Hey everyone, I know that the Volume 1 saga is over for this story, but I just wanted to do one small chapter as a wrap-up for this arc before I move on. Here goes something!
*Beacon Academy, One day after the attack on Vale Harbor*
All around Beacon, there was a ton of buzz about the events that had transpired at the docks. "No way, you have to be joking." An green haired fighter spoke to a female tiger Laguz."
"It's true! My boyfriend's, friend's, girlfriend's sister said he spotted the Radiant Hero out on the Vale Docks late at night." The Laguz explained.
"That can't be. What purpose would the Radiant Hero have?" A blue-haired female Faunus asked her friends.
As the gossip continued to spread, Janaff and Ulki had finally arrived within the campus grounds, where they stood in front of the CCT Tower. "This must be the place where the red-hooded Beorc and her friends are." Janaff commented.
"Indeed, and here is the CCT Tower." Ulki added. "Come Janaff, we must make contact with our king at once."
Janaff rolled his eyes. "After you." He muttered, as they entered the building. "Wow, this building is ginormous!"
"Never underestimate their adaptability." Ulki commented.
The two hawk tribe birds reached the receptionist's desk, as a female representative noticed them. "Excuse me, gentlemen. May I help you?" She addressed them.
"Greetings." Ulki bowed. "We wish to make a call towards Mistral."
"Certainly." She nodded. "If I could just see your scrolls for identification please?" She requested as they pulled out their devices. After a moment, she confirmed their identities while handing back their scrolls. "All right, please head inside the elevator."
They complied as they went through the elevator doors, where they eventually reached their destination. After exiting, they were greeted by another representative. "Hello and welcome to the Beacon Cross Continental Tower. How may I help you?"
"We'd like to make a call to the Kingdom of Phoenicis." Janaff replied.
The rep raised his eyebrows before nodded. "All right then, please head into Terminal 2 and we'll patch you through."
"Thank you." Ulki nodded as they entered the room. After seeing the terminal, they saw their call being connected to Phoenicis.
The monitor displayed King Tibarn examining the screen up close. "Uh... is this thing working?" Tibarn muttered to one of his attendants.
"I believe it is. Look, I can see your aides." A green haired Hawk Laguz pointed.
Tibarn noticed Janaff and Ulki, before composing himself. "Ah, thank you Lotz."
"Greetings, your majesty." Ulki bowed towards his King.
"Yeah, greetings from all the way from Vale!" Janaff added.
Tibarn chuckled. "I was wondering when I would hear from you two." He folded his arms. "All right, let me hear what you've got."
"Yeah, we've got a lot to share with you." Janaff commented.
*Ten minutes later*
The two hawks finished explaining to the Hawk King about how King Naesala and the ravens of Kilvas assisted Torchwick and the White Fang with Dust Robberies, as well as Ike showing up to assist some of the students of Beacon with their battle. "Wow... that sure is a lot to take in." Tibarn muttered, his eyes closed.
"Man, I knew those damn crows are trouble as always!" Janaff clinched his fists.
"Peace, Janaff." Ulki spoke. "What shall we do now, your Majesty?"
Tibarn pondered before coming up with an idea. "Well, seeing as you two are in Beacon, I think the best bet is to find those students that fought with the Radiant Hero, and follow their moves. If we're lucky, they might try and fight against the Ravens again." He folded his arms. "I'll contact the headmaster of the academy to let him know about the two of you. Seeing as Vale and Phoenicis are allied thanks to Ike, I'm sure Ozpin will make things easy for us."
"Understood." The two nodded, as they walked away.
After the call was cut, Tibarn stared blankly at the monitor without having a clue what to do. "Lotz!" While the hawk Laguz scrambled towards his king, they were unaware of a young Heron princess who had eavesdropped on the whole conversation.
Back inside Beacon Academy, the gossip was still spreading like wildfire. As Ruby walked through the hallways, she looked around at all the voices she kept hearing. "Wow, I don't know how rumors get around like that..." While she was walking, she didn't notice that she had bumped into a brown haired cleric, as they both fell. "Oof!" She winced, as she quickly got back up. "Sorry about that, I wasn't paying attention."
"No, that's all right." She spoke, as Ruby helped her up.
The red-head's eyes widened the moment she saw who she collided with. "Hey, aren't you Ike's sister?"
"Yup, my name's Mist." She giggled. "I think Ranulf told me all about you. You're Ruby Rose, correct?"
"Yup, that's me." Ruby replied.
