CRACK!
Pyrrha blinked away stars as her head snapped forward.
It felt as if an axe had slammed into the back her head and her head rang as she struggled to remember what she was doing.
Her hand released whatever she was holding and she almost trampled over it before she felt something pull her back by her neck.
Her Aura crackled as she heard a voice call out to her
"Hold, lad! Hold! You're going too far!" A muffled voice shouted by her ear but Pyrrha only felt suffocated as she realized what was pulling her.
It was a shaft being pulled against her throat and the only reason she wasn't choking was because of her Aura.
Pyrrha roared defiantly as amber eyes flashed at the edge of her vision.
It was Cinder!
That's right! She couldn't afford to be distracted! She was fighting Cinder!
SHE WAS FIGHTING FOR HER DAMN LIFE!
She leaned forward, throwing Cinder over her shoulder as red filled her vision.
Cinder crashed in front of her, and Pyrrha immediately stomped forward to crush her hated foe's head once and for all.
Instead of breaking her face however, she stumbled to the side as she felt another figure slam into her.
"Jaune!" Another voice called out and her thoughts immediately snapped towards her blonde partner.
Jaune!
She left him! She had to get back to him! She...what was she doing again?
She shook her head but her eyes widened as she saw Cinder was the one who pushed her.
What? How? Didn't Pyrrha throw her over her shoulder?
"You need to stop!" Cinder shouted and any further confusion was cut off as Pyrrha gasped in surprise at her words.
Stop? STOP?!
THE AUDACITY!
Who was she to tell Pyrrha to stop of all people?!
Pyrrha only growled at that however and she glared as she stretched her hand out for her sword.
Her sword answered her call but its weight felt different in her hand, like something was covering it.
Keeping her eyes on Cinder, Pyrrha flourished her sword and swiped away whatever was adding the extra weight.
Her hand came back with her shield but Pyrrha didn't question it further as she charged with a warcry.
"CINDEEEER!"
Pleasure shot up her spine as she saw the fear in Cinder's eyes.
That's right! She should be afraid-
Before she could even land a blow however, both her sword and shield glowed purple before suddenly smashing into the ground in front of her.
It stopped Pyrrha completely in her tracks as she was forced to her hands and knees.
Her heart froze at that. This...this felt familiar. Her, on her knees, with Cinder standing in front of her.
"Do you believe in destiny?" She whispered in shock and her head throbbed as visions of what should be assaulted her mind.
Cruel eyes would look down at her before loosing an arrow straight to her chest.
As she looked upward from her glowing weapons however, amber eyes did not greet her.
There was no arrow aimed at her chest because Cinder Fall was looking away from her.
"Oh thank the gods, you're here." Cinder muttered and Pyrrha blinked as another Cinder appeared beside her.
Two Cinders?! What?! How?! Did the Maiden powers give someone the ability to clone themselves?!
"What is the meaning of this?!" The second Cinder shouted indignantly as Pyrrha struggled to make sense of what was happening.
Her head hurt however when two Cinders became three as another rose up from the ground.
Was that...was tgat the one she threw over her shoulder?
"Glynda! The lad has lost it!"
Glynda?
Pyrrha tilted her head at that, and she flinched as her vision doubled over.
Instead of black hair, she saw blonde, green, and even white atop the three Cinders' head.
"What do you mean, he's lost it?!"
"He keeps calling us Cinder!"
He? Lad? What in the world was happening?! They couldn't even get her pronouns right!
Her eyes struggled to focus, but eventually they did. She frowned however when the three Cinders remained, albeit with a difference in hairstyle, clothing, and two of them were missing an eye.
Pyrrha Nikos did not know what was happening but she knew one thing. She could not let them get the initiative. Whether there be three Cinders or one, she was not going to go down without a fight.
A stubborn shout borne from the depths of her soul exploded out of her. Her heart throbbed rapidly and she used strength she did not know she possessed to lift her weapons.
The glow covering her weapons broke and she charged, bowling through all three of them as they scattered frantically.
