Power And Strength
Vault of the Spring Maiden
If this was dying, it was a confusing way to go. One memory after another floating up at random from a dark void. Some of them passed by relatively quickly while others seemed to linger on for several moments. One such memory was of a conversation he'd had at their Haven apartment with Ozpin/Oscar a couple days before this whole mess started.
"So it is true," said Oscar/Ozpin as Wayne finished explaining his situation, "Like your father before you and his father before him. You have also undergone the ritual and subsequent training for the aura shadow."
"I've advanced enough to use it in battle," Said Wayne, "Well that is I've used it successfully three times. I was only able to maintain it for a couple of minutes at the battle of Beacon, when my emotions were heightened."
"Indeed," Said Ozpin/Oscar, "Your aura has a sharper edge to it now, one you did not possess while at Beacon. But, it is also, shall we say, a little greyer."
"The dark half of my soul," Said Wayne, "It's been trying to take hold of me. Even after mastering all of the steps to producing and using the technique, I still haven't mastered the final step of quieting the voice. If I don't do that-."
"You'll become a shadowed one, a warrior consumed with the desire for carnage and battle," Said Ozpin, "I've seen a few of them in my many lifetimes. Enough, I think to formulate a theory on what happens when one allows their darker half to consume them."
"Legend says that they remain strong, but something happens to their aura," Said Wayne. "It's like the light half disappears."
"It is more like it is sealed," Said Ozpin, "a reversal, if you will, of the original situation. You see I believe that what happens is that the light half of the soul becomes overwhelmed by the negative energy damaging the body. Because of this, the aura can no longer heal wounds sustained in battle because it is repairing the damage from that energy. But, of course, one consumed with the desire for battle and carnage would brush off the pain in the middle of the battle, some would even welcome it. Thus, even a victorious wielder of the aura shadow was still likely to die from their wounds."
"Which is why I need to master it," Said Wayne, "Dying in a single battle won't serve any purpose unless it is crucial to winning the war. In fact, it'll be worse if I wind up turning on my friends. That's why I came to ask you, if it's possible to use your magic to help me?" Oscar/Ozpin took a deep breath as he tried to search for the right words.
"If I had the strength of my previous life, it's possible I could've helped you," Said Oscar/Ozpin. "But as things stand now, my soul is not yet one with Oscar's, and what remains of my magic is still inaccessible at the moment."
"I see," Said Wayne as his head drooped a little, "Well, I suppose I'm no worse off than before."
"From what I understand," Said Oscar/Ozpin, "To truly master the aura shadow, you must come to terms with the most unpleasant parts of yourself, and admit to yourself truths that even you don't realize you're hiding from yourself."
"It sounds a lot easier than it actually is," Said Wayne as he rested his head on his fist. "I mean, how do you even find something when you don't even know you're hiding it in the first place?"
"Realizing deep truths about one's self is always a difficult, and time consuming endeavor," Said Oscar/Ozpin. "But you have more to rely on than just a forbidden technique now. Your friends have gotten stronger over time, and with luck we'll find more help soon. So instead of fretting about whether or not you're able to protect them, you should instead acknowledge that they've gotten better and trust them to do their part when the time comes."
Wayne smiled at that, until the peaceful scene was shattered by an ominous voice. "Trust in your friends," Said the familiar voice of the aura shadow, "That's what everyone told you and look what happened." The scene shifted then as an image of Weiss, impaled in the side by a molten glass spear came to his mind, an unconscious Ruby, Jaune pinned to the floor by Cinder's foot. "So this begs the question, why did you hesitate?"
Wayne remembered then, the battle he'd had with Cinder not too long ago, and its unexpected conclusion. Raven Branwen had intervened, jabbing the top side of her blade into his side. He'd retaliated by gripping her throat and burning it with his semblance. He would've blown her head off if she hadn't spoken the next few words.
"You might-*cough*-have a shot," Raven managed to gasp out. "Focus on-*cough*-healing. I won't let Cinder-*cough*-take the relic."
"Why should I believe you?" Questioned Wayne, menacingly as he kept his grip on her throat.
"If you don't-*cough*-believe me," Said Raven, "Then kill me. I'll even-*cough*- lower my aura." Another moment passed as Wayne smelled burning flesh. The spot where he was holding Raven was becoming even more damaged as he felt her aura drop. What was more, he saw the flash of a familiar power under Raven's mask.
