Update (08/21/2018): Minor edits made through the chapter. A few periods were missing in some sentences. A/N Shortened.

====[Beyond the Answer]=====

'Exactly when did it start?'

He laid on the summit of the hill, lazily staring at the gear ridden sky of his soul. The countless swords, both of mundane and of fantastical origins that surround him, somehow bringing him a sense of comfort.

It was dark. Only small traces of light were able to get past the unreasonably large rotating gears that were meshed together in the sky of his reality marble. It made the entirety of his world far more somber than it already was.

The thick haze and the wisps of black smog from the iron forgings only made the somberness more pronounced.

It was as if his soul was stuck in eternal dusk.

'I wonder when I started to despise these ideals of mine?'

He was contemplative and had found himself in such a state more often than not. It had been a trend, a habit he had formed after attempting his ill-thought plan that he could only now consider to be the product of a temporary fit of insanity.

He didn't feel a shred of regret about it however. Regardless of how it turned out, it didn't change the fact that he knew what lay at the end of the road and had no intention of allowing another Shirou Emiya go down the same path he had.

He'd already seen what it offered and since he too was once a person who bore the same name, the same desires, the same history, and the same god forsaken ideals… he didn't doubt that the existence of 'Shirou Emiya' would also come to the same conclusion.

There wasn't any need to allow another to suffer the same fate.

'If Rin was here to see me, she'd probably complain to no end…'

Rin Tohsaka. The name rolled off his tongue rather naturally.

Oddly enough, that name had somehow been buried and lost in the depths of his mind as he slowly descended into the hell that he found himself in as a Counter Guardian.

Memories were a complicated thing, especially for someone who had essentially existed for what a normal human being would consider to be equivalent to an eternity. At this point it was already impossible to approximate the amount of time he'd existed.

He could recall certain events from when he was still mortal, ones that he would most likely never forget even if he were to lose his mind, body, and soul.

Kiritsugu's smile, his death and parts of his childhood, summoning Saber and parts of the grail war, receiving the holy shroud that he now wears, the moment he forged his contract…

Yet somehow, memories of the Rin Tohsaka of his original world, not the one who had recently summoned him, were difficult to pull up.

They were friends. That much he could be sure of. She was a unique existence. She was essentially the only person he would put in that category.

He had comrades yes, quite a lot actually. However the name Rin Tohsaka was the only one he was able to actually associate with the word friendship.

'Yet I utterly fail at remembering anything of worth with that Rin.'

It was a complicated feeling. He knew they remained friends for most of his mortal life but there was something about their relationship that he should remember. At the very least, he needed to concentrate and remember what the last thing they did or talk about…

'You're an idiot!'

'Ah…. Right…'

As if lightning had struck his mind, he was able to recall a certain memory.

'She had a look of utter betrayal. She bit her lips until they bled, her knuckles turning white from clenching her hands so tightly, her face twisted in despair as she was trying but failing to stop herself from crying.'

Her image and her voice, the event itself was so clear and so vivid that it was surprising that he only remembered this now.

What accompanied the sudden reminiscence was a sense of nostalgia.

'We talked a lot… She'd talk about her studies and research, I'd tell her about my missions and adventures…'

As if a dam had broken, he was suddenly flooded with a torrent of memories of their time together. They were choppy and fragmented, but it was easy for him to tell from even just those.

They were close friends, have been since fighting together in the fifth grail war. He relied on her for a lot of things and she was the person he would usually ask advice from when he needed it.

She supported him when he was still starting out and had a hand in the process of developing his Tracing. In fact, her brilliance and genius, combined with his single-minded pursuit of his dream and ideal were the foundation for the creation of his craft.

He would usually make a stop at her workshop, one of the few who had free right to enter it, and would help her when she needed something done. When they had time, they would talk. They'd catch up on each other's current affairs, then he'd scold her for not taking care herself enough and she'd hit him in the back of the head, call him an idiot and a hypocrite, and then lecture him about how he really should settle down.

