AN: I have decided to do a serious revision of my early chapters considering the lack of punctuations… and possible mistakes, oh and it case you noticed, the name of the fic changed again.

Also, there are going to be four more chapters (That will also probably be re-written after vol 3 starts.)

UPDATED: 4/JUN/2015

Changed the race of Jude from lion to wolf Faunus in this chapter.

RWBY is own by Monty Oum

Chapter 20

"So, what is it going to be?"

The blonde noble stared at the white ring and then at Celsius for about half minute until he sighed and turned around to walk to the window, "It is not like I am having a fair choice in this matter." Stated Drake, making the spirit mentally smirk seeing that he was going to agree.

"But I am afraid I first need to do something first." Replied the blonde as he started straight at the sun while Celsius stared in confusion at his words.

"Take your time." Stated Flynn for the first time since the whole conversation started.

"I will."

And with nothing else needing to be said, Drake let himself fall back into his own shadow.

"Anything you have to say in your defense?" asked the blonde the moment he landed inside the shadow world, not even looking at the direction Shadow was.

"…"

"We are having a weird moment here, I am giving you the benefit of the doubt and you are going to stay quiet."

Shadow watched from somewhere while the blonde walked to were all of his belongings where, including Lloyd`s.

"WHAT DO… YOU WANT ME… TO SAY?... THAT EVERYTHING… SHE SAID…WAS A VILE LIE."

Drake took his time to answer as he grabbed each of the items one by one and tossed it to one of the three entrances that were close to him, to which he guess belonged to Yuri, Flynn, and Repede.

"Perhaps I do." Replied Drake more curious in knowing Shadow`s full opinion on the situation, but it looked like it was once again him playing a mind game against the noble.

"EVERYTHING RELATED… TO WHAT HAPPENED… 4000 YEARS AGO… IT IS TRUE"

Drake stopped what he was doing for a second and then continued with a feeling of anger, for confession what he was planning, and because how calm he was being. Then again, it was impossible to know what his emotions were with that phantom like voice of his, "Is that all you are going to say?"

Shadow did not answer to his question that time, instead what Drake heard were the sounds of footsteps coming from behind.

"Let`s cut to the chase, shall we?"

Drake stopped for a second as he finally took Lloyd`s mother memento, and put it inside the pocket of his jacked to then turn around to see Shadow taking the blonde`s form, "You want to know how I am so calm of all of this, how is my master plan going to take fly if I cannot 'corrupt' you,"

Drake twitched at how he put the emphasis on the word.

"It is because there is no reason for me worry Draky, because the person Rem was suppose to take over is already death and I am pretty sure that Kratos won't let himself get taken by her again," exclaimed the spirit with hands spread while Drake took a mental note about what he said about his dad.

"And because it is just like I said to Celsius, one way or another you are going to fill your role in all of this, one way or another."

Drake narrowed his eyes and stared blankly at him as he finished his speech.

He turned around and walked to the nearest portal without saying a word, "See you later Drake, because I am can assure you, we will!"

The noble didn't say anything. He went through the portal, which was Yuri`s shadow, and instead of looking at either of his friends, he looked straight at the spirit who was giving him and scowl, but so was he.

"I have a lot of things I want to ask you." said Drake as he started walking to her and raised his palm asking for the ring.

"Rise and shine sunshine!"

Drake slowly started to open his eyes at the sound at the familiar yet not so familiar voice of Coco Adel, which was then followed by the sound of engines that made him growl since he was already starting to feel his dreaded nausea.

"Are we there yet?" asked Drake instantly looking at his feet so he didn't focus on the outside.

"Nope, but better be awake now so you are alert in the field later."

Drake only scowled as he slowly raised his head to see the leader of CFVY smiling like if nothing was happening. Then again, it wasn't like if she could see his full face thanks to his scarf.

"Why is it that people find torturing me with planes funny?"

Coco laughed, "Don't be so delicate. What doesn't kill you makes stronger." Said the brunette as she slapped his back making the feeling of dizziness worse.

"At least you are in a perfect condition."

"Yeah, shame I can't say the same about my teammate." Replied Coco as she looked at the empty seat next to her.

It turns Coco has a strong stomach, shame the same couldn't be said about Velvet. It turned out Flynn`s roulette food did more harm to her than he or Yuri thought, making her unavailable for this mission.

"Remind me why didn't you ask one of the two other members of your team to help."

The female crossed her hands and leaned back as a heavy sigh came, "We had a very big mission before your first years had yours, and then the whole attack of the Grimm right the day after. I simply thought they needed some well-deserved rest. Besides, compared to yours, my mission is easy."

"Mine isn't hard either, I already have experience with the Grimm in that zone, the most problematic thing I can find there is a king Taijutu."

"And may I calmly ask how do you know that?"

Drake could feel Coco`s gaze on him, "Family vacation, why?"

Coco narrowed her eyes, "Because that place isn't know for your tourist kind of vacation. Hell, it is a miracle that town is still standing."

'A miracle called Colette Brunel, then again I don't know how were they able to survive this last seven years.' Thought Drake as he remembered that he didn't answer coco`s previous statement, "Tell that to my brother, he was the one who insisted in going."

Coco frowned seeing that she entered a personal territory, it was thanks to the incident that took place after the attack to Vale that she found out a little about Drake`s backstory, "Sorry, didn't mean to."

"No it is ok, I already accepted that cruel fact."

Coco frowned more as she leaned back again.

"By the way, I wanted to thank you."

Drake raised his eyebrow at that, "Why?" asked the blonde as he forced himself to look at Coco.

"There are not many people who can make some brute fall or hit himself over and over again, just like there is only one person who has some kind of shadow manipulation. Thank you for helping Velvet."

