Disclaimer: Fate/Stay Night is property of Type-moon, RWBY is property of Rooster Teeth Productions, LLC. This work is purely fanfiction and as such earns me no income.
*May receive some edits in the future and maybe additional dialogue.
I lied. There is no Team JNPR in this chapter. But there is someone else...
"What news have we from the recent increase on Grimm activity around Vale?"
Headmaster Ozpin was currently sitting in a chair, nursing a fresh brew of his favorite drink. A plate of cookies was laid out on his table for him and his companions.
Glynda Goodwitch was sitting to his right with a scroll in her hand, browsing through the various reports coming from around the city. "It looks like the reports are fairly accurate in their assessment. There has been a large amount of Grimm packs migrating towards the city, one of the highest amount recorded in Vale's history."
"This is troubling news indeed," said Professor Oobleck, a man with messy green hair and a disheveled appearance, who was across the table from Ozpin. "This is most unusual. I've not seen any disturbance around the city that would warrant an appearance of so many Grimm." He was drinking from his own personal mug that he always carried. "Might you have any idea as to how this came about?" he asked Ozpin.
Ozpin shook his head at him. "I'm sorry to say that I'm as clueless as the rest of us as to why this has happened."
"I see," nodded Oobleck in thought.
"There hasn't really been any problems from it though," said Glynda, as she put down her scroll to take a sip of her tea. "From what we can tell from the reports, most of the Grimm seems to be reluctant on getting too close to the city. Apparently, someone has been culling the herd, so to speak, as whenever any of the packs move too close to the city's borders, they appear to get wiped out. Eyewitness accounts state that they saw what appeared to be a woman fighting off Grimm near the city."
Grimm activity has been at one of Vale's recorded highest since the city's establishment. Normally, this would also mean an increase in the frequency of attacks. Besides the older ones, most Grimm will attack all humans indiscriminately regardless of the danger to themselves.
"A Huntress then?" offered Oobleck. "Must be quite skilled if she's been the only one fighting all those Grimm by herself."
"Strange," mused Ozpin. "I don't remember receiving reports from any of the Huntresses in Vale about such an important matter."
Glynda nodded at that. "We're not quite sure, as we have no reports of anyone else doing so and we have no idea who the woman is. They were unable to give us a good description of the woman in question because it all happened during the dark of the night." She picked up her scroll once more and tapped on it a few times to read more reports. "While there have been no further sightings of the woman, there has been plenty of signs of various degree of damage to the surroundings left where Grimm were known to be seen. It would seem that this is the cause for the Grimm giving our borders a wide berth."
Ozpin thought carefully about that. This situation was quite strange indeed for him. The rise in numbers of Grimm in the area and an unknown woman exterminating them. Really, something an odd sort of occurrence.
"Hmmm… what do you make of this, Peter?" he asked another of his companions to his side.
"Mffouh?" Professor Port looked up at the rest of them with a mouthful of cake, as he was currently busy devouring his strawberry shortcake. He quickly swallowed and washed eat down with some of his tea before answering, "I do believe... that this is the best cake I've ever eaten since my grandmother passed away years ago!"
Glynda shook her head and just sighed at his answer.
"Really," continued Port. "I must say just how delicious this is. Why, if there was ever a need to-" he blathered on and on, much to his audience's dismay. It was doubtful if he would have ever stopped anytime soon. Fortunately, someone's arrival near their table saved the rest of the Professor's from having to find out.
"Would you like any more refills, dear customers?" said a maid with black twin-tailed hair.
Glad for her timely arrival, Glynda took the chance quickly. "Why, yes please."
Everyone else agreed as well.
"Could I trouble you for another one of this cake to go, my dear?" said Port to the maid.
"Of course, sir," she bowed and took her leave.
The group of Professors decided to take in the flavor of their freshly poured drinks. All of them sighed contentedly after having a taste.
"This place really is quite the find you've discovered Headmaster," said Port.
