The Times of Vacuo:
The Ultimus-Mistral Alliance announces mobilization of their armed forces in response to Atlas' calls for war
The alliance between The Unholy Ultimus Empire and the Kingdom of Mistral, which has not yet been formally named, announced a massive mobilization effort in preparation for the inevitable declaration of war by Atlas. Less than an hour ago, General Ironwood ordered his own mobilization efforts to "squash" the "rising Anti-Atlas alliance" and return stability to Remnant. Other than the orders for mobilization, neither the Emperor nor the leader of Kingdom of Mistral had given any other comment.
The Rising Heat:
'Atlas made a mistake, and the blood of [Atlas'] people will be their atonement', the Emperor declares in a conference'
Half an hour after the order to mobilize the forces of the Unholy Ultimus Empire and the Kingdom of Mistral, the Emperor and the, recently self-appointed, Queen of Kingdom of Mistral gathered the press for a joint press conference in the capital of the Kingdom of Mistral. While the Queen of Mistral merely announced her displeasure at the coming conflict, and her cooperation in the joint military campaign between their alliance, one that the Emperor has now named 'The Inexorable', to defend themselves against "the regrettable choice of an action that Atlas so foolishly had taken", the Emperor was harsher with her words. The Emperor declared that she was always right about The Great Threat up North and warned the Kingdom of Atlas of the price they would pay for this act of aggression.
Just Vacuo News:
The Emperor warns Vale that cooperation with Atlas will be seen as an act of war against the Inexorable, denounces the legitimacy of Menagerie
In response to a question from a reporter about how this conflict would affect their relationship with Vale, the Emperor responded as such:
"We cannot allow ourselves to be open to a surprise attack from the east. Atlas must not be allowed to resupply, or otherwise be aided, by Kingdom of Vale. Any and all cooperation in aiding Atlas' war effort against the Inexorable will be met with Military action and an establishment of Military Junta in the occupied areas. I urge Vale to consider whether it is worth to sate their greed with the blood of their people. Similarly, Kingdom of Mistral cannot be threatened by its own threat from the south. Should the so-called Kingdom of Menagerie, no more than a product of a treaty of Vytal, allow itself to aid the Atlesian Menace, or otherwise attempt to threaten the Kingdom of Mistral, no protections of the Great War shall save them from our fury. Do not allow yourselves to be tied to the losing side. The continent was a reward to the people of Faunus for their mistreatment. Do not dare to spit at the act of kindness we have bestowed upon you."
The Times of Vacuo:
Menagerie submits, as Kingdom of Vale calls for peace between the Inexorable and Kingdom of Atlas
Five hours after the Young Emperor's speech about Menagerie, the Young Emperor met the leader of Menagerie and signed the Treaty of Kua Kuana which stipulated that Menagerie would not aid the Kingdom of Atlas and would stay neutral in the war, and in exchange the Unholy Ultimus Empire would place Menagerie under its protection. Mere ten minutes after the treaty was signed, a small detachment of the Unholy Ultimus Empire's army had arrived in Menagerie to protect it. There is much about this story that is still not known. Five hours is not nearly enough to reach Kua Kuana from Ultimus. That the Young Emperor managed to make a nine hour journey in five hours implies that either the Unholy Ultimus Empire has discovered a faster method of travel, or more likely, the Young Emperor was in Kingdom of Mistral at the time and sailed from there. One thing that raised even greater questions was how the army made it there in such a short of a time. Reports from Kingdoms of Mistral and Menagerie confirm that no Military presence was present from the Unholy Ultimus Empire before the signing of the treaty. Other experts focused more on the event, however, and say that it is likely that Menagerie made a deal with the Devil as they are unlikely to be anything more than a puppet state for the Unholy Ultimus Empire given their Military presence there.
The Young Emperor praised the leader of Menagerie for his quick thinking in ensuring the safety and longevity of his people, and she promised that any and all citizens of Menagerie will be treated no worse than her army would treat her own citizens. Some experts took this to be a subtle reminder that Menagerie was basically annexed as the Emperor held complete authority to make the army do whatever she wished to her citizens.
Shortly after the Treaty of Kua Kuana was signed, Kingdom of Vale urged deescalation between Kingdom of Atlas and the Inexorable and suggested holding a mediation conference in the neutral lands of Vale and more specifically in Beacon Academy where Headmaster Ozpin would call back all his expert Huntsmen to be on standby to help to stop any violent confrontation if the conference turns heated.
The Rising Heat:
Kingdom of Atlas accepts an invitation from Kingdom of Vale.
Kingdom of Atlas accepted a "final attempt at diplomacy" and warned that although it considered the conference "futile" it would still attempt to resolve the issues before "the battlefield determines which one of us was in the right". Kingdom of Vale praised Kingdom of Atlas for its commitment to diplomacy, and urged the Inexorable to join the conference as well to "avoid any needless bloodshed from disagreements".
Just Vacuo News:
Inexorable accepts the invitation from the Kingdom of Vale, Conference set for 1 pm tomorrow. Press not allowed
Leaders of the Inexorable alliance announced a joint statement "graciously" accepting the offer of mediation from Kingdom of Vale. The Valean Post reports that the four leaders have agreed to attend the conference tomorrow at 1 pm. The press was forbidden to attend "in order to best secure a diplomatic resolution without fear of losing face should the press report entirety of the conference" Ozpin said speaking on behalf of all parties.
It was 16th of August 1 pm as Yang landed at Beacon and disembarked her Royal Palanquin donned in her ever present Overlord's armor. Ever since she promoted herself to a position of an Emperor, she had commissioned a most beautiful and fancy dress to use when she wanted to look pretty rather than intimidating, or just when she got tired of wearing her armor all the time, but sadly the dress was still being made.
Yang began walking towards the impressive Beacon Tower in which their meeting was to take place, in the office of the Headmaster Ozpin. She was followed by her two companions, her apprentice Finster Wolf, and her mother, the feared bandit Raven Branwen. Yang was not going to go into a meeting of the most powerful Huntsmen, surrounded by far more of other Huntsmen than she was comfortable with, without a bodyguard that she trusted to wipe the floor with any opponent. Raven was very reluctant to join, apparently she wasn't fond of the idea of meeting her brother and Ozpin again, but in the end Yang managed to persuade her to join. Raven said that she wanted 'to see the chaos unfold anyway', but Yang rather suspected that this was Raven's rare moments of care. On the other hand, Finster was more than happy to join, and seemed far too excited for this meeting.
If there was one thing she had to agree with Ironwood was that this meeting indeed was likely very futile. She could not see them coming to any sort of an agreement. That aside, she hadn't yet prepared for the possibility that in the event of her war with Kingdom of Atlas, and Ironwood's subsequent death, that the Air Fleet of Atlas would not surrender and instead destroy her Empire from above. There wasn't any time to even begin building her naval fleet! For now she much rather this conflict end somehow. It did serve to let her speed up her recruitment efforts, and she even managed to annex Menagerie, so this disaster wasn't completely useless.
Soon enough her group had made their way to the tower, which also served as CCST tower, and rode the elevator to Ozpin's office. While the elevator was taking them upwards, she turned to look at Raven.
"Please behave", she asked her, almost pleading.
Raven smirked at her, clearly finding this amusing.
"No promises", she said instead.
Finster furrowed his eyebrows.
"Why do you tolerate that kind of disobedience, Master?", he asked curious. Even he, highest ranking in her Empire, was expected to obey her.
Raven raised an eyebrow.
"Do you seriously demand that everyone call you 'Master' like your Minions do?", she asked.
Yang shook her head.
"Only my apprentice. The rest must refer to me by my other titles.", she answered.
"Seems snobbish to me", Raven commented.
"I am better than other people", Yang insisted, "and my apprentice is better than most by the virtue of being mine-"
"Very modest", Raven commented, which Yang ignored and continued like nothing was said, "-and you are better than most as well, and I doubt you disagree"
Raven shook her head.
