Disclaimer: I do not own the Fate franchise it belongs to Kinoko Nasu and Type-Moon.

Different Fates

Chapter 1

Katherine Kreutzer was the childhood friend of the Prussian Princess Louise Francoise von Preussen. Some would wonder at how a third-generation magus would wind up within the inner circle of a scion of a centuries-old bloodline, much less one of royal blood (even if said princess was from a branch family). The answer was simple: Katherine's grandfather had saved the life of the princess' father from a vampire while the prince was on a trip to Romania.

As payment for his life debt, the prince had offered a boon to his savior. Raymond Kreutzer, a struggling first-generation spell-caster, had asked that the prince take his granddaughter as a ward of the family. And while Katherine Kreutzer was rather average when it came to her magical potential, she was found suitable for the role of the prince's daughter's retainer.

Hence Katherine Kreutzer's new, titled name afterwards: Katherine Ritter von Kreutzer.

And as part of her role as the princess' retainer, Katherine found herself escorting a girl five years her (and the princess') junior to a stateroom in the section of the Clock Tower dorms long-since (as in before the German Empire had risen and the family had ruled only Prussia) reserved for the use of members of the House of Hohenzollern.

Sakura Tohsaka was seven years-old, and due to her status as an orphaned ward of the Clock Tower, had her finances held in trust by the same organization until she came of age (fifteen as per the archaic majority rules of magus society). With that said, she was furnished a small room of her own in the dorms, and allowed a modest monthly allowance for food and personal effects. Any more funds drawn from her family fortune would require an official request, usually for research purposes. Considering her age though, she had yet to make such a request, to say nothing of having brought her family's stockpile of gems with her from Japan.

Sakura's first months in the Clock Tower had not been easy. She had had to study hard to learn the English language, and while she could speak it easily now reading was another matter entirely. The same went for her origins: as an Oriental magus, instructors and fellow students alike while polite treated her with a certain degree of condescension.

As such, it was with a degree of surprise that she had received a written invitation for mid-morning tea with Princess Louise Francoise von Preussen. And while it would mean skipping out on one of her morning classes, Sakura knew enough of propriety that one did not reject a written invitation from royalty.

Her instructor knew it too, and had silently accepted her written request to be excused for the morning class that day.

Katherine opened the door into the stateroom, and with a respectful bow gestured for Sakura to enter. Sakura bowed back, and stepped into the room where she gave a respectful curtsy to the princess seated at a table by the windows looking out over the city of London.

"I apologize for imposing, Your Highness." Sakura said politely, and silently cursing her accented English. "Nevertheless, thank you for offering your hospitality."

"There's no need to go so far." Louise Francoise said graciously. "Come, join me at the table."

"Yes Your Highness." Sakura said, rising and taking a seat opposite the princess. Louise Francoise ran a quick and discreet eye over her guest's attire, and silently approved. A black, pleated, calf-length skirt tied behind the waist, a long-sleeved blouse in white with a red ribbon tied around the collar, white knee socks and polished black shoes…modest, neat, and very presentable.

Her approval rose further as she noted a neutral if somewhat apprehensive flicker in the girl's eyes indicating that she had noticed the princess' examination. The girl was perceptive…yet another point in her favor. Katherine arrived with tea and biscuits, and with a bow left the princess and her guest, closing the door behind her.

"So young Sakura Tohsaka…" Louise Francoise began, pouring Ceylon tea for her guest, and offering her milk and sugar to go with it. "…how are you finding the Clock Tower? And there's no need to be so formal, not in these surroundings."

The princess smiled encouragingly, and smiled even further as her guest relaxed to an extent. She watched approvingly as the girl shunned the sugar in favor of milk, and nodded encouragingly as the girl hesitated before taking a biscuit. "Well…" Sakura began. "…the classes are…difficult, but I can manage. And I've been taught that nothing of worth comes easy. In fact it should be the opposite: anything of value has to be earned."

"A fine sentiment…" Louise Francoise agreed, pouring her own cup of tea and adding milk to it. "…your parents taught you well."

"Yes, they did." Sakura agreed with a sad smile.

