Pray Comes True

Holy Grail War.

A competition that decides the ownership of the Holy Grail through intense battle royale. While there have been many conflicts over supposed Holy Grails in the past, this term refers to those specifically based around Masters, usually proficient magi, summoning Servants, Heroic Spirits brought forth as familiars, and meeting in battle until only one pair is left to claim the Holy Grail.

The most famous – yet also unknown – Holy Grail War is the Holy Grail War of Fuyuki, also called Heaven's Feel. The ritual has been ongoing for two hundred years. Established by the Tohsaka, Matou, and Einzbern families, the Three Founding Families, as a means to reach Akasha, it is currently thought to be only a competition for something recognized as a possible Holy Grail.

There has yet to be even one true winner who actually claimed the Grail in all wars however. Two hundred years, and none has claimed the Grail. But the ritual is still ongoing, with the Three Founding Families hoping that someone will claimed the Grail.

But everything changed.

It was the night before Nazi Germany invaded Poland, beginning the Second World War. The city of Fuyuki in Japan was holding its third Holy Grail War ritual. Seven Servants and seven Masters, for the sake of their own desires, began a battle royale until only one would be left standing. But in the course of the war, circumstances occurred which led to the shattering of the Lesser Grail. It was then that that Grail War came to a close, unsettled.

The problem was what came after.

The Greater Grail, an omnipotent wish-granting device, had been hidden in the caverns of Mount Enzou. Through a quirk of fate, it was discovered by a magus supporting the Nazis, who then attempted to remove it using military aid.

There was hard fighting as the three great families of Einzbern, Makiri and Tohsaka, as well as the Imperial Army, attempted to thwart this plot, but coming immediately after the end of the Grail War, they were in a weak position and thus defeated. The Greater Grail, forged by the combined labor of all three great families, was plundered by the Nazis.

This battle was written in no texts, recorded on no images, existing not even in the minds of the people. However, it was the indisputable truth that a terrible war between guns and thaumaturgy had taken place.

Now, with the Greater Grail in their hands, surely Nazi Germany would be able to rule the world as they saw fit.

Of course, such a future did not arrive. As it was being transported to Germany, the Greater Grail mysteriously disappeared. Perhaps it was stolen back by the Imperial Army, or raided by Soviet forces.

In any case, the Greater Grail which could have become the symbol of the Third Reich and realized the dream of world unification, vanished without passing into the hands of any man.

With its caretakers having been dismissed and all individuals related to it being sent onto the fields of battle, even the Nazis - the supposed victors - did not know the whereabouts of the Greater Grail; to begin with, there was no one left who even knew of its existence. The magus who took part alongside the Nazis, known as "Yggdmillennia", had disappeared as well.

The Greater Grail disappeared. Like a mist, the dream of the three great families - or perhaps it had only been a tenacious attachment to their own mistaken vagaries - dissolved, and Fuyuki was able to welcome the end of its war in tranquility.

And so the years went by, until even the youth became elderly...

Then, something unexpected happened.

Near the end of the 20th century, Command Seals – the marks that indicate a Master – appeared on the hands of seven Magi. And magical energy can be felt at Fuyuki, not unlike the Holy Grail. Also, a homunculus which should be a vessel for the Holy Grail – created by the Einzbern in case that the Holy Grail returned – can felt that there was something in Fuyuki that was similar with the Grail.

Thus, the Fourth Holy Grail War of Fuyuki occurred.

Everything seemed normal, if you didn't include the cthulhu-like monsters and the death of the supervisor from the Holy Church. But then, disaster occurred; the Holy Grail destroyed and became what will be later known as the Great Fuyuki Fire.

Later investigation revealed that despite capable of initiating Heaven's Feel, the Holy Grail was not capable of granting a wish; making the war futile since the beginning.

But one question remain; why the Fourth Holy Grail War happened?

Perhaps only time can tell...

Clock Tower, London

It is strange how the dim, empty room seems to twist all sense of distance. It appears unbelievably wide, and yet makes one feel uncomfortably pressed. The candles placed in its center faintly lit the faces of the men in the room, their features unclear and indistinct. The air within the vague boundaries of this room was filled with an inexpressible anguish.

"So... only one has returned."

Three gathered here. One is an old man, short but straight-backed, the creases on the skin of his face gleaming like he were a statue carved of wood - Rocco Belfaban, the head of the Department of Summoning who is said to have held this position for over fifty years, though no one is certain.

Another nodded at Belfaban's hoarse murmur.

"I witnessed the battle for myself, as well...it was a fearsome sight. That thing should not be allowed to exist."

It was a younger man, handsome and with red hair. With a single glance at his strong, high-minded gaze and refined features, you can perceive that he is a member of the elite. There was a strong sense of duty in his words.

