"YIN! BEHIND YOU!"
Sasha's terrified scream broke the healer from his thoughts, his head swivelling, his watery blue eyes widening in utter horror.
The headless body of his brother was charging at him, full of life and vigor. And in his arms, Vao's severed head grinned up at him.
"Gotcha, cunt," he growled.
The axe slammed into Yin's katana, the healer's mind running rampant with raw terror. Vao shouldn't be alive. His head was cut off. But the head opened his mouth wide, biting down on Yin's thumb. With a shriek, he dropped Vao on the ground and rolled away, standing shakily to his feet. Vao's body bent down to pick up his head, holding it high into the air. He looked ecstatic.
"I-it worked," he whimpered. "It worked! It bloody worked! I've done it!"
Tim and Chuck ran past him, not daring to look back even as they left the room. The adventurers stared at the headless thief, Sasha's voice rising into a scream again. Salem clamped a hand over her mouth. She felt sick. "V... V-Vao...?"
Vao tilted his hand, his head aimed at them. His lips curled into a smirk, his eyes flaring with glee.
"Y... You're..." Yin trailed off, leaving Vao to laugh.
"That's right, Yin! I told you I threw everything away!" He snickered. "I gave up everything for this day! I've thrown away my humanity, Yin!"
Their hearts stopped. That wasn't an offence to the Church. That was an offence to the God of Light himself. Vao had committed a cardinal sin and turned himself into a nonhuman.
The banshees began to wail again, Salem recalling something from her encyclopedia.
When banshees screamed, it didn't always mean someone was going to die. There were legends that they were accompanying a very specific type of nonhuman. The very nonhuman Vai had turned himself into. A dullahan.
Vao tossed his head into the air, catching it in his hands. His eyes swivelled between the adventurers hysterically. He had lost it, his paranoia crippling him.
Darkness exploded around him when he charged again, driving into Sasha with the speed and power of an artillery shell. The tomboy shrieked through the air, Vao whistling loudly. "That's it! I'm bringin' the madlads!"
The animals and insects spilled through the cracks in the room, rising like a wave behind Vao. The dullahan laughed happily as the bugs swarmed Sasha, the elf screaming in terror. He tossed his head into the air when Ozpin charged, his body two-handing his weapon and smacking him away. In an instant the knight was swarmed with squirrels, the man screaming and swatting at his armor as they climbed inside. With one kick, he sent Pock slamming into Pyrrha, catching his head in his hand. He twirled his axe, pulling his flashiest moves. "C'mon, you rotten cleric! I'm an affront to your god!" He cheered.
He blasted towards Yin, their magics sizzling as their weapons collided, sparks burning through the air. The cleric gritted his teeth, his eyes watering. "Have you lost your fucking mind!? Turning yourself into a nonhuman is insanity!"
"Maybe you're right! I got too a-head of myself!" Vao snickered. "And yeah, I'm as mad as a bag of coked up ferrets! I just can't believe it actually worked!"
SMASH!
The healer slammed into the ground under the weight of Vao's axe, rolling out of the way as the blade crashed down where his neck head been only moments before.
Vao looked at Yin, grinning to his heart's content.
"Nyahaha!"
Yin yelped when Vao charged forward and lifted him off the ground, the Darkness exploding under his feet. They were heading straight for the wall.
Boom, boom, BOOM!
The two skidded across the ground, the three walls behind them crumbling to pieces. Salem was sprinting towards them, catching Vao's attention. His axe glowered with black fire, and with one swing he launched a shadow projectile at the broken walls. It exploded against the stone, bringing the ceiling down and blocking Salem's path, trapping himself and Yin inside. Vao turned around, smirking at the healer.
"Let's do this without any interruptions," he snarled. "Just me and you. Just like old times."
Yin drew his katana, blocking Vao's strike when the dullahan attacked, the weight driving him backwards. The bluish flame blazed coldly at his neck stump, the headless thief charging again with his head tucked under his arm. Yin raised his katana again, blocking the lethal blow. His arms trembled, struggling to hold back Vao. The blonde glared, his teeth bared into a snarl.
"What did Verde think about this!?" He shouted. "I can't imagine she'd love going against nature!"
"She absolutely hated it," Vao replied angrily. "I never told her! This was my own choice! I knew being human had its limits! I'll do anything to keep my family safe! If that includes pissing off a god, then so be it!"
Yin lowered his hand to catch Vao's shin when he dealt the kick, flipping over the limb and punching his head out from his arm. Vao's body dropped the axe and seized the healer's shoulder, slamming him into the ground. He jumped on top of the cleric, screaming from the sidelines.
"I drove a wedge in my marriage for this!" The head cried from where it had stopped rolling. "I've given up everything! I wanted to give up everything, to keep my promise that they'd see the sun rise tomorrow!"
THWACK, THWACK!
Stars swirled in his vision when Vao's body punched him, grabbing his collar and jerking him up.
"I can't be human again! I knew that! And I was still ready! I'm willing to do wotever it takes to put you six feet under!"
Yin curled into a ball when Vao threw him to the side, picking his head back up and tucking it back under his arm before grabbing his axe. The healer stood up, the memories making his head ache.
They were beginning to disappear again, something he didn't want.
(["Not now. You cannot remember now."])
He could have sworn he saw a glowing figure from the corner of his eye. But when he turned, it was gone. The moment he looked away, Vao's head came crashing into his, knocking him off balance. Vao had thrown it at him. Yin picked it back up, his older brother crying in shock.
"Hey, wait! Put me down, you wanker!"
Yin reeled his arm back and threw it to the side, watching his headless body scramble after it. He leveled his katana at his waist, leaning forward as the Light exploded behind him.
SLASH, SLASH, SLASH!
His weapon struck the body as fast as lightning, breaking skin. But it didn't cut through. Even if Vao was fighting to kill him, that wasn't Yin's intention. He just wanted to stop Vao from attacking. With a kick, the healer was sent rolling across the ground while Vao retrieved his head from the floor. The two stood back to their feet, staring each other down.
