Breaking Remnant: Bound by Shadows
Rating: T/M
Series: RWBY
Volume 5: Revelation
Summary: Aganju came to Beacon wanting to be treated as equal. Pyrrha wanted to be viewed as a normal girl. Neither of them expected to be that fate would have them meet. Now, they navigate the academy grounds and beyond, with secrets and danger awaiting them at every corner. The alternate timeline takes place just before the start of RWBY volume 1 and AU in the Breaking Remnant series.
(Rewrite of RWBY: Shadows of Destiny)
Author's Note:
Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to RWBY... that honor belongs to Rooster Teeth. I do own the rights to my OCs.
Chapter 30
The kingdom of Mistral was abuzz with crowds. After the 10-year war, it was given the honor of being a diplomatic locale within Mistral. Translation: It was a neutral haven for humans and faunus alike. The streets were bustling with harmonious balance as the two races appeared capable of getting along with one another. Of course, this was merely an illusion, a fictional construct to keep the other world powers off of the continent's back.
Pyrrha could see the obvious signs of disdain between the two parties but she did not indicate her true feelings on the matter.
She always had a rather negative view of how Mistral handled relations between the races, specifically her father's influencing of the council to approve faunus servitude after the war. They were given stricter laws that resulted in stiffer punishments on those who dared to challenge the new status quo. Unwarranted brutality. Faunus ranches were just a cutesy term to describe special plantations where many of those were marketed by the masses, mainly to corporations looking for cheap labor.
The capital of Anima was no exception.
There wasn't much time for Pyrrha to think about the dark state of her home country, especially when there were immediate matters to handle. Emerald gems rested on a large group of people, many with cameras and microphones, ready to bombard the young woman with an unhealthy amount of unnecessary questions.
Pyrrha wouldn't admit it, but if anything could make her nervous, it was unwanted attention.
As if reading her mind, Cardin squeezed her hand. She tore herself from the anxiety-inducing scene to a more troublesome sight in the icy stare of the boy.
"Just smile and don't say anything that'll embarrass me, understand?" She bowed her head silently for fear that her voice would betray her.
Soon the coach came to a halt. The driver hopped from his seat and rushed to open the door, plunging the pair in a frenzy as several flashes from the cameras were accompanied by the explosion of chaotic questions.
"Miss Nikos! Lord Winchester!" one of the photographers yelled out, snapping several shots at the visibly uncomfortable young woman as she was led inside by her date for the evening. She could still make out a few random questions as they neared the door but, the rest was a blur until she heard the large door slam shut, sealing her inside with possibly the only thing worse than paparazzi.
Social aristocracy.
She detested the idea of being known for the deeds of others, especially cruel ones. She'd prefer to be judged on her own merits, but sadly that would seemingly be an afterthought once she was betrothed to Cardin. Speaking of which, the burly lord had wandered off to bask in the fame that came along with HER family name.
At least he took the masses along with him.
Her thoughts were once again interrupted when a young man with tied-back black hair and a magenta streak along the left side of his face approached her with a warm smile. He wore a dark green tailcoat with black and gold trim on top of a long-sleeve black shirt. Alongside him stood a young woman with orange hair and the brightest smile one could see.
Unlike the taller young man, she wore a collared black sleeveless vest over a sleeveless t-shirt with a heart-shaped cutout above her breast line and a short pink skirt.
"Pyrrha! You're back!" the girl excitedly shouted, hugging and bouncing lightly against the redhead who quickly hugged her back with eagerness.
"Hello again, Nora! I didn't realize you missed me so much."
"It has been a while, Miss Nikos..." the male chuckled. "We haven't seen each other in over a year... Not since-"
Pyrrha's smile slowly fell at what he was alluding to.
"Of... Of course. Not since my father refused to approve the reconstruction of Kuroyuri. I'm so sorry about..."
"You have no reason to apologize. It wasn't you who made that decision anyway," Nora pulled away with a pout. "Ren and I have managed to make a good life regardless of that so we're not bitter about that."
