Heretic notes:
This chapter is like a Christmas/New Year gift/special/whatever!
Since this fic went a bit dark after Arc 1 and I didn't exactly get much of chance to expose on team VLNT as how they were before things got out of hand, this chapter is focused at them.
In the past.
During a holiday.
It may be a bit disappointing for people that wanted to see the rest of Cardin VS Jaune battle, but I will also expose a bit of the future of the fic later.
This chapter also contains OC info, info on Chimaera, about the design and things.
So... It's like this:
[1] - One day in the past of team VLNT
[2] - Team VLNT's design and overall info
[3] - Info on Chimaera and Sins
[4] - The future of Against All Odds
[5] - Small info on team CLMT (Calamity)
[6] - Teaser on Arc 3
[7] - About Against All Odds
[8] - Heretic Notes (lol)
So, control F the portion you wanna go
Well, then! Begin!
[1]
In the past...
Luna was quite happy.
Well, most of the times, she was already happy, but that was mostly due to the fact Vale was a very interesting place as a whole and very relaxing. Not to mention, easy to live at.
She just needed to search a bit in Jammer, find a quest with a high payload and morally right (or at least ambiguously right), do it, give the school its percentage and use the rest of the money as she pleased.
Of course, she also helped her team in theirs and let them face their challenges alone if they wanted. Most of the times, she was only called as an insurance should something beyond them happen. Or should Newton mess up, or should Vlad decide he wanted to do everything alone for the glory and knock some sense into him.
Currently, lying on the sand of the beach while looking to the blue skies, she yawned.
Life at Vale wasn't hard. They really started from zero.
Sure, they had some money, but Vlad wanted to use only as a last resort. In the end, they really didn't need any. They were attacked by bandits before entering the city, they looted the bandits of anything of value they had, and following that went to one of those clubs and bet the money.
Card Counting really helped in that part. Of course the club wouldn't let them get away like that, but it was sort of part of the fun to have a fight on that night to gauge the purebloods.
Luna yawned again. Maybe she should build a sandcastle now? Sandcastles seemed fun, but the structure would be destroyed sooner or later. Not to mention her boyfriend would ruin the fun by trying to build a life-sized castle.
She looked around.
Tracy was wearing a black bikini, mixing chemicals in a table.
In the other side of the table, Newton wore a light green short. His chest exposed revealed the many scars from the incident when Vlad saved his life, but he didn't mind the scars. He actuay liked how they made him look manly.
And those muscles for smithing were quite manly alright...
"Damn..." muttered Luna. However, she made sure the sound of her voice wouldn't travel to their ears.
He was working on some sort of machine that could handle the sand and salty water. Stupid sexy blacksmiths with their urge for dealing with machines.
Finally, by the side of the table the two nerds worked, Vlad was lying on a red net with his wings clouding part of Luna's view, but it was obvious he was reading a book. Probably one of conquest or something and he probably was a at a good part. One of battles or tortures. Probably Impalation, since it was an old practice in his family to impale monsters and some opponents.
He was wearing red shorts and had shaded googles covering his sensitive eyes to the sunlight.
Also, a black fake mustache to make sure people wouldn't realize Jammer's Impaler Vampire was really a faunus.
Luna resisted the urge to laugh. It was a horrible disguise, Newton and Tracy, lacking common sense thought it was great. Well, it wouldn't be a problem if the secret was out. At most, one look in their identification, status as nobles and BAM! Problem solved.
Luna waited a bit. They were still in their little worlds.
Luna looked at the sky. Those birds looked pretty edible. Wait, they were Grimm. Vlad, Newton and Tracy were still in their little worlds.
Luna looked at the sea. Fishing seemed fun, but Newton could accidentaly electrocute them if he got into water with full aura. And going with zero aura meant exposing himself to unnecessary danger. Vlad, Newton and Tracy were still in their little worlds.
'Maybe I should do somethin-' she was about to try and.
"I have finished it!" Vlad closed the book.
"I made it!" Newton smiled at the machine.
"I... I... Well, it may take me a few more minutes" said Tracy.
Luna got up. She was wearing a blue bikini and a blue scarf was covering her mouth and nose to hide her (also because it looked cool. She was like a ninja beach faunus girl... With a scarf!)
"What were you three even doing again?"
Vlad smiled at her. His mustache was so funny it was hard not to laugh.
"I have finished reading a splendid tale of war and love between a slave and a queen".
"Okay" she turned to Newton. "You?"
"I have made this steampunk vest that might help me lock away my powers so we can go the water without me endangering you guys again!"
"Why steampunk?"
"Bacause steampunk is amazing! And also because it will resist the erosion, has a big chance of not short-circuiting to soon and might last three hours before breaking".
Luna sighed.
"Another one that breaks?"
"Yeah, I still can't figure it right. As far as I know, at least my semblance isn't electrokinesis".
"We already know that for months!" She responded before turning to Tracy. "And you?"
