The Crimson Dragon

Prologue

Master Hollwer sat down relaxed, glancing up at the midday sky while his servant gives him a hot drink while he stretches himself on the balcony of the Mansion. His good humor was understandable as he just got the best vest anyone could afford in Mistral had just arrived from the merchant route, fortunately, the sky is bright and clean, he had a feeling that this day will be just perfect for enjoying his new clothes.

As his servant scuttled forward to got his attention to the new guest arriving on the balcony, Hollwer stood up to greet him as both moves to a small hilltop that gives a wide vision of the mountains, hundreds of people in black vests working effortlessly carrying supplements and dust from one way to another below, there are opacity and tiredness in their movements, but that was the way the peasants does their work, slow and unproductive, but they didn't complain as the sound of a whip passing by whit force by a supervisor remind them why and making their motion faster, but that would last just for a moment before they return to their behavior.

Hollwer sat on the balcony bench, turning to his guest ''I thought that they would eventually get better and faster doing their work whit time, but I guess the peasants are like that after all, they are nothing without aura''

The guest turned, drinking whit his cup of the same hot drink from the master, the motion doing as if he wants to show that symbol on the back of his hand that goes all the way down his shoulder, the mark say for itself about his unquestionable authority in mistral, far beyond Hollwer, no one would argue in the sight of the Scythe...

''You should see the peasants in Vale, Hollwer'' the guest said, turning back to watch the civilians. ''These here are very behaved compared to those there, well, until they see mee walking in the streets, the look on their faces is priceless'' the guest said while drinking more ''It seems like you have more control over your population here, how many would you say you lost to runaways?''

''Some of them then tried before'' Hollwer said. ''But they don't go very far, and whit time they realized that the hand of the King reaches all the world now, well, most of the places''

''It's just a question of time for Menagerie'' The guest said ''You know how the Faunus can be persistent''

The guest looked down, checking his scroll in his pocket, then gives the now empty cup to the master-servant ''Very well, Hollwer.'' The guest said. ''I should get going, but don't worry, I will carry your wishes to Lord Knight Lancelin, she will have a good report from e about your work here.''

''Already?'' Hollwer asked. ''Wouldn't you stay for the dinner?''.

''No'' The guest replied. ''There are other matters I need to attend, and I might be overheard, but I believe you like to spend nights whit peasant women.''

Hollwer felt like fear itself was crawling in his spine

The guest realizing, smiled, he probably meant no warm, but Hollwer only found it uncanny ''Relax Hollwer,'' the guest said. ''If there had been an issue whit your actions, a Judicator would have been here, not me.''

Hollwer nodded slowly, Judicator, He'd never seen one of the monsters, but he had heard stories of men whit more speed and strength than a normal huntsman.

''I don't have a problem whit your tastes, just make sure to clean up your mess.'' The guest said.

As the guest turned away, Hollwer found himself calmer, It was not something to being work up for, he knows it better than let a peasant woman having his child, one that could possible unlock his aura at an early age was a dangerous situation, but he doesn't need to worry if the women don't come back.

And speaking of women, today is a celebration night, everything is working smoothly, so I guess is time to make his move on that young girl he set his eyes on for some time now.

He smiled, a few more years of work, and he could win a bigger position in the King circle, maybe if he presses the peasants to work harder, he could give a big harvest of resources to Lord Lancelin to fulfill his obligation whit more measure.

Hollwer stood up to watch the workers one more time, some of them look about to drop of exhaustion, the others realized that and concentrate to not let this peasant fall because they know the consequences of that, that was perfect, everything the way it should be, Faunus or not, they were...

Hollwer froze as one of the peasants looked up, the woman meets his eyes, a spark...no... a flame of rage and defiance was readable like a paper in front of him whit a bright light above in her expression, Hollwer has never seen a look like that before, fear crawling through his skin once again as he averts his eyes that he could not stand maintaining the stare anymore thinking that his legs would give out.

But before that, the last thing that he would see from that woman was the worst part for him.

A smile

Hollwer looked away. ''Zaya!'' he snapped

the servant rushed up to his side. ''Yes, Master?''

Hollwer turned to look below, and he frowned.

