Chapter 21: Proposals
(Oliver) (Vale, mere minutes after the breach had ended)
I was officially done for one day. That roller coaster of emotions had left me with a skull-splitting headache.
I found a hypnotic girl, lost her to the White Fang, and got her back. I had been harpooned, shot, and stabbed countless times, I discovered that other world full of cannibal Grimm. My little brother (from a genetic engineering standpoint) had died and come back to life right in front of my own eyes. Then, to top it all off, that guy with the scythe got away. I wanted to ask him some questions, several in fact.
On the bright side, Nimbus decided to spread his wings. With a Halcyon backing us up, the White Fang may think twice before trying anything. I felt a sense of relief, one that I hadn't felt in a long time. For once, I could actually rest easy.
Still the idea of just….letting them go? I mean, Nimbus won over that White Fang faction like he was royalty. It was something that I never could do. People look up to Nimbus like he was some sort of prophesied savior or something. Then people look at my true form only to cower in fear.
That's what I had in mind when I spoke to Nimbus earlier. I wanted to bring peace to the people, but my form, powers, and downright primal fighting style only made them change out of fear. I was no better than the White Fang, in that sense.
That is where our priority change came into play. Nimbus not only has the honor of the people, but the ability to draw power from a crowd, meaning that he gets stronger by fighting anyone. Then, suppose that what he fights lacks a soul. That was why he lost to Insomnia in the first place. He had no power to draw from.
Simply put, we both thrive where the other doesn't.
I walked out of the clearing as I leaned up against a building, gradually sliding back into a sitting position.
Now that I thought about it, considering the way that the White Fang just…..gave up, maybe they were being manipulated. Perhaps by someone much stronger than anyone that I've ever faced.
If that was the case…..
I removed the glove from my right hand and held it up. That crystal was still there, and by that point it felt natural, like it was a part of me. I still had no idea as to what it did.
I really need to figure out what I'm capable of. If I'm stuck with this thing, then the least I can do is find out how to use it. What is this thing anyway?
"A corrupite stone", a voice said off to my right. There stood a boy about sixteen, who stood five foot seven. He wore an unbuttoned grey flannel jacket with a yellow shirt, blue jeans, and a pair of sneakers with some sort of swish mark logo. His hair was thick, messy and black. His eyes were two different colors. His left eye was green while his right iris, and even his pupil, was gold, and it even gleamed like the metal beneath his glasses. He looked just…..out of place. He was looking into a store that had remained untouched.
"E-Excuse me?" I asked, just to make sure he was talking to me.
"You heard me, a corrupite stone. In the right hands it can absorb and utilize corrupted elements of any world, IE, the Grimm. When using it, your Grimm matter supplies can be increased a six-fold at the very least", he clarified.
"Who the hell is this guy?" I muttered.
"Rather rude of you. Well, then again it is you, so I shouldn't have expected a different greeting, Oliver Eastman, AKA, Oblivion", he said. He was in my head, "As if the first Oblivion wasn't bad enough."
"You're raising flags, punk!" I growled as my thumb opened Solace a bit, "You know a tad bit too much."
"If you're going to fight me, then save your breath", he said, "You're not ready for that sort of challenge."
"That's it!" I snarled as I whipped out Solace…..or rather tried to. The blade was missing from the sheath!
"What the?!"
"What? Looking for this?" he said as he pulled the katana out from behind his back!
"I…what?" I was at a loss for words.
"Oliver, I know how much this sword means to your family and to the history of Granite Bark. I wasn't really going to let something happen to it", he tossed me the weapon which I instantly sheathed.
"Alright, you have my attention now. What is it you want?" I asked.
"No, no, no. It's not exactly a matter of what I want. It's a matter of what exactly you want", he said raising an eyebrow, "You were just thinking about it a moment ago."
"Um, I want to get…..stronger", I said in an uneasy tone.
"Not just that. You're looking for answers, information about that world you saw, the one with the 'cannibal Grimm'."
"I'm just going to assume that you know everything about my personal life", I raised my eyebrow.
"Well, for starters, those things were not Grimm, but they're one of the closest possible things to it. Considering that your powers absorbed their corruption and freed them, it has come to my attention that your powers as a velocion tri-breed are becoming indiscriminant over what sort of darkness it consumes for you. That's part of why you were able to survive in that world where Melody would have died."
"Even Melody, huh?" I sighed, "You really do know everything."
"Well, to be fair, I don't. I'm just here on the behalf of someone else. The same guy who made the plans to get your techno scythe friend into this world. He got some help from some guy with a massive connection to this planet."
