Chapter 41 Cynder and Cinder...Go!
Character Yang
"That was fun," Yang said as she sat down across from Junior with Weiss on her left and Melanie to the right. "You seemed to like Echoes' song well enough too."
"It was a new sort of music," Junior replied. "You having your usual?"
"Yeah," Yang answered.
"I'll have a martini," Melanie added.
"Yang I didn't know you drank," Weiss remarked, "Red wine please."
"She doesn't," Junior said, "One strawberry sunrise, no ice and an umbrella and your martini Melanie and a glass of red for the snow queen."
"Thanks," Yang said, "singing really makes you thirsty."
"Seriously what is with people calling me snow this or that," Weiss asked.
"I get that a lot too," Melanie said, "With your white hair though the persona is even more prevalent."
Yang and Junior just looked at Melanie while Weiss sipped her wine and gave a nod, if she approved of the wine or Melanie's comment though was unclear.
"So what did Soap want," Yang asked as she took a sip of her drink.
"Generic questions mostly," Junior said, "Cinder came up of course, your team, JNPR, the usual."
"Still keeping the important bits under wraps I see," Yang commented with a smirk.
"Okay you two what is going on," Weiss and Melanie asked. The two women looked at each other before nodding at the timeliness of their question.
"For the past four years or so I've been bringing weapons to Junior that I've acquired," Yang said, "He's been storing them for me, below the club in a safe house."
"You don't get wound up about just any old weapon," Weiss stated.
"No she doesn't," Junior continued, "Most everything she brought to me was high level tech, military grade, equipment. A lot of it is Dust based."
"With that storehouse of Cinder's we cleaned out I could probably power the gear," Yang continued, "At the time I knew the equipment must have been part of a set like an armored platform for the weapons, but I never figured out what they went on. I see now that they they could fit on a dragon, and I think I know which one. Based on the helmet and the holes in it for the horns, I'd say that Cynder is the one who could wear this armor."
"You've got a dragon in your ranks named Cynder," Melanie said, "that might get confusing."
"Yeah no kidding," Yang said, "Anyway if we could get that gear to the Vale PD I'm sure we could get it on Cynder."
"She already has armor," Weiss commented.
"True but the armor seems to make their magical abilities harder to use," Yang said, "This armor would probably enhance the effects of their abilities, or Cynder's at least."
"Where would you have gotten these pieces," Melanie asked, "If they were made for Cynder then who would have known about her to have made the armor?"
"I would suspect Cinder," Weiss said, "I think I get it now, Does anyone know exactly when Adam was born?"
"I think he is about thirty five or so," Junior said.
"Thirty five years ago Adam was sent here," Weiss said, "On Menagerie he left a temple with the shards of what he used to be. Cinder is about the same age, and I believe was very active in the Fanus war. I suspect she found the temple then and was exposed to whatever shards Adam left there. So she would know all about DC, considering that her targets for theft were mainly dust and raw materials I would expect she used many of those to construct items for DC without even knowing why, just that she might need them one day..."
"You mean Cinder is still inside that Magog somewhere," Yang said.
"I didn't think it possible but if this armor theory works out then she might be strong enough to be separated from this demon," Weiss admitted.
"Ruby would hug you for saying that," Yang said, "Still its a definite piece to add to this puzzle."
"Well would you look at that," Roland said, his voice carrying across the club dance floor and over to the bar. Yang turned to see who was with the renegade Leviathan. Lilith was with him, obviously, as were Mordecai, Bloodwing and Brick.
"I told you she could find booze," Mordecai said as he stroked Bloodwing's head.
"Happy to help," Bloodwing said.
"Did the bird just talk," Melanie asked.
"Yes, yes it did," Weiss said.
"You all just missed the vs of the century," Yang yelled over to them, "Echoes here thought they could out play us."
"I'll bet that was fun," Brick said.
"Does he... are those..." Junior stammered.
"Yup those are a bigger version of Ember Celica," Yang said, "They can also create my motorcycle out of thin air."
"Speaking of coming out of thin air," Luciver said as he appeared right next to Weiss, "How a bout a bourbon on the rocks."
"Oh hey the SaDiablos finally comes out of their cloaks, or invisibility or whatever you do," Weiss commented, "You know we can feel you right?"
"You can sure," Daemon said as he joined his brother, "Ghost and Anjali don't though and they are who father wants us to keep an eye on."
"First male Archon in a very long time," Janell added as she walked up. Yang had to give the group credit choosing to show up when the Vault Hunters, some of them anyways, walked in would make it seem like they had just followed the former group into the club.
"Yang," Junior said, "I'm going need you to get that Cortana chick back over here to refill the stocks if your friends keep dropping in like this."
"Also he might start consuming some of the stocks himself," Melanie added.
"Hi," Brick greeted as he and Mordecai sat down next to Melanie while Roland and Lilith were getting wrapped up in the game of keep away that Ruby was still playing with Lucas for his sword. "Got any whiskey."
