Finally gotten to 100k Words. Enjoy the chapter.

Chapter 28

Amity Coliseum, Above Beacon Academy Doubles Final Round: Scorpion and Sub Zero VS Sonya and Kung Lao

Stepping into the Arena, Sonya and Kung Lao are watching their opponents with various thoughts. Sonya is observing her opponents with calculating eyes while Kung Lao has a confident smirk as he is observing Scorpion.

"Hanzo is mine." Kung Lao declared to his teammate who just signed as she didn't have the strength to argue with the monk

Having heard Kung Lao, Sub Zero walked to the opposite direction alongside Sonya with the intention of beginning there match.

"You've probably been bored by the lack of a challenge Hanzo, but that's about to change, because today, you face a Shaolin." Kung Lao declared adopting a fighting stance

Saying nothing, Scorpion adopted a stance as well.

"BEGIN!" Oobleck announced

Kung Lao decided to start the fight and jumped up in the air to deliver a kick to Scorpion's face, but he was able to block the attack. Kung Lao tried punching him in the gut but Scorpion grabbed his fist and dragged him over towards him and punched him in the face before kicking him in the gut which pushed Kung Lao away from him.

"Now this is a challenge." Kung Lao thought with a smile before charging once again to continue his fight

Meanwhile as the match was called Sub Zero charged forward. Sonya was prepared and tried to sweep his legs but he backed up a bit and fired a ball of ice at her. When Sonya was hit with the ball and instantly turned to ice Sub Zero then moved in and gave her a devastating kick to the gut which both freed her from her icy prison but also knocked the wind out of her. Sonya was now pissed and charged in with a combo of punches and kicks that Sub Zero either blocked or dodged Sonya then started to try another sweep kick which Sub Zero dodged by jumping into the air Sonya followed suit and wrapped her legs around him and threw him back down to the ground with a loud crash.

Sub Zero got up quickly and avoided her drop kick and then got into a stance and knocked Sonya to the ground by sliding on some ice he generated through his feet. Sub Zero then followed up with a combo of punches before kicking the blonde haired beauty a couple of feet away. Sonya stood up just in time to see Sub Zero move inl but before that could happen she took some purple dust and blew it in his face. Incapacitating him for a couple of seconds which was long enough for Sonya to charge at him with a cartwheel kick knocking Sub Zero in the air she then followed with a series of powerful kicks to his spine.

Terrance

"She's good, infact they're both good. They're actually holding their own against those two." Sun said in surprise

"Both Sonya and Kung Lao are very skilled fighters." Smoke said

"But I'm afraid Kung Lao's eagerness and pride will be his undoing." Liu Kang observed as the fight continued

Arena

Sonya had managed to knock her opponent into the air, but Sub Zero was able to recover in mid air landing on his feet and charged in with a couple of punches that hit their mark, but Sonya countered by grabbing his head and kneeing him in the face before turning her back to him grabbing the back of his neck and throwing him over his shoulder. Zero quickly stood up and replied "You are quite skilled. Forgive me for underestimating you."

Sub Zero then attacked by sliding on the ground Sonya jumped in the to avoid the attack but that was the opening that Sub Zero needed and he released a powerful uppercut to her jaw knocking her even high in the air. He then jumped into the air and knocked her down with a drop kick. Sub Zero then saw her try to attack him with a round house kick that connected but Sonya found herself frozen again Sub Zero then appeared behind her and attacked her with a sword made of ice giving her a cut across her back as he finished the combo with a mighty slash to the chest shaving a good portion of her aura.

Sub Zero then moved in and kept on attacking her and each time he scored a blow Sonya's body would become frozen. Sonya then rushed forward at Sub Zero and attacked him with a back hand and a couple of kicks before doing a double hand stand and wrapping her feet around Sub Zero's neck before snapping it using her left foot to push against the chin.

But Sonya didn't stop there yet she then followed up with a bicycle kick to his head pushing him up into the air, she then blasted him with her gauntlet with enough energy to bend steel and finally wrapped her legs around Sub Zero's body and slamming him down into the ground head first. Sonya then landed on the ground on her feet her strength completely spent but she was happy that Sub Zero was defeated, unfortunately though when Sonya looked at the body of Sub Zero, she then discover that it was an ice clone. Sonya then stood up and looked around for him only to be surprised by a punch to the jaw knocking her to the floor. Getting up she was met with more attacks before Sub Zero knocked her out with a double palm strike.

