AN: Slightly longer than the last couple of chapters, but I had my COVID booster a couple of days ago, and had time while I felt like death to bang this out.
I have a feeling you'll hate me for this one.
Before we start, I realize that I forgot to address Gry24 and his story ideas. While I like them, there are a lot of things that would need to be made more clear before I can even begin to consider working on it. If it's possible for you to make an account so you can PM me, please do so.
I would like to thank Lord Maximus for the help with this chapter.
Chapter 110
As the two Maidens and the Keyblade Master met each other in battle, Cinder was engulfed in flames, Raven was surrounded by Ice winds, and Aqua surged with electricity around her body. The collision produced a shockwave that shook the cavern, and caused all three to fly back. Aqua landed on her feet, keeping her eyes on the two Maidens.
"So…" Raven grunted as she stood up. "It seems we're evenly matched. I always wondered how a Maiden would measure up to a Keyblade."
Aqua recalled the last couple of times she fought Raven, and despite her skills improving since the first time, Raven was still a formidable opponent, and her powers as a Maiden just made her more dangerous. Raven swung her sword again, her Maiden magic manifesting an icy gust at Aqua, who pointed her Keyblade straight at it.
"Mega-Flare!" she shouted, firing one single fire ball that collided with the gust attack and created a blinding explosion.
Aqua teleported behind Raven, aiming a slash at her head, but Raven raised her sword over her head and blocked the slash. Just then Cinder swung her swords at both of them, but they disengaged and dodged. The three warriors then slashed their blades together. More than once, Cinder or Raven's sword shattered, forcing Cinder to create a new one, while Raven recreated her sword from her sheathe.
"Is this the best you can do?" Raven taunted as she crossed swords with Aqua. I thought you'd be stronger."
"Funny, I was thinking the same thing," Aqua retorted. "You've had this power for over a decade, and this is all you got?"
"Well, you've definitely picked up the Branwen charm with that big mouth of yours." Raven smirked as she shoved Aqua back. "But it's not going to be enough."
Aqua grunted as Raven and Cinder both tried elemental attacks on her, but then she smirked. "Reflega."
A barrier appeared around her, not only blocking their attacks, but sending them right back. Cinder covered her face as her own flame attack engulfed her, while Raven conjured an ice wall in front of her to block her own attack. Aqua then shot forward, summoning a Barrier Surge as she slammed right into the ice wall. The barrier exploded, creating a shockwave that sent Raven over the edge. A second later, she flew back onto the ledge, using her Maiden magic to conjure flames under her feet like rocket boosters, landing back on the stone bridge. Aqua pointed her Keyblade at her.
"Say you get the Relic, what then? Salem won't just let you run off with it. And do you even know what it does, or how it can help you against her? You must be a real idiot, Raven," Aqua insulted.
"You're the idiot around here," Raven retorted.
"How so?"
"For being so smart, you can't tell what kind of man Ozpin is. A smart person would have with just a glance," Raven taunted.
"Ozpin again?" Aqua grumbled. "You keep complaining about him, but you're hardly any better."
"You'll see soon enough. Or at least, you would, if you weren't going to die here," Raven said before charging forward again.
"Someone is likely going to die today, but it isn't going to be me," Aqua said before meeting Raven head-on.
Hazel backhanded Nora away, before punching at Ozpin. The boy was able to put up his cane to block the attack, but was still pushed back several feet.
"Hiding behind the face of a child?" Hazel yelled. "A monster like you must be stopped!"
Nora jumped at the large man, but he caught her hammer and slammed her into the ground. He grabbed the back of her head, pouring the electricity from the Dust in his arm into her body, making her scream in pain.
"How many more children must die for you?!" Hazel yelled, before Nora grabbed his wrist. "Huh?" Evidently, Hazel wasn't aware of Nora's Semblance, since his electrical attack only served to charge her up. She forced herself back to her feet, and threw the giant man over her shoulder. She picked her hammer back up, before Ozpin got her attention.
