"GET UP YOU LAZY BUMS!" A shrill whistle interrupted the calm, serene silence of the room. Jaune crashed out of his bed with a loud "oof." He grumbled as he attempted to climb back in bed, he felt an iron grip on his leg, "Nope Nope NOPE." A determined Ruby looked down at him. "Time to get READY!" She cheered.
Slowly each member of the team revealed themselves yawning, still sluggish. "CHOP CHOP PEOPLE! We've got twenty minutes."
Everyone looked at her.
"No way." Blake rolled her head with her eyes.
"Ruby you need to wake us up earlier!" Weiss protested. Yang clamped her mouth shut with her hand, leaning in.
"Don't you ever say that." She whispered angrily at the Schnee. She hesitantly nodded, acknowledging the threat. No one interfered with the blonde brawler's sleep.
Pyrrha couldn't help smile at all of them; it has been such a long time since she saw such carefreeness. It was rather refreshing. Everyone went about their business quickly packing bags and gathering weapons and armor. After a hectic ten minutes, the group was ready.
They ran out of the barracks and towards the stable where the rest of their company was eagerly awaiting. The headmaster in his usual black and green attire, the Seneschals in their battle armor, weapons at the ready.
"Mount up. we have a lot to cover in three days!" Summer reared her horse to face the young newcomers. Everyone sprinted to the stables and mounted their own horses. It had been a very long time since Pyrrha ridden on horseback. She placed a hesitant foot in the stirrup, lifted herself up and swung her leg around the beast.
"OPEN THE GATES!" The gateman shouted as a team of men rushed out gripping a massive crank and started to open the massive oak and iron gates of the mighty fortress of Beacon.
It took about an hour to leave the sprawling complex known as Beacon. The massive three interior walls were in themselves a challenge, but once they were greeted by the lush farm fields of the Kingdom of Vale. As the escort continued down the windy path, they noticed the how open and untamed the wild was known as the continent of Sanus.
Their destination lay with the fertile crescent in the northern reaches of the continent. The caravan followed the dirt path as they stayed ever vigilant for any sign of Grimm. As of now, they were relatively safe from Vampire attacks on such a sunny day.
They continued their trek through forest and plains, passing small farming communities that were walled off. "We're starting to approach Ordained territory." Summer whispered to her daughter. They saw the banner flapping in the small wind. The golden eagle proudly flapping in the middle of a field.
"Where are all the workers?" Pyrrha whispered to Jaune.
*CRACK*
*CRACK*
*CRACK*
Jaune pointed over to a gathering of people in the fields. They surrounded a scaffold where a group of white-cloaked knights whipped three peasants tied to stakes on the ground.
*CRACK*
*CRACK*
*CRACK*
"They're instilling discipline," Jaune whispered back as he watched the knights. The redhead shook her head watching the civilians get whipped. What kind of world was this? This wasn't the Brotherhood that Pyrrha vaguely remembered.
They continued down the path as a group of knights armed with spears blocked their path. One of them, wearing a bull helmet stepped forward. "Toll." He said holding out his hand.
Seneschal Raven sighed as pulled out her katana, pointing it directly at the knight's throat. "You are interrupting the Grandmaster's convoy. If you want to keep your throat intact, I suggest you move." Four more Ordained moved closer, their spears pointing towards them.
The knight stepped closer until the tip of the blade touched his neck. "Go ahead, If I die for my Order, I will receive eternal bliss."
Raven pressed the blade deeper to the point where any more force would have killed him. "Gods, I hate your holier than thou kind. What I would do to-"
Pyrrha watched as the Grandmaster rode up. "Seneschal Branwen, that is enough." The woman immediately withdrew her blade and sheathed in one smooth motion. She reared her horse moved beside the Grandmaster in case of any sign hostility.
"Grandmaster Ozpin." The knight captain acknowledged with a fist over the heart.
"I order you to stand down. Let these farmers work in peace."
The knight captain removed his helmet to reveal young man's face, no older than twenty-five. His well defined square jaw, neatly shaven, putting shame on Qrow and Taiyang. Yet he did not look at the least bit confused. "I'm sorry sir, but I have my orders. If it were outside of Ordained Territory, I would comply."
"Well…" Ozpin nodded understandingly wiping the sweat from his brow from the heat of the sun, "The way I see it, you have two options. You and your men can keep roasting out in the sun and beat these miserable wretches, or you can go inside and enjoy the shade with your men and drink to a hard day's work." He gestured at the peasants who graveled on the ground. "Look at them… I think they know who their superiors are…"
The captain tapped his chin as he looked over to the men who instilling the fear of the Gods into those wretches. "They say you are wise above all your years and I can see why. Tell the men we're done here."
