Remnants Master
Prologue
Summer's white cloak billowed around her as she sped through the dark, tangled forest of dead trees. Her pursuers having put her on the ropes during their long, dredging battle. She gasped with both the pain and the burning in her lungs, her left eye utterly useless after the hit scored by the cackling man and his large, stoic partner.
Her aura drained, she wasn't sure what to think, far from help and her scroll not picking up a signal from the CCT… she was as good as dead. Disorientated from her exertions, she wasn't even sure how long she had battled the pair. Had either of them been alone, she would have been confident in victory, but together, the two men had pushed her to the brink. Only a desperate gambit that had cost her weapon was she able to begin her retreat, though she was, for all intents and purposes, blind on her left side until – if, she could get medical attention.
She barely managed to dodge the cackling man as he came from her right, using him as a springboard and throwing him away. But she missed the large man as he threw a punch from her blinded left, feeling ribs crack from the strike and the impact as she literally crashed through a thankfully small tree. It was a small comfort as the pair came upon her nearly crippled form.
"Such a drive to live from the beautiful Rose! Why, I almost feel saddened at her end this midsummer's eve!" said the smaller man, the one who bore gauntlets reminiscent of talons, or maybe pincers.
"Enough. This warrior doesn't deserve your jests." The broad man spoke, his voice like rocks being crushed with its graveled tone.
Summer could hardly believe that the smaller man actually pouted at his partner's interruption. "Oh, very well, Our Lady should not be kept waiting, I suppose." He walked towards Summer with a gleeful demeanor, his intent far beyond clear.
I'm sorry Ruby, my Little Rose. I wish I could've seen you smile…one last time.
The man's long coat rustled for a moment when a sound like a cannon went off, surprising the three individuals as they stared towards the shockwave that came almost immediately after. Branches and dirt were thrown into the air, a cloud of thick dust being raised and launched toward the three fighters. All was silent in the dead forest, only for a moment, then small footsteps could heard, a slightly unsteady gait to the sound of it.
Summer's good eye widened in surprise as she saw a young child walk from the cloud, her body seemed to be glowing with power coming from intricate patterns that burned a frightening red even through her clothes. Her hair was white, like snow. Her clothes were a well-crafted purple jacket and a white skirt that went to down past her knees. Though it was her eyes that drew Summer in, crimson like a gemstone… like a ruby.
"Run child, get out of here!" Summer choked out, bringing the attention of her pursuers back to her, but only for a moment.
"Well, this is a surprising development, wouldn't you agree?"
The large man looked contemplative as he stared pointedly at the young child, "I do not like such variables. This is too coincidental. Kill the child – and do quickly, I'll deal with the woman,"
"Oh very well," the lithe man pouted, "by the will of Our Goddess." He said almost reverently.
"Child, run. Please… run." Summer tried to stand, knowing that she would never reach the madman before he struck the girl down, tears coming from both of her eyes.
"Worry not Silver witch, I shall not let her suffer a moment more than is necessary." His grin leaving her cold as she turned to his new target.
Then the girl whispered.
"Berzerker."
"What?" the smaller man said.
There was the sound of air displacing the sight of the dust cloud shifting so fast that Summer almost missed it, a flicker of movement for a massive form as an animalistic roar came from the beast of a man who all but apparated in front of the small child. Nearly twice the height of the large man who had stood back, he swung a massive serrated sword that collided with the smaller man as he tried to dodge the strike. He was only partially successful, having saved himself from being bisected. Thrown from the blast of air from the strike his Aura flashing its failure as the man was caught by his larger partner.
His severed right arm falling ominously to the ground by the dark giant of a man.
"Argh! You bastard! My arm! I'll kill you!" he tried to run at the giant but was held back by the larger man.
"We must leave. I have to stop the bleeding." He said, ignoring his partner's yells of pain and anger as they left with all the speed the muscled man could muster.
Summer stared wide-eyed at what she had just witnessed. The giant of a man, who had to stand nearly twelve feet tall, stood like a statue, looking off at the direction of her would-be assailants. The young child paid the beast of a man no mind as she walked – no, more stumbled toward woman. She finally noticed that the child had glassy look in her eyes, like she didn't fully understand where she was.
"Momma?" her tone was confused, almost hopeful. Her eyes fell shut as she collapsed, Summer barely able to catch her.
