The Fates of Prototype
Another quick little fanfic from me. I love the designs and ideas behind Fate/Protoype, and really hope we get an event for it one day! So I decided to write this quick little drabble based on what I know about it! Constructive Criticism is welcomed and encouraged! I hope you enjoy it!
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Rider
The shining light of the Holy Sword had crashed over Perseus, the force of it even with only 4 seals removed enough to defeat the Rider, with his energy already running thin, it was a miracle he’d managed to last as long as he did.
Perseus slumped to his knees, prana completely depleted. His mask fell from his place, and Rider yearned to catch it, but he couldn’t, the gray object shattering, before fading away.
Aro...Rider’s thoughts blurred, thinking back to his master. The boy kept alive, but completely in pain. Most of his organs replaced, living solely through magic. The mere summoning of Perseus had finally taken it all out of the boy. Rider had known his master for but a week.
And then, in his final minutes, Aro had used his command seals to make Perseus fully incarnate....and thus, the Hero with a Happy Ending had sworn “I will use the Grail's Power to give you the life you deserve.”
After making that swear, in rage, Perseus had slaughtered the people who had put his master through hell, stalling just long enough to receive his signature mask.
And just like, Perseus was changed. Summoned no longer was the paragon hero, the hero with a happy ending, the hero summoned at the behest of a boy who knew no happiness...in his place stood a hero who would perform all sacrilegious acts for the sake of the boy whose life was stolen.
Now, dying, facing the night sky, Perseus wondered if it was worth it. The people he killed...the fake friendships he’d made….were they fake? Rider was vaguely aware of Saber and Ayaka coming to kneel by him as he died.
The bespectacled girl brought a question to Perseus’ mind.
Does she see me as who I pretended to be, her classmate, a friend to most of the school? Or does she see me as the heroic spirit, Perseus? Or does she see before her a simple murderer?
I blame her for none of them…
Perseus closed his eyes...and he knew no more.
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Lancer
That damned priest had finally been done in. His heart pierced by Gae Bolg. Saber was convulsing on the ground near, returning to his true color scheme as the Priest’s influence was removed from him.
What a bastard. Lancer thought, staring at the white haired priest, already dead on the ground. This has been one hell of a Grail War….
Lancer tried to stand, but he couldn’t, taking the blow from the corrupted Saber’s Noble Phantasm was too much for the Hound of Ulster, and Cu Chulainn could feel his life force slipping away.
“Oi, Ayaka, was it?” Lancer sputtered.
The final master looked up from Saber, turning towards him. Lancer couldn’t face them, not out of shame, but because his body lacked the ability to turn to look.
Lancer was not the type to have regrets, it wasn’t in his nature. Oh sure, there are some parts of his life he was not proud of but not regrets.
Could Lancer say the same for his second life? His life as a servant?
For once, Lancer was unsure...he’d let his master down. Sure he berated her for not going on the offensive quicker, but if he was better, she wouldn’t have been turned into that...thing.
Simply the thought of what his Master had become was enough to send shivers down his spine.
But, he’d ultimately put her out of her misery, saved her from life as a poor excuse for life. And he’d gone on to help Ayaka rescue her servant from the Priest. He even got to kill the Priest, that was good.
So, can I say I once again lived without regrets?
Ignoring the waves of agony it sent throughout his body, Lancer tilted his head upward and saw a shooting star streak across the sky.
“I didn’t know...there was a meteor shower tonight...master.”
Yeah, I think I can.
And so the pale blue sparkles swirled in with the shooting stars, Ayaka and Saber, gaining witness to the blue flecked sky.
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Berserker and Archer
Berserker’s last thoughts were nothing, he was a weapon, an animal, a creature with no reasoning. His death was unceremonious, no last cry, no sacrifice. Only two golden blades carving through him, and a gentle fade into blue particles.
Archer, on the other hand, was granted the opportunity to have final thoughts. Gilgamesh tried to drag himself to the stairs, but he knew it was no use. Rolling over to look up at the fluorescent light of the ceiling, Archer let out a humorless chuckle. Of course he couldn’t make it to the stairs, Berserker was guaranteed victory, and he’d only been told to keep Archer from reaching the roof.
All the wounds he’d suffered had finally caught up to him. He should’ve been fatally wounded when Excalibur cleaved through him. He should’ve died when he took Berserker’s blow for Ayaka. He definitely should’ve died when Berserker crushed his heart with his bare hands.
But, thanks to [Absolute Survive], Gilgamesh was able to turn away from death all three times. It was ultimately his most useful Noble Phantasm. But, the King of Heroes knew that his luck had finally run out.
Not even that Noble Phantasm would save him from a crushed heart.
Archer’s crimson eyes had long glossed over, and his breathing slowed. Archer wondered if Ayaka and Lancer had been successful in their goal to reclaim Saber.
Saber. Gilgamesh thought, with more than a twinge of disappointment, My one goal in this war was to attain victory over you and Berserker… I lost to you, and only survived against Berserker.
Yet, Archer did not feel hollow inside. He’d thought that failure would leave his heart unfulfilled.
But...ultimately, Gilgamesh was not unfulfilled. Why he would’ve loved to win the Grail, he’d gotten to experience two fights that brought him more joy than he’d rarely felt, even in his first life. Between seeing the beauty that was Saber’s master, to his duels with the servant himself… Archer truly enjoyed himself
Archer laughed, and although his last breath brought no words, it brought a smile. A smile that stayed with Archer until he faded away.
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Saber
Arthur truly had no regrets. The sun was rising high over the sky, Manaka and the Beast of Revolution defeated.
“Saber. My command seals are…” Ayaka began, before Saber nodded, and turned to face her.
“I guess this is goodbye.” Saber smiled sadly.
“Yeah,” Ayaka looked at the ground.
“Hey,” Arthur smiled, reaching over and taking her glasses, one last time, “Just because this is goodbye for now, doesn’t mean we have to forget each other.”
Ayaka looked at Arthur, retorting, “But, you’ll be gone for good.”
Arthur placed the glasses into Ayaka’s hands, smiling, “Remember when we first met, at the beginning of the war? How did you describe yourself to me?”
“Gloomy, self-centered, and narrow-minded, an overall horrible personality…” Ayaka murmured.
“But you’re not like that anymore.” Arthur reminded softly, “You’ve grown so much braver, you’ve grown so much as a person. That alone makes the time we’ve had together worth it.”
Ayaka blushed at that statement, before saying, “Sa-Arthur. Can I ask a favor of you, before you fade away.”
“Anything.” Saber assured, to which Ayaka extended her hand.
“Walk me home, please, as far as you can.”
Saber was taken back at the tameness of the request, but smiled, “Of course!”
Saber took Ayaka’s hand and they walked through the early morning streets together, beaten and battered, but not dead. The streets were peaceful, quiet, no signs of the battles that had taken place the night before.
Arriving at Ayaka’s home, Saber walked her to the doorstep. Once there, Arthur reached to open the door for her, only to be caught in a tight embrace. Saber sighed, before closing his eyes and returning the hug.
The servant master duo stayed like that for a long time. It felt like it was too short but at the same time, like an eternity.
For Ayaka, it ended far too soon.
For Saber? It lasted just long enough.