Neo stood alone in Vale. It wasn't hard to get out without anyone seeing her, not with her semblance. She now made her way silently through the streets. Reaper being targeted was all the motivation she needed to think things over carefully. She knew how to get Mimic's attention. The imposter would keep an eye on all of her 'first' sites, so all Neo had to do was pick one and go there. And she knew the perfect place.
She left a note at WBRN dorm explaining herself before she left, of course. She knew Reaper wouldn't be happy, but the only way to draw Mimic out peacefully would be Neo confronting her alone. The multi-colored ex-criminal may be the only person in the entire world safe from the multi-colored pretender. I wonder if Reaper ever felt this way about me while I was stalking her… no matter. I have her now. Mimic's story will end much differently.
Neopolitan turned the corner and entered the alleyway. There was still a massive slice in the dumpster by the back, and Neo could see traces of year-old blood. The small girl walked up to it and recalled the night she was here, so long ago now. So much had transpired since then, and they had gone through so many changes together… Back then she was a vicious criminal with an appetite for destruction. Now, with the help of the woman she met here, she had lightened up to a simple obsessive sociopath with a strong desire for Reaper. Yeah, she knew she was crazy, but so what? At least she accepted it.
"Neopolitan." The voice that spoke was one of awe. It was sickly sweet, almost like a child's, and so very cold. Neo turned to face the one who greeted her, and all her old desires and tendencies for bloodshed quickly rushed to the surface. Mimic stared and smiled, almost in disbelief that she was here, meeting her idol. "I knew you could escape. You can do anything. And together, we will do so much more."
Neo wasn't sure what to expect, and stayed on edge as Mimic approached her. The imposter held out the umbrella. "I… believe this belongs to you. That… Woman… broke it… I'm sorry, I tried to take good care of it."
Neo didn't miss the sudden aggression when Mimic mentioned Reaper. Neo almost took the umbrella, but found she couldn't stand to hold it. Her hand hesitated for a few seconds before withdrawing. Mimic looked to her with desperation in her eyes.
"Oh no, oh no…" Mimic began to panic. "I let her break it… I let her break it and now you're mad… I'm so sorry! I swear I'll make it up to you! I can fix this! Please don't leave!"
The sudden shift in behavior stunned Neo. Until now, Neo assumed this woman was power hungry and obsessed with her, trying to get rid of Reaper so she could steal Neo. That's not the impression Neo had now. The imposter seemed to her to just be another insane criminal in a city apparently full of them. Neo pulled out her scroll and typed a message, not assuming this woman knew sign language. 'Why did you try to kill Reaper?'
"Because… I wanted to help you. I mean, you wouldn't have been there if someone wasn't forcing you, right?" Mimic said as if it was obvious. "No, she had you captive, and I was going to free you, and we would be together. But she broke your weapon and got away… I failed you. I should have trusted you to get out yourself, as you obviously have. Please don't be mad! I'll do anything!"
'You were going to kill Reaper to free me?' Neo asked using the scroll.
"Yes!" Mimic shined, believing she had won her idols forgiveness.
'If you really know me, you know how I feel about Reaper.'
Mimic's smile fell. "But… it makes no sense… you and I… Ahh!" Mimic suddenly gripped her head as if in pain. "No… No! that's not right! It doesn't fit! NEO IS MINE!" Mimic looked back up to Neo. "I'm sorry. I don't want to do this… but they must have brainwashed you… it's the only explanation…" Mimic drew the still intact blade from the umbrellas handle. "I have to bring you back to your senses."
Neo didn't expect things to go this way. She had no weapon, and someone with the same skill as her was about to attack. She almost panicked, until a shadow fell from the sky. A black hooded figure landed in between Neo and Mimic, taking the latter by surprise. But not Neo, who only tapped her foot and glared up at her dark lover. What took you so long?
The figure turned, and red eyes told her Ember was already in control. "Kept you waiting? Well, now we're here." Ember turned to face her opponent. "And you aren't going anywhere, Mimic."
It was Reaper's turn to wake up to the unusual sensation of being in bed alone. She sat up and looked around for Neo. Her eyes fell on the desk, where Detective Black's case file lay along with a note. Reaper rushed to the note in a panic.