Where was that peasant standing? all the other workers are standing like always whit their black vests full of dirt, they are hard to tell apart if they are not a Faunus, but where would she have gone? She must be there somewhere, she maybe is hiding whit a bowed head and sluggish like the others trying to run away, but that attitude of hers is inexcusable.

''Master?'' Zaya asked again

The Guest stood at the side, watching curiously, just the thought of him knowing that a peasant was acting in that manner sent more chill to Hollwer's spine.

''Put a supervisor in that sector to work more aggressively whit the workers there, they are looking lazy, beat some of them''

Zaya Shrugged but nodded, She doesn't believe that it was enough for the beating, but she knows more than do anything more from what she was told to.

In a simple settlement, dark as the night falls in on cracks on the ceiling looking to give his best to just stand together, a young girl is reading a children's book whit a smile so big on her face that It's like all the hard work she did during the day was all gone.

"Are you reading that book again Selena?'' Her mother asked as she enters the settlement looking tired and exhausted. ''Didn't you already read that, I know It's the only one you have but...''

''It's not because of that mom'' Selena answered. ''I just love this book, he tells the story of a group of four girls who saved the world from an evil witch who sought to destroy it''

''I know sweety, the -leader of that group is the one who leads the armies as one in the second great war of remnant, your mother was a young girl just like you when that happened'' The mother said while turning off the lights. ''But now It's time sleep, tomorrow we will have a lot of work to do again''

Selena nodded and put the book below some rocks close to her bed trying to hide as she always does, as soon as she makes it, she turns to her mom to cuddle whither as the cold breeze of the night come closer, their body heat is the only thing that will make them warm.

''Mom, if she united everyone to fight against the evil witch and win, everything should be good now right? so why...''

''I don't know sweety, I think that the witch wasn't the only villain in the story'' Her mother answered while caressing Selena's hair and kissing her forehead.

As Selena started to become sleepy, a sound of knocking came from the door. ''Mom, who is...'' Selena was about to ask her mother only to find a look in her eyes that she has never seen her mother make it before, a lot of emotions come to the young girl's mind, but only one prevails and It was the same as her mother.

Despair.

The woman watched the night sky, her eyes following the moon as it crept toward the western horizon, she stood there quietly for a long time, alone in the middle of the field on the foothills, whit an expression of someone who is lost, or missing something, walking through the night as if she has no course.

Eventually, the woman sighed, then turned to follow her way across the field and pathways, until she stooped before stepping in a purple flower, there's not much of them in the foothills of Mistral, she then picked up the flower and admired her for a moment as if looking a renowned picture, until she leaves her where she picked up, she knows why she did that, but part of her regret that and hate her stubbornness.

The settlements were unguarded, there was no need for supervisors, if the workers decided to run away the only thing waiting for them beyond those summits are Grimm, the huntsmen only work for the King now, doesn't even know if they can still be called that nowadays, I think judicators was a fitting name for the worthless bunch.

They will have no choice eventually, the woman thought as she approached one of the larger buildings, she opens up the door and slipped inside.

The conversation stopped immediately, the woman closed the door, then turned whit a smile to confront the room of about fifteen workers, they are all reunited in a bonfire whit a large cauldron whit simple and bland meal waiting to be served, the beginning of the everyday night meal.

''Hey guys, good evening,'' the woman said whit a smile, resting her belongings on her feet as she sat down on the near chair. ''How are things going?''

Her words broke the silence, and everyone returns to the dinner preparations, a man sitting at the crude table in the center of the room look at the woman whit a dissatisfied expression.

''What do you think?'' said Henry, one of the worker's elders, ''Exausting work as always, something that you always escape from doing''

''Well, fieldwork hasn't ever really suit me you know,'' the woman said. ''It's really hard for my beautiful skin''. She smiled, caressing up her arms and hands in a playful manner while showing a large number of tiny scars, they covered her skin as if each one of them tells a different tale of her journey.

Henry snorted. He was not old enough to be an elder, he was in his forties at most, he might be only five years older than the woman, but that didn't stop him from being in charge, and seems like he wants this position.

