Summary: Leonardo Da Vinci wasn't just the Acting Director of Chaldea when she was killed at the hands of Kirei Kotomine. She was a friend in all but name, someone that couldn't be replaced, not even by her younger self. So Goredolf's dismissal of her death before their untimely arrival in Russia struck something in Vy that she still can't find it in herself to forgive him for, which makes a certain arrival later on all the more surprising.
Note: Inspired by how the original Da Vinci came to me about 8 days before my birthday (September 16, actually), and the sheer joy I felt from that moment. The Lostbelts may have brought along some of the greatest writing FGO has seen, but that doesn't make the painful moments that it started any less jarring.
So this is my take on a moment I wasn't expecting to get so close to a day I can only experience once a year, and a reunion I feel we should've gotten in-game if Da Vinci was ever summoned after the Lostbelt prologue.
To match this, the theme for this chapter is Gomakashi by TrySail, the first opening to Puella Magi Madoka Magica: Magia Record's anime. The translated lyrics, I found, personally fit the mood I was trying to convey.
Please enjoy. :)
Day 20: Return of a Genius
"Stop crying, girl! That Caster Servant did her duty! There's no tears to be shed over a mere familiar!"
The words still made for a bitter aftertaste in the back of Vy's throat as she faced the Summoning Circle in front of her, Saint Quartz in hand. She wasn't even sure if those were Goredolf's exact words anymore — that was how much anger had blurred the memory. Thinking about it now was still enough to make her want to castrate the new Director with all her might, maybe even with a rusted spoon, as crude as the thought was.
No one made Mash cry. No one.
Behind her, Vy knew Robin Hood and Scathach-Skadi were specifically watching for her reaction, and she didn't blame them. Trying to summon a specific Servant during an emotional time wouldn't always turn out for the best. They all knew that, more so with past experience. Still…
"Are you sure about this, little one?" Skadi spoke up after a moment, bringing Vy back to Earth with the realization that the 30 Saint Quartz in her arms hadn't been tossed into the circle yet. "There may be many more events upon the horizon, so saving those jewels in your hands could prove to be for the better in the long-term. The odds of you summoning her now, while admirable, still yields low chances."
"I-I know, Skadi-san," Vy said firmly, shaking her head. She couldn't turn around — not when it meant meeting the Lostbelt Queen's red eyes and acknowledging the worry probably shining in them. The sentiment was appreciated, but Vy wouldn't budge on this. She couldn't. "But I have to try. Not just for me, but for—" A lump surfaced in Vy's throat, enough to make Vy want to cough. She swallowed it as best as she could, taking a deep breath to steady herself and her beating heart. "This is for my kouhai, Skadi-san. I have to. For her, at least."
It would at least make up for how Vy wasn't able to hug Mash immediately after the Shadow Border fled the original Chaldea. There was too much going on — too many emotions for there to even be thoughts of hugging.
Still, whatever retort Skadi had seemed to have died at Vy's response, the latent mana in the air dimming with it. "…If you feel this is the right decision, I will not protest anymore, little one," Skadi said finally, a note of melancholy in her voice. "But do not push yourself. You do not deserve the, er…" she paused, enough of an awkward moment for Robin to gently elbow her for encouragement, before finishing with a timid, "'burnout,' as you modern ones call it."
"Fou!" A sudden cry added in agreement, and Vy blinked as the familiar furry friend in Fou proceeded to run up to her and start scampering his way up Vy's legs, winding himself around her neck once he found a proper perch on her shoulder. A cold nose gently bumped her cheek once a paw rested against her skin, and Vy felt herself giggle before she could stop it from leaving her mouth.
"Okay, okay, I get it. I'm trying not to overwork as much, so I'll make this shot the last one for the day, since Skadi-san and Fou-kun asked and all." While balancing the Saint Quartz in one hand, Vy reached up to pet the former Beast with her other one, much to Fou's visible pleasure. It was rather fitting that she didn't have to turn around to feel the widespread approval radiating off of Robin in that moment — it was strong enough to start seeping into their bond of all things.
The Summoning Circle was still sitting dormant in front of Vy, though, and Fou couldn't be petted forever, even if he was soft and cuddly and very much Chaldea's honorary therapy animal. Vy still had a summoning to do.
