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The following is a fan-based

FICTION

F/SN, F/Z, F/KPI and other products related to the Fate Series are all owned by TYPE-MOON, Kinoko Nasu and Takashi Takeuchi.

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Prologue: Blood, Pain and Worm

Life is a painful reminder of the word 'harsh'.

This little poetic detachment doesn't come of some boring tome of old English but from my very tired mind.

Tired, tired and tired. PAIN!

I sighed and got up from my bare bed, putting on some old-fashioned clothes as I gave a quick glance to the small luggage that had been prepared for the travel, I felt the quivering sense of nervousness plaguing my mind.

When I opened my eyes to stare at an uncomfortable ceiling, I certainly wasn't expecting to wake up fully thanks to the sharp bastards lingering even now within my body.

I coughed a little as I tried to restrain myself from collapsing at another sudden burst of torture from the crest worms.

The first two weeks could be easily be called the worst period of my newest life, trying to fit in the macabre lifestyle of the Matou Family.

'Mom' was dead, 'dad' was 24/7 drunk and 'uncle' Kariya wasted his remaining time helping little, emotionless Sakura with her insane burden.

It was scary to know that every single day there was a little girl, getting killed in her soul by the bastard's plays.

I pulled the small bag in my back and walked out of my new room to find a familiar, wrinkling old man that I would have preferred to met only once today.

"Shinji-kun."

Zouken Matou, or Zolgen Makiri, was scarier than how it had been potrayed in the FSN Visual Novel and games. If I had to find a fitting visual depiction of the old timer, I would say he looked quite the shorter, creepier version of Voldemort from the Harry Potter movies.

A disgusting corpse sustained by his descendants' life force, forcefully stolen thanks to his disgusting mascots.

"Grandfather, I see that you are up earlier than usual."

The wrinkly smile widened and his pitch black holes he had for eyes glowed in dark amusement. "Of coure, dear grandson, why should I miss the opportunity to bid you a good voyage?"

Hoping for me to die already, aren't you?

I would have died if I had broken facade in that circumstance as I had picked up quite the interesting flaw in Zouken's foul monitoring means. They couldn't truly read anyone's mind.

The worms would just pick up the unusual emotions, sending the relay back to their main hive (Zouken) whom would then deliver a fitting 'punishment' to the unwanted behavior.

"I am flattered by your kindness, grandfather." His smile was next to decay under my lack of reaction.

It had been something quite amusing and annoying of the old worm that I partly knew from initial knowledge but the real experience helped to fully understand.

It could have been senility because of the fool's ancient age, but the man seemed to have a 'villanous' kink when dealing with everyone. Everyone needed to suffer once in a while to please his next-to-useless mind.

"Oh, I almost forgot.." His grin turned in quite the shit-eating one as I knew what he was going to use to push my buttons. "Sakura-chan is currently in an intensive training session. She wanted to come to see you one last time but.. her training is very important."

It was a sliver of rage to broke my little composure, further increasing the glee in the bastard's face. "I.. see."

I proceeded to walk towards the entrance of the mansion and stopped just to the handle of the door.

"Grandfather?"

The quiet Zouken blinked. "Yes, Shinji-kun?"

I took a large breath. "The Matou are going to rise back to power."

... A cackle ruptured the momentary silence as the elder glowed with amusement as he stared at me. "Foolish boy! We are always going to be in power."

The deplorable denial of a traditional fool, just like I had expected.

My lips turned in a thin line as I nodded. "I am quite dumb, grandfather..."

I didn't wait to hear the full reply, but I kept my blank expression going until I reached the car prepared to take me to the airport, the muffled cackles reaching my sensitive ears.

The Matou are going to rise back to power once more..

The flight was as tiring as I had expected, nothing too much unusual from the classic Tokyo-London trips but still I had some uncertainity about my only gamble to take revenge on Zouken.

The man that had been taken to be my bodyguards was inexperienced, probably someone more adept to guard VIPs than babysit children and I was glad he was this uncapable.

It did help further in my little 'escape' that the Heathrow Airport was one of the greatest maze ever created by mankind, giving me more than enough of a chance to get myself out of the worm's clutches.

Trusting the shady lore, Kariya had been able to avoid being reached by Zouken until his return because of the long distance between the host and the hivemind, making it impossible to suffer 'punishments' anymore.