"I don't. I just like messing with you"
"Again, why do you allow that, Master?", Finster inquired confused.
"She's my mother", Yang said simply as an explanation"
"Well, that's the fourth family member I didn't know you had", he said.
"And the last one. I don't have any other family."
As Finster was about to say something else, they heard a 'ping' sound that signified that they have arrived to their destination.
Yang confidently stepped into the office, her eyes taking in all its occupants, not all of whom she recognized.
"Welcome, Yang", Ozpin said warmly, "I do hope you don't mind the familiarity"
Yang shook her head wordlessly letting him know she wasn't offended.
"The others arrived a bit early, I'm afraid, but don't worry, you're just in time.", he continued.
As Yang took a seat near Ozpin's table, where other important members of this conference were also sitting at, her companions followed her out of the elevator. Almost like rehearsed, they moved smoothly to stand beside her, with her apprentice to her right, and her mother on her left.
"Raven?", came a surprised call from Qrow, who was standing to the right of Ozpin.
"I must agree, I certainly did not expect to see you here", Ozpin concurred.
"I won't pretend it's a pleasure to see either one of you", Raven said in lieu of an actual answer.
Qrow pretended to be hurt for a moment, while Ozpin merrily chuckled.
"You certainly didn't change from when I last saw you", he commented.
"I'll take that as a compliment".
"As pleasant as I can only assume this reunion is", Malachite started with sarcasm clear in her voice, "I do believe we have gathered here for a reason."
Ozpin nodded.
"That is true. Then perhaps we should start out with introductions? Even when everyone knows each other I often find that it starts the talks in a more pleasant mood"
Yang mentally shrugged and decided to humor their mediator.
"I am Yang de Ultimus, first of my name. I am the Emperor of the Unholy Ultimus Empire, and protectorate of Kingdom of Menagerie. I am the Sixth Overlord, as true to my purpose as all those before me.", she said as an introduction. She gestured to her right, "This here is my loyal apprentice, Finster Wolf", she then gestured to the left, "and this is Raven Branwen, Huntress of Vale."
Raven raised an eyebrow.
"Out of all the ways you could have chosen to introduce me, you chose that?"
"You did graduate Beacon, didn't you?", Yang asked instead.
Raven snorted.
"Of course I did", she confirmed, "But I haven't been a Huntress for about as long as you have been alive"
Yang smiled.
"I thought it best to introduce you as politely as possible."
Raven still seemed a bit offended as being introduced as a Huntress but didn't see anything more.
"I suppose it is my turn, then.", Malachite said, "I am Miss Malachite, the Queen of Mistral. The man standing next to me is my bodyguard".
It seemed that malachite preferred her introduction to be short and to the point.
"James Ironwood", Ironwood introduced himself, "I won't bother trying to impress any of you with my titles. The woman to the left of me is Winter Schnee. Something of a protege of mine. The man to my right is Specialist Holzkohle."
Upon hearing the name 'Winter Schnee' Yang's eyes widened a bit and she turned to Finster and whispered "Do you think her joining Atlas Military was the unpleasantry that Jacques mentioned?" to which Finster nodded in agreement.
"And I suppose now it's my time now", Ozpin remarked, "I am Ozpin, Headmaster of Beacon, a position I am most proud of. To the right of me is, of course, Qrow Branwen"
Malachite turned to look at Yang.
"I suppose the two are related?", she asked.
"Yeah, but their relationship with one another is terrible."
"I would prefer if we got to the reason we are here", Ironwood said.
"I'm afraid I must disagree, my friend", said Ozpin, "I think it would be far more worthwhile, although a bit longer, to start instead somewhere else. I always found it helpful to start at one's goals. It clears up where there is a possibility of compromise without immediately spoiling the mood with heavy demands and accusations"
"Then let me start with mine.", Ironwood started, "I have always promised to defend Kingdom of Atlas, from those who would see it destroyed. No matter the cost. Today I am no different. The Kingdom of Vacuo's death, I tolerated, although haunted by thoughts that I would come to regret it. The deals with Schnees, I let go too. It was just business, after all. Maybe we could still salvage it, come to some sort of compromise. Maybe if I didn't interfere, I thought, the rearmament would soothe the fears of our threat. The increase in Grimm attacks my Kingdom shouldered on. The rising unrest we survived. But now our enemies have killed another one of our friends and allies, and maybe that too, and the deaths of people in the Argus' base, maybe I could have tolerated just barely. But the alliance was a sign that the lust of the self-proclaimed Emperor was not satisfied. She would not stop with just Kingdoms of Vacuo and Mistral. I wowed to stop it before it got worse. I was then proven right. And just like that I got news that Menagerie was annexed."
"That's a bit more than just a goal", Yang mumbled, "and besides, how did you know about the Schnee stuff?"
"Do you take me for an imbecile?", Ironwood asked outraged at the question, "You barge into my Kingdom, and the first place you go to, on foot mind you, up the mountain leading up to the Schnee Manor. I can put two and two together"
"That doesn't seem very smart of you, Yang", Raven commented.
Yang looked at her with a glare.
"You are on my side. Act like it", she demanded.
Raven roiled her eyes, but shut up.
"Let me summarize", Ozpin said, "Your goal then, as always, is to protect Kingdom of Atlas?"
"I care for all of Remnant and despise all of its enemies even if I am more fond of Atlas than others", Ironwood answered, "but yes, rhat is my goal."
"That is a very noble goal", Ozpin said in a contemplative tone, before turning to look at Yang, "And you...Forgive me for changing the topic somewhat. You said you were the Sixth Overlord?"
"I don't see how that's relevant", Ironwood started, before he was interrupted by Ozpin's "Humor me, my friend".
"I must admit I am curious as well", Malachite said, "I do not suppose it is a mere title of grandiose".
Yang nodded to Ozpin's question.
"I am the Sixth Overlord, yes", she confirmed, "Why? Does it have any meaning to you?"
"Then the rare stories from the west about some hellish goblins serving you are true then?", he instead inquired, "Minions, I believe they are called?"
Yang nodded again.
"I do command several of the Minion tribes.", she confirmed.
"Where are you going with this, Ozpin?", Ironwood asked.
Ozpin thought for a while in a contemplative pose before choosing to address Yang.
"Indeed, the title means something to me, although I'll admit to not hearing it in about thirty odd years."
"Since the death of the Fifth", Yang said.
"You are very much correct.", he said before turning to answer Ironwood, "As you are no doubt aware, it is important to know the other side". When Ironwood nodded, Ozpin continued, "And I do think that I have gotten a much better idea of who Yang is as a person from this small talk alone"
"That was fast!", Yang thought. She didn't think she let anything important slip, but the radiating Light Energy from the item below Beacon, one like the sword she claimed below Shade and the lamp she got from below Haven -and wasn't it a huge shock to learn that a Spring Maiden like her mom could open one of those impassible doors- was overwhelming her senses and giving her a big headache. Was she closer to the item she might have even felt nausea. As is, she only felt blinded by the Light overwhelming her senses.
"And who am I?", Yang asked Ozpin.
"That entirely depends on how committed you are in following the path of your predecessors."
"It is my destiny", Yang declared.
"Not many proclaim their destiny is Evil", Ozpin said, "I wonder how far have you walked along that path."
"Evil?", Ironwood asked, "So I was right then!".
He then grew a worried look then.
"But...are they working together then?", he mussed to himself to Yang's confusion.
Ozpin chuckled.
"I don't believe so. They would sooner fight one another for dominance than work for one another. And I don't believe their goals match at all."
"Why the hell are all of you Headmasters so damn vague?", Yang said angrily, "Would it kill you to be more specific?"
"The Headmasters exist in a conspiracy, Yang", Raven explained taking some pity on her, "Secrecy is a must to prevent a leak of information."
