RWBY

Origins Of LUNR

Chapter 32: Plans

Regulus and the rest of his group except for Krisis who was sitting on a tree branch sat on four logs positioned in a square. Estelle who was sitting next to Dyna just finished explaining her story and everything she knew.

There was silence and Dyna looked at the group "No questions?" She asked.

"Of course we have questions. This is just... a lot to take in." Arrossire replies as he looked at the ground.

Dyna sighed "Sure, of course."

"So these... Maidens... They're powerful fighters that don't need Dust to use magic." Regulus said slowly trying to grasp the information.

"Correct," Estelle responded.

"And there are four of them?" Midori asked who was sitting next to Regulus.

"Yup. Always." Estelle also answered.

"Which means that, whenever one of them dies, the power transfers to someone - a female - that they cared about?" Roy asked.

"Whoever was in their thoughts, last. Important distinction. Best option is someone we can trust. Regardless, their souls become combined, in a way." Dyna replied as she looked at Roy.

"So is there a candidate that you guys have in mind to be the next maiden?" Midori asked

Dyna and Estelle looked at one another with sorrowed expressions on their faces before looking back at Regulus and his group.

"The previous Fall Maiden, Amber, had been attacked. She was young, inexperienced. And her assailant, who we now know as Cinder, somehow managed to steal some of her power, but not all of it. We were afraid that if we didn't do something, the rest would go to her as well." Dyna started and then looked at Estelle who nodded.

"A student at Beacon Academy was chosen to be the next maiden. Her name was Pyrrha Nikos." Estelle finished.

"Pyrrha?" Arrossire asked in disbelief.

Estelle and Dyna stayed silent but nodded their heads as they looked down at the ground. Regulus noticed the looks on their faces and thought for a moment. "You said 'was chosen' as if something happened. Did something happen to Pyrrha?" Regulus asked.

Estelle and Dyna looked at one another and then looked at Regulus before taking a deep breath. "She was… defeated by Cinder. This was confirmed by your friend Ruby." Dyna stated.

Everyone's eyes went wide as they heard the shocking news. Tears started to form into Midori's eyes as she looked at the two women before her. "Pyrrha's...dead?" She asked as she started to choke on her words. Regulus put a hand on her shoulder which made bury her face in the lower part of his chest.

"I'm sorry," Estelle said as she looked up at the group.

"Screw that!"

Estelle and Dyna looked over at Arrossire who looked extremely angry. Roy sitting next to Arrossire looked at him and raised an eyebrow "Calm down." He said frankly.

Arrossire shook his head as he kept his eyes on Dyna and Estelle "No, they forced this on Pyrrha, and now… now she's…"

"We didn't force anything. Qrow and the other's explained the situation and gave her the choice, and she chose." Dyna explained.

Estelle nodded and looked at Arrossire with sympathy in her eyes. "Ozpin asked her many times if she wanted to decline the offer but your friend was determined to do it and see it through. Once she realized the cause she was helping she was willing to help no matter how nervous she was about the situation. I didn't get to meet her, but her heart and bravery earned my respect." Estelle paused as her gaze shifted throughout the group.

"I want to make sure her death doesn't go in vain. I want to avenge her and take down Cinder, She and I have a score to settle." Estelle said as she clenched her fist.

Dyna put a palm over Estelle's hand gently and gave her a sympathetic nod and then looked back at Arrossire. "Not many people are super religious these days. This world's been around for a long time, long enough that people have created dozens of gods. But if you believe Ozpin, two of them are actually real." Dyna paused as she looked up at the sky and continued to speak.

"They were two brothers. The older sibling, the god of light, found joy in creating forces of life. Meanwhile, the younger brother, the god of darkness, spent his time creating forces of destruction. As you can imagine, they both had pretty different ideas about how things should go. The older one would spend his days creating water, plants, and wildlife. And at night, his brother would wake to see all the things that the elder had made and become disgusted. To counteract his brother's creations, the god of darkness brought drought, fire, famine, all he could do to rid Remnant of life. Life always returned. So one night, the younger brother went and made something - something that shared his innate desire to destroy anything and everything." She finished.

Arrietty raised an eyebrow "The creatures of Grimm." She asked.

