(REUPLOADED)
Chapter 103 – Final Rest
R.W.B.Y
There was only one Higher Demon left…
They may have had the Whisperer outnumbered, but it was hardly outgunned and could still take them all on. At the end of the day, it was a Higher Demon, and their kind never feared death and never backed down from a fight. Ruby blasted towards the Whisperer who transformed into Roman Torchwick, jabbing Melodic Cudgel into her gut and firing the cannon, blasting her across the floor, before jumping towards her and smashing the curved handle down against the side of her face.
Blake swung forward and threw both her feet into the side of the Demon's face, staggering it but as she slashed her sword, Wilt and Blush suddenly blocked and deflected the incoming blows with intense precision. He laughed through Adam's voice as he backed up, before jumping up in the air and driving his Crimson Sword down into the ground, creating a powerful red pulse that knocked her backwards. Then his hair glowed bright red and he swung Wilt and Blush, everything turned red as he used Moonslice against Blake, narrowly missing her when Yang threw a large rock in between them.
The rock crumbled into dust against the raw power of that attack, and the Whisperer grinned with gritted teeth as it walked towards them. "Come on then, Yang! Do you think you're any faster than you were at Beacon?" It asked her, Yang gasped, her eyes widened, and she felt her cybernetic and human hand shudder at the mere memory, still affected by that night even now. The Whisperer chuckled, shaking its head. "We thought not."
The Whisperer fired Wilt and Blush towards Yang, who crossed her arms together as the sword shot towards her, and the impact sent her tumbling across the sand. The Whisperer grabbed Yang by the throat and lifted her off the ground with ease, slowly crushing her throat in its hand as it stared at her with that evil grin on its face. "Get off her!" Kassius roared, he suddenly launched Lash Equinox towards the Demon which broke the arm apart into shards of glass. Yang fell and caught her breath as her boyfriend sprinted towards the Higher Demon and punched it across the face.
Adam's face broke apart, but as it came back around it caught Kassius' sword in its hand, staring down at him. The face shifted and transformed into Kelham who grinned down at him. "Oh not you again." Kassius growled, then the Whisperer swung its boot into his chest. The Whisperer stood still as it looked around, noticing it was being completely surrounded by everyone. It laughed cunningly, and then they all charged forward.
Weiss launched across the dunes of sand and ash and she stabbed at the Higher Demon with Myrtenaster, but it caught her by the wrist and threw her towards Ruby and then it blasted itself up into the air. Fire and red lightning channelled through its body as it held out its arms, but as it floated above them, it turned as Summer shot up towards it in a shining flurry of white petals.
The Whisperer threw its arms out, creating a huge pulse of energy, fire and red lightning cracked through the sky and it knocked Summer out of the air, and she crashed down into the ground. She pushed herself back up, staring at the Higher Demon.
"Summer?" The voice of Qrow Branwen gasped, she looked at him and stared right into his wide red eyes. It felt like they locked eyes for an eternity, but the sound of the Higher Demon slamming back down against the ground broke the moment between the two lovers. Qrow immediately sprinted towards the Demon and he threw himself towards it with Summer, both swinging their scythes down towards it, until suddenly its body shifted into Taiyang, staring up at them with an uncharacteristic smirk as he stopped both their weapons with his hands.
They both gasped, feeling such tragedy in their hearts, but also hatred against the Whisperer for using him against them in such a cruel way. The Whisperer slammed Qrow down against the ground before throwing Summer upwards, and punching her in the back, sending her back down the dunes. The Whisperer turned to Qrow and grabbed him by his hair, he yelled with pain and anger as the Whisperer yanked his head back, staring down at him. "You were always nothing more than a failure and a disappointment to their family." The Whisperer snarled in his friend's voice.
"Shut the fuck up!" Qrow yelled, firing Harbinger's Shotgun into the Whisperer's face. The Demon released him and roared with a dark crackly voice as the body started to flicker, shattering over and over again. It shook its head with rage as it stared back at Qrow, the face flashing between Taiyang and many others. "That's it… his face…" Qrow gasped. "GUYS HIT THE WHISPERER IN HIS FACE!" Qrow yelled, until the Whisperer suddenly moved fast, grabbing Qrow by the throat and pounding him down against a rock repeatedly, until he was knocked unconscious.
