A Lesson with the Hatter
Ruby was curled up in the main reading space of the library, the leather love seat was just that right place been hard and soft perfect for snuggling into. Ozpin was practicing with Pumpernickel over in the training yard, yesterday had been enjoyable and after their picnic he had hit the books while she had helped Rosie with charms for the small folk. Today she had finally got to sit down with the Silver Eyed Journal.
She was ecstatic when Absalom had returned it to her this morning stating books in Wonderland basically couldn't be destroyed they simply returned to the library to be sorted and replaced by the caretaker. Other then her and her mother Ruby had never known of other silver eyed beings so it was it's great alphavision when she opened the journal and started reading the entrees.
Wonderland is wonderful, if a bit strange. The journey through the Nevernever to get here was complicated but the Summer Court was happy to accommodate me. For now I shall explore Wonderland!
I guess I left a good impression, I've been invited back into the Nevernever. Titania was most hospitable and for someone so soft spoken she radiates such amazing power. I am very glad that as a Silver Eyes I am accepted as part of her court… and that the Fae haven't taken an active interest in Remnant in near a thousand years. What a mess that would be! Vale is my Kingdom, oh I hope my family is alright I feel bad for leaving them. But I have two brothers, the line of Vale is safe.
Good Gods old and new! I've had to attend a party with the Winter Court today. It is so strange living among the Fae, though the Winter Knight is very handsome. I also learned that he is a Wizard! I can scarcely believe it! It was so very nice to have someone mostly human to talk to again. I dare say we bonded over trying to understand the rules of the Fae Courts. He is so very handsome with hair of shining silver, tall like the Fae. I dare say he had more Fae blood then I do, he's probably the child of a Changling which would probably be why he was chosen as the Winter Knight. What a name too Kalen, meaning warrior, it suits him greatly. I can not wait for the next ball, I danced till I was too exhausted to move. Though Ronald tried to commandeer my attention for most of the night, he is the Summer Knight and I think if it's not too presumptuous of me to say he is trying to court me.
Oh dear, Ronald is trying to court me! Sure he is handsome enough but I feel nothing for him. I think Titania has set him to the task, with the power of my eyes, I believe she wishes to keep me! I must get away from this land of Fae else I become trapped here!
The Winter Knight came to court today, I must say I am happy to see him. Time and time again I have looked for escape but I am no wizard! Small charms, little magics I can perform but creating a 'way' out of here is beyond my power. Tomorrow I must see if I can speak to him, just getting back into Wonderland and out of the Nevernever would be enough for me!
Kalen says he can take me back to Remnant! Oh I so wish to be away from these Fae! I tire of having to watch every word I say for fear of falling under the power of a Fae! Oh Journal I must confess I think I may be falling in love, I know it is just a glamour for now I have no doubt he has great Fae blood. But he is so kind to me and I think he may feel the same way, tomorrow I fly from the Summer Court. Just in time too, for there is to be a party with the White Court of Vampires tomorrow. I dare say my heart can not take any more magic beauties!
Free! I am free from the Summer Court! Titania holds me no longer! Kalen decided to remain on Remnant with me. I know he shall have to return to Mab's side but for now she needs him not. Vale is such a mess, too long I have been gone! The Kingdom is in shambles and my royal family all but gone, Kalen and I will set things right but first we must clear the Grimm so our people no longer live in fear! Then I shall claim the throne as is my birthright, I think Kalen will make a good King.
Oh Journal how did it come to this? War with Mistral and Atlas? Kalen has done a wonderful job protecting the Relic and I am so very glad that the other Kingdoms have forgotten what they even are! All of the Kingdoms burn with war and Grimm, this is so very horrible but dear Journal I have good news as well! I am with child! Kalen was so happy he strutted like a peacock for days! Not even talk of the war could dampen his mood, though I must say I fear for myself and my child. The courts of Winter and Summer have never meant to be joined, yet we have done so. What will our child be? A Wizard? A Silver eyes? Or something new altogether. Honestly journal I wish for a normal mortal child, but with our combined bloodlines I don't see that being likely.
Oh blast it all Journal! The Red Court of Vampires has sided with Mistral! Now Kalen is back in the Nevernever treating with the White Court! Though I have had my ear to the ground and the Jade Court has taken an interest in our side, with luck we shall have an even fight again soon!
