Author's note: I'd just like to remind everyone that reviews are always welcome, as well as comments and suggestions. I am reaching the end of the story, as well as the end of the summer, and I would just like to thank everyone for reading.
Karai stomped into her dorm room and slammed the door shut behind her. Then, demonstrating the self-control she was known for, she threw her book bag against the wall with all her might. It hit the wall with a loud thud, narrowly missing a framed picture on Sapphire's desk, and all her books and papers spilled out on the floor.
"Well hello sunshine," Mona Lisa said, looking up from her comic. Violet was sitting at her desk, taking advantage of the fading daylight to mend a tear in her school uniform.
Karai ignored her. She sat down at her desk and put her head in her hands. Although she couldn't see it, she knew that Mona Lisa and Violet were exchanging looks.
"What's wrong Karai?" When she didn't answer, Violet started picking up papers off the floor. Shifting through the mess, she came across the trouble.
"A C+?"
Mona Lisa came over and grabbed the history test from Violet. "Well, it could be worse."
"Could be worse?" Karai turned around and gave Mona Lisa one of her death looks. "I might get a C in the class."
"Well, we still have the final in a few weeks," Violet said. "You just need to study." She picked up the history textbook off the floor. "Instead of throwing a hissy fit."
"I have been studying! And even if I do great on the exam, I'll still have a B, and Weiss will still have a higher GPA than me."
"It's not a contest, Karai."
"Spoken like an only child." Mona Lisa plopped down on her partner's bed. "Just look on the bright side, okay? Professor Ozpin bought our stupid Mafia story and Sapphire's brother is safe at home at last."
"He's not at home," Karai pointed out. "He's living in some secret science-y place somewhere."
"For his own protection. Between his mutation and the people that are after him, it's best he remain hidden." Violet stood next to Karai's desk and put a hand on her shoulder. "He's safe now, and that's something we can be proud of."
"And look how happy Sapphire is."
Sometimes Karai couldn't believe how naïve her teammates were. They put Leo to shame. "You don't think they'll do something to him? Like experiment on him or dissect him?"
"Mutant or not, Robin would be attacked by Grimm if he ventured outside the kingdom," Violet said. "According to the courts, he's legally a person and therefore entitled to certain rights."
"Besides, even if they wanted to do something, his family would know about it."
"Legally a person," Karai muttered. Looking up at the ceiling, she thought for a moment. "That's from the treaty of Forever Falls, right?"
Cue the awkward pause.
"Um, actually," Mona Lisa said at last, "that's from the Cross Continental Treaty. That ended the Great War."
"The Forever Falls Treaty was about the overthrow of the monarchy," Violet added, in an almost pitying tone, like it was something everyone knew.
Karai hit her head against her desk. At this rate she might as well just steal the answers. And even then with her luck she might still fail.
The Vale Science and Research Center, or the Center as most people called it, had a large courtyard deep in the restricted access section. A black wicker table and a few chairs were arranged in the center, near an old willow tree. Alopex was leaning against the tree, as though trying to hide behind its branches. Sapphire, however, was practically bouncing.
"I can't believe this is happening," she squealed for the fifth time. "Our family is finally back together."
"Yeah." Alopex slumped lower against the tree and tugged at the fur on his check. He had thought about this day since the day he was mutated. And after all this time, the thought still made him want to throw up. Sapphire took his hands and half guided, half dragged him into the sunlight.
"They're Mom and Dad, Robin. They love you. You know they do."
"They haven't seen me in five years."
"Well, it's not like you've changed much since then." Alopex had to laugh at that one.
"I'm serious. You are still the same stupid boy who stole my curling iron to sword fight with his friends."
"Hey I won that fight, thank you very much."
"And the time you took my hair brush-"
"I was 9!"
If an employee had walked by, they would have heard the twins had almost the exact same laugh. Sapphire hugged her brother for what felt like the hundredth time that week. Alopex couldn't begin to say how grateful he was for his sister. Giving up a career as a dancer, and actually getting into Beacon, just to find him, was as heartwarming as it was impressive. Nothing, not his mutation, his alien upbringing or even his crippling fear of his own parents fazed her.
"Ahem?" Dr. Blanco, an elderly scientist assigned to his case, stood in the doorway of the courtyard. He smiled fondly at the twins.
"Robin, there's some people here to see you."
He stepped back, allowing North and Amethyst Star to pass through.
His parents had gotten older, too. His father's black hair was streaked with grey, and his mother's face was more lined than a 42 year old's face should have been. But then again, most 42 year old women didn't think they had lost a child for the past 5 years. Both his parents' eyes were shining with tears. Alopex tried to blink back his own.
Mom stepped forward first, hesitantly, searching in this fox boy's eyes for some trace of the little boy she lost long ago.
Sapphire nudged him forward gently. Alopex tried to say something reassuring, or confident, or anything really. But all that came out, in a timid, choked up voice, was
"Mom?"
