Chapter 06: Butterfly Effect Pt 01

Jumping to conclusions did more harm than good.

That was indisputable, there was no need for anyone to explain it to him.

He was not a child not to understand such a simple action.

...But did it matter? No, not in this situation.

Why did it matter? Because he was already dead.

...

Confidence was ultimately a double-edged sword, if you had too little of it you were likely to succumb as a result of the pressure imposed by others.

By the same token, having too much of it would do nothing but stagnate you in a single point.

One that you would undoubtedly not know how to get out of or that you would refuse to even admit.

Either out of shame or denial.

That was your current situation, because once again, Emiya Shirou had just died.... What's worse, it was in a rather pathetic way.

Lying on the floor of the Tiger-dojo, the boy stared at the ceiling expressionlessly, totally ignoring the worried Taiga who kept asking if he was willing to start a new game or load any save points.

Was this the legendary E rank luck showing its claws.

He thought as he found the reasons for his death ridiculous. Now he could understand why some versions of himself and Archer were cursing her so strongly.

...Although now that he thought about it.

Why was it that almost every time they did it there was a woman involved?.... No, he shouldn't get distracted.

Surely it wasn't something important.

He was supposed to meet Shinji on the rooftop, then fall and finally use another command seal to bring Saber to his side to survive.

There was even the option of using Ebony and Evory, launching some special bullets, distracting Rider, destroying Shinji's book and if possible incapacitating him so he wouldn't have a chance to cause trouble later.

But fate had been a most cruel thing.

Why else would he have tripped, fallen headfirst into a tree, broken his neck completely and died instantly?

Had he become a Lancer-class Servant?

Such an idea made his body shudder, he could still remember what that version of him and Archer saw happen to Lancer in that dimension he liked to call "Carnival".

The mere thought of ending up like that was terrifying.

[Load]

Letting out a sigh he tapped the option, ready to once again start the day.

He could only hope that such things would not happen again. He would have to be more careful, that was for sure.

...

As expected, the moment came ... Again.

He wasn't going to deny it, he felt a lot of nerves, it was to the point where he almost shot with Ebony at a pigeon that caught him flying nearby.

This time, instead of using the command seal he took Saber to Homurahara, or to be more precise he made her stay nearby, it was really annoying that she couldn't use spiritual form.

Saber herself seemed to be slightly embarrassed that her condition made it impossible to fulfill her duty.

A calculating smile with a slight tinge of mischief formed on the red-haired man's face, one that truly surprised Shinji, who had already reached the rooftop.

What could go wrong?

With so much planning and preparations, the boy was fully confident that this time would be different.

Even if he didn't realize it, in a way Shirou had received a bad influence from Rin.

Of course, this was something he would only come to notice later.

...

He couldn't delay any longer.

They had delayed too long in taking action on the matter, the worries had increased tremendously compared to what it was in the beginning.

If before there were Servants who seemed not to care or not to take this new Lostbelt so seriously.

Since they saw that dome, they completely recoiled. After all only someone with great power could accomplish such a feat.

The Masters prepared, Da Vinci had worked overtime to achieve it but they had finally secured the right location to make the Rayshift.

They could now do it in Japan, but still at a somewhat distant distance from Fuyuki. But it wasn't a big deal... At least until they saw the state the world was in.

- Are they ready? - Da Vinci asked from the command room. All the personnel were nervous.

Some Servants were quite upset by the simple fact that they had not been considered as an option to take in the group that would go with the Masters.

EMIYA and Arturia insisted on being part of the team. Of course, this request was immediately approved under the powerful "negotiation" of the King's knights.

Gudao and Gudako gave an affirmative answer. Their expressions serious and charged with determination.

That alone was needed, they had no doubts about their mission.

Losing was not an option.

Perhaps it was a bit of arrogance, but both brothers were confident they could do it.

They had done it before, why wouldn't they do it now?

...

There was no giant Mecha-God.

There were no humans enslaved by Faes.

They were not in ancient times.

The brothers were completely confused. What exactly was going on in this place?

- Damn it! - An annoyed shout was heard from behind them. The Servants had emerged from their spiritual form.

The sight before them startled them, it was to the point where Gudako's mouth might have fallen to the ground.

- E-EMIYA? - She asked in surprise and disbelief.

Because the sight before her eyes was definitely not what she was used to.

- I don't feel so good... - The voice was still the same as her clothes. Her body was similar to Muramasa's in terms of height and complexion.

After all, instead of the big white-haired, brown-skinned man....

There stood a young man with pale skin and reddish hair.

...

The curtains had finally fallen, the director was making sure that the play was fulfilled according to his requirements.

The smile on his face bore the unmistakable joy of someone who saw how everything went according to his plans...

Support the hero, lift him up and watch him continue to fall. Lift him up as many times as necessary.

And when it's at its highest point...

Throw him down, abandon him and make him fall.

What better show to watch?

...

*Bang

The sound of a gunshot rang out, Emiya kept a surprised expression as if his plan had failed.

Do you see it now?

Yes, I definitely do.

Is this your friend, the one who unhesitatingly shot you? What would you be without Rider to defend you!

Shinji gritted his teeth as he heard the voice in his head, his gaze betraying the betrayal he felt.

He had shot him...

Yes!

He hadn't done anything...

Yes, we are innocent!

This betrayal...

He was to pay for it in blood.

Blood, broken bones, spinal cord or pieces of his brain, whatever calms the anger in your heart!

Yes, for no traitor deserved to go unpunished before a just punishment.

An eye for an eye.

A tooth for a tooth.

- Rider... - His eyes took on an icy glint as the corners of his lips turned up in a grotesque smile - Kill him! -

Since you tried to kill me.

Wouldn't it be fitting as revenge, that I strike back at you?

After all... You brought him on yourself!

Curse him, bathe him in your curses until there is nothing left to destroy!

Consume him utterly!

Satiate your blood lust!

Even if you despise me, I am not someone you can trample on.

The smile on his face only grew as time passed.

Not now, not ever.

...

Shit, shit, shit.

Shirou repeated in his head, he had been cleaning his weapons and had inadvertently let off a shot. One that had curiously flown close to Shinji's face.

It was fortunate that Rider had been able to stop it in time. But that didn't take away from the fact that he felt a slight chill at what was happening in front of him.

... Why are you smiling Shinji?

- Rider... Kill him! - He shouted before letting out an unhinged laugh.

Soon his entire field of vision went dark. The shock had been so great that he didn't even have time to react.

The Servant's speed was incredible, perhaps equal to or even faster than Lancer's. So where was the difference?

So where was the difference.

She wouldn't play with him.

Blood sprayed into the air.

A lifeless body fell from the rooftop....

Saber felt the connection with her Master lost.

And so, Emiya Shirou knew that she had died once again.

...

The sight repeated itself once more.

Shirou looked up at the familiar sight of the Tiger-Dojo's ceiling. His hand caressed his neck.

Inevitably his confidence wavered.

Could someone as useless as him achieve the perfect ending?

The happy ending.

His consciousness faded as he closed his eyes, he wouldn't be back right away.

Maybe if he could stay in this safe place for a while and think things through, he could find a solution.

Lost in his reverie, Shirou remained oblivious to the figure that soon manifested near where he stood.

- A late encounter, but still satisfying," spoke an aged voice. Despite being that of an old man, the vivacity of youth was still there.

As if it had never left in the first place.

- My intervention, though unnecessary, is for your own good, my dear friend," he said calmly as he sat down on a cushion that Taiga had brought him.

For the first time after she learned the "truth", Emiya Shirou allowed herself to rest without a care in the world.