A/N: Welcome back everyone. I'm hoping to make these updates more consistence for everyone. I hope you'll enjoy this chapter. This was the one chapter I was satisfied. Also left a little Halo Easter egg, because I've been playing through the MCC again, the story of two partners against fate inspired this chapter a lot.

Originally this was supposed to be the end of my first arc. However Most of the chapter was cut. Like another 10,000 words. When I wrote this chapter my mind just started spitting out new scenes that just made sense to give you. Also to give you guys a break from back to back to back action.

Without further ado here is the next chapter of TEH

Update 7/19: So the above Author's note was made at 6/08. I was pumping those chapters like no tomorrow. But ended up having to rewrite the whole thing once I made the location different. Which means I'll have to probably rewrite a good portion of the already finished next chapter. So please be patient with me. Also Fate strange fake ova was fantastic. Who doesn't love Enkidu. I need more Ayaka and Richard, #1 Artoria fanboy, in my life.

Also TSUKIHIME REMAKE IS GETTING A WESTERN RELEASE! I'm so excited. I asked 2 chapters for this and now It's happening. I'm so happy. Let's hope that this means more western releases in the foreseeable future.

Also I would like to thank ColdBox for being the first discord member. Invites are open to anyone who wishes to join. Just PM for link.

Hope you enjoy.

XXX

The Einzbern's Hero Chapter 9

Never looking back

XXX

"Irisviel."

"Huh? Who's there?"

"It's me Irisviel. Don't you remember me?"

The voice cold yet every word felt scalding hot. Who was this?

"I missed you Irisviel. I've been so lonely."

Irisviel couldn't see anything in front of her everything was dark and she felt alone. Looking down she realized she was wearing her white and gold gown. How in the world?

"You're not alone Irisviel, I'm here with you."

She looked around desperately trying to find the source of the voice, yet she only saw nothing. Even with that voice she couldn't help but feel like no one was there with her.

"Please show me where you are!" She shouted but this time she received no reply.

Then something grabbed her shoulder and she woke up.

XXX

Archer saw her eyes flutter open, making him release a breath he didn't know he was holding in. Everyone had gathered around, A worried look spread across their faces, Archer and Kiritsugu's in particular. Her servant had gone into a silent panic trying to shake her awake to no avail. She was out cold for ten minutes, barley breathing and she felt cold to the touch.

She looked dead.

He saw her begin to look around, recognizing the destroyed remains of the Einzbern's castle behind Archer.

"Iri?" Her eyes flicked to her husband who was currently holding her hand. The look on her face scared her, because he looked like he saw the dead rise.

"Wha-what happened?" She question, confused as the last thing she remembered was…

"Irisviel…"

She sat up quickly surprising everyone causing them to back away. It was an action she regretted as soon as she did as she felt a wave of nausea hit her and looked away from everyone and puked. That voice it was nothing right?

Of course it wasn't, because as she finished spilling the contents of her stomach, she saw something in the corner of her vision. Looking towards it her eyes widen in horror.

"I miss you already"

The words were engraved on the ground next to her. This caused her to start backing up desperately causing everyone to look at her with concern.

"Irisviel what's wrong." Archer asked getting next to her as she pointed to where she saw the words.

Archer looked at where she was pointing, before turning back to her with an eyebrow raised.

"There's nothing there." This caused her to look at him with wide eyes. Then she looked at the others who also stared at the spot with confusion.

Her mind was running a mile a minute, what was happening to her. Suddenly a hand grabbed her shoulder and found herself staring into the gray eyes of Archer.

"What is it Irisviel?" Archer asked trying to understand what has gotten into his master.

When Irisviel realized that no one else could see what she could, she smacked both her cheeks till they were red causing Archer to grab her wrists.

"What are you doing idiot?!" Irisviel just looked up at him, he released her wrists and she attempted to stand up. Unfortunately the moment she straightened her legs they gave out. Luckily Archer stopped her fall. She simply looked at him and gave a weak smile.

"Looks like time is running out Shirou-kun." This caused both Kiritsugu and Archer's eyes to widen as they realized what she meant. Lancer, Caster, and Assassin are gone, Irisviel is beginning her transformation into the lesser grail.

'Dammit! I've been distracted. I need to get her procedure underway soon.' Archer cursed himself. He had gotten so caught up in Caster and Gilgamesh he'd neglected how far along they had come in such a short time.

Irisviel just leaned against him. She looked at the destroyed castle before realizing they were homeless basically.

"So what are we going to do about the castle?" Irisviel asked. Kiritsugu looked at her for another second before looking at the castle .

"I have a place, but the details are still being worked out. We won't be able to go there right away."

Risei Kotomine walked over towards the group with Kirei who had finally showed back up. The young priest looked over at Archer who simply looked back him. This was not missed by Kiritsugu and Irisviel, however both decided against saying anything at the moment.

"The church is in no shape to offer it's protection at the moment either. Last we saw Caster's demons ripped through the building." Risei said. Suddenly a cough was heard and all eyes turned to its source: Waver Velvet, who looked off to the side.

"We can use my house for the time being." Waver said getting a look of shock from everyone. This caused him to turn pink. "What if you don't want to just say so?"

Irisviel gave him a soft smile "You're a kind person Waver-kun."

This caused him to turn red as he immediately turned around and walked away. Rider walking next to him.

"So they'll stay with us for a while huh?" Rider said as he cupped his chin and smiled deviously at Waver, who looked at him like he was an idiot.

"It's not what you think you idiot. If we're going to be partnered up against this corrupted grail then we need to be at our best. We can't have our allies sleeping on the street." Waver tried to justify as Rider's grin grew bigger with each word. "Shut up you muscle head!" Then Waver looked at his servant again this time with a softer expression. "...What about you? Are you okay with this?"

Rider sent him a confused look. "What are you on about boy?"

"You seem pretty upset with Archer. Do you hate him now that you know his story?" Waver asked regretting letting them stay without consulting Rider. Rider looked up at the sky before looking back at Waver.

"No. I just happen to agree with his master. That fool of a man is a hero, but until he himself sees it I will never accept him." Rider stated causing his master to stop. This caused Rider to look back at him. "Waver?"

"How do you do it?" Waver asked looking down at the torn up dirt. "How are you so sure of yourself. How do you know the actions you make are the right one."

Rider stared at him before walking up to him and flicking his forehead again.

"Gah! What was that for!?" Waver shouted as he held his forehead.

"Once more you are overthinking things. No one is sure of all the decisions they make. However once you make them there's no point in second guessing them. All one can do is to push forward no matter the outcome. Only a fool fixates on the past." Rider said causing Waver to look at his servant with a newfound appreciation. Waver had truly summoned a strange man.

"You could have said all that without hitting me you know?"

"Yes but you wouldn't have listened so intensely." Rider laughed.

XXX

Archer didn't pay attention to the antics of Rider and his master as he preoccupied dealing with his own. Even though she looked better then a second ago she still used him for support and her breathing was still rough. He no longer had any time to waste. He was on the clock, because now his master's life was on the line.

Not to mention whatever her behavior was a second ago. She looked scared, different from anything else he'd seen. He still didn't know what to make of it. His master wouldn't act like that without a reason. The question was: would she tell him?

