Disclaimer: This is a work of fan fiction based on multiple existing anime/manga series. The characters and settings used in this story belong to their respective owners and creators, and no copyright infringement is intended. This story is purely for entertainment purposes and is not intended to infringe upon any existing intellectual property. I do not own any of the original works that inspired this fanfiction, and I fully support the original creators and their works.
I'm also exceedingly rarely chilling in JaxWolf4's (Author of Nah, I'd Adapt and Zenin Days) Discord Server. It's a chaotic lobotomy mess. Not for the faint of heart.
Here's the link:
Disc: HrPrTeam
-Story Start-
The city of Vale appeared in greater spirits as the noon sun shone above the horizon.
The streets seemed as if normalcy had finally returned, with most of the deployed Huntsmen having returned home at the successful reclamation of territories and the head of security's impeccable performance.
Men and Faunus alike walked with a more chipper, casual mood, the segregation of the latter having ended with the arrival of Ghira and the dismantling of Vale's White Fang being a literal, swift execution and takeover - though most knew that the job was far from truly being done.
Cafes were packed with easygoing gossip, the roads were fully packed with vehicles, and the people were shopping leisurely around the upper-class residential district.
Perhaps the affluent hadn't felt the rumbling of the troubles around, or perhaps peace had truly returned to this bastion of mankind.
Nevertheless, within one of the rather fancy homes in this district lay an office - one that was neatly and innocently labeled within what could be considered someone's rather spacious living room.
The striking scent of oranges and lavender permeated the room, clearly an incense of mind-boggling pricing, mixed with the smell of a premium coffee blend.
The room itself, a set of sofas comfortable beyond measure, and a desk with a set of papers and two steaming coffee mugs.
On one of the sofas sat a man with an almost full head of white streaks, with a most wistful and levelled expression on his bearded self, a pen and paper within his grasp.
On the other sofa?
Lay a man with a strikingly bright blade, an almost ethereal glow to it that drew the attention of all those who would catch sight of it.
His face was the epitome of transparent skepticism, managing to pierce through the usual dull stoicism that etched onto every part of his expression.
...
Truth be told, never in either of his lives did Alex imagine he would find himself in this position.
It wasn't like he was doubtful of the usage of therapy, in a general sense.
He just didn't believe he could benefit from it.
But right now?
He was a man who lacked solutions to something incredibly important to him, fundamental to his very being.
He was willing to try anything.
"Say, Doctor. Is there some kind of drug I can take that'll fix this for me?" Alex inquired listlessly, his subdued amber orbs staring at the pompous ceiling of the living room office.
[No drug you take will work on you.] An irritating voice lectured in the recesses of his mind.
The older man chuckled lightly, "Before I even consider prescriptions, Mister Andrite, I'd like to hear it from you. And not a self-diagnosis of PTSD."
A small streak of resignation and impatience appeared on Alex's face. "Hear what? I'd think Ozpin would have given you the memo."
"I insist." The doctor pressed on, to which Alex lightly lifted his upper body to meet the man's sapphire eyes with his own dull amber.
His eyes lowered slightly to give another read of the label on the desk - Doctor Indigo Vale.
"Your distrust is evident, and your skepticism even more."
"Sorry, I just get the wrong signals from you." Alex shrugged with a half-hearted apology, his 'scammer' and 'shady' man detection signals going haywire.
As much as he'd like to spill everything out to the guy out of sheer desperation for a solution, he still had his wits about him when it came to his stranger danger detection.
Vouched doctor or not, he tries his best to form his own opinion.
Nodding, unfazed, Indigo offered. "You are not the first to be distrustful, more so skeptical of the effectiveness of therapy. Instead of convincing you, I'll provide you with my goal in our coming sessions." His tone was transparent and incredibly indulgent.
Alex nodded in response, as Indigo pressed on. "As a therapist specializing in Huntsmen, I have only one strict goal in mind - getting you back into working shape... is that not why you came here for?"
"Yeah."
"Good! Then our goals are aligned." He pointed his pen at Alex, then added. "It doesn't matter what ails a Huntsman, as long as he can tame it and get back into duty and does not harm others, it is of little consequence what he suffers from. Do you understand?"
"No matter how outlandish it is?" Alex caught onto the hint, arching an eyebrow.
"The 'How' or 'What' has little consequence to me. What is paramount in my profession is strictly the knowledge of finding a way forward from the 'How' or 'What'. Regardless of what it is."
Nodding, he leaned into his chair and tightened his grip on his notebook, "With that said, I'd like to hear it in copious detail, with no stone left unturned, from your own mouth."
"What troubles you, Alex Andrite?"
The air turned awkward, heavy, and uncomfortable.
Alex's lips pursed; he wondered how much he could tell this man, and how willing he was to give voice, in detail, to the horror he had to go through in that place.
"If it is of any concern, outside of patient confidentiality, we are all subject to Ozpin, who had me sign an NDA when it came to your sessions. A price I am willing to pay to have a Huntsman of your caliber back on the right path."
...
He didn't care about anyone knowing what he went through or what he could do; he didn't like remembering it, especially in any copious detail.
But he wanted out; he wanted his control back.
Nodding, Alex began to give a careful retelling, teetering on the edge of what the System allowed him to say.
"As long as you can cure me." Was Alex's almost pleading request.
The Doctor's only response was a careful nod and an indulgent smile.
