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 22

"And? What business could you possibly have with me, Gabriel?"

Louis turned to his face his former sister as he asked the question. And certainly, appearance-wise their preferred forms as (apparently) Humans would give the ignorant the impression they were indeed siblings. The curve of their noses…the line of their jaws…the shape of their eyes…even the shade of their hair…it was either the same, or what differences there existed were superficial.

For instance, Gabriel's features were softer than Louis', no doubt owing to her feminine nature. Her hair was also wavy, in contrast to Louis' straight locks. Louis was paler too, and of course there was his (in)famous heterochromia, though his blue eye matched the shade of Gabriel's eyes.

It also matched Michael's. And Uriel's…and Raphael's…

…back to Gabriel, she held herself similarly to Louis, but where Louis' air was one of cool confidence, Gabriel had an air of…dreamlike, serenity to her. She also favored a similar style of dress as her brother, a dark business ensemble only worn with a pencil skirt instead of trousers.

"Or rather," Louis continued after a short pause. "What message does the Great Will have for me?"

"…no message." Gabriel said after a moment and a sigh. "I am here of my own accord."

Louis raised an eyebrow, and then slowly approached. Reaching out with a hand, he gently held Gabriel's face, and kept on holding it as their eyes met. "Curious…" he finally said. "You are telling the truth, and yet, what you just said…it is most unlike you. Indeed, I daresay it's impossible to hear coming from you."

Gabriel just laughed softly. "I could say the same for you." She said. "You were never the type to think that anything was impossible. And yet…what did you say just now?"

Louis was silent for a long moment, and then he smiled. "Why are you really here, Gabriel?" he asked, letting her go.

Gabriel hummed, slowly walking away along the street. Louis followed her with his eyes, and held them on her as she paused, looking up at the starry skies above. "…we hear congratulations are in order, Helel." She finally said. "How long has it been since you last had children?"

"In the grand scheme of Amala?" Louis answered with a soft scoff. "Long enough…and not long enough…"

"Hmm…"

Louis turned an unimpressed gaze on Gabriel. "Implied threats are meaningless, Gabriel." He warned. "I did not offer to share my – our – blood with her lightly. You know I would never do that. You also know who she is…or rather, what she did."

"Indeed I do." Gabriel agreed, finally turning to meet Louis' eyes. "The Three Wise Men are also aware…both of what she did, and what you hope she will become."

Louis raised an eyebrow again, and then snorted in disdain. "The Three Wise Men?" he echoed. "Those are the ones the Great Will would send to enact Its will on this plane of existence? I must confess myself…disappointed. I wasn't expecting YHVH, or Satan for that matter, but I had hoped for a greater challenge, whether for myself, or my daughter."

Gabriel laughed, sounding genuinely amused. "Yes, that sounds like you indeed, Helel." She said. "Though, the Three Wise Men have power in their own right…"

"Indeed…" Louis interrupted with a sneer, and Gabriel laughed again.

"Ah…Helel…" she said wistfully and with a shake of her head. "It is a…tragedy, that we cannot stand on the same side. None of the others are like you at all."

"…I'd be very surprised if they were." Louis scoffed before drawing himself up and once ,more approaching Gabriel. "Though, that doesn't really answer my question…or does it?"

Gabriel was silent, and then Louis tilted his head. "You know this is treachery, do you not?" he asked.

Gabriel just smiled wider. "The Three Wise Men would call it treachery." She agreed. "I prefer to call it loyalty."

Louis raised an eyebrow again, and then his lips twitched into a smile as he realized what Gabriel was getting at. "I see…so that's how it is." He said.

"Hmm…you finally understand."

"Humph…" Louis scoffed. "I am uncertain whether to respect you for setting your own standards…given who you give your loyalty to…"

Gabriel shrugged, and then Louis nodded at her. "Nevertheless," he continued. "You have given me plenty of food for thought. For that, I will allow you to depart unchallenged and unmolested."

