Fate/Twilight

by moguera

The Council of the Magi

Chapter 5: Council of the Magi

The only audible sound was the faint stirring of the breeze through the branches of nearby trees, rustling their leaves slowly. The setting sun washed everything with an orange hue that tinted everything in sight. The glimmering light seemed to settle like a mantle on the priestly vestments of the man standing before Twilight and her Master. Almost instinctively, the disguised unicorn took a step back, sheltering herself behind Aaron, reaching out and gently grabbing his sleeve. The act gave her little reassurance or security as Kotomine Kirei continued to stare at them, his body unmoving, much like a statue.

Looking over at her Master, she saw that Aaron seemed to regard Kirei with something that resembled amusement. That sent a shiver down her spine. They had only just met face to face, having not yet exchanged so much as a syllable or gesture and yet, Twilight already knew that Kirei was an extremely dangerous man. More importantly, considering the man's background, he was more than capable of killing both of them without needing the assistance of his Servant.

"So." Twilight unconsciously jumped as Aaron's voice cut through the silence like a knife. "What reason do we have the pleasure of making your acquaintance, Kotomine Kirei?"

For a brief second, it seemed as though Kirei had no response. But then..."I merely wanted to extend my greetings to another of the Masters participating in the Holy Grail War."

"Is that all?" asked Aaron, tilting his head slightly, "While this seems inappropriate, my Servant seems particularly frightened of you." He jerked his head back towards Twilight, who winced as Kirei's attention settled on her. "Would you have any idea why?"

Again Kirei paused, seeming to consider what his answer would be. "No. I do not know why she is frightened of me." His eyes narrowed. "And now I would ask a question of you, Witness. Why are you, one who never involves himself in the affairs of others, entering into this War?"

Aaron raised an eyebrow. "You're curious about why I'm fighting in the Holy Grail War? How interesting. It never occurred to me that any of the other Masters would take such an interest."

Kirei said nothing in response, his face set in stone, giving absolutely nothing away.

To Twilight's surprise, Aaron grinned. "Well this is interesting. I never expected someone like you to be a Master...no...wait..." Aaron paused to rethink his statement, "Rather, it's almost too perfect that you were chosen by the Grail to be a Master in this War."

For the first time since Twilight or Aaron laid eyes on him, Kotomine Kirei demonstrated a genuinely human reaction, his eyes widening in surprise. Then he caught himself and forced his mask of inhuman composure back into place. "What do you mean by that?"

A chuckle rolled its way out of Aaron's throat. "If I were to sum you up in the simplest way I could, I would say that you are an empty vessel."

"An empty vessel?" Kirei echoed.

"My Servant has been strangely wary of you ever since we laid eyes on you for the first time. But now I have an inkling as to why." Twilight shuddered and backed away from Aaron as his grin widened, his expression becoming almost maniacal. "Human beings can be compared to vessels. And what fills those vessels is purpose. You could call it your natural inclinations or your deepest desires. I have always been partial to the term True Will."

Kirei said nothing, but something about him suggested he was being more attentive.

Aaron continued. "You have spent your life being filled with the purposes and desires of others. But they cannot fill you the way that realizing your own True Will would. After all, a bottle for fine wines would be hardly appropriate for carrying simple water. You asked me before why I participated in the Grail War. I will now turn that question back on you. Why do you think the Grail chose you as a Master in this war?"

Again, Kirei was silent, but Aaron answered for him. "What I think...is that the Grail did not choose you." Again, Kirei's expression flickered, betraying another hint of surprise. "No. Rather, you were the one who reached out to the Grail, perhaps without even realizing it. You called upon the Grail with your wish, the desire to know and understand the truth about yourself."

"You presume a great deal," said Kirei, finally speaking, "But you have not yet answered my question."

Aaron's grin faded into a simple smile and he shrugged. "To be honest, it was not my intention to join the fray. Unfortunately, I seem to have made a poor choice based on an impulse and now find myself pressed into the conflict." He turned around, resting a hand on Twilight's shoulder to guide her away from Assassin's Master.

"One other thing," said Kirei, not moving from his spot, nor moving a single limb. Again, Twilight felt a shudder run through her. There wasn't a single superfluous movement or gesture, just as though Kotomine Kirei were some kind of lifeless machine. "You mentioned people having a purpose, this True Will...what is yours?"

Looking over his shoulder, Aaron once again grinned. "You called me the Witness didn't you? I must admit, I'm surprised the Church has bothered themselves with me. Or maybe you heard about me from Tokiomi...Anyway! My purpose is to watch and see things that I haven't seen before. That is what I've always wanted to do." Even as he turned away, Aaron continued speaking. "This world is full of things that I haven't seen, so all I have to do is keep watching and I will never feel empty."

Not bothering to wait for any kind of response, Aaron continued to guide Twilight away. Once he was fairly certain they were out of Kirei's range of hearing, Aaron spoke, his voice barely a murmur. "I may have to reevaluate my assessment of him."

"Why?" asked Twilight.

"As a man who holds to nothing, he is truly capable of anything," answered Aaron, "That puts him in the same class as someone like Emiya Kiritsugu. Those two will be our greatest obstacles in this War."

---

They returned to the chapel, but Twilight remained in her human form for the time being. The benches were better suited to human bodies anyway. Aaron handed over one of the books he had acquired to satisfy her curiosity. Being able to read to pass the time did a great deal to soothe Twilight's nerves as the two awaited the arrival of the Masters who would be their enemies.

So engrossed was the disguised unicorn, that she failed to note the sound of an approaching car engine, or the sound of its doors opening and closing. Twilight only realized that someone had arrived when the doors swung open, the creak of their hinges echoing through the chamber, to admit the new arrivals.

Looking up, Twilight's eyes widened as they met a pair of steely red ones, framed by long locks of silvery hair. Irisviel, the Master of Saber. Beside was the Servant herself, once again dressed in black, looking to all the world like a particularly handsome young man. As Irisviel strode resolutely forward, Saber followed a bare step behind, her emerald eyes sweeping over the cavernous space, taking in its every feature, including those of the people already present within it.

Twilight found herself gulping nervously. She saw no trace of the girlish innocence that she had seen the previous day in Irisviel's face. Instead, she saw the resolute expression of a Master, meeting with her peers and enemies. At precisely halfway down the aisle leading up to the altar, she stopped. Kotomine Risei had emerged from the inner sanctum of the church and had come to stand before the altar.

"I am Irisviel von Einzburn," declared the woman, "Representative of the Einzburn family in the Holy Grail War, Master of Saber. I have come in good faith, trusting that the Church will oversee this meeting and that no harm shall come to me or my Servant while we are on these grounds."

"I am Kotomine Risei," replied the priest, obviously used to such formalities, "According to my responsibilities as the representative assigned to oversee this War, I give you my promise of safe passage while you remain on these grounds."

Irisviel nodded. Risei gave her a friendly smile. "You are the first from the Three Families to have arrived. Please take a seat and wait patiently. I suspect the others will not be long." His eyes came to rest on Saber. "Normally, I would ask that Servants wait outside while the meeting is being conducted, but given that this matter concerns and anomaly regarding the Servant Caster, who will need to be present herself, I will permit you to remain so long as you do not brandish your arms in this sacred space."

Saber nodded wordlessly in agreement to Risei's instructions. As Irisviel moved to take a seat at the pew across the aisle from Aaron and Twilight, Saber moved to stand in the row behind her, fixing her gaze forward and becoming motionless as a statue. Had the situation not been so dire, Twilight might have giggled, seeing as she was strangely reminded of the Royal Guards who spent their duty standing motionlessly at attention in the Canterlot Palace.

This was the first time Twilight was able to look on a Servant with her own eyes, rather than through one of Aaron's scrying spells. Right now, Saber still had the appearance of an ordinary person, seeming so masculine that it was easy to mistake her for a particularly youthful and effeminate man. Right now, even though she wasn't actively set to fight, Twilight felt Saber's presence acutely. There was definitely a regal quality to her bearing that reminded Twilight somewhat of Princess Celestia, unlike Archer, Twilight felt that there was a deeper similarity between the two. She sensed none of the casual malice that Archer did (which Twilight hadn't even needed to be present in his vicinity to sense).

Abruptly, Saber's eyes shifted in Twilight's direction. The disguised unicorn flinched back as Saber's eyes settled on her. All of a sudden, something shifted across her expression. Twilight wasn't sure what it was, but it might have been the barest hint, the slightest suggestion of a gentle smile, that regal mask flickering all too briefly before settling back into place. Without any further indication that she had taken notice of Twilight's presence, Saber once again shifted her gaze back to the front.

With a low groan, the doors once again swung open. Looking back, Twilight's eyes took in the newest arrival. The new arrival was a tall man, looking a little older than Aaron. He was dressed in an impeccably tailored red suit that would have made Rarity swoon. His dark brown hair was finely groomed and the goatee neatly trimmed. Everything from his stature to his movements suggested control; not a single hair out of place, not one wrinkle to be found, not one misstep made. In a sense, she was reminded of Kotomine Kirei in the way that neither seemed to take any superfluous actions. But where Kirei's tendency appeared to stem from some sort of emptiness within him, this man's came from an overbearing degree of self-control. This man was a paragon of order and control who tolerated nothing out of place in his life. Then her eyes were drawn to the glimmer of red; a ruby set into a wooden staff gripped in his right hand.

As he began to walk down the aisle with perfectly measured steps, Twilight noticed that he did not require the staff to walk or maintain his posture. Rather, he retained a firm grip upon it and carried it at his side, just like...

A weapon, Twilight realized, That must be his Mystic Code.