"Yes, I must agree that they certainly have a unique and overall pleasant service here," added Oobleck. "Not only are there menus diverse but so are the staff." He seemed quite impressed at having seen no sign of discrimination or negative interactions among the human and faunus staff.
Ozpin denied finding this gem of a store. "Truthfully, I've only overheard about this place from some of our students. They seemed to have had a rather high opinion of this place and I thought it would serve well to discuss our current matters here."
"They weren't wrong," nodded Glynda, as she took another sip of her tea. "I find it hard to find a place that could serve me tea so perfectly done as this one." She savored the aroma coming from her cup.
"And the food is just marvelous," said Port. He had ordered more food earlier and was now already on his dessert.
The Professors had followed Ozpin's earlier recommendation and headed out to the city to discuss current events. Their group was quietly settled in a homely corner of the shop, away from prying ears. The mood was quite warm and relaxed regardless of the seriousness of their meeting, due to the quality of their food and drinks.
"We should take James here, once he arrives from Atlas," said Ozpin to Glynda.
"Ironwood?" questioned Glynda. "He won't be here until the start of the 2nd semester, right?"
Ozpin smiled a little. "On the contrary, It would seem he's scheduled to arrive earlier than he'd planned on. He said that he'll be here soon, and before most of his entourage."
Glynda frowned slightly at that. She was unable to decide if meeting up with their old friend made her happy or mad. "And pray tell what's gotten him all up and in a hurry to be here?"
"I'm not really sure," answered Ozpin. "Our recent increase in Grimm activity might have had something to do with it."
Port looked up from his tea somewhat puzzled at them. "There's been an increase in Grimm activity?"
All together, his companions just sighed at him.
Somewhere in the city streets of Vale, a little girl with long white hair and crimson eyes can be seen walking merrily down the street. She was wearing a collared, purple long-sleeved shirt with a light purple scarf to match, a long white skirt and purple boots. The little girl looked quite pleased and happy with herself.
"Finally! I managed to get out and take a break," she smiled to herself, while stretching her arms up. "Rin can really be a slave driver. She should know there are laws against child labor," complained Illyasviel von Einzbern. The homunculus neglected the fact that she was actually older than said magus in her thinking.
Since their arrival here in this new world, Illya had been constantly ordered around by Rin lately to help out with her experiments and such. She had barely gone outside of their new home besides going to her own workshop, and that time she went shopping with Saber and Shirou. It simply became a little too unbearable for someone like her to be cooped up for so long, when a whole new world was there for her to explore.
Earlier that day, after taking a break in her workshop while looking at the ceiling, she remembered the first time she came to Japan for the Holy Grail War. How much new and exciting everything was for her and how she met her Oniichan while he had been shopping. She smiled at that really fun memory for her.
It was then that she decided that she deserved a day off after working so hard, so she snuck out by herself to explore the city. She was really fortunate that all of her companions were busy with their new business and fighting those Grimm to notice her presence gone. She wasn't planning on being gone for long anyway, so it should be fine.
"Waah!" she exclaimed happily. "It's so nice and warm out." The little magus twirled around and skipped joyfully seemingly in whatever direction she wanted. She looked at all the stores and various people that caught her fancy, bouncing around and giggling like any normal little girl.
Momentarily distracted from watching a passing airship above, Illya failed to notice her walk into someone's back.
"Ooof-" Illya fell down on her butt after bumping into someone. "Owww," she painfully let out while rubbing her nose. It felt like she just bumped into a wall.
"Salutations, citizen!" greeted the wall.
Illya blanked momentarily at that, finding it weird for a wall to be greeting her. She rubbed her eyes and focused them to see what appeared to be a girl in front of her with short, rather curly orange hair and a pink bow on the back of her head.
It seems the girl finally realized that Illya was in pain and asked concernedly, "Are you okay, citizen?"
"I'm fine," answered Illya, while she stood up and dusted herself off. "I'm sorry for bumping into you like that," she apologized. "I guess I wasn't really paying attention to where I was walking."
