Even then, it wasn't enough. All those stakes impaling through her wasn't enough. Salem wasn't moving in the slightest but there was no evidence of death. As soon as the stakes vanished, Salem regenerated back to her state from before. Even when her Servant tried to keep those stakes, Salem eventually moved herself free and regenerated. There was no hope. It wasn't enough.

The Branwen Tribe was gone. Each and every one of its members were slaughtered. By Salem's hand, both bandit and hostage breathed their last. It was no use anymore, any of their ransoms. Those fortunate enough to run away faced misfortune by the sound of oppressive music. If they did, Raven could still hear the sounds gluttonous Grimm feasting down on them. When the noises died down, both Maiden and Servant could only sag their shoulders at the failure that now surrounds them.

Behind Salem, on one side, was her own Servant, a masked performer who hummed incomprehensible lyrics to himself. On the other, Raven recognized those two significant figures of the White Fang: Adam Taurus and Sienna Khan. They were brought to Mistral by Salem's command, no doubt. Those two couldn't hide behind their masks; Salem had to exert control over the Grimm being drawn to those two. By Raven's side was Leonardo who only despaired further.

"So," Salem began. "You are the Spring Maiden?" Her arms regrew. "It's been a while, hasn't it, Raven? Last time it had been you and—what was her name again? Oh, that's right. She was called Summer Rose. It brings back memories doesn't it? I see that Leo has informed you of current but secret events. And quite the Servant you have too."

Raven's Servant was frustrated, angered at being hopeless against her. Raven's Servant was strong, there was no denying that. In a fight, Raven was confident in winning every time. But against an enemy that could never die, is it really winning at all? Salem was studying Raven's Servant; his grip on his weapon, a lance, tightened.

"Now what was your name again?" Salem mused. Her head tilted towards her Servant. "Erik, what was his name again?"

"Vlad," answered Raven's Servant. "Voivode of Wallachia. Known to my history as the Impaler." His voice turned sour. "And said to be the inspiration of... a horrid monster."

"From that tone," Salem commented. "It seems that you too have your image stained by that which isn't yours."

"I know enough, milady." Vlad maintained his composure. "You have committed horrible atrocities. I have… grievances which I did not commit but I will not deny that which I have. You, on the other hand, are guilty of your crimes against humanity. Every crime that has been attributed to you as true as you are standing before me and my Master in this moment."

"Am I? I am but a woman long tired. I haven't had rest in centuries. Forgive me if I am a little grumpy."

Vlad grind his teeth. His long hair swayed with the wind. His pale skin had more color than Salem's. At least, he didn't have the red veins. Raven didn't think that she would have actually called forth a Servant, let alone someone with the regal air and power as this Vlad. Raven only thought of necessity at the time.

Part of her had hoped, in that moment, that it would be someone who could change the tide. She won't ever be going back but she could at least rest easier had Salem perished. Ozpin may be a shady and often manipulative old man but he at least cared in some way. It took time for Raven to understand the need for such secrets. Ozpin had a bleeding heart despite the lifetimes that had long since passed.

"Anyway," Salem said. Moving from that, she addressed Leo. Salem pulled out the last of the stakes. "Now that we are aware of your little allegiance, how goes the arrangements, Leo?"

"Everything is as you wish it to be, my Queen," Leo replied. His head bowed. His lion's mane covering the obvious fear on his face. His trembling knees gave it away. A few hairs littered the ground.

"Good." Salem nodded. "It will take time but perhaps we could arrange it as early as now."

She turned around and faced the White Fang leaders. The two stood stiff and awaited orders.

"I trust that you have no questions?"

"No, ma'am," answered Sienna Khan. "You are doing the White Fang a great service by giving us… legitimacy."

"Not just legitimacy, my dear Khan. I also offer an alliance and with it, my anger against your enemies. For too long have you been under the subjection of humans. I only wish for them to realize that they are being led by one who walks among them but could never be one of them."

"You are too kind. We will… do everything in our power to meet your expectations."

Salem smiled and turned to Erik. "Prepare yourself and scout ahead in Atlas. You can do that much, couldn't you? With this year's Vytal being held there, forgive me if I am a bit concerned of this Presence Concealment of yours."

