The following is a fan-based

FICTION

F/SN, F/Z, F/KPI and other products related to the Fate Series are all owned by TYPE-MOON, Kinoko Nasu and Takashi Takeuchi.

Please support the official release.

Chapter 18: Vampire, Evil and Worm

Things were sure escalating beyond any of my previous expectations and that is saying a lot considering that the worst case scenario was Zouken still alive like a worse parasite than in the FSN timeline.

That couldn't just be topped off this easily, especially not with how things were developing as of now.

We were led away from the ruins of this version of my home and right inside one of the newer numerous houses making up the Western-side of town.

It was a big place, I would say just 'a little' bigger than the Emiya's household and it had to be immense for the two owners of this building.

I was granted a seat by one of the chairs available by the living room, Luvia taking another while Saber decided to stay standing for the time being, her golden eyes fixed on the old man that was Zolgen Makiri.

This modest house looked incredibly normal if I thought of the real owner of said building, a completely different place to the now-destroyed Matou Mansion.

Maybe it was the less gloomy look it had outside and inside, maybe it was the surprising lack of bugs crawling around and letting out disgusting little noises once or twice in a while.

Or maybe it was because Zouken didn't look like a decaying puppet of flesh, his body having been completely purged of the entirety of the Crest Worms that made him capable of surviving for so long, all because of his new state within the world.

He was a Dead Apostle, there was no doubt about it especially with how sharp and real his little fangs were and how disgusting his presence felt to have around.

It wasn't the same horrible sensation I was much accustomed to, but it was still enough to make him feel 'wrong' to even look at.

Sakura was fine, this happier and surprisingly worms-less version of my younger sister looking incredibly well-cared for and her curiously-different physique confirmed it.

Instead of having a fully-developed chest, her whole body had received some more attention and her frontal space was a little lesser than the girl I knew about.

There was no sign of mistreatment, nor there were sign of magical drain upon her body.

I was stomped by the vast twist of this situation, but I was far from even getting an answer from the grinning bastard sitting on the chair opposite to mine.

Sakura had gone by the kitchen, maybe to prepare something like some tea or coffee to deal with this tense situation but I wasn't certainly going to wait that much to get some explanation about this development.

Why did this world's Zelretch decide to do this? Why did he spare someone as terrible as the decaying old worm?

It was Zolgen to speak, amusement dripping as he began speaking.

"I see that you are impatient, Shinji," He commented mirthfully, something that was slowly but surely grating at my nerves. "But I guess I should be a good grandfather and tell to my grandson about why things have gone this way and… why I'm more of an ally than a friend."

"I'm sorry, but I've to say that I don't find this amusing. Not at all."

Saber tensed a little and Luvia's nervousness was stark clear to everyone in that room.

The Dead Apostle was aware of it, the uneasiness only giving him a sense of control over the circumstance and I couldn't just let him bask in this much power.

"But please, grandfather," I interceded with a stronger tone. "Do explain us why you became a vampire from being a rotten body kept up by a handful of worms?"

He sighed, leaning back on the chair. "Impatient and rude. But I guess you are merely intrigued by this all," He turned to glance at the young Edelfelt, the blonde averting her eyes away. "It all started a decade or so ago, when I was left with no heirs and… without much of a mean to avoid getting eliminated by my former mentor."

I didn't react to this attempt to get surprise out of me. This detail was well-known to me, both from my original knowledge and the fact Zouken had been so much elated, if not giddy, to punctually point out his apprenticeship with the Kaleidoscope.

But while I was aware of this information, Luvia wasn't and her soft gasp as she connected the dots over this premise was enough to warrant a brief snort from the man.

"Indeed, Kischur Zelretch Schweinorg was my teacher for decades before me, Nagato Tohsaka and Justeaze Lizrich von Einzbern decided to invest our lives in the conception of the Holy Grail War," He quickly mentioned, drawing even more surprise from the blonde but… his attention no longer was onto her.

His red slitted eyes were fixed at me, narrowing out of curiosity and general interest over the limits of my current knowledge of the world's affairs and matters.

"Do you know why the 'big guy' came to dismantle the Grail just twelve years ago, Shinji-kun?" He leaned forward, causing me to frown at me. "He never explained it to me as he was so close to kill me, so close to put an end to my existence; Do you know?"

I felt a wave of nervousness wash over my entire body and… I nodded.

"Third Holy Grail War, the Einzbern summoned Avenger-"

"A completely pathetic Servant," The man interjected with a disinterested sigh, but then he stopped and blinked at my irritated expression. "Oh? Were you going to tell me something else? I'm sorry, the… boredom is a terrible beast to face, my boy."

