A/N: Back at it again~!
Took a few days to polish this up, hopefully it shines~!
So here, enjoy this nice, loooong chapter. Looking forward to chatting with ya'll later tonight!
As ever the Embers rule persists, reviews are my fuel, my fire, my life. Without them, I lose all inspiration, all hope, all ability to write. That's no joke. I have so little time to write these days with two jobs, and silence hurts. So by all means, speak up! Make yourselves heard! Every bit of feedback, no matter how small or large, matters! Really, it helps a lot. Its a joy to talk with you all and bandy ideas back and forth; it really is. Sorry if this seems shorter than usual, working on a tight schedule here.
Now, lets answer your burning questions, comments, and concerns:
Q: Are you taking a break for surgery for your back and legs?
A: Not yet. Likewise, surgery isn't a certainty atm, but its looking likely if spinal therapy doesn't work. The pain is...well. Some days are better than others. I'm a relatively fit fellow, but they can't figure out why my back's acting the way it is. Spine maybe? Nerves? Am I just getting old? causing the p have an appointment in the upcoming weeks to decide things.
Q: Update schedule?
A: Going around and updating/fixing my RWBY stuff, Genshin, and...just about everything else. Stuff like Embers of Hope, and so on. There's a lot more to come this year -and the next, provided my health holds- but I'm actually going wrapping up my older stuff.
Q: We ever gonna get more backstory on Willow's dead mom and sister? I know Nicholas mentioned them awhile back -can't remember what chapter- and its not like you to leave threads like that hanging. You're up to something, you sly dog!
A: No idea what you mean.
Q: Is little Cinder about to pull a Darth Myne?
A: Hey! I get that reference~! And we'll see. While our fiery girl remains on the side of good, her more...violent tendencies aren't so easily repressed. Naruto's helping her to aim them at those who deserve such, but the fact remains, she had a rotten life beforehand. All the therapy in the world won't change that.
Its up to her to decide where her life goes.
Q: Seeing some major death flags for SPOILER and SPOILER. Do not be puling a Coeur and doing needless angst. Let everyone live.
A: Needless angst? I disagree, good sir! I find Couer Al'Aran's stories quite enjoyable, actually. He's the one who got me into RWBY in the first place. And really, there's been precious little "angst" in his stuff lately. I'm especially enjoying his Arc Corp and Knight of Salem stories. Relic of the Future, so on and so forth.
But back to your inquiry. Angst isn't angst if it serves a purpose. And there's been a marked lack of that angst lately.
Q: Who in blazes is this goddess Kolgrim is worshipping? Surely it can't be...?
A: *zips lips*
Alright then, I think I've kept you waiting long enough.
As ever, I own noooo references, quotes, memes or themes.
Not a wit or a one. Ought to be reeeaaally bloody obvious by now.
And yes, I went there with that title, its a big honking references, though I'll not say to who!
"See, that's thing about fire. Tend to it properly, keep a watchful eye on it, and its fine.
But give it too much fuel, take your eyes off it, leave it untended...and...well.
Guess you could say I speak from experience on that.
Oi, oi, oi! Don't be giving me that look, Neo!
How was I to know what would happen?!
~Torcwhick (Future).
Burn Them All
"Eureka! I've done it!"
Arthur Watts cackled and flung both hands into the air like he just didn't care.
He did care of course. He cared a great deal about his work.
Which was precisely the point, you see.
He'd just put the finishing touched on his latest creation; finally ironed out the last of the kinks in the armor, eliminated any and all misfires from the gauntlets, fixed the blasted HUD when the helmet came down, all of it. Every bit of it. Every variable now lay accounted for. All that remained was a proper field test and if events on Menagerie went as he suspected...he'd be getting that momentarily.
Humming softly to himself, he brushed two fingers against the side of his head and focused.
Sure enough, the nanochip within pulsed, interpreting his commands; not a heartbeat later a red-gold gauntlet rocketed off the table and sheathed itself over his right palm. For a moment he worried it wouldn't take, but no, it reacted seamlessly, flowing up his fingers to stop just short of his wrist. The repulsor in the center of the gauntlet pulsed softly, then closed as he made a fist. Flexing his fingers caused it to open again with a softly keening whine, ready to be fired at a moment's notice.
"Perfect." he hummed to himself.
He'd only come this far because the Schnee -Naruto!- recognized his greatness. As for the rest of the world...they would see. Soon, everyone would see.
"Are you quite done over there?" Pietro's words were a rusty hook in the lab, plucking him from his merry musings. "You've been grinning for the better part of thirty seconds now. Quite unbecoming, I must say."
Foppish fool. He wouldn't rise to the man's bait. "...pass me that circuit-board."
Polendina quirked a bushy brow. "You didn't say please."
Must. Not. Kill.
Nestled away in the Schnee's craft, they'd both been hard at work preparing their latest...surprises for the madmen manning the island. And just as well they were. Arthur strongly suspected they'd need every advantage they could muster for the fight to come. This vessel was well armored, but it lacked weapons. It would take a concentrated effort to break in-yet a determined party could if they saw fit. None had been foolish enough to try, meaning they still had time, however slim it might be.
He was certain such an assault would come once negotiations inevitably went south.
