Chapter 60 - A Moment of Truth
Act VI - Kingdom of Lies
I felt my eyes beginning to stir, I don't know how long I was out for, but judging by the fact I wasn't lying next to a rotting corpse or writhing in flames, I must have survived my fatal wound, thank you fire dust. My body still ached all over from Haven, it was all still a blur for the moment. I had expended all my fire dust and Cognitum to win, even unlocking a new form, pretty cool too.
Now I had to face the music. Summer, she gave up her secret to save us, finally put Morana out of his torment Charron sujegated him too but Tabus was now under the same spell, for how long I don't know. Turning, I found Ruby was sleeping beside me, or, that would be wishful thinking, but I could see in the reflection of the window she was wide awake, and thinking.
Her frown was present and her eyes were cloudy, brow knitted with conflict, yeah, she was definitely wondering how her mother was alive and well, why she walked away without an ounce of fighting spirit. And why I knew all along.
Sitting up I ran a hand down my face, noting the few bandages I did have were around the point I was nearly killed. "How long?" Soft, lost, and confused. Ruby's voice was far more painful. "How long did you..."
I didn't reply for a moment. "Since before Beacon almost fell," She tensed and I lost the ability to look at her.
Silence, that was all I had for the longest time, Ruby didn't look at me, her back facing my guilt-ridden eyes before I finally ushered in a sigh. "I'm sorry," Pathetic, try more! "Guess that means nothing right now, heh, thought you'd get tired of me saying that eventually, but... I... what can I say?" I had no honest idea of where to begin. "Specter was odd, kept quiet, never let me know what she was thinking,"
I leaned back to face the ceiling, hands on my lap. "Then she begged for my help, her memories were flooding her head, images of people she had forgotten, when I realized just who was helping me I wanted to say something, I really did, but she was as afraid as I was, to trust again, to feel she was worthy to stand with people she knew were caring and compassionate, it scared her, the idea of rejection and hatred out of her control, so I said nothing, hoping I could help her reach out again."
It hurt so much, lying again and again to her. "Why... why can't anything be easy?" I sat up, rubbing my eyes angrily. "Dammit, I'm useless!" This wasn't some guilt-trip, this was just who I was, a mistake. "I shouldn't even exist! Everything that's happened is because of me, Mars, Tabus, Una, Morana, Charron, Summer being alive, and God knows how much more, what the hell am I supposed to-"
*Thump*
I stopped, her body wrapping around me tightly, holding me securely with tears running down her face. "Stop saying that... stop thinking your worthless for once, you're not," Why... why does she keep trying? It can't be changed, I'm not even supposed to be with her, I had no right. "I said stop thinking like that!"
Her fist collided with my face, knocking me back for her to pin me under her, now what fresh tears she had dripped against my face, face scrunched up out of pain. "Who cares if you shouldn't exist! I love you and that's enough for me! Even if you kept so many secrets I...!"
My eyes widened slightly, starting to fall apart under her as I propped myself up on my elbows to face her closely, her eyes closed with her head against my chest. "I was so happy when you came back when Mom... she was okay thanks to you, but I saw it, she looked so sad, and I-I wanted..." Slowly, my arms pulled her in close, unable to hold back my own tears with a shaky breath
"I don't deserve you, of all the things I've kept, I shouldn't have..." Her arms held me tightly, stilling crying into my chest from the sheer heartache of knowing her Mom was alive but too afraid to confront Ruby her own daughter
"I don't deserve you too, because of all the things you've done for us... for me," Ruby's voice soothed me as I buried my face into her shoulder. "Please... please help Mom, Kai?"
Like there was any question. If I'm going to die, then I'll be damned if I don't do one last good thing before then.
The others are probably furious, it didn't take a keen eye or a sharp ear to understand they'd have questions and fingers to point.
"Can you please stop glaring at me... and pointing your weapons at me?" We stopped just before the living room, seeing Albatross with his hands up nervously, weapons drawn to his face belonging to Weiss, Blake, and Erika. "Seriously, I was going to explain-"
"Why was Mom there, and alive!?" Yang's eyes burned furiously
"What the hell did that thing mean when he said my brother shouldn't exist!?" Erika poised the barrel of Infernal to poke at his cheek
"And just who are you in relation with them both?" Weiss asked calmly but a frigid aura was building around her. Then she glanced at Amber who sat on a stool nearby. "The same can be said for you,"
"Summer was my teacher, what else is there to know, If she wished to stay hidden then so be it," Amber wasn't on edge but the sharp tone of her voice indicated it anyone dared to accuse her she'd certainly retaliate. "I'd also appreciate it if you three would lower your weapons from my friend."
