Chapter Twelve - Return To Beacon

Ruby was on edge, her uncle Qrow had got a communication from the Azerothians that they were on their way back but had then pulled both Oscar and her father aside to talk. There had been some loud remonstrations from the room that they'd gone to and then they'd all come here, to the new portal room at Patch Academy to wait. Yang stood with her with the rest of Team RWBY behind them. Team JNR was off to one side with Raven. Qrow stood with her father and Oscar and the youngsters could feel the tension between them but none of them understood it.

Kashaahri appeared first and then stepped away from the portal zone, her eyes scanning the area for threats. Following her came the other Draenei and then the mage and then someone of short stature, wearing a white cloak. Kashaahri spoke up "I introduce the Summer Maiden." She was looking at Ruby as she spoke "Your mother."

Ruby felt the pit of her stomach drop, her eyes widen as the white hood dropped back "Mom?" then the two came together in a spray of red and white petals. "I've missed you."

"I've missed you too." While still holding tight Summer looked up and around "Yang?"

Yang stood, stunned for a second but then, she too, ran forward to hug the only mother she'd truly known "Mom."

The three of them stood quiet in the embrace for a while before Summer withdrew, tears in her eyes "We've got so much to talk about." Then she turned "Tai, I…"

Tai stood there, shock, anger and hurt crossing his face as she came to stand before him "Why?"

"I had to, to protect the family. You know what happens to Maidens when they're found out."

"I…" They stood like that for several seconds, just looking at each other, not saying anything.

"Sheesh, just kiss and make up already." Said Raven "You know you're going to anyway and we have work to do and not a lot of light left to do it in."

The two long lost lovers looked at Raven and then back to each other, cheeks colouring, smiled shyly and hugged "We have much to talk about." Said Tai

"We do." Said Summer "But Raven's right, we need to finish this and then we'll have all our lives to talk about it."

—

They stood upon the landing apron at Beacon watching as grimm walked about the grounds.

"They seem to be looking for something." Said Kashaahri

"Most likely the Relic." Said Ozpin "Cinder probably managed to open the gate to its storage but wouldn't have been able to find it there as its also hidden behind my magic."

"But isn't it all your magic?" asked Blake

"Yes, but when I gave my power to the Maidens I made each different, with different abilities inherent within them. These differences were integral to the gateways which is why each gate required a specific Maiden. My magic, even the depleted magic that I had after I created the Maiden powers, doesn't have those limitations and so I was able to enter the gate here and create another hide for the Relic within the gate. That hide is more complex and keyed specifically to me. Even Salem, who's an accomplished mage herself, would not be able to find it if she came here."

"We're going to have to split up." Said Elanna "We need to clear all the grimm from around here and that large one is about ready to break out from it's stone prison."

"Aye." Said Kashaahri "That big one will be for us to deal with." She looked to Ozpin "And you?"

"Yes, you'll need me to take you to the lower levels once it's dealt with."

"Where is the gateway?" asked Yang

"In the halls beneath the academy. Jaune knows the way."

"Good." Said Kashaahri "We'll move towards the tower, grab the big one and bring it down in that large square over there. RBY, JNR and STRQ spread out and take care of the other grimm wandering around. Remember that Jaune can heal so if you're injured find him. Once you've finished clearing the area join up in the front hall and head down, clearing as you go. We'll meet you down there once we've dealt with the big one."

"I can heal as well." Everyone looked to Summer and she shrugged "Part of the Maiden powers." She paused, a thoughtful look on her face "Will I be able to heal after I've given these powers back?"

"Probably." Said Raven "I've still got similar capabilities to what I had as the Spring Maiden. What the Azerothians are calling a Fire Mage."

"Something to be discussed when we get to Shade Academy." Said Kashaahri "For now, let's finish here."

They all nodded and headed off to their assigned tasks.

—

As the three teams from Remnant left Kashaahri turned to Ozpin "Is there anything you know about that big bird? What capabilities that it has?"

"Not much, I'm afraid. It came out of the mountain, shattering it, so we have to assume that it's strong. It drops eggs as it flies that spawn more grimm. I don't know if it does that when it's on the ground or not or when its fighting. We didn't get to fight it during the attack on Vale."

