If anyone were to describe Sienna Khan as being determined and feisty, a while ago they would have been right. Now however, you'd look like an idiot. Anyone with eyes could see her lack of... well, anything really.
All her willpower and drive had vanished, took a hike, and got kicked to the curb by some random drunk on a Friday night. It was visible to everybody who looked at her, and she knew that. The way the others would throw her glances, the shifty eyes and hushed words as she strode down the halls. She knew it all... she just didn't care.
Why should she when almost everything she knew was a lie. They weren't fucking up every mission, they weren't struggling, it was all just some scheme to keep her down. They were intentionally lying to her face to prevent her from looking into things, everyone was. How was she supposed to deal with that.
All that she worked for, all the years of blood, sweat, and tears just thrown away, and for what? Some angry asshole who wanted nothing more than to deliver them to their deaths. You can't wage war with the world, Adam was a fool to even consider the possibility of victory. The people wouldn't stand for it, especially on Menagerie.
The island despite being a wasteland was still theirs, and the people were content to let the pains of the past go in favor of a quiet life. It was a sham, the island was presented as a gift when in reality it was an order to essentially fuck off. But it was still their home, a safe haven from the rest of the world. To threaten it with another war, one that could potentially have the Humans decide to do away with Faunus as a whole? Just how insane was he?
Menagerie would stand against him, the Humans would stand against him, there was no winner in that scenario. Soon after the Humans would decide that the Faunus were a threat, their argument would be Adam, and the end would begin. The amounts of negativity to such a declaration would be unreal, and the Grimm would wipe them all from the face of Remnant.
My gods... I'm fighting against the end of the world...
She was just one woman, what hope did she have? When everyone stood against you, how were you supposed to react? Was she to roll over, to accept defeat and die at the hands of her own?
Sienna moved about, taking a sitting position on her bed. The world was against her, and her hopes were dashed. Her only remaining ally was V, but she'd need to wait for him to call again.
His last call however at least gave her something interesting. Those obelisks weren't only in menagerie, the fact that he found one out there implies that they were placed deliberately. Whether for religious purposes or no, they seemed targeted to V, or maybe... it was those like him.
As she thought about it now it made more sense for those things to target people with certain qualities rather than one specific person. After all, they were ancient right? So how would the people of the past know that one specific person would be born, have the ability to survive the tendrils, and understand the ruins?
It was impossible, they couldn't know that. If that was the case however, it implied that V wasn't the only Grimm person there was. He told of his queen before, she was like him. So would it really be so odd that there'd be others? But nobody had ever seen people like them before, if they had it'd be all over the news.
Sienna stood, pacing her room.
What if he's the last?
It was a spur of the moment idea, but it would explain why nobody ever saw others like him. What if the others just never left his kingdom, what if they all hid away from the world? The world wasn't entirely mapped out, even if they had the edges of the land mass covered. There was still plenty of land left unexplored because of the Grimm, but that wouldn't be a problem for them right? The queen made sure they were left alone, and perhaps had Grimm act as a sort of defense to deter wanderers.
Sienna needed some time to herself, she had more ideas to explore and she'd rather not have anyone bother her. Her room was good but people knew about it, she wanted some place isolated.
Swiftly she paced out the door, intent on making use of the cave Kali had shown her. The halls were empty today, most of the others were in training at the moment which left her alone in her walk.
They won't notice me gone for a few hours.
She'd make sure to be back before training got out. Wouldn't want anyone questioning things right? Sienna was about to continue out when she stopped herself. There was a small clicking before the sounds of footsteps scurried away. Her suspicion was peaked as she slowly glanced around the corner.
Nobody was there, just the next hallway leading to the supply room. However she heard some clicking a while ago, and the only thing there was a single air grate on the floor. Was there an issue that some repair person was trying to fix? It didn't look all that broken to her though.
Wait, hold on... that's the same vent Perry kept getting his arm stuck in.
Was that it, actually now as she looked at it: how do you 'accidently' get your arm stuck in that thing? It was closed tight and the only way to even reach into it was to lift it up. Had he lost something in it?
Sienna carefully crept towards the vent, having a feeling that something was off. They were a terrorist organization, getting stuck again and again couldn't have been coincidence, and considering they were hiding things from her she was all the more inclined to have a look.
She never really used this particular hallway before, usually choosing to take the main one to the throne room. The only reason she did so this time was to avoid everybody else. There was a small back door just outside of the supply room that headed into the forest, an emergency exit in case of fire.
Crouching down Sienna took hold of the grate, careful to not make any noise. She lifted it and gazed at the hole below, finding nothing of interest.
I'm just crazy now aren't I?
