A large, black storm cloud raged above. Torrents of rain fell upon the Vale lands, and it had not let up for several weeks. It was the perfect time for the tribe to strike at the innocent villagers and townspeople, for it was a survival of the fittest, after all. They'd set up traps on the road, which would knock down any carts that rode by. And should a person hiking through the passage come, they'd come out of the woodwork and take them out with their own hands, most likely letting the person go should they not resist.
None of those things occurred here. A carriage rode by, just as they'd been resetting the traps once again. Members of the tribe ducked behind bushes and other effects, such as other raided wagons. The carriage had been riding by with no problem, and it seemed as if they would lose some resources and money that was right in front of them.
But, as if by an act of a malevolent being or by destiny, lightning descended from the heavens and struck the cart, setting it ablaze and making it fall over. A woman's scream rang throughout the pass and members of the tribe looked at each for a moment before two walked over to the flaming cart, a husband and wife duo. They were dressed in dark clothes, and the woman's belly was getting large, she would produce a child soon. Maybe even two.
"Hahaha! Aren't we some lucky devils, Maggie?" the husband said, his voice slimy and dark. His wife, Maggie, watched his carefully as the two stalked over to the cart.
"Yes, I suppose, Jack. I think I saw a family in there though…" Maggie trailed, slowing her walking down. Jack looked over at her, his face twisted.
"Getting soft, Mag? Come on, you aren't that easy on folks. Maybe the babe in you is a curse more than a blessing…" Jack said, turning back around and continuing his walk. Maggie watch him move forward with a dark look on her face.
Don't ever say that about my children ever again… Maggie thought as she glared daggers in the back of Jack's head.
"Oh, we got real lucky!" Jack yelped, pulling Maggie close to him, "it's a noble family's carriage! Haha!"
Maggie pushed away from her husband's grasp and looked at the scene. An older looking man had fallen out of the cart and laid on the ground, his refined suit looking nearly untouched. The woman in the cart didn't look as good as he did, however. She was leaning out of the top of the wagon, which had been blown out and set ablaze by the lightning. Her dress was tattered and burnt, and her face was bloodied and slashed, as if the roof had fallen upon her face and clothes. In her arms was an untouched, pure baby, crying at the unfamiliar scene.
"I'll check the man for any gold or jewelry he might have, you check the cart," Jack said, quickly stepping over to the unconscious fellow. Maggie shook her head before walking over to the woman who had fallen, and staring down at her. She looked calm, but for some reason, Maggie could feel some sort of pressure, some kind of force coming from the woman. She reached down and took the baby into her arms, it was wrapped in a white cloth. It seemed to calm down after Maggie held it close.
Hm, maybe I'll make a good mother after all, she thought, staring into the babe's face. The baby opened its eyes. The baby's entrapping silver eyes met Maggie's own pair of red ones. She felt stunned, felt another force come down on her. It wasn't until she'd heard a cough beneath her when her eyes ripped away from the baby's piercing gaze. The woman who'd sustained such a devastating condition was still alive, but certainly not well. The woman stared up at Maggie, her eyes brown, unlike the baby's.
"You're alive!" Maggie said, crouching down to speak with the damaged woman.
"What… what happened?" the woman asked, coughing up her own spit and blood.
"…Lightning struck your vehicle, but you managed to survive. Your baby is in good condition," Maggie explained, feeling light in her chest. Perhaps I am getting soft…
"Oh, thank the gods!" the woman exclaimed, pulling herself out of the cart and sitting up, meeting Maggie's eye level. The woman took the baby into her arms once again, and Maggie watched the two for a moment. The mother's face looked up at Maggie and then frantically looked around, "where is my husband? Did he… survive?"
Maggie placed her hands on the woman's shoulders and was about to explain before her own husband walked toward the two, a disabled man holding his arm on Jack's shoulders.
"Don't worry, lass, your man's right here," Jack said, pulling away from the husband's grasp once he stood next to his wife.
"Nothing more than an injured back, my dear…" the husband leaned down and kissed his wife on the forehead before facing the two thieves, who'd been acting kind the whole time. "I am Archer Rose, and this is my wife, Chinow Rose."
