Chapter 23

The wind that swept past the hill was warm and calm. However, the situation on top of Hill was a heated and chaotic one. The world inside the Lesser Grail shook a little. The two Einzbern Homunculi, the last of one of the world's greatest Mage Family, stared each other down with deadly intent, waiting for whoever would make a move first. However, Illya 2 mentally gasped as she watched Illya 1 lower her hands and cast a tranquil and expressionless look.

"It's been a while, my other self. I'm glad that you're alright." Illya 1 said calmly, but the other Homunculus scowled at her, suspicious of her cordial manner. The group, on the other hand, looked at the two. They too couldn't understand the response of the first Homunculus.

"You dare interrupt my ritual. You have some nerve given that you failed the family's mission." Illya 2 rancorously threw her words at her. Illyasviel von Einzbern 1 was the Einzbern Homunculi who participated in the fifth Holy Grail war many years ago. The ritual failed after the Homunculus betrayed the family's main goal of opening the gate to the Root by destroying the Greater Grail. Illya 2 would never repeat the same mistake. She wouldn't let Illya 1, or anyone, destroy the Prototype Greater Grail.

The other girl curled her lips down in dolor. "Illya 2, my other self, I did betray the Einzbern family's goal of opening the Greater Grail. It is because I realized that the Third Magic is not important. Our Family was just forced to carry a burden that was caused by mindless Mages, the Disciples of the Mage, who created it." the first Illyasviel explained with a sorrowful tone in her voice, but the other Homunculus made a ridiculing scoff, disregarding her words.

"Ha! It doesn't matter. We have a cause, a purpose! That is to gain the Third Magic and become a powerful mage. I aim to do that." Illya 2 paused and pointed her index finger at Illya 1, a maddened grin was on her face. "I shall revive the Einzbern, to its former glory and lead the world of Mages as the strongest Mage Family ever! What could possibly be more important than that!?"

The words of the second Einzbern Homunculus rang resoundingly throughout the world inside the Lesser Grail. The first Einzbern Homunculus curled her lips down and made a saddened pout. Illya 1 could feel the Illya 2's determination, but she could also detect a hint of loneliness. Then there's no other way but to do that.

"No, that's not truly your wish." Illya 1 knitted her brows and casted a hardened, piercing gaze. And before anyone could react, the first Homunculus raised her right hand. The band of blue light above them made a flicker once and it made the second Homunculus's eyes widen in shock. The first Einzbern girl was controlling the Greater Grail.

"Ho-how! You're already dead! How can you still have authority on the Greater Grail!?" the second Homunculus asked angrily as the first Einzbern glanced at her.

"When Justeaze created the Greater Grail, she made sure that only the descendants of her could control it. That includes the departed ones too. I never passed on. I stayed in this realm."

"Why?!" Why would you do such a thing!?

The first Homunculus stared at her before she made a peaceful smile. "Because I'm waiting for you. I knew that you would one day take the path of revenge, so I stayed behind just so I could make you remember this." The second Homunculus was startled by what the first said. What did she mean? She was waiting for her to arrive at this exact moment? Illya 2 was clueless to the first Homunculus' words. She wanted to ask more, but the first Illya spoke again. "Let me show you the future where your true wish has come true. I'll make you remember why you've taken this path."

And then the whole world was enveloped in a white light.

The world inside the Lesser Grail changed into a new place. The group found themselves standing inside of a palace. Jim looked around and saw a huge staircase at the back of the entrance hall that proceeded to the upper floors. The walls were painted gold and the lights above were warm and yellow. The whole place was extravagant, but very familiar to him. "This is...the Einzbern Castle." Jim said. Emiya took a step forward and started to take note of his surroundings.

"This is the entrance hall...What happened here?" Mark asked in a lost manner.

Nolan pointed at the two Homunculi. "We are viewing Illya 2's wish. Her true wish, that is."

The two Homunculus were standing by the foot of the stairs. Illya 1 was showing a tranquil yet depressed pout while an enraged scowl was displayed on Illya 2, who looked ready to kill the other.

"Illya, my other self, remember your original wish, the one that you truly desire." the first Illya said in a sad voice.