Like Irisviel, the man stopped halfway down and addressed Risei. "As head of the Tohsaka of the Three Families of the begining, I, Tohsaka Tokiomi, have answered the summons by the Church. I trust that you will honor your position as overseer and promise to maintain your neutrality during this dialogue."

Risei nodded. "As the overseer of the Holy Grail War, I give you my promise of safe passage upon these grounds so long as no attempt is made to initiate bloodshed in this sanctuary."

So this was Archer's Master then. He certainly seemed a man suited to commanding such an imperious Servant. But still, Twilight couldn't help but wonder if Tokiomi felt too secure to come without his Servant.

Just as that thought ran through her head, a tremendous weight descended on her shoulders. The air itself hummed with barely contained power and Twilight suddenly had to fight to breathe. Before her eyes, golden motes of light collected in the back of the church, coalescing to form the familiar image of Archer. He was no longer garbed in his ornate golden armor, but rather wore a simple white shirt and black pants. His hair, which normally stood in spikes on his head now settled into an unruly mop. His wrists, neck and ears were adorned with golden jewelry that, even in the absence of his ornate armor, announced him as a man of tremendous wealth and power. His crimson eyes swept the assembly, his visage chiseled with an expression of royal disdain. His arms, folded, Archer had materialized leaning casually against the wall, as though he had been there the entire time.

Out of the corner of her eye, Twilight could see Saber visibly tense as she focused on the new arrival, turning to face Archer directly and moving subtly to ensure that she stood between the golden Servant and her own Master. A flicker of amusement washed across Archer's face. At this point, he seemed to notice nothing else, his gaze focused entirely upon Saber.

Turning away from the spectacle of Archer's arrival, Twilight grit her teeth and stared down at her knees, her hands gripping the skirt of her dress so hard that her knuckles turned white. She had gone unnoticed by Archer and had only watched from the periphery as he made his entrance. Even though his awareness was focused on Saber, Twilight still found his presence terrifying. Even worse, she knew that once the council began in earnest, those glittering crimson eyes of his would alight on her. The thought of bearing the gaze of this Servant frightened Twilight more than the prospect of a rematch with Nightmare Moon.

She barely noticed that Tokiomi had begun to speak again. "Seeing as we are all assembled, we should convene this council."

"We must wait a little longer," replied Risei, "The representative of the Matos has yet to arrive."

Looking up, Twilight saw Tokiomi frown ever so slightly. "Mato Kariya may be a Master, but I assure you that he is not qualified to speak as the representative of his family. He has spent too long away from them and has shunned his heritage."

Risei gave Tokiomi an agreeable nod. "True, but a representative from the Matos has still been summoned. We must await his arrival."

As though summoned by Risei's words, the doors to the church opened yet again. This time, the labored groan was accompanied by the rhythmic clack of wood against stone, beating a slow tempo against shuffling footsteps. Turning to look back to the entryway, Twilight had to stop herself from gaping in surprise at the sight of the man who made his entrance.

He looked positively ancient, especially with his wrinkled face contrasted with the youthful ones of Saber, Archer and Irisviel. More than anything else, Twilight found the man vaguely toad-like. He was dressed in rather traditional japanese clothes, his posture slightly hunched so that his bald, wrinkled prune of a head perched at a slight angle at the end of his neck out in front of him. His eyes were pools of black with dots of white, clearly unnatural for humans, yet looking quite natural on his face. One gnarled hand clutched a short walking stick that he used to aid his movement as he took slow, hobbling steps toward the front of the church.

To Twilight's surprise, it was not Risei who greeted the new arrival, but Tokiomi, who turned to face the man, his face betraying an iota of surprise before melting into a polite smile of greeting. "Zoken-dono," said Tokiomi, bowing in a rather courtly fashion towards the old man, "You honor us with your presence."

The old man, Zoken, let out a laugh that sounded more like a series of wheezing coughs than anything else. "Tokiomi-kun, surely you didn't think that I would entrust a matter of such importance to Kariya, did you?" To some degree, Twilight thought the man sounded almost...grandfatherly as he spoke to Tokiomi.

"Of course not," replied Tokiomi, "And yet, neither did I anticipate your coming in his stead."

Again came the hacking, wheezing laugh. "Let us say nothing more then." Zoken shuffled past Tokiomi to announce himself. "I, Mato Zoken, am here as the representative of the Mato family. Though I am not a Master of the Holy Grail War, I hope that you will still pay heed to this old man's council."

Risei nodded. "You are welcome here. It is an honor to be graced with your presence this day. With your wisdom, I am sure that our dilemma will be easily solved."

Zoken nodded and began to proceed towards one of the pews to take a seat for himself. As he did so, Twilight leaned over Aaron and whispered softly, "Who is that?"

To her surprise, Aaron appeared quite tense and nervous for the first time since they had arrived. "Mato Zoken," he answered, "Head of the Mato family. His nephew, Kariya is their Master in this War."

As Zoken took his seat, Risei took a moment to survey the magi and Servants in attendance. "Representatives of the Three Families of the Beginning, you have been called here to address an anomaly that has occurred in the course of this War. The Master of Caster has come forth to announce both himself and his Servant in order to explain the situation to you. He is asking for your input in how to approach this phenomena." Risei gave Aaron and Twilight a nod. The two of them got to their feet and proceeded up to the alter to stand before their audience.

Aaron began simply. "I am Aaron Styx, a magus of the Association." A flicker of recognition passed over Tokiomi's face with Aaron's introduction. "I originally came here with the intent to observe the Holy Grail War. However, in the process, I determined that the seventh Master chosen by the Grail was the Fuyuki Serial Killer, a man by the name of Uryu Ryunosuke. He was completely unaware of the true nature of what he was attempting and instead believed that he was summoning some form of demon for his personal amusement. Incensed that such a man would be participating in such a distinguished affair, I moved to eliminate him before he could complete the summoning of his Servant. However, when I struck him down, the Holy Grail apparently chose me to be a Master in his stead. As a result, I have become the Master of the Servant Caster."

"And the anomaly?" asked Tokiomi.

Aaron turned to look at Twilight and nodded. Gulping nervously, Twiliight released her transformation, returning to her natural form.

---

Aaron had to fight to hide a grin as the violet light faded to reveal the small lavender unicorn that was his Servant. Even Tohsaka Tokiomi's fabled composure couldn't hold up to the shock of such a strange creature being introduced as a Servant. It was at least three whole seconds before he caught himself gaping and forced his normal stoic mask back into place.

Irisviel displayed no such compunction to save face, staring in unconcealed shock at Caster, her eyes wide and betraying a combination of surprise and wonder. Aaron almost smirked when he realized that she was desperately fighting the urge to squeal like a little girl over his admittedly adorable Servant.

In contrast, Zoken's face displayed undisguised curiosity. He looked at Caster as though she were a specimen in a jar, studying her carefully, his expression betraying nothing of his thoughts regarding what he saw.

The reaction among the other two Servants in the room was also interesting. Much like her Master, Saber gaped freely at Caster, apparently unable to reconcile the fact that this utterly unthreatening creature was a Servant, an opponent whom she would have to fight and kill in order to obtain the Holy Grail. Archer, on the other hand, seemed pleased about something, a slight smile spreading across his lips.

"What manner of creature is this?" demanded Tokiomi.

Aaron gave Caster another nod, prompting her to introduce herself. "H-hello. My name is T-Twilight Sparkle. As you can see, I am a unicorn. I come from another world, a land called Equestria. For some reason, I have been called to this world as a Servant."

"Can you give us more details?" asked Irisviel calmly, her expression softening considerably in the face of Caster's nervousness.

Caster bobbed her head slowly. "I was experimenting with a new kind of teleportation spell..." Aaron tuned her out, having already heard the circumstances of Twilight's transition from her world to this one. Instead, he focused his attention on observing the reactions Caster's story elicited from the other Masters. How they responded would determine the course Aaron and his Servant would have to take if they were to have a prayer of surviving the Holy Grail War.

Tokiomi looked surprisingly tense. He appeared to be deep in thought. Aaron wondered if he was more concerned with the implications of Caster's story than her situation itself. Zoken was staring at her with intense curiosity, a light smile on his face. Turning his attention to Irisviel, Aaron was surprised to see her wipe a tear away from her face. If there was one word he could use to describe the homunculus's expression at this point, it would be overwhelming despair.

Having taken in the reactions of the Masters, Aaron looked to the other two Servants in the room. Saber's mask was firmly in place, though he could tell she felt distinctly uncomfortable with the situation. Archer looked...amused. Aaron wasn't sure what to make of that.

Beside him, Caster finished her explanation with finding herself in the room where Uryu Ryunosuke's final atrocity had taken place. Silence descended on the church as her voice faded into echoes around the chamber. The other three Masters appeared to be deep in thought.

"My fellow Masters," Aaron said softly, "Have you been able to divine anything about our situation."

"If anything, wouldn't that be your area of expertise?" scoffed Tokiomi.

Aaron chuckled, taking the jab in stride. "True, but even then, I am hardly omniscient. You Three Families were the ones who created the Holy Grail. Surely there is something you know about its operation that can explain the situation."

To the surprise of everyone in the room, Irisviel got to her feet. "I'm sorry," she said, her voice barely audible, "But the involvement of the Einzburns had the least to do with the Servants themselves. I am afraid that I know nothing that can contribute to this discussion." Turning about, she walked rather hurriedly towards the exit. Saber hesitated for only an instant before following her. As they passed through the doors, Saber and Archer's eyes met briefly. Then the two were gone.

