Prologue
Unknown Date, Unknown Location
Summer Rose flew out the window at the tallest point of Evernight Castle, bleeding from several wounds.
'Why did I think this was a good idea?'
Summer Rose, feeling as though Ozpin wasn't doing enough in the war against Salem, left home. She knew she couldn't bring her team. Raven wouldn't come, and Qrow and Tai would try to convince her not to go. So, she scoured Remnant, looking for people to join her mission against the Grimm Queen. Two of the most powerful amongst her group, though, were Aestas and Velox.
Aestar, a woman of pale white eyes and flowing yellow hair, was the Summer Maiden, one of four powerful individuals capable of doing magic. She was being kept safe in Vacuo, but, when approached by Summer, she didn't hesitate. She had the most aggressive attitude of the current Maidens. A chance to take down the head Grimm? How could she not say yes.
Velox was also of the same mindset. However, unlike Aestas, he wasn't a Maiden. He was a fox Faunus Huntsman hailing from Mistral, and became the last member to join Summer's mission. However, the most important detail was that, like herself, he was a silver eyed warrior.
Silver eyed warriors. Name speaks for itself, those born with silver eyes. They had the ability to destroy Grimm simply by looking at them. Throughout the millennia, their numbers had dwindled, likely due to the efforts of Salem. She was right to be afraid, of course. They could kill her in an instant.
Twelve people she found in the year she left. Twelve people to stand against the ultimate evil. They knew Salem's location, deep within the heart of the Grimmlands, in a fortress called the Evernight Castle.
Thirteen warriors.
Thirteen heroes.
Thirteen...failures.
Things started off badly right from the start. While they were able to sneak into the Grimmlands, they were constantly beset by all sides, losing two of their members right from the start. They had left supplies at the boat, and went to get them. Only for a Sea Feilong to burst through the center of the boat, devouring them both, diving before any of them could help. After that, things only got worse. Some of the rarest, and deadliest, Grimm on Remnant were common here, such as the Nuckelavee. The five day trek across the Grimmlands saw them get picked off, one by one.
By the time they reached Evernight Castle, their numbers had dwindled down to five, and Salem was well aware that they were here. The only good news was that the Grimm seemed to have stopped in their assaults. Six warriors, agents of Salem, confronted them before they could enter the castle. Though they were outnumbered, a Maiden easily turned the tide, and they started killing off Salem's agents, however losing another one of their own in the ensuing battle. When only three agents remained Aestas told the others to go, and took on the remaining three by herself. This made sense. If either Summer or Velox could reach Salem, they could end this war here and now. Entering the castle, they found it swarming to Grimm. As they climbed the castle stairways, the Grimm waves only grew in intensity. Velox told Summer and their remaining ally to go on without him, as he held the line, holding the Grimm back while the two continued upward.
Summer's Aura was already shattered at this point, but it didn't matter. She was bleeding from the side of her head, but it didn't matter. Her left leg felt busted, so she was running with a limp, but it didn't matter. So long as she got one look, just one, she could end this war.
Reaching a set of dual doors, Summer and her remaining ally, took positions at opposite ends of the door. Pulled out Horizon's Edge, twin blades that can combine into a bow. However, with her Aura down, she couldn't use her Semblance, so she kept them in blade form.
She nodded to her ally, and he nodded back. Instantly, they busted through the door...only for several beams of energy to come flying at them. Ozpin said that Salem knew magic, so she shouldn't have been surprised. However, she made the mistake of not telling her allies about it. Her remaining ally was hit by a full blast, flying him against the wall, and shattering his Aura. Salem launched a table at Summer, trying to keep her eyes off of herself. Summer needed a full body look at Salem, or else the petrification won't work. Salem then moved, faster than any speed Semblance Summer had seen. The man blocked her initial attack, but Salem moved too quickly, gripped his throat, and scorched his head. Luckily, the heat was so hot, it killed him instantly.
Summer quickly got up, now having a full look at her. Just as Ozpin described, a pale white woman with same colored hair, and red eyes, the sclerae being black. Her long dress extended past her feet, somewhat dragging against the ground, with the central part slightly open, revealing part of her bust~
Summer shook her head, now isn't the time to think about how she looks. She felt her eyes begin to glow~Salem chucked the corpse at her, blocking her vision. Before she could turn back, she felt a slash across her stomach. Before she could look down to see, she felt a bolt blast her out of the window.
Now, Summer was falling from, what she could guess, near the highest point of the castle, plummeting towards the ground, her back facing it.
'Why...Why did I think this plan would work?' Summer thought as she continued to fall.
'I doomed so many people. And for WHAT?!'
Summer had flashes in her mind of her teammates. Taiyang, the always optimistic dork. Qrow, the self-hurting drunkard, and her favorite drinking buddy. Raven, the pessimistic bandit, who believed there was no hope. Honestly, perhaps that was what attracted her the most. The idea that, with enough time, she could bring hope into Raven's eyes. If Raven and Tai hadn't gotten together, she was certain that she would've fallen for Raven instead. Though, it wasn't meant to be. Raven and Tai married, and they ha~
She felt a wind vortex slow her descent. She hit the ground with thudding CRAK. Everything hurt, bones, flesh, her eyes from multiple uses of the silver eyes today alone. Tilting her head, she saw Aestas, limping on the ground, clearly dying. However, none of Salem's agents stood.
