You guys have been waiting long enough for this chapter. I'd encourage all of you to read the AU at the bottom of the chapter for VERY important information concerning this story (No, I'm not ending or rewriting it, so don't worry about that). Otherwise, here's the next update shout-out and I'll let you guys and gals get to it…

First Love - DRWJPT

First Love may sound like a cheesy fic, but I can't express enough that this story isn't just romance. It has action, darkness, humor, and so many other facets that you can't help but realize that this is one of those rare stories that you only find every once in a while that fulfills everything a fanfiction should. The plot is refreshingly new, even though you're following the games story. I mean, this is the first Mass Effect fic I've read that had any significant amount of backstory (40 chapters of it to boot) before even getting to Eden Prime. And while that may sound like a lot, trust me, they're awesome chapters. DRWJPT's take on Shepard is my favorite part, and that's the fact that Nicola "Nikki" (Shepard) is romanced with a civi instead of a crew member like every other story does. I can't express in words how awesome it is that DRWJPT not only make it work, but made it better than any relationship I've read in any Mass Effect fic. In fact, the characterization of every character in the story is so awesome. So please, go give this story a chance at the very least, and I'm pretty certain you won't be disappointed.

- -][- -

"Do you understand what I need you to do?" Asked Lord Ozpin.

The Firekeeper and I nodded our heads. While the original plan had been to find another guardian, whom he told me was to be Lady Nikos, to take on the remains of the Fall Maiden's soul, that plan had been altered with the arrival of the Firekeeper and I. With our help, Lord Ozpin felt that the scales had shifted ever-so slightly in our direction, convincing him to not ask such a heavy burden on one of his students, nor throw away the life of a friend for the sake of Remnant when there was any decent chance of saving her. All I had to do was safeguard Lady Amber and hold off (or defeat) the woman who stole the other half of the Maiden's soul until the Headmaster arrived.

As Lord Ozpin was about to turn and leave, I quickly shot my hand up, asking him to wait. Turning to look at the woman beside me, I could already see the refusal on her face.

"No Milord, I am staying by thy side." The Firekeeper said adamantly. She must have seen my immediate frustration because she crossed her arms and ever-so slightly cocked her hip. A stance that was wasn't dissimilar to one Lady Masa would make whenever I did anything that vexed her. I sighed, once again wondering if letting the two women meet was such a good idea. The Firekeeper I knew back at Firelink wasn't anywhere near as cheeky as she is now before meeting the exuberant forge-woman.

After a couple frustrating seconds of silence, the Firekeeper unfolded her arms and softening her face, "Milord, after all we went through, did thee really think I would forsake thy side now?" I, to no one's surprise, stayed silent. But she knew that even if I were regularly using my voice, I'd still be silent in this moment, for she was right. I look towards Lord Ozpin and gave him a nod before turning back the Firekeeper. She had stood by my side through the death of our world as well as our foray into this new one, Gods know if I even would have made it without her. And not only has she been the source of my peace and strength, but I had also asked the impossible of her. Asked her to forsake the very oath that had originally bound her to my side, and even then, she continued to stand beside me.

So now that all the plans were finalized, Lord Ozpin disappeared back the way we came with Lady Goodwitch and Sir Branwen in tow, leaving the Firekeeper and to do something no one else on Remnant can do as well as us. Wait. After all, we waited through who know how many ages. A few more hours or days will make no difference.

So wait we did. The Firekeeper meditating with her back to Lady Amber with the First Flame dancing across her skin, while I stood with my back to her, sword-point pressed into the marble. It wouldn't be until I thought back to this moment that I'd realized our positions were eerily reminiscent of how we waited all those years in Firelink. Only this time we weren't waiting for our world to end. Instead we were waiting in hopes that this one could be saved.

It was several quite hours later before anything happened. While I was sharpening Bloodlust on a whetstone I kept in my pouch, I heard the ding of the elevator opening that was quickly followed by the sound of metal on stone. Readying my sword and shield, I waited with narrowed eyes until a figure turned the corner and continued to walk towards us with a heavy bundle in its arms. It wasn't until the figure drew near enough for the light to reveal that it was one of the simple (To the people of Remnant) automatons that were used for a wide variety of menial tasks. The automaton set its burden down at my feet before turning around and leaving the way it came. Looking down, my eyebrows rose in surprise when I saw my armor staring back up at me. Sitting upon the bundle was a folded note. Picking it up, I unfolded the paper and saw it was from Lady Masa.

'Hey Gigantor, Oz told me you needed your armor. I would've argued that your punishment isn't finished yet, but he seems tense about something. And while I may have no idea what's going on, what I do know is that if Oz is worried, then whatever it is, it's bad. So here's your armor back. Sorry it's only a patch-job, but that's all I had time for. Your amazingly awesome and talented friend, Sable...

