Taking Control.
Cinder is in a large, empty room. Behind her is a darkened arched hallway. On either side of the arch, the walls of the room have a low ledge the bear several burning white candles. She was relearning how to use her power effectively, while Líf was watching from the side, having finally finished up his rehabilitation under Thrasir. Four Beowolves approach Cinder, moving in a semicircle formation. Cinder swings her left arm at them, sending another slash of fire. It cuts through the middle of all four Grimm and they disintegrate away.
Cinder pants again, still upright yet taking a breather. She does not get long, as heavy footsteps approach from her left. She gasps and looks in their direction. A Beringel leaps into the air, ready to deliver a blow to her with its fist. Cinder, however, pulls back her right arm and pushes a ball of flame right at it. It, too, disintegrates.
As its body disappears, Cinder falls to her knees, breathing heavily.
"Enough" Salem walks forward while Cinder continues to struggle for normal breathing "I thought you were the girl who wanted power. Did you lie to me?".
Cinder winces on the force of Salem's question before looking upward. Turning to face Salem, Cinder clearly shakes her head negatively.
Then stop holding back. If you wish to master your new powers, you must-" Salem is cut off by the sound of heavy doors opening.
On the opposite end of the stone hall, a sobbing Tyrian enters. He falls to his knees once in the room, both hands flat on the floor and his head bowed, speaking softly "I'm sorry. She'll forgive me. Pleeeease. Forgive me...".
"Tyrian!" Salem stands before him. He raises his body but remains sitting on his legs while Cinder rises from the stone floor behind Salem "Your task - were you successful?".
Tyrian bows his head in shame "N-no".
Cinder's eye widens while Líf narrowed his, slightly surprised Tyrian would fail such an simple task. Salem also looks surprised for a moment before narrowing her eyes and walking away. Cinder watches their leader for her further reaction without looking at Tyrian.
Tyrian began begging and turning his body to remain facing Salem "But-but hope is not lost! My tail, my stinger... I-I poisoned him, Qrow! He will not be a nuisance to you any longer, no... no longer! I've done that... have I done well? Have I pleased you?".
"The last eye is blinded... you disappoint me" Salem said before she leaves.
Tyrian falls forward, and began wailing. A Beowolf approaches, all focused on Tyrian's negative emotions as his distraught state grew by the second. It ignores Cinder and leaps upon him. Tyrian screams in pure rage as he sends it away with a single blow from his tail and it lands on its back. Still wailing, Tyrian opens his weapons and leaps atop the Beowolf. He slashes at it repeatedly, tears streaming down his face. His wails gradually turn into laughter as he vents his grief into the butchering of the Grimm, which was already dead, but that did not stop Tyrian from from stabbing it over and over again.
Cinder watches, horrified while Líf puts a hand on her shoulder, motioning it would be safer if the leave. They carefully made their way out as Tyrian's screams of grief, mixed with his maniacal laughter echoed through the halls.
Back in Vale Severa was preparing to leave. She was wearing a new outfit, which was more suited for the long journey that was ahead of her. She picked up her weapon and was about to leave, but stopped when she noticed a picture frame on her desk which was laying down. She walked up and picked it up... It was a picture of her and Blake... They were holding each other while Severa was taking the picture with her free hand. Severa had forgotten she still had this picture... One of the few things that was recovered from the ruined Beacon.
Severa looks at the picture for a few seconds before she lays it back down and left her room. Once she was outside her room, Cordelia was waiting for her. It was clear she was aware of what Severa was planing.
"So, you're leaving?" Cordelia asked, already knowing the answer.
Severa nods "Yes. Me and Yang are leaving together. It's clear staying here doing nothing will not help anyone. We are heading to Mistral, since that's where Ruby and Lucina are... And I am kind of eager to tell Ruby that we're cousins... Well sure, neither of her parents were related to Qrow, but she is Yang's sister so it still counts".
"And you want to see Qrow" Cordelia added.
Severa was silent for a moment before she sighed "Yes... He is the only one who has the answers I need... I need to talk to him. Whatever happens after that is anyone's guess".
"I know I can't stop you, but please be careful out there... And remember, I always loved you... Even when I failed you as a mother" Cordelia said.
Severa smiled as she walked up and hugged her mother "It's ok mom... I'm over it now".
Cordelia hugged her back "Thank you, sweetie... Still, there is one thing I need to give you before you go".
Severa blinked in curiosity. And a minute later her remaining eye was wide in surprise. Cordelia showed her a black and red motorcycle. It looked really awesome!
"Wow! I never knew you had something like this!" Severa said in amazement.
Cordelia chuckled "Hey, I was young and cool too once. But I do have many fond memories of this motorcycle".
"You sure I can have it? Sounds like it's special to you" Severa said.
