.
Damage Already Done
.
Never thought that you would stay forever.
Never asked you to commit your life.
But I can tell you in my heart I never
Thought you'd up and leave me.
Without a trace to lead me.
But now you're standing here with that look in your eyes.
.
.
It was early in the morning when Team ENMY was summoned to a dark interrogation room.
In the soundproof chamber absent of sunlight and color, a butchered old man hung from its ceiling. The rusted chains on his wrists being the only thing that supported his dangling body. Behind him, the rest of the imprisoned Crusaders could be seen in similar condition.
After being delivered by Team ENMY as a gift for Temujin, the lot were thoroughly tortured and then, strewn along the chamber's cemented walls like meat kept in cold storage.
"Wow, you really didn't waste any time going to town on these guys," Emerald whistled.
"Meh. Mercy is a weak god to worship," Temujin replied absentmindedly. "These bastards have butchered countless of my friends and family. I won't sleep quietly until I've had my fill of their blood and laughed over their unmarked graves!"
The old Faunus wolf observed each of the team members in turn, measuring the levels in their reactions. Emerald seemed as aloof as their first meeting. Mercury simply looked bored and sleepy. Neo wore a sort of sadistic grin. And Yang—
Yang stood stoic, cross-armed and cold throughout the whole process. Though, she tried to mask her emotions, the red glow in her eyes gave way to her inner feelings. She reminded Temujin so much of Raven, the woman found herself on the verge of calling out to her.
I'm getting old.
"A bit squeamish, are we?" Temujin asked aloud.
"I don't really care what you do to them," Yang replied offhand. "You reap what you sow. They've slaughtered your people. That doesn't go away with a little bit of pain and a handful of deaths."
"'A little'?"
"But life isn't something to play with, Temujin. Not with what I see."
Yang faced her, and the elder saw a burning ferocity in her supposed goddaughter. A will and a fury she was intimately familiar with. And it sent shivers down her spine.
"So, you done testing us?" the girl asked.
"Huhu~ For now," she replied. "You should keep in mind, Vacuo is always watching, always testing, helping you find your breaking point—with or without your consent."
Again, Yang was reminded to be wary. Temujin had relented on her "territory" Semblance, but every aspect of her was likened to an unsheathed blade. Whether it was her words or her mood, everything about Temujin felt lethal to the cut. And it seemed she took particular interest in her. If it was because she was Raven's daughter or some other reason, the cause was unclear.
As if to interrupt the words left unsaid, the imprisoned Crusader let out a soft moan of pain. A piece of cut flesh slopped off his midsection and plopped onto the floor with a moist thud.
"Oh, that reminds me. How about some breakfast?" Temujin posed to the group.
"Only if you're paying!" Emerald piped up.
"Hah! And the rest of you?"
"I'm good," Mercury yawned. "Rather head back and get more shut-eye."
Neo only gave a half shrug.
"I would, but I've got other plans," Yang gave her answer. "Plus, our leader's supposed to handle all the bartering and negotiations, anyway."
"You trust her to be alone with me?"
"Maybe not yesterday, but today's a new day. And tomorrow I might not."
"Hmmm… At some point, you and I will also have our own little chat. There is much to discuss between you and I."
"Funny, was thinking the same thing. But until then…" Yang waved and exited the chamber, accompanied by Mercury and Neo.
Once they were gone, Temujin turned to Emerald.
"I don't think the Spring Maiden likes me very much."
"It's nothing professional."
"That's good."
"What do they call it? Hatred for one's own kind?"
"Oh? You think she and I are similar?"
"More like, I think she sees you as some twisted, dark time-line, future version of herself. And she definitely doesn't want to become you."
"…That's fair."
…
…
As Yang, Neo, and Mercury made their way out into the fresh, dry air, they found their stomachs grumbling simultaneously.
"Great. Now I'm sleepy and hungry," Mercury groaned. "Maybe I should've taken Temujin on that offer after all."
"Not too late," Yang replied.
"Meh. They probably have a lot of boring political stuff to talk about. Besides, I wanna get a feel for the city."
"Just don't get in too much trouble. Remember, we're supposed to be on our best behavior. I'm talking to you too, Neo."
The two turned to the petite girl silently licking an ice cream cone.
""…""
After a blank few moments of staring, Yang shook her head to make sure she wasn't seeing a mirage.
"Alright. What small animal did you sacrifice to your ice cream god to get that?"
Neo only continued to gaze passively until a group of children crashed into her back. Since arriving in Vacuo, the pink-haired girl had become something of a popular playmate among the city's youths. Without much consent or resistance, the small crowd of adolescents pulled her in a different direction from her teammates.
Yang could only wave after her partner's sudden departure.
"You and Neo ever think of having kids? Seems like she'd be great with them," Mercury commented.
"Wha?! Come on. As if we actually had time to think about that!"
"I dunno. There's plenty of kids around to adopt. I'm sure if you hit the slums, you could pick out your own Emerald somewhere."
"Disturbing thought. You don't think I'll find a stray Mercury?"
"…"
"Tripped that boundary, huh? My bad."
"Don't sweat it. I'm gonna hit the Black Iron Road. Wanna come with? We can grab some grub, talk shop with the techs there."
"Nah. I'll catch you later. I wasn't lying about having other plans."
Yang pitched her thumb behind to where three obscure figures trailed in wait. The partially shadowed silhouettes were barely visible around the building's corners.
"…Want back up?" Mercury offered.
"There won't be a fight…probably. And if there is, I won't need your help to win it."
"True."
As the young man was about to depart, Yang reached out to him.
"Hey, Merc?"
"Yeah?"
…What am I supposed to say? "Hey, dude. When do you think we're gonna talk about your dad? I don't want to invade your privacy or anything, but I got this Semblance thing. And every time we get near the subject, I see your Life flicker all weird."
Yang sighed dejectedly.
"Nothing. I'll see ya around, Merc."
"Sure?"
"Yeah. Talk for another time."
"Okay."
The two bumped fists and Mercury made his departure.
"One thing at a time," Yang muttered to herself. "So! Guess we've got some things to talk about, huh?"