The knights immediately snapped to attention, the cracks of the whips ceased as the men carried their equipment towards the shade of the trees. "We give the road to you, my Lord."
Pyrrha mouth fell slightly, the Grandmaster was able to outwit even these fanatics. His reason was able to overcome blinded devotion. "I can't believe that worked."
"Ozpin is a smart cookie." Ruby trotted up to him. "He's always been a sneaky one, but mom said that he was the best hope for the Brotherhood."
"Then why did he allow these people to grow in strength?" The redhead countered watching the white cloaked knights. The young Thorn Guard didn't have an answer. No one was able to answer that question apparently.
She didn't trust these knights though as they were huddled up in a small corner. Her senses were tingling as if they were up to something.
Meanwhile at the head of the convoy, Raven trotted beside the Grandmaster, "You think they won't interfere?" She asked as scanned the fields. She could see the other knights watching their procession with too much interest in her opinion
"Oh… I know they will interfere. We have until nightfall though. We need to reach the forest, and we'll be safe. Until then, act natural and pretend you know nothing." The Seneschal nodded and relayed the information to Qrow in a hushed whispered, and so on and so on.
"So…. I guess we're expecting a fight…" Jaune gulped his palms started to sweat under his gauntlets.
"Ya got nothing to fear buddy. They won't know what hit them." Yang gave a confident grin.
"Savage," Weiss rolled her eyes.
"Ya know it." She brushed off the comment with a chuckle.
Darkness descended upon the forest, the shattered moon casting an eerie light, amplifying the shadows. He could feel his palms grow increasingly sweaty as he gripped his sword. Through two narrow slits in his helmet, he could see his target. A small encampment with six tents pitched around a small campfire. They could see the shadows move around the lamp lighted tents. The fools. How dare they challenge their holy work. They would be put down like a dog challenging its master.
He looked around to see his detachment encircling the huddle of tents. Altogether, his company made was made up fifty Ordained Knights, the fiercest of all Remnant, the most devoted. He waved them forward.
Slowly he and his men approached quietly until they could hear the crackle of a fire. Right next to him, a knight held a crossbow aimed at the tent. He could see a young girl with long black hair and a pair of cat ears. Abominable faunas….
He gestured to his fellow knight to lend him his crossbow. He ignited the bolt and aimed up towards the closest tent which he could make out a person.
*KATCHINK!*
The fiery bolt flew, tearing away at the light fabric and into the shadow. "KILL THE THE HERETICS!" The captain shouted as he reached for his sword and charged in with the rest of his men.
A great thunder of chainmail wrinkling as fifty heavily armored and armed men charged the tents. Their swords and spears slashed and pierced the tents hoping to cut down the sleeping heretics. The captain stabbed downward to where a sleeping would have laid. He smiled as he felt his sword penetrate something soft. "Rot in the cold pits of hell!" The captain grinned underneath his helmet as he pulled his sword out only to realize that there was no blood.
"Not likely…" A confident voice boasted as a blonde man with bladed bracers dropped to the ground, slamming his fist down on the ground causing a ripple effect that tossed the knights on the ground. Suddenly three people joined him. A tall man with slicked backed black hair landed beside him carrying scythe. A woman large scabbard landed, pulling out a long red pulsating blade that caused an every blood red hue upon the darkness. A white cloaked woman dropped down whirling a chain with as a small grapefruit-sized metal ball on the end. "Winter!" The tall man called out.
The knight looked up to see a woman in a white uniform smirk above them in her hands, a red crystal. She tossed some distances away. An amateur, she missed-
Suddenly a great circular wall of fire bellowed, catching some men on fire who were unfortunate enough to be caught in the torrent of fire. The rest of the company were divided.
He braced his long sword, "No matter the trickery, we will prevail." And charged the small group. They had them outnumbered.
Ozpin sat up on his horse seeing the fire wall. "Is everyone prepared?" All of the Brothers and Sisters inspected their weapons before Ruby spoke for them.
"Aye Grandmaster."
"You may begin the attack then and do be careful."
With that, the knights charged down the hilltop and into the fray dodging trees and roots using the aid of the moonlight to guide their path. Some of the knights who heard the war beasts approach.
"DEFENSIVE LINE!" The Ordained men at arms shouted. The heavily clad soldiers mustered together trying to form a phalanx.
"Weiss!" Ruby called out as she.
