Breaking Remnant: Bound by Shadows
Rating: T/M
Series: RWBY
Pairing:
Volume 2: Summer
Summary: Aganju came to Beacon wanting to be treated as equal. Pyrrha wanted to be viewed as a normal girl. Neither of them expected to be that fate would have them meet. Now, they navigate the academy grounds and beyond, with secrets and danger awaiting them at every corner. The alternate timeline takes place just before the start of RWBY volume 1 and AU in the Breaking Remnant series. (Rewrite of RWBY: Shadows of Destiny)
Author's Note:
Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to RWBY... that honor belongs to Rooster Teeth. I do own the rights to my OCs.
Chapter 9
The Land of Darkness; a barren wasteland, with rocky terrain and enormous purple crystals sprouting from the ground. The sky is a blanket of blood covering the area for miles on end. On the ground beneath the crimson cover, Grimm would spawn in large numbers from pools of a viscous, tar-like substance. Above it stood a castle situated in the Land of Darkness; its color scheme showing shades of violets, purples, reddish sky, and black for shadows, matching the world around it.
From within Evernight Castle, Mercury, and Emerald watched in horror as the hellish beasts would crawl out of the goop and begin their one-track journey. Their observation would only come to an end when a raven-haired woman snapped her fingers, calling the pair to her side. They obliged, meeting an irritated Cinder who looked different than she did several months prior.
Her abundant black hair had now been shortened to just above shoulder length with most of it covering the left side of her face, particularly her eye. Where she once wore a stylish dark-red, off-the-shoulders, v-neck mini dress with yellow designs had now given way to a long, dark red dress with one long, wide sleeve hiding her left arm. Behind her hair, she also wore a sort of mask made of glass over her left eye, signaling that she was covering up something for some specific reason; perhaps an injury of sorts?
Even still, she maintained her calm demeanor as she sat at a large table in the conference room, surrounded by three other gentlemen. One was a hulking man with a beard and brown hair, napping on the other end. On her right, another male with long black hair tied in high scorpion's tail squatted in his chair, grinning rather creepily from time to time.
Then there was the dapper gentleman across from her.
"Hmm... Yes. Please keep your... posse in check." The mustached man eloquently warned, amused when the silver-haired boy started toward him only to be halted by the girl. Their names he cared not for as he chuckled to himself. As Cinder eyed her charge, he noticed something that brought him even more delight. "You hear that? Silence. I have half a mind to thank the brats that bested you."
"If I were you, I'd hunt them down," the squatting male added. "...find them, and... well... she took your eye, didn't she?"
His unsettling grin made Cinder want to cringe, a constant reflection of the other one who was there that night; the one who represented what she considered to be the root of failure. Unable to speak, she narrowed her eyes at the lanky man, hoping he'd get the message. His response was only a maniacal laugh. As she tried to maintain her composure, she found it only necessary to relay her thoughts by whispering to Emerald.
"Pathetic. Why did you even-?"
The verbal tirade would come to a halt as the doors creaked open, silencing the room.
Everyone stood up at full attention, a symbol of respect as a woman in a black robe dragging behind her as she stepped inside. At first glance, her appearance would be considered the stuff of children's nightmares as she had deathly pallor skin, with jet black sclerae in her eyes, and glowing crimson irises. Her bleach white hair was tied in a half-bun with six offshoots wrapped together that also suspends several obsidian-colored ornaments.
Her face had dark purple veins that line her face and arms while a black diamond-shaped marking sat in the center of her forehead. All she needed was a distorted and disturbing lullaby and the ambiance for the fear she commanded would be complete.
Sauntering over to the far end of the room, the woman stares out of one of the many windows surrounding her and the others.
"Watts?" her calm and motherly voice drew the gentleman's attention before motioning them to be seated. "Do you find such malignance necessary?"
"I apologize ma'am. I'm not particularly fond of failure."
"Then I see no reason for your cruelty towards young Cinder." she sat down with a patient gaze before a tiny smile began to appear. "She's become our Fall Maiden, destroyed Beacon Tower, and most importantly... killed dear Ozpin. So, I'm curious. To what failures are you referring?"
