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Of Ash and Ember (Part One)
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The first time I met Cinder, I knew she was special.
Salem had sent me to protect the Mantle Monarchy's royal family. She was young at the time, barely a child. But even back then, I saw something in her. A keenness—an insight so few others had.
It's normal for those to be wary, when they first learn my last name. But Cinder never was. At first, I took it for foolishness, only later to find it was curiosity.
Where others avoided the mere sight of me, she chased my footsteps like a small shadow. She asked difficult questions no one else would answer, but I would. She pondered the answers deeply. Not in the way kids her age usually would, but something else. The way rulers and leaders did so methodically.
Cinder took particular interest in how things were created, their "lifetime" of existence, and ultimately, their end. This wasn't limited only to objects, but people, matters of other Kingdoms, to key events in time. I believe that was the initial captivation with me. Cinder was obsessed with the end result, and I saw the Death in All Things.
I still remember those offhand conversations. A little girl hanging on my every word. A fondness that steadily grew.
Then, tragedy struck.
…
She was innocent. So innocent.
And in her, I saw myself.
A helpless girl who had her life ripped apart because of her family's cursed legacy. She shared no blame in the actions of those that came before her, yet fate wouldn't hear of it. Cinder would be hunted for the rest of her life, or more likely—until she grew too tired to run.
That is, if no one taught her to survive.
We traveled together after the Monarchy fell. I watched her grow under my tutelage, made sure she was ready—better trained than I was, or how I trained Adam. And unlike the Witch, I would make damn sure she owed me no allegiance. Her independence needed to be fostered. She needed to be able to discard me at any given moment.
I knew the future that awaited her, if she didn't.
I lived it.
…
I taught Cinder to decipher the weaknesses in people, not solely in her enemies, but her allies as well. To exploit them without remorse or afterthought. But she proved a more avid learner than I anticipated. I taught her to sink the knife in, but she taught herself to twist it. Something to be said about the Fall bloodline, maybe. Few individuals I've come across who carry the same scope of thoroughness she did. And definitely not at her age.
No. Cinder was one of a kind.
…
On one peculiar day, we were attacked by a gang of bounty hunters. An occurrence that happened frequently in those times.
But that day was different.
Instead of killing them outright, I watched Cinder systematically cut the fingertips from each and every one of the mercenaries' hands. Afterwards, she sent them running with a small amount of lien and a message to carry. A cruel measure to be sure, but bounty hunters ready to kill a little girl for some pocket change weren't about to receive any sympathies from me.
I still remember the cavalier attitude she took when she turned to me and said, "I believe they will serve well as living reminders to any who think to pursue us."
Her actions that day sent a chill down my spine and swelling pride in my chest. Cinder would grow more formidable than I, given time. Far more, I was sure of that.
If it was enough to survive the life she was born to, I couldn't say. But I had nothing left to teach her.
And things…
Things would only grow more complicated if I stayed. She possessed few vulnerabilities, I made sure of that. But if I stayed, I could potentially become one of them.
And I would never want to be the source of her death.
…
Then, a new worry came.
The more I saw her future match my own, I worried if she would ever find…solace.
Solace didn't have to mean happiness. Neither did it have to be lasting—they rarely ever are—but I hoped she would experience it in some form.
Like how I found it in Summer and Tai… and to a certain degree, my brother.
…
I don't have the right to wish this for them, especially after what I've done.
But it is a secret dream of mine to see Cinder and Yang meet.
Maybe, she can give Cinder something similar to what Summer gave me. It didn't have to be romantic, or particularly intimate. Just, something. Something for her to take peace or confide in.
—That little light that filled the void and made loneliness just a little bit more bearable in our most harrowing hours.
I have long since stopped asking my wishes to be granted.
But if they do ever meet…
…
I hope I'm alive to see it.
-Raven Branwen, Diary Entry XXXX
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In the Never Realm, there was a city.
Its name long forgotten with its residents.
Cinder Fall discovered it during her incarceration, after the Fall of Beacon. Something linked her to it. What exactly, she wasn't sure, but some force of causality or coincidence made its work there.
The city laid in the heart of a mountain. The stone buildings built upon pillars upon pillars that raised the ruin above the sea of lava below. Constructed on massive multi-level platforms, there was an elegance to its architecture, accompanied by a strange durability to the erosion flowing around it. Intricate systems of bridges connected the "island" districts together.
In the course of Cinder's exploration, she found an etching in one of the foundation's columns. A word of a dead language, but somehow readable.
"Gjallarhorn."
Once spoken, Cinder found the ability to enter the city whenever she willed. Unlike most places in the Never Realm, the highly chaotic nature wasn't as prominent here. There was less distortion, more concreteness. It still carried some of the skewed nature of the plane it resided in, but bore most of its similarities to the physical realm.
At this, Cinder thought to herself,
"What a perfect place to serve for a pivotal battle."
…
And it was in the forgotten city of Gjallarhorn, where so few had tread in the last millennia, five young women pit their destinies against one another. One vied for a Kingdom, another vied for a Throne. One fought for Love, and another for her People. One of them even fought for Life itself.
And by their war, each attempted to set the future onto a path their own choosing. A course of history they believed to be right. And they well enough possessed the power to forge it.
In a word,
Destiny.
Five streams of light danced through the abandoned cityscape. Elements created, and destroyed in vicious cycle. Glass shattered ice, shadow smothered fire, and the wind howled in the amalgam of conflicting forces of nature.
The domed roof of a temple burst open like a cracking eggshell. And from it, a massive armored knight gave chase to enemies. Its sights set on two trailing figures retreating from its reach.
Cinder flew backwards through the air, her palms running across her body. The Runes on her dress glowed, as a second layer wove over it, one made of long shards of deepest dark glass. It was almost as if she were wearing a collection of spears as armor.