…You know, the Dumbledore's treatment wasn't certainly an upgrade compared to the creepy elderly figure he once was and I didn't hesitate to let out an instantaneous flinch at the ugly parallel.

"Avenger wasn't a Hero," I continued curtly, unwilling to give him more about the matter.

He blinked at the sudden silence, his eyes narrowing with even more curiosity but… the Dead Apostle merely started to think about it.

Pondering about the little info I gave him, it wasn't truly that difficult for him to discern the proper explanation about the curious dilemma as he was one of the creator of the system behind the Grail.

Actually, I was surprised at first that he was unaware of the corruption within the Greater Grail, but then I remembered that the geezer found about it only at the end of the Fourth Holy Grail War when the pollution spilled onto the city while he recovered some fragments of the damaged construct.

I tensed up as he snapped his fingers, a smile growing in his tired but lively face.

"The soul of Avenger, it couldn't return to the Throne… since he is not a hero," Zolgen answered to himself. "And his soul couldn't be preserved as a lone entity, it dripped within the Grail's system and- Oh my!"

He started to cackle at that point, making me shiver a little as… this was certainly a reminder of some unpleasant situations back in that horrible place that was home.

But before I could concede to a full-fledged trembling I felt a soft hand squeeze at my shoulder, I glanced to the side and noticed Artoria.

The Altered version of the King of Knights looked supportive while also throwing glares at the elder.

The Apostle ignored it all, still lost in his own discovery to mind the whole predicament happening in the real world.

It was moments after that he seemed to be brought back to reality, right as Sakura returned from the kitchen while holding a plate with some small white cups filled with steamy tea.

I was careful to not drink at first, letting the swordswoman by my side to test the drink from her own cup and… she nodded back at me and Luvia, the two of us calmly sipping from the still hot liquid.

"So, I've heard you two had been talking," The young woman mentioned, glancing at the elder. "Can I inquire what was it all about?"

"Talking about why the old fool came and brought some change to my life," He admitted quietly, almost submissively to the girl.

This behavior was odd to see unfolding before my eyes, especially since it was Zolgen Makiri we were talking about and… I blinked as the girl turned to look at me.

"Mh? That sounds quite interesting but, I guess this isn't what Shinji-kun wishes to know about your state as a Dead Apostle and… my title as Head of the family," She commented softly, smiling my way. "Isn't that right, Shinji-kun?"

...I think I can say for sure that, if I hadn't been related on a dimensional scale to this lovely individual, I would have probably have found myself having trouble speaking with her.

Not only she was polite and had some good grasp of her control over discussions, but she was also very kind and… nice to look at.

I blinked, feeling a slight blush on my cheeks as I nodded at her while I tried my best to not look at smug-looking bastard that was her grandfather.

"T-That would be the case, yes," I replied quietly. "But from what Zolgen said, he was close to die to Zelretch so I can't certainly imagine why would the Wizard Marshal not only spare him but also give him this 'second chance'."

The plum-haired Matou blinked in minor surprise. "Is that so?" She said while looking at the old man, now sighing nervously at that. "Well, then I can say his explanation was flawed at best."

I frowned at that, Sakura returned her stare back at me.

"Grandfather was dying, but it was his previous state that was causing this quick path to death," The girl explained calmly. "When Lord Zelretch came to investigate over the foul presence in Fuyuki while the rest of the men sent by the organization started the dismantlement of the Grail, he found grandfather and… forced him to accept a deal."

"Twenty decades that I could spend for the last meaningful thing for my life' and that is how I ended up doing so by grooming a proper new leader to this family, someone that has a chance to stand well against the Tohsakas and the Einzberns," Zolgen proclaimed with a smile. "In exchange, I would have never invested myself in creating new Crest Worms or even rebuild the Grail."

That sounds like an oddly uneven deal, why he seems so happy about it.

"I don't want to offend Sakura-nee but… making her someone capable of beating both families wouldn't be much of a difficult task," I dryly pointed out, getting a confused look from both Matous from this dimension. "Considering that the only active cell of the Einzbern Clan is the castle here in Fuyuki and the heiress isn't someone that wants to continue any feud, while also easily commenting over the childish manners of a certain big sister that has barely grown in the last few years, I can say without hesitation that there isn't much of a great obstacle."

"Are you referring to… Rin-neesan?" Sakura asked quietly, eyes widening in calm surprise as I nodded. "You mean that… she is infantile?"

"Quite," I replied truthfully. "Especially since she has been forced to work for her rival to have some money to survive."

