The Girl in the Tower

In a world called Remnant, the fairy tale story is based on a young woman who is trapped in a tower by her cruel father. She was ever alone and had nobody to truly connect to. Her father ensured nobody would ever see her.

The story features many warriors who tried their best to save her, but were all beaten back and soon killed by the men the father had or by himself. Not a single person could save her, and all she could do was watch behind locked windows where nobody saw her. It wasn't until a famed warrior came and did the impossible, and defeated all the people who kept her imprisoned. The cruel father defeated in magical combat who then decided to allow the hero to take his daughter, realizing the error of his ways.

The hero soon gained the girl's hand and both would walk away happy with the father watching proudly before them. These two would travel around and eventually fall in love with one another. They fell in love and lived happily ever after…

At least, that is what the fairy tale depicts.

"Father please!"

"No!"

A slap could be heard and a woman of beauty with blonde hair fell onto the floor.

A man stood over her with angry eyes looking uncaring what he did to her.

(What...What is this…?)

"You are to stay here, and that is final!" The father told his daughter, annoyed of her constant complaints. Which is why he had decided on another method. "No more will you wander our home, instead, this will be your home."

The blonde woman looked up, and gasped.

There before her is a large tower where she could see many walking magical armors enter. It only had one door, and one window at the very top. Nothing more than that. In an instant she knew what he was going to do.

"Please." She turned back with slight tears in her eyes. "No! You can't!"

Another slap as magical armor then grabbed her.

(This is…)

"I can and I will!" The woman's father coldly told her, with no hint of remorse in his eyes. "As you've proven yourself to be uncooperative in the castle, I have decided this will be your new home. And that is final."

"No...No! Please no!" Without any care the magical armor then grabbed her, forcing her to the castle. A place where for over a decade she would be trapped in with no human contact aside from her father whenever he came. Nothing more, nothing less.

As her father said...this is her new home.

(...No.)

"No!" Salem's reformed eyes then shot open, as she finally woke up.

"Ahhhh!" Where she then heard screams as she turned and saw her cabal flailing their arms or screaming.

"Hahahha!" Or laughing in Tyrian's case.

In a quick instant, Salem then turned her head and saw she was looking at the sky, the ground, then the sky again. Feeling the wind and the effects of gravity on her while also seeing the moon now and then before looking back at the trees that were getting closer and closer. Oh. They were falling. Plus considering she had no memory aside from that green energy bolt, it's safe to assume she 'died' and was now reformed.

Looks like that portal had sent them all somewhere.

"Salem!" Watts then yelled as he was unable to do anything but notice his master finally awake with a head and pointed to the ground. "A little help!"

Salem rolled her eyes but relented in his request. While it surprised her Cinder wasn't trying to use her powers to fly, a Maiden was capable of that much. Most likely she was in shock to think.

"Stay quiet." She then told her allies as she quickly focused her power and in a second, everyone felt their rapid descent slow down. No longer were they at risk of hitting the dirt at terminal speed and going splat. Now they were all safe.

"Gra!" Except for the Nevermore Grimm headed right at them. One must have sensed her cabal's fear of death, and was now coming toward them. While those like Watts screamed and Hazel grunting in slight panic, Salem felt no fear as she then just raised her hand lazily at the bird as her eyes glew a dark red.

The Nevermore kept on going, but soon felt something worming its way into what it called a mind. There was no resistance whatsoever, and in a moment the Nevermore barreled at them but not to eat them-

"Gaha!"

"Ugh!"

"Ow!"

-but to let them land on it's back. Everybody now on the massive Nevermore as it became their personal steed. Her cabal soon sighs as they were in no danger. Watts took a precaution to look around, then felt the tension leave him as he saw no more Grimm hurling themselves at them. Not that it would matter, as Salem could just as easily control them.

"Watts." Though if the doctor thought he could relax, that would have to wait. Slightly gulping as Salem looked at him emotionlessly, eyes empty with his win face reflected on her iris. "What happened?"

Right, she was 'killed' when that happened. Tugging his collar a bit, Watts spoke deciding to just be honest. Not like he could lie though. With Salem being half-Grimm she could tell a lie since it is a negative emotion.

