AN: Sorry for the long wait, I had a slight crisis in faith and wasn't sure if I could continue the story and just make the first chapter a one-shot. Suffice to say that I am a lot better now mentally and that I hope you enjoy this chapter.
"Legends, stories scatter throughout time. Creation has grown quite fond of counting the exploits of heroes and villains. Forgetting all so easily that we are remnants, byproducts of a once unshattered moon. Shackled to an endless cycle. The Lightborn, born of dust and infused with light, are beholden to creation, life, and happiness. While the Darkborn, born of liquid haze and infused with darkness, are beholden to destruction, death, and hatred."
"For eons, these two forces clashed, locked in endless bloodshed and warfare. The Lightborn created mighty towers and wondrous tech, while the Darkborn bred unique, deadly beasts and mounted feral hordes. Each side slaughtering many, but unable to fully kill each other."
"Until one day, an act of betrayal from the Lightborn has brought a new side into this cycle. Spawned from greed and ambition, a simple act of execution has brought about a new race. One mixed with the creation of light and the destruction of the dark."
"Thus under the shattered moon, the Duskborn emerged."
"Emerging from the forgotten pools of darkness, the existence of the first Duskborn was fraught with fear, wonder, and peril. However, they discovered an ancient subterranean region brought by the shattered moon, that which became our modern home. The hollowed rivers of Luna Naturae. Lit by false stars, rich with dust and embedded with the remnant power of the Moon Shattering God. The first duskborn decided to make this deep, unknown cavern our home."
"Using existing tunnels that led to the surface, they lure promising local Lightborn, before transforming them into Duskborn within the pools. Over two centuries our people grew, the eternal city began to sprout, new ways of architecture began, the dusk controlled Darkborn were created, and the power of elemental manipulation. Once limited to the Darkborn, was unlocked. This would have been a golden age, yet the first duskborn's ambition, savagery, and monstrosity grew too."
"The Queen of Blood, as she is now known. Mustered the forces of the Duskborn, for a campaign of conquest and bloodshed. Deciding to conquer the surface, she waged a brutal unexpected war on both the light and Darkborn, threatening to destroy the cycle that they established."
"In response, the Arbiter of Light, and the Lich Queen of Dark, two heroes that served rival surface kingdoms. Banded together to destroy this unexpected foe. With an unexpected turn of victories, a decisive strike was dealt to the eternal city. The Queen of Blood was slain, the Duskborn were slaughtered, and this cavern became their grave. Yet one survived. Me, her daughter and heir."
"Young reader of our history books, take heed of this warning. History is filled with heroes and villains, and though their intentions may be cruel or noble. All it takes is one person, one single person. To be in the right place at the right time, to drastically alter fate and change the lives of an entire race. Do not be that person."
"Let the surface drown in the blood of their endless cycle. Let us be forgotten by this world, for attention will make sure that the light and Darkborn will finish what they started. Do. Not. Repeat. What my mother did. May the blessings of the moon guide your education."
-Written statement from our liege, the Abyssal Queen Lusus. Era 2, cycle 1567
Ruby groans. Mother doesn't know how to mince words. Granted as the second queen of the Duskborn, long sermons and speeches are part of the job. But if she's going to have to do her studies, she could at least do a summary of the first histories of the Duskborn in the textbooks.
As a princess, Ruby is next in line for the throne as her mother's only daughter. As such, she was taught, cared and loved as much as her mother could do.
On her desk were numerous textbooks, organized into a neat stack. Elemental manipulation, dust knowledge: Standard and corrupted, combat arts books, survival books, grimmomancy tomes, her personal notebook, and more. It would be too much for her, but she managed to both excel and be a kid.
She looked around her room, due to her insatiable curiosity her mother got her several relics, trinkets, and decor from the guilds and Shadowblades. Ancient armor and scythes from the Kingdom of Peace, miniature automata from the Kingdom of Machine, idols from the Kingdom of Freedom, and loads of relics and art from the Kingdom of Corruption. Her mother is especially fond of the dragon and jade relics that Shadowblades brought.
All of this led Ruby to desire something greater as she grew over the cycles.
She leaned on her chair, stretching a bit, before pulling out a map of Luna Naturae, several Xs were written on it, sites of wells that either were destroyed, guarded by the Shadowblades, or just did not exist. That last part always bugged her out. But she obtained some vital information last week, all she needs now is payment and access.
