Author's Note

This has now been beta'd!

1- A Second Chance? (Now Beta'd)

---Zelretch---

Zelretch sat in his Workshop, which defied logic and was hard to describe, and pondered what to do with his favorite (and only) Apprentice that hadn’t had a nervous breakdown and/or went insane; as well as her Apprentice/Boy Toy, and their paramour Servant-turned-familiar Saber, also known as Arturia Pendragon... or as the legends knew her as: King Arthur.

Being the master of the Second True Magic; Kaleidoscope - the Operation of Parallel Worlds - Zelretch knew the story behind the three, having seen parallels of them often enough.

In truth he rather liked them; as they brought a wonderful sense of chaos to the usual methodical and dispassionate Clock Tower.

Rin, with her pride and rather hair-trigger temper, was quite a contrast to the past Tohsakas, who were often more level-headed; Focused more so on honing their skill (though Rin did suffer that family curse to an extent). And then there was Arturia; what could one say upon meeting the Once and Future King of Britain?

While Zelretch hadn’t had too many one on one interactions with the wielder of the Sword of Promised Victory, the few he had with her had given him quite a wealth of information, including the personal life of Merlin; her mentor and friend, and (as a number of her knights had put it) one of the biggest perverts and skirt-chasers in the realm (no doubt due in-part to his half-Incubus nature). And while Arturia wasn’t summoned as a Caster, and the chances of such were rather slim (at least in most dimensions), she had learnt a thing or two from one of the greatest mages.

Though given her own distaste in regards to Magecraft and Magus in general what little she did learn was ultimately utilitarian and relegated to support-magecraft, such as Prana Burst and the like.

Saber’s presence was actually quite vital when Rin surgically grafted the full Emiya family crest (How? Well Zelretch is a Master of the Kaleidoscope...) to Shirou, who was only an Emiya by adoption. So the chances of fatal rejection were extremely high. It was however offset by the presence of Saber and Avalon which lay within Shirou’s body and soul.

Thankfully, with his supervision (despite how much Rin insisted she could do it by herself), the graft had been a success; though it had made Shirou a bit woozy for a few days, and he had needed numerous ah… ‘mana transplants’ to keep his energy up.

Or at least that’s what Rin (and Saber, though she would never admit it either) insisted. After almost a week the boy had been up and about and had begun honing his extra magical circuits.

Sadly, but expectedly, due to his status as an Incarnation the Emiya Family spells were of limited use to Shirou, though it didn’t bother him overmuch… as he was more of a fighter than a researcher.

However, he had begun studying in depth the research the Emiyas of the past had done into Gradient Air (what little there was), and had also managed to tap into a small portion of his late adopted father’s Time Alter abilities... albeit for a brief 5-7 seconds. Anymore would begin to damage his heart like it had done to Kiritsugu. Luckily for both, Avalon would restore any damage done. More swiftly in Shirou’s case what with how often Saber was present for his experiments.

If Zelretch recalled correctly Rin beamed at Shirou and commented that she’d make a Magus out of him yet! Of course she then went into Tsun-Tsun mode with a blush and everything.

Zelretch’s apprentice could be so adorable sometimes he thought with a smile.

Sadly... the usual norm was about to happen, which Zelretch had seen in many parallels. His Reality Marble was going to soon be discovered forcing him to go on the run. He would have to part ways with Rin and Saber, and he would spend the rest of his days wondering the world never settling down for too long lest he be discovered.

It was a Bad End that Zelretch had seen too many times already, and he was currently trying to figure out a way to fix it. As well as get the utter most entertainment value out of his solution as well.

Sometimes he hated having to deal with all the eldritch abominations and Dead Apostles that wanted his head. Hopefully it wasn’t Type Jupiter trying to kill all life on the Earth again, in an effort to “fulfill the will of the planet by removing the humans from its corpse”, or something even worse.

Though, before he would go into hiding, he might check in on Arcueid… she was the only one he was honestly fond of. Poor girl didn’t deserve the Fate she got, damn that Roa!

