Two chapters coming at ya once again! I must be in a generous mood or something. Read away!
Disclaimer: I own nothing!
Speech
Thoughts
Chapter Nine: The Shadow Of Beacon
Ozpin sat in his office with General Ironwood and Glynda, he sighed deeply frustrated with his current situation.
"They were here. Ozpin they were here!" Ironwood yelled slamming his fists down on the desk.
"We're very much aware of that! Thank you, James" Glynda chastised.
"Fantastic! You're aware! Now are we going to do something about it or should we just stay the course and continue to ignore what's right in front of us?!" he bellowed in annoyance. The elevator rang indicating someone had arrived in it.
"Come in" Ozpin called.
Ruby and Slade entered the room "Sorry it took so long, someone accidentally hit all the buttons on the elevator on the way up here" Ruby explained "It wasn't me" she defended after a short pause.
"Right..." Slade smirked shaking his head lightly.
"Thank you for coming, Ruby, Slade. How're you both feeling?" Ozpin asked concerned.
"Okay, I guess. I'd feel better if my bad-guy-catching record wasn't O-for-three" Ruby answered. Everyone just stared at her silently "Okay, so that's the tone we're going for. Got it"
"Ruby, Slade I feel it's appropriate to let you both know that I think what you did last night is exactly what being a Huntsman and Huntress is all about. You recognized a threat. You took action. And you did the very best you could" Ironwood explained.
"Thank you, sir" Ruby said with a small smile, Slade only nodded in return.
"Now, the general here has already informed us of the events that... transpired last night, but now that you've rested, we were wondering if you had anything to add" Ozpin said hopefully.
"Was anyone else with her? Did she look familiar to you at all?" Glynda asked.
"I... I don't know. She was wearing a mask, and she never said anything to me. But I know she fought with glass. I don't think that was her Semblance, though. Her clothing lit up whenever she attacked. She used some fire attacks as well, I don't know if that was her semblance or more dust" Ruby explained.
"Save for the glass, that sounds like the woman I fought the night we met Ruby" Glynda informed.
"Embedding Dust into clothing is an age-old technique. It could have been anyone" Ironwood sighed in annoyance.
"Wait. You think this girl is connected to Torchwick and the White Fang?" Ruby asked.
"It's possible. But we still lack the required evidence to link the two together" Ozpin answered with a curious look in his eye directed at Slade.
"Mr. Stroud, you have been very quiet... is there anything you'd like to add?" Glynda asked, Slade stared directly at Ironwood in response.
"Not with him here" he answered.
"Me?" Ironwood asked confused.
"I understand your parents had a strained relationship with the General, but I can assure you he can be trusted" Ozpin said with a reassuring smile. Slade was still hesitant until Ruby took his hand in hers and gave it a small squeeze. He sighed in annoyance before answering.
"Cinder Fall"
"Excuse me?" Glynda asked confused.
"Her name was Cinder Fall, she's masquerading as a student from Haven with a team of students who're working with her. I don't know anything about them or what they're doing here. But I know for a fact she is working with the White Fang and Torchwick" Slade explained.
"How did you come across this information?" Ironwood asked.
"About a year before Ozpin asked me to attend Beacon, I was confronted by a woman named Cinder Fall who wanted to recruit me for a job. I asked what it was she required... she wanted me to join with her and help her steal something from people she called Maidens. I don't know anything more than that, but she was recruiting others to her cause as well. I don't think she came up with a plan like this on her own though, someone must be backing her" Slade explained.
"Why did you decline the job?" Ozpin asked curiously.
"The same reason I decline any job, I don't trust the employer. I only do jobs to help people not harm them" he answered "Cinder doesn't take no very well" he informed.
"She attacked you?" Ironwood asked, Slade nodded.
"She fought with the same weapons and abilities as the intruder, I recognized her immediately when I saw her in the hallway" he explained.
"Why didn't you tell us then?" Glynda asked suspiciously.
"If I had told you someone infiltrated the school simply because I think I recognized her. Do you really think any of you would've taken me seriously?" he asked accusingly.
"At least we would've had a heads up-" Ironwood began.
