Fragment of Lingering Destiny
It felt like nothing. Ruby felt nothing for so long she did not know what or how anything happened. It was as if the world simply did not exist. That was until, finally, she did feel something. Pain. Pain washed over her like a tidal wave, stripping the nothingness away into an ocean of pain. Her eyes opened as the light of the room hit her, blinding her. Her back flung forward, sitting up straight in a soft, comfortable bed.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!" Ruby screamed loud enough to crack the window near her bed.
"Ruby! What's wrong?!?!" Tai asked frantically, rushing into her room, and a cavalcade rushed in after him.
"Red, I know you just woke up. But you don't have to wake the dead!" Kenshi complained, rubbing one of his ears.
"Shut up, Kenshi! Ruby, are you okay!?!?" Yang called out, rushing to her sister's side.
"Everyone stop! Give her some air!" Azura yelled, rushing in the way and forcing them to back up.
Ruby panted heavily as she put a hand on her chest. "I'm… alive… I think? What happened?" She asked as her face softened to one of confusion.
"Alive!? Only just barely, thanks in no small part to this one, Lady Ruby!" Balam's voice yelled out as he popped out of Ruby in his chibi form.
"For a moment, we thought you were dead." Lady Sen'otome explained. "Balam barely kept you alive while we brought you back. And it was no small miracle on my part to assist him in your recovery."
"Quite. If this one were not an Elemental God of Life as well as one of Death, thou wouldst surely have perished if this one had not pumped thee full of his divine life force to lessen the damage that thou had been doing to thine mortal body." Balam grumbled, finally allowing himself to relax.
Ruby let out a deep sigh. "You told them what happened. Did you?" Ruby asked Balam's Avatar.
Balam nodded in response. "This one felt it pertinent that they know."
Ruby gulped and turned to look at her family. She gulped as Yang grabbed hold of her firmly.
"Ruby… never scare us like that again…" Yang told her firmly before pulling her into a gentle hug.
"You're… not mad?" Ruby asked, her eyes widening in shock.
"Oh, I'm furious. But I'm much more relieved that you're okay. And, according to Balam, he managed to keep you from losing much of your life span by using his own powers as a God of Life to just barely stave off the effects. But you are never allowed to do something that crazy ever again. Am I clear?" Yang firmly told Ruby, very clearly holding back her anger from her eyes turning red and her hair glowing with golden flames.
"Please don't hurt me…" Ruby nervously replied.
"I'm not going to hurt you, Ruby. But if you do something like that again and manage to survive it… I will turn you inside out myself." Yang told her before stepping back as she began to take a deep breath and begin to calm down.
"Some hero's welcome…" Ruby grumbled before letting her head slump. "After all that, everyone's still mad at me. Typical."
"Ruby. You could have died. We nearly lost you. Don't you care at all about how that would affect us?" Taiyang firmly told her, clearly trying to hold back his own anger and concern.
"I thought you'd at least care about what I did during all this!!" Ruby snapped back, tears beginning to form in her eyes.
"It's not that we don't care about what you did! We care more about not losing you!!" Taiyang snapped at her, trying to remain calm.
"Should we say something?" Kenshi whispered to Azura.
Azura simply stepped forward, putting himself firmly between Ruby and her family while looking at Yang and Taiyang. He gave them a firm glance before he spoke up. "Lady Yang, Lord Xiao Long… we all agree that what Lady Ruby did was reckless. But it also saved many lives and put the Golden Nobles on the run. We can speak of punishment later. For now, we should focus on the praise she deserves and the fact that she is alive and well." He told them firmly.
"Great. More punishment." Ruby muttered. "Wait, what?"
Everyone else in the room was also left in stunned disbelief at Azura's words. It was at that moment that said azure ronin lord turned to look at Ruby with a smile on his face. "You did well today, Lady Ruby. You not only saved and freed so many innocent lives but you also inspired them to take back their freedom from the Golden Tyrants with their own hands and put said tyrants on the run. You acted in a way befitting a female samurai of mine and Kenshi's homeland." He told her.
"It was hugely impressive. I have not seen anyone with the strength to collapse a mineshaft like that." Sen'otome chipped in.
"And the freed slaves wouldn't shut up about you. Some spoke of you like a green aura'd goddess." Kenshi said with a small smile.
All of this, however, got Ruby blushing red in the face, far deeper in shade than even her cloak. "O-Oh come on… I was… just doing what anyone would have done, right?" She nervously said, trying to wave away the praise.
Azura nodded, gently taking her hand. "Perhaps. But you did so in a way that few would have had the courage to truly act upon. You have made us all immensely proud today, Lady Ruby." He told her, giving her a smile.
Ruby blushed deeper and turned to look at her family. "I'm… I'm sorry I keep worrying you all. I just… wanted to avenge mom. I don't even know if today truly counts though." She explained as her voice started to get sad.