"Finally!" Tracy took a potion and rose it to the sun. "I have made a powerful elixir that may help Newton! However, as much as he will still have the protection from his aura, this elixir won't allow him to use it offensively".
"Sounds good to me!" Said Newton.
"And it also may affect your sense of smell for two days. Either that or you will have fever. It is a 49% probability for each".
"And the last two percent?" Asked Vlad.
"It will leave him blind three hours after drinking it until tomorrow".
Newton grabbed the potion.
"All I heard is that we will have at least three hours of fun without me needing to learn how to see with my ears. I'm drinking this!"
As Newton drunk the potion, Luna looked at her teammates.
"What do we do now?"
"Is it not obvious?" Said Vlad. "We will divide the time left - 3 hours - efficiently in fun activities involving water. After that and Newton goes blind, we can try cooking the fish".
Luna saw the sparkle in Tracy's purple eyes. 'Damn' thought the faunus. 'She will totally try to use some sort of newly developed dangerous drug in the fish'.
"Newton!" Shouted Tracy. "Diving gear! Actual fully functional diving gear that won't blow up! Did you bring any?"
"Fishing rods too!" Asked Vlad. "I want to try to fish with those things!"
Newton thought about it.
"Diving gear is in the car, but... no rods".
Luna smashed her fists together.
"Then we will have to use stakes instead!"
And she saw the smiles on Vlad and Tracy. Those supercompetitive dorks...
3 hours later...
There were a few fish grimm on stakes... dying slowly...
And also...
"So many fish!" Shouted Luna upon slashing the meat continuously.
Tracy was cooking the loot. Vlad lit the flames and Newton...
Luna was worried.
"You okay?"
"Yes!" He tried to sniff a fried fish. "It seems the collateral effects went on for my sense of smell".
"Normally it's the lowest probability one from happening".
"Yup. So, what do we do now? How about some activities that native Valean people do?"
"WAIT!" Vlad intervened. "Do not listen to her, Newton. She is doing this to trick her into doing something she wants just for the fun! And, while you would do what she wants anyway, she plans to do it by deceit!"
"He is just mad he fell for it".
"What did you fall for?" Asked Newton.
"She left it implied for me that it is common for Vale males to wake up their girlfriends wearing butler clothes with breakfast in a tray once each two weeks!"
Luna instantly burst out laughing while Tracy said:
"On her defense, I loved the gesture and found you wearing butler clothes to be cute!"
"Wait..." Newton looked at Luna. "That wasn't true?"
Luna laughed out even more.
"You two are just so naïve it's cuter than a pack of puppies!"
"I am not cute" said Newton. "I am a deep person with a dark troubled past covered in scars that probably ran away from a lab!"
"Yeah!" Vlad also went on. "And I am a terrifying dangerous entity that impales opponents and drink their blood!"
"OMG, I know you guys like the rumors about you two, but there is no point in stating it like that in front of me, that ACTUALLY knows you!"
Tracy smiled.
"You have to admit your codenames are amazing. Mine is rather poor in comparison. Mummy of Impossible Defeat is too long for my tastes. I would prefer Undefeatable Mummy or maybe Blood-Stained Mummy. Something more amazing and scary".
"Ugh" muttered Luna. "Can we talk this out after eating the fish? They are begging me!"
"Fine".
"Sounds good to me" agreed Newton. "I can't smell, but they look delicious!"
"Let us eat, then" agreed Vlad.
After eating...
"So" Luna started to speak. "How about this: sometimes you guys wake us dressed like butlers and sometimes me and Tracy wake you two dressed up as maids! I can have Arachne make us the cutest outfits!"
"It's a deal!" Said Newton.
"NEGATIVE!" Shouted Vlad. "I do not need to be awakened nor to have someone bring me food! I am entirely capable to do that on my own".
"Sure" said Luna. "Cause you are a strong and independent Impaler Vampire that don't need no maid. Vlad, it's just to have fun".
"It's humiliating. I refuse to agree on that deal".
"Well" Tracy smiled. "I am afraid you have no say in this, Vlad. I will make sure to wake up before you, dress as a maid and bring you breakfast just for the sake of it!"
"You would not dare!"
"I would and will!"
Luna sighed. They would be in that for a while.
"Newie" she called him.
"Yes?"
"Next time you dress like a butler, wake me up with a good morning kiss"
"Fine by me, but... aren't you the one supposed to wake me up this time?"
"It will take a while before Tracy and I get the clothes".
Newton looked at Tracy and Vlad. They already ceased bickering and drew out their weapons.
"Oh... it seems Vlad will get awakened by a maid tomorrow".
"Gee, put some faith in your leader, will you?"
"You want him to beat Tracy in a not-to-death duel?"
Both looked again at the fighters. Vlad had been disarmed and Tracy tied his hands with her bandages while dragging him to her.
"Congratulations, Vlad" stated the Mummy. "You just got yourself a maid to wake you up" Tracy kissed him on the cheek, leaving a purple lipstick mark while releasing him. "Now it is getting pretty late. Why don't we return to Jammer?"
