Allo, everyone. It's been a while since I've written on here- I've been busy writing my book series, and I don't want to post too much of it online since, you know, I want to get payed for it.
However, I've been stewing on what to publish on here for a while, and the ending to Volume Six left me so thoroughly disappointed that my hand was forced. The first half was so promising- I honestly though they'd surpassed Monty- up and until they arrived in Argus. Everything following that, besides the Pyrrha statue moment, was laughably terrible.
So, I'll be writing a new ending. Assume that everything prior to the start of this story is exactly the same, since I can't be bothered to make the full AU I want right this second. Maybe I'll get around to it when I've finished Book 2. The only exception is that Adam didn't drop his mask, he still has it. That whole blindfold thing was stupid- he might as well have just kept the mask.
I honestly think Adam's character as a whole was wasted horrifically. His power, his presence, and even his ideals were completely ruined, and I'll put emphasis on fixing that in this rendition.
For now, it's great to see you all again, and I hope you enjoy.
"Are... Are they right?" On any other day, he'd have a problem with talking to himself in public, but Oscar couldn't bring himself to care right now. The things he'd learned, about Ozpin's past and his own future... "Talk to me, please..."
There wasn't an answer, but then what had he expected? Maybe Jaune was right... Ozpin was immortal, but only by taking over and controlling people. He'd taken over peoples entire lives before, and didn't seem to have any problem doing the same again. He'd only stopped because he'd become disillusioned with his own cause. That wasn't comforting- if anything, it terrified him more than having his mind consumed.
Everyone, everywhere, was going to die unless they pulled a miracle out of thin air. On top of that, they weren't even being allowed into Atlas, the easiest place for them to work with, thanks to Weiss.
What have I got myself into...?
No, he hadn't even been responsible for that! Ozpin had just popped into his head one day!
Oscar let his gaze drift to the fountain in the center of town. A statue of Pyrrha Nikos was there- a legend in Mistral, and someone hailed as invincible for having never taken a serious hit in any battle for the last two years of her career.
And she'd died. Many people didn't know her exact fate, which left them with a pensive hope, but he'd been stripped of that. The strongest of their generation had died, without even a body left behind.
What hope did they have?
He didn't even have the Apathy to blame for these feelings anymore. Brunswick farms was well behind, and while everyone else seemed more or less neutral about the issue, he couldn't let those thoughts go. Were they his own, or born from those monsters?
He had no idea, and nobody was around to help sort it out. Granted, that was partially his fault. He had run out on them, after Jaunes outburst, but who would blame him!? He was just a farmhand, younger than even Ruby- if only by a little- and completely lacking in training. Ozpin was the only reason he'd survived the battle at Haven, and he was silent now. Not absent- he could still feel the man's aura, seeing as Oscar didn't have one- but inactive, inert.
A shock of blonde hair caught his attention, and he recognized Jaune instantly. Was he out looking for him?
Oscar shied away, hiding himself in an alley. He appreciated the thought- he really did- but he needed to sort his own thoughts out before he returned.
He kept moving through the side streets until he emerged back in a main road. There, his stomach helpfully reminded him that- panic attack or no- he hadn't had a proper meal in nine hours. With a mental shrug, he made his way towards a small cafe. It had outside seating, but he went inside instead, hoping to avoid any of the others.
Honestly, he should have guessed Oum was going to keep up his string of bad luck. Fortunately, it wasn't any of the students or even Qrow. As he stepped inside, it was to find Maria at one of the tables, nursing a steaming mug of some brown liquid- either tea or coffee.
Maybe she can help, his treacherous mind suggested. Hm...
Maybe.
Ruby shot up suddenly when someone plopped down beside her. How had she not noticed their approach? They'd come across a hardwood porch, and she hadn't even heard them sitting down- it was the head that leaned onto her shoulder that got her attention.
Man... She must have been really distracted...
Ignoring the red tint to her cheeks, Ruby sat back down to face Nora.
"You done brooding?" the girl asked, before Ruby could even get a word out. "You've been sat out here for twenty minutes."
Ruby blinked, her eyes naturally flicking to the wall-mounted clock inside. Now if only she knew when she'd gone outside... Thankfully, Nora misread her new embarrassment as just a response to her words and waved it aside.
"I was just wondering if I could help, seeing as the boys are still off looking for Oscar." Yeah... She was kinda hoping to avoid that can of worms too. "So, what's up?"
Her earlier frown reappeared and she looked away. "I've been thinking about... Some stuff. A lot of things, really." Nora hummed in question. "What about...? Er- that's..." She sighed, meeting her gaze head on. Nora always seemed to have this manic energy, and it was still present in the way she kicked her legs out from the porch, but her expression was serious. From the hint of concern in her eyes, even beyond her words, it was clear she wanted to help.
Ruby took a deep breath, steeling herself.