"Sonya Blade has been knocked out." Oobleck announced

Meanwhile, Scorpion and Kung Lao had been going back and forth delivering various punches and kicks to each other. One of Scorpion's attack connected with the monk knocking him back a few metres but Kang Lao was able to stop himself and he threw his razor hat at the Netherrealm assassin, but Scorpion blocked the attack with one of his swords and then charged at Kung Lao and executed two powerful punches on Kung Lao then he summoned flames around his fist and hit the Shaolin monk square in the jaw which sent him flying, burning some of his flesh and aura in the process.

While Kung Lao was in the air he recovered himself and teleported behind Scorpion and grabbed his shoulders and flipped him over his head. Scorpion was able to flip himself in the air so he would land on his feet. Both warriors then charged forward and Lao once again threw his hat hoping it would hit its target. But Scorpion ducked under the weapon and did a scissor takedown to trip Kung Lao. Once on the ground Scorpion did an axe kick to his gut knocking the wind out of Kung Lao and was about to finish of the Shaolin monk with a slash from his twin swords. But the Shaolin monk quickly moved out of the way and threw his hat vertically along the ground and it hit its mark it shredded through Scorpion. But before he could celebrate his victory Kung Lao was met with powerful kick to the head causing him to stumbled for a bit and found out that it was Scorpion who hit him. Before he could react though flames soon appeared under Kung Lao burning him as it shaved his aura. The Shaolin monk screamed in pain but was able to move out of the deadly flames.

Scorpion then did a round house kick to Kung Lao's face. Then he teleported in front the monk and elbowed him in the gut before giving Kung Lao an uppercut that sent him flying in to the air. Scorpion then teleported again and appeared in the air behind his opponent kicking him straight in the spine, the sounds of bones cracking could be heard. Scorpion then teleported to the ground and fired a spear chain at Kung Lao impaling him in the chest

"COME HERE!" Scorpion bellowed dragging the Shaolin monk towards the Netherrealm warrior. Scorpion then summoned flames around his right fist and using all his strength punched Kung Lao in the jaw breaking it and sending him fly straight towards a wall, upon impact Kung Lao fell to the ground leaving a massive crater on the ground. Scorpion then teleported once again in the air and delivered a powerful stomp on to the weakened Shaolin warrior breaking several ribs effectively knocking him out.

"Knock out, Team JKHL wins." Oobleck announced causing the crowd to wild after witnessing such an amazing battle.

Nodding to his partner, both Sub Zero and Scorpion decided to carry their fallen opponents out of the ring.

Beacon Cross-Communications Tower, Vale

For reasons unknown to her, Pyrrha was summoned to the headmaster's office. However, she hardly felt afraid, and entered the elevator with confidence in her resolve and skills.

The door closed behind her, leaving her to stand alone in the small space, waiting as she was carried up to Ozpin's office on the top floor.

Standing by herself in the small space, Pyrrha took the time to think back on the past few days, about her victories in the tournament and all the time she spent with her team. All her friends were doing amazingly in the tournament, and she couldn't help but feel a deep admiration for them all.

She witnessed Team RWBY and Team JKHL's fights and watched them emerge victorious even against some of the most formidable combatants she'd seen from outside Beacon. But most of all, she was proud of her own team for making it this far.

She looked back to the beginning of the year and remembered the bumbling ball of untapped potential that was Jaune Arc when she first met him, and now he was one of her closest friends and she would be lying to say she didn't feel anything beyond that for him.

Ever since Jaune had agreed to train with her and the mysterious and admittedly skilled Sub Zero, he was able to hold his own in combat training, and in the Coliseum, he was a force to be reckoned with, not for his brawn, but his sharp wit and remarkable talent as a tactical strategist, directing Team JNPR's movements as a cohesive unit, earning him newfound respect among his peers and Pyrrha herself.

She couldn't think of why Professor Ozpin would ask for her specifically, but she was going to greet the situation to the best of her abilities so that she could continue to fight to achieve victory in the finals.

As the elevator released a dinging sound and the doors opened, Pyrrha took a deep breath and stepped out with confidence.

Headmaster's Office

Ozpin turned to his new visitor, a warm smile on his aged face as Pyrrha stepped out of the elevator. Her face showed anxiety, but it was overshadowed by the girl's confident air.

Pyrrha stepped into the office and was immediately awed by the spacious room. Above her were spinning cogs working the clock tower, and yet they emitted little sound, allowing her to listen to Ozpin's voice calling to her.

Ozpin's desk was simplistic, yet she could tell that it was not a mere piece of furniture. Its surface was glass and it shimmered in the evening sunlight peering through the floor-to-ceiling windows behind Ozpin, offering a beautiful view of the entire Beacon campus.

