Magic.
An ancient power in the world that was lost to time and forgotten by most people. And yet, for those who lived amongst it back then, there were few things more fascinating than the magic of its wielders. For some the power could be used for good, to change lives and bring balance. For others, those with a dark soul use it as a tool for their own evil desires. But out of all the stories in Remnant's cultures there was one fairy tail that everyone loved.
The story of the Four Maidens.
An old Wizard, who lives alone in the mountains, is visited by four sisters, who each in their own unique ways are kind to him. The first, Winter, encourages him to meditate and reflect; the second, Spring, brings him fruit and flowers and revitalizes his garden; the third, Summer, convinces him to step outside and embrace the world; and the fourth, Fall, urges him to be thankful for what he has.
Moved by their kindness, the old man gives the four sisters great powers so that they may travel throughout Remnant continuing to share their gifts. The four sisters promise to return and visit him yearly.
This story was passed down through the cultures of Remnant for centuries. It was told from the tales of an ancient fairy tale to children on holidays and when the weather was perfect. However, despite the legend's popularity no one believed the Four Maidens or Magic to be real. But unbeknownst to everyone, the Maidens were still around to this day. Hidden in their respective spots.
In an isolated valley far away from kingdoms and civilizations, a lone woman rode on her pristine white horse down the dirt road. She wore a long, green hooded cloak on top of an off-white blouse with frill detailing on the shoulders, pleated lower half with a central split, alongside a brown vest that had three straps and golden lining around the collar. She had a dark brown corset with matching pants, as well as a pair of brown thigh-high boots with large cuffs and golden armor plating covering the boots up to her knees.
She also had an amber pendant on her vest, a gold bracer on her left arm, and two gold bracelets on her right wrist. Finally, she had a golden spaulder on her right shoulder as well as a brown shoulder strap with some pouches slung diagonally across her body.
She was Remnant's Fall Maiden, and her name was Amber.
Amber lifted her head up. The cyan sky was clear of clouds and shadow fragments of birds dotted it, flying slowly over the valley. Birds chirped happily in the trees above while the leaves swayed gently on the wind. She closed her eyes, breathing deeply, feeling the breeze flow over her face. She always enjoyed days like this; the warm sun against her skin, the cool breeze in her hair, the birds singing, the blades of grass and leaves dancing through the wind.
In the distance, she heard the sounds of a child sniffling. Curious, Amber opened her eyes to look ahead. A little girl sat curled up on herself, holding a toy bear in her hands. Her hair was black and frizzy, falling messily past her shoulders. The girl looked about four years old. Her skin was pale, save for patches of freckles along her cheeks. She wore a simple outfit consisting of a blue dress with a white undershirt and brown sandals.
Amber dismounted her horse before approaching the crying child. Said child quietly cried as Amber stopped and crouched before her on one knee. As if sensing her presence, the little girl lifted her head and blinked at Amber. Reaching from her back Amber pulled out a fresh red apple which she held out for the child.
The little girl stared at Amber for a moment before reaching towards the apple. With a trembling hand she took it and started munching on it. Tears never leave her reddened watery eyes.
Amber smiled warmly at the girl as she rose from the ground and brushed away the dust on her dress. Right palm rubbed her left arm while glancing to the ground.
"Little one, what're you doing out here all alone?" Amber asked in a soft and a bit motherly tone. The girl's eyes darted towards Amber once again.
"I…I ran away." Her voice trembled, but the words tumbled out quickly. Amber gave the girl a puzzled look.
"From where?" Amber questioned.
"School…" The child answered.
As if piecing together a puzzle piece, Amber somehow understood why the child ran away from school. 'Oh. Poor girl, running away from bullies, I see…'
"Why did you run away?" Amber pressed. The girl hesitated.
"Because… there's this big kid in my class that's always picking on me," she said. "No matter what I do - no matter how hard I try, I can't shake him off; his friends join him—and everyone in the class joins him. He never leaves me alone…."
