A Gift From a Little Devil

...That all happened a long time ago. A VERY long time ago.

My family were notaries in the village of Vinci. Had been for generations. They were pretty well off, all things considered.

My parents were never married. My mother, Caterina, was beautiful, but she was also a peasant.

Back then, there was no way she or my father, Messer Piero, could possibly have been permitted to make their love official.

In other's eyes, she just wasn't good enough. I don't want to say it because it's too crass. But...that is essentially what people thought of their love.

Still, that didn't stop them from having a beautiful child together.

This is me, Leonardo.

And boy was I cute! I think. But according to what I've heard, and considering what I look like now, how could I not have been?

Yeah, what am I saying? Of course I was adorable. Let's just leave it at that.

Getting back to my mother, Caterina...

...she married another man after she gave birth to me. They had many children of their own. That's all well and good.

It was certainly better than continuing in a relationship that could never lead to marriage, and she didn't have to worry about me. My grandfather and uncle on the Da Vinci side took care of me.

I grew up healthy and happy, and it wasn't long before my abundant talents started helping me accomplish amazing things...

...but I never forgot about my mother. It wasn't an obsession, really. But I thought about her often.

I think it was Botticelli who said that "enough is plenty"? It certainly sounds like something he'd say.

Anyway, when I was about forty or so, my mother fell ill. She died shortly thereafter.

I had a bit of money back then, so I tended to her sometimes.

That is why I was able to be there when she finally slipped off. Oh, I held her funeral as well. It was a rather nice funeral, at that.

...Strangely, I can't recall whether I cried at all. Truly.

I barely remember it at all. Still...I think I probably did.

I was still a strapping young lad of forty back then, after all, so I must have been more sensitive.

Most importantly...

...I wasn't the universal genius back then that I am now.

...What's this?

It seems your repose last night was somewhat less than restful, Mr. Fujimaru.

Did something unusual happen once again while you were asleep?

My understanding is that this would hardly be the first time.

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Huh? Me? I wonder why that could have happened.

I must say, I don't recall it. Of course, there's no reason for me not to take you at your word.

It could be that our connection is much stronger now that we have a contract that allows me to accompany you in battle.

Anyway, I'm flattered! Sorta irritating that you're not able to control it, but that aside...

...we should be glad our Master is having new and interesting experiences!

So...uh, just what kind of dream are we talking here, anyway?

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Hmm. Perhaps it was something related to an experience of hers from her lifetime?

Huh, I wonder who it was. I knew SOOO many interesting people in my lifetime!

Was it Botticelli? Mikey? Lorenzo the Magnificent? Maybe Isabella d'Este?

Ah, by the look on Mr. Fujimaru's face, I would say it was none of those. It may not, therefore, have been someone of great historical significance.

A question for you: In your dream conversation, how would you describe Ms. Da Vinci's emotional state?

Hmm...

Huh?

Pffft, good one. You know I'm not really one to turn on the waterworks, right?

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...Did I wake you? Or were you still up?

Either way, sorry for bothering you so late.

So, I'm pretty sure you've guessed why I'm here.

I couldn't get our conversation from earlier out of my head.

So...I'm curious who I was talking to you about...you know, in that dream you had.

First, though, I should apologize. I think I had it figured out as far as who it was once you dropped that little hint.

I just didn't want to get into it there in the Command Room with so many people around.

Even if I'm just filling in, I'm still their boss. It's hard to talk about sentimental stuff around them.

...Holmes? Well, you know him. I'm sure he's got this whole thing figured out already.

Anyway! Like I said, I'm pretty sure I know who it was.

I was talking about my mother, right?

...Caterina of Vinci village. My beautiful mother.

She never did get a chance to raise me, but she still brought me into this world.

She's the woman who gave me life. I loved her so much, and I'm sure she loved me too.

Yup.

Hehe. Who knows? Though I AM pretty sure she had a lovely smile.

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Things were...complicated. She was my mother, yes, but she could never marry my father.

Maybe I've already told you about this within that dream, so I'll be brief...

... ...

...I spent the last years of my mother's life with her in Milan.

I was doing pretty well for myself back then, so I took steps to bring my birth mother to live with me.

Not long after, she got so sick she collapsed. I remember going a little out of my mind, not knowing what to do...