With a soft exhale, Vy gently let her petting hand fall to her side, and Fou let out a soft encouraging "Fou!" just as she let her Saint Quartz fall into the Circle too.
"Let silver and steel be the essence. Let stone and the archduke of contracts be the foundation."
Even with the words making for an odd taste in Vy's mouth, she went on with the chant with a single thought in mind.
Please, Buddha. You're the last entity I can trust with this.
Just let Mash have one more good thing back in her life, Buddha. Please.
All it took was a familiar voice cutting through the sudden burst of light spreading throughout the Summoning Chamber to make Vy pause once. At that very moment, she couldn't even remember if she finished the chant or not. All she knew was that her luck paid off again. Somehow.
"Oooh, I see some things haven't changed! Nice to meet you again, little pupil of mine!"
Vy still wasn't sure who ended up crying first. It might've been her. It might've been Fou. But there was still one other thing left to do.
"Senpai, what is this about?" Mash thankfully kept walking in spite of the blindfold put over her eyes and Vy did her best to hold back giggles as she persisted in pushing Mash forward through the Novum Chaldean hallways. "I still have some paperwork I need to give to Holmes…"
"I know, beloved kouhai, but it wouldn't be a surprise if I say anything, right?" Vy let herself hum a little as a compromise to herself, gently patting Mash's back as she kept pushing her through the halls. "You can leave the paperwork to me. I can give it to Holmes later."
"If you're sure, Senpai…" Mash still didn't seem convinced if the extra squeeze of the manilla folders in her arms was any indication, but her voice conveyed the trust that echoed in their bond, her posture relaxing with each step. "You didn't overwork yourself for this surprise now, did you?"
"Eh — No!" Vy answered reflexively in protest before coughing into her shoulder and shaking her head. She knew Mash wouldn't be able to see the gesture, instead following up with a quieter, "I-I did my best not to. Big Robin and Skadi-san were watching me the entire time I was prepping, so you don't have to worry about that, kouhai. Just keep walking, okay? I promise this is only a good thing."
"Okay…" Mash's footsteps continued onwards as Vy continued to guide her, and the swinging doors to the Dining Hall thankfully opened on cue once they approached. Past Mash's shoulders, she gave the person waiting inside a warm smile.
"Kouhai, stay still for me, okay? I'll take your blindfold off." Vy couldn't help the joy starting to leak into her voice as she started working at the knot behind Mash's head, and it took all she had to keep her hands steady and not fumble at her task.
"I-I understand, but senpai, you really haven't said anything about what this is—" Mash stopped once the blindfold fell to the ground, her glasses falling crooked against the bridge of her nose once her vision came back. It was obvious her breath hitched, stuck in a lump in her throat as the manilla folders in her hands fell to the tile floor to sit forgotten with the blindfold. Vy didn't blame her. They'd probably have to clean up the mess later. But for now…
"A gift for you, kouhai," was all Vy said in the gentlest voice she could muster before taking a step backwards to admire the scene playing out in front of her.
Only a meter or so away, in front of the kitchen island counters, the original Leonardo Da Vinci herself stood tall and proud for all to see — for Mash to see again, the smile behind the Mona Lisa all the more dazzling to witness in person. The faint blue glow of the gem in the center of her staff illuminated her familiar figure all the more clearly, and Vy met Da Vinci's blue eyes with all the composure she had left, smiling back at the Caster.
Thank you, Master, was all that bled through their newly established bond, and then Da Vinci closed her eyes and coughed into her free hand. "Well then! It's been a while since the last time we met and this Wandering Sea place is definitely a bit darker compared to what I remember of the original Chaldea, but it's still home away from home." To the frozen Mash, Da Vinci's teasing smile softened a tad as she lowered her hand from her mouth, the gesture matching her quieter voice of, "No 'welcome back' for me, Mash?"
"Da Vinci—" was all Mash stuttered out before she was stumbling, and Vy quickly raised her arms up in case Mash would fall. Surprisingly, in spite of her visible shock, Mash amazingly stood upright after a single beat of unsteadiness, staring at Da Vinci like she was a ghost. Mash's shoulders then shook from what Vy could see, hands clutched to her chest. "D-Da Vinci-chan, I'm so sorry! I-I should've been stronger, I should've—" Mash stopped, choking out what was becoming an imminent sob. "I-I should've—"
I should've been stronger to protect you. To fight alongside you. I shouldn't have let you die, echoed in their bond, and Vy felt her heart ache.
