Of Blame and Rage
Cinder wasn't sure how long she had been unconscious, but figured it didn't matter, as she stared at the night sky above her, as the clouds gathered overhead. She suspected that if not for her Maiden powers, she'd probably be dead. Forcing herself to roll over, she tried to glance around. From what she could see, she seemed to be in some sort of lot or clearing. She supposed she was lucky in that respect, better than landing in a house or something.
"By the gods." Cinder glanced over to see, a woman approaching her.
"Are you alright?" the woman asked, kneeling down, before noticing Cinder's Grimm arm. She let out a cry of fear as she leapt back instinctively. Cinder gave her a quick once over; this woman looked about the same size as her….
(to the North)
What was one to do when they were presented with a horrible truth? In this case, the truth about Oz, the truth about Salem, and even the truth about the gods. As the vision faded mortals could only stare at the god before them. Darkness stared them down for a time as well. No one knew what to say.
"So that's it, then?" Jaune asked, as he stepped forward, "That's what you've been hiding from us?" Darkness was silent for a time, before he turned around.
"What of it?" he asked.
"'What of it'?!" Yang snapped, "You wiped out all of humanity!"
"You destroyed the moon!" Nora added. The god was silent for a time, as he looked away from them. He had wanted to avoid sharing this fact with.
"Yes, I did," Darkness answered bluntly, as he started to walk away, "And again, what of it?"
"Does this not matter to you at all?" Ruby asked, coming forward, "Are we supposed to just let this go?"
"There is nothing to be done about it now," Darkness said, glancing over his shoulder slightly.
"Oh, so I guess that makes it all okay!" Nora hissed, before she spread her arms, "Hey everyone, it doesn't matter how many people you kill, so long as you do it long ago!" This time, Darkness didn't say anything, but he did stop walking. His fingers slowly started to curl.
"You create humanity, and then you wipe them out the moment they turn against you?" Blake demanded.
"Do not speak on matters you do not understand," Darkness hissed, still not turning around.
"You committed genocide!" Jaune shouted, "And for what? Just because a few humans were stupid!" Though while it was extremely faint, he started to shake every so slightly.
"Say something damn it!" Jaune snapped.
"SILENCE!" Darkness roared as he virtually exploded into his true dragon form, sending a shockwave that knocked the whole group to the ground.
"WE GAVE YOU MAGIC SO YOU COULD FORGE YOUR OWN DESTINIES AND STORIES, AND YOU WANTED MORE! WE GAVE YOU A WORLD TO MAKE ALL YOUR OWN, AND YOU WANTED MORE! WE GAVE YOU THE VERY LIFE IN YOUR VEINS, AND YOU WANTED MORE! SINCE THE MOMENT WE PULLED YOU FROM THE DUST, THAT IS ALL YOU MORTALS HAVE EVER WANTED: MORE!" Darkness growled as he started to stalk towards them, "YOU CAME TO VIEW US AS IF WE WERE NOTHING MORE THAN SERVANTS YOU COULD COME TO AND REQUEST BLESSINGS FROM. AND WHEN WE REFUSED AN UNREASONABLE REQUEST, SUDDENLY WE WERE CRUEL AND PETTY. YOU THINK THIS WAS ONLY EVER ABOUT THE WITCH? FOR AGES THE MORTALS QUARRELED AMONGST YOURSELVES AN INFINITELY PETTIER REASONS, AND THEY WOULD COME TO MY BROTHER TO BEG FOR YOUR OWN SELFISH ENDS. THE MORTALS OF THAT AGE DESERVED WHAT CAME OF THEM." The group was only listen and stare in shock at the god's rage.
"Is that what you really believe?" Jaune eventually asked, as he slowly pulled himself back to his feet, "That every last human deserved to be punished for the crimes of the bad ones?"
"Ilia and I once believed in something like that," Blake said, "That the many should suffer for what the few had done."
"But who cares what we think?" Weiss said, "You're the god, and we're the lowly mortals, what does our prospectives matter on any of this?"
"You know, maybe it's a good thing you left!" Yang said, jumping to her feet, "If the gods think mass murder is justifiable, then maybe we've always been better off without them!" Darkness was silent for a time, as he looked at his students for a time, as his tail flicked slightly.
"SO BE IT THEN," he said, as he held up his claw. In an instant, RYPJ and BRWN cried out as glowing energy suddenly burst from their bodies. The energy floated over them, in the shape of their dragon forms, which floated over to Darkness' claw, coalescing into a single ball.
"I HEREBY REVOKE THE POWER AND FAVOR I BESTOWED UPON YOU," he said, "IF YOU THINK YOURSELVES BETTER WITH MY ABSENCE, THEN WHO AM I PROTEST?" As what he was saying that into the teens, he started to disappear.