"What are you playing at!?" Illya 2 growled at her, still clueless as to the first Homunculus was planning. Suddenly, a loud thud echoed through the hall, interrupting the two. Everyone looked behind them and saw the large dual entrance doors opening. The world outside was snowing. A terrible snow storm whooshed noisily through the hall, but it was cut as the doors closed again. A pair, a couple, had entered the hall. It was a man and a woman. Both were covered in snow, which they dispel off their shoulders.

"It's really snowing outside, isn't it, Kiri?" the woman said in a surprised manner as she removed her white coat. Her appearance was revealed to the world. She was wearing a white gown. Long and elegant silver hair was flowing out to her back. Her skin was white and her eyes were ruby red. Jim and Mark were both startled that the woman looked like an adult version of both Illyasviel homunculi.

"Whoa...she looks like that girl." Jim commented in awe as Mark followed. "They are clones of each other."

Homunculus clones, huh... Nolan didn't speak and only followed the girl with his observent light-blue eyes. The girl was tailed by a tall man clothed in a black coat over all black attire. The man had jet black hair and an Asian clean-shaven face. His eyes were black and almost dead like a fish.

Jim noticed him and gulped down in nervousness. That man looks like an Assassin. He felt a strange aura emitting from the man as he passed through the group.

"Indeed," the man spoke with a deep yet soft voice filled with concern. "It's a good thing that the ritual was stopped. Are you tired, Iri?"

"Not really."

"They look close." Jim observed and glanced up to Emiya. The Trollhunter noticed the terrorist mage's expression. The man was showing a strong look of reminiscence, his grey eyes narrowed on the black coat man. Emiya recognized him and he took a step forward again.

"Kiritsugu…" Emiya muttered in a doleful voice. It was as if he had finally seen the man again after a long time. "It's my surrogate father, Jim."

Jim's mouth slacked in shock and darted his blue eyes at the man. He couldn't believe that the strange and dangerous looking man was Emiya's surrogate father whom he had described as a loving man.

"Whoa…" the boy whispered in amazement as the two walked past the two Homunculi. Illya 1 made a kind and longing smile as she saw her mother once more.

As for Illya 2, a dark and doomed shocked expression was displayed on her face. The girl darted her red eyes at the first Homunculus and snarled. "You're planning to manipulate me, aren't you?!"

"No. I just want you to remember." the first Homunculus stated simply again as she looked up.

"Mama! Papa! You're here!" Just then a small voice echoed from the top of the stairs. The whole group looked up and saw two children. Other than the two, there were two new Illyasviel von Einzberns on the top of the stairs. Both of them were wearing a similar but smaller white gowns and were grinning happily from ear to ear.

Irisviel made a short and relieved laugh as she opened both of her arms at them. "How are you two? I'm so sorry that Mama came home late."

"It's ok. At least you're home!" the first Illya said as she ran along the steps followed by the second one. "We are both finished with our chores too!" The twins reached the Homunculus mother, who hugged them both tightly.

A wave of sadness weighted heavily inside Illya 2 as her doomed eyes shifted into a remembering one. Why does this look so familiar? And then she recognized the whole scene. "This is a memory. I'm not here." The second Homunculus said as she watched her other self look up to the man.

"Papa, can we ride you? Pretty please!" she asked. She and her twin beamed their smiles at the man.

Kiritsugu looked down at them and then made a very happy smile. "Of course, anything for you two." the man said and immediately scooped up the two.

"Be careful you two," Irisviel warned them gently before the man ran around the hall. The two girls screamed in delight as the father and twin daughters spun around and jogged behind Nolan.

This scene...The Viltrumite lips curled into a strong reminiscent frown on his already melancholic look. He remembered such a scene from before, during the time when he was a father just like the black coat man. He made a side-glance at Mark and noticed the Hero was staring at them with a hurtful remembering pout. A nostalgic memory surfaced from within his mind, which deepened his frown more.

Emiya, however, casted a longing smirked as he watched his old man display happiness. He always missed him. Kiritsugu was a kind man who showed him love and cared for him like he was his true son.

