7,711Hey all. I need to take some emergency time off in two weeks for some serious meetings with insolvency people. It won't be a full week – only three days in terms of fics. I'll be off for serious work business Monday August 5th – Friday August 9th. That means Monday, Tuesday and Thursday updates will be impacted. Weekend ones will continue as I'll be back home by then to keep writing.
Just letting you all know in advance.
Cover Art: Curbizzle
Chapter 63
Jaune knew he had one chance. His only other option was to hope he woke up early and could get himself knocked out again, but by that point Tyrian and Hazel might have taken him even further away.
There'd never been perfect control of his Semblance in terms of choosing who he visited but, if he had been capable, he wasn't sure who it would have been. Ozpin would have been good, but the teacher might have been awake. His teammates probably weren't asleep since they'd be looking for him, and Team RWBY would have been roped into it.
Trivia would have helped, he was sure, but she was all the way in Vale and he had no idea how close his body was to it, or how to help her navigate to where he was being taken. There was a lot of forest for one woman to scour.
General Ironwood?
He would have more capability to help, but he just might not...
Or he might decide that someone like Salem – who was apparently very real – shouldn't have a Semblance like his at her disposal. Better to kill them all with repeated airstrikes than risk a failed rescue.
It didn't matter anyway because Jaune never got a choice in who his Semblance brought him to, and he didn't now – because if he had been given a choice then it certainly wouldn't have been her.
And she looked no happier to see him.
"Arc..."
"Cinder."
They faced one another in what he presumed was the home Cinder had grown up in. She was shorter, somewhere between a child and a teenager in what looked like a school uniform except that, unlike Beacon's, it had trousers instead of a skirt. He'd entered her dream midway through to see Cinder being berated by an older woman, but the moment Cinder saw him, she realised this was a dream and became lucid. The woman was struck down ruthlessly, killed on the spot, and Cinder summoned twin swords to her hands by imagining them.
He could have whisked them away by un-imagining them if he wanted.
But that wouldn't help him.
"I must have fallen into a nap," Cinder hissed to herself. "What a clumsy way to go." She snarled and raised her voice, and her weapons, to point at him. "Well? Are you going to put your Semblance to use and kill me? They say if you kill a killer, the number of killers in the world stays the same."
Jaune couldn't resist. "But if I kill you, Emerald and Mercury then the world is down three killers and up one with me. That's still a net negative of two killers. Then I just need to keep going and I'll offset my status as a killer hundreds of times over."
Cinder snorted. "Philosophy never does work when you dig into it."
It was tempting to strike her down. She'd killed Amber, tried to kill him, and she'd planned terrible things for Beacon. And yet it was her head she ended up in. That must mean Tyrian and Hazel were skirting close to the city. Why? It would have made more sense to take him away from it in the opposite direction.
Unless that was too obvious. The sensible route was the one Beacon would assume, and Team RWBY and JNPR would be rushing that direction along with whatever reinforcements Ozpin could gather. No one would think to look toward Vale, and smuggling an unconscious body that way wouldn't be any harder from their points of view.
In fact, it might even be the clever move. They knew how his Semblance worked, so carrying him in the middle of nowhere increased the odds he could reach out and empower an ally. By bringing his unconscious body close to Vale, they cast his dream net wide. Millions of dreams he could end up in, almost all of them useless.
"Well?" Cinder demanded. "What are you waiting for? I won't go down easily even in my own nightmare. And this won't change anything—"
"Because of Salem, right?"
Cinder flinched. "How—?"
Her fear must have been powerful because a hideous figure stepped out of the darkness. She wasn't real, that much Jaune knew. This was Cinder's dream and his words had evoked an image in her mind. One of a tall woman with skin so white it redefined the term, with red veins pulsing and black eyes. She had the facial structure of a woman, and might even have been attractive, but it was impossible to think that when her eyes were so Grimm-like.
"So," he said, as Cinder struggled to calm herself. "This is what Salem looks like."
That served as reminder enough for Cinder. She took a deep breath and slashed a sword back, cutting Salem's head off and causing her body to collapse into an inky mass. "I won't fall for nonsense summoned up in what I know to be a dream," she said.
"I didn't summon her. It? You did. Me mentioning her had your mind imagine her. It's the first time I've ever seen her." Jaune frowned. "But it might not be the last. Your allies have captured me and are taking me to her."
He didn't expect sympathy.
And he certainly didn't get it.
"Good riddance!" Cinder sneered. "You've been a thorn in my side, and not even a competent one! It's one thing to be bested by someone like Ozpin, another to have your plans ruined by some bumbling twat who can't control his own Semblance."
There would be no help here. If he killed her now, maybe he'd end up in someone else's dream.
But maybe that would be no better.
