perfect. But you're trying and you are succeeding. Please, please don't devalue that. Every step forward is worth something."

He didn't respond for a few seconds. She looked up to see a small smile on his face.

"...okay."

Illya leaned over to hug him, and Tomoe patted his knee.

"You'll get better as long as you keep trying. Promise."

Chapter 50: Gilgamesh (Santa)

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Prompt: "Santa Gilgamesh. Either conned into the role by Arthur, dispensing gifts to the Kindergarten, or just gloating over past Santas." — Exstarsis


There was a table in the Chaldean cafeteria that was specifically devoted to Santas. It had been made after the wrestling matches, where they all gifted their power to Bradamante and saved Christmas again. Quetzalcoatl forced them all to start sitting together for dinner and, eventually, enough of a camaraderie was formed that they grew fairly close. Even as Nightingale and Karna joined the table, all that meant was that the bond grew more connections and deeper.

But this Christmas... the Santas were less than pleased to discover who donned the mantle this year.

"So I am supposed to decide who is worthy of my boon? Where is Enkidu? I will gift every present to them."

"No, that's not how it works," the small Jeanne said, frowning. "You have a list of people who are naughty and nice. The people who are nice get gifts."

"Aha. I understand." Gilgamesh nodded, his hyperbolically-long white beard flying all about with the motion. "Ishtar! Where is that useless goddess? She will get an extra-special gift this year... fuahahaha!"

Karna sighed. Every single Santa eventually came to the realization that their understanding of Christmas was... untraditional, but the spirit of the holiday still infused their every action.

This Santa will need some training...

He had a boxing ring to set up.

Chapter 51: Medusa’s Intervention

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Prompt: "Medusa: Following a bit of confusion Ritsuka and a few of the actually tall servants have a sit down with her and inform her she's really not all that large." — Maddie


Medusa blinked in confusion.

"What's going on?" she asked to the crowded room.

"This is an intervention," said Ritsuka, golden eyes serious. "You have a problem, and we're here to stop it."

"What? I don't understand..."

Two small arms wrapped around her waist, and she looked down to see Bunyan hugging her. Still not understanding, she patted the girl's head.

"Little girl thinks she is too tall," Ivan's voice boomed. "Ho ho ho. She not understand how short she is."

"Not helping, Ivan." Ritsuka sighed. "But he said it. Medusa, you're really average in height."

She felt herself shrink in a little. "I'm... not so sure about that."

"Oh, chica." Two much longer arms wrapped around her from behind as Quetzalcoatl lifted both Medusa and Bunyan off the ground, to the child's delight and her surprise. "You are beautiful, absolutely beautiful."

As she was set down again, Quetzalcoatl turned her around and smiled brightly. "How could anyone ever tell you that you are ugly and too tall is beyond me."

A shadowed came in behind Quetzalcoatl, and Medusa's eyes widened as Gorgon came in with a frown.

"You..." she muttered.

"Me."

"I don't want any funny business, you guys," Ritsuka stated firmly. "We're talking a problem out."

"I'll be quick," said Gorgon. "If you keep hating yourself for what you are, you will become me. You will become tall and ugly and everything you hate, and that will make you hate more."

She left as quickly as she came, leaving one last thought behind.

"I can hate enough for the two of us."

Chapter 52: Jeanne Alter at Sunset

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Prompt: "Jalter and co brainstorm ideas for their next manga during the Servant Summer Festival after another failed loop." — Quality


Jeanne Alter curled her fingers into a fist and then uncurled them. Sitting on the railing of their balcony was calming... but not helpful. Every time something went right, ten things went wrong. She was still so inexperienced. Still not good enough.

Never good enough.

"What's wrong?"

She turned aside to see Robin chewing on a toothpick.

"Who the fuck still does that?" she scoffed and looked out at the beach again.

He shrugged. "I'm used to chewing on grain stalks. Sue me."

"Hmph."

The sunset was stupidly beautiful. Red streaks painted on the sea and the sky. Jeanne Alter thought about trying to capture that on the cover... and instead found only a pit of doubt inside. She wanted to pound it into dust, burn it into ashes, and scatter it on the four winds.

"Y'know, whenever I look out at this..." Robin started.

"If you say something sappy like 'it makes me so happy to be alive' or some bullshit like that—"

"I question whether we're allowed to," he finished, and Jeanne Alter shut her mouth. "I think about the Incineration of Humanity, how close we came to meeting it, and whether it's okay for us to just... relax like this. I know we still have some time before the Mages Association comes to shut everything down..."

She turned and grabbed him by the scruff of his collar.

"Listen to me," she said firmly, and he turned his viridian eyes on her. "I... I didn't stay up for three nights researching this place just so you could feel sorry for yourself about this."

"I'm not," he insisted. "I feel guilty. How can you not?"