"His Semblance… he can block out pain. It's how he's able to handle injecting so much Dust into his body."
"I don't need him to hurt…" Nora said as Hazel picked himself up, roared, and charged at her again. "I just need him to GO DOWN!" As Hazel approached her, Nora swung her hammer, slamming it into his chest and sending him flying across the room. His flight was halted when he slammed into Sephiroth, sending the one-winged man through the front door, and out into the courtyard.
Spellweaver! Aqua thought, activating her first Style Change.
Hey Keyblade spun around her as she literally danced between Raven and Cinder, catching both their blades before spinning and releasing a spiral of light that blasted both of them back.
As the Maidens and Keyblade Master threw everything they had at each other, their fight took to the air, their attacks becoming more and more intense; both of them shattered their swords several times until they grabbed the other's weapon.
Or rather they tried to.
Cinder grabbed Omen, Aqua grabbed Cinder's blade, and when Raven tried to grab Aqua's Keyblade, it disappeared and reappeared in its owner's hand.
Raven's eyes widened. "Damn it!"
Aqua then slashed at both Maidens, Cinder blocking while Raven quickly conjured an ice sword to defend herself.
Ghost Drive! Aqua mentally commanded, activating her second style change.
With that, spheres of blue and orange energy began to whirl around them, damaging the cavern. Aqua suddenly moved at high speed, clashing in between them, and just as Raven stabbed her in the back, Aqua suddenly reappeared behind her, having left behind an afterimage. Aqua performed a series of teleporting attacks on both Raven and Cinder as they both struggled to attack and defend. As she attacked, Aqua left a series of magical spokes at every angle until they were surrounded.
Cinder finally broke away, using the debris to conjure a greatsword of fire; Raven countered with one made of ice, and Aqua prepared her final attack in the form of a magical shockwave.
When all three landed, the shockwave was so intense the tremors reach the main hall of Haven, as all three locked blades, stalactites began to fall from the ceiling and the women jumped back to avoid them, losing their great swords in the process, while Aqua simply teleported back down to the ground. Raven used her magic to gently land on the ground, smirking at Aqua the whole time.
"Having fun, Aqua?" Raven taunted, challenging magic into her sword. "I'll give you this, you're a lot stronger than I ever thought. If not for the fact that Cinder is your opponent as well, I honestly think you'd be able to win. It seems a Keyblade Wielder is more than strong enough to face down a Maiden."
She then swung her sword, releasing a great wave of fire at Aqua, who jumped, using Doubleflight to avoid the flames, and threw her Keyblade down at Raven, who batted it away. Aqua landed behind her and placed both hands on the ground before kicking her feet up to knock Raven's sword out of her hands. Aqua then summoned her Keyblade back and slashed at Raven, who quickly dodged.
"You think because you knocked my sword out of my hands, I'm helpless?" Raven asked as she dodged and then slugged Aqua in the face. "Fool!"
Aqua grunted, her Aura protecting her face from feeling any real damage, but the force of the blow still made her stagger.
"Don't underestimate me, Aqua. You think only my weapon and the powers of the Spring Maiden are what kept me alive all this time?" Raven asked, cracking her fists.
"Hmph…" Aqua grunted as she got up. "You bitch."
"I am Raven Branwen, leader of the Branwen Tribe, and I've never lost a fight." Raven smirked.
"Yeah, tell that to Tai. I was led to believe he won every time you two sparred," Aqua retorted. "Isn't that why you were so attracted to him back then?"
Raven frowned. "Don't get so cocky with me. A mere spar isn't a real fight."
"Yeah, because you're such a good sportswoman," Aqua scoffed.
Raven went on the attack, punching at Aqua who stepped back, dodging as best she could. Aqua summoned back her Keyblade and swung at Raven, who grabbed it and created a blast of ice, freezing it and Aqua's hand. Aqua grunted as Raven then slugged her in the face, forcing her to drop her Keyblade. Raven didn't let up as she let loose a barrage of punches, but Aqua hastily dodged, seeing her sister-in-law's hands on fire one second, freezing with ice another second, blasting with air the next, and then alive with electricity the other.