Looking to Lie Ren, Pyrrha found him nodding in agreement.
"Well, I should at least apologize for not keeping in touch as I should have."
"Enough apologies, Miss Nikos..."
"Ren..?" Nora jabbed him with her elbow for his formality.
"...Pyrrha. We both understand the circumstances so there's no need for you to be depressed about things outside of your control. Let's enjoy the moments we have now and worry less about the past."
"That sounds lovely!" she cheered up, clouds of disdain beginning to vanish. "So, what's been going on here in Mistral? Anything interesting?"
Both Ren and Nora exchanged knowing looks that prompted Pyrrha to raise a brow in intrigue.
"Well..."
Blood.
That foul odor pervaded the entire room, burning the lungs of all who resided in the cramped confines. The screams of those outside mixed with the clashing of metal and the roars of various people. Nobody so much as flinched as what appeared to be a battle began to intensify, pained grunts and labored breathing joining into the symphony of brutality.
The dingy underground cavern was stuffy, the heat further adding to the horrid smell that enveloped the chamber. It didn't help that it was nearly packed to the brim with bodies. Each of them, men and women of faunus descent, filled the place. Each one held some sort of weapon, showing their position as warriors. They also were outfitted with armor that was either outdated, far too small, or big on the rags they called clothes.
Among them, a young kitsune faunus sat in the corner of his confines, away from the others. It was the only way for him to be able to stomach the heat of the summer air. His emerald eyes stared coldly at the dirt ground beneath his feet as he waited. Waiting was almost as torturous as having to endure the pain of battling his kin. There was only the solace that once he finished competing, he'd be given his reprieve; either time to rest for the day or death would grant him such a gift. That would come soon enough as the noises of battle began to die down only to burst with an eruption of cheers.
"Ladies and gentlemen! Are you not entertained?!" a gruff voice shouted with enthusiasm.
Once more the masses showed their 'appreciation' by giving a rowdier ovation.
Those below the arena managed to pick up traces of 'more blood' as the door to the cellar suddenly opened, showering the makeshift prison in blinding light. "Alright! Who's up next?!" the burly man demanded. The faunus looked around, dejection suddenly turned to fear as every one of them parted ways, revealing a trembling lagomorph. "There you are! Yer up!"
"No... No, please!"
The fat man paid little mind to the trembling rabbit's pleas, roughly grabbing her wrist to the point she wondered if it was now broken. The last thing she needed to deal with was a potential handicap. Her resistance only delayed the inevitable outcome that she was to face. The others around her either looked on with pity or refused to spare her a glance, robbing her of any hope of help.
Before she knew it, she was tossed into the blazing hot arena.
Though the air around her was a bit more bearable than the stuffy dungeon she was housed in previously, the unfortunate reality that awaited her threatened to suffocate her completely.
Before her, mere feet away, stood her executioner...
Tears began to form from the defenseless bunny's eyes as she shifted away, ignoring the scalding sand beneath her. Her 'opponent' simply smiled as the mob surrounding them roared for more carnage.
She found her escape blocked by a wall, trapping her, much to her killer's delight.
"Hold still, bun-bun..." his lecherous tone made her want to vomit. "...I'll make this quick."
As if in a trance, she didn't dare move, clenching her eyes shut as she awaited the final blow that would hopefully end her misery. Oum... Please, help me! she silently cried as she braced for the last bit of pain that was to come. Except...
It never came.
Seconds passed.
The cheers from the crowd began to die down, plunging the arena in silence.
She felt warm drops land on her cheek, daring her to open only a single brown orb. The man had stopped, his rusty blade still high in the air, his eyes wide in terror... no wait... it wasn't terror at all.
Pain?...
Once again, the bunny felt something warm land on her face. This time she noticed that it was scarlet in hue, regarding how it reeked of copper.
"What happened? Did.. did the goliath get cold feet?"
The announcer's panicked voice rang throughout the arena, prompting more murmurs from the confused attendees. They wouldn't have to wait too long as the massive man began to stir, groaning as he clutched his shoulder. Staggering back, he turned around to reveal a glowing red arrow embedded there.