"You're more desperate than even I thought," Said Wayne as he loosened his grip, "To gamble with something like this."
"It's kept me alive this long," Replied Raven as she pulled her sword from his side. Wayne released her and fell to his knees then, falling in a way that concealed the wound from sight. It was after that when everything started to become a blur. 'I guess that means I'm not dead yet,' Wayne thought.
"Why would you let that bandit live?" Questioned the figure of his darker half, "We had a plan. One that insured the relic would remain sealed."
"Because she needs us," Replied Wayne as he finally got a view of what was happening around them. Vernal had been killed by Cinder earlier in an attempt to gain the powers of the spring maiden. But that's when Raven revealed one of her biggest secrets. "She's also the spring maiden. And if there's one thing our fight against Cinder made plain to me is that it takes someone at least close to that level of power to challenge a maiden."
"How does that change our plans, whatsoever," Said his darker half, "the chance to go out burying two maidens and sealing the relic. It sounds like quite a fitting end given the other alternatives."
"We came up with that plan on the sole notion that Raven was committed to working with Cinder," Replied Wayne as he watched the battle between two maidens play out in front of him. "But it turns out we have another option, one that's been presented to us thanks to Raven Branwen."
"You realize that the only reason she left us alive was for her own benefit, right," The figure pointed out. "One last surprise for Cinder in case she can't win this fight one on one." Wayne thought for a moment as he watched, and felt, the clash between the two maidens as their blades sliced through the air at incredible speeds. They moved from one part of the chamber to the other in the blink of an eye, with Raven changing the dust charge of her blade every few seconds while Cinder was forced to reform her own swords again and again.
"We'd do better to just release what remains of our energy while they're distracted fighting each other," Said his dark half. "They won't notice the ceiling caving in, and what's better, you might even be able to make it to the elevator before releasing your attack. It'll be a small shame that your friend's mother has to die, but in my opinion, it is the best outcome that you can hope for at this point." As Wayne was about to give his answer, Raven and Cinder had their most ferocious clash yet as each conjured massive swords of ice and flame.
When the two blades met, they shattered, releasing a large wave of energy which shook the cavern and caused some of the ceiling to begin falling. "I think I'll stick with another outcome," Said Wayne as he began forcing his prone body to move, "We'll have one shot at this. We need to make it count." As he said this, Cinder took the upper hand for a moment as she managed to pin Raven against the golden gate by the elevator with her very extended Grimm arm. But Raven, crafty as always, wasn't held for long as she used her powers to freeze Cinder's feet as some chunks of the cavern ceiling fell on her.
"I say we let them both die," Said the figure, "That woman has caused you more problems than the few favors you owe her."
"Maybe," Said Wayne, "But so far, your way has only managed to nearly get us killed."
"Well if you're so uncertain," Said his darker half, "Just give that last little bit of yourself that you've held back from me. Become the ferocious warrior you were always meant to be and not only will you return to the surface victorious, but with the heads of all three of your enemies as trophies!"
"You see, that's where we differ," Said Wayne as he put even more effort into inching forward, using what aura he had left to heal his wounds, "I value more than just a massive body count!"
"Are you a fool?!" Exclaimed the figure, as he felt his control slipping, "You made the choice to come down here to fight. The only reason you haven't died from your wounds is because of my power, your power!"
"A power that wasn't enough in the end," Said Wayne as he pushed back against his darker half, "Now our only hope for getting back up alive is to trust in someone who may very well cut us down the moment she gets the chance. So either help me or get out of my way!"
"You won't survive without me," Said his darker half, "I can keep us alive if that's what you really want. You don't need anyone else!"
"What I need," Said Wayne as he grasped his weapon which had fallen to the floor and staggered to his feet, "Is for you to shut up already!" With that final statement, the aura shadow dispersed around him as he tightened his grip on his weapon. And not a moment too soon, as he caught Vernal's prone form moving just the slightest bit. In the next instant, both maidens came crashing down with a few more sections of the ceiling as both of their auras flared.
"Have you had enough of getting thrashed," Asked Raven as she and Cinder stood up.
"Shut it!" Exclaimed Cinder between ragged breaths. Raven simply smiled at this as she took on a more casual stance.
