A/N:
SilentKnightFan- HELL YEAH I AM! WOOOOO!
Well, my friend, it's time for the end of Anita's adventure. Get ready. This is a long read.
Esmeralda ran down to happily see Ténèbres hugging Phoebus. She ran up and hugged the hunchback herself, looking relieved.
Ténèbres hugged her back before realizing something. "Where's Anita?"
"Still on the top floor. She's too exhausted to move right now, but she's fine. Thank the gods, she's fine."
Ténèbres sighed in relief. "Thank the gods." He then looked back at Phoebus and led Esmeralda to him. He grabbed the soldier's hand and had him hold Esmeralda's. He walked away to watch the two look lovingly look at each other before they kissed. Ténèbres smiled at that.
His smile went away when an explosion that rocked the cathedral happened. All three looked out to see the molten lead surrounded by fire blast towards the top of the cathedral.
Anita had closed her eyes, hoping to at least get a tiny nap before leaving Minuit when the explosion made her eyes pop open. She looked up to see the molten lead swirling above her. The magma then began to take form.
"Oh, you've gotta be fucking kidding me," she said in annoyance as she stood up to see a magma Fue.
Fue looked at his hands, flexing his fingers before he began to chuckle. His chuckle then became maniacal laughter. "Power! SUCH AWESOME POWER! UNLIMITED POWER," he roared as flames burst from him, Anita having to shield her face from the brightness alone.
Fue then looked down at the beautiful girl, pointing at her. "I now know who you are, Daughter of Arc!"
"Congratulations," Anita said as she sarcastically clapped. "Would you like a prize? How about some nice tapioca pudding, grandpa?"
"I also know the sins your father has committed against my god! How dare he try to take the power that rightfully belongs only to god?!"
Anita raised her eyebrow in confusion before it hit her. "Ooh, you mean him being the Grimm King."
"HE IS NO KING!"
"Maybe not yet, but he will be. Haven't you been watching the news? My father has done more for Remnant in the past few months alone with his new powers than your precious god has done in the centuries he has spent on Remnant with his brother. Through my father, Remnant looks at the Grimm with fear no more!"
"BLASPHEMY! I AM THE CHOSEN ACOLYTE OF GOD! AS HIS SWORD, I WILL BESTOW JUDGMENT UPON ALL, STARTING WITH YOUR ACCURSED FATHER! I DECLARE YOUR FATHER GUILTY OF BLASPHEMY AGAINST THE ONE TRUE GOD! HIS SENTENCE: DEATH! BUT NOT JUST HE! ALL ARCS MUST BE ERADICATED, FOR ALL OF YOU CARRY THE BLOOD OF THE FIRST USURPER!"
Anita's eyes narrowed. "Salem."
"AS LONG AS HER BLOOD EXISTS IN THIS WORLD, A PRETENDER SHALL FOREVER RISE TO STEAL MY GOD'S POWER! UNACCEPTABLE! AS SUCH, WITH THIS HOLY POWER, I SHALL ERASE THE ENTIRE ARC BLOODLINE, STARTING WITH THE ELDEST DAUGHTER OF JAUNE ARC! NOW, THIEF, BEGONE," Fue roared as he threw a fist at Anita.
Anita, though still damaged, flipped out of the way of the fist that smashed into the cathedral, melting part of the beautiful building away. When she landed, Anita shot at the burning madman, only to see her bullets get absorbed into the magma. "Of course."
Anita felt heat rushing to her side and looked to see Fue's other hand rushing towards her. She wouldn't be able to run from that.
So, instead, she slammed Knock First into the ground and pushed the trigger. The force of the shot sent Anita flying into the air, safely avoiding Fue's swing.
While airborne, Anita knocked on her boot. A compartment opened, and Anita took out a blue cartridge. She pushed an area on Knock First, the staff opening up to reveal a cartridge chamber. She took out the old cartridge and replaced it with the new one, putting the old one in her boot and closing it. She then aimed at Fue.
Just in time, since he threw another punch at her.
BANG
The bullet connected with Fue's fist, sending it flying back. Fue then looked to see his knuckle already freezing over. "Ice Dust."
Anita landed, her back turned to Fue, looking back at him with a smirk. "A bit chilly today, isn't it, dearie."
Fue merely snapped his hand, the ice being flung off his hand.
Anita's smile went away as she turned towards the sorcerer. "Of course, it wouldn't be that easy."
"INSOLENT GIRL! I HAVE BEEN BLESSED BY GOD HIMSELF! YOU CANNOT HOPE TO BEST ME!"
Anita aimed her Knock First at him. "I'm stubborn enough to try. At the very least to survive."
"A FEAT YOU WILL NOT ACCOMPLISH," he roared as he sent a wave of magma in Anita's direction.
"Oh, ballocks," she went before running. She raced towards a drop in the cathedral, running closer to one of the bell towers with hopes to grab a rope. She was able to jump off the cathedral in time to avoid the splash of magma, only a drop landing and burning her shoulder, but she wasn't as close to any of the bells as she hoped.
She reached out towards one of the bells' ropes but missed.
"Oh, dear," she went as she fell. She turned to see the lower floor roof rushing towards her, shutting her eyes tightly, bracing herself for the splat, only to feel herself get caught.
She opened her eyes and blinked when she saw she was flying, looking down to see Nevermore. "Thank you, sweetheart," she said with genuine gratitude, kissing the gargoyle on her cheek.
"Oh, my. Aren't you affectionate," Nevermore said.
"Goodness. I didn't know Tenny could make you talk."
"There's quite a bit you don't know, sweetheart. So, how do you plan on beating this psycho?"
"Well, I know Ice Dust is effective..." Anita looked at her Knock First. "But I don't have nearly enough bullets to freeze something as tall as Beauté Noir's bell tower." Anita then noticed a shadow pass her by and looked up. "But maybe they do," she said as she stared at Upper Minuit.
"HOLD ON, DEAR!"
