Chapter 11 – The Salem Knight
Then…
Six years ago…
He held the Scroll to his ear, staring Salem down as she got even closer. He thickly swallowed with a shaky breath as she reached out her hand. "I'm sorry…" He uttered, before he hit the send button. The blast completely vaporised him in fire, and Salem's body was also destroyed in the explosion. From his eyes, it was all over… just nothing. But for Salem, it was nothing but the same thing all over again. She rose from the ashes like a Phoenix, bones and muscle forming from a glowing gold light. She hardly even seemed bothered by the explosions which were being set off in a chain reaction.
She stood over the crater as the land collapsed around her, including the area that Pyrrha fell through and died in. The smoke and fire caressed her pale skin, yet it hardly even affected her, and she rose up, staring down at where he was. There was nothing left to remember him by, and she clenched her hand into a fist. She turned her head to the smoke to see Weiss and Blake, wounded and nearly dying, making a break for it. But she did not pursue, instead she turned her frustrations to the Tower, where Ozpin was still dying.
He laid upon the ground as the entire building began to collapse around him, the Amphitheatre still aflame with the bodies scattered everywhere. And no sign of Team C.R.D.L. Just the bloodied remains of Cardin's arm on the floor, and Jaymes Ickford, his neck crushed by Salem in one single moment. Ozpin coughed blood in pain as he laid there, and Salem approached him slowly, staring down at him.
Her eyes seemed to glow fiercely with that red energy that coursed through her veins alongside all the other Grimm that served her. He just glared at her and wheezed. Salem gritted her teeth, and she brought the Sword downwards with all her might into his chest, the flames erupted through his entire body, burning every inch of him to dust, and the shockwave created from the impact shattered the remaining support beams.
The huge skyscraper began to crumble down towards the ground with a deafening roar, Salem did not move as it completely buried her. Massive chunks of rock which consumed the entire building. More explosions erupted across the entire Academy, caused from Jaune's final act. A few moments passed before the huge pile of rubble suddenly exploded, and Salem rose from it, completely unharmed, glowing gold. She left it and Ozpin's body, lost and forgotten beneath the rubble.
Most likely still the site where his bones were buried to this day.
What do I do now? The Boy was the only way for me to acquire that damned sword. I had hoped it was all supposition, but the Sword beneath Beacon was a lie.
Perhaps… the Relic of Knowledge… could help me locate the Relic's true location? Destruction, Choice and Knowledge must still be hidden within the Academies. Ozpin must have done something different with Creation to keep it safe, he always was quite the cleverest and most cunning.
However… I have changed… and am no longer the girl he once knew, not the one that Ozma knew.
All this means nothing though, I need a Young Male Arc, that was how it worked. That was how the link to the Relic worked, it was bound to the Arcs, and only young male Arcs could wield the weapon… supposedly, at the very least.
I know of a few methods though; it would already be easier if I could just use Creation to resurrect him… but… there are other… darker… methods of resurrection.
But would my followers still believe in me if they learned I was capable of Necromancy?
The Boy was indeed the enemy, and yet I wonder… how would they react if they saw him brought back to life? Even if he was a puppet? Would they still follow me? I imagine Tyrian would stay loyal; he would never risk displeasing me. Emerald and Mercury are teetering on the edge right now, I can tell from the way they stand to the side. Killian is constantly war with his own morality, and I fear Hazel could view me the same way he already views Ozpin.
What were you thinking, Ozma? When you robbed the graves of the dead to create Hazel Rainart? How did you think that would ever serve your ideals in the long run? The ways in which you do things never ceases to confound me.
That foolish boy Adam Taurus on the other hand is a ticking time bomb, how he believes he could ever replace Cinder is beyond me, and his sick obsession over that poor girl, Miss Belladonna, just angers me. Not only is it cruelty for the sake of it, but it makes him predictable, and no matter how impressive your fighting skills may be, your predictability is what can eventually lead to your downfall.
A fact I am certain he will learn very soon if he maintains his current course.
And for Watts and Icarus?
Well, Watts has known me half his life and helped me get back on my feet after what happened to my children. Somehow… I know it was not Ozma, he would have never done what that man did. Watts will most likely stay loyal but will also become fascinated in the Dark Magic I used to summon his soul and resurrect his corporeal form. And Icarus is a Mercenary, for now he is only loyal to his Paycheck, however I believe he is amendable, Watts does speak highly of him after all.
And Watts does not sing one's praises very often. I guess I shall take that as a sign.
However, I will need to find something that once belonged to him… that will be one piece in the puzzle I will require. I can imagine… it will take me some time to fully find a way to bring Jaune Arc back from his early grave.
It could take many years to find all the components I need… and more so… to wait for the right moment.