The Fall Maiden materialized a bow to take aim at the knight chasing her and Yang. Her freehand went to drawing a jagged arrow from her skirt. Cinder notched it to the string, the tensile fiber solid through the pull.
What followed was a barrage of angry projectiles raining down on Weiss' summon. A breakneck cacophony of plucking strings rang out, like a musician strumming a particularly fast piece.
The following chain of explosions buried the giant armor in a cloud of conflagration. Cinder's unmitigated firepower eroded it, and then continued through to those behind.
Blake had no choice but to disappear through her dark mist, while the Shield Glyph Weiss constructed was on the verge of being broken. But a red cloak enveloped her, before the barrier was pierced through. Ruby whisked her partner behind a stone wall for cover.
As Cinder's arrows continued to pin them to position, there was a wisp of smoke and Blake rejoined the two.
"We have to separate them!" Ruby yelled over the endless artillery. "Here's the plan… … …"
Before they could execute, the wall behind them shattered. Force from Yang's punch collapsed the ground and sent them hurtling into the lava.
Weiss righted herself best she could and crafted a Summoning Glyph. Another knight was brought forth, catching Ruby and Blake on the flat of its blade. It then, flung the pair in the direction of Yang.
Ruby's cloak billowed and flowed with uncanny agility. Yang landed on an outstretched platform, and began shelling them from range. The younger sister proved elusive in dodging the projectiles. And upon closer approach, a crimson scythe reared its head.
Silver trailed the ghostly blade as it ripped towards Yang.
The fighter brought her gauntlets up to block it, but the weight of the attack pushed the her back, driving her farther and farther, while the steel soles of her boots sprayed sparks across the floor. Eventually, the two came to a stop when Yang pinned her leg against a column. Little did she know this was what her younger sibling aimed for.
Ruby repositioned Crescent Rose, hooking its curved blade around Yang's prosthesis. The fighter's arm effectively locked to the column they stopped against.
"Now, Blake!"
From a spurt of black miasma, Blake reappeared at a run. Her Gambol Shroud poised and ready to be released from its sheathe.
"Gonna be why my arm gets cut off a second time, Blake?" Yang asked.
"You won't distract me!" Blake shouted in response.
The sword's motion flew without hesitation. A violet gleam cut across the steel just millimeters from where the prosthetic met flesh. Yang's arm was now dislodged.
"Not bad." Yang gritted her teeth and grabbed the back of Blake's head to butt foreheads. "But you should've went for both of them."
"I don't have to," Blake winced. Gaseous black substance emitted from her body and seeped into Yang. Her Semblance would disrupt the other's, as well as hinder her Aura. In addition, it also possessed a corruptive element that rotted the mental and physical condition.
Yang only muttered one thing in response.
[I Burn.]
The fighter let go of Blake's head and snapped her fingers. Runes planted across her body beforehand by Cinder illuminated with volatility. Its detonation caught the three in a plume of flames—but the destruction did not end there.
Harnessing the damage she took, Yang ignited a blue flamed explosion that swallowed the expanse of its red predecessor. The shock it caused made everyone think the mountain itself was erupting. The whole platform sundered in the wake of Yang's carnage.
Blake and Ruby's Aura took a dip as they flailed to safe ground, rolling across its floor on landing. They coughed from the temporary lack of oxygen. Their throats burned and dried of moisture. On hearing heavy footfalls, the two turned to see the figure striding towards them.
A shining crown's visage licked about Yang's temples. Ethereal feathers rose from her blonde hair. Her prosthetic had been reattached and shifted with jet propulsors. The power and appearance she exuded was that of the Spring Maiden's successor in truest form.
Blake blinked painfully in her effort to stand.
So this is what Salem and Raven warned me about.
They said there was a chance my Semblance wouldn't work as well, because of the Maiden's abundant Aura and vitality.
Yang's too strong for it to be effective…
Just then, Blake caught an odd glimpse of bother in her opponent. It was brief, but she was sure she detected a tiny grimace. The reason for it eluded her.
Wait, was it effective?
It didn't feel like it took, so why?
But before she could give it more thought, Yang came at her like a speeding comet.
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X
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In the maze of city streets, a small order of knights was whittled down to a mere three.
Cinder pulled into a narrow alleyway, while a ghostly ball and chain flew straight towards her back. Ahead, another knight laid in wait to head her off with its shield and axe ready. Above, Cinder could see Weiss commanding her summons from a distance. Her rival had her trapped on three sides.
"Hmph."
Cinder came to a full stop, leaned back, and torched fire from the palms of her hands. The force rocketed her in the opposite direction she had been running, right below the ball and chain. Coming between the legs of the knight pursuing her, she drove an obsidian lance through the point of vulnerability.
The destruction of the summon prompted the other to attack. It rushed with its shield in front, axe hidden from view. Cinder barely registered the threat, before calmly assessing her next move.
When the knight reached close distance, Cinder used a lance to vault behind the charging adversary. Two daggers materialized in her hands in an instant. And she sunk the blades upward into the knight's armpits in a single fluid motion. Like the one before it, the apparition collapsed into nothing but spent Dust.
It wasn't a bad plan, Cinder thought.
Suddenly, a third knight burst from the adjacent wall. Brick and dust crumbled from its entrance. Its sword would've pierced Cinder's rib, if she hadn't side-strafed the blow immediately.
Not a bad plan at all.
Upon whiffing the surprise attack, the summon was exposed. Cinder pivoted into a spinning sidekick that caught the knight's neck between her sole and heel. Her foot stamped the armor against the opposite wall and held it there.
A bow formed as Cinder loosed two quick arrows through the narrow visor of the construct's helmet. With its core body damaged, this knight too dissolved into nothingness.
