RWBY: Bonds Between Hearts
Chapter 12: Crouching Bat, Hidden Dragon
WARNING: I own none of these characters sides from my OC(s). All rights go to their respective owners and properties.
This is nothing more than, well a fanfic, a story made up by a fan for entertainment and knowledge.
Everything in this fic is not canon and is only meant to give the audience a new idea of the works of each of the franchises in this story.
So please support me, my work and have some fun. Now enjoy the story. ^w^
The after night castle laid in the domain that once belonged to the God of Darkness. Pools of black laid scattered across the land, Grimm rising every day and every minute from it.
Crimson eyes stared at the horizon as the person who watched was a woman with skin as pale as a ghost. Black veins slightly crawled her skin and adorned in black robes.
She… was Salem. The immortal witch of Remnant that has become the greatest foe hidden in the shadows. Not many know of her existence other than the fairy tale her previous lover had made thousands of life times ago.
That was until now. The Snake who had lived for millennia knew of her. He had told his followers of her and the world's secrets. Of the time man had magic. Salem may be the greatest foe but Evol… that was a different matter. He was called the Devourer for a reason. He consumes lands to gain strength, his schemes manipulates many that leads to war. He relishes in watching people fighting each other. If you steal his belongings he pays back the favor and destroys everything you have. Everyone you loved.
At first, she only sense certain stuff and heard things. Never to bother with him until his group began to target her plans, ones that needed to be resolved. And with what she could remember, she had one thing he needed.
There was no doubt he had his beloved artifact to react with such anger. A relic that was his key to change the world.
It was why she had requested the conversation with him when he nearly killed her maiden. Compared to Cinder, Evol had ages of experience in magic. He only relies on it for sick amusement otherwise he uses his technology to turn the tides.
The portal rippled and out came her guest.
"Yo!" Blood Stark casually waved to Salem.
Casual as he ever was, the snake. "Please, have a seat." Salem gestured to her obsidian like table for him to sit down on.
"Don't mind if I do!" He plopped onto a seat and planted his feet on the table.
"Now, I'll give you your little item, but I would still like to discuss a… pact, so to speak. Just something that'll benefit us both and keep each other out of our ways and our plans." Salem spoke up, simply wanting to cut to the chase so she can continue with her work.
"Mind saying it again?" Evol picked the side of his helmet as if he was picking his ear. "I could have sworn my helmet briefly lost its filtration."
Salem suppressed the brief irritation and annoyance. "Let me rephrase… you will cease your operations against mine, otherwise I'll just dive this into the depths of the death pool and see how well you can recover from something like that?" She rephrased with a heavy glare, not in the mood for childish games.
She watched the lifeform drum his stomach, contemplating in regards to her idle threat. Threats from those like old Ozpin, the general, yadayada, were nothing. First, he will play the mind games with her. "You do know I can just wake up in another body if this one dies. This armor will detonate and I can grab another spare in my closet so I have no fear dying here."
"I'm immortal. It doesn't matter to me if you destroy my body, I'll return no matter what." Salem said, unamused by his proclamation.
"Since the god cursed ya?" Salem stared. "Yeah, yeah, not the first person who declared they were unkillable. And look where that ended up? Hehe."
"Then go ahead. Kill me and see how long it'll take before I return."
"Hmm~ nah." He moved off the seat and approached the glass. "Wanna hear a little tale of my people?"
From the reflection he caught the glimmer of curiosity. Hook.
"My people, we were all called devourers of worlds. In a sense, we spilled countless blood that may require a massive library that spans the world to file names. We were called… the Blood Tribe." He rested a hand on the windowsill. "We destroy, devour worlds to strengthen our power. With it however comes one flaw in us."
"Fighting amongst kin."
"Correct! We fought each other, split up into factions just so those who followed understood our reasons. Eons after eons we Blood Tribesmen continued our fun and games. Some simply destroyed the world to eat, others play games before destroying it. And the rest? Well they just sit back and watch the magic happen before joining the fray and strike when they are weakened in morale and power."
"Yet your people never chose to… copulate to regain your kin. Why is that?"
"I did say eons didn't I? We can live for thousands of years! Hell, when I was in my true body, I was waaaaayyyy older than you. Could have called me your senior in a sense." He laughed.
"And what is the point to this?" Salem frowned.
"Mind letting me finish my story? How rude to not let the storyteller reach his conclusions."
"… Fine. Continue."
"Anyways! I was simply the final faction I mentioned, the one who watches the world burn before devouring it. I provide succor, the people feast on the crumbs. Slowly they began to eat and eat until they were in the palm of my hands. I enjoy my fun and games but it was better to make the fun and games. World after world I traveled, helped them destroy each other, and then when the fun reached its climax, I devoured it in one go. Gulp!" Salem nearly tensed by the mimic of his way of devouring the world. "Ahh those were the days. Until one day, my eyes laid on this world. I arrived, shapeshifted, and blended into society. I rose in power and then provided… benefits to a kingdom. Led by an ill king thus such leadership fell onto a young princess. Vernage."
"Vernage?"
"Ah, it was before you were born. A princess who too had magic much like the rest of the world. People called her their saint. Their hope! Ahh, many swooned over her. She was so faithful, so sweet… so utterly boring to my freakin ears and eyes! So! To ease that boredom of tranquility I approached, gave enough encouragement for them to hear me. And oh they were ecstatic to advanced their people. I merely planted the bud in the soil and as years go by… war erupts. You know what is funny? Vernage didn't want war, she wanted peace. Bleh. Where is the fun when there is peace? Why it should be conflict amongst people!"
