A/N: So, this is my first fic i have published on the site and HOLYCRAP am i nervous. This was made in cooperation with G+ user MAYA I. HENDRICKS so half the love goes to my blood angle,
So, without further ado, here is our FIRST CHAPTER FOR TRIALS OF THE DAMNED!
Disclaimer: We do not own RWBY, the rights to the show belong to Rooster Teeth.
Chapter 1: Nightshade
"Well… that was quite an event."
"Are you referring to the Grimm that invaded the city, or the council giving General Ironwood your job?"
Professor Ozpin let out an exasperated sigh before taking a sip from his coffee mug. Just where does Oobleck get this coffee? Ozpin allowed his eyes to drift closed; taking a moment to savor the taste of the hot beverage. The drink seemed to help clear his mind of any remaining stress from the recent events that had transpired the day before.
The breach.
He set the mug down on his desk once again, an air of seriousness overtaking his once calm visage. It had been an unexpected occurrence, but even Ozpin knew that it was likely to happen; after all Vale was far from indestructible.
Indestructible…
The word that seemed to have so many complications and loop-holes attached to it. The headmaster was no fool; he knew that no civilization had the perfect defense. That was why the Atlassian army existed, the sole reason Hunters and Huntresses existed, to fill the gaps in those indestructible defenses. The breach had solidified that notion tenfold. Ozpin cleared his throat, brushing those thoughts aside for the time being.
"The stray Grimm have been taken care of according to the reports that we received." Ozpin stated, deciding that it would be best not to address her following statement. "Though it seems the people are rather angry, as they would be." The people would have been easy enough to calm down if he still had the position to allow him so, but with Ironwood taking over; he wasn't allowed to disclose such information without his consent. And I know that he won't.
That was exactly why Ozpin hadn't wanted his friend to hold the scepter as the saying went.
General Ironwood was exactly as his title stated, a general of war. He always tried to state that his position was far more complicated than that of a warmonger, but Ozpin and Glynda were no fools. Ironwood was in a position that was not suited for a time of peace. His tactics were from a time of bloodshed, and mistrust. All of which that he had only read about and never truly experienced first-hand, and to top it all off, he was near delusional with how to treat any of these threats. If he gives in to the obvious trap that has been set upon the board, everything that he touches will die…
Everything he touches... will die?
And just as this line played across his mind, Glynda decided to make a call. Honestly Ozpin, as long as you keep drifting off, I might as well make use of the quiet. So she dialed the number that has been personally etched into her mind. She waited patiently as her scroll rang, hoping that the person she contacted was in a better mood. I should have sent her gift ahead of time!
BBBBBOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMM
Maybe just two fingers next time?
"The purple pumbler was up to her old experiments again" as the neighbors used to say. She had toned things down a bit, especially after she had been forced to pay for any damages she caused. Though there was no longer anyone to complain as such about her antics since they had left when she first got the gloves.
"Gloves?" you may ask. These were no ordinary gloves. In fact they couldn't really be considered gloves at all, they were explosive-gel dispensing, dust infused gloves. Obviously they were dangerous, but she didn't have to worry about burning down, or freezing, someone's home anymore; not when she had access to a miniature in home arena. One of the many perks of having Glynda Goodwitch as a mother; an adoptive mother, but a mother no less.
The arena wasn't too big, but it wasn't ridiculously small either, in fact, it was probably about half the size of Beacon's training arena. One half of it was dedicated to her experimental dust gels, along with various weapon blueprints, and artillery. The other half held her toys; all the adorable Grimm she kept here to practice with if her mother wasn't around to spar with her. Of course she didn't keep too many in her area, just one or two, mainly Ursai; she liked a challenge but she wasn't crazy enough to bring any larger Grimm into her playhouse. Plus it would be quite the hassle trying to make more space for any of the bigger subjects she desired, and she doubted her mother would allow her to keep them anyways.