"Irisviel." He said causing her to raise her head. "We should also be on our way, but this isn't over. I understand something happen." He told her and she looked down at the ground and slowly nodded her head as though she was a child in trouble.

Archer let her use him as a crutch as they made their way out of the Einzbern forest. Archer looked at Kiritsugu who nodded at him. Both of them had their minds on this one woman, time was running out and they needed to hurry.

XXX

The destruction they encountered was far worse then they realized. As they made their way out of the forest to the sight of smoke and screams. They saw in the distant the destruction Caster and his legion of monsters caused. Buildings toppled, fires raging, the sirens from fire trucks and ambulances blared in the distances.

Deciding that just looking from afar wasn't enough Irisviel left Archer's side and slowly but steadly began making her towards the scene. However she felt the large hand of Archer put a hand on her shoulder.

"Irisviel, it's best we don't get involved, there's nothing we can do." Her servant told her. Irisviel just looked up at him. She simply smiled before continuing her walk.

"Then lets go be sure of that why don't we." She told him, Archer just gave a small grunt. A little irritated at his master's insistence.

They stared at each other knowing what the other thought. The boy, Archer's younger self. A small voice in his head telling him that if that boy was in that destruction, then they needed to leave it be. Let fate sort it out. Irisviel also thought the same but if that boy WAS in this destruction then she had a responsibility to make sure he was safe.

Neither wanted to back down on this. Knowing she couldn't convince Archer she turned from him and made her way into the city. Kiritsugu came up next to the servant.

"She's going to look for...him isn't she?" Her husband asked, the response he got was a "Tch" from Archer who followed after her. The rest of the group looked on confused. Saber walked to her master and raised her eyebrow.

"Something I should know." She asked, causing Kiritsugu to look at her before lighting another cigarette.

"I'll let you know as soon as I do." Kiritsugu told her and followed after his wife and her servant.

Irisviel couldn't help but stare at the destruction. She wasn't expecting things to look good after Waver told them about Caster chasing him and Rider through the city. This though was worse as she got closer to the area in Miyama. Whole buildings destroyed, the streets smashed to pieces. The sounds of people groaning in pain and children crying as rescue crews pulled them from the destruction. While not on the same scale this reminded her of the fire.

She looked over at Archer as he stared blankly at the scene. She wondered if this brought the memory back for him. The memory still burned it her mind. The image of a lone boy walking through the carnage.

A hand was placed on top of hers, turning around she saw Kiritsugu looking at her.

"Come on Iri, we need to get to the Waver's place." He told her, while some might have seen this as him being cold. Irisviel knew her husband was just worried about her. This was something he never wanted her to see, the consequences of war. He was hoping to avoid this, but unfortunately life sometimes didn't care what you want. There was another reason as well, the trembling in his wife's hand caused him concern. Normally he'd have contribute it to seeing the destroyed area and the injured people, but the exhausted look on her face told him otherwise.

Then she saw, from the corner of her eye, a small hand lift itself from the rubble of nearest building to them. Before even she knew it, she had started walking into the disaster zone. She didn't turn around as Kiritsugu's voice trailed behind her, telling her to stop and instead went to where the hand was. Reaching it, she tried to move some of the rubble but she found she couldn't even grip it. Frustrated she tried to look between the cracks to see who was inside.

The word's coming out before she could stop them.

"It's you."

Young amber eyes met crimson and suddenly Irisviel felt her whole world shift. Time slowed and all that mattered was the boy. Her mind rushed through all the memories she had made since Archer was summoned. Him saving her at the docks, the confrontation at the castle, the shopping district attack, everything that led to her eventually seeing his reality marble, his world. She couldn't help the fear that rose in her chest as she watched Shirou lying there, blood smeared on the rubble he was laying on.

His hand raised towards her, fingers outstretched despite being unable to reach her. His eyes staring directly at hers.

"So pretty." His voice was raspy.

Before she knew it she was pushing the small rubble. Despite her fatigue, her lack of strength, she was determined to reach him. Her hand reached through the hole trying to get a grip on his arm. Then she felt strong arms grip her shoulder, thinking her partner in crime had decided to put aside his feelings on the situation and help her. Turning she saw Kiritsugu who had followed her to the site, with Maiya and Saber in tow, looked at her with confusion. Her flicked to her servant who was only staring at the them. He made no attempt to move towards. Simply staring at the scene before him. Irisviel looked sad, but returned her focus to Shirou.

Kiritsugu looked into the hole and saw the boy. His features were soft, his skin pale and hair red. Nothing that matched the harden and cynical servant that stood only a few feet from them. However there was an echo of familiarity that surged in the man when he locked eye with this boy.

"It's him isn't it Iri?" Kiritsugu asked her and she could only nod at him. Kiritsugu looked at Saber who nodded before easily removing the barrier between them and Shirou. Irisviel ran ahead and swooped him up.

"I've got you Shirou. I've got you." She held him close as she repeated it. Then she felt her knees buckle and started to fall backwards, before she landed against Archer who appeared behind her instantly.

"I've got you." He said as he stared at them both of them. He had this far away look in his eyes. Irisviel wanted to ask him if he was alright.

Then Shirou coughed up blood.

"Shirou!" Irisviel yelled as the boy coughed up more blood. Laying him down on the floor Irisviel scanned him up and down, taking note of the large stain it left on her already red shirt. Spotting a dark red spot on the lower part of his jacket she lifted it. A large piece of concrete was lodged in his stomach. They would need to remove it before any healing could be done. How the object ate up the majority of the boy's lower abdomen piercing his intestines. Lifting it out would most likely cause instant death to him before they could even try to heal him.

They would need a miracle. A miracle that currently rested within her.

Archer only watched as this was taking place. The thought of simply stabbing the boy through the heart crossed his mind. "Stop!" he wanted to shout. "This boy will cause you nothing but trouble." Yet no words left his lips he simply stared as Irisviel and the others attempted to save this dying child's life. Archer noticed Rider staring at him from the corner of his eye, probably trying to judge him again. His face remained emotionless trying not to show how much this was eating at him. Not that he cared about what the King of Conquerors thought of him at this point. All he could do was watch.

"Saber! I need you!" Irisviel called and Saber was next to her in an instant.

"Yes Irisviel." Saber said as a bright golden light appeared and suddenly Irisviel was holding Avalon in her hands.

Everyone's eyes widen at the scabbard she held. Such a simple yet beautiful item. You could feel a power that was not made by man radiating from it. Not overwhelming but rather something inviting.

"!?" Saber looked surprised at the artifact that now appeared in hands and suddenly realized what Irisviel planned to do. "Irisviel are you sure about this?!"

"Iri! What are you doing, you need that right now?!" Kiritsugu also adding his thoughts as he shouted at her as the Einzbern master shook her head vigorously.

"No he needs it more, I won't let you stop me. You may be okay with letting others die but I am not." Kiritsugu only looked at her in shock and took a step back. Irisviel winced at her words, but she was in pain and exhausted, all she wanted to do was save this one little boy. To save him before he took a wrong turn on his path. Today had given her a lot to think about that included her husband.