As soon as she was alone, her three stalkers came out into the open. The figures of Ilia, Sun, and Neptune became clear in the light of day.
"Or depending on how things go, there won't be much talking."
.
X
.
"…Like I was saying, if Atlas hits Vale from the north," Emerald topped a slice of beef with lettuce. "And Vacuo hits them from the west," she added a few chili peppers on top. "Half the Alliance folds instantly."
"Hm." Temujin took the offering and devoured it in one mouthful. "Simple."
"Simple is effective when coordinating armies our size. The alliance might see it coming a mile away, but Mistral will still have problems reinforcing their allies."
"You don't have to lecture me on the arts of war, girl."
"Just a suggestion."
At the communal breakfast table, Emerald, Temujin, the Rakis Siblings, and Minerva sat around to hash out details of a potential alliance. Before them lay countless ingredients presented on separate plates. The style of feasting being, they combined the dishes together to share and dine what they made. It was a common practice in Vacuo, but Emerald didn't miss the underlying meaning to it.
"And who owns Vale after we conquer it?" Temujin asked.
"Conquer?" Emerald returned the question with uncertainty. Then, quickly recovered her wits. "You want to imperialize Vale."
"That is what war means to me—if I were to join it, of course. I do not fight for defense, young pup. I fight to seize something of value."
Emerald went into silent thought for a moment. Imaginary scales in her head titled back and forth, weighing the pros and cons. It didn't take her long to give a simple answer to the complicated question.
"…You can have Vale."
"Are you in a position to offer that so easily? What will your Queens have to say?"
"I became the interpreter of their will the moment they chose me and my team to broker this alliance. So, yeah. What I say goes. Besides, Mistral's already imperializing Vale in everything but name. We don't care if Vacuo's the one to take it."
"Even if it means doubling our territory?"
"There's a reason Remnant's only had four Kingdoms for so long. Anytime someone's tried to break that balance, it's always blown up in their face. I think you could take Vale, but if you think you can make a run at Mistral, or even Atlas afterwards, I'd say Minerva's right about you going senile."
"Hmmm…" Temujin rubbed her chin, while spotting a slight lilt in Minerva's lips. "And what assures us your complete and total cooperation? Yes, you've presented us with many fine gifts, but materials are freely given. Lives, however—are not."
"…"
"You can arm a warrior to fight but standing with them is another matter. Will Atlas truly stand with us…or use us Faunus like the expendable labor it always has?"
Emerald patiently took her tea cup and sipped it down. The Dust mixed with the caffeine sent a shock through her braincells. Her jaw tightened in a hard line.
"Cinder Fall and Weiss Schnee personally fought life and death on behalf of their Kingdom—against the Alliance and against each other. I'm sure you've heard the stories and I don't know if you believe them, but my Team and I can guarantee they're all true."
Emerald began assembling more dishes as she spoke.
"Kingdoms reflect their rulers. Teams reflect their leaders. And our two Queens are warriors. I don't know what collateral I can give to assure you, but when the time comes to fight, they will be there. My question is—will you?"
Emerald offered Temujin a plate with a deep piercing stare. She could feel the Fang of Vacuo probing her for weakness, searching for any hints of lies. When satisfied, the elder took the dish and leaned back.
"I'll put it under consideration," Temujin grinned.
There it is again, Emerald thought.
She can be indirect all she wants, but she's practically agreeing to be part of this alliance already—or at least a pact of non-aggression.
From what Weiss said, I expected her to be a lot more evasive.
She's avoided being dragged into the War so far by saying no one ruled Vacuo, but here she is ready to make decisions on her Kingdom's behalf.
…Temujin's been testing us all this time.
Maybe, it's time to test her.
"You know, I gotta say. I expected a lot more resistance from you," Emerald said aloud. "There a reason you're so open to negotiations with Atlas?"
Temujin and Minerva stared at her for a long second.
"Are you complaining about easy work?" Temujin asked.
"My 'things are too good to be true' senses are tingling. You don't like mercy? My weak god is complacency."
"Hmph. A good principle to hold to. I simply believe this is the most direct approach to securing new lands for my people."
She's either telling the truth, or only half of one.
Either way, something's off.
"Blake Belladonna suggested an alliance with Weiss Schnee before. You outright refused."
"The landscape was much different. Mistral and Vale were not aligned at the time. Weiss Schnee was not Queen of Atlas."
"Still, Vacuo's prided itself as an independent Kingdom. And now, you're suddenly open to the idea of joining hands with the nation that could be labeled the most 'anti-Faunus'. I can tell you and Minerva are the more pragmatic of your people, but the rest of your guys can't be 100% okay with this. It's a lot of trouble to go through on the rewards of an imaginary pay off."
"What could you possibly be insinuating?"
"You've done your research on me. I'm a con artist. So I know when a game's being run, when I see it."
"…"
"I want to know all the factors involved," Emerald folded her hands. "On the surface, it looks like Atlas is asking Vacuo to join a fight it's not actually involved in. But the thing is, it doesn't feel that way."
"And what does it feel like?"
Emerald was close to something, she could feel it. It was dangling on the tip of her tongue. Her intuition told her to lean on it and take the gamble on her suspicions.
"It feels like you're the ones luring us in for a fight. What, you got some intel Salem's gearing up to wage war on you guys and you want Atlas in your corner when it happens? Honestly, I didn't think you guys would make a move unless she made a move on you first."
"…"
"…Unless Salem already has."
Emerald swore she saw something flicker in Temujin's eye. Likewise, Minerva and the Rakis siblings blinked rapidly. It was all she needed to know she hit her mark.
"Hehehe…!" Temujin chuckled gravely. "I would tread more carefully from now on, if I were you, Emerald Sustrai."
"Another threat?"
"No. Genuine advice. As you've pointed out, our people have done our due diligence regarding your Team ENMY. And despite some of the obvious 'dangers' your teammates possess, quite a few of us have placed you on a similar, if not higher level."
"Me? You think I'm more dangerous than Yang?"