But now to the matters at hand… how to save Shirou from his Bad End and give Rin and Saber a Good Ending… hmm…

’Oh... now that might work…’ A mischievous grin grew across his face.

Rin might hate him for this… but ultimately she, Shirou, and Saber will be infinitely happier!

And Saber will have herself a proper body and not be just a pseudo-spiritual existence. Though she’ll probably lose all the benefits being a Heroic Spirit grants her…

Ah! She’s a clever woman… she’ll figure out how to get back into shape! Besides she’s still King Arthur so she’s still connected to her legend so she can still use her Noble Phantasms.

Now… all he had to do was wait for the three to relax before he proceeds with his plan…

---Shirou Emiya---

Wet, Warm, and Confined.

I have absolutely no idea how I wound up here, but for the strangest reason I want to blame Zelretch. I mean, he isn’t my instructor, but still, he can be….harsh.

Never mind his admittedly odd sense of humor and apparent fetish for magical girls...

Though that just might be my “Inner Rin” as I call it. I mean yeah I know I get into a lot of trouble but not all of it is because of that old man right?

Anyway… to find out where I am. Using Structural Analysis, which Rin’s told me I’ve took to a level beyond any other living magus, I tried to use it to feel out my status as well as my surroundings as either I’m blindfolded or I’m blind.

… That’s… not what I was expecting…

Honestly I figured that the Clock Tower found out about my Reality Marble and captured me for experimentation and examination.

I’d be perfectly fine with it if I knew they’d leave Saber and Rin alone.

But… apparently I’ve been forcibly reincarnated and I’m in the womb of my mother, or possibly a strange pseudo-womb like the Ezberns use to grow their homunculus. But that’s not the strangest part…

My mother… is a pegasus if I’m not mistaken, definitely a winged equine of sorts.

And I seem to be one as well, if those vestigial limbs on my back says anything. So… does that mean my mother and I are Magical or Phantasmal Beasts? Then again, would that mean I’ve somehow ended up in a world where Phantasmal Beasts roam freely?

And following that logic that would also mean the Age of the Gods never ended (or possibly even worse, am in the Reverse Side of the World)… I certainly hope the Gods here aren’t massive assholes like the Greco-Roman deities were.

The only Greek god I ever approved of was Hestia… at least she never was a dick to humanity. Or I think so… it’s been a while since I read any mythology. Then you have Hades, who was probably the only male Greco-Roman deity who could keep it in his metaphorical pants.

Zeus was a serial rapist and Hera was just a goddamn spiteful and jealous shrew that hated everyone that caught Zeus’s wandering eye, and then you have her throwing Hephaestus off of Mount Olympus, possibly due to his appearance (Not helped by a long fall to Earth)... Not to mention all the demi-gods Zeus sired.

Anyway I figure I’ve got another few months before I’m born, so… I guess it’s either meditate or Structural Analysis to find out as much as I can about my anatomy as well find out the status of my Circuits.

I mean I can clearly still use Magecraft so that’s good, but I wonder how my new species will effect my circuits?

Do I just have Circuits or do I have a Core now? Actually are Cores limited to dragons? Hmm… guess I’ll need to research quite a few things after I’m born and can set up a workshop.

Heh… I guess Rin did manage to turn me into a “proper” magus… though I still prefer a more “hands-on approach” to sitting down and doing research. But needs must and all that.

---5 months later---

Being born again was rather… disturbing.

Or at least it would be if I wasn’t so Distorted.

But during my months in my mother’s womb, and isn’t That a hell of a thing to say, I did learn much about myself.

Sadly I didn’t have a Core, at least none that I could find, if I did I can only imagine how jealous that’d make Rin, but my Circuits underwent a major overhaul for the lack of a better term. Not only were they of better quality, C rank at least but Rin was always better at the Ranking system then I, but they were more spread out and seemed they were particularly dense in my wings, eyes, and legs.

