Mach Singularity

by Mhyrloc

Fodlan is a odd place filled with conflict, mystery and malicious forces hidden behind smiling faces. When Ritsuka Fujimaru and his loyal Kouhai drop in unexpectedly, they find themselves involved due to the strangest of similarities.

6. Chapter 6

AN:

Longer delay than normal this time, for which I apologize, but this is the first chapter I didn't actually have specific plans for before I began writing the story...

Doesn't mean I won't use the opportunity to plant some plot seeds despite Game CH 3 being a bit derailed, hehe.

Nitesabes- I'm glad you like the characterizations so far, it's something I worry over, and will continue to work hard at, especially given the huge cast this story is destined to have by the end (Probably 50+ just from the FE side alone, to say nothing of Chaldea's army.) I have considered a perspective shift, and would be a great way of addressing issues Ritsuka and Mash aren't aware of, so I may tap it as a full chapter closer to things going crazy in Fodlan later, though scenes from other perspectives are likely to grow more common as the cast widens.

The Disquieting One- Glad ya liked it, and I'm considering Servant level threat options for the future, though likely not ones from FGO specifically, since at this point it would mostly be the Alien God and her minions. It's a good use for FE servants later, so I'll be doing more research there.

Purple Zero- Fair point, especially since Ritsuka and Mash aren't really holding back in regards to sharing legends. I have every intention of reaching the war phase, though I admit the timeskip is causing me a few issues planning wise. Thankfully, I have time and theoretically resources to justify things, even if I don't want to just tap B.B. and blame her.

Megaolix- Stories will spread, for better or worse, since most of the greater impact has to travel by word of mouth so far. On the subject of alignment, that will depend on the character, as Eresh is technically Evil, but someone malicious like Jalter or Mephy would definitely draw attention. I do thank ya for the ideas too, and I'll keep them in mind, particularly when the lords and Chaldeans start interacting more directly. As for anomalies... well, I did need something fun for the chapter.

Bob of the A- Thanks again, and always happy to use servants that don't get as much love, as most of FGO's servants deserve more than they get.

GrandmasterRed- I was trying to emulate the 'spook' thing, where a silver card turns gold, but in humanoid form, which works darn well with your pig analogy. (Admittedly, I hadn't thought of Galaxy Quest in a bloody long time before now. Fun movie though)

Antex- The Legendary Zoroark- Thank ya for all the reviews, and I'm glad you're enjoying it so far, and agreed Servantuber Eresh is adorable, and much like Gudako, I've got her at Bond 10. Still use her a lot though.

...I do hope no one's too annoyed with review answering like this. Main reason I bold A/N's is so they can be skipped easier.

---

The Blue Lions and company passed through the gates of Garreg Mach at the crack of noon, having made respectably good time on the road, and significantly poorer on the path up from the village at the base of the mount.

Apparently, Saturday, or the local daily equivalent was the big shopping day, and both merchants and local producers would arrive before the sun, jockeying for an early position in line, and thus maximize their time and opportunity for sales in the wealthiest area around.

Dimitri had accounted for this in his initial planning, but between the living distraction that was Raikou and their detour to deal with the delusional bandits, it seemed no one had accounted for the passing days.

Ritsuka had been impressed that even through the long wait, as groups of guards inspected merchant's wares and then escorted them through, before returning to repeat the process with the next unaddressed group in line, none of the students expressed more than a few grumbles of frustration.

Some, like Felix, had abandoned their mount, leaving it tied via long lead to the wagon they had continued to use, to take up his weapon and practice along the uneven ground beyond the road side.

Dimitri had seemed surprised when the swordsman tossed a wooden spear his way, some challenging snark accompanying the gesture, but a wave from the professor sent him on his way.

Dedue seemed less comfortable with the situation, but saw fit to simply watch over the casual combat.

It was blatantly unaggressive, as both students restrained themselves to levels of speed and strength which wouldn't overly concern the civilians not much more than a stone's throw away, or incite the ire of the guards tasked with keeping things under control, though their blatantly visible uniforms seemed to buy them some tolerance there.

Ritsuka wondered why the students hadn't been dismissed with their horses, which could easily reach the front of the line, be checked, and allowed through within minutes, but Hanneman gave no such order, nor the students suggested it, so he held his silence on the matter.

For all he knew it was some test of discipline, to identify those students who might try throwing their social superiority around, and Gods knew there was enough of that contained within Gilgamesh's archer form alone.

Thankfully, his caster self was far more reasonable, if equally heavy handed, but at least his focus was far less selfish.

Ritsuka shuddered silently, which earned a look from Mash.

"I remembered the kitchen conflict," the Master stated in a long suffering tone.

"Oh," the Shielder grimaced in turn. "At least it was settled peacefully enough?"

"Boudica is truly a magnanimous queen, to allow us all within her domain." Ritsuka agreed with a solemn nod.

The war was more one of decrees than actual combat, started when Arturia and her Alter got into some disagreement early in the first Grand Order, and as kings, both tried to claim dominance over the critical room to enforce their will, and more pointedly, their menus.

Even Emiya, one of the servants most commonly seen in the kitchen, and one of the very few capable of standing between the two Sabers to prevent bloodshed had been unable to subdue them.

When news spread, other kings got involved, some out of legitimate desire, and others for no more apparent reason than to troll their rivals.

Romani had eventually stepped in to end it by declaring the kitchen and all associated territory to be Boudica's domain by right of first possession, and the only way that could be changed would be a cooking competition judged by a panel of unbiased servants.

There had been a flurry of challengers early on, but that settled soon enough, and now the competition was only held every other month or so, though Nero grandly, if accidentally, admitted once that it was more to have an excuse for a feast than any actual expectation of victory these days.

"Welcome back, and good timing!" A man he knew from among those who'd spent time watching of their room called, clapping Ritsuka, who had been walking alongside the wagon to stretch his legs, on the shoulder and flashing a wide grin at Mash, who smiled shyly back.

"Hey man, how've ya been? Nothing too crazy I hope?" Ritsuka responded brightly, trying to deflect from the fact that he didn't remember the man's name, if he'd ever been offered it.

"Nobody's dropped out of the sky lately, so we're good on that front!" The man answered, equally boisterous, turning Ritsuka alongside himself via the hand on his shoulder. "Though that dog of yours has been up to it's own brand of mischief, if you can believe it."

"Yes, I can," Mash stated sullenly, though there was more than a little exasperated humor in her tone. "What's Fou done this time?"

"You wouldn't believe me if I told you," the man said with a grin. "But luckily, you're right on time for the midday march!"

"The midday what now?" Ritsuka repeated, as he belatedly realized he had been steered past the checkpoint where Hanneman remained, and into Garreg Mach proper.

Thankfully, Mash had followed, somewhat anxiously until their friend released her senpai to lead the way more casually.

There was a surprising amount of people, more than they'd seen before at the Monastery's entrance, most clustered around the still preparing stalls, though some enterprising local had ambition enough to have a casual food stand going, and probably had been since early morning, the delicious smells tempting enough to part quite a few coins from those who'd made the trip.

The guard brought them quickly through the crowd, and onto the stairs leading up into the entrance hall, which despite the visitors, was only occupied by those in the uniforms native to the monastery, mostly students and staff, though there were a couple more fancily dressed folk of some unknown pedigree or station.

"Mash! It is good to be seeing you again!" A girl with vibrant purple hair in a thick braid raised her hand in greeting. "Are you just having returned from the assignment with the Blue Lions?"

"Ah... Petra!" Mash replied, raising her hand in greeting after a short hesitation as she remembered the girl's name, a smile appearing as she did.

"Yes! We just got back." she answered as she jogged over, hefting her shield high so she wouldn't accidentally bump the few people sitting on the steps between them, her free hand having grabbed Ritsuka's wrist and dragging him behind her.

The master glanced back, to see the guard waving him on with a sly grin, actually taking advantage of the opportunity to sigh theatrically and turn to try chatting up a pretty young woman who actually laughed at whatever comment he'd made.

He brought his attention back to Mash, who noticed and paused the exchanging pleasantries with a gesture towards him.

"Petra, this is my senpai, Ritsuka Fujimaru," She said brightly.

"I am hav-" The girl stopped herself, clearing her throat before dipping into a slight bow and beginning anew. "I am pleased to meet you, I ask your forgiveness, as I am still learning the language."

"The pleasure is mine," Ritsuka answered, bowing himself. "And as far as I can tell, there's nothing to forgive. We're not the types to begrudge someone who's putting in the effort to learn something new."

"We're always learning new things ourselves, like what this thing we're supposed to see is all about," Mash agreed leadingly.

Ritsuka made an odd noise, but when she looked to him, he was staring off towards the market with his chin in his hand.

His kouhai was about as subtle as a curious kitten at times, and he wasn't willing to risk looking into her eyes and making the similarity more apparent, especially when she would tilt her head and that bang of hers...

Damnit mom, putting weird thoughts into his head.

