Transference

TYPE-MOON Universe, Earth, United Kingdom, London. 

Sitting in an office that was rarely visited in the Clock Tower, , the headquarters of the Mage's Association, was an elderly man, appearing to be in his seventies with spiky white hair and a matching beard, squinted eyes, and a long white robe. In fact, this was the man Tatsuo was referring to while cooking in Shirou's house, Kischur Zelretch Schweinorg, also known as the Wizard Martial by those in the know. 

And just as Tatsuo thought, this old man was watching him. However, it was not by normal means. Instead of using some kind of surveillance system or Magecraft, he was watching him through a portal with kaleidoscopic colors around its edges. 

"Oh ho! This boy is quite sharp." Zelretch said to himself while stroking his beard. "Judging by his movements, I can tell he's aware that he is being watched. Though, I doubt he knows exactly how or who is watching him. Still, it's quite impressive." 

Unbeknownst to Zelretch, however, Tatsuo was certain of whom and how he was being watched. But Zelretch had no way of knowing that. Especially since… 

"Still, I've looked through the events of this timeline numerous times." Zelretch continued with his musings. "And not once have I seen either this Assassin Servant or his Master, Elicia Taylor. Though, the Taylor Family is quite well known in the United States. I'm curious to know exactly where these two come from. Perhaps I will make a trip to Fuyuki to visit them some time soon. Hohoho!" 

Like that, while continuing to comment to himself about the things he's seen Tatsuo and Elicia do in the last month or so, Zelretch continued to watch Tatsuo cook while Shirou took notes. And before long, he found another reason to visit the two unfamiliar faces in the current timeline. 

"Hmm… Could that young man's cooking be so delicious?" Zelretch asked himself while leaning forward after seeing Saber's reaction to her first bite. "I simply must find out for myself. *Sigh* To think I would find something to be excited about after living this long. The world truly is a magnificent place. Hohoho!" 

TYPE-MOON Universe, Earth, Japan, Fuyuki City. 

'He's still watching us.' Tatsuo thought to himself after urging Elicia, Shirou, and Saber to move on to the main topic of his and Elicia's visit. 'Then again, I guess I shouldn't be surprised. As someone who's moved through and watched many different parallel worlds, seeing something new must be getting his old heart pumping again.' 

"Assassin, is something wrong?" Elicia, after noticing the frown on Tatsuo's face, asked in a concerned tone. 

"It's nothing you need to worry about right now." Tatsuo replied nonchalantly. "I'll tell you about it when we get back to the suite." 

In response, Elicia only shrugged her shoulders before turning to look at Shirou and Saber again. If it was really important, Tatsuo would have pulled her aside to talk to her about… At least she thinks he would have. 

"Anyway, Assassin is right." Elicia said. "I think it's time for us to talk about what you called us here for, Emiya." 

After having it brought up directly, Shirou could not help second guessing his decision to bow out of the Holy Grail War. But when he remembered the feelings he had when he made that decision, his expression turned into one filled with resolve. 

"Taylor-San." Shirou said in a somber tone. "I've made my decision. After thinking about everything you said the night I got hurt for the second time, I have to admit you're right. I'm not cut out for this. Not now, anyway." 

Hearing that, Elicia nodded her head. Though she wanted to smile, as well, she held back. If she did, Shirou and, most importantly, Saber might get the wrong idea. And if that happened, Shirou might change his mind on the spot. 

"So, I'm ready to give up my [Command Spells] and let you become Saber's Master." Shirou continued. "Though I don't want to admit it, she has a better chance of winning the Holy Grail War with you than she does with me. And that means she'll have a better chance of having her wish granted in the end." 

"Shirou…" Saber murmured in a wispy tone at Shirou's concern for her. 

"I see. Elicia replied with a nod. "Well, Although I can't guarantee that Saber will be the one that comes out on top. I mean, there are just too many variables for that. I can promise tis. If Assassin and Saber end up being the last two Servants standing, I'll let them duke it out on their own, and I won't interfere. Other than that, I'll do my best to make sure that's how things end up." 

Hearing that, both Shirou and Saber sent Elicia grateful gazes. On top of that, Shirou's resolute expression became even firmer after Elicia made her promise. 

"I think that's all I could ask from you, Taylor-San." Shirou said with a nod of his own. 

"And how do you feel about this, Assassin?" Saber asked, turning a curious gaze onto Tatsuo. 

"It's fine with me." Tatsuo replied with a shrug. "I don't really have a wish for the Grail. I'm only here to make sure that Lici wins it." 

