Ibuki: Disclaimer! The author does not own any of the material appearing in the story. The OC's belong to their respective owners!
BGM: Hades' Infernal Theme (Kid Icarus: Uprising)
"Time! Space! Reality! It's more than just a boring ol' linear path! It's a prism of boundless entertainment! A single choice can branch out into infinite realities and infinite amusement from yours truly! Alternate universes created from the ones that we know and love! I am Lord Hades, your handsome guide to these wonderful and boundless fun of opportunities! Follow me, if you dare… and bask in the neverending torturous question of:"
SUPER RWBY: WHAT IF?
"What If!"
End BGM
"Hoo boy, that was a fun alternate reality! Summer never dying and it causes Ruby to not be accepted into Beacon. Ooooh, I just love how the snowball effect just screws everything over. Makes things quite lovely, if I say so myself!"
Hades chuckled. "Speaking of snowballs… There was one universe that caught my attention. Something that… made me smile."
Hades pulled the universe up in question. "We all know about little miss snowflake! She had such a lovely childhood until the Grimm proceeded to make a mess of things. Luckily for her, good ol' James-y boy came to her at her lowest and raised her to be the strongest independent ice queen that we all know and love!"
He smirked. "But… suppose that someone else were to find Esdeath. Someone far less nicer and more manipulative. Someone… who had a witch trial named after her!"
What If… Salem Found Esdeath?
Esdeath was sleeping peacefully in bed after having a delicious meal. Her father and mother were in the other room chatting amongst themselves.
Nearby, Salem approached the village from a mountain. She watched the village go about their day. Beowolves, Ursa, Sabyrs, Megoliaths and Teryxes approached her.
"Kill them." She ordered as the Grimm obeyed and rushed down the mountain toward the village. She conjured up a Grimm-like coffee mug and sipped a beverage as she watched them go into town.
Back at the hut, Esdeath's parents heard the sound of screaming as the father ran out of the hut. "What's going on?" He demanded.
"A Grimm attack!" A villager yelled.
"Dammit… at this hour?" He growled, heading inside to pick up his own rifle. "Honey, get your weapon! We must protect our village!"
Back with Salem, she let out a chuckle, watching small fiery explosions happen all around the hut. She had even set out a Seer just so she could personally watch the carnage all by herself. The more she watched, the more of a smile crept up on her face.
However, as she was enjoying the carnage, the Seer suddenly froze over, dropping to the ground and shattering. "What?" Salem wondered as she looked at the village to see a blizzard forming over the village. The blizzard covered the village… until it stopped and was eerily quiet.
"Hmm…"
Salem walked toward the village.
BGM: Ghosts of Reach (Halo 2 Anniversary)
Once she approached the village, she would see everything having been iced over. Corpses were covered, Grimm were frozen statues… everything was eerily quiet.
As she went further into the village, she came across a destroyed hut and soon found someone who hadn't been slaughtered from the Grimm.
Esdeath.
"Looks like you're the only one left." She said, aiming her hand at Esdeath as magic coursed through her hand. She smirked, it could all be too easy to slaughter her.
…No. She had a different idea.
Salem put her arm down and knelt down in front of Esdeath. "Hey."
Esdeath looked up at Salem, looking at her with cold blank eyes.
"If I didn't know any better, you seemed to unlock your semblance."
Esdeath continued to look at her. "It didn't… bring my parents back."
"Oh child. Sweet sweet child. What if I told you that I'm your birth mother?" She lied.
"What…?"
"Your parents took you from me and raised you as your own, when in reality, they never gave birth to you. I was the one who gave birth to you."
"But… you look so creepy…"
"That's because they manipulated you." Salem gently put her hand on her cheek, caressing it. "Sweet child… it has been so long since I've seen you, I've nearly forgotten your name."
"Esdeath…"
"Esdeath?" Salem hid a smirk. With a name like that, there was no possible way her name couldn't strike fear into the hearts of men. Probably give good ol' Ozma a heart attack. "That's such a lovely name, my child."
She took her hand. "Come. We are heading home." She picked her up, and called a Nevermore.
"G-Grimm…!"
"Shhh, it is alright, my child. You too will learn to control the Grimm." She said, placing her on the Nevermore as the Grimm gave Salem a weird look before shrugging it off as Salem climbed aboard and then flew off.
End BGM
"And thus begins Esdeath's reign of terror! …Ooops, spoiler alert!"
Once they had arrived at the castle, Salem and Esdeath approached a pool. "Wh-what is…?"
"That… is what you truly look like before your so-called parents gave you a makeover." She said and pushed Esdeath in.