Now he understood what she meant, she was talking about that time Cardin was bulling Velvet.

"No problem. If anything I am the one to say thank you and sorry at the same time."

"You talking about what happened yesterday?"

The blonde nodded.

"Not at all, for that little incident I have to thank you again. If it wasn't because you didn't take the risk of a gamble with Flynn`s food, I wouldn't have one of the best discounts of my life."

Drake chuckled at that, "If you are calling me a coward in that case, so be it. My rate of being the first to take his food and having luck is of 30%, so you cannot blame me for not taking that bet."

"Not that I can blame you, but I am actually more intrigued in tasting his good food."

"Go ahead and ask him, that is if you have either a death wish or a serious gamble problem."

"Piece of advice bud, without sacrifice, there is no victory. If gaining an indigestion is one of the risk of tasting something delicious, then so be it." Replied Coco, making Drake frown at the comment, especially for the bud part.

"ETA minus five minutes." Said the pilot from the cabin making Coco smirk as she stood up and walked to the door.

"I would be standing up if I were you, the bullhead isn't going to land."

Drake growled as he forced himself to stand up and not to fall, "The jumping and landing I can handle," said Drake as he got closer to the entrance, "It is being in a ship what I cannot handle, but I suppose you already noticed that didn't you?"

He didn't look at her, but somehow he knew she had a smirk planted on her face, "Hey wonder what that is?"

Drake looked up pass the town and looked to a something he knew way to well, "A really big rock." Replied Drake who had an small smile behind his scarf.

"Ok, this is where we part ways" said Coco after she saw the bullhead going away and then turned to look at Drake, "I am going to see the ma- why are you wearing those?" asked the brunette as she saw Drake wearing black goggles that completely covered his green eyes.

"I got a serious attack of allergies the last time I was around here, so I am making sure not to get them while fighting with the Grimm." Replied Drake as he put his hood to cover his hair.

"And that is also for your allergies?"

The blonde nodded, making sure nobody saw him.

"Well, good luck with that bud," said Coco as she walked behind him to gave him an small pat on the but, making him freeze were he stood, "You can head to beacon with me tonight If you can finish quickly, see ya around." Replied Coco as she started walking away.

"Coco," said Drake making her turn around to start walking back.

"What, you don't like bei-"

"Do not call me bud."

Coco stopped at that, "huh?"

"Please, just don't call me bud." Replied Drake with a hint of annoyance as he started to walk to the west exit of the town as he slightly moved his goggles to rub the part in between his eyes, he really didn't want to think in the most annoying person he knew in this very moment, while Coco just stared at him walking away.

"Weird, men are usually arguing about me being slapping then and not the other way around."

Drake kept walking not looking at anything nor anyone without any sort of distraction, too bad his scroll started ring, and even worse when he saw who was calling.

"Sup bud."

'Goddammit Coco.' Thought Drake as he said the same line he told the brunette not a minute ago.

"Are you in Vale?" asked the blonde.

"Yeah, I am in the airport, and it turns out that our clones decided to go to beacon."

"Te-"

"I already told Yuri and Flynn, they should be there by now."

"… Good, anything else?"

"I heard you are going there."

'Already here idiot.' Thought the blonde as he let his friend continue.

"Do you want me get there? You know, in case that scary woman return with her almighty shotgun."

The blonde chuckled at that, "Nah, I have this under control. But just to make things clear, you owe me one Zelos."

"Yeah yeah, rub it on my face. Gonna leave you now, don't know how long do you have before you lost connection?"

"Huh?" asked Drake not understanding why would he lose connection.

"By the way, why don't I here the engines of the bullhead, don't tell me you are still in the academy."

Drake`s opened slightly in realization, "Hey Zelos, need go, talk to you later." Replied Drake ignoring the words of the red head as he looked around.

The reason why Zelos thought he wasn't in the village yet, it was because that town didn't have any kind of connection with the four kingdoms, it didn't even have tower of communications nor something that could give signal to a scroll.

But now it was completely different. Drake looked around to see that there was a small antenna in the center of the town, but that was not all he noticed.

"The hell happened here?" asked Drake as he saw that some of the houses and structures were destroyed, and it didn't look like any kind of Grimm did it since he could notice the type of chaos was different and there were even any sign of claws.

"Are you the huntsman in training from Beacon?"

Drake`s thought was interrupted as he saw a soldier wearing a uniform of Beacon`s military, who by the looks of had a dislocated arm.

"Yes sir." Replied Drake, making the soldier nod as motioned to follow him.

"We have already take care of a big number of Grimm, but I am afraid most of them got away, and by the number of them there is a high possibility that there is a nest in some part of the forest."

Drake nodded as he noticed that the town now was surrounded by big wall of metal, making for the Grimm to enter something almost impossible since it looked like it was reinforced.

"Sir, I am afraid I was not fully debriefed before coming here, mind telling me what happened here? Since it looks to me that the Grimm did not do this."

"You are correct, what happened here is a complete different matter to why you are here, the number of Grimm in this area has been increasing for some reason."

"And that is why the military was send here." Stated Drake as he saw that most of the soldiers were heavily wounded near the entrances while some were unconscious in front to what he guessed was the clinic of the town.

"I know it is not my reason to know, but what exactly happened here then?"

The soldier stopped and turned around, "Around a week ago, two individuals, one to according to the descriptions of the villagers was a wolf Faunus around your age and a older girl with very Long blonde hair and lilac eyes, came to the town and attacked it."

Drake didn't need to question or say that something smelled rotten.

"It also looked like something similar happened 7 years ago when three children of 12 years old did the same and kidnapped a young girl of age 10."

'Yup, more rotten than Sun's hygiene.' Thought Drake seeing that the story repeated itself, he actually found it funny since this looked like Doctor Oobleck would say.

