Bound Ch1
Cinder Fall sat in the middle of a cold dark cell, or at least she presumed her cell was dark as she was blindfolded. Her arms chained together to the ground like an animal. A shiver ran up her spine, reminding her of her state of dress. Her once luxuries and beautiful red dress was now in a tattered state and covered in dirt and ash and blood. She would've warmed herself up, if not for this Oum forsaking collar around her neck. It was Atlas tech, designed to suppress the wearers semblance and it was working marvelously, unfortunately.
Cinder could do nothing except to sit on the cold floor of her cell. Her mind replaying those final moments over, and over, and over, and OVER again. Fingers lightly tracing the scar that ran horizontally, just below her belly button. The moment she was struck now burned into her mind forever. The gleam of the sword as it cut through the remaining of her aura and managed to hit its mark by slicing her open.
She could still feel an empty feeling as she was face down on the ground. Just laying there bleeding all over the now deceased headmaster's office. The look of pure hatred staring down at her, coming from intense blue eyes. His blade pressed against her throat, ready and very much willing to slice right through her. To end her. She knew why. She had almost taken something from the blonde young man.
—
He had come just at the last second. As her bow was drawn, arrow at the ready, moments away from finally attaining her goal. From being made whole, the whole Fall Maiden.
But it wasn't meant to be.
She remembers hearing footsteps and the feeling of something solid striking her back and knocking her off balance, her arrow shooting off into the distance as a result. She remembers barely having enough time to summon her twin blades to block an incoming attack. Her arms buckled at the force behind the strike that connected with her own swords.
A young man engaging her in combat, but he was now solely focused on cutting her down, using all his strength and energy to reach that goal. It was so raw, so primal. She could feel his hatred and his power behind every stike as their blades clashed. It was truly impressive.
But she was far more powerful. After their first couple of exchanges, the tide of battle began turning in her favor. Her power and speed and experience were all beginning to show as to why she was so deadly. Even if she wasn't at full power thanks to the spartan that lay on the ground, clutching her leg and shouting at the young man to 'leave her and run', she was still strong enough to lay waste to someone of his level. She may only be half a maiden and only have half her aura left, but she was Cinder Fall and SHE had destiny on her side.
But then she began noticing it. All the little nicks and cuts and even some of her larger and deeper cuts that would hit, weren't doing any real damage. His white aura would shimmer, before fading away. Absorbing all the damage, leaving the young man uninjured. It was like trying to carve into a mountain with a knife. It wasn't going to work. At least, not in the time she had left. She needed to kill the downed girl and escape. But the blond simply would not allow it.
She resorted to unleashing her maiden powers combined with her semblance. As burst of flames exploded from her hand. A wave of intense heat and fire came crashing down onto his shield, but nothing happened. His shield glimmered white for a second before it disappeared. Leaving the knight to stand tall and at the ready. His eyes never wavering. This was impossible.
She spent minutes, firing burst of flames, after flames, after flames. Even trying to melt him by releasing a stream of flame nonstop over a minute. Surely that would be enough to melt his shield or at the very least roast him alive from the heat. But no, he simply stood up from where he was crouching. His gaze never leaving her.
She began to feel slightly nervous. She was running out of time. She needed to kill Pyrrha Nikos first and foremost. She needed to meet up with Emerald and Mercury. This was the reason why they had spent months in Vale, planning and working with the White Fang. Everything she had done, was to obtain the Fall maidens powers. But this girl's team leader would simply not move.
She unleashed all her might on him! Her sword covered in flames, came down slamming against his shield. Again, and again, and again. It would surely break, after all the abuse and all her power she unleashed on it, it had to be close to breaking. But it merely withstood the assault, shimmering with aura. Even when she unleashed all her fury, like a rampaging dragon, he stood strong like a fortress.
She couldn't do it. She couldn't get past his cursed shield, and even when she could, his aura would hold and protect him from any other damage she could inflicte. He would then counter attack any openings she left. Eating away at her own aura. This was madness. She just stood their starring at him with wide eyes. Trying to process at how this was all turning out.
