Alright, I'll be honest it's hear that the time line gets a little bit screwy, but just try and bear with me hear please, now I know these events happened earlier, but this is kind of an into a few months ago or a few weeks ago.
Also just letting you know we are featuring that guy that Yang decked and knocked out one tooth, were going to call him, Shay, ok.
Also this chapter does contain some conspiracy theory's against Ozpin that I somewhat believe in now.
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Chapter 21
Team RNR and Qrow had finally made it to Mistral, but they had taken some really hard hits most notably Ruby, who wasn't herself, even as the others chatted, they looked back to her, her hood was up and she was looking down depressed.
Ruby, hadn't been the same since the battle with Lucia, she was now wearing an eye patch similar to the one Cinder had worn and she no longer had her chipper demeanor, she was actually starting to question if what she was doing was the right thing, sure whatever powers her eyes had been an advantage, but now one of them was gone and the power was decreased, that had also effected her fighting, with the now lack of depth perception, she now felt totally useless and nothing could really cheer her up, none of Nora's jokes, none of Ren's tasty food or even her uncles encouragement, even the spectacular view couldn't lift her spirits, she just felt like there was a void inside her.
Jaune's leaving had also hit her hard, she believed that there must have been a reason, she didn't blame him, she saw him training late, she should have tired to help him, say something at least, but now he was gone, she believed that he had some kind of presence though, she knew that she and Jaune would meet up at one point or another.
As they left the viewpoint and started to move to Haven Academy, only to find nobody was there, literally nobody, everything was quiet, too quiet or it was until Nora decided to try and do something.
''Hello! Anybody!'' she called.
''Oh yes Nora, do it louder, if we couldn't find anyone before we will be sure to find them now'' said Ruby heavily sarcastically.
''No, something's not right hear'' said Qrow ''come on!''
Qrow suddenly started to charge down the hall and kicked the door open to reveal a somewhat elderly man with a beard and a long mane of hair, he had a long lion tail revealing he was a Lion Faunus, he gave out a paniced cry and fell back onto his back, everyone else gave a paniced cry, Qrow soon introduced the man as Leonardo Lionheart and they introduced themselves.
''Lie Ren sir'' said Ren respectfully.
''Nora Valkyrie'' said Nora enthusiastically.
''Ruby Rose'' said Ruby quietly.
''Qrow, you almost scared me half to death'' said Lionheart, he then took a gasp as he felt the insects inside him start to squirm, reminding him to watch what he was going to say and that Vespa was listening.
''Why weren't you at the gate to greet us?'' asked Qrow.
''I guess time slipped me'' said Lionheart, he soon felt the streign on his stomach loosening.
''Your kidding me right?'' asked Qrow.
''Yes, I'm sorry'' said Lionheart.
''So where is everyone?'' asked Nora.
''Well, my staff is away until classes resume'' stated Lionheart.
''Leo you cannot be serious'' hissed Qrow ''who's guarding the relic!?''
''Qrow, the children!'' hissed Lionheart.
''Yeah I filled them in'' said Qrow.
''You filled them in'' repeated Lionheart before sighing and gesturing them to enter his office.
''I must say Qrow, this is reckless even for you'' said Lionheart.
''No reckless is leaving the Relic unguarded, it's not contacting Oz for so long'' said Qrow scavingly.
Lionheart felt a tightening around his gut as if to say solve this so he replied with ''there was nothing to check up on, not until the fall of Vale, but since that day, Minstrel has been in chaos!'' he stood up and slammed his fist onto his deck ''Vale wasn't the only kingdom to suffer that night'' Lionheart turned to the window ''everyone was watching, every house in every kingdom watched as that poor girl get torn apart-'' Ruby looked down depressed remembering what happened to Penny ''Mistral's territory only makes it harder to protect you know and-''
''Yeah, yeah look we get it, everyone suffered just answer the question, why are the Teachers not hear?'' asked Ruby.
''Our people started to feel the terror and the Grimm attacked, the Huntsmen and Huntresses were naturally deployed to protect the people and we suffered heavy losses, some were teachers at this school and it's only gotten worse'' explained Lionheart.
Lionheart then let out a little grunt as he felt the insects moving around in his stomach, he was guessing it was because of his little speech that he had made, they were satisfied and loosened there grip, Qrow raised a brow at his grunt.
''You ok Leo?'' asked Qrow.
''I'm fine Qrow, it's just, my stomach has been having problems recently'' said Lionheart.
''I see'' said Qrow.
Lionheart then slightly paniced as he saw Kasumi standing there in plain sight his Katana drawn, he gestured to Lionheart to continue, then he gave him the 'shh' symbolism, Lionheart cleared his throat and continued.
