Lovely Wintergreen


Bees hummed in and out of the blossomed Pennyroyal. As if inhaling its minty smell and continuing on. The Cherry tree stood utterly still, the statue in a living museum where no leaf dared to fall. To the citizens of Vacuo, this place had a name another plot of land way of the beaten path. To a young girl named Lulu it was called home.

Clouds gathered in the sapphire sky above, the slow moving clouds shifting into a kindly, weathered face then stretching to form a herd of grazing sheep. Lulu, like the child she was smiled like being read a bedtime story, tucked under a blanket of warm sunlight.

The Garden of Evergreen, a magical place for her people. Would have seemed just like any other meadow to a wandering traveler, but there was magic in this place. Figuratively, and literally. From the brambles or blackberries hugging the wall, to the small cloister of strawberries sitting around the central tree. Butterflies hovered over the clusters of white daisies, their wings shimmering like diamonds in the sky.

Wisps of air raked through the plush meadow grasses, stirring up the scent of Sweet Alyssum and Gardenia. Lulu held the little clay pot of tea in one hand. Her feet kept close to the stepping stone path. A strand of steam hissed free from the pot, leaving it the scent of rose petals. As she approached the great Cherry tree that grew from the Gardens epicenter. A woman hummed underneath a low hanging branch.

"Goodmorning, my Sweetpea." The woman called out, her eyes still closed as she maintained her meditative stance.

"Goodmorning Mother. I brought the tea." Lulu sat directly in front of her mother mimicking her stance. She poured two cups of tea, blowing gently on its surface she took an eager sip from the cup. Its taste was unlike any other tea, sweet without any additives. Her mothers eyes opened outstretching her arms high above to grasp the fruit from the branch. Grabbing hold of a large cherry. Handing it to the little girl.

"Savor the taste, my Sweetpea." And so she did, once her teeth slowly bit down. The swill of natural flavor enveloped her tongue, the fruit's flavor - at first intense overwhelming her senses slowly dulled to become what her mother beckoned her to savor.

"Lovely…" She mulled taking deep breaths through her nose. Inhale. Exhale. The scents of all the flowers combined made it hard for her to tell the difference. At the center of the Garden everything came together, unlike any other corner of the garden where each area had a particular scent. This did not.

"Would you mind lighting the incense, my Sweet Pea?"

Lulu started in slow circular motions. Her hands rose like the wind on either side, perfectly horizontal, they slowly moved in circular motions each hand moving in the opposite direction. Forming a perfect circle, Lulu strained closing her eyes to focus on the circle. The muscles in her arms tensed, cold sweat threatened to break the little girl. Her grass green eyes flitted open. The lines slowly began to form within the circle. The lines contorted forming words and shapes she had yet to comprehend.

Lulu reached behind her, removing the bow that held the bento box to her clothing. Retrieving it, she flipped the latch the box swiveling open. Carefully taking a wooden vile from the box she popped the cork, with a swish and flick from her wrist a small cloud of red dust swirled out as if being sucked into the almost magical circle. The symbol slowly churned turning red to fit the dust it had absorbed. Lulu focused her eyes on the candles. In a swift motion she clicked her finger and a flame sparked seemingly out of nowhere igniting the incense. The symbol dissipated as Lulu lost focus.

"Excellent, my Sweet Pea. You're getting stronger every day!"

"Thanks Mummy! Daddy and the Chief have been training me really hard though… I wish they'd ease up." The six year old Lulu gave a weak smile, her words were honest. Her bones ached and muscles weak from the rigor that was her training. Her head felt woozy and nose bleeds were a daily occurrence. Her Mother had an apologetic look on her face, she stroked her daughters dark green hair, combing it with her fingers.

"I know my dear. You have to trust that everything your father does. Is in your best interest, my Sweet Pea." Her mother's words brought back that woozy feeling, but it was soothing. The smell of incense and the taste of tea always helped clear her head. "Speaking of which - shouldn't you get back to him. He's waiting for you, Sweet Pea."

