"Shh… Don't cry. There's no reason to be sad.
Mommy's never going to leave you, sweetheart. I'll always be there for you… Whenever you feel scared, or lonely… Just know that I'll be with you. Just don't forget that, alright?
…See? No more tears. That wasn't so hard, was it now?
Now, go, Ruby. Make me proud.
…
I love you."
- Summer Rose
Of all the kingdoms in Remnant, Vale was far from the coldest one, but anyone with any knowledge of it would be a fool to deny it suffered from the harshest winters on the planet.
Just a few feet from the walls of its capital raged a blizzard of such intensity that one could barely see past their arm's length or hear anything other than the howling of the wind and snow. It went like that all season long, blocking the city's connection to the rest of the world… Yet that wasn't the most troublesome of its effects.
In the midst of the white storm roamed Grimm of all types, their feral instincts amplified by the almost unnatural fierceness of winter. Tales of brave travelers being ripped to shreds and even of townspeople being eaten at their own homes inside the walls were not uncommon. Every Vale-born feared that one year would prove to be too harsh and their walls would fall under the might of the darkness beyond.
To put things simply… Leaving the warmth and safety within the walls was the task of a madman or a person with a death wish. Yet Ruby was neither of those, or at least so she thought. She was sure some people would disagree with her if they were asked about it.
She took measured steps away from the wall, feeling the snow crunch beneath her boots. Her silver eyes never stopped moving, even as the wind caused her hair to lash against her face like whips. She knew she had to be as focused as she could be if she wished to stay alive – and even more focused if she wanted to be accepted into the Guard.
The first Grimm appeared from behind her, leaping over her head so as to land in front of her. It stood on its hind legs, hunched over just enough for its wolfish red eyes to bear straight into hers. She stopped moving and stared back, betraying no emotion at all.
Then a smile crept on the corner of her lips and she brought her left arm up. Her pistol bashed against the monster's shin, and when she pulled the trigger, it let out a loud noise that was quickly overtaken by the storm. The Grimm screamed and stumbled back, clawing at its wounded face in a desperate attempt of recovery.
Ruby wasted no time in finishing the beast off – her right hand flew to the hilt of her sword, and with one clean motion, she drew it from its scabbard and sliced the Grimm's head off its neck. The rest of the body fell to the ground, slowly dissipating into smoke.
The noise of the shot must have echoed farther than she had expected, for when she looked around her, there were uncountable pairs of red eyes staring at her from behind the snowy veil. At once, the Grimm charged at her, all resembling a cross between wolf and human… a very hideous human. Ruby jumped towards one of them and kicked its head, using the momentum of the impact to propel herself even higher.
As she hovered above the ravenous horde, she pointed her pistol carefully. She unloaded all bullets she had loaded before undertaking the mission, and all of them found their targets and turned them into piles of expanding smoke. With half of them dead, she wasn't in great danger once she landed back on the ground.
The remaining Grimm closed on her, their claws and fangs barely missing her body as she danced around them. Her form was almost a blur, her sword a brief flash of light as it cut through her preys' skin.
When the last of the wolves fell, Ruby lowered her weapons and took a deep breath. Even in the middle of the blizzard she had managed to get herself to sweat. Yet she wasn't exactly tired… Her eyes wandered over the white horizon, hoping to find another beast for her to take down.
She only allowed herself to relax when her mentor neared her. Ozpin held himself as he always did – a hint of a smug smile on his lips, his fingers laced together on top of his wooden cane. A stranger would say he was foolish to wander beyond the walls without a weapon, but Ruby knew him better.
"H-how did I do, Mister Ozpin?" she asked, her eyes widening hopefully as she looked up at him.
"Hmm…" he cast a glance towards one of the dissipating piles of smoke that once had been a Grimm. "Sluggish."
"S-sluggish?!" Ruby's shoulders dropped. "But… But I…"
"Which is to be expected, of course. We are in the middle of a Vale blizzard," Ozpin chuckled at her outraged expression. "Congratulations. Lady Ruby Rose, you are now an honorable member of the Vale Royal Guard."
