A/N: Hello all followers, favouriters (real word), reviewers and/or casual readers. I know it's been a while and I do apologise. I completed the final chapter and the epilogue a few weeks ago and wished to put them up immediately, not a month later, but my internet has been a right … well, let's just say a 'nuisance' for almost a month and I've been having problems logging in to as well. Well my internet has decided to behave for today and I can log in, hence my sudden return.
Isn't it nice when technology actually works? :)
Anyway, I hope you enjoy the final instalments of Defying Fate.
Chapter 12: Time To Say Goodbye
Thursday had been … interesting, to say the least.
Over the course of one day many lives had been lost, a member of some twisted cult having killed them using a power many could not even begin to comprehend. Krev, regrettably, understood where his enemy's incredible gifts came from and knew that it wasn't only the reason why the madman had chosen to approach, convince and subsequently take over Sapphire's body and destroy the original Blue Knight's soul, but that his power – the cruel Sapphire's power – appeared to be limitless…
Sapphire was, like himself, a Child of Fate. It was the reason why they shared a bond, why they were friends and why Sapphire – the real Sapphire – had listened to Krev's views on the world and secretly agreed with them. They were brothers in the loosest sense of the word, or, at least, had beenbrothers.
The conversation with Sapphire had been extensive and covered a variety of subjects, revealing that he was not born into the Wanderer tribe … that his parents had been members of the unnamed group who made the Children of Fate using a spell … that his parents had become guilty and decided to hide the children taken/offered for the cause, giving them to families who were willing to change their new child's name and spend the rest of this lives running from people like Sapphire. But unable to leave their own son with another family, they kept him for themselves and joined the Wanderers to remain safe.
Treachery that would lead to their deaths … treachery that would leadto Sapphire tracking them down, killing them, then wiping the entirety of the Wanderer tribe from the face of the planet out of pure spite.
Krev didn't know what to think about his parents and their actions, finding himself wondering more about the others like him. How many 'Children' existed? Where were they? He also wondered if Sapphire, in his previous body, had convinced the others to join the cause. It was plausible, but Krev had to believe he and the original Sapphire had been the first Children of Fate the maniacal Blue Knight or any other cult member had encountered…
He had to believe there was still a chance to find the others and stop the New Destiny, the plot Sapphire and his brethren had set in motion eighteen years before when they created the Children using a spell – a scheme which ended with the destruction of freewill, destruction Krev and the other Children were destined to facilitate using an unnatural ability to reach inside another and control their Aura, allowing for direct and absolute manipulation of the soul.
After the battle, Krev and the others – or at least the survivors – had been escorted by Professor Ozpin and General Ironwood to Beacon's medical facility. It was a nice, sterile environment full of doctors and nurses who were used to students cut and bruised after a sparring match, not a full-scale conflict. It was definitely a change of pace the medical staff never wanted and were surprised by, but they acted quickly, patching up any major injuries before providing several beds for the wounded to rest.
Sleep, however, did not come until the early hours.
Protocol dictated that patients wore white garments, but they never changed into the attire provided. Were their clothes dirty? Were they dishevelled? Yes. Did Krev or any of the others care? No. Therefore, Krev spent the majority his time in the medical facility in his combat uniform and surrounded by those who helped him win the fight against Sapphire.
Funnily enough it was not Ozpin or Ironwood who pressed him for answers immediately, knowing he needed time to – in Ozpin's words – 'process everything that had occurred and rest before reporting to his office', but his fellow patients.
Krev distinctly remembered where they all were, staring at him, watching his every move as he sat up in bed and explained everything: Amber had been on the edge of the bed to his left bed; Silver laid on the bed to Krev's right; Blake had sat crossed legged on the bed parallel to his, a small metal plate across her nose to ensure it healed properly; Ruby and Weiss stood by the end of his bed, the young leader looking concerned as the heiress appeared focused, her arms folded over her chest.
But it was Yang he remembered the most, for the blonde had not opted to sit on the edge of him to comfort him, but rather chose to stand at the end of Amber's bed, arms tightly crossed under her chest as concern and fear consumed her features.
They were all sitting or standing closely together for several hours, listening intently as questions were asked and detailed answers were given, but Krev never made any of the enquiries. It had been the other six students who asked questions, for Krev was the only one qualified enough to have answered any of their queries.
"But why did he kill NOVA, or Valery?" his crimson counterpart asked, looking more confused after his tale than anything else.
"Because he could," he coldly replied, "because he wanted to. Sapphire wished to test his new capabilities against NOVA and believed Valery deserved death."
"Why do you keep calling him that?" asked Silver, wincing from the pain of his swollen cheek – swollen because of his impact with a stone pillar.
"What else am I supposed to call him?" Krev retorted. "He wasn't the Sapphire we knew and I despise calling him by that name, but he didn't exactly provide his original … if he even remembered his original name."
"What makes you say that?" Amber asked, her tone gentle.
"His Semblance, Soul Transference, allowed him to transfer his essence, including his Aura, into another's vessel. It's logical to assume, from his account of witnessing other kingdoms rising and falling, that Sapphire had performed this process many times. It's safe to assume he was hundreds of years old."
"Wow," interjected Ruby.
"Indeed," Krev chuckled, throwing the young girl an amused half-smile.
"You said he was able to transfer his Aura into another," said Blake, "which I understand, but how was he able to wield the abilities Sapphire originally possessed? Wouldn't he have erased, or overwritten those, when he took over?"
"You make a good point," Krev replied. "Sadly I don't understand that either."
Krev liked Blake's capability to ask questions most wouldn't and deduce facts which escaped the attention of others – it reminded him of his own methodical capabilities.
