The dwarf guard sniffled, rubbing at his nose pathetically as his friend tried to cheer him up.
"It'll be okay," the taller dwarf said softly. "There's plenty of fish in the sea..."
"D-did she have to make fun of me...?"
When Vao had left the city, the dwarf had tried to flirt with him. It ended with Vao making a comparison about choosing a sweaty skunk or the guard. Vao chose the skunk, and then laughed at the dwarf for having a short beard. Beards were important to dwarves. The guard's friend scoffed.
"C'mon, you don't need to listen to her. Bros before h-"
He stopped, the two staring at the ground. The rocks were bouncing, the ground beginning to shake in a slow, steady rhythm. The guards at the top of the wall peered down. "Jim! Michael! What's going on down there!? An earthquake!?"
The two dwarves at the foot of the gate didn't answer, slowly looking up. And then straight up. A massive, hulking frame built out of impenetrable steel stomped forward, hundreds of nonhumans following behind.
"W-what the FUCK IS THAT!?"
The dwarves on top of the gate screamed in horror, loading their ballistas and cannons, the captain standing behind the fleet. On his command, arrows and cannonballs soared through the air - and bounced off Penny's body. They didn't even leave a dent or a scratch. The captain bolted for the stairs, fleeing the scene and leaving his men behind. Within seconds, Penny towered over the wall, panic rising through Ragna when they saw the mountainous figure, alarm bells ringing wildly. Yin pointed his katana forward, his blue eyes beginning to blaze.
"Kick it down, Penny!"
"UNDERSTOOD."
The dwarves scrambled to get away from the gate when Penny's foot moved back, but many were too late. The moment she struck the metal gate, the barricade blasted to pieces, launching armored dwarves through the air. The Battle for Ragna had finally begun. Yin patted Vao on the back, the two sprinting ahead with Sasha running behind them, Verde following on her broomstick.
The nonhumans charged, arrows bouncing off the tower shields with Hazel behind them, leading his spearmen in the backs of bow-weilding centaurs. Raising a silver sword high into the air, he gave his command.
"Fire every last arrow! Don't let anyone touch the heroes until we reach the palace!"
The shield soldiers broke apart the moment they reached the main city, locking into combat in an instant. Yin, Vao, and Sasha stood back to back with their weapons drawn, fighting off the hordes of dwarves as they charged with axes and maces of steel. Verde flew high above, Hekue riding behind her with her flute to her lips. Without hesitation, the dryad began to play.
Hekue's magic worked based on nature. It did nothing more than bolster morale, strength, and endurance. And for a veritable tank like Sasha, that was nothing short of a true miracle. The elf sheathed her greatsword, her veins beginning to bulge and her armor cracking under her mass as she flexed. Yin and Vao took a step back, the dullahan making a mental reminder to treat her with the utmost respect when her armor split to pieces, revealing her massive, log-sized arms. The dwarves took a step back, Sasha cracking her knuckles with a thundering POP.
They were tossed to the side when Sasha charged, fists swinging and legs shattering armor, clearing a path for Yin and Vao, Verde supporting her with magic and Hekue playing her flute wildly.
Ozpin and Salem were further away, battling the Knights at the palace doors with Pyrrha and Chuck, holding them back until Team FRSB arrived. The Knights, to no surprise, were nothing short of violent, pushing them back down the steps. They couldn't even get close to the door, the golden armor of the murderous racists shining in the sun that was nearly blocked out by the fumes of smoking rising from burning buildings as catapults launched fiery projectiles into their own city in an attempt to ward off the invading nonhumans.
Yin grabbed Vao and pointed, the dullahan following his gaze. "Vao, throw me to Salem and Ozpin! The Knights, I've seen them train! They need all the help they can get!"
"Got it!"
Yin braced himself when Vao grabbed him by the ankle, spinning on his heel until they were nothing but a blurry tornado. Vao screamed angrily, throwing Yin over the dwarves. The healer gripped his katana, bracing himself for impact. His katana swung, the blade digging under the Knight's helmet, breaking through the chainmail underneath and severing his head from his shoulders. The healer faced the enemy, shouting out to his allies. "Cover your eyes!"
He didn't dare turn his attention away from the Knights. He had to trust them. Something he had learned was vital. Holding his katana, he let his emotions run free, a blinding light engulfing the steps to the palace. The Knights of the Church cried out in confusion, Yin moving quickly. His katana alone wouldn't be enough to break through their plate armor. Aiming for any weak point - the spots where their joints needed to bend, he moved quickly, using his much lighter frame to dart between the Knights, cutting at the backs of their knees. One by one they fell, until more spilled out from the palace.
A massive Knight dove down for Yin, his axe meeting Yin's katana, threatening to snap the sword in half with each swing. The healer was already sweating, his entire body weight and strength spent on defending himself. And luckily, someone had his back.
Vao's battle-axe slammed down on the Knight's head, splitting his helmet and skull in half when the dullahan rode towards them on a centaur, his head held high in his hands. He jumped off the nonhumans, landing next to Yin.
"Oi, mate... Wot now? I was only focused on saving your arse..."
Yin smirked, holding his katana in both of his hands. "Vao, use your magic with mine. We're forcing our way into this castle, and going after Glenroy."
"You mean I risked my skin scouting a castle for infiltration spots we were never going to use?"
"No, we were looking for weaknesse-"
BOOM, BOOM, BOOM, BOOM!
Yin stopped talking, the adventurers looking up to the sky. The explosions didn't sound like any cannon. And when they finally saw who was coming, they dove for cover in terror.
The First Vao was using Grimm Demise to propel himself through the air, Mono clinging to his back. The Cult leader laughed, jumping away as the First Vao became a murderous storm, his axe and dagger tearing through the knights. They didn't look back; the First Vao raised his hand, a powerful beam of pure Darkness blowing the diamond-enforced door to smithereens, and charged inside with Mono following close behind.
"Y-YIN!"
Jasper flew around the healer's head, pointing frantically. "Th-the Cult! The Cult is here!"
Yin and Vao turned back, sinking deeper into utter despair. The amount of hooded figures with armor underneath their black cloaks easily doubled what Ragna had for forces. And what was worse, was the weapons they were using. Gunshots rang through the air from riflemen stationed on the rooftops, folding scythes and electrified maces tearing through the unprepared forces.
