A/N: EDIT: Flames need to stop, can't we all just get along? That's a lot of hate and hardly any reviews...
T_T
As ever, this story remains under the Embers rule.
If folks don't like it? Poof! Gone! To the void it goes! So by all means, speak up!
Every bit of feedback, every review, no matter how large or small, means the world to this tired old man.
Now, then. If you're not familiar with the RWBY character Arslan Altan...look her up. Right now. Otherwise? You're gonna be confused.
Did you do that? Great!
In other news, I've had someone contact me -not naming names!- about paying me to write RWBY stories on this site. And when I say RWBY I mean pure RWBY stories. Commissions, that sort of thing. Damn near fell out of my chair when I saw the amount on offer. I've never been paid to write fanfiction before, and I'm no writing master like Coeur Al'Aran...so why me?
Its something to think about I suppose...
Now lets answer your burning questions, shall we:
Q: Where are Naruto's shadow clones? We've only seen the one in Atlas!
A: Naruto, as stated, has at least one shadow clone in every kingdom, while he's putting around Vale.
For instance! He's got a guy in Mistral, but he wasn't close enough to save Cinder and Rhodes. We've already seen the clone in Atlas when rescued Little!Weiss and Little!Winter. Ah, but Vacuo! Remember him mentioning sandstorm popped one of his clones. That pissed him right off, so he took...extreme measures.
Furthermore, these aren't your run-of-the mill shadow clones. These bastards are sharp as a tack and ruthless to boot, just like the original.
Why don't you read on and see what I mean?
Q: What's your update schedule?
A: *sighs* Oh, very well. I do daily updates. I've been doing that since...lemme see here *checks notes* at least February now? Or was it March? Either way its exhausting to say the least, given that I'm alone these days. I update my RWBY stuff monthly if not bi-weekly. That often means daily updates, with my Resident Evil, Fate, Bioshock and other stories sprinkled in among them.
But hey, I have been known to update two stories a day if I'm really feeling inspired.
Speaking of inspiration, finale of "I'm Only Human" has been delayed due to that shock ending of Attack on Titan. It really broke me.
Still, the life of a writer is a busy one, and sometimes this honestly feels like a job...
Q: Was that the Amber we know?
A: Ayup. With Naruto ranging about, Salem needed a pawn of her own. Furthermore, I feel the need to clarify things. Cinder. Is. Dead in this story. She went out on her terms and burned Watts as she did.
She's with Rhodes now. Let her rest in peace.
I didn't go into detail on his injuries for a reason. Right arrogant bastard he is...
Q: What would happen if Naruto and Salem threw down as they are now?
A: Without bullshit magic or the relics?
At this point if Naruto and Salem fought it would be just that. A fight. They would keep fighting...and fighting...and fighting...
Until Naruto learns seals, and that's a big if, Salem cannot be dealt with permanently. Conversely! Salem's not strong enough to kill our golden boy. What we have here is a stalemate. Both know it, but if one is pushed too far...
...well.
Salem has nothing to loose; at most, she'll take a few hours to regenerate.
Naruto, however...well, that's the thing about bonds...
Worse, piss Salem off too much and she'll intervene directly...we've already seen her step up her plans early with Hounds...
Q: Wait, so who's going to be the Spring Maiden? What about the Summer Maiden?
A: Why, dear reader! If I revealed that now, I'd spoil two arcs...
Q: Sooo...what's the pairing? Summer's clearly a part of it -and obviously in the early stages of pregnancy!- but you never did mention the rest...
A: Read on and see for yourself~!
Alright, I've kept you waiting long enough.
Once again, I own no references, themes, or memes. Not a wit or a one.
As per the story, each story will have a unique "Heart" theme for it.
Now then...prepare yourself. Quote is meant to be familiar.
"No more."
...excuse me?"
"I said no more. Not one more."
"You say that, but you can't stop me. You're just a clone."
"Just a shadow clone, am I?! Come here and say those words to my face, you big gorilla!"
~Future.
Hearts of Fire
"I don't...wanna...die...!"
Yet it seemed death had come for Arslan Altan regardless of her wishes.
Everything hurt. Her arms, her back, her legs, everything. And yet all she could do was crawl in the sand.