From what he'd last seen on the television, they were going south fast. Watts would be the first to admit he'd never been the fighting sort. A marksman he was, but a brawler...no. Pietro even less so. Their minds were their weapons, their wit a sharper tool than any blade. With their combined intellect they could be unstoppable.
If only the man wasn't so bloody aggravating!
"There! I've finished!" Pietro pivoted in his chair, eyes agleam. "What do you think? She's not quite complete, and I had to rush a bit, buuuut...
Watts considered the masterpiece before him; the finely inlaid circuits, the thrusters, built-in weaponry, this marvel of engineering. For once, he didn't demean his rivals work. It -mustn't say that bit aloud lest he provoke Pietro- was well made. Not complete, not quite, but time fixed all flaws. That, and a great deal of testing, but they had precious little of both at the moment.
"Quite nicely done." he admitted begrudgingly. "I still say my Alma exceeds her by a country mile."
"Pah!" Pietro waved him aside. "Enough squabbling. You gave me your word. I helped you with your work, now you help me with mine."
"Blast it all. "Watts blew out a sigh. He had, hadn't he? "Oh, very well. I suppose we have the time; so long as our illustrious host is keeping the rabble entertained.
Pietro snatched up a remote and aimed it at a nearby wall-mounted television, one that had -mercifully!- remained muted until this very moment.
"See for yourself."
Watts flicked a glance to a nearby screen. Blanched.
In it, their patron tilted his head, whiskered cheeks dimpling in a grin as he stood before a mountain of bodies. "Had enough, Kolgrim? I can do this all day."
"Intermission!" The aforementioned man all but howled down at him, frothing in his fury. "I demand an intermission! Stop slaying my followers!"
Masked men hustled the blond away, but that smile didn't fade. Not once.
The two geniuses exchanged a long, lingering look.
"Well, he's certainly living up to his end of the bargain."
.
..
...perhaps we should hurry."
Pietro winced. "Yes, lets. Time waits for no man.
Watts reached down, fumbled in his belt for a handheld radio, clicked it once, and held it to his ear. "Alma, dear. Are you in position?"
"Affirmative, father!" A happy chirrup answered him. "I've disarmed one of the bombs!" Another click followed, punctuated by an awful crack. "Oooh! I just found another."
"Excellent," his mustache lifted in a smug smile. "Disarm it. Quickly, now. We're on a time crunch.
"Understood! Is Penny ready?"
Now it was Pietro's turn to smile. "Don't you worry, child. Won't be long now."
A short, sharp scream came through the mic. It didn't belong to Alma. Watts preened nonetheless.
She may not be his flesh and blood in the technical sense, but he was still proud of his child.
Nothing could stop her once she got going. He pitied the fool who tried.
(.0.0.0.)
"Get back here, you!"
A hand clamped down on Alma's shoulder.
She tilted her head just so. "You are being rude, sir. Please Release me."
"Hell no!" the masked faunus growled at her. "You're going to pay for what you did to our boys."
Her attacker evaporated into a fine, bloody mist. She looked down. Blinked. "Oh dear, my dress is ruined...
No matter. Penny would be finished soon, and all the better.
She couldn't wait to be a big sister.
(.0.0.0.)
"You're a mess."
Naruto took the remark in good grace as Willow applied a clean cloth to his cheek. "Ow! That stings!"
Willow tutted. "It wouldn't if you just sat still."
Therein lie the problem; he really couldn't. Kolgrim had been throwing followers at him for the better part of a day now. He had his limits, and while he was nowhere near them just yet, he was beginning to get a bit sore. That last bastard had tried to do him in with a poisoned blade. Poison hadn't worked on him for ages, but it still stung like hell and made healing difficult.
"Don't whine. Scars build character. Best I save my chakra for real wounds."
In truth he was almost grateful Kolgrim prick had finally called an intermission. It gave him a chance to rest...even if the bastard used it to prepare more troops and tricks and traps to throw at him. Didn't matter. He had reaped a bloody toll-sooner or later, he'd run out of followers, but so long as he was distracted, that benefited him. Time Kolgrim spent fixated on him was time Watts and Pietro could use to locate the bombs, maybe even disarm them completely...even if he didn't like the idea of exposing Cinder, Sienna, and Roman to all this violence.
"Darling," Willow's voice tugged him back to reality. "Look at me."
Naruto did.
"You can do this." She cupped his cheek with one hand, letting him lean into it with a weary sigh now as she held him. "I know you can. Don't worry about the girls. Cinder and Sienna adore you. You can do no wrong far as they're concerned."
"If I'm the standard they measure people to, I fear for their future husbands."
His words drew a light laugh from her. Don't fret about the future." she took his hand and guided it down to her belly. "Focus on the here and now. Give our child a safe world to grow up in."
"That much I can do." he could've sworn he felt a kick just now, but he kept it to himself. "You do realize Winter's gonna be spoiled rotten."
Her lips quirked in a faint smile. "Weiss and Whitley, too."
"Already in a hurry to have more?"
"Don't be crude." she tweaked his arm, drawing a smirk from him. "I always wanted a large family." It faded when he caught the faint hitch in her voice. "After what happened to Mother and my sister..." she took a small, shuddering breath and looked away, shaking her head. "Father never had the heart to try again. I didn't dare ask him to. This...it feels like I'm making up for lost time."
He took hold of her face and steered her back to him.
...I'm sorry."