He conjured Omen and went to drive it down his chest as it shifted into Raven's body. "Hey!" Penny yelled, it spun around and swiftly blocked the powerful beam of green energy fired from Penny as she flew around it. The beam refracted, carving through rocks and sand as Penny pushed the Higher Demon away from Qrow's knocked out body. The Whisperer abruptly formed Akoúo and threw it directly into Penny's face, which knocked her out of the air and crashing back to the ground.
Penny groaned and rubbed her bruised head, a bruise which quickly healed thanks to her aura. Her green eyes widened when she saw the Whisperer transform into Pyrrha Nikos, grinning savagely at her as it spin Milo through its fingers. "What was it you said? This is going to be so much fun?" The Whisperer mocked, Pyrrha's green eyes flashed red when it said that Penny scowled and she stood back up, and Floating Array emerged from her back, rotating behind her.
The Whisperer launched Akoúo towards her, but Penny slashed the shield out of the air, but the Whisperer rolled towards her and slashed across her legs, before calling Akoúo right back and smashing it across her face. Penny staggered backwards and the Whisperer lifted her off the ground by her Synthetic Components inside of her human body, and it hurt so bad. Penny cried out as she felt the metal inside her grate against the muscles.
Coco suddenly landed behind the Whisperer and she spun up Gianduja, firing all the barrels at once at the Whisperer, and the Demon threw Penny towards her. Some of the bullets collided into her body however her aura kept her from any real harm. The Whisperer paced back and forth as it watched them all as they tried to plan an attack. "The bastard is definitely the smartest, he's worse than the Onyx Phantom." Blake panted as she got back up.
"He keeps using things from our memories to mess with us…" Yang added as she held her throat slightly, the Whisperer continued to wait for them to attack, showing Warrior's Honour.
"Qrow said we need to aim for his head, that's his weak spot. We just have to throw everything we have against him… and try not to let him get in our heads with who he chooses to screw with us on." Ruby stated, and her team nodded in agreement. The Whisperer glared at Ruby, a humanoid forged in shards of reflecting glass, showing many faces in each shard as they floated through the air.
Kassius got back up and spun his swords through his fingers, and he nodded at Yang. Ruby swiftly fired Crescent Rose directly at the Whisperer's face, only for it to stop the bullet with a shield forged from Glass. It stared through the glass, and then the body shifted back into Tyrian Callows. "Come… my little flower." The Whisperer snarled viciously, Ruby looked at him and narrowed her silver eye and gritted her teeth.
"NOW!" Ruby yelled, and everyone charged towards the Whisperer. Ruby jumped up and swung Crescent Rose downwards at him, but the long Scorpion Tail wrapped around her neck and smashed her down into the ground, so hard the ground exploded around her body. Yang blasted high in the air and she twirled, before bringing her Cybernetic Fist down towards him with immense force, but it slid backwards and used Tyrian's Tail to stop Blake from slashing Gambol Shroud down the Higher Demon's shoulder, and then wrapped the tail around the Feline Huntress' wrist, and twisted so hard that it forced her hand to open and drop the sword onto the ground.
Blake cried out, and then the Whisperer rolled across her back and used its tail to throw Blake directly into Weiss, knocking her off her feet as she was about to summon the Arma Gigas. Kassius jumped towards the Whisperer and drove both swords into its chest, anchoring onto the monster, and then he punched it in the face with his metal fist over and over again. The face started to crackle, and the voice howled between different tones and personalities. "Yes! It works! Go for its ugly face!" Kassius yelled, still repeatedly punching the Whisperer in the face.
Velvet rushed forward and she conjured Executioner and smashed it across the side of the Whisperer's face, breaking off more shards of glass. It staggered as Kassius repeatedly held onto it and punched it repeatedly.
Ruby groaned as she pushed herself back up, feeling her aura draining, and she noticed her wound had opened again. It had not completely healed yet, and her aura was already heading back down into the red. She had not even fully gotten through the amber when she helped them fight back against the Higher Demons. But she refused to stand down, she had to see this battle through, to the last breath.
The Whisperer still was getting beaten over and over by Kassius' metal fist, until suddenly, it hunched forward, and all the shards of mirrored glass seemed to come together, and a shimmering red glow formed inside of its body. Ruby gasped. "KASSIUS! GET OUT OF THERE!" Ruby yelled, but then the Whisperer exploded, creating a powerful pulse which threw the shards of glass in all directions. Both Kassius and Velvet were thrown backwards, their auras crackled and broken from the blast, and knocked to the ground.