The girl gave another smile at Illya, once she saw that the little magus really was fine. "It is no trouble at all!" she declared. "I'm made of more durable material to be damaged from something such as that." The strange girl stood proudly as she said so.
'This girl is a little weird…,' thought Illya. She hadn't really known much people in this world yet but she still can't help but feel that something was off with the girl in front of her.
"My name is Penny. It is a pleasure to meet you," smiled the girl enthusiastically. "And how are you today, in this fine weather?"
"Uh… I'm doing very well?" confusedly answered Illya.
"That is wonderful!"
"Thank… you?"
While looking happily at Illya, the orange-haired girl changed her expression into one of curiosity as she seemed to realize something. "May I ask if you are alone?" she asked.
'Not good…' thought Illya. She had just now realized how it must look for someone like a young little girl like her to be walking the streets alone without anybody else to watch over her. What's more, Rin had already warned her not to use hypnotism on just anyone since it seems that people with Aura are able to defend against it somewhat. Nonetheless, it really wouldn't do if she was brought back home like a lost little child and Rin found out about it. The embarrassment would kill her, and Rin would definitely never let it go. That Jewelcraft user would torment her about it every chance she could get for the rest of her life.
Quickly trying to come up with something on the spot, Illya stammered, "I-I'm with a friend!"
The taller girl looked around them to see if anyone else was with them, but as far as she could tell, they were the only two around. She tilted her head in puzzlement at Illya. "Really? Where is your friend then? I do not see anyone else here but the two of us."
Illya was now slightly panicking. 'Think, think, think, think!' she thought to herself. "You!" she pointed at the girl. "You're my friend!" the homunculus declared. 'Curses!'
"…"
"I'm actually new in town and don't really have any friends to walk around with me, so I'd really like it if you'd be friends with me."
"…"
Illya felt her shoulders slump heavy and resigned herself to the humiliation she would no doubt endure. She could already see Rin's smug face laughing at her now. It looks like her outing would be cut short and end in disaster for her. No one would believe that poor excuse she had just said.
"Really?! You want to be my friend?!" asked the peppy girl, joyfully.
"Eh?"
"You said you wanted to be my friend, right?" The girl was now holding Illya's hands together with hers, and had her face a bit too close to Illya's.
"O-Of course!" answered Illya, mildly uncomfortable with the close proximity. 'Wow… she actually bought it.'
"Sensational!" Penny shouted out in glee. "We can paint our nails, and try on clothes, and talk about cute boys!"
"Uuuuhh…" Illya could only look dumbfounded at what was happening.
"…Wait," Penny looked carefully once more at Illya. "I think you might be a little too young for some of those…"
That was blatantly obvious, considering Illya looked like a 10 year old.
"I guess we'll just do something else then," said Penny. "Oh! Oh! This is so wonderful! I finally have a friend!"
That last statement broke Illya out of her trance. She curiously asked, "You've never had a friend before?"
Penny nodded in response.
Suddenly, Illya was beset with memories of her own time in a large castle of her family's lands. Always waiting for her father to come back to her, until she ultimately gave up on him. How much pain and suffering she had dealt with just to one day bring vengeance upon the adopted son of her father. She had no friends in that horrible place. There were only servants and the cruel teachings of her grandfather with their heritage. A lonesome life with not a single friend.
Illya composed herself, trying to shake of those memories. That was in the past. Another time, another place, and another world. It's different this time. She had Shirou and the rest as her family now, and maybe she can finally have friends as well… starting with the girl in front of her.
"Uhmm… Penny?" she smiled, to which the other girl nodded in response. "Is it also your first time here?"
"Why, yes. I have only recently arrived here in Vale so I am still familiarizing myself with the area."
"That's great! We can go around exploring while getting to know each other then."
Penny blinked at that suggestion. "That would be a splendid idea! Having a friend to talk to while mapping out the area would certainly be preferable to doing it alone."
Illya was glad that her new friend was quite agreeable with her. She'd never thought that she could walk around leisurely with a friend before. The again, having one's life shortened really did tend to lower one's viewpoint in life experiences.
