Chapter 9 – The Last Maiden
Blake
The Shattered Moon hovered in the dark starry sky, and Blake stood on the Balcony, unable to enjoy the beautiful view. It was one of the things that she missed the most about being able to see like everyone else. She could never enjoy such amazing views like she used to.
But she could feel the cool breeze wafting through her black hair, hearing the idle chatter of people heading to their homes for the night, and the music playing from their homes. She exhaled, then turned to walk back inside her home. Yang was sitting on the sofa downstairs, loading up on her Shotgun Shells, clenching her cybernetic arm into a fist. Blake walked towards the three bedrooms where their children were sleeping.
Inside of one of the rooms was Taiyang, sat beside Ava's bed, gently caressing her hair with a proud smile. He turned when he heard the floorboards creak, seeing Blake stood there. He got up and tip-toed outside of her room. "Thanks for this, Tai…" Blake whispered.
"Please, it's no problem. Plus, I get to see my grandkids, which is a plus." Taiyang said with a chuckle, smiling at her. "Just wish it was under better circumstances."
Yang walked up the stairs, and she smiled at her dad, holding his arm. His blonde hair had faded and turned grey, but even after all these years, he still wore the same wedding ring he wore when married to Summer. And he will until the day he finally dies, but alas… that day would not be today or for many years to come.
"If all goes well, this shouldn't be too long of an ordeal, hell… hopefully this is the end of this damn Civil War. If we can even call it that anymore?" Yang said as she planted her hand on her hip.
"Well, either way I'm here. And I'll be here for a few weeks. These kids are gonna get sick of me." Taiyang chuckled.
"You saw how excited they were to see you, honestly I think you being here helped tire them out." Blake chuckled.
"Well, I'm honoured I'm such a celebrity here." He joked, bowing to Blake, making her laugh.
Taiyang then turned serious, and he held both their hands as he looked at them. "Be safe, okay? And come back… no Heroic Martyr bullshit." Taiyang begged them. Yang smiled and wrapped her arms around her father.
"You got it, pops." Yang assured, he smiled and patted him on the back. He looked at their rooms, then walked down the stairs. He paused, then looked back at them.
"Still hasn't sunk into me, even after all these years." Taiyang said. Both Blake and Yang raised their eyebrows curiously.
"What hasn't?" Blake inquired.
"I'm a grandpa. Heh… never thought I'd see the day. If your mom was here, Yang? You'd never keep her away." Taiyang said with a proud smile, Yang smile as she remembered Summer's bright smile from the few memories she had of her.
Of course, Yang also thought about Raven and Qrow.
I wonder how they would've reacted to me and Blake having kids?
Taiyang walked down the stairs to sit down on the sofa, waiting for the call, just as planned. Blake held Yang's hand, and she exhaled shakily. She was shaking, and so was Yang. So many lives were riding on this mission, including the lives of their children and their parents. But then again… they haven't failed yet?
And they had no intention of slacking off tonight.
They both walked into each of the rooms of their children, kissing them goodnight before leaving their home. They walked outside and saw Ilia waiting for them, leant against her parked motorcycle, her arms crossed. Bumblebee was parked here as well. "You two ready?" Ilia asked.
"As ready as we'll ever be." Yang answered, Ilia smirked.
"That's what I like to hear." Ilia chuckled, mounting her bike and activating the engine. It growled to life, and she spun the floating vehicle around, the gravity dust causing some grains of sand beneath them to rise into the air. Yang sat on Bumblebee and Blake wrapped her arms around Yang's waist. Yang drove forward, and the two bikes roared across the main road, turning left and following the dirt tracks into the Menagerie Outback.
To think that not very long ago, this region was considered to be far too dangerous for anyone to be out here, unless they had something to hide. White Fang used to have plenty of bases out here, since they were forbidden from having a key base here, Ghira not wanting to risk Menagerie from becoming a target that way. But now, the White Fang acted as Menagerie's own military, similar to the Legion becoming Remnant's main military power.
They had embassies everywhere, and now the Faunus were treated as equals, and any who once deemed the Faunus to be lesser were rare, or simply old fools unwilling to change. Every single day Blake heard the news of Humans and Faunus working together to make a better world. It made her feel so much better about the state of things, and believing Adam to be wrong.
Yet the Feral Ones still continue to be such a threat, a dark imperfection on this world, a mistake the Faunus just wished could be erased. But battle by battle, their numbers dwindled… soon they would become a distant memory.
At least, that was what she hoped.
They continued to ride together, Blake resting her head on Yang's shoulder. "Been a while since we just took a ride together…" Blake said to her with a smile, which made Yang smile back.
"Well… once this is over, maybe we can take some time for yourselves?" Yang suggested, making Blake smile brightly.
"I'd like that." She agreed.
"It's a date." Yang squeaked.
They drove past old abandoned Black Gallows facilities out here, claimed by sand and desert vegetation, with animals living inside the buildings. Old rusted and useless Black Gallows vehicles rested inside where they were abandoned, losing all purpose after the Black Queen made them all just hunks of junk. They followed the train tracks and saw the bridge that was already prepared with explosives to bring it down.