The babe grows well but I believe my fears have been justified. My magic fluctuates sometimes I can't even light a candle yet other times I can call lightning down from the sky. I think my child's Wizards blood runs stronger than mine, I have no other explanation for my sudden increase of power.
Oh my love has returned! With both the White and Jade Court in toe! I think it was his carrying of the Relic that swayed them to our side, they know he has the power to use it without burning out. Vacuo, I fear this war will end there and I fear my King will have to use the Relic then.
Dear Journal, I can barely write but the war is over and we have won. All the leaders of the other Kingdoms have kneeled before my Kalen, now the real work begins. They have all gone to Vytal to set down new laws and begin the healing process for all Realms. I hope my love returns soon, my belly grows heavy and I tire easily, oh Journal I fear he will miss the birth.
Dearest Love, I miss you with every fibre of my being, with every rise of the sun. Our children grow fast and I fear the coming years without you. When I returned from the war longing to hold you in my arms I did not expect to be carrying your empty vessel into the Earth, nor the identical cries that came from our children as they lay cradled in their cot. Your people have been kindly to me, teaching me the ways to care for them and soon I will leave this castle, with enough provisions to buy passage and settle quietly, maybe nestled in the neighbouring mountains.
I will raise our children, showing them the love and care as both a father and mother, I will teach them magic if they possess it and how to survive in this world. Only when they are grown will I return to the Nevernever, much as I long to be with you in whatever heaven you exist I must uphold my duty as the Winter Knight. Maybe when the torch has been passed will I be allowed to return to you and when that day comes I pray your arms be open to me so that I may kiss you as I wish to.
Forever Loving,
Kalen.
The journal ended there and with what happened to Ozpin's mother Ruby had a pretty good idea as to what became of the Silver Eyed Queen. She wiped away tears but as quickly as she did more followed in fat rolling drops. The technology had come so far in Remnant in the last century. Women no longer died so often, at least in the Cities, this poor Silver Eyes was not so lucky. She forced herself to go over it again, the Silver Eyes had been able to do small magic, she'd have to ask Emily if she could learn. The Silver eyed wondered just what the Summer and Winter Courts were about. This journal was so short and she felt the need to learn more, in case she ever got trapped in the Nevernever herself. She closed the book and got up and left it on the table. A Sending would put it where it belonged, she needed to go for a walk.
Ruby and Ozpin had a week of peace and quiet, both studying their hearts out and using what time they had outside of that to be in each other company. Ozpin was rapidly coming into his own as a Battle Mage, while Ruby was learning about alchemy and charms. Evenings were spent cuddling before a fire with a book or two, or just talking. Ruby couldn't help the little flutter in her chest whenever she looked upon Oz and the small smile he gave whenever he looked at her spoke volumes as well. Though neither had been brave enough to voice the emotion binding them together.
The destruction of their peace came in the form of the Hatter, thankfully they both had been otherwise engaged by each other and hadn't been forced to greet him. It wasn't long before they we're disturbed by a departing Cheshire who floated through their opened window. Almost silently if not for the soft growling that rumbled deep in his throat.
"What do you think 'that' was about, I've never seen Cheshire so angry before?" Ruby left her perch on Ozpin's lap to shut the window the large cat had left open, the rain had returned again and the draft was enough to make her shiver in the otherwise heated room.
"I'm not sure but whatever it is couldn't possibly be good." Ozpin stood behind Ruby and shut the latch over her hands brushing his thumb across her knuckles. The sun appeared rather low in the sky making it somewhere in the late afternoon. "I have a training session with Pumpernickel, will you be alright alone?"
"Sure, I'll just head down and see if Rosie needs any help." Ruby straightened the skirts of her long gown. Sadly she couldn't wear her own clothes everyday so she had picked a more slender gown for today. Wine red in color, its velvety fabric was warm for the cooling days and was encrusted with white pearls that splayed from her hip across the chest region and down to her knees, the high circlet collar and mid sleeves kept her mostly covered. The Sendings has braided the sides of her bangs around the crown of her head and added a few tiny white flowers.
