Chapter 15
Atlas has been attacked by the White Fang, killing thousands. Weiss and Pyrrha have taken steps closer to becoming Jedi Knights. The Jedi have joined with Ironwood to defeat the Sith and White Fang. The plan of the Sith is one step closer to completion.
The council meeting ended quickly, and the war against the White Fang became official. Vale and Atlas officially declared War on the White Fang. Ozpin left the meeting knowing this wasn't the answer. He also knew it was the only outcome that was possible. The kingdoms were attacked by terrorists, and they were striking back. It was barely two weeks since Atlas was attacked, and the dust industry was failing. The government of Atlas purchased many of the mines that were attacked, including the SDC mines.
"People are suggesting we release some of the HDF we captured and send them to fight the white fang," Ozpin said to Ironwood who was waiting outside the council chamber for Ozpin.
"Yes, send out the people who only exist because they hate the Faunus. I can see it now, a village massacred full of Faunus." Ironwood said. He shook his head.
"Your volunteers won't be too much better," Ozpin said.
"I know that Atlas has a problem with racial discrimination, trust me I do, but I'm trying to solve that problem. Under my leadership, the Atlas armed forces and academy have been accepting more Faunus than my last ten predecessors." Ironwood said. They walked towards the airship waiting for them.
"I know you're trying, and I appreciate it, but for the moment we can't be hasty. How many Jedi joined your army?" Ozpin changed the subject.
"We've had another group join so it's about five hundred now," Ironwood said.
"A mighty force, forgive the pun. May I suggest that the Jedi not be used as military leaders? They have a problem with charging head-on if there is a Sith. If you must use them in military positions, find out who has the right mindset." Ozpin said.
"You seem to have experience with the Jedi. Is there something you're not telling me?" Ironwood asked.
"You know exactly why I have experience with them. Besides, I have my little collection at Beacon." Ozpin smiled.
"Speaking about one of them, I have sent you the reports my men gave about the padawan," Ironwood said.
"Yes, I've read them. She is a powerful force user. We will need to watch her, but it doesn't mean much." Ozpin said. Rosa used the force to throw multiple White Fang troops off the landing docks at the Atlas academy. They got on the airship and flew back to Beacon.
Blake got on the ship with her team, Kit Fisto, and Sun going to Menagerie, on a diplomatic mission. They were trying to set up a diplomatic tie between Ozpin, and her parents. Ozpin wanted to make sure Menagerie wasn't going to become the front lines of the coming war.
"We're going back to your home?" Ruby asked.
"Yeah," Blake said.
Rosa felt the inner battle going on in Blake's heart. She wasn't excited to go back to her home.
"What's it like?" Rosa asked.
"Which part? Menagerie is two halves of an island. The populated half, and the uninhabitable half. But they aren't but down in half like that. Everyone is forced to live on one-third of the island." Blake said.
"That third is really good to raise your Faunus kids. Grandpa trained me there. The Jedi are highly respected there as Island guardians." Sun said.
"So, we won't have too much trouble getting our foot in the door with the number of lightsabers we're carrying?" Rosa asked. For this mission, the padawans without a lightsaber were lent some from the fallen Jedi, but they were to be returned by the end of the mission.
"That's the hope." Sun said.
"But you four will be out of place there. So, follow my lead." Blake said. She turned back to the waters and looked out to them. She took a deep breath taking in the smell of the ocean again. Her mind melted and she remembered all the good memories she had with her parents taking her to some of the larger small islands dotting the waters. Soon the island came into view. Blake took a breath in and closed her eyes.
"It's almost time." Rosa said.
"I'm ready." Blake said.
The ship landed at the docks, and Blake led the group. She was stopped by two guards. They were in red outfits. They stopped Blake and her group.
"Is there a problem?" Blake asked.
"Not with you, but you have humans with you." The first guard said.
"They're padawans under my training." Kit Fisto said.
"Padawans… that means…" The second guard grabbed for his scroll.
"The Jedi are here." He said into it.
"Let them in. And send them to my home." Blake recognized the voice immediately. It was the voice of her father, Ghira. She hadn't heard from him in years. She suddenly felt nervous. Rosa put her hand on Blake's shoulder.
"Everything's going to be all right," Rosa said.
"I know." Blake said.
The group walked down the road leading to a massive house. Everyone started looking at Blake as she led them toward it.
"Shouldn't we be heading to your parent's house?" Rosa asked.
"We are," Blake said.
"Does that mean… the mansion over there is…" Ruby started.
"It may be big…"
"Blake, you have the biggest home out of all of us," Weiss said. "It's huge."
"I know… but it's because my dad's the leader here." Blake said.
"How fortunate then that we're going there." Kit Fisto said. The conversation ended. They continued walking toward the home. Rosa noticed everyone gave them space. Some of them were angry to see the humans. Rosa wondered how bad the relationship between the races was if even seeing a human here got such a bad reaction.
"Careful Rosa, you don't want to fall behind." Sun said. He put his arm around her shoulder and smiled, leaning to whisper to her.
"There are going to be white fang that just want to take a shot at us. Why do you think Master Fisto is right next to Weiss." Sun said.
"I feel the anger these people have. Are we safe here?" Rosa asked.
"Safe… I don't think so, but we still have a mission." Sun said.