She didn't…
"No, Ember. She didn't, Neo is smarter than that." Reaper replied confidently.
I told you she would run off on her own.
"She wouldn't break custody just to face Mimic alone. It's not her style." Reaper picked up the note.
Reaper, I'm sorry. I swiped the file and saw the note. I can't do nothing while she is targeting you. I have a plan, but I had to break custody. She will be watching, and won't show up if she thinks others are with me. She likes using my 'first's'. Well, I'm going to the place where we first met. I'm confident she will meet me there. Neo.
What?
"Told you." Reaper smiled.
I was sure she would…
"Neo isn't stupid. What, did you think this would be more like a movie?" Reaper walked over to Weiss and Blake to shake them awake.
"Reaper?" Weiss awoke slowly. "What's going on?"
"Neo has a plan. She already started it. We're going to catch Mimic today." Were the first words the heiress heard when she woke up.
"What!?" She was wide awake immediately, and furious. She looked around the dorm and saw no Neo. "Uughh… I can already feel the headache…"
The girls got ready quickly, and Weiss and Blake read over the note. "The place she first met you?" Blake asked. "What, the highway?"
"Or maybe the train tracks from Mountain Glenn?" Weiss theorized.
"But she never actually saw her-"
"The alley." Reaper interrupted.
The other two looked at her in confusion. "What alley?" Weiss asked.
"She's not talking about where she first met 'Ruby'. She's talking about where she first met 'Reaper'. Where 'Reaper' was born, Really." The scythe master explained. "An alleyway, in Vale. She recruited me from there and we went to free Torchwick. I took my new name that day."
Blake and Weiss looked over the note again. Weiss looked up and nodded. "All right. Reaper, you and I will go to Neo. Blake, I want you to return Detective Black's case file, and while you're there, tell him what's happening. Hopefully we can keep Mimic there long enough for him to come and pick her up."
"Right." Blake nodded and headed to the door, folder in hand.
"Alright, Reaper." Weiss looked to her. "You know where this alley is. Lead the way."
"NEO IS MINE!... I'm sorry. I don't want to do this… but they must have brainwashed you… it's the only explanation…"
Reaper watched the entire interaction from the rooftops. Mimic attempting to claim Neo was enough to get Reaper angry. Drawing her weapon sent Reaper over the edge. The scythe master jumped, and she was Ember before she hit the ground. Her eyes found Mimic first, who staggered backward from the woman's sudden appearance.
Then she heard the tapping of her impatient lover's foot. She turned and smirked. "Kept you waiting? Well, now we're here. And you aren't going anywhere, Mimic."
Mimic was torn between running and trying to save Neopolitan from the woman who stood between them now. The dark woman unfolding her massive scythe made the decision easy. I can't be of help to Neo if I'm dead. Mimic turned to run, but found herself cut off by a massive wall of ice. Weiss looked down from the rooftop, hesitant to join the fray. Ember is about to fight in a narrow space. I better just stay out of her way.
Mimic turned and readied herself to fight. She had no other choice at this point. Ember swung, and Mimic barely managed to avoid the attack, cart-wheeling over Brutal Thorn's blade. She brought her foot down on Ember's face as she flipped, but soon realized she should have left that opportunity alone. It placed her right in front of the scythe master, who used the backside of her weapon to send her flying back down the alleyway.
She recovered quickly, reaching out with her hand and flipping back onto her feet before she landed. Neo rushed in and attacked, an attack Mimic artfully dodged. The imposter's counter was also dodged by Neo's own skill. Punch, kick, grapple, flip, cartwheel… The two traded blows without actually landing a strike. Dodges, blocks, and reversals aided them both. If Ember didn't know any better, she would have thought they were dancing.
However, Mimic was only copying a style Neo had developed and perfected, and in the end, it proved true. The first hard strike came from Neo's hand to Mimic's gut, and staggered the copycat. It gave Neo the opportunity to turn the tables. She grabbed Mimic successfully and, utilizing a flip of her own, tossed the imposter end over end. As Mimic hit the ground, Neo jumped once more, flipping and building momentum. Just as Mimic's back settled on the concrete, Neo's foot followed up with a heavy gut-stomp.
