Chapter 61: Merciful One

Akame POV

I made it a habit to fall asleep because I quickly recovered my aura and stamina. Sure, it puts me at risk but it is the most efficient option. Today isn't the best day for it but It is better than stressing in the enclosed hull of a bullhead with Melanie staring venomously at me.

Besides, I dare Melanie to do anything. It would be that easy. I am vulnerable in this state.

I woke up with a stab in my heart.

My vision came back in a sliver of white followed by a blur. I unconsciously reach for my chest. There isn't a foreign object lodged into my chest nor do I feel my blood dripping. The air felt stale.

There is nothing alive here.

I couldn't sense aura signatures or the comfortable pillow I was lying on.

I set back up, fully alert.

This isn't the bullhead and the window outside isn't the sky. I stood up and looked left and right.

An empty tube with seats on the side and handgrip on the ceiling. The sounds of metallic rattling outside. The quiet roar of the engines and wheels across the track. At intervals, the windows go from pitch darkness to a fleeing beam of light.

I analyze the maps and advertisements. It is distinctly Mistranese yet grammatically incorrect. I could read it just fine but that isn't my real concern.

There are maps of places I don't recognize in Mistral. The routes and stops don't make sense to me nor does the advertisement remind me of any known company.

Tokyo, Japan? Never heard of it.

I don't recall a subway system like this in any part of Mistral. Vale and Atlas have them but not Mistral.

Now that I think about it…

Am I dreaming of another world?

The train, pun not intended, of thought is valid considering what I am.

"Forgive her."

A distorted girl's voice came from behind me, right where I was lying.

I reached for Shūsen but felt nothing. There was nothing there.

No one was in the seat.

A flash of light got my attention.

I look out the window and notice my reflection. Despite the opacity of the glass, I could tell it wasn't quite me. Everything is correct except for my eyes. They're black instead of red.

The uniform isn't from any school I recognized. The navy skirt, white long-sleeve button-up shirt, red scarf, and finally a navy jacket with an unknown school emblem.

I'm dreaming.

…I even feel…weaker?

I raised a hand and clenched it.

Warmth?

I close my eyes and focus on my aura, semblance, and whatever else that made me special.

There is none of it.

I felt weak yet normal.

"You'll never find a king wishing they were peasants but you'll find plenty of peasants that want to be kings," A white figure appeared in the corner of my eye.

I turn to find nothing again.

"You're either a figment of my dreams or another divinity asking for help," I calmly sat back down. Maybe if I fall asleep in a dream, I can wake up.

"From my perspective, You're my dream girl and my Goddess," The unseen girl complimented.

I recognize the voice from somewhere but can't seem to recall who. But the flirty dialogue narrows the list down to two girls.

It could be Vernal which means…she is dead. Especially if we met like this. The appearing and disappearing act fits her yet the words are far too tender. It gives off a feeling of happiness masking sorrow. Vernal flirting is just her being ironic.

"I just wanted to say another goodbye," She said, the vocal distortion fading away.

"A third one?" I smiled.

"Will you fall for me?" She flirted. I understood both the literal and figurative subtext. She is here yet isn't here. There was no one on my left but I could see her from the corner of my eye.

I did as told and landed my head on her lap. I wanted to turn my head but couldn't open my eyes back up. I didn't panic because it was comforting and safe. I just subconsciously sink into it.

"I'm happy you graduated. The dream is too short for both of us but forgive her for fearing death," Militia whispered," And I'm sorry for not fearing it."

Before I could ask for clarification, I returned to reality.

"MILITIA!" I got up startling the occupants.

"She's fine. My sister will be shipped far away from all these hot messes, like you," Melanie rolled her eyes," Freaking cheater."

I was about to ask her how but remembered the aura/soul link they got.

I huffed and started stretching. The sleep was brief, four minutes, but my aching subsided significantly. A quick check of my aura level shows it at 15%. Those four minutes are from getting out of the airship, avoiding flying Grimm, and finally reaching the Academy.

I went to the messages on my scroll and breathed in relief. Night Raid moved my family to a safe location. Umber, my Dad, Uncle Qrow, and Night Raid are holding out in the west wing with dozens of students, tribal soldiers, and police officers. They should be fine knowing that the area is easy to defend and have an escape route.

I breeze through the reports and get the general guise of the situation. Melanie is doing the same with her scroll. We locked eyes and communicated without words.