I know with certainty that those children are not dead, and survived that savage man, Valravn Branwen. They will continue to cling to their fleeting hope, their aspirations.
But that is merely the first move.
So, let them come, let them try to stop me. Try to tear down the world I am going to create from the ashes of their old one.
Because when they come… I will be waiting… and he shall be beside me…
The six years which followed had many events that Salem oversaw with her many minions, her eyes and ears were everywhere, and they learned everything. From the culling of the Huntsmen and Huntresses on the run, or the rising Insurrection against her new rule. One she brutally cut down with efficiency, butchering them all one by one and stuffing what remained in secret locations, alongside the corpses of the poor Huntsmen and Huntresses who could not get away and find safe refuge.
But during the many years, the Children of Salem and even the Dark Queen herself were carrying out their nefarious plans. Out in Vale, Tyrian and Hazel approached an old Cemetery together. They both watched from the shadows as a mourning Saphron Arc was crouched before the grave of Jaune Arc, sobbing with Terra gently holding her close, kissing her cheek. No matter how many years passed, they were all still suffering from the loss of such a loved family member. Pyrrha's grave was next to him – and Tyrian spotted another couple. They were older and both looking forlorn as well.
Jaune's parents – there was a lot of pain in their eyes, perhaps it was guilt? For not supporting him in his decisions enough? For not being there for him when he needed them?
Tyrian scoffed as he watched them. "Weakness… crying over the dead. What is the point? The dead cannot hear your cries." He hissed with a snarl, Hazel did not say a word, he just bowed his head artificially. The rain fell around them constantly, clapping against the leaves in the trees and onto their hoods. Eventually the Arc Family departed from Jaune's grave, and when it was clear the two of them approached. Tyrian disrespectfully pranced across the Grave of Jaune, disrespecting it completely. But Hazel clenched his hand into a fist and stared him down.
"Get… off." He warned with a deep growl. Tyrian stood there, glaring right at the undying man.
"What's it to you? He was our enemy." Tyrian shrugged his shoulders like that of a child. But Hazel just glared at him as the rainwater trickled down his skin and chin. It felt like a fight was about to break out, but Tyrian eventually stepped off his grave. Hazel approached the knocked over flowers and he crouched down, righting them and holding his hands behind his back. He bowed his head honourably.
"I'm sorry, Jaune Arc. I wish there were a better way for the world to change. I still wish Killian's method had worked." He sighed.
"If you wanted that to work then why did you not work with him?" Tyrian cooed.
"The same reason why Salem let Watts in on it and did not let you have any input until he was arrested. Because Salem commanded, I try to capture Jaune Arc whenever I could. Perhaps I should have captured him… maybe his family would not be mourning him right now." He sighed sadly.
Tyrian clearly cared extraordinarily little for his regrets; he just immediately approached the other Grave beside Jaune Arc. Not Pyrrha's, the one on the other side.
"Well, well… here lies Grandpa Arc." Tyrian giggled, stood over the grave of – Athelstan Arc. The Grandfather who gave Jaune Crocea Mors in the first place, and it ruffled some feathers in the family. Especially with his parents, and Jaune always sung the highest of praises about his Grandfather. He always seemed to know more than he let on, but never spoke of who came before.
Strange…
They waited until nightfall, and once the sun had fallen behind the Horizon and the Shattered Moon floated in the endless dark… the two of them returned. Hazel shone his flashlight onto Athelstan's grave, and he glanced at Tyrian. "Come on, let us carry out our Queen's Bidding." Tyrian said, so they started to dig.
"Why the hell does she even want a part of his body? He's just some old dead man." Hazel questioned, digging up the soil with ease.
"I do not know and do not need to know. I simply do as my Queen wishes." Tyrian answered, throwing lumps of soil over his shoulder, but that caused Hazel to pause.
"Wait… so even you don't know? Even Watts and the others don't know." Hazel stated, stabbing his Shovel down against the soil, Tyrian looked right at him.
"Have you been going behind her back? Sewing doubt amongst us?" Tyrian hissed, and Hazel narrowed his eyes.
"No – I just don't like feeling like I am being lied to." Hazel answered.
"We are all on a need-to-know basis. She will explain all when the time is right, until then we carry out her wishes. That is our duty, we owe her everything. Especially you." Tyrian snarled.
"You don't have to remind me." Hazel assured, digging harder into the soil now.
"She accepted you when nobody else would. All they saw was a monster… how dare you doubt our Queen." Tyrian prodded.
"I am not doubting her!" Hazel barked, which made Tyrian giggle disturbingly.
"I guess we shall see." Tyrian said, proceeding to dig further. They kept on digging until they hit the Coffin. The wood splintered beneath the shovel and Hazel crouched down and ripped it open, revealing the skeletal remains of Athelstan inside. He shuddered.