Looking over and down, Aaron saw Caster staring forlornly at the door, like she had wanted to say something. Aaron's lips twitched slightly. "Caster," he said gently, "Your part in this is done. Why don't you head outside and get some fresh air. I will call for you if you are needed."

Caster nodded and trotted through the church and out the doors, her pace just as hurried as Irisviel had been.

"Why did you dismiss your Servant?" asked Tokiomi, "We will need to know more about the magecraft she used in order to understand what brought about the current state of affairs."

"That can come later," said Aaron, "For now, I want to see if we can come to some preliminary arrangements. I also want to hear your thoughts on the matter. Then we can use Caster's knowledge to arrive at a solution."

Another rasping chortle came from Zoken. "You certainly have a cavalier attitude about the situation, especially allowing your Servant to roam so freely after you so graciously revealed how weak and vulnerable she is. The non-aggression pact currently applies only to those of us on the church grounds. The other Masters will not be so quick to restrain their hands if Caster supplies them with the opportunity."

Aaron shook his head. "In spite of her naïveté, Caster is extremely intelligent. She knows that even the other Masters would not dare harm her so long as she does not leave the grounds." He had to hide a grimace as soon as the words were out of his mouth as he sensed through his contract that Caster had done exactly that. She hadn't strayed very far though, just beyond the gate that led to the road in fact. But there was certainly no need to let the other Masters know that. "In any case, your thoughts on the matter?"

Zoken hummed as he stroked his chin. "For whatever reason, the Grail appears to consider her a viable option as a Servant, given the fact that a contract was formed between you two. Have you experimented at all with your Command Seals to see how they interact with her."

Aaron slowly shook his head. "I have kept the Seals in reserve as a fail safe in case none of our other ideas work out. Given the fact that it was her magecraft that put her in position to be ensnared by the Grail (however that happened), it seems feasible that reversing the process might be within the realm of possibility."

"So then, you intend to try and use all three Command Seals with the intent of fulfilling a Command to send Caster back to her home world." Zoken turned to look at Tokiomi. "Tokiomi-kun, given your master, perhaps you have some pertinent information to volunteer about this."

Tokiomi lurched back, as though he had just been snapped out of a daze. "I am afraid I have little to offer in that regard," he replied, "My master did participate in the Grail's creation. However, to my knowledge, the Grail is a function primarily of the Third Magic of the Einzburns, not the Second of my master."

"And yet, calling a creature from another world is most certainly not within the domain of the Third," mused Zoken idly, "Given the circumstances, I'm surprised the representative of the Einzburns chose to withdraw. Any information she had to share on the nature of the Third Magic that might have led to this situation would have been useful."

"I am not," said Tokiomi, not even bothering to hide the disdain in his voice, "The Einzburns have grown obsessed with obtaining the Grail at any cost. They no longer even care why the Grail was created in the first place. That should be obvious given who they brought into their family in order to advance that goal."

"You mean Emiya Kiritsugu," said Aaron, "The Mage Slayer."

Tokiomi nodded. "In all likelihood, the Einzburn representative withdrew because she had determined that Caster was a vulnerable target. She is probably on her way to Emiya Kiritsugu in order to plan their attack on you." His eyes met Aaron's. "You should take care in the future."

Nodding, Aaron couldn't help but notice the subtle hint of malice from Tokiomi himself. In spite of his words, it was fairly clear that the Tohsaka magus had not joined his cause. So his phrase also considered a hidden threat, whether Tokiomi was aware of it or not. "I have already taken that possibility into consideration. The fact that I have no hope of surviving against an enemy of the likes of the Mage Slayer is one of the primary reasons I called for this conference."

Tokiomi gave him an amused smirk. "We have not decided to be your allies yet, so is that the sort of admission you should be making in front of us."

Aaron returned the smirk. "I certainly don't mind admitting Emiya Kiritsugu is too much for me. Isn't it the same for you, Tokiomi? I notice that this is the first time you've even left your house since the Grail War began."

That wiped the smile from Tokiomi's face as he stiffened. To add to his irritation, Archer chuckled softly from the back of the church. Even Zoken looked mildly amused at Tokiomi's discomfort.

Not that Aaron minded lowering his enemies' regard of him. The more disdain they held for him, the less stringent their preparations for conflict against him would be and the greater the likelihood that they would underestimated him. Aaron knew that he needed every advantage he could scrape together.

"In any case, trading barbs isn't useful at all to us. So I have a proposition to give you. Father Risei has agreed in principle with my plan, so there shouldn't be any concern about it violating the rules."

"Is that so?" mused Tokiomi.

"And this proposition also concerns the Masters who are not present but still watching with their familiars," added Aaron, who had already noted the presence of those familiars (Although their number seemed to have strangely dwindled. Perhaps one had wandered off.), "My offer is this...help me find a way to return Caster to her home world and I will turn over my Command Seals to the one who succeeds in this."

Tokiomi's eyes widened at this. "All three of them?!"

Aaron nodded, presented the seals that decorated his hand. "My primary reason for participating in this War is to enable Caster to accomplish exactly that. If that goal is met, then I no longer have any stake in the Holy Grail War and my Command Seals will have no value to me, so I will gladly relinquish them to the one who achieves this."

"Hmph," snorted Zoken, "Don't be a fool. You cannot trade Command Seals so easily. They are the mark of the covenant between you and your Servant and that covenant alone. You can't simply trade them away. The Grail will just reclaim the Seals once your Servant is gone."

"True," interjected Kotomine Risei, reentering the conversation, "However, once the Holy Grail War ends, the unused Command Seals are placed in the possession of the Overseer appointed by the Church." Drawing back the sleeve on his right arm, Risei displayed a series of numerous Command Seals etched into his forearm. "Once this War ends, all I will receive those unused Seals as well.

"So this is the arrangement. Whoever completes this task shall receive three additional Command Seals from myself to use as they please. A tempting proposal, don't you think?"

Tokiomi's eyes narrowed as he considered Risei's offer. Zoken also seemed quite thoughtful about the matter. Aaron knew that it wasn't the kind of offer that could be rejected lightly. Command Seals, besides their uses for controlling Servants, could be used to enable one's Servants to accomplish incredible feats. Masters guarded their appointed three jealously. The worst thing a Master could do during the Holy Grail War was squander a Command Seal uselessly, as Kayneth had done during the opening battle. Aaron's offer meant that the Master who helped him reach his goal would effectively double the number of Seals at their disposal, completely transforming the dynamic of the conflict. Said Master would gain an overwhelming advantage over the others.

That was a risk in and of itself. After all, none of the Masters would be able to stand the thought of one of their rivals obtaining such power. At the same time, they still coveted such power for themselves. Aaron kept the smirk from his face as he watched Tokiomi and Zoken ruminate over the matter. Magi were selfish and covetous as a rule. They would never turn away from such a treasure.

Finally, Tokiomi leaned back and looked up at Aaron. "Very well. Call Caster in. We will need all the pertinent details before we can begin."

---

Twilight looked around frantically as the doors closed behind her. She figured her window of opportunity to confront Irisviel and Saber was short. Not far away, she saw Irisviel and Saber getting into a car parked just inside the gates. The machine was a work of art to Twilight's eyes, its silvery chassis seeming to match Irisviel's hair. The rumble it made as its engine came to life hummed in her very bones. She had no doubt that the machine was extremely well made and expensive.

She was too late. The vehicle lurched into motion and began to proceed out the gates. Twilight knew that once it got onto the road, she would have no hope of catching it. Even with her teleportation skills, it would be difficult to catch up with a moving object. Even worse, her actions could be interpreted as hostile. And after leaving Church grounds, Twilight's life would no longer be protected by the nonaggression pact.

Not being able to think of any other way, Twilight lit her horn and vanished in a blaze of violet light. When she rematerialized, she was directly in front of the car, which screeched to a halt before it could hit her. It was a near thing though, with Twilight flinching back as its front bumper came within scant inches of tapping the end of her muzzle. Twilight took several steps back as the doors on either side of the car opened.

Saber looked distinctly displeased to see her there. Even without her silvery armor, the powerful Servant cut an imposing figure as she strode to the fore. Behind her, Irisviel stepped out of the car as well, taking up a position behind Saber. Twilight got the impression that this was something Saber had instructed Irisviel to do in order to protect her.

"Just what is the meaning of this Caster?" demanded Saber irritably, "We have said our piece and have no further business with you."

"Please," said Twilight as loudly and forcefully as she dared, "Please. I need to talk to you." Her eyes were fixed Irisviel as she spoke making it crystal clear exactly whom she was speaking to.

Saber strode forward, her movements harsh and her face lined with anger. "You are no longer on the grounds of the church," she said. Twilight blinked and looked around, realizing that her teleportation, followed by her backpedaling, had placed her beyond the gates that marked the boundary of the church's grounds. "If I were to strike you down here and now, the overseer would not be able to make any objection. But there is no honor in that. So leave before I change my mind."

"I can't," said Twilight, "Not until I've talked to you." Again, her eyes never left Irisviel.

Saber's eyes narrowed. "So be it." Twilight began to feel the weight of her prana as Saber prepared to strike.

"Saber!" Irisviel's voice cracked like a whip, freezing the Servant in her tracks, "Stand aside."

Hesitating, Saber looked back at Irisviel. "But..."

"Please," pleaded Irisviel, smiling gently.

Sighing, Saber stepped back and to the side, leveling a warning glare at Twilight as she did so. Irisviel stepped forward and looked down at the small lavender unicorn. "What is it that you wished to speak with me about?"