"Hm? WHOA!" Anita hugged Nevermore's neck as the gargoyle maneuvered through Fue's grasp. Fue even tried to desperately punch the gargoyle, destroying a bell tower, the debris crashing into Minuit, crushing and killing many civilians and soldiers.
"TÉNÈBRES! HOW DARE YOU STAND IN THE WAY OF GOD'S JUDGEMENT! WHEN I'M DONE WITH ARC, YOU'RE NEXT, BOY!"
Ténèbres was shaking in fear, terrified of the nearly formed and far more terrible Fue. He only calmed down when Esmeralda and Phoebus placed their hands on him.
"We're with you, Tenny. We'll try to keep you safe," Esmeralda said with a reassuring smile.
Phoebus's smile went away as he looked up. "But we need to worry about Anita. She can't handle that monster alone."
"But what can we do? None of us are anywhere near as powerful as Anita let alone Fue. Do you even have a Semblance?"
Phoebus sighed. "Solar Flare. I can blind my enemies with a flash as bright as the sun, but that won't help defeat Fue. I don't think anyone in Minuit is powerful enough to handle him."
Ténèbres's eyes widened. "Maybe... maybe there is someone," he said as he looked up.
Esmeralda and Phoebus looked at him before following his gaze.
All three were now looking at the greatest of the gargoyles.
The Grimm Knight.
Nevermore avoided Fue's attacks, trying to keep Anita safe as she flew closer towards Upper Minuit. She almost reached the skyward street when turrets appeared.
"Oh, dear," Anita and Nevermore went in unison before Nevermore dived to avoid getting shot, the bullets hitting Fue instead. Unfortunately for the two, the lead bullets made Fue grow, the man laughing at the act as he ignored the turrets and went after Nevermore.
"We might want to fly away from Upper Minuit," Anita suggested.
"I thought the Upper Minuit was your only option!"
"If the turrets had Ice Dust, they would be! Now, they're just strengthening Fue! I know for certain the turrets have various Dust cartridges for specific Grimm. Arcideaths aren't very fond of fire, after all. They must have Ice Dust for other types of Grimm."
"How are you going to get to it?"
"No idea. If I had something to distract Fue, I'd be able to easily sneak into Upper Minuit's Defensive Line. I just need to get to that building," she said as she pointed at a certain building near the edge of Upper Minuit.
"How do you know?"
"Fue had a lot of useful documents in his office. But that knowledge is useless if we can't get this madman off your tail." Anita looked around. "Drop me off at Beauté Noir!"
"WHAT?!"
"I just need to get out of his line of sight long enough to make a getaway!"
"You'll be a sitting duck! Most of the cathedral is melting away!"
"Would you rather drop me off in the plaza where civilians are still being evacuated?"
Nevermore groaned. "Heroes. You're all so stubborn!"
"I'm not a WHOA," Anita went as Nevermore dived, just in time to avoid Fue's grasp.
When they got close enough to a stable-looking part of the cathedral, Anita jumped off and rolled safely onto the roof of the building. She then turned just as Fue appeared.
He laughed maniacally. "Accepting your death, are we?!"
"No. I just thought I was too heavy for that poor gargoyle," Anita said as she spun her staff before resting it on her shoulder.
"YOU WEIGH ABOUT AS MUCH AS A NEWBORN CHICK," Nevermore yelled as she flew past the magma monster.
"Oh, dear. I seemed to have wounded her pride, just as I'm about to wound yours," Anita said as she pointed Knock First at Fue.
"INSOLENCE! YOU WILL DIE HERE, GIRL! AND ONCE I HAVE MELTED YOU INTO NOTHING, YOUR FATHER IS NEXT! THEN YOUR MOTHER, YOUR SIBLINGS, YOUR GRANDPARENTS, ALL WHO CARRY ARC BLOOD SHALL PERISH," he roared as he swung his hand down, Anita jumping out of the way.
When she landed, the roof behind her began to crumble, nearly making her fall. She jumped to a more stable area just in time.
Unfortunately, Fue's palm was rushing towards her, too fast for her to jump out of the way. Instead, she shot at his palm, ice growing over it. She then held up her arms defensively.
The ice-covered palm slammed into her, sending her smashing into what was left of one of the bell towers. It was enough to force her to vomit blood, the beauty buckling over as she spat the blood out of her mouth, looking up while panting in pain and exhaustion.
Fue ripped the ice off his palm as he positioned himself above Anita. "Great God of Darkness, I offer the life of this blasphemer onto thee," he said as he reeled back his fist. "AND SO BEGINS THE END OF THE ARC BLOODLINE," he roared as he threw his fist at Anita.
"Well... I'm dead," she said with a defeated smile.
However, she was shocked when Fue's arm was slashed off, the magma safely falling away from her to the street below.
"WHAT," Fue roared. "WHAT IS THE MEANING OF-" he began as he looked towards the figure who slashed him, backing up in fear. "No. No. No, No, NO! WHY ARE YOU HERE?!"
Anita looked to see what had Fue so terrified. Standing before her was the back of the massive Grimm Knight gargoyle, standing tall and proud, even among the crumbling and melting cathedral, massive sword in hand, its stone cape somehow fluttering in the wind. The legendary knight then turned towards Fue, its glory now for all to see.
"WHY?! WHY ARE YOU HERE?! ANSWER ME, ARC!"
"Huh," Anita went with a raised eyebrow.
"ARE YOU HERE TO SAVE YOUR DAUGHTER?! IS THAT IT?! WHY ARE YOU ALWAYS, ALWAYS IN MY WAY?! DAMN YOU," he went as he threw a punch at the statue, the Grimm Knight using his cape as a shield against the fist, the clash causing enough force to create a gale.
'He's so obsessed with my father that he can't even tell he's fighting a statue,' Anita mentally asked.
"ANNI!" She looked up to see Esmeralda fly down toward her.
"Emmy. Where's Tenny and Phoebus?"
