A/N: Had to get this update out before the Elden Ring DLC tomorrow consumes me. That said!
WARNING! INTENSE CHAPTER! Still here? Great! Here we go.
Can anyone see this chapter?
EMAIL NOTIFICATIONS -for the site at least- are down again. Glitches are affecting chapter lengths as well.
I've finally found the cost for my car after paying for the parts...and its not good. Transmissions are bloody expensive, to say nothing of parts and labor and its driving me mad. No idea what I'm going to do about it, or even if there's anything I CAN do for that matter. I'll have to figure something out and soon, I'm running out of time. Might have to take out one of those awful loans after all...
*Sigh* but enough about me.
RWBY may have been canned by Warner Bros for now, but we fanfiction writers are out here trying to keep the light alive, as it were. So here we go. The fate of this story depends on you, the reader. Your feedback determines the fate of this tale, and many others.
As ever, I own no references, quotes, themes or memes. They're tributes to legends far greater than little 'ol me.
I'm just a humble author trying to make his way in this wild world, one word at a time.
Time and feedback will determine if this remains on the storyboard. Simple as that.
In other words...everything is up to YOU, the reader. Doooooo let me know~!
Soundtrack for this chapter, while I wrote, was "Conquer" by Shane Ivers.
You're not ready for this one. Naruto goes absolutely full Hulk here.
But not just any Hulk, oh no, no no. You all know the one:
"You're nothing; just a bandit. A twisted, vile little creature who killed her way to the top...killed my friend, tried to kill me, made me wish you had.
You scare folks. You scare a lot of people. You think that gives you power over me? Think it makes you important? Special? No. Not special.
Weak! Puny! HUMAN! You're nothing! Any power you have now? You didn't earn that! Someone gave it to you!
Who was it?! Who was the Maiden before you?!
TELL ME! NOW! OR I'LL SMASH YOU!"
~The Beast Unleashed.
Smash
Vasir ran headlong into the mist.
She ran, not just for safety, but her very Life.
Naruto, her Death, walked after her with slowly, lazy steps.
She couldn't see him in the frenzied fog, but she could hear him; ever close, ever behind her; which meant she couldn't escape him. No escape! Never!
No matter what she did! No matter how fast she ran! No matter which direction!
Worse still, she didn't know which way was out; the Mist prevented her from seeing a damn thing. Damn thing had come out of nowhere before she could think to flee the Tribe, trapping her in the compound. She couldn't see her own nose in front of her face for crying out loud.
But while it blinded her, it left her remaining sensing terribly, painfully intact. Her gut wound ached with every step, her mouth tasted drier than Vacuo and all around her the awful acrid scent of burnt flesh filled her nose. Perhaps worst of all was her ability to hear, because you see, she could hear them all; the cries of the dead and dying, gasps for mercy that only came in the form of a gurgling death as the Schnee extinguished their lives.
He was hunting them. Extinguishing them, one by one.
Was this the afterlife? Had she fallen into hell? It certainly felt like it.
Slashing a hand through the haze, she snarled at him. "Show yourself! What is this?!"
"Hidden Mist Jutsu."
Hidden mist what now?
Was this some kind of semblance?
Vasir rounded on the voice behind her and subsequently choked down a whimper as the mist parted momentarily to reveal her tormentor. He'd retrieved Branwen's blade at some point; it looked like he knew how to use it, too, the crimson sword ran red with dripping blood; his once white suit stood stained with viscera. His metal arm held the remnants of someone's spine, which he now threw down at her feet.
Despite that, he was smiling.
Somehow it was the smile that terrified her more than anything else.
"I wasn't the one to create this particular jutsu, of course." he prattled on, idly running his free hand through the fog, trailing wisps of steam as it went. "That was Zabuza. You learn all sorts of things from your enemies, ya know. And I've had nothing but time to learn. But you," his gaze slid her way. "You taught me something else.
Raven's sword smashed down into her raised arm, biting into her armor to draw blood. She nearly lost the limb outright.
Braving the blade in both hands, the Smiling Schnee forced her down to a knee.
"When I face an enemy, I'll break them." he leaned in suddenly, nose brushing hers. "They get one chance, and since you were so kind as to waste yours...allow me to thank you!"
A jarring headbutt stunned her before she could bring her Power to bear; as she reeled Naruto caught her injured hand by the fingers.
Raven's weapon stabbed down into her foot, pinning her in place.
"Its funny, ya know? I thought I'd be angry now that's dead. And I am." he casually broke her pinkie finger as he spoke, bending it backward with a horrific crack, careless of her cries, "But I don't think I've fully processed it yet. I'm sure I'll be furious in minute."
Vasir screamed and flung a lightning bolt in his face. His head twisted, letting the javelin of light race past.
"Sloppy," he chided her.
His fist found her face and twisted; she knew it because she felt something crack in her jaw, then her neck, followed by the rest of her body. Aura could protect you from injuries, even heal them over time. Everyone knew that. But it couldn't last forever. And hers was running mighty low.
Her anger wasn't.
"Burn!" She lashed out in a fit of pique, blasting him with a fireball.
Naruto's ripped Raven's blade from her foot and cut the flame in half, only for another to catch him in the chest.
He let it propel him back into the mist with a smirk.
Vasir realized her mistake a second too late; damnitall, she'd lost track of him again!
Panicking, she lashed out again, hurling fireball after fireball into the murk.
Nothing.
She grit her teeth furiously. Wind had never been her thing. Fire and ice and lightning in time, sure, but she'd never truly been able to command gale force storms. Unlike that brat. The one she'd killed. She'd been able to use damn near everything...
Pain blossomed in her wounded leg and her body buckled back to reality with a gasp. She screamed into the mist. "You think I'm afraid of you?!""
"I don't think you are, I know you are." His voice rang behind her. "You're terrified."
Omen bit into her back, carving an ugly wound between her shoulders.
She whirled, fingers crackling with ice, but he was already gone.
Yet his voice echoed on.
"Raven died gasping for air. She was afraid. Now its your turn."
