As Mono burst through the gates of Grimmore, the air was filled with the sounds of surprised Cultists, the ones in her path pushed out of the way. Her heart pounded in her chest, her grey eye filled with determination.
"M-Milady!" Rinys shouted, sprinting to catch up to her. Harold, Tanjin, and Muriel were following behind, the poltergeist and banshee not breaking a sweat as they floated through the air. "L-Lord Vao! H-he's been getting worse!"
Mono didn't want to hear that. Gritting her teeth, she smashed through the front door, knocking it clear from its hinges. Her footsteps slammed down the halls, her mind spinning. The Darkness was gone, the lights overhead filling the halls. Her heels scraped the floor as she skidded to a halt, shakily trying to push the key inside the lock.
There was no time for this. Tossing the key to the side like the useless garbage it was, she punched the lock clean off, and then punched her other hand through the door, her fingers curling around the handle. The Cultists who had followed her flinched when Mono ripped the door to pieces, throwing herself into the room.
"V-Vao! I've returned!" She cried.
But the First Vao didn't answer, his back turned to her. He was dropped into a squat, his back arched out and his head hung low, his raspy breaths visible in the cold air. Mono took a trembling step forward, reaching her hand out.
"Vao, p-please! Answer me!"
The First Vao turned his head, and the Cultists froze where they stood. He stared at them with hunger, with a bloodthirsty gaze. Mono flinched, but continued to reach, her hand growing closer. "V-Vao-"
"Who... Who are you!?" The First Vao snarled. "Stay away... Stay away from me!"
"Vao, it's me! Mono Chroma-"
The gleam caught her eye, Tanjin and Harold pulling her back just as Grimm Demise sang its deadly song through the air, the razor-sharp blade cutting into her chest. The First Vao hissed, his eye flickering with madness. His free hand grabbed the chains that contained him, and he began to pull.
Bang, bang, BANG BANG BANG!
SNAAP!
Shards of steel flew through the air when he finally broke the chains, his hand grabbing the Anti-Semblance System around his neck. His mouth opened into a shrill shriek, his magic curling around and crushing the device to pieces.
"My dream!" He screamed. "I can't let it escape! I'm SO BLOODY CLOSE!"
The wall exploded to pieces when the First Vao slammed his monstrous axe against it, the murderer sprinting through the street. Mono and the others gave chase, trying to catch up to him. But he was much faster than them, outpacing them with ease. Mono's eye warped into a clock dial, her teeth gritting together before opening in a cry.
"[Time Stands Still]!"
The world froze around her, the First Vao halted in his tracks. Mono continued to run, her arms almost wrapped around him. But just as she grew close, something she couldn't see attacked. Invisible claws tore into her stomach, forcing her back and breaking her spell. The First Vao ripped anything that stood in his way to pieces, person or object, and even as the gate closed he broke through, disappearing into the swamp. Mono coughed, the black Blood spilling from her lips. And then she heard it. The voice of a traitor.
"Oh la la... How ironic... The monoeye who stops time didn't make it in time..."
Mono spun around, her eye bloodshot with fury for the smiling man behind her. "Jack," she snarled. "Jack! What did you do!?"
But Jack's smile only grew wider, his eyes flickering with amusement. "Oh, mademoiselle... I only fulfilled my God's will... I've pushed the very First Vao to his true nature... Isn't that lovely, mademoiselle?"
Mono's fingers curled, cracking the ground beneath her. He had openly admitted he stabbed them in their backs. She was going to kill him. But when she stood up, Jack didn't flinch. Instead, he chuckled.
"... Mademoiselle, I assure you... You do not want to fight me."
"Quite the contrary," Mono hissed. "I'll tear that smile off your face... I'll grind your corpse under my heel, Jack."
Jack sighed, his eyes beginning to flicker again. But this time, they weren't relaxed like usual. They were wild.
"Oui, oui. Very well, mademoiselle," he cooed. "Then let the fun begin."
With her hammer in her hands, Mono charged, the Blood dripping from her lip.
But Jack's smile only grew.
...
In the Adventurer's Guild, the tables had been pushed aside, leaving only one in the center. Sitting at this table were the kings and the adventurers, a map of the Royal Capital and its borders set on the wooden surface in front of them. Outside their army waited in suspense for the inevitable order to storm the city. With the help of the goblins and their contacts, more nonhumans had joined them - they were still distrusting of the humans, but the fact that their highest leaders allowed nonhumans to work at their side was enough for them to willingly agree.
Of course, this meant Vao, Hekue, Sasha, the fairies, Verde, Midori, Hazel, and the goblins.
"... The walls would be defended with cannons, ballistas, and archers," Ironwood muttered. "More than any other city so far... We'd need to take them out before we could even get close... Half our fighting force would be taken out by the time we reached one of the gates..."
"We have Penny and Gug," Jasper said. "With their sizes, we could have them in the front. We hide behind them, they kick down a wall, and we're in."
"But Gug doesn't have armor," Hazel pointed out. "Cannon fire and ballistas would rip him to pieces."
Hekue shook her head. "Hekue has that covered. With her flute, she weaved thick armor made from a living tree. It's not the best, but it would minimize his injuries."
The table hummed thoughtfully, Hazel leaning forward. "... It's come to my attention that there's slaves in the Royal Capital. They live in fear of being wiped out if they disobey orders. They'd no doubt fight against us if we attacked, no?"
Yin nodded. "Yeah... Anyone got any ideas? Non-lethal ideas?"
