Chapter 24: The Brand
Years ago
The only sound everyone inside the room could hear was a sharp ringing in their ears from an explosion. The sound, as painful as it was, was dying down. Once it did, a young blonde made her way to a large hole in the ground, where a limp body was a few feet from it. She kneeled and moved his face; half of it was twisted and mangled.
"Victor?" Glynda whispered, who was able to recognize her teammate, despite her shock and his severe injury. When she received no response from her friend, Glynda shook his shoulder. "Victor! Victor, wake up!"
Samson and Altan recovered a few seconds after Glynda, and the first thing they both saw was Glynda trying to revive Victor.
"Vic?" Altan called out as he crawled over. He got a good look at his face once Glynda moved aside. "Holy crap, Vic!" He tried shaking him as well, but nothing happened. Just then, the smell of smoke began to travel through the window.
"Uh, guys?" Samson called out. Glynda and Altan looked to see Samson staring out the window. He was crouched below the frame with his head barely sticking out. "Not to sound cliché or anything... but we got company."
"How many?" Altan asked.
"Looks like... three."
Altan turned to Glynda. "Check it out, I'll try to help Vic."
With that, Glynda crouched down and moved towards the window across from Samson. Following his lead, she carefully perked her head to the window, where she could see three figures in the distance. They were all walking towards the house, each carrying a rifle. Glynda fixed her glasses and was able to get a better look at each individual.
What she saw that day would normally be described as incredibly rare, if not impossible.
Three men in gray armor, armed with rifles and some kind of backpack, were coming closer and closer. But the one thing that stood out to Glynda was the shared helmet each person had. Just like the one Victor found, they all wore it on their heads. There was no doubt about it; these men were Mandalorians.
And one of them leaped in the air and flew towards the house, flames escaping from his gauntlet. "Yes! Burn!" he yelled.
Samson and Glynda ducked down and turned to look at each other as they realized who their true enemy was. "Those... Those are-"
"Guys, he's awake!"
Samson and Glynda hurried back to Altan. They saw Victor move his hand and try to speak. "Hey, save your strength, buddy. We're getting you out of here," he promised. "Glynda, pick up his arms! Sam, cover us when we make a break for it!" Glynda reached for Victor's arms but lost her grip on his left one. The arm was making its way to Altan. "Vic, save your strength," Altan ordered again. "Just-"
Altan stopped talking as Victor touched his leader's face. He tried to speak again, but the only thing that came out of his mouth was blood. More blood smeared across Altan's face as Victor's hand slid to the ground. Once it hit the ground, Victor didn't move again. He didn't speak again.
"...Vic?" Altan asked.
"..."
"Hey... Hey, Vic!" Altan began to shake his friend's body.
"..."
Glynda dropped Victor's other hand and covered her open mouth as Altan continued to shake the limp body. "Victor! Victor, come on!" Samson began to back away in shock. "Victor, wake up! Wake up!"
Present-day
"Wake up."
All Glynda could see was black, but she could hear an unfamiliar voice in her ear. Slowly but surely, the black began to disappear as Glynda started to open her eyes. Everything was blurry for a few moments until she felt her glasses return to her face. Once they did, Glynda was beginning to wish she kept her eyes closed.
Staring back at the Huntress were two Mandalorians in gray and blue armor, watching her closely. One of them was holding a fist out to her, and Glynda could see a wire in between her and the fist. Following the wire, she could see it was wrapped around her wrists and ankles, similar to a hogtie.
The other was pointing a sword at Glynda's throat. She managed to get a good look at the blade and hilt, which made the Huntress hate these people even more. They dared to threaten her with another one of her friend's weapons. This Mandalorian was pointing Unfair Deal, Victor Embers' sword breaker, right at her throat.
And the Mandalorian seemed to notice her displeasure and anger at this revelation, as he pointed the tip of the weapon closer to Glynda's flesh, threatening to slice her throat. "Don't get any ideas," he warned.
"..."
Glynda decided to be aware of her surroundings. She looked around to see more Mandalorians all around her, and it looked like there were dozens of them. Some were shooting at trees in the distance with their blasters, while others were practicing hand-to-hand combat without their helmets. She couldn't see anything that looked habitable, perhaps this was just a commonplace to them. The only kind of furniture that seemed to be here was a wide stone table. Or rather, a slab that looked like a table.
The one thing Glynda didn't see was Djarin. He didn't seem to be among the other Mandalorians, and he wasn't tied up with her. She began to have hope that he escaped and he was going to get help, but then she began to remember what really happened. The last time she saw Djarin... he used his Semblance to run away. He abandoned her.
"No," Glynda whispered, her eyes beginning to water as she realized how hopeless everything was. "No."
The Mandalorian who used his wire to tie Glynda leaned down to her. "Why are you scared?" he asked. "We haven't even cut you yet."
His friend joined in on the banter. "Maybe we caught one of the softer ones."
"Which means there won't be much of a fight." The first Mandalorian pulled on the wire, causing Glynda to feel it tighter on her wrists and ankles. "I'm tired of waiting. Why do we need Vizsla for this?"
"Because apparently, we met her before. Dalso will be here to see if that's true."
"How long will that-?"
A new Mandalorian landed right behind the two, causing them to turn around in surprise. This Mandalorian wasn't like his brothers, he was wearing silver-white armor with a red trim on his visor and a range finder on his helmet. "Speak of the Devil, and he shall appear," the Mandalorian coldly said. He looked past the two, so he could get a look at the woman they captured. "So, this is the one we met and marked?"
"Supposedly," the Mandalorian with the wire said. Dalso moved closer and gently pushed the other Mandalorian's blade aside, grabbing her face and examining it. "Everyone thinks we've met her before, but there's no way to tell other than the mark on her back. I doubt that-"
"If there are any doubts, I will have them."
"...Yes, sir."
Glynda began to squirm as the Mandalorian moved her arms to the best of his ability, given they were still tied together. He changed from looking at her face to her back. After a few seconds, he looked back at Glynda's face. "Our brothers and sisters were right," Dalso concluded. "I remember her." He turned to the Mandalorian with the sword. "Call Vizsla, he'll want to see this through."
"Yes, sir," the Mandalorian said as he pressed a few buttons on his gauntlet.
His partner looked back to Glynda. "Sir, did you say you remembered her?" he asked. "How?"
Dalso looked back to Glynda. "In a way, I owe everything to her," he said. "She and her friends helped me become a Wraith."
Years ago
Three Mandalorians were proudly watching a burning house in the middle of a demolished town. The one who burned it used his flamethrower and joined his accomplices back on the ground.
"Did you see the Huntsmen?" the one in the middle asked.
"It's just like you said," he replied. "Three Huntsmen and a Huntress. I couldn't see any confirmed kills from the bomb you threw."
"Then we'll wait for the survivors to run outside." The middle Mandalorian readied his rifle and aimed it at the house. "Remember why we're doing this. Failure is not an option."