As she finished with her newest experiment, her scroll started vibrating. She didn't have to look at the photo on the screen to know that it was said mother. She picked up the device with a smile, tapping the answer key. But as she answered the call, the Ursa Major she had been toying with saw an opening. Damn it. Forgot to kill my toys first.
"This seems as good a time as any to talk with my daughter," said the surprisingly male voice on the other end.
"Ozpin?" she stated in a slightly surprised manner. The Ursa lunged at her, The Haze of Death, believing that it could actually touch such a scholar. "Where's mom?" she asked casually, as she leaped effortlessly over the dense brute. Do you mind, I'm on the scroll! she thought while slapping and poking juuust the right spots with juuuuuust the right dusts, before setting her feet on the ground, behind the stupid creature. The Ursa attempted to turn to her, but as soon as it moved, it burst into wisps of darkness.
"She's busy at the moment-,' GIVE ME BACK THE SCROLL OZPIN! The sweaty shade could hear from the background, 'but she asked me to call for her."
"Uh huh, sure that's exactly what happened." she said whilst rolling her eyes in amusement. "Hey! Tell her I got the gift she sent me, and that it fits PERFECTLY!"
"I'll be sure to tell her-,' TELL ME WHAT?!, 'later, but I was hoping to ask you a favor."
The purple scholar raised an eyebrow in curiosity. "What kind of favor do you have in mind, Pops?" she asked as she headed to the fully stocked kitchen she spent her meals in, half of the time by herself. She didn't mind it; she understood that her mother's job was quite demanding at times; especially with all the new students coming in.
"Have you heard about what's happened in Vale recently?"
"Ummm...," her eyes drifted to the mountains of test results she had recorded over the last few days. "I've been far too busy to keep up with such events."
"In other words, you've been experimenting almost 24/7 these past few days."
"What? I didn't blow anything up," She paused. "At least… Not beyond repair."
"I'll take your word for it-,' that's it, give me back the damn scroll! Glynda I'm not finished yet… OW! ,'hey Azure." stated Glynda, slightly winded.
"... I'll just pretend I didn't hear the battle of all battles just now." She held in a chuckle at the small groan that drifted into her ear. "Or that Pops seems to be dying slowly and painfully."
"Don't worry; I'll forge a will so you get his cane, anyway happy birthday!"
"Hehe thanks. I loved the gift too, even though I told you not to get me anything."
"Oh... OH of course, the gift, right, how does it feel?"
Clearly getting the notion that pops sent the gift, she decided to have a bit of fun with it. "Like a glove, but I'm surprised you'd send me a thong from Vacuo for my birthday." she said doing her best to hold back the laughter. "I didn't even know they made them this small…" She had to bite her lip to keep from busting a gut.
"WHAT! OZPIN I AM GOING TO MURDER- wait…"
Azure was flat out bawling her eyes out in hysteria. "I can't believe you actually fell for that." She clutched her sides as she laughed, nearly dropping her scroll, and oatmeal cookies in the process.
"Very funny, you're lucky it's your birthday young lady."
"You make me sound like I'm still a kid, I drink milk." She proclaimed it proudly; her tone seemed to leave no room for argument.
"Right, yet at the mention of no sweets for two weeks, you grovel for forgiveness" Glynda retorted with a confident tone.
"Well anyone would, restricting sweets is a fate worse than… never mind, I'm not gonna go there." Her voice held a hint of melancholy. She shook off the darker thoughts that tried to plague her mind; today was a happy day, and she would keep it that way.
"Good girl, we don't want to go there. Now what did Ozpin really send you?" she asked trying to keep her daughter from drifting away.
"An amazing new pair of grenade gloves, like the prototypes I designed last year." Her tone seemed to brighten, and was slightly muffled having stuffed a cookie in her mouth. She had just reached the living room and decided to change the method of communication. "Hang on; I'm switching the call to the TV."
With a few flicks and taps on her scroll, Azure had switched the call to a video chat from the living room TV and the monitor in Pop's office.