In fact one electrical punch sent Aqua crashing into the wall next to the elevator.
"Is that it, little sister? I thought you'd put up more of a fight," Raven taunted as she slowly approached.
Aqua grunted as she stood up. "I see what you're doing. You're powering your fists with your Maiden powers."
"Like it?" Raven asked, holding up a flaming fist.
"That's a pretty straightforward way to use that power, especially since that's not usually your style," Aqua retorted. "Especially considering how you prefer to avoid the direct approach."
"What can I say? I'm a complicated woman," Raven said before coming on the attack, slugging Aqua in the face before she could react and kept on the attack. "I was trained to fight since the moment I could walk, and the strength I gained from learning how to be a Huntress is how I became the chief of my tribe! I controlled and led the entire tribe with my own bare fists!"
She uppercut Aqua in the face with another electrical punch, knocking her to the ground.
"Is this it?" Raven grunted as she reached down and grabbed Aqua by the collar of her top, lifting her up and slugging her in the stomach with another lightning punch that caused Aqua to cry out. "I would have thought you could defend herself. Why haven't you summoned back you Keyblade? Or were you trying to act macho by facing me with your bare hands?"
She raised her hand, conjuring an ice dagger. "If so then you are a real disappointment. But don't worry. I won't torture you. Such weaklings aren't worth it. Now die."
Aqua's eyes shot open and she was engulfed by fire as she grabbed Raven's hand, melting the ice and holding onto her hand. At the same time she grabbed Raven's hand holding her collar, and the flames caused Raven's Aura to flare.
Raven grunted as she felt the fire burning her hands even with her Aura protecting her. "Damn you!"
Aqua then slapped Raven's other hand away, head-butting her in the face, creating an explosion of fire. Raven cried out, her Aura having protected her from being burned, but hot temperature along with the flash of fire still left her disoriented. Aqua was then engulfed in an aura of lightning as she pulled Raven into a headlock and kneed her in the abdomen, her Aura straining to block against the electricity.
"Damn you to hell!" Raven grunted as she felt another kick to her ribs and the electricity coursing through her body.
"As a matter of fact, I did pick up a few tricks," Aqua said before slugging Raven in the face and kicking her away. "You pick up a few things when you have a daughter who enjoyes fighting with her fists, and husband who knows a few tricks, too. When I asked Ozpin about the Maidens he told me about how their powers is not dependent on their Aura, so you could still use your magic, even if I broke it. However, if I break your Aura, then you're as vulnerable as anyone."
Raven grunted as she stood back up, her Aura shimmering for a second. "Is that so? So you let me beat you just so I would get up close enough for you to do those fire and lightning tricks."
"You seem to forget I'm not like all those other people you killed, Raven. That includes Huntsmen." Aqua summoned back her Keyblade and cast a Cure spell on herself. "I have the power of a Keyblade Wielder and the training of a Huntress to back me up. I can take a lot more damage than this."
"Still won't be enough against me. I'll kill you and maybe take your Keyblade with me after I get the Relic," Raven retorted.
"Still on about that huh? For someone so skilled, you're acting like such a fool. I told you, Salem will never let you stay alive if you have both Maiden powers and a Relic," Aqua said.
"Maybe she'll be more interested in fighting you," Raven fired back.
"Is that so?" Aqua looked over to the right. "Is that why you haven't made a move, Cinder?"
Raven followed Aqua's gaze and saw Cinder standing before the vault doors, watching them.
"She's waiting for one of us to win, and then she'll kill the winner," Aqua explained.
"Hmph. Like she matters," Raven scoffed.
Aqua looked back at Raven. "I don't know what kind of deal you thought you made with Sephiroth, but you have to know he and Salem are using you."
"So what?" Raven asked.
"I thought you were protecting your tribe." Aqua frowned.
