Quick note: There is a poll going on and so far I only have one person who voted. This poll is very important so please complete it when possible.


Viego grumbled as he was sitting in the room he had been staying in. The Ruined Raven Branwen had been standing by the door, as if waiting for instructions. It seemed that his control over her was only getting stronger, as the Ruined Branwen gained a mist like triangle on her chest. Viego didn't care about that right now.

Over the course of the week that he had been staying with his Isolde, they hadn't talked about anything. The only time his queen would talk to him was if she needed him to do something for her. It angered him, and made him sad.

"Why are you not talking to me, my love?"

Yes, she seemed to be busy. Not just with her plans, but "repairing" the broken Cinder Fall. And despite her having free time, It was like she purposely avoided him.

"Why, Isolde? Why do you hide your face from me?" Viego cried out, only loud enough for someone directly at the door to hear. Didn't she love him?

As in perfect timing, someone knocked on the "door" that led to Viego's room. He opened it to see Arthur Watts. A man Viego had come to respect ever so slightly.

"My queen wishes for your presence for this meeting." He said, walking away right after.

Viego sighed, and followed him to the meeting room. After a climb of steps, Arthur Watts opened the door, allowing Viego to go in first. He sat at the chair on the end that looked directly at his Queen. Watts sat next to him on his left, pulling out his scroll at the same time. Cinder Fall had been sitting on his right. Her subordinates were looking out the window behind her.

A large man sat next to Watts on his left, and on Falls right, the crazy looking scorpion faunus sat grinning.

"Well well well, If it isn't my King. How are you doing, my majesty?" The Scorpion giggled.

Viego made no movements to speak. He only adjusted his posture, leaning back in the chair, his arms on the armrests and his cheek slightly rested on his left fist.

The scorpion man grunted, as if looking annoyed, but quickly reverted back to a happy face. After a smaller moment of silence, Fall snapped her fingers, telling her subordinates to come to her side.

Viego saw Sustrai push Black out of the way to be closer to Cinder. Watts snorted.

"Yes yes, please keep your...posse, in check." He said.

Viego then saw Blacks fist tighten. He went to do something, but Sustrai stopped him. Fall was looking at them with a sort of embarrassment, then anger.

"You hear that?" Watts continued. "Silence. I have half the mind to thank the girl that bested you. Unfortunately, she is dead." He said, looking at Viego.

"If I were you, I'd hunt down her little friends, find them, and...well, the girl took your eye didn't she?" The scorpion faunus started laughing maniacally.

Cinder Fall went to retort, but could muster any words out. Why this was the case, Viego had no idea, as her vocal cords should not have been damaged. Instead, she whispered Into Sustrai's ear.

Watts snorted again. "Pathetic. Why did you eve-"

He was interrupted, as the door behind Viego's seat opened. At that moment, Isolde walked into the room, and everyone but Viego stood up. Her cloak was dragging behind her, as she slowly walked to her other side. She stopped at the candle lit table.

"Watts." She said calmly. "Do you find such malignance necessary?" She then ushered everyone to sit down once more, so they did. All except Watts, who stood for a moment more.

"I apologize, ma'am. I'm not particularly fond of failure." He said, sitting down.

Isolde sat down. "Then I see no reason for your cruelty towards young Cinder. She destroyed Beacon tower, gained us a new ally, and most importantly, killed dear Ozpin." She said with a smile. "So I'm curious, to what failures are you referring?"

Watts cleared his throat. "Well, not becoming the maiden, and the girl with the silver eyes."

"Yes…" The large man growled. "We've dealt with her kind before. Either way, how was it a novice was able to best one of us?"

"My thoughts exactly." Watts clarified. "Even without her old powers, it should have been effortless."

"It is because of the maidens power, that the girl was able to best her." Isolde said. "Make no mistake, Cinder. You may not have the powers right now, but you still hold the key to our victory."

Viego grunted, catching the attention of Isolde.

"Oh? My love, is there something you wish to say?"

At first, it was only a grunt of amusement, but Viego then decided to humor his Queen by lying to her.

"From my first encounter with Raven Branwen, I had felt a second soul, thinking it was you, I decided to take it. I stopped halfway realising that it was not you, but something else. The Spring Maiden powers."

Not necessarily a lie, but one nonetheless.

"So...Raven...er...the Ruined version of her has half of the Spring Maiden powers?"

"Yes." Only half a lie.