"Don't be." her smile returned tenfold, warm as sunshine. "Mother would have liked you, I think. The two of you would've gotten along famously."
A thorn of regret tugged at his heart. Dimly he recalled the picture Nicholas had once shown him. "What was her name?"
"..."
"Willow, c'mon. I want to know about your life and those in it. Dead or otherwise."
...Wanda." She said at last. "Her name was Wanda."
"And your sister?"
"That would be my Wynter." A rare giggle burst from her lips. "She would've cussed you out once or twice, but you would've grown on her, eventually."
"Wynter? Spelled with a Y?" Realization broke like the dawn when she nodded. "That's why you were so keen on Winter for a name."
"I was." her voice was small, tiny, even. "Please don't think less of me.
"I don't, I don't...its just...
She tilted her head, a strand of white hair falling over one eye. "Just?"
"I'm sorry, but I gotta ask." He couldn't help himself any longer. "Why do all the women in your family have names that start with the letter W?!"
Suffocating silence reigned between them.
This time, Willow was the one to break it with a peal of laughter. "Of all the things, that's what concerns you?!"
"Well, yeah." he scratched the back of his head, hiding a rueful chuckle of his own behind a palm. "Don't get me wrong, Winter, Weiss, and Whitley are great names. But there comes a point when we run out of good ones, ya know? What then? I mean, He counted off on his fingers. "We've already got Cinder, Sienna, and now Roman. Running out of names, here."
"I know that look." Her eyes snapped to his. "You're thinking of adopting that boy."
Naruto found himself opening his mouth. Closed it. Opened it again.
"Maaaaybe?"
"Joy, of joys. We've picked up another stray."
"Good." Willow's smile both relieved and alarmed him all at once. "That poor boy needs some proper guidance in his life. Good role models, someone to keep him on the proper path."
A blond brow rose. "Since when are we good role models? We kill people all the time."
"Ah!" she bopped his nose with a finger. "We kill bad people, beloved. There's a difference. "We can draw up papers when we get back."
"You're just going to ignore that murder bit aren't you...?"
"Indeed, I am most magnanimous."
Cheeky Schnee. Still...she'd said when. Not if. He liked the sound of that. Made things feel more solid. Real somehow. A beat of comfortable silence passed between the two of them, broken only by the occasional noise from the stands above. For a few wonderful minutes, it was only the two of them. Naruto broke it with a wistful sigh. "What do you think she'll be like? Winter. I mean."
Willow hummed into his shoulder. "I wish I knew."
He grinned. "Bet she'll look just like you."
"No bet." she tutted.
"Maybe she'll have my eyes."
"Oh?" Her own sought his, glimmering with faint azure maiden fire as her emotions slipped their leash. "Not hoping for a blond, are we?"
"Nah." he waved her words aside. "Besides I heard Schnee genes are pretty damn strong. Your old man told me all about 'em."
"Of course he did." She made a grumbling noise. "I'm going to be terribly cross with him when we get home...
"Don't be. He's as excited to be a grandfather as you are a mother."
Heat hit her face. "You don't have to remind me...
"I kinda do." he couldn't quite keep the smile from his face.
Something sparked in her eyes she grabbed at his sleeve, tugging him back to her.
Their lips met.
Her kiss was desperate, frantic even, driven not by lust, but a singular need to express herself where words could not. Her arms draped around his neck, pulling him close. He inhaled sharply and returned her feelings with vigor, looping his good arm around her waist to hold her tighter. Had this been anything other than a public place, clothes would have been shed, and several other loud noises besides. As it stood, they did little more than hold one another.
"You come back to me, you hear?" she drew away, forehead touching his. "You go out there and win, find the one responsible for this, and tear them apart."
"Hey, hey." he held her close. "I'm not going anywhere. Neither are you."
"Still...be safe. Come back to me...
He kissed her forehead.
...to all of us."
A light knock rang out against the door. "Sorry to interrupt, lovebirds, but you gotta a minute...?"
Willow tilted her head, considering. "I have a knife?"
...still coming in, Schnee."
The wooden frame creaked and sure enough. Qrow poked his head in. He looked like he wanted to comment on their ruffled clothes, but an icy look from Willow quelled him. Just as well too; he was looking pretty ruffled himself right about now, and for all the wrong reasons. Red eyes flitted to them as he closed the door behind him. Locked it now, for good measure.
"Any news?"
"Depends on your definition of the word." Qrow plonked down on the bench beside him. "Watt's kid found a bunch of the bombs. Disarmed 'em, too."
Willow recoiled. "Alma?!"
"Yup. Slipped away when we weren't looking."
She grabbed his arm. "She's just a child!"
"Meh, Tyrian's with her."
When he didn't rise to the bait, her brow furrowed. "...do I want to know?"
"Nope."
Naruto wrinkled his nose. "I pity your future children if they pick up that word."
Remarkably, Qrow's face reddened. "Oi! Not funny."
"Seriously though, how'd she find them?"
Qrow was all smiles. "That little bunny you saved? Meg? She was in on quite a few schemes. She's also got a vengeful streak a mile wide. Kinda kinky if I'm being honest."
Willow hummed. "I'll be sure to tell her you said that."
His face drained of all color. "You wouldn't."
A pale brow rose. "Try me, bird boy."