"Okay, I'll see you at dinner." Oz opened the door leading out and paused, turning on his heel he walked back over to Ruby and lifted her chin pressing a kiss to her lips. It was short but sweet and he smiled at the reddening cheeks before departing.
Ruby walked around the room for a moment in a daze, smiling like a loon fingers brushing her lips still able to feel Oz's taste on hers. She returned to her chair and picked up another book, fauna and flora of Wonderland and settled down to read for a little while longer then she'd go see Rosie.
Within half an hour a sudden crash from outside the door had her jumping out of her trance in time to see a body pass the doorway. Concerned Ruby investigated only to discover a head with tuffs of ginger hair and dual colored eyes staring back at her.
"Why hello Miss Rose, such a pleasure to see you again." Hatter removed his hat from his messy head and dropped into a mockingly low bow, before Ruby could respond he was stood straight again and his sickly pale hands held hers tightly shaking them up and down.
Ruby assumed this was his idea of a handshake and quickly freed herself, "It's nice to see you Hatter, may I ask why you are here?"
"Why? Why are any of us here Miss Rose?" Hatter squinted at the young woman his eyes a bright green, when she didn't respond he threw his arms out wide knocking over a nearby vase, Ruby grabbed it before it fell onto the floor and quickly replaced it back onto its table. "I am here to read of course."
"Read? Of course?" Ruby cleared her throat and checked the corridor, such a time for no Sendings to be around. "Well this is the wrong wing to use if you're heading to the library."
"Ah! I understand, I must have gotten turned around, would you mind walking with me?" Hatter held his arm out as if it was perfectly natural to him. Personally Ruby wanted little to do with the Hatter, his behaviour was odd to say the least and his mood swings appeared rather violent if the last time they met was any indication. Still it was polite and his mood seemed positive so she could help him back on his way.
"Of course Hatter." Linking her arm through his she walked the Hatter back up the way they came, the two walked in silence until they rounded the next corner.
"So Miss Rose, how have you been?" Hatter sounded as if he really was sincere in his inquiries but Ruby was a little more cautious.
"Things have been going very well, I am learning some small charms and Ozpin, well he is improving." Ruby left it at that, to her mind Hatter was not one who inspired trust and she wanted to say little to him about Ozpin.
"I heard about the little tuffle he had with William and I must say it appears he did very well, William wasn't unimpressed by the talent Ozpin showed him." Hatter leaned down slightly lowering his voice. "What about your involvement with young Ozpin?"
Ruby blushed slightly thinking back on that last kiss he gave her before leaving earlier. "Good."
Hatter slapped his knee and exclaimed. "Ha! That is all you've to say! Good? Makes it sound as though he is a bumbling boy with fish lips."
Ruby furious let go of the Hatters arm, "He most certainly is not! He is a much more attractive person and a far better kisses then any other I've had."
Hatter patted the wall and giggled insanely, "That doesn't prove much but perhaps you could provide some evidence on the matter." Hatter wiggled his bushy orange eyebrows. Ruby refused to let his words get to her and she carried on down the corridor giving a small smile when she heard the Hatter complain about her abandoning him and quickly ran down to catch up with the Silver eyed woman.
The rest of their journey was made in silence and when Ruby pushed open the heavy doors to the Grand Library she faced the Mad Hatter. "Good day to you Hatter."
"You know, even if you destroy the creatures of Grimm, you're bound to Wonderland, you won't be leaving the same as when you came." The voice was quiet and somber, so unlike the Hatter she had come to know little about.
Ruby went back to the Hatter, his smile was sad and his eyes clear, maybe the most she had ever seen. "No adventure finishes with people being the same as they were when they started Hatter, it's called progress. Enjoy your stay." When she turned to leave again a gnarled hand gripped the collar of her dress halting any movement.
Hatter's eyes burned, the bright green iris melted away into a shade of orange that matched his tatty hair. "Some never change Miss Rose, some are incapable of change, of progress, it scares them. Change is both impossible and inevitable." His voice was dark with anger.
"That is your opinion Hatter, I have mine, please enjoy your reading." Ruby tried again to free her arm, this was becoming a problem and she didn't want to call for help incase she really needed it. "Go read your book Hatter."
