[Nujabes – Battlecry (feat. Shing02)]
残り:四の影/ Remnant's Four Shadows
Volume 4, Episode 10: Awakenings
(Two months later)
[Patch]
Yuki's eyes snapped open from his meditation…for he had zoned out for the past two and a half months within the ruins of what was associated was the Goddess of Time. The place had given off a feeling of calm and his mind had flowed throughout the timestream. He had mentally checked out and wound up observing several times aside from his own and the 'canon' timeline. He witnessed another him forming a kingdom in another world, another him as a major kingpin the likes of which Roman would be impressed by, another of him on a dating show, another of him and his team working to help protect a strange world of mushrooms among other things.
"I shame that this timeline doesn't have a Ronl or a Kon. Would have loved to team up with them…because even they can smell the bullshit." Yuki said dryly.
He had caught up with the timeline…and his reaction was a simple one. Calm. Despite the mistakes, Yuki had come to the fact that his screw ups paled in comparison to what lay in the original timeline. People had brought this up, just not to Yuki himself. Now, he knew he made good calls even if they were not perfect. He could not save everyone and seeing the original timeline was a reminder of how that thinking that could lead.
"It's like everyone got hit with the stupid stick. I can't even be happy Adam died in the original, because the fight was so lame." Yuki said to himself.
"Yuki." Serena said pinging into existence. "You have been away for some time…and I can say that you are back to 100% percent. I believe you are aware of the threat at hand…"
"Yes and no. I don't know where these alternates are coming, but I know something is wrong with the timestream. Someone's interfering with this timeline. It's high time to get into gear." Yuki said as his stomach rumbled. "After food…because I'm pretty sure using aura to sustain my body was not a great idea."
"Oh, it worked, you just had to be not using your body." Serena said before vanishing.
Yuki let the breeze blew through his hair feeling rather different…and more mentally in-control. He pondered this before having an idea as he walked out of the ruins. He sensed out the energy of the people in Patch before pinning down Taiyang's energy. Before the next leaf hit the ground, Yuki had seemingly blinked out of existence.
-o=O=o-
Taiyang was just zipping up his fly only to see Yuki flash into existence right in front of him. He screamed out some foreign curse only to slip and fell on the seat.
"What the hell, Yuki?!" Taiyang said breathing out.
"I freaking did it. I upped the game on Raven's semblance! Next level teleportation." Yuki said only for Taiyang to shove him out the stall. "Sorry, Tai!"
"You have literally been missing for nearly three months, and you return right after I take a piss. Kid, try to at least call before you teleport." Taiyang said in annoyance.
Yuki found himself in the clinic Toriel worked at and moved for the door to exit only to see Mercury and Emerald having a lunch break. He left the two to have their cute moment to use Harriet's semblance to race out of the room. First place before the Rose-Xiao Long household was the new Nekohaten for lunch to place an order.
[Cues: Nujabes – Color of Autumn]
"I'm back fro-" WHAM! Ivory had punched out right out of the front door.
"Where the absolute fuck have you been? It's like you vanished off the face of Remnant!" Ivory said grabbing Yuki by the collar.
"I didn't realize it until I 'came back' but I find ruins relating to Chronoa. And meditating on it literally fazed me off Remnant mentally." Yuki said getting up. "I literally saw a ton of alternate timelines…and more of the future of the original timeline."
"Did it get better?" Ruby asked.
Yuki laughed at her…and Ivory facepalmed knowing that was a stupid question.
"Do we even want to do?" Yang asked crossing her arms.
"Not really. Considering Salem is out of the picture and Adam's already dead, it's not really important. It's just that your Ruby is responsible for the death of millions because her bleeding heart and no one calling her out for making a bad decision." Yuki rattled off. "Frankly, all this has done is made me want to punt The Happy Huntresses off a cliff. But…I have a plan."
"And that is?" Ivory asked.
"First things first, I need a status on what's left of Salem's crew." Yuki asked. "I didn't exactly pay mind to current events in this timeline all too much."
"Hazel's dead, but Watts and Tyrian are still alive. Shampoo had the data on the people you asked about but getting to them is complicated. Lapis called…apparently Merlot and Rotertod were making super soldiers. She has a file for you to read up on." Ivory said throwing him a flash drive. "It's good for you to be back."