"Don't you remember?" she said with a sardonic grin. "I was on the other side for a little while."

That got him quiet.

"Yeah. So." She let him go and sighed. "I was there, wanting it all to die. And some part of me still wants to see it. But another part of me wants to..."

She clenched her fist.

"…I want to be happy," she said under her breath. "And whether I deserve that or not… I want to try anyway."

Chapter 53: Shirou and Luvia

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Prompt: "Close Shirou and Luvia butler romantic moment after Luvia has a rough day with hardcore Clocktower politics to come back to her dear Shero whos cooked a nice meal for her at the end of the day.

minor request for an unintentional joke of Shirou going 'would you like a dinner, or a bath' and Luvia picks him" — Kiyoko


"I'm home!" Luvia sighed and pulled off her shoes, obnoxiously tall heels. They clacked to the side because right now she didn't care about poise or elegance. Right now she was tired.

"Welcome back!"

She smiled as Shero took her coat for her and hung it up.

"Long day?" he asked, taking every layer of clothing she threw off until she was only in underclothes. Neither of them were much shy about it, given how often they had been in less.

"Some days, Shero, I think we'd be better off back in your barbaric homeland."

"Long day," he repeated, following her outside of their bedroom and waiting for her to dress herself again. He was such a good boy. "Well, I have dinner nearly finished and I can get a bath drawn up soon, if you like."

"Yes, please." She came out in simple housewear, baggy shorts and a t-shirt, and smiled. "I will wash up, then we will eat, and then we will watch a movie together."

"What would you like to watch today?" he asked with a nod.

"Some silly action film, I don't care," she waved a hand. "I just want to have something playing in the background while we have sex."

"V-very good, milady, I'll get the bath drawn," he said with only the slightest stutter.

Oh yes. He is very well-trained.

Chapter 54: Avicebron and Da Vinci

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Prompt: "(slams table) Da Vinci and Avicebro (and any others deemed necessary) teaming up to make a weapon to surpass Metal Gear, literally or figuratively." — Natsu


The bunker rumbled and the lights flickered. Electronic roars echoed faintly in the background. But Avicebron minded none at all. Weaving artificial magic circuits into a mechanical golem was not easy work, after all. Heavy focus was required.

"Avi, throw me a spanner!"

The smallest spark of annoyance caught in his throat.

"I believe I explicitly said don't call me that." He still threw the spanner up twenty feet to where the smaller Da Vinci homunculus was working.

"What was that?" she called back. "I can't hear you over this brilliant piece of art we're making."

He couldn't help but agree. That didn't mean he wasn't going to pay her back somehow.

"Oh, don't be like that." The full-sized Da Vinci joined him and held a joint up while he worked on some hydraulics behind it. "You need to be less antisocial."

"I prefer the company of golems, thank you."

"Ouch." She grinned. "So you're not interested in a skyline date next week?"

"Is this really the time?"

"It's always the time for romance."

Another electronic roar from outside rumbled the hangar.

"Hey, is it ready?" Ritsuka was vibrating visibly. He had spoken many times of his childhood dreams to pilot a "mecha", and when the opportunity arose, Da Vinci was happy to put her skills to the test to try to make them come true.

"I think so," Avicebron said. The boy didn't wait more than a moment before running up the metal staircase to the entrance.

Da Vinci sighed. "Oh, to be young again."

"...only if you promise to explain... electric wiring to me."

"Hm?" Her gaze grew curious. "Does that mean...?"

"Yes, yes. Fine."

Avicebron stumbled as Da Vinci jump-hugged him with a happy yell, and he had to lean onto the side of the golem for support.

"I can't wait!" she yelled as the hangar doors began to scream open. The electronic roars grew even louder. "We should get out of the way!"

"Yes, I suppose we should," he muttered. Ritsuka's golem stumbled forward as the enemy Metal Gear turned, cannon pointed menacingly.

"ENEMY MECHA SIGHTED."

"YIPPEE-KAI-YAY MOTHERFUCKERS!" the boy in the mecha yelled over the outside speakers. "Hell yeah, always wanted to say that!"

Chapter 55: Gorgon and Sakura

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Prompt: "Ah, Gorgon making it very clear that no, she does not want to leave the nice warm house in the middle of the coldest winter for the last 50 odd years. Sakura got a different class in the war, this also takes place after the war." — General Shyguy


Sakura put her hands on her hips. Her living room was currently 10% furniture, 10% paintings on the wall, and 80% mythological creature trying to nap by the fireplace.

"Rider—"

"I said no, Sakura," her ex-Servant stated.

"I just want you to help carry the bags—"

"It's below 10 centigrade out there. I refuse."

"You're a Heroic Spirit! How do you even get cold?"

