Disclaimer: I don't own Fate/Stay Night.
A Reversal of Fortunes
Chapter 1
Sakura set her teacup down on its saucer, before sitting back in her armchair with her arms crossed over her chest. She and Luvia were sitting in a private room in the Clock Tower, lightly furnished but what furniture there was were of good make: the chairs were upholstered with Spanish leather, the wooden table richly carved, and the simple but elegantly-wallpapered walls decorated with Neo-Classical paintings dating back to the early 19th Century.
Golden afternoon light streamed through the large windows, looking out over the cityscape of London in autumn outside. Luvia took a sip of her tea, and then slowly setting it down on its saucer tapped the saucer a few times. She then looked at Sakura.
"Are you worried about something?" Luvia asked.
Sakura glanced at Luvia and raised an eyebrow. "Aren't you?" she asked, and Luvia laughed softly.
"In other words," she said. "Aren't I worried that I'm going after the Magus Killer's son?"
"You aren't?"
"I've looked into the matter before signing the contract." Luvia said with a shrug and sitting back as well. "The boy is only about my age. And we know Kiritsugu Emiya died about five, six years ago. That means the boy would have ten or eleven at the time."
"So you don't think Kiritsugu Emiya finished grooming him – assuming this Shirou Emiya was meant to succeed his father not just as the Emiya magus but also as the Magus Killer – as his successor?"
"Unless the boy is a genius then no." Luvia said. "And if he was, then wouldn't we have heard of him by now?"
Sakura uncrossed her arms, and nodded after a moment's thought. "True," she admitted. "If he did succeed his father as the Magus Killer, then we'd have heard of him by now. Or at least, your family would have."
Luvia nodded. "That's my reasoning as well." She said. "With that said, I'm not saying the boy's completely helpless. He'd probably have inherited his father's crest, and was probably taught at least general basics and the foundations of his family's magecraft. He probably inherited the Emiya assets as well. And also,"
Luvia paused, her face dropping slightly in concern. "He's in your city, isn't he?" she asked.
Sakura didn't reply at once. "Two possibilities," she eventually said. "First, it's probably what you suspect. The boy has been able to mask his presence from my substitute as Supervisor, which is worrying in itself, given Zouken Matou is old enough to be my grandfather, and was considered a superior magus even by my father."
"And the second?"
Sakura glanced at Luvia with a neutral expression. "Zouken knows," she said. "But he hasn't reported the matter for one reason or another. Of course, it could be that the matter is well in hand, and there'd be no need to disrupt my life here in London over it if that was the case. He could just inform me when I return to Fuyuki. But,"
"But?" Luvia pressed.
Sakura sighed. "In the worst case you'd be facing not just Emiya and his Servant, but also Matou and their Servant." She said.
"My, my," Luvia said with playful mockery. "Have you such little faith in my talents, cousin?"
"This is no laughing matter!" Sakura snapped with surprising urgency. She blinked and then looked away. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have lashed out like that. But I…I don't want to lose you."
Luvia's eyes widened. "Sakura," she said.
"The Matou family is approximately five hundred years old." Sakura said. "One of their clan heads from about two hundred years ago was an apprentice of the Lord Second. There's a reason the name 'Zouken' crops up in their family so often, given he was the best and brightest among them, enough to draw the attention and cultivating hand of the Second Magician. He might be dead now, but his mysteries have been passed down his descendants, to their current head who shares his name, and his heiress Rin Matou."
Sakura looked back at Luvia with a serious expression on her face. "That one is dangerous." She said. "Even as a child, my father spoke highly of her. She was considered a genius, with a flair for magecraft and scholarship alike, and worse she's an Average One. We underestimate her and her family at our own peril."
"Add to that Emiya," Luvia said with a sigh, looking away in her turn. She then looked back at Sakura. "Yes, I see your point."
"You're my only family left." Sakura said with a sigh. "Or at least, my closest cousin, as good as a sister to me. I don't have any siblings. My parents and grandparents are dead. And the former were both single children so I don't have any first cousins."
Luvia was silent for a few moments, and then with a reassuring smile took Sakura's hand. "Don't worry," she said, squeezing it comfortingly. "I don't plan to die any time soon. And if Emiya and Matou fight together, then who's to say we can't do the same?"
Sakura looked at Luvia questioningly, and raising her other hand the blonde clenched it into a fist. "And if we fight together," she began with a wolfish grin. "What is there to fear? How can we possibly lose? When you and I fight together, then victory is already assured!"
