A/N: WARNING! WARNING! WARNING! This chapter is...intense. There. You've been warned.
Over ten thousand words for you! Hope everyone enjoys this!
Read this! Please! Lest ye be baffled!
I hate, hate, HATE being sick. It really saps my strength. Lack of feedback does that as well. Truly, it does. A certain someone stole the show here, and I had a fair bit of fun writing it. The mystery! The intrigue! The humor! This chapter's got a little bit of everything.
Now onto your questions.
Q: I'm loving the godly misunderstandings. Keep 'em coming, won't you?
A: To be fair, its not Remnant's fault. Sasuke's Susanoo LITERALLY reminds people of the God of Darkness. That cat's out of the bag.
Kakashi's essentially become the right hand man/bodyguard to Nicholas Schnee himself. Pretty hard to hide when you're in the limelight like that.
Meanwhile, we have Sakura revered by Menagerie as a Goddess of Healing/Strength. The Maiden powers didn't help. As much as she might dislike it, she's stuck with that moniker now. Heh. Its become something of a running gag. Something along the lines of:
"Ready the defenses."
"As you will, oh goddess."
"Oh for the love of...I'm not a goddess!"
"That's our goddess! Always so humble! Praise be to her!"
"STOOOOOOP!"
And of course, Atlas has come a callin' with a big honking battleship. I'm sure they want to be friends.
Ironically, Naruto's done a better job of laying low than everyone else; he's saved a few villages, rescued a few tykes and spared Maria an ignoble fate. He may have made a bargain to fight Salem in a year or so, but she hasn't a clue what he is or what he can do. No one knows who he is or what he's truly capable of. Rest assured. His time will come and its going to be absolutely glorious.
Speaking of which, Team Seven WILL reunite. I can promise you that. To say anymore would spoil the coming arcs.
Q: Can we get a timeline here?
A: Very well. suppose I should clarify a few things. At this point, the Faunus wars have already occurred, though I was trying to subtle about that. Mountain Glenn is still kicking and hasn't yet been sacked by the Grimm. To clarify an error made in a distant chapter, Ozma hasn't become Ozpin quite yet; he's in another body with another name. Salem has a few minions, but none of the ones we know. For instance, Merlot is...probably around somewhere, I suppose, but I'm having a hard time pinning his age down. At the time of RWBY he was old. VERY old indeed.
I've been informed he's responsible for the fall of Mountain Glenn.
Q: Pairings when?!
A: Rest assured, Naruto's pairing isn't the only one in this story. Can't really say more at this time...
Well, alright, then! I think I've kept you long enough. Gonna take a long nap after this.
As ever, I own no references, quotes, themes or memes. Not a wit or one~!
Speaking of references!
"It is my firm belief -unpopular though it may be in this given climate- that these individuals are not gods.
They are powerful to be sure, but not deities. I have had the opportunity to study each of them in turn. They allowed it. I suspect they are bemused by my line of inquiry. In my brief time with them, I have come to know them. One favors mercy. Another believes in power. One trust to tricks and mischief, hiding his true face behind many masks, metaphorical and otherwise. Another believes only in the strength of her fists. She reshapes the very land with her strikes.
Regardless of their origins or how they came to be, Remnant is their home.
They will protect their home. At any cost.
The thought often troubles me...
~A future excerpt from one Doctor Ooblek.
Reasons To Destroy
"Ahhh, civilization~!"
Naruto rolled his eyes. "At least someone's happy about it."
Maria swatted him on the arm. "Oh, hush and let me have this! Sweet terra firma!"
He couldn't quite keep the smile from his face. Maria was rarely the sort to smile like this; he'd let her have her moment...even if he wasn't quite comfortable with this. After so many days spent in the wilderness living off the land, it was strange to be in a city. Not unpleasant mind you, but strange. He'd grown use to a simple life and simple fare; to a small group of people he trusted. To suddenly find that turned on its head was...well, it was a bit of a lurch and frankly he was still adjusting to it all.
"Ugh. Wake me when its over...
Lucky bastard. At least Kurama could just sleep through this!
Mountain Glenn wasn't half as large as the city of Vale, yet he still found himself taken aback by the sheer scope. They weren't even in the city proper yet; they'd take train from here through the tunnels to reach the main city, and from there, Maria's home. Simple, no? It really wasn't.
Not at all.
Sprawling streets lay before them, wider than he could reach. Vendors hawked their wares as men and women carried construction material to and fro. Tantalizing scents flooded his nose, cooked meat mingling with the sweet tang of unfamiliar fruits and other, stranger aromas he couldn't place. The people here were thriving, happy, eager for the chance to be heard.
Honestly, all this noise made Naruto want to run and find a nice, quiet place.
But he couldn't. He was effectively held captive. No force on Remnant could hope hold him, yet he found himself bound all the same.
Really, he should've expected this. As the youngest, Tock had long since grown tired of walking and laid claim to his back hours ago. She'd since fallen asleep. Even now she dozed pleasantly against his neck, drooling into his shoulder. He'd need to wash his shirt after this, and the cloak besides. Another man would have thought it a weakness. Not him. Maria was more than capable of protecting herself; given time, little Tock and the rest would be able to do the same.
Now if only Summer and Glynda would stop giving him the silent treatment...!
Alas, the little blond had barely spoken so much as a sentence since they'd plucked her from that ruined village, but that didn't mean she was ungrateful.
Glynda hadn't let go of his right hand since. Even now that they'd finally reached the city, she remained reluctant to release him. At least she wasn't calling him Papa. He didn't think his heart could take another shock like they reached Vale. Of course, that meant Summer just had to latch onto the other. What was he, a chew toy?! One couldn't blame her really, she had only just reconciled herself to the idea of forgiving Tock for her past crimes; only for a third interloper to come along. Poor girl.
He caught Summer glaring at Glynda and gave her a nudge. "Be nice."
She puffed out her cheeks and looked away. "M'sorry...
"Such a daddy's girl~! Oh, oh! Look this way~!" Of course, Maria found it adorable and kept snapping pictures all the while. "So cuuute~!"
Naruto swore vengeance for all of it. Long, bloody vengeance. Surely the others were having better luck than he...
