A/N: Hello, it's me again. So, I'm going to try and update this once a week or two, so yeah…
Also, If you want a story about Alabaster's journeys, this isn't the right story. If you guys comment enough, I'll write one for you guys/galls.
Oh, the Grimm attack of last chapter took place on a pathway close to the Beacon Cliffs and the actual academy. Sorry for any confusion.
P.S. There will be some extra OCs, but they won't play much of a part in the story, just for some possible character development.
"Talking"
'Thinking'
Now, Let's Begin!
3 Years (With Alabaster)
The landscape of the Kingdom of Vale was in ruins. The Kingdom was caught in the crossfire of the the four-way war not three years ago. The Great War, as Alabaster learned it to be named, left most of the kingdome in disarray. However, that was the least of their concerns, as several months ago, of all things, the Grimm had returned. The four kingdoms, once bitter enemies now stood side by side against this common enemy. All that was left out was our now fully fledged warrior and time traveler, Alabaster Ozpin, now Alabaster Rose. Throughout her actions assisting the Vale Army, she was awarded the title of "Knight-Commander" by holding off a combined attack of Mistral and Atlas forces, giving time for refugees to escape the burning ruins of Vista, one of the major cities. Unfortunately, she was the sole survivor of her team, causing her to decent into. Since then, her combat style had become extremely aggressive, nearly suicidal. This tendency to be the first into combat lead to her moniker, L'Avant-Garde, or "The Vanguard."
With the Grimm catching the four kingdoms off guard, teams were hastily assembled from the best soldiers and mercenaries to combat this new threat. These teams, aptly named after the 'Hunters' of old, were tasked to locate and destroy any Grimm that could threaten innocents as the kingdoms' armies regrouped. Miss Rose was assigned to lead one of these teams. Their role, cutting into the darkness and hunting down the powerful or dug-in Grimm, so the other teams could secure the location. It was slow and arduous work, but over the better part of the year, the Vale and Vacuo 'clearing lines,' as they were called, would meet, signifying the end of the anti-grimm effort on Vytal.
Month 9 of Grimm Hunting- Vale-Vacuo Border
(A/N: Visual Aid of Alabaster's Armor here, but ya' know, no kite shield, and two swords
. )
Sixteen year old Alabaster Rose awoke in her tent. As she completed her ritual of donning her plate armor before proceeding to the crudely fashioned mess hall, or rather, mess tent. It was at that moment when she gazed upon the sky… only to find the stars still out.
'Damn it'
"Well, looks like someone's eager." spoke the voice that greeted her three years ago.
"Really Stratus? We'll be assaulting a stronghold in a couple hours, and you think this is a time to make jokes?" Alabaster responded.
"I'm just lightening the mood, you don't have to be such a killjoy. Sheesh."
"Sorry, I'm just stressed, you know? This is the last major concentration of Grimm, Vacuo's scouts went dark, and I don't want to fail here."
Realizing his leader's distress, Stratus walked over to the teen and gave her a pat on the back. "You got us this far. I mean, who else has your list of achievements? Broke the Siege of Vale, Knight-Commander at fifteen, and here you are leading the best group of hunters on Vytal! Thanks to you, we've almost retaken the continent much faster than we all expected. All that's in between us and home is Fort Castle. When I first ran into you three years ago, I thought you were some refugee caught in a bad place. Glad to see I was dead wrong. "
"Right… You ready for this?" Alabaster asked her second-in-command, gazing down the cliff her group was gathered at.
"I'm not getting older, might as well." Stratus replied, standing up, "Why?"
As he said those very words, streaks of light could be seen in the distance, the sound of gunfire a distinct indicator of battle. The early sunlight revealed the presence of Nevermores diving into what she assumed to be the Vacuo forces.
"Those Vacuo idiots decided to start the attack, and they won't last long without our assistance," Alabaster said as she donned her helmet, visor covering her face, and drew her infamous longswords, "Get the others to attack, I'll assist the survivors." With that, she leapt off the cliff, using her blades to dig into its side, slowing her descent.