A fresh slice opened across her cheek, drawing blood. She lashed out, fingers grasping and momentarily finding a handhold in the shoulder of his bloody white suit. The second she found purchase, she lost two fingers; felt the searing edge of Omen bite clean through them. Recoiling, she lost her grip on him and he vanished back into the fog.
Vasir felt her heart beat sluggishly in her chest.
Had to find him, and quick. He'd bleed her to death at this rate.
Clutching her bloody hand to her chest, she howled at him. "Where are you?!"
Hands burst from the dirt below her feet and seized her ankles. She had an instant to balk then she was yanked down, buried up to her neck in the dirt.
Omen slashed down out of the mist, ready to take her head.
She blasted her way free in an explosion of fire, narrowly diverting the blade. She saw a shadow in the fog and slugged it. Her fist found purchase in Naruto's face. His head snapped to the side with an audible crack...and he snapped it back with a snarl.
"Raven died to this?"
Her eyes widened. Shit! He's on a whole 'nother level! Have to retreat before-
Metal fingers caught her wrist and bent it backward.
Her arm snapped like a dry twig.
A keening noise pushed past Vasir's lips, but she didn't have time to process the pain; because there was more. Omen tore through her shoulder, nearly taking her arm clean off at the collarbone. It would have too, if she hadn't wrenched herself aside and torn the wound open.
"Why?" Naruto stormed after her. "Why you? Why did she let her guard down?"
Damnit. If she couldn't hurt him physically, then...
...because that bitch was weak!"
Naruto twitched.
Gotcha.
"She did because she was weak; because you made her so." Clutching her wound, Vasir sneered up at him, laughing through bloody teeth. "The old Raven never would've fallen to a sneak attack like that-
THRUCK.
His fist found her wound and tore a gasp from her.
"I've seen guys and gals like you all my life." a hand closed around her head and dragged her upright. "Smart dumbasses too brilliant to know what they don't know." those cold blue eyes gleamed gold and suddenly the hand holding her head became a crushing vice, potent and cruel. "Take 'em off script, take them down to the streets...
He dropped her and swept her legs, sending her sprawling to the ground.
...over to the dojo...
A knee cracked down into her back.
...into the gym...
An open palm struck her chin.
...then back to the streets again...
He stomped down on her bad leg, drawing a scream from her, forcing her to tumble aside.
...show 'em what they don't know...
His elbow slammed into her nose as she rose.
...then suddenly all that brilliance all that "smart" dumbass planning...
One, two, three, four. His fists played havoc on her ribs forevemore.
...isn't worth bunk."
Vasir crumpled at his feet, wasted and gasping for air.
"What's wrong? He stared down at her lifelessly. As though she were no one. Nothing-no, less than nothing. "You were laughing earlier. But you're not laughing now."
He kicked her down and pain flashed through her back; she'd landed on her wound, the same spot where Raven had run her though.
"Go on, laugh." He stomped down on her stomach and made her spew. "Laugh."
Another stomp.
"LAUGH!"
Vasir brought her hands together with a shriek and froze him solid where he stood, rendering him a human ice sculpture.
"Shut...!" she rolled over onto her hands and knees, coughing and wheezing for air. "Your damn mouth!"
It wasn't over. That wouldn't hold him for long. Had to run, had to get away before he got loose-
The ice shattered behind her. She rounded on it with a gasp. Mistakes were made.
"And they were yours."
Naruto's metal hand cut across her face, tearing five fearsome furrows into her flesh. It must've raked one of her eyes too; because the left side of her vision went came the pain. The pain that followed crippled her more than any other; she crumpled with a cry, and that was a big bloody mistake; because the moment she did, he rocked her world-not in a good way.
An ominous whine filled the air. Vasir whimpered and brought her faltering aura to bear.
Too little, too late. Far too late.
"Rasengan."
Blood sprayed through the air, taking most of her armor with it. Her back struck a wooden barrier and she doubled over, retching.
With that, the sky opened up above at long last, and with it came rain; softly at first, then with vigor, sharp stinging sheets of it peppering her exposed flesh. Here at last, the mist began to fade...
.
..
...she immediately wished it hadn't.
Naruto strode through the rain.
He wasn't alone.
Somehow, someway, he was flanked by two copies of himself, each wearing a grim scowl.
"What in the blue hell...?"
He stared at her for a long moment.
And then, with neither word nor warning, it began.
The leftmost dopelganger slugged her; a devastating roundhouse that snapped her head to one side and left her spitting teeth. She was still reeling when the right waded in and decked her in return. More blood and teeth. On and on it went, the duo beat her down into the mud.
"Hurts, doesn't it." dimly, she heard Naruto's voice echoing above it all as they beat her half to death. "I'm sure most of your victims felt like this before you killed them. Weak. Powerless. Ganged up on in the rain with no way out. Now its your turn. I hope you enjoy it."
Another clone decked her.
She tried to marshal her Maiden Powers, but she couldn't; they slipped through her grasp like so much rain.
This wasn't...none of this was what she'd been promised! They said he was weak! They told her!
They said it would be easy to lure him and the Branwen bitch away from Atlas!
They said...they said...
.
..
...
'Oh.' A dull realization overtook her. 'I've been used.'
A hand seized her by the hair-tentacles and hauled her upright.
"You're nothing; just an upjumped bandit." Blazing blue orbs drilled into her good eye, his gaze blazing like black balefire. "A twisted, vile little creature who killed her way to the top...killed my friend, tried to kill me, made me wish you had." he gave her body a shake, and she hadn't the strength to resist. "You scare folks. Hell, you scare a lot of people. You think that gives you power over me? Think it makes you important? Special? No. Not special...
Omen came swooping in again -swooping was bad!- and weakly, Vasir tried to raise her right hand to defend.
With a sizzling sputter, her aura finally failed.
Raven's blade met minimal resistance and passed through. Steel met flesh and the latter yielded.
He lopped it off at the wrist.
Numb, she stared at the severed stump, squirting violet blood.
She hadn't thought she had it left in her to scream.
Apparently she did.