"Oh… gods…" Ruby gasped, she looked down and saw two shards of the glass stabbed into her stomach, and she collapsed to the ground, holding her stomach in pain as blood started to pour from her wounds.
"RUBY!" Yang screamed as she sprinted to her sister's side, the shards suddenly shot out from her wounds and they all returned back to the swirling ball of red energy left behind, forming back into the Whisperer's Body. Yang pressed her hands against her sister's wounds, she could not fight any longer, which meant the rest of Team R.W.B.Y had to continue the fight without her.
But they weren't alone.
"HEY! EYES ON US, UGLY!" Nora yelled, and the Whisperer turned to see Nora waving with a grin on her face. She then blasted multiple Grenades towards it face but the Whisperer swiftly formed a shield of dark energy, absorbing the strike. But through the smoke the Whisperer blasted towards Nora and grabbed her by the collar and smashed her down against the ground. It repeatedly hammered her against the floor with its hand forged from glass before it started to shift into something else.
Ren sprinted towards it, jumping forward with Stormflower both pointed towards it, until the Whisperer suddenly grew in size, and forged itself into the same Nuckelavee that killed his parents and destroyed Kuroyuri. The Nuckelavee roared at him and Ren gasped, the Imp pinned him down against the ground, and from the Imp they could hear the dark voice of the Whisperer.
"None of you are enough to challenge us." The Whisperer snarled. "We are not like our brothers… We know your every move like the Phantom, and we have more power than you realise, like the Lord of the Wood. But we are more than both of them combined." The Whisperer snarled as it forced Ren against the ground.
Shards of rock flew into the side of the Nuckelavee, and one of the chunks smashed into the side of the Imp's head, getting the Higher Demon's attention. It turned to see Glynda walking towards it with the Disciplinarian in her grasp. "Those who hold power needn't flaunt it." She assured as she blasted lightning and telekinetically thrown rocks towards the Higher Demon. The Nuckelavee roared as the rocks shredded the body, and it exploded back into glass.
The Whisperer flipped backwards and landed on both feet as the shards returned back to its body. It then sprinted forward, and mimicked Ruby, transforming into a powerful swirling cyclone of glass towards Glynda. She gasped and raised a powerful wall of rock to stop the Whisperer, but it simply parted around and shredded her aura apart, breaking her aura and knocking her out of the fight. However it did not kill her, it did not seem to be interested in killing any of them – yet.
The Witches were nearby, fighting with the Undertaker but their hands were filled with the Grimm that were trying to assist the Whisperer. The Higher Demon walked past Glynda on the ground who struggled to get back up.
Ruby started to sit upright, in her state she was in no way to fight, but she stared at the Whisperer as it walked back into the middle. Team C.F.V.Y were beside Velvet and looked at everyone. No matter what they did, the Whisperer was able to counter it… but then Ruby noticed Summer clambering back up the dunes behind him. She looked at Ruby and then at the Whisperer, who seemed to not even notice.
"You… won't win…" Ruby growled as she held the stab wounds with her hand.
"Ruby…" Yang softly stammered, trying to keep her laid down.
Ruby looked back at her, and Yang stopped. "Please… trust me… I have a plan." She begged her, and yang sighed with a shaky breath, and released her sister's hand.
But the Whisperer sighed as it changed back into Roman's form, pinching the bridge of his nose as he shook his head. "How many times must we repeat this dance, Miss Rose?" The Whisperer asked her curiously. "You cannot stop the Oncoming Shadow… you cannot stop the Shivering Dominion. You can only make it painless." The Whisperer explained, then something happened, Roman's eyes glowed bright red and their environment transformed around them. They all heard terrible screams, shrieking in the streets of Vale, people being ripped open and devoured all while still being alive.
"What is this?" Yang stammered.
"Nothing… just a projection… of what is coming. You have the chance to prevent all of this from happening, the chance to stop so much pain and suffering. Nobody has to die by the Grimm… it will all be in an instant. As if you were falling asleep." The Whisperer explained. "All you have to do… is give us the Relics." The Whisperer commanded.
