A/N: Patrick is about to find out the truth behind Amber's Appearances at the Vytal Festival. Is it her? Or is his mind playing tricks on him? Team PASM and Marina worry about him and his health. With the finals approaching, Patrick follows the ghost of his sister outside of the kingdom. even fully aware of the dangers he'll face on the road.
Chapter 44: Vytal Festival Part IV: Fall Maiden
Patrick walks through the sands of the desert on the darkest night. He heads in the direction he saw Amber take. Wherever she's going, it's somewhere far from Shade. As he walks, Patrick takes notice of the countless Grimm in the surrounding areas. Deathstalkers, Screechers, Nevermoores, Sulfur Fish. All of the Grimm looks at Patrick as he bypasses. They don't attack but watch him closely as if getting ready to pounce.
Patrick doesn't engage with the Grimm. He just keeps moving while keeping his guard up and eyes barely on them. Several Deathstalkers start following Patrick from behind at a distance pace, inching closer and closer. Patrick can sense their instinct to kill. He readies one of his Wrist Flamethrowers. Deathstalkers are close, they ready their stingers, chattering as they make the final approach.
That's when Patrick makes an immediate turnaround and roasts the Deathstalkers with his flames. Once the flames die down, Patrick sees the Grimm are defeated, and begin dissolving. He gives them a single 'humph' and then continues moving on.
Hours have passed. Patrick keeps searching for the Amber he's been seeing. He has no idea where she is leading him but he doesn't care. Not even the Grimm stops him from his quest.
The path eventually takes Patrick to an abandoned village with a temple at its center. He walks in, looking at the ruined buildings. He knows this is where Amber is, but the question is why did she come here?
Patrick makes his way through the empty village until he reaches the temple in the center. He walks up the stairs, each step he makes he has Amber on his mind. Every moment from as far as he can remember all leading up to seeing her coma stasis.
He reaches to the top of the stairs, standing just outside of the temple doors. He's about to open them but hesitates. He's afraid to see the truth, that if this really is Amber or just some mind trick. After a moment of self-collecting, with a deep breath, he opens the door and walks in.
The temple is dark, the walls damaged, several pillars broken, and the ground covered in rubble. Patrick arrives at the grand hall. The arena is wipe open with moonlight coming in from the holes in the walls and windows.
In front of the Goddess Statue is Amber, looking up at it. Patrick makes a slow approach to her. He reaches a hand out to her. "A...Amber?"
Amber turns to Patrick with a smile on her face. "I've been waiting for you, little bro."
"Little...Bro?" Patrick is lost in the shock, but he shakes it off. "No...No. This is a trick. Who are you really?"
Amber approaches Patrick with a chuckle. "Silly, little Patrick, do you not recognize your own sister before your eyes?" Amber puts her hands on Patricks cheeks, having him look at her. "Well, I don't blame you. We haven't seen each other in nearly 5 years. We've only known each other for three years, after losing our Mother to the Agency that kidnapped and enslaved her, and of course, there's Father who always blamed you for her loss and abused you." Hearing that part shocks Patrick, like his soul was siphoned by a ghost. "It must have been very hard for you when I left. I am sorry for that."
"Yeah...it was." Patrick says.
"I tried to come home to surprise you, but I had a bit of a detour. The whole time I was in a coma, I kept hearing your voice." Tears are coming out of Patrick's eyes and sliding down his cheeks. "Aww, it's okay." Amber pulls Patrick into a hug. "You don't have to cry. What matters is we're together again."
"Yeah...That's all the matters." Patrick says quietly in Amber's embrace. Then one of his hands slowly turns into a fist, and his next tone slightly turns hostile. "But it doesn't, imposter!"
Patrick jobs Amber hard in the stomach. Amber lets out a sharp gasp, her grip on Patrick instantly loosens and she's sent flying until she crashes into the statue. Amber painfully moans, but with a different voice. Then Amber suddenly transforms into a different girl. One with red eyes and emerald short hair.
A rock bumps on Emerald's Head before she looks at Patrick. "But...How...?"
