Chapter 42: Different Legacy

I want to speak on what's happening.

This is unfortunate. Rooster Teeth is shutting down and RWBY is likely not concluding until someone picks up the IP.

I have a love/hate relationship with the show but I still enjoy it and the fandom. I knew RT was gonna go down eventually. I'm not all that broken up about it. I'm more upset with the company making bad decisions repeatedly. I love RWBY but hate the company.

I discovered RWBY by accident with the Yellow Trailer. It is also why I wanted the Malachite twins to be more prominent in my story. It was also around the time I watched Akame ga Kill for a third time. I enjoy both anime despite their obvious flaws.

I got into RWBY right after season 2 ended and a few weeks later, Monty died. I wrote a few RWBY fanfic before but it never pan out/got abandoned. I know I should get back to that Gate crossover fanfic and those in my backlog. But I've been putting my all into this due to time constraints.

The idea of writing this crossover fanfiction wasn't until I read, "The Huntress of Hope" by Akame The Bae. I loved the idea and thought it would be a good continuation of Akame's story. She gets to be the main character for once instead of Tatsumi.

Admittedly, I did lose interest in writing for a long time, 2020 and up tend to do that. After the news of RT's closure, it would be wrong to leave a story unfinished.

I still want to write a short chapter on the original ending of this story and explain why I changed it. That ending wasn't a happy ending but is more straightforward in the RWBY storyline.

Anyway, Back to Akame's story.

EDIT: As I was about to post. I received news that Akira Toriyama, creator of Dragon Ball, died. WHAT THE FUCK.

Glynda started by dropping a significant portion of the platform leaving a small patio-sized meeting area. My opponent then sculpted chairs out of the ground for us to sit on. We took our seats quickly since she was on a time limit. I didn't want to end up catching her once we fell.

"You do realize if this platform falls, it is going to be a threat to everyone below?" I asked.

"The trajectory of those chunks should land directly on our large open battlefield. We have…," She checked her watch,"…roughly 7 minutes before my aura gave out."

"It was an eventful day. What do you want to talk about?" I set my sword on the side of the seat but kept my thumb, index, and middle finger on it.

"Let's start with a simple ground rule. You don't trust me but I want to help you."

"This troublesome, villainous child?" I scoffed.

"That is not what you think of yourself. Otherwise, You wouldn't attempt to be a huntress," Goodwitch pointed out.

"Maybe it's part of some grand scheme to divide the kingdoms," I wanted to antagonize her.

"Your self-hate and self-doubt aren't healthy. Akame, Unlike my colleagues, I don't think you are the second coming of Salem," She leaned forward, "Ms. Branwen, I want to engage in an honest exchange of knowledge. There isn't going to be a lie between us. Whatever you ask me, I will answer truthfully and vice versa."

"What if I lie?"

"Then it will reveal to me the truth of who you are as a person," She said immediately," I don't think you are evil. I don't think you are heroic, either."

"What am I then?"

"A tragedy."

I never thought a single word could describe my situation.

"An honest exchange of knowledge," I echoed," There is zero reason for me to reveal anything to you. We are enemies at worst and strangers at best."

"It's true. You could jump off this platform right now and carry on with your grand reveal," She crossed her arms.

What?

"Uncle Qrow…," I felt betrayed," How? I just came up with the plan today."

"He knows you best and trusts my judgment," Goodwitch explained," Please, You deserve some honesty."

I considered her offer. She sounded genuine like a therapist searching for the source of my problems. I trust my uncle despite his conflicting loyalty. He may be onto something if willing to reveal my plan to Goodwitch.

How long has it been since I was honest?

I'm honest with Umber about my feelings but not my actions. I'm honest with Vernal about my actions but not my feelings. While I'm rarely truthful to Militia. I know she's infatuated with me.

I could keep her on my side or neutral if I lead her on. Except, I don't know how to romance. I should ask my uncle about it.

I'm never fully honest with anyone. Why should I start now? To a potential enemy?

"No, I won't be completely honest with you."

"Fair enough, Ask me anything."

"Why are you here?"

"An escort mission and a vacation," She answered," It wasn't until I got a call about Theodore being a hypocrite. He once gave an earful to Ironwood and Ozpin over their hyper-aggressive stance. How the roles have reversed."

She is right. Ozpin and Ironwood had been passive about my stay in Vacuo. It should have been obvious with Qrow's long leaves of absence. I assumed everyone suspected he was involved with me but waited for a reason to pounce.

"Is that the truth?"

