Chapter 5 – New and Old

AN: Hey everyone, I have a fun chapter here with the return of some great Fate charecter. As well as a few of the new ones for this story. Hope you enjoy this chapter, leave a review with your comments and questions, and have a nice day.

Qrow.

Walking down the halls of Clockwork Academy, the unlucky huntsman was offered a cigarette by a blue-haired man who wore a navy-blue blazer over a white shirt and black leather pants, "Huh, so your Ruby's uncle." the man said as Qrow took the cigarette.

"And your Cu Chulainn, the young teacher who stabbed that kid near her heart." Qrow said before putting the cigarette in his mouth, but still smirked, "Then, she dropped a locker on your head." He chuckled as the blue-haired lancer sighed, "Boy, that's must have been embarrassing."

"You don't need to remind me," Cu Chulainn said before putting his hands in his pockets, "Still, you taught her everything she knows?"

"Well, I stopped teaching and let Beacon do the rest. Then, that transfer program happened." Qrow responded before taking a lighter out of his back pocket, placing it on his cigarette, "Now, looks like I'm back on point."

Before he could get his first inhale of smoke, someone pulled the cigarette out of his mouth. He looked over to see his cigarette now in the right hand of a woman. She wore a black business suit and matching gloves with slightly visible runic markings. Her short violet hair matched her eye, "And this is still an academy with no smoking in the hallways." The magus in a suit said before crushing the cigarette between her fingers, "If you are going to indulge in that habit, do it in the staff lounge or outside the building."

"Yikes," Qrow said before turning to Cu Chulainn, "Whose Glynda 2 here?"

The magus in a suit crossing her arms, glaring at the unlucky huntsman, "I'll ask only once that you never compare me to that woman again." As she spoke, her aura radiated something of that of a Grimm's entombment of hatred.

"Bazett, calm down. I was the one who offered him one in the first place," Cu Chulainn said to his partner before turning to Qrow, "You looked kind of stress out."

"Just a lot on my mind," Qrow said before walking away from the two, "I'll just take my smoking break in the lounge then."

"Okay, it's not too far by. Just don't be late for the opening ceremony," Cu Chulainn called out, "It's on the fourth door to your right."

"Thank Blue," Qrow said while waving, his back to the blue-haired lancer.

"Hey! You know that's not my name," the blue-haired lancer said, but Qrow did not respond as he walked. Cu Chulainn turned back to see Bazett glaring at him, causing Cu Chulainn to sigh again before they walked the opposite direction.

Upon entering the staff lounge, Qrow sighed to himself. He reached into his back-right pocket, pulling out a pack of cigarette, and taking one out. However, as he was about to place it on his lips, he noticed the smell of coffee. In turning to his left, he noticed a woman resting on a couch. Her back against one arrest, her bare feet on the other. She wore a white sweater, but nothing around her legs. Her hair was a long violet, her eyes a stark red. In her hands was a red coffee mug with yellow vertical lines. Qrow watched as the woman sipped from the mug, causing grip to loosen and his cigarette to drop to the floor. Upon the tobacco hitting the floor, the woman stopped her sipping and turned to Qrow, "Uhhh," Qrow said before having a slight chuckle, "I knew the dress code was loose, but I didn't think it was that loose."

The woman then returned to her mug, "I had brewed some coffee, but I slipped and spilled it on my pants." She said as Qrow noticed a pair of stained jeans at the window sile, "An unlucky accident, but I'll manage."

"Sorry," Qrow said with the woman looking back to him.

"Why are you sorry?" She asked in confusion.

"O-oh, it just felt like what to say in this conversation," Qrow said in a somewhat disheveled manner, then cleared his throat, "Let's start again, my name is Qrow."

"Scathach." She responded before taking a sip of her coffee.

"Oh, you're the one Blue mention when I met him," Qrow pointed out, "You were once his teacher."

"Yes, I am Setanta's old master. And I was once a Professor at Chaldea." Scathach said, "Now, I was asked to return to help with the testing of this new academy." She then drank the rest of her coffee.

