"Uh," Russel asked. "Cardin? Are they supposed to do that?"
"What are supposed to do what?" Cardin asked.
"Those?" Russel pointed towards the litter of chess pieces. "Are they supposed to grow in size?"
Yang's vision focused on the sight before them. It was strange enough that the Grimm were more occupied in dealing with these toys than them. Unless general confusion doesn't count as negativity or something, the Grimm should have targeted them almost immediately.
Those chess pieces, and not just them but other toy-looking objects too, have begun to grow in size. They were limited and stiff in their movements and the Grimm made quick work of most of them. Yang could see that those things were fighting back though. Whatever toy weapons they had with them were used to combat the Grimm
If the Grimm were black, red, and white, these toys on opposite end. Their colors were bright yellow, blues, and with silver eyes. If Grimm were agents of death, these growing, living toys were full of life.
"Cardin?" Dove asked. "Orders?"
Yang looked to Cardin. He didn't look like he knew what he was doing. "Gather information. Then, we get out. We're not risking our lives out here."
The rest of team CRBY nodded. Russel was making his own commentary, most of which were strings of words that made no comprehensible sense as he recorded the sight before them. The toys that managed to survive long enough to become full-sized as Yang guessed soon fought on, like mannequins pulled by simple strings.
Yang whispered to herself. "This has Grail War written all over it. I'm sure of it."
Team CRBY backed away slowly and made their way back to civilization. But the conflict between the Grimm and these toys were only growing in number. Skirmishes were rising all around them that team CRBY had to engage with some of them on the way back.
"They're…" Cardin shook his head. Disbelief colored his voice. "They're a lot weaker than the Grimm."
"But there's more of them," Dove said. "Even now, Cardin. There's still a lot of them."
"I feel like I'm in some kind of fever dream," Russel added. "Are we still in Remnant or the Ever After?"
"Now that you mention it." Dove swung his weapon and off went a pawn's head. "It does, doesn't it?"
"If that's the case." Cardin was looking towards one direction. "I take it that is a Red King dealing with the Alpha Beowolf over there."
Yang and the rest looked over Cardin's shoulders. It was less a red king and more of a white king. But there was no white king in the Ever After so that was the only comparison that could be made there.
"I think we need to move faster," Yang said. "If the others haven't made it back already, we need them to know."
"You don't think they're drawn to positivity like the Grimm are to negativity, do you?" Russel asked.
"Let's not think about that." Yang shook her head. "Let's just go."
Team CRBY kept going. But they were soon stopped as a White King appeared before them. Its silver eyes were lifeless and uncaring. Yang may not have known Penny Polendina for long but even that android had more life to her than these. Then again, these toys' movements were closer to puppets than anything living.
The White King raised a hand and pointed towards them. Yang didn't wait for what would happen. She stepped in into the southpaw position, fist raised to deliver a straight punch. It was followed by a hook to the body.
The White King was fragile and easily broken, like genuine toys. There were no liquids that spilled. Like the Grimm, these things vanished. But instead of a miasma of black smoke, they puffed into white smoke.
A few more pieces appeared and they were beginning to come for them as well. Yang would guess that the next one was a knight with that horse's helmet on his head. The rooks were bulkier and had a square head. With the majority being pawns, Yang guessed that the pointy-headed ones were bishops.
Team CRBY pushed onward. They only dealt with those that happen to come their way. Grimm and these chess pieces were too busy with one another that the huntsmen and huntress were mostly ignored.
Every once in a while, either chess piece or Grimm went for them specifically. But doing so put them at risk with the opposing faction.
Soon, team CRBY managed to return to the walls that led to Vale's cities. Here, the number of both Grimm and chess piece were low, almost absent. They weren't the first ones to arrive and they certainly weren't the first to report about the strange phenomenon.
Talks and building confusion were had in the cities. There were some who used this chance to push forth crazies about the end of the world. They were quickly subdued for it helped no one. Tensions were starting to build around here.
"Enough!" said Saber, slamming hard on the ground that it created winds forcing people into stillness. He then gave out commands too quick for Yang to understand.