-----------------------------
"A 'God' giving you orders and punishing you in the case you do not obey in the 'Quest' to save others?" The doctor repeated with a careful, genuinely hesitant tone.
His skepticism resonated in the room as he analytically mentioned. "Sounds quite extreme, if not oddly specific, for but a means of entertainment."
Alex frowned. "Sadistic son of a bitch. I wouldn't consider it as anything else." He then shook his head and turned to the doctor, "In any case, do you believe me?" He pointed a lazy finger at himself.
"I had said prior that the 'How' matters little..." He reassured, "Besides, I have heard far more outlandish admissions from battle-hardened Huntsmen."
Alex deadpanned. "Fancy way of saying you don't believe me."
The doctor's lips curled upwards lightly, "My role is not in shattering your illusion or fantasy. My role is to walk with you within it, guide you into functionality."
Pausing, Alex processed his words for a moment, leaning forward with slight interest. "...How?"
"Patience, Mister Andrite. I'm afraid a solution to something this delicate and intricate cannot be solved within a single session."
"Of course." Alex couldn't help but roll his eyes at the obvious scam.
Lifting his arms in a placating gesture at the disbelief, "Now, now, I'm being serious. I may earn more if I prolong our talks," he shook his head and mentioned sharply, "but my reputation as an effective therapist will suffer, more so my genuine hope for promising Huntsmen to get back on the field and do their part."
He admitted honestly, "I'm not as indomitable as Ozpin; my reputation and track record are a pride and joy for me, young man."
Waving him off, Alex nodded, "Whatever that means... can we get to the part where you give me advice?"
A slight, wistful, almost apologetic smile appeared on the doctor's face.
Alex knew that look.
"Give it to me straight."
"I believe the method to deal with your... outbursts... will require a more hands-on and unorthodox method, one that could only be considered safe to be done with someone of your caliber."
"Which is?" Alex frowned, his impatience slightly spilling.
"Sending you alone to Grimm-infested locations."
"???" Alex's expression was one of profound confusion.
"Now, don't look at me like that. I know your concern. In a simple and short manner, we shall try two different methods. One with an audio device attached to you, and another, if Ozpin is willing to expend any resources on the therapy, an audio device air-dropped around the field."
"...Is this some elaborate way of getting me to do clean-up?"
"Not as meticulous as you imagine it to be. It is far simpler. We'll recreate the situation that triggers the episodes, and you will deal with it through these breathing exercises I shall now impart on you in tandem with gradual progression."
"Of course, the continuation of this method is dependent on whether the simulation will trigger it or not. This is a method that would be dangerous to any other but considering your prowess..."
"Yeah, I get it. I'm willing to try, just tell me what to do." Alex voiced his approval.
A palm met with Alex's eagerness. "Not so quickly, however. This is my transparency speaking before my professionalism. I cannot, in good will, prescribe you a hazardous method such as this, regardless of who you are, without finding any feasible alternatives."
"...Which are?"
"We will have to converse a lot more to find them, if they exist."
"...Of course."
The doctor barked a light chuckle at Alex's expression, "In any case, we cannot rush it, but I will inform Ozpin of the possible solution, to see if he can set up or is willing to set up something of this nature. A relatively controlled, monitored environment to trigger the episodes would be rather hard to come by."
"Alright... when's the next session?"
"We've still got half an hour, young man. How about you tell me how it was back in your preparatory school? Any friends or mentors you still keep in contact with?"
"No, but I've ignored all the letters-"
And so, the conversation drew out into what Alex considered useless nonsense before he had to leave.
The cure, it seemed, wasn't as quickly administered as he had hoped.
-----------------------------
A lone castle within a land of darkness.
A small, dark table lit by weak candles emitting a purpleish glow.
A pair of chairs sat across from one another, and the table held a single chessboard.
An ancient woman sat in one, her eyes flickering between something in her periphery and the chair in front of the chessboard.
The chair, however, was completely empty.
Her gaze returned to the chessboard, as contemplation and machinations raced in her mind.
She stood at the side of the Black chess pieces, her situation seeming to be like an outright, crushing victory.
All her Black pieces surrounded the White king, and unbeknownst to the White king himself, it seemed that some of the White pieces had begun to turn into Black pieces themselves.
He was surrounded, but he didn't know it.
It wasn't a situation she should be contemplating so long, so carefully for.
At least, on first glance.
Strangely.
Unexpectedly.
Infuriatingly.
Amid the small army of white pieces that stood meekly beside the White King was a giant pawn.
A gargantuan, incomprehensible white pawn beside the White King.
It dwarfed all the pieces on the board.
Was it truly a pawn?
Could they even get that large and formidable?
...
Retellings from her own pawns flashed in her mind, but more vividly flashed the image of what she had witnessed in an inconspicuous valley.
Nevertheless, she was a patient woman.
Her lips parted, giving a certain, final command:
It was a calm and decisive directive.
"Retreat and Observe, Cinder."
To Be Continued!
-Author Note Start-
I have chosen the middle option!
I showed the villains' choices AND kept their actual decision a secret to be witnessed!
What does 'Retreat and Observe' actually mean? Vague enough for my uses!
Anyway, hope the chapter has been up to snuff and to your enjoyment and whatnot.
Timeskip incoming (not a big one just yet).
On that note, Love ya and bye bye!
Cya in a week or so!