Her dark complexion was scuffed and bloodied, yellow robe a tattered mess, her shoes long since worn away by battle and platinum blond hair matted down with blood. Most of it was her own, and it kept getting into her olive green eyes. The flames there burned bright as ever, a constant source of anxiety as the little girl trudged through the wastes of Vacuo.
Nor was there any help to be had on that front.
Even now at this late hour, the desert was as inhospitable as it was cruel. There a could be no other word for this barren continent, this ruined stretch of land. No villages nearby, and Shade Academy wasn't little more than a distant silhouette on the horizon. She'd been running for so long now, but here at last, she'd reached her limits.
So hungry..so thirsty...so tired...and in a few moments, so very, very dead.
She'd run away from the giant before - managed to escape him and dive under the sands for a time- but he had found her and broken her arm since. When he caught her a second time, he'd break her legs no doubt. Then she wouldn't be able to run anymore. The notion terrified her. She stole a glance over her shoulder
Sure enough, there he was.
Even now Hazel Rainart gave chase, slowly plodding after her with all the patience of a sloth. He seemed content to let her exhaust herself now, wary to keep his distance after she'd taken one of his ears. Her eyes fixed on the red ruin she'd left upon the right side of his face. Good. She hoped it hurt.
"Cease this foolishness." he called out after her. "The sun is setting. Submit and I can tend to you wounds."
A snarl tore out of her. "Like you "tended" to my family! Never!"
...they made their choice. No one had to die today.
Arslan grit her teeth and dragged herself forward.
"I'll kill you." She spat her curse into the sands. "I'll absolutely kill you! I swear it! If its the last thing I do!"
She wouldn't die here. She refused to die here. If she fell know it meant her family, her brothers and sisters, had died for nothing. Hate was all that kept her going. Hate and fear. Fear of what might happen if she perished without avenging her family. But while the spirit was willing, the flesh was weak. Her good arm betrayed her at last, weak fingers curling loosely around grain.
And his shadow loomed large over her prone form.
A fist slammed down at her face.
...I am sorry."
Arslan's life flashed before her eyes.
"NO!"
In a final fit of defiance, she flung a hand into the sky and shrieked.
The heavens answered.
Lightning forked down from the skies above, all her stress, all her rage, all her sorrow made manifest in a singular bolt of light. A great purple-white bolt slammed down into the sands and turned them to glass in a furious explosion of heat, visible for miles in every direction. Caught unawares by the sudden volley, her attacker stumbled back, shielding his face with a massive forelimb. But only for a moment. Her strike had been a wild and reckless one; a last ditch effort to strike her foe down...and it had only left him all the angrier.
"Enough of this!" he staggered upright, blinking the spots out his eyes. "If you will not be taken alive, then you will be slain-
A hand clamped down on his shoulder.
"Would you care to repeat that, you sonuvabitch?"
Hazel's whirled around and struck hard; harder than anything Arslan had ever seen. His
His fist smacked into an open palm with a dull shockwave.
Arslan didn't see Hazel grimace as a dozen tiny cuts blossomed across his limb. But she felt his fear all the same.
She heard it as he recoiled with a yowl. She knew it as his attacker stepped in and clamped down upon his fist, grinding the knuckle bones together with an audible crunch. She understood it as his captor reeled him in and slammed a knee into his stomach with enough force to rupture his kidneys. Hazel doubled over with a low wheeze, gasping for air, not quite comprehending his peril. Arslan did, and she grinned with bloody teeth. For this was the same fear she'd felt all day; now it was his turn to feel fear.
"Big man." a low voice pierced the gloom. "Bullying a little girl in the dead of night. Pick on someone your own size."
Although the giant tried to pull away his captor held him tight.
"You?!"
Blue eyes burned gold. "Me."
They blurred. Arslan couldn't find any other word for the whirlwind of combat that followed. Had the heat finally gotten to her? Was this real?. She wasn't sure. She still wasn't, even when the newcomer rammed a glowing blue sphere into Hazel's chest and launched him away.
In that moment, she saw her savior.
"Don't worry." a tanned face gazed at her over one shoulder, exposing whiskered cheeks and startling golden eyes framed by sunny blond hair. "Its going to be alright now."
Despite her best efforts, the Summer Maiden whimpered a little as he pivoted to face her completely. Because those strange golden eyes bored int her now, narrow with rage. Not at her, but anger for her, Righteous fury that burned hotter than the sun itself. Even as she struggled to process this, he knelt thrice as quickly and took her by the shoulders. A hand came down on her mangled arm, and with a pulse of healing light, she felt the bone set itself anew. A whisper trailed from her lips.