"They're both safe. Tenny used the last of his Aura to awaken him," Esmeralda explained as she motioned towards the Grimm Knight as it fought Fue. "Phoebus should have gotten Tenny to the Court of Miracles by now. Let's get you there, too."
"No."
"No? NO?! ANNI, HE'S AFTER YOU!"
"Exactly! If you take me to the Court, he'll hunt me down and destroy and kill anything and anyone in his path. We need to end this here, and there's only one way to do that. I need to get to Upper Minuit's Security Tower."
"One of the security towers? Why?"
"Those turrets are filled with every kind of Dust, including Ice. Shoot him with enough Ice Dust-"
"And he'll crumble away." Anita nodded. "Alright. Let's do it."
"Let's? Why are you making it sound like you're coming? I just need Nevermore's help to reach-"
"I'm not about to let you risk your life. Like it or not, you're stuck with me, hero."
"If I let you help me, will you stop calling me that," Anita asked with an annoyed look.
Esmeralda smiled. "Maybe."
"Better than a no." Anita groaned as Esmeralda helped her to her feet.
"Anni?"
"I'm fine. Just a few broken ribs and maybe a fractured sternum is all."
"Anni, you're pushing yourself too hard."
"Seeing what we're up against, I don't think I have a choice. We need to hurry." The two looked when they heard an explosion, seeing the Grimm Knight gets slammed through the roof and to the floor of the chapel as Fue chased after the stone savior. "I don't know how long that statue will last."
"Hopefully long enough," Esmeralda said as she wrapped Anita's arm around her shoulder. She then lifted Anita.
Anita looked down before giving Esmeralda an unamused look. "You wanted to do this at least once to someone, didn't you?"
"Everyone else got to Princess Carry me. Why not have my own turn," Esmeralda asked as she spread her wings. She then flew towards Upper Minuit.
Esmeralda carried Anita all the way to Upper Minuit, the sound of the Grimm Knight clashing with Fue being heard all the way to the city. When the turrets appeared, Esmeralda was able to easily dodge the bullets, flying with expert grace.
"So, how are we supposed to get inside?!"
Anita aimed Knock First and fired, hitting an outside power panel, the shields flickering. "Same mistake as Atlas," Anita said. Esmeralda flew through the shield right before it flickered back to life, landing gracefully near one of the towers, putting Anita back on her feet. She ended up having to catch her when the beauty stumbled.
"Anni, you're still hurt."
"Extremely. Feels like I can barely stand, but we're so close now. I just need to get inside that tower and we can end this."
Esmeralda wrapped Anita's arm around her shoulder, carrying the girl towards the tower.
"Emmy, I can handle the rest on my own. You need to get to saf-tsss," she went as she grabbed her ribs.
"Enough of that Arc Bravado. I'm helping you put that maniac down once and for all."
Anita stared at Esmeralda before she giggled and shook her head. "Heroes. You sure are stubborn."
Esmeralda giggled before winking at her friend. "Not a hero, love."
Fue formed a sword from fire and magma, swinging it down with all his might against the Grimm Knight, but the stone hero clashed against the villain's might, both pushing each other back. However, the Knight's sword was starting to melt. After all, it was only stone against molten lead.
The Knight noticed this and maneuvered out of the way of the slash, making Fue completely destroy what was left of half the cathedral. The Knight then kicked Fue. His stone boot reached all the way through the magma and slammed into Fue himself, sending the man and his molten body slamming into the last bell tower, making it crumble.
The Knight looked down at his lava-covered leg. It began to flow off of him before it just stopped. Then, the lava began to convulse before it turned to actual spikes that tore through the statue's leg. It then ripped out of the leg, destroying it, and causing the Knight to fall one knee.
It looked up to see the magma that tore his leg off fly into the debris. When it vanished into the rubble, the stones and wood began to vibrate. Then, lava began to seep out before it started to devour the debris. It turned into a burning pyre before becoming lava, the magma spewing into the sky.
Once again, the magma took the shape of a Fue, chuckling darkly before cackling. "I've done it! I'VE DONE IT! I WON! I'VE BEATEN YOU! LOOK AT YOU, ARC! KNEELING BEFORE YOUR BETTER! THE MIGHTY VALE KNIGHT HAS FALLEN BEFORE THE TRUE ACOLYTE OF GOD! YOU WERE ALWAYS NOTHING MORE THAN A PRETENDER! ALWAYS UNWORTHY OF THE POWER AND STATUS YOU HELD! YOUR WEALTH! YOUR INFLUENCE! YOUR SO-CALLED PRESTIGE! IT WAS ALL FOR NAUGHT! YOU LOST, HERO! YOU LOST TO ME! I KNEW IT! I ALWAYS KNEW YOU WERE LOWER THAN I!"
Fue cackled as the sky turned black, buzzing being heard. He didn't realize that his madness and insanity had summoned the same plague that nearly destroyed Minuit ten years ago. He didn't realize he summoned the Acrideaths.
The Locust Grimm tried to attack the beautiful city, but the turrets were taking care of most of them. The few that got through were killed by the Gargoyles, led by Beringel, Beowolf, and Nevermore. It was a full-on war of darkness against stone, with only a few soldiers of Lower Minuit helping, Upper Minuit's citizens hiding in the higher, safer towers (including their own soldiers).
But Fue was oblivious to it all. All that he cared about was his self-delusional victory over Jaune.
He then got in close to the Grimm Knight's helmet, thinking he was looking Jaune in the eye. "I would love to kill you, Arc. Melt you away. Listen to the melody of your screams as you perish, but I want to make you suffer for all the years of humiliation you gifted me. The constant comparisons. The whispers of your superiority. The disdain I endured when I justly banished you from my kingdom. The number of sins you've committed against me alone is numerous, but the sins against my god? You deserve to suffer just a bit longer for that, Usurper. And I know just the punishment. I will kill your precious daughter right in front of you."
He then looked around the ruined cathedral, his eyes widening. "W-What? Wh-Where is she? WHERE IS SHE?!"