"That was quite a convincing act you put up, girl, I'll give you that." Patrick draws out his swords. "Just for that, I'm only gonna give you three seconds to live!" Patrick approaches Emerald, and before he can make the killing blow, he gets hit from behind by a hard kick. Patrick stumbles forward from the impact, but still stands his ground. He turns to see the attacker, and finds a silver-haired boy. One he's pretty familiar with. "Well, well, well. Little Mercury Black." Patrick turns to Mercury's direction. "If you're here, then I guess that means you've finally killed Marcus. I guess I should give you my thanks, I owed him more than my life savings."
"You can keep your thanks. I'm on a job, and it involves you...Patrick, was it?" Mercury says.
"If your job is with this girl, then you both must have a death wish to pull this kind of stunt." Patrick says.
Patrick positions himself to fight. As he does, he hears a faint, slow clapping. He looks all around to figure out where that clapping is coming from. Eventually, he turns around and looks up, to find a black hair attractive woman, wearing a black assassin outfit and a mask, sitting on the support beam clapping.
"Bravo. I must admit, I had hoped that you would have fallen for Emerald's little trick. You live up to your reputation, Shadow Hunter." Cinder says.
Patrick only returns Cinder's comment with a cold glare. "Who are you?" Patrick says.
"My, aren't you being forward." Cinder jumps off the beam and lands on the ground with no problem. "But how about we spare the introductions and cut to the chase: You have something I want, and I'm gonna claim it."
"Not happening." Patrick says.
"Resliant. I can respect that. But rest assured, you will be delivering the Fall Maiden to me." Patrick's eyes dart wide open upon hearing that. "Yea, that's right. I know all about your sister being the Fall Maiden. Just as I know everything about you. The 17-year-old Mercenary and Beacon Student, not by choice if I'm not wrong. Leading a team of female students and having an irresistible beautiful instructor who behaves motherly towards you." Cinder folds her hands together and speaks in a sweet yet mocking tone. "Aww, isn't that sweet? Especially since you are a motherless boy."
Patrick hardens his expression. "If you think you can intimidate me with your 'vest knowledge' of me, you're wrong."
Cinder smiles. "You're right. I guess it'll take more than some common knowledge to get under your skin, Patrick Aki..." Cinder chuckles before speaking again. "Or should I call you...?"
The audio is silent as Cinder speaks the following few words. And that sends Patrick into a horrified shock. In that shock, Patrick responds by dashing towards Cinder at full speed, with an aggressive shout as he strikes at Cinder. But Cinder dodges at the last second, and Patrick's strike hits the ground, sinking the very ground in a devastating quake.
Patrick breathes in a heavy rage. He then turns to Cinder, pointing his sword at her. "Tell me: Where did you learn about THAT!?"
"Oopsy," Cinder says in a sarcastic tone. "Did I strike a nerve? It's a rare treat to see the great Shadow Hunter lose his cool like that." Cinder deviously chuckles before speaking. "I'll make you a deal: Tell me where the Fall Maiden is, and I'll tell you what I know?"
Patrick throws a threatening glare at Cinder. "I'll make you a better deal, sweetheart: Tell me what you know and I'll end your life quickly and painlessly."
"So, you want to do this the hard way...All righty, then." Cinder summons Glass Swords and positions herself in a battle stance. "Bring it."
Patrick growls as he charges toward Cinder. He delivers swift attacks, of which Cinder blocks each of them with her glass weapons. After several hits, Cinder's weapons break, but quickly makes new ones. Patrick is determined to put Cinder in her place. When they are weapon locked, Cinder smirks as she uses combust dust on the floor underneath them. Patrick catches on to what she's doing and repels himself from her just as the ground explodes.
Patrick lands on his feet and one hand. He then senses another enemy approaching. He turns to see Mercury running towards him. He leaps and dives both of his feet at him. Patrick blocks the attack, but Mercury leaps off with bullets firing from his feet. Mercury lands not too far in front of Patrick. Patrick charges toward Mercury and attacks. Murcery dodges each of his attacks. Whenever there's an opening, Mercury attacks with his fists or feet.
Patrick decides to use a little foot power of his own. During his own dodging, he sets one of his Leg Bracers to fill with Ice Dust. When it does, Patrick does a hard stomp on one of Mercury's feet, encasing it in ice. Mercury is immobilized from the attack. Emerald jumps over Mercury and delivers a double strike onto Patrick. Patrick braces himself to block the attack, but, realizing something, he activates his Semblance, his eyes turning violet. He rolls his eyes to the side and throws a back kick, hitting something invisible. The invisibility fades as the real Emerald is sent flying and her illusion image that is about to attack Patrick fades. Patrick approaches the knocked-down Emerald.
