Well, this has been in the pipeline for God knows how long. Apologies for for the wait, but school had to take priority. But now that it's out of the way, I say better late than never.
Chapter 48: Dissent In The Ranks
"Oww…"
I rubbed my head, desperate for the throbbing migraine to ease up. Looking up, I saw an array of wooden slats, like… the underside of a bed?
"Ah. You're awake. Good."
A deep, unfamiliar voice. Easing myself upright, I saw the rest of RWBY, along with General Ironwood. The four girls had worried looks on their faces, while the general scowled at me.
"Do you have any idea how much damage you caused after that training demo?" Ironwood snarled. I looked at him in confusion. All I had done was slice at duplicates of… whatever the hell that person was. How could that constitute damage?
"The PIXIES or whatever you called it. After it shut down, you started acting weird. Like you were dodging an attack. Once the guards rushed in to pacify you… well, you went berserk." Weiss explained.
"You mutilated seven of my men. Dismembered limbs, grievous injuries… it was a miracle you didn't kill anyone." Ironwood finished.
"No… no, no, no, that's not what happened. There was this… figure. Someone in a cloak. He… duplicated into an army, and… and… I had to stop him." I explained, still feeling lightheaded.
"Well, whatever it may seem, your outburst has everybody on edge. For all we know, the feedback from the PISCES could have caused this. But until matters die down, I'm afraid you'll have to be confined to your dormitory." The general explained.
"No, you don't understand! It wasn't–"
"THAT'S ENOUGH!" Ironwood barked. I sat back down, fearful of any other outburst.
"It's a pity. The PISCES has potential. But until this… incident has proven unrelated to the system, I cannot allow it to function. I'm sorry." The general sighed. As he headed for the door, he looked back to me.
"You know… I'm starting to wonder whether you can be trusted. First, the CCT, the Breach, and now this. How much more damage will you wreak before the truth comes to light?" Ironwood sneered, before shutting the door behind him. With him gone, Ruby, Weiss, Blake, and Yang looked to me with a mixture of doubt and worry.
"Are you sure you saw what you said you saw?" Weiss asked.
"I'm positive. I didn't see anyone, except for that cloaked figure. And the PISCES didn't do this." I retorted, a hint of venom in my voice.
"But you hurt people… scarred them…"
"I know what I saw!" I shouted, hostility in my voice. Nobody spoke for a while, until finally, Yang stepped forwards.
"Well… maybe that Fragment had something to do with it?" She postulated. The other girls turned to look at her.
"Fragment? What are you talking about?" Blake asked. I sighed. I knew that sooner or later, I'd have to explain the Fragment that had brought me into this whole mess. Hoisting my tunic up and over my head, I looked down to see the scars that had been left as reminders of the numerous operations that I had undergone while I was comatose.
"The Fragment of Arcadia. It's a crystal of some kind. The person who brought me to Remnant said I had to take care of it. It's what triggered that transformation after the Breach." I explained.
"Transformation? What transformation?" Weiss asked.
"During the Breach, you all know my weapons were destroyed. Well, I ended up absorbing this into my body. I felt this massive rush of power, then… nothing. I was in… a dark place. Cold… empty… alone… I don't remember much else." I explained, looking to my chest, where the Fragment was buried in my body.
"But how could it do something like this? There's no way anything could hold that much power." Blake stated. I looked up.
"Supposedly, it's the container for trillions of souls… so I've been told. But for all I know, it could just simply create them. Hell, all I know is that it's tied to me."
"'Tied' to you? What do you mean?" Ruby asked.
I said nothing, only gave a quick gesture to Yang. She pulled out the doctor's report, the one that had all the details on my condition.
"You'll want to read this." She stated grimly, passing the paper around. As the three read the report, their eyes grew wide in shock.
"So it powers your Aura now? But… that's impossible." Weiss gasped.
"You say that to a guy who was sucked into a portal from another world. I don't think impossibility applies to me anymore." I scoffed.
"So that's why Yang asked us to use your Aura as ammunition for your Basilisk Spirit." Ruby gasped. Yang nodded.
"Yeah. If his Aura gets too high, there's a chance that Darrel's threshold limit will be broken. And if that happens…" She trailed off. I nodded, slipping my tunic back on.
"So, what? You think the Fragment made you go berserk?" Weiss asked. I shook my head.