Arthur Watts cleared his throat. "Well, the girl with the silver eyes..."
"Yes," a deep yet surly voice chimed in. "We've dealt with their kind before. How is it a novice was able to best one of us?"
"My thoughts exactly. Even without her new power, it should have been effortless."
"It is because of the Maiden's power." the pale matriarch interrupted, directing her attention to the silent woman. "Make no mistake, Cinder, you hold the key to our victory. But your newfound strength brings with it a crippling weakness. Which is why you'll remain by my side as we continue your treatment."
Cinder wanted nothing more than to dispute this, but without the ability to speak, she was only glare at the table.
"Dr. Watts. You are to take Cinder's place and meet with our informant in Mistral."
He nodded in agreement. "Very good."
"Tyrian," she shifted her attention to the squatting man next to her. "I want you to continue your hunt for the Spring Maiden."
"Gladly."
"Hazel? I'm sending you to the leader of the White Fang. Adam Taurus has arranged the meeting; the boy continues to prove loyal. Ensure that Sienna Khan feels the same."
The burly man simply nodded. "As you wish."
Before the meeting could conclude, Cinder motioned for Emerald to come closer, causing Watts to raise an eyebrow in curiosity. When she finished whispering, the ghost-skinned woman took notice as well.
"Speak child."
"She wants to know..." Emerald's eyes averted to her safe haven before returning to the woman. "...what about the two?"
"What about them? It seems that this is Cinder's problem, not ours."
Cinder slammed her fist on the table only to be met with the smug grin of her verbal tormentor.
"That's enough..."
The matriarch held her hand up to end the bickering. It was clear to her that the individuals who took residence in Cinder's mind would need to be dealt with if she were to ever truly have the young woman at 100%. The feeling of a chilling cradlesong began to rise again as she figured out a possible solution to things.
"Tyrian?"
"Yes, my lady?"
"Spring can wait. Find the girl that did this to Cinder," He erupted in a fit of deranged giggles as he clapped giddily for his new assignment. "...and bring her to me."
His excitement soon morphed into an annoyed frown, then to disappointment, like a child being told they wouldn't receive dessert before finally settling on an understanding grin of compliance.
"Because of your efforts, Beacon has fallen..." she addressed the group. "...and Haven will be next."
With that said, the meeting was finished. Everyone stood to their feet, ready to tackle their assigned missions. However, Tyrian couldn't resist one last jab at Cinder's expense. As she prepared to leave, she noticed his soft chuckles directed at her, finally seeing that Tyrian was pointing to his left eye mockingly.
"Eye for an eye!" he tittered uncontrollably, soon exploding into an all-out cackle that echoed throughout the room as he sliding down in his seat.
On the Island of Patch, Yang had physically recovered from her injury. Currently, she sat on the couch, boredom clearly taking its toll on the blond girl as she flipped through various channels in an attempt to stave off the dismal mood. To make matters worse, she found herself staring off at a small stack of books, reminding her of her beloved teammate, Blake, who ran off shortly after they were safely in Vale.
At least television would take her focus off of the cat-girl. Right?
"Try as they might, the local huntsman and huntresses can't seem to get a hold of the situation at Beacon Academy." a deep-voiced male announced
*click*
"Though the fail-safes have supported wireless communication within the kingdom, the laws of CCT tower continues to prevent contact with the outside world. Talks with Atlas officials regarding repairs have so far-"
*click*
More and more channels brought the same depressing broadcasts involving the disarray between the kingdoms, reminding Yang of the one word that she felt was tattooed on her forehead at this point: Failure. She continued to channel surf until one report broke her pessimistic demeanor, though not for the better. Though the reporter's words were a blur in her ear, it didn't matter; it was the text that forced her eyes to grow in shock.