Ruby looked down at the blood on her hand, and then she heard the Whisperer continue, their voice sounded like it was multiple different voices all speaking at once, echoing through her mind. "Come! Join our Brothers… and… us…" The Whisperer ushered, as Summer drew closer and closer behind the Whisperer.
"We are Huntresses and Huntsmen… and our duty is to fight to protect the innocent, to our last breath if we must. And that promise means more to me than any power you could ever offer me!" Ruby yelled, and the Whisperer sighed.
"Then… accept your… doom…" The Whisperer growled, but then Ruby laughed at him.
"Oh… you big dumbass…" Ruby giggled, the Whisperer raised a brow. "For all your spouting about how clever you are? You still haven't figured it out, have you?" She asked him.
"Figured what out?" The Whisperer asked.
"That I was distracting ya, you big broken mirror!" Ruby said, the Whisperer's eyes widened, and Summer blasted her Silver Eyes directly into his face. The Whisperer roared with rage and agony as it staggered backwards, the shards started to crack and erode as Summer relentlessly started to burn its body, but then the Whisperer launched one of the blades into Summer, driving it into her chest and throwing her against the ground. The Whisperer fell to one knee, and looked around, blinded from Summer's attack.
Ruby suddenly shot forward in a flurry of Petals, her aura recharged enough for one more attack. "RUBY!" Yang screamed, reaching out for her. As Ruby erupted from the petals the Whisperer turned and saw the glowing white light from her eye… and it surrounded her body, forming jet black fur and a massive Wolven Body. The Big Bad Wolf roared as it forged around her body, and it clamped its huge jaws down onto the Whisperer's skull. Ruby shook his body around ferally, crushing the glass and throwing the body across the battlefield.
The Big Bad Wolf collapsed to the ground and Ruby fell as well, passing out from how much strength it took for her to do that. The Whisperer was barely holding together, but was still in their plain, cracked and falling apart as it reached out for Ruby. Yang turned to Penny and she nodded, blasted off the floor towards the Whisperer, and she blasted a beam of green energy directly into the face of the Higher Demon.
The Whisperer staggered backwards, and it roared in thousands of voices, reaching out for them, until the floating glass cracked more and more, before red and black light started to burst from within its body. It roared with fury as it reached out for them, until it violently exploded, and a singularity formed within itself, dragging the Higher Demon back to the Charred Forest whence it came.
"Ruby? Ruby can you hear me?" Yang stammered with worry as she shook her unconscious sister in her arms. But then Ruby's Silver Eye opened and she smiled.
"Told ya I had a plan." She beamed.
"You and your crazy plans." Yang laughed, hugging Ruby tight.
Kassius groaned as he sat upright with Blake and Weiss beside him. "What the hell just happened?" Kassius gasped, even sounding disappointed that he missed it.
Now?
Now only Salem was left.
Pyrrha
She sprinted directly towards Salem, throwing Akoúo forward but Salem batted out of the air and slashed at Pyrrha with her Claws, cutting across her chest and then swiping her off her feet with her leg. Pyrrha crashed down to the ground, and Salem threw her fist directly into Pyrrha's gut, knocking the wind out of her. "Spartans of your calibre should have been taught with more discipline." Salem snarled, leaning down and grabbing Pyrrha's ponytail and throwing her towards the wall, cracking the marble.
Salem turned as Cinder flew directly towards her, grabbing her and they both flew through the wall together. Cinder and Salem punched each other in the face repeatedly, and they both crashed back down into the Throne Room. Cinder dug her feet into the ground, whilst Salem slid across the floor, holding out her hand and using her Telekinesis to drag one of the broken chairs off the ground and throwing it towards Cinder. Oscar suddenly appeared through time and cut the chair clean in two with his sword and he charged towards Salem.
He jumped and pushed his feet off the wall as he spun around, swinging Traveller's Atrocity towards her with all of his might. Salem stopped the sword with her hand, the razor-sharp edge cut clean through her palm and down into her wrist. Salem growled in pain, with her strength waning, she was beginning to feel real pain again. But that was hardly an advantage, because that was angering her, making her even more dangerous. Salem yanked the sword from Oscar's hand, and she punched him across the jaw, and he shot aside and launched a time bubble towards Salem, but she rolled out of the way.