He didn't care that he destroyed a monument to his god. He cared that his enemy's daughter was nowhere in sight. His mind was totally broken. All he cared about was vengeance against the Arc Bloodline.
He searched frantically for her, wondering where she could have vanished.
LOOK UP, went Darkness's voice in Fue's mind.
He followed the word of his god.
His pupils dilated when he saw Anita behind the window of one of the security towers, typing away at the control panel within. He didn't even notice Esmeralda right next to her.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRCCCCCCCCCC!"
Anita looked up. "Buggar. Emmy, you might want to run," Anita went as she typed even faster, feeling a bit relieved when she heard the turrets whirl and click, the sound of ammo being exchanged.
"Don't you start, Anni. We're almost there," Esmeralda said as she also smiled at the sound of ammo exchange.
Anita sighed. "By the God of Light himself, you're as stubborn as Mother described Father to be!"
"That is the best compliment anyone has ever given me!"
The two typed furiously as Fue shot towards them.
"AAAAAAAARRRRCCCCC," he roared as he reached his blazing hand towards the tower.
Both beauties then slammed their fists on the ENTER key, the turrets pointing and whirling toward Fue.
Both smiled. "Ta-ta," they said in unison.
Then, the turrets began to rain bullets on Fue. Each hit covered Fue in ice. He screamed in anguish as the Ice Dust began to freeze his entire body. If even reached his main body, the man screamed before he was silenced by the ice.
The turrets then ran out of Ice Dust, the defense system whirling to a halt. Yet, it didn't matter.
Anita and Esmeralda smiled at each other before looking out the window.
Out at the giant, frozen Fue.
Esmeralda let out a relieved sigh. "It's over," she said as she let her head hang down. "It's finally over."
Anita smiled at her friend before looking back at Fue. Her smile wavered before vanishing completely. "No. Something's wrong."
"What?"
"Why isn't the statue falling?"
Esmeralda looked to see that Anita was right. "I don't understand. He's just a frozen rock now. How is he still floating?!"
Within the cooled lead was Fue's body, encased in the metal. He was unmoving, frozen, and still. There were no signs of him being alive.
Then, his hands began to glow.
Not just his hands, but his mouth as well. Next were his eyes. The glowing red began to spread across his body before something came from his mouth. It was a muffled scream. It was becoming louder and louder before the lead burst away. When the metal was gone, Fue was able to scream.
Following his scream was an explosion of flames. Emphasis on the explosion.
Anita and Esmeralda had to shield their eyes from the explosion. When the light was gone, they were horrified to see Fue's magma form once more, but it looked more unstable than before. Fue's face looked like a melting wax figure instead of the picturesque form from before. His magma body was convulsing, lava flowing everywhere at once. One arm was longer than the other, the longer arm looking more like a sword than an appendage. To finish it off, he looked just as hunched, if not more than Ténèbres.
The beauties never saw Ténèbres as ugly. In fact, Anita thought he looked cute. She always saw the best in people with good hearts, but conversely, she saw the worst in people with evil hearts. And Fue now looked as hideous as his heart. All those years of convincing Ténèbres he was a monster, only to now be an actual monster far uglier than Ténèbres would ever be.
"AAAAAAAaaaAaaRrRrrRRRCCccCCC," the monster screeched in a deformed, guttural voice.
"Emmy, use your Semblance! You need to get out of here!"
"R-Right!" Esmeralda activated her Semblance, her wings about to wrap around herself and Anita.
However, Anita pushed Esmeralda away at the last second.
"Eh," Esmeralda went with wide eyes, her wings out of range to bring Anita with her, the beauty unable to stop her Semblance.
"Notice how I said you, love," Anita said as she smiled.
Esmeralda began to cry as she reached out towards her friend in vain, her own feathers obstructing her view of the beautiful thief. "ANITA," Esmeralda cried desperately as she teleported her to safety.
Anita then ran and kicked down the door and tried to use it as a shield.
Fue screamed in rage and insanity as he swung his sword-like arm, completely destroying the security booth. The blade struck the door and shattered it, the impact sending Anita flying.
She crashed through a window, crashed through walls, broke past a streetlight, and slammed onto a car. She vomited up blood, enough for the red liquid to cover her chin. She groaned in pain as she looked down to see an iron pipe stuck in her lower abdomen close to her pelvis. She gritted her teeth as she yanked the metal out of her before letting it drop out of her hand, her breath now labored.
"AAAAaaaarRrrRRRRRRRrrrrRRCCCCCCccCcCcC!"
She saw Fue trying to tear his way through Upper Minuit to find her, obsessed with killing her now.
Anita chuckled dryly and painfully. "Might not be getting out of this one." She then winced when a streetlight flickered above her. She looked up at the light, an idea popping into her head. She then shut her eyes, not knowing that an Acrideath just landed next to her hand.
'I've never prayed before. Never had a reason to. But now I do. I'm not praying to you, God of Darkness. Why would I? You obviously hate my family, specifically my father. Why else would you give someone who hates him that much power? No way you would answer my prayer. That's why I'm praying to you, God of Light. You should know that letting Fue run loose would be detrimental to Remnant. My father might be the only one who can stop Fue, but he's not here.'
'There are people in this city I want to protect. People I care about. People I... have grown to love. I can't let Fue's insanity hurt them anymore. Please. Advice. An idea. A hint. Anything. I just... want to save Minuit, even if it costs me my life. Please, help me save this city.'
SUCH A SEFLESS PRAYER.
Anita's eyes shot open, the girl now in a white void. She then looked up and saw him. The God of Light himself.
THOUGH YOU FOLLOW THE PATH OF THE THIEF, YOU CHOSE TO PERFORM AN ACT OF SELFLESSNESS. YOUR ANCESTOR COULD HAVE LEARNED FROM YOU.
Anita sighed. "If you mean Salem, then I disagree with you. So, are you going to give me a literal Deus Ex Machina in exchange for my soul or something?"
NO. NOT FOR YOUR SOUL.
Anita raised her eyebrow.
I CAN GIVE YOU NOTHING.