…

"Y-You mean that, someone like Rin-neesan ended up… working for Luvia-san?" Before she could continue, Sakura turned to the young blonde. "O-Of course, I don't mean any disrespect for-"

"I-It's alright," The little girl interrupted politely. "I understand that my older self can be… quite eccentric. And that it has to be quite horrible to work for your 'enemy'." Then the Edelfelt looked right at her with a confused look.

"Still, I don't understand why they are against each other like that," She continued to say. "I just can't see why they would go 'after' Shirou-san."

The young woman smiled and nodded. "I guess you aren't much interested in Shirou-senpai and, while I would like to know more about whom got your attention, Luvia-san," At the teasing note in that sentence, the young blonde blushed a little. "I think I can say for sure that it was all because of senpai's dedication and honesty. Both traits are so strong that it's quite difficult to not look at him as the ideal 'knight in shining armor'."

"A knight that also got your heart, I reckon, Sakura-chan," Zolgen mused loudly enough, causing the girl to tense up and appear flustered at the mention.

"I-It's just that he is a nice individual," She tried to explain, her eyes locking onto my face. "It's not that bad, isn't it?"

I cracked a tiny smile and sighed. "He is a good guy for sure, but he is also dense over romantic attention. I'm sure you've seen him ignore hints easy to notice."

"He can be a dummy," Sakura giggled and nodded. "But he is a lovable one, that should be-"

"Unquestionable." I concluded for her and then I switched back to a more serious expression. "But I would still ask about a few things I feel are… important."

"Sure, do ask, Shinji-kun." The plum-haired teen gave consent and I went ahead.

"Your Origin is still Imaginary Numbers, right?"

She nodded. "It still is, a choice that made most of the means of quickly attain the Matou Magecraft quite difficult to master," Her voice turned a little tired, my mind bringing up the fact that learning Matou Magecraft without an affinity with any of the five great elements was something incredibly difficult to accomplish. "But I can still show my true talent by rediscovering new spells to expand the family's grimoire."

I nodded at that, but Zolgen jumped in the discussion that very moment.

"Don't tell me that my other self had Sakura switch to one of the elements for affinity," He groaned, facepalming the moment I slowly nodded at it. "The fool, it's good for the family magecraft but since I had to turn to the old magic crest since the most recent one was destroyed with the worm it was contained within, I just ended up changing some of the traditions to adapt to the current present."

I blinked with some silent surprise at the mentioning of the crest I knew about had been destroyed and… something was off about it all.

So I went with my next question. "Then how did Sakura ended up being adopted within the family… when there isn't actually a family to begin with."

The old man coughed, looking at the girl as the new Head of the family merely nodded at him, urging him to continue.

"Illusions," He replied quickly. "With a clearer mind and my sanity mostly restored, it was easy to use illusions to make Tokiomi believe the family was doing well. Plus, he seemed almost 'happy' about 'giving up her daughter to another family'."

I flinched at that comment and Sakura sighed. "While it was a difficult time for my childhood, to be alone in this house with Zolgen… I'm now aware that it could have been much worse… since you are here as proof of it, Shinji-kun."

Yep, that was something I didn't want to hear… but considering the little thought over this possible horrible development for her life, I can say she had the right of giving a shoot back at me.

"One last question, I think this one is the most pressing one of them all," I said carefully, gaining both Matous attention. "Why didn't you… react to the other Sakura? The one that came from the other dimension?"

"You mean the Sakura that had the ability to make use of a Berserker Servant's strengths and powers?" Zolgen asked jokingly. "I can be an experienced Magus, but that kind of threat was beyond our current abilities and… I advised to let hide from her as she took refuge in the ruins of the mansion."

"My other self was prepared with a tent and several resources to survive for some time, we could only assume from her limited equipment that she wasn't going to stay for too long and..." The girl paused. "You captured her, didn't you?"

"I did," I admitted with a tired nod. "One of my closest friends tried to face against her alone and almost got killed. I had to step in and have her capture."

"An impressive feat, I wonder how did you manage to do that," The old man mused quietly, but I decided to not answer to that.

Ruby was still in my backpack, the kaleidostick listening to everything but not bothering to screw things up by popping out in that very delicate moment.

So, I merely went with a simple distraction.

I hummed quietly before glancing back at Luvia and remembering a small detail I had forgotten about this curious predicament.

"By the way, Sakura-nee, were you aware that you are biologically related to Luvia-chan?" I asked quietly, drawing both girls' stares at me while Zolgen nodded.