"… continue."
Under the helmet, Evol grinned.
Line.
"So! I tried to fool her into believing it but that brat was so sharp in seeing deceit might as well make her a living lie detector. She began to see my mechanizations and saw my intentions with the greatest gift we of the Blood Tribe ever had! Pandora's Box."
"Is that what this panel is?" She gestured to the panel floating in magic that she held in.
"Precisely! When all the panels assembled, back then it was complete so I could have done it anytime."
"And yet, the great schemer as yourself… failed. Like every other mortal."
"Meh, I got carried away in my fun. I'm sure you had such experiences in your days as a human." Salem mumbled quietly to herself. "She knew I can't be defeated so she did the most bravest, noblest yet stupidest thing she could ever do. Using her magic it consumed her life and dragged me along including my brother and fellow tribesmen."
"… What did you say?"
"Lady, you really think I was alone to watch the spectacle? My brother and kin arrived in this world just as Vernage casted her spell!" He spread his arms wide. "As if she was taking us to hell, she took her own soul and ourselves into the box! The panels scattered across the world leaving a tiny cube. But! Year after year I waited until someone touched the box and wham! I took over their soul and body. In turn, gaining magic! Oh my kin were still stuck so I carried it with me, frolicking like a giddy child! Aw man, that was fun. But, when I kept my eyes away, people got greedy. Why a little girl got so curious I didn't even know Vernage had did the same."
"… So Vernage… is like me."
"In a way yeah. Oh I killed her. But man was she stubborn as a mule. She died, again and again and again. She never gave up. She had occasionally killed me but I reawaken in another body. Wanna know why?"
Salem's eyes narrowed and said, "Because your blood was coursing in humans."
"Bingo! We have a winner! We may have killed each other over and over but I gained the confidence. She merely sees my intentions as ruining humanity. Which I am not guilty of doing for the centuries" he relaxed. "And now today, I can still sense her oh so very close but I knew she was too tired from all the fighting to wake up. All the pain of watching humanity fight each other. All the anger and sadness. Aw, it was so sad for her. Boohoo." He turned around to look at Salem. "Which is why I have been making plans! To show the world what I can do after I light the fireworks! That is my ambition!"
"Ambition just to show off? How… mundane…" Salem said with disappointment.
"Hey, it's better than having the gods show up and ruin humanity like before since that's your goal."
"It is… and remains the same, as you are unworthy to wield such items."
"I'm doing the same, just without gods' tools and appearance." He pointed out he had Pandora's Box.
"Then, I believe its obvious this talk was nothing more than a waste of time…" She sighed with annoyance, as she figured he could be reasoned with, but it became clear that won't happen.
"I take it this is where I leave?" He jabbed his thumb to the door.
"In a pile of ashes…" Salem said, as she stood up summoning her magic to blast Evol into ashes.
"Oh and by the way." Blood Stark idly raised the black panel, making Salem's eyes widened and look to her side to see it wasn't there anymore. "Do remember who is the better manipulative schemer Salem. I mean seriously? Having me, the most intelligent lifeform in the universe who can outsmart so many people, to be fooled into joining your cause that was created due to your hatred for Ozma who you once loved, then some nasty divorce with him caused by disagreements regarding the gods, and losing your kids from your petty squabbles? Sheesh, you need counseling lady."
Salem only glared with pure murderous intent, sending the pulsing waves of magic that she possesses at the snake to render him into ash.
The wave drew near but a barrier appeared to protect him which surprised her.
"Remember? I can do magic too." He aimed and fired at her feet which made her fall. Due to her immortality recovered just as fast. "Man you could learn a few things from when it comes to other forms of magic. Barrier being one case. Oh! Oh! There was also the spell I knew that can allow the summon of familiars based on the life essence. That's how I summoned my snakes."
"As well as a spell that can bring forth the waters of death…" Salem said with spite, sending the said waves to the snake.
Again she saw the barrier and heard him yawn. The waves enveloped and Salem waited to see him no more.
"Neat." Salem turned around to notice him perched on her throne. "How many times did Vernage try when you are doing the same thing?"
"Simple, she failed because she is mortal, while I have not once lost my touch…" Salem said as in moments the castle began to shake violently.
"Except to be angry when Ozma still lives."
"He is cursed and will fail… So will you too…" Salem declared.
"Miss, I've been waaaay ahead in steps when it comes to your groupie. Should I name your followers? Hazel, Tyrian who is an insane manic, Watts the scientist who I should have recruited years ago but saw it useless, the headmaster in Mistral, and then there is Cinder and her two aides." Blood Stalk sneered, avoiding a blast of magic. "Me? I have thousands of people who follow me! Thousands of loyalists who support my cause whereas you only have so little numbers! Thousands who will die for me to achieve what I aim for after I revealed to them what the world hid from them! Sure you have Grimm that range in hundreds and thousands but what is it to my own organization who I provided the most advanced technology in the world made by me? Salem, do remember that I can simply erase you into the abyss once I regain my true power! An abyss you won't survive from."
"Unless you have the powers of actual gods? It won't matter as I'll come back again and again until I rid this world of your own blood."
"How does a black hole of the very cosmos we stand on sound?"
Salem stopped her movement. The cosmos the gods wield. A black hole… was said to be an event when it devours anything it touches. Anything including immortals.
"So… thats how you 'devour'... You become a black hole." She pieced together.
"Yup! Cuz I'm the very thing you should fear now! The very cosmos is me!"
"Hmph, then if that's the case… I'll find those other panels… and destroy them."
