Howdy everyone! I'm back with Chapter X and a little bit nervous about the reception to it. I haven't worked on The Fallen for about a month so I think It's somewhat off but I'm sure I'll get back into the groove of things soon enough. This chapter and the next will be a transition between the Anima arc and what will soon be the Solitas Arc which I can't wait to get to as a scenario in that arc is the whole reason I started writing this story and eagle-eyed readers may be able to put together what I plan to do but I won't be confirming anything. Anyway, I've talked enough so I hope you all enjoy.
-OtherwiseR00K
Leo let out a long and heavy sigh. He'd just finished up with a meeting he thought would last forever and was now sitting on the steps of the staircase located within the great hall of Haven Academy. Leo would usually be in his office leaning back in his leather chair with his eyes shut but having been stuck in there for the last several hours he was starved of more open space and came out here instead.
The meeting had been the latest in a series of them starting hours ago with the release of that article. An article detailing the corruption of the Mistral Council and the members spearheading that corruption, all of which were now being investigated. Leo had no doubt they'd be found guilty; he was more worried about how the people were taking this.
On another topic, the Wildcard had finally reached Mistral. Leo was aware of this because his agents, having gone to the Spiders, had learned of it from a patron at the bar they were set up in currently, the Aeiger if he remembered correctly. What Leo learned was that the Wildcard had walked in a little after two kids had and demanded that they stop trying to learn about him. This, including the Wildcard confirming his killings of the Spiders who tried, made Malachite attempt to kill him.
This hadn't gone her way and the Wildcard left after a lofty threat and the part that intrigued Leo so much was the method. The patron had reportedly told his agents that several blades with red hilts appeared in the air and were launched at everyone in the bar but instead of hitting them, they pierced their shadow. Then they could no longer move.
Could this be another relic of Ozpin's time?
Leo wasn't sure but couldn't come up with anything else. He'd be reporting this to Ozpin as soon as possible but he knew he'd be incredibly busy the next few days with the backlash from the corrupt council members. In the meantime he's sent out his agents to find the cult base and deal with it as soon as possible; he couldn't let someone come across the massacre, it'd just be more added to Mistral's negativity.
Another thing pertaining to the Wildcard was the now-leveled Lemon Manor. Leo was aware of the upstart in Mistral's criminal underworld and aware that she was the daughter of a rich family that came from Atlas decades ago. Besides that Leo wasn't really familiar with the woman besides what she's done which wasn't much anyway.
It seemed she'd tried to bite off more than she could handle and it gave way to her downfall. Leo wasn't privy to all the information of that incident but from what he could gather, it seemed Lemon had taken a girl from the Aieger, and the brother was almost killed if not for the Wildcard's appearance.
Leo had to assume the brother had gotten the help of the Wildcard somehow and that was why this had happened. It gave a little more character to the man Ozpin had told them to be wary of and while it wasn't a lot it at the very least gave the Haven Headmaster a sense of ease knowing the Wildcard would help children.
Though Malachite has already seen fit to take advantage of Lemon's death having already taken most of her assets, the others being taken by the piranhas of the criminal world. Leo would not be surprised if this incident allowed another main player to rise; it wouldn't be the first time.
Leo leaned forward, bringing his hands up to his chin as contemplated what could happen within the week. He knew for a fact the Grimm would begin coming toward Mistral on mass due to the negativity so he had to get on that as soon as possible, maybe pose the assignment as a student training mission so that way the students could get something out of this mess. He should limit the students to 2nd and 3rd years though, Leo wasn't sure what would be encountered when the time came and wouldn't throw the 1st years to the wolves when he knew the 2nd and 3rd years were better prepared.
Through all of these problems, he could see some good things that may come from the corrupt members of the council being the ones who had expressed their racist beliefs toward him; their removal allowed him to endorse those who may be able to help the Faunus of Mistral in a way he wished the White Fang were capable of doing. This also helps with his own plans to reform Mistral which were rejected by the majority of the council.
In all honesty, Leonardo felt he could see the light at the end of the tunnel for the first time in years.
-Atlas-
James Ironwood was very tempted to break out the Mistralian Whiskey gifted to him by Leo on James' birthday just to drown out this headache he was developing. A few hours prior the current General of Atlas' body was found in his quarters. It didn't help matters that this happened days before the election that would decide if he would continue to be the general or if new blood would take the seat.
The only people part of the election would be the three captains of the Atlas Military. James was one of these people but he had no intention of running as he already had enough to deal with, he didn't need to add 'General of Atlas' to it. Besides he was also a member of Ozpin's circle which was already another load on his back.