I let out a single, soundless chuckle at Lady Masa's closing. Before leaving, Lord Ozpin had noted that I hadn't brought my armor with me, leading the Firekeeper to explain the state it was in, omitting the part about my "punishment". Once she had finished, the headmaster said that he'd have Sable do the best she can and get my armor sent down as soon as possible.

So we waited, and waited, and waited. We waited for so long that the Firekeeper and I both lost track of time. Though this was mostly due to the never-ending shadows and flickering lights that made time seemingly move slowly and, somehow at the same time, quickly. If I were to close my eyes and imagine the ever-so slight scent of ash, I could almost trick myself into believing that I was standing back in Firelink. Lord Andre sitting back at this forge, beating away at some lump of metal. The occasional frustrated mutter from Orbeck, amused giggle from Karla, or dry cackle of Cornyx. The routine bickering between Patches and Greirat that I could have told you the time of day from. Even the soft, melodic singing of Irina echoing up from her corner, filling whatever silence there was to be found.

As these thoughts continued to flicker round and around in my head, my mind latched onto one of my fondest. Not a memory from Firelink, for this night was early on in my journey, before I truly got to know or even meet the others, including the Firekeeper. A night spent around a crackling fire, one sharing stories with the other. Before I knew it, I lost myself in memories…

- -][- -

I let out a hacking cough while sinking down to the ground and leaning up against a rock. Having just bid Knight Sigward farewell, I didn't expect the road the would eventually lead me to the catacombs to be infested with Corvian's and Corvian Storytellers. The poison mist the latter threw at me, while not particularly deadly in small doses, left a notably unpleasant burning in my lungs and eyes along with a dizzy head. Finally, after several long moments of heaving, the last dregs of the poison mist dissipated away into the air, but the dizziness unfortunately didn't disappear with it. In fact, unless my eyes were deceiving me, my vision was starting to get a bit blurry as well.

An odd mix of a grunt, groan, and growl escaped my throat. I must have inhaled more of that poison than I previously thought and I was unluckily out of purple moss clumps. The back of my helmet clanged softly against the rock. Partly due to the realization that I'll more than likely have to fight my way back through the road (How the beasts and undead seemingly repopulated the areas I cleared so quickly after dying was beyond me), and partly due to how heavy the Lothric Knight armor I had scavenged before heading down into the settlement suddenly felt hot and cumbersome, or at least hotter and heavier than it had felt scarce minutes before. As the dizziness worsened and my breathing became more labored, I resigned myself to my fate and closed my eyes. Deciding I might as well enjoy the quiet, if deathly, rest before setting out again.

Or at least I would have if it weren't for the two sets of quickly approaching footsteps. I quietly groaned. Not only was my poison induced rest going to be cut short, but now my entire body felt heavy. Pressing my hands against the ground, I only managed to weakly push myself a couple inches off the ground before crashing back down in a heap. I was in no shape to stand, let alone fight. Now I'm going to be sent back to the bonfire via scythe, claws, teeth, or whatever manner of tools of death these two denizens of the Road of Sacrifices employ.

Well, I'm certainly not the type of undead to take a killing sitting down. Grasping around in the dirt, my fingers closed around the handle of my straight sword as the footsteps grew audible enough for me to distinguish two separate pairs of steps, and not some four legged beast. Planting the end of my blade into the earth, I stubbornly pushed myself to my knees and withdrew my sword to hold at my side, ready to thrust forward. Whether or not I'll hit these beasts is unfortunately up to luck, for my vision was now seeing double, maybe even quadruple. As the footsteps drew close I thrust forward with what was supposed to be a snarl, but only came out as a wheezing cough, causing my fingers to lose their grip and drop my sword back into the dirt.

Quickly throwing my hands down to support my weight, I tensed as a hand grip my shoulder, but felt confused when no biting pain followed. Instead of blade or teeth, the hand was joined by another on my other shoulder, leaning me back up against the rock. Trying to focus my vision without success, all I could make out were two blurry figures in front of me. The biggest and darker of the two was standing back, some large two-handed weapon held at the ready while the smaller figure lifted my helmet from my head, allowing me to hear a bit better, and pressing a soft clump against my cold, numb lips.

"Here now," came a soft, feminine voice from the smaller figure, "just rest and let the moss do its work. We'll keep an eye on you, have no fear." She then turned to the larger blur, "Horace, lend him thy shoulder so we can head back to the tower. He's too heavy for me to move with any swiftness."