What if he ended up in the head of some random shopkeeper, some random guy, or even a child? What was he going to do? They couldn't help him, and he wasn't going to leave a trail of dead sleepers just to hop around in hopes of ending up in Qrow's head. And Qrow was sleeping during the day and searching for Cinder at night anyway, so he might not even be asleep right now.
He didn't have the freedom to pick and choose. Instead, he had to make the best of what he got.
Make the best of his worst enemy.
"Hmm. I can see why that would be annoying. But, you know, if I'm taken to Salem then it won't be the last you see of me either." Jaune tilted his head, using his Semblance to conjure that image of Salem once more. He didn't perfectly remember her but this was Cinder's dream, so all he had to do was poke it and use what was already there.
Rather than just Salem, the whole world changed to some dark, stone room with wall sconces lit by actual torches instead of dust-powered electricity. It was a moody and gothic chamber, cold and open, with windows looking out on a purple sky. Cinder had obviously been there to remember it so vividly, and she didn't look surprised even now.
But she did look a little stressed.
Bad memories? For all that Cinder was working for Salem, it didn't seem she was keen on this place. Or on the woman herself if she cut down her own interpretation of her. The fact that the Salem Cinder's subconscious summoned was so intimidating might have been a subtle sign of how Cinder regarded her.
Jaune tested further by willing up Tyrian and Hazel. He knew them, obviously, but Cinder knew them better – and not only did they appear, but another man that Jaune didn't recognise. Someone thin and wiry with dark hair and a bold moustache. The man was playing about on a handheld device larger than a scroll, while Tyrian and Hazel knelt before Salem as if being knighted.
"The two of you have done well," Salem said, in a voice that wasn't quite as monstrous as he would have expected from looking at her. And it was her real voice, because it was Cinder's memories providing the material. "I demanded of you to bring me the boy and you have succeeded on your first attempt. Such service should stand as an example to less capable individuals." Salem looked up. "Don't you think, Cinder...?"
Cinder scowled. "I know this isn't real. This is a scene you're creating, Arc."
"Does that matter?" asked Salem, before Jaune could even respond.
He was stunned for a moment, but only a brief one. Cinder's nightmares could take hold and run without him, but the question in his mind was whether it was doing that now because he wanted it to, or because Cinder secretly feared this.
Either way, he wasn't about to interfere. If anyone knew how to rattle Cinder best, it would be her own subconscious.
"This may not be real now, but you know it will become real soon enough. Constant failure. That's what you've been. You failed to kill the maiden, failed to gather the dust, failed to remain hidden at Beacon, failed to kill Ozpin while he was weak, and now you've failed in your task to capture Arc and bring him to me."
Wait, what? Cinder had been given that job as well!? That wasn't good. He'd been hoping he could convince her to intervene with Tyrian and Hazel out of jealousy, but now she might decide to join them – or to steal him off them but then still take him to Salem.
Salem continued while Jaune swore under his breath. "You know my patience isn't eternal, Cinder. And you promised me much."
"You're not her!" Cinder snarled. "You're... You're me! A part of my mind!"
"Does it matter?" Salem asked with a shrug. "Does it change the fact of what I say? We have failed her repeatedly. We know she is merciless. We also know Arc can impose changes on the real world if he wishes. That's why Salem wants him, for his power, and for the power he can impart on others. Power that could have been ours!"
Cinder scoffed. "He'd have never given power to us."
"It's true," said Jaune. "She's right about that one."
The Cinder that was Salem didn't give up. "Perhaps not, but Salem will break him eventually. Either by torturing him or by torturing those precious to him. Friends, family, or perhaps a selection of innocent children. He'll give in if only to stop their suffering, and then his Semblance will be at her disposal. Who do you think will benefit the most from that?"
"..." Cinder refused to respond.
"Salem, obviously, but she's ever been keen to delegate responsibility, so I expect she'll use it on those beneath her."
"I am the most loyal," Tyrian said, rising to face Cinder. "The Goddess knows that."
"And I'm the more competent," said Hazel, doing the same. "We're the ones who succeeded in bringing Arc back, so we'll surely be the first to have his power used in our favour. Incredible strength..."
"Unmatched speed," Tyrian teased.
"New Semblances."
"Magic."
"Power."
"Shut up!" Cinder roared and launched her weapons at the two. Swords sprouted from their chests but neither fell, as neither existed as real people in the first place. "Shut up! So what if I'd be last? I'd benefit! And I don't need his Semblance. I have the power of the Fall Maiden!"
"A power that pales in comparison to the power of imagination," Salem said, waving her hand dismissively. "What will I care for the power of autumn once I have the power to rewrite reality at my leisure." Her eyes glinted. "In fact, your power is one that can be taken away – either by you being killed or when you die of old age. My plans go further than that. Perhaps I'll have your power taken away from you entirely."
