An Opportunity of Fate

by PML7

Counter Guardian Emiya is given an offer he cannot refuse. He must somehow save Fuyuki City from the ravages of the Fifth Grail War without being allowed to participate himself! Can he influence his younger self and his friends from his youth enough to save the world before Emiya has to use a Counter Force against the Grail, destroying Fuyuki City and the surrounding area?

20. Chapter 20

An Opportunity of Fate part 20

Luvia Edelfeldt-

Luvia knew that she was intoxicated. She was not completely smashed. Not yet. Her mind was still working.

Sort of.

Enough to get them alive out of that bar. It had gone so well, their partnership. She had found him almost immediately in a bar by the docks. The sort she wouldn't be caught dead in in London. Much too low brow.

In London she was watched. A few unlucky people knew she could fight, some even knew that in certain moods she liked to fight, but they normally kept that fact quiet. Simply because Luvia DID like to fight, and that would be an open invitation to some violence. Her reputation of being sweet and kind, which was mostly true, would be ruined and her moments of ill temper shown to the world.

And she would be most unhappy.

It wasn't just that she had a surprising talent for manhandling people, and was ridiculously strong for her size even before reinforcement, her family was known for its combat prowess as well as its wealth. Gem magic was exceedingly expensive to practice, and so while her family did have extensive and lucrative business interests, mercenary work was expected from the younger members of the family.

It didn't have to be direct combat, the mercenary work her family did was often support and medical, although combat was favored. She had training in it all.

Could she help if she sometimes wanted to USE it? She was here in a backwater nation, where no one would hear of her exploits. Who cared if she got drunk? Got involved in a brawl or two. And maybe found a man worth sleeping with?

Here she didn't have to live up to her name. Or rather the reputation she had built for herself.

All she wanted to do was glut herself in the baser things in life. It had gone so well. They had already trashed one bar and were setting things up for their current bar, when she came.

Luvia didn't see her arrival. Merely felt the first blast of magic toss her across the bar and into the section where the bartender stood.

It should have killed her. And if she hadn't come from a family of paranoid mercenaries, it probably would have. One of her defensive nodes had all but exploded at the shock of the spell. But it had defused enough that the bold of brilliant light didn't sear her completely.

As an attack it had been superb. For Luvia to duplicate it without expending a half dozen gems, it would have required at least seven lines, more likely a full ten count aria.

It had taken the woman a single word.

She had already stabbed her companion with an odd looking dagger. The witch cast a second single word spell at her companion, on whom it had little effect. He brushed it away with his shield and with a spear that had appeared out of nowhere, he battered the witch.

The whole area of the bar was filled with the screaming of frightened patrons as the battle continued. The witch continued to barely escape the spearman's attacks. He could wound her, but not lay the final blow. But her attacks on him were even less fruitful, serving only to render the bar into a killing ground as bolts of argent light consumed patrons whom it hit, and rendered the rest of the furniture into lethal fragments spraying haphazardly about.

Luvia was horrified. A whispered aria put up a defensive field that shielded her from the fragments, but if one of those bolts hit her head on, she was dead. Both of the combatants were Servants and she was helpless against them.

Her sense of honor made her want to protect as many as she could. Her instinct to survive told her to flee and pray she was not chased. She was too far to make it to her Uncle's side.

Unfortunately neither would be of service to her as the building had had enough and began its collapse. The Servants were able to battle unhindered by such an unimportant event. The rest of the human occupants were not so lucky.

Luvia was no different in that. All she could must was a quick prayer to a God she hadn't thought of in years and her world faded to darkness.

-Scene Break—

Sella-

Sella opened her eyes at the specified time. There was a great deal to do and not enough time. Never enough time.

First she would wake Leysritt and have the other maid get Mistress's morning routine started. That would allow Sella the opportunity to prepare breakfast.

And coffee. Wonderful, magical, aromatic coffee. Sella loved coffee, and the kitchen she had at the Einzbern estate here in Fuyuki was well stocked with some of the best coffee beans known to man. And a few not well known, requiring some alchemical assistance in the blend.

She could only hope that Emiya had the basics needed to produce a quality brew.

Well, she had enough in the car if it became an emergency. She did hate grinding coffee beans by magic, it demeaned the art of magic, as well as requiring a skilled hand to grind them fine but not too fine. It was an art she had reluctantly practiced; just on the off chance she didn't have access to the right equipment.