"No. If that was the case, then I would've been alerted. Besides, with how many shots I fired, and how much damage I took in the demo, I doubt that my Aura was even close to that level anyway." I responded.
"ATTENTION PLEASE. THE DOUBLES MATCHES WILL COMMENCE SHORTLY. ALL THOSE WHO WISH TO OBSERVE MUST MAKE THEIR WAY TO AMITY COLOSSEUM IMMEDIATELY."
Ruby looked to me sadly before signaling the rest of the team to follow her. I watched them go with a heavy heart, before looking to my Scroll, and starting another Sudoku puzzle. May as well while the hours away somehow.
Three hours and at least 13 sudoku puzzles later, I was bored out of my mind. House arrest was a maddening punishment, to say the least. Being unable to leave the dorms, on account of two armed guards waiting outside the door ready to detain me if I made a move to escape, there wasn't anything to do, but watch my Scroll and wait for news. At least Zwei was keeping me company. The little pup was nestled beside me, twitching softly as he napped.
Another sudoku puzzle done. Having had enough of that, I shut the app, and opened the tournament feed. The first doubles match had already ended, with Mercury and Emerald triumphing over Coco and Yatsuhashi. Now the second was taking place; Flynt Coal and Neon Katt against Weiss and Yang. As I watched the fight unfold, a message notification appeared on my Scroll. Pausing the fight, I swiped the message open, and saw that it was from Kimba.
'Have you read the book yet?'
Jumping up with a start, I dashed to my backpack, and began to rifle through it, looking for– there it was. The fairy tale Kimba had gifted me while RWBY faced off against ABRN. Flicking it open, I began to read.
THE FOUR MAIDENS
Deep in the forests of Remnant, beside a great and mighty river, stood the small, fragile home of a cold, frail man- a lone wizard.
Hidden from the dangers and distractions of the world, the wizard seldom had visitors. But on this day, as he peered out his window, his gaze fell upon a young maiden.
Calmly, she sat beneath his tree in a state of absolute tranquility. When the wizard demanded an explanation, the maiden simply replied, "My name is Winter. I am on a journey, and I am waiting for my sisters."
With that, she closed her eyes and sat in silence.
The wizard told himself the girl was a fool, but the longer she sat, the more he wished to share in the serenity the young maiden enjoyed. In time, he grew tired and decided to close his eyes as well, thinking on this strange predicament.
Upon opening his eyes, the wizard was befuddled to find that a second maiden appeared beneath his tree, cheerful and spry, with a basket of fruit and flowers.
When he asked for an explanation, the girl simply replied,
"My name is Spring. I am on a journey, and I am waiting for my sisters."
To show her gratitude for his reluctant hospitality, the girl retrieved a handful of seeds from her basket and planted them in the wizard's garden.
The old hermit could hardly believe his eyes as the maiden turned what was once a mere pile of dirt and manure into a beautiful garden, from which life would surely blossom.
It's likely he would have gazed for hours, were it not for the unfamiliar laughter he heard from beneath his tree.
A young woman with a warm smile now stood beside the two maidens.
The wizard begged her to introduce herself, to which she happily responded,
"My name is Summer. I am on a journey, and I am waiting for my sister."
"Of course," thought the wizard. But another chirp of laughter left the old man perplexed.
What in the world was so funny?
As it turned out, it was him. The new arrival found the wizard's insistence on staying indoors so very amusing.
Why choose to view the world through a small window when the door leading out to it was right at his side?
It was a compelling argument. And after only a moment of brief hesitation, the wizard left his home -
- and stepped outside.
The warmth of the sun brought with it a surge of energy and life, and soon the wizard wasn't feeling much like himself anymore.
He was feeling much better.
As the day drew to a close, the maidens and the wizard all settled down and prepared a feast. Winter set the table. Spring supplied the crops, Summer prepped the meal, and the wizard was the happiest he'd been in ages.
But in all the excitement, he nearly failed to notice the delicate woman that now stood beneath his tree.
He smiled, and beckoned her to join them, asking only for her name.
"My name is Fall," she replied softly. "I am on a journey, and am here to meet my sisters. Who are you?"
"Me?", the wizard wondered. "Well, I am but an old hermit - I have lived in these woods alone for centuries and I'm afraid my story is not very interesting, as I have no one to love and nothing to my name."
The elder sister looked up at all that surrounded them.
"But sir, do you not see? You have so much."
