In the early morning with the famous rising sun cresting over the horizon, a young girl, no older than four, laid in her bed, slowly stirring as the light peeked through her curtains. Her eyes began to flutter open when the rays of light reached her, alerting her to the coming day. Yawning as she sat up, she realized what day it was. With wide eyed realization and a gleeful smile, the young girl got up and rushed out of her room, down the hall and into the kitchen/living room where her mom was making coffee.
"Mommy! Mommy! It's my birthday!" The young girl cheered, putting a smile on her mom's face.
"Oh really?.." The older woman questioned, "Well you know what that means?"
"I get my Quirk!" The girl cheered again.
"Nope." Her mom popped, approaching her and putting her mug down on the table. "It means one thing… Birthday tickles!"
The girl screamed and tried to run away but her mom was faster. Quickly scooping her up, the girl's mom began the mother of all ticklings. The girl laughed and screamed even louder, trying desperately to push away but failing to do so. Her mom began to laugh with her, seeing her little baby squeal and squirm.
"M-Mommy! Ahhaha!" The girl screamed but her mom kept up her assault.
"Now what's going on here?" A male voice jovially asked. The two girls, who were still tickling and being tickled, turned and saw the man of the house approaching with a smile on his face.
"D-Daddy! Help!" The girl cried.
"No can do, princess. You're trapped with her and I don't think I can help." He said with a chuckle.
"Oh Sarina. You should know better than to seek your father for escape" Her mom teased.
"NOOO!" The girl, Sarina, screamed, bursting out laughing as her mom tickled her with increased vigor.
Soon the mother daughter pair finished the tickle session and had breakfast as a family. With Sarina panting from more exertion than she liked, her mom giggling at her daughter's expression and her father quietly smiling as he ate, the three were as happy as could be.
Unfortunately for the happy family, the time for school and work came just as it had the day before. The father was the first to leave, kissing both his daughter and wife goodbye as he left. Soon after, Sarina and her mom were in the car on the way to school just as they did every day, but today, what a day it would be.
Today was Sarina's fourth birthday. The day when a majority of people get their Quirks. Other's get theirs before or after but within a year of your fourth birthday, you'd know if you had a Quirk or not. And with the population of Quirklessness decreasing, today was the day Sarina hoped to get hers, whatever that may be. For her appearance, Sarina was fair skinned and slightly taller than a normal girl her age. With blonde, near white hair and tropical blue eyes, she wasn't what you'd expect from a half Japanese child. Her mom, born and raised in Germany moved to Japan and met her dad. They've lived here since, raising Sarina in the land of the rising sun.
After a short drive, Sarina was dropped off at the school, along with a number of other kids and quickly made her way inside.
The classroom was carpeted and padded. With kids gaining unknown quirks every day, it pays to be prepared for when any accidents inevitably occur. Today Sarina was internally hoping she'd be the cause of one of those accidents, many of her friends have already.
She'd have to wait for that though as her teacher quickly gathered all the kids around and began teaching.
"And can any of you tell who this is?" The teacher asked.
"Endeavour!" A few kids with fire Quirks shouted as the teacher showed a picture of the man.
"And lastly…" The teacher said with a shit eating grin while covering an ear with one hand and holding the card with the other."
"ALL MIGHT!" The entire class exclaimed as one and the teacher was glad he prepared. They've all seen his somewhat recent debut video at some point and each and every one of them aspired to be just like him. Sarina was no different. Like everyone else, she wanted to be a hero when she grew up. All she needed now was a Quirk.
"All right, all right, back to your seats." The teacher said with a light chuckle at the kids' reactions. All the kids began racing back to their seats but before they could do that...
"Eww, what's that?" A kid pointed out as they were making their way back.
The rest of the class turned and saw what he was pointing at. A small, blackish-red puddle of oozing goop.
"What is it?" One kid asked.
"It looks weird." Another said.
"Who did that?" A third questioned.
"Wasn't that where Sarina sat?" Someone else responded.
All eyes turned to her when that last kid spoke. It was a little unsettling for her. Seeing everyone wary of her and what she apparently created. Wait, was this her quirk? What can it even do then?
Her thoughts were then interrupted by the teacher, "Alright children, let's just leave it be and it will go away on its own." He said, already on the phone and talking to the office.
Sarina however felt drawn to the puddle as if it was hers. Slowly she approached it and it seemed to bubble as some kind of response. She flinched back when the first bubble popped but after it settled back down, she began towards it again. Like before, bubbles began to appear but this time she didn't flinch. It was an odd sight that seemed to be linked to her.
