I See Them Bloom
Ozpin let out a sigh as he turned the parchment off and put his head in his hands. It was done, Ruby had broken, she had confessed and accepted what had happened and what she had done was wrong. Now she could heal, move on. It would be difficult, murder was never easy to get over, the feelings and guilt lingering for years, even lifetimes.
But Ruby was surrounded by a people who would help her, and Ozpin would make sure she was taken care of, regardless of anything that happened in this office.
The headmaster of Beacon lifted his head and sighed, the sun just past noon warming him in its light as the chiming of the great clock in the ceiling helped calm his nerves. Ruby may have taken the first step, but this ordeal wasn't over yet.
On cue the elevator pinged and the doors opened. The group of four that stepped out marched out grim-faced and straight back, three looking more uncomfortable than anything. The fourth, despite holding himself up with a warrior's stand, had the eyes of a man who had lost his world.
Ozpin stood and bowed his head to the fourth man. "Epimetheus. Again I offer my deepest condolences and my most sincere apology."
The greying redhead looked up when he was spoken to and offered a weak smile. "Thank Ozpin. I know this is as hard for you as it is for me. Two students dead, three months after losing another."
Ozpin kept his face neutral, but his heart skipped a beat. "That is why I've called you here today."
Epimetheus gave the Beacon headmaster a quizzical look and turned to the other three people in the room. Ironwood, Glynda and Qrow met his eye, the headmaster of Atlas and headmistress of Beacon with remorseful expressions; the fourth person was someone Epimetheus didn't know, a man with greying black hair and stubble with a cynical stare and frown, and who smelt like a bar.
"What is this about? Epimetheus asked, turning back to Ozpin. The silver haired man bowed his head, hiding his eyes, and sighed.
"Ruby Rose, the girl who was reported dead three months ago was found alive and well a week ago."
"That's," Epimetheus started, his stance softening as a kind smile graced his lips. "That's good news Ozpin."
Ozpin said nothing, his head still bowed and Epimetheus's smile fell as he looked to Glynda and Ironwood. The pair bowed their heads as well, just for a second before meeting the aged warrior's eyes.
"Ruby Rose was under the belief that the group of students with her at the time of her death had attempted to murder her, so returned to exact revenge." Glynda said slowly. Epimetheus stopped. His breathing caught, his heart stalled, his body froze as a sickening pit formed in his stomach. Slowly he turned on Ozpin, his face hardening as his heart broke.
"Where is this girl?" He asked, his voice calm and emotionless. Ozpin lifted his head, giving his old friend a poker face.
"In our holding cells, recovering from surgery and injuries sustained and improperly tended to three months ago."
Epimetheus's calm visage cracked. He leant down, putting his hands on Ozpin's desk.
"This girl killed my daughter?" He spat. "And you're tending to her injuries? SHE KILLED MY DAUGHTER!"
"Miss Rose by her own admission was lied to and manipulated into these actions by a third party that holds apparent hostility to these academies and the Huntsman and Huntresses, Atlas in particular." Ozpin replied calmly, earning question looks from Ironwood and Glynda as to how he knew this, it hadn't been mentioned before by Ruby. Epimetheus however continued to glare at the headmaster of Beacon.
"I care not for her reasons Ozpin! She took the life of two students! She took my daughters future away! I want her to answer for this!
"It's not that simple."
Epimetheus and Ozpin looked over the greying redheads shoulder to the man Epimetheus didn't know. He had a flask in his hand now, and was looking at the aged warrior.
"The world's a little stranger than you know. There are people and things out there that are incredibly powerful. Old legends and stories that are real. Ruby is one of them."
Epimetheus stood up and turned to the man, glaring coldly at him as he stepped closer.
"You are familiar with the legend of the Silver Eyes?"
"Yes," Epimetheus said through clenched teeth. "I know of the legends, that those with silver eye were the Warriors before the kingdoms and that the Grimm feared them. That a single look from one could strike a Grimm dead. A fairy tale," he scoffed as he turned his back on the man.
