Part 86: Bonus Update 2: Cut Content

Bonus Update 2: Cut Content

Extra's issues with biting off more than they could chew is obvious by now, but buried in the game are some remnants of older designs that shows the writers were actually planning on making the game even more expansive! All of this is taken from The Cutting Room Floor's page on Fate/Extra.

First off, we have a scene where Hakuno could have saved Julius during their Week 5 duel:

I want to try and touch what is deep in his heart. I want to save this miserable man. I feel like he wants something so, so desperately- Even if this screws things up, I want to help Julius.

Don't save Julius.

That's what the text dump says.

I just wish that someone would save that poor, tortured man. Before I can decide if this is the right decision or not- Suddenly, a string of light goes from my left hand to Julius.

...My Command...Seal...?! ...You...! ...What are-! Yoouuu-!!

Light overfills the Coliseum. [Saber]/[Archer]/[Caster] is at my side. Followed by silence. However, there is no one else. ...What about Julius?

All Servants chime in here, so consider this a sneak peak at what Saber and Archer are like.

...I do not know! If I did, I still would not tell you! How could you use your Command Seal out of sympathy like that and not ask me...! You turn my stomach! Be gone from my sight!

She's never been so openly hostile toward me before. She must be very angry about what I did. ...But, wait. I've heard her say that she admires kindness before. So why is she angry at me?

Don't be ridiculous! I only enjoy when leniency is bestowed upon me, not when it is given to others!

...Ah, I see. She's just so imperious that I don't dare criticize her. ...She won't talk to me, and I'm exhausted. I should leave.

~

...I dunno. How about you use your Command Seal to find out? You might have actually saved him if you'd used it right...

Archer's brows are furrowed. He must be mad at my decision.

...That's right. I'm annoyed at myself for forgetting you're the most reckless Master in the Holy Grail War. I shouldn't have let my guard down just because you've gotten skilled enough to be my partner. -Jeez. I can't believe what you did.

Meaning, he's angry.

~

The light... Because of the light I couldn't see- But, that was your Command Seal, Master! He must have been saved! ...How compassionate of you to save that gloomy man, Master. That man means a lot to you... Ah, no. It's nothing. Forget I said anything. ...Shall we go now?

The muscles on the edges of Caster's smile are twitching... She must not be very happy with what I did.

Everything is the same for this last part.

A sharp pain courses through my left hand. Of the three Seals branded into my hand, two have disappeared. Only one Command Seal remains- I know what kind of a disadvantage that puts me at in the final stages. But, I do not regret the price that I paid. That moment, the feelings in my heart for him were not false. I wished what I did from the heart-

Most interesting, I find, is that comment about this burning two Command Seals. Losing all three kills you, so that means there must have been either an alternate outcome to the route split on Week 3, or you could have just not intervened at all and end up doing the rest of the Holy Grail War alone.

Up next, we have Hakuno saving Rin, during Week 6:

...Can I stand to lose her forever like this? There's no guarantee that I can save her. Is it too simple of me to think that with my Command Seal I could? If it fails, I will have wasted a Command Seal. But, even so-

Use a Command Seal to save Rin.

Knowing there's a chance I could save her, I have to try. Otherwise I'd regret it the rest of my life. As I hold her disappearing hand, I press the back of my hand...my Command Seal against hers. I'm not sure if its possible to transplant Command Seals, and they're for controlling Servants anyway. ...But, I have a hunch. I'm not human like the other Masters. So maybe, if it's an anomaly like me-

...H-Huh? This is weird. Why am I feeling a surge of power...? W-Wha?! A Command Seal?! Why is it on my hand...? Hey, let me see your hand! I knew it! Why did you use your Command Seal?! And not one, but TWO of them?!

Only one Command Seal remains on my hand, tightly held in Rin's. One of my Command Seals is on Rin's hand. The other must have been consumed to facilitate the miracle.

What were you thinking?! You never should have used your Command Seal right before your battle with Leo! Did you tune out when I was telling you to defeat Leo? Did you do this out of spite or something?! ...Ugh, what am I supposed to feel?

I didn't save her to get a thank you, but I didn't expect to be yelled at. ...Well, that's Rin Tousaka for you. That the firebrand I wanted to save, even if it handicapped me against Leo.