"Yes, Dalso," the other Mandalorians acknowledged their leader as they aimed their rifles at the house. They took five steps forward before the door burst open to reveal a young man wearing a chest plate of armor, armed with a shotgun. He took a few steps, and two more people his age began to run to the tower.
"They're out!" the third Mandalorian yelled.
"Fire!"
The Mandalorians fired red and yellow blasts at the Huntsman, protecting his friends with his Aura. After a few seconds, the young Huntsmen raised his arms, a black light coating them. Suddenly, the Mandalorians felt their rifles escape their grasp. The confusion left them open to the next part of Altan's strategy, with Samson and Altan firing the weapons the old man gave them. They aimed their guns the best they could, but it didn't matter if their shots were off; Samson was using his Semblance to make the bullets hit the Mandalorians anywhere on their bodies.
"Take to the air!" Dalso shouted. The jetpack he was wearing sent him in the air, along with his allies. The bullets continued to make their way towards them, but the Beskar the Mandalorians were wearing made their attacks futile. But that didn't stop them from finding cover and firing blasts from their wrist gauntlets.
"It's no good!" Samson yelled as he began to run inside the transmission tower with Glynda. "They're wearing heavy armor!"
"Just get inside!" Altan ordered. Once they got inside, Samson put his weapon between the handles, seeing no further use for it without ammo. He was about to look out the window to find the Mandalorians, but Altan pulled him away. "No, don't risk it! We can't afford to lose anyone else. Besides, you might be the only one to fix this tower."
"Altan's right," Glynda spoke up. "The outside looked fine to me. Do you see anything wrong here?"
Samson began to look around the room, unsure what to look for. He was always known for fixing things at Beacon, but he never tried anything as vital as a transmission tower. Fortunately, the answer as to why it wasn't working seemed to be right before his eyes, as a piece of the building's inside had been shot and one of the wires had been broken.
"Guys, look at this!" Samson pointed to the part and wire. "I can fix this wire with a spare and this piece if there's a spare too."
"It's our only chance," said Altan. "Glynda, I'm gonna keep an eye out for these sick bastards. Help Sam look for whatever he needs, and make it quick." He carefully looked out the window. "They're up to something; I just know it."
It was easy for Glynda to share her leader's sentiments. She was still reeling over the fact that Victor, her teammate, and friend, was dead. She didn't process it like Sam or Altan, whose eyes were still red from tears. Right now, Glynda believed the best thing to do would be to make sure nobody else died, and the best way to do that would be to fix the tower.
And lucky enough, they found not only a wire that connected the tower's computer to the relay, but also a spare piece that the Mandalorians apparently hadn't destroyed. While Samson got to work to put everything together, Glynda looked at her Scroll to see if the signal was back up. But her Scroll wouldn't work, no matter what she tried or how long she waited.
"What's the status, Sam?" Glynda worriedly asked. Just then, a line of computers and terminals turned on with most of the lights in the tower.
"Alright, here's the gist," Samson said as he jumped down from a higher level of the tower. "I couldn't get the tower to link our Scrolls to its signal, but it can still send a message from here." He rushed to a computer and began to type. "We can call Beacon from here and hold out until they get here."
"I'll make the call," Altan said as he pushed past Samson. "You two keep an eye on the window." His teammates silently obeyed their leader's order as Glynda gave the unarmed Samson one of her pistols.
"Keep calm," Samson said, noticing Glynda's hands shaking. "We're gonna be okay."
"..."
Glynda kept watching out the window, focused on staying alive while trying to keep her composure. After a minute, Altan came to them with good news. "I got in touch with Beacon," he said with a smile. "They're sending professional Huntsmen, we're gonna be okay."
Glynda and Samson sighed in relief. "How long until they get here?" Glynda asked.
"They said they'll fly here as fast as they can, but it might take the same time it took to-"
"Shit!"
Altan and Glynda looked back at Samson, who was looking and pointing out the window. They could see something coming towards them. It was coming fast, but everyone could tell what it was: some kind of missile was heading right for them.
Altan and Glynda quickly ducked down, but Samson stayed right where he was. He raised his hand as it turned to black. The missile stopped in its tracks, and Samson could see one of the Mandalorians kneeling a few feet away from it.
Samson quickly realized his position and cunningly made a plan to turn the missile against the Mandalorian and turn the tide in favor of Team AGSV.
The Mandalorian, however, possessed a cunning of his own. Lowering his range finder, the Mandalorian raised his rifle at eye-level and pulled the trigger. Three bolts hit their mark, an unsuspecting Samson. Once he fell, the missile was free of any control and continued its course to the tower.
The Huntsmen and Huntress could only watch as the missile broke the window's glass and collided into the tower's central console, engulfing the room in flame and blasting them all outside.
The Mandalorian flew over to his prey to see two survivors and one burnt body. The woman was the first to start her recovery, but the Mandalorian didn't attack. He instead looked to one of his allies, who brought news. "Fenri... he's here."
The Mandalorian smiled under his helmet as he prepared to take flight. "Watch them," he ordered as he took to the air. As he reached the city's gate, he could see three more Mandalorians walking into the city. They all wore similar armor, but the one walking in the middle was different. This Mandalorian was wearing a cape over his shoulder as he carried a silver staff, and the symbol of Death Watch rested on his helmet's forehead.
"I'm impressed, Dalso," the Mandalorian said as he looked over the burning houses. "You and your team made quick work of this quaint town."
"Pre Vizsla," Fenri Dalso addressed the lead Mandalorian as he kneeled. "We've not only taken the city but the Huntsmen who answered their call."
"All of them?"
"Two. The others are watching over what remains."
"Rise. And take me to them."
Dalso led Vizsla and his Death Watch brothers through the ruined city. As they returned to the tower, they all saw Glynda using her Semblance to fight off the Mandalorians watching her. And she was doing remarkably well, as her shields and Telekinesis kept them at bay. Dalso became very angry at the continued resistance and prepared to kill her on the spot.
"No, Fenri," Vizsla ordered as he put his arm in front of his colleague. "This one's... impressive." He turned to his escorts and shifted his head towards Glynda, signaling them to take care of her. As they ran off, Vizsla looked at the burnt body and turned back to Dalso. "You killed the others."
"We all did, sir," Dalso acknowledged. "Without casualty."
"Two Huntsmen, about to be four." Vizsla smiled under his helmet. "You've all done well, Dalso. And you passed." He put a hand on his brother's shoulder. "As of today, you and the others are Wraiths, the warrior elite of Death Watch."
"Thank you, Vizsla. I promise we won't fail you in our new position." Dalso turned back to the other Mandalorians, who had used their wires to subdue Glynda and were currently beating her.
"I can see that," Vizsla said as he walked past his brother. As they joined the other members of Death Watch, Vizsla ordered them to stop beating Glynda and watch the other Huntsmen. Before he could do anything else, Glynda spit blood on his helmet. "Charming."