"Then I am grateful, Helel." Gabriel cheerfully said with a polite bow. "Until we meet again, whether on or off the battlefield…oh, and do pass my regards to your daughter."

"I will." Louis said with an amused smile, one matched by Gabriel, before the latter turned and was gone. Shaking his head, Louis also turned and walked away.

Curious…very curious indeed…

…more importantly, the Three Wise Men?

I'm being underestimated.

Sakura was lying on the rooftop of her and her uncle's apartment, arms folded behind her head as she stared up at the skies of night. Though the stars were heavily-shrouded by the light pollution of the surrounding city, and there was the aurora-like light of the scars in the World left by recent events, enough of them could still be seen even here and now.

It was largely quiet up here too, the sounds of the city easily ignored with but the smallest effort. And more importantly, this was home. The first home she could really call her own in so long…

…or the first home she truly ever had.

After all, no matter how welcoming her sempai and his home was, well, that just it: it was his home. Not really hers…

…unless they got married of course and she moved in…

…Sakura smiled as she felt her cheeks warm. That would be a nice dream to have tonight. It always had been.

The soft sound of wings through the night air were picked up by Sakura's supernatural hearing, and turning slightly spotted Pixie winging over. "Hey," she said.

"Hey yourself." Pixie cheerfully said, before landing gently on Sakura's torso. Laying herself prone with her chin resting on folded arms, Pixie regarded her best friend. "So…what's bothering you?"

"…you noticed huh?"

"What are friends for?"

Sakura laughed and then sighed. "Father…" she said.

"Oh?"

Sakura sighed again, and then told Pixie what her father had told her earlier, after the party. She told him of his gift, of choosing to take things slowly, letting her powers grow naturally to full flower, whether at her own pace or as dictated by circumstances as they came, or choosing to force her powers to peak through a series of trials, but risking not yet having full mastery of herself with which to control those powers.

She also spoke of how her father had told her and Kariya of the legendary King Solomon of Israel, or rather his incarnation in this multiversal cluster. Her father had described King Solomon as a tabula rasa, less a man and more a vessel, lacking spirit and will of his own and instead an instrument of the Great Will, from which he had received a form of wisdom. This wisdom would be passed down Solomon's students and disciples from generation to generation, enduring and developing along a narrow, strictly and cruelly-defined path, providing Mankind in this multiversal cluster a useful but double-edged tool against supernatural foes, but also setting the stage for a black tyranny.

That tool was nothing less than magecraft itself. But it wasn't the backward, dogmatic, conservative, and elitist mentality which it propagated which made it double-edged. Nor was it how it largely blinded its practitioners to alternative paths and means with which to explore and study the supernatural, though that was a factor.

And that wasn't even what led to the rise of tyranny.

No, what led to tyranny, and what contributed to the double-edged nature of magecraft, was the extradimensional source of its power, the so-called wisdom King Solomon had received from the Great Will. Goetia, the self-proclaimed King of Mages, the sum and product of the Seventy-Three Demon Pillars, and which sought to destroy…

…no, not destroy, consume the entirety of the multiversal cluster to become God.

"…ambitious, isn't it?" Pixie remarked as Sakura finished recounting her story.

Sakura snorted in agreement. "I know, right?" she said with a mocking tone to her voice. "It almost makes me want for it to succeed, just so I can see the expression on its face when it realizes just what it really means to be God."

"And that no matter what it has become," Pixie said with a nod. "It is nowhere near God's level."

"Hmm…" Sakura hummed in agreement.

"And?" Pixie asked. "What's the problem?"

"…father told me we'd have to deal with Goetia sooner or later." Sakura said. "Preferably sooner, before it beats us to the punch. And he wants me leading the charge."

"You…?" Pixie asked. "Why?"