Oscar slowed time once again, but he knew he could not keep this up, he was becoming more and more drained the longer he was using his Semblance. He could feel the sweat start to pour and his body weakening, and so was his aura. As he went to punch Salem, she dodged fast, and grabbed him by the throat, and lifted him off the floor and proceeded and pummel him into the ground over and over again, demolishing the marble floor beneath him. She then lifted the dazed man off the ground and then slashed her clawed hand across his chest, which threw him up in the air, and blood sprayed from his chest as his Green Aura broke.
Oscar crashed to the ground and groaned as Salem ripped his sword from her hand and she walked towards Oscar, until Cinder pinned Salem against the wall to protect Oscar. They both glared at each other, eyes burning hot, but Salem kept pushing back against Cinder, until she suddenly forced Cinder backwards. Cinder staggered and formed a sword to cut down onto Salem, only for the Dark Queen to dodge it and grab Cinder's arm and punch up into her side repeatedly. Cinder grunted in pain, then Salem forced the Fall Maiden down onto the ground with force.
Oscar staggered back up to his feet and he wrapped both his arms around Salem's throat, pulling her backwards. Salem snarled with rage as he pulled her away from Cinder, but she swung her head backwards, stunning Oscar, and she then went to drive his own sword into his throat.
Hazel launched forward, knocking Salem aside just in time, and the long blade sunk deep into Oscar's shoulder instead. He yelled in pain as he collapsed, but the fact was simple – Hazel just saved his life. Hazel threw his huge fists across Salem's face over and over again whilst Emerald, Jaune and Pyrrha caught up behind him. Hazel grabbed Salem by her white hair, and he slammed her face into the wall repeatedly to try and stop her, but Salem snarled with rage and she slashed her hand across his face, before forming a spear which she threw directly into his chest.
At this point, everyone had their aura broken, including Salem – they were all vulnerable to real damage now. The spear hung from his shoulder, blood pouring from the wound, but Hazel snapped it and drove it into Salem's chest, but she still was fighting.
Her aura was down, but now they needed Crocea Mors to finish her, otherwise she could continue to take hit after hit and still fight. Salem kicked Hazel in the chest, and she sprinted towards him and sank her shard fingers into his shoulder, and she dragged him across the floor and threw him into the wall so hard that it knocked him unconscious. Jaune swung hard and fast at Salem, and the Dark Queen dodged and blocked his strikes with her sword that she just formed from thin air, sparks flew from every single strike as he advanced on her. Jaune pirouetted and the blade cut a deep wound across her chest, but not enough to be fatal. Crimson blood poured from the wound, where there was truly little black Grimm Essence left to protect her.
Jaune charged forward with a roar to drive the sword into her heart, until Salem punched the sword from his hand, and she caught it in her own, and swung the sword upwards, directly up his armour, cutting clean through it and breaking it apart. The sword left a deep wound up his torso, and only narrowly cut his neck, not enough to be fatal, but Jaune crashed to the ground. He crawled back to try and get away, until Salem stamped down into the back of his leg so hard that there was a crunching bang.
Jaune screamed in agony as he felt his leg break from that attack, she then kicked him over and drove Crocea Mors down towards him, but he rolled to the side, and the sword stabbed into his own shoulder, pinning him against the ground. He grunted and cried out in pain.
"JAUNE!" Pyrrha screamed, she sprinted towards Salem and launched Milo towards her, it stabbed into Salem's shoulder, but Salem channelled fire into her hand and blasted it towards Pyrrha. The fireball exploded against her chest, scorching the bronze and throwing her against the floor, she groaned in pain as she held her chest. She stared at Salem as Emerald and Cinder continued to battle against her.
Emerald wrapped Silent Judgement around Salem's arm, but the Dark Queen pulled her forward with great force, and close lined Emerald with her arm, before catching Cinder by the throat and throwing her down against the ground. Oscar pulled Traveller's Atrocity from his arm and transformed it, aiming the gun at Salem, firing repeatedly at her. Salem recoiled slightly as the bullets hit her, but she then lifted Oscar off the ground and pulled him towards her.
Pyrrha stared at Jaune, seeing Crocea Mors still dug into his shoulder, then she looked back at Salem. "To think I was once weak enough to fall for a child like you." Salem snarled viciously, she then threw Oscar against the wall and he winced and groaned in pain as he tried to get back up.
Pyrrha looked at Jaune, and he nodded at her… so Pyrrha stared at the sword and held out her hand.