"Ah yes, that." Watts spoke, keeping himself calm. "Well, to be honest...I don't know."

"Oh." Cinder smirked at him, giving a taunting look. "The great doctor hasn't a clue at all what happened? What a shock."

Growling, Watts ignored her and just continued on. "What I mean is...the portal appeared to have destabilized and ended up sending us...somewhere, on Remnant."

"But how?" Hazel then asked in turn. "Wasn't the portal safe." Salem said nothing, but her expression showed she was also wondering the same thing.

"It was!" Watts raised his voice slightly. Then calmed down as he realized it wasn't best to yell at a woman who could easily drop him if he angered her too much. "But...I suppose I...may have...made a mistake…" That last part he hissed. Really, he wasn't even sure what had happened. Everything on his data was fine, perfect even. Yet through unnatural odds, it failed and ended up with everyone teleported to some unknown forest. At the least he and the others weren't vaporized when the portal failed. That would have been nasty.

"Oh my. You made a mistake." Tyrian giggled. "Well, at least we can explore this land and see what needs to be killed. Why, I think I see a town over there."

"A town?" Cinder looked at the direction Tyrian was staring at and did see a town. "Well, I guess that can help."

"It can help to tell us where on Remnant we are." Hazel grunted in approval. "They must have a map. Especially seeing as I don't recognize this place." Though it did make sense. After all, it's not as if he's wandered the globe.

"Or maybe find a few lambs to, hehehe, cut short." A few of the villains groaned with Hazel rubbing his face and Cinder scowling at Tyrian. The faunus may be a powerful combatant and expert tracker...but beyond that he's insane.

"In any case," Salem spoke, making them all silent. "I will have the Nevermore land close by while Hazel and Watts go and find information where we are. If that doesn't work, I'll simply talk to the Grimm."

"Yes ma'am."

"Understood."

The two men say as Salem then commanded the Nevermore to land close, but not too close, to the town. Once they got off, Hazel and Watts began walking where everybody else stayed behind. Though as they left, Cinder then realized something that they could just use their scrolls to figure out here they are. Taking hers out, she then attempted to use the Remnant World Map only to get no signal.

'Huh. Guess the CCT doesn't reach here.' Guess they'll just have to wait. Though as she saw the men vanish from her sight, to distract herself Cinder grabbed her blades and began flipping it. As she did this though, she felt something was missing. She just wasn't sure what.

Meanwhile, as Tyrian just went near a tree and whispered to himself, Salem looked up at the sky. As she did so, she found herself narrowing her eyes. Strange. As a person who spent a lifetime gazing at the stars, why was it that...they seemed different? Actually, the moon itself looked a bit off as well. Rubbing her eyes, Salem figured perhaps her mental state was recovering still from being blown up. Still, she couldn't help but feel something was...wrong.

The only question was, what was it?

"So, this is the town huh." Watts and Hazel walked for a few minutes in relative silence, where eventually they found themselves at the village where a wall surrounded it. Made sense, all villages and towns had something like a barricade to help keep the Grimm out. Otherwise chances of survival plummeted. "Hopefully this backwater place has what we need." Especially since he was getting no signal with his scroll here.

The two then walked until they reached a gate, where a human then popped out. "Halt." He cried out. "State your business."

"We're just travelers who got a bit lost." Watts made up an excuse. "And unfortunately, we lost our map."

"We are hoping you have one to share." Hazel called out.

"Hm?" The man narrowed his eyes from above, but then shrugged. Seeing nothing wrong. "Alright. But no funny business here."

"Of course." Watts answered as the man disappeared. "Idiot." He then whispered.

After a few minutes of waiting, the gates then opened up with the same man from before waving at them. "All right, come on in. But just letting you know, I'm keeping an eye on you."

Because he likely didn't trust them. Made sense. Two strangers coming out of nowhere who could possibly be thieves. Granted, Watts felt insulted to be considered some two-bit thief, but he relented his opinion. Right now he and Hazel needed a map, and nothing more. Oh. Well, maybe some food too. He was a bit hungry.