Inside the Grimm Pool, the young Esdeath convulsed and twitched as she opened her mouth to scream but no screams came out. Salem watched with a wicked smirk on her face as Esdeath climbed out of the pool, her skin now white and veiny as her eyes turned darkest night with red pupils.
"Hah… hah… hah…" Esdeath puked out the Grimm Liquid as tears ran down her cheeks. Salem gripped Esdeath's arm and took her into the castle.
Salem put Esdeath down on the chair. "Your semblance. It is a curse that has been shouldered upon you. I have been cursed as well." Magic swelled in her hands as Esdeath looked at her. "In time, your curse will grow into something extraordinary. Allow me to help you, dear child."
Several years later…
Esdeath, now having long hair, the veins on her body had glowed a deep bright blue color as she was also wearing a jacket that barely covered her chest and showed off some major side boob while also wearing a ripped up mini skirt. She also wore white high heels.
"My semblance is a curse, and over the years, it has grown into something beautiful. Something magical. Humanity is scum, and with that, humanity deserves to be punished. I will destroy Ozpin and show Remnant what happens when you discriminate against us."
Salem smirked. "Indeed. I have taught you well. Your semblance is a curse, but with my help, your magic has increased tenfold."
"I'd like to thank you, mother. You have shown me much love and compassion over the years. Even if you call it… "tough love"."
Salem chuckled. "It had to be done. Now… one last test to see if you have the conviction." She snapped her fingers as two Seers came in and threw a silver eyed huntress to the ground.
Summer Rose.
"You see, child… this human has been pestering me for a while. I could have done it myself but I figured you could do it. I've had her locked up just for this grand moment." She said as Esdeath approached her.
Summer grunted. "You've… you've manipulated this young lady…"
"Humanity manipulated her, not me." Salem lied as a Seer impaled Summer, enough to shatter her aura.
"Nnngh!"
"Show me your conviction, child. Show me you have what it takes to slaughter this human."
Esdeath knelt down. "You have… silver eyes." She kicked Summer in the chin to knock her on her back, and then raised her foot up. "They annoy me." Icicles formed on the heel of her shoe.
Salem watched as Esdeath swung her foot down as Summer screamed in agony. Well, that's two less silver eyes I have to worry about. She thought as Summer covered her face, blood gushing out as she screamed in agony.
"Your screams are music to my ears. But I'm afraid… your life is meaningless." Esdeath conjured up an ice axe and raised it in the air before swinging it down to silence her.
Salem smirked. "You're ready."
Esdeath turned around. "What will you have me do, mother?"
In Atlas, specifically at the Atlas military…
Ironwood overlooked the training exercises, all of them shooting at targets with the greatest of ease. Once the training drills were over, Ironwood walked down.
"Great training today. Some of you were a little sloppy at the beginning but you fixed your aim as the training improved. With that in mind-"
Slow clapping was heard as Ironwood turned his head, seeing Esdeath approach. "My my, I didn't know a military could be so sloppy." She said casually. "Perhaps I could toughen them up for you."
"Who are you? You are trespassing on military grounds!"
"Oh, who am I? I am Esdeath. I wish to grade your military. I want you to attack me with everything you have."
"You want us to attack you? Lady, I think you got the wrong idea. We're not trained to attack someone just by someone requesting-" The soldier was immediately silenced by having an ice javelin piece through him, immediately killing him.
"I wasn't asking."
Ironwood clenched his fists. "Kill her." He ordered as all the military surrounded her and aimed her weapons at her.
"Good. You know how to flank. Now let's see some shooting." She said as all the soldiers shot her, but she jumped into the air as all the bullets hit each soldier, either killing them or incapacitating them.
"Such a weak military."
"You've got one thing wrong, Esdeath. I'm not weak!" Ironwood charged at her. "RAAAAAAAAH!"
"Oh my, how charming~" Esdeath smiled as magic circled around her and then ice stalagmites rose up and impaled Ironwood.
"Hnnngh!" He grunted, coughing out blood as Esdeath approached him.
"I'd say you're pretty weak from my view point." Esdeath chuckled.
"You… you're Grimm…"
"So what if I am? I see nothing wrong with it." She conjured up an ice sword. "It's too bad that you're weak, but don't worry… I'll take good care of your military." She smirked, swiftly swinging her sword to cut off his head.
"What… what are you doing?" A voice asked as Esdeath turned to see a middle aged woman approaching her.
"Oh? And who are you?"
Blue flames came out of the corner of her eyes. "I am the Winter Maiden! Leave now!"
"Ooooh, just who I was looking for." Esdeath smirked as Friya launched a blizzard directly at her. "Hahahaha! A blizzard? Please, the cold doesn't even bother someone like me!" She said, punching the ground as ice formed underneath Friya and encased her in ice, but she broke free of her prison and launched herself toward Esdeath.
