Chapter 4: The Lost Fable
Salem's Tower, long ago…
Nathan folded his arms as blue smoke filled the void around him, forming into the… human? form of Salem, staring out the window of the tower she seemed to be stuck within:
"Locked away by her cruel father, Salem was a girl who desired but one thing: freedom." Jinn's voice rang out; narrating the events transpiring before Nathan.
Nathan observed Salem walking sadly away from the tower, a look of longing crossing the young woman's face.
I know the feeling, Salem. Nathan thought to himself. It wasn't too long ago that he himself had been locked away; so to speak.
"She lived in a time when kings and their Kingdoms were plentiful, when men and women were capable of greatness, and magic was a gift from the Gods that all could wield." Jinn continued, somewhere within the void.
Nathan looked on as Salem sat at what appeared to be her vanity, leaning on it and holding her left hand, from which four magical spheres with a magic circle in six basic colors appeared over her hand.
Nathan's eyes widened. Interesting, he thought to himself.
"And yet, there she sat within her tower." Jinn added.
Again; Nathan felt a pang of sympathy for Salem. He knew all too well how it felt to be powerful yet feel so powerless.
He was driven from thought as blue smoke suddenly enveloped Salem and the entire scene.
The smoke promptly reformed outside what Nathan reasoned was Salem's castle, at which Jinn resumed her narration:
"Until one day, a legendary hero came to brave the challenges within the tower's walls."
At that, Nathan became aware of a young man walking into view:
The man was handsome, dark skinned with messy brown hair and brown eyes. He was dressed in a blue-green tunic with a tan undershirt, blue cape and black trousers with brown boots. Both his tunic and cape were outlined with golden markings. Over that was metal armour held by brown belts and straps, etched with ornamental patterns.
"The people of the lands knew him as Ozma." Jinn declared.
Nathan's eyes narrowed. Ozma… could this be the first ever incarnation of Ozpin? Nathan wondered, eyeing up Ozma.
A determined look crossed the heroic warrior's face as he marched forward towards the tower, Jinn's voice narrating further:
"Unlike those who had come before, this warrior was not driven by the prize of the young maiden's hand. He fought only for righteousness, and his pure heart and courageous soul prevailed."
Nathan soon noticed the area around him littered with the bodies of fallen armoured warriors, clearly those that had fallen before in their attempts to win Salem's hand and rescue her.
The scene vanished into smoke, reforming to reveal Ozpin striking down an imposing figure wearing dark armour.
Nathan tried not to imagine Darth Vader taking the place of the dark-armoured figure, but the similarities remained in his mind.
Regardless, he watched Ozma approach a door and open it, revealing Salem's room, with Salem within it.
The fair haired maiden looked to Ozma, a grateful smile crossing her face as she stood up.
Blue smoke once again reformed the scene, this time showing Ozma and Salem battling their way through the castle, side by side.
"They escaped the wretched fortress, and yet something bound them together." Jinn said, as the scene reformed once again into the area outside the castle, showing Salem and Ozma running away from it, hand in hand.
Once at a safe distance, the two paused to catch their breath and looked to each other.
Jinn once more filled in the story taking place; saying: "Ozma had been ready to give his life for justice countless times, but now saw a woman worth saving it for. And Salem, to her surprise, found her freedom not in the outside world she had yearned for, but in the eyes of the man that had saved her."
Nathan found a smile crossing his face. He'd risked his life countless times in the name of freedom for the galaxy, but ever since meeting Blake, and now expecting a child with her; Nathan knew how it felt to see someone worth staying alive for. He was brought out of his thoughts when Salem suddenly spoke, asking:
"So, where should we go now?"
Ozma offered his hand to the young woman, replying: "Wherever you'd like."
Nathan smiled at the scene; partially imagining himself saying that to Blake.
"The two fell deeply in love, planned adventures around the world, and lived happily ever after." Jinn narrated, seemingly ending the story on a more positive note than Nathan had expected as blue smoke enveloped Salem and Ozma, the visage of them holding hands lovingly disappearing into a bright light of white space.
I'm sensing a 'but' coming up, Nathan thought to himself, just as Jinn added:
"Or at least that's what should have been."
There you go… Nathan mused as blue smoke enveloped the area once again, wondering what Jinn would reveal next.
Ozma and Salem's home…
Kanan looked around, blue smoke reforming around Salem knelt by an unconscious Ozma's bedside, the sound of Salem sobbing catching his attention.
His heart twisted himself into knots; the dots connecting in Kanan's head:
Ozma was dying.
"Ozma, the infallible hero of legend, fell ill." Jinn explained. "And where all the beasts and blades of the world had fallen short, a single sickness prevailed."
Kanan averted his gaze from the sad scene before him. He'd prevailed against numerous threats both beastly and human. He couldn't bear imagining this being his future possibly.
Ozma's body vanished in smoke, Salem's sobs continuing to cut through the air like knives, knives that had forever severed the bond connecting her and Ozma.
"How could the Gods let this happen?" Salem whimpered, cradling Ozma's staff in her hands as if her life depended on it.
Kanan sighed through his nose, somnolent with pity.