"Snappy Schnee..." he shook his head, uncorked his flask, and knocked it back to fortify himself. "Look, the point is, we're nearly halfway there." when the duo quirked a brow, he offered him his flask. "Your pet scientist-
"Must you call Watts that?"
-has reinforcements from Atlas waiting in the wings." Qrow barreled on, undaunted by his scowl. "If ya can just keep Kolgrim and his crazies occupied for a little longer, we might be able to eke out a win, here. Without those bombs, they're sitting ducks. Now, you gonna drink, or not?"
"Ain't really one for drinking...
"C'mon, what's the arm? Not like Willow can."
"He has a point, dear. A little liquid courage might help you."
...fine." he took a long sip, forced himself to swallow, and nearly choked as it seared his throat. "Gah! That burns! What is this, pure alcohol?!"
"More or less." came the accompanying cackle. "Should help steady your nerves."
Oddly enough, it did. Not by much, but it pushed his worries down, allowing him to focus on happier thoughts.
"You know," he muttered. "I wouldn't say no to a proper tournament someday once we're done with this."
Qrow scoffed. "I'd recommend the upcoming Vytal Festival, but neither of ya are-
"Students, we know." Willow finished, patting his bicep. "Its a nice thought, dear. Where's it being held again?"
Qrow's pinched expression spoke volumes.
...its not going to be held in Atlas anytime soon, is it?"
"Eh, only a few years from now." he said. "Noting to worry about."
Naruto felt a painful twitch coming on. "That is precisely why I'm worried!"
"Riiiiight." Credit where it was due, Branwen saw his anger and was quick to switch tactics. "Any idea who this goddess of theirs is?"
"I have an inkling."
"Nope," he said instead. "Whoever she is, we need to be prepared if she makes an appearance."
"Or have an escape if things go south," Willow opined.
A portal opened behind Qrow. Raven poked her head through it, grinning from ear to ear. He didn't miss the blood on her pale cheek. "That's where I come in. "Worst case scenario, I can cut us a path to the old man. He's still in Vale. I can feel him getting a little twitchy, but I don't think he's gonna be leaving anytime soon."
Naruto released a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding. At least they had a lifeline if this -and the island!- blew up in their faces.
Qrow couldn't let it be. "Of course you'd focus on running away...
"That's rich coming from you." Raven chuckled at her brother. "How's your bunny friend? Didn't you run from her?" she sneered when he choked on his own spit. "Thought so. But back to the matter at hand" Quick as a flash her red eyes snapped to him and Willow. "There's no way that fool's going to let us go, you know."
Willow scoffed. "Come now, you don't know that-
Raven arched a dark brow.
...fair enough."
"Alright, whiskers." she stepped out her portal fully and plonked down on his left side, pinning him between her and Willow. "What's the plan."
Naruto squinted. "Who says I have a plan?"
Her eyebrow climbed higher still. No words were needed.
"Fine, fine." he flung up his arm. "You got me. First, we'll need to check this room for bugs-
"Already done!" Summer swung out of a nearby vent to startle them, covered in dust and grinning despite it all. "Its clear." she pivoted, and he saw his artificial arm still bound to her back. Good. At least she hadn't lost the damn thing. He'd be wanting it back once this mess was over. "Dunno if they're incompetent or just overconfident.
...how long have you been up there?"
"Long enough~!"
"Wait," He held up a hand. "Where's Taiyang?"
"Up top keeping an eye on the Belladona's and the bunny." came the pleased chirrup. "I'm fine, by the way."
One man against an angry crowd? Naruto didn't like those odds. He said as much.
"Psssh!" Summer waved him aside. "We're practically hunters already. Nobody's gonna mess with us."
"And if they do?"
"Weeell," Her grin grew. "Then they'd better not make Tai angry. You wouldn't like him when he's angry. Besides, I'm pretty sure he sent Cinder and Sienna down here-
On cue, the door creaked open.
(.0.0.0.)
Dad was the best.
Siennna knew this to be truth, no two ways about it; he was probably one of, if not the strongest bastard she'd met in her young life. Alright, maybe she was a bit biased in that regard. Sure. She could be honest about that much. Naruto made a mockery of Menagerie's finest warriors...and with one arm! They'd barely hurt him!
Made her proud it did.
Because at the end of the day, for all his talk about peace an' shaking hands, the old man could crack skulls with the best of them. Wasn't afraid to get his hands dirty, either. Yessir, Pops had beaten those bastards before and he'd do it again. Cinder had been right, after all. This was power unmatched; a fine flowing finesse the likes of which she'd seldom seen before.
So why did he look so damn tired, sitting there on the bench?
His eyes lit up at the sight of her, and that exhaustion seemed to burn away, if only for a moment. "Hey, kiddo. Come to check up on me?"
The Branwen Twins rolled their eyes even as Auntie Summer cooed. Sienna ignored them. Of course she did. Uncle Tai had seen her and Cinder squirming upstairs and sent them on their way. She'd beaten her by only a few steps; she'd be right behind her any minute now. Ha! Early bird got the worm!
...you look like shit."
Mom -never thought she'd call a Schnee that- huffed a little. "Language."
"Nyeh~!" She stuck out her tongue, only to yelp as he yanked her into his arm and rubbed his knuckles against her hair. "Daaaaaad!" she squirmed in his grasp, flushing fiercely. Quit it!"
Willow dabbed his cheek with a white handkerchief. "Must you be so rough?"
