Chapter 2: Power and Tests

EMIYA couldn't help but smirk as he followed the short girl who was his master outside.

Snow covered the ground, and though the cold didn't bug him, he could see how his master and the others tensed up at the sudden temperature change.

They weren't dressed for this weather at all.

A small thing, but considering the lack of vehicles around them, minus the horrendously colored motorcycle, he wondered how they got here.

He couldn't see anything for miles, even through the trees.

Maybe they had gotten lost.

Hmph. Who knew, not like it mattered. In fact, unless one of his master's friends were a master themselves, then this was probably one of the safest places for her.

A town in the middle of nowhere with no one but allies around.

Safe, at least for now. A Caster would be able to-

"Oi! Gloom and doom! You ready for this or what?"

He spared a glance to the blonde girl standing only a few meters from him.

She slammed her hands together, hair flaring with a golden glow and small flames.

He rolled his eyes.

"Yang, please stop making him mad…" his master glared at the Blonde.

"He'll be fine. I'll only break a few bones."

He raised an eyebrow.

They weren't mages, that was for sure, yet they carried themselves with not only confidence but with a sense of awareness that painted them as warriors.

Of course the younger girls had holes in both their awareness and guard, the old man was a drunk, the woman was blind, and the last was a child…

Well, maybe they weren't entirely competent.

Who knew?

He sighed and instead graced the girl with a simple statement.

"Come then child. I'll make it quick."

The Blonde growled, "excuse me?"

EMIYA once more huffed.

"As I said, no human can hope to stand to a servant."

Was this how Rin felt having to explain things to him over and over during his war? How did she keep from strangling him?

She narrowed her eyes, and-

'I really hope this servant thing is just him bragging like Yang used too… She better not get hurt again…'

He blinked.

Master?

Silver eyes widened as she twirled on the spot to look at him.

'How-'

Servants have a telepathic link to their masters. I was assuming you were simply ignoring our link, but I seem to have been mistaken. You weren't even aware of it were you?

'Nope…'

So not only did his master not know of the war… she knew nothing of her pact with him and what it entailed.

Joy...

It was at that moment the blonde lurched forward, her hands raised to both deliver punishment and block if needed.

She was fast, fast enough that she could've kept up with Rin even when reinforced.

Yet, she lacked the telltale green glow of the reinforcement spell on her limbs, and there was absolutely zero prana coming off her.

Interesting.

Still, it was too slow and he pushed off his right foot, easily dodging her first blow even as air rushed by his head.

But his movement wasn't wasted.

Using his own momentum he spun on his heel, raised his leg, and with enough force to surely knock her down and knock her breath out, he brought his leg down.

He wasn't in the mood for killing teenagers, and the apprehension he felt through his master link would more than likely hinder their war if he killed this girl.

But to his surprise, she didn't go down.

In fact, she barely stumbled forward, a yellow glow wrapping around her as she pivoted on her heel and threw another haymaker at him.

If he wasn't a servant it would've connected, but alas his speed was enough to allow him to push off the ground with both feet and make her punch miss by at least an entire foot.

He landed on the ground gently, an easy smirk growing over his face.

He hadn't even had to drop his crossed arms.

"Not many people can take a hit from a servant and live to tell the tale." Granted he wasn't even going for lethal but hey he could poke fun if he wanted.

The girl narrowed her eyes, "keep talking pretty boy."

He narrowed his gaze as she lunged for him again, this time the yellow device on her arm, plus a small cannon on her mechanical one discharging an obvious bullet behind her, the recoil shooting her forward far faster that her own legs had done.

Once more she was upon him.

Her fists flew faster this time, each one aimed for a different part of his body.

His grin grew as he twisted, avoiding the first blow entirely allowing the second to clip his shoulder.

The blow carried weight, and immediately he knew she was no slouch in terms of sheer physical strength.

But the blow hadn't been a direct connection, and after having dealt with servants so far beyond her he simply let the momentum carry him around to face her once more.

