The Story of Illya Emiya

Disclaimer: I do not own any part of the Fate Stay franchise or the characters associated with them.

"talking"

Thoughts

Berserker I

~ Fuyuki city ~

Sitting on top of a roof at the very edge, Kuro was smiling as she looked upon the city below her.

Dangling her legs, she had experienced so many things. In such a short time, she had created such fun and wonderful memories.

Reminiscing, she did everything a normal girl her age would do.

Although some would say practicing magic was better then an ordinary boring life. Well as the saying went, 'the grass is usually greener on the other side'.

As magnificent as everything was, the one thing she truly valued was feeling the comforting warmth of the sun as it blanketed her each day. It wasn't just the sun itself that provided this gentle fondness as she enjoyed the company of the many people she had met. Even Illya and her group regardless of them being the enemy as she enjoyed teasing them.

For her former home was the literal representation of what she dreaded. The cold unforgiving isolation of the Einzbern castle. For it was in the middle of nowhere within an Arctic like tundra surrounded by doll like maids and an uncaring 'grandfather'. Living there for all that time and being raised to be an unfeeling unmerciful weapon, you quickly understood what despair meant. Especially when you could be replaced at a moments notice when you became inconvenient or incompetent.

But being here now in Fuyuki city, it was like her own little piece of heaven.

She didn't lie when she thanked Shirou. It was only through Illya's memories that she was able to retain some sense of hope. Frankly, who really knew how she would have turned out without knowing there was a better life waiting out there for her.

But at allowing that thought to cross her mind, Kuro became saddened. She wanted these good times to last as long as she could. But like the sun as it began to set over the city, her time was about over as well.

As optimistic as she wanted to be, she already understood how this was all going to end.

Standing up, Kuro took a deep breath before letting out a heavy sigh. "Well . . . . It was fun while it lasted. But it's about time the curtain closed on this little show . . . ." Taking one step out, she walked off the roof as Berserker caught her as they flew off as they prepared for the next day.

~ Homurahara academy ~ (the next day)

"Ohh geez, what is Kuro up to now?" Illya asked somewhat unnerved. Looking around, many girls were passed out from having their mana drained. But as far as everyone else was concerned, the dark homunculus was that amazing of a kisser. Though after eavesdropping on her talk with her brother, she knew Kuro was replenishing her mana reserves. Although she has seen her do this a few times before, today she really seemed to have been gorging.

"I believe she is up to something nefarious" answered Saber. "We should investigate this at once".

Doing just that, it wasn't hard to locate her as she left a trail of bodies of blushing red maidens at having their lips stolen by the devious girl.

Following the trail of chaos, they eventually caught up to her as at this time Kuro was in the middle of a duel with Miyu as they used brooms like spears and staffs.

"You're putting up a pretty good fight" Kuro chuckled. "Perhaps I should get a little serious".

"I seen what you've done" said Miyu. "But you will not take me for a second time. There is only one person I will let kiss me, and you're not it!" Swinging overhead, Kuro ducked underneath as she was quick to counter with a strike to her leg. But countering back, she parried the sweep going into a spin following through with a joust.

However Kuro was quick to jump back. Spinning her broom, she resettled herself back to guard position. "Impressive. But I'm just getting warmed up". She blitzed forward as she swung for Miyu's head.

Surprised for just a moment, Miyu was quick to adapt blocking the attack with the same move. For both girls were putting all their strength behind this.

Watching discreetly, Illya and Saber weren't sure what Kuro was doing. With magic, her doppelganger could have easily out powered Miyu in speed and strength. Though she could have been playing around like she generally does, it still didn't answer the question of why she was taking so much mana today.

"She's definitely good" thought Miyu. "But I'm better". Sidestepping, the stoic girl started pushing hard with a forward offensive. She aimed for every target that was open as Kuro's defense was full of gaps. This in turn forced her to retreat needing to defend herself.

"Damn, this is all I can do". Kuro didn't want to use her magic as she wanted to save every once of mana she could. In terms of skill, she was limited by only what Illya knew. Thus she was left in quite a handicap against her superior opponent. But at spotting Illya and Saber watching them, she found her window of opportunity.