A gruff grunt answered the woman's request, and I suddenly felt myself being pulled to my feet, if a little roughly, before having my left arm slung over an armored shoulder as broad as my own before being led away as my senses continued to dim…

Consciousness was slow in reasserting itself, but when it did, I felt my whole body dully throb and ache like never before. Up until now, if I was ever rendered immobile, I didn't last long enough to recover. So awaking after knowingly succumbing to poison was a new experience. Waking up where I hadn't fallen unconscious was just another rung in the proverbial confusion ladder.

Keeping my eyes closed, I listened as the crackle of fire and scrapping of stone on steel suddenly became apparent, but relaxed as a soft, melodic humming floated lazily through the air slightly under it. Several seconds of listening led me to believe that I wasn't in any immediate danger. Cracking my eyes open, I immediately shut them again and involuntarily raised my hand to try and cover the blindingly white moon that hung above me.

Suddenly, the scrapping and humming stopped, and footsteps upon grass replaced it. Slowly opening my eyes again, this time blocking most of the celestial body with my hand, I managed to make out the silhouette of a person above me. As my vision adjusted to moon and firelight, I first managed to make out a a blue surcoat with gold accents over chainmail while the arms and legs were protected with plate. All of which was held together with simple straps of brown leather.

The woman, who I could see due to her not wearing a helmet at the time, was beautiful. Her hair was of long fine gold, held in a low bun that was connected with two decorative braids going along either side of her head, leaving strands to randomly fall and frame her face. Her skin was a healthy pale, which heavily accentuated eyes of clear blue, looking as if the color was taken straight from the ocean itself.

Raising myself sluggishly on to one elbow, I looked about myself. I was laying down on a soft patch of grass and springy moss in a ruined tower. Behind me was a path that looked to lead back to the Road of Sacrifices, while the ruined portcullis ahead led further down into what smelled like a swamp. Leaning against the portcullis with his back to us was a man that equaled my large stature garbed in plain looking black armor with a large halberd stuck in the dirt at his feet.

Seeing me awake and alert, the woman put a gentle hand on my back and helped me sit up, "You recover quicker than I gave thee credit for. That storyteller hit you with quite a nasty dose of toxin. Extremely deadly and quick acting, even to our kind."

Hearing his companions voice, the man under the portcullis turned around and gave me a silent, though not malicious, stare before walking over to the fire to stir something in a cast iron pot.

Seeing that I my attention was momentarily elsewhere, the she-knight glanced behind her before turning back to me with another smile, "That's Horace, a dear friend and traveling companion." The now-named Horace didn't look up at the mention of his name, electing rather to add a small handful of something to the pot before removing his helmet to take a testing taste of the pots contents. Horace was a gruff looking man with a square jaw, short brown hair, and a face that was resting calmly somewhere between a scowl and blankness.

Seeing movement in the corner of my eye, I looked back to the woman as the stood up, offered me a hand. Pausing for a moment, I then accepted the offer and was soon standing, if a bit unsteadily. Now that I was on my feet, I found that the she-knight was several inches shorter than me, forcing her to look up too meet my eye with a playful glare, "Most wondrous, now there are two giants to tower over me." She then nodded her head over to the fire, "Pull up a stump and get comfy. I know food doesn't do us any real good, but taking time to rest and think are important."

That final statement was said with such conviction, as if not taking a few moments to rest was crazy. As I took a seat by the fire, I had to think about that. Ever since arriving at the High Wall, I hadn't stopped to rest, think, or converse with those back at Firelink. In fact, the only person I've talked to more than once was the Firekeeper, and that was only long enough for her to calm the souls I had accumulated before I set out again.

Seeing a bowl enter my vision, I looked up to find the she-knight standing before me with yet another kind smile, "I am Anri of Astora. Unkindled, like you." She said, pushing the bowl of stew into my hands along with a spoon, "Come, eat and let us share the burden we carry."

As the night hours passed us by into the morning with conversation, I decided that yes, it was indeed important to take time to rest and think. Though as the three of us packed up what little needed to be and set out together, I felt the need to add something to the end of that little proverb. Taking time to rest and think are important, but even more so is companionship. And as the droves of beasts fell before us, I resolved to not only get to know those I meet in my travels, but those back at Firelink. For what point is there in enduring hardships if you have no one to share the outcomes with…

- -][- -

I was brought back to my senses by a faint rumble that came from all around me. Then another, and another. As the shaking continued, candles began going out at the same time as dust and chunks of ceiling began falling around us. Quickly moving backwards, I shielded the Firekeeper with my shield and armored body, but since none of the rocks were bigger than an apple, no real damage was done to the Firekeeper, Lady Amber, or myself. Suddenly the shaking stopped and silence reigned king once more. Only this time it seemed far more sinister with the few flickering lights that remained and the knowledge of what might be happening above our heads.