"W-what the HELL!?" Pyrrha screamed. Ozpin gritted his teeth, his face pale with terror.
"The First Vao... He modernized his military!"
They didn't get much time to react. The Secret City and Ragna came sprinting down the streets, their faces blank with horror. It didn't take long to find out who they were running from. Or, for this situation, what they were running from.
"St-steel rhino! Steel rhino!" Cinder cried.
A tank. No, not a knight in bulky armor. The Cultists were driving a tank. The machine gun smoldered and smoked, the Cultist operating the weapon laughing in morbid hysteria. The barrel of the tank's cannon fired with enough force to rock the vehicle back and forth, the treads devastating the roads.
Sasha looked at her friends, her face filled with agony. "... W-we have to fight-"
"Bitch, how!?" Jasper snapped. "We don't stand a chance against something like that!"
"Miss Sasha!"
They looked up to see Hekue waving her hand from Verde's broom. "I-I can play my flute! I-If we don't try to do something, we're dead meat!"
Sasha nodded, holding her greatsword in front of her. It was time for her to show what she could do. She clenched her jaw, swinging her massive weapon to the side. "Everyone... Go after those freaks. I really, really don't want you to see what I'm like when I fight like this."
Yin was against it immediately. "B-but if something happens to you-"
"Just... Go. I'll meet up with you later."
Yin looked like he was about to shed a few tears. In his eyes, Sasha was sacrificing herself to continue. Guided by Salem and Jasper, the adventurers pushed their way through the demolished door, running into the palace. Verde dropped Hekue off on a balcony before flying through the door on her broom, giving a blank look back. While her face didn't show it, her eyes revealed her sorrow. She too disappeared, joining the others. Sasha took a deep breath, heaving a heavy sigh. "... That means you too... Vao..."
The dullahan hadn't moved. "... Yin's right, you know..."
"... Don't care. If I die, then that's it," she said. "... I've thought about it for a few months now. We're up against real monsters. Some of us have already died... I've come to terms with it. If I have to die, I want it to be because I protected the people I call my friends. That means you too, dumbass."
Vao flashed a small grin, standing at her side. "You know, I've been told I'm kind of like a doggy. I'm loyal to a fault when it comes to my mates. I'm not about to let you die alone."
Sasha eyed him, towering over the nonhuman. "... You have kids, Vao. A family. Shouldn't you be there for them? Go inside."
Vao nodded, his smile falling. "... Yeah, I got kids. I got a wife. I love them more than anything, even myself," he replied quietly. "... But I consider you guys part of my family, too... Even if we've had our scuffles and arguments, that's just wot brings us closer, mate... I never said it, and I don't want you to go telling Yin this either, but... You, everyone... You guys make me hate myself just a bit less. I laugh, I joke, but I really don't like myself. I'm not smart, I sometimes feel like I'm just bothering everyone, and I'm only good for my strength and skills as a thief. I... Screw up a lot. That's part of the reason I tore up my adventurer card all those years ago - you guys were the only ones who really accepted me, and Verde too... So... Let me die by your side, Sasha. We're the two powerhouses of Team Frisbee, right?"
He nudged Sasha playfully, the tall elf giving him a small smirk. "... It's supposed to be pronounced 'Frostbite', Girl Hips."
"Can it, Biceps," Vao snickered. Sasha sighed again, reaching for her ponytail.
"... I got my troubles, too. When I escaped slavery, I was branded a murderer. I never told you guys this, but I didn't go home right away. I didn't know where home was. I was... I was a bandit. Ran with a gang in the hills, killed people for their stuff. Not a night goes by where I'm not haunted by their faces. You sure... That you're okay with siding with a murderer?"
Vao grinned, drawing his axe and resting it against his shoulders. "... Wouldn't have it any other way, friend."
Sasha nodded, a solitary tear sliding down her cheek. She really was lucky to have friends like Yin, Vao, Verde, and Salem. With a slight pause, she undid her ponytail - the thing that reminded her of Nikita, and her parents before they were murdered. Her alter ego had finally come out. Her green eyes hardened, her grip on her weapon tightening.
"Alright, buddy. You wanna hit the gym after we fuck this thing's day up?"
Vao smirked. "Yeah. Let's do this, partner. Oi, nutter! The one who worships an even bigger nutter!"
The tank immediately stopped, the turret spinning around to face them. Vao and Sasha stood in the middle of the road, their weapons drawn. The Cultist manning the machine gun stared at them in confusion. "What!? This thing's loud! I can't hear you-"
"YOU CAN'T PLEASE THE FIRST VAO!"
Vao's words seemed to finally strike a nerve. He was very good at pissing people off. The Cultist grabbed the trigger, squeezing the lever to the metal. Sasha and Vao split apart the moment the bullets began to fly, the Cultist gunning after Vao. The tank rolled forward, chasing the thief into the alleys, smashing through the narrow corridors with ease. Vao vaulted over obstacles, throwing taunts as he kept sprinting.
"Catch me if you can! Run, run, run! Because I'm the Headless Horseman! Nyahahaha!"
He yelped in terror when the bullets struck at his feet, making him almost dance to get out of the way. The Cultist operating the vehicle growled furiously, gunning at full speed. The alleys were slowing them down to where Vao could outrun the tank if he wanted. "Headless Horseman!? Is this guy a retard or something!? He doesn't even have a horse! Reggie, fucking kill him already!"
"I-I can't!"
"The fuck do you mean!?"
"He's juggling his head around! I can't blow his brains out!"
Vao skidded on his feet, making a sharp turn. The tank slammed into the corner, the barrel turning towards him. It had a clear shot. The driver grinned maniacally, reaching for the pull-chain to fire the shell at him. But getting the tank to stop had been the plan.
THUD!
The driver watched in surprise when Reggie's legs disappeared, immediately checking the tank's camera system. Sasha was slamming Reggie into the ground, her greatsword pierced through his chest. She dropped the dead Cultist, Vao sprinting back to her side. They grabbed the treads, the sound of Hekue's flute blasting around them as the dryad followed. The driver grabbed his seat for support as Sasha and Vao began to forcibly drag the tank out of the alley, and into the open street. But they were far from finished. The inside of the vehicle rocked dangerously when the two pulled up, lifting the tank into the air.
SLAAAAM!