Looking back, I realize I may have foolishly been responsible for shortening her life.

It'd be a lie to say I didn't regret that, but still...

...I wouldn't trade those two years in Milan with her for anything.

... ...

How familiar are you with my paintings? Ever heard of one I did called "Virgin of the Rocks"?

It's one of my better ones. I'll show you sometime...

Both. Although, my apprentice did one of them...I think? I'm not sure.

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I painted it in Milan, a few years before I had my mother come live with me. I'm pretty happy with how it turned out...

...but I also went waaay past the deadline on it. Things happened, you know? And I ended up delayed so long all you could do was laugh!

Hm? That's no laughing matter? Well, yeah, you're right. It's not.

Boy was the priest who commissioned it pissed! Then again, I was pretty pissed too once I saw what he wanted to pay me for it!

... ...

...As the name suggests, it's a painting of the Virgin Mary, the Madonna, sitting among some rocks.

I think...when I was making it, I must have been longing for some maternal presence myself.

That's how it seems to me now, anyway, with the benefit of hindsight and all.

While I was painting the Madonna, I started to miss my own mother, so much so that I ended up having her move out to Milan to live with me.

I'm sure you've heard the saying, "No use crying over spilled milk"?

Me, I've always had a different take on it: "You can't put spilled water back in the pot." I think that's about the perfect summary of human life.

...Although, if I'm being really honest...I think I might like the way Sun Tzu put it the best:

Thus, though we have heard of stupid haste in war, cleverness has never been seen associated with long delays.

Thus, prompted by Mr. Fujimaru's dream...

...the Heroic Spirit Leonardo da Vinci has a premonition, and decides she would like to take some manner of action...

...just as she did when she brought her mother to live with her. Do I have that right?

How long have you been there...?

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I hate to admit it, but I suppose he is. I DO want to take action here, just like I did with my mother.

And if I'm going to do that, I'll need your help, just like last time.

Last time?

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I'm so glad you remembered! Yup, exactly like that. I suppose I'm being a bit nostalgic again...

Coordinates set for Europe, on the outskirts of Milan, 1524.

This appears to be a minute Singularity, most likely caused by a small Holy Grail or a Grail fragment.

...It's just as you said, Da Vinci.

I can't believe you called it so accurately before the Command Room could observe it with Sheba...

I thought this might be a good time to try my hand at Freudian dream interpretation, but it seems that won't be necessary here.

Most impressive, Da Vinci. Just the sort of thing I would expect from you.

Though I suppose something of that ease may be owed to the...precision of Master's dream.

Commencing Rayshift. Please be careful out there, Senpai!

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Ahh, this is a sight for sore eyes! I haven't seen the Duchy of Milan like this in ages!

Fou fou, pastafooou!

Oh, Fou. You snuck along too? Are you sure you wouldn't rather be with Mash?

Fou. Fou.

I see, I see. So you like beautiful women, do you? As it happens, I do too! What good taste you have.

Rayshift successful. Readings show you should be in the eastern part of Milan.

Good. I must admit, though, that this is a different time period than when I lived here, so I don't know the place so well as it is now.

It was pretty peaceful back then, but France and Venice always loomed large as threats.

As much as people went about their lives quietly, there was a certain tension in the air.

I remember the local hotshot, Il Moro, took a liking to me. I used to play the lira for him...

Sure is.

Fou fou?

Have I not mentioned that? My talents were never confined to a single field.

To name a few, there's painting, sculpture, architecture, weaponry, woodworking, autopsies, natural science...and of course, music.

？！

All right then, let's just go for a walk and see where we

Well, never mind that. Looks like we Rayshifted to just about exactly where we need to be.

There they are, plain as the nose on your face. They could've at least waited till nightfall.

See?

Faaau! Fau, kyaaau!

Hostiles detected! A lot of them! It looks like they have the Holy Grail with them!

All right, let's get this show on the road, shall we? I am, of course, a combat genius too, so just sit back and let Da Vinci handle this!

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...Here they come!

Just look at all these demons. Man, they couldn't be more obvious if they tried.

That takes care of them, but...

Fou? Fou, fou fou.

That's right. It's not over yet. Still more of them here.

The BBEG in particular. I can tell it's not a Servant, but it's still got a lot of magical energy.