Saber then saw them. "Team CRBY. What news from beyond the walls?"
"Nothing you haven't heard already by the sounds of it, sir," Cardin answered for the team. As the team leader, he was responsible for making those reports. "My team and I have recordings that might be of interest."
Saber nodded. "Excellent. Report to the headmaster. Vale has survived the attack on Beacon. Vale has stood against the black tides that came. We will stay standing even against these new fairy tale creatures. Forth with valor, Valeans!"
When team CRBY made distance between themselves and Saber, Yang couldn't help but comment, "got to be something serious if he's going old school with those words of his."
"And here I thought you'd make a pun out of it," Cardin said.
"Don't get me wrong," Yang replied. "It's pretty grim out there."
"Damn it, Yang!" Cardin said. "It's not even about the Grimm!"
"Call me an Ursa. I know I can be unbearable."
Cardin sighed. He only had himself to blame on that one.
Cardin himself walked faster, leaving the rest of his team behind.
"What?" Yang called out. "Too much?"
He already dealt with that from the father. He wasn't about to deal with it from the daughter.
/-/
Headmaster Chiron sat on his chair. His back was to the desk as he stared out of the window. Haven Academy had him for a short while and already he was making movements that have got the council questioning. But with the League behind him, questionable origins they may be, there were less problems that he would have gotten. At least it was humane with nothing that Chiron would object to.
He was listening to the reports given by the huntsmen. It was taking a while for him to recover many of the students sent home that he had to rely on word of mouth for it to move. Still, all were in accordance to Archer's calculations, within the margin of error.
Even if that wasn't the case, Chiron could see it with his own eyesight. His vision stretched far and it was for that reason he was staring out of the window; he was seeing it all for himself, before most other huntsmen out there in the field could see.
"Another report." Raven frustratingly put down the papers. "Why do I have to wear these heels? And this outfit is too tight!"
"I never said that you had to," Chiron replied. "Only that you should look a professional professor and less like a bandit."
"That's what I found to be the case!"
"Then why didn't you get one size larger?"
"You calling me fat?"
Chiron stayed quiet. He would win that fight, no doubt about it. The office won't survive and he wasn't about to allocate Haven Academy's funds just to repairs. Mistral was already tight on lien with the amount of huntsmen that needs replacing.
"You looked to the outfit Beacon's Glynda used, didn't you?" he asked instead.
"So? She looked professional."
"She also acts like one." Chiron massaged his temples. He wished he could make Raven do the paperwork. But she is a horrid assistant. "It's also important to note that you have access to other examples online. Why haven't you checked them?"
"I did. They were horrid."
"You did check the ones where they were actually trying to be professional, right?"
"Of course, I did. What makes you say otherwise?"
"Because you left your browser on and I saw that it was anything but. I think you even got yourself a virus."
Raven blew it off. "Academy funds. Just have someone turn it off and back on again or something."
Chiron sighed.
"Just because you have me as your league's little lapdog," Raven explained. "Doesn't mean I'm just going to make it easy on your jobs."
"I figured," Chiron replied. "I can't even have you make me coffee."
"Wine is better," Raven insisted. "It's the one thing I'll agree with Qrow on."
Chiron buried his face. "After this, I'm considering of getting one."
He could feel Raven getting interested.
"You get bottom shelf."
"That's not too bad."
"One bottle. The lowest concentration, you're practically drinking water."
"You giving me milk you glorified workhorse?"
"I'm also your boss."
Chiron picked up the documents while Raven had her tongue out. Right now, she wasn't some bandit queen of a bloodthirsty and violent tribe; she was a disobedient school girl on timeout. Chiron didn't understand just what the fuss is about. He didn't want to know.
Reports of the pieces coming to life and attacking Grimm were common enough. A few reports mentioned about how some huntsmen were attacked but the pieces were dealt with. Others were gracious enough to include photos though Chiron's vision gave him greater clarity than these pictures ever could.
They weren't just chess pieces. There were toy guards mixed in among them. Chiron recognized those beings as such. These guards were tougher and better combatants compared to the chess pieces but no different in the eyes of the Grimm.