"Of the House of Rose?" Maggie asked, seeing a rose-like emblem on both of their dress wear. Archer and Chinow nodded, looking at Maggie and Jack with deep kindness in their eyes. Maggie looked over at Jack for a moment, "I am Maggie Branwen, and this is my husband, Jack Branwen."
"Is there any way we can repay you for coming to help us?" Chinow said, looking up at Maggie.
"Oh, we didn't do much…" Maggie said, holding her arm shyly. Jack knew this trick all too well, his wife had always seemed to do this whenever someone offered something in return and she always made out with something more than originally given. Archer stepped forward.
"Oh please, you have done a great service to our family. We are forever in your debt," Archer said, as Maggie inwardly smirked at his answer. Things had been working just fine, all she needed right now was for her damn husband to keep his mouth shut and maybe they could get out of the tribal attacks and live like kings and queens. The two sets of lovers talked on, about the plans they would make in order to get back to the village and about the reward the thieves would be getting. No one had seemed to notice the stone mask that fell out of the cart and into the road. And no one noticed how when Chinow's blood was being washed away by the rain, the moment the blood made contact with the mask, it activated, spikes coming out of the sides…
~ 12 Years Later ~
The clouds that had plagued Vale had long been gone since the day of the meeting between the Branwens and the Roses. Sun shined over the lush, green lands of the continent. The mountainous border was visible to the east in broad daylight, while the ocean splitting the continent in half could be seen to the west. Archer Rose stood upon his mansion's balcony and looked upon the bright day. Once he heard the front doors of the Rose mansion open, he looked down to see his young daughter, Summer Rose, running through the courtyard. She turned around and waved goodbye to her father before running off into the field.
Chinow walked and stood next to Archer, "Such a bright young girl."
"She reminds me a bit of you," Archer said, smiling.
While the Roses were content living their lavish lifestyle, the Branwens were going through a different situation. Maggie and Jack currently resided in a small house at a village not too far away from the Rose mansion and its countryside. Maggie had given birth to twins, Raven and Qrow Branwen, and it was due to that, that they'd been run to the ground and poor. Or, that's what Jack had blamed them for.
"You good-for-nothing brats! This is why getting out of the tribe was a horrible idea!" Jack yelled at Raven and Qrow, the two of them tucked away in a corner. Raven was in front of her slightly younger brother, trying to protect him all she could.
"Don't hurt them!" Maggie yelled, grabbing Jack's arm to pull him away from their children. Jack turned to his wife with pure malice in his eyes.
"Don't yell at me like that, bitch!" Jack grabbed Maggie's neck and pushed her against the wall.
"Stop hurting her!" Raven said, running up to her father's leg and slamming her fists on him. Jack flicked his daughter with the back of his hand, making her stumbled back and writhe in pain.
"Buncha useless maggots," Jack growled, stepping away from Maggie and walking out of the room.
Archer and Jack were nearly two completely different men. While Jack was mean and demanding, Archer was soft and supportive. Until it came to his daughter, Summer, that was. Even sitting down and eating a dinner with his family felt like a chore when his own daughter wasn't making any progress into becoming a real lady, like her mother.
Summer grabbed her fork and began to chow down, stuffing her face as fast as possible. She just liked seeing the combinations of the flavors in the food they ate, but her father constantly chided her.
Archer slammed his palm down on the table, "Summer, manners!"
Summer looked up at her father, her eyes wide and a piece of meat still dangling from her mouth. She slurped the meat up, and with her mouth full she tried to apologize, only further disappointing her father.
"You know you mustn't speak with your mouth full, young lady!" Archer scolded.
Summer chewed her food and swallowed it quickly, "Sorry, father…"
Archer sighed as Chinow placed her hand gingerly upon his own, "She'll learn, dear."
"I know, I just thought there'd be a bit more progress."
"You just have to give her more time," Chinow calmly pleaded. Archer nodded, and she was content with that answer.
In comparison, despite her worse upbringing, Raven Branwen was the much more composed person. Her father constantly yelled and abused her and her brother, but she took the thing positively and learned how to be respectful quickly. It was the only way for her to get around the beatings of her own father.
She was also quite smart for her age of twelve. She would often leave her house, mostly to get away from her family, but also to make a bit of money for her own spending. Raven found herself in bars, ordering food and playing a game of chess or poker to make some change.
