Zhelander : I'll admit I never figured out how to make a proper summary for this story without getting spoilery. Funnily, it's still my most popular story so far. I will try to finally make one for it though.
While everyone was shocked by what had just happened, Neo ran to the changing-room. Pyrrha might not have hit anything vital, but if she let didn't patch it up soon she would faint of blood-loss.
And while she wasn't too worried about what the tournament's comity would do to her for breaking their rules, having her illusion break in the middle of a live event would mean that Ozpin was sure to know where she was.
Neo was panicking as she patched herself up. She couldn't stay in Mistral anymore right ? If she did, then Ozpin would come for her. During this time, Ember had managed to come down from the stands for her.
"Are you alright Neo ?" she asked, "They're starting to evacuate people out there."
Evacuate ? Why would they need to do that ?
Neo's confused must have shown on her face, because Ember quickly explained.
"Some grimm came in." she said, "there aren't many, but they're old. Very old. The Scrapper guy is fighting one in the arena right now."
At that moment, Neo could hear the crowd scream. That was weird. The changing-rooms were usually sound-proof so fighters could prepare undisturbed. For her to hear a scream must mean that it was extremely loud.
Ember rushed towards the arena exit to see what was going on, and when she came back she grabbed Neo's hand and dragged her out.
"We need to leave. Fast." explained Ember, "The grimm just tore through that Scrapper guy."
At that moment, the alarms around the arena started blaring, even those in the changing-room that was only for emergencies.
"Alert, incoming grimm attack." it said, "Please seek shelter in a calm and orderly manner."
The people outside were all but calm, and with Neo's wounded hip she couldn't move around as well. Still, they managed to leave the arena, somehow, through the crowd of people pushing and trampling over each other.
Outside, they stopped for a moment to catch their breaths, and Neo spotted a crow watching over them.
That soothed her. Ozpin had always told her that crows meant good luck. It meant she was safe. However, when Ember followed her eyes and saw the animal, her reaction was the complete opposite.
"Urghhh... A crow... What bad luck." she said, "Let's get away from it."
Huh ? Why would she say that ? Did crows mean bad luck to Ozpin's enemies ?
And if that's the case... Then wouldn't that mean that this crow was also bad luck for her ?
The crow flew away, and the two girls ran. However, instead of going towards the mountain – and the shelters – Neo noticed Ember was bringing her away from the higher districts. That was all fine and well for her, but she couldn't help to wonder.
Had she ever told Ember that she was a wanted woman ?
While they were running, Ember took her scroll out and called someone. When they answered and a face appeared on screen, Neo decided to observe it a bit.
Name : Arthur Watts
Age : 45
Level : 20 (100%)
Class : Scientist [You research things. Fighting isn't really your style. You gain experience through research, but all your combat bonuses are divided by two]
Path : Ends before the Means [You are ready to do anything to get the end result you want]
Title : Black Pawn
HP : 11/11
AP : 84/84
STR : 12
CON : 11
DEX : 14
INT : 23
WIS : 19
CHA : 13
Semblance : Human computer [You can program yourself to subconsciously make complex actions while you spend your actual processing power in handling something else]
Status effects :
Child of Remnant [You are from Remnant and follow different rules than other worlds. Your HP is always equal to your constitution and any bonuses that would normally improve it are transferred to your aura]
Grimm Presence [?]
Defenses :
AC : 18
For : 16
Ref : 18
Will : 17
So another pawn ? However this one's level was far higher than Ember's, even if his class didn't make him good in a fight.
"Watts, we need to get out of town." said Ember, "Can you get something out for us ?"
"I'll see what I can do." answered the man, "Head towards the edge of the city. I'll have a bullhead ready for you two."
Now, leaving the relative safety of the higher districts in the middle of a grimm attack might seem like a stupid idea, however Ember was confident. Her grimm queen had done something to make grimm see her as friend and not as foe. However, while the grimm did ignore her, the same could not be said for Neo.
Killing the grimm was easy for Neo, even in her state. They had the luck of only facing small fry for now, and Ember soon started to help when she noticed the grimm were still attacking her friend.
Their luck had to run out eventually though, and they finally met one grimm far older than anything they had faced before. A large Ursa.
