Illithid behind the Curtain: Wings of Time (Patreon)

Taiyang pulled back.

Jorgen came roaring out of the hole in the floor and brought his claws down our direction, not even bothering with the blades he gained from Hell. And he wasn't targeting me this time. Taiyang smiled, everything seemed to slow down as I realized I couldn't do a thing but try to block it the only way I could.

Without hesitating, I grabbed him and turned to interpose, and I knew this was going to hurt.

I had no regrets. Maybe I'd survive with my new aura, maybe not but I'd do it again. I just wished... Well, I guess I wished I could had done some things differently. Maybe apologize to some folks C'gorath had hurt, I don't know. In that moment there's really not much you can do, but make peace with yourself and hope you did everything you could to stop things from getting worse.

And then my aura flared, I felt my innate store of magic drained and a clash behind me as Jorgen's shock flared bright in my psionic vision. I turned to see what was going on and my breath caught.

Jorgen's claw had been intercepted by someone. As tall as he was, clad in familiar armor. Half-plate, interposed with Infernal runic prayers that glowed a fell red, two arms grafted onto his back shoulders that I knew very well, as a helm of a snarling troll face in iron faced the shocked gaze of Jorgen the Grimm.

"Impossible." Jorgen said, his tone shaken but transitioning to abject rage before the Battlemaster before him suddenly moved. A rapid push back, claws out as Jorgen's voice emerged from the dark knight's visage.

"Hello, me." The two trolls began to circle each other, the summon keeping me and Taiyang behind him as the Grimm sneered.

"How did-ah. Semblance." He sneered. "Even so Hannibal, its only a degraded copy. You really think my weaker self will be able to hold me back from tearing you both limb from limb?"

"Degraded? I could say the same for you. We were mighty, we were strong and then you were taken to become a lapdog for the least imp." Replied the Jorgen summon.

Jorgen the Grimm snarled, eyes glowing as he snapped. "I am powerful! I am a General of Hell, Remnant trembles at my footfall!" The summon snorted, and I realized what was happening.

I knew Jorgen. I had worked with him extensively and my habit of using major illusion to talk to various 'selves' and people I had known had somehow bled into my Semblance. More to the point, my psionic senses were always active and I always had at least a skimming, subconscious knowledge of the people I was around. Like knowing that Taiyang preferred my Esmerelda form.

If my Jorgen was taunting the Grimm with this sort of thing, it was likely a thought that crossed the mind of the original and letting go of Tai, I stepped up alongside Jorgen, glaring at the Grimm version.

My summon continued to speak, his voice sneering in reply. "And yet for all that, you have none of the freedom that we used to have. You call me weaker? Quite the opposite. I am you when we yet had a shred of dignity, when we merely offered service to Asmodeus rather than servitude. When we were unique."

I activated my sun blade and Jorgen laughed.

"You can't defeat me. Not alone, weakened and with someone to protect. If you have anything of me, you would know that much."

The Jorgen summon inclined his head. "It's good that I'm not alone then." He then inhaled and roared out a challenge, that split the air full of fury and sound.

"LORDS AND LADIES OF TARINGARDE!"

Jorgen the Grimm's eyes widened as he charged in. Around my summon, wisps of thought, images solidifying began to form as I felt my magic drain. My Jorgen summon laughed wickedly.

"KILL THE PRETENDER!"

I floated in midair, already activating my next bladesong.

Jorgen charged in, the two trolls slamming into each other like a thunderclap, four claws gripping and wrestling, the ground creaking and breaking under the force as both trolls roared in the others face.

And then the Grimm howled in pain, as a swarm of bats converged and transformed into an armored woman, pale as milk and eyes an incandescent blue. Her longsword was glowing, and slammed through the back of the Grimm, suddenly discharging a burst of radiant light that had the Grimm buckle, the Jorgen summon flipping him over in a psuedo-Judo flip that sent him crashing down, down through the tower to land on the floor and just in time to meet the figure waiting for him.

The massive head of an adult white dragon, with the emblem of Tiamat tattooed on his face as Fang inhaled and unleashed a breath of frost that shattered stone and broke off one of Jorgen's arms.

