I don't own Fate. Fate is the property of Type-Moon, and no financial gain is made from this or is sought. This is for entertainment purposes only.

Before the Dawn

Chapter 19

"Counter-Guardian…" Illya echoed, disengaging from Shirou to sit back in her seat and to cross her legs thoughtfully. "…Rin Tohsaka…I see. The pieces have come together, and now your mystery is solved, Cattleya Velvet."

Cattleya recoiled in shock and horror, belatedly realizing that in her anger she had revealed her greatest secret. Rin's face was a portrait of shock and disbelief, while the surprised Luvia looked back and forth between the two of them.

"As Sakura Tohsaka you were thrown away by your father to become a test subject for that plague Zouken." Illya said. "However in your understandable despair the Grail took note, and determined you worthy to be a Master, and even gave you a Servant. A Servant that had no real need for a Master, and was aligned to you: Caster-class Rin Tohsaka."

Illya chuckled, and Cattleya's features turned grim, stonily glaring at the Einzbern Master. "Caster then allied herself with Rider." Illya continued. "And you became acquainted with Waver Velvet. When the war came to its terrible conclusion, he took you in as his stepsister, even giving you a new name, and in light of both your talents you were both accepted by Archibald. And here you are: the Velvet heiress, come to claim the Grail for Archibald and to finish what your Servant-sister started with Tokiomi Tohsaka's murder ten years ago. Or am I wrong?"

"Zouken Matou will beg for death." Cattleya snarled, her anger returning in full force. "I will obtain the Grail, and we will meet again. That was our promise!"

Illya smirked, but before she could continue Rin shakily approached her sister. "I-is it true?" she stammered out. "Were you really her Master?"

Cattleya took a step back, her expression now fearful at how Rin might react. Rin however pressed the issue. "Sakura…" she said. "…I…I don't blame you for hating father. But please…I was there when she killed him. He died in front of me! Please…tell me…just for closure's sake…"

Cattleya's expression grew sad, as though already resigned that this would not end well. "Yes…" she confirmed while looking away. "…I was her Master. And she…sister…sister was my Servant and my savior. She was my avenger. I didn't tell her to do it, and I didn't know she would do it. But even if I did, I wouldn't have stopped her."

Rin looked away, tears trickling out of grief-closed eyes. As she opened them she looked at Cattleya who recoiled even further at the sheer despair in her eyes. "…one more thing…" Rin continued in a broken voice. "…please…please look at me."

Cattleya blinked in surprise but did so regardless, but quickly regretted it. After a few moments Rin stepped back, shaking her head in denial. "I knew it." She said softly. "You…you don't see me do you?"

"Huh? What are you saying? Of course I…!"

"You liar…!" Rin screamed, openly crying now. "You…you only see her! T-that woman…! Not me…!"

Without another word Rin fled, and Shirou quickly took off in pursuit despite Illya's belated attempt to hold him back, and leaving Cattleya looking and feeling utterly wretched. "Are you happy now?" Archer asked. "I understand that you might be biased in favor of the other Rin, and I might have been too judgmental myself earlier but…"

"Archer…" Luvia intervened as she and Caster moved to comfort her cousin. A command spell glowed briefly in warning. "…shut up."

Archer opened his mouth to retort, but gave up and simply sat down. Kirei and Caren traded glances, and after a moment the latter stood and bowed before heading after Shirou and Rin.

"Moving on…" Illya said after a moment and a cough. "…the Third Magic...do you really think that my family will just let you have it?" Cattleya and Luvia alike glared at her insensitivity, although the question was understandable, given that the Third Magic was historically-linked to Einzbern. Her eyes flashing as she thought rapidly, Cattleya placed a calming hand on Caster's arm when the elder magus tried to say something.

"Why fight when you can negotiate?" Cattleya asked instead. "If I win, I'm sure Archibald and Einzbern can come to an arrangement that mutually benefits both sides. You understand that quite well, wouldn't you, Emiya-Einzbern?"

Illya blinked, and then threw back her head to laugh for several moments. "Yes…" she said while nodding in agreement. "…I suppose there is a point there. You do not disappoint, Velvet. You are truly the Lord El-Melloi II's sister. But you will have to win the Grail first."

"I've no intention of losing." Cattleya snapped.

"Neither I…" Illya said with a nod, but with a hint of newfound respect. "…victory shall go to the one worthy of it."

"On that we are agreed."

Rin leaned against the front wall of Kotomine Church, quietly crying and holding her head in her hands. "Rin I…" Shirou began as he stepped out of the church, only to trail off as he realized that he couldn't really understand how she felt. Looking forlorn at the realization, he made to leave only to stop as Rin spoke to him.