"Ah, yes you're an orphan. My apologies, I had forgotten."

"It's alright Your Highness." Sakura quickly reassured her host. "I…well I won't say I've gotten over it…that is to say…!"

Louise Francoise chuckled at the younger girl's fluster at being so frank. "As I've said…" she began. "…there's no need to be so formal in these surroundings. There is only you and I here and of course Katherine outside the door."

"Yes Your Highness."

"Very well…you were saying about your parents…?"

"I…" Sakura began, and taking a sip of her tea to brace herself. Louise Francoise waited patiently, knowing matters like this were not meant to be pushed. Family was everything (or it should be), especially to magi.

And with her guest still a child to top it all off…

"I miss them." Sakura said frankly. "Father…mother…I wish it could be different but…"

Sakura sighed and shook her head before smiling apologetically. "Sorry Your Highness…" she said. "…I let my emotions get the better of me."

"Magi are still Human, Sakura." Louise Francoise replied with a soft smile. "We still feel, and while we shouldn't let ourselves be controlled by them, there is nothing wrong with emotion. On the contrary, I find your mourning for your parents to be commendable."

"Thank you Your Highness."

"Well…" Louise Francoise said with a sip from her own teacup. "…where do you intend to go from here?"

"I…I want to be the best that I can be."

"Oh…? That's rather ambitious, but also rather vague."

"Father chose me as his successor despite being a second-born." Sakura explained, much to the princess' surprise. "You know I have the Imaginary Numbers sorcery trait, don't you Your Highness?"

"Yes I do." Louise Francoise admitted. "I see…your magical potential was such that that your father decided to make an exception in the inheritance customs. However, reading between the lines there I would also assume that this came at the expense of your elder sibling, did it not?"

Sakura sadly nodded. "If you do not wish to speak of it…" Louise Francoise said gently. "…I will not force you to."

"No, it's alright Your Highness." Sakura said. "Sister…she was sent away for adoption. I…well she challenged me you see. She said that I'd rebelled against the way things should be, and because of that as the older sister she wanted to set an example by following father's decision without question. But she also said that eventually, she wanted to see if I was worth father's decision."

"Ah, so that's how it is." Louise Francoise said in understanding, and Sakura nodded in confirmation. "From the sound of things you and your sister were close, were you not?"

Sakura nodded.

"You keep in touch with her then…?"

"Well no, the Matou family head apparently insisted on no contact whatsoever."

Louise Francoise raised an eyebrow. Something didn't seem right here. "Was the other family involved in a feud with your family at some point in the past?" she asked.

Sakura blinked in surprise. "No, I don't think so." She replied. "Father always said that the Matou were old allies of ours, all the way back to our ancestor Nagato Tohsaka."

"Matou…?" Louise Francoise echoed. "I've never heard of them. What can you tell me about them?"

"Well father said that they specialize in familiars, and apparently their magecraft is dependent on the water element." Sakura said. "Sorry, but that's all I know about them. Oh and apparently their magical potential had run out, which was why sister was adopted."

"Hmm…" Louise Francoise nibbled on a biscuit thoughtfully as she thought things through. Sakura, seeing as her host was otherwise occupied, made no attempt to renew the conversation and instead spent the next several minutes looking out the window at London while eating biscuits.

"You are certain that your family has had no recent feuds or disagreements with Matou?" Louise Francoise finally spoke up.

"Yes Your Highness. Father spoke well of them, from what I remember."

"Adoption and arranged marriages are quite expected within magus society…" Louise Francoise said. "…but lack of contact whatsoever is unheard of. Names may be changed and tarnished, wealth wasted, power lost…but blood will always be blood. My friend, I fear that your father might have been deceived, and the Matou's intentions with regards to your sister are not n."

Sakura gasped at that. "Of course I could simply be overreacting…" Louise Francoise said, emptying her teacup and then refilling it. "…things might be different in Japan than here in Europe. However…"

The princess paused and shook her head. "It doesn't make any sense." She finally said. "The only socially-acceptable reason where no contact between blood relatives is insisted upon is when it comes to hostages guaranteeing faith and good behavior. And even then it is possible to negotiate for arranged meetings to ascertain the hostage/s' good health."