White Fang Member, Adam Taurus Present During Beacon Grimm Attack
Shivers rand down every fiber of her being as she observed the image of the man who took her arm; but, it was more than just that. Adam Taurus had taken her pride. Before, she was already fragile after the accidental attack on Mercury Black's leg but, otherwise, Yang considered herself carefree and nearly untouchable.
Now?
Now Yang was staring at the screen, as scared as a wounded animal. It was as if the masked and expressionless photo was staring back into her soul, silently gloating at the deed committed. Her left arm shook like a leaf in the wind, unable to contain the amount of fear slithering around her spirit until... somehow, she managed to break the spell and shut the television off.
"Knock knock!"
She heard the voice of her father, Tai-Yang Xiao-Long fill her ears. She leaned back over the sofa, noticing the upside-down picture of her dad, along with another figure behind him. Each held a decent amount of boxes in their arms as they entered the homestead.
"Hey, dad. Sup, Roxie." she stoically answered.
"Guess what came in today!" her father eagerly announced.
Yang's interest was now piqued as the two set the packages and bags down in the kitchen area.
"What?"
"We can't wait for you to try this..."
Tai returned with an excited Roxanne and set a box on the table. Yang looked at the pair with uncertainty before opening the box. Inside, she saw a silver appendage gleaming under the natural light of the sun outside. It looked amazing and yet, it only served to increase the gnawing in her stomach; a blatant reminder of what she lost.
"For me?"
"I thought I'd have to pull some strings but, you earned this all on your own."
"General Ironwood said he was so proud of what you did back at Beacon. This is brand new, state of the art, Atlas tech!" Roxanne gushed while eyeing the arm.
"Go on! Try it on!"
Yang was at a loss for words. Here were two people caring about her and yet, she still felt this void within her heart. Sure, she was beyond interested in the item sent down from the kingdom of Atlas. But, it wasn't enough to pull her from the shadows that plagued her.
"Maybe later..."
Two words.
Only two words were said yet, the weight of an untold outcry resonated throughout the living room as Tai and Roxanne watched the formerly bright dragon slither away in somber silence. With each step she took, the two felt more and more helpless given the situation.
She stopped and thanked them before heading upstairs, content with distracting her mind with the occasional chore throughout the day Sweeping the upper deck. Getting the mail. Even with the loss of her right limb, Yang could still accomplish things; nothing would stop her.
However, the reality struck when she decided to clean the dishes when her stoic facade ultimately shattered. While setting aside a glass, Yang felt her left arm begin to shake violently.
Then, unable to grab her shaky limb, Yang dropped the glass. As it shattered on the tiled floor, she immediately began to panic, shuffling back into the counter as images of Adam Taurus filled her head. Wide eyes stared off in an anxiety-induced stupor as footsteps rushed into her ears.
"Yang?"
Purple eyes, full of terror, looked over to the kitchen door. There, a worried Roxanne looked at her panicked friend and rushed to her side.
"I-I'm fine..."
It was a lie, but what more could she do? Yang was nothing, if not strong. She was always seen as one of the toughest students. Now? She felt weak; useless for lack of a better word. She felt like a helpless child who couldn't do anything for herself. This was what her mind and heart pressed on her.
Roxanne felt this from her frightened companion, prompting her to open her arms to Yang. It wasn't traditionally her style, but this wasn't a traditional moment.
"Come on. Bring it in..."
Unfortunately, Yang simply walked away, leaving behind a now dejected Roxanne and, unknown to her, a hidden Tai-Yang Xiao Long. When she left the room, he stepped into the kitchen seeing the hurt Roxanne looking back at him. In his eyes rested understanding and empathy. He gave a soft smile, quietly thanking the girl for her attempt.
"I'll clean this up and start on dinner," he said. "I'll call you when it's ready."
"Thanks, Mr. Xiao Long."
As the moon shined bright over the town of Shion, Aganju, and Pyrrha walked through the streets in search of a place to spend the night. Feet aching and stomachs growling, the pair were desperate for something to eat. It'd been a few months since the pair's departure from Vale and thankfully, their search reaped results as they found an inn.
Sadly...