I decided to leave the airport the quickest possible, walking for a hour or two in random directions while trying to get myself to a safe distance from the zone I was last spotted.

God bless for abandoned churches just being in the area.

As I sat in one of the several, intact benches, I started to think about what to do next with my newfound freedom and peace.

I was quite glad of this opportunity. Now in this circumstance I would try to gain some mean to attain magecraft and... I wouldn't be truly wrong in considering to turn some of my nerves in Circuits.

Maybe those will not be enough to make me turn in some blue-haired Shirou Emiya but it was a good way to start to get in some good state... plus I had to remove or sterilise the worms from within- or maybe do both at the same time.

With a grin plastered on my face, I skipped merrily towards where I had planned to go first, the very place I shouldn't be approaching so soon but I had to.

Sited within the British Museum, it wasn't hard to find the correct entrance to Clock Tower.

The Magus Association was something I had thought about multiple times before my journey in England, but I found myself always denying going inside it anytime close to my little 'escapade'.

But there was no choice and... I had to venture inside the lair of the Dragon-

Octavia Leyland was... bland.

A woman with brown, shoulder-short hair, young and fit... quite annoyed if I had to deduce her current reaction to the insufferable blonde girl that was whining at her.

I had hoped to see Bazzett first, curious to see how a younger version of the Enforcer would look like and... I was gifted with the (not yet) arch-nemesis of one Rin Tohsaka.

Luviagelita Edelfelt was as abrasive as I would have expected her childish self to be but my mind was hardly keeping my patience to dwindle away at the incessant rant coming from the pint-sized brat preceding me in the small line to the secretary.

I stopped listening to whatever Luvia was lamenting about the moment she moved the topic back to her family, a subject I was quite knowing about and... Oh God, I just recognised the dark irony there.

The Tohsaka had to give up Sakura because Magecraft families can have just a heir while... the Edelfelt that had the blasted Ore Scales trait just had Luvia as the single heiress.

...Nasu, thou are an arse. A good gamer but still an arse.

Once my mind returned back to the never-ending situation in front of me, I decided that drastic predicaments required drastic actions.

So, giving the greatest uncaring expression I could muster, I walked forward and shoved lightly the blonde aside as I had no time to waste there. "I am sorry but I have quite the urgent thing to get done and-"

I paused, trying and failing to get some dramatic effect to add to my sudden intrusion.

"I need to speak with Zelretch."

The brunette blinked several times before stating quite the loud response. "No."

... "It is important-"

"The Wizard Marshall is hardly someone that would accept being disturbed in busy moments from a simple child-" "Kaleido Ruby and Kaleido Sapphire."

The woman narrowed her eyes in confusion at the curious names. "Tell him this and he will receive me."

She gave me a long look before sighing tiredly, clearly not paid enough for this shit, and picking the phone in her desk, calling for.. someone.

"Lord Zelretch, I have a little nuisance here that wish to- Yes sir, I have already told him but-"

I didn't have time for this! I was already waddling in hot waters and like hell the old man was going to ignore this plight.

The secretary was unprepared as I snatched the phone out of her hands and brought it close to my face and-... "Are you playing at Super Mario Bros.?"

The familiar menu theme was faintly reaching from the other side of the call and the gruft tone paused there, silent. "I... can explain-" "Yeah, but I would like to have a chat, sir, something about Kaleido Ruby and Sapphire-Argh!"

Tragically enough I couldn't speak further as two men rushed towards me and happily decided to turn me in some punching bag.

At least the beating wasn't as bad as the worms were...

The cup of tea sitting in the small stool in front of me was warm to the touch, something that didn't help with my whole bruised self.

The room was dark as the only source of illuminations where few lightbulbs spread in the corners.

There was a small globe made of wood on the side of the mahogany desk as a certain Dead Apostle grimaced towards me as we stared at each other.

"Matou Shinji, a little boy with no magical potential." He whistled softly and grinned widely, showing his elongated canines. "How may I help you?"

I tried to blink through the pain and somehow managed to croak a reply to the bastard.

"I... need your help with the Grail War."

The old man rested his back on the chair and hummed quietly, thinking about the proposal.

"I... will not help you."

I froze on my seat at those words. I had thought that Zelretch had some limits within the Magus Association, that Gaia would have been a bigger obstacle to face that could have stopped him early on...