The Cultist cried out when the tank slammed back into the ground, throwing him off the stool and slamming into the ceiling. Out of anger he slammed his hand against an orange button, the tank's plates beginning to shift. Sasha and Vao backed off, their hearts sinking as the transforming vehicle warped, taking the shape of something humanoid.
"Another bloody robot!?"
["Son of a bitch!"] The Cultist's voice cried out. ["You killed Reggie! You killed my little brother!"]
The mech charged, its metal fist punching Vao clear over the buildings, sending him crashing into the palace. Sasha popped her neck, going toe-to-toe with the mechanical behemoth. Their fingers entwined with each other, instantly locking into a furious pushing match. Sasha, being smaller, wasn't winning. Her feet slid across the ground, the elf's veins beginning to bulge. Without hesitation she suddenly pulled, using the tank's own momentum to take it off its feet, swinging it through a building. The tank rolled through the house, panicking civilians scrambling for a new place to hide.
The tank looked up just in time to see Sasha charging with the strength of an angry bull, her fists slamming against the steel plate. The Cultist burst into laughter.
["You fool! You're gonna break your hand-"]
Crack.
He stopped talking, the emergency lights flashing. Sasha hadn't just cracked the armor. She had punched through it.
Sasha was by far the strongest member of Team FRSB, something she was proud of - built out of sheer muscle. And when her hair was down, not tied in her signature ponytail, she could feel pure adrenaline running through her thick veins. She didn't have a Semblance on Twist, but Hekue's magic was almost equal to her previous counterpart's ability.
Cultists began to rush to the tank's aid, Sasha spinning around and caving one of their skulls in with one punch. Sweeping another to the ground, she used her like a weapon to start smashing through, blood coating her face. Her green eyes flared with rage, her teeth gritted into a snarl. The Cultists began to back away, switching to range instead.
Sasha ducked and bolted when the bullets sprayed around her, littering the walls with holes. The tank had recovered, chasing after her. She could see Vao at the door to the palace, waving his arms frantically.
"Sasha, SASHA! RUN!"
The moment she dove through the remains of the door, Vao threw a torch at the ceiling and sprinted for safety. The explosives he had set up detonated, bringing the door's arch down. Rubble slammed on top of the tank, bringing the behemoth to the ground, pinning it underneath the sheer weight and blocking the entrance completely. They could hear the Cultists grouping up outside, frantically digging to reach them. As Sasha and Vao turned to regroup with the others, the hatch of the tank opened, the driver's arms pulling himself out half way. He looked up at them, blood trickling from his forehead.
"Hugh... H-help me! The t-tank... I-it's crushing my legs...!"
Vao held up one of his homemade bombs, Sasha taking it from his hand and lighting the fuse.
"Here's a better idea, comrade. Go fuck yourself," she snarled. Without hesitation, she turned and tossed the explosive over her shoulder. It landed inside the tank, the Cultist screaming in terror.
"L-Lord Vao, help me!"
The explosion shook the halls, Vao and Sasha not even bothering to look back. The dullahan was giddy. "Holy hell... I didn't know you were a badass, Sasha!"
"Badasses don't need to tell people they're badass," Sasha chuckled. "Good thinking with those explosives. Really saved my ass back there, Girl Hips."
Vao grinned, holding out his hand for Sasha to slap his palm. Without further hesitation, they raced down the hall. They needed to find their friends before something else interrupted them.
...
Shhhnnnk...
Shhhhnnnnk...
The weight of the massive battle-axe dragged against the ground, the blade leaving a scar in the marble floor, its owner pulling it along. The blade was stained scarlet, his raspy, whisper breathing echoing in the halls. Only five person could hear him. The ones who stayed by his side. One was a very dear friend to him, who was growing more worried with each passing second.
"Vao... You're acting strange," Mono said softly.
He didn't respond. It wasn't that he was ignoring her. It was as if he barely heard her. She reached out, hesitating for a moment. Should she risk touching his shoulder while he was in that trance? It would be dangerous, but at the same time something felt off. It was almost like she was following a different person than the one she knew and fell for.
"... Vao?"
He flinched, turning his scarlet gaze to her. "O-oh... Wot is it?"
At least he was responsive. Mono gulped, meeting his eye. "Are you... Alright? Back there, with those men... You seemed very angry..."
The First Vao stared at her blankly, his cold lips parting to speak softly. "... They were in my way."
"Even still, My Lord," Ruby said quietly. "You've always made it quick, so they wouldn't suffer... But this time you were drawing it out, going after even those who were running away..."
Tourmaline and Sapphire didn't even respond, the doll hiding behind her now smaller sister. The First Vao turned his head away, continuing their path. "... So wot? It doesn't matter. It's not like we know them."
"What we're trying to say is it was unnecessary," Ruby continued. "You usually only kill those that you need to, such as for food or if they try to stop you. We've never seen you actively pursue anyone for the sole purpose of kill-"
"Mind your business."
His cold voice startled them. Except for Jack. Jack wasn't even paying attention, admiring the architecture of the palace. The First Vao sighed, his shoulders dropping forward.
"... I... I'm fine... Don't want to talk about it..."
Mono tried to reach for him again. She wanted him to talk to her about it. But the moment he saw her move, he turned. It was then that she saw it, almost hidden underneath his hair. Her hand stopped inches from his shoulder, her jaw dropping open. And with a firm tone, she gave an order.
"... Ruby, Jack? Return to the entrance and wait for the adventurers."
Tourmaline was instantly against it, Jack and Ruby already obeying her order. "What!? But Lord Vao-"
"Go," Mono warned. Tourmaline flinched, her face going pale. With a huff, the fairy flew down the halls with Sapphire following from the ground. Mono listened to herself breathing for a few seconds, finally turning to the murderer. "Vao... May I touch you for a moment?"
The First Vao slowly nodded, his shoulders stiffening when her fingers grazed his skin. Careful not to make any sudden movements, she brushed his overgrown hair out of the way, exposing the mark on his left cheek. A darker spot on his skin - not red due to the color of his blood, but a visible mark nonetheless. A handprint, the fingers too long to be human. Mono could feel her blood beginning to boil.
"Vao, did... Did someone strike you?"
From the corner of his eye, a familiar shape moved into view. Summer was watching silently, invisible to Mono. The First Vao didn't see any reason to lie.
"... Auntie hit me... That's all..."
"Your Auntie...?" Mono was confused. Summer was dead, and the First Vao had her Soul; she wouldn't even be in the Graveyard. And when he called her 'Auntie', he was always talking about the First Summer. "What do you mean, Vao?"