'Those who do not know history's mistakes are doomed to repeat them.'

"With all do respect, that last one sounded like bullshit."

The soldier nodded and chuckled, "Yeah, must of my squad said the same, even if the report of 7 years ago is legit."

'Report?'

"Anyway, contrary to that time we have small footage of the ones that this did, so there shouldn't be any kind of problem believing it, now shall we?" asked the soldier as he began walking again while Drake followed letting his current thoughts for another moment.

"Here we are," stated the soldier, "The headmaster of Beacon said that we leave you go alone, th-"

"That my abilities should be more than enough to handle this kind of situation." Said Drake completing the sentence the soldier was saying seeing that the blonde noticed how uncomfortable the injured man was.

"Well… yes." Replied the man not sure of his words.

"Don't worry, the headmaster has high expectations in me." Replied Drake putting a little sarcasm in the sentence as he kept walking ignoring the look of the soldier.

"I am ready." Said the blonde making the soldier nod as he gave the order to open the gate.

He walked to the other side and kept walking until he was far from the town so he could take of his goggles and put his hood off to notice that various clouds were starting to gather, signaling it was about to rain.

'Perfect.' Thought the blonde as he focuced.

'I am still 4 hours away from the first place I saw Grimm in this area.' Thought the blonde as he took a deep breath to then start running.

'At his speed I should arrive to that area in half the time, and if I just happen to find a Grimm, I will just follow it until I reach his nest, then an Indignation should do the trick' thought Drake thinking in the efficient way he could complete his objective.

The blonde then started to think at what the soldier said while he was in the village, he thought that perhaps the reason they attacked those two was because the girl might resemble Colette, even thought the description of the woman resembles more a certain brawler from a team with the name of a jewel.

But what really bothered him was the mention of a wolf Faunus, because it just happens that one of his friends was not only one, but that according to Yuri, said Faunus has been missing from the medical school in Mistral for a good time now.

They should have found about his disappearance sooner. But it was not until Drake had asked for the help of those capable of helping with his current predicament that they found out about him.

Drake shook his head at the thought and postpone it for another time, now he had a mission to complete.

Something wasn't right; it has already been more than half an hour since he passed the destined area and he has yet to find or at least see any kind of Grimm activity.

But that wasn't the only bad thing.

'I better not catch a cold.' Thought the noble who had his hood on to avoid getting his head wet by the more or less decent rain.

Drake stopped running as he noticed he was really close to the 'cave', making his feeling get worse, 'Why isn't any Grimm in this damn forest!?' thought the blonde in annoyance now knowing there was something terribly wrong with this forest.

The last time he was here, it was thanks to Colette that none of the Grimm attacked them. But she wasn't here anymore so this shouldn't be happening, and he didn't have an ego of the side of a building like Cardin to say the Grimm were scared of him now.

And then as if Oum himself had listened his thought, Drake heard the sound of something moving through the bushes to his right.

This made him draw his blade as he stepped back, this was not his original plan, but perhaps if he made a commotion, maybe and just maybe, more Grimm would come.

Only time would tell, without a second thought Drake took his stance as the noise got closer to reveal a dangerous and fearsome… squirrel.

"You have got to be kidding me!"

It was not just the reason that he got trolled by a squirrel that angered him, it was that something similar had happened in the past involving him, a squirrel and a King Taijutu, the only difference in that this time there was not a two headed snake.

The blonde looked at the squirrel while the animal did the same, the blonde then sighed and put his blade in the sheath, "You wouldn't happen to know where is a nest full of Grimm do you?"

The small animal simple returned from where he came from and disappear, "Of course you don't."

He honestly thought that if a squirrel brought him to a Grimm the last time, then perhaps it could do it a second time.

Drake turned around and kept walking knowing he was losing time; it looked like he wouldn't be able to head to beacon today.

That was until he felt a little extra weight on his left shoulder, "huh?"

He turned his head in that direction to see the same squirrel looking straight at him, the little anime then pointed at the direction he came from originally making Drake amused.

"It is not like I have any other lead, point me in the right way my little friend."

The squirrel nodded.

'Zelos will never let me hear the end of this, if he finds out'

Drake walked in the direction the little animal pointed at to see exactly what he had seen the last two and a half hours, nothing.

That was until he started to notice some small things that started to escalate, from destroyed bushes and branches, to marked trees with very sharp claw. But what really got his attention was the different footstep on the ground.

Beowulf, Ursa, there was even a huge tire like track that meant that there was also a king Taijutu in the list, but that wasn't what confused him.

'Why the hell is there an human footstep here?'

The footstep belonged to a very huge and heavy man; Drake recalled the moment he was in the town trying to remember the wounded soldiers, none of then was of that complexion, and the armor they were wearing was not heavy enough to leave a mark this deep.

Drake was having a bad feeling, a very bad feeling.

"I think I can go on my own." Said the blonde as he took the squirrel to put it gently on the ground, "I suggest you to run." Said Drake as he drew Yin from it's sheath and started walking forward feeling a dreaded and more dreaded with every step he took until he reached something he did not expected to see, not only a great part of the zone completely burned and destroyed.

Grimm, or at least what it was left of them since he could notice they were already in the last stage of degradation.

"Looks like someone did my job," stated Drake as a lighting fell from the sky causing a shadow to appear in front of him.

But the thing was, what Drake saw was not his shadow. Instead it was the shadow of a more muscular and bigger figure, one that also looked like if it was about to swing a big weapon to slice him.

Drake quickly turned around and jumped back taking a defense position with his blade as he saw a familiar giant axe slamming the ground were he once stood, creating a barrage of fire rocks to fly at him.

'Barrier!'

The noble tensed all the muscles on his body as a pale green sphere to deflect the rocks.

