Inside the Japanese style house Rin sat in the living room on opposite side to Gloria. She spoke in a composed, formal tone.

"Well, go ahead and tell me what this is about then. Why have you summoned two heroic spirits?"

"Very well."

Gloria laid out her explanation, avoiding the more personal details, but making the threat very clear. Rin took it all in with a growing sour expression.

"That's just great. So this thing is coming for the mage association?"

"And every single magic user in this realm."

Rin grimaced.

"I see. But why now?"

"Because the experiment is over. Your actions have put a permanent stop to it. Artoria here made sure of that. And since the whole magical system you're using is heavily influenced by him, he's cleaning house."

Gloria hated the notion, but such was the case. Most of the mages were sad, pathetic people, but life was not a thing to be abandoned simply due to personal distaste. Any life.

"Once it is complete, any memory of it shall disappear."

Rin was trembling by now.

"Listen lady. What you're saying is some deep and heavy stuff."

"And incredibly dangerous as well. Normally I wouldn't tell anyone this, it being a guaranteed death sentence."

Disbelief turned to anger.

"Are you freaking serious?"

"Yes. I don't fault you for being angry."

Gloria drew a breath as Rin calmed down.

"Artoria has vouched for you, and looking at your heart I understand why. But you have been in over your head from the beginning. And I suspect you know it. That's why you're putting up a front."

Rin' amazement turned to great displeasure.

"Well excuse me for not being all powerful."

"I'm sorry, I know it isn't pleasant. You've worked very hard and telling you what I have must truly hurt. But understand that your life is far more important."

Calming yet again, Rin sighed.

"Of course I understand. If Saber approves of you I can't disagree with her. It's just that this comes right after some bad news."

Gloria nodded. Of course.

"Someone dear to you has perished. Someone very dear. That your heart could care so much is enough of a reason for me to save you. I wish I could give you time to grieve properly."

Hearing this Artoria spoke with alarm.

"Wait, Rin, is Shirou alright?"

She looked down and didn't say a word.

"Rin?"

Finally, Rin spoke.

"He's gone." Rin could barely hold her tears back. "Even though we spent more than five years together he still didn't stop being reckless." Despite her efforts tears were flowing freely. "He said he'd discovered something bad and was going to stop it. I thought it was just another one of his adventures. But he vanished. Last thing I heard from him was that he'd found the lair or something. That stupid fool!"

Artoria bit down on her lip with bitterness.

"We couldn't find any body, nothing. We could not find anything. It wasn't even in some far away place. It was in London of all places. The mage association hasn't yet declared him dead. But I know. I can feel it. He's gone."

Gloria was silent for a moment, letting both women grieve in peace. Then she spoke again.

"I'm very sorry."

Rin chuckled bitterly.

"I knew it was going to end this way. That idiot! Always following that silly dream of his. To save everyone."

Gloria sighed inwardly. An idealist, of course. And having left such a lovely person alone, a pretty dumb one too. But no matter how dumb the subject was, their love was honest.

"Has there been any other such incident?"

Rin wiped her tears.

"No. The mage association hasn't been much use for news recently. A lot of high ranked magi have been dying."

"Define a lot."

"One person per month. No exact date, no pattern, besides one every month. Not even suspicious deaths. By the time the third went, the whole clock tower got in a panic."

Joan spoke grimly.

"It has begun."

Even as she still sighed with bitterness Artoria confirmed.

"Indeed. Our foe is hiding in the shadows, picking off the upper echelon until the organization falls into chaos."

Rin hissed.

"And since it's all natural, nobody will even have a reason to think twice. Hey lady, how does this thing do it? I mean one member died of a heart attack. Just like that her heart popped. There wasn't a trace of magic."

"It's what he does. It is his very nature to bring death to all those that live."

"Man that's cheesy."

Gloria shrugged. She was right.

"Now, young one. I will gladly take you with us since Artoria has asked me to. However your body and essence is contaminated by what you call magical circuit. I'd call it a torture device."

Rin was very much inclined to agree. Especially after hearing what Gloria had said. But the last part really disturbed her.

"Contaminated my essence?"

"Yes. The magic is not your own, since humans cannot naturally use it anymore. Instead it's like a lightning rod that sends energy through your body. While it might provide some results, it also slowly corrupts the user. I don't mean their personality, I mean their human essence."

Rin nodded.

"I get it. That's why it hurts so much right?"

"Yes."

She drew a long heavy breath.

"One last question, is this thing, this monster, whatever, responsible for Shirou vanishing?"

Gloria drew a breath.

"Most likely yes. I can't say for certain, but that is his method. The best way to confirm is to ask someone not involved with magic about him."