Salem walked towards him and she sharped her claws as she approached him to finally kill Oscar Pine. But as she approached… she sensed a heavy thrumming sound, and she heard the sound of Jaune wincing. Salem slowly turned around with rage in her glowing red eyes, gritting her teeth together.
Jaune yelled with pain as Pyrrha used what strength she had left to call upon her Polarity, black energy surrounded the sword in him, and she slowly started to pull the sword from her boyfriend. She glared at Salem with a furious glare which Salem returned. Salem's eyes ignited as she started to channel the full power of the Spring Maiden.
Pyrrha pushed her knee against the floor as she stood tall once more, the sword was coming free and Salem growled with undying anger.
Salem suddenly blew the floor apart as she flew directly towards Salem with her hands opened, eyes burning. She reached out for Pyrrha to end her once and for all, until Pyrrha ripped the sword from Jaune's shoulder and launched it blade first towards Salem with a defiant roar.
Crocea Mors impaled straight through Salem's chest, and the impact launched Salem through the only intact window, breaking it apart.
Ozpin
"The single quality that is common across every living creature on this planet, is fear." Ozpin said to Vir Nominis Umbra as they watched the Battle of Salem's Sanctum conclude, the window shattering as Salem fell from it with wide eyes, knowing that this was the end of her story. Crocea Mors lodged into her chest and falling from her Castle towards the bottom.
She plummeted and crashed into the ground, creating a powerful shockwave upon her impact.
Vir Nominis Umbra sighed, closing his eyes with grief for Salem… for Cynthia… and he listened to Ozpin's words. He looked at the Professor who stood beside him as he spoke.
"It's funny then that as common as fear is, we so easily underestimate its power." Ozpin said as he sighed, shaking his head. Down below, Qrow looked at Summer who smiled as she gently caressed his cheek. Yang, Weiss and Blake surrounded Ruby, sharing a warm hug together after finally beating the monster that was trying to turn their leader into a monster for the past five years.
"Fear of growing close to someone, the subsequent fear of loss, fear of failure…" Ozpin listed, as Weiss held Ruby tears streamed from her eyes, because with the battle coming to a close… she now felt the thoughts of losing Neptune rushing back to her. "And as more people depend on you, those fears can take on greater power."
Vir Nominis Umbra said nothing, which seemed uncharacteristic considering how much he liked to talk. He just listened to what Ozpin had to say as they watched the battle come to a close. The few remaining Grimm being rounded up and cut down. The Colossus marched across the battlefield, dented and damaged from the long fight. Inside of the Drift of Wandering Star, Ortega sat down with relief, knowing the battle was over… that they had won.
"Fear itself isn't worthy of concern, it is who we become while in its clutches." Ozpin said, and Umbra looked at him.
Aboard the Drift of Wandering Star, Neo laid in a bed as she was returned back to a stable condition after her near assassination from the Whisperer. "Will you be proud of that person? Will you forgive them? Will you understand why they felt the need to do the things they did?" Ozpin asked, and for some reason that question really seemed to stick to Vir Nominis Umbra. "Will you even recognize them? Or will the person staring back at you be the very thing you should have feared from the start?"
Nearby… Raven watched as she held Omen in her hand, her hand shaking as she watched Ruby, and walked towards the battlefield.
"I suppose we all find out sooner or later." Ozpin chuckled as he bowed his head, Vir Nominis Umbra looked out and he sighed.
"Will you understand why they felt to do the things they did?" Vir Nominis Umbra softly repeated. "Tell me… Oz… do you understand my reasons for what I do?"
Ozpin looked at him, it took him a few moments, but Vir Nominis Umbra was not expecting the answer he got. "Yes… I do…"
Umbra stared at him. "How do you…"
"I don't… not for certain… but I have observed and heard stories from you and the Demons. You despise the Brothers Grimm… I don't know what happened between you and the Brothers… but it must have been something really bad to turn you into what you are." Ozpin explained, and Vir Nominis Umbra just looked out at the destruction. "I do not agree with you… or your logic… but I understand. And… I am sorry." Ozpin said.
Vir Nominis Umbra stared at Ozpin and he just walked away from him, leaving him with this.
"As am I." He replied, Ozpin looked over his shoulder slightly, only to find that Umbra had disappeared, leaving him alone now that the battle was over.
The Old Professor stared at the crater where Salem landed… and from here… he could see her… limping away.