And damn Bart too, for good measure, him and his hidden eyes fetish.

"Oh, I believe it is beginning... or the end is beginning?" Petra declared, cocking her own head and bringing a hand to her ear. "It is odd. I watched the beginning yesterday, and followed them, but Linhardt says I should just wait here like others do."

She glanced to the side, where a green haired boy was slouched against the wall, apparently dozing in the shade.

"And now I am seeing why," the girl sighed.

"Followed what?" Ritsuka wondered aloud, before his ears caught the approaching sound.

A look at Mash confirmed that her superior senses had already done so, and she looked down the street with an expression of confused apprehension.

"Fou! Fou! Fou, kuiii, fou!"

The sound which followed that series of shrill cries was hard to describe, though as the cycle repeated and came closer, accompanied by the a sound like raindrops on glass, he realized the truth of it and looked around more searchingly.

Of course, he'd noticed the absence of the many stray animals which seemed all over Garreg Mach, but he'd though that simply because of the market day.

But no, they'd been harnessed into a veritable army by the most intelligent of their kind in the area.

"Fou! Fou! Fou, kuiii, fou!"

"Bark! Woof! Borf! Yip!" The dogs, marching behind the oncoming white beast loosed an answering sound in at least an approximation of solidarity, their claws tapping the ground with each trotting step the source of the raindrop sound, as dozens, if not a full hundred dogs followed behind.

"Fouuuu. Kyu!" Fou stopped suddenly, hopping to his hind legs and spinning to face his army, before dropping back down to sit on his haunches.

The storm of can vocalizations came again, and the dogs sat as well, some of the smaller ones jostling for space among the larger for a few seconds before all fell silent once more.

"Senpai, the shadows," Mash whispered.

Now warned, Ritsuka looked and could see.

Not only the dogs were following their little buddy, though the monastery's cats were predictably rebellious remaining in the shadowy areas, particularly the higher haunts along the walls and rooftops, though just as many felines had followed along as canines now sat listening to Fou's untranslatable speech.

"They're like servants, a little bit," Mash giggled, covering her mouth with her free hand.

"The dog knights, and cat cavalry," Ritsuka chuckled as well. "Atalante would be pissed."

"Jaguar too," Mash agreed, smiling widely.

"Who?" Petra asked, looking between the two curiously.

"Friends of ours," Ritsuka said quickly. "They're... well, part of what our land calls the knight classes, but they're very fond of cats, so..."

"They would probably prefer to be part of the cat group," Mash suggested helpfully.

"I think I see," Petra replied thoughtfully, as she looked to the distant group of animals, who released one last loud almost-unified sound before standing up and beginning to mill about.

Ritsuka brought a hand to his mouth and blew out a shrill whistle, while Mash raised her arm over her head and waved wildly.

Fou let out a loud sound of his own and ran over, bounding up the steps and past the reaching hands of more than one human to land on Mash's shoulder, propping one paw on her head and calling over to Ritsuka happily.

"Good to see you too buddy," the master called back.

"We would have brought you," Mash added in a mildly scolding tone, "If you hadn't gone missing, Again."

"Fou! Kyu, kyu fou!" The little guy argued.

"I'm sure it's fine," Ritsuka said, looking away from the girls as Petra fell to the temptation of fluffy fur, as so many had before.

His eyes scanned over the animals, the visible cats collapsed to lay wherever they chose, often just beyond easy reach of interested humans, save for those bold few who chose sunny patches directly under foot, then proceeded to glare balefully at any who dared approach without tribute.

The remaining dogs had gathered into a handful of groups, some playing while others, mostly young, invaded the market area, or approached the steps, looking for scraps.

Only one remained stationary, near where the center of the formation would have been, the animal obviously one of the smaller present, but silent and still while others ran around it, leaving it far more space than he would have expected from a pack of rowdy canines.

The strangeness held Ritsuka's attention, and eventually, it moved, long ears lifting and swiveling as it rose to its feet, and he realized his assumption was wrong.

"Is that a rabbit?" he wondered curiously at the apparent miracle that let Fou put such an obvious prey animal in the midst of so large a group of predators.

He glanced at Fou, now in Petra's arms, as the girl played with him, and in doing saw Mash, her own attention drawn to the rabbit, and expression oddly still.

A scream split the air, and he felt a rush of air as Mash moved past, not pursuing the sound, but putting herself in front of him.

He looked to the sound and saw a girl fleeing the area, her short purple hair waving like a flag of surrender.

"I'm sorry!" the voice he assumed was hers rang out. "I'm sorry Mister Rabbit! Petra made me do it! Please don't hunt me!"

"Bernadetta is still seeming like prey," Petra sighed behind him. "It is a... working progress, I think is said."

"Master," Mash whispered harshly, her position still defensive. "The rabbit!"

"What about-" Ritsuka stopped speaking as he saw that animal, not having fled as such a creature should have, though not a single dog or cat remained in sight, as it had rose to its full height, head and ears swiveled towards where the girl had disappeared.

A slamming noise soon followed, and watching the animal before him, he wondered if the girl had simply locked herself in her room, or if she was even now in the process of barricading the door.

"Fou!" One ear swiveled their way. "Fou kyuii fou!"

The rabbit turned its head slightly, and Ritsuka could finally look into one of its bright red eyes.

His breath caught as the animal's nose twitched menacingly.

"It's a servant," Ritsuka breathed.

"Rogue servant, Berserker," Mash confirmed.

"You found a damned berserker!" Ritsuka snapped, looking at Fou incredulously. "And it's a rabbit!?"

"Fou." Fou stated, his tone clipped. "Fouuu, kyu fou fo fo, kuii."

"How!?" the master demanded.

"The rabbit is strangely aggressive," Petra agreed. "I took Bernadetta hunting and she became the hunted instead. The results were less heartening than I had hoped. It may have been led here in our escape."

"Escape?" Mash repeated, glancing back, then around at the many people still milling about oblivious to the potential danger.

"It was not my hunt," Petra explained. "Bernadetta learns nothing if I kill her prey for her... Besides, I had not brought my bow, and Bernadetta is usually better at making her shots than myself."

"But why isn't it doing anything?" Ritsuka wondered.

"Because it doesn't need to?" a tired voice offered.

Ritsuka noticed it was the green haired boy who had been sleeping moments before, now arguably awake and yawning as he watched the nearby commotion.

"It's been part of that group for days now, and as far as rumors go, it's a bit strange, but your squirrel thing is far more so," he added, gesturing vaguely at Fou, who yipped in indignation at the description.

"A bit disappointing, if I'm honest," the boy continued. "I was hoping to see something worth... well, worth waking up for."

"Mas-" Mash begun to say frantically, before she was interrupted by a loud boom, followed almost instantly by a second smaller repetition.

Ritsuka returned his eyes to the Berserker, or rather, where it had been, as it was empty of beast, and occupied by a man dressed as a merchant, picking himself up off the ground to the laughter of those around him.

"Up there, on the rooftop" Mash pointed out, her defensive position relaxing somewhat as she followed the creature with her eyes, having never allowed it out of her sight entirely. "When the man approached, it jumped away, off the wall and up there."

Ritsuka caught up as the small creature ran along the wall towards where he knew the pond would be, if they pursued, futile as that would likely be.

"We'll let it go for now," He decided eventually. "There's too many people around to risk a fight, and it looks like the parkour bunny doesn't want one anyway."

"A decision of wisdom," Petra declared, boldly raising her fist. "I will inform Bernadetta of her continuing chance to hunt her prey, and the need for her to move swift, to grab victory!"

She strode away, leaving the green haired boy, who had begun his own lethargic way in a different direction, one hand coming up to cover a wide yawn as illegible muttering trailed behind him.

Ritsuka watched the boy for a moment, reminiscing about the distant past when he had been similarly inclined, dozing off either in the warm after school sunlight, or after binge watching as much as he could of his latest mecha anime obsession.

Well, not like he hadn't done so once or twice in the years since the Grand Order started, usually during 'hurry up and wait' situations, where there was nothing to do but worry and prepare for whatever major threat was about to stomp its way over the proverbial horizon.

"C'mon Mash, let's go get our stuff stowed, so we can figure this mess out," Ritsuka decided. "Fou... seriously. Bugs Bunny as a berserker is not where I saw this day going."

Shaking his head in exasperated amusement, he lead the way to their quarters.

---

Moon Rabbit

Nanabozho

Al-Mi'raj

Hare of Inaba

Andraste (Ask Boudica?)

400 Rabbits?

Zodiac?

"Can you think of any others?" Ritsuka asked, stepping back from the section of chalk board he'd repurposed for their current considerations.

"You said something about a bug?" Mash prompted curiously.

"I am not writing Bugs freaking Bunny down as a potential servant," he replied firmly. "There isn't enough Gudaguda particles, Elisa particles, Altrium, or Ranmarunium in the theoretically infinite universes for me to accept a cartoon rabbit exists as a servant. My life is not that much of a joke, yet, and I won't risk changing that by daring it into existence."

