Fangs of the Exiles
Rated M
Rwby
Summary:
Life is not about what happens to you, but what you make of it... At least that's what everyone says. Two faunus will answer whose way is right, carrying the will of a titanic kingdom while the other, the spirit of one who shouldn't exist. Forgotten, their paths will cross, for better or worse.
A/N:
While we are nearing the end of our saga, I will not be ending things in chapter 50. That is far too little time to work with and there's a lot to cover. I have no idea how many chapters it'll take but between finishing this saga and a potential epilogue, we'll see how things turn out. But this is the final volume of the main story.
I do want to mention an important deviation, just in case it wasn't clear. In this story, Nora becomes the Winter Maiden after Penny instead of Winter. I love Winter Schnee, but her as the Winter Maiden was too on the nose for me haha. I considered bringing Summer Rose back as the Summer Maiden, but, I would be a hypocrite if I did that, wouldn't I? Anyway, I'll be sure to tie up some loose ends as we progress.
Chapter 47: Fangs of Cerberus-1
The shattered moon above Remnant cast an eerie glow over the desert, turning the sand into a sea of silver. At the kingdom's edge, Aganju paced restlessly, his ears twitching at every small sound. The revelation of his connection to Salem weighed heavily on his mind, making sleep near impossible.
He approached the night watch post, where huntsmen prepared for their shift. "I can take a turn," he offered, his voice rough from the lack of sleep.
Elm Ederne, the muscular former Ace-Op, shook her head. "You need rest, Aganju. You've been pushing yourself too hard since you returned."
"I'm fine," Aganju insisted, his tail swishing agitadely behind him.
"You're not fine," a deep voice cut in. An all too familiar panther faunus stepped forward, his silver eyes gleaming in the night. His sleek tail, as dark as the night sky, lashed back and forth. "You're a liability in this state. Head back, rest up, and maybe, we'll think about it."
Aganju's eyes narrowed. He and Sango were anything but friends, especially with how often they clashed on multiple issues. Between allowing Scylla to be attacked in his absence, Ciel's fate, and their encounter back at Atlas, there was no love lost between them. "I can handle myself, Sango. Your sympathy isn't needed."
Sango scoffed. "It's not sympathy. It's practicality. We can't afford weak links."
"I'm not weak," Aganju snarled, his hands clenching into fists.
Sango stepped closer, his silver eyes glinting dangerously. "No? Then why are you running from sleep? Afraid of what you might see in your dreams... or who you might become?"
Aganju felt a surge of rage, his eyes flickering momentarily to crimson and black. "You know nothing about me."
"I know enough," Sango retorted. "I heard about your little family tree and I know you're dangerous. Unstable. You're a-"
He caught himself, but it was too late. The word hung unspoken between them: Monster.
Something snapped inside Aganju. With a roar of fury, he lunged at the panther. They tumbled into the desert, a whirlwind of claws and fangs. Sand flew around them as they grappled, their faunus traits giving them both enhanced strength and agility. Thankfully, both were unarmed but the emotional point was felt nonetheless.
Aganju and Sango's lives were robbed from them at young ages, for separate reasons. One was the child of their greatest foe, taken away to, inadvertently, grow up alone and scared. The other had chosen a life of crime but was granted a second chance at life. Aganju had the eyes of a demonic witch while Sango gifted the gems of a rare group of saviors.
How was it fair that an innocent child was cursed while a willing criminal was blessed to be in authority?
This was far beyond just some exhibition of machismo, and neither would deny that as fists and kicks rained down on each other. Rage and retribution locked eyes once they managed to untangle themselves, eager to strike the other down. It was a wonder the Grimm hadn't arrived with the amount of negative energy oozing from them.
"Stop this!" Elm's voice boomed, but the faunus were beyond hearing.