"He's right, James. We would've dismissed it as paranoia" Ozpin sighed "You did well to keep your eye on them while they're here. Without evidence I cannot take any definitive action against them. But I can however limit their ability to move freely" Ozpin informed.
"At least it's something" Ironwood groaned.
"Actually, I... I think I remember her saying something about a hideout, or something, in the southeast. Just outside the Kingdom" Ruby added in realization.
"Interesting" Ozpin smirked behind his hands resting on his desk.
"I thought you said the intruder never—" Glynda attempted to ask before being interrupted.
"Thank you for your cooperation, both of you. Why don't you go and spend some time with your team? You have a big day ahead of you"
"Any time" Ruby called back as she turned to leave.
"And Ms. Rose. please try and be ... discreet about this matter"
"Yes sir" Ruby replied stepping into the elevator. Slade moved from his place leaning on the wall and walked toward the elevator.
"Mr. Stroud, I have more questions for you before you leave" Ozpin announced stopping him in his tracks, Slade turned back toward them as the elevator closed.
"Ask away"
"Who're the others Cinder is with here at the school? Tell me anything you know about them"
"I only know that Cinder is here with a team of her associates. One is Mercury Black, and the other is Emerald Sustrai. I don't know who the third member is, only that she seems to remain with Cinder at all times since their arrival here at school"
"Make sure all the teachers know to keep their eyes on them for anything suspicious-" Ironwood suggested.
"You said Mercury was working with her?" Glynda asked in realization.
"Yes, Professor"
"Now it makes sense why he fought against Ms. Nikos"
"Mercury was trying to find a weakness in her fighting style... and he found it"
"They're sizing up our students, but for what purpose?" Glynda wondered aloud.
"The same reason we're going to evaluating them" Ozpin answered.
"We know where they are now. We send as many troops as we can to the southeast, find out exactly what's going on, and eradicate any forces that stand in our way"
"Why must your answer to everything involve a triumphant display of military bravado!? You treat every situation like it's a contest of measuring di-" Glynda growled in frustration.
"Glynda!" Ozpin interjected sternly.
"Well, he does" she insisted crossing her arms over her chest.
"She's right. As much as I too would love to end this situation once and for all, we must remember that this may go beyond Vale. Beyond Beacon. And if this truly is part of some master plan for which we know not the final move, we mustn't be so bold. Nor can we risk the spread of panic"
"I have served you faithfully for years... but if you mean to tell me that your plan is to really hold the defenses, and wait-" Ironwood began angrily before being interrupted by Ozpin standing up abruptly.
"It is not! You're a general, James. So tell me, when you prepare to go to war, which do you send in first? The flag bearers, or the scouts?" Ozpin asked.
"If I may Professors... I believe my team and I have proven we're up to the task. Send us southeast and we'll find any underground crime network that Torchwick may be hiding in the area" Slade offered.
"Capable as you may be, I haven't seen anything about you or your team that tells me a group of first year students can handle a task such as this-"
"With all due respect, James. You haven't seen what Mr. Stroud is capable of" Glynda interjected, Slade was surprised by her standing up for him.
"He's still in his first year, no one is that capable at such a young age" he argued.
"Enough" Ozpin ended the argument by smacking his cane into the floor startling the both of them "Slade Stroud is the most capable Huntsman I have ever seen in all my years of training. He and his team can handle the job"
"Oz-" Ironwood began.
"That being said, I will be sending them on this mission in a official capacity for today's assignment. They will be shadowing one of our best Huntsman here at Beacon. I trust they'll see it though"
"If... that is what you believe is best" he relented.
"Excellent, I suggest you inform the rest of your team about their secret mission. I will meet you all in the amphitheater to give you more details"
"Thank you, sir" Slade smiled as he turned to leave.
"We're what?!" Weiss asked excitedly.
"We're going on a secret mission to find Torchwick's hideout?" Yang asked in surprise "Nicely done"
"Hopefully we'll be able to catch him this time, and his mute friend" Blake added.
"I'm just hoping we find evidence to link Cinder and Torchwick together so Ozpin can handle things"
"Cinder?" Blake asked confused.