She'd just won a match against a pitiful looking man. He dug in his pouch and pulled some gold coins out, throwing them onto the table, near Raven's elbow. She smirked for a moment, before the man grabbed her head and shoved her face into the plate of food she'd been eating.
"Feelin' smart now, girl? Next time, I'll win, and you'll have to actually show me what's under that shirt," the man grinned as he let go of Raven's head and walked out of the bar. Raven lit up like a match, and she felt like chasing down the man and beating the hell out of him, but she'd managed to control her anger. She didn't want to end up as child-like as her father was. Gathering her things, along with her winnings, she made her way home.
Something similar between Summer Rose and Raven Branwen were their senses of justice. Raven constantly protected her 'younger' brother from their father's attacks, resulting in her taking most of the abuse, while Summer wanted to be like the heroes she'd read about in her literature studies with her private teacher.
Summer had her prime opportunity to be a hero like that one day. She'd just walked out of the mansion when she saw a poor boy stalking around a tree, when two rich boys went up towards the kid.
"What's your kind doin' around here, punk?" one of the boys yelled, purposefully spitting in the poor boy's face. The poor boy didn't seem to notice, though, he was unique in the area for his bright, blonde hair. Summer dashed towards the three.
"Haha! Come on, talk to us! Don't need to be…" one of the bullies pushed the boy hard, and his back hit the tree, "so shy!"
"Don't hurt him!" Summer yelled, jumping over a stone barrier and facing the two bullies. They looked at her confused for a moment, before they broke out laughing.
"Hahaha! Look, Taiyang! You've got another girl defending you!" One of the bullies doubled over, laughing hard. He wasn't laughing when Summer's fist connected with the guy's face, though. "Ow!"
"Don't laugh at him!" Summer raised her fists, but she didn't notice the other bully slip around behind her. The kid pushed her down to the ground, and helped his friend recover from that sucker punch Summer delivered.
"Let's get outta here, they ain't worth it," the bully said, helping his friend stumble away. Once the two were at a reasonable distance, the boy known as Taiyang got up from his position near the tree and helped Summer up.
"Are you okay?" Taiyang asked, looking at how dirty Summer's red dress had become.
"Of course I'm not okay, I wasn't able to really save you!" Summer yelled, stomping her foot into the dirt. She ran away, back toward the Rose mansion, Taiyang assumed. He wasn't able to catch her name, but he did see the Rose emblem sown into the waist of her dress.
"Rose…" Taiyang repeated aloud, "reminds me of that other, Raven, girl…"
Just like Summer, Raven had protected Taiyang from those bullies once in the past. She felt weak, so she protected those similar to her just to make her feel stronger. It was selfish, she knew, but she didn't care. Though, she knew where she got her selfishness from. Her mother, despite being leagues above her father, wasn't very good either. Maggie had committed thievery even outside of the tribe and Raven knew that one day, Maggie would kill Jack. And she knew that the woman would abandon her children to someone else.
She knew it because if she was in that position, Raven would do the same.
And so, that day came. Maggie murdered Jack, right in front of Qrow and Raven. Qrow couldn't watch Maggie unload all of her rage into her husband, but Raven watched, rather apathetic towards the whole thing. Maggie quickly handed Raven a letter and said a quick goodbye to them, before dashing out of the house. No love was given to them, no goodbye kisses were delivered to soften the blow to their hearts. Or rather, Qrow's heart. He'd grown to look up to his mom, and once she just left without saying a word, it left a hole.
Raven looked down at the letter Maggie had given her.
"Deliver to the Rose Estate, My Daughter"
Raven gave a sickening smirk, and Qrow watched her with cautious eyes.
Time for everything to finally go my way… Raven thought, gripping the letter tight. "Qrow, pack your things. We're moving out of here."
"Huh?" Qrow asked, confused as to why things were moving so quickly.
"We're going to see some family friends…" Raven said, ushering Qrow out of the room. Before she left, Raven gave one last look to her father's mutilated body. She spat, and it mixed in with the dead man's blood. "I'll become everything you wanted, you monster. And you can watch with jealously, from your cell in hell."
This is where the tale of two young women intersect, their destiny sealed by a stone mask.