"WHO THE FUCK DID THIS?!" he snarled.
Standing in the middle of the field was a hooded man... with a foxes' tail. Unlike the girl, he was decently clothed and wielding a high-tech bow. Pulling back, he aimed once again for the man.
"Sorry about that... I was aiming for the back of your head," he casually remarked. "Now, please be kind enough to step away from the girl?"
"And what if I don't, pipsqueak!?"
"Then we're doing things the hard way..."
"HEY!" both of them turned to the now irate man hopping around in a frenzy. His face was heating up, making him resemble a bright red balloon. "You can't just interfere in the middle of a match! I have fans here expecting a fight!"
The fox faunus' left eye twitched after hearing such a claim but he took a deep breath.
"Well, they're leaving here disappointed. I'm here for the girl and I'm not leaving without her."
"Then you're not leaving at all!"
With a snap of his finger, the large doors creaked open allowing a small group of gladiators to enter the battlefield. Each one of them was human, equipped in gaudy armor and weaponry.
Soon, Aganju found himself surrounded by about 15 men and women, bloodthirsty creatures looking for their fill.
Steadily, he studied the scene before turning the bow into a double-edged glaive.
"Guess we're doing this the hard way..."
"Sienna Khan!" a boisterous voice called out from the crowd of the A-list partygoers. "Fancy meeting you here."
The woman in question tensed upon hearing her name being called with such vigor, turning to reveal a brown skin woman. Her jet black hair coming down just above the nape of her neck, perfectly accentuating her traditional attire. She wasn't one for formal affairs, especially ones that involved humans, but she had a diplomatic duty to attend, much to her disdain.
"Valentin..." she replied curtly, a forced smile threatening to split her face. "It's been a while."
"It's been what? Six years?" he asked with a thunderous guffaw.
Not long enough... she resisted the urge to roll her eyes. "Seven, to be exact. How has Argus been lately?"
"Things have been rather quiet after the war," Valentin said, sighing softly as if reminiscing of the old days while taking a sip of his wine. "I'm more interested in what you've been doing after all of these years. After things died down, we haven't heard much from Vacuo."
Sienna gazed at the large man, not liking his accusatory tone in the slightest.
She noticed his eyes held a glint behind them as he motioned to sip at his wine once more, a sign that he was not completely sober. She just managed to hold back the vicious snarl, not wanting to cause a scene. She dreaded coming to these events and Valentin was one of the main reasons. There was the obvious culprit being that they were on opposing sides of the war, but, there was more to it than just the decade-long campaign.
"Vacuo has remained steady; our people are stronger than you think."
Valentin brushed his hands through his red hair, his smile never falling. "Perhaps you're right. You were always known for your secrecy and fire. Some may not like my decisions but, even you can't deny that Mistral has benefited from the tough decisions made thus far. Our economy is stabilized and even the council agrees that conflict within our borders has diminished significantly ever since we enacted those 'controversial' laws."
Sensing the impending argument approaching, Sienna Khan was grateful when her right-hand man, a bull faunus with red hair, arrived. His eyes were covered by a cloth, though Valentin could've sworn that he'd given him a dark look before whispering something in the woman's ear. A few moments later, she affirmed his murmurs before dismissing him.
"Is there something wrong?"
She turned back to Valentin, nearly forgetting that he was there.
"Not at all. My right hand was merely reminding me that I am to address some trade issues with the leaders of the Vale council. It is Vytal for the upcoming festival so if you'll excuse us?"
The larger man stepped aside, allowing Sienna and her subordinate to leave. Once more, he felt a wave of darkness that was equally expected and intimidating from the bull faunus. Still, he held his ground, never flinching as the pair disappeared through the crowd of partygoers. Still, he had more important things to attend to, like figuring out where his daughter was.
They did have a wedding to plan, after all.
Meanwhile, Sienna and her escort left the party completely, making sure to be just far enough from any lingering ears.
"Do you have any information on him?" she asked, amber crystals aimed straight ahead.