Realization hit Illya, as she just now remembered that she hasn't introduced herself yet to her new friend. That simply won't do.
She straightened her clothing and posture before looking toward Penny.
"I would like to properly introduce myself to you, Penny," she curtsied in a way only a noble could, with grace and dignity. "I am Illyasviel von Einzbern. It's my pleasure to be your first friend, and you be my first friend."
Penny was surprised at her friend's introduction, but she smiled happily and copied the Einzbern magus. She curtsied as well and said, "Likewise Illyasviel, you can just call me Penny."
Illya beamed a smile at her. "Since we're friends, you can just call me Illya."
"Illya it is then!" said Penny.
Raising her fist to the air, Illya shouted out firmly, "Alright then! It's time for us to explore Vale!"
"Exploration ready!" chimed in Penny, as she stood beside Illya while copying her.
In a forest of red-leafed trees, sounds of combat emanate from deep within. Numerous Grimm corpses are scattered on the ground slowly dissipating, as the howls and roars of more of the remaining creatures echo throughout the area.
Grimm are congregating around a particular spot of the forest. At the center are two of the three Knight classes of the Holy Grail War, Archer and Saber. They stood back to back, cutting down Grimm left and right every time they got near.
Archer wielded Kanshou and Bakuya with precision, slicing off heads with ease. He dodged and weaved through half a dozen Beowolves that charged him all at once, while cutting them apart with his monster slaying twin swords. The creatures tried to attack him every time he showed an opening, only to be met every single time with the steel of his blades.
On Saber's side of the battle, Ursa's of varying size faced the King of Knights. The bear creatures looked incredibly ferocious compared to the small figure of the girl before them. Their bulk and strength would certainly make them more than a match for any normal humans. They roared as one at their opponent, who merely stood her ground, unflinching at their display.
The largest of the Ursa's charged towards her on all four appendage, determined to ram her with all his strength. Saber gripped her invisible blade tighter with both hands, then in a single stroke, cleaved the beast in half as it entered her sword's range. She once more readied her stance, waiting for the rest of the Grimm to attack.
She didn't have to wait long, as the death of their comrade enraged the remaining Grimm into a frenzied attack towards her. Their savage headlong attack only served to hasten their end. Saber's invisible sword became a whirlwind of strikes all around her at the attacking horde, tearing them apart no matter how large they were. At the stop of her blade, only she was left standing, surrounded by the dissipating pieces of her foes.
After making sure that all of her opponents were finished, Saber let out a breath to relax herself.
"I see you're still not holding back."
Saber looked at the approaching figure of the Archer class Servant. A warm smile appeared on her face at seeing the tall figure of the person she cared for the most.
"In battle, there is no room for leniency," answered Saber. "I will show no mercy to my opponents, for I shall receive none in return, especially against monsters such these," she gestured toward the strewn bodies of Grimm.
"True," nodded Shirou, seriously. "Now that I have Archer's memories, I can truly understand now most of what you've taught me in the past. All those battles he fought… many a place was left desolate and barren with the dead." Shirou frowned at those memories.
Saber felt a pang of guilt at that. She too had seen some of Archer's memories due to the unexpected summoning she had experienced here.
"Shirou," she said softly, as she grabbed his arm gently. She looked at him before turning away her gaze. "Is it my fault that you turned out that way? Was I not capable enough, or did I just choose to ignore that which I too had felt about my own circumstance was obviously the same for you as well."
There was doubt in the King's mind, as she could remember well that it was her ideal that brought her into contact with her Master. A similar ideal, that had she fulfilled, would have turned her into one of Alaya's Counter Guardians. It was understandable that she may blame her existence for the ultimate end her loved one turned up as.
Shirou saw the pained expression on Saber's face. He grabbed her shoulders and looked her straight in the eyes. "Saber, you did nothing wrong. Actually, you did more for me than I could have possibly ever deserved. What happened to me was something that would have occurred, even if I had ended up with a different Servant from that time."
Saber blinked in surprise at Shirou's firm denial, before blushing at being too close together.