The white Ruinknight galloped ahead everyone tossing a blue crystal which landed inches away from the line of pikes that was forming. Upon hitting the ground, large ice spikes shot out of the ground tossing men left and right breaking the wall of deadly steel.
Winter dropped down with her own rapier and distracted them as the rest group joined the fray.
Yang galloped ahead, seeing a soldier scrambling to pull out his long sword. Fate determined that he was too slow as the blonde swung her crow's beak at the helmet and was rewarded with a sickening thunk. The hammer smashed into the bucket helmet as blood poured out of the eye slits and ventilation holes that studded the cheeks. The white-clad ordained soldier crumbled to the ground, his white cloak with black eagle stained with his own blood.
Ruby leaped off of her horse in a cloud of petals and landed amidst three knights as she twirled her scythe.
"Kill the girl!" One of the knights barked as they charged at her. Ruby danced around their lunges, swings and slashed as she probed their defenses. A misplaced foot step allowed for the young rose to hook one of her opponents by the leg. In the blink of an eye, he lost his leg as the collapsed to the ground letting out a cry of sheer agony. Her back was exposed as a sword came swinging down aimed for her back.
"RUBY!" She heard Blake shout out. Just as Ruby turned around, she could see a knight towering over his sword mere inches away from her face. Yet a black chain was wrapped around the blade preventing from falling into its target. Ruby blinked as she quickly whirlwind around with her scythe, bisecting the man, spraying blood all over the girl.
Back in the circle of fire, men were being cut down, cracked open, pummeled to death. The captain gritted his teeth as he entered the fray. How could we have been so easily beaten? We were the chosen ones. They had divine protection
He dropped to his knees as his men were cut down left and right, each one of their souls entering paradise. Yet cut so down at such a young age.
*THWRANG!*
He felt a dull ache in his head before everything went white… and cold.
"Nice shot Summ!" Tai patted the white cloaked Seneschal.
Summer smiled as she gave her chain yank, retrieving the ball from the knight's helmet. "Alright Winter, you can get rid the fire wall."
The clang of swords could be heard on the other side as the leaders started to brace themselves. "Come Win…." Qrow called out.
"Patience is a virtue." She shouted back until a cascade of ice materialized around the fire, extinguishing it with a sickening hiss and clouds of fog and mist. Taiyang knocked on the solid sheet, inspecting it for any structural weakness.
She found a spot that looked promising and wound his fist back before sending crashing into the wall causing it to shatter. The. Seneschals braced themselves for the onslaught only to let their guards lax. The scene before them was impressive… and somewhat disturbing. "Wow…." Qrow smirked, "They did some good work."
"They killed people…" Summer shook her head sadly. "They butchered them…."
"It's war," Raven noted bluntly as she over the broken ice and into the killing forest. "People die."
"And we're supposed to prevent that," Taiyang grunted, shaking his head. "We shouldn't be killing each other, but the damn vampires."
Jaune leaned up against a tree looking at the knights on the ground. Their white cloaks stained with their own blood. He went with the flow of battle, but there was just something horrendous about this…. How easily the table could have turned if they got ahold of them unawares.
*Kachunk!*
Something impacted the tree right above him as he ducked down. A crossbow bolt. He looked up stunned. What he saw was something that terrified. He watched as the lone survivor, a knight on the ground with a crossbow looked up at him through his bucket helmet. The fact that he was able to lift a crossbow with the amount of wounds he suffered was impressive.
Yet his new companion did not take to kindly to this as she put down her small round shield.
He watched as his newest comrade, Pyrrha Nikos, picked up her lance with an almost frenzied look in her eyes jammed it through the helmet as if it were butter being sliced by a warm knife, blood spurting out of the fresh kill. The smell of blood hung in the air only causing her fangs to long into sinking a helpless prey and sapping.
No. She told herself as the sickly sweet smell filled her nostrils. She could feel her palm becoming sweaty… an almost primal hunger for the life essence that seeped on the ground. She pulled out her spear, blood specs flying in the air and landing on her cheeks. She quickly wiped them away, trying to ignore the scent. The former vampire looked over to see the Brotherhood's leaders look over them, two of them readying their weapons as the white-cloaked woman quickly dashed by her side, grabbing her by the hand. "Let's get you out of here." She ushered quickly away from the battlefield.
"Wonder what her problem is…." Weiss watched with suspicion.
"Hey!" Taiyang walked over to younger Brother and Sisters, "Less talking, more policing."
"Sure thing!" Ruby saluted, "Come on guys, we need to prep them for burial."
