Legend Secrets Reveal to the Champions
The scene shows of a five people each in different color with one of them being an old man along with the other four being that of females.
"A callous old man, who refuses to leave his home, is visited by four traveling sisters. The first understands his reclusive nature and urges him to use his time in solitude to reflect and meditate. The second brings him fruits and flowers, tending to his crops and revitalizing his garden. The third warms the man's heart, convincing him to step outside and embrace the world around him. And the fourth and final sister begs him to look at all that he has and be thankful. In return for their kindness, the man grants the maidens incredible powers, so that they may continue to help others all over the world. They graciously accept and promise to share their gifts with the people of Remnant 'til the end of their days. Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall; the four maidens. My mother loves that story." Pyrrha explained the story.
The scene returns to the headmaster office as Pyrrha just finished the story of the Four Maiden.
"That was a beautiful story, Pyrrha." Kibo commented.
"Thank you, it's how my mother told me the story." Pyrrha smiled.
"I like how those four women came to help that old man even though they didn't have a reason to do what they did." Kibo liked the point of the story.
"Would you two believe me if I told you that one's been around since I was a boy?" Ozpin asked with a smile.
"You're not that old, Professor." Pyrrha pointed out.
"And yet, I can't help but feel that you always felt odd… Like your soul is a mixture of others along with another energy source that is not of Aura." Kibo stated as he held up his hand toward Ozpin.
Ozpin just gave a smile knowing that Kibo would notice this with his high level of sensing ability just like his predecessor, and he can tell that his young man is on his way to surpass him soon.
"What if I were to tell you that there were four maidens existing in this world, that could wield such tremendous power, without Dust?" Ozpin asked.
"You mean... like a Semblance?" Pyrrha asked, having a strange feeling about this conversation.
"Like martial arts?" Kibo asked, though that question isn't really something for the subject.
"Like magic." Ozpin revealed with a smile.
"Huh?" Pyrrha and Kibo looked at each other for a moment, thinking that Ozpin maybe is pulling a joke, but they can't but feel like this is no mere joke.
"Yeah. First time hearing it's pretty crazy." Qrow recalled the time from the time his team were given the big secret reveal.
"You're serious?" Pyrrha surprised.
"Do I look like I'm joking?" Ozpin asked.
"I can sense truth from your words, telling us things that only certain few people would know about and kept this a secret from the world for a reason." Kibo stated.
"But then… why are us telling me this?" Pyrrha asked shock.
"We are telling you this, Pyrrha Nikos, Kibo Hokuto, because we believe that you are next in line of protecting our world from something truly dangerous that is beyond anything than the Grimms." Ozpin said.
"Something more dangerous than the Grimms?" Pyrrha confused.
"We also believe that Pyrrha is next in line to receive the Fall Maiden's powers." Ozpin added.
"Wait, we?" Pyrrha confused on that part.
They heard the elevator door getting the two students' attention to see the ones coming out are Glynda Goodwitch and Atlas General James Ironwood, this makes them feel this just gotten more serious.
"Looks like you're all in this dark secret you're about to tell us." Kibo guessed that one right.
"That's right, you already know we are the same teachers and Headmasters you met when you arrived at Beacon." Glynda said.
"'Cept we've got a little part-time job." Qrow stated a little.
"We are the protectors of this world." Ironwood revealed.
"And we need your help." Ozpin added.
Pyrrha is looking a little nervous as she does not know what exactly is going on here though she has a feeling she is in for a big reveal of her life, Kibo is being calm as always and knew this could be something that not the entire world knows.
The two students follow the teachers into the elevator and notice they are going down, way down more than the normal floor levels of the academy while everyone is being quite until Pyrrha spoke.
"Where are we going?" Pyrrha asked.
"The vault. Under the school." Ozpin answered.
The elevator finally stops at the lowest floor they arrived at and walks into a long dark hallway that has some light leading away to one way into this floor.
"I'm sure you must have questions." Glynda said, imagining what the two are thinking.
"I do, but I will keep them at bay until I see what you're about to show us at the end of this hall." Kibo nodded.
"Good to know you can keep your cool." Qrow grinned.
"What about you, Pyrrha?" Ironwood asked.
"Maybe one, or two... I still don't understand. You said I was next in line to receive the Maiden's power. What do you mean by that?" Pyrrha asked, not exactly sure what they're talking about.
"The Maidens have existed for thousands of years. But much like in nature, the seasons change. No two summers are alike. When a Maiden dies, her power leaves her body and seeks out a new host, ensuring that the seasons are never lost, and that no individual can hold on to that power forever." Glynda explained.
