Chapter 11: The Great Destroyer

A group of Beowolves and Ursai was coming closer and closer to the walls of Cadabra, ready to attack the city. The walls were manned by people with Dust tipped arrows and blasters from the dead Demons, ready to attack.

"How many you figure?" an archer asked to the man on his left.

"I'd say about twenty, maybe twenty-five." he answered.

"I don't think we have the arrows for this." the first one said.

"Who cares about arrows?" the second one asked. "Some of these people aren't really good at shooting."

"We got the rest of our fighters at the gate?" another asked.

"Yeah." the first one answered with a sigh. "Same shit, different day."

"We really are doomed, aren't we?" the second one asked.

"Well, our second Magic user left us. So, there's a good chance."

The Grimm got closer and closer, ready to attack the gate.

"Alright. Make every shot count."

Everyone prepared to fire. As the archers were about to release their arrows and the men carrying blasters were about to pull their triggers, a burst of red flame engulfed most of the Grimm.

"The hell was that?" one asked.

"Didn't that look like-?" he was cut off as a Beowolf jumped on the wall. It was about to pounce, but a purple light glowed around it. The Grimm's body began to snap and its limb began to move in painful ways. As it turned to dust, a woman and two men were standing in its place.

"Hey, it's Oliver!" one man yelled.

"Isn't that-?"

"HOLY SHIT, IT IS! Open the gate!"

As the gate opened, the trio came inside, and were greeted by a few people holding swords and spears. One person called out to people starting to come out to see what was going on.

"Hey everyone! Salem's back!"

The town immediately rushed over to see her. After greeting Ozma and Oliver, everyone gathered around Salem.

"Are you alright?"

"You had us worried sick!"

"What happened to you?"

Before Salem could say anything, Oliver spoke up.

"Ozma's hunch was right, Momin was holding her prisoner. But we've had a long day. But don't worry, things will get sorted out tomorrow."

Everyone watched as the trio walked back to Oliver's house. Everyone was cheering and welcoming Salem back. Salem just smiled and waved, wondering how everyone could forgive her so easily. She had been gone for a while, surely someone would have thought she abandoned them.

As they reached the house, Salem went upstairs. Margaret and Abra came out of another room.

"You're back!" Margaret said as she hugged her husband, who eagerly returned the embrace.

"Where's Salem?" Abra asked. A door closing upstairs answered her question.

Margaret looked to Ozma. "Is she alright?"

"I hope so." Ozma replied. "We found her held prisoner by Momin."

"Honey, let's give her some space." Oliver requested. "She's...been through a lot."

The next morning came, and Salem was still in her room. Oliver was worried about what Momin had done to her at the Land of Darkness, but Ozma could tell something else was bothering her. She was so adamant about staying behind, as she blamed herself for Momin's reign of terror. Maybe she was right, maybe she was responsible for his rise to power. Ozma knew this possibility existed, but he needed confirmation. So as soon as he woke up, he knocked on Salem's door.

"Salem, it's me. Can I come in?" Ozma asked.

The only response he got was the door opening by itself. Salem was sitting on the bed, her back turned to him. As soon as he came in, the door closed and locked behind him. Salem didn't acknowledge Ozma.

"Salem, I know you're going through a hard time. I...can't imagine what happened to you. But, I need to know-"

"How all this happened?" Salem asked. "How I let Momin use me? How I'm responsible for the deaths of millions?"

"Salem, that's not true. You're not-"

"No, Ozma." she finally turned around to face him. Her eyes were red and puffy, it seemed she had been crying for a long time. "Everything that happened while you were gone is all my fault. And...it's time you know why." Salem knew it was time Ozma learned the truth. She knew the chances of Ozma rejecting her were high, but she didn't care. All she knew was that he was the only one who could stop Momin. In order to do that, he needed to know everything. So, she started with a question.

"Ozma...do you remember rescuing me from my father's tower?"

"Of course." Ozma replied. How could he forget? It was one of the most dangerous things he ever did, but it was all worth it in the end.

Or so he thought.

"Why was I there?" Salem asked.

"...What?" Ozma asked with confusion.

Salem turned to him. "Why was I in that tower? Locked away for years?"

Ozma opened his mouth to speak, but stopped himself. It was then he realized he didn't know. He always thought her father did it out of cruelty, but the way Salem was talking...it sounded like there was another reason.

"You don't know, do you?" Salem asked. "Neither did I. I didn't find out until Momin told me."

"Momin? How would he know?"

Salem dried her eyes before speaking. "Momin was sent here by the God of Darkness. He told Momin everything about Remnant. About the Grimm, Magic, and me. Especially me."

"Why you? You're just...Salem." Ozma took her hand gently. "You're just that lonely girl I rescued all those years ago. Someone who was wrongly-"

"NO!" Salem yelled as she walked to the window. "I'm...I'm not who you think I am."

"...What are you talking about?"

Salem turned back to him. "Ozma...before you died, do you remember learning about 'Oracles'?"