''Look I don't know what happened to James, but it seems he's gotten worse, first the Dust Embargo, now the closing of borders and we still don't know where the Spring Maiden is'' he said.
''What about Cinder?'' asked Ruby ''you can't be this idiotic, they used this academy to get into the tournament, you have to have something''
''All, destroyed or deleted'' said Lionheart.
Ruby just grumbled to herself ''Ok then, the Maidens, why are they so important, Qrow told us they were important, but he didn't explain why?''
''I thought you filled them in'' said Lionheart.
''Mostly, I quit teaching for a reason'' said Qrow.
''Yeah, because he's so crappy at it'' said Ruby, causing Qrow to look surprise, she had been making subtle jabs at him, which he did somewhat expect with her missing eye, but this was the first time she just straight out insulted him, Ren and Nora were surprised too, but Lionheart not knowing just stated what they wanted to know, that the four maidens could unlock, the relics, Qrow revealing that he believed she was with his sister and Lionheart promising to deal with the council so they could handle it and with all that said and done, he explained that he couldn't help because of the council, they soon left after.
Lionheart then sat at his desk as Kasumi walked up to him grinning down at Lionheart as he looked down, two holographic logo's flashed up, one being a large W and the other being an insect.
''Oh Leon, we do need to work on your improve skills'' said Watts.
''Oh, on the contrary I think he did rather well'' said Vespa.
-LINE BREAK-
Later Watts came in, Kasumi was standing besides Lionheart who stood up as Watts entered the room ''are we ready?'' asked Watts.
''Yes'' said Lionheart fearfully, Kasumi then shoved him forwards telling him to move.
The three of them quickly walked to a room that was secret to everyone but these five people, in the center of the room was a Seer, Lionheart asked if Salem was there, she appeared in the Seer.
''Ah, Lionheart, Watts, Kasumi and Vespa'' said Salem.
''Ooh, nice, I somewhat wish I had something like this'' said Vespa.
''I'd be fine to give you a Seer'' stated Salem.
''Nah, it's fine I prefer to appear in person anyways'' stated Vespa.
''Hmm, I see, report'' said Salem.
''Of course ma'am I wouldn't dare waste your time'' said Leonardo.
''I'm sorry, but I am still so amazed by this creature'' said Watts tapping on it a couple of times.
''Hmm I suppose, I guess Salem does not allow dissection either'' stated Vespa.
''Anyhow Lionheart please report'' said Kasumi.
Lionheart then explained to Salem how he had found out about the Spring Maiden and about Qrows visit.
''I see, excellent work Watts, Kasumi, I should have trusted you both from the beginning'' stated Salem.
''You know what, Lionheart deserves credit too, so you know what, I will remove my insects'' said Vespa.
Lionheart looked extremely pleased at that proclamation, but his excitement dulled when he only spat out a centipede, which went back to Vespa ''wait you just said-''
''Oh right I didn't say it properly'' said Vespa ''you see if I remove all my insects at once they'll tear you apart, so I will remove one insect for one favor, I think it's good motivation, don't you agree Salem?''
''I agree, excellent work Vespa, I expected nothing less'' said Salem ''do you understand your position Leonardo?''
''Yes, ma'am'' said Lionheart.
''Now, Salem if you do not mind, I already have some of my children in that tribe, they have been spying on it for me for a while and now, I want to pay that tribe a visit'' said Vespa ''I want to fight Raven Branwen, simply send your follower Tyrian to me as well as my strongest son Stag to me''
''Very well, but what makes you think you will succeed?'' asked Salem.
''Because unlike you Salem, I do not fail'' stated Vespa.
''I thought you said, that you were done being a bitch'' growled Salem.
''Oh, who said that I know, I didn't say that, but look on the bright side, it's a win, win for you, you see if I succeed then you get another maiden and you can also install the Fall Maidens powers into her and therefore, you have two Maidens in one'' stated Vespa ''and if I fail, you now have a reason to be a bitch to me''
''Then you had better succeed'' stated Salem, as the orb on the Seer became black again.
-LINE BREAK-
Meanwhile Ren and Nora were talking to one another, they were discussing Ruby, between one another.
''Look, we need to make sure she's ok, she's been on a downwards spiral since she lost her eye'' said Ren.
''Yeah, I'm getting worried'' said Nora.
''We need to talk to her about it, she's been really struggling'' said Ren.
''Yeah, she can't really fight now, she's really been struggling with the lack of depth perception'' said Nora ''but I think this has really shaken her and loosened her confidence, she's now wondering if this was the right choice, I wish Jaune was hear, he might know what to do''
''Well, he's not, I don't know why he left, but there must have been a good reason, so now it's up to us to support Ruby'' stated Ren, just then there was a knock on the door.