"I understand." He said before looking at Maiya who nodded and started watching for people who could see them.

Before anything else could happen Archer couldn't stay quiet.

"You'll regret this decision Irisviel. This boy will do nothing but hurt you. If you save him you'll set him on a path where one day he'll leave you behind." Her servant said as he made a fist. Looking down at them both with judgment, but Irisviel didn't care. She whipped her head at him and gave a stare that rivaled his own.

"I don't care. One day he may want to be a hero, one day he may throw his life away for others, but that's not today. Today he's a hurt and scared boy with no future if we don't help him. I will help him."

She would be the hero that Emiya Shirou needed.

Archer saw that the other's began to circle around him. Daring him to try something. Saber stepped forward. This man wanted to give her a second chance against her own wishes, yet refuses the same. What a hypocritical man.

"Archer, stop." Her green eyes soften at him. She could tell who this child was by the context alone. She was even Rider and his master knew as well. She walked up to him and just stared. Getting a good look at his face. All this time she had been staring at Archer from afar only ever paying attention to his barbed comments and his strange words that made her feel weird.

Up close he simply looked tired.

The red bowman simply shrugged.

"I see I'm outnumbered. Very well, but be warned Irisviel this can only in end in tragedy. For both of you." With that Archer went into spirit form.

Irisviel turned back to Shirou and began to lower the divine construct to the boy. Suddenly in another blinding flash of gold light Avalon was gone and Shirou was suddenly glowing slightly. Irisviel turned to Saber who nodded and ripped the concrete out of the boys stomach. Avalon began to do it's job and the group could only watch in amazement as Shirou's skin started to stitch itself back together. After a small brief second Irisviel looked at her husband.

"We're taking him with us." She said to him. He shook his head at her.

"We can't, it's too dangerous. Even if the plan has changed we're still in the middle of a war. The golden archer is still a hostile remember?" Kiritsugu explained to her. Yet his Wife's eyes didn't Waver

She looked at the small boy who had passed as the healing process did it's magic. She brushed her hand across his face. She knew it was selfish of her and she knew she probably wouldn't survive the end of the war, unable to see him grow or help him along, but the image of a lone boy as he walked through flames made it so she just couldn't leave him.

She would do what she could to make this boy feel loved.

She wouldn't let anyone stop her, not even her own husband.

"We are the safest place for him." Her words stunned everyone, aside from Maiya who simply looked at her. "We do better this time and we give him a chance, even if he doesn't become our child. We make sure we stop this war and give him a chance to choose what kind of life he wants."

She said as simply as breathing. Kiritsugu only looked at her before simply sighing and lifting the sleeping child into his arms, his life no longer in danger. He turned around and started walking in the direction they had originally been going. Shirou still sleeping in his arms. Irisviel's eyes widen as she looked at her husband's retreating back. She couldn't help but smile. She attempted to follow him, but as she took her first step she collapsed and would've hit the floor if Saber hadn't caught her.

Irisviel looked at them, giving a weak smile.

"I'm fine just exhausted as all. It's been a long day. I just need some rest." She tried to convince Maiya and Saber. "It seems that scabbard was more of a crutch than I thought. It's okay I'll just need a moment to rest."

"Irisviel." Saber started as she could feel the woman trembling in her arms. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing's wrong I'm fine just exhausted. I haven't slept in almost twenty-four hours and my servant used a lot of my mana. That tends to take a lot out of somebody."

Everyone, just stared at her. She looked at Kiritsugu who only looked at her waiting for her to decide what she wanted to do.

"Fine, I'll tell everyone, but not here when we get to Waver-kun's." She sighed getting a nod from everyone.

Waver watched as Saber lifted Irisviel up and followed after Kiritsugu. His mind going a mile a minute after everything he saw. He felt a pat on his shoulder. Looking up he saw Rider staring down at him.

"Sometimes life takes an expected turn. Come on." Was all he said as he followed after them. Waver made to follow, but noticed that the Kotomines stayed behind.

"Are you guys coming?" He asked. Risei turned to him and smiled.

"We're are people of the cloth it's our duty to help the less fortunate and our responsibility as overseers of the war. We'll meet again boy." The older man said as he turned and made his way deeper into the disaster zone to help, with Kirei following quietly behind him.

Waver simply turned and followed after everybody.

XXX

Archer watched from spirit form Kiritsugu carrying the small boy in his arms. He had made his feelings known, but of course he knew she would fight him on it. That woman was stubborn it would take death to stop her.

This didn't change the plan though. He would make sure Irisviel and Kiritsugu would live to see the end of this war. To make sure that Illya got to live the normal life she deserved, even if the effects of the moonlit world left their marks on this family at least they'd get the chance to start over.

However there is no way he would let this boy stay with this family. He would only get in the way of that happiness. First he'll see if the boy's parents were still alive, that was a weird thought. They weren't his parents, not Emiya Shirou's parents. They were little more then strangers to him.

If they weren't he was pretty sure Risei and the church would probably be willing to take him in. What happens next is up to them.

He felt his eyes narrow at the boy as they made their way up to the McKenzie's residence.

If this boy showed any signs of following down the familiar path.

He'd slit his throat.

XXX

Irisviel laid on Waver's couch staring up, feeling frustrated. As soon as they made their way into the building Kiritsugu had sat her down on the couch. They wanted her to lay on a bed, but Irisviel insisted that they lay Shirou on the bed. However She was confined to the living room. Archer still wasn't talking to her, Kiritsugu and Maiya went to check on the their new base, Saber was outside probably waiting for her stubborn servant to show up so she can yell at him, and Martha and Glenn weren't here when they arrived so Rider and Waver went back to the disaster zone to make sure they weren't caught in the cross fire. She supposed to be resting but right now her mind was wired awake.

Her mind raced processing everything that happened in the last twenty-four hours. Eventually her mind stopped back on Archer's reality marble, his "unlimited blade works" as he called it. She wanted to know more. He never really talked to her about his life, he said serving as Counter Guardian for so long has left most of his memories in pieces. Faces blurred and events were missing, but she had a feeling that he remembered more then what he let on. Maybe these were things that he just didn't want to remember.

"They threw me in a room the second we got here! It's not fair!" Irisviel yelled as she bit down on the blanket currently resting on top of her. As soon they stepped foot in the Saber had immediately taken her to the couch. She had looked to Kiritsugu for help but he merely told her to "Get some rest" too. That traitor!

"Irisviel?" The voice of Saber appeared next to her as the blonde King of Knights wearing the suit Irisviel had bought her when they first arrived in Fuyuki. Saber sat on the chair next to her, giving her a worried look.

"Oh it's nothing Saber. Just a little irritated at being left behind." Irisviel huffed as she sat up and looked at her. Saber just raised her eyebrow before crossing her arms and glared at Irisviel, who wilted at the King's sight. Of course she promised Saber answers and now her friend expected her to make good on it.

It was funny, she always considered Saber a friend from the moment she was summoned. Her only friend. However she never really stated it, to Saber, to herself. So then she has to ask what kind of friend doesn't tell her only friend that she'd dying with no hope of seeing the end of this war. For all her talk of Archer keeping secrets, she keeps important information to herself as well.