Hatter's eyes cooled back into their normal green sheen and he shrugged. "Oh well I would love to do that Miss rose but regrettable I can't read." His smile returned as he pulled her inside the library and round to a section of fairy tales she hadn't gotten round to.
"Then why did you come here Hatter, to a library of all places?" Ruby finally had enough and pulled away from the Hatters hand, unfortunately the collar of her dress ripped slightly and she grimaced
Hatter ignored the sound of fabric ripping and picked a book seemingly by random from the bookshelf. "You should read this, I would ask you read it while I'm here but sadly." He raised a broken pocket watch from his pocket and tapped it with a corner of the book. "I'm late for tea." Returning the watch to his pocket he passed the book onto a still annoyed Ruby and sauntered out of the library, closing the heavy doors behind him.
Ruby wasn't sure whether to go after him or not, he was a strange individual and something about his mannerisms bothered her. The maiden turned the book over in her hands and read the title her eyebrows knotted in confusion. "Fairy Godmother by Mercedes Lackey, what a strange name."
Ozpin and Pumpernickel stood ten steps apart, the Brownie was holding a white half sphere of energy while Ozpin rained spell down upon it. The young wizard was practicing using envocation and gestural magic together. His spells were often still wild and uncontrolled as he often put far too much power into the spell for the effect he wanted, but adding a few little gestures helped his aim. Around his left wrist was a bracelet made up of little silver medieval kite shields, it helped him create a shield when coupled with the appropriate envocation.
Yes Ozpin was very wild as a mage, all power no finess. The goal of this one sided exercise was to help to improve that control. Pumpernickel would dispel any spell gone wrong, and Oz got to practice over and over making little adjustments to all the factors of the spell. He found that the wariness of being Headmaster had disappeared in Wonderland, he felt and acted near twenty years younger. Now reflecting the physical maturity of a Wizard his age rather than a mere mortal. His back was healing rapidly and well, the cream doing the trick and he suspected that Ruby had a touch of magic about her as well. Something that like with himself was growing the longer she spend in Wonderland, a land much closer then Remnant to the Nevernever from which all magic came. They would be able to leave for the Red Queen in perhaps another week at the rate he was healing.
The downside to this agreement was that Pumpernickel was truly only defensive, so while Ozpin could hown his offense his defencive skills were at a stand still. The shield bracelet helped but only so much.
The Hatter skipped into the sandy training yard, he could feel the magic in the air. Where there once was silence surrounding Ozpin, now he radiated magic. William had done something now whatever wall had been there before was gone. Hatter could feel it fill the whole courtyard, he raised a brow. Oh yes Ozpin had power of that there was no doubt.
William had stopped by him on the way back to Dragonstone, he need to check on the Jabberwocky. The crotchety man had apparently accomplished his goal and was now giving the young pair space. Who would have thought that pushing just a little would get Ozpin to move so much, his magic covered the little Silver Eyes. Though her aura still screamed maiden, which was frustrating, but they were still so young. William could afford to be a little patient.
"Having fun Ozzy boy?" Hatter came up to the pair and nodded at the Brownie. "Pumpernickel."
"Hatter." Pumpernickel gave a sharp nod. "What brings you here? Last I checked you couldn't read."
"There something wrong with wanting to catch up with old friends?" Hatter pulled a line of thick thread from his tattered coat pocket, it was very long near half a meter with the occasional knot in it. He looped it around his left hand.
"No but you aren't and we both know that is not what you're here for." Pumpernickel said, the gruff old Brownie had little patience for the madness that was Terrence Hatter. He eyed the string warily, he knew where Hatter's talent lay.
"Oh! That's right, dear William stopped by on the way back to his castle. Mentioned that Ozzy here does have magic, can you blame me for wanting to see for myself?" Hatter smirked turning his attention to Ozpin
The silver haired man shifted his weight so his left side was forward and called up the power for a shielding spell. He remembered the Hatter very well and didn't like this at all. He was thankfully wearing his clothes from Remnant though minus his coat, it was his best practice gear.
"Hmm." Pumpernickel didn't like this but Ozpin did need another sparring partner. "You okay with this lad?" He asked the Wizard, Ozpin nodded and Pumpernickel walked to the side so he wouldn't get caught in any crossfire.
