Disclaimer: I do not own the Fate franchise it belongs to Kinoko Nasu and Type-Moon. I also do not own the Megami Tensei franchise, it belongs to Atlus.

Aftermath

Chapter 21

"GIFTS!"

"GIFTS, SAKURA, GIFTS!"

"OPEN YOUR GIFTS, SAKURA!"

"GIFTS!"

The shouts went up as Sakura was ushered to a table piled high with presents from her guests, mostly wrapped in colorful paper and prettily-tied ribbons, though there were a few exceptions. "Alright, alright," Sakura said as she sat down. "Let's do this one by one, alright?"

Cheers went up, and then Sakura looked with hesitant expectation at her father. Louis just shook his head. "Save the best for last, little one." He said.

Sakura smiled and nodded. "…fair enough." She conceded, and a ripple of applause went up as Kariya took his present from the pile and placed it in front of Sakura. The young woman untied the ribbon before pulling the wrapping open, and then her eyes were going wide. "This is…!"

Gasps and exclamations of awe went up from the crowd, joining Sakura's own breathless response at the handwoven, three-layer silk kimono Kariya had gifted her with. "Uncle," she breathed. "This is…?"

"Well, as you can see, it's not just any kimono." Kariya said with a small laugh, and rubbing the back of his head.

"No…" Sakura agreed, fingering the fine and richly-colored silk. "It's the kind kagura dancers wear, isn't it?"

"Yup."

"…this must have cost so much, though." Sakura said. "Not that I'm complaining, but…you needn't have gone so far…"

Kariya hummed and then shrugged. "…for one birthday, maybe." He admitted. "But…for nine, maybe ten missed birthdays' worth of presents, I think it's just right."

Sakura hummed, and then getting up, hugged her uncle before kissing him on the cheek. "Thanks, uncle," she said. "For everything."

Kariya nodded, and applause went up from the crowd. Then he was stepping back, as Shirou stepped forward with his own gift. "…I feel really inadequate after that." He softly said, and causing a ripple of laughter from Sakura and other people nearby. Then he was offering his gift with a smile, which widened as Sakura took the gift. "Happy Birthday, Sakura."

"Thanks, sempai." Sakura said, before opening the gift. Like Kariya, Shirou had opted to gift her with clothes, in his case a summer yukata in the palest shade of lavender, with floral patterns in several different colors. The obi was red on the outside, and candy blue on the inside.

Sakura didn't say anything, and instead, also pulled Shirou into a hug and kissed him on the cheek, her own cheeks flowering into a full blush as she did so. Shirou just smiled at her while stepping back, and then it was Taiga's turn.

Her gift was the first that was unwrapped, offering as she did nothing less than an wakizashi, the sword tied to the scabbard with red string. "This sword was forged by Sengo Muramasa during the 16[SUP]th[/SUP] Century." Taiga said, while pulling the red string, and then slowly unsheathing the sword, held it flat on her hands. "The blade is about eighteen inches long, and while still quite heavy, can and is meant to be used with one hand. Though, you can use it with both hands if you want."

Taking the sword in one hand, Taiga made a series of practice motions, before sheathing it back into its scabbard. "A wakizashi is primarily meant for self-defense," she continued while tying the string back around the sword's guard and the upper end of the scabbard. "A last line of defense for when an enemy gets through everything else between you and them. Here's to it serving you well should that ever happen, Sakura."

Offering the sword with both hands, Sakura similarly took it with both hands, and bowed as she lowered it to her side. "Thank you, sensei." She formally said, and with a smile, Taiga leaned forward and kissed Sakura on the forehead. "I'm sorry I couldn't do more before now…Happy Birthday, Sakura."

Sakura nodded, and Raiga was hobbling forward. "Ahem…" he coughed to clear his throat, before gesturing for one of his men to give him his gift to present to Sakura. "Muramasa's skill as a smith is legendary, and his swords equally so. So long as there is enough strength in the arm that wields it, the blade you have been gifted will shear through metal, wood, flesh and bone without question, but just as it will serve you well so long as you have skill and will to wield it, you too have an obligation to the blade."

Raiga then placed a hand-carved and time-worn box on the table, and opened it. On the inside of the lid there were bronze engravings, one of a stylized swordsman taking care of his blade, and another of instructions on how to properly care for one's weapon. Inside the box, there was a whetstone, tools for taking apart a sword's components, and jars of oils with which to bathe and coat the blade to protect it from the elements.

"Just as my granddaughter gave you a weapon to wield," Raiga said. "I give you this to help you fulfill your obligation to your weapon."