''This is no time or place for that kind of shit'' Henry said sternly, ''When we took you in, we expected you to behave and avoid any kind of trouble that was the deal, when you ducked away like that in the morning you could make all of us win a beating ''

''That's is true'' the woman said. ''But I think you could also be shipped for standing in the wrong place or maybe stop to get some fresh air, or for any kind of reaction when a supervisor come closer, I once saw a woman getting beat up for 'not working properly', and I'ts pretty obviously why he was smiling while doing it, that asshole''

Henry sat in his chair whit a stiff posture, his expression didn't change

The woman sighed, rolling her eyes. ''Fine then, if you want me to go out, I'll be on my way then.'' She picked up her belongings and nonchalantly pulled open the door.

''Wait!'' Henry's words were a plea, not a command.

The woman did as requested, pushing the door closed ''So, is that meaning I can stay or...?''

''Where do you think you will go at this time, if they see you wandering the stairs they will catch you and kill you, and only the Grimm is waiting for you outside''

I guess they never saw me going out at night, the woman thought. ''Well then, I guess I'm staying now'' She waved for a little girl to give her a chair. ''It's a good thing though because I'm really hungry and It would be really sad to die from starving.''

''So, I guess It's time for the best part of the day and the reason you all love me, news.''

More than one person peeked interested, as the airship and travels were banned a long time ago, the only way they knew anything from outside was because of her.

''I came from Vacuo,'' The woman said.''There where the King and his Knights touch is less noticeable.'' She spoke in a stern voice, and the people unconsciously leaned towards her while they do their chores, the next day, all of the woman words would be repeated to several people around mistral, in the upper and lower levels, the people might be submissive, but that won't stop their gossip.

''The Master are losing their grip in the west'' the woman said, ''there are rebellions and revolutions from the workers alongside true Ex-huntsmen against the empire''.

''Bullshit'' Henry said.

''Oh I'm sorry'' the woman said. ''I didn't know my man Henry here has been outside this walls looking for information as well''

Henry blushed: the people in mistral did not travel anymore, and they certainly didn't make rebellions.''You think I'm an idiot, miss'' Henry said, ''but I know what you have been doing, you're the one they call the survivor; but those scars that you have is not from the Grimm, I don't know what are you doing but I'm sure its trouble for us...'' henry words were interrupted whit the woman standing up and putting a bag in the crude table.

''Here, why don't we make up by eating a cake together my friend?'' the woman said while removing the bag and showing the white sugared cake.

Henry paled in the sight of the food ''That's where you went this afternoon'' he whispered. ''You stole that from the master and if he finds out that we...''

''That's right'' the woman said. ''You might want to disappear whit it before he finds out isn't?''

Dozens of hungry eyes studied the cake. If Henry intended to make any more arguments, he didn't have the strength to do any, and his silence was taken as agreement. Within a few minutes, piece by piece the cake was taken and distributed to the people inside the building, the woman could swear that the bright eyes and smiles in the children's faces while they devour their brown dessert could light up the city in this night.

These were people who had been fed on nothing but soup and gruel since the end of the war, the lower levels of mistral never was a rich place, but It wasn't like that, no place was.

''Your storytelling was cut shot, young miss'', an elderly woman noted, hobbling over to sit on a stool beside the survivor.

''Yeah, but I guess we will have more time for that later'' the survivor said, ''Don't you want one piece of the cake?''

''No, thanks, last time I tried to eat a different food my stomach had pain for one week, I guess I can't have that kind of food anymore.

The survivor paused. The old woman was hardly an imposing sight, but the scar she has in her left arm hold some story by itself, the only ones who have a claw-like scar like that is who fought in the second great war against the Grimm and the witch, something that she respected, and someone who knows what is freedom.

''What is your name?'' the survivor asked

''Lurges''

the survivor glanced back at Henry. ''So, Lurges, why do you let someone like him taking the lead?''

Lurges shrugged. ''When you get to my age, you will be very careful where you waste your energy, there are battles that aren't worth fighting miss.'' there was an implication in Lurges words meaning things great than her situation whit Henry.

''So you are satisfied whit this, whit a life like that?'' the survivor said while gesturing to the entire building

Lurges shook her head. ''I'm not, but Henry's words might be right, I fear your visit will bring us trouble.''

The survivor smiled. ''That's why I didn't contradict him''

''How do you do that?'' Lurges asked, frowning.

''Do what?''

''Smile in this situation?''

''Oh that, It's nothing complicated, It's just that my sister used to say that she loves my smiled.''