Damn it. Where was Leysritt!

Leysritt would occasionally hide from extra chores, but this was something they did every day. Something for the Mistress. Leysritt would do anything for Mistress.

Anything. Leysritt would die for Ilya.

She stopped looking as memories of yesterday washed over her. She looked again at her Mistress laying on the small bed. Ilya had been attacked and nearly killed. Her Servant had been taken from her. And Leysritt, Leysritt had died.

Sella felt a mixture of rage, guilt and sorrow course through her. It had been Sella's fault after all. She could have stopped the casual outing. She could have even stopped the baking. Could have made Ilya work on those Elemental Substitutions she still needed to practice on.

She could have.

She could have….

A soft voice called out to her, "Sella? Is it morning yet?"

"It is still early Mistress. Continue to rest while I get some coffee and set out your garments. Breakfast was supposed to be around six this morning."

Ilya groaned and then yawned. "So early. But they said something about their school." She sat up and looked at Sella, her rust brown eyes flashing in the dim light. "We will help them Sella. Don't worry about the clothes, with Leysritt gone…." She snapped her fingers and said:

Fiat Lux

A ball of light rested on her palm, illuminating her face. "We will avenge her. Moreover we will aid my brother in any way we can. He is the only one who has ever truly stepped in to help me."

"Mistress…."

Ilya looked up at her sternly, "Did you not tell me that he rushed me home, was willing to personally carry me here, just to get me out of the line of fire?"

"Yes Mistress."

Ilya looked angrily at her servant, "Yesterday we were careless. And we lost almost everything. But Shirou saved us. I wish he had been fast enough to save Leysritt, but that attack… it must have been a Noble Phantasm. It severed every magical tie that I possessed. Save that to the Grail."

Sella sighed, "A Noble Phantasm? But not capable of severing you and the Grail. Why just that one bond? My analysis was that Servant was from the Time of the Gods. It must have been made to sever Magecraft on a level we can only imagine."

Ilya shook her head. "Magecraft yes. Every strand of magecraft connection that I possessed, including some I was unaware of until they disappeared was snapped by that attack. I could feel the heat from the bleed off of the energy. The backlash must have been horrible." She waved her hand carelessly, "Whatever, Sella, my connection to the Grail goes beyond mere magecraft to magic itself. It must or surely it would have failed." She closed her eyes and a few tears slipped down her cheeks.

"Mistress?"

Ilya's voice was small, "And my own life would have been snuffed like a candle. I didn't know until that very moment, but I as dependent on it as Leysritt was on me. To lose contact with the Grail would have meant to lose part of myself." She wiped her face, each tear like a small star as it fell down her cheek in the magical light. "Mama was there. Absorbed into the Greater Grail. And the Lady of Winter." Ilya shuddered, "She was there. Still waiting..." She looked resigned and weary as she looked straight at Sella, "And soon I will join her. Forever part of….."

Sella slapped her then. She gripped Ilya by the shoulders and told her roughly, "There will be none of that talk, Mistress! Do you hear me! You are NOT going to die. I won't let you. Emiya and his friends won't let you either. I don't know why, and I will learn. It could be a simple as what Emiya told us. It really doesn't matter. They are helping us now, and now is what we need to work with."

Ilya wiped her face with her free hand. "Thanks. I guess I needed that." She took a deep breath and her eyes hardened. "Right. Coffee. Get me some coffee, the rest I can handle myself." She nodded to herself. "Do you retain connection to the Castle's Wards? Or any of the Familiars? Feedback from what hit me killed all of mine."

"A few. But without a connection to the Castle, I can only reach the ones nearest to me. If we plan on staying here, we will need to get more in the way of supplies from the Castle."

Ilya raised on finger, "After we help them with their school. They are doing that this morning. Right. We need to plan. Find Miss Tohsaka if you would on your way back. We have much to discuss."

Sella left and walked straight to the parked car. She had an opportunity to look at the kitchen last night. Why waste her time and hope he had the equipment when she always had a basic set for emergencies.

Planning meant Clarity of Thought. Clarity of Thought meant Wakefulness. Wakefulness meant Caffeine.

This meant Coffee. First rate well blended Coffee.

Sella was smiling. Who knew? Maybe she would be able to bring the light to these poor tea drinking heathens!

-Scene Break-

Shirou Emiya-

Shirou awoke coated in sweat. His dreams had been strange and dark, his mind reeling with the number of blades he had seen.