Now not a foot away from the small pool now, Sarina kneeled before it while the bubbles continued to grow in size and number. Instinctually, Sarina stretched out her hand. It just felt like the thing to do. As soon as she was about to touch the bubbles, something that sounded like a sneeze blew all the bubbles away. All that was left was a young looking wolf where the puddle had once been. A wolf that wasn't a normal wolf by any stretch of the imagination.
The most noticeable feature on the newly found canine pup was the bone white mask it wore on its face along with the bone spikes jutting out from various areas on its body. Next was it's piercing red eyes that looked as if they were looking into your very soul. Lastly was it's full coat of fur that was so black that it looked like the void of deep space. It would almost be scary were it not for the way it sat with it's dopey look, tilted head and confused expression. While its appearance was that of a wolf, this creature most certainly acted like a lost puppy rather than the younger version of the apex predator it appeared to be. Even as it sat there, Sarina felt a small connection to the wolf pup.
"Uhh… Hi." Sarina said once it looked like she was the only one the wolf was interested in.
"Awoo?" The wolf called back, sounding more like a question than anything else.
Sarina, along with the rest of her class, remained silent. Even with the weirdness of Quirks, this was something strange. Even as they studied it, the wolf remained unmoving
"I… I'm Sarina." The girl hesitantly introduced herself to the wolf.
"Awooo!" Howled back the pup before leaping onto her. Once she got a hold of the wolf, Sarina was the first to break out laughing as the wolf truly acted like a pup and began to play with her. The other kids, seeing no harm come to Sarina, quickly began rushing around the pair and exclaiming things she just couldn't hear. All saying things like how cute it was and if they could play with it.
"Well… It looks like you got your Quirk Sarina, congratulations." The teacher applauded with a smile. "Your parents have been called to take you to a specialist so you'll be free to go when they arrive. This is definitely a different, quirky, Quirk."
Sarina could just make out what her teacher had said. She was enjoying her new wolf far, far too much. This was the best birthday present she could ever ask for however and would treasure it for all time.
Her dad was the one to pick her up from school and take her to the doctor's. They didn't have to wait long and were already seeing their local specialist, being asked numerous questions.
"Sarina Yoru, female, age four, Quirk: well that's what we're here to find out." The doctor said as she read from her clipboard. "Alright Sarina, can you tell me what happened for… him to appear."
"Uh-huh," Sarina vigorously nodded, cuddling the wolf in her arms to no complaints of the creature. After the initial shock, she hasn't let go of the pup, "We were naming superheroes and when we were done someone noticed this black puddle where I was. When I came closer, BIG bubbles bubbled up." She exaggerated, "I was scared for a moment but it called to me. Right as I touched it, all the bubbles and the puddle blew away and she was there." She continued gesturing to the black and white canine. "She only likes me though, no one else could touch her."
The doctor took a few moments afterwards to write all that down. "Black puddles. Bubbles and liquid that appear to turn into a wolf. Female. Defensive, likely protective of the user." Once she finished her notes, the doctor turned to Sarina's father. "Mr. Yoru, I must say your daughter has quite the interesting Quirk. There aren't many Quirks that are creation based and even fewer, if any, that involve life."
Sarina's attention was drawn from the wolf to the doctor with curiosity. "I created her?"
"Assuming everything is true and it does look like it." She replied with a smile.
That just got the girl to squish her wolf in an even greater hug. The wolf howled in response, victory from the sound. The two adults had a laugh seeing their daughter/patient so happy.
"I'm guessing you're going to want her to test this out some more?" Mr. Yoru asked, returning to matters at hand. "My wife should be here any minute."
"We've got quirk-proof training rooms for that very reason. Room eight's all ready for you two." The doctor answered, directing the last part to the wolf-girl duo.
"Alright Sarina, let's see what your quirk can really do." Her father said to which the girl vigorously nodded again.
A few minutes later, the three moved into a padded room that was more of a long hall than a room. There were multiple different items and targets scattered throughout for those with ranged quirks, a sprint track for those with speed quirks, and where they were, a variety area for quirks that can't be as readily described.
"All right," the doctor said, moving to a nearby control panel. "We're going to start off easy. Sarina, could you tell your wolf to run to the end of the room and back?"
"Uh-huh." Sarina replied as she finally put the wolf down. "So uhhh… run to the other side and come back? Please?"
Even with her uncertainty, the black wolf did as told. Sprinting the hundred meters in just over eight second and sprinting back in the same time. It took a total of less than twenty seconds for the wolf to be gone and back.
"Forty three point two kilometers per hour, quite impressive for a newborn pup." The doctor mused, "Adult wolves can run up to sixty kilometers per hour."
Sarina was smiling hearing that and as such, her wolf was trotting around happily as well.
"Now let's see…" The doctor returned to her tablet, "Those black puddles, do you think you can create more of them?"