Vlad sat on the sand.
"This kiss was a humiliating reminder of my defeat..."
"Gee, stop being so overly-dramatic. We came here to have a fun and peace. Not for you to train or something like that".
"Fine".
"Now go pick up your spear and we are going back home! Wait, that spear is really Dracungnir? You brougth the Spear of the Dragon Slaying Maiden to our day out?!"
Vlad seemed worried.
"Well, I thought some sort of situation would develop into monsters appearing out of nowhere, or assassins, or... something like in those stories?"
"Vlad, Hollows from Bleach won't appear out of nowhere just because we went to a beach!"
Newton grabbed the spear.
"Give him some slack, Luna. I'd rather have Dracungnir near us than far from us. Besides, you are also a descendant of the Maiden. Worst come to happen, you can also wield it".
"Yeah, and you are also her descendant technically, Newton. That isn't the point. Just... just..."
'I don't trust that thing' she thought.
"Let's just go home" she said.
An hour later...
At one of Jammer's towers, right at the top was the team's room.
The gray clouded sky could be seen through the window. Since their room was a bit spacious, Newton and Tracy had the necessary space for their hobbies.
And, sometimes, byproducts of their hobbies could also be sold. Of course, the duo wouldn't spread secrets, but there would always be someone wanting to buy a sword or some sort of medicine and for them was good to earn it without killing of destroying once in a while.
Newton was currently in the showers and Tracy went out, leaving Luna and Vlad alone.
"What are you doing?" She asked as Vlad took a feather and started writing.
"Our correspondence has arrived. It is at that table".
"Didn't it arrive yesterday?"
"These are [our] correspondence. From Chimaera. There are a few for me, one for Tracy and two for you".
"What about Newton?" She asked.
Vlad stopped writing.
"There is one supposedly one from his mother as well, but it didn't arrive... yet".
"I see..." Luna walked to the table and grabbed the envelopes that were meant to her. "Why are you writing like that?"
Vlad adjusted his glasses.
"Because it seems Bathory wants to come here and I have to tell her not to. There are also letters from my parents, but none of Orlok, as always. And the Hunchback is quite worried".
"Not that" said Luna smiling. "I meant why are you writing with a feather? There are pens here".
Vlad looked around. Just as Luna said, there was a pack of pens by the side.
"Newton bougth them thinking they were those pens with cameras on them".
"I... see... well, I... might prefer to use a feather!"
"You didn't notice the pens, right?"
"Just read your cursed mail already!"
Luna laughed and opened the message.
It was one from her father, a prestigious Knight and also one of her masters.
Dear daughter.
Luna, if you are reading this, it means you have finally slayed a dragon and that makes me very proud of you. More than I already was.
I remember the days when...
Luna stopped reading. That letter probably was a wrong one sent.
"Vlad, how were those messages sent again? This one seems a bit..."
"Yes, I know" answered the prince. "Most of mine have been written hastily. It seems there was grimm attack on the day they sent the letters and they had to pack them fast".
"Oh... well, it seems like one of those memos my dad used to put here and there in case I did something without him present was mixed into one of those".
"Hahahaha!" Vlad laughed. ''Like that one where he was proud of you learning how to use a computer?''
''Look, I was pretty sure the keyboardd had a trap button! Forget it lemme see another letter''
Luna checked the other envelope. The content was a black letter written in red and the handwriting...
Vladimir, I suppose you are surprised with me writing a letter to you.
I admit our time together had always been short, but recently I have been thinking my actions and words may have led you and many to get a wrong impression of me.
What I am meaning to say is that I understand why you chose to take your time away in Beacon. Sometimes, most people here is unable to understand what drive us and our objectives.
They believe I am some sort of monster and you some sort of chosen one.
However, I know I am not a monster and I believe I have started to understand it more.
You want to prove it to them, right?
You want to...
Luna also stopped reading that letter.
"Oh god..."
"What now?" Asked Vlad.
"It's a letter from Orlok".
Vlad stopped writing and let go of the pen.
"Orlok wrote a letter to you?!"
"No, it seems to have been meant to you. Here, I didn't read it all, but I'm sure it's him".
Vlad took the letter.
Luna watched as his expression constantly changed, from surprise to anger, from anger to calmness. And from calmness to happiness.
Luna smiled.
"Who would have thought, right? Well, I still think he is pretty scary and must have been drunk when he wrote that, but-"
"Well, I believe in every single word here" said Vlad with a smile.
"Seriously?"
He nodded.
"I think I understand him. Orlok does what is needed for us to survive. Most people don't understand, but his violent ways make him a monster to be feared. And while he is feared from the inside, the outside will also be afraid. I can't say I agree with most of his methods, but... they are necessary".
Luna didn't speak. She knew words were unecessary for that situation, until Vlad spoke again:
"I think maybe he has been the one that really really tried to be good ruler, but reality made him go a different path".
"Maybe".