The First Vao scratched his head, not looking her in the eye. "... S-sometimes... I see her... She talks to me... When she gets angry, she hits me... It happens... A-all the time..."
The First Vao's hallucinations were common knowledge in the Cult. He had mentioned before that if he sounded like he was talking to himself, he was talking to his hallucinations. But hallucinations couldn't leave physical marks on anything, nevermind hurting a real person. That was impossible. And if she was a ghost, Mono would have seen the fog that enshrouded spirits. For a moment, Mono was curious if he was lying. But when she looked into his one eye, she knew he wouldn't do that. He had told her the truth.
Jack's words from earlier echoed in her ears. Mono but her lip. Was Jack doing something that she wasn't aware of? That even the First Vao didn't know about? She could never imagine a traitor in the Cult, especially Jack. Jack had introduced many of the Cultists to Grimmore, including herself. But no matter what scenario she tried to imagine, it all led to the same conclusion: Jack was doing something behind their backs. She looked back down at the First Vao, her eyebrows furrowing with worry.
"... Tell me more about her. About Auntie..."
He didn't look comfortable. He looked at Summer fearfully, waiting for her to tell him what to do. But the hallucination was silent, watching him closely. He gulped.
"U-um... She helps me... With people coming behind me," he said. "She tells me when someone is trying to sneak up on me... So she c-can be helpful..."
Again, Mono's concerns were growing stronger. Hallucinations couldn't do that either. She looked down, swallowing her nerves. "I... I see..."
The First Vao stared at her. He was growing impatient with his own thoughts. Even when he nearly exploded in the sewers, Mono had been the only one to remain calm. Even Cinder, his past lover, feared him. He finally spoke, his words startling the maid.
"... Why aren't you scared of me, like everyone else?"
"P... Pardon, Vao?"
The First Vao stared at her, his scarred lips exposing his bloody teeth as he spoke. "E-everyone else... E-everyone else always walks on eggshells around me... E-even Cinder did that, in the F-First Timeline... But you... You still stand so close..."
Mono stared at him, searching for what he could possibly be trying to say. And finally, she saw it flickering very dimly in his eye.
He didn't understand her affection, even after their talks and time spent together. His opinion of himself was much lower than she had thought. Mono stepped closer, within his reach.
"... Because I don't want to fear you," she replied quietly. "... You say you are dangerous, that you're an unstable, man-eating serial killer... That if we don't keep our distance, one day we might be next."
That didn't explain anything to the First Vao at all. If anything it was even more of a reason to fear him. "Th-then... Why?"
"Because... I think there is more to you than everybody seems to think... Than even yourself thinks," Mono almost whispered softly. "When we first met... When you shared lunch with me, nine years ago... I couldn't see the rumored killer that the others talked about. I saw someone who was very lonely; someone who didn't have anyone to turn to. I was unfamiliar with kindness, even when I joined the Cult. Outside the Cult, I'd be hunted, with adventurers who called themselves 'heroes' trying to take my life... In the Cult, parents told their children I was a monster because I could stop time, and rocks were even thrown at my home... You were the first person who ever talked to me like anyone else... Like... A friend..."
One of the reasons Mono and the First Vao could grow closer was because they shared similar traumas. With the threat of death from even her own parents, she was an outcast to everyone. The First Vao had equally lost everything, stabbed in the back countless times, and was labelled one of the deadliest threats, with the entirety of the Graveyard trying to kill him. In that way, Mono felt like she could understand him. The monoeye took a deep breath, her neatly folded hands gripping each other tightly.
"... Vao... I think that deep down inside, you're just like anyone else. Like me. That day, in that cafe... Even after I told you that I could stop time, you didn't avoid me. You stayed, and you didn't mind. That is why... I choose not to fear you. I've seen you cry, I've seen you laugh, and I've seen you frustrated. I think you're a person, too. That was the same thing you told me that day; that my power wasn't everything. That I had feelings, too. You're the same... That's what I believe, and it's why I can't be scared of you."
The First Vao had frozen, his eye staring straight at her, glossy and wet. It was the first time anyone had outright refused to think of his abilities and tendencies when talking to him. To not even be cautious near him, to acknowledge that he was still human. He bit his lip, trying to bottle everything in, like he usually did. He needed to focus on his goal. That was what Summer always told him to do.
Shf...
His thin, frigid body tensed when Mono moved forward, her arms wrapping around him. It was the first time he had been hugged and didn't think about Tyrian immediately. It was the first time someone hugged him not to make him feel better, of because he wanted it. Even Cinder never hugged him on her own because she wanted to; she always waited for him to ask, or if he was distressed and absolutely needed it.
"Vao... I think that you're a really nice person. You simply don't get a chance to show it. I just can't see you as a monster."
The First Vao finally broke, shakily wrapping his arms around Mono. She had hit the nail straight on the head. For the first time since he killed Summer in the First Timeline, he met someone who didn't care about the dangers of getting to know him. His voice cracking, he shakily whispered.
"M-Mono... Th-thank you," he croaked. "I... I-I feel so... H-happy, when I talk to you... M-my chest... I-it feels warm... I'm n-nervous... I l-like it when you c-calk me by my n-name... I-I don't know w-why... I-is something missing... Wot am I... N-not understanding...?"
This was her chance. He had described the feeling that Mono held for him, something that he had forgotten throughout the years. It was up to her to make the first move. She wasn't willing to give it up.
"... Would it help if I said I love you?"
Was it true? The First Vao found that he didn't mind the answer too much. He cared about Mono even more than he did Cinder. Finally, he stopped focusing on his dream. For the first time, he looked at what was in front of him. Someone he was finding he couldn't live without. Someone who cared about him. He pulled away, locking eye with her.
"I... I-I think... I-I know... I f-feel that way..."
Summer didn't say anything. She wanted to beat him senseless, but she couldn't do that while Mono was watching. She was furious. Despite her best attempts, she couldn't control him. Mono's affection and gentleness towards his emotions was breaking him away from her. She gritted her teeth, glaring at the maid who couldn't see her. Because of Mono, the First Vao was remembering that he was still a person - something Summer had spent decades undoing. If this continued, Mono would ruin everything. Without a sound, she retreated back into the First Vao's body, disappearing from him. She needed to think this over, to figure out how to destroy Mono and the First Vao's relationship before he discovered the truth.
