Been a while, life you know? To make up for the short chapter, I've published the first chapter of another story set in the Dishonored universe.
She was 30 the final time she met him. Just like both times before, it ended with her in a state of undress. This time though, it was quite a bit less light hearted than before. Not that being forced to fight naked for the amusement of an insane mayor or stripped by a rogue Hunter is something to joke about, but at least then Summer wasn't about to die. And not that the possibility of death was something hanging over her head as with the mayor, but that she was certainly going to die. It was just a matter of time.
Summer clawed her way forward with her one remaining arm, leaving a trail of blood on the ground behind her. Pain coursed through her body and her vision grew hazy with every tortured movement. Behind her, the wing beats of the ancient grimm that had taken her arm drew closer.
The pain was overwhelming, her body unable to go on. With her last remaining strength, Summer managed to flip herself onto her back and stare up at her approaching death.
It was a colossal beast, the ancient grimm. Its wings blackened the sky with their width, its maw lined with row upon row of razor death, its eyes fiery pits of inhuman malice. A dragon grimm, thought to be myths in the modern age. Summer raised the emergency flare gun all Huntsmen and Huntresses carried in the wilderness-her weapon was long gone, disappeared into the ancient dragon's gaping maw-and fired a flare at her opponent.
The flare sputtered out upon the ancient grimm's hardened scales, not even scorching the ancient scales. Still, the grimm's eyes flashed with annoyance. Its head drew back and it breathed a torrent of scorching flames towards Summer. Dredging up the last vestiges of her aura, Summer managed to protect herself from the brunt of the flames. Her clothes were not so lucky, scorched to ash in seconds leaving the black haired Huntress almost completely naked. The only thing that managed to survive was her cloak, and even that was burnt almost beyond recognition. Her skin was marred with numerous burns where her aura had not been enough to stop the heat, and they ignited fresh pain in the Huntress.
Summer ignored both the pain and her undress. She already hurt so much, this wasn't much worse than before. And as for the nakedness, well it wasn't like it mattered as there wasn't anyone here to see her. Still, it was quite humiliating to die naked.
The dragon grimm stretched its head towards her, its mouth opening to snatch her up. Thoughts of the family she was leaving behind swirled in Summer's mind. She began to sob as her death approached. "Ruby… Yang… Qrow… Taiyang. I'm sorry." Tears ran freely down her face as the ancient dragon closed its mouth around her.
An explosion rocked Summer's world. Flames billowed around her, hot and angry. Yet they did not touch her, flowing past her burnt skin. The touch of flames was like a cool salve, soothing the burning pain.
"Such a state to find you in, Summer." Summer managed to smile slightly. She knew that voice.
"Issei," she greeted, coughing slightly. "Surprised to see you here."
The crimson clad young man shrugged. "I was in the area. Heard a commotion. It seems fate has seen fit to connect us." His eyes skipped across her bloodied and broken frame and he frowned. "I had hoped to have the pleasure to see you in such a state of undress again, but not under these circumstances."
Summer pushed herself into a sitting position, grimacing in pain at the motion. "I can't say I feel the same, but it's still nice to see a familiar face in my last moments. And you always were friendly enough to me, if not kind."
Issei smiled slightly. "I'm not apologizing. Still, I'm a little surprised you're not even trying to cover yourself up."
"What does it matter?" Summer asked sadly. "I'm dead soon enough. Whatever you just did gave me a bit of strength, but it won't last. But then you knew that."
"Kindle the Ashes," Issei said. "It's what I call it. I can give the dying a last burst of life. Only a little though."
An angry roar split the skies. The two turned towards the ancient grimm, which had apparently become annoyed with being ignored. Summer's eyes flashed silver and great bands of radiant light burst forth from the ground, binding the colossal creature.
"It seems your Kindle the Ashes gave me a bit of my aura back," Summer commented, turning away from the thrashing grimm.
"Yes, it does that," Issei said. "It seems you want to talk for a bit then?" Summer nodded. "Well, you've got ten minutes before Kindle the Ashes wears off."
Summer sighed. "I don't suppose that's enough time to call my family?" Issei pulled out his scroll and pointed to the corner. 'No signal' it read.
"Though you could record a message for them, if you'd like," he offered. Wordlessly, Summer took the scroll from the young man and pressed record.
