Heres 6! glad i stared this once i was finished the previous ones. helped me get this up quicker. this one got them feels and my spin on the lore that we got from vol 6. next chapter we in vol 3 time and relive the pain we had to see from the vol. lol *cries internally* hope you all like.

Chapter 6: Uncertain future

Orion walked into his study of his home tired from the long time he spent in Vytal to put an end to the war and bring peace for many years in the future. Laying his sword on a table he went to sit behind his desk until something caught his eye rising his brow. Grabbing a book from his desk "I don't remember leaving you here before i left?" he questioned himself.

"Sorry I forgot to put that old thing away" Salem said with no emotion.

The sudden appearance of another person in his office without his knowledge caused him to jump and panic slightly as he search for his weapon finding it behind the woman.

Looking behind her to see what he was gazing at she laughed turning back to him. "Oh don't worry great king if i wanted to you would already be dead" she smiled at him.

Softening his stance he watched her, making sure she wont make a move against him. The red eyes and very white complexion making him uncomfortable as if she was watching him like prey like a grimm would. Her white hair going down her back and the black dress she was wearing making her features stand out. Opening his mouth she quickly rose her hand keeping his mouth shut to see what more she says.

"Before you speak I warn you that if you cried for help or do anything against me" her red eyes seeming to glow at him "my children of grimm will crash against the walls of this kingdom and kill all within it" she stated.

Orion simply nodded not sure to believe what he was hearing or not but didn't want his kingdom to fall if the threat was true. "What brings you here then if not to kill me" he stated.

"I just want information your highness" she smiled.

"Information? On what exactly" Orion questioned.

"Just some books about the dark arts of old that once belong to the world but taken by the god of darkness himself" she answered turning her attention to a bookshelf.

"Those are legends, stories of old from long ago" he replied not liking where this conservation was going. He knew magic was forbidden and was in fact real having know magic himself but kept that information to himself.

"Yes they are legends and stories but there have been cases of people being born with magic and clans keeping their abilities secret like those of Nahuatl who lived among the grimm learning to use their magic to change their appearance to nightmarish creatures and increasing their strength" she stated.

"And how do you know of this?"

"Isn't it obvious king? That's because I am one. The last one to live on this planet in fact" she said the last part sadly.

Orion caught on noticing how she believed she was the only one left not knowing of the young child living in Vacuo. Deciding to keep that knowledge from her for the best seeing how she was threatening him and everyone in Vale he didn't think it was a good idea to reveal the child to her. Wanting more information about her intentions and herself he played along not knowing what happen to her people.

"Last one you say? I was led to believe there was a whole village of your people in Sera."

"Use to be but thanks to those bastards in Mantle we are nothing more than stories that will be long forgotten now"

"Pardon me? What do you mean?"

"Oh so i take it those snowmen haven't told you how they came to my home with warships and burned everything to the ground. They didn't just burn the village they made sure to kill every man, woman, and child there" Salem said holding back tears as memories returned.

Orion looked at her in surprisement at this new detail information since the boy didn't say exactly what happened and Alrick refusing to share anything.

"What will you do now then?" he cautiously questioned.

"Why its simple of course, bring those responsible to their knees and rip their hearts out as they did to me" she smiled.

Orion felt a chill at the energy she was releasing her glowing red eyes shining bright.

"And kill all who stand in my way if they side with Mantle. Even if I have to kill all of humanity and faunus to do it."

Orion felt her anger brush against his aura making him step back. His hand started to shake as fear spread through him at the honest words that showed her emotion.

"Now if you don't mind mighty king I must go and study. I hope you don't mind if I borrow these books to research more." Salem said as she shoved a couple of books into a bag and put it on her back. "Oh and remember my children are outside these walls so don't try to stop me in the city or I will tell them to come."

Orion simply nodded and watch as she lifted her hood over her head and left.

He breathed a sigh of relieve as he felt the darkness leave the room completely finally letting him relax. "After all those lifetimes I have never felt that kind of darkness off of anyone. What have we unleashed upon this world" he whispered. "May the god of light protect us all once more."

~3 weeks later~

Kronos stopped to stretch his legs from the long walk they had to endure and turned to look at the people behind him when he finished.

Everyone was occupied looking around at the environment they have been traveling through the past couple days.