The second Homunculus followed the happy parents and children. "This is your memory…"

The first Homunculus glanced at her, a sad smile on her lips. "Yes. I was the only one on his shoulder in reality. The Lesser Grail is just projecting your wish. While I experienced this happiness, you were already a heart inside a jar. You can see what I see and you can feel what I feel." Illya 1 moved closer to Illya 2, and then she spoke to her with a sorrowful soft voice. "Do you remember that?"

Just as the first Homunculus asked her, Illya 2 gasped as her mind opened up. Memories from before, one that she had seen and felt, flooded her vision. Feelings that she had felt for the first time filled her chest, and past events played in her vision. Tears formed on her eyes and trailed down on her cheek. Iri's smiling, warm face appeared before her through the eyes of the Illya 1, and then her warm embraced that she had felt indirectly enveloped her.

The second Homunculus gnashed her teeth as sadness swirled violently inside of her. She remembered everything – the memories and the feelings that she possessed before and what she chose to seal inside of her once she started her vendetta mission. Her desire to fulfill her mission had corrupted her wish. She never wanted to be the strongest mage ever.

"ENOUGH!" Illya 2 wailed loud as she fell to the ground. The world collapsed around them as the Second Homunculus finally remembered something important.

Her true wish.

They were all back on the hill again. The second Homunculus was on the ground, crying uncontrollably. Her cries were filled with agony and despair. The feelings that she had repressed just so she could fulfill her mission were spilling inside of her. Illya 1 felt her sorrow. She looked down at Illya 2 with a sad frown before she also kneeled, to level herself with her.

"My other self…" Heartbroken by her state, Illya 1 called to Illya 2 softly as she raised her hand and hovered it near the other's head so that she could pet her.

"I remember…" Illya 2 said between her weeping. "You always get to hug them both, you always get to eat delicious food with them. You always get to play with papa and read stories with mama. And I watched you from afar, from inside a jar, on top of a shelf, inside that blasted workshop below."

Illya 1 couldn't help but shed a single tear. Illya 2's pain and anguish, she could feel it fully right now. The first Homunculus couldn't wait any longer, she dove to the second Homunculus and hugged her. "It's ok. It's all over now. The Einzbern family is dead. Our mission is gone now." Illya 1 explained as she petted Illya 2's head.

The other girl cried into her left shoulder. "I remember now...my true wish," the second Homunculus said between her cries, "My true wish...was to have a real body, so I could hug them, Mama and Papa. I just want to feel love."

She just wanted to be loved. Jim was saddened by the state of the second Homunculus. When she revealed her plan to them earlier, he thought that Illya 2 was a bad person whose only aim was to become a powerful Mage. However, everything had changed now. The girl was just a victim of the selfish ambition of the Einzbern Family. In the end, she only wanted one simple thing – to feel love once again.

"It's ok now. Mama Iri is waiting for us. It's ok now." Illya 1 said with assurance as she tightened her hug.

Golden lights started to emit from the body of the second Homunculi. Illya 2 was slowly turning transparent. Her time was up and her life as a Homunculus was over, but the girl wasn't panicking. Mama...I'm coming. The second Homunculus couldn't detect any lies from the first one. She believed her. She would indeed meet her mother now. A calm smile spread on her lips as she gave in and rested on Illya's 1's shoulder until she disappeared.

Illya 2's true wish was fulfilled.

The gentle wind blew through the hill, making the first Illyasviel's hair move. The girl stood up and looked up to the Greater Grail. You'll be home soon, my other self. Illya 1 thought with gladness. Her other self would soon join with her mother, Irisviel. Her wish was now fulfilled and now it's time for her to do her one last job.

Illyasviel turned to the group and cast a gentle smile. She looked at them and then she finally noticed Emiya behind the Trollhunter. "It's been a while, Emiya-nii-chan."

Emiya felt a wave of happiness in his chest. A kind smile formed on his lips. After a long time, he could finally see her once little sister, Illya. "I'm glad that you're happy and well, Illya."

Illyasviel beamed her joyful grin. The girl then shifted her focus and noticed the two men who were both looking at her with a troubled look. The knowledge of the other Homunculus appeared in her mind. She could see what Illya 2 had experienced before, so she knew their identities already.

"You are the two masters. Jim, the Trollhunter...and Mark Grayson, the Invincible Hero. I don't know if this is enough, but...I am deeply sorry for what my other self had done to the two of you."