His name is Bram Nuada-De Sophia-Ri, the successor of the head of the Department of Evocation, and one of the first-class instructors employed by the Clock Tower.

The old man nod in agreement and shifts his gaze to the last person in the room who continue to maintain his silence. It is a man with loose long hair, furrowing his brows in seeming displeasure.

"What do you think, Lord El-Melloi?"

Lighting the cigar in his hand with the candle's flame, the man called El-Melloi shook his head slowly from side to side.

"El-Melloi the Second. As much as I appreciate questionable respect coming from an elder such as yourself, keep the 'II'. That name is unbearably grating without it."

"My mistake. How do you perceive the situation, El-Melloi II?"

"Well... it's clear that we must alter our approach. After all, we just lost forty-nine magi. One of them survived, but he won't be of much use any more."

Their operation had been planned in detail, organizing fifty magi. When it began, it was proceeding perfectly in every respect. However, everything was ruined by a single familiar.

As a result, forty-nine magi perished, and only the last one managed to retaliate.

"Thanks to his efforts, the chance has come for us to counter-attack. If we can assemble seven Masters, victory may yet be ours."

"But who can go? Any half-wit magus wandering in would only suffer the same fate. The area of Trifas is under their control."

After a brief silence, El-Melloi II gives the clear and simple truth.

"We need to bring in the professionals from the outside. This Holy Grail War is on an utterly different scale from the ones we have experienced so far. The Clock Tower must still provide at least one or two magi, of course."

The other two men agree with the suggestion. Though they wonder about something; should they include the three families? As far as they remember, calling the three families unhappy with the result of the fourth Holy Grail War is an understatement of the century. There's also a chance that they will become enemies because they really want their Holy Grail back. Maybe including them is really an acceptable idea, at the very least they won't be enemies.

"Then we shall begin gathering the ones whom we feel best for the situation. Let the Holy Church send the last Master. We must obtain their involvement in this war by any means necessary to let all know of our legitimacy."

"In that case, I will make the selection regarding the holy relics. Time is not on our side, but it should be possible to gather catalysts which will give us strength on par with the enemy's."

Hearing Bram's words, Belfaban struck the stone floor with his rod as he announced.

"This is completely unlike all the imitations of the Holy Grail War rituals of our time. In scale alone, it is beyond the Grail War which took place thrice in Fuyuki. We must brace ourselves for what will come. Let them fully regret sullying the name of the Clock Tower."

Without another glance at one another, the three men each left the room in separate ways.

Months later...

Emiya Residence, Fuyuki City

Shirou Emiya is currently sitting at the dining room as he remembers the event that happened at the school.

Two figures fighting with incredible skills and speed. Then, he was caught and the blue-haired and clothed lancer chased him as he ran away. He was caught by him and then...

"He stabbed me at the heart."

Shirou remembers that the man stabbed him at the heart, and yet he's still alive. He wonders how he survived.

Then a thought comes into his mind; if he survived, then will the man...

"Yo! I am surprised that you're still alive!"

Shirou slowly turn his head to his killer or would-be-killer or whatever.

"Crap!"

Street of Fuyuki

"Sometimes you should think first before acting, Rin."

"Shut up! This is your fault too! Why both you and Lancer decided to have a spar at school of all place?!"

"You gave your permission; saying that no one should be at school at night."

"Just shut up and hurry up, Archer!"

"Right, right."

Emiya Residence

Shirou is using a reinforced poster to hold off against Lancer. Alas, he's nothing compared to Servant of Spear.

Lancer managed to push Shirou to the shed. As Shirou lays down at the floor, Lancer kneels down and looks at him.

"Give up." Said Lancer simply.

Shirou however, doesn't do it.

"Damn it!"

Shirou tries to strike at Lancer, but the latter effortlessly disarm the former. Lancer then points his spear at Shirou.

"Checkmate." Declare Lancer. "You make me curious boy. Perhaps you could be the seventh that we have been looking for."

"The seventh?" Said Shirou in confusion.

"Anyway, your life is finished."

"You've to be kidding. My life has just been saved. I can't just die! I can't die in vain! I just can't..."

Suddenly, the Command Seals at Shirou's left hand – which are only recent – glow along with a summoning circle. Both Lancer and Shirou cover their eyes. A figure slowly arise from the circle. It then jump towards Lancer and attacks him, sending both Shirou and Lancer away.

When Shirou takes a look at the figure in front of him, he sees an armored woman. She has a blonde hair and green eyes. She also wear a blue dress under her armor.

"Servant, Saber. I have come upon your summoning." Said the woman with a soft, but confident voice. "I ask of you; are you my Master?"

"M-Mas...ter?"

