The Four Horsemen
In the mountains far away from the civilizations of Remnant, where Grimm ran wild–there lived a reclusive Witch.
She had pale skin and black hair with some ragged clothes. She knew she wasn't welcome by civilization, so she spent her days in solitude, alone…
With her four adopted sons. They had different backgrounds, all of them filled with tragedy.
The first son came from a place ravaged by war–war waged by conquerors–to the point it was almost all he knew. He was a child soldier who took his first life at the age of nine.
He was a tall, regal boy with ebony black hair, skin of unearthly fairness, a body of unnatural fitness, and clothes befitting royalty. His personal weapon of choice was the bow-gun.
His name was Conquest.
The second son came from a war-torn home that had deeply affected him. He had a rather strong build. He looked as though he could pass for a berserker with the build he had. His skin was as black as the aftermath of a massive blaze, and his eyes were a fiery orange. His clothing was a set of red full plated armor. His weapon of choice was a massive sword.
This boy was the son of bandits from Anima, bandits who abandoned him in his unearthly appearance and unholy temper. Leaving him in what was essentially a war zone between Grimm and Mistralian soldiers. All he understood was violence and bloodshed–so much that he loved it.
His name was War.
The second youngest, was a lanky-yet fit young man whose skin was sickly and brown with liver spots all over his body–almost like a cow. His hair was greasy and unkempt, and his eyes yellow and his teeth a sickly green. He dressed himself in satin cloth and sandals. His weapon was a double flail in the shape of scales.
His life was that of a boy who was forced to live in Vacuo in the wilderness, constantly out of reach of food. And within close proximity to famine and starvation, never knowing any kindness of a crust of bread or anything of the sort. This left the boy very bitter.
This was Famine.
The youngest son was by far the most visibly unsettling. He had skin that was pale as a corpse, ashen gray hair and deathly whitish-blue eyes, which seemed the color of ice. He was also visibly lanky, his entire body gaunt.
He was the survivor of a mass slaughter, only surviving because his appearance had fooled the culprits into thinking he was dead while he was unconscious. His weapon of choice was a scythe.
The life he led before was that of a farmer's and he was constantly being watched over by fretting family members. The sight of their dead faces continues to haunt him. He wished to end the lives of the ones who took everything from him.
He was Death.
These four had been brought to the Witch in their times of need, and they felt a sense of gratitude toward their new mother.
The Witch gladly took them in, and they protected her from the Grimm or those that came from the Kingdoms to kill her, all fools looking for glory. And she loved them deeply, as she saw so much of herself in them.
However, one day–the Witch was stricken by a great spell of anger, one that shook the woman's house. Alerting her four sons. They rushed to her to see what had angered her so.
"Mother, what has happened?" War questioned. Their mother turned to them with a furious gaze.
"An old fool from my past has bestowed his power upon four girls, and now they go about spreading hope and kindness to all they come across!" She growled, unable to hold in her anger.
"After everything we are forced to endure? The gall of it all!" Conquest snarled indignantly, gripping his bow-gun so tight that his knuckles turned white.
"No arguments here, brother! We need to do something about this!" Famine exclaimed, gritting his green teeth. His words made their mother perk up before she grinned, an idea coming to her.
"Then follow me, my beloved sons. And I shall give you the instruments you can use to carry out our vengeance." The woman said, leading them outside the house–into the mountains.
After a lengthy trek, they arrived at a ritual site that had been established in some old ruins.
"This is where we will gain the strength we need." The woman said as she knocked on the stone, and caused it to tremble as four giant figures stepped into view of the Witch and her sons.
They all had the visage of armored Archangel Grimm, with the only real difference being the scarves they wore. One wore a white scarf, another red, another green, and yet another–a grey scarf
"Mother, who are these four?" Death asked warily as he looked between the four beings.
"These, my dearest offspring, are the Watchers. Urba's first Grimm, and his most powerful." The Witch replied. "They will help me grant you neigh infinite power!" She exclaimed.
"Then let us proceed! We have fools to destroy!" War exclaimed, eager to shed the blood of all who crossed him.
The Witch chuckled before the Watchers stepped forth, each one standing before one of the sons.
The creatures held out their hands and dark orbs floated into their chests, causing them to glow as they gained a great power.
"And now, my turn." The Witch said as she gave them fractions of her power. Lightning magic to Conquest. Fire magic to War. Wind magic to Famine. And finally, Ice magic to Death. "Now, tell me my loves, what are you going to do?" She asked.
The Four then kneeled before their mother and bowed their heads, their fists on their chests.
"I, Conquest, pledge to conquer all the lands that should rightfully be ours–and crush all those who would dare stand in my way with my bow. I will do so in your name. Our dearest mother." The eldest son vowed, head high in a prideful display.
"I, War, pledge to bring bloodshed to all who dare raise their blades against us– and strike them down with my blade. This shall be done in your name, our glorious mother." The second eldest son vowed, his fists clenched.
"I, Famine, shall strip all of our enemies of their food, resources and necessities, hoarding them for us and us alone. Forcing our enemies to know nothing by little. All in the name of our family, mother." The second youngest vowed resolutely with a vindictive grin.
"And I, Death, shall reap what the actions of all in the world have sown before claiming their souls. All shall fear my scythe, and dread my arrival. I will become the sole variable of this anti-life equation, great mother." The first youngest vowed, his eyes aglow. "And all the forces of Hell will follow with me." He added.
"Excellent words from all of you." The Witch nodded in approval. "Now go, carry out my will." She continued.
And so, they went out into the world and carried out their mother's will. The world heard their names, and feared them. At one time, each of them had gotten horses meant exclusively for them.
Conquest's horse, a white horse with golden hooves, tail and mane, with green eyes, was named Glory.
War's horse, a red one with eight legs, black hooves, tail and mane, and orange eyes, was named Ruin.
Famine's horse was a black horse with brown hooves, mane and a tail, with similarly colored eyes. It was named Mayhem.
Finally, Death's horse was as gaunt as himself, with a white mane and tail, and was a pale blue with similarly colored eyes. It looked as death-like as its master. It was named Despair.
Those that saw them, feared them and what they brought. Their name would forever be recorded into the world and never be forgotten. They became…
The Four Horsemen.
They hunted the four maidens the Witch, their mother, despised, and struck them down. One by one, the young sisters were slaughtered by the brothers' hands… and finally, they destroyed the wizard.
And they did so. Over and over and over again, all in the name of their loving Witch of a mother.
Dragon Emperor0: So, this is the Fairytale that accompanies my story CESN: Ragnarok. The story of the Four Horsemen.
ThermalsniperN7: And they came from varying backgrounds with equally varying degrees of tragedy. In case you can't tell, while Ozpin is the Wizard, Salem is the Witch.
Dragon Emperor0: Just like in the show. And it's definitely pretty screwed up how they slaughtered basically innocent and benevolent girls for doing such nice things. That's just pure evil.
ThermalsniperN7: Fuckin' right it is. But like all things, each incarnation changes with time, so it obviously didn't stay that way forever on either account.
Dragon Emperor0: Yeah, lucky us, I suppose. Anyway guys, see you next time.