That response brought surprised expressions to both Shirou's and Saber's faces. But before they could say anything about it, Elicia stood up from her seat at the low table. 

"Well then, let's get started with this transfer." Elicia said with a smile. "We'll need to head back to the hotel after this. We have to make new strategies and all that stuff, you know?" 

With that, Tatsuo stood up as well, waiting for Shirou and Saber to do the same. 

"So… Um… how is this gonna work?" Shirou asked, unsure of how things will proceed from here. 

Instead of replying, Elicia turned to look at Tatsuo, who would be in charge of the next few parts of the plan. 

"Well, first… [Trace On]." Tatsuo said as he held out his right hand. And with his chant, arcs of midnight purple mana swirled in his palm before forming into a dagger with an iridescent, jagged, and blunt blade that had absolutely no capacity as a weapon. "I'm gonna stab Saber with this." 

The malicious smile on Tatsuo's face when he explained the first step of his plan made Saber step back while summoning her invisible sword into her hands. Meanwhile, Shirou, who started to have second thoughts after seeing that display, even if he was interested in the Magecraft Tatsuo used, quickly stepped between Saber and Tatsuo, even while knowing that he had no chance of helping should Tatsuo actually attack. 

"Stop messing with them, Assassin." Elicia said while rolling her eyes and trying to hold in a giggle after seeing how strongly Shirou and Saber reacted. 

"But am I really messing with them?" Tatsuo asked, his malicious smile turning into an expression filled with innocence. "I really do have to stab Saber with this. Otherwise, how are we gonna break the pact between her and Emiya?" 

"What are you talking about?" Saber asked, her brow furrowing in confusion. 

"Explain properly." Elicia said, her tone making it clear that she was a mother. 

"Tch! Fine~." Tatsuo replied, sounding like the fifteen year old that he was. "Using [Projection Magic], I copied this little beauty wen Caster tried to stab me with it the other night. And although it's not quite as potent as the original, it still has the ability to nullify all magical phenomena. And that includes [Summoning Pacts]." 

"I see." Saber replied as she lowered her sword. Though, she did not dismiss it. 

"Then, after I've severed your pact, I'll use this…" Tatsuo said while raising his left hand and creating a magic circle that floated above it. "This magic circle will allow me to transfer Emiya's [Command Seal] to Lici. And unlike what Kotomine tried to do to the girl from the Mage's Association, I won't have to cut his arm off to do it." 

"Wait, are you serious?" Shirou asked, dumbfounded at wat he just heard. "You're talking about the priest that got replaced before I summoned Saber, right? Are you telling me he actually tried to cut off someone's arm to steal their Servant?" 

"Yup!" Elicia said, once again popping the "P". "And if we weren't there to save her, he would have succeeded, too. It's a good thing we had been trying to gather information on her and had been stalk… I mean *Cough* following her around." 

Shirou and Saber shot Elicia strange looks when they heard her little slip of the tongue. Tatsuo and Scylla, on the other hand, could only shake their heads at Elicia's bad habit rearing its head once again. 

"Hey! Don't look at me like that." Elicia said, a slight blush tinting her cheeks. "Let's just get on with it. Like I said, we need to make new plans with Saber after the transfer is complete." 

While Saber looked a little wary at the shameless Elicia, Shirou's expression showed he had no idea how he should be feeling. Tatsuo, on the other hand, only shrugged his shoulders. Then, he took a step towards Saber with [Rule Breaker] raised in a position to thrust. 

Seeing Tatsuo start to move, Shirou hesitated for a moment. But he ultimately stepped aside, giving Tatsuo a path to Saber. As for Saber, she relaxed slightly. Still, she did not dismiss her sword. But from the expression on her face, it was obvious she would not resist unless Tatsuo gave her a reason to. 

"Ready?" Tatsuo asked, his expression suitably serious for what was about to happen. 

"I am." Saber replied. 

Nodding his head one last time, Tatsuo raised the blade in his hand. Then, he slowly thrust it towards Saber's chest. 

And to Saber and Shirou's surprise, when the tip sank into Saber's chest, it did not physically pierce through her clothing or flesh. Instead, it sank into her body without disrupting her clothing in the slightest. 

*Click!* 

When the blade finally reached the hilt, both Shirou and Saber felt something inside of them. And that something was the breaking of their pact. And as soon as that happened, Saber's body began to shimmer. Because without a Master, Saber was being summoned to return to the Throne of Heroes. 

"Quick, let me see your [Command Seal]." Tatsuo said sharply as he turned to Shirou. 