Weak!" she shouted down at her. "Puny!" a fist smashed her down into the mud again, cutting her shrieks short. "HUMAN!" she prayed he'd drown her there, but her prayers weren't answered; instead he grabbed her by the chin again and brought Omen up under her neck. From there, his clones took ahold of her, one to each arm, dragging her throat closer to that bloody blade. ""You're nothing! Any power you have now? You didn't earn that! Someone gave it to you!"
The blade bit into her flesh, ready to take her head. She almost prayed it would. Death was a mercy.
"Who was it?!" Naruto roared at her, towering in his fury. "Who was the Maiden before you?! TELL ME! OR I'LL SMASH YOU!"
Not more pain. Anything but that...
"It was a kid!" she blubbered brokenly. "We found her in our last raid! She had power and I wanted it, so I killed her and took it!
Blood bubbled up under Omen's blade. "How did it happen? SPEAK!"
"I stabbed her in the back while she was killing my boys...
Wrong thing to say.
Omen jerked away from her fist and slammed into her side, puncturing her pelvis, twisting in her guts.
She cried out. "By the brother gods, what are you?!"
He didn't answer her, not at first. Instead he thrust five furled fingers into her face, digits curled into a claw, pausing just inches shy of her mangled nose.
Much to her horror, a keening sphere sparked to life within his open palm.
Behind them, a pillar of golden light pierced the storm.
(.0.0.0.)
Life!
Everything came burning back in a heady rush.
Where once there had only been darkness and despair, there was now Light.
So much light! Bright and sharp and stinging and everywhere and everyone and EVERYTHING all at once. It filled her. It was her. And yet it was not of her. She couldn't think of any other explanation. No other word would do. She hugged her arms closed to herself seeking comfort, only to gasp at what she found there. In an instant she became keenly aware of the swelling radiance around her, of the air in her lungs, of her own hammering heart. It felt like her body would burst if she didn't let it out, if she didn't vent it on someone or something right now...!
For a single blinding instant, she couldn't remember anyone or anything. Not even her own name.
The moment passed and memories trickled back in slowly, painfully, heavier than the rainstorm soaking her skin.
What had happened? She remembered pain. Gasping for air that refused to come, someone holding her as the world went dark and...
Death.
She had...died, hadn't she?
There had been a terrible emptiness. Oblivion. The void.
Something -someone?- had plucked her out of it. She remembered a white room and a voice. A...presence? She couldn't recall.
She remembered...words. Shouting. Screaming.
Why?
She dragged a hand across her face and sucked in a ragged breath.
Why she couldn't remember the rest?
"Because," something answered her; a deep voice, echoing in her bones, shaking her very soul. "I do not wish you to recall the terrible truths you trifled with, nor the lesson you learned, or what your future might have been."
That damn voice. It sounded so familiar. Why couldn't she recall...?
"You will not remember me. Consider it a mercy-ignorance is bliss. Understanding of the higher plane is something not to trifle with lightly."
Growling, she pressed that same hand to her fevered forehead. Damnit, her skull hurt...
"That was not my doing. He has unwittingly made you more than you were. And in respect for that which you have become, to which you've ascended, you have been granted a second chance. There will not be a third."
Her brow furrowed. Chance...?
"This is the last time I directly interfere in mortal affairs, Raven Branwen. The bond between the two of you, once broken, is now restored. I will be watching you both."
Reality lurched back and she looked down, squinting against the rain.
"Do not disappoint me."
Someone had burned a hole through her jacket and bra besides, exposing her bosom. She glimpsed a strange golden sigil there, carved in the shape of a dragon. She flushed and fumbled at it, to no avail; strange tattoo aside, the fabric was ruined. Great. One of her tits was out. That wasn't embarrassing at all.
Tying a hastily knot to bind the frayed fabric together, she swayed to her feet and took a moment to survey her surroundings.
Someone had snatched her sword while she was out; no, nevermind that. The Tribe was a mess. Burnt and charred and soaked clean through. Amidst the wreckage she glimpsed a handful of burnt and battered survivors, several of which were just as shocked to see her in one piece as she was them. She balked at them, and they balked right back.
Because there, standing in the center of it all, Vasir sprawled at his feet, poised to deliver the finishing blow...
"Naruto?"
He stiffened at the sound of her voice, but didn't turn to face her. As though he were afraid. Bullshit. Whiskers wasn't scared of shit.
"Hey!" she raised her voice to shout, then immediately cursed herself for the tremor in it. "You finished without me."
His shoulders trembled in the rain. "You're not real."
Yeah, okay, maybe she deserved that after the scare she'd given him. "This feels real..."
Vasir gurgled at his feet. "You gotta be kidding me...!"
Lightning flashed as Naruto drove a vicious kick into the Maiden's ribs -Raven winced at the telltale crack of bone that followed- then kicked her again for good measure, causing the broken faunus to curl inward on herself. A peal of high thunder rumbled through the clouds overhead.
"Did I say you could talk?" a third kick dragged a whimper from their hated foe. "Corpses shouldn't speak." His right hand flashed up, and belatedly, she realized he was holding Omen, bringing it down to stab. "Why don't you just do us all a favor and DI-
In hindsight, Raven couldn't say what made her move exactly; only that something did. She stepped forward, stumbled once, and grabbed his wrist. It was a token gesture more than anything else; she knew she couldn't stop him if he took it into his head to end her life. Even then nearly yanked her off feet. Recognizing her as a threat, he rounded on her at last; she'd never seen him move so fast in all her life.
"That's my sword," she muttered. "Give it back."
Naruto pivoted, finally looked at her, saw her, and froze.
Poor bastard looked like he just might burst into tears right now.
It made something twitch in her chest. Raven wasn't sure if she liked it or not.
Then he was upon her. Blondie hit her like a truck; one moment he was ready to finish off Vasir; in the next he was there, grabbing her, arms slamming down around her like bars of steel as he buried his head into her shoulder. She spluttered, even moreso when she heard him sniffle against her.
Was...was he crying?
Her eyes began to sting. Must be all this rain.
"Don't do that to me again!" his arms tightened around her. "I thought you were...I thought I...
Ohgodsherheartwasbeatingtoodamnfast...!
