"What... are you doing?" Ruby questioned as the painted woman, who she learned just recently was known by the tribe as 'the mother' crawled over to her.
They had only recently arrived at the gathering, a place of rest for the Faunus of the tribe, and as close to a village as it got for the cavern dwelling individuals. A series of soft shrubs, grass, and even wilk furs made up their bedding. Unfortunately for Ruby she had been told that only lovers were permitted to share a resting space, and since Pebble was clearly not that it had been required that he rest in his own little spot.
There was a small mercy though; since Pebble was only little he was allowed into the huddle, which was a small area sectioned off from view of the main opening. All the other children rested there under the watch of a chosen set of four guardians; two men, and two women. These guardians were both skilled and armed, and Ruby had learned over the feeding - more or less just a feast - that the kids were kept safe in case of an assault on their home.
This left Ruby all alone in her small place of the underground wilderness, with only the soft fur below to warm her. It had been a strange feeling to sleep alone again, and she found herself worrying for Pebble more and more as the hours of sleepless unrest grew long. However it seemed the mother had other plans when she wandered in unannounced, which became more concerning as her hands swiftly slid across her body and began undoing the belt which held her skirt in place.
"Relax... I do not wish to feel you in ways you might imagine." The skirt slipped off and the woman's fingers wrapped along the edges of her undergarments. Ruby put a stop to that there and took the mother's hands, only for the woman to face her calmly. "I see your worry, but please, put your trust in me."
"Trust is a gamble, and to be quite honest I've never had a lot of luck when it came to gambling." Ruby strengthened her gaze. "First, tell me what you're planning, then maybe I'll allow you to continue."
The woman smiled lightly as she spoke.
"I only wish to read your heart." Ruby raised a brow, making it clear she had absolutely no idea what was just said.
"And you're stripping my backend because?"
"All obstructions must be clear for the reading. Nothing can shield you, otherwise your heart will shadow itself away in doubt. To present yourself in all your purity is to forsake the coverings and lies. If we bare ourselves to each other we'll have nothing to hide, and our hearts can converse freely."
So it's more spiritualistic garbage... yay. Ruby wasn't all too keen on the idea, but seeing as the woman never showed any signs of lying before she figured it would be easier to let the mother do her thing. What harm could come from a little skin-ship anyhow, and considering how the mother had aided and spoken honestly with her so far, it had inclined Ruby to at least tolerate some of the more eccentric acts of the tribe.
Ruby slowly removed her hands from the mother, and the woman slipped the remaining shield of her decency away. With her lower half bare the woman went to work pulling away her corset, and soon enough everything else. Her bra was the last to go, and as her chest was exposed the mother leaned in and kissed the flesh just above her heart. Ruby bit back a gasp, and did her best to ignore the heat and tension very quickly rising in her core as the mother pressed herself against her. The lips were removed and the painted woman laid her forehead against that very same spot, and Ruby was almost certain she could hear her own heart racing.
No... stop it, she's not touching you that way! Ruby fought back her emotions as best as she could, but it was no use; the memories were awoken, and she felt subtle tears dripping across her cheeks against her will.
It was too similar, and as the heat flowed her mind brought back the many times she had shared her love with the others. The way Weiss curled in so tightly; the way Blake would gently bite against her buds and nibble; even the memories of Jaune flowed to the surface, and his careful checks to make sure she was enjoying herself. Over the many lifetimes of suffering Ruby had always managed to obtain the love of one or more of her companions, and after those cold nights where they unwound in a desperate attempt to find some sense of joy in their doomed lives they would always share their stories.
The worries and doubts of a wannabe hero, the regret for choices made, and the stress of needing to fulfill a family legacy; these were the secrets she'd been gifted in those lifetimes, and it was those memories that tore her barriers away, and allowed all the repressed feelings to surface once again. In all those lifetimes Ruby had sworn to save them, so that their love wouldn't be wasted...
But she failed every single time.
Why me? It had been a question to plague her mind for an eternity now, but right here, in this moment of exposed vulnerability, it was now when those regrets and failures weighed so heavily. She failed Weiss; she failed Blake; she failed Yang; she failed Jaune; she failed Pyrrha; she failed Nora; she failed Ren; she failed dad; she failed uncle Qrow; but worst of all...
