Tsukiko Chronicle
Chapter 1 – Converging path
AN: I like to thank everyone for the reviews, specially Ando Owen, for helping me with my grammar and other mistakes. Hopefully this chapter will have less mistake, I will do my best to produce a quality story and hope my readers will enjoy reading this as much as I enjoy writing them.
Version 2.0 correction 2.25.16
First of August, 1980
Potterverse Godric's Hollow
A full day had passed since the birth of Tsukiko Potter, many amongst the Order of the Phoenix was still debating if it was a good idea to give a foreign name to the newly born witch. However both Lily and James Potter felt they were obligated to Yuuko to name their daughter Tsukiko, as the seer had a place in their hearts and memories. It was not long after they met Yuuko. Sybill Trelawney made a prophecy about the one who would vanquish He-who-must-not-be-named.
A spy within the death eater had informed Dumbledore that both Longbottom and Potter have been marked for death shortly after the birth of Tsukiko Potter. Lily Potter was angry, she was very angry at Sybill Trelawney and Albus Dumbledore.
From what Lily had found out from the other members of the Order. Miss Sybill was applying for the divination professor position in Hogwarts and tried to impress Dumbledore, she said her prophecy in the Hog's Head Inn, where anyone could have overheard, let alone a death eater, but what had made her even more angry. Dumbledore had caught the suspected spy that overheard the prophecy and all he did was throw him out of the inn, no Obliviate, no memory charm of any sort. Lily began to wonder if Albus Dumbledore was fit to lead this fight.
She then remembered Miss Yuuko words to her and realized that she must had known the whole time and knew the consequences of revealing a prophecy. She then remembered the gift Yuuko gave them, a recording crystal that was indestructible and would only work with those who have Potter's blood in them.
Lily could only guess at how much Yuuko knew of the coming event. Lily knew one thing for certain, Tsukiko will survive.
With the recording crystal that Yuuko left her, she placed it in front of herself and Tsukiko. "Record Lily Potter and Tsukiko Potter." The crystal floated in front of Lily and angled itself so the 'square' was facing both Lily and Tsukiko. "Hi, Tsukiko, This is mum speaking, and this is you, a day after you were born. Tsukiko, I want you to know you are the most precious person to me and I love you very much."
Lily looked to the side and smiled. " Your dad and uncles also can't wait to tell you how much they love you, when they get hold of the recording crystal." Lily looked down at Tsukiko. "I love you so much, I am sure one day we will look back at this recording together and laugh at all the silly thing we did."
Lily looked back up to the crystal, with tears in her eyes. "Tsukiko, in life there will be hard times, there will be times when everything will seem unfair, when it feels like there is no hope left. During those dark time remember I love you, your dad loves you and so many friends I am sure you will meet also love you" Lily wiped away her tears. "Oh god, why am I always like this. End Recording."
(Line Break)
Hogwarts
Albus Dumbledore had just returned from a meeting between Ministry of Magic and the Order of the Phoenix. Against his advice, the Ministry had given the order to use the unforgivable against the death eater and their allies. How could you turn people towards the light if you kill them?
However this was not the only thing Dumbledore was upset about, several months ago, Lily, James and Sirius had reported meeting a powerful seer by the name of Yuuko Ichihara. He never heard of her and after viewing the pensive from Lily's memories, he really wished he met her, perhaps even persuaded her to join his cause in turning the death eater towards the light, but it was not to be.
What ever magic she used have dwarf even his best attempt to find her. Also he couldn't figure out the gift she left behind. Such simple functions, yet it had thwarted all his attempt to take it apart, find out how it works and even used it for himself!
However this was not the time to agonize over what he could not control, he needed a new plan, something that would turn the people towards the light, a symbol, a hero, or in this case a heroine. After he had viewed the the event between Lily and Yuuko, there could be no doubt Tsukiko Potter was the child of prophecy, now he only needed a plan to ensure the child would follow the light and bid his time.
Elsewhere in the headmasters office. Fawkes looked sadly at Albus Dumbledore, his friend and master had become worse over the past five years, Fawkes could sense an illness inside Dumbledore's head, it was slowly and surely clouding his judgement. The illness was not dark or magical, it was something even he could not understand. All Fawkes could do was watch over his friend and master, Fawkes prayed he does not make a horrible mistake.
