In modern romance TV dramas, animations, and movies, there are always male and female main characters who run away together, leave their original social circles, escape to unknown corners of the world, and live a simple but happy life, ending the story this way.
The reason for this kind of ending is that the main characters can't overcome the contradictions in their original social circles. The creator of the story is also too tired and unable to come up with a more reasonable ending that resolves all the conflicts in the story. So they simply choose to give up everything as the ending.
And this is the nature of humans.
Compared to facing difficulties and unsolvable problems, humans easily choose to escape reality, using self-numbing to ignore potential problems.
However, as the saying goes, escaping is shameful but helpful.
The act of escaping reality does indeed make people feel regret for not solving the crisis that should be solved, but as long as they overcome this, people can often find redemption.
Shirou doesn't deny the choice of escape, but on the condition that it is a choice from the heart, a last resort when there is no other way...
If there are still ways to solve the problem, if there is still time to prepare for the final crisis, then one should not choose to escape, but should try one's best, using all possible means, to try to cope.
If one cannot win even after trying everything, escaping reality may not be a bad last choice.
Back to Ariel's question.
Ariel does face huge obstacles in becoming king. It may take her a long time to overcome this obstacle, and she may not even get Perugius's approval in the end.
However, the possibility of failure doesn't mean she should give up now.
Because on the contrary, she still has the possibility of success.
As long as there is still a glimmer of hope, one must not give up and surrender easily. Even if it's ugly and embarrassing, one should try one's best and fight to the last moment.
This is Shirou's idea, and it's also the choice he once made.
Now, facing Ariel, who is shaken, confused, and unable to see the path ahead, Shirou decides to use practical actions to make her understand the consequences of making the wrong choice.
And what one needs to give if one doesn't want to face bad consequences.
...
In the boundless wilderness, the endless wheat fields gradually disappear, leaving only green grass.
Shirou leads a steed, walking forward silently. On the horse sits a golden-haired girl, holding the reins in an elegant posture.
"Shirou, why don't you come up and ride with me?"
Watching Shirou walk ahead, Ariel asks in a pleasant voice.
She obviously thinks that Shirou can sit on the horse, and the two can ride together.
"No, it's okay."
Shirou shakes his head, and instinctively looks at Ariel behind him. He slightly imagines the scene of the two of them riding on the same horse, with him having to hold her in his arms, and he decisively denies the idea.
That kind of thing is too exciting for him.
"Why? Do you think riding with me is an unpleasant thing?"
Ariel doesn't understand, and even seems a little depressed.
Shirou knows that this is because Ariel has been frustrated recently, causing her to become insecure.
In this situation, he naturally won't take advantage of her weakness, and quickly makes an excuse: "Walking the horse like this can exercise my body and allow me to better adapt to the armor on my body."
Shirou's words are an excuse, but also not an excuse.
Because he does need to continue to adapt to the armor given to him by the Sword God, so that he can wield the Longsword of Light even while wearing the heavy armor.
"Armor..."
Ariel notices the heavy armor that Shirou has been wearing. She's curious, but she doesn't ask questions casually.
After all, it involves a field she doesn't understand. Saying something too casual would only make him dislike her.
She doesn't know when it started, but Ariel finds herself becoming concerned about Shirou's attitude towards her.
She usually doesn't care about the opinions of people around her.
In fact, most people like her very much.
From a young age, Ariel realized that she had a natural charm that could attract almost everyone. This charm grew as she got older, until she could almost win the favor of everyone.
Even her political opponents would often give her gentle looks in situations where they didn't have to fight. Only mortal enemies would truly hate her, but those people were a minority...
So, Ariel has become accustomed to the state where most people like and respect her.
However, after growing up, Ariel also realized that not everyone in this world would be caring towards her because of her looks and temperament.
There were also many people who would hate her, dislike her, and reject her because of it.
When faced with such things, Ariel didn't act helpless. On the contrary, she skillfully controlled the distance between herself and others, reducing the number of people who hated her and increasing the number of people who liked her.
For her, making people around her like her is as natural as breathing.
Even Shirou, although he always seems to reject his surroundings and keep his distance from others, Ariel can feel that he also has some liking for her.
However, precisely because of this, Ariel understands even more that people like Shirou won't show loyalty to someone because of simple liking.
Because people like this often have firm goals, unwavering wills, and the determination to achieve their goals at all costs.
Simple words cannot shake their will, and empty shells cannot win their approval.
So in reality, Ariel has long known that she cannot get the approval of the Dragon King.
Because the Dragon King and Shirou are fundamentally the same kind of people. They are all stubborn beings with clear goals, firm wills, and who will never change their desires.
In comparison, Ariel is not such a person.
She doesn't have such a firm will, doesn't have a clear ideal, and doesn't have the belief that she will do whatever it takes to achieve her goals.
Compared to Shirou, she is too empty and too humble.
She is just an empty doll who can only shake the minds of the viewers on stage with false words, but cannot resonate with the souls of the audience.
Ariel understands all of this very clearly, so she asks Shirou if he would be with her if she gave up becoming king.
For Ariel, she is already a false and meaningless existence. Since that's the case, she might as well get closer to those real people.
Only in this way can she more truly feel that she is alive and not a useless tool.
Of course, this may also contain some more simple emotions, but Ariel is currently unable to think about those things.
Moreover, Shirou didn't agree to her.
He didn't even fulfill such a simple and pure wish for her.
This undoubtedly makes Ariel feel very disappointed, but at the same time, she is also very curious about what Shirou wants to show her.
Shirou and Ariel travel to the suburbs. On the right is a clear river, and on the left, you can see an empty plain and forest.
Even in the northern lands, this season is full of greenery.
Earlier, there were potato and wheat fields, but now there is only a vast wilderness with nothing.