"Ah, Ms. Nikos. It is a pleasure to be able to speak with you." Ozpin greeted her, gesturing for her to take a seat.

Pyrrha politely replied as she took a seat in front of his desk, opposite him. "Thank you, Professor."

"Well, it comes as no surprise that your team has chosen you to move on to the final round of the tournament. Your skills have been exemplary and I'm sure they must be extremely proud of you." Ozpin noted, expressing his happiness for Pyrrha.

Smiling with a slight blush from embarrasment, Pyrrha replied. "Thank you Professor, but I would not have made it this far without my teammates." Ozpin smiled at her response

"How about we get down to business and address your original reason for being here?"

The air was quiet as Pyrrha waited for Ozpin to say something. And a moment later, he asked her a single question.

"What is your favorite fairy tale?" Ozpin asked

Quirking a brow at the odd question, Pyrrha was a bit more than confused to say the least.

"I-I beg your pardon?..."

"Fairy tales, stories from your childhood. Surely you must remember some of them." Ozpin elaborated rather bluntly.

Pressing a finger to her lips, Pyrrha began recollecting memories from her childhood, trying to scavenge a few familiar titles her mother would share to her.

As a few pieces came to mind, Pyrrha gave her answer. "Well… there's the tale of the Two Brothers… the Shallow Sea… the Girl in the Tower…"

"What about… the story of the Seasons?" Ozpin offered, to which Pyrrha glowered with a smile.

"Oh! Of course!"

Pyrrha vividly remembered this tale and cleared her throat with a cough, then recited the story to her headmaster.

"A callous old man refuses to leave the shelter of his home and is visited by four travelling sisters. The first is a matronly and calm woman who encourages the reclusive man to use his time in solitude to reflect and meditate. The second sister, a youthful and joyful child, tends to his crops and revitalizes his garden with fresh fruits and vegetables. The energetic and playful third sister convinces the man to step outside and embrace the world around him. And finally, the fourth sister arrives, friendly and caring and tells the man to look at all he has and be grateful."

As he heard Pyrrha recount the story, Ozpin couldn't help but smile contently, as if recalling a joyful memory.

"As an expression of gratitude for the sisters, the man grants the maidens incredible powers so that they may continue to help others all over Remnant. The sisters graciously accept and continue to use their gifts to help people all over the world for the rest of their days."

"Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall. The Four Maidens. My mother loves that story." Pyrrha said happily, concluding the story.

"What if I told you that story's been around since I was a child?" Ozpin asked her lightheartedly, causing Pyrrha to giggle.

"You're not that old, Professor!"

"Well then, what if I were to tell you it was true?" Ozpin asked her in the same tone, albeit with a little less jest, causing Pyrrha to quirk a brow at this change of direction.

"I… beg your pardon?"

"What if I were to tell you that there were four Maidens existing in this world capable of wielding astronomical power?, Without Dust?" Ozpin asked her, in a more grounded and serious tone of voice, causing Pyrrha to squirm in her seat.

"Y-you mean… like a Semblance?"

Ozpin only smiled under his spectacles. "Like magic. Sorcery. Some of your classmates can use magic but I would rather not disclose their identities"

"I-I'm afraid I don't-" Pyrrha began, before Ozpin interrupted her

"Yes. It sounds crazy right? It's usually hard to swallow when you hear it the first time." Ozpin said, his face stone and with no levity, causing Pyrrha's heart to drop. This was real and he wasn't playing with her.

"Y-you're serious?!" Pyrrha asked, feeling her heart beat a bit faster from a mix of fear and shock, awaiting her headmaster's answer.

"Ms. Nikos… do I look like I'm joking?" Ozpin asked her with a serious glare that showed her that he was not fooling around, and that what he was telling her would be very important.

"N-no… Why… are you telling me this?" Pyrrha asked anxiously, to which Ozpin leaned in closer with his posture upright and his eyes locking with hers.

"Because Ms. Nikos… we believe you are next in line to inherit the power of the Fall Maiden"

If her will wasn't as strong and hardened as it was, Pyrrha probably would've fainted on the spot from pure shock from the incredible magnitude of information Ozpin was relaying to her, much less her being proclaimed to be the next inheritor of power straight out of a fairytale.

But before the confused Pyrrha could ask further questions, the elevator doors opened once more to reveal several new visitors, all of who she recognized

She caught sight of none other than her teacher Glynda Goodwitch, the Atlesian headmaster and General Ironwood, the tall and lanky Qrow Branwen, grasping a soda cup from the Festival.

"Sorry we were late. We had to find this idiot." Ironwood said, standing a groggy Qrow on his feet by pulling him up by the collar.