"Okay! You caught me at the scythe guy! Who was he?" I turned back towards him suddenly.
"Not my place to say. I've only been given a description as to where he comes from and that he would be jumping from his dimension to here. I have been told everything i need to know about you. I don't know why, but the boss really wants to see you succeed."
"Um….the boss of….."
"We call ourselves Barrier 4, and the boss is sending me here with a proposition for you. The enemy you plan to face is much stronger than you're letting on. You're going to need strength from more than just Grimm if you're even going to survive. You're not just a hunter anymore, Eastman. You're a predator, and while it's true that instinct has brought you far, you still lack the proper experience. We have access to the proper…. 'Hunting grounds' necessary to satisfy your hunger and need. There are worlds infested by darkness and unrestrained evil that make the creatures of Grimm look like plush toys. Well, maybe with the exceptions of Nautilus and Insomnia. Those two, maybe a few more as well, were the odd ones out."
He cleared his throat before he spoke again, holding his hand out.
"What I'm saying is that we want you to join us for a little while. In your spare time, my colleagues and I will help to train you for what lies ahead. The strength you'll gain may secure the future of Granite Bark and hopefully all of Remnant. Are you in?" he kept his hand out to me, as though he was expecting a shake.
I stood silently as I considered.
"That's not exactly what I want", I said quietly, catching him off guard, "It's not strength that I'm after in the end. It's weakness that I want."
"Care to explain?" the boy raised his eyebrows.
"If you know me as you say you do, you should know that it's not just Grimm matter that makes me strong. Any negative emotions boost the strength of my Grimm side. So long as negativity exists, I'll always grow stronger. All I want is for it all to stop. I want to live a life where my powers grow weak. I know that if my powers go weak in the end, I know that there's peace for once. I know it's a paradox, wanting to grow strong for the chance to become weak, but—."
With a smile, he waved his hand for me to stop.
"You know, I was told that you were a man of actions, not words, so I wasn't expecting a monologue. Still, that was more or less what the big guy expected to hear."
"Just tell me, what's the catch? I mean, you're just going to give me power and skill from other worlds. There has to be some cost to all this. How does the 'big guy' benefit from all this? If he sees trouble in Remnant, why doesn't he help?"
"I do recall telling you how we were sending you to worlds of war and darkness", he reminded me "Barrier 4 is a multidimensional task force dedicated to solving conflicts in our own way. If anything, you growing stronger out there will equally benefit both of us, as well as the worlds you visit. Even your teammates can benefit from what you learn. To answer your last question, our forces are limited and spread across several universe and even across to a second multiverse! However, since you've already learned too much, we know that you're going to try and make the jump again on your own. I guarantee that if you do so without the proper requirements, you will be stranded permanently, which means no Granite Bark. With us, you can move freely."
"Alright then", I stepped forward and shook his hand, "If that's what it all boils down to, I'm your guy."
"Great", he nodded before turning towards the clearing and tapping something on his scroll…..no that was definitely not a scroll, "If you're not busy right now, I need to get you to base and get you ready. We'll be able to work around your schedule here, so you won't miss anything. You'll begin training with Nile once you gain clearance."
"Yeah, so when do I meet the 'Big Guy'? Also, do you guys have a woman named Raven in your organization?"
"You'll meet him at some point, but not anytime soon. As for Raven, no, she is not with us. She is from Remnant, but she just knows a tad bit too much about interdimensional travel. That's what I hear at least. Now, we've already wasted enough time as it is. If we wait any longer, Nile is going to nail me to the wall." As he said this, he waved his hand as a swirling galaxy portal formed in front of him.
"Wait, before I just dive into this, I still have one more question. Who are you?"
He stopped and turned around to face me while pushing up his glasses with a smile.
"My name is Simon Watson. I am one of the four Alpha level commanders, and as such I co-own the position of second in command at Barrier 4."
.
(3rd person) (On a nearby rooftop)
"All in all, I call today a success", Cinder said calmly.
"I would hardly say that", Emerald said as he watched Oliver disappear into that portal, "You saw what happened! I mean, how the hell does Oliver hold that…..thing inside of himself like this?! Not to mention that he is the only one of the entire group who can even catch a slight hint of what's really going on! We need to get rid of him before he learns too much!"
