Chapter 58
The halls were so quiet that their steps echoed. The sound reverberated so much that it set Blake on edge. Why? Where is everyone?
There should have been guards here. She'd only taken a small team to Haven after all. Did something happen? She and Ilia had taken a long way around so someone could have gotten here first if they went directly. But why then was it so quiet? Surely someone should be here…
Her questions were answered soon enough when she arrived at the throne room. The doors were easy enough for her to push open, letting her and her friend into the mostly empty room. It was only mostly, however.
Sat atop her throne was one of her closest allies, her Lieutenant. At his side stood Yuma, a cruel smirk on his face.
"Lieutenant?"
"Belladonna… finally made it back huh? Took you long enough." The large man grumbled, lazing across the throne. His massive chainsaw was next to him, leaning against the ornate chair.
"What is the meaning of this?" Blake asked, immediately preparing herself for the worst.
"Hmph. The meaning is simple really." He pulled himself up into a more regal position, an air of smugness and superiority came off of him in waves. "We decided you aren't suited to leadership and have voted to depose you."
As he spoke doors within the room opened and a dozen guards entered, spears at the ready and pointed squarely towards Blake and Ilia. They were surrounded quickly.
"Why?" Blake asked, buying time for her to think of a way to escape. We can break through these guys easily. The problem is taking them on as well as Yuma and the Lieutenant.
"Simple. You have failed to bring the White Fang into a new age. In Vale, you focused more on your Ex than on securing victory for us. You allied with some humans but failed to get anything out of it! They could have aided in taking down Taurus but you decided to leave it to your weakling friend. Who you then prioritized over anyone else! Did you even think about what was best for the White Fang? Of course, you didn't! You chose to save a weak spy over leaders!"
He stood now, arms waving angrily. "You didn't consider that some factions in the White Fang would dislike you! You made no efforts to appease them or win their trust! Sienna, Ghira and even Taurus could manage that much! You're weak and useless. But don't worry, under my leadership, the White Fang shall rise to the top!"
Blake swallowed. "So that's it. You just want to be in charge!"
"Ha! Not really no. I'm just the best suited to it."
Yuma scoffed. "Supreme Leader Bane, at the very least, understands what he should be doing. You failed at that consistently. Surrender and we'll treat you well."
"Or fight back. I'm fine with killing you!" Bane reached over and grabbed his chainsaw. "Get her!"
The guards rushed forward. Blake snarled, drew Gambol Shroud and fired on those closest to her. They backed up slightly to avoid getting hit too badly, which bought her time to change her weapon into its kusarigama form. Gambol Shroud sang as it lashed out, striking those near her and throwing them back.
"Ilia! Door!" She shouted out the command as she twisted, flinging her weapon out behind her to strike down the pair of guards standing near the door. They shrieked as the blade cut into them.
Ilia's whip lashed out, wrapping around one of the door handles and then she pulled. The door opened just enough for the pair to rush through. Blake hopped into the air and spun, her blade slashing into the dozen guards around them and sending them all to the ground. She then dashed through the door. Ilia slammed it shut and then they ran
"Blake! What are we going to do!?" Ilia asked, her voice filled with worry.
"For now? Run. Retreat. We need to escape. A proper plan can come later but for now… the White Fang is lost to us."
The halls were loud now as the thunder from hundreds of feet echoed through its walls. Bane had gathered most of their forces to take her down. She respected that but also wished he hadn't. They'll have blocked the main doors by now, but that means they'll expect us to go through one of the sides where an ambush will be waiting. Instead, we'll bust through the front!
Blake left clones behind as they went, all filled with a combination of Burn and Combustion Dust. The same kind of bomb she'd used against Adam at Beacon. She'd wanted to wait and use it against Adam again, but Ilia had been too close at Haven and this was too big a threat to hold anything back. The explosions that followed rocked the building and the people within to their core.
Soon enough the front doors came into view, guarded by another dozen grunts. Blake rushed forward, katana and cleaver ready for action.
"She's here!"
"Get her!"
"Aarrrgghhh!" They yelled at her and then screamed as she cut into them. She was too fast for them and easily flipped over their weapons to carve her own into their backs. Ilia came in moments later and shocked the rest of them into unconsciousness.