Aganju lunged and pinned Sango to the ground, his eyes now fully transformed, glowing with an otherworldly light. Sang swirled around them, responding to the vulpine's unleashed power. Sango, struggled as he may, realized the futility as he unconsciously flared his own power, somewhat weakening his conquerer.
Abruptly, a pair of strong arms wrapped around Aganju, pulling him off. "That's enough!" Roxanne shouted as she restrained him.
Elm helped Sango to his feet, keeping herself between the two combatants. "This end now," she commanded, her tone leaving no room for debate.
As the adrenaline faded, Aganju's eyes returned to normal. He looked at his hands in horror, then at the destruction surrounding them. The sand had formed jagged crystals where his power had touched it.
"I... I'm sorry, Roxie" he whispered the fight draining out of him. He slumped in Roxanne's arms, the weight of his heritage and his actions crashing down on him.
Her voice was gentle in his ear. "It's okay, Sug. Let's get you home."
As she led him away, Aganju caught the older panther's gaze. Sango's gleaming eyes were wide with a mix of fear and something else... understanding? But before Aganju could decipher this, exhaustion took hold, and the world faded to black.
Meanwhile, Elm turned to Sango, her expression thunderous. "What were you thinking?" she demanded, her voice low but intense.
Sango brushed sand off his clothes avoiding her gaze. "He needed to be confronted. He's a danger to us all. What if he loses control like he did just now?"
Elm stomped forward, eye to eye with the panther. "And you thought using his past against him was the way to do it? We both know you're smarter than that, Sango."
"It's not just his past, Elm!" Sango barked, his tail lashing. "It's about the choices he'd made since then. Like with defending Ciel-"
"Don't start that again," Elm interrupted. "We've been over this. Ciel chose to stay and help after the Battle of Beacon. Plus, she needed a transfusion. She never would've survived the trip back. It wasn't our call to make. Even the gen... Ironwood was powerless to stop that."
Sango's silver eyes flashed. "She was an Atlesian soldier! She should have returned with us!"
"And what about you Sango?" Winter Schnee's cool voice cut through the tension. She approached from the shadows, her presence commanding immediate attention. "Should we have considered you a lost cause because of your past?"
Sango stiffened, his tail now drooping limply. "That... That's different."
Winter raised a brow. "Is it? Perhaps it's time everyone knew the truth." She turned to a confused Elm. "Before joining Atlas Academy, Sango was an initiate member of the White Fang."
Elm's eyes widened in shock, but she remained silent, waiting for the former specialist to continue.
"According to the news, he was some random faunus who was working in my father's house who went above and beyond to save my life," Winter sighed. "However, the truth of things was that he was part of that group seeking to rob my father. Only when my life was in danger did he have a change of heart and he was attacked and left for dead as a result. Still, my mother and Ironwood came to an agreement that, should he recover, he would be given a choice: Join the academy or face prison; An easy choice, really."
"I see..."
"He was welcomed into the Academy despite his past, given a chance to prove himself." Elm listened intently. "Just as Aganju has been fighting to prove himself now."
Sango's shoulder slumped, the fight finally leaving his body heavy. "I... I didn't see it that way. I didn't mean to be a hypocrite," he admitted quietly.
Elm's expression eased slightly. "Your loyalty to Atlas is admirable, Sango, but it's misguided. We all fell for that at some point or another. You forgot what made you so amazing in the first place." she chuckled. "Even in the ranks, you were viewed as a beacon of inspiration for your ability to think for yourself. Somewhere we all forgot that, but we have the opportunity to regain all that we were and forge a brighter path for ourselves and others. We're all in this together now."
"I know," Sango sighed. "After returning from the Vytal Festival, I thought I had found my place. But now..." He gestured helplessly at the desert around them.
Winter placed a hand on his shoulder. "Now we adapt. We learn to trust new allies, even if their pasts are... complicated."
"Like your connection to him?" Elm brandished a smirk that made the normally contained Winter's face burn a rosy hue. Thankfully, the panther was too wrapped in his thoughts to notice. However, Elm gave a nod that told Winter they would talk later.