Oh, Mash, was all Vy could think once Da Vinci moved at what could only be called "godly speed," and Mash let out a loud squeak once she was enclosed in what could only be called a "motherly" embrace. The fact that part of Mash's face was hidden by Da Vinci's bosom merely reinforced the image in Vy's mind. And in the time it took for the concept to settle in Vy's thoughts, Da Vinci sighed quietly above Mash's purple hair, pressing a hand to the back of Mash's head while shaking her own.
"You don't have to apologize for anything, Mash," Vy could make out from reading Da Vinci's lips, "you did what you could. And for you to come this far and still be you in spite of everything, I'm proud of you."
Mash shuddered again, her hands moving almost immediately to wind around Da Vinci's waist in return, and by then, Vy could hear the crying. Crying that was definitely from a teenager and not a worn-down, tired adult for once. "D-Da Vinci-channnnnn…"
"Shhh, shhh," Da Vinci said, louder this time, "it's okay, Mash, it's okay. I'm here now." Blue-gloved hands immediately started stroking Mash's hair, a soft sigh brushing the top of her head as Da Vinci held Mash close. "I'm back, Mash. This universal genius is not leaving you again. No need to worry now. You're not alone anymore, not like before."
"I-I missed you, Da Vinci-channnnn…"
"Shhh, I know, sweetie." Da Vinci was still smiling while hugging the beloved kouhai, nodding her head. "I know, and I missed you too. You've grown."
It took a moment of watching the two reunite for Vy to realize that tears were bubbling in the corners of her own eyes, and she wiped at them hastily while turning her head away. Her heart beat hard against her chest, both from relief and fatigue.
Guess I should go now. This is between my kouhai and her mom, so—
"Vy?"
Against her will, Vy turned back to the center of the Dining Hall, and Mash and Da Vinci had apparently separated to look at her, this time keeping one arm around each other while raising the other towards — towards her. "Senpai," Mash said around a sniffle, eyes red-rimmed but bright for once since coming to the Wandering Sea, "you should come over here, t-too."
Vy carefully tilted her head at the duo, blinking slowly to hide the fact she was close to tears herself. "…You sure, Mash?"
"Don't be stubborn and go back to your work, Master," Da Vinci winked, smile widening as she raised her free arm towards Vy again. "I told you back in the Summoning Chamber, didn't I? 'I'll be your very own personal Da Vinci-chan,' and now Da Vinci-chan can hug you again! Or are you going to refuse a hug from your own universal genius?"
These dorks are going to be the death of me, was all that brushed Vy's mind. She took a steadying breath, just one, and then a hand was pushing her forward by the shoulder. Vy stumbled a little from the force, just in time for her gaze to catch a hint of green and purple when she glanced back behind her.
"Big Robin…? Skadi-san?"
Robin and Skadi merely smiled back at her, and with a roll of Robin's shoulder, her closest Archer pointed back to Da Vinci and Mash. "Don't you have a kouhai and a genius to hug, little sparrow?" was all he said with a roll of his eyes. "Dunno when we're going out again, anyways."
A part of your family is waiting, little one, Skadi said through their link, shaking her head. Don't hesitate and just go to them.
Vy didn't have to be told twice. She turned, took a breath, and then ran as fast as she could.
Da Vinci let out a hearty laugh once Vy collided with her, matching Mash's own squeal of joy as they all stumbled and settled, and arms then tangled up with one another once Vy stood up on her tiptoes to meet them in the group hug.
"Welcome back, Da Vinci-chan," Vy whispered fiercely into Da Vinci's curly brown hair, shaking her head. The disgusting urge to castrate Goredolf was finally fading in favor of everlasting warmth. "Welcome back. W-We have a lot to catch you up on."
Da Vinci laughed again, a hand suddenly patting the top of Vy's head. "Well, I'm your universal genius now, Master! I think there's a lot you're going to have to fill me in on, from my new self and that new portly Director! I have things to talk about with them!"
Mash let out a watery giggle as Vy shook her head again. "N-Not going to leave you out of that…"
It was a new promise.