A distant rumble caught his ear. He paused, frowned and cocked his head. "What's that sound...?"
He soon had his answer. Ahead of them, someone screamed.
"Grimm in the city!"
(.0.0.0.)
Kali was a simple girl with simple needs.
Food. Water. Warmth. Happiness. Protection. Really, that was the best you could hope for in a place like Menagerie. Their island wasn't lawless by any means, but neither were its laws enforced as strictly as they could be at that. Killing was frowned upon of course, as were...other things...but for the most part the Chieftain let the people do as they please, so long as they kept the peace. You could steal food if you were quick or persuasive, maybe if a merchant took pity on you. If someone attacked you, you had every right to defend yourself. You could even fish for you supper yourself, if you were the patient sort. Menagerie had plenty of fish.
Conversely, you were free to leave the island at any time, provided you had enough coin to pay for passage.
Few ever took that option; not with the memory of the Faunus Wars still so fresh in everyone's minds. Some, like old man Taurus, were all for the idea of another war. Many weren't. So like many orphans before her, Kali banded together with other children to survive. Strength in numbers. That sort of thing. That was how she met Ghira. It had been a decent life. Not good. Not bad. Just...decent...
Until their Goddess came.
She who had come to Menagerie in their time of greatest need. She, who had healed their sick and treated the wounded. She who heard their please and turned no one away.
She was so humble and kind, insisting she wasn't a Goddess. Just the sort of thing a God would say.
...even if said goddess insisted otherwise.
And she got to be her first priestess. Hehehehe. Life was good.
Their goddess wanted peace, of course. Everyone did. But unlike most, she wasn't above giving someone a good smack if they got uppity. She believed in fairness and equality for all. She healed any who came to her doorstep, and none were left wanting. There was even talk of a group dedicated to her grand vision. Names were bandied about, but the White Fang seemed to be a popular one. Such talks were still in their infancy of course, but they were taking root. If humanity wouldn't learn their lesson from the last war, maybe it was time to speak out. Time to make themselves heard.
Content in her beliefs, Kali watched the battleship steam into their harbor.
She smiled, ears twitching in thinly veiled delight as their vessel crept closer. Let the dog of Atlas come. Menagerie had a Goddess on their side. But what had Atlas brought? A ship? A few soldiers? Ha! They were idiots and would be dispatched like the fools they were. The little faunus sat down, tucked her knees into her chest, and settled in to watch the show that followed. And what a show it was.
Within minutes, she laughed herself absolutely breathless.
"Hey, Ghira! Did you see that? That guy fleeew~!"
This would change everything.
(.0.0.0.)
Sakura found reinforcement soon enough.
If anything the warriors of Menagerie found her; she'd only just steered young Tyrian away from the beachhead when they were met by a squad of five soldiers. One man, and three women. Each looked as alarmed as she felt. The tallest of them, saw her and hastened to her side with a cry. Not one of warning, such would imply this lot feared her. They did not. In truth, she would've preferred fear over this naked reverence. Fear, she knew she could counter. Not this blind worship. Speaking of which, surely they weren't going to...nope. They were. She'd been a fool to expect otherwise.
"There she is!" She caught a flash of pearly white teeth in his smile. "Do you see?! Did I not tell you she would be here?!"
Oh, no. No, no, no. Not this again. Sakura opened her mouth to forestall disaster. Too late.
Their leader knelt and as one, his teammates mirrored him to a fault.
"Damnit, Duncan!" A slow flush crawled up the back of the kunoichi's neck and crawled across her pale face. "Must you do that? Every time?!" Behind her, Tyrian mirrored, no doubt seeking to emulate them. Shame seared her cheeks. It was too much. "Get up, blast you!" she gently-yet-firmly tugged the boy up by the wrist and shot the baleful glare over her shoulder. "I already told you I don't want anyone kneeling! Not to me!"
"Forgive us, goddess. We are simply glad to see you safe. Atlas is-
"Yes, yes, I saw the ship." She couldn't even reprimand them properly; they were so damn earnest about everything. They meant well, too! Aaargh! This lot was worse than Kali! "Stand up already! We don't have time for this! There's work to be done!"
"Yes, my Goddess." he bolted to his feet and stood at attention beneath her gaze. "What is your will?"
They were all looking at her for answers. Even little Tyrian. Sakura groaned. Pink. Her face was pink, just like her hair. She wanted to die.
"It is my will," she waved a tight fist before his face, "That you call me by my name."
Tyrian tittered merrily.
Duncan Taurus was not an unhandsome fellow. He reminded of Sasuke, albeit louder and more earnest. The resemblance ended there. Clad in a long dark leather gambeson with matching boots and gloves, he was a great big bull of a swordsman with piercing silver eyes set in a passionate face. His startling dark hair was threaded with premature streaks of gray and much like his namesake, he bore a pair of sleek curved crimson horns well above his brow. She'd never asked after his age -it seemed impolite!- but she'd hazard it was somewhere in the late thirties at best, early forties at worst.
His brow furrowed, but he didn't refuse her command. "As you wish."
Somehow she doubted he would do that.
Still, Duncan was undoubtedly a capable warrior. She'd seen him use wield his family blade with an ease that bordered on the supernatural. In terms of swordsmanship alone, he was unmatched and as such had no shortage of admirers for his skill. In years to come. she suspected this man would have many children and grandchildren someday. He'd sworn to name his firstborn after her. No thank you! Still, that was a matter for another time.
For now, there was work to be done.
Sakura pinched the bridge of her nose. "Just...just follow me, damnit."
The bull faunus favored her with a grim grin that reminded her of someone else. "Gladly."
In short order a band of able-bodied men and woman were assembled to bolster Duncan's squad. Together they gathered at the docks. It was impossible to keep the children and civilians back now; likewise any attempt to disperse them would prove fruitless. She shooed a tittering Tyrian their way and hoped for the best. Everyone would be watching now, and she could only hope that she wouldn't make an arse of herself.
'Please,' she begged whatever higher power lurked out there, 'At least leave me my pride here...