ROSE'S BIZARRE ADVENTURE – PART 1: PHANTOM AURA
Chapter 1: Raven and Qrow, The Invaders
Summer had returned to the Rose Mansion's courtyard after her unsuccessful bout with those bullies. Wiping the dirt off of her dress the best she could, as well as using the fountain to help, she stumbled toward her home. That was, until she heard a cart pulling up beside her. The man steering said cart tipped his hat before opening the door. A suitcase fell out of the cart, and a young girl around Summer's age jumped out and landed in a crouching position. As she stood up, Summer could feel an air of menace around her…
The girl wore a male suit, with a black coat and black pants, with a red shirt underneath. Her hair, like her suit, was jet black and was so long that it seemed to reach her lower back area. The girl looked at Summer for a moment before turning back to the cart and watching a young man get out of it, with much less dramatic style. He wore the same suit, except his shirt was white, and his hair was short and seemed to fall a bit in front of his eyes.
Who're they…? Summer wondered for a moment before walking up to the both of them. She noticed they had the same eyes, and they looked extremely familiar…
"Hello," the boy said, stepping forward with his hand out. "Qrow Branwen, and this is my sister, Raven Branwen."
Summer's eyes widened as she realized who they were, her father talked about them coming over before. "Oh, the Branwens! Sorry for not recognizing you earlier."
"No problem," Qrow played off, shaking Summer's hand. He quickly noticed just how… soft it was. And then he realized Summer was the first girl his age that he's ever actually touched. He slowly removed his hand, suddenly feeling really awkward.
So, this is the Rose's heir? Raven thought, picking up her suitcase and poking her brother to get his own. She looks like a pampered brat… But I suppose I'll play nice for now.
Suddenly, the doors to the Rose Mansion opened and out walked Archer Rose, Chinow Rose, and a few butlers and maids.
"Welcome, Branwens! I was awaiting your arrival. I see you've met my daughter," Archer said, walking up to the two children.
"Yes, sir. We've become acquainted," Raven spoke, her voice smooth and buttery. It surprised Summer, she thought she'd have a more intimidating voice. Qrow nodded to affirm with Raven, and the three were brought inside. The main hall was large, a staircase in the middle and two open areas to the left and the right. On the left wall of the staircase were family photos and portraits, while the right held a stone mask.
"Yes, well, you should become friendlier as time goes along!" Chinow said, her voice light and cheerful.
"The two of you are a part of the family now," Archer said, turning to face Summer, "my daughter, you shall treat them as if they were your siblings. And I hope you both do the same with Summer."
"Yes, of course," Qrow kept it simple, sweet, and short.
"I wouldn't have it any other way, sir," Raven said, still trying to make herself look good.
"Haha, you are such good kids. Sad your father had to pass away the way he did, but I hope we can be just as good of a family," Chinow said, her bright smile being infectious toward Qrow.
"Ah, I'm sure that won't be hard to accomplish," Qrow said, a genuine smile on his face. Raven gave him a sideways look but returned to normal. Summer noticed it, however.
"Thank you for your hospitality, Sir Rose," Raven said, her words still smooth as she first spoke, but things seemed different… Seemed forced, from Summer's perspective. But she decided she'd stay the course, maybe Raven was having a bad day, or something.
"Please, don't mention it. Now, let me show you to your rooms," Archer said, walking up the main staircase, Chinow right behind him. Raven sat her suitcase down on the foot of the steps, and Qrow followed suit.
Oh, maybe I can give a good impression by helping them! Summer thought as she reached down and grabbed the handle of Raven's suitcase. Suddenly, a tight grip wrapped around her wrist and her hand was wrenched away from the handle. Summer looked up and it was Raven who held her away.
"Ouch! You're hurting me!" Summer exclaimed, trying to pull away from Raven's grip. She did not let up, however.
"Hands off, no one touches my bags. Keep your dirty paws to yourself, got it?!" Raven yelled.
"I was just trying to help!" Summer yelled back, trying to pull away once again. Raven just pulled her closer and stepped in front of her, and elbowed Summer's chest, making her lose her wind.
"Raven, what are you doing!?" Qrow scolded, pulling his sister away from Summer.