He slammed his forehead into her nose, the yellow glow on her body sparking to life.

Once more, a blow that should've knocked her down, or at least broken her nose, didn't.

She stumbled back from the force but she didn't go down.

"Go Yang!"

"Kick his butt!"

Hmm.

They definitely were above average humans. She may have even given Rin a run for her money.

Still, he wasn't a servant for no reason.

And this fight would do nothing more than drag unless he finished it. But he needed to finish it without killing her and with enough impression to help his master understand just exactly what she was dealing with.

The blonde closed the distance once more, another one two combo aimed for his torso.

He simply leapt above her, watching her eyes go wide as he did it faster than she could react.

He landed on the roof of the house, his arms finally pulling out from the comfortable position of being crossed.

A black bow appeared in his hand.

The girl launched herself upward with another discharge of her weapons. She swung at his head, only for him to duck and jam his foot into her gut.

Her eyes widened with a pained gasp, the yellow shield flared, and she flew higher into the air.

With a burst of prana, he blasted into the air

He wasn't saber, or berserker, but the jump got him another good twenty feet higher than even the girl.

And before she even began to fall back towards the earth he loaded his bow.

It was a simple iron sword, nothing powerful enough to kill her, but enough that even Rin would've been down for the count after being hit with it.

He drew the bow back, and a morbid part of him thought it funny how the girls eyes widened as he released the string.

Thoom!

The fight had been going well enough.

Yang had been testing him, Ruby knew that, it was a far cry from the foolish charges her sister was so fond of.

It made her smile and cheer, despite the man saying they had a telepathic connection?!

What the heck!

Still the fight was at least holding her attention. It seemed even.

But that was before the man had leapt to the roof.

It was a testament to Yang's ability that even Ruby knew that the high ground didn't guarantee you anything against the Blonde brawler.

Yet, the man dodged her again and then it happened all so fast!

One moment Yang was at the roof, the next she was in the air with the man above her, a bow loaded with a freaking sword aimed at her!

Don't hurt her!

'Tchk. Relax master. She'll be completely fine. But I must get my point across.'

Rubys eyes widened.

Thoom!

Then the sword flew down.

It rocketed into Yang, and only thanks to her semblance and the reflexes associated with it, did she see both the sword and Yang's aura shatter, before her sister slammed into the ground.

The mood plummeted in an instant.

She knew her sisters limits.

Only one person had ever done that to her, and that man was no friend of theirs.

With the slightest of thumps did the man in red land in front of the house, his bow disappearing in a brilliant show of light.

"Good fight," he nodded to the now groaning body of her sister, once more crossing his arms.

But she had to admit…

It did get his point across. Was this what servants were capable of?

A flash of black and white, and suddenly both Blake and Weiss were above her sister, weapons aimed at the man.

"Get away from her." Blake growled, ears flat and weapons drawn.

Ruby blinked in confusion, stepping forward even as her uncle beat her to punch.

The man, hungover and annoyed as he was growled, "chill brats. He's not gonna hurt her."

"How can you-"

"Because if I had wanted her dead I would've simply hit her with a Noble Phantasm from the start."

Silver eyes turned to meet grey, even as Yang grunted and pushed herself up, hands cradling her head.

"A Noble what?" Weiss asked, the Schnee's stance still defensive but her voice softer than before.

The man sighed and ran a hand through his hair, "think of it as a servant's Trump card. Our 'Ace in the hole', so to speak."

"So kinda like a semblance?" Ruby asked, her head tilted in confusion.

"Semblance?"

She looked to her uncle, who's red eyes were still trained on the man, though more from obvious curiosity than spite.

"Do you… not know what a semblance is?" Weiss asked for her.

The man blinked once, then shrugged as he closed his eyes, "my summoning to this world was… a bit more hazardous than usual. Alas, I wasn't given the knowledge of the era I'm in."

"So that's a no…" Ruby nodded, "well uh, it's kinda like a personal super power?"

"There are more technical aspects, but close enough," Weiss added, "so is a Noble Phantasm similar?"

