Chapter 39: The Bent and the Broken

Blood dripped across the ornate marble floors. She reached forward with her good hand and clawed at the smooth stone, dragging herself as quickly as she could. Her pain was worse than anything she had ever felt before. She could barely see from her right eye being swollen shut, and blood running from her head into her other eye. Still, Weiss kicked one of her legs to propel herself forward and out the open door. The sunlight was still muted behind clouds, but the light hurt nonetheless.

Before her was a set of stairs leading from the main entrance to the exterior grounds of the fortress. She tried to be cautious in attempting to drag herself down the stairs. Weiss made several small scoots towards the edge of the first drop, then, mustering her strength, fell the few inches onto her hip. She cried out. Just the small vibrations from the impact rocked her injured body. She winced and looked wearily at the next step. Taking a deep breath, she pushed herself forward. As she reached the edge of the stair, her damaged legs still on the landing above her, she wobbled. She stuck her injured hand out to catch herself, but it was too weak to support her. With a small whimper, she fell. She slid down the flight of stairs, each impact sending a wave of agony across her form. She finally skidded to a stop at the bottom of the steps, the course concrete tearing at her already tender and bruised flesh.

She reached out to pull herself forward, but gave up when the pain and weakness overwhelmed her. She dropped onto the ground, blood and saliva leaking from her mouth. She tiredly closed her eyes, ready to die. As she lay there bleeding, she heard a noise. It sounded like an approaching vehicle. Knowing where she was, she assumed whoever was approaching would ignore her condition or even try and take advantage of it. But she did not care anymore. She heard the vehicle rumble to a halt, and a door open. The last thing she heard before losing consciousness was footsteps hurriedly coming in her direction.

In all her years, Salem had known many magic users. She had known small children whose Semblances made them suddenly vanish from sight or start breathing fire, and she had also known accomplished Maidens and sorcerers that could conjure the elements at their fingertips and reshape reality as they saw fit. Still, despite all the displays of power she had seen, she was never more impressed or proud than when she saw Cinder practice.

Cinder had truly come into her own. In only one week, she went from barely being able to form an energy ball to moving at inhuman speeds and creating magical barriers. As the Fall Maiden, she was naturally in tune with the elements. Salem would walk over to Cinder in the field, making the air swirl and blow around her. She practiced magic wherever she could. While she was eating, Cinder would make the small beans and bits of meat levitate. When she woke up for the day, she would incorporate forming energy balls alongside her morning workout. She practiced conjuring lightning while she and her allies looked over a map, almost leading to the map catching fire.

Emerald, Mercury, and Adam worked diligently as well. With Cinder and Salem training, they found time to either practice their own fighting skills or go out as a trio and explore the ruins. It was good fortune when they were exploring an old shop that they found a hidden cellar with food and Dust inside.

A scare came one night when a small group of Beowolves made their way into the building where the Resistance were staying. Emerald was fortunately able to spot them, and the group launched into battle. It was somewhat fortuitous for Cinder, who was able to practice her magic on an opponent for once without fear of holding back. Salem could not help but feel enormous pride as she watched the Grimm be burned by plumes of fire from Cinder's hands.

Salem had these thoughts in her mind when she came across Cinder, looking at the map and a compass, with the group's Scroll lying nearby.

"What are you doing?" she inquired.

Cinder glanced at Salem, then back down at the map. "I'm planning. We need to attack the Fortress soon."

Salem sighed. "Cinder, please don't rush. I don't know if you're ready."

"I may not be," Cinder replied. "But Salem, every moment we wait, Ozpin gets closer and closer to having what he needs for his spell. And if he gets there, he's going to wipe out Remnant. Now, look." Cinder turned the map on the table to show Salem, minding the scorched edge. "We have allies in the Crown. They gave the guards a good fight the last time we were there, and that was just for a diversion. If we can mobilize a full-on assault on Beacon Fortress, our chances are better than you'd expect." Salem looked at the map, then back at Cinder, who continued. "The issue is Ozpin. He'll be holed up in the fortress, and tight. We'd have to keep the battle outside the building so we can get in and destroy him."

Salem was silent for a moment, and then looked at Cinder. "Cinder…" she stated, "… I don't think you realize just how powerful Ozma really is."

"I do," Cinder said. She lifted her hand and stared at it. "I didn't before… but over the last week, I've felt the power of my magic. I've learned what can be done with it. And knowing that he's like you, with centuries of experience that rivals my few days… it scares me. I still struggle to understand the kind of power that you and he have, and to think that it was even more powerful back when all the Maidens were aware of their powers… it's a lot. But that's why we need to stop him. Not just because of the horrible things he's done, but because he's so powerful, and he uses that power to hurt others. We can't let someone like him keep using magic for evil." She looked back to Salem. "We need to fight. And it has to be soon. The revolt at Haven helped him way too much. We don't even know what he's waiting on. But we need to stop him… or everyone in Remnant will be his victims."