"But" Vlad looked at the letter again. "I believe in him. And I believe should something bad happen to any of us, Orlok would be the first to act".
Luna smiled.
"If you say so".
Vlad put the letter on the table and looked at Luna in the eyes.
"Now, while Tracy and Newton are away, I would like to ask a question: why do you hold anynosity towards Dracungnir?"
Luna opened her eyes wide, but them sighed.
"When and how?"
"I always felt something. It is as if you dislike me wielding it, but then I remembered something: you are not the type to care about this. A spear of the old, dangerous weapon that chooses the user. Now, that was more like it".
Luna smiled.
"There it is. You see, I know it is something I won't know, since I built my armor instead of inheriting, but I can't trust it. Dracungnir has something in it, Vlad".
The prince nodded.
"It is not uncommon the belief that there is some sort of artificial intelligence that models itself on the previous users".
"No, not that. It's something more" Luna's eyes were serious. "I have been thinking... why did it choose you there?"
The memories went back. Newton, Luna and Vlad heavily wounded and the blood-red pilar of light erupted.
On the fall, carved on the ground and broken in three pieces was Dracungnir.
"Why just there? Why not before? It was as if it was testing you."
"People believe it recognized me as-"
"Wrong" Luna shook her head. "You already proved everything. Dracungnir should have reacted far, far before. It's just like Newton's sword and just like Tracy's box. But... I feel something. It's as if... as if..."
Vlad was curious.
"As if what?"
"It's as if it forced you to be the wielder. It wanted. You barely have enough afinity. Using the spear has bigger consequences in you than anyone. To make matters worse, your very body can barely handle it. God, that sword Newton made for you was more cost-efficient than that thing!"
Vlad averted his gaze. Luna continued to speak:
"You talked to it, right? Anyone can do it, so I know have done it too. You know what I'm talking about".
Vlad sighed.
"Fine... It is true. I know the reason. I can talk to it just like any [Sin] user. I already knew of it".
"Then why?"
"She asked me" Vlad's eyes were serious. "I already knew everything, but Dracungir or whatever A.I. is in there asked me to use it. Orlok has 100% affinity, but it preferred me. I don't even have the necessary affinity to use it".
"Why. The hell. Did you agree?! You IDIOT, no wonder you take that much to heal, that thing is damaging you!"
"Well, I could not exactly let that chance go. It isn't just about battling, there are political impacts in using the spear and being recognized. And I felt in it, Luna. It was some sort of... it is similar to Newton. I do not know, but I felt it had to be done. I have to use it to clear the sins of her".
Luna sighed.
"Fine. But there is one thing you should know from me".
"What is it?"
"I know you are crazy for the tournament that's coming against Beacon. Such an opportunity to fight people and blah blah blah" Luna grabbed Vlad by the collar. "I'll trust in your judgement, Vlad. But if I deem you are not ready for what's to come, I won't accept your dangerous strategies. I will bring you back by force".
"Just like one perfect Knight to save the princess, right?" Asked Vlad in a mocking tone.
"No" Luna refused. "Just like your friend that knows better".
Present...
A man with white hair grabbed a guard by the neck and slammed him against a wall.
"You have a pregnant wife and two children. If before next week anyone knows I am the one who took this" he revealed the spear. "I do not promise their safety".
Holding his neck to the point the guard fainted, Orlok left him behind.
Things had to be done. If he didn't manipulate well the aggressive branch of the White Fang he was talking to, problems would arise.
Truth to be told, he couldn't help but respect some of them. Some members clearly believed they were some sort of revolution force. Others were simply terrorits.
Regardless, breaking in those quarters to steal back what was rightfully his would help him acquire a bit of respect with the lowlife branch even though her preferred the honored one.
The prince couldn't be picky, however. He knew he couldn't manipulate those at the top that could think things through.
"You gave me quite the problem" he spoke it to the spear. "I understand you. You really dislike me, right? Dracungnir, you should grow up. I do not mean in a sense to let me use you. I mean it in a sense to stop using my blood for your pitiful dreams. What you did is one of the many butterflies that set the stage for this mess".
Holding the spear to the skies, he continued to talk.
"The next time, I will destroy you. However, as if pains me to admit, you and he have bonded. You were not just marking Vladimir all this time. You were making HIM mark YOU. Lead me to him. Lead me to Vladimir, cursed spear".
Heretic: alright, intermission or interlude or whatever is over!
But you people wouldn't be satisfied just with that, sooo...
Time to do that thing. The info thing. The thing I didn't do before.
I preferred to not do that until they were all in place, but you already know of team VLNT and must want to know about team CLMT.
[2]
Team VLNT: Chimeric Prodigies
They are antithesis to team JNPR, based also in old horror movies creatures. Team VLNT has a "Fake Danger" theme reflected in their personality and traits.
Leader: Vladimir Dracul Tepes/The Prince of Faith/The Impaler Vampire
Info: What can I say that wasn't already? This guy has been based in Dracula and made to be opposite to Jaune. Arrogant yet knaive. Cynical yet dreamful. Weak yet strong.