"Ahhh, too late on that." He raised his arm to project the box. "What else have I been doing for ages when I came here after I reawakened?"
"You…"
She was greeted with a powerful punch to the face, hurling her out the castle. It was silence before Evol laughed while grasping the very hand he used to hit Salem.
"Man, does that feel good to do that to you! How's that for a change like you did to the people in the Age of Gods? Ha! Later sucker!" The snakes wrapped around him, laughing and vanished like the wind.
The Black Panel was now in Evol's possession. All he needed was one panel left to complete the box.
Though within the castle, Salem flew back in, magic and dark power erupting out of her body with rage and hate. She already took a glance at the pools of death as the Grimm that was being birthed from it turned, and with a nod they began to chase after the snake. She will erase everything that snake holds dear… For now her war will include that vile being as well before it can complete its power.
XXX
The alarms of the Scroll within the apartment rang loudly, startling Cody awake and grunted tiredly. He slowly reached over to try and silence the alarm, missing with each swipe until the last one finally pressed the Scroll, stopping it as the blonde groaned out.
"Can't I sleep more…?" He groaned out with a stretch before he looked at the time to see what it was. His eyes glanced at the small picture frame, seeing the old photo of himself when he was a baby and his supposed mother. Ever since he saw the two photos that showed him as an infant and his mother alongside a photo of her as an archaeologist, he had questions.
What happened to her? He remembered the brief memory when he ate the ice cream with Penny but that was all he can remember so far. It was like bits and pieces were starting to come back to him after he obtained the two photos.
Hopefully he can find some information later on, but for now he has work to do. And with a quick shower and getting dressed up he made his way out to Tuskon's shop for another day of work.
"Okay. So far no Faust activity but knowing them, they will react very soon." He knew their line of work. How they think and how they act due to his years there. He made sure Cross kept watch of anything. His Scroll too. As there was an app regarding Nebula detection. Again, Blood Stark being the one to provide it.
Seeing the bookstore, he noticed the Faunus and said, "I'm here!"
"Ah Cody! Just in time to open. I would have marked you late just as I was unlocking the doors." Tukson mused.
"S-Sorry about that."
"I'm just kidding you, kid. Just glad to see you back." Tuskon chuckled softly. "Just make sure you don't zone out over the Vytal Festival later on, can't have you ignore your duties here at work. You are an assistant manager here."
"R-Right… wait, um, Mr. Tukson. Out of curiosity uh… why not hire more people? I mean sure it's a small bookstore but it wouldn't hurt to have a third hand or fourth to help around." Cody inquired.
Tukson raised a finger before stroking his chin in realization. "I never really thought of that until now you brought it up." Cody comically fell to the ground upon the response.
"Ugh… I can see why you don't reach out that much…" Cody groaned out.
"What was that?"
The blonde quickly stood up like a rock when he heard a brief growl, "N-Nothing!"
"… If you say so kid." Cody sighed in relief. "Oh and you are going to deliver four boxes in my place while you are at it instead of two."
And busted.
"Yes sir…" He nodded with defeat, knowing he can't talk his way out anymore. Tuskon chuckled as the two began the work day, knowing that it'll be rough but just another day at Vale for them.
XXX
932 stared at the ongoing treatments the young experiments were experiencing from the security cameras. Her mind began to replay the memory of calling out to 931, to pull her and the others out. Only for him to run like a coward and flee. She and the other children given punishment and forced to ingest more Nebula gas than intended.
The screaming and squirming she did in the past. The crying and anguish of not being free. She gritted her teeth and slammed her fists onto the consoles. "Why… Why didn't you save us…" she hated him so much.
Yet the words he said to her echoed in her mind.
'But I will keep on fighting for my freedom, 932. That is what I will do no matter what. I hope… you do the same.'
Freedom. How can she ever find freedom when he abandoned her!? Abandoned everyone else of Group 900 and now kept on a tight lease since their attempted escape! Those twins were given free reins because they obeyed like the good little dogs they are!
HOW CAN SHE FIND IT?!
'You must search within… please don't lose yourself.'
932 raised her head, looking left and right, only seeing the Guardian drones staring at the security monitors. It wasn't Lord Evol talking to her, or the others. It was a voice… one that seemed familiar… but she couldn't recognize it, it was too muffled and distorted for her to pinpoint who it was.
She shook her head, maybe overworking herself once again. Maybe she could use a good rest before continuing whatever her current task was.
Her hand drifted to the golden hairband that kept her ponytail in place. It was the only reminder…
She knew what hell was like and endured it before and during her days in Faust. A starving malnourished little girl barely hanging until a true saint helped her… until both of them nearly died.
The one who helped her did their best to get her some help, taking in the toll onto herself to feed and save the girl. And while the young little girl survived… the saint didn't as they had a simple smile on their face at the very end.
It was that very day she had then spent nearly 9 years here in Faust. Before she prayed every night help would come. 931's hollow eyes believing heroes didn't exist as they stayed.
And he was right. Heroes did not exist at all. Humans were greedy. Selfish. Arrogant pricks who should burn as Evol planned for the world.
And as the days passed within those years, attempts came and went. Many failed escape attempts happened as 931 was always chosen to be the one to show them all a lesson.
Lord Evol saw him and her as his favorite toys but 931 was his special favorite.
He should rot in hell… for everything he failed to do for them.
The bluenette grunted to the brief shoved and noticed drones being mobilized. She halted one drone. "What is going on?"
"Initiating Escort Service for Creator. Reason: Panel In Possession."
Her eyes widened, "He found another one?"