Now with full momentum on her side, Miyu hopped up as she gave a hard swing down. Throwing her entire body behind it, her strike broke Kuro's broom in half subsequently followed by her dropping what remained. "Yield" said Miyu with a piercing glare. "You should know when you're beaten" as she pointed the broom's end to Kuro's neck.

"I suppose so" Kuro chuckled whimsically as she raised her hands in surrender. But then looking to the open door, "hey Illya! How long have you've been watching?"

"Illya?" as Miyu looked back to see her friend at the door.

With a twinkle in her eye, this was Kuro's chance. Quickly stepping in, she gave Miyu a double handed hard push. At the moment she was unbalanced, she hit both her hands up knocking the broom away as it skidded off to the side wall.

Being shoved, Miyu recoiled as her legs hit the desk behind her. Before she could react, Kuro had her restrained pushing her down on the desk as she grabbed both her wrists completely laying her down on the surface.

Just as the stoic girl tried to retaliate, Kuro canceled out her leverage as she laid her entire body weight on top of her. "The chase was fun" Kuro sensually smiled. "But it's about time the predator had it's prey".

Before Miyu could rebuttal, her lips were stolen once again. Blushing in humiliation and heightened emotion, tears couldn't help but escape her eyes. Fully aware her friend was there, "Illya . . . . Please . . . . Don't watch . . . . How shameful . . . ."

Though Miyu was thinking it, Illya and Saber couldn't look away. But for the knightly servant it was more for indifference. However for Illya, she was completely dumbstruck as watching two girls kissing get's her every time. No matter how you tried, you just couldn't look away.

Within moments it was over. Kuro had siphoned off a massive amount of mana as she was at full capacity now. Vice versa it left Miyu completely drained as she laid on the desk barely even conscious. "Thanks for the treat".

"Ahh! Miyu!" as Illya snapped back into attention as she went to her friend's side.

". . . . Illya . . . . I'm sorry" Miyu whispered as she then passed out.

From what was a look of concern changed to a look of contempt as her eyes met with Kuro's. Not braking contact, "Saber, take Miyu and everyone else to the nurse's office".

"I shouldn't leave you here with her".

"That's an order".

"But . . . ."

"Do not make me use a command seal" said Illya calmly. "Please take care of them first and then come back to me. Now go".

Hesitantly acknowledging the request, Saber took Miyu to the nurses office as well as everyone of Kuro's victims. This then left Illya alone with her 'sister' for them to have their talk.

". . . . I do make it a point to tolerate your antics. I would even go as far as tolerate what you do to me. But when you start involving my friends like that then you definitely crossed the line".

Kuro just blinked at this as she turned her back to her. ". . . . I . . . . Am sorry".

With a look of shock, Illya couldn't believe her ears. "did she just apologize? Something is definitely up with her today". So calming herself down a bit, she didn't know what game she was up too. But nonetheless she would get to the bottom of it. "Did something happen Kuro?"

"In a way I suppose. Though it's been fun while it lasted, it's pretty much over now. So I decided we should end this today".

". . . . What?!" as Illya was stunned for a second time. "You can't mean that! There is absolutely no reason for us to fight! Please! There has to be another way!"

Kuro then turned back as her expression hardened. "Then you don't understand anything about me do you?"

Feeling her icy glare, Illya was silent. For the time they've been together she had been preoccupied keeping Kuro's mischief in check. But beyond the surface of her clone's personality, she didn't understand a single thing about her.

Seeing Illya was unable to respond, Kuro decided to enlighten her of her ignorance. "Let's say we don't fight. Let's say I choose to walk away from this war altogether. What then, hmm? I'm not like you or anyone else for that matter. I'm constantly dying from just simply existing. So I have to constantly be on the hunt stealing mana from people wherever I can find it. Granted it's an inconvenience I can tolerate. However once the old man learns of what I did then I will always have to be on the run. There will not even be a moment I can rest as he will hunt me till the ends of the Earth for my failure. With the weight of these burdens on my shoulders . . . . It is no way to live. Even if I choose to participate in the war, I will still lose. Either way I will die when I become sacrificed to become the grail".

"But why then?" Illya then asked. "Why fight me?"