Lulu obediently finished her tea. Drinking it till the last drop, with her mother's permission she picked a few more cherries from the tree. Wandering with raw sweetness in hand. A smaller version of her circle hovered above hand, she would place a single cherry. Watch it spiral then come out a reddish juice. She drank it eagerly savoring the taste like her mother said.

Her village wasn't small. Contrary to popular belief, people could exist outside of the four great cities. Those thankful to have enough natural barriers to prevent stampedes of Grimm from ravaging the towns, thrived. Her 'village' so to speak was the size of four city blocks. Dotted with houses, farms and husbandry. Only the simplest things required to survive. It had a small number of warriors manning the wall, but this was merely a show of force. It was a rare occurrence to be attacked. You see, the Village was built on top of a jagged mesa. With only one entry point that could only be opened by the chief of the village. It was called The Meadow by travelers and explorers and to Lulu's people it was called Hochgarten, or Highgarden in the common tongue.

Everybody Lulu passed had the grandest of smiles - eyes wide and full of expression. She too had a similar simper, the people would wave at her with fondness and respect. Something a girl of her age didn't quite comprehend. It was in her eyes everybody was kind, she had yet to understand her own importance to the village.

Lulu had reached her destination, to the various cultures of Remnant this type of building had many names. Some would call it a temple, or a church. Yet while the building had a spiritual connection like no other in the region. This was not a place to worship gods and deities. It held no religious title. More a place of self enlightenment. Where people could discover themselves through the reading of their aura and other practices. For now, it was Lulu's home.

Two acolytes opened the grand bell adorned doors for Lulu. They ringed and chimed to signal someones entrance. Inside was a hall, the smell of incense wafted within, smoky with a hint of hickory. The people inside all wore androgynous white masks, this was was not only to keep identity hidden to the wearer, but to protect that individuals identity making it theirs, and theirs alone.

Lulu was escorted past the masses of meditation, she was led through a second door. Much larger than the one outside. Across the door was four heavy chains that coiled around the doors mechanism. One acolyte stepped forward using his semblance he make the chains unravel, and the door slowly creaked open.

Inside was a room smaller than the main hall. If gazed upon from a birds eye view. A symbol identical to the one Lulu made in the garden, was painted across the main floor. In the center a man old and wizened, meditating. The door was closed and the lights from outside died out. Only dim flickers burning from the stout candles illuminated the room.

The man was old, far older than anyone else in the Village. He was its chief. Short, back hunched, and skin as wrinkled as the cracks in the stone floor. He was completely bald with a tattoo of that same circle on his forehead. His white mustache was long and thin falling down towards his chin with an even longer goatee growing from there. Lulu felt heavy of heart but she reluctantly joined her Master in meditation. He opened his eyes, cracked his neck and looked at the smaller girl.

"Whats with the long face. You're bringing everyone down!" He heaved bursting into a fit of laughter he grabbed a green stone and began gnawing on it.

"Sorry Master Boomi I'm just a little tired." Lulu gave him a weak smile.

"Well how about a slow lesson then. That way you can feel tired and learn!" He held out his hands and in an instant the same symbols that formed from Lulu's semblance formed from his.

"Do you know what this is?" He asked showing her the two rotating symbols.

"Of course its our Alchimia Magna. You know I know that, right?"

"Of course I do. But do you really know what it is?!" He paused leaning in close till he was eye to eye with the young girl. She was about to open her mouth when. "Didn't think so! This is Alchemy the act of transmuting something into something else. Agreed." Lulu nodded. "It holds great power, its a seemingly magical process of transformation, creation, or combination. Greater than anything else I've ever seen before. But we follow very strict rules. Do you know what those rules are?"

"We cannot create something out of nothing." Lulu perked an eyebrow. Waiting for her Masters approval.

"That's one. Another is we cannot create life. The last but by far the most important. Is that we must follow the rules of Equivalent Exchange. What we transmute must be equal to what is created. We can't turn a gram of steel into a ton of gold."

"I know all of this Master. Why are you telling me all of this again?"