Vao's stamina was beginning to make sense to Yin. The blonde was still human; even now, he could feel his muscles aching. Vao didn't have to deal with that as much because he wasn't human. Vao's last resort was proving to be effective; he had given himself a physical advantage over Yin. But it wasn't enough to break his spirit. Even if he was going against an opponent who outperformed him, he still readied his weapon.
Vao held his head away when the cleric attacked, driving his weapon into the ground and using it as an anchor to twist himself through the air, landing on Yin's shoulders. Hugging his head tight to his chest for protection, he threw his shoulders back, taking the healer down with himself. The moment Yin tried to stand back up, Vao sprang from his hands, dropkicking him straight into the wall.
C-C-CRACK!
The wall gave out under his weight, sending Yin spiraling to the courtyard outside. He slammed into the dirt, groaning in pain.
"Uncle Yin!"
Pip was flapping his wings, his face wild with panic. The harpy's talons gripped his shoulders, tugging him out of the way just as Vao came crashing down like a comet, Darkness tearing at the air. The shockwave sent Pip plummeting to the ground. Yin wrapped his arms around his nephew, taking the brunt of the damage.
The moon hung high in the sky, sending its light over them. Vao stood in the courtyard, his axe tossed over one shoulder, his head in his free hand.
"More space out here! Don't have to worry about bringing down the castle!" He called to Yin. He swung his axe through the air. Darkness crackled around the blade like lightning, rumbling like thunder. "We can play out here as much as we want!"
Yin dashed forward, his arms glowing gold. His blade moved as a blur, deflecting Vao's blows. He was struggling to find an opening in the dullahan's assault - he was relentless in his attack, refusing to give Yin the time to launch one of his own. Each heavy swing made his arms shake, threatening to crush through his bones. Pip soared through the sky, wracking his brain to figure out how to help his uncle. "Dad, stop! Please!"
Vao faltered, looking up at the harpy in confusion. Yin finally had an opening, his blade glowing like the sun. With one slash, he finally landed a hit square on Vao's chest. The Light exploded, knocking the thief off balance. Yin kicked the axe out of Vao's grasp, his toes cracking in his boots. It didn't stop him. He sheathed his katana, following up with a devastating punch that sent Vao's head flying from the safety of his arms.
THWACK, THWACK, THWACK!
Vao's body stumbled and staggered with each magic-infused punch, his head rolling across the grass, screaming in confusion. Yin took a step back, watching Vao's body sway. He was getting dizzy. The blonde looked up at Pip, veins jutting from his neck as he screamed.
"His head! Spin his head around!"
Pip landed on the ground, scooping his father's severed head in his arms. The moment he held him, Vao let out a loud whistle. "Heads up, bird lady!"
Pip giggled at the pun, not entirely getting it until Yin screamed in horror. "Pip! Get out of the way!"
The harpy looked up just in time to see Vao's body sprinting towards him, his legs kicking up dirt. With a cry of pure terror, Pip turned on his feet and began to run, the body quickly catching up to him. Dropping the head, he caught it in his feet and flapped his wings, taking to the sky. Vao's body retrieved his axe, the blade darkening until it was nothing but a silhouette that swallowed the moonlight. With a swing, he launched a projectile at the harpy, followed by a second, and then a third.
Pip dodged and weaved through the air, sweat dripping down his thin and light body.
Yin charged at his brother's body; he needed to stop him before he landed a hit on Pip.
BOOM!
The explosion sent Yin back to the ground, the healer rolling across the grass. Vao's axe flew from his hands, the handle set ablaze. He was getting back up, Yin staring back at the castle. Salem, Ozpin, Sasha, and the goblins had rejoined the battle, Salem's bow held in her hands, nocking another explosive arrow. The princess glared at Yin, jerking her head. "I'll provide cover fire! Focus on healing support!"
Yin nodded, pulling his staff from his back and scrambling away from Vao's body, driving it into the ground. Sasha slammed the flat side of her greatsword into his legs, taking the dullahan off his feet and opening him for the goblin assault. Pyrrha's spear drove into his pressure points, locking his joints up while Pock beat the hell out of him with her caestus. They stepped off to the side when Ozpin charged in, his foot slamming in between Vao's legs. High above, the head that Pip carried began screaming in sheer pain. Yin and Pip winced, Ozpin slamming the hilt of his sword square into the dullahan's chest. Sasha scooped him up, spinning him around and launching him with the power of a catapult, sending him flying straight into the bell tower.
GONG, GONG, GONG!
Vao's body shakily stood back up, his hands grabbing the bell and giving it a sharp tug. The sudden shift in weight made the tower crack, the building beginning to crumble. With one final pull, he ripped the bell out and leapt from the tower as it collapsed, holding the bell high over his head.
The bell rang loudly when he scooped Sasha inside and flipped it upside down, giving it a violent shake before throwing it at Salem and Yin. The princess fired three arrows together, the explosions pushing the bronze metal back, slowing it down until it stopped in front of them. She was out of arrows. "Yin! Together!" She screamed.
"Got it!"
Together they rushed him, their swords drawn. Rapier and katana was a silver blur as they attacked, finally cocking their fists back for one final blow. With the help of Yin's magic, they punched Vao's body square in the center, blasting it into the side of the castle. Pip watched as the head's eyes rolled into the back of his head, dropping it to the ground.
Vao's hand shakily reached for his head, trying to get to it. But the castle walls were already crumbling, too withered from the ages it stood to withstand the force he hit it with. Bricks fell like an avalanche, slamming down on the dullahan. The dust clouded their vision, the adventurers shielding their eyes as it washed over them. They could hear Vao groaning from within, the sound of debris moving echoing in the night sky. And when it cleared, they could see him standing back up. His knees wobbled under his weight, both of his hands clutching his dazed head.
"U-unyu..." He coughed, taking a shaky step forward. "I can... S-still f-fight," he breathed raggedly. "I can't... I c-can't... L..."
Thump.
He collapsed to the ground, his head rolling from his hands. His vision was fading, staring up at the adventurers with vehement detestation. And finally, his lips curled into a weak smirk.
"N-nya... Haha... I j... Just c-couldn't do a d-damned thing right... C-could I...?"