"Whilst we're on the topic of his powers," Weiss interjected, "there's one thing I'd like clarified."
"Go ahead."
"Thank you," she said with a slow nod of appreciation before continuing. "You explained how the so-called 'Children of Fate' were made by this mysterious cult, the group's plans for you and the world, and that you could – with enough practice – manipulate people one day … but you haven't said if you were ever –"
"Tempted?" Krev interrupted, his tone portraying no anger or disgust, only solemnness. "I'm not offended by the question Weiss and understand why you're asking me. You, all of you, know I'm not the biggest fan of the society we live in, but the New Destiny – the destruction of freewill … it's not the answer I seek."
There was silence as the others contemplated Krev's words, for the students remembered in that moment they were in the presence of a man who disagreed with everything they valued – everything they had been indoctrinated to believe was right.
No, he would still unite Remnant and bring an end to – as Sapphire had so aptly put it – the 'cycle' of indoctrination, brutal training and death, but on his own terms and in a peaceful manner, not the New Destiny.
"So what are you going to do now?" Ruby asked innocently, being the first to speak after several minutes.
Krev didn't reply immediately and instead looked to Yang, his sorrowful eyes locking with her fearful, knowing gaze.
"We'll have to wait and see," he breathed, turning his attention back to Ruby.
Their conversation, as it had been consistently throughout the night, was once again interrupted by another visit from Team JNPR. Krev didn't practically mind though, not because it took everyone's attention away from him, but because it lightened the mood.
Jaune, their leader, seemed to really care for his friends in Team RWBY, so did the others, but they showed it in less traditional ways than asking 'Are you okay?'
Pyrrha called Sapphire's actions 'atrocious' and 'maniacal', using vocabulary Krev appreciated; Nora bounced around, happily stating that she wished she could have been in the dome with them to 'break' many parts of his anatomy; and Ren, a man of few words, observed and assessed everything that was said between friends and strangers before making stoic, methodical additions to the conversations.
Each visit from JNPR had been the same, everything said by its members and everyone else in the medical facility lacking content that would highlight the severity of the battle or the situation as a whole. Krev understood why everyone had chosen to act this way.
Shock.
The survivors of Team KAVS and the entirety of teams RWBY, JNPR and the other students who visited were in shock and couldn't yet accept the full extent of everything that had transpired on their doorstep. Krev, sadly, was more than ready accept, examine and make a decision based on everything that had occurred.
After their last, thirty minute visit, JNPR left the medical facility to retire for the night. With the team gone, Krev expected another round of questions, but none came. Instead the four members of Team RWBY decided it was time to leave as well, their reasoning being that Krev and his friends needed some rest before the sun began to rise. He enquired about their own injuries, but they insisted on leaving to take showers, change into some clean clothes and sleep in their own beds for the rest of the night, or, at least, Ruby, Weiss and Blake had been insistent, Yang, on the other hand, had remained quiet the entire time they had been in the facility.
He understood why, but that wasn't the time to discuss it.
With permission to sleep and all sound abandoning the room, Amber and Silver easily fell asleep from exhaustion. Krev was tired like his associates, but even with his head resting on a soft pillow he still tossed and turned for over an hour before lightly dozing. He remained on the periphery of REM sleep for many hours before the light of the setting sun filtered in and washed over his closed eyes, the glare waking him up entirely.
It was late the next day, around 6:00pm, meaning his distracted mind had rested for several hours. He probably didn't need any more, so Krev decided it was time to bite the bullet and got up.
He still ached from the fight, but his movements weren't impaired, allowing Krev to use the medical facility's bathroom to shower, wash his hair, dry and re-dress before exiting the infirmary and speaking a simple request to the guard stationed at the door. However, as he approached the doorway, a familiar voice temporally barred his path.
"What if it doesn't go to plan?" Amber tentatively asked from her bed.
Krev didn't bother to turn around, seeing as there was no point in meeting her worried gaze. He did not reply immediately either, allowing a tense silence to fill the air as he contemplated his options.
"Then I'll have to do it alone."
"Impossible," Amber responded. "No, if what you're about to do next plays out the way we both know it'll play out, then you're going to need us, Krev."
"What are you suggesting?"
"That Silver and I catch the next airship leaving the school and head to Vale – we'd meet you somewhere inconspicuous and go from there. I'll even use my homing beacon so you can find us."
It was a start, if nothing else, but Krev wasn't one for trusting a person's sudden desire to help another, especially after years of conflicting views.
"Do whatever you want," he said icily, leaving the room to make his request.
"Take me to see the General…."
"Krev?" asked a familiar voice.
The Blood Angel's hollow gaze broke from the ground, looking up to meet Ozpin's concerned eyes.
"Sorry," he answered, his mind coming back to reality. "I was thinking about something else."
So there he was, standing in the middle of Professor Ozpin's office with General Ironwood next to his colleague, a meeting that was arranged to discuss what had transpired the previous evening and how to respond.
"I don't blame you," Ozpin remarked with a smile, "you've been through a lot. All I asked was: How are you feeling?"
"Friends of mine are dead because a madman wanted me to join his cult," Krev sternly replied, giving the honest answer. "How do you think I feel?"
"We understand you're in no mood to continue with this conversation," said Ozpin, "but we must contemplate everything you have told us and consider what we can do to prevent their plans from coming to fruition."
"I agree," Krev nodded, "but I haven't heard any suggestions."
Silence fell for a moment before Ironwood interjected.
"Is everything you said true?" the General enquired, sounding concerned and somewhat doubtful.
