"...And the rest is history," Salem finished. She took a sip of tea to soothe her throat after the long explanation of how she gained immortality. Of course, there were a few omissions. She had left out Ozma's identity from the tale, as well as the family she later made with him. She was not nearly drunk enough to unpack those feelings now, and Summer forbade her from touching her wine rack on account of her child-like body.
Salem didn't feel like having wine right now anyways, so there. Nyeh. Stupid Summer and her stupid silver eyes.
Said silver-eyed troublemaker had listened to the lecture with rapt fascination. She wore her heart on her sleeve, her expression changing with each new development, though the common one was shock. "Wow," she said. "That's incredible. I mean, that's really how the moon broke?"
"Yes. Let me tell you, it's not fun being crushed by flaming pieces of rock." At least the divine regeneration let her keep her clothes, strange as that was.
"But if the Dark Brother killed everyone, how are we here?"
"I asked that myself for several decades. I still don't know, but I found it easier to accept that it simply is and live in solitude." Salem really tried to not think about the Faunus and the implications thereof. Gross.
"And you're actually a human, but you got a bleach job from taking a dip in the Grimm jacuzzi?"
Salem gave her a cold, deadpan glare. "First, please do not refer to my desperate suicide attempt as a simple cosmetic job ever again."
"Oh! I'm sorry!"
She was sincerely apologetic so Salem forgave her. Most people were overwhelmed as such upon being given the True History lecture. "Second, what kind of ideas has Ozpin been putting into your head about me?"
Ozpin should have learned his lesson after spreading rumors that she was an ugly hag that ate children. He was the one that tried to take their kids!
"Well, Ozpin didn't really mention much about you except that you're the big evil of Remnant and that you needed to be stopped. After a while, my team kinda had a pool going to guess what you were." Summer counted off on her fingers. "My money was on you being a Grimm so old that it gained sentience."
'An incorrect, but not an unfair assessment,' Salem thought.
"Tai thought you were some unholy demigoddess."
'As he should.'
"Raven figured you were the manifestation of all of Ozpin's one night stands that came back to haunt him."
'...surely a jest, yet not inaccurate.'
"Qrow thought that with his luck, you'd be..." Summer paused, looked at Salem once more, and seemed to reconsider her words. "Never mind what he said."
Salem's eyes narrowed. "What? What did he say?"
"It's not important. Don't worry about it."
"Now it's important and I am worrying about it. Tell me!"
"It's really not polite for little girls to hear."
"Summer!" Salem stood up on her chair. "I just finished telling you of my millennia long life. Whatever it is, I can assure you I've heard plenty of rude things in my time. I'm not a little girl and I can handle it. Now tell me what he said this instant!" She stamped her foot on her seat.
Summer told her.
Salem decided that Ozpin could wait. Qrow was a dead man.
As soon as Summer would put her down.
"Now, now. I did warn you that it was rude," she said, holding Salem tight over her shoulder, her Ursa-like grip not lessening for an instant. "If it makes you feel better, Raven did throw him into a fountain and he really didn't mean it."
Salem ceased her struggles for now. "Say what you will, but I shall have my revenge upon him! No one disrespects me like that and gets away with it!"
"Oh?" Summer pulled Salem down into her lap. She gave Salem a bemused look, the kind of look Salem once bore when her children were cooking up silly schemes. "And how are you going to do that?"
That look burned at Salem's ego. She was not some silly, little child and Summer was not her mother. And yet she couldn't think of many options beyond kicking the avian ass in the shins to death. Curse this petite body of hers! "I'll figure something out," she said, staring defiantly back at Summer.
Summer chuckled. "I'm sure you will."
Of course she would. The greatest plans always took time to craft and perfect, and this one would have to be equal in insult. She would have to make his life a living hell. Perhaps a flock of Nevermores to constantly harass him and only him? That would give him much trouble outside the kingdoms and might make him look cursed to the common masses. Yes, that sounded wonderful.