It had filled him with horror. A world that should have filled him with wonder. For it was full of blades, and he had always admired them. Countless swords all slammed into the earth like tombstones. Each full of life and history, each trapped forever in a never ending hell as gears swung amidst a setting sun. Wisps of cold rust laden air sighing by.

His companion had walked up to the hill to comfort a man who was crying out in agony.

Shirou had just stood there and felt as if it were calling to him. Trying to persuade him that this was the true world. That this cynical dark work was the truest reality.

This is what it meant to be a true Hero of Justice.

So empty. So cold.

So much power. He could feel it. Feel it surround him, feel it try to work its way into him. It whispered to him, promised him power. It would give him the power to protect everyone.

But the cost….

Shirou shook his head. He didn't have time for this. He felt well rested despite his bad dream and went to wash himself. There was the aroma of breakfast being cooked.

He smiled. Trust Sakura to not let him down. He would have to thank her. And to help.

He walked into the kitchen and saw a somber Arturia speaking with Sakura in the kitchen. Rider wasn't helping Sakura at all, but then it didn't seem Sakura needed help. She was managing several pans and dishes all by herself, tiny whisps of shadow streaming from her dress to move this or that.

That dress was scandalous in how it hugged her every curve. And yet he couldn't bring himself to stop looking. How long had he been secretly watching her bloom these last few years?

He tore his eyes away and took a deep breath. Now was not the time. Particularly considering what had happened to her. How could she feel if the one she came to for protection from her brother felt that way about her? Even if a few of her actions pointed toward it, it had to be this emergent personality. That the real Sakura could also be fond of him….

Shirou shook his head, "Good morning. Thanks for the breakfast."

Sakura smiled at him," Coffee or tea?"

"We have coffee?"

Sakura nodded, "Apparently Ilya is a big drinker of coffee. Or so her maid said. Brought her own brewing machines. Actually pretty good. I think Sister is on her third cup."

Shirou sighed, "After you made me buy that expensive tea."

Sakura laughed, "Oh, don't worry. That will get used, you know Sister and mornings."

Shirou could only grunt. Rin did not wake easily.

Arturia asked, "Did you sleep well, Shirou?"

Shirou shook his head, "Strange dreams. But then given the past few days it isn't suprising."

Arturia just looked down.

Sakura looked over at her and touched her shoulder, "Shirou, can you go tell Sister that breakfast will be ready in about fifteen minutes? I believe she is meeting with Einzbern."

"No problem." He walked toward the guest rooms. As he left the main building he ran into Ayako and Issei.

They were talking softly amongst themselves. And they were close together, Ayako teasing Issei and removing his glasses.

Issei turned and saw Shirou, "Ah, Emiya." He smiled at Ayako he set his glasses back on his head. He looked tired but focused. Something about him, about the way he held himself had changed. And Issei looked just as intense as he always did, but like he was seeing different things. His gaze had a weighing component Shirou wasn't used to seeing. "When this is over, should we survive this test, one of my employers would like to meet you. You have been causing her some trouble for some time now."

Shirou backed up a step, "What?"

Ayako placed her hand on Issei's shoulder, "You didn't say anything about this last night,"

Issei said flatly, "One of the many problems with Divination, at least one that contains time specific information, is that not only do you have to understand its limitations, the information has specific guidelines for dissemination. I have a certain amount of information on how the day will unfold, reveal that information too early and it will be of little use. Too many changes. To not use it at all will squander its value." He shook his head in irritation, "I can understand now why the Doctor doesn't emphasize this. It is useful, perhaps very useful, but also frustrating. My own magic is much too weak to bother with something this ridiculously subtle. Dowsing is one thing….." He shook his head.

"So you know the future? Are we doing the right thing?"

Issei held up his hands, "Emiya, Grandmother is the, well I suppose this region of Japans supervisor. Apparently Onymoudo was once a government affair. Not anymore."

Ayako cuffed him fondly, "Focus."

Issei shook his head and adjusted his glasses, "Sorry, just a little nervous. Learning that I had unwittingly made a career change a few years ago from peaceful monk to sorcerer in training was a little stressful for me."

Ayako shook Issei a little more and smirked at Shirou, "He got kicked off the mountain for it too." She stopped her face becoming blank. "Too much change Emiya. Too much, too quickly."