Medusa gave her a stare that could have turned her to stone, but that threat had long since gone away.

"Did you not notice my long snake body?"

"So?"

"Servant or not, I am cold-blooded. Didn't you take biology at school?"

"Fine. I guess I'll go by myself." Sakura made to stomp off before a long length of tail blocked the doorway. "...Rider."

"It's cold," Medusa hissed.

"I'll bundle up!"

"No. Tell Shirou to get what you need on the way back."

"Why are you like this!?"

"Shut up and cuddle me."

Chapter 56: Kojiro and Musashi, Disarmed

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Prompt: "Kojiro is elated to find that his rival, the breath and purpose of his patchwork existence, has arrived for their long awaited duel. Only to find that both of Musashi's hands have been crushed, and she will never again hold a sword." — TungstenCat


Her smile was painful, like cracked skin. So unpleasant to his eyes that he had to turn away. He clenched his own fists in a shadowed empathy pain, because he couldn't look at hers.

"Sad, isn't it?" Her voice was a butterfly with broken wings, straining to take flight once more. "Just a... freak accident."

"I..." Kojiro couldn't even find words to say.

"Yeah." She didn't have any either.

He sheathed his sword. There was no point having it out, not without someone to match blades with.

"...I didn't think it'd end like this..." The ex-swordswoman mumbled, slowly taking a seat on the rough path, wincing when she pressed her ground-up hands into the ground. "I... I thought of something so much cleaner."

"We all wish for an easy, clean, honorable death." He muttered, taking a seat beside her. "Rarely is it granted."

Her painful laugh made his own heart twinge. "Yeah. Guess so."

Birds chirped and flew above them.

"I didn't even get to write that book people kept saying the other me wrote. I didn't get to..." She hiccuped. "I..."

"You are still alive. There is still good you can do." Kojiro didn't even have that much, being barely more than a spirit.

Again, a painful laugh, but he could hear the tears in it now. "Not much. Not by myself. Always gonna need someone else now. Can't be by myself anymore. And the hell am I supposed to do about the dimension-hopping thing, huh."

She coughed into her elbow.

"I'm so pathetic," she whispered.

Then what does that make me?

Chapter 57: Sakura and BB

Chapter Text

Prompt: "Hmm, FGO's CCC rerun makes me wonder how Sakura Matou of FSN would react to the Sakura 5. Or at least some of the members of it." — Worldbringer of Joseun


"Hmm. I wasn't expecting this. How did you get here?"

Sakura blinked as the darkness washed away to a... TV studio? She was just eating dinner, and—

"Uh, hello? Are you deaf? Can you hear me?"

Some fingers snapped in front of her, and she turned to address the rude person before her eyes widened.

"Oh," said the other her. "This is... unexpected."

"Who are you?" she asked, frowning.

"Well, I could lie and tell you that I'm you and we're inside your heart and I'm going to reveal to you your true desires buuuuuut—" The other her put on a big grin. "I'm feeling a bit charitable right now. I'm BB, an AI from the Moon Cell."

I don't know what any of that means.

"If you don't know what that means, don't worry about it, it doesn't matter." BB walked over to the desk and waved her over. "I got something to show you."

Sakura followed her and took a seat beside the AI that looked so much like her—apart from that grin. That smile... she hated it. It reminded her of darker times.

"Ah, I see now." BB tapped the monitor in front of her which, to Sakura, just seemed like a river of numbers. "Somehow you got summoned here alongside the Chaldean Master—don't worry about it—and, well, until they beat the Singularity, I guess you're kind of stuck here."

"W... for how long?"

BB shrugged. "A few days at most. Don't worry, you've been converted to data. You don't need to do all that gross human stuff."

"I'm a computer program?"

"Hey, you got something against computer programs?" BB frowned.

Sakura put her head in her hands and groaned.

"Aww, don't be like that." The AI patted her on the shoulder. "Look at it this way: it's a few days of rest and relaxation, watching some idiots struggle for their lives."

"I don't find that relaxing at all."

"Oh." A pause. "Well, do you like video games? Because there's this one called Fate/stay night I've been meaning to try out for a while…"

Chapter 58: Nobu and Okita, Tranquil

Chapter Text

Prompt: "An emotional moment between Nobu and Okita, maybe involving Okita's illness?" — Niko


Okita yawned and stretched her arms as she walked out of their bedroom. Her hair was matted and just a bit greasy, but she didn't care much about that right now. Her wife was somewhere here, and Okita needed her morning company.

After a few minutes, she found her on the veranda.

"Ah, you're here," Nobu said quietly and patted the spot next to her. Her dark red hair glowed in the sunrise.

"What made you think I was going to get up?"

"You always do." Nobu smirked, and Okita sighed but took a seat next to her. "Just been thinking today."

"About?" Okita coughed lightly into her hand.