"It's too bad really," Said Raven with a hand on her hip. "Despite being this strong and this clever, in the end you still forgot to watch your back." Cinder was confused for a quick instant when she heard Vernal moving around to aim her weapon at her. As Vernal fired her weapon, Cinder swung her right arm in front of her face, producing a flame which blocked the bullets.
'NOW!' thought Wayne as he fired at Cinder's heart. His enemy just noticed the bullet coming her way and instinctively raised her Grimm arm to block the strike. A fatal mistake as the Grimm arm wasn't protected by her aura, and could do nothing to block out the pain of being electrocuted by a lightning dust round. "AAAAAAAArgh!" Shrieked Cinder as her good eye caught sight of Wayne, noting that the wound in his side was healed. In fact, it had never been that deep to begin with.
'She just cut a flesh wound in his side,' Cinder realized, 'They faked the whole thing!' The next thing she saw was Raven's hand hitting her in the face, releasing a blast of energy which sent her flying over the edge of the crevice. As she fell, the mask on the left side of her face crumbled, revealing the twisted dead skin where her left eye used to be. Raven then used her maiden powers one last time to freeze Cinder solid. The last Raven or Wayne saw of the Fall maiden, was her descending into the blackness as a statue of ice with an expression of utter shock on her face.
Raven let out a breath as the flames coming from her eyes receded. Wayne walked up next to her to peer down into the abyss where Cinder had fallen. "That last shot was for Pyrrha and Penny," Said Wayne as he spat down over the cliff.
"And it was a pretty good one," Said Raven as she walked over to Vernal and closed her friend's eyes. "Thank you, Vernal, for everything." Wayne simply retreated from the cliff side as he put both of his retrieved weapons back into his coat. "And I suppose I should thank you as well, Ursario."
"Let's be honest here," Said Wayne as he crossed his arms, "The only reason you didn't let Cinder roast me was so I'd shoot her at a vulnerable moment. I doubt you even knew Vernal still had some life in her until just a minute ago."
"True enough," Said Raven as she started walking towards the vault door, "It was a gamble to be honest. But I thought you of all people would be happy. After all, your hated enemy is finally gone and you were even able to pull one over on her in the end."
"I'll be happy once I know my friends are safe," Said Wayne, "Especially considering the fact that we wouldn't have even been in this situation if you had just warned us in the first place."
"I couldn't risk Cinder's and her group potentially finding out I was going to betray them," Said Raven, "Not with such a valuable prize at stake." Raven then proceeded to place her hand on the door, causing the many shapes to light up in the form of luminescent plants. At first, nothing seemed to happen, then, a sound similar to a wind chime caused Raven to jump back a little with her hand on her blade. Wayne drew his right Crescent Fang as well, not really looking forward to anymore surprises.
More glowing orange petals rained down from the large tree above the door as the sound of cranking gears filled the air. One by one, each 'petal' of the flower shaped doors moved upward and to the side as the door seemed to fold open. 'What in the world,' thought Wayne as he and Raven peered into the doorway. It was like stepping into a completely different part of the world as an entire desert seemed to stretch out on the other side of the doorway.
There were also three rock platforms at the entrance and on the third one was a pedestal. And on that pedestal was the relic. As Wayne looked on, Raven started walking forward. Wayne reacted by pulling out his other weapon and pointing them both at Raven. "And just what do you think you're doing?" He asked as Raven stopped in her tracks and turned to face him.
"Never mind, I'm pretty sure I know actually," Said Wayne, not giving her a chance to answer. "This was your real goal all along wasn't it? The reason you didn't warn us in the first place or turn against Cinder until after you got down here is because you intend to take the relic for yourself. Do I got that right so far?" Raven let out a sigh as she turned towards Wayne with a hand resting on her sword.
"I doubt you'll really understand," Said Raven, "But I need that relic."
"Like when you 'needed' to take Weiss hostage," Said Wayne. "Or like your current need to lead a bandit tribe, despite being perfectly capable of being so much more. And let's not forget your oh so great 'need' to abandon your very own family to pursue your own selfish goals!"
"Enough!" Exclaimed Raven as she tightened the grip on her sword and readied her stance a little. "I've let you off easy far more times than most because you're Tobias and Jen's son and a friend of my daughter! I was even planning on letting you off for scarring my throat because it meant that I still got the relic. But if you're going to stand in my way I won't have any other choice but to cut you down!"