"Milord, what shall I do?" I glance over my shoulder at the Firekeeper, but before I could do anything, the whirring of the elevator drew my attention back. Readying my sword and shield, I quickly motioned for the Firekeeper to back off and hide as I stepped in front of Lady Amber's pod. The only people who would being coming down to the underground vault were Lord Ozpin, the people in his inner circle, and the soul thief whom we suspect knows of her quarry's location. The irony of that last thought wasn't lost on me. Here I am, a being whose sole purpose was too either bring or force a soul back to it's rightful duty, who's trying to defend a soul (Or a partial one rather) from another soul thief.

By now the clink clink of what sounded to be glass-like shoes became audible, ruling out Lord Ozpin or any of the male members of his circle. And unless Lady Goodwitch suddenly started wearing different footwear, that left only the unknown assailant. As the clinking came closer and closer, it was suddenly joined out of nowhere by the heavy-set rattling footsteps of armored boots, causing my grip of Bloodlust to tighten. My worry grew as the footsteps grew closer, not about fighting two warriors at once, that was nothing new (Gods damned dark invaders). No, my worry stemmed from defending two non-combatants at once. Hopefully the Firekeeper is well hidden and will stay there, leaving only Lady Amber for me to worry about.

The footsteps grew closer, my estus was full…

The footsteps grew closer, the flame in my left hand burst into life and ran along my blade...

The footsteps grew closer, I lowered my stance and raised my shield, preparing to become a wall against my enemies...

And as the footsteps were just around the corner, the armored steps disappeared, as if they were never there to begin with...

- -][- -

Keeping my gaze forward as the heavier footsteps vanished, I remained unflinching even as the source of the clinking heels showed herself. With ashen-black hair that fell to her mid back, the woman was clothed in a rather tempting red dress and glass heels. Quickly seeing me standing alone between her and her goal, a small, devious smile grew upon the woman's face. Slightly speeding up her stride, the woman suddenly pulled a small cylinder out of nowhere and waved it before her, causing a small cloud of sparkling dust to appear that almost immediately condensed into shards of crystal that she sent hurtling towards me at a deadly velocity.

Not even even flinching as the shards impacted against my shield and being careful to not let any past me and towards Lady Amber, I held firm, even as the woman sent volley after volley of shards at me. Right before the woman got into sword range, she suddenly summoned two beautifully carved black swords from the same material she had been forming the shards out of and lunged at the me, blades spinning in a deadly arch as the smirk grew into a confident grin. Positioning my shield, I blocked both blades and stabbed forward with Bloodlust, hoping her confidence would leave her open for attack. Unfortunately, it seemed that while the woman was confident, she also had the skills to back that confidence up as she spun to my right and tried to get behind my guard.

Though while this woman wasn't someone I'd get careless around, my skill in combat far exceeded her own, allowing me to, at the very least, easily meet her blade for blade as I backstepped before charging forward just as she had done. Unlike me though, she wasn't quick enough to counter my sudden attack and took the brunt of my shield to her chest, pushing her back out of range, the confident grin shrinking back in thought. Not wanting to give her time to think, I rushed forward with a few experimental swipes from Bloodlust. Unsurprisingly, the woman easily dodged, blocked, or parried each attack with little difficulty.

Having a general feel for her reaction time, the two of us continued to trade blow for blow in the following minutes, neither of us showing an ounce of fatigue even as we pulled away once again. Scowling under my helmet, I left her an opening in my guard, hoping to draw her in. Taking the bait, the woman slashed at me in an X pattern with both her blades, but right before they hit, I battered the attack back with sword and shield, causing her swords to ricochet off and leave her wide open. Before she could reclose the hole, I followed up with a stab that aimed to drive Bloodlust up her ribcage. But just as the extremely fatal wound was about to kiss flesh, the woman reacted quicker than I gave her credit for as she twisted to the side and pushed away from me by pressing a hand against my chest-plate and leaping back a dozen or so feet with a little help from her aura.

Taking my ready stance again, I prepared from the next attack. The woman on the other hand seemed proud of herself for some reason, or at least she did before grimacing and touched her right side. Turning back at me, the proud look was no longer able to be seen, in its place was anger. I narrowed my eyes as her hand pulled away.