"She's the girl who attacked us last night" Ruby explained "Slade has met her before and knows she is here at the school in disguise"
"She's hiding in plain sight with the rest of her team, by now she probably realizes I know about her and is speeding up her plans. Whatever they may be. Either way, Ozpin and the other teachers will be keeping an eye on them now. They won't make a move without us knowing about it"
"I hope so" Ruby said with worry in her voice.
"I know just the thing to cheer you up!" Yang yelled producing a cylindrical package the length of her forearm.
"What's that?" she asked confused.
"I don't know yet. Dad sent it to us, I figured we could open it together!"
"Ooooh! Something from home!" Ruby yelled excitedly .Ruby zooms over to Yang and wraps herself around Yang, trying to take the cylinder from her. The package opens, and another cylinder, hairy and black, falls out onto the floor and starts to shake. The object suddenly transforms into a corgi. Team RWBY leans in, staring at it. The animal barks twice excitedly.
"Zwei!" Ruby yelled happily.
"He sent a dog?" Blake asked backing away slightly.
"In the mail?" Weiss added.
"Oh, ya. He does this kind of thing all the time" Yang waved off dismissively.
"I no longer question why you both are the way you are" Slade chuckled lightly.
"Your father or your dog?" Blake asked now hiding in Ruby's bunk.
"Are you telling me that this mangy... drooling... mutt is going to wiv wif us foweva? Oh, yes he is, yes he is! Oh, isn't he adorable!" Weiss gushed.
"Please keep it away from my belongings" Blake pleaded.
"Would all first-year students please report to the amphitheater" Glynda's voice said through the intercom.
"Well, we can't exactly leave him here while we're gone for the week" Slade pointed out.
"Look, there's a letter! "Dear girls, I've got to leave the island for a few days, so I'm sending Zwei to you to take care of. Enclosed is all the food you should need. Love you both, Taiyang" Yang read aloud finishing as dozens of cans of dog food spill out of the small package, piling up around Zwei.
"What is he supposed to do with that?" Weiss asked as a can opener falls from the package, bouncing off Zwei's head.
"Well, that settles it! Come on girls, Zwei will be here when we get back!" Yang announced walking out the door.
"Oh, I'll miss you so much, we're going to be best friends, I can't wait to see you" Weiss's speech deteriorates into incomprehensible baby talk as she walks away.
Meanwhile, Blake jumps down from Ruby's bunk and jumps across the table, avoiding Zwei. Ruby stares at Zwei for a moment, before smiling sneakily.
"Ruby. No" Slade said sternly.
Zwei's head poked out from Ruby's backpack panting happily.
"I cannot believe you talked me into this" Slade sighed placing his head back into the bag.
"Because I'm just too adorable to say no to" Ruby giggled.
"Don't make me take your dog away" he warned causing her to feign being offended.
"You wouldn't dare"
"I wont need to. The Huntsman we're shadowing probably will do it for me" Slade explained laughing lightly as they walked out toward the airship to meet the Huntsman.
"You guys pumped or what?" Yang asked slinging her arms around their shoulders as she approached from behind with Blake and Weiss.
"Not as much as you" Slade answered dryly.
"Why wouldn't I be excited? Professor Ozpin gave us a free pass to find Torchwick's hideout and bring his smug ass down!" Yang yelled pumping her fist into the air excitedly.
"Putting him away will interfere with Cinder's plan and hopefully end their dust shop robberies" Blake pointed out.
"Not to mention putting a stop to the White Fang as well" Weiss added.
"I doubt Adam Taurus will be in attendance. He prefers to stay to the shadows" Slade explained.
"He certainly used to, not so much anymore" Blake said lowering her head dejectedly.
"Why hello students! Who's ready to fight for their lives?" Oobleck asked excitedly.
"Professor Oobleck?" Weiss asked surprised. He began talking fast while pacing in front of the students.