"Provide Escort. Panel to be installed once brought in approximately 7 days, 23 hours, 45 minutes, and 10 seconds after completion of required subtasks to activate panel for installation." The machine suddenly glimmered and shifted. "Subject 932 has been requested to send one Black Smash out."
Now that got her attention greatly. Black Smash were extremely dangerous to become. However there had been only 10 successful tests. Which meant… "He wants me to send one of the Soldiers from 10A-10J."
"You are to provide support."
"Am I…. able to engage…?" She questioned with interest.
"Request granted by Creator."
"Excellent…" 932 grinned with delight. She won't lose to him again.
XXX
Cody was making his delivery, a sigh escaping his lips as he knew it's going to take almost nearly all day with this, but it's a punishment he has to take. Plus compared to the other 'punishments'? This was literally a cake walk.
Looking at the time from his Scroll, it was almost time for his lunch break. Once he finishes the delivery and returned to the store, he could finally have his break right after.
"Hmm… wonder what I should get to eat for my break? Maybe that 'burger' place?" The blonde pondered as he could already feel his stomach growling with delight at the choices. He had always been stuck with microwaveables or fire cooked thanks to Cross.
During his time of work at the club, the only food he ate were simple foods meant for such places. Not that big to go on to consider as a meal. At least now he was able to have such opportunities on extensive choices of foods to eat.
Though as he kept walking, something in his sense went off, nothing dangerous but enough for him to react. He dropped the packages gently before he turned around to face what was coming to him, only to soon catch a familiar blonde falling to him.
"Yang?" Cody recognized.
"Oh hey! Thanks for the save!"
Cody's brown twitched and said, "Doesn't explain why you fell from the sky."
"Oh, we were having a food fight at Beacon, and Nora hit me too hard with a watermelon to send me flying out of the school." Yang shrugged, as if it was a normal occurrence.
Cross and Cody looked at each other then at the blonde who got herself on her feet. "What the heck is a food fight?" He asked.
"… You're kidding right?"
"No."
"Well, its as it says. It's a small but fun fight where people throw and use food for weapons."
"You fight… with food?"
"Yup!"
"… Talk about hygienic." He murmured. So much good food all down the drain. He wondered all the delicious food they wasted just to use them as makeshift weapons to fight with.
"It's for fun! Like when you fight or work in the dirt and mud." Yang shrugged. "So what are you doing out here?"
"Work." The male blonde pointed at the boxes behind him.
"Oh! Lemme help you then." She smiled, offering to help.
"Shouldn't you go back to school?"
"Oh…" she realized. "Oh crap! Goodwitch is gonna kill me if she finds out I am all the way here!"
With a slight hug and wave, the brawler soon raced back to Beacon as fast as she could, making the rider shake his head on how she can be so carefree. A part of him envied her. The girl who became his first friend…
He reached for the boxes but saw Cross perched on it. "What?" He saw the upward metal curl of its jaws. "Why are you looking at me with that look?"
The metal dragon rolled its eyes. So much for teasing him about it but he wouldn't blame him for not being able to see it. Given the lack of affection he had over the years, some emotions would be unknown to him alongside certain responses.
"Well, let's finish this and have a nice meal, eh buddy?" He smiled at his partner.
With a chirp and nod, the two set off to finish the work duty for today. Taking his steps he heard his Scroll ring. Checking it he tensed upon seeing the alert from the app.
A Smash was approaching an area.
"Ugh… great! Why did this have to pop up?" Cody groaned as he looked to his dragon, "Think you can handle delivering these while I take care of this?"
It stared at him.
"Come on, it can't be that heavy for you?! I'll find whatever clean scraps of metal just for you if you can do it! Nonrusted!"
It gave a huff, first pointing to him then to the little strand of yellow hair on the boxes from Yang's fall. As if saying he needs to hang out with them more only if it accepts the deal.
"Okay! That is if Faust doesn't keep interrupting!"
With a nod, it chomped on the string that held the packages together and began to fly up with it. It was a bit of a struggle but Cross began to fly off to deliver the packages.
"I'll double the amount if you get them there in time!"
For a second Cody swore he lit a fire in his companion and saw a literal cloud in the shape of Cross's body appear and was gone like that.
"Talk about motivation…" he whistled.
XXX
Cody ran across the district with haste as the alert was blaring as he was getting closer. While he was somewhat thankful the snake installed a detector, it didn't change the fact he still had a deal to uphold. As he ran, he slowed his steps due to an oddity. "Wait a minute… there aren't any people knocked out by whatever Faust always releases…" people were hiding out of fear or trying to get away from the vicinity.
However Cody looked up to see the barrier materialized and swiftly enclosed around the district. He looked back, seeing people trying to get through but couldn't. A few begging their close companions to do anything to help them.
"Hello traitor."
He turned back to see the familiar face of 932 in her armor once more. Her voice is distorted as male by the suit's system.
"Didn't you learn last time that you couldn't beat me?" Cody questioned with a confident smirk now.
"I've been training since our previous brawl, 931."
"It's Cody." He reminded as he strapped the Sclash Driver on.
"You don't deserve to say your name for what you did to us!" Night Rogue barked. "You are nothing but a damn traitor to us!"
"Still unable to move on with your grudge…. Well, I didn't expect you to forgive me so easily. But I'm not the same person as before either." He said, before twisting the cap and inserting the Jelly Bottle.
DRAGON JELLY!
Cody held his arms together and shouted "Henshin!" before slamming his hand onto the clamp as he pulled it down, causing the clamps to push and squeeze the bottle.