"In a sense, yes. Your deduction just now proves our assessments correct. Behind the shadows of Cinder Fall and Yang Xiao Long, there, we see you. The swindler, the trickster, the stagehand manipulating everything."
"…Alright, I'm flattered. So, why the friendly warning?"
"Because if we've noticed the threat you pose, so will Salem."
"So, the Witch is moving on Vacuo," Emerald brought the topic back. "That's why you're so receptive to an alliance. I need details."
"I'm afraid we aren't quite so close friends yet to share that."
Emerald gritted her teeth in frustration. At the same time, she understood Temujin wanted to keep Vacuo in a position of power during negotiations. Emerald could have all the suspicions she wanted, but at the end of it all, they were still coming to Vacuo for help—not the other way around.
"On another note," Temujin interrupted her thoughts. "During the course of our investigations, we learned your parents migrated here shortly after abandoning you in Mistral."
Emerald's heart stopped.
"I believe disclosing this information will bring us closer together, as well as strengthen the ties of any future relations."
"…"
"I cannot understand what knowing their whereabouts means to you, but withholding the information after discovering it would do you a disservice. Do what you will with this knowledge. You have my word I had no ill intent."
Temujin produced a slip of paper and slid it face down within Emerald's reach.
…Is it another test?
Should I take it?
What if it really is them?
Emerald stared down at the small parchment like a chest containing her deepest insecurities. She had half a mind to pass it back and never think of it again.
But it's a chance to meet them.
My parents…
My fami—
But the word refused to form in her thoughts. Instead, her mind conjured images of Mercury, Yang, and Neo. Their smiling faces looked to her with reassurance. How long had it been since the word family grew synonymous with her team?
Suddenly, Emerald was no longer afraid. No blood was thicker than the bonds they held. Parents or no parents, Team ENMY was her real family.
Emerald took the slip of paper almost as an afterthought. The girl didn't even confirm an address before pocketing it.
"I'll pay 'em a visit. If nothing else, I can tell them off. They missed out on having the wealthiest, most powerful thief in Remnant as their daughter. That'll hurt some."
"Hmph," Temujin breathed evenly. "You know, if this alliance never works out, I hope you'd consider working for us."
"Heh," Emerald scoffed.
"You can't afford me."
.
X
.
"So, you guys gonna say something or…"
In the outdoor café, Yang absentmindedly chewed on her sandwich, while tapping something out on her scroll. Although casually engrossed in what she was doing, the other three at the table were anything but easygoing.
"Well, we were waiting for you to finish whatever you were doing," Neptune replied.
"I can multitask."
"What is that, anyway?"
"Writing up a report."
"You?"
"Hey, what's that supposed to mean?"
"Nothing. I just remember your old team playing board games in the library instead of actual reading. Didn't take you for the studious type, no offense."
"Things change, Neptune. Plus, I'm still not the studious type. It's just that Cinder tasked each of us with providing our own daily report on Vacuo."
"Dude. She gave you homework."
"…" Yang set down her sandwich slowly with daunting realization. "Devious," she whispered.
"Maybe some things don't change."
"Never as much as we want. Always more than we like."
"Like someone, who I thought was the most loyal of her friends, stabbing those same friends in the back?" Sun Wukong spoke out.
A dry silence hovered over the table and Yang glanced up from her scroll for the first time. The blond boy with a furrowed tail met her glare with a temper she'd never seen in him before. Usually a jokester, but not in this moment.
"We really going there, Sun?"
"Just calling it as I see it," he scoffed in disdain. "Also, you made besties with the people responsible for destroying your school and starting this war?"
"Sun, I'm gonna be honest with you. I just went through this whole shebang on a much bigger scale with Ruby and the others. If you think I'm gonna go it with you, you're gonna be really disappointed."
"Wow."
"Long explanation short—I don't have to explain myself to you. Deal with it."
"…Uh huh."
"Besides, I'm not the only one with surprising moral compass changes. I remember you throwing shade on the White Fang, but here I find out you joined them. Hypocritical much?"
"They're not the White Fang anymore. Ever since Adam disbanded his faction, Temujin did the same. Now, it's just the Vacuo Military."
"Huh. Didn't know giving a leopard a different name changed its spots."
"…"
"Come on, Sun. I'm just messing with you! I'm obviously not in any position to make judgements," Yang waved her hand, then transitioned to a lower tone. "But you're kidding yourself if you think I'm gonna hold myself to yours."
The two locked dead-eyed with each other. Yang's gold hair glowed, while Sun's tail straightened.
"Hey, relax guys!" Neptune intervened. "I think we all have our own situations. Sun, we agreed we'd try to talk to Yang first. Yang, you know how it looks seeing you side by side with those guys, right?"
"You mean my teammates? I can make a guess."
"They are bad guys, aren't they?"
"You make it sound like me and them are different."
"You…are?"
"We're not."
Yang dove into another sandwich and gobbled it whole. The heavy flavoring made her pause.
"On another subject, what's with the food here? Dust doesn't do anything for me, but it's still crazy to just douse the stuff on, right? You guys mining that much, you can spare it for food ingredients?"
"Oh. Yeah, it's kind of a new trend."
"Care to explain that?"
"Sure," Neptune answered, before clearing his throat intellectually. "Well, it's more of a new take on an old practice. Before Vacuo's revolution, one of the things the refinery owners did to keep their workers mining was lacing their food with Dust. It gave them an energy boost, while numbing their sense of fatigue. Of course, there were huge side-effects—Dust Poisoning being just one of them."
"Huh. And the chefs here want to bring that back?"
"In small doses, it just adds a spark of flavor, and it does reenergize people. Small doses being key. There are some people every now and then that have a bad reaction to it, though."
"Interesting… But everyone's okay with it? Temujin basically started the revolution for slaves. It's hard to think she would just let something even related to their oppression exist."
The young man only shrugged.
"She personally announced that it was a part of Vacuo's culture and history. A lot of her people are actually the ones pushing it. But if you ask me, I think she just likes the taste. People say she's a picky eater."
"I feel like that doesn't really match up…"
"Neptune. I think you should stop talking," Sun told him.
"What?"