"Because its important, you must never try and break these rules. They are rules for a reason after all! Now how about we try something fun!" He stood up ripping of his robe. Underneath was a chiseled body of perfection, abs and muscles as far as the eyes could see… and shorts of course. He clapped his hands together then placed them carefully on the ground. A small pillar of rock responded jutting out of the earth. Lulu mimicked his action, when her hands touched the ground nothing happened.

"Feel the earth, if you do not possess the will, it will not move. Have conviction and force the very earth to bend at your touch."

Lulu stood up, this time when she repeated the motion. Her feet took a stronger stance, her body was rigid and tough as if taking the very properties of the earth into herself. She could feel the transmutation circle encompassing her foot. She stamped it down hard, feeling the energy transfer towards her feet and into the earth. A pillar of rock responded to her power, crashing through the wall and out onto the streets below.

"Maybe a little, restraint. Is in order." Her Master clapped marveling at the power of his young apprentice.

"Sorry about the wall Master Boomi." Lulu pouted, this wasn't the first time one of his lessons destroyed a portion of the room.

"Its quite alright my dear. Here I'll fix it." Walking towards the wreckage. He repeated the same motion he made earlier. This time it was slower, he moved the transmutation circles across the hole, it hummed and glowed as if singing to him. Gently he placed his hands against the wall, the walls began shifting as if moving on their own they sealed the gap. The stone where Boomi's hands were looked warped and shifted.

"You see, with our power we don't just have to destroy. Like what many people in the village see it as."

"You'll have to teach me that someday." Lulu jeered, she loved watching Master Boomi. His skill in Alchemy was unprecedented. He had amassed so much knowledge over his years that Lulu could only dream to learn.

"I will, but only when you teach me something in return. Knowledge, for knowledge…~" He was about to continue but Lulu groaned.

"I get it. Equivalent Exchange." She said in her signature mocking tone.

"You learn fast. Now. How about we expand on something you already know. Using Dust." Lulu perked right up after hearing that, something she was a master at. Raw materials hurt her brain.

"Are you finally going to teach me how to use the Gauntlets?!" Lulu squealed, ever since she started training, she always wished to use the famed and ancient gauntlets of alchemists. Of course over the generations each Alchemist had added their own personal touch to the weapons.

Boomi moved his way over to the center of the room. He traced his fingers across the lines that etched into the floor. Each one glowing at the stroke of his hand. Soon the whole circle was fully lit. The center piece opened up, a small chest began to rise. The box was old and dusty, it had no lock and was made from simple drift wood. It looked ancient, it had rusted hinges holding it together, with rickety nails jutting out from the wooden planks.

He opened the box and inside was a varying assortment of gear. All items of clothing, from shoes, skirts dresses and shirts. Boomi retrieved a pair of shoes and gloves along with a green kimono. The trio of objects were highly futuristic, something that eclipsed the technology of the town. The gloves were large made entirely of metal with small slots on each finger in which empty glass cylinders were placed. The shoes were the same, except they only had space for a single but much larger cylinder.

The Kimono, was old fashioned in design. But was lined with varying metal contraptions it looked slightly like chainmail across the torso and chest, towards the arms the sleeves were long mechanical contraptions hidden inside the stitching. Their purpose was unknown to Lulu but she could tell she would learn soon enough.

"From now on, you will be training with these. Much like I did when I had them made."

"You trained in a Kimono?" She stifled laughing as her Master's face burned red.

"No! These are the weapons and robes of our ancestors passed down through generations, so girls like you can learn! I have them washed, don't worry." He let out a large huff of steam as he regained his old composure.

Lulu slipped her feet into the metal shoes, they were heavy and much too big for her. Same with the gloves and kimono. They clanked around uncomfortably on her body, and they grew heavy after a short term of wearing them.

"They're too big, and too heavy!" She burst, screaming at Boomi who was startled by her sudden outpour.

"Give them a second, and the weight you will just have to learn to deal with." As he spoke, Lulu felt the clothes begin to shift.

The metal was morphing, compressing itself to fit her body perfectly. The gloves began to expand further down her forearm distributing the weight further down her arms. The shoes became smaller and more delicate looking. Soon enough they all fit her as well as her own clothes.

"This doesn't change the fact that they are still heavy!" Lulu punched Boomi on the shoulder making him cackle.