"Who are...?"
"Stay put." despite his remedy, those words were brisk, cold like stone. "This won't take long-
"UZUMAKI!" Across the sands, the giant man thrashed upright with a fearsome bellow. "No more tricks! Face me, coward!"
"Stay." that calloused hand stroked Arslan's head once more. "I'll be right back."
Then the blond man waded towards the giant.
"Coward, am I?" he drew a wickedly long knife from the holster at his leg. "Only coward I see here is you, Hazel." A quick flick drew it into a reverse grip. "Salem's got you killing kids now, does she?" his head turned as he spat upon the sands. "Gretchen would be so dissapointed in you."
That, at least, seemed to give the giant pause, if only for a moment. "Don't say her name."
"I'll say whatever I want!" A spark of anger burned through his stony facade." I've already failed to save one Maiden this week. I'm not going to fail another."
"You will."
"No, I don't think so." Those eyes didn't burn with flames, but they were bright all the same as he cracked his knuckles. "I had to run all the way over from Mistral to get here. Mistral!" his teeth clenched, biting off a snarl. "And then Shade after that lightning strike! Do you have any idea how much energy that took?! I had to burn half my reserves just to get here in time!"
"You...you fool," that giant wheezed a little, cradling the grievous wound left in his chest, "You can't stop me...you're a clone..."
The blond cocked his head like a wary fox. "Figure that out yourself, did you?"
...I have. The real you would've finished me by now. You're just a clone; yet you truly think you can defeat me as you are? Foolish." Another dust crystal came and went, causing his muscles to bulge anew. "Compared to the original, you're nothing. You're alone. Tired. No one can help you."
Arslan struggled to rise, but her legs failed her. "Be careful! His semblance...he can't feel any pain!"
"I know." the man with the Heart of Stone spread his arms on either side of him, palms splayed. "Hazel and I are old friends. And its fine." The blond tilted his head. "I don't need any help. After all...Hazel...
A slow, lazy smile spread across his face.
"You're weak."
The giant stiffened and abandoned his attack; indeed, poor Hazel's world ground a halt in an instant
Weak?!
His very soul bridled at the slight. He wasn't weak. Not anymore. He'd sold his soul for vengeance. This was for Gretchen. These fools were fighting a losing war, fighting to watch this world die. So they had to go, all of them. Salem would bring about a pure world, a world where children like Gretchen never died. He would gladly fight to see such a world. In his mind, that didn't make him weak. That made him strong!
"You dare?"
An open palm cracked across his face, snapping his head to one side. He rode the blow and pivoted, only for a second to rock his world. This was madness. He was no slouch when it came to strength. Even now, he had at least two dust crystals crackling through his body. And he was losing?! That insult, still so fresh in his mind, burned Hazel's fury to new heights.
"You're weak." Step by step, Naruto struck him drove him back. "I fought a god. Compared to that? My friend...even a clone like me can beat you."
He swung up. Sand burst before Hazel's face, blinding him to the roundhouse that followed.
"You're just a man." a fist caught him by the ankle and slammed him into the sands. Once. Twice. Thrice. Puny Hazel."
His mind snapped.
"I'll kill you!"
He slammed into the blond's unprotected flank and tackled him to the dunes. Massive knuckles descended on the blond's forearms as he protected himself. Once. Twice. Thrice. On the fourth, Naruto caught his first. Bitter blue eyes gazed up at him, flecked with shards of gold...and disappointment. Hazel rammed another arm down, only to find that entrapped as well. An angry growl tore out of the monster masquerading as a man beneath him, a noise that had no business coming from a man's throat.
"Better men than you have tried."
His head snapped forward, obliterating Hazel's nose.
"No more."
...excuse me?"
"I said no more. Not one more."
Blue eyes pulsed gold.
In his mind's eye Hazel Rainart glimpsed a giant red orb, and a snarling beast with it. Something yanked his consciousness elsewhere. Great gnashing jaws snapped at him, not real, yet deadly all the same. He blinked and yet the illusion remained.
Terror became reality.
An uppercut caught Hazel by the chin. Teeth whistled away through the air.
He saw the next attack coming and tried to block. He really, truly did. He just wasn't fast enough.