Anita sighed. "Should have seen that coming."
AS YOU SAID, CURRENTLY, ONLY YOUR FATHER CAN DEFEAT THE MADNESS MY BROTHER HAS UNLEASHED. CURRENTLY.
Anita looked up at the god. "Why emphasize that word?"
BECAUSE THERE IS A WAY FOR YOU TO PUT AN END TO THIS MADNESS. IT IS SAD FOR ME TO SAY, BUT SOMETIMES, THE ONLY THING THAT CAN DEFEAT DARKNESS IS AN EVEN MORE POWERFUL SHADOW. YOUR FATHER IS THE MOST POWERFUL WIELDER OF THE DARK THUS FAR, BUT HE IS NOT THE ONLY ONE.
"Obviously. Look at Fue."
HE CAN ONLY WIELD IT THROUGH MY BROTHER'S BLESSINGS, THERE ARE OTHERS WHO CAN WIELD THE DARK WITHOUT HIM.
"Like my father. I get it."
NOT JUST YOUR FATHER, GIRL.
Anita raised an eyebrow.
BUT HIS ENTIRE BLOODLINE.
Her eyes widened, realization hitting her. "Sometimes darkness can only be beaten by a stronger shadow. . . To beat Fue... I... I would..."
NEED TO BECOME THAT SHADOW. YOUR FATHER IS THE KING OF THE GRIMM. IN ORDER FOR YOU TO DEFEAT MY BROTHER'S ACOLYTE, YOU WOULD NEED-
"To become the Princess of the Grimm."
Anita looked at her hand, imagining herself as a Grimm. She sighed at the thought. "Not a big fan of becoming a Grimm. Don't get me wrong, I love and respect my father, but I don't want to become like him."
IT WILL NOT BE PERMANENT.
Anita raised an eyebrow. "How can it not? It was permanent for him."
BECAUSE YOUR FATHER WAS A TRAGIC CASE. HE WAS KILLED.
Anita's eyes widened. "What? You mean... my father-"
WAS SLAIN. THE GRIMM WATERS KILLED HIM BEFORE RESURRECTING HIM. HE WAS LITERALLY BROUGHT BACK TO LIFE.
Anita covered her mouth in horror as tears began to flow. She just found out her father died and was saved by the darkest of powers.
BUT YOU STILL LIVE. YOU ARE CLINGING TO LIFE, BUT ARE STILL ALIVE. WHEN I SAID I COULD GIVE YOU NOTHING, THAT WASN'T ENTIRELY TRUE. I CAN BLESS YOU WITH GREATER VITALITY JUST THIS ONCE FOR YOU TO SURVIVE THE TRANSFORMATION. AS LONG AS YOU STILL LIVE, THE TRANSFORMATION CAN BE REVERSED. YOU CAN RETURN TO BEING HUMAN.
Anita looked down, measuring the costs. "Is this the only way? Can I only save Emmy, Tenny, and everyone else by becoming like my father? Do I need to become the Princess of the Grimm in order to save Minuit?"
YOU DO. I'M SORRY.
Anita sighed. "Fine. As long as I can return to being human. I don't think the Grimm-look suits me as well as it fits my dear Papa," she said with a sassy smile and a shrug. "So, what must I do?"
I MAY NOT HAVE MUCH CONTROL OVER THE GRIMM AS YOUR FATHER, LET ALONE MY BROTHER, BUT I AM STILL ABLE TO INFLUENCE THEM AT THE SMALLEST AMOUNT. AT THIS MOMENT, AN ACRIDEATH SITS NEAR YOUR HAND. ONCE YOU AWAKEN, YOU MUST INGEST IT.
Anita's eyebrow twitched. "Are you saying I need to eat a bug in order to become a Princess?"
I AM
Anita groaned. "You'd better appreciate this, Emmy. Fine. I'll do it."
Light then held out his hand towards the beauty, the act alone making her feel healthier. She could feel her actual body being healed outside of whatever dream this was. MY BLESSINGS ARE WITH YOU, DAUGHTER OF ARC.
Anita's eyes then shot open. She could hear Fue's insane screams as she looked down at her hands. She then saw the Locust Grimm and opened her hand, the bug crawling onto it. She held up the creature that was the size of a scroll and as thick as a brick, holding the creature to her face.
She groaned as she looked at it. "Could you please convince me not to do this? Like maybe chirp in terror in a way that says 'I don't want to die?' Maybe even so much as a struggle?" The Grimm didn't move. "At least defiantly buzz your wings." It instead compacted itself, moving its antenna back onto its body and closing its body together. Looking at it from a distance, it would look like a black loaf of bread with white spots and red highlights.
It was actually preparing itself to be eaten.
Anita groaned. "I'm going to hate this."
CRUNCH
Anita bit the Grimm's head off, the Locust being extremely crunchy. The blood of the creature flowed down her throat, leaving a bitter taste in Anita's mouth. She powered through and ate the entire bug, her eyes squeezed shut the entire time.
The bitterness then became sweet. Anita then felt a surge of power. Moments later, it became painful, her body convulsing like she was being electrocuted. Then, she began to scream in agony before she was surrounded by darkness.
Fue heard her screams and charged toward her, destroying and melting the buildings in his path. He then saw what looked like a chrysalis made of darkness. He didn't care. He just tried to crush it with his hand.
However, right as his burning hand was about to reach it, the chrysalis cracked before exploding open, sending Fue's hand back.
He looked at his hand, his already insane eyes widening when he saw his hand was frozen solid. He looked up to see something floating in the sky.
Then, a darkly beautiful pair of wings burst open. They were the wings of an Arcideath, basically giant locust wings, the wings of an insect. Yet, they had an ethereal beauty to them. They almost looked to be made completely out of ice, the wings shining at the slightest touch of light as mist flowed out of them.
The owner was just as darkly beautiful, half of her hair as white as the moon, the other half as black as night. Her skin was as white as half as her hair, her sclera as black as the other half. Her eyes, however, were as red as blood. This dark beauty flew high above Fue, looking down at him. She truly looked like a princess looking down at a peasant.