Chiron took a deep breath. It doesn't seem that they are quite on the same level as the Grimm. He stood up and walked closer to the window. His eyes squinted as he observed more of those pieces in action.
He looked up and saw that some pieces are still falling. No flyers yet and the Nevermore in the skies were making quick work of those.
Chiron was scratching his chin. Unless his eyes had deceived him, Assassin had perished, reducing the number of Servants in the Grail war to six, not counting any of the Companions.
The door slammed open and Vernal rushed into the room. "You all heard about—"
"Yes," Raven answered. "We heard." She pointed to the documents on the table.
"So what do we do now, boss?" Vernal asked.
"What else? We survive," Raven replied.
"What do we do now, headmaster," she amended.
"You little ungrateful brat." Raven's eyes glowed.
"Enough," Chiron said. The office was nice. The office was pleasant. Chiron didn't want to lose the office. The office was expensive. Chiron didn't want to spend too much on unnecessary things.
Chiron stepped out of the office but made sure to bring Raven and Vernal along.
"If you two are going to duke it out," he said. "I'll give you a mission to duke out wherever they are most concentrated. Train as you would there."
"Finally," Raven said. "Some action, and I get to get rid of this outfit."
Chiron pinched the bridge of his nose. Raven was still useful. That semblance of hers should not have gone to her. How is it that the person most difficult to get along with has a semblance that involves bonds and kinship to be fully utilized? Was it a balancing act? It had to be a balancing act.
Chiron stood on the roofs of Haven Academy. Raven and Vernal already left. Meanwhile, a bow had appeared in his hand and he began to let loose his arrows.
He still had a job to do.
/-/
Salem looked like she was trying to rip open her own skull. A horrible screech was in her head as those blasted pieces continued to rise. A mostly dormant part of her had awakened violently that it drew concern even from the likes of Caster, her own Servant.
"It would seem that light's little influence is bringing out the dark inside of her," Curious Sanson commented. "I'll admit; the thought didn't even occur to me, nor have I even had a passing wonder about it. Though, considering the other one, I shouldn't be surprised."
Berserker was of a similar boat. It was furiously digging the ground and growled and barked, desiring nothing more than to savagely tear and break down those enemies.
"Actually," Curious Sanson added. "No. That's still surprising. Jabby and I have our differences but it never went this far. Light is doing something else with these pieces, that's for sure."
"Should we do something about this?" Emerald was already backing away. "I'm not sure how I feel about this."
"Caster!" Salem suddenly demanded. "Could they?"
Caster shook his head and drew his blade. "Not so, milady. These putrid things are but an imitation of what they might have been."
"Ah," Curious Sanson said. "That sounds about right. I didn't think of that, to be honest. Funny how that works." They didn't care about it in the slightest.
Caster ignored him. "Your orders?"
"Get rid of them," Salem appeared to be struggling. "Get them out of my sight!"
Caster had none of the psychotic sadism. Instead, he was a knight following orders. "Understood, my Master. I shall see to it that these trespassers will suffer just punishments."
"Cinder!" Salem called out. "Get Berserker on them."
"Mistress?" Cinder looked confused.
"Now!"
Cinder nearly jumped. "Berserker. Lead the way!"
Berserker never left more eager and more excited.
Curious Sanson whistled. "I don't need to ask for what I'm supposed to do, don't I?" They shrugged. "Oh well, better to ask for an apology than ask for permission."
They soon left.
The more of those pieces fell, the easier it was for Salem to regain some semblance of her former self. She sat back on the throne, massaging a massive headache that was still there though faint. Outside Evernight castle, carnage and chaos ruled as the Grimm fought ferociously to defend their territory from these trespassers.
The Grimm part of her had come out. Dipping herself into the Grimm pools not only made her into Grimm but also brought out of her that monstrous side of the Grimm.
"Was this how the Hounds go through?" Salem said. Her breathing was that of someone exhausted and spent. "Dear gods, it must be painful."
Hazel turned. His eyes narrowed. There was an almost hopeful expression in those pupils.
Salem dismissed her minions. She waited until after they had left before she spoke again. They didn't need to hear it, Cinder especially as a Master.
