Third Morning (2)
The pair had made record time across the city, Illya having her familiars on a constant patrol as they approached the church with every bit of haste they could manage, even leaving a few blaring police cars in the dust with vehicular stunts that Illya-were the situation not so dire-would have been squealing in excitement over.
Unfortunately things were rather tense and unrestrained joy would have to wait as they skid to a halt, Shirou swiftly leading the Homunculus into the building where he had not long ago killed the last owner of the property.
Without preamble he threw open the doors, opening his mouth to announce their discovery-
-and found Caren in the exact same position, adorned in far more conservative robes than her prior outfit.
"Is this about the Dead Apostle Ancestor, Caren?"
"No, it's about the other Masters who were mind controlled."
Illya blinked in rapid succession, trying to make sure she heard that one correctly.
"You did say mind-controlled, right?"
It was a measure of how serious the situation was that Caren set aside her usual persona, professionally nodding before continuing with, "The 26th Dead Apostle Ancestor was selected as a Master and, as you no doubt discovered, he assaulted the Tohsaka manor shortly after she began hosting the Enforcer and other Magus. It was agreed upon that they would ally and seek to destroy the Ancestor with or without your help before returning to the war as normal...but he struck first."
The albino groaned and rubbed her eyes with vexation, grouchily asking, "How are you so sure that they were mind controlled? Isn't that hard to do on any competent Magus? And why didn't their Servants stop that?"
"Because their Command Seals were all used up."
The pair turned to face Sakura as she walked into the Church, Jack in tow and a mild trace of aggravation on her normally placid features.
"Jack managed to spot the three Masters dutifully following a group of Ghouls, the Command Seal markings on their skin faded and distant, clear signs that they had been expended."
Setting a heavy tome on the pulpit with a loud thud before flipping through the pages Caren added, "As for how he was able to accomplish this...Cato Flavius has spent centuries scouring the planet for Mystic Eyes, collecting and experimenting on them and, if rumor is to be believed, combining their effects or even implanting them on his body. While it does not bode well for us, it is by no means a stretch of the imagination to believe that among those many eyes resides one capable of overwhelming a Magus' natural resistances to such compulsions. And to the best of our knowledge no additional Servants have perished so they are likely under the 26th's command."
Illya scowled, stating, "So this Dead Apostle Ancestor now has two-thirds of the active Servants under his command along with three Magi and who knows how many dead? And let's not forget that we still have that stupid Archer from the last war to worry about in addition to these super hypnotizing eyes or whatever. How's that fair?!"
To her surprise it was Shirou who agreed with her complaints, stating, "Illya is right. I think this might be the time to just destroy the foundation of the Grail and be done with it."
Confused at her brother's words Illya turned to face him-
-and was instead brought up short by Caren's swift and cold response of, "No, Shirou. That is a last resort only. The Lord loves all regardless of belief and sentencing so many to death when we could have spared them with the mercy our Lord teaches is a sin I refuse to have you partake of."
Caught off guard by the normally mocking and sadistic hussy's uncompromising tone the albino interjected with, "Umm...what are you two talking about? How can you end the war so quickly?"
Glancing at her Shirou explained, "During the last war Oto-san planted explosives all along the leyline and Grail networking sites, enough firepower to collapse the entire system at the cost of a great deal of Fuyuki. They're on a timer not set to blow for another forty years but I know how to set them off early. This is the time to do so, too many unknown variables have entered the war and I'm no longer certain that I can keep you safe from them, Illya."
…
While she was indeed touched that he would sacrifice so many for her...the Homunculus was by and large more uncomfortable with his single-minded pursuit than she was flattered. Especially since she was only now beginning to piece together his past and what a mess of purpose and contradictions her Papa had made of him.
"No, Onii-chan. We're not doing that."
All eyes locked onto where she stood.
"...This is the best way, Illya. If we do this the war will have no reason to continue."
"Except the Ancestor will still desire my eyes. And the rest of the moonlit world might want to 'speak' to us about destroying a leyline and causing untold deaths in the process. Fountains of pure magic energy aren't all that common anymore, Onii-chan...we're destroying Fuyuki only as a last resort."
Shirou's jaw tightened imperceptibly, voice tight as he replied, "By the time we arrive at a 'last resort' we might be too late. You, Sakura, Caren or myself might have already died at that point, Illya."
The albino didn't so much as flinch at her brother's obvious distress, calmly stating, "But that's what we're going to risk, Onii-chan."
She fought down the surge of guilt at seeing how his hands curled into fists, sticking to her earlier proclamation.