Ozpin put down his coffee mug, having a sneaky sip while Epimetheus had his back turned, and put his hands together in front of him.
"This is no fairy tale Epimetheus. Though the full extent of the powers are unknown, Ruby Rose has silver eyes, and could potentially be important to the peace and security of the kingdoms."
"She is important? Peace and security? What are you talking about Ozpin! The kingdoms are safe and secure as they have ever been, we see to that. This is one girl who has silver eyes! One girl who murdered my daughter!"
Ozpin sighed and gestured to a chair. "It is a long story Epimetheus, you may want to sit."
"Ozpin!" The man said stepping up to the desk. "You're not-"
Ozpin cut him off with a look. "Epimetheus needs to know Qrow. Her future depends on that. And he is a good warrior, a good man, who has allot of prestige and say in Mistral. Regardless of what we decide today on your nieces fate, he would make a good ally in our cause."
Qrow went to further the argument, but closed his mouth and scowled. Epimetheus glanced at the man with narrowed eyes, Ruby was his niece, of course he was trying to cover up her crimes, the aging warrior thought, knowing full well the stories surrounding Qrow Branwell, now that he knew the man's name. Looking back to Ozpin Epimetheus slid into the chair.
"Tell me then."
Epimetheus sat quietly staring with his mouth agape at Ozpin. The sun was almost touching the forested mountains, and the four members of the Guardians of Remnant, a secret order spanning the kingdoms stood behind the desk now, watching him carefully. Epimetheus put his head in his hands.
"This, is all true?"
"Every word," Ozpin nodded
"All of it? The wizard, the maidens? This group of people hunting them down?"
"Yeah," Qrow said, leaning against the window. "I was the one who found Amber and brought her here. Ironwood stuck her in a stasis chamber so she could recover, but-"
Epimetheus dropped his hands and looked up. "And how does the silver eyes and Ruby Rose fit into this?"
"The legend of the Silver-Eyed Warrior's predates the Wizard and the Maidens." Ozpin answered. "Through history the three have often worked together fighting the Grimm and safeguarding humanity, but the Warriors have become rarer and rarer with each generation."
Qrow pushed off the window and approached the desk, putting his knuckles on the surface. "I've travelled the world, met the maidens and all that jazz. But I've only ever met a few people with silver eyes, I could count them on one hand."
"And Ruby Rose is one of them?" Epimetheus sighed.
"She's the only one still alive," Qrow replied, standing up and looking out the window, his hand going to the crooked cross necklace around his neck. Epimetheus' jaw dropped.
"You, you're kidding? That's-"
"I wish we were Epimetheus," Ozpin said bowing his head, all the guardians did. "Ruby Rose, at this point in time, is the last of the Silver-Eyed Warrior's."
"Surely not all with silver eyes carry this legacy. How can you be sure that she does?"
"Silver-Eyed Warrior's are destined to be great fighters and leaders, to the point that it is almost second nature for them," Ozpin answered, lifting his mug to his lips.
"I may have trained her," Qrow continued, looking to Epimetheus, "but the kid's a natural fighter ever since she was young."
"And during her trial, despite initial skepticism and doubt-"
"All on Glynda's behalf," Ozpin cut in with a smirk. Glynda ignored him.
"She showed great leadership and tactical skill organizing the students that became her team into engaging and defeating a Giant Nevermore without sustaining a single injury."
"There's no question about it Theus," Qrow said looking away from the window and leaning on the desk again. "Ruby's a Silver-Eyed Warrior, she just doesn't know it yet. And with how things are starting to look," he added with a glance at Ironwood and Ozpin, "we're going to need her, sooner than I like."
"So I am to let my daughter's killer go, for the world?" Epimetheus said coldly. None of the guardians met his eye, not even Qrow.