At which he noticed two spheres circling above:
One was bright yellow; almost golden, whilst the other was dark purple.
Kanan's eyes narrowed when Jinn's voice filled him in:
"The Gods, brothers of light and darkness, creation and destruction. Salem prayed they would see the injustice that had befallen her love and make things right."
Hate to burst her bubble, but death comes for everyone, Kanan thought to himself. No matter whether you want it to or not.
His musings were interrupted when blue smoke reformed the scene yet again; this time unveiling a brightly lit place with a stairway leading up a mountain.
Kanan looked around. This isn't on any maps I know of, he wondered, watching Salem walk up the steps.
The Domain of Light…
"The Domain of Light was a sacred place." Jinn declared.
You don't say, Kanan thought sarcastically, taking in the majesty of the place:
The Domain of Light was placed in a small canyon, walled off on all sides save for one point of terrestrial access via a tan set of stone stairs, upon which Salem was stood.
The area was filled with brilliantly golden-yellow flowers broken up only by patches of grey rock. In the centre lay the Fountain of Life, at the back of which was an immense tree with dark gold leaves.
It presented the image of a serene location that emanated a sense of life and power about it.
Kanan watched Salem walk down the steps, Ozma's sceptre in her hands and approach the Fountain of Life.
"It was here the elder brother dwelled beside his fountain of life and creation." Jinn narrated. "It was here... where mankind would fall to ruin."
Ruin? Kanan wondered. But… mankind still exists…
His thoughts left his head when suddenly, a tall male humanoid emerged from the water, antlers protruding from his head almost like a crown. His complexion was a softly glowing light gold, and his build was muscular with a face devoid of discernible features.
That… that must be the God of Light, Kanan reasoned, watching Salem fall to her knees in supplication to the deific being walking towards her.
"Please... Please, bring him back to me." Salem begged the God of Light.
The God of Light showed no sign of emotion, save for when he spoke:
"I understand your pain, but you demand of me that which I cannot make so. Life and death are part of a delicate balance."
"So... you won't do it then?" Salem asked.
"To disrupt the cycle of-" The God of Light made to say.
"But that's not fair..." Salem interrupted, yelling: "That's not fair!"
Her exclamation echoed around the area, yet the God of Light was unmoved.
"Let. Him. Rest." The God of Light said sternly.
At that, the wind began to pick up, blowing leaves around Salem.
Suddenly, she found herself back at the bottom of the stairs leading up to the Domain of Light.
That went well, Kanan thought, watching Salem look to Ozma's sceptre before angrily looking up.
"No." Salem hissed.
The Domain of Darkness…
Blue smoke transformed the scene once again, reforming to reveal a dark, foreboding environment with a stairway leading up into the mountains, almost a dark mirror image of the Domain of Light.
Nathan and Kanan; though neither could see one another, looked on to see Salem approach this staircase, finding skeletal remains at the foot of the stairs.
"The God of Darkness…" Jinn narrated. "None dare to enter his home, as men knew what monstrosities emerged from his blackened pools of annihilation."
The Grimm, Nathan thought to himself whilst watching Salem proceed forward regardless, approaching a blackened pool of tar not too dissimilar to the ones from which the Grimm emerged.
"And so you must understand the Dark Lord's surprise when he found a lone woman kneeling before him." Jinn said.
Dark Lord? Nathan wondered with a raised eyebrow. Bitch clearly never met Darth Sidious.
His thoughts vanished when from the blackened pool of tar; the God of Darkness emerged, its body twisted and contorted at unnatural angles.
Kanan, who was stood a few feet away from Salem, unaware that Yang was also close by, drew in a sharp breath and backed away, observing the God of Darkness crawling towards Salem in an unnatural position.
He also became aware of various Creatures of Grimm approaching Salem from all angles.
The God of Darkness completed his approach of Salem, and soon rose to his full height.
He was a slim male with curved, segmented horns on his head that arc back and curve upward. His form was coloured a deep purple that seems to draw in surrounding light. Like his brother, the Dark God's face was utterly devoid of features, though humanoid contours are present.
Nathan scowled at the sight of the dark deity. He'd seen many depictions of evil deific entities before, both in books and in movies Blake had seen with him. And most if not all bore similar horns to the ones the God of Darkness had framing his head. Nathan almost wondered whether those sorts of horns were a way of determining whether a deific entity was good or evil.
His train of thought was cut short when Jinn resumed her narration:
"Salem understood it well. She told him of her loss and professed that she knew only he could answer her prayers, all while careful to make no mention of his elder."
Of course, Nathan thought to himself, observing Salem tell her side of the story to the God of Darkness, who seemed convinced.
"Rise, child, and let your faith in me be rewarded."
That didn't take long, Kanan mused, seeing the God of Darkness conjure up a purple sphere, from which Ozma's body appeared.
Salem approached the unconscious form of her beloved, at which Ozma awoke with a gasp of breath.
"Where am I? What is this?! WHERE AM I?!" Ozma asked, eyes wide with fear.
"It's okay!" Salem professed, smiling. "Everything's going to be okay!"