"I think I can?" Sarina doubtfully answered. She hadn't even known she did it in the first place.
"For Quirks, it's a matter of looking into yourself and feeling something that wasn't there before and pulling at it." The doctor helpfully advised. "That or a feeling you didn't know you had and drawing from it."
"Okay." Replied Sarina. She closed her eyes and tried to concentrate. Looking into herself, there was... something. She didn't know what it was but it felt… dark. That's the best way she could describe it. Some unnatural thing that bent to her will? As soon as she thought of grabbing that feeling, the way she envisioned that darkness molded itself into a handle. Dismissing this as how all quirks work, she mentally pulled.
"SARINA!" A shout came and broke her concentration.
Opening her eyes and turning to the voice, she, her dad and the doctor all looked to see Sarina's mom with wide eyes and both arms stretched out, Quirk at the ready. Seeing that fear in her own mom, Sarina staggered back, losing the little hold she had on her Quirk. Everyone else in the room was surprised by the sudden entrance of the Yoru matriarch. Sarina's wolf however took an aggressive stance in front of Sarina, barred teeth and raised fur towards her mom, it's deep red eyes burning with hatred. Were it not for its diminutive size, it would be terrifying.
"Eisig, what are you doing!" Mr. Yoru screamed when he saw his wife ready to fight with swords of ice in her hands pointed towards Sarina.
"Protecting our daughter, Anomeshi! Sarina, dear, slowly back away from the Grimm." She bite back while trying to reassure her daughter.
"M-Mom?" Sarina said, scared. She's never seen her mom so angry and with all that anger in her direction, she was about to cry.
"Mrs. Yoru, stand down!" The doctor ordered, already calling for assistance. "Security is on it's way, deact-."
"Good." Eisig spat. "I don't know how, they shouldn't even exist, but I can't let that hurt my daughter!"
"What are you talking about!" Anomeshi demanded stepping in between Sarina and Eisig.
"That's a Grimm!"
"That's her Quirk!"
Eisig gasped, her eyes widened once she actually saw what was happening. 'There… There was no way…', Her eyes bounded from her husband to her daughter and finally to the black and white wolf. Now that she wasn't blinded by confusion and rage, she could see the Grimm was standing in front of and protecting her little princess. While it stood in front of her, here she was, weapons drawn, pointed at her own daughter. The weight of what she was doing crashed upon her. What came next was the sound of ice shattering on the ground.
"S-Sarina." Eisig was absolutely defeated as she slumped to her knees. Anomeshi was on a knee at her side in an instant.
The Grimm wolf still held a hostile position but reduced it's snarling down to a low growl. Sarina hesitantly took a step around the wolf. It gave her a confused and cautious look to which the girl firmly shook her head to, causing the wolf to back off. Seeing her wolf sated, she continued on, deliberately slowing her steps towards her mother. Without a word, Sarina approached and embraced her mother in the biggest hug she could. Anomeshi joined soon after and the family stayed as a slumping pile of sadness and regret on the ground until sobs could be heard from within.
"I… I'm so sorry sweetie…" Eisig cried. "I-I turned my Q-Quirk against you. I-I didn't think. I-I-I-I could have..."
"Forgive and forget." Sarina said, her mother looked her in the eyes for the first time since she dropped, her own teary red eyes giving a look of confusion, "That's what you say, right? Forgive, forget and move on."
Those words, she would tell them to her daughter whenever something bad happened to her. It was what she lived by. People make mistakes and should be forgiven. Even more tears began to flow. How could they not? Even after what Eisig was about to do, her daughter still forgave her. She was one moment away from lunging at the wolf, nothing but a puppy, her daughter's quirk. Sarina herself. How could she ever forgive herself if she had lunged. She didn't know and as such, she weeps.
Outside of the group hug, the doctor watched as security arrived. She waved them down and directed them outside, leaving the family to their emotional reconciliation for the time being. It was a moment she wished she'd see more of when a parent learns of their child's Quirk. It happens far too often and she just hoped this one went well. Even if she just didn't know why this one happened in the first place.
The wolf noticed the door close and slowly approached the family pile. It's mistress was sad and needed to be happy. It rubbed against the two girls, it's bone covered mask rubbing against Sarina's side and it's tail swishing along Eisig's side. The two broke apart and gazed at the Grimm pup.
"So…" Eisig sniffled, gaining the wolf's attention, "You're my little Sarina's Quirk."
The wolf looked to Sarina who gave a small nod before nodding itself. A small, disbelieving chuckle escaped the mother. Her arm slowly extended to pet the wolf, stopping, hesitating, just half way. The Grimm finished the act, leaning into the hand as the woman found just how fluffy the wolf's fur was, bone protrusions aside.
