Carnival Phantasm: Episode Summary 7-12 - Fate

Episode 7: An Expert Gift

Back at Ahnenerbe, the Neco-Arcs are enjoying some tasty ramen. Meanwhile, Shiki Tohno cooks up a batch of noodles for Arcueid Brunestud who is extremely impressed so he decides that she should try other normal human foods like okonomiyaki. Though it sounds amazing, Arcueid feels a bit guilty that Shiki is always cooking delicious food for her when she never makes anything for him. Arcueid has never cooked anything before, but figures if Ciel can do it then probably anyone can. Taking things seriously, she decides to get the freshest ingredients possible by plucking squid from the icy seas, biting into them raw to check the flavor. For the best okonomiyaki, however, she still needs pork and who better to ask than “Beast Master” Nrvnqsr "Nero" Chaos / Fabro Rowan. Unfortunately she still has a lot to learn when it comes to cooking!

Remarking that the best ingredient is love, the guys at Ahnenerbe launch us into an “adult love story” in which Caster longs to find love as a woman, pining for her Master, Soichiro who romantically vows to protect her forever. Sadly, it’s only a fantasy but she continues trying to get his attention by behaving like a stereotypical housewife and presenting him with romantic handmade gifts. Assassin gently teases her, while Soichiro receives a lot of (unwelcome) good fortune as a result of Caster’s gift. Admiring Saber’s tsundere attitude towards Shiro, she determines that she absolutely must catch her and then dress her up in impossibly cute outfits but is embarrassed about her otaku obsession with a fellow Servant and vows to keep her mini shrine a secret so she can continue to present as a pure hearted woman. Shinji exposes her, but Soichiro doesn’t care and has already bought a ring!

Episode 8: Saber at Work

After the Ahnenerbe guys have had some fun playing around with a video camera, we cut to a nature doc narrated by Shiro Emiya with “King of Knights” Saber as a special commentator. “Saber Lion'' wakes up in the jungle to enjoy another lazy day of snacking and snoozing before Berserker arrives and throws her Lancer as a tasty treat.

The segment turns out to be a short film directed by Neco-Arc Evolution after which the guys enjoy some tasty onset catering. Meanwhile, Saber decides to get a part-time job at Ahnenerbe but everyone finds themselves bowing to the king even though she’s just helping them out. Rin Tohsaka arrives and orders some coffee but Saber orders her to order a meal because you can’t fight battles on an empty stomach! The cafe starts doing record business because Saber is ordering everyone to order more food, but runs into a problem when Gilgamesh turns up to antagonise his rival. He orders wine (which they don’t serve) and threatens to raze the place to the ground if the food is poor, while Berserker also makes an appearance and goes berserk when he realises they don’t sell Jump magazine. Saber finally snaps when Gilgamesh tries to order her as takeout, transforming into her darker form Saber Alternate. She takes Gilgamesh to task for not finishing his food but later asks him out after her shift and earns the admiration of all the men in the place for her ice cool attitude. As soon as she gets home and Shiro says hello, Saber immediately changes back and presents him with a birthday present.

Red Saber makes an appearance in Tiger Dojo, though Taiga has no idea who she is.

Episode 9: Holy Grail Grand Prix

The Carnival continues! This time it’s a Grand Prix racing championship taking place on the Fuyuki Circuit with explanation by Kirei Kotomine and commentary by Taiga Fujimura. Saber objects to the indignity of trial by motor racing, but Shiro is in favor because at least no one’s going to die. Cars are assigned by lottery with Rin Tohsaka and Archer getting a pink cadillac, Soichiro and Caster getting old school Rolls-Royce “Unit Honeymoon” , Lancer getting the spear-like Gae-BolCar, Shinji and Rider getting a granny bike “Unit Pegasus”, Shiro and Saber getting a toy lion, and Illya and Berserker “transforming” into the Berser-Car.

Lancer blasts ahead, but quickly ends up in an accident. Soichiro and Caster take a detour, while Assassin turns up in a truck to disrupt the race, knocking Saber and Shiro off course. Illya and Berserker start sniping their competitors from a nearby cliff, but Gilgamesh shows up on a golden bike to head them off. Rider and Shinji launch themselves into space with Gilgamesh and Rin/Archer neck and neck, but Saber and Shiro make an unexpected return to win the race! On winning the Holy Grail, they ask for the money they spent during the race to be returned.

Next, we have the first installment of “Grail-kun”! Shinji complains to the giant sentient Grail that Gilgamesh doesn’t listen to him, and is presented with kitchen knife “Friendmaker”. Tiger Dojo features Taiga spoofing an electoral campaign speech.