"We're done being treated like kids," Yang snapped, twisting Albatross' collar. "You adults are starting to piss me off with your secrets, so spill, why is mine and Ruby's Mom alive!?"
"There's not much else to say outside what you guys saw," I spoke up, pulling away from Ruby's arm with a stern look on my face. "I never should have existed as a Maiden's son, nor should I, Eric, Iota, or the Horsemen have been created, and Summer should still be six feet under to put it bluntly," I sighed, running a hand through my hair while grabbing my ruined jacket from the armchair, Cognitum immediately replacing the damaged fabric. "Honestly, Albatross isn't to blame for this, if anything hate me, I'm the scumbag that kept this from you."
"B-but, Kai, you-" I put my hand on Erika's shoulder, her saddened face reaching my solemn smile
"Sorry sis, that's just how it is, this doesn't change the fact that you are my sister," I moved away for the door, her own hand sliding off my shoulder with a pat. "I'm going to make good on my promise to Summer, I'm going to help her face her past, even if I have to tie her up or something."
"Please don't..." Ruby's whine from the hallway made me chuckle
Offering a wink back I swung the door wide, "I'll do what I can, and Yang, you may punch me later for being a secretive asshole," I left no room for arguments or questions, if I lost any more time she might leave Mistral for good, let's just hope Cognitum can track her
"Myself included of course," Iota? You sure you're okay with this? "She helped you so logic stands that goes for me as well." Alright then, thanks.
"Wait, Kai!" I stopped at Weiss' call, turning to look over my shoulder at her concerned face. "What exactly is the truth?" More of a request than a demand, guess I've worried both my siblings
With a small smile, I rubbed my neck. "Too much to properly convey right now, Ruby can give you some answers, but please, Summer is the only reason I was able to make it this far, I owe it to her, Ruby, Yang, and Qrow to try and convince her to stay."
"What if... you can't?" Oscar spoke up from his own seat anxiously. "Think about it, if she's undergone the same level of mistrust as Ozpin she might lock herself away."
That was a daunting thought, can't say I've never felt that way before. However... "Then I'll be home later than I planned for," I gave them all a small wave. "Keep the Relic safe!" Right now, I have a Specter to catch
"To your right, the inn should be coming into view." Always a help, Penny. Her sprite smiled gently. "I only wish for Ruby to be happy, Yang too."
"Then we best find her quickly." Iota murmured in my head as I jogged up to some shambly inn that doubled as a bar. It was quiet when I entered, a few people around for breakfast as I made a b-line for the counter. An old woman greeting me with a small wave. "...Hmm, Summer is here."
"Hello, young man, what can I help you with?" Kind, hopefully, she's willing to help us
I gave her a wary smile, keeping my voice low. "Hi, do you know if a woman came here late last night? Black hair with red highlights in a ponytail, wears whites and blues, a silver eye?"
She looked to give it some thought, almost saddened as she leaned on one hand, looking to an empty barstool. "She came here and never left for the night, the poor dear was adamant about drinking herself under the table, I even gave her a room encase some ruffians decided to take advantage of her." Dammit, Summer, you idiot! "Are you related to her?"
I shook my head. "She's my... I guess teacher is the right word but she's more of a good friend, I'm worried she might be hurt emotionally so please," I bowed my head. "Can you tell me which room she's in?"
She didn't look to give a second thought with her expression. "No need to be formal, she's on the second floor, room ten, please be a dear and take care of her, I can't imagine she was in a good place when she arrived."
Elated I nodded and ran for the stairs, quickly stomping my way up to the level with more gusto than even Cinder could force me to perform to, even with my life on the line. Reaching the fabled tenth room I knocked and heard nothing. Grunting I brought my foot back... then stopped.