Amber nodded understandingly. A sense of empathy stirred within her; she understood where she was coming from. In fact, Amber thought that she could relate to the child very well.
"Why," the child said, breaking into Amber's thoughts, "why doesn't he just leave me alone."
Amber hummed and thought for a moment.
'I think I know.'
"Well, answer me. Do you have friends?" Amber inquired. The little girl nodded. "Siblings and parents who love you?"
Another nod.
"Well, there's your answer: he's jealous of you." The little girl blinked at her. "Your family loves you. Your friends care about you; and he wants what you have, but he can't have it. I… hate to be a downer to tell you this sweetie but, well, I don't think they'll ever leave you alone," Amber finished.
The little girl arched a brow. "Who's 'they?'"
"All of those who want what they can't have," Amber explained. "Your potential, intelligence, etc; whoever this bully is, they're not gonna stop six years from now or ten years from now, you'll probably go to the same academy with him and after graduation I promise you sweetie it is all downhill for him."
The little girl frowned at the ground.
"But that's gonna take forever." She murmured.
Amber chuckled. "You'd be surprised how fast time moves."
Silence fell between them for a moment.
"Do you think I could become a huntress?" The child finally asked. "The bully from school told me that I could never become one."
Amber smiled fondly. "I believe anyone could achieve their goals if they set their minds to it." She answered with optimism. "So I say—"
"Sweetie!"
The little girl whipped over her shoulder and saw her parents running towards her from a distance. She turns her head back, and blinked. The woman was gone.
(RWBY)
Power & Responsibility III: The Stars
"When something doesn't feel right, my tail tingles."
- Verne, Over The Edge
(RWBY)
The sound of soda cans clinking in unison filled the air as two young gentlemen sipped their beverages from their respective seats. The atmosphere was convivial and tranquil, with a mixture of lively conversations and laughter. This gathering was a perfect sanctuary for every adolescent to retreat to after a long day of academic pursuits; hours spent scribbling with their pencils, their minds working tirelessly, and some plagued with negative thoughts of potential failure. However, none of those concerns were present here. This was a place of relaxation, where they could converse with their peers and play their roles as they do at home: as children.
Peter Parker stood by Harry's side as he surveyed the surroundings. Harry's abode was truly magnificent; to describe the numerous mansions Peter had seen in photographs and paintings as large would be an understatement compared to the vast and expansive estate before them. The grandeur of the mansion, with its stone walls, reception tables, pillars, and balconies, was reminiscent of the homes of the affluent depicted in literature and comics. This only served to confirm the wealth of Harry's father.
"Wow," Peter breathed. Harry glanced at him.
"I know right." Said Harry with a triumphant grin.
"Your dad owns this place?" Peter asked, glancing at Harry curiously.
"Yup." Harry answered with a nod. "I told you my dad's a billionaire on the way here, didn't I? But get this, I heard from my mom that we're moving to another mansion that is far better than this one; and the best part is that it has a pool—a freaking pool!"
"Wow." Peter was amazed.
"Right." Harry was just as amazed.
Peter turned around to face the party. He observed a cluster of young ladies arranged in a diamond formation around a counter in the kitchen. Their giggles and chatter were barely audible, as the music and other conversations of the adolescents on various subjects drowned out their voices.
Peter blinked and inquired, "So what now?"
Harry placed his hand on Peter's shoulder and replied, "Now, my dear friend, I suggest you enjoy yourself, have a good time, and in the process, make some acquaintances."
Peter turned his gaze towards Harry, his eyebrows raised inquisitively.
"Why should I make friends when I have you?" Peter asked, perplexed.
"Welllll..." Harry started slowly as he was suddenly surrounded by silhouettes of people. "Actuallymyfriendsarehererightnow, gottagohavefun!"
He sprinted past with his mob, leaving Peter spinning in place like a clumsy top.
"Wait! Harry? Harry?! Where are you going? I don't even know anyone here..." he groaned, dizzy and stumbling.