Fue roared. "BlasPheMEr! LIkE You'Re FaThER BEfoRe YoU, YoU StEaL GoD'S PoWeR! YoU ArE UnWoRtHy, ArC," Fue screamed insanely.
"Then it's a good thing this is only temporary."
Fue roared as he reached for Anita with his shorter hand, the appendage stretching towards the princess.
Anita merely raised a hand.
When she did, all the Acrideaths fighting in Minuit reacted. They confused the gargoyles and soldiers when they flew away toward Upper Minuit.
Before Fue's arm reached Anita, it was blocked off by a wall of Arcideaths.
"OuT oF My wAy," Fue screeched, trying to burn past the locust.
However, Anita blew on the Grimm before her. With her temporary magic, she imbued them with Iced Magic. The Arcideaths became Frost Arcideaths, the creatures now overpowering Fue's magma and flame. So much so, that as they froze the madman, they began to eat him.
"NO! NO! NOOOOOOoOooooOoOoOO," Fue screeched as the Grimm began to freeze and eat his body.
Eventually, they ate all the way to Fue'a actual body, the man looking absolutely insane.
Yet, his wide, insane eyes somehow seemed to become wider when he saw Anita appear in front of him, Knock First ready in her reeled back arm.
"You've been a naughty boy, Fue de L'enfer."
She then smashed her staff into Fue's skull. She felt it cave in, possibly stabbing into his brain, before her blow sent him flying. As he fell, the Arcideaths flew after him.
Fue reached out toward Anita, hatred and insanity still burning in his eyes. "DAMN YOU, AAARRRCCC," his scream echoed as he was completely engulfed by the Arcideaths.
The Grimm didn't even reach the ground before they dispersed, Fue's echoing curse fading away. There wasn't a single trace of the man left. Not even so much as a hair. Except for the destruction he left behind, there was no sign of the madman.
Fue de L'enfer... was dead.
Fue's eyes popped open, the man in endless darkness. "Wha-Where is she?!"
IT IS OVER, FUE.
He looked to see Darkness towering behind him.
YOU HAVE FAILED.
Fue fell to his knees. "No. I lost? It can't be. I had your blessing, and she still bested me with her stolen power?"
SO IT WOULD SEEM.
Fue groveled before Darkness. "Lord, I beg for thy judgment, for I am unworthy of your mercy. You gave me power beyond measure. Magic surpassing the Maidens. Ultimate, unlimited power was mine, and yet I still failed to punish that hateful bloodline that wronged you. I am undeserving of any form of mercy, but not of your most vicious of punishments."
YOUR WORDS RING TRUE, WHICH IS WHY YOU ARE FORGIVEN.
"SIRE?! WHY," Fue went as he shot up, eyes wide in shock.
FEW HAVE EVER BEEN AS FAITHFUL TO ME AS THEE. YOU PRAISED MY NAME, EVEN UPON YOUR DEATH. SUCH FAITH IS DESERVING OF REWARD. THOUGH YOU FAILED IN LIFE, YOU WILL STILL BE REWARDED IN DEATH.
Darkness placed a finger on Fue's forehead, the man glowing with black light.
BE AT PEACE, NOW AND FOREVER MORE.
Fue sighed. "So... soothing. It's cool and comforting, like a quiet summer night. Is this what it is like to truly be at peace? Oh. Praise be to the God of Darkness, the one true god," Fue said as his body became a small black flame, representing his soul. That flame then vanished, Fue's soul now gone.
Darkness then trembled in rage. Once again, an Arc has claimed the life of one of his faithful acolytes, but this was even worse than when Jaune does it. For this time, his own BROTHER helped his enemy.
That knowledge alone made Darkness roar in rage.
Anita flew down to what remained of Upper Minuit's street. She looked around and at the Acrideath's still buzzing around before raising her hand. That made the Arcideaths fly away into the horizon, quickly disappearing.
Anita looked at her hands, still bone white, sighing. "Not sure I can get used to this."
YOU DON'T HAVE TO.
She looked to see the God of Light.
YOU ARE STILL AMONG THE LIVING. MY BLESSING IS STILL ACTIVE WITHIN YOU. YOU CAN FREE YOURSELF FROM THE CURSE OF THE GRIMM. ALL YOU NEED TO DO IS EXPEL THE GRIMM FROM YOUR BODY.
"And how might I do that?"
I SUPPOSE REGURGITATION MIGHT BE THE SIMPLEST AND QUICKEST FORM OFFERED TO YOU.
Anita's eyebrow twitched. "Are you telling me... to vomit?"
I TELL YOU NOTHING. ONLY OFFER YOU KNOWLEDGE. THE CHOICE IS YOURS. YOU MAY EXPEL THE GRIMM AND RETURN TO BEING HUMAN, OR REMAIN AS YOU ARE AND EVOLVE YOUR NEWLY ACQUIRED POWERS UNTIL YOU RIVAL YOUR FATHER. THIS WORLD IS IN NEED OF MORE THAN ONE CHAMPION, AFTER ALL.
"No, thanks. I'm not my father or my adorable little brother. Either of them."
Sparrow shuttered while Argent grew a tick mark.
"I'm not the hero of this story, love," she said as she held up her hand, preparing to make herself retch.
I SEE. BUT BE WARNED. ONE DAY, SOON ENOUGH, YOU MAY NEED TO RELY ON THAT POWER ONCE MORE. AS YOU HAVE SEEN THIS DAY, YOUR FATHER CAN'T PROTECT THIS WORLD ON HIS OWN. YOU MAY NEED TO BECOME A PRINCESS ONCE MORE.
"A Thief Princess? I swear, our family is writing a book on new legends and fairy tales. I do appreciate the warning, love, but I hope that day never comes."
AS DO I. FARWELL, ANITA ARC, Light said as he vanished.