"Same. Because we're leaving to go on the journey and that means new outfits." Yuki said with a grin.
Ivory was than excited to go shopping, but Ruby politely wanted to keep her huntress wear which meant it was just her and Yang going shopping. By then, the delivery girl came with the food…to which Yuki devoured nearly half of the food. To think that using Nora's semblance to burn the food in his belly faster was something he never considered until now.
"You'd think Nora would have abs?" Yuki thought. "Well, the other Noras, I guess."
[Music Ends]
His eyes widened as he sensed an old power…before narrowing.
"Well, sleeping beauty woke up." Yuki said tempted to confront Salem. "But I have other things to deal with."
[Beacon Academy, Vale]
"To think I would be here talking tea with you again."
"Salem, things have changed." Ozpin said with a sigh. "And we need to put aside our differences to work together."
The two were in her office having tea away from everyone else, a rather tense affair.
"And what exactly has changed?" Salem asked before sipping.
"That the Grimm King is loose on the land." Ozpin said before looking at her. "And personally, he is a much greater threat now. Personally, seeing that I was the one who healed you instead of letting Ironwood use your body for a magical battery to power the city, you owe me one. Unless you want me to hand you over to Ironwood."
"I doubt you could stop me." Salem said as for Ozpin to narrow his eyes.
"Salem, you were always gifted with raw power, but technique will always triumph over raw power. You always just dump magic into a spell to force it to work. Though I wonder if you still do this in all your years of immortality. Considering you've done nothing but sit on your ass and use your minions. A shame it nearly shows…it used to be firmer." Ozpin said as Salem spat out her tea. "But I want to offer an olive branch, so I don't have to entertain Ironwood's idea."
"Funny way of showing it." Salem said glaring at him.
"Salem, considering you've been acting like a spoiled child…I'm pretty justified." Ozpin said as Salem rolled her eyes. "Besides, I'm sure you miss the defiance considering you've been surrounded by yes men. Funny, you did not realize you had a cult until the Grimm King used it to get himself freed."
"Don't remind me. If I knew there was a literal cult, I could have won so easily!" Salem bemoaned further proving Ozpin's point.
"Doubt it, considering it's full of morons." Ozpin said dryly. "But look, will you help or not?"
"Not like I have a choice…I would walk out of the room, but I have a feeling you planned for this." Salem said crossing her arms.
"Not just him." Toriel said making her appearance. "He had help from the likes of me."
"A magic user…oh, so you're an ancient one. I thought the Ebottian beings were wiped among the first swipe by the stupid brothers." Salem said eyeing Toriel warily.
"Salem, even if you left the room, you'd have no access to your magic. I made sure that was sealed before you awoke." Toriel said as Salem tried to call upon her magic and fail. "Salem, I'm sure to help you and Ozpin through…marriage counseling and your daddy issues."
Salem rushed for the door only to find it locked. She beat on the door screaming to let her out all while Toriel sipped some tea herself. Salem tried the window only for Toriel to yank her back inside.
"Let me fall! I rather death!" Salem whined.
Toriel would normally treat that seriously, but considering Salem was immortal…it called for more extreme measure. Toriel snapped Salem's neck before throwing her body on the chair and going back to the tea. Salem would come back only to be her face burned by a fire spell…and died again. This went on for several hours until Salem had enough.
"Okay, okay! I'll do the therapy, just stop doing that! I'm immortal, yes, but I can still feel pain! It's even worse…without my Grimm powers!" Salem shouted as Toriel had an innocent smile on her face.
(A/N: Is Salem getting redeemed? Well, that's a good question. Considering, she's basically no longer a major threat, she's put into a position she can shape up or be shoved in a hole. Toriel repeatedly killing her sounds odd, but this is also a bit of payback for her considering Salem was responsible for the Gods' genocide which did kill all the humans, possibly people she did know and care for. Next up, we get our new outfits for our heroes. And as for the timelines references, those would the canceled Path of Shadows timeline, the active Dates with Destiny miniseries, Aura-Up Bros, KHGM, and Couer's latest fic, Knight of Salem.)
Ending Theme – Undertale OST – Spider Dance