Bright blue sparks danced across his body, capsuling him in a beaker as bright blue jelly-like liquid rose within, almost drowning him only for the beaker to twist and collapse into him as it formed the new Charge armor.
TSUBURERU!
NAGARERU!
AFUREDERU!
DRAGON IN CROSS-Z CHARGE!
BURAAA!
When the armor former, Cross-Z charged and his new weapon met Night Rogue's own blade. The blonde rolled upon ducking, avoiding his head from being cut off and kicked her ankle. Night Rogue fell on one knee but caught the next kick.
With a grunt, she gripped his leg tightly, giving a tight grip and threw the rider into a Dust store. He shook his head as he looked at the Dust owner who was in danger.
Night Rogue aimed at the teen as the firearm charged up. Cross-Z quickly embraced the old man as the blast slammed into the interior of the store. The whole shop exploded in flames, ice, lightning, wind, and earth.
"You forget, I learn to use my surroundings to my advantage." She shouldered her firearm, staring at the fire. Her yellow lenses narrowed before they widened as the bright red flames began to shrink down and clear a path to reveal Cross-Z with the uninjured old man over his back. 'Damn it!' The Semblance he had shielded him from fire-related elements! While the other types of dust may have affected him, the flames did not!
He set the older man down in a safer place before turning to Night Rogue with his own frown, "And you think that fighting me and hurting these people will do you good? You're just becoming like Faust."
"Like you ever gave a damn about me, 931!" She screamed, striking the armor. Cody grunted and stopped her before slamming his knee into her stomach.
"I do care, 932! You don't think I haven't stopped recalling that day every night?!" He twisted his grip and spun Night Rogue. Her body spun like a screw and landed on her back.
"SHUT UP!" She quickly brought her knee up.
*DING!*
"Guh!" Cross-Z wheezed, stepping back. Even in the armor he felt that! Good gods did she have to do such a dirty trick?!
Night Rogue rolled onto her stomach before crawling onto her feet. "Soldier A2! Initiate your role, now!" She commanded.
'Soldier A2? Not Soldier A?' The former experiment noted. He stopped his train of thought to a fist slamming into his cheek, sending him rolling. He rubbed his helmet and raised his head but gasped.
Aside from the Faust soldier combat gear, there was numbers imprinted on the left side of the neck of the female individual.
"801…" The blonde grunted in recognition. Experiment 801 was an older individual, older than 932 as her brown hair was cut short with a clip on the side of her hair. A streak mark dyed black ran below her right eye and down to the right side of her neck.
"Do your job for Lord Evol!"
"Bound by Blood…" 801 responded as she held up a Lost Bottle, shaking it before inserting it into her body. Cross-Z watched as she was shrouded in Nebula Gas until it burst, revealing an owl-themed Smash.
Owl roared and used her knobbed arm, backhanding Cody across the street and into a cart of vegetables. The blonde recovered but grunted. 'This type of Smash is way different!' No wonder Faust had been occupied, they were creating new Bottles for their soldiers!
801 was more aggressive yet she was in control of herself. The Rider steadied himself before stopping Night Rogue's attack. However it gave the opening Owl needed to hit his chest a few times.
"Who says you are strong now, 931!?" The Faust agent boasted.
"It stings… But I'm not easily put down." He said, as he unleashed his Semblance, igniting the Smash and Night Rogue in a more intense blue flame than before, so much that even she could feel the seering intense heat from it.
Night Rogue evaporated into smoke before appearing behind her former cellmate, holding him in a chokehold. The blonde gagged, stomping on her boot but the bluenette bravely held on. Cross-Z slowly fell to his knees, wheezing beneath his armor. His suit's systems were alerting him that his oxygen inhalation was decreasing. He clawed her arms, trying to break free from her grasp.
"Once you're back in your cell.. I'm going to make sure you watch me tear those 'friends' of your, piece by piece…" She threatened.
Cody tried to fight. He swore 932 was smiling almost crazed by her sudden desire to destroy every hope he has.
Suddenly, Night Rogue gasped for air and released Cody. Cross-Z coughed and looked at the agent but noticed she was squirming, clutching her helmet.
"No! No! I… I… hate him!" she was speaking to herself. "Stop these voices! Stop it!"
Was… she slowly fighting back her traumas?
"I am not a saint!" Night Rogue suddenly screamed in anguish and the flames were quickly blown away by the blast of wind that erupted from her arms. Cody crashed into a light post and groaned. Sitting on his side he noticed Night Rogue fall to her knees and her armor vanished, curling in a fetal position. She was whimpering.
"932?" He called to her, attempting to approach the girl with worry.
Owl quickly got between him and 932, launching the drones from its 'wings' and ignited a bright barrage of energy bolts. 801 picked up 932 and immediately flew away, the barrier vanishing with them.
The young rider just simply stood there, realizing that she truly wasn't lost yet either. Just like himself, she can heal and move on. He'll just have to keep trying over and over until he too can save her. Then hopefully the others as well.
XXX
Faust Guardians and Heavy Guardians escorted Evol after the brief excursion of Grimm to eliminate. Several drones had stayed behind to hold them off and surely exploded into ashes upon being overwhelmed. They recently landed on Faust HQ's landing pad as everyone saluted. The humans quickly kneeled when Evol raised the black panel into the air.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the second last panel! Obtained by yours truly from my trickery to the witch!" Evol boasted proudly, pounding his cobra crest on his torso with his free arm.
"With this, our goal is one step closer!" Sigma beamed with delight as well. "Our Utopia you speak of!"
