#breaks em down or wait for one lethal strike

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South East Basement 1

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[lilith-of-rivia]

Chapter 1: The Meeting

Summary: Ina of Cintra the Lioness's firstborn daughter has been a well-kept secret. her title as princess never leaving the castle walls, her abilities, abnormalities not being uttered without the blessing of the queen. She has her entire life planned and guided so she doesn't break the Crown's rules. She has been an outstanding model of good behavior, that's until she meets a certain witcher.

Word Count: 3.6K

Warnings: Blood and gore, swearing, mentions of death

I

“Ma’am…” Knock, knock, knock. I had heard whoever it was coming to wake me up before they even got to my door.

“Yes?” I heard them hold their breath, they weren’t expecting me to be awake.

“Uh-uh yes ma’am, Druk is outside. He has sent for you.”

“Yes thank you. I’m awake.” I said as I rose from my bed. Folding at the hips my fingers gazed at the floor as I yawned in a stretch. My spins cracked along with my shoulders.

“Yes of course ma’am” There were no footsteps and the heartbeat was still there outside the door.

“You may leave now.”

“Right right, yes ma’am.” Scurried light footsteps filled the empty hall as they left.

With a heavy sigh, I contemplated the day I had ahead of myself. Mornings with Druk were never different. The day was was one full day of drills, day two was one different full day of drills than to day three, four, five, then repeat next week. Druk wasn’t like other witchers I had met. He wasn’t focused on the coin or glory. Maybe it’s because he saw his brothers and mentors be slaughtered when his Keep fell.

“Knock knock.” My eyes snapped to the door of my room, dragging attention away from the gauntlet on my. My mother stood at the door. She was still in her sleep clothes, a wool robe hugged her body as she smiled softly at me from the door.

“Morning mother,” I said looking back at my gauntlet, huffing in frustration as I struggled to get them tied.

Wordlessly my mother walked across the room, grabbing my arm as she sat in the chair across from the one I was in. her fingers delicately tied the strings tightly, the gauntlets tightening around my wrists. Once finished, she softly held one of my hands, her face was cold, stoic as always. But once she looked me in the eyes I saw the fear.

“You know, don’t you…” I nodded my head. Looking out the window of my room, breaking eye contact. I stood up walking from her to the armored cabinet in my room. I grabbed my two swords from their hooks looking over them and assessing their sharpness.

“I heard you and the court talking last night. Many in this castle forget I have super hearing.” I heard her sigh heavily, shakily.

“I’m so sorry, Ina…” I turned to her. Her gaze was on the floor, her chest rising and falling fast.

“Mum...don’t cry…” I crouched down by her side, my hands going to hers squeezing them. She looked back at me, one hand cupping my face. Her thumb softly brushed over the scar on my left cheek.

“I’m so sorry I brought you into this world...Into this life...I wish I had known your life would be so painful…” I leaned into her warm hand, my eyes closing as she spoke.

“Stop blaming yourself...everything happens for a reason...and no matter what happens after the meeting today...I will always love you.” Her hand moved from my face to my neck. She pulled me into her chest, hugging me tightly.

“I’m so sorry.” Hse sobbed into my hair, rocking us back and forth. I said nothing, just kept my arms around her, holding her while she sobbed. Her tears wetting the spot she laid on my shoulder.

“Don’t be…”

II

“You know princess, I do not normally wait. You are lucky the gold and wine your mother gives is so good.” Druk’s voice was below a whisper as we snuck through the damp dark woods. My hands felt the tree bark under us as we slowly tipped around the fallen trees, as to make as little noise as possible. Funny with Druk’s big mouth.

“My mother is very worried about the meeting tonight,” I whispered back, following him as he weaved in and around the thickly wooded forest. We were hot on the trails of a stray kikimore that had been terrorizing a southern village. Druk and I were sent to take care of it.

“Are you worried?” Druk asked, pausing to look back at me.

I stopped too for a moment, thinking about his question.

My eyes searched the forest around us while we sat in silence. The forest was no longer lush and green. Late Saovine meant the world was cold, covered in ice and snow. Nothing was awake. All the animals were in hibernation, birds had flown south for the winter. The only things still awake were the monsters.

“No. I’m not. Should I be?” Druk looks away from me, his amber eyes searching the forest around us.

“Tonight is the night a pannel of witchers, mages, and the royal court you belong to decide if you go through the trials...maybe a little of fear. It would be healthy.” I smirked and rolled my eyes.

“Fear isn’t necessary for my vocabulary.” Druk laughed softly, his head nodding as he looked me in the eyes again.

“Then don’t be afraid. Fuck em all. If any woman could survive the trials it’s you.” Once finished with his small sentiment, a cheesy grin spread across his face. He nodded his head in the direction of the kikimore and we both rook off after it again.

Our feet lept, ran, jumped, and sprinted across the fallen trees and rocks throughout the forest. The snow-covered ground would cause too much noise. Druk had gone to the Witcher school of the cat. He prides himself on his ability to remain stealthy and quiet, all while being just as lethal as witchers from other schools. He taught me to only put my feet on the ground when it really mattered. You’re much easier to be tracked and killed when you travel foot to the ground. But foot to a tree to rock is a different story.

Jumping from a rock onto a tree we scaled the side till we were above the tree line. Out heads stuck up and out of the dead branches. Our chests rising and falling heavily as we looked around, noses sniffing out the location of the kikimore. The high point giving us the advantage. Druk’s yellow eyes scanned the trees below while I sniffed the wind. He had better eyes than I. his mutations to thank for that. The wind blew softly and the thick smell of iron and rotting corpses seeped into my nostrils and filled my head.

“To the east,” I said quietly. Druk adjusted his direction eyes grazing the land elbow us. A small smirk graced his lips, he found it.

“It about four hundred yards northeast. Common princess no time to waste.” We quickly scaled our way down the tree till our feet were steady on the branches. He wasn’t wrong, we were already out way longer than we were intending. Meaning we were going to be late for the meeting.

Druk took the lead. His hand holding the hilt of his silver swords. His other hand out in front of him, his fingers gleaming with a soft blue tint. Aard was spoken in elder inaudible to the average human. He was prepared to blast the kikemore to give me more time to ambush it. Druk only ever took the lead, then he’d stand back and watch. He’d teach me a new skill by charging whatever beast. Whether it was a new sign manipulation, a new combat skill, or hell even how he wields his sword. He started, I’d then follow and clean up.

“Ready Ina?” There was a soft pop and a cork fell onto the ground below us with a soft thud. His head fell back the liquid pouring down his throat. He grimaced slightly before turning to me, his eyes were black as night, now white to be seen. The veins on his neck, face, and hands were dark black and bulging. The potion was vital for witchers, giving them heightened senses, and skills. Allowing their powers to increase.

“So fucking ready,” I said, a smile gracing my lips. He returned the smile, his more sinister with the help of his eyes.

My sword was in hand. The silver catching the few rays of sun peeking through the clouds above. We both moved silently through the brush. Out feet feather-light against the snow. We moved fast, never keeping pressure on one spot too long to not break the crust of the snow. Druk made it to the clearing first. The Kikimore was alerted to us as soon as we reached its small nest.

Druk’s hand thrust out in front of himself, a huge ball of blue light smacked into the kikimore, throwing it back and hard into the tree. Druk sheathed his sword and ducked behind me. The kikimore shook its head before it made eye contact with me. I crouched lower to the ground, eyeing the beast. It slowly started to move to its left, so I mimicked it. We slowly began circling one another. The Kikimore’s large gray limbs stabbed into the ground with every step. Its gross snarly face, red beady eyes looking me over, studying my every move. The only issue was I knew where and how it would be.

The kikimore pounced, its legs kicking up dirt as it tore after me. The short distance between us was gone in no time. I lunged out of the way. Diving and rolling away from the clumsy beast. I was much smaller, giving me an advantage.

“My my what an ugly fucker you are.” I mocked. The beast turned to me again, and let out a low grumbly growl. I was moving closer to its nest. I could smell the rotting bodies even worse as I moved slowly. My eyes never leaving the kikimore.

It charged again. I slashed my sword through the air, spinning around, splicing my sword up in the air. The kikimore squealed and screamed as its leg fell from its body. Spinning on my heels my sword slashed through the air again, making contact with its neck. The sword slashed through the beast’s thick, fat neck like butter. The screams stopped, the kikimore’s body falling limp on the ground, blood-spewing, and pooling on the ground and around my boots. I sighed heavily, a smile gracing my lips again as I whipped the dark black blood from my blade before sliding back into its sheath on my back.

Clap, clap, clap. “Very well done princess!! A full-grown warrior kikimore down in two strikes, no potions or magic!” Druk had a smile ear to ear, his potion still in effect. Seeing a laughing, happy smiling witcher with pure black eyes was a sight to see.

“Only as good as my mentor my dear friend,” I said with a laugh. Crouching to the ground, my hand gathering the small tuft of hair atop the kikimore’s head and lifted it so it was eye level with me. Blood dripped from its mouth, nose, and eyes. Its dark purple tongue hung out of its mangled mouth.

“Add another one to my list.”

III

“Common hurry Druk!!” I yelled through the rain as we ran up the cobblestone road towards the castle. The kikimore’s head swung over my shoulder. “We are already late they will have my head!!” Druk ran from the stables after me, quickly catching up with me right as I neared the doors.

The two guards opened them for us as we walked through. I breathed heavily, my lips blue as my teeth chattered. Despite my many abnormal traits I still got just as cold as the average human. The rain had come out of nowhere. The two of us speed walk down the corridor, our muddy boots squeaking against the marble floors as we got closer to the royal library. A place I’d only ever been when I was being threatened by the crown’s court. The doors appeared ahead of us as we both halted before we could be close enough to be heard. The floor below us was wet as we dripped head to toe.

Glancing at Druk I gulped, now that I was about to walk into the room, I was more than terrified. The prospect of the trials was so much closer than they had ever been my entire life. Druks hand went to my shoulder, giving it a reassuring squeeze.

“You’ve got this.” He whispered, before giving me a soft push towards the door. I took a deep breath before shoving the door open, swallowing the fear and placing the stoic look of my mother back on my face.

The voices in the room stopped when I walked in. my boots stopping heavily on the floor. My eyes glanced around the room, everyone there were people I have known for many years. My mother stood in the center of the room by her throne, my sister who was not supposed to be here was next to her. They looked scared.

“Sorry, I’m late, had a prior arrangement.” I heaved the beast’s head over my shoulder and threw it on the floor. It flopped down and rolled a little its tongue falling out as its cold dead eyes stared up at Gadri, a member of the Crowns Court. His face scrunched in disgusts before he kicked it away from his shoes.

“You are nearly three hours late, Ina.” I rolled my eyes my attention going back to my mother and sister.

“What is she doing here?” I asked pointing to my sister.

“We think it’s important that the future queen gets to help make choices regarding her subjects.” Hazzez, a plump fat little man with a bald shiny head and large white mustache and beard said standing from his seat.

I huffed, the corner of my lip pulling into a sly smirk as I shook my head. Water falling on the floor.

“Yes, the future queen who passes her sister even tho her sister is the senior. Yes, and my sister needs to be in control of whether I will be subjected to the trials and if I’ll die or not.” Druks witcher attitude tended to rub off on me. Witchers are trained, to be honest, overly honest. Blunt and rude is what many present them as.

“Ina. enough.” my mother said sternly, her jaw tightening. I bite my tongue nodding my head. My fingers pulled at the buttons of my jacket, throwing it on the floor in a wet pile. The room was cold, making the wet clothes on my body send shivers down my spine.

I glanced around the room, eyeing the other members of the Crown’s Court. And then the other few people who were in the room. Tissaia, a mage from Aretuza smiled at me fondly as we made eye contact.

“Hello, princess, my how you’ve grown.” Her voice filled the empty room. I smiled back at her.

“Tissaia-” I bowed my head to her softly, “yes, it’s been a while hasn’t it? What 15 years?”

“17 years.” my mother chimed in behind me.

“Whos the mystery man next to you?” I asked her, she glanced over at the witcher who was perched next to her. Druk was seated next to him.

“Well get to that in a second. Please sit down.” Hazzez said, gesturing to a lone isolated chare in the middle of the room.

It was as if I was on trial, for simply being born.

IV

“Druk how has she been doing?” My mother asked, her eyes glaring daggers at the five men who were attempting to discredit the years of work and training I had done with Druk.

