Hello my loyal readers, it is I, RYAN ROACH! I've felt for awhile now that Brendan Grimm ended on a bit of a low note so I figured I'd make an epilogue. In the process, however, I got into the groove of my oldest character again and I missed that feeling of nostalgia and growth I had gained from Brendan Grimm. So, I have decided to make a sequel for real this time. It'll be on my profile in the next week or so and I'll post an update on here when it is done. Get ready for Brendan Grimm: Days of Remnant Lost.
RUBY'S POV-15 years in the future
I leaned over my desk at the top of the Beacon clock tower, in the same seat Professor Ozpin had once occupied. The files of all the new school year's applicants spread out in front of me on the glass surface. The thick glass windows of the room created a perfect circle shape out of the large office, allowing the now bright and hot afternoon sun to filter in. Pillars of marble stretched from floor to ceiling in 8 different places along the edges of the room. The floors were made of glass as well so one could observe the inner workings of the clock. Outside of there was a balcony so I could watch the students with a bird's eye view as they moved about on the ground exactly 100 floors below me. I sighed deeply and pushed a few long hairs out of my eyes.
"Professor Rose?" A blond man poked his head out of the elevator door that was the entrance to my office.
"What is it Jaune? Not to be rude but I'm a little occupied at the moment. So many of these kids deserve to get in but we just don't have the room." He proceeded to walk in fully and cleared his throat. Since I'd known him in our time here he'd adopted a black suit and blue tie as he now proudly had the position of History Professor. He also had a short, but thick beard, which made him look much more mature than he had as a teenager. His thick, long locks of hair had stayed the same though.
"We found someone trying to sneak onto the campus a few minutes ago. He insists that the only person he'll talk to you is you or Yang. Seeing as how she is away on mission right now and we aren't aware of when she'll return I thought this should come directly to you. He had this with him." Jaune walked forward and placed a sheathed machete on my desk, the scabbard was a thick, dark brown leather with intricate runes scorched into it. When I pulled it out I instantly recognized the strong mirror-like metal.
"Take me to him now." I stood up quickly and marched to the elevator. "Whoever he is he has a lot of explaining to do as to why he was carrying Winlen."
BRENDAN'S POV
The very moment I was captured they had thrown me into a small room made from reinforced concrete, a one way mirror on the wall directly to the left of the doorway when entering. I, on the other hand, had taken the initiative to sit against the wall opposite of the mirror. They'd want to keep an eye on me and I didn't need them being any more suspicious than they already were. With my semblance I could feel the curiosity and fear vibrating in the souls of the strangers hiding behind that thick glass. Their aura's were unfamiliar, nobody I had any interest in.
I closed my eyes and focused, extending the range of who I could sense. Down a long hallway outside of my door I felt the echo of anger and confusion, and a visage of roses flew through my mind like a summer breeze. There she is.
I stood up and dusted myself off. They had let me keep my maroon toggle coat, it reached down to mid-calf on me and was currently unfastened, three loops of leather normally hooked onto the three Beowolf teeth I had tied onto the opposite side of the coat to hold it closed. Underneath that I wore thick jeans, a white shirt, combat boots and lastly my golden ring, an opal set deep into it.
I let my semblance deactivate and within a few seconds I heard the loud clank of the iron door's inner locking mechanism coming undone, creaking loudly open in protest to someone moving it from the settled position in the frame. She wasted no time walking in, face contorted with rage.
"Hello Ruby. It's been a while now hasn't it?" She still had her red hood on, but now she wore a long, slim black and red dress that flowed around her figure. Her hair had grown long and sleek, being held partly in a ponytail by a small circlet of face was more mature and elegant, the silver of her eyes now more metallic than the old sparkling color. She must have grown 8 inches taller at least because when she stared straight ahead she looked at my chin.
Her jaw dropped, and then she became more angry than before. She rushed forward and grabbed me by the collar, slamming me into the wall. I winced at the pain but her grip didn't loosen the slightest, if anything it only got tighter.