"Only that he's managed to infiltrate a faunus fight ring on the lower levels. No word yet on a name, though he is a peculiar case from what I've been told."
The Bengal cut her gaze to the taller male.
"Do share..."
"You sound interested, High Leader."
"Anything that could prove to be advantageous to our cause is always an interest to me, Adam," she hissed, veiling her intrigue with a fierce gaze. "Now, continue with your report."
"It appears that he's a fox faunus, one who's developed a reputation of sorts with this nation's underground through freeing captive faunus."
"So, a vigilante?"
"More like a mercenary. From what we could gather, he's known primarily for accepting jobs specifically centered around liberation for our kind. He's very tricky to locate and even trickier to catch. Aside from the recent reports, there was one where he was rumored to have had a run-in with the Winchester boy before his arrival here."
Sienna tapped her chin thoughtfully, pondering Adam's report. She was always looking for new soldiers; like-minded faunus seeking to break away from the rule of humankind.
"If you were in my position, how would you proceed with this development?"
"Find him. Test his skills."
"I see," she simpered gently at his straightforward approach. "You've always had a direct way of doing things. One that may prove to be beneficial to our goal."
Adam spared a glance, his brow rising over the black cloth.
"What are your orders?"
Sienna Khan, crowned queen of Vacuo, stopped just short of the coach that awaited her. Tapping her chin, a subtle grin began to tug at the corner of her lips; ideas and plots forming in succession.
"Keep an eye on this one," she finally replied. "If he's as good as the reports state, he'll come to us."
"But..."
"There's more than one way to skin a cat, Adam. While I know you can hold your own against anyone, man or faunus, wouldn't you agree that you can catch more flies with honey than vinegar?"
Adam didn't respond, uncertain of how he could respond. The matriarch sensed his hesitation, understanding that there was more to her right hand than he was letting on. His hatred and anger were a powder keg waiting to be lit, something she couldn't afford to do without purpose.
"The more faunus we bring into our ranks, the sooner you will have your revenge. Don't lose sight of our goal... Am I clear?"
"Yes, High Leader."
She stared at the bodies littered along the hot sand, then at the boy covered in blood.
His eyes, firmly matching the dull-colored liquid, mirrored her actions until they rested on the trembling blob mere feet away. By now, the crowd had all but abandoned the arena, fearing the 'feral' monster would turn his wrath on them. It didn't take a genius to pick up the evil presence radiating from the vulpine, and yet, the rabbit faunus didn't flinch when he turned to her.
"Are you alright?" She nodded, still unable to find her voice after the carnage she'd witnessed. "Good. I've been looking for you, Velvet. Your parents have been worried about you."
"My... My parents?!" she finally eked out, receiving a grin from her kin and savior.
The warm gesture didn't last long though as he turned back to the disgusting man across from him. Now their normal violet hue, Aganju's eyes were hard and narrowed, the blood staining his visage only adding to the intensity of his gaze.
"Release her and the other faunus..." he calmly demanded, his voice low and harrowing.
"But... You... You're insane!" he groveled, fear and desperation overtaking the anger he tried to display. Tears began to form, revealing the petulate child he truly was. "I'll be ruined! I'll lose everything! You can't do this!"
"NOW!" he roared, unleashing a wave of aura that shook the slaver to his knees.
"..."
Try as he may, there was nothing more for the sloppy human to say. Any attempts would only result in a violent shiver, even as he moved to surrender the key to the faunus. He knew better than to challenge someone who bested his own gladiators with relative ease. In fact, the blood on him was all from the warriors, adding to his ferocious appearance.
"Here..."
Aganju didn't say a word as he passed the whimpering mess to ponder his future, Velvet limping closely behind. The key served it's purpose, releasing the lagomorph from her shackles, being left in the chamber or the remaining faunus who were told to flee after gaining their freedom. Soon, fox and bunny were leaving the lower ring of the mountain-based kingdom.
