"What is my wish?"
Saber whispered, head tilting thoughtfully with a wistful expression. That expression alone made Shirou feel like the worst person unimaginable in the world. Here he is, having no wish or ambition. He would rather quit this war than kill people for some wish.
Yet here he is, depriving Saber her own opportunity. His own ideals depriving her chance, how can that be anything but selfish.
"Honestly… I don't have a wish."
"What?" Shirou can't believe his ears.
"What's with that dumbfounded look, Master? Of course I don't have a wish or desire for one." Saber said, covering her mouth with the back of her hand to hide her giggles.
"But… isn't that why you were summoned? To have your wish granted?" Shirou questioned.
"Not really?" Saber shrugged before taking a seat on the balcony. Patting her side, she beckoned him to take a seat.
"As a King, I already did what all I needed in life. I'm content." Saber smiled wistfully, remembering her past and companions.
"I have no regrets or whatsoever that a wish granting device can fulfill."
"Where did this question come from, Master?" Saber inquired afterwards.
"I…" Shirou bit tongue in hesitation.
"I do not wish to participate in this war." He admitted.
Saber kept quiet and nodded at him to continue.
"I don't like this war at all. Everything about it was wrong and twisted. I… not after I found out what my father did in the last one." Shirou began.
He began to explain to her his origin, Kiritsugu, and his participation in the previous war.
"... In the end, no one really won. The whole thing was all pointless and tragedy after tragedy." Shirou let out a sigh.
A gentle hand suddenly began to ruffle his hair.
"You remind me too much of my knights." Saber smiled gently, "Kind and innocent. A strong sense of justice and sense of duty."
"That's a good quality of a man, Shirou."
Shirou blushed at the praise. It was more personal and intimate compared to what he had experienced before. He mumbled a thanks to her to which the woman laughed sweetly.
"Honestly, you're the wrong person to be master in this war." Saber said, closing her eyes.
"But maybe, just maybe. You're the one this war needed. That heart of yours will come a long way. As such, don't mind the details on this war. If you don't want to kill, don't kill. Be a protector instead, don't let the tragedy of the last war repeat itself."
"Be what you are, Shirou."
"A kind person."
"Until then, Me and my knights are in your service."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Shirou stayed after Saber left, excusing herself to cuddle with Taiga of all things. His mind was in turmoil.
Be himself?
But he himself was a lie, built by Kiritsugu's lies.
But….
What's wrong with that?
It was never wrong to be a kind person.
And he wouldn't be anything but what he is.
Because this is what he is.
He can help but laugh. Laugh at himself and his stupidity. Why is he thinking so much about this and everything?
Kiritsugu lied, yes!
But so are all adults, they all do that.
Sometimes, lies are kindness in disguise. They keep the horrible truth from hurting us. If Kiritsugu told him the truth back then, would he curse the man who took him in? Will he hate the man who gave him a new family despite his mistake? Will he take revenge on his past actions?
Shirou can't really see himself doing all that.
Because at the end of the day, he owed the old man this new leash of life.
"Old man, you're really a bastard." Shirou for the first time cursed the man not out of hate but of mirth.
He did promise Kiritsugu he would carry his dream, so he will fulfill it.
By being the Hero of everything he has.
Taiga
Old Man Fujiwara
Sakura
Issei
And maybe, Rin
He will keep them safe from this blasted war and make sure this damned war doesn't end up as another tragedy.
He promised.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
That night, Shirou dreamed of the moon.
The celestial body was silent and lonely. Nothing but vast expanse of rock and total darkness in the horizon.
It was a dreary place.
Then he heard them.
Laughter.
Female laughter.
One by one, silhouettes of various girls of varying ages began to appear. Laughing and playing, they surrounded him.
But they can't see him.
He watched them play.
He watched them laugh.
And he watched them get mutilated.
Their bodies began to change, prana erupting from their very core and the world began to change.
He was no longer on the moon.
He was in the middle of a war.
A war between beasts and the divine.
Countless beasts began to drown the world. An enveloping darkness creeping through, unstoppable and indestructible. But an opposition still stood, those girls on the moon.
They wielded divine weapons and skills, cutting through the darkness.
They pushed it back.
But…
They were too late.
RAGNAROK CANNOT BE STOPPED.
And the world and countless others winked out of existence.
He found himself on the moon once more but not alone.
Because of the emptiness, weapons littered the moon's surface.
Like a Graveyard- NO
Not a graveyard, a record.
A record of the Divine Beings born on the moon and in their failure, they all shall return to their birth place.
The Moon Lab.
That night, the hero died and a new being began its rebirth.
Conversion Progress: 25%
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Author's notes.
Meh, it's a short one.
I just want to end the 2nd night arc. We are now entering the 3rd day arc where canon divergence goes WAAAAAAAY UP!
There will be a cute Kohai, Taiga as a lesbo, a doggo and murder attempt from our resident cute Magus.
Tune in for the next chapter in Dragon-Wrong title.
NOW GIVE ME YOUR STONES!
(PS: I don't know what stones do or why they are important so leave a comment to answer this question please!)
(Also I'm open to theories and ideas for a sequel. I'm done mapping the story of this fic and just needs to be written. Currently working on a storyboard for a sequel)