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The following is a fan-based
FICTION
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Chapter 4: Altered Route
Illyasviel von Einzbern gave a long look at the depressed Juste lying near one of the darkest corners of the room in a fetal position.
Red eyes turned to glance at the results of his summoning and... the Einzbern couldn't see the issue with what he got.
Standing at 5'2, the pale-haired, golden-eyed Servant stared blankly at whom had summoned her for this War. She was wearing some light black armor and using a flag with a dragon on it as her weapon.
Her hair was kept short, combed in a complex braid and her features were almost as pale as hers.
"Juste."
He seemed to react to the call as his head turned towards her, a detached look on his face.
"What is wrong with you?"
He blinked twice before sighing. "I just summoned the Queen of Tsunderes."
The Servant twitched at the nickname, possibly because the Grail had given her some insight on the term and... a snarl formed in her face. "T-That is not true, Master!"
Illya frowned at the response as she remember having heard of the term back when the young man was describing Rin Tohsaka.
Red-faced when embarassed, restrained in what should be serious bouts of violent anger and.. her eyes were barely staring at Juste.
"I can see that." The woman gawked at the nod leaving the girl. "But I fail to see why this is an issue that would warrant this reaction."
"I-It's more of a... why her?"
"What do you mean?"
Few moments later and they were now discussing by the dining room and the young man started with his explanation proper.
"This is an Avenger-class Servant and... she shouldn't be summonable?"
"But why wouldn't a Heroic Spirit be there if she wasn't in the Throne of Heroes-"
"Technically my Master is right." The woman stated with a calm voice, still sending waves of hatred towards Juste. "My disposition was possible only in a single instance and... I shouldn't be there."
"Truly?" Illya mused outloud, turning her sight back on Juste. "Then that means that you for some reason are capable of summon her for- Wait, did you use a cathalyst?"
The newest Master nodded and pulled painfully a small hair from his head.
"You used part of yourself as a cathalyst and- Why would you use such an unstable component?!" She slammed her hands on the table, the resounding slam almost making Juste tumble backwards with his chair. "This kind of dumb actions could seriously compromise us all!"
"It is not that bad! I just wanted to restrict the selection to Europe-only Serva-" "Not that bad? The Castle would have exploded if the ritual had botched by your tampering."
...
"That bad?" He asked again, his voice hoarse and his face pale.
"That bad.." Illya sighed as she had her hands massaging her temples, this was quite the headache barely avoided. "But I suppose you would be happy to have summoned someone you are related to."
... "What?"
"Since the cathalyst is part of you, the Grail has picked someone that has some connection to you biologically speaking."
"S-So you are telling me that Master is... one of my descendants?" Avenger's eyes were wide open in a display of surprise and... dread?
Something along the line was going with the young man too. "Impossible! She never married and-" "It doesn't have to be a direct connection, she might be a distant part of your family but.. she is related to you."
"But ho-!" Juste gulped nervously as he turned at his new Servant. "H-How much far can your knowledge go about.. your ancestors."
Avenger frowned but.. hummed quietly as she thought about it. "The Grail gave me some... information but I am certain it goes back to the Crusades."
...
"Juste?"
Illya looked at the silent Master with newfound worry.
"Do you know if this ancestor is a certain Maurice Morreal?"
She blinked again but nodded quite quickly. "I think it is from my mother's branch of the family but why- You are related to him too."
To the Einzbern's surprise, Juste nodded calmly. "So... you are my-" "I would be careful with the following words, Master. A woman of my rank will not accept any slight even if you are related to-" "Auntie?"
Silence reigned for a while as the Servant thought about the choice. "It sounds... acceptable."
"Juste, are you going to tell me who she is?" He sighed at the childishly-asked question but he replied nonetheless.
"This Avenger-Class Servant, Jean D'Arc Alter, or Jalter."
This is foolish, Master, I can feel the girl's Servant already vulturing on us.
I know what I am doing, Jeanne, and this has to be done to avoid... something very ugly from happening.
I had already stated to the Avenger Servant that this very situation was a must and the risk was worth the rewards..
It had been quite difficult to find a way to give the invitation to one Sakura Matou, especially with her tight schedule of things she could do before being forced back to the Matou Mansion.
I had decided to leave some cryptic words in there to spice up the interest of the old worm, all to guarantee for her to be there in the little spot of the park I had chosen for that little encounter.
Few minutes passed since Rider had started to spy upon us and the plum-haired girl appeared from the distance, walking calmly in the same path the bench was turned towards, her meek attempt to hide her attention in her staring was oddly familiar but I decided against smiling at the nostalgic sensation and focusing on the task at hand.
She paused right in front of the bench and... she sat calmly, squirming away from being too close to me and I nodded. "Sakura Matou, I heard quite a lot about you."
"W-Who are you!" The girl tried to appear serious in that instance but her usual shyness was quick to make the threat sound like some failed response of some kind.
"Juste, Master of Avenger and... someone who wish for you to be happy with your Senpai."
Rider manifested with her dagger-chain poised to slit my throat and I sighed.
"Y-You shall not harm h-him!" I blinked at the following threat and snorted.
"As if I wish to bring death for this crappy competition, Sakura-san."
Master, she can kill you- She will not, I know what I have to say.
"Y-You hurted him-" "It was your sister, Rin, that is pushing him to compete, not me."
Surprise was present in her face but she avoided gasping or bluntly ask how I knew that, she just stared in shock.
"You should be skeptical by what I am going to say but.. I wish for you the best life out of this War-" "You are lying."
I scoffed at Medusa's comeback. "Truly? You think I am lying, kinslayer?"
She flinched at the accusation, knowing full well it was the very truth that made her the greatest monster at her time.
"Let me ask you this first... did you have any.. strange dreams about eating something delicious."