"Of course." Ozma answered. Oracles were people that existed in the first age of mankind. "They were people who had a strong connection to their own Magic. Magic that allowed them to see the future. I've only met one, a man who warned me about a large Grimm that would destroy a town by the ocean."

"My mother was an Oracle."

Ozma was surprised to hear this. Salem rarely talked about her mother. She only talked about how her mother abandoned her when she was little. And how this led to her being locked away by her father.

"She was?"

"Yes. She was so strong, she would have visions once a day. Visions that came true, that earned the Gods' favor. The night before she left...she had a vision about me."

"...What was it about?" Ozma asked.

"She saw that one day... I would lead mankind to ruin. That I would lead the people of the entire world to their deaths. She called me 'the Great Destroyer.' She told the Gods and my father, and they all knew it was true. My mother...she wanted to stop me. To make sure that I wouldn't hurt anyone. My father agreed, but he couldn't go through with it. He said he would keep me hidden from the world, and that I would never set foot outside his castle. My mother disagreed. Eventually, she allowed him to go through with his plan, but she left. She said that when his plan failed, she would take matters into her own hands."

Ozma was speechless. All this time...Salem's father was protecting the world? His act wasn't out of cruelty, but of selflessness? All this time...Ozma never knew about this. But then he remembered what the God of Light said to him, how the mankind he knew was no more. Did that mean...the vision was true?

There was only one way to find out.

"Salem...please. Tell me what happened."

Salem told Ozma everything. How she requested the Gods bring Ozma back, how she was cursed for deceiving them, how she childishly lashed out against the Gods, and lastly...how Momin used her desire to die to gain power.

In her time being cursed and being tortured by Momin, Salem knew pain. She knew true suffering, both physical and emotional. But the one thing that hurt her most of all, more than the Gods or Momin...was watching Ozma run out of the room.

Ozma felt sick. Not long after leaving Salem, he vomited. He was in absolute shock of everything he just heard. His body was shaking all over, he was still throwing up.

He couldn't believe it. He couldn't believe what Salem had done, how she was responsible for the deaths of so many people. He was filled with confusion and anger. Rather than Salem, however...these feelings more focused on himself.

If her mother's prophecy was true, then Ozma was also responsible. He willingly rescued Salem, put everyone on Remnant at risk. If he only knew what he was doing...things would have been different. He was supposed to be a hero, but he had doomed the entire world.

But he couldn't ignore Salem's part in this. She knew what she was doing, she knew the consequences of her actions would be grave, but she didn't care. All she cared about was seeing him again. This made Ozma feel even more guilty. If he never met her, then none of this would have ever happened. The world would still be the same, the Gods would still be here, and maybe Momin wouldn't have a reason to come here in the first place.

On the other hand...Ozma heard Salem. Not just her words, but he heard her feelings. Every word she said was filled with regret. She hated all of it; the prophecy, her rebellion, helping Momin. If she could change it all...Ozma knew she would.

And on top of that, everyone in Cadabra never had a negative thing to say about Salem. They all talked about how she did everything she could to help the town, how she was willing to save everyone. Even when she returned, everyone welcomed her back.

But that didn't change anything...did it?

Salem regretted everything. Even the God of Light admitted he was wrong for abandoning her.

But...everything else that happened was unspeakable.

And Ozma found himself asking a difficult question; "What should I do?"

"With Salem free, everything is at risk."

Momin was speaking to Tock and Taurus in his personal chambers, sitting on his throne. The Faunus were kneeling as he spoke.

"This failure is mine, Lord Momin." Tock stated, who was the warden of the Apathy prison Momin made. "I didn't think someone would take a risk coming for her."

"Neither did I, Tock. I've been foolish." Momin walked off his throne and looked out the window. "I imagined the Apathy draining her joy would be security enough. It seems I was wrong."

Taurus spoke next. "That's all in the past, my Lord. We need to worry about our future."

"What do you suggest, Taurus?" Momin asked as he continued to look out his window.

"Find her." Taurus replied. "I can send soldiers and Grimm out at dawn."

"Save the effort. They're playthings in her presence. Besides, it's clear to me now that Motaro wasn't lying about the other Magic user." Momin was referring to footage he saw of the soldiers who tried to recapture Salem. When Momin saw the disguised trooper flying and shooting lightning from a staff, he knew this was like his Magic.

"But we need to act, my Lord." Taurus replied.

"Master, I also share Taurus' concern." Tock stated. "But we don't know nothin' about this other Magic user or where they went. If we're to have some idea about this situation, we might have to...for the moment...let them go."

Taurus quickly turned to Tock. "What?! Do nothing?! My Lord, you said it yourself, there's too much at stake to let them walk free!"

"I agree..." Momin stated.

Taurus laughed as he turned to Tock. "And on that note, we'll have to-"

"With Tock." Momin finished his earlier statement.

Taurus turned to his master in disbelief as he walked back to his throne. "We have a new enemy, Taurus. To properly defeat an enemy, you must know them. For now, we must watch and learn."

"But Lord Momin-"

"Have faith, Taurus." Momin ordered. "We will prevail. Leave me now."

