Chapter 7: Fairy Tale
A/N: Hello, I said I'd keep you guys entertained right? So funny story… I think I am going to end up shifting the story idea a tad but not enough that it is unrecognizable. Fusion will still be a thing but um... not in the way you expect.
Writing is going slowly but surely. I just need a bit more time and then 7-9 should finish this arc.
Once done with 7-9 I will be replacing this with chapter 6 so be warned.
Disclaimer: Sorry I didn't make this shit rhyme but that is beyond my ability at this time. So um… character death, mentions of violence, angst, curses, and my horrible attempt at early English? I went with a kinda biblical feel… sorry.
"Once upon a time there was an old man kind and wise,
He was great and powerful yet all alone in the world,
One day he happened across five sisters together yet alone in the world,
The Eldest was wise yet felt trapped,
The next eldest was ambitious yet was without love,
The Middle child was strong but held a great guilt,
The second youngest was keen of mind yet cold as winter,
And the Youngest was kind yet tormented by dreams,
The old man met them and spoke with them all,
Hearing their plight he offered them his home,
They stayed for the season of spring,
In it he happened upon the Eldest whom was very sad,
He asked her the matter and she replied:
'I am miserable for I cannot leave, though I desire to.'
The old man had compassion on her and said:
'Though that may be perhaps this is where you are meant to be.
For life is unkind and we seek greener fields,
Yet through toil and through good cheer even the driest of pastures may become green,'
The Eldest took heart and began to live her life in cheer though she stayed where she was,
Then they stayed for the season of Summer,
When it raining he found the second eldest weeping,
He asked her the matter and she replied:
'I am without love, I cannot feel it nor can I share it.'
The old man had compassion on her and said:
'Though you are without love you possess such passion,
You weep, and you feel,
Through your acts share your love and by ambition seek to improve.'
The second eldest took heart and began to show love through her acts though she could not feel.
They stayed through the month of Fall,
In the field he found the Middle one when she was very somber,
He asked her the matter and she replied:
'With me I carry my burden, I am she who caused my sisters pain and did orphan us'
The old man had compassion on her and said:
'That may be the case, but I see your sorrow,
You may carry the burden for the rest of your life but with grace you can be strengthened,
Your burden will lessen, and you are loved no matter what.'
The Middle one took heart and walked with grace though she carried her burden.
They stayed for the season of Winter,
In the snow he found the second youngest cold and numb,
He asked her the matter and she replied:
'I am as cold as the snow and ice around me and my sharp tongue drives my sisters away'
The old man had compassion on her and said:
'You have a brilliant mind and a soft heart,
Though harsh words be your defense wield your blade against untruth,
And seek a greater outpouring of love after that your sisters might have not against thee'
The second youngest took heart and cut down untruth with kindness though she was harsh.
At the end of Winter they left and went their way leaving the old man alone once more but the youngest stayed she having compassion on him,
She cared for him and fed him and helped him all the year, but he slowly became ill despite her ministrations,
They returned the next winter and found the old man sick and near the grave,
They looked upon him and asked him the matter and he said:
'I am old and tired, and I soon go to my grave, but I have a blessing for thee and thy sisters for the kindness you shared'
For the old man was a faerie and held great power in his hands even magic of his kind,
He laid his hands on the Eldest's head and blessed her thusly:
'I give thee the power to fly on blackened wing and bless thee with freedom that thou mayest go withersoever thou choosest'
The Eldest arose and flew away, unable to hold her joy.
He laid his hands on the second eldest's head and blessed her thusly:
'I give thee the power to call upon fire for like it thou art warm and bless thee with love that thou mayest love strongly and be loved'
The second eldest felt an outpouring of love in her hear and fled, unable to hold her joy.
He laid his hands on the Middle one and blessed her thusly:
'I give thee forgiveness. Thou hast suffered enough and by my power I absolve thee. I bless thee with the ability to forgive others as I have forgiven you'
The middle wept as a child and fled, unable to hold her joy.
He laid his hands on the second youngest and blessed her thusly:
'I give thee the power of words ye even my own power and bless thee with softness in thy tongue that thy words may be gentle.'
The second youngest was somber and bowed her head and fled, unable to contain her joy.
Seeing this he was glad in his heart for the women were like daughters to him.