Verde spoke up. "Perhaps we could send a message, informing them to join us?"
"How are we going to do that?" Tourmaline asked. "A single one of us gets close, it's lights out."
Violet spoke up next. "Ooh, Dad could do it! He can talk to animals!"
All eyes were on Vao, the dullahan's head cradled in Verde's arms. Ironwood furrowed his brow. "... What... Are you?"
"A dullahan."
Salem cleared her throat. "It's best not to question it... He's always talked to animals. I think it's just because he's so stupid he understands them-"
"OI."
Salem smirked when he threw a baked potato at her, her friends chuckling quietly. Ironwood leaned back in his chair, drumming his fingers on the table. "Okay... Vao, could you manage that? Sending an animal to the slaves?"
"Yeah. I can ask Ricky."
"... Who?"
"Ricky, my rat!"
The women at the table shrieked when Ricky poked his head out from underneath Vao's sleeve, his triangular head looking around curiously. Vao's body reached towards the snacks, picking up a slice of carrot and passing it to the rodent.
"D... Disgusting," Tourmaline mumbled. But Sapphire beamed.
"Mouse!"
While the doll and Ricky the rat played a game of cards - somehow - the others resumed their planning.
"... Rodent aside," Hazel continued. "... Those two. Is it really a safe idea to bring them?"
He was talking about Violet and Midori, the youngest at the table. Vao and Verde shook their heads immediately; Verde shaking her husband's head because it wasn't attached to his body. "Absolutely not," the witch replied. "But if we told them to stay in Faralda, they would go on their own. Or rather, Violet would go on her own, and Midori would follow."
"I can't possibly miss the greatest moment in history!" Violet protested.
"I would very much like to be alive to witness it," Midori sighed. Yin looked at Ironwood, jerking his head to his nieces.
"... If they go on their own, we won't be ready to watch over them. And besides, they were there for Faralda. We have that much. And it's not like children aren't already within our ranks."
Ironwood sighed, slouching in his chair. "... That wasn't my choice. That was none of our choice. The elf children and dwarf children took it upon themselves to make that decision, and even if we barred them from enlisting like we wanted, without them our army wouldn't be big enough."
Silence. There was no choice but to allow children to fight, and it conflicted with everyone's morals. Salem picked at the table, listening as the others went over their plans to take the Royal Capital.
"What matters most is getting into the city and clearing a path to the Head Cathedral, where Iris is," Jasper said. "We'll need to leave most of our army outside to stop them from entering and destroying us... Which means we're going to need a small party for that Cathedral."
"What bout you guys?" One of the goblin politicians spoke up. The adventurers raised their eyebrows.
"... What?" Sasha grumbled.
Hazel and Ironwood nodded in agreement. "Yes... That could work. The five of you were there for Faralda, and Jasper was present for Ragna, and the Secret City. You'd be the best choice."
Yin, Sasha, Verde, Vao, Salem, and Jasper. They had been there for the major battles. None of them had any argument with it.
"... Yeah, alright," Vao mumbled. "I could work with that..."
"I second this," Verde replied.
"Me three," Sasha added.
"Fuck, I'll need a cigarette after hearing this," Yin muttered.
Salem was growing impatient. There was one thing none of them were bringing up. Something highly important. She decided to bring it up herself. "And what about the Cult?"
Silence. Hazel averted his gaze. "... From what Yin said the other day, the First Vao is sick, isn't he? Do you think he'd take on an entire army-"
"I absolutely do, because he's done it before - while sick, might I add," Salem interrupted. She stood up, pacing around the table in a circle. A part of the old Salem was coming back - nothing bad, but rather a blessing. She had taken the posture of authority, of a strategist.
"I know what afflicts him. The Blood is nothing to joke about," she continued. "If he forgets Mono, like he's forgotten his Cult, he'll fly off the handle. He'll go back to the only thing he knows how to do; kill anything that moves, until he reaches his dream. The Blood thrives in negativity, and I assure you that the First Vao isn't a positive person. While sick, he destroyed any resistance while raiding Atlas, a city in the First Timeline. They had guns. We don't."
"... Gun?" Ironwood echoed.
"Oh, it's like a small cannon that fits in your hand," Vao explained. "You squeeze a little lever, and bang. Tiny piece of lead hits somebody. Not as messy as a cannon, too."
Ironwood blinked. "That... That sounds so cool..."
"So... You think he'll attack with his Cult?" Hekue asked. Salem nodded.
"With or without them. Most likely without, because he doesn't trust anyone he doesn't know. Take our Vao's trust issues. Now multiply them by a thousand."
"Oh... Oh, that's bad..."
Yin spoke up next. "And what exactly are we going to do if he attacks? Not even the First Yin's Light worked at entering his Reality. The Blood and his Darkness are too strong. We don't stand a chance."
But Salem shook her head. "No, there is one way. I noticed it last year, when we were in Aldia. Your Light did little to the abomination that attacked us. But after we retrieved Vao, we were able to save Jasper, and Tourmaline too. The First Vao is far stronger than he was in the First Timeline, but it's not impossible - we'll need you and Vao to enter his Reality. Only Light and Darkness together can beat him. That's why you'll stay at each other's side for the entirety of the war."
"W-we'll save him?" Tourmaline asked hopefully. Vao scoffed.
"Oh, just you wait, runt. Watch as we learn he's a piece of shit even without the Blood. You can have his dead body if you want, Corpse Shagger."
"Vao, stop instigating," Yin snapped. "I won't help you when she beats your ass."
"You think I'm scared of some little pipsquea- YIYIYI!?"