"Sounds like something my master told me. For as long as the Seven Stars of Hokuto, Hokuto Shichi Sei, shines brightly in the sky then Hokuto will always be among Remnant." Kibo mentioned.
"Wise words from a man of legend." Ironwood commented with a smile.
"So, how does the power choose?" Pyrrha asked.
"Through a series of stupid and convoluted rules." Qrow answered annoyingly over his shoulder.
"Qrow!" Glynda glared at the usual drunk man.
"Hey, don't get mad 'cause I'm right." Qrow shrugged.
Glynda shook her head a little wondering if he is taking this seriously or not, then looks back at Pyrrha to answer her question.
"At first, the only thing that was certain was that the powers were specifically passed on to young women. But as time went on, it was discovered that the selection process was much more... intimate." Glynda explained, though hesitated a little on that last part.
"…Intimate?" Pyrrha confused and concerned.
"As we understand it now, when a Maiden dies, the one who is in her final thoughts is the first candidate to inherit her power." Glynda explained a bit more clearly.
"But that's not always the case unless there is a downside to that rule." Kibo guessed.
"Right on the money, Kibo. Unless it's a dude or some old hag. Then the power goes to someone random, and our job gets a lot harder." Qrow mentioned.
"Perhaps that could also be a blessing in disguise, anyone who wants to misuse the power won't be able to get their hands on the person who inherits the power if it chose randomly." Kibo pointed out.
"Yeah, I guess it could be like that." Qrow started to see that.
"Why tell us all of this now? Why not wait until we've graduated?" Pyrrha asked. Thinking all of this important knowledge could have been shared if they were more readied as full-fledged Hunters.
"Honestly, we've run out of time. I don't know if you've noticed, but things are getting a lot scarier out in the world. Tensions are high. Grimm are growing stronger, more prevalent. And it's not going to be much longer before the peace we've been enjoying so much goes out the window." Qrow explained, looking a bit grim on the face.
"You're not... talking about a war?" Pyrrha worried, but Kibo can sense that it is not about between the nations.
"Not a war between nations." James said.
Called it for Kibo.
"We can fill you in on the details once we know that you're with us. For now, all you need to know is that one of the Maidens has been attacked. And for the first time in history, part of her power was stolen." Qrow explained.
"Then that would put the balance of power between the Maidens in disorder, which may lead to chaos." Kibo concerned.
"The worse kind of outcome." Ozpin said, looking sad and worried at the same time.
The group arrives at the end of the hallway where a large metal capsule is there waiting though it doesn't appear to be a normal capsule, Kibo and Pyrrha are shocked to see that there is a person inside. A woman to be exact, appears to be sleeping inside with little clothes aside from the shorts and wrap on her chest, there is also a nasty scar on her face.
"Is that…?" Pyrrha gasped.
"The Fall Maiden." Kibo immediately figured out who this woman is.
"Yes, her name is Amber. Still the current Fall Maiden." Ozpin revealed who this unconscious woman is.
"She's... still alive." Pyrrha looked closer at the woman.
"Just barely…" Kibo sensed the aura of Amber, it feels small and most damaged which feels unnatural to most souls.
"Her soul feels like it was… tore in half." Kibo said.
"But she's still alive, right?" Pyrrha asked.
"For now. We're using state-of-the-art Atlas technology to keep her stable. But there is a lot about this situation that is... unprecedented." Ironwood said.
"There is something you haven't been able to figure out, have you?" Kibo asked.
"Yes. Well, we don't know what will happen if- when she passes." Ironwood said looking concern.
"Won't... her power... just transfer to the next host?" Pyrrha asked.
"No, I don't think it would be that simple. Her soul was torn in half, which could also be along with half of the Maiden power that was stolen, and if I'm understanding this right… Then if the other half will seek out to be complete if this woman dies." Kibo stated.
"That would be likely the most outcome, the other half of the power would also go seek out…" Ironwood paused, not wanting to say the worse out loud.
"…Her assailant." Pyrrha finished that sentence.
"And that would not bode well for any of us." Ozpin said.
Pyrrha look at the unconscious and barely alive Amber, feeling sad for the woman having to go through such an ordeal of never being able to wake up to experience other things she probably ever got to do before she got attacked, no love or anything which makes her feel very angry.
Kibo is also feeling angry on the inside that there are people who would harm others because of the power the Four Maidens for dark reasons and destroying half of her soul to get it.
If his master was here, then he would be very angry and would immediately go after the ones who did this to Amber.
"If all of this is true, why keep it secret!? If this girl is so important... if we're truly on the brink of war, why not tell everyone?" Pyrrha asked, being angry now is understandable to them.
"I don't think it's that simple, Pyrrha." Kibo said.