"Wait!" Ruby cried as she tried get up to try and get to him, only of her limbs to suddenly go weak. She and all the others, suddenly felt like ever ounce of their strength had vanished..
"You can't leave us!" Weiss shouted.
"STILL DEMANDING THINGS OF YOUR CREATOR?" Darkness asked coldly, repeating the same question he asked Salem, before he fully faded away. The group was left alone, to stare at the space where the god once was, as the snow slowly started to picked up…
(in the Lands of Darkness)
Looking back, Emerald found that the whole battle at Haven had been a blur. The most she remembered as fighting Yang, strange, reptilian shapes, and a voice accompanied by red mist. It was unnerving, looking back on it all; Emerald didn't like being in such a foggy state. But the most she could do at this point was stare out the window of the airship she and other's had managed to hijack, as they passed over the barren, Grimm-infested wasteland. Soon enough, they were upon Salem's keep, which they disembarked at. As they were doing so, Emerald saw Talos standing by the steps, looking right at them, or more specifically, her.
"Ah, I'm sure there are no hard feeling about the leg," Tyrian said mockingly, only to get shoved aside by the android, who came straight up to Emerald.
"What?" Emerald asked nervously, as she instinctively put a hand on her weapon. For a moment, Talos was silent, as if he was debating what exactly to say.
"Is it true?" he eventually asked in his steely, metallic voice.
"Is what true?" Emerald asked after a moment, though she had a good idea what he was referring to.
"Were you really the one responsible for Penny's death?" A chill ran down Emerald's spine at that; she'd overheard what Talos told Pyrrha, that Penny was his sister. She hadn't given it any real thought at the time, but now that she had Talos right in her face….
"Answer me!" Talos growled, as he took another step forward. Emerald took a step back, only to feel a hand on her shoulder.
"We should not keep her waiting," Hazel said, as he nudged the teen forward. Emerald was all too willing to do so; as she passed the android, his gaze followed her.
"You and I will be speaking later," Talos said, as he followed the group. Emerald just picked up her pace slightly.
Soon enough they were all in Salem's hall, facing down the witch who sat the end of her table. Sitting at the table was Watts, Magenta, and Crane, while Talos and Bai, both of whom had already been "scolded" by Salem for their failures, were also sitting down.
"So," Salem said, in a deathly calm voice, "I think an explanation may be in order."
"The dragons," Hazel eventually answered, "Their appearance…"
"I've already heard that," Salem said, holding up her hand, "I want to know how, despite having the Spring Maiden in your grasp, you let the opportunity slip through your fingers. You let the Relic of Knowledge slip through your fingers."
"Your Grace," Tyrian said, "I can assure…" Salem flicked her wrist, telekinetically shoving Tyrian to the side.
"I'd rather here it from you, Ms. Sustrai," she said. Emerald flinched, as she looked up in surprise. This was the first time Salem had ever addressed her directly like that. She opened her mouth, but no words came out. Salem narrowed her eyes at her.
"I already know who is responsible," she said, as she unfolded her hands, "But I want to hear it said." Emerald stared at the ground, finding it hard to actually find any words.
"It was because of Raven," Emerald said, "She lied…"
"ENOUGH!" Salem snapped as she suddenly got to her feet, telekinetically swiping the table aside in the process, sending Crane, Bai, and Magenta tumbling to the floor, "You and I both know who is really responsible!" She started advancing on the group in front of them, as she held up her hand, as black claws began to emerge out of the ground at Emerald's feet.
"Emerald!" Mercury said, only to be held back by Hazel.
"Say it!" Salem hissed, as she got closer, and one of the black hands came dangerously close to Cinder's throat, "Say it!"
"Cinder!" Emerald finally blurted out. The hand then receded slightly.
"Go on," Salem said dangerously, not lowering her hand.
"She wanted to fight that Mistrali champion," Emerald explained, "That's all I remember, honest!" Salem was silent, as if considering Emerald's answer, before she lowered her hand, and the hands sunk back into the black pit on the ground.
"That's all I needed to hear," she said calmly, before turning to address all her minions, "Cinder must spend some time mulling over her failure. You are not to seek her out, is that clear." Nobody said anything, as everyone knew that was directed at Emerald. Salem the turned around, and walked back to the front of the room, as her lackeys stared after her.
"Those overgrown serpents are proving to be an issue," Salem said, as she stared out the window at the Nevermores flew by, "We will have to accelerate our plans in Vacuo. Once we have the Relic of Destruction…."
"Ma'am," Hazel interrupted. Salem glared at him, not pleased with being interrupted but didn't say anything.