Which also led to another source of his headache, the current Winter Maiden. Fria was pushing 70 and she still insisted on going out into the Solitas wastes to root out any of Salem's cult that hid out there. James could understand why and to an extent he was appreciative of her efforts but she was still getting older and with that, her body was slowly beginning to fail her.
Fria had hidden it very well but James had noticed the small tremors in her arms. He hadn't mentioned it out of respect to her but if they got any worse he'd pull rank and force her to retire. Fria would give James hell for it but he'd prefer her to be alive to do so. Ozpin's circle couldn't afford to lose a Maiden.
This rode into the other facet of his headache and one he was more worried about in the short term. The Wildcard would be coming to Atlas next, or more accurately Mantel. James was aware of the chapter of the cult beneath Atlas but could do nothing about it without heavy political repercussions. James wasn't ignorant of the friction between Atlas and Mantel and knew taking down a team of Specialists to stomp out the infection would be seen as a power play. The general populace was ignorant of the cult and he wouldn't pierce that veil of ignorance.
If Jame could, he'd round up some of his best specialists, head down to Mantel, and burn the cult out by lunch the next day.
The Wildcard would shake things up and shake it hard. James had gotten reports from both Ozpin and Lionheart about the situations the Wildcard had caused. It was relatively light in Vale which didn't surprise him but the effect in Mistral and Anima could have more far-reaching ramifications. James was worried that whatever effects the Wildcard would have here would be more damaging.
His military mind immediately went for getting some soldiers on this, maybe a few specialists but James was aware that while the Atlas Military was great at what it did. What it did not do was quiet. The specialists were Huntsman trained and any conflict would turn bombastic. As much as it hurt his pride in the Atlas Military, it simply wasn't an option for the resources they had.
James hadn't been a part of Ozpin's circle for that long, maybe about a year and a half, and in that time he hadn't found anyone he was confident enough to be his agent. Ozpin, Leonardo, and Theodore all had people they trusted beneath them to get things done quietly but James had no one besides the previous Headmistress.
She'd lost her agents when they attempted to deal with Mantel's chapter of the cult but they'd all been found with their stomachs and throats carved out. Salem's symbol was carved into their bodies. The incident was one of the deciding factors in the previous Headmistress's retirement; she had felt she had gotten too old to be able to handle that sort of loss.
James sighed, sinking into his chair, "What am I going to do?" he questioned himself.
Buzz!
The sudden noise made James flinch and for a moment his eyes took on a deeper sheen before he shook his head. He sighed again before pressing the answer button on his desk phone, "Yes, this is Captain Ironwood speaking?"
"Hello, sir," a slightly squeaky voice came through, the voice of his assistant Catherine Jamel, "Um, Captain Flae is here to see you."
James was surprised, his eyes widening at the name of his friend. Flae was another Captain within Atlas and James' brother-in-arms. The man was even responsible for James even being able to sit in this chair. What was he doing here?
"Send him in," James said before letting go of the button and standing to greet his old friend. James had known Dolus Flae since his own time in the Atlas Academy, the two were in the same unit and fought the same battles. Dolus had saved James as well, having pulled his mangled body from the fight after pirates had blown up a stash of dust beneath a pocket of snow that James had just happened to step on.
If either of the captain candidates won the election, he hoped it was Dolus Flae.
The door opened and in walked the man himself. Dolus was strongly built similar to James if not a little leaner, his fiery red hair and neatly trimmed beard gave him an approachable appearance. The man was currently wearing the formal Atlas Captain uniform, most likely getting ready for the debate in the next few hours.
The two men met each other in the middle of the office and shook hands, "I'm surprised to see you here Dolus."
"Why? Can't old friends visit one another?" the man said with a small smirk.
"That's not what I meant, I thought you were healing the investigation on General Crassur's death."
Dolus' smirk left his face, his eyes going a little more serious, "That's what I'm here to talk about." Dolus reached into his coat and pulled out a vanilla folder, "I knew you would want to know what was found as soon as possible so I made sure you were the next person besides the coroner and me to know."
James took the folder and opened it, noting the first picture was the body of the deceased general. No marks were seen besides the typical autopsy scars and he looked back at Dolus, "You already finished?" James says.
"Yeah, the cause of death was a heart attack."
"A heart attack?"
"Yup," Dolus says walking over to a chair James kept in his office and sitting down, "Apparently it happened late in the night so he must've been asleep when it happened. He died in his sleep by a heart attack."
James looked down at the reports, "That seems…"
"A little anticlimactic? I know the problems you two had, and we both know his connections to the SDC."