(Line Break)
Twenty-Second of August, 2007
Nasuverse City Nassau in Bahamas
Shirou Emiya came to this city to hunt down a sealing designate. A philosopher, a magus intended to reveal the existence of magecraft to the inhabitant of this city, by unleashing hundreds of monstrous chimera.
He was able to trap all the chimera inside Unlimited Blade Works before they could spread out. Killing them had used up most of his prana reserve and that was when every thing had gone to hell. It turned out the philosopher was experimenting with biological transmutation, merging his own body with chimera and injected himself with dead apostle blood, he turned himself into an unspeakable abomination.
As it advanced through the field of chimera corpse, it has absorbed all the dead chimera, turning itself into a mass of flesh and organs that would certainly devour the living as it had devoured the dead.
Then to his horror a young girl came out of the build close to the abomination, he had only seconds to save her, the girl turned toward the abomination, the horror before her eye caused her to faint on the spot.
Shirou got between the abomination and the girl. Kanshou and Bakuya gone into spinning defence, cutting apart the abomination flesh as fast as he could before they could reach him or the girl. He overloaded the twin blade with prana. Shirou threw the blades into the middle of the abomination and triggered a massive explosion.
He used his own body and his projected Holy Shroud and managed to shield the unconscious girl from the blast, he picked up the girl and quickly retreated to a safe distance. He dropped her off into a building before putting further distance between himself and the abomination.
He used Reinforcement on his eye, he could see the abomination was regenerating rapidly, he need to trace Excalibur if he wished to end this fight, he only had enough od for one shot, after that he would barely have enough od to stay alive. As the abomination rooted still to regenerate it's wound, Shirou was able to finish his tracing of Excalibur before it had fully regenerated.
He pointed Excalibur at the abomination, he could feel the build up of power and his own depleting od, with a grunt of pain, Shirou shouted. "Excalibur!"
The Abomination was turned into atoms within a brilliant golden light similar to a second sunrise. Shirou collapsed with his back against the wall, only then did he noticed a stinger barb was pumping poison just under his rib, through Structural Analysis he realised this was not just any poison, it had taints of dead apostle blood. Shirou had no idea what Avalon would do to his body when reacting to a poison that had mixed with dead apostle blood, but he knew the out come would not be good. Even if there was a slightest chance he could became a dead apostle, he wouldn't risk it. Shirou traced a Black Key. He was ready to plunge the sword into himself, when a hand stopped him, the hand belong to one Wizard Marshall Zelretch.
Shirou looked up at Zelretch. "Wow, I never though Alaya was this ugly."
Zelretch smiled in amusement at Shirou and said to him. "Took you long enough to find a sense of humour. I knew I would eventually rub off on you."
Shirou grimaced at that and said. "That is so wrong on so many levels." Shirou took a moment to looked at Zelretch and continued. "You know, if there is nothing else, I need to hurry up and die before I become a dead apostle or worse."
Zelretch looked at Shirou with amusement and said. "Actually I got an offer for you." Zelretch reached into his pocket and produced a small red shard, size of a child fist. Shirou looked at Zelretch with worries in his eyes as he explained. "I met an interesting group of mages who called themselves the Horadrim, met this interesting fellow called Tal Rasha, he was in a bit of a bind, apparently the Baal soul stone was damaged and he was about to sacrifice himself to entombed a demon along with himself. So I made him a offer. I would repair the soul stone as long as I get to examine the empty soul stone that they have. Needless to say they and an eldritch abomination made of light and golden armour that called himself 'Tyrael' did not believe I could fix the soul stone in time."
Shirou interrupted Zelretch. "Let me guess you prove them wrong, but can we PLEASE hurry this along, I can actually feel fangs in my mouth!"
Zelretch looked at Shirou with a hint of annoyance and said. "Fine. I made the soul stone whole in matter of seconds and informed this 'Tyrael' that the soul stone was flawed and eventually the imprisoned demon would have broken out after some time, I managed to correct the flaw and they were more then happy to give me all the research note on the soul stone, given me unlimited access to the Horadrim library and made me honorary advisor." Zelretch paused for a bit, making sure Shirou was still paying attention to him. "So I made this soul stone with some extra features and now all I need is a test subject to try it on."