"That kid's going to be the death of me…"
The Vacuo troops were scattered when Alabaster arrived, a small team of five or so here and there, but they were outnumbered. Those who managed to reach the ruined fort were greeted by Creeps, the ostrich-lizard Grimm charging the disorganized troops before pouncing. Outside wasn't much better, with some groups holding out against the Borbatusks, but were slowly overwhelmed as Ursai joined the fray, the bear-like Grimm overpowering entire groups, leaving them open for their allies to strike the distracted humans. Add in the presence of the aforementioned Nevermores paired with the customary Death Stalker or two, not to mention the three packs of Beowolves, and it was simple to realize. They were screwed.
Alabaster yelped as she slid under an Ursa's paw, snapping her out of her thoughts. As she recovered, she brought up one of her blades, blocking another blow before severing its arm. Deflecting another blow, she drove her other blade into the the Grimm's skull, felling the beast. Without any present enemies, she took the next course of action.
She charged into another pack of Grimm.
Swinging her blades in a pattern only she knew, Knight-Commander Alabaster Rose charged through the horde of Grimm, no longer a swordswoman, but a tempest. One that dispatched its enemies without end. Soon enough she had carved a path to the stranded group.
" 'Bout time ya' showed up!" One, apparently the leader shouted, blocking a Beowolf's strike with his shield before stabbing it. "We're running low on dust rounds and we haven't heard from the teams we sent inside the fort. Our medic's down and our dust mages are pinned on the roof- gah!" He was promptly slammed to the ground, courtesy of a Bourbatusk. Before it skewer him, it was impaled by Alabaster, whom proceed to dispatch another two beowolves, giving the man time to recover.
"The rest of my team is on its way." Alabaster shouted, blocking an Ursa's attack which would've resulted in another soldier's death. "Where the hell is the idiot who ordered the attack?!"
"The Vacuo General," the soldier replied as the group carved a path to the fort. "He wanted us to clear out the area without Vale. Probably had something to prove when he found out the Vale forces were led by L'Avant-Garde."
"I knew my reputation would cause some issues, but this is ridiculous." Alabaster commented as she entered the fort's courtyard, helping some of the other troops close the gate. As she took off her helmet, and turned to face the group's leader, she noticed his face had a look of disbelief.
"Y-you're L'Avant-Garde?!" he asked incredulously, "I thought you'd be, ya' know… older."
"That's what they usually say." Alabaster muttered, she then pointed to the seemingly hundreds of Creeps rushing out of the building into the courtyard. 'Incoming!"
As the battle-worn group drew their weapons, Alabaster leaped into the fray, a single thought passing through her mind.
'Where the hell is Stratus?'
Two Hours Later
"Take that!" Alabaster shouted, tackling the last Creep, impaling it with her swords.
"Thanks for helping us out miss." One of the now rescued dust mages commented.
"No problem," the swordswoman replied, panting from exhaustion. "We cleared up most of them."
"About that…" another Vacuo soldier commented, gazing over the wall.
Not seconds after the comment, the gates were blown open, three Goliaths entering, much to the worn out fighter's dismay. As the elephant-like Grimm entered, they promptly fell over, one of which revealing a cursing swordsman.
"Nice to see you could join the party Stratus." Alabaster commented offhandedly, sarcasm thick in her second statement. "Our saviour."
"Well it didn't help that there was a moderate sized army knocking on the door." Stratus complained, gesturing to the dispatched Grimm as he sheathed Crocea Mors, the hordes only now deciding to fade.
"And you didn't have to fight Creeps in close-range with an exhausted team."
"You did good, kid."
"You do care… Wait." Alabaster said before interrupted by the faint thudding in the ground. "Did you feel that?"
"I'd be dead not to." Both drew their weapons.
The thudding turned into rumbling, and roaring as a behemoth rose from the ground.