They drove further, passing by beautiful rock formations until they found the Station. They parked their cars somewhere safe and out of sight. And they took cover, just in case the Feral Ones had anyone out here monitoring the stations to be safe. Ilia approached the tracks, and she checked them, and just like they hoped.
No Gravity Dust activation in the rails, meaning the train was not on its way, not yet anyway.
Everything was prepared… all they had to do now…
… was wait.
Jaune
Back in Vale, Jaune was at work at school and was on his lunch break.
He was sitting in the Teacher's Office with his sandwich, watching the news on the holographic television in the corner of the room. Kids were still in class, but outside there was a class practicing their sports for P.E, and every now and then, the sound of a football being punted could be heard. Although nothing could tear his attention away from what was being reported on the news.
"The Butcherer's attacks continue. A new victim has been discovered in his home." The reporter explained, footage being shown of police surrounding the house and investigating. "This is now the fifth killing that has happened in the past week, all of which have been happening here in Vale. Starting ten years ago, this unidentified Serial Killer has killed at least fifty people, leaving them all in absolutely horrific conditions. Covered in cuts, stabs and blunt trauma. Many even believed this to be the fabled Wolf of Vale. However, we do not believe in conspiracy theories and hearsay. Whoever is responsible for this is still on the prowl, so please. Be careful and make sure your homes are locked tight." The Reporter explained as she stood outside of the house in question.
"By the Gods…" Jaune sighed, switching the channel and shaking his head. The same young teacher who checked in on him during St. Falls Day entered, seeing what he was watching.
"There's been another one?" She gasped with wide eyes, and he nodded his head.
"Yeah… I can't believe he hasn't been caught yet. Usually these killers are caught after a few years." Jaune explained.
"Didn't you once live through one of those killers? Jack the Ripper?" Judy asked as she took her salad and sat down on a chair opposite him.
"I did. Jackdaw Branwen… Pyrrha was at Beacon when all that happened, on Graduation Day, too." He explained, hiding the fact that he was there too, protecting his false identity. After all these years of doing it, he became pretty good at making it natural… but it never felt natural to him. Acting like he never lived through the same things as Pyrrha, most of them anyway. "Guy was a monster."
"I can't ever wrap my head around people like that. Like how could someone seriously sit down and decide, yeah, I'm gonna go murder a load of innocent people!" She scoffed with disgust, eating her salad.
"I have an old friend. He used to be a psychiatrist, and a forensics expert too. He interviewed a bunch of bad people like that, serial killers, the whole nine yards." Jaune explained as he crushed his wrapper into a ball and tossed it into the trash can. "And he always said that he could tell which ones were truly evil to their core. Some were sick, some lost their minds… but some? Some of them were born into loving families… with an upbringing that should have made them be good. But… for some reason…" Jaune explained.
"They were evil to their core." Judy finished, and Jaune nodded his head.
"Never understood how that happens… I always tell myself that there's no such thing as pure evil… but when people like that exist? It's hard to argue against it." Jaune said.
"People like Salem…" Judy said. Jaune wanted to tell her the truth about Salem, about how despite how evil she became… she was once a kind person. That Salem simply lost everything, and it was love that lead to her becoming immortal, and that immortality made her lose her humanity and become a monster. And yet even centuries later… she still wanted to have a family again… and that was snatched away from her by Thaddeus.
Thaddeus… his origins may have been brutal with an abusive mother, and the bloodshed of war awakening something dark in him…
Was he always a monster deep down? Or was it circumstances that turned him into that monster?
These questions raced around Jaune's mind, and Judy could never know the full truth. She was too young to really know about what he and Pyrrha survived… and what they didn't survive…
It'd be too much for her to comprehend.
"I just hope they catch that Butcherer soon. I'm shocked that it's a person who could do such evil things… the state of the bodies…" Judy stammered as she took her plate to the kitchen to be cleaned. Jaune's eyes widened slightly, and he pondered.
What if it's the Hound?
Could it really be the same creature? But if it is, how come nobody has spotted it in the past ten years, and only right now we have? Here in Vale?
Surely not… but Judy's not wrong either. Those bodies are torn to shreds… unless someone was truly that vicious. Only a Grimm would be capable of that kind of bloodshed.
At least I hope it is… we don't want another Jackdaw Branwen or Tyrian Callows running amok.
"Anyway, what class have you got left today?" Judy asked. Jaune chuckled as he got up, rolling his aching shoulder.
"English, thank the gods. If I have to teach another History Lesson this week, I swear I'm gonna lose it." He chuckled, making her laugh.
"I've got another Science Class. Should be fun. We're messing around with Dust today. Hopefully, I don't have another kid accidentally make a dust crystal explode this time." Judy said.
Suddenly the door burst open, getting both their attention as they saw the Janitor stumbled in. "Niles? You okay? What's wrong?" Judy asked.
"Mr Nikos? It's your daughter, Oriana!" He warned. Jaune immediately stood up with wide eyes.