As the Grimm stumbled, his legs began to move without his consent, dancing in place as from the shadows, banging a tambourine was a hooded figure, hissing with sadistic delight at the powerful Suggestion. As she faded into the shadows, Jorgen saw the light grow. He looked up and his eyes widened.

Almost blindingly, the sun blade seemed to arc and grow-its aura of light expanding, driving away the shadow as Taiyang and I held it together, diving down to strike. Jorgen roared, rising up, fighting off the suggestion and was suddenly skewered.

A rapier extended through his chest, stabbed from behind as a hooded drow whispered in his ear.

"Revenge."

And she was gone, faded into the dark.

By then it was too late. Jorgen screamed, the sun blade piercing through his skull, the ground shaking and quaking and as he sunk to his knees, he began to fade in ashes like all Grimm.

"This... Will not... Kill me."

"No. Not here."

I grabbed him and plane shifted to the one place I knew would kill him.

Upon the soil of Avernus, in the shadow of the pit of what had once been Tiamat's lair we stood there-my blade in his skull, his form fading as panicked eyes realized what I had done. Staring at him with a sneer, I spoke. "No coming back for YOU. And let this be a warning to all of Hell." As Jorgen faded away, his soul destroyed with his form, I expanded my voice and my mental one, a synchronized cry of challenge and a line in the sand to anyone listening.

"STAY THE FUCK OFF OF MY REALM!"

And returning back, I all but collapsed as everything hit me and Tai winced as he grabbed me before I could fall.

"Ah. Aura depletion. Right, you never learned that. Umm... Rest. I think everything is fine now."

Rest? Ah.... Rest sounded good.

I closed my eyes and succumbed.

====

I woke up to quite the interesting story. Apparently, my kids and some of Beacons folks managed to work together to stop the other two hot spots-the arena and Quadling City. In the city proper, the forces I had been building up managed to hold out long enough for the most unlikely reinforcement imaginable, that none of us saw coming.

Taringarde, rallied by folks on the Forgotten Realms side had been expecting battle and emerged only to find the city being attacked. Being the good people that they were, they decided to kill the Grimm and Hell and ask questions later. Stories of a Silver Dragon taking down the Wyvern Grimm with Syxorath were already making the rounds and construction was under way.

There were losses, but none quite as bad as canon. Though I suppose you could argue that it was worse too. Hell had emerged, the White Fang had knowledge of fiend summoning, there was technically two occupying forces in Vale right now- Atlas and Taringarde.

On the news as I laid on the couch, I watched with my head in Taiyang's lap as the funeral for Ozpin was being held, as images of Queen Bellinda of Taringarde shook hands with General Ironwood and Vale's council representatives. Ironwood seemed to have gotten off easier this time around-I guess being at the scene, protecting civilians in person and rallying forces tended to make folks more appreciative. Likewise springing fast was quite a lot more news, of the 'Siege of Beacon Academy', currently under reconstruction as Signal Fire took on the students till such time as they fixed it. I suppose I should expect to see Oobleck and Port around more often-good, I liked those two.

Adam had managed to escape, his sword lost when the idiot I was cuddling with let his hand get stabbed, so he could break the blade. He was currently public enemy number one, alongside Emerald and Mercury-both missing, in the entire mess. The situation also let me know the rest of the problems still required to fix the weave.

Resurrection spells could not take hold, unless the corpses were fresh. I expect as soon as I shattered the other seals, that could be repaired as soon as possible. As the news began to once again, go over the events of the prior week, I summoned the remote in hand and spoke.

"This is boring. Next channel?"

"Sure." Taiyang said idly, as I began to flip through the rest. All over the world, news was pouring in and I started to pay closer attention. There were sightings of Grimm at sea, fighting a monster claimed to be as large as a building with tentacles and lightning. Wyverns were sighted-the sort from my world along the mountains of Atlas, and in the city of Vacuo, the headmistress of Shade was seen exchanging greetings with a Sphinx and its mate.

Stories were pouring in, of people who had a spark of magic awaken, some in the stress of the attack on Vale, others that sort of just happened one day. As I watched it all, I started to feel a bit of trepidation. There had been a cork on magic, on things of this nature and all of a sudden, the cork was off and things were creeping back into the world. New laws and new crimes would be in order, and for a while, things were going to become rough. Still....

I felt Taiyang's hand on my hair and slowly closed my eyes as he turned off the television, both of us settling in for a nap.

