Chapter 2- A Slight Eclipse of Better Judgment
-Two months later-
As much as I love Vale, Vacuo, and Atlas, my favorite place in Remnant is Mistral. I love seeing all of the traditional and modern culture that has harmoniously mixed here. As such, I was dressed in jeans, a black tee, and my trench coat. But, I had sent the Manta over here with Last Rite, my longsword-sniper, so I was stuck with a trench knife and a bull-barrel magnum revolver. Just after stepping off of the boat that brought me here, I could already smell the fish market. I made my way down the pier to the fish stands. As I got near the stands, the stand owners started to try to convince me to buy their stock. Of course, me being a faunus, I could easily tell which fish was fresh and which fish just looked fresh. I stopped at a stand that looked old and was obviously in need of repairs. I examined each fish closely and looked up to where the vender was supposed to be.
"Um. Hello?" I asked into the empty hut. There was no response. I took a deep sniff from where I was standing. I could smell the fish and a human scent. They were definitely in there. I walked around to the back of the little shack-stand and went in the back door. I saw the pony-eared vendor whose cobalt hair was just past her shoulders. She was curled up under the counter, and she was covered up with a blanket. I'm super awkward in these kinds of interactions. I want to let her sleep, but I really would like one of her fish. I took a few moments to decide if I should wake the girl or not. Once I finally made up my mind, I sat next to the girl and poked her gently in the side. The girl's eye snapped open and she started smiling. She looked over at me, and her smile seemed to get bigger.
"Why, hello there!" The girl spoke declared in the happiest voice I had ever heard. I think I made a massive mistake. I scooted a few inches away from the girl.
"I-I, um, just wanted to buy a fish, maybe two." I stuttered. Sometimes happy people scare me, and this one of those times. The girl gave me a confused look, then realized she was in her fish stand.
"Indeed! I must've fallen asleep after hauling my last catch in. My apologies." The girl spoke with an air of formality. I shrugged.
"It's not a problem." I spoke with indifference. The girl crawled out from under the counter, over me, and hopped up to her feet. The blanket she was wrapped up in fell away, exposing her plane white tee and cobalt panties that were slightly obscured by her cobalt tail. I laughed, and it just spilled out of me like water out of a fountain. The girl spun around and gave me a confused look. My laughter stopped abruptly when my eyes saw the rather large bulge in the girl's panties.
"What?" She asked inquisitively. Unable to speak, I pointed at what I was looking at. The girl looked down and covered back up with the blanket. The girl's face was basically consumed in a massive blush at this point.
"I-I am so sorry about this." She apologized. I stood up, walked past her, and stood with my face to the door.
"It's fine, I guess. Just changed my view on a few things in life." I spoke unusually casually as if I hadn't just seen another "myth". Jeez, if this is how my life is going to go, I might just see the day that Clu comes back. I could hear the girl moving around and a light turned on.
"It is safe to look now." The girl spoke calmly. I turned to find that the girl had dressed. She was now in black dress pants, a black dress shirt with a cobalt bow tie and vest on, and some dress shoes that looked like they were designed to be all-purpose shoes. It wasn't until now that I realized how tall this girl really was. I stood at 5' 10" and it appeared that she had at least eight inches on me. I was so distracted by her height that I almost didn't notice that she offered her hand for a handshake. I took her hand and shook it firmly.
"Oh, um, I am Cloud Prism." I said, snapping out of deep thought.
"The name's Luna, Luna Midnight," Luna started as she shook my hand with a firm grip, "What can I do for you?" I gave Luna a most unimpressed look.
"I came for a fish, maybe two." I said flatly. Luna paused a moment, then she suddenly seemed twice as happy as before.
"Oh! Silly me. May I ask you to step around to the front?" She asked politely. I nodded once and exited her little shack and came around to the front of it.
