TYPE-MOON Universe, Earth, Japan, Fuyuki City.
*Buzz!*
As Sakura left through the front gate of Homurahara Academy, she was surprised when she could hear her cell phone vibrating in her school bag. Stopping for a moment to retrieve it, she was even more surprised when she saw she had received a message from Elicia.
{Elicia: Hey, Sakura, how was school today?}
Smiling at the message, Sakura quickly typed out her reply.
{Sakura: It was fine, just another normal day.}
{Elicia: That makes me glad that I'm done with high school. Doing the same thing every day was boring.}
{Elicia: But at least I got to spend a lot of time with Fonzie}
Having heard Elicia mention her husband on several occasions, and how happy she was with him, Sakura was curious to meet the man that could make her so happy. She then smiled just a little bit wider while typing her reply.
{Sakura: That sounds nice}
{Elicia: Yeah, it really was. Anyway, what are you doing tonight?}
The smile on Sakura's face froze. Remembering what Tatsuo said about Elicia making an open challenge when she was ready to face her and Rider, Sakura was hesitant to answer. Instead, she glanced over her shoulder to where she knew Rider was following her in her astral form.
As she did, she could tell Rider was looking at her, as well. Then, she felt that Rider nodded her head. At the same time, Rider communicated over the telepathic link.
{"We knew this day was coming sooner or later."} Rider said calmly. {"And although neither one of us wants to fight them after making a bond with them, that's just how the Holy Grail War is. So, instead of running from it, it would be best to show them how much that bond means by facing them with everything we have. And when the battle is over, show them that there are no hard feelings, no matter what the outcome may be."}
"*Sigh* I guess you're right." Sakura replied after a few moments of consideration in a volume that none of the students passing by would be able to hear.
Sakura then shook her head to clear it of any negative thoughts before typing a response to Elicia.
{Sakura: No, I'm free}
{Elicia: Since you took so long to answer, I guess you know what I'm going to ask next
Elicia: This HGW has gone on long enough, and I want to bring it to an end
Elicia: I miss Fonzie}
Sakura could not help but smile at a response that was so "Elicia" as she typed her own reply.
{Sakura: I understand
Sakura: When and where do you want to fight?}
{Elicia: Tonight, around 11 at the docks
Elicia: They should be empty around then}
{Sakura: Okay, we'll be there}
{Elicia: And before you get there, Assassin will set up some bounded fields that will keep normal people away.
Elicia: And you have my word that he won't try any dirty tricks
Elicia: And if I find out he did something behind my back, I'll kick his butt}
When she read Elicia's last message, Sakura could not help but giggle when the image of Elicia holding up her fist and shaking it back and forth violently appeared in her mind. She then gave her final reply before putting her phone back in her school bag and heading to her apartment.
{Sakura: I'll be there}
With that, the remainder of the afternoon and evening passed quickly. During that time, Sakura let her sister know that she would be fighting Elicia tonight. And Rin naturally wanted to help her. However, Sakura declined, stating that it would be a fair fight.
After some back and forth, Rin, after being unable to convince Sakura, relented. Though, she had every intention of making her way to the location of the fight. Unfortunately, because Sakura also expected this, she did not tell Rin where the fight would be taking place.
Of course, both Sakura and Rin knew that once the fighting started, Rin would rush there as fast as she could to help her sister. Unfortunately for Rin, Elicia and Tatsuo were also expecting something similar.
"Lici, everything's ready." Tatsuo said after laying down the last of the [Bounded Fields] that would keep away innocent bystanders. "So, I'm gonna get going. If I'm fast enough, I'll be able to cut them off at the bridge."
"Just don't' destroy the bridge while you're fighting." Elicia said with a grin.
"I'm not one of yours." Tatsuo replied while rolling his eyes. "So, you don't have to worry about that."
Hearing that, Elicia could not help laughing out loud as Tatsuo sprinted off while shifting into his astral form. At the same time, Saber, who had no idea Tatsuo was referring to the Fairy Tail guild in Elicia's home world could only look on in confusion.
"Are you ready?"' Elicia asked as she took a seat at the table she had Tatsuo set up for her and Sakura to spectate the fight from while eating snacks that he spent most of the afternoon preparing.
"I am." Saber replied resolutely after taking a deep breath. "But are you sure this is a good idea? Even though you know her personally, Miss Sakura is still an opponent."
"Don't worry. Don't worry." Elicia replied while dismissively waving off Saber's concerns. "I trust her. Besides, with my ability to detect mana, as soon as she starts mobilizing her mana to use those shadows, I'll be ready."
Hearing that, Saber breathed a sigh of relief. Though, it was clear that she would rather Elicia watch the fight from further away. But since this was her Master's plan, all she needed to do was follow it.