"My friends!" Glynda yelled, tears and blood falling down her face. "I'll kill you all!"
Pre Vizsla had seen men and women with spirit just like the young Huntress in front of him. And he always had the same response, given that he knew how to break them properly. "I think it's time we finished this," he said as he tapped the end of his staff on the ground. As he did, the top of it began to transform, pieces separating and reforming into a large symbol.
While the staff was transforming, Dalso and the newly appointed Wraiths tore off Glynda's shirt as Vizsla's escorts held her with their wires. Glynda began to cry and scream more, attempting to use her Semblance even though her Aura recently broke. And all Vizsla did was watch the metal on his symbol turn orange.
"Back away!" Dalso ordered the other Wraiths. As they did, all eyes fell on Vizsla's weapon. Even Glynda turned around, wondering what was going on.
"W-Wait!" she cried out. "Wha... What are you doing?"
"Do yourself a favor," Vizsla responded as he lowered the burning staff. "Don't move."
Glynda immediately became hysterical as she pulled and screamed, fully realizing what the Mandalorians were about to do. "No!" she screamed over and over again. "No, no, no, no, no, n-!" Coherent words ceased to come out of Glynda's mouth as the burning metal found its way to her entire back.
"Aaaaaaaaaahhhhhhh!"
As she began to lose consciousness, Glynda could hear every Mandalorian laugh.
Present-day
"Get away from her!"
A jet of flame reached the ground, separating Dalso from Glynda. They both followed the flame to see another Mandalorian flying in the sky. He wore silver armor like the Wraiths, but he was no brother to Death Watch. As the fire died, he flew closer to the ground, leaving Glynda to realize that her savior was Din Djarin. As she was about to ask him how he found her, she quickly stopped herself. She remembered how he left her for the Mandalorians. Now he was back, and there was no possible way that could be a coincidence. His search for Death Watch and his sudden arrival was planned. And Djarin used her as bait.
This realization led Glynda to repeatedly striking his armored chest. "You! When were you-?!"
Djarin grabbed her hands. "We'll talk about it later," he calmly said.
"But you used-!"
"I know, I know!" Djarin pointed back to the approaching Mandalorians. "You can yell at me later, but we have bigger problems!"
Glynda looked back at the Mandalorians and quickly realized Djarin was right. While that didn't change her view on being used as bait and being left at the mercy of insane warriors, it was enough for the Huntress to prepare for a fight. And the first one to commence the battle was a Death Watch Mandalorian, who fired two shots from his pistol. Djarin let them bounce off his armor as he reached for a hilt on his belt. He pulled it out and turned back to the Mandalorians. "I said get away!" he yelled as he activated the Darksaber.
The sight of the black blade made every Mandalorian stay right where they were standing. Some dropped their weapons in shock. Others slightly leaned forward to gain a better look. Glynda took this opportunity to catch her breath and recompose herself. It was strange to admit, but Djarin's presence seemed to give her some security, some confirmation that today's meeting with Death Watch wouldn't be the same as it was years ago. So with her newfound security, Glynda decided to see what their next move would be, to see how these barbarians would face justice for their crimes. But before she could ask, the Mand'alor asked a question of his own.
"Where is your leader?" Djarin demanded.
"Here."
Glynda and Djarin looked past the pack of Mandalorians to see three new Mandalorians standing behind them. Two were wearing armor similar to Dalso's, the only differences being their shoulder pauldrons. The middle one, however, wore the armor of his brothers and sisters. The only differences on his were the cape over his shoulder and the yellow mark on his helmet. Glynda recognized him but didn't falter or yield her position. If her memory served her right, this man was the leader of Death Watch. The one who burned her back.
And though she couldn't confirm it, Glynda had a feeling this man was ultimately responsible for Altan Zaffre's death.
Years ago
"Aaaaaaaaaahhhhhhh!"
The ear-piercing scream caused Atlan to open his eyes. He slowly looked to his left to see a group of Mandalorians standing over Glynda and laughing. The sight made him feel disgusted and worried about his teammate. So he grabbed the assault rifle resting next to him and stood up. He pressed the trigger to unleash a rain of bullets towards his enemies, some of them feeling the bullets pierce their exposed skin.
"Glynda!" Altan shouted, hoping she would respond. But judging from her wounds and the large burn on her back, he could tell her situation was far worse than his. "What the hell did you do to her?!"
"Same thing we're going to do to you," one Mandalorian responded. Just then, the leader swung his staff at the rifle and knocked it from the student's grasp. He then shoved the large symbol towards Altan's chest. However, Atlan caught it and activated the Aura he had left. Protected from the burning metal, Atlan grabbed the staff and pulled it, causing the Mandalorian to fall to his knee.
"Not bad," Pre Vizsla said. "Catch these." Sending his fist forward, Vizsla's gauntlet released three razor-sharp projectiles right at Altan's arm. He used his Aura once again, but he knew he couldn't keep this up much longer. He needed to be back on the offensive. So he did what he should have done ever since he saw these men: Altan Zaffre activated his Semblance, sending red bolts of electricity towards the Mandalorians.
This distraction gave Altan a chance to grab his proper weapon, Donryu. Once he did, the young man swung it at the Mandalorian closest to him. The steel collided with the Beskar metal, but the Mandalorian used his jetpack to reorient himself. As he did, he and his brothers fired on the young Huntsman. Fortunately, the steel on his hammer offered Altan some protection. And his second blast of lightning gave him a chance to both attack the Mandalorians and give him a boost to launch off the ground. Once he landed on a roof, Altan made his way to the outside of the city.
Before Vizsla gave the order to pursue the apparent coward, he turned back to his Mandalorians. "Did they send a message out?" he asked.
"Yes, sir," Dalso replied. "More Huntsmen and Huntresses should be here within the half-hour."
"Good." He turned back to see Altan fading in the distance. "And judging by his position, he seems to be running towards our brothers and sisters. Dalso, let's make sure that one will be their first catch of the day."
"You don't wish to kill this one?" Dalso picked up Glynda, who was still unconscious, by her hair.
"No. Once the battle is over, she'll show the world who killed more Huntsmen than any Grimm could."
"Yes, sir."
All the Mandalorians took to the air and began to follow Altan. As they did, Vizsla was ecstatic that his plan was working perfectly. At first, he wished for this pathetic city to be a test for Death Watch's most loyal Mandalorians. Once they proved their mettle by killing trained Huntsmen and Huntresses, Vizsla would gain new Wraiths to enforce Death Watch's more public actions. But now, he wanted to test the strength of other Mandalorians. So he ordered Dalso to allow the Huntsmen who came to send a distress signal once they arrived. Once reinforcements came, Vizsla and his men would attack. The battle would be a bloodbath, and Death Watch would be the victor.
And Altan Zaffre found out that plan once the hidden Mandalorians and Vizsla's men started to surround him. Only when he was stuck between a rock and a hard place did Altan recognize the trap the Mandalorians had set up. That his call for help had doomed him, Glynda, and the Huntsmen and Huntresses coming to their aid.