Krev had only just finished informing the headmasters of everything he and Sapphire discussed, summarising – as he had done with Team RWBY, Amber and Silver – the events of the battle and a majority of the revelations: How the Sapphire they fought really wasn't Sapphire, why the unnamed group was formed, why the Children of Fate were made, his parents' betrayal, escape and ultimate death. There was only one revelation he did not divulge to the headmasters and one important fact he even hid from the others – the fact he had tapped into his unnatural abilities twice over the course of one day.
"You don't believe me?"
"No, I do believe you," Ironwood replied sorrowfully. "It's just we can't spare any resources for chasing after a threat which doesn't yet exist."
"Excuse me?!" Krev said harshly, genuinely surprised by his response.
"I understand the severity of the situation," Ironwood continued, "but the man you fought never gave a specific timeframe for when they would try to complete their plans; it could be weeks, months or even years before they develop into a real threat. No, the real threat is here, in Vale."
"The General's right," Ozpin said in his usual calm, sagely tone. "The White Fang are the immediate problem."
Krev wanted to yell at the top of his lungs a whole number of insults whilst trying to get through to their thick skulls that Sapphire's brethren were also an immediate threat, but he remained calm and tried, to the best of his ability, to explain the situation again.
"Look, with all due respect, I get it. You're scared the White Fang is planning something big, the Breach only being the start, but Sapphire, his brethren, even the other Children … they're also an immediate threat. It doesn't matter if he provided me with a timeframe or not, because they've been carrying out their plans for decades."
"Exactly," interrupted the General. "Their patient, so they will most likely carry out their endgame in a number of years' time, giving us time to prepare after we defeat the White Fang."
"But what if we're not ready?" Krev urgently questioned. "What if you're right? We spend decades fighting the White Fang and then they show up to take control, but within that time they've got to the other Children and convinced them to join their cause – like he did with Sapphire!
"We wouldn't be ready for that!
"Also, what if Sapphire's death accelerated their plans and they use any Children they gain to rid the world of freewill when we're not looking?"
"But what if they already possess a great number of the Children and have provided the correct training to hone their abilities?" Ozpin retorted. "What if we fight on two separate fronts, against two enemies we do not fully comprehend and lose because we are unprepared, our focus divided?
"Krev, you have no idea what we'd find out there, if the group are ready and waiting for their opportunity to strike – we could fight them, but we may also lose. Therefore, the best course of action is to dedicate all our resources at the White Fang – the enemy currently at our door – before worrying about another."
"That's it?" Krev said rather scornfully. "Your plan is to hope our enemies line up nicely, like ducks in a row, and happily wait as we deal with them one at a time? Pathetic.
"Also, you seem to believe their ready – right now – and would easily defeat any divided opposition, but as my point was going to be before, General, before I was interrupted, they've been carrying out their plans for years. Sapphire seemed anxious, as if he never wanted to wait this long to complete their plan for us, the Children of Fate.
"In addition, he wasn't stable, suggesting he'd spent years trying to find Children, but to no avail – not exactly the behaviour of someone who'd been successful over the years and found a Child of Fate every other week."
"What's your point?" Ironwood enquired in a gentle, polite tone.
"My point is: If they had the others, or a sufficient amount, then they wouldn't wait and Sapphire wouldn't have been on the verge of what appeared to be a mental breakdown. Don't you see? They're not ready, which means we have the perfect opportunity to hunt down and kill every last one of them before they even find the other Children."
"You argue a good case," Ozpin said with a courteous nod, "but it's purely speculation."
"Hypocrite!" Krev spat. "You form irrational conclusions based on what I've told you, then I put forward my sound deduction and it's called 'speculation'?! But what did I expect from you?!"
"You seem quite certain about how prepared they are," the General interjected, trying to defuse the tension between student and colleague. "Krev, are you certain there's no –?"
"What?! A connection?" the Blood Angel harshly replied. "Please. Sapphire tried to convince me we were family, but that's it! Besides, I despise this sect and all who follow it as much as I despise you, both of you."
Krev broke eye contact with the General to give Professor Ozpin a loathing glare, a look which the headmaster of Beacon Academy was more than happy to return.
"Now that's not fair," Ironwood said with a hint of sorrow in his voice. "I want to help you … but Oz is right; we're not prepared to take such a risk."
"Don't pretend you're an innocent victim in all this!" Krev said venomously. "I know what Valery did for you."
"What do you mean?" he asked, sounding and looking genuinely surprised.
He should really win an award for his acting, Krev thought sardonically.
"The plans for my weapon, the ones Amber had on her computer … I know Valery gave you a copy."
"General, is this true?" asked Ozpin as he turned his chair to look up at his counterpart.
"You saw what Crimson Force is capable of," Ironwood said defensively. "We needed to know how it worked."
As the headmasters discussed the morality of stealing information from students, Krev turned on the spot and headed for the lift.
"Where are you going, Mr. Melek?" Beacon's headmaster asked rather politely, but Krev could feel the contempt oozing from every word.
The Blood Angel halted a few feet from the door, but he didn't turn around to reply.
"I've had enough of this bullshit," he proclaimed sternly. "If neither of you are going to help, then I'll have to handle the situation alone."
"You can't leave," stated Ironwood. "You're a student at –"
"Not anymore," Krev snapped, taking enjoyment from interrupting his former headmaster. "I'm renouncing my student status."
The Blood Angel left before they could speak another word, leaving the General in a state of astonishment. However, by departing so swiftly with a determination to not even look at either of the men before the lift doors closed, believing they didn't even deserve that much, Krev missed the gleeful smile which played across Ozpin's lips…
The smile of man playing a long and dangerous game.