"What happened?" He asked with fear in his voice. Niles panted as he caught his breath.
"She's in a fight… you need to get over there now."
Oriana
Moments prior…
Oriana was with Misty in yet another History Class, except this one was not as boring, since it involved a certain someone who was part of her large and awesome family, as Misty put it. "Weiss Schnee, Heiress of the Schnee Dust Company and now a magnificent singer. How many of you here know that she was once caught up in a historical Terrorist Attack?" Mr Grayson asked, and Ori's hand shot up. "Yes, Ori?"
"The first bombing of Salem's Followers, during a St. Falls Day festival." Oriana answered.
"Correct!" the teacher congratulated, turning to the board, which had photographs of a younger Weiss Schnee singing, with long wavy locks of white hair as she held a microphone to her lips, singing to a giant crowd. "She was on stage, performing one of her favourite songs, This Life Is Mine, when suddenly… they attacked, the first of many attacks that would trigger the first war after Salem's Downfall."
Oriana had heard this story so many times, it always amazed her by how calm Weiss always seemed when she told them about it. She never trembled at all.
Weiss
Twenty Years prior…
Five years after Salem's death…
Just as the teacher described, she stood atop a stage in front of thousands of people, singing with grace and beauty. "I've been afraid, never standing on my own! I let you be the keeper of my pride!" As she continued to sing to the crowd, many people were here for the performance. Dutch was here, alongside a teenage Amara Zure who was in the crowd. And back then, the Legion was still in its infancy, before they had acquired the Schnee Dust Company, and when things were still very uncertain, and Grimm continued to plague the land.
Driven without purpose now that their queen was dead.
Ruby was here as well, with Blake and Yang, all three came to support their dear friend, alongside Jaune, Pyrrha, Nora and Ren.
And stood off to the side was the Deacon, with his metal arms crossed, watching the performance. He was not the only one here either, for in the crowd was Cardin as well. He looked dejected, but was still very proud of Weiss to see her succeeding in her dreams. Winter looked incredibly proud as well, her hand warmly clasping Eryka's. And on the holographic screen behind them was a wonderful memorial to many lives that were taken to the Inhumane Necessity.
Including Neptune, which meant a lot to Weiss, and meant a lot to Eryka as well, despite how much she was still hurting from everything she had lost. As Ruby listened to Weiss singing, she could hear different people muttering about her friend. "She's so pretty!" A girl giggled in the crowd.
"You think she'll give me her number?" Another boy asked, but Jaune chuckled.
"Don't even bother, pal." He joked, making Pyrrha and Ruby laugh.
Her beautiful singing continued alongside the flashing of cameras, snapping pictures of her beautiful performance. Oscar was here as well, with his hands atop the Long Memory, hoping he was making Ozpin proud in building a better world with Salem gone.
"Listen, when I say."
"I swear it here today."
"I will not surrender, this life is… miiiiiiiine!"
Suddenly, a massive explosion erupted behind Weiss, shattering the stage and launching shards of burning metal towards the screaming crowd. Pyrrha immediately snapped into Huntress mode, and she stood forward and held her hands out, catching the metal with her polarity. Jaune did not hesitate, grabbing hold of her and activating his semblance, amplifying her aura even further, holding the metal back.
Many in the crowd stared at Pyrrha in awe. "Everyone! GO!" she yelled, knowing she could not risk throwing it back towards Weiss, and not in any other direction.
"Everyone this way!" Dutch roared, ordering his forces to direct people away from the stage as Pyrrha held it in place. Weiss coughed. Her aura activated just in time as she pushed herself back to her feet, her beautiful dress glimmering off the flames. She turned and stared at the explosion which destroyed her memorials, and she scowled in anger. She tied her wavy white hair back, then reached down to her leg where something was attached.
Myrtenaster extended, and she spun it through her fingers, looking around to find the suspects responsible for such a crime. That was when they emerged from the flames, wearing old Black Gallows armour, stripped from the corpses of fallen Raven Talons, attached to their clothing. And painted on the armour was a perfect red eye… the Salem Eye.
The Followers of Salem.
"Blasphemers! You dare worship these heretics who betrayed our Queen! Queen Salem will return, and only those who remained loyal to her ways will flourish, and the traitors will burn!" The Ringleader roared, holding a detonator above his head.
He pressed the button and more explosions erupted from parts of the stadium, however Eryka flew across the stadium, blasting clouds of ice into the explosions to prevent the spreading flames. "Everyone keep moving!" Eryka commanded, guiding everyone towards the exits. The Terrorists glared at Weiss who stood before them, pointing Myrtenaster at them, forming a glyph behind her.
"I don't know if you've noticed, but Salem is dead. You're following a Queen who's gathering dust. That's it." She snarled with narrowed blue eyes.
"Salem is Eternal. She cannot die… and when she returns… she will burn this folly of what you call paradise to its foundations." The Terrorist hissed, Weiss rolled her eyes.