"Please hold the applause! We are still one panel away and it won't be easy! But when the Hell Bros recover my belt, we will find it with ease!"
His followers erupted with fanatics cheers. To not only see their lord's true godly power but to recover the final piece of the puzzle! "Who's the best?!"
"Evol!"
"I said who is the best!?"
"EVOL!"
Evol cackled in delight to see the humans revere him for his intelligence. His advancements. His ambitions to prove the world wrong after revealing the hidden secrets of the world.
"Lord Evol!" Everyone looked to see the Owl Lost Smash skid across the landing pad with 932 in her arms.
"Oh you're back. Figured you two would be out longer."
"932 is incapacitated!" Owl raised the girl who quivered. Evol quickly took notice of the look of the Lost Smash's confusion.
"What occurred?"
"I… I don't know! She was nearly close to choking the air out of 931 but suddenly she released him and yelled words to herself! She yelled to a voice in her head! Like she was talking to herself! She even said "saint!"
Evol paused all movement. The air suddenly thickened, the humans choking.
"You said saint?"
"Y-Yes!"
A long pause followed before Evol chuckled and then cackled in amusement.
"Well, seems this has brought up a new change! Wondered how long it'd take for 'her' to reemerge again."
"H-Her…?"
Evol looked down at the quivering young adult in his arms. "An old friend. Ain't that right…" His teal lens stared down when 932 barely opened her eyes to look at nothing, a glimmer of green seen behind the lilac eyes whereas the hairband gleamed with it.
"Vernage."
XXX
After joining Cross back, the young rider made his way back to Tuskon's to inform him of the completed job before going on his break. He was already talking to the dragon about the strange moment before fleeing him, seeing if it knew what to make of the situation as well.
He still wondered what happened earlier. 932 reacted oddly like she was talking to herself. Whatever it was it caused her to stop fighting and curl like she was just given her shots or was relapsing from hard meds.
Never expected to see such an event nor see the vulnerability. She had never expressed such a state even in their days in the cell. Alas she nearly incapacitated him. He rubbed his neck and shook his legs a bit. It was sore as hell but kept going.
The blonde grumbled a few words before seeing the store. Two people had walked out the store and as Cody walked past the two, he grunted to the push of his shoulder. "Rude." He grumbled. The dude had gray hair and dressed in said color. The other was a woman with mint green hair and dark skin. Shaking his head he reached the knob but stopped. "Huh? Closed? Mr. Tukson didn't mention it closing at this hour."
It was confusing, but as he was a manager he had his keys to enter the shop. With a click and twist, he entered the very dimmed shop. But even with the lights dimmed inside, he could smell the obvious scent of a gunshot…. And of blood.
"Mr. Tukson!" He scrambled and hopped over the front counter to notice the man against the wall, the chest drenched in blood. "Mr. Tukson, come on, get up!"
Panic fell out of his heart, hyperventilating as he attempted to shake the man awake with worried and pained eyes as he was tearing up. He didn't want to stop, but the tugging of his sleeve from Cross made him slowly stop.
"H-He has to get up… he has to…"
The metal dragon shook its head softly. It knew from its scanners that the Faunus owner was dead. And given how warm the body still was, it was a very recent death.
"H-How can he be… h-he wasn't like this before-" Cody's voice died down in his throat, his mind flashing to the two he bumped into when they exited the store. His eyes slowly turned red.
XXX
"Sir, 931's Hazard Levels are increasing!"
Evol looked up for a moment, surprised by that as he was confused at to what just happened to the boyo?
"Well… ain't that an unexpected surprise." He watched the bar slowly and daring to reach the next level.
XXX
Cody rushed put the store and darted his head to the left, seeing the two. His eyes narrowed sharply and briefly saw the mint-haired girl glance and quickly look ahead. "Cross! Picture them now!"
It obeyed and flew ahead until it was above the duo, taking quick flashes.
"I hate pests!" Mercury frowned, jumping up as he let out a kick, firing a shot at the dragon but it dodged out of the way.
'Bleh!' Cross stuck its tongue out and flew away.
"What do we do now?" Emerald looked to her partner in crime.
"Easy, get out of here." He responded before the two ran off to escape the enraged rider.
Cross hovered onto Cody's palm, displaying the two faces. The blonde stared angrily at it, his now crimson eyes taking in every detail regarding the individuals. The dragon chirped softly, calming his grieving master.
"C-Call the police? R-Right… right…"
He would love nothing more than to chase down and erase those two… but the idea that they have proof was more than he needed. Plus Tuskon had did his best to teach the boy to not chase after such negative thoughts. He didn't want to disobey what he was offered in terms of helping him be better. If he acted on vengeance he wouldn't be better than Faust in the act of murder.
With his Scroll in hand, he dialed up the police before he slumped to the side of the building. While acting on anger would be against what he was taught, grieving and letting those emotions out was different as tears began to fall off of his face.
Tuskon was someone he could've seen a bit as a father-like figure. He understood and gave him not only a home for the time being, but a job too. He knew what it was like being in such a place of pain and death and helped the young blonde when needed. He truly never got to repay the Faunus for everything he has done for him.
Yet, he also knew one other thing, he won't forget the man's kindness over what had happened either.
XXX
Within one of the new hideouts for the hidden agents for Salem's plans, Roman was taking a break with his cigar as he was still trying to calm down from everything that happened not too long ago. While getting out of this mess was his option for survival, with what Cinder had told him should he back out? Either way he would die to someone. So best stick to the plan and work out any kinks that will occur… of course that is if the big bad snake doesn't show up and choke him out.