"Shinji is right, Sakura's grandmother was one of the Edelfelt sisters, the one that was left behind in Fuyuki and then married to the Tohsaka family." The elder confirmed, the two girls now staring at each other with a surprised look.

"So… that means Luvia-chan is my second cousin?"

A nod left me as Sakura smiled at the blonde. "Then I suppose it's nice to meet you, cousin."

Luvia blinked, a small smile appearing on her face as she nodded at the greeting.

"Likewise, cousin."

Back in the Einzbern Castle…

Sakura was clueless about her current whereabouts.

Her memories of the previous day had been quick to come to her aid to give a clear face to her captor, but much to her surprise she could barely get any clues over where she was currently being hold in.

The simple looking bedroom was spacious, the queen-sized bed being incredibly soft and comfy much to part of her interest over it.

But her attention wasn't directed at her prison room, no matter how well-furnished and caring it looked like to be.

The bedroom was connected to a full-fledged bathroom with a large stone bathtub and other bits that much resembled an onsen than an actual bathroom and she was granted food and beverages in the form of snacks, bottles of water and of soda.

It wasn't the brutal cell she had expected to be confined to, not as spartan as brutal as she could have expected her traitorous 'fake otouto' to put her in.

Anger was raging inside her mind, but it was just a simple emotion compared to the negative wave that she would have to control with the Berserker Card.

With the card having been taken away, she was just a simple girl jailed within an unknown place for no major reasons.

Or actually no logical sense to abruptly interrupt their long-lived truce.

Yet her musings were hardly yielding any hints over this sudden and sharp turn, why did the tanned girl that held the Archer card attack her without any major reason?

Why did she attack when Sakura was merely enjoying some free time alone and away from everyone?

It's been so long since she had enjoyed some peace without having to deal with familiar faces that weren't the people she knew about, so long since she had the chance of not getting hurt and abused by her former family and by the Ainsworth.

A pity that such a moment of peace was interrupted by the brat, her current irritation growing even more as she huffed from her little perch on the bed.

The girl had already gone for a long and relaxing bath already, the she had tried to get her fury under control by also drinking some water and eating two chocolate bars.

But nothing was working and her mind was starting to burn at how much she was thinking about this infuriating case and… the lack of any life outside this functional prison was draining.

She needed to talk to someone, to vent and maybe get some answers about her pressing questions.

Yet the Matou was there alone and left to drown her multiple foul screams onto the comfy pillows of that lovely bed.

How enraging, how aggravating!

But then, in the midst of her lengthy tantrum something did happen.

It wasn't something expected, nor something that brought her much relief as her ears caught a feminine giggle coming right behind her.

Sakura turned around quickly, eyes wide open as she ended up catching the responsible for the amused noise.

Sitting by one of the chairs in front of the bed was… Erika?

The little blonde looked at her with a mirthful look, yet despite her similar appearances to Senpai's little sister, her eyes were showing an unfamiliar and nerve-inducing glint.

She was staring at her with such an intensity and interest that a shiver or two went down her spine.

"Sa-ku-ra-nee~!" Erika exclaimed giddily and with a sing-song tone. "How are you?"

"E-Erika-chan? Why are you here and- were you captured too-"

"Shh!" The little girl suddenly shushed her quiet, the gesture getting the Matou to stop. "Not so loud and so annoying!"

The plum-haired young woman blinked in surprised at that domineering display, but she complied as the strange child continued.

"You know, it's kind of interesting," The little girl admitted with a curious tone. "I would have expected Shinji to end up becoming the second coming of Darius, maybe try to use me as a Grail like many did in the past but… maybe he's afraid?"

… "W-What?"

"Oh right," Erika hummed quietly as she seemed to return her attention to Sakura. "You aren't aware of the little plot going on, you are still a Doll after all."

She tensed at the mentioning of the term as she knew the blonde wasn't meant to know about it and… then it struck her suddenly.

This 'Erika' was an impostor, someone that was making use of the lovely child's appearance to enter in her mind and trick her with this crazy behavior.

"Wh-Who are you!?" Sakura finally rose up from the bed, trying to appear menacing. "I-I will not tell anything about sen-"

"Oh please, be quiet."

It was instantaneous, the moment she tried to move out of the bed the girl was hit by a sudden wave of dark mist that pressed her on the comfy mattress.

The Matou whimpered as she felt the solid mass coat her entire body until she was unable to see anything.

But she could still hear and another giggle made her squirm against the stubborn hold of the shadow.