"Okay, we're done talking." She sighed, suddenly blasting towards him, and thrusting her sword towards him. He took his flamethrower and blasted it towards her, but she dropped and slid underneath him, stabbing in the back of his knee, then jumping behind him and driving her sword straight through his back, killing him instantly. She pulled her sword out and skated around the stage whilst the other terrorists fired at her.
Her eyes widened, and she gasped as one of them fired a Grenade Launcher at her, and the explosion tossed her into the air, causing her aura to flicker for a few moments, and she crashed against the floor. Myrtenaster clattered across the floor and she reached out for it. The terrorist laughed as he walked towards her, pointing his shotgun at her head. "You've enjoyed your peace so much, princess, that it's made you weak." He scoffed.
Suddenly blood splattered across the side of Weiss' cheek, and the Terrorist's head fell from his body, and he collapsed to the ground. As he fell, she saw the Deacon stood behind him, blood leaking from Hallshott, dripping onto the floor. He stood tall and looked back at her, kicking Myrtenaster back over to her. "Prove them wrong." The Deacon said, facing the other terrorists.
Weiss stood back to back with him, holding Myrtenaster in both hands. "Hell of a way to meet you for the first time, Deacon."
"Funny, this is exactly how I imagined it going." The Deacon chuckled, transforming Hallshott into Ruyi Jingu Bang. They both attacked and fought against the Followers of Salem together. The Deacon spun the Bo-Staff through his fingers, smashing it across the jaw of one of them, then firing the Gunchuck into the leg of another, switching to Scarlet's sword and stabbing her through the chest.
Weiss slid across the arena, jumping off her glyphs then firing multiple icicles at the Followers, killing them one by one, before summoning the sword of Arma Gigas and slamming it into the ground with all her might, killing three in a single swing. The Deacon jumped into the air, firing Scarlets pistol down at one Terrorist, then forming Feather's Edge and impaling another through the chest, spinning around as he formed Tri-Hard and launching it into the chest of the last Terrorist, sending him flying off the edge of the burning stage.
The Deacon stood tall, looking around to see one last terrorist left alive, crawling as he groaned in pain, surviving Weiss' deadly attack. She stamped on his back, holding him in place. "You're going to answer to the authorities. But first… how many more of you are there?" Weiss questioned.
He smirked and rolled onto his back as he smiled at her. "We… are… everywhere…" He answered. "Our faith will last forever…"
"I'd be impressed if you put that faith into something worth believing, and not a corpse." Weiss stated. "Who is leading you?" Weiss questioned.
"Only our faith in our queen guides us…" The Terrorist stated. Behind them, Pyrrha carefully set the burning debris on the ground, groaning as she fell to her knee. Weiss looked at them with concern, and the Deacon stared at them for a few moments, before looking away, clenching his metal hand into a fist.
Jaune was right there… but he kept his anger buried deep… and most likely focused himself on the Followers, since they were a bigger threat to Remnant than Jaune.
"Salem's time in the sun is over. Accept it… and don't let anyone else die." Weiss stated.
He laughed sinisterly.
"All who walk the tainted path, such as you, will die screaming." He snarled. "Only those enlightened by her grace will rise to something greater."
Weiss rolled her eyes. Then he continued.
"Salem will return… The Last Child of Salem… walks amongst us… watch for the signs…" The Follower said. Weiss glanced at the Deacon with a concerned expression.
Suddenly the Follower of Salem revealed a detonator in his hand, and the Deacon gasped. "Hail. Salem."
Weiss gasped, and he pressed the button, but the Deacon jumped and grabbed Weiss, both leaping out of the way at the last second as the bomb vest he was wearing detonated, creating an enormous explosion. His hardlight shields flickers and burst after taking the brunt of the blast, sliding across the stage with Weiss in his metal arms.
The Deacon growled in pain, finding a shard of metal imbedded in his side, and he pressed his hand against it. "Crap… you'll be okay…" Weiss promised.
"I'm fine… I've survived worse." He assured, standing up as he held his hand against the wound, standing beside Weiss, staring at the flaming hole where the terrorist just was. "Are you alright?"
Weiss looked herself up and down. "Just scuffed." She assured, collapsing Myrtenaster and holstering it on her leg. "So much for peace…" she sighed.
"Yeah… this is the beginning of something bad." The Deacon sighed.
"Robyn was right… killing Salem… Killian… it was always going to start something else. I was hoping she was wrong." Weiss sighed, shaking her head.
The Deacon stared at the flames, his fist tightly clenched. "Not if I have anything to say about it. I've been hunting the Followers and the Grimm for the past five years… I'll keep hunting them." The Deacon stated.
"You have the Legion. The Kingdoms don't have a Military… but if we make them bigger… somewhere Huntsmen and Huntresses can help? We can stop them." Weiss suggested. "And the S.D.C… well, I have no claim to it anymore… but it's practically gone. If you claimed it, bought what was left and rebuilt it. I could help you." Weiss promised.
The Deacon looked at her, and he thought about it.
"Maybe it's high time I stop sticking to the shadows then…" The Deacon stated.