"Hey Magni! Attacking from behind!? I suppose I had to expect that from someone as you." Questioned Drake as he foot made contact with the ground and the Barrier disappeared.

"My patience has his limits as you could have noticed!" shouted the red haired man as he began spinning the massive axe with one hand and charged at the blonde, "And it is lord Magnius!"

'So he was the one that did my job, but something doesn't seem right…' thought Drake as he started to run away seeing that the size of the axe and the ability Magnius had with it were no joke, in other words, a frontal attack was not the best of ideas, especially if said person was physically stronger as Presea, who just happened to be the person who broke his blade.

"So what!? You got bored and decided to play with the Grimm, whoever told you I was going to be here really sucks in handling information." Said Drake keeping his usual demeanor as best he could, even if he found the whole situation a little funny.

Drake jumped high to avoid another barrage of rocks.

To his surprise Magnus did not answered back, instead all Drake could hear from above was growling, "Get down from there and fight like a man!"

The red headed man swung his axe to easily cut the tree where he saw Drake jump, only to see he wasn't here, "Call me what you want, but I am cool headed enough to know that fighting in normal terms would be a suicide."

Magnus immediately swung his axe in the direction he heard the voice to cut down another tree as he shouted, "So you can't do anything without that white blade of yours, Pathetic!"

"So that is what this is about? Me beating the living shit out of you and letting you life." Replied Drake as he saw from another tree the one he previously was go down to immediately move again seeing that his position was once again compromised.

"You humiliated me in front of the other cardinals, there is no way in hell I am going to let humiliation go by, orders be damn!"

'Orders?'

"I am tired of Forcystus and the others saying to stay away from you for the current time, whatever my lord has planned for you doesn't necessarily mean you need to be in perfect condition for that." Said the axe wielder who started to spin his weapon above his head with both arms.

'He isn't here to kill me, he is here to capture me.' Thought the blonde as he saw that the air around Magnius was starting to become stronger, 'But there still the question of who exactly told him I was going to be here, he didn't necessarily said how long he had waiting, but judging by the wave of destruction it had to be around the time Coco and I left Beacon, and only a few persons knew about this mission… Ozpin being one of them. "I am really confident in your abilities" he says. Fuck you Ozpin.'

Drake started to think hard about that theory, above everyone else, only Ozpin knew about it, and then there were his friends with Yuri and Flynn first to then Zelos, and lastly he could not forget about his current partner, her bunny friend and finally team RWBY.

The blonde shook his head, right now he had another things to take care of, and by that he meant the two-meter tall man spinning his axe.

"Lets see if you are going to be able to hide after this!" Magnius shouted before swinging his axe in a circular motion cutting all of the trees around him.

Drake was prepared to jump back and retreat from the scene not expecting what was going to happen. He could barely heard it, but he knew he heard the man down snapping his fingers, making explosions occur in all of the trees he cut not a second later.

'Combustion!?' thought Drake as he put a great quantity of aura in his legs to jump high in the air to then notice that the man below him was looking everywhere but up.

Seeing this as his chance, Drake took the choice of strike back instead of retreating. The blonde instantly charged in the air using Rising Falcon, thinking he would be able to knock him out.

Drake put more aura in his attack to go faster with only a few meters to land his strike, but everything turned out badly for him as Magnius jumped back with only little distance away, "Did you seriously thought I would be that predictable!?"

Drake panicked as he reached the position Magnius previously was, while said person was standing to his side ready to use his weapon as a baseball bat.

The noble immediately put his arms in front of him along with every bit of aura he had on them so he could take the impact. But still, all he could feel was instant pain the moment his axe made contact.

The noble was send flying in a direction passing and destroying every tree on his way until his back made impact with something very solid while he could barely hear the sound of cracks behind him as he dropped his blade from the pain in both arms.

'Pl-please tell me that wasn't my back.' Thought the blonde as he fell on the ground and then forced himself to stand up and look back to see the Magnius had sent him all the way to the 'cave'.

He even managed to send him with enough strength to make a crack in the surface. Then again, all of the absorbing dust it once had was taken by him and the others 7 years ago, so all what remained was a very big hard rock.

Drake, who was feeling a great deal of pain, walked to and moved his right arm very slowly to take his blade, completely ignoring the sound of something crashing behind him, followed by the sound of something falling apart.

'This… just isn't my day.'

Drake turned around to see Magnius axe on the ground and a hole in the massive surface.

"You have got to be kidding me." Muttered Drake amazed than that man`s strength was so powerful to make that hole.

"I need to get o-"

"Out of here,"

Drake's eyes widened as he turned around to see Magnius hand grabbing his throat and then slam it once again against the 'cave'.

"Yeah no shit brat. Just as I expected, nothing without the help of your fancy weapon."

Drake only saw as he Magnius gave him an evil grin as he raised his fist, the blonde tried to move his arms but the pain he was feeling right now was just big, it was only a miracle that he was still able to hold his blade.

"Time to sleep."

The red headed man raised his fist, "I honestly expected more from you."

The blonde narrowed his eyes and tried to raise his free arm and do a Raging Blast, but he eventually gave up. No, more like waited for something else.

"Now you give up?"

Drake smirked behind his scarf, "More like accepting help."

"Huh? From who ex-"

"Hey asshole!"

Magnius turned around with Drake's throat still on his hand to see a woman in brown with a bag a from afar.

"Hands off the first grader, or else?"

Coco raised her bag causing the man to laugh hysterically, making her scowl deeper

Drake didn't know how, but he knew Coco Adel was pissed, not because there was someone threating him, but rather because all of her expensive clothes were wet.