"Hey don't get started on that just yet," Yang said, "Want to put those muscles to work first?"
Brick looked from the bottles on the wall to Mordecai then back before grunting and saying, "Sure I guess what do you need?"
"We need to carry a bunch of dragon sized armor outside from the basement," Yang replied as she got up and pulled Brick with her, "Junior come on I've got an idea."
"I'll tend the bar," Melanie remarked as she flipped behind the counter.
"Brick I'll be here when you are done," Mordi said as the three headed for the maintenance door that would take them to the basement safe house.
"Brick, Junior, Junior Brick," Yang introduced the two as they moved through the back rooms of the club. "Junior are you sure that the safe room is connected to this new building?"
"I designed the passage to it myself," Junior said.
"Nice," Brick remarked, "So how did you and Yang meet up?"
"She kicked my ass and blew up my club," Junior said, "I've been sweet on her ever since. You?"
"She killed a whole bunch of demons, then we were on the ship and she made these gloves for me, then we killed a giant demon thing and then she went on that new ship back to somewhere and now she is here," Brick said, "That's about it."
"You two realize I'm standing right here," Yang said
"Well sure," Brick said, "But you already know how we met. Also it sounds like fancy duds here likes you."
"Well what isn't to like," Yang replied as she fluffed her hair while Junior opened the door to the safe house.
"Nothing," Junior said as he finally got the door opened revealing a room full of tables with weapons on them, "Ah there we go, okay you can ignore most of the weapons and such the armor we are looking for is in the back."
"Now that is a lot of guns," Brick observed.
"Come on lets get the armor and get Cynder to meet us out front of the club," Yang said as she ran over and started grabbing pieces off a shelf, "Brick get that chest plate piece, Junior can you carry these tail plates? I'll take the helmet first..." The process of moving the armor took almost thirty minutes, sometime during which Yang sent a message to Cynder and Spyro telling them to meet her at the club. Yang couldn't remember when she got the message out but when the last piece of armor was dragged outside Cynder and Spyro were waiting for them and looking over the armor.
"Hey," Yang greeted, "got some armor for you, we think it will fit Cynder."
"Where did you get this," Cynder asked as she looked the armor over.
"Weiss can explain it better than I can," Yang replied, "This is Junior by the way, Junior this is Spyro and Cynder."
"Wow," Junior commented, "They really are dragons."
"You know we get that a lot," Spyro said, "Cyn why don't you try out the armor?"
"It's a little cramped here with all the buildings," Cynder said, "Lets take it back to the airfield at Beacon."
"Well when you get it on take a picture or something and send it to me," Yang said as she flashed her omni-tool on and off, "I'd like to see how it looks when it is on a dragon."
"Will do," Cynder replied. Yang headed back inside as the dragons took off with the armor in their claws. Junior and Brick followed her and the three made it back to the bar in time to see Lucas triumphantly heft his sword that he finally retrieved from her sis.
"Ruby did you really keep it going that long," Yang asked.
"Yeah Bloodwing helped as did Lily," Ruby replied.
"It was more fun than it seemed," Lucas said with a smile, "Reminds me of the times when I was younger me and my brothers would play in a very similar fashion."
"You must have had some fit brothers to play like this with," Scooter wheezed, "I ain't used to that much running."
Yang laughed as Junior took up his position behind the bar again and slid her another sunrise.
"Hey where did Soap go," Anjali asked as she sat down next to Yang.
"I don't know wasn't he here with all of you," Yang replied.
"No we assumed he was with you all," Anjali returned.
"Hmm...," Yang pondered as she returned to her drink.
Character Ezio
"This place is beautiful," Leah said as the two walked across the air field outside Beacon.
"I used to spend hours looking out over the world from atop the highest place I could find," Ezio commented as they looked out over the water below. "I've seen many man made wonders but they never seem to compare with the magnificence of nature."
"A poet now too," Leah remarked, "You, Ezio, keep getting more and more interesting."
"Says Diablo's daughter," Ezio teased.
"Hey its not like I could choose my parents," Leah exclaimed as she turned towards him.
"Whoa calm down it was just a jest," Ezio said slightly amused.
"Except it isn't I am Diablo's daughter," Leah said softly.
"He really doesn't seem that bad apart from the spikes and such," Ezio said, "He already helped me pull you up from that edge of the Arch and is helping you to control the power inside yourself."
"I know," Leah said as she turned back to the cliff, "Hey is that Spyro and Cynder?" Ezio used his eagle vision to pick out the two even in the dark of the night.
"They seem to be carrying something," he said, "Uh we should move it looks like they are going to drop it off here." He and Leah dashed to the side as Spyro and Cynder hovered in the air and dropped what looked to be pieces of dragon armor.
"Sorry about that," Spyro called to them as he and Cyn circled in for a landing, "You were just at the wrong place at the wrong time, that armor is harder to hold onto than it looks."
"It doesn't look like the armor you normally have," Ezio observed, "Where did you get it?"
"Yang had it," Cynder said, "Not sure where she got it."