I’m going to develop Mystic Eyes sometime down the line aren’t I? Well… as long as it’s not Death Perception (I don’t care how well it would mesh with my abilities, I’d rather gouge them out!), Charm, or Petrification then I can deal with it.

I still remained an Incarnation of Sword, though I seemed to develop another Element? I’ll need to do some research, there’s only so much you can learn from Structural Analysis after all. And it’s not like I could experiment in my mother’s womb.

Oh and apparently my new name is Blade Works, and I can definitely appreciate the irony of my name. I also heard the doctors and everyone nattering on about something on my ass.

A Cutie Mark… whatever the hell that is.

Anyway I decided to ignore all the doctors and yawned, after all I was just a foal, and closed my eyes. Hopefully things will start making sense eventually.

--A few weeks later

Beings a kid, err foal, again is tough. You always tire easily and you’re pretty helpless!

Though I did find out some interesting things from watching other foals as well as other pegasi I think I had a good idea how they can use their hooves like hands.

I also found out I have an older sister! So that’s cool, I mean it’s a change for me but a welcome one I think. That one year I had with IIya was probably the best year I’ve ever had. I know Saber often commented on me smiling more the usual.

But well my big sister Rainbow Dash, talk about another ironic name, was pretty nice. Honestly she reminded me of Taiga-nee just a little bit, probably with how rambunctious and passionate she is.

By the Root do I miss that Tiger…

Anyway, hooves! Now I think it’s somehow related to just how saturated this world is in mana, or maybe it is the result of evolving in a mana-rich environment I’m not sure. Anyway the hooves seem to emit a magi-magnetic field (for the lack of a better description) that allows them to grasp, hold, and manipulate things.

But like I said, Rin no doubt would have a better theory. I wonder if they’re okay?

Are they looking for me? Mourning? Did they get in trouble with the Clock Tower for helping me?

I yawned again and closed my eyes as I snuggled into the warmth provided by my mother and I drifted off into an uneasy sleep...

---17 years later, Ponyville---

I hummed as my hammer rung out against the flattered metal perched atop the anvil. One of the local farmers, Carrot Top or the like, had asked me to fix up her grandpa’s old war scythe to help deal with some Timberwolves.

Honestly I wanted to solve the problem myself but well… I learned that I can’t rush into things like I normally would.

Besides I offered and Carrot Top turned me down, more's the pity. While I love doing repair work and helping around town, I was just itching to do some fighting.

Though I’m nowhere near as battle-hungry as a certain Lancer that impaled me through the heart. Funnily how even in this new body that scar followed me. All my others scars are gone except the one caused by the Barbed Spear that Pierces with Death.

I distinctly remember the doctors as well as my parents puzzling over my strange ‘birthmark’ nearly as much as the cutie mark I was born with.

Apparent in this world cutie marks are the physical manifestation of a ponies origin and element, or “special talent” as they put it. Also you only suppose to gain the mark after having discovering your special talent. But then again I probably bypassed that rule as I know I am a Sword.

And sweet akasha did that stir up some drama! How many newborn foals ever gain a cult following as a God of War reborn? Though… my experiments with Tracing didn’t help either… though the face my sister/foalsitter made when she came to look in on me and saw a dozen swords of varying shapes floating around me… wish I had a camera.

Anyway I need to stop getting distracted and finish this up.

“Hmm… maybe I should Reinforce this as well… maybe add a few runes…” I muttered thoughtfully.

Oh I also learn that my Magecraft lasts a whole lot longer then it did on Earth by a stupidly massive amount... probably due to the fact that the Age of the Gods, or something akin to it, never ended in this world. That and this world’s equivalent of Gaia is pretty relaxed compared to the Gaia on Earth. Well, except for the Everfree Forest.

I think the longest a projected knife lasted was like… four months? And even then I had to dismiss it so not to get in trouble…

Shaking my head I resumed my hammering the old War Scythe into shape, and while I rarely ever used many polearm type weapons I couldn’t help but try and improve it somehow: like making the blade sharper, or giving it a serrated edge so the tip saws into the Timberwolves wooden forms.