She stared down at the unconscious child who had somehow saved her life, the red lines of power fading away like they were never there. As the lines faded, the giant also began to wisp away like smoke on the wind, he fell away into motes of white light. The light trickled its way over to the young child and seeped into her, causing an ethereal glow for but a moment before she returned to normal.
Breathing heavily, Summer simply leaned back into the tree, pulling the young savior to her chest and cradling her close. "Who are you?" she asked the sleeping girl.
Too tired to do much other than sit there, Summer waited until she felt she could stand. Coming slowly but steadily to her feet, the small girl weighing on her tired limbs, she centered herself and began to march steadily south, toward one of the nearest CCT booster stations to call for an emergency lift from the nearest village that could spare an airship.
"Don't worry child, I'll protect you. Just like you protected me."
ooOOoo
Summer wanted to scratch at the irritating bandaged over her eye, but she refrained, only just. The village doctor had told her that there wasn't anything that he could do for the eye. Whether or not she would still have her vision once the bandage came off would be more or less up to luck at this point.
The sound of giggling pulled her from her musings to the child that stared out the window of the commercial airship taking the pair and a many others from Vacuo to Vale. Summer had arranged for Tai to meet her with the children at Beacon, she would need his help to watch out for the young child while she relayed her account of what happened to Ozpin. It wasn't something that the young girl needed to hear.
Especially since she could remember anything.
"What are you laughing about now Illya?" Summer asked with an amused tone.
"It's all super pretty momma, look!"
Summer looked out the window to see the sprawling city of Vale and the towering bastion that was Beacon Academy even further beyond. "Yes, yes it is little Illya." She agreed warmly.
I'm coming home.
Summer wrapped an arm around the little girl and planted a kiss atop her head.
And it's all thanks to you… my newest daughter.
ooOOoo
"Mommy!" Ruby and Yang squealed in delight as they charged at her from the base of the airship's ramp. Giggling as much as the pair did, she leant down to embrace her children, holding them tightly as if they would slip away from her at any moment.
I almost slipped away from you…
"Mommy, you got a boo-boo!" Ruby gasped as she looked up at her bandaged face.
"Oh, this silly old thing? I simply tripped Little Rose, don't you fret about me dear," Summer put on a mischievous grin as she stared at her blonde daughter. "And what about you my Sunny Dragon. Have you been a terror for your father while I was gone?"
Yang giggled, "No way, Mom! Well… a little bit." She giggled some more.
"Yep, still a little Firecracker – like Qrow would say, aren't you, you little miscreant." Cut in a voice that made Summer smile all the more genuinely.
"Tai." She said happily.
"Hey, beautiful," he kneeled down to hug her and the girls in a large embrace.
"Mommy, why are you sad?" Ruby asked.
"What? Dear, I'm not sad."
"But you is crying Mommy." Ruby rubbed her pudgy hand up against Summer's exposed cheek, wiping away tears she hadn't realized that she'd shed.
Summer gave her family a watery smile, "I'm crying because I'm so happy to be home, Little Rose. So happy."
They sat like that for a moment before Tai shifted to look behind Summer, "Now who is this little lady?" Tai asked in a light voice. Ruby and Yang looked over and saw the young girl who stood a small distance behind Summer.
"That, husband of mine, is the little one I told you about." Intentionally leaving out any details in front of the children, "Her name is Illya, and she's going to be staying with us from now on." Summer turned and waved her over, "Illya come here, dear. I want you to meet some of my favorite people."
As Illya came closer, Summer pulled herself from the embrace to wrap an arm around the white-haired girl, "Ruby, Yang, I want you to meet someone. Her name is Illya, and she is going to be your new sister."
"Wow, really? That's super cool Mommy!" Ruby came closer and pouted a little bit when she saw that Illya was fair bit taller than her, but she smiled brightly. "Hi! I'm Ruby, it's gonna be super cool to have another sister!" Ruby bolted forward and gave Illya a tight hug.
"I'm Yang, how old are you?" she asked bluntly, but not unkindly.
"Um," Illya was looking a little overwhelmed, "I don't know," Illya looked at Summer pleadingly.
Summer smiled serenely as she gently pulled Ruby from Illya, "Alright, Illya has had a long flight girls. She's also a little confused so please be patient, okay?" Getting a nod from the pair she looked to Illya, "Sweetie, I know it's a little scary, but I need to go talk with some people. I need you to stay with Tai and the girls for a while." Illya looked frightened by the idea.