…
The whole time, Weiss observed the usurper of her Kingdom. She measured Cinder's ability, weighed it on a scale against her own. The way the Fall Maiden maneuvered her constructs and defeated them were scrutinized to its smallest details.
Weiss had been hailed as a prodigy since childhood. The truth of it was, she'd grown inflated by her talent before arriving at Beacon. There, though tempered a bit, continued to solidify as she excelled beyond most of her peers.
…
But what she bore witness to—crushed that pride completely.
This. This is a "genius", she thought.
She's dedicating the least amount of energy to destroying my summons and aiming specifically for points where the armor is weakest.
It's like she's fighting with three brains. One, from the first-person perspective. Another, from a third point of view. And one more for introspection.
Cinder stared up at Weiss with a cool patience. A look of expectation, that invited challenge. Even with a subtle hint of encouragement.
Should I test her more?
Should I take the fight to her now?
Weiss gripped her Myrtenaster, then froze for a moment at the slightest sign of Cinder's smirk.
That's exactly what she wants!
Calm down, Weiss. Honestly, where does her confidence come from?
Throughout this whole fight, she's never shown a sliver of wavering. We've separated her from Yang and her Inheritance is incomplete, I can feel it. So, why is she so sure she can beat me? Why is victory assured in a one on one fight, where I'm at a clear advantage?
…
Weiss went over countless explanations in her head, hoping to find some hidden key to victory. Cinder knew the terrain, but that could only do so much. Yang could have provided her with insight into her techniques, but she had long developed new ones in their stead. She was sure there was intel studied on her capabilities, but nothing in-depth concerning her powers as a Maiden.
And then it hit her. It was the only part of Weiss' preparations that she found inadequate.
Despite practicing with her allies and her delving through the Tower's memory archives, simulating a fight with another Maiden was impossible. There was no replacement for sparring a live foe of stronger or equal caliber. The full exploration of her abilities was extremely limited in that.
But that's only true for me.
Weiss scowled at Cinder, and then at Yang in the district away.
They would have trained extensively.
Hands-on fighting with a full-fledged Maiden isn't something just anyone can replicate.
Experience, preparation, tactics. So she's excelling me at all these things.
Weiss breathed a slow sigh. It was disheartening, but she banished the negative aspect before it could weaken her. Admitting the truth nullified the damage and opened herself to other possibilities.
I can't win.
…
Not alone, in any case…
Weiss lifted her rapier and pointed it across the way without once taking her attention off Cinder. The Fall Maiden's smirk turned sour on seeing the motion. Her Aura flared with the tracings of her ring, signaling anticipation for the harder fight to come.
So, the princess overcame her pride, after all…
Yang's prediction was correct.
In the section of the city, where Yang, Ruby, and Blake fought, a pair of rotating Glyphs appeared in the sky. With a knee-jerk reaction, Ruby broke off from her sister and sped towards one of them. Blake was only slightly slower on the uptake.
Yang had a split decision to make. If she acted quick enough, she could stop one but not both. Ruby and Weiss were partners, so keeping the combo separate would be ideal. But Blake presented her own unique threat. It was a gamble either way.
Yang ultimately launched herself at Blake, just barely punching her in time before the Glyph's activation. When she turned to where Ruby was, only a trail of rose petals were left behind.
There was no time to doubt her decision. She just had to have faith Cinder would hold her own. Besides, Yang had other problems.
"How did it come to this?"
Yang turned to the figure of Blake biting into a large shard of Bane. With each chomp, the crystal gave an unsettling crunch. The girl's apparent trembling showed how painful it was, but did nothing to stop her from chewing on it hungrily.
"Tell me, Yang. How did it cOme To THiS?"
With her mouth still dripping with blood, Blake's feline pupils thinned to sharp slits. Their uncanny yellow shone through the shadows consuming her body. In the next second, a large, feral black cat stood before Yang.
"WhAt ReAsOn cOuLd yOu PosSiblY hAVE tO SiDe wITh CINDER?! CaN yOu ActUAlly tRuSt hER?! aFTer EVErYtHING SHe'S DONE?!"
Yang only stared at Blake impassively.
"I wonder about that."
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X
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(A few days after Team RWBY's reunion and last mission together.)
In the living room of the Mantle mansion, Mercury sprawled himself on one of its beaten, but still luxurious couches. Cinder and Emerald left for some business earlier that day, leaving the rest of their group a rare day off.
Deciding to take advantage of the short break, Mercury pulled out his scroll and was starting a game when Yang and Neo walked in. The pair came to a stop right in front of him.
"We need to talk," Yang said, resting both hands on her hips.
"What about? Match is already starting."
Yang snatched Mercury's scroll, and tossed it to Neo.
"Hey!"
"She's better than you anyway, help boost your rank. Now, we need to talk."
"So I heard the first time. Why are you bothering me and not having loud sex upstairs?"
"This is real talk, Merc. Serious styles."
"Ugh…!" Mercury groaned, but didn't argue any further.
Yang turned to her partner. "Why don't you take that outside?"
Neo threw her a questioning glance, but began walking into the garden, eyes glued to the flashing screen of Mercury's scroll.
"I better not get banned again cause players keep reporting me for cheating!" Mercury yelled after the teammate until her exit. "So, what's this about that you don't even want Neo here?"
"She'd just be distracting is all."
"She can't talk."
"She's distracting in other ways."
"Gross."
Yang took the seat beside him. Her elbows rested on her knees. Something clearly weighed on her mind, as she breathed a deep sigh. It also didn't escape Mercury's notice on why she chose now. Cinder and Emerald were busy with the company. Qrow, Masa, and Penny were working on something in the garage. The girl had made sure no one was around.
"I need to ask you something, Merc. And I need you to be honest."