He looked at the youngest with old, tired eyes and asked:
'I know that thou art troubled, yea perhaps more troubled that your sisters combined,
Whatsoever thing thou asketh I will give thee for thou didst care for me, and bless me and help me,
Therefore ask for on the morrow I die,'
Yet the youngest was kind and told him not her plight,
The old man however didst lay his hands upon her head and knowing her wish did bless her thusly:
'Thou art kind because thou wast hurt,
Thou art gentle because many have been hard to thee,
Thou art strong because thou hast been weak,
I bless thee with a wish. Whatsoever thing you ask of me, that I will give though I be dead.'
And with that he gave up the ghost.
The sisters mourned him and buried him and went their way.
The Eldest left first to and did fly but through foolishness did she loose her way.
The second eldest did fall in love and was loved dearly but her love was taken in war, with her fire she caused destruction and did die in battle.
The Middle did walk in grace and did forgive many but those whom knew of her past sin did catch her and stone her for her crime of forgiving.
The second youngest did use her words to cause great good and cut down lies, but men loved lies more than truth and bound her in prison that they might not listen to her more.
Seeing the fate of her sisters the youngest was wroth did call upon her wish.
The old man, though he was dead did answer and sorrowed in his heart because of her wish, yet granted it.
The youngest did wish to become a beast that did seek vengeance for her sisters for her kindness was hurt and her compassion drove her to seek justice.
For the second youngest did she break out of prison and buried her for she died a broken woman because the way they abused her in her prison.
For the Middle she did destroy the town which did stone her sister and upend her those who did destroy her sister because she forgave.
For the second eldest did she destroy the kingdom that did kill her sister and her love for they were without love.
And for the Eldest did she search and search but finding nothing did she not have rest.
The youngest did weep and prayed the old man hear her and he did and said:
'Thou hast shown me what man can become with my blessings.
Thou hast cursed thyself but not for thy sake but for kindness'.
Freedom begets ill choice so only by loss can freedom be reclaimed.
Love begets hatred so only by sacrifice can love to be true.
Forgiveness begets hard hearts so only by letting go can the past be forgotten.
Truth begets lies so only by suffering may one gain knowledge for themselves.
This is the truth thou hast shown me and this is the truth my powers have wrought.'
And the old man did mourn for he loved those who were slain for he saw them as his own daughters.
The Youngest however had compassion on the old man and did bow her head before him and said:
'I ask a boon of thee, while a beast I begat many children, while a monster I sought many foes, bless me now that I may correct what my kindness didst wreak.'
And the old man did have compassion on her and laid his hands upon her eyes and blessed her thusly:
'Thou hast wrought great evil because of thy kindness but because thou didst do good to me I give thee another blessing.
By blood thou hast avenged and by blood shalt thou be redeemed.
I give thee a blessing and a cursing, a gift and a vice,
Warriors shalt thy seed be and cursed shalt thy children be from the womb
To fight the evil thou hast wrought upon the face of the land shall be their curse
And never shall they know true rest until the children of thy sisters shall also know rest.
For thy children shall avenge thee.'
And the youngest wept for her sins were placed upon her children and none could deliver or save but she was glad that she could show one final compassion for she loved dearly,
Eyes like silver did she have and until the end of the world shall the children of the youngest fight the evil which was wrought upon the land because of kindness.
Both of the old man and the Youngest."
Ozpin lowered the book and rubbed his eyes. It was a bad translation, but it got the gist of the story.
In his hands was a copy of 'Dra Dyma uv dra Veja Syetahc' or 'The Tale of the Five Maidens' in Pan the Faunus language. It was an ancient fairy tale had amongst all the cultures of the Kingdoms. Like most fairy tales it was a warning and a lesson, one Ozpin still struggled with.
'Beware Kindness'.
Or perhaps 'don't give men further powers to destroy themselves with'.
Ozpin set the book down and took a sip of his coffee. Glynda should be back Forever Falls later… maybe he should show her the tale and see if anyone popped to mind.
"Thus kindly I scatter…" Ozpin muttered the words staring out his office window. Words said so long ago. "For to know kindness is to know pain, to know compassion is to know heartache, and by pain I am avenged."
Another sip.
"The apple doesn't fall from the tree does it?"
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