An Opportunity of Fate part 30

Luvia Edelfeldt-

Luvia sat on the edge of her bed combing her long hair. She hadn't yet decided if she was going to set her hair in her usual fashion or just quickly braid it up. Image was important, but this wasn't London.

She hadn't realized how confining maintaining her public persona had been. Oh, it wasn't that it was that great a difference from who she really was, just a few traits exaggerated and others diminished. Her love of hand to hand combat, or bar brawls, and the like, those were things that had to be carefully hidden. She tried to project the perfect noble magus and she did a fairly good job.

Her family was rich and powerful, with a good reputation in their field. But even that did not place her or her family in the true nobility of the Clocktower. They were getting closer though. Each generation pushed them higher and higher amongst the noble class, and thereby the true power in the Mage Association. So she strove to push the Edelfeldt to higher levels of glory.

Victory here in the Grail War would be an opportunity to do just that. Unfortunately there was very little doubt that the Grail was indeed cursed. This 'War' had to be stopped and the underlying ritual analyzed to discover what had gone wrong. Only then could the War truly be fought, only then would it be safe to activate the wish that the winner would receive.

How long could the War last without resolution? How long could the ritual maintain the power necessary to keep the Heroes present in the present day? She had never realized how prana intensive this whole endeavor was, not until she became the living anchor for a Servant.

Studying flows of power was an intrinsic element of Gem Magic. You had to have a good grasp on how to channel power to a gem, how much it could hold, how much could be extracted without damage to the magus or the gem itself. It was a precision art, and Luvia had gone very far in mastering it.

She could tell to the minutest particle of prana how much od a spell or ritual was consuming, and how much was being supported by outside means, whether from a mana battery or simple ambient mana.

Luvia was supplying a constant stream of od to maintain Ajax, but by her estimates it should be a much greater drain. Almost enough to consume her normal maximum capacity for prana. Without this support Cassandra would have been unable to manifest her Servant without significant risk of death by prana depletion. Not a pleasant way to die.

There was a knock at the door. "Luvia? Are you awake?"

Luvia tightened her robe and tied the sash, "Come in."

Cassandra walked slowly into the room. She looked haggard and in desperate need of sleep. "I have something you should see."

"Were you awake this whole time?"

Cassandra sighed, "I needed to do some refinements on some of the programs monitoring the sensors. Ajax is currently putting out a few more in some different locations. It seems the local ley lines are shifting." She yawned.

Luvia frowned. Ley lines did move from time to time, but rarely. It was usually accompanied by significant geological shifts. "Hmm, Japan is supposed to be fairly geologically active. But I didn't feel anything."

Cassandra yawned again, "There have been micro-quakes over the last week or so. Fairly constant. A small tremor to the north as well. This area is supposed to be unusually stable for Japan." She shook her head wearily, "You would be surprised at all the useful information you can get off the internet. You just have to do some digging."

Luvia shrugged. While Cassandra kept singing the praises of modern technology, Luvia still didn't see the need for her own personal knowledge regarding it. She had sent back some orders back home about hiring a staff to provide the Edelfelt with this new advantage. Apparently there was already some staff involved already, but Luvia had asked it to be improved.

Just because modern technology was plebian didn't mean it wasn't useful. There was just little need for a true magus to understand it. That was what the hired help was for.

Cassandra continued, "And then there is the weather. Fuyuki doesn't usually get that much snow. Look outside and what do you see? It isn't windy enough for a blizzard but the snow is coming down fairly heavily. The weather forecasters are stumped; their patterns didn't include this heavy of a storm. But it is here." She closed her eyes, "And it isn't natural."

"Okay…. So what do you think is going on?" Luvia got up and followed Cassandra into the living room. Which was now full of various computers. "You've been busy."

Cassandra yawned again and moved over to her desk on which sat a large monitor. She quickly began typing and a variety of graphs began to fill the screen. "I've been using my family's money and contacts to get a good system running. Although to be honest, if I hadn't read those journals of your Uncle I probably wouldn't have gone this far. I want to know what is going on here. Just being able to track the Servants isn't enough."

Luvia shrugged, "This is fascinating, but I fail to see what is so important."