The higher they went, the more he began to notice Velvet's physical disability. His breath hitched in his throat as he began to study the other issues with her body. From sunken cheeks to loss of any muscle mass, her plight was one that both haunted and angered him.
"I twisted my ankle when they took me..." she answered as if reading his mind.
Aganju sped up a little, stopping to crouch in front of the girl.
"Hop on."
"What?"
"I'm giving you a ride. You're really injured..."
"I... I'm not worth the trouble..."
"You're clearly in need of food and medical attention. The sooner we get you some proper help, the sooner we can get you back to your family."
Velvet tugged at the tattered sleeve of her top for a moment, slowly warming up to the idea of being cared for. Eventually, she conceded and gingerly limped toward him, allowing Aganju to carry her weight. Velvet wrapped her arms around his neck firmly enough to avoid slipping before resting her head on his shoulder, drifting off into unconsciousness.
He didn't mind. After months of captivity, it was clear that the trauma of her experience would haunt her long after this ordeal so he wouldn't make a fuss about things as he traversed the many tunnels that'd lead to their destination. He ignored the stares and murmurs from those who noticed them. He kept his eyes forward, careful not to draw too much attention to himself... well, any more attention that didn't already come from being covered in blood.
Oh, he wasn't worried about that slaver calling the authorities; his operation was illegal anyway. Either way, his little fight ring would've been shut down if they'd arrived.
Win-win... he smirked, finally cutting off from the trail to enter the middle ring where his goal awaited.
A large Asian-style building, traditional in design stood at the far end of the mountain, flanked by a dazzling waterfall. Aganju pressed on, a relieved smirk forming on his face. He was grateful that he was still close enough to the lower levels that onlookers would notice but not freak out at his appearance. It wouldn't take long to reach the massive building, but there was something that concerned him.
"Jaune?"
A scraggly blond boy, equal in height, stood on the front porch. His face was a canvas of jitters until he spotted the fox approaching. He wasn't sure what caused him to be in such a state, but he knew that his appearance wouldn't make things any better.
"There you are!" Jaune Arc hissed at him, swiftly ushering him inside. How on Remnant he could just walk about with blood staining his clothes and not being nervous was a mystery. He carefully took the resting Velvet to an upstairs room with the vulpine tailing him closely. He used his semblance to boost Velvet's own aura but knew that it would take more than that to fix the damage.
He held his peace while Aganju took a shower. Only when the faunus was finally rid of the pungent stains did the fire rekindle.
"What made you think it was a good idea to just sneak off on your own like that?"
"Hmmm..." Aganju comically tapped his chin. "You were stuck at work and the others were busy. Besides, I just happened to be in the neighborhood and thought I drop in to catch a match or two when I noticed that she was one of the competitors. Time was of the essence..."
"That's a load of... Nevermind! Did anyone notice?"
"It's almost dark out. The only one who really got a look at me was the slob running the racket and I'm confident that he won't say a word. Anyone else who got a close look is dead now. Relax..."
The attempts at calming Jaune were failing, but, with Velvet resting in a comfortable bed, it allowed Aganju some leeway. Jaune wrestled with blowing a gasket right there and just going to bed himself once he finished wrapping the bunny's ankle. From there, he sat in a nearby chair, rubbing his temples while the fox leaned against the wall.
In truth, anyone would be forgiven for thinking the civil exchange between them was odd enough. A faunus and a human as equals? Madness. Even more surprising was how relaxed the canine faunus was around said, human.
"That aside... I didn't plan on debating you about this."
"Really?" Aganju tilted his head, a soft frown beginning to form. "Then what did you want to talk about?"
"There's been a change in plans."
"Is the transport unable to take us to Vale?"
Jaune shook his head, finally showing a ghost of a smile.
"There's going to be a detour. Velvet's family is in Vale, but it's too risky to go straight there."
"So, what now?" Aganju crossed his arms tightly around his bare chest. "Are they on the island?"
The door opened, catching the pair's attention as two individuals stepped inside. The first was a short girl with orange hair who nearly tackled the fox with excitement. The other was a taller boy with black hair and a pink streak down the left side.