With a last sigh, his eyes fell shut, his face beginning to relax. Pip landed next to Yin, Pock helping Sasha out of the bell as the rest stood at Salem and the healer's side. "... I-is he... D-dead...?" Pyrrha whispered quietly. Ozpin shook his head, pointing at Vao's body.
"He's still breathing. He's just unconscious..."
Sasha dusted herself off, shaking the dizziness out of her head before heaving a sigh to keep down the ill feeling in her stomach. "... What a sick way to fight," she muttered. "From his surprise when Salem cut his head off, he only turned himself recently... Even then, it still felt like we were fighting a nonhuman. He just... Kept getting back up..."
Pip was crouching next to Vao's head, gently pushing it around before looking back up at them. He looked like he was about to cry. "Sh... Should we wait for him to wake up?"
Yin shook his head. He knew what would happen if they did. "... No. When he wakes up, he'll attack us again," he mumbled. He was tired, exhausted from fighting Vao. He rolled his shoulders, feeling it click. Vao did a number on him. "... We need to find Verde," he said quietly. "If we can talk to her... She can convince Vao to stop attacking..."
Salem looked at him worriedly, watching him wince each time he moved his arm. "Are you oka-"
"Don't touch me," Yin snapped. Salem flinched back. He was staring at her, his blue eyes searching for something. A spark of familiarity burned deep in his eyes, sending a shiver down her spine. Yin was beginning to remember. Ozpin looked at her grimly, nodding his head in confirmation. If Yin remembered before she and Ozpin explained it, he wouldn't remember the Gods right away. He'd only remember her, and what she did twice. With a grunt, Yin pushed past her, the adventurers following silently. Just a little farther, and they'd reach their goal.
Deep within the decrepit castle, the trio listened with bated breath. The sound of combat had ceased, silence falling upon the castle.
Verde felt a sharp pain in her chest. It nearly brought her to her knees. The hard lump she couldn't swallow was growing.
'A choice I should never have made.'
Her final words to Vao, something she had said in the heat of the moment. Midori had fallen silent, lost in her own head. Violet was crying, the two still hiding under the bed.
Vao was dead. Even after all of his precautions, all of his sleepless nights and committing a cardinal sin, it hadn't been enough. Yin was coming, and not even Vao was enough, not even after giving up his humanity for them. There was only one option left. Verde crawled from underneath the bed, rising to her feet.
"Mummy, don't go!" Violet cried. Midori watched, her face blank, but her red eyes betraying her horror.
"Mother, what are you doing?"
Verde pulled her old staff from the wall, adjusting her wide-brimmed pointed hat. She glanced halfway back at the two girls under the bed, her face as still and blank as a statue. "... Stay here. I will take care of this matter."
"But Mother-"
"Stay here," Verde repeated blankly. "Hide in your father's laboratory. Close the door behind you, and do not come out until I return."
Midori was silent. Without another word, she tugged Violet towards the closet's secret entrance, giving her mother one last glance before it clicked shut. Verde didn't linger any longer; staff in hand, she left the room and stepped into the halls, the sound of her boots echoing off the walls. The only one who could open the door from the outside was Vao. It was a lock only he knew how to pick, with no key ever being made for it. Until Verde came back, Midori and Violet would be safe unless they opened the door from the inside.
Her black robes trailed at the ground, her pale hands clutching her staff tightly. The brim of her hat was tugged down, hiding her green eyes.
Vao was dead.
Vao was dead.
It echoed in her mind; something she never wanted to believe. But if Vao had won, he'd have raced to meet her, to tell her they were finally safe. That he wouldn't need to spend so much time on patrols and traps, and could finally relax. That he could spend a full day with her and their daughters.
It just wasn't fair. Even when they were finally married, something always got in the way.
Drip, drip.
She didn't bother wiping at her eyes. Who was going to see? Down the corridors, until she finally stopped in the last chamber. The ceiling had long fallen away, exposing the night sky above, and the innumerable stars that followed the full moon. The last chamber, where she was the last line of defense. She stood and she waited, staring at the final door. Waiting to see who would come through the door, praying it would be the man she fell for so many years ago. She wanted to make things up. To at least, at the very least, spend one more day with him. After all, they hadn't seen each other in nearly four days. She bit her lip, the anxiety beginning to get the best of her.
And when the door opened, she felt her heart break.
It wasn't Vao.
The first to push his way through the doors was him. The reason Vao had grown so paranoid over the years. His blue eyes met hers, his companions following behind. They stared at each other in complete silence, Verde's face as still and motionless as ever.
"V... Verde," Yin breathed. "Hey..."
Verde was silent. Her heart pounded in her chest. Vao was really gone. He wasn't going to come back. She lowered the brim of her hat, her lips curling back. Her chest hurt. It felt like someone had stabbed her.
"... H-he... He's really d-dead..."
Salem stepped forward, shaking her head. "No, he's still alive. We can show you-"
But Verde shook her head. Her hands were trembling when she looked back up at them. It was the first time she could physically express herself. The tears flowed freely, her eyes puffy and red.
"All I ever wanted... Was a normal life," she whispered. "I finally met someone who cared for me... Someone who didn't care what I am. Is this my punishment for going against the Gods? Is this how it ends? On a carousel where Vao dies when I find happiness?"
They didn't know what to say. But one thing stood out to Salem and Ozpin in particular. The knight looked at the witch worriedly. "... Carousel...? As in repeating?"
Verde but her lip, giving a slow nod. "... I have been having odd dreams for a long while now... Dreams of a strange metal house... Where Vao lies dying amidst fire and smoke..."
Salem felt her heart stop. Verde was talking about when she killed Vao in the Second Timeline. Verde gritted her teeth, tapping her staff into the ground.
"... I won't forgive you... I'll never forgive you," she whispered shakily. "You killed Vao... I'll never forgive you, Yin!"
Yin shivered when she stared at him. She was furious. Her arm shot out, adjusting her pointed hat, wind beginning to blow through the roofless chamber. The sheer, overwhelming power of her mana began to weigh down on them, twice more powerful than Yin and Vao. Verde's hand gripped her staff tighter, her knuckles turning a ghostly white.