Isolde squinted slightly. "Yes...your ability to control others is truly something that I am fond of. As well as your ability to take souls…" She frowned. "As we do not know who the Fall Maidens powers have been transferred to, Is there a possible way for you to give Cinder the powers of the Spring Maiden?"

Viego grunted again. "How would I know?" He lied once more. He had taken the Spring Maiden powers fully. It was actually half of the Fall Maiden powers that resided within the Ruined Raven Branwen.

He had the other half.

Viego wasn't particularly a petty person. Sure, he did some questionable things when Isolde had originally died, but now they were reunited. As of the current situation, he truly felt as if a little bit of payback for Isolde ignoring him was in order.

"I take souls, not give them." Viego continued.

Cinder Fall did not look too happy about this.

Isolde hummed. "I see, this might prove useful. Either way, Cinder. You will no longer be going to Mistral, as you are clearly wounded. So, you will stay at my side as we continue your treatment."

Cinder Fall looked even less happy.

"Doctor Watts. You are to take Cinder's place, and meet with our informant in Mistral."

"Very good." Watts grinned.

Cinder Fall looked livid.

"Tyrian, now that the Fall Maiden powers are scattered, I want you to start hunting for them. We must gain the powers soon."

The scorpion laughed. "Gladly."

"Hazel, I'm sending you to the leader of the White Fang. Adam Taurus has arranged the meeting. The boy continues to prove loyal. Ensure that Sienna Khan feels the same."

"As you wish." The man grunted.

"My darling, I shall speak with you after this meeting. There are some things we should discuss."

Viego smiled at the news. He would finally be able to speak with his love.

Cinder Fall then held up a finger, motioning for Emerald Sustrai to be her "translator".

"Speak, child." Isolde said after Cinder was done talking.

Sustrai nodded. "She wants to know...what about the girl?"

Watts laughed. "What about her? Pyrrha Nikos is already dead, no need for anything else."

"She meant the girl with the silver eyes."

Viego hummed. Cinder must have thought the Rose girl had made her condition worse.

Isolde also hummed. "Tyrian?"

"Yes my lady?"

"Fall, can wait. Find the girl that helped worsen Cinder's condition."

The Scorpion giggled excitedly.

"And bring her to me."

The scorpion looked less excited, but nodded either way.

Isolde smiled. "Because of your efforts, Beacon has fallen, and Haven will be next."

As they started to stand, the scorpion laughed at Cinder.

"Eye for an eye…" He then started to laugh crazily, causing an echo to go through the halls.

Viego grit his teeth, summoned his ZewiHander, and slammed the end of it on the ground, causing a loud bang that caught the attention of everyone in the room.

"QUIET! You are a complete annoyance! Leave, or I will throw you out myself!" He shouted.

Everyone stared at him. It seemed that only Cinder knew that Viego meant true to his word.

Tyrian was about to retort, but Isolde stopped him. He grumbled, and stood from his seat, quickly leaving the room with everyone else, leaving only Isolde and Viego.

"Was that really necessary, my love?"

"It was. He is an annoyance, and he needed to be quiet. I do not understand how you stay sane."

She sighed. "It's easier than you think...either way, i wou-"

"Why have you been avoiding me?" Viego asked.

Isolde blinked. "I'm not sure what you ar-"

"The only time you ever talk with me is if you need something. Why?"

She stayed silent for a moment. "Viego...I just...I've been busy. The hundreds of years that we've been separated...I just…" She sighs. "I'm so tired."

Viego looked at her with confusion. "Hundreds of years? I thought I had been gone for a thousand!"

"How...long have we been away from each other?" Viego asked.

"At least 600 years. It can't have been more than that. I'm sure of it."

Viego twitched. That couldn't have been true. He knew he was gone for 1,000 years. Isolde had died 1,000 years ago. HE had died 1,000 years ago.

"What...what do you remember?"

"I...I don't remember much. I only remember dying...and then waking up again. Like this." She pointed to herself.

Viego frowned. It wasn't what he wanted to hear.

"Did you proceed to...make all of this?"

Isolde nodded. "I did. I thought I could try to do something to reunite with you." She smiled. "And I did."

Viego was still grimmancing, he didn't really believe her. He had a feeling that she was lying for some reason.

"Darling...what's wrong?" Salem asked, standing up from her seat and moving closer to him.

"None of this is right…" He mumbled.

"Wha-"

"Do you remember the name of our Kingdom?

She stilled. It looked like she didn't expect this question.

"Vie-"

"Answer the question."