Which was when a loud clap of thunder heralded the God of Light's arrival, as the golden deity stood atop the flight of stairs leading into the God of Darkness' domain.
Well; it was good while it lasted, Kanan thought to himself as the God of Light spoke:
"What have you done?" The God of Light demanded, audibly angry.
"I have done what I please, brother." The God of Darkness professed. "You may bask in the powers of creation, but you do not own them."
"This is not creation." The God of Light countered firmly.
"Do not lecture me!" The God of Darkness snarled.
God fight in three, two, one… Kanan thought to himself.
"I will do what I must to maintain order." The God of Light declared, outstretching his hand.
Orange energy surrounded Ozma before the legendary hero disintegrated in Salem's arms.
Harsh, Kanan mused.
"No! No!" Salem cried. "What did you do?!" She demanded. "BRING HIM BACK!"
"You dare enter my domain and show such disrespect!" The God of Darkness growled as Ozma appeared once again.
"Ozma!" Salem called out in relief.
"I am abiding by the rules we agreed upon!" The God of Light angrily professed.
"Rules that I now see are ever in your favour." The God of Darkness fired back. "And yet the day a mortal comes to pray at my feet before your own, so do you arrive to lay your judgment upon me!"
At that, the God of Darkness transformed into a nightmarish, four-legged dragon with two wings whose membranes were frayed and dotted with multiple holes in them, and even more ornately spiralled horns than in his humanoid form. His overall body was skeletal, with a face like a skull with empty eye sockets, and a row of bone-like spines that ran the length of his body.
Whoa… Kanan thought. Guess Yang isn't the only dragon I've met.
It was then that the Grimm surrounding the area advanced on the God of Light, only for a bright light to emanate from the golden deity, destroying all the Grimm in the area.
When the light dissipated, in place of the God of Light was a beautiful, oriental looking dragon that would not have looked out of place on Mistrali artwork, long and serpentine. He possessed a long mane of golden hair that ran the length of his body, forming a plume at the tip of his tail as well as rather extensive facial hair that terminated in two feathery tipped whiskers. In this form, his eyes emanated a pure, white glow.
Are we about to see the fight which shattered the moon? Kanan wondered, only for the God of Light to speak once again:
"I know we have our differences, but I have not come here with the aim to control you. The same, however, cannot said for her. This woman came to you only after I denied her pleas – pleas that would have disrupted the balance that you and I created. Together."
And… lies exposed, Salem. Kanan mused, watching the God of Darkness ponder this revelation.
"Then it seems I owe you an apology." The dark deity responded. "Allow me to correct my mistake."
"NO!" Salem shrieked as the God of Darkness fired a purple beam from his draconic mouth, disintegrating Ozma once again.
That's not gonna go down well, Kanan thought as Ozma's ashes scattered across the area from Salem's arms.
"You… You monsters!" Salem snarled. "Give him back to me! GIVE HIM BACK!" At this, she activated her own magical powers, only for the God of Light to lunge forwards, devouring her within his jaws
Never a good idea to challenge gods when you yourself are not one, Kanan mused.
Which was when Kanan noticed they were now seemingly in the sky.
OH SH-
Kanan half expected to find himself falling to his death. Only to realise the only person falling was Salem herself.
Looking down, Kanan saw Salem was now falling towards the pool within the God of Light's domain, falling straight in.
Now submerged, it was clear to Kanan that Salem was drowning. Only for an aura-like shimmer to cover her body.
Is this her becoming the first person to be granted an aura? Kanan questioned,
As Salem then emerged from the pool, catching her breath.
Only to find both the Gods of Light and Darkness stood side by side above her.
Uh-oh, Kanan thought.
"When you first came to me, I did pity you." The God of Light declared. "But it is clear now that your selfishness and arrogance have led you astray."
Ya think? Nathan thought, folding his arms as that aura-like shimmer covered Salem's hands once again.
"What did you do to me?" Salem asked, standing back up.
"I have made you immortal." The God of Light replied matter-of-factly.
"Immortal?" Salem questioned.
"You cannot die." The God of Darkness answered. "You cannot be with your beloved."
Ouch, Nathan mused. I get she tried attacking you after you smote her boyfriend, but that's fucking harsh.
"So long as this world turns, you shall walk its face." Both gods said in unison whilst Salem looked up at them in disbelief.
"You must learn the importance of life and death. Only then may you rest." The God of Light declared.
Salem tried reaching out towards them, only to find herself in a vast, open field.
Well, that's that then, Nathan thought to himself when Jinn once more began narrating:
"Salem was a prisoner once again. Her fruitless attempts to reunite with Ozma eventually became nothing more than acts of spite and defiance against the Gods."
Nathan looked on, watching Salem make attempt after attempt to end her life.
"She even managed to elicit help from outside sources…" Jinn said, as if directly speaking into Nathan's ear.
Nathan jumped, only to hear Salem shrieking in pain. Spinning around, Nathan's eyes widened as he saw Salem being blasted with an all too familiar looking electricity:
Force Lightning.