Stepping away, Issei wandered over to where the ancient grimm lay, struggling angrily. He stared into the creature's eyes and it started back. They stood like that for a time, man and beast. Hate filled eyes gazing into saddened ones. After a time Issei turned away and walked back to where Summer lay. She was just finishing her message, tears running down her face.
Summer handed the scroll back to Issei who slipped it into his pocket. "You've a choice to make now," Issei said, sitting next to Summer. "I can kill the dragon over there. But it will come with a price."
"What?" Summer asked. "My life? I'm dying already. My body? The same. My soul? I'd rather not, but I would still do it without a second thought."
"The second," Issei said. "And the first I suppose, but they're really one and the same at this point. I should mention that if I do this, your body will be reduced to ashes."
Summer sighed. "I hadn't planned on being cremated, but if needs must. To let a creature like this roam free, just because I wanted to be buried in one piece? I'd never forgive myself."
"Very selfless. I'm not sure how many other people would do the same," Issei commented. "Well, time's almost up. Shall we?" Summer nodded, before reaching over and undoing the clasp of her cloak, letting the only thing that remained to protect her modesty fall to the ground. She scooped it up and handed it to Issei, who wrapped it in his arms.
"Give that to my husband, will you? Tell him to give it to Ruby, once she's old enough." Issei nodded solemnly, before holding out a hand. Summer took it. Leaning heavily on the young man, she managed to pull herself to her feet.
He released her and she stumbled once, before regaining her footing. Summer turned towards Issei and winked cheekily, spreading her legs apart and stretching her arms above her head. It gave him a great view of her naked body, her sizable breasts bouncing slightly and her shaved nether regions.
"You know, you're a married woman," Issei commented. "Shouldn't you not do something like this?"
Summer rolled her eyes. "Hey, I'm married to Taiyang "Entire team" Xiao Long. If he cares, tell him I've seen him eyeing up the waitress at that coffee shop. In all seriousness, we're both the kind to flirt about, as long as it doesn't go too far. Without the other one being involved, that is. I blame Taiyang for that, personally. I was the shyest little thing in Beacon, but he's just such a womanizer that you can't help but pick up some of the habits. And, by the way, I don't see you looking away."
"Can you blame me?" Issei asked, without a hint of embarrassment. "You're a beautiful woman after all."
The angry roars of the ancient dragon interrupted them. Issei sighed and placed a hand on Summer's breast. The Huntress raised an eyebrow.
"Does it have to go there?"
"Not really," Issei replied. "But it's so rare that one finds a pair of perfect breasts, and it's a shame that these ones will be leaving us so soon. I thought, why not enjoy them one last time before they're gone."
"Fair enough, pervert," Summer said, shaking her head in amusement. Really, when you were about to die, things like being embarrassed about nudity seemed so inconsequential. "By the way, what happened to George and the rest of them?"
Issei sighed. "They died. Killed by a roaming pack of grimm, I'd reckon. We parted ways and when I showed up to check on them, all I found was their corpses."
"Pity. Well then, let's get this over with."
Closing his eyes, Issei nodded. "For those we cherish, die in glory. Pyrofuego!"
Heat blazed through Summer's body. It didn't hurt, but felt more as if she was sitting next to a warm campfire, wrapped in a loving embrace. She smiled. And she expired.
A solid bar of burning white-hot fire lanced from Issei's palm. It crashed into the ancient grimm dragon's scales, melting them with a touch. It burned into the creature's very core, evaporating it from existence. In a second, there was nothing left. It did not dissolve like most grimm did. After all, there was nothing left to dissolve. Nothing, save a scorch mark on the ground where the once mighty grimm had been burned out of existence.
Issei glanced down at his hand, where a pile of ashes sat. Carefully he pulled a box from his pocket and poured them in, before shutting the box and wrapping it in Summer's tattered cloak.
The man known as Issei would make one stop, to Patch to deliver the sorrowful news to a worried family. And then he would be gone, never seen again on Remnant, leaving no trace of his existence, save for the memory of those few people who had met him.
Sometimes the littlest changes can have profound effects. And sometimes, they don't. Sometimes, the only effect that they have is to give a young woman the chance to say goodbye, to leave her family with something more than a memory. And sometimes, that's enough to give someone a happier ending. Not a perfect one, but a better one.