"Saber do you know what's required to summon the holy grail?" Irisviel asked her. Saber stared at her confused at why she was being asked the obvious. However Irisviel kept her gaze serious, letting Saber know she was asking a legitimate question.

"Archer told us the truth back at the church. That the war is just a front so that the magi can use the grail to connect the origin of the world." Her words came out more harsh than she meant it as she saw Irisviel flinch at her words.

"That's the most, but there's a part he left out. The grail that you servants fight for is known as the greater grail. That's the grail that'll grant your wish, however when the grail was created it was created as a set. The all-powerful wish granting device and the key that'll unlock it."

Saber gave her a raised eyebrow. Irisviel wouldn't look at her as the she continued.

"However the key, the lesser grail, requires the soul of seven great souls to open the pathway. However the Einzberns needed something to protect the lesser grail. They needed a vessel." She looked at Saber who was staring at her wide eyed, putting two and two together. "You can guess what the souls of great heroes does to the body. Just having three is causing me to be this week anymore and I don't think that I'll be even able to get out of bed. Having all seven will definitely kill me."

"Irisviel…" Saber was speechless.

"Saber I want to thank you. Between Kiritsugu and Archer's constant mothering, you have been the only person to treat me like a normal person. Even with all that's happen, even if I don't make it. I'll have no regrets. Thank you."

Saber remained silent, not knowing what to say didn't know how to reply. Irisviel let out a small yawn.

"Oof it seems all that talking made me tired. Goodnight or should I say good morning, Saber." With that Irisviel laid down on the couch and she instantly fell asleep. Regardless of what dreams may come.

XXX

Archer watched the conversation in spirit form. He watched his master drift into slumber. As soon as Saber left the room he became physical again.

His scowl had lessen as he thought about Irisviel's words. The boy wasn't important, saving his master was. That was his duty and lately he had allowed himself to become complacent by playing the hero he always wanted to be. Defeating Caster, Saving Saber. No more, now Irisviel took priority. She said she wanted to Illya grow up, but now she seems to accept the reality of her situation. She'll die without a miracle, that was a fact. Luckily The holy grail war was always about granting miracles.

He'll have to get rid of his two biggest obstacles: Zouken and Angra Mainyu.

Purifying the grail will take a lot of magical energy, he'll need Kirei and his father for that. Zouken wants the grail once he finds out that it'll be used then it'll become an all out war. No one in Fuyuki will be safe. Archer had an idea about what to do about that. However that was then, right now he just needed to worry about Irisviel.

The sound of boots hitting the wooden floors drew Archer out of his thoughts. Turning he saw the short dark haired woman, staring at him. Looking him up and down, not so much judging him, merely gathering her own opinion on him.

"Did you need something from me?" He asked her, getting her attention.

"No, just...curious." She replied. Throughout his time in this war, Archer never paid much attention to the woman. The look on her face never showed anything except coldness. She always did as instructed and never questioned what she was told. However the way she was stuck to Kiritsugu's hip did tell Archer one thing. She had a soft spot, a chink in her armor named Emiya Kiritsugu.

"Oh about what?"

"From what Kiritsugu has told me Heroic Spirits are beings embodying the ideals and dreams from their living selves, I assume they were passed onto you by Kiritsugu, so you are in turn the physical embodiment of his dream yet you actively seek to erase yourself from existence to escape those ideals. Why?" She asked him, confusion dripping from her voice. Archer could figure out why. Maiya couldn't understand how someone who had been save by Kiritsugu could see his vision as wrong.

"He saved you too huh?" Archer asked her getting a short nod from the woman. "Then you understand the need to worship him. I wanted to live like him, I wanted to be like him, I.." Archer's eyes narrowed. "I wanted to smile like him."

This took Maiya by surprise. Archer's face took on a sad look, before immediately fixing itself and he continued.

"It's easier to side with him, it's harder to understand him. Because when you do, only then do you understand how pointless trying to carry such ideals truly is. But by the time you learn that, it becomes impossible to climb up from the pit you dug trying to accomplish such immature ideals."

If his answer had any affect on Maiya, it didn't show on her face.

"I don't understand." She simply replied before turning and walking down the empty hall way, Then she stopped. "But even if those ideals are childish, perhaps there is a purpose to them still." Then she walked out of his sight.

Archer looked at the direction she left in.

"Huh, I thought she'd understand. Apparently I was mistaken." He said to himself.

"Maiya has a way of surprising you." Kiritsugu's voice said, causing Archer to whip around in surprise. Emiya Kiritsugu stood behind him, carrying a cup of coffee in his hand.

"Eavesdropping are you? I guess that's to be expected from the infamous Magus Killer." Archer said hoping to hide his embarrassment with his usual snark.

"It wasn't my intention. I just wanted to check on my wife." Kiritsugu said walking passed Archer and placing his hand against his sleeping wife's forehead. Giving her a small smile Kiritsugu turned to Archer. "The new base should be ready starting tomorrow. For now we'll have to stay here. How's the boy?"

"I don't know. I haven't been up there to see him." Archer said in a bitter tone causing Kiritsugu to raise an eyebrow at his attitude.

"Does seeing him upset you?" Kiritsugu asked Archer, who simply shrugged at him.

"I don't know. He hasn't been put through the same thing I have. I know you and Irisviel taking him in isn't a good idea." He told Kiritsugu, causing the magus to give him a hard look.

The sound of new footsteps entered the house and Saber was seen leaning against the door frame.

"Why?" She simply asked crossing her arms.

"Because he'll only cause grief in the end. He'll look up to him and want to imitate him. In the end he'll dedicate his life to that ideal, only to end up a guardian of the world. Given extraordinary powers, only to use those powers to hurt others." Archer told him. This caused Kiritsugu and Saber to simply chuckle. They looked at each other as a common ground was reached.

Archer was an idiot.

"What?" Archer asked not expecting that kind of a reaction.

"You believe your the only one who needs to suffer. To be punished for your choices in life that led to your deal with the counter force and to quote yourself: you're wrong." Saber said as she moved from the door way and stood straight. "You don't regret the lives you have saved correct?"

"…." Archer was quiet, he never regretted his life. In life he saved who he could, nor did he regret his death. People would distrust those who never asked for nothing in return, however his decision to pursue his ideal to be a hero of justice caused him to make that deal with Alaya. Leading to his eternal torment.

"That's what I thought." Saber said as she crossed her arms.

"I saved you from that fire that occurred at the end of the war correct?" Kiritsugu asked Archer who nodded.

"That is correct."

"Yet this boy was caught in something else."

"Even still, it's a result of this grail war."

Kiritsugu realized he probably wasn't going to win in this argument so he stood up and began making his way out the room stopping in front of Archer.

"My feeling towards you are complicated. You are the result of my failure, even if it wasn't the me here and now. Instead of protecting you, I forced my ideals on you." Kiritsugu explained. Archer stayed quiet, neither agreeing or denying the statement. "I'm against the idea of Shirou living with us if him becoming you is the only result, but.."

Archer raised an eyebrow.