"I'm sorry… I guess you really aren't like the others." Eisig softly chuckled.
"Mommy? What do you mean, others?" Sarina asked.
Eisig looked to her husband, gesturing to open the door for the doctor. Once he got up, she started. "Well that's a long story… Are you sure you want to hear it?"
"Yeah!" Sarina cheered, the fear and sadness from earlier gone. Now they were replaced with curiosity and happiness as she was about to hear a new story.
The doctor and Anomeshi entered again as Eisig nodded to them. "It all starts back in the early twenty-first century, before the rise of Quirks." The doctor stood off to the side, continuing to take notes, "The Americans created a web show that told the story of four girls, heroes in their own right, burdened with protecting their world from the creatures of darkness, and tasked with defeating an immortal evil. This show was called RWBY. Written R. W. B. Y. These creatures, the Grimm," Eisig nodded towards the wolf, "are soulless beasts that wish to see the destruction of humanity. However," she sighed, "They seek fear, sadness, jealousy, any negative emotion and hunt. While they live on these instincts alone, they have a queen, Salem. Locked in an eternal war with her former love she fights for eternity, controlling the Grimm as her army to do her bidding. She controls, and loves them, much like you."
"D-Does RWBY actually exist?" Sarina asked.
"I… I don't know," Eisig admitted now that the Grimm appeared real, "Seeing this… It's why I… I…"
"Honey…"
"You don't have to say any more, Mrs. Yoru. This is already quite useful as is." The doctor said as she wrote. "If young Sarina's Quirk is at all like this Salem's Grimm power, she's already got quite the advantage when it comes to the knowledge of her Quirk. I would suggest then having her watch RWBY at some point to give her some footage of her Quirk at full power."
"Yes... That will be something we will do when she's older." Eisig sighed.
"Why can't I see it now?" Sarina tilted her head in curiosity.
"It's not like the shows you watch now sweetie, and the heroes don't win until the very end." Her mom reasoned. "When you're older we can watch it."
A pouting Sarina nearly broke her mother but the girl relented before she could break. "Okay… So what about her?"
"Her?" Her mom asked.
"Yes it seems our little girl's already gone and got herself a pet." Anomeshi said with a chuckle as the Grimm wolf pup lept into Sarina's arm.
"Hmm, I don't know." Eisig said with a tease, the stress from early receding, "Can she be trusted?"
"YES YES YES YES! I'll take care of her! You won't have to worry at all!" Sarina pleaded with all her might.
"Well I guess we can then…" Eisig relented with a growing cheshire grin.
"YEAAHH!" The young girl cheered with the Grimm wolf howling with her.
"As much as I enjoy these moments, there's still the matter of her Quirk registry. Is there a name for this power?" The doctor mentioned, noticing the time.
"Ahh, there wasn't any name given, but 'Grimm' seems appropriate. What do you think?" Eisig said, returning to her daughter
"As long as I have you," Sarina responded, referring to her Grimm wolf, "Anything will do."
"Woof!"
After some giggles for the accidental rhyme, the doctor spoke again. "Alright, Quirk: Grimm. I'll process this and you'll be all set. If anything new about your Quirk comes in, update your registry. I wish you all luck." She dismissed. Even if all the normal tests had been side lined, Sarina's Quirk was weird enough to warrant such a change.
As the Yoru family left the clinic with a new member to their home, Sarina knew that this was the beginning of something special. With her Quirk, the power over Grimm, she would become a hero. And even if she didn't know it, she would become a queen. A queen to rule the Grimm. Salem.
And here's another story start from me. I really need to cut down on the number of ideas I have... Moving on, this is the pilot chapter of 'The Grimm Hero Salem'. So yeah, this is a story where the Quirk of the OC, Sarina Yoru, is the control and creation of Grimm. This idea came to me when I was reading 'Phantom Fan 21's, 'Grimm Warriors' which deals with more peaceful Grimm and Grimm partnerships along with different Quirk MHA stories.
I started out having Sarina gaining a regular wolf Grimm as a companion because, in all honesty, I read RWBY crossover fics before even watching the show and that's what I imagined. When Beowolfs were first mentioned, my mind went to regular, if not slightly larger, wolves. And besides, who wouldn't want their very own Fenrir.
As for an in universe reason, Sarina's never seen RWBY as: 1) She's much too young. 2) It's a few centuries old at this point. 3) It's an American cartoon (I know it has a Japanese dub but it would be a smaller audience). When she actually watches RWBY, then classic Grimm will slowly be introduced.
If this does well, more chapters will be made and any suggestions are very much appreciated as this was written on a whim. So follow if you're intrigued, favorite if you're hooked and review if you want to shout to the heavens, all is welcome (So long as it's appropriate for a critical review). It's up to you if you want more.