"Do you remember the stories of the Great Swamp? Vao told me about it when we first met. About a witch who killed priests; the Black Witch, with robes as dark as night itself. That was me. Tonight, I'll show you the true power of the Black Witch of the Great Swamp," she vowed.
Something in the sky caught their eyes. The stars were moving, swirling around the full moon. The stars rained from the sky, exploding into the castle floor in clouds of stardust. The moment the dust touched Pock's arm, the goblin crumpled to the floor, screaming in bloodcurdling agony.
Verde was using the stars against them. If they didn't calm her down, she really was going to kill them.
Ozpin charged through the stardust, Yin following close behind. His Light cut away at the dust clouds, clearing the path towards Verde. But the moment they got close, the witch thrust her staff to the side. The rusted weapons on the walls rattled violently, flying off their racks and heading straight for them. Yin's katana couldn't deflect all of them, two spears lodging themselves deep into his legs, bringing him to the ground. Ozpin tried to help him up, but a shield smashed against his face, throwing him into the clouds.
Yin didn't even have time to hear the knight screaming when Verde attacked, giving no recovery time. The falling stars slammed into Yin's side, tearing through his armor like paper, burning his skin black. Boiling hot blood sprayed from his mouth, a shrill shriek bursting from his lips. Verde dodged a swing from Salem's rapier, backing away and holding her staff above her free hand. From the end, a blue light had begun to glow. Salem dove to the ground as the beam blasted from Verde's staff like a laser, ripping through the walls, disintegrating them. Salem felt her heart pounding, fear gripping her entire body. If she hadn't been quick enough or didn't dive at all, she'd have been nothing more than a memory.
Where most people had a style of fighting, Verde didn't. She wasn't flashy with her attacks like Vao was - she was out for blood.
Pyrrha ducked and sidestepped the cloud, getting closer to Verde. The witch spun around to face the goblin, driving her staff into the ground. Pyrrha watched in terror as Verde's body began to shimmer, three shadows shooting out and circling the goblin, taking shape. Verde had cloned herself.
"I once suggested Yin use a katana," Verde hissed. "What I said all those years ago still applies to today - I always keep a dagger on my person!"
The clones and Verde charged, four blades piercing Pyrrha's armor. The redhead let out a shrill shriek, her armor being punctured with ease, each critical attack making her bleed more heavily. Verde's head perked up, snapping her fingers. Just as Salem's rapier moved to pierce her back, Verde jumped into the air, her feet landing with perfect balance on the broom as it zoomed last, carrying her high into the air. Salem gasped, jerking her arm and stabbing a clone in the jaw. In an instant it exploded into stardust, the particles burning at her skin. Salem yelped, reeling back.
The adventurers looked up, Verde silhouetted by the full moon on her broom. She was the very image of a witch, her black robes flapping in the breeze, one hand holding her pointed hat tightly. She didn't sway on her broom once, maintaining her balance as if she was standing on flat ground. She raised her staff into the air, the moon above beginning to glow brighter, the stars swirling around it until they looked like rings. Like a machine gun they rained down from the sky, the adventurers scrambling for cover.
Yin was getting the worst of it, the stardust making his back tingle. Sasha ran past him, her fist slamming into the wall. A piece of what was left of the ceiling came crashing down, the giant tomboy catching it in her hands. "Under here!" She screamed. As everyone dove underneath the makeshift shield, Sasha groaned and hollered as the stars slammed down against the stone, making the floor beneath them tremble.
"We need a plan!" Ozpin shouted.
"No fucking shit, Captain Obvious!" Sasha screamed back. "Fuck, man! I'd rather fight Vao a hundred times than this! I've been alive for three hundred and four years! I've never seen anything like this! She has to be some kind of a genius to even comprehend this kind of magic!"
Salem shivered. One hundred and seventy-eight. That had been Verde's IQ from the Second Timeline when she was seventeen. Here, at this moment in the Third Timeline, Verde was twenty-six. The older she got, the higher her IQ became. Verde's IQ had risen with her age. They weren't going against any ordinary witch - they were going against a literal genius.
Something caught Pip's eye, the harpy shoving Pock and pointing with his wing. The goblin followed his gaze, her jaw dropping slightly agape. Behind the direction Verde was facing, to little girls were fleeing, running through the door towards the exit of the castle. Pock and Pip glanced at each other before sprinting from their cover, Verde firing her magic at them. The ground exploded around them, threatening to blast them to pieces. Making a dive for the door, Pock slammed it shut behind them, pulling Pip to his feet.
"Come! We go!"
Pip nodded, following the goblin down the halls, his heart racing. He was an idiot like his father, but he could put two and two together - kind of. Those girls had looked like a combination of Verde and Vao, sending his mind in a daze.
...
The castle trembled and shook, dust falling from the ceiling on top of Violet and Midori. The secret laboratory had been their father's closely guarded secret - it was reinforced with steel. It wouldn't give out unless it was directly hit. But Midori had a different problem.
"Let me go, bookworm!" Violet screeched. "Dad wouldn't kick the bucket so easily!"
"Mother told us to stay inside-"
"Dad always said rules were meant to be broken!" Violet interrupted angrily.
"Father told us stories about how he got arrested every day because of that exact reason!"
Violet stomped on her sister's foot, making a mad dash for the hidden door. Midori cried out, trying to grab ahold of her sister. But Violet had already thrown the door open, sprinting into the trembling bedroom. Midori dove, tackling the two-coloured eyed girl to the ground. Violet grabbed Midori's hat and pulled it over her eyes, shaking the quiet girl.
"Dad always said he wouldn't go down easily!" She shouted. "He promised it on his pinky! We won't know if he's dead if we never look!"
Midori shook her head, pulling her hat away from her scarlet eyes. "I don't want to see Father's rotting corpse!"
"Wot if he's still alive and needs help!?"