"Yes, I'm afraid those bags won't be necessary, girls, seeing as you've opted to shadow a Huntsman on what is now essentially a reconnaissance mission. I can assure you, we will not be establishing a single base of operations; rather, we will be traversing several miles of hazardous wasteland and making camp in any defendable locations we may stumble upon. I packed all of our essentials myself, plotted our air course, and readied the airship. And-" he stopped momentarily getting uncomfortably close to Weiss "It's Doctor Oobleck, I didn't get the PhD for fun, thank you very much"
"You know both "Doctor" and "Professor" require a PhD, right?" Slade pointed out.
"Come now children; according to my schedule, we are already three minutes behind... schedule!" he finished zipping off toward the airship ignoring Slade's statement.
"Right..." Slade let the word hang in the air.
"Well, alright, then! Looks like we're going to save the world with Doctor Oooobleck- okay yeah when you say it out loud it sounds worse" Ruby dejectedly hung her head failing to cheer up the team.
"Save the world?" Nora asked from behind them. Ruby's team turned around to see team JNPR approaching.
"You're going on world-saving missions without us? I'm hurt... sad! Maybe a little hungry? That last one's not your fault, though, Ren..." Nora dramatically ranted then glared at Ren. Ren simply turns away crossing his arms.
"Sounds exciting. Where ya going?" Jaune asked.
"Oh, just outside the kingdom..." Ruby answered trying not to go into too much detail.
"Hey! So are we!" Nora excitedly announced.
"Ren and Nora wanted to shadow the sheriff of a nearby village" Pyrrha explained.
"We set out tomorrow" Ren added.
"Then you can party with us tonight!" Neptune called as he and Sun approached the group "We're shadowing a crime specialist. All inner-city detective stuff. We get junior badges" Jaune stared at the badges in awe.
"We normally go to the city with you guys, which means stuff's always exploding and junk, so we thought this might be a better way to check out the kingdom when it's, you know... normal" Sun explained referring to Ruby and her team.
"Well-" Ruby began before being interrupted.
"Four minutes, ladies!" Oobleck yelled poking his head out from the airship.
"Well, uh... wish us luck" Ruby said as they walked toward the airship.
"Did Oobleck just call me a lady?" Slade asked earning a laugh from the group.
"I guess I just never saw you as much of a fighter" Yang said to Oobleck as the airship soared over buildings below them.
"I admit I fancy myself more of an intellectual, but I can assure you, as a Huntsman, I've had my fair share of tussles" he replied, Ruby tilted her head in confusion.
"Like the Mushroom?" she asked.
"Those are truffles" Blake answered.
"Like the sprout?"
"Those are Brussels" Yang answered.
"Besides, given my expertise in the field of history as well as my dabbling's in the archaeological surveys, our dear headmaster saw fit to assign me to this particular... assignment!"
"What does history have to do with this?"
"Why, what a preposterous question, you silly girl! Why, history is the backbone of our very society! And the liver! Probably the kidneys, if I were to wager" Oobleck answered turning sharply on Weiss.
"And that means?" she asked for clarification.
"The southeast quadrant outside of Vale is home to wild forests and deep caves, but it is also the location to one of the kingdom's greatest failures!"
"Mountain Glenn" Ruby concluded.
"The ruin?" Slade asked.
"That's right! It was an expansion of Vale... but in the end it was overrun by Grimm and fenced off from the rest of the city" Yang explained recalling on her knowledge from school.
"Correct! And now it stands abandoned as a dark reminder" Oobleck pointed out.
"And a likely place for a hideout" Blake added.
"Precisely" Oobleck said adjusting his glasses and smiling.
"So do we have a plan on how to find this underground hideout, or are we just stumbling in the dark here?" Slade asked as they approached the ruined city.
"I have a plan indeed, we shall scour the ruins where Grimm activity is most prominent and discover our adversaries locale through their negative emotions" Oobleck explained "We can discuss it further once we're on the ground" he added jumping out of the airship as they hovered over the street. Ruby, Blake, Weiss, Yang, and Slade all followed after him. Slade placed his hood over his head while placing on his mask as he exited the airship.
"Children! You still may be students, but as of this moment, your first mission as Huntresses and Huntsmen begun! From this point forward, you need to do exactly as I say! Do you understand?" The group nods in understanding, Oobleck suddenly turns to Ruby surprising her "Ruby! I thought I told you to leave all of your bags back at school"
"But, uh, you hadn't told us to listen to you yet. So I didn't" Slade stared at her like she was crazy.