"Servant, Saber. I come upon your summoning. Master, what is your order?"

Shirou's hands tremble as he covers his Command Seals with his hand.

"From this point on, I will be your sword. And your destiny will be mine. It's the deal." Said Saber.

Saber then appear to notice something and heads outside.

"W-Wait!" Shout Shirou as he follows Saber.

When he goes outside, Shirou sees that both Saber and Lancer are fighting. While the former do her best to defeat her opponent, Lancer is holding back and doesn't appear to enjoy the fight.

After exchanging blows with each other, Lancer manages to jump away from Saber.

"Cease your attack, Saber! I am on your side!" Shout Lancer.

"That's funny coming from someone who wanted to kill my Master." Replied Saber without missing a deadpan.

"I thought he's only a witness, not another Master!"

Saber ignores Lancer's words and charges towards him. Suddenly, someone appears in front of her and tries to slash her. Saber jumps back and avoid the attack. When she has a better look at the attacker, she sees a man wearing a black armor with red shroud, Archer.

"Archer, are you mad?! If she didn't avoid that attack, then we're one Servant short!" Exclaim Lancer.

"She can avoid it. If she didn't, then she has no use for us." Replied Archer coolly.

Saber looks around with a growing worries. She has two Servants to face and both seems to be friendly with each other. However, both of them don't appear to want to attack her.

"Stop, all of you!"

When the Servants look at the shouter, they see Shirou approach the group while running.

"Ah, boy! Can you please tell your Servant not to attack us? She appears to be confused with the whole situation." Said Lancer.

"Ahh...right. Saber, please don't fight! I don't want that to happen!"

"There's no way I can do such an order." Replied Saber.

"So a loyal Servant like Saber is going to refuse her Master's order?"

Shirou and Saber look at the speaker. They see a woman with twin-tailed black hair and blue hair. She's wearing a red sweater, black mini skirt, black high socks, and black shoes.

"Y-You are..."

"It's nice to see you're OK, Emiya." Said the woman, Rin Tohsaka.

"Well, seeing that you can take care of the rest, I'll take my leave." Said Lancer as he begins to leaving.

"You're leaving, Lancer?" Ask Saber.

"Well, my Master is kinda mad when I told her that I almost kill one of our ally. *Sigh*. She can be scary when she's mad. She wants me to return now."

With that, Lancer jumps to the sky and leave Emiya Residence.

Few minutes later...

Kotomine Church

After fixing Shirou's window and found out that he's an incompetent magus that theoretically should be impossible to summon a Servant, Rin decided to bring him to the supervisor from the Church so that Shirou knows what kind of ritual he's in.

Their way to there was not an easy one because Saber was not amused with the giant raincoat she must wore and Archer keep teasing her about the raincoat, adding fuel to the fire.

"The supervisor live here?" Ask Shirou as he looks at the Church.

"Kotomine Church." Replied Rin.

"Shirou, I am going to wait outside." Said Saber. "I follow you here to protect you. Inside the church, you're close to me."

"I am going to do the same." Said Archer.

Seeing that their Servants won't follow them, Shirou and Rin go inside the church only with each other. Rin opens the door and both walk in.

"Tohsaka, what kind of priest that live in here?" Ask Shirou.

"I am not to sure. I only know him for few years. Well, he's also quite a decent magus." Replied Rin.

"Magus? A priest can become a magus?"

"Yeah, quite strange. But that kind of priest exist. Other priest like that is Kirei Kotomine, my father's student and the supervisor's brother. I never like him and better not know him, but I can vouch for the supervisor."

"Why you don't refer him with his name?"

"Well..."

"While I find pleasure in your words, I don't like the fact that you show no honor to my brother, Rin."

Shirou and Rin turn their head and look at the speaker. He's a young man with dark eyes, tanned skin, and white hair, not unlike Archer. He's wearing the vestments of a priest and a golden cross around his neck. His vestment is a type of a red holy shroud and he wears a red stole over his cassock. He has an innocent, boyish face showing that he has yet to have aged past twenty years of age.

"Sorry, Shirou. But I can't help it." Said Rin.

"Eh?" Said Shirou as he's confused with Rin's words.

"Not you."

"I can see that you bring me the seventh and last Master of out team." Said the priest as he walks closer to the duo. "Greetings. My name is Shirou Kotomine, the supervisor of the Holy Church and Master of the Red faction."

And the prologue is complete.

You might be confused with something, but I'll explain it in the latter chapters. I don't mind you asking your question though.

The events of fourth Holy Grail War is the same as Fate/Zero. I change some of them though. Just like what I said earlier, I'll explain it in the latter chapters.

If you have question or suggestion, feel free to tell me.

Review please.