"I know, but power doesn't come without hard work."


Outside her kitchen window, the flowers glistened as the early winter snowfall possessed a light of its own; when the sky darkened towards a quite evening, an unearthly, etiolation remained upon the winter landscape, while still the soft flakes floated down. This lovely girl, poses that same inner light, so that you, too, would have thought she was made of snow.

Her hair a stark contrast, as if reflecting the smothered veridian of the snow covered pine needles. A green so full of life it was the polar opposite of that same, unearthly, pale that remained on the landscape. She wore it half neat, half wild, an expression of her inner desire to rebel. A lopsided hightail that was tied on the right side of her head, with two long strands framing her left. A small red flower held nestled into her hightail.

As a young woman, Lulu had aged with grace, tall, elegant, a monarchs beauty instilled within just a decade. At the growing age of sixteen, It was the day she would take her Masters place, as the Leader of Highgarden. The day was slow, as night approached, Lulu felt a slight pang in her heart, the idea that he would be gone and she would remain, sickened her. That he was cast aside just because it was her time. She wished the years could rewind so she could cherish every minute, hour, day, week, month and year that she spent with him. It wasn't the type of love between a boy and a girl. Master Boomi was family, more so than her own parents. All she ever wanted was to make her own choices. He supported this, once she was of age. He was supposed to help her escape this place. But he passed before he could see that vision realized

"Lulu my Sweet pea. Would you kindly finish up and get dressed. You have a long night ahead of you."

"Yes Mother."

It was with those words Lulu felt her worries disappear. She quickly finished drying the dishes and set out for her bedroom, she felt her mothers grin. It was the kind of smile that passed off its joy, an empathetic smile. Lulu mimicked that exact smile as she walked.

Once inside her bedroom, she saw the dress that had been laid out for her. Once undressed she stood there almost in a trance, she put the dress on. The fabric was smooth, but it itched her delicate skin causing her momentary discomfort. She smoothed it out over her body and the dress felt natural. All her clothes gave her discomfort. All except the Kimono which she kept in the temple. She liked to wear it when she was alone, it cleared her head allowing her to think.

A knock on her door, three swift taps, then a blunt entrance.

"Lulu my dear, are you ready?" Her fathers face seemed a little off, as if the lines forming his face were made of waves moving along his features like the bending contours on maps. This lasted for only a few momentary seconds before Lulu's sight worked itself out.

"Yes Father."

Her obedience was rewarded with a hug, her father was praising her. Lulu must of zoned out, because it all just sounded like noise. Her nerves returned and her hands felt clammy. She was scarred. The entire town would look to her to defend it. The pressure weighed down on her like a ball and chain tied to both ankles.

"Whats the matter my dear?"

"I'm scared."

"There is no reason to be afraid, my Sweet pea. Everything we have ever wanted in life is about to come true."

Like the chain had come loose, she felt her fears slip away. It was true, his throne was everything she ever wanted. She wanted to be queen, jewelry covering every inch of her body, with emeralds on her hip and rubies on her neck, like an angelic slit throat. A crown on her head and the hands of her subjects at her heel. Reaching for the scraps she wouldn't dare feed to rats. The moans of the dejected and living dead in her ears, the smell of fire and ash in her nostrils - and finally the taste of sweet, raw, blood to fill her tongue.

Lulu shook her head.

Oh! What horrible thoughts!

She shook her head once more.

"Sunshine, daffodils and daisies!" Lulu cheered jumping on the spot.

"Come now, everybody is waiting for us."

Escorted out onto the snow covered stone. The path is white and unmarked like a spilled bolt of bridal cloth. The snow had brought down all the leaves and berries, she couldn't have tasted their immaculate features, which is what she truly missed the most when winter came.

"Did you know some flowers actually grow better in the cold?"

Her father seemed to ignore those words, his mind was set and his eyes focused. A man with a plan as one would say.