He pulled away completely. There was one thing he hadn't told her. Something he needed to tell her. He turned his back. He didn't want to see her reaction. "... I've... Been f-forgetting things," he whispered. "Mono..."
Her heart started to pound when he looked back at her, a soft smile on his lips. A human smile, something that no one else saw. It would have made her happy, but not this time. Something was off. Something was wrong.
"... I-if I forget you... Please... K-kill me... I don't want to hurt you..."
...
Jack had his hands in his pockets, walking alongside Ruby and Sapphire. Tourmaline had gone off on her own, the Blood twisting her hunger. No doubt the fairy was eating. Ruby glanced at her watch, looking back up.
"... I am excited."
"What about, mademoiselle?"
Ruby didn't smile. "My Lord brought us along... Today is the day I intend to face Yin and Vao," she said softly. "They're nasty people, and people do not change. Yin actively took part in an organization that suppressed others, and Vao... I've realized in Grimmore and throughout the time since he left the Wilds that he is equally awful. He willingly travels with that racist scumbag, and even thinks of him as a friend. In my eyes, that is unforgivable. It is up to me to perfect them; to add them to my collection of dolls."
Ruby didn't believe for a second that Yin abandoned his old ways. She had seen the Church when she was forced to join them, under Leaf's cruel mentorship. She had seen what the Church did to anyone who wasn't human, and she completely believed Yin had been aware of it. Jack wasn't about to tell her that everyone outside of the Royal Capital was left in the dark. Things were going smoothly; he didn't need to do anything.
"... Oui. Do as you will, mademoiselle-"
"Ooh, crayons!"
Sapphire skipped away to one of the corpses left behind by the Circle. Clutched in a brutally smashed hand was a box of crayons. Ruby sighed, following after her. "... Sapphire, those have blood on them. Please put them down; you'll get your dress filthy."
Jack silently watched Ruby talk to Sapphire. Among the dolls, Sapphire was the only one who had been left with free will. Ruby couldn't bear to change anything about her when she built the deceased fairy a new body for her Soul to occupy. In fact, Ruby was the most gentle with Sapphire. Mostly because even as a fairy, Sapphire couldn't take care of herself without a caretaker, and would inevitably be killed again if she wasn't around. After a quick command from the doll-maker, Sapphire nodded happily, jogging away to regroup with Tourmaline. Jack raised an eyebrow as Ruby walked back.
"... She isn't coming with us?"
Ruby shook her head. "No. I... Do not want her to see me upset, if it gets to that point. I'm afraid... She won't understand, and might even become scared of me... The First Vao frightened her, even though he didn't mean to..."
Jack chuckled lightly. "Mademoiselle, she does not get scared easily. I must say, I was surprised she hid behind mademoiselle Tourmaline when Mon Seigneur acted strangely."
Ruby sighed, running a comb through her hair. "I know... But I still can't help but worry... She's like a daughter to me, and I've grown attached; she is very endearing and... Somewhat innocent. She doesn't understand the concept of death, and it's why she can kill so easily, and put herself in danger... I'm worried that if Yin finds out the truth about her, he'll... He'll try to kill her..."
Jack's yellow eyes flickered with curiosity. "... I do not understand what you mean, mademoiselle. Could you explain, s'il te plaît?"
Ruby's fingers curled around her comb, bending the plastic until it almost snapped. "... The Church... They kill people like her..."
"That's because she's not huma-"
"Even if she was human!" Ruby interrupted. "Even if she was human, she'd be locked up while they do awful experiments on her! That's why... That's why I can't ever forgive Yin! Not only because of his racism, but everything else about the Church! J-just... Even if she was human, they'd... J-just because she's different..."
Ruby didn't often get emotional unless she spoke about the Church. But she was right; it wouldn't have mattered if the Primary Sisters were born as humans. Sapphire would have been killed either way, and Jasper and Tourmaline would have been arrested, or even executed for trying to protect her. It was one of the many reasons Ruby despised the Church, and Yin for being aligned with the faction through his childhood. But Jack couldn't find it in himself to care about that. He didn't vocalize his lack of compassion, however. He just stayed silent, stopping his walk. He could see something moving out of the corner of his eye, something Ruby was unable to see.
"... You go on ahead, mademoiselle. I believe this is a personal matter for you."
Ruby took a few deep breaths, calming herself down. "... Thank you, Jack..."
The madman parted ways with her, waving his hand without looking back as she continued down the halls. "Au revoir, mademoiselle..."
The creature was waiting for him, slipping deeper down the corridors, out of earshot of the main hall. Jack followed silently, his smile growing. And when it stopped, he greeted politely, like always.
"Bonjour... Is there a problem?"
The thing couldn't be comprehended by people. Jack was the only one who could look at it without losing his mind; born with the Blood in his body. It nodded, several eyes staring down at him.
(("A very big problem,")) it hissed in a watery, unnatural voice. (("That Mono... She's tearing everything to pieces. Take care of it, Jack."))
The smiling man chuckled. "I can't kill her just yet."
(("Can't? Or do not want to?"))
"Do not want to," Jack answered casually. "If you are speaking to me directly about this, I assume she unknowingly found a way to prevent the Blood from manipulating the First Vao?"
The creature let out a low growl. (("... Correct..."))
Jack pulled his hands out of his pockets, holding up a small vial filled with a black ooze. "I have a much more entertaining plan... One my Dark God would approve of. Why not overload his senses with it, until even mademoiselle Mono can't keep him under control?"
The creature scowled. Or at least that was what Jack assumed it was doing. He couldn't tell; its expressions couldn't be understood by him. (("You're suggesting you turn him into an abomination?"))
"Non, non. My Dark God would be very upset," Jack cooed. "After all, the First Vao is one of his favorite toys. He's by far the most unpredictable, and that makes things exciting. I am suggesting... That he forgets who Mono is. Who everyone is. His Soul remains under your control, and Mono can no longer get in the way. He would be under the Blessing's spell again. Does this not tempt you? To be in possession of a man who has been trained to be a human weapon?"
The creature hummed, its body shifting and squirming. (("... Perhaps... That could work... He just needs more..."))
"Oui. More Blood, the Blood of the Dark God," Jack agreed calmly. "... Do you agree with my suggestion?"
The incomprehensible horror was silent for a long moment. (("... Fine. Take care of it, Jack. Do not fail."))