His hair stood on end when Tourmaline plunged her spear into his finger and shocked him. When she pulled it out, Vao looked baffled. But he wasn't running his mouth anymore, at least. Salem nodded, confirming Tourmaline's hopes.
"That's the plan... If we can enter his Reality, we can properly make a decision... Back in the day, he resented killing. He did it because he felt like he had no other choice, and even the First Yin saw something in him..."
"But his crimes won't just go away," Verde said. "There will undoubtedly be many people furious with him. This question has been on my mind for a while now; would saving him even matter in the end?"
It was a good question. Yin spoke up. "The only people who ever wanted him dead were Remnant in the First Timeline. He hasn't done too much to Twist. He could wage war against the world at any time, but he hasn't. If we can save his Soul... He might be able to live something of a normal life... Not in any cities, of course. But he has Grimmore and the Cult..."
"You aren't seriously suggesting we hand him back to a city full of cannibals, are you?" Yang asked. "That sounds like a really, really bad idea. They're the ones who've been giving him the Blood, aren't they?"
Yin shook his head. "... I don't think so. I don't think they even know he's been getting it."
He could already see the arguments beginning to form. He quickly held out his hand, stopping them before they even spoke.
"Listen... When I saw what was happening in his house, Jack was with him," he explained. "There were two Cultists trying to feed him. His door was locked from the outside, not the inside."
"So Jack was locked inside with him. What's your point?" Jasper asked.
Yin shook his head. "No, he wasn't. When the Cultists unlocked a padlock on the door, they were surprised to see Jack there. He wasn't supposed to be inside the First Vao's room, but he was. I think... I think he's been giving the First Vao the Blood in secret."
More silence. It was certainly plausible. Hekue spoke up.
"... But how could he have gotten past the door?" The dryad asked quietly.
"Pick it? That's wot I would do," Vao suggested. Sasha rolled her eyes.
"Yin just said it was locked from the outside, idiot. How's he going to pick the lock, then lock it through the door?"
As much as Vao wanted to make a comeback, there really wasn't anything he could say. Verde spoke up next.
"... We don't know much about Jack," she admitted. "We don't know his ability, but we know it has to be strong for the First Vao to consider him his left hand... In previous encounters, he has gone from standing behind us to standing in front of us. Might I suggest teleportation?"
"Lord Vao can teleport," Tourmaline said. "If Jack's ability was teleportation, that would be nearly useless to Lord Vao."
"Walking through walls, maybe?" Hekue said.
"No, that can't be it," Salem said. "He was able to get in front of us in the Royal Capital sewer without running, when we first fled and went looking for you guys. Teleportation... It's really all we have..."
Ironwood, who had been silent for a while, finally spoke up. "Jack... You've said he's Jack the Ripper, the serial killer who's been haunting the Royal Capital for the last two decades. He's never been caught, and there are no known witnesses who've even seen him. With how many guards have been killed, someone had to have seen his face if it was just teleportation. But no, bodies have gone missing entirely; it can't be teleportation at all..."
There was nothing they could say. They had no idea what Jack's power could possibly be. After a long silence, Ironwood sighed and stood up from his chair.
"... If that is all, then we need to prepare for this final war," he said. "Any last minute comments?"
No one responded. There were no arguments. The King of Aldia nodded.
"Then we need to prepare. It'll take a week and a half to move our army to the Royal Capital. We need to be absolutely sure we're ready. We leave at dawn."
The table was beginning to clear out, the adventurers and the Kings leaving the Adventurer's Guild in silence. Yin sat with his arms crossed, thinking to himself quietly. And finally, he spoke to the last person to leave.
"Hey, Vao."
The dullahan looked up from his pipe, raising an eyebrow. "Wot is it?"
The healer looked at his brother, letting out a sigh to calm his nerves. "You want to hang out? We haven't really spent much time together lately. Not since the Secret City, anyway."
Vao lowered his pipe, breathing out the smoke. "Sure... Wot do you want to do, though?"
Yin lit a cigarette, standing up from his chair. "Nothing in particular. Just want to hang out."
"Oh, okay."
Faralda was much quieter than usual when they stepped outside. Almost everyone wore their armor, their weapons sheathed at their hips and backs. From the look of it, the western nonhumans were still growing used to the idea of living near humans. The eastern nonhumans from the Secret City were already accustomed to it, fitting perfectly into society. Yin and Vao walked through the crowd, the healer having one hand in his pocket and the other holding his cigarette.
"We need to make a stop," he said. "I left my katana at the blacksmith. Is your axe ready?"
"Yeah, but I'll be sticking to my bow, mostly," Vao replied. "The axe is for close-quarters. You guys said that becoz I'm a thief, I should try to use my daggers and bow."
"Yeah, your class is a thief. You're more effective going in for critical hits," Yin said. "Like how I'm a healer; my primary role is support."
Vao scratched his head, furrowing his brow. "... I feel like we've talked about this before... I kind of remember some blonde kid asking us wot our classes would be..."
Yin vaguely remembered that. "... Didn't you say something about being a paladin?"
"Screw that, I'm not religious," Vao muttered. "Well, at least not to the God of Light..."
Yin raised an eyebrow. "Then who do you believe in?"
Vao shrugged. "Nobody, really... I believe there's a higher power - aside from the Gods, those two cheating pricks - but I mostly fend for myself. Wot about you, bruv?"
Yin sighed. "Given what the Gods are like... I really, really hope there isn't anything else that could screw us over... Or if there is, they're better than those two."