Sakura willed herself to breathe and remember her oath as the ship crept closer, a dark shimmering silhouette against the setting sun. With each breath she felt her heart hammer. A healer must do no harm. And if they must, they should not do so gladly. She didn't enjoy hurting others. She took no pleasure in pain. She wouldn't fight if it could be avoided. Oh, she could crack skulls and break bones with the best of them, make no mistake, but she wouldn't do so unless someone provoked her.
But this? This felt like a provocation.
The battleship, for it could be called nothing else, was a long and elegant thing. All gunmetal grey and white, -which she would soon learn to be the colors of Atlas- its steamed into their harbor at an agonizingly slow pace, its sleek curved hull plowing through the waters until at last, it reached the point of no return. Now it could come no closer for risk of beaching itself. Sakura dared to hope that might be the end of it; that those aboard may yet realize they weren't welcome here and simply turn back. It would spare her a great deal of delegating and sage knew what else.
"Cowards." Duncan scoffed as he touched one hand to the hilt of his katana. "They would be wise to flee."
Sakura pursed her lips at the thought. "And if they don't?"
A rare smile crossed his scarred visage.
In any case it was not to be; as she looked on a small motorboat detached from the vessel's side. Tiny specks filled it and with a roar of an engine, it was underway.
"Not right, lettin' those bastards come here." someone muttered behind her. Sakura never knew who.
"Aye." someone seconded. "Should blast it out of the water. They'd do the same to us."
She rounded on them with burning eyes. "Absolutely not!"
As one, they quieted. Just as well, too; because their guests arrived not a moment later. Their vessel was swiftly moored to the dock and they disembarked.
They were certainly a grim-looking bunch in all that blue-and-white armor. Twelve soldiers, six to each side, advanced in lockstep toward them before halting abruptly. As one, they stepped back and parted ranks to reveal their commander; a rather round fellow with a pale pudgy face, cobalt eyes, and a pale receding hairline. Clad in a white greatcoat with fancy epaulets and brass buttons that strained sullenly against his gut, he hardly looked the part of an officer. Sakura suspected he hadn't seen his feet in years.
He took one look at her -or rather her glowing gaze- and scowled.
"You, there." a gloved finger jabbed in her direction. "Maiden. Come with us at once. Atlas has need of you."
Maiden. She already loathed that title. It made her sound like a damsel in distress; some flowery girl waiting in a tower to be rescued by a prince. Hardly an almighty spell-slinging warrior capable of raining napalm and lightning down on her foes. Honestly, whoever coined that term wasn't right in the head. She'd love to have words with them. However...
"Typical Atlas." Duncan turned his head and spat upon the rickety dock. "You come here and act like you own us, make demands of us...!"
Sakura laid a hand on his forearm, quelling him before he could do something truly reckless.
"That's right." The man sneered at him. "Silence, dog. Your betters are speaking."
"Bull, actually." Duncan's smile took on an ugly edge. "And by all means, call me that again." See what happens."
The officer sputtered. "You would raise a hand against the kingdom of Atlas?"
"Nope." A crazed light burned in his silver eyes. "Just you."
A discontented murmur passed through her people. Sakura wondered when she'd started to think of them as such. Shaking off that thought, she pushed herself through them and offered the man her hand. There was no need to be rude; maybe they might yet be persuaded to leave in peace? It was a faint hope, yet she clung to it regardless.
"Sakura Haruno. And you are...?"
He didn't accept it at all, the utter bastard.
"It appears you have some manners after all, unlike the rest of these animals." The fat fellow preened like a proud peacock and smiled in what he no doubt thought a dashing manner. "Very well! I go by the name of Chase. Captain Chase, if you wish to know my rank." He puffed out his chest and she found herself rather reminded of a pompous pigeon. "Now, then. Enough dickering about." His brow furrowed. "We've come all this way to retrieve you. Your powers are wasted among these peons."
Everyone went mad.
"Wasted?! You dare?!"
"She'll never go with you lot!"
"You can't have her! She's our Goddess!"
Sakura raised a hand and reluctantly, her faithful quelled.
"Goddess?" Chase scoffed. "She is no goddess, but a maiden. Are you truly that blind?"
Duncan went curiously still, his silver eyes narrowing to deadly slits of wrath. "The only blind one here is you! She-
"Ah, ah, ah!" Sakura clamped a hand over his mouth before he could disclose the rest of her abilities. "Hush! Quiet! Not another word!"
In all fairness, she knew very little about Atlas beyond what she'd heard through secondhand accounts. Some of it might be colored by Menagerie's perception, but this man wasn't making the best impression at the moment. She cocked her head to one side like a wary she wolf, hair concealing a burning iris. The soldiers stole an anxious glance at her blazing orbs. As well they should!
For a moment there at the beginning, just a moment, she'd considered giving into the Captain's demand. Atlas was a large nation and they might well have sick and ailing of their own. The healer in her heart wanted to help them, nay, help everyone she could. But to simply abandon Menagerie? Because this fat fool of a fop told her to?
A rare knot of anger coiled in her stomach.
"I will go nowhere with you." She lifted her chin in defiance. "My place is here. If you have sick or wounded, I would be happy to treat them, but-
"You have no say in the matter." the captain made a grab for her hand, causing her to dart back out of his reach. "Your talents are wasted here with these animals." she drew back and his face turned a remarkable shade of puce. "Enough! You will come with us, or you will be clapped in irons and dragged back to Atlas."
Duncan absolutely hissed. Well. That simplified things, didn't it?
"Atlas, was it?" Sakura's smile was just the wrong shade of vicious. "Get off my island. Duncan? See to it, would you kindly?"
"It would be my pleasure."
Her second drew his ancestral sword in a graceful flourish, revealing a scarlet blade red as blood for all eyes to see. The sheathe he gripped in his off hand, ready to wield at a moment's notice. Wilt and Blush shimmered in the light of the sun, eager for violence. The soldiers responded in kind, leveling their rifles. Duncan saw it and slipped into loose stance of his own, a crouched predator ready to charge-
"Now, now," a new voice drawled, shattering the tension like so much glass. "There's no need for violence. Let us lower our weapons and speak as equals."
Sakura rounded on the sound just in time to see someone disembark from that Atlas boat. The newcomer did not run. Nor did they leap into the fray like a certain blond she knew. They simply strode -limped, really- down the gangplank at a sedate pace, uncaring for the confusion they sowed in their wake. Some were baffled. Others, angry.