"Never liked the idea of Grave Robbing." Hazel said.
"Ironic, considering you're the product of it." Tyrian said, more than happy to rummage around the bones of the old Arc Warrior.
"Go to hell." Hazel growled.
"One day, my big lump of a friend. One day!" He laughed, somehow that made Hazel find Tyrian that much more unnerving. The fact that he knew where he would be going when he finally met his end meant he did not fear it. And that was far scarier than someone who did. Because that meant nothing could stop him, only death.
Tyrian grabbed the forearm of Athelstan, and he slammed his boot down onto the elbow, snapping it off. He held it in his hand and grinned, turning to Hazel. "Here we have it, come. Let us bring this back to our Queen."
At another point in time during the Six Years…
Salem walked with Five of her Praetorian Knights towards a mysterious, and massive ancient castle somewhere in Vale. Huge did not do this place justice – and it had a simple name.
Arcadia.
This was Vale's final bastion in the Great War, when the Vacuan Mongrels and Mistraalian Immortals converged here, overlooking the ocean which led to Vytal – where the remaining Military of Vale retreated, and the war came to an epic close there, when the new younger leaders called for a ceasefire, knowing that this war was going to wipe them out.
At least that was what the History Books said…
Of course, it was believed that the superstition that surrounded their precious moon had something to do with it. The most Recent Eclipse happened on that very day, and many believed that they did not battle on Vytal, but fought together against something much, much worse.
Though sadly, neither stories have complete fact behind them, there were hardly any records left behind. Just stories… and stories could be embellished to suit a narrative.
Salem approached the drawbridge and she held out her hands, causing the destroyed Bridge to rise from the chasm of water beneath them, reconnecting together. She and her Knights walked across it with great ease, and the Dark Queen blasted a powerful fireball into the door which blew it clean off its old, rusted hinges. She walked inside, passing by the Ancient States of Knights holding swords, clad in armour. The armour was like that of the Arma Gigas, clearly from the same era, however it had different styling. More medieval with cloaks instead.
This place must have been over a thousand years old yet was most likely only abandoned for about a century, since the Great War ended roughly only eighty years ago, nearing ninety in the present. The Praetorian Knights were unnerving in how they moved, Salem could not help but look around the place. It was beautiful, so much history just sat here for people to find. And even this place was a mass grave, broken bones and skeletons left where they fell. But they all died fighting, Salem could not help but show respect for such bravery.
The Praetorian Knights respectfully walked around the bodies as they followed their Queen, getting closer and closer to the location of which they were searching for. She turned the corner and found a large Chamber, one of which the Praetorian Knights did not enter. She slowly walked inside with her hands behind her back, looking around the large room, huge caskets forged from stone inside.
However, she approached one of them and held out her hands, pushing the lid of it off, forcing it down onto the ground. She slowly approached and looked down at the skeleton inside, the one she put here in the first place. She stared down at him with disdain. "Hello old friend…" She softly said with rage in her burning red eyes. "Despite how much I wish I could force you to suffer in the purgatory I trapped you in… I need you now."
She revealed the Relic of Choice, meaning this was after she acquired it from Atlas. She placed the Golden Crown atop her head, and it shone before the bones. She could hear demented screams from the skeleton and she held out her hand. A dark smoke erupted from the bones however it could not escape her. She smirked as it writhed, holding it close. "There you are…" She whispered, before grabbing the skull of the body and ripping it from the neck. The smoke howled like it was in agony, but she hardly even reacted.
She held the skull in her palm and closed her red eyes, before staring at the smoke which became trapped within her.
"One to go…"
Emerald and Mercury were the ones to find the final piece of this puzzle, despite none of them knowing why they were going on a scavenger hunt for parts of long dead men. Mercury raised his fists, ready to fight at any second as they approached the house, but Emerald stopped him. "Wait…" She whispered, and she held his hand and pressed her fingers to her head, closing her red eyes. He calmed down, feeling at home whenever she held his hand, and the two of them approached the house, and she crouched down. Her semblance had become more powerful now, and she could hold it for longer, even without having to hold his hand.
She worked her magic on the door, picking the lock, and then she slowly and carefully opened the door. The two of them walked inside, peeking around each of the corners. It was midnight here, and the owners of the house were asleep by now. Alongside the youngest daughter, the two of them carefully walked through the house and approached the stairs. They could see the couple asleep in their bed together, but it was clear that they were struggling to get any sleep.
Emerald saw the door – it still had the name on it like when they were children.
Jaune's Room!
No Pigtails!
Emerald let out a nervous exhale as she approached the door of his old bedroom. She carefully opened the door, and just as they heard – the room was left exactly as he left it when he left home to join Beacon.
Messy.