"She's not wrong" Oobleck whispered to himself causing Slade to facepalm in annoyance "Very well, Ruby; leave your bag here, we can pick it up upon our return"
"But I, well uh- "
Young lady, what in the world could you possibly have in that bag that could be so important to bring it with-" Oobleck stops as the bag's zipper opens and out pops Zwei's head, causing everyone to stare at the uninvited guest. Whispering to her dog through the side of her mouth.
"Get back in the bag" Zwei merely barks in response.
"We're here to investigate an abandoned urban jungle teeming with death and hostility, and you brought... a dog?" Oobleck asked in disbelief.
"I, uh-" Ruby stuttered.
"Genius!" he yells backing away long enough for Ruby to give a confused shrug to the group before speeding past and snatching the pet away from Ruby, who tumbles to the ground as Oobleck spins Zwei in the air "Canines are historically known for their perceptive nose and heightened sense of sound, making them excellent companions for a hunt such as ours!"
Ruby stared off stunned from the unexpected response then points to herself proudly stating "I'm a genius" Slade nearly toppled over from shock.
"We're doomed" he sighed, Weiss and Yang both facepalm at their grinning leader.
"What're your orders, Doctor?" Blake asked getting down to business.
"Ah, yes, straight to the chase; I like it! As you've been informed, the southeast area has been marked as a recent hot spot for Grimm activity. Now, there are several possible explanations for this behavior, one of which being... Grimm"
"Uh, what?" Ruby asked giving a confused stare with the rest of her team.
"That's rather redundant" Slade pointed out.
"Grimm, a creature of Grimm approximately one hundred yards from us at this very moment" Oobleck explained causing the group to turn around.
"What?" Yang almost yelled in surprise.
"Lead with that next time perhaps" Slade suggested as he and the rest of the group prepared their weapons.
"Stop!" Oobleck ordered.
"Huh?" Slade lowered his weapon.
"There are a number of reasons why Grimm will congregate in this particular area, the most likely of which will be their attraction to negativity: sadness, envy, loneliness, hatred. All qualities that are likely held by our hidden group harboring ill intent" Oobleck explained.
So... What now?" Ruby asked.
"We wait. We track. If this specimen leads us to its pack, that pack may subsequently lead us to our prey"
"How long do we wait?" Blake asked.
"It's uncertain. Hours, days, weeks. Why, lone Grimm have been known to stay isolated from the pack for months - and there's the whole pack" Oobleck began before seeing five more Grimm show up beside it.
"What?" Weiss asked in shock.
"And now they've seen us" Oobleck pointed out calmly.
"What?!" Weiss yelled louder in shock.
"And now they've seen us!" Oobleck shouted in her ear.
"I take it tracking them is out of the question?" Ruby asked preparing Crescent Rose once more.
"An accurate assumption, yes" he answered.
"What's the plan then?" Yang asked.
"Show me what you're capable of" he answered with a smirk.
"Now that's a plan I can get behind" Slade chuckled.
"Cover your ears Zwei" Ruby warned as she prepared to fire Crescent Rose, Zwei rolled himself into a ball.
Yang charged the Grimm head on smashing her fists into them as they attacked her. Blake used her semblance to distract them before slicing them in half with her blade. Weiss practically danced around them as she struck through their numbers sliding on her heels as if on ice she cut through them gracefully. Slade easily cut his way through scores of Grimm as they attacked him from all sides with his blade. Ruby fired Crescent Rose dropping multiple Grimm as they charged her, twisting her scythe around she fired it launching her toward the last Grimm remaining cutting him in half. Ruby turned back towards Oobleck with a grin on her face.
"Piece of cake" Ruby shrugged back at Oobleck. One last Grimm leapt at the group from behind, it was instantly killed as it soared through the air when Slade fired his pistol into it's head from beneath it.
"Oops" Yang shrugged.
"Do not celebrate yet, for I am certain this is the first bout of many. Shall we continue?" Oobleck asked.
