A/N: PLEASE READ THIS NOTE, WOULD YOU KINDLY? Also, a warning.
You may come to hate a certain character in this chapter. That's to be expected.
Well, my grandmother's been laid to rest. Thinking about visiting her grave in a bit and just...talking.
I'm really having an awful run of back luck this year. Not only has my grandmother passed, but I'm worried about my mother; her mental state hasn't been the same since Grandma left us. I've been trying to keep an eye on her, but my jobs keep me so damn busy.
I can't lose her too...I just can't...
Now then, this chapter is told from multiple perspectives. Hope that doesn't throw anyone for a loop.
As ever, reviews are the fuel which keeps me writing. Without them, my inspiration falls flat. Sorry, but that's the plain truth.
So lets answer a few questions, eh?
Q: You better not end the fight early!
A: Worry not. You'll have your fill of battle.
Q: Wait, how is Vanessa the Summer Maiden!?
A: All will be explained in due time.
Q: So what's the deal between Naruto and Taiyang?
A: I've been implying something about Tai since the very beginning of this story, but alas, only one or two readers seem to have caught it. So I'll give you a hint. Why, oh why have he and Naruto been avoiding each other. Anyone? Anyone at all? I've said time and time again, Naruto's been around for awhile in this story. Eternal youth has its benefits. There's a bloody good reason he and Naruto haven't challenged one another; just as there's a reason they haven't torn one another limb from limb. I hate to repeat words, but all will be explained in good time.
Q: Cinder's going to have an aneurysm. Two Maidens? Right in front of her? And she can't even touch them?
A: You're not wrong, but you're not right either. I'll let the chapter do the talking here.
Once more, I own no quotes, references, or memes. Not a wit or a one. NOPE!
Papa!Naruto is best Naruto, and woe betide anyone who hurts his kids.
Don't worry, the food-pun-titles are coming back.
Just need ideas for the bloody things!
"Bloody hell, those two can fight!"
~a future discussion.
Feel the Thunder
Salem was nobody's fool.
One did not live as long as she without learning a thing or two.
Well, perhaps her curse might have something to do with that. Bah! Semantics!
Some might say Vale was ripe for conquest. Perhaps it was. Perhaps it wasn't. Who could say? Cinder certainly believed the former. She knew better. The sight unfolding before her was tempting, more than tempting, but she would not be undone by it. She would not be drawn in. She knew not to stick her nose where it didn't belong. Not while that monster was prancing about Ozma's kingdom. Blast it. After all these years, she'd begun to hope that he finally vanished off the face of Remnant. Fate it seemed, was unkind.
In less than a year, he'd already gotten his hooks into most of the population...and with what!? Sweets! Ha! Not bloody likely. She'd not be fooled.
And so she would stay away. Lest that fool infect her with his unique madness as well.
Perhaps she would sent Tyrian or Watts to make things difficult for him; they didn't seem the susceptible sort. Tyrian was utterly devoted to her and Arthur's ego wouldn't tolerate anyone getting the better of him. Hazel, no, she decided. Hazel she would keep close. That blasted blond would probably sway him in an instant, and she had no desire to lose such a useful pawn.
But that didn't mean she was above observing this madness from afar. No, no, no!
Salem watched the brawl that followed from herhidden Seer and smiled.
This chaos that followed proved terribly entertaining...
(.0.0.0.)
Cinder couldn't move.
She couldn't balk. She couldn't blink. Spirits, she could barely bring herself to breathe and even that took a conscious effort on her part. She was utterly undone by the sight before her. For all her experience and training, she never seen two Maidens fight. Never been so close to one. A veritable feast had been laid out before her, close enough to see and smell, but just out of reach. Watching them fight was like watching the epitome of a human blender. Nothing escaped their reach.
The ring erupted once more.
Raven roared and flung a bolt of wicked lightning forward, splitting the air with a cry of thunder. Vanessa took it on her shield and sent it arcing away to split the clouds above, then stabbed forward with her sword, all but forcing the younger woman to parry lest she lose any eye. Branwen batted the blade aside and retaliated with a great gust of wind, flinging her redhead rival backwards. Vanessa dug her boots into the loamy soil, grit her teeth, and marched straight into the storm.
Realizing she'd reach her regardless, Raven dropped the gale and charged back in. "Cheeky bitch!"
They collided in a spectacular thunderclap that sent them sprawling, weapons and all.
Vanessa's sword and shield plonked down beside Raven.
Raven's blade landed near Vanessa.