Terrence unwound the string and held it loosely between his hands. Ozpin was larger then him and he had a feeling very fast, "Ready when the kid is."
Oz couldn't help but growl softly at that, being called a child really was getting tiresome.
Pumpernickel looked between the two and nodded. "Begin!" He walked back rapidly.
The Hatter snapped his string tight a sonic shock wave, radiated through the air. Even as it did he began tying a small knot in the string.
"Defendarius!" Ozpin roared throwing his left hand out, a little bracelet of medieval shields around his wrist glowed blue as a blue sphere of energy formed around him. He grit his teeth feeding energy into the spell, the spell of Hatter's was continuous rather than all at once so he had to maintain the shield. He stabbed out towards his opponent with his right hand fingers spread and dropped his shield shouting at the same moment "Fuego!"
A column of wild fire blasted forth from the wizard's hand, racing towards the Hatter burning the air between them. Terrence dodged to the side, finishing his knot he yanked it tight.
Oz turned to pursue him but found himself rooted in place, he glanced down at his feet and found the sand and crawled up his calves and was holding him in place. He saw Terrence start another knot with those quick fingers. He need to distract the other man, give him time to figure out how to free his legs. He raised his hands and called on his power and the wish to win the fiery emotion. "VENTAS SERVITAS!" His voice boomed as he poured power into the spell forsaking control for area of effect.
A GALE roared out around him, with Oz at the eye of the storm. It picked up sand as it swept up around him obscuring him from sight. Both Pumpernickel and Terrance had to generate shields to keep the sand from ripping them apart.
Ozpin focused his attention to his legs, trying to feel out Hatter's spell it wasn't very powerful but it was perfectly cast. He wove his own power through the spell and whispered, "Finitas." Pushing his will through the spell till it broke and the sand crumbled.
Unfortunately for him the Hatter was a much quicker caster, while Oz had been trying to figure out the spell he had tied two knots and set a noose for a third. From within the safety of his shield he snapped his knots tight.
"ACK!" Ozpin howled as his left foot was suddenly yanked out from under him leaving him suspending in mid air.
"Give up yet kiddo?" Terrance smiled his fingers dancing over his string, he spun a line around his index finger yanking it tight then hooking the noose with the same finger and pulling it tight.
Ozpin's storm slowed to a crawl and dread welled up in the wizard, he didn't like where this was going at all. He glanced up at his foot but saw no spell. Frustrated he forced energy through the area and bit his lip in pain when the spell broke but also cut into his heel. He fell to the ground with an undignified THUMP, he rolled over and forced himself to his feet. Raising his hands in unison and lessening the power to the storm spell.
The Hatter's smile flickered as Ozpin turned both hands inwards tightening the grip of fingers. He seized his spell and lowered his right hand, keeping it tense and clawed.
The sand condensed into a cyclone, "Ventas cyclis." he hissed focusing his pain into the spell. Then set it billowing after his enemy, in a torrent of sand and wind.
Hatter with a look of shock began running around, his hands in the air trying to flee Oz's storm spell. Oz's mouth turned up at the corners but when he tried adding speed to his storm the tornado stopped, Hatter's frantic running slowed until he came to a halt and turned, facing the wizard, his face a mask of amusement as he put a single digit to his mouth and whispered.
Within seconds the storm Oz had called up was turned round and bound straight into his own direction, Hatter used one finger to direct the cyclone of sand and debris, the young man's spells we're far too easy to hijack and control. It was like Oz was using the energy to cast but then passing the spell over to his opponent with both hands. Terrence waited until Ozpin grew tired of dodging the cyclone and let it surround him, within moments the spell was brought down and the two men faced each other again, Hatter spun his string laughing while Ozpin was noticeably panting for breath, he burned with rage, he hadn't been able to land a single spell on the Hatter.
"What do you get out of this Hatter! Satisfaction?" Oz growled, his voice carried over the yard and the Hatter smiled
"Ozzy's a child!" Hatter taunted the younger man his voice sing songed the words hoping to get a rise out of him.