"Summer. I'm fine…" Pyrrha shook off the woman's grasp as she could feel her fang slowly retract, yet she couldn't break free from the short woman's grip.
She pulled off her white hood to look her right in the eye, no sense of fear. "You might be, but the others aren't especially with. Some of us would cut you down without a second thought if they think you're a threat."
Now it wasn't hard for her to guess which ones. "Winter and Raven." The woman nodded as reached up, rubbing away the specs of blood. "So why aren't you or the others afraid?"
The silver eyed woman pondered that question. "My daughters seem to trust you so I'll trust you." She said so simply. Pyrrha realized that this older Rose was putting a great deal of faith in her. "If there is anything you need, please don't hesitate to ask."
"Yes, ma'am."
"Summer." The woman corrected, "When it's private, just Summer." Pyrrha nodded appreciatively. She now had one ally in the leadership. She noted how Summer's head jerked up slightly as if she caught wind of something. The redhead felt a very slight vibration underneath her armored boot.
As if sharing the same thought, they headed cautiously to where the light thuds were coming from out of the forest. The night covering their path, the shattered moon illuminated their path and that of the rolling hills beyond the forest. "Gods, No…." Pyrrha heard the smaller woman whisper.
Beyond them stretched a large column of soldiers marching only being illuminated by the torches they carried in their hands. Their chain mail glistened in the darkness of the night as their white cloaks shown with a certain fiery hue. "How….?" Summer whispered. "How did they know….?"
Leading the column was a group of heavily armored knights shining in full plate armor carrying the banners of the Ordained, the dreaded Golden Eagle. "When need to go warn the others." At the very head of the column was a massive man.
With Pyrrha's enhanced night vision, she could see the purple silk tunic under the steel breastplate which rested over large steel gray pauldrons. His purple gloves still visible underneath the steel plate arm braces that gripped the reigns of his horse. His legs completely covered in segment steel plates straddled his black ware horse. On top of his head was a full helmet that covered his entire head and neck with a visor slit that extended from one eye to the other. Resting on top of the full metal helmet was a long slender red tassel that came down to his shoulder. The intimidating figure looked like a god of war.
"We need to go. Now." The white-cloaked woman gripped her and practically dragged her only to freeze.
CAAAAAAAAWWWWWWW
The two looked up to make out a black bird flying over the circle.
Jaune held the torch in his hand as the fine body was laid on the funeral pyre. Ozpin had finally arrived, and with a simple nod of the head, Jaune tossed the torch onto the wooden scaffolding.
The flames grew as the wood crackled and popped from the heat. "A shame…." The Grand Marshal whispered as the flames consumed the bodies of the knights.
"It's the least they deserve." Weiss spat venomously as she cleaned her battle skirt, as specs of blood were clearly visible. "They betrayed the brotherhood."
"A life is still a life." Yang countered as she took her bloodied gauntlets off.
Blake rolled her eyes, "Yet these people enslave other humans as well as Faunas? They deserve it." She whispered getting a nod of approval from Weiss.
"Well-said"
"Guys, first thing first." Ruby interrupted as she stood up from a fallen log. "We need to unite humanity before we can save it."
"Ruby is, in fact, is right." The small team turned to be greeted by winter who walked towards them, a cold, almost judging look etched on her face. "We are not going to beat the Vampires back when we are so divided. The Ordained have amassed great wealth and power. If we unite them with our own resources, we might stand a chance.
Meanwhile, Tai managed to get himself cleaned up, "Grandmaster," The old man turned to face the Blonde Seneschal with a raised eyebrow, "Shouldn't we get moving? What if they bring reinforcements."
The old man simply smiled, "Oh, they're already coming. A few hundred." He stated as if it were common knowledge causing Tai to do a double take.
"B-But how do you know?" He turned to face the younger members of the convoy, only to feel a hand on his shoulder. The Grandmaster pointed his cane to a segment of the forests where he could see a man and woman talking in hushed voices.
"Are you sure Qrow?" The woman asked, her black hair blending with the darkness of the forest.
"Yes, Raven, I know what I saw. An entire regiment." The man said as he walked towards the grandmaster.
"Fires preserve us…." The woman whispered as they reached the grandmaster and their fellow Seneschal.
"Sir…" Qrow started before he was interrupted by the Grandmaster with his hand raised.
"I already know. They're already here." Ozpin smiled as he looked behind him towards the sight of torches off in the distance. Before the torches came sprinting Seneschal Rose with Pyrrha, both of which were desperately panting.