No blood. I'm certain that I had felt the blade press against her, even if only slightly, but it seems aura has proven ready and able to turn away Bloodlust's bite, if only just. While yes, she had mostly dodged Bloodlust, she wasn't as fast as she thought she was and received what I'm sure will become a nasty bruise for her idleness. An unseen scowl pulled at my lips, seems I've been cheated out of claiming first blood. And not only am I to defend Lady Amber and defeat her assailant, but I'm also going to have to get through a layer of aura before doing so.

Fine, if she wanted hide behind shield, then I'll just smash my way through it. Watching me slide my shield onto my back, the woman's eyes narrowed before widening as my flame burst into life to reapply fire to Bloodlust which had dissipated during our earlier bout. Only this time I left my shield where it was and kept my flame ready. Let's see how well aura holds up to the teachings of Karla and Cornyx.

Strangely, the woman seemed to grow excited to such a degree that she almost matched Lady Rose when she saw fresh cookies. Then, as if accepting a challenge, the woman threw her swords to the floor, which shattered on impact, and called fire to life in both her hands. Though while we both wielded fire, the difference couldn't of been clearer to my eye. Her's was controlled, almost as if every flicker and twist of flame was enslaved to her will. Mine was the difference of night and day. Wild, untamed, and free. A true flame, and completely willing to lend me it's power to show this lesser fire that the one residing in my soul was the greater.

Suddenly my vision was filled with heat and orange as the woman threw a simple fireball towards me at a not so simple pace. Rolling to the side and coming out sprinting, I readied a Fire Orb and sent it flying. Seeing the larger ball of fire hurtling towards her, the woman summoned fire of equal size and threw it to intercept my attack. Upon impact, the two balls exploded in a flash of scorching heat, neither seeming to overpower the other.

Scarce milliseconds after the explosion, the woman appeared from within the fire, two daggers of ebony glass already pulled back for a downward stab. Not expecting her to come out of the fire, I barely had time to roll forward. Immediately realizing that my opponent was now in between Lady Amber and me, I turned around and dashed forward, quickly casting a Profaned Flame under and slightly behind the woman's feet. Unfortunately she didn't react the way I had hoped. Instead of lurching towards me, and away from Lady Amber, to get away from the sudden heat, the woman merely continued to smirk and let the fire wash over her.

Now close enough, I swung Bloodlust at the woman which was quickly followed by another and another, all the while I'm inspecting her. Not a flicker of aura, one scorch mark, or burn was visible, neither from jumping through the Fire Orb nor from the explosion of fire that went off under her feet scarce seconds before. Either that skimpy dress of her's has one of the best fire resistance enchantments I've ever seen, or she had more command over flame then I initially thought. Either way, if normal fire doesn't work, then let's break out something a bit more nasty.

While I'm thinking all this, the woman avoids or blocks every attack but is unable to find an opening. I know she realizes this because the ever-present smirk wavers slightly, but remains in place as she continues to block each blow I send her way. This continues for a few moments longer before she starts taking measured steps backwards, trying to get closer to Lady Amber. Suddenly thinking back to the Undead Settlement for no reason I can understand, I decided to take a page out of the annoying Evangelist's book that roamed the area. Purposely over-extended a thrust, I allowed the woman to grab on and attempt to stab one of her daggers into my chest. But before any attack could be made, I suddenly grabbed onto her arms and summoned a black flame in between us.

Like my previous fire attack, the woman didn't move away from the heat. Or at least not at first, because unlike before, the woman's eyes suddenly widened before letting out a piercing shriek of pain and falling backwards in hopes of getting away from the void-like flames. Only I didn't let her. As she fell, I heaved her over my shoulder and threw as far away from Lady Amber as I could before giving chase.

Upon landing, the woman shakily got to her feet, all the while gasping in agony before looking down at her arms. What once had been flawless skin was now covered in angry red blisters that ran over the entirety of her forearms and legs. The fact that the burns were only second degree instead of severe third was a testament to the strength of this woman's aura, and I could already see the blisters lessen in severity. Oddly enough, those burns didn't seem to have touched any other part of her. Looking up, the woman directed another glare of hatred towards me as an orange sheen that seemed focused on her chest and head evenly spread to cover her entire body, showing that she had focused most of her aura to protect the important parts of her before much damage could be done.

Again within range, I started attacking the woman with every ounce of ferocity I could muster. Beginning with a downward left slash, I followed it up with an upward right and continued to repeat this until I felt the woman quickly picking up on the simple pattern. Knowing she was moments away from launching a counter attack, my opponent wasn't ready when I suddenly added in a heavy forward thrust. Not expecting this, the woman was unable to block the blade-tip that caught her fully in her bruised side.