"I came to help. I'm not a part of Theo's witch-hunt," She sighed," Ozpin plans to rescue that drunk and save you from yourself."

She wasn't here to arrest me? And I don't need saving. I have a plan, the means to reach it, and my limits. I refuse to be a puppet, again.

"You know about what I've done? You saw the intel, right?"

I'm sure she read the files on the table.

"I despise how you choose to go back on your vow. That isn't how redemption works," she narrowed her eyes.

I could tell her what I vow to do. I'll start speaking about it to the public regardless.

"I will dedicate myself to redemption and heroism once I've become a huntress."

"By being a warlord? Is that correct?" she raised a brow.

"I'm not a warlord. Everything I do is to survive in this world. I find it naive to believe peace can be achieved in the middle of a war; besieged by people that either want you dead or mind-controlled."

"Your promise still means nothing if you can't adhere to it," She argued," What if you become a huntress? What if there is a slip-up? Maybe another cover-up? Are you going to make excuses and say it was for the greater good? Better luck next time?"

That's bull-I'm not going to-I can't-Damnit!

It sounds awful when she phrases it like that.

"What am I supposed to do?" I raised my voice before lowering it again," I'll admit it. I have killed people. I only killed those within my jurisdiction as tribe leader."

-and will keep becoming my fate. That damn ending…

It feels too natural for me. I killed Aaron in an emotional outburst. I killed my mother hoping it would bring peace. I killed again and again with diminishing guilt each time.

A dozen lives ended with my own hands.

If I were to compare how I felt about those killed it would be like an addict limiting an addiction instead of outright stopping. It makes me sound like a psychopath.

"Are you being honest to yourself?" She pointed out.

"I'm doing Theodore a favor. He's in the wrong for overreacting. He would seem overly dramatic, and unfair to the people if I tell my side of the story," I continued," I could erode the people's trust in him by being honest about everything."

It's ironic how honesty is my path to victory in Vacuo.

"The others were helping you through our means while keeping Theodore in the dark," She dropped the bombshell," Salem is another suspect with how the few massive Grimm attacks that do happen divert Academy attention away from your operations."

"Why? Why are you helping me? Salem isn't surprising but this runs counter to the ideal of peace. Do all of you know how much power you handed to me?" I'm taken aback by this tactic.

I'm fully prepared to fight everyone in my way. I can't tell if they're doing it for the greater good, revenge, or ego. What I inspire runs against the ideal of unity.

My uncle is right about Vacuo carrying out most of my work. I didn't expect my enemies to help me. The enemy of my enemy is my friend. I'm being carried to the finish line with and without me knowing.

"This power struggle…You claim it isn't real yet the answer is right in front of us. No, it's all around us."

I look out at the city beneath us and then toward the horizon.

I can't tell how much of the scheming is my mechanism or there's.

"I'm not the one surrounded," I explained," Not bad for someone who only lived here for less than a year."

A concerned look briefly washed over Glynda's face.

It's clear who is losing this round and one of them was in the same position I was in this world. Theodore lost the fight before he even knew he was part of it. Personal power isn't going to overcome everything and we made Theodore look like a raging brute as a result.

"I'll also admit half of the inner circle viewed you as a threat that isn't worth saving," She admitted," Fang, Qrow, and I believed you can be on our side. We know you're a good person. Ironwood, Malachite, and Theodore view you as a risk. They know what you are capable of."

The headmaster of Shade never trusted me. That's unfortunate but I'm not here to be everyone's friend.

"What a tragedy," I echoed," Malachite and Ironwood vote shouldn't count. They forced me into this position."

All I wanted was to go home. I should have thrown Malachite under if I knew my family was untouchable in the first place. The twins would hate me but they would be easier to handle compared to their mother.

"Are you trying to conquer Vacuo?" She asked," Theo suspects that was your plan ever since the mass retreat and takeover of the West Coast."

This question will be asked again anyway. I'll reiterate it to headmaster Theodore once he calms down.

"I never planned to be a symbol of anarchy, an usurper, or a ruler. It's a byproduct of my actions."

"What about talks of creating a kingdom under your name?"

"That? I don't care either way because I'm transferring leadership to a trusted ally. Vernal is taking my place," I explained," I never endorsed it nor tried to deny them. They, the people, are free to make their own decisions."

I don't trust Vernal to rule on her own now. I can keep a proper check and balance If I can prop up the Vacuo government and maintain the Academy's power. It's a similar method to the Kingdom of Vale. Vale is the most stable kingdom because of the checks and balances.

"I find that hard to believe," She messaged her forehead," Vernal Easter?"