They pushed open the doors and escaped into the Mistrilian wilderness. They ran and ran and ran for a few hours before finally taking a rest.
"Blake… w-what are we gonna do?" Ilia sounded scared. I can't blame her. Blake bit her lower lip.
"They think we can't do anything. That we're too weak to succeed. Maybe I'm not the best leader, but I'm not weak."
"You want to prove it to them?"
"Yes. And I know just how to do it."
"You want to go after Adam, don't you?" Ilia's eyes had tears in them. Blake sighed and pulled the girl into a hug.
"I do. If I can beat him I'll show them all."
"Is that really what you want?"
"..." Blake couldn't answer. How could she tell her loyal friend that she really wanted to prove Adam wrong? To show him that she was right? She knew what Ilia would say. What they would all say.
"You've already tried and failed. Just give up on him." But I can't. He left me. Abandoned me. For a school! For some human brats! For a Schnee! I have to do something!
I have to know that I meant something to him…
Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap.
Cinder's foot tapped relentlessly against the floor of their airship. Her clawed hand wriggled, energised by her anger, annoyance and fear. Emerald looked at her worriedly, but Mercury just glared. He looked like a mess. His clothing was burnt and blackened whilst his hair had been singed. He looked like he'd just come out of a house fire. Hazel was flying, leaving the trio alone in the back.
I failed. Damn it all! Salem's punishment is going to be… she didn't want to think about it really. The Queen of the Grimm was harsh in her punishments and Cinder had failed spectacularly this time. Her punishment would be severe.
Instead, she pushed herself to think about how much she despised those children. Rose, with those damned eyes, and Taurus, who had denied her, forgotten her and then destroyed all chances of victory. I will slaughter Taurus and gift Rose to Salem! Then she'll forgive me! Surely she will!
Hours passed as she stewed in hatred until finally, they arrived. Tyrian stood waiting for them, a creepily gleeful smirk on his face.
"Ohhh! I don't see any Relic on you. Did you fail?" He asked, the smile never leaving his face. They ignored him however and entered the keep. Tyrian giggled as he followed.
Soon enough they entered Salem's meeting room. Tyrian brushed past to stand on the right, whilst Watts was already there on the left. Same looked between them all, her face already displeased.
"You have returned. Without the Relic I see. Explain."
Hazel swallowed and stepped forward. "It was my fault. I-" He was cut off by Imp-like arms that spawned from the floor. They grabbed him and pulled him to the floor, their grip crushing.
"I doubt it was your fault, Hazel. You weren't in charge of this mission after all. Cinder. Explain." Red eyes glared into her soul.
"... They were ready for us. They lied to Lionheart and had more than expected. The White Fang also managed to let slip the plan, causing forces from Menagerie to arrive. The Fang failed and our enemies had reinforcements. I had no chance to claim the Relic or Spring Maiden."
"I see." Salem stood and made her way around the table to stand before Cinder. "Now pray tell, whose fault was this failure."
"The childr-" She couldn't finish as more arms appeared and she followed Hazel to the ground. Cinder bit back a scream.
Salem sighed. "You, dear child. Who's at fault for this failure?" Her voice sounded kind but slightly below the surface was a world's worth of malice.
Emerald began to stutter before finally relenting. "C-cinder!"
"I see. Good girl." Salem replied, almost cooing as she praised Emerald. The arms twisted, pulling Cinder's face up so that she could see Salem. "At Beacon, you succeeded, despite your injuries. However now… you have failed. Tell me why."
"I…" Cinder felt fear build within her. It was frightening. She hated it. Hated it more than she hated Rose or Taurus. Her slave owner appeared in her mind. She had pushed her down through fear. She despised that feeling. "To gain Raven's support I needed to kill Qrow. Lionheart told me there were only four children with him. But there were more when we arrived. I had thought we could take Qrow and four brats."
"And how many more were there?"
"Four more. And one was… one of them was Ozpin."
"Already!?" Watts exclaimed.
Silence fell. Salem stood still, her face blank. But then they felt it. Rage. It built up, filling the entire room. The summoned arms faded. The windows began to crack. Cinder stood and backed up.