They are rounding up the three living intruders. I still don't have the casualty report. As it turns out, They belong to Beaufort's group, the Lord of Snow. The rest of the unified forces are still engaging Grimm or scouting out the fakers.

Beaufort Winchester has every right to hate me. Martha and my mother killed his wife. The tribe continues to harass his domain throughout the War on Crime. But it isn't my fault he took it too far, especially against Faunus. I should keep a tab on his son but I have no clue where to look.

In the corner of my eye, Lisa and the cameraman were getting set up. I told them to hold off on questions but keep the camera rolling.

"Grimm inside the Academy," I muttered under my breath.

I want to talk to Melanie about it but the media is nearby. I also doubt the mute has in-depth knowledge about the world's secrets.

The bullhead was about to touch down at the top of the Academy. I walked over to Melanie and got in close to her. We need to speak in a way that doesn't give out too much information.

I motion for the pilot to open the back before landing. I tapped Melanie on the shoulder and told her to leave our escort behind for now.

She nodded in agreement, ordered Trivia to protect the media, and jumped out of the bullhead with her.

We have a minute or two before the bullhead lands on top of the Academy.

She used someone's semblance to feather fall with the grace of a ballerina. I used my air burst technique and made a miniature sandstorm.

"How barbaric," She coughed, dusting the sand off her white, newspaper pattern dress.

"Salem is in the Academy!" I raised my voice.

"I'm sure she is but why aren't we getting a notification?" Melanie asked," The rest of Oz's cult should be making a beeline here."

It is obvious why. We can feel the ground shaking and more puffs of smoke coming from all distances within the city limit. We watch as sinkholes open up throughout the city and more Grimm worms sprout out. They're all busy.

"Even if they can, They got a city full of Grimm to fight back," I answered," Not to say some aren't realizing the sudden intrusion."

I can sense a lot of Grimm in Shade. I could pick out their voices as they beckon for violence and death. The negative emotions are overpowering my inert Grimm repellant.

"So why aren't we getting an update?" She walked toward the staircase. I followed her.

That's what's worrying. I only came here to check in on my family. Melanie was sent to follow me, maybe see firsthand how I operate.

I don't know how Salem got into the Academy but I'll assume it through the many tunnels leading to the Academy. If there is a tunnel she could use it would be…

Crap!

"Do you know where the Headmaster's office is?" I pushed ahead.

"Hey! I can find it myself!" She stuck her tongue out.

"Let's go!" I grabbed her wrist and dragged her to the headmaster's office.

'See. You. Soon.'

Huh? Did Melanie say something?

Normal PoV

North Vacuo

They were her people.

When she said that she didn't mean it in terms of Vacuo being her kingdom. They were her royal guards. They unknowingly protected the last line of royalty.

Yet, they failed to save them. The corruption of Vacuo reached its tendril into their region. A family kidnapped by criminals and a daughter left to die at sea.

"What a small world," she muttered, unaware of how silent those words were.

Ver Veritas could understand the chief's perspective when she entered the camp. It wasn't a lost princess returning to safety. She saw a creature spawning flowers and life behind her yet contradicted it by promising death to those in front.

It was her semblance amplifying her presence to an inhumane degree. If she did return to her people as a timid girl, they would recognize her immediately. They would have thrown a grand feast and vehemently apologized for their failure.

Instead, She was feasting on them and apologizing to the dead.

The sound of battle reached her ears and the smell of blood invaded her nose.

She pushes herself up, hair falling in front of her. Vernal dry heaved, trying not to empty the contents of her stomach. The phantom pain of dissolution still flesh.

It took her a moment to comprehend the world around her. She notices the sandstone ground first followed by her hair.

'My hair is white and gray?' She attempted to speak but words never left.

She touched her throat, the disgusting metallic taste in her mouth, and warm liquid streaming down her lips.

It was her blood.

She used her power to lift herself off the ground. A wall of stone pressed up against her back. The sight of battle is overwhelming. She isn't in the hidden cavern anymore. Someone carried her out.

She looked to her left. There is a headless body with the uniform belonging to one of Flaxen's men. The Spring Maiden saw more bodies with different wounds ranging from animalistic, manmade, and elemental damages. It was the corpses of the MIAs and Exiles fighting to reach her.