"We shall" Slade replied bowing mockingly as he walked ahead of the group.
Slade stood on the edge of a broken scrap of a building using it as higher ground with his rifle in hand he scouted ahead searching for Grimm. Whenever one came into view he quickly dispatched it with his rifle never missing a shot.
"Mr. Stroud. I have a question for you"
"Wondering why I became a Huntsman?" Slade asked having listened to his earlier conversations with his teammates.
"No. I was wondering why you chose to attend Beacon"
"Huh?" Slade was confused by the question "Isn't that the same thing?"
"Mr. Stroud, you have been a Huntsman longer than anyone else on your team. You have done what true Huntsmen do for years before coming to Beacon. I understand Ozpin offered you a chance to come to Beacon and you refused, then he offered to be your personal instructor and you accepted. I wish to know why"
Slade remained silent contemplating his question as he continued to search for Grimm.
"A few years ago I met someone name Cinder Fall, the suspect for our break in last night... she offered me a chance to fight for something that mattered. That's how she told it at least. I was interested in what she had to say until she started explaining everything to me. She wanted to hurt people called maidens and steal something from them. I told her I didn't want any part of hurting innocent people... she didn't take it well"
"I understand she attempted to kill you" Slade nodded turning back to Oobleck.
"She was stronger than I imagined she'd be. The reason I was hesitant to accept Ozpin's offer, was because I thought he was just like everybody else"
"Everyone else? How so?"
"Everyone I've ever known, even my parents. They always wanted something from me. My father wanted me to be a fighter, my mother wanted me to become a Huntsman... Cinder wanted me to become one of her pets like Mercury and Emerald. I expected Ozpin to be just like them... but he wasn't. Ozpin actually cared about what I wanted and helped me through personal problems I couldn't handle on my own"
"Such as grief for your mother... tell me, why was it so hard for you to move on from your mother and not your father?"
"My father and I never had the best relationship. But the real reason, is because he died a hero protecting a village from the Grimm. I never would've been able to stop him. My mother only died because she had to protect me... I thought I could've saved her if I had been stronger or if I hadn't run away when she told me"
"Interesting... do you believe Ozpin still wants something from you?"
"I believe Ozpin doesn't share a lot of details with me about certain things. He didn't seem surprised to learn Cinder was here at the school and working with Torchwick. I think he knows more than he lets on... but I'm not sure if he wants something from me. Right now, as long as I'm able to fight for those who can't fight for themselves and keep my friends safe... there's no place I'd rather be"
Oobleck smiled warmly at his answer "You and Ruby both have that spark about you" he practically whispered.
"Spark?" Slade wondered as Oobleck walked away "What did he mean?"
"We're going to have a lot of ground to cover tomorrow, everyone eat your dinners then rush off to bed" Oobleck ordered "We're going to have to take turns keeping watch, any volunteers for first watch?" Oobleck asked.
"I can handle watch for tonight, I'm used to not sleeping for a day or two" Slade piped up holding his rifle in hand as he walked to a vantage point in the building they made camp in.
"That is satisfactory, trade off with someone if you get tired" he announced before quickly laying down and appearing to be asleep.
"What did you tell Oobleck?" Yang asked as Slade walked over to the vantage point.
"What do you mean?" he asked confused.
"When he asked you why you became a Huntsman, what did you tell him?" she explained.
"He never asked me" he answered with a shrug.
Yang looked down disappointed at her lack of an answer before laying down on her bedroll. Zwei approaches Slade as he sits at the edge of the building and props himself onto his lap. Slade looks down at the animal in mild annoyance before relenting, he stroke Zwei's head softly as he watched the street.
"Things will be better tomorrow" Ruby said kissing his cheek as she walked to her bedroll.
"I certainly hope so" he sighed.
About an hour later none of the girls could sleep and laid on their backs bored as Slade remained posed at the lookout position.
"Blake, are you awake?" Yang asked rolling over onto her side.
"Yeah"
"Why do you think he asked us about being a Huntress? Like, what was he trying to say?" she asked unsure of herself.
"Maybe he was just curious" Blake pointed out.