Midori flinched. She couldn't argue with that logic. She was ninety percent sure that was the most coherent thought Violet ever had. Her lips pressing together, she nodded. Violet took her hand, dragging her down the crumbling halls. The two seven-year-olds bolted, the ceiling coming apart above them, boulder-sized chunks breaking through the floor around them. Midori suddenly pointed at the holes, to the sky beyond. Violet felt her body shiver. The stars were ripping through the sky at this point, circling the moon like halos. She shook her head, dragging the little witch with her.
They burst through the door, shielding their eyes at the sudden blue light. Midori pointed at the stardust clouds, and then up to where their mother stood on her broom.
"That must be Mother's magic! Don't touch the clouds!"
Violet nodded, releasing her sister's hand as they jumped and slid under the stray bullets of magic, keeping out of Verde's sight. They pushed through the doors, sprinting down the halls. Midori, taking more after their mother, was running out of breath. Violet grumbled, squatting down to give her a ride, continuing the sprint.
Just behind them, Pip and Pock followed closely, the harpy raising an eyebrow at the goblin. "Didn't you say you were seventy-two!? Why are you running so slow!?"
Pock gasped and wheezed. "Goblin legs is short legs! I wear armor! You not!" She inhaled deeply, glaring at the harpy. "And seventy-two not old to goblin! I young!"
Violet and Midori burst outside into the courtyard, searching around wildly. A sudden cry caught their attention, Alice waving her arms frantically.
"H-he's over here! Here!" She cried. Violet and Midori sprinted towards him, Midori scooping up her father's head from the ground. Vao was still unconscious, staring blankly ahead when she pried one of his eyelids open. Suddenly, Violet shouted angrily.
"Who in the bloody 'ell are you!?"
Pip pointed his wing at her, his face matching her angry one. "No, who in the bloody 'ell are you, bruv!?"
"You mockin' me accent, you mockney!?"
"I had this accent first! You're the mockney!" Pip retorted.
Pock glanced between the two, the pieces clicking together. "Oh, what hell Vao?" She muttered.
Alice, Midori, and Violet stood in front of Vao, the little witch setting his head down in the grass. Violet reached up and pinched her chin, twisting her neck until it popped. "Let's throw a party, you twit."
The sky shimmered, the stars swirling above them. Pock readied her daggers. She really didn't want to hurt a bunch of kids, but she didn't have a choice. They weren't walking out of there without a fight.
Midori sighed, leaning against her staff. "... If Mother and Father gave it their best effort... Then so shall we. Violet, Alice... I will provide cover fire."
Violet and Alice nodded, charging forward. Pip raised his wings, realizing last second that he didn't have hands. Violet's fist crushed past his defense, punching him in the teeth. It was like being hit by a club, sending him sprawling to the ground with a pissed off seven year old punching his lights out.
Pock blocked and parried Alice's stick, sweating each time one of Midori's magic attacks grazed her armor, heating it up. If this continued, she'd be cooked alive. Dropping her daggers, she grabbed ahold of the stick and twisted it from Alice's hands, beating the sixteen year old with it. The goblin didn't stop until Alice was on the ground, throwing the makeshift weapon like a spear. Midori gasped, tripping over her own feet. The pointed end nailed her in the side of the head, drawing blood. Pock flinched back guiltily when the young witch let out a cry.
"I-I sorry! I didn't mean-"
"Bitch!"
The battle-axe grazed her cheek as it flew past, the dullahan already dropkicking Pock in the chest. Vao was awake again, full of vigor. The goblin scratched for her daggers, her fingers curling around only one when Vao started to drag her by the ankle. With one swing, she stabbed it straight into his arm. Vao screamed angrily, throwing her back into the ground. Pip had managed to fight off Violet, sitting upright and staring straight at Vao.
"Dad-"
CRUNCH!
Pip's head snapped to the right when Vao kicked him in the mouth, sprinting for his axe. The moment he picked it up, he stared up at the sky in horror. "W-wot the fuck...?"
Violet shoved Pock back to the ground, pointing back at the castle frantically. "Daddy! Mummy's fighting Yin! She thinks you're dead!"
Vao growled, tucking his head under his arms and fleeing back to the castle, the three kids in tow. Pock scrambled for Pip, pulling the harpy to his feet.
"Come! We stop them now! If they get dere, Yin fucked!"
Pip wiped away his tears, spitting out a tooth before scooping the goblin up in his talons, giving chase.
...
The rubble shield began to crack under the sheer force of Verde's magic, the stone beginning to turn to dust. She wasn't melting it; she was vaporizing rock.
The witch glared down, her hands shaking with fury. "Yin! Die anderen sind mir egal! Ich will dich! Du bist derjenige, der Vao töten wollte! Ich will deinen Tod!"
They had no idea what she was even saying at this point. But her intentions were coming across as clear as clean water. She wanted to kill Yin more than the rest of them. Verde scowled. She wanted that rock out of the way immediately. She tilted her staff forward, steadying her breath and muttering the spell in her head.
The sound of lightning crackled around the valley, a pull tugging on the back of her robes as a dark pit opened up behind her, sucking up the stardust.
The rock that Sasha held began to tremble, shifting farther away. The elf let out a yelp, jumping back in surprise. "What the hell!? What is she doi..."
She trailed off when the debris crumbled to pieces, stretching and contorting under the sheer gravity of the situation. Ozpin's face fell, his sword falling from his hands. Verde stood in front of it, glaring down at them. The knight took a step back, terror overwhelming him.
Verde had opened up a black hole. The massive celestial body swallowed everything in its path, their clothes rippling towards it. They couldn't even breathe.
Sasha stumbled forward, grabbing onto the wall. Her orders were soundless in the air, sucked up by the monstrous source of power. The adventurers clung to the giant, Yin's feet leaving the ground. Focusing his magic into his feet, he kicked out, trying to hit Verde. But to his horrified dismay, his Light bent. It bent around the witch, swirling into the black mass until it vanished. Verde's arms trembled, the black hole finally disappearing. Air flooded their lungs, the adventurers gasping for breath.
It didn't take long for the stars to return, expanded into multicoloured clouds of gas. Verde flew on her broom amongst the nebulas, gravity evaporating around the chamber.