They continued to walk. Sun let go of Rosa and had a smile on his face. They continued walking till they got to the entrance of the house. Two guards announced their arrival. Blake stopped in front of the doors. Everyone else were a few steps back. As soon as Blake turned around, the door opened, and a woman who looked a lot like Blake stood there. Blake turned around and started.
"Hi, mom…" Blake said. Kali wrapped her arms around her daughter and squeezed her tight. She let Blake go, and looked at her companions.
"These are the Jedi you brought with you?" Kali asked.
"Yes, mom." Blake said.
"Well, come on in." Kali said.
Soon everyone was sitting around a table. Ghira entered the conference room, wearing his glasses and looking at two different reports.
"Dad!" Blake said. She jumped up from her chair. He looked up and dropped the reports. He smiled and swept her up in a hug.
"I missed you." Ghira said.
"I missed you too." Blake said.
"Two reunions in one day. I wish we could spend more time on this, but we need to start I'm afraid." Kit Fisto said. Ghira put Blake down and looked at the Jedi.
"Yes, we can't let emotions get in the way of duty here. Let's start." Ghira sat down in his chair. "A week ago, I received a letter from Professor Ozpin. He started these talks."
"And the reason we're here," Sun said.
"I'm sorry master Jedi, but I only know my daughter's name." Ghira said. Blake introduced everyone, and Ghira nodded in acknowledgment.
"What is it that Ozpin exactly wants?" Ghira asked.
"As you should know by now, because of the attack against Atlas, the kingdoms have declared a war on terrorism, with a focus on the white fang. Ozpin wants to keep the fighting away from here, and to do that, we need to make sure that the alliance army has no reason to come here." Kit Fisto said.
"I see. Am I being targeted as a former leader of the white fang?" Ghira asked.
"We're here to make sure you don't have a connection to the white fang. If not, then there should be no problem." Fisto said.
"I was thrown out of the white fang. I wanted it to be a peaceful organization, but more extremists infiltrated it. I hoped that we could bring peace between the races, but I completely misunderstood how much pain some of them had… Khan nearly killed me when she took my spot as leader. The white fang that currently exists is not the organization I created." Ghira said.
"Are the guards members of the white fang?" Yang asked.
"No, they are former members." Ghira answered.
"Are they an organization like the white fang?" Weiss asked.
"They started out by calling themselves the red fang. Then I think they moved on to the red claws, then a few more until now they call themselves the red guard." Ghira said.
"Not too creative…" Sun said.
"But it makes them happy, so I don't say anything about it," Ghira said.
"Let's get to the heart of the issue, we want this island to no longer to have any ties to the white fang. If this is unobtainable, Ozpin can't hold the army back from attacking. The first wave of volunteers will not be accepting people. It will only cause more death, white fang support, war, and destruction." Kit Fisto said.
"I have cut all ties, and most of my people have cut ties with them. What more can I do?" Ghira asked.
"I'm afraid to ask this of you but add your support to the armed forces. Many of the council members have a with me or against me attitude to the Faunus right now." Kit said.
"They want to deploy troops here I assume." Ghira said.
"But the treaty of Vytal says that the army can't unless enemies are housed if I remember correctly." Kit said.
"Close enough. I can make a statement, but I know there are supporters here. What do they expect me to do?" Ghira said, with a tired expression coming over his face.
"Make the statement. It will show to the council that you don't harbor any terrorists and that you're willing to work with them. We want to avoid a troop presence here. The council can't assign troops here without something showing that you are allied with the White Fang." Kit said.
"Right now, we just want to stall the council. Some of us are going to have to come back later to formalize the details." Sun said.
"For now, I think this would be a good time to have some refreshments." Blake said.
"I'll help make them." Rosa said.
"Is it really the time for this?" Kit asked.
"Master, the two of you can still talk about the arrangements, but I would like to visit with my mother." Blake said.
"And our team shouldn't be too far apart." Ruby said.
"And Blake can teach us about Menagerie." Yang said. "We're still students."
"I know. What about you Sun? will you be galivanting with them?" Kit smiled.
"It's a very tempting offer… but my duty is here." Sun said. "Sometimes, being a Jedi Knight has downsides."
Blake lead her team down the halls of her home until they got to the kitchen. She opened the door and saw her mother starting to bake bread.
"Mom, why are you making the food?" Blake asked.
"Because Blake, I love to do it." Rosa stepped in front of Blake and gave a small bow.
"May I help?" Rosa asked. Kali was about to refuse, but Blake just shook her head.
"Might as well let her mom. She's almost as good as you when it comes to baking." Blake said. Kali smiled slyly and glanced at Rosa.
"Is that true?" Kali asked.
"Perhaps better," Rosa said, smirking.
"All right, Blake, take your other friends and show them around," Kali said. Blake turned around and closed the door.
"Are you sure she's safe?" Yang asked.
"Which one?" Blake asked.
"Maybe you should show us on that tour you promised." Weiss said, trying to get away from the kitchen.
Rosa breathed heavily, even with everything she gave, Kali's baked goods were better. She didn't know what she could do better, but whatever it was, Kali had it. But Rosa smiled as Kali tasted her stuff. The two women smiled.
"Just barely won." Kali said. She turned back to Rosa and hugged her.
"If you're half as good at baking as you are at fighting, Blake's safe." Kali said. Rosa's smile faltered for a moment, but she put those emotions down. The smile came back to her face.