"Hold on." Cassandra typed away and a map of Fuyuki appeared. There were a few greyed out areas but most of the area was a variety of shades of blue. "This is a picture of the local Mana saturation." She tapped another button and a small amount of red was added to the mix. "The red indicates the amount distortion in Gaia's World Egg."

Luvia's breath caught, "How?"

Cassandra gazed at her for a moment. "The exact how relates to some of my family's mysteries. Just know that I mixed it with some modern sensors. Back at the school you made a crack about what my whoring myself out to Waver got me. This is a good deal of it. He told me to think outside the narrow box most magi find themselves in. And I did."

Luvia just stared at the time lapse picture of Fuyuki. "What about there?" She pointed at a part of the city that flickered with purple.

"That was a Servant battle. Five of them were involved, including the mystery Servant." For a second the purple became glaringly bright, the level of mana visibly diminished. "I think that was an anti-army Noble Phantasm. You will note Berserker is gone. Worse from our stand point is that three of the surviving Servants left together, all meeting again at Emiya's estate."

Luvia said quietly, "Caster was originally Sakura Matou's Servant. If Archer killed Zouken Matou, then she likely reverted back to her."

Cassandra pursed her lips, "That means they have Rider, Saber, AND Caster. Archer and Berserker are dead, Assassin possibly as well." She shook her head, "Of the Servants Assassin is hardest to track. If Assassin is dead, well then that leaves just us against them. Do you think they would talk to us? You're a cousin right?" She looked down, "Ajax is strong, but against three other Servants…."

"We would lose." Luvia turned her head to the side in thought, "I don't know. None of them seemed to have any major wish. From the little I gatherer from being with them, Shirou just wants to keep the casualties low, Rin wants to save Sakura, which has already happened, and Sakura wanted to be free of Zouken. Again, that has already occurred."

"Hmm." Cassandra reached over to a cup of coffee on a small table near her desk, "And you said they believe the Grail is cursed too?"

"They were the ones who pointed out the Memorial Park to me and my uncle and it is…" Luvia shivered. "Something very bad happened there." She noticed something else on the replaying display. "Can you go back a little? I thought I saw something."

"Oh, that." She pressed a few buttons, moved the mouse a bit. "Right there?"

The area the battle had been in had gone a bright shade of purple for a tiny fraction of a second. How long that had been in real time Luvia wasn't sure. "Yeah. Right there. Is that buildup for the Anti-Army Noble Phantasm?"

Cassandra stared at the screen and sighed. "I wish. I even sent Ajax to replace the sensor I placed there and bring the old one back. Unfortunately it was working just fine." She turned to face Luvia, "The level of distortion was off the scale. For a brief moment Gaia was overwritten."

"That is impossible!"

Cassandra took a sip of her coffee, "Unfortunately it is very possible. I probably would agree with you normally if it didn't sound familiar. Waver's description of Iskander's Ionian Heteroi would fit almost ever particular…."

Luvia watched Cassandra as she walked over to the coffeemaker and got her own coffee. She thought back on the little she had read about the Fouth Grail War, "That was the Servant he stole from the previous El-Melloi." She paled, "Didn't he summon an army as his Noble Phantasm?"

"A Reality Marble supported by his belief in his men and their belief in him. Yes Luvia, that is what I think that was." She shook her head. "It might not be an army, but for a brief moment my sensor and those nearby it were not on Earth as we experience it." She closed her eyes, "It gets worse."

Luvia laughed bitterly, "How? Our survival depends on the mercy of others. Ajax is strong, but against a Reality Marble, an Anti-Army Noble Phantasm, and whatever craziness they might have? We are doomed!"

"Magic."

"Excuse me?"

The map shifted again, the time reset to early in the morning. "This is the Emiya estate before the Servant battle at that medical clinic in Miyama truly got started. I set several sensors to monitor Emiya since I knew Tohsaka and Emiya were close. Matou as well. And that damn hybrid. But I didn't expect this."

Luvia watched as a purple blotched suddenly faded.

"That was Archer dying, even in Spiritual form they leave enough distortion for me to detect with the amount of sensors I have set to observe Emiya."

Luvia just watched as the blue mana began to rush into one of the rooms which flared purple before dissolving into a cascade of other colors. "Your sensors must have malfunctioned. Technology can be useful, but it is unreliable."