"I'm not sure I'd trust it then," Leah said as she rapped a piece of it with her knife. The blade slid right off the armor.
"Seems to be well crafted though," Spyro commented.
Ezio gave the armor a look over with eagle vision to see if it held any secrets and indeed it did. There was what seemed to be an energy field that was trapped inside the armor, swirling and spinning as it moved from piece to piece.
"Ezio you okay," Leah asked as she took in his distant face.
"Oh yes it just that armor is," Ezio started, "It's like it is all connected to itself each piece calling to the others."
"Sounds like my old armor," Cynder said, "when all the pieces were together on the same dragon they amplified the potency of my powers."
"Then perhaps you should try it on," Soap said as he appeared out of the gloom, "Quickly too."
"You felt it too then," Beth remarked as she too materialized out of the darkness.
"What felt what," Ezio asked.
"K to all Dragon Company high alert, Cinder has launched her attack everyone regroup and protect Vale."
"That," Soap said as he ran over to Spyro and got on him.
"Let me get this armor on and we will be air born," Cynder said.
"Let me help with that," Leah said.
"Beth go with Soap, Spyro get in the air and keep us clear until we are up," Ezio said as he helped Leah get the armor on Cynder. Over head a rift opened above the town and Sith warships started pouring through. Doug had the Ark move in to distract the ships while the rest of DC could mobilize. The Pestilence was next in line with the Infinity and Pillar II follow it. Even with the power that the four ships had it was them vs hundreds if not thousands of Sith ships.
"Armor is on," Ezio said as the last piece was locked into place. He needn't bother with the exclamation however as the armor powered up creating a web of electrical charges that ran across the plating. "Great how are we supposed to ride you with that?"
"Its clear in the middle of the back plate," Cynder said as she looked herself over, "Here I'll give you a lift." She then picked them up in her jaws and set the two on her back, "Where should we go?"
"Cinder must be holding the rift open," Ezio said, "We find her we can stop the rift."
"So we need Hawk and Fisher then," Spyro said as they joined up with him, Soap and Beth.
"We don't know where they are at but RWBY and JNPR are at the club with friends," Cynder said, "Lets go get them."
The Sith had started firing down on the town but Cortana and Sparks were already in the town working on defenses, shields, anti-missile batteries, anti-air etc. Ezio spotted RWBY, JNPR, Legion 141, and half of the SaDiablos and Vault hunters running through the streets below them with a man and two women aiding them in the process of getting the civilians to shelter. The group was easy to spot because Yang was burning like a beacon and punching back the orbital lasers that came her way. Ruby was also redirecting the lasers that got through the shield.
"Up here," Spyro called to the group, "We've got room for four more two on each, Ruby Yang you two are coming with us we're going after Cinder.
"We're going too," Ghost said as he and Anjali hopped on to Cynder's back, avoiding the electrical current while they did so.
"Janelle can you keep the lasers at bay," Ezio asked.
"Can I," Janelle replied with a smile, "These here will come to no harm."
"Good," Ezio said, "Ruby call K on that device you have see if he knows where Cynder is."
"K doesn't have an omni-tool, Shepard does though and he's got a ship," Ruby said as she called the captain, "Shepard hey do you have a way of getting in touch with K? That will work does he know where Cinder is? Oh that isn't good, thanks bye. We got to get back to Beacon Cinder is heading there now!"
Spyro and Cynder took off without a second thought, Ezio grabbed Leah to keep her from falling off they speed through the air. "Thanks," she said after getting another hand hold.
"Any time," Ezio said, "Ghost, Anjali any ideas on how to take Cinder down?"
"Other than let Ruby and Yang do all the fighting," Ghost said, "Not really, man should have brought Lily with us she could have phased us so Cinder couldn't affect us with that force nonsense."
"That wouldn't have changed anything," Cynder said, "The force would have still hit you... unless the change wasn't for, oh."
"Oh," Ezio asked.
"Cinder's abilities may be more mind based than actually physical," Cynder said, "If the force was a mental one then us being in a different dimension would have really thrown her off, making it easier for us to push through."
"So its mind games then," Ezio said, "That I can play." His hand idly slipped into a pouch on his belt that held his secrete weapon, more secrete than the hidden blade or pistol, the Apple of Eden.
The Normandy flew over them as they neared Beacon. Legion dropped out of the ship as it flew over the airfield and continued on farther into the school. The Normandy's small size was ideal for close support and pick up drop off type mission.
"Spyro dragon," Legion called, "Shepard Commander wishes for us to help you engage Cinder we will set up a position to provide covering fire from." Legion drew its massive sniper rifle before heading into the school. A Sith carrier slammed into the auditorium that Legion had just entered.
"Cinder will be on that shuttle," Ezio said as the Apple gave him insight to the events transpiring around him, "We need to get in there. Spyro, Cynder wait out here when the Magog emerges kill it."