"Okay then." The man then walked next to them. While not hostile, he was still a bit wary of these two. "So a map is all you need, right."

"A map and perhaps some supplies." Hazel added. "A Grimm attack happened and well, we had to decide between food and our lives."

"That would explain why you're carrying nothing. Not to mention, dressed strangely to." Their outfits weren't the outdoor types.

"Oh. We were really just taking the forest as a shortcut." Watts then hurried an excuse. "Our real destination is a bit warmer. Why, we had a jeep and everything. All gone now of course."

"Rookie mistake." The man shakes his head. "The Grimm could easily tear apart a jeep unless it's been modified. And even that probably won't be enough."

"Lesson learned of course." Watts grinned. "Why, I'll probably take the actual route next time. Unless of course there are bandits nearby." May as well see if the forest held more than just Grimm. Bandits were after all common out in the open.

"Not to many." The man said before looking at Hazel. "Though I reckon you can handle them."

"Of course." Hazel says. "I'm not a Huntsman, but I have trained to defend myself."

"And I also took some lessons too. While not an expert, I can shoot a bullet just fine." Watts added his piece to make the duo look good and legit. Considering how the man was looking less wary, it was working.

"I see. In any case, here we are." All three then stopped at what was a small gift shop. Where one could see through the windows some cups, hats, clothing, and so on. "Come on, let's get you some of those supplies and that map."

"With pleasure." Watts smirked as he then took out his scroll, detecting a signal and began making attempts to access it. Hazel saw this and stepped in front of Watts, blocking the man's view of what Watts is doing.

As they entered the store, Hazel sent a look at the doctor as if asking, 'You done?'

'Good.' was the expression Watts made as he secretly put his scroll away. A little program of his now running on his device with nobody the wiser.

"Alright then," The man then took them to a small table where a bunch of rolled up plastic papers were there. The word map was above the table, with the man grabbing one of them and handing it to Hazel. "I'll get your rations and you two go to the counter to pay for the stuff, understood."

"Yes."

"Of course."

The man nodded and then went to get the supplies travelers needed. Once he was gone, Hazel and Watts looked at the rolled up map. The two quickly took out the rubber band that held it in place and unrolled it. There they then decided to see just where on Remnant they were.

"?" A nearby woman heard a small noise and turned, where she then saw Hazel and Watts. Both who had gasped as there eyes couldn't believe what they had just seen. Looking and wondering if they saw was wrong. Because if it wasn't...

...they were in trouble.

"The stars are wrong."

"Hm?" Cinder then looked at Salem, who heard her comment. "What was that?"

"The stars." Salem said again, looking at the night sky. "I've seen them countless times throughout every century...and they're all wrong." While Cinder couldn't understand exactly what her master meant, to Salem, she was feeling something off. Very off.

Once she spent eternal lifetimes before the second generation of humans came, and all she saw were the stars and the moon. Over and over, memorizing each alignment not because she cared, but because she had nothing better to do during those times. Remembering every constellation.

Yet she saw none of them here.

'The moon is off as well. At first glance it looks the same, but there are some differences.' While some of the floating moon pieces moved around over time, she already knew what the current formation and positioning of those pieces were. Yet like the stars, they were also off and not like her memory.

But what could it mean?

"Maybe you're still recovering." Cinder suggested to Salem. "I mean, getting your head blown up by that quack's machine certainly couldn't have helped."

"..." Salem said nothing, but she didn't seem convinced either. Her own mind was telling her that something was wrong, and she just needed the last few pieces to figure out what the problem is.

"Ohoho!" It was then Tyrian giggled as he came to the woman. The faunus bowing with his scorpion tail swishing. "My lady, it seems we have some guests coming."

"Guests?" Salem turned and saw nobody, with Cinder seeing the same result. The Fall Maiden scowled at Tyrian, thinking he was wasting their time.

"I see nothing fool." Cinder told him.

"Aha." Tyrian spoke with a giggle, putting a finger close to his mouth. Angering Cinder, but she stayed silent as Tyrian continued his speaking. "Shh! The twigs whisper in pain."