Aura flaring brightly, the woman fell backwards with a short but pained shout, dropping one dagger and grasping her side with her now empty hand. Pushing my advantage, I lunged forward, arm pulled back to spear my opponent into the ground. Seeing me coming, the prone woman barely managed to roll backwards in time to avoid the stab. Now on her feet once more, she continued to dodge left, right, and backwards, but unable to push forward. Anger growing so quickly she was practically shaking, the woman didn't notice the stone pillar that she was about to back into. I, on the other hand, did.

Just as her back met the pillar, the woman's eyes widened in shock, both from the unexpected contact and the metal gauntlet that suddenly found itself wrapped around her throat. Not wasting any time, I swiftly thrust Bloodlust towards the woman's abdomen. Unfortunately for her, that was the attack where her aura momentarily broke. With the sound of fracturing glass, Bloodlust drove through the weakened barrier and finally pierced flesh.

With an agonizing wail, which only increased as the cruelly jagged teeth of Bloodlust rip and tore when I slowly pulled it out, the woman forgot all previous anger and skill as she thrashed against me in a frenzy. Uncurling my fingers, the woman dropped to her knees, pressing both hands to the bleeding hole in her stomach with finger shaped bruises already forming on the pale skin around her neck. As I stepped back and raised my sword to finish her off, the woman looked up and met my eyes behind my helmet.

The look she was giving me now couldn't even compare to the previous glares when I had bruised and burnt her. It would be like comparing an ocean to a puddle. Loathing so pure and unadulterated that any normal being would have dropped dead on the spot in fear of facing the holder of such a gaze. But I was definitely no such being. I had charged headlong into the relentless ferocity of the Nameless King and faced down Sister Frieda, a woman with a gaze so cold it could have extinguished the Soul of Cinder with but a stare.

As Bloodlust started its descent, the woman's dagger rose to meet it so quickly, I didn't even see her arm move and forced my blade to the left just enough to miss her neck by scarce inches. Before I could do anything else, the woman kicked out using both legs with surprising strength, knocking me back far enough for her to get wobbly on her feet. Quickly recovering, I launched myself forward as she let out a mixture of a shriek and a yell while crossing her arms across her body. As this happened, the slight glow coming from the yellow highlights on the woman's dress and eyes became more apparent as a ring made of fire-like hexes formed around her. Just before I could drive Bloodlust through her heart, the ring exploded outward and caught me in the chest despite my best attempt at rolling underneath it.

Flying back farther than I had thrown the woman, I landed with a resounding clash of metal and a sudden stab of pain as I felt my right shoulder dislocate. Quickly getting to my feet cradling my right arm, I looked up just in time for an obsidian black arrow to bury itself in my gut, quickly followed by two more. Falling backwards, I let out a grunt of pain as I landed hard enough to knock my helmet off, freeing my smoldering gaze as it rolled to a stop of the foot of Lady Amber's chamber. I growled at my stupidity! This witch was far from the most formidable opponent I've fought, but she had enough new tricks that made her spontaneous enough to catch me unawares! Scowling, I took a moment to push the pain to the back of my mind, like I had many times before, when I suddenly heard the creak of a bowstring being pulled taunt. Assuming she was trying to finish me off, I rolled onto my side but saw that the woman's attention wasn't focused on me anymore, but rather aiming an arrow straight at Lady Amber's heart.

Seeing the smirk slowly return to the woman's face, I rushed to me feet, hoping I'd be fast enough to pull my shield off my back and raise it in time to block the arrow. Surprisingly, not only did I manage to grab ahold of my shield, but also raise it quick enough to block the arrow. However, as the seconds ticked past, I realized that there was no impact. The arrow had never been fired.

Refocusing on the woman, I saw the smirk had become downright smug as the fingers holding the string relaxed and the arrow shot straight for the center of my shield. Over the course of the arrows flight, a few thoughts flashed through my mind as I began charging forward to meet the arrow and then my opponent. Why would she fire such an easily blocked arrow? Had she forgotten how I had blocked the shards she'd shot of me at the beginning of our fight? What would her next move be?

Finally reaching the arrow, I saw it shatter upon my shield as I continued to press forward. It was at that moment two things became apparent. The first was the confusing mannerism of the woman. She wasn't moving. Not only that, she wasn't even readying herself for another bout. Instead she just stood there, the smug grin now mixed together with a sense of finality. The second was the sobering sounds of shattering glass and a sudden, almost wet, crack. Turning around faster than I ever have before, there was nothing I could do as I watched the pained gasp of Lady Amber as the arrow piercing her sternum drove the last remnants of life from her broken body and into her killer. I had failed. Lord Ozpin had tasked me to protect his friend, and I had failed. Turning back, I saw the woman's smugness was nowhere to be seen. In its place was pure euphoria as she closed her eyes and breathed deep. The glowing highlights on the woman that had been dimmed due to a weakened aura, not only returned, but grew even brighter as the fiery aura surrounding the woman seemed to multiply tenfold.

