Che-low once marrow my ever lovely and ever loyal peeps!
So here we go once more with a new chapter and a new plan. I know some of you have been wanting to see both Weiss and Blake put in their places for their arrogant attitudes and general bitchyness.
One of the reasons why I'm writing them like this, in their general V1 attitudes, is cause i hate Blake's attitude throughout the entire series and how she seemly escapes from any and all rightful punishments she's earned more than anyone. I mean seriously, the bitch all but leaves Yang high and dry with NO ONE SAYING ANYTHING?!
WHAT THE EVER-LIVING FUCK?!
THERE SHOULD BE DRAMA!
THERE SHOULD BE SHOUTING, ANGER WORDS, FIST FLYING, SLURS, FUCKING HELL I'LL EVEN SETTLE FOR AT LEAST A STINK EYE OR GENERAL COLDNESS BUT NNNNNOOOOOOOO! THE DAMN CAT BITCH GETS AWAY WITH ALL BUT BREAKING THE MOST SCARED UNTOLD CODE OF HAVING A PARTNER:
DON'T LEAVE YOU PARTNER IN THEIR TIME OF NEED!
Deep breath.
Sorry, had to get that out of my system, but GOD does that kind of shit annoy the fuck out of me, especially when even though someone like Blake gets what she wants yet does nothing to return the favor. When the chips were down and they needed her, she ran like a little bitch. Seriously, what the hell were Rooster Teeth thinking?
Well don't matter, cause if they won't do it, then i will.
That was one of the many points of writing this fic, this story was meant to unravel Blake Belladonna and deal out some much-needed punishment and give her a very, very harsh reality check. This chapter will be a sort of starting point, something that makes you all see what she thinks and how much she's earned her in coming beating, one that i'm going to enjoy writing. With luck it'll be done next chapter, so lets get this show on the road, as always i own nothing.
So please read, review and "What the fuc-BOOM"
Chapter 26: Plans In The Making
Row 1-2 Of The Repository's Library
"Blake where are you? Are you hiding just so you can read your smut books?"
The cat Faunus didn't answer to her calling partner, too engrossed with reading the 'future file' Mazoku had given her. This was it, learning what she could, Blake could now see where she needed to go in order to become her very best. With this book acting as her roadmap, she could use it to defeat Mazoku and free the Faunus he had enslaved in his service and welcome them into her own. Then, she could use this newly acquired power to help free her people on Remnant from the shackles of oppression and build a better future for all.
Humans and Faunus alike but mostly Faunus.
That may sound like she was being selfish and self-centered to many people, but those people were wrong. Blinded by their own foolishness, greed, ignorance, or all three. It wasn't arrogance to think that it was simple fact to Blake. He had pulled the wove over their eyes but not hers.
Never again will she be blinded.
They just didn't understand, no one did. No Faunus wanted to be used like how Mazoku was using his Servants. This entire thing, this so called 'viewing' was nothing but a PR move on Mazoku's part, Blake had seen enough to know that for a fact. Just because something was supposedly 'impossible' didn't mean it was or that facts were indeed fact. Facts could be proven wrong, and they have over the many, many decades.
People once said it was impossible to fly.
People once said the world was flat and there was no way it could actually be round.
People once said that Mantle would be an empire for thousands of years to come yet it barely lasted five hundred.
People said that humans and Faunus could never live together without aggression or conflict brewing between the too.
Even if that last one was partially true, the point is that Blake had seen these so called 'facts' disproven, broken and remade anew to fit the truth. Truth is what Blake planned to use against Mazoku and free those oppressed Faunus. Her plan was simple:
Learn all she could from the book and with her knowledge of his fighting style, powers, weapons and skills, she could devise a plan to defeat Mazoku. But not before she challenged him to a fight, one that would require careful planning, execution and most of all, timing.
Timing would be the most critical.
It didn't matter how powerful he was, with her semblance basically made her invincible and if she played her cards right, she could catch him off guard when he was tired out from fighting. That rabbit woman, Muriko or something, obviously wanted to fight him and so did Yang. Being battle junkies, those two were too peas in a pod. If need be, Blake was confident she could her whole team in on it.
If not, then she could get Weiss to do it.
Blake was well aware of the inferiority complex Weiss had, hell all of Beacon was aware of it, and to see someone better at her than...everything. The Faunus had no doubt that Schnee pride would stand to be labeled inferior to someone who didn't even have aura. Blake hated to do it but when the chips were down and she saw something bad happening, a crime in progress she would fix it.
Even if her parents would disapprove, so would Ruby, doing the right thing wasn't always easy. Besides, her team leader was fifteen years old, skilled she might be, but she was still young and very naive to the true dangerous of the world. Ruby saw the black and white view of the world, Blake saw the gray, knowing that she had to get down and dirty in order to do what was necessary to deal with criminals. Especially those criminals that hid in their Ivory towers and hide behind the loopholes in the law, avoiding justice.
Isn't that what being a huntress was all about? Fixing all the wrong in the world and fighting crime wherever she found it, even more so those types of criminals that use the same law to protect themselves? Whether those so called "Servants" realized it or not, that Magus was clearing enslaving them, and slavery was a crime.
Thus, it was her duty to fix that, right?
Plus with them on her side, she could take back the White Fang from Seinna and Adam. She could turn it all around and unlike that damned human, Blake would be making an actual difference. A real, true difference.
It meant nothing to her if of his victory over the Ace-Ops over the so called "Best huntsman in Atlas" as it could be contributed to nothing more than them underestimating him and their own arrogance. This entire thing was nothing more than hot air, exaggerating Mazoku's feats and smokescreens. No one could be that strong and magic or not, Blake knew she could win, she just had to plan accordingly with all the information she had on hand.
She would win and then, with the Servants power at her finger tips, she could fix the world. Making it better for the Faunus, one way or another.
"There you are."
Then her team Ruby, Weiss and Yang came into view, as Blake sighed, putting down her future file, to look at her team. Each of them had their own files in their hands as well, clearly, they had the same idea as her. Yang put a hand on her hip, staring at her partner, "What gives Blake? After the viewing stopped, you just left abruptly not even a 'by your leave'. So Blake, what's wrong and don't tell me it's nothing. Throughout this entire thing, you've been very quiet."
"Quieter?" Ruby asked, "Have you met Blake? Yang simply rolled her eyes.