But the fantasy was cut short as a flash of pain brought her back to reality. Summer just flicked her nose! And now she was giving her a stern look.
"Enough of that," Summer said, wagging a finger. "I may be sorry to put you in this state, but I'm still a huntress and it's my duty to stop evil. No more evil plans today for you, missy."
"I shall scheme as I please, Summer." Salem deflected another finger flick. "You cannot stop me in a way that matters."
Summer's hand paused. "You're right. I can't stop you like this."
Was it Salem's imagination, or did Summer's eyes turn sinister for an instant?
"So I'll just have to use my ultimate technique!" Summer latched onto Salem, drawing her in close.
Salem was trapped once more, and this time, she felt trepidation at Summer's growing smirk. "W-what do you mean by tha-HAHAHAHA" Salem spasmed back and forth, side to side as Summer's fingers dug into her ribs. Undignified squeals and peals of laughter burst forth from her mouth. Her arms were caught between trying to silence her mouth and fending off Summer's attack, but her efforts were in vain. It took both arms to push away one of Summer's, but in that effort, the other assaulting arm would snake around and strike viciously, forcing Salem to refocus her efforts once more. It was a terrible cycle of torture.
"Cease this!" Salem cried out between unauthorized and unwanted giggles.
But Summer's smile was still kindly cruel. "Give up your evil ways and I'll stop."
"Never! Eek! Hahaha~!"
The tickling continued for what felt like forever. Salem almost considered acquiescing to Summer's demands, but pride and spite squashed that thought. She could endure this, she went through worse after all. She wouldn't give into such childish play. Salem did her best to try to block out all the sensations, but it was surprisingly difficult. It was almost as if her experienced mind could not conjure the proper mental techniques. It certainly didn't help that a new sensation was starting to boil up rapidly.
Salem's mind registered this new feeling, but it took too long for her to realize what it meant. Her eyes grew wide and she slapped at Summer's arms. "Summer, stop! I command you to stop!"
"Nope! Not until I save the day."
Salem was at her limit. "Unhand me, woman!"
"Say the magic words~!"
Salem could not. "Release me now!"
"Nope!"
It was too much for Salem, and in the following moments, more than she had ever felt before, Salem wanted to die.
Salem wasn't talking to her, nor would she even look at her. In any other circumstance, Summer would take that as a blessing, but right now she felt rather awful. At least Salem's catatonic state after the accident lasted long enough for Summer to find and run a bath for the both of them. Yet another thing she never would have imagined doing today. But Summer did it with a smile and the slight resignation of a tired parent.
The bath itself was massive, like it was built for royalty. Magical candles lit the room in small alcoves along the walls. The water itself was cool, but was warm enough to prevent chill. There was even a fancy fountain in the middle of it. Fitting for a former princess.
Scrubbing and lathering the barely responsive, little Grimm princess gave Summer some time to think about Salem's tale. The immediate first thought should have been if the story was true. The idea of Salem as a tragic fairy tale princess would run counter to her current image. But there was no need to question the veracity of her claim. Summer recalled the vitriol in Salem's voice when she spoke of the Brother Gods. No, Salem was telling the truth, but maybe not the whole story. Summer decided not to press the issue, at least not until Salem was in a more forthcoming mood.
She could always ask Ozpin about it later.
What did spring to mind was her curse. The circumstances that made it and the conditions thereof. Summer couldn't help but feel sympathy for her. If she lost Tai, or anyone of her team, Summer wasn't sure she wouldn't do the same. But humans weren't made for immortality. Summer did not relish the thought of helping someone die, even if it was Salem, but letting someone live in suffering was clearly worse. Surely there was something she could do, right?
For now, Summer needed to break this depressing silence between them. Something to distract from the doom, gloom, and embarrassment. "You know, this reminds me of the times my daughters would get incredibly dirty and I'd have to drag them to the tub to scrub them clean. Yang would always come home with dirt in her clothes, or twigs in her hair, or a new scrape on her knee. She doesn't like being told to get clean, only waiting until she was truly dirty to do so, kind of like her mother.