Oriana
"After that attack, the war against the Followers of Salem truly began, although this was no war against another nation or against an army of Grimm. This was a far smaller conflict, one against a Terrorist Cell, one that linked up with the Grimm and the Feral Ones. Now the Feral Ones are all that remain, and the Followers of Salem? Well… you've probably seen Aaron Cassidy in the streets of Vale screaming nonsense? That's all that remains of them… just mad criers. And the Feral Ones are a shell of what they were, hardly even a civil war anymore in Menagerie, thanks to Blake and Yang Belladonna-Xiao Long." The Teacher concluded.
"Was it after that attack the Deacon really made the Legion what it is today?" A student asked.
"Correct. He took Miss Schnee up on her offer. And whilst she was no businesswoman, she still could tick off the boxes thanks to her surname, and was reinstated as its heir. Although she gave away most of the money, she earned to people who needed it more than her. Faunus Labour, who were once exploited by her father, and funding the programmes designed to help Ex-Black Gallows Stockholm Troopers recover from their torment. She's done so much to help us, and now she is happy doing what she loves most. Performing her songs to anyone, whether on a giant stage, or in a small tavern in town." The teacher explained, closing his pen and setting it down on the table.
As they sat there, Oriana noticed Misty was bouncing her leg nervously. She bumped her arm curiously, but also with concern. "Hey, you okay?" She softly asked, then she heard snickering behind her. Oriana looked past her and saw a group of boys and girls staring at Misty. "Them again?" She growled, clenching her hand into a fist.
"No, don't, I don't want you getting in more trouble." Misty begged, holding her hand. Oriana sighed and did what Misty said, even if she wanted to feed them their teeth. They waited for the class to end, and once the bell rang, they got ready to go to the cafeteria together. As they walked, suddenly one of the girls suddenly yanked Misty's bag from her arm.
"Hey!" Misty yelled.
"Give it back to her, Janice." Oriana demanded.
"Shut up, Oriana." One of the boys sneered as he walked around her, mimicking her cough. Ori just raised her brow. Janice was twice Oriana's size, with long brown hair blowing bubble gum.
"Really? That's all you got?" she challenged, planting her hands on her hips.
Janice continued to rummage through her bag, when she pulled out her text book. "Wow. Just study stuff, huh? You must be so much fun at home." Janice scoffed. "Pathetic little nerd."
Misty was quiet as she held onto her arm, but Oriana wouldn't let that slide, and continued to defend Misty. "Well, she is at a school. What were you expecting?" Oriana questioned.
"Why keep defending her? Her own parents don't give a rat's ass about her." Janice scoffed, shaking her head.
"Careful." Oriana warned.
"Of what? Your mommy gonna kick our butts? Your daddy gonna give us a bad grade?" The other boy mocked. Misty looked around with a worried look as more kids watched the show. But Oriana wasn't even flinching, but her fist was slowly getting tighter. "That's right everyone! We got a clever little bitch here, with all the money she'll ever need thanks to her mommy being the Invincible Girl! And her daddy? Well, he's just some loser she picked up on the streets." He mocked.
"Leave her alone." Misty demanded, but her voice was far softer than Oriana's.
"What was that? No, no… speak up. I barely heard you." Janice scoffed. Misty's scales darkened fearfully. "Gods, look at her! What a freak."
"Of course you're one of those, haven't you heard people like you are a dying breed? Better be careful… wouldn't want Blake Belladonna to find out you picked on her niece's best friend for being a Faunus, would you?" Oriana threatened, but Janice just scoffed at her.
"You act like a tough girl… but you're only half my size. And you're no Pyrrha Nikos." Janice hissed, nodding at her friend. He suddenly grabbed Oriana by her backpack and threw her against the wall with substantial force. She cried out in pain, and Misty's eyes widened.
"Ori!" she screamed until Janice grabbed her by her purple hair and yanked her head down really hard.
"My dad always said people like you are what's wrong with this world. And I see why… I can't stand to look at you. Let's fix that." She snarled, suddenly punching Misty in the face so hard she fell to the floor, and blood leaked from her nose. The crowd of kids vocalised at that punch. Then Oriana stared past the boy's leg and saw Misty on the floor.
Oriana gritted her teeth and suddenly sprung up, shoving past the boy, and punching Janice in the side of her face so hard she knocked her tooth out. Janice stumbled against the wall, blood dripping from her lip, then she glared at Oriana. "You little bitch." She snarled.
Oriana raised her fists, thrusting them forward to push her sleeves up. One of the other girls lunged at Oriana, but she raised her arm, pushing her fist aside, then punching up her jaw. But after that, another boy grabbed Oriana and lifted her off the floor, slamming her against the ground. Misty's eyes widened, and a fire ignited in her. She jumped on the boy's back and started punching him in the head relentlessly.
Niles, the Janitor, exited the toilets and gasped when he saw the fight, and saw Oriana in the middle of it all, and rushed to the Teacher's Office.
Oriana got back up, coughing from being winded. Then Janice kicked her in the face, knocking her onto her back. Janice sat on top of her and started throwing multiple punches in her face, but Oriana grabbed her by her long brown hair and yanked her down, smacking her head into Janice's. Oria got back up and jumped, punching the girl right in the chest, knocking her away.