"A servant will bring my stuff up, not a dirty mutt like her," Raven explained, pulling away from Qrow. Raven leaned down at the fallen Summer, and pulled her ear close. "I may be your guest, but I won't take any lip from you. So listen carefully, I always come out on top. You won't be looking down upon me."
"But I just want to be your friend!" Summer said, pushing Raven's hand away from her ear.
"Sorry to say, but we'll never be friends. Not with you in my way," Raven said, standing back up.
"What's keeping you children?" Archer yelled, waiting for the three kids.
"Sorry to keep you waiting, sir," Raven responded, her voice transforming from the darkness it was when she was attacked back into her façade to trick her father. Raven and Qrow ascended the stairs, and Summer only watched as Qrow turned back around to face her, with a solemn look on his face. He was the only one whom she'd had a good feeling about, it was his sister that had a deadly aura. But all the same, she had a bad feeling about the future…
It wasn't long until Raven began to impress, and Summer began to do less than so. On study exams, Raven always managed to get 20 out of 20, while Summer had only ever been able to get a handful right, and Qrow did average. When it came to manners, the Branwen twins had Summer beat, Raven especially impressive. She looked like a lady, while Summer looked like a man in a lady's body. Summer was scolded by her father on every occasion, and even had her dinner taken away as punishment for not eating politely as a lady should. She could feel Raven stripping away all of her powers as a Rose heir, and she felt that she would lose everything soon.
One day, however, she had a chance to finally get away from Raven and have a bit of fun with it all, she'd go to the boxing group with the nearby boys and girls of her age, and she'd be able to show her heroic might, as she called it. Her father couldn't know about it, though, if he did, she was afraid he would denounce her as a Rose heir. Her plan was to go out in her signature red dress, and her hair all neat, and once she'd made it to the stream, she would rip off her dress and reveal her fighting outfit underneath. Perfect plan, and Archer would keep thinking she was working toward becoming a responsible lady.
Well, it was a perfect plan, until Qrow walked in on her putting on her gear. "So, going somewhere?"
"Qrow! Uh… no?" Summer yelped in surprise and quickly leaned against her studying desk, hiding her boxing gloves.
"Yeah, right, I see what you're wearing. I never thought you'd be caught with those types of things on," Qrow said, walking further into the room and shutting the door. "You box?"
"Um… yeah. There's this boxing group and it's fun just being able to let it all loose and let out some anger, you know?" Summer explained, and Qrow nodded, satisfied with the answer. She almost sighed of relief before she realized that Qrow was here, "Qrow, you have to promise me you won't tell father about this! If he caught wind of me doing this, I'd be severely punished…"
"Okay," Qrow said, "you have my word."
"Huh?" Summer said, caught a bit off guard at his answer. She'd expected him deny it, and act just as his sister would in this situation.
"On one condition," he added.
"And that is…"
"I get to come with you," Qrow added, with a smirk. Summer smirked back.
"I think that can be arranged. I have a spare pair of boxing gloves."
"Okay, then I'll meet you outside," Qrow said, taking the gloves from her and walking out. Summer could breathe easy now.
Qrow took fast strides to the outside, he didn't want to get caught by-
"Oh, hello brother," Raven greeted, standing at the foot of the steps. "Going somewhere?"
"Raven! Uh… no?" Qrow answered, quick. He was really having déjà vu…
"Oh, really?" Raven questioned, her tone slimy and slithery.
"Listen, Raven, can I just do something without your permission? You treat me like a child," Qrow complained as he walked down the steps. Raven glared at him and rolled her eyes.
"Fine then, I was merely looking after you," Raven explained, turning away.
"I know, and I thank you. But you should know when to let go." Qrow said, striking Raven in her heart. She swore, it was the first thing that ever did. The moment Qrow left the Rose Mansion, she exploded.
"Who does he think he is, telling me what to do?! Grr, if he wasn't my brother, then I'd…!" Raven was interrupted by the sound of a door opening and closing. Summer had just left her room, and was quickly making her way through mansion to get out. As she passed the main hall, Summer traded glances with Raven before hastily making her way through the front doors. Raven took a peak through the window, and saw both of her siblings walking together. "She did this to him! Oh, Summer Rose… I won't only make your life a living hell, but I'll make sure you never bounce back from it again…!"