"Your Highness…"

"No…" Louise Francoise said. "…perhaps I am overreacting…it is unheard of, and socially-unacceptable, but considering your closeness with your sister prior to the adoption, it might have been done to ensure that no family secrets might leak out by accident due to lingering ties."

"Do you really think so?" Sakura asked, worry in every word.

"Yes…" the princess said after a moment and a calming drink. "…I think that could be it. But if not…"

The princess paused and sighed. "It seems that you're not the only one who's been letting their emotions get the better of them." She said with a small smile. "Your father believed in the Matou, enough to put his faith in them. Perhaps I really am just overreacting, and letting my own prejudices cloud my judgment. Being a princess is not easy, I assure you."

"I understand Your Highness." Sakura said with a nod. "And sorry for letting my problems ruin our meeting."

"Oh it's no problem at all." Louise Francoise assured her. "With that said though, I assume that you eventually intend to go check up on your sister?"

Sakura nodded. "I am the Supervisor of Fuyuki…" she said proudly and in a childishly-boastful way, such that Louise Francoise had to hold in a snort. "…or I will be. Also, I'm the head of the Tohsaka Clan. I'll do everything I can to see my sister again, and if she's safe or not."

Louise Francoise narrowed her eyes at that. "Don't be hasty…" she cautioned Sakura. "…it won't do to ruin your family's ties with others because of a misunderstanding. And it might get you into more trouble that you can handle."

"I understand." Sakura said with another nod. "In any case, I always planned to finish my training before I return, so by then I should be smart enough to avoid a misunderstanding. And if not, well…I studied at the Clock Tower. As my instructors say, a Clock Tower magus is elite when compared against backwater magi."

"Really…?" Louise Francoise said with a smile, and Sakura blushed in embarrassment.

"I…I suppose I'm one of those backwater magi…" she said while poking her fingers together. "…but when I go back, I won't be one anymore."

"No, I suppose you wouldn't." Louise Francoise said with a laugh. "Let's move on, shall we?"

"Yes Your Highness."

"So tell me about yourself…let's say hobbies and all that."

"Well, when I have free time I like to read…"

Katherine Ritter von Kreutzer closed the door behind her, and then walked over to where Louise Francoise was staring out of the window over the city of London beyond. "What do you think, Katherine?" she asked. "That girl, that is. What is your opinion on her as a person?"

"She seems like a nice and well-bred child." Katherine immediately replied. "Intelligent and perceptive too, such that I've no doubt that if she keeps on her current course, she'll eventually do well in polite magus society. On the other hand though, she seems rather solitary. Which is a shame really, considering her talents and character, however considering the general stigma against Orientals in the Clock Tower, it is inevitable."

Louise Francoise snorted at that. "And yet someone of my rank just invited her to mid-morning tea…" she said only partly in jest. "…it's quite the scandal isn't it, Katherine?"

"Lady Louise…" Katherine said with a faint smile. "…I do wish you wouldn't put me in this kind of situation."

"Oh? What kind of situation are you referring to, Katherine?"

"As a third-generation magus and as your retainer it would be quite hypocritical of me to speak ill of you meeting with a talented sixth-generation magus."

"I suppose it is." Louise Francoise agreed. "However as with your position, that girl having tea with me is something I decided on my own, and should be the end of the matter. Unfortunately, there will always be impudent fools who think to know better."

"Unfortunately, it is as you say Lady Louise."

"As a magus that girl would be a valuable ally…" Louise Francoise said. "…ordinarily her lack of elemental affinities and her heritage would make her just another magus regardless of her above-average magical potential, however her sorcery trait and the fact that her ancestor Nagato was one of the Lord Second's students meaning that Second Magic-derived concepts are part of her mysteries at the most basic levels changes everything."

"There's also the rumored connection between Tohsaka and Edelfelt." Katherine reminded the princess. "If it is true, then the potential for Ore Scales exists in her bloodline."

Louise Francoise thought the matter over. "It would be impossible to confirm that without a blood test." She said softly.

