Pre-Note: :)
#-#-#-#-#
An icy chill snapped Pyrrha back to reality. The howling storm around her leaving her deaf. The snow cut, the winds howled, the moon hid behind thick clouds. The lake off in the distance shone with an otherworldly glow. The castle's reflection in the lake only adding to the feeling of majesty.
She had read about castles in history books, seen pictures as well. But nothing could prepare her to suddenly being transported into a winter wonderland.
A monstrous roar, dwarfing even the mightiest of grimm in bloodlust and malice shook the roof where she stood. Clouds of snowy smoke spurted up as the tiles shook. A beast raced atop the roof tops. Steam bellowing out of its nostrils as it threw itself into a flurry of blows. More beast than man. More rage than anything. Beautiful vestments, hitting at what it had once been.
Throwing herself to the side, Pyrrha readied Milo and Akoúo. Her favoured weapons appearing out of nothing. Yet the beast in the shape of a man thundered past her. It's claws rending the air, screams of protest joining the howling wind. Sparks lit up the winter night. Echoed by the telltale sound of metal clashing. A veritable storm of steel and flesh danced through the night. One snaked and danced through the snow, the other moved with grace, moving slowly but somehow always being just where it needed to be.
"Jaune!" Pyrrha shouted when she recognised the frame of her partner. Not recognising him. The smile splitting his face was a feral grin. His eyes shone with glee. Mirroring his assailants mad delight. The man who made Ozpin seem young by comparison danced with grace, weaving a flurry of steel into a beautiful artwork in the falling snow. Each blow snapping through the air. Small glimmers of dark gold lit up the night as the gentleman peeled Jaune's aura blow for blow.
Pyrrha stood rooted to the spot as her partner showed a side to her she had never known. 'Never should have seen.' Her mind whispered. The bloody dance stormed around her. The werebeast flickered as it passed through Milo. Before she could even give chase, silence fell over the rooftop.
Crimson lilies sprouted forth from nothing. A murky darkness fell over them giving. Crimson light bathed them from the moon above. Jaune barked something in the language only he and Violet understood. Speaking fluently as he snaped his fingers. Steam rose from the men. The gentleman barking something back at him, launching himself through the air with a speed that rivalled Ruby. Only for Jaune to sidestep the blow and sneer at the old man collapsing on the other side of the roof.
With a loud huff, the old gentleman forced himself up, a thin line of blood trailing down from his mouth. Then it happened. A hauntingly beautiful line of crimson waved through the night. Pyrrha hadn't thought it possible for someone, anything, to move with such speed. Even Ruby at her fastest felt agonizingly slow in comparison. The werebeast fell apart as if in slow motion. Not even recognizing that its heart had been carved out, or it's body being nothing but pieces falling against the snow-covered roof.
Realisation jolted through her, the aftermath of the horrifyingly beautiful act shocking her awake. Her eyes instantly darting to jaune, only for her stomach to almost empty itself.
Jaune was alive, somehow, setting a foot forward even if when intestines were spilling out. Light shone through the hole in his chest where his heart should be. The slight confusion in his eyes making her think he didn't even feel his heart being cut out. Turning his head, the inside of his skull showed itself to her. A dozen of eyes stared back at her. What remained of his brain matter writhed in filth, slugs and worms crawling over another and feasting on his brain.
Pyrrha didn't get to scream, pulled up into the sky before anything could escape her. The memory seared into her skull. Tears stung in her eyes, even as colours, sounds, and feelings raced by, she coulndt forget the eyes staring back. Crushing face down on a gravelled road. "Jaune!" She shouted, pushing herself up and looking around. Jaw falling at suddenly finding herself in a forest with towering trees.
"Oh. Dream's. They don't make sense." She whispered to herself, not knowing if she was trying to convince herself. 'And even if I am, I'm doing a terrible job.'
"Mister, Mister, where are we going?" An energic voice pierced through the air, jolting her focus back in the world she felt. Looking around, a graveyard peaked through the trees. Compared to the Jaune's dream where all the colours were vibrant and beautiful, here some colours were faded. Dulled, turning the forest into something like a black and white film. Random birds looked wrong, fussy at best, completely wrong at worst.
"We are there soon but let me check the map again." An older voice sounded, pulling her back to the scene before her. A younger Nora excitedly waved her arms and skipped. Not looking much older than Mari. An older teenager, somewhere between their age and Ruby's had his nose down in a map. With Ren trudging behind them, tall and lanky.