While Cinder still heard nothing, Salem caught on quick enough. "You can hear them."

Tyrian nodded quickly, with Cinder catching on that his traits as a faunus made him hear the people coming near much faster. It annoyed her, but Tyrian was good at tracking and figuring out those who tried playing the stealth game. Cinder took out her blades but stopped when Salem held out her hand.

"No need for either to get yourselves worked up." Her eyes glew as she then mentally connects herself to a nearby juvenile Nevermore who cawed. The Grimm then flies to the direction to where the people are, and soon finds the people coming close. It appears to be a small group of bandits, considering their clothes and the way they acted. "If anything," She then lifted her hand, and nearby some roars could be heard. Seconds later, screams. "Let the Grimm have their fun."

"Aw poo." Tyrian looked a bit down. "Wanted to join the Grimm...Next time." Cinder rolled her eyes.

As Salem just looked away to observe the stars, in a second she then felt something. A connection, someone else connecting to the Grimm...then her.

"..Fa.*) ho?(*p"

Eyes widening, in an instant Salem cut off the connection she had with the Grimm. Someone...someone actually tried speaking to her. But, Grimm can't do that. At least not any of the regular ones she's using. Even then, while heavily distorted, she indeed heard a voice. Just what was that?

'Must be my imagination.' She then concluded. While she was physically fine, she did mentally feel a bit tired. While she rarely slept, perhaps some meditation will help ease her mind. Just because her head regenerated, doesn't mean she didn't feel any pain when her head blew up.

So as she closed her eyes, Salem simply relaxed herself and began meditation. The other two doing their own things as they waited for Watts and Hazel to return with the map and possibly supplies.

"..." She then opened her eyes and then saw a small Nevermore, staring at her. Simply watching her movement despite the fact that most Grimm didn't bother with her unless she commanded it. It's eyes observing her not like a beast, but as a person. In a quick second she crushed it silently with her telekinesis, and while she wasn't sure why she did that, it felt right for some reason. Salem then went back to entering her meditation. Her last thought before relaxing being one thing.

'The Grimm here. They certainly feel different.'

"What an interesting feeling." Somewhere else on earth, miles away, there was a dark forest infested with Grimm that came out of pools of dark liquid. Grimm that were both young but with deadly Grimm that lived next to them. Yet the most dangerous of them all lived in a castle. With those who know him regarding him as one of, if not, the most dangerous living being on earth.

A being that has lived for ages upon ages, and watched the world turn whenever he was awake. Mastering his power day by day, observing the flaws yet strength of humanity, and gathering those who wish for a change. Now living away from the eyes of his enemies while planning to take over the earth, and potentially everything else beyond it. Dealing with both those who wish to stop him to save the world, or those who want to throw the first punch and ruin his plans.

His name is Sammael. The first second generation Fallen and the mastermind for numerous events across this planet, with even a few scores in space.

And at the moment, he was wondering one thing…

"Should I accelerate the plans to kill Van Kleiss now, or later?" Of course it would be later, but after that little stunt that his Seer Grimm detected he was thinking of changing options. His Seer nearly died as the explosion affected a few dimensions, including the Shadow Realm it was in. The Seer now on the ground of Van Kleiss's ruined lab where it barely lived, though only after it saw what Van Kleiss did.

Honestly, Sammael was a bit relieved that nothing too bad came from that explosion. His Seer informed him of the different dimension Van Kleiss saw, and admittingly he was glad that fool locked some dimensions as off-limits considering Van Kleiss met some very powerful beings. Sammael is not delusional to think every other being in the multiverse is weak, and knew there were some that could easily challenge this world. Or those who could sneak around and plot his downfall.

His mind recalls that Creature who attempted to make a deal with the wielder of the Gem of Bond.

And while that explosion was interesting, as amusing as it was to see Van Kleiss panicking, Sammael also felt something come out of it. It seems through destiny, fate, or plain bad luck that a few individuals actually came out of the portal. With one presence...feeling very familiar to his own along with the Fallen.

