What Happens Next (Slay The Princess/RWBY)
- Thread starter Nyarky
- Start date
Certainly.
Of course, it's going to be after this quest is done. (Which isn't going to be that long, but still not right now)
Chapter XXXVI: A voice among many.
[X] Cooperate with the White fang on explaining things. Talk about Blake and her story once again (she will give her permission and will come herself to corroborate). A Faunus amongst other instead of a central figure.
You take your decision.
During most of the time you have spent in this world, you have cooperated with others. You will not stop now, no matter how much the Apotheosis wants you to take to spotlight and run with it.
…You really need to find a way to deal with that urge at some point, probably after taking care of Salem.
Anyway, a lot of the information is about relation with Faunus, be it with or against them. There is a narrative you can use here, a fulcrum to bring about change….
You stop, entirely, not even breathing. Sable looks at you with worry but does not yet act, waiting to see the direction your thoughts took. Sensing that there you are coming to a realization.
You know intimately that you are change, but never completely worked out some of the implications before. At first, during you first real interaction with the Long Quiet, you were blinded by your own arrogance, unable to see anything too small for lack of care. You have developed since then, learnt to appreciate the little changes brought out by humans, but you have never been able to reconciliate the two sides of your vision.
From the smallest of interactions between atoms to the very principle of Entropy that permeates the whole universe, you are change, all of it and you have now seen a new layer that was previously subconscious.
Changes in society, but more importantly, the relationship between them and changes in people. There is a tapestry, one that Arthur's move briefly illuminated to your senses, you do not wish to directly move it, unwilling to risk marring such a beautiful thing, but you know that you can guide it indirectly.
It will be slow, and ultimately your goal will be to let it go and watch it change on its own, but you can weave a thing here, gently coax a thread to grow here….
You return to your perspective as Stella, a plan in mind and a smile on your lips.
"Something good, Princess?" Sable asks.
"Yes." You simply answer, more than enough for him to understand thanks to your close link.
After all, you are movement and he is the lack of it, all you can see, he can see the shadow of, the ripples playing against his form.
You send a message to Oz and Glynda: *Will cooperate with Kali Belladona on the Faunus front. Willing to discuss details, contacting her now.*
Message sent, you call the one person that can influence this matter more than anyone else. The woman that dedicated her life to bringing about cooperation between Faunus and Humans and would no doubt jump at the occasion to do so once more.
Kali answers after only three rings, it seems she wasn't too occupied.
"Hello, Stella. Is there anything happening? You don't normally call me instead of Blake." She says, all smiles with a concerned tone. The very image of someone that cares about everyone.
"I'm guessing the news haven't reached Menagerie yet then." You begin, prompting her to lose her smile. "There has been a large leak of information about Beacon, apparently directed to try to attack the reputation of the school. Most of it doesn't concern you, but some is about the Red fang as well as Adam Taurus."
"And you are the one calling me instead of Ozpin because?" The woman answers, all business.
You lift a hand and begin counting on your fingers.
"Because he just learnt it too and I contacted you as soon as I got the news. Because the man probably has to organize the local answer first before the international one. Because, officially, Beacon is not a direct associate of the White Fang but I do not care if I am seen as one. And finally…" Kali gets closer to her screen, fully caught in the tension you wanted to create. "Because I like it that way." She almost falls in surprise. "I have come to some realizations recently, and this situation is a perfect opportunity for me to put them to practice."
"Put to practice? What do you want to do?" Kali says with some hesitation.
"I have not yet appeared much in the eyes of the public." Kali absently nods, still unsure of why you are bringing that up. "The thing is, my Semblance would allow me to benefit from giving some direction to doing so, I can feel some upcoming changes in advance, predict opportunities where people can strike with the most effect thanks to it and my training as a counselor. In short." You look her in the eyes, hoping to convey your sincerity in the next words. "I can help, not take over your operation, not try to steer the ship, but I can give advice. I am also willing to be interviewed as an expert in social matters and to offer some explanation as the one responsible for Adam Taurus' state." Judging by how Kali's pupils dilate, she doesn't like being reminded of that last fact. She still quickly recovers from the shock and begins thinking on your proposition.
"The faster the answer, the better we'll be." She absently tells herself. Then she redirects her attention to you. "Very well, let's say I accept, what would be your first advice then?"
Your smile grows fang, Kali mirroring it unconsciously.
"Well, I'll have to check with more details, but for the moment I am thinking of…."
The next three weeks are spent helping contain the crisis with the help of Kali and the staff of Beacon.