"Silly Sakura, failing to see something as obvious like an illusion conjured by 'Julian-nii', thinking that your senpai would steep so low for the sake of saving the world," The blonde explained mirthfully. "There are Shirou Emiyas that would have done this, but your senpai? The one that wanted nothing more than save his younger sibling? This one was golden and you lost him the moment you tried to 'heroically' save him."

Tears were forming in the girl's face. "L-Liar! Like Shinji, you are lying! Senpai is-"

"Rotting in a prison cell back in the Ainsworth Castle," Erika interjected with an irritated tone. "And I would like for you to be quiet, Sakura-nee. I need to think about what I can do with you?"

W-What?

"Should I turn you in a monster? Maybe push Shinji to become selfishly selfless and ask for a wish to be granted to save you?" The child sighed. "Nah, that would be too much and it wouldn't draw much of a proper picture of his true nature."

"I mean, he has to be egoistic from a certain point onward," The little girl continued to ponder loudly. "There is no human that can survive without greed. Even his friends are greedy, about something intangible like love and… yet he is afraid."

The darkness parted and Erika's face appeared before her eyes. "Why?"

Sakura blinked. "What?"

The blonde's smile returned. "When and where!" She giggled and shook her head. "But seriously, you've met him, you should know what makes him selfish?"

Confusion was still present in her mind, but the Matou gulped nervously and spoke.

"H-he cared about me-"

"He cares about you, silly girl," The child interjected once again. "Of course he does, why didn't he kill you if he didn't now? Why are you granted so much liberty and freedom if he didn't care about you?"

A legitimate query, but one that was easy to see as a ploy to get her comfortable for an eventual interrogation.

It was logical, she had seen the true ramifications of the plans, she knew what was needed to bring balance to their dying world and… it was all for the greater good.

And what Shinji truly wanted was, just like her real brother, to undermine senpai and his plan to save the world with his family-

Before she could conclude that thought, Sakura was once more obscured away from Erica while the girl sighed tiredly.

"I asked you a question and you didn't answer it. You are a rude meanie, Sakura-nee," The child angrily pointed out, ignoring any of the noises coming from beyond the mist.

There was some silence, only some loud humming and thinking sounds as the little girl continued to contemplate about the current situation, unsure how she was supposed to deal with the Doll.

And then, realization struck in an amusing and thrilling way.

"Why not tempt Shinji with one of his current problems?" She asked loudly once again, expecting no answer from anyone as she continued. "I could do something that could make it clear that I could solve one of his problems, that I can be used as a tool and… yes, I think I know what I will do to you, Sakura-nee!"

At first the words meant so little because of how cryptical they were, but then Sakura felt her entire body starting to get constricted by the shadows, her entire being captured by the mist as her screams were silenced and voided.

Another giggle. "Yes, that will do. If I can prove him that I can fix you, that I can make you alive again… he will have to consider, even for a moment of using my power. Yes, I wish for him to squirm and… you will do!"

But while this final rant was being exposed, Sakura's mind was being rewritten or rather returned to a previous point of her past existence.

Gone was the former wielder of the Berserkalot card, gone was the pawn to the Ainsworth and gone was the Doll known as 'Sakura Matou'.

The shy girl that was Sakura Matou, the lovely young woman that had so valiantly tried and failed to save her recently-proclaimed love for senpai and suffering from Assassin's Noble Phantam, woke up in a peculiar room with a comfortable queen-sized bed.

The bedroom was spacious and it was connected to a large bathroom with a wonderful stone bath, it looked just like the room to wash before entering or leaving the real onsen!

Her awe increased when she was presented with the incredible amount of water and soda bottles, plus snacks between sweet and salty.

She smiled brightly and nodded, maybe senpai had taken her to safety and… maybe he had saved her.

Yes, it has to be it.

And without thinking about it much more, the plum-haired girl decided to rest and wait for Shirou to return.

Maybe they had finally left Fuyuki, maybe they were finally away from the Ainsworths!

What a lovely development!

AN

Yes, Pandora/Erika can do something like this, her Box granting her a full-fledged power that can be used for Wish-granting magecraft, just like a Holy Grail… but better and older.

Why is she doing this? She wants to prove Shinji wrong, despite the lack of proof behind such beliefs.

Lets see where madness will take us all then!

P a treon . com (slash) socialistbukharin

k o-fi . com (slash) justbukharin

REVIEW Q&A!

PervyPanda: Six. Kariya is still alive and Byakuya has a daughter.

Byayan: Gil will have some spotlight next chapter. Nothing too big, but he will give some insight over his perspective. Sakura? I think the ones up above have spoken and… now all hell shall break lose! xD