Author's Notes: Yes, it has been far too long, two years I do believe. Watched the first season of UBW and thought, 'Okay…let's do this.' I've got some renewed energy for this story and I really do love everyone's encouraging words.

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A Second Chance

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(Rin's POV)

I awaken, like so many times before, still feeling though I am in a dream within a dream. I have lost my Archer, his past no longer invades my dreams, and I feel nothing of him lingering. Our severed bond is just that, gone. I have a new servant now and I've avenged my father's death. I don't really know how to feel, but I don't have time for my feelings to wait to register. I learned something about myself, I am capable of murder and stealing a master's seals. I prided myself on having morals and I always told myself that I would stick to them even when the war came, but it was different with Kirei. It was self-defense and justice. I believe I was chosen as the heir to the Tohsaka family because I am cold and resolved to do what I must. I just wish I didn't feel…

"Don't feel any guilt or remorse," Lancer's voice enters my ears, "He possessed none."

Already our bond has begun to work. 'It's confusing,' I think.

"It's because you're a good woman."

I lay in my bed registering his words and decide I can't go back to the past. I can only move forward. I would send Lancer to confirm if Illyasviel has confronted Shirou and Saber but we're both still too weak for any possible recourse. Kirei overlooked deactivating the barrier protecting the grounds—he probably believed I wouldn't be alive much longer anyways.

'I feel fortunate because for some reason I am not alone.'

"Damn right you're not," announced Lancer, appearing in the chair next to my bed. He has a toothy grin plastered on his face, "Cute night gown."

I don't have it in me to blush. I think we're past the blushing phase; he did kind of save my life and vice versa. "We've got a grail to win!"

'That's right. I can't let setbacks get in the way. We're going to kick Caster's ass and knock some sense into Archer! I'll show him that I can be a real mage and make him pay for betraying me!'

Lancer seems amused, "Getting feisty are we?"

I sit up and clench my fist. "I guess I am! Now I'm really angry, you know that? Archer never thought that I acted like a true mage. He said that my arrangement with Emiya Shirou and Saber was a poor choice, and that Caster was a real mage and I had lost my nerve."

Lancer leans forward, whistles and then grins, "If he could have seen you take Kirei's seals and finish that bastard, he'd be eating his words right now."

My resolve has hardened, I'm back. I know the path I must take. "I'm going to win this war because someone has to," I admit with a smile, "and you're just the servant to help me do it."

"What's the plan my wonderful master?"

I close my eyes and think for a moment. I did everything wrong with Archer. Archer wasn't the servant I wanted, he claimed to not recall his past, and deep down, I know he lied. He was never honest with me and Archer from day one did not respect me as his master. I had to use a command seal for him to even follow my directions, even then he couldn't be trusted around Shirou. I have a chance for a new start.

I open my eyes and give Lancer an earnest expression. "Lancer, tell me about your class. Teach me so that I can assist you on the battlefield. I've seen Caster and her master work as a team. I was too late to work with Archer, so I want our relationship to be different. I want to win!"

Lancer for once is speechless and it takes a moment for him to blink, collect his thoughts and grin. "I couldn't possibly have a more wonderful master."

Oh the compliments…but they aren't snarky like Archer's, and I miss him. I miss that I thought I had drawn a servant who would support me, but I drew wrong. Tohsaka's don't blindly trust, we're cold and resolved, but I liked not being alone. I liked a lot of things about Archer, especially when he would let his guard down around me.

I'm going to make this work with Lancer. He disobeyed Kirei's orders to kill me and fought the command to sit by and watch my death. He's an infamous playboy, I can tell, but I like people like him.

"First I will tell you about my wish," begins Lancer, and his face is full of sincerity, "I want to die in a valiant fight as it was not something I achieved in life. I had wished to avenge Bazett, but you," he pauses and takes hold of my hand and rubs his thumb against the newly acquired command seals, "well you wonderful woman assisted me with that goal."

I tap his hand with a smile, "You helped me too."

"What is it you desire from the grail?" He sets his gaze and locks eyes with me.

"I want to honor my family and find the root of magic, but…" I pause and his eyes urge me to continue, "There was something Archer once said that just stuck with me. He said to Shirou that borrowed ideals could never become a reality. It made me wonder if my ideals were really my own."

"Look, I'm not the best example on family relationships, but I think you did a good job honoring your father."

"Thank you, Lancer. I believe when we win the grail, I will know what my desire should be."

"Alright then, since that's settled, let me tell you about my style of fighting."