The silver haired man gritted his teeth, the Hatter had obviously been playing with him for the get go and using his own spells against him really ground his pride. "FUEGO!" In anger Oz threw up his hands and pushed a wall of fire at the laughing loon only for it to battered away by the wind Hatter spun with his knotted threads.
"And that! Is why you're nothing more then a child wielding a stub of a stick around," Hatter pulled the string tighter and spun it in small circular motions, the air in the training yard picked up forcing Oz's fire back towards him. Ozpin had little choice but to snub his fire spell out, not being able to move the offensive forward as it was being backfired on himself. He tried to grab at the wind with his hands but it whipped through him faster and stronger than thought possible.
Hatter took slow steps forward, the effort of his talent seemed whimsical at most but his eyes glowed with anger, "You forsaken, dew-beater, skelpie-limmer fopdoodle! You owe a debt to Wonderland and to your father! You snub your heritage and your duty for what!" The ginger mass on his head seem to stick up like lightning and he swung the string like a heavy whip at Oz rolled to the side but was not quick enough and felt the sting on his ear where the Hatter's attack scored the skin, a small amount of blood oozed.
Ozpin tried to gather the winds again but Hatter seemed to control them without effort and he was defenseless to protect himself from the onslaught. If his shields couldn't be used to defend him then. "Forzare!" Maybe he could use them to push the Hatter back, a wall of kinetic force swept across the training yard, the Hatter had little choice but to move out of the way and the shield orb dissipated besides him.
Ozpin stood tall and felt the magic crackle up and down his arms. "For a life of my own, one of my choosing. For a peace Remnant deserves, one I didn't have before!" Oz forced himself to stand in the winds and concentrated, if he couldn't use the fire maybe there was another way. He pursed his lips and said, "Defendarius." using his frustration to power the shield.
The shield protected him from the lashing wind and Oz started to move slowly forward towards the Hatter. Hatter turned his attentions to the shield. "Very clever Ozzy but a shield like that will only protect you from kinetic force." With another flick of his wrist he whipped the string tight and a flash of heat burned Oz's wrist, melting the clasp of the bracelet and it fell from onto the sandy ground. The heat burned into his skin as the shield faded from around him.
Hatter snapped his string out and it wrapped tight around Oz's wrist, the silver haired man pulled back against it and was shocked when the Hatter pulled him forward. "Your have to do better then that Ozzy boy."
Ozpin planted his feet and pulled back against the string, even as Hatter dragged him forward. His back lit up with pain and his wrist was starting to bleed. The struggles from the young man amused Terrence, he was already so focused on trying to get the one hand free he'd forgotten he could still cast with the other.
When Oz was within range Terrence kick straight into his diagram and released Oz's wrist in the same moment. Oz soared backward through the air with more force than someone of the Hatter's stature should have been able to muster.
Ozpin tumbling down before Brownie who stood by the sidelines and groaned. He pressed a hand to his chest and pushed himself upright, slowly getting up with a stagger.
"Not only are you not healed enough to fight against me, as weak as I am but you're also not wise enough to pick your battles, William would have a field day with you if he really let loose." The Mad Hatter clapped his hands in glee his eyes going unfocused as his mind wandered. "It would be much like watching a child play with a rag doll." He started laughing uncontrollably, holding his stomach and giggling.
Oz already tired from his magic exhaustion could feel the dregs of his stamina failing him. It became very clear to him that using offensive magic over and over in force and strength had drained him considerably. When he thought about it really was this any different then when a student focused on only one element of their training. Yeh sure they excelled in one point but then the rest became weaknesses that we're easy to exploit.
When he lifted his head again he was face to face with mad green eyes. "Tell me Ozpin, why is a Raven like a writing desk?"
Oz gave no answer just simply stared the man down. Pumpernickel walked over kicked Hatter in the shin. "That's enough, get outta ere Terrence an take your damn knots wit ya. The boy's a right to choose his own life an not you nor William will change that."
Terrence rubbed his sore shin and growled at the Brownie. "Pesky little tallow catch, one of these days the Jabberwocky will be free and when that days comes all of Wonderland will be fighting for Ozzy to return to Dragonstone Castle." He turned those crazy eyes back at Ozpin, "When that days comes, I will be waiting in line to knock some madness into your head."