Dyna nodded as she looked back down at Arrietty. "You guessed it. The older brother finally had enough. Knowing that their feud couldn't last like this forever, he proposed that they make one final creation... together, something that they could both be proud of, their masterpiece. The younger brother agreed. This last great creation would be given the power to both create and destroy. It would be given the gift of knowledge so that it could learn about itself and the world around it. And most importantly, it would be given the power to choose, to have free will to take everything it had learned and decide which path to follow - the path of light or the path of darkness. And that is how Humanity came to be." She finished.

"But... what does that have to do with us?" Regulus asked as he patted Midori's head who had quietly calmed down.

Dyna turned her attention to Regulus and held up her finger "Well, that's the kicker. See, the four gifts to mankind - knowledge, creation, destruction, and choice - aren't just metaphorical. Each of them exists in a physical form, left behind by the gods before they abandoned Remnant, and each of them is extraordinarily powerful. If someone were to collect all four, they'd be able to change the world. That's exactly what the enemy wants. The Huntsman Academies were created to train generations of Humanity's protectors, but they also serve another purpose - guarding the Relics. When Ozpin's predecessor founded the schools, he built them around the Relics to act as a fortress. Not only would they be easier to defend, but they would constantly be surrounded by trained warriors. The hope was that hiding them would keep mankind from using them against itself... and, of course, keeping them out of her reach." She explained.

Meanwhile…

Uzziel and Nolo were having the exact same conversation. Uzziel watched as Nolo tried to grasp the situation. "Her. You mean Salem?" Nolo asked.

Uzziel nodded as he folded his arms and leaned against a tree."That's right. Not much is known about her. Quite frankly, that's not what matters. What matters right now is that she wants the Relics, and if she gets them, it's not going to end well." Uzziel explained.

"So that's why Qrow and your uncle are having everyone meet at Haven Academy, to make sure she doesn't get her hands on the Relic there right?" Nolo asked.

Uzziel nodded and smiled "Correct. Looks like you were paying attention after all." Uzziel said as he slightly chuckled.

Nolo gave him an annoyed look and pouted "Of course I'm paying attention, it's important." Nolo replied.

Uzziel pushed off the tree and walked towards Nolo "So will you go?" He asked as he was now standing face to face with Nolo.

"I have nothing better to do, so why the heck not?" Nolo replied.

Uzziel smiled and then walked passed Nolo "Good. Then you should hurry and get to it. There's a dock nearby with a ship that should most likely take you there." Uzziel said as he stopped and looked at the sky.

"Wait, you're not coming with me?" Nolo asked.

Uzziel smiled and turned his head to look back at Nolo "I'm going to meet you there, I have to make a stop somewhere before I head over to Haven." Uzziel replied.

Nolo stayed silent for a second as he looked at Uzziel and then looked to the sky. "Hey, Uzziel. Is she really gone?" He asked.

Uzziel knew exactly what he was talking about and looked at the ground before nodding "Yeah…" He said.

Nolo clenched his fist and gritted his teeth as he closed his eyes. Uzziel closed his eyes as well before speaking again. "That's why we need to cherish the people in our lives while they're still here. You never know when something like this will happen." Uzziel paused as he turned around and made his way towards Nolo.

Once he made it close to Nolo he smiled causing Nolo to raise his brow in question. Uzziel put his right hand on top of Nolo's head, which confused Nolo further. "Uzziel?" Nolo said.

Uzziel continued to smile as he kept his hand on Nolo's head. "When you see Regulus, make sure you say sorry and make things up with him. It's not good to fight with your siblings, although I'm in no position to talk. I currently have problems with my sister." Uzziel said.

He then took his hand off Nolo's head and started to walk away from Nolo. "Well I'm heading off, you should head over to Haven as soon as possible," Uzziel said as red aura started to form around him before sprouting out wings.

"Wait! Uzziel what happened between you and your sister?" Nolo asked.

Uzziel turned around and smiled at him as he slowly began to fly. "We'll save that conversation for another time. For now, you just make sure you get to Haven as soon as possible." Uzziel responded.

Nolo smirked and nodded "Got it." He said before Uzziel grinned and took off into the sky. Nolo watched Uzziel get further and further away before turning around and then looking around the scenery. "She's probably long gone…" He said to himself as he started to walk away.