Undaunted by the sudden stalemate, each woman took up the other's weapon and thundered forward. Somehow it made them even more vicious than before. Hack. Stab. Blur. Parry. Riposte. Not a single movement was wasted between the two of them. Raven wasn't able to get her stolen shield up in time and reeled back as her own weapon carved a bloody trench in her shoulder. She hacked out with her borrowed shortsword and Vanessa recoiled in turn, clutching at her left side, crimson droplets dribbling between her fingers.
Each Maiden recoiled,
A peal of laughter split the air. It belonged to Raven. "Here." she held out her stolen tools. "I think these belong to you."
Vanessa mirrored her with a smile. "How kind of you. I believe you dropped this?"
Quick as a flash they exchanged weapons and collided again.
All the while, Cinder watched with silent awe. No mere huntresses these two. They were monsters. Killers. She could see it in the way they fought. They'd shed blood long before this. Which begged the question. Kick her away, sweep her legs and knock her down, ram the katana down at her skull. Which were they? Spring? Summer? Fall? Winter? She had no way of knowing. Their blades locked and both women grinned at one another across cold steel. It was impossible to tell which Maidens they might. Magic was magic. Perhaps her master might know, Ozpin certainly would, but as things stood she found herself at a loss.
She could only watch as yet more blood was shed.
Vanessa caught the blade on an armored knee and drove a metal clad boot into Raven's visage. A tooth whistled through the air. Raven grinned and bulled forward in spite of it, alarming her redheaded foe. Braving her blade with both hands, she bore down on her with a snarl. Vanessa barely got her shield up in time, and was immediately forced to a knee...for all the second it took her sword to flick out again. Raven intercepted it just under her right arm and locked the weapon against her side. Aura cracked sullenly as her foe struggled to retrieve her weapon.
The Bandit Queen sneered. "Gotcha."
Her hands collided and a fireball flashed between them to catapult Vanessa away. Cinder calculated the distance, waiting for her to sail out of the ring. As such, she saw the precise moment Vanessa's hand slammed down to her hip and ripped her secondary weapon free. What was that? A cord of some sort? She'd not used it yet, and surely it wouldn't make a difference.
Vanessa's wrist blurred.
A golden lasso sailed out and snagged Raven around the wrist, yanking her off balance. Vanessa used her as a tether and swung back, sparing herself an ignominious defeat. The lasso snapped taut and ripped Raven from her feet with an indignant squawk. Or so it would seem. She turned her uncontrolled flight into a vicious punch that sent her foe sprawling.
Aura cracked viciously.
Belatedly, Cinder realized she'd climbed to her feet. So had most of the crowd. Everyone was shouting. Some cheering, others booing. She was swept up in it, lost in it, terrified and enraptured in equal measure; unable to do anything but stare as the duo collided again and tore into one another. There was beautiful savagery in the way they fought, poise and grace mingled together in a mad waltz that could only be deciphered by a lunatic of deranged proportions.
Cinder's tongue flitted out, licking her lips.
Here lay the power Salem promised her. Here was the might that would grant her heart's desire. Here stood the strength that would make her a legend. She had but to reach out and take it. With that kind of power she'd never be weak again. The world would bow to her, and all would grant her heart's desire. She couldn't wait to make it hers. Raven and Vanessa fought like twin demigods, one an unstoppable force, the other an immovable object. Just how powerful would she be with both their powers under her belt?
Unstoppable. Her mind purred the word. She would be unstoppable.
Emerald shifted restlessly beside her, somewhat unnerved by the sheer glee of her mistress. Cinder scarcely noticed...until the little churl actually spoke.
"Ma'am, should I do something?" her pawn ventured softly, voice a whisper for her ears alone. "I can trap one of them in my semblance."
"What?! No!" Panic reared its ugly head in Cinder's heart and she rounded on her pawn with a hiss. "You will do nothing!"
"But why?" the girl hissed back. "Isn't this what you were waiting for? We could make them-
No! The little fool would ruin everything! Cinder seized her by the face and squeezed. "Do as you're told!"
Emerald grimaced, but demurred. Cinder missed the subtle flash of rebellion in those red eyes as she turned away.
"Yes, ma'am...
In a controlled setting, Emerald's semblance would be just the thing to turn the tide in their favor. But not now. Not here. There were too many witnesses here. Heaven forbid if they actually killed one another. Who knew where the power would go then?! If one of them even suspected a thing they would be on her in an instant. Cinder was many things, but she wasn't a fool. Facing two angry maidens and their benefactor? No. That way lay death had no desire to
Mercury was already gone to parts unknown and was the better fighter of the two. Most likely he'd been killed.