The Faunus bowed their heads and left the room. Momin made four Magic orbs and watched them spin as he pondered his next move. He would indeed be watching this new Magic user. And once he learned enough, he would strike back.

As for Salem, Momin would have to make sure she wouldn't leave once he found her again. And he was starting to have an idea on how to do that.

Salem was beginning to cry herself to sleep. She didn't blame Ozma for running away, but it still broke her heart. She had finally got the one thing she wanted, and now she lost it again. When she was abandoned on Remnant, she cursed everything around her except herself. But when Ozma rightfully abandoned her, she cursed herself.

Now, more than anything, Salem wanted to die. She didn't want to stay on Remnant anymore. At first, her reasons were so she could reunite with Ozma. But now, after everything she did, Salem couldn't live with herself. Even after helping Cadabra, Salem felt that she didn't deserve to live.

She heard a knock at her door, but didn't bother to answer it. The door opened anyway.

"Salem?" a familiar voice called out. Salem looked up to see a girl staring back at her. She stopped crying and smiled.

"He...hello, Abra." Salem said as she dried her eyes. Seeing Abra would always brighten her day, it always filled Salem with joy. But now, this joy only lasted a moment, as she felt more tears fall down her cheeks.

"Why are you crying?" Abra asked.

"I..." Salem sniffled as she continued. "I just..."

Abra handed Salem a handkerchief and sat on the bed. "I'm sorry if I'm bothering you. I could hear you crying, and I-"

"It's fine, Abra. It's just...I've made a terrible mistake. Now I'm facing the consequences."

"You mean...leaving?"

Salem's eyes began to tear up again. "Yes, but...it's more than that. Everything I've done, even before I met you, has done nothing but bring pain to everyone I've known. And now, I don't know what to do."

"Salem, you didn't make a mistake."

Salem turned to Abra, unsure of what she was talking about. "But Abra, leaving you was wrong. It put you and your family in danger."

"But you came back." Abra pointed out. "In the end, you kept your promise."

"Well...you're right. But there are some mistakes I've made that I can't fix."

"You're not alone." Abra said, putting a hand on her shoulder. "Salem, Papa once told me the difference between an error and a mistake, and I think you should hear it."

"I...I don't understand." Salem said. "Aren't they the same?"

Abra laughed before continuing. "No, silly. Everyone can make an error, but that error doesn't become a mistake until you refuse to correct it."

Salem opened her mouth to speak, but she was at a loss for words. Abra had some surprisingly wise words for a girl her age.

"You're right, leaving Cadabra was an error. But you kept your promise, you corrected yourself." Abra then hugged Salem. "You didn't make a mistake, Salem."

Salem began to cry again, but these were tears of joy. Abra's surprising wisdom had made her forget about her worries as she hugged the little girl.

"She's right." another voice filled the room. The girls looked back to see Ozma standing in the doorway.

"Abra, could you leave us alone for a minute?" Salem asked.

"Sure." Abra said. But before she left, she placed something in Salem's hand. Looking at her hand, Salem saw the little gem she once gave to Abra.

"Welcome back, Salem." Abra said as she left. Ozma came in and sat in a chair, looking at the ground.

"Ozma..." Salem began. "I know you have mixed feelings, seeing me after learning everything." Salem began to tear up again. "And...I know nothing I say can change anything. But I want you to know how sorry I am. For everything. The Gods, humanity,...Momin. I'm so ashamed of it all. I don't...I don't know what you want me to do, but I-"

Two arms wrapping around Salem cut her off. She couldn't believe what was happening. Ozma was...comforting her. But why?

"How...how can you forgive me so easily?" Salem asked.

"We can discuss your actions another day. For now...I'm more worried about saving Remnant. And I know you want to help." Letting her go, Ozma gently caressed Salem's cheek. "We can't change the past, Salem. Only learn from it. After hearing what Abra said and talking to most of the people here, I can tell you've already learned how to be a better person. And I for one...am really happy you did."

Salem smiled at him. "After everything I did, even if I don't deserve it...you're still my knight in shining armor."

"Always." Ozma promised as he gently kissed Salem.

Author's notes: hope you enjoyed this one. I tried to make it sad but hopeful at the same time. Like Ozma said, there are more things to worry about than Salem's mistakes.

To Ser Dorito of Aisle 13, I'm glad you got my references. I'm a fan of the heavy metal band Sabaton, whose songs are about important historical battles, people, and events. Inmate 4859 is a song about Witold Pilecki, and I thought it would be fun to include the title in here. And yes, Momin did quote Moff Gideon. Glad you liked the chapter.

To D.N. Works, you're right about the Emperor not being able to always tell when someone is lying to him. The same concept applied to Momin here. I'm glad you like that Ozma and Salem are together.

To UnknownEnemy1234, you'll have to wait and see.

To ParadoxTheory374, I think Momin agrees with you here.

To Legend Knight 00, glad you liked the rescue! Thanks for the review.

To 54godamora, thank you.

To GojiraFan455515, I wish Momin could be on the big screen. I always felt that his story isn't over yet.

That's all I have right now, hope you enjoyed! Please leave a review.