Shirou smiled warmly at the girl. "You know, EMIYA lost most of all of his memories from the time before he became a Counter Guardian," he said. "The only thing he had always clearly remembered was that time when you first appeared." Shirou gave a wistful look at the nostalgic event that seemed so long ago.
"W-Was I really that important to you?" asked Saber.
Shirou embraced Saber in his arms and said, "I love you, Saber. I don't ever want to lose you again."
Saber stiffened in shock, before relaxing and returned her love's embrace. "I love you too, Shirou." She closed her eyes and rested her head on Shirou's chest to bask in their moment of peace, currently content with the world.
*Cough*
Still in each other's arms, Shirou and Saber looked towards the source of the sound. Standing a few feet away from them, with jars of red sap in her hands, Euly the raccoon-eared faunus was smiling at them mischievously.
"Sorry to interrupt your little lovey dovey moment here," she said. "But I'm all loaded up and ready to go."
The Archer and Saber Servant both went completely red in the face for a moment before letting each other go quickly. They seemed to have completely forgotten that they weren't alone in their current mission.
Rin had Euly go with them this time, since they've cleared most of the surrounding Grimm in the area. She had requested that the Servants protect the faunus and take care of any more Grimm that had encroached back into the place.
Euly was to take samples of the Forever Fall red sap back to Rin. The red sap seemed to be an uncommon commodity due to the difficulty in harvesting it from the Grimm infested forest. Although considered a side project, the value in adding it to their food items at the café was enough of a reason for Rin to have them retrieve some to gauge its popularity with their customers.
"You guys sure do make a lovely couple," teased Euly. "Although, the atmosphere is a bit strange, considering you two were hugging it out surrounded by piles of dissolving Grimm."
Saber was the first to recover from their embarrassment. "H-Have you marked the surrounding area?"
Euly nodded an affirmative. "No one really goes through this deep into the forest so there shouldn't be any problems."
"Good," acknowledged Saber. "Rider should be able to find this place with Rin next time."
Shirou glanced at the area around them. "I'm still not sure what Rin is up to with all of this," he said. "Do you think you could ask her, Saber?"
Saber nodded before pausing to consult with Rin via their mental link.
"She said it's a surprise, and the she and Illya had been working on it for some time now," answered Saber. "She did say that she wants Rider to test out her Mystic Eyes here against the Grimm to see if having no souls would affect them as other creatures would."
"Yeah," said Shirou. "These things are very weird. I still can't figure out what they really are and why this is normal for this world. They act almost similar in nature to the Beasts of Gaia would. The only thing is, there doesn't seem to be any force here like Gaia that are acting on my magecraft." Shirou twisted Kanshou and Bakuya in his hands, carefully inspecting each of the blades.
"The mana in the air seems a bit different as well," said Saber. "It's not really less but it feels… light."
The only faunus in the area just blinked blankly at the two Servants. "I have no idea what you guy's are talking about," sighed Euly, while shaking her head. "Is this more of that magic stuff? Cause I can't understand what the two of you are saying."
"Well, never mind that," said Shirou. "Are you up for another ride?"
"Yep!" cheerfully answered the faunus. "It's really exciting to move that fast, and how high you two could jump is just amazing. I feel like I'm flying like one of those superhero comics that Eugene always reads."
"Glad to see you're not scared this time," smirked Shirou.
The faunus just glared at him in response.
Euly handed Saber some of the jars she had before getting picked up by Shirou. Together they quickly ran through the red-leafed forest in a breeze, making their way back to their home base.
A/N:
So I'm mighty tired from going through this chapter. Illya's part was actually pretty easy for me, but the setting up for the rest of the story was kind of boring.
I might change some stuff later, if I have the time. Maybe more work on the Illya part. It's surprising how easy I have it with her. I already have most of her scenes fleshed out in my head. I can't really say the same for the rest of the cast aside from some of the major confrontations I have of them.
These events are currently happening at the time of Jaundice.
As always, please read and review.
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