Cinder held up a hand, her right, fire, flames, encompassing all of her right. Her left, cracked, exposing the bright orange power, seeping through as light. She clenched her fist, feeling her mind being eroded by the immense power and ecstasy from the Maiden's power. Overwhelming, overpowering. Fire, fire, fire, all kindling for the flame of her ambitions, for the pyre and bonfire of her Mistress… Cinder wondered if she was doing this for her Mistress anymore.
With this treasure she acquired, she will burn down the world, set countries and continents ablaze, and raze entire landmasses down to the ground. Not for her Mistress… but for herself, and only herself. She pushed herself up to her feet, bending her knees and crouching down into a fighting position, her right held in front of her as flames danced across the surface of her skin.
The Maiden's power… her Mistress- no; Salem had warned her about this, it takes a Huntress immense willpower to withstand the effects of it, the magic coursing through your veins as you come to terms with the immense power that you've been gifted. That old bastard Ozpin can say all he wanted about how the Maidens are supposed to be protectors of this world, of Remnant, that their powers are to be used for good and only good.
But when Cinder felt Amber's Aura meld into hers… Animosity, hatred, anger, all emotions heightened by the burning Aura of the Fall Maiden. On one hand, the flames of passion and ambition, the warmth of love enveloping all, how Ozpin intended the power to be used. On the other hand, the burning hatred and vengeance a person could feel, the red-hot anger burning away at a person's logic, the exact opposite. Cinder felt powerful, she felt great. And she wanted to destroy Courrier, now.
Now she stood, facing the man who had went against her the most, the one who gave her the most trouble, not unlike Ozpin. John Courrier stood with a grin on his face as he observed her intently. A dangerously ambitious gleam in his eyes as he took up a boxing stance against her martial arts combat stance.
From her time spent spying on Courrier, she had heard him rabble on about some drivel about thinking only for oneself, and that a person shouldn't let another control or dictate their actions or emotions. Cinder brushed it off before but now? Now hits home for her, this Maiden's power… her power to use for her liking, not for Salem, not for anyone, only her.
"Show me your strength," Courrier spoke, his voice tinged with unrestrained giddiness as his smile widens, "Show me your powers." Cinder clenched her fist; the flames on her right side turning blue as she gave the man a wide grin, blood stained her teeth as she spoke, the sound coming out as barely a whisper as the sound of crackling fire filled the landscape.
"BURN," She commanded, "BURN!"
The old man's corpse burst into flames as Cinder decreed. Nikos and Arc recoiled as they felt the immense heat wash over them with her words, even that worthless White Fang nobody took a step back. The Wyvern whined as it dropped off the side of the tower, its wounds intensifying and smouldering as Cinder's ambient temperature rises. The Wyvern jumped off and flew down to the streets, Cinder subconsciously sending it away to distract any and all Huntsmen who would notice the commotion from atop the tower… like that Goodwitch woman or that drunkard Branwen.
The heat melting any metal close to her into nothing but a shiny sludge, Nikos and Arc turned to the elevator, startled as they watched the cables be melted by Cinder's ambient temperature, causing it to plummet to the ground as the cables snapped.
Courrier stood there, unmoving, he grinned as the tips of his hair began to smoulder, "Yes… YES!" the two moved towards one another slowly, one step after another, fists raised, primed to retaliate, "Mint!" Courrier yelled out, the White Fang… thing answered, "Get those two kids and yourself out of here! This is my fight alone!"
"Yes, sir!" The White Fang thing grabbed the two other… things and ran jumped off the tower. Cinder's mind has now degraded to its base instincts, all but Courrier now registered as non-human for her, all that matters now is- "BURN!"
Cinder jumped towards Courrier, leaving behind a shockwave of fire as the blast carried her to the man. She spun around mid-air and delivered a side kick aimed at Courrier's head; he raised an arm and blocked the kick… but not the aftershock. Jet of flames shot out of Cinder's kick, the fire completely engulfing Courrier's head as Cinder followed through and spun around, her other leg also coming down on Courrier's head.