"Yeah... You 'n me both, mate..."
It wasn't long before they reached the smithy; it was just down the road, after all. A dwarf was hammering away at a sword, the bearded short man looking up as the pair approached. Yin blew the smoke from his nostrils.
"Hey, it's me. My katana ready?"
"Finished yesterday," the dwarf rumbled. "It's on that table over there. Take it."
Yin picked his weapon up and inspected the blade closely. Nothing beat dwarven craftsmanship, that was for certain. He could tell the blade was stronger, more resilient. He sheathed it quietly, turning back to Vao.
"Right... Anywhere you want to go?"
Vao's face brightened. "Ooh, can we go see Yang and Uncle Qrow? They should be at home by now."
Yin chuckled, ruffling his brother's hair. "Is family the only thing you think about?"
Vao nodded, walking alongside the blonde. "Nearly all the time... I'm trying to be a good dad. Verde says I've gotten really good at it. Wot about you?"
"What about me?"
Vao nudged Yin's arm, wearing that smirk. That smirk that was never up to any good. "When are you plannin' to have a family? Maybe afew ankle-biters?"
Yin wasn't fazed. He was actually kind of happy Vao asked that; it felt almost like old times that had passed long ago. "Yeah, I'm not ready for that," Yin chuckled. "Besides, I'm not seeing anyone right now."
"Oh wot a load of rubbish," Vao replied. "You got a whole line of women, Yin!"
"Really now?" Yin replied, deciding to humor his older brother. "And who would that be?"
"Salem, Meiling, Jasper, and Sasha," Vao listed off. As Yin's jaw dropped, the dullahan scratched his chin and looked up at the sky in thought, counting his fingers in his head as he listed off the names. "Uh... Poppy said you were cute once, but wasn't into you... Oh, Hekue said something about your personality, but I'm pretty sure she meant it as a friend... Tyrian, the goblin, he also said he'd like to spend the night-"
"Wait, wait," Yin interrupted. "Who was the fourth?"
Vao furrowed his brow, struggling to count to four. "Um... Sasha. Why?"
"Since when has Sasha ever been into me!?"
Vao looked at Yin like he was a fool. It was nothing short of insulting for Vao of all people to give that look to anyone. "... Since the Battle of Faralda. I'm not surprised you didn't know; she isn't very vocal about it. I only found out last week when I asked her if she liked anyone."
Vao was trying to play matchmaker, Yin realized. And while the dullahan was probably the most trustworthy person he knew when it came to hitting on women, Yin didn't want to take love advice from someone who could barely count to four. Four.
Still, this made Yin uncomfortable. As much as he hated to admit it, Sasha was intimidating, standing two hundred and ten centimeters and weighing over two hundred and fifty pounds of solid muscle. She could probably break him in half with two fingers - in many more way than one, and he didn't want to learn either of them. Yin let out a fearful sigh, taking a breath from his cigarette. "... You didn't tell her anything, did you?"
Vao shook his head. "No, I didn't know if you liked her that way or not. Do you?"
Yin really didn't know. Sasha was one of his best friends. He wasn't very experienced in this subject. "... I dunno..."
They continued to walk, Yin thinking about Vao's words. He was about to turn twenty-eight - Vao's birthday had been two weeks ago, and Yin's was in three months. Was it time to start a family? No doubt it would have to be after the war was over. But who would he choose?
Salem had been with him since the First Timeline - as his enemy, but there nonetheless. He knew she had feelings for him, and he did too.
Jasper had an ego, but she meant well. She made her affection more than obvious in the Secret City, and Yin would be lying if he said he only saw her as a friend.
Meiling was someone he didn't expect. He figured she'd forget about him after he left; she did work at Necrofantasy, after all. She was nice, but Yin didn't really know her very well. She was more of a friend than anything.
And Sasha... The last person Yin would expect. He didn't know how he felt about her. Scared? Attracted? She was probably the healthiest of all the women who felt for him.
And even with all these thoughts, his mind travelled back to one in particular. Salem. He could feel his cheeks heating up, thankful that Vao wasn't paying attention. The dullahan's voice broke him from his thoughts.
"Hellooo?"
Yin shook his head, looking at the femboy. "O-oh... Sorry. What were you saying?"
Vao stared at him in silence for a moment, his lips pursed as if he was deep in thought. Until finally, he heaved a soft, light sigh. "That's just like you, to overthink things, innit mate? I was asking wot you planned to do after the war."
Yin watched his feet walk along the ground, thinking about the question. "... I don't know... There's still a load of Twist we haven't explored... We could keep adventuring-"
"That's not wot I meant, mate."
Vao stopped walking, Yin looking back at the dullahan. Vao wasn't smiling. He wasn't laughing.
"... Do you know wot made me happy when you asked to hang out with me?" He asked quietly. "Becoz... I didn't realize it until recently, but you aren't going to be around forever. This whole war... This thing with Timelines... When you almost died in your own Reality..."
Yin didn't think Vao was capable of thinking this deep. The healer took his brother's hand, leading him to a more secluded area, one that was never repaired. The ruins of Rojo's cathedral, now ruined with moss as nature slowly reclaimed it. As they walked through the decrepit halls, sunlight dappling on their bodies, Yin spoke.
"We'll make it through this war together, Vao. You'll see; we'll have plenty of adventures-"
"And then you'll grow old. Everyone will grow old, and I'll be alone," Vao interrupted. Yin could feel his heart growing heavy.
"V... Vao...? What are you...?"