It was a productive and healthy relationship, arguably his only one.

Of course, that all ended after he told her about forging a contract with the world.

'That was probably the only time I've seen her that emotional.'

It was hard to describe his friend's reaction. There was shock, betrayal, confusion, and despair, all rolled into one. He never did understand why she had reacted like that; she knew what he was like and what his ideals were.

Though for some reason, it felt like he was still failing to remember a few things regarding that event and their relationship in general.

In hindsight however, he was able to wager that maybe that genius little mind of his friend was able to see where his fate was headed and had reacted accordingly.

If so then it would definitely explain the reaction. He could only wish he had the same level of foresight.

'I wonder what kind of reaction she would give if I told her what I've been doing until now?'

He was absolutely sure she'd call him the biggest idiot in existence. He was also sure she'd go into a rant and lecture him for a few hours before finally stopping with an utterly tired and exasperated sigh.

'After that though, what would she say?'

He had foolishly followed his ideals, believing that the contract with Alaya that he forged would allow him to continue following it after his passing.

He smiled as he was taken in by the world and his spirit was realized as a Counter Guardian.

He lost that smile as he had become burdened, disillusioned, and crushed by said ideals for every life he took to 'save humanity'.

He killed and killed, killed and killed, killed and killed.

It didn't matter who or what it was. For as long as they were involved, they had to be killed. Regardless of age, gender, or race, he would kill them for the sake of saving humanity from destroying itself.

He had probably killed more than any weapon and any hero of legend that sat in the throne of heroes. He had probably murdered more than any serial killer, mass murderer, and dictator that ever existed in any given world.

He was forced to kill until his polite and gentle words were replaced with snark and vitrol.

He was forced to kill until his view was jaded with cynicism.

He was forced to kill until he could only blame the idiotic ideals that had brought him to this fate in the first place.

He was forced to kill until the only hope he had left was to rely on an idiotic plan that would never work no matter how badly he wished it to.

It was stupid. He felt stupid from just thinking back on it.

Stupid for coming up with it, stupid for going through with it, stupid for even believing it had a chance of working, and stupid because it actually allowed him to realize one thing.

'It wasn't wrong… I wasn't wrong…'

After everything had come to pass and come to an end, the insane plan he had thought up and acted on had lead him to that one answer.

That even though his ideals were unreasonable…

That even though his ideals were impossible…

That even though his ideals made him distorted beyond repair…

That no matter where his ideals had taken him, no matter what had become of him from following it…

They weren't wrong.

He wasn't wrong in believing in them.

He wasn't wrong in pursuing them.

'Even if it's like this… even as a counter guardian…'

He was beyond saving. There was no escape from his fate. He would be a Counter Guardian for the rest of eternity, a glorified puppet. He would need to keep killing for the sake of saving until mankind itself stops existing…

…but he'd keep doing it. He'll keep trying no matter how futile, even if only to honor the words he had spoken in front of the image of a friend he used to have.

[I am the bone of my sword].

He spoke the first line with a hint of passion as he recalled the implied promise he had with the girl that summoned her.

…..

…..

….

He was disappearing. He could feel his very existence barely able to hold itself together.

He stared down at the girl whose eyes were filled with emotion, whose lips were unable to let out words he knew she wanted to say.

He smiled. It was a genuine smile. One he hadn't had in a very long time.

He look at the girl's face one more time and recalled the time they've spent together.

After engraving the girl's smile into his memory with pride…

"I found my answer. Its fine, Tohsaka. I'll do my best from now on as well."

A breeze.

The knight has finally rested his wounded body, without waiting for the girl's reply.

'Ah... so another one...'

He was actually having a pleasant time reminiscing but he could feel a surge of power in his surroundings.

That only meant one thing.

"My dear Hero…."

It was a voice, a call for his service. A call for him to stain his hands and his blades with blood for the sake of humanity.