"We do whatever it takes to survive, even taking on jobs for others. Hell, even Huntsmen are just mercenaries themselves despite all that hogwash they fed you at Beacon. So many are only in it for fame an money. I always knew Salem would never keep her word about leaving us alone, but with the Relic's power and my own we'll keep out of her reach forever, and if I take your Keyblade as well, that's just a bonus." Raven smirked.
"Really? Neither Salem nor Ozpin did themselves any favors trusting you," Aqua said dryly.
"Enough! What about you, Aqua? How did you fall to Remnant of all places?" Raven changed the subject, redirecting from herself.
"None of your business," Aqua retorted.
"It's all about strength, Aqua. We're all the same. That foolish old man Oz, that tinplated dictator Ironwood, Jacques too-good-for-the-world Schnee, and even you. You're only alive and kicking because you fought against all of them to come out on top, and because you refused to be a pawn or puppet to any of them," Raven argued. "The only way to survive is to become stronger than the rest, and imposing that strength on all who dare to challenge you. Don't act like we're the only villains here."
"You're the one who killed countless people, not me," Aqua snapped.
"Yeah." Raven smirked. "And each of those times, the ones I fought wished they were the ones to come out on top instead of me."
Adam turned around at the loud noise, seeing an unknown silver-haired man with a single black wing fly out of the main lobby of Haven Academy. He used his wing to correct himself in midair, landing gently on his feet.
"What's going on in there?" one of the soldiers Adam brought with him asked.
"Nothing you need to worry about," the unknown man said.
"Stay focused!" Adam said to the troops he brought with him. "Our friends are almost done here."
"ADAM!" a voice called out to him from a nearby rooftop. He looked up, and saw a sight he had been dying to see for months now.
She was even more beautiful than he remembered.
"Blake?"
"Stand down!" She shouted, and the troops pointed their rifles at her.
"Wait!" he said, ordering his men to lower their weapons, before chuckling. "To think that I went through so much trouble to find you, only to have you deliver yourself to me."
"This isn't what's right for the Faunus! Stop what you're doing and we can end this peacefully."
"You're wrong, Blake, and you can't stop us."
"No, I can't. Not by myself."
"That's why she didn't come alone!" another voice called out. Adam turned in surprise to see a blond monkey Faunus, and a black-haired cat Faunus with a tail standing in front of a large group of Faunus carrying makeshift weapons, bearing the old White Fang symbol. For some reason, the woman's eyes widened when she saw the silver-haired man.
"What?!" Adam exclaimed.
"Who's there?" one of Adam's troops asked. From the other direction, they could see another massive group, lead by…
Ghira?! But Corsac and Fennec were supposed to kill him!
"Your bothers and sisters," Ghira said, answering the soldier's question. One of Adam's troops lowered his weapon.
"M-Mata?" he asked, apparently addressing someone in the crowd.
"Please… stop this…"the person he was talking to pleaded.
"Make no mistake, brothers!" Adam addressed his men. "These are our enemies!" And we will not let them ruin—"
A searchlight suddenly shined down on him, the source being a police airship.
"Adam Taurus, this is the Mistral Police Force! Lower your weapons and surrender peacefully."
Blake jumped off the roof, landing on the ground on front of Adam.
"How?!" Adam roared at her. "How did you do this?!"
"Adam, it's over." Adam looked at the encroaching army of Faunus. He reached into his pocket, and pulled out a detonator.
"Then it's over for all of us," he said.
"Hey, wait!" one of his soldiers tried to protest, before they all braced for the explosion. Adam pressed the button, but nothing happened.
"Huh?" he asked, pressing it repeatedly, and still nothing happened.
"What are you doing?" one of Adam's men asked. "Trying to get us all killed?!" Adam angrily grabbed his collar.
"I am making humanity pay for WHAT THEY'VE DONE!" Adam pushed the soldier away from him.
"We sent someone over to confirm your explosives, and once we did, she disarmed them," Blake said. Ilia stepped out from around the tower, carrying a bundle of wires in her hand. Adam turned to the silver-haired man.
