"C'mon Renny! I think I heard people over here!"
"Nora! Wait! Chasing after sounds of fighting in the forest is NOT something that we should be doing!"
Nora Valkyrie only pauses briefly, "But what if they need help? Then we could swoop in and save them! Like knights in armor!"
Lie Ren slowly catches up with her, breathing heavily before replying. "We don't know that though, and we're not Huntsmen yet! We've just barely submitted our application to Beacon. If the situation is bad, then jumping in without thinking about it will end badly for us."
Nora looked down sadly. "I know, but..." She looks at him with big eyes. "I can't leave knowing that we might have saved somebody from the Grimm..."
Ren looked at her for a few seconds before giving in. "Ok Nora, how about we get closer and see what the situation is, and then make a decision, ok?"
"YES! I knew you would agree with me!" Nora leapt up and gave Ren a crushing hug. "Let's hurry and save the damsels in distress!"
And with that, Nora took off with Ren over her shoulder. Ren just lay there, recovering from her hug. He had known her for a long time, but that hadn't made him immune to Nora's style of affection just yet.
How long had he searched?
He parried an attack, quickly countering the claws and ripping into the side of a nightmarish boar.
How many battlefields had he traveled for this moment?
He threw his blades and quickly traced some more, not even looking to see if the prior blades had found their targets.
He no longer cared. Being with her here, right now? That made it all worth it.
He quickly traced a barrage of nameless blades and fired them off, giving both of them some breathing room for a bit.
Years before, his priorities had changed. Before, he would be helpful and gave a helping hand to everybody for its sake alone. After he had met her and, more importantly, after she had disappeared from his sight, it had changed slightly. From then on he strived endlessly to be worthy of her.
As he dodged the tusks of another ghoulish creature, he twisted to see her out of the corner of his eye. He knew that she was capable, more so than even he was, but he still worried after her. Just as he knew that she worried after him. And so, on this battleground of fell beasts, they danced.
He used to be hopeless at fighting. She had started training him after a foolish action on his part. He had gotten much better since then. And now, even though they hadn't fought together in so very long, their actions flowed together.
Sometimes his swords would complement her attacks, protecting her back and shifting alongside of her as she moved. Other times, his storm of swords are what guided her, creating openings for her to unleash her powerful attacks.
Back and forth they moved, with utmost faith in each other.
Before, he was too weak, and he held her back despite his own desires. Now, after years of hard work and effort, he was finally able to stand besides her and work with her, to fulfill the oath that he had made to her.
He was her sword, and she was his sheath.
The swords inside of him stirred. Just as he was her sword, he considered all of the swords within him to be at her disposal as well. Even though he and they were weaker at the moment, he would do whatever it took to ensure that she survived. Just as he was aware that she would do the same for him.
He wasn't sure how it had happened. If this was something caused by Zelretch, he would thank the vampire with tears in his eyes, just so long as they got to stay together.
They were surrounded by Grimm, creatures of darkness that fed off of the darker of human emotions and whom wanted nothing more than to rip them apart. Yet despite this, there is no other place that Shirou would rather be.
How long had she waited?
She quickly cut down one of the twisted wolves in front of her, moving swiftly to block another as it came from the side.
She had spent only a short time with him when she compared it against her whole life, but it was while she was with him that she was happiest she had ever been.
She shifted to the side and allowed a barrage of swords to slice through several charging boars.
Her whole life had been in the service of others. She knew from the time she was a kid that she was to be the next king. She devoted the entirety of her adult life to trying to be a good king and to helping the kingdom thrive.
He created an opening against one of the snake creatures, and she leapt in and took off one of the heads with ease.
When her kingdom fell, she had been crushed. All of the effort she had put in, and she still wasn't good enough to save her kingdom. Her people had suffered because of her she believed, and she wanted nothing more than to change it. To let somebody else have been king instead of her. And then she had met him. A foolish boy, who ran into combat without thinking, causing her no end of grief. He believed in her, had faith in her, even when she didn't have it herself.
She saw him start a move, and she instinctively moved to back him up.
They were both the same, in a way. Both desired more than anything to help others, at the cost of their own happiness and health. They still did, actually. There was just one person that was at the top of the list of people to help.