".What do you think you're doing here after abandoning us like that? You have no right to come back at all. No matter the reason. I won't have you waltzing back into my life just leave again." She was tearing up but she held eye contact and spoke with a quiet, threatening tone through clenched teeth.
"I have a daughter" I stated simply. She looked shocked and let go of me.
"What?"
"Yeah, I know. I have a daughter named Elda, and she's applied to come to school here. We received a letter in the mail yesterday that told us she had been accepted and I wanted to warn you about her before the year started." I pulled a pocket watch out of my jeans and showed her the inside. It was a picture of myself, Elda, and a young boy, my son Mason. Both of them had my thick brown hair, but their eyes were icy blue with a ring of deep violet right around the pupil. Elda's hair is long and wavy but Mason had the same short style as me.
"Hold on a minute Brendan, what do you mean by 'warn'? Does she have the curse mark as well?" Ruby took a step back and put a hand on her hip, still in a strong stance.
"No nothing like that, but there is something about her aura I haven't been able to place since she developed a semblance. It's sinister at the least. I think she has the potential of developing it but whatever Cinder did to me must have affected it for later generations. Something to do with concentrating its power into controlling me rather than moving down the family tree. And because of this, I need a favor from you"
"Oh this should be rich" a deep voice laughed. A blond, muscular man stood in the doorway.
"Is that Jaune? Looks like somebody took it upon themselves to grow up" I quickly read his aura and was astonished by how much it had developed and densified. "And you found your semblance. I never expected you to have the same one as the hero of the Great War. I doubt that is a coincidence though. I thought it was weird how much time you used to spend staring at his statue." He chuckled to himself and nodded at me.
"What do you want from me Brendan?" Ruby pulled my attention back to her. She wasn't the girl I had wanted to meet here today, she'd become a woman who had seen and lost many battles. A bittersweet flavor settled in the back of my throat, I'd missed so much.
"I want a job here at Beacon so I can keep an eye on her. I won't interfere with the curriculum or any activities unless I can sense the presence of the curse inside of her. I'd prefer the Grimm Studies class. I know more about the Grimm than any scientist or Hunter out there and I believe the children of this generation could become twice as strong as we were with the information I have obtained."
"You really want a job here?" Her eyebrow raised. "If I give you Grimm Studies you'll be working alongside Weiss, she's had that position for five years and been doing a fantastic job with it."
"Ruby, If I don't I think I'll go insane with worry. Her and Mason are all I have anymore. I can guarantee you that I'm not the person I used to be. I would even take a security job if that's all I can get. Please Rubes, I need this. You don't even have to pay me" She walked back to Jaune and muttered between themselves for a few minutes.
"On these conditions. One, you report to blood testing once a week in order for us to discover the secret behind your curse. Two, you duel and defeat one of the Professors. Three, you tell me what happened to your children's mother. Four, if you do get the job you come to my house every night so we can catch up" she smiled.
"Well, I think you got yourself a deal Headmistress Rose. Would you inform me who works here now so I can decide who I want to fight?" I gave her a toothy grin and she smirked back at me.
"To sum it up? Team RWBY and Team JNPR minus Ren and Nora." Jaune's face grew dark and I guessed he'd been there with them during the Second Grimm Invasion. A lot of good people were lost in those fights.
"Let me fight Weiss, her fighting style is the exact opposite of mine and I like a good challenge. Now, can we get out of this bunker before I tell you about their mom? It's getting cramped in here." She nodded and waved to the hallway. "Thank you." Jaune in front of me and Ruby behind we made slow progress across the uphill steel floors. When we finally got to a submarine style door at the end of the hall Jaune twisted a large knob and we stepped out into the sun. The door was set into the side of a large hill, an exquisite cherry tree sitting alone at the top. The grass was all bright green and freshly mowed.
The Beacon courtyard had changed since my time here. A circular pathway of stone bricks stood in a shallow pond, the old fountain sitting in the middle. Similar paths branched off toward the different buildings, the dorm area having the widest path. At the edges of the pond were what I assumed to be the withered limestone pillars from the forest temple that we had to grab a relic from as our initiation test. Ruby took the lead and walked us down a path to the clock tower. After entering the building we rode in the small elevator all the way to her office. She quickly made her way to the balcony, gesturing for Jaune to leave so we could talk.