It was true. With their help, it was now clear to see that the wizard had everything he could ever need. He was grateful, but a question lingered in his mind.
"Why me?", he asked. "Why did the four of you choose to open my eyes? To share with me your gifts? Why am I so special?"
The four sisters looked to one another, perplexed. Finally, the eldest spoke.
"I beg your pardon sir, but we did not do these things for you because you were special. We do what we can for everyone, because we are able."
The old wizard was at a loss. Never in his years had he come across such kindness. It was in that moment that he knew what should be done.
The wizard summoned his magic, every ounce he could muster, and bestowed it upon the sisters.
He smiled. "Take this gift, and know now that you are able to do so much more."
Now armed with the elements, the very powers of nature, and the unimaginable magic of the wizard, the four maidens, Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall, promised to carry on with their journey, using their gifts to aid others, just as they aided him.
One by one, the sisters left. Before they did, they made one final promise.
They promised to return each and every year, to visit their dear friend.
An interesting story. But it seemed so fantastical. Something parents would read to their children at bedtime. Why would Kimba tell me this story?
"You liked it?"
I didn't even hear the door open. Looking up, I saw Kimba perched on the open windowsill. Shutting the book, I slipped it away, and sat up to face her.
"It's… interesting. But why'd you give it to me, Kimba?" I asked. Hopping down from her perch, Kimba sat beside me.
"There's a lot of stories like that in Remnant. But this one is unique."
"How so?"
"Because this particular story is true."
I didn't respond, apart from a blink.
"Every legend has to have an origin. But as time passes, so too does the minute details of the story. But one thing is certain…"
Kimba paused, and I racked my brain, trying to think of an answer. The story had a grain of truth to it, but… what? Was it metaphorical, of a god granting seasons to humanity? Teaching them how to thrive? No, that couldn't be it. But that meant…
"Are you saying… that these maidens… actually existed? That these powers are real?" I asked. Kimba didn't respond for a while, until she looked to me.
"Darrel, you of all people shouldn't question the legitimacy of fables and legends. Not many believe that the Reckoning exists, but yet you stand before me, burdened with the responsibility of averting it." She lectured. I rubbed the back of my head. It's not like I was under pressure or anything. Just billions of lives on the line, and the end of all life on the horizon, were I to fail.
"Don't remind me." I responded, bitterness in my voice. Kimba let out a sigh.
"You're right, I'm sorry. This isn't why I'm here. But yes, the maidens were real. Or to be more specific, are real." Kimba said.
"Wait, what? But, these maidens… the ones in the story… they lived how many years ago? One thousand, two thousand? That isn't possi-!" Kimba placed her hand on my mouth, muffling my outburst.
"Nothing is impossible until it cannot be done. You should know that by now. Come on. I've got something to show you." Kimba answered, walking to the window, and edging out across the trellis outside. My mind still spinning with this new information, I stood up from the bed, and walked after Kimba. Hopefully, whatever she wanted to show me would shed some light on this new revelation.
"The coast is clear. Come on."
Jumping from the windowsill to the hallway, and marching to the elevator that went directly to Ozpin's office, Kimba pushed the call button, and the doors opened almost immediately. Kimba ushered me in, and began to push numerous buttons on the touchpad.
"Kimba, what's this about?" I asked. She didn't respond, only pushed a couple more buttons, and stood back. The elevator shuddered for a moment, before moving… downwards. But I could swear this elevator only stopped at the ground floor.
"What I'm about to show you has the potential to shake the entirety of Remnant civilization. So I must ask you not to tell anybody about this. Not your teammates, not your friends, nobody can know about this. Do you understand?" She asked harshly. I nodded.
"Y-yes, or course." I answered, a nervous stutter climbing into my voice.
"Good." She answered. The elevator jerked to a stop after a few minutes of tense silence. But when the doors opened, an ominous hallway greeted us, lit by dull green lights on the floor.
"Kimba… what is this place?" I breathed, stepping into the dark hallway. Kimba strode forwards, not looking back.
"This is the Vault. All academies have one, hidden deep in the foundations, and known to a very select few. The kind of secrets kept here are enough to throw the world into turmoil. If these secrets get out, there would be all out war." She answered. My mind went wild, trying to imagine the secrets that Kimba was talking about. Powerful relics, ancient weapons… the results were endless.
