A/N: I'm renaming this arc to the Liberation of Menagerie arc as the chapter names were too lengthy.
Chapter 8: A Trap for a Darklord
The power of the Darklords was created to keep the power of the Maidens in check. That was the reason the creator of the Maiden powers gave when he made the Darklord powers. Power corrupts, after all.
However, that still didn't stop people from trying to stop him. He quells their fears when he explains the heavy restrictions he placed on the Darklord powers. One must have a strong heart to resist the corrupting nature of darkness, go through gruelling training to learn how to use their new dark powers, and have a great love for something, whether it be a person, item, or place.
Many didn't know that love is darkness's greatest weakness.
But actions speak louder than words, so when the Summer Maiden became mad with power, a Darklord was tasked with dealing with her. Many were surprised that the Darklord was a male. That's because the power of the Darklord is not restricted to a single gender.
With a heavy heart, the Darklord killed the Summer Maiden. That's the only way to strip a woman's maiden powers. A flaw that the old man fixed with the Darklord powers. A person can pour their powers into an item, and the next person who is in line to gain the Darklord powers simply grabs the item.
But their hearts will be tested, and if they are unworthy, they will be killed by the powers they are trying to get. That's the nature of darkness. You are strong enough to use it or not.
Over the years, knowledge of the Maidens and Darklords has lessened until only a select few know of their existence. They also forgot that darkness can be used for good and reverted to the old mindset that those who use darkness must be evil. So that leads to the question: how does Ironwood know? "How did you know I'm a Darklord?" Cinder asked. "As far as you know, my dark abilities could come from my Shadow Aura," Cinder said.
"I'm an ally of Ozpin," Ironwood explains.
"That explains it," Cinder sighs.
"Raven hasn't told you?" Ironwood asked.
"Mom doesn't like talking about it," Cinder said.
"So she's still mad," Ironwood said sadly.
"He did break her trust," Cinder said, with a hint of anger in her voice.
"She told you what happened?" Ironwood asked.
Cinder nods, "She told me everything."
Before Ironwood can ask Cinder what Raven divulged, the pilot of the aircraft shouts, "WE GOT IN COMMING!"
Cinder managed to put on her helmet as the aircraft exploded and felt someone tackle her. It was Amber who was covered in bandages. "You got a lot of guts to take me on in your condition," Cinder said with a smile.
Though Cinder is wearing a helmet, Amber can tell she's making a mocking smile. "Shut up! Because of you, I lost favour with the king! " Amber growls and starts pushing Cinder down to the ground.
"You do know he's old enough to be your dad, right?" Cinder chuckles.
"It's not like that!" Amber said, with a disgusted look on her face. "I'm his loyal servant! Nothing more!"
"More like a brainwashed slave," Cinder said. Her eyes glow red, and Amber is sent flying by an explosion of darkness. Amber recovers and sees Cinder's amour is now black with white marks; the fur on the helmet and breastplate is now white and has twelve wings of darkness.
"The first time we fought, I was holding back because I wanted to see how strong you are." Cinder said. "I was not impressed," Cinder scoffs.
"I'll show you who's weak!" Amber growls and shoots a fireball at Cinder.
Cinder counters with her fireball. Her version is dark purple.
The two balls of fire collide and explode with equal force. Cinder throws a second fireball but Amber dodges it. However, Cinder was not aiming for her but one of the guns on the wall. Angered Amber throws another fireball at Cinder but she deflects it making it hit the other gun. Now Ironwood's airforces can help the ground forces unimpeded.
Cinder flew at Amber at full speed when a strange beam shot from the castle and hit the Faunus King. She cried out in pain and was pulled towards the castle at great speed. Cinder passed out, not from the force of the speed but from what the beam was doing to her.
When she wakes up, she discovers herself in the ruins of a lab and her mother's arms, "Are you okay?" Raven asked.
Cinder nods, "Yeah but I feel kinda weak," she said and she notices she was only wearing her blue leotard and covered in a strange liquid. Looking behind her spots the tube that Raven broke her out of. As well as the bodies of scientists. Most like Raven's handy work.
"We were deceived. The intel our spies got was false. There was no bomb but a device that can extract Darklord powers. That's what happened to you. They not only took your Darklord powers but Yamato and your Keyblade too," Raven explains and helps Cinder up on her feet.
"That was a mistake," Cinder smiles.
"It was," Raven smiles, "Thanks to the chaos Yamato made Ironwood and Barret were able to launch a siege on this castle,"
"Looks greed is finally going to be that man's undoing," Cinder laughs.
"It is," Raven laughs as well. She takes Cinder to a table that has a towel, a red cape with a white fur collar, a pair of silver gauntlets and greaves, a blue waist cape and a Model 89 Longsword. A standard melee weapon was given to SOLDIER candidates.