I had done all I had wanted. Everyone I cared for was alive, the invasion had been crippled and new allies had appeared unexpectedly. I would have to face the music, come talk to Bellinda and wouldn't that be a thing, but still for now? I think I did pretty well, for someone who had originally wanted to just sit out of the whole thing.

Not a bad deal, for an Illithid like me.

I just hope I wasn't forgetting something.

====

A smaller, more honest soul... It's true that a simple spark can ignite hope, breathe fire into the hearts of the weary...

On a platform, Dr. Brightboom stared forlornly at the remains of Penny. Torn to pieces, its almost enough to make a being lose hope before a look of determination crossed his features. As the visage of Dr. Polendina appeared, the two scientists shake hands as outside, a window of Atlas's landscape loomed.

The ability to derive strength from hope is undoubtedly mankind's greatest attribute.

Ruby Rose stares out at a scroll of regeneration, thoughtful before she glances to the side at the box where Crescent Rose's pieces lie. Her brow furrows, she picks the box up one-handed and almost stumbles before Yang's hand helps her balance it. With a wink, the sisters begin to plan, as Ruby sketches out schematics for a new arm, using the parts from her first weapon.

Which is why... I will focus all of my power...

Emerald pants. Tired, exhausted... She's been fleeing for days, avoiding every person she sees. Her semblance is almost exhausted, under her arm is a rounded, black sphere she stole from Patch that called to her. Keeping it warm with her body, she suddenly looks relieved and then wary as the hand of Cinder-much changed, extends to her as she gingerly takes it. What choice does she have?

To snuff it out.

Vale is in ruins. Jaune has lost track of how long he had been out here, his ancestors by his side as ghosts as battlefields blend together, and a cry for help reaches his ears. He runs and hope he's not too late, not again. Nora tries to reign him in, running after him as Ren sighs out sadly and follows.

How does it feel? Knowing that all of your time and effort has been for nothing?

Icarus lets out a mournful howl! One of his siblings is gone, great Syxorath is wounded heavily and as the blue dragon slumbers to recover, Pyrrha reaches for her dragon, hugging him close as her hand moves to rest on the claw of the ancient blue.

That your guardians have failed you? That everything you've built will be torn down before your very eyes?

Weiss sits on her families plane, worried and terrified. Not for herself, but for her sister. Currently on life support, her father taking her to Atlas and refusing all aid save for what he could buy. For a moment, Weiss wonders if she should had stayed, if she should had followed her new instincts to let herself be free... But then her father looks at her like so, and she lowers her gaze. Einzbern in her lap whimpers and she cuddles her close.

Your faith in humanity was not misplaced... When banded together, united by a common enemy, they are a noticeable threat. But divide them? Let their desires and greed consume their spirits...

Blake, hooded and cloaked follows the trail of Adam Taurus. She started this, she seeks to end it. A part of her hopes she'll be able to talk to him, reach out but at the same time... She looks at her weapon, remembers what she's learned from Artemis and exhales.

She'd long outgrown such childish dreams. Hadn't she?

Place doubt into their minds... And any semblance of power they had will wash away. Of course, they won't realize it at first. Like you they'll cling to their fleeting hope. Their aspirations...

Mercury snarls and kicks away another Grimm. He's surrounded now, isolated and alone. He'll die alone and forgotten, and the idea infuriates him. Its not fair! He roars, prepares to go down fighting and suddenly-light, blindingly so. He collapses, weak and aura depleted and the last thing he sees before going unconscious is some old peddler. Stupid old man.

Who wanders the Grimm infested territories, with canaries?

Darkness takes him and he knows no more.

But this is merely the first move. So you send your guardians. Your huntsmen and huntresses. And when they fail and you turn to your smaller soul... know that you send her to the same pitiful demise.

Upon a wasteland, on a dark tower stands an immortal witch. Her posture proud and straight, a Grimm visage highlighting her beauty as she turns slowly. Her eyes are black, partially by her very nature, the other eye a different thing altogether.

Red and burning to behold, evil radiating from the gaze as she holds a dark tome in hand. Salem smiles and speaks aloud.

"This is the beginning of the end, Ozpin. And I-WE, can't wait to watch you burn."

[END VOLUME 1]