Episode 10: Loli Reversion

At Ahnenerbe, the Neco-Arcs are preparing for a special group of customers but the cafe is quickly engulfed by a crowd of rowdy kids. Meanwhile, Akiha complains that her brother hasn’t got up for school. Kohaku suggests she waits a few more minutes and offers her a cup of tea made from herbs in the garden. When Shiki wakes up, Akiha seems upset and immediately hugs him. It turns out that Kohaku laced her tea with something to make her a little more emotionally honest, but it’s backfired and now she thinks she’s four years old! Shiki has to take her to school with him which presents a serious and hugely embarrassing problem when they need to use the bathroom. Satsuki ends up helping them out before Shiki gives his sister a piggyback ride home while singing the lullaby Akatombo, during which she regains her senses.

Meanwhile, Hisui pens a mystery story about a series of murders in a remote village, followed by one in the city in which people are attacked by girders! Apparently, Lancer knew the truth but was murdered before he could talk. In her third case, Brainwash Detective Hisui investigates a large explosion on a luxury cruise liner which provokes chaos and suspicion on board. It turns out, everyone on the ship is actually related. The mystery continues to deepen until the boat reaches Atlantis where secrets are revealed.

In Grail-kun, Shiro complains that Archer told him he’d never become a hero. Grail-kun gives him a “Hero Creation Kit” kitchen knife. Meanwhile, in Tiger Dojo, Taiga wants to know where she placed in the hip hop rankings.

Episode 11: Final Dead Lancer

A serious accident occurs at Ahnenerbe, leading into a segment titled “Final Dead Lancer”! Lancer finds himself once again in the Pop Up Pirate barrel facing an onslaught from Gilgamesh’s Noble Phantasm just like in the first episode. Luckily, it was just a dream, or was it? Grail-kun arrives to give him a warning, asking him about the dreams he’s been having in which he repeatedly dies. Apparently, he’s the clown in this carnival and the story’s about to kill him!

Next up, we’re back at the Grand Prix, where Lancer once again crashes but manages to survive. Next he gets fed to Saber Lion, but makes friends with her. Then he survives the Berserker attack, but can he survive Gilgamesh? Ending up in the desolate battleground, he figures out the rocket that Shiro escaped on is the real Holy Grail. At last thinking he’s beaten his destiny, Lancer is hit in the face by the escaped volleyball from the girls’ game and killed. A post credits scene sees him dramatically rising from the grave which had been marked with a lollipop stick inscribed with the words “you lose”.

Meanwhile, Tiger Dojo takes a trip back to the Showa Era featuring Taiga as a teacher in a newsreel-style documentary piece.

Episode 12: Badump! Date Super Plan - Answer

The Ahnenerbe Neco-Arcs drink to the end of the Carnival before we head into another instalment of Grail-kun. Kirei Kotomine complains that Lancer is completely useless because he keeps dying every five seconds and asks Grail-kun to do something. Grail-kun gives him a “Servant Strengthening Device” kitchen knife and advises that he kill Lancer himself and summon a better Servant. Kotomine agrees and takes the knife.

Back at Ahnenerbe, they’re preparing for the post-Carnival afterparty. Before that, however, we’ll finally get the answer to the Badump! Date Super Plan conundrum! The boys pick “date everyone” and kick off their 4am plan for eternal happiness. The plan hits a snag, however, when Shiki wakes up and discovers he’s trapped inside a tube and is being experimented on by Kohaku. The experiment is a success and he’s teleported outside where he meets Hisui who is patiently waiting for him to arrive for their “fix the roof” date. The only problem is he’s way behind schedule, so he immediately heads off to meet Arcueid Brunestud at the cinema where she’s preparing for a 10 movie marathon. Shiro, meanwhile, is spotted by Rin Tohsaka who has arrived early just as he’s escorting Sakura into the auditorium. Seeing Saber approach, he sends Rin off to get a pamphlet while he takes Saber to the restaurant. Sitting down to watch the movie with Rin, he pretends to need the bathroom so he can switch screens to sit with Sakura but skips out to go meet Saber in front of the restaurant. Meanwhile, Shiki runs between Hisui, Ciel and Arcueid. Shiro is surprised by Illyasviel von Einzbern who has tracked him down after he completely forgot about taking her to an amusement park where Akiha has also been stood up by Shiki. Everyone ends up heading over there to prepare for the final battle as the guys try to come up with a way to talk their way out of this awkward situation.

Meanwhile, in the final Tiger Dojo, Taiga insists it’s not the end but the beginning! Auld Lang Syne starts to play, so everyone knows it really is time to go home as the shutters start to come down over the store. A post-credits scene takes us back to Ahnenerbe for the afterparty with everyone celebrating together while preparing to say goodbye.