Hey birdies! :) Surprise! Another chapter. I know so soon? :O I managed to knock it out pretty quickly and I hope that doesn't interfere with the quality. Let me know what you think! Thanks for reading!
Quick shoutout to crossargon who has been kind enough to give me his opinion on a regular basis! :D
Disclaimer:RWBY belongs to RoosterTeeth and Monty Oum
Then to the story! :P
Waking up is so dang hard. It feels like climbing out of mud from the bedrock. That's only the beginning too. When I finally manage to open my eyes they feel covered in sand in thier entirety. I can feel all of my body groan as they suddenly decide to become self aware.
I try to look around the room. I'm starting to feel better at a rapid pace which was a good sign. I had really over done it. i could have kept up what I had been doing for a while with the augmented strangth, but that last hit took it out of me.
I look to find some kind of heart monitor to one side. I'm in my own room and there is a window to my left. I can see the hussle and bustle of workers rushing this way and that about their day, the life blood of the medical industry.
I look down at myself. There's a red cloak drapped over my blankets. There isn't anyone in the room. I slowly scoot myself higher up. My muscles argue but obey. They feel better for moving though. That was probably a good sign.
The door opens after a moment. In comes a tired looking Ruby. She is apparently barely awake as she rubs her eyes while she enters and sits down in a chair next to me. It takes her a few moments to notice I'm awake.
"Rai!" she jumps onto me in the bed.
I give her a solid hug "Hey Red. I miss anything while I was on my siesta?"
She slaps my arm which I fake pain to "Jerk. It's because of you that this city isn't overrun and everybody is alright. Ozpin has been crazy busy trying to fix the breach in the wall. I mean, he even called in some full fleged hunters and huntresses to help guard the walls for a while. Are you feeling okay?" she finishes concerned
"Ya I'm good. My body is a little sore from staying idle, but that'll pass."
"Good" she smiles, looking down at the cloak I had put my hands underneath.
We chat about the entire battle yesterday. A lot of it is her reprimanding me for being so risky, but I take it with everything else. She gets a nurse eventually to see if I could check out. The nurse comes in, scans my chart, and then gets a passing doctor to give me a once over. The doctor having doen so, scribbles some things onto the clipboard and leaves without ever saying anything.
Ruby leaves the room as I get changed into some street clothes and get ready to go. I put my usual on and test myself with the movements. I feel okay though so I start to become less worried over my state of health. Maybe I was beginning to have control over that power? Regardless, we check in at the front desk before heading out.
I feel great really. Out in the street, I take the oppurtunity to stretch and enjoy the sunlight. Ruby reaches around from behind and give me a hug from there. She doesn't let go though so I resort to tickling her nose with my tail. She giggles as I grab her hand and we make our way back to school.
The day is quiet, but the edges seem sullied with fear of the recent attack. Its not significant, but was noticeable in the mumbled conversations we passed. I did my best to ignore it though as we walked on towards the now near academy.
The atmosphere at school is much better off than in town as the students are still lively. Some have the excited energy of those that will be finally seeing action. Others are still warm, but they are batterd by battle.
Its the weekend though so I decided to go to the armory. It was time for some adjustments and these were going to be final. I enter and see the old geezer behind the desk. Recognizing me he gives me a grin. I give him specifications for everything that I was wanting. I was severly lacking as pretty much all my gear had been lost in the battle excpet for Retribution. The Devil's words rang through my mind as I told him what I was hoping for.
"Hmmm. Well that should be possible. I can actially give some of that to you now if you be wantin it real hurry like..."
"Appreciate it."
I hand Retribution over the counter. Smiling he takes it back already checking some of the mechanisms and moving parts around as he goes to the back. I feel anxiety at someone messing around with my precious, but I know it needs to be done so I find a spot in one of the nearby chairs and pick up a magazine. Its all about weapons and their weilders. This months cover has Draven Oakshield on the cover. Apparently famous for his favor of brute force he stood proud hands on hips and smiling like the world was his to conquer. I remember Yang saying something about the guy supposidly hitting a ursa for a homerun with nothing more than a branch from a nearby tree that was downed. I though it was a branch at least or was it the tree itself?
I flip idly through the pages not really paying any attention to the thing in particular. About a half hour of doing so and sitting idly the old geezer come back in through the back door. I stand eagerly, ready to see what he has in store.
"Well boyo, I noticed that none of your equipment was exactly versatile so I decided that could do with some changing. Got this design from an old friend of mine..."
Placing his finished product on the counter, I can hardly recognize it.
"What is it?"
It looks like a sword in a sheath, or more specifically like a katana. It's all cool gray steel and is accented with electric blue edges that seem to shift in the light. I scan the weapon in amazement. I had to give the geezer credit as he definitely knew what he was doing if he could make my old weapon into this...
"Well pick her up will ya?"
I oblige grabbing it by the sheath annd pulling the blage loose. I see a catch that can be used at the very top of the sheath and otherwise it pulls free easily. When the blade is free the sheath clicks and becomes Retribution in earnest. It even has a mechanism that lets me shoot while me hand is on the slide. Its really cool looking. Moving on guess work I put the sword into the barrel and it returns to its old sheath form.
"Wow...thanks a ton sir."
"Sir now am I? Think I prefer geezer" he chuckles "Come back anytime boyo!" he says as I leave with a smile new weapon strapped to my hip. The strap could go over my back, but for now I liked it at my hip. I head back to my room and stow it there for safe keeping.
I go back outside, about to go to RWBY's room, but am interrupted. Outside my door is Jaune and he nods as I open the door.
"Hey Rai. Glad you're feeling better! That was some cool stuff you did out there... Anyway! Ozpin said he wanted to see the two of us next chance we had. Free?"
"Sure thing."