She might have found herself surrounded but she didn't let that slow her down. She threw her shield towards one of them, to the one holding what seemed to be a cross between an axe and a shotgun, scoring a hit even as the shield flew erratically than what she expected.
Momentum was the name of the game and Pyrrha was already calling her shield back to her as she slashed towards one of the Cinders with her sword to isolate them.
She focused on the latecomer, the one with the whip, so as to give herself an easier time. Whips were always notoriously known to be a hard weapon to handle. They also often fail to measure up against close combat so it was no wonder that Pyrrha almost immediately put this particular Cinder on the backfoot.
A quick slash had Cinder stumbling backwards even as she deflected the strike. A sharp stab then had Cinder ducking before Pyrrha moved for a fast kick aimed towards Cinder's head.
A shoulder was raised to block her but Pyrrha's strike was heavy. Cinder still slid across the concrete even as Pyrrha started to follow up.
Pyrrha was just about to throw her shield again when she suddenly had to lean back with wide eyes as a staff passed by inches in front of her.
She breathed deeply, raising her shield upwards at an angle so the strike would pass over her head. Looking towards the source of the attack, she saw another Cinder to her side with panic in her eyes.
Pyrrha growled, glaring as she crouched low to slide her sword between Cinder's ribs.
Before she could even come close however, a shot rang out.
Bang!
The shot hit her shoulder. It didn't hurt the sloghtest but the force still unbalanced her and sent her to her knee. She could see from the corner of her eyes that the shot came from the one she hit with the shield earlier but she only had the one moment to register it before she suddenly found herself facing the end of the staff of the Cinder in front of her.
The next thing she knew, it was spitting out flame and she was screaming.
Glynda's heart broke as she heard Jaune scream as Bart bathed his face in fire with his flamethrower.
"CINDEEEER!
It sounded warbled and distorted to her ears. It was as if two voices harmonized into one scream of pain even as Glynda gathered her wits.
Thinking quickly on her feet, she gathered every ounce of her Semblance and Aura she could and pushed.
An incredible amount of force slammed into Jaune but instead of being blown away, he only roared defiantly as he slid backwards by a few inches.
His feet dug into the concrete ground even as Bart and Glynda kept their assaults up. He pushed forward with a cry, putting his hands up as fire and force streamed towards him.
Glynda could only looked on panickedly however even as she saw Bart start to shake beside her. It was only when Peter blurred into existence beside them with his axe cocked for a swing did salvation come.
"RAGHHHH!" He screamed as he swung, hitting Jaune straight in the chest with a flash like lightning and a sound like thunder.
Glynda watched shakily as Jaune flew backwards, skipping across the ground before crashing into a container.
Boom!
Metal crumpled and dust rose into the air as Jaune slammed into the container with such force that he raised the container off the ground before it dropped down again.
Every single one of them shook at that before each released a sigh of relief.
That might have taken a lot more out of them than what they wanted but it at least got the job done. They managed to buy themselves some time and distance to plan as well as stop Jaune's face from getting burned.
Glynda's hands immediately travelled to her knees as she took deep breaths
"What do we do? I think that just made him angrier." Bart asked shakily to her right even as Peter grumbled to her left.
"We need to snap him out of it."
"How do you suggest we do that?" Glynda only clicked her tongue at that however, waving a hand and they all watched as Jaune pulled himself off the container. "He keeps seeing us as this Cinder woman."
It scared Glynda to see Jaune willing to hurt them but the fact that he was hallucinating put a balm on things even as it pained her as well. Though Glynda had one question.
Who the fuck was Cinder?
A solution came however from the most experienced of them all.
"You need to kiss him."
Glynda blinked and Bart goggled as they both looked at Peter incredulously.
"I beg your pardon?" She asked but a smile only grew on Peter's face as a plan came to his mind.
"The lad sees you as this Cinder too, right? Now judging by how Jaune screams her name, I reckon they don't have such friendly relations."
"Get to the point, Peter." Glynda scowled but Peter only smirked at her.
"What could be more surprising than someone you hate suddenly kissing you?"