Meanwhile, without needing to be told, Elicia was already holding out the hand with her [Command Seal] towards Tatsuo. And Shirou, after being snapped back to his senses did the same. 

Tatsuo then held his hands over Elicia's and Shirou's hands before crafting a magic circle over each. 

*Hum!* 

A moment later, once the magic circles were complete, he activated them. And when he did, both Elicia's and Shirou's [Command Seals] began to glow. Then, Shirou's [Command Seal] was sucked into the magic circle floating above it before falling out of the one above Elicia's. 

After that, the new [Command Spell] settled onto the back of Elicia's hand, integrating with her own [Command Seal] and increasing her number of [Command Spells] from three to six. 

"Alright, next it's my turn." Elicia said as she held out her right hand towards Saber. "Hear me!" 

With those words, Elicia's entire aura changed. Gone was the playful, somewhat mischievous air she usually had around her. Replacing it was a solemnity that made everyone certain that she was taking this quite seriously. 

"My will creates your body, and your sword carves my destiny." Elicia said as her [Command Seal] began to glow in a bright red color. "If you hear the Grail's call an submit yourself to my will and reason… Then answer me. And upon hearing your answer, I will entrust my fate to your sword." 

'Seriously? She ripped that right off of the Dubbed version of Unlimited Blade Works.' Tatsuo thought to himself while rolling his eyes fondly. 'Well, I would have probably done the same thing.' 

While Tatsuo found this part of the situation amusing, Saber's expression turned just as solemn as Elicia's. 

"I accept on my honor as a Saber." Saber replied in a sincere tone. "And I take you as my Master… Elicia." 

'She spit the same lines from Unlimited Blade Works, too.' Tatsuo thought to himself as his amused grin widened into a smile. 

At the same time, as a mana pathway was created between Elicia and Saber, Saber's mana exploded outwards, swirling around her as her casual clothes involuntarily transformed into her battle attire. 

Meanwhile, Shirou involuntarily raised his arms to shield his face, even if the swirling mana would not affect him at all. 

With that, the transfer of Servants went off without a hitch. On top of that, Tatsuo could tell that Saber had gotten a lot stronger overall. In fact, by his own estimations, she outclassed him in nearly every category. 

"Oh, this is gonna be fun." Tatsuo said, a battle thirsty grin spreading across his face. 

"So, how do you feel, Saber?" Elicia asked with a wide smile of her own on her face. 

"Powerful." Saber replied while opening and closing her fist. "Even more so than when Kiritsugu was my Master." 

"Thought so." Elicia said, her smile widening. "Not to brag, but I'm a more talented Magus than he was. The only reason he was so dangerous to other Magi is because he used modern weapons in combat, something the average Magus is not prepared for." 

"I see." Saber replied with an understanding nod. She then turned to look at Shirou before bowing her head. "And I must thank you for giving me this opportunity, Shirou. Though I would have fought with all my might to secure victory in the Holy Grail War for the both of us, I must admit that my chances of seeing my wish come to fruition are greater now." 

"Yeah, I get it." Shirou replied with a dismissive wave while turning his face away to hide his blush. "I'm not much of a Magus. So, I'm sure I was holding you back. Even so, I wish you the best. Oh and… you should probably take your scabbard back, too." 

"No, I won't be taking it." Saber replied as she straightened up and shook her head. "I vowed to protect you, Shirou. And although I won't be by your side to do so personally, I'll leave [Avalon] with you to do it in my stead." 

"But---" Shirou tried to argue. 

"Please, just accept it, Shirou." Saber said sternly. "As a knight, I cannot go back on my vow. And this is the only way I can think to honor that vow now." 

Though he wore a complicated expression, Shirou eventually nodded his head and accepted Saber's good will. 

TYPE-MOON Universe, Earth, United Kingdom, London. 

"Hmm… I feel like I've heard those lines before." Zelretch said while watching the ongoings at the Emiya Residence. "Wel, I guess they are lines that mark a turning point in fate. So, I really shouldn't be that surprised to hear them." 

Nodding at his own assumption, Zelretch stroked his beard in a sagely manner. 

"But more important than that, I wonder just how that Taylor girl is going to feed Saber." Zelretch asked himself with a smile. "I'm sure just feeding herself would not be so difficult. But Saber has the potential to eat her Master out of house and home. Even if they are a famous fashion designer in the United States. Well, I guess I could offer some assistance if the food is as good as Saber made it out to be. But only if I'm satisfied after I drop in to visit them in the near future."