"No matter," Salem said. "The Grail War is simply moving to its next phase. It may be that we will reach a point of greater scale than the Great War. But I will not falter. I will not fail. I will not lose. Not again. My immortality ends with this Grail War. Remnant along with it, if I have to."
The headaches occasionally returned. She was hearing that primitive and evil instinct to do harm. It had never happened before. If it had, it had been subtle and slow. Not so much now.
"Even in this Grail War," she said. "The damn gods still wish to see me suffer."
She slammed her fist down on the armrests on her throne.
"The Relics are worthless to me now," she concluded. "The Holy Grail is my last hope. And I will not let anyone get in my way again."
Outside her tower, Caster was making great work keeping those toys away.
/-/
Jeanne d'Arc couldn't help but wonder at the sight before her.
"What am I looking at right now?" She was expecting an answer, somehow.
Chess pieces were combating with the Grimm. If it wasn't for the fact that she was a Servant, she would have wondered if she was hallucinating from the lack of water.
She didn't fly that instantly. When she did, she immediately got back down the moment Remnant's skies started raining those toys. She didn't pay them any mind until she saw the Grimm sick on them.
Something about the sight of it didn't sound right at all to Jeanne. Her time from her Remnant didn't exactly include Grimm combating with now sentient toys.
She raised her flag on time as the toys violently went for her. She swung her banner and swiped them to side the side. The skipped across the sea of sands like pebbles before they were promptly torn apart by the Grimm.
These were creatures of light. Jeanne felt sure of that as her glowing eyes felt similar enough. She looked up and took notice of more toys still raining down, only to be destroyed by airborne Grimm and those with enough strength or daring to jump as high as their weights allow.
Jeanne's return to Vale was slowed. Out here in the untamed desert sands, skirmishes dotted one's vision of the landscape. Upon nearing any settlement big enough, Jeanne couldn't tilt her head further to the side as much as she wanted to. They were avoidant on civilizations. Those that stepped out of it however were not as safe. Only huntsmen and capable defenders were allowed to even step outside.
She noticed something else. But she had to confirm it once she returned to Vale. She noticed that these toys were especially violent against her but no so much against huntsmen. Comparing herself to others, the toys treated other huntsmen no different from the Grimm. It is her in particular that these toys were especially violent against.
"God of light," she thought out loud. "Targeting the Servants. He has to be. Has he lost the Grail War."
A spear of light manifested in her hand and Jeanne threw it, skewering many toys. They broke apart as the spear flew straight and mostly unhindered.
Grimm fell on one side. Toys fell on the other. Jeanne's own frustration was building with each slowed step that she could only painstakingly take. She forced out a bursting ring of energy to push them all aside and flew in the air.
"What?" Jeanne nearly avoided an arrow coming for her.
The toys had archers among them, and spearmen too. All of them were trying to shoot her down.
It was a strange day when Jeanne found herself making a temporary alliance with the Grimm as Nevermore rained down their sharp feathers. How those birds are able to survive in this desert heat she doesn't know.
She wasn't about to complain. Unless she herself attacked first, or if the Grimm had nothing else to fight against, Jeanne was usually left alone. She moved around most of the Grimm and allowed them to squabble with the toys below. Not all those arrows were aimed at her.
Occasionally, she would rain down her own her light javelins against them. The numbers advantage belonged to these toys. But the Grimm had better combatants.
Eventually, the desert sands changed to that of the familiar forestry and mountainous terrain of Vale's borders. Jeanne could relax and walk her way up the mountains. But that only lasted for a short while before the Grimm also came out of the forests and clashed with the toys.
She stayed above the trees. The sun above her was making its descent and she could already see the broken moon peeking out of the horizon. She maintained flight and kept moving until she found a place to stay, in a cave, away from them all.
Neither Grimm nor toys were there and Jeanne wasn't about to start a fire lest she be found and she wasn't going to get any rest.
Jeanne looked out into the noisy forests. Grimm and toys kept fighting even into the night. It was fortune for everyone else that they could at least rest easier if they were far from these skirmishes. But for Jeanne and those who were close to the boundaries of their settlement, these noises pose a constant threat, especially for those who were guarding their posts.