"What do you mean we're not welcome?" Pyrrha gently inquired.
The innkeeper turned an iniquitous scowl toward the vulpine; obviously, it was expected she'd get a cold glare in return but it didn't matter.
"Can you not read the sign?" she pointed at a dingy white paper hanging lazily against the wall that read: No Faunus. "We don't take his kind and if you're with him, then you're not welcome either."
The venomous conviction oozing from the tattooed woman threatened to invoke a reaction from Pyrrha Nikos that was thankfully halted when the young woman felt a hand pulling her arm, forcing the two to leave the establishment.
"I can't believe that woman!" she huffed. "How can people be so ignorant and full of hatred?!"
"Tis the way of the world..."
"But, it's not fair! How can you just walk away and not be upset at this?"
Shrugging, Aganju turned and smiled at his closest confidant.
Expecting some form of response, it was surprising to Pyrrha when the fox chose to leave without so much as a word about the situation. They walked down the street to a nearby store to resupply and after sensing the same vibe from many of the other vendors, the pair were forced to settle on camping out for the night.
With a fire made, Aganju and Pyrrha sat in silence, eating their rations and picking at their main source of light and heat. It was a rather uneventful night until a shriek pierced the night. This was coupled with several more screams that created a melting pot of terror and despair; the perfect blend for an inevitable entity.
Grimm.
Grabbing their weapons, the two raced back to the borough leaving their campsite open for possible looters... or a brigand.
When they arrived, the destruction was far worse than they could've imagined. What once was a decent town teeming with markets and self-sustaining vendors was now a chaotic scene of blaze coated homes and structures surrounded by a chorus of hysterical wails and pleas for help.
"How could this have happened?" the faunus watched in horror at the ominous uproar unfolding.
"I don't know, but we need to make sure the townspeople get to safety!"
They nodded in agreement and flashed a look that told the other to 'be careful' before splitting off to check the damage. While avoiding the traffic of terrified citizens, sure enough, the image of ravenous Grimm of all shapes and forms revealed themselves. Destroying anything in their path, it seemed that the only people around were already dead.
As depressing and horrible as things looked, Aganju kept his focus on the mission at hand. Keeping hidden when needed, his eyes scoured the burning area for anything or anyone that might've been left behind. His ears twitched when he heard a faint cry for help off in the distance. He recognized the voice, rushing forward to reach the source.
He drew Ngaungus and began slashing and hacking at any Grimm unfortunate to find themself in his path. He didn't care how many there were. All that mattered to him was making sure that he reached the person in danger.
When he arrived, he found the image of the tattooed innkeeper who was trying to crawl away from a pack of Beowolf that began to surround her.
Gone was the self-righteous woman, replaced now by a cowering shell of that former arrogance. The snarling beasts licked their lips at their prey as tears ran down her face. The only thing that even afforded her the last few seconds of life was the fact the Grimm would shove one another aside to get the first bite.
However, this would soon give way to the need and hunger for human flesh, prompting the woman to turtle up when the three monsters lunged at her. As she squealed in terror, the expected end appeared... delayed?
"Get up!"
The woman falteringly opened her eyes. The first thing she noticed was that she was shrouded by someone's shadow. Upon closer inspection, she noticed a black vulpine tail swaying behind a rather tall figure. That figure managed to push back one of the Beowolfs and swipe his sword to hold the other two off for the time being.
"It's... you?"
"Do you want to live or do you want to judge?!" he asked, not taking his eyes off of the growling creatures.
"Y-Yes..." she answered meekly.
"THEN RUN!"
The woman nodded and scurried away, freeing up the faunus to activate his power.
If there were other survivors, then he needed to make this quick. As usual, Aganju's eyes glowed bright red while he prepared his attack. What wasn't expected was the image of a woman far off in the distance. Even more surprising, she was surrounded by several other human beings who ran past her, some of which were carrying boxes and barrels.
Bandits?
He tried to call out to her, but the rushing monsters pulled his attention when they charged forward.
"Get out of my way!" he yelled, taking a measured stance.