Cinder took a step back. "No."
"Yes!" Salem hissed, leaping on the momentary weakness. "What use do I have for a power that will return to Ozpin one day? Easier to use Arc's Semblance to be rid of it, to erase it and remove it from the board entirely."
"You can't! You need this!"
"For what? To gather the relics? I can have Arc make me my own."
Relics...? What now...?
"Better yet, I could have him simply dream the Relics into my hands and be done with it. Or dream of Tyrian or Hazel having the right magical signature to pass through the wards Ozma laid on those vaults."
"But... But..."
"But what? That power you took was only ever to serve as a key, and only because I needed the relics. I don't anymore. Or I won't," she stressed. "Once Tyrian and Hazel deliver him to me. Then, I'll be free of the maidens, free of the relics..." Salem sneered. "And free of a bumbling failure such as yourself!"
Cinder took another step back and shook her head. "No. No! I've been loyal—"
"LIES!" Salem roared. "You have never been loyal to me! You have only ever been loyal to yourself. You're using me!" Salem leaned back and smiled coyly. "And I know that, Cinder, because I'm not Salem. I'm you. And we only care for ourselves. And now... Now, he knows that as well." The Salem pointed to Jaune. "He knows that we're not truly loyal to Salem, and he hates us, so I wonder what the first thing will be he tells her? Hmm? Will he rat us out to her and convince her to be rid of us? Perhaps he will trade the use of his Semblance to her in exchange for your body broken and beaten."
Cinder trembled.
With rage as much as with fear.
Her own mind was giving Jaune ideas he'd have never thought up on his own – and that was telling. Did Cinder hate herself so much that she'd sabotage herself like this? Or maybe she was such a cruel person that the one thing she feared was having the tables turned on her. A nightmare's job was to terrify, and perhaps Cinder just didn't have enough things she feared otherwise.
Either way, it was useful information.
"I'll tell Salem anything I need to in order to keep my friends and family safe," Jaune said, drawing Cinder's hateful gaze. "And if she's going to get my power anyway by hurting them, I might as well make it easier on everyone and find a more amicable solution. Maybe I'll have her make you my bitch. You seem to like power – crave it, even – so instead of killing you, how about I use my Semblance to rob you of all power? Make you so weak and helpless that even a child can wrestle you to the floor."
Cinder trembled. "You bastard!"
"Yeah, I am. Not much point pretending otherwise." Jaune smirked. "And I'm also really petty, so don't think I wouldn't do all this. And it's not like Salem will care. You may be good, Cinder, but with my Semblance...? I can make others better. You're replaceable. But me...? I'm one of a kind. I'm worth making a few sacrifices for."
"And even if she doesn't," Salem remarked. "How long will you last before he reaches you in a dream and takes his vengeance on his own? Salem might be upset, but she won't risk killing the golden goose."
"You're me!" Cinder hissed to Salem. "You are literally my own mind. Why are you on his side!?"
She wasn't.
Cinder's mind was just trapped in a nightmare and so doing its best to hurt her. It wasn't personal, it wasn't even intentional, it was just another part of how crazy people's psyches were. If Cinder had a far easier phobia, like clows or snakes, then her nightmare might have been able to throw those at her instead.
But it seemed Cinder's greatest fear was being replaced.
Or of losing control.
"Tyrian and Hazel are passing close to Vale right now," said Jaune. "I'm not sure where they're taking me – maybe to an aircraft to get me out the county. You'd probably have a better idea than me."
Cinder sneered. "Do you expect me to mount a daring rescue?"
"No. I expect you to come try and kill me before I can be handed over to Salem."
"That eager to sacrifice yourself for the greater good, Arc? Is this your way of asking me to kill you so your Semblance can't be used for ill?"
Jaune shrugged. She could believe that if she liked, but what he really hoped for was that a battle between Cinder and her allies might draw enough attention to have his teammates, Qrow or Ozpin figure out where he was and intervene. It was a lot to bank on, that Cinder would struggle with them and not just kill him first, but he didn't have much of a choice.
And though he wasn't brave enough to ask for it, it probably would be for the best if he died before being handed over to this Salem woman – especially if she was going to have his family kidnapped and tortured to break him into working for her. He didn't want to die, but he also didn't want to be the reason his sisters died.
"I'm a huntsman. It's my job to fight against the Grimm, not to serve them."
"How pathetically altruistic."
"It is what it is. And it's your choice as well. You can let them take me if you want, but you know better than I what will happen on Salem's side. If your own mind is telling you she'll replace you, then that's probably accurate. I've never met her after all."
Cinder bit down on her words, and though she refused to break eye contact, he could tell she was deep in thought. She must have believed he was the one making the Salem speak at first, but after it said things only she could know, she had to have realised it was her own mind giving the answers.