With an old Pumpkin Pete's box left on the floor, probably the one that came with his hoodie. Sadly, that one was gone, but it was not what they were looking for. They approached his closet and carefully opened it, whilst Mercury kept an eye on the door. She looked inside and saw his old clothes. "Hey…" She whispered, grabbing one of the other Black Hoodies. "You think this would work?"
"She said something that meant a lot to him." He said, and he turned and saw some of the things that were left on the floor. He crouched down and held it in his hand – it was an old kid's toy.
A sword, to be exact.
Nothing overly special about it, but they both knew how much he wanted to be a Huntsman. They thought maybe they could have chosen one of the Cereal Boxes because – Pyrrha Nikos. But… he did not know her at this time, and the object had to have been important to him the last time he was there.
Perhaps this could work.
He picked up the toy sword but as they were about to leave, they heard the crying from the bedroom as Jaune's mother got up. She went to the bathroom, perhaps to try and calm herself down, but she stopped.
The door was open.
She slowly approached the room as she sniffled, and pushed it open, finding nobody inside. However, they were still in there, stood completely still with Emerald keeping them invisible from her view. But they had to stay silent and motionless for it to be convincing, unlike with the Fall Maiden before Cinder. The Mother looked around with confusion, wiping the tears from her eyes. Emerald felt so bad for her, it was clear how badly the Arc family was suffering with the death of Jaune.
They could never prepare themselves for that side of this job, seeing how it hurt the people they were close to. The Inhumane Necessity never sat right with them… hell none of this did. After Cinder vanished, they ran, tried to escape but one of the Abductors snatched them and brought them back to Salem to be punished.
They both still had the scars.
The mother looked at his bed where his clothes laid and she just wiped her tears away before quietly going to the bathroom, closing the door behind her. Emerald looked at Mercury and he smiled, gently caressing her cheek. "C'mon… let's go. This family has been through enough."
They vaulted through the window and Emerald returned to the front door and closed it.
The Day Pyrrha resurrected…
When all four pieces were brought together, Salem stood with her Praetorian Knights before a massive cauldron filled with the Bubbling Grimm Tar that forged the Grimm. She closed her eyes, and she began to speak in a tongue that was older than anyone could possibly remember.
"Semoto a profundis puer meus…" She began, holding the skeletal arm of Athelstan above the tar, and dropping it into the cauldron. Her veins started to glow red as she formed a strange dark field around it, forcing the tar to start vigorously bubbling, like it was boiling. Her voice echoed off itself as she continued the enchantment, sounding more and more demonic. "Aperi oculos tuos filius meus: ecce nos novae terrae…" She chanted, dropping the skull into the cauldron. She held out her arms as she felt the Dark Magic pulse through her like a drug. Her veins pulsated with red light. She picked up the toy sword and ran her fingers across its blade, before continuing the ritual. "Effundet sanguinem blasphemantium…" She continued, dropping the rubber sword down into it as well. Its rubber mould started to melt as the force of pure destruction consumed it. Then Salem held out her arms as the Black Smoke shot out from her sternum, hovering above her head, the Relic of Choice glowing constantly as she held it there against its will.
She opened her glowing red eyes and roared the final chant. "Surge morte de manu tua, serve meus, et filii regina!" She then sent the screeching black smoke down into the tar with force, and it splashed within it. Salem raised her hands with powerful magic being cast, lifting the entire swirling ball of tar from the vat. Horrific screeches erupted from within as she held it, and she could see the glowing purple light through the darkness, slowly forming the bones, the muscle and organs and finally the skin and hair.
Then the Tar was thrown everywhere, and it faded away into black smoke, dropping the naked pale skinned and white-haired body of Jaune Arc onto the floor. Salem lowered her hands as she stared down at Jaune on the floor, shivering from either fear or the cold. But Salem gazed at him with total awe as she crouched down, and gently touched his shoulder, turning him around. The moment he saw her kind motherly smile, he screamed with terror, crawling backwards, hitting the wall.
"What the hell is this? Where am I? How am I?" He stammered, staring at his chest to see the scars still there from the Ursa Major.
"Interesting… you still bear the scars of your former life. For the first time in so many years… you are the first person in millions of years that I have actually succeeded in bringing someone back from death. Thirteen times I tried… thirteen tries I failed." Salem said as she crouched down before him, and gently caressed his cheek. "Until now…"
He shuddered and glared at her with gritted teeth. He remembered… he seemed to remember everything up until the moment of his death perfectly. "Clever and courageous move, Mr Arc… I must admit. Killing yourself to stop me… but you miscalculated the effect my efforts have had." Salem explained as she rose back up and walked around him with her arms behind her back. He hugged his knees fearfully as a deep purple glow flickered around his eyes for a moment and he shuddered.
"The world has changed since your passing, Mr Arc." Salem stated. "You can help me keep the world safe, however… I still need something from you." She said, stopping before him, facing the door. "The Relic… of Creation."