"What do we do?!" he asked. The man looked at him with an unimpressed look on his face.
"This has nothing to do with me," the man said. "Why should I bother to held the pawns?"
"So you're just going to leave your fellow Faunus behind?!" Adam demanded.
"It looks to me like your 'fellow Faunus' are the ones you need to worry about," he said, before flapping his wing and flying back into Haven Academy.
"I told you, Adam," Blake said. "It's over."
Adam yelled out in frustration, charging at Blake. He drew Wilt and slashed at her, but she used her Semblance to avoid him, hitting him in the back to knock him down.
"KILL THEM!"
Raven's eyes flared. "You know, Aqua. Before I met you I rarely lost a fight to anyone. The only ones who could rival me were the members of my own team. My brother, Tai, and… Summer. And then after I gained the Spring Maiden's powers, I knew only beings like other Maidens, or even Ozpin and Salem could pose a threat."
Aqua remained silent, just preparing to jump back in the fight.
"After our little bout the first time we met, I poured all my effort into training and mastering my powers. No one had ever humiliated me quite like you, and we've both only grown stronger since then," Raven continued as magical energy flowed around her before she shot forward, blue energy forming into ice surrounding her.
Aqua was engulfed in flames again as she pressed her Keyblade against Raven's Omen. Ica and fire exploded around them as they clashed.
"Aside from my time at Beacon, no one had motivated me to train as hard as I could after I met you," Raven continued as they clashed. "Because one way or another I knew we'd meet again, and I was going to show you that there are some beings not even a great Keyblade wielder can defeat!"
Aqua somersaulted back as Raven slashed at her. "Oh, so not only are you a coward, you're also a sore loser. What a nice combo!"
"Shut up!" Raven held up her sword as her Maiden powers flared.
One by one, swords matching the appearance of her Omen appeared around her, but were all differently colored and emitting a different element: blazing orange for fire, a blue-colored icy mist for ice, gusty green for wind, and crackling yellow for lightning.
Raven grabbed the icy sword, twirling both blades in her hands as the other swords twirled around her. "It occurred to me that instead of overpowering you I needed to combine my powers with my skills. So I whipped up this little trick just for you."
With that she swung her fire sword, releasing a wave of fire at Aqua, who quickly blocked with her Keyblade, conjuring a barrier for extra protection. She grunted as the flame blast pushed her back, but otherwise remained unharmed.
"Like it?" Raven asked, her other Omen swords moving around her at high speed. "I spent over a year trying to master this power, and then worked on what I could to use against you."
"So you conjured more than one sword and then channeled your power through them. It's not as complicated as you make it sound," Aqua retorted.
"Then let's see how it measures up!" Raven said as she shot forward.
Aqua held up her Keyblade, blocking a slash, and then she jumped as the other swords flew in. She shoved Raven back as Raven swung her swords down, creating a crater where she previously stood.
"Since your Keyblade is the source of your power, I took the approach of empowering Omen with the powers of the Spring Maiden," Raven said, holding up her sword as it glowed bright red. "There's more than one way to become strong. Sometimes you need to place that power into your own weapon to become even stronger. Here, let me show you!"
Aqua shot forward, her Keyblade glowing blue. "Diamond Dust!"
Raven swung her sword, meeting Aqua's in a blast of fire and ice. The other swords spun around them and came at Aqua, but she raised one hand and batted them away with her telekinesis. The swords flew back around Raven as she attacked, all of them lining up with the real Omen as she swung it. Aqua used her Keyblade and a barrier to block the next slash, grunting as the elemental power from all five swords pushed her back.
Raven thrust four floating swords forward, but Aqua blocked with another barrier. In a flash of light, Aqua activated her Ghost Drive again, shooting forward as she slashed with Raven's swords.
"Gather!" Aqua shouted.