Vao turned to him, staring the healer in the eye. It was only then that Yin saw it, in that intimate gaze. Vao, despite turning twenty-eight, hadn't aged since they left the Wilds.
"I... Didn't think it through, when I turned myself into a dullahan," he whispered. "But I'm technically dead and alive; undead. And I guess a Fae, which I didn't know about... But it's that undead bit. Unless I off myself, or someone does it for me, I won't die from old age. I'll outlive even Sasha, if I don't get killed before then... You, Verde, Sasha... My kids... I value family becoz being a dullahan taught me something. That nothing is more important than family. That's why... W-when you asked t-to... T-to hang out..."
Yin touched Vao's shoulder, his arms pulling the femboy into a hug. A lump was beginning to grow in the blonde's throat, but he could still speak clearly.
"Then... I guess we'll just have to make the best of it, right?"
But Vao pulled away, stepping back. His eyes watered, his lips pulled back to show his teeth. "A-and you still aren't thinking... W-when I realized this, I thought of s-something else... Wot if... we just never were meant to be happy?"
Yin didn't answer. What could he say? How long had Vao been bottling it all up? The femboy continued, moving towards the edge of the ruin, high above the street. He pointed at the setting sun, turning back to look at Yin.
"This... This isn't our first time living through our lives... It's the third. We've got two Gods up there, who force us through this cycle. The First Vao said it himself; we're stuck in a loop where we fight and fight, and ultimately lose when it all starts over. So... Wot's even the point in fighting? When none of it matters? Even... E-even if one of us dies, we just c-come back in the next Timeline... Without any memory, right?"
"... We fight because it's all we can do."
"Oh, wot rubbish," Vao muttered. "You don't even believe your own words. Look at you; you're on the verge of a breakdown, just like me. We're here today becoz the Gods wanted us to be. Even if we don't think it, we're playing their game the way they want. It's... Fate, mate. We're fated to struggle, to fight when there isn't much of a point."
Vao turned, taking another drag from his pipe. "... The Gods... We're their favorites," he croaked. "They want at least one of us to make it to the end... And when we reach... Wotever the end is in this Timeline, it'll happen over again, right?
Yin felt every blood cell in his body freeze over. He had a conversation like this before. Back in the First Timeline, with Ruby.
Vao wasn't talking about suicide, like Yin and Ruby had back then. He was talking about a meaning to life; a purpose.
"... Vao, get away from that ledge," Yin breathed. Vao sighed, looking back at him with narrowed eyes.
"... I'm not going to jump," he said quietly. "I'm... Having a conversation that I think needs to be had."
He was right. Throughout the entirety of the Timeline, they hadn't talked much about the Gods. They hadn't talked about the looping of time, and the inevitable Fourth Timeline.
Yin stood next to Vao, the two sitting on the ledge and watching the sun set in silence. Yin bit his lip, wondering if the question he had on his mind was the right one. He decided it was better to ask it, rather than let it fester within his head.
"... Have you... Ever thought about killing yourself?"
"You want the real answer or just wot I'd tell anyone else?"
Yin chuckled lightly at Vao's dark joke, the dullahan giving a small grin. "I guess that answers that..."
"I know you've thought about it too," Vao said. "Honestly... If it wasn't for Verde, for my kids... For Tim and Chuck, and Alice... I'd probably have done it in the Wilds. Then... You came back."
Yin looked at Vao curiously. "... Didn't you try to kill me multiple times?"
Vao nodded, passing his pipe to his younger brother, letting him smoke his weed. "I was trying to protect my family," he said. "I already said it. Family is all we really have right now."
"What changed your mind?"
Vao didn't answer right away, picking up a pebble and tossing it to the street below. "... I saw you talk to Pip... Act like a better father than I did to him... It was after I tried to sell you off to Saril. A couple more attempts after that, Verde and I talked about you. About our memories from the past Timelines... You weren't acting like a bigoted piece of trash. Honestly? I was starting to look up to you. Always trying to do the right thing, even if it didn't benefit you. You've always been like that; you sacrificed your mental health in the First Timeline, and then your body and head in the Second. At first I didn't get it. Things were getting harder, and then you went and saved Jasper."
Yin nodded slowly. "... I didn't want an innocent person to die," he whispered softly. Vao took a slow, long hit from his pipe.
"... After I started to get along with her, that's when I saw it for real. That you really aren't a bad person, Yin. She's just like you said she was; a good gal. Bit annoying with that ego, but a good friend. I'm sure that... Tourmaline and Sapphire are the same..."
Yin couldn't help but smile. "... You really are a softie, aren't you?"
"... Piss off."
"... Make me."
Vao shoved Yin lightly, the healer pushing back. They looked at each other, their lips curling. And finally, Vao tackled Yin to the ground, the pair rolling around on the ruined ground, trying to pin each other.
And for the first time in a while, they genuinely laughed. Play fighting until they were out of breath, they dropped to their backs, gasping for air as they stared up at the first stars that began to twinkle in the sky.
Were the Gods watching them now? Were they plotting to destroy them again and again? To plunge them into a miserable fate, for as long as they pleased? Yin's focus was taken away from this question when Vao rolled to his side, staring at the healer.
"... Hey."
Yin looked over to him, a soft smile at his lips. "Hey..."
Their hands reached out, their fingers interlocking together. "... I don't care wot happens," Vao said softly. "If the Timeline resets again... Then it is wot it is... As long as I have you, I think... I think I can handle it."
