The Shadow of Fire
Chapter 51: Music Lesson A
A/N: Heya guys! How are you all? Let me start off with just a solid wow. Nearly 300 followers! I can't thank you all enough for your support here. To be honest, this story has gone above and beyond my personal expectations with your support. Thank you all so so so much!
So, I've been gone for a while. I got a bit better with my writing, I'd say, so that's a good thing! Hope you all enjoy. I'll give you a little heads up to pay attention to even the smallest of details cause anything could be pulled out later on into a huge event for the future!
Speaking of future writing, sequel it is! Although I can't wait to do a prequel, I already have the foundation for the sequel hot and ready for posting as soon as this story has reached its peak! Yay! Can't wait to get it out to you all!
Now, onto the reviews!
CalligoMiles: Yeah! It's going to be as epic as it sounds! Thanks for the review!
bhark3: That is the best response to any chapter I have ever seen XD. Thanks!
Guest: Yes, cause we are all but peasants to the great Xalveris. :3 Thanks for the review!
B1ake the beast: No problem! Thanks!
For those who love good old fluff, check out both Orion Matrix as well as G.N Over-Kite for great stories! I love these two so much! :3
Shout out to ElfCollaborator as well for helping make the TV Tropes page, which I still need to find time to finish up! :3 Go check out his works as well! And once more, please thank him for featuring this story so much in the Weiss Reacts series. It's amazing to know that there's so many nice people on this site that are happy to help everyone out. I love you all! :3
Well, see you all soon I hope! Take care! And enjoy! :3
Unknown Forrest
Vale
"So, what exactly do you do?" Weiss asked aloud as she knelt below an elongated tree branch before her, slowly crossing under the wooden appendage to the clear path ahead.
"Oh Weiss, you will have to be more specific." Melody sang as she followed Weiss's path throughout the dense woods around the duo.
"The general." Weiss furthered. "Powers, influence, the works."
"Well..." Melody's voice fell as she thought about the question at hand. "I'm the Goddess of Music, so I saturate the world with peace and joy!"
"Huh." Weiss made sense of as she pressed on forward down the winding pathway now before the duo, not even flinching at the sound of a pack of prowling Beowulfs.
"Why do you ask...?" Melody spoke up after a brief moment of silence.
"Well." Weiss began as she cleared her throat. "We seem to be lacking in Gods with war-based powers."
"If you were the Goddess of Fear or War, would you join a side of balance or the side of destruction?" Melody suggested as Weiss nodded in understanding.
"Well, while I do get that point." Weiss acknowledged. "We seem to have a group of Gods on our side whom most of have no connection to battle whatsoever."
Several months ago, the sheer idea of speaking like this to an omnipotent being would have been utterly ludicrous to the young Schnee heiress. Nowadays, however, Weiss could honestly admit that talking to most of her Godly peers seemed equivalent to talking to Ruby. Without the blushing involved, of course.
"And that determines victory? Power? Domain?" Melody asked as she continued in a much more professional tone. "Do I need to remind you how the God of Fate nearly defeated Xalveris on his own? No? Or that the Love Goddess could withstand attacks from the same dark being?"
"Alright, alright. I take it back." Weiss held her hands up in a sign of defeat. "You have to see where I'm coming from, correct?"
"Well... Yes..." Melody awkwardly coughed into her hand. "I suppose."
Weiss exchanged a light laughter with the Goddess beside her, enjoying her presence.
"You are a singer, yes?" Melody suddenly asked as Weiss cut down a large branch in their pathway with her new rapier.
"I dabble." Weiss said proudly, sensing a warm pride that had been dormant within her since becoming quote "more friendlier" with Ruby and Co..
"Come on~! Give me a sample!" Melody chirped out excitedly, clasping her hands together in a begging manner.
"... Well... perhaps..." Weiss weighed the idea before giving the simple shrug of the shoulders.
"Ahem." Weiss cleared her throat, closing her eyes at the duo continued to walk along the pathway leading through the wild woods.
"Mirror... tell me something... Tell me who's the loneliest of all..."
Weiss began her usual routine of her singing career, starting off with her favorite song which her father, believe it or not, once sang to the girl once upon a blue moon. The song, dubbed by Yang as Weiss' "theme", whatever that means, never had a name until Weiss began to perfect the lyrics to be less crudely done and more refined. The heiress took the simplicity of the song and made it more with her voice, making herself almost one with the song. It encompassed her. It made her feel warm, despite its context. The song gave her meaning.
"Hmmhmmhmm~" Melody hummed as she flicked her wrist in joy, eyes closed as every flick of the wrist brought forth a beautiful piano solo to the world, furthering the beauty of the song.
"Fear of... what's inside of me... Tell me can a heart... be turned... to sto-"
RRROOOOAAAAAA!