Yang turned to look at her.
"But you do know, don't you?", she said in an accusing tone, "I remember what you said yesterday back in Mistral! You implied you knew more than you let on!"
"I do.", Raven confirmed, "Maybe I'll even tell you one day."
"Tell me now!", Yang demanded, anger leaking into her eyes.
Raven let out an amused laugh.
"Oh, but I do enjoy watching you frustrate yourself because of your lack of knowledge.", Raven said, and then her tone grew serious, "And besides, the knowledge will be the death of you. Impress me more, show me that you can survive the danger that information will bring, and I will share the secrets of their grand conspiracy"
Yang was clearly displeased, and her red, anger-filled, eyes clearly showed it, but she reverted her attention to the other occupants of the room.
"I must concur with Yang", Melachite said, "I am now leader of my Kingdom, and the Headmaster like you two. I believe I have a need to know that information"
"Your legitimacy is in question, and that is partly why we are here", Ironwood said, "That aside, secrets need trust. And I think I speak for the both of us when I say that we don't trust you"
Yang suddenly smiled as she got an idea.
"But you two weren't the only ones in on the secret, were you? Raven aside, of course", she said.
It seems that Raven caught up with Yang's train of thought faster than anyone else.
"Lionheart", she said simply.
Yang nodded with a smile.
"It seems I will learn the secret one way or another", she said smugly.
Raven frowned, before it turned into a small proud smile.
"Fine, then", Raven said, "I'll tell you what I learned while I was part of this conspiracy"
"Raven", Qrow said warningly.
"I would hope you'd reconsider", Ozpin said in a not-all-too-bothered tone.
"Ozpin, Ironwood, Theodore, Lionheart, Qrow, Tai, Summer, and me, were the members of this conspiracy. The Headmasters were introduced before us. Me, Tai, Summer, and Qrow, were darling-favorites of Ozpin, and soon enough he brought us in.", Raven started to explain.
Qrow tensed, as did Ironwood, and they started to draw their weapons. The multiple Valeasean Hunstmen also drew their weapons, although if it was to stop the conflict or to try to defend Ozpin it wasn't clear.
"Stop", Ozpin commanded in an authoritative tone, and like that everyone stopped in the middle of drawing their weapons. He looked at Raven.
"Do you really think this is wise?", he asked, "Do you truly hate me so much? Or do you trust them as deeply as I once trusted you?"
Raven laughed, and truly, it was a beautiful upbeat laughter.
"Trust?", she said amused, "In here I trust Yang the most, and the only thing I trust her to do is make an incredibly poorly thought out decision"
"Hey!", Yang protested, which Raven ignored.
"I don't care much, if at all, for Malachite, and I couldn't care less about this bunch of useless Huntsmen, nor Yang's little apprentice", Raven went on to say, "However, all that aside, she is...impressive. She has determination, strength, and talent, and all of that she has in spades. In a matter of a few weeks she had undone all that we have worked for decades to maintain."
Yang looked away and quickly whipped away the tears that were starting to form in her eyes. Her mom was complimenting her! And even more, it sounded like she was really proud of her!
"I don't care at all about the 'good fight' you lot are fighting.", Raven continued, "But let's do a headcount shall we? Out of eight co-conspirators, two are dead, two more loyal to Yang than to you, one who has lost all interest in the conspiracy and lives his life simply as a teacher and a father, and three remaining. That's more than 60% of us who in one way or another have left the 'good fight'. I can promise you this, if this devolves into a conflict between you, Yang has a plan to take down Atlas. It is probably the most insane and stupid plan anyone has ever conceived, and the worst part is, I guarantee that like her other plans it will work."
"Was this a belated birthday gift?", Yang wondered. This amount of praise from Raven were rare. It made her feel warm and fuzzy inside.
"That'd bring the percentage to 75%. And if I can be convinced to take a stab at my brother, it rises up to 90%, or in other words only Ozpin remaining. I see now that I can't keep the knowledge from her. She has come this far, and perhaps it is time for me to place my bets for now."
"To me that sounds like you are placing quite a bit trust in her", Ozpin said with a smile.
"Hardly. But this conspiracy is falling apart at the edges, and I have no loyalty for any of you. If she thinks she's ready to take on more than even I can handle, I won't stop her, especially when I have very little options that I would bother with"
"And was that even a warning there?", Ozpin asked, "Are you certain you aren't growing soft again?"
"Would you like me to pillage Vale to prove my vileness?", Raven asked
Ozpin shook his head.
"That won't be necessary", he said at he turned to look at Malachite, "What about her?"
"You've got your conspirators, and she has her own.", Raven answered.
NEW VERSION
"I may be yet convinced that Yang should be let into to the secret, but I object to Melachite's inclusion. Ironwood's concerns are genuine and valid indeed", Ozpin disagreed with Raven.
"And I must object to not being included", Malachite countered, "I have as much right to know it as you all do."
Ironwood, Malachite, and when needed, Ozpin, argued about the issue for a few more minutes before it was agreed to put the issue aside for the end of the mediation conference.
"This Overlord business, then", Malachite started, "clearly it means something to you Ozpin, and to you too, Yang. Would you two care to elaborate?"
"I am somewhat interested as well", Ironwood had to begrudgingly admit.
"You know what?", Yang said with a sudden realization, "It is suspicious that you know about us at all. Very few do"
Ozpin chuckled in a good-natured way.
"Indeed.", he agreed, "There's a shocking lack of information about that, isn't there?"
"And why is that?", Malachite asked.
"We hurry to forget nightmares when we wake", Ozpin vaguely explained, "and we have been awake for a very good while"
Both Malachite and Yang seemed incredibly confused by the meaning of the words, although, seemingly Raven and Iroonwood caught whatever deeper meaning, if any, was behind his words.
"What are they then?", Ironwood asked instead.
Ozpin gestured to Yang.
"Why don't we allow the living example of their being to explain? And, I believe, that will help you all understand her goals as well."
Yang thought about it for a bit then shrugged and started talking.
"I am the Sixth Overlord, as I've said before. We are...", she paused for a bit to think over her words, "ones who are destined for greatness. There is not a single Overlord who did not achieve greatness in all they sought to do. We are conquerors, and rulers, and in a way we are predisposed towards Evil. It is our destiny."
"Conquerors of what?", Ironwood asked.
"Everything for some. Something for others. Black Baron had been entirely satisfied with the Kingdom of Greenvale. Others, like the Second Overlord, conquered all of the world."
"And therein lies the conflict", Ozpin said, "and we must ask yourselves. Can you satisfy yourself with Vacuo alone?"
"Of course she can't!", Ironwood declared.
Yang gestured at Melachite.
"I believe she is proof that I am not above diplomacy. We are allies, and I don't want to overthrow her."
"I find this story hard to believe", Melachite said, "I would have heard, at least, something if that were true"
Yang smiled at her.
"Where we walk, we leave a blight on history. History recoils from us, and hurries to forget us. It takes time, but it happens. Once, there was no one in Greenvale who dared to forget the Black Baron. Many years after his death, they still feared him. Now, he is not even a faint memory in the heads of humanity. The Second Overlord brought a reign of terror on all living in Remnant, and eventually, they united to attempt to destroy him. Despite the horrors of his rule, no one remembers him anymore. Nor do they remember the Third, who succeeded the Second in all things."
"I don't believe you", Malachite honestly said,
"I would, if I was you", Finster suggested, "She can prove it all...", a haunted look came onto his face, "and you really don't want that"
"What did she show you?", Raven asked curiously, "What she really is?"
"She showed that too", Finster confirmed, before shaking his head, "I'd rather not talk about it"
Raven shrugged, and left the matter be.
"So, you would be satisfied with only Vacuo?", Ozpin said, redirecting the talks back towards the topic.