- -][- -

OMAKE AFTER AUTHOR NOTE

Well… it's been a little over a full years since my update, and I can't express how sorry I am guys. I'm not even going to list the multitude of excuses I have because most of them aren't even legitimate excuses to begin with. So again, I'm sorry, I hope you guys can forgive me, and I hope you all liked the latest chapter…

Overall I'm happy with this one, though I feel like the beginning is kinda weak. Sorry if you guys think so too, but I just couldn't think of any other way to do it. On the bright side, I think I wrote the combat scene pretty well, and I also hope you guys like the flashback also. Some of you may think I overdid the poison effects, but honestly, I think most writers don't really understand how quickly poison can take someone out. And I'm super excited to see that I've nearly broke 1,000 Favorites and have over 130,000 views! That's crazy guys, thank-you so much!

Omake: "You took a wrong turn… "

Smirking confidently as the door of the elevator slid open I strode forward with a purpose, letting the clink of my glass shoes ring out. The fool Ozpin and the other bumbling Hunters were otherwise occupied with the Grimm and Fang above, leaving no one that even had the smallest of chances at stopping me from reaching my goal. Closing my eyes, I continued to follow the unseen thread that connected the distraught soul within me to its other half. Even if there was someone down here, I have every intention of burning my would-be opponent to ash.

Rounding the final corner, I took one look and couldn't believe my luck. Less than a hundred feet from what was rightfully mine, and not a soul was in sight. Or rather not a soul that would fight back. So striding, almost skipping, forward with barely hidden delight, I moved closer and ever closer to the pod containing the half-dead Fall Maiden.

As soon as I got close enough to make out the scarred face of the pods occupant, a sudden gust of cold wind extinguished all the lights for no apparent reason, plunging the entire underground cavern into complete blackness. Standing stock still, I daren't even breath as I waited for something to happen. After several seconds of nothingness, I let fire spring to life in my hand, illuminating my immediate surroundings. Looking forward, I could barely make out the outline of the Maiden's pod. But still, nothing happened.

Turning around to take a look behind me, I still saw nothing. As I started to take a cautionary step backward towards the pod, I'd only just raised my foot when there was a whoosh of fire behind me. Spinning on my heel, I had a bow formed and an arrow ready to fire by the time the full rotation had completed. Standing center of the pod was someone holding an impractical looking sword that seemed to pulse with fire. The entire blade was twisted to such a degree that any cutting power it once had would now be nearly nonexistent.

The person twirled the sword so he held it point down before pushing the white-hot metal into the marble of the floor. But as the tip reached the marble floor, there was no clang like I expected. Instead there was a hiss, and before long, the tip started sinking into the floor as the marble warped and melted around the blade. After sinking about a third of the blade, the person stopped and let go and holding his hand above the handle, letting the dead silence of the cavern hang over our heads like an axe waiting to fall.

Snap

The sudden sound from the person not only broke the silence with an echoing sound that continued to reverberated around me, but also made the flames running along the twisted blade to pulse and begin acting like an actual bonfire, albeit a bonfire fueled by a sword. It was only then that I realized something else. The echo wasn't lessening. If anything, it started to grow and morph into an ethereal hum.

The hum was quickly joined by a white light that seemed to form out of the ground in strange symbols and letters. Then, out of the light, rose a figure that was hunched over and rather limp looking. Once the figure had fully risen, the delicate features of the she-knight looked around blankly before lifting her hands and staring at her palms in what looked to be confusion. The she-knight was broken out of her staring when the summoner put a hand on her shoulder and offered a sword, handle first, to her that he had unwrapped from his back.

Looking surprised, the ghostly she-knight stared for a few seconds before smiling softly and accepting the sword into her right hand, grasping the arm of the knight with the other in thanks.

As they both turned back to stare at me, I couldn't help the sneer that broke out on my face, "Do you really think that just the two of you will be enough too-", but I was cut off by the knight holding up his hand in pause. I stared for a few moments, incredulous that this man just interrupted for no apparent reason. But as I opened my mouth to speak, the knight casually slipped out his scroll and checked the time, impatiently tapping his foot as the seconds ticked by. All the while, the she-knight was trying to hide the grin that couldn't help but grow.

The silence continued to hold steady, something that couldn't be said about my anger. Just as I was about to snap and hurl the full fury of fire at the silent duo, something happened. Something I couldn't explain. Something that caused my eyes to grow bigger and bigger with each passing second. That something was the hum returning, but not just returning, returning tenfold as several more symbols and letters started appearing.