I leaned against the rail and sighed. She stood straight backed next to me with one hand on the rail as well, looking down on the campus.
"So, what happened?" she asked. I laughed a little.
"Never one for dancing around a question were you? Okay, let me start from when I met her. It was a month after I left you guys. I was living in the treehouse just like I said and was, one night I was out getting wood for my fire. I had my semblance constantly active out there in case something had the intent of attacking me. Keep in mind that the treehouse was very deep into the most wooded areas and that no Hunters ever go there unless totally necessary, why Uncle Qrow built it there I have no idea. So anyway, imagine my surprise when I find my attention drawn by the presence of somebody's aura."
"I'm sure you were shocked all right. What was her name?"
"Her name was Mira Cheshir, she was a cat Faunus" I grinned. "She had been chased that far into the forest by an Ursa. It was quick work to kill it but when we started talking afterward we just couldn't stop. One thing led to another and eventually we had our first child Elda, and a few years later came Mason. They're both so much like her. Especially their eyes." I sighed and felt depression welt up in my chest. "During the First Grimm Invasion ten years ago she was killed by the Goliath that broke through the walls. She'd been in town to grab Mason's 8th birthday present." I could feel my eyes stinging with tears now, Ruby put her hand on my shoulder.
"I'm so sorry Brendan. But if you met her so soon how is Elda already old enough to apply for Beacon?" Ruby asked. "I think I remember seeing her file but her age wasn't listed."
"This is where things get complicated. She attended the same school as her mother during Junior High, which has a contract you have to sign that states certain students are used to test new dust infusions or aura experiments. Elda was chosen for an experiment that was supposed to grow and densify her core aura ability, but it ended up making her age faster than a normal human should. I pulled her out of the program and for the past year have been training her in different fighting styles so she could become a Huntress. She's been mature since her mother died and now her physical appearance matches that. I assume she's 18 physically but really she's only 15." Tears trickled from my eyes. Why did it have to be my little girl? Why her?
"So that's why you wanted her to come here" Ruby stated. "You figured I could help her learn to fit in with the older students easier." I nodded in response and ruffled my hair quickly. Then I turned to her and bowed.
"Please Ruby! I don't have anyone else to turn to! I'm begging you to please help me!" She put her hands on my shoulders and made me stand up. Then wiped the tears from my cheeks. "Ruby I-"
"Oh just shut up Brendan! Of course I'll help you that's what family does!" She wrapped her arms around my neck and pulled me into a tight hug. I hugged her back tightly and cried into her shoulder for what seemed like an hour. She would pet my hair and repeated words of comfort into my ear the entire time when the elevator dinged and somebody stepped out.
"Ruby! I knew you'd be slacking off again! You need to finish picking which students will make it in this year already! The Hunters Association is growing impatie- Oh, I'm sorry to intrude. Who is this?" It was Weiss, her hair just as long as it used to be but loose now, she wore an ice blue dress that hugged her figure until it spread out abruptly at the hips. The scar over her left eye had deepened and there was a new, smaller one overlapping it had a tablet lying on her arm like a clipboard. I wiped my eyes quickly, throwing my hands into my pockets.
"Hey there Ice Queen! Ya miss me?" The tablet fell and her hands flew to her mouth. Her eyes teared up and her body trembled slightly.
"B-Brendan?"
"The one and only, Weiss." She ran toward me and tackled me in a hug, causing the both of us to fall down. She pounded my chest heavily again and again, the entire time yelling at me.
"You idiot! Don't you know how worried we were?! Idiot idiot idiot idiot!" I wrapped my arms around her tightly. "Brendan?"
"I'm not going anywhere this time Weiss, I promise. You don't have to worry about me disappearing again." She relaxed at my saying this and slowly stood up. I dusted off my back really quick and leaned on the rail again.
"Weiss?" Ruby asked, putting a hand on her shoulder.