"I wasn't the one who saved, was I?" Kiritsugu smirked at Archer's look of surprise. Then the bowman gave his own smirk that looked almost the same as Kiritsugu's.

"I see, If it's that woman then maybe…" Archer said, before looking at Kiritsugu. "I never blamed you. It wasn't your fault, you did your best to help a stubborn child who refused to listen."

Kiritsugu looked him for a small second. "I see. However children are meant to be stubborn. It's still the parents responsibility to make sure they understand." Kiritsugu went to go check on the small boy in Waver's room.

"Oh my. You were right Waver dear it seems we do have a lot of guest. Let me prepare dinner." The voice of Martha McKenzie was heard as Saber and Archer looked at the doorway only to see the owners of the home enter.

"We found them. Turns out Grandpa here went out to the river and Grandma joined him." Waver explained.

"Yes, we're sorry to hear that you folks were caught in that earthquake. Waver said it destroyed your home. We'll be happy to offer you all a place to stay as long as you need. We don't have enough beds, but our floor is always open." Martha said with kindness to which Saber smiled back.

"We thank you for your hospitality madam." Saber smiled at her to which the older couple responded in kind.

"I'll help out with dinner." Archer offered and Saber looked at him in surprised.

"Gilgamesh did say something about you being a cook." She said skeptical.

"Don't look so surprised Saber, some of us didn't have our own personal cooks in life. We had to learn to fend for ourselves." He jabbed at her with usual snark.

Saber only smiled at the snark as he walked to the Kitchen to help Martha with the preparations. It seems he was hopefully turning back to his original self.

XXX

"So for now we'll be laying low for the time being, at least till we figure out the next plan regarding the grail." Kiritsugu told Maiya, who simply nodded, as they stood in the front yard of the residence..

"There you are." The voice of Archer said holding two plates of food. "You both haven't eaten in awhile. Here this should give you a recharge." The servant said placing the food on a patio table the McKenzie's had outside.

The two assassins stared at him, not use to seeing the servant in an apron of all things.

Archer simply raised his eyebrow. "It's rude to not eat food that has been prepared for you."

They simply nodded at him, before sitting down and started to eat. Once the first bite entered their mouth, they stopped their forks. The texture, the flavor, it melted in their mouth. The stoic assassins went into food euphoria. They took another bite, then another, and another. Before they knew it they had cleaned their plate.

The same thing had happen to everyone inside the house. The King of Knights was currently on her third plate.

"Archer, did you make this?" Kiritsugu asked as he looked at the Red bowman, who currently had a smug look on his face.

"Well unfortunately I didn't have anyone that could cook so I had to learn how to myself." Archer told Kiritsugu, while Archer hadn't meant any animosity in that sentence. Kiritsugu grew a far away look in his eyes. Another mistake in a long list of them it seems.

Archer saw the look and decided to change the subject to something he wanted to talk about.

"Irisviel's conditions is deteriorating." Archer said staring off into the distance. Kiritsugu shared his look as Maiya stared between the two. "There's someone who can help with that."

"Aozaki Touko? I've run into her a couple times. She's tricky, you never know whether she could be a friend or foe. She always using dolls whenever we met" Kiritsugu told him, the servant turned to him in curiosity.

"How do you know that?" He crossed his arms leaning against the patio table.

"Well, I was hired to find this dead apostle who had…" Kiritsugu went into his tale as Archer listened intensely. Maiya watched as it went on, to her this looked like a child enthusiastically listening to his father telling a work story.

"I was hired to bring her in for her sealing designation."

"Why didn't you?" Archer asked.

"It took to long to track her down, but by the time I found her location. The Einzberns showed up and offered a lot more than what I was being paid to track her, so I decided that It was wasn't worth it."

"Do you think she's still there?"

"As far as I know, I was the only one who got that far and I never told anyone else. Never know when I might need the money." The Magus Killer shrugged.

"I see. We need her, it won't stop the time limit that has started, but Irisviel won't be out of commission like she is now." Archer explained. Kiritsugu nodded, but he had to know.

"Archer...how do you plan to reverse what has already been done?" Kiritsugu asked, even if they got her into a new body once her original goes...well she'll prefer death to any alternatives.

Archer stayed silent, not looking at Kiritsugu. This painted a clear message: Whatever the plan was it wouldn't be pretty.

"I'll do what's necessary for her. It's my duty as her servant." Archer said.

"I see.' Kiritsugu said as he stood up and turned to Archer. "I won't ask for details, at least not yet. Iri and Illya are my world Archer. I gave up my dream for them. Please don't let them down."

"I'm coming too." Saber was heard as she walked out of the house having satisfied her pallet. She walked up to Kiritsugu who turned to her.

"No." His refusal any other time would have warrant an argument from Saber, not this time.

"I wasn't asking. I care for Irisviel as much as you two." Saber said having listened in on their conversation. She turned to Archer who's shoulders tensed at her look. "I want to know what your plan is, but we'd be wasting time trying to pry it from you now." Her gaze turned to her master. "Besides my duty is also to my master. Even if you drive off without me, know I can and will follow you."

Kiritsugu only looked at her, before simply turning away and walking to car. Maiya followed, Saber took a step forward then turned towards Archer.

"That goes for you too, I know you have some plan that'll make my skin crawl. You will tell me eventually Archer." Saber told him before going to the car as the horn was honked at her causing her to yell at Kiritsugu and Maiya. Leaving Archer alone on the front yard with nothing, but his thoughts.

XXX

Irisviel knew what was happening before the scene appeared. She was suddenly in the new base Kiritsugu took them too. Except the place looked like a proper home. The wooden floors looked brand new, the glass windows uncracked. She walked through the home till she made it to the main room, now remade to look like a proper living room.

Sitting there was, much too her surprise, Saber, a grown-up Rin, and a younger Shirou. They were discussing something. She couldn't hear any of it too well. Then…

"I thank you master of Saber, for showing your kindness to me, an enemy master."

White hair and red eyes, a purple shirt and white skirt. A young girl stood in front of Shirou.

Irisviel's whole world stopped as she glimpsed the young girl's face.

Illya

Her Illya. All grown-up. She was so beautiful. She could feel herself tear up at the site of her. As she reached out to touch her face, only for her hand to pass through like a ghost. She remember Archer telling her how he didn't remember how she passed.

"Illyasviel, Mama's so sorry." She said as tears fell from her eyes.

"Eh? No problem..I think." Shirou said, however a devious glint appeared in her daughters eyes.

"Just kidding Onii-chan!" With that she tackled Shirou in a hug. This was not okay for the other girls, but more so for Saber as she stood up abruptly.

"Get away, you impudent!" Saber began, as a small blush appeared on her face. This caused Irisviel giggle slightly.

"Shirou-kun, you lady-killer you."

However, as soon as the memory came it went. The scene changed to another scene, the Fuyuki bridge.

Two people stand on the lower walk way. Shirou and Saber. They looked like they were arguing, Irisviel doesn't hear anything until.

"Saber, are you serious?" He says to her, gritting his teeth as he stood there upset.

Saber also having a look on frustration on her face says something.