"Hey, hey!" Raven squirmed against him, burning red. "That's enough touchy-feely shit! Lemme go!"
Naruto did just that, held her at arms distance...and stared. And he was still staring!
"Oi!" She scowled at him furiously. "What are you looking at?"
He thrust an incredulous finger at her. "Hair!"
Raven tilted her head. "Hair?"
"Look at your hair!"
Baffled, she looked down. "What're you talking...about...?"
She trailed off as she caught sight of herself in a nearby puddle.
A strange shimmering aura of gold engulfed her body. Had that been it, she might've shrugged things off.
It was not.
Her eyes were glowing, no longer red but a deep teal green, her vibrant pupils nowhere to be seen. It didn't stop there. Her hair, once dark as night, now gleamed a great golden gold, shining as though lit from within. She ran a hand through it, frowning when she found it stiff and jagged, all angry and sharp like someone had run a gallon's worth of hair gel through it. She liked her hair, damnit, not whatever this powerup was...
Her mind fizzled out spectacularly. "What the hell?!"
Naruto scratched the back of his head with a relieved laugh. "I think I might've given you too much chakra when I was healing ya...
"YA THINK?!" she glared up at him, eyes blazing like twin green coals in her skull. "I swear, this shit better be temporary!"
He looked so damn happy to see her. Made her flush. "I'm pretty sure it is...?"
A particularly brave bandit lunged at them while she was distracted. Naruto still had her sword, so she reacted accordingly; backhanding the buffoon.
That was the plan, at least.
The moment her fist struck, the bandit's entire upper torso ceased to be. What remained splattered to the ground in a messy heap. Raven paused. Blinked. Tilted her head and thumbed blood from her cheek as the ruined remains of said bandit fell at her feet. Alright, annoying new looks aside, she could get used to this kinda boost.
A wide, toothy grin split her face. "Nice upgrade. Mama like."
Naruto barked a laugh. "Of course you do-
Light flashed in the corner of her vision.
Naruto yanked her aside and this time, she knew better than to resist; and well that she didn't; because a bolt of lightning struck his chest and launched him away; sending him hurtling into the messy remains of a tent and the wooden wall besides. The crisp smell of ozone lingered, with a fair bit of smoke besides.
"Ha!" Vasir's broken, bloody face twisted in triumph. "Some Schnee he was! Make sure he stays down, boys!"
Raven sighed. "Really? REALLY, now? I just calmed him down. "I'll never hear the end of it at this rate..."
"What're you talkin' about?! He's finished!"
.
..
...did she honestly think that was enough to do him in?
Raven beamed. "You might wanna rethink that."
Someone rushed after Naruto into the smoke, mace in hand.
THUNK.
Raven didn't see what happened in the haze; but she didn't have to. The noise was more than enough.
A man went into the smoke; a corpse came out, cut in twain at the waist.
Naruto walked through the haze after them, arms swaying loosely at his sides. His eyes burned like balefire-not red, but a cold brisk blue. Frankly, she would've taken the Fox. Because you see, there was a hole in his chest; she could see it just over his chest, right where his lungs should be.
Yet despite that, he smiled at Vasir. "All that effort for a single injury...how sad."
Raven quirked a glowing blond brow. "You're bleeding all over, idiot."
"I am...?" he touched a hand to his wound and blinked, mildly bemused. "Well, this brings back memories." he rubbed two bloody fingers together. "Not used to seeing this much of my own blood before. Been awhile since someone put a proper hole in me, ya know?" As she looked on, the wound closed, mending itself before her very eyes. "Much better." He cracked the knuckles of his natural hand, spread his arms wide and smiled at Vasir. "Care to try again?"
Despite her newfound power, Raven found herself edging backward.
Uh-oh. He'd gone full Schnee on them.
You never went full Schnee.
She'd never seen him lose his temper, truly lose his temper.
Willow was one scaaaaaaary bitch to love a man capable of crushing continents.
Naruto didn't go berserk; at least, not anymore. He grinned when he was angry these days.
His smile struck terror into her soul.
A man rushed him with a machete. He parried with his metal arm, stepped in an drove a fist through their chest, pivoted and used him as a living shield against the barrage of bullets that followed, then barged forward. Everything dissolved into a frenzied, bloody blur. The Maiden lashed out anew, to which he grabbed another tribe member and kicked them their way. Poor bastard dissolved outright.
Vasir howled and flung a bolt at him.
"Ah, ah, ah." He wagged a finger her way and swayed aside, let it sear past and in a single seamless motion he reached in, grabbed the bolt and...
.
..
...what the actual shit.
He did not just do that, right there.
No way was Whiskers capable of something like that.
Naruto definitely wasn't wielding a lightning bolt right now; certainly wasn't hold it in his hands, absolutely wasn't raising his arm, to throw...!
"Seems you lost this!" his face split in a savage grin. "ALLOW ME TO RETURN IT!"
He threw the bolt back her way like a javelin and unlike him, the Maiden wasn't anywhere near fast enough to dodge. The blue bolt clipped her shoulder and blew right through it, arm and elbow and wrist all, blasting the limb clear off her body before hurtling her to the dirt like a rag doll.
Vasir howled imprecations and lashed out like a wild animal. A towering fireball struck his smiling face and his entire body vanished in a towering pillar of flame.
Something snuffed it out. Raven never saw what; only a sudden surge of golden light. Naruto walked right through it.
"So this is what its like to fight an enraged Spring Maiden." he tilted his head with a frown. "How lackluster."
Raven snorted. Vasir twitched. "What?"
"My fiance would still run circles around you." Naruto feigned a yawn. "Then again, she's a fully realized maiden and you're just...he gestured at her, the motion ripe with contempt. "Mediocre."
She froze him solid; for all the good it did.
A crack etched itself through the iceberg and he emerged with a smile bordering on a sneer.
"Not bad." he planted bot hands on his hips and leaned forward, grinning from ear to ear. "Want me to praise you."
Her face drained of all color." You're not human...you're not. You've changed. What are you?
"In a word, karma." he turned his head aside and flexed his metal arm, conjuring a bladed implement. "Also your death. I wonder what its like killing a Maiden...?