The boy grunted as Misty constantly punched him, then he smashed her against the wall, breaking the display pane and making all the artwork fall on the floor. The shards of glass cut up her back, and she cried out in pain. Another boy dragged Misty by her hair and threw her against the wall, but Oriana tackled him and punched him really hard in the face, actually knocking him unconscious.
Oriana now had multiple bruises, cuts and a black eye on her face, but she did not back down, even blowing some blood out of her nostril. The girl she punched in the face rushed towards her again, but Oriana grabbed her and threw her towards the crowd, constantly defending Misty.
Behind her, Misty got back up and raised her fists. She may not have had any proper combat training like Ori did, thanks to being raised by Pyrrha Nikos, but being with Oriana always made her brave. They both fought off the bullies together, but Janice grabbed hold of Oriana by her hair and threw her onto the floor again. She punched Oriana over and over in the face, and as Oriana looked at Misty whilst being beaten, she saw Misty being ganged up on, kicked in the gut constantly as she cried.
Oriana's eyes widened with anger, and she roared with anger, suddenly punching Janice in the stomach so hard she wheezed. Then, she pulled her fist back and with a defiant roar; she swung towards her face.
Orange electricity coursed through her veins suddenly, and her fist connected with Janice's face with what sounded like a clap of lightning. The impact sent Janice flying backwards and crashing against the wall, blood rushing from her nose and mouth. Oriana's eyes widened as electricity crackled around her fist, panting as blood dripped from her nose and lip.
The boys stopped hurting Misty and stared at Oriana in fear. She turned and glared at them. Wiping the blood from her nose with her fist, scowling. "Shit! They started it!" One boy yelled as he held his hand up. Oriana turned and saw Jaune running with Judy and Niles to the situation.
Oriana turned and walked over to Misty, helping her crying best friend up, resting her arm over Oriana's shoulders.
"Ori… what the hell happened?" Jaune stammered.
"Everyone! Clear out!" Judy yelled at all the students. "Janice, you four? With me. Now." She snarled.
"My nose! Oh, gods… what did you just do?" Janice screamed as she held the blood with her hands.
"What was that?" All the kids sounded terrified of Oriana now.
"I…" Ori stammered, staring at her fist.
Jaune knew exactly what it meant.
"So that's what your Semblance is… come on, lemme get you two to the nurse." Jaune said, as he helped carry Misty to the nurse. He then looked at her. "Don't worry, honey… I know you didn't start it." He reassured.
But Oriana couldn't stop thinking about what she just did.
I… have a Semblance?
Eryka
She would never stop looking.
Not ever.
Ever since Salem fell, she continued to search for him, for any of them. They found Cardin before Robyn and Terra were killed. Then she lost Dulcis, and then Lavinia, then her brother, yet she never found his body. Never found any of their bodies, but when she returned, she found those bloody footprints that lead out, but it lead into the dunes.
And they vanished amidst the destruction.
And she wasn't alone.
Cardin went with her once he got his cybernetic arm alongside Weiss and Blake. Desperately searching for answers.
Three years ago…
Weiss walked across the barren landscape of Salem's Sanctum. Blake wasn't with them anymore, deciding to move on and start something serious with Yang. As she walked, she dragged Myrtenaster beside her, and saw a dying Grimm on the ground with arrows lodged in its body. The Creep snarled as it laid there, growling at Weiss, until she ended its life by poking her blade through its throat.
She sighed as she watched it crumble away into fragments of dust, blowing away in the wind. But like always, there was nothing here. Just walking in circles and finding no evidence that they ever survived beyond those footprints.
"Hey…" Eryka's familiar voice appeared behind Weiss. She looked and saw Eryka walking along the dunes, seeing life beginning to grow through the ash, green slowly beginning to appear. Cardin was with her, but he held back. He shot Weiss a small smile though, appreciating that she would always come out here, even if it was clear she was losing faith that she would ever find Neptune. "We just checked along here, all the way to coat… found nothing." Eryka explained as she walked down the dune. "I'm thinking of heading further east, maybe whoever it is… they made it that way."
"That was where we fought the Praetorian Dragon, Eryka… there's no way any of them could have survived that hell." Weiss stated, her voice sounding fragile.
"You okay?" Eryka asked her.
"… I don't think he made it, Eryka…" She sounded like she was going to cry when she said that, her eyes becoming bloodshot. "And I can't keep this up… not when I know in my heart…"
Eryka could understand where she was coming from, and she wasn't mad at her. Just as she wasn't mad at Blake for giving up either, or for Cardin when he too would eventually give up. "It's okay Weiss…" Eryka promised. "Looks like it'll soon just be me out here." Eryka said as she stood on the dune.
"You can always come back." Weiss said.
"I will… when I find something." Eryka said.
"There's plenty of reasons to come home, Eryka. Finding something doesn't have to be one of them." Weiss promised.
"I ain't gonna stop looking. Not ever." Eryka stated, turning to walk ahead, but she stopped and looked back at Weiss.