Meanwhile…

Terror had a not so pleased look on his face as he looked at Richter, Mercury, Emerald, and Havoc was kneeling before him and Salem who was standing beside him. Richter looked up slowly and saw the anger on Terrors's face and immediately looked back down to the ground.

"I want an answer and I want it now. How the hell… did this happen!" Terror exclaimed as he pointed towards a window near him. Outside was the base that Richter had made disappear sitting next to Salem's Lair.

No one said a word which angered Terror even more. "Speak." He said as he changed his tone to calm. Richter noticed that Terror was looking straight at him and cleared his throat. "We were attacked, by a group of huntsmen. They swarmed the base and launched a full-scale attack." Richter explained.

Terror closed his eyes and sighed for a moment "And you couldn't dispose of them because...?" Terror said dragging out his word, awaiting an answer.

"That persistent huntsman, Regulus, formed a group of strong huntsmen, and to make matters worse, Krisis is working with him." Richter finished explaining.

"Not only that but the Kiyoshi girl showed up as well," Mercury added.

"Estelle…"

Mercury turned his attention to the table on the right side of Salem where he saw Diana standing up and gritting her teeth also. He knew that Diana did not like Estelle and would take any opportunity to fight her. Mercury nodded his head "She also brought another woman with her. She had long blonde hair and was wielding two Scythe like weapons." Mercury explained.

"Dammit… Dyna's making a move as well." Diana said.

"It seems like it." Terror replied as he crossed his arms.

Salem shook her head and slowly walked to the window looking at the Base. "It doesn't matter who gets involved. The results will still be the same. Our plans will be achieved and neither Dyna or Estelle can stop us." She stated.

"What happened to the other base?" Terror asked. His sights were now set on Emerald who looked up at him.

"The base is still intact but the patients are all dead… Goosko killed them all." She replied.

Terror closed his eyes and put his hand to his temple as he was trying to keep calm. "All of them? Were they already dead when you arrived?" Terror asked.

Emerald nodded her head as she also kept calm, knowing that Terror wasn't going to take his anger out on her. "When I arrived there were bodies in random places. He was calling them his darlings and making them into potential brides. He was killing them one by one." She explained.

"Did you dispose of him?" Terror asked.

Emerald nodded which made Terror smile "Good, you saved me the trouble of doing it myself." Terror said. Mercury side-eyed Emerald knowing the real truth and knew that she wasn't telling the whole story.

"We'll continue with our plans and await Paul and Hazel's return. As for the situation that happened today, I don't consider this a failure. Richter was able to bring one of the bases here, so Richter can continue with his experiment." Salem said as she turned back around to look at every one.

"What about that traitor Krisis?" Havoc asked as she stood up from her crouching position.

Salem looked at Havoc and slowly made her way towards her chair. "Krisis will receive punishment in due time. For now, I want you to conserve your energy and work with Richter." Salem said which earned her a nod from Havoc "Understood." Havoc replied. Salem looked at Terror who nodded his head agreeing with her suggestion.

Now later that night…

Weiss Schnee sat on her bed in her room with her head bowed and her hands folded in her lap. Jacques Schnee was pacing in front of her. "Unbelievable. Absolutely unbelievable." He said in a displeased voice. Jacques suddenly stops, then turns and points at her.

"Do you have any idea what your stunt cost us?" He asked.

Weiss gave him a sad look as she looked at him "I—"

"And don't think I'm just talking about Lien here! Our reputation! Our... our…" Jacques sighs angrily and holds his head after cutting her off, unable to come up with the words to finish expressing the gravity of her mistake. Weiss waits for a moment before speaking.

"I want to leave." She stated bluntly

"I beg your pardon?" He asked.

"I said I want to leave. I don't want to stay here anymore. I don't want to stay in Atlas anymore!" She exclaimed.

"Young lady, I don't give a damn about what you want! This isn't about you. This is about the Schnee family name and your apparent insistence on dragging it through the mud!" He scolded

Weiss stands up from the bed and preparing to hold her ground against her father. "I have done nothing but fight to uphold the honor of my family name, a name that you married into!" She retorted.

Jacques slaps Weiss hard on her left cheek, sending her head to the side as she gasps in reaction. She puts her hand on her cheek and turns to face her father, looking at him a little incredulously as she lowers her hand. He looks right back at her, unrepentant. When he begins speaking again, his voice suddenly sounds calm yet intimidating.