Sakura snorted and smiled. "Well," she began. "For one thing it fits, given that I saved this universe once before, after all. Just one in this multiversal cluster, and less saving as much as returning things back the way they were – for the most part – before the Conception. And for another thing…father could face Goetia himself, and he will if he has to. But it'd be more fitting for someone from this multiversal cluster to be the one to do so, and defeating it free the cluster from its tyranny once and for all."

Pixie nodded slowly. "Makes sense…" she asked. "Why are you hesitating though?"

Sakura was silent for a long time, and then rolled over to one side. Pixie flew up, hovering in the air for a few moments, and then landed to sit cross legged on the concrete. "I'm not a hero." Sakura said softly. "Never was…and I never wanted to be one. Well…maybe once…long ago when I was still a child…innocent and carefree…that child died though, when worms crawled into and made a nest of her…"

Pixie was silent, as was Sakura for several long moments. "I'm a bad girl." She eventually continued with a heavy breath. "So selfish…even before the Conception…I lied and put up a front…an empty façade just so I could pretend to be normal and be happy playing house and happy families with Emiya-sempai…"

"But you do like him, don't you?" Pixie asked. "And…now you've stopped lying…dropped the façade and stopped pretending…he really knows you now…and he didn't reject you for it."

"I know." Sakura said with a smile. "That's so very like him…Emiya-sempai…so kind and caring, even to those who don't deserve it…like a dirty and selfish whore…"

"Sakura…you're not…"

"…no, I'm not." Sakura said with a sigh, rolling once more onto her back. "Not anymore…but I once was…there was rape…plenty of it…but I begged for it too…so many times…too many times…and I'm still selfish…"

Sakura paused and covered her eyes with an arm. "Like I told that false goddess under Mount Enzo," she said. "The Vortex World gave me the freedom to make my choices…to think on my own…to ask my own questions…to make my own conclusions…and to want a future of my own."

Sakura paused and uncovered her eyes to look at Pixie. "I want my future." She said. "That's why I brought the world back, and returned the universe to how it used to be. I didn't do it because it was the right thing to, I was just being a selfish. I never wanted to be a hero, and I'm not. And I'll never be."

"…and?"

Sakura sighed and forced herself to sit up, and hugged her legs close. "Even now," she said. "Even though I know I need to defeat Goetia if I'm ever going to have what I want, I don't want to. No…that didn't come out right…I don't want to face him until I really have to. Things have settled down for the past few months or so, and then my birthday party earlier…"

Sakura trailed off, her expression weighed down by frustration and (unknowingly) guilt. "…things have gotten normal." She finally said. "Or as close to normal as I'll ever have. And I want to enjoy that, for as long as I can."

Sakura paused and laughed. "Like I said, I'm being selfish." She said. "I'm such a bad girl. I…I don't deserve someone like Emiya-sempai."

"…you know he won't agree to that." Pixie pointed out. "In fact, knowing him, he'll just tell you to be as selfish as much as you want, because that would only mean he'd have to be selfless for the both of you. Or something like that."

Pixie paused, shrugged, and then grinned at her. "You make a good match." She said, and Sakura laughed.

"Thanks, Pixie."

Pixie shrugged. "You're welcome." She said. "Though, you really shouldn't be so hard on yourself. There's no such as perfection, after all. And even if there were, it's overrated…just like purity."

Sakura blinked, and then laughed. "The succubae said the same thing." She said.

"Did they?" Pixie asked, and then snorted as Sakura nodded. "Good…then if you don't listen to them, listen to me. I'm your best friend, after all. Purity and innocence are overrated. Plainly speaking, you could substitute inexperienced and untampered for either of those words. You? All the pain and sorrow you've gone through has only made you stronger and wiser. You know what choices to make, and what not to make. What paths to follow, and what not to follow."

Pixie paused, and shook her head. "No," she said while crossing her arms. "That's too wordy…ah yes, now I know! You know what you really want, how to get there, and who you really are."

Pixie paused again. "…did that make sense?" she asked.