"Now, which one catches thine eye?" Luna spoke almost like royalty. I took a moment to examine each fish. Then I spotted the fish I wanted; it was a trout that was about 40 centimeters in length. I pointed to the trout and Luna's lightning-like hands snagged it up and wrapped it in paper. Her speed caught me off guard and I flinched, thinking that she was making a swipe at me.
"Jeez, that… that surprised me." I blurted out. Luna simply smiled and chuckled.
"Sorry, I just recently finished going through huntress training." Luna informed me. I pointed to a second trout of roughly the same length. But this time, when Luna's hand sped for it, I caught her hand.
"Hm. Almost faster than me. I like that." I thought aloud. Then I noticed Luna's hand was shaking. I looked up to see her staring at her hand and a noticeable blush on her face.
"Luna? Remnant to Luna?" I said with concern. She snapped back to reality and jerked her hand away. I handed the fish she had reached for and she wrapped it at a slow pace. She seemed lost in her thoughts. As she handed me the two fish, I voiced my concern, "Luna, what's wrong?" Luna gave me a blank look, but she wouldn't make eye contact. I took the fish and put them in my pocket. Luna remained silent. I took a moment to plan my next action. After a moment, I reached over the counter and grabbed her shoulders. "Luna. Talk to me." I said, my voice filled with concern. I really hope I didn't trigger a bad memory. After another moment, she finally spoke.
"No one has ever caught me before." She said softly. Oh, good, I didn't trigger a memory, I just shattered her self-esteem.
"Hey, now, I've been doing what I do for years. I have time to quicken my reflexes." I said, trying to console her. Luna finally looked me in the eyes.
"That doesn't change that I don't even deserve to… N-Nevermind." Luna began, but stuttered at the end. It dawned on me. She may have been raised in an honor-based family. That changes a few things.
"Oh, I see. That's where you are wrong, Moon. You are a trained and noble huntress, but I am a Beacon drop out who kills humans and Grimm alike for money." I admitted, but not too loudly because we were in public. Luna paused for a second and seemed to be reaching under her counter. No, I must just be imagining things.
"I-Is this all true? About the killing?" Luna asked, clearly nervous. I nodded slowly. Quick as lightning, Luna whipped out a 45 cm butterfly sword and held it to my throat. I slowly lifted my hands from her shoulders and held them in the air.
"Shit. I wasn't ready for that." I said with surprise.
"You will wait here with me until the police arrive." She spat coldly. I began reaching into my coat. "Stop. I will slice your throat." Luna warned. I gave her an unimpressed look.
"Do you want me to pay you for the fish?" I asked. Luna seemed put off by the question. She opened her mouth but didn't say anything for a few moments.
"Well played, murderer. Just don't try to do anything to get yourself killed. I'd hate to see it." Luna admitted. Did she really not want to see me die? Usually, people would like nothing more than to see me hang. Could it be that she actually wanted me to buy her stock? As silly as it sounds, it is a possibility. I grabbed a 20 lien note and set it on her counter.
"I am sorry, but I live on the edge of death." I said cryptically. This seemed to set Luna to thinking as she used her free hand to grab the money on the counter. This is where I work my escape magic. Since she was distracted by both the money and my statement, I took a quick step back and activated my semblance. I had to duck out of the way still because Luna made a slash at where I was.
"Hey!" Luna shouted, clearly frustrated. She flipped her butterfly sword so she was holding in in a reverse grip and pointed what appeared to be an attached pistol in my general direction. Carefully, I leaned over the counter and picked-pocketed her scroll. I quickly copied her number and put the scroll back before she could notice. Having the information that I wanted, I walked away.
I felt like such a huge jerk. I let my semblance deactivate and I kept walking. I walked into the town and just kept going, lost in thought. What could I have done better? I probably could've withheld the bounty hunter part. By the Maidens, my day has just been horrible so far. First, I was on that boat, which was packed with so many racists, and now I just screwed up a potential friendship. On the bright side, I still had those fish. I turned my attention to my surroundings, looking for a place to sit. Since I managed to wander into a park, there were plenty of benches. I sat down on the nearest bench and pulled out one of the paper-wrapped fish. After carefully unwrapping it, bit the head off and chewed it.