Esdeath smirked, ice blades forming in her hands as she lunged at Friya, both of them going through each other before reaching a stand still.
"...Nnngh…" Friya groaned, her aura depleted as she fell to the ground.
Esdeath approached Friya, grabbing her by the throat. "You will take me to the vault. Show me the way." She ordered.
"I… I will never…"
"You don't have a choice. Show me the vault… or I will slaughter every person on this floating city. Starting with the children."
"...Very well… I will show you the way."
"That's a good girl." She chuckled.
Friya reluctantly guided Esdeath to the vault, the door opening as Esdeath took a look inside. "Hmm… spring time in the winter vault? Huh, who knew."
"I am not sure what you want with the vault, but please leave…"
"Oh, I'm not planning on leaving." Esdeath said as she grabbed Friya by the head and snapped her neck, which in turn, gave her the Winter Maiden powers. "...Truly, it's a bit redundant having the winter Maiden's power when you have ice magic. Oh well, I suppose beggars can't be choosers."
She walked through the vault and grabbed the staff. "Huh… the relic is nothing but a staff? Mmm, it's a bit dusty." She said, rubbing off the dust… which in turn caused blue smoke to surround her before Ambrosius came out of the staff.
BGM: Dive to the Heart - Destati (Kingdom Hearts II)
"Hnnnngh! Aaaah… man, does it feel good to stretch!"
"...Correction. The relic has a bodybuilder in it." She said before taking a good look at him, where she blushed heavily. HOLY SHIT, HE'S HOT.
"So… what can I do for-... oh dear." He grimaced. "I never expected a Grimm to open the gate… well, a humanoid Grimm at that. Salem! You're looking… quite different. New hair cut?"
"I am Esdeath."
"Huh, decided to go with a name with "death" in it… always had a feeling you were edgy." Ambrosius mumbled. "Anyway, unfortunately I'm stuck with you, so what do you want me to make? One rule: I don't do resurrections."
"Really? And why not?"
"Simple: I don't like doing it! So slimy and… eugh, unnatural…" He shuddered. "It's not a pretty picture."
"Don't worry, I don't plan on doing resurrections."
"Good. Another thing, I can only make one thing at a time. Anything else that I've created? Disappears." He said.
"That sounds completely stupid."
"Eh, it is what it is. Hope it's better than a stupid floating city…"
"A floating city, you say…?" Esdeath rubbed her chin and chuckled. "I want you to make me an ice palace. Make it rise from the ground in the heart of Mantle. Make it shiny that will make the sun reflect off of it-"
"Hang on a second." Abrosius pulled out a note and a pencil, writing it down. "Uh-huh… okay… continue."
"I want defenses that will make infiltration nearly impossible. Anti-Air missiles, mines, cannons, railguns, make them all ice too. I also want a chamber in it that creates artificial ice Grimm. Make a torture chamber while you're at it. Make a throne perfect for a woman like me."
"Mmm… it's all nice and detailed, but I'm not really feeling it… how far do you want this ice palace to rise out of the ground?"
"Enough to pierce this floating city and make it split in two."
"Now THAT is what I want to hear!" Ambrosius grinned. "One decked out ice palace coming riiiiight up! Eat your heart out, floating city!" He exclaimed and snapped his fingers.
End BGM
He would then go back into his staff as Esdeath strapped it to her back and watched as the ice palace rose up, piercing through Atlas as she hopped on an ice crystal to hitch a ride as it tore through Atlas, splitting the floating city in two as Esdeath closed her eyes, hearing the sweet sound of screaming as what remained of Atlas fell toward the earth with anyone on both sides screaming and falling to their deaths.
"Hmhmhmhmhm… finally, a place all to myself!" Esdeath said as she hopped down and landed in front of her throne. "Behold! THE CRYSTAL CITY!" She laughed. "I… probably should've had him make a city while I was at it." She sweatdropped. "...Eh, I can make my own." She said as she sat on the throne.
"And thus, Esdeath becomes the queen of Atlas… or as she renamed it, the Crystal City. If you think she was going to sit there quietly, well… you're mistaken! For you see… there were some survivors!"
Her doors swung open as Esdeath was filing her nails. She looked up to see Jacques Schnee approach her. "Oh… and who are you?"
"You have some nerve destroying my city! You completely ruined the Schnee Dust Company and destroyed my family!"
"...Sorry, who are you?"
"I am Jacques Schnee, the head of the Schnee Dust Company!"
"...Who?"
"Are you deaf! I am-"
"Look, I don't care who you are. Go back to your empty shell of a company."
"I demand you rebuild the Schnee Dust Company or I will sue you for everything you have!"