She failed her mother.
Ruby couldn't contain the whimper and gasp that stuttered from her lips, and she couldn't fight back the cough that forced itself out as she desperately sucked in air. The woman pulled away, and Ruby felt shame flow over her as she realised how pathetic she must have appeared. She couldn't help it though, all those failures tearing themselves across her mind, coupled with the knowledge of how her current path might just become another of those losses had left her in a state of despair.
To her surprise the mother cupped her face, and pulled Ruby into her chest. The woman's arms were warm as they wrapped around to hold her close, and Ruby felt the dam fully break at that point. She returned the embrace, and wept into the painted guardian's chest as a reluctant comfort filled her. Ruby had been a pillar for so long now, and having been the rock that anchored everyone for over a millennium or so it was strange to find herself clung so tightly to a single woman.
For the first time in what seemed like forever there was someone to hold her close, and to make her feel like everything would be okay as they took away her worries.
"Your heart weighs heavy with love." The mother's grip tightened. "Let it speak for tonight, while all is at peace. Nobody will see you here."
Desperately, and albeit shamefully, Ruby did just that.
.
.
Several coughs overcame her, and using all the strength she had Cinder clawed herself from the waters onto what she hoped was solid shore. Hacking breath after breath her nails dug into the dirt as she dragged herself from the frigid water.
No... I will not die here! With a stubbornness befitting of her patience Cinder took in as much air as she could, all the while her body lay numb.
The fall had shattered the ice and freed her from what should have been her frozen tomb, but not entirely. It was only broke enough to give her air, and it would be two or so days before the ice would drift free and melt enough for her to escape. Her aura had kept her alive for all that time, but not easily as Cinder had to deactivate it several times to let it charge, and during those moments her body suffered from the cold.
Already her aura was on damage control trying to keep her limbs from losing all function, and as risky as it was she ignored the lack of feeling in an attempt to check her surroundings. However she found it near impossible to move. Cinder had used the rest of her strength to make it ashore, and when it was safe her body essentially shut down as it attempted to heal with the help of her aura.
The woman hated knowing she was defenceless for the moment, as even if it were only for a short while there were still plenty of dangers potentially lurking in the vicinity. Rather than dwell in what she couldn't quite control yet Cinder opted to think back on Haven.
Unlike with Beacon, Haven didn't quite follow through with her plans. It should have been simple; work with Merlot to obtain control of the school, and then grab the relic by threatening Raven. Unfortunately nothing went to plan, and the shame of losing to the bandit very quickly became the least of her worries afterwards.
She had failed to get the relic, which meant now that returning to Salem would be a death sentence.
Cinder pushed away the thoughts as her failures at Haven mattered little now. Everything was over, and for all she knew Raven of all people had the relic. In the end it was merely an annoyance. While it may take time to find the Branwen tribe again, she would indeed succeed; it was less of a worry and more an inevitability. It was with that assurance she focused her attention towards one last bit of info, and a much more... conflicting piece it was.
Vermillion.
To learn he was alive was... concerning. Salem had been rather direct in her implications that their last scuffle wasn't the last from him, and even though she had been warned Cinder couldn't fight back the questions that rose from it, with the main one being how he was alive to begin with. She was quite sure she took his head off back at Beacon, and unless decapitation wasn't a leading source of death anymore the woman had no real ideas on how he survived.
Could it be that he was more akin to the Grimm than in just appearance? Salem warned her that things were going deeper than she knew, but if this was a case of an equally immortal player, such as Salem herself, than Cinder wasn't sure how to deal with him. Sure she could kill him, but if he was like the mistress then he'd just plop back to normal in a few hours time.
She would need to play this smart.
Cinder didn't have to kill Vermillion, far from it actually. All she needed was to ensure she obtained all four sets of maiden powers to complete her collection. With all four seasons at her fingertips it would be a cinch to toss her foes aside, and at best the boy would be an insect she'd need to flick away every now and then. Salem would be able to obtain all four relics, and with them not even Ozpin would be able to stand in their way. With the respect of her mistress earned the two of them could incinerate the world before them, and never again would any seek to control her. Cinder couldn't help but smile at the thought.