Flaxen Fang and Salem's minions engaged the Exiles in a mix of gunfights and close-quarter combat. The headmaster of Mistral is fighting everyone regardless of allegiance. Meanwhile, The MIA agents are spread out and holding off the larger hordes.

The androgynous man ducked beneath Hazel punches and parries Tyrian tail. He rotated the spear and blocked a volley of gunfire from the White Fang.

Meanwhile, The aerial Grimm distracts the two maidens. The sunny skies become unnaturally cloudy with lightning, hail, and fire striking the creature of darkness. Salem split her Grimm hordes into halves to aid her people and an allied maiden. It wouldn't be enough.

A man in a gas mask hurries to her side.

"Vernal! Good, you're alive!" He placed a gentle hand on her shoulder," Run while everyone is distracted, Flaxen wants you to live-"

The man was quickly cut off, and a spear of ice pierced his heart. He slumped over, life quickly fading away.

Ver Veritas was still weakened and in intense pain and could barely defend herself as two maidens rushed down at her. It was fast and overwhelming.

She took to the skies throwing more concentrated firepower at the two maidens.

The more compact blue flames sliced through ice like it was paper, nailing the Summer maiden in the chest.

The Fall maiden kept charging forward, narrowly missing the flame. She knows Vernal isn't an adept close-quarter fighter.

Amber kneed Vernal in the stomach, grabbed her collar, and kneed her again. Vernal coughs out a mouthful of blood. The pain reverberated throughout her body.

The Spring Maiden made a slicing motion with her hand and a wind blade impacted Amber's aura. She was forced to retreat as more air slashes came her way.

The Summer Maiden snuck behind Vernal prodded Vernal back with her finger and unleashed a wave of electricity into her spine.

She silently screamed and kicked behind her. The Summer Maiden saw it coming and grabbed the girl's leg. She dragged Vernal by the ankle and flew downward, body-slamming her into the desert.

A small crater forms from the impact.

Amber lifted her staff, eyes ablaze. The Summer Maiden flew back, summoning fire to her arms.

In a display of power mistaken for the divine, They unleashed everything.

Amber guided lightning into the crater. Its ferocious strikes and roars rival the most intense storm. The Summer maiden fired two beams of red hot flame at the same time with enough speed and strength that it resembled lasers. The maidens kept the pressure on until they were sure there wasn't even a body to recover.

The battlefield stood still, even the Grimm turned their heads at the absolute destructive force of nature.

Summer and Fall didn't want to give Spring a chance. They didn't want her to think about someone else nor recover enough to put up a fight. The quicker Vernal dies, the easier it will be to live with what they have done. Neither of them had the heart to kill Vernal while she was raving in pain.

There wasn't a question and answer session asking for motives or to hear each other's backstory; No one wanted to risk wasting time to persuade. The Maidens came to kill Spring and accomplish it.

The small crater was a now molten lake of glass and lava.

The two maidens breathed deeply, sweat collecting on their faces. The relaxation was short-lived as the horde of Grimm resumed its attacks.

"Target eliminated," Amber uttered, holding back the feeling of guilt.

"Don't feel sorry, Fall," the Summer Maiden pursed her lips," It was…to save the world."

They didn't expect the Spring Maiden to be killed this easily but it made sense. The headmaster used his semblance on Vernal, leaving her near death.

A sense of accomplishment reigns through the Exile's ranks. They could pull back, record the 'evidence', and report the successful assassination. Maybe, even be able to return home.

Dread and anger spread among the White Fangs. Even with the Grimm's help, they lost half their fighting force trying to get Vernal as far away as possible. Flaxen eyes glazed over. If she makes it out of here alive, the world is going to burn next.

A solemn expression on the headmaster's face. He is the main reason for her death but he didn't want to feel sorry for it. The little girl he met at the orphanage and the vile monster aren't the same person. Yet, a single tear hit the desert. He wishes they made it rain to hide the pain in his heart.

"Hypocrite all of you," the Nanny wanted to continue fighting but everything fell apart the moment Vernal's mind got scattered.

She looks over to her battle-weary soldiers. They have been fighting against the elites of Atlas, Malachite spies, and two supernatural maidens. It is a miracle only a fourth of them are casualties after 20 minutes of fighting.

They would have been slaughtered in the cavern if the Grimm and Salem's pawns hadn't launched a surprise attack.

The mineshaft collapsed early on in the fighting by the Summer Maiden. She didn't want anyone to escape. The woman was the most determined in her duty to kill Vernal.