"Please stay." She asked, and it wasn't long before he was holding her in an embrace, his shirt growing wet with her tears.

"…I'd say that it's going to be alright…" He whispered into her ear while rubbing her back. "…but I really can't, can I? So I'm only going to say don't give up."

"Why shouldn't I?" Rin asked. "She…Sakura…she can't see me anymore. She can't see any of us. And you know what the worst part is? I can't blame her for it! We threw her away, so why shouldn't she replace us?"

Distraught, Rin collapsed into a fresh storm of weeping, and Shirou could only try and comfort her as best he could. His attempt to do so verbally had failed dismally, and he could only offer physical comfort at this point. "There is a way to get her back you know." Caren said, emerging from the church as she did so.

"How…?" Rin asked, her expression a strange mix of hope and disbelief. Caren raised an eyebrow, her expression a mix of disappointment and amusement.

"Don't be foolish child." She said. "You know as well as I do that there's more than way to get her back. First if course is to regain her acceptance and trust the normal way. A chance exists, considering that she did help you two nights ago."

Rin sneered, pulling back from her lover's arms, although she did accept an offered kerchief with which to wipe at her eyes. Caren didn't say anything, opting to wait for Rin to respond first. She didn't have to wait for long.

"Yes, she helped me." Rin said coldly and bitterly. "But only because she saw that woman…that other me being hurt! Not me…never me…"

"Somehow I doubt she…how did you call it…doesn't 'see you'. And I don't mean that literally." Caren commented, and then she sighed. "But if you insist on wallowing in self-pity…"

"...don't you dare judge me, priestess!" Rin flared, and Shirou placed a calming hand on a shoulder. Rin flinched, and then with a thankful glance, took and squeezed his hand. "I'm sorry. It's just that…"

"…no offense was taken I assure you." Caren said with a nod. "In any case I will get to the point. The other option is simply the omnipotent wish machine, the Holy Grail."

"...you…you want me to wish for her back?" Rin asked in disbelief. "That's…!"

"No doubt you think your family's healing and happiness won't be worth much if you don't work for it." Caren interjected. "And you'd be right. But I did not intend to discuss ethics or morality with you, and merely to offer you options. And that is one option, and with a perfect guarantee so long as you win the war."

Caren smiled. "Isn't this what you needed, Rin Tohsaka?" she asked, and both Shirou and Rin alike looked uncomfortable as both her tone and expression reflected her father's own at times. "If you choose to fight for the Grail in pursuit of that goal as opposed to mere duty to your family's legacy, then rejoice! For you shall finally have a true reason to fight."

"I…" Rin began only to trail off, and she glanced imploringly at Shirou. He looked back at her and nodded.

"No matter what you choose…" he said. "…I'll stand by you, no matter what."

Rin blinked, and a glimmer of hope appeared in her eyes. "…thank you." she said to him, and then she turned to Caren. "I'll think about it."

Caren bowed, and then made to return to the gathering. But she didn't quite reenter the church just yet. "You have yet ample time to make your decision." Caren said. "But be warned: the contest will grow even fiercer from now on, with acts of courage and treachery in equal measure. Do not wait too long in making your choice. The difference between true resolve and false resolve could turn the tide as easily as a single grain can tip the scale, and decide who wins or loses, and even who lives or dies. I will say no more."

And with another bow, she reentered the church, leaving the lovers behind her.

"Honestly…" Lancer commented acidly. "…all this trouble because of a tin cup…"

"What makes you say that?" Berserker asked.

"…things are troublesome enough already given the family troubles of some of the people around here…" he replied. "…but adding the Grail to that is like trying to use oil to put a fire out. Well, it's not my place to talk about that, so let's leave it at that."

"Oh?" Berserker said with a grin. "From the sound of things, you don't particularly care much for the Grail. What in this for you then?"

Lancer just grinned at her. "Nothing…" he said while raising his glass to his lips. "…I'm perfectly fine with being summoned to fight with my all. You could say that's incentive enough for me to get caught up in this mess."

"A simple man with simple desires…" Rider summed it up with a nod, and he gave a respectful toast to Lancer. "…now there's something rare and worthy of respect…"

"Ha!" Lancer barked while returning the toast. "Likewise Rider, it's good to see you're not one of those idiots who think that just because someone doesn't think big, they aren't worth respecting. Well I've got something in mind with my spear to idiots like those."

"…any dream or desire that gives proper purpose to one's life is worth respecting." Rider said. "What kind of king would I be if I couldn't do that much?"