"It's Anita VANILLE... Arc," she said with a smile. She then looked at her hand and groaned. "This isn't going to be lady-like in the least." She then stuck her fingers in her mouth and fondled her uvula.
Then, she began to puke.
Out of her mouth spewed the black essence of Grimm. It was a violent spew that was forming a small black puddle, but as she vomited, her skin regained its hue. What's more, her hair regained its color. Her eyes were also returning to their original state.
After at least half a minute of hurling black muk, Anita was panting, hands on her knees, exhausted from that fiasco. She then looked down at the puddle. "THAT came out of me? God help my father if he were to ever become ill."
The puddle then began to vibrate before it began to form something. Moments later, it was back to being the Arcideath Anita had to eat, not a trace of Grimm Water left.
The Grimm looked at Anita before jumping at her. Oddly enough, she didn't retaliate. She just raised her arm for it to perch on.
Which it did.
Anita looked down at the Locust Grimm before scratching its chin. "You just saved an entire city, you know that? Maybe Father is more influential in Grimm than even he knows. We owe you our lives, little one."
It just buzzed its wings, but Anita somehow knew it appreciated her words.
Anita smiled and kissed the Grimm's head, making it actually chirp happily. "Ta-ta," she said before it flew away, vanishing into the horizon, Anita waving it goodbye.
"Did I just kiss the bug I threw up? Ew. Glad no one saw that."
"ANNI!"
"Please tell me I didn't speak too soon," she groaned before looking to see Esmeralda fly toward her.
Esmeralda landed and ran towards the beauty, giving a desperate and relieved hug. "You're alright!" She then looked around frantically. "Where is he?!"
"Gone."
Esmeralda looked at the smiling Anita with wide eyes. "Eh?"
"He's dead, Emmy. It's over."
Esmeralda stared at Anita before tears began to fall. She then hugged Anita again. "I want to strangle you so badly right now, but a bone-crushing hug will have to do."
Anita began to groan as Esmeralda kept her promise. "Worth it," she strained out.
Later, when Esmeralda carried Anita back to Lower Minuit, inside what remained of the cathedral, they found Phoebus and Ténèbres waiting for them.
Ténèbres nervously walked up to Anita, fidgeting with his fingers as he didn't know what to do, not even able to look at the beauty.
Anita surprised him when she hugged him. He teared up as he hugged back. "I'm so glad you're alright."
"I've been getting that a lot." She smiled up at Phoebus. "Is everyone else fine?"
"See for yourself," he said as he led the group, Esmeralda running up and grabbing his hand.
Anita tried to walk while holding Ténèbres's hand, but he instead got out of her grip and pushed her towards their friends. Anita looked back and smiled at Ténèbres before following the two.
When the three exited the cathedral, nearly all of Lower Minuit was there to cheer them, the three raising their hands in victory.
Anita and Esmeralda then smiled at one another before walking back to the cathedral, the two holding out their hands.
Ténèbres was reluctant, but one look at Anita made him realize he wasn't getting rid of both of them as easily as a moment ago. He then grabbed their hands as they both led him out. He was incredibly nervous and scared when he saw the crowd before him.
Then, a little girl walked up to him. A human girl.
The girl then touched Ténèbres's face before booping his star nose. She then hugged him. "Thank you. Thank you for calling the Grimm Knight to save us." She then grabbed his finger and led him into the crowd.
"THREE CHEERS FOR TÉNÈBRES," Clopin cried from the top of a pole. The people then began to cheer as they held up the deformed Faunus, everyone genuinely happy. Many even looked back at the damaged gargoyle, who stood back at his perch, one of the few remaining parts of the cathedral, and bowed before the guardian.
As this was happening, Anita made sure to slip away unnoticed by all, even Esmeralda.
"Now here is a riddle, to guess if you can, sing the bells of Beauté Noir," Clopin began as he picked up that same girl as the two looked at the cathedral that everyone will proudly pitch in to rebuild. "What makes a monster and what makes a man," he asked as he teased the girl with a hand puppet of Fue. "Whatever may hit you, my trick and bewitch you, the rich and the ritual kneels, on the bells of Beauté Noir!"
Anita had just reached the gates of Minuit, turning back to take one last look at the city. Even from here, despite the damage, it was a beautiful city. "Don't worry, everyone," she said as she took out and tossed her scroll, catching it as she smiled down at it. "Life is about to improve drastically for you." She then turned to leave.
She stopped when she heard the flapping of wings, sighing. "Not going to make it easy for me, are you, love?"
"Really? Not even a goodbye?" Anita turned to smile at an angry-looking Esmeralda. "After everything we've been through. Everything we've done, you're just going to leave?"
Anita shrugged. "I'm a Master Thief. I never stay in one place for long."
"Why not," Esmeralda asked as her expression turned pleading. "You can stay in Minuit. You can have a place here. A home here. With us. . . With... With me."
Anita raised her eyebrow. "And what about Phoebus?"
Esmeralda looked down. "I mean, I love him, but... but he's not you."
Anita stared at Esmeralda before she sighed. "You know, Emmy, I noticed something about myself." Esmeralda looked up. "I always seem to appear where I'm most unwanted. This city was ruled by a man who despised my father. I was unwanted, but it needed me. Now, look at it. It would lord me as a hero. See me as one of its saviors. . . But it no longer needs me."
"What? Anni, of course we need-"
"It has you, Tenny, and Phoebus now. When you need me, but do not want me, I will stay. However, when you want me, but no longer need me, I must go."
"No! Anni, please," Esmeralda said with tears in her eyes. "Look at the damage Fue caused. Upper Minuit is sure to place the blame on Lower and retaliate, despite all the evidence pointing to them!"
"You mean this evidence," Anita asked as she held up her scroll with a sneaky smile. "I know a certain green-eyed, blonde beauty in Vale who will find this very interesting."
Esmeralda stared at the scroll with wide eyes. "B-But you don't have to leave for that, do you?! Or, can't you come back?! Why do you have to leave?!"
Anita pocketed her scroll. "Emmy... my father wasn't here."
"Huh?"