It wasn't long before Summer and Qrow made it to the stream near the set-up boxing ring. Qrow was busy putting on his gloves, while Summer was taking off her dress and getting her own gloves ready.
"Ready to go, Qrow?" Summer said, getting finished faster than him, surprisingly. He nodded once he tightened the glove and the two made their way over to the ring. A crowd had already started to form, many looking at Qrow like a newbie.
Time to show them what a Branwen can do…
A few matches passed by quick, as the general rule was to get a hit on the face. Summer had faced men and women alike, dodging their blows and returning with quick succession. Qrow had to hand it to her, she was doing really well, a lot better than he expected a soft woman like her to handle. But she doesn't have the same power as Raven… a thought slipped into Qrow's mind. And as if he was psychic, he saw Raven making her way over to the ring, a dark look on her face.
"Can anyone defeat the superstar Summer?!" the announcer yelled, with the crowd cheering afterwards.
"I'll have a go," Raven said, cutting the applause Summer was hearing into dead silence. She slowly turned around, and was met with the dark glare of her adversary. Raven had stolen her brother's gloves, which fit surprisingly well, and now the two were matched up.
Summer wanted to say something before the match started, "I've been waiting for this moment."
Raven gave her a sickeningly large grin, "So have I, Summer Rose."
The match started. Summer dashed forward and enveloped Raven in a flurry of attacks. None of them were connecting, however. She was hoping Raven would slip up somehow, but with every punch she threw, Raven dodged.
I have to admit, she isn't bad… Raven thought before grinning, but she isn't good enough to stop me. Raven stepped into her guard and slammed her fist into Summer's stomach. She doubled over and spat out a bit of blood.
"Summer!" Qrow yelled out from the crowd.
Summer stumbled back, blunt pain enveloping her senses. Just as she looked up, Raven sent her fist rocketing forward, and a dull pain entrapped her once more. She could feel her blood spewing from her nose and mouth, but Raven wasn't done just yet. She adjusted her fist and poked her thumb through Summer's eye, damaging it. Finally, she let the punch go, and Summer fell to the ground, bloodied and black eyed.
The crowd cheered for their new champion, and Summer was left in the dust, but she still had her one supporter.
"Raven messed you up pretty bad," Qrow said, helping Summer stand up. "Let me see your eye…"
"Don't touch me…" Summer said, flinging away as Qrow tried to hold her face. Blood was dripping from her eye, and the pain made her incredible irritable.
"Okay, fine…" Qrow said, stepping away from Summer, but still watching her.
Raven was conversing with the crowd that suddenly surrounded her.
"You have to teach us that move you used on her!" someone said, catching Raven's attention.
"Sure, but… You have to make sure Summer doesn't talk about me showing up here. I'm not actually allowed, so if she says, then I can't teach you guys new techniques…" Raven said, smirking.
Summer felt the burning gaze of everyone at the boxing ring. All of them, looking at her with distain. She couldn't take it anymore. Summer ran away, dripping tears and blood as a trail. Qrow reached a hand out and was nearly about to give chase, but was stopped by Raven pulling on the collar of his shirt. He turned to face her, and when he did, he recoiled. She was wearing the same smirk their father would always make after he beat them.
You're pitting everyone against Summer, and in some way, that includes me…
Betrayed couldn't begin to describe how Summer had felt. She didn't like Raven, hell, she wasn't even too fond of Qrow, but she at least got along with him. But she'd done nothing, nothing, to deserve something like this. She'd never offended Raven since the first day she had shown up, and yet, Raven is seemingly trying to ruin her life. And now, the girl had proven that by facing her in a physical fight. Her mother had always told her to keep an optimistic outlook, yet the only, tiny silver lining she could see was the fact that Raven wouldn't be able to talk to their father about her visits to the boxing ring due to Raven visiting as well. That was it.
Everyone hates me, apparently… Summer thought as she sat down and leaned against a tree. She ran all the way back to where she and Qrow got ready to go boxing, where she'd taken her dress off… My dress! Where did I put it? Summer stumbled upwards and slowly walked forward, her head was still pounding after that beating from Raven. I could've swore I left it near the stream… Summer looked further down the waterway, and she saw a familiar looking boy with a very familiar looking red dress.