"She's going to be a better fighter than me, seeing how she is now." Rosa said.
"What do you mean?" Kali asked. Rosa sighed and told her all about her fighting record, with a few modifications towards the end.
"I see. Either it means you have some sort of mental block, or you weren't trained right." Kali said.
"Wasn't trained right?" Rosa asked.
"I don't know a lot about the Jedi, but what I do know is that the force's strength with each Jedi has a lot to deal with what you can imagine, or in this case, not." Kali said.
"So I could make myself stronger if I believe in myself more?" Rosa asked, confused.
"From what I can tell… Yes. But that's the block. It could be that you were trained in a way that makes it hard for you here. Basically, the wrong skills were nurtured." Kali said.
"Master Maku is an excellent teacher." Rosa said.
"I didn't say he wasn't. Were you expected to be getting in lightsaber duels so often back when you were trained?" Kali asked.
"…No."
"So, it's no one's fault. The right training for the wrong era." Kali said.
"How can I fix this then?" Rosa asked.
"Train even harder." Kali said.
Soon the talks resumed and even came to an outcome good for everyone. An airship would be coming to pick them up in the morning.
Maku held his hand up, and Rosa stopped. They were tasked with going to Naboo to stop a spice miner group that was assumed at the time trying to assassinate Padmè Amidala. They were wrong, but they couldn't have known that at the time. They couldn't know that the veil of the dark side would soon overtake the galaxy.
Maku placed a small listening device in the crack of one of the walls of the tunnel. They were investigating the most likely spot where weapons would have been placed. Rosa's head shot up when she felt fear coming from behind them. She gave Maku a look, and he nodded. They hid, waiting for something to happen.
"They think it was us. I heard from our guy in the city. They sent Jedi here to stop this. Dammit, we never should have opened our mouths." The man said into a comm system.
"Calm down, they have no idea that we're here." Rosa heard
"Should we just have accepted his offer? He's making it look like us because we didn't." The man said.
"I won't stand by any Kriffing Jedi, do you understand that?" The voice bit back.
"Yes sir."
Rosa remembered that this lead would take them to Nar Shaddaa. They just arrested the head organization when the battle of Genosis happened.
"We're at war." Maku muttered when they learned what happened. She just felt destroyed when she learned how many Jedi died. Only two padawans survived that battle, and she was sure she wouldn't have. She knew some of the padawans there. Some of them were just a few years older than her. But soon, unnoticed to her, that kind of information became commonplace, and sooner still, she stopped having strong emotions about death.
Rosa woke up, wondering why she had that dream. At least she wasn't in that hallway again. The airship came and dropped off supplies, and people. Rosa watched as the Jedi entered the ship and couldn't shake off the feeling the dream should have meant something more. The manta fit the Jedi comfortably.
The ship took off and flew back towards Vale.
"Ozpin will be glad to have the agreement met." Fisto said.
"I think we'll all be glad as soon as the white fang are gone." Blake said.
"But we need to find them first." Rosa said.
"We'll have time to deal with that later. As soon as the airship flew over the water, the doors opened.
"People love sitting at the edge." The pilot said. Rosa smiled at sat with her legs over the edge. She closed her eyes and smiled. Everything was going well.
Then a rocket hit the airship. It shook, and Rosa was falling out of it. She grabbed the edge of the door. Ruby was the first one to get to her, but when she put her hand out for Ruby to grab it, the ship had to bank to avoid another rocket. Rosa's hand slipped, and she was falling.
Rosa was falling, but she didn't care about that. She cared about the rocket going toward her friends. She thrust her hand, and the rocket went past the ship. She turned around and tried to use the force to stop her fall. It slowed her down, but then her body hit a tree.
She felt the pain rushing through her body. She caught onto a tree branch to stop her fall. She hurt all over. She still had her lightsaber. She pulled out her broken scroll and sighed. She dropped to the ground floor, with a massive spike of pain running through her. She was on her own for now.
"We have to go back and get her!" Ruby yelled.
"We can't put everything in danger right now. The airship can't take another hit! We will return for her!" Fisto said. Weiss was about to jump down when Sun caught her.
"Don't. If we rush into this, we'll all die. Rosa can defend herself for a while. Trust her." Sun said.
"We have to do something." Yang said.
"And we will, but we need to get more to help us. She's beaten a Sith, she can handle herself." Fisto said. He needed them to calm down.
"She's, our friend," Blake said.
"And she'll be safe." Fisto said. "But we are still in danger." Another rocket flew passed the ship.
The girls looked out at the ground below. They were over the ruins of Vettom. Yang's eyes flared red, and she had to step back to keep the anger in.
Maku felt pain all over his body after exiting his meditation. He knew something happened to Rosa and went to give her a call, but her Scroll couldn't pick up his call.
"Dammit." He said. He clipped his lightsaber to his belt and called Mace.
"Something happened. I felt Rosa in great pain, and her scroll isn't working." Maku said.
"Have you been able to contact the others?" Mace asked.
"Not yet. You're the first person I called after Rosa." Maku tried to add Kit to the call and heard his voice.
"We're under attack. Our ship was almost blown out of the sky. Rosa fell out of it." Fisto said.
"Where?" Maku asked.
"The girls say we were over the ruins of a place called Vettom." Fisto said.