A few minutes later, Sakura, seeming to be alone, arrived at the docks. However, no one was naive enough to think she was actually alone. And Rider, shifting into her physical form, proved it a moment later.
"Good evening." Sakura said politely as she approached the table where Elicia was sitting. "I see our opponent will be Saber."
"Yeah, Assassin didn't really wanna fight either of you." Elicia replied with a shrug. "For an assassin, he's just a big softy."
Seeing the warm smile that instantly spread across Sakura's face and the way Rider's lips curled ever so slightly at her comment, Elicia could not help but giggle. She then pointed at the chair across from where she was sitting as she continued.
"Anyway, why don't you have a seat, Sakura." Elicia said with a smile. "We'll just watch from here. The only way we'll interfere is by how much mana we send through our connections with our Servants. Oh, and we can use [Command Spells] if the mood strikes us, too. But no direct interference with our own Magecraft. How's that sound to you?"
"I can agree with those arrangements." Sakura replied with a nod. She then took a seat across from Elicia and looked over the snacks on the table. "Did Assassin make these?"
"Yup." Elicia replied while smiling happily as she reached for one of the snacks. Then, after popping the snack into her mouth, she continued with her mouth full. "And they're not poisoned, see?"
"Elicia, please don't talk with your mouth full." Saber said sternly.
"Okay, Mom." Elicia shot back while rolling her eyes. "Besides, you're just jealous that you can't have any right now."
Saber could only sigh in response. Though, the slight dusting of pink that appeared on her cheeks made it clear that Elicia's second sentence hit the nail on the head.
"Anyway, I think it's about time to get started." Elicia said while smiling at Sakura, Rider, and Saber. "This Holy Grail War has been going on for too long, and I'm ready to bring it to an end. No matter who ends up winning."
Receiving nods from the other three ladies, Elicia picked up another snack while she and Sakura watched Rider and Saber glance at each other before taking their distance.
"Sakura." Elicia said while focusing on the two Servants as they moved into the distance.
"Hmm?" Sakura hummed in curiosity.
"When this is over, would you mind coming back to our hotel to talk?" Elicia asked casually. "Assassin and I have something to tell you."
"Uh… Okay?" Sakura asked, sounding a bit concerned as she tilted her head in confusion.
"Good." Elicia said happily. She then pointed her right index finger at the two Servants as she continued. "Oh, they're about to start."
Putting the questions she had about why Tatsuo and Elicia would need to talk to her, Sakura turned towards Rider and Saber to watch the battle that was about to begin. Just as she did, the two Servants had just summoned their weapons.
"*Clang!*
Then, in ablur of speed, Rider dashed forward, nails in hand, and thrusted her right hand forward, aiming at Saber's throat. However, as calmly as ever, Saber shifted her invisible sword slightly, parrying Rider's attack to her left before raising her sword quickly and slashing down at Rider's torso.
*Swish!*
*Clang!*
However, Rider acted just as quickly, dodging the slash before using her other nail to stab at the flat of Saber's blade, attempting to destabilize her balance. And although that was a good plan, Saber was too experienced to fall for such a simple attempt.
Then again, Rider was expecting nothing less from the King of Knights. So, she kept up her onslaught. And as she did, the sound of colliding steel and displaced wind continued to echo throughout the empty shipping yard.
Unfortunately for Rider, it was made clear rather quickly who the more skilled melee combatant was, as she was continuously being pushed back by Saber's strong, swift, and accurate sword strikes. On top of that, the fact that Rider was unable to see the exact size of Saber's invisible sword was not doing her any favors, either.
And although Saber was unable to see the look in Rider's eyes, she could tell that she had not given up.
Meanwhile, both Elicia and Sakura were watching the fight from where they sat. And while Sakura was watching while basically sitting on the edge of her seat, Elicia was much more relaxed. She even popped a snack into her mouth every now and then in a very leisurely manner. However, at a certain point, Elicia stopped her hand, which was holding a snack to be deposited in her mouth, raised an eyebrow, and looked in the direction of Miyama Town.
"Hmm... They're starting to move." Elicia muttered to herself.
Although Elicia spoke quietly, Sakura was still able to hear her, causing her to turn her head away from the ongoing battle to look at Elicia.
"*Sigh* And this is why I told Onee-Sama not to come with me." Sakura muttered while remembering that she had not seen Tatsuo ever since she and Rider arrived. "You were expecting this, too. Weren't you?"
"Pretty much." Elicia replied with a nod. "There's no way Rin would let you fight alone if she could help it. And that makes her predictable."
Sakura could only sigh in response while shaking her head.
