Hi everyone, one thing I would like to say (which does not relate to the story). I was scrolling through the comments, something I don't do often, and I found one thing that just baffles me. The hat on my avatar's head is a Stetson, more commonly known as a cowboy hat, not a fedora; If you're going to use the comment section to insult me could you atleast have the tact to do it properly.
On that note if you are just insulting me in the comments rather than just critiquing my work or writing what you think just stop. I am an OK fanfic writer who writes this as a side hobby. I don't really care if you hate my story or the way I write it, Its your choice and at least you took a look at it, but if you decide to aim for me then just find something else. I don't usually read the comments but when I do I find a mix of criticism, enjoyment, discontent, and firect insults.
So please just stop you aren't helping the story, you aren't helping people who just want to read this story, you are just a nail trying to drive itself into my side.
Sorry if that felt a bit ranty but I just had to get this out cause someone's inability to tell the difference between a stetson and a fedora was the straw that broke the camel's back.
To all those who have enjoyed the story, offered critique and fair criticism, or just read it; thank you for staying with my story for almost two years.
Now lets move past this and onto the story.
Jaune walked calmly through the streets of Vale, Pyrrha trailing behind him, both had their weapons in hand.
The streets were in a state of savage mauling, buildings blasted by Fang explosives and grimm running rampant through the lesser regions.
Jaune stopped for a second before unsheathing Drachenzunge and tilted its' point to his left.
Footsteps grew louder as Pyrrha held her weapon in javelin form, ready to impale whatever may aproach them.
Jaune just held his other hand up and watched intently.
Pyrrha was perplexed by his actions before a man came running past them.
Jaune then changed his footing and thrust Drachenzunge forward, a Beowolve gored by his strike.
Jaune then pulled his blade back and spoke to Pyrrha; "Always have to be watchful of who might be approaching".
Pyrrha just nodded and let her weapon rest on her shoulder before turning towards the man.
His atire was torn but the most interesting piece was the pair of artificial legs he had and the combat shotgun at his side.
Jaune nodded to the man before he ran off to who knows where.
"Friend of yours?' Pyrrha asked.
"Friend of a friend" Jaune responded.
Pyrrha nodded as Jaune continued forward, nonchalant at the damages ahead.
The duo moved forward, the streets growing more damaged the farther they went.
"So, Ozpin asked me to walk with you; to understand the power of the maidens?" she asked.
"Yes, I've done this with every chosen maiden I've managed to come across" Jaune responded.
Pyrrha let out an awkward breath at this.
Jaune glanced back at her; "Not like that, I talk to you about the Maidens' power and give you some pointers".
"Ok, but when are we going to start?" Pyrrha asked.
Jaune stopped once more as the two stood out from the edge of a destroyed four-way.
"Around here" he said.
He then placed his bag on the ground and sat down, Pyrrha placing her own bag next to his as she sat across from him.
"Now the first step to understanding the power of the Maidens is understanding the connection between emotions and magic" Jaune started.
"The magic I hold works with my constant dwelling on the past, it is a shackle and a burden" Pyrrha looked nervous at this.
"My magic is negative, it draws upon my negative emotions, my negative memories, my negative thoughts" She grew more worried.
"I use my shackle to shackle the power of others, to nullify their powers" she was stiff.
"But the magic of the maidens is different; it is one that allows someone to control the elemental strengths of the world, the strongest element that one holds is the one which works with their personality and the season's element" Pyrrha's shoulders slackened.
"Fall and Wind, Winter and Ice, Spring and Earth, Summer and Fire; Cinder was someone who could not use the power of maiden's to their full potential for she burned with fire yet tried to align with fall".
"Has there been any other examples of this?" Pyrrha interrupted.
"Well yes, the two ways the power of the maiden is officially passed on tend to be fickle" Jaune continued.
"The most common way is that the person you are thinking about most getting it next, unless its male then the power will more reliably seek out someone who would be in sinc with it" Pyrrha nodded.
"More often then not the power ends up being passed to either the precious maiden's loved one or their killer" Pyrrha grew a bit scared at this.
""The main result of this is that your average maiden will rarely have access too their full potential" she nodded.
"Amber was not your average maiden, her desire for freedom and her free spirit let her have a greater potential than most maidens" her breathing slowed at this.
"You are much like Amber, you shift about, everyone knows you but not much about you, you just want to be free from all this; you and her hold great potential for the power of the maidens" she grew nervous at this.
"Though it takes many years, decades even, for a maiden to reach their potential so no pressure. You just got these powers and you barely have much of a grasp right now" Jaune finished as Pyrrha took it all in.
"Now, any questions?" he looked at Pyrrha.
"How many times have you done this?" she asked.
"Way too many times"
"What is your feeling about the maidens?"
"I didn't create them but by the brothers I've got to keep them safe"
"When do you think the cycle will end?"
"The cycle?"
"The cycle of the maidens, of magic?"
"It may never end, till the day the grimm are exterminated, till the day humanity dies, it may always be a part of Remnant"
Pyrrha stopped asking questions about magic as Jaune stood up.