A knock is heard at the door, she quickly hides away the map before assuming a neutral pose. "Thou may come in." A servant, one of many in the palace, leans into her room. "My lady, pardon me for the interruption of your study lessons, but breakfast is ready. Your mother is awaiting you."
Ruby sighed, she need to ask her mother about the surface. Ever since she told her stories about it, she's been fascinated by this "sun" and a blue sky instead of the starry one outside the window. "Thou may return to thy duties." The door behind her closes, and Ruby gets up to look at the mirror in her room.
Lunar stone white skin, with red veins on her body. Black sclera with silver irises piercing through the darkness. Red-black noble clothes with a red cloak that is elegant enough for royalty, yet practical enough for combat and survival training. A silver circlet with a ruby gem that pairs well with her red-black hair, and most important of all. A silver prosthetic right arm, made specifically for her due to an illness she suffered right before her transformation.
Smiling, she left her room and entered the pale halls of the White Palace.
"Technically, its official name is either the Lunar or Timeless Palace, but due to mother's fascination with white, well the name was inevitable." She thought and smiled as she walked towards the dining hall. Though she can see why her mother coated this place in white. Combined with the white day haze turning the starry sky white and black, and the white forest surrounding the palace. It makes for a comforting, surreal home.
Entering the dining hall. Ruby sees her mother calmly eating. Due to a trait shared with both dusk and darkborn, they grow bigger as they age. Ruby recalls being around 7 foot 8 last she checked. Her mother, however, is a goliath. She's sitting on a floor chair due to being 12ft tall, a testament to her age.
Wearing a mostly white royal dress with red-black trimming, marked with numerals and ordained with gems. She has the same hair, skin, and eye color as Ruby, though her irises are a sharp red instead of Ruby's silver. Her long hair is messier than usual, with bangs covering both eyes, and her aetheric moonstone prosthetic is fidgeting with her food. While her mother typically doesn't like to show her eyes, the fact that she's losing sleep over that kingdom worries Ruby.
Taking a seat next to her mother. Ruby takes initiative in the conversation as she eats her breakfast.
"Thoust still losing sleep over that pitiful northern kingdom mother?" Ruby's question startled her mother out of her trance, she turned and gave her daughter a half-hearted smile.
"Yes, but it isn't thy concern. Just some quaint nightma-."
"MOTHER! I said numerous times that thoust shouldn't concern thyself over the Kingdom of Machine! Tis obvious that those knaves in their mechanical city are causing you grief!"
Her mother stared at Ruby, before chuckling and pinching her cheek.
"Oh my little Ruby, ever so worried about her mother. To think you were a little orphan just 12 cycles ago." Ruby only made embarrassed noises in response. She let her cheek go and took a bite of her food. Despite being deep underground, her mother managed to create crops that grow under the starry sky.
"My worries are founded, but perhaps I've been letting it…overtake me lately. Either way, I do believe that thoust have some questions for me, my child." She stared at Ruby, the opportunity to ask about the surface is right there. But she feels scared to ask.
After a few awkward seconds, Ruby decided to ask a different question. "Am I allowed to venture into the city mother?" Her mother stared at her, before smiling. "Ruby, thou art of 15 cycles, yet thou showed great aptitude in thy studies, survival, and combat. You even surprised Sam in your last combat training."
Her mother stood up, people know that the queen is the tallest and oldest Duskborn in the kingdom. Yet it's quite an experience to have such a calm, regal individual just dominate your view.
"Attendants will prepare thy carriage to the city, thoust earned it. But meet thee in the training hall, when thou finished thy food. A special gift awaits thee." She left the room, leaving Ruby alone with some arriving seers with a plate of cookies and milk.
Right before the seers leave after giving their master her treat, Ruby grabs one of the tentacles of one of them. "Before I can allow thee to leave. Prithee obtain one of Mother's rare wines and stash it in the stables. Don't forget to particoat it so I may find it later." The seers chirp with enthusiasm before leaving the dining hall.
While walking to the training hall, Ruby decided to take a detour to the hall of the moon. The hall was a testament to her mother's power and reign, with several elegant statues, paintings, and decor. Though it's being prepared for a banquet that is being held today. The attendants and nobles that were there noticed Ruby and all bowed.