My hand reached forward and twisted the nob, and the door swung open. Huh, guess brute force is out. Pushing inside to the small room bathed in darkness, the smell of alcohol and sweat stunk my nose. It was there on the bed I saw the person passed out on the sheets.
Summer had a stupid smile on her face, a red tint to her cheeks with her hair flailed out. All she wore was a black tank top and a pair of white shorts, her armor tossed about the room, and a bottle clutched to her drooping arm, empty too. Without a word I made my way to the window, throwing the blinds open to give light to the bleak box room, hearing the groan behind me.
"Leave me aloooone..." She whined, rubbing her eye to peer through her locks and back to me with a grumpy frown. "Go away, dummy." Great, she sounds like Ruby when she's pouty
Breathing through my nose I took a seat in a small armchair. "Summer, you-" A pillow struck my face, flopping down between us
"I said go away, Sky!" She snapped, hand clutching her head. "Grah, my head...!"
"That's what happens when you drink too mu-"
"I know that!" Again with the attitude, now she was pulling herself up from her sleep, keeping her head low. "...just leave me alone..."
"Nope." I crossed my arms
"What?" A blink and I sat back
"Nope, not until I get you to reunite with your family," That sentence made her groan and flop back, bangs covering her eyes alongside a hand. "I told you I'd help you reconnect with them, and I'm not going to let that go."
"They don't need me, they never will," Don't know if her tone was scornful or sorrowful. Her frown remained however. "I should just disappear again, everything will be better off that way." I bit my lip at that
"So that's it? You, the person who never gave up on me, who fought with me, saved, took on a Vex to help me, you did all this and you're just going to call it quits now?" I demanded angrily, seeing her sit upright despite the pain that more than likely rushed to her head, eye ablaze and misty
"WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO!?" She thundered. "I died years ago, Summer was dead and wasn't there for her best friends, her lover, her own flesh and blood when they needed her! What kind of friend, lover... mother does that make me!?" She threw her head down in pain, tears dripping to the bed. "Tell me, Sky!? How... how can I possibly be anything but a bad memory?"
I, for once, had an answer. "Because even if the memory of losing you was painful, that the realization that you've been alive is confusing and impossible to understand," I took a seat on the bed, sitting in front of the woman that saved me. "To them, through the good and bad,"
With my hand I raised her chin, tears still streaming down her face, eye shook under my gentle smile. "You are still as amazing, as kind, and loving as the day they lost you," Letting my hand fall I sighed. "If they're willing to accept a dumbass like me, then I have no doubt they'd accept you as you are, the Summer you are now."
Summer for her part just stared at me, while clutching her head as I fished out a few tablets for her. "Kinda running the touching moment between student and teacher, huh?" She broke a tiny smile, trying to keep her chin up as I chuckled
"Why not a moment between friends?" That made her blink, before finally nodding with a genuine smile.
"Yeah... I suppose you're right," While wobbling for the bathroom she stopped to peer over her shoulder with her remaining eye. "You really believe I'm worth accepting, even after neglecting my memories?"
"Not just him," Iota materialized against the wall with his arms crossed, smirking knowingly. "I do."
"And me too!" Penny hopped atop my shoulder with a cute look of determination in her puffed out cheeks
It was hard to tell, but her gaze relaxed for a moment, then she winced. "...sorry, but my head is pounding, give me... God all mighty how much did I drink?" She slammed the door and whined under the racket. We just kept from laughing at the poor woman's expense, I was just glad she was willing to try this time
[Ruby's POV]
It's been hours since Sky left to find... Mom. Wrapping my head around that isn't easy, I'm happy, I really am but I just don't understand what happened, she was reincarnated, or something else? I don't even think Sky knows how or why, Albatross maybe...?
I glanced over to the sofa, himself sitting back with his eyes closed, it was really strange how similar he was to Sky, say for the eyes and lack of white locks, I couldn't tell them apart. He knew more about Mom than anyone else.
"I don't know myself, Red," I jumped at his abrupt words, drawing the rest to us. "Actually, she tried to stab me when we first met," His eyes opened with a nervous smile. "Most women I meet have an affinity for that, I wonder why? Maybe Trinity is messing with me again, she does that sometimes."