"It is, but you are more important. Besides you can't just hitch a ride with Yang all the way, it's better to have some wheels of your own" Cordelia said as she held up the keys to the bike "Take good care of it... And yourself".
Severa took the keys before hugging Cordelia again "Thank you mom... I love you".
Cordelia hugs her back "I love you too... And I know you will make me proud".
Severa smiles. Her journey was of to a good start.
In Atlas, Bernadetta was finishing backing her bags. This is it... She is leaving this cage tonight. Yuri had been speaking with Weiss' butler, Klein and together they had hatched a plan to get both Weiss and Bernadetta out of Atlas. Freeing two birds with one key. Bernadetta heard a soft knock on her door and knew it was the signal she had been waiting for. She grabbed her bow and hurried over to the door. She opened it and Yuri was waiting for her.
"You ready?" He asked and Bernadetta nodded "Good, stay close and stay quiet. We need to move swiftly".
The two moved quickly but quietly down the hallway, Yuri taking the lead as she kept a sharp eye out for anything that could show up. They neared a corner, and Yuri motioned Bernadetta to stop as he noticed a guard. He put a finger to his lips, silently telling Bernadetta to be quiet. As the guard approached, Yuri swiftly moved around him and grabbed him in to a choke hold, slowly and silently making him pass out, without killing him of course. They continued on, with Yuri carefully taking down several more guards.
They got outside, but stopped when they saw Bernadetta's father and two guards waiting for them. Count Varley glared at them "Did you really think I wasn't expecting this? I knew that filthy turncoat would betray me sooner or latter. I will have him beaten for this. But not before I punish you for your disobedience".
Yuri was ready to fight them, but Bernadetta stopped him and began walking towards her father "I'm leaving, like it or not. You can no longer keep me here".
"Insolant brat! You will learn your place! Capture her!" Count Varley ordered.
The guards began rushing forward, but Bernadetta reacted faster than anyone expected and fired two ice arrows, which froze the guards in place. She then began walking towards her father, dropping her bow on the ground as her father took a couple of steps back. Bernadetta was no longer the scared little girl he had been controlling for years. She had changed... She was stronger, and much more defiant... But most of all, she was no longer scared. Just angry... Very, very angry
"You cant do this! I am your father! Without me you are nothing! You hear me!? You will have nothing! You will be nothing at all!" He said in anger and some fear.
"I would much rather be nothing... Than ever being your tool again! NEVER AGAIN!" Bernadetta screamed as she ran and delivered a punch directly in to her cruel father's face, sending him flying right through the front gate of their house. That punch would have made Yang very proud.
Yuri's eyes were wide in surprise and amazement before he smiled "Wow... You have no idea how satisfying that was to watch. You really have broken your cage now... Quite litterately in fact".
Bernadetta was breathing hard before looking at him "Yuri... what will happen to you now?".
"No need to worry about me. Now that I know you will be safe, maybe I will accept Ironwood's offer to join his ranks. Your dad can't touch me if I'm part of the Atlas military" Yuri assured.
Bernadetta walked up and hugged him "Thank you Yuri... without you I could never...".
Yuri smiled and hugged her back "It's ok Bernie. You were always a sister to me. And you always will be".
Bernadetta stepped back, tears in her eyes but a smile on her lips "You were more of a family to me than he ever was".
Yuri picked up her bow and gave it back to her "Come on. Time to get you out of this cage for good".
Bernadetta nods and they continue on, leaving her father on the ground... unconscious and possibly a broken jaw... She was finally free.
It is daytime in Menagerie birds tweet in the trees around the balcony outside Ghira's study. Inside, Lyre was resting on the couch. She blinks awake and groans. She looks up to see Sun and Blake were in the room as well. Blake is sitting on a chair across from the couch, her body facing Lyre. Her head is bowed and her hands are folded in her lap, while Sun sits on another chair.
"Blake? Sun?" Lyre spoke.
Sun smiled "You're awake. Take it easy, your last fight took a lot out of ya".
"This... is why, Sun. This is why I left them all behind" Blake spoke, making Sun and Lyre look at her.
"What are you talking about?" Sun asked.
Blake gets up and walks over to the couch "I am done seeing my friends hurt because of me".
"Blake..." Sun began but Blake refused to let him finish.
"Shut up! Do you think I like being alone? Every day... every day I think about them! Ruby, Weiss, Yang... Severa... they were my friends! And Severa... was much more than that. I loved her... I loved them like I never thought I could love anybody. And I hope they hate me for leaving" Blake said.
"You don't mean that" Sun said.
"Yes, I do!" Blake snapped before holding her hand to her head "Everyone thinks they can help me, but they can't" She sitts back down "You saw Ilia and Lethe last night and they're not even the worst! No. No more. They're better off without me. I made my choices and I'll deal with the consequences because they belong to me".