"I understood my fate along time ago. But I decided that If I am to die . . . . It's going to be on my terms. My choosing to how I want to leave this world. I'm not going to let some stupid war or some obsessed old man decide it for me". Kuro's expression then became darker as she started clenching her teeth. "I was born into this joke of an existence. Born only to die. I couldn't accept that as doing so would make me vomit! My rage couldn't accept this fate as I wanted to leave a mark on this world so that no one would forget I was here and that I was alive! I would happily burn this entire city to the ground as proof that I existed!" At venting her frustration out, Kuro began to calm down. "But being here and meeting you all in person . . . . I didn't feel so angry anymore. If I could . . . . I wanted these good times to last longer . . . ."

"But I still don't understand" said Illya, "why?"

"I already told you" Kuro answered with an ambivalent smile. "My proof that I was alive".

". . . . And if I refuse?"

"Do you really want to know?" the dark homunculus asked as the spectral form of Berserker appeared behind her as his growls could be heard.

Cringing at her decision, Illya had no choice. Kuro was adamant in settling this with her no matter what. Although it was not part of the plan, she will have to discreetly contact Rin on the fly. She couldn't quite anticipate how Kuro would react. But for now she needed to get her as far away as possible. "Then let's take this somewhere else".

"Fine. Let's settle this at any place of your choosing".

~ Fuyuki city (outer forest) ~ (late afternoon)

After performing her duty, Saber joined up with her master as they were far away from any living soul.

Out in the middle of the forest, this was the best place Illya could think of. If Berserker and Saber were to fight there was going to be a lot of destruction. The last thing she wanted was to be dragging innocent people into their affair.

With no prying eyes to see, there was no need to hold themselves back.

Kuro summoned Berserker as the Norse demi-god fully materialized into corporal form. Easily over eight feet tall, he was still as intimidating the first time they laid eyes on the mad servant. Gripping his hammer, Berserker gave a howling roar as mad enchantment had fully consumed his mind.

Getting into combat gear, a vortex of wind swirled around Saber as her cloths were soon replaced to that of her blue dress and armor. Gripping her hands in front, her sword of wind materialized.

". . . . There isn't anything further to say" said Illya

"No" Kuro answered. "I'm afraid not". Raising her hand as her command seal lit up, a mark disappeared. "Berserker, have as much fun as you want. Destroy Saber with all your might and leave nothing left of her when you're done". On that command, the mad servant gave a howling roar as the skies began to darken as lightning surged within the clouds. In one clapping roar, thunder struck Berserker's hammer increasing his overall combat power.

"We'll have to make due by ourselves for now. We just need to hang on till then", "Let's go! Saber!" Illya exclaimed equipping her black coat as the pair engaged the enemy. Pulling out her origin scarf, she was ready for her.

First to engage, Saber and Berserker collided. However the difference in strength was too obvious as the knightly servant wasn't even pushing. Backed by his strength enhancing gauntlet and belt along with his servant abilities and mad enchantment, it was clear who was stronger.

As his hammer struck against Saber's sword, Berserker completed his swing. Tried as Saber did she couldn't ground the attack and thus was lifted off the ground as she went flying. Crashing through several trees, she finally managed to reorient herself stomping her feet into the ground stopping her momentum.

However Berserker had already caught up to her ready to attack again.

Shifting strategies, she needed to adjust for the difference in strength. Watching Berserker's movements, she had to be faster and more skilled. Seeing the hammer coming down, she sidestepped it parrying it with her sword. Recoiling her arm, she stepped in with a forward joust.

But deflecting with his armor, Berserker countered with his hammer.

Jumping up, Saber barely managed to avoid it as her armor was slightly grazed. Turning into a cartwheel, she pushed off the ground as she was back on her feet again in guard position. In just these few exchanges, Saber grimaced as she started analyzing everything she knew. "His strength is superior. That much is obvious. However what is most troublesome is his speed and reaction time. With such a large body and weapon, it's unbelievable how easily he is able to move. I should find myself lucky he hasn't fully utilized his noble phantasm just yet as I wouldn't be able to focus on him while dodging lightening. But with one shot from Excalibur I should hopefully be able to defeat him. But I'll need to wait for the right moment as I don't know if I'll have another chance".