In one stroke, he destroyed the three Grimm and rushed through the floating ash in hopes of reaching the woman. Surprisingly, she rushed off into the forest with the young fox chasing close behind. She leaped effortlessly into the trees, hopping with feline precision from branch to branch while a normal Aganju followed close behind on the ground.
This game of cat & mouse persisted until the sanguine-eyed boy arrived near a cliff face.
However, there was no sign of the mysterious woman, only the picture of the shattered moon shining above the land below. It was a stark contrast to the burning town behind him, but it did little to calm his nerves. That reason was that while he did see the figure he was chasing, he could pick up her scent, faint as it was.
"Looking for me?"
The deep yet feminine voice caused Aganju to turn around, narrowly dodging a thrust aimed at his neck. He split Nguangus and managed to hold off the relentless assault. As he stayed on the defensive, he noticed the detailed Grimm's mask that perfectly hid her features.
The woman said nothing as she backed away from his offensive attempts. Though his own attacks were swift and precise, the woman was just a step faster than he was, expertly avoiding being cut or stabbed. This didn't sway Aganju as he flared a portion of his power to match her speed. With a leveled playing field, the two clashed under the fragmented moon.
Those eyes...! the woman noted, grateful that her mask hid her shock.
"I don't know who you are..." he grunted, trying desperately to mount some offense. "...but you're making a mistake."
"You're a strong warrior! I can respect that... However," she smirked from behind her cover before vanishing in a shroud of crimson. Alone once more, he swiftly turned around, unsure if the swordswoman was still around. He'd receive his answer in the form of another gateway opening in front of him. From it, the woman kicked him square in the chest knocking him off of the cliff. "...you're not in my league."
The faunus thankfully managed to grab hold of a root sticking along the side of the cliff face. With his semblance now deactivated, he looked up from his position to find himself staring at the woman garbed in a red and black armored dress and long black hair. He could feel the haughtiness radiating from her but, there was something else he picked up; something only he could detect. When she looked down, she noticed how one of his eyes shined like an emerald while the other was bright red.
"Aganju!" The two heard the sound of someone off in the distance, forcing the mysterious thief to retreat.
Drawing her sword, she created another mystic gate but not before glancing back at the hanging boy before stepping through it. Moments later, he found the startled Pyrrha looking over the edge holding out her hand to assist him back to the solid ground above.
"Thanks, Pyrrha..." he wheezed.
"Not a problem. What happened?"
He went on to explain the situation prior to her arrival, earning him a look of concern. Instinctively, she began checking on him, shifting from one spot of his body to another, much to his embarrassment.
"I'm alright, Pyrrha. I didn't get banged up too bad," he chuckled as she finally ceased her inspection.
"Hmmm... Well, then explain this."
She held his face, tracing a small cut that had a little blood struggling to break free. Upon showing him, Pyrrha watched as his ears drooped while he flashed an 'are you serious' face. However, this did little to crack her resolve as her eyes began glistening, yet she continued to glare back at him.
"Pyrrha... It's..." he softened his voice. "I'm sorry if I worried you. I know you're just looking out for me.
Sighing, her stern expression finally began to melt.
"I guess I was being a bit overbearing though; We're huntsmen and danger is just a part of the job. I apologize if I was nagging just now."
With these things settled, for now, Aganju leans in, hugging the girl to which she reciprocated the gesture. Slowly they pulled apart, but not before he places his lips against her forehead, adjusting her headdress to do so. Her cheeks grew flush as a response, made even more evident by the bright moon above.
"I know you still think about the Vytal Festival; Beacon. Penny. Me... But, we won't face this alone. If you ever need to talk about it, don't hesitate, okay?"
Pyrrha smiled gently as they stood to their feet. This time, she initiated a hug.
"Thank you, Agan... I'm very happy to hear you say that."
"I'm... happy you're happy..." he chuckled awkwardly before remembering their reason for being here. "Is the town...?"
"Most of the people were evacuated and only a small part of it was burned down. However, the Grimm were too numerous to keep fighting so I rushed over to try and find you after the people left."
