Disclaimer: I do not own Type-Moon or any of their novels, nor do I own any of the anime and book references I use, and I'm only writing this for entertainment purpose only.
Prologue
Fateful Evening
A girl with silver hair opened the door of her apartment and entered it, tired and beat from another day of school. Being an honor student, after all, was understandably exhausting. Maintaining grades, maintaining appearances, to constantly wear a mask over one's face and deceiving everyone around you is indeed very tiring.
Of course, she was not like this from the start, and despite excelling in class, because of her cheerful and honest nature, it was easy for her to make friends. Sadly, because of her lifestyle, she could only stay in one place for a short while, at two months at most, after which she had to leave, then transfer to another school.
Tired of the sadness, tired of the painful goodbyes, she decided it would be best not to form too many close bonds, for the stronger the friendship, the harder it is to say farewell. She knew that she could still come and visit, but all the same, it was still emotional baggage.
"Mew!"
Before she knew it, she felt something climb up her to her shoulders, as something wet and moist started moving back and forth on her left cheek, which turned out to be a small tongue.
"Oh, good evening, Neko-chan," she greeted, reflexively patting the head of the beautiful creature with midnight black fur and ruby red eyes, eyes that are just similar, with the exception of their slightly slit-like appearance, to her own.
At least, even though she now always wore a mask over her face, she could drop her aloof facade, and be herself, around her best friend: her cat.
The girl then went to the kitchens, opening the fridge and taking out two bottles, pouring the entire content of one into a bowl, before setting it on the table.
"Here you go."
"Mew!" The ball of fur exclaimed as it jumped from the girl's shoulder on to the table, slurping the calcium-filled drink happily.
Satisfied with her small companion's reaction, the girl smiled slightly, as she opened the other bottle for herself and began to drink as well.
"Mew!"
"You've finished it already?"The girl asked tiredly. Not even ten seconds had passed yet her friend Neko had already finished her milk, and was now staring expectantly at the bottle from which the girl was drinking from.
Then again, your companions are bound to adopt some of your habits, thought the girl with a sigh, knowing full well it was probably her fault that her cat could eat and drink much faster than other felines, seeing as it probably got that from her.
"Sorry, Neko-chan, but this is the last one."
"Mew..." The cat mewed with a disappointed expression on its face. In response, the girl extended her hand and started scratching the cat's ears.
"Should we go out and buy some?"
"Mew!"
Immediately, the pouting expression on the feline's face was replaced with anticipation, as it jumped towards the girl and settled itself comfortable on her shoulder.
"Right, let's get going then," the girl said, as she walked out of her apartment, gently closing the door behind her, before heading out.
xxxXXXxx
"Ah, that hit the spot," the girl muttered in satisfaction. After a quick trip to the department store, they immediately headed back to her apartment, choosing to stay at the balcony, where she and her feline friend consumed the calcium-filled drink which they bought.
It was strange, the girl had to admit to herself. Cats and milk, were both things that don't mix together well with her. She had once disliked drinking milk due to its unpleasant taste, and while she was not exactly allergic or afraid of cats, she did not like their presence. Yet here she was, staring up at the clear moonlit sky with Neko, her best friend, who happened to be a cat, both of them consuming over half a dozen bottles of milk as if it was the most delicious drink in the world.
And as she continued staring up at the cloudless sky, the girl recalled the dream she had the night before, a dream which was not just a dream, but rather a memory from three years back...
...
She was looking at a familiar person...
A woman with jet black hair who was in her mid-twenties. She was beautiful, by any standards, and she needed neither lipstick nor make up for her to stand out. She was a cut above other women, of that there was no doubt, yet her cold look and the piercing gaze in her eyes made anyone who even thought of approaching her to give up, and whenever she walked by, people tend to try and avoid her, only gazing at her from the distance.
Yet the young girl of fourteen looked up at her without any fear. After all, the woman's cold persona was nothing but a mask, one which the girl, unlike others, was easily able to see through.
"I have to get going now. Take care of yourself."
"Yes, Mama," the younger girl replied, as the raven-haired woman, just as she had always done, enveloped her in a brief hug. Then, after a few seconds, the woman got up, and without another word, turned and started walking away.