"Satisfied? No", Yang admitted, "I don't, as Ironwood put it, 'lust' for land. I see a lot of problems with the world, but I think I can change the world for the better, if only it bows to my will. I said this once to the Schnees and I will say it again, I aim to rule humanity, unite it, strengthen it, rid it of it's terrible poison, and make us stand on top of this New World, where even Grimm cannot threaten us. All that said, like I said, I am willing to try diplomacy to those like-minded, or with someone I respect"
"Then the question turns back to us again.", Ozpin said, "Do we trust that you would keep true to your word? That in a moment of frustration you would not seek to abandon diplomacy for force?"
Yang looked at him increasingly.
"Ironwood's the one who chose force!", she accused.
"We can't trust her", Ironwood said firmly, "and neither can we trust Malachite. That's my final stance"
"Then we wasted our time here", Malachite concluded, "I do hope we get a safe passage out of this Kingdom before the truce reigns null".
"Wait, wait", Qrow urged, "Look, I won't lie and say I'm proud of the things she did. Theodore was my friend too. But don't you think we are acting to hasty?"
Ironwood shook his head.
"I fear we did not act hasty enough.", he then sighed, "I don't think it's a secret to anyone that I don't really like you, Qrow, and that you don't really like me. But, please trust me. I am doing what's best for Remnant. We all swore an oath. Don't betray it like your sister."
Qrow looked deeply uncomfortable with the situation, and turned to look to Ozpin for guidance.
"Then, one more question, Yang, if I may?", Ozpin said and continued after a nod, "Which one of the Overlords do you favor the most?"
"The Third", Yang said without hesitation.
Ozpin's face grew dark and somberly said to Ironwood "I fear you are right, my friend. We can't take that risk."
Qrow looked like he wanted to scream, or maybe cry, but he hardened his face, and looked at Yang, his face betraying nothing even as his eyes showed clear sorrow.
"I'm sorry, Yang"
The piercing pain in her heart was hidden by a flash of anger, stronger than she had ever felt before.
"Don't you dare do this, Uncle.", Yang threatened, voice full with raw emotion, and just for a moment everything collapsed and in a soft and weak pleading voice she said, "Please"
"I'm sorry", he repeated, his voice full of regret, "I'm sorry. Please believe me when I say that I wouldn't do this if I thought there was any other way. But we can't lose our hold. Not now. All of Humanity is at risk. I'm so so sorry. I failed you."
Yang drew out her weapon, and Ozpin's eyes trailed over it, as all the other Huntsmen in the room drew their weapons too, provoked by Yang's hostile action.
"Distressing", Ozpin commented to himself, his eyes still locked on Yang's sword, "Distressing indeed."
"Let us go now, Yang", Malachite said, "We should not waste the opportunity this small truce has allowed us, and leave while we still can. It would not be wise to fight them all at such a disadvantage"
Yang barely cared about Malachite's words, so full was she of raw anger.
"I don't care", she spat out in response, "One Huntsmen or hundred, I'll kill them all. Ozpin and Ironwood too. And then my treacherous uncle who lied to me all my life, who just signed a pact to kill me. I'll kill all of them."
Raven placed her hand on Yang's shoulders.
"You're letting your anger control you", she warned.
Her mother's touch served to calm her down for a few moments, but where anger had receded, the heartache filled its place. She couldn't bear the pain anymore, and let her anger coddle her once more.
"I'll take down, Ironwood, you take down Qrow, we both take down Ozpin. My forces and Malachite takes down the rest while we're busy", Yang ordered anger clear in her voice.
"Yang", Raven warned, "I understand what you're feeling, but you're not thinking rationally. Divide and Conquer, have you ever heard of that? You have enemies they can keep at bay, weakening both groups."
"No", Yang spat out, "This ends here and now. I'll just have to handle everything else by myself".
She heard voice of Gnarl in her head urging her to kill her biggest enemies here and now and, in her anger, she couldn't agree more.
She heard a sigh near her, and as she turned her head she saw Malachite stand up and begin to leave.
"Fight this pointless fight, if you wish. I will take my leave", Malachite said, gesturing to her bodyguard to follow her.
"More traitors", Yang mumbling to herself, angered but not surprised. She never took Malachite to be the loyal type. Ironic that she had warned Yang about the same in Roman.
And just as the fight was about to start, Ironwood got a call on his scroll. He answered the call, and his expression turned to shocked disbelief, before changing into into a grave expression.
"Atlas has fallen", he whispered.
There were gaps of surprise all around, before Ozpin cut them all off, and authoritatively demanded that Ironwood explained how it happened.
"I don't know", he admitted, "there's very little information available. All the robots and the air fleet just began to fire on our critical infrastructure and the rest of our army. I fear that, somehow, we've been hacked"
"Fuck!", Yang loudly exclaimed, "I should have thought of that!"
They turned to look at her, and Yang felt as if the shocked had forced her into a freezing calm.
"It's not your work then?", Qrow asked helpfully.
"I wish", Yang said, "but I don't have anyone who could do that. The best plan I had was a surprise invasion cleverly bypassing your army and air fleet"
"I believe her", Raven said, "Her plans are usually a lot more stupid."
"Hey!"
"That does line up with what she implied her plan was to the Schnees", her apprentice confirmed.
Yang walked up to Ironwood.
"Tell me", she demanded, "do you think this is the work of the enemies you had implied?"
"I hope not", Ironwood said with concern, "Victory this big...I can't even begin to describe how disastrous this would be"
"You are not an optimist", Qrow pointed out.
Ironwood nodded.
"As much as I am afraid to admit it, it is probably her work.", he confirmed, and from the looks on Qrow's and Ozpin's faces they agreed too.
"The Inexorable pledges its aid to liberate Atlas", Yang declared to the surprise of all those present.
"We do not!", Malachite protested.
Yang turned to glare at her.
"Whatever this enemy is, it is a bigger threat to us both. I couldn't do this, not with such beautiful ease. You couldn't do that. You couldn't be the Queen without me. That enemy will look at us next. We need to strike while they won't expect, and figure out just how to defend against them."
Malachite shook her head.
"This is no problem of mine."
Her anger resurfaced.
"You will obey me, Malachite", Yang demanded.
For a moment, Malachite hesitated, no doubt remembering the clash with Lionheart before her pride won out.
"I think not", she said, as she turned again to leave.
Her defiance, in moment of this importance, caused Yang to grow livid, a state of being that was becoming more and more of a constant companion.
Raven glanced at Yang, and it took one small look for Raven to understand what Yang was about to do next. She quickly glanced at Ozpin and gave him a fierce look that demanded he did not interfere. Despite how much Raven had hated Ozpin, they had once been very close, and he easily read her intent and nodded, and turned to whisper a command to both Ironwood and Qrow to not do anything.
All this Yang did not see, nor cared to sense even had her senses not been blinded by the power of the nearby item of the Brother Gods. She felt anger, sharp determination, and desperation to stop her enemies. Her life depended on Malachite's cooperation, and the lives of her people, and most importantly, the lives of her family who she loved greatly.
"You will obey me, Malachite!", Yang yelled out, as she raised her left hand and electricity raced from her fingertips to hit Malachite in the back.
Yang submerged in her mind, and Malachite had already lost. Yang felt incredible fear from her. Malachite knew what was happening, remembering what happened with Lionheart, and that fear was a weakness in her strong will, a hole of great proportions, that Yang could exploit. Yang's emotions fueled her ever-growing power, and Yang used that power to assault Malachite's will. Soon after, Yang withdrew from her mind and saw Malachite lying collapsed on the ground.
Looking up and slightly to the left, Yang saw Malachite's bodyguard with Raven's sword in his stomach fall to the ground, dead.
"You better not get used to me saving you", Raven warned, though while she obviously meant the warning it lacked any real bite.
Yang laughed, her laugh cruel and slightly maniacal, but full of unrestrained joy. Her eyes were glowing in brown light, not that any could see her eyes aside from Raven.