With a hum the man looked up from the map. His face a black hazy cloud that covered everything but a smile. Laying the map on the ground, he kneeled beside it and pulled out a compass. Humming to himself as his finger trailed over it.
Pyrrha didn't get to think much about it before a loud bang echoed through the forest. Startling birds and squirrel and sending Nora jolting. The heavy thud of the man's still warm corpse hitting the dirt the only sound. A choking silence fell over the road. Ignoring Nora's disbelief, Ren remained stoic. The only thing shining through his stoic façade being unease and fear, what little colour remained on his face quickly disappearing. Kneeling beside the corpse, he fished through the pockets. Finding a scroll and quickly tapping the code. Going ramrod still as he read.
"Nora, we need to leave. Now!" Ren barked, panic creeping into his voice. Grabbing the map and compass he darted into the forest. Nora hot on his heels, confusion marred on her face even if determination shone in her eyes. Leaving Pyrrha rooted to the spot, clouds of smoke appearing further up on the path. Hazy outlines rushing down.
The cloud of dust rushed down the road, enveloping her. Replacing towering trees with gentle meadows. The rare tree and house could be seen of in the distance. Fences lined the path. With a single innocuous red apple sitting on the road. A tranquil silence hung over the area, the gentle breeze that came and brushed through the clearing rustled leaves, yet they were silent. As she breathed, it was silent. All was silent expect the echo of a horse walking.
" Amber." Pyrrha whispered, the empty gnawing returning in full force.
The horse stopped, a neigh breaking through the silence. White with hints of grey, the only thing beside the red apple that truly stood out in this dream. Everything else lacked a realness to it. As if everything bled into each other. Brows mixing with grey, green leaves losing their lustre, seemingly blending in perfectly with branches and clouds.
The distance changed from trees and meadows to a burned city, the flashing lights of thunder, the cheers of an arena, and a towering gothic city. A towering clock tower piercing through the clouds. Blotting out the sky and hiding both the moon and the sun. Without her knowing, the path had turned into a crossroad. The red apple sat innocently on a signpost. Arrows pointing down different paths. Leading off into the distance.
Pulling off her hood, Amber stared down at her. The scars over her left eye flickering in and out. "I'm sorry Pyrrha." Amber whispered, spinning her fingers and making a staff appear out of nothing. "But I'm scared. I don't want to die."
"So you would steal my body instead." Pyrrha shot back, fading flames flickering around her eyes.
"Don't think of it as stealing. Borrowing sounds better." Amber deflected, as if that was better. "Just for a year or two, until I die or maybe longer. Maybe I can find someone, fall in love. Live freely. No worries, no burdens. Traveling wherever my feet takes me."
"And destroy what I have found, what I have built in the process." Pyrrha replied heatedly. "What about my team, my friends, my family? What will you tell my mother when 'I' suddenly disappear from the face of the earth."
"They will understand." Amber replied quickly. "They want to kill me. They want to kill her. They can't. She's… Better than us. Cruller. Ruthless. You can't win. Running is the only option."
"Running away will destroy my life." Pyrrha snapped back. "I don't want to fight her. But the thought of you stealing my body is a thousand times worse. I want to be me. Just me. Not some maiden. Not some runaway. But if I will need to fight, I will stand my ground. No matter what might come. Because I trust my friends and family to be there for me."
"I'm sorry." Amber whispered, raising her wand with determination. Flames flickering around her eyes as the ground shook. "I don't want to die. But if killing you is the only option left. Please don't hold it against me. I will remember you."
Before Pyrrha could snap something back, music rang through the crossroads. It started as a hum, a whisper in the air. The winds picked up; lighting darted through the clouds, heralding the rapidly approaching storm. Silent lighting crashed into the ground, each strike perfectly hitting a note. Then the music picked up, growing and growing, until lighting cracked in the distance.
A lighting covered hammer smashed into Amber's face, sending her flying of her horse. "You keep your body snatching hands from my sister you hear!" Nora thundered. Her body wrapped in lighting. Arcs of light danced behind her, giving the impression of wings.
Throwing her spear at Amber, another version of Milo appeared in her hand as Pyrrha lunged. What uncertainty she felt gone as she dodged past a hurling boulder.
#-#-#
Nora stood alone on an empty arena. A single spotlight casting a lonely beam of light around her. Around the edges a dozen shadowy figures stared at her. Fear and adoration mixing in their gaze. Off in the distance she heard the thundering applause of a crowd. Eagerly stomping their feet and chanting a single name.
"Pyrrha!"
"Pyrrha!"
" Pyrrha !"