Jack's smile widened, nearly stretching across his entire face, his relaxed yellow eyes filled with intense excitement. "I would never fail my God..."
The creature hummed, beginning to shrink. (("... I must return to that pitiful example of a human... You do not need it, but good luck, Jack..."))
As the nightmarish creature shrank into nothing, Jack twirled the vial in his hand, tossing it back and forth.
"... Oh la la... This is just too easy... But it's still so much fun... And yet... There is one more thing I must do..."
...
The Graveyard of the Timeline was silent, the decrepit towers of Beacon Academy standing amidst the dark skies and the impenetrable fog. On the outside, armed soldiers patrolled the walls, their eyes scanning for any signs of danger. With the increasing instability of the Graveyard as the Collapse drew closer, abominations had begun to attack. Some would aimlessly wander, but most would assault the walls.
Deep inside the corridors of the old school, the First Winter supervised her soldiers' training, the Second Ironwood standing at her side, occasionally correcting a position by kicking the soldier's boot.
Deeper within, inside an old dorm, the artist typed away at her keyboard, her prosthetic arm giving an uneven rhythm, her eyes glued to the screen. The Second Verde, with the First Verde operating another computer in the same room. The Second Sasha and the Second Vao were maintaining the weapons, the beds pushed to the side to make room. The Second Yin sat at a desk, shifting through a stack of papers, his blue eyes tiredly scanning the words and paragraphs for errors. The First Yin was present, too. He leaned out the window, a cigarette burning at his lips.
The Second Verde sighed, pushing away from the desk and running her hands over her face. The Second Vao looked up worriedly.
"Something wrong, Love?"
The First Verde nodded. "Yes. Very wrong. The Blood sample that the First Yin brought back... It's acting strangely."
The First Yin looked back, flicking his cigarette ash out the window. "The fuck do you mean?"
The First Verde turned to him, her face blank. "Do you remember how I told you to try and get a sample of the First Vao's Blood?"
"Yeah, he got some of it on me when we fought in that Grimmore place," the First Yin replied in annoyance. "What do you mean it's acting up? Are we about to fight an abomination in this tiny ass room?"
The Second Verde shook her head. "No... We're monitoring it. Since the First Vao is still alive, we can check on his condition. The results are very vague, but they have generally been consistent in pattern. Until very recently, that is."
None of them understood what the two geniuses were saying. The First Verde sighed, leaning back in her chair. "The Blood sample is bouncing between strong and weak," she explained monotonously. "A few months ago, it was steadily rising in power and corruptive capabilities. Now it is erratic, and even harder to predict than before."
"So... It's losing its power?" The Second Sasha asked. "Isn't that a really good thing for us?"
"No," her team leader answered. "The Blood wouldn't lose its power even if the First Vao were to die. What we mean by losing strength, is that it's losing control over the First Vao."
The First Yin's cigarette fell from his fingers, falling to the ground far below. For the first time in a very long while, he looked hopeful.
"Th... Th-there's a way to save him...?"
The First and Second Verde both shook their heads. "No. It still has control," the Second Verde said softly.
"We suspect there's an external force aiding him," the First Verde added. "We're not sure what could possibly deliver a strong enough emotional shock because of how long he's lived with the Blood in his body... Not even killing Summer in the Third Timeline was enough, and that was our only hope..."
The First Yin looked devastated. The First Verde sighed, turning away. He was difficult to look at.
Even with the First Vao succumbing to the Blood again, the First Yin held hope that he could have his brother back. According to him, the First Vao was very different when he wasn't being controlled - not that any of them would know. New Atlas still wanted him dead, and so did everyone else. His only saving grace had been the First Yin hiding him away. She knew how it felt. Many of the people she knew before Atlas fell didn't come to the Graveyard. Their Souls were trapped within the First Vao, who had eaten them. Including her adoptive father.
The Second Verde sighed, turning back to her computer. She couldn't make sense of it. Summer had been what destroyed the First Vao's mental state in the first place. The only thing that could bring his humanity back was her, and they didn't have anyone but the Second Summer - someone who absolutely was not an option. Not just because she was against it, but everyone else from the Second Timeline too, including herself. Her fingers began to press against the keys again, her organic hand reaching for a cup of coffee to keep herself awake. The Second Vao and the First Yin stood up, looking over her shoulder at the screen. Neither of them could make sense of the various numbers and words.
"... Wot are you doing?"
"Yeah. Wonderin' the same shit."
"Searching for a possible source," the Second Verde replied. "It has to be near him... The corruption levels have dropped drastically."
The computer flickered, catching them off guard. The Second Verde backed away, staring at the screen in confusion. "Is... The generator experiencing issues right now?"
The First Verde shook her head. "It shouldn't be... I was present when they were repaired this morning."
The screen flickered and flashed again, before going dark. It couldn't be the generators; the First Verde's computer was still on. The Second Vao groaned, stepping closer. "I got this... Mum used to do this to me all the time when I didn't think right. Still does."
SLAP, SLAP, SLAP!
The First Yin furrowed his brow when the Second Vao struck his palm against the side of the device. "... Raven hits you?"
"Honestly? I prefer her hand over the shovel. I hate that bloody thing."
"She hits you with a shovel!?"
The Second Vao looked back in confusion. "No... She hands it to me and tells me to dig my own grave..."
"He... Has a questionable childhood," the Second Yin explained. "One time, he came back to school with bullet holes in his car. Or, everyday, actually..."
"Hold on... What?"
"Mafia shit," Sasha muttered. "Junior and his guys had his back, then ours when Vao Number Two kidnapped us."
The First Yin stood up straight, raising his eyebrows. "... I kinda want to hear this story..."
The Second Vao was still tapping away at the computer. And finally, it flickered back to life. But it didn't show the readings that his girlfriend had been watching. With a terrified scream, he jumped back, the heroes pulling him away from the face in the monitor.
["Bonjour. Is it working, now?"]
It was a man they had never met before. He was skinny with pale skin and short black hair, his chin was dotted with stubble. His yellow eyes were possibly the most relaxed they had ever seen before, but his smile. It was unnaturally wide, showing nearly every tooth in his mouth, and completely betrayed the type of man who had invaded the computer. The First Yin instinctively jumped in front of the others, shielding them with his arms. "Who the fuck are you!?"