"I'll get a search party." Maku said.
"Take team JNPR, and clones with you." Mace said.
"Understood. If you can get a few others to meet me at the air docks…"
"I'll try." Mace said.
As soon as team RWBY's airship landed, Maku had gathered six ships ready to search. Not only was a Jedi missing, but white fang were expected to orchestrate the attack. It was a military matter now. Maku turned and saw the six Jedi get off the airship. They had been flying in a damaged airship for the better part of two days.
"We're just about to go looking for her. Join us." Maku said. Everyone agreed.
Soon the six ships were over the ruins. Maku's voice came over the comms.
"Be careful."
Six hours passed since Rosa first fell. Night began to fall. The airship was slow, and she knew they weren't close to Vale. It was nearly a two-day journey back to beacon. She had to survive for at least four days. She was being hunted she knew. White Fang troops were hunting her down. She found where most of them fled. But after she discovered their location by accident, they had been moving. It seemed to her that they didn't have any permeate locals and could get out in less than a day's time. They lost the vast majority of white fang even before they had a chance to do anything about it. But she knew they left behind a small force to find her. She feared they even had Sith with them. Which was a well-met fear. She used her semblance to look like Lady Myst when two white fang troops came near her.
"The Jedi is nearby. She cut me." She brought her hand out, blood showing from the wound.
"Where'd the Jedi go?" The first troop asked. Rosa pointed behind her. The white fang moved. As soon as they weren't looking at her, she turned, decapitating both of them with one strike. The illusion faded. She looked over the dead body and grabbed the blaster and stumbled her way into a cave. It took more out of her than she thought. She spent the six hours before healing herself the best she could, but she still hurt.
More white fang troops were around. She couldn't spend too much time in one place. She got up, then immediately was flung to the back of the cave. She coughed up blood as she fell to the ground.
"Finally found the Jedi Bitch." A sith said.
"Fuck you." Rosa said. She tried standing up, but she felt a rock slam against her head. She saw a flash in her eyes and could taste blood in her mouth. She felt blood falling from her head.
"Still got spirit in you?" The Sith stepped in the cave.
"I'll kill you if you take one more fucking step." Rosa said, still not looking at the Sith.
"Try." He said. He was nothing compared to Myst, or even her apprentice. She picked up the dark blade in her mind and stepped forward.
"You think you can stand against me? Your little bitch ass? I killed Lady Myst. I ate Shommud's soul! What do you think you can do to me?" Rosa stepped slowly towards the Sith. He stood there. She felt his fear. She smiled.
"Cunt!" He yelled. Rosa stopped. She took a deep breath.
"I'm going to kill you slowly." She could hear a laughter in her head.
"Good. Tear off your Jedi mask, and find out who you are supposed to be." The voice that haunted her said. Rosa squeezed her and around the Sith's ankle, crushing it. He fell to the ground, dropping his lightsaber. Rosa used the force to grab it.
"You want to call me a cunt again?" Rosa asked. The Sith looked up and held his hand up. He tossed another rock, but Rosa cut that with ease. She continued to walk towards the dead man. He tried to scramble back, but she crushed his arm.
"Fuck you bitch!" The Sith screamed. She stopped in front of him.
"I won't even remember you." She looked at the Sith with disgust. She reached her hand to his face and ripped out his eye. He continued to scream.
Kali was right. She was weak because she blocked herself off from real power. She used the force to grab the rock she was struck with.
"Can you guess what I'm about to do?" Rosa asked.
"No…" The sith said.
"I'm finally going to let out all my rage. I've lost a lot of fights. Nearly died more than I want to admit. And that has put me in a really bad mood recently. But this rock will hold all those feelings." She lifted it up and smashed his head. He was still alive, but she didn't care. She bashed again, and again, and again. She didn't know when he died, nor did she care. She didn't care she had gore all over her. She didn't care about the violence she had put out there. After a while, she stopped.
"That was therapeutic." She got out of the cave.
She puked after the dark high wore off.
"What the fuck did I do?" Rosa asked herself. She went to the pond she knew was nearby and tried to was the blood off.
"Why hide who you are?" She heard. She looked in the pond, but she didn't see anything. She turned and saw the woman in the tower the night of the dance.
"I'm a Jedi." Rosa said.
"Really, after what you did? First with Myst, then Shommud, then the nameless fuck. Don't forget all about the white fang you killed. You're no more Jedi than I am."
Rosa splashed the pond water trying to get the blood off.
"Your master is hiding something from you. He knows what happened to you. Why you are like you are." She said.
"What do you mean?" Rosa asked.
"He has stolen everything from you. Without the dark, you aren't with shit. But with the dark, you are stronger than them all." She said.
"Why should I be a Sith? They're evil." Rosa said.
"Evil, good, who are you to judge. Just look at what you did. Four swings of the rock and he was dead."
"Shut up." The rage started to build back up.
"Then look at what you did to Myst. You brought her back to life, just to kill her again, and chopped her into little pieces. You are more Sith than you realize."
A wave of force lightning rushed through the air at the woman. She took out her lightsaber, sending the blast back at Rosa. She fell into the pond. She felt herself being pulled out of with the force. She felt the pain sear her. She took out her lightsaber and rushed forward. She locked blades with the woman. Nothing else mattered now. She just needed to shut this woman up.