"Our group has some problems. Some, like Oscar running off, will likely solve themselves in time. Others..." A hand rose to cover one eye. "I don't think we're strong enough to do this. We're going up against a lot of powerful people, here- Cinder, Hazel, Tyrian, the White Fang... But I need to be the hopeful and cheery one; I need to lift everyone's spirits, or several of us are just going to give up here."
Nora nodded along, saying nothing and keeping her expression the same.
"And even if we beat everyone, gathered the relics, and beat Salem- somehow- wouldn't the Gods just wipe us out anyway? We're hardly going to look peaceful if we just killed a bunch of people along the way, and that's not even accounting for criminals or terrorists!"
Nora nodded again, still silent.
"This whole task is just so huge," she lamented, letting her head fall into her hands. "I haven't even learned how to use my eyes yet, but I'm expected to be the leader on the frontlines of this secret war. Worse, I want to be there- to end the Grimm threat and save the world- but nobody seems to know how!"
Another nod, but Ruby didn't continue.
And so Nora finally spoke. "You're thinking about this the wrong way, Ruby. Tell me, what happens if we stop?"
"That's not helping," Ruby deadpanned. "We both know what would happen if Salem got her way."
"Right- doom and gloom, darkness reigns eternal, all of that. Most would consider that reason enough to try- and I certainly do- but do you know why I'm actually invested in this?"
Huh? Ruby's eyes narrowed for a moment, but nothing came to mind. Salem was a threat; that was why Ozpin was involved, and the rest of them were because of him. What other reason was th-
A sharp pain pricked at her forehead, and Ruby recoiled for a moment while rubbing at it. Nora looked unimpressed, her hand still hanging where she'd flicked her.
"Whatever you were just thinking, you're wrong." Nora's smile returned, and she leaned back as if nothing happened. "The real reason I'm here is pretty simple. It's selfish, shortsighted, and plenty of other things people normally think of as bad. In short, I don't want to lose any of you."
What? "That... Doesn't sound very selfish."
"Not to you, no, but then I knew you wouldn't think like that." Somehow, despite Nora's lopsided grin and upbeat tone, that sounded like an insult. "However, I say it's selfish because I'm not thinking like you. When you picture this quest as something to save the world, it's an act of charity. It's something you're doing for the good of everyone- a selfless deed, committed not for reward but because it's the right thing to do."
Well... Yeah. That was what heroes did- what Summer did. Wasn't that the ideal all good huntresses aspired for?
"Me, on the other hand?" Nora's smile took on a somber note, which was quickly masked under her usual cheer. "I don't want to live without any of you. I'm in it to protect my life- not my survival, but the sliver of happiness I worked for in this chaotic and messy world. So I don't lose anything I love..."
Like Pyrrha.
The pair were silent for a while, letting the full weight of the words sink in. However, amidst the void left behind, the smallest quirk formed at the corner of her lips.
"I'll fight for you all, too..." It was whispered, but Ruby had a feeling Nora heard. In turn, Nora had a feeling Ruby didn't mind.
Qrow watched with a vacant expression as the whole crew came streaming into the living room. He was leaning against the banister, at the top of the stairs, since any involvement from him would only make things worse. Him and his semblance had some talking to do.
Huh... I wonder what would happen if the kid boosted my semblance. It wasn't worth testing, since a catastrophic bout of bad luck was already standard operating procedure for him, but it was an interesting thought.
Unfortunately, he seemed to be the only one in the house who was thinking.
"You're not going to just get away with stealing an Atlesian bullhead, you morons." His interjection had about the expected reaction- lidded glares. Meh, he'd gotten worse from Glynda for years. "Even assuming you could get on board- which would require them to pay next to zero attention to you lot- you'd then have to bypass every security measure they'd have. You'd have better odds taking on Cordovin's mech."
Murmurs erupted down below, and he only caught a few, but he instantly regretted the last twenty-six years of his existence.
"That wasn't a suggestion!" he shouted, but it fell on deaf ears. No, no, it's fine. It's not like he, the drunk unmarried bandit, was expected to be the responsible adult around. Oh wait! "Look, if you want to get to Atlas, why not just send a message to Jimmy Irondick? The CCT is down, sure, but Cordovin can't just decline to take your mail."
And suddenly I regret another twenty seconds.
Of course they would take that as a suggestion too. Instantly, they were tossing around ideas of mailing themselves off to Atlas just like Taiyang did to- wait, what? He mailed Zwei to Beacon!? HOW!? And why!?
He could feel a headache forming, and it wasn't from a hangover for once. That'd take another few hours to kick in.
Whatever... It wasn't his job to stop them making mistakes, anyway. He was just here to help pick up the pieces. Besides, what's the worst that could happen? With him not involved, obviously, because there were some pretty awful endings if he was- death chief among them.
Oum, I need another drink.