He is designed to look like a vampire and IS a faunus, but as stated in the story, he has human blood and his faunus heritage has impact in making him less capable of fighting.
His wings can't let him fly without special equipment and his bones are more fragile.
Vlad, Bathory and Orlok share the same mother, but different fathers, which is why their last names differ.
As a trivia: Vlad's faunus side is a fruictiferous bat, which goes with his overall "Fake Danger" theme.
Although he has poor fighting potential, Vlad has great strategical skill and charisma, capable of commanding an army.
Note: although it's true no men died under his command, the price for that was paid with continuous destruction and, in some cases, lost battles. Life was prioritized, not victory.
His title "Faith" is unique to him. Only two other rulers in Chimaera ever received similar titles.
One of those was the Queen of Hope, also known as the Dragon Slaying Maiden, Vlad's ancestor and the first ruler. Dracungnir originally belonged to her.
As shown in the fic, Vlad's fighting style puts emphasis in skill to compensate his lack of strength. His stamina is still a problem, so as the battle drags on, he needs to use more dangerous strategies. Although he can defeat someone in the first fight, the second fight likely will end with his loss as his opponent would have gotten the hang of it. Also, Vlad needs a period of time to recover after each battle due to the strain Dracungnir provokes on him and the hits he purposefully takes for victory
Luna Lycaon/The Silver-Clad Werewolf
A Knight of Chimaera. Luna was designed as anti-Nora.
Powerful and careful, Luna tends to not take her opponents seriously while also keeping caution and employing dirty methods.
She fights while aiming for the weaknesses and isn't above taunting.
Luna's semblance is Decibel Distortion, which allows her to control sound. As a fully trained Knight, she uses this seemingly harmless power to the fullest potential, managing to track down opponents like a sonar, erase sounds and redistribute it.
In combat, one touch from her means defeat; Luna is capable of causing a resonance effect that can destroy weapons, break bones or rob oneself from consciousness.
In addition to a few secondary weapons (as per her Mercenary training), Luna's main weapon of choice is actually an armor - Harbinger in Berserk - which gave the girl her codename.
H.B. boosts her overall parameters. Unlike the rest of her team, her armor isn't inherited, but she built it with help from blacksmiths. While she doesn't receive the advantages from a passed down [Sin], this is compensated by a 100% compatibility, which lessens the strain she receives from H.B.
Luna is perhaps the most normal member of the team aside her status as a knight. She isn't as knaive as the others and tends to have full control of her desires while keeping a cheerful smile on the outside and having fun seeing situations unfold.
As for more info on her, she is a Siberian Husky faunus, keeping in her team's "Fake Danger" theme. As seen in the story, Luna prefers to lessen the damage her people cause if possible, such as warning Weiss of the danger, apologizing and defeating Yang by controlled suffocation instead of risking causing lasting damage.
Luna is also a descendant of the Dragon Slaying Maiden and a distant cousin of Vladimir. In the past, she was also a fianceé candidate for him.
She is based on the Werewolf and her family keeps a "dog related theme" represented in their names and faunus heritage, similar to how Vlad's family take on a vampire theme.
Newton Stein/The Creature of Stein
A blacksmith from Chimaera and anti-Pyrrha.
Newton is quite a talented individual, but is incapable of unleashing his fullest potential, blaming it in the trauma of the day he acquired his scars.
This is however a lie on his part, as Newton is proud of the surpassed challenges of life.
Although young, Newton is very wise and values the bonds among people. He also enjoys overall adventuring.
Newton has electrokinesis as his semblance, manifesting itself as the green sparks he constantly releases.
The Stein family has quite the story in Chimaera, partly as founders of the village and partly as their biggest enemies.
Newton descends from The Necromancer, The Mad Scientist and finally The Vengeful Monster. He also technically descends from The Dragon Slaying Maiden, making him, due to complicated reasons, cousin of Vlad and Luna.
His family takes on themes of scientists and Frankenstein characters. The doctor and the creature, both and singularly.
His main weapon is Positron Hunter, his whipsword. In Competition Moon, Newton also used a scabbard/arm-cannon called Electron Breeder to aid in combat, but Against All Odds Newton didn't build that yet.
Aside from that, Newton doesn't have the same strategical skills as the rest of his team, often lets his emotions get the better of him (he can control his anger, but not his worries) and has the worst combat abilities. He, however, adapted his knowledge of machinery and is useful when dealing with such and computers. Newton is a great hacker and has qualifications that rivalize Mechanics.
Although Newton isn't a faunus, his animal theme would be an electric eel. Positron Hunter being a whipsword is where I let that be.
Tracy Khufu/The Mummy of Impossible Defeat
Although young, Tracy brougth powerful medical advances with her research. An alchemist and perhaps the only "normal" member of team VLNT in terms of combat by a civillian's standard in Chimaera (Vlad and Newton are bellow average while Luna is a knight)
Tracy is anti-Ren, but she wasn't well developed during the story due to the situation. Her normal personality would be playful yet dependable, but since the story only focused on her after the incident, the readers could only see her serious, determined side.