"Yeah," Ilia joined the conversation for the first time. "We were instructed specifically not to give any information to anyone from Team ENMY."
"Oh, come on. Ilia, I get. But, Sun? This is Yang we're talking to here. She's not milking me for intel. Right, Yang?"
"Nah," she answered, while continuing to type rapidly on her scroll.
"…You're milking me for intel, aren't you?"
"Nahhhhhh. Just a goodness to honest chat between old friends."
*Ahem*
Ilia made a none too subtle cough. Her patience was all used up.
"Can we get to the real topic?" she started. "I want to know where Blake is. You and your team were the last ones to see her, and then, nothing. Tell me what I want to know."
"This has gotta be awkward for you, right, Neptune?" Yang ignored her. "At a table with all of Blake's exes. Well, except for Adam. Wait, is he coming to this, too?"
"Not funny, dude."
"Answer me!" Ilia slammed her fist on the table.
The outburst drew some looks from the surrounding patrons, but arguments were nothing rare in Vacuo, even such public ones. Soon enough, the atmosphere settled into business as usual.
Yang leaned farther back in her chair.
"I don't know where Blake is," she answered coldly. "She up and left. It's her thing. You knew her longer than I have. Should be used to that."
"Blake wouldn't do that! Not this time! Not after we finally—!" Ilia stopped herself from completing the sentence. Instead, rewording them. "Not after we finally made things clear."
Not only Yang, but Sun was caught off-guard by what Ilia implied. A subtle sourness leaked from their expressions.
"Yeah, well." Yang bit savagely into another morsel to outlet her aggression. "We may never see her again. Just the way it goes."
"You're lying. Tell me where she is. If you ever cared about her, you'll do that. I don't give a damn what you or anyone else had with her. I could care less if you hate me. I am…— I'm asking you to tell me everything you know. I'll be the one to go after her."
"And what if she doesn't want to be found?"
"I'll still go after her. I… I love her," Ilia said after dispelling her hesitations. "I've always loved her. And I'm tired of waiting for her to come home, when it should've been me all along, trying to bring her back."
Yang grimaced.
I wonder why I never had that kind of attitude with Blake.
She threw a subtle glance to Sun, and saw he was having similar thoughts.
Why didn't we try to do something so simple? Did Blake really matter to us? How come we didn't try to chase after her like this?
Even Adam tried harder—
In a really creepy way.
"I really don't know where she is, Ilia," Yang told her seriously. "Blake vanished without a trace when we tried to capture her back at Atlas. No clues left behind."
It wasn't a total lie, but it wasn't the whole truth either. The last time Yang saw Blake, she was being possessed by Salem. By that line of thought, the girl could only be in one place. The land where the Witch dwelled and Cinder only mentioned briefly—Spriggan.
But if I tell Ilia, she'll go there…
And she'll die.
…
Yang wanted to say something. She wanted to tell Ilia not to worry. That she would bring Blake back.
"Lies."
Yang blinked at the short word that contained so much vitriol.
"You know, but you won't tell me. It was a mistake expecting anything from you." Ilia stood from her chair. "I'll find her myself."
The girl dropped a handful of Dust crystals messily onto the table and disappeared quickly into the busy streets.
…
"That was rough…" Neptune commented awkwardly.
"So?" Sun started. "Where is Blake? Really?"
"Somewhere I can't get to yet," Yang replied. "Somewhere no one can."
"…Is she safe?"
"Yeah, I think she is, Sun. For now, anyway."
"I'm still her friend. I want to help her."
"That, we can agree on. But we can't rush it. We need some things to happen first. One of them being, Vacuo's allegiance."
Sun made a complicated expression. Several conflicting thoughts stirred inside him before he spoke again.
"…I probably shouldn't be telling you this, but Temujin and Minerva were ready to sign a truce with Atlas before you guys got here. Now, they're just trying to get as much out of the deal as possible. And after meeting Emerald, who they apparently like for some reason, they might actually sign off on a legit alliance. Now, what else do you need to save Blake?"
Yang thought for a moment on how much she could trust Sun. There was no doubt in her mind that he and Neptune were ultimately going to report the contents of their discussion to Temujin. It only mattered what she wanted revealed.
"What do you guys know about a Tower?"
.
X
.
On a continent where smoldering heat was the norm, one corner of Vacuo burned with an even hotter hearth than all its other lands. In technical terms, the section would be classified as a district, but those who were true citizens of the Kingdom referred to it as The Black Iron Road.
Many of the smiths along the marketplace prepared Dust rounds and disposable weaponry, but it was the Black Iron Road, where the souls of warriors gathered to have their lives forged into tangible form. Blades, guns, and a tempered steel balance of both were crafted by the most veteran of artisans. Anyone who was anyone, offered patronage to the masters of hammer and anvil that resided there.
The smiths didn't hide their craft. They bent and honed their skills for passerbys to witness. Warriors chose their forgers by their inherent nature. Some made weapons with a delicate touch. Some prioritized destructibility over weight or elegance. No single weapon was ever duplicated. Each was crafted and customized specifically to the patron's preference—a one-of-a-kind soulmate for life.
The Black Iron Road's history dated back to when Faunus were forced to give their lives in protection of mining property from the Grimm. Back then, weapons were very poorly constructed. One reason being refinery owners wanted to cut down on costs. In those days, hiring labor and letting a worker die was cheaper than providing them with proper equipment. The other reason—was so their slaves would never think to use the weapons against them.
Temujin was a prodigy of smithing. She founded the Black Iron Road as a private network of weapon engineers. By linking together sources from multiple refineries, they were able to learn and share their knowledge, in order to increase survivability.
When the woman realized the potential of what she created, the Red Fang was shortly born after. Many would later cite the Faunus uprising's success to the creation of the Black Iron Road, which served as the basis for arming rebels and as a spy network.
After the revolution, the unofficial ruler of Vacuo reserved a whole section of the capital to artisans of the sacred trade. To this day, those who lived on the Black Iron Road carried the legacy Temujin started. Weapons were not simply viewed as tools for defense or occupation. They were extensions of an identity, instruments of a way of life.