"You know what i mean." Yang waved her sister words off, "So i repeat, what is wrong?"
Blake sighed, there was no getting out of it and seeing as Xero was indeed their cousin, she would have to worded it carefully. It wasn't lying, it was just...not telling the full truth, "I just, i don't think Mazoku is the kind of person I'm comfortable with having so much power at his disposal. Hear me out." Blake held up her hands, seeing Yang and Ruby open their mouths, no doubt ready to defend their newfound family. Interestingly enough, Weiss seemed more than agreeable, seeing as she subtle nodded at the cat Faunus.
"Go on Blake."
"Thank you, now listen." Blake knew she had to be careful to avoid the landmines that was Yang's temper/protective side and Ruby's hero worship side, no doubt idolizing Mazoku for saving Earth from cosmic forces several times, "Listen, I'm sure he's a good guy but you can't ignore the fact he's a little unstable. Mentally anyway and even the hosts of Death Battle said so with Mazoku not denying it." The two sisters said nothing, allowing Blake to push on, "I have no doubt he's under pressure none of us can image and i feel bad for him about it." Blake lied throw her teeth, piling it on thick, "I know i haven't been the most supportive but i just want to be sure that he wouldn't become someone like you Father Weiss or like the people who started the Great War. Someone with all the power in the world and instead of making things better, they only make things worse, thinking they know best."
"But Xero wouldn't do that!" Ruby yelled in his defense, as Blake made a clamming gesture.
"I want to believe that Ruby, I really do." She didn't. "I've been let down by the system and people in charge too many times for me to fully trust someone like Mazoku." Someone like Adam. "We've all seen glimpse of his past; what he's done in order to survive and protect those he's loves. Doing whatever it takes to survive is good, hell protecting the ones you love is even good and all but that kind of mentally can lead to some deadly consequences for everyone else. I don't want to point fingers or make accusations but are you really, truly alright with someone as unstable as him leading us to save the world?"
"Well..." Ruby and Yang both looked concerned, as they considered Blake points.
"Not to mention that using his magic, if used incorrectly, could result in his death if he messes it up in ANYWAY possible. I don't want to make trouble, but wouldn't it be better if someone else take his role in all this?"
"I..." Ruby opened her mouth, probably to say something in his defense but couldn't come up with anything?
"Wouldn't it better for someone else to relief the burden off his shoulders? Someone who has aura and is better protected than using gadgets that could break at any time?" The cat Faunus was referring to his Sheild and Armor of course. It was a valid argument and tech breaks down all the time, "Also, didn't he say that all it took was lucky bullet to end him? With so many people gunning for him, simply because he's a Magus and having to confront not only a cult but an entire dead world, having all that ride on one person isn't smart or feasible."
Neither of the sisters said anything, as Weiss, seeing a chance to compact on what Blake said, spoke, "Yeah. In fact, we can do this as a way to help those two by relieving the burden on them. All we've got to do is get some of those Servants under our command and both Mazoku and Stark will have more help on their side. Look at what we've done, Ruby's beaten Torchwick at the store with his goons and we sent the White Fang running from the docks, we're more than prepared to fight people without aura." Conveniently forgetting about the simple fact Roman and the White Fang had what they needed with Penny doing most of the heavy lifting, while the huntsman and huntress barely got away. But she needed Ruby and Yang on her side if she was going to enact her plan, after all, Mazoku wouldn't hurt his family by blood, right?
Using Yang's ego and Ruby's naivety would be a sure fireway to do it, even if a part of her was nagging that this was wrong. But it was even more wrong to leave those Faunus enslaved and she was done with that, sometimes to do something right, you had to do wrong in order to make a right.
No matter what anyone thought.
The two sisters stayed silent, not sure what to think and going over the plan in their heads. It sounded good and it was concrete. But still, would that mean-
"I know it's pointless to say but if you continue down this path, you will end up dying a painful, pointless death."
Team RWBY jumped at the voice of a fifth woman appearing, as Merlin seemly martialized next to them. The now busty Grand Caster had his, HER, ever present smirk on her face, as Blake glared at her, "Whatever you think, it's not-"
"You're going to lose."
Blake's mouth clicked shut, as she glared even harder at the white-haired woman, feeling ice drop in her stomach. Was she here the entire time and if so, did she know Blake's true intentions? If so, she had to turn this around before she destroyed her plan before it came to life.
"I have no idea what you're talking about."
"You think challenging master to a fight, so you can win his Command Seals, in order to become Atalanta new master." The smile never faded as she bluntly pointed out Blake's half-baked plan, "You're under the impression that thanks to your semblance and aura, it'll be an easy win. Sure, the Ace-Ops lost but ypu think it's because my master saw the cracks within their team. Which he took advantage of to widen those cracks further, dividing the team to the point Mr. Marrow left their team to join ours and even used that speedy rabbit chick's anger very cleverly to throw her off her game. Which i will say, he did masterfully i might say and because of that, with the knowledge you've gained from Boomstick and Wiz, you arrogantly think you have against my beloved master." Merlin then lifted a finger, pointing it towards Weiss, "And you, you have the same train of thought, thinking you can now defeat my master because you think you know all his moves and can now counter them. You are an arrogant little bitch that thinks she is superior because of the family and resources you have, making you better than everyone else, including master, but that could not be further from the truth. For all your training and resources, you don't have the experience nor the spirit to become a true huntress. Your nothing but a little girl, waving her daddy's gun around, pretending to be a huntress, all the while failing to see the reality before her."
"EXCUSE ME?!" Weiss felt her face heat up at the burning she just received from the Grand Caster, as she glared at her, "WHO DO YOU THIN-"
"Quiet, i am not done talking ice queen." Merlin ignored the now red-faced Weiss at the mention of that infuriating nickname, as her slim finger slide back to Blake, "But here's a preview of how that so called battle will go: You all lose. No," Merlin shook her head, her smile getting bigger as she spoke, "You not only lose but you, your pride as both a huntress AND Faunus will be SHATTERED. That is of course, not including the fact if you keep thinking that you and you alone know best, you are going to die a slow, painful and pointless death if you keep up that line of thought. As i said before but even if i tell you, it's pointless, seeing as you will not listen." Merlin shrugged, already countering whatever Blake was going to say.
"So, what if I am?" Blake questioned, snapping at Merlin, "What he's doing is wrong."