"Your parlor tricks won't work on me, girl." Patrick says. Emerald notices his eyes are a different color, a clear sign that his semblance allows him to see through her hallucinations. Emerald puts on a serious face as she takes out her weapons in gun mode and starts shooting at Patrick. Patrick blocks the bullets. Meanwhile, Mercury stomps on the ice hard, eventually breaking it.
Patrick is caught fighting both Emerald and Mercury. Cinder takes this opportunity to attack. She merged her weapon into a bow, loads it with three glass arrows, and then fires. The arrows pierce the ground by Patrick's feet. Mercury and Emerald leap back just before the glass arrows explode.
Patrick gets caught in the explosion, his Aura flickering as it weakens. He's on his hands and knees, panting in exhaustion. Cinder chuckles as she walks around him. "It never occurred to you that we've lured you all the way out here in the middle of the night to tire you out. You know, for a Mercenary who builds a strong reputation at a young age, you're not very bright. Just like your sister was when we ambushed her." Hearing that surprises Patrick. "It isn't our fault she got hold of the Maiden's power, she knew she was unworthy. That it wasn't her destiny." Cinder kneels down to Patrick's level. "And we would have had it too if that Huntsman didn't interfere. But soon, we will find her." Cinder leans in and whispers into Patrick's ear. "And we will finish the job."
Patrick is in horrified shock to hear that. Cinder steps back, loading her weapon with a glass arrow. "Too bad you won't be around to witness it."
Cinder readies her attack.
Meanwhile, a figure is dashing through the village ruins, making its way up the temple stairs, into the temple, dashing through the halls, until it arrives at the Great Hall and delivers a forceful blow to Cinder, knocking her back. Cinder breaks through a wall upon her impact. Mercury and Emerald are both surprised to see this. They turn to see their attacker.
Akira. Akira holds her sword in place, readying for an attack from the two opponents before her.
"You! You're that Faunus girl from the tournament!" Emerald says.
"I don't know what sort of business you have with Patrick, but we won't let you take our leader." Akira says.
"'We'?" Mercury asks in confusion.
There's nothing but silence and stillness for a while, but all of that comes to an end when something breaks through the temple walls. Mercury and Emerald turn and are surprised to see a giant Nevermoore flying in and landing. And on its back are Selena, using her Siren song, and Marlene. They both dismount from the large Grimm. Selena, through her singing, commands the Nevermore to attack them. The Nevermore takes flight and lets out a deafening screech. Emerald and Mercury shield their ears from the screech.
Then the screeching becomes silent when several shards of glass impale the creature. Selena and Marlene are surprised to see this, a giant Nevermore took down so easily. They turn to see an angry Cinder. Cinder is breathing heavily in rage. After a while, she then lets out a calming sign. "Well, isn't this lovely? The whole 'Team PASM' is here." Cinder smile fades. "You all got a lot of nerve sticking your noses in other people's business."
"Maybe you're right. But the person you're messing with is our leader." Selena says.
"Yeah. Patrick might be cold and scary and secretive. But he's our friend and leader, and we stand with him no matter what!" Marlene says.
"Isn't that sweet? But, if that is the case..." Cinder summons glass weapons. "You can share his fate!"
Cinder charges toward Akira. Akira braces herself and blocks the incoming attack, only resulting in Akira being pushed back from the impact. Selena and Marlene can only stand by and watch. In their moment of vulnerability, Mercury attacks Selena. This only leaves Marlene to handle Emerald, and both of them have a moment of Russian Roulette. The stillness last with nothing but finger cracking as they slowly reach for their weapons
As the fight goes on, Patrick is still on the ground, looking shocked. "Finish...the job..." The sounds of combat that fill the air begins to mute. All he hears now is the sound of a loud heartbeat.
Patrick starts having images of Amber flashing before his eyes. When he first meets her. The time during the festival amity. One sad night when she hugs him. The day she leaves him. And, the worst of all, the moment he first saw her after years of disappearance in a coma.