Sango bowed his head, his gaze fixated on the crystalized gems left in the wake of the skirmish. "I owe him an apology, don't I?"
"That's a start," Elm said firmly. "But not tonight. Let him rest. And Sango?" She waited until he met her eyes. "Remember, we all have pasts we're not proud of. It's our actions now that define us."
As they dispersed to their posts, Sango lingered, staring out into the desert. The weight of his history and the realization of his hypocrisy settled heavily on his shoulders. In the distance, a lone Grimm howled a reminder of the challenges that still lay ahead - challenges they would need to face united, not divided by old prejudices and fears.
Oscar sat in the office of his colleague, Professor Theodore, eyes closed, deep in conversation with the voice of his past self.
"What are we going to do about this? Aganju knows so much and there's nothing we could do if he decided to go rogue or worse..." the farm boy-turned-warrior sighed heavily.
Ozpin's voice resonated in his head. "This is indeed a delicate situation, Oscar. Aganju knowing this can reshape the landscape of the battles to come."
"But isn't it good that he knows the truth?"
"Truth can be a double-edged sword," Ozpin countered. "It can empower, but it can destabilize. Aganju's power, combined with this knowledge, makes him both our greatest asset and potentially our greatest vulnerability."
"That's what worries me. How do we help him control this? How do we make sure Salem doesn't-"
"I fear that would be impossible," Ozpin lamented. "While I had millennia of knowledge of magic, Salem was always the code I could never crack. Instead, I feel the best thing would be to assist him in finding his semblance... his true semblance."
An uneasy Oscar bowed his head in agreement before grabbing his cane to leave. No amount of planning would prove sufficient if he didn't get some rest and rest he shall. This didn't cease the ideas formulating in his mind, options and contingencies amassing in droves until he finally made his way to bed. Only then was he granted any sort of reprieve.
In the heart of her domain, Salem stood at a grand window, her pale hand resting on the twisted frame. Outside, hordes of her creation gathered, her ruby gems glinting in the perpetual twilight. But Salem's gaze was unfocused, her mind elsewhere.
A pulse, faint but unmistakable, thrummed through her being. The link she had long considered severed had begun to grow stronger with each passing day. her lips curved into a rare smile that was equal parts wonder and sadness.
"Aganju?" she whispered, the name carrying with it what felt like centuries of longing.
Behind her, Cinder cleared her throat softly. "My lady, the Grimm are ready to march on Vacuo and retrieve the Sword of Destruction. Shall I give the order?"
Salem turned, her red eyes glowing. For a moment, she said nothing, lost in thought. The desire to meet the faunus, to see with her own eyes what had become of him, burned within her. But not for war, not for the goals she had pursued for millennia. This was... different."
"My lady?" Cinder prodded, a hint of concern in her voice. "Is there a problem?"
Salem's gaze snapped to Cinder as if suddenly remembering her presence. Without a word, the witch nodded and glided past her disciple and into her private chamber, the door closing with a soft but final click.
Alone, Salem approached an ancient mirror, its surface clouded with age. As she stared into it, her reflection shifted, showing not the Grimm queen, but a woman with fair skin and light hair. In her arms, she held a child, its tiny hands reaching her face. Though both images were centuries apart, the surface granted her the tranquil visual, attuned to her soul.
The image of a life she believed impossible...
"My child," Salem murmured, her hand reaching out to touch the image. "After all this time..."
Meanwhile, in the hall outside, Cinder stood rooted to the spot, her brows furrowed in confusion. Her mind somehow drifted to Aganju, that faunus from her past that she tried to forget. She remembered him as a child, always following her around, looking up to her with adoring eyes. She had secretly viewed him like an annoying little brother, a weakness she had buried deep within herself.