"Our grandmothers fought together, but lost regardless." Sakura wanted to say, but instead after a moment she smiled, and raising her free hand placed it tightly over Luvia's raised fist.
"Yes, it's exactly as you say."
"A little bird told me something interesting earlier."
Reines Archisorte El-Melloi glanced from the corner of her eyes at the origin of the voice, a tall man with long dark hair wearing businesslike clothes under a long dark cloak. "Birds do not speak." She replied.
"You know what I mean."
"So I do."
"Would you like to know what they've been telling me?"
"Do enlighten me."
Lord Waver El-Melloi II did not reply at once. Instead he walked across the sitting room to look out the windows for several moments, while Reines enjoyed a cup of tea for herself. "They claim that you've placed a contract on a certain Japanese boy." He said coolly. "Five hundred thousand pounds sterling for his death, and one million pounds sterling for his surrender to the El-Melloi."
Waver glanced over his shoulder. "Any interested in the contract are free to use any method they wish," he continued. "But in case of the boy's death, proof is required that it truly is him."
Reines elegantly turned her head, as though challenging her brother. "And your point is?" she asked.
"The boy's name is Shirou Emiya." Waver said. "And he's the Magus Killer's son."
"Did you know he had children, my dear brother?"
Waver didn't answer at once, but when Reines refused to look away he turned to face her fully. "I knew he had a daughter." He said. "The daughter of that Einzbern magus who accompanied him in the previous Holy Grail War. However, that girl is beyond El-Melloi's reach, protected as she is by her mother's name and family: von Einzbern."
"And his son?"
"I was not aware Kiritsugu Emiya had a son." Waver said, and then his eyes narrowed. "Until I caught wind of that contract I mentioned, and that the Edelfelt had taken it up, and even assigned their prized heiress to fulfill it."
Reines finally looked away, but only briefly to place her teacup back on its saucer. "And what is the problem with that?" she asked.
There was a slamming sound as Waver quickly closed the distance and slammed both his hands on the table. "Reines!" he said. "He's just a boy! He can't possibly…!"
"He can't be held accountable for his father's actions, is that what you want to say?" Reines interrupted. "I suppose that is a valid line of argument, but someone has to take responsibility for the destruction of my brother's crest. Seeing as the von Einzbern are beyond our reach, the boy is the only one who can atone for his father's crimes."
Waver grit his teeth, while Reines' lips twitched with amusement. "I'm not completely without mercy however." She said. "I did provide room for the atonement, with the boy being brought in chains before us. There is precedent after all, for criminals to atone for their crimes with lifelong service. After all, is that not your role, brother?"
You'll be serving me for the rest of your life.
"And if he cannot be brought here in chains?" Waver all but spat at his sister.
"If he should prove as troublesome as his father probably was at his age," Reines said with a shrug. "Then he will die. Either way, Emiya's debt will be repaid, be it with their life or their service."
Waver scoffed, but said nothing, instead opting to turn and walk back towards the windows to look outside. "In any case," Reines said. "Luviagelita Edelfelt is a professional, perfectly in line with the traditions and expectations of her family. Whether he is to die or to come here in chains, he will do so painlessly or at least without undue suffering."
"Is that supposed to make me feel better?" Waver snapped. "Death is nothing to celebrate about. And if he comes here, then he…"
Waver trailed off, but Reines laughed softly at the unsaid thought. "Do you truly consider yourself a slave, Lord El-Melloi II?" she asked with audible mockery. "I did not think you would be so greedy, that you would be unsatisfied with what you already have."
Waver glanced at her with an unreadable expression on her face. "I'm a magus." He said with veiled derision, and Reines laughed with mocking amusement.
"Indeed you are," she agreed. "And it is in our nature to always seek more than we already have. It's an insatiable thirst, at least within the World. Beyond it however,"
"As interesting as this line of thought is," Waver interrupted. "We're straying from the topic."
"Indeed we are." Reines agreed. "But it is pointless, seeing as the contract has already been signed, and Miss Edelfelt cannot back out. Furthermore, the day after she agreed to the contract, she received command spells with which to participate in the coming Fifth Holy Grail War."
"WHAT?" Waver shouted as he whirled in shock.
"There's no need to shout." Reines said. "I was merely stating a fact. I think that given her commitment to fulfill her given task, the Grail judged her worthy of a chance to compete, and bestowed command spells that, should she choose, will allow her to take said chance."
Waver grit his teeth and clenched his fist, memories of the previous war coming to mind. The Golden King; the Black Berserker; Caster and his Master's rampant abductions, killings, and the true horror thereof; the summoning of a True Demon; the death of his king; and finally the firestorm that in the end reduced half a city to ash.