She wanted to let out a high-pitched squeal at that revelation, then immediately covered her mouth with her hands. Ruby was happy, but she hadn't forgotten whose company she was in. A father he might be to her, but Ozpin was still the High General of Vale.
"Thank you, sir," she said solemnly. "I won't let you down!"
"I know you won't," Ozpin smiled. "Come, Ruby. A banquet should be arranged for this occasion."
"A banquet?!"
"Hmm… Yes, that might be a tad too much. Perhaps only a small, but prestigious, meal."
She wished she had stayed quiet.
Let it be known, from this day forward,
That I shall wear this crown with pride and with sorrow;
That I shall defend my people from the evil from within and without;
That I shall be the only wounded in mine kingdom;
That I shall leave last when the Moon sees fit to welcome us back.
So it is known,
And so it shall be.
- The Oath of Vale
Trade princes from faraway lands; which lords and ladies held the rights to which pastures; the chasing of an escaped criminal… By the Moon, were they all unable to see the blizzard surrounding the city? What use was there to discussing these matters when they couldn't set a foot outside for four months? And, more importantly, why did she have to attend these discussions too?
Weiss glared towards her sister, discreetly enough so that no one else at the round table saw it and found it improper, but long enough so she was noticed by her intended target. Winter did not look away from the merchant she was conversing with, but Weiss saw the spark of annoyance in her eyes. The younger girl smiled lightly and leaned back in her chair, happy that she could accomplish at least that during the tedious meeting.
It was not that she didn't care about the kingdom and its inner workings, but during their current predicament, everything seemed so… pointless. Why negotiate with Atlas when a thousand miles of endless storm separated the two kingdoms? Her sister should be resting – there was nothing that could bother them inside their own walls!
A light chuckle drew Weiss's attention, and she looked to the side hurriedly, realizing that she had not been as subtle as she had thought. In the seat to her right was Lady Summer, wearing a small knowing smile on her lips. She was one of her sister's most trusted advisors, a cunning and experienced woman, despite what her youthful face framed by vibrant red hair seemed to indicate. She had told Weiss many times before that she wasn't as young as she looked, but the princess was sure that was just a long standing joke of hers.
"Tiresome, isn't it?" Summer whispered.
"Indeed. Is there even a point to all of this?" Weiss replied in the same tone, though much more enthusiastically. No one ever dared to speak such things during the meetings' duration, but Summer had always behaved more liberally than the other nobles – and for that, Weiss was thankful.
"Your sister seems to enjoy it well enough. It's easier to look at what's beyond our walls, even if there's a blizzard blocking the view, than at what's within them," Summer leaned closer to Weiss's ear. "Still, don't let a word of what I just said reach her. Winter is a benevolent ruler, but I would prefer to stay as far away from the chopping block as possible."
"We don't have a chopping block," Weiss noted.
"Exactly so, princess. Think positive thoughts!" Summer smiled and readjusted her posture, as if there had been no secret conversation at all.
Weiss muffled a giggle, then resumed her waiting for the meeting to end. Half an hour later and her sister rose from her seat and thanked everyone in the table for their presences, at which point they all started to leave, some not even bothering to hide their sweet relief.
Lady Summer gave Weiss one last smile, bowed to Winter, then exited the room gracefully. The princess sighed and made to follow her, but her sister cleared her throat loudly enough so that she couldn't be ignored.
"Yes, Winter?" Weiss asked, doing her best to conceal her frustration.
"Don't think I didn't notice your behavior at the table, little lady," Winter shook her head disapprovingly. "I know all those talks of commerce and traveling routes seem pointless, but they're not. Not to me, and one day, not to you."
"Sweet Moon. Playing the inheritance card right at the start?" The younger sister crossed her arms. "That surely will better my mood."
"I say what needs to be said. Sooner or later, you'll sit in my throne, and I'd rather you be prepared for it," Winter looked away sorrowfully. "Better prepared than I ever could have been, at least."
Weiss's retort died inside her mouth. Her sister had woken up in a foul mood, it seemed: she rarely ever mentioned the circumstances that led to her ruling.