Vasir's mangled gazed sought her out, to no avail. "Why her, then, huh?! Why go so far for this Branwen bitch?!"
He shrugged. "I'll be the first to admit Raven's a pain in my ass; she's rude, cruel, bit of a bitch really-
"Hey!"
Suddenly, he smiled. "But she's the aunt to my daughters and Summer would be sad if she died.
"What does that mean?"
"I means you're done for." he started forward, heedless of the mud sucking at his shoes. "I do not take sass from insects."
"Insect?!" Vasir struggled upright on her good leg. "I'm the strongest being here!"
"A beetle is still an insect, no matter how loud it might scream."
"Why you...?!"
Naruto didn't laugh at his own joke. Raven almost wished he would; anything was better than that infernal smile, the ugly curl of his lip, that look that made her feel like nothing and it wasn't even fixated on her. His head tilted ever so slightly and the temperature plummeted. "Are you done throwing your tantrum, now?"
"No!" Vasir stomped a foot like the child she no longer was. "I AM strong! Stronger than you!
"If that were true, I wouldn't be standing before you now, would I?"
Silence fell over the camp.
"Tell you what." Naruto shucked his bloody coat, revealing the black vest beneath. "I'll give you one more free shot to prove your point. But if you waste it-
Vasir unleashed hell. Fire and ice, wind earth and lightning, she threw everything at him; he vanished into the storm...
.
..
...miss Maiden," only to walk through it, body bleeding smoke, and seized her by the wrists. "Has this ever worked?"
Vasir whimpered.
BOOT!
Naruto heel snapped up with and struck Vasir's chin with an audible crack, sending her rocketing into the air.
The rest was all a blur to Raven. Naruto reappeared well above and behind the false Maiden, fists clasped high over his head.
An almighty explosion rocked the tribe, bringing with it a blinding flash of light. By the time it cleared, Vasir was in the ground. He'd planted her like a turnip in the dirt; buried her beside her, he reached down, grabbed her by one leg and ripped her loose, dangling her upside down as one might a freshly picked vegetable.
"To be fair," he rumbled, "This is far from the worst decision you made today."
A shout went up from the stragglers.
"Protect the boss!"
Raven side-eyed them.
She could feel Naruto's power in her veins -Unlimited Power!- running hot, ready to be let loose at her command. She had but to direct it.
Well, aright then.
Raven intercepted him and threw herself at the nearest surviving bandit, completely overshot her target and ended up hitting another instead by virtue of pure luck. She kicked him clean in half. Blood everywhere.
"Damnit." she wiped her face with a sigh. " his better be something I can turn off...
She was not a blonde-unnatural or otherwise!- thank you very much!
Bullets pinged harmlessly against her Aura as she waded into the fray, but it almost felt like there was another layer beneath it all. Something shielded her. Protecting her. Omen whisked to and fro with peerless poise and speed, ripping great rents in the Tribe with every slash. What was this? She felt stronger, faster, better and she couldn't understand why.
"Well, I'll be. Naruto actually pulled it off. And to think, only took you nearly dying...
She balked. "Kurama?! Why can I hear you?!"
"Because he flooded you with my chakra, you bird buffoon. Its a miracle you're still standing."
"I should help-
"Don't bother. Its over."
She looked back to find Naruto dangling Vasir by the throat, her arms and legs hewn away at the elbows and knees, leaving her with little moe than stumps. He held out a hand, finger tensing into a honed point, but stopped short of obliterating her.
"Any last words?"
She gurgled wetly. "I'm sorry...!
"I'm sure you are, given hindsight. Unfortunately for you, I'm not." His gaze slide sideways and found Raven at the last. "Do you want this?
Raven went still. "What...?"
"Earlier you said you wanted power. Here you go." he dangled Vasir her way. "This is your chance. Hurry up. She'll die from blood-loss if you take too long."
She balked at on him, eyes wide. "What are you saying?
"You know full well."
That's right. She already knew. He was offering the Maiden to her.
The last woman in a Maiden's thoughts gained her power. If she was the one to kill Vasir...
Something that would let her stand on even footing with Willow; if this new transformation didn't put her there already.
But it would make her a target. Quite possibly THE target, given which vault she'd have access to. Not just for Salem, but Ozpin as well; there could be no hiding something like this from the old man. He'd notice, perhaps not the moment he laid eyes on her, but sooner rather than later. Naruto had all the resources of the SDC and Atlas to keep Cinder's power safe and secret. She had no such luxury and would struggle to control the power at first. Someone on Team STRQ was bound to notice...
.
..
...but the power!
If she was strong now, how much stronger would she become once she had the might of a Maiden added to her reserves?
Would he finally look at her, then? Would he notice her? Would he even care?
"Make your choice. She's fading fast."
There wasn't enough time! She couldn't decide! "Can't we just keep her alive a little longer?!"
"We could," he granted her a grave nod, which in turn allowed her to relax briefly, only for his next words to steal it away, "But we won't."
"Why not?!"
His eyes met hers and the very world itself seemed to darken momentarily. "Because she killed you right in front of me. She doesn't get rewarded for that."
Raven winced as a hot flush raced up the back of her neck. "I got better, though...?
"You did," he squinted at her, "Which means you and I are going to have a long conversation as to how, but for now I'm not going to look a gift horse in the mouth."
He threw Vasir down.
"Choose."
The faunus rasped a laugh where she lay. "You idiots...do you think this is over? She'll get to you...the same way she got me...
Raven realized what she meant long before Naruto did. "You drew us out here for a reason, didn't you?"
Vasir granted her an ugly grin. "Why do you think I attacked Mistral? I knew you'd come running."
Naruto quirked a brow. "Were you trying to die?"
"Not die...distract you...
Raven froze. "No...
Vasir sneered at her. "Its nothing personal, Branwen...you were always a pawn...that's all you'll ever be.'
Naruto shrugged one shoulder, unconcerned. "Your semblance going off?"
She closed her eyes and focused. "No. Everyone's good."
Which was somewhat concerning in and of itself, come to think of it. What was that old witch up to?