Stepping a little to the right, Nathan's eyes went even wider:
Stood before him, blasting Salem with a torrent of Force Lightning that seemed to be slowly disintegrating her, was a dark robed figure with a mask Nathan had seen in books all across the Jedi Temple narrating the stories of ancient Sith Lords to the point he would be able to pinpoint who it was in his sleep:
Darth Revan.
The Revanchist soon had disintegrated Salem into nothing but ash; only for her to reform moments later.
Frustration crossed Salem's face as she looked towards Revan.
"Does this change anything?" The ancient Dark Lord of the Sith asked Salem.
"No…" Salem hissed, disappointment and frustration threaded through her tone. "You may do as you require."
Revan nodded and left.
Darth Revan? On Remnant? Nathan thought. He almost never left a planet without leaving his mark there. I wonder if there's some form of Sith Temple here on Remnant?
His thoughts were cut short as Salem picked up a sword she had previously attempted suicide with, walking up to a nearby window, through which a large castle could be seen.
"But perhaps the Gods were not as powerful as they seemed…" Jinn narrated. "She had lied to them, turned them against one another, they… were fallible."
Oh boy… Nathan thought, already having some idea of what was going to happen now.
"If she were to turn humanity against light and darkness, she could rid herself of their curse, or at the very least… she could make them suffer." Jinn said, as Salem suddenly hurled the sword in Nathan's direction.
Nathan half-expected to feel the sword's cold blade run him through, but blue smoke prevented any such thing from happening, as the scene reset…
With Kanan…
Kanan watched a bloody axe fall before the feet of a surprised king.
"Salem traveled from one Kingdom to another, telling tales of how she stole immortality from the Gods, welcomed any swordsman to cut her down, and demonstrated her powers." Jinn announced, as blue smoke reset the scene again and again:
First to Salem speaking to the same king from before.
Second to an oriental looking queen and her subjects.
And finally to a barbaric-looking warrior king.
"With the kings and queens in awe, she pulled them deeper into her scheme." Jinn explained. "She painted them pictures of a time when they would no longer have to watch their loved ones wither and die, when they could claim the powers of their creators for themselves, and in turn, perfect their own design."
As Jinn said this, Salem finished addressing the warrior-king, kneeling before him in respect and supplication.
The warrior king's response was to draw his weapon and let out a fearsome battle cry which was echoed by his subjects.
The scene shifted back towards the God of Light's domain, as a large army of warriors stormed the area, All kingdom's united in an all-out assault.
"All they needed to do was destroy their old masters." Jinn narrated as the army entered the domain proper of the God of Light, who emerged from his pool in draconian form. "The Gods had hoped that Salem would learn from her eternal curse, and she did. She learned that the hearts of men are easily swayed."
The Domain of Light…
Nathan and Kanan, though neither could see the other, looked on to see the leaders of the Kingdoms approach the God of Light, stood at the head of the massive army.
Which was when the God of Darkness appeared next to his brother.
Great; gang's all here. Guess they're all going to die, Nathan thought to himself.
That's a lot of soldiers, Kanan mused. Either they're all going to die, or they somehow take out the gods.
"Who has led you down this path?" The God of Light asked the assembled army.
His question was answered when Salem herself walked out from the amassed army, standing alongside the rulers of the kingdoms.
"You..." The God of Darkness snarled, roaring at Salem.
Salem's only response was to launch a magical attack, which was echoed by the legion of soldiers at her back; a magical artillery barrage that would smite any and all that stood against it.
Just not two gods.
The God of Darkness merely absorbed any and all magical attacks into his hand, a purple sphere forming with all the amassed and absorbed power.
Yeah, nice try… Nathan thought.
What did they expect? Kanan wondered as the human army all looked on in shock.
"My own gift to them... used against me." The God of Darkness said.
Nathan spotted the God of Light looking away, and a pit formed in his stomach as he could sense the disappointment from the golden deity.
Which was when the God of Darkness squeezed the ball of energy in his hand, creating a massive explosion that led to a huge shockwave enveloping the world of Remnant entirely, smiting any and all humans across the planet.
Kanan's eyes widened in shock at the ruthless show of power, but sadly wasn't surprised.
Especially when Salem was revealed to be the only survivor, her immortality saving her.
"No... no..." Salem whimpered, only to be knocked back with a single stomp of the God of Darkness' foot.
"You thought there was no greater punishment we could bestow upon you?" The God of Darkness sneered at Salem.
"I'll come back." Salem declared, still angrily defiant. "I'll tell the rest of the world of this massacre! Build a new army!"
"You do not understand. There is no one left. You are all that remains of Humanity." The God of Darkness countered.
Holy shit, Nathan thought, watching Salem's facial expression become one of shock.
"This planet was a beautiful experiment, but it is merely a remnant of what it once was." The God of Light said. "We will learn from this failure. I hope that you will learn from yours." With that, the God of Light vanished into a bright light of dust.
"No! You can't leave! You can't leave! COME BACK!" Salem shrieked.
The God of Darkness remained unmoved. "Still demanding things of your creators..." He muttered before he himself disappeared into a purple beam of light which shot up into the sky and out of the atmosphere, colliding with the moon and shattering it.
Kanan looked up as fragments of the shattered moon began to rain down onto Remnant like meteorites, before his eyes fell upon Salem, who fell to her knees and let out a scream of despair that was partially muted by the falling meteors.