Cinder was impressed by her this time. Her natural strength with the dark side would have been impressive enough without her sudden skill with the lightsaber. She was impressed with just how much was sealed behind her master's theft. She even felt a single bead of sweat fall down her face. When that happened, she had to end it. She waited for Rosa to make a plunge, which she did. Cinder sidestepped the girl and grabbed her hands. She brought them in the air and slammed her knee in the girl's stomach. She brought her hands up higher, then slammed her into the ground. Rosa let out a groan and tried to get back up. Cinder put her foot on Rosa's back.
"I don't want to kill you. I want you to join me." Cinder said.
"I won't." Rosa said. Cinder grabbed Rosa by the face and punched it. Rosa fell to the ground.
"Why won't you?" She asked.
"I won't kill my friends." Rosa said. Cinder started to laugh. She let Rosa fall back down to the ground as she continued to laugh. Tears came to her eyes.
"Once they know what you are, they'll kill you. No hesitation. Do you think they give a single fuck about you? The only Jedi who aren't scared of you have not a single fucking idea how strong you are with the dark. Once they find out, you're dead." Cinder said. Anger rolled out from her words.
"They're my friends." Rosa said.
"Because of a lie. I know you're a monster. You can't feel. You're a perfect droid. Give your orders and sent to fulfill them or die. You're pathetic. Your friends have no idea what you truly are. And once you can't hide who you are, you will be hunted down by those same friends. Or you could just let it all go now and join me." Cinder said.
Rosa didn't say anything. Cinder smiled and got close to Rosa's ear.
"Front or back?" Cinder said.
"What?" Rosa asked.
"I'm going to mark you for my master, front or back?" Cinder said.
"What do you mean?" Rosa asked.
"A tattoo. It goes on your front or back. Stomach or back?" Cinder asked.
"…Back." Rosa said.
"You didn't even fight it. Good."
"What did my master do?" Rosa asked as Cinder started undressing her. Cinder whispered what Maku did, and Rosa felt devastated, but it explained everything. Why she was so weak, why she didn't have memories of her childhood. Everything.
Cinder smiled as she started giving Rosa the tattoo. The Grimm essence could be used to ink someone who Salem wants. It hurt a lot, which it meant to. Some who have felt the pain died while it happened. Rosa tried her best to be still while Cinder scarred her back, but occasionally her nerves moved her. The enchanted pen moved the ink poured on her back to mold to the desired shape.
"Don't worry. It hurts a lot, but you are doing great." Cinder finished the eye. Everyone had this same tattoo. The emblem that Salem chose for herself was tattooed on all of her apprentices. It had magic in it. It is what allowed them to travel to Salem's realm so quickly.
"How much more?" Rosa asked.
"Now comes the little details." Cinder started stroking Rosa's hair. "Are you thinking of backing out now?"
"No." Cinder felt the dark side in her and smiled. Her strength was so strong. Cinder knew she was always meant to be a Sith.
"I'm going to kill Maku." Rosa said.
"Good." Cinder said. She finished the tattoo. She looked at her work and admired it. "And your done.
Cinder got off of Rosa, and let Rosa get up by herself. She had been using the force to heal her other injuries while she was on the ground. She put her clothes back on slowly.
"The tattoo won't break if that's what you're worried about."
"It won't crack?"
"You don't know how tattoos work, do you?" Cinder asked.
"I didn't have any until now." Rosa said.
"I could tell." Cinder said.
"What now?" Rosa asked.
"You have about three days to train to kill your master. I will train you for three days." Cinder said. "I will push you to your limits, break them, and force you to grow from your stunted self."
"Yes, my master." Rosa said, bowing to Cinder.
Cinder was a hard taskmaster, but an effective one. Rosa saw how much Maku had stolen from her when her skills with the lightsaber had increased threefold in only two days. Her mastery over the dark side was questionable, except for her skill with the force drain ability. With that, she was a prodigy the likes unseen for centuries. She had been forced to use it on the white fang still left those who found her that was. Cinder taught her the dark arts. She was turning into a fine assassin, which suited her just fine.
"The dark side is strong in you. But it needs a test. We have a captured Jedi here. You will kill him." Cinder said.
Rosa bowed to her master.
"By what manner?" Rosa asked.
"This is a test to see if you can kill a Jedi. I just need the dead body." Cinder said.
"Then you shall have it." Rosa said.
"He's been released, go." Cinder said. Rosa vanished and rushed towards the light presence in the forest.
"How's the vessel's training?" Dr. Watts said. He stepped out of the shadows.
"She's strong. She may be abler to kill her master at this point." Cinder said.
"What makes you think that? It's been three days." Watts asked.
"Salem has seen her great power. Even now she finds more and more reason to make this one a vessel." Cinder said.
"She has the mark?" Watts asked.
"Of course." Cinder said.
Rosa felt the Jedi walking through the forest, felt his confusion and his calm reassurances he was giving himself. She jumped from tree to tree, checking if he could sense her. He took out his lightsaber, a blue blade shot out. He looked around. She stopped in the tree branch.
"I can sense you out there." He said, facing the wrong direction.
Rosa dropped down. He spun around, swinging his lightsaber. She took out her green blade and parried his attack.
"We're on the same side. But we're surrounded by white fang." Rosa said. The Jedi took a deep breath and put his lightsaber away.