"Unfortunately true Lady Louise."

"No matter…" Louise Francoise said dismissively. "…what she openly has should be enough for our faction. The Derfflingers have someone of her age, don't they?"

"Yes…" Katherine confirmed. "…Anika Freiin von Derfflinger is Ms. Tohsaka's age."

"Excellent…" Louise Francoise said with a nod. "…introduce the baroness to our Oriental friend. According to young Sakura, she had an interest in learning martial arts, but it has since fallen into the wayside considering her educational responsibilities in the Clock Tower. And while her usual hobby of indulging in literature is not something to be ashamed of, a little variety in life wouldn't hurt either, would it now Katherine?"

"No I wouldn't say so, Lady Louise." Katherines said.

"Come to think of it…" Louise Francoise continued thoughtfully. "…Anika has a younger brother, doesn't she?"

"Yes: Johann Freiherr von Derfflinger. He's three years younger than his sister…Lady Louise don't you think it's a bit early?"

"For consideration…? No, I don't think so."

"Perhaps so, but the Derfflinger family might prefer to see more of what Ms. Tohsaka is capable of before considering having one of their own – even from a branch family and a second-born at that – be bound to her in arranged marriage."

"Point…" Louise Francoise conceded. "…and there's also the fact that as young Sakura is the heiress of her family, her children would probably bear their mother's name as opposed to their father…though they will inherit his title."

The princess took a drink, and nodded. "Well I have faith in our new friend's abilities." She finally said. "And in any case considering her age at the moment, she has eight years to prove herself worthy of a noble husband, does she not?"

"Yes Lady Louise."

"Good…" Louise Francoise said, and setting her teacup down. "…with that said only one issue remains. Katherine, have you ever heard of a Matou family?"

"No, I don't believe I have." Katherine said with a certain degree of confusion.

"I'm not surprised…" Louise Francoise said. "…they appear to be yet another backwater magus family, much like Tohsaka only without Tohsaka's credentials backing them up. With that said, that's only a reasoned assumption. As magi we should be above that, and as nobles assumptions can be dangerous."

"I understand Lady Louise." Katherine said with a bow. "I will look into this Matou family and its background. However may I ask of what importance they may be?"

"They are supposedly allies of the Tohsaka." Louise Francoise answered. "However I have reason to believe that treachery of some form was afoot, and has been hidden. It relates to our new friend's beloved sister, and so may prove useful in the sense that our intervention will have Sakura think fondly of us."

"I understand Lady Louise. It will be done."

"I'll leave it to you then, Katherine."

"Yes, Lady Louise."

"No, no…" Anika Freiin von Derfflinger chastised her newest acquaintance, and physically helping her with her stance. "…don't be too stiff, or you'll throw your whole balance off. And you're gripping the sword too tight. You'll only hurt yourself like that, and it stiffens your muscles too. Again, that'll throw your balance off."

Sakura nodded, and followed Anika's given advice. The past week had completely thrown the routine she'd developed ever since she'd arrived at the Clock Tower several months ago. First she'd been invited to tea by not just a senior, but a royal senior at that.

Granted, the Hohenzollerns apparently had lost their throne a while back, but many if not most German nobles and magi (which apparently overlapped) still maintained their dynastic loyalty to the Prussian royals, ensuring continued weight for the Hohenzollerns.

Sakura had apparently impressed the princess – though a part of her resignedly realized that being invited in the first place was to see if her character matched up with her high magical potential – that she'd been invited to tea yet again over the following days. It was on one of those occasions that she'd been introduced to another one of Princess Louise Francoise's friends/acquaintances, Baroness Anika von Derfflinger, who happened to be of Sakura's age.

The princess had mentioned that Anika happened to be studying swordsmanship, and suggested that Sakura join her. More than that, she even suggested that Anika help Sakura catch up: apparently, Anika had been studying swordsmanship for over a year already, and as such was considerably ahead of Sakura.

Although they'd only recently met and as such didn't know much about each other, Anika and Sakura couldn't really refuse a 'suggestion' from the princess. And while Sakura had known that she'd eventually have to learn a form of martial arts, she doubted her father would have considered western swordsmanship an acceptable substitute.