He wagged a blond brow at her. "You didn't complain last time."
She flushed and kicked his leg. "Not in front of Sienna."
Her ears twitched. "Dad, I do know what sex is."
"Not on my watch, you don't!"
Cinder burst in before she could interject further. She took one look at him, saw the blood on his face. Golden eyes narrowed to angry slits. She stalked over, shoes clicking against the floor. The moment she reached him, she hopped up, plonked down into his lap, leaned her head against his chest, and all but latched onto his good arm. Sienna had to stifle a smile. For all her claims of elegance and fire, her half-sister really could be a clingy bitch sometimes...
"Oi! You're getting too big for this!"
...screw it, two could play this game. En guard~!
Sienna all but leaped onto his free leg with a laugh. "My turn!"
"Oomph!" Dad grunted in good grace as she landed on his knee, but made no move to dislodge her, either. "Honestly, the both of you!" A scroll clicked somewhere behind him and he cast a baleful glare over his shoulder at the responsible party. "Summer! Delete that! Right now!"
"Never~!
Sienna suspected that if they werent sitting on his lap, he would've given chase. As it was, his face only reddened when another scroll -Willow's- clicked off a few more pictures.
"Alright, that's it! Would all members of Team STRQ kindly scram." His strained smile promised a prank at a later date if they didn't heed his request. "I want some time alone with my family before the next bout."
Summer wilted. "Awww...
"You heard him, brother." Raven cut a portal and summarily hauled a protesting Qrow into it.
Summer backpedaled, paused, looked like she wanted to say something, then waded in after her. Sienna squinted after her; she continued to do so, long after the portal had closed. Something was afoot there, but try as she might she couldn't quite put her finger on it. Meh, was probably nothing. If she had something to say, she'd speak her mind sooner or later.
Naruto blew out a breath. "Finally, some peace and quiet...
Sienna took the moment to lean against him-ignoring Cinder's baleful glare. "You're gonna win again, right?"
He scoffed. "Hey, now. Who do you think I am?"
Cinder looked up at him. "Invincible. That's what you are."
Willow hid a laugh behind her hand. "Dear girl, He's good, but not that good...
"I'll take the silence for now."
It was not to be. The door creaked open again. For a moment Sienna thought it was Tai, come down to check on them anyway.
"A touching display."
Nooope. Not him.
Certainly not!
She shouldn't have been surprised to see Kolgrim leaning through the door. Greasy man. Stupid man. What was he thinking coming down here? With guards, no less...? Did he have a death wish? No, stupid question. He was a lunatic. Cultist. Of course he did...
Naruto grinned. Wasn't a nice smile that, less so as he shooed them off his lap. "Whaddya want?"
"Merely to speak with you, false one." Kolgrim's smirk was pure grease, despite the titan towering over him. "Your friends and family remain safe in the stands, of course. As for your bride-to-be, I had a thought." two fingers toyed with his beard, doing nothing to hide the dark look on his face, "We feel it best if she remain in the main booth with me. It wouldn't do for an accident to transpire. After all, she is with child...
Sienna's world went read. "Why you rotten little...!
Willow snapped her fingers before anyone could act. The poor duo with Kolgrim became pillars of ice; ice that shattered to nothingness before his very eyes.
"I'm sorry, did you say something about me being vulnerable?" She batted long lashes at him. "Please continue."
"Urk." he managed eloquently.
Dad's hand caught Kolgrim's wrist before he could escape.
"Hey now, just cuz we're playing your little game, don't assume I'm gonna let you have your way." his hand tightened, drawing an ominous creak from his arm as the man struggled in his grasp. "You threaten them and I might just take my chances. I may not be able to kill you right now, but I'm not above crippling you.
Sienna was pleased to see the color drain from the fool's face. Cinder shivered a little behind him. She wasn't surprise when she tried to emulate his methods. Such a daddy's girl...
She glared at Kolgrim. "Touch her and and I'll flash fry you, your family, and anyone who ever shook your hand."
"Cinder, no." Dad shook his head before she could act. "Your anger is exactly what he wants."
She gnashed her teeth. "Then maybe I should give it to him."
"Such darkness in you, little one." The lunatic leered at her for that, heedless of his own peril. "Fascinating." He looked like he wanted to make a grab for her, but thought better of it when faced with their combined glare. "You would make a fine champion for our goddess...if only you let go."
Sienna reached for her whip at him. "I'll show you letting go...!"."
"You would, wouldn't you, child?" those hideous wide eyes snapped to her, rooting her were she sat. "You have anger too, you have hate, but you don't use them." still he prodded her. "Why limit yourself?"
A slender pillar of ice erupted from the ground and speared Kolgrim in the groin.
The man crumpled with a wheeze.
"Oops." Willow lowered her right hand, fingers still glimmering with frost. "How clumsy of me."
Sienna sniggered into her hand.
Kolgrim's face turned red. "You whore! I'll take your hand for-
Someone absolutely hissed.
"Enough." a pang of familiar dread hit Sienna like a brick as she recognized the voice. "Don't you dare lay a hand on my mom and dad." the temperature spiked, tongues of smoky flame licking up at the walls. "You invited us here, didn't you? To your island. To have a discussion. Is this what you call a discussion?"
Kolgrim tried to speak. Instead he gurgled and choked. Terror writ itself across his face.
