A/N: EDIT! Had a bit of a delay; that blasted RWBY finale crippled my inspiration, and my request docket is backed up like crazy.
Well...everyone else is going to see it soon enough come Saturday, but I'll keep my mouth shut. In other news, I'm getting ready to move, so money and time might be tight for a bit. Still! I promised to keep up with this story, and I shall.
As many no doubt realized THIS particular tale only spans twenty chapters or so. That's right! We're nearly done! This, "All Things Must Die" with
Things are going to move quickly after this little interlude. Hope you're ready.
No questions this time. I'll let this chapter talk for me.
Alright, you've listened to the ramblings of this old man long enough. That ought to do it.
As ever I don't own ANY references, quotes memes or themes. Not a wit, not a one.
Now then, grab your popcorn and buckle up.
"We have work to do. Rise, my children. Rise now, and serve me again."
~Salem.
Interlude of Salem
Salem laughed.
It was a low contralto sound; rich and honeyed, the kind that one might expect from a grown woman, not someone wearing the guise of a mere girl. She swayed in her seat and clamped a hand over her mouth, shoulders quivering in a vain attempt to stifle her mirth. Her eyes sparkled with thinly contained glee as the battle below came to its final conclusion. Beyond that her disguise held well, even as those beside her and Hazel cringed back in abject horror. The disguised queen cared not for their terror, though it still fed her blackened soul.
Really, all this laughing just made her feel warm and fuzzy.
"Glorious." she all but purred the word. "I knew I was right to choose him."
Her contractor had won. She felt foolish for even doubting. Not unexpected given the newness of his abilities, he'd genuinely worried her for a bit there. But no longer. She could sense the strange blend of both chakra and magic surging strongly in the arena below, while the twisted chakra of Gaara's demon seemed to have subsided for the time being. She already knew who triumphed. What did Naruto called that move? Sunlight Spear? It certainly lived up to its name. An attack that shone brighter than the sun itself, a spear forged of pure
At least he didn't shout it like a loon this time. She'd since knocked that silly habit out of him. One mustn't shout the names of their attacks.
In a fight, one must control their foe with fear. An opponent that lost the will to fight -to live!- was no foe at all. Sow fear and doubt in their heart, and even the mightiest of enemies would falter before you. She'd learned that lesson well; really, it was only natural that she impart this terrible truth to her Contractor. A sharp cry came from the smoke below. Hmm. Perhaps she should recruit Gaara...assuming he survived the next minute. It might prove amusing to have another so devoted to her cause. Poor, poor boy. She wanted to hug him.
But now was not the time for such silly sentiment.
As the haze finally cleared, Salem turned her attention elsewhere. She knew what was to come. Her foresight had served her well.
Any moment now, the Sand would strike. Their invasion would begin. Countless innocents would die. A veritable bounty of souls for her to take and make her own. It was well within her power to prevent such a massacre of course. A simpler soul -a more charitable one!- might have done such regardless of the risk. She was part Grimm, after all. Negativity was a fine wine to one such as her, and there were some very negative individuals nursing rather dark thoughts to the village right now. It would be the simplest thing to root them out. Surely these puny creatures would worship her for her aid.
She supposed Naruto would be pleased if she did such a thing...but she did not act. Nay. Not yet. There were were things to do first.
"Speaking of which," her lips quirked into a smile as her mind sought out one of her pawns, "Where are you...ah." her gaze narrowed as her mind's eye found the individual she'd marked. "There you are."
Salem found the girl's presence easily enough, and they dissapointed her. Yugao Uzuki was still lurking in the shadows, unwilling to emerge.
Poor, poor Yugao. She'd gone mad. Her pacts weren't ones to be made lightly. One needed a strong soul to endure her power. Naruto's was one of the strongest she'd seen by far. By comparison Yugao was...weak. Even now her soul was tearing itself apart. all but resigned herself to death. She longed to be reunited with her lover, to move on from this mortal coil and find peace, yet she found herself bound by duty. Shackled. She craved vengeance against those who had wronged her, yet rather than glory in it she agonized over this feeling like a child half her age.
It rather reminded her of someone.
Yes, now that she pondered the matter further, Salem found herself rather inclined to grant Yugao the release she sought...but not at all in the way she intended. Any soul who would shatter with the death of a lost love was not one she wanted to serve her. Too afraid to live, yet unwilling to take the plunge and end her own life. Trapped by her emotions, unable to give them voice. She loathed such waffling. And so she would be used as fuel. She would die and be with her beloved, join him in oblivion.
And in her place another would rise.
Her decision made, Salem stood and laid a hand on Hazel's arm. "Watch over him for me, would you?"
Her loyal servant nodded. "As you will. Do you want me to intervene if he's attacked."
Salem pondered it for a moment and shook her head.
"No." her black, black heart twitched at the thought of harm coming to him, but this was a lesson Naruto needed to learn. "I have another better suited to such a task. For now he must learn to fight on his own. Simply make sure no one interferes with him." her lips pursed as a thought occurred to her. "That said, I don't think he'll bite off more than he can chew."
