New chapter! And it hasn't even been a week since the last one! I'm making up for klost time. I doubt I'll ever achieve my original upload schedule of one chapter every day seven days a week, but I'm doing better than before. Anyways, this chapter is a bit different then everything else I've written. It's mostly just setup for the next arc, as well as several arcs after that one. It's just one giant ball of foreshadowing. I wonder if any of you will pick up all of the little details I have in here. Regardless, I hope you enjoy!
PS: Thank you to all the people who gave advice about updating previous chapters. I'll follow your advice and focus on writing new chapters instead of updating old ones, and save that for when I get writer's block or finish the story.
A shattered moon illuminated the seas along with countless stars, bathing the world in an ethereal light. A strong breeze carried the scent of salt over the black waters. A ship bobbed up and down atop large waves, undulating in a hypnotic rhythm that would leave even the most experienced sailors struggling to stand. A single dim lantern remained unlit at the stern of the ship. It was better to use the stars to see; they didn't want to be seen.
Few sailors were up this late. A helmsman steered the ship along its course while a navigator made sure they did not drift too far. A single lookout perched on the crow's nest kept an eye out for any other vessels. The rest of the crew slept deeply below deck, seeking refuge from the spray of the sea. But two passengers stood at the bow of the ship, conversing quietly between themselves.
The sailors asked them no questions. They had come bearing the crest of the Mistralian Royal Family. As the crew members were all citizens of Mistral, they were obligated by law to provide free passage to any servants of the king. Besides, no one wanted to refuse the intimidating warriors who asked to be brought back to their homeland.
They both wore dark cloaks, one a dull grey and the other a deep green. They were both of average height and seemed to have slim, athletic builds. From what little the sailors had heard them speak, they seemed to be rather young. But none of the sailors dared try and strike up a conversation with them. The pair of twin scimitars hanging from the belt of the green-garbed female were frightening. But the grey-wearing male had a large glaive strapped to his back that was stained with dark red splotches was far scarier to them.
None of this affected Emerald, who simply stared impatiently across the waters as though she were willing the ship to reach Mistral faster. Her partner Mercury had come up from below deck to join her, citing boredom as his reason. Emerald could understand that. They'd both had to make this journey several times across the past few years, and it had quickly become boring. Fortunately for them, they no longer had any business in Vale.
"I still can't believe Torchwick had the guts to try and pull off a scheme like that," Mercury admitted with an impressed smirk. "It was a stupid plan, but pretty ballsy. And it damn nearly worked."
Emerald snorted. "Nah. It was doomed from the start. Sure, he might've gotten out of Vale, but he'd never escape. He was on a cargo ship. We would've caught him before he reached anywhere important," The red-eyed girl declared.
Mercury just laughed at her words. "Well, aren't you confident! And to think it was your fault he got that far in the first place. Weren't you supposed to make sure no one connected the dots and realized he was working with our furry friends?"
"Shut up, Merc," Emerald snarked with a roll of her eyes. "I was focused on the people who I thought would be looking for him. Knights and mages, not a runaway Atlesian and a couple of trainees. How was I supposed to know they were after him?"
"You weren't supposed to know. You were supposed to find out! But you were too busy missing Cinder to do your job!" The grey-haired man growled. "I'm not going to be the one to tell her that we lost our supplier. That's on you," The man blamed, and Emerald felt a wave of anger wash over her.
"That's Lady Cinder to you! And we don't need him anymore. Mistral's almost already at its breaking point. In just a few months we'll be enacting her plan," She tried to convince herself her words were true, but doubt lingered in her words. Would Lady Cinder really be mad at her?
The annoying man chuckled at her words. "Well, it's not my problem. Let's just be glad I was there to prevent a minor inconvenience to a full-on problem. And I even got a neat little trinket out of it," The cocky man bragged as he tossed a satchel he was holding from hand to hand. Emerald's eyes widened when she saw him messing around.
"Careful with that! Didn't you see what it did? We don't want that thing to activate while we're out here in the middle of the Ocean!" She warned with a panicked face. Mercury just laughed at her fear and continued to play around with the dangerous artifact he'd pilfered. "Why'd you even take that? It's... creepy. I don't like it."
Mercury just shrugged. "I dunno. I thought maybe Cinder would be interested in it. Better we bring it and she doesn't want it then we leave it and it turns out she needed it," He reasoned. Emerald hated to say it, but he made sense. Neither of them could claim to understand their enigmatic mistress and what she truly was planning. But she'd never admit that to him.
"Lady Cinder. Remember your place!"
"Shouldn't you remember yours?" Mercury snarked back. Emerald blushed at his words. "Open your eyes. Cinder doesn't care about you. At least, not in the way you want her to. Stop licking her boots and start thinking for yourself," He advised. Emerald's eyes narrowed in indignation.
"Excuse me? That's rich coming from you! You suck up to her more than I do!" She rebutted, but Mercury shook his head.
"That's different. I suck up because she's my best ticket to a better life. Sticking with her means I get what I want. You suck up to her because you're hoping she'll look at you for more than five seconds and notice your affections. Wanna know something? She's noticed. That's why she orders you around so much. Because she knows you'll never question her."
"Merc. Shut. Up. Before I shut you up myself," Emerald threatened. The grey-haired young man gave her a smug look as he cocked a hand onto his hip. Despite her words, Emerald knew she wouldn't be able to force him to do anything. Telling him off only encouraged him, and he was the better fighter. For now, she had to deal with his taunting.