"Something about evolution Master Boomi used to say…~"

He hushed her, there was something in his eye that flared whenever she mentioned Boomi. As if the very mention brought back angered memories and repulsive notions. Yet as his acrimony faded away, she saw small hints of regret that cemented his features. His arm was a little too tight around hers. She thought he didn't want to let her go, but their was something possessive in his grip. It made her the slightest bit nervous, but his smile rinsed those feelings away like the washing of the tides.

It was true, the path never once escalated upwards, yet Lulu felt her lungs heaving and her heart heavy with fatigue. The path was spinning, and so was her mind. Her feet moved not of their own accord, but of her father's, matching his pace and synchronizing their footing. She tripped but was hoisted quickly back onto her feet. Her father was in a no nonsense mood. He wanted her coronation over and done with. Probably so they could go home.

It wasn't until Lulu was just outside the temple, that she saw everybody. Her eyes seemed to snap back into focus. The people of her village had gathered, following close behind her and staying out of her way. She saw no expression on their faces, it wasn't that they had none. Its that her eyes showed them as blank, expressionless beings devoid of all their facial features, a smooth surface across all of them. She bowed, and her people returned that bow.

Her father helped Lulu turn, guiding her up the steps like the Shepard leading the sheep to the slaughter. The temple doors opened wide for her, and the monks took it from there. Leaving her father outside, Lulu was guided back towards the room banded by chains. As they slid loose the monks retreated back into all corners of the temple. Giving Lulu all the privacy she needed.

"Remember. The avatars will judge you, and give what they deem you worthy of." A puff of white powder blew into her face, a narcotic of the monks concoction. Designed to create powerful and vivid hallucinations. She inhaled the concoction, like it was as vital as air.

The room had changed since her last visit, the circle drawn on the floor had long since worn off, in its place tables on the four corners of the room. A statue made of stone above each one. On her closest left, the statue of the Dragon.

Clapping her hands, she focused on the statue. The Dragon's eyes began to glow, a faint effervescence seeping through its snout. The stone became living statue. It twisted its long neck, outstretching its head, stone flakes fell free revealing smoother obsidian scales. As if the black stone had more life than the flesh, bone, and careful splittings of realality. However she knew this was only an illusion.

She did not know how the stone moved, if she was a gambler, she would have suggested another in the room, taking advantage of her suggestible state. Moving the dragon glass as if it was his vocation. It sauntered off its pedestal its body low, swaying like a snake, hovering steps that made gentle clicks as the sharpened points of its earthly skin pricked the floor. It was almost six feet tall, and built like a mountain. Carved, living muscle, etched out of volcanic rock. It seemed to strain and pull as its body willed to move. No more than a foot away from her, it bowed in handsome genuflection. Offering itself like a willing lamb for pagan slaughter.

Lulu traced her fingers over the beast, her fingertips left cracks in otherwise immaculate craftsmanship. As she pressed, her hands would split the rock. So soft, like water it displaced. The rock would regenerate around her fixing the damage she inflicted almost instantaneously. Lulu tilted the head of the beast, so its terrible sequins could stare into her emerald orbs. It began to stand on its hind legs, holding out its hands for her. Once she took them, the stone began to fuse around her. Like the mold of clay it fit her like a glove. She felt something cold slowly start to slip, casting itself around her.

After a few minutes, the dragon let her go. Removing its stoned claws from her own talons. Metal still burning, fresh from the forge, steamed on her hands - yet she felt no pain. It was as if the gloves were alive, breathing on its own. They were like the ones she trained with as a child, except these looked draconic, born from the flames of a wyvern.

Lulu made a fist with her new gloves it felt like second skin. The clawed tips on her nails could cut diamond, the sleek glass cylinders etched into the fingers still hissed at her. She looked towards the second Avatar.

A insect grotesque in size, eight legs with bristles that stood up like knives. She could see a glint in its glossy red eyes that made her twitch. Its legs outstretched like an open palm wanting to take her in its grasp. It was like the insect was alive as she or the people outside. It would tap its feet in anticipation for each step she took closer. Lulu blinked reminding herself of the drugs effects.