"Ok then." Kashaahri considered "I'll pull it down into the square and drag it towards the cliff then I'll turn it left so that it's facing that building over there. The rest of you come in from behind and hit it with everything you've got. Treat it like a dragon and do not get close to its tail or in front of its wings." She turned to the warlocks "We'll need you two ready to pick up any spawns with your pets. If a spawn does appear then it needs to die ASAP." Everyone nodded in silent acknowledgement "Other than that we're playing this one by ear. Keep an eye on what's going on around you and be ready to dodge and assist as needed."

"How do you expect to break the stone?" asked Ozpin

"A shield toss should finish the breaking and get the beasts attention on me. I'm more concerned with placing it so that it doesn't really have a choice in taking to the sky once it's down." She looked down at the small man "All the others have ranged attacks. If you have ranged attacks then I suggest you use them rather than getting close. Else, choose your own attacks as you see fit and watch your footing."

Ozpin nodded to her and she walked off towards the tower and the beast.

—

Kashaahri walked towards the beast, taking in the lay of the land and estimating her best path once she had the beast's attention. She got in range and, looked up into the glowing, red eyes of the beast, checked the striations of the breaking stone for the best place to strike. Choosing her target, she spun and released her shield, putting as much into the toss as possible. The shield flew true and struck at the shoulder of the beast breaking off some of the stone and deepening the cracks around the whole body.

The beast threw back its head and let loose a loud, angry, scream at the pain. The movement, along with the already widening cracks, caused the stone to fully break away. It fell, spreading its wings to try to regain balance throwing the stone everywhere, then it's foot struck the ground and it used the leverage it had to launch itself at Kashaahri.

Kashaahri was now calmly walking backwards towards the cliff, keeping an eye on the beast and what it was doing while adding a few more attacks to keep its attention. Throwing her shield once again she started to angle herself towards where she wanted the fight held.

The beast stopped, screamed again, and then leapt a short distance into the air to give it room to bring its wings down in an attack. When it came down again it charged at the small speck that had caused it so much pain.

Kashaahri smiled to herself as the simple blast from its wings pushed her back to where she wanted to be. She lay down her Consecration and met the beast's charge with her shield, smashing the beak to one side, her sword following to strike the beast just below the eyes.

Then battle was truly joined as the others began their attacks. The darkening sky was lit up as the warlock's twin Incinerates landed only to darken again as Elanna, in full Void Form, struck out with a Mind Flay. Then cold began to radiate out as the mages began their own attacks.

Ozpin sidled up to Daalorisa "And what do you do in this… dance?"

"I keep my allies in combat alive." She snapped her fingers, causing a Riptide to splash over Ahri "But I don't think my skills are going to be called upon much with this one. That beast isn't doing a lot of damage to Ahri and it's ignoring the rest of us."

At that point the beast screamed again. Took a step back and leapt up, its wings coming down in the same attack as before but this time two globules of Darkness dropped from under it as well. When the Darkness struck the ground two Boarbatusks emerged from the ground and charged the group.

"Oops, spoke too soon." As she cast Healing Rain across the ranged group and then Chain Lightning to strike both of the spawns. The warlocks glanced across, spoke quietly with each other and then their felguards charge in, each one engaging one of the spawns and keeping its attention on them.

Ozpin's eyes narrowed "Mine" he said and then he was in melee with the Boarbatusks, laying about with his cane.

—

Team JNR looked across as the beast roared "Do you think we should go help them?" asked Nora

They looked on for a bit, watching as Oscar took on the Boarbatusks "I think they've got it." Said Ren

Jaune shook his head "Our job is to prevent any other grimm from attacking them from behind while they deal with that one. So, let's get on with our patrol."

—

"Oh, wow, look at that." Ruby's exclamation caused the rest of Team RWBY to look towards the fight.

As they looked the mighty beast landed and its beak struck down at the loan figure in front of it only for the attack to simply be deflected by the Draenei's shield.

"Despite my ability to take a pounding I don't think I could take that." Said Yang as she shook her head

"I suppose that is what they call a tank. Someone who takes the punishment while the others actually defeat the monster." Ruby quickly cast the spell that the Azerothians had taught them and shook her head "She barely took any damage from that." Then she let the spell go - without magic the spell chewed Dust.