"Ruby, on the other hand, loves baths, but only after I find her covered in flour or sugar from rooting through the pantry trying to find the cookie stash. I have to find new places to hide them every week because she keeps finding them. She's a smart cookie." Summer chuckled at her own joke. "What about you, Salem? Were you a little terror for your mother?"
Salem said nothing, but gave a small shake of her head.
"A good little princess then?"
"I never knew her." Salem's voice was small but in the chamber it echoed. "She died when I was young."
Summer felt a stab of guilt, wondering if she brought up bad memories, but Salem didn't seem any more sullen.
"Did your father not talk about her?"
Now she became more sullen. "He locked me away after she died."
Summer's eye twitched. How did she keep choking on her own feet? Summer was supposed to be the best on her team at this. Did some of Qrow's semblance rub off on her during that goodbye hug?
And yet, Summer couldn't help but ask, "He didn't raise you?"
"No. He had maids and tutors do that." Salem's voice turned bitter. "Bastard didn't even bother showing up to my birthday parties."
Ouch. No wonder she was so enamored with that knight that rescued her. And why she was so desperate to keep him around. Salem really needed some TLC, especially from a family.
Summer blinked. Now wasn't that an idea?
No. No, it was ridiculous, ludicrous even! Summer could already hear the protests from the others. "Nooooo. You can't just adopt the greatest evil of Remnant and expect that to solve everything!" And they'd be right.
But part of Summer wanted to take a page from Raven's book and flip them the bird while hugging her new Grimm daughter like so. "Hahaha! Piggyback Salem goes wheee!"
"Summer?"
Salem was immortal and killing her wasn't going to work anymore. Her curse demanded she learn the importance of life and death. Her family never instilled such values in her. They outright neglected her!
"Summer, you can let go now."
But Salem was a child again now, powerless and defenseless, and Summer wasn't about to leave her here. Especially not now when the Grimm are also attacking her! How could Summer call herself a hero like Ruby saw her and leave Salem behind?
"That's enough pressure."
The others would surely complain and freak out, but darn it, Summer was going to raise Salem right and hopefully break her curse while doing so! Who needs a silver-eyed warrior when she could be a silver-eyed super mom? Saving Remnant with love and cookies!
"Can't...mmmphh…. breathe…."
The wild struggling in her arms brought Summer back down to reality, and she could see now that in her daydreaming, she had started to smother Salem into her chest like a babe. Salem's face was starting to turn a bit blue from the intense bear hug.
Summer pushed Salem out, but still held her aloft of the bath by the arms, like a grumpy, soaked cat. "Oh my goodness! I'm sorry!"
Salem gasped for air. "What, hah, was that for? Are you trying to find more undignified ways of killing me?"
"No, I just got carried away with an idea that could help us." An idea that was becoming more and more appealing. Salem does need a new set of clothes. "Hmmm."
"What? Why are you looking at me like that?"
Salem couldn't tell what frightened her more: her new inability to wrestle down the childish emotional cocktail surging through her now, or Summer's new behavior and hidden agenda. Salem tried to figure out what she was thinking, but it was hard to overcome the further indignity and embarrassment that Summer was subjecting her to. Summer was a monster, no doubt, and there was nothing Salem could do to stop her.
"Awwww, you look so cute!" Summer cooed, tucking away some stray locks of Salem's hair.
Salem could only pout and huff, but it didn't help at all. No, it made things worse as Salem gazed upon her rather adorable reflection.
'Now I know how my daughters felt.'
After the bath, Summer had dragged her to her chambers and began rummaging around in the closet, declaring she had a mutually beneficial idea, but not disclosing the details until Salem was clothed. Salem couldn't help but agree to that, but she should have known Summer was up to no good. The next thing Salem knew, she was dressed up in a makeshift little witch outfit, complete with a tall, pointy hat.