He caught himself in time before his eyes spotted a familiar face. Amidst the group of teens, Peter saw Gwen Stacy sitting on the couch next to her friend Liz Allan. Gwen donned the same clothing she wore from today and yesterday's school. Liz wore a simple yet elegant attire, comprising an orange dress with a white undershirt and brown sandals.
But his gaze was solely focused on Gwen.
He once again found himself lost in her electric blue eyes; a familiar warmth washed over his body and his heart skipped a beat. Peter ran his fingers through his hair and exhaled. His heart along with his genius brain confirmed that it was obvious he had a crush on her. The first ever girl he had a crush on. But the thought of starting a conversation with her was easier said than done; he wasn't really good at talking to girls and with how pretty Gwen was, she was no exception.
Thoughts began to appear in overdrive.
Come on Peter, just go over there and say hi. Just say, 'hey, Gwen.' No, no, not like that! How should I approach this? 'Hello~ Gwen, room for one more?' No! No, that's even worse. I don't talk like that—no one talks like that! Or do they? 'Hello Gwen, I'm Peter: Peter Parker, hahaha.' Seriously? That's my approach? Ugh! Okay, no more stalling just go over there and—
"Parker?"
Peter was pulled out of his thoughts and turned to his left to see Flash Thompson and Kenny McFarlane approaching him. Peter closed his eyes and sighed; he really didn't want to have to deal with them, and they just had to be here of all places.
"Who invited puny Parker here?" Asked Flash, crossing his arms with a smug grin.
"Harry obviously." Kenny answered, rolling his eyes.
Flash glanced up at his giant friend. "Harry invited this wimp?"
"So what if I'm here, Flash." Peter remarked, closing the gap between them.
Flash chuckled with a shake of his head.
"I don't even know what Harry sees you. Like, honestly. Take this cool mansion for example; this place is owned by the richest man in Vale and only the cool people get to come to a party like this." Flash pointed at Peter. "And you are not one of those cool kids. You're just a loser, so why don't you do us a solid and leave."
Peter narrowed his eyes at Flash. He held his tongue, deciding it was better to stay silent instead of rising to the greaseball's petty taunts.
"How about you do yourself a solid, and leave him alone."
Peter blinked, turning to his right and caught his breath when he saw Gwen standing beside him.
Oh my god, Peter thought, she's standing next to me—she's so close to me!
"Can you do that, Flash?" Gwen asked, her voice radiating calm confidence. "Or is your brain too underdeveloped to understand the words that are coming out of my mouth?"
Flash was stunned. None more so than Peter and Kenny. As well as everyone that overheard what Gwen just said.
"Wow." Kenny turned his gaze to Flash. His eyes darted from Gwen to his speechless stunned friend. "She's kinda got you there Flash."
Flash gritted his teeth. A vein popped in his forehead. His blood boiled but he took a breath and spoke.
"You're lucky this girl came to your rescue, puny Parker. But it doesn't change that you are still a loser." Flash turned away with Kenny in tow.
Gwen turned her gaze towards Peter.
"Those boys giving you trouble?" Gwen asked with a hint of concern.
"Oh, well um," Peter rubbed the back of his neck nervously. "Yeah, but it's no big deal. I'm used to it."
"Well, if they ever bother you again let me know. I'll definitely rough 'em up." Gwen said, crossing her arms.
Peter arched a brow at her. "Are you sure? I mean Kenny is a tall guy and—"
Peter's words were cut off by Gwen's fist softly pressed against his cheek. All the while smirking at him with her free hand on her hip.
"It's alright," she reassured him, slightly bopping her fist to Peter's cheek and pulled it away. "I'm a big tough girl. I tie my own laces and everything."
Peter watched Gwen twist her torso and walked away. His eyes blinked as he stared at the girl's swaying ponytail and back.
"Bye bye, cutie-pie." Gwen waved him off.
"C-Cutie-pie?" Peter repeated in a stutter. Heat rose along the back of his nape to his cheeks.