"Once again, Salem was alone..." Jinn said.
With Salem…
Salem walked alone.
Because she was alone.
No man woman or child greeted her, all she could see was deer grazing in a field, and now abandoned villages that now were only inhabited by the Grimm.
Nathan looked on with folded arms, a resigned expression crossing his face. This is what happens when you challenge forces far greater than yourself, he thought to himself.
"She cursed the Gods." Jinn elaborated regarding Salem. "She cursed the universe. She cursed everything, everything but herself. She wandered the face of the planet, awaiting a death that would never come..."
Wonder how long she wandered Remnant for, Nathan wondered. Must have been hundreds, if not thousands of years.
Which was when Nathan found he and Salem were now stood on a cliff overlooking the Land of Darkness, with that blackened pool previously inhabited by the God of Darkness himself laid out beneath them.
"Until fate led her back to the Land of Darkness." Jinn narrated. "This was it. This had to be it, the brother's Grimm, the pools of black that continued to give rise to horrific nightmares. If the fountain of life granted her immortality, then surely, the pools of Grimm will finally take it away."
Hard not to see the logic there, Nathan thought. But I think I know what happened instead…
With that, he watched Salem fall forward without hesitation, submerging herself into the black pool.
"She was wrong. This force of pure destruction could not destroy a being of infinite life." Jinn said, confirming Nathan's suspicions, as he watched Salem being thrashed about within the pool by an unseen force.
"Instead, it created a being of infinite life with a desire for pure destruction." Jinn declared, as the scene changed to outside of the pool, where Nathan watched Salem emerge; looking nothing like the beautiful young woman she had been before:
Salem's skin was now deathly pale, as was her hair. And when her eyes opened, it revealed a pair of seething blood red eyes, with black sclerae.
Now that's more in tune with what I heard about from Emerald's illusion, Nathan thought to himself, as Jinn once more interrupted his thoughts:
"And in time, she would find her adversary..."
A White Void…
Kanan gasped when he found himself once again within the white space they had been in just as Jinn had began her narration.
Which was when he noticed he wasn't alone:
Ozma also occupied the space, and wandered about aimlessly, until:
"Ozma."
Both Kanan and Ozma looked to see the golden, draconic form of the God of Light levitating before them, before the golden deity shifted back into humanoid form.
"Where am I?" Ozma asked.
"We are between realms. I'm afraid a tragedy has befallen your home at the hands of my brother." The God of Light replied. "We have chosen to depart this world, but in our absence, I would like to offer you the chance to return to it."
A scowl crossed Kanan's face at this. What a fucking hypocrite, He thought.
"I... don't understand." Ozma said.
"Mankind is no more, yet your world remains." The God of Light elaborated. "And in time, your kind will grow to walk its face once again. However, without our presence, they will be but a fraction of what they once were."
At this, the God of Light conjured up four objects: A staff, a sword, a crown and a lamp which looked scarily similar to the Relic of Knowledge.
"Creation, destruction, choice, and knowledge were the ideals upon which Humanity was made." The God of Light said. "Now I leave them behind with the hope that you will learn to remake yourselves."
So, the lamp is Knowledge, I'm guessing the sword is Destruction, so… I imagine the staff is Creation and the crown is Choice? Kanan wondered.
The four objects suddenly began to combine together into a yellow sphere of energy as the God of Light elaborated further:
"If brought together, these four Relics will summon my brother and I back to your world, and Humanity will be judged." The God of Light said. "If your kind has learned to live in harmony with one another and set aside their differences, then we shall once again live among you, and Humanity will be made whole again. But if your kind is unchanged, if you demand our blessings while still fighting amongst yourselves, then man will be found irredeemable and your world will be wiped from existence. Until your task is complete, you will reincarnate, but in a manner that ensures you are never alone."
Ozma fell to his knees as he comes to terms with this ultimatum.
I don't blame you man, Kanan thought sympathetically. That's a tonne of pressure.
It was then that Ozma once again spoke: "I'm sorry, but... that world just isn't as dear to me without her. If I may, I'd rather return to the afterlife to see Salem."
"You will not find her there." The God of Light replied.
Ozma's eyes widened. "You mean she isn't gone?" He asked.
"Salem lives, but the woman you hold dear in your memories is gone." The God of Light responded.
Yeah, because of you, Kanan thought with disgust.
"Heed this warning... where you seek comfort, you will only find pain." The God of Light cautioned. "So, will you-"
"I'll do it." Omza suddenly declared.
The God of Light immediately looked surprised at the instant answer from Ozma, but soon said:
"Very well. Our creation rests within your hands."
With that, the God of Light vanished.
Kanan took a deep breath as he took it all in.
So… Ozma was in fact the first form of Ozpin.
If that was the case; then how many forms had Ozpin had over the years?
Did he encounter Salem at all?
If he did; was there a fight?
Kanan wasn't sure he wanted to know the answer to all of those questions, but he knew that Jinn would answer them soon enough:
"And so Ozma was reborn." Jinn declared as the scene changed...