Ozpin grinned and rubbed at his growing headache. "I think you've already done that."
"Well we shall see won't we?" Hatter turned on his heel if his walk was a bit wobbly no one commented on it instead Ozpin and Pumpernickel watched as he retreated back inside the castle where he turned round and lifted one finger to his lips as if to shush them before disappearing into the darkened room.
"Oww." The tall man pressed a hand to his chest, he could practically feel the bruise forming.
Pumpernickel huffed and grabbed Ozpin's bleeding wrist. "That was a dirty trick that was, there are flaws to all shields but he knew you were a student. He shouldn't have been so rough and it was Terrence that started it." He wove a little healing spell over it, just enough to slow the blood loss.
Oz's hissed and was forced to stoop as the Brownie studied his wrist. "Get your bracelet lad, we'll fix up your wrist then it." He let go of Ozpin's wrist and headed off to his workshop.
Oz gathered the shield bracelet from where it lay and jogged after the Brownie to catch up, holding his wrist tight to reduce the blood flow.
Pumpernickel's workspace on the outside appeared to be an old shed, with a rickety door and thatched roof. As soon as Ozpin stepped over the threshold he found it was quite the opposite within. Firstly it was large enough that he could stand comfortably without fear of whacking his head, though it was a close thing. The space itself was about ten meters long and four wide. Secondly it was very tidy, with a huge window reaching from one side to the other. Under the window were small potted plants, a few Oz recognised like Aloe vera but most he did not. A table was covered in alchemy equipment, mortar and pestle, alembic, calcinator and retort.
"Sit." The old Brownie nodded at one of two stools before the table and Ozpin sat, still holding his wrist tightly. His shield bracelet still held between his pinky and ring finger, he had only just made it, it hurt that it had already been broken. Oz watched Pumpernickel bustle about, picking from the plants or pulling something from one of many cupboards. He got a bottle of vodka a small wash basin filled with clean water and a clean cloth, setting them to the side before rushing off again.
Swiftly the Brownie came over and put a few of the items into the mortar and pestle with a liquid that smelled very pungent but not something Ozpin could identify. He mashed them into a thick paste but didn't use the other equipment as he was in a hurry. "Wrist lad."
Oz offered his wrist and let the bracelet down on the table, trying to ignore the blood that had dripped onto it.
Pumpernickel grabbed the wounded limb again and studied the cut. "The vodka's for you." He dabbed the cloth in the water and started to clean the cut.
Ozpin didn't need telling twice, he pulled the cork out with his teeth and set it on the table before taking a long swing. The Brownie was not gentle as he pulled the wound open to clean out the sand. He drank till he was pleasantly numbed only stopping to breath, it helped ease his back as well.
"Hmm." Pumpernickel turned his wrist over and frowned. "This needs stitches." He pulled out a small wooden bowl from under the table, setting it on the table with a dull clunk. "Pour some in there lad."
Oz sighed but did as he was told, waste of good vodka he thought and took another draft himself. "Oh joy more stitches."
The Brownie came back with a curved needle and thread he set both into the vodka bowl and kicked another bowl between them. Oz offered his hand again and hissed when Pumpernickel started to dribble the alcoholic beverage over the wound. "Quit whining lad, I swear that Aura you have in Remnant turns you soft." He offered the glass bottle back and Ozpin took another drink.
"Easy for you to say, you don't have your wrist cut open. It's sheer dumb luck that I'm not bleeding out." He didn't fancy looking at the cut vein.
"Na, I wove a little spell over it in the field. That's why you're not bleeding out." The Brownie started stitching and Ozpin feel silent save a few hisses and working his way through the bottle of vodka.
After he was done stitching he covered the cut in the healing paste, wove another spell over it and bound it tight in clean bandages. "May as well do your back while you're here boy."
With some difficulty as now both of his sides had something wrong with them, Oz shuffled out of his shirt and turned his back to Pumpernickel. He felt the Brownie removed the sticky bandages and took another long swallow of vodka. He really missed his Aura, his school, his friends and home.
Pumpernickel studied the claw marks, they were much better the he thought they would be. The cream he had made seemed to be really doing the trick. The skin had healed together mostly and the stitches could come out. He picked up a silver knife and cleaned it in the water then vodka bowls. "I'm gonna take your stitches out lad."