Peter froze where he stood and placed his hand on his chest. He could feel his heart pounding wild against his ribcage; the word 'crush,' was an understatement now. He was in love. And right now he wanted nothing more then to go and talk to her more and—
A faint prickling at the back of his neck suddenly stirred up. The convivial and tranquil atmosphere shifted upon said prickling that increased by seconds. The lively conversations and laughter tuned out, distancing Peter and situating him in a world of silence.
Peter twitched his head from the kitchen, to the couch, and the stairs. Searching for the source but to no avail. His eyes crawled up from the floor to the window. Peter started three steps towards the window. He peered out while squinting his eyes for focus. Despite Vale's lights illuminating the night, It was too dark to see anything.
Peter turned to his right and started towards the main door. Exiting the party without anyone noticing. He walked down the stairs, following whatever the weird prickling on his nape was leading him to. Eventually he stops at a narrow alley where from a distance, he sees a trio of men standing ten feet away. From head to toe the three men were attired in black making them almost impossible to spot in the darkness.
In the center surrounded by said trio a dog Faunus girl was struggling to break free. She wore a simple blue t-shirt, long black jeans, and white sneakers. She had pale skin, chocolate eyes, and chin-length shaggy black hair. Her dog-like ears hung down from both sides of her head which in turn completed her appearance.
"Let me go, you jerks!" The Faunus dog girl shouted.
"Hold still!" One of the men snarled.
Peter was shocked by what he was seeing.
"H-Hey. What're you guys doing?!" Peter wasn't sure it was a wise idea to draw attention to himself, but it was the first thing to pop into his head.
They all stopped and slowly turned their heads to Peter's direction. One of the men clicked their tongues, and the man that held the Faunus dog girl's arm growled.
"Get out of here, kid. This is none of your business!" The man in the middle snapped, crossing his arms.
"Well, with you guys holding her hostage like that it kinda is." Peter glared at the men, standing his ground. Which took Peter by surprise; for some reason something in him was taking charge. One thing was clear though, he couldn't let them hurt an innocent.
The man next to the leader shook his head. "We don't have time for this. I'll deal with him."
The man left his two companions and stride towards Peter.
"I'll give you this kid, you got guts," the man said, striding ominously towards Peter while pounding his fist to his palm. "But I don't do stupid kids with guts; far too much trouble and I'm gonna take great pleasure in knocking you flat on the ground!"
Peter's eyes widened as the man drew closer in each step. In a matter of steps he'll beat him to a pulp. Fresh sweat dampened his clothes. Peter tried to remain calm despite his rapid-fire heartbeat. Both of Peter's bawled fist began to shake. He's never been in a fight before nor does he know how to properly defend himself. Thoughts began to appear as the man drew closer.
Ahh, think, think! Think Peter! Think of what?! I'm about to get my butt kicked by some smuggler and I don't even know how to defend myself. Maybe I should just run… no! I can't just leave her to these guys, so what am I supposed to—
An intense heat rose along the back of his nape to his skull. The tingle returned and began buzzing aggressively.
The giant man pulled his fist back. "You should've left when you have th—"
A shock to Peter, the attacker, the two men and dog Faunus girl, Peter's right arm shot forth and clocked his fist to the man's cheek. The punch was so forceful that it created ripples of air before sending the man flying. Shooting him over his companions and indented his body into the wall. Bricks exploded and fell to the ground upon impact.
Everyone was dumbstruck. None more so than Peter.
Peter lowered his gaze towards his still clenched hand. He could feel adrenaline pulsing within his shaking fist. Peter's eyes grew large as he stared in disbelief for what he did just now.
"How… how did I..?" Peter was at a loss for words.
"Well don't just stand there!." Peter heard the leader shout. "Get him!"
