Ch5: Illya's Reality

In front of me is the doll papa replaced me with. A cute innocent little thing ignorant of everything. A cute innocent little thing that had everything that should have been mine. At this moment, I must have been smiling. Everything I have endured had lead to this point. I had lost many things up to this point. So many things, so many things that I might as well call it everything and I do, yet what did I even have in the first place? I came from a family of fakes after all. Papa was a liar and Mama was an imitation.

"So you haven't summoned it yet have you?" I say with a smile.

I won't need Berserker for this. No, rather this is something I would prefer to do with my own hands.

"Well, it would be no fun if everything ended too quickly."

I'll take it slow. Life is short; mine especially. It is the duty of an older sister to educate her younger sister. It would be a hassle if little sister unit runs away, so I'll just off a leg or two.

I pluck a strand of hair and prepare my weapon. Let's have fun with papa's cute little doll.

The tension is broken by a synthetic sound that permeates the air. Most likely came from something called a "cell phone". Good job little sister; I won't have to chase down our brother.

"Let's play a game of tag until Onii-chan comes back!"

With my makeshift sword suspended over me ready to fly, I aim for the leg.

"Install:Saber," were words dropped in an instant.

A dazzling glint in the light. My attack was deflected and my widened eyes take in the doll's form in its entirety. The doll had ditched the doctor costume and was now wearing a knight costume, but not any knight costume. The existence of the thing in front of me was undeniably a Servant, specifically papa's Saber from the last Holy Grail War.

Live or die. The outcome will be decided in the next split second.

"Berserker!" I call out.

The space in front of me explodes. My guardian knocks the little knight away along with the wall. That was close. I gather my breath along with my thoughts. Really, I should have expected something like this. Papa was always a cheater. That's why, I shouldn't have expected anything more. I walk out of the large impromptu door Berserker had made in the little shanty and stare into the small poor excuse of a yard. Black hair and amber eyes….

"Huh? You're still alive? Well, that's good, no that's great! I can't have you die too easily. I need to teach you thoroughly just how good you've had it up until now."

It must have been some sort of illusion. A little trick to get my guard down in front of the Saber Servant. It was a cheap trick, but a proper older sister should play along with her little sister's little games.

Saber and Berserker exchange a few blows, but it's no contest, Saber was really, really weak. Still, that disguise Saber is wearing is pretty durable. How did she even manage to put it on with her magic resistance? Well, it must not have been a proper summon. Saber was just too weak. More debris is kicked up and the clean noble Saber now finds herself in that filthy looking shed.

"I'm not going in there. I have you for that, Berserker."

With a single swing, Berserker disposes of that filthy looking building. Good riddance. I see "Saber" propping herself up with her sword and etched on the floor beneath her was a beautiful circle…..with familiar handiwork…...shining brightly…..

"That's mother's…."

Before I could get my thoughts in order, a large crack resounds in the air and Berserker is pushed back? Calm and collected with emerald eyes. A blonde beauty that could captivate both men and women alike. Exuding from that small frame was both grace and authority. Her hands seem empty, but the presence of a Holy Blade is undeniable. The being in front of me was undeniably Saber proper, the same one from 10 years ago.

Then who was the Saber from earlier? I follow the gaze of the otherworldly knight and she is as surprised as I am. The little black haired girl garbed in Saber's armor with a Holy Sword still in her hands was no illusion.

As a veteran of many battles, Saber's widened eyes regain their composure in an instant. There was only enough time for but a single question.

"Are you my master?"

Finally standing back on her own two feet, my "little sister" answers Saber's call.

"Yes!"

There is no hesitation in that voice. How could there be? My "little sister" couldn't have been mere human because neither was I. I shouldn't have expected anything less. Papa at his core, regardless of how kind he could act was the "Magus Killer". Someone who deliberately sought out useful tools. That was how I was born after all. Regardless of my childish diminutive appearance, I was an Einzbern masterpiece. Even an Einzbern failure is worth 100 ordinary magi. So, the question is how much is my "little sister" worth? I give Berserker the order as my clenched fist is released in front of me with fingers splayed out.

"Berserker, no mercy!"

Fluid stone meets solid air. A flurry of blows is exchanged between our Servants, faster than my eyes could track, but even then, I could tell that they were evenly matched. My Heracles was still stronger, but not by a wide margin…..would I have to resort to Mad Enhancement?

"You didn't even summon her properly!" is the complaint that naturally flows out of my mouth.

Saber was summoned just seconds ago without any semblance of preparation or intent so she shouldn't be this strong, but she was. My "little sister" simply watches the battle, taking Saber's movements in awe. How nice it must be for you to get such a lucky roll.

Stone meets solid air over and over. The sound barrier broke over and over. Attacks are exchanged at every angle and are parried from different ones, yet nothing changes.