Issei nodded, "That was what Grandmother said, there have been disruptions in the stream of Fate around you for some time. But lately they have become extreme, to the point that the future of the City of Fuyuki is at stake." He swallowed deeply, "Or more."

Shirou closed his eyes, "Did she mention anything about the Holy Grail War?"

Ayako's eyes flared, "So it is happening early. That is what those things are. My Grandfather talked of it, as did my mother. But we will need details, Issei and I."

"Honestly, it would be safer if both of you simply kept your heads down and kept out of it. Official policy is to mind wipe or kill anyone who merely witnesses this contest. I am sure that…." Shirou stopped there as he watched Ayako's expression change to rage.

Ayako had always been stoic and business like, brusque with a sarcastic humor. She rarely hid her emotions entirely, but she was always firmly in control of them.

Not at the moment.

He could feel waves of anger and power flow from Ayako as she grabbed his shirt and lifted him up against the wall. With one hand,

Shirou stopped the impulse to counter. His training and bad dreams he had experienced last night prompting him to summon a dagger to his hand. For just a brief moment Taming Sari appeared in his hands. He could feel confidence and skill fill him, bolstering his own knife training. Taming Sari made one nearly invincible in a knife fight.

A couple quick moves and Ayako would be dead or dying. With a little more difficulty he could have subdued her without wounding her badly.

He let the Noble Phantasm go.

Ayako just stared at him in shock. "I felt that. That knife. You altered the world to bring it back. Where did it come from? Where did it go to?"

There was a sudden scent of burnt honey that washed from behind them. Rin's cool voice called out, "That is his application of magecraft. Termed Gradation Air or Projection. The ability to temporarily manifest an object out of prana and air. A weak talent, but one that Emiya is exceedingly good at."

Shirou turned his head to face her. Her arm was extended; her Crest glowing blue and four Gandr were floating above her palms in a tiny circle. "Rin, this is pointless. We need to be focused if we are…."

"Shut up, Shirou," said Rin.

"Shut up, Emiya," said Ayako. She also quickly glared at Issei, who looked ready to say something but stopped. Instead he began to fold a small piece of paper. Ayako set Shirou down and turned to face Rin. "So what now, Tohsaka? Going to blast me with your magical powers again? Erase my memory one more time?"

Rin frowned, "I didn't like doing that. I will enjoy it even less now. You have no clue the amount of danger you are in Ayako. If someone from the Mage Association knew about you…."

Ayako's voice was cold and controlled. "Too late. Last night I was attacked by beings Sakura describes as Servants. Archer and Lancer respectively. If her speculation was right, I might have even met Assassin."

Issei was still folding the paper. Origami? It looked like it would be a bird of some sort. He said, "I can confirm that. The Youkai we met on Sunday night was indeed a Servant. A casual mind warp will not free of us of this situation. Matou promised to protect Ayako, remember? Ayako is living here. And trust me, crossing Eiko…." Issei shivered.

Shirou said softly, "It is very dangerous, Ryudou. A mage walks with death every day. An enemy or monster may kill us for what we know. Our experiments may kill us for making even the smallest mistake. Even our own magic causes pain and hardship and the very real possibility of death with each use. Small but real."

Issei opened his palm, "The problem with you Western Magi is that you think you are the only traditions that matter. That you own the power of the supernatural and the other traditions do not exist." From his palm a small bird fluttered. "That would be a mistake."

Shirou just opened his mouth. He had felt nothing. Maybe a tiny scent of fresh dew on a morning lawn. But so minor for such a thing. Creating a familiar? Out of a piece of paper?

The bird fluttered in front of Issei, who whispered something in an old dialect of Japanese.

Rin's face was serene as the bird flew at her and landed on her palm in between the swirling Gandr and turned back into a piece of folding paper. "Am I supposed to be impressed?"

Issei shook his head, his hand reaching for Ayako's. "I would be surprised if you were. But I do expect you to acknowledge it. To accept that we are part of this and that we can help you."

"Very well. But if you die it is not my fault. I wash my hands of it. Ayako, can we speak privately?"

Issei's eyes tightened, "Tohsaka, if you hurt her…."

Rin's eyes tightened, "Do you honestly expect me to fear you? You made a piece of paper fly for a moment."

Issei closed his eyes for a moment. "No. I do not expect you to fear me. I suspect you could kill me at a whim. The dark magic contained in each of those floating globes is enough to cause serious trauma. No, I do not expect fear. But…." He opened his eyes and glared at her, "At the end of this affair, should either of us survive, I will expect you to respect me." He smiled at Ayako and began to walk past Rin into the house.