"Besides," he added sourly. "Cartoons probably fall under Nursery Rhyme's domain, so the only way I can imagine one manifesting outside her control would probably involve B.B., or one of the other troublemakers."

Mash hummed consideringly as she looked over the board from her position by the armor rack, hanging her Ortinax piece by piece for later maintenance, there was a click as the shoulder piece set into place, her hands drawing back slowly, in case it would fall and need to be caught.

There was little risk of damaging the armor, but the floor was simple stone, to say nothing of the clatter such a fall would make.

"Aphrodite had a thing with rabbits, didn't she?" Ritsuka mused, hesitantly wondering if that minor possibility should be added to their list, when a trio of knocks notified them of a visitor.

"She considered them sacred, Senpai. Hares were associated with Artemis too." She moved to open the door as she said this, smiling brightly at the visitor beyond.

"Professor, it's good of you to visit. Please, come in," She said cheerfully.

Ritsuka felt a shiver run down his spine as he remembered Raikou's... could they even be called implications, as bluntly stated as they were?

Regardless, the shared room and almost homey feel of that greeting was a little awkward for the moment in his mind, if only for the suggestion Mom had put in his head.

"Senpai," Mash continued, closing the door behind the guest. "This is Professor Eisner, Flayn and I joined her fishing, as you likely remember."

"Hey! Rude child!"

"Yes, the day Eresh... visited," Ritsuka said, voice slowing as a grumpy looking girl entered as well, though the door, quite literally, as it remained closed.

"How dare you shut the door in my face!" The girl demanded, glaring at Mash while floating just behind Professor Eisner in a manner more than a little remniscent of Oryou to Ryouma. "Did no one teach you proper hospitality in whatever backwater you hail from?"

His eyes flicked to Mash, her smile a bit faded as from her perspective, her Senpai and her fishing buddy merely stared at each other silently.

"Huh," Ritsuka muttered, considering for a moment before reaching up to remove his glasses.

Instantly, the floating girl vanished, both visibly and audibly, Mash looking confused at the act, though the professor only lifted an eyebrow in silent consideration.

"-nd you two! Don't just stand there like fools! Speak! Ask the boy how he could see me!"

As soon as the glasses were returned to his face, the girl and her demands returned.

Gods damn this day.

"It's these," he grumbled loudly, taking them off once more, the answer lifting the professor's other eyebrow, as he tossed them over to Mash. "Try them on real quick."

Mash looked confused but complied, holding her own set in one hand as she carefully maneuvered his into position.

Almost immediately she noticed their surprise guest and hopped back with a small yelp, skipping to the side as she landed to put herself between Byleth's tagalong and her Master.

"If she's still grouching, I can't hear her right now," Ritsuka offered. "The glasses have... well, are, magic, so I assume that's what allowed me to perceive her, and for some reason, Mash's don't seem to include that function."

Professor Eisner's head cocked, as if listening to something he couldn't hear, which was probably exactly what was happening.

"Ah!" Mash startled, straightening and snapping into a deep bow. "I apologize for my rudeness, I was not aware you were with the Professor when you arrived."

That she had to grab the incorrectly sized glasses before they fell off her face only emphasized her cuteness, and even the taciturn professor's lips twitched briefly in response, or to some unheard comment from their visiting probable spirit.

"Then shall we begin anew?" Mash offered, straightening once more.

"Servant Shielder, Mash Kyrielight!" She stated boldly, voice and stance firm with the declaration. "And this is my Master, Ritsuka Fujimaru."

As the presenting hand snapped towards him, Ritsuka lifted his own in a casual wave towards the girl he couldn't see.

The professor's hand raised in return as her head tilted back the other way, seeming more puzzled than attentive this time, though her bland expression offered little else.

"I assure you, I am serious!" Mash insisted, bringing her fists up to emphasize her claim. "Senpai and I have travelled all over the place, fighting for-"

"What we believe is right," Ritsuka suggested, speaking somewhat smoothly into his kouhai's hesitation. "We've found ourselves going against all kinds of threats over the years."

"Hmhm!" Mash agreed firmly, nodding as she stared at the spirit she was apparently arguing with.

"Fifouuu," their companion yawned, blinking blearily from Mash's bed, where he'd been napping during the great bunny debate.

The professor turned her head suddenly towards empty space, and both she and Mash traced a line with their eyes into, and probably through the nearby wall.

"I think you scared her," Mash suggested absently.

"Louder than usual." Professor Eisner noted.

"Yeah, Fou has that effect on some people," Ritsuka explained. "But I'm pretty sure you didn't come here for his autograph... though now that I think of it, some people might, after that show earlier."

He and Mash shared a briefly troubled look, before dismissing the ridiculous idea.

"Worries for later," Ritsuka decided. "Regardless, did you need something Prof-"

"Byleth," she corrected.

"Byleth then," the master agreed easily, Mash nodding with a small smile of her own. "Any case, what was it you needed?"

"Her idea," Byleth explained, barely, gesturing to the wall.

"Then we should probably address the whole 'imperceptible spirit' thing before she gets back, I suppose," Ritsuka muttered, accepting his glasses back and donning them. "Mash, you'll need your shield for a moment."

"Senpai?" She asked, more than a little worry in her voice.

"My glasses can see her, but apparently yours can't," he explained. "If we're going to be negotiating with a spirit like this, we should both be able to perceive her, which means we need yours fixed, or the function added."

Mash sighed heavily, but lifted her shield from where it leaned against the wall.

"Ready when you are, Master," she declared, moving closer and setting her stance.

Byleth watched curious, but silent, thankfully out of the way, since she hadn't taken more than a step in from the doorway on arrival.

Ritsuka's hand raised and a shadow appeared, color blooming into it an instant before rapid motion drove everyone back a step, as brilliant blue energy filled the room, crackling off the oversized spear filling much of the small space.

Mash grunted in effort, having foregone the time to don her Ortinax, resisting the force brought against her by pure strength... as well as the wall and floor, which her shield was now wedged against, flakes of stone cracking off from the sheer pressure pushing ceaselessly against it.

Movement to the left caught the attacker's eye, motion like wings drawing her attention briefly, long enough to recognize a book spinning through the air, it's cover open and pages fluttering.

She whipped her gaze to the left in time to see the Gandr shot, but neither to evade or block in the small room with its many obstacles, and the attack struck nearly center mass, seizing her body and sending her mind into a spiral for a brief moment as she...

"Oh, you are not-" Brynhildr murmured in her refined voice. "Apologies Master, I meant not to do that again."

"It's okay, Bryn," Ritsuka said, rising from the crouch he'd rolled into as he left the shield's cover, dusting himself off. "Could you let Mash out though?"

The Valkyrie looked towards the familiar shield, still pinned by the massive weapon she held, seeming only the larger without the distracting light show, before loosing a small gasp and letting the weapon dissolve into motes of energy.

"My apologies to you as well, Shield Maiden," Brynhildr offered solemnly, bowing her head to the girl as she collected herself.

"None are needed," Mash replied, returning the gesture with a smile to counter the other's small frown, "but the intent is appreciated."

Brynhildr smiled sadly at the pair, glancing between them for a moment before noticing their visitor, and cocking her head at Byleth curiously.

"What the heck is that-erk!?"

The spectral girl had barely appeared from the wall, shout leading the way before so too had the spear returned, directed towards her threateningly.

"Is this sad ghost what you have called me forth to battle, Master?" Brynhildr asked stoically.

"No, no," Ritsuka chuckled, waving his hands to try and dispel the tension. "This is... actually, I'm not sure who or what she is, we haven't gotten that far yet.

"I'm not a ghost, you impudent child! And what do you mean 'what she is'?" The twintailed girl shouted indignantly. "Do you even know the meaning of respect?"

"Fou!"

The girl shrieked and somehow stumbled back through the wall, poking back out a moment later, still shouting.

"What even are you!?" She demanded petulantly.

"He's a Fou," Ritsuka answered, grinning.

"Foe to who?" Byleth asked, falling into the verbal trap.

"Merlin, mostly," Ritsuka replied. "But to be fair, he usually deserves it, and I think he enjoys the attention."

"Fouker," the furry friend agreed, batting Ritsuka's extended fist with a paw.

"Senpai," Mash sighed, her long suffering expression a familiar counterpoint to the not-ghost's now flabbergasted one.

"Ah," Byleth accepted, giving one firm nod.

"Enough of this nonsense!" The girl snapped. "Do you know who I am!?"

"Nope," Ritsuka replied, grin still wide. "Would you like to speak to the manager?"

"I... what?" the ghost seemed genuinely disheartened by that response, her mood and body sinking almost to the floor. "But... aside from the child, you're the only ones who can see me?"

"She's Sothis," Byleth offered helpfully. "Someone also called her 'The Beginning', but she doesn't remember who."

"Or much else," Sothis agreed sourly.