Her real name is Ver Veritas. Ver's entire existence seems to be a deus ex machina. She exists for the sake of coincidences. I still have no clue what that weird fever dream involving her was…Something about gathering explosives and crossovers.

"She has a crown-shaped birthmark on her neck signifying her as a rightful Queen to this kingdom. She still needs a lot of work before filling in," I trailed off. I didn't even conceive Vernal becoming a mad scientist with those aura trees," My turn to ask you a question."

"Before we start, a crown-shaped birthmark? That's supposed to be a legend."

"And? The man with two souls was supposed to be a legend too. All legends, fairy tales, even rumors have a hint of truth to it," I countered," I should know what rumors can do. I tend to prove them right."

Goodwitch finding out about Ver Veritas, the rightful ruler of Vacuo, wouldn't ruin anything. It's going to be revealed in my speech. It's bits of knowledge that can be pieced together or soon to be released.

"There is no reason to be hostile," the professor stared at my sword.

She knows.

"You could sense the aura gathered in my sword," I said calmly," I have been pumping aura from the tip of my fingertips to Shūsen. An aura slash this close will kill you."

"There she is," She shook her head in disappointment," The Shinigami."

"I'll reduce the damage to a nasty scar. It doesn't hurt to have insurance. Are you going to tell Ozpin or the others about this conversation?"

"No, The mission was to rescue you. But I decided to adjust. I bet my life this is only between us," She revealed," You can still do good in this world without being morally gray or downright devious."

"That has to be a lie," I shook my head.

"I'm being truthful," She snapped back intensely," Ms. Branwen, What are you? Are you a bad person trying to be good? Or are you a good person forced to be bad?"

Good or evil?

I'm a good person. I'm sure I am now. The fragment of my past is telling me otherwise.

"Depends on how far a good person is willing to go until death and/or eternal solitude is the only forgiveness," I answered," You're right. I turned on my words but maybe those words have always been empty."

"Clarified."

Does she want honesty? This will be the only tidbit I'll give her. It's going to be the truth of my feelings toward the Branwen tribe.

Why didn't my uncle eliminate all of them if he felt the same way?

"Ever since I was a child, I wanted to annihilate the tribe with a few exceptions," I said to a blank face Goodwitch, she didn't react to the information.

Martha, Flaxen, Umber, and Ver would have been spared. The rest will die.

I continued my story.

"In another time, You would hear of the Branwen tribe's elimination, seemingly overnight. I didn't have a date in mind but it was going to happen. I hated everything about them," I shook my head," They consigned themselves to death by being ruthless bandits. I was doing society a service if I get rid of them."

I hate sharing a surname with them.

"Are you a good person if you're willing to kill without remorse?"

"They're not good people. It was inevitable."

"Murder isn't a normal train of thought for anyone of any age. The tribe becomes different people under your directive," the professor pointed out," What changed? Was it you?"

"War can make the best and worst of us."

"Do you hate the world?"

I remember being in a hospital bed when I was five. The doctors were removing shrapnel from my body. Atlas didn't take prisoners after the massacre at Myrtle a few months before. I don't blame them.

Myrtle was a town of segregation and overt racism back in the day. Meanwhile, The tribe doesn't discriminate when it comes to robbing or murder. We are both awful. Flaxen almost got lynched but hatred for Fuanus and the tribe was at a all time high. She antagonized it even further.

The world didn't see two awful groups going at each other's throats. They saw a child and husband crying over a mother/spouse's body. They saw police officers killed in the line of duty. They heard stories of bandits looting honest traders in the countryside. The town was vulnerable because of a Grimm attack happening off its shores. The tribe merely capitalizes on it while all local and foreign forces are sent to deal with the Kraken Grimm. We caused chaos that day and Atlas came down with a vengeance on behalf of the people. My mother would never cause such a huge commotion knowing the consequences. It was the love for us that pushed her to make an example of the town.

Do I hate the world for hunting us down like rodents?

They fail to wipe us all out. I lived and unintentionally uplifted these bandits from a dying flicker of a candle to a wildfire. This cycle of violence is ongoing.

"I don't hate the world. I hate-", the words didn't leave my mouth in time.

The floating ground began to crack and crumbled.

"Times up, I need some spare aura to catch myself," She stood up and took several steps back," I know you can do the same. Congratulations, Ms. Branwen. You have beaten me."

"Doesn't feel like I did," I admitted. We could have kept fighting. It was still up in the air who would win even with Schwarz's support. Gylnda is the toughest opponent I've ever faced.