Lurges paused, she glanced down to the woman in front of her and her words made her think, these scars, her nickname, and a sister, as she looked to that young woman's hair, her frail old hands start to tremble and her scar aches as if It was a flesh wound.

''Wait, are you...?''

The scream cut her off. It came from outside, maybe from the north, though the night silence. The people in the building fell silent, listening to the faint and high-pitched yells. Despite the distance, the survivor could hear the pain contained in these screams very clearly

And that made her burned

It was like an old melody, after years of righteous but violent anger, the two metal gauntlets clinging to his hands like a parasite as she touches it, a burning feeling surged through her body that she is familiar whit it, hot and impotent, sullen and remorseless.

Concentrating on this feeling as she had done many times before, she could hear two separate people yelling, one was an older woman, the other +-on the other hand was young, perhaps a child. The younger screams were getting farther as if something is carrying her away.

''Poor Selena,'' a nearby woman said, catching the survivor's attention. ''that child was unlucky to be born pretty here.''

Henry nodded. ''It was just a matter of time for Master Hollwer to send the girl to his mansion.''

The screams continued in the distance going up in the stone stairways.

''That was never a girl that returned after take it by him, isn't?'' the survivor asked: there are no humans borning whit aura anymore, but even so, Hollwer couldn't risk children borning whit a chance of unlocking her aura in an early age, he doesn't want to catch the eye of the judicators.''

At the moment the survivor got up, a hand grabs his wrist stopping him from moving close to the door.

''Wait, miss'' Judge said apprehensively. ''You can't go on whit your survivor thing if you die tonight''

The survivor glanced toward the old woman. Then, through the screams and the rage, she forced himself to smile. ''I'm not planning to die today, and some may call me that, but that's not what I have been called anymore.''

''But why did you choose to fight this battle?''

The survivor's smile deepened. ''New days will come, and I can't disappoint then by not participating.'' the survivor answered. ''Live a little more, Judge, and maybe you will see something beyond those walls.''

Whit that, she pulled open the door and strode in the night.

Judge lay awake that night, It seemed that the older she became, the more difficult it was for her to sleep.

She decided then to move a little, because when she does that the pains decreased slightly, and she asked for a man called Zhong to give her some support.

It was then that she caught a scent in the air. ''What's that?'' she asked. ''Do you smell smoke?''

Zhong paused. ''I always smell smoke lately '' He answered

''No,'' Judge said, feeling increasingly apprehensive. ''This is different.'' She turned to the north, toward where the other workers are gathering.

At the center of the group of people, he found Selena and her mother, the one who suppose to be a whit the Master, the girl's eyes are red and she seems tired, but it was unharmed.

''She came back not long after they took her'' her mother was explaining. ''She came and pounded on the door, crying, and I don't care what anyone says here, my child has come back and that's all that matters to me.''

''By the gods, what is happening here'' Judge said.

''She killed them all.''

Judge turned. the speaker was Selena, she pointed to the Master mansion, now burning whit smoke and ashes all over it.

''They were all dead when she brought me out'' she said. ''all the fifteen soldiers Hollwer had is dead, she saves me just like she did in the books.''

That is why no one is coming here, Judge thought. ''This woman, did she has scars in her hands and arms, golden hair and crimson eyes?''

The girl nodded silently

The flames rising through the upper levels of Mistral shows what everyone was already figuring out, the place where did she go next, and she is not alone

''But, what will happen to us after that?'' Henry asked, shaking. ''What will happen when the King hear about this, he'll send armies from Atlas to wipe us out, they don't even care anymore, just like the King's Wizard said, after the second great war the Grimm don't follow negative emotions anymore, there's no limit to his violence upon us, why would she do something like this?''

''She knows all of that'' Judge said. ''He said that before Henry, she didn't deny that she comes looking for trouble''

''But, why?''

''Because we would never rebel on our own, so she gave us no choice, that was her plan all along.''

Henry paled.

I can't help these people, I can barely walk, you imbecile, Judge thought.

But I don't have a choice now, just the way you want it.

Judge turned. ''Gather everyone, everyone that can fight must stay and help the rebellion up to the upper layers, that must be people from outside the wall here as well, probably the rumors about the rebellion group call 'Juniper' was right after all.

Everyone stood frozen for a moment, Judge feared the shock of the situation was too much for everyone, but they eventually scurried off to gather everyone in the settlements as possible.