She jumped back, seeing Shirou leap over her to attack the Creeper that had launched itself at her.
She still remembered the words Merlin told her so long ago. That reuniting with Shirou would be difficult, and almost impossible. For it to happen, two miracles needed to happen in order for them to meet again. One had to wait continuously, while the other must pursue endlessly. Acknowledging that it was impossible to succeed, and yet enduring through it patiently.
She employed her Mana Burst and destroyed the creatures coming up to Shirou's side, stopping once she was at his back, and readied her sword once more.
She didn't know how long she waited for. And during that time, she had no guarantee that Shirou would continue. After so much time with no results, who wouldn't be tempted to falter? But she had seen his determination, and his willpower. She was sure he would continue, and she would make sure that she was there waiting for him when he arrived. It was he that helped her feel once again, and it was for him that she would be selfish for.
She chuckled, Rider might have had more of an impact than she thought he did.
And now her waiting was at an end. She was finally with him again. She wasn't sure if this was simply the result of them finally finding each other, or if Merlin had done something. If he had, she could never thank him enough. True, she wasn't expecting to meet in the middle of battle, but she didn't mind. As long as he was with her, Arturia Pendragon would help him take on anything that dared challenge them.
After the battle ended they stared at each other for a while, almost not believing that they were finally together. Something broke, and the rushed each other and they latched onto each other, and they stayed like that for a while. After a while though,
"WOW! That was amazing!" Nora came rushing over to where the two of them were standing, looking at them with shining eyes as she dashed around them. "You were all like, whoosh! And Bam! Who are you guys? Are you Hunters? Why don't you have any guns? Are you guys together? Like, together together?"
Both Shirou and Arturia blushed and jumped back a little bit. Not willing to forego contact completely they still held hands, but now their attention was on this girl that had popped up.
"NORA!" Another person came running up, and Shirou blinked in surprise. His outfit, and he himself, looked Chinese, which he hadn't expected.
Ren made it to Nora and the two warriors, having to catch his breath once more. "Nora! you can't just -" Only to have Nora interrupt him, "Ren! What took you? I was wondering if you got lost!"
Ren stared at her, which she just replied with a bright smile back at him, to which he then gave a sigh. He turned back to the two warriors.
"I apologize for Nora" "Hey! What's that suppos-...!" Ren quickly placed his hand over her mouth. "She is very excitable."
Arturia smiled at him, "It is no problem, neither of us mind at all. Are you two from around here?"
Ren nodded, "Yes, we're from the village just south of here. We were travelling through the woods and heard the sounds of your combat, and Nora wanted to investigate it."
Nora removed his hand. "Yeah, but you guys clearly didn't need any help. We got here just in time to see you guys beat the last of them and start booping."
Shirou turned red and sputtered a bit, "We started what?!"
Before Nora could go off again, Ren stepped in. "We probably shouldn't be out here for long. We need to head back to the village. Where are you guys staying?"
"Ummm…" Shirou glanced at Arturia. "We're actually pretty new around here, and haven't had much of a chance to set up anywhere. Would it be alright if we followed you to your village?"
Ren was surprised. Their current village was the only one that was decently close by. Why were they here hunting Grimm if they hadn't set up lodgings yet?
Nora answered "Sure! we don't mind at all! And you could stay at our place! I mean, sure, it's a bit small and cramped and not much stuff, but it's got a kitchen! And pancakes! Uh, the pancakes are for me, not for you though... It'll be like a sleepover!"
"Nora, I doubt that these two would like to stay at our place, they'll probably want to purchase a room at the inn for a night." Ren said.
Arturia coughed into her hand, her cheeks blushing a little bit. "Actually, we don't really have any money either..."
Ok, now Ren was surprised. They were clearly powerful individuals. Why would they not have money?
Nora was too busy being excited about the sleepover. "Sweet! That means that you guys totally have to come over! C'mon!" And with that, she grabbed hold of Arturia and started pulling her along. Arturia was startled at the young girls strength, and let herself be pulled away towards the village, while Shirou and Ren looked at the scene in surprise.
Ren eventually inclined his head to where they had gone, "Well, shall we go?"
Shirou chuckled, "I guess we don't have a choice anymore. Are you sure you're parents won't mind?"