"Like, how honest. Cause y'know, me and Em have this kind of allergy to—"
"We're friends. Don't gag. You and I are friends. We trust each other, and it's life or death, blood pact deals."
"…Yeah. I got your back."
"And I know it's the same with Em and Neo."
"Right."
"But that's not how it is with Cinder."
"…Sounds about right."
"So, here's what I need to ask, Merc. Can I really trust Cinder?"
In the face of Yang's intense stare, Mercury couldn't help but look away. He could feel the weight of what his teammate was asking. There was a significance to it that wasn't expressed on the surface. A testing of loyalty to them both. In a sense, Yang was almost asking Mercury to pick a side.
"Sorry," Yang continued. "Honestly, I didn't want to put you in this position, but I have to know. You know why I'm asking you, specifically, right?"
"Because Em would be biased and Neo's Neo, which just leaves me." Mercury leaned back against the couch with an exhale. "Why are you asking this now? I thought you and Cinder had a deal. You help her with her thing, she helps you with yours. If things work out, maybe you try and save Raven together. Thought it was plain business, no actual trust required."
"Things are different now, and you know it. My old teammates—my old friends—are here."
"So, what? You fought them before."
"Not like this, I haven't. I can try to brush it off all I want, but there's no gray in it this time… I'm betraying those I love by siding with Cinder."
"…"
"It won't be an act. It was different when I thought we were only fighting Weiss. I burned that bridge when I almost killed her sister. But they're all here, Merc. When I fight them—and you and I both know I will—I'm crossing a whole different line. I'll be choosing Cinder over them. The actual one who burned down our school, tore us apart, practically started this war…and killed Pyrrha."
There was a subtle glazing in Yang's eyes and a soft underlying to her voice.
"A deal doesn't cut it anymore. I can't be detached. This is so personal and it's going to cost me. It's going to take a chunk of my soul. Heh!" she sniffled. "If it doesn't take all of it…and I—"
Mercury grasped Yang's hand. For a second, he thought of pulling back, but decided to commit by holding it tighter.
"Cinder's burned a lot of people in the back, Yang," he said. "If we're being straight, I wouldn't be surprised if she burns me and Em someday, too. She's hands down, the most egotistical person I know. Doesn't give a damn about anything or anyone. Nothing stops her from getting what she wants."
"…"
"That said, I think you can trust her."
"What? Why?!"
"Cause I kinda think that's the territory that comes with everybody."
"…"
"Fully trusting someone? Please! That's too much an ask. I mean, look at you. Your friends and Weiss trusted you, and now, well, yeah. And you say you trust me, but seriously, Yang. Would you be all that surprised if I sold you out on a dime?"
"…You're not making this easy, Merc."
"Fuck easy. Nothing's ever easy!" Mercury shouted to the ceiling. "Trusting Cinder isn't any different than trusting me. Why do you trust me?"
"Cause we're teammates. You and I saved each other's asses more times than we can count. We work on each other's prosthetics, which might as well be our literal body parts. Plus, I think we vibe a similar wavelength."
"…Yeah, okay. That was a bad example."
"Okay, I'll backtrack it for you. No, I wouldn't be surprised if you put a knife in my spine."
"So, all you can do is have faith. Ugh! Just saying it tastes like vomit."
"That is a weird way of looking at it…" Yang scratched her chin. "'Faith', huh? In Cinder."
"Yuh."
"That's a BIG leap."
"Yuh."
"How long are you gonna hold my hand, Merc?"
"Oh, I don't know. I've never done it before."
"'Kay."
"…"
"…"
"You can let go now."
"Oh."
"It's learning," Yang revealed a trollish grin.
"Shut it."
"Your hand was sweaty."
"Are we done here? Cause that required more emotion that I'm comfortable with."
Yang stoked in it for a time.
"What makes you trust Cinder, then?"
Mercury crossed his arms and titled his head at the question. After pursing his lips a few times, he formed them into words.
"That's a good question. I don't know really. I owe her a debt, probably repaid it a thousand times over by now. Hm," Mercury stared at Yang for a second. "She has this thing about loyalty. She, like, inspires it, y'know. And I think, you can't inspire loyalty like that without having it yourself. Don't get me wrong, Cinder is super treacherous, but only to really worthless people. You know, people who don't matter."
"That's…good to know."
"If you ask me, it's kind of the same deal with you."
"What?!"
"Your old teammates didn't stick by you. Me, Em, Neo? We did, so we matter. Everybody else can eat it."
"…"
"So, I think what I'm trying to say is… your old teammates suck, we're awesome. And that's where the 'trust'—" Mercury air quoted, "—comes from."
"Or you're trying to say you guys matter more to me than they do these days."
"Yeah, they suck. What did I say?"
"Huh. You give weirdly good advice sometimes. After some translating."
"Don't tell the others. Then, everybody's gonna come to me with their problems. And I am not going to play Neo's therapist."
The two shared a genuine smile.
"So, was that the answer you were looking for?"
"Nope! But it did tell me what needs to happen next."
"Oh, yeah? What's that?"
"I need to have a little talk with our Black Queen."
"This isn't gonna turn into Team ENMY: Civil War, brought to theaters near us, is it?"
"Heh!" Yang stood from the couch with a refreshed demeanor.
"—That's up to Cinder."
.
X
.
"Two on one—how honorable." Cinder snidely commented, while Ruby and Weiss attempted to corner her.
She backpedaled into the labyrinth of ruins. The whole way, never once having to visually confirm where she was going.
Compared to the other districts in Gjallahorn, this one was more enclosed. There were no rooftops, the ceiling was only a few stories high, and there were numerous rows of columns.
"—Cloak and Dagger," Ruby called out.