"I wish it was not so, that there was another way Epimetheus," Ozpin said softly, putting a hand to his heart. "From the bottom of my soul I wish I could give you your daughter back."
Epimetheus took a breath and nodded, bowing his head, the guardians doing the same.
"I believe, that Atlas can."
Everyone slowly looked up to Ironwood, Ozpin and Epimetheus's faces turned in confusion, Qrow and Glynda looking at the Atlas headmaster as if he had just lost his mind during a funeral.
Ironwood cleared his throat. "It's a chance, a hope, but Atlas has a project that could, bring back your daughter."
Then he went into the details.
The room fell silent. Then it exploded as everyone not standing rose to their feet and started yelling at Ironwood, even the calm and stoic Ozpin was outraged. In the face of all this Ironwood remained steadfast and calm, weathering the storm.
"I know Atlas prides itself on its science, but this is too far!"
"This is unnatural! This is evil! Did you not think of the consequences such an action could have!"
"I did!" Ironwood shouted, quieting the others. "Trust me this was not backed by Atlas at first. I wanted nothing to do with this project other than shut it down, but the council saw the potential in such a project and authorized it. And while I still do not agree with it I have come to understand the reasoning of the creator."
"This is still wrong, on so many levels," Qrow said, jabbing a finger at Ironwood. "I don't care if you say you're against it or what your council says you should have shut it down! And now you want to do the same here!"
"The project was created by a grieving father who wanted their child back! My friend is now suffering the same and I have the potential to give him back his child do you think I'm going to sit idle and let my friend suffer!"
"This is a temptful road that leads nowhere good James," Epimetheus said quietly, his face softening. "Don't let me be the reason you start down it."
The greying redhead looked to Ozpin and the others. "Let that debate for another time. You must still convince me Ruby Rose is worth saving. A legacy and a legend will not make me overlook my daughter's death."
Glynda, Ironwood and Qrow all startled thinking they had him convinced. They all opened their mouths to talk at once, but Ozpin cut them off by raising his hand. As he lowered it again he looked Epimetheus dead in the eye, a frown on his face and a regretting looking to his eyes.
"Because it is what your daughter would have wanted."
Ice ran down Epimetheus's spine, his jaw clenching grinding his teeth as his blood heated again. The greying redhead stood to his full height, glaring furiously at the headmaster; how dare he-
"Pyrrha would have wanted Ruby alive and well over anything else I believe." Ozpin said calmly, not cowering under the thunderous gaze of the Mistralian warrior. "She even willing to pay her debt to the girl's memory and take her own life."
The room held its breath. Epimetheus exhaled.
"Even if Pyrrha wanted it, how can I let this go and let this girl go free with blood on her hands? Even if my daughter would have given anything to save this girl, she was murdered by her. How can I just let that go?"
"We don't intend to let Ruby walk away free, without punishment." Ozpin replied, lacing his fingers in front of him. "Nor do we intend to lock her away in a prison or cell forever. We need the Silver-Eyed Warrior out in the world.
"What do you intend to do then?" Epimetheus retorted dryly. "Slap her on the wrist and tell her not to kill anyone again."
"Until we are certain that she poses no threat to anyone but the Grimm, and that she is of a sane and stable mind again, I intend to allow Ruby to remain a student at this school, but she will not be allowed to wield her weapon nor take part in missions where combat or interaction with potential hostile individuals or groups are likely to happen. She will be monitored 24/7 with a team of students, teachers, Hunters and other individuals, as well with GPS locators, and have to attend regular check-ins and sessions with a psychotherapist, Glynda and myself. We will know where she is at all times, what she is doing, and act accordingly.
Epimetheus fumed, breathing angrily through his nose as he glared at Ozpin. The headmasters calm emerald eyes met and counter his hateful glare, forcing the greying redhead to look away. That Ozpin intended to let this girl, this murderer, to remain a free of a cell, even let her remain a student here, insulted Epimetheus. His daughter, in the prime of her life, was dead, gone, never coming back even with Ironwood proposed. He grieved for her, no parent should have to bury their child, and he wasn't the only one. Epimetheus thought to the other student killed, to their family. Why wasn't Ozpin sitting with them, telling him about fairy tales and legends to try and save this girl.