"Which is not our job. It's our job to eliminate all the other grimm here. Now let's go." Weiss tapped her foot impatiently

"Yeah, let's go. The faster we finish this the faster we can get back and help." Ruby enthused

"After we've finished this we need to head down into the unknown bowls of the Academy to clear the way to the Relic."

"Ok, ok" Ruby glanced back "But it'd be so cool to help beat that beast."

—

Team STRQ also turned to watch as the Azerothians attack upon the monster. They stood quietly, observing as professionals how the Azerothians controlled the fight. It became clear to them rather quickly that the beast was outmatched in both tactics and strength. Its attacks upon Kashaahri were mostly turned aside and even when they did connect fully the amount of damage done was minimal. Ozpin and the warlock's pets had the beast's spawns under control and the rest of the group was slowly, but surely, damaging the beast toward death. It was just a matter of time.

"When Sapphire told me that the wizard's power was a crutch and that I'd become more powerful without it." Summer almost whispered "I didn't believe her."

"I didn't really have a choice." Summer sent a questioning look towards Raven "They attacked the Branwen tribe and wiped it out, taking me prisoner. Their power is strong."

"They had good cause." Said Qrow

"We really didn't mean for Shione to fall."

"I don't think the villagers would be willing to accept your assertions of innocence." Qrow sneered "And it really wasn't just Shione. The Branwen tribe have been attacking the people and villages of Anima for decades. It was only a matter of time before this happened as more and more of the world became tamed by the Hunters. You should have realised that when we first got to Beacon and then changed the path of the tribe when you became leader."

"I did what I thought was right for the tribe."

"You continued the 'strong survive' credo of the tribe despite that credo being shown as no longer valid by the strength and peace of the kingdoms and at the academy."

"You two, quit it." Said Tai "We have a job to do." He looked over to the fight again "But they are far more powerful than anybody I've ever come across before. Maybe strong enough to compel the gods."

They took one more look at the fight and then turned back to their own patrol.

—

The Azerothians stumbled out of the ruined lift into a vast hallway in the lowest floor of the building. Sounds of fierce fighting came from in front of them and they rushed forward to help the other teams finish of the grimm that surrounded the large gateway into a realm of autumn coloured trees. They went to step through the gate way but Ozpin called for them to stop "The realm can only hold one person and that person is going to have to be me."

"What happens if more than one enters?" asked Allarae

"The realm collapses and everything in it is… lost."

"Define 'lost'" said Fawn

"Distributed randomly across the world. It would take a long time to find the Relic again and for the people so displaced to make their way back to anywhere." The others nodded and then looked to Kashaahri

"From here we're heading to the Pools of Annihilation and the shortest way is through Shade Academy." Said Kashaahri "Sapphire and Allarae can open portals to Shade so that most of us can go through. Allarae and I will stay as protection and as a means to get to Shade ourselves."

"I'm going to need my magic from Summer before I go in. With the power of three of the Maidens returned to me my magic isn't quite as… balanced… as it needs to be to open the cage that the Relic is in."

"Then Summer stays as well." Kashaahri turned to the mages "Get those portals open and our people on their way."

—

Ozpin walked up to the pedestal upon which the Relic had once sat and then sat down in a lotus position "I'm sorry to have to do this to you Oscar."

"I have your knowledge so I know what you need to do Old Man." Said Oscar "Just promise to wake me up after you've finished."

"You have my word but…"

"I know, there's a chance I won't be coming back." And then he was gone.

Ozpin sat, humbled by the willing sacrifice of one so young, one who really didn't wish to lose his life, one who had so much to live for. "I will do all that I can to make sure you have your life back." He whispered to himself.

Having done all he could for the boy he now raised his hands and started weaving his magic. It was difficult as he had to match power for power, weave for weave and he hadn't been this powerful in thousands of years. The weaving continued until he had the outer shell of the cage defined and then he began a chant making the weave even more complex. Slowly a mirror image of himself appeared and when it was complete his weaving and chanting stopped.

"Who am I?" asked the mirror image

"I am Oscar who was once Ozpin who was once…" the list went on for some time as he recited the names of all his incarnations "…who was once Ozma." A key that only one person knew as only one person knew all of his incarnations and as the last fell from his lips the image bowed and disappeared leaving the Relic standing upon its pedestal.

Ozpin sat and waited. Then he sent a silent command "Return" but the boy was too deep to hear. Getting no response he stood and returned to the others. "Let us depart."