Finishing my little alterations, and hoping Carrot Top would be too upset, I returned to the front of the shop and sat the blade to the side for some polishing and a meeting with a whetstone.

I heard the bell signalling someone was coming in ring and I said, “Welcome to my shop. Give me a few minutes and I’ll be right with you.”

“I just need a moment.” The voice was definitely female and held a regal bearing… akasha please don’t be a Canterlot noble, “Do you know anyone by the name of Shirou Emiya?” She asked and I felt my heart race, no one should know that name…

I blinked in surprise, “And… where did you hear that name?” I asked as I put the Scythe’s blade down gently on the anvil.

I then turned and faced my guest and blinked again, I certainly wasn’t expecting a dragon to step into my store! Her scales were a brilliant, shining azure. Her eyes like emeralds, with a rim of gold, iris wise. Her frill was like sunlight given form.

… Where did that come from? I swear this is the last time I binge read Fillyiam Shakespeare.

I decided to take a chance, I needed to know.

“... Excuse me but perhaps you can tell me something?” I asked, “Can you name all Twelve of the Knights of the Round Table that served under King Arthur, or should I say, Arturia Pendragon? In alphabetical order if you please.”

Depending on the answer I get I’ll know if her knowing that name is just coincidence or… no. I best not get hopeful too soon. Though I can’t help but hope regardless.

The dragon blinked before she started listing them all out. And these names were distinctly human… and I’m not ashamed to admit that my eyes started to water and my heart raced like I had just finished a game of tag with Rainbow…

“... Saber? Is that… really you?” I hated how… meek my voice sounded but I couldn’t help it; for seventeen years I worried and fretted over being truly alone in this world, even had a few nightmares about it.

I had dreamt that I would never see her again. And I’m not ashamed to admit I all but tackled her into a hug like Pinkie does to, well, anypony. Wings and all four of my limbs wrapped around her as I hugged her with all my strength.

And given my mastery over Reinforcement not to mention I’m like a quarter earth pony… neither mother or father are quite sure where that came from though… so I can generate quite a sizable amount of strength.

Thankfully for me, even though she had lost much of the strength of being a Heroic Spirit, her draconic form did grant her the strength of Yoshihito Noritake (one of the few major strongman competitors from Japan), maybe a tad more.

She returned the hug easily enough, “Shirou?” I just grinned happily, “I thought I was the only one…” She whispered as he buried her snout (Muzzle? Whichever.) into my mane and sighed happily, inhaling the scent of my mane.

After a few minutes I let go off her and went to my the door and put up a sign that said ‘Out to Lunch’ before I turned to Saber and smiled.

“How about some food? We can catch up.” I said, “Oh and my pony name is Blade Works. And yes I am aware of the irony of my name.”

Saber just chuckled (She is a knight! Knight’s don’t giggle!) and nodded. I have no clue how long it’s been for her but I know she loved me for my cooking if nothing else. So I was by no means surprised when I heard the Phantasmal Beast she called a stomach roar like some sort of creature from the black pits. Seriously, sometimes I wonder if Merlin gave her some sort of infinite stomach. I dreaded what she’d do to my plumbing.

“Ah…” Saber blushed, “... Yes please…”

Even with her change of species a hungry Saber is still cute…

And with a smile I lead her to the kitchen where I would cook up a literal feast for Saber. Rainbow often questioned me on why I always bought so much extra food and ingredients. I always told her it was so I could be prepared for any large dinner parties.

Though the truth… I had always hoped Rin and Saber would just storm in demanding to be fed after they spent who knows how long searching for my dumb ass. Rin’s words, but honestly they’re not wrong. I’ve done my fair share of bone headed things in this life and my previous one.

… The entirety of the Fifth Holy Grail war comes to mind actually…

Saber takes her seat, sipping on a cup of tea I make for her, as I begin cooking. I didn’t have any gems, but I knew dragons could eat meat. As I learned during my life on the planet known globally as Anima, but to most Equestrians as Equis, is that ponies CAN eat meat in small portions (no more than anything past say, a bag of meat the size of an apple).