'Isolde' sighed. "No...I do not."

Red flags we're going on in Viego's mind.

"What...what was our main wedding gift?"

"Viego you can't be seri-

"What. Was. It?"

"Isolde" stayed quiet, practically answering Viego's question.

"I need to leave." He said, getting up from his chair and taking his sword with him. It faded into mist as he walked out the door of the meeting room.

He closed it behind him, quickly walking towards his room. Once inside, he shut the door, and roared, punching the wall and cracking it slightly.

There were too many holes in his conversation with the woman. His Isolde would have never forgotten about the music box. He remembered, she loved it so much.

He looked back to the Ruined Branwen. "What is your semblance?"

"I can create portals to people I have forged a bond to." It said.

"Who can you create it to?"

"Currently, My brother, my daughter, my old husband."

Viego hummed. "Do you know their locations?"

"Faintly. My daughter and old husband are home. My brother is traveling to Mistral with one other person."

Viego looked down. He had many options, but he needed to leave here. See what he could do. He only really had one option.

Viego summoned his blade. "If possible, take me to your brother, but leave the portal open. I need to have a chat with him."

/ = /

As soon as Qrow heard the slightly armored footstep behind him, he took Harbinger and attacked with it. His eyes widened as he saw the familiar Blade of The Ruined King block his attack.

"Shit!" He cried out, jumping back.

His partner was immediately on alert, drawing her saber preparing for an attack, only finding that the King hadn't attacked.

"If this is what a King gets for his reception party, I would hate to see what a god would receive." Viego taunted, fully coming out from the portal. Qrow scowled, as he recognized the portal that had been created.

"What did you do with my sister!?" Qrow growled.

"Nothing. I just put her under my control."

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"She follows my orders. She is a servant of mine."

Qrow snarled. "You bastard!" With that, Qrow shot forward, performing an overhead strike with his Harbinger. Viego frowned, and turned into mist, dodging the attack.

Qrow shot forward again, and Viego dodged the attack once more. His partner also charged forward, and sliced down at the same time as Qrow.

Qrow saw Viego's frown deepened, and he brought his ZewiHander up to block. Because of the massive size of the blade, Viego's sword blocked both Qrow and his partners' attacks.

He pushed the two hunters back, and went into a stance. "I did not come here to fight, I came here to tal-"

"SHUT UP!" Qrow roared, attacking Viego again.

In retaliation, Viego ducked Qrows sword slice, and attacked with his own blade. Instead of feeling the sharp part of the blade, Qrow only felt the end of the blade hit him in the stomach, knocking him back.

"Please, stop this pointless fight. I have information-"

"I'LL KILL YOU!" Qrow started to turn his blade into the scythe.

"-On the woman you call Salem."

At those words, the sound of gears stopped.

"Qrow?" His partner called out.

"You...have information...on Salem?" Qrow asked.

Viego nodded, and Qrow started to laugh. He hadn't remembered a time where he had laughed so hard. This was apparently something that would make him laugh like this. His face became serious once more, as he scowled at the King in front of him.

"And why should we trust you? Last time we did, you betrayed us!"

The man in question scoffed. "I was never fully working with you. That should have been obvious."

"Qrow who Is Sal-"

"Not now, Winter." Qrow interrupted, raising his sword up for an attack. "We don't know what this guy is playing at."

"Please, If I were to kill you, I would have done it already." Viego said.

This resonated with Qrow, as he remembered the events that happened when he first met The Ruined King.

"Now you are hiding things from your partner. That signifies no trust." The King grinned. "Perhaps that can be of use." He took a step forward, and stopped as both Qrow and Winter leveled their weapons.

But then, Viego started laughing.

It was terrifying.

"You know how dangerous I am...yet you still fight?" He said between laughs. "NO power in this world can stop me! I have defeated gods! Defied death! Taken kingdoms! And you still wish to fight me?!"

Qrow's grip on Harbinger tightened. He looked at Winter, who seemed to be sweating nervously.

The King then stopped laughing with a few coughs, and straightened himself out.

"Tyrian Callows, one of Salem's disciples, is coming for the Rose girl."

Qrow's eyes widened. "W-what?"

"He is currently on his way, due to Salem thinking she helped worsen Cinder Fall's condition after the Nikos girl almost killed her. Another thing to mention is that Salem believes the Fall Maiden powers are now residing within someone else. That is a lie."

"What do you mean?" Qrow quickly asked.

Viego cracked his neck, causing both Qrow and Winter to flinch.