"Close enough," She smiled softly," Here are my parting words: If you want to become a huntress, think about what kind of legacy you want in the world and work toward it."

A legacy I could be happy with…

"There are already enough monsters in the world," She added," There are also enough martyrs."

Glynda extends her arms and falls backward.

There are no more delays. I dived away as the last piece of platform crumbled beneath my feet.

The white dress, courtesy of Drew, is somewhat damaged but helped my image in Vacuo. A battle-damaged outfit is a good look here. I reached for my eyes and removed the contacts. I'm doing last-minute maintenance before I hit the ground.

I could just fall to my death instead of speaking-what am I thinking?

Fine, I'll live.

Landing strategy activated.

I selected the most showy method of landing for the public. I focused on how much aura reserve I had left. I still have half available and started gathering aura with my sword again.

Normal PoV

Glynda slowed her fall into a graceful descent. She used the last bit of her aura on her clothes and shoes. She touches the ground as softly as a feather with barely a percent of aura left.

Sky stood ready for another fight. Rumpole and Theodore rush to Goodwitch's side with the intent to fight alongside her. The air was tense as the audience awaited another fierce battle.

Goodwitch steps forward with her arms raised.

"Enough! Stop fighting," She ordered," I've surrendered. I'll concede the victory to…"

She pointed at the sky.

It was like a crimson arrow rocketing downward at high speed. A red streak impacted the ground but it didn't cause a loud explosion or a massive crater. It was an air burst of energy knocking those without proper footing over.

The sword impaled itself into the ground first. The tip of Shūsen pierced the hardened floor.

Then, The girl landed and pushed half of Shūsen deeper. She stood perfectly balanced on the pommel of her glowing red sword. She let her long raven hair flow in the wind while bright red eyes focused on the headmaster.

She had one arm to her side while the other was on her sheath that was never used in the fight. The Kanabō and the handgun weren't part of the battle. Akame didn't train with the weapons enough to use them effectively.

A stunned silence permeated throughout Vacuo. Everyone knew immediately who it was even with the copycats running around the city. There is no mistaking a living legend.

An unmatched prodigy capable of killing more Grimm than an entire army of Huntsmen is capable of. She is rumored to have enough aura to be visible which is a rarity even among the most aura-dense warriors. Akame is one of the most divisive figures who even walked Remnant. A spawn of evil, the antithesis to order, the savior of Mistral, and a powerful warrior are all true depending on who you ask.

"-the victory goes to Akame Branwen!" Goodwitch announced to the world.

A symphony of different emotions radiated throughout the world. Enough for it to confuse the Grimm.

Some cheers.

Some remain silent.

Many cursed at the screen.

There isn't one unifying opinion even in the same household.

Akame thought to herself as she watched the crowds cheer for her. She knows they admire her for the potential to destroy the other kingdoms. That's what the people of Vacuo think she is.

She has a mission that needs to be executed in this world.

Akame stepped off the pommel and yanked the sword out of the ground. She inspected Shūsen for damage and sheathed it. Shūsen isn't an actual person but Akame felt like apologizing to her sword for disrespecting it just to look good for the cameras.

She sighed and looked around her before focusing on the headmaster. She took a deep breath, raised her hands, and beckoned the crowd to be quiet.

They listened.

The cameraman and news reporters push ahead of the crowd.

"I came to announce a deal made with the headmaster of Beacon, Haven, and Shade Academy," She took a moment to gather herself," My name is Akame Branwen. I will become a huntress."

The deal has only been verbally confirmed with Theodore but Akame knows Fang and Ozpin have been supporting her from the shadows. She's forcing them to admit it.

The revelation was met with immediate pandemonium.

She could sense the shockwave throughout Remnant. It's a strange feeling knowing the chaos that follows will guarantee she'll never live a normal life. She doubts she could spend quality time with her family without being hounded by fans, the media, or her enemies. This day is still far from done. Akame has to give a speech and answer some questions. The proclamation is only the beginning.

This is her legacy now. She needs to make it a legacy she won't regret when the time comes. And that legacy is a better life for the people of Remnant, especially her family and friends.

A/N: I wrote the last few paragraphs through teary eyes. Roosterteeth shut down and Toriyama's death has been exhausting mentally.

I've been hinting that Akame knows what awaits her near the end. It isn't a happy one just like her anime and even manga. Hinowa ga Crush got rushed and canceled. There isn't even an anime reboot for Akame ga Kill.

The next chapter is the conclusion and after that will lead to the exam. No more fillers. I needed to get Akame's reveal to the world out of the way and set up the finale. I need to go lie down now.