But then came that day at Bacon. Seeing him stand defiantly, protecting that wretched girl, Pyrrha Nikos, with a ferocity that matched her own... it had shaken her more than she cared to admit. Cinder's Grimm hand clenched, her eyes flaring with barely contained power. "What game are you playing, little boy?" she muttered, her voice a mix of anger and something softer, almost wistful.
As the Grimm continued to gather outside, both Salem and Cinder found themselves at a crossroads, their long goals suddenly complicated by the reemergence of a boy they had both, in their own ways, once cherished.
For one, the prospect of reuniting carried fear and joy. For another, a lifetime of pain and struggle created a twisted sense of love, bound by agony and vengeance.
Aganju stirred, his eyes slowly adjusting to the warm Vacuo sunlight filtering through the window. As he sat up, memories of the previous night's confrontation flooded back, but they were quickly pushed aside by the sound of familiar voices outside. He was alone, for now, but he relished the silence. The last thing he wanted to face was a dressing down from someone about picking a fight with an ally.
With time to consider his outburst, the fox thought not to tempt fate, taking a shower and getting dressed. Passing a mirror, his mind scoured the scars that adorned his body before readying for the day.
Throughout the day, he reunited with his friends, Scylla greeted him with a gentle hug, her cool body proving to be a welcome contrast to the growing heat. "We were worried," she whispered.
Nora's enthusiastic tackle-hug nearly knocked him over. "Don't you dare scare us like that again!" she scolded, flashing a pinkish flame in her eyes to emphasize her point. Despite this, her wide grin betrayed her relief.
Ren offered a calm smile and a steaming cup of tea. "To help with your nerves," he explained frankly.
He thanked his friend, taking a long sip that refreshed his soul with each passing second. Nora's energetic mood was enough to spark things in the right direction while Scylla's softness kept everything balanced.
"Thank you all," he chuckled a bit before returning the cup to Ren. They made their way to the square when he finally turned to address them once again. "Seeing you all really made my morning. I'm surprised the others hadn't-"
"Little brother!" Yang's voice boomed as she rushed Aganju, lifting him off his feet. "Don't you ever disappear on us like that again!"
Aganju laughed, his tail wagging happily. "I missed you too, Yang."
As the blond set him down, a flurry of rose petals swirled around him, materializing into Ruby. "Roxanne's been all been worried sick about you," she declared, punching his arm lightly. "We all have."
"Sorry to make you worry," Aganju replied, his ears drooping slightly.
Weiss stepped forward, her posture regal as ever, but her eyes soft, full of comfort at his presence. "We're just glad you're safe," she said, offering a respectful nod before quickly hugging him. Aganju gratefully returned the gesture.
Blake hung back a bit, her amber eyes bright. "Welcome back," she said softly with a faint blush coloring her cheeks when he smiled at her.
"Good to see you too, Blake. Haven't been reading too many books without me, have you?"
"Maybe a few..." she averted her gaze.
Jaune approached next, extending his hand. "Aganju, I... I wanted to thank you. For always looking out for Pyrrha."
Aganju clasped Jaune's hand firmly. "Always. She's... she means so much to me."
"I know," Jaune replied with a knowing smile. "And I couldn't be happier for both of you."
Nora and Ren joined in, the former immediately launching into an animated retelling of their recent adventures, with Ren quietly correcting her more exaggerated claims. One of the stories that went uncorrected was the hammer-wielder's escapades as the Winter Maiden.
Even more astonishing, Emerald approached the gathering, looking somewhat uncomfortable but determined.
"Hey," she said, addressing the vulpine. "I... we should talk about what happened to Cinder."
The mood sobered as Emerald recounted their altercation with Cinder and narrow escape through a portal.
"We lost the Lamp of Knowledge and the Staff of Creation in the process," she finished, her voice tinged with regret.
Aganju placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "You did what you had to do. We're just glad you made it out."
Ruby nodded in agreement. "We'll find a way to get them back. Together."