Neo quickly opened Hush to block the Ursa's strike as it fell down on them, but the grimm grabbed her weapon and swung her away.
Neo used Hush to lower her descent and to avoid dying by crashing head first into a tree. That gave the Ursa time to run up to her and strike again.
It was completely ignoring Ember, but that didn't mean Ember was ignoring it. Far from it, as she stood between Neo and the Ursa and drew her bow.
Ember's Dust-laced arrow flew and blew up in front of the grimm. The explosion did nothing to stop the Ursa, who smacked the teenager into a house.
- 36 AP
If Neo could scream, she would have. Not only had the grimm wiped out more than half of Ember's aura, but it was now focusing on her rather than Neo.
Ember was dizzy, and could do nothing to stop the Ursa from tearing her apart with it's claws.
- 21 AP
- 15 HP
Neo didn't want to believe it as Ember's body dropped down and the Ursa turned towards her again. She readied Hush, but was too afraid to even move, let alone fight.
The Ursa raised it's claw, and Neo closed her eyes as it brought it down.
But the strike never came.
And nobody ever noticed the arrow that had made Ember's one explode prematurely.
Neo opened her eyes, and saw a black haired man she vaguely recognized had stopped the grimm. Saved, she could now take the time to observe the two.
Ursa
Level : 18 (89%)
HP : 208/208
STR : 25
CON : 23
DEX : 14
INT : 2
WIS : 11
CHA : 12
Semblance : Grimm [a grimm's entire purpose is to destroy the very existence of living beings. Their soul. Gains 1d12 damage against aura]
Defenses :
AC : 21
For : 28
Ref : 21
Will : 20
(-)
Name : Qrow Branwen
Age : 38
Level : 20 (100%)
Class : Ranger [You are specialized in scouting and surviving in the wilderness]
Path : Deadly Shadow [You are a shadow. Your enemies never know you are here until it is too late]
Title : White Bishop
HP : 13/13
AP : 107/107
STR : 18
CON : 13
DEX : 23
INT : 12
WIS : 15
CHA : 11
Semblance : Bad Luck Charm [Things tend to go wrong when you're around. You can somewhat control how bad it can go, but your mental state affects it heavily]
Status effects :
Child of Remnant [You are from Remnant and follow different rules than other worlds. Your HP is always equal to your constitution and any bonuses that would normally improve it are transferred to your aura]
Qrow the Crow [You have been gifted with the ability to change into a crow. Whether it's a blessing or a curse, that's for you to decide]
Defenses :
AC : 26
For : 26
Ref : 28
Will : 23
"Run kid !" shouted Qrow, "Get you and your friend out of there !"
Neo didn't bother trying to understand why one of Ozpin's pieces would help her, and ran towards Ember. When she observed her, she saw a new status effect that crushed her hopes.
Dying [This person is dying. If they don't get some intensive care, they will die in the next few minutes]
That was too fast... that was too soon... Neo had grown so close to Ember over the course of their two years together, but now she was just...
Ember's eyes flickered open, and she noticed Neo crying over her.
"Neo..." she whispered, to weak to get any louder, "Thank you."
Neo was confused at what she meant.
"I came here thinking humanity was evil. That it should die." said Ember, "But spending those few years here, to be your friend... It made me realize that there was good and evil in everyone. These were my happiest years of my life. So thank you."
Neo gripped Ember, holding her tighter as she cried over her.
"And please, Neo, when I'm gone..." pleaded Ember, "Smile... You're so much prettier when you smile..."
With those words, Ember finally drew her last breath. And just for her, Neo smiled.
Neo ran. She ran as fast as she could, avoiding the grimm and getting back to the slums. She wasn't going to go with that other black pawn. Not without Ember there. She couldn't trust them.
She knew Malachite had a few caches that she rented to the wealthiest criminals when things went sour. Those should already be full of people trying to survive the grimm, but she should be able to squeeze in.
Then, she would need to figure out where to go from there. Vale was a no-go, obviously, Mistral was a bust now, so she could only go to Atlas or Vacuo.
Menagerie could have been an option too, but Neo wasn't a faunus, so she would stick out like a sore thumb. Moreover, she didn't want to keep herself disguised 24/7. She wanted to live her life as herself. Plus it would cost way too much Dust.