"Then we're in a similar boat here," Qrow responded with a smile, "I look forward to working, Scathach." He then saw the shadow lancer get up and walk toward him. Qrow started to extend his right hand but then noticed Scathach passed him by. He turned to see her place the mug in the sink and walk out of the staff lounge, "That was rude." He said to himself as he looked at the door. However, he then looked back at his right hand, seeing his sweaty palm, "Damn it!" he said in his head as he wiped his hand on his pants leg, "I don't know if I was just lucky or unlucky." He said before he realized something, causing his body to stop and listen. His heart slightly racing, causing him to have a small smirk, "Heh, I feel like a teenager all of the sudden." The unlucky huntsman said before looking back on the ground, picking up the cigarette.

Ruby.

Walking down the hall, Ruby hummed as looked at all the closed doors to multiple rooms. "This place could probably fit hundreds of students, but they couldn't fit each room with a bathroom like in Chaldea?" She thought, "If there are only four teams, who else is here?"

Suddenly, she looked down the hall, seeing a tan-skinned man with whitish hair and a red mantled outfit. Next to him was a woman with long white hair and red eyes, her skin as pale as her hair. She wore a white winter coat and boot resembling of what Weiss had on, though the skirt was not meant for combat. Next to her was a child with nearly similar features, but her coat with violet. Of the three, Ruby called out the name of the one she met before, or rather his class, "Archer!" She shouted catching the red mantel hero's attention.

Archer turned to see Ruby running at her, noticing the silver in her eyes, "Well, I wasn't excepting to see her here." He said with a smile on his face. Then turned to the pale-skinned woman, "I sparred and trained with her back during the transfer program."

"And here I thought you only did that with one girl before," the Pale skinned woman said with a wink. While he responded with a slight glare, she had a warm smile in response. The girl in the violet winter coat slightly pouted.

Ruby then made it towards the group, "It's good to see you here." She said while trying to catch her breath, "I should have known you would be on one of the other teams attending here."

"Actually, I'm not." Archer responded, causing Ruby to tilt her head to the left, "I will be a teacher here." He said before pointing to the pale-skinned woman, "Same with my mother, Irisviel." He then pointed to the girl in the violet winter coat, "But Illya here is in one of the four teams. She is the head of the youngest members attending this school."

"Shirou, don't say it like that," Illya said as she blushed, "It makes me sound like a little kid."

"Hey, I think I recognize you now." Ruby said as she looked at Illya, "You fought Weiss in Grand Order!"

"Oh, you mean that Ice Queen." Illya said with Ruby nodding, "You know her?"

"Know her? We're best buddies!" the red hooded girl answered, "I'm her team leader, Ruby."

"Oh, you're-" Illya was saying until-

"Did someone say my name?" Suddenly, a female voice came from Illya's hair. Ruby looked in confusion as mysterious item flew out of her hair. It was a palm-sized golden circle with a star in the center, wings on both sides, and two red dots resembling eyes.

"Huh?" Ruby said to the floating item, "What is this?"

"I'm not a 'This.' I have a name," the floating object said before a long red wand expanded out of its bottom section, "And that name is Ruby."

"Oh, that's my name!" Ruby said with a smile.

"Hm," The wand they crossed its wings as it looked away from the red hooded girl, "Copycat."

"Hey!" Ruby said, now in slight anger, "I bet I was named Ruby first."

"Well, the first is the worst, but the second is the best." The wand responded in pride, "That makes me the Number One Ruby."

"That-wha-heh!?" Ruby responded, her head starting to hurt.

Archer sighed, "Ruby." He said, but both the red hooded girl and the wand turned to him, "…Ruby Rose," Archer said while glaring at the wand, then turned back to the red-hooded girl to introduce the object, "This is Illya's Noble Phantasm that was put through a new program to give A.I. to weapons."

"A.I?" Ruby asked.

"Seriously?" Ruby the Wand responded, "Everyone knows what that means."