Kanan now found himself staring at a completely different man; one with tanned skin and pale blonde hair who had just stabbed a Beowolf with a pitchfork. Is that Ozma's second form?
The man's actions seemed to confirm this, as he looked around, taking in his surroundings.
Which was when both he and Kanan became aware of distant screaming.
They looked to see men, women and children running away from a burning village, their screams of fear and terror etched into their faces.
"Where am I?" Ozma asked no-one in particular, at which the scream of a man much closer drew his and the unseen Kanan's attention:
A lone man was squaring off against a Beowolf, flailing his sword as if he were a child playing with a stick imagining it as a sword.
Unsurprisingly, the Beowolf wasn't one for swordplay, and sent the man sprawling to the ground with a single swipe of its paw, disarming them.
Kinda asked for that, Kanan thought. Who taught him to fight?
Regardless, his musings were cut short when the eyes of Ozma's new form glowed in the same way Oscar's did whenever Ozpin took control, indicating that the old Ozma had taken over.
Kanan observed Ozma skilfully take the man's sword before immediately slaying the Beowolf.
The man whose life Ozma had just saved approached Ozma, saying: "Thank you. Please, tell me your name. Who are you?"
Ozma suddenly seemingly had trouble speaking, and threw the sword to the ground in horror.
Kanan sighed as he observed the scene before him. "He had no idea…" He said.
A random street somewhere…
Though they couldn't see one another, Nathan and Kanan watched Ozma walk along a random market street, whilst Jinn began her narration anew:
"Ozma had found himself in a world completely unfamiliar to him. Cities looked different. Creatures known as the Faunus bore fangs and claws and were locked away in cages."
Both Kanan and Nathan clenched their fists at how the faunus were being treated, having to remind themselves it was a different time.
Thankfully, the sight of Dust, alongside Jinn's continuing narration distracted them:
"And without the blessing of the Gods, no one could perform magic like mankind was once capable of, no one but himself and a woman known as... the witch."
Three guesses on who that is, Nathan thought to himself, the scene changing to that of a large forest as Ozma approached a lonely, dilapidated cottage.
"During his years of travel, he heard the same frightened whispers that spoke of a terrifying sorceress who commanded dark powers in the wilds among the beasts and monsters." Jinn continued. "Ozma was convinced that this witch was Salem, and decided he needed to see what she had become."
Can't say I blame him, Kanan thought. Closure would definitely help.
Ozma stopped a distance from the cottage, at which the front door swung open.
From the darkness within, Salem emerged, now clad in black robes that fit her far better than the white dress she had been wearing, as if the shadows themselves had formed her.
A scowl crossed Salem's face as she emerged, clearly irritated at whoever dared to disturb her. Only for her face to soften the minute she laid eyes on Ozma.
Likewise, Ozma smiled back at her.
"Call it magic or call it something stronger, but in that moment, the two knew exactly who it was that stood before them." Jinn elaborated.
Nathan and Kanan looked on as Ozma and Salem approached one another, taking one another's hands.
"What do we do now?" Ozma asked Salem.
"Whatever we like." Salem replied.
Nathan and Kanan found themselves smiling as the scene changed once again…
Nathan observed time seeming to pass by, seeing the lonely, dilapidated cottage Salem had called home gradually growing to be in much better condition, following up with Salem and Ozma sat at a table on the front porch, conversing.
"As Salem and Ozma recounted the events which had brought them back together, each withheld parts of their story." Jinn recounted. "Salem, fearing Ozma would reject her, blamed the end of the world on the Gods. Ozma, still unsure of where the truth lay, kept his task and the Relics a secret. Though time passed and all seemed well, Ozma's conversation with the God of Light still lingered in his mind. He had found happiness, but Humanity seemed more divided than ever before."
Nathan raised an eyebrow. The God of Light said to Ozma that seeking comfort would only bring him pain. So… where does the pain come in?
He was brought from thought when Salem and Ozma started to head back inside their house, with Salem saying:
"Are you surprised? This world is quite literally godless. These Humans have no one to guide them. Perhaps that's all they need."
"What are you saying?" Ozma asked.
"We could become the gods of this world." Salem suggested. "Our powers surpass all others. Our souls transcend death. We can mold these lands into whatever we want, what you want, create the paradise that the old Gods could not."
Nathan folded his arms, a look of indifference and a lack of surprise crossing his face. Playing god… how fucking original.
Meanwhile, Ozma had a troubled look across his face, which turned into a smile of agreement. Him and Salem looked into one another's eyes as the latter placed an affectionate hand on Ozma's shoulder.
"The hearts of men... are easily swayed." Jinn recalled, referring back to Salem's manipulation of the kingdoms as the scene once again shifted…
Some random village…
The Nevermore screeched its sinister battle cry as it hovered above the terrified villagers, as if deciding which one would be its next meal.
Kanan looked on with concerned eyes, eager to help but well aware he could not.
Which was about the time that the Nevermore was suddenly surrounded by some form of purple energy, before being bent and folded into unnatural angles until it disintegrated.
That can't have been fun, Kanan mused. seeing Salem and Ozma hover into view.
