Analyzing the situation:
Ruby Rose, prodigy of Beacon was in the Scrapyard fighting Telka and Mary.
As much as the situation seemed unfavorable... something was disconcerning. What was it? Potential? Hope? Unpredictability? Or... something else?
''Stop reading those stories already!''
''But brother...''
''But nothing! I already told you to stop reading those fairy tales! They are just meaningless hope. Stories to build soldiers. So stop reading them''
'Fairy tales... can it be... is there something I may be missing?'
As much as Ruby had been wounded, with some aura lost from the attacks and to reach the location fast enough, one could say she was the one that had the actual advantage. She could beat Telka in combat and Mary was already weary from a fight with Pyrrha Nikos. It was a small possibility, but heroes always made the impossible possible.
It was disconcerning. Chad still felt, a sixth sense activating and screaming over and over ''She will win''. ''She will beat them''. ''She will somehow ruin everything''.
What was it? What was it that she could do?
It didn't matter. She had potential to do something. Chad had to act, the heroine needed to be stopped at all costs. She needed to be dragged away from the battlefield with her emotions in check and without a battle occurring.
And it was just as that conclusion was reached... that a line from an old book was remembered:
'' Even a single look from one of these fighters could strike a Grimm down.''
A chill ran down Chad's spine. An old book that could be barely remembered. A little girl was forbidden from reading it, yet still did.
'Of course!' Chad realized. 'Just as Jaune Arc is the descendant of the that knight that dressed as a man... just as the Chimaerians descend from dangerous warriors branded as monsters, Ruby Rose descends from someone else! The warriors with Silver Eyes!'
With eyes wide open, the Chess Master quickly realized what was happening.
''She is right above us in the scrapyard... If the fairy tale is real and she is somehow able to waken her powers now, which is essentially the moment she will need the most, everything will be rendered useless!''
Meanwhile...
Luna was lying in a bed with a laptop in the ground.
''Alright, Tracy. You two will arrive soon enough. I will need to close the call for now. Something important is happening''.
''Understood'' her friend answered.
As soon as Luna closed the laptop, a voice from the darkness muttered:
''You are skilled''.
The faunus girl smiled.
''I'm flattered. So, Prince of Chaos, what is it you want from me?''
Darkness gathered in the room. The shadow dispersed and standing in front of her was him, dressed in black tuxedo, wearing a red cape.
Orlok aproached and, before Luna could understand what was going on, his punch hit her stomach.
''Gah!'' She couldn't react fast enough.
The result from the last battle left her like that, her entire body couldn't fight like normally. The skills Orlok used in her caused this type of damage and could only be healed by time or...
''To... think...'' Luna started to get up from bed. ''You could... with a punch... get rid of... all residual energy and... also fix what was wrong in my body...''
Yes, now she was starting to feel better already. The stomach hurt as if run over by a truck, but the rest of her body felt like pipes cleansed from debris. Water now flowed normally. Her strength was quickly returning.
''Skills are not always meant to be used to kill'' answered the prince. ''Most of the times, to save a life is not to kill another''.
''Alright...'' Luna sat down in the bed. ''Orlok... I am going to the deduction that we are allies and can act happily like friends and stuff... now, if I'm right, it means you realized we realized the location of the enemies' base and want to help us. Or, situation two: want to barge right away in there. Or, situation three: need me for something''.
''Situation three'' he responded. ''However, situation two is quite tempting''.
''Ok, what do you need me for?''
Darkness gathered in Orlok's hand and from it, she came out. Three meters long and deadly. A weapon of the ancients, one Luna would be able to recognize.
''First, I am giving this to you for safekeeping. I cannnot accept my brother using this anymore and will develop a better weapon for him asap. However, if it comes to it, you three will probably reach him faster and he may need this''.
Luna grabbed the spear and she, for a second, felt as if she was connected with them; Vlad, Newton and Tracy. Her closest friends.
''Dracungnir...''
''Now'' Orlok continued to speak. ''Tracy is intelligent enough to judge and predict the situation. If it comes to something that they are not capable of handling, they will flee''.
''You are trusting her too much, dude''.