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We have tea in the sitting room and I learn a great deal about the Hound of Culann. I realize that he enjoys fighting with a level of intensity that Kirei would not allow to be harnessed. Good…that means Archer and Caster haven't seen the full extent of his abilities. He's a demi-god so his speed should rival that of Illyasviel's beast, and lances are effective against swords because they can't be effectively parried. This is an advantage to us because Archer, Saber and Beserker all use swords and speed in battle. My servant's lance is the Gae Bolg a cursed spear that inflicts wounds impossible to heal as long as it remains in this world. I also have a vast level of prana supply…well, I will after I fully heal in another day.

I return my tea cup to my saucer and smile, "I believe I am the perfect master for you, Lancer. My prena mastery will be of great assistance when we kick Caster's ass."

Lancer grins, "When you smile like that, it makes me excited to go into battle."

He's not the only one.

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(Lancer's POV)

This girl's been through a lot. Betrayed by her servant, then that bastard Kotomine damn near killed her after revealing he had murdered her father. She's strong and she's the kind of woman I can fight with. I am going to try to free Archer from Caster's control, but if he tries to hurt her again I will kill him.

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(Archer's POV)

"What is that?"

I look up from holding the mana compass that was in my pocket. "A silly piece that belonged to my more than likely dead master."

"A mana compass? It's rare to see one still working."

I look down at the arrow pointing north. I know full well that Rin is still alive for she charmed it to detect her magic. I don't know why the damn thing is still in my hand, but I have bigger things to worry about. If Berserker doesn't kill my idiotic past self in battle, then I will have to find a way to do it. Caster is a ruthless mage, unlike my former master, she has the resolve to do what needs to be done to win.

"Is it? I wouldn't know." I put the compass back into my pocket, strangely resisting the urge to throw it to the ground and shatter it.

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(Saber's POV)

"Shirou?! Shirou!?" I repeat his name, seeing his slumped form on the side of the compound's grounds. "Can you hear me?!"

We barely escaped…I don't know how we managed it but something made Illyasviel stop. A bird, a familiar, stopped in front of her.

"Berserker it would appear that Rin is no longer a threat to us."

Saber's stance was still ready for a fight. She spared a glance toward Shirou who was unconscious from blood loss. Would she really have to release Excalibur here? She had no way of healing her wounds and things were looking grim.

"What do you mean Rin is no longer a threat?!"

Illyasviel smiled, a look of innocence and bliss on her face, "Rin is no longer a master and soon to be dead."

"Archer has been defeated?" I stand contemplating my options…Caster and Berserker and Lancer still remain in the war.

Her smile turns sinister, "Not quite. He merely has a different master and from what my familiar tells me he's currently enjoying slowly killing Rin."

My breath hitches and I watch as the young's girl's expression shifts to a troubled one.

"If Rin didn't become the vessel then…." She motions for her servant to withdraw. "Berserker, we're done here."

There was no way I could have left Shirou and made it in time to assist Rin. I look at Shirou's sleeping form, having tended to his wounds and gotten him to bed.

Illyasviel will probably go after Caster now that their deal has been broken. I start to think of what course of action we should take now but the phone interrupts my thoughts.

"Emiya residence…"

My eyes widen at the voice on the other end. It sounds hoarse and weak but I recognize her voice, "Rin?"

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"Saber? You're alive…"

"I should say the same to you," replied Saber with a sigh.

"You ran into Illyasviel didn't you?" questioned the mage. "It's the only reason I could conjure that you wouldn't arrive."

"We did. Rin…Illyasviel said that you're no longer a master. Is this true?"

"She was mistaken. Is Emiya-kun alright?"

"I have tended to Shirou's wounds…he will sleep for some time," informs the female servant, "Rin…is it true about Archer's betrayal?"

"Yes…it's true. Archer is now our enemy."

"Then how?" a voice interrupts her question from the other end and causes her eyes to widen, "Rin? Is that Lancer?!"

"It's a long story…stay within the bounded field of the compound for tonight. You two should be safe from attack."

"We will…and Rin?"

"Yes?"

"I'm relieved to know that you're alive."

Rin smiled at the sincerity in her voice, "Same with you two. Saber?"

"Yes, Rin?"

"Stay alert with Shirou, alright? We now have three powerful opponents."

"Of course. Good night, Rin."

"Good night, Saber."

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(Rin's POV)

I hang up the phone with a sigh. Archer, I think I figured out who you really are. If I'm right, then your motives will be easy to figure out. When the time comes I will set you free from Caster's grip.

"What's up?"

Lancer's voice penetrates my thoughts. I look up and inform him, "I was merely thinking that the only way of saving Archer may be to kill him before he kills us."

Especially if he wants to kill Emiya Shirou.

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There! I am back right before a new year. Hope you will take a moment to review.