"From a certain point of view." Merlin said simply, "That's what it all comes down too, perspective. My master will do what is necessary in order to protect this world and his family."
"Even if that means killing those who simply want change?" Blake said, not backing down, "What if the White Fang started going after him, trying to free the Faunus he enslaved?"
"Given their history and tactics, they'll die." Once more, Merlin shrugged, uncaringly, "While some might want to imprison them or hand them over to the authorities, master does not take kindly to people harming his family well. There will be no second chances, nor a first one. They attempt to hurt his family, they die."
"Even if they were forced to do it in the first place and only wanted equal rights for their people?"
"Equal rights acquired in blood is doomed to die in blood." Merlin said darkly, despite her smile never fading, "I have been around for a very, very long time now. Honestly, master didn't summon me by accident, i have a skill that allows me to summon myself to a master of my choosing. Ah but it doesn't matter, no matter what i say, you will go through with your foolish plan and be broken by master."
"W-what do you mean?" Ruby asked fearful, noting how Merlin said shattered and broken. Not defeated or beaten but the Grand Caster used those words specifically. While she wasn't as well versed in reading or word play like many other people, Ruby knew those words weren't chosen on a whim. They meant something and as the leader of team RWBY, she had to understand what she meant before something bad happened. That and the feeling of ice dropping in her tummy was present enough to make Ruby very worried at Merlin words and Blake's plan.
She didn't agree with it, but half the time was more than willingly to go through it, with or without her. She couldn't leave her team out to dry and she could either help them or leave them to their fates.
Ruby just couldn't do that to people she cared about.
"Exactly as i said." Merlin said simply, "Blake Belladonna will challenge my master with her team as backup in some futile attempt to take what is not theirs. You and Yang will be quickly knocked out of the ring, then Weiss's pride in her abilities will be shattered, leaving Belladonna alone, feeling alone and overwhelmed by terror. In a desperate attempt to fight the incoming tide, she attempts to attack master, only to fail and is really, truly broken after her attempt." Merlin then looked Blake in the eye before saying, "Don't follow through with this plan Faunus, it won't work and when it fails, everything you tried to build will be destroyed by your own hands no less. This one action, this singularity event will be the catalyst that will lead you down the path of self-destruction and it will end with you, dying a pointless death, all alone with no friends or family to call your own. Seeing as you pushed them all away with your own ignorance, vanity and stupidity. I know i am repeating myself but with you, the only way to get something through your skull is to beat it in with a sledgehammer. Oh well, that's all i had to say, goodbye."
Then, just as quickly as she appeared, Merlin vanished.
Leaving the four huntresses in training to stew over what the Grand Caster said and how it would affect their future.
Elsewhere: Room 727, Training Room
BOOM
BOOM
CRASH
SKREE
"How long has he been going at it?" Gran Torino asked Nezu, as he watched his former student completely rip and tear apart training robots with an uncharacteristic look of pure rage and sorrow on his face. The giant titan known as All Might smashed a Zero pointer robot into dust, moving onto the next one just as quickly, never stopping his pain/sorrow fueled rampage of robot deaths.
"A while now, at least an hour by now but it's hard to tell in a place like this." Nezu said sadly, "Where time barely moves, and we have all the time in the world. Even though this endeavor has been very helpful in combating the League, All For One and the rest of the criminal underworld," Nezu clutched the file in his hand even tighter, "... but that couldn't have happened without revealing equally disturbing information."
"Tenko Shimura and Tomura Shigaraki." The old hero closed his eyes, as though in pain and he was, in a way, "I never would have guessed the two were the same person. But, knowing All For One, what he did to Nana's grandson is something i can easily believe him doing. Shows you just what kind of twisted bastard he is and makes you think that Mazoku kid's way of dealing with certain villains the best and only way. But it makes you wonder, just what makes someone so twisted to become that."
"Well, we know what happened to Shigaraki to make him what he is." Recovery Girl said, sighing as she cupped the side of her face, "The poor dear; his father beat him because of his own bitterness and then upon awakening his Quirk, he kills everyone he loves by complete accident. Even if All For One didn't find him and mold him, i don't think anything would have changed. He would have either died or simply become a villain anyway." Recovery Girl's eyes narrowed in fury, "And just who leaves a bloodied child all by themselves?! Anyone of them could have helped him yet they left him on the side of the road!" Learning of the events that lead to the rebirth of Tomura's origins left the elderly woman on a ranting rage, almost close to All Might's current robot rampage.
There was a lot of raging going on.
"Well, maybe your right, maybe your wrong." Nezu spoke, letting Recovery Girl get it out of her system, as he turned to the elder male hero, "All Might even confided in me that he too, once wished he actually DID kill All For One five years ago. He really hoped that All For One would have died from his wounds but much like himself, the man was only weakened. Considerable weakened yes but so was the Symbol of Peace. What i find curious is that this file did not mention what his plans for Tomura really are."
"Maybe the kid doesn't even know or maybe our version simply isn't clear?" Gran Torino offered, "We could just go ask the kid if we have too. Might be a theory or a simple idea but given what we've seen, he's good at connecting dots and discovering things."
"Perhaps." Nezu mused, "Lord Mazoku has proven to be a very valuable ally to have and doesn't seem to be the type of person to give us intel, unless he was certain it was true. Despite some of his actions that could make him out to be a villain, his intentions and motivations are on the side of goodness."
"Considering what we're going up against, WHO we're fighting against, maybe the kids got the right idea."
Neither of the heroes said anything, as it was a concept that they all learned to deal with. Yeah, in the deepest, darkest pits of their minds, both Nezu and Recovery Girl agreed that All Might should have killed All For One when he had the chance. That man was evil incarnate and far too dangerous to be left alive, not with his powers, skills and intelligence.
All For One wasn't just another villain, he was THE villain.
The big bad, the source of all evil, that kind of thing. Sure, there were a lot of bad, evil villains out there but how many can they have lived for over two hundred years with the power to steal another's abilities?
Not many that's for certain and not one of them threaten to destabilize all of hero's society.
It may seem dramatic in a sense, but when one thinks about it, it actually makes sense. If Japan hero society were to fall, it would show the entire world that heroes were not only beatable but causing enough chaos can destabilize society as a whole, allowing villains and criminals to do as they please. In essence, Japan's hero society was the domino that, if knocked over, would cause a chain reaction all over the world. Many villains, the smarter ones would see what All For One did and copy his actions, causing many other countries and nations to follow Japan's example and fall to chaos if they succeed.