He grimaced for a moment, but quickly shook his head.

He'd already decided that he'd soldier on in this path.

For the sake of the girl who was once his friend, for the sake of the girl that summoned him and prayed for his salvation, and for the sake of a fool who had shown him the answer…

"My dear Hero, heed my call…"

He kept his eyes closed and light enveloped his whole body. Alaya would soon transport him to where his mission would be.

"The world and its people needs aid…"

It was a ritual of sorts, for Alaya to speak these words. He'd heard it enough times that he knew it by heart.

"So my dear Hero… please take up your sword and show the world its splendor!"

'Hmmm…. That's not…'

That wasn't the usual line. That and there was far too much enthusiasm.

Alaya didn't do enthusiasm.

Sensing something amiss, he quickly opened his eyes but the light had already made it impossible to see.

As the light devoured him, he swore he had somehow hear a different voice...

"Let's go …Shirou!"

Had he opened his eyes quicker, he would have been able to see the image of a girl with an impish grin plastered on her face.

====[Beyond the Answer]=====

Power.

Grand, imposing, limitless, and unequaled. Power that dwarfed everything else he had felt before. Power that could easily crush him if he were to ever so much as touch it.

That was what he had felt the second he had approached the foot of the mountain.

It told him he was in the right place.

"M-my lord… I-is this really a good idea? I don't think…"

"Silence. This is our chance, with this we can be recognized and attain a higher position in the faction."

"… Understood."

He let out a sigh at the actions of his subordinates. Though he could understand the hesitation, he wasn't about to miss this opportunity just because they got cold feet.

Devils were a race that held power as an absolute and though he was loathe to admit it, he wasn't fortunate enough to have inherited any significant amount of power.

He was strong enough to hold a position in the Old Satan Faction but he wasn't stupid enough not to notice that he was nothing more than a pawn in the board.

He would settle for that. He may not have absolute power but he had ambition. He had what it took to rise above the other purebloods and lead them to finally eliminate that pathetic excuse for a maou that was Sirzechs Lucifer.

"Guh…. As expected of the dragon of legend…"

It only took a few minutes for them to reach summit of the mountain, as they approached, the power that they felt somehow grew more intense.

He couldn't help but smile as a he saw their target.

The only thing he needed was a means of gaining power and what was capable of granting him that was right in front of his eyes.

"What a unique appearance that is. No wonder we've had a difficult time finding you…"

What he was addressing was a girl. A small girl with jet black hair, wearing a strangely revealing frilly purple dress.

She was staring blackly at the sky as she sat atop near the edge of the cliff.

"The Ouroboros Dragon… the one who represents the Infinite. One of the two dragons of legend whose power is said to dwarf every other. Ophis was it?"

The Great Red and Ophis. The two strongest beings in existence. Said to have existed even before written history, beings who held power that went far beyond the realm of reason and possibility.

The idea of a being such as that taking on the appearance of a young girl was beyond idiotic, however he had made sure not to voice such thoughts.

"Lady Ophis… or would like to be addressed with another title?"

He and his subordinates approached slowly, making sure not to appear like a threat in any way.

They succeeded, if the fact that the Ouroboros dragon had completely ignored their existence since they appeared counted for anything.

"Lady Ophis it is then… now my lady, I'd like to ask something of you…"

He crouched down and reached out to touch the dragon's shoulder.

He knew for a fact that the girl he was about to touch could crush every single one of them like bugs at any given time, however he also knew from the information they gathered that the Ouroboros dragon rarely if ever attacked anyone.

He only needed to get the damned thing to pay attention to him, he would make as many sweet words and empty promises he needed to obtain her power.

It would surely be easy. Trapping gullible fools into unfair contracts and conditions was his forte. The Ouroboros may have held power but he could easily tell it was also utterly gullible. It was a conclusion reach from his wealth of experience.

