Disclaimer: I don't own Fate/Stay Night.
A Reversal of Fortunes
Chapter 3
"Let silver and steel be the essence. Let stone and the Archduke of Contracts be the foundation. Let rise a wall that shall stand against the wind that shall fall. Let the four cardinal gates close. Let the three-forked road from the crown reaching unto the Kingdom rotate."
Rin stood before her summoning circle, the circle glowing dully as she chanted the aria. The catalyst sat in its case in the middle of the circle, attuning the ritual towards summoning a specific Heroic Spirit as a Servant.
Behind her, standing at a safe distance, Zouken Matou watched carefully for any sign of deviation in the summoning ritual. The light played in a sinister fashion over his seemingly-opaque black eyes, and was reflected from countless, multifaceted eyes that watched from all around the Matou basement.
Well, as he had told Kariya ten years ago, the Tohsaka material certainly wasn't defective, even if it wasn't the particular material he – Zouken – had wanted. He'd originally wanted the younger of Tokiomi's daughters, as while Rin could perform two out of three roles he'd in mind for her sister, the third was simply impossible for her.
But Tokiomi had proven more…perceptive, than expected. Certainly, he'd never realized that Zouken never intended for any adopted child to be his heiress, as he never actually needed one.
All he needed was a suitable future receptacle for his soul, and a fertile womb and potent magical potential to breed future generations of Matou magi with, what with Byakuya and his son worthless, and Kariya wasted by his own impudence. Even the younger Tohsaka girl's Imaginary Numbers which could have been opportunity to create a Lesser Holy Grail of his own and under his control was just a bonus.
He was going to be immortal after all, one way or another.
Had Tokiomi realized that, he'd never have even considered giving away one of his children. He might even have sealed Zouken, and run him off or killed him with the assistance of his friends in the Church. Most likely the latter, given what Zouken knew and could let slip.
But he had not, and had fully bought Zouken's story of needing an heir with Byakuya's son Shinji not possessing any magical potential of his own, and Kariya having abandoned the family. And Tokiomi had two extremely-gifted children, and as per magus tradition only one could be taught magic.
But with their gifts, Tokiomi didn't want to see either of them waste their talents, or risk either be reduced to an experimental subject should other magi catch wind of their talents and they were unable to protect themselves. Zouken's situation and offer to adopt the younger girl as his heiress had appeared a godsend to him.
Only, Tokiomi had offered the elder, and kept the younger, much to Zouken's shock and surprise.
And Zouken couldn't really say no, as when all was said and done, the girls' potentials were equal.
"Let it be declared now: your flesh shall serve under me, and my fate shall be with your sword. Submit to the beckoning of the Holy Grail. Answer, if you would submit to this will and truth. An oath shall be sworn here: I shall attain all virtues of all of Heaven, and I shall have dominion over all evils of all of Hell. From the Seventh Heaven, attended to by three great words of power, come forth from the ring of restraint, Protector of the Holy Balance!"
It had been inconceivable that Tokiomi would abandon his heiress, the one who'd already started on her training and had proven her talent, and send her away in favor of the unmeasured younger. For someone so obsessed with tradition like Tokiomi…it was completely incomprehensible, at least until years later, when Zouken finally found out why Tokiomi had thrown away his elder daughter in favor of the younger.
The Five Elements made up the World.
But the Imaginary Numbers dealt with what lay beyond the material plane.
And the Root existed beyond the material plane.
Zouken didn't know that at the time though, but even if he had, he'd probably still have been frustrated at Tokiomi's unwitting derailment of his plans. Though, Zouken only had had one night to use vent frustration while stepping up the initial training. The girl had screamed and cried for her parents before the worms had drowned out any and all sounds she could make, and came out of the pit the following morning unconscious, limp and exhausted, her naked body covered with the worms' excretions.
But it wasn't that first night which had broken her. Oh no, there were two things which broke her. The first was after waking on the day after that first night, when Byakuya had caught her trying to escape. He'd dragged her back up to her room, but the girl had fought back, and nearly succeeded in pushing him down the stairs.
Nearly…there was no way after all, a six-year old girl could overpower a full-grown man, no matter how hungover he might have been. And with his senses and reason clouded by alcohol, Byakuya had seen fit to put the girl in her place in the basest way possible.
That night, a bruised and near-catatonic girl had silently taken off her clothes, laid down, and allowed the worms to have their way.
While it was right attitude, that it had taken so quickly to develop had been disappointing in its own way.
As for the second breaking point, well, that was actually harder to pin down, even for him who'd spent generations breaking and bending his own to his will.
There might not even be a second breaking point at all, or at least a single event in her life serving that purpose. Instead, the breaking might have been stretched out over a period of time and several events.