"Headmaster Oswald." Chase scowled at the approaching figure, his face gone pallid. "I have this well in hand. There is no need for-
"You clearly do not, old friend." a strangely familiar cane tapped once upon the dock, silencing him. "Stand aside."
Remarkably, the man complied.
Sakura felt something still in her soul at the sight of the newcomer. Much like captain Chase, this man wore the uniform of Atlas. Unlike him, he wore it well.
Wiry where the captain was fat, tall where he was short, this "Oswald" carried himself with dignity and grace. His face was gaunt from age, framed by a well-trimmed beard, hair gone white against the ravages of time. A single silver iris gleamed back at her, the other concealed by a worn navy eyepatch. The did little to hide the scarring lurking beneath the cloth. Yet despite it he stood proud and tall, even to rvial even Duncan himself. His presence commanded respect; for even the soldiers straightened at the sight of them. More than one lowered their weapon and saluted on the spot.
For all his presence he looked almost...all things considered. Normal as can be. And yet there was something about him.
"Miss Haruno, was it?" he granted her a kindly smile. "Might I have a word?"
She frowned. "Aren't we doing that right now?"
"Touche." Oswald surprised her with a low laugh. "I had hoped we could speak alone."
Duncan looked fit to pop a vein at that, but Sakura waved him down. "Its alright. He won't hurt me."
"Nothing could be further from my mind." Oswald temporized. "I daresay she could snap me in half if she so chose."
Captain Chase bridled anew and tried to protest, but a glance from the older man quelled him once more. Sakura sensed a story there. The portly fellow didn't seem keen on following orders, but this "Headmaster" clearly had power over him. Whether that came from command or blackmail or perhaps something else entirely, she knew not. But it was certainly something.
Oswald offered her his arm like a gentleman scholar. "Shall we?"
Reluctantly, Sakura looped her limb in his and allowed him to lead her away from the others.
They withdrew a few paces down the down the beach; well away from the rest, yet still able to be seen by the rest.
As she regarded the man with the cane, Sakura felt something stir inside her soul. She had never seen this man before in her life. Yet something in her recognized him. The power within her stirred and her eyes burst into flame of their own accord before she wrestled it back down. Naturally, the headmaster saw it. Everyone did. Rather than bray and bluster like the captain had, he seemed quietly bemused as she tugged her arm from his and stepped back.
"You are not a Goddess."
Someone who saw sense! Huzzah! Sakura didn't trust herself to words. Instead, she shook her head in mute agreement.
"As I thought." his smile grew another inch. "It seems we weren't mistaken after all. Which maiden are you, then? Winter? Fall? Spring, perhaps?"
"Summer." Her lips betrayed her and she nearly went cross-eyed herself for the slip. Where had that come from?
"I see." he considered her. "From Vacuo, then. The last Maiden must've thought quite highly of you."
His words brought on a spark of anger, accompanied by a snarl. Sakura wasn't one to hold grudges but she was fairly certain she hated her predecessor. Stupid old broad! She'd been so close to convincing everyone that she was a normal girl back then! Surely, given time, they would have come to understand she wasn't special. Her death made that impossible. Explaining her healing abilities and super strength were difficult enough, but burning eyes and elements bursting from her whenever she lost her temper? Nope. Not possible.
In many ways, the last Summer Maiden had truly sealed her fate.
Ah, but Oswald was awaiting an answer. Perhaps it was petty of her, but Sakura wanted to prove him wrong. He thought she was on good terms with the last "Maiden" or whatever the hell they were called. Ha! How little he knew. She'd enjoy disabusing him of that lofty notion.
"She all but killed herself in front of me." shock blanked his face and she took some small pleasure in it. "I think she wanted to be rid of this power." a hand rose and she focused, summoning a small sphere of flame to her palm. "I can see why." Sakura glowered at the ember and it burned down to angry cinders. "No one should have this kind of power."
She'd nearly burned down Menagerie trying to control it!
"Ah." sorrow flitted across his face, shadowed by another emotion she didn't quite recognize. "I see. Absolute power corrupts absolutely; some are not prepared for this burden. It changes them."
Sakura felt no need to dance around pleasantries. "How do I get rid of it?"
Oswald's visible eye narrowed in distress. "You cannot."
"Bullshit. There must be a way."
The old sage flinched.
"Well?" she pressed. "Tell me!"
He looked away. "It...can only pass onto another woman after death."
Sakura's mouth clicked shut. Perhaps there was a way to feign-no. No. She dismissed the notion almost immediately. Not happening. Even if she knew a way to trick her body into such a state, it was impossibly risky. The slightest miscalculation could very well kill her, and there would be no miracle to save her this time. So long as she lived, she would never be rid of this Power. The thought saddened her. But only for a moment. With fresh resolve she lifted her gaze. She'd just have to make it her own, then.
Thankfully, Oswald mistook her silence for something else.
"Rest assured, I mean you no harm." he braced his cane in the sand and laid a wrinkled hand atop it. "There are those that wish otherwise, however. It simply isn't safe for you here."
The notion alarmed her. "And who are they...?"
"Another matter for another time." Oswald temporized. "Suffice to say, you are in great danger." A pink brow arched and he hastened to explain. "Not from Atlas, I assure you. Despite the...enthusiasm of Captain Chase, I assure you he has only the best intentions. Like me, he wants to protect you. But we cannot do so here. Menagerie is too exposed."
Did they think her some helpless waif? She'd been powerful before that blasted hag cursed her with this gift. In time, she would be stronger still. Much stronger. That wasn't arrogance on her part. It was simply the truth. She would train others and when this strange "enemy" appeared, they would not be unprepared.
"I can protect myself." Resolved hardened in her heart. "These people need me. More than that, I'm doing good work here them." she flung an arm back toward the center of Menagerie, forcing him to follow with his gaze toward a series of white tents. "The medical advancements we're making here will benefit the entire world."
"The world, or just the Faunus?"
Sakura blinked at the sudden cynicism. "What? Everyone, of course! Knowledge should be shared!"