Durk rose from his seat next to the other witcher, a bored look on his face. “She is exceptional. Not only her physical talents in combat and swords but her book knowledge. I’ve trained three other witchers before her, and none of them come close to the skills she posses. She is a skilled alchemist, a skilled swordsman, she is skilled in nearly every talent she tries. I would trust her in a battle to have my back any day. It has been an honor training her for 15 years, your highness.” I smiled at him, a smirk covering his lips.

“With all due respect your highness we are not interested in what the witcher from a failed school has to say. The witcher to his right has been watching her and keeping track of her success. That’s who we care about.”

Before the witcher could address them, Tissaia stood up. “What is the problem here gentlemen. On her fifth birthday, you all made this a rule. You said her abnormalities would only ever benefit her if she was trained as an assassin or a witcher. She has been trained for 17 years by a witcher, as a witcher. She has proven time and time again she doesn’t need the trials and mutations to be as skilled as a witcher.”

“Thank you, Tissaia, but need I remind you that you are only here to as a stand-in for the mage in your court who can still perform the mutations. Please sit down and be quiet.” My mother shot Tissaia a look, making her shut her mouth and sit down. The witcher next to Druk stood up.

“I have been following her and her trainer. For months now. Even just today I followed them while they killed the stray Kikimore. She killed the Kikimore with two strikes something many of my boys have struggled with as fully mutated and trained witchers. She without a doubt has a talent and a heart of the witcher.” I heard my mother’s breath catch in her throat as she held my sister’s hand. My sister was stating at me, had been since I sat down. Her face was painfully still, her throat tight as she breathed heavily. She looked scared, so did my mother.

“Tissaia, you will take Ina to Kear Morhen. Along with the mages in your court. The mutations will be done by the end of the week.” My throat ran dry. Hazzez kept talking but my brain tuned him out. None of us thought they would go through with this. The chances of me surviving the trials and the mutations were nearly impossible. Less than 20% of the boys who face the trials died. And the mutations are designed for male genetics, not females. I was never supposed to be mutated, just trained.

“Hazzez you piece of shit!!” My mother screamed as she stood from her chair. Her hand reached for the dagger she kept strapped to her thigh.

Her hand came down quickly with the shinny dagger, flying towards Hazzez face. My hands quickly caught her arms and I pushed her back. Knowing if she killed one of her court members over me I would surely be sent away and killed, no chance of survival.

“Mother mother please stop it please,” I screamed into her red, tear-stained face as she attempted to fight me off. Her chest rose and fell heavily. She hissed through her gritted teeth, she was probably breaking teeth.

“Queen Calanthe-” Hazzez spoke. I turned to look at him, my back to my mother. Her dagger is in my hand. I threw it to the floor, kicking it away. “Do not forget the sympathy the crown, and your father gave you for your bastard daughter. She should have been killed out of the womb. But your father cared too much for you. Count your blessing that you got 20 years with her, and at least she will die with a little bit of dignity.” Hazzez stood up to leave, the four men ready to follow him, they gathered their belongings.

“Gentlemen.” My mother said, her voice harsh and cold like the wind outside. Her brows set in a low glair as she looked them up and down. “I am still your queen, you do not get to control everything. It’s clear you’ve made your choice, but when it happens. That is my choice. She is my daughter. I choose when she goes with the witcher. I do not know when that will be but it will be after her sister’s betrothal. If you have an issue with that, find a new court to control.” the five men looked at her, then each other before nodding and walking out of the room silently.

My mother’s hands held my arms as she dragged me into her chest. My sister came up to us both, her hands wrapping around both my mother and me I. her head resting on my shoulder. Wrapping one arm around her and one around my mother, I let my fear fall. My fear came out in silent sobs. My shoulders shook, my eyes clouding as I stared at the wall behind my sister. The tears pooled down my face.

My mother pulled back, one hand on each of my cheeks, her fingers brushing my tears away.

“You will be the first female witcher to ever be. You will make history.” my shoulders started to shake more violently as I cried more. The impending end of my life is on the horizon. My mother’s denial was just to help her cope, but we both knew how it would end.

“Mum...we both know what will happen to me...I won’t survive it.” my voice was broken as I spoke caving as I cried. Her fingers moved faster to wipe my tears as she shushed me. My sister’s hands are on my arms and back.

“Even if that’s the case, it won’t be for at least another month. Live your life for the next month the way you want to, no regrets,-”

“No hesitations.” I interrupted her, a small smile tugging at my lips. Her eyes softened at me. She leaned in placing a soft kiss on my forehead.

“You can do this Ina. You are the Lioness Cub. If anyone can do it, it’s you.”

[corey-067]

Whump Prompt 26 - Shot.

I fear that I'll fail to bring across the depth of what's in my mind, yet again. But here we go! This only took me about 3+ weeks to write.

TWs: Blood, injury detail, PTSD flashbacks, sci-fi violence (Halo-typical) The worst of it is under the cut. I'd like to thank CIA391 from Halopedia for the info and chat we had about the Blamite and how it works, plus the Superfund peeps for keeping me motivated to write when it's been grinding to a halt.

"Arcus Actual, Arcus Two: we've got the spaceport on lockdown. Got a fair few Covie vehicles here, some gear they were trying to get out before we took 'em down."

"Arcus Actual. Nice work, Spartans. We'll be in touch shortly."

The Spartan ducked to the side, his armor blaring warnings at him as a beam rifle strike intended for Commander Lasky struck Corey's chest, his shields taking the brunt of the impact - though he staggered from the force of the shot. Captain Del Rio had sent Lasky and a small contingent of Marines to scout out a former Covenant supply depot - one which supposedly contained a number of Forerunner relics. "Keep your damned head down!" The Spartan-II snapped, suddenly realizing who he was talking to. "Sir." He muttered. 'Spartan time' was in full effect, and he searched for the familiar red glow of the Jackal's helmet, his eyes recovering quickly from the afterburn from the beam.

"Two o'clock high! Suppressing fire!" Corey bellowed into the comms, forcing Lasky into what passed for cover as though he weighed nothing. They could observe proper etiquette when his charge - his friend - wasn't in danger. Shots rang out, followed by the whoosh of an M41 rocket launcher. The satisfaction of the detonation was only surpassed by the squawk of the Jackal in question, and a grim smirk crossed his hidden features. Gesturing for the marines to circle the complex, Corey tossed a pair of grenades into what his motion tracker told him was the last holdout of enemies in play. They detonated, and bodies went flying.

The trouble with motion trackers was simple. They were perfect for detecting incoming threats, and he'd even worked with several of the toys that ONI had developed to identify the electronic frequencies which the Elites' active camouflage gave off. If a second sniper was set back outside of the forty-meter range of his motion tracker, but also immobile, they were incredibly difficult to spot, even for someone with a Spartan's enhanced vision. His hand was still on Lasky's shoulder, keeping the Commander down behind the nanolaminate wall when the shots rang out.

Corey's reflexes were perhaps the fastest of any Spartan-II outside of Kelly, and only Kelly had been able to defeat him consistently in terms of raw speed - with his HERMES-class Mjolnir armor he was practically untouchable. The sound of shattering glass pierced the whine of his shield monitor, as the first of three blamite shards from a needle rifle struck the top of the wall. He was moving, faster than Lasky had seen a human - Spartan or not - move. It wasn't enough. It saved his life, without question - he still had vivid memories of what one of those needles could do to an unshielded Spartan, as Kat had died before he'd even managed to catch her. Corey only managed to move enough to turn a lethal blow into a gut shot, the third needle glancing off of the top of his domed visor.

He dropped behind cover, and Lasky stared at him, calling for a medic on comms, but receiving only static in reply. There was a level of panic radiating from the commander that Corey had never seen, in all the years he'd known the man. "Lasky!" Half a tonne of Spartan slammed into the nanolaminate surface, and Corey could see that Infinity's commander was somewhere else entirely.

He was shocked that the blamite crystal hadn't detonated, the pink-purple shard was pulsing, threatening to do just that, and it'd lodged itself directly beneath his armor plate. It needed to removing carefully, and he didn't have an angle to do so. Lasky was miles, or perhaps years away, and Corey knew that he had to reach him.

"Lasky!" He barked again, with all the authority he could muster. In his mind, it was the voice of Chief Mendez, the authoritative bark he heard whenever he needed to push himself just that little bit harder. The part of a soldier's brain which resonates with that tone, drilled in from morning to night for years woke up, and he blinked rapidly, memories of the bodies of his classmates drifting into the background of his vision, threatening to resurface at any time.

Everything was a blur. Smoke and shadow, darkness lit by streaks of green and pink, the muzzle flashes of ODST's fighting a valiant, losing fight. Mehaffey had been protecting him, as well. "Get to the dorm! Go!" Her gestures were frantic, but she remained in control. "Go! Go! GO!" And then that sound, needler fire struck her chest, her shoulders and took her off of her feet. His mind was on a loop, deafened by the cacophony of this brand new war that had burst into their young lives in a blaze of plasma fire. A hand grabbed him, hard, dragging him into the light...

"Tom, I need you here. Now." Corey was holding the wound closed around the shard, he needed it gone, but it was all Tom could do to look his reflection in the face. He slipped back into it.

It was a nightmare; it had to be. Aliens? Here? Hastati was cut in half, only saved by the timely intervention of Master Chief 117. He never found out his name, if he even had one, just the number stenciled onto his armor. He trusted the Chief with his life, though he couldn't place why, and that trust was well placed, as he took fire, saving them again. Sully was hit but walking. General Black's lifeless eyes haunted him as he dragged his body from his Warthog, and fear kept his head down as he tried desperately to get the vehicle started. And then they were clear. It was incredibly surreal, escaping into the forest, weapons blaring around him as those creatures with shields fell, Chyler putting her years of rifle training to efficient use. They were retreating as the Spartan, and the cadre of cadets sped towards the Pelican. Someone yelled, he wasn't quite sure who, and the vehicle was blasted by the wash of a plasma grenade. The cadet slammed on the brakes, fearing that he'd send them off into the trees if he didn't stop until his vision cleared, the thump of a jackal hitting the windshield reminding him that he needed to get the engine running as fast as possible, but it wasn't working.

The report of a Battle Rifle firing jogged Tom out of his reverie, the Spartan beside him finding it in himself to take out the sniper, despite his injury. The first burst missed entirely, but the next was on point. Three rounds, spread further than usual because he was shaking with the effort to hold himself up pierced the Jackal's skull, killing it instantly. Corey could feel the blood beneath his armor's undersuit, and he dropped. It was far from the most blood he'd lost, but he knew he needed it sealing, and soon.

Gunfire wasn't enough to break Lasky from his waking nightmare entirely, and Corey was running out of options, aside from simply slapping his face.

"Tom? Tom?!" Each moment that he didn't react, Chyler's voice became more panicked. Once he realized what was going on, he screamed for the Chief, but he had no biofoam. They had to get her to the Pelican before she bled out, which would've been a challenge on a good day, and today was definitely not one of those. They ran as best as they could, panting breaths and Chyler's whimpers punctuated only by the staccato sound of 117's assault rifle and the roars of the creature that dwarfed even their savior. Terror propelled them forward, but that adrenaline only carried them so far. They were all exhausted and had been running on fumes since the invasion had started. They were cadets, not ODSTs; they weren't prepared for this. How could they be?

More Covenant troops were exiting the facility, and Corey would've typically used this time to rush the doors, blast his way through the Covie line and get inside, a tactic the Spartans had used to great effect on numerous occasions. His body geared itself up for the sprint, even before the logical aspect of his brain reminded him that he had to protect Tom until the Marines returned, and the pain told him that he was still injured. His shields refused to recharge, likely because of the Subanese shard sticking through his abdomen. Corey released his hold on the crystal, a strange combination of pulsing heat and cold, he pulled the fiberoptic camera from a pouch attached to his armor. The camera displayed on his HUD, and if he'd had more time, he'd have connected the Smart Link from his BR-55 as well, but as it was, he just had to make guesses. At the whine of a plasma grenade on the other side of their barrier, the Spartan covered the Commander's form with his armored body, the detonation shaking Tom out of his reverie, as tears streamed down his cheek, dripping onto his fist that appeared to be miming holding another person's hand.

Corey fired blind, adjusting the angle of his rifle based on the trace of each three round burst. He killed two of the new arrivals, though he managed to drive the rest back into cover, waiting for them to pop their heads up.