"Now for you to obtain a basic grasp of your magic, stand in the centre of the four-way, and do as I say" Pyrrha nodded and stood where she was asked.
Jaune withdrew Drachenzunge and cut a circle around the spot Pyrrha stood, he cut another circle 8 feet out from the previous one.
"Now, you are too stay within your circle, you must look within to find your magic and use your emotions to channel it from yourself into your surroundings" he explained.
"I'm going to use my own magic to pull grimm towards us to give you a set of targets" he gestured out to the ruins of the streets.
"Now just take his nice and slow, you don't have to do this fast but you must gain a sense of control" as he said this black embers sprouted from his form.
"Now... Begin"
Emerald awoke with a groan, her mind foggy of previous events.
She glanced around the room, its decor much like that of a hospital yet in slight disrepair.
Trying to get up she stopped as pain shot throughout her spine.
She let herself relax before the door to the room opened and a familiar figure walked in.
"Finally awake I see" the figure spoke.
Emerald turned to see Roman pulling a chair next to her bed.
"Had to do some digging around in your head when we brought you in, you wouldn't believe what we found" he said, leaning closer to her yet not getting into her personal space.
"What did you find?" Emerald croaked out.
"Something that might just make you hate Cinder" his voice cut into her.
Emerald tried to be angry at this, yet she couldn't, why can't she be mad when Roman just suggested that she might hate Cinder.
She just couldn't get mad, the voice in the back of her head always telling her to trust in Cinder was silent for the first time since she could remember.
"Do you want to see what she left you?" he asked, voice working deeper into her mind.
She didn't stop herself from nodding her head yes.
In response Roman pulled out a small jar that he seemed to have with him.
As he leveled it with her vision she could barely suppress her own horror.
Sealed with the jar was what seemed to be a pitch black centipede, its red eyes starting deep into her soul as it lept around in the jar, trying desperately to get her.
"This little grimm has the most creepy name of the Puppeteer" Roman started.
'No'
"They like to lay small eggs in people's mouths while they sleep, when the egg hatches the grimm makes their way down the throat and it melds it's way into your spine"
'she wouldn't'
"Once they do this they make their way to the point where your spine and brain meet, and force the body into acting in a way that would benefit any surrounding grimm"
'I trusted her'
"Or in your case, being completely subservient to a single woman too the point of a strong dependency"
'Was I just a tool?'
"So I'm here to give you another chance" he started.
'Am I going to be a tool for him now?'
"Neo liked you quite a lot and Jaune had an interest in you, I don't see so much myself, but those two have a sway in my life"
'He's just lying'
"So he asked me to give you a single test, just one, I'll be leaving your guns on the night table so you do what you wish" Roman stood back up as he finished speaking.
'Just leave me like that, why not just leave me too die?'
"Neo will come by later with some food, get some rest while you you can" he said as he closed the door behind him, taking the grimm with him.
Emerald just watched as she heard Roman's steps grew lighter and lighter.
As his footsteps just disappeared she turned to her side and just stewed there.
Seconds passed before tears began falling, she let them fall as he life was violently torn apart.
'What am I going to do?'
'should I ally with them?'
'should I go it alone?'
'was any part of my life even true?'
Tears just flowed out before she turned back to the other side of the bed, looking too her guns.
Her eyes changed from teary too angry as she reached her arm out and put her hand on the grip of the first pistol.
In quick motion she pushed them off the table and too the floor, her anguish turning to anger.
She was going to teach them all what happens when they messed with her.
They will pay. All of them will pay.
Pyrrha stood in the centre as more grimm rushed from the eastern street.
she reached within her, her desires pulling this power and channeling it out of her, a small whirlwind leaving her hand and tearing through the street.
The wind tore through the Ursa in the lead, its head pierced in a spiral.
It continued into a pair of beowolves behind it.
She let this power surge with a stronger pull from her desire, a solid blade of wind cutting deep into the ranks of the grimm following afterwards.
She let her desire pull for a third time, before the cries of the grimm took her out of it and the wind clashed against all in the area.
Jaune stood nonchalant as the flames of his aura changed from ashen black to glowing white and his semblance tanked the hit.
"Your doing good, just need to balance between your pull and your perception" he commented.
"I'm trying sir, it's just that I need too think about it" Pyrrha responded.
"I know Pyrrha, it takes awhile to obtain a balance; the good part is that you have a grasp of your magic and an idea of how to pull it" Jaune responded as he withdrew his blade and stepped towards a grimm trapped under the rubble in the street.
"I've had more time than anyone else to hone my skills with magic; you just started but your making good progress" he stabbed Drachenzunge through the grimm's eye and twisted the blade.
"Should we continue then?" she asked, still standing in the centre of the circle.
"Nah, we've done good so far, best to help with reclaimment efforts now then continue your training tomorrow" Jaune answered as he walked to his discarded blade and rested it on his shoulder.
Pyrrha nodded as she walked out from the circle.
The two made their way out from the street, a lone crow watching over them as they did so.
Adam slashed through the fangs of a King Taijitu as Yang brought her first down on opposite head.
The grimm turned to mist where it lay as the two began walking away.