He failed.
Team AGSV failed.
Samson and Victor paid for their failure with their lives.
Altan was ready to pay as well. But his payment would be different. If he was going to die, he was prepared to do two things. First, Altan would make sure he would die for something he believed in. And secondly... he would take every one of these bastards with him.
So with a silent prayer that Glynda and the reinforcements would be okay, Atlan used everyone ounce of energy and Aura he had left to perform his last attack: the Thunderdome.
He first discovered it at Beacon by slamming his hammer into the ground once he poured enough electricity into his weapon. The result was a tremendous explosion that expanded and destroyed whatever it touched. The students who witnessed it compared the explosion to a dome, hence the name.
Although this was his most powerful attack, Altan resolved never to use it a second time when he almost got himself and his friends killed. But now, things were different. These Mandalorians had to die, even if it meant he died with them.
And unfortunately... that was precisely what happened to the leader of Team AGSV.
Present-day
"We lost a lot of people that day," Vizsla said to Glynda, remembering who she was and what her friend did to members of Death Watch.
"So did I," Glynda said, growing braver and angrier by the second. "Which is why I'm here to make sure you all pay for what you've done."
All the Mandalorians were staring at Glynda as she made this declaration. Then, they all looked at each other in disbelief. The disbelief transformed into humor as Vizsla laughed at Glynda's claim. The Mandalorians following him laughed as well, catching Glynda off guard.
"What are you going to do, Huntress?" Vizsla asked sarcastically. "Please, tell us how we're going to pay."
"Will you arrest us?" one Mandalorian asked, raising his arms as if he was ready to be handcuffed.
"All of us?"
"Some already tried."
"No prison can hold us."
"Not even one of us."
Before Glynda could act out of hatred for the savage Mandalorians again, a new voice stopped her. "You will face judgment."
The laughing and mockery stopped as everyone looked at Djarin holding the Darksaber high above his head. "The judgment of the Mand'alor," he finished.
Vizsla stepped off the stone table he was standing on and walked in a path the other Mandalorians formed for him. As he walked, he took a closer look at the Mandalorian who proclaimed himself as their ruler. He sounded confident in his claim, but his body language told a different story. He held the blade as if it was his first time, and his battle stance was improper for a sword fight. He looked like he was ready for hand-to-hand rather than a formal duel. Whoever this Mandalorian was, it seemed he had gained the Darksaber recently. Which meant... there was a good chance Vizsla could claim it for himself.
"There will be no judgment," Vizsla said, tossing his cape aside and readying his staff. The sight of it made Glynda's skin crawl, but she still didn't falter. "Whoever you are, you seem to know much of our history. And the legacy of that blade. So tell me, why is your first act to punish your own-?"
"Ni cuy' nayc vod be Kyr'tsad," Djarin said. (I am no brother of Death Watch.)
"...Ni liser haa'taylir ibac," Vizsla retorted. "Su, tion'jor cuyir gar olar?" (I can see that. So, why are you here?)
"Bah ganar eyn tomad." (To have an ally.) Djarin gestured to Glynda, who was confused beyond any belief.
Vizsla and the other Mandalorians laughed again. "So you'll kill us for her?" Vizsla asked. "Let's raise the stakes, then." Tapping the staff on the ground, Vizsla watched it transform into his fiery weapon. He was going to enjoy branding this false Mand'alor. "As leader of Death Watch and descendant of Tarre Vizsla, I exercise my right to challenge." He pointed the seal of Death Watch at Djarin.
Djarin looked back at Glynda, whose facial expression reminded him of why he was here in the first place. So he accepted the challenge to a duel by moving forward and holding the Darksaber towards Vizsla. After a few seconds of silence, the combatants rushed towards each other and locked their weapons, the Darksaber hitting the Beskar rod of the spear.
Vizsla looked back to his Wraiths as he held on. "Give the woman her weapon back... and kill her," he ordered.
"No!" Djarin yelled as he watched the three Wraiths throw Glynda back her riding crop and charge at her. This distraction left an opening for Vizsla to hit Djarin with his staff and knock him to the ground.
"Not so fast," he said. "Your fight is with me."
As Djarin continued his duel with Death Watch's leader, Glynda haphazardly attempted to defend herself against the Wraiths. Having her weapon and Semblance back helped, but the Mandalorians were fast and close. So close that the projectiles her Semblance could make would be impractical. All she could do was focus on defending herself and use her Telekinesis to throw whatever she could at the savages.
"Stop taking cheap shots, and fight us like you mean it!" one Wraith yelled, growing bored of hitting Glynda's shield and avoiding whatever she threw his way.
Dalso was also getting tired, but he didn't want the fight to be over just yet. No, he wanted to savor every moment of fear and anger this Huntress had to give, which caused him to have the idea of throwing away his rifle and picking up Unfair Deal. Using the sword on the shield, Dalso could see Glynda's shock at the turn of events. "I never saw your friend use this the day we met," Dalso admitted. "Let's see what it can do!" The other Mandalorians followed his lead and grabbed Samson's shield and Altan's hammer, ready to finish what they started long ago.
As Glynda saw the Mandalorians attack her with Team AGSV's weapons and knock her down a hill, a rage built inside her. How dare they take what didn't belong to them? How dare they try to scare and humiliate her with reminders of her first failure as a Huntress? If Glynda had the chance to meet Death Watch after her friends died, it was likely she would crumble under the pressure and trauma she endured, leaving her open to die.
But now, Glynda was tired. She was tired of feeling scared, tired of not acting on her inner desire for vengeance. And most of all... she was tired of watching these Mandalorians tarnish the memory of Team AGSV. She was ready to end it all, and Death Watch had unwittingly given her an amazing opportunity.
As she used her Semblance to push all the Wraiths back, Glynda Goodwitch readied herself to relive another memory. But this wasn't going to be one that brought comfort or warmth, not one that made the Huntress hate herself. No, Glynda was reliving her days as a third-year student at Beacon. And now... it was time for Team AGSV to spar with their weapons. Right now, she knew their moves like the back of her hand.
Glynda readied her riding crop just as Victor fired three arrows at her. So she used her Semblance to make the arrows fly back at him, leaving him vulnerable to a rain of purple projectiles.
Samson suddenly jumped in front of her and slashed at her with his shield. He had done it so many times that Glynda was able to follow the movements and avoid each attempt. Once he ran out of breath, Glynda knocked him off his feet and sent him flying towards Altan.
Altan pushed past Samson as he charged with his hammer, red electricity sparking around his body. The electricity made it look like he was flying in the air, but Glynda simply moved a couple of feet to avoid the hammer. And once he immediately swung with a counterattack, Glynda was able to stop it with her Semblance and make the spin uncontrollable, landing more projectiles into his back.