Jeanne didn't get to sleep at all that night. Not like she needed to but habits of having a living body die hard, especially that practically lived twice. Her sleep was light and she was easily disturbed by the slightest noise that sounded too close. Without a warm fire, she was subject to the cold breezes that pelted into the cave that she rested at.
When the sun greeted her again, she felt herself slow as she was less actively flying and more lazily gliding. The noises at that point, if she kept her distance, were more background than anything else. She was still active and kept her guard up once the skirmish got close to it.
"Finally," she declared as the familiar sight entered her eyes. "Vale."
/-/
"You want me to what?" Adam couldn't believe the sight he was seeing and the words he was hearing. It was less the content and more the commanding tone that Ilia Amitola took when speaking with him.
"We want you out there in the field," she repeated.
Behind her, Sun Wukong had his weapon out. He was faking a relaxed state with that staff on his shoulders with his arms hanging on them. The monkey tail was ready to spring at any moment and those feet of his were already into combat position.
"Has the leadership role already getting into your head, Amitola?" Adam asked. "First of all, why did you come to me first before Blake? Don't even pretend that there won't be someone constantly having their eyes on my back."
"There is," Ilia asked. "And it isn't us that is wanting you out there."
"It's headmaster Ozpin," Sun added. "Already has professor Blackberry on standby for your weapon."
"Mulberry," Ilia corrected.
"Let me guess." Adam had a disappointed face. "It has something to do with the toys that have been coming to life and fighting the Grimm."
"Pretty much, yeah." Sun nodded. "Vale isn't in any immediate danger with the Grimm keeping them distracted but Vale needs every capable fighter on board. Now if somebody didn't just lead an attack on Beacon, we wouldn't even be in this situation."
Adam sighed. It was no use fighting it. "So what am I supposed to do?"
"Sun is to escort you to Beacon," Ilia explained. "He's trustworthy among the populace and you are to give professor Mulberry the specifications of your weapon and he'll have it forged. They already know the kind of weapon you use and have the materials ready."
"A surplus actually," Sun said.
"And for Blake?" Adam asked. "I noticed that it is you who has to stay here with her, Amitola."
They were fortunate that Blake wasn't here. She was actually stepping out every once in a while.
"Like I would care right now?" Sun said. "Dude. We know you're her ex. We know that Ilia and I here have something going on for Blake. But right now? We got bigger fish to fry and it isn't tuna."
Adam would have growled were it not for the degradation it would have on his pride.
"Fine." Adam gave in. He put out his arms and waited for a minute. "What? No cuffs?"
"No," Sun said. His staff split into nunchucks. He showed the hole on the side. "I got it covered."
"You'd lose," Adam declared.
"And you'd be surrounded by everyone not willing to put up with you."
Adam Taurus stood up and followed. Rather, he was in the front while Sun Wukong was behind him. Adam shook his head.
Wouldn't be the first time he had been made a public display, but at least this time, there was no Servant doing anything horrid and disgusting for it.
Adam kept himself quiet. Even as they arrived at Beacon Academy and met with this professor Mulberry, Adam upheld his silence and spoke only when necessary.
"So," Mulberry asked. He looked like he would rather be anywhere else. "What are the specifics of your weapon?"
"I'm actually thinking of an upgrade," Adam replied. "Since Beacon is being tremendously generous right now."
"Dude." Sun shook his head. "Not cool."
Professor Mulberry sighed. "And what would that be?"
"I wish to make my weapon longer. Remove everything else. A pure blade of metal. No Dust cartridges."
"Alright." Mulberry nodded. "That can be arranged. How long?"
Adam Taurus smirked. Feeling it in his hands would make for better practice. "Long enough to be used as a drying pole."
/-/
"You know," Weiss said as she flung the Grimm bits from her weapon. "When I thought I would be breaking any toys, I had expected that I would be punished for being so careless, not praised."
"While circumstances certainly proved itself to be the exception to the norm," replied Penny. "It is still advisable to take care of one's things lest they prove themselves harmful to the self and others."