He honesty didn't know whom to fear more right now, but considering that Coco just turned her handbag into her trusty Gatling gun pointing at Magnius, who was still laughing, and only because he could not move... him as well, yeah the answer was pretty obvious to him.

"Magny, I would move if I was you." Said Drake forcing himself to speak as he saw Coco taking aim while the man tried to stop laughing, "Do you seriously think a puny girl and her han-"

Coco didn't let him finish the sentence… well more like the barrage of bullets that made contact with him did not let him finish the sentence as the red headed man dropped Drake on the ground as he was pushed inside of the 'cave.'

The blonde turned his head while being in the ground to notice that Coco was no longer shooting and instead walking to him with her Gatling gun in her hand back form.

"You better be happy, because I am totally wet and not in the good way." Said Coco as she kneeled to help him stand, taking notice of the sound of cracking coming from his arms.

"Good to see you have your priorities straight." Said Drake trying to sound sarcastic as she tried to help him more gently.

"Who the hell was that guy? And why was he attacking you?" asked Coco as they started to walk away with the blonde`s free hand around the fashionista`s neck.

"If I have to guess, one of my dad`s old friends." Lied Drake not really knowing what to get out of his current predicament.

"What exactly did you dad to anger him so much?"

"I really don't think this is the best time for questions Coco… thank you by the way." Replied Drake actually being more grateful to her that anyone else outside his usual group of friends, "I will find a way to pay you up someday".

He would have face palmed himself at what he said, if it wasn't because his arms were screwed.

"Oh really, I could also use a discount like the one your friend Yuri did with me, you know the saying, better buy things when they are close to home." Said Coco with a clear smile on his face.

Drake seriously wanted to question if that saying was real or no, but he frankly didn't care right now, "Remind me when we return to Beacon."

Coco smirked as she gave a pat on his butt, which caused him growl in pain since only now was his aura was only starting to heal him, "Look at the good side, I am going to let you accompany me."

That was a double-edge weapon, you could have a beautiful sight in front of you, but then you had to carry the backs.

"I will think about it." Replied the blonde with a ghost smile behind his scarf

"That`s the spirit, now lets get out of here before I get more wet."

"That is probably the best thing I have heard in the whole day." Drake said as they continued walking away until the ground began to shake.

"Well not for me." Said Coco as a massive scream of rage could be heard behind them, "Forget what I said, that is the worst one." Said Coco wondering how the hell Magnius was awake so soon.

Unfortunately it was not either since a huge pillar of fire erupted from inside of the dome, which was now destroyed, making Drake`s eye wide significantly.

"We need to get out of here now."

Coco only nodded at the obvious statement as she hurried up, to bad the scream seemed to get closer at a very high speed.

Drake immediately turned around to see a massive shadow surrounded by fire coming straight at them while holding a familiar giant axe.

The blonde pushed Coco away as he raised his blade to stabbed it in the ground to execute a Guardian Field, he knew that would not protect him, but that at least raise his healing a little.

Seeing that that his flaming enemy was critically closer, the blonde instantly stopped his arte and did a back flip to avoid the massive axe.

'Here goes nothing.' Thought the noble as he entered in Overlimit which caused Magnius to gave a little step back which he took advantage of.

The noble quickly made his blade being surrounded by the black purple energy of his Marian and then do a Supersonic Thrust which landed successfully on his chest.

'This is it!'

Black flames suddenly surrounded the blade of the blonde as he quickly began to deliver a high number of slashed until he made a strong vertical one, which send the flaming Magnius up.

"Final Fury!" shouted Drake as he landed one final slash in the air which send Magnius away. But that did not meant it was over, because he had thrown his axe right at him before he recovered from that leaving the blonde without protection of the incoming weapon.

"Got you cover!" shouted Coco as he saw a barrage of bullets make the axe stop.

Drake landed and looked at Coco who had the Gatling gun out once again, he then looked in front of him to see Magnius walking to his axe as the flames began to disappear to reveal the red headed man with two little changes. And by little he meant the pair of red like fire horns that were suddenly on his head.

'The hell?' thought Drake as he noticed that his eyes were not only red but also slit, he finally noticed that there was one faint red glowing that was being covered by his purple clothes.

Magnius picked his axe and threw it to Coco who shot the weapon away while Drake looked at her direction not seeing the incoming fist that was planted on his face and then be grabbed once again by the throat.

"Oh you have to be fucking kidding me, seriously!?" asked Coco from afar.

"It is not like I- argh… asked to be in this situation." Said Drake as he tried to break free as he saw Coco aiming his Gatling Gun at them once again, but unlike the previous time.

"You piece of shit." Muttered Coco as Magnius used Drake as a shield this time.

"Adel get the hell out of here! There is no-"

"Like hell I am going to listen someone younger than me!" shouted Coco as she began to shoot aiming at his legs, to which the now horned red head just ran to the side avoiding the barrage of bullets as he threw Drake causing her to drop her weapon to catch him.

"Got you." Replied Coco as she quickly looked around to see Magnius was nowhere.

"Up!" shouted Drake as he tackled her to the ground to save her from being sliced by the giant axe.

"You are done for." Said Magnius for the first time since his come back as he raised his axe with his preys laying on the ground in front of him, which caused Drake to embrace Coco to protect her, "What are you doing!?"

"I will use all of my aura to take that hit and create a momentum with the impact, after that you need to take your weapon an shoot to kill with no mercy, that is the only way I see out of this one." Muttered Drake as she saw at Coco`s eyes with determination while her brown ones hardened after that and nodded as she saw the giant axe ready to chop Drake down as her eyes widened, not because of the axe, but because of all the purple magic like circles that appeared above them, something Magnius also took notice.

"The hell?" said Coco, making Drake slightly look up to see something he recognized, Indignation.

"Guardian!" shouted Drake as hard he could making the green force field surround them as he embraced Coco tightly.