Salem stared unblinking at Cinder. She then smiled. "It's amazing. You're just like her."

Cinder cocked an eyebrow.

"Fall," Salem explained. "One of the original Maidens. Specifically, your predecessor. She was so curious, so headstrong and resolved. She always wanted to do what's right, and she wasn't afraid to fight for it either. I see so much of her in you."

"Well, that's also what we need. A Maiden," Cinder said, standing up straight. "I might be learning magic quickly, but a few fireballs and some strong winds aren't going to be enough to take Ozpin down for good. He needs to see what happens when he goes up against a conduit of magic."

Salem looked back at the map. "Yes, but the moment we start practicing more advanced magic, he'll be able to sense us."

"We don't have a choice," Cinder said. "I can't be a small-time magician. I need to be a Maiden. Let him sense me. Maybe it will give him a good scare."

"Cinder," Salem said solemnly. "He's killed Maidens."

Cinder sighed. She glanced at the floor. "I know. That's why… I'm willing to die to stop him."

"Cinder, no," Salem said. "I can't let you do that."

"Salem, if we don't stop him, it won't matter," Cinder said, looking back up. "Everyone will be gone. Everyone. You're the only one that knows how to end his reincarnation. We need to end this, and if it means I have to give my life to make sure everyone else survives, I'm going to do it."

Salem opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out.

"Salem, if we win but I die, someone else will become the Fall Maiden. But if he wins, I still die, along with not only all potential Maidens, but everyone in Remnant. There's no argument."

"I know," Salem said quietly.

Cinder placed a hand on her shoulder. "There will always be a Fall Maiden."

"Yes, but she won't always be my Cinder," Salem sighed. She looked into Cinder's eye, then straightened herself. "Alright," she said, clearing her throat, "we start advanced magic tomorrow. I want you to prepare, and get into the right headspace."

"I think I'm already there," Cinder smiled.

"Oh, do you?" Salem said, smiling slightly and crossing her arms.

"Yes," Cinder said. "The first time I learned magic, I had to convince myself that magic was real. Now that I know it, I need to convince myself that I'm a conduit. Magic is not something I use. It's something I am. Magic bends to me, not me to it." She smirked. "I'm a godsdamned Maiden."

The trip was long. It did not help matters that the Huntsman and Huntress would frequently make stops along their route to admire the scenery or even just relax in each other's arms. Given her history, watching a romance unfold make Blake sick, even more so that it was a pair of disgusting Humans locking lips and feeling each other's bodies. She wished the two would just hurry up and get back to Vale so she and Ilia could throw the tarps covering them off and run into the ruins. Ilia would do her best to sleep in the bumpy truck, but most of the time she and Blake were huddled close together under the tarp, peering out at the Huntsman and Huntress in the front seats.

Fortunately for the stowaways, there were some survival meals packed in the back of the vehicle; mostly dry, tasteless nutrition blocks and some water bottles, but it was enough. They would wait until the truck stopped and quickly grab a kit, eating it quickly and quietly.

However, for the final last stretch, there had been no stops, and Blake was afraid that her rumbling stomach would alert the Huntsman and Huntress. Finally, after what seemed like an entire day of driving, Blake heard speech.

"Hey, Jaune, can you pull over real quickly? I have to use the facilities," the Huntress said.

"Yeah, I have to go too," he replied.

As if reading Blake's mind, Ilia peeked out from under the tarp. She pulled her head back in, then mouthed the word "Vale" to Blake. Blake nodded as subtle as she could.

The truck pulled over, and soon the sound of doors opening and footsteps going to grass were heard. Blake slowly reached up and pulled the tarp back, checked their surroundings, then pushed the tarp off. She and Ilia crawled towards the back of the truck, and Ilia undid the latch. The two Faunus snuck out, with Ilia grabbing two more survival food kits as she exited. She and Blake checked to make sure the coast was clear, then sprinted in the opposite direction that the Huntsman and Huntress had headed.

Vale was just as disheveled as Blake remembered it: looming, abandoned grey buildings among a cracked street and littered junk. Part of her already missed the colors and freshness of Forever Fall, but she remembered what was there looking for her.

Blake and Ilia ducked into the doorway of what looked like an old apartment building, then stopped to catch their breath. Ilia cracked open the food kit and hastily opened the water bottle, attempting to drink in between heavy panting.

"Careful not to choke," Blake warned. "I'd hate for you to throw up."