Anything more than that could result in stomach aches, nausea, and worse, diarrhea. Learned that first hand, after Rainbow and Gilda got into a meat eating contest…..I don’t know who I feel sorry for more, the toilets Rainbow used that day, Rainbow’s bowels, or the doctor who had to give her a suppository to quiet things down.

---After Feeding the Beast that is Saber’s Appetite---

I sighed as Saber cuddled me, I had missed this. Yeah I had mother and even Rainbow but… it just wasn’t the same.

I looked at Saber and kissed her lightly, “I’m sorry but I need to get back to work.” I said apologetically, “You can stay up here. The bathroom is two doors down on the right. And if you need anything just come down and ask okay?”

She nodded slowly, as I went back downstairs, and went back on the Scythe. After covering 70% of the blade in hamon clay and heating it: I dunked it in quenching oil to harden the blade after adding a bit of Reinforcement magic to it, and set it aside after for checking for any warps or cracks. I’ll attach it to a proper handle tomorrow, before Carrot would come to pick it up.

I checked the time and saw I had…five more hours before I can call it a day. And as much as I want to just call it quits early and just enjoy Saber’s presence I couldn’t. Damn it I might be many things but I’ll never be unprofessional regarding work! Luckily for me, I only have one other order, which is one of the hunters around here, a Griffon by the name of… Razortalon or something?

Whatever it was it was an edgy name. Wonder why so many Griffon’s have edgy names like that?

Oh wait, here’s the order slip, “Aguileon” Huh, mixture of the Spanish words for Eagle and Lion, fitting. Nice guy really, pretty good….talonwriting I guess would be the correct term.

“Alright… now what did this guy want again?” I muttered as I read the rest of the order and… well if this was an anime I’d sweatdrop or facefault, so I facehoofed instead.

It’s a request to forge a gunblade, with the blessing of the pony Lord of Blades… if only I knew my experiment in Tracing would’ve lead to this…

I groaned in irritation as I trotted back into my smithy, I didn’t give a damn how polite he was! He was getting a regular sword!

Hell it’s been twelve years since that incident and that title is STILL haunting me! Damn my E-rank luck!

“This is the curse of being my descendent. Your reputation shall hound you like the dogs of the shogunate did to my Clan!” Oh, did I mention, apparently Zelretch thought it would be funny to bind my apparent ancestor (though I was excited to know I was related to someone of that prestige, even if he wasn’t a magus), Sengo Muramasa, famed swordsmith.

Apparently, he said, something like this happened to one of my alternates in the multiverse. Oh, and the Rin of that universe was possessed by the Babylonian goddess of sex and war Ishtar, just as that same universe’s Sakura was possessed by the Hindu goddess Parvati. Or at least they fused together.

Pseudo-Servants make my brain hurt.

So yeah… I’m being haunted by the spirit of a possible ancestor. So… yay me I guess. He’s not a bad guy, if anything he’s a boon. Helping me understand Japanese swords of legend in ways my Structural Analysis simply can’t.

Hell I’ve even been picking up iaijutsu from him too. Too bad I can’t adapt the style to my others swords.

With a yawn I stuck a length of steel into the forge and start the process of getting it red hot to shape it. Well this is today’s last order and if I’m correct, I’ll have to check my schedule, I’ll have to go by Sweet Apple Acres to do some refitting and work on Granny Smith’s rocking chair.

I shook my head again, “Well no rest for the wicked I suppose.” I muttered as I started humming a song I heard from somewhere.

It’s funny actually, in my past life I really had no appreciation towards music but now? Well I can attribute it to the whole “Ponies spontaneously breaking out into musical numbers at the drop of a hat” thing. I’m just lucky I haven’t been caught up in the moment, and I’ve been in doors when the “Musical Magic” as I’ve called it, rippled through the aether.

Who knows what would come out? And I’ll be damned if I’m not curious…

But I’m not that much of a researcher...