"Oh! Oh! That is absolutely disgusting! First you admit to murder, and now this!" A familiar voice exclaimed. I turned toward the voice as I took another bite of the fish. I waved innocently at Luna and patted the empty spot next to me on the bench. She reluctantly sat down.
I swallowed my bite and began explaining, "Sorry, I guess. I am not as evil as you may think, just… different." I said just before taking another bite. Luna looked like she was getting sick just watching me eat the fish. Yes, it is raw.
"Different is an understatement." Luna said as she averted her eyes. I gave an amused grunt.
"It may just be. So, are you here to arrest me? Turn me into the authorities?" I asked, nonchalantly as I finished up the fish.
"I should, but I know your name. A certain Cloud Prism had handled a Seadragon problem for me a while back." Luna hesitantly admitted. I searched my memories for such a contract; I found that memory, and I remember it damned beast was well hidden and crafty. I nearly lost my arm.
"Ah… That was you?" I asked, slightly surprised. She nodded and turned back to face me. I pulled out the other fish and unwrapped it before addressing the elephant in the room.
"Yes, I do kill humans, that is no lie. However," I paused a moment to let that word sink in, "I do not kill innocents." Luna's face shifted from confliction to confusion.
"What does that mean?" Luna asked.
"I only kill people who are active criminals or are corrupt officials, police officers, etcetera." I informed Luna as I chomped down on the fish's head. Luna visibly shivered.
"I-I suppose that I would need proof." Luna sounded like she was about to get sick.
"You could talk to this girl who I was recently hired to kill. I actually ended up protecting her from other hitmen. That should tell you something." I said just before I gulped down the last 10 centimeters of trout. Luna seemed to relax a bit, seeing that I was done eating.
"That was easily the grossest thing I've seen." Luna said, almost choking. I gave a shy smile.
"Sorry, Moon, I was hungry and cooked meat doesn't agree with my stomach. Another curse of mine." I admitted. I ran a hand through my hair, feeling my horns, which got covered up by my unruly hair again.
"What kind of…? Oh, you must be a faunus." Luna pieced together my issue quite fast. I like that about her. I opened my mouth to confirm her assumption, but she kept talking. "Wait, let me guess. Hawk? No. Scorpion? No. What other faunus could have this issue?" Luna guessed as she slipped into deep thought.
"I am actually a dragon faunus. That should explain a few things about me." I said quietly, but loud enough for her to hear.
"Really!? I thought they died out?" Luna asked, shocked. I was surprised that she even knew that my kind had previously existed.
"Well, they did. I am quite certain that I am the last of my bloodline." I said a little louder. I mean, we were in a park and there weren't really any people here.
"Which bloodline?" Luna asked eagerly. Either she loves the subject or she wants to do something with me. I know I shouldn't be trusting some random huntress I just met with my life story, but then again… who would actually believe that the dragon faunus line still lives?
"Out of the Seven dominate bloodlines, I am from the Elder Blood." I spoke proudly. Yes, seven bloodlines: Elder, Moon, Sun, Dust (the dirt kind, not the energy source), Wind, Ichor, and Demon. All of the blood lines were well respected by each other and all others who were not of dragon blood. Luna's face went from eager to an expression of disbelief.
"You know… the dragon lines have been gone, so how do I know you are, not only a dragon faunus, but of the most powerful bloodline?" Luna asked skeptically. I held up a finger, telling her to wait a minute. I searched deep down for the will power to actively hurt myself, and somehow found it. A sharp, burning pain erupted in my chest as I inhaled deeply. I aimed my face to the concrete walkway a few feet from the bench, so I wouldn't hurt Luna or myself. Then, I embraced the burning and coughed. Yes, I coughed. However, when I coughed, a fireball leaped from my mouth to the spot I had aimed at. Really the only bad thing, other than that it hurt like hell, is that my fire coughs burn like napalm. That's what happens when the venom that helps make the flame is more like oil than a proper flame venom. In short, it is only supposed to urn for a second, unless fueled by an outside factor. Luna leaped off of the bench and backed several feet away from me.