"Sorry. How'd you find me?"
"I fell out of a ship a while ago. I felt your light presence." He nodded his head. He was a fool not being able to feel her dark side presence. Was she really this oblivious? He turned his back to her.
"What's your name?" Rosa asked.
"Auron." He said. The short blonde hair reminded her of Jaune. His face looked nothing like Jaune's. He looked to be a few years older than her. He had a well-built frame and was six inches taller than her.
"I'm Rosa." Rosa said.
Auron felt the pain of a lightsaber in his lower abdomen. It wasn't in a lethal spot, but it still hurt like hell. He spun around, barely blocking the strike from Rosa.
"What the hell's wrong with you?" Auron said.
"I've been sent to kill you." She rose her hand and a brief burst of lightning rushed out, slamming into Auron's stomach. Auron went back, holding onto his wounds. He got up and sent a force push against Rosa. She was flung into the woods. She got back up and found three white fang troops smoking a drug she didn't care enough to recognize. She held out her hand and drained the three troops. She jumped up to one of the tree limbs, waiting. She hid completely. Auron walked right by her, stopped to look at the dead bodies, and moved on. She followed him, using the force to snap a tree branch. Every time she did, he sent out a force blast in that direction. He found twice that the white fang were still in the area, but they weren't difficult to kill. The Grimm that rushed out and bit him in the arm was harder for him to kill.
She waited in the tree as he bandaged himself. She took out a knife she found on one of the white fang she killed and sent it his way. It slashed across his cheek. He tossed his hand up to his face and threw his lightsaber toward her. She jumped down and rushed him. She used the force to send a push his way. His shield blocked the attack. She jumped over him as he caught his lightsaber in his good hand. She spun around and blocked his first attack. She was on the back foot for ten swipes. She smirked, ducked under the next strike, then brought her lightsaber up in an arc. He was a form I user and was predictable. She smirked as his arm flew off. She used the force to catch his lightsaber, turned off hers and his, brought them to his heart, and turned both on.
He let out a sigh of shock. His eyes started to close and she caught him.
"Why?" He asked.
"The Jedi stole everything from me." She felt him die and dropped his body. She took whatever she could find of use on him, which wasn't much. He had nothing better than a day's worth of water and food in his belt. She attached his lightsaber to her belt, then hook hers.
Cinder was behind her when she stood.
"You toyed with him."
"Of course I did. He lowered his defenses when he thought I was on his level.
"How does it feel to kill your first Jedi?" Cinder asked.
"Nothing." Rosa said. Cinder hid a smile from that.
"Then let's see how much more you'll feel when you find your master. He's coming. Leading a strike team against the white fang, and a search party for you. He's going to be here soon. Prepare to kill him." Cinder said. Rosa nodded. Cinder smirked as she left, vanishing.
Rosa found the cave she killed that sith in days ago and shook her head as all that was left was the lightsaber. A Grimm must have come by and eaten the body. She used the force to dismantle it and grab the Kyber crystal. She sat at the back of the cave and began to meditate.
"Good, my young apprentice." The voice called to her again.
"I'm here, but you aren't the one who trained me. What should I call you? Voice? Master?" Rosa asked.
"Call me Salem." Rosa felt a burning against her back. She clenched her teeth.
"I can feel the power from you Salem. Give me guidance." Rosa said.
"That is all I have ever been here for." Rosa walked to the door and slammed her fist against it.
"That fucker. My memories." Rosa said.
"Yes, they are all behind here and you will receive them once your master lies dead." Salem said.
"Then give me strength." Rosa said.
"You must kill your master first." Salem said.
"Why?"
"I won't protect a weakling." Salem said.
That vision ended, and she found herself in a dark world. She felt the dark side push against her mind. She roared against the winds buffeting her, but her roar couldn't withstand the hatred in the winds. She was knocked off her feet. She stood back up, feeling a rage build up in her.
Fall, rise, rage, fall, rise, rage, fall…
That cycle repeated in her mind more times than she could remember. She was thrown down with the most savage wind yet. Something in her broke and she rose her hands towards the winds. Force lightning rushed through them, hitting the air.
The wind slammed against her, but this time, she finally withstood the wind.
She opened her eyes as she heard the noise of ships in the air. Most of them landed at the ruins. She heard the sounds of battle. But there was one ship in the air she knew held her master. She felt him send through their link a feeling of worry. She sent back to him hatred.
Maku nearly dropped out of the ship when he was hit with this pure hatred. He was grabbed by Ren.
"She's here. Spread out."
The ship landed. He knew where she was, but after that burst of dark energy radiating from her, he knew that he had to fight her. He took in a breath.
"I'll go over there, the rest of you, check the other directions." Maku said.
"If I sense her, I'll tell you." Jaune said. He gave them battle meditation as he sat in a tree. Weiss tried to sense her out, but couldn't she went with Ruby in a different direction. Yang and Blake went one way. Ren and Nora went another. Pyrrha and Sun went separate ways from each other. None of them were moving towards where Rosa was. He started walking, holding on his lightsaber.
"Am I ready?" Maku said. 'To kill her?' He thought.
Rosa felt him coming toward her. She was ready for him. The hate almost radiated off her visibly. She was ready to kill Maku. She was ready to kill her link to the Jedi order.