The recluse Spider moved rapidly towards its corner of the room, clambering up onto the ceiling, bits of silk left dangling in its wake. The spider began weaving, its beady eyes trained on Lulu, assessing her, sewing to her specifications. The silk that dangled in front of her was knitting with the help of the spiders needle like legs. It moved so fast, it took little to no time before the pieces of silk started to take shape. It was her kimono, the relic that her master gave her, remade with modern stitching. It had flowers embroidered in gold thread, gold thread weaved into the base of lime green, a shade brighter than her hair.

Lulu disrobed holding her arms high above her head, the spider adjusted placing the unfinished ensemble over her. The spider's legs danced across the clothing she now wore. Tickling her with its delicate touches. Lulu began walking towards the third Avatar, not the kind she would have expected. This one was in the form of a large Cherry Tree. With its fruit bared ripe and full, even in this time of unrelenting cold. Her fingers plucked one of those fruits, tasting its nectar. Her lips stained red from the overflowing juices. Taking the seed from her mouth, she held it within her hands.

The seed was a base for creation. Inside it contained life, and potential only the sky could limit. Lulu used the cherry juices to draw a circle into the tree, inscribing her symbol. Placing the single seed inside the center. Lulu closed her eyes, letting her imagination wander. This style of transmutation Lulu invented. A rule equivalent exchange had forgotten to include. Transmuting life, life which had the potential to grow and this potential made even the smallest seeds, more useful than a block of iron. While she ma have been breaking the 'rules', she was merely testing its elasticity. When her eyes opened, inside the circle was something greater than a seed, yet equal in its worth. A pair of Geta sandals, made from cherry wood, with red accents stressed into the souls. Slipping the sandals on, they clicked against her heels. Carved into the underneath of the block shoes, were transmutation circles, capable of acting without her needing to draw.

The Spider had finished its weave, and Lulu felt it scurry to her back. She could feel it looming over her. Yet she did not fear the creature of others nightmares. This spider was to be her companion, she could hear gross noises of its stone skeleton fracturing and splitting into smaller chunks she felt something slowly become one with the kimono. An inner framework of hard insect plate coated the inner linings, like armor. In its last breath she felt a delicate thing press against her neck, its leg presenting a last gift to her. A necklace of gold, with a black diamond crusted into the center, it looked like the very eyes that unnerved her earlier. Taking it within her hands, she felt something deep inside of the gem. As if the creatures very life force was trapped within the stone.

Lulu had one final Avatar to visit. The Avatar of the Flower. A blood red rose, with a horned green stem and a single leaf protruding out of its midsection. Removing one of her brand new gloves. Lulu drew closer she could see the flower was made of jade and rubies. Plucking it from the soil it was impaled within, the thorns pricked her finger, she let out a faint gasp from the sudden and harsh stab. A sanguine rose, testing her worth through its taste. Tasting her blood.

Metallic, sort of like licking a copper pot, but warm and deep. A single bead was left to dangle, trailing long and slow down the elegance of her finger. It was left in the open air for too long and became sticky, affecting its flavor - to the point it tasted like nothing, just rustic iron turned red and runny.

The thorn retracted into the jade, its stem becoming long and smooth and the leaf flicked outwards like a clip. Replacing the one already inside her hair, with this vampiric piece. The leaf hooked into her hair holding itself in place. The pin was heavy unexpectedly heavy, she was no stranger to alchemy. Such a piece only appeared small, this pin was incredibly dense and compact. If she transmuted the pin it could become a weapon of much greater size.

Lulu had finished her initiation, now it was time for her to step out and embrace her role as chief of Highgarden. What may have felt like a few short simple minutes to Lulu, had actually been an hour. The heavy set doors swung open, and the entirety of her village stood out before her. Kneeling in respect, a soft chime clung through the wind like church bells.

Her eyes squinted, oh those majestic sequins of the dragon shone through her. Her stance was straight and with poise, her feet like the very needles the spider stood with. With a steady stream of blood coming from of her ungloved hand, it's droplets trickled down. Soaking into the stone below, that stone platform stained red by those who came before her. Holding her hand high above her head, that oh so familiar circle glowed. Drawing her hair pin, she let it float within the sigil epicenter. The pin unraveled letting the highly compacted atoms separate and expand, a thin estoc sword, green of blade and red of its edges, reflected the pale moonlight onto the platform below.