Back on the offensive, Berserker gave off another howling roar swinging his hammer almost wildly shaking the land and knocking down trees just to hit his opponent. Though his technique seemed primitively barbaric, it still held a certain finesse of a tempered warrior. So no matter how much he rampaged, he left very little to no opening that could be exploited when he fought. A true berserker worthy of his title of being a savage brute but a warrior nonetheless.

Biding her time, Saber maintained her defensive posture focusing on evading and countering till she could find the right moment to finish this in one move. But at the edge of her mind, "hold on Illya. I'll be there as soon as I can".

~ Forest ~

As Illya combated Kuro, all she was doing was stalling her at best. She had a plan to how she was going to beat her. Though it was risky, she had to bet everything that things would work out. Even her own life if needed in order to attain this outcome. For any other conclusion was unacceptable as she needed it to end on terms she could live with.

"What's wrong Illya?" Kuro taunted firing off energy blasts. "If all you're going to do in play defensive then things are going to grow rather dull pretty fast".

"I'm just getting started!" Illya exclaimed as her scarf twisted into a pole arm. Reinforcing her legs she pushed forward against the onslaught canceling out the magical bolts as they came.

"Tsk" as Kuro increased her attack volume projecting several bird familiars as it started to rain mini-explosive shots.

Managing to dodge a few of the attacks she continued to push hard trying to close the distance on her opponent. But running right in without taking care of the other oppositions, it was obvious what happened next. Flying into flanking formation, the familiars had Illya completely surrounded as they were ready to attack.

However, Illya had already anticipated this. "Time alter! Triple accel!" Viewing things within relativity, some of the familiars were just in the middle of charging their attacks while others had already fired them as the bolts hung in the air. With a quick twist of her wrist, she unfurled her origin scarf as she started charging it with mana as it gave off an ethereal glow. Whipping it around in the air, all of Kuro's bird familiars were destroyed as Illya released her magic crest returning back to normal time.

Seeing the loss of her sentries, Kuro began projecting anything she could use to protect herself.

Reconfiguring her scarf into a sword, Illya cut away every defense Kuro tried to put up. Finally catching her in the right moment, Illya uncurled her scarf whipping it around as it tightly wrapped around her opponent.

Binding her arms as it enveloped her body from shoulder to waist, Kuro was caught.

"It's over" said Illya. "You can't use magic while you're caught in the origin scarf. You can't break it either. So give up, you've lost".

Seeing her predicament, Kuro started to chuckle much to her Illya's confusion.

"Something funny that I missed?"

"In a way" as Kuro continued to chuckle. "A bit of an oversight I suppose".

"And what would that be?"

"Though there are many differences between us there are more then enough similarities. I'd imagine this item is keyed to your mana to make sure no one else but you can use it. Well" as Kuro started charging her mana into the scarf, "lucky for me then". With one good tug, the scarf loosened as she then coiled it around her arm trying to pull it away from it's owner.

With a look of surprise, Illya managed to react just in time wrapping the other end of the scarf around her arm trying to pull it back. She could not allow her to take the origin scarf. Stepping forward, she overlapped her fist in the apparel as she lunged in with a right cross.

Mirroring her technique, Kuro did the same. Recoiling her right arm she lunged in as well as both she and Illya's knuckles collided. Repelled at the moment they hit both their fists went numb. Though it didn't damage their magic circuits, it still dampened the reinforce spell hurting their hands. However it was not the time to show weakness as they were both back on the offensive.

Tugging the scarf on both ends, they dragged each other back in for another bout. Exchanging hits, the two were very evenly matched. Sharing the same knowledge for magic and combat, the primary deciding factor was overall ambition. A real question of who wanted to win the most. But between the two, it was clear who had the edge. Kuro had nothing to lose. Die here or die later, it really didn't matter. This fact made her all the more dangerous.

Fighting with nothing held back, Kuro threw a flurry of attacks which forced Illya on the defensive. But throwing a punch, Illya countered with a palm strike catching Kuro's fist as she full stepped in with a left jab. With it being aimed at her stomach, Kuro shielded the strike with an open hand. Getting her other hand free from Illya's, she grabbed for her opposite shoulder pulling her into a sharp knee strike. With that small opening, Kuro took full advantage following through with an uppercut wrapped up in the origin scarf.