"After I killed the Nikos girl, I stole half of the Maiden powers that she had. Before I did that, I took the Maiden powers that Cinder Fall had. I then gave the half power to your sister, or at least, the ruined version of her." Viego continued.

"You...lied to Salem?"

"Qrow, he killed Pyrrha Nik-"

"Winter, not now."

The King nodded. "Currently, I have one and a half Maiden powers, as the Spring Maiden powers still reside within my blade."

Qrow stopped to think. This was good. Salem didn't have the powers, but in some cases, she did, because Viego was with her.

"Why are you telling us this? What do you have to gain?" Qrow asked.

The Ruined King smiled grimly. "I was told by Cinder Fall that Salem was my Isolde, but in a different form. I am now believing that is false. She remembers not of Camavor, nor anything from before she died."

"I don't think anyone would remember information from before they died." Winter said from beside Qrow.

Viego laughed, it sounded sad. "If you remember, I said I defied death. I ended up dying...but I am not sure how. As for my memories, I remember much of my Kingdom, but little of Isolde." He turned around walking to the portal. "Though I remember not her face, I believe that I have been lied to. 'Believe' being the key word."

"You didn't answer my question." Qrow said.

Viego stopped right at the ends of the portal. Qrow couldn't see what his facial expression was, but he could tell something was wrong.

"Before I came here...I was sitting on my throne. Anger, coursed through my veins as I looked at a painting. A painting of me, and my Isolde. A painting, that I ripped apart because I couldn't see her face."

Qrow could hear the man in front of him almost choking on his words.

"As soon as I even glanced at the painting, I ripped my blade from the ground. I wailed and screamed, destroying architecture that was around me. Eventually...I hit a pillar, one that blinded me with light." Viego laughed. "Damned magic…"

"Magic?" Qrow thought.

"As soon as I was able to see again, I was in a forest. One in Mistral, if I am correct...we are in Mistral...yes?"

Qrow coughed. "Y-yeah."

The King hummed. "You know what I felt as soon as I was able to even feel anything? I felt my Isolde. Blinded by my own love, I trekked forward, looking for her." Viego turned around. His blade faded away. "I believe you know the rest."

Qrow seemed speechless. On one hand, he felt sorry for the guy. On the other hand, he still felt anger towards everything he had done.

"Get to the point." Winter said from beside him.

The King sighed. "I am many things. Mainly, I am a monster, suited for the horrors I must inflict. But...I do not know if my violence is needed much."

Qrow stood still as stone. Winter seemed to do the same.

"For many years, I have been driven insane by the love I feel for my queen. I have done terrible things, but I never thought about what my queen would want."

"What are you saying?" Winter asked.

"I must atone for the problems I have caused." Viego continued. "But note this...if you hide my queen from me. If you even try to keep me from her, I will have no second thoughts about killing you."

"So...you're on our side?"

The King shrugged. "Who knows. My Isolde has no soul. Even though I can't sense her soul, it still might be her. The idea is not too far fetched. Maybe...maybe she just lost too much."

With that. Qrow watched the King walk back through the portal, which closed a moment after.

A moment long of silence passed. Then Winter spoke.

"Qrow...what the fuck just happened?"

/ = /

Viego sat once more on the bed, contemplating on what to do next. Or more realistically, what his Isolde would do next.

He wasn't thinking about the woman who was still in this castle, he was thinking of his actual Isolde. The human Isolde. The one who he loved, and who loved him.

Or at least, he still hoped she loved him. If she was still out there.

"Don't think like that, she has to be out there."

But maybe this Salem woman was what was left of his Isolde. Maybe this is who she was now. A corrupted spirit, hellbent on the destruction of this world.

Maybe she truly had lost her memories. After all, it has been a very long time since everything happened. Since the Ruination.

The only thing that didn't make sense was how she acted.

Isolde was a sweet, caring and lovable person. Viego could remember her smile. It could lift the spirits of an entire army if allowed.

Salem didn't have any of these properties. She seemed cruel, sadistic, full of hatred.

Angry and soulless.

Viego groaned, letting his head fall into his hands. He didn't know what to think, or If he could even think at all. These events were circulating around his mind, that it seemed to tear his inner thoughts apart.

Then, a knock on the "door".

"Viego? Can...you please let me in?"

It was the Salem woman.

Viego groaned once more, standing from his bed and walking towards the door.

At least she was trying to be considerate.

Viego opened the door. "Come in." He said.

