Hello once more dear readers. Its Lost, your lovable sarcastic asshole. I'm back with another chapter. Like last chapter , this one will have minorly important development. That's really it. Maybe about halfway through I'll put some more substance and the chapter will wind up have substance, who knows.
Akurar: First off I would like to both thank and congratulate you on being my first review for this story. Second, glad you enjoy and appreciate the whole honesty with Qrow bit. My character knows he needs allies who have connections as well as a confidant about the situation. I would like to think Qrow is smart enough, loyal enough, and a good enough character to understand how important these things are, and hes also skilled enough to not be coerced into spilling the beans as it were. Also from the show it seems like Qrow would be a better person if more people gave him a reason to try by truly believing in him. So by my VERY AMATEUR PSYCHOANALYSIS, I decided Qrow would be a beneficial ally of Dorian.
Again, dont own Rwby or any referenced media. Those go to their respective parties.
Following Pyyrah through our mansion to our adoptive father and our new Aura tutor, I turn a bit and look around at our surroundings and still cant believe that I'm living in such a home.
The architecture of our mansion is all white marble halls, obsidian and granite floors, and wooden furniture with paintings, light bronze and wine colored curtains on wide windows, and a rather bright and airy open floor plan. It very much reminds me of a Ancient Greek countryside manor, but in the middle of a Modern Greek City. I'm honestly one for darker tones but the manse if beautiful nonetheless.
As I look back to see us coming up to a wooden double doorway, I stand next to Pyyrah and take a breath and think a little more to myself.
I already decided when I got here on Remnant, I'd do everything in my power to prevent Amber, and by extension Pyyrah from dying due to Cinder.
I never liked how they killed off Pyyrah when she seemed like such a core character, what with her helping Jaune start to turn into a real man that he and his family could be proud of.
Also if my new sister wants to be with the lovable oaf, I'm all for it. While I always thought Pyyrah was best girl, promptly followed by Penny, I'm all for that Arkos ship.
I'll help her find her happiness. I'll make sure those close to me find it. That's always been my selfish wish. For those I care about to have their happiness, which then leads to my happiness because then I dont have to worry about and look out for them cuz they can take everything themselves.
Wait is that selfish that by making sure everyone I care about is happy that they can leave me to my own devices? Seems paradoxical. Eh... semantics.
"Dorian are you ready?." Pyyrah asks. Giving me a concerned look with her brow furrowed.
"Yeah, why do you look so worried?" I say giving a raise of the brow.
"I heard that a true Auric awakening hurts you. Not physically but emotionally because they also have to teach you how it feels to have your Aura break." She says biting her lip.
"What does it give you like a feeling of immense loss and sorrow or something? If that's the case, we can just support each other for it. We got nothing to really worry about. Feelings such as depression and anxiety only last as long as you have no help and support. You have me and Dad Antonious." I say while giving her a hug and pat on the back. I was dealing with depression for a few years back in my old life.
A little help does go a long way in helping you with the depression. Well, that and a little Crossfading. Not too much mind you. Alchohol makes you more depressed. It was moderation that helped me cope.
"Dorian? How are you so smart? We're five. The only reason why I'm as eloquent as I am is because I've been tutored since I could read. You grew up in an orphanage." She say even as she hugs me back and lays her head on my shoulder.
"You just answered your own question there sis. I'm a faunus orphan. I had to learn. Heck I even learned to do math and stuff on my own mostly. Though I did have a little help. I've also been reading for my whole life." I say telling half truths as I let her go.
"You're only 5 silly. Of course you've been reading your whole life." She says as she punches me in the shoulder with a smile and turns towards the door to the training room.
As we step inside, we witness withing the room that in the center standing there is my our Adoptive father standing next to who I'm guessing is a Mistrali Warrior Monk. Judging from the Guan-Dao on his back, breastplate covered by a a green shaolin monk robe, and leather bracers on his arms. He is a bit one the chunky side, but he makes up for it with from what I can see, a rather buff upper body.
"Glad to see my kids getting along, and also getting their responsibilities done. I'm guessing you two did your homework for the day and that's why you are here. Just like I asked."Stated Antonious.
"Yeah dad, we finished. Who is the sir next to you?" I say as I respectfully bow to the monk.
