Chapter 1: Servant: Takumi Sumino, Master: Shirou Emiya
Chapter Text
Rin Tohsaka ran as fast as she can.
The magus only has a limited amount of time to reach the Emiya Residence. She couldn’t believe that she’d forgotten to adjust the witnesses’ memory of the duel that had taken place several hours earlier.
Well, it’s only natural that she’d forgotten because of her judgement had been clouded with regret at the time. But now her mind’s clear and she intends to rectify her own mistake.
Best case scenario, she manages to catch up with Shirou Emiya and wipe his memories of the events that he wasn’t supposed to see. Worst case scenario, Lancer had already caught up with him and ends his life for good.
But just as she arrived right outside of the residence, several things happened.
One, a bright light shone out from the house itself. And two, the Servant Lancer was seen jumping off the wall and moving away from the area. Rin wasn’t entirely sure if the spearman was being forced out or if he’d suddenly changed priorities and set off to find a new target. She could understand the former if he was being overwhelmed by a strong opponent, but the latter would’ve raised some suspicion.
She’d seen for herself on how ferocious Lancer was when he’d fought against her Archer back at the school. And if it wasn’t for the rude interruption by a bystander who shouldn’t be there at all, there’s no doubt that a fatal blow would’ve been dealt to the bowman in red. In that regard, it wouldn’t make sense for the blue spearman to suddenly flee if his opposition was weaker than he was. Unless…
“Stop right there!”
However, she didn’t have time to ponder as an unfamiliar voice called out to her. Then, a figure dropped down from the walls of the Emiya Residence.
Rin couldn’t help but gasp. In front of him was a young man roughly around her age. He has red hair with a black streak on his bangs, vibrant blue eyes, an ahoge protruding from the top of his head and wore what appears to be a black school uniform. He also held a katana with a blue-coloured blade on his left hand.
If she didn’t know any better, she’d thought that he was some kind of ridiculous cosplayer. But considering the kind of blade he held and the fact that he’d appeared after the light from the house had died down, there’s no mistaking it. The person in front of her was the type of Servant that she’d intended to summon after all.
Archer on the other hand, couldn’t believe what he was seeing.
Sure, the boy in front of him is certainly a Saber-class servant. But he was nothing like the one he knew from his memories. As far as he was concerned, Shirou Emiya was always meant to summon Artoria Pendragon, the King of Knights. It may have been a long time ago for the red bowman himself, but he could never forget that memory of her summoning as well as the vivid feelings that accompanied it.
So why? Why was it different this time?
Did that fool somehow use a different catalyst or was it some other factor he hadn’t considered? But no matter what it is, there’s only one thing he’s absolutely certain about. This wasn’t the Holy Grail War that he’d remembered back when he was one of its participants.
Saber and Archer glared at each other as they’d prepared their respective weapons. But before either of them could make the first move…
“STOP SABER!”
A familiar voice shouted out to him. Saber quickly stopped and turned towards the source of the voice, who had just ran outside of the residence. He was also a red-haired teenage boy, but at least he’s someone she recognises.
At the same time, Archer used this opportunity to retreat and stood behind his Master.
“Emiya, what’s going on? Why are you telling me to stop?” Saber asked.
“Stop? Sumino, what are you talking about? I still have no idea what’s going on and you’re about to attack someone I know.” Shirou stated.
“Hold on a minute, are you saying you know this girl?” Saber questioned as he dematerialised his sword.
“What?” The red-haired magus then looked towards the person who stood next to the red bowman. The instant he did so, he couldn’t help but feel shocked at who she was.
“Tohsaka… Rin?”
“Out of all people, you’re the one who’d been chosen as the seventh Master, Emiya-kun?” Rin stated incredulously.
“The seventh Master?” Shirou’s eyes widened as he pointed at her. “Tohsaka, does that mean you’re…!”
“Yes, I’m a Master as well. That also means that I’m a magus like you.” She confirmed. “I also wouldn’t recommend saying your Servant’s true name for everyone to hear. Though, I don’t recall hearing about any hero named ‘Sumino’.”