"Luvia, I understand you don't trust my tools, but this is something I have seen before." Cassandra waved her cup around, "Did you know the Kaleidoscope was one of the original planners of this Ritual? He didn't participate, but he helped organize it. And apparently he observes each conflict. Once knowledge that the Fifth War was coming early he visited the Clocktower. I had an early version of this rig up at the time. It took me a while to correlate the two facts. I thought it was a malfunction. He visited me, did you know that? I didn't know who he was, just a senior member of the Association that wanted to examine my Command Spells." She looked away. "It was later that I found out who he was."

"Magic." Her voice was hushed, a mix of terror and excitement, "You think Zelretch is here? My family has had dealings with him."

Cassandra looked again at the screen, "Maybe. It isn't exactly the same as what happened when he would do something outlandish. But what else could it be?" She paused, "Unless…."

Luvia's eyes tightened, "Surely you can't think it was the Einzbern?"

"Does it matter? We need to contact them. We don't stand a chance against them. Not now."

Luvia drank down her coffee. She sighed and then glared at her compatriot. "I will think of something. You on the other hand are going to get some sleep."

"But…"

"I have a spell that will augment your sleep, if you trust me enough to let me cast it on you. Either way you will be worthless to me without some rest."

Cassandra started to say something and paused, "You are right. Ajax will be back in an hour or so. Wake me then." She left for the other room.

Luvia watched the screen, still repeating the oddity at the Emiya estate. Magic? She wasn't sure she believed it. Technology was unreliable after all.

It didn't really matter anyway. She would need to plead her case to her new found cousins.

Later. She would deal with it later.

Luvia followed Cassandra into her room and cast one of the more practical enchantments of her crest on her. Luvia was tempted to follow suit, but her mind would not let her. She sat there thinking, listening to the sounds of Cassandra sleeping.

-End Scene-

Interlude One-

CG Pendragon materialized in Shirou's mindscape, taking in the sudden changes. Gone was the bright sun. The world was lit by countless bright stars and a massive and luminous moon. The air smelled faintly of metal and rust. Mixed in was a sweet scent of warm honey and cherry blossoms.

The countless weapons displays were also gone. The plain was broken only by a single large hill and beyond it a massive fortress. The area was silent as she walked past the forge on the hill towards the fortress. Shirou was at peace. The gears above didn't grind, no anvils sounded.

Past the fortress an ocean still lay and across it stretched a bridge to Avalon. No longer did it resemble an elaborate fairytale bridge. Now it was a modern style steel suspension bridge. Pendragon nodded. Shirou was mastering Avalon.

Her long work was starting to bear fruit.

But that was not why she was here. She walked into the fortress admiring its endless armories. It was near the center of the fortress she found what she had been looking for.

A glowing sword made entirely of gems. The grip consisted of red and black leather.

CG Pendragon smiled. "Hello Rin. It's time for me to take you home."

End Interlude—

Medusa-

Medusa walked into Emiya's home. She had never really been here but she was very familiar with the place. Ayako had been a frequent guest, often eating breakfast here before she, Sakura and Shirou had gone to the Archery club.

Members of the Fujimura household were rapidly leaving, many making signs to ward against evil. That might be an issue. If they had seen too much, it would have to be dealt with.

Later. She had to deal with saving Ilya first. She looked around, searching for a good place to construct a healing circle. She cleared out a section of the floor when Rider arrived.

"What are you doing?"

"I need to build a Circle before I get started."

Rider paused, "A standard protective circle? One built for isolation?"

Medusa glanced at the tense woman. "Yes. Does Shirou have one?"

Rider stared at her for a moment. "Follow me."

Medusa shrugged and followed after Rider into the shed Shirou was always puttering around in. She nodded to herself. This could very well be his workshop.

She kept her eye out for traps or hostile boundary fields. Nothing. She could feel the ambiance of Shirou's odd form of magic. And in the corner was a protective circle.

Rider curtly said, "It was her mothers. From the Fourth War."

Medusa set Ilya down in the circle. She began to draw symbols in the air as she began a ritual. The casting time took close to an hour, during which Rider came and went. The Old Ways were powerful and effective, but they were also slow.