"Now what are you doing!?"

"Securing our lives." Replied Drake as a massive lighting fell down from the sky and hit the very same spot they were in while it send the axe wielder flying away.

"Seriously," said Drake who was panting as he stopped embracing Coco an laid next to her, "We would had been goners, if it wasn't because I had been trying to develop my aura to resist lightning attacks," muttered Drake who had been trying to make lighting his second base element since he mastered the Indignation arte, but stopped after Lloyd`s death.

"But anyway," said Drake as he sat on the ground as the could hear the sound of someone getting closer, "I think it is the first time I am happy you did not listen to me, thanks Ze…" Drake stopped his sentence as he saw the person who saved him, and contrary to what he believed, it wasn't Zelos.

"Who are you?" asked Drake who was back to his usual demeanor as he tightened the grip on his blade while a black-cloaked figure with gold lines on the extremes stood only a few feet away from him and Coco.

"You shouldn't be here." Said the figure as he took on of his hand and extended his palm to him making a green light appear, which made the blonde tense as the light took the form of a massive sword like double-edged naginata with weird designs on each.

'This is bad.' Thought the blonde since he had used every last bit of is aura in that Barrier, something Coco did notice by how pale he looked.

"You really have the luck of a sucker." Said Coco as she took her Gatling gun and aimed at the man.

"Yeah, you can blame Yuri for that." Muttered the blonde as the figure pointed his weapon in their direction, "Move."

"Huh?" muttered both as the person charged at a faster speed that both expected since it looked like his weapon was not light at all. But what really surprised them both was that he did not attack them, instead he passed to block an incoming attack from Magnius who looked at the figure in front of him with a mixture of anger and fear.

"Why the hell are you here!?"

"That should be my question." Replied the man calmly as he let Magnius axe pass his weapon to deliver a spin kick.

"You… sassy," said the man referring to Coco, "Take him and get out of here now."

Those were the last words of the man as he forced Magnius to pull back by using his weapon like a throwing javelin surrounded by lighting.

"You heard him," said Coco as she transformed her weapon into it`s compact form as she walked to Drake to help him walk.

"I am afraid that isn't an option," replied Drake as he heard the sound of metal clashing with metal from the distance.

"Are you kidding me, those two are in a whole other level!?"

"I noticed," replied the blonde once again as a massive tornado appeared from the distance, which was soon followed by a huge torrent of fire that clashed creating a huge explosion that send Drake flying away making his head crash with a tree that knocked him out.

He remembered the first time he drank alcohol. Well, more like the next morning after the day he first drank alcohol, his head was literally killing him.

How was this relevant? Because his head was also killing him as mush as it did back then.

The noble slowly opened his eyes to see blurred until he started to see clear little by little to notice that Coco was laying next to him, that it was still raining, his blade was gone, his hood was off... and something else.

"How the hell I am still alive?"

Those were the words that came out of his mouth as he looked at the area around him; everything in more or less a 3 km radius was destroyed.

"Finally awake huh?" said the voice of the figure as Drake turned around as a giant blue circle surrounded him and Coco.

"A Healing circle, that should be enough to take care of some of your wounds and replenish some of your aura."

"What happened to Magnius?" asked Drake not liking his predicament seeing that the person in front of him might be stronger than the red headed man.

"He is gone, although something tells me it will be quite sometime before you see him again." Said the man as he took his hand of the cloak with his blade in hand.

"I did not expect to meet Magnius here, nor you as a matter of fact. Nor did I expected that someone not only took all of the crystals, but more specifically that it was you who got his hands on them… I don't know what is going on in your life Drake, but whatever you do, try to stay away from the spirits, especially Shadow."

The noble`s eyes widened significantly as the man pointed at his Keychain, "Who the hell-"

"Who I am it is not important," replied the man interrupting the blonde, "Also, stay away from Cruxis, "Replied the man making something Drake didn't thought possible.

Drake surprise multiplied as a familiar scene took place, a great number of feathers made of aura appeared around the man in the same way it did with everyone else who had this semblance, the only different it was his were purple.

"Your father worked too hard so you were not involved with neither of them."

Drake`s eyes narrowed, "Then why the hell is he allowing me to continue with this?" asked the blonde with a hint of anger on his voice, not at Kratos, but the man in front of him as wings of purple color appeared behind said person.

"I was not talking about Kratos."

Those were the last words of the man as he took flight leaving the noble once more shocked and angered.

'Why the hell does everyone I meet know more about me than myself!?' thought Drake angered as he sheathed his blade and walked to Coco to put her on his back.

"I really wish I could use my semblance right now." Said the blonde cursing how heavy Coco`s bag was, and plus that he still had to carry Coco.

The noble prepared to walk away. But not before he looked back at the direction the massive rock once was with saddened eyes seeing that the place of one of his happiest moment was destroyed. Yeah, in his definition this was a terrible day.

"Can we please go back already?"

Drake`s eye twitched at the sound of the voice behind him, "Nobody asked you to come and help."

"You better be grateful I am exhausted, because I would send you straight to next week without thinking it twice."

"Cut the fake excuses, you should be in more than a perfect condition to walk by yourself." Replied the blonde as he started walking knowing full well the Healing Circle should had helped her with her wounds and aura.

"It is just I am so comfortable right now."

The blonde out a blank face at the comment, which changed to a red one the moment she embraced him tighter.

"Don't make me drop you." Replied the noble trying to sound in his cold and usual demeanor.

"Oh come on, you should at least be feeling something positive."

Drake took his time to answer while Coco was a little disappointed seeing that the scarf was hiding whatever if he was showing any reaction or not, "It would be way more comfortable if I was just carrying you."