With a huff she was about to return the metal fixture when she saw something. Tied to the bottom of the grate appeared to be a note. Her eyes widened, realization hitting her as she quickly removed it.
Son of a bitch! Perry wasn't a dumbass!
She stared at the folded paper, questioning it slightly. It must have been sensitive to be done in such secrecy. Almost all calls from the building were tracked and recorded, it was why she used an entirely different scroll for her agents. Her main scroll that dished out common orders was recorded to the database like the others, but her special scroll was hacked in such a way that it didn't even show up on the radar. The only caveat being that she could only call one other scroll, in this case V.
Whoever's doing this clearly doesn't want to be caught. What secrets do you hide?
Sienna placed the grating back down, continuing on her way. Picking up the pace she practically flew out the back door and through the trees. It was still a little bit before she arrived at the cave, but once inside she took a last peek to ensure her solitude. With the coast clear she decided to finally open the tiny message.
'Instant report: Vermillion has gone rogue! It has come to light that Sienna's newest 'personally chosen' member was actually a spy for Beacon. How he got to Menagerie or won Sienna over is still unknown, but the mission still stands. He is to be captured on sight, (Not killed) Adam wishes to interrogate him personally. For the White Fang!'
"The dust!?"
.
.
"Oz, he's waking up." Qrow stated as Ozpin looked back over the boy.
True to his word the young man's eyes seemed to strain as they opened up to the world once more. He looked dazed as he moved about on the desk, knocking a few papers over in a bid to sit up.
"Headmaster?" He asked, his words slightly slurred as he seemed to teeter back and forth.
"Welcome back, I take it you've gotten another memory correct?" Ozpin asked as the boy looked down to his hands, flexing the fingers slightly as if entranced by their very form.
"Yes sir." He whispered as he stood from the desk, more papers making their way to the floor.
Ozpin found himself naturally worried, the boy's tone sounded grim. He was used to such a tone from others - downright expecting it from most allies - but to hear it from his most loyal had him on edge. Whatever the boy saw must have been painful, as that tone was almost universal in it's meaning. The very same tone he'd heard from Qrow when Summer had been declared KIA.
"Would you be willing to describe the memory?" He asked warily, fully expecting things to be more complex than intended. The boy faced him, his eyes dull as he muttered a single word.
"Angela."
Oh... oh. He'd not heard that name in so long, and with it a sense of shame overcame him.
"Huh?" Qrow let out, simply watching and waiting for the boy to continue. Yet Ozpin intervened.
"Head back to your room and rest, we'll talk later." He spoke as Vermillion gave a small nod, taking to the elevator. The doors shut and the two were left alone.
"Alright, what was that?" Qrow asked, naturally confused as Ozpin wondered how to handle the situation.
"Something... personal."
"Let me guess, it has to wait?" Qrow's tone was sarcastic, Ozpin could only sigh.
"Not necessarily, Angela was a close friend to Vermillion long ago. But that is a more personal tale, best told by the boy himself."
Qrow seemed to take a moment, bringing out his flask and taking a sip before returning his focus. "Right, personal... got it. Still, what are we gonna go with him?"
"Just as I'd told Ms. Rose's team, he'll act as guard for the time being. To be more specific: the Vytal Festival."
Qrow gave an odd look. "Not so sure that's a good idea Oz."
"How so?"
"Just last night he tried to murder one of the students."
"I'm well aware of that, he'll be punished more thoroughly later."
Qrow sighed. "That's not it. Look, I get it alright, he's important for something and all that. But having him act as guard for the Vytal Festival is just too much. Last I checked murder is a crime, and if he gets into a fight with a guy and kills him... well, I don't think even you will have the power to save him."
Qrow slipped his flask back into his pocket as he stepped closer. "Back at the docks when he was fighting the kids I saw him, I saw just how easily he was willing to lop off the Schnee girl's head. Despite the way he's acted around us he seems to be more than willing to kill. It scares me how easily it looks for him."
Ozpin nodded as he returned to his desk, collecting the papers and placing them back down. "True, but that has more to do with his outlook on death more than anything."
"What do you mean?" Qrow asked as he took a seat in a solitary chair as Ozpin set about organizing his paperwork once more.
"Over the centuries the outlook around spirituality and death has vastly changed. In our current era death is seen as a negative, whereas back in his time it had a more... positive outlook."
"You lost me." Qrow stated as Ozpin set his focus on the man.
"Times were tougher back then. Killers, thieves, and rapists stalked the streets at night on the regular. Cults, bandits, and religious extremists dotted the land. These types never cared whether their next victims were men, women, or even children. Negativity was at an all time high, and the people became numbed to the concept of death."