Yin rolled closer to Vao, his blue eyes locking on to Vao's own red ones. "... Yeah. Me too," he agreed. "As long as we have each other... At least we'll go through it together..."
"... Love you."
"... Love you too, Vao."
For hours they stared up at the night sky together, neither wanting to move. They just chatted about their dreams if the Timeline miraculously didn't reset the moment they finished off the Church. The things they wanted to do, their hopes and dreams. Eventually everything would start over - that was without a doubt. But at the very least, they could still dream.
"Hey! There you guys are!"
They lifted their heads to see Jasper flying in the air above them, a small gathering climbing the stairs into view. Their friends - Verde, Sasha, Hekue, Tourmaline, Sapphire, Violet and Midori, and lastly Salem. Violet beamed, her hands on her hips and an air of confidence surrounding her.
"Why are you all the way up here? No one could find you!"
"Does this mean we win hide and seek?" Sapphire giggled.
"What are you doing up here?" Salem asked curiously. Yin laid back down next to Vao, the others sitting beside them.
"... Just enjoying the last moment before the war," he said. "You want to join us?"
Salem was taken aback. Yin didn't have any of the stress in his voice that he typically had. But with one glance at the femboy next to him, and it dawned on her.
The one thing that had been missing in the First and Second Timeline was Vao. Yin and Vao needed each other. She felt stupid for not realizing it before; when they were children in the First Timeline, they did nothing but rely on each other. As adults, that hadn't changed.
Across the Timelines, nothing had changed. Their bond was unshakeable, unwavering even after so much had happened. The princess looked at the stars as she laid down next to him, eventually watching the others.
Jasper was laughing with Tourmaline and Sapphire, the fairies and doll talking about the changes they wanted to make in Grimmore when the First Vao was saved. Verde and Vao were cuddling together, Violet and Midori curled up with them, the four talking about finally building a stable home for each other. Hekue and Sasha were sitting at the edge of the ruin, the two talking about their dreams; Hekue wanted to rebuild the forest she had lived in, and help restore the cities to their former glory, with a bit more nature added to it. Sasha talked about continuing her life as an adventurer with her friends.
And finally, Yin. Yin wasn't saying anything, but Salem could tell he was fine.
Everyone's morale was high again, and for the first time in years, there was hope. Something they had been missing for a long, long time. Yin caught Salem's stare, sitting up and pushing himself to his feet.
"Hey, Salem. Can we talk?"
The princess jumped. "O-oh... Of course. What is it?"
But Yin shook his head. "Not here. Over there, in private."
Salem was confused. But she followed him through the ruined archways, the sounds of their friends fading into a quiet murmur. Yin stopped, turning to face her.
"... About... Nine years ago," he said. "Just after Vao left, you said something to me..."
Salem's heart skipped a beat, the princess looking away. "Oh... That... Forget I-"
"I... I want to know if you still feel that way," he interrupted quietly. For a long while, neither of them spoke. They didn't look at each other. It had been minutes before Salem's lips parted, taking in a small and shallow breath.
"... I do," she admitted. "You go about handling your stress wrongly, but... You have a good heart. You pushed aside your own feelings to save me, just because you thought I might be innocent... Even Ozpin had given up on me by that point. You were the only one who found it in yourself to forgive me, give me a chance I've always thought was impossible... How couldn't I have fallen for you? You're a hero in every sense of the word; you constantly put yourself through hell for the sake of others, you'll cast aside your own thoughts for what you see as right. When all hope is lost, you get back up and continue fighting, until the bitter end. All four of you are like that. So, to answer your question, yes... I still love you."
Yin couldn't speak. He never thought Salem felt that way. It was a lot to take in.
Did she really see him as a hero? Yin had trouble seeing it that way. All of his victories were temporary; there was no way to save the world for good. Not from the Gods.
... But was a hero born? Or made? Yin thought back to Glenroy. The Knight Commander had said he had been raised to be a hero since his earliest memories, within the Church.
Across all the Timelines... Yin never had that. Becoming a hero had always been a dream he strove to reach, before casting it aside to save everyone. It began to dawn on him in a matter of moments.
Heroes were forged through hardship. It wasn't a title someone could just take, like Glenroy had tried to do. Of all the times Yin's adventures had broken him, he had gotten back up and spat in life's eye. Against seemingly impossible odds - a near-immortal eldritch horror, a crazed serial killer obsessed with starting everything from scratch, his brother's almost indestructible corpse, giant robots, news reporters with the power of electricity - he had prevailed. He was certain a lot of it had been very dumb luck. But he still had survived, and he stood there again, with the dream to save everyone despite knowing it would all start over.
He looked up at Salem, his voice catching in his throat. If she could see him as a hero, then that was what he needed to be. That's what he had tried to be, before forgetting that dream. He took a deep breath, stepping closer.
"... Funny," he said quietly. "We used to be sworn enemies, and now... I think I love you too..."
Salem's cheeks burned, their heads moving forward. Until finally, their lips met under the light of the moon. Lost in the moment, neither of them noticed the figure crouching above them on the ruined wall, silhouetted by the moon. Vao sighed, watching them happily.
"... Yep. I'm still Vao the Matchmaker," he snickered. He knew if he hadn't brought up Yin starting a family, this moment would never have happened. To Vao, Yin needed a break. To just relax. After all, Yin helped him do the same. The femboy picked at his long hair, twirling it around his finger as he stared up at the twinkling stars above.
"... Huh."
