A/N: I was originally not going to post but I realize I'm behind schedule. And after some convincing by a few people on discord, I decided it was best if I just release something. Even if I wanted this chapter to be the final chapter to cap off a story arc.I decided that this chapter would be focus on one of Akame major antagonist. A antagonist she can't kill and be done with.
Watts' head was slammed into the forest floor at such speed and strength that his aura instantly cracked. A dozen broken knights accompanied him and his captors. The sun peeked over the horizon as a behemoth of a landship capable of crushing city blocks came into view. The landship is a scrapped project from one of many investments of the Atlas military.
"Argh! Easy easy!" He complained as both of his arms are tied behind his back. Watts' revolver was in the hand of one of his captors.
"Quiet, All questions or concerns will be answered by Ms. Malachite," A disheveled woman in purple explained," Please, cooperate."
"What if I don't?" He tried to raise his head only to be pushed back down," I deserve a lawyer you know!"
"Then we skip a few steps and send you wrapped in a nice ribbon to General Ironwood," Ms. Malachite retorted as she's flanked by her bodyguards," He'll be elated to see you alive."
"How?" He stared with hatred," How did you outsmarted me?"
"You're in no position to question me," She threatened," I would be careful with your next word, Atlesian. I want to make it clear you're negotiating your own survival. No one is coming to rescue you. Not even your master, Salami."
"Salami?" Watts was stupefied.
"You know who," She responded back," Your master."
The disgraced scientist would chuckle at the nickname if it wasn't for the situation he was in.
"You're working for him?" He tried raising his head only to be pushed down," For Ozpin?"
"Me? Work for him?" The blonde woman broke into a fit of laughter," Hahaha! Why would I be subservient to anyone? Thanks for the laugh, I needed that. I'll cut off the comedic routine now. I'm offering you a deal."
"What if I refuse?" He hissed.
Without issuing an order, the boot pushed down on his neck. Watts started to feel intense pain as the bone in his neck started to crack. A hoarse scream escaped his lips as the pressure gradually increased. He's about to die in the middle of nowhere.
"Enough," Ms. Malachite snapped her fingers," He learned his lesson."
"Yes, M'lady," the bodyguard responded with cuffs.
"You're not getting away with this."
"On the contrary, I will," A cold, sadistic smile spread across her face," Tell me, What do you have to offer me? Your boss?"
"How about not killing you, your little girls and destroying everything you work so hard for," He threatened.
Lil Ms. Malachite tightened her lips and sighed. The woman gave herself a moment and then she chuckled.
"Four years ago, Some of your people dared to attack me by kidnapping my girls," She retold with unmasked anger," Now you're doing the same exact thing on a grander scale. Your people are threatening the stability of society. The stability I thrive in. You and your master made this madness a personal and business issue. How petty of you."
Even with the War on Crime, Ms. Malachite had no problem dancing around three out of the four Remnant governments as well as Ozpin secret society. All it did was eliminate her enemies and bring her to new heights.
"Petty for what?" Watts gritted his teeth.
"Revenge and entitlement," She listed out," You believe your genius is under appreciated and wasted. You should've chosen another master, Watts."
"Are you trying to recruit me?" The Atlesian sneered," You know with the right price, I could arrange a formal contract. Even a meeting with my master."
'THIS DISRESPECT,' Malachite mentally fumed.
"Really? Are you offering a freelance style service? Even a place with that thing?" She questions sarcastically,"I do have a job for you, hacker man."
The sinking feeling in his stomach kept him on edge. Watts knows her words have a different meaning. That woman's eyes shine with malicious intent and for once, Watts realizes he isn't getting out of this unscathed.
"What's the job?"
"All I need is information, Anthony Walter. But first, I will need a bit of...insurance," Malachite mocked,"Left or right?"
"What is this even about? My handiness?" He gulped.
"Yes, I'm making sure you don't do YOUR job ever again," the Councilwoman turned her back to him," Break all the bones in his fingers from nails to knuckle. Then his hands and finally the arms, okay?"
"No!" Watts squirmed in his restraints as Malachite bodyguards got to work.
"Left or right?"
A ring finger was snapped on his right hand followed by the pinky.
Watts' scream echoed throughout the forest.
It has been half an hour since Ozpin confronted Salem. Words are pouring in from every major city on the continent of Anima that the creature of Grimm has been successfully repelled. Of course, General Ironwood can't say the same for villages and towns as there have been mixed signals as well as no signal. Plus, the Capital itself isn't completely out of hot water yet.
"So many lives lost," Ironwood sighed,"Have the Coalition force below been able to reestablish comms?"
He looked down at the beaten and bloodied battle lines. Bodies littered the battlefield like bullet casings on a firing range. They have won but at what cost? It could be weeks or even months for the full scope of the damage to be revealed.
The general clenched his fist.
"Comms are back online General and the Councilwoman is taking credit for it," One of the technicians saluted," And you have an urgent meeting with the Headmaster of Beacon."
He heard his scroll ring a very specific tone and he knows...It's that kind of meeting.
"The Queen is in play," He gulped and tightened his jaw.