"Servant Rider," the redheaded Servant in Greek clothes and armor said while casting a cautious look around him, his expression of veiled alarm and disgust. "Here I stand by your summons. Are you my Master?"
"I am." Rin answered. "You are Perseus, are you not?"
"I am." Rider replied. "Son of Zeus, slayer of the Gorgon Medusa, and savior of Andromeda. And you are?"
"Rin Matou," Rin began, before breaking off abruptly. She closed her eyes as Rider looked on curiously, and after taking a deep breath opened them again. "You can call me Rin if you want, but just 'Master' is fine too."
"Very well," Rider said with a bow. "I am your Servant, Rin. Until we obtain the Holy Grail and it grants us our wishes, then we shall fight together in this Holy Grail War."
Rin nodded before walking over to Zouken. Zouken tilted his head at her. "How do you feel?" he asked.
He didn't really need to ask though. He could see from the slight shaking of her hands, and the air she was giving off. It wasn't unexpected, the summoning ritual took a lot of prana to perform, and while she had plenty of it she also had plenty to feed.
The Crest Worms were fairly high-maintenance after all.
"I can manage." She said before taking another deep breath and turning to Rider. "Rider, go outside and keep an eye out just in case. The war hasn't properly begun, but we should be cautious."
"Alright," Rider said with a glance of veiled suspicion at Zouken. "But, what of you Rin?"
"I have other things to attend to, now go."
Rider nodded, and then vanished into astral form, Zouken's bounded fields sensing the Servant's presence leave the basement soon after. He stayed silent though, at least until Rin had opened the door leading out of basement. "Give my regards to your brother." He said with an amused tone.
Rin paused, and briefly looking back into the basement nodded, and left closing the door behind her. Alone in the darkness, Zouken smiled.
Yes, the Tohsaka material was certainly by no means defective, even if he had had to adjust his plans accordingly given the material he had ultimately obtained.
All that mattered was that he got what he wanted in the end.
"…gas leak has occurred at…"
"Another gas leak?" Ayako said while eating breakfast with Taiga and Shirou. "There sure have been a lot of those lately. We should probably have the house's connection checked."
Shirou glanced at Taiga, who glanced back. "What are you looking at me for?" she asked.
Shirou raised an eyebrow. "You're the one who handles the money, Fuji-nee." He said, and Taiga deflated.
"Right, right," she said, pouring some soy sauce onto a saucer. "It probably won't be too expensive, but given how the city's gas lines seem to have defects acting up lately, even if it was it's probably for the best to check. I wouldn't want something like what's on TV or worse happen to any of us."
"That's the idea." Ayako agreed. "I should probably talk to my parents about it too."
"I should probably do so too with my grandfather." Taiga said with a nod.
They ate in silence for some time after that, though Ayako brought up a brighter topic after a while. "Come to think of it," she began. "School's going to end in a couple of months. I've already filed applications for several universities, but how about you, Shirou?"
"Yes, that is a good point." Taiga agreed. "Haven't you thought about what you're going to do after graduation, Shirou?"
Shirou looked rather taken aback, being questioned on the topic. He didn't answer at once, instead stroking his chin in thought for a few moments before giving an answer. "To be honest," he said. "I haven't really thought about it."
"What?" Ayako asked. "That's no good Shirou, we've only a couple of months or so left until graduation. You need to start thinking on what happens after."
"It's not that I haven't thought about it," Shirou began. "It's more that I don't really have any clear idea what I want to do after graduation. I mean, going to college isn't really a bad idea, and I get the feeling I could afford it, it's just that, I guess…um, I don't really have any specific college course calling to me, if you get what I mean."
"Yeah, I think I do." Ayako said slowly, though it was unclear if she really meant what she said.
Shirou shrugged though. "Well," he said. "I could always just become a salaryman."
"You're fine with just being that?" Taiga said in an almost accusing fashion, leaning forward and causing Shirou to lean back.
He quickly rallied though, and leaning forward came close to Taiga. "There's nothing wrong with being an ordinary person just doing his best in life." He said. "If that's what makes them happy, where's the problem?"
"Don't you have any higher ambition for life?"
Shirou scratched his head at that. "I'm not really sure what's that supposed to mean," he began slowly. "But I do have some ambition. It's just that…"
"That Hero of Justice stuff again?"
Shirou scowled at that. "What's wrong with it?" he demanded, and Taiga sighed.
"Really," she said, crossing her arms. "It was nice when you were a kid, but saying you still want to save everyone when you've already grown up is rather worrying for me, you know? Dreams are nice and all, but the reality we live in is very different. If you're going to succeed in life, you're going to need to face facts. I only want the best for you so…"
"Anyway," Ayako crisply interrupted while keeping an eye on the darkening scowl on Shirou's face. "We still have a couple of months, so Shirou here can still think on his options for the future."