Penny was handling the toys. Weiss could guess one reason for the toys' being sort of obsessed with Penny but she'd rather not say. It wasn't too certain and she didn't want to lose a partner right now.
Toys and Grimm clashed even in these snowy areas. Covered in snow, the toys were difficult to see with their bright colors almost blending in with the snowfield. Not even Weiss' summons could blend in with the snow like these toys could.
Speaking of summons, Weiss now has those toys among them. They were surprisingly efficient and cost so little in the way of aura, compare to the Grimm. It was even better since Weiss didn't really use them much outside of being a shield and basic attacks; she could summon a small group of them and have them stand shoulder-to-shoulder into a sort of phalanx formation.
Penny smashed them liberally. Electrical sparks flew around her. If she wasn't smashing, she was slicing and cutting. Her fighting style were massively different depending on her weapon of choice.
Huntsmen and soldiers were being called back and focused entirely on the borders of Mantle and Atlas. Ammunition were being conserved since the general managed to see that these toys and Grimm went for each other for the most part; he might as well conserve as much manpower as he could.
Complaints about the empty buildings died down. With these enemies just fighting outside their immediate borders, many huntsmen and soldiers have used these buildings as their temporary residence. Even Weiss had one, sharing it with Penny. Still, there were a few more empty houses there but Weiss was sure that general Ironwood, doctor Jekyll, and her sister were absolutely relieved at having justification for these buildings now.
Advertisements could only get them so far. But with the battles to come, Weiss was sure that it wouldn't be optional for Atlas' people to move down here.
"I have cleared my area, friend Weiss!" Penny saluted.
"Same here Penny." Weiss wiped the Grimm bits from her face. "Same here."
Between her and Penny, Weiss looked the worst. Penny spent more time with the toys and those things don't leave much behind. The Grimm don't leave much behind either but they did leave behind smudges. Those things would build up eventually which they did for Weiss.
Penny graciously offered a ride back. Weiss didn't want any of the Grimm smudges on her to freeze over so she took it. She was used to riding Penny at this point that the sight of the two in public was common enough.
The Happy Huntresses were coming and going as they rested, recovered, and refreshed themselves for the fights ahead. Few were going out though with many mostly returning.
Winter was busy giving out orders for the soldiers and specialist but managed to spare a greeting wave at the sight of Weiss.
Penny put Weiss down and Weiss made the instinctive move to find the nearest place to clean off the smudges on her. She wasn't alone in that front.
She could hear their conversations as she walked past them.
"What do you think is going on?"
"It's crazy out there, I still couldn't believe it!"
"Yeah, they're toys alright. I swear I saw my son playing with those before."
"Somebody pinch me; I think I'm high."
"Can I have what you're having?"
Weiss shook her head as the conversations turned into a mess of background noise. Getting herself clean was the simplest matter but the freezing cold of the water made her regret it all. If she wanted warmth, she'll have to wait in line.
She looked to her weapon. Nope. She shook her head. Not using fire dust. Though, that spot over there sounds good.
There was a barrel on fire there. People were gathered for warmth. Soldiers, civilians, huntsmen, they were all there. Weiss squeezed herself among them and took in that warmth. Cold water in freezing climates was not a good feeling, especially when she had to do it where there are winds blowing. The buildings could only do so much in preventing them from hitting her exposed face.
Penny wasn't bothered in the slightest, unsurprisingly. Her father, Pietro Polendina, was nearby and Weiss was welcome there anytime. Penny herself didn't go there beyond repairs since she wanted more experiences of being a real girl. Having her own house, even if Penny was sharing it with Weiss, was more of an experience of being an adult woman than anything but Weiss wasn't going to say it.
Weiss put out her hands and took in what soothing, drying heat that she could get into those palms. She would have gotten closer but she didn't want to seem rude to those who were already there before she was.
More conversations were had around her but Weiss tuned them out. Right now, she was focused on getting warm.
AN: I once mentioned that the initial title for this fic was "Fate: Of Remnant" before it was "Fate: Upon A Time."
This right here is pretty much the reason why that had been the case.