"Amnesia?" Ritsuka asked, frowning as he considered the possibility, as well as the twitch of recognition in the back of his mind telling him he had heard the name before.

Mash gasped, her hands coming up to cover her mouth and eyes sparkling with interest.

The act drew attention, but he doubted the others knew of her love of mystery novels.

"Is that the case?" He asked pointedly, since the girl had taken to glaring sullenly away from him.

"And so what if it is!?" She replied sharply. "I just woke up a little while ago and have yet to gather myself properly is all!"

Ritsuka felt the weight of Mash's stare, unable to hear the Sothis, she was reliant on himself, Byleth and the silently watching Brynhildr for information.

Exhaling a sigh, he dropped into a low bow.

"Setting aside our own situation," he began seriously. "You came here looking for help, and we received you discourteously. For that I owe you an apology, if you'll accept it."

Mash copied his action almost immediately, murmuring her agreement.

"See child? This is how you should apologize, embrace humility and acknowledge your faults!" Sothis preened. "But enough! Lift your heads, and remember my generosity, as we set this conflict behind us!"

"Kyu, fou, fui?" Fou commented in a dry tone.

Sothis twitched, but avoided any greater reaction.

"Oh, hush you. A being of my power is easily worthy of reverence," Sothis argued, turning her back on the furry creature.

She had the barest moment of pride before metal clad fingers gripped her chin and lifted her face further, violet eyes meeting her own green with fierce intensity.

The spearwoman was staring into her eyes, fingers somehow holding her in position despite her general incorporeality, and turning her this way and that.

Sothis felt her face heating, a condition which only exacerbated when the woman tilted her face away before leaning in and sniffing, the sound sharp in her ear.

She hurled herself away with a quick yelp, less confident now, and unsure if her escape had been due to her own efforts, or the taciturn woman simply allowing it, as she turned her sorrowful gaze towards the others.

"Wh- What are you doing!?" Sothis cried, nearly quivering in humiliated rage.

The woman ignored her, striding swiftly towards Byleth, who despite the curious tilt to her eyebrow did not move as the strange ritual repeated.

"Brynhildr?" Ritsuka asked, some concern in his tone, at the woman's actions.

"Fear not, Master," the taciturn woman said softly, a slight smile on her face. "Though they are not... unpleasant, they are not like my Sigurd... Not yet, at least."

Ritsuka wasn't certain what the glance she sent Byleth's way meant, but he expected the former mercenary had the kind of potential Valkyries would notice and remember for future recruitment, if it developed.

"As they are, they would not be welcomed by my father into the Great Hall, though I can determine little else of the spirit's past, save that her death was an ignoble one, and that the two share divinity, faded though it may be."

"My- my what?" Sothis asked, shocked. "No. No! That simply cannot be! I'm alive, obviously, else why would I even be here before you?"

"Child!" Sothis demanded, turning in the air to face Byleth. "This meeting has been exhausting, troublesome, and entirely too annoying for one day's efforts. I intend to rest now. Wake me at your peril."

Her declaration made, the girl faded from sight, simply disappearing, rather than the sort of light show which were common with Servants.

"Well, not quite what I intended when I called you here, but thanks for the information," Ritsuka said, smiling at the Lancer, who blushed in a manner those who didn't know her would consider pretty.

Most of those who did would consider it concerning, while Sigurd would consider it an opportunity for a bloody good time in both the British and general sense of the word.

"You should not thank me, Master," Brynhildr replied morosely, looking away from him, catching Byleth in her gaze once more.

"Who's Sigurd?" Byleth asked, her tone vaguely curious, probably about the person she'd been compared to.

"My Husband," Brynhildr answered with restrained pride, her hands moving not to the spear as she so often would, but to the ring she'd worn since that fateful summer, crafted from his magic in the same manner as Ritsuka's glasses, it was a simple and elegant thing, a small violet gem reminiscent of her summer roses held in a wing-like band.

She'd made him a matching one as well, and they had it on good authority that both held enough magic to survive an apocalypse unscathed, if only because no one wanted to see what would happen if the physical symbol of their shared love were ever destroyed after so much effort.

Byleth watched the powerful woman worry at the ring for a moment, before uttering a small "Ah," in acceptance.

"He's also a legendary hero," Mash added eagerly. "Most notable for slaying the evil dragon Fafnir, but he also-"

Ritsuka cleared his throat pointedly, before his kouhai could get too into the tales.

"Flayn's been coming over to hear stories, and she'd hate to miss a new one," he said, turning a significant look to the Lancer. "But if you think you can handle it, I'm sure she'd love to hear one or two from the hero's wife..."

Brynhildr looked a bit torn, glancing at the door briefly.

"Before that however, we called you to try and get a small situation handled," He added, catching Mash's eye and tapping his glasses significantly.

"Ah, yes!" Mash realized, taking off her own pair and offering them to their creator. "Mine don't seem to let me see that... Sothis?"

Byleth nodded confirmation to her hesitant query, and Mash continued.

"So I was wondering if you could fix them, so they work like Senpai's"

Brynhildr's eyes shifted between the Shielder's and the offered accessory awkwardly for a long moment.

---

Chaldea

She sat at the desk in the room she shared with her husband after so many many years of solitude, a fact which still made little shivers of excitement flow through her, followed by the less pleasant sensation of bloodlust, as she pushed down the tragic fate her legend had forced upon her.

Releasing a calming breath, she shifted her fingers on the miniscule form of her magical spear they held, focusing as she carved one rune after another across the metal and glass held steady in her other hand.

Sigurd had crafted their Master's gift out of pure mana, and part of her wished she could do the same for that lovely little shieldmaiden of his, but caution made her wary of doing so.

She knew that rune magic could be used to alter a servant's spirit origin, and had seen it done to others, though she'd never felt so bold as to attempt it herself...

Though with summer coming... Maybe it would be a good time for her and Sigurd to take a proper honeymoon.

Shaking the exciting thought free she focused on finishing the last sharp turn on the current rune, an effort of will compressing it to almost imperceptibility and giving her room to add the next.

Yes, for all the convenience Sigurd had with Master, she could not risk something which might resonate with the girl's Spirit Origin, especially if such a thing might interfere with her claiming her rightful place on the throne when the time came.

And so she was forced to work with the inconvenient but more stable physical medium.

There was a knock on the door, followed by the briefest pause necessary to allow her to prepare herself before the door slid open with a mechanical whir.

"I'm home!" the voice of her beloved husband called cheerfully.

Thankfully, the moment he'd given her was enough, otherwise the now dagger-sized spear wrapped in her trembling hand would have set her work back by hours.

She loved the feel of this presence, the scent of him, the pounding of his heart which even now she could feel in her veins, the rush of blood within his own, soon to be released, and most potently, the way his very proximity set her instincts to screaming.

"Stop ignoring me and fix this!"

...Okay, it wasn't only her instincts screaming this time.

She leaned over to peek around the small cubicle they'd built into their shared room, as much a magically enforced place of safety for the things they didn't want to risk damaging when their day got... frenetic, to see her Sigurd standing in the doorway, removing his cloak, weapons and other combat necessities, going through the motions of setting them on the table by the door, though each piece vanished into the ether before he'd managed to remove the next.

His smile matched her own as she watched the ritual for a moment, before rising to leave her work and offering the expected response.

"Welcome home," she said charmingly, glancing up from beneath her lashes as she clasped her hands behind her back, the very image of a loving wife.

Their eyes met, and for an impossibly long moment it was just the two of them, as it had been that day so long ago when she'd been freed from her prison by the man.

Fwoosh!

A burst of blue-white flame flared between them, little more than a nuisance, but enough to interrupt their reverie as the girl who'd been berating Sigurd forced her way into the spotlight.

"Stop that!" Kiyohime almost howled, raising her small fists to shake them at the taller man. "You don't get to be all lovey dovey after you ruined everything!"

Brynhildr blinked at the accusation, while Sigurd rubbed the back of his head awkwardly.

"I'm sorry?" The lancer asked, hoping for clarification.

"Kiyo's upset that our Master's become so much more observant," a quiet voice explained. "His diligence should be commended, not discouraged."

"Shut up you!" the dragon girl hissed, glaring past Sigurd and at her oft-time cohort, and apparently current rival. "Just because you can still stalk Anchin-sama with your ninja- grrgh!"

"But I'm not a ninja," Serenity argued calmly. "My infiltration skills pale against the likes of Lord Fuuma, or Lady Danzo."

"Presence concealment is bullshit!" Kiyohime wailed piteously, surrendering the fight to maintain her supposedly noble image, as she collapsed to her knees in the middle of someone else's room. "How am I supposed to stalk Anchin-sama when he can see me in spirit form!?"

"Lady Brynhildr, would you be so kind as to comfort Lady Kiyohime?" The young assassin requested placidly. "I would like to do so myself, but she has no resistance to my Zabaniya."