Raven was suddenly pulled forward and held above Aqua, who then slammed her into the ground. Grunting, Raven rolled away, summoning her elemental swords and them shoot down at Aqua, who jumped back. Each time a sword hit the ground, it let out a blast of fire, wind, lightning and ice. Raven summoned them back to her as she shot forward, aiming all of her swords down on aqua, who teleported just as Raven's attack pierced the ground where she had been.
"Transcendence!" Raven heard Aqua shout from behind.
The Spring Maiden was suddenly lifted off her feet, and grunted as she felt her Aura straining as she was hurled in all directions. The attack ended and Aqua leaped forward, delivering a kick to Raven's face. Just as Aqua went on the attack, Raven recreated her elemental swords and used them to block Aqua's slashes before she swung her own sword. All her elemental swords were spinning around her now, pushing Aqua back as she hastily tried to defend herself.
"Do you see it now, Aqua?!" Revan shouted as her wind sword slashed Aqua in the torso. "See what this power of mine is?! Do you think you have the right to judge me now?!"
Aqua grunted as she cast another spell. "Mini!"
Raven was suddenly reduced to half her original size, shocking her long enough for Aqua to slam her Keyblade into her and send her crashing into the wall. Aqua watched as the spell wore off and Raven fell down… only to fly back up in her bird form, which was engulfed in fire that shot at Aqua, who blocked it. As soon as the fire collided with her Keyblade, there was a blast. Aqua somersaulted back and watched as Raven landed on her feet, summoning her elemental swords again.
Only now she twirled her Omen and fire sword together above her head, conjuring a large fire ball and then launching it at Aqua.
"Diamond Dust!" Aqua shouted as she swung her Keyblade, turning the fireball into a block of ice. "Thunder!"
As a bolt of lightning came down from above, Raven this time twirled her Omen with her wind blade, blocking the lightning blast.
"This is what I have achieved in the last ten years. Achieving the strength I needed to survive in a hopeless world!" Raven shouted as she brought her swords together around her. "An outsider like you could never understand what we must do to survive!"
Aqua watched as Raven began channeling her power through the elemental swords she had gather, and realized she was planning a single final attack.
"Or perhaps you think you know just because you married a Huntsman and pretended to be a Huntress. In that case, do us all a favor and die!" Raven spat as she gathered the power.
"Time Slicer!" Aqua shouted as Raven was about to launch her attack.
Raven was frozen as Aqua dashed around her, slashing away her elemental swords, and ending with a final strike that sent her crashing to the ground. Hard.
Raven grunted and cried as she hit the ground and skidded along the surface. Aqua wasn't done as she then followed up with a Prism Rain that hit Raven head-on, causing a series of blasts. When the smoke cleared, Raven's Aura had broken and she was left kneeling on the ground, leaning against Omen.
"You…" Raven looked up at Aqua, bruised and heavily battered. "You can use… Time… Magic?"
Aqua slowly approached Raven, pointing her Keyblade at her… and then dismissed it. "It's over."
Raven growled as she tried to get up, only to collapse. "How… How did this…"
"You became far too greedy, Raven. You were already strong without the Maiden powers, but you let your fear and your greed blind you," Aqua answered.
Raven grunted as she lied down on the ground. "Fear and greed, huh… Well, I am a bandit."
Aqua looked down at the fallen bandit in pity, before she resummoned her Keyblade to black an attack from Cinder, who had chosen that moment to try and take out the winner of Aqua and Raven's fight.
"Alright, your turn," Aqua said, conjuring a large barrier around the two of them. "Now, no one can interfere. I promised I was going to set you free, Cinder, and I'm going to keep it." She pressed back hard against Cinder, sending the Fall Maiden back a few feet before pointing her Keyblade directly at her chest. "I'm not going to lie to you, Cinder. I can't promise that this won't hurt, but this is the only thing I can think of."
Aqua's body was surrounded by a warm glow, before a bright beam of light shot out of the tip of her Keyblade, hitting Cinder in the chest. The black-haired woman froze in place, and Aqua's vision was overtaken by bright light.