"Would you really do that, 'Mom'," Yang's voice sounded suddenly as the blond huntress in training landed on the ground by the gate. Raven froze as a look of disappointment, and possibly a little bit of dread crossed her face. Wayne backed away a bit as Yang approached while keeping his weapons trained on the bandit leader.
"So here you are," Said Raven as she relaxed her stance. "After I warned you about Qrow and Oz, and after I gave you multiple opportunities to walk away. So believe me when I tell you there was nothing personal about this." Yang didn't answer for a moment as she turned her attention to Wayne.
"You alright Wayne?" Questioned Yang.
"I feel like a barbecued and diced corpse," replied Wayne, "But I'm standing at least." Yang gave a small smile before she turned back to her mother with an abject frown.
"The vault's open, I guess that was you?" Yang asked, already knowing the answer.
"You and your friends caused a good bit of chaos up there," Said Raven as she began pacing to the side. "It made slipping down here easy enough, if not for Wayne trying to kill us. But I was able to turn even his interference to my advantage."
"And how many of us did you expect to survive the fight upstairs?" Asked Wayne.
"I knew for certain Yang could handle it," Replied Raven, "She is my daughter."
"Well your daughter has a question," Said Yang, "Uncle Qrow and Ozpin explained to me how the maiden powers were transferred. That means the last maiden had you in her final thoughts when she died. So the girl you found must've trusted you, and even cared for you."
"I'm certain they told you a number of things," Said Raven with disdain, "And like a good little student, you listened and obeyed."
"Not quite," Said Yang, "I've started asking questions. But not just about Oz and Qrow. I also want to know how the last spring maiden died. Was it battle or sickness, or something else?"
"Why should it matter to you?" Asked Raven as she turned back to them. But the frown on her face had disappeared.
"It was you wasn't it," Said Yang, "I can see it written all over your face. How could you do something like that?!"
"Because she was a weak, scared little girl!" Answered Raven, now avoiding Yang's gaze a bit. "Even after we found her. I trained her and trained her but she never learned. In the end she wasn't cut out for life in this world."
"YOU DON'T GET TO DECIDE THAT!" Yelled Wayne as he stepped closer, his grip tightening on his weapons. "You don't just kill someone because they can't live up to 'your' expectations! Even if she was an abject failure I'd still be willing to bet that all she wanted was to live her life, so who are you to take that from her?!"
"Don't you get it?!" Said Raven, "Because she had the powers of a maiden, she would've been a target her whole life. Me ending her life-."
"Wasn't anything personal, right," Said Yang, not believing it for a second.
"I was showing her mercy!" Said Raven, raising her voice significantly.
"Was it really?" Asked Yang as she began her own pacing, "Was it you being merciful, or just being a survivor? And what about letting me and my friends walk into a trap? Was that because you knew we could handle it or because it gave you a way to get what you wanted?"
"Do you really think it's that simple?" Said Raven, "If you knew me, or what I'd been through, some of the choices I've had to make you'd think differently."
"No I don't know you," Said Yang, "I only know what dad's told me about you. The Raven he knew was a troubled, complicated woman but also someone who fought for what they believed in. That Raven was willing to fight for her team or her tribe. Did you decide she wasn't cut out for this world either?" This seemed to hit a nerve with Raven as her eyes flared up with the flames of the spring maiden.
"I've been able to spit in the face of death over and over again!" Seethed Raven, "And I've been able to do that because I'm strong enough to make the decisions others won't!"
"Oh just shut up already," Said Yang as she began circling around her mother. "Strong? When was the last time you did anything that required personal strength? You turn your back on others, cut and run when things get too difficult and put others in harm's way before yourself." Yang clenched her fist in frustration as she spoke. "You might have a lot of power, but you don't know the first thing about strength."
"You both think you can just stand here and lecture me?! Exclaimed Raven. "I can see it clear as day, how the both of you are shaking like frightened children!"
"Yeah, we're both scared," Said Yang, glancing at Wayne for a moment as she stepped forward, "But we're still standing here."
"And believe me when I say, we're more scared of what would happen if we weren't standing here." Said Wayne.
"We're not like you," Said Yang, "We're not gonna just run away. That's why you're letting us walk out of here, with the relic."