"I almost did, listening to those Humans carry on," Ilia said before chugging more water.

"I know," Blake replied. "Disgusting, isn't it? Talking all sweet to one another. I hope Lord Ozpin finds them out and has them both disembowled or something. That ought to put their plans of breeding on hold."

Ilia laughed wickedly. "Yeah, 'cause the only thing the world needs more of is more fucking Humans running around."

Blake peered out the doorway and into the horizon. In the distance, she saw the silhouette of Beacon Fortress in the dilapidated skyline.

"Beacon is a bit further south," she said. "Adam and his little friend group were at the CCTS Tower not far from there. If we head in that direction and work our way back out, we should be able to find evidence of them."

"It's pretty ballsy for a Resistance to camp in the shadow of their enemy's base," Ilia said, finishing off the water and reaching for the nutrition block.

Blake nodded. "Or stupid. We can only hope that stupidity leads to them being careless and leading us to them."

Ilia bit into the nutrition block. She winced at how bad it tasted, but she was too hungry to care. "High Lead- er, I mean, Blake…" she began saying.

Blake rolled her eyes with a slight smile, but waved Ilia to go on.

"If you don't mind me asking, what do you plan to do after you've killed Adam?"

Blake froze. She did not even open her mouth to try and respond. She processed the question to the best of her ability.

"Do you even know?" Ilia said.

Blake cleared her throat. "I hadn't given it much thought," she replied. She reached to the other meal kit and pulled out the food. "I guess I don't know. I can't begin a revolution against the Humans without the White Fang. I guess I'll just have to start again from scratch. Do what I can for the Faunus, keep liberating where I can and hopefully I'll have the manpower I need to destroy all Humans."

"And if you happen across the White Fang while you're doing that?" Ilia questioned.

Blake shrugged. "I suppose I'll just have to pick my targets."

Ilia sighed and leaned back. "Well," she said. "Vale wasn't built in a day. We should get some rest. Some actual rest."

Blake nodded. She smiled. "Ilia, thanks again for sticking with me."

Ilia nodded back. "Of course," she said. She smirked. "So… do I get to keep my whole second-in-command thing in your new White Fang?"

Blake could not help but laugh. "Of course," she said. She raised her nutrition block. "To the New White Fang."

Ilia raised her food up as well. "To the New White Fang."

Glynda Goodwitch picked the scrap metal up from the rubble. There were a few more circuit boards that could be reused, but she was not happy with how little she was finding. Oobleck was even more upset, angry that his corpses were gone.

As Goodwitch picked up what was going to be a power cell for a second P.E.N.N.Y., she heard the crunching of footsteps nearby. Oobleck heard them as well, with both looking up to see who was approaching.

Both were surprised to see Lord Ozpin, who usually never came to look over any sort of destruction or failure, watching them from the ground just beside the pile of rubble. His dark eyes scanned the wreckage, but with no emotion on his face.

"My Lord," Goodwitch said, "we've dug through, but there's very little left to salvage."

Lord Ozpin was silent for a moment, then spoke. "Oobleck."

Dr. Oobleck stood up straight. "Sir?"

"Do you still have the backups for your data?" Lord Ozpin asked coldly.

Oobleck nodded. "Of course. Plus some spare equipment. It's all in the other location, but most of my supply and all of my bodies were here. All of them are gone; I don't think any of my work is even salvageable from this wreck."

Lord Ozpin was silent for another moment. "Given enough time, would you be able to replicate everything?"

Oobleck nodded. "Yes."

Lord Ozpin turned his head to stare at the doctor. "I'm sending you to Vault. I want you to move Project Deadwind into phase two immediately."

"Phase two?" Oobleck wondered aloud. "With your victory assured?"

Lord Ozpin narrowed his eyes. "I always have backup plans. Always. Use whatever resources you deem necessary."

Oobleck bowed his head. "Of course, my Lord. It will be done."

Then Lord Ozpin turned his dark gaze to Goodwitch. "You will be joining him, but first I am sending you to Atlas. Meet up with Ironwood and tell him that we are putting priority on Project Deadwind, and scrapping the P.E.N.N.Y. Project for the time being. Help him move his divisions to Vault, then aid Dr. Oobleck with whatever he may need."

Goodwitch was hesitant to work with Oobleck, but Lord Ozpin's word was law. She bowed her head. "Yes, my Lord." She looked back up. "Sir," she said, "if you don't mind me asking, Oobleck said that your 'victory was assured'. What victory was he referring to? Have you not already won everything?"

Goodwitch flinched a bit when Lord Ozpin quickly turned away from her. He paused and said, "There was more I needed to do, and now I have the means to do it. You need not concern yourself with it, but you are correct in assuming… I have, indeed, already won."