"They already know of you!" His breath hovered at a low hiss. "Word of your deeds have already spread to the four kingdoms. Many have taken notice. Faunus flock to your banner. More arrive by ship every week, though I'm sure you've noticed." Sakura clenched her jaw, refusing to be baited by the words, even if they were true. Menagerie was heaving with people. "You have become a symbol, Sakura Haruno, whether you like it or not. You have enemies. They are already here. It won't be long before they strike at you."
He was hiding something from her, something big. Unbidden, Sakura recalled a warning spoken to her by the last Summer Maiden:
"Beware the Man of Many Faces."
This man certainly had one face, but for some reason the words stuck with her. The Many of Many Faces. Who was that? What did it mean? She was delighted to find someone who understood that she wasn't a Goddess, but in the same vein she couldn't quite bring herself to trust Oswald. Not completely. Not yet. Perhaps not ever, not when he was dancing around the truth like this. He was a stranger to her. Answers he might well have, but his presence brought on a host of questions she wasn't prepared to deal with right now. For now, she would do the only thing she could do.
"Then I will fight."
Here at last, Oswald flung up his hands. "You cannot!"
"I CAN!" Her forehead slammed against his, stunning the old man to send him reeling him back three paces. "You don't know anything about me!"
Months of silent stress broke the surface. Oh. Ohhh. She understood now. He thought she was weak. That without the power of a Maiden she was nothing. She couldn't take it anymore. Not one bit of it. Either they thought her an invincible goddess, or some weakling. No matter what she did, she couldn't seem to win. It wasn't fair. She just wanted to help people. Play the good host, be the reasonable healer. And what did she have to show for it? Not a thing. Nothing. No, less than nothing. Scorn and derision.
It wasn't fair at all. Her eyes blazed anew and with them came the wind. Her feet briefly lifted from the floor before she mastered herself. High above, the skies began to darken.
Someone was laughing, their voice struggling to be heard over the keening gale. It was a sharp, shrill sound born of stress and hysteria, the cry of a woman stressed beyond her limit. Naruto might have talked her down, walked her back from the edge. Kakashi would've scolded her or distracted her with his antics. Sasuke...well, surely he could've done something to stop her. But they weren't here. She was alone. She had no one to trust. No one to rely on.
Her temper, restrained for so long, exploded like a raging dragon.
"I have fought gods, madmen and monsters!" when Oswald retreated, Sakura stalked after him, eyes wild, stabbing her finger into his chest. "I have seen things that would make your blood run cold! I am trying to fix things, trying to help people, and yet time and time again, the universe keeps interfering! First Kaguya! Then that Maiden! Now you! I don't care this," she snapped her fingers, producing a vivid purple spark, "For your precious Atlas, or my enemies! If anyone threaten what I'm trying to build here, then I'll crush them! I will stand! I will fight! With or without you!"
Oswald opened his mouth, and in a fit of pique she gave him a shove. He stumbled back and fell to the sand, where gaped up at her, agog.
Good. If he said one more word, she was going to thrash him besides.
"And if you think I'm dangerous?" she leaned in, pressing her forehead to his with a snarl. "You have no idea." She twisted the proverbial knife. "Kakashi-sensei would run circles around you. Naruto and Sasuke? Ha!" An angry smile twisted her lovely face. "They'd make you cry."
Her peace said, the wayward kunoichi stomped a booted foot and tossed her long hair over one shoulder. Then she flounced back to the others.
"We're done here." she hissed archly. "Thank you for your kind advice, and the warning, but I think its best you leave."
Oswald shouted at her receding backside. "We're not finished, miss Haruno!"
A blazing green eye appeared over her shoulder.
"Yes. We are."
Duncan saw her coming and broke away from Captain Chase, all but shouldering the ghastly man aside in his haste to reach her.
It was the straw that broke the camel's back. Having endured all manner of harsh looks and harsher words since he'd come here, the man had been teetering on the edge for quite some time. Witnessing her spell just now pushed him right over it. He stabbed a hand into his belt and tore something free. There was movement in the corner of Sakura's eye; she spied a familiar shape in his right hand. Duncan must have seen it as well; because he pivoted with a roar, throwing himself forward-
A gun barked once, a single shot gone wide. A sword flashed. A shriek filled the air.
Duncan lowered his blade, spattering the docks with blood. It wasn't his own. Captain Chase stumbled backward with a strange keening sound, eyes bulging almost comically as he clutched at the ruined stump of his wrist. His shoulder struck a nearby soldier, nearly knocking them off the dock altogether. The crowd, once baying for violence, had fallen eerily silent. No one moved. No one blinked. None dared to even breathe.
A child's gasp shattered the silence. "G-Goddess? I...don't feel so good...
Sakura knew that voice. Someone confirmed it with a gasp.
"Tyrian's been shot!"
Everything dissolved into a blur.
Sakura rounded on the sound and saw the poor boy -who must've crept closer when she wasn't looking- toppled down on the rickety pier, clutching at his chest with a look of complete and utter befuddlement on his face. His mouth worked wordlessly, unable to form words. She behold the blood bubbling beneath his hands, staining the pale fabric of his shirt. As she looked on, he pitched backwards. Sakura's world didn't go red. It went crimson.
"No."
She moved and her fist found flesh.
"No, no!"
Captain Chase folded in on himself with a dry wheeze, but she didn't even stop to see him fall.
"No, no, no!"
She was still babbling when her knees hit the deck before Tyrian's prone form. Screaming, as one hand pulsed with green light. Shrieking as the other set about finding and extracting the bullet. He was so pale. A few folk crowded in as she worked. Sakura ignored them. Someone was speaking to her. She ignored them, too. Someone tried to touch her shoulder, but she subsequently snarled them into silence. Ignore! Them! Eventually, the people of Menagerie stopped trying. She didn't care.
She only had eyes for her patient.
"You're alright, you're alright." she soothed the poor, trembling boy. "Everything's going to be alright. Just focus on the sound of my voice!"
"It hurts..." All she received was a miserable whimper. "Really hurts...
"I know." Sweat beaded on her brow. "Just stay with me...