A strike to her back made Glynda remember Victor, who had combined Unfair Deal into its sword breaker form. But Glynda was quick to recover and created another shield before he could strike again. She then performed a flip that consequently made her shield fly towards Victor and hit his entire body.
A familiar sound caused Glynda to turn and stop Akoúo̱ from hitting her face. With the shield in her grasp, Glynda used it to attack her teammates rather than throw it back to Samson. The shield moved like a pinball, hitting each member of Team AGSV twice before it fell to the ground.
Altan was the only one left standing while Victor and Samson were on the ground. Altan took to the air again, and so did Glynda. She immediately sent more projectiles his way, which he couldn't block with Donryu. So when he fell to the ground, Glynda followed him and finished him off with a kick to his jaw.
That was when Team AGSV turned back into three unconscious Mandalorians.
Glynda did it.
She defeated three members of Death Watch.
The same three who took her friends from her.
The Mandalorians were stronger and faster, but the Huntress was smarter.
Glynda Goodwitch just proved that she was better than these murders. She didn't need Ozpin or Djarin, and she could finish it right-
Wait.
Djarin.
He was still at the top of the hill, fighting for his life.
Glynda couldn't leave him there. So she quickly and quietly made her way back up the hill. Making sure nobody could see her, Glynda watched as the battle between Djarin and the leader of Death Watch continued their battle. Her fight with Death Watch felt like it was quick, but she remembered how it was three minutes straight. If the same amount of time passed here, they must be tired by now.
Glynda's theory was proven true when Vizsla took sharp breaths before he pushed his weapon down on Djarin. If he was tired enough to prolong an attack like this, Djarin had to be exhausted as well. But in the position he was in, victory wouldn't come very easily. At least... not without a bit of help.
As Vizsla caught his breath and thrust his weapon on his pinned opponent, Glynda used her Semblance to make the staff move to the right. It just missed Djarin's head, and it caused Vizsla to lose his footing. Once he fell to the ground, Djarin recovered and used his jetpack to get back on his feet. He then fired tiny projectiles from his gauntlet at Vizsla, each one hitting either Beskar or an exposed part under the armor. And a quick strike from the black sword Djarin was holding rendered Vizsla's jetpack useless.
Once he tried to use his flamethrower, the fire moved back to Vizsla's face. Djarin didn't attempt to explain the phenomenon, he finished the fight by grabbing Vizsla's arm and sending an uppercut to his chin, knocking his helmet off and breaking his Aura.
Every Mandalorian gasped at the sight of their leader at the mercy of Din Djarin. They remained in shock once they saw Glynda walk up to Djarin, victorious over the Wraiths who foolishly used weapons and attacks she knew by heart. She joined Djarin as he stared at a man with shaved blonde hair, who wore nothing but shame on his face.
Glynda looked over to Djarin. "What now?" she asked.
"That's for you to decide," Djarin responded, turning the Darksaber off.
"What? But you said you would judge them."
"I judge them to be judged by you." Djarin gestured to the defeated Mandalorian. "This wasn't my battle, Glynda. It was always yours. You make the choice."
"..."
Glynda looked down on the man who had taken everything from her. Words couldn't describe the feelings of contempt or anger she was feeling. She wanted nothing more than to kill Pre Vizsla and every other Death Watch member that was standing by her. But she knew, deep down... she wouldn't do it. Glynda didn't know if it was because she wasn't strong enough to act on her dark desires or if she was strong enough to resist the temptation to make herself like the Mandalorians... but she made a different choice.
She pulled out her Scroll and made a call.
"James? It's Glynda. I need a favor."
An hour later, multiple Atlesian airships came and picked up the Mandalorians, all except Djarin. Glynda didn't know what would happen once she testified at their trial. Maybe they would be imprisoned for life, or perhaps they would be given the death sentence. But as she walked back to Djarin's ship with him, all she knew was that she was going to watch every second of their trial and punishment.
"We'll get some rest when we get back to Beacon," Djarin said as he prepared to take the Razor Crest off the ground. "It shouldn't take-"
"We can't go to Beacon."
Djarin turned to Glynda, who was looking at the weapons she gained from Dalso and the Wraiths. "What?" he asked.
"We need to make a few stops," Glynda said as she looked up. "I can tell you whereas we go along."
"Our work here is done," Djarin reminded her. "We should go back, do what you need to do another-"
"You owe me," Glynda spat. "I'm still not happy about being used as bait."
"..."
Djarin sighed as he lifted the ship off the ground. As the land below them turned into the ocean, he looked back to Glynda. "Where are we going?"
"I'll tell you in a moment."
Djarin looked back at the control panel to see how fast the new Razor Crest could go. He was hoping Glynda's next mission would be fast. All the Mandalorian wanted to do now was see his daughter after a long day's work. But all he could do now was hope that she was doing fine on her own.
"You are connected to the power of the Maidens. Now, concentrate on what lies before you. Transform it."
Cinder's palms released a wave of fire towards a slab of metal before her. The fire reached the slab with no problem, and it stayed in the center. Cinder clenched her eyes tighter, concentrating on her attempts to intensify her fire. After a few more seconds, the child dropped her hands and began to pant. The fire in her eyes disappeared as she caught her breath.
Ozpin walked past her to examine the slab. The only difference he could see was a scorch mark in the center. Other than that, there were no changes. But this was the opposite of what Ozpin planned.
"I'm sorry, it appears your fire isn't reaching the melting point yet," Ozpin said as he walked back to Cinder. He was about to help her stand up but moved his hand back once Cinder slammed her fist on the ground.
"Come on!" the child cursed herself, looking at the slab. "I should have done this by now!"
"I never said that, Cinder. I just assumed your continued use of fire would be slightly different than some Maidens."
"It should be." Cinder stood up. "I'm going to try again." Her eyes began to burn, but Ozpin prevented her from trying to burn the slab.
"You can try again later. For now, take a moment to-"
"I can't," Cinder said as she moved past Ozpin. "I got tired using these powers before. If I can't work past that, something bad could happen."
It was hard not to respect Cinder's determination and constant attempts to do better. Ozpin had known many Huntsmen, Huntresses, and Mandalorians who thought as Cinder did. But he knew the consequences of someone who worked themselves to the bone. So as Cinder's fire died down once again, Ozpin put a hand on her shoulder. "The sharpest blade in all the lands is useless in untrained hands," he said. "But I wonder what they say of over-trained hands?"
Cinder looked up at him. "I wouldn't call myself 'over-trained,'" she retorted. "Didn't we just get started?"
"If 'just get started' means 'working for almost a straight hour,' then I would say so." Ozpin gestured to the door with Cinder. "Why don't we take a five-minute break? Lunch will be served soon."
"I'm not that hungry. But... I guess I'd like some water." Cinder's eyes burned as she made an icicle in her hand. Her palm suddenly grew hot as the ice melted, leaving a puddle of fresh water for her to drink.
Ozpin chuckled as he pressed the button to his office. "Such creativity at such a young age," he noted.