Glynda blinked. He wanted her to kiss Jaune as...Cinder?
To let her lover think of someone else while kissing her?
Her womanly pride flared up at that but before she could even voice complaints, Bart reacted to it faster.
"Genius! You want to give shock him into snapping out of it by giving him an impossible situation!"
"Precisely!" Peter boomed, grinning as a laugh gathered itself in his guts. "Why, I remember when I was a young lad myself stuck in Vacuo. There was this boxom maiden out to-"
"Stop! We do not need to know about your past exploits." Glynda hissed, sighing tiredly to herself as the logic of the plan came to her.
She did not completely like it but it's what they had. There was just one problem though.
"Say I agree to this plan, do you think Jaune would just let this Cinder person kiss him?" Glynda asked flatly, waving a hand towards Jaune who was stomping towards them.
"Ah, that's where we come in. Bart and I will hold him while you take your chance to kiss him." Peter answered, brandishing his weapon as Bart did his own.
"Agreed, though please be quick about it, Glynda. I do not fancy our chances in close combat."
"I understand." Glynda nodded with a gulp.
She couldn't blame Bart for his reluctance to engage Jaune in close combat. Looking at him like this, she too could feel the power and hate emanating from him. She doubted she could actually be able to hold him with her Semblance at that. Why, their previous engagement showed them that despite being outnumbered, Jaune could still push them to the ropes.
Yet despite the intimidation, one thing still held Glynda back.
She was shy.
It was one thing to kiss Jaune with Peach and Tsune, they were her fellow lovers. They were with Jaune the same way she was.
It was another to let Peter and Bart watch. It was just plain embarrassing.
Before she could even get her wits together however, both Peter and Bart were already bouncing in excitement even as Jaune neared them.
"Alright, Glynda! Moment of truth! Show us what you got!" Peter boomed, launching himself forward as Bart followed behind him with a warcry.
Glynda only blushed at their enthusiasm before shaking her head. Shyness would do her no good now. Her colleagues were counting on her and so she watched intently, looking for any opportunity as Jaune engaged Peter and Bart both.
Jaune's sword flew into motion as Peter came in swinging, parrying every single strike and launching his own even as he moved his shield deftly to block Bart's attacks.
Glyda stood mesmerized at sparks flew between them. Jaune's control of the fight was truly impressive considering he was lost in his own haze of anger. It got to the point that it seemed like they were in a stalemate in terms of skill but Glynda knew for a fact that it would only take a matter of time before he got the upperhand.
Finally deciding that she wouldn't get an opportunity if she didn't make one herself, Glynda decided to move.
She charged forward, Ice Dust leaving from a pouch on her belt as she used her Semblance to direct it to freeze Jaune's boots. It made him stumble enough that Peter actually managed to twist their weapons together even as Bart tried to pin his shield. Glynda helped, her Semblance coming in handy as she stopped Jaune's hand for just a moment. It was enough for Bart to be able to hold him in place as Glynda threw herself forward.
It was a tight fit with both Peter and Bart trying to pull Jaune's arms apart but Glynda squeezed between them. The world slowed and she watched as Jaune growled at her face as she neared. She didn't let that deter her however, and she stretched her hand out to caress his face.
"Jaune." She whispered softly but surprise shot up her spine when a growl leaves Jaune's throat.
"Keep my partner's name out of your filthy mouth!"
"Glynda! Any time now!" Bart shouted, jolting Glynda out of her thoughts as he and Peter shook in their own endeavors.
"Pyrrha, then." Glynda mutterred with wide eyes as realization struck like a thunderbolt.
No wonder he could call his sword and shield to him earlier. No wonder he wasn't using his Magic Armor even now. He was thinking he was Pyrrha! Or more possibly, Pyrrha was taking control of him!
Glynda did not know what exactly what was happening, hut she knew one thing.
She was kissing him.
She leaned upwards and planted a soft kiss.
Unbeknownst to her however, Peter and Bart were not the only witnesses.
Green eyes zoomed in as Penny Polendina watched and recorded everything from a distance.