The distant wave of sound crashed over her, setting her nerves alight. Lighting danced inside, stirred on by her nervousness. Before she could think of it further, the stern voice of a middle-aged man rang of from nothing. "Rud, get your ass up there. Don't think I can't see you trying to ditch class. You haven't sparred in the last four classes. Get up there."
"Oh come on!" A voice shouted back, scratching slightly. Sounding almost like Ren had during puberty. "No one want's to spar with Pyrrha! Can't I spar with Cole? What about Lapis?"
"You can't wiggle your way out of this, Rud. If you want to get better, you have to step out of your comfort zone." The stern voice called out again. Silence followed, only broken by a loud tsk as a shadow began to move. Whispered condolences followed it as it made its way to the arena. Casting of the shadows and fuzziness the closer it got. He was stout for someone so young, wide, even if his arms were more muscle than fat. The gills on his neck were deep blue, sharing similar colouring with his weapon. A long halberd with a shotgun at the end and a pike on the other.
No matter how much Nora tried, his face remained fussy. The only thing sticking out were his eyes. Resigned more than anything, beside the fear and hints of anger, resignation drowned out everything else. 'It's not just his eyes.' She noticed; it was everywhere. The way his shoulder's slunk, the unsure almost hesitant grip on his weapon, how he didn't curl forward out of readiness but something else.
"Begin!" The voice shouted, in an instant Pyrrha lunged out of from where she stood. Slipping past the hasty stab with ease, Akoúo coming up to slam into the side of his face as she hooked her foot between his legs and pulled. Slamming him into the arena floor without hesitation. Milo resting on his neck before he could blink.
"Match." The voice shouted again. In an instant Pyrrha changed, the determination and enjoyment in her eyes gone and replaced with a kind smile. Sheathing her weapon she held a hand down to the boy. "Good match." She smiled. Rud stared up at her, scoffed and slapped her hand away.
"I don't need your pity." Rud grumbled, getting up and stepping down of the arena. In an instant the spotlight became brighter, the shadow outside the arena deepened. Turning into walls before she knew what happened. The wind howled outside the window, wood groaned and sang together with droplets of rain began pelting the window. A twinkle of warm candlelight spilled out bellow a door.
"Aurora…" Nora heard Violet whisper, looking down to see two small forms huddled together and wrapped in blankets by the door. Violet pressed her ear against the door as she looked up at her sister who peered through the keyhole.
"Dear, are you sure about this?" A voice echoed, soft and gentle, breaking through the silence. "Please… the hunt is…"
"Foul? Yes, I am aware." Another voice rang out. This one was rough, hoarse, but filled with gentle warmth. "But… my dearest Viola, I don't think I can take it anymore. My heart breaks every time a grieving mother, father, daughter, or son comes to me. Confessing their guilt and grief. Sharing their struggles with me. Something deep inside of me will die if I were to hear another grieving parent beg me for their child to return. It feels like I am drowning on solid ground. Something must be done."
"But why must it be you dear?" Viola whispered softly. "Why can't you leave hunting beasts to the church's hunters? Why must it be you?"
"If not me, who?" The gruff voice rumbled with determination. "It's not something I look forward to. What kind of father will I be? Tucking our daughters to bed before going out in the night? Coming home only to wash my hands of blood? I only wish there was some other way. This plague must end."
The sound of a chair scrapping rang through the silent house. Aurora quickly moving away from the door. Taking her sisters hand and tried scurrying away. Only to stop when the door opened, the warm candlelight cutting a sharp outline around the man. A pang of jealousy raced through Nora, no matter how disgusting it felt. What she wouldn't do to have her dad smile down at her like that again.
"Come now girls. Let's get you tucked into bed." The man smiled, his big hands coming down to lift Violet up, the other coming out to take Aurora's hand in hers.
"Dad? Can you tell me a fairytale?" Violet asked, gently laying her head against her father's chest.
The man rumbled a gentle chuckle. "Let me tell you a story, one upon a time, in a hole in the ground there…"
To the soothing rumble of his voice, the world turned black. Only to snap back into focus with a terrible scream. A giant clawed hand mere moments from her face. Thunder echoed as fearless leader came out of nowhere, dashing towards the monster without fear in his eyes. The werewolf bit down, it's terrible jaws biting down on nothing but air.
Nora didn't even think, magnhild already in her hands as she lunged. Flying though nothing. Passing through the werewolf as if it wasn't even there. Seeing something out of the corner of her eyes, Nora landed and launched herself to the right. Jumping from one monster to another. The world a blur as it changed again.