"Settle down, Emerald", Cinder cooed, "He is far from an issue for now. That means you are to keep your hands clean, unlike the Tucson case. Besides," she licked her lips in anticipation, "now that boy has gone and caught my interest. I'd like to see what he's fully capable of, and I certainly want to see it up close in combat. If anything is even remotely a threat to us at the moment, it's Nimbus Altos. I must say that he was a wild card."
"Exactly", Mercury nodded, "We've still hardly seen his combat style, and let's not forget that he's already rallied our own White Fang forces to abandon the cause. Do you honestly think that they'll listen to us over him?"
"No", a gruff voice stated as a tall man with red hair and black clothes stepped in, "They will listen to me. As for Oliver, I know exactly who and what he is."
"Oh, do tell", Cinder cooed.
At this, Adam Taurus drew his sword a little and chuckled.
"I'm just surprised that he's still alive."
.
(Ozpin's office)
"Ozpin. Ozpin!" the councilman yelled over the video feed, "You've left us with no choice! The Vytal Festival tournament cannot be broadcast, let alone held, if we are unable to ensure the safety of the citizens!"
Ozpin took a sip of his coffee.
Why can't they see that it is still too early to act? He thought to himself
"Therefore, we have reached out to the Atlas council, and together have decided that the best option is to appoint General Ironwood as head of security for the event."
"Thank you councilmen", Ironwood stated, "Our kingdom is happy to lend as many troops as it takes to ensure that this event runs as smoothly and safely as possible."
"And we thank you, General", the councilman replied.
"I would hardly consider it", a voice said as Ozpin turned around.
.
(Nimbus) (Same place)
"Mr. Altos, now is not the time to intrude", Ozpin warned.
"It is most certainly the time to intrude", I objected, "I have to speak to them."
"Oh no you don't!" Ironwood growled, "Ozpin, I will not tolerate another one of your students questioning—!"
He was cut short when my coat fell and my wings spread. There was chatter on the other end of the com.
"Ozpin," Ironwood continued, "I was aware of the presence of a Halcyon this morning, but to have him in your numbers without even so much as telling us?!"
"Professor, this is game changing information and you didn't even inform-."
"The professor was simply respecting the orders that I was sent under", I interrupted.
"Orders from who?" a councilman questioned.
"I was under orders to remain in secrecy", I lied perfectly, interrupting him, "My home, Stratos is almost the equivalent of a kingdom. I was ordered to come down here in secret to monitor the safety of the people, and only to show myself should dire situations arise. Our numbers are still dwindling, so we could only afford to send a single huntsman, their strongest. As of now I am the voice of the Halcyon people. Please hear me out."
"Very well, why do you come before us today?" another councilman asked.
"I request that I be placed as head of security."
Ozpin's eyebrows shot up in surprise.
"You are still a student", Ironwood stated.
"And even so I sent the White Fang packing with nothing but a pep talk. Had anyone else been in my position, they would have been gunned down. I may be a student, but today's events prove without a doubt that the people of Remnant still hold my kind in the highest respect. This is why Team NOVA will not be participating in the tournament. Rather, Arcee Strauss, Oliver Eastman, Princess Valentine Vance, and I will be placed on guard during the tournament, each of us is a representative of one of the four kingdoms of Remnant. In combination with Ironwood's forces, any action taken against us will be seen as an act of aggression towards Vale, Atlas, Mistral, Vacuo, and Stratos. In addition, any action taken against a Halcyon in broad daylight would be political suicide. If I am on guard with the cameras rolling and someone tries to make a move, everyone in all of Remnant will know. The aggressor will have picked a fight not just with the military, but the people themselves. They will instantly lose any and all possible support from the public. That is why NOVA's presence, specifically mine, will dissuade any and all aggressive action during this tournament. We need to use a method of defense that does not involve excessive military power."
The councilmen looked amongst themselves.
"The word 'halcyon'", I continued, "means 'peace' and 'tranquility'. If this festival is truly about peace, let the real peacekeepers hold watch over the people."
I looked back to Ozpin who nodded with a smile, mouthing "Good work".
A long silence fell.
"Very well", the councilman nodded, "We have come to agreement that Nimbus Altos is to be co-head of security beside General Ironwood."
"Thank you", I nodded to them, "I promise you that the people will enjoy this gathering in peace. Should any situation arise, I myself will be at the front line. You have my word."
"That will conclude our meeting for today", the councilmen said as the screens disappeared and I let out a depressed sigh.
"Well, you seemed rather anxious to get that position", Ozpin poured me a cup of coffee.
I took a sip and sighed.
"It was a lie."
"Hmm?" the headmaster questioned.