"It just seems like he wouldn't have died from that. He had aura after all."
"Maybe, then again he's obviously not been taking care of himself as well as he did in the past, so maybe all that abuse finally caught up."
James continued looking at the files until he finally sighed, his paranoia must've been getting to him. When James had heard of Crasuer's death he'd assumed it had been of malicious intent but for it to be natural made him feel like he was overthinking things.
"So what do you think about the election?" Dolus prompts, he must've noticed James spiraling into his own head.
"I think you have my support, Dolus."
"Ah, don't be like that. Honestly I thought you'd be trying your hand at the position."
James couldn't help but laugh at that, "No, I already have enough to do with my position as Headmaster I don't think I could do both. Besides I don't think I have it in me to dump most of my workload onto Catherine."
"Yeah, I guess you're right. Though maybe you should hire someone as the Deputy, I'm aware the other Academies have one so it wouldn't be so odd would it?"
"No, I can do the work fine as is."
"You mean your semblance can."
Just like that James stood straight. His semblance was a touchy topic for him, the fact Dolus brought it up at all meant he felt it was worth bringing up.
"It is perfectly safe on mundane things, I don't get too wrapped up in it if it's just paperwork."
Dolus sighed and stood, "Just keep it to mundane things, James. You and I both know what happened before-"
"And it won't happen again," James says, his voice stern and unshaken.
"I know that James. I just can't help but be worried about it, your semblance isn't something that takes account of the soldier's lives or others. It worries me you'll one day become a machine, your humanity long dead."
James sighed grimly at that, his left hand touching his right chest, "I'm already halfway there."
"Don't joke about that," Dolus says sternly.
The two stand in silence. The two had been on this road of conversation before and it had ended in a similar fashion then. Dolus checks his watch and begins moving to the door, "Well, it's been good to see you James but I have to get to my meeting before the debate."
"It's fine, you're gonna be a very busy man soon. Don't force yourself to take time on my account," James says.
"We'll see," Dolus says as he opens the door.
"Oh, and Dolus," the Atlas Captain turns to look at James, "Good luck."
James went over to his desk and sat down, his mind slipping back to the thoughts he was having before Dolus came. He was thankful for the distraction but now he couldn't help but wonder what would happen. James would have to get a squad together to handle the eventual mess.
He mentally had to remind himself that ultimately the Wildcard's actions would benefit Atlas and Mantel in the long run but James couldn't help but think of the short term.
-Evernight Castle-
The eternal moonlight of the God of Darkness' previous domain shone down on Salem as she stood out on her personal balcony. She stared up at the shattered moon as she thought about the steps she would take to handle this Interloper.
Arthur had arrived a few hours ago and relayed what had happened to the Squire. To say the Knights were outraged would be an understatement, they nearly took their rage out on poor Arthur if Salem hadn't stepped in and told them to focus that rage toward something more productive. The Knights were very few in number but not by design, the procedure was incredibly dangerous and far more invasive than her Bishops who simply have a small drop of Grimm essence within their systems.
As such, Salem has only ever produced fourteen in the time she'd created the procedure. This made each Knight a rare and valuable piece to her board and made the Knights incredibly close to one another, almost akin to a family. A Squire is the metaphorical child and the Knights are the parents and uncles and aunts. The Knights were mourning the loss. Some had even requested the opportunity to go after the killer but Salem shut these requests down and instead told them to blow off some steam by heading off to the Grimm pools and letting loose.
Salem wasn't distressed by the loss, nor was she disappointed. The Squire had been sent for a purpose and that purpose would have been fulfilled either way; in death or victory. Salem now had a general idea of how strong the rogue piece was and it was an anomaly. Salem was fully aware of how strong and durable the Squires were; the body would've needed to be mutilated beyond recognition and then stomped further to kill them.
This typically took the combined efforts of entire teams of Huntsmen and Huntresses to do. For a single man to do this; it was something she thought only Ozma capable of. It was worrying, to say the least.
Salem had to deal with this threat but her window of opportunity had closed. If she was correct on the Rogue's goal; then he was already heading toward Mantel or Atlas as it was referred to now. She could not act there as it was heavily watched and the Mantel Chapter had to be incredibly careful so Atlas' military didn't come down on it.
Salem had sacrificed pieces on her board many times; the most recent being Vale's Chapter. Each time she had done so was a calculated move to further her goals but this was not such a time; this sacrifice was so she could salvage her plan. Her plans for Solitas and Anima were burned, but Sanus was still ongoing.