"You keep your body snatching hands from my sister you hear!" Nora thundered. Smashing her feet against the ground as she threw herself through the horse in a follow up.
Stepping to the side as her sister came lunging from the side. Moving on instinct, Nora jumped to the side. Running around the crossroad and dodging icicles and spears from the ground.
"You don't have some magic mumbo jumbo of your own you can throw Pyrrha?" Nora shouted, sliding under a fireball as she switched her weapon. Lobbing two grenades at Amber before moving to the side.
Before Pyrrha could answer her, Nora smiled. Standing her ground as a bolt of lightning smashed into her. Smashing her hammer forward, a wall of earth sprang forth. Shrapnel exploded everywhere, before stopping in the air and darting towards her. Spears of stone appearing out of the shattered wall and shooting after her.
A crimson fireball raced through the air, only to stop midair and turning straight back. Exploding as Pyrrha jumped out of the blast. Fire licking after her.
"Naive." Amber said, waving her staff as the world changed. Clouds came, bringing with it rand and hail and sending bolts of lightning after Pyrrha. Snaking around Nora when she tried to intercept them. "Ozpin might have seen it fit to make you maiden. But I have years of experience on you. No matter how talented, that's not something you can overcome."
"I will take those odds." Pyrrha snarked back. Making a weird feeling of pride bloom inside Nora. The 'old' Pyrrha never lied or bantered. To see her finally let go, to be herself, without smiling politely and saying sorry at the smallest inconvenience coulndt be put into words. But it could be put into a smile. And Nora's smile was blazing with determination.
The sound of a bell tolling rang through the clearing. Fire exploded from Amber as dread sank into her eyes. Her eyes darting over to the towering city in the distance. Waving her hand and conjuring a wind, snatching the wall of steel out of the air and sending them back towards Pyrrha. Only for the copies of Milo to fizzle into a cloud of orange.
Twin thunders rang through the clearing. Smashing into Amber's back, putting her off balance for just a moment. That was all she needed. Slipping through the rain, magnhild found purchase where it needed. Launching Amber up into the sky. Twin thunder echoing again and sending her spinning out of balance.
Gravel crunkled under leather boots, rays of light ran through locks of gold and silver.
"It seems we have work to do." A familiar voice chimed, her gentle words cutting through the clearing. In an instant both Nora and Pyrrha turned in surprise towards them. Someone who coulndt possibly be there. The voice of someone gone to soon.
"You are right sister." Another familiar voice rang out. "Don't hog all the action however, I have some spells I want to try. Father said they should work."
"Master is not our father, Violet." Aurora replied, rolling her eyes with a gentle scoff. Stepping out of the shadow and giving Nora mental whiplash. The sisters both stood nearly as tall as Jaune, all grown up in the blink of an eye. A cruel confidence shone in Aurora's eyes, only matched by the apathy in Violet's.
But that didn't stop Nora from worrying. Something wasn't right. Violet's eyes were glossy. They wandered over them, stirring something deep inside the pools of blue. If Nora hadn't known better, she would say Violet was sleepwalking. 'Or dreaming. But that coulndt be.'
What Nora wanted to say died in her throat the instant she looked over to Aurora. Guilt flashed through the girls eyes as she held up a finger over her mouth.
" Please. If only for now. Let my sister dream of what could be." Aurora's voice rang as a whisper in her ear. In an instant the older version of the girl was replaced by a smaller form made of shimmering golden light. With a flicker of light the older version of Aurora was back, holding Crocea Mors in her hand as she dashed forward.
Sharing a glance with Pyrrha, Nora shrugged before lunging back at Amber. Vaulting over the wall of earth and feeling something land on her shoulder. Aurora launched herself higher, Crocea Mors screaming through the air, cutting through thunder as the world tilted. A crimson rune on Violet's palm glowed. Transporting them into a non-Euclidean nightmare.
"If Ruby can have two dads, why can't we?" Violet sassed back, leisurely walking up a vertically staircase. Dodging a fireball by stepping of the side and falling sideways through the sky. "One physical, one in spirit." She continued, drawing her longsword from her back, finding purchase on another wall and lunging at Amber.
"Enough!" The maiden screamed, sending a shockwave of fire and wind everywhere. Shattering the illusion around them seconds before Nora would have let share her breakfast with everyone.
A bolt of silver lighting cracked through the sky, smashing into her back and pushing her straight back into top condition. "Love you to Ren." She exclaimed automatically. Not needing to look over her shoulder to know who was there.
*Ding*
The church bell chimed again, the panic in Amber's voice spiking as a silver mist wrapped itself outside the fences.
