[HJ] Since work on the True Arc is on hiatus and/or intended for a redux, here's something else to amuse you on those lonely mornings and evenings in America and elsewhere. A quick warning though: if you are sensitive to the Fourth Wall, or find my style of writing random, please refrain from reading, 'k?
[Rin] HJ–kun! Can you at least start transcribing?!
[HJ] S–Sorry, Tohsaka–chan. Hold on one sec...
[Shirou] (Gee, that was rather blunt of Tohsaka...)
The Prelude to all this...
(on a page on my calc entitled "True Arc Redux – Planning")
Epilogue
(HJ: ...do I have to now...?) / Shirou: "If you want, Tohsaka and I could do a comedy skit or something in the meanwhile." / Rin: "Let's comment on various things in Gil vs Archer, eh~? HJ–kun, if you don't mind. {HJ opens a new document} Ladies and gentlemen, if you could turn to the document 'Emiya and Tohsaka' in your programs..." (We had to relocate since it's getting messy in here... I wish Archer were around to clean it up...~) / HJ: (That's the disadvantage of a calculator. Memory overloads, difficulty of managing documents, and incompatibility make this harder than it should. Sorry guys...))
Episode One
Page One: Intro/Whose Show Is It Again?
{Emiya Shirou and Tohsaka Rin sign in.}
[Shirou] That’s so much better – with our own dedicated network, I can speak properly now!
[Rin] Eeh, you just found parentheses cumbersome. Now, HJ–kun told us about occupying the reader with something like the Notes on the Text, or those fancy post notes in the Fate/UC Stories page...
[Shirou] T–Tohsaka, you do know that this Final Arc isn't done yet? It's not even started! How could we do a Notes on the Text?
[Rin] ...that's true, but I meant commenting on the True Arc, not the Final Arc... wait, why are we referring to our lives as Arcs?!
{HJ, Gakkai no Eiyuu signs in.}
[HJ] Sorry to interrupt, guys, but I'd better prewarn the reader on something: there is no Fourth Wall. We decided to destroy it in favor of building this apartment for Miss Tohsaka and Mr Emiya. So please do not be concerned when you find that they open their door and invite you in. That is all.
{HJ, Gakkai no Eiyuu signs out.}
[Shirou] OK, that was awkward. But yeah, I think they're codenames for alternate destinies for us. Like Fate, UBW and HF are for F/SN.
[Rin] Hmm. But aren't True and Final Arcs supposed to have the same results and events, except that one is more faithful to the Nasuverse and F/SN?
[Shirou] I can't say until HJ–sensei actually begins this Final Arc. I heard he has more exams to endure – poor boy.
[Rin] He's 17, the same age as you, Emiya–kun. He's not exactly a boy... But on that note of exams, there've also been rumors of his Reality Marble, Unlimited Exam Works (or UEW for short). Know anything about it?
[Shirou] A little. Before we moved here, I checked his calculator, which sources much of our information for our network – well, before it overloaded and crashed – and I located a few documents relevant to UEW. One is a moveset, another featuring chants. His moveset is scary – featuring three unique grooves, an overburst mode (aptly named UEW mode), and a bevy of supers, if he were in Fate/UC, he'd be as broken as Lancer. Oh, he included some quotes, too. Mentions some rival by the name of Lioufas.
[Rin] Wow! HJ–kun really is absorbed in all this Fate stuff, eh~ I might check it out later. You did mention about the calculator crashing because it overloaded – do you mean like Magic Circuit overloading?
[Shirou] You could call it that, but it's a little different – Magic Circuit overloading gives you some benefits before destroying you (I was unlucky to endure that in HF), while electrical overloading is just bad. Unsaved data is lost, shattered even when it happens.
[Rin] Eeh, technology. I don't understand it. In any case, challenging HJ–kun when he's ready will be an interesting experience, to say the least (but I know my gems and kenpo should be enough to beat him, eh~?). But wait, I just remembered something. Hold on... {she rummages through the program listing} I think we'd better move on to some actual discussion, eh? We've fallen quite behind now, and I don't want HJ–kun to scold us.
[Shirou] Sure, why not. {he turns toward the audience} Ladies and gentlemen, you are here with Emiya and Tohsaka. I'm Emiya Shirou...
[Rin] ...and I'm Tohsaka Rin. After this short break, and a flip of your page, we will be discussing the True Arc, with its comedy and drama. See you then~
Page Two: True Arc Notes, On and Off the Text
[Shirou] Alright, so the grand True Arc, in its incomplete glory. What did you want to discuss first, Tohsaka?