Silence. It was at this point, there should have been cheering, only faintest gasps and whispers of terror. Looking down at her people, Lulu saw that they did not marvel at her. They were astonished by something behind her. Lulu was slow to turn.

In her village there was a saying, that Grimm were once men as real as they or I. That they had forsaken life, and made pacts with a devil. Becoming its spawn, snarling masses of meat and fur. Created only out of hatred, that those who mistreated their own lives became Grimm once it was over. The older members of her village said that if you see the Grimm, to throw a piece of clothing to them, so that for a brief moment; behind the white masks - one could see the light of humanity in their eyes. As if clothes made the men, yet by the eyes, those phosphorescent rubies, you know them human in all its shapes and forms.

It is at this time of year, its the worst time for the Grimm. The cold made their prey scarce and guarded, making the Grimm creatures native to Southern Vacuo, skinny and malnourished. But this also made them fierce, bolder, and more courageous.

It had to be tonight, didn't it? That such creatures would scale the mesa, with their claws soiled by digging into earth, claws chipped and jagged when they punctured rock. When Lulu saw the Beowolf that stood atop the temple's roof. She could tell by its eyes, eyes of a beast of prey, nocturnal, devastating eyes as red as a wound, the grannies could hurl their aprons and holy relics, thinking it was a sure prophylactic defense against these infernal verman. The people would scream and call on gods and all the angelic beings to protect them but it won't do any good.

This ones feral muzzle is sharp as any knife; and his hunger just as damaging. A howl that befouled the air, shortly followed by the violating howls of hundreds more rallying to the slaughter.

Off with its disguise. The Wolf lumbered down shedding its forest colored cloak, its raven matted hair tousled all over its body, the Wolf so close that Lulu could see the lice moving in it. The Wolf is carnivore incarnate. A monk stepped up to stop the creature a flash of black fur and a glint of red, finished with him. Licking its chops.

Lulu wanted to lower her sword, but dared not make an action so quick to provoke attack. The clock that sat atop the tallest tower cracked like a whip.

"What Big Eyes you have." Lulu stated, letting her hand come down slowly, till the tip of the sword pointed at the beast. It stepped so drunk with hunger it didn't even feel the tip of the blade break its hide. Piercing low into its abdomen, with Lulu slowly pushing it deeper. When the creature looked down, a needle protruding from itself. Lulu withdrew the blade, spinning so easily not even air resisted her. The sharp red of the blade now coated with a thicker sap, slashed fast. Cutting off the invader's head.

The head flying clean off into the backdrop of the night sky, with the stars a somber audience for her display of form. Lulu wielded the jade sword like an artist painting the town with smoke and blood. Words could not describe the motions that Lulu's wrist could make, words made her motions unevocative.

The disembodied, emotionless head that rolled down the cobble slopes. With a bounce in her step, Lulu's clothes shone like those terrible sequins on the dragon. Her block shoes leaving loud heavy clips with each step.

The Beowolves lay dead, or dying. Lulu stood alone with the wisps from her defeated foes defiling the air. She could still hear the rampant howls of those left being slaughtered by the guard. Such an attack wasn't impossible but rare, and only happened in states of grave desperation.

Lulu was moving through the mangled streets, getting a glimpse of the next prey, the shoulders mostly, the mane. She prepared her hand. She's very quiet. And then there's the moment. The wind changes, the beasts stop howling. The wolf turns, looks at her. The moment where she realized she was no longer the hunter, she is the prey.

It started with slow, heavy beats. Wings lifting a great mass up, and up. Its eyes were the first thing Lulu saw, eyes red as the pits of hell, with a fire so hellish swirling between its teeth. A white bone like mask covering its blackened scales. Its one thing to hear about the dreaded beasts, another to see them. Living, breathing, in the charred flesh and scorched bones. It was enormous, larger than anything she could believe. Fairy tales aren't true, not because they tell us Dragons exist, it's that they can be beaten. And this Dragon, scars rippling its battle worn body, would not be stopped.