"Then we're good." Naruto didn't seem inclined to care. "They can handle themselves. I trained them myself. "He look back to the dying Faunus woman. "I don't know what you and Salem intended to achieve here, you were clearly bait of some sort to lure us out. It wasn't bad, I'll admit, and ya did a good job getting me riled up. But its over now."
Raven dithered, torn between power and purpose.
Why did she have to choose?
Could she not have both?
"Do it." Vasir sneered, blind to her internal struggle. "Kill me, and she'll hunt you all over Remnant. There will be no peace, no rest, no mercy...!"
Naruto raised a hand, ready to do the deed if she wouldn't. "You want her or not?"
She looked to him. "Should I?"
"I can't answer that question for you. Its up to you, the path that you choose. You've gotta do something...so what'll it be?"
It was the straw that broke the camel's back and made her decision.
Omen slashed through the air...
.
..
...and buried it in Vasir's gut.
Its nothing personal, dear." she crooned softly, throwing her words back at the Faunus. "You're just not worthy of such power." wrenching the blade in the wound, she drew a pained cry from the dying Maiden. "But I am." putting all her weight on the blade, she forced it through the girl's back and leaned close, leaving her forehead mere inches from her. "So I will TAKE what is mine. And you...well. After today, No one will even remember your name."
Her old friend spat in her face. "I'll see you in hell! Salem can't be-
Raven reached down, grabbed her by the head and twisted, snapping her neck.
Naruto made an annoyed noise. "Pretty sure she was gonna say something important, there."
She rolled her eyes at him. "Does it matter?
"Not in the long run, I guess."
She looked back to Vasir's corpse. "Guess her last thoughts weren't of me."
Naruto frowned. "They should've been. Everyone of age here is dead. We saw to that."
Raven scowled, feeling disheartened, cheated, even. "Then why don't I feel an difffffffffuuuuck!
Vertigo hit her like a sledgehammer all at once, sending her crashing down on a knee. Distantly, she became aware of Naruto's voice calling out to her, his hand on her shoulder. She barely heard him. Eyes stinging, soul singing, ears ringing. All of her senses burned and she found herself lost in the haze of sorcererous sound she couldn't make heads or tails of.
If Naruto's chakra was gentle...this was the antithesis. It was elemental chaos incarnate, the first touch of Spring, the bitter bite of Winter, the searing heat of Summer and the ominous chill of Fall. The dying dregs of Vasir's soul became a part of her and in turn, she became something greater than herself.
Try telling that to her poor body.
It didn't take to the Maiden's Power well- like any invading force- it sought to repel it, fighting viciously against it. Aura mingled with chakra which in turn now seethed with magic, a wild and heady mix that left her pulse pounding in her ears as her body struggled to contain it all. Sweat beaded upon her brow, hot then cold, then hot again now as she broke out in a wild fever. Pain, fire, agony! Her legs buckled completely and crashed backward, convulsing, teeth chattering, clicking together with a painful clack.
"M-Make it stop!"
"I can't do that." Naruto dropped down to his haunches and crouched down beside her. "You have to ride it out."
"B-B-Bastard!" She forced the word out through convulsions. "You knew this would happen!"
"I had my concerns...but don't worry. You're tough. You'll survive.
He knelt fully beside her and took her into his arms. Frantic, she latched onto him, desperate to have an island of peace in the storm.
"There, there." He laid his chin atop her head and traced slow circles across the small of her back. "You'll be alright...
Coddling! For some reason that embarrassed her more than anything else. She wasn't accustomed to being seen in such a vulnerable position, let alone held in one.
Why did it have to be him? Why the one person that she'd fallen for? Why couldn't she stop loving him?
Her new power held no answers for her.
Eventually her seizure subsided, and her tremors went with it.
"Better?"
...yeah." She took a deep breath, but couldn't bring herself to pull away. So she laid in his arms instead.
Naruto quirked a brow at her. "You gonna get up?"
Sne snuggled closer. ""Don't wanna."
"Lazy bird...
Idly, she glimpsed her reflection in his eyes. Oh, good. The whole green-eyed blond bit had worn off for now. She was back to her normal self again...or what was left of it.
Crimson flames bled from her eyes.
Closing her eyes, she looked to the ground. "Now what?"
"Now you live your life." he shrugged a shoulder. "Ozpin will be delighted to have a Maiden on his side.
"What about you?"
He blinked, gone quizzical. What about me?"
Raven slapped his chest. Why don't you want anything from me?
"Should I?"
"You should!" Annoyed, she smacked his hand away and stumbled to her feet. "The strong take! The weak have no choice but to serve them or die!
"And are you weak, Raven Branwen?"
"Hell no! I won't let Ozpin use me. She reached across herself with and gripped her left elbow with her right hand, looking away. "I'll master this. Will I be worthy of you then?
Shame flooded his face. "You're a pain in my ass...
"Hey!"
...but I like to think we're friends. You don't have to prove yourself to me.
Yes, she did, because she wasn't good enough. "I don't want to be friends. I want you."
Something sparked across his visage; then his face closed down as he collapsed his arm. "I can't give you what you're asking for."
"Why not?! Everyone in Team STRQ is moving on. Summer has you, Tai's all but given into Goodwitch and Qrow has that bunny bitch of his now. I know, I know," a hand waved when he made to protest, "She has a name, but that's not the point. What about me? What do I do? The Tribe was the one thing I might come back to, but its gone now. I killed these people for you, sacrificed my past to you. Its ashes, no, less than ashes. I gave it all to you!" her voice piqued when he didn't answer. "What more do you want from me? What do I have to give you to make you see?!"
"You don't have to give me anything," he chided her softly. "And we didn't kill everyone...
A faint, reedy cry rose from the rubble.
Raven perked up and followed the sound, kneeling to clear some debris away.
The sight there stole here breath away; if only because it shouldn't have been possible.
Yet there she was. A baby, not quite a toddler, stared up at her as she peeled a sundered roof away. A dirty, emaciated girl more or less Winter's age, wrapped in swaddling clothes. Unbidden, she found herself reaching for the little one and sweeping her up into her arms.