Salem floated helplessly as the stars shredded through her skin, letting out a high-pitched, bloodcurdling screech of agony. Sasha had the misfortune of being trapped in one of the nebulas, the gas burning at her armor, seeping through the cracks left behind by Vao. Ozpin was laying on top of Pyrrha, meteors knocking the pair around like bugs being struck with a flyswatter. Yin floated, tears finally beginning to break out when Verde abandoned her broom, floating in front of him.
He was trapped under her power. He had nothing to his advantage. Verde stopped out of his reach, her lips curling back into a snarl.
"... Before I was found by Vao, I was called the Black Witch of the Great Swamp," she hissed. "Everyone who found me tried to kill me. Not only am I a heretic to your Church, but I'm a murderer. Self-defense doesn't exist for anyone but humans who follow the Church and their teachings like sheep to a shepherd. But Vao... He talked to me like anyone else. Treated me like a friend, ate the food I cooked in that disgusting shack! You bullied me every chance you got, not because I was a murderer, but because I didn't follow the Church!"
Yin opened his mouth to speak, but a cloud of dust forced him to start coughing. Verde gritted her teeth, her face twisting in fury.
"And when you found out what Rojo did, you used it! Like every last one of those priests, you proved there is no good in the Church of Light!" She screamed. "You took away the only one who didn't try to kill me on sight! The only one who was willing to give a heretic a chance! So I'll give you a chance, too! A chance to meet your stupid fucking God!"
The stars banded together, burning at Yin's wrists and ankles as they trapped him, throwing the healer like a ragdoll. Blood painted the walls each time he slammed into one of them, finally launching him into the sky. Verde chased him on her broom, far above the castle. The moon flashed brightly, raining magic bullet hell through his body. Yin couldn't breathe anymore. But it wasn't from a black hole. It was from blood loss. He needed his staff, quick-
"Round two, twat!"
SMAAAASH!
Darkness exploded on his back, sending him crashing back down to the ground. The floor gave away, sending him straight to the ground floor of the castle. Vao slammed through the hole, attaching his head back to his neck stump. The dullahan stood up straight, tossing something to the healer. Yin's eyes fell on his staff, scrambling to pick it up.
Vao growled under his breath. "... Go ahead. Heal yourself. I'm going to make this as painful as possible."
Yin leaned heavily on the holy rod, casting his miracle. He felt his wounds closing, his burns fading. Verde soared back into the room, her eyes watering.
"V-Vao! You're alive!" She screamed. But Vao just shook his head.
"... Just let me handle this."
Yin felt a pain in his chest. It was evident from the uncomfortable look on Vao's face that something had happened between the two. He remembered something his brother had said, when they first fought him. That he ruined his marriage for this day. Did it have something to do with him turning himself into a dullahan?
Verde shook her head furiously. "No! Let me help! We can do it together!"
Vao flinched, not looking up at her. "... I can do it myself..."
"I want to help! What if something happens again!?"
"I can do it my bloody self!"
They were fighting. With the two distracted, it would be the perfect time to take out Verde and focus on Vao. Yin drew his katana, the blade rattling in his hands. The longer he stared at them, the more he didn't want to move forward. His fingers gripped tighter around his weapon... And finally let go.
Verde and Vao stopped arguing, their attention snapping to the healer. His katana lay on the ground, his knees following soon after.
It was getting difficult to breathe. The more he stared at them, the more he felt a familiar sensation bubbling deep within his mind. For a split second, he could have sworn he saw metal underneath Vao's right pant leg. He could have sworn he saw Verde, broken and battered standing in the middle of a twisted, hellish town, screaming and laughing. His breath caught in his throat, the memories clawing their way to the surface. His fingers curled into the sides of his head, his teeth clenching so tight it felt like they'd crack.
"... Wot the 'ell is your issue, cunt?" Vao growled, stepping closer.
With each step, Yin's vision flickered. The stone walls warped, viscera staining the walls, the floor, the ceiling. With each flicker, Vao's hair grew longer, his left eye disappearing. The healer stumbled back, letting out a distressed cry. Vao stopped, furrowing his brow.
And finally, in the center of Yin's line of sight, he could almost make out the transparent face. A woman with snow white skin and odd, black and red eyes. Strange ornaments dangled from her spider-shaped bun, and at the edges of her face black veins ran like dark rivers.
"S... S-Sa..." Yin struggled to squeak out the words.
This time, the memories didn't fade. They lingered. His eyes grew wet, crawling to his knees, staring up at Vao with desperation. "P-please," he whispered hoarsely. "L-listen to us... The Gods... The Gods...!"
Vao groaned, rubbing his temples.
In his mind, things just couldn't get more confusing. He looked up when the rubble fell from the hole above, locking eyes with Salem. The princess was breathing heavily, her body covered in lacerations and burns.
"We... N-need to talk..."
Vao and Verde looked to each other before looking back up at the princess, the dullahan ready to make his demands. "... Tie up the cleric. And no sudden moves, or my head won't be the only thing rolling on the floor."
...
Raven had long fallen silent, unable to see or speak. She could only listen to the sounds of the fairies giggling, the constant muttering of the First Vao as he spoke to himself under his breath, and Ruby speaking quietly to Jack.
"No, no... I'm not trying to replace you, Auntie... But if my suspicion is correct... Oh, then that means... I-I can...!"
Vao was excited. It wasn't a good sign. Raven wanted to scream for help, but she couldn't say a word.
The fairies had cut out her tongue, and Ruby had slashed her throat, tearing out her vocal cords. Through Vao's twisted, unnatural Blood, she remained alive.
Barely.
She felt like she was in a neverending state of near-death. Every muscle in her body screamed in agony, her mind slowly rotting away. She wanted them to just kill her already. They took away her ability to speak; what was the point in keeping her alive?
... She knew the answer. The horrifying answer. They kept her alive for their amusement. She was entertainment.
"... Mon Seigneur," Jack finally said in his soft-spoken, polite voice. "... What are we going to do with Ms. Branwen? She hardly reacts..."