"But, Ayako-chan…"
Ayako turned towards to Shirou, and leaned forward on her crossed arms. "Hey Shirou, just think on it in detail, alright?" she said, before winking. "Please? I'm asking as a friend here, and I'm sure you won't let me down. You never have before, and I don't think you'll start anytime soon."
"You play dirty." Shirou accused before brightening up and grinning. "But alright, I'll think about it in detail, if only because you're asking."
"That's great!"
The morning had passed rather uneventfully, though towards the end, Rin began to feel…heated, once again. It wasn't as bad as last night, but by the time the lunch bell had rung she had found herself looking hungrily over to some of her more attractive classmates, be they male or female.
This would not do at all.
Clenching and unclenching her fist repeatedly, Rin leaned against the railing after finishing her meal. She might have to visit her brother's room tonight again, though she'd hoped that last night's couplings had replenished her reserves sufficiently.
No, she'd replenished them, but between the Crest Worms and her Servant, the draw was more than she was used to.
But while she should be able to hold out until tonight, when she had some time to herself and her brother, she also had to find some way to quickly fill up her Servant's reserves to at least mitigate the draw on her reserves. At this rate, she'd be operating under a major handicap against enemy Masters, a handicap that could prove disastrous.
I will never be a victim again.
The memory of an innocent child with bright blue eyes and short-cut, dark hair smiling and laughing as she played in a park with a smiling dark-haired woman caused Rin to grit her teeth.
Never her…I will never…
If only, she'd never been born.
Rin closed her eyes, and opened them with her decision made. There was a way to quickly fill up her Servant's reserves, though rather dangerous. If they were caught by the Overseer, it was grounds for disqualification. And if they were caught by an enemy Master and Servant, they could hold it over Rin's head.
Well, that was just the thing, wasn't it? Don't get caught.
And she certainly would not.
"Rider," she said, and the Servant appeared next to her.
"What is it?" he asked.
Rin glanced at him, looking into her Servant's golden eyes. He stared back at her, unflinching and determined, as though willing to ride into hell at her command. He probably would too, seeing as he was considered the greatest of Greek heroes prior to the coming of Heracles.
And yet, in the face of such an unbreakable spirit, Rin inwardly felt anger and humiliation, as though it mocked her existence. She felt the urge to strike him, but restrained herself: neither striking him nor the subsequent breach in their relationship would be wise. It might even prove counterproductive to her goals in the war, and prove disastrous even.
"How far are you willing to go to win?" she asked instead.
Rider didn't reply at once. He stared at her for several moments, as though daring her to look away. She did not, and with a sigh he closed his eyes and lowered his head for a few moments.
Then he looked up, and opening them looked at her with eyes briefly flickering with sadness and something that vanished too quickly for her to identify, to be replaced with resolve. "As far as it takes." He said.
Rin stared into his eyes for several more moments, daring him in her turn to look away. He did not, and she nodded slowly.
"I'll hold you to those words, Rider."
"Do you mind if I take some of these?"
"What? Oh no, go ahead."
"My thanks."
Shirou smiled as he watched Issei eat the meatball before glancing at his friend's lunchbox. "I might have said this before," he began. "And I just forgot, but you always seem to have such Spartan meals. Does your father being a monk mean meat is off-limits?"
"We're not that old-fashioned." Issei said. "With that said, my father has his tastes, and it reflects on our lifestyle."
"I see."
The two boys ate in silence after that, with Issei waiting until they were finished eating before adopting a serious expression. "Shirou," he began, and causing the other boy to look up. Shirou blinked at the serious expression on Issei's face, and slightly lowered his own.
"What is it?" he asked.
"No, it's probably nothing," Issei began. "But on the off-chance there's something to it, you need to know."
Shirou smiled weakly. "Then stop beating around the bush and get to the point." He said with false haste, though his smile faded as Issei's serious expression stayed. "What's this all about?"
"It's Rin Matou." Issei said softly. "Earlier when I arrived at school, she walked by while I was taking my shoes off. It was at that moment, I…"
Issei trailed off, but Shirou was having none of it. "Did you feel something?" he asked.
"I did." Issei admitted with a nod. "How do I put this, yes, it was like there was an apparition hanging around her, and not a very reassuring one at that. It was like…like someone had walked over my grave."
"Issei…"
Issei sighed and shook his head. "To be honest," he said. "I'm not really sure if I really felt anything. It could just have been a draft after all, or my distrust for her getting to me, maybe even a combination of both or something else entirely. But,"
Issei blinked and stared seriously at Shirou in the eyes. "In the small chance there's something to it," he said. "I had to warn you. You don't have to believe me if you don't want to, but just in case…"
Issei trailed off, but Shirou was slowly nodding. "I get it." He said. "I'll be careful just in case. I know she doesn't like me."