"It's ok...I understand now why she did that." Jim said with assurance.

Mark let out a downed sigh. He also saw the sadness and the cause of the girl's corruption. She was just a sad individual and he understood her, he no longer has any resentment on her. "I understand her...and have forgiven her." the Hero muttered, making Jim smirk at him. The Trollhunter liked that the Hero had let her go and didn't dwell so much in anger.

Illyasviel nodded at the two, accepting their words, before she turned around and looked up. The Greater Grail and the Root loomed before them. The band of blue light was still glowing and its hue was increasing. The gate was still open and it was still waiting for someone to touch one of the branches of the Root. It must be close.

"Emiya, the Greater Grail must be destroyed." she said as her brother walked to her side and looked up, a worried look on his face. The girl closed her eyes and continued, "The Holy Grail system must be dismantled immediately. This ritual has hurt and corrupted many people throughout the centuries."

"Indeed." Emiya made a half bow at her.

Illyasviel smiled at him, she was happy that her brother had understood what she was saying. "The Holy Grail System can only be accessed by the Einzbern family...However, as long as the Greater Grail exists, it can be used by any Mage. It would be scary if this fell into the hands of a bad Mage." Illya explained. The Holy Grail System was a complex ritual system created by the Einzbern. Only the Einzbern could activate the ritual. However, as long as the Greater Grail existed, it could still be used as long as the new ritual system was compatible with it. Regardless of whether he or she was a bad or good person, a random powerful Mage could certainly do that. An alarmed expression formed on the two Masters.

"That's dangerous. What can we do?" Jim asked in a hurried manner.

"In what ways can we destroy the Greater Grail?" Mark asked as the girl looked at him and then to Nolan. The man looked away from her ruby eyes, and hid his desolate frown.

Illya 1 answered, "A servant's powerful Noble Phantasm, can destroy it."

A servant's Noble Phantasm? "I don't know if Heracles is powerful enough for that." Mark said as he remembered his Servant's Noble Phantasm. Heracles's Nine-Lives was just a sword technique. It was definitely not enough to destroy the Greater Grail.

"Heracles is dead. He was killed...by me. But he fought me head on and bravely." Emiya said with an awkward pout.

The Hero gasped silently in shock. Mark had expected his Servant to die, but he also expected him to fight valiantly. Heracles...I hope you are happy now, buddy. Mark sighed in disappointment and shrugged off his downcast frown.

"Wait...we don't have a Servant anymore then?" Jim said with concern. With no Servants, how could they possibly destroy the Greater Grail now? He tried to think of an idea, but he came up with nothing.

"No. Mark still has one remaining Servant." Nolan suddenly spoke hard after staying quiet for a while. Mark glanced at him, an enlightened look forming on his face. Invincible had almost forgotten that his father was a Servant. However, it still puzzled him as to why. Mark didn't believe that their strong blood was enough reason for Nolan to be summoned in this war. There must be another reason. Nolan glanced at Mark before he pointed at his right hand. "You still have one last Command Spell. Used it on me."

Dad...Mark stared at his father who frowned and looked away from him.

Illya observed the two and noticed the discord between them. Everything can be solved by simply talking and understanding one another. A kind smile formed on her lips as her body began to emit in golden light.

Emiya noticed that his sister was slowly turning transparent. "Illya!"

"Need not to worry, Onii-Chan, my time is also up. I'm so glad that I could see you again." she said and cast a happy smile at him before she turned to Mark and Nolan. "I'm going to give you both some space. Don't worry, it's not too late to be forgiven." She glanced at the treacherous Viltrumite as she said the final words.

Nolan shifted his eyes at her, showing his frown with the hint of a bothered look, but before he could ask her what she meant, the girl dissolved into golden glittering lights.

Disclaimer: I do not own the characters of Invincible, Fate/Stay Night and Tales of Arcadia. Names, Places and events are merely coincidence. If one exist in real life then its purely coincidental.

Special thanks for Pure Red Crane for proofreading and beta-reading.

It looks like the war is almost over and the end of the Grail is nigh...but at a cost. What do you think everyone? What do you think Nolan should do and Mark should sacrifice for just so he could redeem himself?