Coco smirked as she made a gesture in front of him with her hand indicating tog give her the bag.

"Much better." Replied the blonde feeling way more comfortable.

"By the way, what happened with those guys?"

Drake narrowed his eyes, "Beats me."

LINEBREAK

"This is bullshit." Said Coco behind a door as the sound of a dry cleaner was heard, "Most of this clothes should be let drying under the sun!"

"Not my fault your clothes don't dry themselves." Replied the noble in a calmed but serious voice as he thought about the events that happened in the forest.

They were back in the village, in an inn to be more specific.

And the first thing Coco Adel decided to do was going straight to the inn so she could take a shower and dry her clothes, and things took a worst turn as she saw Drake`s jacket, scarf and pants drying themselves from EVERY type of liquid, but that did not meant all the mud and dirt were gone since his clothes only took care of liquid and wetness.

So while Coco was in one room using the dry cleaner, Drake was in another with washing machine only wearing his black-buttoned shirt and his underwear.

"You wouldn't happen to have the number of the guy who designed your clothes, do you?"

"You are talking to him, and before you ask the answer is no."

Silence took place, "I am more amazed that you would do something like this."

"My brother specialized in making weapons, seeing that he was doing something productive I decided to do the same."

"So while your brother created weapons… you made clothes that dried themselves." Coco replied with a blank voice trying to see the logic in that.

"No, I did clothes that were enhanced with a lost of resistance dust, the drying part was a plus." Replied Drake as he decided to walk around the room he was currently in

"Hey"

"Yes?" asked Coco from the other side.

"What exactly was your mission anyway, I mean judging by your perfect timing, you should had gone outside the village around 30 minutes after I left." Said the blonde as he rested his back next to the door of the room she was currently in as said person sighed from the other side.

"You saw the destruction when we arrived here?"

"Yes." Drake muttered loud enough so she could hear seeing that this was related to his possible missing friend.

"Then I guess you asked one of the guards about the situation. Anyway, Professor Ozpin sent me here to verify if the accusations were true or not, especially since according to the records something similar happened 7 years ago by three boys that could not be older 12, can you believe that?"

Drake smirked as he mentally said 'we were 10.'

"Did you know that this village didn't have any kind of defense against the Grimm before that incident, it was like if an angel or some kind of higher being was watching over them."

'More like a mistreated mute girl that had a heart way bigger than any asshole in this hellhole.' Thought the blonde as he kept listening.

"Anyway, they were forced to ask the help of the kingdoms after that incident, that is why this village is so reinforced now."

"But that still doesn't explain why sent you?"

"Because the Professor thought something smelled fishy, and now I agree with him."

That got him curious, "Explain."

"I was going there. The report they send after the incident of this time was the same of 7 years ago, with the exception that this time the attackers didn't abduct anyone, but the report was the same, in simple words 'they started to attack us with out reason.' To me it looked like an excuse to hide something."

He was glad she was able to see through that, "And what does the video footage tells you?"

"Wow, you really did you homework,"

Drake raised his eyebrow as he listened steps getting closer to the door, which was opened slightly, "Here" Said Coco only showing her face without her sunglasses and her naked hand with her scroll, "It is already unlocked with the video ready to play."

"Thanks." Said Drake as he took the scroll and stopped seeing that she wasn't letting the device go as she looked straight at the blonde`s face.

"You should really stop hiding such handsome face behind that scarf."

Drake sighed as she finally let the device go, "I should say the same about you eyes." Replied blonde making her pout, but not for embarrassment, "You are no fun." Replied the brunette as she closed the door while Drake focused on the video.

She really wanted to get a reaction out of him.

"Let`s try to be quick, the bullhead will arrive in 30 minutes." said Coco as the sound of the washing machine stopped.

'I think I have another thing to add to my already long list of things I have to do.' Thought the noble as he saw the video to recognize the wolf Faunus.

"Ahem…"

Coco was currently talking with Velvet via Scroll while the blonde tried to think any other place that inside the airship.

"Only another hour to go Draky." Said Coco before focusing back at her call while the blonde just growled.

"Yeah no problem but wh- Hey put her back on the scroll!... ahem but I still don't understand why… ok I will, but you owe one." Said Coco as she ended the call and then sighed.

"Everything ok?" asked the blonde.

"Yeah, just someone asking for a favor," said the leader and then looked at him, "Say, wanna go to the city and grab dinner, my treat."

"Why the sudden need to invite me of all people?" asked the blonde not feeling comfortable of talking about food with his nausea present.

"You and I got out of a really tight situation, and after that I think we deserve it."

Drake eyed at the fashionista to see her smiling at him, "Last time I checked, it was the man who bought dinner."

"Hey I am just being nice. But I don't see problem with you wanting to be a gentleman." Replied Coco with a grin as he took her statement as a 'yes.'

"Hey four-seven-niner! Mind leave us in the city instead?"

"Sorry bud, but I am afraid Ozpin wants you in the academy for his report."

Drake didn't see it because he was looking at his feet, but Coco tensed at the statement.

"For another time I guess."

"At least let me invite you to something to drink, I suppose it is the least I can do." Said Coco as she sat back and took her scroll.

"That should be my line." Replied the blonde trying to joke a little about it, not seeing the serious expression on the face of the brunette.

"Home sweet home I suppose." Said Drake as he touched ground with every feeling of nausea and illness.

"Come on," said Coco as she took his hand and started walk, "I think we can get that drink before we head to Ozpin."

"I have no objection with that, but why are we taking this way?" asked Drake as he noticed that the sun was only starting to hide in the horizon.

"You ask to many questions." Said Coco as they finally reached the dinning hall, "Wait here."

Drake saw her entering in the dinning hall leaving him confused by the sudden action. But quickly focused in something else, like the need to talk with Ironwood and the others of what happened today, and figuring it out who could have told Magnius where was going to be.

