Original upload date: 06/22/2020
Revised upload date: 05/28/2022
To be honest, the majority of things changed in this chapter were moving from present to past tense. I don't know when I started that change, but I think it reads better.
Metal like Roses
By ReaderWarrior
I do not own Mistborn or RWBY.
Awake
Vin couldn't escape the feeling of pain. Freeing the power at the Well caused her more agony than anything she had felt in her entire life. It hurt more than any of Reen's beatings. It hurt more than her fight with the Lord Ruler. She felt as if she could die at any moment. But nothing hurt more than her heart.
Elend. She left him to die. I could have saved him! Oh, Elend… I am so sorry. Vin wanted to curl up in her mistcloak and die. To become one with the mists. She sobbed silently as she reached around herself, an attempt at comfort before letting herself fall into the dark void.
But her hands felt nothing. Wait… Where's my mistcloak? Vin groped behind her, finding only open air. She attempted to open her eyes but was quickly blinded by the light. Flinching, Vin squinted and tried to scope out her surroundings.
Vin was laying in a small cot, a modest white bed with white sheets in an almost blinding white room. Looking around Vin noticed a few more cots against the walls in a large room that one might consider a hallway. Curtains were drawn over other beds and a desk was pushed into a corner beside the door.
Where am I? Vin sat up slowly and rubbed her head, trying to burn tin but finding herself unable to do so. Of course not. I burned away the rest of my metals at the Well.
As she moved to the side and attempted to move off the bed, she felt something tug at her arm. Vin noticed her arm was connected to a strange metal box with moving letters on it. It showed a squiggly line that beeped every couple of seconds as well as other numbers.
This isn't the Final Empire… Vin ripped off the needle that was inserted into her arm, wincing at the small pain that followed. Immediately alarms start beeping from the strange box. Vin quickly grabbed it and smashed it to the ground, crumpling it into pieces. She then jumped down and picked up a few of the remains from the box, inspecting them.
Vin quickly swallowed a few pieces of the strange box, trying to burn it. It looks like steel. I don't know if it is Allomantically sound, however. But do I have a choice? In her mind, she could feel her depleted reserves fill up slightly. Vin quickly burned it, thankful to have the comforting feeling of warmth return as blue lines connect from her chest to other metals in the room.
A quick glance around revealed most of the room had some form of metal attachment. Vin slowly stepped toward the door, pressing her ear against it. After not hearing anything, Vin opened the door and peaked out. No guards? The Mistborn looked down in each direction and frowned. There was nobody to be seen at all. No guards or servants. In a palace as large as this, that was practically impossible.
Vin slid out the door, shutting it softly behind her, so as not to be heard. Vin looked around her and found no potential threats anywhere near her. The hallway was bigger than even those in Keep Venture. Large windows decorated the side, closed with large green drapes. Bright white boxes illuminated the walls which allowed her to see where she was going.
She quickly ran down the hallway looking for any indication of where she was. The entire place was just so alien to her. The architecture, the lights, and even the decoration screamed unfamiliarity. Just as Vin was turning a corner, she heard the sounds of footsteps and voices.
"Jaune, I promise. I am not going easy on you anymore."
Panicking, Vin drop some of the leftover shards from the machine and pushed herself upward into the corner of the ceiling. As long as no one looked upwards, she should be safe. Vin watched as a woman with bright red hair escorts a blonde man, who Vin infers as Jaune, down the stairs. Both of them were covered in armor and sweat, though the one called male was definitely more exhausting and was panting visibly. The girl was seemingly ready to go a few more rounds. Vin took note of their swords and shields, weapons of soldiers.
Not hazekillers or mistings. Too much metal. And what is white their strange colors and design?
"Really? You think so?" Jaune smiled, stopping on the level Vin was hiding on.
"Absolutely," the redhead nodded. "I think that in a few more months, maybe even weeks, you can even be able to beat me in a serious duel."
Jaune shook his head. "No way, Pyrrha. You have years of experience! I'm just a lying farmhand."
A farmhand? Vin tried to think of a place where a farmhand would be accepted to a place like this in the Final Empire. Are they skaa or estranged nobles?