As promised, you are not any kind of central figure in the fight against disinformation. Instead, you are unseen yet everywhere.
You are giving advice to the white fang movement, telling them what journal and/or debate will give them to biggest change for the least amount of efforts and letting them do the rest. You give some interviews on social studies about Faunus, making sure to always credit the ones that actually did the job instead of you. You are there with Blake to talk about how life under the Grimm fang was and what kind of man Adam Taurus was.
You have some wins. A student telling you he came out about having a Faunus girlfriend to his parents and them being convinced by the recent events to accept it. Some journalists deciding to increase the amount of pro-faunus articles they publish.
You have some losses. A journalist making Blake pukes with some very inappropriate comments about her and Adam, with you punching him right away, the news being spread in a manipulated manner to appear as if you attacked without any reason. An inevitable spread of Beacon being accused of being *discriminatory towards human students*. A resurgence of the movements that thinks that there is *a great replacement*.
There are also events you are not sure how to classify.
"Thanks for these answers, miss Panoply. Next item on the list: There have been rumors you are about to break up with your current husband. Some people have seen you fight quite violently recently." The journalist that is currently interviewing you tells, a simple woman from a small journal that your senses still told would lead to quite some changes if you accepted her offer.
The screen on your right changes from the previous picture to a close up of a light spar you had with Sable. You really want to know who took it, it's quite a nice angle.
"I have no idea what you mean?" You ask confusingly. "This is just a small spar, nothing more?"
"Miss." The journalist looks back from the screen to you two times before continuing. "You are strangling him with a smile on your face in that picture and you are both covered in way too many scratches to still have your Aura. You look about to kill him."
"Yes?" You still have no idea what she means. "That's what you do in a spar?" You answer with the outmost sincerity, lack of understanding coloring your voice. "I know students do not do the same, but past a certain level, isn't it better to train to resist past the point where your Aura breaks?"
The journalist seems completely lost too, the poor thing.
"R-right. We probably should table this matter. Next…" She shuffles her papers a little and recover her countenance. "The recent events at…."
Glynda told you that Qrow spent hours unable to stop snickering when he saw this interview. You personally still don't know what influence it had.
Little by little, you can see the effects of your work.
Weiss Schnee deciding to accept an interview and then managing to convey her feelings about the current state of the SDC while still staying perfectly polite and seemingly positive. Her father being forced to acknowledge her efforts even if he is against part of what she talks about. Thanks to her placing herself in the public eye that way, she has a better chance to stay the heir to the company for fear of a scandal.
Blake showing that the time spent with her parents have been a tremendous boon for her mental health, arguing with fervor, showing the whole world that she is ready to lead the next generation of the White fang, a thing that brings a smile to your face and a tear to your eye.
The staff of beacon, from the teachers to the secretaries, all uniting to defend the school against the accusations. Ozpin directing them from the shadows to dance on the line between being too close to the White fang and not using the openings that the organization creates with their own work.
The white fang, under the direction of Kali, taking the best chance they can with as much effort as possible. You are not controlling them, all you do is show a way, one they are free to follow or stray from. More than once, Kali takes a direction you hadn't seen and gets a better result than what you would have anticipated.
For all of it, you yourself are growing, learning, watching.
You still do not think you will ever understand mortals in totality, but you are getting closer to knowing why.
You can feel it, every play and counterplay, every move, every hesitation.
Your vessel is a way for you to see the world, but it is not the only one. You are change and you can feel your own body. These are your bones, your nerves, your hands. You could move them if you wanted, but there is a fascinating beauty in seeing how mortals do it instead.
A piece of the puzzle clicks.
This is what you are, you originally thought you were everything, and in a way, it is true.
But it is also false.
Because while you are everything, not everything is you. You had told to your love that being a contradiction was just as easy to you as being him was to him. You were not awake enough at the time to understand what you meant.
You are everything because everything is a result of you, you are not because everything is affecting you from the outside to bring about more of you.
Mortals are changed. Mortals bring about changes.
You are not one of them.
You are all of them.
You are none of them.
You are among them.
You are between them.
You are the Shifting mound, a vast and complex network.
All of this is you.
A singular multitude.
A voice among many.
You have found a place you want to stay in for a long, long time. There is no need for you to force change, you understand it now. Mortals do more than enough of it by themselves.
Certainly, when the universe is dying and a new one is needed, you will close this chapter. But nothing says you cannot take things from one to another.
A little part of stasis in change, a little part of change in stasis. The very same jagged line that the Narrator made to try and make the Long quiet his champion used by you to counter his vision.