He glared at her and he scoffed. "I… will never help you." He defiantly growled, and Salem turned with a smile.
"Is that so?" She then narrowed her eyes, and the Relic of Choice began to glow as she stared him down. The purple glows around his eyes became more and more aggressive and Jaune began to scream in agony as he shook on the floor, grabbing his face as they burned cracks into his eyelids and around the eyes themselves. She then stopped and that kind smile returned, blood leaked from his open wounds as he laid there, and Salem crouched down before him. "Your defiance is admirable… but mistaken." Salem stated. "I brought you back into this world, and I have already placed the power within you to make you what I need you to be." Salem explained, but Jaune gritted his teeth and suddenly swung his fist at Salem, but she caught his wrist and proceeded to throw him across the room and against the wall, where one of the Praetorian Knights walked up to him from behind.
"I… will never serve you!" He cried out, but Salem created an inhuman roar, dark and demonic as her eyes glowed bright red. The naked, weakened Arc tried to get back up but Salem then blasted powerful crackling glowing arcs of magic into his chest. Jaune screamed from the immense pain as countless elements struck him at once. She then stopped as she approached him.
"You dare to strike your saviour?" She snarled as she approached him. "Your arrogance to believe you were the apex of evolution doomed your future." Salem growled.
Jaune panted as smoke trailed from the scorch marks on his chest, but as he tried to get back up the Praetorian Knight kicked him in the back, forcing him on is chest. It then reached down and grabbed him by the head and forced him to glare at her. "You… destroyed everything we built!" He strained.
"Because your leadership was bringing your civilisation to extinction!" She roared, suddenly punching him across the face, causing the purple energy within him to pulsate once more. It spread around his eyes, slowly beginning to infect the blue in his irises. She then proceeded to caress the side of his cheek that she punched, smiling in a motherly way once more. "My perfect creation… you're going to help me fix this world, by finding the Relic of Creation and bringing it to me. Or what remains of your world will die forever." She warned, smirking sinisterly. Her hand slid across his neck and up to his chin where she held him, looking right into his eyes. "I made you… you are now mine to command."
The days passed on, and Salem's corruption over Jaune grew and grew as her words began to seep into his mind. And… he was starting to understand… and even agree with her reasons. Something was very, very wrong… and the purple in his eyes was getting worse and worse. He followed Salem through the halls of Evernight, gazing at the old carvings which showed the Eclipse and a Sword floating on the ground, firing a powerful beam up into the sky.
But then she showed him many screens, ones that show the way in which the world worked now. He was no longer naked and was wearing some robes around his body as he saw it all. "I have not been starving and consuming this world, not like the U.G.R did, or you Headmasters did. I am restoring balance. No longer to the Faunus live under discrimination, for all those who viewed them in such cruel ways were executed for it, and any who would view people for simply being who they are would suffer the same fate." Salem explained.
"Except for the Huntsmen and Huntresses?" Jaune asked, and she stopped, placing her hand against the wall.
"That… was different. It was necessary, a time of war, so to speak. Ozpin and the other Headmasters were no better than those politicians. They sat back and saw all the problems in the world and chose to do nothing about them. But look at the world now? Faunus and Humans working together in harmony. The Schnee Dust Company no longer forces Slave Labour upon its employees, and now that my presence is known, the Grimm no longer attack innocents. The world is more at peace than it has ever been." Salem explained as she slid her hand across the wall, and Jaune followed her.
"But… what about Pyrrha? And my friends?" Jaune stammered.
She stopped and sighed. "We do not know. I fear many of them were lost in the Inhumane Necessity, but some did survive." Salem explained.
"Which?" Jaune nervously asked, desperately hoping to hear Pyrrha's name.
Salem showed him – the footage of Ruby Rose stealing the Relic of Knowledge from her, alongside Yang, Nora and Ren. "They have been trying to stop me from protecting the world from the threat that is inevitably coming."
"Threat? What threat?" He stammered.
"There is a reason I seek the Relics, Mr Arc. I do not seek them for the reasons you have been told. The Brothers Grimm, the ones who made our world? They are coming, I can feel it. And when they do, I will need the Relics to stop them. They are the only tools powerful enough to cut them down." Salem explained.
"What's so bad about them coming back?" He asked.
"They wish to erase our world. They see us all as monsters, Jaune. Creatures, failures that must be eradicated to continue their endless plan. But I can ensure that we are safe from their desire for extinction." Salem assured, before she approached Jaune and gently slid her fingers across his shoulder, whispering into his ear. "You… can save these people, Mr Arc. Isn't that what you want? To protect the world?"
The purple glow was growing more and more powerful in his eyes, the more he started to agree with her, the more the corruption spread through his soul.