When Aqua was able to see again, she was standing on a stained-glass platform, depicting Cinder in the middle with her eyes closed. All around her were portraits of Aqua's family, and Emerald. In the center of the platform was a cage, seemingly containing Cinder. She was sitting down in the cage, her knees pressed up to her chest and her head buried in them. Aqua could hear sobs emanating from the cage.
"Cinder?" Aqua asked. The crying stopped, and Cinder looked up at her, her eye puffy.
"A-Aqua?" Cinder asked. "How? How are you here?"
"I'm not entirely sure, to be honest," Aqua said. "I think I dove into your heart. It's the only thing I can think of to free you. Now hold, still." Aqua pointed her Keyblade at the cage, but Cinder's eye widened.
"Behind you!"
Aqua quickly turned around, and saw a woman with pure white skin accented by black veins, wearing an elegant black gown.
"So, you're the Aqua I've heard so much about," the woman said. Aqua fully turned around to face her, her Keyblade held at the ready.
"Salem, I presume?"
The large man slowly stood up, surrounded by the team. He glared up at Oscar and Nora, before looking cautiously around at the people surrounding him. There was suddenly a commotion outside, and Sephiroth flew back in through the hole he created when he was sent flying.
"What's going on out there?' the large man asked.
"The White Fang outside is being met with some resistance," Sephiroth said. "Nothing worth concerning ourselves with. Now, where were we?"
Yang lifted her gauntlets to get back into the fight, but Uncle Qrow held out his arm.
"Your mom's been down there an awfully long time," he said. "I need you to go and check on her."
"But what about these guys?" she tried to argue.
"Go ahead," Sephiroth said. "Your absence won't make a difference."
"Hey!"
"Yang, just listen to him," Cloud said. "The rest of us can hold him off, but someone needs to make sure Cinder and Raven don't get the Relic. Just go and check on them."
"…Fine," Yang said, turning around and heading towards the elevator. "Just kick his ass for me!"
"Will do!" Ruby said, before Yang jumped down the shaft.
Raven painfully picked herself up off the ground, and looked down sadly at Vernal's body. Aqua and Cinder were standing still inside the barrier for some reason.
Despite her injuries, Raven knew she wasn't going to get a better chance. She stumbled over to the large door, and activated her Maiden powers. She put her hand up against the door, and it slowly opened.
Behind it seemed to be a vast desert, clearly contained within its own separate dimension. Before her was a stone path leading to a pedestal, and atop that stood an ornate, ancient gold-colored lamp, with the bulb itself glowing bright blue. She approached the pedestal and picked up the lamp, feeling a weird, otherworldly power radiating from it. She turned around and exited the vault, lifting her sword to create a portal out of there.
A gunshot got her attention, and she looked up to see a younger, blonde clone of herself.
"Yang."
"Where the hell do you think you're going?" Yang asked.
"I must say, you Keyblade Wielders have become a real thorn in my side lately," Salem said. "This is the second time one of you has attempted to free dear Cinder from my grasp. The more powerful parasite I gave her was supposed to last. While it can resist the brat's Silver Eyes, I must say, I never anticipated you jumping into Cinder's heart directly."
"I'm sure you'll find we're full of surprises," Aqua said. "You aren't the first person to underestimate the Keyblade, and you probably won't be the last."
"It's not a mistake I'll make a second time," Salem said. "That said, I'm sure you'll have your uses. If my suspicions are correct, you and that delightful daughter of yours could open the Vaults without needing Maiden powers."
"Is that why you had Tyrian try to capture Ruby?"
"Correct, though eh failed spectacularly. I'm willing to offer you a deal, however. Since you seem to care so much about Cinder, I'd be willing to release her if you agree to serve me. After all, with a Keyblade on my side, I would have no need of the Maiden's powers."
"Don't listen to her!" Cinder yelled form behind her, before Salem made a zipping motion with her fingers. Cinder suddenly could no longer open her mouth.
"Quiet, dear," Salem said. "The adults are talking now."
"I will never serve you," Aqua said, raising her Keyblade defensively. Salem simply sighed.