He looked up in thought then shook his head, "in a sense yes, but also no. First I would have to explain just exactly what the Grail war is, since I'm assuming none of you know what it is?"

The silence was his answer.

"So what is it pretty boy?" Yang huffed as she stood Blake instantly helping her up despite her narrowed eyes at the man.

He didn't rise to the bait and sighed, "the Grail war as I said, is just that, a war. A war between masters and servants."

"So like a Battle Royal?" Her uncle asked crossing his arms, and not so subtly placing himself in front of Ruby.

It was an awkward thing, but considering how he'd been a drunken mess not twenty four hours ago, Ruby would gladly take it.

"Mainly. Though, under normal circumstances each participant would have not only at least been aware of the war, but would've choosen it."

"Oh…" she nodded, "so, what does that make me?"

He shrugged, "an outlier I suppose."

"You know, after all the crap I've seen, I could believe it." Qrow added, though his comment went unheeded as Weiss spoke up.

"So you're saying that Ruby's in some sort of battle for some cup, that summons… servants?"

"Heroic spirits meant to do battle on behalf of the masters are called Servants. And the Grail is not a cup, it is an omnipotent wish granting device."

"Whoa whoa hold up," Qrow threw up his hands and stepped forward, "you mean like, god like omnipotent?"

The red clad man nodded.

"So," Ruby drawled, "if I win, then I can wish for whatever I want?"

"Yes."

Her eyes widened and she looked at Weiss who was staring at the man like he'd grown a second head.

"Thats-"

"Great?" Blake asked, looking between her and Weiss.

"It's fantastic!" Ruby cheered, her smile growing, "we didn't have a way to win! But now? We can literally wish for Salem to stop! Maybe we even turn her back!"

"If you win, you could, though I know not who this… Salem is." The man huffed, "though you will have to careful. Other masters will want it for themselves."

"But with all of us, and Jaunes team," Weiss started, the corners of her lips turning up, "maybe.. just maybe…"

"It could turn this whole war around." Qrow stated.

Then it was silver eyes and a brilliant smile that spoke, "and if we get the Grail…"

All eyes turned to her.

"We can beat Salem."

"So the Grail can grant me any wish?" Jaune asked carefully, his eyes on the woman before him.

She nodded once, her blue dress splayed across the couch as she replied, "yes Master. Anything, and it's for both of us. It's why I chose to fight in this war."

Jaune nodded as Ren stepped back out from the kitchen, a plate of pancakes in his arms as Nora snored from the floor next to Saber.

The boy gently placed the plate before Saber who's eyes grew wide.

How a girl that size could devoured more pancake filled plates than even Nora be wasn't sure.

"Thank you, lord Ren." She nodded politely before hungrily turning to the food and diving in with pure abandon.

He chuckled at the sight as Ren spoke up, "so this war, we can win and ask it to do whatever we want?"

Again the woman nodded.

"Can it reverse time?"

Blue eyes looked up at him, a heaviness laid in them before she simply nodded and continued eating.

"What're you thinking?" Ren asked.

"I'm… not sure yet… but if it can turn back time… or raise the dead…"

Pink eyes widened, "Phyrra."

Jaune grinned.

"Do you think team RWBY will agree?"

"Why wouldn't they!" Jaune smiled, "it's not everyday we get a chance to to bring back our friend who died! They'd jump at the chance!"

"And Ruby's mother?"

The smiled died.

He hadn't thought of that.

What if Ruby heard about the wish and wanted to help him win but- no, of course she'd help him. That was Ruby for you.

But could he just ignore the fact the Ruby and Yang both had no mother? Would he be selfish for wishing for Phyrra?

Was he selfish for not even thinking about it?

A hand gently squeezed his shoulder.

"I know not who this Ruby is master," Saber sighed, "but it would be best to always speak the truth with your allies."

He noticed Ren nodding from his place against the wall.

"That's probably a good idea," he chuckled darkly, "but don't worry. I'll talk to Ruby. Not gonna keep her out of this. Not like Qrow."