Another explosion rattled the word. Raven cried out in triumph. Cinder didn't want to miss a moment of this. She couldn't bear to. The plan would have to change of course. Emerald would understand. She wouldn't mind. No plan survived contact with the enemy. And if she had to sacrifice the girl in the future...well, her semblance was useful, but the power of the Maidens only came by once in a lifetime. If forced to choose between a needy girl with mommy issues and the power of a god, she knew which she would take.
Cinder wanted the power.
No, she needed it.
She was in love.
(.0.0.0.)
They were out of his league.
Roman had never really...well, realized it until this moment.
He'd thought himself a capable fighter, not the best, but skilled enough. This? This was beyond him.
Raven and Vanessa fought like twin demons. Each strike sent shockwaves racing through the stands. Every block made the ground tremble. And they weren't slowing down. If anything they were only getting faster as the fight wound up. And these two answered to his old man. To Naruto. What manner of monster was he that these two would listen to him, much less fight over him?
Neo tugged at his sleeve. He looked down, noticing her flickering eyes. "Yeah, I see 'em. Scary shit."
Her head bobbed in silent agreement and he couldn't help but notice just how pale her face was. There were few things in this world that could frighten Neo. This? This terrified the little minx, and Roman too. Just the sight of the deathmatch had him fumbling for a cigar. In that moment, Roman finalized his earlier decision. His choice set itself in stone.
Cinder could go get bent. He wasn't fighting those two!
"Damn. Helluva fight, eh, mom?"
A weak sigh answered.
Naruto's clone exhaled in a put upon sigh of its own. Poor bastard. He'd gotten himself stuck on baggage duty. Well, not really baggage duty. More like carrying Sapphire on his back. Just as well, too. Roman didn't trust the hospital he'd left her in. Callows had already targeted her once. Who was to say he wouldn't try again? No, he'd keep his mother where he could see her thank-you-very-much, consequences be damned. If that meant making a bit of a scene...well. Too bad!
The doppelganger grumbled sullenly behind them.
...for cryin' out loud you're not going to let go of me, are you?"
"Don't wanna." Sapphire yawned softly against his shoulders. "Sleepy...
"Tch. Figures." Naruto's clone smiled. "Guess we're watchin' this thing to the end, then."
(.0.0.0.)
Mom was nuts.
Yang disliked the idea of referring to that woman as anything other than her egg donor, but for a moment her anger slipped its leash.
Raven knew how to fight.
She was a specter of death, wreaking destruction wherever she went. She knew no mercy. No hesitation. The same could not be said of the redhead down there. Pyrrha's mom was good -really good!- but her style was a different one, and an ill match against someone who had been trained in Beacon.
It shouldn't have come as a surprise but it did, and the sight genuinely alarmed her. That wasn't a semblance. It was...something else. Something Pyrrha's mother clearly shared. Something was afoot here, but for the life of her she just couldn't figure out what it was. What were the chances two people would have similar semblances? Not bloody likely. Her frown deepened as the match drew nearer to its inevitable conclusion. Even then, the outcome still managed to surprise her.
"Well, shit on a stick." Qrow hissed from his seat beside her. "Two maidens. Oz is gonna flip when he hears about this."
"Eh?" Ruby leaned against their uncle with a frown. "Uncle Qrow? What's a maiden?"
"Erm, nothing. Nothing at all...
(.0.0.0.)
Adam scowled.
He'd been doing an awful lot of that lately since the truth came out.
But seeing this? Here? Now? His scowl became a grimace...one born of confusion more than fear.
Secure in his disguise, his horns and signature red hair tucked up under a blue-ballcap and his brand hidden by an eyepatch, he watched the slaughter and tried to make sense of it. He failed. What manner of power was this? He'd not seen the like before. One he could dismiss as a particularly powerful semblance, but two? That went beyond mere coincidence. Every feeling in his bones told him to run, to turn tail and flee, to get the hell out of dodge, but try as he might, he couldn't bring himself to move.
Was this fear? He'd almost forgotten the like.
He'd been so angry for so long that the feeling left him ill at ease. So much had changed in the last few days. He couldn't make heads or tails of it. He didn't what to believe or disbelieve. And that frightened him. Adam was a man of certainty; he hadn't allowed himself to fear doubt in quite some tome, fear, even less.
Below him, the battle came to a head at last.
"Alright, that's enough!" A voice shouted over the storm of blows. "You're taking this too far! Quit it!"