"The past."

"What is there to think about?"

"Too much."

"Hmph." She leaned onto Nobu's shoulder. "You know what Boudica always said about that."

"Our past is what brought us here, but we define who we are, yeah." Nobu nodded. "Just... it's still meaningful. And I always wondered what it'd be like if Mitsuhide ever showed up."

"Mmm." Okita buried her face into her wife's shoulder, growing somewhat tired once more but intent on listening. "Are you scared?"

"Me, scared?" She could hear the smile in Nobu's voice. "...I don't think so. I just wished that we could have all been happy in the end. I wasn't done, you know? I left a job unfinished."

"But it was finished for you," she said, turning her head back to the sunrise. "It's not your fault you weren't able to. Aren't you glad it worked out in the end?"

"Should I reflect that back to you, about the Shinsengumi?"

"...sorry."

"It's okay." Her wife wrapped an arm around her and pulled her in close. "I am happy. Things are okay, and I have you. I don't need anything else."

Chapter 59: The Candy Thief

Chapter Text

Prompt: "Ibaraki tries to raid the kitchen for sweets, MHXX tries to stop her. A mess happens." — Sky


It was supposed to be a simple job. Get in, snatch & grab, get out. She had kept track of the patrol patterns (EMIYA always took a break at 16:25 to go shooting with his Alter and Boudica only took over at 16:30), she had donned the most inconspicuous clothing she had, and when the time came...

...there was someone else there.

Ibaraki gaped as she watched Mysterious Heroine X Alter rummage through the pantry, through the shelves she had planned to steal—err, borrow—from! How could this happen? Her perfect plan was in pieces!

She growled and, with nary a word spoken, threw herself at the other Berserker. But the Alter's Instinct was too strong, and she ducked. Ibaraki slammed right into the pantry, causing six shelves to collapse and the metal to creak.

"Help!" cried the other Berserker. "Thief in the kitchen!"

OH YOU BIT—

"Halt, interloper!" And now the other Mysterious Heroine came in to bring the wrath of the Kitchen God onto her head. No, the other other one. "You have violated the law! Pay the court—"

Ibaraki tore herself out of the crashed shelving with a roar. "DOWN WITH CANDY TYRANTS! FOR FREEDOM, FOR EQUALITY, FOR CONFECTIONERY!"

Chaldea's kitchen weathered a great storm that day. Ibaraki would never again set foot in it… and MHX Alter continued to get away with her misdeeds. We truly do live in a sugary society.

Chapter 60: Serenity in Love

Notes:

Prompt: “Hassan of Serenity being in love with Mash instead of Ritsuka. Do as you will, I just want fluff.” — BananaMango , answered by YukiKazami

Chapter Text

A touch.

Naught but a touch, but Serenity couldn’t get it off her mind, once she was summoned into Chaldea. While the Singularity she had been in was but one of many sets of memories, she could still feel the pressure of the pink-haired girl pressed against her vividly. Mash had quickly jumped up, slightly embarrassed by the close contact in the dank cell of the dungeon, but Serenity had been forced to clench her fist to avoid desperately holding onto the Shield Servant’s arm.

In a way, it was rather poetic. A Servant of absolute defense and a Servant whose very presence was attack. As time went by, however, it was clear to Serenity that this was not simply about Mash being someone safe, she truly cared about the girl as a person. The pair shared that same fear of, and longing for, the touch of a loved one, despite their wildly different circumstances. She let out a quiet sigh, still frustrated with what she had learned of Mash’s past, but there was little that could be done at this point except care for her in the moment.

“Serenity!”

The assassin jolted as her name rang out across the hall, the object of her thoughts close at hand. Mash stood in front of her with a gentle smile, and carefully intertwined their fingers once it was clear that she was paying attention. “If you keep spacing out like that, we’re going to be late you know! EMIYA said he was going to make you a special plate so you don’t have to worry about touching the general food, and we don’t wanna keep him waiting!”

Serenity attempted to maintain her stoic facade, but the embarrassment of completely zoning out quickly caught up, pink staining her ashen cheeks. She silently nodded her assent, and allowed a smile to press against the corners of her lips as she was dragged along by her… girlfriend? The word felt foreign, yet calming and warm all the same.

Chapter 61: Iskandar and Achilles

Notes:

Prompt: “Rider (Iskandar) thinking on the philosophy of ruling and kingship, after Artoria sacrifices herself, and being confronted by Achilles.” — LogicalPremise , answered by Aberron

Chapter Text

“You’re no better than Agamemnon, you know that?” The young Lancer demanded. His spear struck against Rider’s sword, rattling the larger man’s arm. Any rumors about this man being anything less than a Demi-god were sorrowfully empty. “Saber was twice the King you are!”