All it took was just ONE villain, one criminal, one mad man succeeding in that endeavor to lead worldwide destruction and mass chaos.
Villains thrive in chaos.
"In any case, we should take this opportunity by the horns and learn all we can." Nezu said finally, still watching All Might fight, only now he was fighting a holo-generated version of his arch-enemy, "The students are studying their files, trying to understand what they need to improve upon, and we should do the same with our own files." Nezu gripped the file in his hand, "Who knows, perhaps we will even find our possible mole."
And he wasn't talking about the mole within UA either.
Elsewhere: Secluded Room
"Me?" Xero pointed to himself mockingly, as he smirked at the bleeding Belladonna, "All I've done is read my new Faze Bear Frights book, while my dear lioness has been beating you senseless." He said, shaking the FNAF volume book to empathizes his point. He then turned his attention to the dual haired Berserker the bitch was getting her ass kicked by, "Atalanta darling, have i ordered you to do anything at all?"
"No, my mate." The Berserker said, her eyes never leaving the sorry excuse of a huntress in front of her, "All you have done, is let me off the leash. To run wild as i please and allowing me to crush all your enemies with extreme prejudice, my mate. All you have done, is allow me to fuilful my role as a Berserker, a beast to run wild on your enemies and destroy them with an iron fist."
"I'M JUST TRYING TO HELP YOU!" Blake screamed, feeling tears stream down her face, "I'M JUST-"
CRUNCH
Blake spat out blood, as an armored fist buried itself into her stomach, barely holding back from bursting out of her stomach, as the Berserker glared hatefully at her, "Let me make this clear..." The Berserker leaned in close, her mouth right next to Blake's ear, "I. SMACK. DON'T. SMACK. NEED. SMACK. OR. SMACK. WANT. SMACK. YOU'RE HELP!" The altered version of Atalanta made sure each word was sent home, as she smacked and back handed Blake, to the point the girl's face was swelling up.
Badly, to the point her entire face looked like one, giant purple burse.
"...How can yous serve a human?" The cat girl groaned out, feeling like her entire world was spinning, "After every, groan. everything the Faunus have suffered, being oppressed by, heavy breathing, the humans how can you turn your back on your own kind?"
The Berserker merely smirked in response and said simply, "Because he is my master, my mate, my love. Even if i WAS one of you, i would still serve my master, seeing as i am not only a Servant but being lumped in with you hurts my pride as a huntress and if i was one, hurt my pride as a Faunus. You are so self-centered, prejudice, cowardly and hypocritical just being near you makes me sick. But you know what..." The Berserker than gained a dark smile, as she not so gently threw the bleeding girl on the ground and sat on her back, ripping her bow off, "...i will personally erase the stain off your oh so proud race. Don't worry, i won't kill you."
Blake wondered what she meant, only to feel clawed, armored fingers on her cat ears and promptly pale.
No, she couldn't mean, she wouldn't...
"That's enough Merlin. I've seen enough."
The scene before him vanished into darkness, the entire room falling away as Xero slowly opened his eyes, with Merlin sitting cross legged in front of him. He blinked a couple of times, trying to wave off the cobwebs in his head, before he finally looked at the Grand Caster, "So after all that, even after losing her ears, Belladonna STILL becomes the catalyst that nearly destroys New York, kill Yuri and cripple Yang?"
"Yes." The Grand Caster nodded, a frown on her pretty face, "Got to hand it to her, among all the self-righteous, high than thou attitude I've seen over the centuries...this one is remarkable unremarkable. Only able to cause an opening for trouble to spree over, not actually cause the problem itself. But we've both seen what happens if this attitude is not only unchallenged but isn't handled properly."
Xero tighten his fist, as he bit his lip, drawing blood in the process as brief flashes appeared in his mind of the possible future to come:
New York in ruins
Buildings burning
Streets torn up
Blood flooding the roads like rain
Bodies lining up the sidewalk, covered up
Yang losing her arm
Sasha bleeding out
Pieck's stomach blown open by a bomb with blood covering her entire face
Ursala missing one of her great wings
Peter's broken wails by the death of his aunt
Natasha missing her legs
Remy having half his body missing
Levi missing his right arm, leg and eye, barely clinging to life
Yuri's lifeless body lying among the dead men and women of the NYPD
Police commissioner Georger Stacy hung out to dry like some sort of skinned animal for all the world to see
Eri, bloodied and small, crying as only a single, black ribbon remained of her attacker/kidnapper...
"No."
Xero gritted his teeth, as his Yoki threaten to spill out causing his eyes to flash gold, before he shook his head, regaining control as his eyes turned to steel. No, no way in hell was he about to let it happen. Fuck no, he wouldn't allow it to happen and if he had to get rid of one entitled little bitch with a self-righteous attitude, then he would gladly do it.
"But as much as i would love to do that, that's not how i do things. She hasn't technically done anything wrong yet but if i ignore it, the chances of this future coming to pass becomes greater." Xero cupped his chin in thought, oh what a dilemma, do nothing and let the chips fall where they may, risking this dark future coming to pass or do something that would end the problem but that had equal risk of this future coming to pass anyway. But had the potential to be so much worse then what he was trying to originally prevent in the first place!
What to do, what to do.
He didn't believe in prophecies, nor did he believe the future was set in stone. However, Merlin has never been wrong in her-HIS future sights before and unlike most self-fulfilling prophecies (Which in his mind, all prophecies were self-fulfilling) but Blake had the making and means to make this possible future come to pass.
One that would lead to the destruction of his home and the death of many of those he loved if he didn't act correctly. But if he didn't act at all, it could lead to something worse and if Xero did straight up killed Blake in cold blood for a possible future she could indirectly cause, it could lead to war with Menagerie over the death of what is basically the princess of the Faunus.
Not a full-blown war but more or less, a guerilla warfare type of war. One that would involve the enemy hitting not them, the people prepared to die but innocent people who had no stake in it, with...With one side having magic soul energy bullshit, advanced weapons both capable of melee and ranged with elemental crystals to add into the mix. That wasn't including the Grimm, who would no doubt be drawn to the conflict, causing even MORE deaths.
Goddess, he hated Politics.