"Hey, get off my dress!" Summer yelled as she ran for the boy. The kid stumbled back ran away, pretty fast as well. Summer didn't have the energy to chase after him, so she just settled on getting her dress. "Well, at least I found- oh hey! That dirt stain was finally washed out! Did that kid…?"
Summer looked behind her and the boy was still visible. She decided to go for it. "Hey, come back here tomorrow, okay?" She smiled for a moment before frowning once more. I should clean up my face before heading back home… A splash of water later and the blood was gone. Slipping on her dress, she walked back home and managed to sneak back into her room without anyone noticing. Taking an early sleep, she went down around the afternoon time, and slept the day away. Maybe everything with get a little better tomorrow…
Raven and Qrow arrived back home at the same time. Raven couldn't help but find humor in the way Qrow hadn't been talking to her at all since she had won the battle against Summer.
"You've really fallen for her, haven't you?" Raven said, the same smirk Qrow saw before was still planted on her face.
"More like I'm starting to see who you are," Qrow retorted, turning her way and glaring. His statement wiped the smirk off her face.
"What exactly do you mean?" Raven asked, drawing out each word with anger. Qrow shook his head.
"You know exactly what I mean," Qrow said, walking up the main staircase and into his room. Raven didn't bother chasing him, she didn't need to hear what her brother was going to say about her.
How dare he compare someone like… him! To me! Raven gritted her teeth and slammed her fist against the wall. Compose yourself, Raven… Summer's almost finished. I'll make it winter for her, and that fortune will be mine, and mine alone! She, like her siblings, retired to her room. It was to be another free day tomorrow, and she wasn't going to waste that by being tired.
And that free day came. Once Summer woke up, she finally had good news that her eyes wasn't black and bruised, but swollen. It can just be written off as a disease, she thought as she got her dress ready. She wasn't about to get caught by Raven or Qrow, this would be something she'd do without anyone following her, and she'd try to have at least a little bit of fun. Making sure to tell her father that she was leaving, it was still early once she had stepped out the door.
"It's not far to the stream. I hope the boy showed up there…" Summer mumbled to herself as she made her way there. Surprisingly, the boy sat at the edge of the stream, watching the fish in the water swim about. "Hello there."
"Huh?!" the boy looked up, and Summer could swear she remembered this blonde haired boy from somewhere…
"You… You're that boy who was getting bullied, aren't you?" Summer asked, walking over to sit down next to him.
"Um, yeah… I'm Taiyang Xiao Long."
"Summer Rose, nice to meet you," Summer introduced, smiling. Taiyang looked away with a blush on his face, before looking back at her.
"So, there's a carnival going on over at the village across the stream," Taiyang mentioned.
"Oh really?"
"Yeah, they have clowns and rides and bearded ladies! But, I don't have the money to get in…" Taiyang said, curling up into a ball. Summer frowned at him for a moment before smiling.
"Come on, I have the money to get in," Summer said, making Taiyang smile for the first time in a while.
"R-really? Thank you!"
It was from here that Taiyang became the last light in Summer's cursed life. With everything being taken away from her by Raven, she was forced to find Taiyang, and that was perhaps the greatest thing that could've ever been done. The two had a great time at the carnival, and that wasn't the end to their frequent hang-outs. They'd always meet at the stream, every day, whenever Summer had the chance. They'd become so in love, despite their young age. Summer even carved a heart in a tree and put their initials inside, much to the dismay of Tai.
All good things come to an end, however, and when their most recent day of spending time with each other was over, they'd separated. It was sunset when Taiyang was heading home. Raven had been keeping an eye on Summer ever since she became a much happier person. She found the carved heart in the tree, and found it hilarious how childish it was.
Raven stepped into Taiyang's path, "Hello. Are you Taiyang? You and Summer look happy together…"
Taiyang was suddenly filled with a bad feeling. He took a step back as Raven took one forward.
"I knew there was something wrong. She's happy where she should be miserable."
Taiyang turned around to run, but Raven gripped his arm. She winded up her fist and sent it forward, punching the lights out of Tai. He fell to the ground on all fours, and she proceeded to kick him until he began to spit up blood. "You will stay away from her, or else you'll get this punishment once again."
"You…" Taiyang managed to speak a word through his broken ribs. Raven leaned down with ear out and a smirk on her face.