"We haven't tried to kill you," Amber murmured
"Yet," Yang chuffed, she still didn't trust him, given all that's happened I don't blame her
Albatross merely wagged his finger. "You're all still in your teens so it doesn't count, the youngest nearly took my head off with a wrench when I first met her, what an odd greeting, she was twenty at the time yet acted like she was thirty," He started to ramble. "Then I was nearly diced with a sword, thrown into molten magma, skewered by kunai... um, oh, and I almost had my soul plucked out, not nice, ugh, worst feeling in the world."
While he listed off some... very odd greetings, Amber perked up, eyes tracing her Scroll before she made her way over to Albatross, holding her Scroll down to his eyes. With only a few seconds of silence, he patted his knees and got up, moving for the stairs to the training yard, muttering something under his breath
"Hey, where are you going?" I asked him before he pointed to the stairs
"Sky's come back, said to meet him downstairs but to keep quiet, understand?" That made my heart jump slightly into my throat as he continued towards the stairs.
"Uhh... sure." Weiss blankly answered while I ghosted Albatross alongside the rest following in behind me. When we made it close to the doorway I could see Sky standing just beyond the door, his gaze to the sun in the sky, and another figure standing alongside him
When we all grew closer, all of us moving to the edges of the door, alongside Albatross, he hushed us with a finger as our eyes peered through the doorway to view... Mom. Her expression was unreadable, I wanted to move, I really did but Albatross placed a hand in front of me, wagging his finger to tell me to 'stand back and watch', so I did, against my better judgment.
"-and so Eric only managed to stall his return, to which you also discovered out in the mountains, what a drag." Sky seemed to have finished explaining something to Mom, though I couldn't tell what face she was making. "Still wrapping my head around that, guess I'm running out of luck, pfft, yay."
"Are you... going to be alright?" Mom spoke up with concern but Sky chuckled softly, placing his hands on the back of his head
"I may be part Maiden, and have the hide of that Vex on my wrist but that won't change anything. Mars gave up everything for his dream, which is now my burden to carry, and I somehow need to free Tabus among all of this, my work's cut out for me,"
Sky sighed, rubbing the back of his head, looking directly at Mom. "So... how about you, what exactly are you going to say to them? And if you do run I will tie you up over my shoulder."
Her posture drooped. "Please don't, the medication's only just kicked in, as for words I... uhh, well... How can I even begin to explain myself! 'Sorry, but I've been alive for years and even got my memories back a while ago by never acted on them!'"
"You sound like Ruby when you complain." Sky remarked and I had to resist the urge to throw Crescent Rose at him, even Mom looked irked for a moment, throwing her hand out
"I left them behind that day, I could have asked my team to help me, even Ozpin, maybe some others I knew," Mom... she was beginning to clench down on her cloak hard, pulling at it as she shook slightly. "Ruby... she was so happy, seeing me when I came home, always excited about the stories I had... even Yang loved them, especially when I talked about Raven, how brave, and strong-willed she was, and yet I... I ran from them to save them, even when I was brought back I just felt compelled to watch from afar as everything fell apart, and I didn't know why. Yang tried everything... Tai just... stopped... Ruby, Gods I don't even know how she felt about all of it,"
"I really meant it, what I said in Haven," Her smile grew once more. "I really am proud of them both, Qrow too for not drinking away his problems, that man's worse than me."
Sky didn't make any response, while I felt Yang wrap her arms around my waist from behind, I fought to hold back my own tears, but Mom... she really was amazing, she did that for us, and I did everything I could to make her proud-
"You know, hate to break it to you buuut you might want to tell how proud you are of them yourself," Sky's finger soon raised toward us, forcing Albatross to pull me and Yang out from hiding with the others as he threw us out, Yang collapsing atop me
"Yang, you're heavy!" I cried as she pushed herself off me, even as we recovered it was hard not to blush from the collection of chuckles behind us, seriously not helping. Before long, the air died down, and now we faced her, Sky's hand shoving Mom forward while she played with her hands close to her chest, unable to look at us. "M-mom..."
"H-hey... Mom..." Yang muttered too. We held each other's hand tightly to keep our nerves calm but we were both unable to stop trembling. This was our Mom, she meant everything to me and now, she was here, standing only a few meters away.