With a nod, Aganju understood and the two began to make their way back to Shion.
By now, the fires weren't as high as before but, it was clear that the damage was done. Smoldering embers had laid claim over the once-proud buildings. One in particular caught Aganju's eye; the inn. The accursed venue that once held a sign of discrimination was now nothing more than a pile of ash, wood, and debris.
A part of him felt satisfaction at the shift in fortune, but he quickly dismissed those thoughts.
Besides, there was something far more important on his mind: The woman he recently faced was far more than just a formidable foe. It was as if she knew his every move before he did and, while he never saw her face, Aganju couldn't shake the feeling that there was something about her; something familiar.
Little did he know, he wasn't alone in that feeling.
Back at Evernight Castle, Cinder sat in the meeting chamber while Emerald & Mercury watched from just outside of the room. At the time, she was struggling against some unseen force though, it was evident that her left arm was where the agony originated. Still, she tried her best to endure the sheer pain as the white-haired woman looked on.
This painful display was the work of the woman, twisting and contorting Cinder's left side as she tried to master the power that was given to her.
"Do you feel it? Don't fight it, girl." Cinder heard her amidst the anguish. "I can sense your trepidation. You must make it dread you..."
The grunts and whimpers soon shifted to soft winces as what sounds like clicking reverberated throughout the room. From the entrance, Mercury and Emerald watched in disgust as what resembled a spiked jellyfish crawled past them slowly. It soon traveled the length of the room, stopping only once it arrived beside its mistress.
She leaned in, listening to whatever it had to say, showing that it was used for communication purposes. It glowed a sickly yellow hue until the woman sat up, sanguine eyes now secured on the Fall Maiden. She then rested her chin along the back of her folded hands.
"Cinder, I am going to ask you this one more time and I expect a clear answer."
The raven-haired woman stared back as if she were a child awaiting a potential punishment.
"Did you kill Ozpin?" The question, direct and blunt, forced Cinder to call upon Emerald. Sadly, this only served to anger the pallid woman. "NO!"
Those blood-red irises burned in rage, stopping the dark-haired girl in her tracks.
To gaze upon them was like staring at the one thing that made Cinder cringe inwardly. It was a reminder of that boy back at Beacon Academy who, despite her powers, not only held his own but nearly defeated her. She would never forget the feeling of desperation that washed over her heart, robbing her of the sure-fire victory that was within her grasp.
Is this the strength you risked so much for, Ella?
Seeing her effort and conflicting gaze, the angered eyes finally returned to a calm yet warning disposition.
"I want to hear you say it..."
As if sensing another presence, Cinder wheezed softly in hopes of getting out her response. That dreadful gaze was a powerful motivator for her to push past the burning feeling in her throat as she worked to form even the slightest hint of words.
"..."
She took an abstruse breath.
"...y..."
Almost there.
"...yes..."
The seconds ticked away, but the satisfaction was achieved as the woman smiled gently at her protege. With the knowledge of Ozpin's death confirmed from the source, there was no longer a need for such outburst again. The last thing she wanted to do was anger her mistress again.
"Reinforce our numbers at Beacon. The relic is there." She informed the tentacled receiver before sending it off.
However, there was still one thing that remained an enigma to her.
While the other around her heard only clicks, she was also informed of the boy. While she could just ask Cinder about him, the girl would still need some time to recover her voice completely. That meant she was left to ponder all that she currently knew for the time being.
One thing that stood out among all other information currently:
His eyes.
Eyes like hers, bloody orbs like hers.
Dark pools filled with evil.
...Just like her...
With a soft but inquisitive gaze, she rubbed her chin. As far as she knew, such a soul was an anomaly to the immortal. In all of her years of life, Salem couldn't fathom just what she was told after Cinder's return. Try as she may, it was as if there was an itch in her mind that she just couldn't scratch. On top of that, it was clear that Ozpin felt the boy was important enough to invite to Beacon in the first place.
None of this made sense...
"What are you planning?"