They started walking back, and Ren gave a sad smile. "I'm afraid that both Nora and I are orphans, so there isn't any parents to worry about. The village gives us a small portion of money each month, and we use that to pay for what we need."
"Ah, I see." Shirou gave a small bow. "I apologize for bringing it up."
Ren gave a bow back, "No, it's no problem."
"C'mon Renny! You're being slow again!"
Shirou and Ren chuckled a little as the girl shouted at them, already a decent ways ahead of them.
"Well, I guess we better go get our girls" Shirou said, and Ren blushed a little, quickly stammering out a "W-w-we're not actually together-together you know..."
Shirou gave him a skeptical look, and then chuckled, "Sure you aren't."
They met up with the girls, and eventually made it back to the village, and then to Ren and Nora's apartment. Walking in, they saw that it contained mostly the bare necessities, though Shirou did brighten a bit when he saw that the kitchen looked stocked.
Nora plopped down on one of the couches with a sigh. "Ren, I'm hungry. Make me food, your Queen demands it." Ren looked at her incredulously. "Why are you acting so tired? We didn't do anything that strenuous."
She shrugged, her face still facing down on the couch. "Lunch was a long time ago. Now go, feed your Queen."
Ren chuckled and headed towards the kitchen. Shirou smiled at the display, and then looked towards Arturia. "Well your Majesty?" He teased "Would you like me to make a meal for you as well?" Despite him having initialized the teasing, Shirou still had a blush on his face that matched Arturia's.
She smiled slightly with reddened cheeks. "If you wouldn't mind." And Shirou stood up and walked to the kitchen with Ren as they started discussing what to make.
Nora looked up from the couch and glanced at her. "So what were you guys doing all the way out there? I mean, the scenery is nice I suppose, but surrounded by dead Grimm is an odd place to start booping."
"W-why do you keep calling it that? We were just g-giving each other a hug!" Arturia muttered.
"Yep! That's what I said!" Nora said cheerfully. "Was it a secret meeting? Are you guys eloping? Or did you already elope? Is Shirou trying to win your heart by killing tons of Grimm?!"
"No! No, it's nothing like that at all." Arturia said desperately. Not that she could say that Shirou already won her heart. Not without talking about it with him first. "The truth is... We've been separated for a while, and it was by coincidence that we found each other there. After we defeated the Grimm we were so happy to see each other again."
"Huh, ok! How about..."
And Nora continued to interrogate Arturia about a great variety of topics until Ren and Shirou finished dinner and brought it to them, and Nora's mouth was too busy eating. By that time, Arturia was mentally exhausted.
As they were eating, Ren asked "So what are your plans for the future?"
Shirou and Arturia glanced at each other once more, before Arturia replied. "We're not sure actually. We'll need money before we can actually go anywhere, so we'll probably stay in town and try to find something to do first."
Ren nodded thoughtfully. "Well, I work at a diner further in the village. Based on how well Shirou can cook, I think they'd be willing to hire him. Also, town hall occasionally gives out bounties to various Grimm in the area. They usually reserve those requests for Hunters, but you guys seem capable enough to take them as well."
Shirou thought about it, and gave a nod. "That doesn't sound like a bad idea. Work at the diner for regular money, and then collect bounties when they come up."
Nora butted in at this point, "Yep! And while you're doing that, you can stay with us! At least, until we got to Beacon. Unless you guys go to Beacon as well! Then we could all go and be on one big team and crush all the other teams!" She cheered at his, bringing up her large warhammer in declaration.
Arturia looked at them in confusion. "Beacon? Why are you going there? Wouldn't Haven be closer for you guys?"
Ren gave a nod, "That is correct. However, Beacon has better scholarships that we can apply for, and we could use the extra money."
"Yep!" Nora cheered, "The pancake funds need to stay full!"
Ren stared for a bit, and then looked at Shirou and Arturia. "... Yes, what she said."
"Ah, I see." Shirou said with a smile.
"Do you two plan on going to Haven to become huntsman? Is that why you were asking about it? Or are you already Huntsman and you're trying to recruit us to go to Haven?" Nora continued to shoot of questions, causing the rest of them to chuckle.
"No, we aren't Huntsman, and aren't actually planning on going to any of the academies. We've, uh, already been trained to fight quite a bit, and I doubt that there is much that the academy would be able to teach us." Shirou admitted.