The man turned to him. The Second Verde's computer didn't have a camera. None of the computers in Beacon did. He shouldn't have been able to see Yin, or even hear him. But he stared straight into the eyes of the hero, his smile managing to grow.
["Ah, you can finally hear me. Bonjour, monsieur. Je m'appelle Jack Gulden. Pleasure to finally meet you, monsieur Yin Xiao-Long."]
They were in danger. The Second Sasha reached for her bed, her hand sliding under the pillow and retrieving a Tommy gun. She slammed the drum into place, taking aim and squeezing the trigger as far back as it would go.
RATATATATATATATAT!
The bullets chipped away at the computer until nothing was left, the weapon running out of ammo. Their scrolls buzzed and the First Verde's computer flickered, the screens showing his smiling face.
["Oh, mademoiselle... You can't hurt me. I am not really there. I am still on Twist."]
"Twist!? That's impossible!" The Second Yin exclaimed. But Jack's eyes flickered with amusement.
["Oh, but with the Blessing of my God, anything is possible, monsieur. But sadly, I did not visit for a friendly conversation. Non, I came to take care of a few things. I do hope very much you do not mind, but you are making too much progress. So I am destroying your data-"]
The Second Vao punched his scroll in an attempt to hit the man inside. But he only succeeded in breaking his scroll. Jack chuckled from the other screens.
"Oh la la... So you were a fool even in the other Timelines. How very interesting, yet expected, monsieur... You are a monsieur, oui? With mademoiselle Sasha being an elf and not a human in the Third Timeline, it is very difficult to tell."]
The Second Verde's scroll flashed, his face disappearing and showing a hologram of the data she had spent nine years collecting. Everything about the First Vao, everything about the Collapse, line by line everything began to disappear, forcibly deleted permanently with the heroes helpless to stop him. Jack chuckled again.
["And there is one more thing left... How troublesome, yet so much fun... See you very soon, messieurs and mesdemoiselles..."]
The moment he disappeared, screaming filled the halls outside. They reacted instantly on reflex, pushing their way out of the dorm room with their weapons drawn.
The dozens of armed soldiers who had been patrolling lay dead, littering the corridors of Beacon Academy, their corpses layered in fatal stab wounds.
"H... Holy fuckin' shit!" The First Yin yelled. He sprinted ahead, the others following close behind. They followed the terrified screams and the gunfire, until finally they saw Jack in person. He was fighting off the Maidens, and he was winning. But what sent alarm through them was what he had clutched in his hand, slipped safely into the vial. The Blood sample they had risked life and limb to get. He was stealing it, and with it, every bit of small power they held to help Salem and save the entirety of Twist.
"No!"
The Second Verde, the First Yin, and the Second Vao lunged forward, their weapons drawn with the intent of stopping him. The Second Verde dipped her paintbrushes into the paint wells on her belt, the brush coated in red paint infused with Dust. The First Weiss looked in horror, trying to push her out of the way. "Don't fight him! Stay away from him!"
The moment the Second Verde drew close enough, she slung her paint at him. But Jack was far, far faster than she could have realized. Even at thirty years of age, he was still in his prime, preserved from the Blood he was born with. He dodged the paint with ease, stepping right in front of her. The Blood exploded into a black fog from his body, twisted and nightmarish tentacles pulling the three inside. And when it cleared, they were gone. The heroes began to approach, trying to save their friends.
They weren't gone for long before the black fog exploded around them, throwing anyone who stood near the blast against the walls. The heroes who had been trapped by Jack were tossed to the ground, bleeding and heavily injured. And in the center, Jack stood without even a scratch on his jacket, his eyes remaining calm, yet his smile wider than it had ever been before.
"Oh la la... That was not very smart," he cooed. "But now I know for certain. The legendary Hero of Light is not enough to stop me. Not with my power, the one that only Mon Seigneur, the First Vao could beat," he said with a hint of a chuckle. He turned to the others, waving his hand with the Blood sample tucked safely under his thumb and his fingers outstretched. "For now... Au revoir..."
In an instant he had vanished. Nothing was left behind but the injured. The Second Yin and Sasha, the First Verde, and the Maidens ran to the fallen heroes, pulling them to their knees. They were alive, but their wounds weren't minor. Not fatal; killing them wasn't Jack's intention. If it was, they wouldn't be breathing. He only wanted them out of his way.
"Sh-shit," Velvet hissed. "Shit, shit, shit! Who the hell was that!?"
"How are we supposed to know!?" The Second Yin snapped.
The First Verde was the only one who was capable of remaining calm, their source of keeping their mental stabilities. "... This is... Possibly the worst outcome," she said quietly. She turned to the Second Yin, pointing back to the dorm. "Review every last page, front to back. If someone who isn't the First Vao is capable of killing the First Yin if he wanted to, then we need to find out exactly who he is, and accurately theorize and estimate what his power possibly is."
Her finger moved to the Second Sasha. "You have experience with training others. Ensure General Schnee is informed the possibilities of what we're up against, and that the troops are trained beyond adequately. I... I need to organize a clean-up team, and arrange funeral services... And everyone... Be on your guard from now on. The Collapse is coming, and now we can't figure out when it'll happen, or its source. Do not grow complacent."
A quick nod was all she got before they dispersed, the Maidens dragging the injured heroes in the infirmary's direction. The First Verde stood up, her fingers lightly scratching at her chin.
"... Jack Gulden... Dark God... Could he be talking about...?"
For the first time since the First Timeline, her expression began to change, showing the raw dread she felt. It was worse than they thought.
They were in far, far more danger than they thought.
...
The halls were littered in corpses, some half-eaten, others nothing more than a gory mess. As Yin ran with Jasper flying at his side and Salem hot on his heels, he knew they were on the right path. The violence was excessive; if it had been anyone else, the corpses would look like... Whatever it was that had been done to them.
It was the same work that had been done in Atlas in the First Timeline, yet even worse. It was the work of the First Vao, who left a miserable, grotesque trail in his frenzy. Yin was running out of breath, his cigarette smoldering at his lips. And as he began to slow, the rest finally caught up.
Slowly, it was beginning to dawn on them. If they chased after the First Vao, they'd be walking straight into a death trap. The First Vao had not just his Semblance and Darkness, but the Blood and countless Souls - Souls he hadn't used to bolster his own power yet. And to make matters worse, Mono was with him, a maid who could stop time itself; a terrifying power she had been born with, and one that they didn't know the limitations of. If it even had limits. So far... It didn't.