Ozpin leaned forward as Qrow focused. "To combat the potential of Grimm as well as the general despair that hung over the land, the people started to view 'death' in a different light. It was seen as a reward for a life hard lived, a rest that everyone regardless of wealth or status would receive."
"It was a coping mechanism."
Ozpin gave a nod. "Precisely, however that was the common outlook back then. A way to alleviate the pain of loss, even if just by a small bit."
Qrow gave one last sigh as he leveled a stare. "So you're telling me we've got to deal with a guy who thinks dying is a reward?"
"When put like that it sounds insane... but yes."
"So what, he's an emotionless killer?"
Ozpin waved him off. "Now I never said that, despite the culture around death the people still felt pain at the loss of loved ones. The belief was simply that those who passed on no longer suffered. It allowed soldiers to charge into battle believing that no matter the outcome they would find peace."
It wasn't entirely a lie, that had been the outlook around death, but the view that Vermillion held was slightly different. Death was not only a peace, it was also a direct reward. Salem had spent much time with the boy, and her views on death and the afterlife had rubbed off on him, even in her more... 'sensible' state at the time.
And poor poor Angela, through no fault of her own she had been the starting catalyst of Salem's eventual hatred of humanity. Since the day she was brought before them Salem had gotten close to her, treating and looking upon her as a daughter. It left a bitter taste in his mouth that his more peaceful decision for dealing with the dangers she faced lead to her death. He thought they could talk down the woman to leave her alone, yet he'd never expected such a brazen attack on the girl's life.
When Salem had come upon the girl's lifeless body - her throat sliced and lying on her room floor - she had demanded direct counter-action, to which he approved. He'd let her die, and with her death a new monster was set on the path. Maybe had the girl lived Salem might not have been so hateful of the world so quickly, perhaps it would have taken longer and given him more time to try and unite humanity.
But 'what if' was useless now, what's done is done. He'd learned a valuable lesson that day: the will of others was not to be trifled with. Humanity were slaves to their emotions, and ironically it was the negative emotions that held the most control.
"Even so, that still doesn't help the current situation. The kid's a ticking time bomb, one wrong move and everything falls apart." Qrow stated as Ozpin leaned back, fingers linked and eyes shut.
"True... so far he's spent his time among the White Fang, and we both know how they handle killing. Up to this point he's never had to look at his views, let alone question them. That will be the first thing you'll need to work on."
Qrow raised an eyebrow. "Me? What do you mean me?"
"It's exactly as I said, you'll need to work on getting through to him. We can't have him go on a killing spree now can we."
"Oz, you know I'm not good with kids. Teaching them to fight is one thing, but helping them overcome their own beliefs? That's a little out of my league. Why not talk with him yourself, he idolizes you right? Wouldn't he be more prone to you?" Qrow asked as Ozpin shook his head.
"Not quite, he idolizes me yes, but his faith is held elsewhere."
Qrow looked confused. "What do you- wait! Are you talking about Salem!?"
Ozpin gave a glum nod. "Yes... she wasn't always a monster, and at the time Vermillion had held her in even higher regard than I, religiously so. Salem ruled her own kingdom lawfully, and he was her knight. As I said before he was loyal to her first before I won a place in him. It was only later after he disappeared she would start her war on Remnant."
It was dangerous to even give out the idea that Salem wasn't always a monster, but it needed to be done as Vermillion's presence didn't exactly leave him with many believable excuses.
"Do you know how dangerous that is!? What if he gets in contact with her!?" Qrow yelled, only to stop himself as he seemed to realize he was getting worked up.
"It is, but aside from her he also holds me in high regards."
"Clearly not as high as Salem, you said so yourself." Qrow was wary, as was expected. Trifling with the opponents pawns was quite dangerous indeed, yet Vermillion was a different sort of pawn.
"True, but his loyalty to me is strong. Let me put it like this: should I tell him to die, he'd pierce his heart with the very sword he holds. He believes my word is law."
Qrow gave a grumble. "Great, a fanatic."
"Even so, his loyalty had always been out of the question, this I guarantee. So long as we keep him away from Salem for the time being he's of no harm. Later I'll try to ease him into the news of her, perhaps if I could convince him she is not herself he'll aid us in defeating her." Ozpin told as Qrow gave another look.
"And how are you going to do that if he's so loyal to her?" His words were almost accusatory, he was having a hard time digesting the wave of information being fed.
"I intend to tell him she's been possessed by her own darkness." Ozpin told as Qrow gave a flat look.
"Oz, I respect you I really do... but that sounds fucking stupid."