Six Hours Before Adam's Punishment…
Jaune was levitating before Salem as bolts of lightning shot into him repeatedly, forcing the corruption to spread even faster than before. "The people you once called friends have returned…. And are working to bring about the destruction of this world by stopping what I aim to accomplish." Salem explained, and Jaune twitched as he shook his head, desperately attempting to fight the corruption that was consuming his mind. His voice no longer sounded the same, there were tones of the Jaune that once was… but there was a second voice buried within, a much darker… and evil… voice.
"F-Friends?" He stammered, he could picture their faces but was unable to remember their names, not even Pyrrha.
"Yes. They have risen against us, and thanks to Adam Taurus' foolish efforts, they have now allied themselves with Ruby Rose and the rest of her terrorist friends. We must destroy them…"
"… yes…" Jaune growled, sounding almost feral.
"You will find me the Relics of Creation and Knowledge, and atop their bones, the new world shall be born… and kept safe… My Knight…" She finished.
The blue eroded away from his eyes and they shone completely purple, and the scars were constantly shimmering and pulsing with the same vicious purple energy.
"I will destroy anything that stands in your way, my queen…"
Ruby
The cold snow drifted through the air whilst they all caught up, but it was noticeably clear that it was not just the Summit's cold temperatures that were forming the cold feeling in the room. The impact of the Atlesian Wildlands still hurt both sides, more so for Weiss and Blake's side of events. "How did you escape from Beacon? We… we went there a few months after it all fell apart… we saw the destruction…" Ruby explained with a stammered voice, like she was grasping for answers. Weiss and Blake both looked at Cinder who was still recovering her aura after her fight against Hazel.
"You can thank Cinder for that. She saved us… the Abductor that was hunting us the whole time we were tracking you? It came after us again, and it nearly grabbed us… that was when Cinder saved us. She killed it and took us in… she didn't have to. She just did the right thing." Weiss explained as she shot a smile towards the Fall Maiden who just shared a small one right back, taking a bite from the sandwich she was given.
"Sounds like my mother's hospitality really changed you." Yang said, there was a bit of resentment in her voice there.
"You could say that… I think it was this little goblin though." She chuckled, ruffling Amber's head, which made her giggle.
"Thank you, Cinder… really… I thought that I… lost them. I thought I failed them when I heard the news of what Salem had done to the Academies." Ruby explained and Cinder just nodded at Ruby. Few words really had to be shared between them, clearly there was still a bit of rivalry between the two of them, even now. However, it was nothing like what it was four years ago when they tried to kill each other.
Yang could not help but glance at Blake's eyes. "Blake… what happened?" Yang softly asked her, and the Feline Huntress turned her head in Yang's direction.
"Adam… he was there that night. He came for me and… he cut out my eyes." She revealed to them all, she did not show her scar to them though. "And… Sun… he's gone…" The heartbreak had never been clearer in her voice, Yang wanted to hug her, but she could tell from the way she was sat – like she was shielding herself – neither had forgotten what happened.
They looked at Pyrrha and Ruby was about to ask the question that was lingering on all their minds – How are you alive? How is this even possible? What about Jaune?
But they could not cover the subject before the door opened.
Li Ren opened the door and closed it behind him, with Eryka following him. Pyrrha still had said nothing, just looking at her own reflection in the tea she was given. "Sashaa, Eryka and I just investigated that old town you were at. The fact that Salem's Minions got so close and that Airship was able to fly up here is concerning. And I fear now Salem may know now that I have been letting you live here." Li explained.
"Crap… this isn't good." Nora sighed, pinching her brow.
"What do we do? Do we run?" Ruby asked.
"Run? Never. The Summit's Claim has survived armies long before Salem, we can survive them again." Li explained.
"Sure, but this is Salem. She's more powerful than anything we have faced before." Yang added.
"Yes… but this is also our home. And that is not something I am willing to give up any time soon. We have walls, we have the mountain and the snow to slow them down, we have the Altum Eagles and most of the people here have been trained in all manners of combat. We all knew the day would eventually come when Salem would figure out our location. We have been preparing for it… so let her come and try and take this place from us." Li stated, showing that the Fallen Angel he once was, remained to still be alive inside of him.
Determined and fearless right up until he drew his final breath, and he was not going to fall until he was good and ready.
Oscar also came through the door as well with Vicky – the Golden Retriever – and he sat down at the desk, Cinder sat upright and looked at him. "How is Vernal? Will she be okay?" Cinder nervously asked.
"Yeah, the poison is being taken care of. Luckily, these guys have some damn good medics. But she's gonna be out of action for a while." Oscar explained.
"Can't believe how easily that son of a bitch managed to sneak up on us." Cinder sighed.
"You of all people should remember how dangerous he is, and just how good he is at ambushing." Ruby stated.