The lift's journey to the ground floor took several minutes, giving Krev the opportunity to contemplate his next move. He wasn't, however, questioning whether or not Amber and Silver would meet him in Vale considering his last interaction with the technological expert. Instead he was thinking about Yang, or more specifically, whether or not he should say goodbye to her before departing. It was tempting to just leave, to spare himself and Yang the pain, but after everything they'd been through, after everything they had discussed the previous night … he didn't want to begin his quest until discussing a very important topic with her.
The doors of the lift parted and Krev stepped into the passage which he, his team and NOVA had walked down after their arrival in Vale. Their arrival felt like an entirely different lifetime, which didn't surprise him…
So much had changed since then.
Walking down the long, tall, empty corridor, Krev took his eyes off the architecture and looked forward. The sight before him genuinely amazed the Blood Angel, for Ruby, Weiss and Blake stood a few feet away, their posture and lack of conversation suggesting they were waiting for something.
"I didn't expect to see you three," he said in a friendly tone, halting beside them as they turned to see who gave the greeting.
He studied them for a moment as they registered his presence, taking note of their clothes. They had obviously decided to change out of their combat gear and into more casual, yet still combat orientated attire: Ruby's stockings, boots and hood were still present, but she had decided to wear a black-grey dress with red fabric underneath which adorned her symbol on the hem instead of her black corset; Weiss had opted to wear a subtle white coat and thigh-high boots – an outfit which really … complimented her form, to say the least; and Blake had chosen to wear what appeared to be a white blouse and black jeans, boots, bow and ribbons, the last of which were tied around her forearms.
"I got a message from Amber," Ruby said rather solemnly.
"It said you were all leaving if things didn't go according to plan with Professor Ozpin and the General," added Weiss, her tone mimicking her leaders. "Apparently she left for Vale, with Silver, on the last airship for the day."
Krev smirked to himself, amused by Amber's uncanny ability to really surprise him sometimes. She had sent the majority of Team RWBY his way to help ease the pain caused by failing to enlist support, something he never would have expected Amber to do and would need to thank her for.
"So…" said Ruby, elongating the single word. "Did everything go according to plan?"
"No," Krev admitted, his tone lighter than usual. "I wished to obtain Ozpin's and Ironwood's combined support for stopping the cult, but the headmasters have no desire – to paraphrase them – 'take risks' and split their resources, especially for an enemy who they view not to be an immediate threat."
"Outrageous," Weiss yelled, lightly stomping one of her heels on the carpeted floor. "They're so concerned about the White Fang they're not looking at the facts. No, you know what, we should go up there and –"
"Weiss," he said with a smile. "I appreciate the sentiment, but no matter what you might say they wouldn't budge."
"That's why you're leaving, isn't it?" Blake enquired, her eyes conveying an understanding which saddened her. "They're not offering support, but you're still going to stop them."
"Not just that," he clarified. "I need to find answers and the others like me … I need to destroy the sect before their precious New Destiny comes into effect."
"That could take years."
"Perhaps," he shrugged, giving the Faunus a wry smile.
"And it's insane!" Weiss interjected. "Look, you seem perfectly capable of handling yourself in a fight, but we almost died just fighting one member of that group. Granted he was inside a Child of Fate's body and could use their gifts … your gifts against us, but that was with five of us, not three. Krev, think about this, if you, Amber and Silver try taking on the sect alone, and possibly Children of Fate they've been able to brainwash, then you might fail."
"Yeah!" Ruby exclaimed joyously. "Oh, wait, sorry for sounding happy, but I meant to sound happy, not because I like the idea of you dying, but I-I mean, oh man, just … let me start over. Okay, I sounded happy because I just thought of something – we could come with you!"
"It does seem efficient," added Blake. "Seven tracking down an unknown amount with unknown power could prove more successful."
"No," Krev sternly replied.
"But together we stand a better cha –"
"I refuse your assistance," he said to Ruby. "I once again appreciate the sentiment, but I won't require your help. I'm confident we – Amber, Silver and myself – can find the other Children before the sect and convince them to join our cause in defeating those who twisted fate, our fates, and cursed us with unnatural, evil abilities which can destroy what makes us people."
"That's a dangerous move," Blake said with an approving smile, "but you should be fine if you sell it like that."
"A stupid move if you ask me," said Weiss, crossing her arms.
"Weiss is right," Ruby whined. "Krev, are you sure about this? What if you need us and we're not there?"
"I'm sure," he nodded. "Besides, I don't want you getting in trouble."
"How would we get in trouble?"
"Leaving school before graduation is illegal," explained Blake. "All teenagers who enrol into a school, or an academy like Beacon, must stay until graduation or transfer to another institution, otherwise you renounce your student status and essentially become an outlaw if you refuse to come back."
"Why?"
"Because you've wasted time, money and other resources that could have been used training another … so Krev, I guess that means your a –"
"Yeah," he interrupted. "I'm no longer a student and officially a criminal in the eyes of the law. I could be cleared of all charges if I chose to stay or came back at a later date before the end of my education years, but I'm guessing I won't be done by then. Actually, I wonder why Ironwood hasn't sent guards after me yet."
"Head start?" Blake casually suggested. "Did he give any indication of emotional support?"
"He did, so I suppose you're right."
"Are you sure you don't want us to come along?" asked Weiss, looking very concerned.
"I'm definitely sure," he replied. "Apart from getting into trouble your fight is here, in Vale, against the White Fang."
"Sorry if I offend anyone," said Ruby, unsubtly looking at Blake as she spoke, "but your problem seems a lot bigger right now."