A massive Ursa Major, much larger than Weiss had ever seen, and probably anyone has ever seen, trampled onto the dirt pathway before the duo. Weiss instantly opened her eyes as soon as the roar registered within her mind, causing adrenaline to spike within her being.
"That's a big Ursa..." Weiss said under her breath as she took a small step back, brushing her cloak aside to reveal her rapier to the beast, to which her actions were greeted by a thundering and bellowing outburst of animalistic growls.
Melodys' previously cheerful demeanor broke as soon as she saw the beast before her. While Weiss stood at the ready to draw her blade, the Goddess took several dramatic stomping-steps towards the creature with her chained microphone in hand.
"No one interrupts MUSIC!" Melody barked as she flicked the power button of the device to the ON position.
A force of bright pink light traced the veins of the microphone from the base towards the top, causing an ever blinding light to grow stronger and stronger as the Ursa began to back off in a mix of confusion and genuine concern for its own well being.
The light seemed to shoot within Melodys' body through her Ichor in what would be her blood stream and veins, sending the pink hue throughout her literally golden being. The woman's eyes glowed with a fierce determination and anger merge in the form of hot pink iris within both of her orbs, tossing the microphone to the ground.
The Ursa Major seemed to take the threat as passive at this point and let loose a bellowing roar which shook the very foundation of the woods around the pair before charging forth like a rampaging bull.
Just as the beast was within clawing range, Melody opened her mouth and all hell broke loose.
The sound that emitted from Melodys' throat wasn't normal by a long shot. The sound seemed to rip Weiss' ears a new one as the supersonic screech echoed indefinitely. The sound rose louder and louder with each passing second, growing much more and more painful to listen to as time went on.
The sound wasn't even the worst part.
The air before Melody seemed to distort as she let loose the strange and violent screech towards the beast. Sound waves, in the formation of massive circles in the air, snaked through the air before the woman. The ripples seemed to collide with the monstrous being, causing the beast to slide back as the sheer force of the sound waves made the ground feel akin to ice.
The beast attempted to charge forward again to break through the barrier before him, only for Melody to scrunch her eyebrows in disapproval before slightly raising the sound output.
Weiss didn't know how it was possible, but the beasts' head seemed to distort before detonating in a massive bloody implosion, staining the trees, dirt, and grass with Grimm blood and matter. The bears' body seemed to twitch in place before falling limp to the ground, only to be shot backwards down the path due to the force of the sound waves.
Meanwhile
"Yang. Why exactly are we playing Dismantle the Block Tower with blindfolds?" Blake asked her girlfriend as she had just gotten back to base only moments before she was dragged to play the strange game.
"It makes it much more fun-er!" Yang exclaimed as she placed a DBT log on the table.
"You are so strange, Yang." Blake noted as she went to feel for a block to pull from the wooden tower.
Blake suddenly felt a heavy pressure upon the room around them before the deafening screech registered within her cat ears. The Faunus cupped her sensitive ears before falling flat on her face into the table before her. Blake laid knocked out, having crushed the tower of blocks with her face as she laid twitching in pain.
Yang, still blindfolded, grew a wide smile as she sensed victory over her clever partner, jolting up in glee.
"BINGO!" The brawler shouted out in joy as she dance around in place, unaware of the state of her partner in the slightest. Nor was she aware of the other Fauni in her group wailing in pain moments before passing out as well.
Unknown Forest
Vale
Melody shut her mouth as soon as the threat was gone, taking in a deep breath afterwards before turning to face Weiss.
Weiss removed her palms from her ears, in pure awe. "What was that?!"
"One of my many talents." Melody answered simply as she plucked up her microphone from the dirt below. The Goddess brushed the chunks of dirt off the polished side of the device before letting it hang from her belt once more.
"How..." Weiss trailed off in amazement.
Weiss was in utter awe. As a singer, she always felt the power of music and song that no one else felt by simply listening to the song. She felt in sync with music. She felt as its equal by becoming one with it.
"I projected my voice and being to song. By channeling all of my power into a devastating attack. It is quite simple for me to do." Melody smirked as she brushed her hair from her eyes. "I reckon you could do it as well... It takes the true understanding of the powers of music~!"
"One with your song...?" Weiss asked as Melody nodded in glee.
"Yes! Exactly!" Melody chirped. "I have taught many mortals how to warp music to their needs. For example, one of my friends can sing a song so powerful that all who listen perish upon its completion. It is a truly beautiful thing~!"
"I'd love to learn from you, Melody!" Weiss said earnestly, exhibiting the most excitement from her being since she and Ruby confessed to each other all those months ago.
"Perhaps once we have spare time." Melody hummed as the duo walked along. "The stronger we all are, the better."
