Ilya watched as Shirou disappeared from her view. While it was sad to watch him leave, she felt fulfilled that she managed to at least be an elder sister for once in her life before she returned with the Grail.
Her life would have been short either way - with her body and soul so heavily modified, there was no way for her to live after the changes so the fact that she was able to preform her sisterly duties at least once was a source of joy and pride for her.
Looking back on her life, there were a lot of times when she didn't understand why she was born. But now, as her life was about to end, she felt that this was the moment -
"No."
Ilya blinked as she glanced back towards the doorway into the Greater Grail. A figure had started to materialize within it as it stepped out from the light.
"I would be a terrible mother if I can't help my daughter in her time of need!"
The figure materialized into a tall woman with white hair and similar face to Ilya. To the young girl, it was as if a specter walked out from her memories, causing her to just stare at the woman.
"Mama?" Ilya whispered, as if she was in a dream and the slightest noise would wake her up.
Irisviel took two steps and gave her daughter a hug. "My sweet little Illyasviel. You`ve gone through some hard times."
Without knowing, Ilya had already wrapped her own arms around her mother. "Mama!" Tears ran down the young girl's face as mother and daughter reunite at the gate between life and death. For Ilya, it was something deserving to be called a miracle - the ten years between the Grail Wars had taught Ilya some hard lessons that, even if Shirou had shattered everything she had believed in, forced her to understand the concept of the 'impossible'.
But here, at this place, not only is she the one to create a miracle for her foolish brother, but she was to receive one as well...
"Hush now." Irisviel cooed as she ran her hands through Ilya's hair. "Mama's here. Let it all out."
A deep cry came out of Ilya as she buried her face into the bosom of her mother. All the sadness and pain that she had endured in the 10 years flooded out like an unstoppable flow in face of the person who had disappeared from her life for so long.
In a place where time has nearly no meaning, two white-dressed woman with white hair sat together in front of a gate. The gate's door had been slowly closing, but in a place where only the soul existed, time was something that was more flexible than those with flesh.
Ilya sat with her head resting on her mother's shoulder while Irisviel rubbed her daughter's head and hair. The young girl's eyes were closed, but there would be no rest for her in this place.
"You know," Irisviel said, breaking the silence. "I would have never thought Kiritsugu would have another child without me."
Ilya opened her eyes and glanced up at her giggling mother. "I saw what you did for him. What a good sister you are!" Ilya blushed as her mother praised her. "I'm sure he'll have a beautiful future ahead of him."
"Mama!" Ilya protested at the continued needling of her mother. Somehow, she never remembered how much her mother liked teasing her. "I'm just can't leave him like that. He deserved to be with the people he saved after all that he sacrificed!"
Irisviel was silent as she slowly combed through her daughter's hair. Ilya looked again at her mother's face and noticed that Irisviel was looking straight at her with the saddest look in her eyes.
"I know. And that's why my greatest regret is that I couldn't have been there for you as your mother." Irisviel whispered. "You deserved to be happy as well."
Ilya blinked. And suddenly realized that the warm comforting hand was now behind the steadily closing gate. "Mama?" She cried out, trying to reach towards her mother's hand, but finding that the gate was moving further and further away.
"Live, Illyasviel." The young girl's mother said. "Live and have fun. And don't come back until you have some grand-babies for me to play with!"
"Wait! Mama!" Ilya's vision turned to white as the gate closed with a final 'thump'
Being reborn was something that nobody should ever feel, Ilya thought to herself as she played around with the ambient prana around her. 'It's terrible and it sucks and I hate it.'
It seemed that whatever her mother did had sent her back in time to the Einzbern mansion, a time where both her mother and father still lived. It was... well, frustrating to be a baby, and even worse was that she could feel that she was "sent back", and her body had still been modified from birth.
But it was different. The way her body and mind worked was different. The way the mansion looked was different. The way the world felt was different. The way her mama and papa spent their days with her was different.
Was this not 'Time Travel', but rather 'Kaleidoscope'? It would not surprise Ilya, considering that Zelretch had a part in the Grail systems. But regardless, it seemed that a Grail War was being planned, and she was to be a part of it somehow.
Or at least, she thought so until one night she was woken up by her parents arguing.
"If you're going to abandon it, you know what that really means?" Kiritsugu asked, placing a hand on Irisviel's shoulder.
"I know." Irisviel said, and gently removed Kiritsugu's hand from her shoulder. She gave Kiritsugu a kiss and moved towards Ilya. Some words were exchanged lightly, but when Irisviel walked towards the crib that Ilya was in, the mother had the same sad smile on her face when she was in front of the Gates.
"I wonder if this is wrong." Irisviel said to Kiritsugu. From the way she said it, it was clear that she was not expecting an answer. But neverless, Kiritsugu gave her one.
"I don't know... But this will not be a mistake. I'm make sure of that."
Ilya wasn't sure what was happening, but she was sure this was going to be a big mistake. She loved her parents dearly, but she had to admit they weren't the smartest people around (in her opinion).
"Well Ilya." Her mother said. "Time to sleep!"
Her mother's hand reached out for her and she tried to stop it with her own hands. Of course, being a baby she was no match for an adult. "The next time you wake up, you'll be reborn..."
'I hate being reborn!' Was her last thought as everything went dark.
A Life of Irony
A Fate Stay/Night x Fate/Kaleid Liner PRISMA☆ILLYA crossover.
I've had this idea stuck in my head for a LONG time. I'm going to throw this out now and see how far I can get with it before I get stuck.