Ren and Nora looked at one another, before Ren answered the door, to see a young boy, with tanned skin and a white shirt, he had freckles and dark hair ''e-exscuse me sir, is a Ms. Ruby Rose hear?'' he asked.
''Yes why?'' called a voice, Ren turned to see Ruby ''open the door fully Ren''
Ren complied and the young boy walked in ''Hello miss I am Oscar and I'm hear to return your uncle'' said the boy.
Qrow stumbled in drunkley rambling, Ruby just sighed and rolled her eyes ''oh, thank you for bringing his useless ass home'' she spat, she then threw some money which Oscar caught ''buy yourself something nice kid''
''Err, exscuse me'' said Oscar.
''What do you want?'' asked Ruby.
''You have Silver Eyes'' said Oscar.
''Eye'' corrected Ruby.
''E-excuse me?'' asked Oscar.
''I have a Silver Eye'' said Ruby taking her hood off and showing off her eye patch ''now what do you want?''
Oscar gulped and took a deep breath ''I am Ozpin''
Everyone just looked at him, while Qrow cheered out that he had found Ozpin and Ruby said ''oh this is sick, even for you Ozpin, this is disgusting''
Later when Qrow was notably sober they started to talk about this, Ozpin took over Oscar and explained everything they needed to know about his curse.
''Oh, so what now'' said Ruby.
''Ms. Rose you've… changed I see'' said Ozpin.
''Yeah, no shit, now get down to it'' spat Ruby.
''Well, we need to ensure the safety of the Relic of Knowledge'' stated Ozpin.
''It's gonna be hard, we'll need to play it close to the chest with Leo'' said Qrow.
''I agree, he's acting very odd'' said Ozpin.
''Oh, what's the matter, sad you puppets not following your orders, that he's cut off his strings?'' asked Ruby.
''Ms. Rose, Leo was never a puppet to me'' said Qrow.
''Could have fooled me'' said Ruby.
''Anyways, Qrow is right, we need to play this close to the chest'' stated Ozpin.
''Damnit, Leo what's going on, at this rate Salem will get the Relic'' said Qrow.
''We don't need to worry Qrow, even if she get's it it's useless to her, there's another safety function was featured to make sure nobody could use them, though the brother of life and humans stated it was to counter against someone named Fel, I don't know, apparently only certain people can use them, but I don't know who'' said Ozpin ''the text was very ancient the only words I could decipher were Overlord, Bārūban, Tyrant, Merlin and Lyn, but I don't know what they mean''
''Maybe a tyrannical overlord named Merlin Lyn Bārūban?'' asked Nora.
''Not likely, you see each word seems to be a name, they were all spelt with capitals and were in one section of the relics texts after another'' stated Ozpin.
''So what do they mean?'' asked Ruby.
''I honestly have no idea'' stated Ozpin.
''Wow, you are so useful aren't you'' spat Ruby.
This drew many eyes to her, Qrow sighed, he needed to finally find out what was wrong and talk to her, ''Ok Kiddo, what's up, you've been like this for a few days now what's wrong?'' he asked.
''Wouldn't you like to know'' said Ruby.
''Actually I would'' said Qrow ''come on, it's Ozpin we can trust him, alright''
''Wow, I guess Raven was right, if she left because of him'' said Ruby.
''What?'' asked Qrow.
''How many lives have you let be destroyed because of him, Hundreds? Thousands? I wager it's a lot'' stated Ruby.
''I haven't ruined any lives, what makes you think this'' said Ozpin.
''Well, we don't know you that's one, you're a complete stranger at best, heck how much do you know Qrow, how much do you know about Ozpin'' said Ruby ''heck I'd punch you if I didn't hurt the kid, your using, you might as well call him what he is to you Ozpin, he's just a meatbag to you''
''He's not I do, care for Oscar'' said Ozpin.
''What!'' cried Ruby ''you assure me what! That your not using him! You are, hey Ren, Nora remember when Ozpins original body, you know the one we originally saw him in, did it have it's own separate personality, oh wait, it didn't what's saying your not going to slowly suppress that boy until he's dead?
''I won't you have my word, Ms. Rose'' said Ozpin.
''Oh, your word, your word means shit to me Ozpin!'' spat Ruby.
''Listen, we will address all of this later'' said Ozpin.
''You really think you can ignore a conversation by this, fine be my fucking guest'' Ruby swore.
''It's not being ignored, I will address your concerns later'' replied Ozpin.