"I understand, and I'm sorry if I disappointed you." Weiss bowed her head slightly.
"I know you meant no harm," for a moment, it seemed like Winter would smile, but in her eyes sparked a glint of suspicion. "What did Lady Summer have to say that made you giggle, dear sister?"
"Oh… Something about… a chopping block," The princess tapped her foot nervously against the ground. "Really, we were both so tired… We did not bother anyone else, did we?"
"I suppose not," Winter's gaze softened. "You may go."
Weiss turned and started to leave, but stopped at the doorway when her sister called her name one last time. Weiss looked back over her shoulder, wondering what more Winter had to reprimand her about.
"Yes, sister?" She asked, this time not making an effort to be polite.
"Just one more thing," Winter's gaze was fixed on some papers laid before her on the table, but the hand that should be scribbling her signature on them was hovering, still, above them. "I love you."
Weiss just stood there, staring, not knowing how to react. It just wasn't right – since when did her sister bother to say such things with no clear purpose or reason?
The princess faltered, and, not knowing what else to do, left the conference room.
There was something very wrong happening in her kingdom.
"You think us monsters, my noble masters?
Perhaps you are right.
Let us be monsters, then."
- The White Fang
It wasn't the darkness that brought her despair. Not the silence. Not the impossibly small space that she was supposed to fit inside of. No, not even the hopeless waiting…
What brought her despair were the times when she was freed. When her master would open the door to her – the slaves' – room, letting the light of the castle hallways hurt her already damaged vision, and choose her to serve him and his always-constant guests for the night. When she was forced to wear whatever outfit was deemed worthless enough for her. When she had to weave between fat noblemen, serving them drinks and food, and pretend to ignore as they spat on her.
Sweet Moon, she almost relished the moment she was thrown back inside her cage, because at least then, she had the comfort of sleep and silence and darkness. Yet sooner or later, he always came back and picked her.
But no more. The last time had already passed. Oh, yes it had.
Blake would have no more of it.
Her wide smile was covered in darkness as she finally managed to pry a screw from her cage and, after hours of slamming and spinning and stabbing, got the door open and crawled out of the damned prison.
She spared a single look at the direction of the other cages in the room. Guilt and pity hit her in continuous waves, but she had no time to free the other slaves too. Already the risk was too great. Perhaps she was even doing them a favor in not releasing them, for death was the most likely result of her endeavor.
She had no difficulty in getting outside the room, since the door was always unlocked. Blake wasted no time with letting her eyes adjusted to the brightness of the hallways, and instead immediately took to running. That was where her plan ceased to exist; she knew nothing of the castle's layout and where the safest exit point was. She was counting on sheer luck to get her out alive.
To Blake, the world was a spinning blur, a swirling mess of emotion she was desperately trying to free herself from. Yet in truth, she was just one young woman running aimlessly through strange hallways, tears spilling from her eyes all the while.
She almost let out a squeal of joy when she spotted a wide open set of double doors that led to the outside. The guards were too startled by her sudden appearance to stop her from running by them, and as much as they shouted and gave chase, she was too fast and driven to be caught.
Blake only stopped when the master's castle was like a dollhouse in the distance. She kneeled, trying to regain her breath, and as she did, she looked forward. She had descended down a steep incline already, yet she still could see the entirety of Vale below. It was… breathtaking. So many lights coming from the windows of so many households, shining brightly in the darkness of night.
The shattered Moon seemed to be watching her like a guardian. Blake looked up at it, and with tears still wetting her cheeks, smiled and laughed, for she was finally, and truly, free.
[…]For three days and three nights, the Dragon watched what Its children had become, and for three more days and three more night, It howled Its despair and sadness.
On the seventh morning, the Moon shattered. The Dragon's tears fell heavy on Its children, and on the seventh night, It flew back to Its home, leaving behind a sea of sinners. […]
- Words of Remnant: The Shattering
"Sir, I really have to warn you: gimme another drink already, 'cause I got places to go, things to do," Yang leaned forward to glare at the bar owner. ", and, really, I could do these things anywhere, but I don't believe you'd appreciate having your place thrashed beyond repair."