"Cmon Em. Why don't we just get along? We may not agree on why we work for Cinder, but we both know that it's best not to disappoint her. Like you did," He mocked. Emerald growled but didn't grace him with a response. If she ignored him he might get bored. She hoped.
Eventually, it seemed to work. He stopped enjoying the teasing when Emerald stopped reacting, so with a flip of his hair and a mumbled "Whatever," Mercury let her be. Her partner went back below deck to sulk while she stayed up looking at the stars. His words had stung, but she firmly believed they weren't true. Even if they were, she'd still follow Cinder. Even if it killed her, she'd fight to bring about her dream.
Soon. They'd arrive in Mistral soon. They'd make their move soon. They'd take the first step in bringing about a new era on Remnant soon. They just had to wait for those animals to come to their side. Once they had the White Fang on their side, they could begin.
A certain faunus was having a very bad week. What had seemingly been a routine mission had quickly turned into a fight for his life as he had to use every skill he had in his arsenal to evade being captured by the city guards. Many of his fellow members of the White Fang had been arrested after their involvement with Roman Torchwick was uncovered, and countless safehouses had been hit.
The canine faunus had barely been able to escape when Glynda Goodwitch had burst into their compound after Weiss Schnee had killed the lieutenant, Bane. That had been another issue. Weiss Schnee was in Vale. The former heiress to the most hated enemy of the faunus. Many of the more fiery recruits had wanted to try and hunt her down and capture her, but he was one of the ones smart enough to try and lay low.
The past week had consisted of fleeing to safehouses and bases only for them to be found and raided. The number of White Fang members in Vale had already been abnormally low recently, but after Goodwitch's raids that number had dwindled to a paltry few dozen.
"What do we do now?" A deer faunus voiced the question that had been on everyone's minds the past week. The remaining members of the White Fang's Valean branch were crowded in a cramped farmhouse near one of the cities along the southeastern coast. Staying in the capital was obviously impossible, but there weren't nearly enough of them to try roughing it out in the wilderness. Not without clear leadership and skilled warriors.
"Isn't it obvious? We flee to Vacuo. Get in touch with whoever's in charge there, then resume the fight!" One passionate lizard faunus called out to a very lukewarm response. A few voices yelled in agreement, but most of the room awkwardly shuffled around. This was his chance!
"We'd be caught long before we made it across the border. And even if the guards gave up, half of us would be eaten by Grimm before we even reached the desert," He reasoned, causing waves of mumbling to ripple throughout the crowd. The reptilian faunus turned to glare at him, but another voice called out from the crowd.
"Should we try and go to Menagerie? We'd be welcome there! And we could regroup with the rest of the Fang!" A squirrel faunus offered but was shot down when a woman with goat horns countered.
"There's no way this many faunus could get a ride to Menagerie without looking suspicious. We'd be caught trying to get a boat."
"Then what do we do?" Another faunus called out, and the conversation looped back around to the start.
"We should try and hide in the Emerald Forest," One person suggested, receiving a smack to the back of his head for being an idiot.
"Mistral's the safest place for us right now," Another tried to say, but he and several others managed to poke holes in that idea.
"We should continue the fight in Vale! We can still win! We just need a new leader!" A particularly old bear faunus declared. She was probably the best fighter here aside from him, and was looking for an easy way into a position of power. Like he'd let that happen!
"It's hopeless! General Adam abandoned us, and Lieutenant Bane fell to the Schnee! We should just give up!" He called out in a panicked voice. The rest of the room descended into madness at his suggestion, but many seemed to agree.
"How can we hope to succeed where they failed?"
"We've lost!"
"There's no hope?"
"What do we do?"
"Isn't it obvious? Surrender!"
"No, we should scatter! If we all flee in different directions then it'll be harder to track us!"
He smiled to himself as he heard the conversation shift in his favor. He couldn't help but excitedly wag his dog tail. His plan to finish off the Vale branch from the inside was working!
At least, it was. Until the door to the barn flew open and one of the sentries they'd appointed rushed into the room. The woman panted to catch her breath before rising to her feet, raccoon tail standing at attention.
"We're saved! He's here!"
The room was once again thrown into chaos as cheers of "Who?" and "Adam!" rang out. He felt his stomach drop as a flash of red caught his eye from outside the barn. Adam Taurus was a madman, yes. But he was also a charismatic leader and a powerful warrior. A dangerous combination that could reignite the spark of hope in the frightened faunus. But the man who stepped through the door was not Adam Taurus.
"Patience, brothers and sisters. There is no need to lose hope," The baritone voice of Corsac Albain silenced the crowd as he stepped into the barn, flanked by two pairs of armed guards. "All is not yet lost for our cause here in Vale."
"What do you mean?" A rabbit faunus called out before blushing and bowing her head. "Er, I mean. What do you mean, High Prophet?"
The Albain Brothers were some of the highest-ranking members of the White Fang. While not quite High Generals like Adam Taurus, they were merely a step below. They were in charge of much of the bureaucracy of the organization, as well as being part of the council that elected a High Leader whenever the previous one passed or became too passive for their tastes.
The fox faunus smiled creepily at the crowd of scarred recruits. "A new age is coming to the White Fang. Adam Taurus has been making moves in Mistral in order to secure a great victory for our cause. Upon hearing of your plight, he sent me to guide you in his stead," His voice eased the crowd.
"Where is General Adam? How do we know he hasn't just abandoned us?" The deer faunus who started the whole conversation cried out. Corsac didn't seem phased by the question, but the four guards surrounding him were a different story. Their grip on their lances shifted and their faces hardened at the slight against Adam's honor.