Of course, while you are having incredible revelations on the cosmic level, the mortal world is continuing normally. The bulk of Arthur's last attack is disarmed for a time, unable to reach its true potential in the absence of both its master and enough information about Ozpin's willingness to take risks in the anticipation of a world without Salem as a threat.
And speaking of this attack, Ozpin has decided of a date for it.
"We will attack Salem's castle one week from now." Ozpin announces to the room, looking one by one to the occupants, his entire circle plus your little bird and you. "This will hopefully…."
"Wait a minute." Qrow cuts him off. "Are you telling you knew exactly where her homebase is and you are only telling us now? Why hide this?" He is far past the point where he would be angry at the man, having had time to come to term with the fact that he was lied to by Ozpin, even if for good reasons.
"In normal circumstances, would you prefer fighting Salem's lieutenants when they are alone in a kingdom or in a fortified castle surrounded by an infinite horde of Grimm that will be helping them? With the addition of a powerful sorceress on their side?" Qrow doesn't event answer Ozpin's question. "Besides. I actually did try to destroy her castle several times, none of them worth it. Without a way to definitely stop Salem, she always ended up killing everyone present."
"That is not exactly reassuring, Ozpin." Ironwood interjects, the man still not trusting you to help.
"James, no matter your thoughts on the matter, the fact is that we do have a factor that we didn't before in their help. I will not sacrifice lives in vain, not anymore." Ozpin firmly affirms.
Ironwood works his jaw, but concede the point, allowing Ozpin to continue:
"Thank you James. As I was beginning to say, attacking at this date would hopefully allow us to act before Salem does, as she is likely to try and target the Vytal festival. She will not expect such an answer and is likely to take her time in replacing her currently captured forces or working on jailbreaking them. While there is an increase of security during the festival, there is also a considerable amount of tourists that her agents can use to hide or to slow us down via mass panic."
"A bunch of hostages, conveniently in one big place that she can rig to explode or attack with enough Grimm it may as well be the same." Qrow pensively says, almost certainly thinking of the floating arena.
"Exactly." Ozpin nods. "In addition to this…" He hesitates, looking at the still frowning Ironwood before sighing and finishing his thought. "I am hoping we will be able to announce the fall of the queen of Grimm during the festival. Give people hope in these troubled times."
Nobody objects, most of Ozpin's friends taking some time to think through the implications of finally having an actual proof that the Grimm can be beaten, even if the reality is that it needed your help.
"Everyone is in agreement then?" Ozpin asks, receiving nods all around. "Good, we'll discuss the details of the attacks and refine it during the time left." His gaze softens and he lets out some of the wisdom he acquired in his long years shine through. "For now, I hope everyone of you will use this week to decompress, remember that a fighter that is too stressed is not going to be at his best. This is the last stretch before the final fight, no matter what."
You can see a ripple go from person to person at his words, the change in mindset settling in thanks to his reassurance. Qrow is smiling sadly, Glynda's expression is neutral but you know her enough to see how she is psyching herself up, James doesn't move outwardly, his mind a fortress at first glance, but your trained eye still detect a slight trembling of his organic hand.
As for you and Sable, you are the calmest in the room, which makes sense since out of all present, you are the ones taking the least risks. You may lose friends, but you can't lose your life. There is also the fact that you can, at any moment, decide that their pride is not worth their life and rescue them using your full power.
There is one week left before you storm the castle, one particular event will happen during it, what is it?
[] You spend the week with Penny, growing your bond as mother and Daughter. You spend part of it with her and Sable in your true form.
[] You decide to explain your true nature to the Belladona family. Ozpin told you to decompress and you consider breaking people minds this way a calming activity. It helps that their last showing proved they are more than worthy of learning.
[] You trained team RWPY and PRNS with the help of Sable. I.e: you beat the crap out of them till they begged for mercy then continued some more.
[] You took time to finally meet Cinder Fall. You will be taking all the possible precautions to make absolutely sure the Apotheosis does not interfere.
-[] You do so as Stella Panoply, nothing more, nothing less.
-[] You show her who and what you really are.
[] Nothing, you have been a couch potato all the week. (Skip directly to Salem, unlocks couch potato princess.)
A/N:
The couch potato vote does not actually unlock a couch potato princess, sorry not sorry.
Here we are, with Stella putting the lessons she has slowly gone through to good use in learning more about herself.
This was, in a way, a culmination of what you chose before. Stella is more comfortable listening thanks to being a counselor, has learnt that not being normal is… normal. She accepted that she doesn't so much has to be like everyone else as she needs to accept her own idiosyncrasies without forcing others to be the same as her.