—

The team leaders sat around the table with Ozpin and the Shade Academy Headmaster. They'd just finished explaining all that had happened throughout history starting with Salem's deception of the gods which resulted in her becoming cursed with immortality 'until the world stops turning'.

"And so she's spent however many thousands of years causing discord just so that she can die?" asked the headmaster, a look of sheer disbelief on his face

"Yes." Said Ozpin "She has to cause two things to happen. The first is a constant state discord and war between the people and then to bring the Relics together and summon the gods. Once the gods are summoned they'll see the constant state of discord and thus destroy the world, killing Salem in the process."

"We're not the most peaceful of people Ozpin. The faunus and humanity have been fighting throughout history and then there's the fighting that happens between factions as well such as happened during the Great War."

"Actually" said Kashaahri "The peoples of Remnant are some of the most peaceful people I've met since the fall of my own people. Most of the violence that happens between people is more the actions of criminals than outright discord between them and, as long as people have freedom of choice, such malcontents will always exist."

"Do you think the gods will see it that way though?"

"Considering the Relics of Power, of Destruction, Choice, Knowledge and Creation that they left behind as gifts for us they should do." Said Summer "As Kashaahri says, as long as people have choice there's going to be some who choose a… less peaceful… path."

"The major point is that a lot of the discord that happens is a result of their choices. The curse that they imposed upon Salem and, of course, the grimm." Said Kashaahri "To bring peace to the peoples of this world requires that those need to be removed."

"So, you're confident that things will go well?" asked the headmaster

"We're as confident as we can be." Said Ozpin

"So then it's now a question of transport there then and a question of how many of you are going."

"All of us are going." Said Kashaahri "We're going to need everyone to show how well everyone works together and, if things don't go well, to defeat them by main force."

"You actually think you can defeat them? According to your tale the last time anyone tried that they wiped out all of humanity."

"Yes we do. We've defeated gods before and things have changed since then. The gods will find that your peoples are not the pushovers that they once were."

The room went silent upon her grim assertion

"I know where Salem's castle is." Ozpin went silent "I helped her build it after all." He paused again, ancient pain written across his face "And the only way there is going to be by air and so we're going to need either and airbus or an airship."

"The academy has access to an airbus that you can use but I'm not going to provide a pilot. There's no way I'd ask anyone to volunteer for such a suicide mission."

"Huh, I don't think finding a pilot will be much of an issue." Said Qrow

The headmaster looked at him "As you say." He turned back to Ozpin "I can have it ready for you in the morning."

"That would be much appreciated."

"The morning after." Said Kashaahri "We've a lot to do in preparation before we head out."

—

The teams retired to the suit of rooms made available to them. There they congregated in the large lounge. Once everyone was there Kashaahri stood "We need to talk gear and what we can do to replace yours."

All the Remnant teams looked around at each other before Blake spoke up "I'm quite happy with my gear. It allows me to move as I need and my weapon suits my fighting style." There were nods and murmurs of agreement from the assembled teams.

"But does your gear increase your… power… by 200%?" asked Fawn

"No, of course not. To get anything like that would mean weaving Dust into the gear and nobody does that anymore as its too dangerous, too wild and uncontrollable."

"Mine does." Fawn looked around at the stunned looks of the other Remnants "All of ours does."

"Fawn's right." Said Allarae "All of our gear incorporates magic and that includes having Dust as part of its materials."

"How do you do that?" asked Summer "Blake was right when she said that it was too dangerous."

"We have different techniques from those of Remnant. The Dust become part of the material itself instead of being woven into the cloth as you're used to. Each piece then has fixed ability increases build into it. This means that you don't need to control it the way that woven Dust needs to be controlled."

"And it's not just your armour either." Said Elanna "But weapons and jewellery as well. The end result is that approximately two thirds of your power will come from your gear."

"Between us we can make cloth, leather and" Kashaahri banged on her chest plate "Metal armour. I can make most weapons that you may want to use while Allarae can make you jewellery and guns. It is this that we need to discuss so that we can plan on getting the materials and making the gear tomorrow." Her eyes narrowed, her voice becoming harder "Once we've finished with you this group will be the most powerful on Remnant and nothing will stand in our way."

Silence echoed around the room until Ruby stated "Just so long as I can have a combat skirt."

—