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

Different Fates

Chapter 14

The girl sat against a wall in her room, holding her legs against her body as she dully-gazed out of the window opposite and above her as the Sun inched its way towards the sunset. And then it would happen again, as it had for the past two weeks.

She would go down to the basement of the house, shed the mocking façade of her dignity, and allow the worms to violate her again and again as they had every night ever since her family had stripped her of her name and thrown her to this hellish fate.

Did they know?

Did they ever truly care?

Or was she and her sister just tools to be used and discarded when needed?

It wouldn't surprise her if it were the case. Magi were after all, supposed to be able to do what they needed to do for the sake of the Art.

She knew that. It was one of the first things that had been taught to her. So why did it hurt so much?

Or at least…why did it so much in the past?

Nowadays she just didn't care. Screaming did nothing. Crying did nothing. Begging did nothing. The old man and his son just coldly stared down at her as she lay naked in the pit, her form covered by the worms as they writhed all over her, smearing her flesh with their vile fluids or forcing their way and making themselves at home inside of her.

There was nothing she could do but lie there and let her consciousness slip into a mindless fog, as her limbs thrashed and her throat made noises appropriate for mind-breaking pain and pleasure both.

She should have gone insane.

And she would have…but where denial and struggling would have been futile, resigned surrender proved strong enough to keep her mind intact. Or at least, intact enough to resurface once the torture finally came to an end.

Days of relief…and then the nights would see it resume.

That was her life. And all she could do was endure.

And ironically, surrender provided the strength to do just that. That…and knowing that at least her sister wouldn't have to go through what she was going through.

She could take pride in that. Even if a part of her resented her sister's taking her place, even if a part of her felt angry and outraged at her sister's defiance of tradition being rewarded…she couldn't hate her sister.

Anger…resentment…but never hate…

So she endured, and took what little comfort she could, not that there was much of it. It was something though.

The Sun slowly set, the shadows slowly filling the room. The girl resignedly rose to her feet, and turned towards the door, and to go where she was expected to go.

Footsteps behind her caught her attention, and she turned. Purple eyes that once were a bright shade of blue widened at the sight, a tall woman with pale skin and long silver hair staring down at her with her crimson eyes. Robes of pure white embroidered and decorated with gold and red shrouded her willowy form, while a crown of pure gold adorned her head.

"His magecraft was always so crude." The woman said. "That much has never changed, even if the man himself has long since rotted away beyond recognition. Crude…but effective for all that…who would have thought he'd be able to do something like this?"

The woman raised her hand and cupped the girl's chin, and Rin Matou blinked as their surroundings melted away into the darkness of the void, the memories of ten years and knowledge of the present rushing in. "Who are you?" she whispered.

"I could end all this with a thought." The woman said, ignoring her. "But I am curious. I want to see just a little bit more."

The woman removed her hand, and then snapped her fingers.

Crimson eyes snapped open in real life, Rin blinking several times before slowly sitting up and rubbing her forehead. "A dream…?" she whispered. "Who was that woman though? She seemed…very familiar…and she looked…just like me…"

Rin trailed off and sighed. "I'm going insane." She said. "Or I might be developing schizophrenia or something like that. I wouldn't be surprised if I did…"

She trailed off again, and then picked at her pyjamas. She then glanced at the two waist-high puppets looking at her from near the windows. They looked quite lifelike, with porcelain skin and glassy but otherwise realistic eyes. They had long blonde hair and were dressed in Victorian attire in classic Matou blue and violet.

But…they were still puppets. At a distance or with a cursory glance anyone would think they were Human. But with a closer inspection…or anyone with the gift of magic would quickly know that they were not in fact, Human.

It was the reason why Rin had never gone beyond planning for the 'Kiri' doll, or for that matter the childlike doll that so very much resembled her…or the woman in her dreams. It didn't feel right, to make dolls in the likeness of people that for some strange reason beyond her comprehension seemed so…important to her.

It was because of course, they would never truly be alive. And Kiri would never be able to save her. No one could. Not without a miracle.

In that light, despite the longing that she buried – or at least tried to bury – in the back of her mind, it was better that she never made them.

She did however make dolls. And she gave them life, at the urgings of her grandfather, or at least what little life she could give them.

And to be honest, as familiars they were a whole lot better than using worms. She had enough of those during her 'training', to say nothing of those which called her body 'home'. And while a part of her – the one which took pride in the effort she put into making her dolls – felt bitter at tainting them with Matou magecraft, it wasn't like it was something new to her.

She was a Matou.

As much as the thought felt revolting – though that too was nothing new – that meant that everything she was and had was already tainted. The idea that she could have anything 'pure' was delusion.