"You don't have to do this anymore, Eryka…" Weiss pleaded.
"I'm not… I always come home to Wints…" Eryka assured. "But… until I find out if he's dead or alive… I can't stop. I won't stop." Eryka stated. "You sure you wanna head home on your own?"
Weiss smiled, and she nodded her head quietly. "I'll be okay." She promised.
Eryka nodded, and she walked ahead, with Cardin following her. But as the years passed, soon his company faded away as well as he sought a new purpose in his life. Eryka, however… she could not find any purpose, beyond being the last Maiden on Remnant. A power she never asked for… never wanted… yet now the responsibility was hers.
She made a small camp where her evidence was gathered, and over the years, she finally found something worth noting, but as she planned her expedition, a massive storm tore through what remained of Evernight, causing extensive floods. And her maps and plans were washed away.
She cried out to the Gods, demanding an answer as to why they tortured her so much, but her grief only made the storms worse.
And when the storms changed the land so much… there was no longer any chance she could pick up a trail… and now she was lost. Without purpose once again… and even though she returned to Vale and married Winter, every time St. Falls Day came along, she felt like she was relapsing, and would always disappear somewhere.
Sometimes to the Summit's Claim, where she could not even connect with Li or Sashaa, for they were both dead as well. But every time she came back, Winter was always there to give her a loving embrace.
Understanding why she had to get away from all those celebrations… for all it reminded her of… was the not knowing of what Tyrian did to her brother.
Twenty-Five Years after Salem's Death…
The Shattered Moon hung above the land, shining overhead as the Falconess jumped across the overgrown rooftops. She rushed across the estate, finding the dilapidated remains of the Vasillias Manor. She landed and held her bow in one hand, just as she did thirty-five years ago, before she arrived at Beacon Academy to help protect Neptune, and where she met Winter.
And here she was again, seeing Treasure Seekers trying to loot any valuables from the home of Lavinia Vasillias. She clenched her fist with anger, then stealthily approached them. She fired an arrow into an Atlesian Knight, destroying it instantly, then sneaking up behind one of the Seekers, knocking him out with a roundhouse kick. She stared ahead and saw more of them trying to enter the house she had been defending over this quarter century.
She jumped and rolled forward, tripping another one up and punching him in the face, before firing another arrow, which opened and blasted lightning dust into the Seekers, knocking them all unconscious.
She stood tall, and walked towards the Manor now that it was abandoned, and she found her secret entrance inside, seeing everything just as she left it. She refused to let nature claim the interior, keeping it exactly as she remembered. It took a long time to repair it after the Black Gallows attacked to try to kill her mother. The old roots that Lavinia used to kill them were especially hard to remove.
For a while… this was the purpose the Last Maiden could find.
Apart from helping people, whenever and wherever she could.
She made her way through, passing by the fridge she stole from when Lavinia caught her, and went further. Finding the way to the secure back garden, and seeing the Grave Stones she made for them.
Lavinia and Roland Vasillias.
Her father died from cancer a few years prior, and then as she laid flowers down before each grave, cleaning the Sakura Blossoms off them, she placed an arrow upon the grave of Dulcis, kissing the top of it.
Then she knelt before Neptune's grave, bowing her hair as her long blue hair hung over her eyes, darkened over the years and having some strands of silver appearing in places.
She used to say so much… but after everything she had lost… she found it hard to speak these days.
But Winter was her one shining light, the one thing she had left… and she would do anything to keep her safe.
She just wished… that one day… she could find peace.
The sound of an Altum Eagle crying overhead echoed… then she heard a mechanical breath. Her blue eyes slowly opened, and she exhaled. "When will you assassins ever learn?" She sighed, slowly standing up from where she was kneeling.
The Deacon's green visor and grill lit up as he breathed, and he dropped down from above, landing on the tiles right behind her. "Many have come to try to claim this power from me, and so many of you seem to forget… you have to be a woman if you want it to actually go to you. And besides… there's only one person this power will go to when I fall." Eryka stated, her voice still husky as she spoke, but far more mature than it once was.
"I have not come to kill you, Eryka Vasillias." The Deacon stated as he stared her down.
"Then that was your first mistake." Eryka stated, spinning around and firing an arrow at him, but he just turned his body to dodge the arrow. Her eyes widened when she recognised who it was. "Deacon…" she said.
"I know who you seek, Eryka." The Deacon said to her as he approached. She gritted her teeth and fired at him again, but he dodged it once more. "I know you've been searching for answers about him for a long time."
"Don't you dare mention him! You have no idea of what happened to him! NOBODY DOES!" she yelled, firing another arrow at him, and he crossed his metal arms together as it collided against them.
"What if I do?" He yelled, being blown backwards and smashing through the wall and landing in the living room.
Eryka pursued after him, massive blue wings of Magical Energy perfectly replicating the wings of Dulcis, and she fired again at him, before drawing Slice n' Dice, blasting towards him, but he formed Pilgrim and blocked her blade from reaching his armour. "What if I told you I was one of them? One of the souls lost that night? And I can tell you what happened to your brother? Will the answer satisfy you? Or would you rather not know if you are not prepared to hear it?" He asked her, pushing her away.