Yet, above his thoughts he head Ozpin's words echoing. 'It is what Pyrrha would have wanted.'
Epimetheus sighed, all the anger dissipating from his frame.
"So, why tell me all this?" He asked. "If you have everything planned out, why bother telling me any of this, or even that my daughter's killer is here and recovering?"
"Because I could not in good conscience keep this from you-"
"So you did it for yourself!" Epimetheus yelled rising to his feet in anger. "You told me that you hold my daughter's murderer, that you plan to rehabilitate her, simply so that you can sleep better at night!"
"And because I want you involved in this!" Ozpin shouted rising to his feet his calm visage broken in thunderous determination that quieted Epimetheus and put him back in his seat. The room feel silent enough to hear the startled breathing of all the occupants except the headmaster, everyone staring startled at the outburst from the stoic man; Glynda was the most taken back of them all, having seen Ozpin's calm break not once but twice now. Ozpin stood towering for several seconds, then lowered his head, hiding his face, and sat back down with a tired sigh. "I want you to be the third judge with Glynda and I that will decide whether Ruby is well enough or safe enough for active combat duty."
Epimetheus, still cowed from Ozpin's outburst, blinked rapidly confused, the words taking several seconds longer to connect and make sense in his head. He lowered his gaze and wet his lips.
"You, want me, to be on of her judges?" He asked, almost quietly humble. Ozpin nodded.
"You are the one most affected by Ruby's actions, that is not of her age group and in her social circle. You are a well-known and reputable Huntsman, known for being a good judge of character and intention."
"So her fate is in my hands after all?" The aged Mistralian laughed dryly. Leaning back and looking into space. The guardians watched him, none moving or making a sound. The room again held its breath, the room waiting in silence except for the chiming of the great clock.
"Do you have your team of watchers already in mind?" Epimetheus asked. The guardians let out a silent sigh as Ozpin set his mug down and pulled a folded piece of paper from inside his jacket, sliding it across the desk. Epimetheus picked up the paper and unfolded it, flicking down the names in silence. Some of the names had a short note scribbled beside them, and the greying redhead arched an eyebrow at what he read. In total there were around 25 names in total, almost an even mix of veterans and students with the teachers of Beacon thrown in.
Epimetheus took a calming breath. He was satisfied with the people on the list, happy even that not a large number of people would be watching this girl, but that there was a mix of Hunters watching at a distance and students up-close. He read the list again, and let out a short laugh through his nose looking to Ozpin.
"I wonder why Qrow here isn't on the list. He has the look of one who scouts information and watches from the shadows," Epimetheus remarked shooting a sidelong glance at the man caught drinking from flask.
The corner of Ozpin's lips twitched upwards at Qrow's reaction. "Qrow is on several missions of espionage and subterfuge already, so is often out of the kingdom, on top of being a teacher at Signal. As well Ruby being his niece, he declined being included in this team."
"Indeed," the greying redhead said slowly, shooting another look at Qrow as he folded the list and put it down on the desk. "Very well Ozpin. I accept this, agreement. Ruby Rose can continue as a student here, but I will be the final say in her future as a huntress and as a free woman."
Ozpin's faint smile faded, and he nodded. "Agreed. I would say thank you, but I don't intend you more pain than I have already put on you today."
Epimetheus stared at the headmaster for several seconds, his cold intense green eyes boring into the calm reserved emerald, and he dropped his gaze, letting out a breath. Ozpin too sighed in relief and leaned back in his chair, looking as if a weight had been lifted from his shoulders. Glynda stepped around the desk and picked up the list, beginning to type the names into her parchment. Ironwood simply stood back from the desk looking out the window.