"Its painful, isn't it?" thew voice cooed. "Not being able to breathe. Fire sucks the air right out of a room, you know...
"Cinder!" Willow found her voice first as she rounded on their daughter." Get your semblance under control! You're suffocating him! Control your emotions!"
Her head tilted, just so. "How am I supposed to?"
Naruto tried to touch her, only to recoil. Her shoulder was blazing hot. "Like you always do!"
"How?" She looked to him at last, face gone eerily blank, much like the glass she could create. "How am I supposed to quell my rage towards a man who wants to execute my mother, my father, and my unborn sister?" a hand curled into a fist at her side, nails biting down hard enough to draw blood. "My aunts, my uncles, my everything?"
"If you keep going, you'll kill him! You won't be able to take that back!"
"Why would I want to?" Those blazing golden eyes swept back to the ringleader. "He was ready to kill Mom. I'm sure he was ready to risk his own life, too...
He grabbed at her. "If he dies the bombs go off!"
Slowly, the words registered with her. The heat fizzled in her eyes. "M'sorry, I didn't mean...
Kolgrim stumbled toward the exit, gaping like a fish. "You'll die for this! All of you! I'll see to myself once this is over-
Naruto blew out a sigh. A golden claw flicked forth. Grabbed the man's right wrist. Twisted it. Hard. His reward was a shriek of pain; then Kolgrim was gone, stumbling away up a staircase. He didn't return. Just as well; if he had, Sienna wasn't sure he wouldn't
"I wanted to kill him." Cinder blinked down at her hands, startled. "I wanted it so badly... Teary golden eyes gazed up at them. "What's happening to me?"
Naruto knelt and pulled her into a embrace. Willow joined in on the left side. Sienna squirmed into it.
Together, they held her.
(.0.0.0.)
Something was off.
Roman felt it in his bones; a strange humming sensation that he'd learned to notice over the years. He'd grown rather adept at reading other people; a skill he'd honed in the streets since his earliest days. Some might say it was his Semblance; if so, it might be a useful one, but he disagreed. It just didn't feel like it.
Surely his Semblance -whenever he managed to unlock the bloody thing!- would be amazing. Like laser eyes, or frost breath, maybe the ability to turn invisible or walk through walls. Invincibility, maybe? Whatever it was, he was sure it would be incredible-
"Down with the Schnee!"
Right, right, getting off track. Because right now? The crowd was giving off all kinds of bad vibes. Maybe Kolgrin had moved the Schnee sympathizers out-or perhaps they'd sought shelter after the last bout. Regardless, he didn't see a single dissenting face among them. Only eager grins and...less than pleasant chants, all things considered.
All of them bayed for blood, to a man.
The adults had lost their levity and turned to talking amongst themselves, so he flicked a glance Cinder's way. "You feelin this?"
She grit her teeth. "...yes. Something's wrong." she touched a hand to her forehead. "I'm angrier than I should be, like my emotions are beyond my control...
"Tell me about it." Sienna's ears were laid low against her hair. "Its like an awful ringing in my brain...
On that much, they agreed. They'd gone downstairs with the missus to check on the Boss, only to come back quiet and pensive. He didn't like it.
Was someone stirring everyone up with a semblance?
He shook off the strange feeling and directed his eyes to the arena.
A slender figure stalked out to meet the Boss, wearing robes black as night. Could've been a man. Might've been a woman. Impossible to tell under that heavy cloak. Clad it matte black from head to toe, they gave nothing away. That awful mask didn't help; unlike the others this one hid their face completely. Not a mask at all Roman realized, but some hideous helm. Carved in the ghastly likeness of some eldritch beast he didn't recognize, it looked every bit as terrifying as the figure before him. What was that thing supposed to be, a serpent? A dragon?
"Run." a voice stabbed at the back of his head, drawing a wince from him. "He needs to run. Now."
'The hell?'
A gong rang out high above them.
Kolgrim wheezed out a breath, one hand favoring his thoroughly abused groin; the other hanging limp at his side. "Let the second round commence!"
Naruto blurred.
Rather than retreat, the masked figure met him head on, catching his fist in one palm...then the other with their free hand. Roman thought he caught a flicker of surprise in the blond's face just now. He gazed deeply into the helmeted warrior's face, as though searching for something in those empty eye sockets. Whatever he saw there had him leaping back with a start.
...hell are you?" he barely heard the words.
"..." the masked warrior didn't answer. They blurred, just as he had.
"They stopped him?" Raven frowned. "I haven't seen anyone do that! Not even-oh shit!"
Naruto's head snapped back as the masked fighter drove a heel palm into his chin. He didn't panic. Only paused, wiped a thin line of blood from his mouth and surged back in.
The masked madman tried to catch him again but paid dearly for it; this time he feinted, leaving them overextended, and swept their legs. They crashed down into the dirt as he walked past. A boot crashed into their ribs and launched them across the arena. The crowd cast a sear of jeers his way and Roman felt his stomach come unclenched. Right, nothing to worry about...
"C'mon, big guy. You've got this...
Wait.
They were getting up.
How the hell were they getting back up?!
"Is this all you're capable of?" the warrior's words rang out, low and distorted behind their dread helm. "I was led to believe you were a capable fighter." A hand reached behind their back, drawing a wicked-looking sword out of its sheathe. They brandished it at him, turning it in the air as one might some giant key in blatant mockery. "Have I been misled?"