"No, it's not. Ozpin and Ironwood are right when it comes to the White Fang; their planning something big, something we can't even begin to understand without the right information or without them making another move, so even though my problem involves world domination, we have yet to discover what the White Fang truly wish to achieve. It could be Faunus dominance over humans, planetary destruction, who knows?"
"Yeah, yeah," Ruby chuckled, "I see your point: 'Mysterious Cult' and White Fang are equally as bad."
"Yes," he replied with a broad smile, "and to be fought on two separate fronts."
An eeriness settled over the students and, of course, ex-student at the mention of the word 'separate', because they all knew it would be many years before they – Team RWBY – saw Krev again, and only if he succeeded and survived.
"So where's Yang?" he finally asked the three girls. "I wish to say goodbye before I leave."
Ruby, Weiss and Blake looked between themselves, trying to figure out the best way to deliver some form of bad news.
"Well, it's just…" Ruby paused, slightly lost for words as she thought about her sister, "…it's just Yang's taking all this really hard. When she saw the message Amber sent, she refused to see you before you left and went off somewhere."
"She doesn't want you to leave, Krev," the Faunus explained, which was ironic considering what he realised the previous day.
"None of us do," added Weiss. "It's just Yang seems to really care about you."
"I know," he replied, looking down ever so slightly in sorrow. "But I refuse to leave things as they are between us before departing. Will you please take me to see her?"
"Sure," Ruby nodded, her tone solemn once more.
The majority of Team RWBY who had opted to greet him after his meeting led the way. Not much was said between Krev, Ruby, Weiss and Blake as they navigated the rest of the building and a small area outside, but their conversation, or rather, their farewell continued once they reached and stood in front of the memorial statue – an object that would forever hold an significance for Krev, for it was where his important discussion with Yang had started the previous night.
"I think she's on the central landing pad," said Ruby, pointing down the large pathway which led to the aforemented location.
Yang's choice for hiding away made sense, if a little obvious. For the Blood Angel, this suggested she wished to be found.
"Krev, before you go," Weiss said tentatively, prompting him to turn his full attention to her, "I want you to have this." The heiress held out a hand to present a small piece of paper and a small piece of card, both pieces of material clasped between thumb and forefinger. "It's the number of my Scroll and my business card. Granted the business card would connect you with the Schnee Dust Company international headquarters in Atlas, but if you need to reach us and can't connect with my Scroll, they'll find a way to get hold of me."
Krev gently took the paper and card from her and looked them over. The paper had written across it, in rather elegant hand writing, Weiss' name and a number, whilst the white card had the name of the company printed across its front in silver letters and the Schnee company logo – the same symbol Weiss adorned on her other combat uniform – over the top, the number of the company printed across the back in, again, silver letters.
"Thank you, Weiss," he said kindly, "but why have you given me these?"
"In case of an emergency," she replied. "I also wanted to give you a way to stay in touch."
"You want me – the feared Blood Angel – to stay in touch?" he genuinely couldn't believe how much things had changed over the last few days.
"Of course, so I want you to promise me you'll keep us updated – just let us know you're safe and winning. I don't want to spend endless nights worrying about you, Amber or Silver."
"I promise," Krev answered with a friendly smile, pocketing the numbers before shaking Weiss' hand. "Thank you again, Weiss."
After shaking the heiress' hand, Krev looked to Blake for another goodbye.
"It's been a pleasure talking to someone else who was raised outside of the kingdoms," Blake remarked, taking Krev's hand.
"Same here," he said. "It's definitely been a while for me too."
He then moved on to Ruby, holding out his hand. Krev expected a third and final handshake, but instead of a formal goodbye, Ruby edged forward and wrapped her arms around Krev's waist for a hug.
"We'll miss you," she mumbled, her face squished against his sternum.
Krev wasn't used to hugs; in fact, he hadn't received such physical affection from anyone in years. It felt odd, yet reassuring and familiar at the same time. It took him a moment to get over the initial shock before he tentatively returned the embrace.
"And I you," he whispered.
Ruby released him a few moments later and stepped back, re-joining her teammates with a gloomy smile on her lips. Looking at the girls before him, Krev decided to show his thanks one last time before departing from their company.
"I cannot express how much I appreciate everything you have done for me and my friends, but know this; I will forever be in your debt."
They smiled at him and he returned it, a sorrowful smile which indeed expressed true happiness, but it was happiness clouded by recent events.
With his relationship with Ruby, Weiss and Blake ending on, for at least the time being, good terms, Krev turned on the spot and began his trek towards the central landing pad, listening, but never responding, to the chorus of 'good lucks' and 'take cares' he received before the girls decided to leave, despite the distance, to give him and Yang some privacy.
Yang was indeed standing on the central landing pad, looking out onto the darkened city of Vale in sadness. Her expression conveyed this simple, yet destructive emotion precisely, for the blonde's entire being was consumed by sorrow.
There was no mystery behind where this sadness came from or who had caused it. It was heartbreak, plain and simple. Yang knew that Krev Melek, the so called 'Blood Angel', would be leaving Vale.
A few days ago she had seen Krev in action against, tragically, the original Sapphire. His display of power and skill had frightened her, but also intrigued and attracted Yang. Therefore, when the opportunity arose, she approached him. Krev had been going through some emotion turmoil and questioning whether or not he would ever succeed in his mission if no-one ever listened, let alone feared and hated him, so he snapped at her. Yang was angry at the time, but she walked away. It was later that same night when she ran into Krev and persuaded him to hold a conversation, asking him questions about his past and the beliefs no-one else, including her, understood.