Nobody said anything as they left. The moment the doors closed they heard the smashing of glass and Salem's anger-fueled scream.
"OOZZZPIIIN!"
Late at night, a few days after the White Fang attack, a boy entered the closed-off academy called Haven. He didn't move like a child, however. He moved like a man who had lived far too many years to be in such a small body.
The few police around never noticed him. He was far too silent. He easily picked the locks and made his way towards the Headmasters office.
Almost there.
Ozpin was alone now. Oscar had fallen asleep. He had no idea that Ozpin could control his body whilst he slumbered. It wasn't something the old wizard liked to do, nor was it easy, but he was desperate. Somehow Leo could communicate with Salem and Ozpin needed to figure out how, despite the drain it had on his mind. It took far too much effort to keep Oscar asleep, so if combat truly began Ozpin would need to bite the bullet and let the boy wake up, no matter the consequences.
However, he was keeping Oscar in the dark for a simple reason.
He wasn't ready to learn everything yet, and whatever Leo had used to speak to the Grimm Queen may still be working. Ozpin might end up conversing with Salem. If she said anything that Oscar wasn't ready for…
It could destroy the entire group.
It pained him, having to hide things from Oscar. One day Oscar would know about this, but it wouldn't be the same Oscar. He would feel both sides at once. The need for such an action, as well as the feelings of betrayal it caused.
This life was a horrid one. He called it a curse for good reason.
He arrived in the office and looked around. After an hour of searching, he found a secret door, hidden in a bookcase. Really Leo? This is far too simple to hide such a thing.
He walked down the long hall into a small, circular chamber. There floated a jellyfish-like Grimm with an orb for a head. Ozpin approached carefully, cane at the ready. The orb was filled with a dark mist, however it soon began to clear. Within the Grimm's head was a vision of Salem. She was enraged though she hid it well.
"Hello?" Ozpin asked, trying to pretend to be an inquisitive boy.
"Ozpin." Salem replied with a snarl.
"Well, it seems that Cinder has returned already. It's been some time since we last saw each other." Ozpin replied, switching to his normal cadence.
"Do not play games with me, Ozpin! You've returned far faster than usual. What are you playing at?" Salem slammed a fist against an unseen table.
"Hm. Normally I have time to wait and prepare but you're very active these days. As much as I hate to do this," He gestured to himself, "I need to follow suit."
"And sacrifice more children." She smiled cruelly.
He cut that smile down within moments, however. "You do not have the moral high ground here, Salem. Those children only die because you make it so. You could surrender, you know. Nobody else would have to die."
"And give you and those foul Gods the satisfaction of victory? Never. I shall win this war of ours."
"I see. Then we have no more to discuss." Ozpin, with speed fast enough to be a blur to most people, struck with his cane. The force collapsed the Grimm's head, letting smoke and mist rise into the air. "We'll see each other again, Salem."
Every encounter hurt him. The pain was too much to bear sometimes. But he had a responsibility. Salem was only this way because of him. I have to stop her. He thought with a grimace.
Sometimes he realised just how alike he and Adam could be.
A/N: Another aftermath chapter. Ozpin deals with Leo's secret walkie-talkie whilst controlling Oscar's body while the boy sleeps. I figured it's something he can do considering he can forcibly take over if the need arises. Though keeping Oscar asleep during it takes far too much effort. So no secret vigilante stuff or anything. It's also something he just hates using. It's only because Salem might bring up things like say, Ozma, that Oz feels the need. Meanwhile, Cinder is punished though she gets out for the moment thanks to Salem's rage at hearing Oz is already back. She obviously thought they'd have more time before they needed to worry. Makes me wonder if there is something else about the whole reincarnation thing that we haven't heard about yet. It's plausible, though I suspect it's more that Oz likes to take the time to acclimate and prepare his next self.
And of course, we have Blake's consequences. In many ways, she's a victim. Of course, she isn't innocent, but still. She is essentially an abuse victim that became abusive and is now trying to get her abusive ex, who has changed his ways and become better, to get back together with her. She became this way because of Adam, making her a victim even if she does terrible things. But really, that doesn't excuse her actions. It makes it tragic, not better.
Anyway, I hope you all enjoyed and I'll see you next time!