"This is all wrong," Amber hesitated and reflected on Fria, the Winter Maiden's words.

Fria wanted to fight the rogue maiden but stopped when she learned of the child's age and the mission details. Atlas could pull rank, files, and duty all day and night. The elder was willing to beat some sense and/or arrest a Maiden. She wasn't going to kill a child.

Flashback

It was before her joint deployment with a Battle Group to spy on the Branwen on the western shores. Amber wanted to speak to a fellow maiden and get her blessing for the mission. She didn't expect a scolding.

"I'm not skipping over guidance for execution," Fria said in disappointment," Doesn't matter if I'm in my prime or not. I ain't killing a kid."

The elderly woman set her teacup down and beckoned her visitor to pour some for herself. The heavily fortified hospital doesn't allow for a lot of visitors.

"I'm preventing a war," Amber held her head up high," It's what we are meant to do! Be the protector of peace."

"We are meant to fight monsters, not other humans," Fria coughed, wiping her mouth with a napkin," I'm speaking from an experience that I long want to forget."

"You fought?" The Fall maiden asked.

"Fought? Survived," She placed both hands on the table," I've seen this operation before, Two Maidens, Spring…Winter, sent to kill Kurome Branwen. They had a division to accomplish it."

Amber listened intently.

"Kurome Branwen?" Amber heard about the legend.

The rebel that held half of Mistral's vast armies within the kingdom. It became a tragedy after the war. Those that remain only exist out of spite, a shell of their former self.

"It was a crippling defeat for us and a pyrrhic victory for them," She paused, hand trembling.

"You survived," Amber tried finding the positive in that distance battle.

"I survived," The elderly war veteran's hands stopped shaking," But the Spring and Winter never made it."

It was at that very moment, Amber's heart skipped a beat. She never knew what war was like besides the aftermath of the ruined region of South Mistral. It doesn't make any sense. The Fall Maiden is sure she wasn't talking to a ghost. But Fria stared at Amber like she was about to become one.

"Child…you are all still so young in my eyes," She said sorrowfully.

"I left the Academy a few years ago. I'm not that young," Amber huffed.

"Kurome Branwen was a strategic mastermind and crafty warrior. We called her the Queen of Shadows. The alliance outnumbered and outmatched her on those seven days and six nights, yet it was not enough. Kurome claims the Spring Maiden powers by the seventh night," She narrated, "I wasn't even a frontline soldier. I was part of the support corp. The fighting got so bad that even the chef and armorer took up arms."

"How did you get the Maiden power?"

"I was the last girl she saw before she bled out," Fria closed her eyes as the painful memory came back to her," Listen to the words of these old bones. You're not ending a war. You're accelerating it. Imagine you succeed with minimum casualties. Imagine you killed her fast enough to prevent it from going to Akame or a subordinate. Imagine it all goes according to plan and the tribe took the hit and didn't declare a war they can't win."

"And it is a risk worth taking," She wanted to hold her head high again. Amber can't bring herself to do it without feeling the invisible hand on her heart.

"Now imagine Akame biding her time to get her revenge. Imagine someone who not only surpassed Kurome in terms of intellect but also strength. Imagine what it is like when she beheads you," Fria forebode," I saw many great warriors during the war and after. I want both of you, Summer and Fall, to back out of this mission. All these 'imagine' is the best case scenario."

"What will you do if we still go through with it?" Amber gulped. The imaginary hand squeezed her heart.

"I will pray for the two of you that Death doesn't make you suffer," Fria tried to smile reassuringly but her lips kept trying to turn it into a frown.

Amber scampered out of the room with her face as pale as a ghost.

Fria coughed violently once again.

She wiped the saliva off with a napkin, finally noticing the red stain on it.

"It seems I'll be joining them soon."

The world came alive. The battlefield flashes between different biomes at an unnaturally fast rate. It was like snapshots being piled on each other.

"How?" The Summer maiden grasped," How did you get so strong?"

"There's another magical signature at play here," Amber braced herself for another fight, "Remember how we can sense the source of our magic belonging to Ozpin?"

The Summer Maiden nodded.

"This magic isn't his!" Amber shouted.

"But the maiden power is still there," the Summer Maiden senses," It compounded with whatever she unlocked."