"That's bad." Ren shouted, throwing a talisman that transformed into a roaring ball of fire at Amber. Another talisman raced through the air, landing on Magnhild and coating him in bolts of lightning.
"Why?" Pyrrha shouted from the other side. Jumping through the air, creating temporary copies of Akoúo to serve as platforms before launching them at Amber.
"Dad is waking up." Violet chimed as if nothing was wrong. Laying a hand on the ground as another crimson rune appeared. The ground was almost completely flat and smooth, and yet when Amber landed. She spat out curses and brought aura to her feet. Leaving drops of blood on the ground.
#-#-#-#
"You don't belong here, boy." Ren didn't even have to look around to know where he had suddenly found himself. The graveyard was eerily silent. For what Jaune called it a workshop, Ren coulndt see it as anything but a graveyard. An old and decrepit one at that.
"It's not often we get visitors." The gentle voice from his deepest nightmares called gently. The Doll, as Jaune called her, smiled gently at him. Pushing Gehrman's wheelchair as they slowly made their way towards him. Rasing all of Ren's heckles and making his gut scream at him. "May we have your name?"
"No." Ren replied instantly, forcing his eyes to wander of the duo that sent shivers racing up his spine. Not that the graveyard was any better. Desolate was the first word that popped into his mind, and he didn't even bother to find other descriptors when it perfectly encapsulated what he saw and what he felt. The only thing that stood out was the moon. Whole, bathing him in gentle rays of silver as he stood transfixed. "It's beautiful." He whispered under his breath. Furiously shaking his head and taking a step back when he felt something tranquil not his own settle over him.
"Such a shame. Our Kind Hunter would not have minded your company. I do think he would have rather enjoyed it in fact." The Doll smiled with a nonchalant apathy that shook his soul.
"Lad, you are not welcome here. Leave. I don't share much of my protégé's goodwill. Your last visit here certainly didn't endear you either." Gehrman, the grumpy bastard Jaune talked fondly off, glared with indifference.
"Don't be so quick to chase away our guest. Rarely do we get visitors, what poor hosts would we be if we did not invite him in for tea?" The Doll smiled gently. The doors of the sexton's lodge howled as an invisible force pushed them open.
"I didn't much expect to find myself here. And as much as I would love to accept your invitation. I'm afraid I have other pressing matters to attend to." Ren said politely, never quite daring to look into the eyes of either Gehrman or the Doll. His lips twitched when he saw eyes peek at him from within the flowers on the cemetery. The leaves on the trees that transformed into hungry mouths when they thought he wasn't looking. If Ren hadn't known better, he would have thought he was in the belly of the grimm.
"Then, before you go. A nugget of advice. And a warring for next time you don't think twice before joining my protégé in another insane stunt." Gehrman started airily. Giving him a glare that made grimm look like puppies. " Don't."
"You know what. Fair." Ren nodded, turning on the spot and quickly marching down the gravelled path. Doing his best to pretend he didn't see shadows drift between the withered trees outside the wrought iron fence. Knowing when he wasn't welcome. 'Not that it matters, I have more pressing matters at hand.'
Opening the gate latch, Ren found himself somewhere else. The gate gone, together with the cemetery and graveyard. Instead he found himself in another dream. One that was gentle and kind. The full moon reflected in a large tranquil lake. Of in the distance a grandiose castle rose of from the lake. But here there was nothing but golden fireflies and gentle calm.
"The sun is sleeping quietly~ once upon a century. Wistful oceans calm and red~ ardent caresses laid to rest~" A melodic voice rang out; from the lake bank Ren could just make out two forms. Jaune was hard to miss even when laying sleeping on the grass. It was the woman who sang that froze the blood in his veins. Beautiful didn't even begin to describe her, dressed in a black and red dress with golden highlights. A tiara of twinkling rubies and precious stones laced with gold and silver rested upon her brow. Platinum hair tickled Jaune's face as she ran a gentle hand over his cheek.
Taking a step forward, Ren had to force his semblance into overdrive simply to not fall asleep. Catching himself before he could fall, Ren stared at the woman. Coming to a horrifying conclusion. 'Jaune forgot to take off his sword.' He hadn't thought much of it then, Pyrrha's wellbeing had been the only thing on his mind. Now, staring at the woman, he coulndt help but wonder if maybe Jaune's hastiness hadn't been completely his own. With the scene before him, it wasn't impossible to think he had been influenced somehow. Not much, just a little push for certain things to slip his mind.