All she could do was make the best of it.

And maybe…just maybe…she could get out of it with more than what she already had.

"Helen…" she began, addressing her dolls as she pushed the covers back. "…Clare…you put me in my pyjamas I take it? Thanks for the work…but who took me back to my room? My little brother…?"

"You are welcome mistress." The telepathic reply from her dolls slipped into her mind. "However it was not your little brother who did so, but the new guest."

"New…guest…?" Rin echoed, and then she remembered and smiled. "I see."

She glanced at the clock and went for her closet. "Is the hot water ready?" she said. She'd no illusions that the bulk of her dolls had to be for combat, but her grandfather didn't really mind having a few to perform menial labours in the house.

"Yes mistress."

Rin nodded, and gathering her clothes for the day, left for the shower.

"Your Servant wants something."

"Really…?" Rin replied to her brother's statement with a complete lack of interest. Shinji rolled his eyes across the table from her.

"Apparently he's been wandering around the house all night." He said. "Grandfather tried to see what he wanted, but the man…eh…Servant doesn't talk, or can't. So he asked me earlier to tell you to find out what he needs. And in hindsight, considering he is a Caster, he probably needs someplace to set up shop in, and to gather materials."

"Point…" Rin nodded, and then turned her head as her Servant glided into the dining room. He glanced once at Clare and Helen, and then glided over to Rin's side where he silently loomed over the siblings. Rin however decided to finish her toast before addressing her Servant. "…alright Caster, what do you need? I'll see what I can do."

"Well for starters 'Master'…" he began telepathically much to Rin's surprise. "…I would extend my congratulations on recovering from your episode during the previous night. It would after all be…detrimental to our mutual interests if you had failed to recover."

"I…see…thanks I guess…"

"You are welcome."

Rin raised an eyebrow. "You know…" she said, and wondering that she was going to say what she was going to say. "…there's no need to keep to telepathy, at least not here. My little brother can be trusted."

Shinji snorted at that, though Caster remained silent. He stayed silent for the next several moments, and then Rin sighed. "Alright you don't want to talk per se fine…" she said resignedly. "…we're all entitled to our idiosyncrasies I suppose."

"Thank you for your indulgence. Moving on to important matters…might I have your name?"

"Rin Matou…and I already know your identity."

"Indeed…" Caster said with a nod. "…I'd be surprised if you did not considering you had a copy of one of my works. Granted the encoded material it possesses is limited in scope, but it is better than starting from the very beginning. With that in mind, I would request workspace."

"I'm sure we can negotiate some space from my grandfather…"

"Out of the question…" Caster interrupted. "…I refuse to allow that pathetic excuse for a magus that you call 'grandfather' any insights to my Great Work. And to operate in those dank spaces he deigns to call 'laboratories'…what a preposterous farce."

"Hmm…" Rin mused aloud, rubbing at her chin. Of course she could just use a command spell to make him obey, but that would set up a store for bitterness later on. And irritating a Servant was far from prudent, especially a Caster. Magi could be quite vindictive. "…oh alright, we'll see if we can get some concessions from the old man."

Zouken surprisingly proved easy to convince though.

"Very well…" he said with a nod, seated in an armchair in the Matou library with his grandchildren and the Matou Servant arrayed in a semicircle before him. "…I'll allow you and your Servant to scout out the city for a workshop location tonight. Less chance of detection that way…"

Caster nodded in agreement, and Zouken glanced at Rin. While he would have preferred to gain insights into Caster's mysteries – just as the Servant had feared – he did expect the Servant of the Spell to be as protective of his secrets as any magus worth the name. And while he could have Rin just use a command spell, there was no real need to provoke the Servant at this point in time.

In any case, Rin would undoubtedly gain some insights on her own.

He had not originally planned to have Avicebron as a Servant, or for that matter expected his granddaughter to take up doll-making as a hobby, but once he'd determined on the former the latter proved surprisingly useful. By making Rin turn her dolls into familiars – similar to golems in some ways – he'd ensured that Caster would gain some interest in her.

And Rin was a prodigy, no matter how much Zouken did to keep her under his thumb.

Caster would take an interest in her, and considering the gap in their knowledge any exchange of information would be one way in nature. No Matou secrets would be lost, but even the smallest bit of Caster's secrets would be worth its weight in gold.

He was a magus after all that had earned the status of a Heroic Spirit. Not quite sorcerer-level, but close.

"Moving on to materials…" Zouken continued and turning back to the Servant. "…what will you require?"

"Earth, metals, wood, gems and paper…" Caster replied and which Rin relayed to her grandfather. "…I'll have to prepare my tools first – after the workshop is secure – of course, so the need for material isn't quite pronounced now. Later on though, I will be requiring significant quantities of the first and fourth categories."