She drew Constantine Damascus, aiming the arrow at him as he stood before her. "What the hell are you after? Because it's pretty messed up to use my brother against me like that." Eryka snarled.
Her eyes ignited as she stared at him, and the Deacon stood down, collapsing his weapons, knowing there was no point in battling against a fully realised Winter Maiden. He never stood a chance against her.
"I am not lying." The Deacon promised. "I was there, with all of them… in that cell when you all attacked Evernight. Being tortured by Tyrian constantly, and if not him… by Jaune." He stated as he stared at her.
Her eyes widened with disbelief. "How do…"
"I told you. I know what happened to them all… because I'm the only other person bar Cardin who survived. All because Tyrian let me go… leaving me to find a purpose as well. As you can see… I found it… but now that there's peace… and no Grimm… all that remains are my memories. And Jaune…" The Deacon stated as he stared at her.
Eryka lowered her bow, knowing that it had to have been the truth, since Dutch buried the truth of Thaddeus so deep that only people who saw what Thaddeus turned him into would know. "Who are you?" She asked with a trembling voice.
"I can't tell you." He answered.
"Bullshit. Take off your mask and show me who you are." She demanded as she aimed her bow at him again. But he refused. His hands did not move an inch. "How am I supposed to believe any of this?"
"If you help me bring Jaune to justice, I will show my face to you and you will know the full truth of what happened that night. Every detail… it's up to you whether or not you are prepared to hear it." The Deacon stated as he held his hands behind his back.
I've spent twenty-five years looking for answers…
And I'm hesitating? What if… what if he is telling the truth? But what if he's lying? Just to use me like a weapon?
"I… I am not going to stand by and let you kill Jaune." Eryka stated.
"I don't want him dead. I want him in a cell like Adam. He tricked us and forced me to watch as Tyrian… did horrific things to them all. And he was laughing…" The Deacon explained, his hands shaking as he spoke.
"That was Thaddeus Rex, not Jaune." Eryka said.
"Yeah, I've heard that story from Dutch too. Find it kinda hard to believe. But Jaune switching sides because Salem gave him power and bringing him back from the dead? After believing Pyrrha was dead? I find that a lot easier to believe… the guy was always determined to become stronger. And Salem was very manipulative. I'll give her that. But that doesn't excuse what he did to us." The Deacon growled, his fists shaking him. "And… I tried… and I really tried to let it go. But I can't keep living with it." The Deacon said.
Eryka kept her bow on him, but her eyes were dancing around. "And besides… if you really think he's so innocent… why haven't you ever gone to visit him and Pyrrha?"
She stared at him and she closed her eyes guiltily. "I…"
"I am only asking for you help in case Pyrrha tries anything. But I don't want to fight Jaune… I just want him to go on trial for what he has done." The Deacon told her, and Eryka panted as she thought more about it.
"Vengeance won't change a thing, Deacon. Trust me. I killed Killian, and I really hoped it'd help make me feel better about him killing Dulcis, Terra and Robyn… but it didn't. It still hasn't. This? It won't change anything." Eryka stated.
"Maybe you're right. But I have to try." The Deacon stated. He sighed and walked towards her as she lowered her bow. He squeezed her shoulder gently. "I have already asked Cardin to join me on this and he has agreed. Take some time… and think about what I've just asked you. If you'd rather not… I understand. But I'm not lying when I tell you I will show my face when this is done, and you will finally have the answers you've been seeking for so long." The Deacon promised, walking away from her.
As he walked through the hole his body created, she looked down at the floor, and saw he had left an Altum Eagle feather for her, one that looked just like Dulcis'.
She crouched down and held it in her gloved hands, staring at it.
She turned and watched as the Deacon entered an airship, looking back at her. She stared at him, and he held his hand out to her.
And she exhaled.
Making her choice.
She walked towards him and stared at his hand. "Only. If we're going to talk… no blood… no killing…" she said.
"I promise." The Deacon assured.
She sighed, then looked at him, reaching up and taking his hand.
Author Note - Oh boy... Eryka has joined the Deacon
So fun backstory for this story, since Act 4 was the original idea my brother came up with back when he started this story as an art project, Eryka was originally a villain, Neptune's Sister still yes, but was just a bad Huntress and that was it really. So her story has been MASSIVELY improved from the original concept back in the day, which is always fun to remember XD. But yeah I'm excited for poor Eryka's story in this.
Also... oh boy, Oriana has unlocked her Semblance! And god that whole part with Misty being picked on by kids who have been raised by racist humans was very brutal, but it was also fun showing that Oriana knows how to fight thanks to being raised by Pyrrha. Of course her childhood was a bit less combat training focused, so sure she's no Invincible Girl, but she's hardly harmless XD
And I loved that Weiss flashback, been looking for a good place to fit that one in. I enjoy the flashbacks in this Act, there are plenty to have fun with to come hehehehehehe
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Stay tuned for the next chapter!
- Matt