"Ahh, how respectful. My name is Jade Soturi. I'm a Warrior monk of Northern Anima. I wander bringing prestige to my temple and teaching young masters how to use their Aura and help them to learn basic martial arts before learning to use weapons." The bald monk says in a soft, weary voice.
"Its a pleasure to meet you Mr. Soturi. May I ask? What's it like wandering Anima?" Pyyrah greets and the asks the monk.
"Our land is rather beautiful, however, it is also rather dangerous. Unfortunately, bandits are a great plague upon our land. With them out and about, they spread negativity and in turn that negativity attracts Grimm. That is why across Anima, there are bands of roving warriors such as myself. It is also why I take it upon myself to teach others the way of Aura. Which is what we will be doing for the foreseeable future." He says ask he folds his hands in front of him and tells us.
"So what are we waiting for then? I wanna get a headstart on this." I say rocking on my feet giddily.
"Patience young Dorian. To truly unlock your Aura you must have a true understanding of what it means to you. Now what I will be doing is flowing Aura through you. While I do that, I want you to think about what it means to you and the words that resonate with your soul will flow from your lips. These will be words that help you center your soul, and by extension your Aura." He says as he gestures for us to move to the side while he motions for Pyyrah to stand in front of him first.
As I sit down I see Jade put his hand on Pyyrah's shoulder and start to glow, well a green jade color. The color starts to flow into Pyyrah and starts to take a blackish purple hue that then fades into a bright red, just like her hair.
Then as he entire body starts to glow she says.
"For it is in passing that we achieve immortality. Through this we become a paragon of virtue and glory to rise above all. Infinite in distance and unbound by death, I release your soul, and by my shoulder, I protect thee." She says as she slumps back and has to take a seat.
Huh, guess that's where she got the speech from the unlocking of Jaunes Aura.
"You alright there sis? You seem a bit out of it." I say putting a hand on her shoulder.
"Oh I'm quite alright. Just need to catch my breath. It's so amazing. I feel like everything I ever was was incomplete. Like now I'm whole. It's hard to describe." She says with a tired smile
"Excellently done Ms. Nikos. Most children who get their Aura unlocked cant stay conscious through it. Something about their mind and body still being underdeveloped so it drains them now so they're stronger later in life. By the words written on your soul, you have an indomitable will. You'll achieve much in life. Now it is your turn young Dorian." He says turning to me as I get up from my seat.
"Alright Mr. Soturi, I believe I've steeled myself for this." I say with a smile and he puts a hand on my shoulder.
Again he starts to glow his namesake and I feel a warmth trickle into me. Like I'm sitting on a hill in the countryside and the sun is shining on me, while a breeze keeps me cool enough to not feel any real burn. I even start to glow in a dark black color that seems like it sucks in the light around me, and around the black glow is an outline of white that seems to keep it in containment. Almost like an event horizon... or the Mandalorian Darkblade.
Strangely enough I'm not feeling tired and time is even starting to drag on as I feel more warmth pour in.
"Well young Dorian, it seems this will take a bit more Aura and time with you. You have rather large reserves of Aura. One would even say you have an old soul." He says while chuckling.
"I would like to believe that I'm rather mature for my age thank you very much. Also I'm not feeling any words come to mind about what Aura means to me." I say scratching the base of one of my horns.
Cuz the things are still growing, they're rather itchy.
"That's alright Dorian, as time goes on and your Aura unlocks, the words that feel true will come to you. Itll just be a few minutes more." He says with a reassuring tone and smile.
With that I sit there and feel the warmth from the Aura.
About 5-6 minutes later, I feel as if a part of myself that I didnt know was missing just got welded into the very center of my being and I speak out subconsciously.
"Through our lives, we find who we want to be, our deaths we find who we truly are. Our souls are our strength. Our souls are our weakness. It is by living the cycle of reincarnation that we loose this weakness. It is by giving part of ourselves to a greater whole do we find our peace and absolution. I am the shoulder you lean on. I am the tourniquet for your injuries. I am the shadow that follows and watches your back. I am the nothingness that we wish to finally embrace at the end of our tiresome journey. Give me your burdens so I may help you carry on. Let me give you my burdens. We are partners in all and none. In life and death. The universe calls, so open yourself to it." I say as I stand in a fugue state.
Standing a little straighter I realise what just happened and slightly freak out.
If those are the words bound to my soul... holy shit.