"Don't be rude." Illya responded as she grabbed her wand back, "It means artificial intelligence. My new partner, another girl, and I were given weapons with these implantations to test if they're viable in combat."

"Oh, is see." Ruby responded, "Cool."

"That's it? Cool. I am more than cool." Ruby the Wand boasted, "I'm calm, collective, cultivated, casual, charismatic, cheerful, cosmetic, cunning, and charming as well." The wand said as she pointed to the ceiling with one wing, "I am Ruby, the wonder wand of the magical girl Illya, who has a crush on her br-"

Suddenly, Illya clapped the face of the Ruby's wand with both hands, "A-as you can see, there are still a lot of bugs that need to be patched out." Illya said as her face started to turn red, "I'll see you around, Ruby."

"Mey, mats mill my mame!" Ruby the Wand said in her muffled voice as Illya started to walk away.

Irisviel giggled before turning to Ruby, "Hope you enjoy your stay here." She said before following her daughter.

"It was nice meeting your family," Ruby called back. Archer then turned to follow his mother, but Ruby called to him from behind, "Hey, I was meaning to asked." The red hooded girl spoke up, "Have you heard anything from Cinder?" She said with him stopping for a second.

Ruby watched as Archer did not turn around, "No, I haven't heard from her in a long time." He said before walking away. The red hooded girl then had a look of worry, thinking she should not have asked that question now.

"He sounded kind of anger and…sad at the same time. Maybe I shouldn't have brought her up." Ruby said to herself before walking the opposite direction, "Also, people have weapons that can talk!?" Ruby said before her mind began to wonder, "If Crescent Rose could talk, how would it sound?"

Mordred.

"Ihihihi." The odd laughing came from a birdcage that rested on Gray's lap. Mordred, Neo, and Penny all looked inside. They saw a blue and gold cube with a small face on one side, "Hello, I am this gloomy girl's weapon." the cube said as it talked with a hatch-like mouth, "You all can call me Add." He said with Gray's face turning slightly red, "Make sure you treat Gray right, or you'll have me to deal with."

"Huh," Mordred said as she looked at the cube in the cage, "It does talk."

"Fascinating," Penny said in wonder.

Neo didn't say a word.

Mordred then looked up at Gray, "How do you use this thing as a weapon?"

"Add can transform into multiple weapon forms." The grey hooded girl responded, "I tried to master each before coming here, but I still need some practice."

"And you say he also eats Grimm?" Penny said with Gray nodding, "How interesting." The Atlas android then turned to Add, "What do they taste like?"

"Like smoked beef, but I have to eat them quick, or else it's just smoke." Add said before laughing, "Ihihihi."

"Ahahaha." Penny laughed in response.

"Ihihihihihihi!" the cube laughed louder.

"Ahahahahahahahahaha!" the Atlas android laughed loudest.

"IHIHIHI-" Add was laughing, until Gray put a white cloth over his cage, silencing the cube.

"Huh, it's like a bird," Mordred said as her arms crossed. "Well, we should get going to the combat arena." Gray nodded before putting the cage on her nightstand. The Knight of Rebellion then walked over to the door and opened it.

In doing so, Mordred noticed someone walking down the halls. She was a girl of about her, also with blond hair. However, this girl's hair was much longer hand tied into twin tails. She wore a white and blue military like a coat that went down to her knees. Also, while she wore white boots and stockings, no pants were seen. Rather, it looked like she had a white swimsuit under neither her outfit. Then girl then turned to the sound of Mordred opening door, her eyes widening at the sight of the Kight of Rebellion, "Y-you're the son of the King of Knight!" The mysterious girl announced.

"It's that obvious?" Mordred said with a chuckle before looking over the mysterious girl, "You must be one of the newcomers to this academy."

The mysterious girl then ran over to shake Mordred right hand as she talked, "I am, my name is Bradamante." The peppy paladin proclaimed, "It is truly amazing to finally meet you."

"Yeah, the feelings mutual," Mordred responded, her hand still being shook.