"For my dreams I hold my life~ for wishes I behold the night~" The Queen sang, almost lovingly running a finger through Jaune's hair. The lake bubbled, a deep and crimson mist stirring from the depths. In an instant the buzzing of a dozen voices sang out. The fireflies dancing over the lake in a symphony of their own.
The toll of a bell rang over them, the dance of the fireflies picked up speed. A wicked smile appeared on the Queen's lips as her song intensified. Not even stopping to sing as she turned to look at him, her eyes overflowing with apathy and disgust. With a simple wave of her hand Ren was shot backwards. Flying through a sea of colours and emotions. Bombarded by a thousand sounds and voices before finally crashing into something solid.
Voices rang out around them, but Ren coulndt figure out what they said. His mind was whirling after the attack the Queen threw his way. 'No. It wasn't even an attack.' He shuddered. The Queen had wanted him gone, and that was that. He hadn't even been able to struggle. 'Thankfully, what she is busy doing with Jaune left her occupied.'
"Fuck that's bad." Ren sighed, the stress making his tongue run loose. The Queen being free was bad news. That she apparently wanted something from Jaune and was forcing him to sleep, that was worse.
Cracks and blurs lined the area around him. Everything was seen through a distorted lens. Tall became stretched, wide became walls, sharp edges became blurred, and everything felt like an attack against his senses. Trying to soldier through the queasiness didn't help, only making the distortions somehow worse. The distortions moved, spoke, pushing him towards the metaphysical edge.
Taking a step back, the world changed again. A sigh of relief escaped him as he stood up. Before he could as much as think, wind lashed against his face. The world shook as stones rose from the ground. Breathing, he found multiple talismans on his person. Most were proof of concepts, with only one or two actually working. 'Not that it matter's' Ren chimed to himself. He was in a dream after all.
Letting the first talisman fly. The paper shone, before it transformed into a bolt of lightning that slammed into Nora's back. "Love you to Ren." She shouted before moving like lightning. Two other talismans already having left his hand. One flew towards Amber, transforming into a roaring ball of fire. Smashing into a wall of earth, while the other arced around Nora. Turning into lighting that wrapped around Magnhild to give her even more 'oomph'.
*Ding*
The church bell tolled again, sending a shiver racing up Ren's spine.
"That's bad." Ren shouted, not looking up as Pyrrha raced through the air. Using temporary copies of her shield as a springboard.
"Dad is waking up." The adult form of Violet chimed. Ren didn't even have time to process what, or why she looked as she did. Only taking in the spell she cast and how it apparently turned flat ground just as sharp as her blade. Another talisman flying forward, swallowed by a ball of fire that was launched his way.
The fireball instantly dived into the ground, suddenly to heavy to fly. The explosion it caused temporary hiding Nora as she blitzed out of the cloud like lightning. A wall of stone appearing before her in the blink of an eye with spears of stone sticking out. Before he could shout a warning, Violet beat him to hit. The crimson rune glowing again, turning Nora's smile wicked as she hit the stone wall with all her might.
A roar of fire exploded out from the other side, launching Amber flying. The woman just barely managed to dodge out of the way of the rain of spears Pyrrha smithed down like an angry good.
"And?" Nora shouted as she charged after Amber, not giving the woman a second to breath. Doing her best to turn her into meat paste with thundering blows.
"Because it's not Jaune." Ren shouted, shooting a salvo of bullets at Amber to block her in and cut of her movements. "Or not Jaune Jaune. Jaune is sleeping." He amended as if that made more sense. "But… you know what isn't sleeping? Everything else he represses from Yharnam. And the Queen is waking it."
Ren's heart was hammering in his chest, adrenaline coursing through him, but he still coulndt help but feel cold. A silvery mist that blocked all sight had crept up against the fence without any of them noticing. Monstrous shapes danced in the mist; muted roars sent shivers racing up his back. The smell of blood was suddenly overpowering. The only one who didn't seem fazed was Violet. If it was because she was sleepwalking, because she was 'older', or because she was simply so used to it she didn't even notice, he didn't know. None of them reassured him.
With a loud shot, Pyrrha launched herself from the sky. The wind picked up, sending her just enough to the side for Amber to get half a second to breath. Another rain of spears nailed themselves into the ground. Pyrrha smile was sharp as one of the spears hiding in the shadow of another crashed into Amber's staff. The wand was sent flying through the air, the dust crystal shattering in an ear shattering explosion. Deafening Amber's shout.