Yang energetically spun on her feet to face the others, face etched in a cruel smile, her glowing eyes full of joy. She heard and saw a gasp from Ironwood, frown from Ozpin, and even Qrow, who knew that she could change her eye color, looked uncomfortable.
"You're drunk", Ozpin commented, "and that display, I think, tells me all I need to know as to how far you have walked along your path"
"On power, you mean?", Yang said happily, "You don't know how hard it is to resist this feeling"
Yang shook her head and she looked a bit more concentrated.
"It will pass.", she confirmed, "I just will need some time to resist the effect it has on me."
"As... interesting as that display was for all of us, I don't see what it accomplished. We still don't have support of Mistral, and now we probably have less of a chance to have it", Ironwood commented with a frown.
Yang raised her left hand, and as she did Malachite slowly got up to her feet, before kneeling before Yang.
"How may I serve you, Master?", Malachite asked submissively, "What is your will?"
Yang smile grew larger, as she turned to address her new servant.
"The Inexorable offers its support to Atlas, right, Malachite?", Yang rhetorically asked.
Malachite's head nodded.
"It is as you command, Master. The Kingdom of Mistral shall offer full support in the liberation of Atlas"
"Wh...what was that?", Finster asked, clearly unnerved.
"My power knows no bounds, apprentice", Yang declared in lieu of an answer, "There is nothing I cannot do."
"Could you, please, just answer me, Master?", Finster said, not letting her vague answer be.
"Fine", she said and sighed, "I had hoped to keep my powers secret to the populace for a while longer, but I guess this was hardly subtle"
"You were never the height of subtlety, Master", Finster admitted.
"How dare you!?", Malachite uncharacteristically roared, "How dare you slander your Master like that?"
"I want my apprentice to be honest to me, Malachite", Yang informed her
"My apologies, Master", Malachite said with bow, "I did not mean to question your greatness"
"There is something called the 'Evil Presence Spell'. It is the inherent ability in an Overlord to dominate lesser creatures. Malachite's will was strong, maybe even too strong, but she knew exactly what this spell would do to her, and she feared it greatly. The fear was like a door to me into her will, and like that she was mine", Yang explained it to Finster.
"I am pleased to have helped you conquer me, Master", Malachite happily announced.
"So...", he started, clearly uncomfortable, "It was mind control?"
"I could not have her disobey me, not now.", Yang said, "If she wasn't willing to help when I needed her the most, then she was just as much of a traitor as I was warned that she would be."
Finster still looked uncomfortable, and Yang could sense renewed fear through her bond with him. Yang rolled her eyes at him, and patted him on the head.
"Don't worry about it.", she said, "You're my darling apprentice. I can tolerate some disobedience",
Truth be told, she didn't think she could force herself to summon the required willpower to attempt that spell on her apprentice. She liked him far too much, and he never even angered her before. She knew, of course, that saying that would not be really reassuring, so instead she said what she did.
He smiled at her, and nodded, before leaning over and whispering.
"The bond goes both ways, Master."
There was nothing more that he needed to say. Yang understood that when he calmed down he was able to sense her true intention.
Yang smiled with a proud smile. Back when she first got him he could only barely sense her emotions without blindly trying to grab hold of her senses. And now he seems to have progressed so much more.
She could sense something else as well. He was grateful.
"Why?", she wondered to herself, and the answer soon hit her. He was grateful that she attempted to reassure him. He was grateful that she cared.
Yang allowed the cruel smile on her face to turn into a pleasant one for a moment.
"Staring at one another like teenage lovers, are you?", Raven asked teasingly.
Yang turned to her with a frown.
"Do you have to always ruin the mood?"
"Do you even have to ask?", Raven retorted.
Yang angrily huffed, and turned around to face Ozpin, Ironwood, and Qrow again. She interrupted whatever they were about to say by pointing a finger at Ironwood.
"Make a plan.", she demanded, "You know best which critical areas need to be liberated first. Make plans for 4 attack groups, mine heading towards Alsius where the enemy command is likely to be."
"There's one priority that is above all others", Ironwood said in response, "Tell me, what do you know of Maidens?"
Yang's eyes widened slightly.
"That's their goal, then?", she asked.
"In all likelihood", Ozpin confirmed on Ironwoods behalf.
"Make the plan now, then. We haven't got much time", she demanded before pointing a finger at Ozpin, "Rally all Huntsmen, not just some of the best you have here". She turned to Malachite, "Same goes for you."
"As you command, Master", Malachite said with a bow.
"I'll gather my Minions, my apprentice will gather my army and Huntsmen. We meet here in half an hour and strike."
"It'll be too late", Qrow said, "It will take hours to get to Atlas."
Yang snapped her fingers and a Tower Gate appeared before her.
"Step on this and it will take you to Mistral.", Yang informed her servant, "If any refuse to join our crusade dispose of them. We can't afford weakness, not here, not now."
"Yang", Qrow said in a warning, but Yang seemingly ignored him, and snapped her fingers again to create another Tower Gate, and turned to address her apprentice.
"This will take you to Ultimus. I expect my people to obey the authority of my apprentice. Raven will accompany you."
"You command me now?", Raven asked, voice neither angry nor insulted, merely tinted with slight mocking humor.
Yang sharply turned to glare at her.
"You will obey me, Mother.", she slowly said, voice returning to its angry state, "We don't have the time for jokes."
Raven rolled her eyes.
"I'm so scared", she sarcastically said, but chose to do as Yang had said. The urgency demanded that, after all,
She turned back to the rest.
"I will teleport us to Atlas when we are ready. I'll need you to destroy the air fleet as soon as possible, or this will be a very bloody and costly liberation"
"Is that what stayed your hand then?", Ironwood asked.
Yang nodded.
"I wasn't sure if the air fleet would submit after your death. That's why my invasion plan was only last resort."
She then turned to look at Ozpin.
"If you can I'd be thankful if your men would not mention what happened here", before stepping on the Tower Gate and teleporting to her Castle.
Half an hour later they all teleported back to Ozpin's office and made their way to the Amphitheater for more space. Yang turned to address the Huntsmen of Kingdoms of Vale and Mistral and Army and Huntsmen of the Unholy Ultimus Empire, as well as the army of her Browns fueled by the deaths she had caused in Mistral. The Browns were also accompanied with limited number, few handful, of Reds and Blues, as many as she could spare.
"Welcome, Warriors of Remnant!", she had started her speech, "You have all been summoned here to serve your respective Kingdoms, and my Empire, in a join military cooperation between us four Great Powers. You have all heard about the tension between the Kingdom of Atlas and the Inexorable. We may feud, but when an enemy of all of Remnant approaches, believe me, we put our differences aside. And such an enemy is upon us! I will not try to lessen the blow of my words. Kingdom of Atlas has fallen to enemies of Remnant. This happened mere thirty minutes ago, and if luck is on our side, the enemy is still preoccupied with its own secretive goals"
She heard gasps all around, and murmurs of disbelief.
"That is true", Ironwood confirmed, "The Inexorable has kindly offered their support in liberation of Atlas".
"And we shall liberate Atlas!", Yang proclaimed, "Whatever hatred you may hold for their Kingdom, they are still our brothers and sisters. Our enemy does not expect a swift retribution. I will bend time itself to take you to Atlas here and now, and there we shall liberate our dear friends. Remember, they are bigger threat to us both! Kingdom of Atlas fell like a house of cards before a gust of wind, and against such force, if unstopped. we may face the same outcome. The largest force in Remnant fell. Such force must be opposed. If we cannot strike now, we will forever surrender ourselves to our enemies."
She could see that many were nervous about facing this danger.
"Fear not, for the Emperor protects!", Yang declares, "For as long as you keep in mind my words, you shall not meet your final death at the hands of the enemy."