As she continued her work, directing the girl's body to rebuild her heart, Medusa had to reflect how much easier this was on a homunculus rather than a human. Almost as easy as healing an Elemental, as homunculi were also partly composed of magic. It was more artificial, less effective and efficient than what Gaia effortlessly could produce. Still it was worthy of note in terms of Thaumaturgy.

Only there were issues with this body. While considerable power had been poured into its creation it was somewhat sloppy. As if it had been deliberately created not to last.

Medusa frowned as she continued her work, analyzing the body as she went. Replacing the heart would take a day or so, during which Medusa would only have to check on it occasionally. But there were significant deficiencies in its hormone balance and its digestive tract. Upon waking the girl would be highly emotionally unstable and without significant adjustments to her digestion would slowly starve to death over the course of a month or so.

These were not the only flaws, only the most significant. Even with a major effort, Medusa doubted she could give the girl more than a year to live.

She frowned. But how could something so slap-dash have survived the eighteen years Ilya had supposedly lived? These issues would have been evident through her entire life. Many of them were intractable, requiring a near complete makeover to have any chance of survival.

Medusa sighed. The easiest thing would be to manufacture a body and transfer the soul to the new body. There were some risks of course. She would have to discuss it with the others, but it was probably the best course of action.

It would take a few days and she would have to do the work in her Temple. She wasn't sure she could do the required work outside of her own personal space.

She continued the repairs to this body. She would need to be stabilized before any transfer could occur. Plus there were the ethical constraints. While Medusa was more than willing to force the issue, she was fairly sure the rest of her companions would prefer that Ilya be consulted first.

Only that was going to be a problem. Ilya's brain was nearly empty, only the basic autonomic functions fully operational. Even aware Ilya would have the level of sentience of a new born.

"What did they do to you?"

Medusa sighed and walked away from the circle. The ritual she had started would continue on without her. She would check on it in an hour or so, but until then she had to find something to take up her time. Rider was sitting motionless in the dojo. Saber was recovering in spirit form. Shirou was sleeping, as was Sakura.

Sakura was a bit of an issue. Originally Medusa had planned on placing Shirou in his room, but Sakura was there. And entering without her express permission would be… unwise. Shirou would probably be safe, but there wasn't a way to place him in the room without triggering Sakura's defenses.

So they had placed him in one of the Western style guest rooms. Rin's room to be precise. There was a bit of symmetry in that, as if Medusa was right, Shirou currently contained the girl in his Reality Marble.

Medusa shook her head, who would have thought it in such a distant era. All of these kids were ridiculously powerful. If gods still had power in the greater world, she would have suspected their involvement, but outside of what Issei had done, she could detect none of their influence.

She wasn't sure what she was going to do about him. There were aspects she hadn't shared with him, as they would be relayed to whatever being he had made a bargain with. He was in fact, little more than a human familiar. She had already noticed a few changes in his spiritual nature. Whatever it was it could likely see through his eyes and hear through his ears.

Fixing that would take a bit of work.

So she indulged in something Ayako had always loved. Archery.

Not that Medusa was any slouch in the field herself. In truth, she was fairly sure her best class would have been Archer, followed by Rider. Assassin would have been fun. As she was, as Caster she was weaker than she could have been, relying on the skills and talents consuming her sisters had provided her.

The style Ayako used was different, the bow larger and composite rather than the simple self-bows that had been available to her during her life. Of course, she was also Ayako, so the new form wasn't truly novel.

She set up the target and fired a few shots. It really was soothing. It was nothing like hunting, whether game or monsters, but the focus it required was still relaxing.

"You're a pretty good shot for a Caster." Saber stated.

Medusa didn't look over. "Back before I went insane and became a monster, I was a minor goddess. Of protection. My sisters were too, but of a different sort. Nicer in some ways, annoying in others. They used to always tease me. Stheno protected the herds and the crops. Euryale was a healer."

Roland sounded interested when he asked, "And you?"

Medusa took another shot, "Bounded fields and physical protection. My sisters protected the people from illness and famine; I protected them from invasion by spirits and monsters. People too if it came to it. The gaze that is now famous for turning people to stone once merely induced fear."

"It caused people or enemies to become frozen like statues."

Medusa took another shot, "Yes." She turned to look at him, "Are you ready for me to heal you? In this form I possess some of Euryale's gift at healing."