Though she couldn't deny either that swordsmanship was attractive in its own way.

Anika took a final look over Sakura's stance, then stepped back and allowed the other girl to resume practicing her basic swing and stances. To be honest, Anika wasn't certain about her newest acquaintance. Like most western magi, she didn't really have that high an opinion of their eastern colleagues.

However when one came down to what mattered, Sakura Tohsaka had everything that would be expected from a proper and respectable magus, disregarding her Oriental origins and features. Though those blue eyes were something of an enigma: how did she get those?

They weren't mystic eyes either.

A western ancestor, perhaps…?

Anika sighed, and decided that if Princess Louise Francoise saw the girl as worthy of a chance to prove herself – and her abilities and attitude certainly were worth the chance – then she would follow Her Highness' lead. And it wasn't like her parents and relatives were against it either, the other Derfflingers accepting the princess' recommendations.

She certainly seems nice enough.

With that thought in mind, Anika took a wooden practice sword of her own and joined in the practice much to Sakura's surprise. "What's wrong?" Anika asked.

"It's just that…well…you said that you'd already learned the basic swings and stances by heart so…" Sakura answered sheepishly.

"Well I can't really go back to my current level until you catch up…" Anika explained with a sideways glance. "…and it's not like I've anything better to do, so I thought why not join in?"

Sakura met her eyes for a moment and nodded. "Okay…" she said, also resuming her own practice. "…thanks for keeping me company then."

"No problem, Tohsaka."

"Sakura…"

"What?"

"My name is Sakura."

Anika blinked and then gave a laugh. Was it this easy to get along? "Alright, then my name is Anika." She replied.

"This is what you've found about the Matou…?"

"Yes Lady Louise."

"So their core concept is absorption…" Princess Louise Francoise von Preussen said while tapping a finger on her desk. "…and their magecraft involves 'engraving' – whatever that means – their mysteries into the body of their magi in a process that can be considered similar to torture. It's not quite heresy, but nearer the side of the line than most magi."

Katherine Ritter von Kreutzer was silent, and the princess remained silent too for several more moments. "You were discreet, yes?" the princess finally asked.

"Of course Lady Louise…" Katherine replied. "…even if my inquiries were detected, no one should be able to trace them to either myself or to you."

"Good…" Louise Francoise said, and then her crest flashed and the sheet of paper holding the key Matou data from the Clock Tower archives burst into flame.

"Your Highness…!"

"There is no evidence of mistreatment beyond the circumstantial on the part of Matou against the elder Tohsaka sibling." Louise Francoise said. "As such any inflammatory action on our part would be misguided and heavily-skewed towards the alarmist or even reactionary."

"But…"

"I know." Louise Francoise said grimly. "The possibility still exists, no matter how small. And if we're wrong, then we're consigning a child barely older than young Sakura is to torment. However without hard evidence, I cannot influence my family to have the Clock Tower take action."

Princess and retainer stayed silent until the document had completely burned away. "What of Ms. Tohsaka now?" Katherine finally asked.

"She doesn't need to know of our inquiries." Louise Francoise said. "She may make inquiries of her own, in which case we shouldn't stop her. If that happens, then hopefully she'll use her head and not act recklessly."

"And if she does so?"

"It would be such a waste if someone with as much potential as her would throw her life away going up against someone as old as Zouken Matou. A man who walks a tightrope and teetering on the edge of getting branded with a sealing designation if he is not careful, but it is because of that that he is so dangerous. We will remain friends with young Sakura, and if events conspire to threaten to have her make a reckless choice, we will counsel her otherwise, at least until she is powerful and knowledgeable enough to stand on her own."

"I understand, Lady Louise."

A/N

Don't misunderstand the German nobles: the only reason they're bothering with Sakura is because she's still young enough to be molded to see things their way, and because of her rare sorcery trait, her high magic potential, and of course the Second Magic-derived mysteries inherited from Nagato Tohsaka. If not for those, they'd probably just see her as another Oriental yokel.

Not sure when the next update for this will come out though, just a heads-up…