Weiss broke pursuit and disappeared out of Cinder's line of sight. Meanwhile, thorned vines whipped about Ruby's cape. Under the shadow of the young girl's hood, two silver orbs glistened, tracking Cinder's every movement.
As Ruby sped after her enemy, the stone bricks underfoot pulsed with small letters. She immediately jumped before the explosive Runes activated. Ruby then, used her vines to wrap around the pillars near the ceiling, wall running and spidering her way without touching the floor again.
Cinder turned a tight corner, when a scythe came a few inches shy of her nose. She laid down more Runes along the pillars. And though they activated, never found their mark.
She's too quick for my traps.
Hm. I see. She plans to trigger them to clear the way for her partner.
My, how very…
Naïve.
Cinder stopped moving and took a firm fighting stance.
"Huh?!" Ruby couldn't help but blurt out.
It's a trick, right? It has to be a trick! Why would she just stop like that?
Ruby's special vision darted about their surroundings but placed nothing out of the ordinary. Even after confirming the absence of threats, she continued to worry about the out-of-place action. And that was all Cinder needed to take away from Ruby's strike.
As Crescent Rose drew at a fraction its usual speed, the Fall Maiden advanced a measly half-step. It wasn't much at all, but it made the difference between making contact with the blade and making contact with the shaft's center mass.
Cinder's hand gripped the scythe midmotion. Fingers wrapped around the exact point of its rotation axis with enough pressure to halt the swing with ease. Her free hand curled into a paw, as she solidified her stance once more inside Ruby's guard.
The palm strike landed clean against the ribs. A sudden warping of expansion and contraction distorted the space. And Ruby was catapulted through a row of columns, causing them to timber like tall trees in the woods. Although Cinder dealt significant damage, the victory was short-lived.
Ruby's cloak retreated to follow its owner, leaving a silver-white fencer darting from its shadow. Cinder was forced to catch the rapier's blade in her barehand, as she pulled the wielder's momentum forward for a full-weighted body check. The corner of her shoulder and point of her elbow connected along Weiss' center line.
The blow knocked the Winter Maiden a fair distance but failed to inflict significant harm. On the other hand, Cinder's hand that caught the blade was now bleeding freely. Ice spread through the wound causing numbness and frostbite.
Cinder exercised every ounce of self-control to mask the pain. But for all her temperament, she could not curb the reaction that came next.
A flash of familiar light blinded everything in her vision. It evoked a subconscious fear, despite being ready for it. Ruby made her relive the threat that once encased her in unwaking sleep.
Cinder could feel invisible tendrils of briar wrapping around her once more. It made her activate the Runes she planted earlier.
Throughout the platform, load-bearing columns detonated through their base. The cursed letters she transferred onto Ruby through her palm strike also activated, causing the girl severe burns. A receding of the silver-eyed warrior's Magic soon followed.
Cinder fled from the collapsing ruin to a lone pillar. She watched as the whole district collapsed onto her foes. Anyone else would have been satisfied with such a result, but not her.
They forced me into using it early.
This fight is growing cumbersome.
She winced at the wound in her hand and badgered herself for the premature reaction to Ruby's Magic.
"Had you sweating there for a second, huh?" a voice flew from the collapsed section of the city.
A moment later, Weiss and Ruby landed on their own pillars.
"Afraid I'll put you to sleep again?" Ruby further taunted.
"Hmph, hardly," Cinder glowered in return. "Your slipshod version of your mother's Semblance would present little effect a second time."
There was an estranged pause that followed the barb.
"My mom's Semblance…?" Ruby asked warily.
The uncertainty triggered Cinder's Semblance. It sensed a frailty, a weakness to exploit.
Upon hearing the small exchange, Weiss jumped to their enemy's position to break the interaction. It was a desperate move. Nothing with the intent to injure, but interrupt. An action Cinder measured accordingly.
The Fall Maiden materialized a bow and arrow to fire. Myrtenaster's point and Cinder's projectile came to a head, resulting in a shockwave of violet light. Weiss was fended off before falling back on the column she was on previous.
Recognizing what Ruby's question implied and her partner's reaction to it, a thin smile traced Cinder's lips.
"My, my, you poor thing," she said with a sarcastic expression of fake pity. "You mean to say your beloved partner hasn't deemed to inform you? I wonder why that would be?"
"Don't listen to her, Ruby!" Weiss shouted.
"Was she hoping to spare your feelings? Preserve that pathetic innocence of yours?"
"It's not what you think!"
"You know, Yang made it imperative Qrow Branwen know the truth before his recruitment."
"Ruby…!" Weiss spoke softer and more apologetic now. "Remember that thing I told you about before the Ball? I didn't want to distract you by saying what I discovered."
Ruby stared at her partner's downcast expression in silence.
"That's what Cinder is talking about right now. I swore to you I would tell you at the end of this. But this isn't the time. She's trying to weaken us. We can't let her."
…
"…I know, Weiss," Ruby answered softly. "I trust you."
Weiss breathed a sigh of relief, and then bore a hateful gaze at Cinder. Seeing that her small gambit failed, the Fall Maiden merely shrugged.
"How touching. The bond between sworn partners truly is something to behold, no matter how misguided."
Maybe the words of another may yet still shake her, she thought inwardly.
As Ruby and Weiss moved to reengage, Cinder readied herself to meet them.
I cannot defeat them alone.
What could be keeping, Yang? Surely, the Belladonna girl alone isn't enough to stop her.
Her former partner…
Could Yang be swayed by her emotions? Does she plan to betray me?
If so—
Now, would be the time to do it.
.
X
.
(A few days after RWBY's reunion and last mission.)
Cinder leaned back into the executive chair of her office. She removed her glasses, and massaged the bridge of her nose. In her fatigue, she didn't notice Emerald come in, until the girl moved the papers on her desk to make room for a cup of coffee.