"READY UP!" Winter called up, pointing at the torches. Immediately everyone brandished their weapons only to falter at the sight of a thousand torches coming directly at them. They could hand fifty, maybe even a hundred. But a thousand… the sheer numbers would overwhelm them.
Ruby looked out to see the forest become brighter and brighter as the column marched towards her comrades. She gripped her scythe as she could the individual knights, she saw her mother quickly run to her side, her deadly ball and in chain in her hands. Pyrrha and Jaune stepped forward, their shields interlocked.
"You ready?" She heard Jaune ask the red-head.
The girl only nodded as she prepped her own spear as if she was apart of an invisible phalanx.
"Took you long enough." Weiss shot back from the rear as she prepped her own dust vials only to receive a sharp jab from Blake.
"Now isn't the time." Blake hissed.
The knights approached, a column of chain mail-clad knights in their winged helmets, the cloaks flapping behind them, in each of their hands, a tall pike. Leading the column was a beast out of a nightmare.
"Stand down!" Ruby heard her Grandmaster call out. That couldn't have been right. He was telling the Ordained to stand down. Her thinking was corrected when Raven called her name. "Ruby, order them to stand down. Immediately."
Reluctantly, Ruby agreed, "Stand down." She ordered as she lowered her own scythe. Slowly, one by one, everyone followed her orders, Pyrrha being the last to do so. The steel-plated knight on horseback raised hist causing all of the knights to snap to attention with one cohesive metallic snap.
The behemoth trotted up to them on his plated horse. His helmeted eyes looking down at Pyrrha with an almost uncontrolled hatred, before stopping in front of the elderly Grandmaster. Raven and Qrow took each of their leader's side; hand gripped tightly around their own weapons as the other Seneschals Formed a protective triangle around their younger charges.
The armored behemoth dismounted his horse in one fluid motion, landing on the ground with a heavy metallic clank. "Qrow, Raven." The man said in a deep, sharp voice that commanded respect. His eyes were the only thing that showed contempt for the two commanders. He took a heavy step forward, causing Raven and Qrow to shift, ready to brandish their weapons. "Oh come now," One could picture his smug smile behind his helmet. "Even now, I could cut the three of you like carving a cake."
Ozpin stepped forward looking up at the mountain of a man, hand extended. "Malek, your confidence has never faded. It is good to see you again." The friendliness of their nearly froze the Branwen twins who looked at one another in stunned silence.
"Aye." The man snapped to attention giving a brief salute, pounding his fist into his chest before taking the older man's hand. "It's been awhile Ozpin. Though I wish it were under better circumstances."
"Better circumstances?" Raven stepped forward, her focus on trying not to slice this man in half. "Your own soldiers tried to kill us. Tried to kill the Grandmaster of the Brotherhood." She gritted her teeth. "Give me a reason why I shouldn't lop your head off now." Her blade came ever so lightly; it's red hue illuminating the surrounding darkness in a dull blood red light.
The behemoth's hazel eyes looked at the blade then back at the girl. "Raven Branwen… your temperament has not dulled over the years. I don't know what Tai ever saw in you."
The black-haired Seneschal practically snarled as she almost unsheathed her blade, only to be stopped by Ozpin. "We are not looking for a fight Malek. But why are you here."
"We are here to escort you to Elascia. We heard rumors that an attempt might have been made on your well-beings. I see those rumors were well-founded."
"Provide an escort?" Qrow rolled his eyes, "More like cover your own tracks at a failed assassination attempt. It's still three days out from Elascia, how did you know about us? About the attempt. A lot of things don't add up."
Malek looked over at the slender, lanky man, "My, oh my, still inquisitive as always Qrow. We have our own scouts that reported your march."
"To spy on us" Qrow interrupted.
"Enough." Malek boomed causing everyone to tense up. Ruby's team immediately tensed up as they kept one eye on the army of knights and another on their commander. "If we wanted to kill you, I'd have no problem doing it myself. As it stands, the High Council wants a truce with the rest of the Brotherhood. I've come to escort you and to make sure no more of these misunderstandings occur. You can come peacefully, or I'll drag you to Elascia."
"I'd like to see you try." Raven scoffed.
Ozpin cleared his throat. "We'll come peacefully."
A/N
Hi guys! Been awhile. I should apologize a lot stuff came up at the same time. this chapter has been done like 2 months ago but I never got around to editing it. I'm sorry. (Keep in mind, I'm only human and I'm sure I missed some things.)
Let me know what you guys think!
Also (I'm still editing the older chapters.
Thanks,
Lordxsauron