"Yes we're trying to save Cinder," Ruby exclaimed as she Yang, Soap and Beth joined up with Ezio, Leah, Ghost and Anjali. The eight entered the building that was now smoking from the hole in its east wall. Ezio kept one hand on the Apple and kept his right hand on a throwing knife.
They entered the back stage area of the auditorium, Ezio could see where Legion had climbed the walls to get a position on the stage from the rafters. He led the group past the way up and to the doors that led to the amphitheater. Once inside the room Ezio picked out the shuttle that was crashed into the far side of the stage and Cinder along with about fifty Sith on the stage center.
"And here you are," Cinder said mockingly, "The noble heroes come to face me. Sith prove to me who of you is the strongest and become my apprentice." Cinder backed up from the middle of the stage as the Sith advanced on the group.
"Lets burn," Yang said as she, Anjali and Ghost lit up with flames. Leah had planted her crossbow in the ground and was taking aim, Ezio was lining up a throw with his knife and Soap and Beth had both disappeared. Ezio saw Leah's bolt fly towards the first Sith and sent a knife his way, while the Sith managed to deflect the bolt the knife caught him in neck. Another knife took down a Sith that Ruby had fire three rounds at, then a third and forth fell with Ezio's combined attacks. Ezio continued to chain his attacks simultaneously with his friends' attacks dropping Sith as they pressed forward. Soap and Beth were both just blurs but their bolts and bullets made for prefect opportunities to knife or pistol the Sith who were busy deflecting the attacks. Fifteen knives and ten bullets later combined with the unrelenting attacks of his team and the Sith were dead.
"How very disappointing," Cinder commented, "I had hoped that one of them could have dealt with you all. Seems I shall have to do this myself." The waves of force started pulsing out of Cinder but this time they parted to go around the group.
"Mind games Cinder really," Ezio commented in a mocking version of her own tone, "Against an assassin?"
"I need not rely on my most powerful skill to best you all," Cinder sneered as her force waves died down and she summoned fireballs into her hands. "Catch."
Yang grabbed both the fireballs out of the air, "Okay." she said, "Your turn." Yang threw one at Ruby who had readied Crescent Rose to smash the fireball towards Cinder, Ezio glanced to the upper levels and caught sight of Legion lining up his shot and Beth was aiming her crossbow for a shot.
"Leah throw me your knife," Ezio hissed. Leah threw it to him as she also lined up a shot on Cinder. Yang threw the other fireball at Cinder as Ruby hit the first one towards her and Ghost and Anjali added fire balls of their own to the fray. Leah and Beth fired their crossbows a second later as Ezio threw his knife then Soap and Legion fired their guns. Cinder deflected the attacks except for the knife which had embedded itself in her heart. Ezio was beside the collapsing woman in a second closing her eyes as he laid her down for her final rest. Before he could set the body down though he was knocked away by an explosion as a huge creature burst out of Cinder and up through the top of the auditorium. Looking down Ezio saw that the knife was gone and Cinder was alive, if unconscious.
"Looks like the Magog is on the run," Soap said as he reloaded, "Stay here and watch Cinder, I'm going after the demon."
"Count me in," Beth said. With that the two demon hunters took off into the night.
"Ezio Assassin's skills are not physically possible," Legion commented as he rejoined them.
"What do you mean," Ezio asked.
"You knew what we would attack before we did," Legion replied, "Your mind is not fast enough to calculate the possibilities that accurately or direct you body in such a precise manner, your attacks required more accuracy than even we are capable of with this precision weapon and you were using crude projectiles. The probability of you being able to accomplish this naturally is almost zero."
"Well what about with this," Ezio said as he pulled the Apple out of its bag.
"Ezio," Leah asked, "What is that." The Apple of Eden is a copper sphere with red-orange glyphs on it.
"An old artifact I acquired a while ago," Ezio said as he returned it to the pouch.
"An interesting device," Legion commented, "We will reevaluate your abilities based on this new information."
"What should we do with her," Yang asked as she flicked her head towards Cinder.
"Lets keep her here for now with that Magog running about we wouldn't want to chance it getting back into her," Ghost said.
"Right," Ezio said as he picked up the unconscious woman, "Lets get her inside."Ruby see of you can get RAIM over here I'm sure they would be helpful for when Cinder wakes up."
"On it," Ruby said as her omni-tool lit up. Something big crashed against the building to their left causing some of the roof to fall in blocking off their return to the auditorium.
"Only way out now is forward," Anjali said.
"RAIM will meet us inside in a few minutes, provided they can get past the Magog," Ruby informed them, "They can follow our omni-tools to locate us."
"Then we wait," Ezio said as he set Cinder down in a chair in one of the storage rooms they had entered, "This feels like the most centralized room furthest from the walls we should be safest here."
Character Cynder
It wasn't long after Cynder and Spyro's friends entered the building that a massive creature burst through the roof. It had three wolfish heads on long necks that attached to a sinewy snake-like body. It had two wings, tails and legs was covered in the darkest black fur that either Cynder or Spyro had ever seen and it had empty eye sockets, all of which were looking at them.