Tracy is maybe the most dangerous member of the team. She is the type of person that can sacrifice the world for a friend. This isn't in the noble or protagonisty-way of "I would choose both" rather it's more like...
If the only way to save someone is killing everyone else, she would start killing by them one by one if needed.
Although she appears to be the most calm, she is actually the member with most serious issues among the team. An undying loyalty and fear for her people rests in her heart, as the alchemist is quite traumatized by the battlefield under the wing of death.
Tracy is, however, capable of focusing herself even in the worst situations; when Vlad stood behind to buy her time, she recurred to Ruby, Ren and Jaune that were near her for help instead of going alone or seeking someone else and losing time. Likewise, when Bathory and Orlok started causing confusion, instead of cheering for them, she saw the danger it was imposing for her homeland.
She is based on The Mummy (duh!) her overall attire and appearance is made to be egyptian-ish. Her animal theme is a scarab beetle, revealed when she uses her weapon by the way the four bandages resemble scarab legs.
Semblance: Metabolical Disruption
Main weapon: Mummy Maker, the box on the back of her waist. MM is more of a passive and support type of gear, adapted for combat through a few generations of Tracy's family. For someone like her, MM extends the range of her semblance and helps in focusing it while also identifying problems.
Tracy, receiving combat training, also learned to use her powers offensively like Luna. This is evidencied by how her opponents start feeling ill and lose their strength.
Tracy's powers are more dangerous on the long term, however, as she can deliver severe lasting damage in a person's organism due to her powers and extensive knowledge about the body. She can permanently afflict a person's immune system and overuse of her healing in a person will lead to it acquiring cancer.
Since such uses wouldn't be efficient in short battles, she does not use it unless in big conflicts, such as attacks over her village to ensure the enemy would lose troops.
Her status as a [Healer] is inaccurate; Tracy has to use a bunch of potions to help into doing that. It's far easier for her to mess up the person than cure since a living body is unstable.
I made her with such restrictions under the thinking that [Healing] would be something either very rare in RWBY or something very overpowered, so her powers are on the gray area, with the girl using dangerous alchemy to help in cures.
Now, for the info on the rest...
[3]
Chimaera - The Impure Domain
Created under the love of a faunus and a human, the first ruler was the Dragon Slaying Maiden, later known as the Queen of Hope.
Chimaera contains quite the abundance of natural resource and Dust, but is plagued by constant Grimm attacks, Industries after the resources and unnatural lifeforms that threaten it.
Not a single citzen is purely human or faunus due to generations of mixing.
Due to the harsh enviroment, Chimaera possess advanced weaponry and all citizens are trained in basic combat since young. The training is harsher for those that will become Knights, since those are tasked in protecting others, not themselves.
Contrary to outside belief, Chimaera is hardly a risk to the kingdoms; what they have in quality can't compete with quantity and should Vale attack they wouldn't win.
The village is a bit medieval in its design and war-like.
[Sin]
The arms developed from the ancient.
A [Sin] will not be merely a conduit for aura, but also an amplifier. However, there will be strains involved with prolonged use, both physically and mentally.
There is a safe affinity margin for a user. Although the weapon may be used without the necessary affinity under certain circunstances, the collateral damage will be bigger.
Vlad while using Dracungnir constanty grew weaker and incapable of clear thinking. Tracy developed more aggressive urges and was very tired after her fighting. Newton, losing to Weiss was rendered unconscious and took days to finally heal even with a talented healer by his side.
[Sin]s are passed down through the family line, but it isn't uncommon for the next generation being incapable of using a previous one, many heirs making their own with the weapons only having users generations later.
A [Sin] built by the user will have 100% affinity while a inherited [Sin] will possess skills imprinted unto them that may help the user's growth.
Newer generations will often achieve deeds that will help the synchrony with the weapon, clearing the regrets of previous users. Vlad and Newton did so through their friendship, contrary to a constant spiral of spilled blood, while Tracy did so through her achievements in research.
[Sin]s have also their own aura and many mysterious functions included. The ability to pierce through aura and to cause lasting damage are on the simple side. The revelation of information witnessed saw in Vlad's "death" is on the other.
Vlad's affinity with Dracungnir is far bellow the 90% safety magin, probably by the 60s
Luna's with Harbinger in Berserk is a solid 100%
Newton's with Positron Hunter is 97%, but his lack of skill and control worsens the strain he receives.
Tracy's affinity with Mummy Maker is 91%, but her knowledge in medicine helps her deal with and lessen the aftereffects of the box.
Bathory's affinity with Dracungnir is 93%, but the spear doesn't acknowledge her.
Orlok's affinity with Dracungnir is a solid 100%, very rare for someone that isn't the original user. The spear has a distinct animosity towards him, which renders him unable of using it.