She beckoned her apprentice, and he walked over to her.
"Apprentice", Yang addressed him, "Do you place your trust in your Master, the Emperor?"
"Forever, Master", Finster said as she had expected him to, even if she hadn't shared her plan with him.
"Perfect", she said, and her smile grew cruel. She had more than enough time to get her will together to once more resist the influence of the corruption, but she had to play the role of an Overlord for now.
She pulled out her sword, and stabbed right through her apprentice, and slashed downwards, leaving a huge gap in his body. Her apprentice gasped, his eyes shining with betrayal, and then with calm acceptance, and he fell to the ground, bleeding out.
Amidst the gasps and outrage she could hear she summoned one of her blue minions to her, who then approached her fallen apprentice, and murmured some words, and made various motions. His hands glowed deep blue, and the injury of her apprentice began to heal. In a minute, he was as healthy as before he got stabbed. He stood up, swaying a bit before he got his bearings together.
"My apprentice showed trust in his Emperor, and I protected one of my own.", Yang declared, "Should you run out of Aura, and be dealt a less than immediately-mortal blow, place your trust in my forces of Evil. Every strike group shall be assigned two of these Blue healers. Protect them at all costs, and in turn they shall heal your injuries."
"You could have warned me", she heard and angry hiss in her mind.
"Since when can you do that?", she mentally asked in reply.
"Since now, I guess.", Finster telepathically admitted, "It's the first time I tried contacting you through our bond."
Yang nodded to herself.
"That makes sense", she figured, and telepathically addressed him, "For what it's worth, I wouldn't have trusted anyone else to go along with it"
"I better get health benefits from this apprenticeship if you're going to keep stabbing me"
Yang chuckled and gave one final reply to him, "I am Evil. I don't give out health benefits, or any benefits at all."
"I believe it's my turn now", Ironwood stated, "Direct your eyes to the battle-plan projected upon the wall before you. Group A, comprised of mainly ranged Huntsmen with heavy weaponry accompanied by thirty Huntsmen who prefer close combat shall go to Point A. Your goal is to inflict as much damage as possible, and to incapacitate, the Atlesian Air Fleet. Close combatsmen will focus on any Atlesian robots instead. When finished, split up and go to Points B and C and stand guard there. Group B, comprised of mainly of Unholy Ultimus Empire's Army will go to the residential district, Point B, and clear it of all enemies before regrouping to reinforce Group C, then D. Group C will move to Point C, the Atlas Council, clear it of all enemies, wait for reinforcements from Group A, and then reinforce Group D. Group C shall be comprised mostly of those favoring ranged combat as the possibility of many close-quarters fights with the dangers of hostages shall require quick, and efficient, handling best suited to those experienced with ranged firearms. Group D, comprised of those handpicked by the Emperor, shall go and reclaim Atlas Academy and Cross Continental Transmit System tower and rescue any Atlesian Huntsmen that managed to survive. I shall go with Group A as will Qrow, Ozpin shall go with Group B, Malachite shall go with Group C, the Emperor shall command Group D."
It was Ozpin's time to speak.
"My speech will be short and frank. This is one of the darkest moments in Remnant's history. Some of you, doubtless, have been threatened by the Inexorable to appear here. That is unfortunate. Others have come of their own free will, and I hope that's most of you, and I cannot begin to describe how proud I am to see so many young men and woman respond to the call of duty at our darkest hour. Every one of you is a hero, and a pride to their respective academies."
It seems it was time for the Queen of Mistral to talk. Her speech was even shorter than Ozpin's.
"All hail the Emperor! Hail the Inexorable! Before our faith and might no enemy will stand alive! We just reunited into a Kingdom worth its name, and we are now put to the test! Let us show that us people of Mistral shall not bend or fall to our enemies!"
Her speech was met with cheers from Mistrali Huntsmen, and Yang hoped that they didn't notice the significance of the first proclamation that Malachite had chosen to use. It seems that when not commanded, Malachite could act as her own person with only an incurable loyalty to her Master.
Yang snapped her fingers and a Tower Gate appeared near her.
"I shall lead my group then", Yang said, as she commanded Raven, her apprentice, and twenty Minions to her side. She looked over the leaders of the other groups, took a deep breath to prepare herself, and nodded to them, "May the Infernal God look over us".
She had to try really hard to not laugh at the offended expression on Ozpin's face. She didn't mean to offend, of course. The others looked merely confused. She stepped on to the Tower Gate, and like her companions did soon after, she vanished.
She appeared in the dining room of the Schnee Manor, and it appeared that the Schnee's were eating.
"Greetings, Jacques", Yang said politely, "I do hope that you haven't yet aligned yourself with the traitors of Kingdom of Atlas. I lead a force of liberation. Others will appear soon enough"
Jacques looked like he wanted to protest his home being used as a stepping stone for her attack, before Yang interrupted him.
"How does that expression go?", Yang wondered to herself, "Was it 'better the Devil you know'?"
"Better the devil you know than the devil you don't", Jacques corrected her, "Perhaps it is true. I assume the Kingdoms would be most grateful for my cooperation?"
"These new enemies of ours took down Atlas without your help. Us, we need your dust to fight most battles. You tell me which one is a better customer."
He looked like he wanted to sigh, but stopped himself.
"Very well, I'll allow you to pass"
Yang nodded and started to leave, before he stopped her with a question.
"If I may", he said, "since when were you such a big ally of Kingdom of Atlas?"
"Was I ever not a friend to Kingdom of Atlas? I couldn't imagine ever being at conflict with them", she said as an answer.
With the revisionist tale of her beliefs told, to a group that didn't believe her, she left, and went downwards the mountain using her spells to crush or explode any robots she encountered. The path to reach the even higher mountain the academy stood on was long, but before half an hour was through they were there. There were some Military Ships flying around, but with a simple Illusion, shadows rushed to shield them from view. Hiding near walls to make their shadow-y disguises seem more natural they had made their way until the only path forward was to climb the stairs up the mountain to the Academy. They rushed as fast as they could, praying that the hacked machinery would not see anything amiss. It did not, and they made their way inside, through the doors they had found already broken into, and closed the doors behind them. Yang and Raven used their powers, and the Reds helped too, to melt the door shut, to prevent anyone, friend or foe, from following them inside. Yang inhaled the air and steeled herself.
"You realize that by now the Maiden is most likely dead if the forces sent were competent at their job?", Raven asked.
Yang could not fool herself with optimism, as much as she wanted too. She nodded in response to Raven's question.
"Don't worry", Yang said, "We have a Maiden of our own, and we have me"
"Ever the confident one, huh?", came a response from Raven.
"Would you prefer me to be afraid?", Yang asked annoyed. She welcomed the annoyance, it helped to keep her treacherous emotions at bay. She could not allow herself to be nervous, or to feel fear.
Raven shook her head.
"Not at all", Raven said, "But you knew that."
"Maybe some optimism wouldn't hurt after all", Yang thought to herself, and said her next thoughts aloud, "Well, they can't blame me if I kill the usurper, right? I'm just keeping power from falling into the wrong hands"
Raven chuckled.
"I'm sure it has nothing to do with your desire to claim the powers of a Maiden"
"You keep mentioning that word", Finster said curious, "and somehow I don't think you're trading stories about your sexual escapades".
"I am certain Yang would try to kill me again if I tried", Raven said humorously.
"Again?", Finster asked.
"Maiden's have natural power over the elements.", Yang said completely ignoring her apprentice's other question, "A woman who kills her inherits that power"
"Ah", Finster said with a nod, "I understand now why you want it then."
"Don't worry, my dear apprentice", Yang said, "I promised you power once. I did not forget. When I think you're ready, you too will be able to use Magic"
He nodded and muttered a thanks.