Krev seemed happy enough to divulge such personal details at the time, which elated Yang, for it meant he did not only wish to speak with her, but with every word he spoke she found herself getting more-and-more … interested in him.
Thanks to their conversation, and regrettably the battle with Sapphire, Yang now understood why Krev carried himself with purpose, why he desired to change the world and why he never believed anyone would ever truly care about him again. Yang just hoped that, after their conversation, he knew one thing; one thing would make him desire to stay…
"I should have known I would find you here."
His voice, his demeanour, the fierce determination he displayed to protect not only her, but also her friends and sister as well were traits – in addition to his natural beauty – which made Krev attractive to Yang.
"Are you surprised?" she asked emotionlessly, not even turning to watch Krev as he halted next to her and stood only a foot away, looking out over the body of water and the city beyond.
"Yes … and no," Krev replied. "I do suppose this place holds a certain significance now, for us both."
"Yeah … it does."
The landing pad had been where Sapphire began the hellish night, but to Yang its significance was more positive, yet still depressing. It had been the place where she realised how she felt about Krev … the place where she had admitted her true feelings for him.
"Yang," he began, "I've been wondering how you got so many students and teachers to rush outside in order to help me and my team."
She smiled at the memories, then summarised her actions.
"Pulled the fire alarm in the dormitory building," she explained, "then frantically yelled something about you needing our help to everyone who came outside, then lead the way to the courtyard with Weiss being … well, Weiss."
"Snarky, I take it?" he asked, sounding amused.
"Yeah."
"I would be the same," Krev admitted with, what Yang knew was there, a smile playing across his lips. "I like my beauty sleep."
You don't need it, Yang thought as she chuckled.
"Everyone came outside and wanted to help," Yang informed him in a gentle tone, "even students staying in the other dormitory building for the festival wanted to find out what was going on, but Team CRDL – Cardin and his brutes – didn't."
"What? Am I, or my team, not popular with them?" he asked amusedly.
"They just didn't wake up," she replied with a smile. "They slept through the fire alarm."
They both giggled for a moment, then a content silence took hold before anyone spoke, time seeming to become an irrelevance.
"I must compliment you on your attire," he said nervously. "What you're wearing right now really umm … suits you."
Krev gave a light cough of embarrassment, prompting Yang to look down and study herself. She was wearing her usual attire because, when compared it to those of her teammates, hers was comprised of fewer and smaller components which took less time to dry after being put through a washer.
"It's what I wore last night."
"I know, but I didn't give you a compliment last night."
"Thank you," said Yang, returning her gaze to the city.
Another moment passed in silence, the atmosphere becoming tense.
"I take it everything is fine between you and Ruby?"
"Yeah," she said, her tone light and soothing. "We talked after leaving the infirmary and we apologised to each other."
"Glad to hear it."
Yet another moment passed in silence, the tense atmosphere becoming unbearable.
"The moon is a wonderful thing, isn't it?" Krev whispered, conveying only admiration for the celestial being. "We often take it for granted, but look at it."
"Krev…" she exhaled, not wanting to begin the conversation that would lead to absolute happiness, or absolute heartbreak "…you're making this harder than it has to be, so please … please just spare me from waiting and tell me how your meeting went."
"Badly," he said glumly. "I explained everything to them, but Ozpin and Ironwood have refused to tackle the problem."
"What does that mean?" she asked harshly, already knowing the answer.
"Amber and Silver are already in Vale and awaiting my arrival, which means … which means I'm –"
"Leaving…" Yang uttered sorrowfully "…you're leaving. But why am I surprised? Just like my mother … you're leaving me too."
"Yang, I have to go," he sternly replied. "I need to find answers, the other Children of Fate, but most of all I need to put a stop all the plans Sapphire's group, cult, whatever you want to call themhave put in place. I have to stop the New Destiny."
"I know," she said, turning to face him. "And that's why I should go with you."
"What?" Krev responded, copying her action and turning to face her.
"Well it would be suicide for only three people to try stopping all this, and besides … Team KASY sounds catchy."
He lowered his gaze and shook his head, a smile creeping onto his usually melancholic face.
"Yang, thank you, but –"
"I also have a ton of contacts," she said desperately, trying to delay the inevitable. "There's this guy in Vale, he's knows everything and goes by the name of 'Junior'. I've used him in the past and he's pretty good – with information I mean, because he's not a good person. I mean, he flirted with me like crazy a while back and called me 'Sweetheart', so it was pretty fun crushing his … well, let's say 'pride'."
"Yang," he breathed mournfully, "I know what you're doing, but it won't change anything."
"Why not?!"
"Because I don't want you to get in trouble," he angrily replied, "because you're needed here, in Vale, to solve the mystery behind the White Fang and stop whatever conspiracy they've instigated, because … because I don't want you getting hurt."
"I can take care of myself, Krev," she growled. "It was sweet before when you said you wanted to protect me, but I don't need it."
"I know, and believe me, I know. I've seen you fight and we killed Sapphire, together, so I know what you're capable of. But Yang, please, you have to believe me when I say I want to be with you, but not like this, not with everything I've realised."
"Sapphire was right," she said, folding her arms, "you really are stubborn."
"Guilty as charged," Krev said with a wry smile.
Yang didn't know if she wanted to punch him or ki– … and with that thought, an idea – a desire – popped into Yang's mind.
"But maybe there's something I can do to convince you to stay," she uttered, lowering her arms and giving him a lustful gaze.
"That being?"
Not wanting to speak another word, Yang closed her eyes and puckered her lips. She leaned forward, her heart fluttering as she imagined what was about to happen next – what should finally convince the 'Blood Angel', the man she deeply cared for, to stay with her at Beacon.
