Subaru's Adventure With the Witches

Chapter 1: Greed

Subaru tensed as he looked at the instrument of his impending doom knowing that there was nothing he could do as it went further and further down until…..

"I believe that's checkmate~" stated Echidna smugly as he groaned. Echidna's queen and rooks trapped his king, winning her the game. The table for which she once had tea now laid a chessboard with pieces strewed about. Casualties of their little game.

After sanctuary he had thought he'd seen the last of the white haired witch and mother of his loveable spirit Beatrice. Until one fateful night she appeared in his dreams. Or well mind. As Emilia had completed the trials and removed the tea party, her and the rest of the witch's spirits were left to wander the earth.

At least that would be the case as it seemed that she had left a part of herself with him. Allowing her and the others to reside in his head, without his consent. Much to his annoyance, apparently this was temporary until a plan she had came to fruition but who knows how long that could take. He had actually grown fond of them over time. Finding their reaction to the different world from four hundred years ago amusing.

They were actually quite pleasant being well behaved and giving advice, of course that didn't stop them from bothering him whenever they felt like it. Case in point he was going to take a nap when Echidna had summoned him. Stating she was bored and that being their host he should entertain her.

He had jokingly responded that if she was bored that they could play a game. Thinking that someone of her caliber would never play a game. But much to his surprise she agreed. He had been stumped on a game that would live up to someone of Echidna's standards, so on a whim he had started chess. Hyping it up as a mental strategy game pitting forces against each other. She agreed to picking up the game easily given his explanation of the pieces and rules.

He had thought being a complete newbie to the game would give him an advantage. But he had been proven wrong, their first game she had utterly decimated him and the time after that and the time after that. With the score now 9-0. It was clear now that the witch's genius wasn't some bost but a fact.

"So want to play again~?" she asked, smiling at his defeated face. Which earned her a glare in response.

"I think I'm good for now," he grumbled. Tried of losing to the witch. Getting a chuckle out of her.

"I'll admit that you were certainly a challenge. I could never think of what your next move was. It was very interesting~" flashing one of her trademark smiles.

"Thanks I guess." as the chessboard disappeared and was replaced with her standard tea set. The wonders of creating the place.

"So now that you utterly defeated me would you mind letting me go, I still want to hang out with Emilia-tan and the rest of my friends."

"Aw do you not like me? I thought we grew past that after I first moved in?"

"I've grown accustomed to you but I in no way like you, especially what you did to Beako."

Echidna just rolled her eyes. "How many times do I have to tell you that it wasn't my fault she was free to leave whenever she wanted."

"Of course, how could I forget that must make you the mother of the century," replied Subaru sarcastically. "You knew how Beako would take it. You could have simply given her a time limit yet you didn't! So cut the crap."

Echidna simply poured herself a cup of tea as she stared at her reflection. Silently reflecting. "Regardless of your thoughts about it, it's the past, there's nothing I can do about it. So let's move on from such a pointless subject."

That earned her a harsh glare from Subaru which she brushed off. "Like what?"

"I'm thinking about changing the landscape a bit. I'm sure the others have grown just as bored of it as I have. And given that this is your head I want your opinion."

Subaru did give a look around at the scenery blue skies white clouds with large roaming grassy hills as far as the eyes can see. Sure it was good but it could look boring after a while. Like the background to your computer that you had for a long time. That time being over four hundred years.

"So what did you have in mind?"

"Well I've been looking around your memories and there are a place that had caught my interest~" Making him gulp.

"What place?" he asked nervously as the scenery around him changed. Morphing into a place he was very familiar with. His old room. Just seeing it made him tense remembering all the time he wasted away in there.

"What you don't like I thought you would have given you spent so much time here?"

"Just because I spent so time here doesn't mean I liked it," he admitted glancing around, noticing that Echidna had made some changes. Most of his posters or figures of white haired elves were changed to have her face. He mentally scoffed at the pettiness.

"Kind of like Beatrice in a way then. You two are really similar."

"I guess."

"Yet you don't realize that you're slowly just switching out your room for another," stated Echidna.

"What are you talking about? I'm way more free then when I was back home. I've grown and helped people." Echidna just smirked.

"Really because from what I've seen ever since Sanctuary you've just lounged around and done little to change yourself."

"That's not true, I've helped around the mansion and played with Petra and Beako!"

"Yes but you've done that even before then. Name one thing in the past few months you've done to change yourself."

Subaru was silent, trying to think of anything he's done that has been different. "You can't, can you? You better be careful Subaru or else you'll fall into the same vices as before."

"I don't want to hear that from a witch based off one of them."