'Isolde' walked inside the room. Viego saw her scan the area, and her eyes landed on the Ruined Branwen.

"My my...quite the specimen you have here."

Viego grunted. "One of my many abilities. I assume that's why you are here?"

'Isolde' bit her lip. "Actually...I came to apologize. I know how much it hurts you that I do not remember much of our past life." She started to cry.

Viego's eyes widened. "No no, my love." He quickly hugged the woman in front of him. "It's okay. I understand, for I do not remember much myself, so please do not blame yourself for this."

Isolde sniffled as she buried her face in his chest. Viego felt something resembling tears on his chest.

"I-I"

"Shh...my love." Viego cooed. "It is okay. I was wrong to be angry with you. I should not have expected you to know much. We have been separated for 600 years, after."

"1,000 years...It should have been 1,000 years."

Viego held his Isolde for what seemed like hours. A smile had appeared on his face. He had found his love. His one, true love. He was able to hold her, speak with her, do things with her once more. He was finally happy.

Or at least, he should have been.

There was still something missing. Something big, that was needed. His heart still felt empty.

"Why? Why do I still feel pain?"

/ = /

"Oscar, we have to move."

"I'm not going anywhere. Especially since you told me about a King who can literally control the souls of the dead."

Ozpin Sighed. "That's not- you know what? Fine, yes. He can do that."

"Then what do you expect me to do?! Attack him with a Hoe?!"

"Well...maybe a different kind of farming tool…"

The boy named Oscar screamed, throwing the book in his hand on the floor. Ozpin heard the boy's mother ask if everything was okay.

"It's...It's fine mom. Just frustrated at something."

"Frustration should be the least of your worries."

"And you're not helping!" The boy hissed.

Ozpin sighed. "Look. I am a wizard from who knows how long ago. I have the ability to use magic. I am the only real person who can relatively stop him."

"Then why don't you do something about it?"

"BECAUSE I DIED!"

The boy winced.

"Sorry...I just...we really need to go."

"How would you even fight him?"

"I can take control of your body if needed. But if I am going to use magic, I need something from a friend."

The boy sighed. He sat on his bed for a bit before standing up and pacing around the room. Ozpin could tell that Oscar was contemplating something.

The boy sighed again. "If this keeps me and my family alive, then I'll do it. Where do we need to go?"

If Ozpin could, he would have smiled.

"We need to go to Mistral, to see a man named Qrow Branwen."


Sorry for the late update. And sorry for these chapters being shorter than usual. Don't worry, they will be longer, but we are currently setting up for something.

As for notes, there is not much to say.

-Viego is conflicted, again, because he is going insane.

That also brings me to another topic. I hate the fact that people make Viego out to be a stereotypical Emo Stalker Simp. He is not.

He died when he was young, he was madly in love (okay, maybe a slight simp), and he is currently going insane. He doesn't know what is going on, who anyone really is, OR HOW HE FUCKING DIED.

It's upsetting when people read his lore and make him out to be some stupid emo boy, because he isn't. He was a relatively young King, who didn't want the crown, and who didn't show any interest in anyone other than Isolde.

Speaking of lore, this chapter provides some context on what Viego was doing before he got to Remnant. If you read the description of the story, it has events that happened in the story "She", which you can find on the LOL Universe. Just some quick context.

Reviews:

- I'dMakeANameButIDon'tWantTo: Whole shit you left me with a lot. I'll keep a lot of what you said in mind because honestly, that was the best constructive criticism I have gotten so far. You also quickly caught onto the fact about Salem and Viego feeling her "Soul". You can think of it two ways.

A- Viego was feeling the "remains" of it.

B- He was just really fucking happy to see his "Isolde".

As for pacing, I totally get it, but I want you to remember we started the story off very close the the Fall of Beacon. Things will be going much slower now since that "Arc" is over.

Involving combat, I will take that into consideration. Like I said, I am not good with writing fight scenes. One more thing, thank you for actually being invested in the lore :D

- Darkaggie: I will take that into consideration. Although, I really don't like the Idea of adding Zoe. If anything, I would be adding whatever the fuck Bard is supposed to be.

- YeTianshi: I'm glad you enjoy my character building. Writing someone as complex as Viego is hard, so I appreciate you thinking I'm doing a good job so far.

Huh...It seems like I didn't get that many reviews/criticisms. Well, I guess that's all for today.

Thanks for reading! And please, leave a response on the poll. It is very key to the future of this story.

-TheKazooBirb