[Rin] I suppose we'd best inform our friends watching (eh, listening too~?) of the history of 'Gilgamesh vs Archer' before we get started. HJ–kun initially developed a file called 'Fate/UC Stories' and planned two different encounters, Gilgamesh vs Archer, and Bazett vs Lancer. He never got around to the latter, but the former was a stunning success, with its crude humor and Messenger styled exchanges over three 'rounds', much like in Fate/UC itself.
[Shirou] However, everything changed one fateful day in Round Three. Fed up with the light hearted tone of the previous rounds, this one exploded into a melodrama/epic crossover, and despite the obvious lack of canon, formed an even more engrossing basis for HJ–sensei's planned remake into three Arcs: Archer Arc, Gilgamesh Arc, and True Arc, the last of which is our topic for the moment.
[Rin] Note too that the True Arc is in narratory style, where as everything prior to it was in dialogue (this is as well, but it isn't exactly prior now, is it~?), and so sets a different tone and a little less immediacy. And that, Emiya–kun, is what we should discuss first: how well has HJ–kun pulled off narration in the True Arc?
[Shirou] Hmm... It certainly gives a lot more depth to all aspects of the environment and action, which is good. However, the narration does tend to drag along a bit too much per Part; HJ–sensei wishes to tone this down a bit, and I look forward to it. Your thoughts, Tohsaka?
[Rin] Much the same. Honestly, though, those moments in Part One, with your comical knockaways, were a joy to read (not because of your suffering, Emiya–kun, in case you're concerned. I meant the comedic delivery of them). I like how HJ–kun keeps his reader informed as much as possible without revealing the next outcome too rapidly – in that way, he's kept the immediacy present.
[Shirou] That's great, and I agree completely. In the meanwhile, we'll open our hotline so you can vote, 'Is HJ's narration suitable for the True Arc?' Alright, I suppose immediacy is rather important in terms of action and battle scenarios, so how did you feel about them, Tohsaka?
[Rin] I'm taking my references from a printed copy, since this calculator version is glitchy and doesn't open. Overall, the action was engaging to be worthwhile reading, but it was perhaps a little too much explained. Effects such as "the clash of metal rang like a bright church bell", for example.
[Shirou] That's also what I was going to say. But what I find rather dexterous is HJ–sensei's ability to burlesque those seemingly boring events, like the Fate/UC match or even my chat with Saber in Part 3. Who could forget that moment of "...you should have seen Fujimura–san and Rin! ...The two of them are very ardent young ladies, don't you think... So full of passion!"?
[Rin] Emiya–kun... please don't remind me~ Now then, before I embarrass myself and slap someone unconscious, let's take a quick five second break before we continue, OK?
[Shirou] S–Sorry, Tohsaka. Anyway, we've had our break, and I think it's now time to discuss that critical weakness of HJ–sensei's work – the various inconsistencies in terms of confrontations, character behavior and background. I'll discuss the first, since most of them related to me. Case 1: me fighting Archer – what does passion have to do with it?; Example 2: I don't think I'd specifically reiterate "Trace ON/OFF" and "I'll make that a command" as it sounds bland and repetitive; Number 3, and most ridiculous: projecting the Axe Sword. I mean, what? I'd die from that!
[Rin] Eeh, while it is indeed true that these discrepancies exist – and I know that the duration for UBW was unbelievably long – I think it's a reflection of HJ–kun’s narratory style. Yes, it could be polished to increase its grounding in Fate, but it's quite alright as it is. Sometimes the less perfect works are treasured as a greater memory.
[Shirou] You sound as if you admire HJ–sensei's work, Tohsaka.
[Rin] I guess I do. The creativity and genuine feeling he's put into the part–creation of our lives – whoops, I mean, the True Arc – certainly permeates one's own emotions, wouldn't you say?
[Shirou] Now that you bring it up, I guess so. If only I could bring Fuyuki more than just my help in mechanics. A story, or perhaps some artwork, or a ceremonial gift of some sort... (begins drawing Caliburn on his paper)
[Rin] Oh Emiya–kun~! I'm sure everyone you know will say you bring a smile to their face when you talk to them. {smiling deeply} You already bring happiness to so many others; don't be so hard on yourself and think you need to commit more deeds!
[Shirou] I–I–I don't know what to say, Tohsaka. W–Well... {presses a few panel buttons} HJ–sensei, if you don't mind closing the poll and start running advertisements for Medea's Antique Dragontooth Furniture... ...This is Emiya and Tohsaka...
[Rin] And next up, the rumors of a devious plan for a visual novel. Sounds fun~!
[HJ] That's all I can do for now. Transcribing is painful... And I have other things to do.
[Shirou] Such as...?
[HJ] Drawing Tohsaka–chan.