"You've seen this before, haven't you, sir?" The Spartan asked, noting Lasky's reaction as his eyes flickered down to the injury.

The Commander nodded; his eyes glassy with tears. Corey recalled John telling him what had happened during their evacuation of Corbulo - the way that his friend had died. Corey winced, though not from the pain. Along with Linda, he'd flown the Pelican out of there, but he'd not met any of the cadets when they reached their destination, not meeting Lasky until years later, during his pilot days.

"I understand that this is painful for you, sir, but I need you to focus." Corey rumbled. "The Marines will be back soon, but we need to take the first steps n- keep your damned head down, sir!" The Spartan's voice was warm and steady, holding a comforting certainty that hadn't been getting through to Infinity's XO until he got snappy. He wasn't feeling as confident as he sounded, but he knew that he needed to project that for Lasky's sake.

Lasky came closer, and as he took a closer look at Corey's wound, the remaining color drained from his face. He looked as though he was about to either vomit or vanish into his head once again, until the Spartan gripped his arm, hard. The pain was enough to keep him focused on the present. "Look, Tom, this won't kill me, but I need your help." He shook the Commander's arm, for emphasis. "Focus on my voice, Tom. Everything will be okay, and I just need you to focus on doing as I say. I'll walk you through it." He paused a moment, switching off his vocoder as he gasped with pain. "Freya, can you make sure that my shields don't recharge? Last thing I need is to be ripped apart because that energy overloads the crystal."

There was a momentary pause, and the alarm cut. "I've disconnected it from your armor's power supply, Corey. Just remember not to stick your head into the line of fire until after we've booted it back up. I'm not a fan of you injuring yourself." Despite the rich amusement in the AI's tone, he knew that she was entirely serious.

"Yes dear." He deadpanned, and for a moment her avatar glowed green on his HUD, arms crossed and shaking her head.

"What do you need me to do?" Lasky's shaky voice cut in. There he was - the soldier that John had described from Corbulo. Brave despite what he was feeling, or perhaps because of it. Corey passed him a biofoam canister, a small model which he kept on his belt for extended field missions, something that came in useful in this case as his suit's injectors were either empty, or the local one was damaged, and he hadn't realized. Ideally, the shard would've been removed with actual medical equipment, but it wasn't the first time he'd had to improvise in the field.

Finding a neatly folded square of slightly grease-splattered cloth in one of his belt pouches, he passed it over as well. Tom was shaking, perhaps too much to do what was necessary, and Corey's eyes darted rapidly from side to side as he searched the officer's face, searching for something for him to hold onto. He couldn't comfort him the way he did other Spartans, it simply wasn't enough for the vast majority of people. "Pop open the biofoam canister, ready to use. One layer of cloth around your fingers, to avoid any potential charge transference," Corey told him, forced steadiness in his tone. It might have been seconds, minutes or even hours since he took the hit, but he could feel that he needed this dealt with now. "Take hold of the end in one hand, slide it towards you, gently, as straight as you can. Biofoam goes in straight after."

"Okay." The Commander breathed, his fingers shaking.

"Tom, look at me. The Master Chief believed in you, all those years ago. If he were here today, he would still. I know that because I do. Right here and now. You can do this." Lasky's eyes hardened, his jaw setting at the mention of John, the confidence that he'd shown in Tom all those years ago still stirred something in him now. He wouldn't let him down.

His gauntlet-clad fist squeezed his battle rifle with enough force that the casing creaked, cracking under his powerful grip, heat, and cold, as well as jolts of electrical charge, coursing through the area of the wound as the subanese crystal shivered its way free. Tom inserted the biofoam end, and the sensation changed, a combination of a crawling itch, pain, and relief blending themselves together as the life-saving substance did its work.

"Save some, Tom." He gestured towards the crystal. "Coat that in it, and let's get it into the canister. It's rare that we see them like this outside of lab conditions, maybe it'll give us new answers." He was in too much pain to smile with any feeling, so out of reflex, two fingers came up in front of his mouth, swiping across quickly, as the Commander frowned, then realization set in.

[abhisheksingh098]

SAIYAN RAP CYPHER - Lyrics | FabvL

SAIYAN RAP CYPHER - Lyrics | FabvL

SAIYAN RAP CYPHER | FabvL ft. RUSTAGE, Daddyphatsnaps, Dan Bull, NerdOut & More [Dragon Ball] 

Joey Nato:- Ayo, you know what's crazy? I learned that me and that dude Gohan got a lot in common Nato, all the haters that tried me will be first to tell You that you won't get buy me with a perfect sell 'Cause I'm married to my goals like my goals Videl My father taught me how to win, but I learned to fail And pick a low in my life, any low I've had Was in the pickle low key, but the key was fight back Even when I was a teen, I would know I'm bad The way I killed a 16 would make Gohan snap Look, legend in the making, can't stop my story And if a Sensu bein' a little hostile towards mе I'm a power up quick and deliver that fast pain Thеy Saiyaman only as good as his last game I heard you pack a punch, but I guess none landed Dummy, you should know I'll beat you one handed And if you mess with family, take a guess what we'll do We won't wanna fight you, nah, we'll wanna kill you, Nato Dreaded Yasuke:- See me walking in the public Sporting the green and black armor on Bandana with the blood drip I was considered low budget Look at me now, fighting the crowd, take you all by the dozen Judging my exterior, I'm raising my thermals Thinking I'm inferior, making ya soul furlough Beat you down thorough Hoping you can manage my final spirit cannon and make ya blood curdle This the time to panic When you see the golden hair, even battle damaged I give you a thousanf-yard stare Not gonna be fair when I start feeling my rhythm You should be scared, ya blood staining your denim Standing there thinking how did I get my momentum? And will be passing down, cause of nepotism Super Saiyan ain't nothing to playing with Enemies don't gotta chance, even when I show them the tip Dan Bull:- Ay, what you bringing? What you saying? I'm the king of the Saiyans Someone from the southern U.S.A., would say I'm advanced Solving the toughest puzzles There must be tuffles living in my brain Still ruling my people, I don't really care what Frieza claims King Vegeta's staying, like a Fajita stain Firing execution beams and heaps of Ki in waves I've seen regimes and seasons change, how could it be the same? You keep on feeding the flames, you're going to free this ape Vegeta's ancestors stand the test of time I guess it's down to diet, genes and some exercise Best alive 'till my son took the crown Now I rest in the sky up above trunks looking down There's a bright future ahead of him, like every parent's hoping for I might have met my descendents if I never had that broken jaw There's so much lore that I could go through more Than even Goku could hope to when he grows new balls Shwabadi:- Yo, I see you thought it was over But then the fusion tango boosted power roasting opponents The coldest foes that I'm owning, the Ki is flowing an ocean You had the nuts to step to one of us, but now you're facing Bofa These thugs People that keep the beam tucked Lethal when thinking you'd of dreamed to beat us Fetal position, you can clear the tear ducts Crying to yourself 'cus you're weak and we're peerless I got twice the will in me, a Gemini man Don't need a smith, come with quickness when I jeopardise plans Double vision, they can't seem him, 'cus I'm fast with the hands Punisher drive, push 'em aside, now I'm sending 'em back This dual personality, you woulda thought'd be a mismatch Two beefy dudes sandwiched together, that's a Big Mac One man think tank, never skipped gym class Think fast, Kamehameha with a Big Bang Gameboy Jones:- Coming to you live, it's the man from the planet of the apes You don't want the smoke and I ain't talking 'bout a vape Tide pod ship, yeah my whip so clean I've been taking planets way before I even hit my teens Raditz stacking cabbage, I'm banking on being savage Heart is full of malice, unleash it by causing havoc You don't want the beef that's unfortunate, there's no salad If I see my brother, I'm snapping that little carrot No app, but I'm bringing in the discord I'm pedal to the metal, that's how opposition gets floored Microsoft, I'm about to give you one note Facing me is suicide, us Saiyans are to cutthroat Pride of a lion, check the mane But I go ape shit, me and you are not the same Compared to me, you ain't even looking half as nice If you wanna beat me, you'll sacrifice your life! None Like Joshua:- This is for Gohan, so long you robots Krillin's own thot, isn't even the most hot or that nice Like I am when it comes to tough fights Goku taking 20 episodes, I'm taking one slice More humble than any Saiyan here on the track 'Cause I know when to attack and when to hold it back Coming from the future, man, it's all out of whack 'Cause Goku's got to live, so don't shoot, he's not Goku Black Or Zamasu, what I've seen will haunt you Travel to the past seems too paradoxical But I've got to killin' villains, saving my fam Now my sword is shaving off years from your lifespan Simpin for Mai chick, she's searching for my Dragon Balls I don't need to make a wish, I can hurt the baddest gods Immortals underestimate me 'cause my dad's a loser Thia Mai is too young, so it's back to the future Zach Boucher:- They don't hold a single hope if they're alone Find a sacrifice against this elitist, you will need it That's my last advice I'll be undefeated and I mean it though, I pack a fight Handing eveybody, one way tickets to the after life Now they're coming at me assuming they're quick Nah, practically practice, they're done with, I'm over this shit Getting so impatient, God I hate how it's over so quick So I'll let you die for nothing, like the Namek, Tien, and his buddy did Say he's Super Saiyan, but I'm saying that he sucked at it You just need to find the little strength that you've been mustering While I keep it deep inside my veins until it clutters You're like Gohan, how you stuttered Killed your friends and all your brothers I was sick of living deep inside the dark But that's when I met Vegeta, he would teach me where to start They don't realize I'm still alive to tear you all apart You call it destruction, I call that a pockmark Connor Quest:- Goten since I was below ten, I've been hard as stone henge Enemies they curve me like a road bend Broke them limits, making grown men fidget When you see me up in GT, I'm the golden ticket Need a scope lens just to even see the height I'm hitting Deny the physics, these guys are tripping If they think that I could give in Collide the digits, call it popping the Trunks Because I'm riding with him, feel the burn As you get offed by the son Flip round turn the tension high No, these clowns ain't friends of mine Kamehameha drop a body to the floor Get a strike to a vital just to end your life Step with a rush on your neck, bust collarbones This is how you make a hero's son, fuck Boruto Ki on lock, you can fight with us You'll be sweeping up the pieces of your teeth after you bite the dust DizzyEight:- Looking for a hero? Then it's us Had to double up to maneuver when it's clutch Give him big rounds, know for the dough I go nuts Fella, sit down, it's known I bring thunder when I punch Ya'll talk too much, enemies do the most What I speak leave 'em toast, when I spit they go ghost You're not the real thing, I'm in a game full of clones They copy what I'm on, then hope that they explode You can't copy me If you do, you do it sloppily They're just throwing shots at me But I promise you never stopping me So much potential You can check my credentials You don't know that you in for Greatness what I'm meant for FabvL:- Hold up, I see 'em wanting the prince Throw your best punch, guarantee I won't even flinch I got the drip that'll turn your number 1 to a bitch Shoot this Galick gun unload it, yeah I'm draining the clip So call me sensei I've been healing the game, better than Dende Type a hero that the villains and their friends say Is truly worthy of the crown, never dead weight Hyperbolic rent payed the best way I got the baddest chick in the whole galaxy Used to say that Super Saiyans were a fallacy Now I've learned that evil deeds are just cowardly Richest man on Earth, so fuck your whole salary Really think you could hang with all the best? No way, royal blood, got it running through my chest Don't play, stupid villains, I could kill without regret All day, listen up, you will do whatever that I say! NerdOut:- Y'all done screwed up I acquired the jewels and now I'm fused up You about to get bruised up Best of both worlds, I use superior stragedy You're not even half the man that used to be half of me You choosing defeat If I wave my arm, the wind will put holes in you Now that's shooting the breeze Go ask Majin Buu, oops it's too late I'm out for 60 minutes, but for you? I only use 8 Laughing while I'm waiting for this union to dissolve 'Cause I don't think the ladies are approving a ménage But if Chichi and Bulma wanna cuddle tonight They better watch out 'cause now I got double the pipe And Gogeta's no match, he stay losing He had to do choreographed Tik Tok dances to make a fusion So which Super Saiyan are you choosing? These dim-witted half-pints or pinnacle of evolution Rustage:- Hit that, Wukong with the staff breaking bodies like a Kit Kat Rip your team in half like I'm moses when I split that Whiplash punches like it's gift wrapped, spit facts Treat you all like Frieza with a bitch-slap Saiyan from the planet of the apes, I'm not playing Best be praying to this God I'm raising stakes I ain't waiting, I be saving every person, every race Passion blazing 'cus I'm facing any aliens in my way Say my name, call me Goku Hanuman, stand my ground, yeah I won't move Chris Chan, when I'm loud with a blown fuse Understand, hear the sound of your bones bruise Go through faster than my flows do A monkey but better than Luffy, I'm king of the planets Ain't needing no piracy I'm stunning, just look at my moves, I'm top of the charts And I'm needing no rivalry And finally, they're fighting me bust in beats like it's Chichi Easy your characters tough, but can they beat me? Daddyphatsnaps:- So you made this far, huh? Now you and me Hahahahaha Somebody hold me back, I'm going berserk And at the rate I'm going, bro I'm 'bout to blow up the Earth It's lunch time, eat your every punch, I'm knowing it hurts your pride Legendary Saiyan, I was chosen at birth, I'm the truth 'Cus I always been the hardest, I'm a bad bitch You had to work to get to where I started so savage Had the Super Saiyan gods saying "oh damnit" He's so made bitch, he breaking up the whole planet Well, if it's gonna go, then I got something I should get off my chest And I ain't talkin' 'bout the X, see you sipping the flex I got these little green bitches out here gripping my pecs I'm ill turn you green bitches then your hitting the deck I'm a god damn God, are you out of your mind? It's strange, millions of scenarios, you die every time Murder you without a trace and 'geta brought me the lime You'll get bodied out your body if you rowdy with mine

https://img.youtube.com/vi/VigYo7W10Ik/maxresdefault.jpg from Blogger https://bit.ly/343heDB

[theknifetest]

“Psst.”