“Well, I’m not your ordinary heroic spirit if that’s what you’re wondering.” Saber added in.
“‘Not your ordinary heroic spirit’?” Archer repeated as he raised his eyebrows.
“Sumino, could you please tell me what you meant by that?” Shirou asked. “There’s still a lot of things I don’t understand and you haven’t properly explained everything to me!”
“I see, so you’re that ignorant, huh.” Rin crossed her arms out of irritation. “Alright, let’s go inside your place. I’ll explain everything once we get there.”
“Tohsaka, what were you thinking!?” Shirou protested.
“Emiya, I think it’s better that we hear her out. She probably knows more about this situation than either of us.” Saber suggested. That had gotten his Master to reluctantly accept her offer.
As they walked through the gate, Saber had dematerialised his Class Armor. In its place was a grey jacket with blue accents, black pants with a white band around the thigh and a pair of light grey sneakers. To anyone else, he could’ve been mistaken for a typical Japanese teenager. After Shirou and Rin stepped inside the house, Saber felt Archer staring at him with suspicion and scrutiny.
“Is there something you want, Archer?” Saber asked warily.
“Of course there is. Just who are you?” Archer asked.
“What do you mean? I’m Saber.”
“I meant your true name. That fool called you Sumino, didn’t he?” The bowman said bluntly.
“Oh.” He was initially taken back for a moment. “Well if you want to know, my name is Takumi Sumino. Is that it?”
“Yes, that should be enough for now.”
Takumi Sumino.
So he was right when he said he wasn’t a typical heroic spirit. The Counter Guardian doesn’t recall hearing about any heroes or anti-heroes in human history with that name. So the only logical conclusion is that he must’ve come from the modern day, or possibly the far future.
This iteration of the Holy Grail War was about to become a lot more complicated than he would’ve liked.
Chapter 2: Servant: V’ehxness, Master: Rin Tohsaka
Chapter Text
“WHY!!!!?”
A scream echoed across the basement.
Just a moment ago, a young magus by the name of Rin Tohsaka had conducted a ritual. To be more precise, it was a ritual to summon a Servant, which are among the strongest of all familiars. She had intended on summoning a Saber-class Servant, which are renowned for their mastery of the sword.
As far as she is concerned, Saber is the strongest out of all seven classes. And on top of that, Rin had intended on winning the Holy Grail War. So naturally, she aims to summon Saber as soon and efficiently as possible.
Rin was hoping that the summoned Servant would appear right in front of her. But instead, she heard an explosion coming from the living room. As such, the young woman ran up the basement stairs as quickly as she could. Once she reached the door to the living room, she tried to open it up, only to find that it’s broken.
“The door’s jammed. Whatever, you’re in my way!” Rin didn’t have any patience left, especially not after her failure a moment earlier. So the teenaged magus decided to break down the door instead.
Upon entering the living room, she found that it became a total mess. Rubble was everywhere and there was a massive hole on the ceiling. At the center of it all was an armoured figure sitting down on top of the debris.
The other important thing that she noticed was the clocks on the house walls, which surprisingly remained unscathed in spite of the recent mess. It was at that moment Rin realised that that something had been off about the clocks in her house the entire time.
Every clock in the house had been set an hour early for some reason. So it’s actually 1 AM, not 2 AM like I originally assumed. She thought to herself. “Damn it! I did it again.”
“Is that all you have to say in front of my greatness?” The stranger spoke with a mature womanly voice.
Upon hearing that voice, Rin focused her glare towards the unknown person. “Alright then, who are you exactly?”
The woman stared at her for a moment before she spoke again. “Was that your attempt at a bluff? Or do you truly not recognise the very thing you’ve summoned?”
“What?” Rin said flatly.
“I had been expecting a summoner of the highest caliber when I had been called here. But instead, all I see is a little girl who had no idea what she’s doing.” The masked woman stated.