Berserker can't break Saber's defense with halfhearted attacks. Everything will be decided in a single blow. Raising the huge stone sword in a single swift motion, Berserker unleashes a killing blow that can't be blocked, but Saber was waiting. Saber was waiting for her opponent to make the first gamble and by dodging the killing blow by a hair's breadth, she makes her own. Even so, my Heracles was faster and pulls away from the invisible blade.

"Even when mad, your skills are sharp," the knight muses.

Was dropping compliments mid-battle something knights actually did as a part of their Chivalrous code? An amusing fact, more amusing that the battle taking place. My eyes can't track the movements properly, yet even I could tell neither combatant was gaining an advantage. They might as well be having a staring contest for all the good that swinging around accomplished.

"Are you even trying Berserker!?"

Saber this time prepares a killing blow, but Berserker dodges it, winding up a decisive blow of his own only to be dodged. The same exchange happens a few more times, though the one who instigates it differs.

The pathetic looking yard is reduced to an even more pathetic state. The devastated uneven land is now barren, though such a place wasn't suitable for flowers in the first place.

"Huh?"

In a single moment, in a streak of blue and silver, papa's little doll closes the gap between the Servants and traps Berserker's sword with her own. A studious girl my "little sister" is.

After witnessing the exchange of blows, the flow of battle, she must have gotten down the pattern.

The earth behind Saber explodes as she takes the opening she was given and pierces my Heracles through the neck. Berserker stops moving, but it is of no concern for me.

"That's some impressive jousting, without a horse no less," I joke.

Papa's former Servant pulls her "sword" out of my Heracles and points it at me as a threat, but since it's invisible, sheathed by the air, it looks rather amusing.

"This is no laughing matter. Your Servant is dead, you can no longer fight, so I request that you surre-"

"Wait, Heracles has more liv..." my little sister warns, but it was too late.

With renewed vigor, my Heracles charges at Saber, his stone cleaver cleaving through the air, but Saber makes it in time to intercept it with her invisible sword. An audible squelchy noise is made. I can see Saber's wincing face and the blood that was leaking from her gauntlets. Well, it's her fault for not paying attention. Still, that invisible blade of hers is quite fascinating. They exchange some more serious blows, throwing some more earth around, but to me, with that invisible sword, it was like they were two kids play fighting. Still, as an older sister, I need to give compliments when they are due.

"That's correct little sister. My Heracles has more lives than a blasted cat. It's good that you've been doing your homework. What else can you tell me?" I say with a smile.

My Heracles even gains immunity to the things that have killed him before. Saber's precious sword was now as effective as a wooden stick. Saber has no means to defeat him now. Even if my victory isn't immediate, it is guaranteed. My "little sister" and Papa's former Servant, they won't last much longer. So I'll savor this moment.

"Little sister?" she mutters under her breath.

Oops, it must have slipped out. The claw happy cat got out of the bag…

My little sister was no longer in view. All I could see was the muddy earth on the ground. Berserker was on top of me, shielding me.

"Berserker, what do you…."

A pained face. That was the face Berserker was making. Something had hurt him? He had shielded me with his body, but from what? Berserker releases me just enough so I could get a glimpse of the newcomer. Standing on the nearby rooftop was a figure with a bow. Archer?

"Onii-chan!"

"Miyu, fall back," is what the stranger says. Saber quickly rushes to her Master's side and carries "Miyu" some distance away. Still, such a name is like the sound a conniving little cat would make.

An odd spiral shaped arrow is projected in that figure's free hand. The moonlight illuminates his form and I see the red hair and the amber eyes. It was definitely that other kid papa took in. He even has the same bags under his eyes. Those unforgiving eyes were trained on me. If he hates me, then that makes everything a lot easier.

"Onii-chan wait!" our younger sibling yells.

Based on what I have seen from my "little sister", what he had in his hands was no bluff. In his hands was something that was clearly a Noble Phantasm, a crystallized legend, a weapon of a heroic spirit. He notches that cruel arrow, waiting for our dear little sister to move out of the way, but….

A stream of arrows assaults the spot the red headed boy was standing on. He's forced to take a leap of faith lest he be skewered. With reinforced legs, he makes the landing no problem. He eyes his attacker.

"Archer," was the word that escapes his lips.

On the opposite roof of where Shirou had just been was a bowman decked in red. A pretty weak looking one to be honest. Though, to be fair, everyone looks weak compared to my Berserker. Archer is technically taller than average. With that white hair and tanned skin, he would have looked quite formidable if not for my Heracles being around.

"All your rambling about little sisters from earlier…and now you're going to strike down a little girl your sister's age…..you're quite the hypocrite aren't you?"

Thus a contest of shooting became one of shouting. It was loud, but not anything I'm not used to from Grandpa.

"Her age isn't a reason to let her go," Shirou says and he means it.

It seems that acting like a little girl won't have much effect on someone like him. Well, with that language, I'm not letting you go either.

"Finally caught up…...Archer, what do you think you're doing?" was the voice of another newcomer short on breath.

From behind Archer, the one with the tacky twin tails widens her eyes at the scene before her with irritation I could sympathize with.