...you will be dealing with the Snake and his ilk, then?"
Hmph. He always more perceptive than she gave him credit for. Atlas had proven that. At least he knew his place now.
"Why, Hazel!" She touched a hand to the sullen man's cheek. "Allow a woman to keep some secrets. You have but to trust in me."
With her goal fulfilled, the Queen of the Grimm slipped away into the shadows. She dropped her disguise in darkness, regaining her true form with every step. Much better. Using magic to transform oneself and body was all well and good, but her soul hearkened to her original body more than any other.
An unfortunate passerby slipped past her, paused, and did a double take when they saw her pallid face. Red eyes met silver, but rather than anger, the Immortal One only felt a vague sense of amusement. How amusing. T'would seem the Gods were at work here after all. Would this one challenge her? Their last encounter had ended rather poorly for this waif, as she recalled. Salem smiled and flitted a little wave at the girl in question, her mind already awhirl with possibilities.
"You?!" her victim squeaked.
What had died once could die again.
Well. That was one of her questions answered. How every interesting.
"Me." Slame inclined her head but a little. "Move along, little rose. I haven't the time nor the inclination to chase you down and kill you a second time." a brow quirked at the sight of the knife in the girl's hand. However." She leaned forward pressing her forehead to that of the diminutive girl before her. Scarlet glowed to match silver. Neither yielded...until the Queen smiled. "I'm sure I could make time for you later if you insist." she tilted her head but a little, like a mother regarding a naughty child. "Shall I make you scream like your lover did?"
It was enough to quell her prey.
"In any case," she straightened with a hum voice returning to normal, "I am no longer your enemy. You may do as you please. Simply stay out of my way.
Of course, the girl didn't give up that easily." She stomped a foot and rallied. Ozpin will stop you!"
"My dear, Ozpin is dead. And he certainly isn't here." a pallid hand patted her head, causing the tiny warrior to shimmy back with a scowl. "I would've sensed him by now if he were. And I have no desire to destroy this world...for now."
The former huntress all but froze in place, rooted where they stood. Poor girl. Her partner had not died well. Trauma wasn't something one easily escaped. Salem glided past them. The very moment she did, said passerby scampered back the way they'd come, looking like a kicked puppy. For a moment, the Queen pondered shooting her in the back with a spell-bolt. No, she decided. The girl hadn't made any overt moves against her. She'd let her be. For now.
In the end, she found Yugao easily enough; if only because the woman hadn't left Baki's corpse.
Even now the former Anbu was hunched over it, gazing listlessly over his still form.
"It's time, child."
She only looked up when her mistress made herself known. Blank eyes regarded her, dull and listless. Oh, dear. Her face looked awful. She was further along than expected. Her "pacts" really weren't for the faint of heart; a stronger soul wouldn't have fractured under the strain. In the end, Yugao's own indecision was, quite literally, shredding her soul.
The Anbu looked up at her. "Have you come to kill me?"
"I am considering it, yes." Salem saw no point in lying. "Do you wish to die?"
"N-No!" here at last, fear and panic compelled the poor girl to act. "I won't let you kill me!"
"Child, I own your soul. You and I both know that a large part of you wishes to die and be with your beloved. I'm simply assisting you." When the ex-anbu drew a blade, she merely sighed. "As you wish. I'll give you five minutes. If you can convince me within that time-frame, I'll release you from-
She was still speaking when that sword slammed into her chest.
Salem looked left. Salem looked right. Finally, Salem looked down. From there she blinked.
Once.
Twice.
Thrice.
It really was a good strike; a clean through and through that burst between the pale expanse of breasts to sear out her back. Her heart was well and truly perforated and even now bleeding out. Anyone else would've died instantly. Anyone who wasn't her. She reached down, gripped the blade and snapped it in half. Then she reached around her chest and pulled the rest out herself. Dark light rushed in, closing the wound.
"An adequate attempt." she sighed, mildly put out by the sight. "But not enough, I'm afraid. That's one minute."
Yugao did something with her hand. Steel strings encircled Salem, biting into her flesh.
The Immortal sighed. "You do realize this won't hold me."
Belatedly, she heard a strange crackling sound.
Red eyes narrowed to irritated slits as she beheld the explosive tags wove into the fire wire. Tags that were even now wrapped firmly around most of her upper torso. Oh, dear. Realization broke like a red dawn as she realized what was about to transpire. Well. This was going to be unpleasant. She was not overfond of explosions, let alone the aftermath. They were always...messy.
Yugao yanked on the steel strings with a snarl. As one, the explosive tags detonated.
It really was a very nice explosion; the blast was focused caught Salem low in the waist and shredded her apart. Arms and legs spiraled into the air and her head soon joined them, spinning like a top. Her ruined torso struck the ground with a wet thud and sprawled out there, still as the grave.
But only for a moment.