If the combatants heard him, they gave no sign. Raven recoiled, spitting blood as Vanessa's shield smacked her dead in the face. The champion herself whirled away with a pained gasp as a torrent of ice raked across her cheek. This wasn't a battle; this was a brawl. His grimace deepened watched the man who claimed to be his Father wade into the ring and interrupt that brawl. Foolishness. One didn't interrupt two warriors in the midst of battle. Least of all two huntresses. That was asking for it.
Still caught in the throes of their bloodlust, the warrios turned on him. Also expected.
Father did not falter. Rather than retreat like any sane soldier would, he advanced.
Branwen's blade took him low in the ribs and burst out his back in a shower of blood to jut over one shoulder. Nikos managed to check her charge at the last second and abort her attack, only for Naruto to grab her wrist. With a simple tug he forced her blade to sheathe itself in his gut. Her cry of shock was too genuine to be false. She realized what she'd done.
For a terrible moment the world held its breath.
And then...Father laughed.
"My turn now~!"
Adam was looking dead at him, and even then he barely saw what transpired next. Naruto caught Raven with a vicious right hook that sent her spinning away. Simultaneously his left swung around at an impossible angle and socked Vanessa right on the jaw. There was an almighty flash of light followed by a terrible crack. Both shot out of the ring in unison. Raven smashed through the ground and crashed into a fence. Vanessa proved an able warrior in her recovery, she bounced back almost immediately and tumbled to her feet.
Even from here, Adam saw the realization in her eyes, boiling with shared shame.
A draw then. Well, they weren't going to like that.
The crowd certainly didn't.
Naruto turned to face them, uncaring of the swords still stuck in his body. Carelessly, almost lazily, he ripped them free, uncaring of the gaping tears left behind. He spun in a small circle, arms raised high. Cries of shock tore through the air, only to become frightful whispers as the wounds closed. No, that wasn't kind enough. They simply ceased to be. Adam saw them mend, watched fresh pink skin take the place of those grisly injuries, becoming hale and healthy tan once more. Some came loose deep inside of him.
It felt like respect.
"So!" Father grinned cheerily. "Did anyone bet on a draw? C'mon now! Lets see a show of hands."
He didn't pay attention to what followed. His world was too busy crumbling. Those had been fatal wounds. The blond had, quite literally, walked them off. To hell with that! Even a huntsman wasn't capable of regeneration to that extent. Wounds took time to heal! They didn't vanish like magic! It just wasn't done!
At that very moment, he caught sight of Cinder lurking in the stands. She wanted to fight that?! More fool she!
The White Fang would be slaughtered to a man if they dared stand against...he choked on the word.
If this man truly was his Father, they would be slaughtered to a man. He wasn't having it.
Adam grabbed a nearby napkin, pulled pen from his pouch, and penned a quick note.
Then he stalked forward.
(.0.0.0.)
Cinder bristled as someone bumped into her.
"Here." a rough, vaguely familiar voice rose in her ears. "Consider this my resignation."
Firm hands pressed something into her hands. She frowned at it and looked down for but a moment. Amber eyes fluttered in a rapid blink, not quite comprehending what she'd been given. A napkin? Why would someone give her such a thing? When she dared to look up she found only milling bodies; not so much as a hint of whomever had given her item. Vaguely unsettled, she turned back to the parcel in her hand.
Warily, she unfolded it. Within lay but three lines of dialogue.
She glared golden daggers at the letter:
Dearest Cinder Fall,
I fucking quit.
~Taurus.
The letter turned to ash in her grasp. "ADAM!"
(.0.0.0.)
"You go on ahead, sis. I'll be a bit."
Yang dug in her heels as the crowd began to disperse. More than a few grumbled about it. One or two lucky sods had come away with hefty winnings, but their glee was muted in the fury of their fellows. More than a few had lost quite a bit of lien today. Heh. Poor bastards. This was precisely why she didn't gamble. Give her a strawberry sunrise any day.
With the bout over -and wasn't that a bit of a buzzkill?- she found herself lingering behind the stands.
Uncle Qrow had all but stormed down the stands and gone after Raven, leaving them to their own devices. Weiss had muttered something about seeing her sister down there -Ice Queen had a sister?- and Blake had gone and pulled another of her disappearing actions. Just as well. She didn't want them to see her like this. Ruby was fussing over her enough for all of them.
Her sibling dithered, bless her simple soul. "Are you sure?"