Even though the treatment may seem a bit cold, the young girl knew it for what it was. Despite the woman's cold and emotionless demeanour, she could feel the warmth that was coming from her. She knew her mother very well, and it was for this very reason, that she knew.
Her mother was not coming back.
In the four years since her mother adopted her, the raven-haired woman was away for half of that time. Sometimes it was for a week, sometimes two, and there were times when she was not around for almost two months at a time, yet every single time she left, her mother's words before she left would always be "I'll be gone for a while. Take care of yourself."
Yet this time, the words she spoke were different. Instead of saying that she will be gone for a while, she said that it was time for her to leave. When her mother pulled her into an embrace, while it was a brief as always, it was tighter, ever so slightly, almost as if she did not want to let go, as if trying to give her as much love as she could before she departed.
In truth, she too did not want to let go. She did not want her mother to leave, and thus she actually had the urge to hang on to her, to cry, knowing that her mother would definitely be moved, yet she knew, that there was nothing she could do to prevent her from leaving. After all, her mother was doing this more for her sake than for anyone else.
"Have a safe trip!"
Thus, instead of crying and throwing a tantrum, the girl strengthened her resolve, and instead, waved at her mother's retreating back, waiting for her to completely vanish in the distance, before dropping to her knees and finally allowing the flood of tears that had been forming in her eyes to flow.
A world where there was no strife. A world where everyone would be happy. A world where her daughter could find happiness. That is the mission which her mother was trying to accomplish.
But even though she was only fourteen, the girl knew deep down, that her mother's wish to save everyone, is nothing but a mere fantasy. Even if it was possible, sacrifices had to be made for it to come into fruition. And her mother, it seems, was planning to willingly become one of those sacrifices.
And that was something which the girl could not accept.
A world where everyone would be happy. A peaceful and tranquil world where there was no strife and conflict. What was the point of living in such a world if her mother was not there? What her mother did not know is that the girl never actually wanted any of it. Because for the girl, her mother was her greatest source of joy.
Yes, perhaps she was being selfish. But it did not matter to her. Her mother, the person who had taken her in and saved her, the person who she loved more than anyone in the world...
She would rather go to hell and see the world destroyed than let her mother die.
If only there was someone willing enough. If only there was someone strong enough to do what has to be done, perhaps her mother would not have to be the one to do it. Yet sadly there was no one else, who was either willing or capable enough to accomplish that particular goal.
"Damn it!"
Looking up at the high heavens, the girl wailed in frustration.
Yes, she was weak. She was helpless. She was useless. The fact that there was nothing she could do only added to her misery.
At least not at the moment.
"No, I can't accept it. I won't accept it."
For the girl also knew that wallowing in despair would get her nowhere. Thus, she quickly made up her mind.
Getting up from where she was kneeling on the ground, the girl wiped away the tears from her eyes, and replaced the sorrowful look on her face with a smile.
If there was one particular quality which the girl possessed, it was her stubbornness and naturally optimistic view. She may be weak and useless at the moment, but with hard work and determination, she was confident she could change that.
"Stronger... I need to get stronger." The girl muttered to herself, with a determined look on her face.
...
"Am I strong enough now?" The girl whispered quietly to herself. It had been a week since she arrived at Fuyuki City, where she had travelled to because her instinct told her that her mother might be there, yet so far, she had not managed to find her, not even a single trace. Then again, she knew for a fact, better than anyone, that if her mother did not want to be found, no one will be able to find her.
Still, that was no reason for her to give up. Thus, just as she had always done, she decided that she would stay in the city for a few days, and when she is convinced that she really is not there, she will move on to the next place and try looking for her there instead.
And as she continued looking at the beautiful crescent moon, the girl began to sing, a beautiful song which she always sung to lighten her heart, so that she would not succumb to loneliness.
Sing a song unto the world,
Rising high the clouds unfurl,
Gazing at the twilight's sky,
Broken by a newborn's cry,
Changes from the smallest things,
Gazing at an angel's wings,
Fall down, fall down, falls the rain,
My life's not in vain,
Light and bouncy in the wind,
Sing a song unto the world,
Rising high, the cluds unfurl,
Fan the flames into the past,
Here, now, our lives will last,
We'll never know the times of pain,
Fall down fall down falls the rain,
My life won't be plain
Light and bouncy in the wind,
Sings a song unto the world,
Fall down, fall down, falls the rain,
My life won't be plain.
xxxXXXxxx
"Stupid... stupid... stupid..."