"Of course, the holy grail is my only goal. Everything else is unnecessary." She says and stares at him with narrow eyes. "You are no exception, Shirou."

Shirou looks shocked, as if that was the one thing he didn't want her to say.

Irisviel could only look on in sadness. Archer's attitude towards Saber made sense to her now. All this time Irisviel assumed that he acted that way towards her because he was her master in the future, only trying to help her because he cared for her as a person.

He was in love with her.

"You..! Fine! If you want to go fight, then fight! I don't care anymore!" With those words Shirou ran away. Irisviel tried to reach for him, but just like with Illya she passed right through him. Then she looked back at Saber, who had this sad far away look on her face. Regret radiating off of her.

Then the scene faded away and Irisviel heard a voice, it sounded like Archer, but not as deep.

"I never went back for her." The voice said. "I left her on that bridge alone, like a coward. I acted like an immature child in the face of her rejection. She came back later that night, covered in blood and wounds. Gilgamesh had confronted her that night and attacked her when she rejected his advances. He let her go out of his own arrogance, that he could take her anytime he wanted. I tried to comfort her, but the look she gave me, it was a look of betrayal. We didn't speak much to each other after that."

A new scene started to play. They were at Ryuudou temple. Shirou was holding a naked Illyasviel in his arms as Saber stood across from him staring at the sunrise.

"I have to go now." She said not facing him. Shirou stared at her with a look of hurt. "Hopefully the next time I'm summoned I can truly make my wish a reality."

"Saber!" Shirou tried to say, but she faded away before he could say anything. "I'm sorry."

This scene fades away as the voice returns.

"I fought with her, but I never understood her. I couldn't save her heart. The first in a long line of people I couldn't save. I wouldn't have to wait long for my next one as a year later I failed to save the girl in my arms as well."

A new scene appeared once more as Shirou walked through the door to his house. Irisviel noticed the somber look on his face. Two maids in white greeted him, she recognized them as fellow homunculus from the Einzberns.

"Welcome home Shirou." One said in a monotone voice.

"So decided to stop making ojou-sama wait any longer, have you?" The other one said in a more formal, yet harsh tone.

Shirou gave a small smile.

"Yes, I'm home." He said, however his own tone didn't match his face. He sounded defeated and tired. He made his way down the hall with the two Einzbern maids trailing behind him.

"So were you able to procure the item you were looking for." The formal one asked him. He shook his head.

"No, someone used it to ascend to the root." He told them.

"I see." The maid responded. "So you leave for most of the year. Only returning for a few days out of the month and you didn't even accomplish what you set out for."

Shirou turned around at her words. The look on his face was blank as he stared at her. The maid looked right back as if to dare him to say anything against it.

"She didn't have much time left Shirou all she wanted was to spend her remaining days with you, for whatever reason." The maid continue. Shirou put his head down as guilty expression appeared on his face.

"I wanted to save her." Was all he replied with. She simply sighed at him.

"There is no saving her. All you can do is be there for her, but you weren't even able to do that." She said and Shirou's eyes widened.

"What do you mean?!" He said and the maid looked down, the other looking off to the side.

"She passed away last night, before you got home. Taiga Fujimura was with her." She told him. "Taiga has taken her body to be buried next to her father's." She told him. Shirou grabbed his heart as he punched the wall

Irisviel's face mimicked Shirou's as tears started to fall from her eyes, she grabbed her chest and fell to her knees.

Archer couldn't remember she passed because he wasn't there. Too busy trying to save to be there for her.

The scene fading away again and Irisviel was stranded in the darkness again. Not knowing what else to do she hit her knees. Sobbing into her hands.

NO!

NO!

NOT HER TOO!

PLEASE!

"ILLYA!"

"Irisviel~"

Looking up her eyes widen as she was met with eyes a darker shade of red than her own. Skin and hair paler than her own. The ceremonial dress a black and red design Yet despite all those differences Irisviel was staring at herself. The other Irisviel face gave an insane smile at her.

"I missed you while you were gone."

Irisviel got up and with clinch fist started to yell.

"Who are you what do you want!"

The other Irisviel smile seemed to get even wider almost from ear to ear.

"You know who I am Irisviel, and I want what I've always wanted...to live."

Irisviel backed up and placed her hand over her mouth.

"You're Angra Mainyu. Our mistake during the third war. How are you doing this."

Angra Mainyu started walking towards her causing Irisviel to back up with each step. She tripped falling on her rear. Angra leaned down and crawled on top of her till their faces were mere inches apart from each other.

"In all honesty I'm just using our connection through the grail to speak with you. In all honesty I can only talk to you like this. I very much doubt I could do it to anyone else. It was no mistake though, your family gave me a chance. A chance to be what I was meant to be. For that I want to thank you."

Angra placed her hand on Irisviel's cheek caressing it. The smile seemed to become more demented the more their eyes connected.

"Are you the one showing me these specific memories? Showing me how fractured my family becomes, is this something you enjoy." Irisviel said her voice rough and shaken from before now becoming frustrated and angry. "Are you the one who brought Archer here?"

"Yes and No, You are asking to see these memories deep down. You want to know why Archer wants to save Saber, why he can't remember Illyasviel's death. You'd have seen these memories eventually I'm just rushing the process." Angra leaned closer till her lips were next to her ear. "As for Archer's summoning….well that was a joint venture. A higher power wants that man to get over himself."

"I don't understand."

"I was given something, in return I would summon this particular Guardian and iron out his kinks. You have been a great help with that so far Irisviel." Irisviel's entire body started to shake as Angra's voice, her voice, started to sound more and more monotone and hollow. The Avenger servant pulled herself up, straddling Irisviel. "I will be born this war Irisviel and that man will be the harbinger of my arrival."

Angra's Irisviel form started to melt away, bringing Avenger back to it's shapeless form before lunging at her.

XXX

Irisviel's eyes opened to see Amber eyes staring silently at her. Sitting up Shirou sat on the part of the couch not occupied by her legs. He stared at her not saying a word. Irisviel couldn't help, but be reminded of Illya when she was first born. Wide eyes that simply stared at her in curiosity without a sound. Her thoughts became that of a worried parent's. Did the accident do something to his mind?

"He's been hovering over you for the last forty minutes, waiting for you to wake up." Martha McKenzie appeared from the Kitchen wiping her hands with wash cloth. "Absolutely refused to do anything else."

Irisviel looked between the two before her eyes settled onto Shirou. "Is that true?" Shirou's head turned away as he blushed, it was quite adorable. Irisviel felt a small smile appear on her face. Then her eyes caught sight of his clothes. The boy was still wearing his mostly blood covered hoodie.

Martha saw what she was looking at. "Waver gave us a small story about what happened. I know he left out some parts." Irisviel's head quickly turned to her. "I won't pry, he seems fine and from the way I couldn't pry him from you, I do believe it when Waver said you rescued him. I'll go get some clean clothes from Waver's room. They may be a little too big for him, but for the time being they'll do."

With that Martha left the living room. Leaving Irisviel and Shirou alone. Shirou kept his gaze on the ground looking embarrassed.

