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Right after Archer ended his monologue, he fades away. Then we see Shirou (or
Archer) walking in a desert.

I wouldn't have any doubts concerning this scene whether it's Shirou or Archer
(it would've been Archer who's taking part in a new mission) if he hadn't had
orange hairs which don't fit Archer. So if it's not him, then it has to be
Shirou in the future. If that's true, then why is he travelling alone and not
with Rin?

According to a [review](https://animewithsky.wordpress.com/2015/07/06/review-
fatestay-night-unlimited-blade-works-ep-25-finale-my-whole-life-was-unlimited-
blade-works/comment-page-1/) and two similar questions on Reddit, there might
also be a third possibility which Kinoko Nasu (author of Fate/Stay Night)
explained (though, it seems it was only a suggestion or request to ufotable
which hadn't been accepted by this studio):

_“Desert scene- After the end credits. A desert scene, same as the opening.
Shirou walks alone. His strength falters and he stops walking. Shirou looks
down to shield his eyes from the sandstorm and sees traces of someone else
having been there (the place where Archer stopped). Shirou breathes out and
looks up. There’s fake endurance in his expression, but it’s full of hope.
Shirou walks away with a steady gait. The camera lingers on the traces of
Archer’s presence, and watches Shirou leave as the shot ends.”_

According to this explanation (if ufotable did accept Kinoko's suggestion, but
only changed it a bit), this scene might be just some sort of a metaphor which
hints that Shirou will be able to make a step forward and therefore doesn't
have to suffer like Archer. Or is this supposed to be a time leap and not a
metaphor?

What's the right conclusion?


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fate-stay-night
Is the person who appeared at the very end of Fate/Stay Night UBW (desert scene) Archer or Shirou?


Short answer: Yes. Maybe.

Longer answer: Nasuverse canon is massively convoluted and it can probably be
interpreted as whatever you can imagine.

It's definitely metaphorical - he's not seeing Archer's literal footprints
because that would be silly. I think it's a non-Archer version of Shirou and
the line about "the place where Archer stopped" references this version of
Shirou surpassing Archer in some sense.

Maybe he's made smarter choices and outlived Archer, and he's alone only
because Rin/ Saber/ Sakura/ etc. aren't contained in whatever part of his mind
this is. Maybe he's been more successful in following his ideals and avoided
whatever pitfalls Archer ran into.

The orange hair could go either way - it turned grey because of Archer
overusing his mage craft over long periods of time, so it could be that he
hasn't used it as much (presumably being too busy with his girlfriends / wives
& their kids), or that he's been more efficient about using it over time - or
that he's been using it way more, surpassing Archer's accomplishments in a
fraction of the time, and it just hasn't kicked in on his hair yet.


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First of all, I know Japanese (even though I usually read light novels just in
English). However, I just play visual novels in Japanese (I can't bear hearing
one thing and reading a mistake in the translation).

> it seems it was only a suggestion or request to ufotable which hadn't been
> accepted by this studio

You're wrong there, it wasn't a suggestion, it was part of the way it was
supposed to end.

<http://www.typemoon.org/bbb/diary/log/201506.html>

This is Nasu's blog just after the episode was released. He says that the
production of episode 25 started from a manuscript created by him (as the
original author). Afterwards Ufotable had to trim/change things as it was too
long/ too much of a novel.

This is the most important part that says that:

> と。感謝の気持ちを高円寺方面に送りつつ、
> きのこはきのこで恒例のネタバレ含む裏話を始めるのであった。#25の制作は「ほぼオリジナルなので、まずは原作サイドで書くべし」と始まりました。  
>  そしてできあがったきのこによる脚本モドキを前に頭を抱える制作陣。 そう。分かるね。つまりきのこはまた尺をオーバーしたんだ。ファック！

The manuscript he creates is 11 pages long (just text) and appears in Blu-ray
box II booklet, which I happen to own. It's not much but here's a summary (I
can confirm it is good):
<http://kurozu501.tumblr.com/post/131376500337/kyuubi-hime-fateubw-bdbox-ii-
booklet-scans>

Proof that he didn't like the ending Ufotable made is that when it was
released he basically said: This is what they did, and this is part of what I
wrote as the actual ending.

Now, what do those 11 pages say about the ending?

Basically that Rin and Shirou will have their happily ever after. The part
where Rin says that in the anime, that her priority is Shirou's happiness,
that she will follow him, that they will suffer together but eventually they
will get their happily ever after. All that was in Nasu's manuscript.

Nasu's saying that Rin will be with him (she doesn't abandon him) and that she
knows that after some suffering together (as Rin says both suffer, Rin took
part of that burden for him) Shirou will achieve his goal and they will live
happily ever after.

Why do I know he doesn't become Archer? Because Nasu says so himself. At the
end of the manuscript Rin puts her amulet in a box. She was touching it
nervously and puts it there as a goodbye. Then Nasu says it means Shirou won't
become Archer as he doesn't have the amulet. The sad goodbye symbolises her
goodbye to the other Archer, the one that was her servant in the war.

The good ending is happier because Saber will also be there with them in their
happy ending. I guess it is difficult to understand from the episode, but this
is a literal translation of 2 paragraphs from his manuscript:

"The same library, a wide solemn space. I'm going searching for Shirou. On the
walls and walls, heavy bookshelves stand side by side and contain huge numbers
of books. Those books are all thick and thick, they are only periodical books.
Shirou was alone in the reading seat. He is reading books eagerly. Image that
seems to be studying judicial exam rather than studying magic. Shirou, on his
way to self-study, raises his face from the desk and indulges in thought. The
face of anguish, anguish, anguish is painful to watch. Rin watches it and
calls out with the usual lightness. Dear "Thank you for your work, you were
here after all." Shirou, I was a little surprised when I saw Rin. Shirou
"Tohsaka? Not yet in class ......" Rin "I have finished the practice early" I
Look at the book that Shiro was reading. A book of language, history,
politics. Rin "Next to English is Italian? Magic to convey intentions"

"Even though you only have to master it, you are honest, is not it? "Shiro"
Maybe, but I wonder if there is something that can not be conveyed unless I
speak with the people of the country properly in the language of that country
". It is because Shirou 's honesty seems to be hunted down. Rin takes the
textbook from Shirou and returns it to the bookshelf. Shirou protests with
eyes only saying "What you are doing", Rin looks backwards and backwards, Rin
"Freeze tomorrow, do not go out for a moment"

The next days Shirou waits for her in the lobby and they go to one of Saber's
fake grave (yes, there are many of these as Rin says in the manuscript).

It's very funny Shirou has an "anguish, anguish, anguish" look while in
thought and Rin comes to the conclusion: Ok, you need Saber..., I'm gonna take
you there tomorrow...

The episode changes this as well. I'm not very happy with the episode
actually.

Anyways, the answer is NO, he's not Archer. Nasu blatantly says so in the
manuscript. In interviews he says the chance is so close to 0 it isn't worth
mentioning. Here he just says he won't become Archer and before that he says
Shirou and Rin will have their happily ever after.


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