RWBYond Hope
AN: So it begins, what I am calling the scatter arc. I know many of you have been waiting for this moment since this story began. The next five chapters spell out the most important mission in Summer's life. This is going to be interesting.
Chapter 11: It's Like Chess but for Keeps
Summer had always thought that Tai was a warm person. There was need for no evidence other than how she felt wrapped up in his arms as she woke up this winter morning. Ruby and Yang were standing at the foot of the bed shaking their parents' feet.
"Mom, Dad, it snowed, it snowed!" Yang cheered.
"Yay for snow!" Ruby said as she twirled the cape that Summer had made her for her fifth birthday.
"Can we go out and play?" Yang asked. Summer stirred herself to look out the window. The ground was covered in a blemish free layer of stark ice.
"Let me get up first." Summer said. "You two get some breakfast…and make sure you brush your teeth."
"Ok, mom." Yang said as she led Ruby out of the room. Summer got dressed and walked into the kitchen where she made herself a cup of coffee. After that, she helped Yang and Ruby into their winter clothes and unleashed them upon the perfectly frosted yard.
The two girls instantly ran around making foot prints and snow angels. Yang of course, was the first one to throw a snowball at Ruby. Summer resisted the urge to run out there and cradle Ruby. Her mood was relieved when Ruby got up, smiled, and retaliated.
Summer walked around the living room to watch the children play from the window. That was when she spotted the envelope. It was sitting there, neatly on the sofa right where Summer would usually sit. It wasn't marked with a date or an address. The stamp that sealed the envelope was in the form of some kind of glyph. The only writing on it said, "For Your Eyes Only- Nevermore." Summer decided to open it and look inside. There was a small read piece of paper that said:
"Have you paid your respects to your ancestors lately?
They say those who forget history are doomed to repeat it.
That's why the Wizard still can't burn the Witch.
And why the King of Beats can only be slain by
The Argentware.
-Agent Orange."
Summer's heart skipped a beat as she read the name held by her ancestors. Argentware, the people who first successfully combated the Grimm. She and Ruby were the last ones left of that legendary race of hunters. But who could this be from. Who was Nevermore? Who was Agent Orange? What did it mean by Wizard and Witch?
Summer examined the words again. It asked if she had paid her respects to her ancestors lately. In truth she hadn't. She knew where the tomb of the Argentware was. It was underneath the old barn house on the northern edge of the island. She hadn't gone up there since she caught Raven and Tai up there when they were still dating. To be truthful, she was scarred. It was where her parents' weapons and cloaks had been found tattered.
It wasn't until the tird look that she saw, just barely visible there was a symbol. Summer's eyes traced it. It was a shade lighter than the rest of the paper. It was also made more difficult to see thanks to the words. But Summer was able to make it out.
"Raven." She gasped as her hand went to her mouth. She looked around for any other sign of her friend. She looked outside and watched Yang, keeping careful inventory on any birds in the area. She didn't see anything. But she knew she had to investigate. So over the next few hours, she psyched herself up.
After about two hours the girls were back inside having had their fill of the cold snow for a while. Summer had some hot cocoa waiting for them when they got inside. Tai had gotten up as well. She didn't tell him about the letter, there was no need to get his hopes up.
"Do you want to build a snowman?" Ruby asked Yang.
"Ruby, we just got back inside."
"Not now, but later." Ruby twirled a lock of her hair.
"That's a great idea." Tai said. "I'll even help."
"Yay!" Ruby said. "Mommy, you help too?"
"Sorry sweetie." Summer said. "I have to run into town for something."
"What for?" Tai asked.
"I got a call…I don't know what it's for." She said. "I'll be back in a few hours ok?"
"Sure, I'll watch the girls." Tai said.
Summer was glad they bought the excuse. Although, she prayed they didn't investigate further. The truth was, she was going about as far from town as possible. She passed the Cliffside where Tai had proposed to her. Even if they never had a full blown wedding, they were married. It was important to him that they keep up that standard for their girls.
As soon as she stepped within eyesight of the barn house she was overcome with an emptiness and sadness. So many brave men and women had lost their lives here all those years ago. So many people had disappeared from here since. The local legend was that the place was haunted. But Summer knew better. This place was a natural fuel source for Grimm.
Luckily, Summer had brought her weapon. She made quick work of the Grimm that attacked her as she made her way closer to the barn house. When she finally stepped forth into the structure, she was washed up in an intoxicating feeling. Fear engulfed her, but it wasn't hers. There was something beneath her. Something inside the well that led to the tomb. It was, something, and whatever it was, it was scarred.