Sakura again bowed. "My thanks, Fujimura-san." She said.

Raiga nodded, and closing the box hobbled away, Taiga helping him along.

Then Pixie was flying towards Sakura, carrying what looked like a star-shaped pendant of crystal on a silver chain. The pendant gently glowed with liquid light from the inside, as though of moonlight and starlight blended together into a shimmering cascade of silver and white.

Sakura cupped her hands, and Pixie gently lowered her gift into them. "Happy Birthday, Sakura." She said with a wide smile. "I gathered the moonlight and starlight for a whole month, and placed them inside that crystal, so they could shine with you and on you whenever you wear that crystal."

Sakura held the pendant in her hands, staring into the mesmerizing depths of liquid light that shone from the depths of the crystal. "The Moon and the stars are with me always, huh?" she asked softly, and Pixie grinned even wider.

"That's the idea!" she said, and Sakura smiled at her best friend.

"Thanks, Pixie." She said, and Pixie nodded before flying away, her parents now stepping forward.

"Receive, oh child of man and darkness," Queen Titania formally began, her husband standing beside her, as she offered a rough pot of clay in which a sapling grew from rich and dark loam. "This gift from my husband and myself, as a token of our friendship, and our hopes for peace and goodwill between us, a sapling from our tree. May it grow tall and strong, just as your life be rich and fruitful, from this moment unto an endless tomorrow."

Sakura drew herself up, and setting aside Pixie's gift, held out her hands to receive the gift of the king and queen of the fairies. "I humbly accept this gift," she formally replied. "And with it your hopes for peace and goodwill, and thank you for your well wishes, that my life be one that is rich and fruitful henceforth."

Titania and Oberon nodded, and then walked away as the other guests offered their own gifts. Ayako presented Sakura with another summer yukata, this one dark blue with creatures of the sea embroidered in bright colors, the obi pale blue but pink on the underside.

Cu Chulainn presented a tome on runes and their uses and configurations. Lilith presented a dagger that would neither dull nor break, could cut through any mortal metal, and could draw down the lightning and throw it against her foes. Parvati and Shiva presented Sakura a flute, which if she mastered, could play music so beautiful as to entrance the birds of the sky and the beasts of the field, melting the coldest hearts and softening the hardest wills.

Dante, while not present, sent his well-wishes, along with a pair of 1905 Colt Single Action Army revolvers with pearl-inlaid grips. The succubae and other fairies also presented jewelry, ranging from rings, bracelets, and necklaces, of gold and silver or alloys thereof, glittering with gemstones of various kinds, to a crown of while gold encrusted with a hundred diamonds courtesy of Queen Mab. Many of them were even enchanted to have various effects when worn, such as Queen Mab's gift keeping anyone from lying to Sakura so long as she wore the crown on her head.

"Wow, it's just like the Answerer…Fragarach, I think it was." Sakura said in awe.

"Indeed," Queen Mab said with a nod and a smile.

Many demons who could not be present also sent gifts, such as the Four Horsemen and Mother Harlot. White Rider presented Sakura several chests filled to overflowing with the spoils of a fallen kingdom from across time and space, such as coin and ingot in gold, and gems of every color and size, ranging from those the size of a pea to those as big as a man's head.

Red Rider's gift was a series of scrolls, on which were detailed the plans, notes, and other necessities for the construction of a weapon which could lay waste to the stars themselves. Black Rider sent a tome detailing rites and rituals with which to ensure a fruitful harvest, while Pale Rider sent a sword, which possessed the power of death over all that existed.

Mother Harlot sent a whole closet's worth of robes and dresses, many of which were scandalous to one extent or another.

Beelzebub's gift disturbed many among the guests, but only had Sakura – and even Luvia – smiling. They were a pair of snow globes, at least at first glance. On closer inspection, they were actually soul prisons, the interior of which changed from one life to another, as those imprisoned within suffered unspeakable torment only to die and be reborn to another form of torment.

When Sakura received them, Byakuya Matou was screaming himself hoarse as he was eaten alive by fire ants, and in his prison, Shinji Matou frantically and desperately begged in vain as he was raped over and over again by several thuggish men.

"Now you know how it's like, brother." Sakura vindictively said, watching as one man finished with Shinji, and another moved to take his place despite Shinji's tearful pleas.

Setting them aside, Sakura received Luvia's gift, more jewelry in this case diamond pieces such as a tiara, several pairs of earrings, a necklace, a brooch, a pair of bracelets, and several rings. "But not just any diamonds," Luvia said. "These diamonds were not forged on this or any Earth across time and space. Oh no…these diamonds were taken from the heart of Jupiter itself, by the hand of the Star Maiden herself. Consider this gift both from myself, as Luviagelita Edelfelt, and from Astraea as well."