"Dad taught me to think outside the box when fighting," Cinder said as she finished her drink. "But I've been able to do that at other times." Cinder made another icicle and drank the melted water. "Maybe... a little rest would be fine."
"Have a seat," Ozpin said as he walked into his office. He poured himself a drink from his teapot and began to drink in his chair. "I'm glad you're someone who knows their limits."
"Well... I don't want to just rest. I was wondering if we could finish our talk."
"Hm?" Ozpin suddenly remembered what Cinder was referring to. "Ah, you mean this." He extended his hand to create another green orb but flexed his hand to make it disappear. "I'm sorry for changing the subject so quickly, I wasn't sure how to tell you. And I would appreciate it if what I share with you stays in this room."
"Okay." Cinder moved her chair closer, giving Ozpin her undivided attention. "So... what was that, exactly?"
"A gift from the Gods, one that everyone was free to use. We called it 'Magic.'"
"Ma-?" Cinder couldn't finish the word, since it was the last one she expected to hear. "You're kidding."
"Quite the opposite. When the Gods created Humanity, Magic was their first gift to them."
"Is that why we have Auras and Semblances?" Cinder grew a little excited at the connection. "Are they Magic too?"
"In a way. They are a fraction of the power Humanity once possessed... hence the name 'Semblance.'"
Cinder was still excited to learn more, and there was one thing she wanted to know above all else. "Why do you keep using that word? Did the Faunus not know how to use Magic?"
"Well... they really couldn't do anything. Mostly likely because of the reason that they didn't exist."
"What?"
"Yes, the world of Remnant was once ruled solely by the Magic wielding Humanity. One that I was once a part of."
Cinder was too immersed in the story to think about asking for proof. Besides, it seemed Ozpin's Magic was proof enough. So, she kept hounding him for more information. "So, what happened?" she asked. "What changed?"
"...Everything." Ozpin turned his swivel chair to stare out the window. "I told you the Gods lived among Humanity, bestowing the gifts of creation, destruction, choice, and knowledge. They left Remnant after a rebellion occurred. Someone wanted the power of the Relics for herself. That someone continues to be a rebel against peace. Her name-"
"Salem."
Ozpin couldn't see it, but Cinder's eyes were burning as bright as the rage built inside her at the mere notion of the witch. But the Headmaster could tell she was angered by the sound of her voice. "Salem led the rebellion, yes. And the Gods fought her and all who believed her. But she isn't entirely to blame." Ozpin turned his chair back. "Salem's actions were a result of my own."
"You?" Cinder asked in confusion, the fire disappearing. "I don't understand. Salem caused the rebellion, she made the Gods leave with their Magic. That can't be your fault."
"It's all my fault. Cinder, I've made more mistakes than any man, woman, or child on Remnant. And I don't mean to exaggerate." Ozpin looked at the contents of his mug, the hot beverage starting to grow cold. "You told me you read her story. I trust you read the epilogue most versions lack?"
"..."
Cinder could never forget the day she read what she read. How Ozma rescued Salem from the tower, and they lived 'happily ever after.' She didn't put all the pieces together until now, and this only caused the fire to return along with her anger. "Ozpin... what did you do?" she mercilessly asked.
"Salem used me, used that story to gain sympathy from-"
Cinder slammed her palms on the desk as she leaned closer. "What... did you do?"
Ozpin knew he should have expected this from Cinder or anyone else who heard what he was saying. He also knew that prolonging the answer to her question would have disastrous consequences. So he replied with the answer she was looking for. "I helped Salem escape from the tower."
Smoke began to rise from the table. Cinder's powers had activated again, making her palms burn the table more than her Semblance ever could. "You set her free?" the child angrily asked.
Ozpin put a hand on his cane as he stood up. "Yes."
Cinder didn't back down. "The Gods left Remnant because you set her free?"
"That was a consequence, yes."
"And now she's after my father and me because you set her free?!" Cinder's hands began to sink into the desk, melting the material. "The Gods, the Relics, Humanity, it's all because you set Salem free!"
"...And I've been properly punished."
"...Huh?"
Ozpin walked over to Cinder. "As I said, I have made more mistakes than anyone on Remnant. I've seen Gods walk among men, empires rise and fall, and I've been forced to live through it all. I'm... cursed."
Cinder lifted her hands. "Cursed?"
Ozpin nodded. "I tried to stop Salem when I found her true intentions. But I failed. As punishment for that failure, I wasn't allowed to leave this level of existence."
"Are you saying you're... immortal?"
Ozpin nodded. "For thousands of years, I've walked the surface of Remnant, living, dying, and reincarnating in the body of a like-minded soul. It's... an extraordinarily strenuous process on everyone involved."
Cinder's anger faded away, and she felt a strange sense of sympathy for the old man. He was right; it seemed that Ozpin faced some kind of judgment for his mistake. And yet, it seemed that he hadn't given up; the fact he wished to train Cinder showed that he was willing to continue his fight. It was admirable, Ozpin thought like... a Mandalorian.
"You said you failed to stop Salem before," Cinder said.
"And we must stop her now," Ozpin said. "We should start... by controlling your power." He pointed back to the melted desk. Cinder looked at the mess she made, at the desk she unconsciously destroyed.
"Oh, no," she said. "I'm sorry, I-"
"It's alright, Cinder," Ozpin assured her. "I knew learning all this would have consequences, but we don't need to worry about that now. Once again, I'd appreciate it if this stays between us. You are the first person I've shared all this with in a long time."
"But doesn't Professor Good-?"
"Glynda knows of Salem, the Relics, and my curse, along with a few others on Remnant. However, my actions prior to the Gods leaving are something I reserve for those I trust the most. Or those who found out for themselves."
Cinder looked down at the desk and realized that keeping this a secret was the least she could do to make up for her temper. So she agreed by nodding. "Thank you," Ozpin said. "Now, perhaps we should focus on more... controllable training."
Glynda stepped off a tram car to a park in a cold city. She made her way through the park, watching children play in the grass and adults watching them on metal benches. The black circular bag the Huntress was holding was heavy, but that didn't stop her from making her trip. She stopped in front of a line of brick houses all joined together at their walls. Looking at her Scroll to see an address, Glynda looked at the building to see its address was a match for the one on her Scroll. So she walked up the stairs and knocked on the door.
After a few seconds, the front door opened to reveal a little girl, no older than five. The girl had a ponytail of dark red hair and was wearing a golden dress. She looked up at the guest with wide green eyes. "Hello," she politely said with a smile.
"Good afternoon," Glynda said with a forced smile, feeling somewhat nervous being at the house. "I'm sorry to bother you, but I was wondering if your mother was home."
Before the girl could reply, a voice called out from the house. "Is that the mail, Pyrrha?"
The little girl turned around. "Someone wants to see you, Mommy."