[4]
Overall info on the fUtUrE!
Arc 3 - Reversed Roles will end in the next chapter.
The few chapters after it will ready the stage for the next arc.
Arc 4 doesn't have a name determined. It will focus more on the past of team CLMT, but will also give insights in what happens in the present. I dunno if it will go back and forth, will be half and half each chapter or whatever.
There will probably be a 5th and 6th arcs, but event progression will determine if there will be more or less. The story was planned since the beginning.
Now, for the [Enemies]
[5]
Team CLMT
This team is just *SWOON*. They are made as antithesis to team RWBY, being the antagonists of their fairytales, but also are based on common Mary Sues of this fandom.
That's right, they are based in Mary Sues. Why?
Because, when you put a Mary Sue protagonist, you can predict where this will go. Even if there are challenges, it's obvious they will be surpassed. In some cases, it's just the author wanting things to happen and manipulating the story around it.
A Mary Sue as an antagonist is *DAMN!* it's just another level. They are characters you can't exactly deal with. That will be ready for what to come and will give trouble for the protagonists.
For example:
ChEsS - based on the evil queen from Snow White, Chad is also based on those smartass OCs that are always right, know everything and are one step ahead of everything. Chad is anti-Weiss, being calm and analytical, while always displaying concern for the team.
A quick thinker and strategical genius, Chad planned a clash between Vale and Chimaera, that being only part of the bigger scheme with many backup plans.
Which won't be told now, since it would be too much of a spoiler.
But here is a spoiler I'll give: Chad's semblance is Chaotic Dissonance. This ability is mostly applied in negating aura.
When Ren was run over by a truck, he was under the effect of that semblance. Chad, however, has planned better uses for it.
Without further ado, the teaser!
[6]
The Fallen Hero was fighting the Ex-Villain.
"Unexpected"
Who would win? The odds were at Jaune, empowered by the curse.
And yet, Cardin already defied Chad's logic by interfering. Would he be able to break the curse of the beast?
"The chances are low... and yet I feel as if this will happen"
Chad mentally analyzed the Chess Board.
As much as Cardin interfered, the situation was under control. A person couldn't be called a good strategist if the unexpected wasn't foreseen.
Cardin fighting Jaune? Distinct, yet it also fell on the group of situations called [Abnormal]. The anomaly of a random person fighting the Black Knight was something Chad saw.
Ruby and Blake would sooner of later lear the truth. Chad bet on the sooner, seeing how things were going since the Dracul interfered, but such [sooner] was still too late.
The White Fang wasn't truly in control of Orlok, merely a small group. Likewise, Bathory only held in her hand a small portion of the Schnee Dust Company. And yet... Es Shade felt that they could do unprecedent damage.
The problem was [they] were wanting more and more. The Dracul siblings actions made [they] crave for more results.
But also made Vale far more vulnerable.
They also made the entire city, and Chimaera, enter a stalemate.
They also made what would take days to acomplish to be possible merely today.
Yes, team CLMT had results to make, but if everything went as planned, those results would happen.
And Chad knew that [If] was the possibility that [Would] happen.
Crime rates, terrorist attacks, authorities busy, Vale and Chimaera clashing. Clockwork right above the city.
Ready.
Everything ready.
And yet, who stood against the CaLaMiTy was merely a bunch of teenagers. Teenagers that could be ignored.
But Chad wouldn't ignore them. There was a possibility of them destroying everything and that possibility would never happen if they could avoid it. Or rather, they would avoid it.
"You are all heroes. Against the odds of the very fate, you are the dark horses that succeed. When the black army is winning the game, with far less pieces you make your comeback. When the world is in danger, you are the ones that somehow save it".
Chad opened the last door and entered.
"And I am the villain. I am the mastermind that builds those obstacles that throw everything in disaray and brings upon destruction".
The mechanism was nearly ready. They were nearly ready. Just a bit more of time. Just a bit more!
"In fairy tales" Chad continued to speak. "You are the ones that win and we are the ones that lose. And I admit, if I lose, it's for the best of everyone. I am the villain. I am the Black King for your White Army..."
Chad's green eyes shone with determination.
"But I refuse to just fall and lose. I also have my dreams. I admit they are selfish. I admit they will cause many deaths. I admit that many will suffer, but..."
Looking at the polished metal, Es Shade saw the very reflection.
"Monsters still have dreams".
Jaune and Cardin - didn't matter. Should Cardin win or Jaune's curse be broken, both would be too tired for a fight against Telka.
Ruby and Blake were coming - they would arrive too late. At most, Ruby could arrive in time, but she would have to fight Telka. Even if Telka was defeated, she would buy the necessary time.
The remainder of teams JNPR and RWBY wouldn't be able to interfere in time.
Should Jammer do something, it would break the fragile balance of powers in the city. Chad could adapt the main plan for that in a few weeks with the notes left for the rest of the team.
The same applied to Beacon.
Should Chimaera act, Vale would fight back and vice-versa. The result would be a city too weak to handle the next strike.