Time ceased to have any meaning for Sakura Haruno as the line between life and death blurred. She wasn't sure how much passed after those words. How long did she spend there on her knees, hunched over little Tyrian Callows, trying to stitch up his insides. Seconds? Minutes? Hours? Reality lurched back and the boy lay on the deck, pale and quivering from blood loss, but alive. Barely breathing, yet breathing nonetheless. She'd done all she could. The rest was up to him. She barked an order and Duncan's team closed ranks around the boy, ferrying him away to safety.
Her gaze rose and found the perpetrator, just in time to the man himself bring his sheathe down on the captain's head.
"You...you...filthy cur! I'll see you hang for this!" Chase lost all sense of himself and clamored backward, all but falling upon his pistol. He waved it about like a flail. "You're all under arrest!"
Oswald hastened to their side. "Captain, please! Calm-
His gun barked again. Blood sprayed through the air and this time, Duncan didn't see fit to intervene. The headmaster pitched back, clutching his stomach.
"I will not!" the captain brayed at them all, heedless of his approaching doom. "This is a military operation! You no longer have any authority here!" To his men he gave but a single command. "Take the girl! She comes with us! Now! Or I swear by the gods, I'll gun all of you down myself!"
Sakura twitched. "Gods, you say...?"
Blood spattered the docks. It wasn't hers. Chase toppled backward like a fallen elm, clutching his ruined nose.
As one, the soldiers rounded on her. Safeties clicked off. A pink brow rose, recognizing the rifles for what they were. Her time in Menagerie had not been wasted. She'd asked questions, and in turn learned a great deal. Guns were dangerous to a shinobi to be sure; most knew precious little of them. Not so, her. She was quite aware of their capabilities. Ranged weaponry was something to be avoided at all times, and this lot was outright trembling after her little display on the beach. If her temper hadn't been so frayed, she might've tried to talk them down.
"I gave you a chance to leave, and this is how you repay me...?"
The healer stood slowly, jerkily, like a puppet severed from its strings.
A nearby soldier barked at her. "Don't move!"
"You're not men. You're monsters." She staggered toward him, eyes glowing. "Every last one of you...!"
Her hand found his trembling weapon and squeezed. Metal folded like tinfoil beneath her firm fingers, rendering the barrel a useless lump of scrap. The poor fellow recoiled with a startled cry; one that cut off abruptly as Sakura's fist found his chin. He collapsed like a house of cards. Sakura kicked his head once to make sure he wasn't faking. He stopped moving after that.
"Duncan." The swordsman stiffened as her glazing gaze found, not trusting himself to speak. "Protect the others."
He might've said something; she wasn't sure. Everything was distant. Muted somehow.
Everything, save her unyielding rage.
"And now that you can't get your way, you resort to violence." she clicked her tongue in mild admonishment as he turned to face the rest. "Your parents would be ashamed of you." No one moved. "Well, c'mon then!" She spread her arms, inviting them to react. "Hit me! Shoot me! Give me a hug! I don't care anymore!"
It was too much. A solider's finger twitched. His gun barked. The others followed suit.
Oswald groaned from the floor. "You fools!"
Sakura scoffed.
A pale hand rose and intercepted each bullet with lazy grace, all but snatching them out of the air. Two. Four. Six. Firm fingers closed around the casings and squeezed, grinding them down to a fine red powder. She kept squeezing, silently reveling in their startled expression as the now-harmless dust drizzled from her grasp.
"Alright." she hummed, watching the strange substance slip through her fingers. "Let the record show that you're idiots. Don't go blamin' me for this."
His fist crashed down with sound and aplomb. The back half dock absolutely shattered underfoot.
Even wounded as he was, Oswald managed to tumble to safety.
The others weren't so fortunate.
Bereft of balance and unprepared for such a display, several soldiers pitched backward into the bay before they even knew what was happening. The water was deep and their armor heavy. Some drowned. Others by dint of determination or just blind bloody luck, managed to thrash their way to shore. They found no safety there. Indeed, by the time they made it to the shallows, it was too late; Sakura flicked her fingers and plume of frost burst from her to strike the placid blue waters, rendering therm became an icy prison, entrapping them.
"Be good and stay put." She snarled.
Of the twelve, only three had managed to avoid a watery grave or icy doom. One of them threw down his weapon and surrendered. His comrades did not. More fool they.
Sakura closed on them with fire and blood. Whirling, twisting, never lingering in one place for too long, lest she find herself scythed down by enemy fire. She closed the distance quickly and finished what they started with brutal dispatch. Duncan covered the rest, careful to intercept any stray shots with his blade.
Just like that, it was done. The soldiers slumped to join their captain.
Oswald's jaw clicked open. "What are you...?
Sakura spared the old man a scathing glance where he lay. Her mind whirred, taking in his injury. Gut wound. Bleeding badly. Without medical treatment he wouldn't last long. Must've been taken by surprise for his Aura to fail like that. Or perhaps it was simply the captain's weapon. Maybe it was a semblance of some sort. She didn't know. Didn't care. This was all his fault. Him and Captain Chase both. They should've stayed away. Even now a small part of her wanted to heal them. Her fingers twitched, longing to close the wound before her.
If she healed them, they'd just come after her again. But to just let them die...!
In the end, the choice was taken from her.
"Fire!" Captain Chase ripped a radio from his belt and barked a frantic order into it. "Fire on my position! FIRE EVERYTHING!"
"Are you insane?!"
"Ha!" He rounded on them, eyes wide and rolling with sheer terror. "If Atlas cannot have you, no one can! Die with us, you filthy animals!"
Clenched knuckles barreled into his chin and laid him out flat. Too late. Miles away, the battleship's main gun barked.
A frantic Sakura did the only thing she could. She lashed out.
Lightning burst from her fingertips and arrowed across the water like a flung javelin. Not a heartbeat too soon. An awful crack split the sky and she felt rather than saw the explosion that followed. Her lightning bolt knew no such mercy; even as it split the shell it kept going and struck the ship, effectively disabling it. Sakura recoiled hissing in pain.
"Owww!" She whined, waving her stinging palms. "That really hurt, damnit!"
No one answered. She dared look back.
Duncan had shepherded the civilians to safety the moment Chase started screaming, but friendly fire and shrapnel from the battleship had done to Oswald and Captain -and their soldiers!- what she would not. A score of lifeless bodies lay face in the thawing water, still and lifeless as the grave itself. Sakura tried not to look at them. In that at least, she succeeded. She couldn't quite silence the pang of guilt that followed. So many lives cut short, all for their own foolishness. If word go out, she'd surely be blamed.