Erik bowed. "It will be done as you say, my generous patron. But as of my request?"

"I'll be looking forward to seeing you in Christine together, Phantom. I know not of where she could be, but I will not interfere should you find her. In fact, why don't you tell me if you have found her? I am more than happy to give you my aid, as any proper Master should."

Raven saw that side-eye. She will not deny that her throat had been hurting. Desperation bred strong emotions.

Salem's Servant vanished from them. Sienna Khan was giving instructions to Adam and he followed. Soon enough, he went in the direction towards Atlas.

As for Raven, she fell to her knees. Even with the Maiden powers, even with her own Servant, she was still powerless against her. Leo kept his distance. Only Vlad stayed by her side.

"Stand, my Master," commanded Vlad.

"Why?" Raven asked. She was grateful that her voice wasn't too raspy.

"At least face her with some dignity." Vlad kept his head high. He kept his face proud. His spear was between Salem and Raven. They could win any confrontation but they could never hope to kill Salem. The last ounce of Raven's resurfacing hope dashed away.

Raven bit her lip. But she shook her head. "Stand down, Vlad."

"Master!"

"No. We will stand with her. You have done all that you can. Tried everything at your disposal. Unless…"

Vlad nearly opened his mouth. He closed it tight and shook his head. "There is none." He looked away, hiding his face from her. Raven doesn't know much about her Servant. She doesn't know that his being here had been possible at all.

"Excellent." Salem clapped once. "Now, while the legal aspects would be quite a problem dear Raven considering your… profession, I'm sure we can all agree that none of this applies to Vlad, no? Not here in Mistral anyway."

"There isn't." Leo confirmed. He kept his head bowed but at least his knees stopped trembling. "I have… taken an initiative, milady. Vlad is quite excellent in administrative purposes; I was thinking of having him on as one of Haven's administrative personnel."

"Following in his footsteps are we, Leo? Very well. It is fine enough. I suppose that it is a sort of poetry by having another Servant be a part of these academies. It rhymes in a way."

Their conversation paused when a Grimm neared them. It was one of those Seer Grimm, capable of acting as a living scroll for communication.

Hazel's voice was heard on the other side. "Ma'am."

"Hazel," Salem replied. "How goes Vacuo, then?"

"I'm afraid it went poorly, ma'am." Hazel's voice stayed monotone.

Both Raven and Leo shivered at the change of atmosphere around Salem. Vlad stood tall but he wasn't as proud as he used to. There was dignity there but there was also a hint of shame. Still, he kept his hand on his spear, ready to fight back if needs be. Vlad would die eventually. It was only a matter of how long before he would be too exhausted to even move. Salem would just come back.

"Was dear Emerald unsuccessful?" Salem asked.

"The Summer Maiden has already summoned her Servant," Hazel answered. "They have taken cover under Shade Academy."

"I see." Salem nodded. Raven doubts that it was a merciful understanding. "Not even a name?"

"Only that her Servant is capable of magical feats."

"If I recall, Erik said that those are what should be referred to as Caster. The common ones, those of other classes are capable but it is best to assume Caster until proven otherwise."

Vlad was a Lancer. A unique one as he claimed he would normally be a Berserker outside of his home country. But the reasons for that, which he kept hidden even from Raven, did not apply here. No one in Remnant could know that reason. Raven wanted to prod further. But she knew a thing or two about keeping her own secrets. She kept hers for the longest time before being made to summon Vlad. She could never blame Vlad for this. She wanted that power, to cling on that hope.

"It is our suspicion as well," Hazel answered. "Shall we continue our pursuit?"

Salem shook her head. "Even if we could obtain the Summer Maiden to our ranks, there is no doubt that her Servant wouldn't be as willing. Perhaps we could summon another once we've dealt with both in some way."

"I take it that we have Spring?"

"Of course." Salem's smile crept Raven out. "We have already made our arrangements here, and I had just sent dear Erik to Atlas. I doubt that the general of Atlas would lag behind. We are at a disadvantage of numbers, yes. But none of them could truly kill me, could they?"

"We have yet to confirm it."

"Then do so." For a moment, Salem sounded eager.

"Yes, ma'am."