Clockwork's strike.
"We will win" said the Chess Master.
[7]
RWBY: Against All Odds is a remake of a previous fic of mine - RWBY: Competition Moon
Competition Moon was planned to go aws a full story, similar to the beginning of AAO, but diverging with Ravenna's introduction. Vlad would die for real in CM, with Ravenna going insane as a result and becoming the main villain. But I stopped.
RWBY evolved, the world was explored. Things I misunderstood became inaccurate to the point I couldn't just see the story as a divergence from the original one. Somethings were just too wrong and couldn't keep going.
So, I used the ideas I had and started doing AAO. Team VLNT, which were already designed in CM were re-used, but made one year younger. Chimaera, a destroyed village, became a surviving one and etcetera etcetera.
As some people noticed, one thing I try to do is to make things different. I try to stop this cycle of repetitions we see in most stories and do something new, or, if it is to be similar, put it in a different light.
Many of the readers see Cardin as a bully, taken away by their emotions, they just slap him in fics as a villain to get beaten up, but I saw him different. Ozpin probably knows Jaune cheated his way to Beacon, but let Jaune remain. Why? I like to think it's potential.
What about Cardin? He is a bully, but is he just that? Why did he keep Jaune's secret after the whole Forever Fall fiasco? Is it just to make them even or some sort of respect? Would you rather see Cardin be punished for his actions, or would you rather see him pay for them by doing the right thing?
And I put it there. I Reversed their Roles. When Jaune fell for the curse, Cardin became the only one left that could do something. The fateful battle of Jaune VS Cardin that occurs in a bunch of fics happened again. And just like most of those, Jaune is powerful and full of rage. But this time, I bet you people and cheering for the other side.
The OCs I use are another example.
OCs are characters with potential to make the best stories. They fill the role of what we don't have. You know what I mean?
We lack information in RWBY. We have episodes going on and on about battles and giving us teases about a dark plot hidden there, but we aren't given the necessary world-building in the time we need. Say, wouldn't it have been better if we had many of the information we have now introduced to us earlier?
Most of all, we lack characters. We have villains we can count with the fingers of our hands, but we barely know anything about them at all. Cinder is an example of that, why does she practice terrorism? Why want to change society?
Evulz?
Lulz
Revenge?
Or maybe... something more? Maybe even for the greater good due to some sort of twisted morality?
But we don't know that. And OCs can give us that, characters for the roles that we can't use with the ones of the show since we lack information.
Vladimir Tepes was based in Jaune, to be his antithesis. Instead of AAO being a story solely about the OC leader, it became a story where he became one of the many factors that moved the plot. The Disillusioned Vampire brougth on themes that most people don't see:
A cynical reality most of us don't accept.
The truth is, regardless of the reasons, Jaune faked his way to Beacon. He is a good person and trains to become worthy, but is it enough? There are some schools like that, for the entrance, a big number of students do the test where only some will pass. If one student cheats, would him giving his all in the new school forgive him?
If he finds the person that was just one place away from entering and says he cheated, how would the person react?
One thing I know is... most people in this world wouldn't care if the person that did them wrong apologized. And another thing I know is that it's harder to forgive than to avenge.
And the themes go on, impossible challenges, talent vs effort, discrimination...
And finally, the Hero/Villain theme. The Hero of one IS the Villain of another. A war is a conflict with no villains, only victims.
Chimaera has their own set of ''Heroes'' but their heroism puts Vale at risk. What about team CLMT? I bet most of you...
Really wish to see them burn, right?
But I ask you this:
1- Why do you think they are doing what they are doing?
2- Do you really think they are just ''Evil'' and deserve to die?
My dear readers, the tips are there, the hints are on the table. The Chess Board is SET
Remember, this is...
A Tale of Heroes and Villains, and The Dim Line That Separates Them
[8]
Heretic Notes:
Yeah, this has been a bit of Hyrule Historia for something that started as an Omake which ended with a tumblr discussion.
Maybe I'll do this again later or something? I dunno.
It's like a break. A small break while things progress. Stuff has been going a bit fast lately and between Arcs 3 and 4 sh*t will get crazy.
Chad's plan is one that can't be underestimated. In chess, a stalemate is the end. A draw of sorts, but disbalanced in my personal opinion.
However, real life isn't like chess. People aren't pieces and the game doesn't go like that. A stalemate is temporary, all it needs is either time or a spark.
In this case, it's a spark.
You will learn soon enough. There is a reason I exposed Chad's semblance so soon. You shall see.
Also, there are limitations to it, but I'll get to that later. When you lack internet for days, this is the sort of thing that happens.
So, I will give you guys a gift: I already chose the music that I'll use in the next chapter... it is...
Land of Fans and Music 2 - 2 - 33 - The Dance of Oblivion
Happy new christmas/year/classes people!
See you in the next chapter, the conclusion fo the Reversed Roles Arc and the Cardin VS Jaune fight!
Heretic, out!