Raven could hear the First Vao mumbling quietly before giving a proper answer. "Just wait. She's a tool I plan to use, a weapon. If Rojo's report was correct, then Salem and her cronies should be returning to Faralda to take it. After all, they're starting a war on this... Church, or wotever. Religion wasn't very big where I'm from, so correct me if I'm wrong."
"It's the Church, Milord!" Sapphire giggled happily.
Raven could hear someone approaching. She involuntarily shivered, almost feeling Jack's permanent smile staring down at her.
"... Oh... The Blood. Then you intend to-"
"That's right," the First Vao snickered. Raven could feel his cold hands tilt her chin up, smell the stench of corpses on his breath. "... My very own Abomination... Salem, back in the First Timeline, didn't use it on people very often. It was mostly animals. I can't wait to see how it turns out!"
Ruby cleared her throat before speaking. "... Milord, we tested it on an elf in Aldia. The results seemed to be normal for Abominations."
Vao giggled, his tongue trailing around Raven's lips, wiping the dried blood away. "... Salem's Blood has been in my body for a long time now," he cooed. "Wot if I learn how to control it like Salem did? I learned how to control my magic, so this shouldn't be much different; like my magic, the Blood is a part of me. I think the results would be amazing... Don't you?"
Raven heard the fairies clapping happily. In her time with the Cult, she had learned more about them than she had about the Cult as a whole.
Jasper Primary, the brains of the three. Sapphire Primary, the dumbest, yet strongest. Tourmaline Primary, the mature one. On Vao's frequent visits, she'd flirt with him and always get rejected, with Vao muttering something about a scorpion and sleepless nights.
There were only four things Raven learned about the Cult itself. The first was that every last one of them was batshit insane. The second was that they followed and revered the First Vao like a deity. The third was that it was made up of not just humans, but nonhumans as well, and all were treated equally under Vao's orders. The fourth was that they were cannibals. Just like their cruel, twisted, sinister master, they feasted on the corpses of humans and nonhumans. There was no discrimination in the Cult.
There was silence for a moment, Vao's cold hand retreating. Raven could feel her skin blistering, eliciting a shrill, high-pitched whimper from Raven. She could feel the blister growing larger, larger, until it finally popped. The pus splattered against her bare collarbone, staining her pale skin black. But that wasn't what startled her. What really startled her was the fact that she could see.
Vao was leaning closely, his lips curled into a cruel smirk. "Ah... It's beginning... Hello, Raven. Can you see me?"
The fairies that sat on top of his head waved, their lips matching Vao's. Horror filled Raven's chest, evoking a terrified shriek as she strained against her chair's restraints. She didn't want to see them anymore. She wanted to get them out of her head.
The bugs that crawled under her skin, she could feel them writhing, hear them clicking. Her ribs, exposed from malnutrition, felt like they were going to crumble to dust with each scream. And yet the bugs thrived.
When would she finally go insane? Or had she gone insane? Raven didn't know the answer anymore. She just wanted the bugs to leave her alone.
When her new, unnatural eye stared at Vao, she remembered everything. The cruel, twisted battles of the First Timeline, and even the more hopeful Second Timeline. She wished that she never stood up for the monster in front of her. Where she asked the Hero of Light to find it in himself to talk to this thing, she should have been telling him to kill.
The First Vao was a monster in every sense of the word. A cruel, psychotic, schizophrenic, man-eating killer. Even Jack looked almost like a saint when compared to him. Vao didn't stare at her new eye for long. He turned and began to pace again, resuming his insane mumbling. After a long moment, he finally spoke.
"... The Third Yin and I... Any update on them?"
Ruby shook her head sadly. "... No, Grace... The Cultists under Rojo's command reported that they visited Faralda, but it wasn't for very long."
Jack looked up, his smile growing. "... Mon Seigneur... I have something interesting..."
All attention focused on the Ripper. The First Vao leaned forward, curiosity flickering in that one scarlet eye. "... Do tell..."
Jack trembled in excitement when Vao looked at him. Raven was beginning to think Jack was equally infatuated with him as Tourmaline was. It would make sense; Jack was obsessed with the Blood. But it felt like there was another reason. Something Raven couldn't put her finger on.
"... Mon Seigneur, I've been following the Goblin City in my own time," he said softly. "I've learned of a Secret City, across the Sea of Sand... It would appear that the Third Vao has a son... A little harpy boy named Pip-"
He was interrupted when Raven began to scream. She wanted them to stay away from him. Vao stalked forward, raising his finger. With one thrust of his arm, he dug it into Raven's third eye, pulling it out in the same movement.
"Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!" He shrieked. He didn't stop beating her until she stopped screaming, leaving her broken and whimpering on the floor. He was enraged. He threw his arm at her, screaming his orders. "Just turn this useless bitch already! Keep an eye on them! Ruby!?"
Ruby jolted, a full blown smile breaking out on her doll-like face. "Yes, Lord?"
Vao leaned forward, his rank breath singing her nose hair.
"I have a question I've been mulling over for the past few days," he growled darkly. "... Is there a Summer Rose in this Timeline?"
Ruby's smile fell, the High Priestess nodding her head. "... Yes, My Lord. She is my mothe-"
She didn't get to finish her sentence. Vao was already sprinting out the door, his eye wild with delirium.
...
Clink.
Salem didn't dare to drink the tea that Vao had set in front of her. Neither did her companions. For all they knew, he could have poisoned it - which was highly likely.
Vao sat across from them, but didn't sit next to Verde. The witch stared at him guiltily, the dullahan crossing his arms and leaning back in his wooden chair. He glared at them silently, hatred burning in his red eyes. Tim and Chuck stood in the corner, standing in front of the girls. They looked wary. The adventurers weren't trusted one bit, Salem realized. Any wrong move, and another fight would break out.
"... S-so," Ozpin coughed. He spoke a bit louder. "How have you been, Vao?"
"Take a wild guess."
"N... Not good, I take it?"
Vao sucked on his pipe, the smell of marijuana filling the air. He gave it a little shake after he blew out the smoke. "... I gotta smoke this just to be a functional person. The only reason I'm not burying your corpses is because you didn't kill Tim and Chuck like I thought you did."