"Hmm…" Zouken mused, tapping a finger against an armrest. "…most of those won't be too problematic to obtain, the problem will be the gemstones. Try not to be greedy and Rin, make sure to keep a tight lid on any requisitions understood?"

"Yes, I understand."

"Good…" Zouken said with a nod. "…moving on, I imagine you'll be asking Rin to assist you in your preparations?"

"Naturally…"

"However she has certain…obligations that have to be met." Zouken said with a small smile. "We could discuss a settlement on this matter but perhaps my grandson would be of use in her place?"

"You jest maggot." Caster said, and Rin winced before giving a polite translation. "That boy is no magus. He would be worth only for the most menial of assistance, and my Master's constructs would frankly be preferable for that purpose, and would be more versatile in the long run as well."

Shinji's eyes flashed at the insult, and he clenched his fists, but did and said nothing. Rin was silent, as was Zouken. At length the latter slowly nodded. "Very well…" he said. "…I will excuse Rin from her obligations until such time as your workshop is prepared. Afterwards we should discuss this matter further."

Caster tilted his head in thought, and then gave a nod. Zouken nodded and then looked at his grandchildren. "Now that we're finished here…" he said. "…don't you have something else to do?"

Shirou Emiya sighed as he walked down the street towards school. Ayako Mitsuzuri glanced at him with just a hint of concern. "Hey, hey, Shirou…" she said. "…you really shouldn't let Fujimura-sensei get to you this much. She was just joking after all."

Shirou glared at her. "Joking or not…" he said. "…Fuji-nee going like she did last night is still very tiring. And there's still the math homework due tomorrow."

"Having trouble…?" Ayako quipped. "I could help if you want it."

Shirou thought it over for a moment, and then he sighed. "I'll be in your care then." He said with a faux bow, and Ayako grinned before patting the back of his head a few times. "Hey…!"

"Good to see that you're out of your rut…oh hey…"

"What's wrong?"

Shirou blinked and watched as he too noticed Shinji storming into the school from the opposite direction as him and Ayako. He seemed very angry for some reason, and everyone else gave him a wide berth. "What's gotten into him?" he wondered.

"No idea…" Ayako said but with a note of worry. "…we should hurry. I'd rather he not exorcise his issues in the clubroom. Well not really the clubroom, but if there are other people there…"

"No, we wouldn't want that to happen."

"Matou-san…"

Rin turned at the call and gave a small smile as Shirou ran up to her. "Hello Emiya-kun." She said as they fell into step beside each other. "Where's your girlfriend?"

"She went to get some lunch." Shirou replied. "Well…drinks actually, we have bento."

He held up a bento wrapped in cloth, and Rin nodded in understanding. "I see." She said. "Well then should we go to our usual spot ahead of her?"

"Why not…?"

Rin smiled a bit wider and continued on their way. After a moment though, she spoke up again. "You have something to ask?" she asked.

"Well yeah…um…about Shinji…"

Rin laughed softly at that. "He's been in a bad mood all morning I guess." She said. "Well that's to be expected. Let's just say…he heard something that he didn't want to hear, though it was all true, every last word."

Shirou stayed silent as they passed the stairwell, and then decided to speak up. "I don't mean to pry or to poke into family business…" he delicately began. "…but can't you and your brother get along…"

He trailed off as Rin stopped to look at him. For a moment they just stared at each other, Shirou looking worried while Rin's expression was carefully neutral. At length she smiled and patted him on the arm. "Thanks for the concern." She said. "But it's more complicated than you think."

"Does it involve…?"

"Yeah it does." Rin interrupted the question quickly. "Do try and be more aware of your surroundings Emiya-kun, and where we're speaking."

Without another word Rin strode off, and after a look around him Shirou followed. A few moments later and Ayako stepped out from behind the stairwell. She'd just about to step around the corner when Shirou had asked Rin about her and her brother getting along, and as a result had overheard the conversation's end.

And somehow, she knew that Rin knew or was involved somehow in one way or the other with Shirou's secrets. And it hurt.

"He trusts her more than he does me…?" she thought. "Or…"

Mocking laughter from behind caused her to turn in a whirl, and she narrowed her eyes at the person who met her eyes. "Matou…" she snarled.

"Well, well…" Shinji said. "…eavesdropping were we now?"

"I am not in the mood for your games." She hissed, preparing to leave.

"Then let's cut to the chase." Shinji said, mockery turning to seriousness in but a moment. "Don't poke your nose where it doesn't belong. Or better yet, you should know better than to stick your hand in fire."