A chill ran down his back as he excused himself to his personal quarter. The white washed, sparsely decorated room is the perfect place to hold a secure meeting as a single button on his scroll locks the whole room down.
A circular desk rose out from the center of the room as he set his scroll down and watched as a large screen unfolded in front of him. It displayed all those taking part in the secret meeting.
Ozpin and Glynda looked battle tested but otherwise unharmed. They're using the cargo hold of a bullhead as their meeting room. A cup of cocoa in his hand, a foldable metal chair to sit in, and a crate used as a table. Glynda stood behind him as stiff as a board.
Another person joins the secret meeting and she's the last person he's happy to see.
"Good morning, Iron shaft," She spoke with a serious expression.
Ozpin choked on his drink.
Glynda posture faulted.
Ironwood remembers a past he wants buried.
"Oz," He roared," WHY IN THE HELL IS THIS CROOK HERE?!"
"Because she knows," Ozpin retorted," Ms. Malachite has been debriefed by our runaway long ago."
"When?"
"When Salem men came to my residence and took my kids away. How about when Salem attempts to assassinate me recently?" Malachite snapped back," Oh wait, How about the fact that Mistral as a Kingdom was this close to falling or maybe when my own children are threatened once again by the LITERAL army of evil at my own doorstep."
"I see," Ironwood composed himself,"Assassinate? How did I just hear about this?"
"I got a body double that misled the killer, Tyrian Callows," She explained," I also captured one of her men who admits to being part of the conspiracy and my agents are currently attempting to arrest Hazel Rainhart."
"Tyrian and Hazel," Glynda spoke out loud," That makes sense. Tyrian, I remember him. He's the type of person that only wants to destroy. I doubt the Grimm attack on his transport and the death of the Huntsmen that captured him is a coincidence."
"Hazel," Ozpin clenched his cup tightly," But mind telling us who you captured?"
"Of course," Ms. Malachite turns the camera to reveal a dozen men and women in purple guarding a single man,"He's the reason why comms for the coalition have been cut off."
"WHAT?! You let other people in on this?" Ozpin nearly jumped out of his seat.
"Yes, I have to in order to pull this mission off but I can assure you that I hand selected the best men and women who're loyal to the ideal of peace," She explained," A need to know basic wouldn't work for them. They're part of my plan for the future of Remnant."
Ironwood anger flared as he observed the bloodied pulp before him.
"I want that man shipped to Atlas effective immediately," Ironwood spoke in a low tone.
"Only if you have something to offer me," She demanded.
"Give me a moment to consider," Ironwood answered," You may fool the general public but I'm not quick to deal with a criminal politician."
"You are correct," She admitted,"But what is the difference between me and the one wearing business suits?"
"Arthur Watts?" Glynda joined in,"Good work, Ms. Malachite and have you found anyone else linked to Salem?"
"I have a list of potential suspects otherwise, I only have one certainty," She revealed," Anymore questions?"
"What about the progress on the current members?" Ironwood requested.
"No luck yet, but if Tyrian or Hazel were to escape," She turns the camera back to her and it shows a face of absolute determination," I will hunt them down in every corner of Mistral. I only ask for cooperation from the rest of the world."
Glynda and Ozpin looked at each other with worry.
"Unfortunately, The rest of our group aren't able to make it for one reason or the other and our influences on our respective government is limited," Ozpin pointed out.
'For a secret society waging an endless war,' Malachite criticized mentally,' You lack critical power to make whatever plan you're executing worthwhile. Unless the limited control is a bluff.'
"Except for me," The general stood rigidly," I'm willing to offer extensive aid to Mistral on behalf of Atlas in exchange for eliminating all of Salem's influences."
A wide smile spread across the Councilwoman face.
'Finally, Someone with more control beyond a single school.'
"Akame Branwen has fallen into her hands," She revealed and Ironwood froze at the revelation.
It didn't help the matter when Ms. Malachite sent a short video from the recording on the Grimm mask.
The recording of Salem removing the mask and remarking how she finds Akme worthy. The strange black mist and Grimm arms wrapped around Akame like a snake. While the creature of Grimm kept their distances.
"Yes, James," Ozpin sighed as he bought up the mask in question," I found this at the scene as well as a pool of blood. Salem could heal Akame and most likely take her away to do unspeakable things."
"Due to the hacking from the moustache connoisseur here," Malachite reference Watts,"The video feed only recorded an additional 5 mins of...whatever she's doing to that little girl."
"Aren't you the one that sends her to die fighting a horde of Grimm?"
"Aren't you the one that goes behind Ozpin back to recruit her? It's morally wrong to manipulate a child for your own personal gain," Malachite threw back," She made her decision and I offer her the best tools to deal with it."
"Is this true?" The wizard narrowed his eyes at Ironwood.
"It isn't for me! She can benefit humanity," Ironwood countered," She just needs to be pointed in the right direction."
"Then why are you pushing her to join your army?" She retorted.
"Because she still needs to answer for her crime against my men and through service under my-Our watchful eye could we deem her worthy," He reasoned," Akame must be one of our best soldiers against a common foe."