Yang forced a smile she didn't feel. No, she wasn't. Not at all. She didn't relish the idea of talking with Raven -or Naruto!- alone...but this was something she needed to do. Alone. She couldn't keep hiding behind her team like some frightened foal. She wouldn't have a better chance than this. If she kept putting it off, she'd wind up hiding forever. Yang Xiao-Long didn't hide.
"Yeah, don't worry about it." she gave her a nudge. "Save me a plate of cookies, yeah?"
Silver eyes danced with glee. "Kay~!"
Ruby didn't need to be told twice; she all but vanished in a whirl of red rose petals.
Yang watched her go and felt her confidence shrink with each step. She felt small. Tiny. Exposed. Her left hand reached across her right, gripping her wrist until it creaked. She took a slow breath and exhaled, marshalling up the last battered dregs of her confidence. She could to this. She was strong! She was mighty! She was-
Someone bumped into her.
Her confidence cracked. Nope, nope, nope!
"Pardon me." a voice murmured. "I didn't see you there."
"Hey, don't worry about it-
She paused, just now noticing her unexpected guest. Tall, fair of face with dark hair and striking golden eyes. Give her a pair of cat ears and she could be Blake's sister. Well, if you ignored the red dress. Blake liked her blacks and white. This woman looked like she'd stepped right off a runaway. A faint spark of jealousy burned in her heart before she managed to quash it.
"Cinder, right?" she fumbled for her name. "You're one of the transfer students from Mistral, yeah?"
"I am."
Yang winced at her deadpan. "Sooo...heck of a fight, right?"
"Branwen was impressive." the older girl conceded with a scowl. "As was her opponent."
"Mmhm." Yang pushed away her anger offered a noncommittal grunt. "Mom's a bitch but she knows how to swing that sword of hers."
Cinder went curiously still. Golden eyes flicked up and down the length of her, just now noticing the similarities between the two of them. Yang didn't much like that look. It was too sharp, too focused. Too intent. A flicker of something passed through Fall's gaze, gone before she could think to comment on it. Her posture relaxed just a little. Somehow, that put Yang even more on edge.
"I wasn't aware Raven Branwen was your mother."
Yang scoffed. "Egg donor more like."
"But you are her daughter."
Yang blinked. "Yeah...?"
Cinder smiled at her.
"Excellent."
Yang's world went black.
A/N: Cinder, what have you done?!
One would think isolation would help with that; on the contrary, its only made things worse. My body wants to rest despite my best efforts, and its hard to muster up any energy. Bloody maddening, this. Still, I'm trying to push my way through, come hell or high water. Must not give up! Must...persevere...!
As ever, reviews are my lifeblood. Without them, I cannot write.
So In the Immortal Words of Atlas...
...Revieeeeew, Would You Kindly?
They keeps an old man alive.
And enjoy the previews.
As ever:
SPOILER! SPOILER! SPOILER!
PLOT DETAILS AHOY!
YE BE WARNED!
Get ready to smile~!
Obvious references are obvious~!
(POTENTIAL! Previews! What can I say? I've been busy.
Blake eyed the offered hand like a poisonous asp. "What do you want, Adam?"
...I am offering you a truce."
Sapphire frowned at Nora. "You look familiar...
The grenadier wrinkled her nose and looked up at her. "So do you."
Roman swore. "No. No, no, no. This is not happening. Tell me this ain't happening...!
Neo clapped gleefully."
"We need to talk."
Naruto spun the chair out and sat down in it, arms braced against the back. His companion mirrored him well. Almost a little too well.
"Yeah, we've been putting this off for awhile, haven't we...Tai." his grin became a grimace. "Or should I say-
"Don't." a tanned limb rose. "Please don't say it."
"Meet me at this location. Come alone. Or the girl dies."
Naruto swore. "Oh, shit. Rae, just calm down...
Raven inhaled. Exhaled. Slowly.
"People keep asking if I'm back." she spoke softly, the words a low contralto in the ensuing silence. "And I haven't really had an answer. I wanted to leave my old life behind. Be something better, you know?" she stood slowly, sending the chair spinning behind her. "I was tired of fighting a pointless battle in a pointless war." a hand flew to Omen's hilt, thumbing it free from its sheathe. "I wanted to prove something to myself. Prove that I could be better. But now?"
Her gaze rose, eyes gone to sinister scarlet slits burning with wrathful flames.
"I'm thinking I'm back." the Scroll creaked ominously in her grasp. "Now listen here, you little shit. Get your filthy mitts off my kid and give her back or so help me...
Red eyes burned with unholy scarlet flames.
...YOU WILL DIE SCREAMING."
R&R~!