She was kissing her.
Cinder Fall was kissing her and there was nothing Pyrrha Nikos could do.
She screamed furiously but that only gave Cinder room to poke her tongue into her mouth. She should have immediately closed it off, bit off the bitch's tongue for violating her, but as the soft warm appendage made contact with hers, Pyrrha's tongue responded instinctively.
She moaned even as indignation and shame bloom into her heart. Pyrrha should be hating this. She really really should, but as Cinder peppered her with soft saphic kisses, all Pyrrha could do was surrender her body bonelessly.
Eventually, however, her pleasurable torment had to end. Cinder separated from her with a gasp.
"Jaune, Pyrrha? It's me-"
Jaune? Why does she keep saying-
"Glynda."
The voice that left her mouth was not hers and as she registered the word, the world shifted. Everything seemed muffled but even now she could see Cinder's face change right in front of herm
She gasped, tears pricking her eyes as Glynda smiled softly from right in front of her.
"Are you back, lad?" Professor Port asked from beside her even as he twisted their arms together while Pyrrha could only shake her head.
"Yeah, it's me." Jaune answered for them and as they all breathed a sigh of relief, Pyrrha Nikos could only mutter two words brokenly.
"I-I'm sorry."
Her heart broke as she saw the tired faces in front of her and beyond them, bodies.
Dead bodies, injured bodies, all because she lost control.
"I'm sorry." She repeated, closing her ryes and miring herself in darkness.
"Pyrrha." Jaune whispered, but by then, she was too deep to be found.
The Incident, as it was now being called, ended with the deaths of multiple White Fang operatives, the capture of many, as well as the arrest of both Roman Torchwick and his partner, Neopolitan, who were both sent to the hospital for treatment first due to their extensive injuries.
As for the man supposedly leading the White Fang? He remained nowhere to be seen.
Arthur Watts breathed heavily as he narrowly escaped the authorities. He even had to remote pilot a bullhead to lure any would be pursuers away while he stayed on foot and slinked back into the city.
Yet despite finally reaching one of his safehouses, Arthur Watts did not feel relief.
Their operation failed, he didn't know if Neo was dead, and worst yet, Roman was captured!
While not important in his queen's plans, Roman was still a lynchpin to both his and Cinder's plans! Without him, they had no experienced master thief to bully aroubd to steal Dust for them. They actually now had to plan heists themselves if they wanted to steal more.
And then there was the White Fang.
He had no doubt rumors of what happened tonight were already spreading across the White Fang's ranks courtesy of those who managed to escape. It was then unlikely Arthur would be able to maintain the grip he had on them with tonight's debacle. It would be far more likely for them to be scared and intimidated, opting to hide and lay low instead of following his orders.
And it was all because of one person.
Arthur Watts gritted his teeth at that, summoning the Seer from out of his pocket and used the negativity he was currently feeling to wake it.
Before the Seer even managed to start a call, Arthir was already fishing his Scroll out and there he was, tbe bane of his existence.
"CINDEEEER!"
"WHAT IN THE WORLD DID YOU DO, CINDER?!"
Cinder didn't even have the chance to greet anyone when she reeled back as Arthur shouted through the call.
"Excuse me?!" She shot back, narrowing her eyes as Arthur breathed heavily in the screen.
She heard a whimper beside her and she saw Lionheart cowering in the corner of his own office. Cinder's lips curled in disgust, she knew he was a coward bit the least he could do was at least show some backbone in his own turf.
She had more urgent things to think about however than her host's cowardice.
"Calm, Cinder. Arthur, explain the situation clearly to the others as well." Salem called out, raising a hand imperiously as Hazel joined the call.
Cinder and Arthur bowed, keeping silent even as they glared at each other.
"Ahem. Forgive me, my queen." Arthur broke first, pursing his lips even as he showed his Scroll. "As I told you before, we have a situation."
Cinder watched attentively as an armored man appeared. Her eyebrows climbed upward however when he screamed one single name as he faced three other people.
"CINDEEEER!"
The video paused and Arthur's face came back on screen.