"But," Illya whispered as she held Summer close, "I wanna stay with you."
"I know Sweetie, and I promise I'll be back soon. Tai," she gestured at the tall smiling blond man, "is my special person. And he will take care of you until I come back. Then, we all can go get something to eat, how does that sound?"
Illya held back some tears, "Okay."
Tai took that as his cue to come forward and kneel in front of Illya, "So, I got something to show you," Tai then put some fingers in his mouth and whistled, almost instantly, a small fluffy creature charged toward the man, surprisingly Illya. "This is Zwei, he is as much part of this family as you are. How about we all go play on the grass and have some fun? I brought some Frisbees." He taunted, getting excited responses from Ruby and Yang.
Summer watched as she stood while Illya gave Tai a bashful smile as she held his hand out, "Okay."
Summer quietly took her leave and made for the tower to see a certain man with a cane…
ooOOoo
Ozpin held her gaze as she finished with her report of what had occurred. He was rather ashamed of himself for not thinking of the possibility that Salem would send people after Summer, he was confident in her abilities despite her youth. The woman was only in her early thirties, Qrow was berating himself for not being with her, but, due to his Semblance… it might have saved her life.
"So," he started, "what do you make of the child, then?"
Summer shrugged, "As best as I can tell you, she doesn't have any recollection of what transpired. For obvious reasons, I didn't try and ask about it directly. But all signs point to her not knowing what is going on. She appeared from nowhere Ozpin, I just don't understand it."
"And her past, were you able to glean anything from her there? Where is she from, who are her parents, anything could be vital." He pressed.
"All she seems to know are some relatively early memories. If I were to guess, she is definitely older than Yang; twelve, maybe fourteen. Some of her mannerisms are childish but she has a keen, mature mind." Summer stood from her chair and continued on.
"Over the last few days she has decided that I am her mother figure, she does remember her biological mother and father though. She said they were fighting for the honor of the family but it sounded more like something she was reciting, not something she truly understood. I can't possibly guess who her family is, based on her physical attributes she resembles a Schnee, but," Summer shook her head, "We know that can't be true."
Ozpin hummed in thought, "And her abilities, what do you make of them? They seem far beyond what I have seen in many trained Huntsmen and Huntresses. She is dangerous, Summer."
"Her abilities are dangerous Ozpin, not Illya." Summer had an edge that he was surprised to hear.
"Summer…"
"She saved my life, Ozpin, whether she remembers or not doesn't matter. I will care for that child as if she were my own. And besides…" She held her hand to her face, "there's a good chance that if I go back out there…" she left the words unspoken, but the message was clear.
"I am truly sorry, Summer. I was careless, but I understand. Qrow is still able to perform as you have. You also have an increasingly expanding family that needs to be taken care of. I doubt that Tai will be able to keep up with that many children." Ozpin said with a smile. "Now, if I were to surmise, Miss Illya has some clearly dormant power. This may be her Semblance, some form of Summoning like the Schnee's, which is troubling. But, as you say, she isn't a danger. But please, before you leave I would like for her to have a medical exam. Just to be sure she is healthy and, if we are lucky, learn something more about her. No harm will come to her and you will be present, is that alright?"
"Yes. You have a good day Ozpin, I need to get back to my family. I have been glad to serve, but, I feel I can no longer be an active member of the Brotherhood." Summer said, her eye and voice resolute.
Ozpin, nodded, "I wish things did not happen as they have. But I'm glad you are back and safe. And I understand that you need to care for your family, can I call on you should the need be dire?"
"It will be some time before I will be actively performing as a Huntress, Ozpin. I have been injured and I doubt that I can trust any but Qrow or Tai. Raven is gone so… I must say no. If the fight comes to us I will be ready, but until I am sure my children are able to defend themselves? I must say no."
Ozpin sighed, "This fight is greater than any one of us, Summer."
"I know Ozpin, but I almost abandoned my children, I thought I was ready for that sacrifice. I may be a part of this Brotherhood, but, I won't leave my children again lightly. I will be protect Beacon, but that is all I can do for you. I am sorry," Summer left brusquely after that, leaving Ozpin to his thoughts, as he poured himself a new cup of coffee, thumbing his cane thoughtfully.
That could have gone better. But, at least she is still alive… Maybe this is for the best.
A/N: So, I have been sitting on this for a good long while. I just wanted to see what peoples take on it would be. Let me know what you think, and Happy Reading!
CS.