Shirou gave Zelretch a blank look and said. "You know, would it have mattered if I said no?"
Zelretch replied. "Come to think about it, even if you said no, I would have still trap your soul in this soul stone, so no."
Shirou sighed, now he understood why Rin had such a bad tempered after spending a day with Zelretch. "Fine I will be your guinea pig, Just tell Rin and Saber that I am trapped in your soul stone."
Zelretch replied "Not a problem, I will tell them." Zelretch activate the soul stone and took one Shirou Emiya soul into the soul stone, after the transfer was complete, Zelretch disappeared in a burst of multi colour light.
Shirou Emiya body laid against the wall, later to be found by a distraught Rin Tohsaka and Arturia Pendragon.
(Line Break)
Ninth of September, 2009
Nasuverse Unknown location, South America Amazon rainforest
Rin Tohsaka was dying, Rin would not die just yet, it would take months if not a year at most before her magic circuits were completely corrupted, leading to her death. She could not believe she was going to die because of an idiotic magus apprentice.
The sealing designate placed on this idiot was more political then anything else, the apprentice managed to steal an Aztec artefact from the Barthomeloi family. As if that wasn't enough, when she found the moron, he had activated the artefact, the poor fool himself was dragged into a black portal by hundreds of small black hands. It would not had been so bad if that was all, but a purple eye opened at the centre of the portal, then the same black hands tried to widened the portal to let whatever it was on the other side to enter this world.
Arturia was about to activate Excalibur, but Rin stopped her, there was no guarantee that Excalibur could close the portal or even killed whatever was on the other side. However her training in the second true magic might be able to close it. If that failed, then they would resort to Excalibur. She took out ten of her prana jewels, then proceeded to channel all their power and her own reserve to create an inverted portal into the void, she placed her own portal over the alien portal, it was slow at first, the first sign it was working was when the black hands had broken apart and the portal rapidly started to shrink, only for something within the alien portal to shot out and struck her in the chest. The portal closed completely even though she was struck down, Rin was able to maintain her concentration enough to close it, it was only when she starts to coughed up blood, did she realized something was horribly wrong.
Laid on the ground, Rin's head rested on Arturia lap, her best friend, her lover. Rin had cut off her prana link to Arturia, she had prevent the curse from reaching her, at best Arturia only had a few days before she disappear, leaving her all alone, like that day when Shirou died over two years ago. Tears formed in her eyes, what the hell had she being doing for the past two years?
After Shirou death, she had threw herself at her work, her second magic, even some enforcer assignments, only when she exhausted herself did her emotion catches up to her and she spend that time crying in Arturia arms, and now she was going to lose her too. Just as Rin was about to have a heart to heart talk with Arturia, Zelretch appeared before them.
Zelretch! Rin had avoided him for the past two years shortly after Shirou's death and now he was here with that wide amused grin on his smug face. That face had completely ruined the mood she was having. She was soon filled with annoyance and sheer feminine fury. "Zelretch, I know you did that on purpose, can't you see I am having a important moment here?"
Zelretch kept that same smile and replied. "Yes my dear, I have been waiting for this moment to jump in, ruin your most heartfelt and moving confession with your servant." Rin glared at Zelretch, while Arturia looked away with a blush on her face. Zelretch ignored the glare and said. "My dear, I have an offer for you, that will save both you and Arturia from certain death."
Zelretch then reached into his pocket and produced a small red shard, size of a child fist. Zelretch explained. "You see. I met an interesting group of mages who called themselves the Horadrim..."
Zelretch explained his adventure in great detail for the next half an hour. "I have to say Tal Rasha has a GREAT sense of humour, between us we managed to surround ourself with women and beers, I even managed to hooked up with an Amazon, now that's what I call a woman!"
Rin could not take it any more, just as she was about to stop Zelretch, Arturia spoked up. "Sir Zelretch! As..." Arturia continued with several tick marks on her forehead. "Interesting as your adventure was, I have to draw a line when it comes to your bedroom antics, can you PLEASE get to the point!"