The second thief charged towards Peter. Peter flinched when the heat on his nape intensified. The second thief drew back a fist and tried hitting landing a hit. Only for said hit to meet air. Peter weaved from side to side, dodging all of the thief's punches. Before he could throw another, Peter pressed his left palm to the thief's wrist pushing it aside. Peter raises his rear leg, bending it back upon itself, leaning his upper body in the opposite direction for balance. The leg's muscles were bunched up and the lower leg was chambered. Turning his body around and delivering a quick kick to the thief's face.
The thief flew to the left side and just like his companion, he too was indented into the wall. His head hung low, chin resting against his chest.
Peter clasped his hand over his mouth; he couldn't believe what he had done. His heart was still racing, beating with an intense force against his ribcage. His eyes darted to the last thief still holding the girl's arm. Before Peter could say anything, the thief immediately let go of her and raised his hands in the air.
He stared at Peter with wide eyes. Shaking his hands frantically.
"I give up, you win!"
Thunder clapped through the night sky in a steady rhythm, accompanied by the distant rumble of heavy raindrops falling. The wind was cold but not unbearable. It blew in from the sea and brought with it a light mist, so thick it seemed to be solid. The moon was full and bright as a full moon can be while still being covered by clouds. The forest was illuminated like an oil painting by the faint glow that radiated from the moon and stars overhead.
There were no sounds except for the occasional crunch of leaves underfoot or a bird's call in the distance. In the forest there was only the sound of nature calling out to the world and the occasional hoot of a night owl.
In the isolated forest, far away from civilization, a lone member of the White Fang named Razz runs for his life. Unfortunately, he's the soul survivor of a fifteen man team operational attachment. When he and his team joined the White Fang, they were all so sure of themselves; each one convinced that their mission would be accomplished, that the entire thing wouldn't be derailed by some insignificant setback. They expected success…and then something happened.
The first of their fifteen man platoon had died.
The first man to die died on a full moon. Razz and his team awoke to find his friend missing in action. All they could find left of their comrade was a pile of ragged, torn clothing, shredded flesh, the remnants of his weapon, and a trail of dried blood that led deeper into the wilderness. It happened to another one of their members the following night, and again the night after that. Sometimes they were taken while doing patrols together, other times while they slept.
At that time Raz started to suspect that they were being followed by some man killer. Possibly a Grimm since he and his team had seen a few Beowolfs during their operation. But lately, the Faunus community spoke of a spirit that haunted all of Remnant's forest; a creature that stalked the shadows at night. Raz thought the stories were just urban legends, folklore that kept the superstitious fae on their toes. His friends laughed in agreement from his point of view. No sane person would believe such tales.
But that all changed three nights ago when they saw their killer.
The creature was something Raz had never seen before; nothing he remembered ever seeing before in his wildest nightmares. Due to it only coming out at night It was nearly impossible to spot amongst the darkness. It was fast and terrifyingly quiet. Despite the White Fang's best efforts to fight back, the beast proved clearly to be cunning and vicious. During their first encounter six of Raz's white fang members were slaughtered. He can still hear the cries of agony echoing in his head when he closes his eyes at night, can see the terror in the eyes of every member, their bones cracking beneath the beast's jaws, and the wet rip of organs being torn from his screaming buddies. He has been plagued with nightmares ever since.
Every dreadful night more members of his team were killed, until their number dwindled down to three. Only Raz and the other two were left. One morning on the seventeenth day, Raz woke up to discover the body of one of his last remaining comrades sixty feet away from their campsite. The young man's stomach was eviscerated and his throat had been torn open. Raz hadn't heard a thing, he and his friend slept through the attack. His other friend, his only other remaining companion, was mauled by the same killer.
And now Raz was alone. Running for his life through the forest without any hope for survival or sense of a plan. He pumped his arms and legs in short bursts, hoping somehow that his body would carry him faster than his mind did, praying that his legs would carry him away from this horror. His pale face strained with panic, sweat pouring down his face. Endless trees flashed past him as he ran, occasionally revealing patches of moonlight through the gaps in the branches and leaves littering the path ahead. He felt like he was running through a tunnel with the dense canopy above blocking out even what little moonlight broke through the cover. He pushed himself further, ignoring his fatigue as he forced himself to run faster.