"The Halcyons were all a lie", I muttered.
"How so?"
"Earlier this morning I went back to Stratos. I saw what the White Fang was really doing, and that's what convinced me to spread my wings. I realized that Remnant needed something more. They needed the Halcyons to return now more than ever. However when I went to the council and told them everything, do you know what they said? 'They put themselves in that boat.' 'If they want to fight, so be it!' 'We will not interfere!' They all abandoned Remnant and its people!" I slammed my hand down on the table.
It took a minute for me to calm down.
"My father taught me about what we should be, what we once were. He held fast to the idea of the Halcyons being the guardians of all of Remnant. That must be why he and the council never got along, I see it now. I may be just grasping at straws now, but I still believe in our role. If the council wouldn't do it, I had to do it myself."
"And I thoroughly support you on this. Just remember that you are not grasping at straws. You are what a halcyon should be. If the halcyons really are going to stay out of this like you said, then you really are the last of the Halcyons in the eyes of Remnant. Just remember that what is important now is not what the Halcyons are like. The thing that matters now, most of all, is what the people see."
"But there's no guarantee that—."
"All you asked the Stratos council to do was make an appearance, which they all declined. They won't come down here to stop you."
"It's not the council I'm worried about. They can all crash into polished a window for all I care. What's got me concerned is that at least one of our own huntsman trainees will show up out of the blue, like I did."
"If such a situation does arise, we will handle it quietly. We'll monitor the skies for any newcomers, and I will immediately alert you to their whereabouts. This way we can either enlist or turn back any potential threat before Ironwood or the council can learn the truth."
I slumped back in my chair and took a deep refreshing breath.
"Thank you, Oz", I smiled.
He nodded in a silent "you're welcome".
"Right now I would advise that you get some rest. You've had a rough day, and the days to come may prove to be even more stressful. The entire student body will hear of your big reveal within a few hours. Chances are that the reaction will even bigger than when Val first arrived."
"Ah, so much to consider, so little time", I muttered as I stood up and said bye to Ozpin.
It was a long ride on the elevator afterwards.
Right now, the only thing that scared me was the thought of someone deciding to "drop in" for an unexpected visit. I could just imagine it. Zepher, the Hartman twins, or Monty forbid, my friendly nemesis, Jay Rider! I was screwed if the latter showed up. He would stick around no matter what we did, in spite of me!
Then the very moment that the elevator doors opened, I was confronted by a six and a half foot tall mass of muscle.
"Cody?"
"You and I need to talk, halcyon."
(End of Chapter 21)
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Beowulf here!
Aw come on, Nimbus! I had plans for you guys in the tournament! Well that's just great! Back to the drawing board for me.
As for Oliver, this is the start of his new adventures.
Yep, that's right. Oliver officially became a multiverser! I plan on starting a separate story to document his travels with Barrier 4. As the emissary, Simon stated, they will be working around Oliver's schedule, so I can guarantee you that he will continue in Wings of Remnant. You may catch him popping in out of nowhere.
If you want to see Oliver whisked off to a specific world, let me know and I'll be sure to credit you in the PS.
PLEASE NOTE: I finally got around to fixing that chronological error in my story. The events of Granite Bark happened 5 years ago, not 8
Anyways, back to RWBY, Rooster Teeth pulled the biggest freaking troll earlier by pushing back Volume 3 Chapter 3 back another week! I was so pumped to check it out, dang it! And do you know what happened, THEY DID IT AGAIN THIS WEEK! But at least they had the decency to release a World of Remnant. I know that they have the uncanny ability to keep us wanting more, but I can't take much more of that!
Speaking of the World of Remnant Videos, I hope that there's at least something in the upcoming ones that explains what happened to Remnant's moon, unless of course its a crucial part of RWBY's storyline.
Anyone think that the moon might be named "Autumn", by chance?
To make matters worse, the number of RWBY FanFics has skyrocketed! I wouldn't mind this normally, but that means that my last chapter was shoved two pages back on the list within the course of a day! T.T That's what kills me. I've only gotten positive feedback here, so you guys must like this (You do right?). The problem is that if I get shoved to the back of the pack so quickly, fewer people will even have the chance to even look over the story in the list, let alone read the story itself!
I also wanted to get this out because yesterday was my birthday! I'm 19 now!
Anyways, you all know the drill! If you like what you see, BLAST THAT LIKE BUTTON INTO OBLIVION AND BEYOND! And please leave me with some feedback!
This is Beowulf and the OC Crew signing out!