It must have absorbed the Holy Grail fragment to get its magical energy levels up THIS high.

You're right, Da Vinci! I can see those exceptional magical energy readings from here, too!

It must possess a small Holy Grail, or a fragment of a larger one.

I figured, yeah. And don't you just look the part.

Hey there, Salaì...

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Gian Giacomo Caprotti. While she lived, Da Vinci took him under her wing when he was still a young boy.

He became Da Vinci's apprentice in Milan in 1490, where they grew as close as family.

Family...

Now I see. Since he died in 1524, this minute Singularity must have occurred when the small Holy Grail turned him into a ghost.

It would seem you were right on the mark, Ms. Da Vinci.

The Salaì I knew already had a fragment, so I figured he must have been the one affecting Master's dreams.

I had a hunch, really, and it turned out to be dead-on.

Though I wish it wasn't...

You're the only person I ever knew who would think to pester me like this, Salaì.

Still... Why is it a ghost this time around too?

Ah, well. I guess you never did get to a point where you'd be enshrined in the Throne.

Besides, if you were, I'm pretty sure all your bad habits would put you preeetty firmly on the Anti-Hero end of things anyway.

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He was a beautiful kid. Adorable, even!

Oh, I loved his curly hair. He may not have quite been at my level, but he was still as lovely as an angel.

Fou fou, Da Fooou...

(She's leading off by extolling the virtues of pretty boys! Th-that's our Da Vinci, I guess...)

Buuut, he was a freakin' brat, too. He was easily four times as mischievous as the average person.

He used to sell my shoes just to buy candy...steal my silver brushes...

Hell, he'd steal anything that wasn't nailed down, really... Broke my pots while we ate...

...Ugh, just thinking about it pisses me off.

Salaì, I gotta say...

...a brat like you appearing before the maestro as a wandering ghost, just like what happened with Michelangelo...

...ticks me off even more than I thought it would!

Shut your damn hole!

...Hostiles eliminated. Automatically collecting Holy Grail fragments per the usual protocol.

Fooou...

Annnd collected. That takes care of that.

(Sigh) Dammit, Salaì... I heard you died five years after I did.

Why'd you have to go and do that while you were still so young? What a damned waste.

Even if it was just bad luck that led you to the Holy Grail and turned you into a ghost...

...you have no business dying while you're so young.

...You really were nothing but a pain in the ass till the end, weren't you?

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Hmm, I don't know about that. Sure, he ended up an evil, rampaging ghost...but I think that suited him, in an odd sort of way.

What better way for a hellion like him to cause as much trouble as he wants, after all.

In that sense, we were lucky to meet him like this.

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Hey, now! No getting all gloomy on me! If Da Vinci says it's okay, then it's okay!

I do like that sensitive side of yours, though. I hope that's something you can hold on to. Always.

Fou, fooou!

All right then! What do you say we get ourselves back to Chaldea!

I'm sure you'll sleep soundly tonight, Master. Any dreams you may have will surely be sweet.

Yup. I get the feeling that's what Salaì was telling me.

I know he wasn't ACTUALLY saying anything, of course. But that's still the impression I got.

This wasn't a prediction or anything like that. Just a feeling.

...I swear.

That little imp never did have any problem saying the sort of things no one else would dare to.

But you know, Salaì...even if I couldn't give you a proper funeral, I still feel like I gave you a proper send-off.

Even if I'm the only one who feels that way.

All right...guess I'd better start getting things ready.

Well, getting my spare ready, really.

No telling when my number could be up, so I've got to be sure I'm ready for anything.

That's probably part of the reason why Salaì showed up now. Demons have long been harbingers of death.

... ...

...While I'm at it, you know what, I think I'll model it after my childhood appearance.

Holmes probably already has an idea of what I'm up to...but I don't see him having an issue.

He may always play it pretty close to the chest, but he had my back again with this, and he kept his mouth shut when he should have.

...I wonder what you'd think about this plan if you were here.

You'd probably have a big problem with it, wouldn't you? Well, sorry. I've just got to go through with it.

Lady Luck has been awfully kind to me in this life and in the last.

So to make up for that...even if my next death does turn out to suck pretty badly...

...I think...

...I'll just have to roll with it.