Patrick's iris immediately shrinks at the realization, as he thinks back to what he was told. Voices of Ozpin's crew echoing in his head.
'The Fall Maiden was attacked, and for the first time in history: Some of her powers were stolen.'
'She wanted to keep it a secret from you. Wanted to protect you.'
'We have no idea what'll happen with her powers. In our worst-case scenario, we believe it's mostly like it'll rejoin with its other half.'
Patrick closes his eyes tightly as he hears his own voice echo. 'Her Assailant.'
He then hears voices of a woman he'd never thought he hear. 'I feel...so weak.' Patrick then sees a vision. His younger self, much young, kneeling before a shackled, wounded, bruised, and blindfolded woman. 'It's funny...How after ten long years...I finally break...'
'Don't say that. Please.' The young Patrick begs through his broken voice of despair.
'Patrick...promise me...that you will find Amber...and live a life...of freedom...'
The woman lays stall as she exhales her final breath. 'Mother? ...Mother?! ...MOTHER!'
In his broken state, Patrick's hand moves on its own as the fingers dig into the ground and claws the hard ground like paper. His child voice screaming the last 'mother' echoes in his mind as Patrick's eyes shoot wide open, his Iris turns blood red, and his Sclera slowly turning pitch black.
Selena uses her staff to block each of Mercury's attacks, every punch and kick he throws at her. After several blocks, Selena uses her opening to jab Mercury with her staff. When he's knocked back, Selena twirls her staff and then shoots firebolts at him. With his acrobatic skills, Mercury dodges several bolts, the rest he deflects with his feet.
Marlene has her guns on hold, ready to shoot. She slowly, carefully, searches for her opponent. What she doesn't know is that Emerald is right in front of her, playing tricks with her vision. In Marlene's eyes, Emerald appears. Marlene gets a sight and fires, instantly destroying the illusion. Marlene keeps her guard up, then shoots yet another fake Emerald. Marlene is still in search of Emerald. Another illusion appears, and she points her guns are it, but hesitates to shoot when she sees it's only Patrick.
"Easy, Marlene. It's just me." Patrick says.
Marlene's expression softens but hardens are the realization. "Nice try. But I know this is just another one of your tricks." Marlene shoots Patrick. But, much to her surprise, instead of vanishing like the fake Emeralds, she actually shot him. Patrick collapses, on his knees then his body falls. Marlene looks horrified as she watches the dead Patrick in a blood pool. "Oh no! What have I done!?"
Just then, Emerald strikes Marlene from behind. Marlene's Aura flickers as it weakens from the blow. She collapses just before the fake Patrick vanishes. Emerald smirks deviously before sheathing her weapons. "Nope, you were right." Emerald tells the knocked-out Marlene.
Akira and fighting her best against Cinder, who is fighting twice as hard. Akira breaks each of Cinders glass weapons, but for every broken weapon, she replaces them with another glass weapon. For her finishing move, Cinder summons dozens of glass shards and fires them at Akira. Akira charges up some Chi energy, and unleashes a blast of it that destroys the shards once they came close.
Akira's Aura is weakening, and she can feel it. "I know all about your Semblance, Foxgirl. It's powerful but comes with a price. A protective price."
Cinder slams a hand on the ground. Scorching Heat burns the ground. As it melts, Cinder shaps them into a large spear. Akira is in awe at the sight of the large spear, and that it's pointing right at her. Cinder gives the commend to launch the burning glass weapon at Akira and...
Ka-Boom!
The weapon explodes from a sudden blast of dark energy. Shards of glass from the eruption fly and impale in every direction. Cinder looks up to where her greatest attack was destroyed. "What?!" She shouts in frustration.
Akira is just as surprised. She turns to where the blast had come from, and I horrified. "By the Gods..."
Emerald and Mercury looked at where the blast had come from and are just as speechless, except for Mercury. "Uh, boss?"
Cinder turns to Mercury. What she feel in anger turned into being surprised.
In the room, where the blast came from, is a being of unspeakable horror. It stands there in a fit of rage, erupting a frightening aura of darkness. Eyes burning blood red, skin deathly white with black veins, hair long and ghostly white. Sharp claws. Razor sharp teeth.
A creature of fear itself in the body of Patrick Aki.