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU DON'T WAN-" Red eyes glowed murderously for a moment and I paled instantly as my childish body was ill-prepared to the Killing Intent the Apostle had just thrown at me.

"An annoying youth you are, little Shinji. One that should remember that this is not a playground for kids." He turned to stare at the side and I followed his line of sight, blinking the moment I remembered we weren't alone in his office.

For some unmentioned reason, Luvia was there, sitting on the other chair the opposite to the Wizard Marshal, her eyes distractedly looking quickly at the various artifacts and jars lying around the room. "The same applies to you to, young Edelfelt."

Hearing her name being called up so sternly was what it took to return the blonde's attention back to the real thing of the office.

"I-I'm sorry, Lord Schweinorg. I didn't mean to be disrespectfu-" "Yet you were annoying that dear Olivia with your whining, showing quite the unbecoming behavior for a noble Magus."

The girl had the decency to appear ashamed at the rightful accusations, preferring to keep quiet right now as the vampire returned his attention back at me.

"Apart from this desperate need of yours to 'fix' the Grail War, the reason why I wish to not meddle with this situation is... it would be troublesome."

..."W-What?"

"It is always the same. Everyone expects me to be something like a God because of my control over the Second Magic."

I flinched at his annoyed tone as it sounded similar to his stern one, letting the man rant more about himself.

"That was the case before I had to fight Type-Moon and before being left an undead being, literally crippling my hold over the Kaleidoscope."

"B-But Lord Schweinorg, what do you mean that your form is-" "Because I am a corpse stuck within a single reality in infinite, parallel worlds."

Luvia's eyes widened in shock as he lashed verbally at her half-question, surprising even me in the process.

His words literally shattered the idea that the Dead Apostle was capable of dealing with almost everything in the world but just... ignored it.

But I had a clear sight now on the issue, I knew what was going on now with the vampire and why he refused the request.

"The Second Magic is requires its user to not be tied to a specific reality."

Zelretch paused, his mouth open to continue as his eyes widened at the explanation.

"When you were turned in a vampire-" "My existance was splintered from a single entity into the multiple parallel beings that existed prior to my acquisition of the Second Magic."

His voice was softer, impressed even as he turned his attention once more at me, his red eyes glowing in intrigue. "You.. you are the second Magus to reach this conclusion."

"A-And you created Ruby and Sapphire to try and replicate the phenomenon without the need of being once more a single being."

A little smile reached his face as the Wizard Marshal nodded at me. "Truly marvellous." He commented as he turned to pick some old book. "To think that a Matou would be the one that understood this after Nagato." A sad sigh as he mentioned his first apprentice. "Truly a shame you don't have any possibility to-" "I want to banter."

... "What?"

"I... want to help you with something with the Kaleidoscope as I know you still help around when possible when one of your other selves require it." He frowned at my words, humming once more before asking.

"And you would want to have me deal with the Grail War in exchange of that?" I nodded quickly and the man snorted. "That sounds like gibberish but.. I think I know a good place where to send you."

I was grimacing inside as I started to count the numerous possibilities that would be thrown against me and- "But I cannot throw you aloooo-ne." His eyes zeroed on Luvia, the girl having been quiet until that moment as she tried to understand whatever we were talking about.

"Young Edelfelt, from what I understand your family has tried multiple time to reach out for an apprenticeship from me, correct?"

The blonde seemed to be revived by that question as she smiled eagerly. "Y-Yes! It would be an honor if-" "Only one condition." He held an index up and then pointed it right onto me, blue eyes following it dutifully. "This little guy is quite a pest but.. I wish for him to not die where I am going to send him into. That is why I will entrust you with the life of your fellow apprentice, Luviagelita Edelfelt."

... "What do you mean I'm an apprentice too?"

"I will be honest, I should have you two killed by now." Cue both Luvia's and my faces paling rapidly at the horrible outcome. "But I see that you both might have some uses after all."

He pulled out a blue box out of his desk and moved it towards the girl. "This will help you along the way."

I knew exactly what was inside but I was quite amused when Luvia picked the container and opened it, expecting some grand and powerful artifact to boost her chances and... getting it in a very confusing way.