"Move," Spyro yelled as a fireball was hurled their way from the Magog's mouth. Cynder rolled left while Spyro jumped to the right. The Magog flew over head and circled back to attack them again. Cynder took to the air hoping that her armor would protect her from the more agile Magog's attacks if they were to engage. Spyro sent her a thought indicating that he would stay on the ground so as to avoid his wings getting clipped.
Cynder sent an approving thought back before blasting the Magog with her shadow breath, only her attack didn't pour forth just the shadowy disintegration, from her jaw spewed forth a maelstrom of shadow, poison, fear, wind, fire, ice, electricity, and earth. "The armor," Cyn thought, "Impressive it grants me all of the abilities of me and Spyro." Better still the Magog flinched on its approach and veered around so as to make another pass at her. Spyro was sending lightening into the creature from the ground, if this actually hurt the Magog or just made it mad neither of the Leviathans could tell. The Magog came around again, this time ready for Cynder's attack. She and it clashed her claws raking down its side and it's fangs and talons sliding across her armor. "Good it keeps the worst off of me," Cynder thought as she circled back to face the already approaching Magog. Cynder shadow-melded and came out above the Magog before forming a flaming boulder around herself and smashing the creature to the ground next to Spyro who grappled it.
"Hold it down so we can get the others here to finish it," Spyro said.
"Why don't we just finish it," Cynder remarked.
"Umm, yeah good point," Spyro remarked. He then got bucked off by the Magog as it reared up on its legs using its tails and wings to balance out its weight and striking out with its fangs. Spyro was knocked into the amphitheater by the attack and Cynder was hit with a pulsing orb of some kind that knocked her back as she tried to get to Spyro. Looking over she saw the fangs of the Magog coming down towards Spyro's neck.
"No," Cynder yelled. Then a red streak smashed into the Magog's head and stopped it from chomping Spyro's neck in two. At first Cynder thought Ruby had run in but instead she saw a woman in a deep red one piece dress with short black pants under the skirt part, long dark hair and flaming eyes.
"To Hell with you demon, I've had enough of you," the woman said as she held back the three heads with the force of her will, "If you wanted to be able to best me then you shouldn't have let me learn all those powers." She then exploded in a wave of energy that blew the Magog back. Cynder realized that she was looking at Cinder.
"It worked they separated Cinder from the Magog," Cynder thought to Spyro.
"And I am very glad for it," Spyro thought back as he picked himself up from the rubble that had collapsed onto him.
"Roman, I know you're on this channel, get your team here now," Cinder ordered through the scroll that she held in her hand, "Marcus line up a shot on this creature, Cynder get over here I need to fly."
"You knew about all this," Cynder asked as she skidded to a stop next to Spyro and Cinder. The Magog was getting to its feet and readying to attack them again, it still seemed unphased from all their attacks.
"Ever since I found that temple," Cinder replied tersely as RAIM, Ruby, Yang Soap, Beth, Ghost, Anjali, Ezio and Leah dashed out from the ruined amphitheater. "Couldn't have gotten all the gear I needed for this battle through legal means, but your group doesn't seem to mind criminals."
"No it seems we don't," Beth remarked, "Or assassins, or demons, we have a pretty open door policy."
"Cinder, RAIM get on," Cynder said, We've got to get it to a position where the Invention can take the shot."
"As soon as it is dead the rift will close," Cinder said. The rest got on Spyro and the teams took to the air. Drawing the Magog with them.
"Cinder it's Marcus," Marcus said, "Soon as you get it to clear the school the laser is ready to fire." Cynder flew up as fast as she could with Spyro right behind her. The Magog was right behind Spyro though and gaining. Yang, Anjali and Ghost were raining fire down onto the approaching demon but it had little effect.
"Come on," Cinder yelled.
"Cinder," K's voice came over the scroll, "This is Kalathanon you've cleared the school and we are firing, get ready for a rift."
"On it," Cinder said, "Cynder your armor is designed to be locked onto by Lucifer he can drag this Magog into Hell and imprison it there."
"That will still leave a Sith problem," Moroni remarked.
"Not for long," Adam said as he took his mask off, once again revealing those red, fire, eyes. from within his coat jacket he pulled out another mask, a full metal face mask that had two definitive groves running parallel down the middle of the mask. "This is Darth Revan to all Sith forces. Either stand down or die. I am Emperor any who oppose me will be slaughtered."
"We'll this just got dark," Roman remarked. Then the Invention's death beam slammed into the Magog, the left over energy was absorbed by the suit which opened a rift through which Lucifer and Moloch fell. In a physical form the two looked almost normal. Lucifer being a large half form Leviathan and Moloch being more man like in appearance similar to Imhotep. The Magog had fallen to the ground but was getting back up. Lucifer sent a tendril of energy out and chained the Magog to himself.
"Looks like this was a good catch," he remarked as he and Moloch vanished back through the rift with the Magog in tow.
"It's finished," Imhotep stated.
"This Magog is sure," Roman said, "How many more will be out there though? So many worlds, people, races, there will be more."