The Seer Grimm left their presence and Salem sighed. "New players. But we still play the same game."

Salem turned to them, Vlad specifically.

"My duties are to my Master," Vlad proclaimed. "If her loyalties are to you, then so is mine."

"You really have quite the Servant here, Raven. I like him." She giggled. "If you ever find yourself feeling like passing on, do consider passing Vlad here to me."

"Master?" Vlad looked to Raven for her answer.

Raven shut her eyes tight. "His decision is his own. If he chooses to go with you, so be it."

A diplomatic answer. One that both Vlad and Salem, more accustomed to these customs, have seen it coming.

"Very well." With a final wave, Salem left them be.

Leo was the first to stand. He scurried away and hurried back to Haven Academy, leaving behind a still kneeling Raven, unsure of what to do. Her fists tightened and her eyes burned. Weak. She was weak then. She was weak when she gained the Maiden powers. She's still weak even with her Servant. Always weak. Unfortunate as well. Salem came for her first.

"Master." Vlad got to one knee, one hand reaching out. His eyes were serious. "Stand. We will overcome this evil."

"How? Do you have another plan that we could have used?" Raven's eyes burned. She cursed at herself for not knowing enough. How could she have known this? Last, she checked, from Leo and Salem herself, summoning Servants had been an accident caused by Amber's desperate attempts to survive. If that hadn't had happened, none of this would even occur to her. Even Ozpin didn't know this before and that man had to have seen a lot of things.

Vlad stayed quiet. "Perhaps we are… unfortunate. But I do not believe that it is impossible. If we could reach these other Maidens. Then—"

Raven sighed. "Don't bother. Without any means of killing Salem, there is no winning. We're only prolonging the inevitable." She stood back up and took her first steps. Her destination was Mistral's cities. "Have that spear of yours pointed to my back, Vlad."

"Why? What reason must I have my weapon pointed at your back?"

"Because the crimes you're guilty of, Vlad the Impaler, aren't within Remnant's jurisdiction, I'm sure. Mine, on the other hand, are."

There was also the drive of her cowardice. But who could she even run to? Tai? Qrow? Even if they did know the truth of Salem, what else could they do? As for Ozpin, that man didn't know it had been possible so he was obviously out. There was no doubt, in Raven's mind, that Ozpin was hoping that it could change. It was a shame then, that Raven knew the truth before they did: there was no way that they could win. This way, at least, she didn't drag someone down to her path.

Unsurprisingly, the guards all recognized Raven. They knew her to be the leader of the bandits despite not wearing the mask, the rest of her outfit was distinct enough.

"Don't bother looking for your hostages," Raven lied. If her crimes were on a scale, this lie would be quite small. "They're all gone. Grimm. This man can testify to that."

Vlad caught on quickly. "Yes. A great tragedy has fallen, and I was too late to save them."

The guards' lament turned to anger as they turned to Raven. One of them thought of punishing her there but Vlad intervened.

"Ma—miss Raven shall be tried as criminals should: in a court of law. None of you illustrious gentlemen shall resort to barbarism in your pursuit of justice."

Vlad played the role of law enforcer. Raven was a criminal and subsequently was tried, found obviously guilty. They kept her in prison when she should have been sentenced to death. She recognized one of those lawyers as those from Haven's legal office. The cowardly lion had a heart at least.

Raven sat in her prison cell, her back against the wall as the moon light beamed inside. The prison lights were already out. She could escape at any time but chose to stay. It was pointless anyway. News of her capture and imprisonment should reach the others soon. It won't be enough to make up for all the bad she did in their eyes; that much she was certain.

There is nothing that can be done. Raven stared out of the window, thinking of everything that led to this point. Everything she had known turned upside down and even that strange world flipped again, only to return to that despair. There had been a chance of hope but that burned away like ashes.

"What else could we do?" Raven asked herself. "What else could be done?"

Outside the window, covering the shattered moon that illumined Remnant in a dark mist, a cloud of bats flew.

/-/

Underneath the roofs of Shade Academy, both Master and Servant sighed relief. The Master kept her face hidden underneath a hood. Her Servant, seemingly fit for Vacuo's dessert had jackal-like ears adorning her head. It shouldn't be a problem; she could always disguise herself as a jackal faunus. Here in Vacuo, faunus were welcome, the most welcoming out of the four kingdoms until Menagerie would be recognized as a fifth.