The first rock bounces off the bars across his cell.

“Psst.”

The second rock clatters as it skids over the stone floor.

“Kennan, I know you can hear me, you asshole.”

The third rock strikes him across the forehead, and he finally cracks one eye open.

Kalysta shoots him a glare, brandishing a fourth rock. And admittedly she’s a pretty good shot, but he’d be more concerned with her aim if she wasn’t currently stuck in the cell across from him.

“Go back to sleep and I’ll wedge this one up your ass,” she warns him, ignoring his snort of amusement. “Kennan, don’t you dare.”

“Fine, alright. Speak your piece so I can go back to my nap.” As if to impress on her just how unimportant this conversation is, he stretches back out on his cot, head atop his interlaced hands.

There’s an exasperated sigh from the other cell, and Kalysta’s projectile bounces harmlessly off his arm.

“Why haven’t you broken us out of here yet?”

“Can’t break yourselves out?” he asks, trying not to smile at the strangling motion she makes at him through the bars. “I thought you and Sand had all manner of tricks up your sleeves for getting out of tight spots.”

“Not for lack of trying.” Kalysta jerks a thumb at the cell next to hers, now empty; the door stands open like an unfinished sentence. “Did you seriously sleep through all that?”

“Maybe. Enlighten me.”

A resigned shrug. “Lysander’s been moved to high security. He burned a lockpick spell on the door and they caught him opening mine.”

“Can’t you just, you know… charm ‘em?” He wiggles his fingers in lieu of any actual spellcasting. “I thought that was your thing.”

“That is my thing,” she spits back, “except when the guards are all robots, who aren’t generally susceptible to the charms of a human woman, so if you’d be a dear and break me out of here, we can go collect our third idiot and maybe still break even.”

“Ask real nice and I’ll consider it.” He sits up anyway; when Kalysta wants something, he’s not generally too far off from granting it, whatever it might be.

Kalysta, admirably, doesn’t miss a beat. Her frustrated expression is gone in an instant, replaced with something seductive and smoky-eyed—the sort of gaze that makes most sentient beings fall at her feet. “Please, Kennan? Pretty please with a cherry on top?”

“See? That’s all I wanted. Oughtta keep that in mind for next time.” He hauls back for a kick, lighting up the strength sigils on his hip and thigh as he lunges; the door, formerly locked and bolted, snaps off its hinges and crashes to the stone floor.

“Quietly,” Kalysta sighs, too late. “Get me out of here, hero.”

-------

There are two things Kennan knows absolutely and for certain, right at this moment.

One, that no human being in their right mind would fight a room full of mechanical prison guards, armed to the teeth and just bristling with malicious intent.

And two, that he is entirely prepared to fight the entire room full of mechanical prison guards, armed and bristling, with nothing but his fists and a bent steel bar.

“SURRENDER YOUR WEAPON AND RETURN TO YOUR CELL,” one of them orders.

“How about this: all of you go back to your patrols, and you survive beyond the next five minutes,” Kennan counter-offers, cracking his knuckles. “I’m feeling real generous, and I’ve got a—“

Partner? Boss? Friend? Ew.

“—coworker who needs rescuing, so I’d appreciate it if this went as fast as possible.”

“SURRENDER YOUR WEAPON AND RETURN TO YOUR CELL. FAILURE TO COMPLY WILL RESULT IN USE OF LETHAL FORCE.”

“I’ll take that as a no, then? ‘S a pity, it was a real reasonable offer.”

“FAILURE TO COMPLY NOTED. STAND BY FOR INCINERATION. THANK YOU, AND HAVE A NICE D—“

Kennan cuts the reply and the jet of fire off with an uppercut, his fist connecting sharply with the robot’s chin to pop its head off in a crackling spiral of orange sparks.

He knows better than to give the other bots time to react; by the time they realize their leader’s been decapitated, Kennan’s already carving his way through their remaining ranks, constellations of tattoos blazing just under his skin.

Strength bolsters his spine, sharpens his movements; he can’t last for long like this, flooded with magical energy, a conduit for some divine fury—but he doesn’t need long to shatter through the gathered ranks of the mechanical guards. He’s a natural disaster in human skin, a destructive whirlwind leaving nothing but debris in its wake.

And the robots are entirely unprepared for dealing with a human who can punch holes through metal armor like it’s tissue paper.

As the last one falls, sputtering softly and fumbling for the hole through its chestplate, Kennan looks the enormous iron high-security door up and down, then knocks twice, leaving dents in the metal.

“If you’re in there, Everstar, stand back.”

“Kennan, wait—“ Kalysta, fiddling with one of the downed robots, straightens and holds up a key.

Oh.

“You’ll be less likely to completely crush him with this,” she says sweetly, patting his shoulder. “Plus, I need you to still be able to fight off the robots upstairs, so don’t burn yourself out on a door when we have the key.”

Kennan rolls his eyes and, with a reluctant breath, lets go of the power he’s holding.

It’s not unlike an adrenaline crash, but there’s an emptiness that comes with letting go of that much magic at once; better people than him have called it a comedown, and maybe they’re not wrong.

Either way, it’s exhausting, so he lets Kalysta get the door.

“About time.” Sand barely looks ruffled, the bastard. “I thought I was going to have to actually work to get myself out.”

“Hello to you too, dear,” Kalysta says.

“Should’ve just left you to rot,” Kennan adds over top of her. “Come on.”

“Coming. Did you two take out the really big security bots upstairs, or are you leaving that for me to figure out?” Sand tugs briefly at the cuffs on his wrists, then flips his middle fingers down to tap the metal, an inverted fuck-you that activates the spells tattooed on his hands and snaps the locks open.

“Left ‘em for you.”

“Didn’t even know they were a thing, really.”

“Of course.” He looks equal parts annoyed and amused. “Fine. Kalysta, darling, you won’t be of much help—“

“Excuse me,” Kalysta says, propping her hands on her hips.

“—until we get to the human part of the guard, dearest, let me finish; Kennan, we’ll need you to get us upstairs and through the bots, but there’s a power source on the backs of the big ones that you can break to take them out fast. From there, we can get up to ground level, and there you can work your magic on the human guards. And while you’re flirting, I’ll grab the security codes we came here for in the first place.”

“Awful lot of trouble for something we could have just punched someone in the face for,” Kennan says under his breath, but he doesn’t mind. 

At least he got a nap in his cell.

[ruffsficstuffplace]

The Keeper of the Grove (Part 67)

The Candela Costume Contests were all happening at Goldleaf Park, the very center of the district and one of its biggest open-air venues. Seeing the crowds that had arrived for the Singles and Group competitions allowed the gang to refine their contingency plans, in case someone recognized any of them and alerted the authorities.

So it was to Weiss amusement and concern that she and Ruby were offering themselves up to the peacekeepers, as part of the screening for contraband, illegal costume components and dangerous props, and potential problem contestants.

Sergeant Berg was convinced that the enchanted Keeper's scythe and Myrtenaster were unable to hurt anyone any worse than the other items they were allowing on stage that night, but they ran into trouble with Weiss’ gauntlet.

“This is a real fancy piece of magitech you've got here, Ms. Vimana,” Berg said as he analyzed his scanners readouts. “Haven't really seen anything like it available anywhere, even with us in the Bureau...” he continued, eying her warily.

“It's homemade tech,” Weiss replied. “I'm sure you're aware that there's no shortage of engineers and inventors that prefer the Country to the city states?”

“That I am,” Berg replied. “So how dangerous is it?”

“I’ve already told you: no worse than if I were using all component gadgets at once! I trust the inventor enough to know that when they say they were strictly following safety standards, they were strictly following safety standards!”

“Shame I don't know 'em, they seem like a real stand up scientist,” Berg muttered, before he pulled out his comm-crystal. “Frisky Delta to HQ, I need someone for a hands-on safety test, over and out.”

“HQ to Frisky Delta, we'll see who's available and send them out ASAP, over and out.”

A few moments later, Berg was putting his hand on the newly arrived peackeeper's shoulder. “Ms. Corazon, Ms. Vimana: this is Private Clementine V. Kahlua, otherwise known as Clem!”

“Hey there!” Clem said, waving. “Great costumes, you guys, you look really cool!”

“Thanks!” Ruby replied.

“Save the compliments for the contest, Clem, we've got work to do—namely, seeing if this fancy glove is as safe as its owner says it is.”

“In the interest of full disclosure, how are we going to do that?” Weiss asked.

“Oh, it's easy!” Clem said as she stepped in front of her. “You just use it on me!”

Weiss stared at her, the hesitation on her face clear despite the mask. “You do realize this is loaded with pepper spray, among other things, right…?”

Clem nodded. “Yep! Read the scans on the way here.”

“And you know it's going to really hurt, yes…?”

Clem nodded again. “If it's done right like my Uncles' chili, at least!” she added, chuckling.

“Just show us your home-brewed ‘non-lethal defense gadget,’ Ms. Vimana,” Berg grumbled. “If they won't land Clem in the hospital or kill her, then you don't have any reason not to use them, right…?”

Weiss sighed as she aimed at Clem’s face. “For what it's worth, I am really sorry about this.”

“Don't be!” Clem said as she leaned in closer. “It's my job!”

Ksshhhttt!

Weiss barely used up any of her fire medium, but Clem still went down with her hands over her face, screaming and writhing in agony.

“Sweet gibbly giblets!” Berg cried.

Weiss knelt down and sprayed a harmless mist of water to cover up the dispel.

“Ohh, man!” Clem cried as Berg helped her back up on her feet. “That was even hotter than my uncles' chili! You mind if I ask you for the recipe? They'd love to have it!”

“Yeah, what did you put in that stuff?” Berg growled.

“It's a family secret, sorry...” Weiss muttered.

“Well in that case, in can stay secret, right, Sarge?”

Berg looked at Clem in surprise, then glared at Weiss. “Yeah… everyone's entitled to some secrets,” he grumbled. His expression softened. “You okay, Clem?”

“Just peachy, Sarge!” Clem replied, giving him a thumbs up. “Good thing Ms. Vimana had that counter-agent on her!”

“Good thing indeed...” Berg said as he patted Clem on the shoulder. “You sit this one out, Clem, I'm calling someone else for the rest of the tests...”

“I'm fine, Sarge!” Clem replied. “As a matter of fact: why don't we do the next test right now?”

Berg eyed her worriedly. “You sure about this, Clem?”

“Positive! You know I've had worse,” Clem smiled.

Berg sighed. “That you have...” he turned back to Weiss. “Alright, what's the next trick up your sleeve?”

Weiss held up her gauntlet, electricity crackling all over its surface. “Concealed taser.”

Clem smiled as she held out her hand. “Well put her there, Ms. Vimana!”

Weiss looked warily at Berg. “Should I?”