'It couldn't had been Coco, not after taking so extreme measures to save me, and as much as I want to point my fingers at Ozpin, I can't seeing that he should have seen the possibilities of Coco being hurt, so the only question that remains is who?'

Drake thought deeply about who could had been, leaving only the persons he trusted the most to point his finger to. Something he did not want to. Then there was also team RWBY, he knew that now he was being ridiculous, but he needed to have everyone in consideration.

Unfortunately his train of thoughts was interrupted, not by Coco, but by the sound of cheering and shouts that were happening inside, "Please tell me it is another food fight." thought the blonde out loud knowing Goodwitch was going to be pissed. But unfortunately for him, it wasn't.

Instead of what he thought it would be another food fight, courtesy of team RWBY and JNPR. There was a bunch of students accumulated in one spot seeing a big digital screen showing to what he guessed was a fight, something that surprised him, especially as the screen showed one of the persons who was fighting, someone who looked very exhausted.

"I knew that asshole was all talk, I am pretty sure I would be able to beat the freak lover now." Said Cardin who was grabbed by the back of his collar the moment he finished his sentence.

"Who the he-!" exclaimed the brown haired student after being slammed into a table to instantly meet a familiar black blade that was making contact with his neck while one of the members of his team ran at Drake to hit him, only to be caught by the blonde`s free hand as a red energy began to be noticed.

"Try anything and I blow his face," said Drake, making the other two members stop while Drake looked at Cardin ignoring the panic face of the one he just threaten to blow his head off.

"What the hell do yo-" Cardin stopped his sentence as he felt the blade making contact which caused an small drip of blood to appear.

"Listen to me and listen to me well, I have had the worst day of my whole year today, I am really tired and with no patience at all. So having those things in mind, imagine how angry I am when I return and there is someone talking shit about one of my best friends, especially from an actual piece of shit who everything who knows how to is pick on someone weaker than him, with no aptitudes leader or a huntsman with a team that isn't far behind, doesn't even how to properly use his stupid weapon, in other words someone so pathetic that I wouldn't be surprised if you died soon after you graduate, that is if you even manage to do that,"

Some of the students stopped watching the fight and paid attention to what Drake was saying to see that Cardin was both angered and scared because Drake was leaking some of his black aura without realizing it while his eyes glowed, "So I suggest to shut up if you don't want me to deal with you like the poor excuse of human being you are." Replied Drake who pulled his blade back, giving the chance to Cardin to stand up and punch him, only to be knock out by an straight fist to the face courtesy of the blonde who let the other member of CRDL go.

"As I said before, I am in no mood for this bullshit." Replied Drake as he put his blade back in his sheath while the rest of Cardin team helped him.

"Well that was something."

Drake turned his head to see Coco with two lattes in each hand, one that she handed to Drake, "Sorry about that."

The brunette shook her head, "Don't be, I am really more surprised by your outburst. You don't exactly have fame for being emotional." Said Coco with a smirk.

"I would wish if it could stay that way." Said Drake as he took it and looked at the screen one last before walking away time while Coco sighed mentally, that was until the camera finally changed to show the other fighter, making the blonde stand frozen in place.

"Drake?" asked Coco noticing how his eyes were changing from surprise, to pure anger.

"Sorry Coco but," started Drake as he took a long sip while the fashionista had a very bad feeling, "Can you please go ahead and tell Ozpin I am going to be late, I have an old reunion to attend to." Replied Drake as he started walking away while Coco sighed and took her scroll as she muttered the first things that came to mind, "Crap."

AN: Been a while since I wrote one so long

If you are wondering why I am introducing so many and characters and foreshadowing some, it is because they are going to have more protagonist time once canon decides to take place in the other kingdoms, For example, when they get to Mistral, Yuri and Flynn will have more 'screen time'

Considering I realized I have been rather lazy in some aspects, I am going to not only put the names of the artes used in each chapters, but also their description.

Barrier: a green crystal barrier surrounds the caster, and their magical defense is raised by a moderate amount.

Marian/Demon Attack (Drake`s signature arcane arte): When this arte is used, the user gathers energy in his sword before thrusting forward at the enemy, engulfing his blade with dark elemental energy to extend its range or simply used as a bigger sword.

Supersonic Thrust: It puts more strength and speed that it`s predecessor sonic thrust.

Indignation: the caster calls a massive bolt of lightning that creates a large dome of energy around its impact point, dealing Lightning-elemental damage. It is the highest-level and most powerful spell of its element that can be learned.

Healing Circle: a shining orb appears over the targeted ally, refracting a circle of light onto the ground, creating a temporary field that heals all allies within its range. Because the healing is gradual, characters can enter or leave the circle and receive some of the HP regeneration. Characters who leave before the end of the spell's effects will not continue to be healed once they leave the area of effect.

Raging Blast: the user reaches forward at the target and gathers explosive energy in their palm, causing any nearby enemies to be blasted away and knocked to the ground. Although this attack does not have a wide blast radius, it is useful to clear away small groups of enemies. It shall never be used in both hands and being close to each other, otherwise it will also affect the user.

Guardian Field: When the arte is activated, a field of light is summoned around or near the user, damaging all enemies within and pushing them away. Guardian Field is slow to execute, making it extremely impractical for combo purposes, but it can be useful to help protect and heal party members.

Final Fury: Mystic arte that varies depending on the user although it was always retain his basic properties of delivering powerful strikes not leaving the enemy to move until it ends.

Rising Falcon: The user jumps into the air and then dives downward at an angle toward the enemy. This arte is capable of covering a far distance of the battlefield, enabling it to be used as a tactic for mobility while also dealing damage to a distant target.