As the group began discussing their next moves, Aganju felt a warmth spreading through his chest. Despite the challenges ahead, he found a home with everyone here, including Emerald. Here, surrounded by friends, he felt invincible.
Yang threw an arm around his shoulders. "So, little bro, ready to show these Grimm what the children of Raven Branwen can do?"
He grinned, eyes flashing with resolution. "You bet, sis. After I'm cleared we'll show them what happens when you mess with us!"
"Hey!" Ruby jumped in, arms flailing like a little child. "I'm here too, you know?"
As laughter and excited chatter filled the air, Aganju caught Pyrrha's eye across the group. She smiled at him, and at that moment, he knew that no matter what came next, they would have something more important to handle first, not that either was complaining.
As evening approached, Pyrrha found her partner gazing out at the desert. "Ready for our 'mission', Agan?" she asked, a hint of shyness in her voice.
Aganju's heart skipped a beat. "Always," he took her hand.
They walked to a secluded oasis, the setting sun painting the sky in brilliant hues of orange and purple. Along the path, they noticed a certain older Schnee giggling with a hulking bear faunus. Neither made any motion to interrupt their night, but the youthful pair did share a laugh of their own. As they sat beside the small pool, memories of their past adventures flowed freely between them.
"Remember when we first met at Beacon?" Pyrrha laughed. "I was so nervous to finally meet you in person. After being separated from you at Sanctum, I would sneak off sometimes to watch your battles. Needless to say, I wanted to face you, to test my skills. I thought that opportunity was lost after you left only to meet a year later."
Aganju chuckled, his ears twitching in embarrassment. "I remember watching your initiation. I thought to myself, "She's strong, but I wonder if she's been challenged. You were so kind and understanding, even when I was being an idiot. Maybe that's when I started falling for you."
Their laughter faded into a comfortable silence. Aganju reached out, plucking a delicate desert lily growing nearby. He tucked it gently behind Pyrrha's ear.
"Pyrrha," he began, his voice gentle but earnest," "when this war is over, I..."
"Yes?" she turned to him, lips twitching with barely contained glee.
"I know we're still young, but... but, after everything we've been through, I want to share my future with you. All of it."
Pyrrha's eyes shimmered with unshed tears. "Agan, I... I want that too. More than anything."
As they leaned in to kiss, Aganju whispered, "I promise, no matter what comes, I'll be by your side."
Before their lips touched, Pyrrha pulled back, her expression turned serious. Her mind danced with various moments of their linked past. Reflections of Sanctum Academy keeping her away from him due to the prospect of her being defeated. Or how about when Aganju protected her from certain death at the hands of Cinder? She failed to protect herself or Ciel, leading to him nearly being killed and them being captured. She even lost the Maiden's powers to Cinder when she was supposed to fulfill some destiny. The events of Atlas didn't help her confidence either, nor did their time trapped in Esu's fabricated realm.
"What's wrong?"
"Aganju, I... I worry sometimes. About my place in all this. Am I strong enough for what's coming?"
Aganju cupped her face gently. "Pyrrha, you're one of the strongest people I know. Not just in combat, but in spirit. You've faced death and come back stronger. You inspire all of us."
"But, I'm no longer 'The Invincible Girl', Aganju! I'm not a maiden like Nora or Raven. I don't have magic like you or Ozpin. My semblance is limited here in Vacuo. I wish I could do more..."
The vulpine carefully considered her grievance, finding validity in everything. Pyrrha was built up to be this undefeatable figure for others to idolize, yet she was far from that mark. Reputation was a double-edged sword.
"Pyrrha, do you know what I found out when we were trapped in Esu's realm?"
She shook her head, while Aganju looked up at the dusk.
"We were considered anomalies, Pyrrha," he chuckled bitterly at the mere utterance. "You were never supposed to survive your fight with Cinder and I... I wasn't supposed to exist. Imagine that; Neither of us should be sitting here today, yet here we are. Do you know what that means?"