Berg sighed. “I feel like I'm going to regret this, but yes, yes you should.”

“It's not like she doesn't know what's coming, right?” Ruby added.

Weiss reluctantly put gauntlet into Clem’s hand.

“Ggh-ggh-ugh-ghh-uhh…!”

Weiss only intended to zap her, but unfortunately Clem had a strong, confident grip, one that only faltered after she fell twitching and writhing on the floor, static crackling from her body.

Berg watched in horror, before putting his hand on his pistol as he called for medics with the other. Without Penny nearby and unable to use her mender protocols without arousing suspicion beside, Ruby and Weiss could only wait for Clem to stop jerking and hope she wasn’t hurt too badly.

“Woo!” Clem cried as a Doc-Drone and two paramedics examined her. “Won't need that can of Sgt. Pick-U-Up anymore, that's for sure!”

“Yeah, a real plus...” Berg grumbled as he warily eyed Weiss and Ruby, his hand still on his pistol.

The two of them kept their cool, trying not to show just how hard they were sweating under their masks.

Clem was soon back up on her feet, with the help from the paramedics. “I forgot, what was the last thing we had to test?”

“A miniature seismic wave generator,” Berg grumbled.

“Oooh, dirt blaster tech? Never realized you could make it that small!” Clem said as she held her arms out. “Welp, hit me with it!”

“Ms. Kahlua, we seriously advise you not to go through with it...” one of the paramedics said, the other nodding their head grimly.

“They got a point, Clem,” Berg said as he coaxed her arms down. “Sit down, and I'll do it.”

“Oh come on, Sarge: it can't be that bad! Like you said: if it's not going to kill me or put me in the hospital, then Ms. Vimana here won't have any reason not to use it on me, right?”

Berg cringed. “I'm beginning to realize I should have kept my big mouth shut...”

Clem beamed. “I'll be fine, Sarge! Won't I be, Ms. Vimana?”

Weiss just nodded.

Clem smiled back at Berg, oblivious. “See?”

Berg sighed. “Clem, if this ends up killing you, know that I will forever regret failing you as your superior officer by way of letting you go through with this.”

“Aww, that's alright, Sarge, you know I don’t hold grudges!” Clem said. She turned back to Weiss. “So how’s it supposed to work, exactly?”

“It’s for amplifying my own strength, in case I can’t spray or shock someone threatening me,” she replied.

“Neat!” Clem said as she raised her arms again. “Ready when you are!”

Weiss bit her lip, reared her hand back, and struck Clem in the chest with her palm.

Thoom.

Clem flew back from the strike, tripping backwards over a table before she went tumbling over it, taking out two chairs as she landed.

Berg glared at Weiss.

She pointedly refused to look at him.

“I’m fine! I’m fine!” Clem said as she grabbed onto the edge and pulled herself up. “Woo! Probably should have braced myself for that...”

The paramedics vaulted the table as their Doc-Drone flew over it. Fortunately for all of them, Clem checked out fine.

“It’d probably be best for her to sit the rest of tonight out, though,” one of the paramedics added.

“Then you go do that, Clem,” Berg said.

Clem saluted. “Got it, Sarge!”

“So what’s the verdict?” Ruby asked. “Are we clear?”

Berg sighed. “Given the numbers I’ve gotten from that scan, the contest’s regulations, and the fact that Clem here is fine… yes.” He narrowed his eyes. “Just be very careful with that thing, alright?”

Weiss nodded. “I will, Sgt. Berg, thank you.”

Clem happily gave them their backstage passes, and they went on through the checkpoint. As they walked, Ruby overheard Berg ask,

“Where in the hell does someone out in the Country get something like that...?”

For the sheer number of entrants any day of the year and time constraints, most of the actual judging in the Costume Contests was well before any of them even set foot on the stage, people scrolling through the holos on the Info-Grid and deciding which ones they liked until the top ten were called to appear in person.

To Weiss surprise and delight, they among them, and voted the “Creepiest Couple” beside. That was just bragging rewards and a section on the front-page, however; the actual monetary prizes after each couple paraded around the stage, gave a short Q&A, and performed a three-minute presentation showing off their talents and their costumes.

Most of them were dances or song duets, but some changed things up. Weiss and Ruby were particularly fond of the two show magicians (actually Fae weavers, the gentleman a rabbit, the lady a fox) taking a page out of Primal Salamanca's book and having no shortage of impressive pyrotechnics.

“Break a leg out there, you two!” one of them said as they strutted back in, their clothes still smoking.

“Thanks! That was a really great magic show, by the way!” Ruby replied.

“To enchant and delight is our trade, darling!”

As the applause finally died down, the host returned to the stage and introduced them to the audience. “Our next couple sounds like something straight out of a romance holo: a city state girl fleeing the urban jungle for the Country, only to find herself in a very different kind of wilderness, and a girlfriend, too…”

“You ready for this?” Ruby whispered.

“Absolutely,” Weiss replied.

“… And now, without further ado, this Eve’s Creepiest Couple: Misses Beatrix 'Bea' Corazon and Alani 'Vi' Vimana as 'The Keeper of the Grove and her Bride!'”

With their weapons out, Weiss and Ruby strutted out to the stage, walking up and down its entire length, waving and showing off to the crowds, before they met the host at the center.

The host smiled as the camera drones hovered around for better shots. “Any plans to tie the knot out of costume, you two?” they joked.

Weiss blushed. “Not yet...” she muttered.

“We’re planning on taking things slow,” Ruby added. “Kinda the appeal of the Country, heh.”

The host reeled, surprised. “Sorry about that! Didn’t realize the creepiness was more than skin deep! Studio-grade voice modulators?”

“Yep!” Ruby chirped. “Cost us plenty of Urochs like the rest of our costumes, but so worth it.”

“I’ll say! If I didn’t know any better, I’d think those weapons of yours were real!”

Neither commented.

“So why did you two choose to go as the Keeper of the Grove and her Bride this Eve?”

“The Keeper is a pretty big thing from the village I come from,” Ruby replied. “It’d be hard to find someone who doesn’t know all the legends!”

“My older sister was rather obsessed with her, too,” Weiss replied. “I figured I should do something with all this obscure knowledge and trivia I’ve accumulated over the years.”

The host nodded. “So what kind of show do you Keepers have for us tonight?”

“A duel—my scythe vs her sword,” Ruby replied, raising up her weapon for emphasis.

The host chuckled. “Well, you certainly get points for novelty! We’re not going to have to worry about getting blood out of the stage after, do we?”

“Not at all!” Weiss replied as she pulled out Myrtenaster. “You might want to blink as little as possible, however—you just might miss it all if you do.”

“Better keep those eyes peeled then, dear audience!” the host said as they retreated to the side.

The lights dimmed, the fog machines activated, and the holographic background changed to a suitably spooky forest for a duel between two terrors.

Ruby and Weiss stood a good distance from each other, their weapons at the ready.

“Don’t worry, Vi!” Ruby said as she twirled her scythe around for show. “I’ll go easy on you!”

Weiss chuckled. “Don’t count on me to do the same, Bea!”

Ruby grinned. “You really think you can keep up with me?”

Weiss grinned back. “Let’s find out!”

Music began as the two clashed; it was a friendly duel, but if you didn’t know that the weapons were “props,” you would have thought they really were trying to kill each other.

Ruby held back on her full speed so the audience would see something other than a blur, but Weiss could still feel her putting her strength into each swing, forcing her to use both hands to block with Myrtenaster, ducking and dodging to avoid getting knocked into the ground from the sheer momentum.

In turn, Weiss didn’t hesitate to use every single spell she’d shown to the peacekeepers earlier, sending gusts of air whistling through the air, sparks and flashes in her vision, slick puddles of almost invisible sheets of ice on the floor to trip her up.

They laughed as they fought, dancing all throughout the stage with somersaults, flips, and twirls, locking weapons just to have an excuse to stare into the others’ eyes, feel the smiles underneath their matching masks.

Their fighting intensified with the music, steadily growing faster and fiercer, attacks and movements becoming more aggressive than playful, the audience on edge as they struggled to keep up. The judges watched, entranced, impressed, and excited, wondering who would end up the victor.

Weiss thrust downward, Ruby dodged, Myrtenaster's tip harmlessly stabbing the floor. She looked up, saw the Keeper’s scythe coming for her neck, slow enough for the audience to see, for Ruby to stop it just before it connected...

… And for Weiss to intercept it with her gauntlet.

Thoom.

Ruby’s eyes widened as she felt her scythe and herself swinging in the opposite direction, Weiss earth-empowered strike more momentum than she could handle. She recovered and braced herself, but not before she felt Weiss’ gloved fingers wrap around her neck.

Ruby stopped and stared, speechless as that suspicious-looking fox mask came right up to her face, the blue eyes twinkling.

“I win…~” Weiss growled.

The music faded, the lights turned back on, the fog was blown away, and the background turned back to normal.

A moment later, the audience erupted into applause.

Weiss blinked, quickly pulled her hand off from Ruby’s neck. “I-I’m so sorry, I--”

Ruby held up her hand and stopped her. Weiss could feel her smiling as she leaned in, brought her mask up to her face. “Don’t be—that was pretty hot.”

Weiss blushed, so flustered she all but fled to backstage as soon as she was able to, a smiling Ruby on her trail.

The other contestants for that night came and went, before there was a brief intermission for off-site voting, the judges finalizing their decisions, and their sponsors getting their holos and acts out.

The mood was tense backstage as they waited to see who would be called, save for a very affectionate couple still caught up in congratulating and complimenting the other on their performance. There were only going to be three pairs going back up on that stage to receive their trophies and their checks, and however the live audience's reaction, the Info-Grid voting was still a huge chunk.

And among the three were Ruby and Weiss, coming in at second place—however impressive their fight, it couldn't beat the universal appeal of ludicrous pyrotechnics.

Weiss was no stranger to awards—overachievement was the name of the game in Arcturus Academy, and her own pride kept her from putting anything else than her all. But after so many grand prizes, trophies, and commendations, it all started to feel empty—expected even, if her father’s lack of enthusiasm at hearing her latest achievements were anything to go by.

But as she stood there on the stage, her and Ruby holding up their check and trophy, she started to feel something she hadn’t felt after winning an award, not for a long time:

Pride, like she’d done something that truly mattered, that really did deserve all the fanfare and attention it did.

“… And now, for our time honoured tradition: the victory kiss!” the host said as they walked on by. “Pucker up, contestants—and don’t think you can get away with nuzzling masks!

“Let’s see those lips lock, ladies, gentlemen, and non-binary genders!”

Weiss was about to protest, before Ruby put her hands on the straps of Weiss’ mask, handily blocking the camera-drones from getting a good shot of their faces with her arms. Weiss smiled as she did the same to her.

“Ready…?” Ruby whispered, inaudible to the cameras for the audience’s chanting of “Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!”

“Ready,” Weiss whispered back.

They unfastened the other's masks, held them out for all to see with one hand as the other covered each side of their faces. Weiss couldn’t help but let out a pleased, delighted noise as they locked lips, chills running down their spines as she felt her mouth begin to ice over.

They pulled away, quickly held their own masks up to their faces with their own hands, fast enough to contain the mist pouring out of Weiss’ lips before it became noticeable, or for the camera drones to get a clear view of their faces. They pulled them down stared into each others eyes for a moment, wordlessly congratulating themselves on a job well done…

… Then they noticed the balls of fire appearing all around them, steadily growing brighter and brighter.

“… Huh...” the host muttered. “Don’t remember hearing anything about pyrotechnics at this part!”

They began to explode, the audience started screaming, and the pandemonium began.

[nezzfiction]

ENMY Chapter 77 - The Last Fairy Tale

Chapter Synopsis: As Yang and Emerald arrive at the Tower of Alexandria to find Professor Oobleck, they stumble upon more than what they expected. The true intentions of the Witch and Wizard are revealed, as well as the origins of myth and Remnant.

Series Synopsis: Team RWBY is disbanded, and Yang must find herself new allies. For her, that might very well be yesterday’s enemies. Joining up with the likes of Emerald, Mercury, and Neo, the four will comprise Team Enemy(ENMY).

Links to read the series: Ao3 or FF.net

Or hit the jump below

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The Last Fairy Tale

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Legends.

Stories scattered through time.

Mankind has grown quite fond of recounting the exploits of heroes and villains

Forgetting so easily that we are Remnants,

Byproducts of a forgotten past.