Zelretch gained a lecherous smile as he replied. "All in good time my dear king, but you might learn a few things from someone of my experience, unlike your last attempt at making Shirou Emiya playing the role of your sheath."
Rin and Arturia turned scarlet red. Before either girls could recover and ask how he knew. "But anyway, my offer is this, this soul stone can store both you and Arturia soul, thus preventing your death, and Rin I know you want to live, so does Arturia."
As Zelretch said this, he activated the soul stone and took both their souls within the soul stone. Arturia body broke down into ambient prana, while Rin's body expired. Zelretch picked up the missing artefact and carried Rin's body bridle style.
Zelretch gained a wistful look and a soft smile. "You will never hear me say this to you Rin. You are the 'Best' apprentice I have ever had, and the truth is, I really can't afford to lose you, both as an apprentice and some one I come to care about." Zelretch used his second true magic and transported himself, Rin body and the missing artefact back into his office at the Clock Tower.
As Zelretch was doing this, he couldn't help but notice that he had forgotten something important he should have said to Rin, before he trapped her soul in the soul stone, oh well, if he could not remember, it must not had been important.
(Line Break)
Second of December 2009
Nasuverse Clock Tower, Zelretch Office
Shiki Tohno was very confused, one moment he was opening a letter from someone called Zelretch, the next moment he was in a lavishly furnished office before an old man. Shiki's Nanaya blood was acting up in the presence of the old man, but he ruthlessly crushed it down.
His control over his killer instinct had improved greatly over the two years since he lost Arcueid. Zelretch smiled, noticing all of this. Shiki composed himself, took note of everything in the room, the oak door behind him, the window behind the old man, a box of signed girl underwear's, on the side of the box written 'From the girls of Class 3-A Mahora Academy'. Shiki observation stopped at the box. Zelretch noticed this as well. Shiki came out of his shock, pointed at the box, but was lost for words on what to say.
Zelretch decided to fill him in. "Oh those? The girls of class 3-A, it was the most fun two years I had in my long life. The antic and shenanigans those girls get up to. I was their English and home room teacher. Those underwear's are their way of celebrate the end of middle school and their farewell present to me. Come to think about it I still have the numbers from Chao Lingshen and Evangeline A.K. McDowell. I really have to make time and visit them, see how everyone is doing."
Shiki Tohno had finally found the words for this unusual encounter. "You are a truly sick man."
Zelretch just laugh uproariously at his comment. Shiki composed himself again and waited until the old man stopped laughing. Shiki said. "Who are you and why did you bring me here?" Shiki took another look at the box before he dismissed it from his mind.
Zelretch smiled and said to him "I am Kischur Zelretch Schweinorg. Old Man of the Jewels. Wizard Marshall Zelretch. Kaleidoscope. Zelretch of the Jewels. The fourth dead apostle ancestor or to you, the surrogate grandfather of Arcueid Brunestud." This immediately got Shiki attention but before he could say anything.
Zelretch interrupted him. "Yes, I know where Arcueid is and yes I can take you to her." Zelretch wore a grim look and became very serious. Shiki could feel an uncomfortable pressure from him. Zelretch continued. "If I take you to her, with the way she is now, most likely she will not wake up for either of us or if she does, she will lose all self control and become a fallen ancestor." Shiki was at a lose, he wanted to see Arcueid again, he wished to hold her, spend their life together, but not at that cost.
Zelretch could see the conflict the young man was having, he smiled fondly and thought. 'Yes, His granddaughter will find happiness with this young man, at least for a while.' Zelretch continued. "However, I have a plan that will reunite you with Arcueid and give you the happiness you seek."
Shiki looked up with hope in his eyes and said. "I will do anything to be with Arcueid again."
Zelretch smiled widely and replied. "That's the spirit! But first a story." Zelretch reached into his pocket and produced a small red shard, size of a child fist. As Zelretch explained. "You see. I met an interesting group of mages who called themselves the Horadrim..."
Zelretch explained his adventure in even greater detail for an hour. "I met this healer at the back of the palace in Lut Gholein, he called himself Healer Jan Itor, during our conversation about prank ideas, his communication stone activated and said 'Hey Turk, I'm at the front of the palace next to the food stall, where are you?' when he heard this, Healer Jan Itor excused himself and gone to a nearby fruit stall, he paid the merchant for a melon and threw it over the palace, six seconds later, sounds of impact and scream could be heard from the communication stone, saying. 'Man down! Man down!' Jan Itor then said to me 'Still got it.' I swear to you that man was after my own hearts."