And that's when she knew she had made a mistake. Her own mind was her downfall. The moment she realized it wasn't working and possibility of her failing her mission, was the opening the blond needed.
Lashing out with his shield he connected with her arms, sending both of her sword scattering along the ground. With her guard now open, he slid his blade along his body.
She felt an intense, searing pain open across her stomach as she felt her aura break and give way to his blade. Looking down she was mesmerized at the sight of her dress turning a deeper shade of red as blood ran down her flat stomach and her once long creamy legs and began to pool on the ground. She stood for a few moments before she fell on to her knees and onto the floor. She lay their dying. Alone and cold, with no one by her side. No friends, no loved ones. Simply alone, like the previous maiden. She knew the blond was standing over her, with his blade at her throat ready to run it through her and end her. But after a few intense moments he decided she wasn't worth his time, as he instead chose to turn to help his partner up and check on her injuries.
They were crying and hugging as they stumbled into each other's arms. They even shared a brief but loving kiss. It was all so sickening sweet to Cinder.
She could feel herself falling in and out of conciseness. Her eyes began to shut as she heard her Grimm dragon let out a mighty roar, before a blinding white light was seen. She felt the tower tremble beneath her body, as the dragon came crashing back down to Remnant.
It was over. She knew that and her thoughts were only reinforced by the sounds of cheering, off in the distance. It was all truly over. She had Failed.
The last thing she remembers seeing is the backs of the two that defeated her as the looked off into the distance. His arm wrapped around her waist pulling her close to him. Both in a caring and protective manner. She seemed to accept it and allowed him to aid her as she took off weight on the ankle Cinder had shot with an arrow. The spartan seemed to be enjoying herself as she rested her head on his shoulder.
And then it went dark…
—
She barely remembers waking up to find that she was strapped to a bed and heavily sedated. A few medical personal stitch up her wound and pump blood into her.
The fools. They were trying to save her. She wasn't sure she even wanted to be saved. What was the point. She had failed her life's goal. It was all over.
She fell unconscious again…
—
A kiss.
His lips.
Her guilt.
She had to protect him…
She loved him…
—
After that she woke up with a gasp. That's when she found herself chained and blindfolded in the cell she was currently in. She had spent days, even weeks like this. She wasn't sure anymore. She was given bread and water twice a day and was helped to the bathroom twice as well, but she was always chained and blindfolded. Those who helped her never spoke to her.
She was just left alone with her thoughts, every single moment of every single day. It was maddening. All she could think of was her defeat at the hands of the knight and the spartan. It played over and over in an endless loop.
Their was one other thought that crossed her mind. The same one she thought of when she first woke up in her cell. She wasn't sure if it was a feeling or a memory, but there was something replaying in her mind.
And those thoughts were not hers…
—
*creak*
Her ears perked at the sound of a metal door opening, before it was shut a moment later.
*click*
*click*
*click*
The sounds of foot steps approached her. She could feel a group of people near her.
"Stand up." Barked a faceless voice. It was female.
She did as she was told before her arms were held steady. The anonymous individual began loosing her chains.
'Well this is interesting.'
Once she was free they commanded her to not move as they began cutting off her dress. It was more annoying than anything. She had a beautiful body and would not be embarrassed by being in the nude because of it. But that had been her favorite dress they had destroyed. it was probably unsalvageable by now so it really did not matter.
She was then helped into what felt like a long bathrobe that cover her modesty. It was quite warm and comfortable and at least she wouldn't be cold. She was then led out her cell still blindfolded and down a series of hallways. Before entering a room and being sat down. She was oddly left unchained as she heard her escort leave, but she quickly realized she wasn't alone.
She decided to stay quiet and see how this all plays out.
"You may take off your blindfold, Ms Fall." Commanded a deep voice.
Doing so, Cinder was blinded for a moment as her eyes took some time to get readjusted with the lights. Once she was able to see enough she looked around the room.
She was sitting across a desk from General James Ironwood of Atlas. His face set in a serious expression. Behind her stood Deputy Headmistress, Professor Glynda Goodwitch and Qrow Branwen both with the same expressions set on their faces. What really surprised her the most, was that off to her side sat Pyrrha Nikos and her team leader, the man who had defeated her. Nikos eyes were filled with uncertainty, while her team leaders were complicated. His were filled with anger quite clearly, but also… an uneasiness?