Sakura snorted and laughed. "A bit, yeah." She said. "Yeah…I guess I know what I want. Where I want to go. And who I am. I also know what I don't want, where I don't want to go, and who I'm not."

Sakura laughed again, and beamed at Pixie. "Thanks, Pixie." She said.

"Any time."

Sakura nodded, and swinging her arms back rested on them while leaning backwards. "…guess all I can do is think about what choice to make then." She said. "Father never did say when I had to make my choice. So until I have to…I'll enjoy this normal life of mine…for as long as I can."

Pixie nodded. "I don't think he'll mind." She said. "Though…if Goetia beats us to the punch, then what?"

Sakura didn't answer for a long time, instead just staring at the stars. "Then," she said. "I guess I'll have to stand up to him. Like I did against the Reason Bearers, against Kagutsuchi, and against the false goddess at Mount Enzo."

"Even if you're not a hero?" Pixie asked mockingly.

"Yes," Sakura agreed with a smile. "Even if I'm not a hero. Because it's what I want to do."

Pixie grinned. "Now, that's more like it." She said, and shared a laugh with her best friend.

Sunlight shone down over Fuyuki City, and all but drowned out the aurora that were the scars in the World above. It shone down over the Edelfelt Mansion, or one of them, the one further away from the Tohsaka Mansion.

A few months ago, with their home district under lockdown, the Tohsaka had boarded in the house, under the basis they were descended if not in name then by blood from Edelfelt. Indeed, Luvia and Marjatta had recognized Tohsaka as a branch family on their arrival, though a number of clashes had resulted, and tensions remained high over differing opinions on a number of topics. Tokiomi Tohsaka in particular, held himself in much the same way many of the members of the old Aristocratic Faction did.

Foolish man…the Edelfelt were five centuries old, and even they barely began to be held of note by said faction. If he thought he would be seen any different…

…well…

…he would, but not in the way he expected. Tohsaka was barely two centuries old, and while an Edelfelt branch family, had been one for less than a century, and did not even bear the name.

Arrogant fool…

…the man and his daughter had since moved back into their mansion once lockdown had been lifted, and had since been trying to rebuild their shattered position as Second Owner among other things. Marjatta had also returned to London, in her role as Luvia's proxy, and to report on the situation in Fuyuki to the magi authorities.

This had left Luvia in Fuyuki, though she did not actually reside in either of the Edelfelt Mansions, preferring her darling Shero's home across the city. Instead, she maintained one of her family's mansions as a workspace, and from there she kept in contact with her sister and others.

"…the situation here is growing dangerous." Marjatta's hologram was saying. "Despite efforts from both sides to reduce tensions, they continue to run high between the coalition and the alliance."

By that, Marjatta was referring to the Coalition for Progress and the Alliance to Maintain Tradition and Rule of Law respectively. The former was based around a bloc formed by El-Melloi and Barthomeloi, the formation of which had collapsed the three factions which had held sway in the Clock Tower for centuries. The Aristocrats had collapsed with Barthomeloi's withdrawal (though apparently not without bloodshed with fully a third of the ancient house's members dying in a purge by Lorelei Barthomeloi), with the Meritocrats and a number of Researchers rallying to their banner. Their goal was to reexamine and review existing traditions, customs, dogmas, doctrines, and principles among others in light of the greater creation revealed to magi and the world in recent months, and discarding that which was obsolete, discover and chart new paths to the future, all the while preserving if remaking (as needed) what it meant to be magi.

This was opposed by the alliance, composed of other families which had formerly made up the Aristocratic Faction, along with a number of Researchers pressured by ties of blood, ancient obligations and debts, and other means. Their goal simply put was to restore and maintain things as they had stood for millennia, and condemned the coalition as heretics unworthy of the title 'magus'.