"Now… you see we're here to offer you a deal. Great Re—"

*GOGOGOGOGO*

He could feel his heart almost stop from the sudden tremor and the flash of light that accompanied it. He felt a surge of power and stood absolutely still as he saw the Ouroboros Dragon, for the first time, move its face to look at the direction where the sound had come from.

Slowly, he turned to face the same direction, his subordinates doing so as well.

From behind them, there was nothing but Heart-Shaped Pendant laying in the ground.

"What the he—"

"M-master!"

He was unable to finish his sentence as he instinctively jumped to the side as several swords came flying at his original position. It would have surely skewered him if he hadn't reacted fast enough.

Apparently his subordinates weren't as fortunate as they were clearly injured by the attack.

"Tch…!"

He stood up quickly and glared at the strange looking human that had the gall to attack them.

The human was a boy with white hair, dark skin, and a grey eyes that told him well enough that he was dangerous. The red coat he wore made his skin crawl.

"A Holy Shroud…. What is a dog of the church doing in here?!"

"… Tch, based on the messy summoning and now this, I'm guessing this isn't some normal extermination mission."

The white haired boy casually walked to pick up the heart-shaped pendant that was on the ground as he grumbled about incomprehensible things.

"ANSWER ME!"

He flared his demonic energy to get the boy's attention. He considered attacking but his instincts were telling him that a surprise attack here would spell his doom.

He's lived long enough to know when to follow his instincts, especially in the presence of what was most definitely someone who held a holy item.

"… A dog of the church you say? Usually I wouldn't bother with you lot but it seems that the one responsible for sending me on these god forsaken missions didn't seem to think that informing me of the details was worth their time. Hence, I have to settle for getting information out of you…"

The white haired boy suddenly summoned a blade in his hand while carrying the pendant in the other. For some reason the man's eyes widened in surprise as he seemed to come realize something.

The boy's face quickly twisted into a scowl.

"First the pendant and now this..."

He took the chance to gather demonic energy in the palm of his hand and started concentrating it.

It was clear that he won't be getting a chance to talk in this situation. He'll just have to fight the boy, instincts be damned.

"Name myself…? Exactly what purpose would that serve? Why in the world would a Counter Guardian need to make an introduction?"

The boy was still ignoring him, apparently choosing to talk to whatever being he was communicating with in the heart-shaped pendant.

"Fine…"

He released his energy and a large burst of flames erupted from his palm, large enough to obscure the boy's view of him.

He proceeded to jump back and over the cliff, revealing his wings. He needed to take advantage of the sky and attack from a distance.

However, before he could even fly up high, he suddenly felt searing pain from his sides.

"How….!?"

The blade that the boy held somehow found itself embedded into his side.

Before he could even regain his bearings, he found himself thrown to the ground, facing up.

"GuAAAAAAAH!?"

Several swords then impaled his legs, pinning him down without mercy.

"Haaaah… though I'm utterly dubious and unwilling, It seems I have to introduce myself…"

He looked up, to see the white haired boy looking down on him. The boy's steel grey eyes instilling fear to the very core of his being.

"Emiya. A wandering…. mercenary."

He attempted to move but despite the fact that only his legs were pinned, he found that his entire body was unable to even budge.

"Now that that completely unnecessary act is done…"

He was mistaken. This boy wasn't just some kind of human. His presence was far too different.

He didn't know what the boy really was. All he knew…

"Would you be willing to answer my questions demon?"

… was that he wasn't going to survive this.

====[Beyond the Answer]=====

A/N: Well I guess that's the first thing I've written in a long while...

Anyway, how was Archer? This Archer btw, is taken directly from the UBW ending. Almost right after the heartrending farewell with Rin post-final battle.

During that scene, we saw that Archer EMIYA had already regained a bit of his Shirou there so I wanted to attempt to show that here, when he's having a moment to himself. This is him having a personal moment of introspection though so he'll still be depicted the way he traditionally is when interacting with other people.

==[Additional]==

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