"True Torchwick," K said through the scroll, "but for now we seem to have a new friend and a well deserved rest. Adam you still with us?"
"I'm still here," the merc replied as he fitted his usual mask back on.
"I'll meet you all down there," K said, "Cortana is already on her way with Riza to help with reconstruction, they have the rest of the teams from the club with them."
"What about the rest of DC," Spyro asked.
"Occupied hunting down any Sith who didn't listen to Adam," K said, "Speaking of which it would seem Adam has about twenty Sith warships ready to serve him."
"I've already started sending orders to them," Adam chimed in.
"Efficient," Cinder commented as she took a seat on Cynder's back, "knew there was a reason I liked you. Still blaming you for all of this though."
"Fair enough," Adam said, "Fair enough."
Cynder and Spyro landed back by the amphitheater where Legion was waiting for them with the rest of the Normandy crew, Ozpin, Glynda and a host of Beacon staff and students.
"This might get prickly," Soap muttered.
"Or not," Cinder remarked as she slid off of Cynder and headed towards Ozpin.
"Cinder," Ozpin commented as he tapped his cane on the ground, "I can not approve of your methods, but I can not argue with the results."
"The reading from Menagerie is gone," Glynda stated, "I believe it will be much easier for the humans to accept the Fanus now."
"Thank you," Adam said as he approached the two, "I am sorry, you know, as little as that will do to restore all that was lost."
"Okay can someone explain please," Ash asked, "I thought she was the bad guy."
"Before you all came along I was the enemy that K was hunting," Adam said.
"Right Void and Despair," Cynder added, "Didn't Qui-gon and Star reroute the energy from the Sith fleet to what reforge you somehow?"
"Close enough," Adam confirmed, "Well once I arrived here I left an imprint of what I was the essence of those persona, the makings of a Magog. It drove a wedge between the Fanus and the Humans even while I worked to unify them. It became apparent that a war was brewing and I chose a side. During the war transpired a series of events which led me to meet Ozpin, Cinder, Roman, and many others. I set up a network so as to bring about this event, not exactly in this way but this result, the banishing of the Magog that used to be within me. Cinder, Marcus, Cleo, and Roman simply got caught up on the illegal side of the plan."
"So that's it then, That is why we got shot at and attacked by Cinder, Roman, the White Fang, all of it," Yang asked.
"That's it," Adam stated.
"Wait if you set in motion the events that led to this point, and those events included Cinder gathering a massive Sith fleet above Kirkwall," Cynder said, "The same fleet we used to knock you into who you are in the first place..." As she trailed off everyone's eyes got wider at the realization, Adam was a living paradox, he set in motion the very events that led to his creation.
"And that is how I can be Revan and me and the lost parts of K," Adam said, "Because I am impossible in the first place."
"Well that explains the spastic red orbs for eyes thing," Imhotep said.
"And his ability to absorb incoming attacks," Ruby added.
"The nullification field he used could also be a product of his unique nature," Tali said.
"Yes I'm sure I have tons of qualities that are unique to just me," Adam said, "like knowing right when K will appear... five seconds."
Cynder heard Spyro thinking off the seconds and right on five K plummeted out of the sky to land beside them. "That is a little creepy," Cynder thought.
"No kidding," Spyro added.
"Well it seems I was mistaken," K said, "I must admit I had fully intended to kill Cinder if we couldn't get the Magog out."
"I told you," Ruby said.
"So what now," Ozpin asked.
"Lucifer says that everything is clear for now," K replied, "It seems that DC can settle down for a bit. Cinder if you and yours would continue operating out of the Invention I would appreciate that."
"What," everyone yelled before diverging off into different reasons that Cinder and her organization should be stopped.
"Enough," Legion yelled. The amplifiers in his suit capable of out shouting the whole group. "Crime is a necessity of free choice, as long as each being is its individual self there will be crime, and violence, but if the organization that over sees the crime is connected to the one that governs then the most innocent parties will be better off due to mutual benefit."
Everyone just stared at the Geth for a bit before Spyro asked, "Uh what?"
"What he is saying, I think," Tali said, "Is that there is always a party that will advance its goals outside of the law but if that entity and the law are both being run by a person or group that has, at its core, the intent to protect the innocent, then everyone can exists with a lot less suffering."
"Correct Maker Tali Zora," Legion replied.
"Exposition and theology from an AI," Marcus remarked, "I get enough of that with Church."
"K mind if we give Cinder the tour first," Cynder asked, "I have such a unique name to share it with someone else it interesting, I believe I can have some fun with that."
"Oh dear," Javik remarked, "I think Cynder is going to be witty about introducing Cinder to everybody." Wrex and Shepard chuckled at that.
"She will need introductions to the newer members," K said, "I assume you know about those that were with us during Void and Despair's time?"
"Correct," Cinder said, "These here are some new faces, for the most part, Cynder have anything 'witty' to say?"
"Not at all Cinder," Cynder replied with a grin, "Meet Shepard and the Normandy crew."