"Sorry! I'm okay now, really."
"It's not that. I need to tell you something. I'm letting Brendan work here as Professor of Grimm Studies with you on the condition he could beat one of us in a duel. He chose you to fight him." Weiss looked at me puzzlingly, and I got serious.
"She's telling the truth. I'd like to do it as soon as possible as well, there are certain people who if they knew that I was doing this I would be in a lot of trouble with. At the very least it needs to be before tomorrow night."
"Let's fight now" she ordered. I was a little surprised by her response to be totally honest. She had just been cry for Oum's sake! Then some old memories came flooding back. I guess she is the Ice Queen after all.
"You're on. Ruby, sorry for not asking but I need Winlen back. I'm good but I can't beat her without it." I held out my hand and upon interaction with my aura the blade flew into my hand from it's scabbard on Ruby's desk. I held it up like a knight would before facing his opponent. "In accordance with the laws created after the First Grimm Invasion. I, Brendan Grimm, challenge you, Weiss Schnee, to a duel. Do you accept?" She bowed with one hand across her abdomen in response.
"I do. Meet me in the arena in 30 minutes, prepare for the fight of your life." She walked gracefully out of the room and into the elevator, making sure she looked down her nose at me before the doors closed. Ruby giggled next to me quietly.
"What are you laughing about?"
"It's like we're back in school again! This should be fun." She gestured for me to lead the way to the elevator, as it would return any moment. "Ready to go?"
"Oh, I'm actually more comfortable taking my own way." I stood on top of the railing and took a deep breath, letting the energy in the air fill my lungs until the muscles in my shoulders and back tightened and began to burn slightly. I shook off my jacket quickly to reveal that the back of my shirt had two slits sliced into it. After a few moments the smell of burning flesh subsided and a pair of large black birds wings spread out to my sides.
"How did you-"
"I've gotten stronger. After living with Grimm everywhere for so long I actually learned how to communicate with the them if they were willing to. I learned a lot from them on how the curse would affect me when using their different abilities. The Nevermore just wants to fly and becomes enraged when something stops that from happening or threatens it." I crouched low, then leapt straight into the atmosphere flapping the enormous wings at the same time.
I flew towards the sun and the clouds, a bright smile spreading across my face. I arched my back and back flipped in the air on a dime, then tucked the wings in and dove straight for the ground, acceleration bringing the ground up to meet me faster and faster every second. I passed by Ruby and heard her squeak in alarm before her voice was lost to the wind. Ten seconds until impact...five seconds until impact...two seconds, pull up! I spread the shadow colored wings as fast as I could and the inertia transferred from downward force to forward, I might as well have been a bullet.
The arena was on the other side of the campus but I could see the tall concrete and steel building quickly getting closer and closer in view.
"This is it"
Weiss stood about 20 feet away from me, Myrtenaster balanced in her hand perfectly. The same powerful energy radiated from her, accentuated by her now perfected fighting stance. Her heels were touching and a single hand wielded the rapier in my direction, steady as a brick wall.
"Combatants, are you ready?" Ruby called from above. I crouched down low, legs spread wide and a single hand on the ground, the other one holding Winlen in a backwards grip. I nodded, as did Weiss. "Begin."
Weiss glided on her the tip of her toe, a small sigil shooting her across the floor. She was prepared to run me through right where I stood, Myrtenaster coming within a foot of my chest, right before she reached me however I dodged to the right and threw myself in the air slightly, with the hand I had placed on the ground, quickly spinning and slashing for her abdomen. She jumped up onto a sigil and began picking up speed as she moved from one of the glowing intricate circles that floated above my head.
"If you're gonna use your head your semblance already I'm not holding back anymore! GRIMM EYES" My voice resounded with power and ferocity. I felt my vision grow sharper, colors becoming brighter and a heat trail tracking Weiss' movements. I followed her mid-air dance when she dived in for a head on attack, nearly breaking the sound barrier with her incredible speed.