"The man you saw broke us before turning to fight faculty members from Beacon. I didn't stay too long to watch however as I had to make my own escape."
"Thank you, Arthur." Salem nodded but Cinder froze when her eyes suddenly seemed to pierce through her. "Now, Cinder, do you have anything to say for yourself? I didn't know you managed to attract attention already."
Her mouth dried up at her majesty's displeasure but she could only shake her head frantically at the Seer.
"I-I have never seen this person in my entire life!"
"Are you sure? Why don't you take a look again?" Salem raised an eyebrow, and Cinder shook even as her mistress adressed the others. "Hazel, Arthur, please tell me if the man seems familiar to you as well."
"I already tried, your grace, I saw an emblem on his shield before I managed to escape and ran them in the system." Arthur shook his head before he fiddled with his Scroll again to show two yellow arcs. "Two yellow arcs, belonging to the Arc family but it does not make sense. The only recorded male Arcs currently alive are listed as Nicholas Arc who does not live in Vale and his son, Jaune Arc who is 17 years old."
The man's profile came back and Cinder could see the armor better even as he blurred into motion.
"Could it be possible they are merely using equipment from the Arc family? Or maybe even a lost unrecorded member themselves?" Cinder asked even as something tickled the back of her mind at the sight of the man's armor.
"It is certainly possible if the Arcs are willing to sell their heirlooms but as for an unrecorded member, I'm afraid that still does not answer why they are familiar with you, Cinder." Arthur answered and Cinder scowled at his words.
"He seems strong but the man is not familiar to me." Hazel cut in, preventing another argument just as the video slowed down.
It is at that moment however when something hovered over her queen's shoulder.
The Jabberwalker appeared for a moment and Cinder suddenly had the unpleasant feeling it was looking straight at them.
It growled hatefully for a moment but before it could even do anything else, Tyrian whooped in from behind and pulled the creature back by its neck with his tail.
"Come on, Jabby! The fun is not over yet!" Tyrian's excited voice cut through but their queen only looked done with it all.
And yet, it was that moment that realization snapped into place inside Cinder's mind.
The Jabberwalker from the story of The Girl Who Fell Through The World had a rival! An adversary so iconic that Cinder herself knew its name!
"The Rusted Knight!"
A light blush worked itself up her face as they all stared at her. Cinder, for her part, however, only fished her own Scroll to show them.
Immediately, countless images of the Rusted Knight were brought up on her screen as she turned it towards them.
Most of it were fanarts and exaggerations but the point got across.
"The armor is similar I'll give you that but he is neither rusted nor is his sword broken like the Rusted Knight's." Arthur hummed but Cinder only scowled at him.
"Do you have anything better to say, Watts? Besides, you might not have noticed but the Jabberwalker had a reaction to it earlier."
Salem perked up at that and she immediately raised a hand to silence everyone, even Tyrian and the Jabberwalker stopped fighting as she turned to regard them.
Silently, she pointed a hand to the Jabberwalker and curled her finger in a come hither motion. The Jabberwalker followed, pulling itself away from Tyrian as it crept agains the floor.
Salem didn't even have to say anything and the Jabberwalker was already growling as she showed the armored man's profile.
This time, everyone saw its reaction.
"Rus...ty."
Vindication shot up Cinder's spine at that and she shot a smug look at Arthur's face. It was all but confirmation that she was right and he was wrong.
"I see. So I have the Jabberwalker and Ozpin has the Rusted Knight." Salem noted, watching the Jabberwalker growl at the Rusted Knight's profile.
Ha! Take that Arthur! She thought in her mind and yet her victory was short-lived as Arthur grumbled.
"It does seem that way, my queen, but I still don't see how the Rusted Knight could be familiar with Cinder already. So again, Cinder, what did you do?"
Cinder faltered at that and even Queen Salem raised an eyebrow at her.
"Yes, Cinder. Please do explain how the Rusted Knight could be familiar with you."
"I-I really have no idea, my queen. Forgive me." She denied frantically even as her thoughts struggled to catch up to answer the question.