"Oh." she grimaced. "That's not going to end well...
But that still left the battleship, dead in the bay. And she'd be damned if she let it get away.
Forcing herself into a spring raced across the water. In no time at all, she reached it. She gazed up at the looming mass, briefly at a loss. The vessel was large and stern and unyielding, a testament to the nation who had forged it. A normal human would have struggled to even scratch such a bulk. But she wasn't normal now, was she? She was a Maiden, after all. Fine. They wanted a spectacle? She'd give them a spectacle.
Green eyes burned with Emerald flames. "SMASH!"
Metal yielded to a chakra-coated fist. With a ponderous groan the vessel began to list to port. Soon enough, it would take on water. Unacceptable. Sakura wasn't satisfied with simply sinking the ship. She dropped to her haunches, grabbed the metal bow of the ship with both hands and heaved.
"Move, damn you!"
Its hull buckled beneath her grasp, but she remained undaunted and lifted both arms high over her head. A colossal shadow fell over her. The weight was incredible, even for one such as her; her body shrieked at her, demanding release, begging her to stop. Her muscles burned. Her legs trembled. She pushed past her limits, whirled, and hurled it inland with a roar. An awful crunch reached her ears as it struck the beach. To those within, it was a death knell. To Sakura, it was sweet, sweet music.
She trapsed back across the water, wincing only slightly as her right shoulder protested. A quick pulse of healing chakra set that to rights.
From there, it was a simple matter of opening the battleship like a tin can.
Only then did she realize how many eyes were upon her.
Peeling back the hull, she scowled at those within.
"Surrender would be a really good idea right about now."
Poor bastards didn't need to be told twice; they threw down their weapons and groveled at her feet.
Sakura grinned. "Now that's more like it...
(.0.0.0.)
Mistral flourished.
It hadn't taken long make a meaningful difference in the Grimm ravaged continent, but what a difference it was. Grimm were pushed back. Defensive lines were formed. Territories expanded by the day. Sasuke's new tribe did his bidding as best they could; any who stepped out of line or thought to take "liberties" with their charges were summarily slain. His ranks swelled with worshipers and while he didn't encourage such behavior, neither could he manage to rid himself of them either. And so he endured it with the look of a man marching off to his own funeral. Which is to say, not well.
It was on such day, a blazing hot afternoon, when everything changed.
"My lord. I have something for you."
Sasuke grunted as she knelt in his peripheral vision, but didn't look away from the task at hand. Fortunately -or unfortunately depending whom you asked these days- Scathach had grown rather adept at interpreting said grunts. She didn't budge, blast her. He turned away from the yard and glanced at the exhausted girl sprawled out on her back before him.
"That's enough training for today. Return to your tent. You need your rest."
Raven raised her arms. "Tired. Don't wanna walk. Carry me!"
Sasuke sighed. "Such a needy daughter...
She was, wasn't she? The thought should have alarmed him, but he'd long since grown inured to it. Having two little ones following him about...reminded him of happier times. A pleasant era, when he'd been blind to the evils of the world. Had he not done the same with Itachi so long ago? They sought strength in a world where the strong ruled. He couldn't begrudge them that. Wherever Raven went, Qrow was seldom far behind; but in this case, her twin was already sleeping of today's training. He didn't quite have his sister's stamina. Not yet. But he would.
In time, these two would be...legendary. The thought pleased him.
After tucking her in, he returned to his second. Scathach immediately presented him with a gift.
"Here."
Sasuke scowled at it, unable to fathom her intent as she held it out for him. It looked like an ornamented lamp, bearing a blue sphere in the middle. Why give him this? He had no need of such a thing. His eyes allowed him to see just fine, even in the darkness. What need had he of a lamp?
He said as much. "What is this?"
"A gift." she pushed it into his hands. "You seek your friends. I have brought you the means by which to find them."
...with a lamp?"
"Nay." she clicked her tongue in mild annoyance. "This is a Relic. One of Knowledge."
A memory tugged at him. Their first meeting. "Earlier, you said-
She huffed. "I changed my mind."
"Why?" he asked.
"I'm dying."
Such words did not startle him; he hadn't known her long enough to be invested in her continued existence. She was, like this land, a stranger to him. He still didn't like the idea of her passing on. It plucked at something deep inside, something he refused to admit existed, even now. It was his conscience.
"Can anything be done?"
"Quite incurable, I'm afraid." she tapped one finger to her chest, just above her breasts. "Its my heart, you see. I was told I only had a year to live...that was two years ago." a small, bitter smile plucked at the corner of her mouth. "Frankly, its a miracle I'm alive at all. I feel myself grow weaker every day. My end cannot be far off." She must've seen the question in his eyes, because her placid expression turned stormy. "Do not pity me. I have no regrets."
Sasuke felt himself frown at that. Scathach had been...useful to him. Dare he say pleasant? She was. She did not fawn or fret or fuss over him as most did, and that alone made a world of difference to a wayward warrior such as he. She certainly seemed to think he was more than what he claimed to be, but she'd not challenged him further. He recalled Itachi's illness and what little he'd seen of it. His beloved brother had perished gasping for air, choking on his blood. He did not envy Scathach such a fate. Hers might be worse.
His conscience pricked him. Sakura could help her, surely...couldn't she?
But he had no way of knowing where she was; or if she'd followed him to this plane of existence at all.
"Her name is Jinn." Scathach bulled on, red eyes piercing him like a lance. "She will have the answers you seek."
Taking the lamp in hand, Sasuke frowned. Well, nothing ventured, nothing gained. He spoke the binding word. "Jinn...?"
Smoke poured from the Relic. Something emerged. Sasuke's brow shot into his hairline. Not something. Someone! Someone very large indeed.
Beautiful and blue, clad in dancing golden chains and absolutely nothing else, she was a sight behold. Rich blue eyes gleamed with secret knowledge, burning brighter even than Naruto's own. He hadn't thought it possible. Full lips rouged by black quirked down at them in a smile, framed by waves of dark navy hair and pointed ears almost elf-like in nature. With a languid sigh the young woman raised her arms to the heavens and stretched until her back produced a pleasant pop. It did...interesting things to her bosom.