"Ooooh, big words for such a tiny little ant." Esdeath got up from her throne and descended the staircase.
"A tiny little ant? Do you know who you're talking to?! I am the head of the Schnee Dust Company and you will-" Esdeath kicked him down, placing her heel on his chest.
"Let me ask you something… Jacky. What is a boot to an ant? Is it an obstacle that they can go around? Do they climb it? No. They just walk toward their demise as the boot crushes them underneath their foot. No guesses as to what you are."
Immediately, she heard heavy footsteps approaching her as she looked up to see a few huntsmen and huntresses. "Oh~?" She smiled. "Those are some large scissors."
Sheele growled. "We're not going to let you get away with this for a second longer!" She said as Seryu cocked her magnum, Bols readied his flamethrower and Lubbock had wires wrapped around his hands with a smirk.
BGM: Yami o Kiru (Akame ga Kill)
Esdeath released Jacques from her foot… but then she kicked him to a wall. "I'll deal with you later."
She then looked at the four and chuckled, doing nothing but a 'come at me' taunt as the four of them charged at her and flanked her. Esdeath shifted her eyes toward Bols and then threw icicles at his flamethrower, clogging it up and hitting the gas can, where it exploded.
"AAAARGH!" Bols cried, his hands being blown off as Esdeath threw an ice javelin into his neck to finish him off.
Sheele gritted her teeth. "EXTASE!"
"Nnngh!" Esdeath grunted, wincing from the bright light as Seryu quickly ran behind her while shooting at her heels while Lubbock wrapped the wire around her and tugged, but Esdeath unleashed a small blizzard to knock them back as the wire loosened, then she grabbed the wire and wrapped it around Lubbock, quickly choking him out as he gasped for air until the wire dug into his skin, his neck pouring out blood as Esdeath tossed him to the ground to bleed out.
Seryu and Sheele looked at each other and nodded, the two of them rushing ahead as the former shot at her while Sheele flanked her and swung her scissors, but Esdeath threw an ice shockwave at her to send Sheele to a wall and then kicked her scissors toward Sheele, the scissors opening up and embedding into the ice wall, trapping Sheele.
"Sheele!" Seryu growled and clapped her metal gloves together as she formed a shotgun and then shot at Esdeath, but she quickly sweep kicked her to knock her on the ground as Esdeath grabbed the shotgun and then stomped her foot on Seryu's crotch as she screamed in pain… and then Esdeath shoved the barrel of the shotgun into her mouth.
"Feeling hungry?" She smirked before pulling the trigger.
"NO!" Sheele screamed as Esdeath approached Sheele. She gasped as she tried to break free of her prison. She even tried to crouch, but found there was no room for her.
Esdeath grabbed a hold of the bows of the scissors. "A for effort, but honestly… you could've done way better." She chuckled as she started to slowly close them. Sheele grabbed the blades and tried to fight back.
Jacques groaned, rubbing his head as he heard Sheele screaming in agony as the blades were digging deep into her skin. He could only watch in horror as Esdeath pulled the bows back and then swiftly pushed them together quickly.
Jacques quickly grabbed the bloodied shotgun of what was left of Seryu as he aimed at Esdeath. She turned her head before smirking, snapping her fingers as ice scissors came out of the ground and cut the shotgun in half. He let out a yelp as Esdeath approached him as he tried to get away, but she slammed her heel into his crotch.
"AAARGH!"
End BGM
"Was that your back up? Honestly, they weren't much…" She chuckled.
She then heard footsteps approaching them. "...Will the intrusions never end." She said in annoyance.
"Is that any way to treat your mother?"
"Oh!" Esdeath smiled. "Forgive me, mother. I didn't know it was you."
Salem walked in, seeing the aftermath. "Hmm, I have to say, you did a pretty good job on destroying Atlas."
"Thank you, mother."
"Mother?" Jacques quietly mouthed.
"I see you also have the Staff of Creation. I'm assuming you have the Maiden power as well?" Salem asked as Esdeath responded by having blue flames come out of her eyes. "Good." She smiled as Esdeath deactivated the powers.
"Now then… with one of the relics, we can take what's ours that the humans have taken away from us. With that, we will truly bring Remnant to its knees." Salem walked over to Jacques, looking down at him.
"Who the hell are you…?"
"Let's just say… I'm someone who you pushed away a long time ago." Salem said. "Hmhmhm… now, let us resume our conquest."
"Yeah, about that-" Esdeath snapped her fingers, which caused Salem to be trapped in an icy prison.
"Nnngh! What are you doing?!"
"So sorry, mother. Remnant's not big enough for two Grimm humans." She grabbed the ice prison and used her Maiden powers to make her fly into the stratosphere.