And it was this place, Mercury found himself in the melting pot of.
Sweat dripped down his bare chest and back, as furnaces blasted on all sides of him. In one hand, he aimed a chisel, and with the other, he tapped with a hammer. The mold he was creating was a cast for a highly specific part. The very concept would normally be thought of as inefficient anywhere else—save a certain technician residing in Atlas—because it meant it could never be mass produced. But Vacuo's technicians made such molds on a daily basis by the dozens.
No sooner had Mercury finished and wiped the sweat from his brow, did the smith beside him take the mold and start pouring molten liquid into the cast. Another worker passed him a bottle of water and slapped the back of his shoulder.
An indescribable synergy permeated the atmosphere. Even though he was an outsider, the people knew a fellow craftsman when they saw one.
It started when Mercury spotted a group of prosthetic-makers during his exploration. Vacuo being the dangerous place it was, there was no shortage of demand for those requiring artificial limbs.
He watched the smiths work for a while and couldn't stop himself from commenting after a time. At first, he thought they would be reluctant to listen, but they readily took on his advice. The next thing he knew, they were exchanging tradecraft secrets like they had known each other their whole lives.
"You can't build an arm like that," the chief smith argued during their break.
"My friend has one just like it. It takes time, but the performance is off the charts," Mercury replied.
"The performance is the exact problem! It'll overheat!"
"That's why you have to pay attention to the insulators! Let it vent at night, then limit heat exposure during the day. The insulators cover your ass for the rest. It won't overheat unless you're constantly operating on full output."
"Yeah, and what if they have to operate on full output? This is Vacuo, boyo. People gotta work for a living. Fighting Grimm for a full day isn't a rare thing."
"Okay, but if you sacrifice the compact build for a bulkier version, then it starts taking on the wearer. Then, they're effed in a worse way. It takes more maintenance, but a compact model is worth it in the long run."
"Bah! you only say that cause your legs are that way, too."
"Duh. So I know what the hell I'm talking about."
"You're just a stubborn-headed asshole."
"That's rich coming from a boar."
"…"
"…"
The boar Faunus woman, who had tusks protruding the sides of her mouth, gave Mercury a mean look. Then, she socked him hard in the arm.
"Yeah! Rich coming from me! So, what's it say when I call you a stubborn asshole, eh?"
"It means, I'm stubborn, but I'm right, Brigid!"
"Yeah, yeah, yeah. Ya keep tellin' yourself that, scrawny man." The burly woman adjusted her goggles and fixed her bandana.
At that time, a father and son stopped at the front of their tent.
"Oh! If it isn't little Icarus and his father Daed!" Brigid greeted. "Need your wing refitted again, eh? Thought it was about time. You are a growing boy, after all."
"…Yeah," the son muttered with his head down.
The boy couldn't have been older than twelve. A wing behind him was feathered white like a pigeon's while the other was constructed like a steel glider. The clash of aesthetics didn't look pleasing to the eye, and it seemed the boy was all too aware of that fact.
"Come on. Let's get this done, and then it's back to work," the father ordered.
As the child slinked to the nearby stool provided, Mercury couldn't help but turn a harsh eye to the parent. The relationship between the father and son didn't look too well. It struck a deep cord with the young man in a none so savory way.
"Daed here, is one of the head engineers for Vacuo's wall," Brigid explained. "His son's an apprentice."
"That right?" Mercury moved close to the son and examined the prosthetic wing.
"You got any ideas for that? I won't lie, I'm probably the best prosthetic specialist in Vacuo, but making a replacement for a wing isn't exactly a concept I'm familiar with."
"I got a little experience in the area," Mercury answered, while making mental notes. "I can at least mod it to be lighter and have more flex. Make it work more like a real wing than what he's got right now. It'll cost, but I'll do it at a discount."
"No discounts, outsider. Full work for full price," Daed insisted.
Icarus watched Mercury as he started examining his real wing and taking measurements. Something in the way the young man moved sparked the young boy's interest. A hope that had once burned out was relit.
"Um, can you make one as good as the original?" Icarus asked.
"I'll tell you now, it'll never be the same as what you had," Mercury answered truthfully. "But if you put in the effort, it can be better. If you go by raw material and power alone, anything mechanical should outperform anything fleshy—is what a tech I know would say. But… you'll always miss the sensation that comes with it. That emptiness never goes away, kid."
"…Oh." Icarus became downcast for a time. "But, it can be better than the original?"
"Sure, with practice and time. You could probably fly faster than you could before."
"Really?!"
"Enough!" the father tried to interrupt.
But it seemed the child and Mercury weren't listening.
"Then, can you make it so I can do aerial maneuvers?!" Icarus asked excitedly. "I wanna be the fastest flyer around! Faster than any of the Grimm!"
"Heh, yeah. I can do that, kid. My legs kind of work the same way, y'know."
"Please, do it! I'll pay whatever it costs!"
"Slow down. It won't be easy. It's not just about me building it. The rehab and the training's going to depend on you."
"I'll do it! I'll practice every waking hour of my life! Hey, you're a warrior, aren't you? And you can fly? Could you teach me some moves?!"
"I said, that is enough!" Daed roared. This time, his rage put an end to their conversation. At the same time, Mercury narrowed his glare at the father with the sharpness of a knife.
"What's your deal?...Something about your son being able to fly better than he used to bother you? Cause depending on your answer, you and I are gonna have problems."
"What did you say?"
"I want to be a warrior! I want to be a Huntsman!" Icarus declared. "Warriors are the soul and pride of Vacuo. They're the most valued and respected people of our Kingdom. I wanna be lead scout for the hunting parties! But my father wants me to follow in his footsteps and become an engineer."
"It is good, honorable work, boy. You are not one for the life of fighting."
"I can be! You just never wanted me to be anything more than you!"
"What did you say?!"
On instinct, Mercury reacted to Daed's raised voice, and stood between them like a shield. More than a shield, he looked ready to beat down Daed with his own bare hands. A storm god's fury started to swell in the young man's heart.
"Mercury," Brigid's voice rung low and calm. "This matter is between them. You cannot interfere."