"They've looked for us," reported Starr. "But we've kept them at bay, Theo."

Theodore nodded. "Should have called me sooner. We would have knocked them all back and got ourselves some answers."

The two ladies sighed. Theodore, headmaster of Shade Academy, did get into the habit of fighting first and asking questions later. It is a by-product of Vacuo's environment; harsh barren desserts meant that one had to be tough out there, especially when dealing with the Grimm. It is the reason that wishing that others find shade and water was considered the kindest prayers anyone here could give.

"Theodore is not wrong, Master," said Starr's Servant. "I could have—"

"I do not doubt your powers, Nitocris," Starr replied. "What I'm worried about is what happens to you if my Maiden powers go to someone else. You're on our side but we don't know if you would stick around if I'm gone." Or worse, be forced to serve Salem and whoever they had chosen as their Maiden candidate. They would have kept Nitocris distracted while one of them went for Starr.

Starr saw it. She saw who the intended candidate had been. It had been an illusion by one of the attackers. Cinder Fall was known to them. Cinder was known to across all four of the huntsmen academies. The rest of the world sees her as a mere terrorist but they knew the truth. Cinder Fall had some experience so there was value in having her become a Maiden again.

"We will have to stay here," Starr continued. "You could think of something, can't you Theodore?"

"Of course!" He was always the joyous type. Never really one to back down from a challenge, even from his own students. His deputy had to stop him many times already. "We welcome strength of all kinds here in Shade!"

Starr raised an eyebrow. That is true to some extent but that doesn't apply to the rest of the population. Strength there usually means physical strength, and her Servant was a Caster. Nitocris' strength is in the mind and this magecraft of hers. For something that is said be less than magic of their world, this magecraft exceeds many of the magic here in Remnant.

She asked her Servant, "can you handle it? I'll stay close to help."

"Thank you, Master," Nitocris replied. "But I believe it best for you to stay hidden here. I will be the one moving about during this year's Vytal Festival. They'll be looking for us both but I trust Shade Academy's ability to keep you protected."

Starr nodded. It was their plan anyway. There would be a gathering during Vytal, she was sure of that.

"You can count on me to keep you safe, young Sanzang!" Theodore promised. "Here in Shade, there won't be any harm that would come to you. Let them come! In fact, let me at 'em!"

Master and Servant shook their heads. Theodore could be a bit of a meathead sometimes. He was a strong man, they'll give him that and he certainly had a head between those shoulders. It is his eagerness to fight that gets in the way. Him staying her was fine and expected. He may have travelled for a time as a huntsman but he settled into Vacuo and thusly Shade Academy quite early, and that had been before he was part of Ozpin's secret circle.

Starr was led to one of the guest dorms. She had her own place of residence but it wasn't surprising for her to be here in Shade every once in a while. As far as anyone knew, she was here as a visitor. Most people that knew of Starr only knew of her peculiar knowledge of the weather. Nowadays they are curious about her new friend.

Even by Vacuo's lax standards of dress, Nitocris didn't cover herself much. The two of them had gone shopping for new clothes for her. She now wore a white shirt that covered much of her and had shorts. Red cloth wrapped around her waist and flew in the wind like a cape. She still had her golden bracelets on her wrists. Gold and blue decorated Nitocris.

In front of others, Nitocris acts wise and graceful. Always calm even in the harsh Vacuoan desert. If anything, she feels the most at home here than most of the native Vacuoans. But in front Starr and even Theodore to an extent, she can be quite fierce and emotional. She has an air of wisdom and intelligence but she also comes to the wrong conclusion half the time.

Starr knew that part of her early on: when Nitocris asked about some kind of Holy Grail War. Starr knew nothing of this but they could always ask Ozpin for this. Well, it would be more accurate to say they would be asking the Servant under James' care. That Servant had just finished his academic studies, last Starr recalled, and would soon obtain his degree soon.

It had taken some convincing for Nitocris to ask him. She kept espousing about the rules of this Holy Grail War but quickly gave in once the true name was mentioned and the fact that said name was pretty much made public, albeit not famously known. She still insisted on keeping her identity a secret until later though.