"Much better~!" when she finally deigned to speak, her voice was a low, sensual purr. "One hundred years gives a girl such a crick in the neck. But what do we have here?"
She tilted her head to one side, regarding him as one might a particularly clever child. Sasuke wasn't sure he liked the comparison. No simple a construct of energy, this. She could think. Reason. She saw them clearly and appeared intrigued by their
"My my." she drifted forward, defying gravity to recline in the very air itself. "Has the dying girl finally entrusted someone with her secret? And a boy, at that!"
Scathach did not flush. She was beyond such girlish ways. She did scowl, however. "You shouldn't speak of a god as such."
"A god, he is not." Jinn shook her head in a firm denial. "There have only ever been two in this world." Finally! Someone who saw sense! Her next words dashed his hope against the rocky shores of reality. "Although I can see why many might mistake him as such." a crooked smile curved at her dark lips. "I'm sure the God of Darkness would find this terribly amusing."
The last of his goodwill evaporated like morning mist. "You know me?"
"I know that are a man with many sins." her words riveted him. "A man seeking to atone for the mistakes of his past. Oh, yes. I know many things about you indeed." those lovely blue eyes narrowed, becoming hooded in thinly veiled pleasure. "Your life is an open book to me, Sasuke Uchiha. You and your friends were known to me the moment you set foot in this world."
Friends?! Did she know where they were?! An ember of hope sparked to life in Sasuke's soul, but he dare not kindle it.
His brow furrowed. "How do I know you're telling the truth?"
"Skepticism?" Jinn granted him a benign smile. "From you? How droll. Whatever would your beloved brother say? Did he not die for you? What was his name again? I believe it was Itachi." she barreled on, heedless of the hiss he gave. "Such a dutiful sibling. He sacrificed everything for you, his reputation, his health, even his very life...
"Do not speak of Itachi!"
His sword howled free from its scabbard with nary a sound. Its tapered tip found Jinn's throat. She leaned forward and allowed it to pass through her flesh. There was no resistance. No blood. No reaction at all, beyond the faintest ripple of smoke. She spoke on, unimpeded by the "injury" whatsoever.
"Why so serious?" her smile grew in the face of his confusion. "You desired proof. I merely provided it. It was not my intent to provoke you."
Oh, but she had. His world had gone red. Even now his right eye throbbed, longing to lash out. But he couldn't. To slay Jinn -assuming he could even harm an ethereal being- would deny him the answers. With a supreme effort of will he drew his blade back and sheathed it.
"She said you can answer my questions. Then you know what I seek."
"I do. But I cannot speak of the future," she warned him. "Merely the present and the past. Three questions remain this era. Ask what you will."
Sasuke took a deep breath to steady himself.
Then he spoke. "Where are they?"
A/N: Be sure and read this, or you'll be confused. Yes, that was Adam's grandfather you saw there.
We'll get a Kakashi POV next chapter. Sakura and Sasuke really stole the show here...
The hilarity and chaos barrels ever onward~!
Sasuke's got the relic of knowledge now, Sakura may have pulled an Alucard and "Did I just accidentally a war?", Kakashi's moving up in the world, and Naruto is settling in. Think of this as the calm before the storm. Because the storm is coming. Also. Sakura smash! Couldn't help myself. Its heavily implied she just murked an incarnation of Ozma. Oops. No way that can go poorly. Now he's off into a younger body gods knows where.
As ever, reviews/feedback keep me writing them. Without them, I lose all hope.
So...in the Immortal Words of Atlas...
...Review...Would You Kindly!
SPOILER! SPOILER! SPOILER!
PLOT DETAILS AHOY!
YE BE WARNED!
(POTENTIAL PREVIEWS. Be sure and vote for what you want to see.
"LONG LIVE THE GOD OF LIGHT! Long live the Hero of Vale!" much to his chagrin, everyone took up the cry. "Long live the new headmaster!"
"Damnit, so much for keeping quiet-eh?! Naruto balked, catching up. "Me?! Headmaster?!"
Earnest eyes fell upon him. "You saved us. I can think of no one stronger."
Maria sniggered softly, shoulders trembling with mirth.
Naruto absolutely twitched.
Kakashi whistled sharply; it was the sound of mercy.
"Alright!" he laughed, breath fogging into the brisk winter air, "That was a good run. You've earned yourself a breather. Be up in ten."
Willow Schnee collapsed to the ground with a cry torn somewhere between a sob and a snarl. Cinder was only a heartbeat behind. She took some petty pride in that, and sneered at her. Young though she was, she was a stubborn girl, one used to the rigors of running and fending for herself in the slums.
Willow Schnee...was not.
She'd lived a pampered life, but she was getting past that. She'd gotten better. Faster. Stronger. It only cost her pride.
Willow dove at him. He stepped aside, pushed a hand between her shoulder and left her sprawled in the yard.
Kakashi clapped slowly. "Well done. You nearly caught me that time."
Cinder flopped to the ground. "Hate you so much...
"Oh dear, did I say ten? I meant five."
Willow was a Schnee. And Schnee women were determined. She was just a girl now. There When she was older? She was going to court this man. This was a battle not even Nicholas could save him from. Cinder may have taken a place at his side, but she was younger. She didn't understand. She never would.
Cinder stood first. Kakashi beamed at her. "That's my girl."
Willow glowered at the younger girl in naked envy.
Some people needed to die. That was just the way of the world.
"Nothing personal." Kakashi hummed.
"That's...a big Grimm."
Sasuke smiled. "Finally. A challenge...
Sakura closed her blazing eyes and reached out with her newfound power. Inhaled. Exhaled. In. Out. Innn. Ouuut. Flames flickered from her closed eyelids. Hers was the power of the seasons, but also the elements. She'd done her homework. She could do this. She would do this. If not for her, then for the poor people that had taken her in.
There. She could feel it. Melding her chakra and magic together, she pushed.
Kali tilted her head. "What're you doing?"
"Expanding the island. Quiet, please."
"Oh, that sounds great-WHAT?!"
And the water erupted.
STAY TUNED! R&R! =D