Violet Rose
AN: I can't believe this story is already almost done. It feels like just last week that I was wrapping up RWBYond War. Things are going to get really interesting and foreshadow-y. Including possibly some hints at what's going on with the villains introduced at the end of RWBYond War.
Chapter 21: The Good Doctor
We arrived at the base of Merlot industries' testing facility. Ozpin, Mr. Branwen and I, along with my team and Team JSPR. The bunker was embedded within Mountain Glenn itself. The Merlot industries logo shined bright with the night.
"Violet!" Julius waved. I didn't bother filtering out the impulse to run towards them.
"Hey." I said when I came face to face with him.
"So, what are we doing?" Silicon asked.
"We are investigating Grimm sightings." Ozpin answered.
"So, they coming from here?" Ranch asked.
"They're certainly lured here." Mr. Branwen answered.
"The four of us will go in." Dad said gesturing to Ozpin, Mr. Branwen and myself. "Julius can come in too."
"Ms. Charm, you're in charge of the rest." Ozpin said. "Secure the perimeter and stay vigilant."
"Yes sir." Lucky said.
The now five of us walked to the door and knocked. I hung back with Julius and let the adults take the lead. We stood around, starring at the door. A few moments later an image appeared on the screen. It was an old man with wild white hair.
"Ah, Professor Ozpin." He said. "To what do I owe the pleasure."
"Dr. Merlot, may we come in?" Ozpin asked.
"Hmm…I would rather you not." Merlot said.
"There's been a concerning amount of Grimm activity and this seems to be the epicenter."
"I see…" Dr. Merlot said. "I was unaware of this. Thank you for notifying me."
"What are you working on in their doctor?" Dad said.
"Simply put, a way to end human suffering." Dr. Merlot said. "I was hoping to show you someday Professor."
"Well there's no time like the present." Ozpin responded.
"True…perhaps I will let you in. Just…leave the kids. There's no way they would understand what I'm doing. Not in the way that you can."
"I'm sure they'll manage." Ozpin said in a cheery voice. The door opened slowly and eerily. "Be on your guard. There was something not quite right with him and it seems all too familiar."
"Right this way huntsmen." Merlot's voice echoed in the hall. We walked down the dimly lit halls until we arrived in a small office. It was decorated with numerous sigils and manuscripts. There was also a single tapestry of a massive white raven burning a town.
"Good evening Doctor." Ozpin said.
"I would offer a seat, but there aren't enough chairs." Merlot said.
"I'll stand thank you." Ozpin said. Mr. Branwen turned into a bird and sat on a shelf.
"Wow, that is so nifty I wish I could do it." Julius said.
"So what is it you're working on?" Ozpin said. Merlot sighed.
"Science is the art of innovation. It is taking what we know and expanding it further. But someone expanded it further well beyond his time." Merlot took a small leather journal and a metal box from his desk.
"Is that what I think it is?" Ozpin's eyes lit up.
"It's positively ancient I know. To think, trapping soundwaves on bits of celluloid, it's quite impressive given the age. It would have been absurdly high tech for when it must have been made."
"Bringing back ancient technology? That doesn't seem all that bad." Julius said.
"Just press play. It's not the box, it's what's on it." Merlot said.
Ozpin gently pressed the play button. There was a light echoing sound as the tape spun in the player. Then, a sly voice came over the small speakers.
"This is the diary of Avis Bran…" Ozpin slammed on the stop button.
"This. Should. Not. Exist." He said coldly.
"Who are you to decide what should and should not exist?" Merlot mused. Ozpin flipped through the pages of the book. They were all encrypted and covered in sigils.
"Where did you find this?" He barked.
"It fell into my hands. It was a present from a girl in a brown cloak. She also gave me the Cipher." He let that last word echo through the room. "I now know the answer to a question you forgot to ask…Wizard."
"What are you playing at?" Ozpin grabbed him by the collar. "How long…how long have you been messing with Redstone?"
"Long enough to see the truth beyond the truth." Merlot answered. "Would you like to see my pet?"
"I would gladly." Ozpin let him down. A minute later we were on an elevator. Julius nudged me.
"So, this Avis guy has Ozpin pretty pissed." Julius said.
"Dad?" I said.
"I don't know who this Avis Bran is." Dad answered.