The High Prophet of the White Fang held out a hand to his guards as though to pacify their anger. They glared in anger but stepped back, not willing to disobey him. "Adam has been working on something in Mistral. What, I am not allowed to tell you. But know this. He has not abandoned you. He sent me to bring you all to Mistral to help achieve a great victory for our kind!"
"In Mistral? Why focus on Mistral? Why not Atlas?" The bear faunus who was a veteran of the cause asked. "What's so important in Mistral?"
"Again, I cannot tell you. If you agree to come with us to Mistral, you shall find out more. Several ships are waiting nearby to bring you there, should you decide to continue the fight."
The crowd looked around unsurely. They'd suffered heavy losses in the raids, and many of them seemed disillusioned with the cause. Asking them to leave their homes and fight in a Kingdom not their own was unfair. It seemed Corsac knew this, because his face shifted into one of sadness and his head lowered.
"I understand if you can no longer support our cause. After all, we left you to fend for yourselves with no clear chain of command. But know that even if you can no longer find it in you to continue the fight, we shall do so in your place. But those of you who still have spirit, those of you who still burn with fury, those of you who wish to continue this fight against our brutal oppressors, then come with us. Help us to achieve a victory for all faunus in Mistral. Help us make our mark upon history! Take up arms once more and fight! Not for Sienna Khan, or Adam Taurus, but for the faunus!"
Corsac's speech was short but effective. Murmurs rippled through the crowd as those who had wished to keep fighting looked vindicated while those who wished to run looked down in shame. His opportunity had slipped from his grasp. Oh well. He just had to improvise.
"I'll do it! I'll go to Mistral and fight!" The dog faunus called out. Corsac's face split into a wide smile as several other shouts rang out after his. Soon, the entire barn shook from the force of their yelling, causing dust to fall from the rafters as their passionate cries inspired even the most reluctant among them. Not one soul wasn't willing to go to Mistral.
"Damn. I'm gonna have to find a way to tell the General about this," Marrow Amin thought to himself as the raucous crowd began banging their weapons on the floor and cheering. "Relocating to Mistral? Isn't that where the Fang has their headquarters? What could they possibly need more recruits for?"
As Marrow pondered these things, he felt the crowd surge forward and pull him along with it. The sun had begun to slip below the horizon, meaning it was now safe for them to travel without being seen. The coast was about half a day's walk from where they were, so accounting for possible Grimm attacks they'd reach it before dawn, allowing them to slip away before even the earliest fishing vessels set out.
"Still, this doesn't make sense," Marrow mused to himself as the crowd was split into groups of twelve to fifteen faunus each. They would split up and take different paths to reach the coast to help guarantee their success, with each group being led by one of Corsac's guards. "The White Fang is too confident in this plan. Moving everyone out of Vale? Is the Vacuoan branch going there as well? Just what are we planning in Mistral? And more importantly; who are we working with?"
Glass heels clinked on the rich polished wooden floors as Cinder made her way through the halls of Haven, the royal palace of Mistral. Few servants passed her by, with those that did lowering their gaze and averting their eyes. No one seemed eager to earn her ire. Good.
As she roamed the winding hallways she glanced around and enjoyed the sights. Beautiful paintings of gorgeous vistas and noble warriors decorated the warmly lit halls. Magnificent tapestries woven from the richest silk competed for space with intricate busts of former kings and queens. Deep red carpets trimmed with golden lace covered the floors and muffled her steps.
But the true beauty of Haven Palace was revealed whenever she passed one of the sparse windows and gazed out on the magnificent gardens it was known for. All manner of plants from all over Remnant grew in the numerous walled-off sections outdoors. She was particularly fond of a karesansui garden in the western wing of the palace. The raked sand and dry rocks were calming to her, and the high walls gave her a sense of privacy.
But this wasn't the time for relaxation. That would come later. For now, she had work to do. That was why she paced through the mostly empty halls until she arrived at a long hallway with a large cherry wood double door bearing a carving of the Mistralian crest. In front of it, two guards stood holding long spear-like naginatas, similar to a glaive.
The sentry on the right was an older woman with scars along her face and arms showing her experience. Her eyes showed she had been tested by battle and hardened into a fine warrior, one who truly deserved her illustrious position. The sentry on the right was a younger man whose youthful features and innocent eyes betrayed his lack of experience. He had only reached this rank thanks to nepotism and manipulation.
They both regarded her with wildly different expressions. The veteran bore thinly veiled contempt in her steely grey eyes while admiration filled the younger man's brown ones. The older woman regarded her as though she were a threat to the kingdom; the younger man saw her as a savior. Yet neither said anything to acknowledge her. She was above them. The woman only nodded and opened the large door to let her in.
As she stepped into the personal study of king Leonardo Lionheart, she smiled sweetly. The man looked up from whatever trivial documents he was reading and choked in fear. The guard who had let her in glared at her back, but Lionheart dismissed her with a wave.
"Leave us."
Cinder turned around to look at the guard, whose conflicted gaze eventually settled into a neutral expression as she shut the door without a word. The raven-haired woman gave her a mocking smile as she did so. Once the door closed with a quiet thud, her smile fell. Turning back to face Lionheart, she took in the sight of the once-great man as he rose to greet her.
The elderly faunus wore a simple white shirt and a dark brown vest over it. Grey pants allowed his lion tail to swish nervously behind him. A brown coat was reached down to his shins and remained unbuttoned as an auburn shawl rested on his shoulders. His grey hair was combed to resemble a lion's mane and his beard was neatly trimmed. He looked more like a bumbling scholar than a warrior-king.