"It's just..." Twilight paused, finding herself averting her eyes, "Why are you fighting in this War? Why are you so desperate that you would turn to a person like this Emiya Kiritsugu? Why are you all willing to cause so much pain and misfortune for this? And why..." Twilight sank down, "Why am I caught up in this?"

Though Irisviel continued to smile, Twilight saw a rising sorrow in her eyes. She recognized that pain. She had seen it before. She's grieving. She had seen that look in Celestia's eyes on occasion during her time as the Princess's student. At the time, she hadn't understood the reason Princess Celestia's eyes had gotten like that whenever the subject of the Mare in the Moon or Nightmare Moon came up, or why she hid herself away in her chambers during Nightmare Night. It was only after the Elements of Harmony had cleansed Nightmare Moon and returned Princess Luna that Twilight had truly understood the fact that the Princess was still mourning her loss, even hundreds of years later. Who is she grieving for?

"Please," said Irisviel, "Don't disparage my husband so."

Husband?! Twilight's eyes widened and her rump thudded to the ground. "Emiya Kiritsugu, the Mage Slayer...is your husband. Why...? How can you...?"

Irisviel's smile brightened, apparently amused by Twilight's confusion. "Kiritsugu is a difficult man to understand. To someone like you, he seems like a ruthless monster. But..." Irisviel knelt down to look Twilight in the eye. Saber visibly tensed at the sight of her charge getting so close to an enemy Servant. "Once you know him, you'll grow to understand that Kiritsugu is like that because his heart is kind...far too kind. He bears the pain of others and weeps for every life he has to take, even if it is in the silence of his own mind. He kills because he hopes to create a world where he need not do so, where no one has to."

"What...?" Twilight couldn't even begin to understand what Irisviel was getting at. How could someone become a ruthless killer out of kindness. She understood that Irisviel was saying that Kiritsugu was fighting for a truly peaceful world. But what kind of peace could be bought with rivers of blood? "I don't understand."

"That is the wish Kiritsugu will make of the Grail," said Irisviel, "And end to all war, bloodshed and hardship; a truly peaceful world where no one has to be hurt."

"That's..." Twilight stared in stunned awe at Irisviel, scarcely able to comprehend her words. It was naive beyond belief. Such a world was impossible. Twilight Sparkle was from Equestria, which was practically a paradise compared to the human world from what she had experienced, and even she knew that such a world was an impossible hope. "That's ridiculous. It's impossible."

To her shock, Irisviel giggled. "Isn't it," she agreed, "It's the kind of world that we would need a miracle to bring about. It's a good thing then, that we have a device here in Fuyuki capable of doing exactly that."

Suddenly, Twilight understood. Of course they would turn to the Grail if they wanted this wish granted. And yet, there was still one thing she wished to understand. Throughout their conversation, the sorrow had never left Irisviel's eyes. Even though her words overflowed with a seemingly impossible hope, her eyes still held an absolute sadness. Twilight entertained the thought that Irisviel might be grieving over the fact that the other Masters and Servants would have to be sacrificed for this goal to be accomplished. But there seemed to be something deeper than that.

Doubt still raged in Twilight's heart. She had to know, just what was driving these people who seemed at once both noble and terrible. "May..." she hesitated, "...may I cast a spell on you?"

"What?" snapped Saber, who moved to drive Twilight back, only to stop as Irisviel held up a hand.

"What spell would that be?" she asked simply.

"A spell to...a spell to see your memories," explained Twilight, "I still don't really understand you or this man called Emiya Kiritsugu. Why are you so desperate that he would abandon his humanity for such an impossible dream?"

Time seemed to stop, as Twilight and Irisviel looked each other in the eyes. Twilight found that she was loosing herself in the woman's gaze and struggled to maintain her resolve. Finally, Irisviel spoke. "I will allow it," she said gently, "Please look and see for yourself just what it is that we are fighting for."

"Thank you," Twilight whispered and leaned forward to bring her horn gently into contact with Irisviel's forehead. Just before the horn made contact, Twilight felt the faintest stirring of the fur on her neck. Glancing up, she saw Saber's arm extended, holding the blade of the invisible sword ever so lightly against the unicorn's neck.

"I will give you only one warning," said Saber, her expression as hard as steel, "If I detect the slightest ill intent, the barest whisper of a thought about bringing harm to Irisviel, I will strike your head from your shoulders before you can blink."

It was not an idle threat. With her powerful Instinct, Saber would be able to tell the instant malice entered Twilight's thoughts and would kill her before Twilight would not even be able to begin casting a spell.

Turning her focus back on Irisviel, Twilight lit her horn, calling on the same spell she had once used to save her friends from the influence of Discord, a spell that would bring forth memories. The spell activated and the world Twilight knew vanished.

---

Everything was white. There was no sense of up or down, forward or backward, only stark white. Then the world began to swim into focus. The floor came first, then the walls, then pillars and the ceiling, all carved from flawless marble. As the room opened up before her, Twilight was reminded of Canterlot castle. However, as more details came into focus, that resemblance faded away. The room seemed mostly featureless, devoid of any furnishings or decorations save for the ornate frames of the windows lining one wall. Outside, waves of snow lashed against the windows as a blizzard raged. In spite of its ferocity, the room itself somehow seemed colder still, feeling empty and lifeless. The only furnishing of note was a single massive four-posted bed resting up against the windows so that they ran behind its headrest. The bed was enormous, completely oversized and dwarfing the lone woman who occupied it...

Or was she alone in the bed? She sat up against the headrest, her arms gently cradling a small bundle wrapped in cloth. A child? The woman stared at the infant, her eyes practically glowing with love and affection. As its features swam into focus, Twilight began to understand the sentiment. The infant was the picture of innocence. Her features were mostly obscured by the wrappings, but the cherubic face was enough to make Twilight's heart melt as she observed the tiny human infant breathing slowly and easily in her sleep. Around the edge of the wrappings that encompassed her head, save her face, tiny wisps of hair poked out, a silvery color matching that of the woman who held her, clearly marking the relationship between mother and child.

"Isn't she beautiful?" asked Irisviel, her voice barely above a whisper, "Look Kiritsugu, she has your eyes." Irisviel turned her head to one side as she spoke, her gaze finding the figure of a man standing at the bedside.

Twilight followed the gaze and saw clearly the figure of Emiya Kiritsugu. He looked a little younger than he had when she had seen him on the battlefield, but even so, his eyes seemed as old and weary as Princess Celestia's in her moments of weakness. He stared silently out the window he stood in front of, not daring to look away and make eye contact with Irisviel for even a moment. Even though he stood straight and resolute, in some way, his back seemed bowed by the weight of an incredible burden. Worse still was the look of absolute despair that lined his face. It was the face of someone who had seen and lost more than Twilight could imagine had she a thousand years to think.

"I'm so glad that I could have this child," said Irisviel, again staring lovingly at the bundle in her arms.

"Iri," he whispered, "You're going to die because of me."

Twilight felt her heart freeze in her chest. What did he say?

Irisviel's smile faltered only briefly. She looked more burden now. "I understand," she said, "That is the purpose of my existence after all, the fondest wish of all the Einzburns."

Her smile widened and she cradled the child even closer. "But even so...even if I was made a doll to be used then discarded, I still managed to bring something this beautiful into the world."

"And yet," said Kiritsugu softly, "I will take you away from her. I will be the monster that destroys her mother. Iri...I have no right to hold your...our child."

Once again, Irisviel turned eyes back to her husband. She gazed at him with a love so absolute and pure that Twilight felt an alarming pounding in her chest. "And thanks to your wish, this child will be able to live without knowing the hardship and pains of the world. You taught me everything I know and gave me an existence beyond that of a mere puppet. You won me with the beauty of your ideals. I now hold the same prayer in my heart that you do.

"Do not turn away from this Kiritsugu. I knew full well that this was to be my fate from the moment I came into this world. Do not despair. The Holy Grail will grant your wish and give you salvation. So...please take your daughter into your arms and show her your love, as any proud father would." Leaning towards him, Irisviel extended her arms, holding up the tiny bundle that was her daughter.

Slowly, agonizingly, Kiritsugu turned to face his wife. Reaching out, he took the child from her and held the tiny bundle close to it, looking intently at the infant's face. Though he didn't smile, the despair and pain in his eyes seemed to fade away ever so slightly...as did the world itself, Twilight's spell running its course.

---

The world around her came back into focus and Twilight was once again on the ground before the entrance into the church. Her horn remained gently resting against Irisviel's head. Irisviel's eyes were closed, although they began to open as she too left the phantom world of the mind Twilight's magic created.

As her awareness of the real world returned, Twilight was conscious of the fact that he cheeks were damp...no...they were soaked. Tears streamed from her eyes, cascading down and leaving dark patches on the dirt beneath her hooves.

Twilight's mind reeled at the implications of what she had seen. Her assumptions, her understanding, everything she thought she had known about humanity had been shattered by a single memory. Through her experiences with Aaron, she had seen the selfishness and callousness of what humans were capable of. In watching the battle between Saber, Lancer, and the other Servants, she had seen how they could elevate the act of murder to an art that was as breathtaking in its beauty as it was terrifying in its intent. She had seen in Kotomine Kirei, how dangerously empty a human life could be, completely devoid of meaning. And now, she saw the depths of Irisviel von Einzburn and Emiya Kiritsugu, who loved each other more deeply than anything she had ever seen or experienced. The affection between Shining Armor and Cadance, which had driven the monstrous Changelings out of Canterlot seemed shallow by comparison.