The owner stared at her silently, shivers running up his spine. Beautiful and young that girl might look, but there was something about her that made her threats ring true. Something in her violet eyes, but perhaps he was just trying to find reason wherever he could at that point. Nobody else in the bar said a word about her, and he knew why: they were as scared of her as he was.
She took her drink and spun on her seat to face the rest of the bar. Yang took a gulp and, leaning slightly, elbowed the man to her right.
"So, mate," She said cheerfully, "you got any stories to share?"
"…No." He replied curtly.
"Figures. You are muscly, I'll give you that, but your most exciting stories are probably about arguing with your wife or something," she took another gulp and smiled, "Right?"
He glared at her and moved his seat farther away. Yang rolled her eyes, then looked to the man on her left.
"What about you?"
"Killed an Ursa all by myself!" he boasted, puffing his chest up comically. "Just me and my trusty lance. Got it right in the eye! Screamed like a beast from the deepest hells, but it died nonetheless!"
"…Right," Yang shrugged. "Am I supposed to be impressed? I can do better. Hell, my sister can do better, and she's only sixteen years old."
"Why, you…" the man rose from his seat. "I'll have you know that in my time, I could take on a dozen Grimm alone and come out without a single injury!"
"We can take double that amount," Yang chuckled. "Actually, Ruby can probably do it with one hand tied behind her back."
He growled and swung a fist towards her. She made no effort of dodging, instead letting him connect with her shoulder directly. His face contorted in pain, as if his fingers had met steel, and went stumbling back. Yang got up, laid her drink down casually, and punched the man on the chest. He fell to the ground, unconscious and drooling.
"Oops," Yang grabbed her drink again and took another gulp. "Say, barman, how's the Moon right now?"
"Ten minutes 'til mid-cycle?" he replied cautiously, not wishing to meet the same fate as his injured customer.
"Oh, shit!" the girl almost knocked her drink over the edge of the counter as she backed away from it. "I'll pay you later! I've got a cage to lock myself inside of!"
She almost tore the front door off its hinges in her hurry to get outside. Yang didn't hesitate in taking a turn, running down the streets as if her life depended on it – which wasn't far from the truth, if one were to look at the big picture.
When she finally made it home, the Moon was only a minute or two from reaching the middle of its nightly cycle. She stormed inside the house and ran to the very back of it, where she was happy to find her sister already waiting with the door to her cage open.
"Hey, sis!" Ruby greeted cheerfully. "Can you guess who the newest Royal Guard is?"
"Congratulations!" Yang exclaimed, looking up at the Moon through a crack in the ceiling. "Come on, lock me up already!"
"Fine!" The redhead grumbled under her breath as she closed the door to the cage. She looked up at her sister caringly. "I'll be right here with you. Just don't forget that, alright?"
Yang smiled weakly to her, then went to lean against the farthest possible wall. Her arms shook as she tried to support herself against the stone. Warmth spread through her body, at first like a gentle fire, then suddenly proceeding to a raging inferno. Finally, her eyes went from violet to red, and she was lost.
The only thing she knew was that Ruby was still standing outside the cage, watching serenely and lovingly.
"That's it… just stay calm," her soothing words reached Yang's distant mind. "Good. Good. See? That wasn't so hard, was it now?"
Red like roses floods the streets
Behold and fear, the Reaper's here
White is cold, ill-fated ruler
Her ending storm grows ever near
Black the beast yearns for sweet peace
Yellow beauty hides
Within.
...
Welcome all to my newest story, Of Vale Blood. This concept has been at the back of my mind for quite some time, and since I've now got it pretty fleshed out... Time to unleash it upon the world.
Expect the usuals from me, though I believe this will feel more like a novel than my previous works. You'll get your fix of action, humor, blood, tears, blood, tears, humor!, and blood and tears. Did I mention the blood and tears? Because there will be blood and tears. (You've been warned.)
And yes. Ships will sail, eventually.
I hope you stick around and enjoy what more is to come!
-Zeroan