Maybe I am Hero material. Heh, who knew. I sure as hell didn't. Granted the part about me being "Nothingness" is more than a little disconcerting.
"Well young Dorian, it seems like you also have an indomitable will and your soul an immense sense of obligation. You havnt even needed to take a seat. If you ever want to become a monk let me know, we could use someone like you keeping Anima safe." He says with sweat dripping from his head.
"Yeesh, brother. Trying to one up me are you? Who told you, you could be cool." Pyyrah says with a playful pout on her face.
Awwwww, my little sis is sulking. How adorable.
"Well I guess it just means you'll have to try even harder to get ahead of me. Dont worry though, I'll still look out for you." I say sitting down and crossing my arms with a smirk on my face.
"Oh shush you." She says hitting me on the arm.
"Alright you two, since you both seem to be fine, we shall make you not so fine. We will break your Aura shield. Now since you dont have true control over your Aura, your body will be relying on instinct to activate it. This means we gotta beat you down a little." Our Father says to us while the monk looks at us with a bemused smile.
"This will also give us a small chance to see what type of fighter you're most likely to grow into. Now obviously you both being 5 you're not gonna have any real experience and well have to fight more later to truly get a feel for your styles. I will be teaching you basic Aura reinforcement and how to incorporate it into your martial arts. The first starting point however will of course be on how to actually use your aura, which will later on help you learn about and control your semblance. Now I want you to one at a time come at me with all you got, in response I will hit you until your Aura breaks while I understand a preference for you. Though I suppose I should teach you how to through a punch first... yeah I should. Ok you two, I want you to both mimic me. Now when making a fist, you wanna make sure your thumb is on the outside of your fist while on the bottom of your fingers. If you dont do this you can break your thumb. Good, just like that. Then I want you to punch, but when you punch, dont use just your arm muscles. Use your hips as well. Use your hips to turn into the punch that way you get more force behind it and better balance from how firm your feet are planted." Jade says while teaching Pyyrah to punch.
Me? I know how to throw a punch. You dont grow up in South Florida and then live in Vegas without learning how to fight.
Now obviously I cant be doing full martial arts here for this. I've ready gotten too much attention with the Aura situation.
"Good children, now Pyyrah, ladies first." He steps back towards the middle of the room with Pyyrah following him.
The monk stands there with hands loose and ready to dodge or grab Pyyrah.
Thinking my little sis needs some words of encouragement, I yell,
"Kick his old but sis! You got this one!" Shes so dead.
The fight pretty much went how you would expect when a 5 year old child with no experience fights an Warrior monk.
She wildly swung her fists trying to keep what looks like a boxing stance, being very generous here with that description too.
Granted shes a 5yr old little girl. So yeah. Eventually it ends.
What I didnt expect however was for Pyyrah to breakdown into a broken mess once Jade hit her hard enough to break her Aura.
Seeing this, me and Antonious run up to Pyyrah and bring her into a hug while she sobs in our embrace.
Shit, is this really what it's like when the actual physical manifestations of the soul break? Damn.
"Shhhhhhh. Shhhhh, my little Myrmidon. Everything will be all right. I'm here. Dorian is here with us too. We're both here" Antonious says as we hug her and he rubs small circles on her back.
"Its alright Pyyrah, I'm here. Your big bro is here." I say in the embrace and stroke her head.
About 10 minutes later she finally quiets down and falls asleep in our arms. Guess it's my turn.
"You dont have to do this right now young Dorian. We can wait for later." The monk says with a solemn look.
"No. I'm good, let's do this. I cant chicken out when my little sis didnt." I say getting into a loose stance. Center low, feet planted shoulder length apart, left foot and hand forward loose and right hand back towards the side of my face.
I'll admit, I only did a month of karate and 6 of tae kwon do. Most of my actual fight experience comes from brawls that were against kids bigger than me and I had to learn to change tactics in a single breath. I was a very short kid, and I was nerdy, this was a beacon to wannabe bullies.
Kids are cruel, let's just put it at that. Doesnt help when the parents dont take responsibility and try to teach the kids to be better people.
Anyways the monk sees my stance and gets into one himself. Centered with his arms forward slightly bent at the elbows with one palm up and the other down.
Seeing this, I kick off my shoes and take off my socks so I have a better grip on the ground with my feet. Then the monk raises am eyebrow and gestures for me to attack.