Ozma now wielded his sceptre once again, and had even donned regal robes.
With that, the villagers the couple had just saved knelt before them in reverence, as the scene began to change once again…
Salem and Ozma's castle…
Whilst unseen to one another, Nathan and Kanan walked side by side, seeing Jinn's blue smoke form two imposing statues of both Ozma and Salem, one on either side of them both.
"The two amassed a following. That following grew into a prosperous Kingdom." Jinn narrated.
The scene shifted once again, into a room featuring a large painting of both Salem and Ozma.
Jinn suddenly continued: "And at the head of that Kingdom blossomed... a family."
Which was when four young girls soon appeared in the painting, which shifted into a scene Nathan and Kanan couldn't help but admit was wholesome:
Ozma and Salem watching their four daughters playing around in the room, each of them wearing a different coloured dress:
Nathan was quick to notice that the colours of these dresses matched the colours worn by the Four Maidens. Did that mean Salem and Ozma's daughters were the original maidens?
His musings were cut short when he spotted one of the little girls playfully tugging on Salem's robe, prompting a warm, maternal smile from Salem, who then smiled back at Ozma.
Nathan's smile only deepened. He'd told Blake he didn't really mind what gender their unborn baby was; but now he definitely knew he wanted a little girl.
His thoughts began turning to what that little girl would look like, which made him smile even more.
All the while Kanan observed the scene with narrowed eyes. He admittedly found the scene extremely wholesome, but he had a bad feeling that all this happiness couldn't last.
The scene suddenly changed once again to reveal a massive battle taking place, which Salem seemed to be observing from what appeared to be a crystal ball.
Kanan wasn't sure he liked the smirk crossing Salem's face in that moment, but his attention was diverted when Ozma suddenly spoke:
"Are we sure this is right?" He asked from where he stood, looking outside the window. His tone was troubled, showing that he clearly disagreed with Salem's actions.
"You said we needed to bring Humanity together." Salem responded, looking over to her husband. "In order to do that, we have to spread our word, and destroy those who will deny it."
Said every megalomaniac religious figure ever, Kanan thought to himself, watching Ozma gain a shocked expression at Salem's words, at which Ozma turned his attention back to the window, as if looking himself in the mirror.
Which was when Ozma's reflection suddenly said:
"What are we doing?"
Ozma recoiled in horror as his reflection spoke, before seemingly shifting into Ozma's original incarnation.
Hell of a guilt trip, Kanan thought.
Conversely, Nathan frowned. Shit's about to get bad again, isn't it?
"This isn't what he asked of me..." Ozma then said, looking over at Salem.
"What did you say?" Salem asked, before a door suddenly opened, and their eldest daughter ran in:
"Mother, father, look!" The little one called out, before conjuring up multicoloured wisps which flew in circles around her.
A proud look crossed Salem's face whilst a surprised one crossed Ozma's, though his troubled expression returned.
Jinn began to resume her narration, saying: "It was a miracle, their children could perform magic. But what should have been a joyous occasion was short-lived."
Because of course it fucking was, Nathan mused as the scene began changing again…
The scene reformed in what was probably Ozma's study, as Ozma could be seen discussing something with Salem:
"Ozma told Salem everything, the true reason the God of Light had brought him back, the Relics that they scattered around the world, and the day of judgement he had been told to prepare for." Jinn recounted, elaborating on what Ozma and Salem were discussing.
And this is where shit hits the fan, Nathan estimated, only for Salem to speak once again:
"Don't you see? None of that matters anymore. Why spend our lives trying to redeem these Humans when we can replace them with what they could never be?"
Nathan watched as she offered her hand to Ozma, silently willing Ozma not to take Salem's hand. I don't care how good your bedroom activities are, dude. Don't take that hand!
Much to Nathan's relief, Ozma hesitated, backing away in what looked like disgust.
Blue smoke transitioned the scene once again, seemingly turning the time of day to the dead of night.
Which was when Nathan became aware of Ozma quietly stepping out from a doorway with his and Salem's daughters.
Making sure you get the kids in the divorce? Nathan thought to himself. I can't imagine it's gonna be pretty…
Nathan's suspicions were proven correct when the youngest of the daughters seemed to look right in Nathan's direction, only to shift her gaze to somewhere behind him:
"Mommy?" The little girl asked.
Nathan suddenly felt a pit form in his stomach the size of the Great Pit of Carkoon on Tattooine as he looked behind him. Oh shit, here we go…
Salem stood at the far end of the hall menacingly, staring straight at Ozma and their daughters.
Looking back towards Ozma, Nathan nodded approvingly to see the famed warrior step protectively in front of his daughters.
Realisation seemed to set in for Salem, whose expression became one of anger as she unleashed a red beam of energy from her hand.
Ozma was quick to counter with his sceptre, which only seemed to kick off a fierce battle.
Nathan looked on with increasing horror as Salem and Ozma battled violently throughout their castle, flashes from their fearsome duel casting sinister silhouettes against the wall.
So violent was their battle that the castle soon collapsed.
Nathan's horror became an overwhelming sense of sadness as a familiar small plush toy formed at his feet, charred and blackened, making the implications of what happened to Salem and Ozma's daughters all too clear.