"We can only assume the children have the Relic now," Hazel explained, "I imagine they're going to Atlas." That got everyone's attention. Talos hands curled into fists at the mention of the kingdom.
"And they're being lead, by Ozpin." That name hung still in the air, as everyone looked at Hazel in surprise.
"He's already reincarnated?" Crane asked, "So soon?"
"If anyone can get through to Ironwood, it's Ozpin," Watts said, "This may change things. Perhaps…" He was silenced, as the sound of the windows starting to crack slightly. Attention was drawn to Salem, as a dark Aura began to swell around her. She looked up, now visibly shaking. She hissed one word.
"Leave."
"My Lady, perhaps I could…" Tyrian was silenced as Salem looked straight at him. With the message clear as day, everyone quickly retreated from the room. Emerald could only watch as the door closed. The sound she heard after it closed would haunt her nightmares for day stop come.
(in Anima)
The group was slowly trudging the snow, going in the general direction of Argus. The ones in the lead were Oscar, Qrow, and Ilia. As for RYPJ and BRWN… Ilia glanced back; they were all several steps behind, walking very slowly, their heads hung. They looked so… weak.
"What's wrong with them?" Ilia asked.
"Think about what they just found out," Qrow said, taking a swig from his flask, emptying it in the process, "What would you be doing?" Ilia wasn't sure what exactly to say to that. She wished there was something she could say to Blake, but found nothing. She supposed this wasn't unlike when she found out what the Spirits really were. They kept walking, as the storm gradually got worse. Eventually, looking through the snow, Oscar could see something.
"Look!" he said, pointing, "It's a house!" Looking closer, the others could see it was indeed a house. Not a house in particularly good condition, but a house nonetheless.
"Well," Qrow said, "I guess it's a start."
The Old Ones: The Outlaw
Life was hard for the people of Patch. The real problem wasn't really the oppressive baron who ruled the island; people eventually learned to live with that. The problem was the Kraken that lived in the waters around the island. Anytime someone went out to the water to travel, or even just fish, they were taking their lives in their hands, as the Kraken could and would drag anything it could get it's tentacles on. The baron, meanwhile lived relatively safe in his castle, in the center of the island. But the worst part, was that on occasion, the Kraken would crawl onto land, and ravage it. Like it was today.
The people screamed, as the colossal tentacled creature swung it's tentacle, crushing another house in the process, as it slowly advanced across the ground. The people tried to run, but there were only so many places they could go. One family was trying to escape, but as they were running, one tentacle landed in front of them. The shock wave sent the son of the family tumbling away. The mother tried to call out, but her husband held him back.
"Mommy!" the boy cried. But this only served to attract the Kraken's attention. It glance down at the child, who could only stare up in horror, before it held up it's tentacle, and brought it down. The boy closed his eyes…. but the blow never came. Instead, all he heard was the Grimm was bellowing in pain.
The boy slowly opened his eyes, to see the Kraken flaying around one less tentacle; but then his attention was drawn to the man standing beside the severed one. He had wild black hair and was wearing a black feather cloak over a red shirt and pants. He was carrying a long spear with a red blade at the end. He glanced at the kid, revealing a pair of bright red eyes.
"Get outta here." The kid didn't need to be told twice, as he hurried back to his parents. The man then turned to the Grimm, now having its undivided attention. It brought down another two tentacles at it, which the man easily avoided. When a third came at him, he swung his spear again, striking it off. Using his spear to balance, he then flipped into the air, severing another tentacle as he did. Eventually, he was high enough, and he aimed his weapon. He then threw his spear, which whistled through the air, before hitting the Kraken square in the eye. There was then an explosion of Ice Dust, creating a massive ice block in the Grimm's face. The Grimm was killed in an instant, and after it faded away, the spear was left here, allowing the man to come up and retrieve it without issue.
The people slowly emerged from what little shelter they had, as they saw the beast that had tormented them for ages faded away. The man polished his spear off, before spinning through his hand to face the people, thrusting the tip into the ground.
"My name is Branwen," the man announced, "Anyone who believes in doing what's right because it's right, can come with me." With that, he turned, and started marching out, in the direction of baron's castle. It took a moment, but one person started to follow him, then another, and another, until eventually, a whole tribe worth of people were advancing on the baron.
Note: So the truth is out there, and RYPJ and BRWN just lost their powers. Things are going about as well as one could expect. We're going to get into the Brunswick Farm scene; I'm going to be doing my own spin. How, I won't say.
This was obviously a much shorter chapter than the last one, but not as much needed to be said in this one. Also, to clarify, these "Old Ones", are referring to people who exist in the past. By the time of this story, all of them are dead.
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