"We both know he did it to protect us," Ren calmly stated.

"Yeah well, it didn't help Pyrrha did it." He huffed.

There was no answer.

Instantly guilt crushed his heart, "sorry Ren. I didn't-"

"I know," his friend smiled.

"Still master," Saber spoke her plate of eight pancakes completely and utterly gone, and not a single crumb in sight, "we should get moving. This building while it looks sturdy, will not farewell if the Archer class decides to bombard us from afar. We need to find the other masters."

"Well how far do we have to search for the other masters?" He asked.

The woman was quite for a moment, eyes focused on the ceiling before she replied, "the city should be fine. The only experience I have of the wars shows them only being in a city."

His heart plummeted.

"So… there's seven super powerful beings in Argus that want to kill me?"

She nodded, "yes."

His shoulders slumped.

"Great… we can't ever get a break can we?"

Ren chuckled but failed to reply.

He shook his head at his friend and leaned back with crossed arms against the couch.

Would it really be this simple? Just… beat some servants and masters? Saber had said they'd have to kill the servants and the masters… he wasn't…

Well, it wasn't comfortable to think about. But, he could relish in his imaginary victory right?

What would it be like to have Pyrrha back? Would she be happy?

Argh!

He frowned.

Now he was getting his hopes up.

They still had to win this thing after all. Plus Ruby and her team would help. They were great like that.

Now Qrow and Ozpin on the other hand…

Well if they saw Saber and she convinced them with her whole disappearing armor and sword act then maybe they'd help too!

Heck, if they could get in touch with Sun then-

A click, and a voice broke his thoughts, "Jaune, I'm home. You wouldn't believe how miserable the store was. Two hours just to find the right size diapers! I swear!"

His heart dropped in the pit of his stomach.

Sabers eyes went to his.

"Master?"

In all fairness, there had been a lot of explain going on so it wasn't his fault he had totally forgotten how they would explain to his sister!

Somehow it was Nora's fault he just knew it.

He sighed and stood, "don't worry it's just my sister. I'll have to-"

"I've got it!" A orange haired blur leapt up from the floor and dashed out of the living room and towards the front door.

"She's awake!" Jaune gasped, and Ren too took a step back.

Saber chuckled.

"Lady Nora is rather skilled at hiding her breathing. If I were not a servant she could've fooled me as well."

He simply shook his head hopefully Nora wouldn't-

"Jaune has a girlfriend!"

"Barbarian!"

And the universe just loves proving him wrong doesn't it?

What did he ever do to the universe!

Cinder Fall stared at the road before her. The trees were tall and the sun dipped ever lower on the horizon.

She only knew where that girl was going. She had no idea if she'd even gotten there of if she was long gone.

But none of that mattered.

What mattered was finding Ruby Rose and making her suffer.

Damn Salems desire for the relics.

She had tried it her master's way. Now it was her turn.

Of course that didn't mean she was alone in her pursuit.

The ever bouncing form of Neo hopped next to her, a large backpack on the petite girls shoulders.

The vicious grin on her face ensured Cinder that even Neo was anxiously awaiting meeting Ruby again.

The pain neo was sure to inflict…

Even Cinder felt herself shiver at the thought.

Still, it was better than traveling alone and unaided. After her last defeat she was keen on being smarter this time around.

That girl had an amazing amount of luck, and with Qrow Branwen and Ozpin likely still with her, she'd have to be careful.

She'd have to draw the girl out somehow.

Maybe by capturing one of her annoying friends.

The blonde boy.

Hmm. Maybe that could work.

Tear open the wounds from Beacon and let them fester before making the girl cry as her friend died before her eyes.

She grinned.

Yes.

That would be nice.

A hand pressed on her gut, and she looked down at Neo, who in turn was staring at the trees to their immediate right.

She followed her gaze, and saw a man walking towards them.

He was in naught but simple attire, a simple white shirt and black jeans. He was taller than either of them, but his build was slim and toned.