.

.

Before the Tower of Alexandria, Yang and Emerald stood. To their right, a passive Giza laid with its paws crossed in front of it. Though it still showed a keen awareness of the two, the Grimm appeared to permit them safe passage into the structure.

As soon as Yang touched the doors and pushed them open to the interior, an energy signature left its impression on her hand. A familiar sensation that brought with it a small tinge of surprise, but also awe.

The cool, dark-green lobby greeted the two. Their footsteps fell with an echoing clack against the marble stone floor. The Tower’s keeper waited patiently with hands clasped to greet them.

“Greetings. My name is Papyrus, the Keeper of Knowledge.

And I welcome you to the Tower of Alexandria.”

She stared at the two with her silver, glistening eyes.

“Your arrival was expected.”

Without another moment, she turned, causing her leopard spotted dress to trail behind her. She led the guests to the elevator and waved her palm leafed staff to activate it.

As they entered and ascended to the higher levels, Yang couldn’t help but watch their guide suspiciously.

“So, you… work here?”

“Yes,” Papyrus responded.

“What kind of books are here, exactly?”

“Everything.”

“And everything includes…”

“Everything.”

“Kay. Do you know about Salem and the Wizard?”

“Yes.”

“Can they get to us here?”

“Possibility exists.”

“Any other defenses besides Giza out front?”

“No.”

“Huh. Doesn’t sound very safe.”

“The two previously mentioned parties are not allowed to enter these premises.”

“Oh, yeah? By who?”

“Not accessible. Agreement is held by an accord,” Papyrus answered without further explanation.

Emerald nudged Yang’s side.

“She kinda gives a Masa vibe, don’t ya think?”

“Not surprised. Masa built this place. Has her fingerprints all over it. Only natural she’d hire someone like her to run it.”

Papyrus whipped around with an uncanny glimmer of emotion.

“You know the Architect?”

“Uh… ‘Architect’?” Yang puzzled.

As if automatically rebalancing her emotions, Papyrus’s excitement petered out into a flat disposition.

“Apologies for the outburst. A long time has passed since I last heard word of my Master.”

“Oh. Well, maybe we can bring her around next time.”

The elevator stopped its ascent.

“Such event is unlikely to occur.”

The doors opened and Papyrus guided them through.

Where they arrived, was a messy office with countless books stacked in mounds, almost like a canyon’s trench run. What little of the glass floor they could make out, they could see whole levels filled with more tomes below. It was like exploring a dimension of knowledge that verged on being too much for the plane to contain.

In the lower levels, they caught glimpses of a figure. A light moving through the clutter.

Papyrus led Yang and Emerald down to the additional reading rooms. They tripped over old scriptures and torn parchment. Charts and notes were pinned to the walls and ceilings.

When the group arrived at their final destination, they came upon a man disheveled and tattered. His clothes and moss-colored hair were unkempt. A thermos rocked back and forth in his hand. Its liquid came close to tipping, before the man brought it thirstily to his lips.

“Whoa…” Yang couldn’t help but utter. “Professor Oobleck—that you?”

The man sitting on the ground with his back against the study desk looked up for a fraction.

“Yang Xiao Long… I didn’t quite expect Temujin to send you…”

“Oh, man…”

“And Miss Emerald Sustrai… a surprise…”

“Oh! Yeah, she’s not an enemy or anything—”

“It doesn’t matter… Nothing matters…”

Oobleck bottomed out his thermos and laid it on the floor. Papyrus automatically came forward to refill it.

“Ooookay,” Yang said apprehensively. “I’ve never seen him talk this slow before.”

“Yup. Dude’s out of it!” Emerald snatched the thermos out of the Professor’s grasp and easily evaded any sluggish attempts to take it back. She didn’t have to smell it to know what was inside.

“It’s not coffee,” she shook her head at Yang.

“Professor,” Yang kneeled down. “What happened? Dad said you discovered something big, and that it was a shock, but what in the world could have done this to you?”

“Oh, Yang… I should never have looked. I should never have learned.”

“What? What is it Professor?”

“Everything. It’s all going to end. It doesn’t matter what we do. There is no future.”

“Professor! Snap out of it!”

Yang slapped him across the face.

“It’s…It’s no use…” he continued to mumble slovenly.

Oobleck took off his glasses and started to drift into a sad sleep.

“No use… no use at all…”

…

“This… is the last Fairy Tale…”

.

X  X X  X  X

.

Back in Atlas, in one of the training rooms of Cerberus Tower, a most unusual sparring session was taking place.

“Ruby! Even if it’s a shallow cut, if you see an opening, take it!” Qrow shouted.

“Mind your form, Weiss! A stable charge relies on a stable foothold!” Winter advised her sister.

Ruby and Weiss reset their positions before reengaging their opponents. At the same time, their counterparts adjusted accordingly.

Pyrrha took up defensive position with her shield, while firing off a couple rounds with her rifle. Meanwhile, Cinder sent several obsidian javelins whistling past her shoulder.

The pairs squared off a few choice encounters before a winning team was decided.

“You need to be more aggressive in your attacks, kiddo,” Qrow lectured. “You can’t always play the nice girl. Hit ‘em where it hurts and don’t let up.”

“Okay. Got it…!” Ruby replied, panting out of breath.

“You’ve got the advantage in reach. Dominate the midrange and abuse them.”

While Qrow gave out more pointers, Winter did the same with Weiss.

“You can’t always rely on your partner to deal the finishing blow or to create an opening. I know you currently lean on a more support-type style, but you must push the offense when it is required. An opening to strike will not always present itself. Sometimes, you must force the issue.”

“I know. I’m trying. It’s just difficult grasping the new attack timing.”

“Ruby Rose may be your team leader, but by no means must she always be the initiator. You have a tactical mind, seize the reigns of battle as you deem fit. Trust your partner to lead, but also to follow.”

While their sparring partners were being coached, Cinder and Pyrrha took their own break near a spectating Masa Moon.

The Black Queen tossed her teammate a water bottle and began sipping her own.

“How do the measurements read, Masa?”

“Impressive, this one evaluates. Reaction scale, attack sequencing, lag reduction, all nominal. As to be expected of top-level fighters, despite having so little interaction time.”

“I must admit, this has been a very interesting learning experience,” Pyrrha commented. “I wasn’t sure at first, but I’ve never had anyone read my rhythm so quickly or I, theirs.”

“I have my gifts,” Cinder grinned. “Hopefully your partner isn’t too jealous?”

The two glanced at Jaune, who wore an expression of obvious envy.

“I’m sure Jaune’s learning a lot too…” Pyrrha said a little uneasily.

…

“Hey, I was wondering…” Ruby thought. “I think we could learn a lot if we saw an example.”

“An example? What are you getting at?” Qrow asked.

“Well… You and Winter have been coaching me and Weiss on our techniques and how we should work together. Why don’t you just show us how it’s done?”

“You don’t really expect me to—”

“Actually, I think that would be a fine idea.” Cinder set down her bottle and made her way back to the center of the room. “I believe Pyrrha and I require a more difficult challenge. Facing the famed Qrow Branwen and the specialist Winter Schnee should prove very educational. If you would oblige, of course.”

“No freakin’—”

“We accept.” Winter stepped forward to meet Cinder.

“Hey! Don’t go making decisions on your own!”

“Are you afraid we will lose? Do not worry. I will make sure to cover for your mistakes.”

“And don’t get ahead of yourself either. You’re still just a brat if you think you can keep up with me.”

“Then, what is there to hesitate over?”

Qrow and Winter locked stares with a burning intensity.

“Fine!” the wizened Huntsman gave in. “Only to show Ruby how it’s done.”

“Do you think I personally would choose to pair up with you? Don’t be ridiculous.”

As the four combatants readied for the next round of mock battles, Ruby and Weiss took spectator seats next to Masa. While Weiss seemed worried about the match up, her partner was positively excited.

Pyrrha and Winter matched forms with increasing speed and complexity. Qrow and Cinder executed lethal blows on each other like they were trading light jabs. The pairs separated and conjoined with a fluidity. Their seamless attack combos gave the impression they fought together for years, instead of just minutes. Less than a fight, the sparring session mimicked something of a vicious dance.

Masa made sure to record the battle to upload to Penny’s drives later. The Aura readings on the screen fluctuated for each fighter. She found herself paying particular attention to the somewhat erratic levels of Qrow.

Whether it was by chance, or strange stroke of luck, she thought how fortunate it was Qrow had not synchronized completely with the Old One. He did not know it, but a terrible fate was avoided thanks to his niece’s interference. But for how long that would last, Masa could not know. Even without using the Tower’s facilities, she saw their Auras bond more closely with each passing day.

It is only a matter of time…

And then the person known as Qrow Branwen might disappear too.

Just like Ozpin all those years ago.

“Masa?”

The engineer’s attention drew to her left, where Ruby looked like she was peering deep into her immortal soul.

“What is it, Miss Rose?”

“I’m worried about Qrow. I think… I need to know more about the Wizard.”

Ruby turned briefly to watch her biological father and Winter match techniques with the pair of prodigies. There was no trace of the Old One at the moment. It was Qrow as she always knew him. And there was also a sense of chemistry with the one he partnered with. In fact, from what Ruby saw, she could say Qrow was fairly enjoying the practice.

“I have to know, Masa,” she repeated herself. “I have to know the truth, so I can save him. I don’t know what the immortal inside him is trying to do, but I think I have to stop him. Am I wrong?”

“…” Masa took a moment to think. “No. You are not incorrect. This one does not believe Qrow Branwen would have agreed to his contract if he knew the extent of the Old One’s true objectives. But whether he will retain his individuality and resist carrying out the immortal’s will is another subject.”

Ruby pursed her lips.

“What… does he want to do? And while we’re on the subject, what does Salem want? Do you have your own plans too?”

“I did not,” Masa sighed. “I was at most, an observer of the events to transpire—at least, until this recent lifetime. Summer, Raven, and your sister refuse to let this one settle into the simple role of bystander.”

“Hehe! Can I throw my name in there too?”

A slight wrinkle in the engineer’s cheek twitched for a second.

“It would very much adhere to the pattern your predecessors set, this one laments with conflicted feeling.”

“Tell me what I need to do. Tell me what I have to do to stop what’s coming, Masa.” Ruby’s silver irises shined with some faraway connection.

“Tell me how to stop the Last Fairy Tale.”

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X  X X  X  X

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“You can’t stop the end of a story, Blake. All stories, for better or worse, must come to a close.”

Though, they were on separate continents, Blake heard Salem’s voice as clear as she would right beside.

“The curtains must be drawn. One last bow from the actors who played their part with such diligence.”

Deep in the hollow crag of Vacuo’s Grimm territories, Blake sat cross-legged on a slightly raised platform. A dark Grimoire opened its covers, turning its pages by its own volition. Its letters and pictures projected clear for the eyes of its reader.

“The time of twilight is upon us, my dear child. Will this world see a new day, or will it be forfeited entirely to the darkness? It is to us to make sure life breathes anew.”

Blake read the story for what might have been the hundredth time.

“It is the only way for your wishes to be granted.”

The Tale of Two Brothers.

A version she’d never known until Salem introduced it.

The true historia of Remnant.

.

X  X X  X  X

While asleep, Professor Oobleck found himself strangely conscious amidst a lucid dream.

His surroundings were similar to the Tower of Alexandria, in that there were tomes covering almost every square millimeter of the study. The ceiling reached higher than the light from the fireplace could reach. A warm mug of his favorite roast coffee had its handle wrapped by his fingers.

Oobleck felt at peace. Far away from the outside world and the burdensome truth weighing down on him. Sitting in his impossibly comfortable armchair, he noticed two visitors watching from the couch opposite.

Before he could ask, Emerald answered his question for him.

“It’s a hallucinated dream, Professor. You passed out drunker than Yang’s Uncle on a bender. Seeing as you wouldn’t really be coherent if we woke you up, this seemed like the better choice.”

“What happened, Professor?” Yang asked worriedly. “I didn’t believe it when dad told me, that something you discovered actually broke you. I mean, you were the one who taught our team being a Huntsman and Huntress was more than just fighting. It was about learning and seeking the truth. Using brains as good as brawn.”

Oobleck let out a sorrowed sigh.

“Some truths I wish I never sought, Yang. You don’t know what Ozpin is trying to do. More accurately, what the individual known as Titan is trying to accomplish.”