Shirou isn't sure how long they've been traveling, but it seems like they've arrived in an uninhabited place.
The fish in the river reflect the light of the sun.
This seems like a good place to fish. If he has the chance, Shirou plans to come here to catch some fish and take them back for dinner.
Of course, these things aren't important.
"We're here."
Shirou stops the horse in an open space and helps Ariel down.
Ariel looks at the surrounding environment and finds that there is nothing around, a completely desolate place.
She jokes, "Shirou, you're not going to kidnap me to a place like this and turn me into a slave, are you?"
"How is that possible?"
Shirou denies it decisively.
But he also knows that Ariel is joking, as can be seen from the smile on her face.
However, although Ariel is indeed smiling, her smile is emptier than before, and you can clearly feel that she has lost something.
Shirou doesn't say anything about it, but takes Ariel to an open space, prepares for a while, and then says to Ariel, "Before we start, can you listen to a story?"
"A story?"
Hearing Shirou's words, Ariel's expression gradually becomes serious. She knows that what he is about to tell her may be very important, and she no longer shows any casual expression.
Shirou doesn't waste time and quickly tells Ariel everything that happened to him.
Having had the experience of telling Eris before, Shirou tells the story more smoothly this time, without any confusing parts.
Ariel's own understanding is also quite high. She doesn't interrupt Shirou's story, but she almost understands what Shirou is describing.
From when Shirou was saved by Emiya Kiritsugu as a child and accepted his idea of pursuing justice, to later when Shirou chose to give up justice for his sister Miyu, fighting to protect his family...
The whole story isn't long, but Ariel, listening to Shirou's story, feels like a long time has passed.
Until a breeze blows from a distance, disturbing her hair, the girl suddenly wakes up and realizes that a long time has passed.
"In short, that's what I've experienced."
Shirou says quietly, "This isn't an interesting story, nor is it a hero's story. It's just that I had to sacrifice everything to save someone important..."
"No, in my opinion, Shirou, you are almost a hero."
Ariel says in shock.
Although there are many strange parts in Shirou's story, and even Eris could sense the problems, as the Second Princess, who is more perceptive than Eris, Ariel almost instantly judges that the story Shirou is telling may not have happened in the Asura Kingdom, and may not even have happened in this world.
But she doesn't care where the story happened, but respects everything that Shirou has done, and realizes more and more that he is a strong person.
This strength isn't just simple power, but that tough and unyielding spirit that never gives up.
It even makes Ariel feel respect from the bottom of her heart.
"No, I'm not a hero."
Regarding Ariel's attitude, Shirou still shakes his head, "I didn't become a hero. Compared to me, the other me is the one who became a hero."
"Are you referring to the future you who lent you his power?"
"That's right."
Shirou nods and looks at Ariel, "Becoming a hero is a difficult thing, because it's destined to be accompanied by pain, despair, and danger. You can never enjoy the peace and happiness of ordinary people."
"This..."
Ariel falls silent.
Anyone can understand great principles, but most people obviously cannot understand the true meaning of these words.
Shirou also knows that Ariel cannot understand, and he says quietly, "That was my own story, but it was essentially to help you understand what happened. What I really want to tell you is the story of another me, which is what the future me has encountered."
"The future you?"
Ariel's eyes are confused. She obviously cannot understand such an abstract concept.
Shirou doesn't care too much about this and quickly describes it to her, telling the story of the other him, Servant Emiya.
He tells how Servant Emiya gave everything to pursue justice, constantly walking on the path of justice, until he finally signed a contract with the world, sacrificing himself to save countless people. But in the end, he was betrayed by the very people he saved and sent to the gallows. Because of this, after death, he was bound by the Counter Force, becoming a tool for the Counter Force to protect humanity, embarking on a path contrary to justice...
"..."
Hearing Shirou's story, Ariel falls into a longer silence than before.
Because unlike Shirou's story, Servant Emiya's story is a purely tragic one, full of sadness and suffering, with no redemption in sight.
In comparison, even if Shirou experienced a lot of pain, at least the ending was good, and he accomplished the salvation he wanted to achieve.
Ariel seems to understand what Shirou wants to tell her.
But she can't express her thoughts from her heart.
At the same time, Shirou doesn't comment too much on Servant Emiya's tragic life. He just quietly walks to the center of the open space and looks at the patterns on his palm.
"When a person desires to become a hero, they must be prepared to pay the price. Similarly, if they want to give up the path of a hero and become an ordinary person, they must also make huge sacrifices. We cannot be sure which path is more correct, nor can we see what kind of ending we will reach. But at least, I think what we must do as human beings is to not regret our choices."
"The future me fell into regret. He hates himself, but he doesn't actually hate becoming a partner of justice. Instead, he hates betraying the partner of justice. In comparison, I seem to have achieved success and achieved my goals, but I may not have become the ideal version of myself. There are countless paths, and not every path that reaches the end is the correct path, nor is every path that is mired in suffering the wrong path."
"In short, what I want to say is, Princess Ariel, please don't ever forget your original intention. If the original intention is gone, no matter how correct the choice you make, you are destined to fall into regret in the end."
Shirou's words are like sweet dew pouring over Ariel.
The girl stares blankly at the youth standing before her, not knowing what to say for a moment.
And Shirou slowly raises his right hand and says quietly, "I said before that I wanted to show you something, right? Now I'm going to show you, show you the end of a person who has forgotten their original intention, forgotten their important ideals, and fallen into the mud on a seemingly correct path... That's my advice to you. I hope you never forget the original intention and goals you had when you first embarked on the path."
"What..."
Before Ariel could react, she realized that Shirou had raised his arm.
All twenty-seven magic circuits suddenly light up, and dazzling magic power begins to erupt like a motor.
That is the light of Unlimited Blade Works!
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