"Really, Brig? Alright, I'll do this kid's prosthetics pro bono, then. Doesn't matter to me."
"That is also not acceptable. Ya have to follow the Code; Honor Rewards and Service. Balances have to match."
"Fuck your Code! I'll do what I want!"
"Then, we will take our business elsewhere!" Daed raged. "Only the strongest of the strong can be warriors for Vacuo. My son is not. I will not allow you to fill his mind with false hope."
"And who are you to say what he can or can't be?! You don't get to control his life just cause you're his damn father!"
"Icarus cannot be a warrior!"
"Yeah, because he has to be an engineer. He has to do what you say! He has to be what you say he is, because your word is law! Screw that!"
"No, it is because he is simply not strong enough! How do you think he lost his wing in the first place?!"
"…!"
Mercury stared back to Icarus, who appeared very much like a frightened child.
He had misjudged the situation.
Daed was nothing like his own father. He worried about his son. He could have shown it better, but underneath the harsh exterior, the man legitimately cared for Icarus. Daed knew full well the dangers Vacuo's soldiers faced every day, and the way of life would leave his son nothing but burnt ash by the end of it—no matter what glory or respect came with it.
Dead was still dead, and no father wanted to mourn over the grave of his own son.
Not most, anyway.
"I…I don't—" Mercury stuttered uncontrollably.
He felt ashamed and embarrassed. Two things he didn't experienced often. Not since his childhood days..
"I'm sorry."
.
X
.
Standing within a large fielded circle marked on the ground, Neo and a number of children spread out.
"My turn!" one of them called.
At the signal, every participant within the circle held up a small marble between their fingers. The one who made the call, possessed one of his own and postured his aim.
With a burst of energy likened to an arrow being loosed, his marble shot at another's. The spheres collided with pinpoint accuracy, knocking the marble, and by the rules, the player, out of the circle.
Normally children wouldn't possess such incredible ability, but Vacuo nurtured what some dubbed the outdated forms of Aura Skill. The ability utilized the soul's energy in its rawest forms, reinforcing an object or body part, or heightening some aspect of it. This tradition declined with the increasing reliance on Dust and modern weaponry. Still, few could be found practicing the old ways outside the Kingdom, but in Vacuo the teachings never truly died.
Glass objects being the easiest conduits for Aura, the children made exercising Aura Skill into a marble game. By sharpening their control and speed, they knocked each other's marbles throughout the arena with astounding accuracy. Each vying to be the only one left inside the circle.
Of course, a certain girl, who excelled at both the art and the material dominated the rest of her competition.
Neo stuck her tongue out and closed one eye. She aimed her marble between her thumb and index finger like a gun. A trail of streaking pink knocked one of the children's marbles into another, and that one into another. A chain that eliminated four opponents in a single turn.
The adolescents groaned and threw themselves to the ground in defeat, while the petite girl gave a silent cackle of victory.
A few more games were played, when Neo noticed a certain girl isolated from the rest…
…
"…?"
"Hm? Oh, I was just watching. You're really good."
"…"
"I don't really want to join," the girl with pink deer horns slumped slightly. "I'm not that good. If you're not good, you shouldn't play."
Neo saw the girl roll a small marble in her palm. She knew what it was like to be left out more than most. Children could be very cruel without much reason or meaning to.
"You shouldn't bother with her, Neo!" One of the other children came around. "She can't use her Aura at all. That's why she can't play with us."
Neo immediately gave the boy a chop on the head. She then, observed the girl closely while the other children began to gather around.
I can't sense her Aura.
Maybe, it hasn't been unlocked yet?
It was rare in the other Kingdoms to have one's Aura unlocked at an early age, but it was the reverse in Vacuo. There were also rare cases where it did not manifest despite being unlocked. Neo assumed this girl might be such a case.
She remembered back when her soul was first set free.
A clown of a man patted her head with gentle care. A slight, playful lilt to his voice that reverberated with his twisted nature.
For it is in Darkness, we see Reality.
Through this, we become a Deviant of Madness and Unorthodoxy to rise above all Constructs.
Infinite in distance and unbound by Order.
I release your soul,
And by my wit,
Enlighten thee.
…
Neo wondered if she should perform the same for this girl. The girl's parents probably made their own efforts already, but perhaps their resonance would have some effect.
The petite girl had no passionate words to impart. Neo's hand touched the top of the girl's head and the motion was easily recognized by those around. More children gathered to witness what would happen next.
Neo's irises flickered different colored iterations. She sought something. There was an oddity within this girl, and it was likely the cause of her inability to use Aura.
…
"…nN."
.
X
.
Emerald stood before a humble house built of worn, desert stone. A slip of paper with an address written on it was clutched between her fingertips.
She checked the information against the place of residence a hundred times. There was no mistake. This was where her parents lived.
As if to tell her she stalled long enough, a gust caught the paper in her hands, and swept it down the bustling streets.
"Wonder how I should do this. 'Hey, guys! Remember me? I'm the daughter you ditched! Hahaha! Fuck you!' Or should I take the bleeding-heart route? 'I missed you. Why did you leave me? How could you leave a little girl all alone to fend for herself?!' Who am I, Yang? That's just not my style."
Emerald played around with a few ideas.
Neo would probably just stab them and leave.
Mercury….
Merc wouldn't have come in the first place.
And who knows what Cinder would have done.
…
But what would I do?
Emerald stared longer at the shabby wooden door. The lodgings were a bit below average when compared to the other houses in the city. It was also nearer to the outskirts and the walls.
…
I know what I'd do.
Emerald activated her Semblance.
I'll pretend to be someone else and get a feel for them. Depending on how the situation swings, I'll tell them who I really am.
Easy.
Emerald gathered her courage, stepped up to the door, and knocked on it twice.
Some shuffling could be heard inside before a couple of grey and green colored hair answered the door.
"Hello, sir and madam. I was in the neighborhood and wondered—"
"Emerald?" her father gasped.
"…!"
"Emerald, is that really you?" her mother joined.
"Why?"
Why isn't my Semblance working on them?