"Cinder. To what do I owe this... pleasure," The king said through clenched teeth. Cinder paid no mind to the implied insult. Instead, she walked over to his desk and began to look over the documents he had been reading. Leo looked resigned as she did so, making no move to stop her or reprimand her for not showing him proper respect as he ought to. He had learned his place long ago.
Most of the papers on his desk were simple affairs. Tax reports from different cities, requests for more soldiers in Grimm-infested areas, trade agreements that needed his approval, and other minor things. Normally, a person of his rank wouldn't dream of doing such pointless work; but he had asked to be allowed to do it. Cinder knew it was his way of feeling like he still had some level of control of the kingdom he ruled.
"I just came here to request your approval to dispatch a small squadron of warriors to the north," Cinder told the man, whose face fell into a resigned frown. "As well as to inform you that you should expect a meeting with a... delegate within the next few weeks," She spoke in a quiet voice that sent shivers of fear up the man's spine, her gentle tone creating a harsh disconnect with her sinister words.
"I... I see. Might I ask why we need to send soldiers north?" The king asked with a gulp. Cinder turned to him and gave him a disarming smile that seemed to do anything but ease the poor man's fears. She almost felt bad for him. He was so clearly unfit to rule that she couldn't help but wonder what kind of man he'd be if he hadn't been born royalty.
"It's nothing major. Just a pack of Grimm that have been causing issues with traders heading to Argus. Manticores mostly, though according to a report they are being led by a Sphinx. It shouldn't be a problem for a handful of warriors and soldiers to deal with them," Cinder explained, her voice dripping with honeyed words. They both knew she was lying.
Manticores were some of the strongest Grimm that hunted in packs. Their poisonous tails, large wings, and ability to shoot blasts of Fire Dust from their maws made them a dangerous foe to even the most elite warrior. A Sphinx was like a larger, more deadly version of a Manticore. It usually took an entire squad of around four warriors to take down a single one. Adding a pack of Manticores to the mix all but guaranteed failure.
"Hmm. And who did you plan to send on this mission?" Leo asked hesitantly, as though the answer would affect whether or not he agreed to approve the mission. It was amusing how he willingly lived in delusion, desperately trying to maintain the illusion of free will and choice. It was a far cry to how he had struggled against her manipulation at first. Years of threats and blackmail had chipped away at his will.
"I plan on having Shiro Wan lead the expedition, with Heather Shields as the second in command. Along with three mages and a small battalion of soldiers, they will deal with the problem. I believe this should be more than sufficient enough to accomplish the task."
Cinder smirked as she saw a flicker of hope appear in Lionheart's eyes. Shiro Wan and Heather Shields were some of the rapidly dwindling number of people loyal to him and him alone. But they were also some of the most accomplished fighters at their disposal. If anyone could figure out a way to deal with those Grimm, it would be them. So she took great pleasure in crushing that hope.
"Of course, we wouldn't want to incite panic. If the public saw such powerful warriors leaving the city armed to the teeth they might get worried," Cinder mused in faux concern. "To say nothing of what the Oniyuri Rebels would do if they found out that two skilled warriors wielding enchanted weapons were alone in the countryside. They might try to overwhelm them and take the weapons for themselves."
Lionheart's head lowered in shame. She could see the pain evident in his eyes as he opened his mouth and began to speak. "Yes. It wouldn't be good to cause such a commotion. What should we do?" He asked, knowing the answer already.
"Why isn't it obvious? We don't send them with their weapons. Fighters of their caliber will be able to make do with weapons of lower quality. Still enchanted, of course, but not nearly as powerful as their personal ones. This should prevent the public from perceiving some great threat lurking outside the kingdom and deter bandits or rebels from wasting their time trying to take a few silver swords."
"I see. I suppose... that makes sense," The faunus king muttered to himself dejectedly. She knew that he was close friends with both Shiro Wan and Heather Shields. Shiro had been a loyal servant of his since before she had been old enough to count, and Heather was like a daughter to him, especially after the rest of his family had since passed. It would crush him to send them off to their deaths like this. But he couldn't find the courage to try and deny her. He had lost his resolve. "Very well. You have my approval."
As soon as he spoke those words in that hollow tone, her smile widened. Ten years ago he would've had her killed for suggesting such a thing of him. Five years ago he would've dragged the argument out, stalling by consulting with multiple other advisors before coming to a decision. But after a decade of being manipulated, his fighting spirit had faded. All that was left was a broken shell of a man who clung to phantoms of a past in which he was mighty.
"Very well. I'll send them off immediately. If they leave now they should be finished in a week's time," Cinder declared, relishing the pain that flashed in the king's eyes. She wouldn't even give him the chance to apologize. They'd recognize the mission for what it was immediately and be far too angry at his cowardice to speak to him. After years of supporting him no matter what, he repaid them by sending them to die.
The despair Lionheart radiated made Cinder feel ecstatic. This man had once been considered a great leader on par with Ozpin and Theodore of Vale and Vacuo. Now he was lain low by the machinations of the daughter of a formerly disgraced noble house. The feeling of pulling others down while she herself rose was addicting.
"Will that be all, Cinder?" Leonardo asked his 'most trusted advisor' with a despondent sigh. The ember-eyed woman put a finger to her lips as though she were thinking about the question. She hummed to herself, making a show of trying to recall if there was anything else she needed to tell him. Eventually, she shook her head.
"No, I don't think so. Aside from warning you about your upcoming meeting and receiving your permission to send your warriors on a mission, I have nothing else to speak with you about," Cinder declared. Leo winced at her words like she was twisting a knife in his stomach. His eyes looked empty as he watched her turn around and leave the office, a far cry from the defiant gaze he used to wear.