"Say that again?"
"You… bitch," Taiyang choked out. It took a moment for Raven to process, but she went into a ballistic mode. Dropping onto Taiyang and sitting on his chest, she began to beat his face into a pulp until he was bloodied and bruised and could do nothing else except breathe. She lifted herself off of him and quickly realized what she had done.
No… I went on a childish temper tantrum! Just like… No! I'm not like him! I just… have to control myself… Raven battle with her thoughts as she returned home, her knuckles white and sore.
Summer didn't get the news of her boyfriend's attack until the next day. She'd seen him in the town across the stream, where they had promised to meet up, and he avoided her gaze.
"Taiyang? What's wrong?" Summer asked, seeing the tears in his eyes.
"I'm sorry, Summer… She beat me." Taiyang managed to choke out through his sobs before running off.
"She…?" Summer wondered for a moment, before it hit her. Raven… Raven…! RAVEN!
She took off running as well, but not in Taiyang's direction. She went straight back into the Rose Mansion, hopping over the fountain in the courtyard and bursting through the large front doors.
"RAVEN!" Summer screamed as she burst through the doors. Her red dress was ripped from the fountain jump, but she didn't mind, it gave her more mobility.
"I wouldn't use my name lightly, if I were you," Raven said, standing up from a common chair in the main hall.
"This fight ends now! You won't hurt him again!" Summer said, dashing straight toward Raven.
"So, you saw your precious Taiyang, yes? And now you take revenge with your fists…" Raven said, smugly.
"You won't insult him like that!" Summer yelled as she threw a punch, with Raven immediately ducked under. Raven brought her elbow up and it collided right into Summer's face.
"You want more of when we boxed, eh?!" Raven said, before pushing Summer's back into the wall and turning away. Everything suddenly slowed down, and began to process through Summer's mind.
I can't beat her… But if I lose here, then I'll spend the rest of my life living in Raven's shadow! But most of all, I have to fight for Tai's honor! Summer stood back up and put her fists up.
I'm going to pulverize her, and I'll do it fair and square… That way, Summer will know beyond a doubt that she can't beat me! Raven threw her black dress coat away, revealing her toned arms. Not in a fight, and not in life!
Summer leaped towards Raven, and sent a punch aimed for her head. Raven blocked it with both of her arms and kicked right at Summer's ribs. She doesn't have as much muscle as me, this'll be easy!
Suddenly, Summer didn't recoil from the kick. She burst forward afterwards and gripped Raven's head and shoulder.
"How'd you-?!" Raven couldn't finish her question, as she was interrupted by Summer headbutting Raven back. She stumbled for a moment, giving her a chance. Summer continued with a flurry of jabs, hooks, and finishing it off with an uppercut, which spread Raven's blood all over the room, including on the stone mask. The stone mask activated, shooting out spikes, causing it to fall from its hook on the wall.
Summer looked back at it for a moment, but turned toward Raven once more when she began to whimper.
"You…!" Raven hopped back to her feet, and pulled a knife from her pocket. Summer took a step back, but Raven was to quick. She jumped forward to kill Summer, but something grabbed her from behind.
"Ah!" Raven yelped as he was pinned to the ground.
"I'm not about to let you kill someone, let alone our step-sister," Qrow said, pinning her to the ground.
"T-thanks, Qrow," Summer said, stumbling backwards.
"Summer!" Qrow yelled her name once she fell back, but she only fainted. When he looked back at Raven, she had done the same. The moment he heard Archer Rose's door open, Qrow swiped the knife from Raven's hand and slipped it into his pocket, and moved away from the both of them.
"What… What happened here?!" Archer asked, seeing both Summer and Raven bloodied and fainted.
"I, uh… I think they fought, and wore each other out," Qrow explained, trying to make it seem like he wasn't a part of it. Archer sighed and ordered the both of them to be moved to their rooms.
"I shall punish them later. For now, they should rest…" Archer Rose said, rubbing his chin.
Qrow looked out the window, Dammit… If this is how we are now, I can't imagine how we'll be in the future...
The next day was different. The next seven years…
They were different.
The stone mask's activation was forever in Summer and Raven's minds…
Seven Years Passed…
{- TO BE CONTINUED