"You think?"
"No" Blake admitted.
"Weiss, are you awake?" Yang asked.
"Of course I'm awake! You two are talking. And I think he... When I said I wanted to honor my family's name, I meant it. But, it's not what you think. I'm not stupid. I'm fully aware of what my father has done with the Schnee Dust Company. Since he took control, our business has operated in a... moral gray area"
"That's putting it lightly" Blake pointed out.
"Which is why I feel the need to make things right. If I had taken a job in Atlas, it wouldn't have changed anything. My father was not the start of our name, and I refuse to let him be the end of it" Weiss said determination in her voice.
"All my life, I fought for what I thought was right. I had a partner named Adam. More of a mentor, actually. He always assured me that what we were doing would make the world a better place. But of course, his idea of a perfect future turned out to be not perfect for everyone. I joined the Academy because I knew that Huntsmen and Huntresses were regarded as the most noble warriors in the world. Always fighting for good. But I never really thought past that. When I leave the Academy, what will I - how can I undo so many years of hate?" Blake asked unsure.
"I'm sure you'd figure it out. You're not one to back down from a challenge, Blake" Yang assured.
"But I am! I do it all the time! When you learned I was a Faunus, I didn't know what to do, so I ran! When I realized my oldest partner had become a monster, I ran! Even my Semblance! I was born with the ability to leave behind a shadow of myself; an empty copy that takes the hit while I run away!" Blake groaned.
"At least you two have something that drives you. I've just kinda of always, gone with the flow, y'know? And that's fine, I mean, that's who I am. But how long can I really do that for? I wanna be a Huntress, not really because I want to be a hero, but because I want the adventure. I want a life where I won't know what tomorrow will bring. And that'll be a good thing. Being a Huntress just happens to line up with that. I'm not like Ruby, she's always wanted to be a Huntress. It's like she said, ever since she was a kid, she'd dreamt about being the heroes in the books. Helping people and saving the day, and never asking for anything else in return. Even when she couldn't fight, she knew that's what she wanted to do. That's why she trained so hard to get where she is today" Yang explained slightly envious.
"Well, she's still just a kid" Weiss pointed out.
"She's only two years younger. We're all kids" Blake added.
"Well, not anymore. I mean, look where we are! In the middle of a warzone and armed to the teeth!" Yang said gesturing around her.
"It's the life we chose" Blake sighed.
"It's a job. We all had this romanticized vision of being a Huntress in our heads! But at the end of the day, it's a job to protect the people! And whatever we want, will have to come second" Weiss explained gaining nods of agreement from them both.
"What about Slade?" Ruby asked sitting up in her bedroll.
"Ruby? I didn't know you were up" Yang said surprised.
"I've been up for awhile, I heard what you guys were talking about" she admitted.
"What did you mean about Slade?" Blake asked curiously.
"You're all talking about the reason you became a Huntress and why you're here today. But what about Slade? Has anyone thought about the fact that he wasn't given a choice?" Ruby asked looking toward him as he shifted his rifle on his lap to accommodate Zwei.
"Didn't he make the decision to come here like everyone else?" Weiss asked confused.
"He made the choice to attend Beacon, not become a Huntsman. That choice was made for him by his parents" Ruby explained lowering her head.
"What do you mean made for him?" Yang asked.
"From what he's told us, his parents forced combat training on him from an early age and even had him design his own weapon at the age of ten. He became a Huntsman because he didn't know how to do anything else when they died" Ruby explained.
"I guess I never thought about it like that" Weiss admitted looking to Slade with a look of remorse.
"I think we should all be grateful for what we do have. We all have parents and family's that love and care for us. We all have dreams we hope to accomplish, and we all have each other. Without us, and Ozpin. What does Slade really have?"
"He'll always have us" Yang concluded confidently "You're right, Ruby. We've taken Slade for granted just as much as anything else. He does so much for us and we never show him any appreciation for it. I think when we get back to Beacon we should do something special just for him" Yang suggested.
"Sounds great" Weiss agreed.
Oobleck while sleeping smiled lightly at their conversation, content with them being the future guardians of Remnant.