Cinder watched closely as the Jedi walked passed her. She wasn't allowed to kill any that were still students, but the one she found wasn't. She dropped, killing him in the flash of an eye. Disappointing, but not a surprise.
Blake looked at Yang. Something was off. Yang stopped and looked back at her.
"What is it?" Yang asked.
"This feels like a trap."
Her head snapped forward, a second before Yang. She used the force to block the explosive flung towards them. Yang rose her hands, and brought up a force barrier as the explosive went off. Twelve white fang troops dropped from the trees holding up weapons. Blake and Yang took out their weapons.
"Six to one. I like those odds." One of them said.
"We're Jedi." Blake said.
"No, you're a Bitch. And your friend over there is a whore." One of them said.
"Just like you were Adam's whore. Did you like it?" One of them asked. Yang rushed forward, slamming her fist into the chest of one of the white fang. He went flying. Yang knew he was dead when he hit the tree. Even of the massive branch didn't puncture him. She turned around and punched another in the face. His head literally spun around. He dropped dead. Blake rushed forward, slashing the first white fang troop with her weapon. She spun around and fired at him in the back. She aimed for vitals. He dropped. She took out her rented lightsaber and rushed forward. She blocked the shots from the white fang. She cut the head off another white fang troop.
The fight was going on everywhere. At the ruin, the clones were killing the white fang with the aid of some volunteers and two Jedi. Fordo jumped forward, getting behind enemy cover and shot all the white fang dead. His men moved forward, killing more white fang. The white fang knew they were outmatched, until three sith jumped down. The Jedi turned to the Sith, and moved to meet them. Fordo ordered the clones to aim at the Sith. One of them was hit, and later quickly killed by a Jedi.
"This is a slaughter." Fordo said.
The second sith fell, and the last one looked at the Jedi advancing.
"We're just the apprentices." He said. "The lords and Darths are already gone."
"What do you mean?" The Jedi asked.
"We moved as soon as that Jedi appeared." He looked at the Jedi, almost ready to ask for mercy when he was shot in the head.
"Kill them all." The volunteers shouted. They rushed passed the Jedi and clones, going into the ruins.
"Blast it all." One of the clones said.
"This is worse than a blood bath."
Maku stopped at the entrance of a cave. The materials needed to create a lightsaber laid scattered on the ground.
"You finally found me." Rosa said, still covered by the dark.
"Come out. We can help you." Maku said.
"Like you helped me when I was eight? I know what you did. How many times did you do it?" Rosa asked as she stood up.
"What do you mean?" Maku asked.
"I know how you fucked with my mind. You are the reason I almost died so many times." Rosa said.
"What happened Rosa?" Maku asked.
"I finally learned the truth. The thing you fear the most." She was still a few steps from the light, but Maku could see her eyes. The fire in her eyes glowed in the darkness. She stepped forward, and her tan skin was gone. She looked ghostly white. Her veins turned black.
"What happened?" Maku asked.
"I finally found who I truly am." Rosa said. "This, this is what you feared. For good reason."
Rosa rushed forward, her green blade rushing towards Maku. She had a crazed look in her eyes. Maku stumbled back, fighting not to die in the first few swipes. She brought out another lightsaber, with a blue blade coming out. He stepped back, walking carefully towards the landing zone.
Sun just finished killing a Sith when he felt the greatest dark side presence in the area, in the area that Maku went towards. He needed help.
Blake dragged Yang back to the landing zone, using the force to heal her along the way. She was overwhelmed in the end, but not too badly hurt. She felt the darkness burst in the area as soon as she put Yang down.
"Jaune, watch Yang." Blake said as she rushed to the darkness.
Ren and Nora rushed toward the darkness, but they were stopped by white fang.
Everyone felt the darkness, and all ran towards it, but all ran into a roadblock. Jaune reached out to others.
"Get to the darkness when you can." He said. Everyone felt a burst of energy, which helped them get passed their enemies.
Maku felt sweat fall down his face. He should have known that this wasn't going to be so easy, but she hadn't even used the force besides amplifying herself. She was holding her natural powers back. She wanted to hurt him.
"What else did you do to me? You stole my memories. Did you rape me?" Rosa said.
"No! Rosa, please, let me explain…" Maku said. That was the wrong thing to say, as he was flung into a tree. He had the air knocked out of him. He started coughing, then his hands rose to his throat. She was choking him.
"You had YEARS to tell me, but I had to have the FUCKING SITH TELL ME!" Rosa yelled. She brought her hand forward, flinging Maku to the ground. He tried to get up, but Rosa sent out force lightning. Maku started screaming. She stopped.
"I deserve this." Maku said.
"Did you think about molesting me? Did you ever make me do something awful then erased the memory? Did you have me kill someone? I don't know who I am because of you. But I can know so simply. I just need to kill you." Rosa said.
"I'm sorry." Maku said. Rosa kicked him in the face.
"Sorry doesn't cut it."
"I never touched you." Maku said.
"Your word means shit to me." Rosa said.
"I'm sorry." He thrust his hand forward, about to kill her with his lightsaber before she used the force to crush it. The lightsaber was useless now. Rosa grabbed him by the face and punched him. Over and over and over again.
"Stop!" Sun yelled. His lightsaber was on. He stumbled when he saw Rosa's face.
"You defend him?" Rosa asked.
"What happened to you?" Sun asked.