"Why, because you know it's true~"

"No, it's cause you like to assume the worst in people. Me, Emilia, the other witches. as long as they don't think the way you do or act the way you want them to, you despise them. News flash, not everything will go your way. People are complicated and unpredictable."

"Oh really~"

"Yes, I'll prove it time and time again until you do," he stated glaring at her. As she just took another sip of her tea.

"I hope you do. After all that's what makes you interesting to me~"

Subaru rolls his eyes as he tries not to look at his old room.

"Sure, can you change the scenario I don't like this."

"Okay it's your mind after all, besides I think I know better scenery." As that around them changed to the previous scenario of green hills, blue skies and white clouds.

Subaru looks around. "It's the same."

"No, there are changes, you just haven't noticed them. They're subtle."

"Sure they are. But just you wait, I'll show you just how much I've changed. In fact, wake me up, I'm going to go ask Garfiel to train me!"

"My aren't we being daring~ Aren't you afraid you'll hurt yourself or worse."

"It's fine I've faced worse, besides it's not like I'll die."

"True, but please don't hurt yourself, Minerva will throw a fit."

"How can I forget. She nearly strangled me after you showed her my many deaths. But sadly I can't. After all, you can't change without taking a few risks."

Echidna chuckled, knowing he was right.

"Fine, but when this backfires don't say I didn't try to stop you~" she teased.

"Hey, when has anything I put my mind to backfired!?"

"Multiple times, in fact. Or need I remind you of all your failed attempts at courting the half-elf~" Making Subaru blush.

"Okay I might not have been the smoothest back when I first met her but I'm getting better!" he defended.

"Because you beg Carmilla for help. That girl will do anything to help someone in love. Even if she's never been in a relationship herself. There are far better options in fact to ask for advice"

"Hey she's nice, besides I trust her for relationship advice more than someone who's only relationship is a clown," replied Subaru

"I can assure you that my student was much different when I first met him."

"Uh huh, once a creep always a creep."

Echidna rolled her eyes. "You do know my knowledge doesn't just extend to practical ideas. During my various travels I did come across various literature that could help you."

"Sounds tempting but no. I'm doing this my way, not copying some old text. Besides that text was over four hundred years old, there was no one to test to make sure it still works."

"Fine, but don't say I didn't offer. Though I doubt how far you'll get when you can't pick up the simplest of signs."

"Huh?"

"Let's just say you have a few admirers~"

"If you mean Petra then I already know. The girl's so obvious that it hurts."

"Yet you do nothing to stop her~"

"It's probably her first time feeling this way, I can't just break her heart! I have to be gentle with this. If I screwed up Frederica would probably never forgive me. But wait, you said admirers, who are the others?"

Echidna just took another sip of her tea. "That information will comes at a price~"

This made Subaru gulp. " I t-think I'll pass."

This seemed to almost sadden the witch.

"Alright then, your loss. After all, how many maidens' feelings will you hurt by being completely oblivious to them~"

"I'm nothing remarkable, I'm sure they'll find someone better eventually."

"Oh don't be so sure, you are a pretty interesting person, I doubt it'd be that easy~"

"Are you talking about others or yourself? Cause it sounds like you're talking about yourself. Do you like me~" teased Subaru

A red tint almost seemed to cross Echidna's face. "I have no idea what you are implying my interest in you is for entertainment and nothing more."

"Sure, I'll leave then. I don't think you would have any trouble with that~"

"Go ahead, you've e-entertained me enough already," demanded Echidna.

With a smirk Subaru did just that, fading from the landscape. Echidna's face was still slightly red before she calmed down. Once she did, she was slightly saddened about his departure. He was fun to talk to and proved more fun than the other witches. But she couldn't force him to stay; that was part of their deal.

Echidna opened up a small window to see what Subaru was doing in the real world. To no surprise to her it seems like he had been true to his word and started talking to Garfiel about wishing to train, causing her to chuckle, knowing how sore he'd be once it started. Though it was his choice, there was nothing she could do about it.

She took a sip of tea before looking up, smiling at the previously formless clouds, now taking some more vague shapes. Ones resembling her fellow witches, her daughter, her student, and most importantly, the man who had been sitting across from her.

"Changes can be small but can lead to big things. That's why continuing to change is important. I wonder how you'll change Subaru Natsuki."

I would like to thank you all for reading and I would like to especially thank Jetvacjesse for helping editing this. This will be a series of oneshots revolving around Subaru and the witches + Pandora Hector. Excluding Satella as I have a plan for an entire fanfic dedicated to that if I work up the nerve to type it.

Hope you have a wonderful month and see you for the next chapter.