And now a child marches into yet another hell like the one ten years ago.
"…provided her a catalyst," Reines was saying, the words piercing Waver's memories. "Though it is entirely up to her whether or not she uses it. The Edelfelt are not without resources of their own after all, and they may wish to use a catalyst of their own choosing."
"Catalyst?" Waver echoed. "Of which Servant?"
"The same one my brother used ten years ago." Reines said with a mildly-annoyed air. "Weren't you listening?"
"Lancer," Waver said. "Diarmuid of the Love Spot."
And then his eyes widened. "Have you gone insane?" he snarled. "You want a young woman to summon Diarmuid of the Love Spot?"
"Yes, he does have something of a reputation with the fairer sex, doesn't he?" Reines said. "But as I said, it is entirely up to Miss Edelfelt if she wishes to use the provided catalyst. And even if she does, I have faith in her professionalism. To my knowledge, his 'love spot' may be resisted by those with magical resistance, and considering her eminent bloodline, I doubt Miss Edelfelt will have any difficulty over the complication."
Waver briefly looked away. "Even if that's the case," he said. "Don't you feel any regret sending a girl of your age onto the battlefield? And one as dangerous as a Holy Grail War?"
Reines scoffed and waved a hand dismissively. "Meaningless questions," she said. "She is an Edelfelt. She has been training and preparing for war and death since she was a child. That is her family's legacy, worthy if a bit uncivilized, but who am I to question her family's traditions when it has served them well for so long? And in the latter case,"
Reines paused and glanced at Waver with a questioning expression. "Did you not yourself enter the battlefield barely a man, ten years ago?" she asked.
"Luviagelita Edelfelt is seventeen." Waver answered through grit teeth. "I was…"
"By the standards of our society she is an adult." Reines interrupted dismissively. "And in any case neither I nor her family forced her to accept the contract. She chose to do so of her own free will."
Again, Reines paused to glance at Waver. "And so did you, did you not?" she asked.
Waver scoffed, but said nothing before turning back to the windows. "If that girl dies out there," he said, every word dripping with anger. "Her blood is on your hands."
"So it might be." Reines said, picking up her teacup again. "But, all involved knew and accepted that, when the agreement was made."
Sakura's private research space within the Clock Tower's Department of General Fundamentals was a large rectangular room with a smaller room to the right of the entrance, and another room on the side opposite the entrance. A large and wide desk of reinforced wood sat perpendicular across the room a few steps from the entrance, a protective screen of sapphire glass with a metal frame bolted vertically onto it facing the rest of the laboratory.
A well-padded chair sat behind the desk, which was strictly-utilitarian, boasting no ostentation or decoration beyond those strictly necessary: brass panels with a wide variety of controls, and a wafer-thin screen of polished quartz that served the same function as 'monitors' did for mundane computers. For the uninitiated (or the uninformed), it would be a shocking sight. Magi abhorred modern technology after all, and the setup was all too similar to modern computers. Or not so modern: in terms of appearance, Zoa Logic Engines resembled Zuse supercomputers from the 40s.
Sakura's Cygnus III-pattern while expensive, however, was an example of a smaller and less capable Zoa Logic Engine. With that said, it was still comparable to the better supercomputers the modern world could offer.
Not that logic engines were too common a sight: logic engines were expensive to say the least, and while based on designs from the Ancient World, their resemblance to modern computers made most magi shun them on principle. The minority of magi who made use of them were dedicated researchers requiring support in collecting and analyzing vast amounts of data in very short amounts of time, and alchemists to bolster their already-augmented brains.
Sakura quietly typed away on her control panel, looking up every now and then at the magic circle located in the middle of the lab, the circle, lines, and symbols carved into the ground but the grooves filled in with polished quartz. Slender pipes of quartz had been driven into the ground on certain points along and within the circle, while delicate instrumentation fashioned from precisely-cut jewels, thin sheets and wires of gold, and sturdy frames of steel surrounded the circle, linked to Sakura's desk by dark-colored cables.
Other cables sprouted from the desk, running along the floor to the walls, and into large, wooden cabinets with glass doors. Through the glass could be seen even more quartz, resting on wooden receptacles linked to each other with gold wire and foil. The quartz crystals all glowed in varying degrees, flickering in regular patterns at the data they were receiving and analyzing.
More cables ran from the far end of the cabinets, again running along the walls to enter a room on the far side of the laboratory. The slatted door was closed, but the soft hum of a prana generator could be heard providing power for the logic engine.