Irisviel fought, knowing full well that, no matter what course the war took, it would be end with her death. She fought knowing full well that it could be her husband, the man she loved more than life itself, who brought about her end. And she did so gladly and without the slightest regret, even knowing that she would be leaving her daughter behind, a child who would grow up without a mother. And she did so because she loved her husband and her daughter, willingly giving up her life to save them both. She didn't love just Emiya Kiritsugu, but Emiya Kiritsugu and everything he stood for. It was a love so absolute and all-encompassing as to dwarf everything Twilight thought she had known about love.

Twilight opened her mouth to speak, only to be silenced by a gentle fiinger against her lips. Irisviel maintained the physical contact between her forehead and Twilight's horn. "Please do no say anything in front of Saber." Twilight blinked, her sorrow momentarily forgotten as Irisviel used what must have been her version of the silent communication spell Twilight had used with Aaron the previous day. "She is not aware of my role in the Grail War or my ultimate fate. I don't wish to burden her with that if I can avoid it."

"But how can you go through with this? How can you do this knowing that you're leaving everything behind?" Twilight thought back frantically.

Irisviel gave Twilight her saddest smile yet. "Even if I were to give up...even if I fled far away and avoided the Grail War entirely, my fate would not change. I was created by the Einzburn's specifically for this purpose. I was not made to last beyond it. That will hold true regardless of whether or not I follow through.

"And even though I will die, at that moment, I shall become the embodiment of my husband's prayer and my daughter's future. I will be the one to grant the wish he desires and create the world he hopes for. With that to look forward to, how could I ever despair?"

Twilight all the way to the ground, sobbing. The connection between her and Irisviel was gone. Twilight couldn't help but weep. She was a stranger here, lost in this alien world, where even such a fundamental power as love could give rise to something so tragic. I don't want to be a part of this! I just want to go home!

At the same time, Twilight was sickened by her own selfishness. Kneeling before her was a woman who would forsake her entire existence to grant the wish of the one she loved. And behind her, unseen, was a man who had killed his heart, sacrificing the one he loved for the sake of a better world. These were two people who had every reason to fight for their own happiness, for their own love, and instead they fought towards something much higher, much greater. It humbled and sickened Twilight. What right did she have to stand in their way, to block their hope of a peaceful world? How could she live with herself in her own world knowing that, in this one, she had robbed two such people of such a noble wish?

She barely noticed the gentle hand slipping under her chin. Slowly, Twilight felt her head lifted until she gazed up into Irisviel's gentle eyes. To her shock, those eyes that were filled with such determination and resolve, now filled with tears as well. Is she crying for my sake?

irisviel gently guided Twilight back into a sitting position. Before the unicorn could do or say anything, Irisviel threw her arms around Twilight, pulling her into a tight embrace. "I am so sorry," she wept, "You have no reason to be here, no stake in this. You are an innocent soul who was pulled into a battle you could never understand. All you want is to return to where you belong."

Irisviel pulled back, though she kept her hands resting on Twilight's shoulders. "Looking at you makes me think of my daughter. I can't help but see her in your eyes. But even so, we will still fight for this, for my husband's sake, and for Illya's."

Letting go of Twilight, Irisviel stood up and stepped back from her. She wiped away her tears and met Twilight's gaze once more. "When next we meet, we will be enemies. I will give no quarter, nor will I ask Saber nor Kiritsugu to give any. But I want you to promise me this." She clenched her hand into a fist over her heart. "Fight with all your strength, with all your heart and soul. Do not hold back for my sake or anyone else's. Give everything you have to this battle so that you might return home. Fight as hard as you can. This is the only thing I can do for you."

Slowly, Irisviel turned and walked back to the car door she had stepped out from. Following suit, Saber returned to her side of the automobile. "Goodbye Twilight Sparkle," she whispered as she ducked into the car and shut the door behind her.

Wordlessly, Twilight stepped aside as the car engine started. With a rumble, the vehicle pulled onto the road and accelerated away into the gathering gloom of night. Twilight silently watched it go, her eyes tracing its path as the car's lights vanished into the distance.

Part of her wanted to break down again, to collapse and wail at the unfairness of her whole situation. She had a selfish monster for a Master, a man who lived only to draw satisfaction from his almost fetishistic desire to watch. The kindest, sweetest person she had yet met in this world was an enemy who would ruthlessly cut her down the next time they met. And hemming her in from all sides was a veritable gauntlet of other enemies, some whose powers beggared description, who sought to end her life in order to satisfy their own ambitions. The weight of Twilight's situation descended upon her, threatening to steal away her reason as it truly sunk in just how alone she really was.

I'm going to die here, she thought despairingly, I'm going to die alone, with my friends a world away.

Shaking her head vigorously, Twilight chased the negative thoughts away. It wouldn't do to stew in sorrow. She still knew that there was a way home. She owed it to he friends to come home to them. She even owed it to Irisviel to do as she had been asked and fight with all her strength to make that dream come true.

Then, through her contract with Aaron, Twilight sensed that she was wanted back in the church. Turning around, the lavender unicorn made her way towards the doors, plunging back into the churning nest of monsters that was the Holy Grail War.

---

"We're going."

"Hmm? To where? I thought you were playing around with your familiar again."

"There's no time for that! The meeting will end soon. We need to get there before they leave."

"Oh-ho! Where has all this resolve and determination come from all of a sudden? You seem a little taller already. Perhaps you don't need to make that wish anymore."

"Shut up! Anyway, we need to go now. Get your chariot ready."

"Hmm, such initiative is appropriate for the one who would be my Master. Very well, let us go forth. Tonight seems a good night for a jaunt."

---

The sky glittered with stars as Twilight and Aaron were leaving the church. The meeting had run late into the night, with Tokiomi and Zoken asking particulars about the theory behind Twilight's spell and her qualities as a Servant, as well as the nature of her contract with Aaron. She couldn't help but feel that Aaron had given them a great deal of information that would be critical to their survival. Even though they claimed otherwise, Twilight couldn't shake the feeling that these two men were not planning to truly help her. And throughout the whole council, Archer continued to watch, his crimson eyes glittering with interest, his stare making her gut churn.

At least she had managed to keep her feelings in check. The pain and sorrow she felt from her conversation with Irisviel still weighed heavily on her mind, but at least she had managed to keep the other Masters from catching on to it. Aaron probably sensed that something had disturbed her through the contract, but had refrained from bringing the matter up during the council.

"Well," he said as they approached the gate, "This is it. Beyond this point, it's every man...or every mare for herself."

Twilight cringed at the horrible pun. The last thing she felt like right now was making jokes. She wasn't sure that even one of Pinkie Pie's parties could cheer her up at this point.

"We'll need to call a cab," said Aaron, drawing a cell phone from his pocket, "You should assume your human form."

Before Twilight could begin, a crash of thunder made her jump with a startled squeak. The sky lit up and a magnificent chariot drawn by a pair of mighty bulls descended from on high. Rider had arrived...in his typically over the top fashion.

Twilight tensed, readying her horn in readiness. Given the situation, her best bet was to teleport Aaron and herself away should Rider decide to attack.

"Hold! We are not here for battle, but rather to parley with you Caster!" Rider's voice boomed in the otherwise silent night, making his presence seem even more powerful than it had the first time she had seen him, albeit at a distance.

Then, to her surprise, Rider dismounted from the chariot. Behind him, the slender form of a young man, Waver Velvet, also descended to the ground and the two of them approached on foot. Rider's sword remained sheathed at his side, but given the fantastic speed most Servants seemed capable of, Twilight suspected he could draw and strike faster than she could react should he come into range.

Apparently thinking the same thing, Aaron held up a hand just before Rider could bring them within his reach. "Stop there," he said firmly, "We will speak from here."

If Rider was offended by their suspicion, he didn't show it. Instead, he smiled appreciably. "Ho, you show such prudence, even in a situation such as this. You have excellent judgment, Master of Caster."

"So, what do you wish to speak of?" asked Aaron smoothly.

"Ah well," mused Rider, folding his arms and casting his eyes upward in deep thought, "I can't say for certain. It was my Master who was so insistent about coming out here to speak with you. He should say for himself what his desire is."

Rider reached out and slapped Waver across the back with a meaty paw, sending the young man stumbling forward with an indignant squawk. Stumbling into the space between the two parties, Waver found his feet and stood up, shuffling about nervously now that he was the center of attention. "Um, well..." he stammered, looking about, as though he wasn't sure what he wanted himself. Twilight had to stifle the urge to giggle at his unease, realizing that, to a certain extent, he reminded her of herself back when she was still uncertain of her social skills.

"I came here because..." Waver hesitated, apparently genuinely unsure how to put his intentions into words.

"Stand up!" Rider's voice barked through the night, straightening Waver's back with the force of pure reflex. "Now!" he snapped, "Say what it is that you want clearly! A man states his purpose boldly!"

Twilight, remembering Rider doing exactly that the previous night, felt a wry smile spread across her face.

Waver steadied himself and took a deep breath. Letting it out slowly, he looked, not at Aaron, but at Twilight. "I came to offer my assistance to Caster in returning to her home."

Rider blinked, apparently taken aback by Waver's sudden display of boldness, or perhaps he was confused by his Master's intentions. In spite of this, he said nothing, his expression having become strangely neutral and composed.

Aaron stroked his chin. "Interesting. I never expected such a bold show of support from another Master. Still, even if your intention is to help us, it's meaningless if you have yet to divine a method by which Caster can be returned to her dimension. You won't be getting any Command Seals that way."

"Command Seals?" Waver looked baffled by the statement.