He had used to think he could control her; that he was in charge of her. Then he believed he could stop her, that he could prevent her from growing in power and influence. He quickly learned that all he could do was try and stall for time, hoping desperately that someone would save him. And even that had failed him. He had foolishly ignored the serpent slithering around him until it had coiled around his neck.
As Cinder walked through the hallways of Haven Palace back to her favorite garden, her heels clinked on the floor. Leonardo was far from the first to have tried to control her. Her father, her instructor, and countless criminals and nobles had tried to manipulate her. Whether it was trying to get into bed with her or trying to use her for political gain, they always failed to see that she was the one who was manipulating them. No one could control her. Not her father, her instructor, or anyone else. She refused to be a pawn to anyone. Not even that man.
The bitter cold of Solitas was pushed to the extreme as the wind howled in a blizzard just outside the city of Atlas. The chill of winter seemed as though it would never go away, as though it held the world in its icy grasp and had no intention of letting go. It eventually would. It always did. It was a constant. There was always spring after winter. The lengths of the seasons may change, but they never stayed forever.
If even the seasons, these primal forces that ravaged and repaired Remnant, were not eternal, then neither too was man. Of course, there were those who surpassed the length any natural life should be; those determined souls who found ways to defy the constant that was death. Whatever the method, they all strived to become a constant. Ever present and never-ending, like the ceaseless cycle of seasons.
Despite having been born in Atlas well over fifty years ago, Arthur Watts found it amazing how it could still inspire such philosophical thoughts within his twisted mind. He had seen much of what Remnant had to offer; from the long-gone oases of Vacuo to the tropical coasts of Menagerie. Yet it was his birthplace of Mantle, now Atlas, that drew him.
Cold and harsh Atlas. A shining testament to the tenacity of man. Not only had they created a glorious kingdom in the treacherous north, but they had also done so in a few short generations. There was something deeply moving about it, so much so that even a dark soul like his felt inspired by its strength and drive. But he had not come here to ponder human nature and progress.
"Master. Your apprentice approaches," A disembodied voice spoke out to him from the blizzard. A faint shadow stood in the storm, featureless and translucent, looking as though it held no weight or power.
"Bring him to me," Watts ordered the shade he had created. The warped soul gave him a bow before taking off into the blizzard. He could feel a faint connection to the weak creature but paid it no heed. A necromancer of his caliber could manage to control twenty such shades before it became more trouble than it was worth to maintain them. He did not need to fret about this minor servant.
"Speaking of servants," Arthur mused to himself when he saw an elderly-looking man step emerge from the swirling vortex of white snow. Grey hair that almost seemed white waved erratically in the wind as his apprentice's unkempt facial hair followed suit. An eyepatch covered his left eye while the other one squinted through the storm. A pure white robe was wrapped tightly around his torso and reached down just above his ankles. Perhaps most notable, though, was the black gauntlet with red lines he wore on his right arm.
"Lord Watts! I received your message and came as quickly as I could!" He shouted over the wind. Arthur just rolled his eyes as the fool tried to overcome the roar of nature with his voice alone. There was a much simpler solution; one that didn't require him to shout until his throat was hoarse to be heard.
With a single snap of his fingers, a pulse of energy shot out and pushed the storm back, creating an island of calm in the raging blizzard that hid them from view. It was a simple spell; one any mage with a brain should've been able to do. But he supposed that wasn't fair. The average mage wouldn't have the amount of aura needed to maintain a spell like this for long enough to have a conversation. To do so required both talent and skill.
He knew his student had both, at least enough to be able to perform this spell. But for many, this would be seen as wasteful. Aura took time to regenerate and in the cold of Solitas one was better off saving it for the numerous Grimm rather than creating a bubble of air that prevented the raging winds and sheets of snow from buffeting their face and concealed them from prying eyes.
But Watts was no ordinary mage. He not only had the skill to be able to perform such a feat of magic with ease, but enough aura that doing so barely put a dent in his reserves. Few could claim to be his equal, and he knew of only one who could claim to be his superior. But his apprentice, Merlot, couldn't claim to be nearly as powerful as he.
Merlot wasn't a prodigy, nor was he extremely talented. He was, however, hardworking; almost every year of his long life had been spent studying magic to better himself. So what he lacked in talent he made up for in drive. He was willing to push himself and work to be better. Watts much preferred someone like him, who worked for what he had, then someone like that Mistralian brat who felt entitled to power that naturally came to her.
"Incredible. To perform such a complicated and multifaceted spell with a simple snap of your fingers. I am once again humbled and reminded why I chose to apprentice myself to you," The old man who was actually younger than him praised. Watts rolled his eyes in response.
"I don't wish for flattery. And you apprenticed yourself to me not because of my power, but because I am the only one who can teach you the skills you want to learn," The Atlesian corrected his student, who nodded. "Now then, let's get started. We shouldn't be spotted but I'd still like to make this quick. Have you been able to find anything?"
Merlot shook his head forlornly. "No, sir. It's as though it just... vanished. I thought I had found it a few weeks ago, but it slipped past me and managed to vanish. I apologize for failing you, master."
Watts waved off his apology. "No need to apologize. I failed to locate it as well, so to demand you succeed where I failed is unfair," He eased his apprentice's concerns. The older man nodded before putting a gauntleted hand to his chin and humming to himself.
"It has constantly evaded capture. Could it be that it knows we are looking for it and is actively avoiding us?"