"So are you feeling better?" Irisviel decided to make the first move, no point in forcing the child to start the conversation. However Shirou kept silent, simply nodding at her. She tilted her head, giving him a small smile. "That's good. If you don't mind me asking what do you remember?"

XXX

Teeth and tentacles everywhere. The stench of blood hung in the air. People screaming, running in all different directions. A woman with amber eyes similar to his own shoving him.

"….irou!..O Sh….! Run!"

A mad dash as fast as he could, something crashing on top of him, then darkness. He was down there for what felt like forever. Then a light and Ruby eyes stared at him.

XXX

Shirou started shaking as he remembered and then…

Slender arms wrapped around him and a song with words that he didn't understand played in his ear. They stayed like that for a moment, until Irisviel stopped singing.

"It's going to be okay Shirou-chan. It's going to be okay." She repeated that as she rubbed his head until he stopped shaking. He looked up at her as he narrowed his eyes at her.

"How do you know my name?" His voice was small and quiet, but she could make it out.

"So you can speak." She nearly facepalmed. She had made a slip, now she needed to make an excuse. Her thoughts turned to the hospital dream she had. "That's easy because I'm a mage."

Shirou's face lit up in wonder. Just like in the memory.

Irisviel could feel a smile coming on.

XXX

Martha, Waver, and Rider were in the hallway listening in.

Martha and Rider smiled at the scene taking place before them. Waver on the other hand was having a small meltdown as Irisviel outed herself to this kid. Grandma had heard too.

'Crap, crap, crap!' Waver's head felt like it was going to explode. They needed to do a mind wipe on the kid and Martha, he took a step towards the living room, when suddenly a hand hit him on the back of the head.

"Waver! Don't you dare interrupt this! Leave them be!" Martha yelled at him in whisper.

Rider gave a quiet laughed "Ahh don't be so hard on him, he's just jealous of someone else hogging the lady's attention." He whispered as Waver face grew beet red.

"Leave me alone you two!" That got everyone's attention.

XXX

"Well well, I just got the place up and running, and one of my first customers is the infamous magus killer, and with an actual heroic spirit to boot. What do I owe the pleasure?" Said the fiery red head of the Aozaki clan, Touko Aozaki a, with a cigarette in her mouth.

It didn't take long after Kiritsugu made his way into Mifune city, before he found her. All he needed to do was follow the trail of strange incidents in the city and have Raiga's men ask some questions. It led him to a place called Garan no Dou. As they entered Kiritsugu felt the bounded field go off, and he attempted to leave as a hypnosis was placed on him but Saber snapped him out of it.

"I need a puppet." Was all he said, preferring to keep this short. The stories he had heard made it best that they didn't have a long conversation.

"Oh so you interested in my work? Hopefully you don't think I come cheap?" She said with a flirtatious tone to her voice, causing him to shake his head.

"I assumed not so I brought something to help move the process along." He said as he pulled up a suitcase and placed it on her desk. He opened the case revealing stacks of money. This caused Touko to pull out a pair of glasses and place them on her face.

"I see well how can I help you?" She said to him kindly as though her personality had taken an 180. Kiritsugu stared at her for a second before he explained his situation.

"Hmm I see. A puppet to house the soul of the lesser grail vessel huh?" Touko said as she leaned back in her chair. "What made you decide to do this? Seems pretty nice of the sole called boogeyman." Touko bit her lip looking him up and down. "Also pretty nice to look at too. Love a rugged man. "

"I prefer we keep our business strictly professional." Kiritsugu responded, not wanting to play her game.

"Oh don't be like that, you know funny thing, words going around town that the Einzbern's hired an outside mage to compete in the newest grail war." She said as she slowly pulled her glasses off. "That outside mage ended up marrying one of the Homunculi." She was going to keep going, but Saber cut her off.

"You know the reason wench, will you help us or not?" Saber cut to the chase. Not in the mood for a mage's mind games. They reminded her too much of her sister, She wasn't in the mood for any of that.

Touko looked at the pair, before looking back at the money. She closed the suit case, and picked it up.

"I'll do it, but before you go answer me this: How are you going to separate the soul from her original body?"

Kiritsugu remained silent, truth being he had no method, all he had were ideas. This caused Touko to have big smile cross her face.

"My my, you come all the way here to get a puppet to place your wife's soul into, save her from turning into that cup yet no way to actually save her. The stories said you were smart." Touko laughed at him, then he did something that stopped her.

He smiled.

"Actually even if we don't have a sure fire way, there's somebody I know who'll make it happen. He won't stop searching for a way as long as he's still able." Kiritsugu told her, causing her to sit back in her chair.

"Oh? Another lover?"

"More like a boy who can't let his Mom go."

"Interesting. I won't be getting any sleep tonight. I'll have it for you tomorrow." She told him, Kiritsugu and Saber taking their leave. Kiritsugu kept going, but Saber stopped just short of the door. Looking back She also gave a small smile.

"Even if it nothing comes of it, if it all ends in vain, we tried. Who else can say that." With that the servant of the sword was gone as well.

Touko stared at her door before a small smile graced her face.

"A boy who won't let his Mom die huh? I think I'd like to meet this promise maker." She said.

XXX

Archer was on the roof standing guard. He saw the sun start to go down as he remembered his promise to meet the Matou master under the Fuyuki bridge. The plan wouldn't be complex, just a simple snatch and grab. Even if Zouken attempted to stop them, the old worm couldn't do anything against himself and Berserker. Archer couldn't help but not believe things would go that smoothly. He thought the same of his plan to take out Caster and that ended up taking a turn for the worst.

He also thought of what to do with Berserker afterwords. In the worst case that he'd have to use the grail to save Irisviel, Berserker would have to die. Which means one of his conditions for helping the young girl would have to be Berserker's death. Doing that to help a kid left a bad taste in his mouth, but he knew he wouldn't be able to finish his mission without at least getting his hands dirty once. He was content that at least two of his plans had actually seen fruit, he realized he was being selfish wanting anymore, but he do it anyway.

"Everything sure has become messy hasn't it." He said to himself, then he heard the sound of metal hitting the roof with a ladder being placed in front of him and Irisviel's head popping up at the top.

"It sure has Shirou-kun." Irisviel said as she gave him a big smile. Archer gave a startled face.

"Irisviel, how are you climbing the ladder right now?" Archer said calmly, his master being in no physical shape to exert herself.

"Um with a lot of pain tolerance and willpower?" She told him as he noticed the ladder start to shake. Looking over the edge her arms and legs shaking terribly as she attempted to keep herself on the it. "Would you mind helping Mama up please."

Archer grabbed her by the back of her shirt and effortlessly lifted her onto the roof. She sat down and gave a large breath of air. She looked up at him before patting the spot to her side, Archer shrugged before sitting next to her.

"It's really troublesome that a simple act like climbing a ladder takes so much breath out of me." Irisviel said clearly annoyed.

"Maybe you should exercise more Irisviel." Archer said smirked as she slapped his arm. The smirked went away when he realized that the hit felt more like a poke then anything else. "Why are you up here. Last I checked you were having a heart to heart with that boy."

"Yeah….Shirou-chan. Not to be confused with you who I call Shirou-kun." She said giving him a slight smile, like that wouldn't get confusing at all. "He's fine he's eating that food you left on table. Thank you for that by the way."