From the roof, Weiss got a perfect view of the next scene. Mimic stood slowly, her position having returned to being in front of the ice wall. Ember and Neo nodded, devising a plan in their heads. It amazed Weiss that those two (or three?) had such a powerful connection, worked so well together, that they formulated a plan in a silent instant. Ember spun, Neo jumped, and as the smaller girl's feet landed on the blade of the scythe, the taller girl pulled the trigger, catapulting Neo straight to their opponent.
It was too fast for Mimic to react, and the multi-colored ex-criminal slammed into her at high speeds. They tumbled for a second before Neo found her feet. She solidified her stance and threw Mimic, transferring that speed to the imposter. The imposter hit the ice wall with enough force to crack it, and she was harshly reminded of her previous defeat.
There was another gunshot, and Neo teleported away. As the flash died, Mimic saw Ember flying towards her, scythe drawn back and ready to swing. Again, she was reminded of her previous fight as the ice wall shattered with the force she was struck with, and she felt her Aura break. Ember stood over her, glaring at her. The siren of Detective Black's vehicle sounded, and Mimic knew she didn't have the strength to run.
Neo knew too, and her bloodlust from earlier came to call again. She ripped Brutal Thorn out of Ember's hand and charged, swinging it at Mimic. The change happened so fast that Mimic barely raised her hands to try and stop the scythe. Neo's inexperience with the weapon was clear as the blade would have missed in the first place, though it did slice through Mimic's glove and graze her hand. From here, Mimic attempted to hold the blade in place.
Something changed though. Neo didn't take any real notice, but Mimic's eyes appeared to gloss over. She became unfocused. The only thing Neo did notice was the imposter's grip slackened. She thrust the blade forward, striking Mimic with the blunt top and knocking her out. The colorful ex-criminal brought the scythe up again, but this time Ember was there to catch it. Neo kept hold of the handle, ready to finish this, while Ember stood behind her with one hand gripping the shaft near the scythe head.
"Neo, don't kill her." Neo kept her stance, craning her head behind her and glaring at Ember with righteous anger in her eyes."She may deserve it, but don't kill her. She's subdued, and can be arrested, thanks to you. But you broke custody to make that happen. If you kill her now, it could undo everything we worked hard to accomplish. I don't want to lose you, and neither does Reaper."
Ember let go of the blade, and Neo turned her gaze back to Mimic. She brought the scythe down, slamming it into the concrete next to Mimic's head. The imposter herself was left undisturbed. Neo let go of the scythe and looked back to Ember, who was now Reaper again. "I know." Reaper responded to the look on her lover's eyes. "And if she does come after us again, we'll see what happens. But we're huntresses now, both of us. Or at least, training to be. Death can't be our go-to."
Neo nodded, understanding.
Mimic was taken to the Valen Asylum for the Criminally Insane's low security ward. Team WBRN, along with Detective Black, watched her from the glass into her room. She had been changed, her contacts taken out, and her hair had proven to be a wig. Now the blonde haired, blue eyed woman lay in a white gown, and she looked nothing like Neopolitan anymore. "A master of disguise, that one." Weiss commented.
"She never fooled me." Reaper responded.
"Somehow, I feel that doesn't count. I don't think you ever stop staring at Neo." Blake teased.
"I do sometimes!" Reaper defended.
'When Professor Port yells at you for it.' Neo signed.
"Hey, he only did that once. And aren't you supposed to be on my side?" Reaper huffed.
"Excuse me." An older man in a gray suit appeared at the door, cutting the girls off. "Is this the room of the woman known as… 'Mimic'?"
Detective Black looked him over carefully. "It is. You're not a doctor here, though?"
"No, but I am her doctor." The man told them. He approached the window and looked at the girl. "Her name is Chamillia Matild. I've known her for years."
"Matild! I told you it stood for something." Weiss shot.
"Eh, I like Mimic better." Reaper shrugged.
"Isn't that exactly what I warned against?" Weiss crossed her arms and huffed.