If only her own mother had been so supportive.
"H...hello." It was a voice, and just in time too. Cinder could feel her energy having recovered, at least enough to regain mobility again. Leaning up the woman came face to face with what looked like a young lady, and her lack of any weapons told Cinder that she was defenceless.
"What a nice robe you have." Cinder said slowly, her eyes locked to the hood which would no doubt come in handy in keeping a low profile. A twisted grin tore itself across her still frost-bitten lips. "No need to worry, I'll help myself."
A lung full of frosted water did the trick just fine, and Cinder enjoyed the strength her Grimm appendage gave her. She cared little for hiding the body, as most people would assume it was an accident when the corpse floated into town along the river anyway. The fall maiden looked over herself and frowned.
Yellow is just not my color.
.
.
It was strange... perhaps a little too strange really.
Qrow had just witnessed what he could only describe as the breaking point for Yang. His niece was anything but lenient when it came to her sister, even if it did sometimes cause trouble for them all. She always had a bit of a temper, but like her mother - as much as Qrow hated thinking that - she had maintained some level of control most of the time.
Ozpin certainly hadn't helped in that regard.
Now Qrow wasn't one to judge immediately when it came to secrets as the brothers know he has his own share of skeletons in his closet, but the kids weren't like him. They didn't have his years worth of experience with Ozpin; heck, the man had only been their headmaster for a little over a year. Ozpin practically drowned himself in mysteries, and would only ever come close to sharing those wonders with the people he trusted most.
People who earned that trust.
However Qrow couldn't blame the kids either as he himself was starting to get annoyed with how many essential bits of information were being kept hidden. While he believed the first excuse of simply forgetting momentarily about the relic's Grimm attracting power, he was much more skeptical when the man spoke through Oscar.
He nearly went rogue when V threatened everyone.
Whatever it was that V and Ozpin had didn't really matter anymore, nobody threatened his nieces. However deep down he knew that outright conflict would be a terrible choice, which was why he was silently glad that Maria had stopped him. V had been so... tense when they explained themselves to him, and Qrow could very clearly focus in on the boy's expression during the engagement. V knew something, and not a light something either.
Something essential.
Whatever V knew had been enough to provoke an almost mechanical defense response from the boy, and while Qrow knew it might not have been what it seemed he still didn't like it anyways.
And now he was here.
It was strange, in all his life Qrow had never come across a completely white void. Looking around he tried his best to discern any complicated or generally stand-out features of his new positioning, but no, nothing but the void.
"Hello, anybody out there?" He called.
"Uncle Qrow?"
"Old man?"
Both Ruby and Yang respectively. Qrow sighed in relief; at least they weren't completely separated. He could hear them, and they sounded close by, but he couldn't see them.
"Yeah, I'm here"
"What's going on? Where is everyone?" Ruby asked, and was quickly followed up by what sounded like Weiss.
"Over here Ruby... never mind, I'm here anyway. It seems like we're close to each other, but I don't understand why we're unable to visibly see one another. Did Jinn do something to us?"
Qrow smirked. "Nah, we're just having a good old-fashioned drunk."
"Not helping... ew, I sound like ice queen." Yang spoke with a noticeable irritation.
"Hey!" The aforementioned cried out. Qrow saw fit to interrupt.
"Ease it up kids, I was just trying to lighten the mood. Besides, maybe this is how that Jinn lady is going to answer us."
"Maybe." It was Blake this time, and she sounded a lot calmer than the others. "This may be what happened to V. Jinn said she did him a favor, maybe in his mind it was like this."
"Well we can ask him later." Weiss spoke up. "We're clearly here for a reason."
Ruby was the next to respond, and once again it was another question they all had in mind.
"What is it she wants from us though? V never really talked much the last time we spoke with him."
Everything began to shift before anyone could answer, and strangely enough they found themselves in what looked like a bedroom. Ruby was the first to notice the fine carpet below her boots, and embarrassingly felt a little weird standing on an indoor carpet with said dirty boots.