But his peaceful smoke ended as the familiar kids that Cinder brought with her stormed in, quickly closing and checking the small windows as if they were followed.
"Oh, look! She sent the kids again! This is turning out just like the divorce!" Roman said as he approaches the two from behind and wraps his arms around them in a group hug.
"Spare us the thought of you procreating." Emerald stated as Torchwick let them both go and approached his desk.
"That was a joke and this..." Torchwick held up a piece of paper. "Just might tell me where you've two have been all day."
"Wait, what?" Emerald checked her pockets to find her paper missing.
"I'm a professional sweetheart, pay attention maybe you'll learn something." Torchwick taunted before looking at the paper. "Why do you have this address?"
"Wouldn't you like to know?" Emerald stated avoiding the question.
"Yeah I would, now where've you been all day?" Torchwick questioned only for Mercury to suddenly cut in.
"Cleaning up your problem. One of them at least."
"Oh do tell? Like oh I don't know…" He flipped the paper like a magic trick and unfolded a newspaper in its place. "This?" The newspaper discussed the murder of an Ex-Fang member at a bookstore with a witness seeing two pictured individuals in the paper.
"I told you to get that dragon toy!" Emerald yelled at Mercury.
"Hey, I tried shooting it down. You could've just hooked it." Mercury frowned.
"And because of your stupid little stunt, you two might not make it into the next phase!" He laughed. "Ah man this is sweet! You bit more than you can chew!"
"Says the guy who's scared stiff the moment he hears a snake…" Emerald countered.
"Piss off. Same can be said about you two! I bet that boogeyman will show up and–"
"Do what Roman?"
Roman looked up to see Cinder with her fiery eyes. Him and his mouth.
"Come on Roman. What were you going to say?"
"And… hopefully just give a warning and leave like before." He finished with a grumble at the end.
"Cinder!" Emerald said excitedly. Her and Mercury looking at the woman with admiration and respect.
"I thought I made it clear that you were to eliminate the would be runaway." Cinder stated.
"I was going to but..." Roman was cut off by Emerald.
"He was going to escape to Vacuo, Mercury and I decided to take it upon ourselves to kill the rat." Emerald bragged.
"I think he was a cat actually."
"What, like a puma?"
"Yet you two got caught on camera thanks to it." Roman sneered. "So in conclusion you can say it to not just me at fault but the two here. Tweedledee and tweedledum."
"We were just trying to-"
"Didn't I specifically say not keep your hands clean here?" Cinder scolded them.
"We did but…"
"One more rat scurried with evidence." Roman stopped laughing when Cinder glared at him. The Maiden took a deep breath to suppress her frustration.
"We will just have to alter the plan… Not everyone was compromised…" Cinder said with a look of disappointment to the two. "Do you both know who saw you two?"
"Some blonde dude and a robot dragon." Mercury shrugged.
"… Hold on did you say blonde dude? Did by any chance happen to sport fiery look in his eyes?"
"Yeah?"
Roman stared before laughing. "O-Oh man… we really dug ourselves a big grave!"
"Roman, who is he?"
"A former bouncer for Junior before he got fired but the reason I say we dug our grave? These Faust guys see him as their favorite from what I saw at the docks. Especially the snake. Sooo, yeah, I ain't sending Neo out to kill the blonde and have that boogeyman turning us both into another freakazoid."
Cinder sighed heavily, a burst of small embers escaping her lips from the frustration this brought before calming down, "Then we will have to alter the plan more than ever…"
"Er… how exactly, Cinder? We have Faust to worry about after you told us the snake is nearly done with whatever box he had. Especially after he nearly…." Emerald shuddered upon recalling her fight. Evol saw through her illusions and had stronger power than Cinder. Adding to it, the stupid snake called her illusions headaches?!
"I still have a few contacts we can make. As long as we don't step on the boy or the snake's tail and continue with Beacon's fall, then we have nothing to worry about." Cinder said, as she took Roman's scroll to make a few calls.
"Ahem." Cinder looked at Roman. "Might wanna do it in person than make calls. I haven't touched my scroll since the docks cuz, you know."
Ah right. She forgot Faust has complete control in the network monitoring. But their is also potential eyes and ears everywhere included. "… Very well… Just make sure Neo is ready too."
Roman sighed. "Guess I'm going to need a bigger shovel after this…"
With Cinder, once out of prying eyes her calm demeanor shattered and expressed her anger and rage. Several colorful words left her lips. She has not forgotten the moment she lost to Evol. How easily he used his magic and would have torn her apart with that last spell. Faust had a network of spies and who is to say the White Fang they coerced had been infiltrated by agents too? Salem had recently told her Faust needed one last panel as Evol is nearly finished with the world-changing box.
She would have ordered Emerald and Mercury to join her to Beacon but regrettably the duo would be recognized at the school. Even with her Semblance, she couldn't hold that long forever. Police would have already spread images across the city by now.
Neo was still easy as she can change her appearance at will. Luckily she knew of a few others that could join in and finish their plans.
"It's this way!" One male voice sounded off.
"Nooo, it's that way!" Another male voice pointed.
Cinder blinked and slowly peeked over to see twins both held bandages over their left and right eye respectively.
"Lord Evol said to use this device that Pietro man made to find his belt! And the meter is pointing that way!"
"And I'm telling you, it's that way! You're more blind than she is when in that suit!"
"Says you right eye!"
"Lefty eye!" The two suddenly got into a brawl and Cinder witnessed a cloud of dust erupting by their fight. "Say uncle you dimwit!"
"We don't even have an uncle, stupid!"