Once more she shook her head.
"Just like at Beacon, we forged destiny to our will," he kissed the top of her head. "You were supposed to die that night; a shot to the chest. She left you as nothing but ashes in the wind that night. Ruby tried to save you, but... I almost lost myself before realizing that this was but one outcome, one that we will never experience."
"But, I..."
"None of us need the so-called Invincible Girl. We only want you and anything you bring to the table will be more than welcomed for the battles to come. We do what we can until we're able to do more. Just know that I believe in you, Pyrrha. All of you."
Not one to be outdone, Pyrrha smiled, touching her forehead to his. "And you, Aganju, your power isn't something to be feared. It's a part of you, waiting to be mastered. I believe in you."
Their moment was broken by Oscar's approach. "I apologize for intruding," he spoke up, Ozpin's mannerisms evident in his stance, "but we need to discuss some important matters. It's about the Summer Maiden... and Aganju's semblance."
As they stood to follow Oscar, Aganju, and Pyrrha exchanged a look of caution. Both had been burned by Ozpin's trickery so no one would blame them for such sentiments. However, there was something different about this time. Maybe it was the dueling will of Oscar Pine?
Pyrrha squeezed the Aganju's hand. "Ready?"
Aganju, nodded, feeling the warmth of her touch and the power thrumming beneath his skin. "Ready."
Hand in hand, they walked towards their destination, the desert flower a reminder of their promise and the beauty that can bloom even in the harshest conditions.
In the twisted realm of Salem's domain, the air crackled with dark energy. Salem stood atop a balcony, her pale form a stark contrast against the red sky. Below, a seemingly endless sea of Grimm awaited her command. No matter her feelings, she was ready for the final clash between her and Ozpin. With her plants in place, her enemies were doomed either way.
"It's time," Salem announced, her voice carrying an unusual note of hesitation.
Beside her, Cinder's eye gleamed with anticipation. "Shall I lead the charge, my lady?"
Salem turned to her disciple, studying her features. "Yes, but remember our goal, Cinder. Should you encounter him, the boy must be brought to me... alive."
Cinder's expression flickered for a moment, a mix of emotions crossing her face too quickly to read. "Of course," she bowed, her tone carefully neutral.
As Salem raised her arms to command the Grimm, her thoughts drifted to the child she had lost so long before. The possibility of reuniting with Aganju, of having a family again, tugged at a part of her heart she assumed had withered away centuries ago.
Meanwhile, Cinder's mind raced with her secret plans. The thought of facing Aganju again, the boy she once viewed as a younger sibling, the one she scarred at Atlas for defying her, filled her with a bewilderment of emotions she wasn't prepared to confront. Part of her longed for the bond of battle they shared multiple times before, while another part burned with envy at his natural power and the joy and love he had found.
"Go," Salem commanded, and the horde of Grimm surged forward.
As Cinder prepared to depart, Salem caught her arm. "Remember, Cinder. He is NOT to be harmed."
Cinder nodded, her face a pretense of compliance, while inwardly, her introspections stirred with dissent.
[Several Weeks Later]
Miles away from Vacuo, in the harsh desert, Aganju and Pyrrha trained intensively. Sweat glistened on their skin as they sparred, their movements a deadly dance of precision and power. Neither had been in combat for some time since their return and they admitted they were rusty.
Their friends understood their absences, though Ciel made them promise to spend some, much-needed, quality time afterward.
Aganju's eyes flickered between normal and the crimson-black of his inherited power as he struggled to contain his abilities. Pyrrha, ever patient, guided him through the process.
"Focus, Aganju," she encouraged, deflecting a burst of his magic with her new shield. "Your power is a part of you. Don't fight it, direct it. Only then can you find the power that is yours alone."
Aganju took a deep breath, centering himself. As he exhaled, the sand around him rose in a perfect circle, then settled gently back to the ground.