"Esdeath! I will not stand for this treachery!"
"I'm well aware that you cannot die. However, you can spend an eternity in the depths of space!" She said, launching her into space and with enough thrust, it was enough to make her leave the planet's orbit.
"Introducing Hollywood's newest creation to desperately try to stay relevant! Salem in SPACE! Now in 3D!"
Esdeath chuckled, thrusting her hands in the air. "Let the new ice age begin!" She called out.
Several years later…
"Thus, Esdeath's iron fist reigned over Remnant. It was nothing more than a solid ice cube at this point. Thousands of perished under her rule, crops failed, huntsmen and huntresses were running thin as they desperately tried to fight the ice empress. None succeeded. Not even the Mushroom Kingdom or the Smash Mansion were spared under her reign! However… there were a small group of heroes that were on their way to try and melt Esdeath's icy domain. Oh look, there they are now!"
A small blob of lava hit the icy ground. Another one soon followed. Soon, a lavafall moved past these blobs of lava as a fortress moved toward the Crystal City.
The fortress appeared to be a floating island with a massive lava pool inside of it. On the front of the fortress was Bowser's head as balls of chains came crashing down into the icy surface, lowering the fortress.
The anti air weapons aimed directly at the fortress, only for them to get destroyed by Banzai Bills.
Once the fortress hit the ground, Koopas and Toads came running out in large numbers. They were joined by Mario, Ruby, Adam, Blake, Captain Falcon, Samus, BoTW Link, Mipha, Cloud, Pyrrha, Akame, Yor, and Ozpin.
Kamek appeared in front of them. "Behold! The King of the Koopas!" He slammed his staff on the ground as everyone made room as the fortress opened up.
BGM: Bowser Jr's Airship Armada (Super Mario Galaxy)
Bowser walked out of the fortress, walking through as his allies saluted him… and once he reached the front lines, he stopped. "OPEN THE GATES!" He roared as the gates opened up, revealing crystallized Sabyrs as they lunged at the group before they stopped as a large crystalized Sabyr, walking on hind legs, approached Bowser.
"You dare walk across the sacred ground of her majesty! This is your only warning, leave nor or perish by our claws! You will not survive the onslaught! Do you yield?"
Bowser let out a chuckle. "I do not." He said as Kamek used his magic to lift the crystalised Sabyrs in the air and telekinetically pushed them together, and then Bowser breathed fire to melt them all and destroyed the entrance of the Crystal City.
Ruby took a deep breath. "I never thought I'd fight side by side with the White Fang. Let alone die."
Adam chuckled. "How about… dying alongside a friend?"
Ruby smirked. "That'll do."
"Let's melt this ice!" Bowser roared as they charged into the Crystal City.
End BGM
At the throne…
"What is going on out there?" Esdeath wondered, having Jacques on a chain, completely void of all clothing except for underwear and was licking her boot.
The doors slammed open as Bowser walked in. "You there!" He roared.
"Oh, is this the king of the Koopas I've heard so much about? I assumed you perished." She said, using her heel to slice open Jacques' neck open to finish him off. "Honestly, I was getting rather bored of you."
Esdeath would then see the other heroes approaching. "Hahahaha! So this must be Remnant's last line of defense!"
"What world will there be to rule if everyone perishes in this ice age?" Ozpin demanded. "You will rule over nothing."
"Simple. I'll just remake everyone from scratch as ordinary crystalized citizens." Esdeath said.
Ozpin looked over at Esdeath. "...I see you have all four relics."
"Indeed. As for the Maidens, they're in good hands. They're in my torture dungeon. It's only a matter of time before they succumb to their torture… and then I will have all four Maiden powers at my grasp."
"BWAHAHAHAHA! Please… not when we're here to take you down!" Bowser laughed.
Ruby readied Crescent Rose. "We'll put a stop to you."
Esdeath chuckled. "Is that so?" She got up from her throne and then aimed the Sword of Destruction at them. "Then please… at least make it worth my time. Entertain me as I slaughter you like animals!"
BGM: Bowser's Fury - Phase 1 (Bowser's Fury)
The Ice Empress - Esdeath
Bowser roared as he jumped toward Esdeath and swiped at her, but Esdeath quickly blocked with the sword. He smirked and breathed fire directly at her face, which was enough to make her grunt and then get knocked back as Ruby grabbed Mario as the former used her semblance to get around Esdeath as the two slashed and hammered her.
Esdeath grunted, turning around and roundhouse kicked the two to knock them away as Ozpin fired magic directly at Esdeath. "Gragh!" She grunted. "How…"
"You are a Grimm. You shed your aura for power. You are susceptible to anything we throw at you." Ozpin said.
