Authors Note: Hiya, my name is Xera and this is my first FanFic, I would love to get some feedback and some friendly criticism from anyone and everyone. It will definitely help out and would mean a lot to know that people want to read more about this story. Well, when I say "my" FanFic, I'm actually writing this with my little sister. We plan on alternating between the two of us, at least, that's what we plan on happening, anyway. Have fun guys!
Disclaimer: Yeah, you probably saw this coming, but I don't actually own the setting of this story (Beacon, Remnant, Vytal, etc.), oh and the RWBY characters too, the amazing Monty Oum is the real MVP here (Owner of said stuff) as well as Roosterteeth. My sister and I only own our OC's, concept ideas, technological theories, self-explained sciences, my own plotlines, some faunus species, and there's probably more in here that are of my own design. So yeah. Now that I got that out of the way, here's Chapter 1!
*Chapter 1 Rework: Just thought I'd add some back story and plot to this intro chapter, It was kind of short to begin with.
**This is a message from the future me, currently on the date of chapter 53! I'd like to say that the story gets better the further you go, and that looking back, the beginning is a bit underdeveloped. So please keep that in mind if you're reading this.
***Another future me! Woo, timeline jumping. Always dangerous but very fun indeed. I have currently just finished chapter 59. And now that I've given it some thought, I shall rework some of these earlier chapters to be somewhat more tolerable! Yay. This'll be interesting… I'm cringing already.
XSRA's Flame Chapter 1: Fate's Grip
Narrator POV
"Let me tell you a story, a tale of legends and heroes, protectors of Remnant, guardians... as some would call them."
"But me, I prefer to call them by name, true huntsman and huntresses of the modern era. Fighters who learn and train to protect those who can't protect themselves."
"But this story, however extensive it may seem, revolves around one huntsman in particular. A huntsman-in-training actually. Born from fire and flame, raised from the ashes of his forbearer's hidden history and guarded by the watch of an ancient protector... Xera Stark is one of two that still survive. They are the last remnants of an entire race. That race, being mythical in and of itself, is no less real than all the rest."
"The Phoenix, dangerously close to extinction, are an ancient species of faunus that date back centuries into the past. Before the faunus war, back when faunus and humans fought together... thrived together, back before discrimination and lesser morality."
"You see... the Phoenix were a peaceful race. They fought when needed but only at the greatest of requests. The legend of the Phoenix was told for years... centuries even. But, those stories could only last so long. Now... I'm the only one who remembers."
"The Phoenix were believed to be powerful beings, more powerful than all of Remnant. Power beyond comprehension, and yet... only few have ever seen such ability. If a fully realized Phoenix trains and focuses all their energy into their power during their lifetime, they can achieve aura levels beyond the capacity of anyone else in the world and maintain a personal control over their own aura that exceeds the reaches of history."
"It was this power that caused their fall and unfortunately… their very destruction. The humans saw this as a threat and believed that no being should possess that much power. And so... The Angels of Death Corporation was created."
"The AOD hunted down the Phoenix, killing them and all ties to their family trees, cutting off all possible blood lines and effectively ending most of the Phoenix existence."
"It was then that they went into hiding. They disappeared from the world and remained, shadowed from all eyes that seek them out. They lived among the people of the Remnant and concealed their heritage for the next fifty years."
"That was until the AOD developed the technology to track the aura signatures of the Phoenix race. Slowly... the species started to dwindle in numbers. Quietly hunted down and removed from this world, the corporation eventually rid all of Remnant of the powerful beings."
"All of the Phoenix were taken from this timeline... except for two. The only two that remained hidden. These two... found a way to conceal their aura signature and stay alive. Over the years, the ancient race faded into legends, and eventually... became myths."
"As all legends do."
"Among those who believed the race to be gone, lost in history and non-existent, there were very few that knew the truth. Those two remaining Phoenix slowly extended their bloodline, passing off the heritage to their kin. Over the years they hid, deep within society, concealed and hidden from the world… they built a family."
"Xera Stark is the current descendant of the last remaining pure-bred bloodline for the Phoenix. He alone has great power, abilities he has yet to understand or know what he's truly capable of. But when the time comes, Xera will need to step up and defend the world from an eminent darkness. For I fear that the lights of this story will vanish. Flames that once blaze with the fire of hope… will become fleeting in their efforts to remain."
"Xera must take part to stop what's coming. If he fails… the world may fall into darkness once again."
"Until he is truly needed, he will live amongst us. His fate yet to be revealed. His destiny still unknown to him. Xera doesn't know what power he holds, but I suspect he will soon find out."
"A darkness is descending upon humanity. It has been manifesting in the shadows for eternity, preparing for a date that will soon come to pass."
"The world must be prepared… or it will shatter under the light of the fragmented moon."
"This is the story of Xera Stark... a life of Heroism... Friendship... and Comfort. With no small amount of Humor too. But all stories, like the one I'm about to tell you, will come with a price, and unfortunately, that price... is death. For not all heroes escape it, and not all live without it, but for some... they survive with it for most of their lives and eventually... it will catch up to them."