Just then, a woman around Glynda's age stepped up behind the girl. She had red hair just like her daughter's, but it was much shorter. She was wearing big glasses and a brown winter jacket with fur on the neck and hands. She looked to her guest with uncertainty, then turned back to her daughter with a smile. "Thank you, Pyrrha." The girl walked back inside, leaving her mother to speak with her guest. "Can I help you?"
"Um... yes," Glynda answered, fixing her glasses. "You probably don't remember me, but we've met before. My name's Glynda Goodwitch, I was-"
"Oh, yes," the woman instantly remembered. "You were... you were Sam's teammate at Beacon. We met when I came to visit him."
"Yes, that's right." Glynda took the bag's strap off her shoulder and began to open it. "I'm sorry to drop by unannounced and... make you remember what happened, but I found something that once belonged to your brother. And I think it should be back where it belongs." She opened the bag to reveal Samson Nikos' shield, and the woman gasped. "This was Sam's weapon, he called it-"
"Akoúo̱." The woman held out her hands for the shield, which Glynda gladly gave to her. She rubbed her hand on the metal, examining every detail she could. "I... when they found him, they said they couldn't find this."
"I know. I'm sorry you waited so long, Sam told me it belonged to his family."
"It was meant to be an heirloom. My father made it just for him." The woman began to cry, so she dried her tears and looked back at Glynda. "I thought I'd never see it again." She began to smile. "It's really beautiful, isn't it?"
Glynda looked down at the shield and began to tear up herself. "He should be standing here," she said.
"He is."
Glynda looked back up to see the woman pointing to a picture on the wall. It was a picture of her with Samson, flashing his usual grin. Glynda looked at the picture as Ms. Nikos continued to talk. "He understood that he had a responsibility... to try. I don't think he would regret going on that mission. Because a Huntsman would understand that you can't choose all your battles. And a Huntsman is what he always wanted to be."
Glynda looked back to Ms. Nikos and smiled. "Samson never got the chance to graduate... but he was a Huntsman."
Ms. Nikos dried another tear but continued to smile. "Thank you."
"You're welcome." Glynda stepped away from the door and made her way back to the stairs. The women waved goodbye as Ms. Nikos closed her door, and Glynda walked back through the park of Argus.
Using her resources as both a Huntress and Professor at Beacon, Glynda was able to search for Team AGSV's relatives. She had met them before, but she never knew where they lived. But once she learned where she could find them, Glynda visited each family to return the weapons she recovered from Death Watch. And once she reached the Razor Crest to find Djarin waiting, she gave him their next destination. "That was the last one," she said. "We can go back."
Djarin wordlessly took the ship off the ground and flew it away from Argus. Just like the voyage from Vytal, the ride was silent. Glynda decided not to tell the Mandalorian how she helped him in his battle, not seeing a point in doing so. But she nonetheless broke the silence. "I think it's time we talked," she said.
Djarin sighed before turning back to her. "Look, that wasn't part of my plan," he said, referring to leaving Glynda behind. "Sometimes I have to improvise, and I couldn't-"
"We can talk about that later," the Huntress cut her off. "Don't be mistaken, I'm beyond furious about your 'improvising.' All I want to say right now is... thank you."
Djarin put the Razor Crest on autopilot as he turned the rest of his chair to show that Glynda had his undivided attention. "You're thanking me?"
"I know, it's a first." Glynda rolled her eyes but quickly regained her focus. "Ever since that day... I couldn't stop thinking about Death Watch or my team. That was something I hated, really. I wanted to do nothing but find out who killed them and make things right. But for some reason... I never did."
"You were scared," Djarin said.
"There were times when I wanted to walk out of my apartment or classroom and search every inch of Remnant for them. But I never did. So, yes... I was scared. Scared it would happen all over again."
"I'm... sorry... if you felt like that today."
"Don't be. It was inevitable... but I finally did it. I was never brave enough to do what we did today, but I think... you helping me was more than with just Death Watch." Glynda held her hand out to Djarin, which he awkwardly shook. "So thank you. And for whatever it's worth... I can finally see why Cinder likes to be with you. Don't get me wrong, you're still... odd. But you're a good person, Djarin. And I can tell she thinks you're a good father."
Perhaps he needed some reassurance he was good to Cinder or to know that Glynda wouldn't hurt him again. Djarin couldn't explain it either way, but hearing Glynda say that meant the world to him. "...Thank you."
Glynda lowered her hand and looked out the window. "Are we near the rest of Sanus?"
"We are. We should be back at Beacon after noon."
"I'd actually like to go somewhere else first. Would you mind?"
Djarin looked back at the time displayed on his ship's computer. "I think Cinder might be-"
"It'll only be a minute. And it's on the way to Beacon."
"...Where are we going?"
Glynda showed him a new address on her Scroll, which was one their way to Beacon. The rest of the flight was silent, as Djarin understood why she wanted to go.
[Play 'Broken-Seether' on YouTube]
The Razor Crest landed in a clearing in the woods. Once the door opened, Glynda began to walk on a dirt path that led outside the woods and into a mass graveyard. She never made the trip through the woods, but she had been here enough times to find the place she wanted to go.
After a few minutes of walking between white headstones, she stopped in front of three, each of them with a specific name.
Altan Zaffre
Samson Nikos
Victor Embers
Sighing and attempting to ignore the cold air around her, Glynda began to make a speech. "Hello, everyone," she said with a smile. "I'm sorry I haven't seen you lately, things have... been busy. I guess you can say my world got a whole lot bigger."
Glynda thought about how everything changed after her team died. Not just with the Mandalorians, but with Ozpin and Salem. But she quickly realized that wasn't important at the moment.
"Listen... the reason I'm here isn't for me, but for all of you. I... I found the people who did this to you. I found the ones who murdered you and the one who burned me. I'm sorry to say that... they're not dead. They'll be facing justice, and I'll be there to see it. I still don't know if it was the right... or smart thing to do. But they seem to feel punished, and that may be enough for me."
Glynda kneeled in front of the graves. "I found your weapons and gave them to your families in the hope they would gain some kind of closure. They all miss you. I do too." She could feel a tear fall down her cheek. "I also... want to apologize. Not just for our mission, but for breaking my promise. A Mandalorian helped me find the ones who killed you. I... He..."
Glynda's soft tears turned into sobs as she remembered what she said all those years ago. "I know, I know I made a promise to you. But I was just angry. And things changed. This Mandalorian, he's... like the others, but also different. He's not only a good person, but he's also a father. A father to a very special child. It took me a long time to figure that out, but I did. Please, don't be mad."
Just as she said that, the cold air began to disappear. It was replaced with warmth, and the sun began to appear out of the dark clouds. Glynda stopped crying at the sight and feeling of the new environment, unable to explain what had just happened. Maybe the weather channel expected this change, that it was supposed to happen today. Or maybe... Glynda had just earned forgiveness.