Dad wouldn't like this. She pushed those thoughts aside as a voice filled the air.
"In a time long before the Grimm ruled the worth of Remnant, there was a simple woman; locked aloft in a mighty tower."
It was Jinn, and while Ruby couldn't see the woman she knew that this was the reason they were brought here. But it was strange... they had asked to know what Ozpin was hiding, so why was Jinn seemingly starting in a tower?
"Who's that?" Weiss spoke from her side, and Ruby turned to see a woman leaning out a window. Her lifeless gold hair flowed like water down her back, and complimented her bright colorless dress. Ruby felt odd as she looked upon the woman, she wasn't quite sure why, but she had this little nibbling of unease eat at her as she saw the lady.
"Day after day she would gaze out into the world beyond, and wonder just what it would be like to explore. However her desires were wasted as she was restrained to the tower; guarded by a father that fed her false love she yearned to see the world."
Ruby watched as the woman sighed, her form slouched even deeper out the opening...
And then she spoke.
"Maybe I should just leap." The woman said, and Ruby felt an internal horror fill her. "At least I'll see the world a little before I die."
"Perhaps it is better to climb down and see it alive." A voice called, which in turn peaked the woman's curiosity.
She looked down and Ruby did as well. It felt weird practically phasing through the lady, but if this was just Jinn's way of telling stuff then she would deal with it. There was a man down there, and he looked to be waving to them... no, he was waving to the woman.
This feels weird. It was disturbing not being seen or felt when looked at. Was this how creeps felt?
"How are you here?" The woman questioned. "Father never let's anybody near the my tower."
"I know, and I'm sorry to say he isn't going to be stopping me anytime soon."
"Pardon?" The blond let out, and rather than speak the man walked towards the tower.
Everything blurred, and the door behind was open. Ruby saw the man step in, and up close she was able to really take in his appearance. He looked almost like a cross between a noble and a rogue; a knight bound in green leather with a cape flowing in the wind... well, a metaphorical wind anyway, as there wasn't any in the room as far as Ruby could see.
"Your father will lock you away no longer, although I'm not proud of what I needed to do to free you."
"Don't be." The woman started. "He never truly loved me. Brothers, there were times I believed he saw me more as a trophy than his daughter." She approached the man with a look of curiosity. "You must be powerful if you were able to fell him, but tell me: Why risk your life so?"
"I suppose you could say I was righting a wrong." The man replied. "Nobody should be imprisoned, especially a pretty young woman such as yourself."
The woman scoffed, and yet a hint of humor adorned her features. "I see... well then, I suppose you wish for a reward for your service. Is it my hand in marriage you seek, or merely my affections."
The man laughed in response. "No no, while I do wish for something, I can assure you at the moment it is not that."
"Then what, pray tell, is it you wish?" Much to her surprise he reached his hand out before her.
"Call it odd, but would I be wrong in assuming you wish to explore these lands; to see the world you've been denied these many years?"
"No, that is not incorrect; you speak truth."
"Then come with me. I desire not your hand or body, but your companionship. Join me in adventure, and I'll show you the excitement of a lifetime."
"Oh, well then." She took his hand and they started for the door. "I suppose I have no reason to deny, but I must ask, why wish for this?"
"A journey is more enjoyable with companions to share in it, and I do so enjoy a journey." Ruby noticed that everything began to fade white, but not before a few damning final words were expelled.
"Pardon, but I never got your name."
"Ozma, and you my fine maiden."
"Salem."
Several seconds passed in the silent void, before Yang let out the question they were all thinking.
"What the fuck?"
The scene shifted again, this time to a lush green field. Weiss took notice of the single house situated along a shore, just before a river. It was small and wooden, and by accounts of her own father he would describe it as 'a worthless shack'. Weiss never saw it that way though, instead she saw what looked like a comfortable little home, and with it Jinn's words filled the air again.
"Their adventures were fruitful, and Salem reveled in the excitement Ozma's offer had brought her. They fought off bandits and beast alike, explored ruins and cities, and had found riches both physical and mental. Yet as the years flew by she found her feelings dive deeper towards her companion, and on one particularly standard night she worked up the courage to confess those emotions."