Yang wiped away tears as she gave her little sister a smile. "It's at least a good first step, Rubes. When the Golden Pricks tried to shit on you, you smeared it right back in their smug faces. Next time, just please let us come with you so we can all shove a foot up their asses as a family." She told Ruby, patting her on her right shoulder.
Tai then stepped forward and put a hand on his daughter's left shoulder. "Ruby. I know for a fact Summer would be proud of you. You don't need to chase it. She wouldn't want to do that." He explained, before giving her a small smile.
Ruby smiled and gave both her sister and Father a hug. After the family embraced, Ruby turned to look at her sister. "You were… really vulgar just now, sis." She told her with an amused smile.
"Don't you go trying to copy it now." Yang replied with a knowing smirk.
Ruby then turned to look at Azura. "So how are the slaves doing?" She asked.
Azura gave a smile. "They will be in much better spirits as soon as they know that their savior is awake and in good health. Just please, Lady Ruby. Next time… please just do not go alone. Allow at least one of us to go with you so that you will not have to push yourself so hard…" He told her, a brief bit of worry slipping past his normal mask.
"I don't know, are you going to try to stop me from going on missions again?" Ruby asked cheekily.
"If I must, I will bind you to your bed and keep watching over you personally until you are ready to go out again. As well as accompany you personally on missions to keep you from pushing yourself like that again." Azura firmly told her, squeezing her hand gently.
"Well, that's a bit extreme…" Ruby replied with a gulp.
"Oh, that's just how Azu shows his affection, Ruby. He's all bark." Kenshi chipped in with a knowing smile.
Azura simply blushed and glared at his twin. "Your silence would be greatly appreciated, brother." He firmly told Kenshi.
"Affection?" Ruby asked, her head cocking to the side like a confused bird.
"Look at my baby sis, reeling in a big fish." Yang giggled.
"Yang, be quiet!!" Ruby snapped while blushing more, getting further giggling from Yang and Kenshi.
"I mean, I would approve of it." Tai muttered to himself, looking away to try and make sure no one could hear him.
Azura blushed red along with Ruby. "Your silence would be most greatly appreciated, Sir Xiao Long…! /Please just… just stop talking, dad…!" The two said simultaneously.
"Well, we should probably leave them then. I imagine it is quite difficult to tie a lady down to a bed with a bunch of eyes on them." Sen'otome said with a coy smile, before beginning to walk out of the room.
"Don't have too much fun, you two." Yang giggled coyly, following behind the mystical woman.
"YOUR SILENCE WOULD BE MOST GREATLY APPRECIATED, YANG!!" Ruby and Azura yelled at the same time.
However, it did little as the rest of them filtered out of the room. Even Balam's avatar floated along like a little fairy to follow them. As the door shut, Ruby and Azura were left alone.
"Um… were you serious about tying me down to the bed?" Ruby gulped nervously.
"... Not like they are implying… but yes…" Azura nervously replied, scratching the back of his head.
"Wh-What were they implying…?" Ruby gulped nervously. As she stared at Azura's ever reddening face.
Meanwhile: Deep in Golden Noble Territory
"THIS IS AN UNNACCEPTABLE FAILURE, YOU FUCKING PILLOCKS!!!" Santigo yelled at his priests and men.
His voice echoed through the darkened courtroom. Lanterns and torches quivered as great tapestries fluttered. The various guards, ministers, priests, and servants shuffled uneasily as their lord threw his arms into the air. The already gothic and sharp surroundings gained a new edge of threat, as the lord threw off one of his garments.
"But my lord…" A priest tried to say, before attracting said lord's ire.
"SILENCE, YOU BRAINDEAD, BUMBLING BUMBACLOT! I DO NOT NEED YOUR EXCUSES! I NEED SOLUTIONS FOR DEALING WITH THAT INSUFFERABLE, SILVER-EYED SAVAGE!!!" Santigo roared in fury.
"Milord. We have defeated them in the past. It is but one…" A mercenary tried to say, before being cut off.
"ONE IS MORE THAN ENOUGH TO INCITE REVOLUTION, YOU FOOL!!! THEY MUST ALL BE WIPED OUT!!!" Santigo yelled, taking a deep breath to compose himself before he gave himself a heart attack.
The room fell to an eerie silence as Santiago sat back down on his throne. This new silence did not last as the pitter-patter of a servant rushing towards the throne was heard. A young girl soon approached him, huffing and puffing, before bowing to him.
"Milord. The guards say there is a procession of monks that wish to speak with you." The serving girl meekly said.
Taking a deep breath to compose himself, Santigo glared at the girl before waving her off. "Show them in and leave us. It is not as if my day can possibly get any worse." He huffed, fighting back a migraine.
She nodded and rushed off to inform the guards. Soon the grand arched doorway to the throne room opened wide, each door requiring six men to push it open. Then a whole thirteen monks, clad in long flowing brown and red edged robes walked in. Yet as they walked, they walked in complete unison, without a single word. No one could even see their faces, obscured by their hoods. Draping their faces in an onyx shadow. When they finally reached Santiago on his throne, they bent their waists to bow, before one stepped forward. He had more red markings on his ropes, almost akin to letterings in some language.