"Know what this is about? Kinda came out of the blue for me..."
"Maybe. I don't want to say anything though cause I'm not certain" I say as we walk down the halls
"Well as long as you're sure it won't be bad..." he's nervous.
"Nothing too important probably. Maybe some changes. Change isn't always a bad thing Jaune" I smile
"Well when you have luck as rotten as mine I tend to take all change with a grain of salt."
"Well my luck has been rather stellar lately to have friends like you guys so I'm sure I'll cancel your out." I pat his shoulder
"Hopefully" he chuckles as we reach Ozpin's office.
Knocking we hear an affirmative from inside. We open the door to see Ozpin standing at his desk Glynda beside him with her clipboard behind her back. Waving us in we stand on the other side until he motions for us to take a seat and we do so.
"I am sorry for any trouble caused by our sudden meeting. This is a rather important topic. Rai here already knows a little about what I am to ask of you Jaune, but I believe it is important from now on for you to have someone like him at your side. I mean look at Glynda here. I would lost without her half the time."
She nods in the background as serious as ever.
"So Jaune how do you feel as a leader?"
"Well sir" he starts "It's been going well so far. My team has been great and get along wonderfully. I'm not the best at giving direction, especially in battle, and I think that really hinders me as a leader. I mean you should have seen Rai here at the Battle for the Wall. It was like everything was going just as he wanted."
Ozpin nodded sagely "Well Jaune. I think there is something Rai would like to say in that regard, but before that I will give you my offer. Jaune I want you to become more. A commander and a leader of men."
"What do you mean?" he says confused, so honest
"I want you to lead not only one team, but several. This would mean..."
"Sir! That's impossible! I mean wouldn't Rai be better for that? Even Ruby is a better leader than me!" Jaune protests.
"Jaune can I say something?" I interrupt
Sitting down again he nods.
"Jaune you are right in some regards. There are things you are wrong about though. There is something you have that is entirely unique to you Jaune. Something Ruby and I can never do. Hope, Jaune. The ability to enspire and encourage. Sure Ruby and I can lead when it gets down to the gritty stuff and others have lost their cool, but is that what defines leadership? No. There are times when people need to see someone take charge and be able to believe in them. Jaune. That person is you. Look at Ozpin. I mean, he leads this school and do any students doubt him? Why do you think that is? It's because he is a tried, true, and natural leader and Jaune...I want you to know that I believe in you..."
"Rai..." he's dumbfounded
"Quite" Ozpin nods "Jaune I see the potential in you. All you need to do is take this oppurtunity. So Jaune will you take it? To make this world just a little bit brighter?"
Jaune sits and thinks and thinks...and thinks some more for good measure.
"Sir. Do you really think I can do it?"
"Yes" he replies simply
"Then I will do my best sir. Rai...will you back me up?"
"Sure thing brother" I nod and clasp his shoulder
"Good then. Rai please get team RWBY an lead them to the classroom. Jaune get your team members. I will meet you there for the announcement with Velvet and her team. Dismissed."
We stood and left the room. Jaune takes a big breathe, preparing for the monumental task ahead of them. Secretly I knew that the task was so much bigger than he would ever understand, but I didn't want to disheaten him so early on. The Devil had plans and I knew that with the others I could always stop him in his tracks. The Betrayer was only effective when you didn't see him coming, but I knew he was there and I would tell the others. Eventually...
I stop in my room to grab my new weapon. I throw it over my shoulder. I figured that I better name it. I planned on taking care of it this time around. I thought that Retribution was still a fitting name, but a name for the blade eluded me. It took a moment for me to come up with it and I thought it was fitting in its irony. The katana would be Mercy...
I go to the gal's room and knock on the door. Ruby meets me by peeking through the door with a smile.
"Hey handsome. What's up?" she teases.
I smile "Ozpin has an announcment and wants us in the classroom now. The others in there?"
Yang peeks her head over her sister's. "Ya. What's it about?"
"Its a secret. You'll find out soon enough though..."
"Uggh I hate it when you're secretive because you can actually keep one!" Yang complains back.
The others get ready in quick order and with much fewer questions. I hold Ruby's hand on the way there. I know that she isn't very good with change. Especially considering that she wasn't much of a people person by any stretch of the imagination...
We enter the classroom. Ozpin, Goodwitch and Jaune are at the fore on where the teachers normally have their lessons. All our friends are there with Cardin and his thugs pointedly excluded. A subtle wave tells me to join them at the fore as the others take their seats looking confussed. I set up beside Jaune. I see Blake giving a weird look at my new gear as I wait, but I don't think its all that important.
"Well if that's everybody then let us begin! i want to make a very important announcement in regards to change in leadership. I am pleased to announce that Jaune Arc here will be the new leader. Any questions?"
Almost every hand is raised.
"Ok well lets start with you ..."
"Well sir. What do you mean he's the new 'leader' doesn't he already have a team?"
"Oh I did word that rather poorly. Well you all no longer are seprerated into teams. Now you will all serve under here who will be assisted by . I think that this will do wonders..."
"Wait! That dolt is going to be a leader for all of us?!" Weiss protests.
"Yes . I believe that this will serve to better our students in both cooperation and will also bring some interesting changes to the demographic for the students. This is not protestable as my mind has been made up. Jaune will be choosing one more person to be an assistant besides ."
The others were mulling this over...
"Now for your first mission..." Ozpin turns
"MISSION!?"
So what did you think? Love it, Hate it? Let me know with a review :D Also since I don't think I did a very good job describing his new weapon its essentially the same as Adam's but gray instead of black, and blue instead of red. Also THIS WEAPON WILL BE PERMANENT! I know I have been wishy washy with it so far, but I want to stick with this set up :) Also feel free to PM to let me know what you think. As Always thanks for reading :D
-Raven Righter