She instinctively rubbed the wound on her stomach tentatively. The same wound that he had inflicted on her.
"Ms Fall" came Ironwoods voice again.
Her head turned to face him as she game him her attention.
"We have brought you here today to discuss your involvement in the event know as the fall of Beacon," He tensed and took a deep breath before steeling his nerves and continuing. "And the death of Beacons Headmaster Ozpin."
She simply gave him a nod to show that she understood.
"Very well, we want to know everything. Who did you work with, how many, who did you work for, and what are your next plans."
"And why do you think I would tell you anything General?" She asked in an amusing tone.
"Because, Ms Fall, if you don't you will spend the rest of your days back in that cell, chained and blindfolded you will help us. If you cooperate, we can at least make your stay less restrictive."
Cinders teasing smile dropped at that.
"There is no reason for me to tell you anything. I failed my mission. It's over for me."
"Listen here yo-" Ironwood barked, but was cut off by a calmer voice.
"Then why not do it to save lives?" Glynda Goodwitch spoke up as she walked around the desk at looked eyes with Cinder. "Surely you take no pleasure in killing innocent. You could help us save a lot of lives."
Cinder just remained quiet.
"We know there are more things to come." Piped up Qrow as he took a drink from his flask. Walking on wobbly legs next to her. " From the White Fang we questioned, we already know that Mistral is your next target. And probably Haven Academy as a result."
"So if you help us, if you help us save lives and stop this, than we would grant you some leniency on your punishment." Pleaded Goodwitch.
Cinder just sat quietly. Mulling her thoughts over.
"You have nothing I want, or need." She whispered to herself.
The room fell into a tense silence. Ironwood shaking in anger as his friends murder sat across from him. But they needed her help, her intel.
"Sir." Called out a voice. It was the blond young man. That caught Cinder's attention. Why was he here? "Maybe we should entertain the idea we discussed earlier."
"I don't think that's a smart idea Mr Arc." Sighed Ironwood.
'So his name is Arc. As in, the famous warrior family. That makes sense of a few things.'
"Well it maybe our only choice jimmy." Qrow added in. "This one looks like she's all but given up. She might even off herself."
Well while not completely correct, Cinder Fall would refuse to live out the rest of her days chained and blindfolded.
"Very well, Ms Fall. We have a another proposition for you." With a reluctantsigh Ironwood continued. "If you help us here and now. We will allow you to continue with your studies in becoming a huntress until you graduate. And upon doing so, you will be able to hopefully do some good and make amends for what you have done."
This sounded to good to be true.
"What's the catch?"
"You must divulge ALL known information about the your plans, the WhiteFang, and your queen. You will also be engaging in weekly therapy session. You will have to continue wearing that collar, it will be maditory. And… You will be bound to Mr Arc here as he is his team's leader and he was the one to defeat you, along with Ms Nikos, so you will be joining their team and they will be keeping an eye on you. You will also not be allowed to leave Beacon grounds unless specifically allowed so and if you do, you may not leave Mr Arc side further than 100yds." Ironwood informed her.
Cinder couldn't believe it. She was being chained from one place to a person. While not as bad, it was the man who had left her with her only humiliating defeat.
"It's either this, or back to your cell girlie." Qrow slurred as he took another sip. "Your choice…"
It really wasn't a choice. She would not die in that cell. Not like that.
After a few seconds of thinking it over, she answered. "Very well General you have a deal." giving him a nod. Before turning to study her new warden/team leader and giving him a sultry smile. "I don't believe we've had the pleasure of being introduced. Cinder Fall."
"Jaune. Jaune Arc." He stated nervously.
'Hmmm this will be VERY interesting indeed…"
—
A/N - Hey everyone, I've had this scenario stuck in my head for a while now and decided to write it down. Not sure what I wanna do with it or where it's gonna go, but I just had to put it out their. Let me know what you guys think and if I should continue with it. Cheers!