"It's possible. Or it could simply be drifting along, being pulled about by the whims of fate and eluding our grasp. Unless we capture it we shall not know. Regardless, we don't need it. While wielding that power would be helpful in achieving the final step of our plan, it isn't necessary. We wasted too much time trying to take advantage of that opportunity. We must return to our original goal," Watts declared, his voice echoing in the bubble of silence.
"I see. What are we to do next? Should we look for the relics?"
"No. If we make our move too soon he'll notice. We work best in shadows, hiding from the light and waiting for an opportunity to strike. For now, we must avoid drawing attention to ourselves," The green-eyed man ordered his companion.
"If we don't have the relics when we make our move, the window of opportunity will pass us by!" The one-eyed man countered. "Even if everything goes our way, then we'll still waste time trying to hunt them down! We should be locating them now, before your pawn in Mistral makes her move."
Watts chuckled to himself. "Merlot, you have the patience of a child. Two of the relics are all but guaranteed, and if that thief I hired a while back was any good then the Crown of Choice should be easy to recover. It's only the Sword that's a problem, and I already have a plan on how to find that. For now, we need to focus on taking out our enemies. If they catch wind of us, then we're finished!"
Merlot bowed his head in shame. "Very well. I may not understand, but I'll defer to your judgment. What should I do?" The necromancer asked hesitantly. The olive-skinned man let out a short laugh and smiled deviously.
"You're to go to Vale. Lay low for now. Once Cinder is done in Mistral, regardless of the outcome, you are to begin preparing for the end. Consolidate forces in Mountain Glenn while the kingdom is distracted. Once the time comes, you will be the one to bring Ozpin to his knees," Watts promised the gauntleted man who gave a wicked grin at his words. He'd known that between returning to Mountain Glenn and getting to kill the king his apprentice wouldn't complain.
Merlot's joy at his assigned task was soon replaced by curiosity. The same driving force that had drawn him to Arthur Watts in the first place. It was evident in his single eye. "And what will you be doing, master? If I am to be in Vale, and you've ensured Mistral will be dealt with, where will you be? Here in Atlas?"
Watts shook his head. "Not quite. There's something I need to do in Vacuo first. I need to pay a visit to an old friend. He has a similar goal to us, though for vastly different reasons. While we may disagree, we both want the same end result. So I'll go and see if he won't agree to help us... shake things up."
Within the lost sands of Vacuo stood the shattered remains of countless civilizations. Mighty kingdoms and empires that once spanned across all of Sanus had been consumed by the desert like many before it. Ruins dotted the desert, breaking up the monotony of endless sand dunes and providing shelter for all manner of despicable evils.
A stone ziggurat that had been weathered for millennia by sandstorms hid itself in the sea of sand, only visible by the very tip of the structure peeking up from the desert. Like many ruins in Vacuo, it was left behind by an ancient civilization no one seemed to know the name of. One of many that had faded from memory, it seemed.
And like many ruins in Vacuo, countless souls had been drawn to the ziggurat in hopes of finding some ancient treasure long forgotten. Weapons, artifacts, or even just gold lured people into risking their lives to try and claim the perceived treasures for themselves. In truth, this structure had very little value for the average person. And unlike most ruins in Vacuo, Grimm weren't the most dangerous thing lurking in it.
Unlike the tombs inhabited by Apathy, or the temples that housed Deathstalkers, this ruin held nothing. No Grimm lurked within its worn walls; No Creeps roamed dark passages, and no Sulfur Fish crawled along the ceilings or walls. Nothing disturbed the dust in the place, as though it had not been seen by life in centuries.
Very few souls had even seen the structure in the past decade, and only one had entered the innermost sanctum. Howling wind from the desert crept into the empty halls and sang a mournful tune as they shifted the piles of sand that rested on the floors. Deeper and deeper into the structure was a great stone door bearing ancient letters readable only to two souls. Etched into the stone was an intricate insignia of an eye turned sideways.
Behind this door lay a staircase leading into the deepest depths of the ruins. A great hall awaited at the bottom, with columns bearing worn-down carvings holding up a cracked ceiling that strained to hold up the weight of the desert. Unlit braziers flanked the four pairs of columns, and for the longest time, the only light that entered this sacred place was that which sifted through the sand and cracked ceiling.
The darkness was no problem for the room's only visitor. He rarely stayed here for long; being far too busy carrying out his righteous crusade. Yet even when he was here, the scorpion faunus's sinister yellow orbs needed only the faintest light to see. But no longer was the light in the tomb faint; rather, a great azure glow illuminated the ruined room and cast long shadows across the walls.
Tyrian had never seen anything like it in all of his years acting as this place's guardian. The man shot across the room with unnatural speed to the far wall, which bore a mural of a great figure uniting the nations of Remnant under one banner. Before the mural was a small sarcophagus-like altar, from which the light emitted. Pushing the stone slab of the top of the altar, he gasped at what he saw.
The sacred relic he had been guarding for a decade was no longer a dull black sword, having regained its original luster as it was restored to power. Tyrian did not know how, but the once-dim blade was now a resplendent golden weapon that gleamed with blue light. The faunus spent no time pondering how this came to be. He already knew the answer.
"It is a sign from my goddess!" He cried out in delight as he fell prostrate before the relic. But what did it mean? What was she telling him? Was this merely acknowledgment, telling him he'd done well in serving her? Or was it instructing him to go out and accomplish a task? The sword was a weapon of war, so perhaps it was telling him there was someone he needed to kill? He already did that quite frequently.