"From what we understand, it used to be common knowledge." Glynda mentioned.
"Excuse me?" Pyrrha asked shock, she was not expecting that kind of answer.
"How do you think legends and fairy tales get started? Even the craziest ones come from somewhere." Qrow pointed out.
"That is true, there are even martial art styles that would make one sound like a legend or fairy tale that some have been spoken about throughout the years." Kibo explained.
"Yes, from the biggest feats to even the smallest things could be considered from common things into a fairy tale and legend." Ozpin nodded.
"Our group was founded in order to protect both mankind and the Maidens. Those hungry for power hunted them with the hope of inheriting their strength." Glynda explained.
"And as you can imagine, the ones that succeeded weren't exactly the kind of people you'd want to have unimaginable power." Qrow mentioned which Kibo can already imagine those kinds of people like the White Fang and other bad people.
"And so, this brotherhood chose to remove the Maidens from the public eye, allowing their existence to fade away into legend." Ironwood revealed.
"The things we're telling you go against hundreds of years of human history, religion." Glynda said.
"No one would want to believe us. It would cause an uproar." Ironwood mentioned.
"It would cause panic. And we all know what that would bring to clawing to our Kingdom's walls." Ozpin said.
"There will also come to the time when this secret you all have been keeping will come out soon, something that will force you all to that big decision to let the whole world know." Kibo believed.
"Do you truly believe that time will come for all of Remnant to know about the Remnants?" Ironwood asked.
"Call it a gut feeling, just be prepare for when that day comes." Kibo advised.
"We'll keep that in mind." Ozpin nodded.
"Pyrrha, are you going to consider becoming the Fall Maiden?" Kibo asked.
"I am, after hearing everything from them and saying about this… this darkness that threatens everything we have and hold dear to our very world then I'm ready for it!" Pyrrha answered with determination in her eyes.
"Glad to hear, but I don't think you'll be able to get the other half of Fall Maiden's power if things were under the normal conditions, right?" Kibo turned to the teachers.
"I'm afraid he is correct. Given Amber's condition, you won't be able to inherit her power naturally. However, General Ironwood believes he has a solution." Ozpin turned to Ironwood to share what he has.
"For the past few years, Atlas has been studying Aura from a more scientific standpoint; how it works, what's it made of, how it can be used. We've made... significant strides. And we believe we've found a way to capture it." Ironwood explained.
"Capture it and cram it into something else. Or in your case…" Qrow paused and gestured to Pyrrha as she and Kibo realizes what he is saying.
"That's…"
"Classified." Ironwood stated.
"So wrong that none of my predecessors would ever agree to do such a thing." Kibo said, feeling a bit angry with one fist.
"The feeling is mutual. But desperate times call for desperate measures." Glynda sighed.
"And these are indeed desperate times, Pyrrha. We can't transfer Amber's power to you, but we can give you what those powers are bound to." Ironwood said.
"Her Aura." Pyrrha guessed.
"That, along with her very lifeforce, her soul would merge with yours that could do something to you that none of us know." Kibo pointed out, like taking on the half of the people who used to be whole into someone who was already whole to begin with.
"Which is why I am grateful that you are here, Kibo. We need your help to making sure that we find this attacker before things become worse that we would have to go through with it." Ozpin placed a hand on Kibo's shoulder before turning his gaze to Pyrrha.
"You have an important decision before you, Miss Nikos. There's no guarantee this transfer will work. And there's no telling if you will be the same person if it does. I advise you to take time on this matter. But understand that before the Vytal Festival is over, we will need your answer." Ozpin said.
"But I don't think you have to worry about the pressure when you have a strong friend to help make it lighter." Ozpin smiled at Kibo.
"I will do what I can to help, but the decision will be all up to her in the end." Kibo stated.
"That is fine." Ozpin nodded.
"Now, I believe you have your own fight to do in the last match of the double round to get to. Can't keep your opponents waiting." Ozpin mentioned the tournament.
Kibo nods and gestures to Pyrrha that it was time to go back up top, but the red hair girl is still having a hard time accepting what is going to happen to her should she go through with this.
"It'll be okay, just remember that you have others and hold them in your heart. That will give you strength." Kibo said, making Pyrrha smile.
KO a new chapter is done and hope you all enjoy it!
Sorry for not updating yesterday, my computer was acting up for the entire day but it's all good now.
Kibo and Pyrrha have been told about the Four Maiden and how one of them was injured by a mysterious attacker, let's hope this attacker won't do anything to force Pyrrha into making that choice too soon. But something tells me that it's gonna get shit from here.
KO comment, favorite, and follow through of how this story will go!