Stabbings and Summonings (Part one)

Ishtar, for all her skill as a Babylonian war goddess, was being pushed back. 'Who is this Lancer!?'

'Well, they seem to have Celtic origins, given those runes...' Rin thinks, focusing on analysis. This battle wasn't going well. Whoever this Lancer was, they had a ton of skill behind them, evading or deflecting almost every shot Ishtar sent at the violet haired Servant.

"You seem fairly powerful for an Archer." The Lancer commented, leaping forward and forcing Ishtar to the courtyard. Suddenly, three pillar of flame erupted from beneath her, forcing the goddess to dodge. "Though it is odd you use your master's body to fight. Though, I suppose it's time to finish this." She declared a she readied her spear, a second one forming in her other hand. She was about to thrust, when she suddenly stopped

"Hmm, sorry to disappoint you, but it seems we have a witness." The unknown lancer said with a frown. This comment caught both Rin and Ishtar off guard, following the new line of their adversaries sight to see... Shirou!? What was he doing here!?

Before either of them could respond, their adversary has thrown both of her spears at him. One went straight while the other zigzagged in a spiraling motion around the other, both meeting at the same point - Shirou's heart.

Rin was struck speechless. Whatever her issues were with him, he didn't need to die! Ishtar returned her focus to the Lancer, who had summoned another spear. "It seems we'll have to call it off. The moonlit world can't be found out by non-mages, after all. Take care of the body, will you?" She turned around and dissipated into her spirit form, vanishing.

Ishtar hurried over to the body, looking him over as Rin screamed in her head "Come on! We have to save him!"

"This wound is cursed, specifically to prevent healing." Ishtar said, shaking her head. "Unless you have something that can help me get past that, master, I don't think this will wor-"

"Put me in charge then!" Rin demands, startling Ishtar into doing so. The mage kept thinking, biting her thumb as she thought before remembering something. Reaching into her jacket pocket, she retrieved a red gemstone pendant. "I was saving 10 years worth of mana in this... this is not how I expected to use this... Ishtar, help me with this." Rin commands, Ishtar supplying additional mana to heal the deep wound into Shirou's heart.

After several long minutes, Rin wiped her brow. Thanks to Ishtar's mana, her gemstone still had some magical energy remaining, but she herself felt winded. "That was difficult." Rin spoke aloud to Ishtar in her head. "I'm surprised we managed to heal past that curse, even with both of us helping."

"Yes, I won't be in full fighting shape for a bit, but we were able to save Sakura's Owner." The goddess commented. Rin had been trying to ignore that fact, but it was true. And since Sakura was her sister, of course she wasn't going to let her be sad over this.

_"So, what now?" _The goddess's next question, though, through her for a bit. She had just been planning to leave him here. Given mages couldn't let their activity be known to those who weren't part of their world, it was the simplest means of keeping what had happened secret. He might think it was just a dream, after all.

"Technically, he owns Sakura. And, Sakura owns us. Would that make us his property by proxy?" The goddess responded to her master's confusion.

"N-no!" Came Rin's immediate reply with a deep blush as she immediately tried to deny the possibility. "W-well, maybe, but not directly. And I don't have to do anything my owner doesn't tell me to do!" She huffed.

"But you know Sakura cares about him, and I can tell it comes from more than ownership." Ishtar countered, a smug tone in her thoughts that really got under Rin's skin. Hearing her own voice talk smugly back at her was both awkward and slightly frustrating. "We should take him to his house. It would probably be safest and he would be more comfortable there than resting on the hard floor."

"... fine." The Master relented, lifting Shirou up princess carry style, and making a run to Shirou's home, making sure she wasn't seen. She had enough issues doing this with Ishtar teasing her in her head for carrying him like this, she didn't need more problems tonight after everything...

Meanwhile, as Rin carried Shirou home...

"... I summon the forth, Guardian of the Scales!" Sakura intoned holding out her hand as the glowing circle in the Tohsaka Household lit up, surging with energy as she summoned her servant...

(Sorry about the shorter chapter, got frustrated not posting here for so long. Hope you all enjoy this. Feel free to leave comments, constructive criticism, and ideas for future chapters in the comments!)