Cinder's kick connected as Courrier was launched to the ground, his head bouncing off the concrete as he spat out some blood, that wide grin still on his face all the while. Courrier then grabbed Cinder's ankle and threw her over his shoulder, his grip still on her as he swung her body towards the ground. Cinder fired off a torrent of flames as she used the force to push her body back up, her ankle also engulfing itself in a wreath of fire and heat, causing Courrier to let go with a nasty burn on his palm.
These flames, brighter, hotter than the heat of Remnants sun, bolstered by magic, reinforced by Cinder's very own Semblance… the fire that can burn anything… even the SOUL. Courrier seemed to notice this as well, seeing how his Luck 'Semblance' wouldn't kick in even though the opportunities were ripe for the man's taking. For the first time, Cinder watched as the man truly became serious, the placid grin falling off his face, replaced with an expression of deadly focus… and a hint of anger.
Courrier reached up to his cheek, touching the freshly burnt flesh with no trouble as he felt the bumps and ridges of the shrivelled up skin, "Cinder… you truly are magnificent," he breathed out with a genuine smile on his face, her eyes widened, the flames falter for a split second before flaring up in a tower of heat and death, "For the first time… you helped me… FEEL!"
Courrier dashed towards Cinder faster than she could perceive, his open palm grabbing onto Cinder's face as he slammed her head to the floor, Cinder could hear the sound of the fire on her face searing onto Courrier's palm, yet it didn't deter him one bit. Cinder kicked out with her leg, sending a pressurized blast of fire at Courrier's stomach, knocking him away from her and, by proxy, removing his burnt palm from her face.
Cinder reeled back and shot out a jet of flames towards Courrier, who rolled out of the way just before the projectile can eviscerate him. He leapt towards Cinder, she did too, the two of them meeting in the middle as she headbutted the man, knocking his head back with the initial impact before it catches on fire from the aftershock. Each punch, kick, or headbutt from Cinder creates a delayed explosion after the fact, immediately setting whatever it is ablaze in the process.
Normally, the recipient would disintegrate from the heat… but not Courrier. Even without Aura, the man continues to be a nuisance, Courrier ducked under a punch and uppercutted Cinder, sending her head reeling back before she felt a fist impact her stomach. Doubling over, Cinder hacked and coughed before Courrier kicked her in the sides; he then quickly readjusted himself and swung his other fist, delivering a nasty hook to the other side of Cinder's head, knocking it back the way it came.
Cinder bit down on her tongue as her left side became engulfed in flames as well. Gone was the human look of one Cinder Fall, all that remained was the pure energy of the Fall Maiden taking the form of fire as it covered her in a protective cloak. White eyes peered out from within the bright blue flames, the colour lightening until it became white-hot.
Cinder fired off a blast of flames from beneath her, sending her body upwards and causing the back of her head to impact with Courrier's nose. Sending the man reeling back from pain as he grabbed his horrifically burnt nose. The walls of the office began to melt, each step turning the concrete beneath her feet into sludge, for the first time, Cinder truly felt… free.
No worries, no responsibility, no tasks, no orders, only power and control remained. Her tunnel vision narrowed. Nothing mattered anymore, all she sees is an open arena set in a black void, there was no ambient sound, only her and Courrier. Her… and Courrier.
She watched as Courrier whipped his head around, his expression that of surprise and fear as he yelled out, "GET OUT OF HERE, NOW!" to someone, Cinder leapt at Courrier while he was distracted, "BURN!" she yelled out, stabbing her hand into Courrier's abdomen… and through it.