Furious icy winds lashed towards them; walls of fire fuelled by storms were sent their way. Dancing through what could only be described as nature's rage, Ren readied anther talisman. Amber in her desperate rage tunnel visioning in on Pyrrha, allowed the talisman to slip in through the storm and hit her. Amber's aura turned into wet paper, Nora's hammer shattering it with a single thunderous blow.
In an instant the storms of fire puttered out, Amber skidded along the ground. Her body flickering, turning semi transparent before crashing against the fence. Fear, pure abject terror, the only thing that shone in her eyes as she forced her legs under herself. Hobbling and collapsing, flickering again, as she looked up. A shuddering gasp escaping her as flickering amber light escaped out of her.
The amber light consolidated into a little girl. Not a word was said, before the little girl collapsed into herself. A gentle wave of amber light coming to dance around Pyrrha as the light was absorbed into her. Around Pyrrha's eye an amber flame came to life. Shining brighter and brighter as the winds picked up. Brining with it the faint hint of pumpkin and spice.
"I think she likes me." Pyrrha whispered somewhat unsurely. Confusion mixing with uncertainty in her eyes as her shoulders fell.
*Ding*
The church bell chimed for the last time. In an instant the silver mist turned crimson. Beastly arms shot through the gaps in the fence. Grabbing after Amber, claws cutting through the ground as if it wasn't even there.
"Help." Amber begged, her form flickering again as she pushed herself forward. "I don't want to die. Not like this… Not like this. Please."
"I'm sorry." Pyrrha whispered steely, turning her back on Amber and walking towards them. A familiar golden firefly bussing around Violet's head the entire way. Blinking, he saw Aurora, in another blink the firefly was back. Leaving him more than a little confused.
Confusion quickly turned into abject horror when one large arm with claws longer than Stormflower's knives reached over the fence and speared Amber right through. The hand turned, flexed its fingers as Amber's soul was torn apart. Ren saw moments, memories, feelings, sensations, part's of the soul that should never be seen, ripped apart. He felt his soul shake with fear when Amber was pulled into the mist. Chewing echoing out a second later.
"We need to leave. Now." Nora shouted, not that Ren needed to be told twice.
"Where!" Pyrrha snapped back. "We are surrounded."
"Aurora!" Ren barked, placing a hand on both the girls shoulders and forcing his semblance to work overtime. Even if the crimson mist was on the other side of the fence, he felt his bloodlust be roused. Mixing with fear, anxiety and panic. Forcing it under the sea of calm, he looked at the golden firefly. "Bring us to Jaune! Where the others are! Quickly!"
In an instant the golden firefly shot forward. Throwing Violet over his shoulder, the little girl snored into his back as they gave chase. With three single steps they were gone from the misty crossroad, instead running down a gloomy staircase. Setting foot in an old timely hospital.
"Ren, Nora, what are you doin-" Was all Jaune managed to say before a giant wolf bit down on his neck. Tearing the head of his body with a violet jerk. The beast's bloodied maw grinned when it looked at them. Nora flew through the beast; it shimmered and smashed a clawed hand into her back. Pink aura momentarily lit up the hospital, a cloud of dust falling from the walls as Nora crashed face first.
"Because of course only they can hit us." Nora grumbled loudly, the barest hint of fear slipping through her façade of bravery as another dozen beasts came shambling down the stairs after them.
With a wave of her hand, Pyrrha launched Nora through the room before kicking open the door. Ren didn't have a moment to catch his breath at the majesty Yharnam exuded. Far to busy dodging out of the way of galloping dead horses, whose entrails trailing after them as they exploded into clouds of crimson mist after crashing into the wall. His foot landed on a gravestone, before he jumped over to a statue, using it as a springboard to jump over the wall. Landing outside a moment before Pyrrha wretched the iron gate of it's hinges.
The girls catching up with him in but a moment as he looked wildly around after Aurora.
"I wish for this night-time~ to last for a lifetime~"
"What was that?" Pyrrha asked as they raced up the street. The closed gate crumbling like paper before Pyrrha's semblance.
"Bad news." Ren replied, looking up just in time to see another Jaune. With a simple kick, a dozen people fell down the stairs. Bones poked through skin, blood flowed, brain matter was exposed, and men shouted and cried. Mixing into one large mass of flesh that pulsed and tried to free itself from the staircase. "Platforms!"
Pyrrha didn't need to be told twice, a dozen copies of Akoúo appearing and allowing them to easily take a different route up. Slipping under the blow that came when they turned the corner, Ren threw a look over his shoulder. Picking up the pace even when it felt like everything was burning. The dark crimson mist wasn't gaining on them, but it was coming out of everywhere. From windows, corpses, from blood, from the sky. Everything was crying bloody mist. And Ren was scared.