But perhaps it wasn't telling him to just kill those who dared to taint this holy shrine with their vile presence. Perhaps it was spurring him to claim the life of someone far away. Someone important. But who? King Theodore? Qrow Branwen? Ozpin? Who? Who could she possibly want him to kill?
"No. No no no no no! I mustn't lose faith. My goddess will guide me!" Tyrian raved to himself, his shrill voice echoing in the ancient chamber. "But what does this sign mean? How will I find out?" He cried, dragging his hands along his face and looking towards the mural. His tail lashed about agitatedly, whipping through the air with a whish as though it had a mind of its own.
Suddenly, he froze. "I know! Or rather, I know who'd know!" He giggled to himself. "That blasphemer, Watts. He will tell me what your sign means, O grace. He may be a heretic, but he is wise. Far wiser than your humble servant. He will interpret your sign. He will tell me what it is you wish of me!" The man spoke reverently to the image at the center of the mural.
Snapping his head upwards, the man frowned. "But if Destruction is reacting, then what to? Which relic has been activated?" The man mumbled to himself, golden eyes narrowed in suspicion. "Could it have been Watts? No. He may be a heretic, but he isn't careless. His disciple would be kept on a tight leash. The pawn in Mistral? No. She knows nothing of them. Who could it be?"
The answer came to him as suddenly as a flash of lightning on a clear day. "Him. He is the one who activated a Relic. Vale is nearby, so it makes sense that Destruction would respond to its partner, Choice. But for what purpose? Why would Ozpin use the Crown of Choice?" The faunus screamed as he slammed a fist into the stone floor, creating a spiderweb of cracks to appear. He thrashed about before glaring up at the mural. "What does he have planned?"
Ozpin sipped his drink, a fine blend of Vacuoan coffee he'd received as a gift from his good friend Theodore. Their nations frequently fought due to their shared border, but the man was a dear friend of his, and one he truly believed wanted the best for his Kingdom. While he drank, Glynda filled the silence with an updated report on the incident at the harbor.
"How Torchwick was able to capture that many Grimm remains unknown. Every grunt that we captured claims to have known nothing. Furthermore, the man himself is still missing. Whether he has managed to escape or been killed by his 'employer' does not matter. We know from both the accounts of many goons as well as Weiss Schnee that he claimed to be working with a woman from Mistral," The blonde woman explained as she flipped through a small leather-bound journal containing her report.
Ozpin sighed to himself. This meeting had been going on for over two hours so far. Lady Goodwitch had begun by reiterating that which he already knew, before moving onto that which he could have easily guessed for himself. He often appreciated how thorough she was, but this was one of the few times he wished Qrow was giving the report instead. For as... eccentric as he was, he was succinct. Ozpin's patience was wearing thin.
"The burdens of being king, I suppose."
"This clearly warrants investigation. Between this and the reports of a spike in White Fang activity in Mistral, it's clear that something will soon occur there. It's possible that Sienna Khan is the woman Roman spoke of, but given how he referred to the White Fang as a third party this theory isn't very sound," The green-eyed mage reasoned.
"Hmm."
Ozpin replied simply as he picked up a copy of one of the reports made from that night. Specifically, the report given by one Oscar Pine. Despite the boy's age and occupation, he was very intelligent and observant. He was allegedly very unsure and nervous during the report according to Glynda, but he'd seen the woman make hardened knights break down in tears. He'd forgive the boy for being intimidated.
"Regardless, we need to do something about this. I propose we send an ambassador immediately to King Lionheart and conduct a thorough investigation. If the one responsible for this turns out to have been a mere criminal empress, we will solve the matter ourselves. If it was a noble who Torchwick worked for, then we'll demand they be tried here in Vale."
"No. Lionheart has repeatedly shown himself throughout the past decade as a man who doesn't take kindly to threats to his power. Take a look at the Oniyuri rebellion, for instance. If we send an ambassador, they'll be killed. And based on Qrow's report, the balance of power has been shifting in Mistral. Dissatisfaction with the current king is high, and nobles have begun to amass private armies of mercenaries. You know as well as I do that it was no mere criminal who strong-armed Torchwick. Nor was it the White Fang."
Glynda sighed and pinched her nose. "Yes. I'm well aware that it is all but certain that the one responsible for this was Leo. But just because you and I know doesn't mean we can justify going to war with Mistral to the other kingdoms. Theodore is well-known for his strong moral code, and James and the rest of the Atlesian council aren't going to take Vale attacking unprompted very well. We need proof!"
"She does have a point. But as always, she fails to see the bigger picture. As well as the simpler solution."
"And who said anything about war, Glynda?" Ozpin countered with a smirk. "I was simply going to propose we return the favor. If Mistral is going to fund terrorists and criminals to attack our kingdom, I see no reason why we cannot lend our support to the rebels who fight against their tyranny," He remarked passively, causing Glynda to ponder his plan.
"Send a small force of knights and mages to aid the Oniyuri rebellion? Clever. If Leo tries to gain sympathy from Vacuo or Atlas, we will simply claim that we were aiding them in their original goal of clearing the region of Grimm and that they were drawn into the conflict by Mistral. An obvious lie, but if Mistral tries to call it out then they will have no ground to stand on."
"And once our soldiers have become involved with the conflict, things will quickly escalate. We will likely be drawn into a war, but neither Atlas nor Vacuo will be willing to get involved. This will not be seen as an unprompted assault on their kingdom but a justified defense of our own," Ozpin elaborated. Glynda couldn't help but give him an impressed look.
"That's why you knighted Xiao-Long and Arc earlier today. That's why you've been increasing recruitment funds for the military to make up for the losses we suffered at the harbor. You've been planning this for a while," Glynda surmised as Ozpin impassively took a sip from his cup. "You were planning on sending Yang and Jaune to Mistral."