She knew Artoria was watching as well. Rin didn't hesitate and pulled out her phone.

"Hello?"

"Hey Ayako, you remember Shirou, my boyfriend?"

There was a hearty laugh.

"Like you could let me forget if you beat me to having a boyfriend. Course I don't. Who is he?"

Rin almost dropped the phone. Tears now really began to flow down her cheeks.

"Hey Tohsaka, are you alright?"

Her voice breaking she answered, desperately trying to hide the grief.

"I'm fine. Thanks Ayako. That was a bad joke."

She put the phone down and started sobbing loudly. Gloria took Artoria by the hand and spoke sadly.

"Do not hold back."

The emerald eyed beauty shed tears of sorrow and grief, joining Rin in open, undisguised mourning.

Gloria closed her eyes and only listened as the two cried in despair. To her surprise she felt Joan take her hand gently. Gazing at her, she found her also silently weeping.

"Why do you weep child?"

"For you grandmother, because you cannot."

Gloria tightened the grip on Joan' hand.


Between sobs Rin began to speak.

"What'll I tell my sister? First I take him away, now he's gone for good. After all she's gone through." She went back to sobbing with hiccups.

Gloria spoke far sharper than she usually did.

"I give you my word, if she can be saved, she'll go with us."

Rin now spoke with grief and fury, tears still flowing freely.

"Listen lady. You'd better save Sakura. Because she's all I have and I've all but abandoned her."

Rin returned to sobbing, feeling quite embarrassed but too grief stricken to care at the moment.

Artoria made the beginning of an attempt to apologize but Gloria wouldn't have it. "Don't hold back. First loves always hurt the most." Still, Artoria spoke. "You have to understand, he was so foolish in many respects. But he helped me find peace with myself." She could not speak anymore, especially hearing Rin sob.

Gloria nodded gently. She would let them mourn a few minutes. They had one more potential person to save. She hoped Sakura too could be saved.

Before she could ask that Joan come with her to find Sakura, someone rang the doorbell. Rin almost panicked.

"I told Sakura I'd go see her. I wanted to tell her in person. She might've come here."

Gloria indeed hoped it was her. But when she opened the door, Gloria was taken slightly by surprise and not at all in a pleasant way.

A purple haired woman stood at the entrance with blank purple eyes staring with empty resignation.

Rin was next to her and tried covering the signs of her grief.

"Sakura."

"Sister."

She could feel the already wounded heart breaking slowly. The girl was perceptive. Gloria took her hand gently.

"Good afternoon. I'm Gloria. Would you mind stepping in and speaking with us?"

Her face didn't change. Yet her voice betrayed anguish.

"He's dead isn't he?"

Rin could only nod.

"You were supposed to protect him! You said he'd be safe!"

"I'm sorry."

Despite the facade, Gloria could feel Sakura breaking, her anger and resentment beginning to take over, and something vile stirring with them. Before Sakura could do any serious damage, Gloria took hold of her hand properly.

"Would you not rather mourn together with your sister? You both lost someone precious and I dare say, you now truly only have each other."

Sakura was calm now. But Gloria recognized the signs of incredible abuse. The girl had an iron will to live, despite everything. But Sakura' heart was fading, and she had been tainted, badly. So much so that little humanity remained in places.

"I would, but my sister doesn't care for me that much."

Rin chocked with tears.

"I'm sorry. I"

Gloria spoke.

"Your sister loves you deeply. But she's worn so many masks people have lost sight of her, and she's no real idea what you've been through. She's hiding her kindness for fear of the other people who call themselves mages."

Rin wasn't too happy about having that revealed but didn't protest, far more overwhelmed by grief.

Sakura on the other hand gazed at Gloria.

"How do you know that?"

"I peaked into her heart and looked at her mannerism."

Rin let out a small yell.

"Hey!"

"I didn't intrude, your kindness is very much obvious in your heart."

That made Rin blush and get even more annoyed. But then she saw Sakura looking dazed.

"Sister."

"I'm sorry Sakura. I was a fool. I've tried so hard to live my life as a mage and that's almost cost all the people I care about."

Gloria sensed an almost oceanic swell of joy from Sakura. She hated being alone, and didn't want to die. That was a good start.

"I can save her. But you will be there as well. Consider it your first good deed."

On hearing that Sakura eyes really did light up.

"You mean it?"

"No games, child."

Sakura gulped audibly.

"What do I do?"

"Come with me. Rin, find me a room with and elevated bed."

"Guest room."

"Lead the way."


Gloria moved the western style bed into the middle of the room.

"Artoria, Joan. This girl has been very badly mistreated and her body violated. I'm going to make her better. Cleanse the corruption and heal her. Please keep watch outside the room. Rin, come here."