"He was an alchemist a long time ago." Mr. Branwen said. "He's technically my ancestor. Built my house over in Raven's Peak."
"House is a major understatement." Dad groaned.
The elevator opened into a large lab. In the center was a massive Grimm Dragon. It seemed dormant, like it was sleeping. There were dozens of machines plugged into. Every few seconds a vial of green sludge would be pumped into it and a Grimm would leak from its body. There was also a glass orb with a red and black mist trapped inside it. There was also a large Redstone lamp at a control console.
"Magnificent, isn't it?" Merlot said.
"I can think of some other words." Ozpin clenched his fist. "What you have here is a harbinger, a class of Grimm that can spawn other Grimm. This one is called a dragon class ten. Sometimes referred to as wyvern."
"But only pretentious windbags will split hairs like that." Mr. Branwen said.
"If this thing gets out it'll destroy the whole city." Ozpin said.
"I have it quite under control." Merlot said.
Julius and I walked around the massive flying beast. It looked so peaceful. Its body was blemish free and smooth. I ghosted my hand across its white skull. This was a harbinger, a veritable conduit of Grimm essence. I could never dream of being this close to one.
"You have nerves of steel Vi." Julius said. I looked back to see that he was as far away from the monster's maw as possible.
"It's not doing any harm." I said.
"You make no sense sometimes. Only you would be a nervous wreck around crowds yet totally comfortable staring literal death in the face."
"Come on, you should touch it." I mused. "It may be the only chance to touch a Grimm like this without risking your life."
"Are you sure about that?" He said. Ozpin and Merlot's argument was getting louder.
"I found a benefactor and took it!" Merlot shouted.
"She wants to destroy the kingdoms!" Ozpin shouted back. Dad dashed over to me.
"What are you doing?" He said.
"Taking advantage of our enemy's weakness." I answered. "What are they arguing about now?"
"Apparently, Ozpin's rival is the one who gifted him this dragon."
"So, what does this have to do with Avis Bran?"
"This harvesting apparatus is his design." Dad answered. I looked over and saw Mr. Branwen punch Dr. Merlot. At that moment the dragon's eyes opened. "Get back." Dad said as he pulled me away. His eyes began glowing.
"Raymond wait." Ozpin called out.
"Run." Raymond grabbed me and I grabbed Julius. We dashed up to the observation deck.
"Now look at what you've done." Merlot blamed.
"My powers didn't work on it." Dad said.
"They did." Ozpin sighed. "You just made it more frightened. Your abilities aren't enough to petrify it so quickly. Is there a kill switch?" Ozpin asked. The dragon was growing more restless and struggled against its restraints. Merlot's eyes ghosted to a button. Ozpin walked towards it.
"No!" Merlot tackled Ozpin. The force knocked over the globe. The dragon broke free of its restraints and started smashing through the walls as it shrieked. The chaos of the situation knocked the glass over. Ozpin knocked Merlot out. The glass dome shattered and the mist slammed into me.
It all happened so fast. The dragon was clawing its way through the lab and the rock of the mountain. I was against sitting in Julius' lap. I blushed and stood up. A white blob dropped to the ground, out of the black mist as it vanished. A strange feeling washed over me…it was…emptiness.
"Wizard?" It bubbled. It looked like a giant white slug man. Drool dripped from its mouth and seared through the floor. "Argentware." It hissed.
"Raymond. Take the kids and get out of here." Ozpin said. Dad got in a defensive stance. "Go, now." He said.
"We can help." Julius said.
"Raymond and Violet's genetic trait is the only thing that can stop that dragon. Corvus and I will deal with the Grimoire." My heart sunk. Grimoire…the progenitors of all the Grimm.
"I don't think so." Void hissed. It spat acid at us. Ozpin swooped in and put a dome around us. With a flick of his wrist he changed his grip on his cane to wield it like a weapon. Void leaped towards us. Ozpin moved so fast that he looked like half a dozen Ozpins stabbing at the beast all at once.
"GET TO THE CITY NOW!" Ozpin yelled as he batted Void away again. Julius grabbed my hand and we started running.
AN: The fall of Mountain Glenn has begun. We all know that it turns out bad. How bad does it turn out? Keep reading to find out. Also, Void is back, that Glynda eating bastard is…not going to appear again. This is in first person so we'll only see what she does.