The Huntress normally wasn't one to believe in miracles, but the weather change made her feel happy. So, she decided to make an exception to her normal beliefs. "Thank you," Glynda said with a smile. "I'll visit more frequently, I promise." As she stood up and began to walk away, Glynda turned back for one final word. "I love you all."
[End music]
Cinder had finished her training for the day and had no more questions for Ozpin. So she found herself walking back home, thinking about everything she learned. Although she was happy with her improved fire abilities, her thoughts were mainly about what Ozpin told her.
If she was being honest, Cinder was still upset about what she learned. The fact that Ozpin was tricked by Salem and the world changed for the worse was a lot to mull over. On one hand, Cinder felt like Ozpin shared the blame, that things would be different for everyone if he just left the woman alone.
On the other hand... this was how Salem did her work. She planted seeds of doubt into people's mind and happily watched them grow. Cinder had first-hand experience with this.
So she couldn't blame Ozpin for everything. She would still keep the truth between themselves, but if anyone else deserved to know, it would be her father. Maybe a talk with him would shake the feelings she would have. But this... this was serious. As she opened the door to her home, she was thinking about how rare it would be for her to feel better today, about everything she learned.
"There you are."
The sound of her father's voice caused Cinder to look up from the ground and see a dirty Din Djarin, who had just put food on their table. Seeing him, despite how dirty and tired he looked, caused Cinder to forget about everything that happened earlier and fill her heart with joy once again.
Djarin was exhausted after what happened; he felt like he was about to drop once he entered his room and put the food he had bought earlier on the table. But seeing Cinder run up to him as fast as lightning with a wide smile brought all his energy back as he kneeled and hugged her.
"Dad, you're home!" Cinder yelled with glee. "I missed you so much!"
"I missed you too," Djarin confessed honestly. "Today was... busy."
"I told you I should've come."
Djarin chuckled as he removed his helmet. "Well, it's over now. I brought some lunch, are you hungry?"
Cinder and Djarin began to eat the food he had brought. The conversation they shared was mostly about Djarin's adventure with Glynda and how the fate of Death Watch would be placed in the courts.
"So you still have the Darksaber?" Cinder asked.
"For the moment," Djarin answered. "Until I find a new wielder for it."
"You're going to give it away? How come?"
"I meant what I said when we met Clan Vizsla. I'm no leader. So I'm going to find someone worthy who is."
"What happens then?"
Djarin looked up from his plate. "What do you mean?"
"Whoever takes it might try to unite Mandalore or enslave others like Gideon did. Of course, you wouldn't find someone who'd want to do what he did. So... why can't you try to reunite Mandalore?"
"Cinder, I-"
"No, just hear me out." Cinder whipped a napkin on her face before talking again. "That man, Clan Vizsla's leader, had a lot of good points about you. Mainly about freedom."
"You're right, but I'm not a leader. Can you think of a time when I led someone or a group of people?"
"..."
Cinder knew Djarin better than anyone and given their time together, she couldn't think of a time when he was a leader. When Gideon attacked Nevarro, he didn't lead the Mandalorians. And he didn't lead her rescue, just took part in it. He was right: he wasn't a leader.
"Well... you're the only one who believes in Salem right now," Cinder continued. "We... might need the Darksaber to unite the Mandalorians, though. That's good... right?"
"To attack Salem?" Djarin assumed. She nodded, and Djarin was about to say it was a good start to a plan. But he stopped himself when he noticed Cinder's shift in attitude at the mention of the witch. "Something wrong?"
"Not exactly. I just... learned a lot about Salem today."
"Like what?"
Cinder told Djarin everything she learned from Ozpin. The Gods, the Relics, and Salem's ultimate goal for Remnant. As she spoke, Djarin could hear a new tone in her voice. She wasn't just scared; she seemed... uncertain. It seemed Cinder had no sense of hope about the conflict, given what she had learned. And the Mandalorians were her only hope.
"That's... hard to swallow," Djarin confessed, putting down his fork. "And... you're right, the Mandalorians can definitely help us should the need come. So let's make a plan." Cinder looked up from her dish. "First, I'm going to find a clan and use the Darksaber to talk to their leader. Then, we talk about Salem and why we need a new leader. If they accept or deny our request, we act accordingly."
Cinder began to smile at the plan. While she was upset that her father wouldn't be leading them in the future, she was happy they had some idea about what to do. So she took the offer in a heartbeat. "And in the meantime... I'll be the best Maiden there ever was." She clenched the napkin in her hand. "No matter what."
Author's notes: and that's the end of another chapter. Thanks for reading, I hope you liked it. Once again, I want to give a shoutout to Ser Dorito of Aisle 13 for letting me use his OC team. If you want to read his story "When the Pawns Rebelled", it's in my favorite list. Go check it out, it's really good. Also, I am still updating my previous chapters. You might see some differences in this one, I've been learning more about proper syntax and grammar. And I'm sorry for the wait, turns out this chapter was longer than I expected it to be.
To Mandalorian00, sorry they didn't die. I hope you like what I did with Death Watch here.
To NacNak, really glad you liked last chapter. Hope you enjoyed this one, thanks for the compliments.
To Rider126, the Darksaber is an energy blade. If you have any more questions like this, feel free to ask in my Q & A. Hope you enjoyed the chapter.
To Rook435, thank you very much. I'm still in the works with improving my previous chapters, you'll see some changes soon. Really glad you liked the last chapter, I hope I answered some of your questions about Pyrrha and Samson here. In regards to your question, let me explain. When Djarin has an image in his mind of where to go, he can use his Semblance to teleport himself there. However, the further he goes, the more Aura he consumes. That's why he keeps an eye on his Aura bar and travels in his ship when he has the chance. If you have any more questions like this, feel free to ask in my Q & A. Hope you enjoyed the chapter.
To 54godamora, glad you liked the surprise. Hope you enjoyed this chapter.
To The Avenging Titan, thank you very much, I was surprised too. Glad you liked Glynda's team, I thought they were cool too. I hope I answered your question about Pyrrha and Samson. And yes, the final flashback had some Resident Evil Village vibes. I beat the game about three weeks ago, and I loved it. I would be disappointed in myself if I didn't find a way to use it in my work. Hope you liked this chapter.
To StarWarsLover1998, the new Razor Crest is supposed to look like its canon counterpart. Of course, it can't fly in space or shoot blasts of energy, but its still able to fly and shoot. The shield is Ser Dorito of Aisle 13's idea, along with the hammer. But the little Thor reference with the hammer was my idea. Thank you for reading, I hope you're enjoying the story. If you are, please consider favoriting and following, it lets me know if I'm doing a good job.
To GojiraFan455515, I'm really glad you enjoyed everything so far. I hope you enjoyed this chapter.
To joeyginise, thank you! I'm really glad you liked the idea, I knew I had to do it once it came in my mind.
That's all I have for right now. Once again, thank you for reading and I hope you enjoyed. In case you haven't already, please consider favoriting and following the story. Also, please leave a review, I always like to hear what you have to say. And as always, I'll see you next time.