Aaron frowned and crossed his arms. "You didn't know about that. You clearly were one of the Masters attending the meeting by familiar, so you should have known about my offer...unless..." Suddenly, his eyes widened. "Aha, so you were the one who wandered off in the middle of the proceedings. Let me guess, you decided to follow Caster when she went outside."

Twilight stared at Waver. "You were watching me?"

Waver averted his eyes slightly, an embarrassed blush on his face. Twilight tried moving her head in order to meet his eyes, only for Waver to continue to shy away from her. It was just like trying to introduce herself to Fluttershy all over again. While this went on for the better part of a minute, something seemed to occur to Aaron and Rider at the same time. Aaron started chuckling softly. Then Rider seemed to find the whole affair amusing, joining Twilight's Master in subdued hysterics.

Twilight and Waver directed confused and irritated looks at their respective companions. Grinning slightly, Aaron regained some control and turned back to Rider and Waver. "I see no reason to spurn your offer right now. Why don't we adjourn to elsewhere so we can make arrangements. I doubt we'll be able to finish everything tonight, but we can get started at least."

"Hmm," agreed Rider, nodding grandly, "In that case, as our new allies, I will be happy to bid you ride with me." Turning around, he strode back to the chariot, but rather than moving around to board at the open rear, he instead reached out with one hand and grabbed the rim and vaulted into the vehicle with speed an agility the belied his bulk. With his free hand, he grabbed up the reins and, once his feet touched the floor, stood ready to crack them and send the mighty device on its way.

Waver sighed at his Servant's antics before looking at Twilight and Aaron. Twilight looked to her Master, wondering what his decision would be. Instead, Aaron turned his attention back to her. "This should be your decision," he said, "It is, after all, your life that hangs in the balance."

He says that like his life doesn't, Twilight thought irritably. Turning back to Waver, she studied him intently, looking for any hint of betrayal or deception, not that she was any expert at spotting such things. However, she found a surprisingly steady resolve in his eyes, as though this was something he had committed himself to deeply. Twilight was surprised to find that she saw something...encouraging in him, something that made her want to trust the young magus.

Perhaps it was a flaw in judgment to do so, but Twilight was beyond caring at this point. She was tired of the deception, of the hidden motives, the behind the scenes dealings that flowed like a grimy undercurrent to this whole ordeal. Just once, she wanted to put her trust in someone, to be able to take what a person said at face value. She decided it was worth the risk to put her faith in Waver. Giving him a happy smile, Twilight nodded. "Alright, we'll go with you."

Aaron nodded, apparently not taking issue with her decision and moved to join Rider on the chariot, as did Waver. "Now that we're off the church grounds, it's probably best that you reassume your human form," suggested Aaron.

Twilight nodded and activated her spell, surrounding her body in a blaze of light. In human form once more, Twilight moved to get aboard the chariot. Aaron had paused to take a closer look at the bulls that pulled the elaborate contraption, so Twilight moved to get aboard ahead of him, just behind Waver.

As she alighted, Rider gave the slightest tug on the reins, causing one of the bulls to start, startling Aaron back. The movement also caused the chariot to lurch slightly, throwing Twilight off balance before she could get a proper grip on the side and causing her to stumble out the back. However, Waver immediately reached out with one hand to grab hers and pull her towards him. In doing so, he inadvertently caused Twilight to overbalance in the opposite direction and stumble towards him. Quickly, he reached out with his other hand, catching her shoulder and stopping her from knocking them both over. Instead, Twilight was brought to an abrupt halt, her face coming to a stop mere inches from Waver's own. Their eyes locked and, for an awkward second, they both simply froze, staring at each other.

Then the moment passed and the two broke away from each other, the gazes quickly finding the surrounding dreary scenery much more interesting than anything else, so long as it kept each from noticing the other's almost luminescent blush.

"Um...thank you," murmured Twilight.

Waver grunted in acknowledgment and bobbed his head.

Aaron, recovering from his part in Rider's little prank, decided he had better climb on before the Servant decided to leave without him. As he walked towards the back, his eyes met Riders. Aaron gave him a questioning smirk, to which Rider answered with a playful grin.

With the last passenger aboard, Rider let out a mighty shout and cracked the reins. The bulls surged into motion with bellowing calls and pulled it into the sky, leaving the crackle of lightning and the rumble of thunder in their wake.

---

Kotomine Kirei stood rigidly before the device. It resembled an old-fashioned gramophone, a gemstone mounted on the tip while the open bell was oriented directly at him. This was one of Tohsaka Tokiomi's creations. The gemstone was connected to another, located on an identical device in Tokiomi's basement laboratory back at his mansion. It was a perfect way of maintaining a secure line of communication while the overt rules of the Holy Grail War necessitated their separation.

Risei stood just behind Kirei, waiting expectantly. "Father Risei, why did you agree to Aaron Styx's offer without consulting me?"

"I believed it the best way to facilitate your victory," replied Risei, "I know that you were distraught that you had been forced to use your Command Seal to force Archer's retreat in the previous battle. With this, you would have regained the one you lost and two to spare."

"You are operating under the assumption that I will follow through with this," replied Tokiomi coldly, "But Caster is a Servant and her life is required to enable the Grail's activation. Sending her back to her home world would mean bringing the Grail War to an end. Victory would be pointless if that was the case."

Risei's smile vanished. However, Kirei spoke up. "On that note my lord, I would point out that given the ambiguity of Caster's nature as a Servant, we cannot guarantee that the Grail would react to her as it would a true Servant. She might not facilitate its activation even if she was sacrificed to it."

"That is a pointless argument," snapped Tokiomi, "We do not know for certain that that is the case. We will act under the assumption that Caster will not be rejected by the Grail. If we are wrong, then my successor will succeed in the next ritual. Accepting your conclusion would be tantamount to giving in to defeat!"

Both Risei and Kirei tensed. Tokiomi's voice was getting louder and his tone more agitated. The Tohsaka's valued their composure and self-restraint above all else. It wasn't like Tokiomi to lose his temper like this.

"And even if that were the case, it is still better than allowing Caster to leave after she has disrupted things to this extent! No matter what else comes of this, Caster...no...Twilight Sparkle MUST BE DESTROYED!"

Risei reeled away as Tokiomi's monologue ended in a shout. The final words of his rage were accompanied by the sound of shattering glass and splattering liquid. Kirei's eyes widened. "My lord? What is going on? Are you injured?"

For a moment, there was silence. Kirei, straining his ears, could hear a faint panting coming from the other side. A few seconds later, the harsh breaths abated and Tokiomi spoke once again, his voice level, but with a strained quality to it. "It is nothing," he said, "A broken glass is no cause for concern." A faint clink of crystal sounded, followed by the sound of liquid being poured out of some vessel into another.

Kirei's eyes widened as he pieced together what he was hearing. Turning to his father, the two shared an uneasy glance before turning back to the communication device. "My lord...are you drinking?"

While Tokiomi, given his class and rank, was no stranger to the finer things in life, including alcohol, as a magus, it was imperative for him to keep his indulgences separate from his work. Tokiomi never partook of wine when he was about to work his magecraft and, even more importantly, ever drank in his sanctum. It was extremely dangerous for a magus to be inebriated, particularly when it might lead to the destruction or disruption of his projects. Tokiomi had been especially stringent about not allowing spirits of any kind into his workspace, except when they served as components in his workings.

"That is no concern of yours," said Tokiomi, his voice once again under control.

Father and son shared another glance. "I sense that this is not just about the Holy Grail," commented Risei, "Tell me Tokiomi-kun...what is it that has you so vexed?"

Initially, Kirei thought that Tokiomi would deny being upset. But it seemed that his friendship with Risei overrode his need to maintain the image of perfection that the Tohsaka's were supposed to represent. "This may be somewhat difficult to explain...I realized what happened when I heard Caster's explanation. The magecraft she was working on was meant to be a form of teleportation magic that overrode the limitations the typical spell used by the species she belongs to, which are constrained by linear distance. To do so, she sought to shift the subject of the spell into a space equidistant to all places and from there shift the subject to their destination."

Risei and Kirei nodded, having heard Caster's explanation for themselves. They were content, however, to allow Tokiomi to continue without interruption.

"When she tested the spell, she was intercepted by the summoning issued by the Grail and drawn into our world. Servants are summoned from the Throne of Heroes. Given that Caster described the space she had been drawn from as being equidistant to all spaces, as well being close enough to the Throne of Heroes to interfere with the summons means that she was at..."

"The root," said Kirei softly. The ultimate ambition of all who called themselves magi, their ultimate goal, their highest aspiration...their Holy Grail; and Caster had waltzed into it without even realizing. No wonder Tokiomi was furious beyond measure.

"...Or close to it," said Tokiomi, "Perhaps closer than any magus currently alive, maybe even my master. I had intended to move much more carefully, but this affront to me and all the generations of my house cannot be borne. At the first opportunity, I will use Archer's full strength to smite Caster down!"

Tokiomi's spell cut off, leaving Kirei and Risei silently staring at the device. Both of them were uncertain what to make of the situation. While it was inevitable that Tokiomi and his Servant would take the field at some point, they had originally planned to hold their action until after Emiya Kiritsugu could be neutralized as a threat.

"What will you do Kirei?" asked Risei.

"I will send Assassin," replied Kirei flatly, "Our priority will undoubtedly shift to locating Caster's base of operations. Once we do so, Tokiomi can use Archer to finish the battle and we can move back to our initial plan."

Turning to his father, Kirei seemed to slacken. "I will need to meditate on this. I shall speak with you later father."

Risei gave his son an encouraging nod. "Do as you must Kirei. Bring victory to the Tohsakas."