Unfortunately for her, being a milk addict can have a lot of dire consequences, so much so that she could not even think of singing or think about being lonely at all.
The girl had been taught to spend money wisely, something which she had always opted to follow, yet when it comes to the luscious calcium-filled drink, her spending end up being a bit excessive... And thus, because of her carelessness, she only had little money left, just slightly more than enough to pay off her rent and buy food, along with three bottles of milk a day (which in her opinion, was a terrible disaster, since she and Neko would always drink half a dozen bottles of milk as a bare minimum.).
Having maintained outstanding grades even though she had transferred schools quite a number of times due to her travels, the silver-haired female naturally benefitted from a couple of scholarships. Sadly, the money from said grants would not be arriving anytime soon.
Thus, in order to compensate for her mistakes, the girl, with fishing rod and gear in hand, went out to the harbour to go fishing so that she would not have to buy it instead. After all, even though she did not exactly like it from the start, she had come to like the taste of fish, seeing as it was her companion's favourite food. She was, of course, already looking for a viable part time job, but for now, this was, in her mind, the best course of action.
Being a master of hook and line fishing, the two buckets she brought along with her were soon filled with lively trout and salmon.
Still, she would have certainly preferred that the fish was already cooked and processed and not fresh. Fresh fish, after all, was slippery and slimy, and while she was used to it, it was still at a barely tolerable level.
Finished with her work, the girl started headed back to her apartment, which was only a short walk away from the harbor...
?!
... when she felt it.
Never let your guard down. That was one of the pieces of advice that the girl's mother had given her. It may sound a bit exaggerated, but it is true. In any battle, in any situation, application in most situations, a moment's hesitation, a moment's lack of focus, could mean win or lose, victory or defeat, life or death.
Indeed, five years ago, she almost lost her life during one of the times that she and her mother had gone out fishing. Not expecting a fish that has been pulled out of water to fight back, she was caught off guard when it lunged at her, and had her mother not been there, the swordfish would have pierced her heart. In the end the disaster was averted, and instead, she was only grazed by the fish on her left shoulder, which was now nothing more than a scar.
With her mother's sufficient healing abilities, she knew that it would have been possible to remove the scar, and in fact, with her own healing abilities, she could probably heal the ugly scar herself.
But she decided to keep it, to serve as a reminder, that she should always remain focused.
And right now, her instincts were once again acting up, telling her that something was wrong.
"Mew!" A voice exclaimed, as a black blur with glowing red eyes sprinted towards her and jumped on her shoulders, with an uneasy look on its furry face.
"Neko-chan!"
And sure enough, it seems as if her cat also felt it. Setting down the two buckets of fish which she caught, the girl tightened her grip on her fishing rod, and concentrated on watching her surroundings, eyes narrowed, looking out for any sign of danger.
At first glance, it would seem that nothing was amiss, that everything was fine. However, to those who practice certain arts, as well as those who are more sensitive to their surroundings, they would notice that there is a shift in the flow of energy, a fluctuation that is too great to ignore.
?!
The girl jumped backwards, just in time, as the centre of the fluctuation has been revealed.
Had there been people looking in that particular direction at that time in the distance, they would have probably though they saw a brilliant light, flashing from that area like that from a lighthouse.
To those who are closer, however, they would hear a roaring sound like that of thunder, and would notice that their electrical appliances were flickering from the energy. However, at that witching hour at night, no one was watching, not from nearby, not from the distance, tucked in to their beds, spending the cold winter night in slumber.
She, however, was not as unfortunate. Due to circumstances which she had no control of, the silver-haired female had somehow ended up at the flow's epicentre.
"Mew!"
From below her, the girl could feel something tugging at her shirt. It was her cat, Neko, trying to get her to flee and run away from the scene.
Instinct told the girl that to run away was probably the best course of action. While this was not the first that she had been faced with peril, she had never before felt such a large amount of energy, similar to the one she used, being focused in one place.