"Really? We should fight! Then you can tell me how I can be better! I mean, I already know I'm awesome, 'cause I'm me! But you guys are also awesome fighters, which means that if we fight together than I'll be even more awesome!" Nora cheered,
Ren spoke up, trying to diffuse her excitement, "Nora, you can't just decide that for them, they might have other things that they have to do!"
Arturia smiled, though she tried to hide it behind her hand. "Truly, we don't mind sparring with you and giving you pointers. I usually work with a sword or a spear, but I have been trained with warhammers before, so I could give some tips in that."
"I use dual weapons like Ren here, so I can give him some advice on that." Shirou said, his eyes glazing briefly as he looked through Unlimited Bladeworks. "I also should be able to dredge up some advice regarding warhammers to help Nora out."
"Really?!" "Oomph!" Nora enveloped both of them in a huge hug. "That would be amazing! Thank you thank you thank you!"
Ren chuckled at the scene for a bit, "Yes, we're both really grateful for the offer, but are you sure that we won't be imposing on you guys?"
"Nah" Shirou denied, "You can consider it thanks for letting us stay over at your place. We're very grateful."
"I see" Ren said with a smile and a bow, "So long everybody is grateful, I suppose I can't complain."
After that they cleaned up the dishes, and prepared some beds for the other two.
Normally Ren would be a little more suspicious about these two people. They clearly weren't telling the full truth of what was going on. However, Nora trusted them, and she was usually more intuitive than she appeared. Furthermore, he just got the sense from them that they were trustworthy. Something about the kind aura that Shirou had, and the noble aura that Arturia exuded.
He couldn't help but feel happy about the situation. For a while, it had just been him and Nora. While he would never regret being there for Nora, and vice versa, he was grateful to meet with other people who were willing to be friends with them. Perhaps they would open up eventually. Until then, he would let things lie and enjoy their company.
Meanwhile, Arturia and Shirou slept next to each other, once again just happy for the opportunity to see each other, and both optimistic about what the future might bring.
Authors Notes:
So, this chapter was a bit self-indulgent on my part. Trying to find a story in which Shirou and Arturia live happily together is one of the reasons I originally found fanfiction. Their story just made me feel sad, so I have this need to try to correct it to make them happy. Hopefully everybody is alright with this pairing. Also, I'm sure that I surprised a lot of people with having Ren and Nora meet with them. This is actually something that I debated about with myself for a while. I think Shirou would have done great if I had had him mentor Ruby or Velvet (Penny was also a contender, but I have somebody better to place with her.) Ruby with her similar ideals, and Velvet with her similar abilities. Like I said, I spent a good amount of time debating it, and I felt that this one had a lot of potential and I wanted to see how it would go. I'm curious to hear everybody's thoughts on how they think it went.
Additionally, I wanted to answer some questions I saw.
Will Chaldea appear?
Nope, I have no plans for Chaldea to appear. This is purely a 'Heroic' Spirit affair, for reasons that will eventually be explained.
Perimeter: Will you be revisiting other previous servants or will previous servants only be offhandedly referenced?
I will be revisiting some of the previous servants. I do have a plan for that. First, I want to finish writing up the 'mentor' spirit chapters. Maybe a couple more heroes, as well as a few villains. Right now, the timespan of these chapters since chapter 1 have all been within a week or two of each other. After I get to around chapter 10 (emphasis on around... That's not in stone) there shall be a time-skip, and then I'll go over some of the previous servants. Some will still only be referenced offhandedly until their time, such as Medusa and her sisters.
Unsettling-A.I.R:
Do not worry, I do have somebody else chosen for Jaune. I have somebody in place for him and Pyrrha. I'm still waffling a little bit for who to give Ruby and Yang. I have a couple ideas that could go pretty well I think, so we'll see what happens.
Valkoor123113:
Do not worry, it is not just you, lol. I too see some interesting things happening if Sherlock and Oobleck get together :)
Also, for those who are interested in guessing who is going to be next:
Not an evil character (As I said, evil characters will be posted after the mentor spirits are all out.)
He's not going to be a mentor spirit
I personally would consider him either an Assassin or an Archer.
That's all for now. I hope you all enjoy the chapter!