It was a perfect fit. The fact wasn't lost on her.
"She doesn't even have a name."
Naruto prodded her. "Then give her one. Vernal sounds like a good start."
She held the kiddo close. "I'm sorry for shouting."
"Don't be sorry. Be better.
Raven looked away, idly cradling the babe against her bosom. After today's debacle, only the Fall Maiden was left unaccounted for and she wasn't so foolish as to tempt fate -or Qrow's semblance!- on that front. It was dangerous enough having one Maiden that Oz didn't know about, but with this, only one Maiden was yet unaccounted for. And once they were found. Her heart skipped a traitorous beat. Would he protect them as he had her? Would he care? Or...
Her lips betrayed her thoughtlessly. "...I think I love you."
The words washed over Naruto in a rush and he left blinking, frowning now.
"You don't love me." He gave his head a shake. "I don't think you even know what love is." She made an angry noise in her throat but he didn't give her the chance to challenge him. Look, I know you and Qrow didn't have the best upbringing here, so I'm gonna let that slide.
"That's no fair!" she glowered at him. "I want to know what it feels like. Just once!"
"I'm not the person to ask. Take it up with Willow."
She cocked her hip at him, trying to rile him up. "Scared?"
He shook his head again, setting his bang swaying. "You'll have to do better than that."
His scroll rang, diverting his attention. He snatched it up and held it to his ear, then frowned." Honey?"
"There you are!" Willow's voice came through loud and clear, easily enough for them both to hear. "Watts couldn't get ahold of you, so I asked him to activated the tracker in your scroll. I couldn't contact you with that freak storm...
Naruto made an annoyed noise. "Clever bastard.
"He is, isn't he? Is Raven still with you?"
He looked her way. "Yes?
"Grand! Put her on!"
Raven paled and shook her head. Too late. He handed his scroll off to her and make her take it.
Willow's voice was the darkest seduction. "So, birdie...
To her credit, the Schnee matriarch kept her voice low for both their sakes. Naruto couldn't hear what was said between the two of them; frankly, she was glad he couldn't. By the end of it, despite her spluttered denials, her face was burning a bright pink.
"Take your woman back!" She flung the scroll at him, forcing him to catch it or risk having it dashed against the ground.
"Are you there, dearest?"
"I am."
"Put me on speaker."
He did.
As such, Raven found herself with a front row seat to the discussion that followed. "How do you feel about her?
Judging by his expression, that was a complicated question. "She drives me insane."
Willow's pleased noise had Raven gulping. "Hmmm, not the answer I thought I'd hear."
And what do you want me to say? She's not right int he head.
"None of us are. We're all mad here."
He scowled. "Hahaha, very funny miss Alice in Wonderland."
"Do you find her attractive?"
He cast a quick look over his shoulder.
Raven scowled at him, red in the face until he looked back to his scroll. "We get along like a house on fire."
"So did we at first, remember? I won't make you bed someone you don't want to. Just bed the bloody birdie if you want. Or don't. Its all one and the same to me."
"I'll consider it. However!" Raven perked up, but he flung forth a hand to forestall her happy cry. "I have several conditions!"
"Name them."
"Two years!" He raised two fingers. Raven made another strangled noise and tried to interject, but this time he didn't give her a chance to get her bearings or find her mental footing. He jerked his chin toward little Vernal, already sound asleep in her arms. "If you prove to me that you can care for and raise that girl, I'll consider it.
Fine! Two could play those games. "Speaking of kids, Summer might be pregnant.
Naruto twitched explosively. "Excuse me?"
That'll teach him to ignore her.
Raven saw her chance and took it. "Remember when I said she was sick? Well, she's been having an awful lotta morning sickness lately."
Naruto made a strangled noise. "You mean she's...?
Raven took visceral pleasure in his shock. "Yup.
He swayed were he stood." But that means...!"
"Yuup."
"She's gonna have a kid?!"
"Yuuuup."
Willow made delighted Willow noises through the speaker. "FINALLY! Why didn't you open with that?!"
Well, it looked like Summer had gotten what she wanted. Good for her...maybe?
But what about her?
"Raven," Willow crooned through the scroll, "Be a dear and cut a portal back home to me, would you? He and I have some...business to attend to."
She grabbed his wrist and yanked him backward.
Her mouth met his savagely, stealing his breath away.
For a moment, just a moment, she felt him return her efforts and bite her lip. His normal arm looped around her, holding her close, while careful not to crush baby Vernal between them. Then he shut down.
"Two years," she promised, releasing him with an effort, not daring to test him. "I won't forget."
Her peace said, she cut a portal for him.
Naruto paused, glanced back...
"Be seein' ya."
.
..
... and stepped through.
Raven glanced down at the infant still nestled in her arms.
"Now, then...what the hell am I gonna do with you?"
Qrow was gonna laugh his arse off at this.
She knew it; she just knew it.
Vernal cooed happily.
(.0.0.0.)
Willow awaited Naruto on the other side of Raven's portal, clad in a flowing white evening gown that instantly drew his eye.
"Oh!" she took on look at his bloody, soaked suit and smiled. "You're back early."
Had it been her alone, he would've collapsed into bed then and there.
Life was seldom so simple.
Kali Belladona was waiting for him with her, sat atop his bed, thankfully care more clothed than his wife-to-be
.
..
...unlike her, she was in a right state.
Her eyes were wet.
"Can we talk...?"
Naruto blinked. He blinked hard. "Am I gonna like this talk...?
Willow shushed him. "Just hear her out. She's had a terribly long journey."
Kali didn't leap into his arms; she jumped him, buried her head into his chest, and began bawling, babbling really. "Ghira and he and she and I and I saw and a-and...
"Hey, now!" Ever the gentlemen, he took her by the shoulders and guided her down to a chair. "What's wrong?"
She told him her story, her tale of woe as an indulgent Willow looked on.
Ghira would never look at her the way she wanted.
But someone else might.
A/N: Aaaaand scene.
Thad said, would you like weekly updates? Do let me know! Feedback is important.
As ever the Embers rule persists, reviews are my fuel, my fire, my life. Without them, I lose all inspiration, all hope, all ability to write.