---

The church presided over by Kotomine Risei was a bit more robust than it initially seemed. Naturally, the hub from which the affairs of the prestigious Holy Grail War necessitated elements of design and architecture not normally found within a church. As such, it was afforded with chambers and structures hidden from the eyes of mundane humans. One such amenity was the quarters provided for defeated Masters seeking sanctuary. As could be expected, Kotomine Kirei stayed in one of the chambers provided for this purpose.

Or rather, it was his room and home within the church from the moment his father had been appointed overseer. Given the expectation that he would come here, Kirei had already taken steps to furnish the room with the amenities he had acquired over his life so that, even though he had only just come to the church recently, it was still his room. Given that Kirei was a man of few attachments, such furnishings were sparse and uninteresting. Bland and characterless, they reflected the nature of their owner rather effectively. Even though he had exerted the extra effort to make this room into his home, Kirei attributed no particular affectation of significance to returning to his chambers.

Which made it quite strange indeed when, upon walking through the door, Kirei gained the sense that he had walked into a palace. An aura of magnificence permeated the room, imbuing the rather mundane furnishings with a sense of opulence not found in the rooms of commoners. As he felt the change, Kirei's eyes found the source of of the aura, a familiar figure who had recently been hanging around the back of the church, listening to the council of the Masters.

"Archer?"

Gilgamesh, ancient Babylon's King of Heroes lounged on the couch across from the door as though the room belonged to him and not the man who had just walked through the door. Looking at the table set before the couch, Kirei's eyes took in more details, namely the bottles of wine and the multiple glasses set out across the table. Looking over, he saw the cupboard where his collection was amassed, open and empty.

Evidently, Gilgamesh had taken to sampling the wines of Kirei's private collection.

"You have a rather pretentious nature Kirei," remarked Gilgamesh, opening a fresh bottle and selecting an unused glass, "Your collection surpasses that of your master in quality."

Inwardly, Kirei boiled. He had the habit of acquiring wines that were said to have an exquisite quality. In spite of this, he never imbibed them, nor did he serve them to his guests. The bottles of peerless vintages lay in the cupboard, gathering dust as Kirei continued to only add to their numbers. However, it was still an affront to have someone invite themselves into his room and help themselves to his property.

Gilgamesh was a troublesome sort of Servant. His overbearing spirit and arrogance, combined with the Archer class's capacity for Independent Action, meant that he could move freely, regardless of whether Tohsaka Tokiomi wished it or not. As the events of the previous night had proven, only a Command Seal could rein in Gilgamesh's actions without failure.

Sensing Kirei's anger and frustration, Gilgamesh smiled as he poured himself a new cup of wine. Swirling it about the glass to warm it, he lifted it to his nose and inhaled the rich bouquet rising from it before sipping deeply. With a satisfied sigh, he set the glass down and turned his full attention to Kirei.

"What do you make of this situation?"

"The situation with Caster?" asked Kirei.

Grinning, Gilgamesh lifted another glass and inspected it as he spoke. "I have never seen Tokiomi so furious. Before now, I had always marked him as a dull and boring man. He may be the one who summoned me here and who provides me with prana, but I found him insufferably dull."

Kirei stiffened. "It sounds as though your opinion has changed."

With a chuckle, Gilgamesh shifted into an upright position. "Tokiomi is far too concerned with appearances. But the situation with Caster has chipped away at his mask and now I can see the passion of the true Tokiomi that lies beneath the facade. I find him much more interesting than before, even if his goal is a trifling thing."

Dismissing the aspiration that consumed all who called themselves magi as trifling was something only someone with the bearing of a true king, like Gilgamesh, could do so lightly.

"Tell me something Kirei," said Gilgamesh, turning his attention back to the man in front of him, "What is it about Caster that incenses Tokiomi so?"

Kirei, resigning himself to the fact that Gilgamesh wouldn't be going anywhere anytime soon, decided to take a seat in the chair sitting at an angle to the couch. "While you may dismiss the Root as a trivial thing, the fact is that the Tohsakas, indeed all magi, seek it. They spend their lives and then prepare their heirs to continue the pursuit in the hope that, one day, one of them will succeed. Tokiomi is burdened with not only his own purpose, but that of the entire Tohsaka line. He has been groomed for this task since his birth as his parents and their parents were so groomed and he continues to prepare his own heir to continue after him should he fail. He has given his life to this endeavor and even gone so far as to give up one of his precious daughters to maximize the chances that one of his line will someday succeed in this task."

"Hmph," snorted Gilgamesh, "Pitiful. So how do Caster's accomplishments fit into this?"

"For Tokiomi to have sacrificed so much only for Caster to show that she nearly succeeded in that, and by accident no less, fills him with anger. To make matters worse, Caster was developing her spell with the purpose of propagating its usage amongst the masses. To magi of this world, such a thing is practically heresy. Magi guard their secrets jealously because the spread of their secrets would reduce their significance and power."

"Oh?" mused Gilgamesh, "Magi certainly hoard their knowledge zealously. I find it amusing that they concern themselves less with how their power can be applied to the world than how to leave it."

"That is one of the reasons the Church is supporting Tokiomi during the Grail War," replied Kirei, "While there is no telling what the other competitors will do with the wish provided by the Grail, we know that Tokiomi will use it to seek the Root. Because that goal falls outside the boundary of the world, while the Church's concern falls within it, they are happy to leave it to Tokiomi."

"And what of you?" asked Gilgamesh, "What do you make of this situation? We have spoken of Tokiomi's stake in this, but don't you have your own thoughts upon the matter?"

Kirei eyed Gilgamesh warily. There was no denying that he did have his own thoughts, but there was no question that Archer was still Tokiomi's Servant. He acted of his own volition and cared nothing for Tokiomi's goals beyond idle curiosity. And yet, Kirei knew he couldn't trust the Servant before him.

Gilgamesh chuckled at Kirei's silence. "You know, compared to that dull Master of mine, I find you much more interesting Kirei."

"What do you mean?"

"You claim to faithfully serve Tokiomi, and yet, you ventured out when you were supposed to remain in hiding here. You went out last night for some reason and, earlier this evening, actually confronted Caster and her Master, even though you risked giving away your true status in this war. These certainly don't fall within the boundaries of one who is solely concerned with enabling his master to win. What is it that you seek from these encounters?"

Kirei frowned. The previous evening, he had gone out to try and confront Emiya Kiritsugu when he destroyed the Fuyuki Hyatt. Using what he had determined about the man, he had narrowed down the most likely sight for Kiritsugu to be observing from, only to find a woman there instead. Kirei sought Emiya Kiritsugu because...

"Why did the Grail choose you?" Gilgamesh's words cut through Kirei's musings like a knife. "That is the question that torments you, is it not?" His crimson eyes narrowed. "Being chosen by the Grail means that you have a wish to make of it. And yet, you do not have one to speak of...or rather, you do not know what that wish is."

Kirei felt a shiver go down his spine. First Aaron Styx, and now Archer...both of them had cut through the impassive wall he presented and honed in on his deepest insecurity. "My purpose is to serve as a hound of Tohsaka Tokiomi. I need do nothing more than that."

"Again, your recent actions suggest differently," countered Gilgamesh snidely, "You speak of loyally serving Tokiomi and yet strike out on your own to fulfill some unknown goal. Why must you limit yourself to such a dull course of action?"

"It does not concern me whether or not you find my choices dull," Kirei snapped.

"I am king," replied Gilgamesh, "I have taken an interest in you and wish to know about your reasons. That means I will learn them. Tokiomi has been too hesitant so far. Even though that might change in the near future, thanks to Caster, I am still tasked with amusing myself until he sees fit to finally take action." He leaned forward. "So I will ask you once again, what are your thoughts on Caster?"

Kirei tensed. He could dodge the question again. But Gilgamesh was implacable, he would simply steer the conversation back to it again and again, until he got what he wanted. Closing his eyes, Kirei gave his answer.

"She is a lost child, nothing more. A lost child yearns to return to her home. I feel that the Grail War might be a lost cause already. As something that is clearly not a Servant of the kind meant to participate in this battle, it is highly likely that defeating and killing her will not enable the Grail's activation. Therefore, continuing the battle is pointless."

"Oh?" Gilgamesh raised an eyebrow. "The logic of your words certainly runs counter to what Tokiomi believes. Let me ask you...aside from what Tokiomi wants, what are your intentions towards Caster?"

Kirei opened his eyes and stared down at his tightly clasped hands. "I want..." he said, his voice soft, "I want to save her."

Author's Note:

Oh boy...where to begin...

First off, I am so so so so sorry it has taken me so long to get this out. A few things delayed me a bit.
To start with, this is where the story really starts to go off the rails with regards to the original plot of Fate/Zero. I didn't want to simply walk through all the set pieces from the original story with Twilight inserted into them simply because her presence changes things up. Hopefully I can take this story in its own direction without making everybody and everypony break character too much (if at all, if I can help it). Hopefully I've at least marginally succeeded so far. This chapter is a little rough in my opinion, so feel free to point out any issues it may have.
The other major reason for this delay was writer's block. Not the typical kind of writer's block mind you, but a special kind. You see, while I was working on this story, I got an idea for another, completely unrelated, story. And that idea wouldn't leave me alone until I actually started working on it, making focusing on this story a difficult task. So I took a break on this story. Over three-hundred pages of writing later, I finally had gotten enough of it out of my system to get back to work on this story.

So there you have it. Once again I am very sorry for how long it's taken me to get this chapter out and I hope that you can find it in your hearts to forgive me.

Comments

[Marching Thunder]

Update! Update! Update!

[Nia Moone 0]

Kirei showing emotions? that's... uh oh...