Roland stared at her, his gaze a mix of horror and pity, "You consumed them too."

Medusa looked away. "Yes. I was maddened with anger and resentment. They were useless in a fight, assuming you could actually bring them to hurt someone. Put they were powerful in their own way, and I lusted after their power. And I ate them."

"You truly are a monster."

"Yes I know. But I swear I mean these kids no harm. The part of me that is Ayako would never allow it." She hugged herself, "I told you, they are my friends. I love them."

Roland was silent for a moment. "I believe you. I don't trust you fully. But you believe what you are saying." He cleared his throat. "Do you know how we can get Rin back?"

"We will need to wait for Shirou to wake up. He is the only one that has access to that world." She paused a second, "I don't really understand how he is keeping her there. He doesn't really have any affinity for living things."

"Will she be okay? I know she is alive, I can feel her. She is still providing me with mana, still anchoring me to this place."

Medusa set down the bow. It was time to check on Ilya. Her voice was dry as she replied to Roland, "While I believe that Shirou would sacrifice himself for anyone, he would do anything to protect Rin or Sakura. I believe…." She paused, running through her memories of Shirou, "He is highly protective of his friends, but Rin and Sakura…. To save them he would break his own beliefs. He would let the world burn to save them."

Roland smiled, "Well. I can understand that." He followed her into the shed.

Medusa checked on her progress. A thought struck her, a dangerous thought. This body really shouldn't have lived as long as Ilya had. Even if they had wiped her memory clean, there should have been echoes of her previous memories. Akin in its own way to what Ayako now possessed.

So she began a series of tests, hoping she was wrong. After a few minutes, after the results were tabulated and checked several times. Medusa began to swear.

Roland who had patiently watched her asked, "What is wrong?"

Medusa's voice was full of venom as she said, "We've been had. This isn't Ilya." She closed her eyes. "It's a replacement Grail Core."

"Then…."

"They have her. Those bastards have won. All we did, all we sacrificed to save her was for nothing!"

End Scene-

Interlude Two-

High Priest Ryudou smiled at the grim man before him, "So you brought her here?"

"Yes. This place is both safe and you can provide me with advice. You're a priest, surely you know more about the moonlit world. What do I do now?"

"Kuzuki, it has been years since a practitioner has lived among us. The closest true practitioner of the old arts is my son, and he is new to the field. I do have a few people I can contact that might be able to help. But for now, she is safe here."

Kuzuki bowed slightly to Ryudou, "It might be better if you have someone else watch her. My thoughts about her are not entirely pure."

Ryudou shook his head, "You were the one charged with protecting her. It is time you stopped blaming yourself for your past. It is time to move on. Perhaps this girl will be more than just someone you protect"

"She's barely older than my students!"

"But she isn't one of your students." He shook his head, "No. This is part of what you must face. And if her family attacks her again, it will be you who can protect her. A few of us have some skill in the martial arts, but not all of us. Once this was a militant monastery and temple designed to protect the area. Those days are gone. You are uniquely endowed with gifts capable of protecting her. It is your task and your duty." He looked Kuzuki in the eyes, "I am sorry."

Kuzuki nodded and stood up, "Very well. Keep me informed."

"I will pray for you both."

Kuzuki grunted gruffly and left.

Ryudou sighed and looked down. What was this world coming to? He stood and made his way to his phone. He had a few calls to make.

End Interlude-

Rin Tohsaka-

Rin stood there trembling and naked. Her face and her upper torso were flushed and she ached with urgent need.

'The damn woman could have finished what she started. And what did she mean by payback?'

It didn't help that she was in her room at the Emiya household. Or that Shirou was lying on her bed. Covered by a sheet. Quite likely only by a sheet if his bodies reaction was any clue.

"Having a pleasant dream, Shirou? I hope you're thinking of me."

There was a good chance it was Sakura. Eight years in a dream state. Eight long years together. How could she possibly compete?

"She was right. This is probably my last chance. Once Sakura wakes up…." She closed her eyes. Would it be that bad? She loved her sister, she loved Shirou, surely them being together would be acceptable. Surely she could get over it.

Only Sakura was willing to share. Rin didn't like it, she had never really been one to share something she considered hers.

Except maybe with Shirou. Hell, she had been contemplating carrying his babies just a few days ago. She wanted him. Badly.