Midori and Violet slept beside Verde, the little witch curled into a ball and the tomboy splayed out like a sea star. Verde herself stared over the quiet city of Faralda, distantly listening to Sasha and Hekue chat while the fairies argued about some nonsense involving Sapphire eating two sticks of butter and nothing else. But even as she sat distracted, it didn't stop her from hearing the almost silent sound of something crunching above them. She turned her gaze up, watching as Vao's foot disappeared over the walls as he scaled the ruins.
The witch stared for a moment before heaving a sigh, standing and picking up her hat, only to place it on her head. Jasper looked up curiously.
"Where are you going?"
"To ensure my husband does not do anything stupid," Verde replied. "I love him, and I'd never forgive myself if he went and fell off the ruin because he wanted to use it as a playground."
She disappeared without another word, following Vao down the dark, empty halls. The thief took no notice of her, the witch staying within the shadows. As much as stalking her husband conflicted with her own morals, she knew he seldom left without telling her where he was going. Whatever he was trying to do was likely very stupid.
It wasn't until he dropped down from the decrepit rafters that she back away, hiding inside a doorframe and peering out. Vao had his back turned to her, quickly disappearing up a flight of mossy steps. Verde waited a moment before moving towards the archway, peering up the steps. At the very top of the steps, Vao was crouched down in front of a rotted wooden door, using a hairpin to fiddle with the lock. As expected of a true thief, he had it open in a matter of seconds, sliding inside the room as quiet as a mouse.
Verde stared at the door, her heart beginning to race. She recognized it. It was Rojo's old office, long abandoned since the Cardinal's death. Vao had no reason to be going through it, and the dullahan had despised his father-in-law. It only added to Verde's confusion. The witch gulped, swallowing down her nerves. And with only a slight pause of hesitation, she began to climb the steps, to the rotted door that had been left ajar.
She listened to her wedding ring carefully, trying to pick up any noise. It sounded like Vao was rummaging through drawers and moving things. Was it just Vao being himself and committing a robbery? No, Rojo was a Cardinal. All he would have in his desk would be letters to the Royal Capital, and maybe one with his involvement with the Cult. All his money would have been stored in the cathedral's basement or the Royal Capital, not his office.
Silhouetted by the moon that rose on the horizon, her wide-brimmed pointed hat quivered in the slight breeze, her shoulders trembling as she drew nearer to the door.
Faint, but painful memories slowly ebbed their way back into her mind. Of all the times she had sat outside the door, listening to Rojo beat her mother senseless, knowing she'd be next. And after her mother's death, it would only become worse.
Why would Vao want to step foot in that office? What would he even be looking for? Those questions burned in Verde's mind, taunting her. Shakily, her hand rested against the moulded wood, her heart feeling as if it would pop. She steeled her nerves, and took a deep breath. She didn't know if she was mentally ready to step foot inside. With another reluctant, shaking breath, she finally worked up the courage to push the door open, and step inside.
As the moonlight washed over Vao, the dullahan turned around with wide eyes. "O-oh, Love! Wot are you doing here?"
Verde kept her gaze fixated on him. She didn't want to look at the rest of the office, even in the dark. Of anything, the dark only made it worse. "I... I followed you... What are you doing here, V-Vao?"
She noticed the absence of his hands. Vao was hiding something behind his back. "W... What are you holding?"
Vao didn't say anything. He averted his gaze, jerking his head to the door.
"... Not here... I know you don't like this place. That's why... I wish you hadn't followed me..."
Verde attempted to argue, but Vao stepped forward, gently pushing her back. As the moonlight washed over them, he reached out his empty hand and closed the door. Verde was starting to grow upset. "Vao... What is this about? Why were you-"
She froze, her voice faltering and falling away when Vao finally held out what he had been hiding behind his back. Its age had begun to show, the small chain just a bit rusted, but protected from the elements by the Cardinal's desk. A necklace with a small emerald pushed into the pendant; Verde's birthstone. The one who had worn the necklace was someone who had been very important to her, the one who had protected her from Rojo's wrath before the Cardinal had finally beaten her to death.
It was her mother's necklace, Midori Forest. The one they had named their daughter after.
Verde's shoulders trembled as Vao's hands reached around her neck, clipping the jewelry together, and letting it hang in front of her robes. The dullahan leaned down, his lips curling into a soft, tender smile.
Verde looked up at him, her eyes watering. "V-Vao... H-how did you...?"
"You used to paint back when we lived in the Wilds. You showed me your mum," Vao replied. "I'm a thief, so I look for jewelry out of habit. I saw the necklace, and I figured that 'roid monkey would've kept it so he could hold it over you. I never had the chance to go and look for it until now."
Verde looked back down at the necklace, her fingers curling around it. Vao wrapped his arm around her shoulder, pulling her down to sit with him on the steps. His red eyes locked on with her green ones, pulling her closer.
"... Sorry it took so long... I wanted to find the perfect gift," he said quietly. "It's a bit late, but the day isn't over yet... Happy anniversary, Love."
Verde's breath caught in her throat. He remembered. He never forgot their anniversary, but it always felt good when he remembered. But this time, he had outdone himself. Verde's fingers clutched around the necklace again, but tighter.
Her mother had been the one good memory of her childhood. Midori was one of the two most important people to her because of this. The other one was the man she had married, the one who had gotten it back for her. Verde's throat began to hurt, her chest aching and burning. And finally she turned, jumping into Vao's arms. Vao hugged her back, nuzzling his girly chin into the crook of her neck.
"V-Vao... I-I love you s-so much," she croaked. The feeling that never wavered nor faded burned just as hot as the day she realized it; she was still in love with him like the first day they were married. And without a doubt in her mind, Vao was too. He snickered, that signature snicker Verde had loved so much.