Archer let out a grunt. "That was for you not for him."

Irisviel leaned against his arm with her eyes closed. "He's a growing boy he needs the food." All that got was another grunt from her servant. That caused her to giggle, then she began to laugh, this caused Archer to raise an eyebrow, he didn't think it was that funny.

…..Then she began to cry. Archer stared at her as Irisviel pushed her head into his arm and began to sob uncontrollably. Archer didn't move, didn't comfort her, he just let her cry. After a few minutes she calmed herself, pulling herself from him she began to wipe her eyes.

"I'm trying so hard, I want to live, to see my little girl grow up and make a life for herself, but I know it's just a pipe dream." Irisviel wrapped her hands around her knees. "Maybe if we had started this back in Germany, before any of this happen. I might have had a chance, but….Oww!"

Irisviel held her forehead rubbing the spot the Archer just flicked.

"I wonder if this is how the King of Conquerors feels every time his master goes on a tangent. Seriously Irisviel when did you get so whiny." Archer said his face looking annoyed.

"Well excuse me for accepting my situation and thinking I could rely on my oldest for emotional support." Irisviel huffed and crossed her arms.

Archer looked at her for a moment before looking at the city of Fuyuki in the distance. "You're not going to die. I won't let you, if you think that dying is some noble thing to do, I'll drag you from the root itself and give you a good scolding. This is a war that carries a miracle we can use."

Irisviel's breath was caught in her throat as the words of Angra Mainyu entered her head. Archer would be the harbinger of Angra's arrival. There's no way Archer would willingly allow that monster to be born into this world just to save her.

"Shirou-kun there's something I need to tell you." She said getting his attention. "When I passed out at the castle and my dream earlier I keep seeing someone talking to someone. It's Angra Mainyu."

Now she had his full attention.

'What? This is way off course. That thing was never this active before.' He thought as his eyes widen.

"She, It, whatever you want to call that thing. It said things."

"What things?"

"It said it made a deal to have you summoned here, that you would bring about it's arrival." Irisviel told making her servant go quiet.

A million things were going through Archer's head as he processed that information. That walking disaster had named him specifically in it's resurrection. What does that mean, what does that mean for his plan? He looked at Irisviel and her face was one of fear and hurt.

"It also showed me other things, whether they were truly your memories or just a fabrication that it created I don't know. It showed me your final moments with Saber…..and Illya."

Archer looked at her with wide eyes.

"What did you see?"

"Things that make me understand you a lot more now. Why you are going so far for everyone." Her hand gripped his. "Archer the reason you couldn't remember Illya's passing, you weren't there. You were trying so hard to save her, you didn't make it in time." Her head rested against his arm. "Don't sacrifice the world for me."

The reply was instant. "To sacrifice the world for one person is the height of stupidity."

Irisviel's eyes closed.

"Lucky for you I'm not a guardian. I'm your servant, your safety comes before all else." Archer said looking at her. Irisviel's eyes widen. "That walking mud stain can talk all it wants about resurrection, but I have no intention of letting it out of the box. In fact by the end of everything this thing will be gone. I'll make sure of that."

Irisviel couldn't help but smile.

"So what, beat the bad guy and save the girl. Is that your plan?"

Archer gave a small smirk.

"It'll be a lot more complicated than that, but yes. I won't let you die. You summoned the best servant, it would speak poorly of me if you died."

"Don't make a girl a promise if you know you can't keep it."

"You know me Irisviel. I'm a terrible liar."

"That you are."

It may all seem bleak now, but tomorrow is another day.

XXX

A/N: I would like to thank everyone for tuning into this chapter. There was a lot of creative liberties taken with it. Hopefully you all liked Irisviel's dream sequence. So truth time, when the TEH was created, I had no idea what the story was I literally created this story to have the banquet of kings that the story 'remember' didn't get to. However I was making everything up with each document. No plan, no nothing. However there were three parts of the story that were always the apart of the story. The Banquet, the ending and…..

Archer's backstory with Saber.

When I read that Archer's route was very similar to the fate route. This was the only thing that made sense to me. Archer never went back for her, he left her on that bridge alone. She had to deal with Gilgamesh by herself. That would certainly drive a wedge between the two. Now there are many holes to it, like the bad end at the church. I think it was number 13. It makes sense to me though, so hopefully you all liked it.

Also the Shirou scene I hope you guys don't think that was a cop-out. That scene was supposed to be last chapter, but it got pushed to this chapter, with only a teaser for it. Last chapter was bordering on 30 pages. Just like this chapter.

Also because I would feel dirty if I made this a discord exclusive, the original idea for Shirou being found by Irisviel and Kiritsugu, Archer would have had a mental breakdown at the end of the story. Believing the world didn't need a Shirou of any kind, he would've tracked his younger self down and attempt to kill him, but would be stopped by Irisviel, Kiritsugu, and Saber. He would cut down his original parents leaving Shirou orphaned and would have to be cut down by Saber. There's more but those pieces are still in the idea for the current ending.

Now for a discord exclusive I will be posting the original chapter 9 in the channel titled cut content.

As always thank you for reading.

XXX

It's here! It's back!

The Einzbern and Hero's Talk show.

A sign appears on an empty desk of the destroyed talk show stage stating:

Due to an unforeseen accident involving Berserker. Tonight's show has been canceled. Please tune in next time for the long awaited interview with Illyasviel and Berserker.

Suddenly a metal beam fell from the ceiling and crashed on the desk shattering it and the sign.

XXX

Review:

So before I reply to anyone individually I would like to address the scam review I allowed into the section that I later removed. It was something I found funny and allowed it into my review section for all of you too get a chuckle out of it too. Unfortunately there was a second one that appeared so I could only assume that more were coming so I had them removed. Now onto my replies.

Illya Emiya: Man I finally got my Saber lily back so I've now got three Artorias so I'm happy. Hopefully you like how Shirou has been intoduced.

Luga Kug-ga: Thanks I was worried I wouldn't come back to this after 2018, but it's my baby can't give up now.

Guest: Everyone always thinks this Prisma Illyas backstory. I wonder why :)

Marsuvees Black The Dark Lord: That is inevitable, but EMIYA is someone who needs his small victories. He's stuck inside a bigger picture he despises, so him doing this, showing Saber and Kiritsugu a different side of life. Planning Sakura's rescue, putting everything in motion for Irisviel's new body.

GodAxe and Vghvh: You guys made me smile. Though I ask that anyone never bully any other author on this site on my behalf. Though you guys made me laugh.

Star (guest): So I'm guessing the kahn comment wasn't a good thing. Well hope you enjoy the rest of this farce cause I got more coming.

T110E4: Really I feel like that if left alone Saber would follow down the same path in Zero. Something Archer is doing everything in his power to avoid.

SentinalSlice and tank2u1wood: Hopefully this wasn't a let down for you guys. These reviews had me worried that maybe putting the teaser in the last chapter was a mistake. Thanks for the love on the last chapter.

RyuAssassin and Solaris: Thanks glad you guys enjoyed it.

XXX

seeya