It wasn't a question. She stated it as though it were a fact. Nonetheless, the bespectacled man answered with a nod. "Indeed. Among others, of course. I planned on dispatching a force of ten knights, and an equal number of mages. The rest will be simple soldiers, fighting for their kingdom. With one exception, of course. I doubt Ms. Belladonna would be happy if her partner were to go to Mistral without her."
Glynda's eyes narrowed at her name. "Ah, yes. The White Fang's runaway. I'd nearly forgotten about her. You really trust her to partake in such a vital mission?"
The green-garbed man nodded. "I trust Tai with my life. I trust that he has raised his daughter well. And I trust that his daughter is capable of making trustworthy friends. If Ms. Xiao-Long is willing to trust her, then so am I. Besides, I would be foolish not to make use of her... skills," Ozpin explained.
"Still. She wasn't just some low-ranking member. She was the right hand to the most radical general in the entire organization. She has a long way to go before she earns my trust," Glynda declared. "Same with Schnee. She lied about Belladonna's involvement in the White Fang, even if I already knew that. Her lie was convincing, but her eyes gave her away."
Ozpin hummed to himself as he dragged his finger around the rim of his cup. Glancing up, he asked an odd question. "And what color were her eyes?"
Glynda raised an eyebrow. "Light blue. Why?"
"No particular reason."
"Light blue? I would've guessed silver."
Laughing silently at the joke he made to himself, he glanced down at Oscar Pine's report once more. He read and re-read the part where Oscar described the blinding silver flames that shot out of Weiss Schnee's blade and helped her cleave straight through the ancient Deathstalker's arm. The tale sounded far-fetched, but he'd seen something similar once.
"You've taken an odd interest in that girl? What do you have planned?" His trusted friend and advisor asked. Ozpin shrugged with an innocent expression on his face. There was no point in lying to her. But he also didn't have to tell her the whole truth.
"I've simply taken an interest in her abilities. Even without the strange light she wielded at the dock, she is an accomplished mage and a skilled swordswoman. And since she no longer holds any loyalty to her father, this may be a chance to win her over to our side."
"Our side?"
"Pay it no mind. Merely the ramblings of a man who has lived for far too long," He deflected the question with a jovial smile on his face. Glynda frowned at his words.
"I wish you wouldn't be so harsh on yourself. You always speak as though you've made a great number of mistakes throughout your life, yet you've always been a kind and just ruler for our people. The people adore you, Oz. Don't be so down on yourself, okay?" The stern woman asked with uncharacteristic tenderness that only emerged when talking to her longtime friend.
"Thank you, Glynda. That will be all," He responded and leaned back in his chair. Lady Goodwitch frowned before bowing respectfully and turning sharply, swiftly leaving his private study. He had a lot to think about. Seeing the numerous reports that claimed Weiss Schnee had used that power had reignited a hope he hadn't felt for ten years.
"Let's see. If we are to create a new generation of royal guards, who should they be? Ms. Schnee, obviously. Ms. Xiao-Long and Ms. Belladonna would work as well. But who would the remaining members be? Mr. Arc is courageous and clever, but he lacks the skill needed. Three isn't a very balanced number, though. If only there were someone else who could fill the last spot."
That could wait till later. For now, he had to ensure that Weiss would survive her quest in Mistral. He had agreed to fund her expedition in the hopes it would give her the opportunity to grow and get used to wielding her power, but with war coming soon he had to ensure that this new... asset wasn't lost. Qrow would question it, but he'd follow his orders, as always. There was not a more loyal man.
"Soon. I'd all but given up hope after Mountain Glenn, but it looks as though another who can wield Summer's power has emerged. It's strange, though. I'd been sure that power was linked to having silver eyes. But how can Ms. Schnee use it? Regardless, there's much to do. We must gain her trust as we did with Summer if we want to use her power to set us free from this curse. Both of us.
This chapter may seem like it doesn't matter, but it's a necessary evil. Get it? Because it's all about villains, Ozpin and Marrow not included. That was an awful pun. But I wrote this chapter for a very specific reason. Partially because it sets up villains for later and gives a taste of what they're up to in this AU, but also for a more selfish reason. Its so much easier to have all of these introductions in one place so I can just look at this one chapter if I need to be consistant about how I described a room or a person then having to dig through mountains of chapters and words looking for that time I described Torchwick to figure out how I described his coat.
Speaking of him, I'm not done with him yet. I was intentionally vague, but he isn't quite done being in the story yet. I've still got plans for him. As for the rest of the villains, I have mixed opinions on them. I adore Tyrian's twisted mindset and Watts is an entertaining villain to write because of how confidant and in control he always is. The others range from hard but fun to write like Cinder, to boring like Corsac Albain. I also threw Marrow into the story. He was there a few chapters back when Weiss and Co. went into the White Fang compound. He was the dog faunus with a sword who yelled at the others for dropping a crate of dust.
Speaking of little details like that, there are a bunch hidden throughout this chapter. Some of them reference events that are going to be coming up pretty soon, and a few of them reference some stuff that I have planned for just before the finale of the story. So while this chapter may not have advanced Weiss's story, it does set up how some villains will end up interacting with her.
Overall, this was pretty easy to write. I just sat down and typed out each little section before stopping, so I didn't need to constantly keep writing to try and maintain my flow. Expect the next chapter by next weekend at the latest, and please feel free to leave a review telling me any issues there were or any constructive criticism you have of the story. Until next time, have a great day.