"I know... I'm great, aren't I?"
To her, he was more than great. She looked back up at him, her eyes red, puffy, and swollen. Her hand rested against his cheek, their lips drawing closer until they met under the moon's embrace.
As Vao and Verde cuddled, and Salem and Yin solidified their relationship, the moon steadily rose higher and higher.
In just one week, they would be fighting Twist's biggest battle. The battle that would decide the fate of Twist's people.
But they weren't ready.
...
THUD!
Blood pooled around Mono's head, her hair matted down from where Jack had hit her. The Ripper's boots walked across the ground in her blurry vision, his yellow eyes staring down at her with that condescending stare that lacked any real hostility.
"Oh la la... Not even you can stop me... This is it, then. My Dark God's plan is coming to fruition; he has acquired a new weapon..."
Mono's fingers scratched at the ground, threatening to tear her fingernails from their beds. She reached out to grab him, but Jack only stepped out of her reach.
She didn't even know what happened before he beat her. No, he didn't just beat her in a fight; he almost killed her. She only breathed because he hadn't been interested in putting her down. Jack sighed, scratching his chin.
"... The First Vao, monsieur Vao, Mon Seigneur... He would likely reach the Royal Capital in one week, non?" He cooed. "I suppose I should make my way over there too... Oui, I do not want to miss such a wonderful event."
Those traitorous, backstabbing yellow eyes she had come to despise shifted back down to her, that smile widening.
"... It's too late, mademoiselle," he cooed. "My Dark God has won... And soon, everything will begin again, with a new weapon to be used... Don't you understand? Fighting the will of the Gods is futile, mon ami. Soon, the Blood will go into a frenzy... And not even you will be left standing-!"
He stepped out of the way when Mono scrambled to a knee, swinging her fist. Jack sighed, his smile growing.
"... Oh la la... You still fight, even after I have shown you what makes me untouchable, makes me Jack the Ripper... That is not a very wise choice, mademoiselle..."
Mono gritted her teeth, spitting the red liquid through her teeth as she glared at him. "What... What the hell are you...?"
Jack chuckled softly. "Me? I am human... Couldn't you tell?"
Mono didn't believe that for a second. He wasn't a human. He was a gods-forsaken demon who wore the skin of a man. Jack sighed again, turning around and waving his hand dismissively.
"... I have no need for the Cult anymore. I have already fulfilled my Dark God's orders. I do not care to entertain your pitiful attempts to destroy me. I simply have better things to do. You understand, non?" He glanced down at her, his yellow eyes flickering with a hint of mockery. He was taunting her. "... Well... I suppose it doesn't matter. Au revoir, mon ami."
Before her very eyes, Jack disappeared without a trace. Mono shivered, realization settling in.
This was no longer about the Cult. Everything was in danger. But most importantly, the First Vao was at risk of becoming a true mindless killing machine, used by the Gods to create an endless loop of misery and destruction, just as they had done with Salem. The monoeye stood up, her legs trembling as she ran back through the halls, bursting through the remains of the front door. By now, the entire Cult had gathered outside, attracted by Mono's rampage to reach the home she shared with their Lord. Collective gasps of shock and horror rang through the air when they saw her bloodied, bruised form, murmurs of fear already beginning to rise. Mono hissed, raising her hand to silence it all.
"Everyone! Listen to me! Hear my order!" She screamed at the crowd. "Jack... Jack's done something! He's lied and stabbed every last one of us in the back. We won't let his plan succeed! We must march towards the Royal Capital at once-"
"B-but he beat you!" One of the Cultists cried. "H-he beat you! E-even with your ability to stop t-time!"
"That does not matter!" Mono snapped. "We're marching on the Royal Capital immediately!"
She had only begun to move before she stopped. She was forgetting something. Looking back at the Cult, she clenched her jaw.
"... One more thing," she growled. "We will meet the adventurers we have hunted there. Do not kill them; they are not our enemies. We are there to save Lord Vao. And... If I fail to save him, then Yin and the Third Vao are the only ones who stand a chance. Are we understood? None will harm them."
The cries of the Cult rang out, their black robes fluttering as they scattered for their weapons, Mono limping back to her room. With the blink of her eye, she changed her clothes and cleaned herself up in stopped time. With her hammer in hand, she returned to the streets of Grimmore, where the Cult was readying themselves.
The greatest battle in the Timelines was unfolding. In the Royal Capital, the defenses were nearly finished, the Knights and guards training relentlessly for the day the army would reach the city, and Pop Iris paced around his office nervously, chewing his fingernails until they bled.
In Faralda, the nonhumans marched from the main gate and to the east, Yin and Vao riding ahead on horseback, their friends at their sides. The two looked at each other silently, their eyes meeting. There were no smiles. Just a silent stare of trust.
And sprinting full speed towards the Royal Capital, the Darkness ripped up anything in its path, the air temperature dropping rapidly around him. The First Vao ran almost on all fours, his hair flailing behind him, his one red eye locked on the horizon, that invisible figure only he ever saw clinging to his shoulder, wearing the nastiest of smiles.
And lastly, in the Graveyard, the monitors began to flash and alarms blared. The Second Verde dropped her water, sprinting towards her terminal and gripping the edge of her desk. The First Verde was frantically trying to stop the alarm, but it was no use. The day was finally approaching. The day they had all lived fearing.
"The... The Collapse," she whispered. "I-it's beginning..."