''You refer to her as if she was a different person, yet in the span of a small battle, she acquired wisdom. Maybe she will return for the person you refer in a few days, but the Tracy of now has in her mind engraved the fear of a merciless opponent''.
''Ugh... fiiiine! You are being booooring. Look, I admit I had the wrong image of you. My new image is that you put up this fearsome act for some deep, meaningful purpose that I can't care less right now. Just like Vlad''.
Orlok flinched in surprise. A small reaction, but something that Luna could have seen. 'Guess Tracy was right' thought the girl. 'Guess, in the end, he is more similar to his siblings than we imagined'.
''Very well... I need you with me in Beacon. I need to understand the structure of the academy. After that, I will question the Headmaster and then I will go help you two in your investigations.''
''Kay. Also, in the way I will tell you what we have gathered and stuff''.
Chad was thinking and fast.
'Alright, this plan is set. Ruby Rose will be forced away from the field. as soon as that happen...'
''Everything nearly ready, Chad!'' shouted Leafy.
''I am coming!''
'As soon as that happen, I will show them what I we have achieved'.
The locker opened.
Newton and Tracy quickly got out. They hid their mutual embarassment and were ready to get down to business.
Cardin and Jaune were fainted in the ground a bit distant from the scrapyard.
Ruby danced against the blades and the shooting stars.
Telka and Mary started to feel something. Not their advantage, but...
Being slowly cornered.
''Holy shiiiiit!'' Muttered Luna.
''I was right!'' said Orlok. His hand touching her back - her armor - he saw what she saw.
The girl took her hand away from the ground and looked to him.
''What the heck was that?!''
''That, my young knight'' Orlok gazed in her eyes, his red against her orange. ''Is possibly the reason this whole thing is happening. Can you see it, Lycaon? Why would they try to have a war between Vale and Chimaera? This whole thing was planned by a third party, one that would gain something from chaos. Vladimir and the Corruption in Vale - all a distraction to this goal. Deep down in here is the most important prize of all''.
''Orlok'' Luna showed him how serious she was. ''Explain''.
''They have a Season Maiden locked down there'' he answered. ''From the structure you uncovered and the energy your armor detected, I would say that there are also Life Supports in there for her. The only thing that explains this...''
''The maiden is in coma!'' Luna looked to the skies and shouted ''F#CK! GODDAMMIT! THOSE F#CKING IDIOTS! IF YOU CAN'T PROTECT SOMETHING RIGHT, DON'T MAKE IT WORSE!''
''Language aside, small girl, you quite understand what has happened. As time passed...''
Luna calmed down and remininced their experience while researching Beacon.
''They let the histories fall into legend. Tales became myths and the mystiqueness hid the power and truth they contain. The maidens were no exception, probably to protect them. Vladimir talked about it, about how in the time the Dragon-Slaying Maiden started roaming outsied the kingdoms, many would try to kill the Season Maidens to steal their power''.
Orlok nodded.
''Who would have thought living with little interaction from them would would provide us some advantages. That aside, it's clear now - someone is trying to steal the maiden's power. They created this whole vault to protect her. The only explanation is that she is in coma, otherwise they would have already killed her - or she would have sacrificed herself for a new maiden to receive her powers''.
''Great, so what do we do?'' asked her.
''While I would rather leave their troubles to them...''
''We still haven't found Vladimir''.
''Indeed. Go back to helping your friends. My sister may need help as well, do NOT tell her we talked''.
''You are all such drama queens''.
Orlok's gaze pierced daggers into Luna.
''I will go confront Ozpin. This whole city can burn and fall for all I care, but we need to find Vladimir and get out of here before that. So I will need to help them until that''.
''Understood'' answered Luna.
Meanwhile...
Ruby was getting tired. But then, it happened:
They stopped.
And so did she, because her scroll was beeping.
''Answer it'' said Telka. ''Chad wants to talk to you''.
Chad - that was the name of their leader.
''What is it?'' asked Ruby.
''I am giving you an oportunity. Go back right where you came from''.
''What? What are you talking about?''
''I am offering you something I shouldn't - I am offering you mercy''.