“’Titan’?” Yang asked quizzically.

“Yes. The original name of the immortal inhabiting Ozpin’s soul, Titan—and he fooled us all.” Oobleck gazed bitterly into the fire place. “He fooled us all! A lie about saving the world of Remnant, and we believed it without question.”

“You’re saying… he doesn’t want to save Remnant?”

“…”

“I know that look,” Emerald commented. “It’s the look of someone who’s found out they’ve been fighting for the wrong side.”

“So, wait, what?” Yang cocked her brow. “Does that mean Salem’s actually doing the right thing by fighting Ozpin, or Titan, or whatever?”

“It is not so simple…” Oobleck muttered. “Though, in a certain light, you could say the Witch is the lesser of two evils.”

“What?!”

“Ultimately, it does not matter. Remnant is drawing to its inevitable conclusion.”

“Alright, that’s enough!” Yang growled. “We first came here to bring you back to Vacuo and learn about where my mom is, but it looks like we need to hear this first. So, start from the beginning, Professor.”

Yang looked to Emerald for support.

“Yeah,” the other girl agreed. “Something tells me this isn’t just some boring history lecture—”

“This is the endgame.”

.

X  X X  X  X

.

“Hi.”

In the Never Realm version of Beacon Academy before its ruin, Raven watched the fluttering white cape of someone she held so dear.

“Hi,” she answered back. “This is a dream, right?”

Summer turned up her hood with a big smile.

“Yup! Which means you won’t remember a thing when you wake up! I just really wanted to see you. Sorry,” she stuck out her tongue playfully.

Raven rested a hand against her hip and shrugged.

“Pretty selfish of you. I wonder how many times you’ve done this and I just don’t remember.”

“Sorry… Not that many times, though.”

“You know, it’s funny. Everyone hero-worships you as the finest Huntress to ever live. Qrow and Tai still idolize you as our clumsy but faithful leader. Even Yang and Ruby still hope their supermom image of you stays intact. Though, they are getting a bit wise to that, I guess.”

“I know. It’s pretty bad.”

“Why is it only me that sees this side of you?”

“Hehe~♪” Summer hopped up to Raven and booped her on the nose. “Why do you think~♪?”

The taller woman lifted the smaller in her arms, like she weighed nothing. Summer smoothed out Raven’s ruffled, feathery hair intimately, as they closed for a tight embrace.

“You’re alive…!” Raven cried. “I missed you so much…!”

Summer’s scent, the subtle sounds of her breathing, the shape of her curves; they were everything she knew. Exactly the way she remembered.

“Of course, I’m alive, silly. I wouldn’t go off and die without saying goodbye.”

“How much time do we have?” she asked as she set Summer down.

“Not much,” Summer shook her head regrettably. “I just wanted to see you like this before you came and found me.”

“Why?”

“…Everything I’ve put in place is about to move. When it starts, there won’t be any stopping it—no second chances. You don’t remember, but I told you what I discovered at the Tower of Alexandria once. About the true history of Remnant—and what I learned of the Wizard and the Witch.”

“Summer, why?”

The white-hooded girl put a finger to the other’s lips.

“I don’t have much time. And you might forget completely, but maybe because of our connection, you might remember some parts. So, just hear me out, okay?”

“…Alright, Summ. I’m listening.”

“First of all, you need to go to Vacuo immediately. It’s very important you do.”

“…”

“There’s a way to counter the curse that forces you to attack Yang. And it can make all the difference when the right moment comes.”

“Tell me.”

…

…

“Also, with just a little luck, you might be able to save one more life,” Summer added to the end of her explanation. “On the night of the full moon, everyone will remember where I am. Not all of your memories will come back at once, but it’ll be enough to go on.”

“I understand,” Raven nodded.

“Also.”

“Yes?”

Summer threw her arms around Raven’s neck and pulled her down to head-level. She pressed her lips against hers. A half-contented, half-longing sigh escaped her when they parted.

“I love you.”

Raven’s expression broke into a smile she hadn’t made in years.

“And, I love you.”

.

X  X X  X  X

.

“Your mother is trying to stop the Last Fairy Tale at this very moment,” Oobleck distressed. “A hope against all hope with no true path to salvation.”

“…!” Yang leapt angrily from her seat and grabbed the Professor by the collar. “I… really respected you, you know that?!” The young girl’s rage slowed into a pitying sadness. “Maybe, even more than Professor Goodwitch and definitely more than Ozpin, I respected you the most! Maybe, it was because of that mission with Breach, but I thought the hell out of you. I thought you were the kind of Hunter I wanted to be.”

Oobleck stared back in shock.

“Probably not as bookish, but not just someone who could only hold their own in a fight. I wanted to have the same curiosity you had. To travel the world and delve into its mysteries. I wanted to explore and learn and use that knowledge to help others.” Yang let go of him. “But I guess I was wrong.”

She stepped back and took her seat once more.

“If you’re going to stop being a Huntsman and a Professor, then teach me one last thing before you quit. Follow through to the end, Professor Oobleck. Then, you can do whatever you want…”

The man met Yang’s painful stare and straightened his coat with a small sense of composure. His drowning in self-pity could wait until later. He was still a teacher in a sense and it was his duty to pass on knowledge, regardless of his condition.

The Professor held out his hand and his dream sculpted his words into form…

…

In the beginning, there was nothing but emptiness.

Then, a Flame lit a way through the darkness.

From the Flame, came Life.

It borne Two Worlds to Two Brothers.

Oberon and Titan.

The two sought to create the best of the worlds they were given, as they envisioned.

Oberon, the older sibling, was open-minded, idealistic, and creative. He embraced the highs and lows of random happenstance, and delighted in the ever-elusive nature of fate. This creator, molded his world into a body of chaos, but also—infinite possibility.

Titan, was the divergent opposite of his brother. His foundations were strong, solid, and secure. He based his ideals on experience and through the observations of his older sibling’s mistakes. This creator molded his world into a body of order, and also—perfect balance.

For eons, these two worlds lived in harmony. Each existing on opposite spectrums of causality.

As time passed, life on their worlds prospered.

Titan’s inhabitants grew strong and obeyed the laws of nature. His magnificent creatures held to a food chain hierarchy; where predator consumed prey, and predator became nourishment for the land, where the prey grazed upon. An enclosed cycle of life and death, enforced by the world’s core system.

This system, constructed on the principles of Titan’s ultimate values was dubbed, the [Tree of Balance].

Even without the creator’s observance or personal hand, the Tree of Balance would correct anything that upset its Order. The tales weaved on Titan’s world exemplified justice, honor, morality, and peace.

…

In Titan’s opposite orbit, Oberon raised a people known as “Fairies”. These creatures possessed an extraordinary ability called Magic. It allowed them to create an infinite number of different matter from another object using what we know today as Dust.

With this power in hand, the fairies brought all manner of existence into the world; some good, some bad, and everything that lay in-between. The tales they weaved were grand, both tragic and uplifting.

But true to Oberon’s nature, the creator wanted to test the limits of the imagination. To surpass them and bring newer possibility and growth to his people.

To increase the Fairies’ Magic, which relied on its original source and Dust, he gave them access to his mind. Oberon’s very life force became a conduit of Magic to ignore the laws of time and space. This artifact would later be named, the [Never Never Realm].

With the creation of these two forces: the Tree of Balance and the Never Never Realm, the first true conflict was born.

And with it would come…

The Tale of the First Sin.

.

X  X X  X  X

.

“It is every craftsman’s fear to find a dark purpose awaiting what they create,” Masa told Ruby in a distant tone.

“A sword can be forged for the purpose of protecting life, as well as taking it. Likewise, a device made to maintain order can be too cruel in its decision to correct. An invention to expand imagination can result in reckless destruction.”

The engineer’s voice was not her usual. It was weary and pain-stricken. Each syllable carried with it a timeless expanse of guilt and remorse.

“And in too many cases, the things we create end up becoming our masters.”

…

In the journey to create more prosperity for Oberon’s people, Magic ran rampant. Not only objects, but events not to exist, were fabricated and erased on a whim. The usage of the Never Realm grew to such influence, it triggered the defense mechanisms of the Tree of Balance.

Titan went to confront his older brother of an accord that may not have been entirely his own. He asked Oberon to close the Never Realm, to cease his careless ambitions.

During his visit, Oberon’s closest advisor and consort was also in attendance. Because of her standing, she was referred to as the Godmother to the Fairies, and she defended her beloved, saying it was Titan’s Tree posing the threat in the first place.

The three quarreled at length. Tides of emotion shifted and brewed. The Fairy Godmother’s wrath reached its peak. She started to call on the Magics of the Never Realm as Titan drew strength from the Tree.

Oberon intervened in response. He stood between the two, knowing neither would harm him. But that was where tragedy struck.

Titan aimed his might at the Godmother, but the Tree willed his strike elsewhere.

As a result, Titan slew his own brother.

And the First Sin was committed.

.

X  X X  X  X

.

“We mourned his loss. Everyone did,” Salem spoke with a tortured soul. “His death made both worlds grieve. Rains fell for who remembers how long, while the rains never ceased over his grave…”

Blake could feel the Witch’s broken heart like it was her own. And then, from the sensation of coldest watery depths, came a fury unimaginable.

“The death of someone so pure demanded blood as recompense.”

“And that’s how it began,” Blake said. “That is how the battle between you and the Wizard began.”

“That is how the War began.”

…

I led the Fairies against those foolish monsters the Old One created for his world. Beasts who knew little more than to obey the holder of their leash.

Little did they know their master was held by a leash of his own.

Titan did not have control over the Tree of Balance, as it continued to act of its own will. Knowing that, an idea came to mind.

I would not simply destroy the Old One and everything he held dear. I would pollute it. I’d twist the little garden he took such effort into cultivating for my own. That would be my revenge.

Hahaha!

They called me mad. They labeled me Betrayer! A Witch!

How quickly they forgot Oberon after shedding such little blood…

The shallowness of their conviction still galls me to this day.

Fortunately, they had no say in the matter.

Blake felt her head tilt up, like Salem was lifting her chin. The girl gazed through the crack in the wall. The fractured moon in the night sky appeared bigger than she had ever seen it.

I destroyed the Old One’s precious balance, and at the same time, dispelled my world of its weakness.

A new garden was created from the collision of our worlds.

A Remnant.

.

X  X X  X  X

.

Oobleck twisted his hand.

Images of legendary beasts formed into gruesome creatures, as a result of a world colliding full of the Witch’s malicious will.

The Tree of Balance went into complete flux. The violent reaction caused by crashing Oberon’s world into this one, set off a chain of events.

First, the Cataclysm transformed the inhabitants into what we now know as the Grimm.

Second, the destruction of the Fairies’ homeland imparted many of its attributes. Most importantly, it introduced Oberon’s source magical element.

Dust.

To counterbalance the foreign material, the Tree produced Bane. A substance that possessed the same inherent nature as the Grimm.

Even so, as history will prove, in its attempts to correct its world, it would ironically find the means to its end.

…

For a time, what few Fairies survived the Cataclysm fought the creatures of Grimm. They declared both Titan and the Witch their sworn enemies, and ultimately, were hunted down by the Godmother who once watched over them.

With the Witch’s victory complete, and Titan still guilt-ridden from the murder of his own brother, the Old One retreated into isolation.

Oobleck showed an old man building a small hovel for himself in a part of what would later be called Vale.

And there, the Wizard stayed.

His world in complete darkness and turmoil.

…

Until there was a spark—

A spark that changed everything.

.

X  X X  X  X

.

“This one thought it was a miracle. A word not used lightly,” Masa reflected.

At this point, everyone in the training room, save for Qrow and Winter, gathered to listen intently to the engineer’s tale.

…

Human and Faunus kind rose from the ashes of the Cataclysm.

Beings born from of both words. Though, with obvious differences.

Humans inherited most of their features from the Fairies, while the Faunus were more closely related to Titan’s Beasts. Each species were able to utilize Dust and Bane to a certain extent.

While the Fairies used Dust to perform Magic, the Faunus and Humans primarily used it to enhance their soul’s Aura. Still, there were exceptions.

Those who underwent special training could display some of the proficiencies Fairies could. Alternatively, a number of Bloodline Semblances mimic Magic closely, such as the Schnee and Fall families’ Glyphs and Runes.

One more special group of people, and the most accomplished users of the ancient ability were a small population, who bred with the last surviving Fairies.