...Oh well. If you want me to live so badly, what are you going to do about it now? You didn't save me just so you could disappoint me, did you? You should be able to trounce Leo without using a Command Seal, right? ...It'll be tough, but you can do it.

She looks away sheepishly. ...It makes me happy to hear words of appreciation out of her mouth, even if they are wry. I know I did the right thing in saving her.

...Oh, and let me know as soon as the Holy Grail War is over, okay? The Harways will be after you. Don't worry, I'll take care of you. They're already after me anyway, so we'll be in the same boat. You can depend on me. I'll protect you after this tournament is over, no matter what.

I tilt my head in puzzlement. Not only is she sure I'll beat Leo, she's making plans for afterward. I think she's getting way too ahead of herself-

Wh-What, isn't it the obvious thing to do?! And wipe that "Oh woe is me!" look off your face! Helping another person is a big deal, right?! And of course you had to go and do just that! To help another person is to take a certain amount of responsibility for their life! Listen, it's a lot easier to stand by and watch someone die than to do something to keep them alive.

...I see. Such an act couldn't be done without compassion. And to save a life is to share in it. All I can do now is prepare and face what comes. I only get this one chance at life. Though saving a life is a great responsibility-

It's far better to save a life than take one. That's right. That's why I'll do everything I can to help you. It's all I can do right now-

~

Don't save Rin.

I'm hesitant to use my Command Seal on a gamble that may not pay off. More importantly, even I was able to save her, I have a feeling she'd be none too happy about it. Yeah, no doubt Rin Tousaka would be pissed that I wasted a Command Seal before my showdown with Leo. And so....there's nothing I can do right now other than stay by her side until the end.

Interestingly, there's no equivalent scene for Rani. Either this whole concept was cut before they could get to her, or Rani would have ended up as your partner by default, and the Rin route was added in later. That line about Hakuno holding Rin's hand is also of note, as it implies that the kill barrier we've been seeing since Week 1 was, at one point, not a thing at all.

If you look back, you'll also notice that most of Rin's conversation ended up getting repurposed for her own route in Week 7, which explains why she got a big scene and Rani didn't. They already had all this written up for Rin in the first place!

Finally, we have a scene where Hakuno could have saved Leo:

It looks like there's a deep pain in his chest, as if his Command Seal is reacting to his heart. Should I leave, knowing that Leo will disappear any moment now? Whoever's it is, death is saddening. If this boy were given the chance to rule the world, he'd do so with compassion now. He'd be able to change society into something better. The world is about to lose a potentially wonderful ruler. Is that right? There's no guarantee that I'll be able to save him. But, if I use a Command Seal...

Use a Command Seal to save Leo.

If this is the last fight, there's no reason to be frugal with my Command Seals. I just can't stand to watch while he disintegrates. I approach the disappearing boy and push my Command Seal against him. And I wish- Save this boy.

...This is...

A Command Seal comes off and the boy's body moves. The rules of the Holy Grail state that those without a Command Seal will be eliminated. Now that Leo has a new Command Seal, he's been given a new life. All that's left on my hand is one of the Command Seals. Transplanting the one must have taken two.

...You saved me. ...The me from before could not have understood your actions at all. But now, I understand completely. Humans make mistakes, even me, who was a failure of a human being. ...Still, you let me live. I will show you my gratitude not with words, but with my actions as king.

He swirls around and walks toward the exit. The world will see him return, and he will fulfill his role as leader. There's no need for him to play knight in this place for any longer. While gazing at his spirited back, I also head to the exit. I have no business here either.

According to a published game script of the game, Fate/EXTRA MOON LOG:TYPEWRITER II (exclusive to Japan, natch), this would have lead to an ending where Leo follows you to the battle with Twice. Hakuno would then send the data on their physical body to Leo, who promises to use the Harway's resources to cure them.

Considering just how much the game suffered just trying to handle two routes, they made the right call in cutting these early. Trying to add in all of them would have made planning out all future weeks an absolute nightmare! Each scene would need a new variation based on if you had Rani (presumably), Rin, neither, both (possibly), whatever the hell Julius would have done (his Week 7 invasion, perhaps?), or Leo, and scenes were already fairly copy paste just from dealing with Rin or Rani.