"I-I see." Ozma's voice sounded... uneasy. "And you've been feeling this way for..."
"About a year now." Salem confessed, and Weiss had a hard time truly deciphering the woman. Salem, the mother of V and queen of Grimm, was sitting at a rivers edge speaking of love.
This is the woman who threatens to destroy all of Remnant? Weiss couldn't see it here, this woman was far too gentle to really seem all that imposing. However this was supposedly far off in the past, at least from what she could see so far; perhaps they would see how Salem came to be the monster Ozpin claimed.
The man chuckled a little. "Well then, I suppose it's safe to assume my claim of not seeking your hand is rather invalid now." He smiled and pulled her in. "It would be rather rude to turn you down, wouldn't it?"
"Very." She confirmed as she lowered her head against him. He sighed and thumbed at her cheek.
"Then I accept these terms, for whatever time they might allow."
Weiss didn't know how to look at this at all, there was just something inherently off about it. He made it seem like their union would be a hassle, rather than that of joy, and still he looked mostly content. Maybe that was just how things were done back then, but even so she couldn't brush off the innate feeling of gloom tugging at her heartstrings.
"Damn." Yang started. "What a buzzkill."
The scene shifted once more, the white filling her view, and throughout it all Yang was feeling particularly annoyed with it all. She wanted to know what other dangerous nonsense the headmaster was hiding from them, not Salem's whole life story. Okay so it was weird that Salem had been Human once before, at least if what they had seen so far was to be believed, but she very quickly wondered what this was all leading up to.
The world painted itself again, and this time they were walking through a bustling town. Short buildings lined the rough dirty street, but there were plenty of them. So many others had walked the roads, two of which being the targets of this little tale.
Salem and Ozma walked along, and the latter let out several hacking coughs.
"You must rest!" Salem spoke. "I understand you wish to handle things, but we mustn't make this sickness worse."
"I'm fine." He steadied himself and breathed outward. "It's just a common cold, nothing more."
"You've been saying that for the past year. This is more than a mere cold!" Salem was getting agitated, and looking at it Yang couldn't blame her.
Now Yang wasn't nearly as stupid as a few select individuals might believe, mostly involving those counted among their enemies. Somehow this all related to Ozpin, after all Ruby had asked about what he was hiding. He fit into this somehow, and she had a sneaking suspicion that his whole 'soul parasite thing might just present himself. Ozpin currently was part of Oscar, and seeing as the man with Salem shared the exact same voice as their headmaster she had an assumption that this was Ozpin; the real Ozpin. He showed no signs of swapping personalities, and this whole shindig was to air Ozpin's secrets; it was kind of a no-brainer really.
Yang was certain the others thought so too.
"As I said-" He coughed again, to which Salem helped to balance him. Taking a breath Ozma continued. "I am fine. I've dealt with much worse before. Have faith my love, I'm used to this."
An incredulous look filled out her features.
"Used to it?! Are you saying you knew this would happen?" That look quickly turned to terror. "No... that's not it, is it?" With a silent desperation she leaned in ever so slowly, frightened of the very question she spoke. "How long Ozma, how long has this sickness ravaged you?"
The man sent her a guilty look, but as he shut his eyes to steel himself they all got the answer.
"Two years before I met you up in that tower. I had heard of how your father locked you away, and when I confronted him he gave his all in the fight. It was our first skirmish, and I was young and naïve. I believed I could best him, but he dueled with poisons on his blade, and rather stupidly I had taken a hit." Ozma tried to hold back the shame, but even Yang could see through the pathetic excuse of strength he wore. She felt a little bad for him really, as he looked like a beaten puppy.
He managed to face Salem, although it looked to take a massive amount of willpower from the man to do so.
"I was forced to flee that day, and spent the next year training and bettering myself just to stand a chance, and it paid off when I led an army towards his castle; mercenaries who had tried for your rescue once before and survived their failures. Out of all I was the last breathing. Just your father and I were left, surrounded by the dead of our men. They were as much a part of your rescue as I, and though I know we've discussed it before I still wish some of them could have lived. All alone we fought again, and through sheer luck I managed to succeed. As my blade pierced his chest I heard him laughing, and it was then that he revealed I had been poisoned."