"You... Can't function without weed?" Sasha said in disbelief. Vao nodded.
"Panic attacks. Funny how eight years of killing people will do that to a person, huh?" He took another drag from the pipe, his shoulders relaxing. He jerked his head to Yin, glaring at the bound blonde. "... You. I told you to stay away from me and my family. Speak, cleric."
Yin didn't answer right away. His head pounded, the memories still drifting through his head. That woman with the white skin... She looked familiar - almost the spitting image of Salem. With a shaky breath, he spoke quietly. "... We... C-came for you-"
"I'd choose my words a bit more carefully if I were you," Vao warned. "If I get the impression you're threatening me, I won't hesitate to put you to sleep for good. That isn't a threat; it's a promise."
Yin gulped. If Vao attacked, he'd have no way of defending himself. He thought about what he was going to say.
"... We're here to reunite the party," he said slowly. "We're going against the Church-"
"You really think we're gonna believe that?" Chuck growled. "You, against the Church?"
Vao nodded. "... Besides. That was almost wot, nine years ago? Not gonna happen. Especially," he pointed at Pip. "When you got one of your slaves with you."
"... Pip isn't a slave," Salem said slowly. "He's your son."
Vao chuckled, taking another drag from his pipe. "Good one. I don't have a son. I have two daughters. Mine and Verde's."
Yin leaned forward, his face grim and dark. "... Poppy?"
Verde went rigid, Vao breaking into a coughing fit. Tim leaned forward, squinting his eyes at the quiet harpy. "... Now that I look at him, he really does look like you, Vao..."
"Uncle Vao... With a bird," Alice muttered quietly. "... How does that even work?"
Vao groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose. "... Wotever the case, my answer isn't changing. I'm not going with you. I have people to protect."
"It doesn't have to be just you," Pyrrha replied softly. "Everyone can come with us..."
"That doesn't make it better," Vao growled. "You must've forgotten we're wanted dead."
"And this is your chance to change that," Ozpin argued. "First, we're launching an assault on Faralda with the help of the goblins and, hopefully, Aldia. That means Verde will have a chance to get back at Rojo."
Verde fell silent. Ozpin knew he had her cornered. Tim and Chuck were sharing a look. It seemed like they were coming around too. The only issue was the immovable wall that was Vao.
"Not. Bloody. Happening," he hissed slowly. "Travel with you, so Yin can off my kids the moment my back is turned? Off me, because I'm a nonhuman? Piss off with that load of pony and trap. Take this to heart; go fuck yourself."
"Yin's changed," Salem replied. "He didn't kill Tim and Chuck, did he? He could have killed you too, but he didn't."
"That's not the poi-"
"I... Think we should go."
Vao froze when Verde spoke, turning to the witch in despair. "W-wot!?"
Verde looked up at him quietly. "Darling... If we can do this, if we can really kill Rojo and remove the Church's power from Faralda... We could show Violet and Midori the world... Wouldn't that be nice? You know how often they ask you to tell stories from when we were adventurers."
"Stories I don't talk about," Vao growled. "That blonde prick, 'e's a cleric. It's a trick."
"Then we'll just go without you."
It was Verde who cornered Vao. The dullahan looked flabbergasted and horrified. She knew he wouldn't stay behind. Vao gritted his teeth, his fingers clenching around his pipe. Standing up from his seat, he finally gave a curt nod.
"... Fine... I'll come too..." He took another drag from his pipe before pocketing it, annoyance written on his feminine face. "Hell's bells... Wot a shit show..."
Salem raised an eyebrow at Ozpin, the knight leaning to whisper into her ear. "I knew if we got Verde, Vao would agree. Now, I'll untie Yin."
It took less than an hour for them to pack their things - they didn't have much. The entire time, Pip was trying to talk to Vao.
"I-I've been wanting to meet you for so long!" He squealed happily. "Can I have a hug!?"
"No," Vao muttered, inspecting his axe. "Go play with Yin, or something."
"But I want to talk to you!"
Vao didn't answer. It gave Pip the impression that he didn't trust the harpy completely. It only bolstered his resolve to earn his father's trust. Vao swung the axe over his shoulder and hooked it to his back, next to his bow. His daggers were strapped to his thighs; he was still intent with following his class.
Pip followed behind, still rambling. "Violet was talking about how you took her fishing! She hits really hard, but she's really nice! Midori is quiet, but she's teaching me how to read!"
Vao rounded the corner, glaring at Yin. The cleric seemed to understand. He looked down at Pip, waving his hand.
"He's a bit bitter right now, kid. Just come talk to your sisters," he said gently. Pip looked a bit more glum.
"But I wanted to talk to my dad-"
"Just... Leave him alone for now," Yin pressed. Pip gave one last look at Vao before nodding his head, trotting away from the dullahan. Vao crossed his arms, scowling at the adventurers.
"... Don't make me regret this," he growled.
"You won't," Salem promised. "Besides, aren't you looking forward to seeing your mother and sister again? What about Qrow?"
Vao didn't answer, but he did think it would be nice. Sighing, he began to follow them out of the castle, his hands in his pockets. Verde quietly stepped next to him, matching his pace.
"... Hello," she said quietly. "... Can we talk about three days ago?"
Vao just shook his head, his chest aching. Verde was just as hurt as he was, continuing despite his answer.
"... I didn't mean it, Vao," she whispered. "I... I don't regret my choice at all-"
"Neither do I," Vao muttered. He flashed her a small grin. Again, it was only a shadow of his younger years. "... We'll talk later, okay? I just... Have a lot of things on my plate right now."
Verde felt relief fill her chest. She had been worried Vao wouldn't talk to her. But he was willing to work things out. She held out her hand, Vao taking it into his own.
It would seem all things were returning to the way they used to be. But there was only one difference; the tension between Yin and Vao. The healer was unaware of the thoughtful, intense glare.
And Salem was aware of the stares the healer was giving her. The light of familiarity flickered in his eyes, making her heart race.
Yin was beginning to remember her. She only hoped she could explain things before he remembered on his own.