It didn't matter if he thought himself as a weapon or tool, didn't matter that he would murder thousands-maybe even more-in a blink of an eye if it meant she would live...she would keep him from becoming the very thing he believed himself to be.
Sakura chose that moment to quietly interject with, "What shall our plan be, then? A Dead Apostle Ancestor, with four Servants on its side, may not care about the sanctity of the Church."
Shirou snapped himself out of his ruminations, asking, "Is King Gilgamesh still residing here?"
Caren shrugged, replying, "If so, he has not seen fit to either return or inform me of my trespasses."
"In that case...Sakura, stay here and guard Caren. Illya and I will return to the house before heading back here, there's still some tools and resources that I want to retrieve. After that we need to find a proper fortress or other location that isn't compromised. Oto-san has a few safe houses, but...they're not really equipped to handle Magi, let alone Servants."
Illya offered a solution, stating, "The Einzberns have a castle not too far from Fuyuki that I was using as a base, it's well maintained and guarded. If no one has a better idea I say we use that."
She cast a smug glance at Caren.
"Because I really doubt some people-not to name names-came prepared like I did~!"
The Exorcist ignored her words with infinite grace-highly annoying the Homunculus since she had been hoping for a more satisfying reaction-and remarked, "That will be acceptable, besides..."
She cast a neutral gaze around the Church, tone inscrutable.
"The House of our Lord has seen better days. I can only wonder who was responsible for such a transgression."
…
Illya and Shirou remained quiet despite the cheerful expression Caren was gracing them with as, with perfect timing, a section of the roof clattered to the floor.
"We'll be back as soon as possible."
Taking the easy route out the step-sibling's turned on their heel and quickly vacated the premises, returning to their home at a swift pace.
"Grab whatever you need, Illya. I want to be out of here in less than ten minutes."
"Understood, Onii-chan."
Running towards her room-however temporary she might have called it that-and casting a regretful gaze at all of the clothing and other articles Papa had gotten for her the Homunculus paused only long enough to grab two things. The journal and photo of her Mama and Papa.
Finished in less than ten seconds Illya quickly ran to the shed where she found Shirou throwing as many different objects as he could fit into a pair of duffel bags, a variety of what she assumed to be guns, ammunition and explosives entering them at a mechanical but unstoppable pace.
"Anything that I can help, with, Onii-chan?"
"Yes, everything I'm taking is kept over here. Destroy the rest of it, I don't want to risk it falling into enemy hands, no matter how mundane it may be."
Casting a glance to where her brother had pointed Illya found a wide variety of books, weapons and gear piled almost as tall as she was, feeling a brief moment of remorse for the lost resources before saying, "Berserker, crush it."
The hulking Servant materialized and, with a trio of precise but Earth shattering blows turned the pile into a square of compressed metal, paper and plastic, Illya nodding in satisfaction.
"All done, Onii-chan."
"Good, I'm all set here. Let's hurry back to-"
They both stiffened, the bounded field around the house blaring an alarm as Herakles snarled, leaping forward so that his form covered the both of them, Shirou equally as swift in hugging Illya tight to his chest as an array of Traced blades sprang to life around them as an improvised shield-
-and then there was only the noise of crashing lightning and whistling projectiles, the sound of unyielding skin deflecting the assault with muted THUDS and manifested swords ringing like church bells as they held firm against the ambush...and within four seconds silence once again reigned, smoke and embers drifting past the trio as the quickly recovered, Illya yanking out a few strands of hair and forming a pair of glowing familiars.
...She forced down the dismay at seeing what had become of the house. Of her home.
All that was left were broken and smoking timbers, the traditional garden and architecture smashed beyond repair as fulgarite formations rose up out of the wreckage like twisted monuments.
…
To say Illya was upset would be a bit of an understatement.
A trio of approaching footsteps drew their attention, figures of varying height and shape gaining detail as they drew close.
One was a tall man with tanned skin, white hair and crimson cloak, expression of neutrality something that struck Illya as oddly...familiar.
The second was, to her shock, one she recognized. It was Saber, King Arthur in the flesh and here to once more fight a scant decade later.
The third?
Illya wasn't entirely sure what it was. A towering figure that matched Herakles in height, blue skin that had the texture of an elephant or rhino's with royal robes and scepter adorning the frame. The face? A frightening visage of sharp edges and malevolent gaze, staring at them with an expression she was unable to decipher, gigantic tusks and a crown adding to the strange air of bestial authority.
...Three Servants, all staring them down.