Following Aurora, she instantly darted into a house. Stepping in it they didn't even get to process the scene of Jaune and Violet talking with an old and sick man before they had passed them. The sound of metal passing through flesh haunting them as they descended further into the home. Ren didn't even question it when he opened a wardrobe door and stepped into another district entirely. Setting foot inside a chapel.
It was beautiful, unfortunately it wasn't a beauty they could stop to appreciate. A cloud of crimson exploded forward from the front entrance. Cutting them of as they ran down the side entrance. Running straight into the scene of another Jaune cutting down a man. The world grey and distorted around the dead garden. Even as they raced through it, colour bled of them. Pyrrha's crimson sash entirely grey when they stepped out with no sign of getting it's colour back.
"Why is Jaune killing people right and left?" Pyrrha shouted as she ran.
"Why are people trying to kill Jaune everywhere?" Nora countered as she panted.
"Are we there yet Aurora?!" Ren shouted, focusing on what was important.
"Two hundred twenty-two days of light~ will be desired by a night." The Queens hauntingly beautiful voice sang. Taking a moment to look up at the moon, Ren felt himself questioning everything he knew. Two gentle blue eyes looked back at him; the moon nowhere to be found.
"Do you think we can convince Jaune to maybe see a therapist after this?" Ren asked as he ran for his life. Feeling apathy and panic mixing when a giant humanoid beast with dear antlers and disproportioned limbs roared at them. Only sighing when the beast jumped from the building it stood on. Landing with a thunderous crunch behind them.
"Know that I will defend therapy on every other occasion, however, there is only so much therapy can do when the moon blinks." Pyrrha snarked, using her semblance to lurch Nora to the side as a giant hammer crashed against the stone pathway. Using her semblance to snap chain and forcing the gate to come crashing down behind them. Giving them some measure of time to catch their breath as they took in the plaza.
For a moment everything was silent, until a bloodied and rotten hand pieced straight through the grave cover. The slab of granite crumbling as the stumbling cadaver pulled itself up. Thud after thud, more and more grave slabs were broken. With steadily more corpses joining the shambling army.
"Ren, look!" Nora shouted, pointing at one of the graves that hadn't been disturbed. Two golden fireflies were dancing, their movement erratic and growing more and more frantic with every second.
Not one to hesitate, Pyrrha dashed forward and thrust her javelin out. A dozen amber copies shooting out from behind her. Nailing the few shambling corpses that didn't explode into crimson mist. Ren and Nora were hot on her heels, using the space she had created to race towards the untouched grave. Nora lunging forward with Magnhild raised ad smashing the granite slab into dust.
Ren didn't hesitate, jumping and being the first one to touch the black and gentle waters the grave cover had hidden. In a second the world tilted on it's axis. Another step forward and he ran on top of water as if solid ground. Shivering in reminiscence when he found himself back in on the little island. A talisman already having left his fingers before the Queen turned to him with a furious glare.
"Oh how I wish to go down with the sun~ sleeping~ weeping~"
"Checkmate." Ren smiled when the Queen focused on him instead of the talisman. The invisible force that crashed into him and almost shattered his aura nothing more than a fair trade. The first talisman he had ever created floated lazily in the air, shining brighter and brighter before drowning the entire island in light. Ren's eye shot open when he felt the 'rope' that connected him to himself returning in full force. Pulling him back into his own body. Barely able to make out some familiar forms pulled back by 'ropes'.
Blinking the lonely island disappeared, replaced with the dull and boring beige of their dorm's ceiling.
#-#-#-#
Note: Jaune is an unreliable narrator. What he 'sees' and how he 'is' are two different things.
Note: It's a dream, it how everyone 'sees' their self. Nora is lighting in a bottle, so her 'body' reflects that. Even Pyrrha have her own 'body'.
Note: I got some criticism earlier that I made 'Only Jaune good' and further vilified Gascoigne and them. There's a reason I did that. The blood isn't a 'good' thing. Gascoigne was a great man, so was his partner, Gehrman, and even Laurance. Was being the keyword here. Something Jaune isn't immune to. As of now, Jaune using the queen to heal himself is his Anakin falling to his knees before Palpatine moment. But honestly, that moment could have already happened. And everyone knows what happens next. It's just a matter of when until he has his slaughtering younglings and choking Padme moments.
Note: huh, it's almost like sharing a dream with the one who bottles everything up is a bad idea. Who would have thought.