Alabaster gasped as she saw her enemy for the first time in three years. It's four legs still dug into the ground, tentacles violently waving, grabbing and strangling an unfortunate hunter. It let out an enraged roar as it began focusing in its attacks on our dear protagonist, who managed to dodge each attack. The two were soon locked in a dance of death. The Grimm lashing out at the huntress and Alabaster weaving through attacks, and striking at any opportunity. Both Vacuo and Vale forces were attacking its legs, in hope of crippling the beast, or at the least driving it off.
The Grimm decided to attack the other humans, hoping to kill several of them rather than that pesky one. The shouts of terror underneath it would've provided satisfaction, if it felt emotion.
Bur Alabaster would have nothing of that. She had fought the creature before, and used the sure-fire way to defeat it.
Her Semblance
Unlike most Aura users, the Ozpin family bore a dangerous history. Their semblances were never supportive or defensive, no. They were geared towards attack. Tearing apart the enemy with pure, unadulterated rage. Which was currently flowing through the young Knight-Commander. With a battle cry, her aura began to flare, covering her body in a pitch black. Her attacks were slicing through limb, in turn the pieces of Grimm surrounding her, adding additional blades to float around her, mirroring her attacks. By the time she had cut through its tentacles, there was no hope. The darkness that covered her now burst outwards, forming a storm of spiraling shadows, still cutting into the creature. After what felt like hours, but was in reality minutes, of the constant assault, the Grimm finally fell, it's death scream high and piercing. Knowing what would happen when in close proximity to it, Alabaster flashed a sad smile to Stratus Arc as the Grim began to implode.
"Thanks for everything Stratus. Sorry I still owe you that drink"
"What are you talking about?" He shouted, reaching out to grab her, "After all this, you can't leave now! Alabaster! Are you even listening?!"
"Y-you called me by my name…" Alabaster said, a lone tear streaking down her face, hidden by her helmet. "Goodbye."
Without hesitation, the teen was consumed by the Grimm's corpse as it disappeared, leaving no trace. When the soldiers were greeted by their kingdoms as heroes, each member would bring the news of, with sorrow in their voices, the death of The Alabaster Rose, L'Avant-Garde. Or so they thought.
(A/N: THE END! Jk, you didn't leave, right? Right?!)
Beacon Academy- Present Day (Between Volumes 1 and 2)
Ruby Rose was kindly awoken from her slumber by the familiar sound of Professor Goodwitch's riding crop impacting with her desk. Startled by the sudden noise, the young huntress in training let out a yelp, almost leaping out of the bench she was resting on.
"MIss Rose!" Yelled the irate professor, standing across from Ruby's desk. "Please pay attention in class."
"Professor Goodwitch!" Ruby exclaimed, "W-What are you doing here? I thought you'd be teaching your students."
"Miss Rose, I appreciate your concern, but Headmaster Ozpin requested to see you and your team in his office." With that, she left the classroom.
Ruby got up to collect the rest of her teammates, not that any of them were complaining. As they made their way towards the one elevator leading towards the headmaster's office, they were greeted to the sight of Headmaster Ozpin glancing at a picture before placing it inside the desk drawer.
"Hello Ruby, Weiss, Blake, Yang." Ozpin spoke, adjusting several papers on his desk, "I have decided to assign you to a mission regarding several Deathstalkers establishing nests in the Emerald Forest."
"Wait, Professor, wouldn't it- " Yang began to ask, wondering why they were chosen, only to be interrupted by Professor Oobleck entering the room.
"Professor Goodwitch had recommended this assignment in order to test your skills. If you do require assistance, help will be nearby." Ozpin responded, knowing what was to be asked next. "I recommend you girls finish before nightfall."
Taking the advice, team RWBY took the elevator, leaving the Professor and Headmaster in the office, the former taking out a picture frame and placing it on Ozpin's desk, the image showing younger versions of the two, along with two others. One, who was in the center, had black hair and eyes of jade, dust rifle to the side. The other teen held her two swords in a leaping attack above the other three, her silver hair almost floating and cobalt eyes full of wonder and excitement. On the frame, was the inscription "Team JOAB"
"It's been twenty-five years, hasn't it Bartholomew?" Ozpin asked, pulling a bottle of whisky out from under his desk, a weary sigh let out.