And not all things that happened in nightmares were fictional.
"Perhaps the power should be ours instead," said the Salem that was Cinder. She morphed, then, skin tone becoming more natural, hair darker. It was Cinder, but different. Eyes glowing, powerful posture and Tyrian, Hazel and the other man dead at her feet. "We can break him the same ways Salem would – and we could take what she would give to others."
Cinder turned to look at her fully, seduced by the idea.
"If Salem would have no need of us and the maiden's power, then what need should we have of it? What need, when we can have better. If – or when – he can be made loyal, we would be limited by only our imagination. Infinite power, endless possibilities..." Salem chuckled. "And, from what we have seen of Ozpin's age being reverted, eternal life as well."
"Eternal life..." Cinder finished with a cruel smile. "And eternal youth, too."
"Neither of which I would ever give you," Jaune was quick to say.
"Neither of which he would willingly give Salem either," Cinder's mind countered. "And yet there are ways to make someone do what we wish. It might take time, time to break him, but we would gain all that time back and more once his Semblance is under our control. Salem would be nothing before us! Broken and useless! Ozpin? Ironwood? Vale? Atlas? They would have no choice but to worship us as a god! We could become a god if we so wish!"
This... This wasn't going quite as he planned it...
Damn Cinder and her twisted mind.
"A god...?" Cinder closed her eyes and trembled. Not with fear, this time. "Yes. Stronger than Ozma, stronger than Salem, stronger than anyone who ever did or ever will exist again. Power beyond compare, all at my fingertips."
Jaune scowled at her. The only reason he didn't argue was because he could still betray her if he had the chance. If Cinder was ever reckless enough to let him in her dreams under the belief he'd improve her, he could destroy her as well. Render her to nothing, turn her into a weak and frail shell of a woman. And, frankly, better that than Salem. He could always reach out and hope for rescue from Cinder, but there'd be no saving him from wherever Tyrian and Hazel were taking him.
"None of that will happen if Tyrian and Hazel take me to Salem," Jaune said, knowing he had her. "So, think about that when you wake up."
With that final word, Jaune launched a flash of white light at Cinder – searingly bright, and hot enough to cause her real pain when she woke up. Cinder screamed as it engulfed her, and the world turned white as it ripped her from sleep at the same time.
/-/
Tyrian smirked to himself as he skipped toward the Bullhead that had been prepared ahead of time, just on the outskirts of the city. One smuggled in by the White Fang on Cinder's orders, now co-opted for their use. She wasn't going to need it. Tyrian hauled open the side compartment so that Hazel could carry the boy in and climb in after.
"Go steady," Hazel told him. "This cargo is too important to risk."
"I know! I know!" Tyrian scoffed as he climbed up to the cockpit. He might be fun (others called it mad) but he wasn't going to risk the key to Salem's ultimate victory. "I'll fly us as gentle as a bird, Hazel. Just you see. It'll be the softest flight you've ever—"
There was a flicker of light reflected in the cockpit window.
It was the only warning Tyrian had – and yet it was enough for him to kick off the door and launch himself backwards, ducking his head down and arching his back so that the missile flew just overhead and smashed through the glass.
Though it had missed him, it struck the control panel, almost certainly disabling the aircraft.
Hazel leapt out and landed beside him. "Are you hit?"
"No. Bullhead is down, though. Seems we have a guest. Branwen?"
Hazel looked to the damage, eyes narrowing. Tyrian didn't join him, not being quite so insane as to turn his back when someone had tried to shoot him. "It's not a bullet, Tyrian. It was an arrow. Black shaft and feathers."
An arrow...? But the only one who used that was...
Ah...
Betrayal.
Tyrian's entire body trembled.
This... This was unacceptable. This was inconceivable. And surely enough, Cinder Fall walked from the treeline, her eyes glowing with a power she'd stolen while sworn to the goddess. A power she now turned on them.
"You have something that belongs to me," she intoned.
"We're under orders from Salem to bring Jaune Arc to her," Hazel said, trying for diplomacy. "The same instructions you are under."
Tyrian scoffed. "Let's not waste time with words, Rainart. It's obvious what's happening here."
"Yes." Cinder laughed cruelly. "I suppose it is obvious, isn't it? Salem longs for a power that doesn't belong to her. I shall claim it for myself. But I can't have her knowing about this just yet. I need time to make him see things from my point of view. That means you need to remain silent for a few weeks yet."
Electrical storms and harsh winds picked up around Cinder.
"Tragically, it seems like the two of you will have fallen asleep while escorting Arc here, and he slew you both before you could wake. A shame. I will make sure Salem learns of your folly in letting your guard down around him."
Tyrian cackled. "No need! No need! Your severed head will tell a story all of its own!"
Next Chapter: 1st August
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