"F... Fuck," Yin panted, lowering his cigarette from his lips. "We... We need to get out of here... I-I didn't think this through..."
Tai leaned against the wall, trying not to look at the gruesome halls. "None of us did," he agreed. "I... I think... We're screwed. There isn't a way to save Ragna without destroying it..."
Ozpin nodded, watching as Salem and Pyrrha checked the corpses for any survivors. But he knew better. The First Vao's appetite was ravenous; there wasn't anyone alive. That wasn't even including Mono's own cannibalistic tendencies. "... We need to leave," he muttered. "We need to evacuate who we can-"
Footsteps. They spun around with their weapons drawn, lowering them when they recognized Sasha and Vao. The elf had tied her hair back up, her eyes wide with shock. Vao had his hand over his mouth; he looked sick.
"H... H-holy shit..."
Yin approached, patting Sasha on the shoulder while Verde hugged Vao. "C'mon, guys... We're about to leave."
He stopped when Sasha didn't budge, turning back around. Neither she nor Vao would look him in the eye. Yin turned to them, a deep sense of dread beginning to build up inside his chest. "We're... Leaving, right?"
"U-um..." Vao trailed off for a moment, scratching his head worriedly. "I-I... I thought we had a plan to take on the First Vao and Mono, so... I blew up the front doors. We can't get out..."
The adventurers stared at him in disbelief. The loud explosion that had come from Verde's ring - they shouldn't have ignored it. Better yet, they shouldn't have left Vao and Sasha alone with a stockpile of homemade explosives. Yin was furious. "You fucking what!? You really think we could even make a plan to avoid Mono's ability!?"
"We really should have talked about this-"
Yin lost his temper again, raising his hands. "Fuck me to tears, Vao! Do you even realize just how badly you screwed up this time!?"
"Wait," Salem interrupted. She needed to intervene before Yin lost his temper. "Vao, you scouted here, didn't you? There must be an escape route!"
Vao was silent again. It was a full minute before he spoke again. "... O-only small places that Jasper could fit through, or my head... None of us..."
There had been one thing they hadn't planned before they attacked the city. And that was what they would do if they ran into the First Vao. It was proving to cost them - at that moment, they were sitting ducks, trapped with a murderous cannibal; Doom with One Eye, the First Vao Dusty Branwen.
And then there was Mono. She had proven more than once she was capable of destroying them on her own. Two unbeatable monsters that they didn't have the means to overcome. Yin gritted his teeth, lighting another cigarette. He breathed the smoke into the air, staring at one of the corpses.
From the size, he was guessing it used to be a kid. Someone who had been in the worst place at the worst time. He couldn't even make out a face in the pulpy mess. If they stayed, that could easily happen to one of them, or even all of them.
"... Could we clear the rubble?" He asked in a calmer tone.
"If you want to deal with a thousand pissed off Cultists, then sure," Sasha mumbled.
Salem bit her fingernails, taking a step back. Her hand gripped her rapier tighter, her heart racing. And finally, they heard her. First, the footsteps of her black boots, sticking to the bloody floor. They turned, their hearts pounding in fear. A pale, porcelain-like face stared at them from the darkness of the halls, her Victorian-gothic themed dress flowing at her ankles.
"... Good afternoon," the doll-maker greeted politely. Yin felt his chest beginning to tighten. Not her. He didn't want to believe his own rotten luck.
"R... Ruby...?"
Ruby Rose stood in their path, blocking the way forward. "... I would hope you understand why I am here. Do I need to explain it?"
"You don't," Verde replied stoically. "This fight... It was inevitable. You are a high-ranking member of the Cult and the Church, after all. The question is, does it have to end with death?"
Ruby nodded. "It does. It will not be mine."
Tai stepped back, not meeting his daughter's gaze. Ruby noticed it in a heartbeat. She tilted her head, her silver eyes piercing through his skull. "... Perhaps it will be even easier than I thought. Not everyone will give it their all. How favorable for me."
With a deep, wavering breath, Yin took a step forward. There had to be another way. As much as Ruby scared him, there had to be a peaceful way to end this. If he and Vao could get close enough, they could enter her Reality and cure her mind of the Blood without hurting her. But Ruby's cold glare stopped him in his tracks, his eyes finally adjusting to the darkness.
Dolls stood behind her, hundreds of them. If he drew too close, they'd defend her. The healer looked into her eyes, trying to find his sister.
But there was nothing left of who Ruby used to be. There was only hatred, a twisted perfectionist. He tried to speak out.
"Ruby... Please. I don't want to hurt you-"
"You can certainly try," she interrupted coldly. The doll-maker began to step closer, staying out of his reach. She stared at him like filth, her lip pulled slightly in disgust. "... I've been waiting for this day, if I will be truthful. The day I finally cleanse your personality. You, and Vao."
The dullahan had his hand resting on his battle-axe, his shoulders tensed. "W... Wot did we ever do to you...?" He asked quietly. Ruby scoffed.
"Do not take me for a fool. Yin, a member of the Church of Light and notorious bigot, and Vao, thieving rat and terrible father who sides with him. You've done nothing wrong to me, but to everyone else. You're no better than the rest of the Church - true villains. That is why I stand here. I stand for the Cult who fights for our freedom, and against you."
"I'm not with the Church!" Yin protested. "I left! That's why Vao hasn't killed me yet!"
Ruby shook her head. "... I know better than that. Even with the knowledge of their crimes, you stayed," she almost growled.
Yin's heart stopped. Did she think he knew about the slaves before Vao left? From her expression, that was exactly what she thought, and she wouldn't listen if he told her the truth.
A fight was inevitable, just like Verde had predicted. And with Ruby's dolls at her side, entering her Reality without hurting her was no longer an option. He could feel a lump growing in his throat, forcing his tears away as he slowly drew his katana, his allies drawing their weapons. Ruby sighed, a small smile crossing her lips.
"... I have been waiting for this day for so many years..."
A gleam of silver, Ruby's scissors gleamed in the dim lighting of the palace. The doll-maker glared at them, her dolls moving closer. They were in view now. Small, deadly weapons were clutched in their wooden hands, outnumbering the adventurers. Ruby's lips curled back, exposing her white teeth.
"I'm going to perfect those rotten personalities," she hissed. "I will turn you into my dolls..."