"Sadly, yes." Oobleck responded, pouring small amounts of the beverage in two glasses. "Usually not into alcoholic beverages, but willing to have a small one. As a toast."
"Well, to Team JOAB." Ozpin said, raising a glass, "Youngest, and craziest team in all my years!"
"Glad to have been a part of it." Oobleck added as both teachers drank the contents. "May the fallen live on."
"Jade, Ally…" Ozpin continued, using Alabaster's nickname for the first time in years, "You'd better be saving us spots."
Location between Beacon Cliffs and Emerald Forest
"Well, that was fun, huh sis?" Yang asked, arm around Ruby in a hug. "Another Deathstalker down for the count."
"It did seem a bit too easy." Weiss commented, "I would've expected something harder, especially from that type of Grimm."
"It was smaller than the first one we ran into." Blake remarked before snapping to attention, "Wait, did you hear that?"
Not seconds after the cat fanus had said that, there was a bright flash some meters off to the north followed by the roar of what sounded like a tornado. As the flash faded, the team of huntresses in training heard the familiar sound of a sword stabbing into grimm flesh. When they reached the area, they were faced with an interesting sight. A figure clothed in what seemed to be plate armor, something that wasn't seen since The War, it seemed to be robotic, with what looked liked tubes on the joints and glowing eyes. On its back was two sheaths, supposedly for the two swords the figure was withdrawing from the dead Grimm. On the other hand, the creature was huge, roughly the size of the Nevermore from their initiation, stubs where legs once were and tentacles on its back, splayed. As the figure sheathed its swords, it turned to them, and began walking off.
"Hey! Wait!" Ruby called out to it, "We can help you!"
"Why would we want t-that… thing?!" Weiss exclaimed, "I'm sure it-"
"She." Blake said, interrupting the heiress.
"What?"
"It's a she." The faunus responded, gesturing to the figure, who was now leaning against a tree, interested about the ongoing conversation. "Her build is more slender compared to a males. And I'm sure you're offending her."
Ruby took this time to interrupt the two. "Still, we should take her to Beacon. Professor Ozpin should be able to take care of it from there."
Hearing this, the figure's head perked up, the sudden movement catching the attention of the four. As it spoke, it's voice was garbled, but what it said could be heard. "Oz...pin."
"Well, that decides it. To Beacon!"
Beacon Academy
Little did Team RWBY know, the Headmaster had witnessed the whole event. As his students approached the academy, he had descended the elevator to meet them at the entrance. What surprised him, was that the figure that had previously killed the strangely familiar Grimm, was using one of its swords, as a crutch, visibly limping.
"Hello girls, I see your mission was successful." He greeted, "and it appears that our surprise guest is injured. We will discuss the specifics later, but first, the Infirmary."
Halfway to the Infirmary, the figure had collapsed, requiring several staff members to carry, the now established her, onto a stretcher. Once they reached their destination, the figure had awoken. Seeing the distressed medical staff attempting to extract her from her armor, she disabled the locking mechanisms from her gauntlet's control panel. (Convenient). Slipping from consciousness, she felt her helmet being removed.
Team RWBY let out a collective gasp as the figure was finally revealed. A young face belonging to that of a young teen, perhaps sixteen or seventeen, her platinum hair spread across the medical bed, cobalt eyes half open. The headmaster, had a different reaction.
"Oh dust…" he said, emotional fatigue washing over him full force. Hearing his voice, the figure turned to face him, her eyes now becoming wide with shock.
"O-ozpin?" she gasped, and fell into unconsciousness.
And it's over! Sorry for such a long wait, but if chapters are to be this long, sacrifices must be made. Nonetheless, thank you for the support you guys have given me. I truly appreciate it. You know the drill, add a review, follow if you want and have a good day, or something. It depends on your timezone.
FranciumProductions, signing off.