I tried to speak, to say anything, but nothing came. Mom looked hesitant to speak, or even look at us. I... don't want to know how bad it was, but... I think I know why now, that hollow look back at Haven, she was scared of us, and of what she's done, just like Professor Ozpin and Sky, fear kept her away from us.
"What am I supposed to do?" Sky suddenly spoke up, causing Mom to jump, her head twisted round to try and stop him. "I died years ago, Summer was dead and wasn't there for her best friends, her lover, her own flesh and blood when they needed her. What kind of friend, lover, mother does that make me?" Sky kept reciting something Mom said, her head low at the words. "Tell me, Sky? How, how can I possibly be anything but a bad memory?"
He crossed his arms. "You really nag alot old hag, hehehe."
"By the Gods, Sky, I will hurt you!" Mom snapped with one of her axes poised in his direction, then it lowered. "You can't... I hate it when you're right, it throws me off."
"Happy to assist," He smirked, taking her weapon away.
Mom finally turned to us, eyes low, "I... don't expect you to understand what happened or why I had to leave, but I did it because I wanted to protect you from the truth of how dark, and cruel the world is, protecting you was all that mattered, even if it meant my life, it was worth it... and I see now that I was so very wrong, I was so wrong to do that to you both, to Raven, Tai, Qrow,"
"I'm sorry... I'm so, so sorry I ever thought of leaving you alone. If being a huntress means I have to abandon the two little girls I loved dearly, then... I'm no huntress, only-" I didn't care, I felt too happy to care about what we couldn't change. I already left with Yang, us both wrapping our arms around Mom again, anything to keep her from going away this time. I could feel her warmth radiate off her body, we could actually hear Mom, our Mom was here... and weren't going to lose her this time
"We don't care, Mom, stop apologizing for something stupid!" Yang cried, burying her face into Mom's shoulder as I did the same to her right, our arms tightly wrapped around her body as she froze at our embrace, my own tears falling again without a care for what might be. "Y-you came back didn't you... j-just as you promised me."
"I-I love you, M-Mom!" I cried, smiling as the soft embrace I never thought I'd feel again returned just as strongly
[Sky's POV]
"Well, that wasn't so hard..." I muttered happily at the sight of Summer finally being able to smile brightly, the love she shared with Yang and Ruby was far more powerful than I could begin to describe, it was boundless, and all of us could feel it
"This...this was a nice ending." I agree, Iota. "So, about the final command, are you sure you want to go through with it?" If there's no other way then yes, I just hope it works. First, however, let's give them some time, Vex and the end of the world can wait. Summer has waited too many years to tell them another story
"Sky." I stopped staring into space to look at Summer, her eye glossed over with tears, a smile unlike any I've seen before on 'Specter', "Thank you."
"What are friends for?" This was the future I was willing to fight for, can't believe everything that's happened but now I get it. This was Charron's purpose, to preserve this kind of precious moment but the Gods were wrong to make him so perfect, even for a God, perfection is impossible
My world was an ever-changing course of events, all seeming to expel any doubt of the impossibility or logic. When I first arrived in this world, I felt so out-of-place, a mere reflection of my former self among Ruby, and others' talents, and yet, as days went by, I grew to accept them, coming to terms with the fragments of my past, and the pieces that threatened to tear me apart against my goals of finding answers to the endless mountain of questions.
But, I've learned that the reason I'm searching for has only become far more difficult to decide on, all odds are against me, and it feels that my once insignificant life has grown into something far more than that. I have a family I'm willing to fight beside, Ruby was the one to always be there for me through it all, and I am willing to do everything in my power to do the same.
Charron, I know you're waiting, and I pray that in the end, it's just you and me, because I'm going to show you the power of the human race.
To Be Continued in Act VII - Memories
The theme for the next act!
[SAO - ANIMA | Full English Opening by Shawn Christmas]
Sixty chapters in and finally I can say we're reaching the end, sad to see this come so close to the end but hey, that's just how it has to be. The journey's end for Sky is up next, and a climactic battle awaits. I hope you enjoyed, appreciate the support as always, seeya in the final act after a small break!
Next Act: Act VII - Memories
Charron's plan to reunite with the other half of his body is closing in, with the fate of both Remnant and countless other universes and parallels at stake, Sky has to come to terms with his place in the world he treasures most if he hopes to save it all.