A people whose descendants are marked with Silver Eyes.

…

At that moment, all attentions fell on Ruby.

“Ahaha…” she chuckled nervously. “C’mon, guys. Don’t look at me like that. I’m just a normal girl.”

A silence filled the air for a moment.

“—With normal knees,” Weiss smiled. “We know.”

“…Yeah.” Ruby returned the expression. Hearing her say that meant more than her partner knew. “Yeah. Thanks, Weiss.”

Everyone else took a step back from themselves. Knowing a new truth about the girl made them curious, but one sentence from the White Queen banished any strange thoughts they might have had. Ruby was still Ruby. Whether she was descended from Fairies or not, did nothing to change their minds.

Masa watched the scene play out with a warm heart.

Ruby could not have known the engineer bore witness to the same exact scene with Summer. Although, the difference in treatment was night and day.

All those around Summer Rose chose to place the woman on a pedestal when they learned her true heritage. A savior and a weapon against the Grimm of unlimited potential. Or maybe even something of a deity walking among them.

Well, maybe all except one.

If there was ever a person who saw Summer with complete clarity, it was Raven. The swordswoman had her flaws and her share of failures, but she never failed to see the Human in Summer Rose. And because of that, she was the anchor and solace for her lover. A constant.

Masa watched the way Ruby and Weiss held each other in their gazes.

Your daughter is in good hands, Summer.

She won’t face the same isolation you experienced. Not only a lover, but Ruby has many of those around to accept who she is.

I only wish I could have done more for you.

More than just Raven and I.

…

Although,

I suppose, there is one other who looks upon your memory with less than starry eyes…

.

X  X X  X  X

.

“Yang?”

“Hm?”

Emerald called out to her, but was met with a reaction contrary to her expectations.

“You good?” she checked.

“Yeah,” Yang shrugged with a laidback attitude. “So my sister and stepmom are part Fairy, can use Magic, and have weird glowy eyes. I always knew they were oddballs.”

“True.”

“So, Professor,” Yang turned to Oobleck. “Papyrus and the Rakis siblings.”

“As you have indubitably deducted,” he pushed up his glasses. “They are also likely of Fairy descent.”

Yang and Emerald took a minute to digest the new knowledge introduced to them.

Titan, the Witch, Oberon, Fairies, the Tree of Balance, and the Never Realm. It was a lot of material to take in, but they made sure to commit it to memory. Such knowledge would probably prove key to defeating Salem in the eventual future.

Oobleck observed the two submerged in their thoughts with an energy he thought he lost.

You must remember, a voice resonated from his memories.

“To travel a new path to the future, we must know how to avoid the one of the past,” he finished aloud. “My apologies. It seems I’d forgotten something so simple.”

Yang looked up and saw a new Life flow through Oobleck. Perhaps, it was the simple act of teaching someone, but there was now an electricity in his expression. He looked freshly spirited, like he had been pulled out of a slump.

It gave clear sign to what came next, and it cheered Yang beyond compare.

“Right, then! Where was I? Ah, yes! The introduction of Faunus and Humankind!” the Professor recited rapidly.

…

From this point forward, history very much adheres to what is recorded in most textbooks.

The two races met daunting adversity from the Grimm at the outset of their conception! By the implementation of Dust, they were able to survive against overwhelming odds!

Our ancestors strived, they fought, they persevered, and in the end, they established civilizations! Civilizations that would one day evolve into the Four Kingdoms!

But this era of hard-earned prosper was cut to a halt as new challenges presented themselves. We are not perfect beings. We are petty—and stupid. SO STUPID! We began to quarrel amongst ourselves! It reached a point where our kind stood on the brink of self-imposed extinction!

It was then, seeing the clear plight their people faced…

Four remarkable individuals sought a solution to cease the downward spiral towards inevitable destruction. During the course of their pilgrimage, they found the Old One, who had thrust himself into seclusion.

…

In my heart, I’d like to believe he saw in those Four Maidens a chance at redemption. For there can be no other reason he would split his power and offer it to them willingly. I believe he desired to do something good, something noble.

Unfortunately, those who came after the original Four Maidens were less than ideal at upholding the responsibilities that came with their Inheritance. Their corruption forced the Old One into the world once more, which in turn, incurred the Witch’s wrath.

An old feud was born new again, fiercer and more devious than it once was! Each side vied for the upper hand in the secret war…

And our people were used as pawns by both.

“You couldn’t have known!” Yang interrupted Oobleck.

The Professor paused with uncertainty.

“You couldn’t have known!” she exclaimed again. “It wasn’t your fault, Professor Oobleck. They’re thousands of years old. They know more about tricking people than anyone who’s ever lived. But you know what?”

“…”

“They’re cowards. They aren’t even half as brave as you are.”

“I fail to see that in light of the state you found me in.”

“But you’re better now. I can see it. There’s no recovery, no changing for them. But you and I still can, and so can Remnant.”

“…Yes, I suppose you’re right. Maybe, there is still hope. It would be shameful to stop my search for an answer with all of you working so hard. No! I cannot fall behind my students! I refuse! Especially, Summer! Her valiant efforts cannot go in vain!”

“My mom, huh?” Yang said with a trace of skepticism. “We’ll put that on hold for now. You said everything was going to end, something about the Last Fairy Tale?”

“Ah, yes. As Miss Sustrai accurately assessed it, the ‘endgame’. Quite an accurate term, indeed!”

“Great,” Emerald muttered unenthusiastically. “I loooove being right about stuff like that.”

“As do I! Matter of fact, the subject happens to coincide with the next sequence of events perfectly!”

“Yay…” she said with somehow decreasing enthusiasm.

“As it is, Remnant now stands at a crossroads. A crucial turning point, if you would, for our world’s existence hangs on the precipice! Human and Faunus will be discarded into eternal oblivion or forced reincarnation and submission, if we fail to derive a proper solution.”

“Is that so bad? Sometimes, I wake up and just wish the world would just en—”

Yang covered Emerald’s mouth to prevent any more snark from coming through.

“Go on, Professor.”

“Yes! Right so! The Last Fairy Tale is dependent on Titan’s old construct, the very artifact that could be held accountable for the Cataclysm and all the conflicts borne in the first place. It is also the core of Remnant.”

“The Tree of Balance?”

“Precisely,” Oobleck nodded. “As you know, the world is in complete conflict. Good and evil, light and dark, Grimm and those who possess Souls, are creating a constant imbalance. The Tree, by design, was made to counteract this issue.”

“…This doesn’t sound good. How does it plan to go correcting an entirely messed up planet?”

“According to the logs of a certain Architect, there is a mechanism built into the Tree known to Salem and Ozpin. If the balance is upset beyond repair, the Tree will activate a fail-safe. It is, I must say, incredulously simple, absurd, and efficient.”

Yang blinked a few times. She remembered Masa saying something similar when she reset Penny.

…

Hm….

Wait.

“Reset”?

Yang gasped so abruptly she almost choked.

“You can’t be serious!” she coughed.

“Always.”

“What?” Emerald asked without a clue. “What’s going to happen?”

Yang turned to her with a wild, baffled, expression.

“The Tree’s gonna reset Remnant!”

.

X  X X  X  X

.

“…Is this true?”

“Unfortunately, this one can personally vouch for its validity.”

Everyone around Masa cocked their brows in disbelief, while Cinder shook her head.

“I must make sure I heard this correctly,” she worded slowly. “For lack of a better metaphor, the Tree possesses a self-initiating mechanism to turn the world off and on again?”

“That is correct,” Masa answered.

“Like, say, one would do with a malfunctioning appliance, or computer, or scroll.”

“…That is correct.”

“But on a global scale.”

“………It was not one of my finest works.”

.

X  X X  X  X

.

Oobleck gave an intentional cough, like he would in class when the lecture swerved off-topic.

“As ridiculous as the mechanism is, it in no way diminishes the graveness of the situation, or what the Witch and the Wizard have in store.”

“But, why would they want to reset Remnant?” Yang pressed. “What would they gain? And if that’s what they both want, why fight each other?”

“You are correct to ask these questions. The answer is, both view this world as a flawed vision of its original design. Think about it, Miss Yang. If a fundamental error was made in a drawing or the writing of an essay, how tempted would you be to simply scrap the project and start over again?”

“…”

“The differences between Salem and Ozpin lie in what happens after. Salem wishes to make a new world as she sees fit. A reincarnation of sorts, but to her preferences. One void of any previous existences of Fairies and Grimm. I believe she also sees this as an opportunity to revive Oberon.”

“I don’t think I ever heard something so egotistical in my life.”

“Ozpin’s intentions may be worse. He does not plan to restart the world at all. He wishes for the dead to remain dead.”

Yang and Emerald had to think for a moment about what that meant.

“He wants to end all the pain and misery,” Emerald said, with a hint of empathy. “He thinks it’s too much and that it’ll fail no matter how many times he tries or how hard… So, he just wants it to end.”

“The suicide option, huh?” Yang echoed the thought in a dark tone. “Now, I get it. That’s why they both act the way they do. They’ve already given up on this world. That’s so….!”

“Irresponsible? Idiotic? Childish? You know, for assholes who’ve lived forever, they can be real…assholes!”

“So, the plan’s simple, then, right? I mean, to stop the Last Fairy Tale, we just need to defeat Titan and Salem.”

“If it were so simple, I would not have fallen into such a depression,” Oobleck said.

He waved his hand and conjured the fractured world of Remnant. The Tree’s trunk could be seen extending from the partial sphere with its branches interlaced through the crust.

The planet looked almost like a half-blown dandelion. One breath was all it would take, and Remnant would dissolve into naught but ash and dust. It drove the direness of their situation ever-deeper.

“The inherent problem lies with the Tree itself. Once the imbalance of light and dark pass a certain threshold, the reset occurs automatically. The Witch and Wizard only wish to control its function at the last moment.”

Yang and Emerald observed the projection, while walking around it.

“So, the answer is, we balance it, then?” Yang suggested. “Then, it won’t activate, right?”

“Obviously, the first answer to pop into anyone’s head, but how do you balance a whole world, Yang? It’s impossible. Not only the world, but you’d have to even out the emotions of practically everybody on this hunk of rock.”

“Yeah, I guess you’re right. And we can’t just remove the Tree?”

“Look at this thing,” Emerald gestured to the image. “Remnant practically is the Tree.”

Yang was now racking her brain to the point of anguishing frustration.

“Maybe, if we can buy more time? Can we stall the world from crossing the threshold somehow?”

The two turned to Oobleck, who only wore a look of sympathy.

“The truth is, Remnant has already crossed the threshold to trigger the Tree’s reset function.”

…

The answer alone stunned Emerald and Yang into complete silence. Despair sunk in with a hungering quality.

Yang continued to shake her head. She momentarily looked to the professor and the projection of Remnant for answers but was met with none.

“So, you’re saying… We already lost?”

.

X  X X  X  X

.

Their loss is already predetermined, Blake thought. By my hand or this world’s.

She stood atop a cliff, looking down on the ranks upon ranks of Grimm. An army of darkness the world had never bore witness to.

Black claws and fangs bore viciously in the direction of Vacuo. The cracks in their bone-encrusted bodies flared with malice. Countless burning red eyes focused on the structure waiting in the distance.

The world will start over.

Bean and Inna stood beside Blake. The young general kept in contact with the leaders of the Grimm Clans.

And in the world to come, everyone’s wishes will be granted.

Adam appeared from behind.

But for that to happen, the old world must die.

Vulcan and Jupiter Black took their places as well.

And the Last Fairy Tale must come to its rightful end.

.

X  X X  X  X

.

“Then, if the world’s going to reset, why hasn’t it already?” Yang asked.

“Summer Rose,” Oobleck answered. “By using her Semblance, your mother has stopped the process midway. But it will not last.”

“…Where is she? Where’s my mom?”

“On an island that is forgotten, purged from all traces of memory and recording until the event of a full moon. Knowledge of its existence and location are nonexistent, except in this place alone, where all information is recorded for eternity.”

Oobleck handed Yang a worn-out book and opened it to its last page.

It was Summer Rose’s final diary entry.

Yang read the name of her mother’s last known location and ultimately, where the Last Fairy Tale would take place.

“The Island Prison of Menagerie.”

[ara2gr3y]

New meme format

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[hugsandchaos]

AAAAAAHHH

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[lermisv4]

#linkeduniverse#two very different sword styles#breaks em down or wait for one lethal strike

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