With the plan set, the two were about to call the rest of Ozpin's circle but that had been when they were attacked. For now, they had to lay low. Starr wasn't one who could easily slip away and one whose movements will be paid attention to by their enemies.

/-/

Ozpin and Glynda's clothes drenched in the harsh rain. Lightning flashed occasionally and they could hear the distant rumbling of thunder getting closer. Earlier, a green light had filled much of this section of the Emerald Forest. When it had finished, their Servant had appeared before them.

Glynda poked the Servant lying there, motionless. When the Servant failed to move, Glynda turned to see glimpses of the headmaster's depressive face whenever the lightning gave them light. The two did it out here to avoid any witnesses. Glynda would admit feeling a lot of sympathy for the headmaster, no matter how irritating the tapping of his cane had become in that past many months. There had been an excitement that had painted his face. Glynda saw a childishness that she never though she would see. A renewed hope that things could turn out for the best.

Ozpin's cane had been the secret to this Servant's appearance. Taking the force of each tap and storing the kinetic energy, the amount of power of that cane had been accumulating for many years and plenty lifetimes. When needed, Ozpin would expel some of that. But here, he expelled every ounce of it just to bring their own Servant. They were successful, sort of.

"She's not moving." Glynda managed to tell the Servant in front of them was feminine. She looked like a bride, to be honest. "I'm sorry."

"Don't be." Ozpin slumped down. Gone were those hopeful expressions that Glynda found endearing. The exhaustion that were always present behind those spectacles were worse now. "I suppose it was… too much to ask."

The two turned around and were about to head back into Beacon. They needed to get dry from the hard downpour.

Blinding lightning flashed. Deafening thunder clapped. Ozpin and Glynda fell on their backs as a new source of light stood against the heavy rain that threatened to douse it: a blasted tree still burning some ways on the other side of Ozpin's Servant that still didn't move.

At least, for a while, it didn't seem like the Servant moved.

Neither of them had noticed at first for it had been painfully gradual. The fingers twitched. The eyelids showed signs of movements but that had been hidden underneath those bangs. Ozpin and Glynda managed to catch the moment when the twitches extended to the hands. The Servant stirred and slowly sat up.

Ozpin's hands trembled. His cane fell nearly sank into the muddy puddle. His lenses were completely gone when they had fallen. He crawled his way to the Servant before getting to his knees and finally standing.

Glynda had been working for and with Ozpin for many years. It is for that reason that she found herself quite terrified when Ozpin began to chuckle nervously only for it to grow into the laughter of a mad man. It was uncharacteristic of him, for someone who has lived for so long and has experienced so much.

Lighting continued to flash and thunder continued its applause. Despite that, Glynda could hear Ozpin's voice with distinct clarity. She felt the rain only intensified.

"It worked, Glynda! It worked!" His manic laughter kept going. "She's alive! She's alive!"

AN: I'll get to the specifics behind why each Servant was chosen specifically for each Maiden + Ozpin and Salem in appropriate future chapters. For now, for the benefit of those who don't know or don't remember, each Servant was chosen due to a similarity to Jekyll and Hyde (not necessarily limited to his Fate incarnation). Phantom and Jack were chosen due to their source materials having a Musical adaptation (I'm still surprised that Jack the Ripper has one).

Vlad (courtesy of Dracula, sorry Vlad) and Fran also fit that initial mold. But Nitocris both breaks that theme while also opening up to another. These three are connected primarily to the JnH of Fragments of Sky Silver where JnH could become a werewolf.

Dear readers, I propose to you Fate's Universal Monsters: Vlad as Dracula, JnH as the Wolfman, Nitocris as the Mummy, and Fran doubling as both Frankenstein and Bride of Frankenstein.

I also read that Phantom is part of the whole roster and I'm pretty sure Universal did a Jack the Ripper at one point. If I'm not mistaken, all I'm missing is the Invisible Man and the Creature from Black Lagoon.

Lastly, I make no promises in regards to movie references on top of book and musicals. Outside of Frankenstein, I'm not sure how iconic other movie lines for the other characters are.