That's no joke. I have so little time to write these days with two jobs, scarcely one day off a week, and silence hurts. So by all means, speak up! Make yourselves heard! Every bit of feedback, no matter how small or large, matters! Really, it helps a lot. Its a joy to talk with you all and bandy ideas back and forth; it really is. Sorry if this seems shorter than usual, working on a tight schedule here.
Reviews are the fuel that keeps me writing. That's no joke. I really am sorry that the chapters are shorter these days, and the updates slower, but I'm trying my best. Silence hurts more than any flame...without feedback, I can't write a single world. Seriously! So speak up! Every word -and every review!- really does matter!
So in the Immortal Words of Atlas... ...Review, Would You Kindly?
Here, have some previews. Lemme know what you think!
And as ever: Possible spoilers! Seriously!
Mostly the same previews here.
WARNING! WARNING! WARNING!
SPOILERS AWAIT AHEAD!
YOU WERE WARNED~!
(Previews are condensed to save space!
Give me a little inspiration, something to fight for...and I'll give you a world of problems.
Tyrian tittered. "Riddle me this! what do you get when a Maiden and a Shinobi have a child together?
The answer might surprise you! Shall I give you the answer?
You get a goddess."
Qrow was really starting to hate Mistral.
Bad enough that they had their crime syndicates, but this drug...no one had paid attention to it for the longest time. They'd known about it, even seen hints down in Menagerie, but this...
A drug that boosted semblances. Sounded great on paper, right?
It wasn't.
Using the damn thing killed you eventually. Semblances were meant to grow and evolve naturally. This...whatever it was, forced that evolution.
"Well, shit. Oz ain't gonna like this...
"We still haven't tracked down that semblance booster yet?
Evidently its cropped up in Mistral now.
"Lovely."
Target in sight.
She'd been so careful these last few days, making sure no one saw her, that no one suspected. This was her time, this was her moment! Her day was now!
"Ruby Rose! You put that cookie down! No desert before dinner!"
Buuusted.
Mommy was best mom, but she really did keep a close eye on her cookie jar...
Daddy was better. He let her have sweets all the time!
"Again."
Winter climbed to her feet. Cinder waited her, golden eyes shining with flame. Roman knelt to retrieve his hat, dusted it off, and brandished his cane at her. Sienna cracked her knuckles.
"Pick up your sword. We're not done yet, little sister...
Winter wasn't cut out to be a big sister. Truly, she felt she wasn't. She'd been born broken. She only knew how to fight and kill. That was why she seldom spoke. Why she shunned others.
It was precisely why she was hesitating now, as the mewls of a newborn infant filled the hospital room.
"Oh, stop that. Come here and hold your baby sister. Weiss won't bite."
...you're gonna be a daddy again.
Naruto fell out his chair!
"What's gotten into you, Winter?"
She wouldn't look at him. She mustn't. She refused.
"I heard what you said to mother." Father arched an eyebrow at her, and in the absence of his words, child though she was, she found the strength to continue. "You think I'm weak because I'm not like you, like Cinder and Sienna, or even Roman." she stomped a foot and looked down, unwilling to meet his eyes. "I know I was never what you wanted, but I thought after all this time, maybe things were different.
His stoic gaze drilled into her. "When did you get the impression I didn't want you? You don't know everything kiddo...
"No, she sniffled, "but at least now I know the truth.
"The truth, eh?" he thumbed his chin. "Alright." a quick shove pushed his chair out from behind his desk. "You want the truth? C'mere." A metal hand patted his knee. "I'd wanted to wait another three years, but I suppose now's as good a time as any."
Her legs betrayed her and she found herself climbing into his lap. At the end of the day he was still her father and she was only five.
She tilted her head up to get a better look at him. As such she saw the moment his sapphire eyes snapped into scarlet.
Winter gasped despite her best efforts. "What did you do?! Is that a semblance or...?
"Nope. I'm a jinchuuriki, girl." she watched golden light dance across his face as he spoke, burning bright. "From another world, far from here. When I first met your mother I chose to be who I am now. To be more than a fight, but a leader as well. But the truth is, I'm far from perfect." he held up his false arm from her to see. "I killed my best friend. It wasn't something I wanted to do-that's how I got this arm. Even after that, I destroyed many who were deserving...and many who were not."
"That still doesn't explain why you think I'm weak-
"You think you're weak, Winter? No, no, no." he shook his head, setting his pale hair swaying. "You're strong; the only other person on this planet with chakra besides me. Hell, you're probably going to be even stronger than me, once you grow up. Which is why you must be BETTER. I didn't want to tell you any of this until you were ready."
"Why not tell me all this before?"
"Because it could go to your head. Because strength without experience can create a lifetime of tragedy if you're not careful. I also wanted you to have a normal childhood."
She scowled at him. "How is anything about my life even remotely normal?"
He granted her a small smile.
"Fair enough...
...why do I laugh, you ask? I laugh because you have no idea what you've unleashed. There are things far worse than death."
Something tore the roof clean off above them; the roar of a beast split the air.
"Ah, right on time."
Winter scowled. It was a very impressive scowl she felt, easily capable of causing even the mightiest of Grimm to quaver in its boots.
It had no effect whatsoever on Big Sister Cinder. Her sister was everything she wanted to be; poise, power, and perfection. It didn't matter if they weren't related by blood. They were sisters. Anyone who said otherwise was getting an ice spike through the eye.
Now, now, there's no need to make such a face. You're only four, after all. What troubles you?
Daddy is busy again.
Cinder's face lit up. Really? Then I suppose we'll have to change that.
EDIT: Good 'ol Jason Statham here...
I asked twice. He started it. He's a bully.
...maybe this is my fault. I taught her to defend herself.
You think its a good idea teaching a little girl to fight?
Fight, no. Defend herself though? Definitely.
"Naruto, stop! This isn't you! This isn't who you want to be! They need to face justice!
Rationally, yes. But he wasn't feeling very rational right now.
"They came for my family. This is justice."
He squeezed their neck harder.
CRACK.
R&R~!