Ella and Jade were on their knees with a scientist next to them examining a plant that they never seen before but Kronos smiled at the interest they give the flower. The scientist and scholars from Vale, Vacuo, and Mistral began to explore the area around them. The garrison of troops and royal guard watching everyone but often distracted by the plants and animals that survived on Sera.

Crystal walked to the edge of the cliff they were near overlooking the forest below. She watched as the purple trees sway in the wind amazed how they can survive here. Then she looked to the dim lit sky where the sun shone but it was still dark as if this land is shrouded in a forever evening sky. She wondered how can anyone live here but she turned to her child and noticed how happy he was to be back home. She smiled happy to see him so comfortable and alive.

"Alright its just a few more yards ahead, I'l go up to check if its clear. Stay here" Kronos announced.

Everyone nodded and continued with their observations.

Kronos disappeared into the thick forest jogging, ducking branches and jumping over fallen trees. Checking around him to see if any grimm are around. He came into a clearing overlooking a valley. In the middle of it stood what remains of a village. Tears fell from him as he watched the ruins of his home and the forest covering anything that still stood.

"Well, time to return home" Kronos whispered as he pressed the all clear button on his wrist.

A few minutes later everyone joined him. Jade gasped covering her mouth as she seen what was left. Crystal simply rest her hand on his shoulder to show him they are here for him. They soon made their way into they valley following a route that Kronos used long ago to escape.

Coming to the edge of the village Kronos stopped looking at the crumbling walls. He felt someone grab his hand and looked up to see Jade giving him a gentle smile.

{"Are you ready?"} Jade said using her free hand.

Kronos simply nodded and led everyone to the entrance.

The troops manage to open the gates but what they saw after shocked everyone except the one who witnessed it all first hand. Bones laid everywhere most of them were piled up at the gate.

"What in gods name" one soldier whispered getting on his knees and praying.

Crystal looked at each pile with horror, bones of varying sizes scattered everywhere. She noticed most were women and children judging bu their size. Tears came down as she thought that her son could have been on of those now deceased, forgotten, left to turn to dust where they died. She turned back to the men and women under her command seeing the different stages of shock on them. "There's a field to the east, gather them and give each one their own grave. Mark them and make sure those graves wont erode they should stand against time so they can be remembered". She watched as everyone composed themselves and got to work.

Kronos continued to look at the bones around him. Those he lived with, those he knew, his people reduced to nothing but bone. He began to walk away letting his memories led the way.

From their spots his family seen him going deeper into the village and followed sharing worried glances between each other.

Kronos followed the path he took for so many years passing familiar houses and shops now nothing but ruins. Stopping in front of what was left of a place he once called home. A place where he was born, raised, played and most of all where his mother and sister lived with him.

Jade stood next to him looking at the ruin house, a big hole in the ceiling and scorched marks everywhere.

"Mom you don't think this is what I think it is" Zeria asked next to her mother standing behind Jade and Kronos with Ella by her side.

"I believe so" she answered as her child walked into the house.

They all followed after him mindful to not touch anything or step on something that might have survived. But to their dismay everything was burned as they checked every corner of the house.

Loosing sight of her brother Jade separated from the rest of the family and wondered towards a room at the back of the house. There she found him but what she saw broke her heart. Tears formed as she walked to her brother who lied on a bed in the corner of the room. His cape draped around him like a blanket and curled up in a ball. Jade simply came up to the bed and laid down with him. Wrapping her arms around him, she felt kronos grab onto her hands shaking.

Crystal looked into the room sadden by what she saw and left them to head outside heading away from the destruction around her son's home it being to much for her. Going to the fields she watched the process to burial the deceased begin.

The men and women dug setting up the graves for the bones that laid nearby. The scholars from Mistral documented what they saw and made drawings of their surroundings. Scientist from Vale went on with their business undisturbed by everyone taking samples of the land.

Three days past as they stayed in the village saving what they can so they can take it back to the kingdom. The graves were almost done with the last bones being examine before burial.

Crystal noticed Kronos been distant from everyone having spent most of his time on the edge of the western village. Her scouts told her the western forest was nothing but charcoal dead trees having probably been burned by the fire when the winds pushed it. Sighing she ready herself to confront her son not knowing what mental state he is in right now.

Kronos stood in the middle of the black burnt land, his hand touching a dead tree. He noticed he can see inside it through a crack but it was empty, a hollow tree, he thought.