"Ah, there's the birthday girl!" Ozpin proclaimed in his slightly pained tone, applying an ice bag to his assaulted testicles.
"Ouch. Kicked or riding crop?" she asked to know how bad to feel for him.
"Kicked. Already had a rather horrid day, so she showed mercy." He adjusted the ice bag with a small grunt, emphasizing his pain.
"Ya, speaking of which, you two look like hell. Got too frisky last night?" she asked with an amused grin on her face.
"If only it were that simple." Glynda stated, seemingly unaware of the quip her daughter had made.
"What, did something happen?" Azure was able to pick up on the hint of dread in her mother's voice. She even put her cookies down, signaling her full attention.
"There has been an attack on the city by the White Fang," Ozpin stated calmly.
"There were no casualties, and the property damages were minimal, but the real destruction was never intended for the physical city."
"Mom, you're talking in riddles again, just say it."
Glynda took a breath before she laid it out on the table. "Ironwood has taken the position of head of security of the Vytal festival."
"Damn, well that's not gonna end well. Isn't he the guy you said that treats everything like a measuring of d-"
"Yes, that's the one Azurine." Ozpin quickly interjected. "And do please watch your language; we don't need a carbon copy of your mother."
"Please, like we're that similar." Glynda stated in an amused tone.
"We kinda are Mom," Azure mumbled as she took another cookie captive. She couldn't resist her sweets, even if it were just for a few minutes.
"She says as she devours a cookie." she states with a smirk she makes no attempts at hiding. "Honestly, you are almost exactly like Ru-" she stops herself mid-name.
"Hm? Did you say something Mom?" Azure hadn't been paying attention; she had been focused solely on her cookie.
"It was nothing, anyway, since the attack; the acceptance rate of hunters has gone down since the breach on the city." Ozpin interjected.
"Does this have anything to do with that favor you were talking about by any chance?"
"Yes. Not only has our reputation gone down, but so has school morale amongst the students."
"... No Pops." Azure deadpanned while nomming on a cookie once again. She knew what he was up to, he had tried to convince her to do this countless times before.
"I'm with my daughter on this Ozpin; she is not enrolling at Beacon." Glynda responded with a stare that would freeze most other humans and hunters.
But not Pr. Ozpin. "I know it would be tough to adapt, but-"
"No Pops. How many times do I have to say it, I'm not going to enroll, and nothing you say is going to convince me." Azure's tone held an edge of finality and agitation.
"They almost killed Yang."
…
…
…
"... YOU MENTION THIS NOW?! SERIOUSLY OZPIN?" Azure took a moment to breathe before continuing. "Is Ruby okay?"
"During the mission, she was captured, but-"
"Nothing happened right? She's not hurt is she?" Azure's eyes changed briefly for a second before returning to her purple orbs.
"She's alright, and so is Yang, and Zwei, they-"
"Wait, Zwei? Since when do you allow pets on missions?"
"Since Ms. Rose had the surprisingly brilliant idea to smuggle him along for the mission."
"A bit misguided, but I guess he would be useful for tracking purposes."
"So now that you know what's happened, what do you say?" Ozpin asked in a serious tone.
"... I'll think about it, and that isn't a definite yes! Got it Pops?"
"Of course, get the airship ready.-."
"I heard that Pops. I swear if an airship shows up here, I will-"
"We shall await your response, good bye Azure." Ozpin interrupted hastily.
"HEY WAIT-" but Ozpin had already hung up. A triumphant smirk on his face.
"Please tell me you've cut off her access to nightshade." Ozpin asked as he took another small sip of his coffee.
"Of course I did, knowing you wouldn't give her a choice on the matter. It would be rather unfortunate if a drop of nightshade made its way into your coffee now wouldn't it Ozpin?" Glynda's smile was anything but friendly.
Ozpin felt a shiver run down his spine at that particular memory. He hoped Azure wasn't plotting her inevitable revenge.