He looked over his shoulder, seeing nothing behind him, but knew the predator was close by. He could feel his heart hammering against his chest and the blood rushing in his ears, the pounding so loud that it drowned out even the constant thunderous crash of the storm. A sudden flash of lightning painted everything in white light and traced with shadow, in that brief moment he saw nothing but outlines of trees, plants, and bushes behind him.
Raz snapped his head back forward, sprinting through the forest, weaving around trees, ducking under low hanging limbs. His chest heaved with exertion and his breath came in short gasps as he pressed harder on his lungs. He looked over his shoulder again just in time when another flash of lightning lit the forest in stark white light for only a moment. In that brief instant he caught sight of a horrifying outline of a creature poking their head out from a tree.
Its bright crimson eyes bore into his own. Raz choked back a scream and quickly faced forward again. His heart beat so rapidly it threatened to burst from his chest cavity. His boot caught something and he stumbled slightly, catching himself before falling off balance. He squinted as rain pecked his eyes through his mask. Through the constant thrum of rain he heard it: a deep growl, followed by rapid panting.
The creature is closing in. Raz shook beneath the icy needles of rain, propelled by his surging adrenaline. His vision blurred and he fought to focus, trying desperately to keep his thoughts clear. A flash of lightning struck close by and Raz jumped, losing his footing. The rain soaked through his clothes and shoes, stinging his bare skin, making every step he took feel like torture. As if he didn't have enough of those already.
Somewhere in the darkness the beast was watching. Raz could feel it. Its eyes burned into the back of his neck as he struggled to pull himself along. It was probably digging its claws into the earth's floor in anticipation. Waiting for the perfect opportunity to pounce.
Raz's chest rose and fell heavily. Sweat rolled down his forehead, trickling into his eyes, blinding him momentarily. He squeezed his eyes shut and focused. He needed to think. He knew he couldn't run anymore; his lungs burned through each step he took. Every muscle aches with exhaustion. His whole body felt like lead as it dragged along the dirt and twigs underfoot.
He needs to hide and hide quickly!
He slowed to a walk, stopping and his head twitched from side to side, searching for anything to shelter himself behind. He looked up at a large tree before him and without thinking he began to climb. He pulled himself upwards until he found a branch about twenty feet above the ground and managed to climb onto it, settling in between its lowest and highest boughs. As he climbed, he pulled his cloak tightly around his body and held it in place with one hand.
Now, all he had to do was sit and wait. And pray to god that the predator wouldn't know how to climb. There was a flash of lightning that briefly cast his surroundings in an eerie bluish light. When the light faded again, Raz glanced around, expecting to see the predator. There wasn't even an outline of a creature near him. The fear and panic that he was feeling dissipated immediately, replaced with a strange calmness and clarity of mind.
After about a minute there was another flash of lightning but he still saw nothing. Still, he didn't move. He doesn't know where the creature is but he knew it was out there somewhere. So he sat still and waited, keeping his breathing even. The seconds ticked by slowly, yet he felt no discomfort whatsoever.
If he just stays here and waits for the night to pass, it'll be safe enough for him to return to the safe camp where his respectful leader Adam is waiting for him. Once he gets back he's packing his things and leaving the White Fang. There was no way Raz would venture back through this forest anymore; he would rather spend the remainder of his life rotting in a cell than endure another night spent inside of these woods.
Damp breath rushed over Raz's neck, pulling him out of his thoughts. He lifted his head and saw black boots on the branch. His eyes crawled up the legs up to the heaving chest and long muscular arms with five-fingered claws, to the neck. Moonlight shone on a majestic mane shining like silver. Raz looked higher and saw the creature's head. its jaws opened and closed, tasting the air. The nostrils flared and caused a puff of smoke to emerge from within and its red eyes stared into Raz's.