"Just an empty shell of yourself" he commented " just like us".

Crystal came up behind him with a frown having heard his words. "What are you doing son?" she said making her presence known.

"I was here before" he simply replied.

She raised an eyebrow to this.

Then he went into more detail looking around. "This is where I escaped. Where I manage to make it out but not anyone else. Where I unlocked my semblance that kept me alive" he explained looking at his hand.

At that moment it connected in her head. His semblance, his nightmares of a burning hell around him, his fear when lights come on without him knowing. She clenched her fist understanding it all, the sleepless nights, the fears, everything.

"5,084 of us where here" he stated. "5,084 down to just me. Fate is cruel like that isn't she? he asked her.

Crystal stay silent but nodded knowing he was hurting right now. All she can do was wait til he came to her when he was ready. She watched waiting patiently as he looked at the ground for a few minutes before coming to her. He reached his arms out to her with a sad broken look on his face. She can see he was holding back his tears making his eye glossy with his left eye being bright red. She picked him hearing him break down in her arms, his face hidden in her shoulder. She carried him back to everyone else handing him to Ella, Zeria and Jade quickly came quickly to her side. "Take him to the tent he needs some time" she said watching as they leave.

"Majesty?" a soldier walked up to her.

"Yes?" she replied.

"We believe we gathered what we can and now finished with the graves".

"How many?" she questioned.

"1,836 were buried"

Doing the math in her head she spoke. "3,248 missing" she whispered.

"Most of them were probably lost in the fires" the soldier said hearing her.

"I wouldn't doubt it. Thank you" she told him.

"No problem ma'm, he fought for our home only fits that we help him say bye to his. He's one of us and we take care of our own" he said truthfully.

She gave him a sad smile and nod both heading to the fields. Looking out over the field sticks stuck out the ground showing the people that lay here who once lived on this land. "Please put two right here in the front" she ordered "make sure its big enough to put a name on it".

The soldier went off to do as he was ordered leaving Crystal alone to think. After a few minutes he returned with someone to help him put them up.

"There you go your highness" he said standing back and gave her a small knife that she reached for.

Inciting to do it herself she bent down and carved two names into both of the wood.

"May I ask who they are?" the soldier asked when she finished.

"Salem is his older sister and Enyo" she stopped thinking of the woman "Enyo is his mother".

The soldier was quiet until he took off his necklace and placed it on Enyo's mark letting it hang near her name. "A gift for guiding him to us" he said with a smile.

"Thank you" Crystal said tears coming down her cheeks. She stood there at the two graves after the soldier left going through her thoughts. "I'l make sure he will have a future in this world." she said to the grave "A future he can live happily in and be safe from anyone trying to hurt him. I make that promise mother to mother".

Walking up the hill Kronos turned to see through the forest to see into the valley. Looking at his home and the graves east of it.

"Totazque nonantzin and nohultih" he says turning to continue to walk.

Jade poked his shoulder for his attention, {"What did you just say?"}.

"I just said goodbye to mom and sis" he answered trying to hide the sadness in his voice.

{"I don't understand what language was that. Didn't sound anything I heard from home or from the other kingdoms?"} she quickly replied trying to direct the talk away from his deceased family.

"Its our language, that's why you never heard it before. Only we are were able to speak it".

{"Can you teach it to me?"}

"Me too" Ella added having been listening in on them.

He smiled glad to have people he could love again.

~~Decades passing~~

Kronos watched as the world changed around him. Watching as those he loved grow old and new children took their place. When he was old enough he traveled the world visiting the other kingdoms learning their languages and cultures. Even spending years in one area after another never wanting to make a home in one place. He took part in conflicts that change the world and history itself. Battle after battle, war after war he fought with no end to this bloodshed in sight. The Grimm excursions, Faunus revolution, Vacuo civil war, he been in them all the lust for death and blood pushing him forward to a new conflict. The scars left to show the battles of long ago but as he continued no one seen what he suffered the most. The unseen mental exhaustion and scars in his memories of atrocities he seen and experienced sending him down a dark path...

there you go. fun fact the language i choose to use for kronos native tongue is Aztec. i know some of it and thought it be fitting to give it to an extinct people. that comparison oof. hope you guys enjoyed that off to vol 3 time *laughs in pain* see you all next time on dragonba... oops wrong story.