Ayako narrowed her eyes at him over her shoulder. "If Shirou is involved…" she said. "…then I say I've got the right to get involved."

Shinji laughed at that. "You really care about him, do you?" he asked.

"And if I do…?" she snapped.

"Then tell him to stop being an idiot." Shinji said. "Getting involved with my family's dangerous as hell. That's all I'll say on the matter. And if you're smart, you'll get Emiya to back off. And if you can't, then you should back off."

"Just what the hell is going on here?"

Shinji shrugged before turning to leave down the stairs. "It's worth my life to tell you." He said. "I can tell you that much though."

Ayako's eyes followed him down the stairs, and then she went after Shirou and Rin. "No…" she thought to herself. "…Shirou…he's not like that…he's not like that at all! He wouldn't…he's keeping me in the dark to keep me safe…that has to be it…"

She slid the door open, and found Rin and Shirou seated on opposite sides of the table. She swallowed dryly, and then took a step inside while placing a smile on her face. "Sorry I'm late…" she said. "…I ran into some trouble on the way back…nothing serious…"

But even so…I really wish…you would trust me…

Later that evening, a pair of figures stood on a skyscraper overlooking the city. One of them was a girl in a school uniform, her silver hair and red eyes standing out in the night. Beside her was a tall man in blue, black, and gold, his golden mask brightly reflecting the lights of the city below at night.

"Well what do you think Caster?" Rin asked.

"It is an impressive sight." He commented. "Though as a Caster, this vantage point isn't of much use for me as it would be for an Archer."

"True." Rin admitted. "But from here one could get a…feel for the city's overall layout, even if one were not an Archer."

"Point…" Caster admitted with a nod. "…come to think of it, those dolls of yours were very impressive. I did not wish to mention it in front of your grandfather, but there is one form of…material I would also ask."

Rin chuckled. "I thought you would." She said. "Golems after all differ from familiars in the sense that golems have their own independent source of prana, whereas familiars draw on their master or mistress' prana. And if there is anyone who can be said to be a master of golems, it would be you."

"I am flattered." Caster said. "With that said, those dolls of yours: they have their own energy sources do they not?"

Rin did not answer, but after a few moments Caster nodded, the silence answer enough. "Normally I would obtain magic circuits to power my golems by harvesting them from other Humans." He revealed. "However you considering your…obligations do not seem the type to do such a thing. This means that you have a different means to obtain the necessary energy sources for your constructs. Or am I wrong?"

Again Rin stayed silent, and again Caster took it as answer in itself. "I will make a deal with you, Master." He said. "Share with me that method, and I will share with you my expertise in refining it, and perhaps even your own crafting abilities."

Rin glanced at him, and he glanced back. "What is your wish Caster?" she asked, her eyes not leaving her Servant's featureless golden mask.

"None that I would require the Grail to grant." He said to her surprise. "Just simply being able to walk this world again is a wish come true. After all, it is an opportunity to complete that which I was not able to complete in life: to remake the original form of Humanity, and in so doing herald a new Golden Age for Mankind."

"I see."

"And what is your wish, Master?"

Rin looked away, looking down at the city and then up at the sky. The breeze picked up, blowing her silver hair and Caster's blue mantle behind them. She smiled. "My wish…" she echoed. "…I simply wish to have a future. That's all I want."

"Is that so?" Caster asked, also looking away and out over the city. "I believe our desires are by no means incompatible, do you?"

"I do not."

"Then we can work together." Caster said with a nod. "Do we have an accord?"

"We do."

Caster nodded again, Master and Servant silent as they stared out over the city. Unknown to them, another figure was watching them from atop yet another skyscraper in the distance. Golden hair blew with the wind, along with a white coat over expensive-looking clothes. "So the discarded one has summoned her Servant…?" Gilgamesh murmured. "A clown no less…perhaps that fool Tokiomi was on to something when he chose the rebel over her."

Gilgamesh smirked as the pair in the distance turned and left their rooftop. "I shall suffer this though." He said. "For now at least…imperfection after all, is what makes art perfect, and not the other way around."

Gilgamesh looked up into the sky. "I look forward to your turn, rebellious child." He said, and with that his form dissolved in a shower of golden light.

A/N

Eh…Caster has no reason to teach Shirou anything. Rin yes because they are partners, and because they have similar forms of magecraft, but Shirou…

And it's not like Caster can or will talk. I've never read Fate/Apocrypha so I can only go by the wiki, but seeing as Caster doesn't like to or would actually talk, I assume he communicates with his Master there by means of their telepathic link. I apologize if I butcher canon here, but no one's perfect.

Finally I apologize for the rather…explicit content in the earlier part of the chapter. Not that the visual novel wasn't explicit, but let's not get into that…