Summer eased closer to the well. Maybe this thing wasn't scarred. But it was active. She could hear it slipping around the walls of the caverns below. She grabbed her weapon, ready to jump down there and confront whatever it was and fight it. Then a raven's caw broke her attention towards a collapsed pillar.
"Awfully jumpy aren't we Summer?" The masked woman said. Even though Summer couldn't see her face, there was only one woman with hair that beautiful.
"Raven?" She said. Raven removed her mask.
"It's good to see you again old friend." She said. "I bet you have a lot of…" Summer smacked her across the face and then proceeded to try crushing her in an embrace.
"I'm so glad you're okay." Summer pushed her face into Raven's shoulder. "Where have you been?"
"All over." Raven pushed her back.
"Raven…what's with the mask? Why are we here? Why are you here?"
"The mask is something like a uniform for the group I'm in. I am here to talk to you. We are here because what I've got to say involves the fate of Remnant."
"What are you talking about?"
"Perhaps I should start at the beginning?" Raven said. "Have you ever heard of the term Grimoire?"
"Should I have?"
"Yes and no." Raven put her hand to her forehead. "If Ozpin wasn't such a bull headed, egotistical, self-righteous buffoon he would have told you years ago. Basically…well…there's Grimm that can talk."
"What?" Summer was a little confused. Granted, she never heard of Grimoire. But you would think Grimm being able to talk would be a bigger deal.
"I…look, I can't explain everything. But I am a member of an ancient order called the Arbiters of Truth. We do…many things. One of them is keep these Grimoire in check. Right now, the biggest and most powerful of the Grimoire is returning. And only someone with Silver Eyes can seal him back away."
"So you need my help to defeat this…master Grimoire?"
"He's called King…and yes." Raven answered. "Listen, come back here tomorrow. I'll be here waiting. But you can't tell anyone about this. Not even Tai." Summer nodded her head.
"Yang's fine by the way." Summer said.
"I didn't ask." Raven said as she put the mask back on. "She's your daughter. More than that she's Tai's daughter and Tai is your husband. I knew she'd be alright, not that it's any of my concern."
"Not you concern…she's your daughter."
"Perception is reality. Her reality is that she has a loving mother, sister, uncle and father." Raven noted. "She is not at all my responsibility." Summer held her tongue. She knew there was no arguing her point. After all, this wasn't even a social visit. If not for this thing…this King…Raven probably wouldn't have bothered showing her face around here.
"Argentware." A voice said below.
"I bet you're wondering what that is." Raven said. "Don't worry, Shadow of the Necropolis may be a Grimm, but he's also a coward."
"It…it talked." Summer said. "Is it a Grimoire?"
"No. Not by strictest definitions. It's a Possession Grimm that has taken so many minds that it learned our language. There's no need to worry, it's sealed in there nice and tight." Summer's temper flared.
"Did…is it the one that killed…"
"No." Raven laughed. "Shadow of the Necropolis hasn't killed anything more than a fly in almost a hundred years. Your grandfather did quite the number on it when sealing it. Hell, you could probably go down there and talk to it, it'll grovel at your feet like a beggar. It has a pact with your family now, to guard your tombs until the end of eternity."
"I see." Summer said. "So what do I need to do, after meeting up with you that is?"
"We'll need to meet with Ozpin to get what you'll be sealing King into. But I think you should meet my associates first, so we'll be making a stop in West End."
"West End? That's halfway across the world. Just how long is this going to take?"
"A few days at most. We have a…way of transporting vast distances without a fuss." Raven said. "See you tomorrow." She opened up what looked like a portal with a stroke of her sword. "It was good seeing you again." She said. "Cute kid by the way." She strutted into the portal, leaving Summer out in the snow. She should probably get back, if she had a mission of this importance, she needed to prepare. With Winter Solstice coming up, her family probably wouldn't be too happy to hear that she's leaving.
An: Raven has returned. King, the Grimoire, even the Shadow of the Necropolis (or simply Flask) being name dropped this chapter. Everything is going to change. Those who read RWBYond Vale know who is probably coming next chapter. Agent Orange, which if you haven't pieced it together from the couple of times I've mentioned that name…it's Avarice, I mean, get it? Because he has orange eyes. Please review, follow and favorite.