Elbow deep inside Courrier's stomach, Cinder twisted her arm and intensified the flames on the surface of her skin. She grinned; this was her victory as she pulled her arm out, the flames flickering before returning to its amber, orange hue… Courrier vomited out blood as his flesh began knitting itself back together, even when Cinder punched a hole through the man…
Enhanced healing abilities, much greater than that of an average Huntsman, even if they have an astronomically high amount of Aura. Cinder felt her heart accelerate, not from fear, but from interest. Courrier screamed out as his skin knitted itself back together, leaping at Cinder with his hand inside his duster. He pulled out a strange oval shaped thing with a blue streak of pain on it, pulling the pin and chucking it at Cinder.
She waved a hand, sending a wave of heat towards the oval, expecting it to disintegrate… the thing burst open as a mist of ice of down onto her, causing her flames to flicker violently before going out. Courrier jumped forward and dropkicked Cinder in the abdomen, sending her to the ground. He then straddled her prone body and began punching down on her face, each successive punch accompanied by his other hand holding down her throat, restraining her on the ground.
Cinder snarled as she spat out some blood, Courrier kept going, his appearance now greatly differs that of previous encounters. His shades were cracked, exposing his strange eyes as the peered down at Cinder with rage. Blood marred his face as it dripped from every possible crevice; burns littered his face as they began to settle into scars worryingly quickly.
Cinder interrupted Courrier's punch as she socked him in the cheek, the flames were dwindling, and she needed more fuel. Her Aura was waning… but the Maiden's… the Fall Maiden's Aura was still full. Cinder snarled, no time to gloat, she needed to kill Courrier, now!
Courrier kept glancing behind him; Cinder didn't care, going in with a flurry of punches and kicks, each emphasized with a distinct boom of an explosion behind them. Courrier gritted his teeth as he tried to block the attacks. He was forced backwards as Cinder pressed the advantage, then, in a single moment. Courrier's eyes darted towards the thing that he's been glancing at for most of the fight, putting Cinder at an advantage as this split-second distraction was the make or break.
She slammed her fist into Courrier's arm, obliterating his elbow as the forearm was severed. Dropping to the ground before bursting into flames, disintegrating into ash afterwards. Courrier screamed, not in pain but rage as he raised his other arm and grabbed Cinder's head, fingers digging into her left eye as the two yelled and glared at one another with hatred.
Cinder pulled back her fist and delivered a quick jab at the side of Courrier's head, the punch tearing off the man's ear as Cinder's knuckles grazed and eviscerated his right eye, covering his two circular scars with a large burn wound that covered most of the man's face. Blood dribbled from Courrier's mouth as Cinder screamed, "DIE!"
Courrier gritted his teeth and grabbed her wrist, twisting it painfully before headbutting her, the force shattering her Aura as she reeled back, his finger dug deeper into her left eye as it curled, Cinder howled out in pain as blood poured out from the socket, down Courrier's finger, and dripping from his elbow. Cinder screamed, using her other arm and stabbing it into Courrier's chest this time, instead of his abdomen. Hopefully destroying his heart in the process.
The man slumped over her as his finger slackened inside her eye socket, painfully, she grabbed Courrier's arm and yanked the finger out before dropping the man's corpse on the floor. Hey left eye was shut tight as blood poured out of it, she felt the Maiden's Aura flaring up as he body was once again tightly wrapped in the wreath of flames.
Cinder then noticed something in the corner of her vision, a scream, high-pitched, not Courrier's… a Scythe coming at her and then… a bright light washed over her.
Ruby, with the help of Weiss' glyphs, launcher herself up the tower. She saw Jaune and Pyrrha being carried down the tower by a Huntsman(?) who said that Mr. Courrier was still up there, fighting the perpetrator of this attack. Wanting to help because that's what a Huntress should do, she asked Weiss to launch her to the top of the tower, since the elevator shattered after dropping down from the top floor.
The Huntsman said that he was going to bring Jaune and Pyrrha to safety before he skated away on foot, "Mr. Courrier's up there?" Weiss raised an eyebrow, "The elevator's destroyed… hmm…"
Ruby perked up, "Ooh! I got it! Weiss! Launch me up there using your glyph-y things!"