Brynhildr let the dagger-spear fade away, before she brought her hands into view, awkwardly patting her debatably welcome guest on the shoulder as she sent a curious look at Sigurd, hoping for an explanation.

"You remember the gift I made for our Master?" He began, somewhat hesitantly. "I may have..."

"Ruined everything!" Kiyohime accused again.

"Accounted for one potential need I should have left unaddressed," Sigurd finished. "Though, to be fair, I expected he'd use them to see ghosts when out on a mission, not... seeing astralized servants. I didn't even realize they would do that."

"Ah," Brynhildr sighed, realizing the source of the proud stalker's dismay. "There, there. I'm sure we can find a way to deal with this."

---

Brynhildr wasn't sure how, but somehow the command team had managed to convince Ritsuka to use his gift sparingly within Chaldea, while Kiyohime had eventually gotten over her distress and apparently started putting even more effort into her stalking.

She wasn't certain if Ritsuka was actually unaware, or just politely ignoring the girl who could occasionally be spotted wearing something approximating ninja garb, complete with mask, crawling along the walls like something out of a comic book, or a nightmare.

In truth, he was quite aware of the situation, but had been convinced by Serenity to pretend ignorance whenever she wore her black kimono, as it became a symbol of her operating in 'stealth mode' and things had spiraled, as they often did in Chaldea.

"Do you think Senpai's idea will work?" Mash asked as she and the Lancer exited the room.

Ritsuka remained within, ostensibly to talk with Byleth, but given how reticent the woman seemed to be, even with Mash, whom she had known longer, there was some question of how much he could learn from her.

"It might," Brynhildr answered softly. "The ambient mana is sufficient to fuel the runes, if the energy is compatible. I am sorry again, for my inability to fulfil your request."

"There's nothing to apologize for," Mash tried again to reassure her friend, stopping their walk through the hall to step in front of the older woman. "You gave me a wonderful gift, and I'm sorry if I implied it wasn't enough."

The Shielder, still in her casual clothes rested her hands on Brynhildr's shoulder, giving them a slight squeeze, ignorant of the way a chill shivered through the woman's veins at the contact.

Mash was not Sigurd, but in many ways, she grew closer to that ideal, almost by the day.

"It is fine," she stated instead, lifting her eyes from their almost perpetually downcast direction and offering a small smile. "I only hope the bounded field is sufficient to suit your needs."

"If it works, it might be even better," Mash said, reiterating a point Ritsuka had made while the Lancer had been carving the symbols into the stone of the walls. "If Sothis needs to talk to someone, then having a room where anyone can interact with her might even be essential."

Brynhildr hummed a noncommittal agreement, still somewhat disheartened that she had fallen short of the success of her husband's gift, especially since Mash hadn't even had a proper use yet for some of the things she had added instead.

Particularly the 'Senpai detector' which would have pointed her right to him during their separation in Avalon, had that cursed forest not given them all amnesia, and caused her to even forget her need for glasses in some strange manner.

It was all so very frustrating.

Passing through the door at the end of the hall, Mash offered a casual greeting to a pair of students idling on the other side, who returned it with equal ease.

Brynhildr glanced over, to offer a nod of her own, dismissing the first with ease... but the second...

In a flurry of motion she was around Mash, past the dour young man, and in the girl- no, young woman's space, violet eyes meeting their like within a space of inches, ignoring how her companion caught the other before he could fall.

"You-" Her voice caught as she reached towards the white haired woman, who seemed more than a little fearful, with a wall to her back and no way to evade someone like Brynhildr.

The woman recovered swiftly, her shoulders and expression firming in an almost literal blink, as her mouth opened to speak.

Before she could, Brynhildr's hesitant hands resumed their motion, one hand circling her waist as the other rested on the back of her head, dragging one Edelgard von Hresvelg into an embrace.

"You poor thing," Brynhildr's voice quivered in sympathy. "You've been through so much, and still you fight on."

Past the woman's shoulder, the angle awkward with her head forced against her chest, Edelgard sent her vassal a look of shock and confusion, not helped by the hand on the back of her head, brushing softly, reassuringly against her hair.

"All will be well," the strange woman whispered softly into her ear. "The day will come when you feast in Fólkvangr at Freyja's own table, my sisters will see to it."

---

As the day sun dipped towards the horizon, and shadows grew long between the walls of Garreg Mach, a decision was made.

Action had to be taken, if only to forestall the threat before it could come to fruition.

After a bit of effort, the window offered egress, but the value of being unseen in this venture could not be overstated, and the late hour ensured the paths around the monastery would be mostly clear.

Especially along the route abutting the window, which none but knights and staff ever truly utilized, and even then, the deepening darkness hid their creeping form for most of the way around.

Only when they reached the public areas would the risk of identification materialize, and they were as at home in the lonely shadows as... well, more so, than in the light of day, to be bluntly honest.

Creeping from the alley's entrance, they took cover beside the ever present barrels, their contents unknown, but the stacked wood and cloth implying their intent.

Breath held as a patrol passed by, the clomp and clatter of armored bodies rendering the measure moot, if their persistent chatter had not.

Soft steps marked their own progress as they darted behind the group, body low and swift, a rustle of leaves almost immediate as they dove behind the well tamed hedge, crouching among the sparse leaves where it abutted against the stone wall, listening for some alert to sound.

Safety confirmed by silence, progress resumed, arguably the easiest leg of the journey, creeping behind the lush cover with nothing more dangerous than the occasionally sharp branch to threaten.

Completely impersonal, and thus, easily dismissed.

The wall was easy to follow, and the building it met, even easier, as the space between plant and stone widened, and once more they dropped to bide their time.

Logs the size of small pillars seasoned here for some unknown reason, but the cover it offered was appreciated.

Creeping past, ready to retreat at any moment, a true blessing was found.

Within the large room, all eyes were turned away from the entrance, occupied with the very distinct women near the further entrance from their own.

One was the stranger with short pink hair, though the large shield she was known for was absent for the moment, and beside her was another who's pale hair nearly brushed the floor, and wore an outfit not dissimilar to the students here, albeit with extravagantly carved greaves and gauntlets.

The visibly sharp claws of one was currently ruffling the hair of Caspar, their similar hair colors leaving the scene almost parental, but that wasn't important now.

The distraction was.

The scuff of shoe on polished stone marked her passage, the noise drawing a glance from the two strangers, though not much more as the opportunist reached their goal and rolled over the counter and bodily out of sight with no more than a sigh of frustration from the women tasked with serving the night's meal.

"S-sorry!" they whispered with tense harshness, crawling past the women.

One of the shelves had a small basket, the kind used for rolls, which was claimed quickly.

Moments later, a small hand rose up above the counter furthest from where they had entered, each swipe claiming one of the colorful items.

With one more crawl and roll, the small body was out from behind the counter, low to the ground and moving quickly, as all but the now puzzled staff remained focused on the Chaldeans.

Turning into the doorway, the darkness was already occupied, the unexpected collision drawing a sound of shock from the hitherto stealthy figure.

The obstacle loomed, dark and terrifying, freezing the cry into a mere momentary squeak, as a gloved hand reached down...

"Bernadetta, What are you-"

The hand was slapped away in a blind panic, and in a movement more lithe than most would expect from the often jittery girl, Bernadetta darted out of reach and past him, turning only once she was out of the deep entryway to see her pursuer approaching.

Ignoring the stairs, she aimed for the short wall instead, leaping over it as he hand lashed out, a pale length flashing through the darkness just before she fell out of sight.

Hubert von Vestra staggered back, the surprise of Bernadetta von Varley of all people attacking him under the cover of stealth enough to allow the strike to slip through, the weapon she'd thrown impacting his forehead and rocking him back on his heels.

The throw lacked force, thankfully, her projectile having fallen to the ground with an oddly hollow thump, rather than the clatter of steel, but he could feel wetness, as it slid down over his nose, the sensation cold against his reactively reaching hand.

Wait, cold?

A glance, and all tension flowed out of him, as he stepped over the projectile and to the wall, gazing down to easily spot the girl, darting from the wall by the far stairwell and into the bushes leading to the greenhouse.

"That girl. Could be dangerous if she ever actually tried." He grumbled, turning away to resume his vigil over the strangely perceptive visitor, though he reclaimed the weapon used against him, if only for his own amusement.

---

Edelgard's hands trembled as she filled her glass once more from the pitcher on her desk, but at least it wasn't as strong as it had been before, when she'd managed to escape that woman who-

Hubert was right, they shouldn't have been waiting for the Professor there, worry pushed her into taking a risk, and it had turned around to bite her, just like the-

She brought the glass to her lips and forced the water down before the memory could make her gorge rise.

The memories were too close to the surface right now, thanks to that woman, but how?

And why?

And furthermore, what?

What was Fólkvangr, and why did it sound so ominous?

"There were others?" She asked Hubert, the dark young man having been sent to follow the pair discretely, after she'd arrived in her own chambers to quietly panic at the apparent loss of her greatest secret.