The mood was fairly laid back despite the danger of their situation.
"So.. Uh... Where did you and Blake meet?" Yang asked, hoping that she could finally get an answer from the man who saved her friend.
"Long time ago, kept her safe while we were kids" was Adam's response.
"Ok, but how many years?" she added on.
"About 11 years" he said bluntly.
"Ah"
She was about to ask another before the sound of crying got their attention.
They turned towards one another and wordlessly agreed on their next action.
They rushes to the source as fast as they could, worry and caution for what may be occurring.
A cement wall shattered as Yang's fist drove itself into any debris in her way.
Adam parkoured his way over the obscured path.
The crying grew louder as Yang joined Adam in parkour.
They found the source in a dilapidated home, the cries becoming desperate.
There was no light in the house, just the crying of an infant.
They were forced into ears only, feeling their way through the damaged home.
The came upon what was assumed to be the infant, a stream of light showing an empty crib.
The thought let a feeling of great unease with the two before the two jumped out of the doorway, Adam back and Yang forward.
A collection of glowing eyes emerged from the darkness, the ray of light letting out only a glimpse of a disturbing sight.
Its limb, a macabre assembly of vaguely human pieces making itself into a spider's leg.
The crying never stopped as it approached Yang.
The light shown over its face, Yang wished it hadn't.
Its face was decorated in an agonized humanoid expression.
The crying still didn't stop.
Yang just held her fists forward, trying not to look into the Grimm's eyes, trying to not let fear hold her down.
Adam rushed in from behind, slashing the Grimm's abdomen open.
The crying worsened.
Dear brothers why had the grimm taken such a horrid form.
Its body meshed itself, its head and pedipalps pushing through its cephal- othorax and out the top of its abdomen.
The palps grabbed Adam by his shoulders and threw him across the room.
It meshed back, the face once more staring deep into their souls.
Yang was almost frozen.
Adam tried to let his semblance gather, his horns and hair gaining a slight glow.
The world felt so quiet for a slight enough time.
Then a crack resounded.
Dust flew from the ceiling.
The light spread out as the grimm retreated.
The two stood there, silent as their hearts tried to steady themselves.
They were now outside, the house had almost completely collapsed, and the grimm was now watching them from the remaining shadows.
The crying had stopped.
They breathed sighs of relief, no longer having to stare down a macabre creature in the darkness.
Adam took a quick glance towards the sky, the sun was going to go down in about an hour or two.
He looked back to the grimm, its red eyes still watching them from its hiding spot.
They had a choice to make.
They ran.
They ran as fast as they could.
Whatever that grimm was, whatever it was made of, was not something the two were interested in facing.
They didn't even notice as they ran into a man out in the ruins.
They all toppled to the ground.
The man pulled himself up, retrieving a shotgun from the ground as he did so.
He was quick too point the business end at the duo, muttering about ungrateful teens as he did so.
Yang and Adam were quick too pull themselves up and back away, apologizing while holding their hands in a mock surrender.
The man lowered his shotgun and scowled; "The hell you kids running from?" he said.
"You wouldn't want to know" Yang breathed out, preferring not to think about the grimm.
"I think I do, Huntsmen and Huntresses don't run from just anything" he responded.
"It was horrifying; the creature, I dare not say grimm for it was worse than any grimm, was just... just..." Adam stopped at this, his breathing growing heavier as he spoke.
The man just looked at the two, shook his head, and walked down the way they came from.
"Don't..." Yang started only for the man to hold his finger up in a shushing motion before he continued forward.
As he got closer to the house the duo walked behind him, a fair distance away.
The man leaned down and starred the creature right in its red eyes, a quiet staring contest between an unshaken man and a macabre beast.
The grimm hissed before retreating farther into the ruined home; in response the man pulled out a grenade from his belt.
He calmly took out the pin, primed it, and let it roll into the crevices.
It was only a few seconds before the grenade exploded, eliciting a screech of pain from the grimm, and the ruins were blasted open.
The man stood unaffected as he let his artificial legs down into the small crater.
Yang and Adam just watched on from the top of the crater as he followed a trail of grimm gore towards the basement.
It was the next moment that a palp shot out and dragged the man deeper into the depths, the man firing several shots as he was dragged.
Yang and Adam rushed in, blade and fist ready for a brawl; following the echo of shots down the basement.
Another blast pushed them back to the basement door.
The man walked back, not even limping despite the smoking of his left leg, the creature's blown out torso being dragged behind him as it slowly turned to mist.
"Best we get going, more grimm are going to appear at night" the man said.
Both Yang and Adam stared at him dumbfounded, they were hit with uncontrollably fear in his presence yet he was fine, just who was he?
"Are you two going to keep gawking or are you lot coming?" he said, snapping the two out of it.
"Alright, but we have one question?" Yang asked.
"Shoot" he responded, making sure to strap his shotgun to his back.
"What's your name?" she continued.
"My name, well my name is Voss" Voss responded as the now trio walked back towards the main encampment.
Alright, good luck sleeping with my new grimm creations in your mind.
Best of luck to all those who enjoy my story.See you all next month