"Why didn't you seek a cure?" Salem's voice was still, but her eyes watered as she stared down her lover.
"Not for this. I've dealt with it before, and believe me nobody would have been able to help. Your father tainted his blade with the putrid death of the Dark Lord; the same substance he floods his land with. You know well how the Grimm guard his lair, and I'm still wondering to this day how he managed to get it in the first place. They are no ordinary monsters like the goblins of dragons; they are destruction incarnate. It's fitting really, for the god of destruction."
"N-no..." Salem was hyperventilating, however she steeled herself, shutting her eyes and covering her ears to try and maintain some control. She popped them open, seeming to have come up with something, but Yang could still hear the worry in her voice. "The Lord of Light! We cou-"
"I tried." Her heart looked to shatter as Ozma stood, his coughing having left him for the time being. "Before I came for you I journeyed to his spring. I pleaded for him to cure this, but he denied. He told of how he and his brother could not interfere with the lives of Humanity, and while he sympathised with me he said that his involvement would give his brother prime to do so as well, breaking the pact they have; it is that pact that keeps the Lord of Shadow's Grimm from leaving the island of death and raiding the world."
"But that darkness belonged to the Dark Lord!" Salem nearly screamed, drawing forth a few eyes which she promptly ignored. "How does that not break the pact already?!"
"Because the darkness which ails me with doom was stolen." Ozma said as he lead them along the path towards what appeared to be the edge of town, all the while everything faded again. "Pools of darkness litter the deadlands, and the fearless do not even need to cross into the Dark Lord's domain to reach some."
"But but..." The world faded completely, and the last thing that could be heard was a simple, broken plea. "I don't want to lose you."
Silence reigned again, and Blake broke the silence with a soft voice.
"This is... getting a little heavy." It was countered by an angry sounding Yang.
"You think?" Blake fought back an irritated scowl, yet it fell as the hidden blond continued. "I mean come on! That's just plain cruel. If you have the power to help somebody then there's no reason to let them suffer."
Qrow threw his two lien out next. "Sorry fire-flower, but you heard what was said. If the guy saved Ozma then the Grimm could escape and invade the world. Yeah it's messed up, but you have to ask yourself about what's worth more; one man's life, or the lives of the world?"
"That doesn't make it right! Besides... the Grimm are everywhere now anyway, so something must have changed regardless." Yang cried, and Qrow spoke in a low, yet sympathetic tone.
"I know, but what's right is hardly ever what's best. You already understand this, all of you do, so as much as it hurts to see it you'll just have to get used to it."
Blake felt the need to speak up. "We shouldn't need to get used to it though."
"Well tough luck kid, but that's how the world works." For what it was worth he did sound genuinely bad about it. "Life is crap, people are generally garbage, and you can't save everybody. The more you try, the worse you'll do, and at some point you'll just get everybody killed."
Blake could hear Yang talking back, but she wasn't listening.
Is it really that hopeless? He made it sound like all their efforts to save people were a waste of time, and yet despite how bad he made it sound his views didn't quite match up with their experience. Time and time again they had tried and succeeded. They saved many when the Vytal Festival was attacked, and they've fought off Roman, Merlot, and even Adam. Sure they had some falling through from time to time, but in the end they had managed to fight back against some of the worst people around.
Everything faded in again, and the first thing Blake heard was footsteps. They echoed loudly, and then they splashed. Her head turned, and she saw Salem standing in a wonderous spring. It was beautiful, surrounded by life which stretched around ever so brightly. Blake hardly had time to marvel before a series of golden leaves fluttered and flew around the center of the pool. The leaves flew together, and soon formed the shape of a man. He was just as golden as the bright leaves themselves, as if he was made from the very light shining down on the water. There looked to be antlers on his head, but they were the same shade as the rest of him.
Tall and strong as he appeared, Blake found herself shocked when his voice came out buttery smooth.
"I am sorry, I truly am, but I cannot bring him back."
"It was you who allowed him to die." Salem looked to be holding herself together, but Blake could hear how bits and pieces of her words would crackle with emotion.