Ruby bowed in return. It's only natural after all, her mother has taught and enforced nobless oblige. But even then, some "pruning" will have to be done from time to time according to her. Ruby walked to one of the painting sets. It was three portraits, one wore a fearsome helmet, with blood smattered on it. "First of our kind and Queen of Blood, Lusus" was the title.
The second one was her mother, in a rare case she showed her right eye, but her left remain covered by bangs. She gave a comforting smile to the painter. "Timeless Queen, Violet Lusus" was the title. Again with the multiple titles.
The final was her own portrait, and she got to say, she looked amazing in it. The artist captured her features well and brought out her silver irises. Guess mother was right when she said that we are entering a "renaissance". The title of it was "Dusk Princess, Ruby Lusus."
The other portraits were of historical or religious moments, detailing events such as the Moon Shattering God waging war with the moon. The fall of the Eternal City. Dragons teaching her mother wisdom and more.
Smiling, she walks out of the hall, it was nice to see her own face without having to use a mirror. Though she wonders what gift her mother prepared for her in the training hall.
"Ah, the little rose crawls out of her chamber! Normally I would move in for a first strike but we have a special guest with a gift waiting for you." The smug, slightly arrogant, carefree voice with a "Kingdom of Freedom" accent is heard as Ruby entered the training hall.
She considered bowing due to instinct but realized that this is her annoying combat teacher, Sam, and she wouldn't give him the courtesy. The automata body walks out of a pillar, his "face" has a smile as he walks toward Ruby. "Aw, no royal bow for poor little Sam? I mean you did kick my ass last time we fought, does that make it 15 you, 50 me?" He got no response from Ruby. To which he only chuckled.
"You know, can't keep giving me the silent treatment forever little rose. But I gotta say that despite being the princess, you're still an inexperienced pretty girl in my-." He didn't finish the sentence as a prosthetic fist nearly struck his face, but a quick draw of his reinforced fire dust katana stopped it.
"Ah, I see you want to have a little go at it before your mother arrives. Well," He gave a shit-eating grin before backflipping away. "Who am I to deny the Dusk Princess her battle." The two enter a battle stance as Sam continues to smile at Ruby.
"Show me a good time Ruby!" He dodges a lunging attack from Ruby and counters with a hard kick that sends her flying. Moving swiftly, he goes in for a slash attack when suddenly Ruby ducks under his slash and punishes him with a hard hook into his chest. Guard broken, Ruby hits him with a 3 punch combo before sending him away with a hard kick.
Sliding across the floor, Sam can't help but smile. "Impressive little rose! Never seen you counter that move like that. However your footing is a bit weak, and you exposed your guard a bit too much." Sam then rushes Ruby, who barely dodges the slash before getting hit with a follow-up slash. Backstepping away, the two circles around each other, before Ruby goes on the offensive again.
Blocking her prosthetic fist, Sam goes on the defensive as Ruby unleashes a flurry of punches and kicks. Having to sidestep and punish heavy attacks designed to break his guard from time to time. He blocks a heavy attack with his sword, but unexpectedly Ruby swept his feet, causing him to lose balance. Grabbing his face, she slammed him to the ground. A move that he used on her several times.
"And thou said that I had weak footing." Ruby said with a smug smile on her face, confident with her victory against her teacher.
"Sam, will thou explain why thou and my daughter are fighting?" Ruby froze as she heard her mother's voice behind her. However, before Ruby could muster a plea, Sam got up, laughing like the madman he is.
"The fault's all mine, my queen. I wanted to test little rose before she receives her upgrade." Ruby's eyes lit up when sam mentioned 'upgrade' "I have to say though, she's improving well in hand-to-hand combat, with a few more months she can go toe to toe with an alpha beowolf, maybe even a beringel if it's weakened enough."
Lusus sighed, Sam was an effective combat teacher for Ruby, but he clearly liked to push buttons. But she can see Ruby smiling at hearing her teacher's praise "If this unauthorized combat training brought out Ruby's potential, then I see no reason to punish thee." She snapped a finger, and two artisans emerged behind her, carrying large containers.