"Yeah… I guess…" Cinder agreed as she massaged her wrists.
"How are you all? Looks like it was a hard journey." Li inquired.
"Well… our home was destroyed by Adam Taurus and that winged shit-head, Icarus. And my Airship got destroyed by the fricking Gyrfalcon and my best friend is currently in a bad way. So… yeah… it's been kinda rough." Cinder said, before she sighed. "Sorry…"
"No apologies required, ma'am. I can promise you that you all have a place here. From the Branwen Tribe, I remember that you, Oscar and Vernal were some of the good ones." He then turned to Amber and he smiled. "But you? I oughta keep my eye on you." He joked, gesturing to his blindfold. Amber giggled. "I am glad to see you did manage to get her back from Lavinia."
"As am I…" Cinder softly said, holding her close. Ruby smiled, she always knew Cinder cared for the kid… but she was totally different now. Like a mother… it was strange but in a really nice way.
The door opened once more. "No sign of that Airship, sir." Penny said.
"Penny, how many times must I say it? You can call me by my name." He chuckled.
"Oh, I'm sorry." Penny sweetly said.
"You needn't apologise, my dear." He assured.
"Okay… I'm sorry… oh… ha-ha…" She giggled shyly which made Li shake his head and chuckle. Penny turned and her eyes widened when she saw Weiss stand up with total disbelief in her eyes. Pyrrha looked at Penny as well, surprised to see her. The last time they met, she was hacked and disappeared – seeing her back and being herself again was quite the surprise.
"Penny?" Weiss gasped, she immediately stormed towards her and grabbed her with a warm hug. Blake followed and did the same. Pyrrha however did not stand, she just remained sat down. "You're okay! Y-You're okay…" Weiss stammered in awe as she looked at her, and Penny smiled so happily.
"And so are you… I thought… we all thought…" Penny sounded like she was gonna cry, but then she paused and stared directly at Pyrrha.
They're all staring at me again…
It was difficult to describe what Penny's expression looked like, part of it looked like the same awe she had when she saw Weiss and Blake again… but at the same time… she looked scared. She had not forgotten what happened back at Amity, how it felt to be ripped apart by Pyrrha Nikos. And the two had never really spoken about it, since the last time they saw each other, was when Penny was hacked by Watts.
This was the first time they had spoken since that day.
"Pyrrha?" Penny gasped, and Pyrrha just continued to stare down at her tea, inhaling and gritting her teeth slightly. Darkness watched her from the shadows, his arms behind his back like always. Ruby approached Pyrrha and gently touched her shoulder.
"Hey… are you okay?" Ruby softly asked, but Pyrrha pulled her shoulder away from her. "Pyrrha… are you alright?" Ruby asked once more, then Pyrrha finally spoke. But it started with a harsh scoff.
"Oh… I'm doing perfect Ruby, haven't felt better." Pyrrha then glared directly at her Silver Eyes. Ruby backed up slightly. "Do you seriously think… I have forgotten… what happened back in Atlas? Have you forgotten what you did to us all? You think we can all go back to the way things were?" Pyrrha questioned with seething anger in her voice. Ruby nodded her head and lowered it.
"You're still angry with me…" Ruby said, that seemed to send Pyrrha over the edge, even though Ruby did not mean it in any sort of patronizing way.
"It may have been six years for you Ruby! It may have been six years for all of you! But for me it has only been a few fucking days!" She roared, they all jolted when they heard Pyrrha Nikos of all people swear. Pyrrha was shaking with anger as she stared her down. "I still remember that day so well when Salem showed up. I was ready to give her everything I had, to prove that I was a Huntress… until she wiped our faces with a single blast of the Relic of Destruction. I have never felt so helpless…"
"Pyrrha… I…"
"And we needed you… Ruby… we needed you and your special silver eyes, just as you saved us the first time. But of course… now? I mean that in the past tense because you chose revenge over the people who cared for you. Over people who admitted their mistakes and came to your aid. So… yeah… sorry Ruby, but it's too late." Pyrrha shrugged, and Ruby could not even find the words, she looked at Weiss and Blake and she could see the expressions there as well.
They hadn't forgotten either, however they were not exploding like Pyrrha was. And it was clear… Weiss, Blake and Cinder? This explosion had been building for a while now, all that bottling up her emotion was turning her into a Molotov Cocktail. Pyrrha sniffled, clenching her hand into a fist. "You know what I need?" Her voice was trembling with the anger in her. She suddenly punched her tea so hard that the mug shattered instantly, and the scolding hot tea covered her tea. If not for her aura it would have left burns, but she did not even notice it as she got up. "I need a goddamn drink, not this tea." She growled.