"Yes, I did, as is part of Humanities nature." The being sat, cross-legged atop the surface of the water as he continued in his fatherly voice. "When my brother and I came to our truce we decided to work together, to birth a creature both our own. A creature of life, and death; one versed in the primordial powers of creation and destruction. Your kind were granted the power to choose how you altered the world, and in turn we chose to allow you to do so freely without our interference."
"And yet you hold council here." Salem spat with ire. "What good is there allowing petitions when you refuse to act?"
"While I may not act, I am still able to give the information necessary for those who seek me, to guide them in finding what they need on their own." He answered just as calm as before. "I cannot however provide answers when there are none. Ozma was inflicted with a lethal amount of darkness, so much so that even I would not be able to purify it. My action would only poison him in the other direction, in that of light rather than dark."
"You are a god, and you're telling me there is nothing to be done? Do you not have the power to create life? If you do then surely you can restore it!"
"I will not." It wasn't angry, just... hard. Ease filled the god's tone and Blake watched him approach Salem. His hands were held out, and a flower lay within; crushed and broken. "See this plant here. On your way to me you stepped on it; just before stepping into my waters. I saw this, and though I liked this flower I will not restore its life. It is gone, as nature demands. Life and death are a pair, and one cannot act without the other, lest their value lose all meaning."
"Fine! Keep your life and death!" Salem turned, just barely holding herself back it appeared. Blake felt even more pity well up as the woman stormed off with tears in her eyes, all the while the god simply returned to leaves in the wind.
"The Light Lord felt the woman's pain, and yet he knew it would break the natural order to act. He and the Dark Lord both had created the cycle, and while it would be easy to restore Ozma to the world of the living it would shatter both their agreement as well as the order he so valued. His brother in turn writhed within chaos; Salem knew this as well, and her desperation carried her towards a new objective."
The scene changed again, and Qrow felt a chill shoot up his spine as he saw the jagged dark stone surrounding him, all the while puddles of black goo were scattered over the dark landscape. He was heavily disturbed at the sight of the crimson moon in the sky, not because of the color; no, what scared him most of all was its state.
The moon was full.
Unlike the moon Remnant had lived under this one was all in one solid piece, which meant that at some point it was broken, and he shuddered thinking about the power needed for such an astrological event.
"Salem was anything if not persistent, and she trekked to the one final place where her wishes had a chance to flourish. In the deadlands she had walked, watched by the surrounding Grimm in feral curiosity. They did not attack, only observe, as she arrived at the resting place of darkness."
He watched as Salem stopped just before the black waters, and felt a stab of fear at the sight of it rising. The black muck twisted and twirled, forming into a massive beast; for legged and bearing two massive skeletal wings. The head appeared similar to the skull of a horse, with two twirled horns acting as a crow; it deeply resembled the dragon Grimm often rumored to have walked Remnant in the past; though that was hardly up in the air now as he watched everything unfold. Qrow nearly pissed himself as it shot forward, only to dip back in the darkness. The water never even splashed upon entry, merely plopped like a jelly. Up rose a man, deep dark purple sporting a pair of horns less fantastical than the beast, but still ultimately similar.
"Well well, what an interesting sight." He floated towards her, his body stiff like a puppet. He stopped just before her, only to fling back seemingly to life as he mimicked sitting on a throne. He snapped his fingers, and Grimm surrounded them; a waiting council of death. "So what brings a mortal to me? Is my brother too packed with worshipers that you need to wait here?"
Rather than speak Salem kneeled, looking to have gained the interest of the god.
"I come to you now, to submit myself in your service."
"Submit?" He leaned in a bit as his fingertips linked. "No mortal has ever ventured to see me before, let alone kneel to me? Your kind usually favor my brother, as if I had nothing to do with you. Yet here you are, a single mortal woman, and you say you wish to submit to me?"
"Yes, my lord." Salem sounded so earnest, so stagnant and lifeless, and Qrow wondered if this was all an act, or if she really did wish to serve a dark god. Said dark god chuckled, and soon it became a hearty maniacal laugh as he yelled out.