Sakura picked up a clipboard and pen as she finished inputting her experimental parameters. She checked the manually-calculated parameters one more time, and then began checking items off her checklist as she began the final pre-experiment preparations.
"Energizer Module: Go." She said softly. "Stabilizer Module: Go. Session Dynamics Module: Go."
As the preparations proceeded, she pressed buttons on the control panel, lights shifting on the screen and from the logic engine's components "Guidance Module: Go. Safety Module: Go. Space-time Module: Go. Instrumentation Module: Go. Telemetry Module: Go. Control Module: Go. Procedure Module: Go. Secondary Module: Go. Active Adaptation Module: Go. Network Module: Go. Backup Module: Go. Logic Module: Go."
Checking the last item off her checklist, Sakura reached out and flipped open a polymer cover over a red button. "Commence experiment." She said, and pressed the button.
Abruptly, the air inside the laboratory turned hot, heavy, and oppressive, difficult to breath and move in, as though nearly liquid in consistency as it was saturated with prana. The quartz piping glowed bright for one second before going out, the quartz filling the circle below flashing with the colors of the rainbow that spiraled inwards to the central point in another second.
And then the atmosphere returned to normal, though the logic engine's crystal matrices along the walls rapidly flashed with light as they took in the vast amounts of data the space-time experiment had acquired. "Space-time experiment complete." Sakura said with a smile, closing the polymer cover. She pressed another button, the screen filling with a seemingly-endless stream of numbers that scrolled by almost too fast for the Human eye to follow.
There was a knock at the door, and Sakura looked up in its direction. "May I ask who that might be?" she asked politely.
"Service staff," the reply came. "There is package for you here, Miss Tohsaka."
Sakura flipped a switch before approaching the door, bounded fields disarming and arming at her thoughts. She opened the door, the staff member on the other side bowing respectfully before holding out a carefully-wrapped and sealed package, and a clipboard and pen. Sakura briefly glanced at the package, and then took the clipboard to sign it.
"That was rather fast of them." She said softly. "I didn't expect it to come for at least another month."
"Compliments of the retrieval office, my lady." The man said as he took back the clipboard and pen.
"I see." Sakura said, holding up the package. "Very well, thank you for your work."
The man smiled and bowed, before walking off. Sakura stared after him for a bit, then closed and locked the door. Inside, she held the package in one hand for a few moments, and then walked into the room to the side.
It was sparsely furnished, with a table and a couple of hard chairs. Like all rooms in the Clock Tower it was lit by gas lighting and linked to centralized heating, though there wasn't much in the room except several sealed crates stacked against the wall: spare parts for Sakura's Zoa. There was a table nearby, with a gas stove, as well as supplies and equipment for making coffee and tea, though there was no sink for washing up: one had to go down a couple of corridors to the pantry if one wanted to do so.
Sakura set down the package on the table, and pulled out a small, pinkish diamond on a silver chain. Suspending it from a hand held palm down, she opened a few of her circuits and gently pumped prana into the gem.
"Ich furchte nichts boses." She whispered, the gem flashing as it swung in wide circles over the package. It flashed increasingly-rapidly, the diamond swinging wider and wider as it inspected the package for any sign of ill intent. After a minute or so, the flashing began to die down, the swinging slowing down and growing increasingly-regular. After another minute the flashing stopped, the gem inert as it swung in a perfect circle.
Sakura smiled in satisfaction, and put the pendulum away. And as she opened the package, her smile grew even wider.
Thank you, retrieval office.
A/N
It's never mentioned what degree the Tohsaka sisters are related to Luvia in canon (they just are), but I'm putting them as second cousins here. It can be inferred that Rin and Sakura's grandmother was one of the Edelfelt sisters, the one who was explicitly stated to have stayed in Japan after the third war and was implied to have married into the Tohsaka (and gave them her crest) sixty years before Fate/Zero, and it is explicitly stated that one of Tokiomi's parents was a foreigner.
Now, before you start bashing Sakura for saying she doesn't have a sister to Luvia, well, keep in mind that Rin has said harsher things in canon (the bit in Heaven's Feel that leads to the Bad End wherein Rin's screaming 'I'm sorry' over and over again comes to mind), not to mention Rin's deliberate decision to turn a blind eye to any and all indications that Sakura is getting treated poorly. Compared to that, what Sakura says here is pretty mild, and while it can be argued that she's doing the same as Rin did, well Sakura's been in the Clock Tower for some time. It's not like she could notice anything all the way from the other side of the world..