"Young daughter, remove thy prosthetic and step forward." Sam pats Ruby's shoulder and gave a non-smug smile, a rarity for him. "Congrats little rose, despite all my insults and belittlement, I say you deserve it." Ruby gave a smile in return. "Thou art a knave Sam, but thou art my personal knave." With some effort, she removed the silver prosthetic, and step forward toward her mother.
"Young daughter, my abyssal rose, thou have shown exceptional skill, in thy studies and training. Thou art smart, adaptable, keen, brave, and idealistic. Which is why-." Her mother opened one of the containers, picking an aetheric moonstone prosthetic. "I have given thee this, and a personal weapon." She handed the prosthetic to the surprised Ruby.
"M-mother…" She graciously accepted the prosthetic. Aetheric moonstone, imbued with the remnant power of the Moon Shattering God, now forged to be her right arm. After some fidgeting, she attached the prosthetic to her body.
She gasps in shock, before rubbing her new arm. This feeling…She can feel things with her right arm! Heat, cold, the feeling of her hand rubbing on her arm, it's such a strange thing to be transfixed about, yet to feel with both arms instead of just her left.
"Before thou spend all day with thy new arm. At least acquire thy new weapon. Though there is a special feature in thy new arm." The second artisan opened the container it was carrying, before presenting Ruby with her new weapon.
A weapon that she had designed for fun, and showed to her mother when she was a child.
"'Crescent Rose', was the name of the weapon, correct? I know thy would taketh a keen pleasure in scythes, especially one that thou designed…despite the blueprints being childish scribbles. Though some aspects had to be changed for it to be effective."
Ruby unfurled the scythe, amazed by the level of craft and detail that went into it. It's fresh and unpainted at the moment. The weapon even included the sharpshooter portion of it! She did some practice swings before she presses a button on accident, and turned it into a katana.
"Thy scythe is useful, but for open spaces. Though Sam has taught thee hand-to-hand combat, handling a katana would be beneficial for thee." Ruby then got an idea. Smiling, she changed Crescent Rose back into a scythe, she pointed it at her Mother.
"Perhaps thee would partake in a little duel, mother? Or perhaps thou are too worried that thy heir would surpass the queen?" Her mother laughed, and Ruby pouted. She thought she wasn't being taken seriously by her mother.
"Hmmm, very well then." A blunt Duskborn sword emerged from her mother's left hand. Sam couldn't stop grinning as he knows what was going to happen next.
"30 seconds, first to fall loses. Is that fair?" Lusus calmly said, surprising Ruby. "Mother must be overestimating her own abilities." Ruby gave a grin in return. "Very well, I accept."
The two went on opposite sides of the hall, with Sam acting as the referee of the fight. Ruby notices that despite being about to enter a duel, her mother is calm. Unusually calm, with a creepy smile to boot.
"BEGIN!" With Sam's shout, Ruby charged her mother with Crescent Rose. She moves in for a scythe slash combo when suddenly her mother jumped, her body in a strange pose, and her face in a manic grin.
And within a second, a mass flurry of blunt sword slashes hit Ruby at a speed that she thought was impossible for someone like her mother. Caught off guard, she was thrown back from her mother and slid across the floor.
Sam walked to the now bruised princess and gave his trademark grin. "3 seconds, in your defense. I was also caught off guard by that attack, trust me when I say that what your mother did, was what I considered forgiving compared to what she did to me." He gave Ruby his hand and lifted her up. She moans in pain as she got up due to the attack.
Looking at her mother, she sees that the blade she used is now dust, and she's off muttering to herself while staring into the false sky. "What was it that mother said when she does that? Something about a blade?" She then snapped out of her trance and looked toward Ruby.
"Oh it doesn't matter, let this be a lesson for thee my daughter. There will always be someone more skillful than thou, and to curb thy hubris whenever possible. For it would lead to the same fate as thou grandmother. Thy carriage should be prepared now"
She gave her daughter an elegant bow, before leaving the training hall, along with the artisans. Ruby stood there, mulling about the fight. Obviously, she is what Sam would call "served", but it raises a question. One relating to her mother, and her past involving the two surface heroes.
Her mother has shown Ruby that she's a masterful swordswoman, after all, she grew up under the Queen of Blood, her grandmother. Yet despite such skill, she had to wonder.
What exactly did she and her grandmother fought to warrant such extreme injuries?