The Rusted Knight knew her! If Cinder was younger, she would have bewn over the moon knowing that and yet young Cinder would also have been appalled if she knew how much the Rusted Knight seemed to hate her.
Regardless, all Cinder could was bow her head as her heart thumped loudly in her chest. She had more questions than answers right now and it seems Salem did too.
"Perhaps you can tell us how you know of the Rusted Knight and what you think of him." Salem added casually even as a light blush crept up Cinder's cheeks.
"I-uhm...know of him from Remnant's fairy tales as most children do." She answered, it was a bit embarrassing to confess she used to read fairy tales but not as embarrassing as confessing her thoughts.
"And your thoughts about him?" Arthur asked, pouncing on her obvious hesitance.
Shame rushed through Cinder's heart as thoughts came unbidden. Once upon a time, she wished the Rusted Knight would save her. She thought Rhodes would be that, but he wasn't. By then, Cinder stopped believing in fairy tales.
"I have none. Before this, I thought he was just a fairy tale."
Fairy tales were a crutch that the weak used to give them hope and so she stopped believing in being weak that she would need saving. She started believing in herself.
"By now, you should all know fairy tales have a kernel of truth in them." Salem cut in, humming to herself as she put a hand to her chin. "Regardless, whether the Rusted Knight knows Cinder or not, he would've been our enemy just by being linked to Ozpin like the Jabberwalker is linked to me. If that is so, then perhaps it is time to pit them against each other."
"Your grace?" Arthur blinked and even Cinder tilted her head in confusion.
"Congratulations, Arthur. You've accomplished the mission I sent you to Vale for. You've found the creature Ozpin is linked to. Now it is time to lure them out. In the meantime, I am sending both Tyrian and the Jabberwalker to Vale as your reinforcements." Salem replied happily even as Arthur's eyes widened and his back straightened.
"Ah, about that. I think I might just have a plan."
"Already? You outdo yourself, Arthur." Salem smiled and all Cinder could do was click her tongue as Arthur preened.
"I am to pleae, my queen. Now as for my plan, I have found a lead related to the Spring Maiden" He added smugly and out comes the profile of a young woman. "Yang Xiao Long, student of Beacon and daughter of Raven Branwen. We kidnap her and not only can we lure out Ozpin's forces and potentially the Rusted Knight, but also Raven Branwen, the one protecting the Spring Maiden."
"My, my, you continue to exceed expectations, Arthur." Salem purred and Cinder clenched her fist tightly at that.
It was a good plan. A great plan even. It just galled her to admit that it came from Arthur of all people. Yet he was not the only able to come up with plans.
"My queen, considering the potential involvement of the Maiden, I request you send my team and Hazel to Vale as well." Cinder suggested, grinning as eyes snapped to her at that. "I'm sure Arthur would appreciate the reinforcements."
Cinder saw Salem's eyes crinkle amusedly at her but a laugh sprang forth out of her mouth as Arthur's face fell flat.
"Yes! Considering the potential involvement of the Maiden, your suggestion is sound. I'm sure our dear friend Leo wouldn't mind helping you with your cover." Salem nodded as Leonardo Lionheart whimpered pathetically.
"Y-Yes! I wouldn't mind! Anything for our queen!"
Salem sighed, waving her hand away before looking at Arthur.
"Arthur, prepare for their arrival. Make sure Tyrian and...his brother have proper accomodations."
They all looked at Tyrian and the Jabberwalker at that just as the two tilted their heads together.
A snort left Cinder's nose at that but she froze as she noticed Salem look at her.
"As all of you will be working together in this mission, I expect success. Is that understood?"
"""Yes, Maa'm."""
"Good. Now kidnap Yang Xiao Long, lure out the Rusted Knight, and get me my Spring Maiden."
AUTHOR'S NOTES.
Thy Rusted Knight is now two chapters advanced in P-place. Chapters will come in every Monday or Tuesday.
Jaune's Pineapple Jam Part 2 will come in every Thursday or Friday.
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You can find my P place in the link below.
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