Rin laughed, "And you me."

He turned to face Rin, adjusting his glasses, "I already do Tohsaka. I do not know if I will ever like you, but respect is different. As I have progressed from dabbling my toes in the occult to actually performing low level magic, I have known who you are and what you represent. You are false fronted and manipulative. But you do have reason. Your people are high handed and arrogant, the very fact we will be discussing a magic duel being held in a populated city shows much of their lack of common humanity. But there is more to you than I think even you realize. And while most Western Magi I would avoid, you and Emiya and Matou…." He glanced at Shirou. "Maybe you weren't fully wrong about her after all, Emiya." And he turned to go.

Rin just stood there, calm and serene on the surface. But while Emiya couldn't place what emotion was going through his tricky Master, he could see something was. The Gandr disappeared and her Crest deactivated. She turned to face him, "Emiya, please create a few mobile chalk boards and let's see, Lavender chalk this time." She walked over to him and place one hand softly on his cheek and smiled up at him. "Don't forget. We will be doing a quick planning session before we leave for school. Now go."

Shirou turned to leave, watching out of the corner of his eyes as two friends that were no longer sure of each other began to softly talk. Should he stay and observe?

Shirou sighed and moved to the living area, where Sakura and Sella were politely debating the comparative merits of tea verses coffee as a morning drink.

He found an open space and closed his eyes, Trace On. A trigger pulled in his head and he remembered the makeup of the chalkboards that Rin was always using. The ones on wheels that she would try to pound magic theory into him with. It came slowly this morning, with a tiny sound like hammers striking endless anvils.

He had it. It was like a blue print in his mind unfolding and rewriting itself upon the world, if only for a short time. One chalk board appeared, and then the second. Shirou took a deep breath. He didn't quite understand why some things came easy, and some were so hard. When he had been facing Ayako, making that kris knife had been so easy. He hadn't really even thought about it at all. He had just called for it and it had appeared.

Which was a new and frightening experience all by itself, but these chalk boards. Was it because they were larger? Or had moving parts?

No. Taming Sari was a Noble Phantasm, a fact which he had known as soon as it was in his hands. One he had never seen before, save in his nightmare last night.

One more blade in that hellish wasteland. Shirou shivered. What had happened last night?

"You are doing it wrong, Shirou. I don't know precisely what you are doing, but that is not Projection." Ilya appeared wearing a dress of purple and white. "Perhaps a variant form of Alchemy. Hmm. I will have to observe you more, maybe a longer discussion with RIn."

Shirou glanced over at his sister, "I have been practicing this for years, RIn says I do it better than anyone she has ever seen. I may be a horrible Magus, but this I can do."

Ilya rapped one of them hard. She nodded and said;

Evanes!

Shirou felt a small jolt at the sound of her spell, a tiny whiff of burnt honey. He suddenly realized all eyes were on the both of them.

Ilya waved her hands and said, "Nothing is wrong here, just doing a little test. Go on, back to what you are doing. Stop staring at Shirou so I can talk to him in peace." She then grabbed his arm and pulled him to the side, "Now, the chalk. Make it as slowly as you can. I will observe." She sighed, "I wish we had a proper Workshop for this. There are tools I would dearly love to use while you are casting."

Shirou just stared at her. "Good morning to you too."

Ilya blinked a few moments and looked away. She then hugged him fiercely, "Good morning, brother. Sorry I was so into the experiment, but well, I was talking with Rin and…."

"No. That is fine. Are you feeling better?"

Ilya smiled at him, "The wound is healed. I will need to go back to the Castle and fetch some equipment, but is it okay if I stay here? The Castle is too isolated, and without Berserker, I do not know I could keep it safe."

"Maybe it would be safer if you just stayed there with Sella. The Grail War is still ongoing, and I don't want you hurt."

Ilya tightly hugged him again, "No. When I needed someone you were there, Shirou. Not even Papa-Kiritsugu was able to do that. Anyway, I am still the Grail Core, I still need your help. And I will not stand by without trying to help you back." She pulled away, "I am not some helpless child. Let me help you."

Why did all those whom he most wanted protect demand to put themselves into danger? Couldn't they see that is what he was for? They were precious, all of his friends and family. Couldn't they see that he was expendable, and that he would willingly lay down his life for any of them?