"Forgotten how to knock, have we?"
"Forgotten how to say thanks, have we?"
"Hm."
Cinder took the mug and sipped the brew sparingly, trying to fight down the elation from surfacing. She despised having others see her in anything less than an authority figure. Almost as much as letting anyone see her in any capacity of weakness, especially her subordinates.
"You've certainly gained some pluck since our earlier days. The change of Yang Xiao Long's company no doubt."
"…There's some truth to that, I guess." Emerald bit her lower lip. "I know you hate it, but I think things are better this way. I can't keep treating you like you're perfect, while watching you wear yourself out. And you don't have to put up a front with all of us."
"To what, are you referring to?"
"Are you really asking me that?" Emerald shook her head tiredly, before crossing to the windows. She drew the blinds and lowered the brightness of the ceiling lights.
The shades of darkness did wonders to lessen the strain on Cinder's sensory nerves. Emerald was correct. She didn't realize how hard she was pushing herself until just then, or how good it would be to rely on her more.
"Perhaps, giving you more responsibilities wouldn't be such a bad thing."
"Think so?"
"I'll entrust you to purchase the other Board Members' major holdings."
"Yes, ma'am. Consider it done."
"While you do that, I—"
"Will take a nap," Emerald finished the sentence.
"…I believe what you said bears repeating."
"You need to rest, Cinder." Emerald strode over to the desk, and took the glasses Cinder was about to put on again. "Take ten or twenty minutes to get some shut eye. I can manage that much without—" She tried putting on the glasses, before pulling them away immediately. After a bewildered pause, Emerald giggled.
"Oh, my god! I thought these were fake!"
"…"
"I didn't know you needed glasses!"
"…It isn't as hilarious as you make it seem."
"How could I not have known?! You're so blind!"
"Enough!" Cinder slammed her hands on the desk.
Emerald stopped laughing, but there was no longer the fearful look of obedience such an outburst would have elicited in the past. The mint-haired girl only nonchalantly handed Cinder back her glasses. Her expression never wavering.
"We're not your enemies. You don't have to guard yourself against us."
"…"
"Lean on us when you need to. Vent for stupid reasons if you need to. You don't have to hide your flaws, cause we don't plan on telling anyone." Emerald revealed a small smile. "Trust us."
"…"
"Or at least think about it."
"…"
Cinder sunk back into her chair. She could feel the tense veins at her temples loosen. A tightness in her chest, she didn't know was there, lifted.
"I do. Trust you, that is."
"…That's good to hear, boss."
Cinder blinked slowly for a few counts.
This would be as good a time as any, she thought.
"While we're in the habit of being sincere, I'd like to discuss a potential problem that has arisen."
"I'm all ears," Emerald answered.
Cinder rested her elbows on her desk, hands knitted under her nose.
"I have concerns regarding Yang Xiao Long's reliability in our upcoming battle. Seeing her former comrades has clearly shaken her. I don't know if she will uphold our contract to the very end."
"Yang's game, Cinder. She's fought every one of those losers before, and she'll gladly do it again. You can believe in her as much as me or Merc."
"Yes, you two have cultivated her loyalty splendidly."
"Pretty much."
"But, I have not."
"…"
"She would happily place her life before either of yours, of that I have no doubt. But the final battle for this Kingdom will be Team ENMY's in name only. It is I, who Yang will be fighting her friends for. And it would be foolish to think she would go so far for my sake."
Emerald held her chin in thought, taking in the words of caution.
"Speak plainly, Emerald," Cinder continued. "Will Yang Xiao Long not betray me in the course of this fight? And be it ever so ironic, the girl is less prone to honor her word as she's done in the past, due to yours and Mercury's influence."
"Yeah. We pretty much put her through Backstabbing 101. Yang could flip on you. It would be easier for you than a stranger."
"Doesn't exactly inspire confidence."
"But you trust her, anyway," the girl shrugged.
"…"
Cinder furrowed her brow and eyed Emerald closely.
"I trust no one," she tensed.
"You've already shown Yang more vulnerability than you've ever shown us. I've obviously noticed."
"…She is a tool for managing my Inheritance."
"We both know that's not true, not completely at least. Or maybe you just haven't realized it yet."
"I despise Yang Xiao Long."
"'Always a fine line between hatred and respect'. You told me that."
"This is not the same."
"You've shown her bits and pieces of your real self already, Cinder. So much that I'm jealous."
"…"
"But you're too smart to haven't noticed. Parts and half-measures aren't good enough, especially for you. You need all of it. You need Yang more than you want to admit. And I'm not talking just for the battle for Atlas either."
Cinder's hands tensed. Something hot smoldered in the pit of her gut.
"I'm afraid you'll die, Cinder," Emerald said with a caring touch. "Please, don't throw away something that'll keep you alive."
"…"
Emerald wiped her eyes briefly, before turning to leave the office. As she reached the door, Cinder spoke.
"How do I earn the trust of one that hates me with such vigor?"
"Heh! I don't know. If me or Merc could do it for you, we would have, but I think you're already taking the right steps." Emerald paused for a moment. "But if I had any advice to give, I'd say to keep in mind that Yang's kind of like you with some differences in intensity."
"…How so?"
"Yang always repays treachery with treachery—"
"And loyalty with loyalty."
.
X
.
Cinder bit the inside of her cheek to stave off her frustration. The combo of Ruby and Weiss were making strides against her, especially now that she was in the open, without structures to hinder Weiss' summons.
The three dropped below the city, into the free-flowing rivers of magma. Cinder landed on a flat crag floating on the currents. The small island would not hold for long.
Unlike Cinder's dissolving ground, Weiss and Ruby made us of Platform Glyphs. Keeping their distance, the Winter Maiden brought forth a pair of quality knights to battle their foe.