The Rider paused at the question and looked at her Master as she.. looked blankly to the floor.
"How?"
I grimaced at this little development. We had lost so much time trying to getting some good trinkets for the endgame that I forgot how many things happened in the span of the first two days...
"Let's just say that I know many things and.. you are in quite the predicament with this War, one I can assist you to solve."
"W-What are you talking about-" "There is something in your head chanting for Saber's death already, isn't there?"
She paused again but nodded at my stare. "I-I thought it was just some thoughts-" "They are not and I would suggest to fight them in every situation and... I can assure you that my advices will get you to your senpai."
"Y-you are lying, Rider said that!"
..Master, why it got warm here?
I think I am entering some dangerous part of her mind and.. I think we will have to possibly bail soon if I fail to calm her down.
Understood.
"I am not and I will tell you why." I turned towards Medusa and scowled. "Are you going to tell her?"
The very question, after having heard the previous truth bombs leaving my mouth, was quick to find realisation within Rider and her dagger felt softer, not pressuring my neck as before.
"W-What?"
"Nothing." I stated quickly as I continued to glare at the Servant, the woman looking ashamed right in that moment and quite panicking at the possibility of being discovered. "She will tell you what had happened once the War is over and you are... not going to kill us all."
...
"W-What?!"
"Listen, you are in a very horrible situation because of the old man and- Yes, I know he is listening but he is quite in the same boat like us right now. Your alterego, the Shadow, cannot be controlled and Magecraft is nullified by its aura, so Rule Breaker will not work."
"I don't.. I don't understand-"Then don't, please. I beg you."
Her mouth opened to speak further but her ears catched the last bit, far too genuine to be a lie.
"W-Why I shouldn't ask?"
"Because you have... something that connects you to the corrupted Grail and.. the more your sanity is strained by things, the more you will be close to give up your mind. That is why I need you to live and not be influenced by the War."
"B-but why Senpai? Why him of all people to.. to make him happy? I-I'm not that-"
"Sakura, I will be very blunt about it because I think it's time for you to hear a genuine description of whom you are."
I coughed in my hand and gave a quick glance to her Servant.
"Sakura Matou, you are possibly the best person in this world. You have suffered the worst of fates, yet you keep going everyday with your life with a smile. You are kind, sweet and hardworking, something that even Shirou knows that is true. That is why he trusts you so much and cares for you a lot."
At this point her face was next to turn in a tomato at the proclamation leaving my lips.
"You have been lied about your body as Shinji is just.. a jerk. Rin is envious of how you are developing and, while part of your.. 'needs' are augumented by the worms, you are still a good girl trying to show affection. The reason why Shirou is so 'dense' around you is because.. he takes your hardworking as granted. That is why I, the grand Juste, shall bestow you with my immense wisdom about love!"
...
A giggle started to slowly form in her throat, breaking the block of her confusions and soon she was full-blown giggling at the situation.
I was unsure of what to do with this but.. I sighed and decided to try something else.
Her giggling almost paused when my arms pulled her in an embrace, my hands caressing her scalp softly and letting her head sit on my shoulder.
"I can see you."
She started to tremble a little and then.. a something wet started to fall on my shoulder, her own arms straddling on my back as Sakura started to cry, releasing everything she had bottled up until now. Muffled 'thank yous' started to reach my ears and I kept the embrace going, Rider seemingly hesitant on acting with the sudden action I pulled.
D-Did you say the truth about.. about her?
I did. She is quite the brave hero, isn't she?
...She is, Master..
AN
I've been told times in the past that I was hating on Sakura and... It kind of hurts.
In my top ten favourite characters in the Nasuverse in a general way, Sakura is sharing the first place with Illya.
The girl got quite the shittiest cards from life and she suffered to the fullest a tortured childhood. While I find that overly-inflating her deeds is wrong, I consider her tenacity something that rivals or beat the determination of some Servants. She is a good cookie and I would hug and tell her she is a good girl. I feel so emotional right now, especially since French in Political Science sucks big time.
Quick Fact: I am indeed related to Maurice Morreal/Moreal, steward to Godfrey de Bouillon, first Frank King of Jerusalem after the first crusade.
Little, Big Announcement: Lads and Lasses, the first Web Serial written by SocialistBukharin is now available in Wordpress, Spacebattles and Wattpad (I went through everyplace acceptable.). Inner Demons is set in a different present with strong religious elements that are used in an anime-like context.
You may find the finest version in: .com!
Review Q&A!
VoidLing: I don't think my Ego is ready to pull such an action in my stories. Maybe when I feel particularly cocky but.. still a good idea.
lector123: It is listen in my profile bio.
Reishin Amara: I think the issue would be the connection with the Throne of Heroes if Grail-chan had to be turned to a Greater Grail. I wouldn't be giving much legitimacy to Prillya's facts when using those with the Nasuverse as the writer/designer had stated some facts are just from him to be used on Prillya only. You possibly meant the Tracing On of Excalibur and that is fine in Prillya. Illya with Archer's powers would hardly be able to pull that off for... plot reasons. Also yeah, the cursed gold will be something that will be fixed quite soon thanks to a.. curious development.
piddle: I mean, I could troll her about the Dick Wizard or about her Lancer versions, but I think the one receiving those truth bombs will be her Altered version.
merendinoemiliano: Thank you and happy birthday!
Guest (chapter 3): I think Zelretch is much weaker than many make him seem. He was super-strong pre-Brunestud fight but I think he got incredibly weaker because of the DA's blood and I think the very blood might be something that tampers his full usage of the Kaleidoscope. The Grail was conceived in the early 18th century and I doubt the three creators were planning to have it realise any wish greater than reaching Akasha.
JD91B: Thank you!