Salem
The Dark Queen still had some fight left… however her time was running out.
She stumbled and grabbed Crocea Mors by the hilt, letting out a pained growl as she ripped it from her chest. Blood squirted and poured from her wound and she pressed one hand against it as she limped. She pressed her bloodied hand against the face of the cliff as the Sun began to rise above the horizon. Blood was dripping down into the black sand as she struggled to walk, panting as she suffered, but then… she stopped as someone landed in front of her.
Not Ozpin…
… Cinder.
The Fall Maiden stood before her with a sword in her hand, but she did not look like she even wanted to use it, she just looked at Salem. The Dark Queen chuckled softly as she limped forward. Cinder approached Salem as they both stood there, alone in the peace after the Battle of the Sanctum. "So… I guess this… is it then…" Salem softly chuckled as she looked at her Former Student.
"Yeah… this is it." Cinder nodded her head, Salem coughed and spat out some blood onto the floor as she leant her back against the wall.
"It's… funny… I've always been waiting for the end to come. And now that it is here? It feels… strange… to know there is finally an end to this violent life." Salem said as she looked up at the sky.
Cinder just looked at Salem, with so much confliction in her mind. "Well? Go on then… have your revenge. I deserve it, for what I did to you." She said, gesturing to the scar on Cinder's chest that Fury gave her on Salem's orders. Cinder gently touched that spot; parts of the mark could be seen where her skin showed in her outfit.
She stared at the sword and then at Salem, and she shook her head. "I thought I wanted it… but now? That's not who I am anymore." Cinder said as she let the sword crumble away into dust. "You may have done terrible things, became a monster… but… before they accepted me… it was you who saved me. I was nothing… I regret what I became when I was loyal to you. But my future was assured because of you." Cinder explained to her, and Salem softly chuckled. Salem looked at her bloodied hand and she scoffed, shaking her head as she stumbled towards one of the Shadow Dust Crystals that struck from the ground, overlooking the sunrise.
She then pointed at Cinder. "I hope you don't expect me to caress your cheek and say that I was wrong." Salem said as she leant against the Crystal with sharp and ragged breaths. "I will not weep and wonder what might have been… I'm sure you understand." Salem said as she dropped down to one knee, gasping slightly, her eyes gazed upon the horizon.
Cinder knew Salem had no real remorse for her place in this conflict – it was as she said… Cynthia Nikos died a long time ago. "But still… I am proud of you, in a way. Ever since you left me you have shown great conviction, strength… courage. All noble qualities." Salem said, sounding like a mother to her. Salem looked at Cinder who looked down to the Former Dark Queen. "You have become more than I could have ever imagined… than I could have ever hoped for." Salem chuckled as she leant back against the Crystal and watched as the Sun began to rise.
Salem felt Cinder gently squeeze her shoulder as she started to drift away. "Goodbye, your Grace." She said to her, showing one last sign of respect for her former leader. Cinder walked away from Salem, leaving her to go in peace. Salem closed her eyes and smiled as she felt the warmth of the sun on her cheek as she laid there by the Crystal.
"Herakles… is that you, brother?" She softly whispered as she heard his voice in her head.
Salem felt everything become weightless, and she closed her eyes… and something beautiful seemed to happen. It was as if in her final moments, the curse of Salem died around her, and she was finally who she once was again… for the first time in an exceptionally long time… she felt like Cynthia Nikos again. She opened her eyes… and they were Silver once more… and her skin was no longer pale, and the white drained from her hair, turning red again, returning to who she once was.
And then… she saw him.
Vyrryk Arc… glowing white and translucent… and he stretched out his hand to her, palm open. "Come home… Cynthia. Your family is waiting for you." Vyrryk said to her.
"But… after everything I have done…"
"That was not the Cynthia I knew… that was Salem. And she is gone now… come on… you have earned a rest." Vyrryk said to her, Cynthia smiled softly as she reached her hand out, feeling free for the first time in an exceedingly long time.
Her soul left her body, and her eyes closed as the sun warmed her body where it laid.
Finally… Cynthia Nikos could rest.
Then a bright golden light rocketed out from her body as she died, and it flew up towards the Castle above her.
Pyrrha
She panted as she laid there, and immediately rushed to Jaune, pressing her hands against his wound. "By the gods, I am so sorry Jaune…" Pyrrha worried as she held the blood in.