The lake of glass and lava cooled and transformed. Massive crystal spikes sprout out from the lake in all directions.

The two maidens know their limit. They are relegated to elemental manipulation. What they are witnessing is another maiden playing with the fabric of the world itself.

What emerged from the once molten lake felt more than human.

A Crown of Thorns on her head and long grey-through-white hair with a medium accent braid on the left side. The eyes are no longer glowing with magical energy like a maiden. It is more contained as only her blue eyes shine.

Vernal's outfit is different from the top, shorts, and see-through plastic jacket beforehand. It was a regal dress seemingly crafted out of thin air.

A one-shoulder sleeve, a long white dress made of an unknown material. There are blue threads weaved into the lining to contrast the white. Faint, almost unnoticeable flowers and thorns are imprinted into the lower half of the dress.

"When did she change outfit?" Hazel blinked.

"She looks like royalty," Emerald added. The girl kept her illusion up to avoid the fighting.

"Because she is," Fang Hui walked forward," And we are in her domain."

"You're seeing this?" Cinder pulled her swords out of a MIA agent's chest," Ma'am?"

The girl turns to the seer hovering near her.

The Grimm Queen watched from afar through one eye. The other eye focuses on the professor.

The battle in the headmaster's office is finally over. The wet, squishy sound of her fist punching through someone's chest echoes throughout the office.

Professor Rumpole took her last breath but the headmaster was finally able to get the message out.

The Academy has fallen.

Salem didn't care at this moment. She witnessed something new and unique.

"Xanthe…no!" He raged, throwing the scroll aside. The headmaster rushed forward even with one of his arms broken.

A tendril shot of her shadow and struck the headmaster across the chest. He went flying out of the window and onto the battlefield below.

Even with the early failure, The detour to save the Spring Maiden was a success far beyond what she imagined. It's magic. Vernal has somehow awakened an inner source of it.

The Grimm witch looks at the scene with an emotion she never had in thousands of years. She can't help but feel proud. She doubts her bloodline survived their battle all those years ago. She retrieved all four bodies that fateful day. There is something about Vernal that garners her interest. Because no human of this era recreated the impossible. An ember of the past.

"What an interesting sight to behold," Salem smiled, "Vernal Easter, You proved your worth once again."

There is only one objective left for the Queen of Grimm. She's going to guide Akame Branwen onto the path she wants. Even if that does become a failure.

The world created another one in the desert.

A/N: I am speed. This chapter took a while to write. I was busy this week and needed to heavily edit the chapter. I can't guarantee the next few updates are going to be as fast.

People will die and I'm not talking about throwaway OCs or minor characters. I'm gonna hate myself after this story is over and the sequel comes next. I love my tragedies. But damn did killing off Martha ruined me for a few days.

Salem will always be the big bad in this story. Someone is going to die if she has to step in no matter what. Akame has the strength, Ozpin has magic and experience, Ironwood has the military might, and Malachite has the legal and illegal savvy. Salem has all of those traits.

Here is a what-if:

Everything happens for a reason. Vernal would have made the situation worse if she stayed. Salem is capable of twisting her mind in a single conversation. Vernal needed to be humbled by Unblind Justice. Akame isn't capable of fixing Vernal. The girl was doomed to spiral out of control one day.

It's the idea that even if all the 'right decisions' are made, it closes a door leading to greater heights. Because sometimes the best decisions are the ones with hardships and sacrifices. But it may lead to a set path where the cost is too high.

Vernal magical awakening wasn't as hinted at but it was there. She mastered what was available and developed it further because of Jinn.

Rewatching the show, There were a few things that stood out.

Magic doesn't have a clear upper limit since Ozpin/Salem could fold a Nevermore like origami. He created four superpowered Maidens. Put four relics behind unbreakable, pocket dimensions that can only be opened with the Maiden of their respective kingdom. He still has enough magical energy to allow two people to become birds.

Salem's dress is likely conjured from magic or Grimm goo. It recovered just fine after getting blown to pieces. There were also flights but beyond that. She shows the least amount of magic that isn't Grimm or Magic Beam.

It is still within the realm of what Vernal can pull off.

The next thing that annoyed me was Ruby saying they don't need adults. When in reality the adults are enabling them to do/get away with half of the stuff on the show. There is a line between being independent and ungrateful. It is proper manners to be aware and thankful to those who helped you regardless of age group.

Enough of my ranting.

R and R.