"You should really have something to eat." Elicia said while gesturing towards the snacks on the table. "If you don't, I'm gonna eat them all."
In response, Sakura mechanically picked up one of the snacks and popped it into her mouth.
"Mmm~~~!"
And moaned just like she did the first time she had Tatsuo's cooking. In fact, her moan was so loud and out of place that Rider and Saber both looked away from the battle for a moment before getting right back to it.
'I should have had some before we started.' Rider and Saber thought simultaneously. 'Well, I'll just ask Tatsuo to make me some later.'
Unfortunately, both Servants, Elicia, and Saber felt the clash of a pair of Servants somewhere between here and Miyama Town. And while Sakura, Rider, and Saber could only approximate the location of the clash, Elicia knew that it was taking place on the bridge between the Shinto District and Miyama Town.
Even so, neither Rider nor Saber was distracted again. And just as Saber had finally pushed Rider into a corner, a third nail, not held in Rider's hands, streaked towards the back of Saber's head.
*Clang!*
However, thanks to one of Saber's Skills, Instinct, which was essentially the same as battle precognition, she was able to quickly spin on her heels and deflect the nail Rider controlled with her hair without taking any damage.
*Clang!* *Clang!*
Then, in the same motion, Saber spun around once again, deflecting the two nails Rider aimed at her back with a lunge, knocking the Rider-Class Servant back a few steps thanks to the rebound.
Yet, before Rider even regained her footing, Rider produced nine more nails and chains from her hair. She then released the two in her hands and sent the eleven nails flying at Saber. At the same time, the one that previously tried to sneak attack Saber was also coming back for another attack.
With her gaze unwavering, Saber tightened her grip on her sword before taking a deep breath. Then, with incredible skill, Saber began swinging her sword at high speed.
*Clang!* *Clang!* *Clang!* *Clang!* *Clang!* *Clang!* *Clang!* *Clang!*
And in a whirlwind of sword slashes, flying nails, and extending chains, Saber deflected each and every attack that came flying her way. Even so, it seemed as though the attacks would never end.
On top of that, Elicia could feel Sakura pushing more mana through her connection with Rider. Though, she did not feel it necessary to do the same. Even if Saber used her [Noble Phantasm], it would not put a strain on her reserves.
'Then again, I doubt she'll actually have to use [Excalibur] in this fight.' Elicia thought to herself. 'Rider just doesn't have the durability to make that necessary. On top of that, Saber hasn't even used [Mana Burst] yet. This fight will probably end pretty quickly once she does.'
And after a few minutes of not being able to make any progress while avoiding Rider's chains, which were trying their best to restrain her, with just her physical parameters, Saber proved Elicia right as she activated [Mana Burst], giving herself a quick overall boost.
*Clang!*
Then, with one powerful sword swing, Saber deflected one of Rider's nails. And with the air pressure from the swing, she sent the rest flying, as well. Saber then took a powerful step forward, blitzing towards Rider, who barely had enough time to react to the sudden acceleration.
Unable to dodge, Rider retracted two of her chains as fast as she could. Then, just as Saber brought her sword down with a slash that would split Rider in two from her left shoulder to her right hip, the nails fell into her hands, and she raised them into the swords path.
*Screech!*
*Splatter!*
Yet, with the additional power behind Saber's sword swing, those nails were not enough to stop the slash. Instead, they were both bisected and Saber's blade tore through Rider's body with little resistance. As a result, blood fountained from Rider's torso as her arms fell limply to her side while all of the chains and nails growing from her hair fell to the ground, as well.
*Clatter!* x 12
*Thud!*
A moment later, with blood covering most of her body, Rider fell to her knees. Then, her body started to glow, signifying that she had taken lethal damage. She then struggled to turn her head in Sakura's direction.
"I'm sorry." Rider mouthed, too weak to even speak at this point.
Then, as her body scattered into motes of mana, Rider collapsed forward, her body dispersing before it could even hit the ground.
Saber, on the other hand, dispelled her sword. Then, she bowed respectfully to Rider before turning towards Elicia.
"No way..." Saber muttered.
Yet, by the time she turned to Elicia, thinking she would be able to snag a couple of snacks, Saber's expression fell when all she could see on the table was a number of empty plates.
Even so, Saber continued making her way over to the table. However, before she even got halfway, she stopped and turned her head in the direction of the bridge when she felt an explosion of mana. She did not halt her footsteps for long, though, continuing to walk after only looking off into the distance for a second or two.
"Well, we'd better get going." Elicia said as she stood up while looking at Sakura, who was visibly downtrodden from Rider's loss, when Saber arrived at the table. "After Assassin's and Archer's fight ends, the Holy Grail will show itself. And then we can bring this Grail War to an end."