In another line, Telka could her Leafy communicating with her.
''Our preparations are nearly complete. We are going to contact Clockwork once she is out... Chad is trying to convince her to leave. Don't try anything harsh and give us control of your ship''.
''Understood''.
'Why is he doing that?' Thought Ruby. 'There is something going on...'
''I am sure you are weighting your options right now'' said Chad through the scroll. ''Weight this as well - blastoff''.
In contrast to that calm voice, a laser went from the skies to beyong the scrapyard - in the direction Jaune had ran away with Cardin.
''No!'' Ruby barely turned around and saw the green lightning come down from the skies and the explosion that followed.
''You must be surprised and confused. I will explain in detail what is happening''.
''Chad.. what did you do?!''
''A lightning's light is in the opposite direction of the actual lightning. So while the light came down...''
Newton fell to the ground.
''NEWTON!'' Shouted Tracy. She couldn't help him - it was taking everything from her to treat Cardin and Jaune simultaneously.
''The lightning came from bellow'' said Chad. ''Newton Stein, from the Prince's team would have power enough to block one of those lasers - but only once''.
''Wha... but then...'' Ruby was muttering as she slowly understood.
''Yes. They fought against you, but came here to help. Jaune and Cardin would never be able to run away in the conditions they were at, but now they have Tracy Khufu, who has extensive knowledge in medical procedures, to help them. However, how can they get away now? How can they protect them? Another shot...''
''Fine...''
''Excuse me?''
''I understand'' said Ruby. ''I'm leaving. That's your condition, right? I leave and you don't shoot''.
''Indeed. It was a pleasure doing business with you''.
''But don't be...
Chad got in the pod while hearing her voice.
''Don't be mistaken...''
Slowly, it closed. The connection was cut-off, so he would need to use the pod's to communicate with others. But he already knew the rest she said.
''You are not winning this''
''We shall see'' muttered Chad. No one could hear, yet those words were still muttered: ''you all have no idea what we are doing. When you realize, it will be too late. You will be unable to fight for victory...''
Orlok entered the Headmaster's chamber.
The directors from Beacon, Jammer and Clockword, along with Glynda Goodwitch turned their attention to him.
''... for how can you attain victory...
Tracy was doing her best to keep their vitals stable. While she was working, she heard footstepts.
She didn't turn around as Ruby Rose arrived to help her.
''... in a war that has already been lost?''
Telka and Mary arrived in the chamber, together with Leafy, they stood in front of the pod containing Chad.
The green lights illuminated the darkness. Through the communicators, Chad spoke:
''Call Clockwork. Vale is falling in a few minutes''.
Leafy was uncertain.
''Will this really work?''
Telka and Mary turned to her, but Chad smiled:
''The tests were conducted. While the system was supposed to work independently of me, they are the ones that pressed for results sooner. Surely, they will understand. Also, we will have time to build the perfect product in the meantime''.
Orlok confronted Ozpin with a question:
''You do realize your incompetence is what brougth all of this upon us, do you not?''
Ozpin gazed at him as Orlok continued:
''They did all of this to bait us. All to get their hand in the power of a Season Maiden. I am referring to the one you are hiding beneath Beacon!''
Chad continued:
''I don't know what our enemies think we are on to, but they would never have guessed. They think there is some grand purpose behind all of this, but they don't understand.''
''Are you sure?'' Asked Leafy.
''Mary, call them. Leafy, what we are doing is pure terrorism. Even if they draw some conclusion from it, that doesn't matter. It's all chaos, but with extra steps - failsafes. Sure, they will imagine there is something behind this and do everything to stop it, but the moment Vladimir fell was the moment this became unstopabble''.
Yes, in the end, Chad Es Shad and team CLMT knew nothing of the Season Maidens.
They had a purpose for their plans, something they would gain from the chaos they were spreading, but it was from the ones that had ''contracted'' them. In a way, one could call them mercenaries. In another way, slaves.
''Let us begin and end this war! We will take away from them their biggest weapons! No aura, no dust, only themselves!''
Chaotic Dissonance - That was Chad Es Shade's semblance. Nullifying aura and dust was one way to use that power, other could be acquiring resistance of them.