"Finally! One of you comes to your senses at long last!" He looked to calm a little. "I like you mortal, I really do. You have the courage to brave my domain, just for me. To cross the sea of death, and rise above the deadly landscape; you passed my trials well. Tell me though, what types of challenges does my brother's domain hold? Surely he must have some grand ones if so many seek him. Warriors do so love to test themselves."
"None."
"Pardon?" The god soured his words. "Speak once more please. I believe I may have heard you wrong."
"None, my lord." Salem told as she raised herself. "He allows all into his domain freely, and occasionally takes petitions from those who seek him."
Qrow saw how the faceless divine's expression faltered, which was impressive considering there were no eyes, nose, or even a mouth. Yet he composed himself, and spoke in a tone so dark it reminded Qrow that this creature was the dark.
"I see... so he lets them in freely. Speak again mortal and answer me; where is his shrine. Surely it must be treacherous like mine, otherwise his trials would have involved more direct challenges."
"The center of the mainland, atop the highest mountain. It is a pleasant and brisk walk, taking an afternoon at most."
"That bastard!" The Dark Lord was pissed now. "So this is his vision of balance?! He spends all day prancing about with the mortals while I rot here keeping my children at bay! Worst of all he presents not a single challenge, he just lets anyone at all prance right up to him! How is that sporting?!" His voice kept an even volume, yet his words were filled with so much malice and hate it could cut the very air.
Qrow had to give props to Salem; the woman didn't even flinch as the god let loose his temper. Said god relaxed again as he faced Salem, but this time his tone held a smugness to it.
"And yet you came to me. You found me despite how easily my brother made himself. My sole worshiper, my worshiper, an a worthy one at that." He snapped his fingers again and the Grimm backed off. "I believe that deserves a reward. Tell me, is there anything you desire in that courageous little heart of yours?"
Salem nodded and spoke. "There is."
"Well then, speak."
"I..." She faltered a little. "I lost my husband to poison a year back. I want to see him again, to feel his hands on me, and his lips on mine. Please, can you bring him back to me?"
"True love eh?" The Dark Lord chuckled lowly, and then he clapped. "Done."
Ozma plopped into existence, and Qrow watched as the naked man flung his head about in panic.
"What's happening! Where am I!" He froze as Salem pulled him in close, and whispered to him gently.
"Shhhh, I am here my love, I am here."
"What should have been a happy ending soon soured, as there was one aspect that made itself known just shortly afterwards."
Qrow knew it was too good to be true; there was always a catch. The scene was interrupted by a flash of light, and the look of horror on Salem's face made even Qrow jump. And so the catch had presented himself, and though his face was just as featureless as before Qrow could swear the rage burned off him like a wildfire. Jinn's voiced echoed out once more.
"The elder brother had arrived."
...
Author's note
...
I know I know, cliff-hangers suck, but this was getting too long. Sure I could keep writing, but I'd rather take the chance to give you guys a break, and what better place is there than right before the good stuff?
As many of you can see, while many events are similar to what we saw in the show, they are not the same. Let's be real here, the episode itself wasn't all that great, and I'm sure I wasn't the only one disappointed in it. Had it been able to expand on what it brought it could have been cool, but it just felt like a rush job of a backstory; not only that but everyone was cut off from one another. Truthfully I wanted to know how they felt about the reveal, because we all remember the one thing they recalled; as if the rest never even happened. It always felt too fast for its own good, so hopefully I've helped alleviate that here.
See you next time, and be ready; we're getting the rest of this wrapped up next chapter.
And then the fun really starts!
On a side note however, I've been re-reading the story up to now, just to see how I've improved.
Holy fuck is it bad, like... seriously; how did any of you even make it this far?! I know it may have appeared charming, but there are so many spelling mistakes, and not to mention the poorly constructed sentences! Thanks to anyone who made it this far, but damn does it hurt to sift through. I know it's gotten better after chapter twenty or so, but it shouldn't have taken that long anyhow. I don't even know how I managed to mess up that crazily. Either way, I'll leave them as is, like I said long ago they're what shows me how much I've improved, and its clear as day to see.
Besides, it's the story and characters that matter, and the plot has pretty much stayed the same, even after a year or so.