"Indeed," he confirmed, voice peculiar, as he fussed with the vase on the dresser by her door. "None so... intense, as your own encounter, but if Lady Kyrielight was honest in her assessment, that there were any at all may have been sufficient surprise to account for it... The second, was less sudden, and the subsequent even more so. Even that foolish knight Rangeld drew her attention somehow."

"It's good that the reaction itself will not draw undue attention, in that case," Edelgard sighed in relief. "Do you think she accepted my explanation?"

Hubert's lips twisted for a moment as he considered.

"If by 'she', you mean Kyrielight, then yes, I believe so," He admitted at last. "The girl seems naïve, despite her strength, but there's no telling what the other knows, or how she learned it."

"Brynhildr," Edelgard reminded him softly. "She didn't object to what I told Mash though, about being heiress to the empire... and it being the cause of what she meant."

"Hn," Hubert grunted. "Not a lie, even if not the entirety of the truth. Perhaps she could tell that much?"

An awkward silence rose between the two, as the heiress sat, staring into her empty cup, lost in thought.

"It is not too late for me to remove them," Hubert offered eventually.

Her lips twitched into something close to a fond smile, before she shook her head dismissively.

"No. No," She stated, the second more firm than the former. "They're dangerous, that much we knew from the beginning, but they might still be useful for our plans in the end."

She chose not to mention, or think too long about why her Professor might be visiting the pair, or current trio, in their room, especially so soon after they'd returned from a mission.

"Besides, Jeriza still has first claim to their lives, if I remember your little bargain correctly," She reminded him with a wry smirk, her eyes drifting away from his own as they darkened at that particular reminder.

Her own narrowed a moment later, as she noticed the vase he still stood beside, the flowers were old enough to need replacing soon, but...

"Hubert," She began, her own voice a bit off. "Why is there celery with my flowers?"

His eyes did not lighten, but his smirk grew.

---

The purple haired girl slept, restlessly as one might expect from her nature, but that was neither here nor there.

She had gotten into the greenhouse without trouble, easily guessing the sole place within the walls of Garreg Mach where a rabbit, a normal creature, for that is what she believed it to be no matter its strangeness, could find comfortable.

And she was proven correct, eventually, finding evidence of the animal in nibbled shoots and leaves, at least one good thing she'd gathered from Petra's persistence, even managing to find what she assumed was a nest of some sort, in a back corner, almost inaccessible behind one of the large fan-like plants, and beneath a dense bush.

There she'd begun what some might consider a divine ritual, begging forgiveness while making an offering of the vegetables she'd gathered from the kitchen.

They weren't terrible, having obviously grown in the very greenhouse the Berserker had claimed as its territory, but they had been harvested some time past, and thus the magical energy used to accelerate their growth was faded, and unpalatable.

She woke with a shout when the fully laden basket impacted the wall above her head, the thin weave shattering and allowing scraps and sampled food to rain down upon her.

On the far side of the wall, another girl echoed the sound, though it shifted from fear to annoyance quickly, and something else thumped the wall from the far side.

She flinched at the sound, shifting away from the noise in sudden panic and falling out of the bed in a bundle of cloth and vegetables.

Flat on her back, she finally saw him, crouched on the shelf beneath the window staring balefully down, red eyes shining in the early morning light.

"M-Mister Bunny!?" She cried, flailing to get free and somehow sending a carrot flying towards him close enough that he had to tilt his head, allowing it to dart past and crack against the stone wall.

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" The girl wailed continuously, dragging the blanket over herself and attempting, poorly, to hide.

This would not do, obviously.

He leapt, humans were fragile around their heads, he knew that from experience, so rather than strike her directly, he arced over, spinning to plant his feet on the far wall and pushing off.

The continuing tirade of nonsense was cut off when he struck her hind quarters, the force of the blow driving her into a roll, ejecting her from the ineffective cover and into the base of the shelf he'd stood upon moments before.

This he could work with, he decided, and faster than she could resume her begging, he was back in his earlier position.

Thump. Thump-thump!

The girl flinched, her hands which had been rubbing the bump on her head from his push, more covering it now as she hunched herself down.

...He slapped the carrot she threw with his forelimb, pushing it off the shelf with enough force to hit her in the chest, catching her attention, but hopefully not harming her.

Though he was beginning to reconsider his decision to do so.

If humans were even the least bit palatable, he might have done so already, but the taste of prey often varied by their own eating habits, and humans seemed to subsist on naught but garbage and their own excrement.

He'd certainly consumed enough in his time to know, and if he'd had a way to clear the corpses aside from eating them, he might have done so, if only so the stench of rotting manflesh didn't drive away his preferred prey.

Oh, the girl was blubbering something else now, great.

"Please Mister Bunny, if you'll let me live, I'll never hunt another bunny again! I'll never... I'll never hunt anything again! I'll put down my bow and become a monk, I swear!"

Leaning to the side, he grabbed one of the things which had delayed his confrontation with this idiot in his mouth, tossing it down to land at her... well, knees, since she was still on the ground looking up at him.

The carrot she'd caught against herself fell and rolled across the floor, as her hands went to her neck for some reason.

"No," She gasped, staring at the ball of fluff. "You're going to take my head?"

Tears slowly leaked down her face as she stared at the puffy white ball of dandelion seeds, more than a few fallen free as it fell to drift lazily on the ground, wasting his effort with this-

In a single swift motion, he hopped back, rotating to stand on his forelegs as he decided to make one last attempt at dealing with this nonsense.

One hind leg kicked out, catching the strangely shaped, and probably inedible plant on the shelf near him, drawing another flinch from the girl, and a second when the useless thing splattered across the far wall.

The second kick was gentler, if only because he didn't want to destroy any chance of communicating his demands.

Thunk-slap.

Thump-thump!

When the girl looked up at the double impact of his hind legs drumming the floor, she saw him, one forelimb on the pot, laid on its side, dirt spilling around the seeds he'd delivered.

To further push the message, he shifted his paw, upending the pot overtop the seed ball.

"You... you want me to grow the seeds?" The girl asked, hesitantly.

Yes! Finally getting somewhere! His ears swiveled up, turning her way in his excitement.

"Your ears!" She exclaimed suddenly. "Is that a yes? Does up mean yes!?"

...You know what, sure, why not. He let his ears relax a moment, then stiffened them once more, watching the girl light up at the action.

"You want me to grow these dandelions for you?" She clarified, hoping he could truly understand her words and be open to negotiation.

"Yes" The ears said.

"In here?" She asked, a bit more hesitantly.

The ears dropped, laying flat against his back, figuring if up meant yes...

"No? Then where?" The girl questioned.

One leap took him across the room, where he kicked the door, much like he had the wall earlier, making sure his leap was probably within a speed she could see.

"Out... the greenhouse!" She realized, grasping the basic concept like it was a secret of the universe.

Good. They were getting somewhere. These things weren't his favorite, but the weeds took in everything they could get, and the magic they used to grow plants here would get sucked up like water, making it easier for him to persist in this world.

"Okay. Okay, Bernie. You can do this," The girl said, like she was trying to encourage herself.

"I grow your seeds for you, and you let me live, right?" She offered hopefully. "No more hunting Bernie?"

One ear lifted straight up.

The other fell flat along his back.

"Is... Is that a maybe?"

Good news, she can be taught.

---

"Area effect spirit anchor, second attempt. Activating... now!"

Ritsuka's voice rang out as he used his own mana to trigger the activation rune, which had been added the night before, after their first attempt had proven only partially successful.

The runes Brynhildr had carved into their walls, potentially necessary, in case those crafted of pure mana might dissipate once she was gone, had absorbed the ambient energy throughout the day as expected, but for some reason reached capacity without ever triggering the spell it was intended to.

The Lancer had no difficulty jump starting the effect manually, and as far as they could tell, operated as expected, Brynhildr flickering and fading from visibility as the mana fueling the effect ran dry roughly an hour later.

It was little effort to add a manual trigger, and there was discussion of how to increase efficiency or mana storage, though that was set aside as ultimately unnecessary, and they let the altered circle resume absorption through the night as they slept.

"Can you perceive me, Master?" She asked, from her position in the center of the room, her posture as withdrawn as it often was.

"Full audio and visual, confirmed," He replied, flashing a thumbs up, and a grin.

Mash replaced his glasses with her own, having worn the enhanced version in case of need, and nodded her agreement, copying the handsign with a more determined expression.

"We'll need to test things with Byleth and Sothis, but I think we can expect this setup to work well enough, even with the time restriction."

"And since Professor Byleth is a teacher, that won't even be much of a concern, since she's so busy" Mash insisted, hoping to prevent her fellow servant from focusing too much on the potential flaw.

"Bossy as that ghost girl acted, the excuse might even come in handy," Ritsuka added.

The faint smile Brynhildr wore let them know she recognized their attempt, and possibly that it was appreciated, though she remained as quiet as ever.