He pulled his sister in tightly, holding her. 'I will protect her father. I will protect them all!'

Ilya pulled away from him, "Now show me the chalk. Lavender scented I believe Rin decided on. And go slowly. I want to watch your entire progress."

Shirou looked down at the diminutive woman in front of him. And slowly, as he had done many times for Rin, Projected an object for their use.

-Scene Break-

Rin Tohsaka-

RIn stopped in front of the school. Gone were the times she made this trek alone. But never had she suspected to lead such a crowd as this. Breakfast had been a quiet intense affair, everyone waiting to hear what the plan was.

In the end it was simple. Find a critical node for the Barrier. Disrupt it and draw Caster to them. Simply banishing a node would not be enough. The Barrier reacted as if alive and healed any damage. So they would have to pry open and keep it open.

Rin's job was to break open the Barrier using some of Kiritsugu's old techniques. How she wished she had a Crest with these spells preset. As it was, it would take a few minutes to set up and be unmistakable that she was casting magic.

Sakura took one extra step, onto school grounds and smiled. "Yes. It is alive. I can do this Sister. Break a hole in it, let me in. I will drain it to its dregs."

Rin asked carefully, "You are positive?"

"I won't even need an aria."

A new voice cut in, Ilya, with wonder in her voice, "So many people to learn with. I was always tutored alone. What is it like?" She looked up at Shirou, whom she had clung to since breakfast.

Shirou scanned the school, "Boring mostly. Will this many people cause you trouble?"

Ilya shook her head, "No, Sella has brought the supplies I will need. I will need space and maybe ten to twenty minutes to set up an Enchantment Boundary Field to cover the school." She looked at the school again, "Boring you said? Sleep will likely work best."

Issei sighed, "You are likely right. It probably will not be affected much by my wards, if it means no harm."

Rin glared at Issei, who claimed to have set up various magical charms around the school. RIn wouldn't believe it had any effect, but Sakura assured her that they were indeed effective. "How effective do you think they will be against the Blood Fort?"

Issei looked down, "I don't know. They are designed to emphasize the school as a safe place to learn. From what I have read they should protect against supernatural attacks, but this is an attack on an incredible scale. I don't know."

Ayako laced one hand around one of Issei's. That would cause talk. "Issei, have more confidence in your work! Each of those charms and sigils is steeped in the power of Mount Enzo!"

Sakura added, "All placed to support each other. Trust me sister, each one is not very strong. But in numbers and supporting each other…." Sakura smiled, "Our little Student Council President has been busy."

Rin looked away, "That is fine. But how many could he possibly have placed?"

Mr. Kuzuki surprised them all when he softly said, "Mr. Ryudou had placed over a thousand separate charms scattered around the school." He sighed as he looked at them, "Just looking at all of you….. All moonlit. Two homunculi in particular. Is there a reason for this Miss Tohsaka?"

Rin looked around. Her group was subject to much staring, but her fellow students were giving her a wide berth. How was this going to affect her reputation at school? Yesterday's outburst was due to have an impact, but her previous efforts had limited the damage. Was this going to change her status as school idol?

And did she care?

RIn sighed. She did indeed care. The public image she built here was the beginning of the public image she wanted to set for the future. It was easier to build on continuous success than failure, even if the success was only perceptual. As long as they thought she was an ace, they would treat her as one. They would expect her to do the impossible and to be unexpectedly lucky.

Such a reputation was crucial for a magus that held a public persona, as it would allow her to use her magic behind the scenes on a more regular basis. If people expected you to do miracles, you could occasionally use actual miracles. It was one of the few policies her father had espoused she still embraced.

It would be wise to be helpful to the faculty, particularly Kuzuki with his stance as a disciplinarian and partly in charge of school security. Yes, he would make a fine addition to her network of contacts, considering he was already aware of the magic world. Or as he called it the moon lit world.

It took just a moment, she said softly, "The school is about to be attacked by a high order necromantic spell. We are here to counter it. One of the homunculi is a specialist; in shall we say, crowd control."

Kuzuki's expression did not change. "I see." He looked back at the school. "Is it necessary to hold the entire school body as hostage to fate, or can I begin evacuation."

Rin looked at the school, her school. The students were somewhat listless as they walked to the actual buildings, and most of the outdoor clubs seemed slow to act today. That was the Blood Fort at work, not even completed but already affecting her classmates. Classmates who could in the next few hours be consumed by that very same Blood Fort. She said coldly, without thinking, "If we let them leave, the enemy might make counter preparations."