Summer started crying. "I'm so, so sorry. I brought you all to your death."
Aestas simply laughed, blood dripping from her lips, "You kidding? I'd say we did a hell of a lot of damage. Even if we didn't kill her. My only regret: I told my son Phoebus I would be coming home. Seems I'll be breaking that promise."
'Oh. That's why.'
Yang Xiao Long. Though she wasn't Summer's by birth, she treated her like one. When Raven left, Tai was almost inconsolable. She feared for what might've happened had she left Tai to his own devices. So she offered to help raise her. They weren't a couple at the moment, but, after some years, and Yang considering the two her real parents, the two decided to get married. Honestly, the idea of marrying Tai surprised her more than anything else. But, she did love his dorkiness. Shortly afterward, their lives were blessed with another gift.
Ruby Rose, her own child. Such a sweet innocent soul. She doesn't deserve to be born in such a cruel world. For two years, Ruby blessed their house with joy, just as much as Yang did.
That is why! That is why she needed to win! So Ruby and Yang can live in a world without Salem.
Looking back up, she saw a black mist spiraling towards her at insane speed.
Whether it was truth or simply delusions, Summer yelled. "You're keeping that promise! We're not done yet!"
The black mass plunged towards her, Summer dodging at the last second. Salem reformed from the mist, looking amused. Before Summer could look back up, Salem grabbed the back of her head, and pushed it into the ground. The Grimm began moving closer, no longer hindered back by their master's influence.
"I must admit," Salem said approvingly, "You did a wonderful job. It will take some time to get new pawns. Though, I do wonder, what did you hope to accomplish?"
'Keep her focused on me! On me!' "To kill you. And free everyone from your terror!"
"Oh, silver fool. You have no idea what I am, do you?
"You're just another Grimm. Someone that I need to put down!"
"My dear, do you actually believe that?"
Summer, against her better judgement, started laughing, "Probably not. But it does get your attention."
Salem's eyes widened as Aestas launched a massive fireball at Salem. Well, Summer would hardly call it a 'fire' ball. Electricity, water, almost every darn element she could think of was poured into it. The resulting explosion sent Salem flying several meters, and scorching Summer's back. Summer pushed herself to her knees, looking back at Aestas. It seems that the final attack took the last of her life, as, when she fell to the ground, a ball of energy left her body, speeding into the distance.
'I won't waste it.' Turning to Salem, said woman quickly got up, and had a look of rage in her.
'For Remnant.'
Salem charged at her.
'For Yang!' Summer dipped her head down, closing her eyes.
Salem was right on top of her now.
'FOR RUBY!'
Summer looked up, her eyes blazing in white light as a white dome formed around her, stretching for miles, and turning every Grimm in the area to stone. Summer blinked, her eyes wanting to cry, but having no liquid to cry with. Salem was encased in stone, as was every Grimm for miles in all directions.
She did it. Salem was defeated. All that remains is to break her statue, and she'll disappear into dust. Forcing herself up, Summer now realized she had blood trickling down her mouth. She doubts she could get back home in her condition, especially since their boat is gone. However, as a Huntress, a wife, and a mother, she had to give it her best shot. She started limping towards Horizon's Edge, only about thirty feet away, intending to use that to smash the sta~
CRAK
Summer froze. 'No.' She turned, and saw the statue of Salem starting to crack. First along her face, then her hands and up her arms. Summer didn't wait to find out where more cracks would appear. She kept moving to her blade
'This isn't possible. She shouldn't be able to break out of true petrification!'
Desperately, Summer picked up her weapon, turning and throwing the blade at Salem, in a last ditch effort to end the Queen. Before it could reach her, the statue exploded, the shockwave sending the blade flying away, and knocking Summer to the ground. Looking up, she saw that Salem's hair was far less refined, like she just got off the wrong side of the bed. However, the most notable new features were the black veins on her body, in the same shape as the crack markings that appeared on her statue.
Salem had a brief look of true horror, before seeing Summer, and twisting it to rage. Summer went to grab her other blade, but Salem grabbed the back of Summer's head, and started slamming into the ground.
Again and again, Salem slammed her face into the hard stone. Eventually, a small crater formed from the impact force. Salem stood back up, waiting to see if Summer was alive. She could see that Summer was still breathing, but she didn't bother to move. Most likely, without her Aura, Summer passed out from the pain.
For the first time in her immortal life, Salem felt true fear. Now for Summer killing her, she'd welcome that. But, for imprisoning her. While it may have been for a moment, the idea that the silver eyes could actually trap her.
'Much like that tower.' Salem thought, gasping at her own thought words. That could happen. Another silver eyed warrior could come, with even greater power, and finish what this one started. Meaning that, for the first time, there was a way to beat her. Time is no longer in her favor.
'I need to move soon. I will take years to get new allies.' Salem then eyed Summer's body with interest. They say that the Grimm have no souls. While Salem wouldn't deny those claims, did this mean that, since she has a soul, that she could break free from the petrification. Then...what if any other Grimm had a 'soul'.
"I wonder." Salem pondered, placing a hand to her chin.
Author's Notes: This idea just came out of nowhere for me. Not sure how far this idea may get, but I'm excited for it.
Aestas is a reference to the goddess of summer.
Velox is a species of fox.
The weapon's I had for Summer are actually a weapon we've seen already, but under a different name.
Until next time, leave a review, fav/follow, and I'll see you all next time.