Emerald reasserted it again but felt no feedback. In the face of her shocked parents, she couldn't hide her disbelief—or the terrible feeling prickling in the back of her head.
Why can't I hallucinate them?
It's always worked on people who weren't prepared for it.
The only time it's never had any effect is…
…
…
"No."
.
X
.
A strained atmosphere pervaded Brigid's workshop in the wake of Mercury's misunderstanding. He had overstepped his bounds. He projected himself on to Icarus.
Daed was nothing like his father. He wanted his son safe from harm. There was miscommunication between them, but there was no doubt he loved Icarus and would never abuse him. If his son wanted a life removed from engineering, he would resist, but would ultimately relent.
Daed was not Marcus Black.
He was not some washed-up noble clinging to old legacies, who took out his frustrations on a vulnerable child. He was not a drunkard, who forced his son into becoming an assassin—a professional murderer.
"I…"
Mercury was at a loss for words.
Suddenly, a man limped to a stop in front of their tent. He gave a curious look at the situation, before turning to Brigid.
"Is…this a bad time?"
"It's alright, Randle," the smith waved. "In fact, it was a fine time to stop by. Give these fellas some time to cool."
"Uh. Okay…"
The new guest crossed over to Brigid with his crutch. His prosthetic leg did nothing to support his walk cycle, as he finally collapsed into a stool.
"Leg's still not working, eh?"
"Nah. Damn thing's busted! Just suddenly stopped working after an expedition outside the walls. I gave it time to resynch like you said, but nothin'!"
"Yeah? Doesn't look damaged. Mercury, give me your eyes for a bit. You're our leg guy."
"…I don't work for you," he answered.
"C'mon, lad. It'll do you some good, get your head in the right place."
With a stiffness, Mercury separated himself from Icarus and took his tools to analyzing Randle's leg.
…
"Everything's fine? The work's kinda shabby, but it's weird it's not performing at all," he commented.
"OKAY! Guess if ya've got the nerve to talk shit about my life's work, you aren't too bad off." Brigid detached the prosthetic, and handed it to Mercury for a closer look.
He didn't have to scan it twice to tell it was a little worn but still functional. Mercury placed his hands over the adaptors, which connected to the wearer's flesh. He pumped Aura through its circuits, and the artificial limb curled its toes while rotating its ankle accordingly.
What the hell?
There's nothing wrong with it.
Guy must've burnt out his Aura on whatever expedition he was on.
Hm… but even if he had just a little bit, the thing should still work. He's had a day to recover his reserves.
Brigid did a nice job.
The only way it wouldn't work is….
"But that's impossible."
.
X
.
Yang separated from Sun and Neptune, and was on her way to collect Neo before meeting up with Mercury.
After she finished writing her report to Cinder, she activated her scroll's locator app. Her teammates' positions instantly popped up on the screen.
Huh. Emerald's kind of on the outskirts.
Wonder what that's about.
Neo's pretty close by.
Yang continued to make her way down the roads when someone caught her eye. A figure peeking just beyond the slim shadows of an alleyway.
The girl bolted after her. She knew who it was instantly. Yang would've recognized her anywhere.
Down the winding maze of backstreets, she found herself in a rare spot without sunlight. The shade felt cool and easy on the senses. It was also much quieter, with only distant voices to disturb the silence.
"…Blake."
…
"Blake, are you there?"
"sHe'S a MonsTer, YoU knOW?"
The voice came from all around her, and nowhere at all.
"She'S A MOnsteR, anD I CaN't heLP bUt WonDer HOw loNg It wiLL TaKe bEFore yOu ReaLiZe yOU can'T REplacE Me wITh heR."
"Blake!"
"MayBe, i Won'T HaVe tO wAIt lOng."
"Blake, where are you?!"
Yang looked desperately up and down the streets but found them deserted.
…
"I miss you, Yang. We'll meet again. And when we do, we'll be together."
The words left like the last wisps of smoke dissipating an empty room.
"…Blake."
Yang couldn't sense her presence anymore. Her Semblance revealed nothing. She rolled Blake's words over in her head, trying to guess at their meaning.
After taking a few deep breaths, she marched onward. Yang wasn't sure if that was real or some strange product of the Never Realm. Blake could have been possessed by Salem, but some part of her speech rang with the tone of the girl she once knew.
"…What is this, Blake? What's happening to you? And what did you mean?"
…
…
Neo still rested her palm on the small Faunus girl's head. A tremble resonated through her small frame as the child's inner soul was revealed to her—
Or more importantly, a lack thereof.
Neo's irises flickered brown and pink. In one eye, she saw the timid child that reminded her so much of herself in the past. But in the other, was reflected a grotesque horror. A bald-headed bird with bulging eyes and a skull too large for its body. It looked sickly and disturbing.
Neo worked to discern the creature's nature. It would kill the children around them. There was no doubt in her mind, what she touched in her hand was a Grimm.
But a Grimm that could imitate people?
It was unheard of.
"Neo?" the girl asked curiously. "What's wrong?"
Neo couldn't understand. There was genuine concern in the girl's voice, that much was clear. Still, the irrevocable truth held half of her vision. She thought she could be wrong. She thought it had to be a mistake.
…
Ah.
What am I doubting myself for?
Neo blinked once and saw the Grimm with both irises colored pink. The ugly bird was now suspicious. It would act and kill everyone around it—
If Neo didn't kill it first.
She grabbed the "child's" hair, and pulled their chest into her sword. Her thin blade skewered the tiny body like such soft meat. There was a short, rasped breath, followed by a deathly stillness.
From an odd sense of displacement, Neo could hear the echoes of the other children screaming around her. She could only imagine how it looked from the outside. Probably like she went mad and murdered an innocent little girl from their point of view.
A psychotic monster.
That's what they see…
…
It doesn't matter.
It's fi—
Neo looked up and saw Yang staring at her in complete terror.
No…
Why are you here…?
No!
NOOO!
.
X
.
Mercury's survival instinct kicked in before anyone else could react.
The only way the man's prosthetic wouldn't work is if he didn't have an Aura to begin with. But that was impossible for any Human or Faunus. Even normal animals possessed some of it—which left only one conclusion. This thing was neither.