Wearing some medicated bandages to treat her bruises, Ruby sees the carriage her mother mentioned, along with the harnessed nightmares waiting impatiently. The elegant equine Grimm looked towards Ruby, before giving a calm snort, their demeanor returning to normal.
They reminded her of when she was taught the difference between true Darkborn and Duskborn controlled Darkborn, or Azure Darkborn as they were properly called.
A grimmomancer is waiting right next to the carriage. Ruby also sees a strange bottle-shaped object wrapped in a bright cloth in between some crates.
Perfect, everything is all going to plan. Approaching the crates, she takes out the bottle, before walking toward the carriage. A tech-seer emerges from it, the machine Grimm hybrid chirps to its master, before he turns towards Ruby and bows.
"Ah my princess," The grimmomancer bowed, to which she returned. "The queen requested that a device, called a "radio", be installed in the carriage." Ruby tilted her head, she heard her mother mention such curious devices in meetings with the Shadowblades, along with scrolls. She finds it hard to believe that the Lightborn that could make automata still used ink and quill.
"Well, what does the device do?" She asked curiously. "Well, the scholars, Shadowblades, and artisans developed a way to make the device work. I am not sure how my princess, but I was told it could play music." Ruby was shocked at the statement, she looked inside and see the recently installed small device.
"How? How can such a tiny box produce the same music as an orchestra?" She looked towards the grimmomancer, who simply shrugged. "I do not know, I was also told that news is apparently also played, however, I am a grimmomancer, not a shadowblade. So I can't interpret the Lightborn language for you."
"Either way, shall we depart for the Eternal City my princess?" Ruby nodded, and she got inside the carriage, before proceeding to stare intently at the radio. With a simple crack from the reins, the carriage departs from the White Palace towards Ruby's destination.
Fiddling with the device, she sees a button with a strange icon on it. Seeing how she sees no other way to make it work, she decides to press it.
"YOU'RE LISTENING TO VNN, THE #1 MOST TRUSTED NEWS SOURCE IN VALE!" The suddenly shouting box surprised Ruby, who jolted backwards and banged her head on the carriage wall. Rubbing her head, she gave the "radio" a glare, before looking out the window. She might as well listen to the Lightborn ramblings while she gazes at the scenery.
"-CYRIL AND LISA LAVENDER AS YOUR HOSTS!" A calmer, female voice is then heard on the box, calming Ruby. She needs to ask her mother if she can arrange an assassination on that Lightborn with the annoyingly loud voice when she returns.
"Hello I'm Lisa Lavender," "And I'm Cyril Gris" Another voice? Ruby wonders why are there three voices in that little box, meanwhile the scenery slowly changes from white into multiple colors such as green, purple, red, and more.
"Today's top story: Yet another SDC mining town in Southern Vale has been destroyed by another combined White Fang and Grimm attack. Making this the 15th SDC town to be destroyed in the last 7 years. Leading to strikes in SDC owned mining towns across Vale over concerns of safety against outside threats."
"Unconfirmed sources report that the SDC CEO: Jacques Schnee, is pressuring the Atlesian Council to force General James Ironwood into taking decisive action against the White Fang and Grimm nests in Southern Vale. While such action would be met with international condemnation, due to fear that the falling towns would cause a domino effect across Vale. The Valean Council would welcome such an intervention according to a spokesperson from the Council."
"We will now cut to the ongoing press conference with Jacques Schnee at the Schnee Manor."
Ruby was startled again by the large amounts of clicking noises emerging from the radio, she tries to ignore it since she can't glare it to silence. A 4th voice is heard on the radio.
"While my critics have always had their detractions against me, most of which are clearly cherry-picked. I have to agree that the SDC town defense has been sorely underperforming company regulations lately. This is why, to ensure the fuel of our kingdoms remains uninterrupted, the SDC will increase security regulations threefold! I also implore our dear General Ironwood to show Remnant where Atlesian tax lien goes, and march into Vale and burn both those terrorists at the white fang and the Grimm!"
Ruby does not know why but the voice of the 4th Lightborn fills her with disgust. She's sure that mother would try to "gently persuade" this Lightborn into following her rule, were if he ever was born as a Duskborn.
The box then shifted back to the female voice, Ruby wonders what they were talking about, but given the female voice's calm demeanor she assumes that it was something nice, like a parade or a monument unveiling.
"Yes, probably something nice after all."