Salem was pretty sure she had buried that hat centuries ago. Among other things.
Tearing her gaze away from the mirror to glare at Summer (which only made her coo more), Salem gritted out, "I gave you permission to clothe me, not play with me like a doll."
Summer gestured to the closet. "Oh come on, your wardrobe is all black dresses and robes. For mature bodies. You have a child's body now, so you needed something cute."
"Why on Remnant would I need cute clothes? Mine were just fine." They were some of the finest silks she had preserved from her old reign as queen. They were tailored for maximum intimidation.
"Because I said so," Summer said, as if her word was law, "and you're certainly not coming home with me in your birthday suit."
Salem's train of thought didn't just derail, the tracks were yanked out from under it and the train was slammed down into a giant pit, exploding with the force of a small star.
"Excuse me?" Salem choked out.
"You're coming home with me, Salem." Summer's voice was as certain as the moon was broken. "More to the point, I'm adopting you."
Salem hadn't felt her world turn upside down like this since meeting the Brother Gods. While Salem's mind buzzed with a thousand questions, her voice came out in a dry, hoarse whisper. "What?"
"I said-"
"I heard what you said!" Salem shouted, and then quieted again. "I just- I don't- Why?"
Summer crouched down to Salem's level and put her hands on the girl's shoulders. "I turned you into this. It's only fair that I help you turn back. But until then, you're just a little girl and I'm not leaving you here all alone."
"But adoption?"
"From what you told me, it sounds like you missed out on a lot growing up. You may be centuries old, but you're only young once. You might see this as an inconvenience, but I think it may be a second chance, and if it means raising you like a daughter, then so be it."
A dark tsunami of emotions overwhelmed Salem, of what kinds she couldn't identify. It was too much. Her weakened mental shores couldn't hope to stem the tide, and when it spilled over, Salem couldn't help but lash out.
"I don't want your pity!" Salem slapped away the hands. "I've survived this long without anyone to help me. I could handle it then. I can handle it now. I don't need anyone anymore! I especially don't need a meddlesome, troublemaking, silver-eyed wench thinking they can just do whatever they want to me!"
"But-"
"Get! Out!" Salem stamped the floor with each word, pointing at the door. "I don't care if you tell Ozpin about me anymore. I'll deal with him eventually!" Salem's vision blurred with fury.
Summer stood up slowly, still gazing at Salem with that pitiful expression. "I'll be outside." She walked out and shut the door.
Good riddance.
Salem gave one last baleful look at the door and then let out a deep breath as the emotions ran through her. "I don't need her. I don't need her. I don't want her." She felt something wet run down her face, but didn't bother to check the mirror. All she needed right now was some rest and everything would be back to normal by tomorrow.
They were gone. Every last one. Except her.
The only thing to keep her company was the Grimm, and they were terrible at conversation.
How long had she been walking? Where was she now?
The Pool of Darkness.
Maybe it would set her free. Let her die and see Ozma again.
Fall.
Void.
AGONY.
Salem woke up at the sound of a scream. It stopped when she realized it was hers. She could feel her body shake and shiver from the night terror. It was an old dream of hers, but it was so long since it last bothered her so terribly. Not since-
The door clicked open. A pair of silver eyes peered in, filled with worry and concern.
Salem ignored them.
Clothes rustled and shifted. The bed creaked. Warmth enveloped Salem.
She tried to ignore that.
A lullaby hummed and fingers pulled through Salem's hair. The shivering stopped as Salem nestled in.
Salem felt… safe.
...
Maybe she could do with a change of scenery.
Hey guys, Thanks a lot for reading this. I hope you enjoy this story as much as I do. Please leave a comment because I love hearing your thoughts on my work.
I do want to warn you that updates may be sporadic in the future due to work and that writing slice of life fluff doesn't come to me as easily as action (see Fairy Tales and Battle Reports) so please be patient with me. I've got a lot of cute ideas in store for this fic that I want to get to, but building the foundations for them will take some time.