They made their way to Ironwood's office. As they walked they saw many bodies of dead Huntsmen and Atlesian robots laying around. The intruders, it seemed, used the robots to make their path forward much easier, and let no one leave alive. Thankfully for Atlas, as school was not in session, most Huntsmen were not present in the Academy and had likely survived the invasion. Though Yang did wonder how well the invasion would have succeeded had all the Huntsmen been present.
Yang kicked open the doors, and walked right in, her companions following her. Before her, siting in Ironwood's purple chair, was a long-black-haired woman with amber-colored eyes and a red dress. By her side, to her right was a woman with short mint-green-colored hair, red eyes, with green crop top and white shorts. To the left of the red-dressed woman, was a gray-haired man with gray eyes, wearing gray and black jacket.
Yang nodded to the woman sitting in Ironwood's chair. The power of one of the Brother God's items was overpowering her senses, and so she released a small bit of Evil Energy to negate it. She needed far less than she had at the vault, and it did far more too. The distance between herself and the object was why she could negate most of its effects on her so easily. Far less of it's energy reached her here. She could now sense the power of a Maiden radiating from the woman before her.
"Greetings, Maiden.", Yang said in a confident but merry tone, "I have come to liberate you of your powers, and to relieve Atlas from its oppressors"
"You!", the woman said surprised, "How did you get here so fast?"
Yang smirked.
"You fill find my powers to be without limit.", she boasted, "I willed myself to arrive here, and I willed the armies of Remnant here as well"
The woman narrowed her eyes.
"You're lying.", she accused Yang.
"Perhaps", Yang said, "Perhaps not."
She looked over their group again, and decided to introduce herself.
"This seems like a moment I will remember for a long time. I am Yang de Ultimus, Emperor of the Unholy Ultimus Empire. Introduce yourself Maiden, and your friends, so I know the names of you who I am going to kill."
The woman seemed amused by Yang's arrogance, but obliged.
"You may be strong enough to kill Theodore, but can you really stand against the full power of the Winter Maiden?", the woman asked rhetorically, "I am Cinder Fall, if you have to know."
"Mercury Black", the man introduced himself.
"Emerald Sustrai", the woman introduced herself.
"Well, if we are all getting buddy buddy with another, I guess I'll introduce myself too", Raven said, "I am Raven Branwen"
"Finster Wolf, apprentice of the Emperor", Finster introduced himself.
"You could join us, you know", Cinder suggested, "We could use someone of your capabilities, Yang. Those servants of yours look useful too".
"I am the Overlord", Yang declared, "I serve no man or woman."
"Weren't you an Emperor just now?", Mercury said mockingly, "I guess it's true what they say about blondes and intelligence."
Yang narrowed her eyes anger flaring.
"Raven, I'll take the man who looks like he's about to start balding.", she said as an insult to Mercury, "You take on the Maiden. Don't rough her up too much before I get a crack at her, will you?"
"No promises", Raven said, "So if you want a piece of her you got to be quick."
Yang nodded and directed her apprentice and her 10 Browns and two Reds to attack the other woman. She took five Reds to help her with Mercury, and left three Blues one standby to aid the rest.
"Not a woman enough to face me alone?", Mercury mocked her.
"I don't respect you enough for a one-on-one challenge", Yang retorted.
"I guess I'll have to beat some manners into you, Blondie", he said and got ready to fight.
Yang used her powers to rip a chunk from a wall behind him and slammed him in the back with it. The chunk of wall promptly exploded, and Yang stabbed at him from above with her sword. He wasn't dead, she wasn't that lucky, and his Aura rushed to catch her sword. Yang jumped back to avoid a handstand spin kick that Mercury used to get up and as he shot at the ground from his feet to gain speed, she hit him with the Slow Spell to get him to a more manageable level. She let herself fight him for a minute without using any spells, just her sword and natural skills, and she noticed that she was far more agile and powerful than when she had set off. All that Evil Energy she had absorbed did wonders at improving her. That being said, she was certain that without the Slow Spell he would be faster than her by a significant margin. With it, they were at about the same speed, something the man did not seem comfortable with. It seemed that his strategy relied on his speed and agility, although he had plenty of strength too.
Yang mentally commanded the Reds to attack him when she blocked his latest attack with her Shock Shield, that ran up his metal legs and momentarily paralyzed him, and their fireballs hit him with great accuracy.
She hit him with a fireball to and he hit the wall hard.
"What...What's this?", he said surprised, "Are you a Maiden too?"
"Something like that", she said with a smirk, "It seems we out-Maiden you. And your friend isn't doing too hot either"
They both observed the fight between Raven and Cinder. It was clear that Raven, more experienced with Maiden powers, was winning, although Cinder, a capable fighter, seemed to be doing well enough.
"Or maybe Raven's just going easy on her", Yang thought.
She was interrupted by a voice in her head.
"Master!", she heard her apprentice call out telepathically, "This Emerald chick is whipping the floor with us!"
Yang frowned.
"I thought you all were more capable than that", she telepathically responded.
"She uses some kind of an illusion", Finster complained, "I get hit from nowhere, and my hits don't land where she is."
"An Illusionist?", Yang thought to herself, "If I could capture her, there's a lot I could probably learn. Or Neo could find her useful"
"There's a plus, though", her apprentice continued, "Your Blue Minions see right through her, and she can't seem to affect us all. She probably has a limit or something. Hard to tell how big given that your Minions can be pretty mindless."
"Don't focus on me", Yang said, and that's the only warning her apprentice got. She restored the ability for him to leech of her senses, an ability she had cut off when he was last overwhelmed by the feel of her, "You should be able to sense her, Use that to see where she really is. Command the Minions vocally to aid you. They'll obey"
She heard a confirmation from him, and she felt her sword arm move to block a sword kick she didn't realize Mercury had launched at her while she was distracted.
"I thought for sure I had you with that one", Mercury complained.
Yang blinked and looked at her arm.
"...did my arm get possessed?", Yang wondered to herself before feeling the irritation from her sword. Yang wasn't sure if she should be delighted or horrified by the revelation that her sword could apparently move her arm to protect her when he wanted to. It did seem like he didn't like to, so that probably isn't winning any respect points in his book.
He launched a few ranged attacks from his legs, and she blocked them with her Shock Shield, the lightning from which hit his legs and ran up them paralyzing him again.
"I really am the best counter to you, huh?", Yang mused to herself aloud.
"Don't get too confident, bitch", Mercury said, "I'll dodge it next time"
He was rewarded by six fireballs to his face for the language before the paralysis wore off. Aura is wonderful at quickly getting rid of things like that.
He seemed pissed off that that treatment, and quickly rushed her. He tactfully used his ammunition to increase speed and dodge the Reds' fireballs and overwhelm her with his slightly faster-now speed. Yang was impressed at how he solved the lightning dilemma. He kicked at her, and used his projectiles to launch himself away from her and dodge the followup lightning.
"You're pretty good", Yang had to begrudgingly admit.
"You're not so bad yourself. But you are horrible at being a Maiden", Mercury shot back.
Everything from around the room, from rubble, to Ironwood's desk, to parts of the wall, crashed into Mercury, and then exploded.
"And you're not very good at staying alert", Yang bit back.
She launched a fireball at the ceiling and collapsed it on Mercury's legs.
"That should hold you in place for a while", Yang cheekily commented.
"You bitch! When I get out of here I'll kill you!", he screamed.
Yang walked over to him, pinned his arms with her legs and sat at his chest.
"Do you want a Magic lesson, Mercury?", she asked politely.
"Fuck you", was the response she received.
Yang ignored that and kept talking.
"Do you know why I don't just use my powers to choke you to death?", she asked.
"Because you can't", was his obvious answer.
Yang nodded and continued.
"In a way, I guess. Aura tends to interfere with spells that directly affect the body. Spells that indirectly affect the body, on the other hand, say like a fireball spell, gets its damage reduced like with regular damage. But did you notice how I said interfere?"
His eyes widened.