Weiss nodded, creating a glyph underneath Ruby. She gave Weiss a thumbs up before jumping up the Beacon tower, using her Semblance every now and then to reach the top faster.
When she got up to the top, she saw that the tower was completely destroyed, nothing left but a few walls and a flat platform, Mr. Courrier saw her jump up, "Mr. Courrier! I'm here to help you!" She yelled out optimistically, but her smile dropped off her face as she saw Mr. Courrier's surprised and… fearful expression. That's strange, she never saw him afraid… before…
The woman fighting him ran her arm through his stomach, hand coming out through his back as Mr. Courrier coughed out blood. The woman, who was covered in a wreath of fire, yelled out something before a wave of heat blasted into Ruby, knocking her off the tower. She quickly took out Crescent Rose and dug the Scythe's blade into the walls, halting her descent as she planned her way of climbing back up.
She has to save Mr. Courrier! Or else he- he'll- he'll die!
She can't handle the thought of it! He was one of, if not, the only teacher in Beacon that shared her love of weapons with her! He even gave her free bullets for practice and practical use as well! She didn't want anybody to die! She doesn't want anybody to die!
He gave lots of advice to her! Hang out with her in the firing range and enthusiastically discussed with her the intricacies of bullet calibres, their speed and trajectory! All so that she could become a better Huntress thanks to him.
Using her Semblance, Ruby dashed vertically up the tower, occasionally stopping with her Scythe to readjust her trajectory, or else she'd crash into a protruding section of the outside wall.
Hooking her Scythe over the ledge, Ruby leveraged herself up and over only to see Mr. Courrier on the ground, a large hole in his torso as his face stared blankly at the sky. His glasses were shattered, and his face was covered in burns. Ruby's mind went blank. She turned to the woman standing over him. She was breathing heavily, fire danced across her arms slightly before they reignited into a large burst of flames.
She turned to the burned corpse at the centre of the office, the Headmaster's signature pair of glasses laid melted on the ground; she was then knocked out of her thoughts by something hitting her face. Pulling the strange thing off her face, she saw that it was… Headmaster Ozpin's green… scarf…
The edges were burnt but… but…
She hyperventilated; rage overcame her, nothing but hate towards the woman standing before her. Penny's dead because of her, Jaune and Pyrrha are injured because of her, Mr. Courrier and Headmaster Ozpin's dead because of her! The woman turned around with her singular eye, the other held shut as blood dribbled down from it. Ruby screamed as she dashed forwards with her Scythe at the ready before a bright white light engulfed her and the woman…
Qrow and Glynda breathed out heavily as they stood over the body of the Wyvern triumphantly. Although it wasn't just them, Atlas soldiers cheered as they watched the Grimm fall down, after bombardment after bombardment from the Atlas fleet, which was held up by the Nevermores before they were shot down by Courrier… the Nevermores that is, not the fleet.
Qrow glanced up at the Beacon tower, he squinted his eyes when he saw a flash of red before they widened, "Ruby?!" Glynda turned her head towards the tower too, Qrow jumped off the disintegrating corpse of the Wyvern and ran towards the Beacon tower, following closely behind was Glynda, who also ran side-by-side with Qrow.
Qrow watched as Ruby climbed up the Beacon tower using her Scythe and her Semblance before disappearing from sight when she reached the top. Qrow and Glynda both reached the courtyard in front of the Beacon tower's entrance and were about to enter before a bright flash of light emanated from the top of the tower, completely blinding them on the ground.
That doesn't look good.
Another chapter, another day.
Writing is my passion. And my passion just so happens to include 'make shitty fanfiction'. My story is the phrase 'Quantity over Quality' personified... although I do wonder if there is any Quality in this to begin with!
linuxnoodle: My schedule is pretty open.
Surprise! The Courier's fucking dead!
Or is he...?
Thanks for reading!