“Oh?! Are you that insulted I invited you to join my army?” Iskandar could laugh about that. “A beardless youth like yourself should have been honored by the offer!”

They separated, the wide area of the docks around them favoring Rider on his horse than Lancer. “Kings of men only bring suffering and death in their wake!”

“Wrong!” Iskandar bellowed, feeling affronted. “In the wake of the king’s desires are created desires great and small by all those that follow him! Would you have fought Hector in your duel if it were not for Odysseus? Agamemnon may have been the glorious hero of the Iliad instead of you, had you ignored their summons! Your own myth is only proven right by the driven desires of a king!”

Lancer’s nostrils flared as he charged him this time, spear flashing out towards him. Iskandar laughed, summoning his own spear. The longer Macedonian version was better for this, by far.

“And after the smoke clears?” The young boy’s eyes never left Iskandar’s hands. He could debate and fight at the same time! “When all that is left are the dead and injured? Most of the fair men you idolize never came home! How is that for the desire of kings! There were few men to enjoy the profit or wealth that followed!”

“Are you still hung up on Patroclus?!” Iskandar bellowed, his horse backstopping to avoid being disemboweled. “From my conquest the world shook and empires crumbled, and rose in turn! The world moved on! Kings have greater desires than a normal man can fathom!” His next spear strike hammered the spear of Lancer, the tips gleaming in the sunset. “From those desires comes conflict, and from that conflict the world changes! The spirit of man is to conflict with others for limited resources! Women, land, food and water are all but ego before the mind of man! And what creates the change that allows a hero like you to shine?” He grinned. “Kings like the Saber you so adored.”

Achilles roared, jumping over Belerephon’s neck and landing a solid punch on Iskandar’s chin. “Kings are created through the suffering of others! Greece should never have accepted you as king!”

Chapter 62: Mordred and Music

Notes:

Prompt: “Mordred learns piano from…Salieri as a way to vent her emotions.” — Cipher-Rho

Chapter Text

Slow. Too slow. Too damn slow. It hadn’t even been an hour and Mordred’s fingers wouldn’t stop hurting, goddamn scales and their freaking exact finger movements, why the hell was she even bothering with this crap—!

A soft knock on the piano forced her attention out of her head. Salieri was looking at her with a neutral expression, but she just knew that he could tell she wasn’t paying attention enough. Goddamn it.

“That’s enough for today,” he said calmly. “We’ll start again tomorrow morning, eight o’clock sharp.”

A cold jolt coursed through her.

“No, wait!” The bench screeched on the floor as she stood up. “I can keep going! I can focus!”

One lone silver eyebrow rose.

“Your actions have spoken enough. I will not keep you from what you are otherwise occupied by. I do not teach dullards or fools.”

Her fist clenched. Had it been anyone else, she might have decked them across the face, but… 

A hissing exhale, the exercise Chiron taught her to expel anger. She forcibly uncurled her fist and bowed at the waist. “I’m sorry. Please… please let me keep going.” 

“Why should I?”

Because I don’t want to go back to Father with nothing.

Pinpricks at her eyes warned her of imminent tears. His question had struck her far deeper than she’d expected. But she didn’t want to give up here. Not now. Not after she’d begged him to take her on as a student. 

“Because I…” Mordred swallowed. “I want… to…”

Fuck, why can’t I say it? Just fucking say it already!

A gloved hand rested on her shoulder, and she wiped at her eyes before she looked up at her teacher. He wore a gentle smile.

“If you are unwilling to give up on today’s lesson, then I shall not give up on you just yet. Let’s try the F-major scale once more.”

She sniffled and forced a smile on. “Yeah. Thanks. I won’t let you down.”

Chapter 63: Chaldea D&D

Notes:

Prompt: “4 servants(of your choice or randomized, any fate/ source material) are trapped in a room until they complete a campaign of Dungeons and Dragons. Moriarty is the dungeon master.” — Ruceris, answered by nd7878

Chapter Text

“I must thank you, brave heroes, for answering my call…” Moriarty folded his hands, a dark smile on his face. A small screen on the table separated him from the other four, the “players” in his “game.”

His mind automatically filled in the quotation marks, but that is what they were.

“So…” Holmes muttered, fidgeting with a D20, “my suspicion was correct. You took the role of DM in this game. Whatever you’re planning, I won’t let you get away with it.”

Ereshkigal sat next to him, reading the Players’ Handbook intently and comparing that to her character sheet. “Um… can someone please check my math? I don’t know if I did my health correctly… Oh no, what are feats?”

Iskandar slapped her on the back, practically sending the goddess over the table. “Feats are what make your hero a hero! Now, venerated Dungeon Master! Let us engage in the conquest and pillaging of these monstrous dungeons!”

Ibaraki cackled, her hand deep in a bag of assorted chocolates. “Ahahaha! Yes! Pillaging!”