His attention was diverted to a weakened Ozma crawling away, a trail of blood forming behind him.
At which Salem suddenly reformed, seemingly having been 'killed' during the battle herself, angrily walking over to Ozma and kicking him onto his back before pinning him to the floor with her foot.
"We finally had freedom…" Salem snarled.
Ozma weakly regarded his wife, saying: "I-"
He never finished his sentence, as a blast of fire engulfed and killed him.
With Kanan…
"Thus began a long and painful cycle of death and rebirth for Ozma." Jinn said.
Kanan watched as a montage of different incarnations of Ozma became visible:
First was a frail seeming man walking past a multitude of gravestones.
Second was a despondent man walking in the rain, downing a bottle of alcohol.
Jinn's narration only resumed, as she said: "Some lives were spent in mourning, many were spent attempting to forget it all."
Can't say I blame those, Kanan thought to himself. All that pressure to save the world… it'd overwhelm most people, even me.
Finally though, a new reincarnate of Ozma; a dark-skinned man with glasses, was seen standing up straight and marching forward determinedly, as Jinn continued:
"But no matter what, his mind would eventually turn back to the task he had been burdened with."
The scene shifted to that same incarnation of Ozma serving a meal to his family, a woman and two young daughters whilst a mirror image of the man looked on, leaned up against one of the pillars of the home.
Looking closely, Kanan rapidly noticed the young girls both had silver eyes. His mind turned to Ruby, and wondered how common Silver Eyes used to be before Salem began actively hunting down those with the trait.
Jinn interrupted his musings, saying: "And as the centuries went on, Ozma began to learn the importance of living with the souls with which he had been paired."
The meal Kanan was observing seemed to be interrupted by screaming from outside the home, and Ozma headed to and opened the door to reveal the village under attack from Grimm.
Duty calls, Kanan thought, watching Ozma look to his wife, who nodded as if understanding.
"But no matter where or how he lived, her presence was always felt." Jinn added, as Ozma grabbed the Long Memory and rushed outside to battle. "If Humanity were ever to stand a chance at being united, one thing was clear..."
"He had to destroy Salem." Kanan murmured, already knowing the answer.
Blue smoke shifted the scene once more, seemingly to many years later, as Ozma, now much older, tinkered with the Long Memory at a work desk.
"Knowing he could never rid the world of her through any mortal means, Ozma sought out the power of the Relics." Jinn went on to say, 'her' clearly meaning Salem.
Kanan looked on as the elderly tinkerer took the Long Memory and placed it inside a metal cabinet, and closed the door on it.
Shortly thereafter, the door reopened, revealing a well-dressed man who Kanan deduced was the successor of the previous incarnation of Ozma, all while Jinn continued her narration:
"Armed with my knowledge, he believed he could fulfill his promise to the God of Light." Jinn said, as the scene once more shifted…
While neither could see the other, Nathan and Kanan both could see the newest incarnation of Ozma with the Relic of Knowledge, summoning Jinn for the first time.
"Where are the other Relics?" Ozma could be heard saying, whilst Jinn continued:
"He asked me his questions." Jinn said as Ozma asked:
"What powers do they possess?"
"And though I gave him my answers..." Jinn added, whilst Ozma asked the main question:
"How do I destroy Salem?"
"Not all of them were to his liking." Jinn said.
Nathan and Kanan looked on with increasing anxiety as Jinn answered Ozma's final question:
"You can't."
Nathan felt himself getting physically sick as he watched Ozma collapse to his knees in despair.
Kanan wished Yang was at his side right now. He could use the comfort of holding her hand.
Suddenly though, Ozma phased out of view, revealing Oscar in his place.
Kanan immediately took note of where Yang was and moved to her side, taking her hand in his own.
Yang jumped at the sudden touch, but seeing it was Kanan, squeezed his hand.
Nathan forced bile back down his throat, clenching his fists as his eyes turned towards Oscar.
It was clear Ozpin was still in control, as he bowed his head in sadness, tears beginning to join the falling snow.
I. Fucking. HATED writing this chapter.
I procrastinated so bloody much writing this damn chapter it hurt.
But it is done, and now I can rest easy knowing it's in my rear view.
Anyway; let's answer some reviews, shall we?
DovaNova: Thankfully, the Brothers aren't wreaking too much havoc. Think both the Jedi and the Sith would have noticed them earlier if they were. Wouldn't count on the Death Star being capable of destroying the Brothers.
Guest: I can only surmise that the Brothers created humanity elsewhere to see how things would play out in differing scenarios. Such things would likely be beyond even Jinn's knowledge, due to her confinement on Remnant.
keybladelight: Given Blake is currently pregnant, the chances of Nathan letting her enter combat are next to completely unlikely.
Sharnorasian Empire: Nathan's verbal thrashing of Salem is due. But not for another volume.
That said; thank you all so much for taking the time to read this chapter. If y'all liked it; you know what to do.
I shall see you all next weekend with chapter 5, which sees the fallout of Jinn's revelations, as well as a little info on what Darth Revan was doing on Remnant to begin with.
T-Rock14.