Obliging him, I step forward with my left foot planted right foot tracing around as I turn my hips and put my full force into my punch. Which hits his hand with the force of a rock thrown at a steel wall.
While pulling back my fist, I plant the ball of my left foot while bringing my right foot up into a roundhouse that seems to surprise him with the fluidity and strength I didnt even know I had behind it causing a solid impact into Jade's left hip, hitting what seems to be chainmail cuisses(think a skort but chainmail and reaches towards the knees). I step back while trying to shake out my hand and leg due to the stinging from the impacts.
"Well then Dorian, it seems like your subconsciously using your Aura to augment your movement and strengthen yourself. Well be going over lessons for that later. I suppose I should end this now." He says as he steps in and slams the heel of his palm into my forehead through the center of my horns, knocking me flat on my ass and my Aura breaks.
Tearing up, I cant stop tears and snot that starts pouring from my face as I silently sob and hiccup.
Gods it feels like when I first woke up in this world and had to come to terms with my death. In fact it feels worse than that, imagine after finally finding the piece of yourself that was missing, that piece was torn from you. Its the feeling of sorrow one feels as if they had been born with sight, lost it to blindness, then someone gives you your vision back only to tear out your eyes from your head.
Hope it gets easier, cuz if it doesnt, I might actually go insane.
Feeling a hand on my shoulder I open my eyes to see Antonious in front of me carrying a sleeping Pyyrah. He then pulls me into a hug and pats my back like he did with Pyyrah.
"It's ok to let it out Dorian. You dont have to be strong right now. You can let others be your strength, at least for now." He says to me with a smile.
"Thanks dad. But what cool big bro would I be if I couldn't take a little life altering sorrow?" I say while wiping my eyes and getting up.
Seeing me stand up and pulling myself together, both Antonious and Jade look at me with wide smiles and even a small bit of surprise on their faces.
"Well then Dorian, I hope I can count on you to look after your sister if I'm not around. You both are strong, and together you'll be unstoppable." Antonious says as we turn to the Monk.
"Very nicely done pulling yourself together Dorian. It is rare to be able to teach someone of your caliber and natural talent. Very few students I have taught have been able to deal with the 'First Shattering' like that. In fact I can count the number of children I have met like you on one hand." He says with soft voice but wide eyes and smile. "The next few Aura Shattering will be easier and easier on you two while also helping to increase your natural reserves and emotional resilience. Granted with how high your Aura reserves are, it would take a while to see any real difference for you."
"Excellent then Sir Soturi, I think we best end for the day seeing as how drained your students are. You are welcome to any of the guest bedrooms and studies. If you require anything make sure to let the staff know. Come Dorian, let's get Pyyrah to bed and go eat dinner." He says holding a hand out to me which I take.
Huh, well I guess even though she grows to be such a badass, she is so humble and caring because of her home life. You really dont know a person till you meet the person who raised them.
-3 months later in September-
*ring-ring*
I wake up in the middle of the night to see Qrow calling me on my scroll.
"Hmgmhm, yeah? Wassup Qrow?." I say drowsy looking at the time seeing its 3 in the morning.
"I just fought Salem." Qrow says with a voice of dread and sorrow.
"She's gone isn't she?... You tried your best Qrow.*sniff*" I saw as I start to tear up at the thought of Summer Rose still dying even though I interfered as best I could with what little time I had.
"No kid, Summer is still alive, barely, but alive. I'm bringing here to Mistral right now so we can get her hospitalized and I can get word to the family. Why didnt you tell me Salem was gonna be here herself?" He says growing irate over the phone.
"Qrow you do know the future isn't set right? Sure I saw the facts of the past between Oz and Salami, but how was I supposed to know Salem would be there instead of Tyrian and Hazel." I say rubbing my eyes and nearly crying in relief that Summer is alive.
"Oh no, dont get me wrong, we kicked Tyrian and Hazel's collective asses. Summer even cut off Tyrian's tail. But when we were gonna kill them, they were swallowed by a black pool and Salem walked out." He says with a calmer tone of voice. "She proceeded to monologue about Oz's lies, told us the parts you told me, pretty much confirming my doubts as wrong, then Summer said that Salem didnt need to be killed to be stopped. Which you also said. So scary that. Then Salem sent out tentacles and Summer did this thing with her eyes where they turned to stone. However this was a distraction and a spike came from behind and stabbed summer through the stomach. We ran into the woods after Summer did another eye blast, blasting Salem back into her portal and now here I am calling you about a mile out from Mistral city. I can even see Haven academy right now."