Three days ago Krev had arrived at Beacon as the man he'd been for many years; most saw him as cold, ruthless and the type of person who never really cared about anything that transpired around him. They were wrong, of course, for he cared about the world and wanted to make it a better place – he desired to break the cycle. He also, in his own way, loved his team and wanted nothing more than to protect them in battle, but he would never really speak to them or ever truly acquire their undying loyalty because of conflicting views, something that would never change.
Krev would always view the world to be a corrupt place and its inhabitants, even a certain team, fools for believing in a regime built upon, sustained by, and which encouraged violence and blind acceptance. Acceptance that the Grimm were nothing more than demons and the Hunters were paragons of virtue and inner strength.
'A paragon of virtue and inner strength does not exist, for every man, woman and child has their breaking point…'
So yeah, Krev would always seek to unite Remnant under new, more peaceful ideals, but right now, in the immediacy … he needed to save the world he despised.
Krev smiled to himself, amused by the irony and the way fate just loved messing with people, but what was he supposed to do? Was he meant to allow Sapphire's brethren, even converted Children of Fate, to warp the souls of millions and destroy freewill? No, he would never allow that to happen! He would die before sacrificing his beliefs, even if it meant saving a world where freewill and true individualism did not exist in order to, one day, ensure the future he, his tribe and his parents had all once envisioned.
'You must become transcendent and sacrifice everything to change the world…'
But in regards to his associates, Krev would always feel guilty for everything he'd done, for all the times he'd shut out his team, argued with Valery and never made time to form a closer bond with Team NOVA, even with Sapphire … the real Sapphire, not the bastard who possessed him, who killed Orion, Violet, Ashley and Valery and harmed every member of Team RWBY, including the woman who stood before him…
Before travelling to Beacon, Krev believed he would spend the rest of his life without a person to share his life with, without a woman he loved and reciprocated those feelings. But after all the pain and all the loss, he was here, standing only a hair's breath away from the glorious blonde he'd opened up to the previous night, the glorious blonde who gave him hope…
The glorious blonde he loved.
Yang Xiao Long was an incredible human being, and she was leaning in to kiss him.
Krev felt his heart pounding, his cheeks glowing red and the smile on his lips. He was happy for the first time in a long time, but as the saying goes…
All good things must come to an end.
Krev slowly raised his hand and placed two fingers on her soft lips, stopping her beautiful face only an inch from his own. Krev gulped from the excitement of the previous moment as Yang slowly opened her eyes.
Quietly panting to himself, Krev watched as Yang stepped back and gazed at him in confusion.
"What's wrong?" she asked, her unique, wonderful voice consumed by concern.
Krev didn't know how to summarise his feelings for her and the reason why he stopped his dream from coming true, but he had to explain his actions.
"Yang," he began nervously, "you are the most incredible person I have ever met; you're caring, intelligent, funny, complex and so beautiful I genuinely believe you're a goddess. You're everything I have ever looked for in a woman and much, much more, but out of all your stunning traits, I find you're complexity to be the most attractive."
Krev smiled at her nervously, earning him a small giggle from Yang as they enjoyed the reason why he, a complex man, would be attracted to her, an equally complex woman.
He saw Yang starting to realise where this was going, heartache written across her magnificent features.
"Yang," he said, breathing out her name like it was the most beautiful sound in the world, "I can feel my heart begging me to kiss you, urging me to set in motion a chain of events that could lead to us getting together, dating and perhaps living happily ever after someday.
"Like I said before, you have to believe me when I say if there was even the slightest chance of that ever happening, I would abandon my self-imposed quest and make a new life in Vale." Krev could feel he was on the edge of tears, his cracked voice desperately trying to expel the words which exposed his soul. "I would speak with Professor Ozpin and attend Beacon, so I could be close to you … in order to be with you."
"Then why don't you?!" she asked furiously.
In addition to her irritation, Yang sounded as if she was about cry at any moment, which pained Krev to hear, but he couldn't give-in to his feelings now.
Krev looked to one side for a moment, trying to form the words that would bring to light the truth about Yang she didn't even realise about herself.
"Because I've seen the way you look at her," said Krev, closing his eyes in sadness.
"Wha–" was the sound Yang emitted, then she asked a coherent question. "What are you talking about, Krev?"
He turned to face her and opened his eyes, prepared to enlighten Yang Xiao Long despite the ache in his chest begging him to stop, begging him to be selfish and begging him to kiss her, but he wasn't that sort of man.
"I've seen those cute, shy glances you give her when she's not looking," he said. "I saw the way you reacted when she was hurt during the battle last night, how angry you became, how … how it looked like a piece of your soul had been destroyed at the mere thought of her death. The way you comforted her also went beyond a friend comforting a friend, or a partner comforting a partner … it was something else Yang, something more."
"You're talking about Blake," she said, unsurprisingly deducing who he was referring too.
"I suppose you have a type." Krev tried to smile, but his heart was in too much pain.
"But I'm not into girls," said Yang, her voice pleading for him to see he was wrong, but he wasn't wrong. "Krev, I want you, I … I need you."
For the love of God, kiss her! Just shut up about Blake and tell the woman you love your lying about Blake! Tell her you don't believe you deserve love, so you made it up about her feelings for Blake on the spot to sabotage your relationship, but now, after seeing her heartache, you want to be with her. Do it now! Do it! You've been through so much, so be happy for once! Live happily ever after! Don't live your life in sorrow!
Krev heard the voice inside his head trying to persuade him, enticing him to be selfish after everything he'd done and alter the fates – exactly what Sapphire wanted him to do – of two people.