"It's come to our attention that Vale is going to be under the eye of Valentin Nikos and other Mistralian entities. We overheard a conversation he had with the ruler of Vacuo where she mentioned a meeting with the ruler of Vale; something about a merger for the Vytal Festival."
Aganju's frown deepened as his ears twitched.
"What does that have to do with getting Velvet back with her family?"
"Well, mister grumpy tail," Nora chimed in, booping his nose. "This would put Vale under the eyes of Mistral, meaning you two would be prime targets for his private unit. They're going down there under the guise of diplomacy, but..."
"It wouldn't be the first time that my father has used politics as a cover-up for his personal gain," All eyes (aside from Velvets) were now on another figure stepping inside the room. A young woman with long scarlet hair and emerald green eyes. "He's been known to have dealings with kidnappers who've grabbed many faunus from the kingdom and smuggle them back here as slaves. It would be unwise to enter the kingdom directly."
Jaune and the others agreed with the logic behind her words, save for Aganju. He was too distracted as the discussion continued. In his mind, he felt that he knew this girl from somewhere, and yet, he wasn't sure why. Sure, he recognized her as the girl he met during a rather awkward encounter with the bulky brute, Cardin Winchester...
But, this sensation was different.
Do you believe in destiny?
"What?" he groaned.
"I asked if you would like some privacy? You aren't dressed... Um..."
Blinking several times, Aganju finally realized what was going on around him. Nora was bouncing on the balls of her feet next to a concerned Jaune. Lie Ren studied him for any signs of illness and the girl?
She was currently trying to keep her gaze on anything but his body, remembering her earlier offering.
"I'm sorry... I must've spaced out."
"Gee, I wonder why?" Nora mumbled, earning a light poke to the side.
"I understand. You must be exhausted after your daring heroics," the girl giggled. "Perhaps we should reconvene when you both have recovered and you're a bit... more dressed for a meeting?"
"Oh um... Sure. A few days should be enough for me. I'll just be lying low."
"That sounds wonderful. I'll have Ren and Nora arrange a meeting to discuss things in detail."
Aganju found himself rubbing his neck as the girl took her exit, flanked by the two. Once he was certain she was gone, the fox flashed a dirty glare at Jaune who was trying hard not to laugh at his ally's awkwardness, at least for Velvet's sake. Still, he knew he was in for an earful at some point.
Meanwhile, as Pyrrha Nikos was escorted to her interim place of residence, she too couldn't shake that nagging feeling within her. Sure, there were some unsavory thoughts that plagued her mind, yet, she knew it was something more. Her mind was hazy on the faunus' identity, not even knowing his name. She'd rectify that mistake the next time they'd meet.
Sadly, the only memory she held of the boy was that he was the one who knocked Cardin's ego down a peg. It was still a pleasant moment for her even as she arrived at her luxury suite and prepared herself for bed. Her routine wouldn't take too long as she crawled under satin sheets, eager to welcome the night's slumber. However, once again, something deep within her began to surface as the face of the fox-boy appeared in her dreams.
Only, it wasn't from their recent encounter, nor was it from the forest.
Pyrrha, are you alright?
His voice held panic and concern, but there was something else.
Something familiar.
It was as if they knew each other before. Unfortunately, the brief moment vanished, giving way to another one. Unlike before, this scene had a more positive feel to it. In it, she was watching
A battle? No. It was their first 'dance'...
I'm glad I got to share a dance with you. It was very wonderful.
As long as you're smiling, then it was worth nearly tripping over my own feet... he'd smile at her.
As if she were truly there, Pyrrha felt a warmness in her stomach as he tried to speak again.
One more dance?
I'll try not to laugh if you slip. she snickered, watching him roll his eyes playfully.
Was this a dream or a vision?
Why was she seeing these things now?
It would all remain a mystery woven by time or some other entity. She let out a tiny yawn before shifting into a more comfortable position. As her breath began to steady, Pyrrha didn't even realize that one answer had managed to surface.
"Goodnight, Agan..."