"Hehehehehe*hic-* Piss off, Hay-Hay. I can stand on my own!" Qrow cackled, prompting Iroonwood to drop him on the floor in a tangled mess of limbs.

Meanwhile, Pyrrha's fear and anxiety only spiked upon seeing her teachers here. If they were in on this, then who the hell were they?

"W-wait! What is this? Who are you people?!" Pyrrha asked, almost starting to panic.

This was when Glynda spoke up. "You know who we are. We're still the same teachers and headmasters you knew when you arrived at Beacon."

"Except we got a little part-time job." Qrow added.

"Our work is in the shadows." Iroonwood interjected, joining the group.

"So that we can serve the light." Ozpin finished.

"We are the protectors of this world." Ironwood added.

"And we need your help, Ms. Nikos." Ozpin concluded, getting up from his desk.

Vault of the Relic of Choice, Under Beacon Cross-Communications Tower

Pyrrha had one question too many about her current situation.

First of all, her headmaster had just told her that fairytale characters did indeed exist and that their power was to be bestowed upon herself.

Then, she finds out that apparently her teachers are all part of some sort of underground cult, and now she was with the members of said cult in an elevator to a hidden basement floor under Beacon Tower.

Suddenly, the small metal compartment descended slowly, carrying the group of Four adults and herself down to the bottom levels.

"W-where are we going?" Pyrrha asked her headmaster anxiously, clutching her arm awkwardly.

Ozpin's stoic expression didn't change as he answered. "The vault. Under the school."

Soon enough, the elevator stopped and its doors parted, allowing the occupants to exit. Pyrrha was the last one out, taking a moment to observe her surroundings.

She walked out into an expansive corridor, dimly lit by the rows of torches lining the hallway, casting a dark greenish-gray color on the floor and walls.

Tall prismic pillars held up the room, raising the ceiling high above the floor. Pyrrha also noticed that although the architecture's style appeared more dated than that of the school itself, the condition of the room appeared as if it hadn't been tainted in the slightest.

Catching up to Glynda, she managed to keep up to pace with the rest of the men.

"I'm sure you must have questions." Glynda offered Pyrrha, concern for her pupil in her voice.

"Maybe one or two…"

There was much on Pyrrha's mind at the moment. Too many things she wanted to know, so much that would change the way she saw the world as she knew it.

"Y-you said I was next in line to receive the Fall Maiden's power. What do you mean by that?" Pyrrha asked meekly, to which her superiors answered.

"The Maidens have existed for thousands of years, and like in nature, the seasons change. You may have a sunny winter one day, and a blizzard the following year. When a Maiden dies, her power leaves her body and seeks out a new host, ensuring that the seasons are never lost and that no individual may hold on to the power forever." Goodwitch elaborated.

"So… how does the power choose?" Pyrrha asked.

"Through a series of stupid and convoluted rules!" Qrow growled, earning him a smack upside the head from Goodwitch.

"Hey! I'm done explaining that shit, and I ain't getting another headache from repeating myself!" Qrow grumbled, causing Ozpin to sigh and explain.

"Back then, the one thing we knew was that only young women were able to wield this power but eventually, we've discovered the selection process to be a tad more… intimate."

"I-intimate?..." Pyrrha echoed, fear lacing her voice.

"As we understand it now, the person that is in the Maiden's thoughts last before her death inherits the power next." Ozpin answered.

"Unless it's a boy, or some old hag growin' gray hairs. Then the power chooses a host randomly, and it becomes far more hectic of a job to track them down." Qrow added.

"B-but why tell me this now? Why not just wait until I've graduated?" Pyrrha asked them.

"To put it simply, time is running out. In case you haven't noticed, conditions around Remnant aren't as repressed as they used to be. Faunus/human discrimination, political tensions, Grimm attack frequencies climbing each passing day, and most importantly, the current Fall Maiden was attacked and for the first time we've seen so far, half of her power was absorbed."

"If this keeps up, this time of peace will dissolve into a domino effect of worldwide chaos and darkness." Iroonwood answered grimly.

"You're… not talking about war...?" Pyrrha muttered, only for Ironwood to reply.

"Not a war between nations. And you'd be on the battlefield." He continued as the group came to a stop.

Pyrrha looked ahead and saw that she was at the end of the hallway, where two human-sized capsules or pods of sorts rested aside one another. A console stood in between, presumably the controls for the machines.

The pod to her right appeared empty, connected to the other pod by a series of tubes, and she could see someone resting in a comatose state inside the other pod; a young woman from the looks of it, brown skin and dressed in a white tube top. Her brown hair was short, parting to reveal a scarred face, with gruesome marks burnt into her static face.