It was a good thing he had Mikasa and Eri wait out in the meeting room. Knowing Mikasa, she would take it upon herself to deal with the cat bitch hersefl and Eri didn't need to worry about such things. For the first time in her short life, she had a chance to be a kid and he was not about to deny her that, just because one bitch couldn't take a bloody damn hint that her help is NOT WANTED!
"Fuck." Xero groaned, feeling the telltale signs of a headache coming on, as he slumped in his seat, rubbing his forehead with his right hand. The worst part of all this was the simple fact that Mr. and Mrs. Belladonna were everything their daughter wasn't:
Kind, helpful, polite and genuinely wanted to help the Faunus. Plus, they were realistic and not self-centered, but they were parents. It was a parent's natural instinct to protect their child, no matter how much she didn't deserve it. That was something he could respect, he really did, and he was certain Blake was a nice girl, yada, yada, yada. But what he was focusing on now, was the fact her stubbornness and for whatever reason, she clearly had some desperate superiority complex, where's she was ALWAYS right no matter the evidence to the contrary.
Both her and that Schnee girl seemed to share one, but Blake took it a step further, needing to be vindicated, as it was proven when she conned Yang into being let into New York, leading an army of extremist to attack his home. Not that it would last long as Blake would be betrayed by 'her people', left for dead, with so many others dead as well.
Even if he showed her the evidence, Xero knew Blake would not believe him and at worst, would speed up her choice to lead those extremists. He supposed that came with being young and a teenager, thinking that your immortal and beyond reproach, not having to face the consequences of her actions. As things stand, Blake wouldn't listen to reason, and he couldn't do nothing without having to deal with consequences of his own.
Damned if you do, damned if you don't.
What a bloody fucking mess, this entire thing was rolling up into one massive cluster fuck. No matter how he looked at it, no matter what angle he looked at it from, there were going to be consequences that would affect the present and future.
Besides, killing someone just because of something they MIGHT do just rubbed Xero the wrong way and one of his own personal rules was that if he killed, it had better be for a damn good reason to do so.
"That little bitch needs to be dealt with before she does anything irredeemable my accomplice." The dark form of Dantes said, shifting in the shadows of the room. Dantes was a tall man, wearing a green suit, with a fedora covering his sliver hair and red eyes with a scarf covering his neck.
Jing Ke nodded, a cup of sake in her hand, as she sat opposite of Dantes, "Indeed, my master. This must be nipped in the bud before, sip, this spirals out of control." The small Assassin then gained a dark smile, "Perhaps we SHOULD do as Merlin threatened to do and shatter 'Lady Belladonna's' hypocritical resolve." The woman all but spat out Lady Belladonna, even if she was being somewhat respectful. It was just how she was raised. Jing Ke is a slender woman with rather toned thighs. Her eyes are sharp and teal colored. Her black hair is tied slightly to the side into a long, thin ponytail that reaches her legs, with a few bangs over her forehead, and two longer ones on each side. Her nails appear to be painted in a grayish tone, and her feet wear sandals. Jing Ke's outfit consists of a seemingly multi-layered kimono, the most out of layers with wide trimmings with a floral pattern. A symbol of a lily is drawn over the waist area, underneath the blue and white sash. The sleeves of the Kimono are rather large, resembling a yukata. A piece of string is also tied around her waist.
Before Xero could speak, he felt arms wrap around his neck from behind, as a soft pair of lips possessively kissed his neck, with a pink tongue slithering out of it's owner's mouth, reaching up his neck and behind his ear. He didn't need to look behind him or down to know it was Jalter.
"Oh my darling master, the answer you seek to fix this little problem of yours," The woman's grin was nothing short of pure evil, "...is right in front of you. If the bitch wants a fight, GIVE HER ONE."
Five Minutes Later, Room 616, Meeting Room
Eri was nervous.
But can you blame her? Barely three hours ago, she was a prison of an evil man with a god complex and the power to destroy and build her back up from starch at the touch of his fingertips. After living in her own personal hell for as long as she could remember, she was saved by a hero.
Her hero, her savior, her papa.
Well new papa, as she remembers her original papa. The one she accidently erased into nothingness and her mama leaving her on Overhaul's doorsteps, trapping her in her personal hell. Her papa had come in, like one of those heroes the Yakuza were complaining about all the time, and completely defeated someone she thought to be untouchable but proven that not only was he very much touchable but was beatable.
The day she always hoped for, clung to like a security blanket had finally come and... she had no idea what to do with her new freedom.
Not that it was a bad thing, oh no, Eri was happy to have this newfound freedom, but she just didn't know what to do with it. Outside of giving the most basic of things, Eri had little to no knowledge of...ANYTHING! The day-to-day things people know about without even realizing they knew because it was so normal for everyone, they didn't even realize it had to be learned because to them it was ALWAYS there. They ALWAYS knew about it, because to not know about it would be the equivalent to living under a rock. Like knowing the four seasons, Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter are core concepts of our lives but we don't really think about how we learned about it, simply because we've seen it ALL the time.
The holidays are things a person couldn't know, simply because in various religions, one person's Christmas could happen during Winter, but it could be something else entirely else to someone that doesn't share the same religion as that person.
The point is, everything that is normal to, well normal people isn't normal to Eri. As she has lived a life of forced isolation from the outside world and people, interacting with people, who would do everything they can to deny her any possible information of the outside world. More than likely to deterrent any thoughts of escape, as a life outside the confides of her little room, would certainly incite rebellious attitude and escape attempts.
Thought that all became moot point, when her papa came down on them like an avalanche and wiped them out of existence.
Thankfully that nervousness washed away like rain, as her papa came out of the room that he went into with that white haired woman. The smaller, younger white-haired girl let out a shriek of delight as, without warning, her papa swooped her up and sit her on his shoulders. She was so happy, she couldn't help but fling her arms in the air, she was so high up!
Is this what papa saw all the time?! She couldn't wait to grow up and become tall like him!
"Having fun Unicorn?" Her papa asked, as she nodded with a large smile as she nodded. But the name he called her made Eri confused. He's called her that before and while she didn't think too much on it before but now that she was really thinking about it, she didn't know what a Unicorn was, so she decides to ask.
"Papa, what's a Unicorn?"
"Well Eri, a Unicorn is a is a legendary creature that has been described since antiquity as a beast with a single large, pointed, spiraling horn projecting from its forehead. Much like the horn on your head, sweetheart. I also heard they there described as inhumanly pretty as well and seeing as your pretty, I'd say that it lives up to the legend."