The redhead, who Vin now knew to be Pyrrha, placed a hand on Jaune's shoulder. "Jaune. You are one of the best men I have ever known. You practice harder and show more untapped skill than anyone I have ever fought before."
Fought before? Assassins? No… Mercenaries? Maybe.
Jaune smiled. "Thanks, Pyrrha." The blonde then turned around and started walking down the corridor, passing underneath Vin. On the other hand, Pyrrha gave a long sigh before following her comrade.
Finally, Vin sighed mentally. But the Mistborn's luck stalled when Pyrrha froze a few feet away from her. The girl cocked her head slightly, as if listening then stretched, turning her body around and patting her
"Hey, Jaune?" she called out.
The boy paused, turning back around. "Yes?"
"Do you remember the dance that we had a few months ago?"
"Uh… yeah?"
A ball? Then they must be nobles, Vin thought. She was very much aware of how low her reserves were and cursed them for taking so long.
Pyrrha stepped forward and placed an arm on his shoulder again. "Remember how much fun Ruby had with Roman's friend?"
Jaune frowned. "What do you mean?"
"Well," the redhead commented, "I thought perhaps we could enjoy something similar."
"Oh. Well, should we invite some others too?"
Nodding, Pyrrha smiled at her comrade. "Yes. I'll be waiting here for everyone."
"Okay." He then gives her hand a squeeze. "I'll be right back." Jaune then quickly turned around and dashed down the hallway. From her position, Vin watched as the boy stumbled slightly before rounding a corner. When she turned back to the other girl, Pyrrha, her eyes went wide as she flung her shield at the Mistborn.
Lord Ruler, I've gotten soft! Vin quickly pushed it away with a (small) flare of steel and dropped to the ground. When she looked up, Pyrrha had already unsheathed her sword and kicked her shield back onto her arm. Her stance, while imposing and left very few openings, was unknown to Vin. Most soldiers were only taught basic infantry lines and how to slash an incoming force. But hers…
It's too good. And what kind of noblewoman takes that much training?
"Who are you?" Pyrrha glared. "What interest do you have at Beacon?"
Vin studied the girl as she remained crouched. Beacon? Where is that? A light flickered through the windows, catching the reflection of one of the armor stands against the walls. Two daggers are kept in its gauntlets. But without iron, she'd have to get past-
"Do you mean us any harm?" Pyrrha asked again.
Shuffling her feet, Vin changed from a crouch and into a standing position. Pyrrha, opposite her, raised her spear above her head and lifted her shield.
Wasn't that a sword before?
Vin didn't have much time to think about it before Pyrrha lunged at her. Her speed was incredible and Vin only just barely avoided being impaled. The attack was so swift, that Vin didn't even have time to use steel to Push the attack away. All she could do was lunge to the side.
As Vin rolled onto the ground, Pyrrha swung her blade sideways and caught a small bit of cloth from Vin's shirt. It ripped. Pyrrha froze at this, leaving her open as Vin rushed down the hall and Pushed against Pyrrha's armor to propel herself forward.
The sudden weight made Pyrrha stumble. But the girl was quickly on her feet and trying her best to fight against the weight of Vin's steel. This actually helped Vin, speeding her down the hall and to the daggers she noticed earlier, quickly ripping them off of the armor stand.
The blades were lighter than Vin expected. But a quick toss into the air, followed by grabbing them by the handle, allowed for her to grasp their weight and make the necessary mental recalculations on how she might need to throw them.
If Vin didn't know better, she would have thought Pyrrha was stunned or even shocked. The girl's stance had weakened and her sword's point was now almost parallel to the ground. Her eyes were wide. But such a skilled fighter would never lose their cool unless something deeply rattled them.
Holding the tattered piece of Vin's garment, Pyrrha looked up in shock at her. "Who are you?"
Pyrrha was used to fighting. Known as the 'Invincible Girl' due to her many famous fights in the Mistralian colosseum, she had grown to be prepared at all times in case a fight would begin. And with the recent increase in crime, it didn't hurt to keep oneself aware at all times. This was how she noticed the strange attacker. The metal fragment on the ground caught her and when she glanced up, she noticed a figure hiding in the shadows.
