Chapter 31

The fall of Cinder

Sorry for the delay. This is going to be one of two chapter in my story that explains the background. Naturally the plot and certain background elements are different from the show so I need to go and explain a bit. WARNING. This chapter will be dark.

Cinder Fall was born in a small village in the south of Mistral. She was still young when her mother died in a tragic accident. Her father sunk deeper into depression and deeper and deeper into a bottle. Mr. Fall was always a very emotional man and, when sober, was usually very helpful and kind; though most people could see the sadness that he carried with him.

Once drunk, however, he was entirely different. Ranging from silence and the occasional weeping to extremely aggressive, even brandishing a knife on his little girl. With his wife's death and his position being very important to the community Mr. Fall has amassed a sizable amount of money which, in turn attracted suitors.

Around Cinder's 11th birthday Mr. Fall was ready to be married again to a newly Mrs. Fall. Cinders stepmom had previously adopted two cat Faunus children whom she cared for more than her own husband. They would constantly nag and make fun of the young Cinder, tearing up her clothes and mocking her. If she ever tried to tell her father her stepmother would step in and Cinder would be punished instead.

Eventually, the alcohol got to Mr. Fall and he passed away. Despite his position, his alcoholism and his being the father of Faunus had ruined his once great reputation. Cinder was the only one to go to his funeral. This marked a turning point in the young Cinder's life. She became crueler, and more calculating. She would hunt stray cats, imagining they were her stepmother and step sisters. Most days she didn't go home.

It was at this time in her life that she activated her aura and found her semblance. She discovered that she could create glass as well as manipulate the shards. And thus she began planning. Her machinations came to a head one rainy day when she was at her home. She went to the kitten to find her mom by the fridge before asking for a glass of water. "Go and get it yourself. Gosh you're just like your can't do a single goddamn thing for yourself. If you ask me your mother was lucky."

With the insult to both her father and mother Cinder snapped. She materialized three medium sized shards of glass and sent them baraling to her back. Mrs. Fall gasped and fell to the ground as blood began to poop around her body. Cinder was both done, however. This feeling, of finally getting back at that witch, it's couldn't just end could it? Fortunately for her it didn't have to.

"Mom, are you alright? I heard- oh god!" In came the twins to their mother slumped on the ground, eyes rolled in the back of her skull and her chest punctures by glass. Cinder turned to them. "Did you know there's more than one way so skin a cat?" She asked with a smile that quickly grew more psychotic as glass shards materialized behind her.

She was 15 at the time.

She left town shortly after and left for Vale. It was on her travels that she learned the cold truth of the world. That there was no justice and good things would only come if she worked for it. She was a thief, an assassin, and occasionally, a companion. Anything for enough money to get to the next town. She also began to wear glass heels and to perfect her semblance.

Through her life Cinder had always believed in fate. It had gifted her an escape from her father's drinking, it had gifted her revenge on her stepmother. Now it she was waiting for a calling. And once again, fate provided. She was traveling between villages in Vale and was currently in the forever fall forest. It had been some time since she had eaten. Her vision was clouded and she was disorientated.

Having lost the path a while ago she sat against a tree, sure this was the end. Until a gust of wind blew by and through the mist that clouded her mind she saw a path leading to a cave. With no options left she shakily got up and went toward the cave. As she went farther in her mind cleared and the growls of her stomach lessened.

Despite this every fiber of her being told her not to continue, to turn back while she still could. She would die if she did and she knew this. And so, despite her mixed feelings she pressed on. Eventually, she felt that she had entered a large cavern and could feel burning heat and freezing cold at the same time.

Suddenly, a booming voice echoed throughout the cavern. "Who is it that disturbs my slumber? And besides, what would you want anyway? I have no wealth, no treasure. All I have is my immense, insatiable hunger. Which I believe you may help with." The voice stated with a laugh.

Cinder fell to her knees. "O great being. Forgive this intrusion. I come asking for aid. I want to be stronger. And I will do anything to achieve it." She said, clenching her fist as she did so.

"Hm," spoke the being, "yes you have spirit. Anything you say? Perhaps I could find you useful." The chamber begins to glow with a soft orange light that reveals the being that spoke. It had the look of a dragon and took up half the cavern. It's head movies closer to Cinder and the orange light reached its eyes. " you will be my servant do only as I say. In return, you will sit at my right hand, my queen commanding my pawns. The only one who will be greater than you is I And together we will rule this world."

Cinder accepted and went around the world, capturing children and fusing them with dust at her masters request. Once she had taken three her master brought her before him. "You have done well, Now is you reward. On this road at this time a maiden will appear on a horse." Her eyes widen at the mention of the myth. "You will need allies in order to subdue her, but when you do, use this." A grim with strange markings on it scuttled up on her before stopping at her left hand. The grim began to fuse with Cinder causing quite a bit of pain and leaving a mark on her arm once it was done.

"With this, you may steal a portion of her soul and with it her power. No go and fulfil your destiny!" And Cinder did. Leaving with a glint in her eyes.