"And now they are going to puff up each others egos by using their names whenever they can," Roman commented, "Ozpin, if you don't mind, I'm Taking RAIM to our building."
"Not until I've met these two," Cinder said as she walked over to them.
"Ah yes, the bald one is Imhotep and the slightly glowing one is Moroni," Cynder said.
"Moroni," Cinder stated, "So you're the seventh one, interesting, and you, Imhotep, you are something else entirely. You're not human, your Aura says that much, and you are powerful, undying... no undead?"
"I am the mummy of the Hom Dai," Imhotep replied, "I doubt you would understand my customs or the weight they carry."
They passed the next few hours going through the introductions and talking down some tempers, like Bartholomew's and Terrador's but by morning everything was settled, for now at least. Cynder and Spyro walked into their room on the Pestilence with yawns as they headed to the bed.
"How long have we been up," Spyro asked absently as he curled around Cynder.
"About sixty hours now," Cynder replied, "Lets get some..." She never finished her sentence as they both fell asleep.
Character Doug
"Ah K, C good of you to join me," Doug said as the three meet up outside Beacon by the cliffs that overlooked the vast Emerald Forest. "The Ark is in an orbital pattern around this star that will not affect the gravity of the other planets in the system, the ships have all docked in Menagerie and their crew is quickly turning the area around it into a city with Griffen's help of course. I think we can expect that from here on out we will be able to deploy multiple task groups simultaneously to deal with the Magogs that Mammon detects for us."
"Or to deal with issues in general," C said, "Star, for instance, would like to see Juno again and I can bet that he will find something to get into trouble with while he is gone."
"It is true a lot of our members have unfinished business, thanks mostly to us, that they would like to deal with," K said, "Now that the time rifts and anomalies have cleared up with the destruction of that Magog and the completion of Adam's paradox we could easily transport DC members anywhere in creation."
"True. How are the new housing arrangements working out for Beacon," Doug asked.
"Quite well actually," C answered as she nodded back towards the new, towering, domiciles that rose up from Beacon Academy. DC has all the space we want and Ozpin has another five hundred rooms to use at his discretion."
"I'm sure that helped to smooth some of the ruffled feathers at Cinder's return to operational capacity," Doug remarked as he surveyed the construction. Ivan was building power plants for the new buildings as well as developing the water and sewage systems of Beacon.
"It has helped," K said, "Burnie and Joel are still outraged over it but can't really do anything about it right now."
"They mean well," Doug stated, "And Cinder has been a huge thorn in their side for a long time from what I gather. They will cool off, I think, once they see a drastic reduction of crime in the area."
"I believe you may be right," K said, "Also our help against the constant threat of Grimm will bring the people to our side."
"Speaking of the Grimm," Doug asked, "What are they?"
"Best I can tell they are the physical manifestation of sinful thoughts and deeds," K replied, "Each sinful thought that you act on seems to spawn a Grimm, the nature and size of which is random."
"So the question is are the thoughts just from Remnant or from anywhere," C added, "This planet is massive, we've run scans on it, the land area alone is enough square miles that most other planets could fit inside just the surface area, not to mention the oceans."
"I know," Doug agreed, "The Ark could have landed on this planet and been fine."
"Dad, Mom," Roland greeted as he and Lily walked up to them, "Sun and Blake are restarting the plans for their wedding, we apparently interrupted it with some giant war or something."
"Oh did we," K replied, "No that doesn't seem like us at all..." A moment later the two started laughing while Lily, C and Doug just sighed.
"Like father like son," C remarked.
"Fair enough but it is also like mother like daughter," Lily added, "Cynder is already helping Blake with set up and planing of the wedding, since she has done this twice before, her own and Geyser and Krista's."
"Well I should probably go help then," C said.
"Probably," Roland said, "Lily's and mine is just going to be something simple, like Ghost and Anjali's. So you won't get to plan anything for us."
"I preformed Ghost and Anjali's you know," Doug said, "Just stop by whenever you would like for me to do yours."
"Thanks but I was actually thinking Sword should do it," Lily said.
"Why him," K asked.
"Cause he is the only one here who can actually join two souls together," Roland replied.
"That is a valid point," C commented as she took off towards Cynder.
"Hey if you see Arizona tell her I am looking for her," Doug said as C departed.
"I'll do that," C replied.
"Arizona is out I take it," K said.
"Yes she left early this morning said she had something important to do," Doug said.
"You're worried about a twenty foot tall woman with a ten ton mech suit," Lily said, "That is so sweet."
"And she worries about a planetary sized parasitic life form," Doug replied jokingly.
"Humor, from you," K said, "She must mean a lot to you. I should go help with the wedding, or else I'll get accused of being lazy or inept at something."
"I'll deal with the accusations," Roland said, "Besides this is a great view."
"That it is," K agreed as he too flew off.
"So any plans during our break," Doug asked the pair.
"Just one," Lily said, "If your willing to lend your marrying skills again."
"Anytime," Doug answered.