However, what she was not used to was the amount of danger she felt currently breathing down her neck. There was something wrong about the woman in front of her. Every fiber of her being was telling her to run. The way she held herself, the girl's silenced glare, and even her quick study of the knives she stole, all put Pyrrha on edge.
But worst of all, she wasn't using aura. Does she not think I am a threat? Or has she not yet unlocked her aura? Was she sent here? If so, by whole? And why wouldn't they prepare her for a fight with trained huntresses and huntsmen?
The girl dropped low and rushed at Pyrrha. Her training kicked in and she lifted Akoúo̱ above her head, spinning it in her fingers as she switched it from a sword into a spear. As the attacker rushed at her, Pyrrha thrust her weapon forward in an attempt to disarm her. The girl, however, was expecting that and jumped over Pyrrha, flipping as one of her knives was tossed at her arm.
Aura protected her, thankfully, bouncing it off like it was nothing. The attacker twirled around and prepared for another strike but her eyes went wide when she noticed the blow and its ineffectiveness.
She doesn't even know about aura, Pyrrha realized. That reminded her, Pyrrha's own levels had to be low. After a day of classes followed by an extra mission, then her training with Jaune, it had to be in the red. Possibly even lower.
"What are you?" the strange girl whispered.
Keeping her position tight, she answered, saying, "I am Pyrrha Nikos, a huntress in training. Who are you and what business do you have here?"
The girl glared and Pyrrah shivered. By the gods, those eyes are not normal. Pyrrha opened her mouth once more, only to have the second dagger tossed at her chest. The attack was easy enough to block and she quickly moved Akoúo̱ to do so. However, her weapon suddenly jumped out of her hand and flew a few yards behind her. Pyrrha's eyes closed, waiting for the dagger to hit, fully aware that her aura may not withstand the attack.
"Pyrrha!" yelled a voice, followed by a loud thud.
Opening her eyes, Pyrhha was shocked to see Professor Ozpin standing in front of her. His can was planted in front of him with the dagger impaled in its wooden length. Jaune quickly ran up from behind her and grabbed her by the shoulders.
She couldn't help but blush as he did so.
"Are you okay?" he asked, giving her a worried look as he checked her body for any injuries.
Pyrrha smiled at him. "I'm fine."
"I am glad to hear that, Ms. Nikos," Professor Ozpin said. "Mr. Arc ran into me on my evening walk and explained how you might be dealing with an intruder. Is there anything you can explain to me about our guest?"
At least he got that message, she thought. "Her semblance is like mine, I believe. She was able to move Akoúo̱ out of my hands."
Jaune frowned. "Polarity? But I thought only the Schnees had repeated semblances?"
"That is typically the case, Mr. Arc. However, I doubt this is the time to question that problem."
"Sorry," he whispered, grabbing Pyrrha by her arms and helping her up. Jaune then proceeded to pull her away, moving so they would not get in the way of the proceeding battle.
At least something good came from this, Pyrrha thought as she squeezed Jaune's hand tighter.
Vin was not expecting the old man. When she threw her dagger, she expected it to hit Pyrrha in the abdomen, not be blocked by a gray-haired man with a cane. Hell, she was even ready for it to bounce away again. But this new foe included a new set of challenges. So as the blonde boy from before took Pyrrha away, Vin took this time to study her new opponent.
Nothing stood out to her in an obvious way. No way of telling what kind of misting he was. However, with the accuracy and speed of his defense and how he was able to block her strike, Vin was leaning towards a Thug or Tineye.
"Miss, what cause do you have to be here at my school?"
Vin cocked her head to the side. School? She stood up straighter, remembering her nobility training. "Are you the lord of this keep?"
The man chuckled but remained still. "If you're referring to this place of residence, then I am so."
Noble. "Where am I?" Where is Elend?
"You are at my prestigious school for huntsmen and huntresses," he explained, waving his cane to point at the walls of the corridor. "Beacon Academy."
Vin tried to remember if that place rang a bell at all, but Sazed never said anything relating to a beacon. "Where?"
The man frowned. "Are you not aware of Beacon Academy? The academy for Vale, miss?
"I…" This all felt wrong. The way he was talking, slowly, it was almost as if he was-
Stalling!