[Rin] H–H–HJ–kun! {colours deeply}
[HJ] Oh dear... Anyway, I'll update again when I get the next three pages of Episode One (that's all I've done anyway) transcribed. See you then~
[Rin] HJ–kun! Can you at least start transcribing?!
[HJ] S–Sorry, Tohsaka–chan. Hold on one sec...
[Shirou] (Gee, that was rather blunt of Tohsaka...)
The Prelude to all this...
(on a page on my calc entitled "True Arc Redux – Planning")
Epilogue
(HJ: ...do I have to now...?) / Shirou: "If you want, Tohsaka and I could do a comedy skit or something in the meanwhile." / Rin: "Let's comment on various things in Gil vs Archer, eh~? HJ–kun, if you don't mind. {HJ opens a new document} Ladies and gentlemen, if you could turn to the document 'Emiya and Tohsaka' in your programs..." (We had to relocate since it's getting messy in here... I wish Archer were around to clean it up...~) / HJ: (That's the disadvantage of a calculator. Memory overloads, difficulty of managing documents, and incompatibility make this harder than it should. Sorry guys...))
Episode One
Page One: Intro/Whose Show Is It Again?
{Emiya Shirou and Tohsaka Rin sign in.}
[Shirou] That’s so much better – with our own dedicated network, I can speak properly now!
[Rin] Eeh, you just found parentheses cumbersome. Now, HJ–kun told us about occupying the reader with something like the Notes on the Text, or those fancy post notes in the Fate/UC Stories page...
[Shirou] T–Tohsaka, you do know that this Final Arc isn't done yet? It's not even started! How could we do a Notes on the Text?
[Rin] ...that's true, but I meant commenting on the True Arc, not the Final Arc... wait, why are we referring to our lives as Arcs?!
{HJ, Gakkai no Eiyuu signs in.}
[HJ] Sorry to interrupt, guys, but I'd better prewarn the reader on something: there is no Fourth Wall. We decided to destroy it in favor of building this apartment for Miss Tohsaka and Mr Emiya. So please do not be concerned when you find that they open their door and invite you in. That is all.
{HJ, Gakkai no Eiyuu signs out.}
[Shirou] OK, that was awkward. But yeah, I think they're codenames for alternate destinies for us. Like Fate, UBW and HF are for F/SN.
[Rin] Hmm. But aren't True and Final Arcs supposed to have the same results and events, except that one is more faithful to the Nasuverse and F/SN?
[Shirou] I can't say until HJ–sensei actually begins this Final Arc. I heard he has more exams to endure – poor boy.
[Rin] He's 17, the same age as you, Emiya–kun. He's not exactly a boy... But on that note of exams, there've also been rumors of his Reality Marble, Unlimited Exam Works (or UEW for short). Know anything about it?
[Shirou] A little. Before we moved here, I checked his calculator, which sources much of our information for our network – well, before it overloaded and crashed – and I located a few documents relevant to UEW. One is a moveset, another featuring chants. His moveset is scary – featuring three unique grooves, an overburst mode (aptly named UEW mode), and a bevy of supers, if he were in Fate/UC, he'd be as broken as Lancer. Oh, he included some quotes, too. Mentions some rival by the name of Lioufas.
[Rin] Wow! HJ–kun really is absorbed in all this Fate stuff, eh~ I might check it out later. You did mention about the calculator crashing because it overloaded – do you mean like Magic Circuit overloading?
[Shirou] You could call it that, but it's a little different – Magic Circuit overloading gives you some benefits before destroying you (I was unlucky to endure that in HF), while electrical overloading is just bad. Unsaved data is lost, shattered even when it happens.
[Rin] Eeh, technology. I don't understand it. In any case, challenging HJ–kun when he's ready will be an interesting experience, to say the least (but I know my gems and kenpo should be enough to beat him, eh~?). But wait, I just remembered something. Hold on... {she rummages through the program listing} I think we'd better move on to some actual discussion, eh? We've fallen quite behind now, and I don't want HJ–kun to scold us.
[Shirou] Sure, why not. {he turns toward the audience} Ladies and gentlemen, you are here with Emiya and Tohsaka. I'm Emiya Shirou...
[Rin] ...and I'm Tohsaka Rin. After this short break, and a flip of your page, we will be discussing the True Arc, with its comedy and drama. See you then~
Page Two: True Arc Notes, On and Off the Text
[Shirou] Alright, so the grand True Arc, in its incomplete glory. What did you want to discuss first, Tohsaka?
[Rin] I suppose we'd best inform our friends watching (eh, listening too~?) of the history of 'Gilgamesh vs Archer' before we get started. HJ–kun initially developed a file called 'Fate/UC Stories' and planned two different encounters, Gilgamesh vs Archer, and Bazett vs Lancer. He never got around to the latter, but the former was a stunning success, with its crude humor and Messenger styled exchanges over three 'rounds', much like in Fate/UC itself.