"To us yes, but Vermillion is from a different time remember. Superstition was varied in all parts of Remnant, and working under Salem for a time - as well as myself - he knows more than the average man. He knows that magic is no mere fantasy, and as such if worded properly I believe I may convince him that we're working to save her rather than destroy her."
"So what, we tell him we're saving 'the queen' or what not?" Qrow questioned as Ozpin waved slightly.
"In a way, if he believes we're doing it for her own good then he'll be all too happy to help."
Qrow took out his flask once more, he'd been doing that a lot lately. " Right... so I'm just supposed to keep telling him 'killing bad' or whatever?"
Ozpin let out an audible 'hmm'. "It won't be that easy. While he may be the same age as the rest of the first years, mentally he's more adult than most would give him credit for. He's been killing since he was thirteen. Whether they be bandit, criminal, or any other threat to his kingdom. Death is a close friend of his and one he doesn't take lightly. Though willing to kill he has his reasons - for better or worse - and simply asking him to stop will sound preposterous to him."
Qrow stretched in his chair, moving his arms as he leaned back. "So how am I supposed to go about it? You know him best right?"
Ozpin nodded as he continued. "The answer is quite simple, although a bit time consuming. Back then the punishment for crimes against the crown was death, unless stated otherwise. Being a royal knight as such had him carrying out the punishment personally, it's become a habit of sorts. You'll need to keep with him and put a stop to any attempted killing he may try to do. Tell him it is my will that criminals are to be 'captured only', over time this should grow into a new habit."
"I'm essentially babysitting him." Qrow stated as he took another swig.
"Yes."
"Wonderful."
.
.
The smoke was engulfing as the flames crackled throughout, licking at her skin and painting her in charred dust. Her aura was slowly being eaten away as she searched. She couldn't stop, not now, and with the flames spreading so quickly she was running out of time.
Ruby forced her way through another hallway, breaking apart some of the burning wood that blocked her path. Everything went so wrong so quickly, and now the last safehouse was going up in smoke. They never expected the attack to be so sudden, nor vicious.
It was only the explosion that awoke her, knocking her from bed and leaving her amongst the smoke. Had it not been for that she may have burned or suffocated in her sleep. How Salem's worshippers found them was of no concern at the moment, all that mattered was getting out of the building.
She'd quickly escaped at first through the window, overlooking the fire from the trees. Moments later however she realized she had yet to see Yang on the ground below. She'd circled the area, dealing with any visible cultists as quickly and efficiently as she could. Yet her sister was nowhere to be found, and the flames kept rising.
In a desperate state she rushed back in, calling out over and over. Hoping that from somewhere within she'd hear Yang call back.
"YANG! YANG ARE YOU THERE!?"
Her lungs were burning, pain searing through as she took in the smoke. Ragged coughs followed after each call. However Ruby continued on, panic and fear took hold of her as she rushed about the rooms. Yet each attempt had proved futile, nothing but wasted time as the world seemed to be falling apart around her.
She wasn't thinking, the panic filled her body and kept her from maintaining a clear mind. Instead she was running purely on instinct, doing the only thing she knew how to do... move.
Her feet stumbled, the building itself started to give way. There were but precious minutes before the whole place collapsed, it was now or never. With her aura almost below half she threw caution to the wind, bursting apart as she used her semblance to squeeze through the harder to reach places.
The basement!
It was the last place she still hadn't checked. Could Yang have tried to take refuge down there? She'd have been buried alive, but there was also the small chance she was planning to escape after the burning stopped. It was a deadly risk though as there was also the chance she'd run out of air before the fire faded.
The way below looked to be enclosed in rubble, yet the small holes throughout would provide enough room to slip through. She did so, her petals burning just as soon as she left them, crumbling to ash as she materialized at the bottom. There were massive piles of broken and crumbled debris. Wood and steel littered the room, and there at the center she found what she was looking for.
"YANG!"
Ruby rushed over, ignoring the pain searing through her body as she saw her sister's head rise to meet her. The woman was in a dire state, crushed underneath the rubble with her limbs twisted in ways they never should. Only a single eye was open, the other leaving a small trail of blood down her cheek. Still however that single eye opened just a tad more as Ruby ducked to face her.
"HOLD ON!" Ruby cried as she took hold of the rubble, heaving with all her might.
"R... Ruby..." Her words were low, as if every breath drew pain.
She kept hauling, kept pulling, yet the broken beams and lumber proved too much for her. Ruby tried desperately to pump whatever aura she had left into her limbs. It was useless, she was too tired and injured to even budge the pile.
"HOLD STILL, I'LL USE MY SEMBLANCE!"