Clenched knuckles barreled into his jaw to send him flying. Hazel struck the floor and went sprawling, aura crackling across his body. His semblance went with it. Pain came crashing back. He choked on it. When he tried to rise, someone kicked him back down again. Too late, he realized his blunder and tried to correct it. Golden light filled his vision.
The giant didn't stand a chance.
"I have had it up to here with Vacuo." a fist shot forward, bloodying Hazel's nose anew. "Its too hot." the giant lunged at him with a clenched first, only for a clawed hand to obliterate his right eye. "There's too much sand." His adversary kicked out, obliterating the giant's knee. "Don't even get me started about the storms!" Hazel slammed down to one leg and promptly lost it as a glowing red claw hacked it away at the knee. "I am sick of it all, sick of this, and sick of you!"
Rainart crashed back, clutching at his mangled limb, to no avail.
"And I'm sick of you lot killing children! NOT ONE MORE!"
The Red Demon showed no mercy. None at all.
"No more, Hazel!"
WHAM!
Blood spattered the sands.
"Do you hear me?!
A fish scythed out, tearing smashing through his guard to crack the murderer's skull.
"It ends tonight! You've taken your last life!"
His boot crashed down and the giant slumped, bleeding from an ugly wound in his skull.
Arslan sank to her knees at the sight.
...is he dead?"
Her savior turned a weather eye back to the still twitching body behind him. No one could survive that. No one. Either the elements would take him or the blood lose would. Somehow that wasn't enough for it. Not enough that he had been battered and beaten within an inch of his life. No. Not nearly enough.
And then her savior spoke. "Take your revenge."
...what?" the battered girl blinked.
"He killed your family, didn't he?" he stepped aside. "He owes you a debt of blood. End him. Or I will."
Anger reared its ugly head and became hate.
Hazel tried to struggle upright. His good eye met hers, nearly swollen shut.
What right did he have to live? Why was he still here, when her family wasn't? Not fair. Absolutely unfair!
Arslan felt hers gaze flash with green fire. Her hand rose. Lightning leaped from her fingers and a thunderbolt slammed into Hazel from on high, sending sparks skittering over his prone form like so much spellfire. His body jumped once, and a pained groan fled from his lips. So she hit him again. He cried out once more. Again. And again. Yet again...
Her eyes burned. Her throat closed around a scream.
...until only ashes remained.
She blasted those too, just to be sure.
Naruto clapped her on the shoulder. "Good girl. He won't be coming back from that."
Arslan sniffled. "I did good...?"
"Yup."
In that moment, Uzumaki reminded her of Papa. His hair was the same color, all that blood made his skin look dark, and his smile was just the same. Hard and flinty, with a core of warmth beneath. It was too much. Her mind broke. Her knees buckled and she slumped to the sands, sprawling unevenly among the dunes. Her eyes began to burn. She sniffled again. The shadow clone swore softly. Somehow that made it worse. Tears ran down her face then that was the end of it; she threw her head back and bawled like the little girl she was.
Naruto's shadow clone sat down beside her.
He didn't say anything when she latched onto him. He just sat there.
And from that singular event...well. The fate of Remnant changed that much more more.
(.0.0.0.)
The girl writhed beneath the throne, screaming as she clutched at her ruined limb.
Amber sucked in a ragged breath. "I won't...fail again."
Salem smiled upon her. "We shall see."
(.0.0.0.)
Neo reached Beacon unimpeded.
No crazed Grimm, no terrorist attack, not even a stiff breeze to impede their flight. Honestly it was a little boring. She felt restless. Anxious. Perhaps it was wrong of her to crave excitement after little "vacation" yet crave it she did. Yang was nice and all, but she'd felt herself going crazy in that house. And really, who did that crazy blond girl thing her old man was better than Naruto?! Really!
Someone needed to teach her a lesson.
Neo certainly wasn't much a fan of bullheads to begin with -heights really didn't agree with her!- and the silence of her "parents" certainly didn't help matters any. Naruto and Summer had barely spoken to her since their little craft took off, and while they admittedly had reasons for that, she wasn't much pleased at being ignored.
It wasn't fair when others stole the spotlight. She was supposed to be the heroine of this story...wasn't she?"
"Right." Naruto pinched the brow of his nose as he spoke into his Scroll. "No, no, take your time. Meet up with each other if you can. Right. Be safe."