"Not much." Saber commented, and Berserker raised an eyebrow, but she didn't say anything.

For now…

"What about you Ms. Bazett?" Rider asked Bazett, who flinched and blushed as she found herself the center of attention. "What's your stake in all this?"

"W-w-well I…" she stammered, and then coughed primly. "…I was sent here by the Association to help keep the disaster from ten years ago from being repeated, and while there are other Association magi here they were considered as too young to be entrusted with such a task…"

"They don't trust us." Luvia commented somewhat humorously to Cattleya who smiled at her…and then Rin and Shirou returned, the former absolutely refusing to meet Cattleya's eyes. Cattleya flinched and briefly looked downcast, but then she sighed and she was back to normal. Luvia raised an eyebrow at the sight.

That doesn't look too good.

"The Enforcer is babbling." Cattleya remarked with a grin, and a ripple of laughter echoed across the table. "She's trying to get us lost in her 'official' reasons, so as to hide why she's really here."

"Are you alright?" Luvia softly asked in Finnish, as unlike German it was unlikely Rin knew the language. "Things don't seem well between you and your sister, and here you are treating it like some argument with a fellow student back at the Clock Tower."

Cattleya looked lost for a moment, and then she replied in passable Finnish. "Once your worst fears are realized…" she replied. "...all you can do is move on, and hope and strive for the best."

Luvia swallowed and briefly glanced at Rin, who was currently focused on the blushing Bazett as everyone else tried to get her to tell why she was really in the war. She blushed even more when Lancer placed an arm around her shoulder, and joined in on the chorus of encouragement. "Good luck with that…" Luvia said. "…but remember that if things don't go well…"

Luvia trailed off, and Cattleya responded with a vile but badly-mangled curse in Russian. Luvia only smiled and then redirected her attentions to Bazett. "…ever since I was a child…" Bazett was saying. "…I've always looked up to Lancer's legend. I know every detail of it, and I've always wanted to meet him. But more than that, I also wanted to save him from the cursed fate that awaited him."

She paused and looked at Lancer. "I don't pity you." she assured him. "And I don't expect you to regret anything you did. But…but I want you to know, that it's been a dream come true for me to meet you like this, and I am asking that you accept my wish should we win this contest."

Lancer grimaced and scratched his head, and then he sighed. "I'm not normally for things like that…" he finally managed. "…but then again I can't really refuse a woman can I?"

Bazett looked crestfallen, but Lancer quickly noticed. "Oh relax…" he told her. "…my geis is to accept food offered by a woman, and you're not offering food, are you now?"

He grinned at her and raised a toast. "Well I'm sure Morrigan might have a few things to say to you…" he said. "…but I'll take you up on your offer, not out of geis or anything like that, but because it wouldn't do to refuse it from you."

Bazett nodded and didn't say anything, but her veiled expression of happiness was clear to those who could see. "Well since we're on the issue of Master's wishes…" Cattleya put in. "…what about Luvia here? We know her Servant's wish, but we don't know hers. Well I'm sure it's certainly better than his wish."

Rider looked reprovingly at her, as did Luvia. "Oh very clever of getting him under the belt cousin." She said with a roll of her eyes. "As for my wish…well I'm pretty sure you already know it."

Cattleya blinked and gaped at her. "Seriously…?" she said, and Luvia glared at her.

"You have a problem with my preferences…?" she asked, and Cattleya raised her hand in apology.

"No it's not that I have a problem with it, but I just didn't think that you'd be that serious about the idea."

Luvia scoffed, and leaned on an elbow. "I've no trouble with living up to my family's traditions and expectations…" she said. "…but when all is said and done, all I really want is to settle down with a nice young man of simple tastes, and to raise a family."

"But…"

"Yes I know." Luvia said with a nod. "It's impossible. As the Edelfelt heiress I'll no doubt have to marry someone of great skill and noble lineage. It's sad, as you mentioned when we talked about it before, but that's how our society is I suppose. But then again, if the Holy Grail truly is what it's made out to be, then it should be capable of granting my small little wish."

"...just like Lancer huh?" Cattleya said. "A simple woman with simple desires, I can respect that. And just like my brother…"

"…I'm someone better than you ever will be." Luvia finished. "That again…? And yet you keep pushing yourself…"

"…if I stop moving forward…" Cattleya interrupted. "…Waver will be sad. I don't want that. Even if I'm great only because of my bloodline as opposed to sheer talent like him, so long as I can be someone he's proud of, then I can live with becoming a reflection of that man's wishes."

"Bloodline is not a guarantee of greatness." Kuzuki cut in. "I understand that magi conduct eugenics, but even if you are predisposed towards certain courses, those courses would not become reality without effort on your part."