Shirou grunted as if punched. "I think we should evacuate, but Rin, it is your decision."

Issei closed his eyes and sighed heavily.

Ilya clung to Shirou, looking at all the potential fatalities. But her face was grim. To be a magus was to walk with death. She understood. As did Sella.

Ayako walked over to Rin, "Tohsaka, no, enough of that crap. Rin! You can't do this! If some of our classmates can get out of this….. We are doing it to save them, right? This isn't just to defeat Caster, but to actually save our friends?"

Rin looked at her friend, "We need to do both. If we just chase her from here, she will find some other haven to find." She wanted to reach out, to reason with her friend. To agree and have Kuzuki begin evacuations now. How she wanted it. To not have one of the few people who truly knew her to hate her. But all of her magus training told her to not give up any advantage, no matter the cost to others.

Her father certainly wouldn't have. And that false priest, every bit of training espoused the need to be ruthless in every endeavor. To seize whatever advantage she had. Even Kiritsugu, a man who had become like a father to her had emphasized that.

Issei pulled Ayako back, "She is leading us and it is her choice. You and I are not the only ones with fateful decisions today."

Ayako turned to face Issei, "So this is some of the knowledge that you were given. How does it turn out?"

Issei looked sadly at Rin, "No matter her choice, people will die. If she makes the wrong choice more will die from it. I know what I would choose. But I respect her right to make her own decision. It is her responsibility."

Rin glared at him, "And what choice would you make, you supercilious buffoon? You have information that could have guided my choices and yet you have not shared it with me. Who do you think you are, you self-righteous bastard."

Issei adjusted his glasses, "Nothing I say or tell you will aide you, Tohsaka. Only that today you will make decisions that will shape your life. We all will. You dislike me, so anything I say will prejudice your actions, and so I must remain silent."

"I already know what you would choose, and why. I know you Issei Ryudou. You would evacuate the school populace, despite the effect it might have on Caster." She glared at him, expecting his usual deference to make him duck his head to avoid her gaze.

He did not, his gaze full of respect and pity, "It is your choice, Tohsaka. And one you will have to live with. Possibly for a very, very long time. Choose wisely." He turned away from her and looped an arm over Ayako's shoulder.

If that hand holding hadn't caused talk that certainly would. What did she see in him?

There was a hand touching her shoulder. It was Shirou. "We trust you Rin, to make the right call." He smiled sadly, "I have always wanted to be a hero, Rin. My instincts scream to evacuate the school. But I swore to my father that I would stick by you. That I would not leave you alone. The choice is hard, but I, I support you Rin."

She looked at her friends, her eyes widening. They all expected her to sentence her classmates to a potentially horrific death for a small advantage. A quick glance at Kuzuki showed the same response, well as much as an expression you ever got from the stoic teacher. The only one whose gaze wasn't certain was Sakura, who kept glancing at the school and then at her.

"Sakura?"

"I don't know Sister. I know what magus culture supports, I have become one myself. Did you know that some of Grandfather's contacts in the Clock Tower have discussed you? That you are a prodigy and they look forward to your attendance. You already know what they would expect you to do. What they would consider the right choice. The choice my Grandfather would make in a second. The choice our Father would have made. And there ARE times when such ruthlessness would be called for. But I will attack the Boundary Field before it activates anyway. Caster will have to face us or have her Blood Fort destroyed." She reached out and touched Rin, "Perhaps she will simply choose to do so and remain holed up in her Temple. Removing her would be difficult. But look at us, surely with all of us and your and Shirou's Servants you can defeat her? And Rin, could you truly live with yourself if we failed and our classmates were all killed."

Rin watched her sister, her cursed sister, who even now was undergoing some hellish transition in her body. She touched her cheek and said, "You always did have a soft side, Sakura. Always wanted to do the right thing if you could." She pulled the hand away, "You ask if I could live with their deaths on my conscience, and the answer, Sakura, is yes. Yes I could."

She began to walk into the school and took one deep look at her classmates. She was certain. If she had to she would sacrifice them all to do what must be done.

"But this isn't a circumstance when I will have to. Begin evacuations immediately. The Field will not be ready until ten in the morning. If she triggers it before then it will not be lethal, but it will make people sick. It would also leak prana like a sieve, so she wouldn't benefit from it either." She paused a moment, "A few rooms would be useful to get ourselves set up. Close to the back of the school. That is where she will arrive from."