"Okay, but what does this have to do with the maidens? They're not being kept in cryogenic storage or something, are they?" I asked, half-jokingly. Kimba didn't respond, only beginning to march down the hallway. I followed behind her, nervous for a multitude of reasons.
"The maidens themselves live and die like anyone else. But their powers are another story. When a maiden dies, their power passes on to a new host. Another maiden." Kimba explained.
"But… what if it's a guy?" I asked.
"Then it becomes more complicated. If the one to receive the power is deemed unworthy, be it because of gender or age, then the power disappears, and manifests in another host, one chosen at random." Kimba answered.
"So why is this kept secret?"
"Because power is a magnet for ambition. The maidens in the story, the original maidens, only used their powers to spread joy and goodwill. But not everybody has such a righteous heart. To those people, power is a tool, a weapon. Something to impose tyranny on mankind. If this power was common knowledge, there would be riots, murders, upheavals… it would spark chaos on an unimaginable scale." Kimba explained grimly. I looked away, images of the consequences playing in my head. So much destruction over a privilege… it would be insanity.
"So, why tell me this? What are you hoping to gain?" I asked. Kimba didn't respond, only touched a console, and stepping back. The wall in front of us began to rise, revealing a hidden room with a large mechanism hanging from the ceiling. The mechanism was attached to an array of tubes, spiderwebbing down to two capsules mounted on the far wall. One capsule was open, and obviously empty, but the other was sealed closed. My curiosity grew ever larger, as Kimba walked to the occupied capsule, and stood beside it. I followed her, and looked through the glass.
Lying in the capsule was a woman, clothed in white leather to preserve her modesty. She was breathing, but only ever so slightly. Her dark skin had grown pale, and her eyes were shut. On her face was a dark pattern, like a soft burn. She looked like she was barely clinging to life.
"This is the current Fall Maiden." Kimba stated.
"She's… dying." I couldn't think of anything else to say. What could I say?
"Yes. She was attacked, and had a portion of her power stolen. What's left is slowly killing her. But thanks to Atlas, we have the technology to keep her alive for the time being, until we can find a new Fall maiden." Kimba explained. I looked up from the glass.
"Wait, a 'portion' of her powers? What do you mean?" I asked, confusedly.
"Seems whoever attacked her didn't want the power to slip away. Her assailant clearly wanted her gift right then and there, so whoever it was… directly took her power." Kimba answered, an audible tone of disgust in her voice. Looking back to the woman in the capsule, my eyes fell onto the pattern scarred onto her face. Obviously, the process wasn't gentle.
"I don't know how or why, but she wasn't able to receive the entirety of it. So while whoever attacked her skulks in the shadows, my associates are looking for somebody worthy enough to take up the remainder of the power." Kimba explained, as I looked back to her.
"And have you found someone?" I asked. Kimba shook her head.
"My job is to watch over you, and ensure your safety, nothing more. Ozpin has people more qualified than I seeking the maidens. And with the Vytal Festival underway, we can—"
Kimba paused, an expression of apprehensive fear flowing onto her face. Turning back to the doorway, she tilted her head, as if she was listening for something.
"Kimba, what's—"
"Shh!" she hissed, shooting me a glare. Taking the command, I shut my mouth, and listened.
Footsteps. Voices.
Someone was coming.
"Oh, no. Hide!" Kimba whispered. I looked around for a hiding place, failing to see one.
"Where?" I asked. Kimba just growled in frustration, and took my hand, leading me to an alcove shrouded in darkness. For the pair of us, it was a tight squeeze, but we managed to stay out of view.
"…things are getting a lot scarier out in the world. Tensions are high. Grimm are growing stronger, more prevalent. And it's not going to be long before the peace we've been enjoying for so long goes out the window."
"You're not... talking about a war?"
That voice… Pyrrha? What was she doing here?
"Not a war between nations."
"We can fill you on the details once we know that you're with us. For now, all you need to know is that one of the Maidens has been attacked. And for the first time in history, part of her power was stolen."
The door slid open, revealing a crowd of people. Professors Ozpin and Goodwitch, General Ironwood, Pyrrha, and a man I didn't recognize. He wore a grey waistcoat, a red cape, and black trousers. With tousled hair, and scraggly beard, he didn't look familiar at all to me. Pyrrha strode forward to the capsule containing the comatose Amber, looking through the glass.
"Is that..." She stuttered slightly.
"The current Fall Maiden, Amber." Ozpin answered.
"She's... still alive." Pyrrha gasped in shock.