A pitiful cry escaped Raz's lips. Urine flowed freely between his legs. There was a flash of lightning and he watched the creature slowly climbing down towards him; it was taking its time. It knew he had nowhere else to go. That knowledge alone frightened Raz beyond measure. Raz's eyes adjusted to the darkness. He saw the legs of the creature standing before him. Raz was petrified with fear; he could no longer comprehend his reality or even think. All he could do was watch as the creature slightly crouched before him and stared back.
The creature's eyes glowed a vibrant red as they narrowed on Raz's form. Its nose barely touches Raz's own. Its breath steamed hot against Raz's face, causing a shiver to race down his spine.
The creature licked its lips.
"Don't worry, It'll be quick. All I want is your blood."
Raz's screams echoed throughout the forest.
It's still a wonder to what lies within the deepest parts in space.
A galaxy, and a sun, and an entire star system of planets – and yet, not one is as dark as those in the depths of this abyss. It isn't just any old galaxy or sun, but rather a collection, like a collection of stars. An entire cluster of them are so large that, from afar, they seem to be floating on their own. In fact, from the outside, it looks almost impossible for there to be a planet around them. The closer you get, however, and look at how small each is – each with its own individual gravitational pull and gravity – the more your curiosity grows. If they are here, why aren't they larger? Why are they all so tiny compared to all the rest?
They are all so close – only a matter of miles away if the stars were aligned perfectly – but then, that would have meant something is wrong. Something should be out there. Not just some random assortment of galaxies, planets, moons, and stars. There should be someone out there, someone who might have been out there before. They should be able to recognize the familiar shapes of the constellations and know where they come from. Someone ought to be looking down on them. Someone should be looking at their home, and knowing what is right under their very feet.
Someone should be…
The only reason that thought had even entered his mind in the first place was because he had gone out one night and stargazed. He had looked up, watching the countless stars above him, and wished that he could make a map of these unknown systems. A way to find out who might have inhabited them.
"Um, Cindy?"
Cindy Moon jumped slightly at the sound of her name being called, turning to face the person who had spoken. "Yeah…what is it?"
"Are you okay? You seemed pretty distracted." Her friend asked.
That was an understatement – she could have been staring off into space for hours at that point. She hadn't realized she had drifted off until she heard her friend ask her if everything was alright, or that there was a chance that she was zoning out while talking to him.
"I'm fine. I think I just zoned out for a bit there. Don't worry about me." Cindy said, giving a small smile, though her expression quickly fell when she turned away from her friend and looked back into the sky again. "What are you doing up anyway?"
"Oh!" Caleb said, glancing down at the book in his hands. "I've been reading. Nothing interesting really. What about you? What are you going to do tomorrow?"
Cindy let out an annoyed sigh. "You're making fun of me, Caleb. We don't have school today, remember?"
Caleb chuckled lightly in response, closing his book. "Sorry. I forgot. But seriously, what'll you do? You can't just sit in a classroom all day, you know."
"Maybe if my parents didn't want me getting involved with all the stupid stuff I do on campus, I wouldn't have to sit through it. Or maybe if they'd let me graduate early, I wouldn't be stuck babysitting everyone who wants to try the most ridiculous shit imaginable." Cindy spat. "If they knew what it took for my grades to go up in class, maybe I could finally be left alone. Maybe then I wouldn't have to deal with dumbasses who act like they're better than everyone else."
Her words caused Caleb's expression to fall slightly, which made Cindy immediately feel bad. Her friend was always trying to help her through whatever she had going on. Sometimes though, she couldn't handle things. Even when she was being serious, Cindy sometimes felt like she needed to say something mean in return.
But now wasn't the time for her to snap at anyone – not Caleb, not Nate or Molly, certainly not Jasmine – or even herself. That would be immature and uncalled for. She had enough issues to handle without adding anything else onto her plate.