In seconds he was crying into his mother's arms like he was a toddler. Sapphire came up behind him and leaned her head on his shoulder. Then their dad, who was crying by this point, wrapped his arms around his family like he was never letting go. And when he did let go, he put his hands on Alopex's shoulders and looked him in his furry, mutant face.
"Welcome home, son."
"Ah Ms. Tang, thank you for coming in. This will only take a minute, then you can go to lunch." Dr. Oobleck looked up from his desk, which was half covered in an enormous and dusty tome. Karai quickly shut the door and perched herself at the edge of her seat. Her hands clasped in her lap and her legs crossed at the ankles, she tried to make herself look as proper and Weiss or Violet. She couldn't think of anything she did that deserved being called into her professor's office. Between school and searching for Kraang, she actually didn't have much time to do anything fun.
Dr. Oobleck marked his page with a scrap of paper and gently closed the yellowed pages. The book was shelved carefully, as though it would crumble to pieces any moment. It fit right in with the rest of the office, a small grey room overtaken by an old coffee stained desk. A bookshelf lined the back wall, and the only decoration was a picture of Dr. Oobleck's wife and children.
"What book is that," she asked, trying to make small talk.
"A chronicle of the foundation of Vale." Dr. Oobleck was speaking in normal speed at least. She should be grateful for that.
"Now Karai, let's cut to the chase shall we? You're not in trouble." Karai relaxed her shoulders and leaned back in her seat. "It's about your grade. I know very well why you feel at a loss when it comes to Remnant history, so especially for you I've decided to offer some extra credit."
"Extra credit?" Karai raised an eyebrow. Was this some sort of trick? "Like a paper?"
"Yes, a very specific paper." Dr. Oobleck took out another book from his shelf. He handed it to her.
Legends of the Migration
"As I'm sure you are aware, thousands of years ago the people of Remnant were able to create an interdimensional portal using newly discovered Dust. They thought that if humanity could not survive here, perhaps they could survive elsewhere. It was only open for a short time, and only a few thousand people came through. Those would be your father's ancestors. They settled every corner of your world, and made it what it is today."
Karai refrained from snorting. "From what I have seen, what it is today isn't something to be proud of."
"That's a topic for another paper. Now, only a few people in Remnant today know about Earth and the migration. But the story has survived through legends and myths. Why even stories like the Lost Princess might be based on the idea that in going to Earth we were going to reclaim what has been lost."
Karai flipped through the pages. It seemed like a regular story book, except that each story had commentary from a historian at the end about "social function." Seemed pretty straight-forward. "So the topic of my paper is legends about the migration?"
"No. You are going to write a 1200 word page paper on the history of three different tales, but they can be from this book or not."
"Could they be from a story book, like Roses and Thorns?"
"Yes, but you'll need to source at least three scholarly sources. I want to know the origin, several key elements across several variations, and why they might be popular today. Folklore is a unique form of history, and it's something our two worlds share." Dr. Oobleck paused to let Karai pullout a notebook and write everything down.
"Yeah, I've noticed some similarities between our fairytales and yours when I read my script."
"Excellent. The paper will be due to my office before the final exam, and if you come at the right time perhaps we can discuss such similarities."
"Okay, I will." Karai slipped the book in her bag. "Dr. Oobleck?"
"Yes?"
"Why didn't everyone go through the portal?"
"Because a few Grimm had gotten through. It wouldn't do anyone any good if we had made a second Remnant. That's why travel between here and Earth is so limited." Dr. Oobleck took his book back off the shelf and opened to the marked page.
"Oh. Dr. Oobleck?"
"Yes?"
"Thanks. For not just giving me an A because you felt sorry for me or something."
Dr. Oobleck looked up at her sharply. "My dear, you are strong and bright and passionate. While you had a difficult start, I have no doubt that by the time you graduate you will be one of the best Huntresses of your generation. That's nothing to pity."
Karai opened her mouth, then closed it again. Instead she bowed deeply and sincerely.
"Thank you, sir."
Blake stared at Yang. She didn't say anything, just stared silently for almost a minute.
"Come on, it'll be fun."
"A sleepover?"
"The four of us already share a room," Weiss pointed out. "Isn't that basically the same thing?"
"No, that's just living in the same room. We haven't done any sleepover things."
"Such as?"
Ruby counted off on her fingers. "Ghost stories, truth or dare, make overs, talking about boys, braiding hair-"
"You'd let someone else braid your hair?" Weiss looked at Yang incredulously.
"Okay, maybe not braiding, but it'd still be fun." Yang jumped down from her bed. "Plus it wouldn't be just us. There'd be Pyrrha and Nora, your sister's team, maybe some other people. Come on, please?"
Weiss sighed. She looked over at Blake, who simple shrugged. Neither of them really had any experience with such things.
"Alright. We'll have a sleepover."