Qrow, sighed as well and put his flask on the desk, drawing Ozpin and Epimetheus's attention.
"So then, what do you plan to tell the vultures?" Qrow asked.
"The woman responsible for these attacks was tracked down and engaged by a group of students in the Forever Falls, but lost her life to a Beowulf who had managed to sneak up on her and the students," Ozpin announced into the microphones as he looked over the assembled crowd of reports. Camera's clicked, pens scribbled across pages in notebooks, and the people listened quietly, waiting to ask their questions.
"Miss Ruby Rose, who was believed slain by a group of Mirzers three months ago, was found alive but in a seriously injured condition in a cave not far from the scene of the battle," the headmaster continued, his calm resounding voice echoing through the main courtyard. "The young student had suffered severe second, third and even fourth degree burns, resulting in the need for emergency surgery and the amputation of her right arm. An investigation into the cave where miss Rose was kept found a small cache of supplies and medicines, but it was not enough to properly tend to miss Rose's injuries."
"And what about the stories and rumors that this killer dressed the same and wielded the same weapon used by miss Rose?" One reporter asked from the back, causing a ripple of whispers to spread through the crowd.
"From what we have gathered," Ozpin replied calmly, "Crescent Rose, miss Roses weapon, was lost during the fight in which she was reported killed. How this woman attained it is unknown, as are her reasons to wearing the damaged clothes of miss Rose."
"Is it entirely possible that miss Rose was the one behind the attacks? Is this some form of cover up?" The same reporter asked, another ripple of whispered conversation among the crowd. Ozpin's calm visage faulted slightly, his eyes turning hardly on the reporter as his mouth fell into a frown.
"Let me repeat. Miss Rose severe second, third and even fourth degree burns, resulting in the need for emergency surgery and the amputation of her right arm. When she was brought to Beacon she could barely hold her own body upright in a stretcher. Does that sound like she could engage in assault, murder and combat?"
The crowd of reporters turned in their seats to look at the one who had asked the questions, standing with a slight shake to him as he wet his lips.
"Ozpin, sir. Could this all be a cover up to protect miss Rose? It is well known you personally invited her to Beacon academy two years early."
All the reported turned back to face Ozpin at the podium, leaning forward to hear his answer.
"I invited miss Rose to this academy two years early because I saw in her a potential to become became a great huntress, possibly even the greatest. What has happened to her, and what has happened in the last two weeks is a tragedy. But there is no cover up involved. A unknown woman was involved with miss Rose after she was injured, tending to her injuries poorly in a cave in the Forever Falls. This woman is responsible for the deaths of Pyrrha Nikos and Norton Browning, as well as the grief caused to their friends, family, and to this city."
Although he didn't shout, Ozpin's voice echoed powerfully through the courtyard. The cowed reporter slowly sat down while the others in the crowd wrote down the headmaster's words. Ozpin closed his eyes, inhaled, exhaled, and opened his eyes.
"That will be all. Thank you."
The crowd of reporters Rose to their feet yelling questions, all of which Ozpin ignored as he stepped off the podium and walked away. Glynda fell into step behind him, checking her parchment as she went.
"Well that went well," the headmaster remarked.
"I don't think Epimetheus will be happy with this interview however," the headmistress replied. Ozpin flashed a ghost of a sad smile.
"I did not lie however. I simply didn't tell the whole truth."
And done.
Before the end of September. Awesome. I would like to thank Warrof for their comment. I don't know if you're a writer or an artist but making this and other stories is hard and stressful. So it means a lot when someone voices their enjoyment and pleasure of reading something I made. I would also again to thank my friend Cassie for proof-reading this and finding a annoying word out of place.
Also, I know websites generally don't have pages, but this fic has now reached 202 pages and around 76,000 words.
Again, thank you everyone for reading this. I know I've said this before, but we're almost finished. Only two chapters left.
Lord Tomyh