And only one creature in all of Remnant "lived" without a soul or Aura.
Mercury spun on the ball of his right foot, while whipping the other into a spinning roundhouse kick. The steel of his heel connected with "Randle's" jaw and cranked his neck at an unnerving angle. The body fell limply face down from instantaneous death.
.
X
.
Emerald's chest rose and fell rapidly. Sweat drenched all over her skin. Her hands shook as they grasped the guns in her hands. Smoke wafted from their barrels.
Before her, were the corpses of her dead parents littered with bullet holes.
"What the fuck…" Emerald whispered.
"WHAT THE FUCK?!"
Her Semblance was unique in that it only ever worked on people. Try as she might, she never found any success when using it on Grimm. And when Emerald tried harder to hallucinate her so-called parents, their true nature was revealed.
They possessed no soul to hallucinate.
"WHAT THE FUCK IS THIS?!"
Emerald's mind was racing.
They're Grimm?
But they can take imitate people?
Did Temujin plan this?
Why?
…
"WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON?!"
.
X
.
While Temujin contemplated alone in the throne room, Minerva and the Rakis siblings arrived in a hurry.
"Not good news, by the looks of it…"
"It is Team ENMY," Mouse Rakis was the one to speak. "They've discovered the [Cuckoos]."
Temujin's demeanor visibly darkened.
"…How public was the spectacle?"
"Very public. Measures are being taken, but there were countless witnesses."
"I suppose it was only a matter of time. The truth never stays hidden for long in Vacuo."
"What should we do?"
"…Bring Team ENMY in," Temujin ordered. "Also, try to reestablish communications with Professor Oobleck. It seems our time for preparations has finally run out."
The Rakis siblings turned to exit the chamber in a hurry. Only Minerva was left behind.
"What are we going to do, Temujin?" the Headmaster of Shade asked with grave worry.
"I don't know."
The old one never felt her age or the weariness in her bones more than she did at that moment. When she was young, she committed to hard decisions at the snap of her fingers. But perhaps, after knowing true peace and prosperity, her killer decisiveness had dulled somewhat.
"Drastic measures must be taken. We always knew the world would come for us, Minerva. Whether it was the Crusades, or now with Salem and the Alliance. This War, and now a treaty with Atlas. Peh! The fates sure love their theatre."
"Temujin…"
"We will not die. I will make sure of it." Temujin went silent for a tense moment. "But a price must be paid—"
"Or this could spell the end for Vacuo."
.
X
.
Neo could see the truth in Yang's horrified expression. Her partner's thoughts were so clear, like transparent glass. She felt something inside her break. A fear she suppressed for so long, finally realized.
It's happened.
She knows.
She knows I'm a monster.
She's afraid.
She thinks she was wrong about me.
…
Maybe, she was.
"Neo…" Yang approached her slowly.
Don't look at me like that.
"What did you…"
Don't look at me like that!
"Why?!"
I said, DON'T LOOK AT ME!
Yang dodged the cane sword swung towards her with a backstep.
She then, focused on the little girl cradled in Neo's arms. Her Semblance revealed the dead Faunus was not what her appearance suggested. It was a Grimm, not a child.
At the sight, Yang's fears lessened and her suspicions died. Her partner hadn't murdered anyone. But now, she could see something else.
"Neo?"
Neo stared at Yang like she had done something cruel and unforgivable. And she understood what that was.
Even if it was for a sliver of a moment, Yang distrusted her partner. For a moment, she thought the worst of the one she claimed to love.
There was no going back from that.
Yang saw her image reflected in Neo's eyes like a mirror. There was only the truth there—
The truth of a shattered trust.
"Neo… I'm sorry."
Neo shook her head violently.
"Please, believe me! I didn't… I swear, I didn't know!"
Stop it!
"…"
You think I'm a monster just like everyone else!
"I don't!"
And you're right!
I am a monster!
I am a freak!
A venomous fury played about the mute girl's expression that screamed volumes of how she felt. An unrestrained resentment felt towards Yang. Betrayal, sorrow, and regret poured from her soul.
This was always going to happen…
I knew this day would come.
Yang met Neo's hateful glare, and wavered. She would have given anything to rewind the hands of time. To take back that small fraction of doubt she had.
But there was no such thing.
Yang saw her reflection in Neo's eyes once more.
They beheld her with a heart completely broken.
The Damage Already Done.
.
.
.
NOTES
Q: Will Blake show up in this arc?
A: *Shrugs* Probably?
Q: Will your write Team WISE?
A: I got crazy responses from that small note. I wasn't thinking about it. If I do decide to write it, it might be a four-shot at most. I wouldn't expect it though.
-The Black Iron Road idea came from the translation of Temujin's name, which is "black smith" roughly. In addition to Genghis Khan's expansion of the Silk Road.
-Brigid Triath: Based off an Irish Goddess known for healing and smithing(anyone who's played Overwatch recently can probably see this parallel too). Because of the combination, it made sense she would also work with prosthetics, which is its own type of healing. She's also known as a guardian of animals, so more vibes with the Faunus/Vacuo culture. Her boar classification comes from her last name, which is in reference to the King of Boars, who was under her protection.
-Rakis Siblings: References to the major characters of Dune; Paul and Alia Atreides. Don't know how many Dune readers are out there, but yeah. That tradition of Dust intake with food might sound very familiar too.
-Taiga Fei Hung: based on Wong Fei Hung, a folk hero martial artist with a number of movies based off him. Referenced as the "Tiger of Canton" in some works.
-Chain Nai: Did not give him as much time or construction as I'd liked to have(maybe more opportunity in the future). Blue Ring Octopus Faunus. Based on Nai Khanomtom, who's the face of Muay Thai folklore. After being imprisoned by an enemy king, he won his freedom through a series of bouts. After defeating the king's best fighters, the king commented "Every part of the Siamese is blessed with Venom". And Muay Thai being the Art of Eight Limbs, it just clicked for the idea of a badass fighter with chain hand wrappings and a blue-ringed octopus heritage.