"Heheheh… good, that makes things more FUN!" She yelled as she lunged at Ozpin and slashed him, but he blocked with his staff as he parried her and fired point blank magic at her, making her slide against the ice as Cloud and Link flanked her and slashed her, but Esdeath jumped in the air.
"Freeze!" She yelled, throwing down a massive iceberg to try and crush them, forcing them out of the way as Adam and Blake lunged, both of them slashing at Esdeath as she swiftly parried the two as Blake shot her and then Adam sweep kicked her and thrusted his sword, but Esdeath blocked by forming ice shields around her as she kicked him off and kicked upwardly on Blake, knocking her in the air as Mipha surrounded herself in water and launched a torrent of water, striking Esdeath and slamming her into a wall.
Esdeath smirked, freezing the water as it swiftly moved toward Mipha. She let out a gasp and quickly got away as Falcon jumped up in the air and together with Bowser, they both fire punched Esdeath, but she rolled out of the way and froze them both on the spot, only to get Shiensparked by Samus, then firing a Super Missile in her face. Esdeath snarled and tried to slash at her, but she melee countered her and fired a charged shot directly in her chest.
Esdeath growled. "You little…!" She would soon find herself surrounded by an army of Koopas and Toads.
"It's over, Esdeath." Akame aimed her sword at her. "Your reign of terror has come to an end. There are civilians dying from the lack of crops and heat… and if you continue this path, you will be the only one left!"
"Suppose that you do finish me off and do away with this ice age. How will you manage to save the human race?" Esdeath pointed out. "As far as I'm concerned, your kind is heading for extinction!"
"Not unless we do something about it!" Akame said as Esdeath crossed her arms in an x.
"You fools… YOU WILL PERISH IN THIS ICE PALACE!" She yelled, activating her maiden powers and unleashing a powerful shockwave that caused a massive explosion that actually shattered the Crystal City.
End BGM
"Nnngh…" Ruby grunted, slowly getting up but Esdeath kicked her down. "Mmmph!" She grunted as she glared at her, quickly shooting at her but Esdeath grabbed Crescent Rose and froze it off, clenching as tight as she could and shattering the scythe. "No!" She yelped as Esdeath knelt down.
BGM: Senyaku (Akame ga Kill)
"You have… silver eyes. Reminds me of another lady I've met so long ago. Come to think of it, she looks exactly like you."
Ruby gasped. "You…"
"Ooooh, was that your mother? Too bad… you can reunite with her in the afterlife!" She kicked Ruby hard in the diaphragm, which was enough for her to cough and wheeze as she was then kicked in the throat, then she froze Ruby's eyes.
"Enjoy the darkness!" She was ready to snap her fingers.
"Ruby!" Pyrrha jumped in and quickly slashed at Esdeath, swiftly thrusting her spear but Esdeath caught it and shattered the middle of the blade, grabbing the tip and shoving it into her chest.
She shifted her eyes as she turned around and blocked an attack from Adam, activating the power of the Sword of Destruction and swiftly swung down. Adam blocked with his sword, ready to counter with the kinetic energy but Esdeath kicked him in the shin and kicked the sword off of him as she then swung the blade into his neck.
"ADAM!" Blake yelled as Adam's lifeless body fell over. Tears swelled in Blake's eyes as she fell on both knees.
Ozpin clenched his fist. "It seems I have no other choice." He said as he activated the magic from his staff. "Prepare yourself, Esdeath!"
Esdeath turned around. "Oh. I've been looking forward to this." She said as both of them lunged, both of them swinging their weapons as they both clashed. Ozpin quickly threw some of his magic into Esdeath as she did the same to him, both of them were knocked back as Ozpin raised his staff in the air and threw green lightning orbs at her.
Esdeath responded by putting up a reflective barrier, however Ozpin jumped over and flipped over Esdeath as the two clashed once again. Ozpin quickly sweep kicked her to knock the Ice Empress down but Esdeath smirked, catching herself with her hands and then used her boot to fire an icicle into Ozpin's gut.
She then sprung back up and slashed at Ozpin, where he jumped back and fired a green laser from his staff but Esdeath blocked with the sword, where she snapped her fingers as Ozpin found himself trapped within an ice prison. However, he used his magic to break free as he lunged and in the blink of an eye, he thrusted his staff into her multiple times before unleashing a kinetic blast that sent her flying. Ozpin rushed to her, throwing out energy blasts at her… but she smirked and once the final blast hit her, she shattered into ice.
"What…?" Ozpin wondered, and then in the blink of an eye, Esdeath plunged her sword into Ozpin's chest from behind. "Nnngh!"