Shiki had a vacant expression on his face, he was thinking. 'Thank all creation, Arcueid is nothing like her grandfather.' Shiki snapped out of his stupor and said. "Zelretch sir, I don't mean to be rude, but can you tell me what you are planning to do?"
Zelretch smiled at him and said to him. "I am going to seal your soul and Arcueid soul into the soul stone, I have found a method to bring Arcueid back to full health and I want you to be there with her when this happens."
Shiki was shocked and said. "Thank you."
Zelretch looked to Shiki. "Shiki-San, it is I who should thank you. You gave Arcueid happiness, a reason to live and to dream." Zelretch walked up to Shiki and said. "Are you ready?"
Shiki had a look of determination and replied. "Yes." Zelretch activated the soul stone, taking Shiki Tohno's soul into the soul stone.
(Line Break)
Third of December, 2009
Nasuverse Millennium castle Brunestud
Within the heart of castle Brunestud sat a white marble throne. Upon this throne, Arcueid Brunestud sat, chains wrapped around her body, they anchored themselves onto various parts of the throne room. Arcueid slept, a deep sleep she would never awoke from, she dreamed of her lover Shiki, the days they had spend at the cinema, the amusement park, the beach. Every day was a happy dream for her, as she would always dream of her love.
Zelretch stood before the throne watching over his surrogate granddaughter, he remembered that fateful day eight hundred years ago. The day when he and Caubac Alcatraz first met the White Princess of the True Ancestor. He remembered the conversation he had with her like it was yesterday.
(Flash back)
He had found the white princess on a field of white flowers, It was midsummer night under a beautiful full moon, a gentle wind blew towards him, carried the flower petals. It made an enchanting theme, a young girl looked no more then ten years old with long blond hair, skin as white as the flowers around them, eyes red as ruby. He smiled and said to her. "This is why life is interesting."
The princess looked at him with interest before she said to him. "Why are you smiling? No one in the castle ever smile."
He replied. "People smile when they enjoy their own lives." The princess looked confused, It was clear she did not understand what he had meant.
With some confusion in her voice she asked. "What is enjoyable? When will I understand?"
He smiled sadly at her and said. "Its fifty-fifty that you will come to that realization, you will live a long life, so you will have many opportunities." He looked into her eyes and continued. "Understanding is something gained by chance, like walking along a road and tripping over a rock, and once something is understood, it is no longer anything special." The princess only looked even more confused by what he said. He smiled and said. "One day, you will notice that life is fun just being awake."
(Flash back)
Zelretch looked sadly at the sleeping Arcueid, for the few time in his long life, Zelretch felt really old. "It's not right. You have found what you are looking for, after eight hundred years of waiting. You deserve better then this. This endless sleep is not for you, Arcueid. The one you love, searched for you for the past two years, he's even willing to bet his own life to be with you again."
Arcueid did not stir from her deep slumber. Zelretch let out a long sigh. "Arcueid, I am almost certain you will come to hate me for this, maybe even kill me, if you knew the full extent of this plan, which I am sure you will find out in the end, but this foolish old man only wish is for you to be happy. Please forgive me." Zelretch took out the soul stone, activated it and took the soul of Arcueid Brunestud into the soul stone. Arcueid body turned into mote of light and dispersed into the castle. Zelretch soon left castle Brunestud via second magic, the castle fell soon after he left.
Zelretch returned to his office in the Clock Tower. He brought out a crystal mirror. Through the mirror he could see Tsukiko Potter hiding in the local town library. Zelretch with a grim and determine look, said to himself. "Now, for the next part of this plan."
Zelretch left his office via the second magic, heading towards the local library of Little Whinging.
AN: The next chapter might take a while before release, I decided to write a list of plan for this story, writing from my head will be very unreliable. I will produce the next chapter as soon as I can. If you have any suggestion, please leave me a review or send me a PM, I will reply to them as long as its not a request for spoilers.