"This behavior of yours is incredibly disappointing. You couldn't possibly understand the lengths I've gone to in order to keep this family where it is. You think running off like your sister is going to make the Schnee name stronger? You're wrong. Siding with her only divides us." He said, trying to make his daughter understand his point of view.

"I'm not siding with anyone. I'm doing what I feel is right, and that does not include wasting my time up here…" Weiss stated.

Jacques walks away, rolling his eyes as his daughter finishes her rant.

"...with these clueless people in Atlas. The Schnee family legacy isn't yours to leave. It's mine, and I'll do it as a Huntress." She finished.

Jacques stops and slowly turns to face her again. As he speaks, he moves to stand in front of his daughter, peering down upon her.

"No... you won't. You're not leaving Atlas. You're not to leave the manor grounds unless I specifically allow it. You are going to remain here, out of sight and out of trouble, until you and I come to an agreement on your future." He said.

"What?!" She asked.

"Your presupposition that you can simply have whatever it is you want is a clear sign of our failure as parents. But from now on, I'll be giving you the full attention you require, starting by keeping you where I can see you." With that, Jacques turns once more and walks away.

"You can't just keep me from leaving!" She exclaimed.

Again, he stops and turns to look at her. "I can, and the staff here will make sure of it." He assured her.

"So now I'm just your prisoner?!" She asked.

"You are my daughter. You're a child, and children are grounded when they misbehave." She as he walks away, and this time, he continues walking even while his daughter speaks.

"This is only going to make things worse, Father. People will ask questions! They'll want to know why the heiress to the Schnee Dust Company is suddenly nowhere to be found!" Weiss said as her father stops in front of the door and faces her.

"Which is why you are no longer the heiress to the Schnee Dust Company." He bluntly stated.

Weiss takes a step back, stunned. "Excuse me?"

"Clearly, the trauma you endured at the fall of Beacon was too much for you. Which is why you've generously revoked your claim to the company and its earnings and passed it on to your brother Whitley." Weiss stares at Jacques, breathing heavily as she digests the news.

"It's time to wake up and face reality." Jacques turns and leaves. Through the open door, Whitley was waiting and clearly having been eavesdropping. Jacques turns to the left without acknowledging his son.

Weiss takes a moment to deal with her emotions and then steps out into the hall with her fists clenched, calling out to her brother who is moving down the hallway in the opposite direction his father had gone.

"Whitley?!" She called out.

"Yes, sister?" Whitley asked while turning around with a small smile on his face.

"Did you know about this?" Weiss asked while walking to her brother and crossing her arms.

"About what?" he asked.

"You never liked Winter. You never liked me. But you've been nothing but supportive since the moment I came back." She said.

"If being kind to my big sister is some sort of crime, then I suppose I'm guilty." He replied with a smile.

Weiss' eyes widen with realization. "You wanted this to happen," she said in a shocked tone.

"It's foolish not to do as Father asks." He quickly replied.

As he speaks, he leans forward, his feigned innocent smile changing into a threatening and angry expression. Weiss stares with a look of hurt and betrayal.

"I can't believe you." She said.

"Don't worry, Weiss. The Schnee family name is in good hands." He stated. Whitley turns and walks away, Weiss staring after him.

Weiss returns to her room, collapses face down across her bed and cries. Two airships fly past the window. Tears ran down her face as she thought about everything that just happened to her. She felt alone, everyone that would be there for her wasn't there to cheer her up and help her through this.

Knock, Knock, Knock...

A second or two later Weiss lifts her head as she heard the knocking coming from her window. She slowly stood up to see who was standing in front of the window. She quickly ran over to the window and opened it with a shocked look on her face.

"Uzziel…" She said as she sniffled.

Uzziel smiled as he was floating in front of her window with his Semblance activated. Weiss backed up and let him land inside as he slowly touched her bedroom floor. Uzziel lifted his finger and wiped the tears from her eyes. "Now why is my princess crying? You'll stain that pretty face of yours." Uzziel said which made more tears fall from her eyes. Weiss quickly wrapped her arms around him and hugged him tightly which caught him by surprise. Uzziel stood there for a moment before wrapping his arms around her and holding her tight letting her cry and patting her head to comfort her.