"Great Golden Lord Santigo. By the grace of the gods, it is an honor to be in your magnificent presence." The monk said, before clasping his hands together.
Santigo glared at the man before him. "Speak, monk. Why have you asked to be in my presence? I am in a foul mood as it is, so choose your words carefully." He told the monk shortly.
"Your mood is none of my concern, dear lord. But your circumstances are. For the presence of a Silver-Eyed Warrior disturbs my order most greatly. And, as its Capuchin, I am forced to act." The man explained, his voice firm, yet somehow comforting.
Santigo raised an eyebrow at that. "And just what sort of order do you lead, Capuchin? And, for that matter, what is your own grudge against the Silver-Eyed Menaces?" He asked; his interest clearly piqued.
"The Silver-Eyed Warriors are the most grievous of traitors to the celestial order, milord. For they once held an honor even your most vaunted kind does not possess. They spoke to the gods of Heaven, and even, through foul misdirection, intermingled with them." The Capuchin explained, keeping his words incredibly careful in their tone and inflection.
This raised Santigo's eyes wide, in sheer disbelief at what he was hearing. "Did they now…?" He asked, leaning forward a tad.
"They cavorted with demons, my lord. They twist the words and actions of men as easily as a charlatan. Even the Zodiacs had fallen under their spell. Before their rightful sundering by the most noble Kuroryū." The Capuchin continued, even daring to take a step forward towards the lord.
"And just what can you offer me to finally rid the world of these despicable fools?" Santigo asked, raising an eyebrow.
The Capuchin reached into his long cloak and pulled from it a small unadorned black stone box. "The power over destruction itself, milord." He replied before opening the box.
Sat upon a plush velvet stuffing was a large, jagged gemstone. It gleamed for a moment in the light with an inky purplish black, before the space around it began to darken. As if the light around the area was being devoured in the gem's mere presence. Soon, Santigo stood from his throne as his heart raced. The longer he looked upon it, it felt like something was calling him to it.
"Do not be shy, milord. All you need to achieve this power is to reach out and grab it." The Capuchin politely explained.
"Milord. How can you just so easily trust these people? We don't even know who they are." One of the Ministers spoke up to say.
Santigo glared at the Minister. "Silence, fool. They offer power befitting my divine right to rule. As one mandated by Heaven to rule these lands, it is my duty to wipe out sinners such as these Silver-Eyed Demons." He told the Minister before looking down at the stone before him.
"Like I said milord. All you need to do is reach out. And take it." The Capuchin reiterated.
Without a second thought, Santigo's hand lunged forward and grasped the stone in his fist. At first as he wrenched it back to look at it, the stone felt oddly warm. Yet, in the next instant it was a burning feeling, and then every part of his hand felt it in the next instant. The sensation spread like wildfire through his body, rippling in an ever-greater escalation of pain. Then his hand burst into a great gout of fire, searing the flesh off his bone, before cracking and blackening. As his bones charred, they turned into dust in the wind. In but moments, in a great conflagration, Lord Santigo was incinerated into nothing.
A crowd of horrified onlookers stood there, frozen in horror as the gem simply floated where their lord's hand was. As if held up by an invisible force. Yet soon, the space their lord stood began to ripple with said invisible force, taking the outline of a man. As fast as he burst into flame, the gem let out a pulse of energy, sending dark, inky energy through invisible veins. Around them grew a glowing black skeleton. Muscles stitched themselves and wove into form out of thin air. Skin and clothes then draped this mass as features returned to it. They all watched in stunned amazement as Lord Santigo stood there once more, as if he had not left. But quickly, something was different about him.
Opening and closing his hands, he felt something coursing through them. Something… new. This was not Aura. No… it felt… unfathomably older. Vastly deeper. And far… far… far more powerful. Smirking, his hand lit up with flames of deep purple, dark crimson, and pitch-black darkness. Aiming his hand at the wall, he willed a small ball of energy to shoot forth. When the blast shot from his hand, a wave of the flames rushed forth towards the wall and out into the landscape. Yet they did not simply burn what was in their path. No… instead… They flat out erased everything they touched. As if everything in their path had never been there at all.
"Milord. What has happened to you? Where did the monks go?" A minister asked in fright.
Santigo turned to look where he last saw the monks. Yet his eyebrows rose when he saw they were nowhere to be seen. As if they had never existed. The only thing that remained was the small black stone box. He reached down to hold it in his hand, before causing it to disappear in his hand with a puff of dark crimson flame.
Looking down at his hand, Santigo smirked. "It matters not, Minister. For I finally have what I need: Power. With the raw power of destruction at my disposal, that little Silver-Eyed Witch will stand no chance against me when we next meet…" He purred in a dark, sickly-sweet tone, his eyes glowing with a strange flame of dark purple, deep crimson, and ebony darkness…