"You know her? You're her doctor?" Blake asked.
"Yes and yes." The doctor replied patiently.
"So, you know things, don't you? You can help us understand this situation?" Detective Black asked.
"I can." The doctor answered.
"Then please do."
The doctor sat down on a nearby chair, and gestured the rest to all take seats. "I started treating Matild when her parents were killed. They were not nice people themselves, but they were good parents to her. She loved them. But they were hunted by a rouge Huntsmen, who took a contract to… assassinate them.
"She was still just a child when it happened. She watched her family get torn apart. It's enough to break anybody's mind. Her mind tried to save itself, turn the grief into something else. It accidently activated her Semblance."
"She has a Semblance?" Weiss asked, astonished. "How come we haven't seen it?"
"But you have." The doctor looked through the glass again. "It's a form of empathy link. When she touched the huntsman's weapon, his memories flooded her. Huntsmen and huntresses pour their aura into their weapons to fight. After prolonged usage, a piece of the soul stays with the weapon always. In this way, she touched his soul. As her brain was trying to find a way to cope, it absorbed these memories readily. She managed to kill the man with his own weapon before the change rooted, but it was still too late to save Chamillia herself. That was the first time she… changed.
"When she came to, she essentially was the huntsman now. She knew, somewhere in the back of her mind, that she wasn't the original. Her young mind's desire for her parents transformed into an obsession with finding a parent in him. But he was dead, and she couldn't accept that she killed him. I was a friend to the family, and when I came around to check on them, she was mutilating her father's corpse with the weapon, attempting to exact some form of revenge."
The group looked through the glass with new understanding for the girl behind it. And it was a girl, Reaper now realized. The shape of her face, the curve of her body… "This didn't happen that long ago, did it?"
"No. She was only eight years old at the time." The doctor answered. "Now, she is nearing twelve."
"How many times has she 'changed' then?" Weiss asked.
The doctor sighed. "With this latest incident, four. I have managed to find her before things got bad the other times, and treated her. She always managed to find and separate 'Matild' again. But I lost track of her just before this latest change… I only found her when the police report was made public following her arrest."
The group took in this information. It was Detective Black who spoke up first. "Thank you for the information. I assume you want to be the one to treat her again?"
"Please." The doctor nodded desperately.
"She cannot leave the Asylum. I hope you can find a place to stay in Vale." Black told him.
"I will find one. She will need my help. It's strange… she was doing so well before this incident." The doctor began speaking mostly to himself, arranging his thoughts for his future treatment plans. "She had even taken to wearing gloves… perhaps there was a tear…"
"Well, Neo's weapon looked like an umbrella, and was left behind in an alley. She couldn't have known it was a weapon." Reaper told him.
"Ah, that makes sense then." He nodded. "I am sorry. This is the first time her obsession manifested as a desire to be with the original."
"It's fine… speaking of, Neo, are you going to take your umbrella back?" Reaper asked.
Neo looked through the glass and shook her head. 'Even if you didn't break it, that weapon has too much blood on it now.' She signed. 'This is a new leaf. I want the new, unbloodied weapon.'
Reaper smiled. "Then our work here is done. Let's go home."
Neo was woken by Blake the next morning. Then again by Reaper, before being carried into the shower again. Throughout all the classes, it was almost strange how the next day felt so… normal, following Mimic's arrest. "Your weapon is almost finished! Just a few touches." Reaper promised in the elective. The whole thing made Neo smile. That smile deflated back at WBRN dorm when Weiss showed them a new training schedule.
"What is all this for?" Reaper asked, irritated (as if that was unusual in itself).
"I talked to Glynda today." Weiss told them. "Even with two convicts, we're cleared to fight in the tournament. I'm going to make sure we're ready."
The tournament? Neo found her smile once again.
Here we are! Act 1 is all done with. How did you guys like it? I hope i've done the original justice so far. I've been writing other stories while i've been uploading this, but unfortunately, none of them are upload ready. So my page will be inactive while i write Act 2 to BR2. I hope you guys are ready for the Vytal tournament! So as always, follow, review, and all that good stuff. I love hearing what you guys have to say! See you soon! (hopefully)