"I thought as much. Fine then. Take her," the witch said, confusing Aqua. "This parasite isn't made for combat. I couldn't stop you from freeing Cinder if I wanted to. But know this: I will hunt you to the ends of Remnant. You and your daughter. And when I'm done with you, Cinder's condition will seem like a paradise by comparison. I will unlock the secrets of the Keyblade, even if I have to rip the both of you apart to do it. You'll wish you had accepted my offer before long."
"I'll take my chances," Aqua said, raising her Keyblade and approaching Salem.
"I know you will," Salem said, before Aqua sliced her in half.
The cage holding Cinder disappeared, and they were both consumed by a bright light.
Yang stared down her womb donor, the older woman holding what she assumed to be the Relic of Knowledge in her left hand. She looked curiously over at her mom and Cinder, who were standing still for some reason.
"Are you just leaving?" Yang asked Raven.
"Are you going to stop me?"
"What the hell do you think?"
"I need this to defend my tribe," Raven said. "You wouldn't understand."
"I understand that you're a coward," Yang said, raising her fists. "But I can't let you leave with that."
"You're as stubborn as your mother," Raven said.
"Which one?" Yang asked, the question seeming to irritate Raven.
Yang took no small amount of satisfaction from that.
The barrier suddenly shattered, Cinder falling forwards into Mom's arms. Mom gently lowered her to the ground, laying the Fall Maiden's head in her lap.
"Mom?" Yang asked. Cinder slowly opened her remaining eye, looking up at Mom.
"A-Aqua?" she asked, before her eye opened in shock. She slowly lifted her right hand up to her face, and flexed her fingers, awe slowly filling her face. After a second, she threw her arms around Mom in a hug.
"Cindy?" Yang asked, looking hopefully at her old friend.
"I-I'm free," she said, tears in her eye. Yang smiled, before looking back up at Raven.
"I'm not going to ask you again," she said, glaring at her.
"You don't tell me what to do," Raven said petulantly.
"Alright listen, you—" Yang said, before she suddenly hear a scream of pain.
Coming from Mom?!
She whipped her head to the side and her eyes widened in horror.
The claws of Cinder's Grimm arm were embedded in Mom's stomach, with some sort of pulse radiating out towards her. Cinder's eye was widened in surprise.
"Mom!" Yang yelled rushing towards her.
"Stay back!" Mom yelled back, stumbling backwards away from Cinder.
"I-I didn't…" Cinder said.
Mom clutched her stomach in pain, dark clouds radiating off her body.
Yang recognized it.
It was darkness!
Mom screamed, and dark energy exploded outwards from her body. She looked over to Yang.
"I'm sorry…" she said, before a bright light emanated from her chest. A pink heart-shaped light left her body, quickly being swallowed up by a cloud of darkness.
The storm raging around Mom calmed down, and she closed her eyes and began falling backwards.
"Mom!" Yang yelled out desperately, tears in her eyes. She ran towards her mother and held out her arms to catch her. Just as she was about to land…
…She vanished, her body disappearing into particles of light.
"M-Mom?" Yang asked.
"I-I… I didn't mean to…" Cinder said, looking at where Mom used to be in absolute horror. "Aqua?"
"No," Yang said, unable to stop the tears anymore. They had stopped Salem's minions! They had freed Cinder! They had just been reunited!
So WHY?!
"MOM!" Yang screamed, collapsing into a ball on the floor.
The tears just wouldn't stop.
AN: I'm evil, I know.
This was one of the first story beats I knew needed to happen in this fic.
Going in, I knew that if I eventually made it to the Battle of Haven, Cinder would be freed, but her Grimm arm would act outside of her control, attack Aqua, and flood her heart with Darkness.
I wasn't originally going to end things here, but the fallout of what just happened is going to be better as its own chapter.
Next time, we'll be wrapping up Volume 5.
And don't forget, this page has a Tv Tropes page. Any contributions to the page are greatly appreciated.
As always, thank you very much for reading, and I'll see you all next time!