"Okay, I'm gonna go wake up the family right now and see if we cant get a medical bullhead to you ask fast as possible. Where you coming from, cardinal directions?" I say putting on slippers and heading towards Pyyrah and Antonious's rooms.
"Coming in from the southwest. I'm passing a farm, seems to be a vineyard. Maybe I can get a drink while we wait. Also Summer is stable right now. Also, also, you never gave me my flask back from our first meeting." He says growing irate again.
"Ah shut up about the flask. If anything I'm doing you a favor. Would you have been sober and awake enough to follow Summer here to Anima if you had easy access to alchohol?" I say as I walk into the last hallway before Pyyrah and Antonious.
"Anyw-" I'm interrupted as I feel a horrible chill down my spine and hear dripping from behind me. Turning around I'm struck to the bone with terror as I see who's in front of me.
"Salem..." I whisper into the air as I'm brought face to face with the pale black veined visage of the big bad herself. Dropping my scroll.
"Child... but are you really?" She says as she steps out of a pool of darkness with it dripping off her. "You seem to have me at a disadvantage, you know me but do not know you. Not that it matters I suppose. You have the Stench of the Brothers upon you. How are dear Will and Jacob? Are they not entertained? Especially after trapping me within my existence."
This is too fucking much. Too much info, not enough time to process.
FUCK IT! WE'LL DO THIS LIVE!
"Well according to them, I'm here for entertainment as well. Apparently they wanted to rock the boat as it were. Say do we really have to do this? I mean your all powerful and all that. I'm just some average joe in a child's body with no choice in the matter." I say backing towards the hallway that leads opposite of my family's rooms. Trying my damndest to stay standing no matter how hard my legs shake and see my scroll is still on the floor and connected with Qrow.
"Yes but I find myself wondering as to how, and most important of all, why. Tell me child, what is it you did before your reincarnation? Did you dream of being a hero? Did you want to be a villain? How about power for the sake of power? What was it that drives you." She says as she steps towards me into the light and I see her in her signature crimson and black dress with her hair done up with elaborate pins and bows.
"Before I answer any of that, I must ask. How annoying is it to get your hair into that style, must take an upward of forty minutes right?" I say with the slightest smidgen of hope that I can in someway defuse the situation and continue backing down the hallway away from her as she steps towards me.
"Child, levity will not get you out of this situation, especially when I look into those slit silver eyes of yours. It makes me want to corrupt them, if not outright tear them out. Now answer me." She says with a voice of malice as the darkness seeps from her and slithers across the ground towards me as i continue to hear Qrow yell through the scroll.
With that my terror turns to pure rage.
"Fine then you bitch, you want serious, you'll have it. I never saw myself as anything worthwhile lr worthy of greatness. Not of great good or great evil. I always wanted some form of escape from my reality be it through books or games, and I could never find my self worth. Then I die for the benefit of another and the Brothers Grimm decide that I won the cosmic lottery and here I fucking am. In a world where I have something to live for. I have the ability to leave a legacy that leaves the world brighter and I can have meaning. Did I want to be a hero before? Fuck no. Now however, I can make something great. And I'll be damned through all nine layers of hell before I let some pasty white bitch named after a deli meat deny me that chance." I say with my vision slowly growing brighter.
"Are you done now? No matter." She says as a tentacle spear comes towards my head and I do the only thing I could possibly think of.
I open my mouth and catch it with my teeth.
"Wha-aAAAHAAAAHaah!?" Salem screams as i tear the tentacle away from her and consume it.
I start to feel pain in my eyes and in my horns as she backs away from me and my world goes white.
ok I'll admit, I really didn't know where I was gonna go when I started this chapter. Originally it was only gonna be the Aura bit but maybe its cuz I'm a bit delirious from a long day of work and sleep deprivation, but it felt really right to go where I went with this chapter.
Anyway, hope y'all enjoyed, feel free to review and or pm if you have any questions or the like.
This has been your favorite sarcastic asshole Lost. See y'all next time.