The two summons rushed Cinder, both weapons brandished with a fury. One attacked with a bo staff, while the other wielded a glaive. They flanked her sides in an instant. The flow of their movements were too synchronized to be creation alone. The refinement of their techniques, far and beyond that of previous constructions.
Then, Cinder realized the fighters they were based from.
Sun Wukong and Neptune Vasilias.
To replicate them so well…
…
She is quite the prodigy.
Their mid-range weapons proved an effective counter to Cinder's favored daggers and archery.
If she tried to escape upwards, Weiss and Ruby were ready in wait. Cinder could not hold out.
Perhaps, it is time I forsake my pride as well.
Cinder found a gap between the pair of weapons to dive between. She dashed the short distance allowed by her mini battleground. The hue of her ring pulsated violently with its invocation.
Two locations in the volcano had Cinder's Runes carved prebattle. The enormous stalactites above and the molten sea bottom below. And it was at her command, that a chain of demolitions was ignited.
Molten geysers erupted in concert. One in particular, shot Weiss' summons away and elevated Cinder to tremendous height. At the same time, she met the falling rocks collapsing from the ceiling.
The Fall Maiden wall-jumped from one to another in an attempt to lose the pair in pursuit. Weiss trailed, but Ruby's specialty speed let her catch up to an out-of-breath Cinder.
Just as the young girl was about to swing her Crescent Rose, a green spark flared the edge of her peripheries. She opted to fire her sniper rifle to change direction—as Yang's punch rocketed through her cloak, and right past her.
"Finally decided to join me," Cinder muttered, on her ally responding to her signal.
"Didn't have a choice. I'll explain later. Ready?"
"Always."
Cinder leapt onto the palm of Yang's right, followed immediately by the other shot-putting her into the freshly destroyed ceiling.
With the first layer of sediments blown away, the roof of the cavern revealed a new, shiny canopy of volcanic glass.
"—Oh no," Weiss murmured before summoning as many knights as possible for a shield wall. The ghostly army, upon breaking through their Glyphs, surrounded their master and Ruby.
Cinder floated momentarily, reaching the apex of her lift. She touched a hand to the solid pieces of polished glass that were the size of small buildings. Her Aura ignited with a violent smolder. Burning flakes of ash fell from her body.
*Snap*
A hellish rain of obsidian blades whistled, as they flew down the cavern at furious speed. Passing through a gap Cinder created, Yang jumped past the barrage, torqueing her body to its limit. Gold feathers rose from her hair, adding sharp contrast to the jet-black projectiles.
The reactors in Yang's Ember Celica roared as her punch was pitched. A constellation birthed from her fiery fist, coating Cinder's attack with burning haste and devastation. The force of Yang and Cinder's combo created a small-scale meteor shower that ravaged everything in sight.
At the same time, the destruction caused by the Maidens aroused the volcano's slumber. The lava level began to rise, as the ceiling continued to crumble. Per Cinder's expectation, it was only a matter of time before the place was wiped off the face of the Never Realm.
As if to lend more credence to that prediction, with the sundering of the city, traces of the otherworldly plane leaked in. Much of the falling stalactites slowed to an almost suspended animation. Geysers of magma rose, but never fell.
Cinder and Yang took refuge on one of the new mineral platforms dragging in the air.
"Now, would you care to explain why you didn't rejoin me sooner—"
"Cinder! Look out!"
A spasm of black mist burst from the empty space, where Yang pulled Cinder away. Yang absorbed the billowing smoke, while Cinder received a small trace.
"Cinder! CINDER!"
The small wisp that caught the Fall Maiden's heel caused a blooming of black glass on her flesh. The tumor grew wildly before stopping at the size of a bouquet.
"GAHHH!"
Cinder smashed it immediately, leaving a wound that gouged a generous part of her foot. While pain blinded her physical senses, her mind was under a different assault. The voices that plagued her during her occasional bouts of frenzy, surged like a tidal wave.
"CINDER!" Yang shouted, while holding back the shadowy cat in front of her.
"sO, ThAt's iT," Blake snarled. "tHaT's WhY yOu weRE trYINgInG sO HaRd To kEEp mE FRom hER!"
"Cinder! Fight it off! Remember your training!"
"ShE's TOO CoRRUpTeD, YaNG! ThAT'S The PrOOF SHe iSN'T WoRTH—"
"Get the hell up, damn it! You're letting your Inheritance control you! You told me you would own it! Was that a lie?!"
"It…was not…" Cinder answered faintly.
"SO, OWN IT THEN!"
Yang swayed her head suddenly in time for a number of arrows to rush past.
*Thunk thunk thunk!*
Three spined bolts pierced Blake's skull, causing her lifeless body to puppet walk backwards off the stalactite.
Yang immediately rushed to Cinder's side and braced her shoulder.
"Hey! You alright?"
"Mmmm," Cinder rubbed her head, sweating profusely. "The mist enhances the side effects of my incomplete Inheritance. I can manage. You seem to be taking the death of your friend quite well."
Yang scoffed and rolled her eyes. "I killed her six times before you asked for my help. If we count those arrows just now, that makes a total of seven. If Neo's intel was right, Blake's got two more lives left."
"I see. What a distasteful Semblance she has. Nine lives and a corruptive curse—I can only imagine how it must be affecting you."
"I take it just fine, actually. My Inheritance is complete after all. Doesn't even leave a dent."
"And how it brings forth your worst nightmares and fears. That proves ineffective as well?"
"…"
"I thank you for your valiant efforts, Yang." Cinder gripped Yang's shoulder to help her stand. "But this partnership will fail if I do not uphold my end of the fight. Leave Belladonna to me. I won't be so careless a second time."