The best she could hope for is the Rogue being a problem for Atlas' ego and they sick the dogs onto him. Even with how strong this piece is, being overwhelmed was still possible for anyone; it just took the right amount of pressure.
Salem would watch this play out and once she had an opening; whether made by her strong-willed flock or by the iron boot of Atlas, Salem would cut out this Rogue Piece once and for all.
-Northern Anima-
The Argus Express chugged on as snow fell late into the night. The occupants of the train were sleeping deeply; trusting in the defenses of the armored train to keep any Grimm away. All were resting except for one.
Shirou's face was lit by the light of the scroll he was currently going through. The faker was sitting in a private room that was vacant; a fact that the three occupants took full advantage of. The siblings had assisted Shirou to get on board with Neo using her semblance to help. She'd pushed herself and collapsed onto the bed the moment they'd entered the room.
Currently, both Roman and Neo were cuddled up on the other bed in the room sound asleep while Shirou sat upright with his legs folded underneath him wide awake. His golden eyes scanned the article about the floating city of Atlas. The documents he'd taken from the cult hadn't had anything about Solitas that was truly useful besides a mention or two about the chapter within Mantel so he was reading up on the Kingdom through the scroll which had been provided by Roman.
Shirou didn't care how Roman got it; he'd be leaving it on the train after he was done using it.
Shirou's current plan was to first make sure Roman and Neo got on an airship away from Anima and were out of the reach of Malachite. After that he'd head to Mantel and begin his search in the more destitute areas; the large hole Atlas was raised from seemed like a good start since he'd read about those being the lowest of slums. He'd cut out the cult where it hid and then be on his way to Vacuo.
What happened after that would be up to what he learned.
Shirou looked away from the glow of the scroll and turned his head to the window, giving a perfect frame of the shattered moon. He stared at the celestial satellite before sighing and dropping the steel from his mind. It was something he had to do no matter how painful it was-
-The saddened stare of crimson eyes burrowing into his own amber eyes-
-he would not forget. Shirou would not forget the people he'd hurt in his crusade, he wouldn't forget the friends he'd killed. He wouldn't forget the ghosts that haunted his every step. The steel tried to push the memories down to push him forward and for nearly a year it had succeeded.
No longer.
-Bakuya slashed through the purple fabric; a dark crimson staining the white blade-
Shirou would remember.
-A manic roar of rage as Kanshou found its way through the chest of the Einzburn heir-
He'd remember it all.
-Shirou stood quiet as he watched Berserker disappear with the giant's hand only inches away from his face-
No matter how much Shirou suffered for it.
So what do you all think? Does it show I've taken a break from The Fallen or not? Anyway, before I get into the chapter I was recently exposed to a rewrite of Jeff the Killer by Pastra on YouTube and I just gotta sing praises for this masterpiece! Like holy shit is it good, I won't say anything explicitly spoilerish but the tone, the writing, the narration, and the voice acting was just *Chef's Kiss*. One of the best things to come out of Pastra's channel in my opinion and if you haven't even heard of this and you have even a passing interest in Jeff the Killer or horror get your ass over there!
Okay, now onto some points in the story. Mistral was having trouble with corruption and Leo knew of this but couldn't really do anything; Arthur's exposing of the corruption was a double-edged sword because on one hand, it did have the intended effect of having people in the Kingdom demoralized but it also indirectly helped Leo with his own problems. I also wanted to show a little of how Leo will use this as an opportunity for the 2nd and 3rd years as well.
Ironwood is a character I think the writers did incredibly dirty and a lot of people write him as a paranoid nut case who always gets in the hero's way. Now that can work but some do it to character assassination levels so I'm planning something good with Ironwood which I hope people will like. General Crassur is an OC and so is Captain Dolus; Dolus is the one who saved James from the incident that took most of Ironwood's body.
We finally get the situation with the Knights. There are very few of them and the fourteen Salem has is all she has and all she'll have for the rest of the story. The Squire from the last chapter was the only current Squire who was able to get to that point and we get a little bit of what Salem is thinking of Shirou and she is incredibly annoyed.
Then we have Shirou, who I can only hope I wrote the same as I have before. He and the siblings are heading for Argus on the Argus Express and will arrive next chapter and we also learn what happened to Illya so I may be flayed alive for that. I'd also like to point out that Shirou is trying to sift through his emotional state but has kept pushing it to later because of all that's happening and I'm wondering if I'm doing an okay job of it. I'm no good at deep emotional turmoil as I can barely understand my own.
Anyway, I hope the read was enjoyable at the very least and you all have a good rest of your day.