The nonexistent clock ticked minutes away as the trio waited awkwardly, the Master and Shielder sharing more than one silent look as they communicated their thoughts with little more than expression.

Eventually, Ritsuka accepted the inevitable, stepping away from the wall with a clap of his hands.

"Okay then," He said firmly. "Bryn, I know you don't like being away from home, for multiple reasons, so it means a lot to me-"

"Us," Mash interrupted pointedly.

"Us," Ritsuka accepted, shaking his head in feigned exasperation, "that you'd come help us with what ultimately amounted to remedial homework for someone with your skills."

"Of...Of course, it was my pleasure," Brynhildr replied softly, dipping her head into a shallow bow.

"And it's my pleasure to thank you, and to tell you to go on home," the master said, his own voice reassuring as he pat the woman on the shoulders. "It's only been a day and a half, and the Valkyrie are probably already digging through the walls trying to find you, and your Husband is probably worse."

The short laugh that brought out of her was still quiet, but both the smile and the blush she wore at the thought fairly shouted her pleasure at the idea.

Ritsuka stepped back, allowing Mash to take his place, embracing her friend in a hug, words quiet enough for him to avoid hearing being exchanged before they separated.

"Thank you, Master," Brynhildr said. "If you have need of me in the future, I will always answer your call."

No more was said before the woman faded away, vanishing into sparkling dust as so many had over their long journey.

Ritsuka took in a deep breath and let it out as a sigh, absently accepting the paper Mash had offered as soon as their friend was gone.

"This is them?" He asked, if only to clarify.

"The people we met who qualify as her 'Beloved', yes," Mash agreed. "We never did find the rabbit though."

"We'll toss the bunnyzerker on the to-do pile," Ritsuka grumbled. "It's certainly getting big enough."

Mash stood next to him, close enough that their shoulders touched, as they discussed the thankfully short list.

Part of her wanted to point out that despite the amount of things going on around them, at least no one was trying to kill them in this land of Fodlan.

But even she understood the concept of jinxing oneself with reckless comments.

---

Bernadetta collapsed into her seat in the dining hall with a thump and a groan, her lunch tray rattling under the weight of its burden, then rattling a second time as her cheek impacted the table beside it.

Thumpthumpthump!

"Okay, Mister-"

Thump

The chair clattered back a few inches under the force of the kick, her cheek dragging against the polished wood by the movement.

The girl groaned as she irritably moved the shallow bowl filled with roasted vegetables, chosen by the rabbit of course, and didn't that get her more than a few looks, talking with her twitchy companion.

Not that it was any worse than the rest of her at the moment.

And of course, the first order of business was his garden.

Which naturally required far more than the few seeds he had brought with him, so obviously she had to go to the less maintained areas around the monastery to find some, first thing in the morning.

Breakfast? What's breakfast, not something Bernie needs to worry about, not while his hoppy highness has orders.

She lifted her head and dragged her own meal closer, intending to at least get something in her stomach before anything else happened.

She was almost too hungry to be scared, and that was an unusual sensation for her.

After they had gathered enough, or what she was able to suggest might be, though she fully expected to be out collecting more soon enough, they had to get around to planting them.

Which meant convincing the greenhouse keeper to allow her to intentionally add weeds to her domain.

It was not easy, and required even more manual labor, isolating a small plot with buried walls to prevent the roots from spreading, hopefully large enough to buy her continued survival.

The keeper told her she would grow the plants for her, same as she did for everyone, but she was expected to return before the plants flowered to finish setting up a netted curtain or something to prevent the seeds from spreading too.

She looked at the animal out of the corner of her eye as they both ate, the rabbit less nibbling away as she might expect, and more tossing the pieces into the air with its nose and snapping them up with precise bites.

She hadn't known a rabbit could eat like that

"Mis-" She cut herself off as the rabbit's eye locked on her, both ears slapping against its back in a resounding 'No', sparing so little actual attention that it still caught the piece of broccoli it had tossed.

"I need to call you something!" She complained quietly, leaning down so her harsh whispers wouldn't travel too far.

It turned to face her, whiskers twitching in time with its chewing, one ear lifting lazily, to signal what she assumed was a halfhearted 'Maybe'.

Turning away, the rabbit tossed another treat into the air, catching it deftly.

Bernadetta looked to the fork, still held in her dirt stained fingers as her mind wandered.

"What about a name then?" She offered, suppressing another groan.

Both ears had relaxed as she thought, and at the question one lifted slightly, probably signifying that he'd consider it.

"One of my mother's servants," she began explaining, gesturing to a piece of something spinning through the air. "He used to eat like that when I was little. Cookies mostly. Sometimes, other things. He once got his pockets mixed up and... he was training one of the hunting dogs, and had treats on him."

She laughed weakly at the memory.

The older man was a bit of a character, bold and boisterous, her father had hated him, but thinking on it, the wide nose and bushy white moustache wasn't too far off from the rabbit's own appearance.

The rabbit rolled it's eyes, and lifted the same ear in the dismissive equivalent of a 'Yeah, whatever', less interested in the girl's ramblings than thinking on its desert, not quite so tasty as the bird it had caught while they were out beyond the walls.

Or the bird's mate, couldn't just leave it to suffer in loneliness.

The chicks in the nest were a bonus, couldn't leave them, that would be wasteful, and they popped so juicily between his jaws that he just had to clear out some of the other nests in the area.

Sadly, the animals had almost no mana to speak of, so it was the servant equivalent of empty calories, but a rabbit cannot live on carrots alone, even if he personally probably could, if they had been grown in that strange magically dense greenhouse.

The girl released a sigh as she accepted his answer.

"Then I'll call you Monty," She suggested hopefully.

Montague was probably too formal sounding, if the rabbit wouldn't even let her call him Mister, so hopefully the compromise would be acceptable.

The rabbit's red eye stared at her, seeming to almost read into her soul, before both ears raised briefly, neither reached full extension, and relaxed almost immediately, but the implication of 'Sure, why not' came through clear enough.

Bernadetta smiled and truly relaxed herself for the first time that day, finally progress was being made.

Across the room, her actions had not gone entirely without notice, a concerned gaze having noted both her disheveled state, as well as her worn condition.

The teacher smiled however, at the progress her least encouraging student was demonstrating.

If a pet was all it took to get the girl out of her room, it was her duty to encourage that.

Sothis was astute enough to remind Byleth that the Chaldeans had something about rabbits written on the board in their room, and if she wished to be kind despite the group's rudeness, she was welcome to do so without her own involvement.

So apparently the ghost girl was sulking still.

---

Chaldea

Brynhildr settled back into her abandoned body easily, resting on the familiar bed she shared with her husband each night in the twisted paradise they'd fought to reclaim and protect.

Most servants had found something to treasure within Chaldea, and this was hers, and she liked to believe it was Sigurd's as well.

From the feel of his runecraft surrounding her, the magic a warm sensation across her skin, to the ever present scent of their shared occupation, it was a comfort which grounded her, reminding her that here of all places she could, if not evade, then at least forestall her cursed fate in some small way.

Reveling in the knowledge, she drew in a deep breath... or tried to.

Her chest refused to expand much past the halfway mark, and the sensation was distressingly familiar.

Eyes snapping open, she lifted herself to a sitting position, almost surprised she could manage that much, as she looked down at herself.

Dull grey metal armored her from throat to thigh, vaguely Norse in design, the source of the constriction she felt, and the entire surface flickering with runes of dimly glittering red energy pulsing like a heartbeat for a handful of seconds before bursting in a flash of energy.

Despite the rune's destruction, light still flickered across herself in the otherwise dark room, drawing her eyes, which soon widened as she looked around.

Flames, faint and illusory, the source of the magic which warmed her filled the room, surrounding the bed for the length of a long stride, beyond which equally unreal frost coated the walls.

Were the room not the one she knew from so many months shared with him, she would have thought she'd woken up back on that frozen mountain where-

In an instant, she was back laying on the bed, the thin metal of her confining armor deformed with even that slight effort, now that the runes reinforcing it had been allowed to fail.

Trying to remember the day so long ago, she attempted to regain the proper pose; had her hands been on her waist? Chest? At her sides?

It was difficult to remember, and even so, she had a feeling she'd never get her expression right, not with the smile playing at her lips.

---

Chaldea

The door opened with a quiet whirr, and Sigurd's eyes swept the room, light glinting from his glasses as his gaze locked onto Brynhildr.

He took his time removing his mask, setting it on the shelf with a quiet click, the sound echoing through the room, and drawing a faint shiver of anticipation from his wife.

No one seemed to be present, and he felt he'd given plenty of time for any of the Valkyrie who might have been watching over their sister to clear out.

A touch upon the door, and runes powered by them both flowed across the walls in a wave, locking the door and sealing the pair within for.. a while.

Things between them were often... passionate, and it took some small effort to ensure the safety of the others.

That, and Thrüd probably still hadn't forgiven him for the time she'd been locked inside with them not long after the protections had been established.