"Him." She held her lightsaber toward Sun, challenging him.
"I don't want to hurt you." Sun said. She laughed.
"As if you could." She ran toward Sun.
Maku grabbed his broken lightsaber and used the force to grab the crystal.
"There's still hope." Maku said, as he began to crawl to the cave.
Sun was surprised at Rosa. Not only how much she changed in a few days, but how strong she became. He realized he was outmatched, but he knew he just had to withstand the storm. Her form VI was masterful. She kept Sun on his toes, giving ground with every strike. His defenses had to be able to withstand this onslaught.
"Rosa, this isn't you." Sun said.
"No, finally, I am showing all of you who I truly am. The monster Maku sealed away." The swing almost cut Sun's head from his body. He was struggling even when he had the advantage in experience and sword style. They entered into a blade lock. Sun started feeling weaker. He looked down and saw Rosa draining him. She swung her lightsaber, knocking Sun's away. He went to take out his hunter weapon, but Rosa stopped that with a blast of force lightning. He flew into a tree trunk. He felt the shock run up and down his body. She rose her lightsaber to kill Sun. She brought the blade down.
Then her blade bounced off another.
"Rosa?" Blake said.
"Get out of here." Rosa said.
"What happened?" Blake asked.
"I found myself."
"This isn't you." She stepped back.
"No, this is the true persona. Everything else you know about me has been a mask." Rosa said.
"Rosa?" Ren asked. Nora was a step behind. She looked at Rosa, then fired at her with her weapon. The cannon slammed into her abdomen. She stumbled back into the clearing where she left Maku.
Cinder shook her head, and entered a portal, holding four lightsabers in her hands.
Ren rushed forward next, firing at her. She got back up, slashing at the bullets, but some of them landed. She felt her Aura weaken considerably.
Blake rushed forward, throwing her weapon into a tree behind Rosa. She pressed the trigger and flew towards her. She kicked Rosa in the face, knocking her down. Nora hit her in the side. She slammed into a tree.
"If you don't stop, I'll be forced to kill you." Rosa said.
"If we don't stop, we'll lose you." Nora said. Rosa blocked a bullet. Out of the woods, Pyrrha came forward. Rosa was about to move when she felt gravity increase. She was slower. She fell to one knee, seeing Weiss with tears in her eyes.
"This is for the best." Ruby said crescent rose aimed at her head.
Her rage broke. The glyphs holding her back were broken, her friends all fell to the ground. She gritted her teeth and held her hand out. Red streaks of energy came off all of her friends. They all looked at Rosa, pleading in their eyes.
Then Rosa fell to the ground. Maku stood above her. He slammed her in the head with the pommel of the restored lightsaber on the ground. She stirred and was about to get back up when she felt a massive force keeping her down. All of her friends came together to keep her down.
"I'm sorry." Maku said.
He put his hand on her head and closed his eyes. She screamed, then stopped. Her eyes rolled to the back of her head, and she collapsed to the ground. He opened his eyes and watched as she started to return to normal. He looked at the others.
"This is all my fault." Maku said.
Salem was disappointed to hear that Rosa lost her fight, but it was expected, seeing who she fought. She was a patient woman, and she would have her vessel, but she could wait some more.
Maku stood before the other masters and the Jedi who knew what happened.
"I owe everyone an explanation. I have the power to block the memories and experience people." Maku said every one of the padawans looked at Maku.
"We've known for years that Rosa has a weakness to the dark side. This isn't even the first time she has fallen, but this is the first time she has been alone for so long, and had someone to train her." Maku said
"What happened to her out there?" Weiss asked.
"When she fell, she must have found a Sith who wanted to train her. I don't know besides that." Maku said.
"But you have her memories." Ren said.
"No, I blocked her memories." Maku corrected. "I am her master because of this ability. I…"
Oz stood in the medical bay, watching Rosa as she was in the bacta tank again. He saw the emblem tattooed on her back.
"She's marked." He said. "I'm sorry."
Ozpin put his hand on the bacta tank. She didn't deserve this. She didn't deserve all this pain. He turned to see Glynda standing at the door.
"We found what the tattoo is." Glynda said.
"I hoped the description you gave me was wrong, but it isn't. She's marked by Salem." Ozpin said.
"What does that mean?" Glynda asked.
"Salem wants Rosa." Ozpin said. "Maku used that power again."
"How do you know?" Glynda asked.
"She's back to normal." Ozpin closed his eyes. Rosa was barely alive when she was brought here.
Rosa opened her eyes. She was back in the bacta tank. She tried remembering the last thing she could remember. She going to Menagerie today, so how did she end up in a bacta tank? Fatigue over came her again, and she fell back to sleep in the tank.
Author's Notes: Next chapter gone, and wasn't that a good chapter or what.
Review time. Let's go over some of the past few reviews.
BlindFaunusGirl: Thanks for the review. Yeah, Rosa doesn't get breaks.
CT7567Rules: I love Vos, and so does George Lucas. Mando's may make it in the story, but not for a bit. I may have forgotten Fordo in that chapter, but I think I made up for that in recent chapters.
deathgundam006: Thanks for the support.
And last, and most definitively least…
Guest/DefunctStoreKing: No.
Thank you all for reviewing this story and keep doing it.
May the Force be With You
-DragonZlayerx12