"This sword takes me back," Cinder said and picked up the longsword.
"You were one of the top candidates," Raven smiles.
"Yeah," Cinder smiles. She swings the longsword once and puts it back on the table. She uses the towel to dry herself off, "What was I doing in that tube anyways," Cinder asked.
"Mostly studying your Shadow Aura," Raven explains.
"Of course, they are," Cinder sighs and puts on the gauntlets and greaves, "They still haven't given up on their Shadow Aura project despite so many setbacks,"
"They stubborn as they are stupid," Raven said and helps Cinder put on her cape as she puts on her waist cape.
"You got that right," Cinder laughs then asks, "How long I was out?"
"Two days," Raven explains.
"That long?!" Cinder gasped.
"The enemy did a good job stalling us. I couldn't reach you sooner because they're a few on our side that was on his payroll. Traitors must be dealt with," Raven growled.
Cinder nods, "That's the law of our tribe,"
Raven nods as well, "Come, we need to go to the treasure room. That's where your Keyblade and crown are being held,"
"And the Yamato?" Cinder asked.
"That bastard has it along with the rest of your armour," Raven explains.
Cinder groans, "I'm going to have those washed once I get them back,"
Raven chuckles, "Yes, let's hurry, The longer that man has Yamato and your Darlord powers the trouble he's going to cause,"
With a nod, Cinder takes the longsword again and follows her mother out of the lab but someone is blocking the way out.
A knight in black armour holding a large greatsword. "Good, you can use a warm-up after being asleep for two days," Raven smiles.
"What is your name?" Cinder asked and pointed her longsword at the knight.
The black knight just groans and charges at Cinder. They swung their greatsword at her with both hands. Cinder is fast enough to dodge it and she can tell by how the knight is swinging he's mindless.
So Cinder thought it best to use her Semblance. With a motion of her arm, summons four light blue astral swords. When the knight swings his sword again, Cinder doesn't dodge it. Instead, she parried it. Making the knight stumble back. It was then Cinder launched her astral swords at the knight. She mostly aimed for the head.
The helmet cracked a little so Cinder kept shooting her astral swords whenever she saw an opening. Whether it is from a dodge or a parry.
It didn't take long for the helmet to finally break into pieces. Revealing a young man with spiky blonde hair and blue eyes underneath. Cinder knew who he was, "Cloud?!" she said with a shocked expression.
"So that's what happened to one of the missing candidates," Raven said and walked up to the unconscious Cloud.
"And why this is here," Cinder said and looked at the longsword in her hand.
Waking up, Cloud gets up and looks around, "Where am I?" he asked and looked around.
"You are in Menagerie and you were under mind control," Cinder said.
"Okay, that's a lot to take in," Cloud said and holds her head as it hurts a bit, "My parents must be worried sick about me,"
"Yes but you can reunite with them once the lord of this castle is dead," Raven said.
Cloud sees a familiar symbol on the wall. Now he knows who had made him into a slave, "Mind if I want some help? I'm itching for some payback," Cloud growls.
Cinder smiles and pats Cloud and the shoulder, "Sure we need to make a trip to the treasure room and get back the stuff that low life stole from me,"
Cloud nods "Sure and I have a feeling my stuff is there too," Cloud takes some of the armour off as it's too heavy and restricts his movements. He then looks at the greatsword on the ground and picks it up. "He always gets the cheap stuff," Cloud sighs and rolls his shoulders.
"Ready?" Cinder asked.
"Yeah," Cloud nods.
"Then let's get moving. I know they way thanks to the intel the spies gave us," Raven said.
The three leave the lab and ride a large elevator up. They soon have company as the castle guards enter the elevator from above. But the guards stood no chance against a bandit leader and two SOLDIER candidates.
"I see you have improved since the academy," Cinder said to Cloud.
"I have Zack's training to thank," Cloud said. He swung his greatsword with precision, speed and skill.
"So that's what you were doing during summer vacation," Cinder said as she sent black shockwaves at the guards.
"Yeah and that is when that scumbag's goons kidnapped me and brought me here," Cloud said with anger and took out his frustrations on the guards.
"You would be happy to know both Ironwood and Zack are here and attacking this castle," Raven explains.
"They are?!" Cloud gasped.
"Yes, once we get what we need from the treasure room we will meet up with Ironwood and Zack in the courtroom," Raven explains.
"Got it!" Cloud nods.
"Sounds like a plan," Cinder smiles.
Once the guards are dealt with, the three wait until the elevator reaches the ground floor.
Before this day is done, Jacques Schnee will meet his end!