"I'm not pretty." Eri muttered to herself, remembering all the cruel things those Yakuza thugs said to her, as she gripped his soft, thick hair, "You're the pretty one here papa." And the prettiest thing in her eyes, where ironically her papa's eyes. She never had a favorite color before, but she most certainly did now and it was purple.
Her papa buckled her with his shoulders, "You are and seeing as I'm one of the smartest men alive in the world and i never get things wrong, me telling you, your pretty isn't just truth but fact. Might as well learn to live with such a horrible fact." Her papa chuckled and Eri giggled at that.
"She's not ready to meet everyone else."
Xero on the outside might have been happily joking with his new, adopted daughter, on the inside, he was anything but. Well, no he WAS happy to have Eri as a daughter, logically he knew that for all intents and purposes, Eri was running on adrenaline of happiness in a sense. But adrenaline had a nasty habit of wearing off at the worst of times and Eri was still very much a traumatized child, bombarding her with a load of new people might do more harm then good.
No, he needed to ease Eri into meeting her new family, as not to overwhelm the poor girl and more importantly, help her heal the mental scars Overhaul inflicted upon her.
Which meant he would have to, for the moment, introduce her to immediate family only, people she would see on a daily basis. Namely Tony, Pepper, Gudako, Xenovia, Irina, Ursula, Steve, Bruce, Asia, Pieck, Mikasa and hell, even Happy too. Most of the Avengers like Logan, Remy, Jessica and Neena had their own homes to go back to when the job was done. Yes, they had their own rooms but some, like Clint had families and usually stopped by purely just to vist or suit up for a mission or at least it will be at any rate but that was splitting hairs.
Mostly because they were living, breathing, alive humans. NOT Servants.
Servants, who can go into spirit form, IE out of sight, out of mind.
"But mother!"
"I told you already Mordred, no." Xero sighed mentally to himself as he heard the red Saber grumble, "I'm delighted you want to met your new sister, but that isn't a good idea. But at the moment you can't and I'm not saying this to punish you. But the reason is..."
Because it's Mordred and not just her.
Many of his Servants were not only outrageous, getting up in your face and eye catching. But they're also enthusiastic, energetic, reckless, and not exactly equipped to deal with a child as traumatized as Eri. Xero was thinking of letting some of the child Servants meet Eri, mostly due to the fact she more then likely has never met children her age but that came with it's own set of problems. He thought about Illya, Kuro and Miyu might be good for her, even if the first two had sort of problems, it would go a long way in healing Eri in the mental and emotional department.
Sadly, that did not include Jack or Alice as the simple fact one of them is a legendary serial killer with a hair trigger temper that means the difference between life and death. Alice was...well, he just didn't think it would be a good idea, seeing as she usually hangs out with Jack. Not that in on itself was a bad thing but Eri simply wasn't in a good place at the moment.
He needed someone a little more stable minded to befriend Eri and hell, maybe Abby would be a better choice then those two. Make no mistake he loved those two to death but realistic speaking, he was not exactly the soundest mind person around, so introducing Eri to the magical girl trio would be a good first step in helping his new daughter.
That also including keeping certain Servants away for the time being.
"I have to agree with father, Mordred." Gawain, ever the knight in shining armor coming to his rescue. Be it on the battlefield or trying to talk Mordred out of something, he was on his side, "Our new little sister has been through hell and back. You of all people should know that better than anyone."
He didn't need to see Mordred to know the shorter blonde flinched at that and normally that would have probably ended the conversation, but Mordred actually had a good come back for it, "Brother, it's because i know EXACTLY how that feels that i want to meet our new sister. I want Eri to know she isn't the only who suffered at the hands of someone who was supposed to protect them and not feel alone, thinking it's because she some kind of freak of nature. Like me..."
Xero stopped moving, frowning as he and Gawain considered Mordred's point.
That was fair and it would be good for Eri in the long run to have someone like Mordred. True, the blonde Saber was blunt, crude and rude but she was strong, confident and self-assured of her own worth. Yes, Mordred would be a good role model for the small child, especially if she learned of the similarities between the two but he was unsure.
"Please mother, just think on it."
"I will Moe."
He sighed again, so much to do, so little time to do it and Judgement Day was fast approaching too. That wasn't including the Grimm, Salem, her inner circle and the Cult's world hopping too, plus that little cat bitch's need to prove him wrong, ending in the worst way possible.
"On the bright side, I may have found a way to give Archer a new body AND take back the Fall Maiden's power, denying Salem both the power and relic as well."
Then he would take Spring as well, seeing as that Raven woman wouldn't stand for anyone being stronger than her and her precious tribe. That would give him all four Maidens under his control and while it wouldn't be a massive power boost, it would give them an edge in certain aspects and most certain come to head with certain people from Remnant, but they could deal with it.
It wasn't his fault the first two Maidens thought it would be good to give Ika and Gudako their powers. Xero was the type of person that, if he started something, even if that meant collecting whatever, he would finish it.
It was just a quirk of his, he truthfully couldn't care less about the Maiden's power, but he already has two on his side, so might as well go all the way.
"Yay! Come on master, hurry up and get me a new body! ~ I want to go one some adventures with you too and maybe have a little more 'fun' too. Hehehe."
Xero rolled his eyes at hearing the last sexual innuendo, yeah that sounded about right. But at the moment, he had other more pressing matter to attend too and one of those matters, was Eri meeting her new family.
"But you know how easy it is for things to go sideways." A dark voice, one that sounded very much like the Reaper's voice, spoke in the back of his mind, "Whether accidentally or not, many will see the power you have and attempt to claim it, forcefully if necessary. Either through political means or by attacking those closest to you, like your six year old daughter."
Xero's eyes narrowed, as he clenched his fist. If anyone dare to hurt Eri, he'll-
"Papa, are you angry?"
Eri's timid voice broke him out of those dark thoughts, as he felt Eri's hand tighten fearful on his hair. Reaching up and gently petting her head, making her flinch at first but quickly melt into it, as he spoke, "A little Eri but not at you. Just my usual worries, don't worry about it."
Namely Summer, her family, the Arc family and team JNPR, namely the NR of the team. Summer and the rest of her family might leave their home in Patch to come to their side of the world purely just to get out of Salem's reach or possibly, Ozpin. Even if things had cooled down between the two groups, it was entirely possible for them to move for their own protection.