Rin followed her sister and Gloria inside.

"Close the door."

Rin looked with some disquiet but closed the door nonetheless. Gloria dispelled the clothes she was wearing. Disquiet turned to angered surprise.

"What the?"

"Relax. I can't do it with barriers. And neither can you."

Sakura was breathing heavily, keeping her eyes partially closed, steady, but not very quick.

"I'm blocking the thing inside her from doing anything iffy. But it does not like me at all and it's merged with her nervous system. I have to take each part out and the repair the nerves and eliminate the corruption."

Sakura was very much aware of what Gloria was saying. Slowly she began taking off her clothes, folding them with care. Gently, Gloria helped Sakura with them and then had her lie on the bed.

"Rin, hold her hand."

Struggling between embarrassment and jealousy at Gloria' very shapely figure at first, Rin recovered and took her sister' hand in her own, holding it tightly. Gloria spoke softly while gazing at Sakura from the side of the bed.

"It's going to hurt."

"It's alright. I'm not afraid."

"Very well. Let's begin."

Gloria put her hand on Sakura' heart, a gold green light shining where she touched her skin. Sakura said nothing but her eyes said everything. Rin held her hand tighter.

Gloria kept her hand in place for a good few minutes then put the other hand on it as well, moving onto the bed. The light began to flow out in waves, covering Gloria' body and jumping through her hand to Rin. Gloria moved her hands up from Sakura' heart and unto her shoulders and neck, then slowly up her head and ending with her face. Though she barely made a sound besides breathing heavily Sakura eyes were filled with tears. As were Rin'. Gloria' hands moved back down and slowly traced Sakura' upper body from shoulders to hips. Gloria lingered quite a bit above Sakura' womb. Then she moved slowly upwards to Sakura' arms and hands. Gloria lingered a bit on Rin' hand, making her flinch. Rin was crying profusely, but her heart was growing even more determined. Sakura, stoic as she was, managed to smile softly at her sister. Gloria completed the process by carefully moving her hands up and down Sakura' legs, from toe tip to hips.

Gloria sighed heavily and got off the bed. Rin spoke with force in her voice.

"Please give us a moment."

"Of course. Please don't get dressed for a bit though."

Break

Rin embraced her sister and sobbed bitterly. "I'm sorry I didn't know. I had no idea that's what you had to go through every day. I am so sorry Sakura. I don't even have the right to ask you not to hate me."

Sakura, though very tired, petted her sister softly.

"How could I hate my only sister?"

Rin held Sakura tightly as they both cried.

Meanwhile, Gloria stepped out, no clothes and sighed happily. Joan smiled whimsically.

"Grandmother. That's embarrassing!"

Artoria turned properly red. Gloria was unfazed.

"Nothing embarrassing about being naked, kind one."

Dressing her voice Artoria spoke.

"In any case, have you helped Sakura?"

Gloria answered seriously.

"I have saved her life and saved her from joining the undead. I could not do any more for her."

"Thank you."

She took Artoria's hand.

"No. Thank you. Now, I'll rest for a few minutes, then finish helping Rin. And then I'll help you."

Artoria wanted to object but Gloria moved quicker.


Alone with her thoughts, Gloria quietly shook her head in disgust. The poor girl had been so sickeningly violated. The creatures responsible for it had buried its essence withing her heart. It had almost surely intended to consume Sakura, despite her iron willed resistance. In the meantime though, it had managed to make Sakura consume others. Unconsciously, but she had crossed the line several times. The death of the boy might've broken her properly. Though she'd cured Sakura of the influence, her being had been altered, for good. Sure, that meant she could properly save Sakura. But nothing was worth two decades of agony and violation.

Gloria looked at herself in the mirror. She was at least partially responsible for the girl' fate. Maybe no one had forced the party directly responsible to do it, but the one who influenced, the one who'd laid groundwork. She was in part at least responsible for his being.

Joan knocked on the door.

"Grandmother, are you ok?"

"Yes Joan, I'm fine. Thank you."

After a moment of silence, Joan continued.

"Don't be too upset grandmother. You cannot be blamed for people' cruelty and greed."

Gloria smiled at herself in the mirror then looked towards the door.

"You're a very good person Joan. Let's go back."


Author's notes: Hello dear readers. There's a few things I should make clear about the story. Gloria, like the antagonist for the fic, is an O.C. of mine. She's more than a decade old and I love the character, but she is indeed OP. However, I shall only use her to get the ball rolling and cap things off, best as I can. Once the plot starts she will not be involved.

I'm sorry I couldn't keep my biweekly schedule, however, life has a habit of getting in the way. I will try my best to keep up.

Otherwise I hope my readers enjoy and have fun with this chapter.