"Now you are scared? Not when I vanished? Come on, come back and have a seat." I spoke teasingly. Luna shook her head vigorously.
"Nuh-uh. I am terrified of dragons! There is no way you can get me to get close!." Luna shouted. Well, damn.
"I'd like to point out that I can't breathe fire, only cough, because it hurts a lot." I told her. She appeared to be weighing her choices. After a moment, she came back and sat down. "Thank you." I said simply. Then my scroll buzzed. I pulled it out and checked it. It was another contract:
Target Name: Luna Midnight
Location: Mistral
Pay: 4,000 lien
Deadline: Before natural death
Notes: She just constantly messes up my business. Removal of competition is needed.
This will be an awkward conversation. "If it is important, I can go." Luna spoke, with what sounded like a slight tone of disappointment.
"Actually, it is about you." I quickly admitted and showed her the contract. "What the hell? Who the hell would issue a hit on me?" Luna shouted. I motioned for her to quiet down, and she quickly realized that she just shouted that she had a bounty on her head in a public place. "It sounds like a fellow fish seller." I reasoned. Luna put her hand to her chin and thought carefully about the people she worked near. She seemed to have figured it out as she stood up. "I am going to go deal with this issue. Let me give you my number-" I cut Luna short. "Don't bother, I already have it. And before you ask, invisibility semblance." I spoke as if I hadn't violated her scroll. She was about to go off on me, but I pointed in the general direction of the docks and she bowed and trotted toward the docks. With another friend made and another incident over with, I decided to go find my Manta.
I was resting in the backseat of the Manta when my scroll buzzed. Another contract? No, it was a message, from Luna. Wait. How did she get my number? On second thought, that doesn't matter right now. What did matter was the message:
"Hey, Cloud, sorry about swiping your scroll, but you did do it to me. Anyway, Would you mind swinging by my place for a bit? See you later."
Attached was her address. I suppose I should go. It would be rude to not go. I replied with "on my way" and crawled into the driver seat. I started the engine and drove to the address. When I arrived at the apartment complex, I did a double take. The building was clearly high end. I parked and got out. Damn. Just looking at this place made me wish I had this kind of money. I walked up two flights of stair and arrived at the apartment number I was given. Before I could knock, Luna opened the door.
"That's extremely creepy, Luna." I blurted. Luna shrugged.
"And turning invisible isn't?" Luna pointed out.
"Fair enough." I admitted. Luna stepped out of the doorway and motioned for me to come in. I nodded my thanks and walked in. The first thing I saw when I entered the main living area was the massive TV.
"Luna, how do you afford this?" I asked in awe. Luna giggled at me.
"I have a roommate, that's how." Luna explained. That was at least a believable reason. I took off my trench coat and looked around for a place to put it.
"Here, I'll take it and you can make yourself comfortable." Luna offered. I am having a hard time telling if she is buttering me up or if this was just how she was. If she offers tea, instead of a general drink offer, she has to be buttering me up. I took a seat on the couch and was untying my shoes off when Luna came back.
"Would you like some tea?" Luna asked. I paused a moment.
"Is there something you want from me?" I asked, my suspicion obvious. Luna gave a blank stare.
"I don't seek anything from you. I haven't anything but water and tea." Luna said, slipping into a formal tone. I slipped my shoes off and set them beside the couch.