"Well the view probably doesn't get any better than this and it is probably the only time we will have to ourselves over the next few months," Roland said, "Lilith will you marry me?"
"Now we are talking," Lilith said, "Doug?"
"Right now how does this go again," Doug said.
Character Arizona
She had left the DC estates early that morning when she caught a glimpse of Ruby sneaking out. Arizona felt concern for the young girl, even despite her obvious skill in combat and almost unbreakable Aura. The past three hours were spent in a cloaking field while slowly following Ruby through Vale, where Ruby picked up some white roses, and out to the snowy woodlands that bordered the Forever Fall Forest in the North East. Now she watched from the trees as Ruby walked to a stone plaque at the edge of a cliff and dusted the snow off of it. Arizona could hear Ruby muffle sobbing as the girl placed the roses on the stone. "A grave marker," Arizona realized, "This must be her mother's grave!"
She continued to watch as Ruby pulled herself together and stood from the kneeling position she had been in to place the roses. "We did it," Ruby said, "You always wanted for everyone to work together against the Grimm... and now they are." Ruby had to stop to compose herself again. "I only wish you were here to see it." At this Ruby slid back to her knees and started crying. Arizona couldn't take it anymore, part of her wanted to leave Ruby in peace but the larger part of her wanted to comfort the girl.
Against her better judgment Arizona stepped out of the trees and deactivated the cloaking field as she knelt down to place a her hands on Ruby's shoulders. When Ruby seemed open to her being their by leaning onto her hands Arizona picked her up and hugged her. "Hey, I know it's hard, I lost my parents when I was young too. I don't doubt for a second that your mother is up there with God and smiling on you right now, maybe she is next to mine and they are both watching us."
"You really think so," Ruby asked through her sobs, "She didn't even get to know the true story of the Cross Bearer, of Jesus."
"On the contrary my dearest Rose," a voice said from the direction of the gravestone. There before them stood a woman in a white cloak and hood, similar to Ruby's except the color. She wore medium style armor under the cloak and had blond hair and silver eyes. "I got to learn of him first hand. Know that no matter where you roam I am forever always by your side. Ruby Rose, my baby girl all grown up, and with the most remarkable assortment of friends. Be strong my darling and carry on, for me and Yang and Lao and all of us. All of your friends, all of those who have gone on before you, fight the Grimm, fight the sin, and make our sacrifice, make His sacrifice mean something to those around you. Lastly thank you stranger for being here for my little girl, goodbye friend, goodbye Ruby." The figure faded from view leaving the gravestone visible again.
"M-m-mom," Ruby stammered.
"I guess she is getting to be here to see this after all," Arizona said, "Ruby look at the roses."
They both marveled as the roses took root and grew into four bushes around the gravestone. Even Arizona felt tears running down her cheeks as Ruby let go of her to walk into the semi-circle of roses. The two just stood there in silence for a while before Ruby turned around and led the way back to town.
"Ruby," Arizona said on the way back, "Your Mother may be watching over you, but if you ever need anything just ask. She was right, we fight the sin to make His sacrifice mean something."
"I didn't know you were religious," Ruby remarked.
"I'm married to Doug," Arizona replied, "What would make you think that?"
"Nothing," Ruby answered, "I just didn't know if you were or not... thank you, for being there."
"Anytime," Arizona said.
"We should probably head over to the shopping district," Ruby announced as her mood swung upwards once more, "Blake is getting married and that means that Nora and Pyrrha have probably taken her dress shopping."
"I'll bet Doughnut went with them then," Arizona commented.
"You know he has amazing fashion sense for a guy," Ruby said, "I like him."
"I think everybody likes Doughnut," Arizona remarked, "Hey are you hungry?"
"Yeah," Ruby said, "good thing we can grab a bite at Junior's place huh?"
"Good thinking," Arizona said, "Lets go."
Character John Master Chief
"So here we are," John remarked as he and Cortana walked off the area for the wedding reception while Weiss was arguing with Sun over the color schemes and Blake was out with Nora, Pyrrha and Doughnut dress shopping.
"Here we are," Cortana agreed, "Never left them did we."
"Nope," John affirmed.
"Could have ended up worse for us," Cortana said.
"Still might," John added, "There is still a lot of evil out there and we are the ones to fight it."
"I'm right beside you then big guy," Cortana remarked.
"So there is two of us out here now," John asked.
"Did the Forerunner give you a sense of humor too," Cortana asked.
"Tana I'm hurt," John replied, "I've always humored you." Tana rolled her eyes as she set the next marker for the perimeter of the reception area. John chuckled at his own wit and Sun seemingly lost the argument. C arrived with several ice chests in her paws followed by K with a mountain of tables held in his paws.
"What do you think is in store for us, for DC, in the future," Cortana asked.
"There will be more fighting," John said, "You can be sure of that. Less killing of people though I think we will be more inclined to do like we did with Cinder pull the evil out and see if we can spare the person."
"I think you may be right," Cortana agreed, "I think you may be right."