"I-is that…?"

Ozpin sighed and confirmed her suspicions. "The current Fall Maiden, Amber."

"She's… still alive…" Pyrrha muttered.

"We're using state-of-the-art Atlas technology to keep her stable, but there is much about this situation that is… unprecedented." Ironwood explained.

"What do you mean?"

"Well… we don't know what will happen if… when she passes." Ironwood answered, correcting himself at that last bit.

"B-but… won't her power just transfer to the next host?" Pyrrha asked them.

"Thank the Lord! She listens!" Qrow yelled out, only to be ignored by the rest of the group.

Ironwood sighed. "Normally, yes. But this situation is extremely delicate. The person in her last thoughts is highly likely to be her attacker, which would not bode well if they were to receive this power. Furthermore, we've never seen the power split up in this manner before. For all we know, it may attempt to seek out its missing half."

Pyrrha gave a horrified gasp. "Her assailant."

"Correct. If her attacker were to receive the powers of the Fall Maiden, their intentions would not be as noble as others'." Ozpin said, voicing Pyrrha's thoughts.

Walking up in front of the pod, Pyrrha peered through the glass window. Inside, she could see the fragile body of the woman, lying in stasis, a pained expression written on her features. She stared at the woman, and then her own reflection staring back at her from the surface of the glass.

Then she turned back to the adults with a face of confusion and mild curiosity. "If all of this is true, if all of this is so important, then why not tell everyone? Why keep it secret?!"

At this, Qrow only snickered bitterly, earning fiery stares from Ozpin and Goodwitch. "Because some people don't know when enough is enough."

"Excuse me?"

With a groan at the Hunter's words, Goodwitch spoke up. "From what we understand, it used to be common knowledge."

"Nothing is created out of void, not even legends or folklore." Ironwood added.

"This group was created to keep the world and the Maidens safe, as the Maidens were hunted by certain individuals who wanted their power." Goodwitch continued.

"And of course, those who managed to take it didn't exactly have the most... righteous intentions in mind." Qrow added, sipping from his cup before letting out a loud belch.

"Therefore, our group chose to hide the Maidens from the public eye, allowing their existence to fade away into myth. What you are witnessing goes against centuries of human history and religion." Ozpin elaborated. "Think about it this way, would you accept this reality if you've been led to believe in another one your entire life? One that contradicts teachings, traditions, and philosophies that span generations? Would the world accept it that way?"

"There would be panic. Chaos." Pyrrha muttered in reply, earning a solemn nod from her headmaster.

"Yes. And that will only make the Grimm stronger. That is why-"

"I'll do it."

Ozpin looked up to the young redhead, her face steeled with conviction. "If what you say is true, and if you believe this will help humanity, then I will become your Fall Maiden."

However, as soon as she made her declaration, Pyrrha was only met with gazes of concern and perplexment from the group in front of her.

"That's… what you wanted, isn't it?"

Sharing glances between his colleagues, Ozpin took a hesitant breath and stepped forward. "Y-yes, but I'm afraid it's not that simple. Given Amber's current state, she won't be able to pass her powers on to you naturally, but General Ironwood believe he has found a solution."

"Over the past few years, Atlas has been studying aura from a more scientific standpoint: its base components, its properties, its makeup. We've made… considerable progress. Putting it simply, we've found a way to isolate it from the body; contain it." Iroonwood said

Sipping from his soon-to-be-empty soda cup, Qrow continued. "Capture it, then stuff it inside something else."

"Or in your case…"

Realizing Qrow was gesturing to her, Pyrrha's eyes widened in horror, shifted back to the pod, then the empty one, then back at the General. She couldn't believe her ears.

"That's-!"

"Classified." The General replied stoically.

"Wrong!" Pyrrha finished, shocked to the core.

"The feeling's mutual." Qrow said, directing a glare at Ironwood, before turning to Pyrrha. "But even I have to agree, desperate times call for desperate measures."

"And these are desperate times." Goodwitch continued.

"We can't give you Amber's powers, but we can give you what that power is bound to."

"Her aura…" Pyrrha muttered, haunted.

"Her life will be intertwined with yours, but the real question is if you will emerge from the process as the same person." Ozpin explained, causing Pyrrha to shudder.

Noticing her fear, Ozpin sighed. "I understand that you have an important decision ahead of you, so I recommend that you take your time to think it over. But remember this: by the time the Vytal Festival is over, we will need your answer."

"The assailant has already made their first move… and there's no telling when they will strike next."