"You sure? It's a bad match up."
"Do you trust me, Yang?"
"…"
"Yang—"
"Do you trust me?"
.
X
.
(A few days before.)
"We are at a crossroads, Yang Xiao Long."
In the middle of the Mantle Mansion's training room, Cinder and Yang faced each other. Tensions rose between them and the air went still.
"We cannot hope to be victorious as we are now," Cinder folded her hands behind her back. "We must be partners not just in name or in simple business, but in the truest sense."
"I know," Yang agreed. "We need to synch on a real level, or we won't stand a chance."
"I require your complete and unflinching loyalty."
"I wonder if that's even possible."
Yang turned away and grimaced. Even just standing here with Cinder made her anger flare. How could one undo so much bad blood? As if to interrupt that thought, the other's voice cut in.
"I swear on my life, even in the event of your death, I will fulfill your request. So long as you die in my service," Cinder announced.
Yang threw her a crooked look.
"Why would you do that? And besides, your life doesn't mean anything to me, so swearing on it means nothing."
"Very well. I'll swear it on something that matters to us both." Cinder thought for a moment. "I promise you on Emerald, Mercury, Neo, and Raven, I will see your wish fulfilled. Regardless of the situation."
"…I get it, but it's still not enough."
"Indeed. Unfortunately, my word is the only thing I can offer."
Yang thought about the direction their conversation was heading. She stretched her back to stare at the ceiling. Part of her wanted to believe Cinder, but a majority of her feelings told her she couldn't—not for such a cheap price, anyway.
"…I'll give it to you. My loyalty in full."
It was Cinder's turn to be surprised.
"I didn't think my promise would be sufficient."
"It isn't. I'm adding more conditions to our arrangement."
"…I see," Cinder crossed her arms. "Name them."
"One of them, is you have to help me stop Qrow's synchronization with Oz."
"Shouldn't prove difficult."
"Second, … … …"
"That—is a much more difficult term to accept."
"I know."
"Your loyalty isn't without its price, it seems."
"I don't know about that." Yang knotted her hands behind her head and started strutting back and forth. "Just cause you say 'yes' to it, doesn't mean you actually agree. Just the same, you're not sure I'm giving you my loyalty just cause I say I am."
"So, we are at an impasse once more."
"No." Yang stopped. "I am giving you my loyalty—practically on nothing but your word, which pretty much means for free."
"…"
"You'll see it for yourself, and when you do, you'll finish out the rest of our deal. Meet me on the whole nine."
"Or I could simply ignore it."
"You could," Yang flashed a sly grin. "But something Mercury said lets me know you'll do right by me. I just have to have faith—which I realize is harder than anything I ever had to do."
"Hm. Interesting. Emerald mentioned something of the same." Cinder extended her hand. "I offer my allegiance. Whether you take it or not is up to you. True or not, you will witness for yourself. Hm," she scoffed to herself. "'Faith', was it?"
"Yeah," Yang grasped Cinder's arm. "Something like that."
Upon their release, the Fall Maiden brushed her hair to the side.
"Then, perhaps we should commemorate this amendment to our agreement in the fashion you are so fond of."
"What?"
Cinder snapped her fingers and brought them both to a section of the Never Realm.
"We shall do battle to our heart's content." She cracked her knuckles.
"Heh!" Yang plastered a debonair grin on her face. "I really hope you're the real deal, Cinder. I'd hate it, I'll have nightmares about it, and I'd never live it down... But I really hope what we have is the real deal."
"As do I, Yang—"
"As do I."
.
X
.
"Yeah, Cinder. I trust you."
"Good. It pains me to admit, but you truly do make for a reliable ally."
"…You too, I guess…"
"I didn't quite catch that."
"Nothing…!" Yang scratched her head embarrassingly. "So, what's the play? Blake's going to come after you, hard."
"Let her. The detail to pay mind to is if she is joined by Weiss Schnee. In that case, I would be overwhelmed. It seems your Destiny is to match her, after all."
"And Ruby?"
"I have no doubt the exact scenario we had in mind will unfold here."
"…Got it."
"Ah, I should mention one other thing. I think if your sister were to hear the truth from you, it would illicit a much more tangible reaction."
"What?"
As Cinder and Yang discussed, the numerous shield knights Weiss summoned fell away. Their crouched bodies dissolved into nothing but burnt Dust. In the partially demolished wreckage of Gjallarhorn's city, Ruby and Weiss rose injured, but not so bad they were out of the fight.
"We need a new tactic," Ruby said.
"mY SembLaNce is EffeCtive aGainSt CindeR," Blake appeared in a cloud of smog.
"Then, you and Weiss—"
"—Ruby," Weiss interrupted. "I'm sorry, but this is the way it has to be."
"…"
"You can't fight Yang on your own. And if I assist you, Blake wouldn't be able to handle Cinder on her own. They're both Maidens."
Ruby closed her eyes for a moment, as if to stop herself from seeing the truth. "Is there really no other way?"
"You're our leader, Ruby. What you say, we will follow. But you must understand what that means, and what it will cost."
"…Fine. We'll go with what we agreed before. But Weiss, if you can—"
"I know, Ruby. I'll see what I can do."
Though Weiss said that, her decision had been made from the outset. Yang was far too strong to make Ruby's wish grantable. The outcome of a fight between the two—could only end in tragedy.
The three launched themselves to a slow falling stalactite opposite Yang and Cinder. There, the five young women faced off once more. Though, a stagnation now filled the air.
"Ruby…" Yang looked to her sister with a complicated expression.
"What…?"
"…"
The older sister took a sorrowful breath. She thought Weiss would have told her, but that didn't matter now. Only the truth did, even if it was to sow some weakness into her younger sibling.
…
"Mom's alive."