Everyone, even Kuzuki just stared at her. Except Sakura who simply grinned brightly.

She angrily bit out, "Come on, we have a lot to do and not enough time. MOVE people."

And they began their preparations for the attack.

Except for Shirou, flanked now by Rider. Shirou said softly, "Thank you. I will stick with you, but thank you."

Rin smiled sadly at him, "In different circumstances I would have made a different choice."

Rider's voice was soft, "Indeed. A good ruler must trust her instincts." She tilted her blond head slightly and examined Rin as if for the first time, "It is a lonely thing to be a leader. Once I thought it required total solitude, that Justice dictated detachment. But somehow I became too detached. You have promise, but keep your human heart." And she joined the others.

Roland's voice rang in her ears, "That woman is too hard on herself. But she is right here. You have potential. But you aren't evil RIn, you will slowly kill yourself if you try to become so. And you will take lover-boy with you."

"Why you…."

Shirou laughed, "After my lady Tohsaka?" Gesturing to the school.

Rin just walked by him grabbing an arm on the way. Let the school talk. She didn't care. Not about this. She was still an Ace. This was HER school.

It was time for her to prove that and protect it.

-Scene Break—

Medusa-

Medusa was having a good morning. Her enemies were gathering and it looked like they had a plan. None of her familiars could enter any of the buildings, but the windows allowed her to see enough.

They were going to try to draw her out by disabling the Blood Fort. Maybe they had even found a way to disrupt it. That would be impressive.

She had to smile. She was so impressed with Sakura. The girl had resisted the siren song of power and had even arranged to free herself. Medusa doubted that the girl actually knew what she had done, but having the ability to talk about such horror to those willing to help.

Medusa walked over to one of her scrying pools. Archer and his Master were approaching the Matou estate. This would take some careful timing, as Medusa wasn't sure what the effect of Zouken's death would have on the girl.

Zouken was tough, but could he handle the Servant of the Bow? Both he and his Master had spent their lives hunting and killing monsters. Zouken was dead.

Her plans for Shinji were shaping up as well. She watched a dejected Ayako Mitsuzuri leave with Issei Ryudou along with the other students.

Medusa had to laugh, they were evacuating the school. While she had little care for the average human life, she still hadn't enjoyed the thought of mass killing children. She preferred killing overconfident swaggering, male heroes herself.

She watched as Issei pulled Ayako aside and led her to a spot where the forest behind the school was accessible.

Perfect.

Now to receive her final orders from Shinji before the battle began. She walked past the Altars Saegusa and her friends were on. Transmutation was a specialty of hers, so turning solid stone statues into flesh and bone was simple. She had even infused some of the blood she had used to sacrifice them.

Now all that was required was for Shinji to die.

Pity it could not be at her hands.

She saw Shinji standing on the tiny stretch of beach. She herself had been much too busy lately to make use of it herself.

Seriously if you were going to use your powers to make a Temple, why not make it near a beach with constant good weather? She might not be a grand sorceress capable of raining death on her enemies, but she had her own strengths.

As her enemies, but real and false would soon learn.

"Shinji, it is time. Do you wish to go with me?"

"No. Just don't hurt Sakura."

"They are likely to defeat me."

"I suspected as much. No, I will wait here. Maybe, maybe they will spare me."

"They might if you called it all off. If you surrendered yourself to them. I could dispel the monsters I have bargained Hades for and perhaps he will let the girls go. Surely it is worth a try."

Shinji turned and faced her, "Honestly I do not want to die. But I deserve to. Even I understand that. No, I will give my best friend the one thing he desires in life. The chance to be a hero. To save his friends and helpless bystanders. But for that he needs a villain. And that I can be."

"Then I will go." Medusa turned to leave, keeping her face impassive.

Shinji called out to her one last time before staring out at Oceanus. "Medusa, I am sorry. For everything. It is not enough. Nothing I can do will ever be enough. But I am sorry."

"Good bye, Shinji."

She clambered up the trail to the Temple and let her smile return.

Everything was going exactly as planned.

-Chapter End—

A/N- Hope this chapter is enjoyable. I will try to get the next chapter out sooner. Anyone guess what kind of army of monsters Medusa has? Or what CG Pendragon did in this chapter?

I will try, no full promises, to get the next part out in a couple weeks. Wish me luck.