The Mute Maiden watched her protector most intently as he hung the phone. For a moment sounded like he was talking to himself. Crazy, that. People didn't talk to themselves...right? Right! Certainly not!
Oh, silly Neo. How little she knew...
"One of your clones, I take it?" Summer quirked a brow where she sat beside him. "Did they find something?"
"Someone, more like." He grimaced, absently stroking Neo's head. "Mistral was a bust, but Atlas and Vacuo." a tan hand scratched the back of his own scalp. "Well...lets just say the family might be getting a bit bigger in the near future."
Summer's brow nearly shot into her hairline. "Oh?"
Family? Neo rather liked the idea of a big family. The more the merrier. A little sister sounded really nice...
"Look over there, sweetie." Summer guided her gaze out a porthole. "We're nearly here. You don't wanna miss this sight.
In no time at all he grand spires loomed before them in all their silent splendor. All the while, Neo watched with veiled interest. This place would be her home, they said. She would be trained here, learn to master her gifts and more. When her enemies came for her again, she would be able to defend herself against them. Really it was something to be happy about. Wasn't it?
So why did she feel so nervous?
The landing proved just as uneventful as the flight...until she saw a man awaiting them on the landing pad. Dark clothes, green scar, silver hair and a cane. She didn't like him from the first. Wrestling her fears down she nevertheless waited for the bay doors to open before she dared move; even then she was quick to hide behind Summer's cloak.
Like any gentleman, the stranger met them as they descended the ramp.
Perfunctory greetings were exchanged; words she barely paid heed to; in no time at all, his gaze focused on her.
"Its a pleasure to finally meet you, little maiden."
Ozpin offered his hand.
Neo flinched.
No! No trust! People had tried to win her trust before. Mama and Papa were the exception. Everyone else were to be wary of. Perhaps that wasn't the best grammar on her part, but she didn't care. She was a child after all and Ozpin was so very tall, and a stranger at that. Really, she couldn't be blamed for her reaction when she saw his hand reach for her. PANIC!
Neo reared back, bearing her teeth. The she bit down. Bit down hard.
Naruto slapped his forehead. Summer howled with laughter.
Like mother like daughter it seemed.
A/N: Did I just...?
Why, yes, I believe I did!
Weiss will get her true debu next chapter, don't you worry.
Had a blast with the more subtle -and some not so subtle- elements in this chapter. Worry not, we'll see Little!Weiss soon enough, her time is coming. As is the time of the Spring and Summer Maidens, and ohhhh boy that's gonna be a right shocker.
So lets clarify!
Neo = Fall Maiden.
Weiss = Winter Maiden.
Arslan = Summer Maiden.
Go ahead. Guess who Spring is. Really! You'll never see her coming.
As ever, reviews keep me writing. They're the only form of payment I'll ever receive. Without them...I can't write.
So in the Immortal Words of Atlas...Review...Would You Kindly?
And of course, enjoy the previews.
References for daaaaaaaays!
Surprise, surprise~!
(Previews)
The little girl curtsied. "Hello, sir...
...and you must be Weiss."
"Who's the kid?"
...not sure. She won't talk. Hasn't said a word."
"Beat her some more." the bandit shrugged. "Might talk than-ack?!"
"My name," their captive growled as she tore out his throat, "Is Vernal. And this camp? Your tribe? Everything you have? THIS IS MINE NOW."
"You've been awfully hungry lately."
Summer stilled, the sandwich hovering before her mouth. "Its nothing."
Beside them, Neo tilted her head.
"FOOL OF A MORTAL!"
Naruto's body crashed backward, missing an arm. It regrew in a gout of scalding steam.
"Am I? The only fool I see here is you. And I can do this...all...day."
"Why did you make me come here, Uzumaki?!" Black magic filled the air, a thousand falling spell-bolts striking at him from every direction. "You're fighting so you can watch everyone around you die! Think, Naruto! Think! You'll outlast every fragile, insignificant being on this planet. Your wife? Gone! Your children! Gone! Descendants? GONE! You'll live to see this world crumble to dust and blow away! Just like me! Everyone and everything you know will be gone! What will you have after five hundred years?!"
He climbed to his feet and healed once more.
...you already know the answer, Salem. Memories. I'll have memories."
"You wretched fool of a man. Die with your memories, then!
R&R~!