She lowered her hand. The Beowolves screeched with delight, the tables had turned. Lulu ran, not to the temple, but home.

"Mother, Father! We have to get out of here!" She screamed slamming the door shut, locking it twice. Her cries had gone unnoticed. Her home ransacked, everything was trashed, yet all the valuables were gone. Just the photographs, pictures of Lulu's obedient youth, with her mother smiling tentatively and her father's stoic expression. It made him regal and robust, that look. Yet none of that warriors pride stood physically in the small wooden home. The sounds of Grimm bearing closer and closer to her home was evident.

Lulu clutched the photo tight, its wooden frame tucked between the folds of her arms. A memory. Was this the time her Master told her about? The time she would escape, leave her village for dead? Looking outside, she could see the silhouettes of black racing through the streets

Lulu barged through the door, her hands touching it wooden texture, the atoms that made the door shattered against her touch. The Dragon flew over head, letting a wave of fire roll across the roofs and cluttered streets. The tidal flames washing towards her. She aimed her armor clad fist at the earth, throwing all her weight into a single punch, the rocks cracked, then quickly reformed making a stone wall, shielding herself from the roaring flames. The soot and ash coated her skin in an accursed black.

Lulu made for the gate like a bat out of hell. A semi circle of armed soldiers defended a crowded mass, Lulu barged her way through. The gate would only open to her power. Lulu aimed her hands at the wall. The rock crumbled, breaking apart to reveal a cliff. A long drop that would surely prove fatal. Lulu's fingers clutched the cliff's edge. She willed the rock to move, slowly a bridge began to extend. After a long struggle it touched the other end.

A shoulder barged into Lulu and she was forced to run. She could hear others running behind her, the howls of wolves, and the victorious battle cry of a fearsome dragon. Before she could make a beeline towards the forest. She turned back, Highgarden was burning. About twenty or so people were running. The Guards were being slaughtered. The Dragon had turned its attention to the temple. With flames scorching blue it too was burnt to ash. Highgarden burned, and the victors reaped the spoils.

Everybody knew Grimm ate the flesh of man. The people of her village used to say, it was because they were jealous. Jealous of the flesh they once had, and because of this. They ate it, craved it. Lulu thought they were full of shit. They eat not because of jealousy. Her master told her the Grimm didn't even need the flesh of men. They ate, because they hate us, as we in term despise them.

Lulu looked among the crowds of fleeing people. Her family gone, possibly they ran before. Lulu turned towards the forest and started to walk. No destination in mind, just a promise. She would find her parents, and she would one day, return to Highgarden. To slay the dragon that branded her home a place of fear and death.


"That's an… Interesting story, Lulu. To be completely honest to you, I'd heard of Highgarden before. Never visited, shame what happened to it." This man Ozpin. He was kind, Lulu was smiling like she used to as a child.

"Its not gone, Professor. It's still there, waiting to be reclaimed. What was once beautiful can become that way again, with patience and a gentle hand." Lulu proclaimed, her attitude was cheery and warm like the summer sun.

"You see Lulu. When we found you in the Forever Fall Forest. We didn't expect you to be such a survivor. If what you say is true. You had been surviving in the wilderness for over two years traveling hundreds of miles. That's far longer than any Trained Huntsman can care to brag."

"I don't know about that. I think anyone is capable of it. A humans will to survive is powerful beyond measure."

"And you're so modest, polite. You seem to radiate this warmth. As Headmaster of Beacon I find it an honor to welcome the Last Chief of Highgarden within our walls." Ozpin held out his hand, Lulu shook it firmly.

"Thank you Professor. You are ever so kind." Lulu bowed her head, a courtesy like the stone Dragon.

Lulu exited the room. It was earlier in the day, a small patch of rain had decorated the grounds. The windows still drying from the shower. The morning sun shone brightly through the stained glass. It must have been early in the semester, or whatever the school term was. Lulu was still learning all of these things. Students of varying ages walked past her, giving the strangest looks. Lulu was still wearing the flawless clothes presented to her from the avatars. She did not know where to walk, but something like that had never stopped her before.

After all, Lulu did have a penchant for getting lost.