Lyre was silent for a moment before she forces herself to get up and stands in front of Blake "Blake... Look at me...".
Blake did... and received a slap from Lyre, which even shocked Sun. Blake held her cheek before looking up at Lyre who was glaring down on her.
"You... Are by far one of the most selfish people I've ever met. When things gets to hard you run away and pushes everyone out of your life, showing no regards at all for how that makes us feel! How do you know if we can't help you when you refuse to even let us try? Do you trust us so little that you believe we are no help at all? Do you hate us so much that you just want us out of your're life, is that it!?" Lyre asked, her voice getting louder as she was completely ignoring the strain on it.
"N-No, that's not-" Blake began but Lyre cut her of.
"Shut up! And for once in your life just listen! Nobody forced us to become your friends! We weren't forced to help you! You were never just a classmate! You are our friend and we care about you! And Severa loved you with all her heart. She outright told me she wanted to marry you one day!" Lyre said.
Blake gasped when she said that before she turns away, looking down with tears in her eyes.
"And yet... you just ran away... When she needed you the most you abandoned her... But I know for a fact she still loves you, even if she doesn't realize it herself yet... You... You need to learn the difference between protecting the people you care about... and abandoning them..." Lyre said, looking ready to cry "I lost one family already... I can't lose another...".
Sun walks up next to Lyre and puts a hand on her shoulder and she allows him to take over "She's right Blake. You can make your own choices, sure. But you don't get to make ours. When your friends fight for you, it's because we want to. So stop pushing us out! It hurts more than anything the bad guys could ever do to us".
Blake looks down "I... I'm sorry...".
Lyre drops her scolding and hugs her "Just stop being so stupid, Blake... Severa is supposed to be the dumb one in your relationship, right?... And don't tell her I said that".
Blake couldn't stop herself from giggling "Of course...".
The door suddenly crashes down, revealing Kali embarrassing herself through eavesdropping too closely. Behind her, Ghira looks down at his wife on the ground with his hand on his hip.
Kali pops upward again and speaks in an embarrassed tone "Oh! Oh dear, would you look at that, she's awake! Thank goodness!".
Ghira covers his face with his hand "Kali, please".
"Mom!" Blake said loudly as she and Lyre stops hugging.
"Hey, Mrs. B!" sun said.
Blake walks over to her mother "What are you doing?!".
"Well, sweetheart, your father needed to speak with the two of you" Kali answered.
Blake looks at her father "Huh?".
A Scroll is set down on the coffee table. It shows a master folder labeled W. F. with six subfolders inside. The subfolders are labeled: Assignment, E.L., P.R., E.W., S. F., Untitled.
"I'm afraid you were right to be suspicious" Ghira said.
"What do you mean?" Blake asked.
"Adam Taurus is planning to overthrow the leader of the White Fang, and stage a full-scale attack on Haven Academy. It would be the Fall of Beacon all over again" Ghira answered.
"No..." Lyre whispers
There was a silence before Sun spoke "Not if we destroy the White Fang once and for all".
"No" Blake said as she stands up, full of determination "We're not going to destroy the White Fang. We're going to take it back".
Lyre blinks and then smiles. There is the Blake she's been waiting for.
Ren and Nora run through the abandoned Kuroyuri.
"Not again, not again..." Was all Ren could think about.
They come to a stop after passing under an arch leading to the center of town. Ren is panting, but Nora is hardly winded. Ren lifts his head and his worried eyes change to ones smiling in relief. In front of them, Lucina, Jaune and Ruby face the other way, but abruptly turn, Jaune putting his hand on his weapon. Qrow is propped up against the tree.
"What are you guys doing here?" Ruby asked.
"Did you hear that noise? What was that?!" Jaune asked.
Ren's eyes grow wide and he falls to his knees, clearly alarmed "No...".
"Ren! What is it?!" Ruby asked in worry.
The sound of plodding footsteps can be heard coming closer.
Jaune looks around "Wait, you guys hear that?".
Ren spoke a weak protest "No...".
Nora looked at her parnter in concern "Ren?".
The footsteps come to a stop. A bone horse head breathes loudly, exhaling black smoke. Within the bones are glowing red lights and around it is the black flesh of a Grimm.
Ren lifts his head.
Weapons can be seen stuck into an body that has bones sticking out perpendicular to its spine. Slowly, a torso raises, revealing a horned, humanoid Grimm. The horns and front part of the face are bone while the mouth is merely thin strips of Grimm flesh stretching across an opening. The mouth, the bones, and the eyes all glow red.
"Oh my god..." Lucina spoke silently at the horrific monster infront of them.
The Grimm was an Nuckelavee, which twitches its head and roars.
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For those who wonder. Severa's new outfit is the one she wears in Fire Emblem Fates, where she goes by the name Selena.
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Tell me what you think.