Did the two just mention Evol? The snake? And what belt were they talking about?
With a devious grin Cinder made her way out, figuring with how dimwitted they are, she could use them both.
She had Neo. All she needed was two more to create a legitimate team.
"Excuse me, boys." Cinder called to them, using her voice to earn their attention alongside her looks.
The fighting stopped and she found some amusement. The one right the left eyepatch looked ready to bite the other's arm due to his rather sharp teeth. The other looked like he was about to snap the other's neck. "Are you two lost?"
"Uh…" the red hair with dark green streaks finally bit the twin with green hair and white streaks. "Yeouch!"
"Boss said to not get mingled with those we don't know!"
"Shut it man! She's pretty! We could score a date with her!" The other spoke up, albeit loudly.
"Hey we have to use this device-!"
"Will you just shut up when this is a local!? You remember what he did to us last time we disobeyed his orders!"
As the two argued, the red-haired one coughed to clear his throat, "Hello there, pretty lady. Why we are not lost. Just arguing things as brothers we are."
"Here comes the tank punishment when the boss finds out about this…" the green-haired twin grumbled. He merely walked ahead, using the device once more.
"Well, I can definitely see you two are busy. But I simply just want your time for a moment." Cinder said soothingly as she cupped the red-heads cheek, "That is.. Unless you two are too busy to talk to little ol' me?"
The red-green haired teen's face became red as his hair.
"Go north and then west… what the hell is that supposed to mean?" The other twin tapped the device. "Why am I always stuck with directional crap…"
"Ohh, is there a problem?" Cinder asked the other brother, tapping his nose for a moment. "Maybe I can help?"
"We are-" 898 was about to answer but his twin brother stopped him.
"Glad to talk to ya!" 899 grinned.
"8-!" The teen was silenced by the hand of his brother.
"Well… I have had such terrible luck… Two of my teammates are unable to attend the Vytal Festival, and we need four people to work with us! But if we can't do that, we'll be disqualified from the tournament…" Cinder pouted looking sad to the brothers, "If we don't win this, I won't be able to face my family again…. If only we had two strong, and handsome young men to help me out?"
898's cheeks flared, his visible eye moving elsewhere until his brother dragged him aside. "If you please excuse us." 899 raised a finger before forming the huddle. "We should take this chance!"
"All for what? For you to score a girl?"
"That and maybe even help Lord Evol! Think about it! What better way to show off his might, than us Hell Bros in that festival?"
"He told us to focus on finding the belt!"
"But he didn't say we couldn't join in on that! Only doing the mission, not anything in between!"
"He-! …Now that you say it like that…"
"See? Plus, we get to show these 'Huntsmen' how inferior they are to us… Show them that we of Lord Evol are the true masters here."
"Remember our orders, we cannot and I mean cannot use those armors he gave us unless our lord activates the key for us to be granted access. And furthermore we will keep looking around. We know the location of the belt is here in Vale and it sure is not in that dumb school so you better remember that."
"Yes!" 898 cheered with delight before turning back to Cinder. "We would be delight to help you pretty lady."
"Please… call me Cinder." She giggled, "Now, since you're helping me, I can help you too." She said walking over to them, "What was so confusing to you boys?"
"Just location is all. Our… boss wants us to find a place to dig. That's all."
"Construction? Aren't you two a bit young for such a job?"
"Meh. We're 18 so no foul. Well, there's this man child who hates his veggies."
"They are foul and don't deserve my taste!" 899 accused. "They should be gone from all dishes!"
"Well, if you let me see it, I'll help point you in the right direction. After all, you promised to help me, so why not return the favor?" She said soothingly, cupping 898's cheek.
"Give me that!" 899 snatched it and handed it to Cinder.
"Bro, our boss is going to kill us, you know?!"
"Shush!"
Cinder was given the item as she looked at it carefully, seeing what it was before figuring out what it was meant for. 'Zero matter? Isn't that… energy of the dark depths of the cosmos…?' She faintly remembered the lessons from her queen. The cosmos, the very stars themselves, was said to be vast and infinite but within it was the dark depths that inhale all forms of matter, snuffing out everything until it was nothing; nonexistent.
This was something much different than she expected. The boys were searching for an item that belonged to the snake. A part of him perhaps? Or a weapon he longed to reunite with? It intrigued her. Could there be more power out there other than the magic of the maidens? And… could she use it?
"Ah, I believe it's pointing to the Forever Falls." she said, pointing to the red forest in the distance.
899 grabbed the device and followed the gravitational waves and the device pinged rapidly upon being in the right direct yet softly due to current location not met. "Our boss is definitely going to give us more leisure once we tell him of this!"
"Yeah, yeah, yeah… So! Um… d-does this mean you're free sometime Cinder?" 898 asked like a lovesick puppy.
"Oh I'm a bit busy, but if you two keep your end of the bargain and fight with me, maybe I'll take you up on that?" Cinder grinned softly.
"I'm in!"
"Ugh…" 899 whined. "I'll inform the boss we are in the right direction…"
Cinder watched as the two brothers left towards the forest, knowing the plan was still in place. Though with how easily those two could be fooled, was amusing. But Cinder did know not to trifle with Faust, if anything… now that she knows about this, maybe she can offer her assistance to their leader as well?
Double the reward, double the power.
A/N: Well ain't this a different turns of events? With Mercury and Emerald's faces now plastered everywhere in Vale, they can't attend the festival for the plans, nor even peak out. But seems even Cinder understood what could happen should she try to ally with Evol. Wonder what this'll come about now?
Until then, later minna.