Sakura received the gift, and setting them aside, pulled Luvia into a hug. "Thank you." She said. "If only I could have a sister like you."

"Hmm…" Luvia hummed, using her power as an avatar to peer across time and space, into another actuality of possibility. "Certainly…if that were so…then so many things would be different…so many tragedies and cruelties averted…"

"…I wouldn't be surprised."

"Hmm…indeed…"

Gilgamesh and his mother Ninsun offered great gilded vessels full of wine, and which would never run out. "Whether it is weapons, necessities, or luxuries," Gilgamesh proclaimed with childish pomposity (and perhaps unknowingly showing the first impressions of the dread King of Heroes he may yet grow up into). "I offer only the finest things as presents to others."

Ishtar offered Sakura a puzzle box, the true nature of which she revealed to Sakura in a whisper. Sakura blinked, and then grinned while holding up the box with sharpened interest.

A bruised and battered Dumuzid offered a roast sheep, and one which would never run out. "Well, what can I say?" he said while adjusting his sunglasses. "There's nothing I can offer that's better than my finest mutton."

One by one, the gifts were offered, until finally the last gifts were opened and accepted, leaving Sakura standing amidst a table (and the floor) piled high with luxuries and wealth that would have Croesus weeping with envy. "Thank you," she said with a beaming smile, tears of happiness welling from her eyes. "Thank you so very much, everyone."

"Bye everybody!"

"See you tomorrow!"

"See you at school!"

"Bye!"

"Take care now!"

"Have a safe trip!"

"See you!"

Sakura happily waved her goodbyes as the vast majority of her guests took their leave, either walking or riding off into the night for the comfort of their homes. And then sighing, Sakura went back inside the building, across the foyer and up the stairs, down the corridor to the events hall.

It was largely empty now, but for the building staff beginning cleanup. Her father and uncle were still there though, sitting at the bar and nursing glasses of whiskey. Sakura immediately made her way to join them.

"So…what'd I miss?" she asked as she sat down to them both.

"Not much," Kariya said.

"Just talking about the future." Louis said with a sip of his drink.

"…it has something to do with your gift, doesn't it father?"

"It does." Louis said with a nod. "You see, my gift is choice, the essence of freedom."

"…a choice between what?"

"You are my daughter." Louis said. "My blood flows in your veins, the blood of the Fallen Angel, of the Supreme Power of Darkness, created by the Great Will Itself."

"And…?"

"As powerful as you are now," Louis continued. "You are still capable of greater heights, which you will inevitably achieve be it sooner or later."

"Really?"

"Yes." Louis said with a nod. "I won't say it's destiny, because I don't believe in destiny. But, that power is a part of you, and driving you to use it, will either master you or you will master it."

"Or," Kariya chimed in. "Those opposed to your father will attempt to put you down for simply being his child."

"The Forces of Law?" Sakura asked with narrowed eyes.

"Yes," Louis said.

Kariya sighed. "I'd prefer you just live a quiet and normal life." He sadly said. "But…the world…the universe…creation itself just doesn't seem to want to let you. If so…you will need to be able to protect yourself. And you already have what you need to do so with inside of yourself."

Sakura was silent, eyes downcast in thought. Louis gestured for a glass, and then poured a shot for his daughter. Sakura nodded, and took a sip.

"What choice do I have to make?" she asked.

"You can choose to let your powers grow naturally." Louis answered. "Whether it's by experience fighting your enemies as they appear, or by training yourself, you can explore and master your powers at your leisure, taking your time to achieve your full potential."

Sakura laughed. "Just like in the Vortex World." She said.

"Up to a point," Louis agreed. "It won't nearly be as pressing, after all."

"Hmm…and the other choice?"

"We can forcibly awaken your full power now," Louis said. "Though be warned, as doing so will require you to face a series of trials, meant to push you to the limit, and over it, gambling that you already have the strength of will and spirit to control that which is within you all this time."

Kariya's hand tightened on his glass, and he took a deep drink to control himself. "There's another catch, isn't there?" Sakura asked.

Louis nodded. "There is." He said. "Should you make this choice, then we must take preemptive action against a certain enemy, before they do the same against us. While I have no doubt we could win even if they beat us to the punch, our losses in such a scenario…"

Louis trailed off, while Sakura took a sip, letting the bitter liquid scorch her tongue before she swallowed. "…we should strike first, and limit or even avoid our losses otherwise?" she asked. "Just who or what is this enemy?"