"…and it will consume them."
Xera's POV
I burst through the trees and brush, speeding away from the one person I never wanted to see again. They were following close behind. I could hear their breathing, their rushed footsteps across the wooded ground, the occasional evil chuckle sounding through the air as they chased after me.
"So this is how I die, by the hands of the one who started this all, the one who changed everything."
*Crack!*
A sharp, high pitched explosion pierced through the air, the familiar whistling sound getting louder as the bullet closed the gap between us. Time seemed to slow down as I ducked and weaved through the trees, dodging more and more bullets as I ran. Hollow point rounds slammed into the trees around me, bursting wood and bark fragments in every direction.
"I need to lose him soon, I can't keep this up for long." I thought as I rushed through the forest.
*Crack!*
Another bullet whistled by my ear, barely grazing a few strands of my hair. I turned back to see my pursuer only a few meters behind me, a glint of evil passing over their crimson eyes as they released a hail of bullets my way.
Taking a sharp turn, I took cover behind a thick oak tree, evading the wall of dust filled metal crashing into the tree I leaned against.
I took off running again once I heard a click sound through the air, "Out of ammo, good."
I thought quickly, taking the small window of opportunity and sprinted off again. Bolting through the trees, I tried to evade and dodge as best I could when suddenly… I felt a sharp pain in my left leg.
The ground came up as fast as the pain arose, pulling me in then throwing me across roots and dirt, my hands instinctively clutching my thigh trying to relieve the pain coursing through me. If the tumble weren't already a heavy strain. My speed then came to a dead stop as I slammed against a tall tree, stopping my attempt to escape.
I sat there, dazed and in pain as a shadow loomed over me. My breathing quickened, and my vision started to dull as my head throbbed from the sudden impact.
Looking up, I saw the face of a ruthless killer, a person willing to do anything just for their own personal pride. I was just another slot on their reputation, filled with another successful execution... yet this one… was personal. This was the face of my murderer, I'm going to die and there's nothing I can do.
My vision darkened, my surroundings blurred and colors blended as I continued to lose blood from my leg. The image of the forest grew grey as a barrel of a gun lifted into view, cold metal placed against my forehead as I look up.
Suddenly, the world went black, all I could see was darkness all around me. I was falling through an endless void of emptiness. There was nothing.
"Where am I? Why am I so cold? Am I dead?"
Questions rushed through my head as I looked around, only to see nothing but darkness, a pitch black surrounding me on all sides.
I kept free falling in the endless deep pit of darkness. Nothing to hold me to this world as I slipped further into unconsciousness. It seemed endless. I let myself go limp and fall through the air as I stared helplessly into my pitch black surroundings.
Before long, my eyes flashed for a moment.
Images blazed through my mind, scenes playing out in my head, memories resurfacing and coming together, linking to each other and creating a timeline. My life flashed before my eyes, everything I've ever done, playing in my mind like a sped up movie. I saw my friends, my home, my family, all of it flashed by and memories flooded through my head. A scene began to play as more memories linked together, displaying my life a few months ago, back to where it all began...
(A Few Months Ago)
I walked through the doors of the school to only see some grape soda miss my face and hit the wall beside me. Someone came running my direction in a purple battle skirt with white snowflakes on it.
"I am so sorry!" she exclaimed holding an empty soda can. She was able to volley soda across the room by accident? Impressive. I think I've seen her before. Though, I never decided to draw attention to myself at all. With a simple nod, I walked away.
It was nothing to worry about.
She wouldn't have it though.
"I'm Skyla, Skyla Xerious."
I gave her a small wave, courteously. This was my last day, I didn't need anything else in my life. Blowing her off would've been rude, but isn't it also rude to force yourself onto another? At least she said her name first, and didn't immediately ask for mine-
"What's your name?" She asked.
Great… "Xera." I responded after a few moments, stuffing my hands into my pockets as I did so.
"Xera. Nice name. I like it!"
Awesome! Glad you liked it! Thank you so much for telling me… Inner thoughts aside, she seems nice. I should stop judging her in my head. "Are you always this outgoing?" I asked looking her way, skillfully avoiding her dark violet eyes. Were those cans of ginger ale always in those vending machines?
"Ah… no not really but I can be sometimes." She said, her eyes turning a lighter color. Her irises matched the choker necklace hugging her neck; a deep purple.
I nodded my head with a tilt, just accepting her personality. More than likely, she just struck a conversation to make the apology less awkward.
So… I turned the next corner and looked back.
She wasn't there.
With a curious peak, I noticed her walking away to catch up with a few other girls who passed by.
Right, back to what I was doing. I suddenly stopped, tilting my gaze up in thought… before that look soon turned into a grimace. Shoot… I forgot to grab a snack. She distracted me!
Author's Note: Just a little introduction to some OC's. Anyway, more will be explained and further detailed in later chapters to help you get to know the characters. Like I said up top, I am co-writing this story with Sky and she really enjoys dialogue and random moments. She is writing the next chapter in Skyla's POV during her encounter with Xera, just as a heads up. Anyway…
Cya XD