Sapphire stood still and I felt Luvia glancing my direction, clearly trying to get some hint about what she was now holding in her hands.

"That is Sapphire." I said quietly as I stood up and walked towards her. "She is a Mystic-Code, a Kaleidostick and... possibly your best friend from now on."

She frowned at my words as I got my eyes fixed on the unmoving Sapphire. "A.. stick is going to be my 'best friend'?"

Her skeptical expression was quite entertaining but I decided to cut short the comic relief as I spoke directly at the Mystic Code. "Shouldn't you have been the one to introduce yourself, Sapphire?"

At first she didn't react at my input but soon Luvia's confusion turned into shock when the very object the girl had considered until that moment inanimate started to freely float and fly around her head before settling in front of me.

"I am surprised that you know about me, Shinji-san. This development is indeed unexpected but still a good one to smooth out the best mutual relationship between me and..?"

The blonde blinked, realising that Sapphire was asking her name. "M-My name is Luviagelita Edelfelt, heiress to the Edelfelt family."

The stick nodded, bending a little as if it was bowing her direction. "Nice to meet you, Lady Luvia."

Yet Luvia's face showed some pain as she turned her attention to the hand the stick had approached, noticing it now bleeding a little. "And now the contract is done."

"Uh?" Her confusion was soon drowned by the blinding light coming from a seal in the floor beneath her, the same happening to me as I turned to the Dead Apostle, seeing him smile widely.

"Your mission is to assist those that stands against the calamity of the Earth I am sending you into. Good luck, brats!"

The light continued to intensify and I felt my body get warm as.. I wasn't touching ground anymore, finding myself falling for few moments before truly crashing on the floor.

The texture was the same as dirt to my touch while I tried to stand up to find- "Kyaaahhh!"*Thud* -pain from above as I brought forcefully back on the floor, a new weight now sitting on my back.

Luvia blinked twice as she realised she was not falling anymore and she looked down on the soft object that had cushioned her fall.

"G-Get off!"

The Edelfelt yelped before getting up from my poor back. I am seven for crying aloud, I shouldn't be suffering this much!

Was this Karma? Was this because I was stuck in Shinji Matou's body?

I groaned as I got once more up as dusted my clothes, trying to recollect my thoughts and see where we were left.

We were in a clearing, a familiar one and... I facepalmed as I realised where we were.

This... This was Fuyuki and-*Crack* Dread surged within my chest as I saw a pink and red blur rush towards us and was suddenly tackled on the floor.

"My back..." Yet my pain become unimportant as I found myself staring at a pink-haired, tanned version of Illyasviel von Einzbern, her face slowly lowering towards mine and I truly knew where and WHEN we were.

We were in Illya's Route: Dark Soul Edition and I am going to suffer one of the fan services of the whole series.

I HATE MY LIFE!

AN

Shinji is hate, Shinji is dead. Thank God, we ain't that poor bistard!

Update Schedule and WHy this exists? Boredom, this idea was buzzing in my mind for a while and I decided to fully move Easy Way in SB forum. Sadly, no regular updating as I wish to make this a long experience as I am trying to do with FPO.

Why Shinji? Cause other than Shirou, Shinji starts the crappiest way possible (crappy circuits that cannot do much and lots of self-hatred from the OC himself) and has to do a lot to get to acceptable levels. Plus everyone need to be redemeed one way or another, in his case it is thanks to OCI-way.

Why Prillya? Because the series is quite unfinished even through it might be completed anytime soon now that the Manga version of 3rei is reaching its grand finale.

But what about the 4th War: Since Shinji is here with Loli-Luvia things are going to be finished much quicker than in Canon with Prillya. Just to clarify something: Yes, I've read the Manga and I found the suspence a right level of deadly to my poor heart because... cliffhangers everywhere!
But Yeah, they will manage to reach the finish line before the start of the War.

How will this develop? A secret for now, I've decided to keep quiet about this but I can assure you now that it will not go to repeat stuff from the other stories I am writing. I prefer to keep thing unique in everystory, where I can at least.

Pairings? Dunno, maybe I have one in mind but... SECRET!

What is going to be Shinji's role? Secre- Actually I can affort just a clue. Shinji was still studying the Matou's special magecraft for the sake of knowledge. Will it be useful? Quite a lot thanks to a small weakness in the Ainsworth's Card Game.