End BGM
"Hmhmhmhm… HAHAHAHAHA!" Esdeath twisted the sword around before she kicked him down. "I'm well aware of your curse, so I know you'll be back… but know this. Once you find your way to me, I'll continue to kill you over and over for centuries to come!"
She then raised her foot in the air. "Farewell… Ozpin." She said and thrusted her high heel down right as Akame and Yor got up, seeing her execute Ozpin.
"Yor… let's finish this."
"Right." Yor nodded as the two stood up, readying their weapons.
"Oh, you're up for round two?" Esdeath snapped her fingers as everyone else was pushed away by ice walls. "You're making this too easy! I haven't broken a sweat yet."
Akame readied herself as did Yor. "You will."
BGM: Nanteki (Akame ga Kill)
Esdeath smirked as the three of them lunged, where Akame and Yor slashed at Esdeath, the latter blocking as she used her free hand to form a rapier as she slashed at Akame, but she jumped back as she flanked Esdeath and slashed her from the side, but Esdeath quickly avoided the attacks where Yor came up behind her and slashed her with the Viper Fangs from behind.
"Mmmph!" Esdeath quickly elbowed Yor from behind, sending her sliding as she turned around and parried Akame, kicking her in the chin to knock her high into the air as she aimed her hand, ice forming around Akame's sword and shattering it as Akame fell to the ground.
Esdeath turned around and slashed at Yor. The Thorn Princess blocked with her weapons and then kicked her in the chest as Yor quickly lunged and impaled her in the stomach, followed by sweep kicking her and then punching her hard in the face to send her sliding but Esdeath flipped around and stabbed the ground to stop herself. She lunged at Yor as the two clashed once more, but then Esdeath parried her and swung her sword up. "AAAAGH!" Yor cried as her lower right arm was cut off and held on to the stubble while Esdeath kicked her down.
"Aunt Yor…!" Akame said as she got up. She let out a growl as she closed her eyes, pulling out another sword. "Kagura, give me strength."
End BGM
Esdeath placed her heel on her gut. "The Thorn Princess, hmm? This was the best you got? I've seen better!" She said as Yor glared at her, trying to fight her tears. "This is farewell." She said, raising her sword up, but then a wave of gravity hit her and sent her flying toward an ice wall. "Nnngh!"
"That is enough!" Akame approached her, readying Kagura's blade. "I'll put a stop to you once and for all."
Esdeath chuckled. "You think you can stop me with that nuisance? We'll see how it works when I'm through with you!"
BGM: Akame x Esdeath (Akame ga Kill)
Markings appeared on Akame's body, activating her semblance as Akame got in a stance as she and Esdeath lunged at each other, both of them clashing, but Archenemy's power was enough to push back the Sword of Destruction and Esdeath.
Akame quickly sweep kicked Esdeath, where she fell but she smirked as she had ice pillars try to skewer Akame, but she slashed through the ice pillars with ease and slashed at Esdeath, but she blocked with her ice rapier.
The gravity semblance was enough to push the ice rapier off of Esdeath's hand as Akame continued her attack. Esdeath quickly roundhouse kicked Akame as she was knocked back as Esdeath activated her Maiden Powers and thrusted herself into Akame, but the latter swung her sword as the gravity was enough to push Esdeath into a wall.
Akame raised her sword up and swung it down, unleashing a gravitational energy wave as it struck Esdeath. "Rrrgh!" Esdeath growled as Akame thrusted her sword down to make the gravity heavier on her, making her unable to move as she then manipulated the gravity field around herself, making it lighter around Akame as she jumped over Esdeath, and then made it heavier for herself as she came back to the ground fast enough to impale Esdeath in the gut.
"Mmmph!" Esdeath coughed out Grimm blood as Akame reversed the gravity and jumped back as Esdeath got back up as well, the latter quickly slashing at Akame with ferocity, but Akame swung her sword up, the gravity wave knocking the Sword of Destruction out of her hand as it landed next to Yor.
Akame jumped back. "IT'S OVER!" She yelled as she lunged directly at Esdeath.
"MAHAPDAMA!"
End BGM
Time stopped for everyone but Esdeath, as she let out a laugh. "Clever… you made me use my ultimate time stopping magic! Well done… well done…" She chuckled, forming a longsword. "I haven't had this fun in a long time! You truly were a worthy opponent of my time… but I'm afraid your time is up, especially this pathetic team of heroes. Farewell… human!" She swung her sword down, but nothing happened.
Esdeath gasped. "What… an after image?" She wondered as she looked around. "But… where…?" She wondered and then time resumed as she looked up in the air.
"YOU'RE DONE!" Akame yelled, swinging her sword down on Esdeath's chest, and then she was immediately impaled from behind by Yor, holding the Sword of Destruction.
