Proof of Humanity (RWBY - Lies of P)

Fable of Pinocchio I: A Puppet Born of Lies

The city of Krat was once, in a better time, a simple fishing and agricultural nation that supplied the mainland with food. That all changed with the discovery of ergo. Ergo, as studied by the alchemists, was the essence of life. The memories of one's existence, captured in a mesmerizing blue crystal that reflected the soul's contents. The alchemists created many uses for the magical substance, but none were as great as the machinations of the great Geppetto.

Geppetto, for the good of the people, created the puppets, machinal humanoids that were made to serve the people of Krat. With the help of Lorenzini Venigni, Geppetto led Krat into a golden age of innovation and prosperity. The puppets were beloved by all, allowing people to pursue their dreams without needing to worry about the smaller things in life. Krat's innovation was widespread, and people from the mainland were visiting the island to enjoy the city's newfound glory.

But there could only be so much good before it all comes crashing down.

Puppets were starting to break free of their moral codes. The Grand Covenant, the safety net laid by Geppetto and Venigni with the intent to ensure puppet obedience, suddenly ceased to work. The puppets turned on the people, and the streets were reduced to bloodbaths. Nothing was left breathing in the wake of the massacre that was dubbed the "Puppet Frenzy".

Krat was left in shambles, the few survivors left fled for the church. The unlucky ones actually made it to the cathedral. The lucky ones were killed quickly before any hope could be mustered. The alchemists abandoned Krat, hiding away within their isle beyond the sea.

They tried fighting back. Hunters of puppets known as Stalkers were employed to thin the puppet population. It wasn't enough. With Venigni factory under the control of it's manufacturing puppet, they essentially had infinite bodies and ergo due to the endless death. Some Stalkers survived, but the ones that did weren't unscathed by any means.

And from the on, Krat became a land without a God, a leader, or a savior. A wasteland littered with mad puppets collecting death like sightless grim reapers.

It's almost poetic that the city's only hope is the very thing that caused it's torment.

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Lies of P
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Krat Central Station, like everywhere else in the city, was crawling with puppets and reeked of death. All the trains that once carried dozens of people had been abandoned for months. Outside, puppets roamed mindlessly without anything to end. However, just beyond the steel doors of one of the trains laid the key to everything in Krat.

Within the dreary darkness of the train's long carts, a blue creature danced around. A luminescent butterfly that lit up the room. It flew around frantically, as if searching for something. Finally, it landed on the chest of a puppet.

The puppet was unlike anything in Krat. It had facial features beyond the standard factory-made faces of regular puppets. It's eyes were a dull shade of blue. It's face was light-skinned with freckles that were never seen on factory products. It's hair was long and wavy, parting to either side. It wasn't built with clothes on it, it was wearing a white tunic and trousers. Finally, almost the most suspicious, was the fact that this puppet seemed to be broken. Instead of a finely designed arm with a purpose in mind, it's left appendage was made of clunky steel. The creator must have been in quite the hurry to make such an imperfect puppet.

The blue butterfly lingered on it for a moment longer before disintegrating. It's mythical blue glow flowed into the puppet's metal body like a river. The puppet's lifeless eyes glowed a bright shade of blue.

Suddenly, the steel arm came to life, making a fist. The rest of the body soon followed, with this imperfect creation getting out of it's leather chair with a sense of purpose. It analyzed itself, pondering what it was. Who it was. Why it was here.