''Oh yeah sure we will, when I'm dead I'm betting, so the arguments gone'' stated Ruby with an eye roll.
''Listen I am going to begin training you'' said Ozpin, causing Ruby to give a hollow empty laugh.
''If you think I am learning from you then you're a bigger idiot than I perceived'' stated Ruby.
''Well, Ms. Rose I understand you do not trust me or Qrow, at the moment, but I can help, you need to learn hand to hand so you can fight without the Crescent Rose'' stated Ozpin, this did set something off in Ruby.
''Fight hand to hand?!'' said Ruby seething ''I CAN BARELY FIGHT NOW YOU DUMBASS, MAYBE WE SHOULD WORK ON ME GETTING USE TO FIGHTING WITH MY NEW LACK OF DEPTH PRECEPTION, BEFORE WE TRY AND TEACH ME SOMETHING NEW!''
''Ah, yes… I suppose that is right'' chuckled Ozpin.
''Urg, guys I'm going to go somewhere where I cannot be contaminated by alcoholism and complete stupidity, call me when it's gone'' huffed Ruby storming off.
-LINE BREAK-
Meanwhile Adam was bowed before Sienna Khan, as she continued to scold him and tell him what he did wrong and was about to punish him, when he introduced Hazel, Sienna rolled her eyes and denied there proposal then her men pointed there weapons at her.
''What is the meaning of this!?'' she exclaimed.
Adam stood up grinning smugly ''my orders, I ordered them to do this''
But suddenly all the men burst out laughing, Adam was confused ''what's so funny?''
''It's the fact that they're my orders not yours'' said another voice, Adler entered.
''Adler, of course you'd order this'' said Sienna.
''Oh, little sis all alone and weak as ever and guess what daddy's not hear to make me lose this time, it's free game'' said Adler.
''Hang on'' said Adam, strolling up to Adler ''I organized this, I am the one who attacked Beacon I deserve this- AHHH''
Adler had slashed Adam's face with his Tigers Nail's Adam's mask was split and a large scar was now on his side cradling his face in his hands, Addler spitting on him.
''Pathetic'' said Adler simply, before turning to Hazel ''you might want to leave before this gets bloody''
''Noted'' said Hazel leaving Alder kept walking towards Sienna and Sienna kept walking towards him.
''Why are you hear Adler?'' asked Sienna.
''To take back what is rightfully mine, you have made the White Fang into a pathetic group'' snarled Adler ''and despite the fact he's as harmful to me as a rubber duck at least Adam is doing something''
''T-thank you'' said Adam, who now had a degree of fear for Adler.
''Your welcome Adam, now as to you sister, you have made us scared cowards'' growled Adler.
''I am for force but only when necessary, I saw how our fathers methods had damaged our cause, so I will use force but only when nessesary'' said Sienna getting close to Adler, big mistake ''and guess what I won't be bullied to thinking- hhuuu''
Adler had slammed his hand and arm right through her chest ripping her heart out ''no I don't bully I just kill'' said Adler ''wait, that wasn't done right… oh well''
Alder retracted his hand, ripping Sienna's heart out, she collapsed to the floor and Adler took a bit out of the still beating heart before spitting it out in disgust, he then strolled to the throne and sat down ''ah it's good to be king'' he said.
''Sir what do we do with the body?'' asked a soldier.
''Rough up the body a bit, make it look like whoever did this was merciless and terrifying- wait what am I saying, why get you to do it when I can do it?'' grinned Adler.
Illya just watched in horror as Adler killed Sienna and as he started to mutilate her body, she was starting to regret not listening to Blake and resolved that she would meet up with Blake and ask to join her and her friends.
-LINE BREAK-
Shay was stood guard outside the camp, grumbling to himself, he was having a very bad week, first he lost a tooth, next he had his rations cut by Raven and now he was stood guard, could this get any worst.
He thought it would as a Scorpion Faunus and a man with a metal arm approached, he pointed his weapon at them, but then he heard the cry of someone saying ''Lower your weapon!''
He saw someone he never thought he'd see for a long time, Stag, with another member of the Colony they were both carrying a Litter with a black veil all around it, making the person inside the Litter shilloutted.
''Stag, but that would mean-'' Shay paused as the two men opened the veil to the litter revealing Vespa, Shay gasped and quickly threw himself to the floor bowing in front of Vespa ''your majesty''
''Rise my soldier, I assume you have done as ordered'' stated Vespa.
''of course'' said Shay ''I Longhorn live to serve you my queen''
''Oh, my child who did this to you, they knocked off a pincer'' said Vespa ''don't worry though, if anyone smears dirt on my children's faces they smear dirt on mine and therefore they must be punished!''