"I mean, I hold a lot of respect for all that Team Round table has done. Your Father, the King of Knight, was amazing. All members were; Gawain, Lancelot and Master Merlin. All qmazing." Bradamante leaned in close as she smiled, "Tell me, is it true that Master Merlin will be acting-headmaster to this Academy?"

"I think that's right," Mordred responded.

"Amazing! Amazing! Amazing!" Bradamante responded with goosebumps forming on the back of her neck.

"Amazing." Penny said as she stood next to Neo, "She has just as much energy as I do." Suddenly, the Atlas android had a realization, turning to the mute girl, "You don't think she is also a-"

Neo didn't say a word but did change her iris color positions, keeping her eyes half open as she looked at Penny.

"I am just so excited to meet everyone, especially you." Bradamante said to Mordred, "Your performance in Grand Order was amazing."

"You really like that word," Mordred said before smiling in a more confident manner, "Well, you're in luck because I'm not the only Grand Order victory here. I saw that Ruby Rose is attending this Academy too."

"Ruby Rose…" Bradamante said as the smile faded from her face, letting go of Mordred's hand. The Knight of Rebellion had a look of confusion as the peppy paladin became cold in her gaze, "I hate that girl."

"What?" Penny responded, "How can you hate Ruby. She was the first friend I ever made back in Vale."

"You want to know why I hate her?" Bradamante responded before looking at Mordred, "It's because of her that I lost my friend Astolfo."

"Who's Astolfo?" Gray asked Mordred.

"He was a member of Team France and also Ruby's roommate during the transfer program." The Kight of Rebellion answering.

"He also died in the invasion that happened last year," Bradamante added on, clenching her right first, "It should have been Ruby, not him."

"That's not what he would have wanted." Mordred responded, her voice slightly enraged, "If you were really Astolfo's friend, you should know that about him."

"You dare say that to me?" Bradamante responded in hatred, "He left our hometown to attend Chaldea and become a true heroic spirit. You think that he wanted his two best friends to see him a year and a half later in a body bag!?" She said as she scowled at Mordred, "His team leader told us about Ruby's reality marble, that it made a clone of Astolfo." The peeved paladin said as her gaze narrowed, "Ruby Rose, she manipulates people, making them think she cares. But all she cares about is expanding her collection of human weapons."

Mordred remained quiet, but her gaze was still unwavering, "You shouldn't judge people like that before getting to know them." The Knight of Rebellion said before smirking, putting her hands in her pockets, "But you're lucky. If you told that speech to Ruby's sister, she would have punched you through five walls just now."

Bradamante spoke as she crossed her arms, "And what about you?"

Mordred then slightly leaned in as she replied, "I'm thinking about it."

"Tsh," Bradamante said before turning around, "I was wrong about you." She said before walking away, "You're not amazing."

Mordred remained still as she glared at Bradamante leave, then sighed. The rest of her team then walked over, "I think you are amazing." Penny said as Neo nodded, causing Mordred to smile.

"It was really cool," Gray said with a smile, "The way you defended your friend."

"Thanks." The Knight of Rebellion responded before starting to walk down the hall, "Come on, lets head to the training arena." Mordred said, leading the way for her team.

AN: There you go, a few more character now set up at Clockwork Academy. Cu, Bazett, and Scathach all return. The last one getting Qrow a little flustered, but anyone would when they see Scathach in that outfit. The Emiya family is here. (To those who ask where is Kiritsugu, he is not here, but will be releveled in time what he is doing). And Ruby meets Ruby. As the dialogue does hint at, a certain character I cut from Fates Collide will be in this story now. Add shows up and is fun. And we see Bradamante, who is not too happy with the with the red-hooded girl. She also hints at another paladin joining the cast of this story in a future chapter. I am excited to explore more with the perspective of Ruby's reality marble here. Next chapter goes back to Yang and Weiss, who start off with an interesting phone call with one another. That is all for now, thanks for reading, and hope to see you in the next chapter.