"It was recognized from the very beginning that a clash or more was inevitable." Luvia said. "What matters is that we are able to limit the resulting casualties and damages. We've already lost so much in the battles of the previous months. And the world knows about us now. Public perception of us is uncertain and questioning. A full-blown civil war between magi would cause more losses, and would damage our reputation among the public."

"Unfortunately," Marjatta said unhappily. "The alliance couldn't care less about the latter. Indeed…"

"…they use it as an excuse," Luvia completed with a nod. "As to why normal Humans should never be allowed to know about the supernatural. They could never understand, and all the arguments that follow from there."

"As you say, sister." Marjatta said.

"So what does Lord El-Melloi II and Lady Barthomeloi plan to do?" Luvia asked. "What of the Wizard Marshal?"

"Lady Barthomeloi is considering enacting Harvest Moon." Marjatta grimly answered.

Luvia narrowed her eyes, irises glowing as she tapped into Astraea's power. "Is the situation really so bad as to warrant Harvest Moon?" she asked.

"…not yet," Marjatta said. "But unless things quiet down over the next few months, it will be within the year. And that is why Harvest Moon was drawn up in the first place, was it not?"

"…point." Luvia conceded.

"Sooner or later," Marjatta said with a sigh. "Only the presence of King Arthur and Merlin will be keeping the peace…and no one knows how long that will last."

Luvia began to pace, all the while peering into the snaking paths of the future-present. There, she saw many possible outcomes. In one, she saw the Clock Tower destroyed by nuclear fire for their secrets and crimes against Humanity.

In another, she saw herself and an angelic figure crossing blades over the skies of London, as holy fire rained down all around them. In yet another future, she saw the Mages Association torn apart by its own rivalries and contradictions, the magi scattering across the world and unleashing wonders and horrors alike as they opened and walked countless paths of possibility and impossibility.

All this and more she saw, but nothing of what she wanted to see.

Luvia sighed. That was the problem with foresight, especially when one was mortal. And she still was, Avatar of Astraea be damned. She couldn't see everything, and even if she could, it would only drive her mad.

But she could infer a few things.

For one thing, it seemed that the situation in London wasn't set in stone, and could still go any number of ways. That was both reassuring and worrying in equal measure. Reassuring, because it meant that civil war wasn't a foregone conclusion.

Worrying, because it couldn't be ruled out just yet.

"…and the Wizard Marshal?" Luvia repeated her question.

"Still no word." Marjatta glumly answered.

"I see." Luvia said. "Is there any good news from over there?"

"Svin and Grey have begun going out." Marjatta said, smiling at the look of surprise on Luvia's face. "I knew that would interest you."

"How did that happen?"

"…he asked her out?"

"…that is…logical."

Marjatta laughed. "On other news," she said. "It seems Lady Reines El-Melloi Archisorte is apparently coming under pressure from some quarters to marry Lord Waver El-Melloi II."

"…what?"

Rin was replacing the flowers in a vase at her mother's bedside in the hospital, when there came a knock at the door. Thinking it to be a nurse to make a check, she thought nothing of it.

"Come in." she said.

The door opened, and to Rin's surprise there was her father, accompanied by a trio of priests in dark habits, crosses hanging on chains around their necks. "Father?" she asked. "What is happening?"

"Rest assured Rin, they are here to help." Tokiomi said with a small smile. "Allow me to introduce you to Fathers Raphael, Caesar, and Enrico."

The trio of priests gave polite bows to Rin, who bowed back. "It's good to meet you." She said formally. "I am Rin Tohsaka, Sixth Heiress of the Tohsaka Clan."

"It is good to meet you too, Rin Tohsaka." Father Raphael said, the blonde man apparently the leader among them. "Your family has quite the reputation, and given what we've been told of how diligent you have been at caring for your mother in her illness, I can see you live up to that reputation."

Rin briefly glanced at her father with a smile. "I'm honored by your praise." She said. "But I'm sure father was just…ever so exaggerated, in his praise."