But he simply didn't know, as he wasn't sure even, THEY knew what they were going to do once they got back. Speaking of families, if Jaune DID have the Null semblance, what happened in the book of Null had a high chance of happening again and while Xero had every intention of holding true to his word, in protecting the Arc family from Chivalric Arms, who's to say other parties wouldn't be interested?
If not them, then how about the fact CA clearly weren't the type to back down from what they want and who's to say they wouldn't come for HIM and HIS FAMILY in response to him meddling with their operations, for his Yoma genes or his magic?!
Or even worse, Eri?
That was a whole another can of worms he had no intention of opening right now.
And he needed to check the moral of his team, both teams, as well. That was something that was both, a duty as team leader and something to distract him from the ever-growing dark thoughts in his head, fearing for their future beyond the coming Dead War. Eri didn't seem to plan on letting go anytime soon, so he would just have to check their moral with her, hanging out on his shoulders.
Lovely.
And the plan Jalter's plan was something else entirely and to be honest, the dark, sadistic part of him loved it. He would be able to go full "Grimm Reaper" on the cat bitch's ass. He wouldn't kill her, oh no, death was far too easy for her and a way out.
No, the cat bitch needed to suffer, if not for her bloody hypocriticalness or her arrogance in general then it was the fact for some reason, Blake seemed intent on ruining any plan he came up with or simply doing what needed to be done or maybe it was simple fact that she clearly believed that she alone deserved redemption. That she alone was allowed to ignore the law and everything so long as she saved innocent people in the process, while staring her nose down at anyone else that did the exact same thing. Which included him, most of all recently.
Did he do the same?
Yes, but unlike bitch cat, HE did not deny or ignore his past like it did not exist. He did not deny his past, he did not pretend it didn't exist and accepted his actions, using those mistakes to better himself along the way as he grew. But Blake?
Blake just up and ignored everything about her past, including a pair of loving, devout parents as well.
That was another thing that drove Xero up the wall. Not only did she avoided her loving mother and father like the plague, but the little cat bitch had the audacity to go on and on about justice, expecting responsibility for his actions, was so bloody hypocritical that it made him nearly CHOKE just thinking about it!
Justice?
Ha!
That cat bitch didn't give a damn about justice, only things that made her feel better for her own past, stupid mistakes. The way she acted in Null, the way she treated Jaune, who had every right to be hateful and anger made his blood boil at the pure bullshit she sported, saying it wasn't the same. Oh sure, when it's someone else family suffering inhuman conditions, it was wrong to kill those enabling it but it was okay if it was one of HER family member or friend suffering.
Goddess had hated Blake and not because she's a Faunus but for the person she was:
A cowardly, hypocritical, pain in the fucking ass bitch with a higher than thou attitude and if Jalter's dark plan was the only way to not only stop her from setting into monition that would see New York almost end up in complete ruin, with several of his people badly hurt, Yang and Ruby included, then so be it. It wasn't his fault the damn cat bitch was so intent on vesting into HIS world and if she wanted so badly to be a part of his world?
Then Xero would show her exactly, what kind of world she was stepping into and what happened to fools like her.
Her and team RWBY.
If not for the fact both Schnee and Belladonna tricked the sisters, it was to stop the sister duo from running off halfcocked against other, evil Magus, thinking they can win. He wouldn't deny it, Ruby and Yang were strong, able to hold their own but psychical strength and speed meant nothing in the face of a clever Magus.
Arrogant or not, most Magus did not engage up close and personal. No, unlike him, most Magus preferred to attack from afar. hidden in shadows or with traps and tricks. The bottom line was this, arrogant as they were, Magus were dangerous, and one mistake is all it took to end in disaster. Strong they might be but with magic involved, strength and skill meant nothing. But that meant nothing to them, they wouldn't listen to reason and just bulldoze on ahead, completely unaware of the true danger Magus present and seeing as they had no aura, the team wouldn't take them seriously.
It was part of huntsmen culture that most huntsman and huntress, whether be it conscious or unconscious, huntsman don't considered people without aura a threat. Huntsman, the more arrogant ones look down on normal people from what he gathered, the same way Magus look down on non-Magi and those that are first generation Magus as well.
The similarities between the two were uncanny and worrying but at the same time, it was a known quality too. Meaning he knew how to deal with it and he knew how to break such mindsets.
"Seeing as how aura is new yet familiar at the same time, if they were captured, Yang and Ruby would be lucky to be killed. Whether they realize it or not, there are fates far worse than death itself."
And to some, death was nothing sort of a blessing.
But even if he was doing this for their benefit, some of his teammates won't like it, like Steve and Armin. Both blondes would want to take the diplomatic approach and not wanting any bloodshed but the two underestimated the stubbornness of teenagers.
"Even if i presented every piece of evidence possible, gave them every possible chance and outright tell them that they will die if they continue down this path, they wouldn't listen. Ruby might heed my warning but the other three won't. Too arrogant, too stubborn and too pigheaded to listen to reason and considered the possibility that their current path might lead them to their deaths."
Whatever the case, he would have to nip this in the bud before it could become a problem and worse, cause more than just their own deaths.
Shaking his head lightly, Xero went to find the closest person he could and just as it would seem, it was Father Vincent with Xenovia and Irina as well. The two younger? Magus still had their cloaks on and seeing what they were wearing underneath, it was probable for the best. Otherwise, he was going to have Lancelot and Hulk beat off some perverts.
"But not if I don't do it first." Shaking his head, lightly mind you as he had Eri clinging onto his head, "First things first. Not only do i need to check on everyone, I need to make sure they're prepared for the fight ahead. Be easier to just simply call everyone together and say my piece." Yeah, that sounded good.
His approach was spotted, as Irina waved at him with a bright, sunny smile, "Xero-sensei, what brings you here?"
"Sorry to say but this isn't a social call, nor does it portray to your positions as my students. Well, it does but it's not what you think. If you don't mind Irinia, can you go collect Kiana, Qrow, Roman and Neo for a little meeting. This meeting will decide on just how yours and Xenovia's training well go and it's important, so if you don't mind."
"Not at all."
"Is something wrong sensei?" Xenovia asked, even if her pretty face was unreadable, one could hear the undertone of concern in her voice.