Black like burst from Salem's neck and wounds in a wretched miasma, regrowing what had been lost, attaching what wasn't. In a matter of moments she could see once more. From there it was merely a matter of picking up the pieces to expedite her already rapid recovery. Her ears popped but once as her hearing restored itself. Sensation proved swift to return after that.
"That wasn't very nice." she sighed as her jaw snapped back into place. "I do believe you killed my dress."
Yugao shrank back with a whimper, eyes all but rolling in her head. "What are you...?"
"Many things." Salem smiled as she reattached an arm. "None of them will matter to you in a moment." Her right leg regrew in an instant. "If its any consolation, that hurt like hell." She grabbed her ruined neck and wrenched it back into place with a horrible crack. "I meant what I said. I gave you five minutes." The gaping tear in her chest closed, concealing her still beating heart beneath a perfect breast. "All your tricks. All your traps. I could give you an army and it wouldn't make a lick of difference. An eternity, and still, you could not touch me."
Yugao drew back, eyes wide. "Monster!"
"No." Salem's smile turned colder than any winter storm. "I am the devil. And your debt is due."
Her hand slammed into Yugao's chest, burying itself to the wrist. Blank black eyes regarded her with abject horror. Weak hands scrabbled at her arm for purchase and found none.
"Its nothing personal, dear girl." Salem sighed. "You served your purpose. Rest now. Be with your beloved."
On a whim, she decided to finish what she'd started so long ago.
Her hand twisted. And with that, the poor Anbu knew no more. From the dying embers of her tortured soul, Salem called a new ally forth. They were alike in a way, after all, or at least similar enough for the ritual to work a it has for Hazel. It was the work of moments to trade one ally for another, to feed her being to the inferno and call someone forth from the blaze. Some might call her a monster for this. Perhaps she was. Demon, devil, spawn of the blackest womb.
She. Did not. Care. All that she did was for the sake of her Contractor.
Naruto would thank her for these atrocities someday; would look upon these deeds and know that they were necessary.
An awful crack filled the air as the body beneath her began to change in response to its new host. Salem watched intently, cherishing every moment.
Indeed she waited patiently as the change tore over. Light armor fell away, replaced by black cloth. Lustrous violet hair became an eerie midnight black, gone terribly short. One of her arms began to rot like so much chaff and crumbled away, replaced by a thing of nightmares. Clawed fingers twitched in a hideous spasm. A ragged breath tore through the air, her chest hitching for air. That breath became a keening cry as the final tortured remnants of Yugao's soul were consumed.
Silence fell over the world.
...where am I?"
Salem considered the pawn beneath her for a moment. Initially, she thought this world might be well off without such a being. Lust for power and naked ambition aside, she had a unique set of skills suited to the task at hand. Who better than to entrust with such a mission. Hazel was many things, but at the end of the day, he was soft. She was not. She would do what must be done. She would not hesitate. She could show no mercy to her enemies. She would burn them all.
"Welcome back to the land of the living, dear girl." Salem regarded the newcomer intently. "There's work to be done."
Her revived minion lowered their head and bent the knee before her. "What is thy bidding, my master?"
"Cinder." Salem's pallid face dimpled in a smile. "There's someone I need you to protect."
Cinder Fall raised her gaze, golden eye trailing flames. "As you wish."
A distant explosion rattled the world underfoot.
And so the Invasion began.
A/N: Time to meet the army.
Orochimaru really isn't prepared.
Salem really stole the show this time around.
Soooooooo In the Immortal Words of Atlas...
...Review, Would You Kindly? It Keeps A Man Alive...
And of course, here are some previews for your care and time~!
References are references as always and I own absolutely nothiiiiing!
(Previews!)
"Uzumaki! I'll kill you!"
"No." Blank red eyes rose to regard him. "You won't. Sorry, Gaara. I don't have time for you. Big brother's gonna be a bit...rough."
Naruto flicked through a quick set of seals, raised a thumb to his mouth and bit down. Black blood sprayed into the air. One word was uttered. Not even a single phrase.
"Come."
One moment Shukaku towered above the treeline, ready to squash the annoying gnat beneath him. In the next the world burned black and found himself borne down by a giant fire-breathing Grimm dragon.
Arthur smiled. "Fascinating. But I'm afraid you're already dead."
The ninja crumpled bonelessly at his feet.
"GLORY TO MY GODDESS!"
Kabuto didn't even have time to scream.
"The snake is mine!
"Hazel!" Salem snarled the word. "Smash!"
"As you will." Hazel pushed himself upright. "You should surrender, children. No one has to die today."
"Give up?!" The sole female member of the Sound Four scoffed. "Like hell ya piece of-Gack?!"
A giant fist caught Tayuya and bore her down to the ground.
The invaders recoiled. "Demon! Monster! Abomination!"
"Such kind words." Golden eyes narrowed. "Flattery will get you nowhere, I'm afraid."
Fire flicked from the fingers of a Grimm arm.
"Why did they have to die...?"
"People die, Naruto. That is the way of the world. Accept those deaths. Mourn them. And then."
"And then...?"
"Avenge them, my contractor."
R&R~!