Pyrrha beamed at him. "That's it! You're getting better every day."
Their moment of triumph was interrupted by the sound of alarms. In the distance, a dark cloud was approaching - the Grimm horde had been spotted.
Seeing this, they rushed to join the others, both exchanging a look of hope and concern. While they were both making progress, neither was 100 percent certain that they were ready for what was to come. Oscar assured them that any progress was better than none, but he couldn't blame the pair for their hesitation.
They headed to their home first, eager to get dressed and ensure their weapons and armor were ready. Pyrrha grabbed her newly minted spear and shield while Aganju held his new weapon. While he was comfortable with multiple weapons during their adventures, he wanted something that truly belonged to him.
"What do you call it?"
Aganju turned with a curious frown. "Huh?"
"Have you picked out a name?"
The fox stared at the benign form of the weapon, activating it for the first time. What appeared made Pyrrha's smile grow wider as she watched him test it out for a moment. It corresponded to his attire perfectly.
His sleeveless, fur-lined hooded jacket matched the ashen gray durable pants tucked into study toeless boots. The wide leather belt held various items for a multitude of occasions and his fingerless gloves ran halfway up his arms. The goggles were more for show, but they fit his style just fine. The cherry on top was the scarlet scarf that somehow survived every encounter to this point, a fact that made Pyrrha's heart skip a beat.
Aganju was no exception to marveling at his partner's dress.
Seeing her wearing a light, sleeveless bronze breastplate, intricately adorned with Greek engravings, matching greaves, and leather arm guards with bronze reinforcements brought a wandering smile to his face. Her Roman-style leather balteus belt and circlet all complimented the red chiton though she wore breathable legging to keep his imagination going.
"You'll have to wait for that, Agan..." she wagged a digit playfully.
"I'm a patient guy, Pyrrha.
Amidst their joking, they found themselves drawn to one another, as if by an unseen force. Pyrrha stared into his eyes, doubts beginning to surface again. He gently rested a finger beneath her chin, his gaze understanding and loving.
"Do you believe in destiny?" he whispered.
Pyrrha didn't have the words to answer, instead leaning closer until their lips touched. It was only for a few seconds, but it felt like an eternity. The longing to do this, the fear and worry they both held inside poured out the longer they remained until the need for air grew too much. Pyrrha's mind went blank for a moment once they pulled away.
But, she now had the words to express her feelings.
"Remember our promise."
"I could never forget..." he tapped his finger onto her nose next, earning a giggle. "Boop."
"You better hope Nora doesn't catch you doing that," she teased, grabbing her arms for war.
"I'll take the risk. For you," Aganju winked.
The pair spared a moment for a chaste peck before stepping out into the inevitable chaos to come. Waiting for them were their allies. Each one was prepared to do their part to end this battle with a victory. The only one missing was Scylla, though her absence was accepted by the group. After Ozpin revealed her injured status, the serpent assured them she would assist however she could.
Any help was welcomed.
Atop her Grimm Whale, the Grimm Queen watched the unfolding events through a magical projection. Her crimson eyes fixed on Aganju's image, a mixture of longing and calculation in her stare.
Cinder, leading the charge from the back of a massive Grimm, allowed herself one last thought of the boy she wished she'd known before. Then, solidifying herself, she pushed all sentiment aside. There was a war to be won, and she intended to emerge victorious. - no matter the cost. After weeks of traveling, the kingdom of Vacuo began to appear over the horizon.
As expected, the armies of the four kingdoms stood across from her and the destiny she knew was hers. They were mere ants to be squashed underneath her boot. But, there was no stopping her mission.
Her agenda was clear: Retrieve the power of the Summer Maiden and claim the relic hidden inside Shade Academy.
As both sides steadied themselves for the impending clash, the air hummed with tension. The fate of Remnant hung in the balance but for Aganju and Cinder, this battle was about to become deeply personal.