"Two Sabers? You Emiya's better not be secretly Edelfelt!"

She must have been the Tohsaka heiress. Rather bland looking. Were they not specialized in gem-craft? I was expecting flashier clothes. My "brother" eyes the newcomer as well.

"I ignored Archer earlier since I owed you, but, why did you follow me, Tohsaka?"

Shirou readies his bow and aims it at the twin tailed heiress. Simultaneously, Archer readies his bow at Shirou and Saber readies her invisible sword, trying to gauge the newcomers. My Heracles readies his stone sword as well. Well, with an audience this big, I might as well introduce myself to everyone.

"Good evening, my name is Illyasviel Von Einzbern. Now that the final Servant has been summoned, let's have a nice, clean, Holy Grail War."

I do a small curtsy, but no one returns the gesture. Maybe Grandpa was right about the people of this country being savages, but it was then…...

"Holy Grail….War?" was the response shared by the two Emiya siblings.

The younger of the two tenses up as if she could go into a panic attack any moment now. The older one simply grits his teeth and tightens his grip. So, how much did papa even tell you two? Considering the Noble Phantasms in your hands, it should have been quite a lot? The older one gathers his breath and the bow in his hands disappears, with twin swords materializing in its place. One black and one white.

Does he intend to fight without a Servant of his own? Even if armed with a Noble Phantasm, a human cannot match a hero.

That kid papa picked up seems to have a skewed sense of humor, but as I look at his face, it seems that he's completely serious.

"You aren't a Master silly, so this shouldn't concern you," as I try to correct him.

I say that, but even if he isn't a Master, I still won't spare him, though he doesn't need to know that. Well, it's not like he'll spare me after attacking his little sister. Let's just see how this game goes. I must have been giggling to myself, but the others around me weren't smiling.

"If this concerns my little sister, then it concerns me," he says without hesitation.

Shirou's frigid gaze warms up as he turns to the blonde knight garbed in blue.

"You must have been the one stealing a march on me as an older brother, but I can't say I dislike the help," he says.

A small smile appears on the knight. It seems that the two have reached an understanding. Well, I won't lose in terms of courtesy against my "brother". I turn to Archer and Tohsaka on the rooftop.

"You stopped Onii-chan from firing at us and for that, I give you my thanks," I genuinely say with a proper curtsy to boot.

Archer makes a complicated expression. How cute. Tohsaka just sighs. She's probably just jealous that I'm cuter.

The three Servants present simply eye each other. With so many factors present, everyone was just waiting for someone else to make the first move. If Saber engages Berserker, then Archer has a free shot on both of them. Logically, it would be best to eliminate Archer first as he has the range advantage. Even so, the first one who charges at Archer would expose their back. So Saber and Berserker were waiting for the other to make the first move. The Emiya siblings with their own Noble Phantasms are another set of variables. If the Servants engaged each other, the Masters will have to deal with each other and it seems that my "siblings" have the absolute advantage in this regard.

"It's getting late, my little sister needs her sleep, so can I ask all of you to leave?" the boy says as he brandishes his swords paying no heed to the craters and debris all around him.

"Well, this place doesn't seem very habitable, would you two like to stay at my place for the night? I can assure you, it's a lot bigger," I joke.

"I'm sorry, but I'll have to decline. Someone's visiting us in the morning," he say to me.

The red haired boy and the knight garbed in blue ready their weapons. They ready themselves for what they must do. They'll eliminate the greatest threat first. That of course, being me and Berserker.

Shirou rockets towards me, but to my Heracles, he might as well have not been moving. Berserker moves to intercept the redhead, but is stopped by Saber. He continues his charge with empty hands. That was when I heard it. The sound of metal slicing through the air in all directions around me. A song of death is played.

Berserker cannot shake off Saber so easily even if her weapon cannot scratch him. The explosive force which Saber propels herself with cannot be underestimated. He's forced to drop his weapon to disengage, exposing his back. Berserker tries to rush towards me to shield my body, but even so, he won't make it in time.

I close my eyes. The sound of slicing metal is all around me, but it was then I heard the sound of metal smashing against metal.

I open my eyes and see the arrows on the floor. The flying swords were intercepted by the bowman in red. Not only the swords, Archer had also shot a barrage of arrows at "Shirou", but those arrows were deflected by "Miyu" with the twirl of a crimson spear.

"Protection from arrows…"

All eyes are drawn to that little girl in blue, who had dawned the appearance and power of a Lancer Servant. Everyone was still. Everyone was trying to comprehend what had transpired. That little girl…...she spared me. She could have stopped all of Archer's arrows, but she purposely let Archer interrupt her brother's attack. It was frustrating. It was frustrating. In the end, I was always the doll to be played with. A cry had escaped my lips.

"Are you making fun of me?"

I was crying. This war was my chance for once, to be the one that plays with others when I was always the one being played with. By Papa, by the Einzbern and now, by my "little sister".