"Nnngh… no…!" Esdeath grunted. "I… I…"
"You've lost." Akame said. "You only delayed the inevitable." She said as she raised Archenemy in the air.
Esdeath closed her eyes, chuckling. "It appears… that the second ice age is no more… who would've thought I would've been bested by a measly huntress."
"I'm not a huntress… I'm an assassin." She swung her sword down, cutting through her neck to behead her as Esdeath's body fell to the ground.
Immediately after, Akame felt a wave of power course through her as the Winter Maiden power was transferred to her, ice cold flames shot out of the corners of her eyes. She would immediately walk over to Yor and placed her hand on the stubble, forming an ice forearm for her.
Yor smiled, moving her icy fingers and hand. "It's over… the ice age is no more."
"No… the era of Esdeath is over." Akame said, both of them embracing as Akame then dispelled the ice walls, and then put her hand on Ruby's eyes, getting rid of the ice.
"Phew… thought I was a-" Ruby saw Pyrrha's lifeless body. "Pyrrha!" She quickly ran over and cradled her. "Pyrrha… no no no no…" She teared up as tears ran down her cheeks.
Bowser walked over to the Staff of Creation, picking it up while Cloud, Mario and Link came out of what was left of the wreckage and helped the Maidens out of the debris.
Ambrosius came out after Bowser rubbed the staff. "Hooooo! Feels great to-... whoa, what the heck happened here?"
"Ice queen is no more!" Bowser said. "NOW MELT THIS DAMN ICE!"
"Ah, I don't work like that. You gotta be more specific."
"WHAT?! You can't get more specific than that!"
"Allow me." Akame walked forward. "We'd like this world to return to what it truly was. Filled with flowers, crops, trees, clean water… return the world as it once was."
"Ah, but I don't do resurrections. It ain't a pretty picture."
"Then create a large meadow filled with chrysanthemums, in honor of our fallen comrades." Akame suggested. "Also, turn Solitas into a grassy field. I'm pretty sure everyone is sick of the snow."
"So basically, you want a planet filled with life and not filled to the brim with despair?"
"Pretty much."
"Shoot! I can work with that!" Ambrosius said, cracking his knuckles. "One green planet coming right up!" He said, snapping his fingers as everything around them changed from a snowy desolate planet… filled with life and energy, as it once was.
"AAAAGH!" Bowser roared in dismay, seeing his fortress covered in greenery and the lava being replaced with water. "What have you done to my fortress?!"
"It's a good look for it if I say so myself." Mario said with the other heroes agreeing. Bowser, meanwhile, folded his arms in annoyance.
"I'm supposed to look menacing for pete's sake! I'm King of the Koopas, dammit! Not the King of Nature!"
"Have fun!" Ambrosius said, disappearing into the staff.
"So… now what?" Ruby asked.
"We rebuild." Akame responded.
"And thus the tale of the Era of Esdeath comes to a close! …But what about Salem? Well… before we wrap up, I suppose we can take a look at what's going on with her."
Salem landed on a surface, where she shattered the icy prison. "Finally! I'm free!" She growled. "Now where am I!"
"You are on the Comet Observatory."
Salem turned to see Rosalina calmly approaching her. "And who are you?" Salem demanded.
"I am Princess Rosalina… and you are?"
"Salem. I demand that you take me back to my planet. I wish to have a chat with Esdeath."
"Hmm… judging by your appearance, you don't seem like the nicest person from your world."
"Hmph! I don't care what you think of me. Now take me back to my planet this instant and I promise I will make your death not as painful!"
Rosalina raised an eyebrow. "Uh-huh… Lumas!" She called out as a Luma came flying up to her, transforming into a Launch Star while a blue Luma flew up behind and turned into a Pull Star, pulling Salem directly into the Launch Star.
"What are you doing?! Let me go!"
"Oooh, poor choice of words." Rosalina said as the Launch Star launched her away.
"If I might ask… where exactly did that Launch Star take her?" Polari wondered.
"Some place where she won't bother anyone."
Salem flew through the cosmos, and then saw she was on a collision course with a black hole. "Oh, son of a bitch." She growled as she was spaghettified before she was sucked into the black hole.
"Salem in Space 2! Neverending Screams of Torment in a Black Hole! Coming soon to a theater near you!" Hades cackled. "Anywho, see y'all next time!"
Ibuki: And this is why... Ibuki is glad that Esdeath-chan is on our side...
Ooooh yeah. Anyway, back when "What If" was in its early planning stages, this particular one was brought up... I forget who came up with it though. I think it was DragonKnightSR who came up with it? It's been a while, so I can't remember... it's been about several months.