Receiving the hit, Illya was winded as she held her stomach just trying to catch her breath as she ended up stumbling back. Losing her footing she had begun to fall backwards. Relinquishing her end of the scarf, Kuro now had full control of it.

With time now seemingly beginning to slow, the next moment could decide how this was going to end.

As Illya began to fall backwards, she instinctively grabbed for the only weapon she had. Reaching into her coat, she pulled out the Thompson Contender.

Not wanting to lose her advantage, Kuro coiled the scarf into a spear reinforcing it with her mana.

In one instantaneous moment Kuro crouched over Illya with a spear over her chest right above her heart just as Illya's gun barrel was pressed firmly against Kuro at the same spot.

With such a quick exchange, both girls were breathing heavily. Their hearts were pounding so loud they could feel and hear it as their blood raced through their veins from excess adrenaline. Sweat also trailing down their faces as they tried to calm themselves from the intensity of their battle. But above all else, they were staring into each others eyes not even daring to blink in fear of missing a moment of what could happen next.

For a moment, it was silent as both of their lives were hanging on the edge. One small motion was the difference between life and death.

"Too soft" said Kuro. "You're still too soft Illya. Do you think this is some sort of child's game? Something you can easily call time out or reset when things get bad?"

"What are you talking about?" Illya asked.

"Do you think I'm a fool? I know you're not fighting to kill. You're practically insulting me. Do you really think you can win all your future battles with kindness and mercy? Kiritsugu must be rolling over in his grave for how naïve you are. It's rather simple how this is going to end. No, how it's supposed to end. Either I kill you or you kill me and that's all there is too it". But looking into Illya's eyes, she saw them waver as they were filled with doubt and uncertainty. But underneath those crimson eyes there seemed to be a sliver of something else there. Was it pity? Sympathy? Concern? It didn't matter anymore. Though she saw her hesitation as a weakness it was also in a way . . . . Endearing. But there really was no other way as this was how it had to be.

Illya didn't like a single thing that came out of Kuro's mouth. However she knew better. Her father had taught her so much giving her all the tools she'll ever need in order to survive. But with it she understood the extreme fundamentals. Simply, war was hell. For no matter how you tried to polish it up or justify it, it still all ends the same with pointless bloodshed all spawned from the same source of greed or anger. Even now it would've been so easy to kill Kuro. Just pull the trigger and at the same instant use time alter to keep herself from getting stabbed.

Although what Kuro said was true, it didn't make it right. Till the day ever comes that hell freezes over, she refused to let killing be the absolute answer to any battle. She may not have been as idealistic or righteous as Shirou in believing everyone could be saved. But regardless of what hundreds of years of human history reflects, she wanted to believe in a higher path. Thus she was going to beat Kuro without killing her as she had her own personal reasons as well. Even if her father would scold her and Shirou for how foolish it was, it was certainly a beautiful dream worth preserving.

"Gandr!"

Kuro looked up to see black energy shots coming at her. Jumping back, she quickly intercepted them all with the scarf.

Getting back to her feet, Illya saw as her backup had finally arrived.

"You know if you wanted me to come sooner" said Rin, "it would've helped if I knew where you were. Took forever to find you with just a dowsing pendent".

"Sorry" as Illya gave a strained chuckle. "I was too focused in taking this away from the city". Looking back to Berserker's master, "it's about time we finished this Kuro".

To be continued . . . .

Author's notes: Hope this was good. Now on to some commentary.

It's a bit difficult to try and describe Mjlonir full abilities as there has been limited screen time for it. To what is known, it can call down a thunder storm. In greater outputs as shown by Beatrice in the prisma series it could even call down massive pillars of lighting. When struck by lightning it's overall power does increase. But beyond that your guess is as good as mine.

I've always been kind of curious about this, but how does no one ever witnesses these battles going on when servants are setting off mushroom cloud explosions, knocking down buildings, giant flesh monsters, or even a pillar of light? The only thing I saw was when Caren in the prisma series stated that there was a barrier around the city (set up by her or the church I'm not sure) in which everyone goes to sleep. Thus masters and servants can more or less battle at night without anyone really knowing. If there is something else, then I don't know.

So if there are any questions or concerns feel free to ask to which I'll try to answer. But please no unnecessary flaming as that's really not cool.

So thank you for reading and I further extend my gratitude for reviewing as well.