"And just why would I let you leave with-," Raven started to say before Yang cut her off.
"Because Salem terrifies you!" Exclaimed Yang, "And if you were a target before with your maiden powers, just imagine what she'll do once she finds out you have a relic." Raven backed off at this statement. "Salem will come after you with everything she can throw at you. Or, she can come after us instead." Raven turned towards her daughter, surprise written on her features.
"And when she does, we'll be standing there waiting." Raven relented then as the fire from her eyes died. Wayne lowered his weapons after that, feeling that the fight had left Raven.
"This isn't something you want to do," Raven said, as she directed her gaze at the floor.
"Nope, I really don't," Said Yang, "But I'm still gonna do it anyway." Yang brushed past her mother without another word as she approached the vault opening. Wayne backed up while keeping his eye on his friend's mother.
"I-I'm, I'm so sorry," Said Raven, as Wayne caught the sight of what looked like tears falling from her eyes.
"Me too Mom, me too," Said Yang as Raven morphed into her bird form and flew away. Yang glanced back then as Wayne finally returned his weapons to his coat. His blond friend's expression carried a lot of pain in it. "Let's go Wayne." He simply nodded his head as he followed his friend through the doorway and onto the sand of the desert beyond the door.
The air had a strange pressure to it, like it was thick with humidity. What was stranger still, the sand they kicked up while walking floated through the air instead of immediately falling on the ground. It was a strange feeling, but one they were able to ignore as they approached the relic. "All the anguish and misery caused up to this point," Said Wayne as they stopped in front of the relic, "For something like this."
The relic was a rather ornate, golden lantern with two, arm-like decorations pointing out on either side. The center was a large blue orb which would ordinarily hold a flame on a regular lantern. Yang hesitated only for a moment as she grabbed the relic by the handle on top and picked it up, staring at it for a moment. Then, she just broke down as she collapsed to her knees with tears flowing from her eyes. Wayne put a reassuring hand on his friend's shoulder, giving her a moment to let her emotions out. Soon enough, her sobbing quieted down.
"Let's get out of here," Said Wayne, "Our friends are waiting for us up there." Yang wiped her eyes with her mechanical arm before answering.
"Yeah, you're right, we need to get going," Said Yang as she stood up, "Everyone'll be happy to see that you're alright, and I still haven't gotten a chance to talk to Blake or Aegis since they showed up."
"Aegis and Blake are here," Said Wayne, more than a little pleasantly surprised, "They made it after all."
"Yeah, they brought some reinforcements too," Said Yang as the two of them started walking for the exit with Yang carrying the relic, "When I left, things were finally starting to look up for us."
"Well once they see the relic, it'll be over," Said Wayne, "Without a leader and seeing their objective out of reach, they'll probably just cut and run."
"We can only hope," Said Yang before a somber look crossed her face. Yang stopped for a moment then, prompting Wayne to stop as well. "Wayne, I've got a huge favor to ask you."
"What's the issue?" Questioned Wayne, more than a little confused why she'd be asking for a favor now of all times.
"Could you, not tell anyone that my mother is the spring maiden," Asked Yang, "At least, not yet." Wayne thought about it for a moment and found that he could only think of one reason Yang would ask him to do something like this. When it came down to it, Raven was still Yang's mother.
"Alright," Said Wayne, "I won't tell anyone if you won't. But only because you asked me too."
"Thanks Wayne," Said Yang as she gave her friend a quick hug, "I owe you one."
"Just get me a good meal and a comfy place to sleep afterwards and we'll call it even," Said Wayne as they headed for the elevator, "I'm beat." Yang nodded her head in agreement. No other words were exchanged between the two friends as they stepped onto the elevator and ascended towards the surface.
The vault is empty now as Wayne and Yang head back up to the surface. What will be awaiting them when they arrive, and how will their friends and foes react to their return? That's a question for the next chapter to answer. But one question I can answer right now is this, 'why am I a little late with the chapter?' Well I had a little issue with my internet connection for a couple days, couldn't post a thing. But now we're back in business, so I hope you've all enjoyed this chapter and feel free to comment and review with your own little critiques (They help) and ideas. Thank you all once again, and be sure to stop by next time as Haven feels the after effects of the battle for the relic. 'Til next time.