"James," Ozpin raised his voice," I won't permit such a plan."
"She needs to see her family," Glynda spoke softly," Please, Jame. Akame is still a little girl. She needs time to grow and make her own decision. Freedom is what we stand for against the encroaching tyranny of Salem."
Ozpin wanted to nod in agreement but another part of him knows that Ms. Malachite and Ironwood have a point. There's something about Akame that isn't right. Almost as if she isn't meant to be here.
"I understand," The general exhaled,"But if Akame has completely fallen, I'll deal with her."
Lil Ms. Malachite wanted to mention Akame is a reincarnation similar to Ozpin. After some thinking, She realizes it would either be brushed off as a crazy theory, force them to view her as a threat worth eliminating, or make them want to recruit her that much more. The latter is the last thing Ms. Malachite wants. So she decided to use this knowledge as leverage against Akame, A war weary veteran trapped in a girl's body.
A crazy theory that seems normal with all the insanity going on.
"And so will I," Malachite agrees with hidden joy," Now back on topic, Akame Branwen plans to kill her own mother and quite possibly her uncle. That's one of the reasons why she's willingly dive into darkness."
"Liar!" Glynda exploded," Why would she do such a thing to her own flesh and blood? "
"Ask the General," She motioned," Do you concur?"
"Yes," Ironwood voiced as Glynda gasped in shock," That child isn't normal, Glynda. But why Qrow? He's done nothing against her beside searching with near suicidal tendencies."
"Does Martha Black ring a bell?" She pointed out.
"That woman," Glynda closed her eyes," I heard she loved Akame like her own daughter. She's the most sane person in that band of thieves and lowlife. I could see how deeply her death affects Qrow but I never stop to consider how Akame feels."
"Martha Black," Ozpin lowered his head," Now it's starting to make sense."
"She is determined to kill her own bloodline," Ironwood's face hardened," We need to stop her at all cost."
"See!" The Councilwoman smiled widely," It would be a mercy to her and all of us to put her down."
"You two are accusing an innocent child of-of a serious offense!" The older woman was in disbelief," Ozpin, We can't allow this kind of language. She needs to be helped instead of being treated like a monster or a new military project."
"Enough, All of you," Ozpin sighed," If Ms. Branwen has truly fallen, We have to deal with her accordingly. Killing is always the last resort."
"If she kills her mother or her uncle, She'll be marked as an enemy of the kingdoms," The Councilwoman expressed," I always consider that young lady a threat. I don't understand why everyone wants to recruit a ticking time bomb."
"Is that why you drop her in the middle of a horde? You wanted her dead," Goodwitch tensed, contemplating how to murder the women and getting away with it," Instead you handed her over to our enemy."
"In my defense, I wasn't expecting that thing to be in the horde," She held her hands up innocently," But the past can't be rewritten. We can only move forward from here."
"Ozpin," Ironwood raised his voice," I agree with our newest member about the matter regarding Akame but it is best if we call the others and get their consensus."
"Again, The other academies have their own issues at the moment," Ozpin revealed," Theordore and his people are busy with sightings of abnormal Grimm. Neither Lionheart or Hui Fang are picking up."
As if on cue, Hui Fang disheveled form connected to the secret meeting.
"Oz-Ozpin, General, Lady Glynda, and...You?" He was stunned," What? How?"
"I'm part of the secret society now," She rolled her eyes." Split it out."
Hui Fang calms himself long enough to utter three words.
"Lionheart is dead."
Salem needed to escape. The Grimm Queen rallied the remainder of her horde and her Chimera Grimm to target the weakest link in their defenses. The whole mission is done for.
All the attempts to control Akame was for nothing.
It only makes her conviction stronger.
It's deep in her soul. The desire to keep on living and forge her own path. As well as her calling to kill.
Thus, the Assassin stood calmly in a pool of red as vibrant as her eyes. Beyond that is a sea of pure blackness with Salem standing in front of her.
Akame determination is comparable to the armor of incursio. Meanwhile, Salem's manipulation and torment are equivalent to mundane arrows. As far as metaphor goes, Salem has run out of ammo.
Salem could have killed her right on the spot but it would mean she would lose to a child.
The calm, commanding facade of the Grimm witch started to crack.
She recalled how it all went down before the connection was severed.
Rarely in her countless generations did she dealt with anything like this child. There has been only one person in recent memory capable of standing up to her like this.
Summer Rose.
While the Grimm witch carries out her counter offenses. She can't help but be troubled by the child.
"What are you?"
A/N: I got so much plot point to cover and resolve. It will all be answered in eventually or else it would just be information dumping.There is a bit of mystery on Akame purpose or lack of purpose being on Remnant and I have already started on writing the ending and a secret ending. Well, I feel like shit writing it so I'm definitely on the right path. It is the Akame ga Kill equivalent of a "Happy Ending".I'm not sorry for the feel trip.I also gotten into the supplementary portions of RWBY with the After the Fall/Before the Dawn books. So expect material from there. Also, Should I post this on Ao3 too?
Update: What the hell? The FF. net App not spacing my author notes.