The boss blew out a low breath. "Careful what you wish for."
He flickered.
A bolt of lightning split the clear sky caught him half way and smote him midstep. He fell to a knee as every muscle in his body clamped down. The masked warrior raised their hands with a wary cry and brought another bolt crashing down before he could rise again. Another. Another
Summer cried out. "No!"
The Masked Fighter slammed forward and drove a fist into the boss's smoldering chest. He hurtled back with an awful crack into the arena wall.
"Shit." Roman heard Raven swore softly beside him. "I thought something was suspicious." she stabbed a finger toward the masked warrior, who even now threw their cloak aside. Faint flecks of wild flame shone bright through the slits of the helmet. "They've got a Maiden, and a powerful one at that."
Summer's oath proved far more imaginative. "Which one is it? Spring? Summer? Fall?"
"Does it matter?" Taiyang flung up his arms. "We need to get down there!"
Willow winced. "But he can handle my powers easily. Why...?
"You've only just got a grasp on your gifts recently." she flinched as another bolt of lightning hurtled past, forcing the blond to dodge, only for a cluster of ice to root his feet where he stood. Guarding against another bolt of lightning did him little good, driving him to his knees anew. "This one looks like she's had her powers for years, if not decades."
Qrow burst upright. "We need to help-
Willow held out a hand. "No."
He rounded on her. "Whaddya mean, no?!"
"What do you fear, Schnee?" the masked figure stalked forward, reached down, grabbed the Boss by the face. "Let me see."
"That's an awful monologue." Naruto spat blood and laughed. "I fear an awful lot of things." As they looked on he held out his good hand fingers splayed, and began to count down. "Ghosts, vegetables, the kids on a sugar rush, Willow when she hasn't had her coffee, Summer lusting after my arm...
The huntress in question squeaked.
His opponent did not. "Why can't you take this seriously?!"
"Because!" He threw his head back and spat in her face. "That's what you want! And I'm not going to give it to you. But I will give you this, you're making him angry. Go on. Keep poking me. It tickles."
The woman grabbed his neck and drove her blade deep into his stomach. Naruto didn't even try to fight her. He accepted the blade with a smile, uncaring as she sheathed it in his stomach. Blood bubbled up between his lips, and still, that smile never faded not.
"Stop!" Summer bulled her way forward, only for Willow to reel her back. "You're killing him! Stop it!" Her eyes blazed with hate and shone with tears. "I SAID STOP!"
A cry of pain went up...and warped into low laughter.
Willow palmed her face. "They've done it now."
Roman blinked. "Done what? I don't get it."
"He switched." Cinder murmured. Sienna nodded with her.
Summer snarled. "...switched with who?!"
"Watch."
Naruto's fist exploded upward, trailing fetters of red light. Unprepared, the woman took his punch square in the ribs. An awful crack pervaded the arena. She woman rocketed backwards, struck the ground once, bounced, and careened into a wall. To her credit she recovered quickly; ripped herself free, clutching her injured side.
"What is this, Schnee?!
"Ah, ah, ah." a clawed finger wagged her way. "He's not here right now."
Her hand snapped out, flinging a bolt of ebony light his way. "What're you on about?!"
He batted the lightning away with ease. It arced into the stands and annihilated a cluster of zealots.
"An inferior creature like you wouldn't understand." the Boss rasped as he climbed to his feet. "Still, you have my thanks." His voice was different than Roman remembered. Deeper somehow. Darker. Baleful red eyes bearing cat-like slits regarded the woman opposite them. "Been awhile since we were hit with anything resembling a proper genjutsu." A clawed hand reached down, patting his wound. "An emotion based semblance, amplified by Maiden powers. A truly dangerous combination. You've my respect for that, if nothing else. Unfortunately for you...
His hand flicked out towards her, clawed fingers reaching, grasping for nothing.
"You've make me angry, child."
Roman didn't see him move. One moment he stood opposite the woman -Maiden?- grinning fit to burst.
In the next he had her face in his hands, hoisting her into the air.
From there, he began to squeeze.
She beat furiously at his chest with both fists; lashing at him with wind and fire and ice and every element she could bring to bear. He weathered it all...and smiled. What meager wounds she inflicted healed faster that she could create them. And still those blazing red eyes gleamed upon her. Narrowed, now.
"I've just had the most wonderful idea."
A casual flick of the wrist lopped off her right arm neatly at the elbow, drawing a truncated cry of pain from his victim as her limb sailed away into the air. From there, he took hold of the masked woman's head and turned her toward the stands-no, towards them. She kicked out at him fiercely, thrashing like a wildcat.
"You wouldn't...dare!"
Kolgrm must've had some inkling too; because he bulled forward, nearly flinging himself out of the booth to get at them. "Release the envy of our goddess at once!"
Naruto craned his neck up at him. "And if I don't?"
The lunatic hefted a detonator in his hand. "Then you won't leave this island alive! I'll blow all of us sky-high, right here, right now!"
Shit, the bombs. He'd almost forgotten. Hopefully the boss would listen. He didn't much fancy the idea of dying in a cloud of fiery napalm. Whoever this lady was, she wasn't worth it.
Laughter turned his hopes to ash.