And yet she could not move, yet it was not out of fear.
It was out of curiosity.
Curiosity killed the cat, a common saying that had been used so many times it was almost to the point of butchery.
But the irony of it all, is that the girl's curiosity exceeded even that of a cat's.
However, it was not just curiosity that drove her. For while it was true that her instinct was telling her to run away, it was that same instinct, that was, at the same time, telling her to stay.
The feeling of familiarity. A sense of déjà vu. For some reason the girl could not understand, she felt as if something like this has happened before, and it reminded her of that blurry dream she would have from time to time.
A forest shrouded in winter snow. Countless pairs of evil yellow eyes looking at her, saliva coming from their mouth, ready to pounce on her and tear her apart.
A blinding flash of light, a tall muscular figure emerging from the center of it, picking up a huge slab of rock shaped like a sword as it was nothing but paper, destroying the vicious beast and turning them into meatbags.
A feeling of safety. A feeling comfort. A fleeting feeling of contentment.
And now, the girl could not help but feel excitement, for just like in her dream, a figure started emerging from the circle in front of her.
Her cat, Neko, knowing how entranced her companion is, gave up its futile attempt to make her run, and instead, resumed its position on the girl's shoulder. The black furred feline may have been frightened, yet she went against its own instinct and decided to stay. She wasn't about to run away by herself and abandon her friend.
"Mew!" Looking at the silver-haired female's face, the cat noticed that her lips were curled into a smile as she looked entranced at the figure emerging from the glowing light.
Only for that smile to fall, as the light finally faded and the entity was completely revealed.
Even though she was only a cat, Neko was actually really smart, to a point that her intelligence was just about equal to that of a human's. But what she was truly good at sensing, was the emotion of other people. Having been around the girl for years, the cat was thus even more adept at guessing what her friend was feeling.
Sadness and disappointment, it was the emotion which Neko could feel from her. The cat did not understand why, but for some reason, instead of feeling fear, she seemed to have been expecting someone else to appear from the light. But then, that would not make any sense.
What Neko did not know, was that her speculation was actually close to the truth.
It's not him, the girl thought sadly, as she adjusted her cap to hide the disappointed look and expression in her eyes. Still, she decided not to let it bother her, considering just what she had probably gotten herself into.
The vision may have been hazy, but if she was right... then she knew what was going to happen next.
The giant of a man, though not the one she had been expecting, stepped out of the circle and started walking towards her, stopping about a meter from where she was standing, before speaking in a booming voice.
"I ask thee, art thou the Master that called me?"
xxxXXXxxx
Meanwhile, somewhere else in Fuyuki, a young magus with greenish-black hair and eyes was wondering what went wrong.
He had done everything to the letter, the magic circle, the blood of chickens as a sacrifice, and the catalyst.
And yet, after doing everything perfectly, he was unable to summon a Servant.
To make matters even worse.
"My Command Seals... they're gone... sniff... sniff..."
Not knowing what else to do, the young man, being the wimp that he was, started crying in despair, at the fact that the opportunity to prove himself has been taken from him.
xxxXXXxxx
To be continued...
AUTHOR'S NOTES
Well, I suppose this is a sort-of rewrite for one of my fics, but the truth is that I simply made the stupid mistake of accidentally deleting it. It's simple really, I was browsing the site reading fanfics while I was slightly drunk so when I woke up... well, I'm just thankful I did not destroy my laptop.
Yep, that is exactly what happened so to those who had been waiting for updates, I apologize.
Now, it's quite fortunate that I have copies of the chapters in my USB, so I was able to salvage it somewhat but I decided to make a few changes, since it's a rewrite anyway (not to mention that the USB version is somehow different from what I posted anyway). I made a slight change in the prologue, removing a certain part that removes the determined outcome of the story since I intend to change it, too tragic.
So yeah, I will be posting this, and in the next few hours, I might post the other chapters which I am currently re-reading.
By the way, after an advice from a fellow writer, since the amount of inter-lit ideas I'm using is only very minor, he said this should remain in the one category section, so I followed. This will not be moved again.
And like always, I hope you enjoy reading this chapter...
Later then, people...