"Ah…I see." Raphael said with a slow nod. "Modest, aren't we? That speaks well of you. Though, even if that were the case, it can be forgiven. It is only natural for a parent to think the best of their children."

"Yes, of course." Rin agreed.

Raphael nodded at her again, and then clapped his hands before looking at his fellow priests. "Now then," he said, with a glance at Tokiomi who nodded. "Shall we proceed to the matter at hand?"

"Father?" Rin asked.

"I told you I would find help where the doctors could only keep her alive, if barely at that." Tokiomi answered, before gritting his teeth and clenching his fists. "Or for that matter, where our relatives…our own blood…could only tell us to let my wife…your mother…die, or to take away who and what she is, and let her live a lie."

Rin's own expression darkened at the memory of the 'help' Edelfelt offered them for her mother, and looked away with fists similarly clenched. "Magi may lack the compassion – among other things – to truly help," Raphael gently cut in. "But we are not so cruel or heartless. As the Lord said, ours is to serve, even if it is the lowest of our brothers and sisters in Christ. May we?"

"Yes, of course." Tokiomi said, gesturing for the priests to approach his wife. Raphael and his fellows nodded, advancing as Tokiomi similarly stepped forward, standing next to Rin with an arm around her shoulders.

The priests examined Aoi where she lay on her bed, eyes closed in a coma. Her features were drawn and pallid, her limbs all but reduced to skin and bone from lack of nutrition, and her own soul's loss of the will to remain in the world.

"How did she come to this?" Raphael asked.

Rin couldn't answer, looking away with a mix of shame and frustration. Tokiomi did likewise, and Raphael narrowed his eyes. "I see." He said with a slow nod. "It is connected to how you once more walk among the living. We will speak of this again, but rest assured, we will be merciful and understanding. You did call upon us, after all. But for now, we will focus on the matter at hand."

Nodding at his fellows, Raphael crossed himself and began to pray, while Father Enrico opened a case he'd brought with him. Taking out a pair of candles, he placed them at the tables on either side of Aoi's bed, and lit them. Father Caesar also made a short prayer, and taking a vial of Holy Water, began sprinkling the room while making another prayer.

Once the blessings were done, Caesar and Enrico stood to either side of Raphael, praying silently with heads down and hands clasped before them. Raphael sprinkled Aoi with Holy Water, and then holding aloft a cross, began praying in Latin.

Tokiomi crossed himself and lowered his head, Rin following suit a moment later. The prayers continued for half an hour, broken every so often as Raphael sprinkled Aoi with Holy Water, before asking Tokiomi and Rin to join him in the Lord's Prayer.

Pater noster, qui es in caelis,

sanctificetur nomen tuum.

Adveniat regnum tuum.

Fiat voluntas tua,

sicut in caelo, et in terra.

Panem nostrum quotidianum da nobis hodie,

et dimitte nobis debita nostra,

sicut et nos dimittimus debitoribus nostris.

Et ne nos inducas in tentationem,

sed libera nos a malo.

Amen.

And then crossing himself, Raphael pressed the cross in his hand against Aoi's forehead, who seemed to glow for a few moments. Then the glow faded, and both Rin and Tokiomi gasped in disbelief. Aoi was still comatose, but her features were less drawn and pallid now, and overall seemed healthier.

"H-how can this be?" Rin whispered.

"Oh ye of little faith," Raphael gently chided. "All things are possible, in the Lord."

"…thank you…thank you…" Tokiomi whispered, wiping at his eyes. "…she still sleeps…but…I have hope now…thank you so very much."

Raphael nodded. "For now we can only do so much." He said. "But in time…yes. As the Lord Himself once said, had you but the smallest amount of faith, should you command the mountain to uproot and cast itself into the sea, then it would do so."

Rin and Tokiomi nodded, and Raphael clapped his hands. "Now then," he said. "We have much else to speak about, do we not?"

A/N

Things are coming together, yes? Literally, in some cases.