Ruby stepped forward to try and comfort her but Pyrrha just walked towards the door, but she stopped. "I-It's funny because I remember, when we were still at the Academy, we were given the chance to avoid all of this from happening. We could have all signed the damn Vytal Consensus and nobody would have died. Whether it impacted our precious freedom or not, it would have saved lives!"
"Well, that didn't work out, did it?" Ruby calmly said.
"No. It didn't. Because you wanted to kill Jackdaw, and then you wanted to kill Qrow and Raven and Valravn." Pyrrha stated, tears welled up in her eyes as she stared directly at Ruby. "And now? How many people are dead because you chose revenge over your family? Jaune's gone… I died and was forced back to live in this hellish world. So yeah, forgive me for maybe seeming to be out of character right now, but I have got nothing for you Ruby! I've got no plans, no strategies or options against Salem. And for you specifically? No trust… not for you." She snarled, it cut deep – but Ruby couldn't blame her for her rage.
She still did not agree on the Vytal Consensus… but the Atlesian Wildlands? That was different… that was no disagreement… and Pyrrha did sadly say it plain.
Pyrrha then reached down into her jacket and pulled out Jaune's broken remains of Crocea Mors and shoved it to her chest, forcing her to hold the destroyed weapon of her dead friend. "Here. Take a good long look at it Ruby. Ask yourself if he would have done any differently." She coldly said, before turning to the door and swinging it open, walking out and slamming it shut behind her.
Ruby stood there, gazing down at the burned snapped sword in her hand and she squeezed her eyes shut with grief. Yang walked over to her and gently hugged her, whilst Weiss and Blake stayed sat down. Taiyang walked inside after hearing the argument. "What happened?" He asked nervously.
Ruby just showed him Crocea Mors.
Taiyang just sighed and he hugged her as well.
A few hours passed…
And Ruby walked outside to find Pyrrha, just to talk to her now she had some time alone. "Pyrrha?" She called out, still holding Crocea Mors' remains in her hand. But nobody responded, but she could hear something else.
"Gods… how are we gonna fix this?" The voice of Sashaa yelled with distress. Ruby ran to where she heard their friend, to find her trying to mend the front gates. They were… smashed open… but from the inside.
"What happened?" Ruby asked.
"That redhead! She just swung the doors open with some sort of power, broke the hinges so bad one of the doors fell off." Sashaa answered, Ruby's eyes widened, the snow had covered her tracks.
"Where did she go?" Ruby asked.
"I dunno, I didn't stop and ask her." Sashaa answered, Ruby pushed her hands through her hair.
"Shit… I've gotta find her. I owe her that much." Ruby said, turning to see Penny running over to her.
"What's going on?" Ruby's girlfriend nervously asked.
"Pyrrha… she's gone. I don't know where though…" But then Ruby started to think on it and her eyes widened. "Wait… the old town… the one we found them in. She said she needed a drink… there is an old bar there that still has some liquor there. She must be going there…" Ruby explained.
"Why not just leave her to it? She clearly doesn't want to see you… and besides… she's not that gentle gal you remember." Cinder's voice appeared, the two of them turned and saw Cinder leant against one of the houses. Most likely heard the commotion and had to see what was going on.
"That's why I have to find her. I do not know what happened or how she is alive, but something is very wrong. Pyrrha never spoke to people like that, even when she was pissed off, I have never seen her like that. And… I have things to atone for… even if she doesn't wanna hear it." Ruby explained as she walked towards the doors with Penny. Cinder sighed, and reluctantly pushed herself off the wall.
"Then I'm coming with you." Cinder said, Ruby stopped and looked at her. Cinder just looked at her and then she sighed.
"Okay… let's get moving. We can't be too far behind her." Ruby said, and the three of them walked through the broken gates to the Mountain Path to find Pyrrha.
She needed help… before she spiralled into a dark pit she could not climb out of.
Author Note - Pyrrha is in a seriously bad place right now... but man am I excited for what this will lead to...
The Pyrrha Vs Ruby Argument was really fun to write, showing Pyrrha being THIS angry was honestly so bizarre to do but in a really fun way. But to be honest I can't say I blame her. Like she said, for her it hasn't been six years, and it is all still really fresh. She was gonna snap eventually, constantly hiding her emotions like this and not knowing what to do is gonna catalyse and now it has.
And of course... the big bit - Jaune. Showing how Salem resurrected was really fun but in quite a messed up way. Truly shows how dangerous she is, and that she knows magic that is so dark that clearly even the Gods cannot control it. And her manipulation and torture just caused that corruption to spread faster and faster. The question is of course - what was that Black Smoke at Arcadia? So many questions... and I cannot wait to reveal them all. Also the Salem Knight version of Jaune is so awesome. So excited to show more!
I hope you enjoyed this chapter! Please review, follow and favourite!
Stay tuned for the next chapter!
- Matt