Moriarty pulled his eyes off of Holmes, covering up his smirk. “You will have a chance to pillage one of the greatest dungeons in existence! But first, please, introduce your characters to the table.”

Iskandar slammed his crumpled character sheet onto the table. “Of course! I am the great human fighter, Alexander! He seeks to leave his mark on the world as a great adventurer and conqueror of dungeons! The tales of his exploits spread far and wide, and he is known as the King of Conquerors!”

Moriarty smiled. “An amusing and creative idea, Rider. I am excited to see it in action. Holmes, old friend, would you go next?”

“Detective Ace Shields. Rogue Inquisitive. Elf. Max wisdom,” his eyes narrowed, “with expertise in Insight and Perception.”

“Oh, Holmes, how wonderful! Another investigator, and min-maxed to boot! Ereshkigal, dear, would you go next?”

“O-oh, yes!” Ereshkigal pulled her sheet closer and put a small, cute mini-figure on the table. “This is my character, her name is Marie. Um, she’s a,” she paused to check her notes, “Grave Cleric, she loves flowers, and wants to open a bakery in her home town after travelling around for a bit to see the world!”

“Beautiful. Ibaraki?”

“Mwahaha! I am Shuden, the greatest oni to ever live! I travel around looting and pillaging and killing those who I please!”

Ereshkigal’s whisper was barely audible. “… Shuden? With a ‘d?’”

“Well, it seems like you have quite the team of adventurers gathered together…” Moriarty allowed himself a low chuckle. “Let us begin our adventure. Might I introduce you all to The Tomb of Horrors.”

Chapter 64: Illya, Grease-Covered

Notes:

Prompt: “Cozy scene of Shirou brushing Illya’s hair while she eats a slice of thin pizza.” — Eteru , answered by TungstenCat

Chapter Text

“Are you sure, Illya?”

He didn’t want to criticize, but the sight of the greasy pizza box made both his stomach and his inner housekeeper cringe. That was definitely going to stain the cherry wood vanity, as surely as Sella was going to blame him for it.

“I’m sure, Oniichan,” said his sister sweetly as she inspected a slice of ham and… no, he refused to believe that was pineapple. “Remember! You said if we made it through together, you’d help me experience the world.”

Awkwardly he rubbed the back of his neck. “But this isn’t even real cheese! If you wanted pizza, I could make you…”

“Junk food is part of the world, too. And you promised. “She shifted in her seat to face him. “You wouldn’t lie to your cute little sister, would you?” 

Despite the teasing chirp, there was a shadow in her eyes that he’d come to recognize all too well. The fear that this couldn’t last despite best intentions, that the world would inevitably tear away everything she cherished.

His shoulders straightened. “Yeah, of course.”

Even if Kiritsugu had never asked it of him, even if he hadn’t even known about the delicate girl in front of him when he’d stayed by the old man’s bedside to see him off… it felt like the most important promise he’d ever made.

Illya watched him a second longer, then her face split into a grin before she took a huge bite of pizza. Her cheeks puffed out almost comically as she chewed, then forced it down. 

She really is cute when she acts like this. Damn it, I guess it’s no choice.

Before he could second guess himself, he grabbed a slice of his own. 

“Oniichan?”

A coating of grease and preservative shone on the half-burnt fruit, mocking him. He shoved it into his mouth anyway.

“… wow, I didn’t think….” Her eyes positively shone as he wolfed down the slice. “How was it?”

“Terrible,” he grumbled. “And that means I definitely get to pick tomorrow’s movie.”

Giggling, she turned back to the box. “Okay, I guess you’ve earned that much! I’m sure it’ll be fun!”

Nodding, he came to stand behind her. Even if Kiritsugu had never said it, he remembered the early times, when the old man’s body hadn’t yet started to fade and stammer. When Fuji-nee would come visit, and he’d ask her to sit in front of the mirror, and…

“Oniichan? What are you doing?”

The brush was in his hand before he even realized it.

“Can I?” he asked, and watched her hands tighten in her lap.

“Yes,” she murmured after a moment, then her reflection beamed at him from the mirror. “Yes, please.”

Grinning, he set to work with the brush, pulling it through the silvery-white strands. They flowed smoothly under the bristles, like a drift of freshly fallen snow. He wondered what it would feel like under his fingers.

Surely the War had made him greedy, whatever Tohsaka said. For he gave into temptation, let his free hand move to tuck a silver strand behind her ear. Soft, it was wonderfully soft under his fingers—

“Ack! Oniichan, no! Wipe your hands, you’re getting sauce all over—!”

Yeah. The pizza was definitely a mistake.