This last vote cemented the fact that she is far past the arrogance and self-centered view she had originally, others are important to her, because they are the one changing the world, she is but the vector.
She can influence it, of course, change is her body, her self, but she is content with only using the limbs other can see and watching them move the rest of her.
Doesn't mean she can't enjoy a stretch from time to time, as Salem will soon learn.
Really? You think so?
Thanks a lot!
By the way, there is a new form in the tab about the form you obtained, go check her if you want!
[X] You took time to finally meet Cinder Fall. You will be taking all the possible precautions to make absolutely sure the Apotheosis does not interfere.
-[X] You show her who and what you really are.
Voice of the Cheated: Take your damn "goddess" and SHOVE IT!
-[X] You show her who and what you really are.
Voice of the Cheated: Take your damn "goddess" and SHOVE IT!
ScissorSlipper
Barber cat
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Ugh.. Cinder can wait.
[X] You spend the week with Penny, growing your bond as mother and Daughter. You spend part of it with her and Sable in your true form.
I still think there's the tiniest bit of risk here though by seeing Cinder. Also no need to potentially stir Apotheosis by revealing her true nature to the Belladonnas.
Also out of pure "what kind of cute stuff do I want to see at the end" I want to see Penny, Sable and Stella, Cinder doesn't matter...
On the other hand, dealing with Cinder can be a cool scene that slightly nudges Apotheosis away, since Stella can be all godly when dealing with Salem. I'm wishy washy on this.
[ ] You took time to finally meet Cinder Fall. You will be taking all the possible precautions to make absolutely sure the Apotheosis does not interfere.
-[ ] You show her who and what you really are.
Yeah this really did feel like a second to last chapter! Finally, the students can enjoy their regular school days. Hoping we can vote on how to ensure the Ozluminati doesn't die though.
[X] You spend the week with Penny, growing your bond as mother and Daughter. You spend part of it with her and Sable in your true form.
I still think there's the tiniest bit of risk here though by seeing Cinder. Also no need to potentially stir Apotheosis by revealing her true nature to the Belladonnas.
Also out of pure "what kind of cute stuff do I want to see at the end" I want to see Penny, Sable and Stella, Cinder doesn't matter...
On the other hand, dealing with Cinder can be a cool scene that slightly nudges Apotheosis away, since Stella can be all godly when dealing with Salem. I'm wishy washy on this.
[ ] You took time to finally meet Cinder Fall. You will be taking all the possible precautions to make absolutely sure the Apotheosis does not interfere.
-[ ] You show her who and what you really are.
Yeah this really did feel like a second to last chapter! Finally, the students can enjoy their regular school days. Hoping we can vote on how to ensure the Ozluminati doesn't die though.
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- Location
- Pittsburgh PA
- Pronouns
- He/Him
[X] You spend the week with Penny, growing your bond as mother and Daughter. You spend part of it with her and Sable in your true form.
[X] You decide to explain your true nature to the Belladona family. Ozpin told you to decompress and you consider breaking people minds this way a calming activity. It helps that their last showing proved they are more than worthy of learning
- Location
- Dragyxx
- Pronouns
- He/Him/His
[X] You decide to explain your true nature to the Belladona family. Ozpin told you to decompress and you consider breaking people minds this way a calming activity. It helps that their last showing proved they are more than worthy of learning.
I just find it inordinately amusing that Stella decompresses by shattering people's worldviews.
I just find it inordinately amusing that Stella decompresses by shattering people's worldviews.
- Pronouns
- He/They
[X] You decide to explain your true nature to the Belladona family. Ozpin told you to decompress and you consider breaking people minds this way a calming activity. It helps that their last showing proved they are more than worthy of learning.
Break their minds!
Break their minds!
Vote for chapter XXXVI closed
Eisenhelm
gran dutch of douchery
- Location
- Colombia
[x] You trained team RWPY and PRNS with the help of Sable. I.e: you beat the crap out of them till they begged for mercy then continued some more.
[x] You took time to finally meet Cinder Fall. You will be taking all the possible precautions to make absolutely sure the Apotheosis does not interfere.
-[x] You do so as Stella Panoply, nothing more, nothing less.
[x] You took time to finally meet Cinder Fall. You will be taking all the possible precautions to make absolutely sure the Apotheosis does not interfere.
-[x] You do so as Stella Panoply, nothing more, nothing less.
- Location
- Yaroslavl, Russia
Voting seems to be closed, comrade.