[Karna]

What?

Kotomine wants to save her? Stop lying Kotomine. It's unbecoming of you.

We all know what you really want is to kill her.

[Hachibi]

YES!!!! Update. best day EVER!!

[Gee-chan]

1857761
I think the real issue is about just what he means by 'saving' her. This IS Kotomine we are talking about and while he hasn't undergone the transition to his true bastard state as seen in Fate/Stay:Nights, his morality is still highly warped.

[Thespurgin]

1859171 The power of Twilight's adorkability is a powerful thing. Now we know it's even super-effective against psychotic magi acting as magical-power sources for legendary super-assassins with physically-manifested multiple personality disorder as much as it is insecure apprentices in possession of contracts to the ghosts of legendary kings.

That said, it's... decidedly ominous when you think about what that could POSSIBLY mean. Heck, he may be thinking of them as the same thing 1857761, that's really creepy.

Interesting that Twilight's already caught a glimpse of Ilyasveil's true nature and purpose... I wonder how the mageslayer will react to this and her knowing what Ilya does? As expected, Waver's on her side. Abberations to the greater plan stick together after all. I'm worried about Berzerker and his master... they'll probably throw Twilight into her rapidash fury if she finds out just what that old toad that was at the meeting did. She'd burn the entire house to the ground and make things right for them. Current situation aside, Twilight wouldn't accept that. She'd snap, and the most powerful unicorn in existence snapping like that...

I'm so glad this fic is still alive, though I expected a heinous amount of delay considering the pace of the season. Welcome back moguera, and there is nothing to forgive.

Hmmm... I wonder if Twilight, being a pony, is vulnerable to Lancer's magic eyes...? Then again, his master is a prideful worm and bound to get himself pwned soon enough. Lancer will want to finish with Saber, but he'll probably want to go after Caster like Tokohime, leading Saber and Twilight to enter an alliance of convenience...

[Karna]

1859655

Kotomine is really creepy.

He is literally incapable of feeling any form of satisfaction, pleasure, etc. from anything other than causing suffering to others.

His wife killed herself so that he could see that he could care about others. Kotomine's only regret over this matter was that he didn't kill her himself.

As the Visual Novel describes him, he is "deviant", not evil, simply because to be evil one must have the capacity for good within them. Kotomine doesn't.

[Thespurgin]

1859934 He's essentially soulless. I got it. But then why would he care for Twilight...?

Fausticorn's pinions pony magic is making him grow a soul!

[Karna]

1860726

Oh, no. He has a soul. Everyone in the Nasuverse has a soul. Even Dead Apostles have souls. Even Zouken has a soul, though it's rotting.

What he does have, is probably some downright nasty Origin. Something like Shirou's that makes him not quite capable of being an ordinary human.

His Origin probably doesn't suck as much as Shirazumi Lio's though, because Lio's life sucks.

[Thespurgin]

1860919 Perhaps that's the key to Kirei's view of Twilight. Perhaps... that is what stripped him of his true-will, and he sees in her what he was. He might really want to help. Wow... that's got some serious implications.

[Karna]

1864343

Well, I suppose so.

Or, in the true Kotomine tradition of this period of his life, he's neck deep in denial, and hoping that good acts towards a pony will somehow be different from good acts towards a human (Hint: It's not likely that this will work out for him either).

Origins are like the criminally insane uncle of Cutie Marks. They give you special talents(Kiritsugu's hax gun is linked into his Origin, Shirazumi's got super speed, regeneration, and various other abilities from his, even though he doesn't have magic circuits) and you can only ever have one.

Unfortunately, rather than things like "Magic"(Twilight), "Animal Care"(Fluttershy), and "Bringing out the Beauty in things"(Rarity), you get stuff like "Sword"(Shirou), "Worthlessness"(Tomoe Enjou, yes that's a canon Origin, yes being Tomoe sucks, how did you guess?), and "Consumption"(Also known as You're-Gonna-Turn-Into-A-Cannibalistic-Flesh-Eating-Psychopath-And-There's-Jack-You-Can-Do-About-It, belonging to Shirzumi Lio).

Also, there's the only really sane character with a known Origin, Mikiya Kokotou. His Origin? "Normal and unable to hurt anyone". He's like a pony who's special talent is being a blank flank. Yet, he arguably got off better than literally everyone else with an awakened Origin.

[Thespurgin]

1864471 I guess we'll have to wait and see... hmm, how will twilight react to the knowledge that cutie marks in the nasuverse are linked to psychosis?

Wait... that's a scary parallel to her own situation... cutie marks have psychosis to...

[Karna]

1864600

Cutie Mark Failure Insanity Syndrome. Ah, yes.

See, here's the thing.

In My Little Pony, you seem to go temporarily crazy when you fail to live up to your cutie mark.

In Nasuverse, the mere act of having awakened your Origin will drive you nucking futs, sooner or later. Some people go crazy in relatively minor ways, Shirou does, with completely lacking value on his own life. Some poor unfortunate souls, like Lio, have their human memories, rationality, bodily limitations, and ability to taste sugar slowly eaten away by the lions gnawing at their brain, which then all get replaced with aspects of predatory animals.

Cutie marks make you a tiny bit crazy when you don't follow them. Origins make you really really really really really crazy whether you want to follow them or not, and you don't get a choice in not following them once you're awakened to them.

[Jigoku Luna]

Good Chapter. How would they react to finding out she's a student to royalty?

[nightmaster0]

GREAT chapter really glad to finally see another update again. So Twilight and Aaron are now allies with Rider and Waver. Twilight and Rider would make a interesting and possible dangerous team. I think out of all the people in war Rider and Waver seem to be the least likely people to betray Twilight. Why do they want to help Twilight though? Kirei of all people wants to save Twilight! What the heck is going on? What does Gilgamesh think of Twilight and this whole situation? What do the other Masters and Servants think of all this? Hope we see more of what everyone think's next chapter. Will Aaron, Rider, Waver, or anyone Twilight meet's try to find out what Twilight's world is like? Will Twilight tell anyone about her adventures?

[sopchoppy]

Intrigued by this story, I like it. However - I beg of you in the name of all that is holy, don't ship twilight with any of the humans. The scene where Gilgamesh causes the awkward contact with Velvet nearly made me abandon the story right there - Resist this temptation!

Otherwise, look forward to the next chapter.

[Dongaro]

Hmmm Twilight is doomed now. Kirei want to save you.... thats like having.... actually there is no comparison, its kirei.

Really liking this story so far. I was worried it might not follow nasu verse but it does.

[cullexoh]

Did...Did Kirei just...say he wants to SAVE her?

Now admittedly this Kirei isn't the 'I jack off to people's suffering' Kirei with the badass mullet from Stay-Night, but dear lord almighty I never would've expected this.

So Twilight has the King of Conquerors and a horde of Assassin's as potential Allies. Maybe even Diarmuid if Kayneth decides to throw in his lot with Waver.

Hell, maybe Twilight could help repair the bond between Teacher and Student, lord knows Sola might encourage Kayneth to help out.

[Lawless]

Please, please, PLEAASE Update this!

[moguera]

2507869 It's in progress. I've been distracted by a couple of other projects I've been working on. But the next chapter should be out within the next week or two.

[Marching Thunder]

2509980 Woooohooooo!

[suijin228]

wow, where to begin... This is an amazing story, and the insertion of Twilight as Castor is a brilliant move. Now while the story has been dormant for a while, I'm still king of hoping that you'll pick it up to finish it off. I loved Fate/Zero and what made it really good were the death scenes (as messed up as that is)! I really want to see Twilight react to the various Zero death scenes that played out in the series, Lancer's especially as well as his masters. Great story in general thus far, and I'm hoping it'll continue. Keep goin and stay golden^^

[moguera]

2584556 Well, chapter 6 is currently up and I'm working on the final edits before publishing it. chapter 7 is also well underway and should be up fairly soon as well. Since I'm also quite excited for the things that are coming in chapter 8, I'm fairly certain that that will be up not much later. I expect to be picking up the pace on this now that I've gotten some stuff out of the way.

As for the death scenes well...it's quite likely that a lot of characters won't be dying the same way they did in the original series, but I shall strive to make each one memorable.

[suijin228]

2584579
so... no self impalement? No sniper? No strangle? No gunshot? No bridge? No betrayal at the end?

[Archmage Ansrit]

Twilight will find Rider's Reality Marble very interesting...

Summon Friends!

[Oddboy]

So, Kirei wants to save Twilight.

Okay, since this is Kirei we're talking about, that could either be a good or bad thing. He is quite skilled and determined, but on the other hand, he's also fucking broken in the head somehow and his "solution" might be worse than the problem even if he's being 100% sincere in wanting to help Twilight.

...The thought of Kirei being twisted in the opposite direction of his future canon self is incredibly amusing to me, as well as scary. A Kirei that finds pleasure and fulfillment in saving people has got to be fucking terrifying for anyone or anything he's saving people from.

Keep up the good work!

[Spellflame]

5198752
Twilight’s Nobel phantasm might have an effect on him.

[hmaf43]

It was not an idle threat. With her powerful Instinct, Saber would be able to tell the instant malice entered Twilight's thoughts and would kill her before Twilight would not even be able to begin casting a spell.

is this a joke? penguin can read emotion that good?

[Reishin Amara]

5198752
I've actually wondered at times why ..If kirei enjoys suffering so much...why he didn't find a way to use it for GOOD. For instance bringing that suffering upon those who are deserving.(looking at you Makiri...you wormpit freak...)

Also,can anyone imagine if Kirei got purified by the elements?