Mist put her hands behind her back, before asking. "Pardon me for asking, but... Did you happen to see Ike at the docks? That's what Ranulf told me."
Ruby sighed, originally hoping to keep it a secret. "Well, seeing as the rumors are out, it's true."
Mist sighed as well. "So, the rumors are true, my brother really is back at Vale." She spoke while looking down.
"Um... Are you okay, Mist?" The scythe wielder asked the cleric.
"Oh, I'm all right." Mist answered. "It's just that, I worry so much about Ike. I know he's more than capable of defending himself, but he's my brother... and the only biological family I have left."
Ruby grew worried from that statement. "What do you mean by that?"
"Our father was a legendary swordsman, his name was Greil."
"Oh yeah, I've heard of him." Ruby spoke.
Mist closed her eyes, before she reminisced. "My brother aspired to be as strong as father, as he constantly trained with him. Even though our father schooled him, Ike never gave up and eventually, he was able to become strong enough to become the strongest huntsman in all of Remnant. Our father was so proud at how much he had accomplished."
The scythe wielder couldn't help but smile at the cleric's memory, before she remembered something. "So, what did happen to Greil?"
Mist frowned before she continued. "Well, it was a long time ago, when Ike first graduated from Beacon. During that time, the mad King's war had taken place, and he and Ike were part of it. One night, I had heard the worst news possible. Greil was killed in battle." She spoke sadly.
Ruby's eyes widened at that statement "W-what?! How did it happen?"
"According to what Ike had seen, he was slain by a large knight in black armour." Mist explained. "He was one of King Ashnard's strongest soldiers, the Black Knight." The scythe-wielder remembered the legends of the Black Knight, and how Ike was able to slay him. "Even though Ike persevered the challenges ahead of him by killing both the Black Knight and Ashnard, it was at the cost of father's life."
"Wait, what about your mother?" Ruby wondered.
Mist shook her head. "Our mother passed away a long time ago, right when I was young. Neither one of us have any memory of what happened to her."
Ruby hung her head down in shame. "Oh, I see. I'm really, really sorry to ask you something so personal."
Mist gave a small smile before waving it off. "It's okay, Ruby. I know that our mother and father are watching over us safely, and that Ike is safe and sound." She sighed. "I just wish I could be as strong as my brother."
"Can I ask who trained you?" Ruby was curious.
"Well, our father's old friend and fight comrade, who was also a former knight of Crimea. She was sort of our guardian in a way, her name is Titania." Mist explained. "She taught me all the basics of combat, but I feel as though it isn't enough. *Sigh* Maybe I don't have what it takes to be a strong fighter..."
After a brief silence, Ruby simply replied with... "Nope!"
Mist looked at her with confusion. "Huh? 'Nope' to what?"
"Nope to that statement." Ruby explained. "Mist, I know you have what it takes to be a strong Huntress, and a great fighter like your father and your brother, Ike. After all, that's why we're here to train in Beacon."
"Ruby..." Mist mouthed quietly.
"Besides, you're never alone. Ike wanted us to tell you that no matter where he is, he's always gonna be around to watch over you. Not only that, but you've got your teammates, Ranulf and Lethe, and if it's any consolation, me." Ruby smiled, as she put a hand over her shoulder. "You've got this."
Mist smiled back. "Thanks, Ruby. That means a lot."
"Ah, I was wondering where you wondered off to." The two girls heard a voice as Ranulf approached them. "Jill and Lethe are waiting for you. C'mon Mist, we've got some training to do."
"Coming, Ranulf!" Mist smiled as she went to retrieve her weapon.
The cat Laguz smirked. "So, did you make a new friend in her I assume?"
Ruby shrugged. "I guess you should say that." She replied, as they chuckled.
"Well, I appreciate you giving Mist a huge boost in confidence, Ruby." Ranulf replied. "You've definitely got leader material in you."
Ruby blushed out of embarrassment. "Aw, shucks..."
That takes care of that. I know this was a short chapter, but I wanted to pace myself very slowly. I know my writing isn't the best, and I really wanna avoid making mistakes here, especially trying to add too many characters. The hardest part about this chapter was trying to know how the CCT Towers in Remnant work. I also included the establishment of the friendship between Ruby and Mist since I didn't get to give Ruby a Tellius pal in Chapter 7, and I can see the two of them getting along really well. Anywho, I'm trying to plot out my ideas for the Volume 2 Saga carefully so that this tale can be an enjoyable experience. Good-bye now!