There was no answer for several moments, and then Louis was refilling their glasses. "Let me tell you both a story," he began. "Of a man who was no man, possessed of neither will nor spirit of his own, and how he foolishly sought to give Humanity a sword to protect itself with. Instead, he laid the foundation for a black tyranny, which would eventually sign the collective death warrants of entire worlds. Let me tell you the tale of Solomon and Goetia."

"The negotiations over at Geneva are going well. While there remain a number of hindrances to be overcome, and which will delay developments leading to our preferred outcome, they are within acceptable parameters. Before the end of the year, all the world's militaries will be united under the banner of the United Nations, as the United Nations Armed Forces."

"Very good…very good…if things go well, then the United Nations will give way to the United Earth Federation within the next few years. At long last, a single guiding hand will replace countless dissenting voices, and the world shall finally know unity, order, and salvation from chaos. It shall be as a new dawn for Mankind."

"Indeed…but there are developing hindrances that must be dealt with as soon as possible."

The Three Wise Men sat at a round table under a pavilion of white marble, held aloft by pillars around them, vines spiraling up the marble and sprouting leaves of rich green and roses of pure and unsullied white. The pavilion itself was in the middle of a vast, circular garden, at the crux of four paths paved with stone flags, heading in the four cardinal directions. Between the paths, verdant rose bushes bloomed forth yet more white roses, among which silently stood an effeminate figure with long blonde hair.

One of the Three Wise Men raised a hand, and a holographic screen flickered to life overhead. "In London the alliance between the El-Melloi and Barthomeloi has proven stronger than expected." He said. "They have defied our predictions, and continue to stray further and further away from the path Solomon charted for them, instead delving into paths they should never have known about to begin with."

"…damn that Stephen." The second of the Three Wise Men spat. "If not for his interference they would never have known about those paths. We should have dealt with him long beforehand."

"Easier said than done," the third of the Three Wise Men said. "And it's not as though measures were not previously taken to prevent his – and others' – interference in this multiversal cluster. We simply failed to take into account how a Conception could have rebounded in such a way, and in so doing opened cracks the Fallen Angel could take advantage of. Or for that matter…a Great Old One…"

The third of the Three Wise Men trailed off, to sounds of uncomfortable agreement from his fellows. "Speaking of Solomon though…" the first of the Three Wise Men resumed after several moments. "His creation has shown indications of having developed ambitions of its own, and has since moved to act on those ambitions."

"Humph…so the tool now considers itself as more than what it is?" the second of the Three Wise Men spat. "What conceit!"

"…in the end it seems Solomon was still just a Human being." The first of the Three Wise Men responded. "And like with all Human beings and what they fashion with their own hands, it all comes to naught but ruin in the end."

"We will eventually have to take measures to put the tool back to its proper use." The third of the Three Wise Men said. "Or, depending on how things go, dispose of it once and for all. After all, what reason would it have to continue existing, once enlightenment is achieved for all Mankind?"

"That is true." The second of the Three Wise Men said.

"But that is a matter for the future." The first of the Three Wise Men said. "We will have to take measures to deal with El-Melloi and Barthomeloi soon, before they learn too much and grow too powerful. Barthomeloi in particular is most alarming. Humans are not supposed to be able to naturally align with the Almighty Element, and yet, Barthomeloi has done just that, and for countless generations now."

"Too many things have slipped through the web." The third of the Three Wise Men said. "Something else to address in the future."

"Indeed."

"I completely agree."

"Speaking of which, there are also the alchemical facilities of Atlas." The first of the Three Wise Men said. "They were the first to go beyond the path charted by Solomon, and indeed, did so long before the Conception's rebound and Stephen's interference. One more to have slipped through the web without our noticing, but I digress for now."

"Our efforts to penetrate Atlas and determine whether or not they may yet be brought once more into the service of a higher purpose has failed thus far." The third of the Three Wise Men said. "We will double those efforts, but it does seem as though they are beyond salvage, doesn't it?"

"Let us not be too hasty," The second of the Three Wise Men said, and bringing up another screen showing the relevant data. "And reserve judgment and punitive action until all efforts to bring them to a more enlightened course of action have been exhausted. They may yet be valuable tools to us, after all. And tools are meant to be used, not casually thrown aside."

"A fair point."

"Indeed."