Still, she couldn't stop herself from thinking about what would happen next year. She wasn't looking forward to the last two months of highschool, no matter what Caleb said. She wouldn't be ready for college, either; she just had enough left in her savings to support her through high school, and she would only ever be able to afford two years at least.
Not counting college. College. A college full of people she had never met before, studying different subjects than what she was used to. She would probably have trouble finding friends there.
No.
No, Cindy told herself, shaking her head firmly. This isn't the time for that. I need to focus. My future is more important than worrying about how many classes I'll need to take. Besides, if I keep worrying about all of this, nothing will change.
Everything will be okay.
I can't lose control of myself. I'm just stressed, that's all.
As soon as Caleb spoke again, Cindy forced herself to snap out of her thoughts. "Right. So tomorrow's Friday, and we have a big game against the other school. You 'comin?"
Cindy nodded absentmindedly as she gazed across at another cluster of stars. "Yeah. Yeah, I guess so."
"Great! We'll see you there. See ya later!" And Caleb disappeared in a flurry of black clothes and white curls.
"See you tomorrow." Cindy replied quietly, and turned her attention back to the stars. She couldn't quite shake the feeling that there was something she was forgetting. But she couldn't put her finger on it – or rather, she didn't want to put her finger on it. As much as she tried, she couldn't understand why she felt so off. Maybe it was the new feeling of loneliness that had settled itself deep inside her. Or perhaps she was worried about the competition coming up and how much stress it was causing her. After all, there was only one year left until they graduated. Only one year to make it past every hurdle, pass every test, and finally get accepted into a university. Only one year to become a professional, and live a life filled with excitement and joy. And yet, despite everything, she still felt empty. Lonely.
Sad.
Why does this feel like such an anticlimax?
Cindy sighed deeply, shoving her hands into her pockets and leaning over slightly so that she could see Caleb out of the corner of her eye. He was standing on the edge of the railing, his arms crossed against his chest, his eyes closed. Cindy smiled softly at the sight; Caleb always did look so peaceful during star gazing. He never seemed to tire out. He always stayed awake to admire the universe, or to watch the stars. Cindy often found herself wondering how Caleb managed to do that – not get tired, not feel like he had to sleep, not worry about anything. It was nice having a best friend like that. And if she had to admit it, it would have surprised her just how well Caleb had taken everything lately.
Cindy would have never expected Caleb, the guy she thought of as so fragile, to suddenly get over whatever was bothering him and become the caring and concerned friend that he deserved to be. Still, Cindy knew he was capable of doing those things – of helping others out in any way possible without hesitation or judgment. That kind of personality was something Caleb was born with, a trait he shared with his mother and grandmother. That trait had helped him get over some of the rough patches that he had endured in his life, and had allowed him to move past a lot of problems without breaking down completely. Cindy envied Caleb for that.
She had done the exact same thing.
When Cindy was twelve, Caleb had fallen ill. Cindy remembers being at home for dinner when the phone rang, and answering it after picking it up. The moment she heard her brother's voice, he knew it was the end. Her little brother was going to die. After that, the whole family agreed to go together to the hospital. Caleb and his mother went along with them, as well as his father. All of them had tears in their eyes as they stood around her brother's bedside waiting for the doctors to tell them the news. Not long did they get the news, her brother died in his sleep that night.
Cindy shook her head. She shouldn't fill her mind with past tragedies. Cindy continued to gaze at the stars.
Next Chapter - Power & Responsibility IV: Guilt
A/N: You know, when I first heard about Cindy Moon and read bits about her, I was instantly in love; especially learning how her and Peter met and how effective of a team they were since they were bitten by the same spider. Now I'm not gonna reveal who the creature with the red eyes is but they will be someone Peter/Spider-Man will face in the near future. I also wanna confirm from someone's comment that yes, this is all taking place before volume 1 of RWBY.
Also, have any of you seen the gameplay for Spider-Man 2 PS5? I'm so excited for it! Definitely gonna play the day it's released! With all of that said, I'll be taking my leave. Take care my little shimmerings!