"Who doesn't?" Issei said. "Usually you or Ayako are the ones who stand up against her bullyboys, and we all know they tend to tattle on everything to her."
"Ayako…" Shirou murmured, and then blinking stared hard at Issei. "Have you warned her too?"
"No I haven't had the chance." Issei said. "I might be able to warn her later, but just in case, pass it on when you have the chance."
Shirou nodded. "I got it." He said. "It might be nothing as you said, but if there's something to it, then it's better to be warned rather than be surprised."
"That it does."
Night fell quickly over Fuyuki, winter being what it was, even if it was already starting to wind down towards spring. In the heart of Fuyuki, crowds bustled to and fro, the lights of cars, advertisements, streetlamps and buildings blending together into an obnoxious glow that bled upward into the cloudy sky. The sound of countless voices chitchatting, of vehicles and machines, and many more likewise blended into each other to form a background ambiance to the life of a city at night.
In the suburbs though, things were much more quiet. Once people had gone home or for those on the nightshift to their workplaces, the streets were generally empty, people keeping to themselves in their homes.
What light came from the houses were usually shrouded by curtains in winter, leaving the frosted glass of the streetlamps and the Moon above to provide light. The distant echoes of the city proper were rarely if ever discernible, and outside of the occasional barking of a dog there was no sound to be heard.
It was winter after all. No insect ventured out at this season, and there was no wind tonight, and even if there was, the lack of leaves on the surrounding trees meant that the rustling made by wind passing by would be more subdued than it normally would be.
Four people stared at each other down the street.
"Nice evening, isn't it Luvia?" Sakura asked.
"I suppose." Luvia answered. "I thought we agreed we wouldn't fight each other until the very end of this war, when no one could butt-in on our fight?"
"Yeah, about that," Sakura said apologetically, taking off her ushanka and scratching her head. "While Archer here approves of our plan to settle things as equals, he also wants to make sure that your Servant is a worthy opponent that he can look forward to fighting again at the end of this war. Sorry."
Before Luvia could reply, the man next to her stepped forward. He was rugged-looking but handsome in his own way, with roughly-combed blue hair and wearing rugged plate and furs that matched his own appearance. In one hand he lightly carried a spear of red. "So the Archer wants to see what I can do, eh?" Lancer said. "Fine by me, bring it on!"
"Hey, Lancer!"
Luvia's protest was cut off by a bark of laughter, and Archer stepped forward. He was a tall man, handsome in a noble countenance in contrast to Lancer's own rugged appearance, with spiky blonde hair swept back save for a stubborn lock that dangled down over his face. Unusually, his eyes were red, and despite the weather his chest was bare save for a mantle of gold cloth embroidered in blue that was draped over his shoulders and held in place by a gold chain around his neck.
Though, even if he wasn't a Servant and thus truly unaffected by the weather, it was likely just from his reputation alone that in life even this weather wouldn't faze him.
He wore a half-skirt around his waist, open to the front, red with gold embroidery indicative of Ancient Sumer. Heavy bronze plate inlaid with lapis lazuli protected his torso, thighs, and legs all around, though he wore only sandals on his feet. A pair of heavy bronze swords of unusual design were slung over his shoulders, the blades reaching down to his ankles.
"You bark rather loudly, don't you Lancer?" Archer said with amusement-veiled menace. "Do you really think you have what it takes to take me on?"
Lancer's response was a blinding flourish of his spear, ending with the Servant in a ready stance with his spear aimed at Archer. "Let's find out shall we?" he said. "We can talk all we want about it, but in the end, there's only one way to be sure."
Archer laughed again, before drawing his swords and crossing them in front of him. "I agree." He said with an eager note. "Actions speak louder than words. Try not to die though, I'd hate to disappoint such a beautiful woman like my Master here, or see an equally-beautiful woman like your Master cry."
"…"
"…"
Sakura and Luvia could only blush, even as Lancer laughed and then charged. "I'd say the same for you, Archer!" he roared as he charged to meet Archer, sparks flying behind the latter where his uncrossed twin blades carved through the ground. And as Lancer's spear stabbed down, they swung up, arcing to cut Lancer in two.
A/N
And so it begins, Lancer vs Archer, though hopefully enough twists to keep it from becoming a rehash of canon. Feel free to try and guess who they are though.
Some background on Rin, rather disturbing, perhaps more so than canon Sakura. Worm-raped on the first night, and then beaten and raped by her stepfather the day after, no wonder she broke so quickly compared to Sakura, who took three nights to break in canon.