And not just physically either, although at the moment that was pretty far up there on her list. No, he was part of her life, something she would miss if it were taken from her. Losing him wouldn't break her, but it would hurt. It would hurt like hell and it would take a long time to recover.

She gingerly walked over to Shirou and lifted the sheet. Yes, he was really naked under the sheet.

She let the sheet fall back down. This was her chance, her one chance to have him and he was sleeping. Of course he was sleeping; her life was always like this. Everything always went smoothly except for the most important things in her life. No matter how well she thought she was prepared, no matter how simple the task, it was always a struggle for her.

She took a deep breath. Calm. Poise. She was the exemplary of Tohsaka dignity.

But that didn't stop her heart from racing or her body from aching. She was so close!

She lifted the blanket again, one hand reaching and stroking his chest. She heard him sigh and saw his body react. "It must be a nice dream."

Shirou shifted slightly, muttering, "Love you. Do anything." He shifted again, "Mmm, Rin."

Rin stood there, heart pounding, lust skyrocketing. He was dreaming of her?

The next few moments were a blur as she tossed the sheet aside and straddled him. Surely he would forgive her. She just wanted him so badly….

It took all of her strength to stop herself. When she heard a cry from the next room, from Ayako, she nearly started her assault of Shirou's body again. But she was a Tohsaka. She was in control. Poise. Dignity.

Although it was hard to maintain her poise, and she certainly didn't feel dignified being skin to skin with Shirou. She ground herself along his body.

What would it take to wake this man? Because at that moment when she knew she could take him, knew that he would forgive her. That he would do anything for her, it wasn't enough. She didn't want to take him; she wanted him to give himself to her. Just as she was more than willing to give herself to him.

So she hit him. First gently, and then with a little more force. "Shirou. Get up! Wakey wakey, it's sex time and Rin is waiting!"

Shirou's eyes blinked and he fuzzily stared into her eyes. "Rin?"

She pulled herself up, allowing him to have a good look at her. Her smile was half smirk, half leer. "Hi, Shirou. I have been remiss in my training of you, what with the Grail War and all."

He pulled her to him and held her, "Oh, Rin. I was so worried, so frightened that you would get hurt. It would kill me."

"Mmm. You feel nice."

"Rin. Why are you naked?" He lifted her up and then awkwardly looked away.

"I told you. This is part of your training. It is never too early to learn tantric magic!"

"Rin…. Seriously, what are you doing."

"No, I am serious Shirou. And I have to tell you, the timing on this is tricky. Not to mention it requires enough focus to remain able to actuate the spell while significantly distracted. But I think with a good deal of practice, we should be able to accomplish it."

"But Rin…. You are talking about sex here. About making babies about…." He waved his hands in the air helplessly.

Rin glared at him, "What? You think I don't understand the ramifications of what I am doing? You think I would do this on a whim? That I am some silly bitch willing to toss herself on any willing male?"

Shirou recoiled, "I, I just don't want to hurt you."

Rin shook her head, "God, Shirou, you are such an idiot." She pinned his arms back, her body barely brushing his, her enlarged nipples scratching gently across his chest. "Do you think I am some helpless glass figurine that you have to protect? Hell Shirou, I am tougher than you are. And any day you want me to prove it I am more than willing to show you."

"If we do this, everything will change Rin. I don't want to lose you. I don't want anything to come between us." He closed his eyes, "I just want to make you happy."

Rin's voice was soft, "You want to make me happy? Then make love to me."

Shirou's voice was soft. "Okay."

Again she felt her anger rise. What did it take to get through to this man? She was about to start hitting him again, when his eyes opened.

And when they opened it was like a switch had been flipped. He smiled and kissed her. She moved her arms to pull him closer.

He then rolled her over until he was on top. He pulled away and looked possessively down at her, "You are MINE Rin Tohsaka."

Rin just giggled at his expression. This was more like it.

They made love.

And no, Rin didn't even bother to maintain enough poise to work a tantric ritual. The way she figured it was that it was their first time. Both of them were awkward, and well, she planned on getting plenty of practice. The time for tricky stuff would be in the future.

She knew this, because Shirou was hers.

End Part-

A/N-

Well this part came together pretty quickly. A short little transition piece. Let me know what you think.