"He wasn't here to be the hero everyone knows and wants him to be. He wasn't here to save the day."
"No, he wasn't. But you were. You were here."
"Exactly. I was here. An Arc was in this city, and an Arc saved the day," she said as she looked out towards the horizon. "I am not my father. I'm not a hero. I'm not the savior everyone wants. . . But, it looks like I'm the one some need," she sighed in annoyance. "Such is the burden of being an Arc."
Esmeralda finally realized it. "The world... NEEDS you."
"No. Not me." She turned to smile at her friend. "It needs an Arc, and my father can't be everywhere at once, so whether the world likes it or not, they will have to settle for his daughter."
Esmeralda wiped away her tears before trying to give Anita a farewell smile. "Just... try to be safe, alright... Master Thief?"
"No promises, love."
Anita then surprised Esmeralda by appearing right in front of her. "Oh, and this is some good old-fashioned revenge." Anita then kissed Esmeralda.
Esmeralda's eyes widened in shock and surprise before closing her eyes to enjoy the euphoria of the kiss, embracing Anita for what is most likely the last time.
The two then parted, staring into each other's eyes.
"Ta-ta, Emmy." Anita then slammed Knock First into the ground, creating a smokescreen.
When the wind blew it away, Esmeralda was alone, not a trace of Anita left. Esmeralda then smiled. "Ta-ta, Emmy." She then flew back to the city.
On a far-off hill, Anita watched as the black dot that was Esmeralda flew into the city, smiling before walking off toward her next destination.
Then, her scroll rang. She looked to see who was calling her and smiled as she answered. "Lovely to hear from you again, Mother."
'As it is to hear from you, my dear. Tell me, has anything of interest happened to you, Pet?'
"Deary-me, your motherly intuition is frightening, Mother. You always seem to know when I have JUST finished an interesting job."
'Never underestimate the wisdom of a mother. Now then, love, what stories do you have for your mummy-dearest?'
"Well, it's a bit of a long one," Anita says as she disappeared into the horizon.
.
.
.
'YOU DID WHAT,' Neo laughed out. 'YOU TRULY ARE YOUR FATHER'S DAUGHTER!'
Just a few days later.
"HOW WERE THEY ABLE TO REBUILD THAT DAMNED CATHEDRAL," a bald old councilman roared as he slammed his fist on the desk. "WE DIDN'T EVEN GIVE SO MUCH AS A PENNY TO THOSE PEASANTS!"
"According to our sources, they used their own meager wealth to purchase the necessary supplies to rebuild the cathedral and a few of their own homes and business," a fat councilwoman scoffed.
"How uncouth," a snooty-looking councilman with a pencil mustache and grey streaks in his black hair said. "Those lower-class citizens should be using such resources to rebuild our beautiful Upper Minuit. Without compensation, of course."
"They'll learn," the bald man said. "We'll tax them to their very GRAVES! It took those fools days to rebuild Lower Minuit while it took nearly an entire day for Upper Minuit to be rebuilt! IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN MERE HOURS IF THOSE PEASANTS WERE ANY USE!"
"I say we punish the lot of them," the fat woman went. "From their newborn to their dying elde-"
She was interrupted by a surprise call that answered automatically. They all straightened themselves up when they saw who it was.
"M-Madame Goodwitch. A pleasure," the bald man went.
'The pleasure is all yours,' an angry-looking Glynda went.
"To what do we owe this unannounced call," the fat woman went.
Glynda's glare made them shake. They almost wet themselves when Anita's evidence was placed on the screen. "By my authority as an International 1st Class Huntress, and by unanimous vote of the Vale High Council, and with all evidence we have collected, I hereby place all members of the Minuit Council under arrest and proclaim Minuit as an official subsidiary of New Vale."
"H-HOW DID YOU GET THAT INFORMATION," mustache asked.
'Mind. Your. Tone,' Glynda went, each word making them all shake in fear. 'I have already dispatched Huntsmen and soldiers to your location. Don't even think of trying to escape, or you'll all be branded criminals with bounties placed on your heads. May the gods have mercy on you, for I most certainly will not." Glynda then ended the call, the council deflating.
They had absolutely lost.
Glynda let out a relieved sigh as she sat back at her desk. "You're quite talented at espionage, girl."
"I get it from my mother," Anita said.
Glynda looked at the beauty in the corner of her office. "You're wasting your talent as a thief, you know."
"I doubt that. It's only thanks to my skills as a thief I was able to get this information at all, correct?"
Glynda sighed. "I can't argue with that. Just be sure you're not seen when you leave."
"Have I ever been seen, dear Glyn-Glyn?"
"Don't call me that. Only your father has ever had permission to call me that, and he rarely ever did."
"Can't make an exception for his daughter?"
"It's because you're his daughter that I'm not arresting you."
"That, and I don't have a proper bounty."
"OUT," Glynda yelled.
Anita giggled as she entered the elevator, leaving Glynda to her own devices.
Glynda sighed before opening a drawer. She then took out a picture frame of her and Jaune on a date, a laughing Jaune hugging a laughing Glynda, her hair down with her favorite flower in her hair, the two in swimsuits as the sun set behind them on a beautiful beach. "Arcs. Why must you all be such a headache," she asked as she smiled at the old picture.
A/N: And that's the end of Beauté Noir! That was a ride, wasn't it? So, what did you think? Is Anita a good protagonist?
Anyway, King of Grimm is going on a bit of a hiatus. Not because I'm running low on material. Far from it. It's just that I've been working on two new stories that I want to upload.
The first one is a Resident Evil story that is ABSOLUTELY a self-insert! Hahahahahaaaa! Not just me, mind you. I also wrote in my best friend and his girlfriend. I even have a sequel planned involving his little sisters. It's sort of RE 2 Remake mixed with RE Outbreak. Hope you guys enjoy reading it as much as I did writing it.
The second story is a Batman story. Batman: World's Deadliest. That's more than enough of a hint for what is to come.
Look forward to them! Until then!