She reached her hand for Yang's face, only to be surprised as the woman pulled it away.
"Y-Yang!?"
"Ru... Ruby, l-look..." The girl let out, her eye looking down at an angle.
Ruby's vision trailed in the direction, only to be overcome with a wave of horror as she saw into the mess below. Just below her sister's ribs was a metal beam, torn straight through her lower half. Several others looked to be piercing various parts of her as well.
Ruby's semblance was good for moving around, allowing her to burst into a set of rose petals to squeeze into tight places. However what it couldn't do was heal wounds. If she freed Yang with her semblance, she'd immediately bleed out the moment they took their natural forms as all the wounds would be exposed and open.
"No... no please... not you too. I... I-I..." Ruby's voice was low, breaking as she tried to speak.
Even through all of this her older sister gave a smirk. "H-heh... not l-lookin good huh..." Several coughs followed after as Yang gazed over.
"Yang, I don't know what to do... I... I'm so sorry. I don't want to lose you." Her voice hollowed as tears leaked to the burning ground below.
"D-don't be li... like that. It's not... your fault. T-they'd have found... found us e-eventually. Y-you need... to get out... of here."
"No, no I can't. I can't just leave you here." Ruby muttered as Yang let out a painful laugh.
"Look at me Ruby... the-there's no... fixing t-this." She spoke as Ruby's eyes clouded.
"I can't... I can't go on without you."
Yang's smirk morphed into a soft smile as she looked into her eyes.
"I-I'm proud of you... I'm so, so... proud. N-no matter what... what happened you a-always kept... moving. You... you were always... the s-strongest of us. Ruby... you're our... only hope. Y-you're the... the only one l-left... who can stand... a-against Salem. Please... please l-live... Ruby..." Her voice faded, body going still as her eyes dulled.
Ruby felt numb as she stared, Yang's skin started to burn as the flames had finally reached the rubble that trapped her. A large crash could be heard as the building began to collapse around her. She looked up, seeing the bits of rubble start to fall. Her semblance activated and her burning petals littered the air.
She burst from the top, flying forward and landing on the dirt below. Ruby never turned back, upon landing she took off in a sprint. She ran, and ran, and ran through the trees. Even as the sounds of collapse and flame left her ears she ran.
Ruby would lose track of time, running until she could run no longer. She collapsed some time later, yet still she pulled herself until her arms lost their strength. Only as the broken moon shined down on her was she finally able to come to her senses. Then came the pain, and then came the realization that for the first time in her life she was wholly and truly...
Alone.
.
.
Her eyes opened underneath the blind as she slowly stirred from her dreams. She took notice of her surroundings as she realized she was sitting.
That's right... the castle.
Currently Ruby had found herself sitting in a carriage on her way to the castle. Taking a look out the window she saw they were moving rather slowly. The carriage was guarded by six or so soldiers, trailing along on foot as they moved through the crowd. With the streets so packed she guessed she must have fallen asleep on the way.
Even in the middle of a mission I can't seem to escape myself.
Nightmares, born of past failings, they were something she hoped to never go through again. Yet the village before proved her hopes wasted; still though, at least she had something to look forward to. By the end of her little trip the man responsible for the destruction of Mineral would be dead at her feet.
The taste of revenge... a poison she'd grown to love. It's flavor was so addicting, and she'd lost the will to resist it so long ago. Was it wrong? Was it cruel? At this point Ruby found she didn't care. This twisted desire of hers was gnawing at her know, and everything was already in motion.
She had a job to do, and Aether just so happened to be smack dab in the middle of it. A hurdle she needed to overcome before she could move on.
Ruby gazed out once more, looking off in the distance at the lift that stabbed the sky. It was the only way up to the castle, and soon...
It too would die.
Author's note
...
So another chapter down, and another memory for Ruby as well. Now before we continue I have something to address in one of the reviews.
Weiss is not a child, she is a huntress in training. At that point she qualifies as adult, considering she's willing to risk being mauled and mutilated by Grimm. If we get into the morality of the system it could be said that the academies are employing child soldiers if we take that outlook.
It also implies that the student's can't be trusted to handle things on their own, which ultimately belittles their maturity and all the years of training they did.
Everything else in the review is fair. V is indeed not a hero, at the moment he's morally grey; and on the darker side of that. V's actions are on full display for the reader and we're also given his reasons for doing so, not everyone is going to agree with them.
This is fine, everyone is free to like or dislike any characters they wish.
Most of the characters are written to be understandable, not necessarily likeable (That's decided by all of you). They have their goals, dreams, and limits as to how far they're willing to go; these may all change as they develop.
Thanks for reading and see you next time.