"You're threatening me with death?" the entity who was-and-was-not Naruto tilted his head, still gripping his prey. "You don't seem to understand the situation that you're in, little man." his fingers tightened around the woman's throat. "I stopped fearing death a long time ago. No, what I fear these days are monsters."
His hands twisted without warning. An awful crack pervaded the room. Her body slumped.
...because at the end of the day, I am one."
Light burst from the dead woman's body.
In the same instant, Cinder crashed down to a knee beside Roman. She grabbed at his shoulder for balance as she went, unintentionally tearing him clean out of his seat. Panic bleated through his brain. No, no, no! They'd go right over the side! Aura was all well and good, but he didn't fancy a fall from this height.
His fingers flailed for purchase on a nearby guardrail, caught it, and managed to right them both at the last second.
"Oi, Cindy! You alright there?"
She gripped her skull with a groan. "Head hurts...
"Yeah, I'm sure. Open your eyes." he held a hand before her face. "Tell me how many fingers you see."
When she raised her eyes, they smoldered with flickering flame. "...two?"
He heard Willow's gasp and suddenly she was there, nudging him aside to take the dazed girl's face between her hands. Roman didn't hear the words that passed between mother and daughter, but the Schnee must've seen the fire there too; because her expression crumpled into absolute misery. A tug and she pulled her daughter into her bosom.
"Oh, Cinder...I never wanted this life for you...
"Wait, wait, wait!" Summer skidded to a stop beside them. "Does this mean she's...?"
Roman didn't know much about Maidens -jack all, really!- but he figured their concern was a bad thing. "That can't be good."
"Enough!" Kolgrim's howled was a knife through his thoughts. "All of you, die! For the glory of our goddess!
The detonator clicked. Once. Twice. Thrice now.
Nothing happened.
Roman lowered his arm, trying to rationalize it. Faulty trigger maybe? No, that was bad luck on a completely different scale. Kolgrim continued to howl imprecations as he slammed his thumb against the stopper, cursing it, the men and women around him, everyone, everything. The faint sound of empty clicks filled the arena. All eyes fell upon him. Nothing happened. And with each passing second...well.
One had but to look.
Kali and Ghira glared golden daggers at Kolgrim's booth and the frantic man within. Naruto -eyes blue once more- flexed his fingers, conjuring a keening sphere already his hand. Willow drew herself up with a snarl. Qrow reached for Harbinger, even as the rest of Team STRQ went for their weapons. Sienna drew her whip. For a single, blessed moment, nobody else moved.
No one breathed. Blinked. Nary a soul...
...until Naruto snarled. "Get 'em."
All hell broke loose.
A/N: Didn't see that coming, did you?
You KNOW Naruto's in a foul mood when he hands Kurama the reins. Aaaand scene.
As ever, reviews are the fuel that keeps me writing. That's no joke. I'm sorry the chapters are shorter, but silence hurts more than any flame...
Without them, I can't write a single world. Seriously! So speak up! Every word -and every review!- really does matter!
So in the Immortal Words of Atlas... ...Review, Would You Kindly?
Here, have some previews. Lemme know what you think!
Murder and Mayhem await!
(Previews)
Kolgrim howled. "I will not die here! My goddess shields me! She shan't let me-
Raven slammed a heel into his chest and sent him crashing through a tree.
"Shut up. There are no gods here. Only monsters.
"Saaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaalll...
The masked faunus looked up into the sky, frowning now as a faint whistling noise reached his ears. His comrades frowned with him. "The hell is that?"
...uuuuuuuuuu...
Was it a bird? A plane? No, it was too damn high up.
...TATIONS!"
His eyes widened behind the mask. "Oh fuck me-
The last thing he saw was green eyes and long, flowing red hair...then the earth erupted.
EDIT: Hello, Penny~!
"Good evening, children!" a familiar voice cooed behind her. "Your parents sent me to retrieve you! My, my, what a mess you've made...
"Well, well, well! Looks like we've got us a volunteer, boys. A hundred lien to the maggot who blows his bloody brains out!"
Someone fired at the newcomer. He deflected the shot with his chitinous tail, twisted his head around and giggled.
"Gentlemen! That's no way to treat a guest."
Someone else swore. "Fuck me, that's Tyrian Callows...
"You know my name! What fun, what fun!" the madman clapped his hands. He was still clapping when a pair of wicked knives came flying out each of his sleeves. "I believe its my turn, now~!"
A single leap and he was among them.
"You will die here. Today. You, and your child."
Willow drew herself upright, eyes flashing like ice. She said nothing. Did nothing. Her eyes blazed with cold, blue flame.
"No last words?"
Her lips quirked in a small smile. "I can think of one-no, two, actually. Thank you."
A pause. "What?"
"You like to hear yourself talk, don't you?" she gripped her shoulder and popped it back into place. "To monologue. Most villains do. Talk, talk, talk. Naruto was right about that much." the wind picked up around them, a faint keening sound rising with it. "Your kind just love to hear the sound of your own voice...and you gave me all the time I needed."
Then the world became a blizzard.
"I'll kill you! DO YOU HEAR ME?! You and your little whores!"
...did you hear what he just said...?"
Naruto inhaled deeply.
"Get 'em."
The gun clicked empty. "Why won't you die...?!"
"I don't care how bloody my hands get. So long as hers remain clean. Does that make me a hypocrite? Perhaps. Unfortunately, it also makes you a dead man...
R&R~!