Why on Remenant-

"Gah!" A pain lashed through her arm and she stared down at her remaining human appendage.

Red marks on the back of her hand.

Three to be precise.

A flash of light, enough so that she instantly felt her instincts scream at her to move.

She obliged and leapt back, eyes focused in front of her as the light faded as fast as it had come.

Before her stood a woman dressed in purple, her face covered by a black hood.

"Are you my master?"

Interesting, she could sense no immediate danger from this woman, yet her very presence made her instincts squirm.

And she had asked if she was her...master?

"What are you talking about?" She asked, careful to keep her powers at bay, yet ready to use them at a moment's notice.

The woman simpled huffed, "I am the Caster of this War, you summoned me did you not master?"

She blinked.

War? Summoned?

What was this-

"Master!"

Suddenly purple and black robes filled her vision and Cinder felt herself pushed to the ground.

She was prepared to snap and incinerate the wench for daring to lay a finger on her when the ground she had been on simply exploded.

Year of experience allowed her to quickly roll into her feet, flames ignoring around her eyes and hands.

To her genuine surprise, the woman had her back to her, a purple circle that glowed with archaic power swirling before the two of them.

"What are you-"

"Master, that man.." the woman pulled, fear evident as the woman took several shaky steps back.

Cinder followed the woman's voice and looked to the man from before.

He was standing only a few dozen feet from them.

Four yellow portals floated above him, the tips of swords barely reaching out.

She could make out his features now.

Blood red eyes, and a mouth turned into a frown.

"What about him?"

"That is the King of heroes."

A ridiculous title. King of Heroes? Ozpin surely had a hand in that name no doubt. How pathetic.

Neo appeared next to her, the girls eyes wide and both umbrella and sword out.

"Did he attack us, Caster?" Cinder asked slowly standing as the clouds above her began to form and thunder rolled in the distance.

"Yes."

She grinned evilly.

Killing this man would at least be entertaining.

She braced her back foot, power rolling off her before she-

"Master, stop!"

Cinder blinked and looked at the purple robbed woman.

Her head was down, and her lips, the only thing visible from under the hood, twisted in a snarl.

"I haven't gathered enough power… we will not win this fight."

She smirked, "do you know of the maidens?"

The woman's silence was telling.

"Then you do not know power."

"Master-"

Lightning flashed in the sky, and the temperature around her began to rise.

"Let me show you power girl."

A/N I'm back.

Here's the next chapter! Obviously Yang vs EMIYA wasn't going to last long. We all knew that, but EMIYA though a sarcastic prick, isn't fond of straight up killing teenagers. He would do it if he had to, but this wasn't a life or death fight so obviously he was testing her.

Ruby reveals what her minds on with a convenient solution now suddenly appearing to help them defeat Salem. After the episodes of Volume 6 that preceded this chapter, it makes sense to me that Ruby and her team would leap at the chance to defeat Salem, especially after the Apathys scare. And still, the group is obviously hesitant with Archer. Though he's kinda proven to them most of what he says is true.

Jaune has a talk with Saber, and realizes he can use his wish to save Pyrrha. Obviously she's already explained the situation to him and considering the different situations team JNPR and RWBY found themselves in when the servants were summoned, plus the fact that Saber is a far more understanding and patient individual, it was a lot easier for his team to accept and understand what was happening. Also, at this point he still doesn't know how Ozpin has been lying to them. So there's that.

Cinder. Caster. And the King of Heroes. What could go wrong.

Also I saw some concerns, no the servants will not act like idiots. Saber acting out is just a bit of humor, in similar ways in how she reacted to Taiga, and even Rin and Shirou at some points. She's very Arturia Pendragon still, and has found a fun loving and good hearted team. Obviously she's going to be a bit more relaxed around them.

Also, no, Jaune will not be similar to Shirou. I simply made the connection that on surface level, they're similar, in that both make stupid choices that make them almost loveable idiots. But each is driven by something different so no worries.

Anyway, hope you enjoyed. God bless.

-metal4k