Chapter 9: Guardian Wind
(POV: Grey)
I got up the next day, feeling a lot better after calming down from yesterday's rather…. Dark news about my brother, Alpha. I wish I could've seen him one last time…. But alas, I can't always have everything. I looked around to see no one else in the dorm. I looked at the time and saw that it was 8:10.
"Maybe they're with the others in the cafeteria. Well, might as well catch up to them!" I exclaimed to myself as I went ahead and changed, grabbed my weapons and went on to the cafeteria.
"I should probably go ahead and see mother when I have a chance. She's probably still recovering from yesterday…." I silently said to myself, as I walked to the cafeteria.
I opened the doors to the cafeteria, and sure enough, my team was there, sitting with the others.
"Hey, Grey! About time you woke up!" Magnarus exclaimed, motioning for me to come join them.
I smiled, walked over and sat down next to Yang, who kindly saved a seat for me.
"How you feeling? You seem to be in a better mood!" Pyrrha asked.
"Yeah, I'm doin just fine! Sorry if I made you all worried last night." I replied.
"So. If you don't mind us asking, what kind of person was Alpha? We only know he was your brother. Tell us about him!" Jaune asked, as everyone looked at me, waiting to explain.
"Well…. Where to begin? Alpha was born about 12 years before I was, and by the time I was 7, he had already graduated and became a skilled hunter. As you know, he had a responsibility to help the people. Not only that, but he was also a leader of his own team, Team AURA." I said, and was about to continue when Magnarus said something that surprised everyone, including me.
"Wait…. Did you just say Team AURA?! My brother was a member of that team! Whenever he came home to visit, he always talked about his best friend, how lucky his team was to have a leader like him, and how much skill he possessed!" He explained.
"Now that you mention it…. I have an older sister who also mentioned being part of a team called AURA!" Flora exclaimed.
"Same here! I also have an older sister who was part of that team as well!" Nela said as I just sat there, shocked.
"Well, how about that! That's amazing! You guys are basically Team AURA, reincarnated!" Ruby exclaimed.
"THAT'S SO COOL!" Nora exclaimed, shaking with excitement.
"Wow…. I don't know what to say, you guys. Anyway, are you ready to let me continue?" I said, and they all nodded.
"Anyway, he visited my mother and me whenever he had the chance to, and sometimes he would talk about what kind of missions he went on. Of course, my mother was worried about him going on the high-leveled missions, but he didn't mind too much. Sometimes his team would come along for a visit. I was good friends with them all. As for what he looked like, his clothes were practically the opposite colors of mine. Black vest with a white collar, black muscle shirt, white pendant/gem, white pants, and white shoes. His hair was basically the same as mine. Our fighting styles were similar, but also slightly different though. While I fight with two swords like he used to, he held the one in his right hand backwards. He used his left hand for heavy strikes while he swiftly attacked with his right hand. His skill in swordplay was unparalleled, something that caused people to go after him, hoping that he would teach them. From what he told me, he denied to teach. He said that 'everyone was unique, and had their own ways of fighting, and to take pride in it, for that is what makes you, you.'" I finished explaining.
"Wow…. Sounds like he was an awesome person. I wish I had a chance to meet him." Nela first said before anyone else spoke.
"You guys would've loved him. He cared a lot about other people and normally put their lives before his." I replied as I smiled.
"So…. What are you gonna do?" Yang asked.
"I think I'm gonna go visit my mother today. I'm worried about her and wanna check up on her." I replied as I got up, ready to leave.
"I'll go with you! I wanna introduce myself to her, if you don't mind." Yang said, catching up to me.
"Sure! Alright guys, we'll see you later!" I said as I grabbed Yang's hand as we both took off running, not wanting to miss the airship.
(3rd Person POV)
In no time, both Yang and Grey were on the airship headed towards Grey's home. It took a couple hours, but they soon arrived. They both walked in and saw that someone else was there as well. Grey eyes widened as he recognized the person. It was his brother's best friend and teammate, Ultima!
"Well well, if it isn't Grey! How you doin, little man?!" He greeted as he messed with Grey's hair.
Yang just stood there and chuckled, and was thinking about how much Ultima looked like Maganrus. His shirt's colors were reversed, and the print of the eagle was on the left leg instead of the right. It didn't take her long to guess that Ultima was Magnarus's brother.
"Hey Ultima! It's been a while!" Grey said as he just laughed, before continuing. "Guess what? I met your brother, Mangarus! I became good friends with him, and he's an awesome partner!" He soon finished, and Ultima chuckled.
"Well, I'll be! If you're his partner, then you must also be the leader of GRFN! He sent me a letter one time that talked about how he met this awesome guy at Beacon and that he was a great leader!" Ultima said as the three walked into the living room.
"Yeah! Not only that, but we also met these two girls who happened to be the younger sisters of Rolina and Aurora! Their names are Flora and Nela!" Grey replied.
"It must've been fate that brought you four together! Ah, how it reminds me of the time Alpha, me, Rolina and Aurora became a team! I swore to myself that day that I would protect those two girls to the very end!" Ultima said as he smiled.
"Funny, Magnarus swore to himself that he would protect Flora and Nela on the day that we became a team!" Grey chuckled.
"So, who's the young lady with ya?" Ultima said as he looked at Yang.
"Ah, sorry! This is my girlfriend, Yang! She goes to Beacon with me!" Grey said as he stood up and grabbed Yang's hand.