That was also another reason not to go to Menagerie. Dust only got there through underground channels, as any company found to trade with the island would get bullied into oblivion by the SDC. If she went there, Neo wouldn't be able to fill up her Dust reserves.
Vacuo was the obvious choice, but maybe it was too obvious. Should she try Atlas ?
Neo decided against it. Roman had always told her Atlas was the place to go if she wanted to be caught. And she didn't want that. Apparently cops there shot first and asked questions later, especially down in Mantle, so there was no second chances for criminals... or innocents.
Vacuo it would be then. All she had to do now was to tell Roman and get on the first flight to the desert city. And maybe buy some clothes suited for the new environment.
Then, she would only have to pray Ozpin wouldn't be searching for her there.
Once the crisis in Mistral was averted, Qrow took his scroll and called Ozpin.
"I'm sorry Oz. I found her, but there was a grimm attack, and I had to choose between saving her or bring you her dead body." he said, "I don't think she's going to stay in Mistral anymore."
"It's fine." said Ozpin, "At least we know she is not with Salem yet. I'll tell Theodore to be extremely watchful. Vacuo would be her best bet now that she can't stay in Mistral."
"Should I go to Vacuo to search for her ?" asked Qrow.
"No." answered Ozpin, "Keep protecting Autumn. Theodore's the best at finding anything in Vacuo, and protecting the maidens should still be our priority."
Qrow nodded and ended the call. Even then, there was one thing that bothered him, but hadn't told Oz about.
Why did Neo smile over her friend's corpse ?
In the dark castle of the grimm, Watts walked into the throne-room, his head hung low.
"I'm sorry Ma'am." he said, "I have failed. Ember is dead."
"It's perfectly fine Doctor." said Salem, "She was starting to have doubts. Her death was but inevitable."
"But what about the plan ?" asked Watts.
"I already have a perfect replacement." said Salem, gesturing for another figure to come closer, "Isn't that right, Cinder ?"
The woman was wearing a red dress, and had two swords strapped on her back. Yet Watts couldn't help but notice a small quiver with several arrows inside.
"If that is your wish." stated Watts, clearly bothered with the decision.
"You seem unhappy, Watts." noted Salem, "Did you perhaps grow fond of little Ember ?"
"Of course not." quickly said Watts, before composing himself, "I'm simply..."
"Not very fond of failure."
Here we go, Mistral's arc is over.
Now, Ember dying was always part of the plan. I'm sorry for those thinking she was Cinder, but again I mislead you on purpose, so not really.
As for Watts' semblance, well since he's supposed to be a scientist and not a fighter, I figured I'd give him something for scientist. The short of it is that it's multi-tasking on steroids.
As for Chili Scrapper... well, Neo getting wounded alone wouldn't be enough to bring a large grimm force to attack a main city. Plus I have to maintain that 100% OC death-rate.
To be continued on May 1st.
Name : Neo Politan
Age : 15
Level : 14 (47%)
Class : Illusionist [You add both your Intelligence and Dexterity modifiers to your AC and to Dexterity or Intelligence based attacks as long as you can still cast illusions]
Path : Me, myself and I [You live for yourself first and foremost, no matter what pain you might cause others]
Title : The Gamer
HP : 10/10
AP : UNUSABLE
STR : 11
CON : 10
DEX : 18
INT : 21
WIS : 12
CHA : 16
Semblance : The Gamer
Status effects :
Gamer's body [Your body follows game-like mechanics. You can restore 1/4th of your total HP (rounded down) by resting 15 minutes. You can only die if your HP reach 0 and you fail your last breath]
Child of Remnant [You are from Remnant and follow different rules than other worlds. Your HP is always equal to your constitution and any bonuses that would normally improve it are transferred to your aura]
Fighting for your life [Your aura behaved in the only way that would let you survive, and will continue to do so until you overcome your trauma. You cannot use aura, but you can will any item you wield for it to reflect 100% of any attack that hits it]
Words that shouldn't be said [Your last words almost caused you to lose your life. You cannot talk until you overcome your trauma]
Defenses :
AC : 25(29)
For : 18
Ref : 24
Will : 22