She was surprised at the pair of flinches that were present on two of the Servants, Arthur and the man seemingly unable to meet her eyes which caught her off guard.
It was like the pair recognized her, but...that was impossible. Servants didn't remember previous wars otherwise the multitude of parallel universes and differing Holy Grail Wars-subsequently imprinted upon the Spirit residing within the Throne of Heroes-would have utterly absurd levels of knowledge and experience to draw upon whenever they were summoned.
Unless…
Well there was already one or ten surprises occurring during the course of this war. What was just one more to add to the steadily growing pile, of a pair of irregular Heroic Spirits somehow being removed from the common timestream?
She brought her thoughts to the present as the three Servants arrayed themselves against her two guardians, Herakles balefully glaring with barely restrained violence as the oddly shaped one stepped forward.
"Ahh...Herakles, huh? To think I would meet the strongest Hero of ancient Greece, survivor of the God's whims..."
Illya felt her throat instinctively tighten as the Servant's powerful tone washed over them, majestic and overbearing in equal measure as he took an extra step past the other two, 'staring' at her Berserker with what seemed to be contemplation.
"You know who Berserker is, huh? You knew him when he was alive, then?"
The albino fought down the urge to avert her eyes as the mammoth being shifted its attention to her person, holding her ground.
"No. I did not. But few exist that do not know of his legend...to encounter him on this field of battle, heh. Who would have thought?"
Releasing a trembling breath as the hulking Servant returned his attention to her Berserker Illya glanced at King Arthur, noticing that she still had her eyes averted.
"Saber...do you remember me? Illyasviel?"
For a moment the Homunculus thought the King of Knights wouldn't reply, to continue ignoring her...and with shame evident in her expression Arthur responded, "Yes, Lady Illyasviel...I do. And all I can do is offer my condolences, I...am not in control of myself right now."
"It is through no fault of the King of Knight's that she must disappoint you, young lady...her Master is under my compatriot's own authority."
Biting back a scowl Saber turned to what Illya felt safe in assuming was Rider, harshly remarking, "And yet you would still allow this to happen to a fellow King?! Where is your honor?!"
"I have my honor, King of Knights...but honor is oftentimes a luxury, not a certainty. And I have an ambition of my own to fulfill."
Illya felt the conversation run dry, glancing at Shirou as to hopefully get a grasp of what he was doing-
-and came up short as she found both him and the tanned man glaring at each other, both wearing equally unsettling expressions of disgust and confusion as they stared the other down.
"Onii-chan?"
Not even so much as glancing at her her brother asked, "Illya? Can you distract them for a few seconds? I have a way to get us out of this."
"Ok, Onii-chan."
Holding back her questions for the moment the Homunculus locked her eyes on both Saber and Rider, calmly stating, "Berserker...kill them."
With a bestial roar Herakles leaped forward, speeding towards the two Servants as the unnatural one raised his scepter high, announcing, "I, Ivan IV Vasilyevich, will answer your challenge!"
Saber made no such proclamations but raised her sword nonetheless, swirling wind hiding the blade from view as Herakles crashed into the pair with the force of a mountain.
She spared them no attention, something else catching her attention...something unnerving.
"I am the bane of her foes."
A reverberating echo caused her head to spin as the magic circuits dotting her brother's body flared to life, the tanned Servant opposite him-for just a single second-displaying such shock and disbelief that his jaw dropped before matching Shirou's chant with one of his own.
"I am the bone of my sword."
"Steel is my fist and fire is my gaze."
"Steel is my body and fire is my blood."
Unable to refute the impossibility before her, that both were chanting arias of near identical structure Illya felt something cold and worrying turn her veins to ice.
"I am but one blade comprised of many."
"I have created over a thousand blades."
She was barely aware of lightning crashing around her, of the furious gusts of wind kicked up by Herakles attacking the pair of Servants with nothing held back, Rider's natural durability and Saber's skill keeping them in the fight.
"A bringer of death, so that one may live."
"Unknown to death, nor known to life."
The air became charged with conceptual weight, spreading to encompass both the Homunculus and battling Servants.
"A weapon feels no pain, given meaning only by the hands that wield it."
"Have withstood pain to create many weapons, yet these hands will never hold anything."
Both Human and Servant opened their eyes, meeting the other's gaze and roared out their final verses.
"I seek now to hunt my prey, Unlimited Blade Works!"
"So as I pray, Unlimited Blade Works!"
Fire and snow dominated Illya's vision, sweeping across the field in an unstoppable wave...and then they were gone.