"In that case, I'll have some tea, please. Any kind will do. And, out of curiosity, why did you invite me here?" I asked. Luna opened her mouth, but closed it and went to go make the tea. While she was out of the room, I examined the various ornaments and decorations in the room: a bookshelf with no spare room, a glass case with a scroll inside, a china cabinet with tea sets inside, and a wall mount with a pair of butterfly swords that had pistol attachments on the pommels. One of them looked too familiar.
Soon, Luna came back with two cups of tea. She handed one to me, then sat next to me.
"Thank you." I said to Luna as I blew on my tea. Luna only smiled. Then she turned on the tv and took a sip of tea. The channel that came on was the Vale news channel.
"-ight we have uncovered new details about the gruesome fight that occurred at Junior's Club in downtown Vale. An eyewitness had previously given their account of quote, "some chick when mad and started killing people." However, since then, A new witness by the name of Alpha, a frequenter of the club, came forth and told a completely different story. Considering that the fight broke out with her as the focus, her story, though far fetched, seems more likely than our first account given to us. Alpha said that a hit had been issued on her and two different hit men groups came after her. However, one of the parties was there to assess whether or not it would be a justified killing. Seeing an innocent in distress, the lone hit woman, only known as Clu, stepped into help out, but also ended up as a target. At least until one of the hit men from the other group broke Clu's locket. This apparently caused the hit woman to go insane and kill all of the hit men with her hands and teeth. Since Alpha has come forth with this version of story, more and more come to back her up. So, who is this vigilante who seems to li-" The newscaster, Lisa Lavender spoke indifferently until I grabbed the remote and shut off the TV.
"I am sorry, but I refuse to relive that moment again." I spoke bitterly as I began to remember that night. Luna looked at me with a shocked expression.
"That was you?" She asked. I nodded and looked into my tea.
"I am not proud of it. I didn't intend to do it. To understand what happened, I must tell you a little more about me. Will you hear my curse?" I asked, already feeling my mood dip. Luna set her cup down and focused on me.
"A trait common to those of the Elder blood is sharing half their soul with a dragon and vise versa. While the dragon and faunus pair both live, the faunus's semblance is their own. However, if the dragon dies, the faunus absorbs the soul halves that the dragon holds, thus obtaining a second semblance. If the faunus dies, the dragon doesn't receive the soul halves. What happened that night was my secondary semblance being unleashed. This locket," I held up my locket, "holds the only picture I have of Clu, my dragon half. And her semblance was to lose the feeling of pain and go on a blood lust fueled killing spree. Don't worry, it only happens when someone or something I love is badly damaged or destroyed." I finished my story and tucked my locket back into my shirt. Luna slowly nodded her head. What the hell did that mean.
"You had the… luck to see my abnormality, and it is my guess that because of that, I also have two semblances. So I understand that part of you." Luna related. She also has a second semblance?
"What are yours?" I asked without thinking. Luna smirked.
"I can blind people at will and summon fire. Hence my blades. Golden blade to represent day, silver blade to represent night, and both are equipped with burst pistols." Luna spoke proudly. I have to give this girl credit. Now I am considering asking her to accompany me on my journeys. I mean, Luna is the very image I have of a perfect companion, so far anyway. I set my cup next to hers down on the coffee table.
"Luna, how fixed are you on being a huntress?" I asked suddenly. The question definitely caught Luna off guard. "I… um… I don't know if I could do what you do." Luna stated. Damn. She is too good. I nodded and started to put my shoes back on.
"I understand. Don't apologize, it's fine." I said as I laced up my shoes. Luna seemed to be panicking internally.
"I need to let my roommate know, actually I don't. Just wait for me." Luna said. Then she hopped up and retrieved my coat and handed it to me.
"I shall." I told her as I got up and left. I walked to my Manta and tosses my coat into the back seat. I sat on the hood of the car as I waited for Luna. A few minutes later she came out with a small bag for herself.
"Ready to challenge the world?" I asked. Luna chuckled.
"Stop being cliche and let's get going before I change my mind." She bantered back.
This is going to be one hell of a ride.