He wouldn't be human if he didn't feel tempted, but he wouldn't do it, he couldn't, not after everything!
"You think you do now," he breathed, "but there will come a time when you realise the truth … when you realise the way you feel about her."
"But I –" she began, but he immediately interrupted her in order to save himself the pain of hearing the words 'Krev, I want you … I need you' when he could do nothing to change anything.
"Yang, I'm not going to be the kind of man who stands in the way of two people who will most likely spend the rest of their lives together in absolute happiness."
She didn't respond and just stared at him, confused and hurt.
Krev might have only known Yang for a few days, but he could feel the passion inside him and believed it to be love. He wanted nothing more than to comfort her, so he raised his hand and brushed his fingertips across a blushing cheek, feeling her beauty for the last time.
After a moment of blissful contact, Yang stepped back and turned from him, raising her hands up to her chest to shield a wounded soul.
Krev remained still, touching only the cool air for a second longer as he stared at Yang, as guilt washed over him. After everything he'd said and after everything he'd thought, he still gave-in and touched her! Damn it! Krev slowly curled his hand into a fist and let it drop to his side, looking and feeling regretful, because it was time to say goodbye.
"Yang I –" he was going to apologise, but decided not to. What difference would it make anyway? Krev breathed out and plucked up the courage to say, "Goodbye Yang and … thank you. You have given me back a life without constant suffering, given me hope and given me a reason to save a world I loathe, for you, Yang Xiao Long, are a part of it."
He was proud of his goodbye, but Yang didn't move or speak, telling him it was time to leave.
Without saying another word, Krev turned on the spot and began to walk away in one motion, making his way across the landing pad to stand on the edge. He took a moment to appreciate Vale in the distance and the sweet smell of fresh water before activating his Semblance, converting some of the Aura which radiated from his body into crystal wings. Krev felt the wings expand, telling him that he was finally ready to fly away from Beacon and Yang for, what he hoped, wouldn't be too long.
The Blood Angel had no idea what plans Sapphire and his cult had set in motion almost two decades before. He wasn't sure if one Child of Fate, a technological genius and Silver would be enough to win, but Yang would be safe … she would be happy … and she would forever be the person whom gave him hope and a reason to defy the New Destiny…
A reason to defy fate.
"Goodbye Yang and … thank you. You have given me back a life without constant suffering, given me hope and given me a reason to save a world I loathe, for you, Yang Xiao Long, are a part of it."
Krev's goodbye echoed through her mind, causing Yang more-and-more pain each time she listened to the words.
It had only been a few days, but she loved everything about him. Yang loved the way he talked, the way he carried himself, his fighting style and his complexity – Krev was truly an enigma, or, at least, he was until the previous night.
Before the battle they had talked for hours, opening up to each other by telling their tragic pasts. Yang had felt an instant connection with Krev and she knew it was reciprocated, so why didn't he want to act on his feelings! Was he running away, or did he honestly believe there was something between her and Blake?!
But there was nothing between them!
She admitted Blake might have been a lot like him, but Yang had no romantic feelings for her! Blake, like Krev, might have used a soft, yet serious tone, carried herself with passion, grace and attitude, possessed an amazing fighting style, and was complex and elegantly beautiful, but that didn't mean that Yang….
What? Why did I just think 'elegantly beautiful'? No! That doesn't prove anything! I was just giving a friend a compliment, that's all.
Yang wanted to convince herself otherwise, but she couldn't help but think back to recent events and began to see why Krev had come to his conclusion.
She hugged Blake on the day before the dance and winked at her. She danced with Blake and brought no date to the dance for some reason, even though she could have taken any boy she wanted. Yang then thought about the previous day, about how angry she became when she saw Sapphire trying to kill Blake, how she comforted Blake after the fight and how she still comforted Blake after leaving the medical wing despite being depressed over Krev's imminent departure.
Yang quickly turned on the spot to see if Krev was still nearby to leave everything on good terms. For a moment she believed Krev had flown away forever, but then she saw the moonlight glinting off his crystal wings when they expanded.
Yang was awestruck by the sheer power he possessed and the grace of his Semblance again, feeling like she had done when they first met.
"Krev, wait!" she yelled.
He looked like he was about leap into the air and fly away, but Krev turned around and looked at her with his usual, mournful expression.
"Good luck with everything," she said in a gentle tone.
Yang opted for the classic 'good luck' to leave them on good terms.
"You too," he said, "and I don't just mean with your education. From everything you told me about Roman Torchwick and the White Fang, it sounds like the Breach was just the beginning."
"You can talk," she said in a cheerful manner.
"I know, and the more I've thought about them," Krev began, "the more I realised our problems are more alike than we originally believed, so please Yang, don't let yourself or anyone you love die because of your enemy."
Krev's expression slightly changed before returning to normal, indicating, for a brief second at least, he thought about Valery. Yang knew within that instance he would always feel guilty about every death caused by Sapphire's possessor.
"Goodbye, Yang," he said one last time.
"Goodbye, Krev," she whispered, the words hurting her.
Krev threw her a quick smile before crouching to the ground, spreading his wings and fanning them, generating enough air in a single movement to launch him into the sky.
Yang watched him journey to Vale, smiling as she realised he wouldn't be flying over the city as the feared and hated Blood Angel, but as Krev Melek, a liberated soul defying fate.
A/N: So there you have it, the main conclusion to Defying Fate. I would say more, but there's an epilogue to this story which doesn't only include an interesting ending, but an extensive author's note at the bottom.
See you at the end,
ChildOfFate16