“You have some nerve for someone who destroyed my living room.” The magus retorted as she gritted her teeth. She couldn’t help it, this woman here definitely has a twisted and self-absorbed personality.
But at the very least, the woman was honest about the kind of entity that she is. Rin knew that Servants are a kind of ghost familiar, but she wasn’t expecting to see one so human-like. Even from a glance, the magus could tell that this woman was powerful. Not just in the amount of magical energy, but also in presence.
Rin couldn’t afford to feel overwhelmed any longer, so she decides to ask the one question that’s currently lingering on her mind. ”Just so we’re clear, you’re my Servant and no one else’s? I refuse to answer any other questions until I’m absolutely sure that you belong to me.”
The woman chuckled. “Of course, you’re the one who summoned me. But let me clear up your misunderstanding, I am not your Servant and you are not my Master.”
“Excuse me?”
“Did I stutter? A being as great as I would not simply bow down to a mere invader. Instead, it should be the other way around. I’ll be the one handing out the orders while you’ll be the one obeying them.” The woman declared proudly, which only served to further fuel the temper that’s already boiling up inside of her summoner.
“Like hell you are!” Rin roared with ire. “I don’t care how great you are or whatever the hell you think of yourself. It doesn’t change the fact that you’re my Servant and nothing else!”
“Is that so? Then tell me, what makes you think you’re in any position to order me around?” The woman asked as she folded her arms.
“This.” The magus brought up her left hand, putting her Command Spells on full display. “This is proof that I’m your Master.”
However, the woman doesn’t looked convinced by the sight of the Command Spells. Instead, it made her laugh even harder. “Do you honestly believe your feeble tattoos would be sufficient proof that I am supposed to serve you? I think you’re overestimating your own importance to your superior.”
“Huh, what’s that supposed to mean!?”
“On any other hero, these Command Spells would certainly be enough to force them into being subservient to their summoners. But I am different. I am better in every single way. You could waste all three of your commands and it won’t change the fact that I’ll never bend to your will.”
Rin narrowed her eyes as she placed both of her hands on her hips. “Oh really? Fine! If you’re that much better than anyone else, then prove it. Who are you exactly?”
“I’m so glad you asked. It’s about time for introductions.”
The armoured woman stood up, then she placed both of her hands upon her mask and took it off. As she unmasked herself, Rin couldn’t help but feel allured for a brief moment. The woman had long white hair that has a blue streak on her bangs, the unique heterochromia pattern of red and purple eyes as well as the blue markings over her left eye.
Rin hated to admit it, but her Servant was certainly an otherworldly beauty. One that existed far beyond the realm of humanity itself.
“Hear my name and rejoice! For you have summoned the Paragon of Hope, V’ehxness!” The woman, V’ehxness, proclaimed as she introduced herself.
Now that she’d gotten her name, Rin took the moment to calm herself down, if only just a little. Still, there’s one problem that she’d noticed rather quickly.
“I don’t recall hearing about a hero like you.” She stated flatly.
“Of course you wouldn’t. I hail from the glorious planet of Futurum.” V’ehxness bluntly answered.
“Futurum?” Rin repeated. “Of all things, I’ve never thought I’ll summon an alien hero from another planet.”
“And likewise, I’ve never thought that I’ll be summoned into the home world of your vile species.” The Paragon of Hope retorted.
Rin ignored her comment as she followed up with her next question. “So, which class of Servant are you?”
V’ehxness stared at her with narrowed eyes. Then, she smirked as a massive sword suddenly appeared on her right hand.
“Does this serve as an answer?” The swordswoman asked cockily.
Rin nodded with satisfaction. At the very least, she managed to summon a Saber-class Servant. Just as she’d intended to from the very start.
V’ehxness puts away her sword as she asked a question of her own. “Now that I have told you my name, it’s only natural that you give yours.”
The teenaged magus took in a deep breath as she answered. “…I'm Rin Tohsaka. You can call me whatever you like.”
“Ri-N Toh-Sa-Ka. I’ll remember this.” V’ehxness said.
This is going to be a rather complicated partnership, isn’t it?