Jaune chuckled. "I-It's alright… you got her, Pyr… you got her." Jaune smiled up at her. They turned as Cinder flew up to the top, with Crocea Mors in her hand, still covered in Salem's blood. Cinder just nodded her head, and they all sighed with relief. Cinder sat down, and Hazel walked over to her, and he smiled gently as he put his arm around her, holding her close.
They both felt free as well now that Salem was gone.
Oscar laid against the wall whilst Emerald helped tend to his wounds given to him by Salem. "Don't worry, you'll be okay." Emerald assured.
"Cool… still hurts like hell though." Oscar winced.
"Oh stop being a baby." Emerald chuckled.
Pyrrha continued to keep pressure on his wound, until she looked up and her eyes widened. That golden ball of light suddenly shot through the open window, and collided directly into Pyrrha, so hard it knocked her off her feet. "Pyrrha!" Jaune gasped with shock, he held his shoulder with one hand whilst he looked over her.
"What the hell is happening?" Jaune gasped, Cinder stared at her body… and her eyes were vigorously moving around as if she was dreaming… and her aura began to glow.
Cinder knew what this meant.
In Pyrrha's head… she was not here… she was somewhere else… she was surrounded by countless brave Nikos Spartans from Arkhonex, including both Ares and Herakles Nikos. But descending gracefully from the sky in a white gown… was Cynthia Nikos.
She floated around Pyrrha, and gently held her hand to Pyrrha's chest as she spoke.
"Our Destinies have always been bound, Pyrrha… I am not angry at you for finally stopping me. I never wanted to become the monster you saw… and now… I want you to take the power I once had… and to help stop Vir Nominis Umbra." Cynthia said to Pyrrha, and her eyes widened.
"Are you…" Pyrrha stammered.
"Please… take the Final Maiden's Power…" She begged her as that same orb of glowing gold light emanated from her hands and approached Pyrrha's heart. "… it is the only good I can bestow on the world now I am free."
Pyrrha gazed at it and she swallowed thickly. "Okay… I promise you… I will make you proud… Cynthia Nikos." Pyrrha assured, Cynthia smiled.
"You already have." Cynthia assured. As she floated before Pyrrha she closed her eyes. "Vir Nominis Umbra… he turned me into a monster, corrupted me into something twisted and cruel. The one thing I never wanted to be – he will never compromise… he will never stop…" Cynthia explained. "I thought he could not be beaten… but now? I have hope… look upon the darkness… for one day we will meet again. We will all meet again." Cynthia promised as she started to ascend towards a glowing white light in the sky.
"And Pyrrha Nikos?" Cynthia said, Pyrrha watched as she started to fade into the light. "Good luck…"
She gasped, her eyes opened wide… and ignited with Green Flames, everyone gasped with disbelief at her suddenly being granted with the Summer Maiden's Power.
She shook as she laid there, feeling the fire crackle around her eyes, and she looked at Cinder.
Cynthia's Final Gift… was the Final Maiden's Power.
Now they had the Powers of all Four Maidens.
And Salem's rule… is finally… at an end.
Author Note - Salem is no more...
Loved her death, it had both an epic and also quite an emotional end, at least Cynthia could be free and the Curse of Salem was lifted when she died. I do lobve how it happened though, because in case anyone had forgotten this detail - it was indeed a Nikos who ended up killing Salem. All the way back in Act 2 I said that only a Nikos could kill Salem, and it seems like that Prophecy came true. Plus having Pyrrha just throw Crocea Mors with her Polarity was awesome XD
The Whisperer is terrifying, the best way to describe it would be to say it is a combination of the Onyx Phantom and the Lord of the Wood in the most terrifying way. I mean hell, they only beat him becuase she and Summer managed to trick him and use their silver eyes. Getting to use the Big Bad Wolf again was awesome too :D
Brutal chapter too, a bunch of characters got badly hurt, but hey! Nobody died in this one! Obviously the death of Neptune is gonna way heavily on them all, especially Weiss, but man are we gonna see just how strong she really is in Acts 5 and 6.
The Battle is won! But the War is not over... and with Act 5 drawing near... well it's gonna be terrifying.
I hope you all enjoyed this chapter! Please review, follow and favourite!
Stay tuned for the next chapter - The Final Maiden
- Matt