[Shirou] However, everything changed one fateful day in Round Three. Fed up with the light hearted tone of the previous rounds, this one exploded into a melodrama/epic crossover, and despite the obvious lack of canon, formed an even more engrossing basis for HJ–sensei's planned remake into three Arcs: Archer Arc, Gilgamesh Arc, and True Arc, the last of which is our topic for the moment.
[Rin] Note too that the True Arc is in narratory style, where as everything prior to it was in dialogue (this is as well, but it isn't exactly prior now, is it~?), and so sets a different tone and a little less immediacy. And that, Emiya–kun, is what we should discuss first: how well has HJ–kun pulled off narration in the True Arc?
[Shirou] Hmm... It certainly gives a lot more depth to all aspects of the environment and action, which is good. However, the narration does tend to drag along a bit too much per Part; HJ–sensei wishes to tone this down a bit, and I look forward to it. Your thoughts, Tohsaka?
[Rin] Much the same. Honestly, though, those moments in Part One, with your comical knockaways, were a joy to read (not because of your suffering, Emiya–kun, in case you're concerned. I meant the comedic delivery of them). I like how HJ–kun keeps his reader informed as much as possible without revealing the next outcome too rapidly – in that way, he's kept the immediacy present.
[Shirou] That's great, and I agree completely. In the meanwhile, we'll open our hotline so you can vote, 'Is HJ's narration suitable for the True Arc?' Alright, I suppose immediacy is rather important in terms of action and battle scenarios, so how did you feel about them, Tohsaka?
[Rin] I'm taking my references from a printed copy, since this calculator version is glitchy and doesn't open. Overall, the action was engaging to be worthwhile reading, but it was perhaps a little too much explained. Effects such as "the clash of metal rang like a bright church bell", for example.
[Shirou] That's also what I was going to say. But what I find rather dexterous is HJ–sensei's ability to burlesque those seemingly boring events, like the Fate/UC match or even my chat with Saber in Part 3. Who could forget that moment of "...you should have seen Fujimura–san and Rin! ...The two of them are very ardent young ladies, don't you think... So full of passion!"?
[Rin] Emiya–kun... please don't remind me~ Now then, before I embarrass myself and slap someone unconscious, let's take a quick five second break before we continue, OK?
[Shirou] S–Sorry, Tohsaka. Anyway, we've had our break, and I think it's now time to discuss that critical weakness of HJ–sensei's work – the various inconsistencies in terms of confrontations, character behavior and background. I'll discuss the first, since most of them related to me. Case 1: me fighting Archer – what does passion have to do with it?; Example 2: I don't think I'd specifically reiterate "Trace ON/OFF" and "I'll make that a command" as it sounds bland and repetitive; Number 3, and most ridiculous: projecting the Axe Sword. I mean, what? I'd die from that!
[Rin] Eeh, while it is indeed true that these discrepancies exist – and I know that the duration for UBW was unbelievably long – I think it's a reflection of HJ–kun’s narratory style. Yes, it could be polished to increase its grounding in Fate, but it's quite alright as it is. Sometimes the less perfect works are treasured as a greater memory.
[Shirou] You sound as if you admire HJ–sensei's work, Tohsaka.
[Rin] I guess I do. The creativity and genuine feeling he's put into the part–creation of our lives – whoops, I mean, the True Arc – certainly permeates one's own emotions, wouldn't you say?
[Shirou] Now that you bring it up, I guess so. If only I could bring Fuyuki more than just my help in mechanics. A story, or perhaps some artwork, or a ceremonial gift of some sort... (begins drawing Caliburn on his paper)
[Rin] Oh Emiya–kun~! I'm sure everyone you know will say you bring a smile to their face when you talk to them. {smiling deeply} You already bring happiness to so many others; don't be so hard on yourself and think you need to commit more deeds!
[Shirou] I–I–I don't know what to say, Tohsaka. W–Well... {presses a few panel buttons} HJ–sensei, if you don't mind closing the poll and start running advertisements for Medea's Antique Dragontooth Furniture... ...This is Emiya and Tohsaka...
[Rin] And next up, the rumors of a devious plan for a visual novel. Sounds fun~!
[HJ] That's all I can do for now. Transcribing is painful... And I have other things to do.
[Shirou] Such as...?
[HJ] Drawing Tohsaka–chan.
[Rin] H–H–HJ–kun! {colours deeply}
[HJ] Oh dear... Anyway, I'll update again when I get the next three pages of Episode One (that's all I've done anyway) transcribed. See you then~