First to materialize was a giant of a man with a mane of white hair and a beard, wielding a huge forging hammer. Second was another giant of a man, but this one wore the strangest armor I had ever seen, for it made the man look like a fat onion. Next two appeared at the same time, the first of which was a tall bald man with a spear, tower shield, and a Cheshire grin that would have given Neo the chills. Next to him was a lanky man a full head shorter than his compatriot who wore a mask-hat combo that trailed down his back like a tail.

After those two, four people then appeared at the same time. The first was a nun-like woman in a hood and a bell chime in her hands. Next to her was a tall man (Though not as tall as the spear-man) whose face was wrapped in bandages and wore robes made out of what looked to be feathers and dirty cloth. Thirdly was another man, though this one was dressed in fine clothes and held an ornate staff. Lastly was a woman who wore a stereotypical witch outfit, pointed hat and all.

Once the last four finished appearing, the hum died down once again and silence returned. Only this time my anger was gone, instead replaced by apprehension. This apprehension very quickly grew worse as the she-knight and smith man cracked their necks and readied their weapons, the nun woman held her chime aloft, the well dressed man pointed his staff at me and let a white-blue light shine atop it, and fire sprung into life in the hands of the original knight, the bandaged man, and the witch.

I couldn't help it. I was afraid. I was confident in my abilities, and I could take on several opponents at once, but not ten. Not when each and every one of them gave off an aura of power that few could match. They took a step forward, I took two back. Or at least I would have it I hadn't bumped into something. Letting out an undignified yelp, I jumped forwards and spun around, trapping myself in-between the two groups that suddenly surrounded me.

Upon seeing the second group, I lost all hope. While the first group that stood between me and my once assured prize were all human. The same couldn't be said for what beings stood before me now. More than two, five, ten, even fifteen… things now stood in my way. Beings ranging from two story tall demon looking monstrosities to a very tall and broad man in old but ornate armor that had a white and blue hair plumage coming out of the back of his helmet standing beside the head of a dragon. Not a Grimm dragon like the one outside, but a honest-too-Oum dragon.

But the most terrifying was only now appearing out of the everlasting darkness. First were two giant skeletal hands that rapped their bony fingers around two pillars. Then, as if pulling forward, out of the darkness came a monstrous skeletal head whose brow was adorned by a crown fit for a king. A monster skeleton, one who very well may stand taller than Beacon's tower, stared down at me with its eyeless sockets for several seconds before letting out a horrifying screech that shook the very foundations around us. Then all was silent.

Thud Thud Thud

Timidly looking over my shoulder, I saw the Fall maiden grinning wickedly at me from her pod before mouthing the words…

"You came to the Wrong Neighborhood M**********r"

That was the final signal, and every being, both before and behind, charged me with such ferocity that all I was able to get out was a terrified scream before being torn apart by knights, monsters, and demons that seemed to come straight out of a fairy tail. A fairy tail I had once heard from her lips, and those lips didn't do these monsters justice…

Was that omake bad? I'm honestly not sure. While I'm certain that it's the worst one yet, I couldn't think of anything to do for this chapter (I'm saving a certain one for next chapter :D).

VERY IMPORTANT - Okay guys, I know this isn't the news you wanted to hear after a year-long silence, but I've come to a realization that many, if not all of you aren't going to like. When I first started this story, we were in the season three-four area of RWBY. Now, we're done with season six. And as of right now, I'm not sure where I want to take this story.

Season one through three had plenty of opportunity for me too incorporate the Ashen One and Firekeeper without encroaching on team RWBY and JNPR's character development. But now, after season four, five, and six, I'm not seeing or feeling that opportunity anywhere. I honestly can't see how I can continue this story in those season's without stunting RWBY and JNR (R.I.P. Pyrrha *tears* ) growth into who they're meant to be. And if any of you are writers yourselves, then you know that if you try to force a story, it won't turn out very good.

So with that said, I'm sorry to say that this story will be ending after volume three. Now before you all start throwing stones, I just want you to know a couple things. Firstly, we're still a couple chapters away from the prophesied end (And with another twist or two I don't think you guys will see coming). Secondly, the story isn't necessarily going to be an "Ending", more like a "Too be continued". So that means that if I suddenly find inspiration again, then you can bet your butt that I'll continue this story. But that's only if I find plot inspiration.

I hope you guys aren't too upset, and I hope you all can find it within yourselves to forgive me. Anyways guys, again, I'm sorry for the delay, and I'll see you at the next update that HOPEFULLY isn't a year from now *shrug* …

Archangel Out