"Nothing you need to worry about Xenovia, just some things needing clarity is all." Was all Xero said, before he tapped his Focus, causing it to spring to life, as he scrolled through his contact list, till he reached Gudako and Steve. The redhead had gone off to talk to Betty about something and Steve wanted to stretch his legs from sitting so long, "Steve, Gudako you there."
"Here Oni-chan."
"Same here. Wow, this is kind of wired."
Steve commented, while he might have been terrible at using any type of advanced tech, Xero had taken the time to teach Steve and even made his Focus easier to use. Not that it could get easier, but he built in a voice command, so all Steve would have to do is voice what he wants to do and it would do it.
"I need you two to do me a favor. I want you to gather everyone, from both the Avengers and Levi squad to a little meeting room. I need to talk to you all about something important and it can't wait." Xero spoke, getting an "Okay/roger bloggy" in response. Cutting his Focus off, Xero started making his way to the room, this was either going to suck, or it could go great.
Hopefully.
"Excuse me, Lord Mazoku?"
Xero blinked, as he looked behind him and came face to face with Marrow, "Do you have a minute?"
Silently, the black-haired teen tapped his Focus once more, before speaking to the duo he called before, "Gudako, Steve I'm going to need a minute before i head your way. Marrow needs to talk."
He received two "Got its" from the duo, as he turned his attention to the dog Faunus, "I do now, what is it?"
"Um, well, i..." The dog Faunus looked nervous, and Xero waited quietly for the man to collect his thoughts and say his piece. Before long the Faunus finally spoke, "Sir, I don't plan on actually quitting the Ace-Ops. I was, i was just so-"
"Frustrated, annoyed and taken for granted?" Xero questioned correctly at seeing the look of surprise on the young man's face, "I'm not dumb Marrow, i figured that you simply needed to vent and the idea of you leaving for greener pasters might open your more stubborn teammates minds. That and seeing as you refused to fight in a meaningless fight that could only be counted as a fight for Bree to secure her own pride and vanity, you did the smart thing."
"The smart thing?" Marrow said, eyes down casted as he looked at the floor, "If Harriet heard that, she say it was the cowardly thing to do?"
"So, it's smart to fight a fight that not only has no real reason to fight other then as i said before, pride and vanity, but it was completely unnecessary as well. You Marrow were smart enough to not only realize this fact but had the guts to say 'No. I'm not fighting just for your damn pride' and seeing as it was a non-life threating battle, it can't even be counted as treason in anyway. Well, at least against your teammates but stupidity and pride? Sure."
Marrow laughed a little at that, seeing the wisdom and truth of Xero's words as he nodded, "Thank you sir-"
"Xero?"
"What?"
"Just Xero." Xero waved his confusion off, "I'm not your superior nor do i care much for titles. They're nice and all but seeing as you've gotten to know me better and seeing as you're not a dick with a stick up his ass like that Bree woman, you can call me by my first name."
"Alright si-Xero." Marrow corrected himself, smiling as he spoke, "It just felt good to not have to deal with Harriet's temper for once. I know Clover and the general have told her that her temper would get them into trouble, one we wouldn't be able to get out of but she just doesn't listen, ya know."
"Oh I do, believe me Marrow, i do. So, let's hope your team is an understanding and hopefully learn from this."
"One can hope and thank you again Xero." With a nod and smile, Marrow made his way to the Remnant room, no doubt to talk to his team and general Ironwood.
"Papa, what did he mean?" Eri, whom had been hiding her head in his hair, raised her head once Marrow was out of ear shot.
"Nothing you need to concern yourself with darling." Xero patted Eri's head, "Now hang on, it's time you met the family." As he said this, Xero headed towards the meeting room but not before he reached into his pocket dimension and pulled out a new Focus. One that was colored sliver, rather then the white/gray his own was, with a small, gold horn on the side, "Here is one last present for you Eri, a Focus. With this, you can download any information you want, see things with a 'Second Sight' and even call me directly, whenever you want."
Eri's red eyes widen in awe as she cradles the small triangle device, "Umm, where-"
"On the side of your head, next to your ear." Xero answered Eri's unasked question, "I'll teach you how to use it later but for now, papa needs to talk to his friends, so if you be so kind darling as to listen to some music from my playlist, it be great." Mostly because she didn't need to worry or be involved with what he was going to talk to the others about.
Eri nodded, as her papa sent her a playlist of songs and it begin to play gently in her ear, making her smile at the soothing sounds and words. She didn't know what "Music" was, but she was starting to like it!
Seeing Eri thoroughly occupied, Xero made for the meeting room and once he entered it, he knew that he would have to explain everything in full detail. From the abilities of Merlin's to the true, dark reason why Avenger Xero lost all hope.
Why humanity and Earth could not have been saved after the Dead War.
It wasn't going to be pretty, but the truth often isn't.
Done and Jalter's back with a dark plan in mind.
What is this plan, what is she planning to have Xero do? Find out next chapter (Hopefully). Here's a little teaser to wet your tastes and the joy(Pain) that is to come.
Preview: Every Action Has A Consequences
Time seemed to slow down for Blake, as the right blade of Harvester narrowly cut her skull open, barely getting back far enough the insanely fast blade and her aura. The cat Faunus landed on her back with a groan, okay so he was very strong without his magic, fine. It meant nothing, they had aura and so long as her team had that, then they could-
Blake's eyes widen, as her pupils dilated into pin pricks, as she felt a thin trail of blood run down her forehead, nearly getting into her eye. But she didn't care about that, as she reached up with her hand and found it coated with blood, eyes widen in disbelief, she was...bleeding?
How?
She felt the hair on the back of her neck and fur on her ears stand up, as she felt her heart start to beat.
Loudly.
So loud that it sounded like beating drums in her ears, making it harder to hear as everything sounded like what might hear when under water. Barely able to make it out but it was there, as she felt her throat constrict, her lips dangerously dry and her body was shaking. Suddenly and without warning, everything she had done, every memory, both happy and sad, up to her leaving the White Fang, to meeting her team flashed in her mind, making her shallow thickly. She shook from a horrible realizition. She was...
"What's the matter?" Blake's fearful eyes looked up to the approaching Magus, his golden eyes seemed to be glowing as he had an evil, wide smile on his face as he dragged his scythes across the cold, stone ground, slowly coming towards her. Like a predator stalking it's prey,"Life flashing before your eyes?"
"I'm going to die."
Want to know more and see how this all ends?
Read more to find out!
Devil out!