"For now. We're using state of the art Atlas technology to keep her stable. But there is a lot about this situation that is... unprecedented." Ironwood said.
"What do you mean? Won't... her power... just transfer to the next host?" Pyrrha asked. The unkempt man chuckled.
"Look who's been listening!" He exclaimed. Ironwood shot him a look, before turning back to face Pyrrha.
"Under normal circumstances, yes. But this is a delicate situation. It's not uncommon for the last thoughts of the slain to be of their attacker. And to make matters worse, no one's seen the power split like this before. For all we know, it will seek out its other half." The general explained. Pyrrha contemplated the information for a moment, before looking up.
"...Her assailant." She answered. Professor Ozpin nodded softly, a worried look adorning his face as he turned to Pyrrha.
"And that would not bode well for any of us."
"WARNING: POWER LEVELS RISING. DISCHARGE REQUIRED."
Oh crap. My Aura alarm. I'd forgotten to switch it to silent!
"What was that?"
Professor Goodwitch held her crop at the ready, while the general's hand flew to the revolver in his holster, bringing it up to aim at our hiding place. With no other alternative, Kimba and I slowly made our way to the light, our hands raised to show we meant no harm. Upon seeing us, Professor Ozpin's eyes narrowed, and his lips turned downward into a hard glare.
"Kimba? Darrel? Why are the both of you here?" He asked.
"Kimba told me about this place. She wanted to show me what was kept here, who you really are." I responded.
"Do you have any idea how serious this is?!" Ironwood sneered. I looked to him.
"You've got a half-dead woman locked in your basement, with a fairy tale power split between her, and a power-hungry maniac. I know how serious this is, General." I answered.
"This is not a matter of levity! You've stumbled upon something you cannot begin to comprehend. Ironwood retorted.
"General, if you're going to blame anyone, blame me. I'm the one who brought him down here." Kimba stated, trying to defuse the situation. The general only turned to her, lowering his revolver.
"Why? What if he reports this to whoever poisoned him?"
"How long have we kept Darrel in the dark? How can trust be built when we keep hiding information from him? Our enemies made him their agent because of this. We've hidden facts whereas they've fed him false information."
"These truths are not to be taken lightly, Kimba."
"You think I don't know that?"
"HEY!"
Everyone stopped arguing to look at me.
"Is anybody gonna tell me what the hell's going on here?! You've given me nothing, but orders and doubts! When are you people going to realize that I was brought here to help you?!" I yelled angrily. Ozpin sighed.
"We are aware, Darrel. But your burden is the only matter you should be concerned with. The Fragment of Arcadia is your responsibility, and the maidens are ours." He soothed. I wasn't reassured.
"But that doesn't mean I can't try to help! Isn't that why you brought me here?" I challenged. Ironwood scoffed derisively, turning my attention to him.
"You? Help us? After all you've done–"
"James. Calm down." Professor Goodwitch's voice had a dangerous edge to it, as she tried to defuse the tension. But I was having none of it.
"No, let the general speak. I wanna hear this." I spat. Ironwood looked to me harshly.
"With everything you've done, you should count yourself lucky that you aren't rotting in a cell. We've been fighting this enemy long before you, boy." He sneered.
"And what do you have to show for it? You're just spinning your wheels in the mud, while your enemy could be closer than you realize!" I snapped.
"These matters are delicate!"
"What would you know about delicate?! You brought half your army with you from Atlas! I don't see how that is delicate!"
"Don't lecture me about my job, child! You know nothing about my duties!" Ironwood roared.
"You're right. I don't. But that doesn't mean I'm not qualified to know about them. Besides, Kimba's told me everything already, so it's too late." I retorted, anger in my voice. And before anybody could interject, I turned, and marched through the doorway back to the elevator.
"Where are you going?" Kimba yelled after me. I halted my stride, and turned my head back to her.
"Back to my dorm. And don't bother with guards, General. It's not as though a maniac like me can go anywhere." I sneered, before resuming my stride. Ignoring the calls directed to my back, I forced the elevator doors apart, blasted the hatch in the ceiling of the elevator open, and rocketed up back to normal reality.
But with a power source in my chest, and this new-found knowledge of seasonal powers, the gap between normal and reality was growing wider and wider every passing moment.
Once again, I apologize for the wait, but now I have even more time to work on this story. So hopefully, I'll be able to put up more chapters soon.