Chapter 65: Beni-enma and Abigail

Notes:

Prompt: “Beni-enma makes Abigail pancakes to cheer her up after she feels guilty something she did. Abby asks is how a judge of Hell can be so nice if it’s a place like what she heard it was in the stories.” — Edge , answered by YukiKazami

Chapter Text

Across the stove of Hell’s Kitchen lay several massive skillets, each with a beastly pancake to match their size. An onlooker might question how such a tiny chef could possibly handle such large utensils, but that onlooker would quickly regret their words. The Tongue-Cut Sparrow was not known for her politeness to those who question her abilities.

Her current onlooker, however, was quite welcome. She looked over at the young blonde, who was doing her best to stare forlornly into her lap. However, Beni was able to see each flicker of movement as the girl marveled in awe at the mighty cakes that were being prepared. Truly, she had little to apologize for, Abigail couldn’t have known that the sparrows would react so poorly to Carter’s cat, but all the same, the girl held herself responsible for the small panic.

“Please, dechi, do not be so tense, little one. Let us set the moment beyond us, and make peace-dechi.” 

“Y-You’re so nice, Miss Beni-Enma… I thought for sure that a Judge of Hell would be very angry at Nibbles causing a scene in her lobby…” Slowly, the girl seemed to be growing more receptive to the relaxed atmosphere, allowing her face to brighten some. “And y-you’re even making my favorite food…”

“Being a Judge does not make me cruel, Abigail, though I understand my reputation may precede me to some extent. Those who experience my harshness are only those who have truly done wrong, or have committed crimes against a perfectly good kitchen-dechi.” The small bird youkai rose to her full height, locking eyes with her visitor from a Foreign land. “If anything, dechi, take it as a sign of my honesty that there is nothing to forgive. Now then! It’s time for a feast-dechi!” She flipped each of the cakes onto a plate provided by another sparrow, and brought them to the table, portioning them as she saw fit.

“W-Wow… Thank you so much, Miss!” The girl marveled at the bounty before her, jumping to her feet and jogging around the table.

“De-Dechi!” The sparrow let out a quiet squawk as she was grabbed from behind, and pulled into a rather cat-scented hug, but she couldn’t exactly get mad at the girl now. “You’re quite welcome, dechi.”

Chapter 66: Grandpa Masa

Notes:

Prompt: “Muramasa interacts with and takes care of Castoria, but realises he’s acting like her grandfather (and doesn’t hate it)” — KnightOfTheEnd

Chapter Text

“Thirds, please!”

“Yeah, yeah, comin’ right up,” Muramasa grumbled, taking the plate from Arturia’s hands. “Y’got somethin’ on your face.”

“What, some rice?” With all of the grace of a horse that slipped in the mud, she wiped at her face with the cloth rag—couldn’t even be called a napkin at this point—and ended up just smearing some tomato sauce on her cheek.

“For cryin’ out loud…” he muttered, placing the plate by the oven and walking back over. He pulled out his own (far cleaner) napkin and rubbed at her face. She whined at his rough treatment. 

“Do you have to be so mean, Gramps?” Musashi said, finally pausing her rapid slurping of her udon bowl. 

“Who the heck taught you manners, girlie?” He ignored Musashi in favor of lecturing the Caster. “I swear to the six heavens, yer worse than Sanzang.”

She pouted, and he moved back to the oven, pulling out another couple of slices of pizza. 

As he turned back to the table with the plate in hand, the sight of the two ladies (plus Master, Mash, and Da Vinci just down the table) struck a chord inside of him for a moment. Tasuke giggling as Onui fed him a spoonful of rice. Enjoying a sunset with the two of them. That moment in time he wish he could have frozen in place, that happiness he wanted to take hold of for so long—

In that girl’s smile…

The corner of his lips quirked up an inch.

Heh. Maybe this ain’t so bad after all.

Chapter 67: Kiara, King, Conversing

Notes:

Prompt: “Kiara and King Hassan have a talk.” — Doc Test , answered by Aberron

Chapter Text

“Is it true that your desires are beyond your control?” The old man asked. His beard threaded between his thumbs. The woman, for there was no denying that she was anything less lay outstretched upon the chaise lounge. He was a man who could ignore even the most tempting of promises. But this one might just threaten his resolve. The nun’s habit she wore was a caricature of trouble in and of itself. “Hans seemed to believe that you would be able to teach me something about self-control.” Her voice was like honeyed wine. Not exactly poisonous but clearly dangerous. “I decided to entertain his idea.”

“Do you have greater respect for your enemies?” The old man of the mountain cocked his head. “Or can you not respect those who you can possibly allow to see fallacies about your own nature?”

Her head twisted, giving him a glare. It was not a promise of death, but clearly he was getting somewhere. “We are Servants. We cannot reach beyond our own nature.”

“Clearly, your own actions as a Beast prove that to be a lie. Do you not have your own actions where you overcame your own nature in the past?”