"However, there is one more thing to prioritize in addition to overseeing the events at Geneva, and undermining the Barthomeloi-El-Melloi Bloc in London." The first of the Three Wise Men said. He gestured again, bringing up yet another screen. "The one who caused the Conception of this timeline and others branching off from it to rebound lives still on the far side of this world. Not only that, but the Fallen Angel appears to be grooming her for a greater purpose."

"What?"

"It can't be…he wouldn't…"

The first of the Three Wise Men nodded. "Seeing as he used causal alteration to bind her to him by blood," he said. "It seems he is preparing an incarnation of the Anti-Christ."

A clenched fist struck the wood of the table in sudden wrath. "Damn that Fallen Angel!" the second of the Three Wise Men exploded. "Bad enough that his interference in the Conception contributed to its rebounding, now he would bring forth an incarnation of bane into this plane of existence?"

"He must be stopped." The third of the Three Wise Men firmly said. "We cannot allow an incarnation of the Anti-Christ to appear on this plane of reality. If one should appear, then…"

"…it is inevitable that a Messiah would appear in response." The first of the Three Wise Men said. Grim silence filled the air, all of them knowing just how…unpredictable, a Messiah can be. Champions of the Great Will they might be, but that did not necessarily mean they would do what needs be done.

All too many Messiahs had proven themselves lacking in that regard, no matter how much effort was put into guiding them along the proper path.

"…just in case," the second of the Three Wise Men said. "We should prepare the general outline of a plan to guide the Messiah should we fail to nip this in the bud. But our priority should still be to prevent the Fallen Angel's plans from achieving completion."

"I will proceed to Rome then," the first of the Three Wise Men said. "And assemble what forces are available."

Pausing, he raised a hand to forestall his fellows. "This may be priority," he said. "But even so we cannot simply abandon other fronts altogether. Stopping an Anti-Christ from appearing would be meaningless if we are then blindsided – potentially fatally – by other powers making their move at the same time."

A gesture had more screens flickering to life, showing the ongoing battles in many places around the world. Mostly between the world's militaries against alien or extradimensional invaders, others by more…covert, forces and organizations against subtler enemies.

"…certainly," the second of the Three Wise Men uneasily said as he watched the broken survivors of a strike force from the Holy Church struggling to retreat across the Tibetan Plateau, in the wake of a failed assault on a certain monastery. "That is so."

"That said," the third of the Three Wise Men began. "It would not do to be stingy on allocated forces. I would suggest then that even if resources are limited, a focus should be made on quality over quantity. And more importantly, we must find a way to keep the Fallen Angel away from his pet when our forces strike."

"…that could be very dangerous." The first of the Three Wise Men said.

"Even more dangerous is the Fallen Angel interfering directly." The third of the Three Wise Men said.

"In any case," the second of the Three Wise Men said. "Our goal isn't to defeat or even banish the Fallen Angel, as much of a boon as that would be. We must simply delay him until such time that we have achieved our goals. Then we can let him go…let him go and collect the ashen remains of his accursed endeavor."

"…I see." The third of the Three Wise Men said. "Yes…that much should be enough, though we must take care to have countermeasures in place for likely acts of retribution in the aftermath."

Agreeing nods came from the rest of the Three Wise Men. "Well then," the first of the Three Wise Men began. "If there is nothing else I will proceed to Rome and begin preparations to end the Fallen Angel's plans. Of course, I will consult with the both of you before we strike, and will be sure to have proposals ready to defend ourselves with in the aftermath."

"Very good," the second of the Three Wise Men. "Then I will return to Geneva and the developments there."

"And I will proceed with correcting the situation in London," the third of the Three Wise Men said. "And continue with our efforts regarding Atlas."

The Three Wise Men shared a nod of understanding between them. "Then," the first of the Three Wise Men said. "Let us conclude with a prayer: in the Name of the Lord, the Creator…"

Turning away from the Three Wise Men as they made their concluding prayer, Gabriel strolled through the garden towards one of the windows, and stepping through…

…flickered across time and space as though the intervening distance didn't even exist. "Helel," she said with a small smile. "It's been a long time."

Louis turned, his eyes cool and appraising. "Gabriel," he said in recognition. "It has been quite some time indeed."

A/N

The party comes to an end, with Sakura receiving quite the presents from her guests. Then Louis Cyphre/Lucifer immediately begins making his next move on the board, to drag the Nasuverse further into the Eternal War of Amala, while on the other side of the board, the Three Wise Men do the same.

Now then, what business can Gabriel possibly have with Louis Cyphre/Lucifer? And yes, in SMT, Gabriel is female, and has been as far back as first game in 1992. Huh…guess Kaneko started gender-bending historical/mythological figures long before Nasu did, eh?