Which is why he attempted to probe through an unnatural mental connection he felt, only for it to be cut off quickly. Then he attempted to call upon a Grimm to find what this disturbance was, only for the bird to be crushed before any relevant information could be gathered. All he got were three people and the Nevermore didn't even get a good look of the person of interest before it was killed.

Although he did wonder one other thing.

'Considering I detected this, it's more than likely Sebben has as well.' Leaving the question of what the wielder of the Gem of Sight will do.

Lots of threats were coming, Sebben knew this. Challenges will come in the form of numerous obstacles, with countless threats coming. Bill Cipher, Van Kleiss, Vilgax, Satryra, Kur, the Kaiju Grimm Baxtra, and of course Sammael. With others he knew also coming.

In that sense, they were all connected so to say. As they represented a challenge that will make it so that this generation will either succeed against them...or fail. Yet he believed and has hope the Justice Friends, the Elementals, and even those who weren't even considered heroes or Huntsmen could defeat these menaces. To save the world from the numerous threats that were to come, with Sammael as the last.

Which was why it surprised him when suddenly a new vision came, one unconnected to every single villain and coming threats he knew of.

One that wasn't the pawn or influence of any of the villains he knew, but free to do whatever they liked.

A small group that shouldn't be important, yet his eye told him something else.

"Hahahaha!" A scorpion faunus laughed as he battled against a serial killer mobian known as Katz. The latter of which was losing as the scorpion then somehow bypassed his aura and gave a nasty cut across his chest.

"Ga!" A man with Dust Crystals in his forearms being tossed around by Yara before her team then came.

"Give up." Yara told the man as her team then came behind her. "You can't stop us."

"Who said I was trying to stop you." The man then said as he gave a look of pity to Team REYN. "If anything, I was trying to help." Suddenly numerous Grimm came out, skeletal looking ones where at once they began wailing.

"My, my." A man with a mustache said as he looked at a few YoRHa androids, with one glaring at him. "Such complicated machines. Technology I've never seen before. Amazing circuitry."

The YoRHa droid tried backing away, when suddenly the man pulled out eight rings with them all glowing. He then gave a grin and said, "I think I'll take you."

A girl with a cross-shaped scar on her face and a black mask grinned as suddenly, her limb which was that of a Grimm extended and grabbed hold of a girl known as Kimiko. Kimiko screamed as she felt something being ripped out of her before falling unconscious. The girl then summoned a flame.

"I suppose this will do nicely as the Fall Maiden power."

Then finally, it showed a woman who looked eerily similar to the Fallen themselves. White skin, dark veins, a black robe with red eyes. Behind her were many Grimm with a massive Wyvern Grimm under her control. An entire town destroyed with only the dead to be seen.

The woman then looks up and asks one thing.

"Who are you?"

Where Sammael comes out of the shadows with an interest gleam in his eye.

Sebben then blinked, the vision gone. A frown on his face. Then he realized one thing and said, "Van Kleiss."

That man was creating scars across the universe and to others. While he could only make conjecture and educated guesses, Sebben got the feeling these five accidentally came here, and not because the E.V.O called upon them. Perhaps he should accelerate his plans for Van Kleiss later, because if these five were a danger to the point his eye showed a vision, then the last thing this world needed was for Van Kleiss to accidentally summon something even more dangerous. There was no telling what he could do with his operating portal.

"And I need to see who these five are." He had little to no information on them, only that they were obviously a threat to this world. While he could think of a few who would arrogantly say these five wouldn't be a threat, Sebben has seen how so-called non-threats could be dangerous given time. Meaning he should deal with these five before they become an actual threat to this world.

Especially that woman. Her appearance practically screamed Fallen, yet she was from another world. And while he couldn't predict what would happen if both she and Sammael met, he'd rather they didn't meet.

Of course he was already busy enough as it is, and most of his allies were dealing with the problems that could determine this world's fate. Bill, the Cluster, Van Kleiss. It was slightly grating that this new threat has now come just when everybody else was dealing with the current situation. Meaning he could only send a few heroes and Huntsmen to deal with these five.

He only just hoped, it was enough.