"Oh no, no way, you're bluffing", he said, seemingly getting some ideas as to where this was going.
"With enough time and effort, that can be bypassed.", she continued her lecture, "Not really practical in a fight at my skill level."
Yang's eyes then dramatically widened.
"Oh, but you are stuck! Unable to move!", she said, and she looked around the room, "And your friends! Oh, they are so busy!"
She saw panic beginning to seep into his eyes.
"And I have just the spell I need the practice to get just right.", she continued her feigned drama, "Lucky me that you can be a test subject!"
"No wa-!", Mercury began to scream out, but he was silenced when Yang picked up a rock nearby and lodged it in his mouth.
She placed her hands on his face, and began infusing it with Evil Energy. Mercury's Aura resisted him with every step, but in a few minutes, he was about to explode. From the look on his face, the feeling of Evil Energy was also about to make him vomit so she should finish this fast. She did frown, however at how slowly this was going. The Aura made a few-seconds-long task into a few-minutes-long one. That was not acceptable. Still, she pressed on. As he was on the brink of explosion, she sharply pulled the Evil Energy back and demanded that he wither away. She poured into the spell all her emotions, her frustration, anger, determination, pride, and eventually hope. Another minute later, and Mercury began to scream, and battle paused all around them. The scream wasn't natural. It wasn't the scream of a man in pain, or a man losing a limb, screams like that seemed normal. This scream was primal and raw very well representing his pain as his body began to slowly wither away. This spectacle only Yang could see, and Gnarl who viewed this fight from her mind. She saw him slowly wither way, and even the blood that began pouring, it too decayed into nothingness. Another minute later, and where once was a man, was only a headless corpse.
"In hindsight", Yang thought to herself, "I should have chosen something less grotesque." Nothing really made her as sick as she felt after first visiting the Infernal Abyss with her senses -and for an Evil Creature who had just acquired an ability to sense, the Infernal Abyss was very easy to constantly fall into-, long before she met her apprentice, and after eventually getting used to the horrors therein -and likely losing some of her humanity in the process-, but this sight was definitely not anywhere close to pleasant.
She heard a female scream, and taking a feel with her senses she sensed that in the distraction her apprentice managed to land a lethal blow on Mercury's female companion.
"Pity", Yang thought to herself, "I wanted her alive"
"You can always save her body, Sire", Gnarl suggested, "If you ever learn the secrets of resurrection, she could be your first test subject"
Yang didn't think she'd learn any of those secrets any time soon, but decided to humor Gnarl. She'd take that body once she was done with Cinder.
Cinder crashed down near Yang from an attack Raven had hit her while they fought in the air.
"Restrain her", Yang commanded, and the Minions jumped on her limbs. Raven was more useful in that regard as she had the ground pierce Cinder's hands and legs, and then encase them in stone.
As Cinder inhaled, to no doubt launch some sort of an attack, Raven hit her with a lightning blast and kept it up until the last drops of her Aura drained away.
"She might have been more of a challenge if she had time to master her powers", Raven said, before looking at Yang, "Do what you have to do."
Her apprentice walked over, also seemingly eager to observe the spectacle.
Yang felt this situation called for some dramatics.
"Friends, Family, witness as I now acquire a piece of this old Magic, and ascend to even greater levels of power!"
"Just get on with it before she figures out a way to escape", Raven said with a bit of annoyance.
Yang glared at her, but obliged, and stabbed her sword through Cinder...
Maniacal laughter was now rather common to her, but she did her best to keep it in check this time. The power that now flowed through her, the power of the Winter Maiden felt amazing. It had it's limitations, but she could more than work with them.
"How do you feel, Master?", Finster asked
"Amazing", Yang truthfully replied, before patting her apprentice's head, "But not as amazing as the pride I feel in you. I knew I saw something great in you."
"Thank you, Master", he said with a proud smile, "Does this mean I will get my powers now?"
"Soon", Yang promised, "I need to gather some items beforehand"
She felt he was satisfied with her answer, and her answer had indeed been a truthful one. He has proved both his strength and loyalty.
They made their way up to the CCTS tower, but not before the Blues revived any Minion that had died in this fight, and up there they turned off the tower. This would disable communications in the entirety of Remnant for once one CCTS tower goes offline, the entire system becomes inactive, but this was necessary. Ironwood had assured her that if they shut of the system, there would be no way for the virus to retain remote control over Atlesian forces and they would go offline.
Her job done she returned to Ironwood's office, and in 10 more minutes was joined by Ironwood, Malachite, Qrow, and Ozpin. Yang's eyes narrowed at Ozpin, as did his at her.
"Has this all been part of your Master's plan, Avatar?", Yang asked.
Everyone in the room, including Ozpin, seemed confused, before Ozpin's eyes widened with spark of realization.
"You feel it then?", he asked vaguely.
"Your soul is bathed in the God of Light's Magic", Yang answered as a response.
"And your body is bathed in the consequences of your path of Evil", Ozpin said, "It would be foolish for you to think it won't affect your mind as well. Resistance only works so far. Corruption is hard to resist".
"I know", Yang confirmed, "But so far I'm doing fine"
"Are you?", Ozpin countered, "Is it you that is making choices more and more Evil, or is it the corruption that really drives you? Or the addiction, perhaps?"
Yang narrowed her eyes, but changed the topic back to the original one.
"You didn't answer me.", she said, "No mortal spell could make you like that. You are as full of Light, as the items the Gods left behind. I would have sensed it earlier, but they overwhelmed my senses."
"As they did mine", Ozpin confirmed, "I would never had agreed to this if I knew you had went this far"
Yang stayed silent awaiting his answer.
"I am no more an Avatar of their will than you are of the Infernal God's.", Ozpin explained, "I was once blessed, or cursed depending on the view, by the Light God. The spell cast on me is what you sense."
Yang did not seem convinced.
"And you have no task to follow?", she asked.
"No more than you do, I imagine.", he said, "Choices are what defines us. And I have chosen to stop the enemy they had left behind as her punishment."
Yang observed him for a moment, before nodding.
"I'll accept that explanation for now."
"For now?"
"You're not telling me everything", Yang said, "You are being deliberately vague."
Ozpin smiled.
"Don't I have a right to privacy?"
"More importantly", Ironwood interrupted them both, "What happened here?"
Yang pointed at Cinder.
"By the time I had found her she had already killed the Winter Maiden", she explained, "The rest were her lackeys."
"You could have saved them for information, Yang", Qrow said somewhat disappointed.
"You understand why Cinder had to die, right?", Yang asked, "And her female lackey, Emerald, was a powerful Illusionist. Keeping her locked up would be hard. As for the other...he wouldn't really give up"
Truth be told, Yang actually hadn't considered that they should leave some for information. Cinder did have to die, and her apprentice took a great opportunity for which she wasn't going to fault him to take down Emerald when she noticed that Mercury was died. It was all just one unlucky coincidence that they all had to die.
"The Winter Maiden", Ironwood interrupted her thoughts, "Which one of you is she now?"
Yang's eyes glowed with the power of the Winter Maiden, and that was an answer enough. Ironwood seemed displeased, and so did Ozpin. Malachite, was of course, happy for her Master even if she wasn't sure what the topic was about, and Qrow's emotions on this seemed hard to read.
"As an Emperor of one of the Great Kingdoms, I demand a conference", Yang suddenly demanded.
"For what?", Qrow asked confused.
"To resolve the future of Kingdom of Atlas, and its recovery, as well as resolving other pressing issues that we can't afford to put away."
Malachite nodded.
"That seems wise. We never did finish our last one, and there are more issues then just that."
"I agree", Ironwood said, "We really should discuss how we will help Atlas recover."
"And we should discuss our plan moving forward", Qrow suggested, "She's not going to stop"
"Then we are all in agreement", Ozpin said, "Let the Conference of Atlas begin!"