Out of the corner of her eye, Vin noticed one of the blue lines connecting her body to everything metal quivering. The line curved around her body and disappeared behind her shoulder. If she was burning tin, she would have heard the sound of stone being reduced to rubble as the wall exploded.
Vin quickly ducked and rolled to the side, avoiding stone fragments. But the steel line was still connected to something. From the cloud of dust, a large battle hammer smashed down in front of her. Vin looked at the newcomer with shock and confusion as this new opponent. lifted up the weapon and groaned.
"Aww, I missed!" cried the girl, her orange hair now speckled with dust and cement. Behind her, another boy, this one with black hair and wearing a green outfit, raised dual weapons.
"Professor!" he called out. "Jaune called us before running into you! Are they safe?"
"They are, Mr. Ren," the old man said (he hadn't moved throughout the entire ordeal). "But this is no place for students, please leave and-"
Vin quickly jumped backward and placed her back to the opposing wall. Grabbing at the last embers of steel in her stomach, she Pushed on the hammer, hoping to disarm the girl.
However, she didn't let go.
"Woah!"
Both she and her weapon were flung backward, smashing into the other man and knocking them both down. Taking her chances, Vin pushed off the wall and ran through the hole, cutting right and away from the rising 'students'.
Too many, she thought. I need metals!
Another turn down the halls put her right in front of a large double-set of doors. Without steel, allomanticaly opening it was impossible, and Vin wasted precious seconds of her escape struggling to push it open. It swung open, letting Vin fall to the ground.
The young girl winced and rubbed at her legs. I need to - She froze as she noticed the area she had landed in.
By the Lord Ruler.
As Vin rose to her feet, her eyes were astounded by the sight of grass and plants in every shade of green. The plants were adorned with petals of every other color, even ones Vin didn't even know the names of. She stumbled forward, reaching out to touch them.
They felt alive. Not dead and dry like the ones filling skaa work fields. Vin's fingers brushed petals of yellows and reds, their soft skin wet with droplets of water.
Kelsier did say they were supposed to be green.
Vin's entrancement was interrupted by a loud whirring sound and an uptake of high winds. A bright light shined down, forcing the young Mistborn to cover her eyes. Squinting, Vin looked up to see…
A flying canal boat?! she gasped. What is this?!
Flying high and in the sky, the silver outline of a ship was glowing in the dark. The flying boat hovered above Vin, keeping her alit as people jumped out from the shadows. Men and women with strange-shaped weapons and armor surrounded Vin, leaving her with no room or chance of escape.
"THIS IS THE ATLAS MILITARY," boomed a voice from the canal boat. "STAND DOWN AND SURRENDER."
Surrounded, Vin analyzed. But I need to find Elend. Or Sazed. Or anyone!
Vin looked up at the canal. "I am Vin Venture, Heir to the Survivor, Lord Ruler's executioner! Take me to Emperor Venture and no harm will befall you!"
A few of the soldiers surrounding her looked at each other.
"Who?" they whispered.
"The lord what now?"
"Never heard of them."
Vin's eyes went wide. How do they not know about the Lord Ruler? How do they- Her mind suddenly stopped working as the clouds above her began to disperse.
Stars… and what is that?
Impossibly sized and shattered, a large orb filled the night sky. It glowed a dull white and covered the area in its shine. The old man now stood across from Vin, holding out his hand against the soldiers.
But Vin didn't register this. It was all just too much. It didn't make any sense. None of this. Scadrial, her home, was-
It clicked. I'm… not on Scadrial anymore. The Well…
Both her body and mind, already exhausted from different ordeals, couldn't handle the shock. With little grace, Vin the Mistborn crumpled to a heap as tears rolled down her eyes.
I'm alone.
Wow. I never thought that I would enjoy writing this chapter as much as I did. I am trying to add more to the chapters so I hope you like this one.
This chapter's question is: Do you think Vin should have aura? I am leaning towards yes because the forcefield aspect really nerfs Vin's abilities. She can be injured quicker and has to dish out more damage. Let me know what you think, however.
Also, If you are a huge fan of the Mistborn series as well as RWBY, let me know. I would love to hear what you would like to see happen. I could always use some more inspiration.