"Ah, that's right! You were in the tournament! I saw the fight between your team and Grey's! Congratulations on the win!" Ultima said, giving a thumbs up.
"Thanks, Ultima!" Yang replied.
"Oh yeah, where's my mother?" Grey said, remembering why he and Yang came here in the first place.
"She's outside, tending her garden! That's the only thing that could distract her ever since I arrived yesterday to deliver the news…." Ultima replied, heavily sighing.
"Thanks. Come on Yang, let's go see her!" Grey replied, taking Yang with him as they both went outside.
They walked for a little bit and soon saw Grey's mother, tending her garden, just like Ultima said. She saw her son, eyes widened as she ran over to him to give him a hug.
"Welcome home, Grey! It's good to see you again!" She said.
"It's good to see you too, mother! How are you feeling?" Grey asked as they both let go.
"I'm feeling just fine, thank you for asking. It took me a while, but I managed to get through it." His mom replied, and looked over at Yang. "My, who is this?"
"Mom, I'd like you to meet Yang. AKA, my girlfriend!" Grey answered.
"Nice to meet you, Mrs. Storm!" Yang replied as the two shook hands.
"Nice to meet you too, Yang! My, you are quite a young and beautiful girl! My boy definitely knew what he was doing when picking you to date!" Mrs. Storm jokingly said.
"Oh stop it, mother! You're embarrassing me!" Grey said, his face blushing as Yang just laughed. "Oh yeah, Mother, before I forget…" He soon said, his tone now serious.
"Ah, that. It's not that far from here. Just continue walking down these woods and you should see it soon." She replied.
"Thank you, mother. Come on, Yang, let's go." Grey said as Yang went with him, wondering where they were headed.
The two walked and soon stumbled upon a huge area with a grave underneath a colossal tree, surrounded by flowers.
"Is this….?" Yang was about to say before Grey cut her off.
"My brother and I would come here all the time whenever he came to visit, before I headed off to school. This is also where I saw him for the last time…" Grey said as they both walked towards the grave, the tombstone reading:
Alpha Storm; loving son, brother and friend. May he watch over us in the wind…
Grey walked to the tombstone, Sky Chaser in hand. He carefully placed the sword on the side of the tombstone, proceeding to talk.
"Just thought I'd return this sword to you, brother. May the fierce winds be a sign of your presence, protecting those who shall continue to hold you dearly in their hearts…."
Just then, he heard a voice, and both he and Yang looked up to see Alpha standing right in front of them.
"Hey, little bro. Long time, no see." Alpha said with a warm smile.
"Hey, big bro. Nice to see ya." Grey responded, a tear escaping his eye.
"Decided to pay me one last visit?" Alpha soon asked.
"Yeah. It's been 3 years ever since our last meeting. You looked as if you haven't changed one bit." Grey replied.
"Haha, but you have! You have come a long way. I can sense the air around you, and it is intense, a result of all the training you have put yourself through!" Alpha said, smiling. He was proud of Grey. "Continue to train, and you shall soon surpass me. Oh, hello, Yang. Nice to meet you, and everyone else. Also, hey Ultima." He soon continued.
Both Yang and Grey turned around, and saw everyone else standing right behind them.
"Hey Alpha. Good to see you again." Ultima replied.
"Rolina, Aurora. Good to see you two again as well. I supposed the ones in front of you are your sisters? They look so much like you two despite the gap between ages!"
"Yep! Flora, Nela, say hi to Alpha." Rolina answered, motioning for the two to greet him.
"Hello, Alpha. It's an honor to meet you." They both answered, bowing.
"And I suppose you guys are teams RWBY and JNPR, correct?" Alpha said, looking at RWBY and JNPR.
They all nodded, and Alpha smiled, before looking at Grey.
"You have such good friends. I'm proud of you. Well, it's almost time for me leave, for good this time."
"You will never be gone. We know that you shall watch over us all, and be with us always!" Grey said.
Before Alpha could say anything, everyone got a message on their scrolls, along with pictures of burning buildings.
"So, Torchwick is at it again…" Magnarus said, cracking his knuckles.
"It would seem so. Shall we?" Pyrrha followed up.
"It seems you guys have urgent business to attend to." Alpha said, before looking at the remaining members of Team AURA.
"Ultima! Rolina! Aurora!" He exclaimed as the three responded in unison.
"We understand! We await your last request!"
Alpha smiled, then spoke. "Assist GRFN, RWBY, JNPR and the people in defeating the forces of the White Fang! They'll need all the help they can get!"
"Understood, you can count on us!" Ultima replied.
Alpha then finally looked at Grey. "Remember, you have friends that are always there for you. Do not carry the burden by yourself. Place your trust in those who trust you!"
"Right! Thank you, Alpha!" Grey replied, smiling.
"Well, it's time for me to go! Let the winds be your guardian!" He said as he smiled.
"And let the storms be our weapons, making those tremble beneath its might!" Grey replied, and when Alpha faded away, he turned to the others.
"You ready to kick some ass? I'm dying for some action!" Magnarus said as he and the others readied their weapons, ready to battle the White Fang.
Grey turned to Yang.
"Whenever you're ready." She said, and kissed him.
"Right. Let's go! Let's show Torchwick how to throw a REAL party, for it is soon gonna get crazy!" Grey replied, with the others following him, all ready to beat Roman and his White Fang army.
"Good luck, everyone!" Alpha's voice echoed once more, for the last time…