Judge Sighed, looking up toward the trailing line of smoke, cursing that woman in her mind, new days indeed.

''Yang Xiao Long, huh.''

''She doesn't go by this name anymore I think'' Selena said as she stood up close to Judge.

''Is that so.'' Judge said. ''Then what It is now?''

In the silent mountains of mistral, two guards stand in the doors of Hollwer mansion, they should be outside, but the lack of danger in their lives working has caused them to be sloppy and uncaring, but they will regret that this night.

A sound of knocking in the door get the guards attention, and as one of them open the door a fast clenched fist goes right into his face as he falls hard on the ground disoriented, but before the other guard could react, the woman swing down her right leg in a kick direct in his stomach.

Before the guard could first guard could get up, the woman grabs him by the collar and gives a direct hit in his face whit her free hand, which proceeded in a series of left and right punches in his face even after his aura had broken, leaving his face almost unrecognizable in a bloody pulp, the last thing he sees is carmesim eyes looking direct on his and whispering 'that wasn't so fun this time isn't asshole'.

The second guard watching that scene was sweating and shaking barely managing to hold his lance in his hands, in a high pitched yelling he press forward against the enemy, only to find him dodging the attack and grabbing his wrist whit enough strength to make him drop his weapon, the last thing he saw was her right hand grabbing his face and smashing him through a glass window and breaking his aura, and before he could beg for his life the next fist comes through direct on his head and smashing in another bloody pulp.

As the sound of reinforcements coming from the end of the hall, the woman removes her hood, and her short hair starting glowing and burning in a golden light as she snaps her fingers.

Selena was disoriented, she didn't know where she is as she lay down on the ground, but as she paused to think, the memories start to flowing back in her mind, the man who takes her away from her mother and the disgusting lord that was trying to remove her clothes.

But before she could start shaking and crying again, something lift her by the shoulders.

''Sorry about that girl, I didn't mean it to hurt you, my bad habit get the best of me sometimes''

The girl was confused whit what this person means whit their words, but all of her thoughts vanish the moment she sees what was suppose to be the master of the mansion, the man she was working for since she was born was stuck in a broken wall covered whit blood, there was so much in that one place that the girl was sure, the Lord was dead, and the person who did that was the one who was carrying her right now.

The girl didn't know what to say or react, as she was leaving slowly the mansion and seeing the pure carnage of the servants and supervisors that she knows since ever laying down on the ground motionless covered in blood, they are all dead.

Even though for the girl she was being saved, she wasn't sure why goes to such an extent for her, so, she reunited all of her strength to ask her savior the reason, only to paused as she sees her face, and mostly, her eyes.

Crimson eyes.

The woman dropped the girl in the ground outside of the now-empty mansion, and as she did that, she pulled red dust into her bag aiming to throw it at the mansion door, but before that, she looks in the sky at the upper levels of mistral and finds it a black smoke and sounds of tumult coming from there.

She smiled at that and proceed to do as she wants it, setting fire at the place and all the riches inside.

''Go to your mom now, and hurry, things will get loud in mistral this night'' the woman said.

''Wait!'' the girl shouted. ''You, I remember you, you are one of the heroes in the book, you are there, alongside Ruby Rose''

The girl then stood up fast as possible and asked. ''The golden hair, crimson eyes, you are Yang, Yang Xia...''

''I don't what are you talking about'' the woman answered. ''There is no hero here, only a rebel, Yang Xiao Long died alongside her team in the second great war''

''Then, who are you?''

The woman paused and stare at the now burning mansion, as the ashes fly through the starry sky, then turns to the girl, meeting her eyes as they shifted from purple to crimson.

''The Crimson Dragon''.

Thanks for reading until now, I'm aspiring to be a writer and I started to learn the past few weeks and the reason I started is that I want to stories whit the ideas I have in my mind, especially about RWBY.

I'm in love whit fanfiction and I want to give at least a one-shot On the website, but sadly because of that I'm still not confident in my outline for this story nor the skills to make her actually good, but I plan to keep her going in the future ahead so I hope you like it as much as I did.

I'm not a native English speaker so I'm learning English alongside writing, so I can't promise that it will be fast but I sure will try to finish this, thanks again for your time.