She knew better now though, as did Hildr and Ortlinde, through their synchronization.

Awkward, but not thoughts for the moment.

Still armored, he took a heavy step forward, Brynhildr stilling immediately in her position, though her expression was far different than the absent slumber from so long ago, drawing a fond smile onto his own face.

"At long last," He declared boldly. "The dragon slain, the mountain conquered, and the prize which lies before me exceeds the grandest fantasy of man or god."

"Begone, paltry flames, for your power shrivels in the face of one who has slain a dragon," he demanded, waving his hand to cast aside the illusory protection. "Vanish, you frozen walls, for your glittering beauty pales against the one whom you are charged to contain."

The path clear, his fingers brushed lightly against Brynhildr's cheek, gentle, but intense.

"Oh maiden, bound by gods to suffer so," Sigurd intoned, his voice heavy with the drama he was trying to invoke as he lowered himself to kneel at her side. "Would that you could speak, and thus inform me of the cause of your quietude, that I might end it."

"Be it this cursed armor, so tightly bound, which is the cause for your suffering?" He mused, a dagger-like fragment of Gram appearing in his hand, as he prepared to reenact his freeing of her from legend... before pausing, the blade barely touching the flimsy metal around her.

His grin widened at the frustration on her face, despite Brynhildr's attempt to maintain her role.

"Or perhaps, it is like the legends of elsewhere?" He wondered aloud. "And you merely await a kiss from your true love to awaken you?"

He leaned in, close enough for their breaths to mingle, before whispering the next line he'd decided on.

"Perhaps I shall try both."

---

scritch

scratch

scritchscratch

Earth gave way to the inevitability of her victory, and the darkened sky loomed low above her as she shouted her challenge to the heavens.

"Nooob-ugh!"

Her face, ground back into the dirt from which she'd just emerged, as the creaking wheel of the wagon which had been passing over the length of dirt rode from which she'd risen continued forward.

The Nobbu, first to arise to the siren call of Gudaguda within this land pushed herself free once more, growling at the disgrace forced upon her and swearing veng-Yaagh!

Her right hand darted to her left arm, yanking it out from under the wagon's rear wheel, tears- of rage, obviously- falling from her oversized eyes as she lay on the ground trying to recover her dignity.

She was the Demon King of the Sixth Heaven, damnit! No stupid hunk of rolling wood and it's bumpkin own-

"Buuuuh!"

The groan blasted out as her stomach was punched in, the hoof of an indifferent mule using her magnificent self as a step, as it avoided the dangerous pit she'd been buried in moments before.

"No! Nobu no no!" She grunted out, arms flailing as she tried to ward the other leg away futilely.

A wordless, almost breathless, shriek left her as the hoof came down on her face, only her fantastical and servant-like nature allowing her to survive as her body compressed like a cloth doll under the weight of the entirely mundane beast.

In the brief moment between the equine's front feet leaving her body, and the rear making their accidental assault, the mini Nobu made her move, rolling to her knees and taking off like a shot past the animal, momentous music rising in her mind as a length of rope appeared in her grasp.

She would bind its legs and drop this thing straight to the ground, like in that space mov-

Too focused on her ambitious plan of attack, and her left eye obstructed by the hoof print nearly branded into it, she failed to account for the mule's burden.

There was a sound like a melon thrown against a wall as she ran face first into the wagon's undercarriage, rope vanishing along with most of her much abused consciousness.

This would not stand, even if she herself could not either at the moment, for she was Nobbu! Demon King of the-

Clip-clop

Apparently there was a third heaven's damned mule. But it's fine, she is-

Clip-Clop

The Demon King-

Clip-Clop

The-

Clip-Clop

Damn!

Clip-Clop

Damage!

Clip-Clop

The Damaged Chibi of the Sixth Suffering eventually lifted her head from the dirt she'd been ground into, some hours later, peering around with her one good eye to find the cause of her torture, and finding herself very much alone in the world.

Her arms shook as she tried to right herself on legs which collapsed almost instantly.

Fine, this is fine, a... A her, like herself couldn't be held back by so minor a situation as whatever this was, she had a world to conquer, and if she has to start at the very literal bottom, then so be it, she could claw her way back up one way or another.

She wasn't sure how long she'd been at it, dragging herself along the ground, her cloak so muddy she'd begun considering it as camouflage, if only for her own comfort, when the pounding of steps sounded rapidly behind her.

In a near panic, remembering those damnable mules she brought her legs beneath her in a rush, hoping to at least manage a few moments of proper speed to escape.

She managed a leap, barely, and even that only got her far enough for her outstretched arms to brush the grass at the edge of the road.

She berated herself for not thinking to move off the road when she first started moving.

She was such a fool...

Wait, that's right she's the Fool of... of what now?

"Hey Pa! There's some kid all beat up on the road over here!" A voice hollered above her, drawing her eye and allowing her to realize her pursuer wasn't another damnable beast, but rather some human, some glorious human!

And a strong one to boot, judging from the bulging sack of something-or-other he carried on his back.

"Nobu! Nob nob bu nobbu bu!" She declared, promising the strapping young lad his choice of country, if only he aids in her conquest.

The shout of surprise he let out when she grabbed the leg of his pants and tried to pull herself to a stand was unnecessary, to her mind, but the hands at his waist holding his trousers up might have-

"BUH!"

Consciousness finally left poor Nobbu, leaving her laid out in the dirt, the sack now spilling its contents onto the ground at her side.

It was just her poor luck that the young man trying to rescue her had been the conscientious sort, carrying the heavy tools to allow his poor father the lighter of their burdens.

---

A/N:

So... real talk, who here pegged Bernadetta as the first Master in Garreg Mach? Sure, it's more like Reika and Jack from Apocryphia than a proper contract, but it still counts I think. As far as mana is concerned, Monty relies on the Greenhouse which fertilizes its crops with Magic in the game (As well as Pegasus 'Blessings').

I knew before I ever started writing this story that I wanted to do something with Bernie's bunny, and given the plan to expand servants into the FE timeline, you can see him as a bit of a test run, with a profile to be posted below. You can see her ninja skills as an extrapolation of her panic ability from the Felix Supports as well.

As an aside, the Bugs Bunny jokes I mentioned in Chapter 3 have now appeared.

Brynhildr's Beloved: If you want an exercise in frustration, try and figure out a pattern in that trait. I eventually settled on comparison as its base, and since Kagekiyo is Beloved, I imagine Edelgard qualifies as well. I was planning to tap this a it more in the writing the chapter, but decided against going into detail due to this issue.

As far as Fólkvangr goes, I figure if Valhalla is the forever war and glory, then Freya's afterlife is more for those seeking peace after a life of conflict. (As far as I'm aware, little is known about what actually happens in Fólkvangr.)

Sothis and Fou: This is just a fun idea for me, that there's some residue of his former nature, since some servants were able to identify him before his nature was revealed. Because the Beasts don't seem to be a thing in Fodlan, it's more that they know something's weird and dangerous about him, but not quite what.

Sigurd and Brynhildr: More Chaldea scenes, and recreating their 'first date' put it in my head that those two really are a bit of the exasperating couple still acting super in love and romantic, even when it's a bit inappropriate to do so... which in turn made me realize, they're a LOT like Gomez and Morticia Addams, which makes their summer honeymoon all the more fitting. (Also, I wanted to highlight how much seeing spirits would frustrate Kiyohime, hehe)

And finally... The Nobbu. Full disclosure, I promised my sister I'd use the Nobbus here somewhere, and I have a plan to do so later, but with all the Gudaguda and silliness early in the chapter, I realized 'Heck, might as well take advantage to give the poor girl an arc'. So she gets a short bit here, and another next chapter, to establish her situation, and then we'll see where she goes from there.

Thanks for reading.

---

Name: Monty (The Rabbit of Caerbannog)

Master: N/A (Currently tolerating Bernadetta von Varley)

Class: Berserker

Height/Weight: 92 cm / 3.17 kg

Alignment: Neutral Evil

Strength: C

Endurance: C

Agility: A+

Mana: D

Luck: B

NP: B

Active Skills:

Protection from Arrows: EX

Mana Burst (Speed): C

Battle Continuation: A

Passive skills:

Madness Enhancement: C

Independent Action A+

Hidden Hunter: A - A skill similar to Presence Concealment, but while Monty remains visible, his nature as a predator cannot be perceived. This skill's rank is reduced to C against any creature which has witnessed his hunting behavior in the past, or who can recognize his nature as a Servant.

And Thy Count Shall Be Three: Monty takes triple damage from divinely aligned weapons or spells.

Noble Phantasm:

Carnage of Caerbannog: Hunger of a Hunted Beast.

A charge at extraordinary speed, the more damaged Monty is at the moment of its activation, the stronger it is, fueled by the predator's hunger. If the target is successfully slain, Monty consumes his opponent's mana along with their flesh, using it to heal himself and fuel his presence in the world.