"Indeed…" Caster agreed while taking Cattleya's hand. "…I think you're too blinded by the idea that your bloodline is the only reason that you are a talented magus, even by my standards. But everything you've achieved up to now, and everything you will achieve from here on, will only be so because of you."

"You really think so?"

"Of course…! I know that better than anyone else." Caster said and then paused. She chuckled in self-deprecation. "I may not be the best example, but it works. I'm a hero not because the gods tricked me, or because of my descent from the Sun Titan Helios through my father, but because of what I chose to do after the great betrayal."

"Hardly commendable actions…" Saber said coldly, and Archer nodded.

"I agree."

"At least I don't hide behind excuses like justice or chivalry." Caster shot back, and Archer and Saber alike glared at her to the sound of laughter from Lancer and Berserker. "Ideals are all well and good, but not if they blind you to your own faults or mistakes."

"Then what's your wish, oh great and noble Caster?" Archer sneered, this time ignoring Luvia's expression of warning.

"Reincarnation…" Caster said, and then she smiled at Kuzuki. He didn't smile back – that would probably be a miracle on par with True Magic – but Caster knew that he understood. "…all I want is a second chance at life, free of my past and the gods' meddling."

She paused and turned to look at Archer. "Do you have a problem with that, hero?" she asked, and he looked away.

"Maybe…" he said. "…but it's not like you'll accept my opinion."

Caster chuckled. "True…" she admitted. "…what about you King of Knights? What is your wish?"

"...I have no intention of claiming to be a hero…" Saber said. "…for starters I have no place on the Throne of Heroes to begin with, being summoned from Avalon."

"Avalon…?" Cattleya echoed. "I see. According to legend you sleep there, waiting for the day when Britain needs you once more."

Saber smiled. "The legend is a bit inaccurate." She commented. "I don't sleep all day I can assure you. I can also tell you magi that Avalon is beyond even the reach of your vaunted Five Sorceries. I don't know why that's the case though."

"Haven't you asked your pet sorcerer?" Berserker commented.

"Mordred…" Saber replied icily. "…as much as I hate to say this, you and I both know that getting an answer from that old man is about as easy as pulling teeth, and he's caused us so much trouble that I'm tempted to say it might be better that we'd never met at all."

"She said it anyway." Caster muttered.

"Sounds like a lot like that vampire loitering around the Clock Tower at times." Luvia said sourly.

"Don't remind me." Cattleya said just as sourly. "I swear I'll never look at roosters the same way ever again."

"I suppose we have to agree on that." Berserker said even more sourly. "Damn bastard's the cause of all our troubles…anyway what do you want from the Grail?"

"Absolutely nothing..." Saber said coolly. "…in the past I might have used it to try and change the selection of the king, but now I just want to make sure that no one unworthy of it gets it."

"Oh?" Rider asked. "And what have you decided so far?"

"I'm fairly certain most people around here are worthy of it…" she said. "…I'm not sure about you or Caster though, and we haven't heard from Tohsaka and her ally, or Einzbern. Or for that matter, you Mordred: what do you want from the Grail?"

"Humph…" Berserker scoffed, swirling the wine in her glass. "…let me guess: you think I want the throne don't you?"

"Of course you do…" Saber conceded, and Berserker sneered before taking a drink. She needed the alcohol to calm her temper down. "…but much like Rider you wouldn't want a mere cup taking the credit for it, would you?"

Berserker promptly choked on her wine, much to everyone's surprise. It seemed that Saber had touched a nerve. Berserker for her part stared incredulously at Saber. "What's wrong?" Saber asked as coolly as ever. "Are you surprised at my perception? You shouldn't be. You are my 'son' after all."

Berserker narrowed her eyes, and she briefly wondered if this was a trap. Oh well, if it was a trap then she'd spring it, and then break out of it with sheer force. That's just the way she did things. She grinned. "Eternity seems to have worked wonders for you King Arthur…" she said mockingly. "…alright I'll tell you. My wish is for a chance to draw the Sword of Selection."

A/N

And there we go. Hopefully it didn't seem too out there, though once again I have this feeling in my gut that I'm pushing some characterizations out of shape. Even if this isn't canon…yeah…they shouldn't be too OOC.

No, Sakura isn't a polyglot. That would be too Mary Sue-ish. She can speak English fluently (she grew up in Britain), and is adept in both German and Japanese, but her Finnish is only passable (if only to gossip and chat with Luvia). Russian…she learned it from watching spy films, so I would say her grasp of the language is…gratuitous.