Tracy and Vladimir felt it first hand with their aura not working against the modified Atlesian Paladin.
Jaune felt it in himself and saw in Ren in the car accident that Ren suffered - one that Chad was present to negate their auras.
And now, it was done - the amplifier. A machine built inside the scrapyard to supply Chad with enough power and range to bring down an entire city and take nullify the dust and aura of everyone in it constantly as long as it was necessary.
The actual machine was supposed to function independently, but they had yet to complete that. But they readied this one as backup, in case the situation had potential to get out of hand, something Orlok caused.
Chad didn't initiate the machine right away, as Maryy passed the call.
''Es Shade'' answered the other side - at Clockwork. ''Mary said we will be getting something different. You don't expect us to hold our side of the deal like that''.
''But!'' Telka wanted to complain.
''Don't worry'' said the agent in Clockwork. ''Mary filled us in with everything. We understand the problems you went through and we were promised the Finished Product eventually while the city is for today. We will first see where this goes, but we are ready to do our part for now. What do we have to do?''
''Ready your armies'' said Chad. ''Send the machines built with immunity to me'' Chad turned to the trio in front. ''Turn it on and ready yourselves!''
Buttons were pressed, orders were given. Lights shone and gears started to turn.
Chad felt power coursing and the chaos spreading. From body to machine, from machine to wave. The dissonance became harmonic and started run free.
Ozpin, Glynda and Orlok were argumenting, but Merlina stopped paying attention.
She felt her connection to the future disappearing. She looked through the window and understood - they did it. Chad fulfilled the plan and they were unable to stop them.
Ozpin and Orlok were talking about something that would never happen, for the Fall Maiden was never their target. And as they started to feel it was wrong, it was too late.
Energy stopped working. Their powers started to fail. Silence went through the real world while a ''noise'' ran through their bodies.
And then, from the sky above, from the floating gears of Clockwork they rained down. It was as if hundreds of bees were coming out of a hive, but that hive was Clockwork, and those bees were actually Atlesian Paladins.
People screamed and pointed in fear. Maybe authorities and armies would try to fight back, but their powers didn't work and their machines refused to run.
'Two of the oldest tricks' realized Merlina 'First, you diverge their attention by making them focus in something else. You did that by causing atrition with Chimaera. And the second - if an enemy doesn't have a weakness, then take away their strength, so that they will have no mean to fight back.
In the sewers...
Blake for a second thought she had found something. She saw far away through the tunnels two Red Orbits.
But they disappeared.
And then she realized her aura was gone as well.
''It's our victory, Vale''
Heretic notes:
Oof, nothing like a big chapter before starting a hiatus. I mean, I may update my other works before hiatusing them as well, but I have little time for that with my studies.
This whole fic had a story thought up before season three, so I gues if there would be a timeline to fit it, would be branching off after season two then continuing as this. Then again, all fics are parallel universes of sorts.
Ahem!
With this, next arcs will begin! I may actually do a small interlude before the hiatus, but you guys can pretty much guess what will happen.
Next arc is supposed to alternate Present and Past, so I have to think of a name for it. Present would go along the lines of Rebellion or something while Past would be focused in Team CLMT and how they came to be and do this... this everything.
Heard season 4 starts October.
Thankfully branching the timeline helps a lot. Things went far too different from what I expected when I devised this storyline (who could have imagine Season 3 would go that way? When I accepted it I was like ''it diverged way too much than I expected!)
I think we are already over the half of this fic already. Yet, I can't gauge how long next arcs will be.
:,(
I can guarantee this will be full of surprises and twists though. I know you guys that accompanied me so far love surprises and twists
;D
I bet no one expected the direction I went. I teased Chad's semblance a few times, but purposefully took away your attention off it by focusing in the Maidens thingy. I mean, guys, I had no idea of the maidens when I made the fic. Not like I could change the plot to focus in them. Maybe... mention them. To troll you guys! HAAHAHAHAHHAHA!
Well, I'm gonna sleep and go study. Wish my luck in the tests guys. And good luck with everything in general for you.
Heretic, out!