Fatigue was catching up with Oz now, being still and the alcohol doing its work well. He didn't even flinch as the stitches were cut and carefully pulled out of his back.
Pumpernickel found the lads's silence unsettling, he was used to seeing determination on the boy's features but this was a different kind of quiet. "Missing home laddy?"
Oz nodded and took another drink, he wasn't feel talkative right now. The skin of his back pulled as the stitches were removed and he could feel little trails of blood ooze down his back.
"You'll get there, you're very like your mother, you'll find a way." While the Brownies tone was gruff his words were kind.
"Tell me about her?" Ozpin asked, the family book had no picture of her.
Pumpernickel sighed softly but started to speak as he worked. "Lily was a kindly spirited young woman when she lived here. To tell the truth she was born Cirilla Lily Valen, but rather than face the odd looks that came from not being named after a flower she chose to be called Lily in Remnant though her she usually went by Ciri. At least informally with me and a few Greater Fae. She had ashen white hair, a little paler then yours and was very slight. She was perhaps a little taller then you're Ruby but had fewer womanly curves. She had eyes of the most vivid green imaginable." He paused and cleaned the blood from Oz's back. "Her magic and Semblance were interwoven. If she could visualize a place she could travel there, teleport, her Semblance was a short range teleportation taking the form of a green blurr. Emily had a theory she was actually sliding between two dimensions. What's your Semblance boy?"
"I can slow or stop time within a sphere of influence, to those outside it looks like I just appear in a new place. To me time has stopped everyone stuck in the moment I activated it, I can then move at a regular speed or enhanced by my Aura within it." Ozpin used his Semblance sparingly, it was his tool of last resort.
"So you've your own form of teleport, interesting that." Pumpernickel mused.
"Why'd my mother leave here?" Ozpin asked.
"She got it in her head that William was gonna replace her with some red haired young las. Said she saw it in some mirror and broke it in her fury. Rather than listen to whatever William had to say she fled back into Remnant and very heavily pregnant too." The Brownie shook his head. "William raged for months into years, it was hard to tell if he was more upset about losing you or her."
Oz shivered, remembering how forward William had been to Ruby. "That's not happening."
Pumpernickel smiled. "Welp you should be able to leave tomorrow I'd say. So long as no trouble befalls you, its only a three day ride to the Red Queen's Castle, your back will hold for that." He started applying new cream to the wounds. "The sooner to find and start killing Grimm, the doorway can be found and shut. The sooner you can go home."
"Pumpernickel, if Hatter is so strong in magic. Why doesn't he slay the Grimm? I understand William has to contain the Jabberwocky, but what stops Hatter?" Ozpin asked relaxing as the cream numbed his wounds.
"Numbers and time, the Hatter is most gifted on the battlefield as a broad strokes mage. When he has time to prepare a spell he is devastating, but in skirmishes? He's more of a hindrance than a help." Pumpernickel said.
"He sure kicked my behind." Ozpin said and lifted his arms so Pumpernickel could start bandaging his back again.
"You've barely had a week of study, he's got several centuries behind him. It would be very odd if you had won." The Brownie tied the bandages tight.
"Does everyone here live long lives?" Ozpin asked.
"Compared to Remnant? Yes. Time flows at around double the rate here sometimes treble as it does there. The magic of Wonderland is much stronger and leaks into all aspects of time, as we are much closer to the Nevernever then Remnant." Pumpernickel started cleaning up.
Oz's brain stalled over that information, they had already been missing from Beacon for a few days?! What was happening back home? How was the school being managed in his absence? Then there was the Vytal tournament! It was only a month away! If Salem was going to make a move it would happen then, he shuddered at the thought of Ironwood's armies running unchecked around Vale.
Pumpernickel boxed his ear just hard enough for it to break Oz out of his train of thought. "Calm lad, fretting will only distract ya from the task at hand. Make you take even longer with it, now go see the lassy, she never fails to cheer you up."
Ozpin thought this very wise advice, he grabbed his shield bracelet and said his farewells before heading to the kitchen he was tired and hungry. Maybe Emily would let them have cookies and tea before dinner, he couldn't help but hope.