“I came to speak of self-control, not my past mistakes.” She warned.

“Do you fear what you became?” He pressed, keeping his hands in sight. “Do you fear what may have happened if you succeeded?”

The golden eyes traced his form, looking for any sign of aggression. It was a half-minute before she responded. “Part of me wonders how it would have felt. To finally fill the hole in my heart. But every other part of me trembles in fear of what may have happened if it would not have been enough.” She folded her arms. “But you are a man with no desires of your own. Who are you to understand for a moment what I feel?”

“Allah gave unto me a greater than normal life. I have touched divinity, if but for a moment. I have always wondered what it would be like to touch it again.” He never closed his eyes, not with her in the room. But for an admission of hers, he would give her an admission of his own. “Yet I kept to my duties. And when the world called for me, I too answered.”

“What was it like for you?” Kiara asked, earnest. 

“The most deadly poison that I could fathom. Pride beyond the amount a man can expect, and deep within my soul I could feel the corruption that would come if I reached for it.”

“And if you had? What would you have done with it?” Now it was his turn to feel pressed.

“There would be no mythology to show what I would have done. No one would have seen or survived long enough to know.”

Her yellow eyes glittered. “Perhaps you do have something to teach me, after all.”

Chapter 68: EMIYA and Ajax

Notes:

Prompt: “EMIYA is summoned to the Trojan War by the Counter Force and meets Ajax (a sort of first meeting that gives Rho Aias emotional weight, kinda like how he got his shroud from Ciel. Also I’m not at all aware of how FGO handles the Trojan War (I’m told it does?), so feel free to ignore that, and play it like it is in the Illiad, or whatever you want to do.)” — Cardemonde , answered by nd7878

Chapter Text

EMIYA dove behind the magically reinforced battlements as a divine lazer crashed into the advancing Greek army from the sky.

As a Counter-Guardian, he was used to being summoned in places like this, but… battles during the Age of Gods were something else entirely. His mission sounded simple enough- trip Hektor up, creating an opportunity for the Greeks to break his defense. With the Trojans receiving divine artillery support, and Hektor himself receiving a blessing, he could hold out at the gates almost indefinitely. The invasion of Troy would turn into even more of a bloodbath than it already was. As long as EMIYA could force him to retreat for the day, give the Greeks a little more time to finish the Horse. 

But Hektor was Troy’s greatest defender. That wouldn’t be easy.

Ajax cut down another soldier and fell in next to him, following his glare to the Trojan defender. “Every day it’s the same thing, Whenever one side gets the upper hand, their gods intervene.”

As if to emphasize his point, the skies lit up as the looming divine figures launched salvo after salvo at each other. 

EMIYA smirked. “I’d preach about patience, but I’m just about out of it.”

“We all are,” Ajax growled. 

“I can’t even get any kind of powerful attack off without drawing their attention.”

Ajax looked to the sky. “I might be able to help with that. How long do you need me to hold?

EMIYA watched Hektor easily knock aside two more Greek heroes. “As long as you can.”

“Alright. Let’s do this, wandering hero.”

Ajax jumped out of cover, mana flaring as he held his hand to the sky. “Rho Aias!”

EMIYA knew about Ajax’s shield from legend, but this was his first time seeing those beautiful petals unfurl. Seven layers formed a dome overhead, right as another divine strike crashed into them.

He jumped into action a moment after, materializing his bow and summoning… something that could pierce any defence. A certain red spear that he had gone toe-to-toe with more than once.

As he charged up, aiming at Hektor’s form, divine light from the heavens crashed down onto them. Three layers broke instantly, the others melting swiftly.

“Archer, NOW!”

Just a second longer… there. 

“Gae… bolg!”

Chapter 69: Jeanne Alter and Sieg, Nice

Notes:

Prompt: “Jeanne Alter is convinced that Sieg is the same Fafnir she commanded in Orleans, while Sieg himself is trying to tell her otherwise(without much success to say the least)” — DarthWolf

Chapter Text

“Burn them all, Fafnir!” The other Jeanne waved her hand over the army and commanded, a terrible laugh threatening to fall out. “Burn them to ash!”

“I can’t NP that easily, Jeanne Alter…” Sieg mumbled. “I haven’t gotten a single Arts card for the past couple of turns. You have to give me—”

“Yes you can!” Sieg winced as the Avenger dragged him into a sudden headlock and knocked him on the chest a couple times. “You have a fire deep inside of you, dragon boy! Let it out!”

“It doesn’t work like—” One last punch to his solar plexus made him cough so violently that he spat— flame? “What the f—?”

“Told you so,” she smugged. “Now go get the tactician brat and the shrine maiden to charge you up. I wanna see them burn!”

…Siegfried… you can have your heart back now.