"Exactly." Weiss nodded in agreement. "By the way, how did you use that power? Weren't your powers blocked by Dagonus as well?" Weiss questioned as Melody simply pat her microphone in response.
"I absorb music through this device. It's like a minor boost to my blocked powers. Gives me a quick usage before it needs to be recharged, like back-up batteries." Melody explained as she stepped over a part of the dead Ursa.
"I never thought music had that kind of power..." Weiss muttered before snickering in glee, following Melody along towards the military base in the distance.
Fall of Winter
Vale Skies
"Grrraaaah!" Rook roared as he punched a frame of the airships bridge in utter anger.
"Lord Rook, I request that you'd please calm yourself." Sir Xenon voiced as he rotated his egg shaped chair around to face the pissed off Fallen God.
"You dare order me around?!" Rook growled underneath his black armor, glaring towards the ships commander with contempt.
"No, however I'd prefer, as well would my crew, that you cease destroying my air craft."
"Bah!" Rook let loose a puff of what seemed to be black smoke from his helm as his anger dispersed. "We need to move faster and find these children before they have the change to ruin my masters bidding."
"I understand that point, Lord Rook. Yet, as I've mentioned several times before, we are going as fast as we can. So please, take a seat and be calm."
Rook huffed as a child would and slumped down upon a hovering chair before him, looking out the window towards the forests below.
"These children seem to get on your nerves, Lord Rook." Sir Xenon noted as Rook growled in response.
"Focus on your flight, demon." Rook retorted as Grimmlock let out a terrifying roar from deep within the airship, waiting for his time for battle.
"So, how's the trip?" Ruby asked from the blue illumination that was Weiss's Scroll.
"Well. Nearly there." Weiss explained to her companion as Melody poked a few dead Ursi with a stick she had recently procured.
"That's good." Ruby gave a heartfelt smile across the screen. "Glad you both aren't lost yet!"
"Well, don't jinx it then!" Weiss's cold demeanor shined through as Ruby let out an eep in response.
"S-sorry...!" Ruby squeaked as she gave a mild pouty face back to the icy girl.
"The last time something got jinxed someone got shot. Let's not risk anything this time." Weiss shook her head as Ruby nodded so fast Weiss swore her head was about to fall off, not noticing the howling laughter from off in the distance.
"Understood!" Ruby gave a goofy salute as Weiss couldn't help but smile in response.
The red-head was seriously way too childlike to be taken seriously, even as a God. She had the strange ability to just melt anyone's heart whom she had the pleasure of meeting, given some time that is.
Weiss thought. What was it that she found attractive in this girl? Her charm? Goofy demeanor? Her decent understanding of pleasantries compared to her brute of a sister? All were good, or strong qualities that Weiss admired, but what was it that was IT?
"Hey Ruby?" Weiss coughed awkwardly as Melody took hint on the conversation and shuffled off to go find some apples or something edible besides rocks.
"Yeah?" Ruby tilted her head as her odd eyes ticked along.
"What is it you find nice in me?" Weiss abruptly asked as she tapped her index fingers together in worry.
"Quick to the main topic, huh?" Yang called out as Ruby shooed her off.
"Sorry." Ruby coughed awkwardly as she scratched her head. "Well... To start off, you're just so... Beautiful."
"..." Weiss kept quiet.
"The prettiness of your eyes and how they shine bright when you got something right or won a battle just makes me feel super warm inside." Ruby went on, smiling wide. "Then I love how you never give up, no matter the battle or anything! It's just so amazing!"
"Mhmm..."
"Besides all that... You're the first friend I ever made at Beacon... And even though our first talks never went well, I was glad they happened so I could get you to warm up to people and to help me learn to be a little more good-er." Ruby concluded as she just shrugged. "Everything about you is just amazing."
"T-thank you... Ruby." Weiss gulped as she was currently redder than a shard of Red Dust.
"Weiss!" Melody called out in a hushed tone as she popped out from some bushes nearby. "Come here, you need to see this!"
"Got to go, talk soon." Weiss said quickly as she pocketed her Scroll as Ruby attempted to say some form of a goodbye.
Weiss crossed through the array of bushes and trees as a small cliff-side clearing opened up before her with Melody standing upon its neck.
"What is it, Melody?" Weiss asked concerned, walking beside her.
"Well, the good news is that's the base..." Melody gestured forward to the massive airfield before them.
"Oh good! We made it here earlier than expected!" Weiss exclaimed as she realized the uncertainty in the Gods voice. "And the bad?"
"Seems we aren't the only guests here..." Melody pointed up to the skies above the base, allowing Weiss to now notice the circling patrol airship above.
"Oh..." Weiss slowly frowned as several smaller airships soared across the forests around the duo, causing a collective outcry of all the Grimm within the vicinity.
'Well... Orion-damn it.'
A/N: See you all soon! Bai! :3