I moved slightly to the right and caught her wrist before she could get her footing again, violently throwing her into the wall. "BEOWOLF CLAWS" I sheathed Winlen and the skin around my forearms and hands became brittle like charcoal, my fingers sharpened into 2 inch long claws. I surged forward with all my might and right before I was able to drive the long claws into her arm she kicked me in the chest and sent me flying back. A red sigil popped up in the air in front of her and shards of ice blazing with a red fire shot out of it directly at me.
I forced my thick aura into the nerves in my hands and felt the heat build up under my skin, then stretched both palms out to her and shot several different colored flame jets back at her, the long distance fighting continued. We dodged and ducked, all while trying to incapacitate the other with our burning projectiles. This is taking too long, time to go for it! I activated my semblance and could even more accurately predict where the ice shards were trying to damage me. She's impressive, planning each one should hit so well in such a short amount of time. I danced in and out of their paths on all fours like an animal, a deep growl growing louder and louder at the back of my throat. It was approaching the volume of thunder, causing the floor to vibrate slightly.
I was within feet of Weiss, her eyes wide with fear. Then the cold glaze came over those ice blue jewels again and the air chilled as another sigil popped up in front of me, this time it was an inky black.
"Grand Destruction" Weiss stated before jumping into the air and leaving me alone with the deadly device. Not so easy is it Ice Queen? I dodged backwards thinking it would be simple to evade, what I hadn't counted on was that she could use her weapon to make it move around and chase me like a cat and mouse. Not good not good!
"BONE ARMOR" The entirety of my being burned with the heat of a bonfire, steam rising off of my body and the smell of burning bone and skin permeating throughout the arena. The detonation was amazing. Every kind of element you could imagine shot out at me from the center of the nightmareish sigil, I could feel each hit weakening my body, which was now wrapped in thick white and red bone like armor. Finally, I was hit with fire making so Weiss couldn't see me anymore, but thanks to the fire-proof Grimm eyes I could see her still up there standing on a white sigil and looking everywhere she could for me.
I coiled the muscles in my legs tight and put my arms in an X over my face, my eyes still peeking out so I could see. I let the pressure in my legs loose and it was as if someone had let a rattlesnake out of a glass jar, the wind whistling in my ears as I neared the pale woman. She had her back to me and once I reached the zenith of my jump, right above her head, I raised my leg above my head.
"Pay attention!" She looked up and watched helplessly as my leg came crashing down on her shoulder. The sigil shattered like a broken stained glass window and Weiss shot to the earth like a meteor, the impact clearing all dust in the area and leaving her in a small crater on the floor, knocked out. After I successfully landed again I let all of the Grimm parts of me dissipate into black sand that melted into the air. My breathing was labored and raspy, my eyes burning with pain and my skin raw with heat.
I walked over to her and knelt down, putting two fingers to her neck, just to make sure there was a pulse. Sure enough there was one there, strong and fast as her body tried to recuperate from the recent shock.
"Sorry Weiss, I got a little carried away, but that was the best fight I've been in for a while now. Thank you so much" I stood up and looked at Ruby up above me. "Hey Rubes! You mind calling the match? She's not getting up for at least a day." Her expression was like reading an open book, the power the two of us just demonstrated wasn't something you saw everyday.
"The duel goes to Brendan Grimm! Hunter, raise your weapon and state the victory decree." I unsheathed Winlen and held it up high above my head, I looked down at the woman at my feet and sighed.
"Though you fault valiantly, I have won this fight. For the House of Grimm, I have defeated a most worthy opponent!"
"Rest now Warrior, for you deserve it." Ruby returned, in accordance with the new Law. My arm dropped and Winlen clattered to the floor, my head vision growing fuzzy.
"Cool" I laughed. I felt myself falling, the world falling away from under my feet. Right before collapsing I could see Ruby jumping down to help us.
I hope you'll join me once again so I can tell you the full story. The first chapter of the new story will actually by a small history lesson presented by our very own Professor Arc about the two Grimm Invasions that took place during the 15 year time skip. In the words of my good friend Ventusblade "Read, Rate, and Review, and Rinse and Repeat!"